bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Gene-Mutation-Based Algorithm for Prediction of Treatment Response in Colorectal Cancer Patients
Authors: Johnson Heather , El-Schich Zahra , Ali Amjad , Zhang Xuhui , Simoulis Athanasios , Wingren Anette Gjörloff , Persson Jenny L.
Published: April 2022

Purpose: Despite the high mortality of metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC), no new biomarker tools are available for predicting treatment response. We developed gene-mutation-based algorithms as a biomarker classifier to predict treatment response with better precision than the current predictive factors. Methods: Random forest machine learning (ML) was applied to identify the candidate algorithms using the MSK Cohort (n = 471) as a training set and validated in the TCGA Cohort (n = 221). Logistic regression, progression-free survival (PFS), and univariate/multivariate Cox proportional hazard analyses were performed and the performance of the candidate algorithms was compared with the established risk parameters. Results: A novel 7-Gene Algorithm based on mutation profiles of seven KRAS-associated genes was identified. The algorithm was able to distinguish non-progressed (responder) vs. progressed (non-responder) patients with AUC of 0.97 and had predictive power for PFS with a hazard ratio (HR) of 16.9 (p < 0.001) in the MSK cohort. The predictive power of this algorithm for PFS was more pronounced in mCRC (HR = 16.9, p < 0.001, n = 388). Similarly, in the TCGA validation cohort, the algorithm had AUC of 0.98 and a significant predictive power for PFS (p < 0.001). Conclusion: The novel 7-Gene Algorithm can be further developed as a biomarker model for prediction of treatment response in mCRC patients to improve personalized therapies.
A Critical Study of Cu2O: Synthesis and Its Application in CO2 Reduction by Photochemical and Electrochemical Approaches
Authors: Mohan Sathya , Honnappa Brahmari , Augustin Ashil , Shanmugam Mariyappan , Chuaicham Chitiphon , Sasaki Keiko , Ramasamy Boopathy , Sekar Karthikeyan
Published: April 2022

Copper oxide (Cu2O) is a potential material as a catalyst for CO2 reduction. Cu2O nanostructures have many advantages, including interfacial charge separation and transportation, enhanced surface area, quantum efficiency, and feasibility of modification via composite development or integration of the favorable surface functional groups. We cover the current advancements in the synthesis of Cu2O nanomaterials in various morphological dimensions and their photochemical and electrochemical applications, which complies with the physical enrichment of their enhanced activity in every application they are employed in. The scope of fresh designs, namely composites or the hierarchy of copper oxide nanostructures, and various ways to improve CO2 reduction performance are also discussed in this review. Photochemical and electrochemical CO2 transformations have received tremendous attention in the last few years, thanks to the growing interest in renewable sources of energy and green facile chemistry. The current review provides an idea of current photochemical and electrochemical carbon dioxide fixing techniques by using Cu2O-based materials. Carboxylation and carboxylative cyclization, yield valuable chemicals such as carboxylic acids and heterocyclic compounds. Radical ions, which are induced by photo- and electrochemical reactions, as well as other high-energy organic molecules, are regarded as essential mid-products in photochemical and electrochemical reactions with CO2. It has also been claimed that CO2 can be activated to form radical anions.
Squamous Cell Carcinoma in Patients with Inherited Epidermolysis Bullosa: Review of Current Literature
Authors: Bonamonte Domenico , Filoni Angela , De Marco Aurora , Lospalluti Lucia , Nacchiero Eleonora , Ronghi Valentina , Colagrande Anna , Giudice Giuseppe , Cazzato Gerardo
Published: April 2022

Epidermolysis bullosa (EB) is a group of rare congenital diseases caused by mutations in structural proteins of the dermal/epidermal junction that are characterized by extreme epithelial fragility, which determines the formation of bullae and erosions either spontaneously or after local mechanical traumas. In EB patients, skin fragility leads to many possible complications and comorbidities. One of the most feared complications is the development of cutaneous squamous cell carcinomas (SCCs) that particularly in the dystrophic recessive EB subtype can be extremely aggressive and often metastatic. SCCs in EB patients generally arise more often in the extremities, where chronic blisters and scars are generally located. SCCs represent a big therapeutic challenge in the EB population. No standard of care exists for the treatment of SCC in these patients, and therapy is based on small case studies. Moreover, the pathogenesis of cSCC in EB patients is still unclear. Many theories have been indeed postulated in order to explain why cSCC behaves so much more aggressively in EB patients compared to the general population. cSCC in EB seems to be the result of many complex interactions among cancer cells, skin microenvironment, susceptibility to DNA mutations and host immune response. In this review, we analyze the different pathogenetic mechanisms of cSCC in EB patients, as well as new therapies for this condition.
Factors Affecting Psychological and Health-Related Quality-of-Life Status in Children and Adolescents with Congenital Heart Diseases
Authors: Liu Hao-Chuan , Chaou Chung-Hsien , Lo Chiao-Wei , Chung Hung-Tao , Hwang Mao-Sheng
Published: April 2022

