bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Methodology for a Comprehensive Health Impact Assessment in Water Supply and Sanitation Programmes for Brazil
Authors: Kligerman Débora Cynamon , Cardoso Telma Abdalla de Oliveira , Cohen Simone Cynamon , Azevedo Déborah Chein Bueno de , Toledo Graziella de Araújo , Azevedo Ana Paula Chein Bueno de , Charlesworth Susanne M.
Published: October 2022

Based on the broader concept of health proposed by the Pan-American Health Organization/World Health Organization (PAHO/ WHO), 2018, and the absence in the literature of indices that translate the causal relationship between sanitation and health, a methodology for assessing the health impact of a water and sanitation programmes, known as a Health Impact Assessment (HIA), was developed, specifically in the Brazilian context, and focused on a school in the northeast of the country. Through exploratory and descriptive evidence, and using documentary research as a method, a retrospective survey was carried out from 2000 to 2022 using documents proposing evaluation methodologies. A single document was found to fit the research objective, which was used to develop the proposed HIA methodology. Development of the methodology consisted of two stages: definition of the health dimensions and selection of the indicators making up each dimension. The HIA methodology was then applied to a school in northeast Brazil to test its use, before a water-efficient management intervention was going to be used. The overall score of 46% indicated that there was room for improvement, which the new management approach could facilitate. This methodology is therefore proposed to be an instrument for the evaluation of public water and sanitation policies, thus assisting managers in the decision-making process and in guiding sanitation programs and plans.
Sociodemographic and Psychosocial Profiles of Multi-Media Use for Risk Communication in the General Population
Authors: Tomczyk Samuel , Rahn Maxi , Schmidt Silke
Published: October 2022

Although disaster research has acknowledged the role of social media in crisis communication, the interplay of new (e.g., mobile apps) and traditional media (e.g., TV, radio) in public warnings has received less attention, particularly from the recipients’ perspective. Therefore, we examined sociodemographic and psychosocial correlates of different types of media use (i.e., traditional, new, mixed) for receiving public warning messages in a population survey (N = 613, 63% female; Mage = 31.56 years). More than two-thirds (68%) reported mixed media use, with 20% relying on new media and 12% on traditional media. Traditional media users were older and reported lower levels of education, while new media users were significantly younger and reported lower trust toward traditional media (i.e., TV). Migrants were more likely to use new but not mixed media. In sum, most participants utilized a mixture of traditional and new media for warning purposes, which has implications for crisis communication. Though, vulnerable populations (e.g., older and less educated participants) mainly rely on traditional media, stressing the need for continued support. Thus, it is paramount to increasingly use mixed methods designs and concurrently examine multiple channels to reflect real-world warning practices and generate ecologically valid results.
Comparative Analysis of Influencing Factors on Crash Severity between Super Multi-Lane and Traditional Multi-Lane Freeways Considering Spatial Heterogeneity
Authors: Zhang Junxiang , Yu Bo , Chen Yuren , Kong You , Gao Jianqiang
Published: October 2022

With the growth of traffic demand, the number of newly built and renovated super multi-lane freeways (i.e., equal to or more than a two-way ten-lane) is increasing. Compared with traditional multi-lane freeways (i.e., a two-way six-lane or eight-lane), super multi-lane freeways have higher design speeds and more vehicle interweaving movements, which may lead to higher traffic risks. However, current studies mostly focus on the factors that affect crash severity on traditional multi-lane freeways, while little attention is paid to those on super multi-lane freeways. Therefore, this study aims to explore the impacting factors of crash severity on two kinds of freeways and make a comparison with traditional multi-lane freeways. The crash data of the Guangzhou-Shenzhen freeway in China from 2016 to 2019 is used in the study. This freeway contains both super multi-lane and traditional multi-lane road sections, and data on 2455 crashes on two-way ten-lane sections and 13,367 crashes on two-way six-lane sections were obtained for further analysis. Considering the effects of unobserved spatial heterogeneity, a hierarchical Bayesian approach is applied. The results show significant differences that influence the factors of serious crashes between these two kinds of freeways. On both two types of freeways, heavy-vehicle, two-vehicle, and multi-vehicle involvements are more likely to lead to serious crashes. Still, their impact on super multi-lane freeways is much stronger. In addition, for super multi-lane freeways, vehicle-to-facility collisions and rainy weather can result in a high possibility of serious crashes, but their impact on traditional multi-lane freeways are not significant. This study will contribute to understanding the impacting factors of crash severity on super multi-lane freeways and help the future design and safety management of super multi-lane freeways.
Categorizing and Harmonizing Natural, Technological, and Socio-Economic Perils Following the Catastrophe Modeling Paradigm
Authors: Mignan Arnaud
Published: October 2022