Congenital heart disease (CHD), a severe cardiac defect in children, has unclear influences on young patients. We aimed to find the impacts of differently structure heart defects and various treatments on psychology and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in CHD children and adolescents. CHD patients aged between 6 and 18 years old visited our hospital from 1 May 2018 to 31 September 2018, and their principal caregivers were asked to participate. We used two validated questionnaires, Children Depression Inventory-TW (CDI-TW) and Child Health Questionnaire—Parent Form 50 (CHQ-PF 50), to evaluate CHD patients’ psychological and HRQoL conditions. Participants were grouped based on their cardiac defects and previous treatments. We analyzed the results via summary independent-samples t-test with post hoc Bonferroni correction and multivariant analysis. Two hundred and seventy-seven children and their principal caregivers were involved. There was no apparent depressive condition in any group. Single cardiac defect patients exhibited similar HRQoL to controls; simultaneously, those with cyanotic heart disease (CyHD), most multiple/complex CHDs children and adolescents, and those who received invasive treatments had poorer HRQoL. CyHD impacted the most on patients’ psychological and HRQoL status. Patients with sole cardiac defect could live near-normal lifes; on the other hand, CyHD had the worst effects on patients’ psychology and HRQoL.
Mechanical Properties of Tensile Cracking in Indium Tin Oxide Films on Polycarbonate Substrates
Authors: Zhou Jiali , Zhang Xuan , Zhang Xiaofeng , Zhang Wenqiao , Li Jiuyong , Chen Yuandong , Liu Hongyan , Yan Yue
Published: April 2022

The electro-mechanical behaviors of transparent conductive oxide film on polymer substrate are of great concern because they would greatly affect the stability and lifespan of the corresponding devices. In this paper, indium tin oxide (ITO) films with different thicknesses were deposited on a polycarbonate (PC) sheet; meanwhile, in situ electrical resistance, in situ scanning electron microscopy and profilometry were employed to record the electrical resistance, morphologies and residual stress in order to investigate the fracture behavior and electrical-mechanical properties of ITO films under uniaxial tension loading. The electrical resistance changes, crack initiation, crack propagation and crack density evolution of ITO films were systematically characterized by in situ tests. Three fracture stages of ITO films were summarized: Ⅰ crack initiation, Ⅱ crack propagation, Ⅲ crack saturation and delamination. The crack initiation and electrical failure in a thinner ITO film occurred at relatively higher applied tensile strain; namely, the ductility of the film decreased as the film thickness increased. Residual compressive stress was recorded in the ITO films deposited on PC at room temperature and increased as the film thickness increased. Intrinsic crack initiation strain (CIS*) showed an opposite thickness dependence to residual strain (εr); the increase in residual compressive strain was counteracted by the decrease of intrinsic cohesion, leading to an overall decrease in effective crack initiation strain (CIS) when the film thickness increased. In addition, integrated with a formulated mechanics model and the analysis of the three fracture stages under tension, the fracture toughness and interfacial shear strength were quantitatively determined. As the film thickness increased (in the range of 50~500 nm), the fracture toughness decreased and the films were more prone to crack, whereas the interfacial shear strength increased and the films were less likely to delaminate.
A Short Overview: Marine Resources as Potential Interventions for the Omicron SARS-CoV-2 Variant
Authors: Geahchan Sarah , Ehrlich Hermann , Rahman Azizur
Published: April 2022

In November of 2021, a recently evolved variant of SARS-CoV-2, omicron, was discovered. In just one month, omicron has spread to more than 89 countries resulting in a rapid rise in cases and a new wave of infections. With over 46 mutations, omicron brings concern to the public health and may be able to infect at a greater capacity than previous strains. Although able to infect double vaccinated and previously infected individuals, the booster vaccine may prove promising. However, more research is needed to fully elucidate the key function of each mutation and to better develop effective drugs. Marine resources may be a promising drug discovery avenue to investigate. For example, compounds such as natural bromotyrosines and inorganic polyphosphate have been shown to have multiple mechanisms of action against viruses, like SARS-CoV-2. Through viral entry blockade and preventing viral replication and protein synthesis, metabolites produced from marine organisms may be promising against the evolving SARS-CoV-2. The present review highlights key features of the omicron SARS-CoV-2 variant, summarizes key studies and reports on omicron viral infection and examines the potential for intervention using renewable marine resources.
Scalable and Transferable Reinforcement Learning for Multi-Agent Mixed Cooperative–Competitive Environments Based on Hierarchical Graph Attention
Authors: Chen Yining , Song Guanghua , Ye Zhenhui , Jiang Xiaohong
Published: April 2022

Most previous studies on multi-agent systems aim to coordinate agents to achieve a common goal, but the lack of scalability and transferability prevents them from being applied to large-scale multi-agent tasks. To deal with these limitations, we propose a deep reinforcement learning (DRL) based multi-agent coordination control method for mixed cooperative–competitive environments. To improve scalability and transferability when applying in large-scale multi-agent systems, we construct inter-agent communication and use hierarchical graph attention networks (HGAT) to process the local observations of agents and received messages from neighbors. We also adopt the gated recurrent units (GRU) to address the partial observability issue by recording historical information. The simulation results based on a cooperative task and a competitive task not only show the superiority of our method, but also indicate the scalability and transferability of our method in various scale tasks.
MRI Segmentation of Brain Tissue and Course Classification in Alzheimer’s Disease
Authors: Li Meimei , Hu Chunhai , Liu Zhen , Zhou Ying
Published: April 2022