The literature on probabilistic hazard and risk assessment shows a rich and wide variety of modeling strategies tailored to specific perils. On one hand, catastrophe (CAT) modeling, a recent professional and scientific discipline, provides a general structure for the quantification of natural (e.g., geological, hydrological, meteorological) and man-made (e.g., terrorist, cyber) catastrophes. On the other hand, peril characteristics and related processes have yet to be categorized and harmonized to enable adequate comparison, limit silo effects, and simplify the implementation of emerging risks. We reviewed the literature for more than 20 perils from the natural, technological, and socio-economic systems to categorize them by following the CAT modeling hazard pipeline: (1) event source → (2) size distribution → (3) intensity footprint. We defined the following categorizations, which are applicable to any type of peril, specifically: (1) point/line/area/track/diffuse source, (2) discrete event/continuous flow, and (3) spatial diffusion (static)/threshold (passive)/sustained propagation (dynamic). We then harmonized the various hazard processes using energy as the common metric, noting that the hazard pipeline’s underlying physical process consists of some energy being transferred from an energy stock (the source), via an event, to the environment (the footprint).
The Culture of Volunteerism: Attitudes and Motivations among Generation 1.5 Former Soviet Union Immigrants versus Native-Born Israelis
Authors: Zychlinski Ester , Kagan Maya
Published: October 2022

The large Former Soviet Union (FSU) immigration of the 1990s, accounting for approximately 15% of the Jewish population in Israel today, plays a significant role in shaping Israeli society. Volunteering, as part of social citizenship and normative culture, is an important element of acculturation among immigrants. The present study compares volunteering attitudes and motivations among Generation 1.5 FSU immigrants in their third decade in Israel to native-born Israelis (NBIs): 576 participants, 50.2% NBIs and 49.8% FSUs. Generation 1.5 FSU immigrants exhibited less favorable attitudes toward volunteerism than NBIs. FSUs also rated career motivations for volunteerism significantly higher than NBIs, and values significantly lower than NBIs. Significant differences were found between motivations for volunteering among each cohort, separately, as well. In the context of mass immigration, re-socialization regarding volunteering among Generation 1.5 FSU immigrants living 2–3 decades in Israel appears relatively weak, possibly attributable to FSU policy and culture in opposition to independent volunteerism.
Association of Parental Screen Addiction with Young Children’s Screen Addiction: A Chain-Mediating Model
Authors: Li Hui , Luo Wenwei , He Huihua
Published: October 2022

Preschool children are immersed in screen media, yet little study has been conducted on screen addiction among them. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between parental screen addiction and young children’s screen addiction and to verify factors that mediate this relationship. A total of 477 parents of kindergarteners (3–6 years old) were recruited via six kindergartens in Henan province, China. They completed the Problematic Media Use Measure Short Form of Children, the Self-Rating Anxiety Scale, the Child–Parent Relationship Scale, and the Parental Screen Addiction Scale. The results showed that the relationships between each pair of parental screen addiction, parental anxiety, and children’s screen addiction were significantly positive, but the parent–child relationship was negatively correlated with the other variables. Parental screen addiction can directly and indirectly affect children’s screen addiction through parental anxiety and the parent–child relationship. The findings contribute to the development of family protection mechanisms against screen addiction in children.
The Role of Social Capital in Predicting Tourists’ Waste Sorting Intentions in Rural Destinations: Extending the Theory of Planned Behavior
Authors: Cao Jian , Qiu Hongliang , Morrison Alastair M. , Wei Wei
Published: October 2022

Improper waste disposal of tourists has detrimental impacts on the environment, economy, and people in rural destinations. Separating at the source is an effective means to mitigate these adverse impacts on rural destinations. Hence, identifying factors influencing tourists’ waste sorting intentions in rural destinations is critical to the sustainability of rural tourism and rural land. However, few studies focus on tourists’ waste sorting intentions. Drawing on the theory of planned behavior (TPB) and social capital, this research examined the determinants of tourists’ waste sorting intentions in rural destinations. A total of 395 valid questionnaires were collected from a rural destination in Huzhou, China. The results indicated that: (1) all TPB variables, i.e., attitude toward the behavior, subjective norms, and perceived behavioral control, positively and directly affect tourists’ waste sorting intentions; (2) interpersonal trust directly and positively influences tourists’ waste sorting intentions; (3) subjective norms, perceived behavioral control, interpersonal trust, and emotional bonding indirectly influence tourists’ waste sorting intentions through the mediation of attitude toward the behavior; (4) emotional bonding does not directly affect tourists’ waste sorting intentions, but the link is established through the mediation of attitude toward the behavior. This research expands the body of knowledge by integrating individuals’ psychological elements with their social contexts. The findings offer some theoretical and managerial implications for understanding how tourists’ social contexts facilitate tourists’ waste sorting intentions.
The Epidemiology of Violent Deaths in Chile between 2001 and 2018: Prevalence, Trends, and Correlates
Authors: Wiederkehr Katjana , Mai Caroline , Cabezas José M. , Rocha-Jiménez Teresita , Otzen Tamara , Montalva Nicolás , Calvo Esteban , Castillo-Carniglia Alvaro
Published: October 2022

Background: Despite its enormous health and social burden, there are limited published studies describing the epidemiology of violent deaths in Chile. We described violent mortality rate trends in Chile between 2001 and 2018, its current spatial distribution and ecological level correlates. Methods: A population-based study using publicly accessible data. We calculated age-adjusted mortality rates per 100,000 persons for sex, age, intention, and mechanism of death. Next, we used linear regression to estimate time trends for sex and intention. We then employed hierarchical Poisson analyses to model the spatial distribution across 345 municipalities and the influence of six ecological level variables. Results: The average rate of violent death in Chile between 2001 and 2018 was 15.9 per 100,000 people, with the majority (70.3%) of these attributed to suicide. Suffocation was the most common mechanism of death for suicide (82.3%) and cut/pierce for homicide (43.1%), followed by firearm (33.2%). Violent deaths are trending downward in Chile across all categories except suicides by women, which have remained stable. Poverty rates and urban population were positively associated with violent mortality rates. Conclusions: Although violence-related deaths seem to be decreasing, disparities across gender, age group, and geographic location may have continuing effects on mortality rates.
Substance Use and Mental Health during the First COVID-19 Lockdown in Germany: Results of a Cross-Sectional Survey
Authors: Deimel Daniel , Firk Christine , Stöver Heino , Hees Nicolas , Scherbaum Norbert , Fleißner Simon
Published: October 2022

Background: The measures taken to contain the COVID-19 pandemic have led to significant changes in people’s daily lives. This paper examines changes in substance use during the first lockdown (March–July 2020) and investigates mental health burdens in substance users with increased consumption of alcohol, nicotine or tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) in Germany compared to users with unchanged or reduced consumption. Method: In a cross-sectional online survey, 2369 people were asked about their mental health and their substance use during the first lockdown in Germany. Results: Of the participants, 28.5% increased their alcohol use, 28.8% their use of tobacco products, and 20.6% their use of THC-containing products during the pandemic. The groups with increased alcohol, nicotine, and THC use during the first lockdown reported more depressive symptoms and anxiety. Individuals who reported increased consumption of alcohol or nicotine were also more likely to experience loneliness and have suicidal thoughts and were more often stressed due to social distancing. Conclusion: Alcohol, nicotine and THC increased in a subgroup of consumers who reported to have more mental health problems compared to individuals who did not increase their consumption. This increased substance use could, therefore, be understood as a dysfunctional strategy to cope with negative emotions during the lockdown.
Inhaled Nitric Oxide for Clinical Management of COVID-19: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Alqahtani Jaber S. , Aldhahir Abdulelah M. , Al Ghamdi Shouq S. , AlBahrani Salma , AlDraiwiesh Ibrahim A. , Alqarni Abdullah A. , Latief Kamaluddin , Raya Reynie Purnama , Oyelade Tope
Published: October 2022