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is one of the most common diseases causing cognitive impairment in middle-aged and elderly people, and the high cost of the disease poses a challenge for health systems to cope with the expected increasing number of cases in the future. With the advance of aging of the society, China has the largest number of Alzheimer’s disease patients in the world. Therefore, how to diagnose Alzheimer’s disease early and accurately and intervene positively is an urgent problem. In this paper, the improved MultiRes + UNet network is used to effectively segment the brain tissue in the preprocessing. This method expands the convolutional field by null convolution to integrate the global information, mitigates the differences between encoder–decoder features by using MultiRes block and Res path structure, greatly reducing the memory requirement, and improving its accuracy, applicability, and robustness. The non-local means the attention model is introduced to make the mapped organization categories free from noise interference. In the classification problem, this paper adopts the improved VoxCNN network model for binary classification of AD, EMCI, LMCI, and NC. Experiments showed that the model classification performance and the accuracy rate improved significantly with the combined effect of the improved MultiRes + UNet network and VoxCNN network, the binary classification accuracy was 98.35% for AD vs. NC, 89.46% for AD vs. LMCI, 83.95% for LMCI vs. EMCI, and 88.27% for EMCI vs. NC.
Collaborative Robust Optimization Strategy of Electric Vehicles and Other Distributed Energy Considering Load Flexibility
Authors: Wang Yuxuan , Zhang Bingxu , Li Chenyang , Huang Yongzhang
Published: April 2022

Aggregated electric vehicles (EVs) integrated to the grid and intermittent wind and solar energy increased the complexity of the economic dispatch of the power grid. Aggregated EVs have a great potential to reduce system operating costs because of their dual attributes of load and energy storage. In this paper, plugged-in EV is refined into three categories: rated power charging, adjustable charging, and flexible charging–discharging, and then control models are established separately; the concept of temporal flexibility for EV clusters is proposed for the adjustable charging and flexible charging–discharging of EV sets; then, the schedule boundary of EV clusters is determined under the flexibility constraints. The interval is used to describe the intermittent nature of renewable energy, and the minimum operating cost of the system is taken as the goal to construct a distributed energy robust optimization model. By decoupling the model, a two-stage efficient solution is achieved. An example analysis verifies the effectiveness and superiority of the proposed strategy. The proposed strategy can minimize the total cost while meeting the demand difference of EV users.
Demagnetization Fault Detection and Location in PMSM Based on Correlation Coefficient of Branch Current Signals
Authors: Yu Yinquan , Gao Haixi , Chen Qiping , Liu Peng , Niu Shuangxia
Published: April 2022

To address such challenges as an uncertain number of demagnetization poles of the permanent magnet synchronous motor (PMSM) and cases in which the fault cannot be located, this paper proposes a fault identification and location methodology based on the analysis of the motor stator current. First, the influence of the irreversible demagnetization of permanent magnets on the analytical model of the back electromotive force (Back-EMF) of the rotor in a single motor stator slot is analyzed. Moreover, considering the topology of the motor, the influence of the demagnetization fault on the stator phase current and branch current is analyzed. Since the stator phase currents cannot diagnose the partial demagnetization faults of PMSM with some topological structures, the stator branch current is selected as the signal for the identification and localization of the demagnetization fault. Secondly, the demagnetization fault diagnosis and mode recognition of the motor are carried out through the amplitude of the real-time branch current and the harmonic components of the PMSM. A sample database of demagnetization faults is established through calculation and normalization of the residual value of the stator branch current and the branch current of the healthy motor after demagnetization in one pole order. The fault threshold is obtained by analyzing the residual of the branch current of uniform demagnetization and the Pearson correlation coefficient of the fault sample database. Then, the correlation coefficient between the real-time branch current residual value of PMSM and the fault sample database is analyzed, and the number of demagnetization poles and the fault location are determined by the number and location of the calculated correlation coefficient exceeding the threshold. Finally, the feasibility and effectiveness of the proposed method are verified by the finite element analysis (FEA) results.
Modeling, Analysis, Design, and Simulation of a Bidirectional DC-DC Converter with Integrated Snow Removal Functionality for Solar PV Electric Vehicle Charger Applications
Authors: Aragon-Aviles Sandra , Kadam Arvind H. , Sidhu Tarlochan , Williamson Sheldon S.
Published: April 2022