Background: Severe COVID-19 is associated with hypoxemia and acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), which may predispose multiorgan failure and death. Inhaled nitric oxide (iNO) is a clinical vasodilator used in the management of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). This study evaluated the response rate to iNO in patients with COVID-19-ARDS. Method: We searched Medline and Embase databases in May 2022, and data on the use of iNO in the treatment of ARDS in COVID-19 patients were synthesized from studies that satisfied predefined inclusion criteria. A systematic synthesis of data was performed followed by meta-analysis. We performed the funnel plot and leave-one-out sensitivity test on the included studies to assess publication bias and possible exaggerated effect size. We compared the effect size of the studies from the Unites States with those from other countries and performed meta-regression to assess the effect of age, year of publication, and concomitant vasodilator use on the effect size. Results: A total of 17 studies (including 712 COVID-19 patients) were included in this systematic review of which 8 studies (involving 265 COVID-19 patients) were subjected to meta-analysis. The overall response rate was 66% (95% CI, 47–84%) with significantly high between-studies heterogeneity (I2 = 94%, p < 0.001). The funnel plot showed publication bias, although the sensitivity test using leave-one-out analysis showed that removing any of the study does not remove the significance of the result. The response rate was higher in the Unites States, and meta-regression showed that age, year of publication, and use of concomitant vasodilators did not influence the response rate to iNO. Conclusion: iNO therapy is valuable in the treatment of hypoxemia in COVID-19 patients and may improve systemic oxygenation in patients with COVID-19-ARDS. Future studies should investigate the mechanism of the activity of iNO in COVID-19 patients to provide insight into the unexplored potential of iNO in general ARDS.
The Chaotic Behavior of the Spread of Infection during the COVID-19 Pandemic in Japan
Authors: Sapkota Nabin , Murata Atsuo , Karwowski Waldemar , Davahli Mohammad Reza , Fiok Krzysztof , Aljuaid Awad M. , Marek Tadeusz , Ahram Tareq
Published: October 2022

In December 2019, China reported a new virus identified as SARS-CoV-2, causing COVID-19, which soon spread to other countries and led to a global pandemic. Although many countries imposed strict actions to control the spread of the virus, the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in unprecedented economic and social consequences in 2020 and early 2021. To understand the dynamics of the spread of the virus, we evaluated its chaotic behavior in Japan. A 0–1 test was applied to the time-series data of daily COVID-19 cases from January 26, 2020 to August 5, 2021 (3 days before the end of the Tokyo Olympic Games). Additionally, the influence of hosting the Olympic Games in Tokyo was assessed in data including the post-Olympic period until October 8, 2021. Even with these extended time period data, although the time-series data for the daily infections across Japan were not found to be chaotic, more than 76.6% and 55.3% of the prefectures in Japan showed chaotic behavior in the pre- and post-Olympic Games periods, respectively. Notably, Tokyo and Kanagawa, the two most populous cities in Japan, did not show chaotic behavior in their time-series data of daily COVID-19 confirmed cases. Overall, the prefectures with the largest population centers showed non-chaotic behavior, whereas the prefectures with smaller populations showed chaotic behavior. This phenomenon was observed in both of the analyzed time periods (pre- and post-Olympic Games); therefore, more attention should be paid to prefectures with smaller populations, in which controlling and preventing the current pandemic is more difficult.
Driving-Related Cognitive Abilities: Evaluating Change over Time in a Sample of Older Adults Undergoing an Assessment Regarding Fitness to Drive
Authors: Balzarotti Stefania , Pagani Eleonora , Telazzi Ilaria , Gnerre Martina , Biassoni Federica
Published: October 2022

Advancing age can bring a decline in many driving-related cognitive abilities. For this reason, public safety concern has raised about older adults’ driving performance, and many countries have adopted screening polices to assess older drivers’ fitness to drive. As a result of such assessments, authorities may impose behavioral restrictions to driving. The present study examines whether driving-related cognitive abilities change over time and compares drivers either restricted or not by licensing authorities after the first assessment. The data were derived from a database provided by a service of psychodiagnostic assessment of fitness to drive. This database contained data of people referred for cognitive assessment in order to renew their driving license over the period of 2016 to 2022. The sample included 58 cognitively healthy old drivers (mean age = 82.79, SD = 6.13; 97% men) with a follow-up examination (T2) after a period ranging from one to four years (M = 1.59, SD = 0.72) since the first assessment. Cognitive assessments were conducted using the standard test battery from the Vienna Test System (VTS8; ©Schuhfried GmbH, Mödling, Austria). Decision time variability, motor time, reaction time under stress, and obtaining an overview did not show significant changes between T1 and T2, whereas selective attention and inductive reasoning significantly decreased over time in both groups. Improvements in processing speed consistent with practice effects emerged at T2. Restricted drivers (n = 41) maintained significantly worse performances than unrestricted drivers (n = 17) in the follow-up assessment. Chronological age was associated with higher reaction time under stress, while education showed a buffering role against a decrease in perceptual speed. Overall, although older drivers’ driving-related cognitive abilities remain relatively stable over the short-term, the decline in some cognitive functions deserves reevaluation and monitoring.
Intersectionality Impacts Survivorship: Identity-Informed Recommendations to Improve the Quality of Life of African American Breast Cancer Survivors in Health Promotion Programming
Authors: Garza Rose Hennessy , Williams Michelle Y. , Ntiri Shana O. , Hampton Michelle DeCoux , Yan Alice F.
Published: October 2022

(1) Background: African American women breast cancer survivors face unique experiences that impact their quality of life as they transition beyond treatments. Experiences may be complicated by living at the intersection of systemically oppressed identities, including gender, race, social class, and cancer-related disability. Using the Black Feminist Thought (BFT) framework and the PEN-3 cultural model, this qualitative study sought to: (a) understand African American women breast cancer survivors’ lived experiences; (b) examine how the multiple intersecting factors of race, gender, social class/socioeconomic status, and cancer-related disability impact their quality of life; and (c) inform future health promotion programming that is culturally relevant to AAWBCS to improve their quality of life. (2) Methods: Seven focus groups were conducted with 30 African American breast cancer survivors in a Midwestern metropolitan region. Focus groups were audiotaped and transcribed verbatim. Framework analyses were conducted to identify themes with NVivo qualitative analysis software. (3) Results: Four themes emerged: (a) caregiving roles provide both support and challenges for survivors, (b) the “strong Black woman” is inherent in survivor experiences, (c) intersectionality impacts survivorship, and (d) African American women resist oppression through culturally specific supports and advocacy. (4) Conclusions: The intervention point of entry should be at the peer support group level and centered on family and provide community-based support and services. Future research should move upstream to address social determinants of health, including racism, sexism, and ableism; there is a critical need to discuss how structural racism affects health care and develop interventions to address racial discrimination and racial bias in health care.
Impact of Constraint-Induced Movement Therapy (CIMT) on Functional Ambulation in Stroke Patients—A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Reddy Ravi Shankar , Gular Kumar , Dixit Snehil , Kandakurti Praveen Kumar , Tedla Jaya Shanker , Gautam Ajay Prashad , Sangadala Devika Rani
Published: October 2022