Different factors affect solar photovoltaic (PV) systems by decreasing input energy and reducing the conversion efficiency of the system. One of these factors is the effect of snow cover on PV panels, a subject lacking sufficient academic research. This paper reviews and compares current research for snow removal in solar PV modules. Additionally, this paper presents the design, analysis and modelling of a smart heating system for solar PV Electric Vehicle (EV) charging applications. The system is based on a bidirectional DC-DC converter that redirects the grid/EV-battery power into heating of the solar PV modules, thus removing snow cover, as well as providing the function of MPPT when required to charge the EV battery pack. A control scheme for each mode of operation was designed. Subsequently, a performance evaluation by simulating the system under various conditions is presented validating the usefulness of the proposed converter to be used in solar PV systems under extreme winter conditions.
Kron Reduction Based on Node Ordering Optimization for Distribution Network Dispatching with Flexible Loads
Authors: Song Huihui , Han Linkun , Wang Yichen , Wen Weifeng , Qu Yanbin
Published: April 2022

Kron reduction is a general tool of network simplification for flow calculation. With a growing number of flexible loads appearing in distribution networks, traditional Kron reduction cannot be widely used in control and scheduling due to the elimination of controllable and variable load buses. Therefore, this paper proposes an improved Kron reduction based on node ordering optimization whose principles guarantee that all the boundary nodes are retained eventually after eliminating the first row and the first column in every step according to the order, thereby making it possible to take full advantage of their potential to meet different requirements in power system calculation and dispatching. The proposed method is verified via simulation models of IEEE 5-bus and 30-bus systems through illustrating the dynamic consistency of the output active power of the generator nodes and the power flow data of preserved nodes before and after reduction.
Distributions and Influencing Factors of Soil Organic Carbon Fractions under Different Vegetation Restoration Conditions in a Subtropical Mountainous Area, SW China
Authors: Wu Xiaoni , Fu Denggao , Duan Changqun , Huang Gongning , Shang Huaye
Published: April 2022

Vegetation type is known to affect soil organic carbon (SOC) storage. However, the magnitudes and distributions of SOC sequestration and driving factors for different vegetation types are still largely unknown. Thus, we studied the changes in SOC fractions along soil profiles for different vegetation restoration types and their relationships with soil properties. We selected five vegetation types and collected soil samples from depth intervals of 0–10, 10–30, 30–60, and 60–90 cm. Five soil carbon fractions and the soil properties were tested to evaluate the soil carbon fraction distributions and influencing factors. Our results demonstrated that the concentrations of total organic carbon (TOC) and five carbon fractions were strongly affected by vegetation types and soil depths. The concentrations of all five soil carbon fractions in 0–10 cm depth were higher than those in the other three soil depths and generally increased with vegetation complexity. The Pearson correlations and redundancy analysis showed that the fractions of soil glomalin-related soil protein (GRSP) and Fe oxides as well as the soil bulk densities, were the most significant related to soil TOC levels and carbon fractions, which suggests that soil biochemical and physicochemical processes are among the most important mechanisms that contribute to SOC persistence. Considering the sensitive indices of the soil carbon variables and PCA results, soil permanganate oxidizable carbon (POXC) was considered to be the most sensitive index for differentiating the effects of vegetation types. These results provide important information regarding the distributions and driving factors of the carbon fractions that result from different vegetation restoration types and will help to improve our understanding of soil carbon sequestration during vegetation restoration processes.
A Multi-Medium Analysis of Human Health Risk of Toxic Elements in Rice-Crayfish System: A Case Study from Middle Reach of Yangtze River, China
Authors: Zhou Hui , Ge Tao , Li Hui , Fang Ting , Li Huaiyan , Shi Yanhong , Zhang Rong , Dong Xinju
Published: April 2022

Rice-crayfish system has been extensively promoted in China in recent years. However, the presence of toxic elements in soil may threaten the quality of agricultural products. In this study, eight toxic elements were determined in multi-medium including soil, rice, and crayfish from the rice-crayfish system (RCS) and conventional rice culture (CRC) area. Crayfish obtained a low level of toxic element content, and mercury (Hg) in rice from RCS showed the highest bioavailability and mobility. Health risk assessment, coupled with Monte Carlo simulation, revealed that the dietary exposure to arsenic (As) and Hg from rice and crayfish consumption was the primary factor for non-carcinogenic risk, while Cd and As were the dominant contributors to the high carcinogenic risk of rice intake for adults and children, respectively. Based on the estimated probability distribution, the probabilities of the total cancer risk (TCR) of rice intake for children from RCS were lower than that from CRC.
Valorization of Liquor Waste Derived Spent Coffee Grains for the Development of Injection-Molded Polylactide Pieces of Interest as Disposable Food Packaging and Serving Materials
Authors: Terroba-Delicado Enrique , Fiori Stefano , Gomez-Caturla Jaume , Montanes Nestor , Sanchez-Nacher Lourdes , Torres-Giner Sergio
Published: April 2022

The present work puts the Circular Bioeconomy’s concept into action, originally valorizing residues of spent coffee grains from the beverage liquor coffee industry to develop green composite pieces of polylactide (PLA). The as-received spent coffee grains were first milled to obtain the so-called spent coffee grounds (SCGs) that were, thereafter, incorporated at 20 wt.% into PLA by extrusion. Finally, the resultant green composite pellets were shaped into pieces by injection molding. Moreover, two oligomers of lactic acid (OLAs), namely OLA2 and OLA2mal, the latter being functionalized with maleic anhydride (MAH), were added with SCGs during the extrusion process at 10 wt.%. The results show that, opposite to most claims published in the literature of green composites of PLA, the incorporation of the liquor waste derived SCGs increased the ductility of the pieces by approximately 280% mainly due to their high lipid content. Moreover, the simultaneous addition of OLA2 and OLA2mal further contributed to improve the tensile strength of the green composite pieces by nearly 36% and 60%, respectively. The higher performance of OLA2mal was ascribed to the chemical interaction achieved between the biopolyester and the lignocellulosic fillers by the MAH groups. The resultant green composite pieces are very promising as disposable food-serving utensils and tableware.
Double-Network Tough Hydrogels: A Brief Review on Achievements and Challenges
Authors: Xin Hai
Published: April 2022

This brief review attempts to summarize research advances in the mechanical toughness and structures of double-network (DN) hydrogels. The focus is to provide a critical and concise discussion on the toughening mechanisms, damage recoverability, stress relaxation, and biomedical applications of tough DN hydrogel systems. Both conventional DN hydrogel with two covalently cross-linked networks and novel DN systems consisting of physical and reversible cross-links are discussed and compared. Covalently cross-linked hydrogels are tough but damage-irreversible. Physically cross-linked hydrogels are damage-recoverable but exhibit mechanical instability, as reflected by stress relaxation tests. This remains one significant challenge to be addressed by future research studies to realize the load-sustaining applications proposed for tough hydrogels. With their special structure and superior mechanical properties, DN hydrogels have great potential for biomedical applications, and many DN systems are now fabricated with 3D printing techniques.
Estimation of Causal Effect of Age at Menarche on Pubertal Height Growth Using Mendelian Randomization
Authors: Jo Eun Jae , Han Shizhong , Wang Kai
Published: April 2022

We use Mendelian randomization to estimate the causal effect of age at menarche on late pubertal height growth and total pubertal height growth. The instrument SNPs selected from the exposure genome-wide association study (GWAS) are validated in additional population-matched exposure GWASs. Based on the inverse variance weighting method, there is a positive causal relationship of age at menarche on late pubertal growth (β^=0.56, 95% CI: (0.34, 0.78), p=3.16×10−7) and on total pubertal growth (β^=0.36, 95% CI: (0.14, 0.58), p=1.30×10−3). If the instrument SNPs are not validated in additional exposure GWASs, the estimated effect on late pubertal height growth increases by 3.6% to β^=0.58 (95% CI: (0.42, 0.73), p=4.38×10−13) while the estimates on total pubertal height growth increases by 41.7% to β^=0.51 (95% CI: (0.35, 0.67), p=2.96×10−11).
Recent Advances in Bio-Based Additive Flame Retardants for Thermosetting Resins
Authors: Dowbysz Adriana , Samsonowicz Mariola , Kukfisz Bożena
Published: April 2022

Thermosetting resins are used in many applications due to their great mechanical properties, chemical resistance, and dimensional stability. However, the flammability of thermosets needs to be improved to minimize fire risk and meet fire safety regulations. Some commercially available flame retardants have an adverse effect on people’s health and the environment. Thus, the development of novel, more sustainable flame retardants obtained or derived from biomass has become an objective of contemporary research. The objective of this study is to summarize recent progress on bio-based flame retardants for thermosetting resins so as to promote their prompt development. Groups of biomass compounds with a potential for flame retardant industrial applications were introduced, and their thermal degradation was investigated. The authors focused mostly on the thermal degradation of composites containing bio-based flame retardants determined by thermogravimetric analysis, their tendency to sustain a flame determined by a limiting oxygen index, and fire behavior determined by a cone calorimeter test. The results showed that the mode of action is mostly based on the forming of the char layer. However, in many cases, there is still a necessity to input a high amount of additive to achieve significant flame retardancy effects, which may adversely impact mechanical properties.
Nutritional Concerns among Female International Volunteers Based on the Income and Development Status of Their Country of Service
Authors: Jensen Megan J. , Brown Katie N. , Turley Jennifer M. , Graf Marlene I. , Dyckman Jenna , Creer Andrew R. , Fullmer Susan
Published: April 2022

This study aimed to determine the prevalence of female athlete triad risk factors among female international volunteers based on the development and income status of their country of service. A total of 2164 past volunteers completed a retrospective survey. Countries’ income and development statuses were coded using the respective annual United Nations World Economic Situations and Prospects reports. Independent t-tests, ANOVAs, and Pearson’s Chi-Squared tests were used to assess group differences; corresponding odds ratios were calculated. Volunteers in nondeveloped (OR = 2.25, CI = 1.85–2.75) and non-high-income (OR = 2.17, CI = 1.75–2.70) countries had over twice the odds of experiencing secondary amenorrhea. More volunteers who served in nondeveloped countries reported an increase in exercise while serving (p = 0.005). Those who served in a nondeveloped (OR = 1.52, CI = 1.16–1.98) or non-high-income (OR = 1.45, CI = 1.08–1.94) country had higher odds of weight loss. However, volunteers serving in nondeveloped (OR = 0.52, CI = 0.44–0.63) and non-high-income (OR = 0.50, CI = 0.4–0.61) countries were less likely to report food insecurity compared to those in developed and high-income countries. Bone mineral density was within the expected range regardless of income and development status. Female volunteers who served in nondeveloped and non-high-income countries experienced higher odds of secondary amenorrhea, which was likely influenced by an increase in exercise and higher odds of weight loss.
Mixing Job Training with Nature-Based Therapy Shows Promise for Increasing Labor Market Affiliation among Newly Arrived Refugees: Results from a Danish Case Series Study
Authors: Uldall Sigurd Wiingaard , Poulsen Dorthe Varning , Christensen Sasja Iza , Wilson Lotta , Carlsson Jessica
Published: April 2022

The unemployment rate among newly arrived refugees in European countries is high and many experience mental health problems. This has negative consequences on integration and mental well-being. In this case series study we investigated the effect of a 30-week program that included horticulture activities, nature-based therapy, and traditional job training on job market affiliation and mental well-being. Fifty-two refugees met initial screening criteria and twenty-eight met all inclusion criteria and were enrolled. The program took place in a small community and consisted of informal therapeutic conversations, exercises aimed at reducing psychological stress, increasing mental awareness and physical wellbeing. At the end of the program traditional job market activities were led by social workers. Provisionary psychiatric interviews showed that at baseline 79% met criteria for either an anxiety, depression, or PTSD diagnosis. After the program, statistical analyses revealed an increase in the one-year incidence of job market affiliation (n = 28) and an increase in mental health according to two of four questionnaire measures (nrange = 15–16). The results strengthen the hypothesis that horticulture and nature-based therapy can help refugees enter the job market. However, the small sample size emphasizes the need for methodologically stronger studies to corroborate these preliminary findings.
Low-Carbon Action in Full Swing: A Study on Satisfaction with Wise Medical Development
Authors: Li Hailin , Fan Fengxiao , Sun Yan , Wang Weigang
Published: April 2022

The development of “wise medical” is crucial to global carbon reduction. The medical sector not only has the moral obligation to reduce carbon emissions, but also has the responsibility to provide high-quality services to patients. Existing research mostly focuses on the relationship between low-carbon and wise medical, while ignoring the transformation of wise medical and patients’ opinions in the context of low-carbon transition. The paper crawls the text data of comments on the Zhihu platform (a Chinese platform similar to Quora), explores the focus of patients on wise medical through the co-occurrence analysis of high-frequency words, with a focus directly related to the role of wise medical treatment in carbon reduction, and designed a questionnaire accordingly. Using 837 valid questionnaires collected in Zhejiang Province, an XGBoost model was constructed to discuss the main factors affecting patient satisfaction, and the regional heterogeneity among the coastal area of eastern Zhejiang, the plain area of northern Zhejiang and the mountainous area of southwestern Zhejiang is discussed. The results show that patients’ focus on wise medical lies mainly in the convenience brought by digitalization and the actual medical effect, and the main factors affecting satisfaction with medical treatment are the flow of people in hospitals, optimization of the medical treatment process, the application of digital platforms, the quality of telemedicine services and the appropriate quality of treatment. In terms of regional differences in Zhejiang Province, wise medical is more developed in the plain area of northern Zhejiang, with better simplified medical treatment processes and the construction of a digital platform, while the mountainous areas of southwestern Zhejiang have better quality in telemedicine services despite the geographical environment. Eastern Zhejiang is somewhere in between.
Validation of a Lithuanian-Language Version of the Brunel Mood Scale: The BRUMS-LTU
Authors: Terry Peter C. , Skurvydas Albertas , Lisinskiene Ausra , Majauskiene Daiva , Valanciene Dovile , Cooper Sydney , Lochbaum Marc
Published: April 2022

Mood can be considered as a diffuse and global emotional state, with both valence and arousal characteristics, that is not directed towards a specific object. Investigation of moods in specific language and cultural contexts relies on the availability of appropriately validated measures. The current study involved the translation and validation of the Brunel Mood Scale (BRUMS) from English into Lithuanian. The 24-item, 6-factor scale, referred to as the BRUMS-LTU, was administered to 746 participants who were fluent in Lithuanian (nmen = 199 (26.7%), nwomen = 547 (73.3%); age range = 17–78 years, M = 41.8 years, SD = 11.4 years). Confirmatory factor analysis showed an adequate fit of the hypothesized measurement model to the data (CFI  =  0.954, TLI  = 0 .944, RMSEA  = 0 .060 [CI 0.056, 0.064], SRMR = 0.070) and multi-sample analysis supported configural, metric, scalar, and residual invariance across genders. Concurrent measures (i.e., Perceived Stress Scale, Big Five Personality Test) correlated with subscale scores in line with theoretical predictions, supporting both convergent and divergent validity. Internal consistency coefficients of the six subscales were satisfactory. Mood scores varied significantly by gender, with men generally reporting more positive moods than women. Findings support the adequacy of the psychometric properties of the BRUMS-LTU. Thus, the scale can be recommended for use in further psychological studies of mood in Lithuania and may also be useful for applied practitioners.
An Update on the Implications of New Psychoactive Substances in Public Health
Authors: Simão Ana Y. , Antunes Mónica , Cabral Emanuel , Oliveira Patrik , Rosendo Luana M. , Brinca Ana Teresa , Alves Estefânia , Marques Hernâni , Rosado Tiago , Passarinha Luís A. , Andraus Maristela , Barroso Mário , Gallardo Eugenia
Published: April 2022

The emergence of new psychoactive substances has earned a great deal of attention, and several reports of acute poisoning and deaths have been issued involving, for instance, synthetic opiates. In recent years, there have been profound alterations in the legislation concerning consumption, marketing, and synthesis of these compounds; rapid alert systems have also been subject to changes, and new substances and new markets, mainly through the internet, have appeared. Their effects and how they originate in consumers are still mostly unknown, primarily in what concerns chronic toxicity. This review intends to provide a detailed description of these substances from the point of view of consumption, toxicokinetics, and health consequences, including case reports on intoxications in order to help researchers and public health agents working daily in this area.
Analysis of Physical Demands in Four Tug of War World Indoor Championships (2010–2016)
Authors: Cayero Ruth , Zubillaga Asier , Rocandio Valentín , Castañeda-Babarro Arkaitz , Refoyo Ignacio , Calleja-González Julio , Martínez de Aldama Inmaculada
Published: April 2022

Background: Tug-of-war (TOW) is one of the oldest sports in current existence and is an internationally played activity that includes professional and amateur sport athletes, played according to the rules laid out by the Tug of War International Federation (TWIF). In this type of competition, the two teams of eight members each pull against one another on a rope. The team that pulls the opposing team towards a centerline for a distance of 4 m in two pulls out of three is considered the winning team in an international competition. To the best of the authors’ knowledge, no previous scientific articles have described data during a follow-up period of Championships in TOW. Therefore, the main aim of this study was to analyze the duration of the matches, differentiating between the first (T1) and second pull (T2) of each match. Methods: The pulls were compared in the qualification point phase and the final phase, as well as in each weight category. In addition, any differences between the statistics for each of the four World Championships studied were analyzed. Finally, the total volume of pulls in each weight category was studied, both in the open club competition and in the national team competition. Data were collected from four World Indoor Championships (2010–2016). A total of 1862 matches were registered (3724 pulls), differentiating the first (T1) and second (T2) pull. The data were expressed as means (M) ± standard deviations (SD). Results: (1) The second pull is shorter than the first: T1 < T2, p < 0.001, (Es = 0.452; small effect); (2) T1 and T2 times were longer in the final phase than the qualifying phase: T1 phase2 > T1 phase1, p < 0.05 (ES = 0.469; small effect) and T2 phase2 > T2 phase1, (p < 0.05), (ES = 0.486; small effect); (3) there are statistical differences (p < 0.005) in T1 and T2 at all weights, except for T1 at 500 kg and T2 at 640 kg; (4) the comparison among World Championships does not present significant changes in the duration of the pulls; (5) however, in females, significant differences (p < 0.05) between the 2010 World Championships and the remainder in T1 are observed; (6) the volumes that we should take into account when designing the preparation should be those obtained when 11 teams compete against each other, considering the maximum volume that we could find in the competition. Conclusion: This first aspect of the reality of TOW indoor competitions, specifically the duration of the matches, leads to a better understanding of the demands of the sport and the type of effort required. These ideas may help coaches in the design of training plans, maximizing their specificity and their effectiveness.
Can Group Exercise Programs Improve Health Outcomes in Pregnant Women? An Updated Systematic Review
Authors: de Castro Rebeca , Antunes Raul , Mendes Diogo , Szumilewicz Anna , Santos-Rocha Rita
Published: April 2022

Current scientific evidence supports the recommendation to initiate or continue physical exercise in healthy pregnant women. Group exercise programs have positive effects on improving health, well-being, and social support. In 2015, a systematic review was provided to evaluate the evidence on the effectiveness of group exercise programs in improving pregnant women’s and newborns’ health outcomes and to assess the content of the programs. This review aims to update this knowledge between 2015 and 2020. The exercise program designs were analyzed with the Consensus of Exercise Reporting Template (CERT) model, the compliance with the current guidelines, and effectiveness in the maternal health and fitness parameters. Three databases were used to conduct literature searches. Thirty-one randomized control trials were selected for analysis. All studies followed a supervised group exercise program including aerobic, resistance, pelvic floor training, stretching, and relaxation sections. Group interventions during pregnancy improved health and fitness outcomes for the women and newborns, although some gaps were identified in the interventions. Multidisciplinary teams of exercise and health professionals should advise pregnant women that group exercise improves a wide range of health outcomes for them and their newborns.
Mental Disorder Symptoms and the Relationship with Resilience among Paramedics in a Single Canadian Site
Authors: Mausz Justin , Donnelly Elizabeth Anne , Moll Sandra , Harms Sheila , McConnell Meghan
Published: April 2022

There is growing recognition in research and policy of a mental health crisis among Canada’s paramedics; however, despite this, epidemiological surveillance of the problem is in its infancy. Just weeks before the emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic, we surveyed paramedics from a single, large, urban paramedic service in Ontario, Canada to assess for symptom clusters consistent with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), major depressive disorder, and generalized anxiety disorder and to identify potential risk factors for each. In total, we received 589 completed surveys (97% completion rate) and found that 11% screened positive for PTSD, 15% screened positive for major depressive disorder, and 15% screened positive for generalized anxiety disorder, with one in four active-duty paramedics screening positive for any of the three as recently as February 2020. In adjusted analyses, the risk of a positive screen varied as a function of employment classification, gender, self-reported resilience, and previous experience as a member of the service’s peer support team. Our findings support the position that paramedics screen positive for mental disorders at high rates—a problem likely to have worsened since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. We echo the calls of researchers and policymakers for urgent action to support paramedic mental health in Canada.
Biopsychosocial and Nutritional Factors of Depression among Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Patients: A Systematic Review
Authors: Amsah Norizzati , Md Isa Zaleha , Ahmad Norfazilah
Published: April 2022

The rising prevalence of depression among Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) patients has triggered an alarming situation, and further actions need to be taken by health care professionals and policymakers to curb the issue. There is a lack of evidence review in terms of the biopsychosocial and nutritional factors that are related to depression among T2DM. Hence, this review aimed to identify available evidence on the biopsychosocial and nutritional factors associated with depression among T2DM patients based on the existing literature. Articles were systematically searched from four databases, namely PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and EBSCOHost. The approach for the identification of the final articles followed PRISMA guidelines. The selected full-text articles were published between 2017 and 2021 in the English language, and included studies focused on depression among T2DM patients. Using AXIS tools, the eligible articles were evaluated to assess the quality of studies. A total of 19 studies were included in the review, and information related to research questions and associated factors was extracted. Biological, psychological, social, and nutritional factors were shown to be linked with depression among T2DM patients. Future studies need to considered using the biopsychosocial model and incorporating nutritional factors to manage the issues of depression among T2DM patients.
Exploring the Climate Temperature Effects on Settlement Intentions of Older Migrants: Evidence from China
Authors: Wang Hongjie , Gao Xiaolu , Xu Zening , Li Yuan , Zhang Xinyue , Rosenberg Mark W.
Published: April 2022

Permanent migration across provinces in China has become an important strategy for Chinese older people to respond to a temperature-unfriendly place of residence in late life. However, the relation between temperature effects and permanent settlements of older migrants remains unclear. Based on the data obtained from China Migrants Dynamic Survey, this paper examined how four temperature effects (i.e., cold effect, heat effect, temperature gap effect, and temperature zone effect) play a role in shaping older migrants’ intentions to settle permanently in a destination place by conducting logistic regression analysis. Our findings show that: (1) extreme cold (rather than extreme heat or mild temperature) was found to have significant effects on settlement intentions of older people; (2) relative winter temperature between origin and destination places rather than absolute winter temperature in the destination place has a significant positive effect on the settlement intentions; (3) spatially, older migrants tend to migrate to geographically adjacent temperature zones. Our findings will inform a more effective planning and allocation of services for supporting older people by better understanding trends and intentions of older migrants.
Climate Change and Diarrhoeal Disease Burdens in the Gaza Strip, Palestine: Health Impacts of 1.5 °C and 2 °C Global Warming Scenarios
Authors: Hajat Shakoor , Gampe David , Sarsour Amal , Abuzerr Samer
Published: April 2022

The Gaza Strip is one of the world’s most fragile states and faces substantial public health and development challenges. Climate change is intensifying existing environmental problems, including increased water stress. We provide the first published assessment of climate impacts on diarrhoeal disease in Gaza and project future health burdens under climate change scenarios. Over 1 million acute diarrhoea cases presenting to health facilities during 2009–2020 were linked to weekly temperature and rainfall data and associations assessed using time-series regression analysis employing distributed lag non-linear models (DLNMs). Models were applied to climate projections to estimate future burdens of diarrhoeal disease under 2 °C and 1.5 °C global warming scenarios. There was a significantly raised risk of diarrhoeal disease associated with both mean weekly temperature above 19 °C and total weekly rainfall below 6 mm in children 0–3 years. A heat effect was also present in subjects aged > 3 years. Annual diarrhoea cases attributable to heat and low rainfall was 2209.0 and 4070.3, respectively, in 0–3-year-olds. In both age-groups, heat-related cases could rise by over 10% under a 2 °C global warming level compared to baseline, but would be limited to below 2% under a 1.5 °C scenario. Mean rises of 0.9% and 2.7% in diarrhoea cases associated with reduced rainfall are projected for the 1.5 °C and 2 °C scenarios, respectively, in 0–3-year-olds. Climate change impacts will add to the considerable development challenges already faced by the people of Gaza. Substantial health gains could be achieved if global warming is limited to 1.5 °C.