Constraint-induced movement therapy (CIMT) has been delivered in the stroke population to improve lower-extremity functions. However, its efficacy on prime components of functional ambulation, such as gait speed, balance, and cardiovascular outcomes, is ambiguous. The present review aims to delineate the effect of various lower-extremity CIMT (LECIMT) protocols on gait speed, balance, and cardiovascular outcomes. Material and methods: The databases used to collect relevant articles were EBSCO, PubMed, PEDro, Science Direct, Scopus, MEDLINE, CINAHL, and Web of Science. For this analysis, clinical trials involving stroke populations in different stages of recovery, >18 years old, and treated with LECIMT were considered. Only ten studies were included in this review, as they fulfilled the inclusion criteria. The effect of CIMT on gait speed and balance outcomes was accomplished using a random or fixed-effect model. CIMT, when compared to controlled interventions, showed superior or similar effects. The effect of LECIMT on gait speed and balance were non-significant, with mean differences (SMDs) of 0.13 and 4.94 and at 95% confidence intervals (Cis) of (−0.18–0.44) and (−2.48–12.37), respectively. In this meta-analysis, we observed that despite the fact that several trials claimed the efficacy of LECIMT in improving lower-extremity functions, gait speed and balance did not demonstrate a significant effect size favoring LECIMT. Therefore, CIMT treatment protocols should consider the patient’s functional requirements, cardinal principles of CIMT, and cardiorespiratory parameters.
Association between Backward Walking and Cognition in Parkinson Disease: A Systematic Review
Authors: Correno Mathias Baptiste , Hansen Clint , Chardon Matthias , Milane Tracy , Bianchini Edoardo , Vuillerme Nicolas
Published: October 2022

Backward walking often occurs in everyday life. It is more complex than forward walking and is associated with decreased coordination. However, it is unclear if a reduced backward walking performance is associated with impaired cognition. This could be particularly relevant as gait and cognitive deficits commonly occur in Parkinson’s disease. The objective of this systematic review was to synthesize the evidence on the association between backward walking and cognition in persons with Parkinson’s disease. The electronic databases PubMed and Web of Science were systematically searched, and the quality of eligible studies was assessed. Two studies met the inclusion criteria, but study protocols, investigated population, and outcome measures differed substantially. One study showed lower backward walking speed in patients with Parkinson’s disease with poorer attention test performances. The second study showed a weak correlation between executive cognitive functions and backward walking speed. Given the low number of studies, the heterogenous study design, and the inconsistent results, the present review highlights the need to further investigate the association between backward walking and cognition in patients with Parkinson’s disease.
Where Is the Way Forward for New Media Empowering Public Health? Development Strategy Options Based on SWOT-AHP Model
Authors: Hao Zikang , Zhang Mengmeng , Liu Kerui , Zhang Xiaodan , Jia Haoran , Chen Ping
Published: October 2022

(1) Background: In recent years, new media and the integration of sport and medicine have promoted the rapid integration and development of the two fields of health and, to a certain extent, the pursuit of public health knowledge and the promotion of health concepts. However, the overall development process is at an early stage and the aim of this paper is to make an empirical analysis of its development through a SWOT-AHP model and give corresponding recommendations. (2) Methods: The SWOT-AHP model was constructed to quantitatively and qualitatively analyse the four dimensions of strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats obtained through the Delphi method, with regard to development and to determine the strategic direction of its development. (3) Results: The strategic azimuth θ is −13.243° and the strategic coefficient p is 0.53699, in the diversification zone. (4) Conclusions: New media, as a fast track to empowering the integration of sport and medicine for health, is a field with a bright future, but its own strengths and external threats coexist and should be maximised to overcome the disruptions caused by external threats through a variety of measures.
Perspectives on a Novel Culturally Tailored Diabetes Self-Management Program for African Americans: A Qualitative Study of Healthcare Professionals and Organizational Leaders
Authors: Wen Meng-Jung , Maurer Martha , Schwerer Luke , Sarkarati Nassim , Egbujor Ugboaku Maryann , Nordin Jenna , Williams Sharon D. , Liu Yao , Shiyanbola Olayinka O.
Published: October 2022

Background: There is an urgent need for culturally tailored diabetes self-management education to improve health outcomes in African Americans, especially given the disproportionate prevalence of diabetes and medication non-adherence. Stakeholder engagement can guide and enrich the development of these interventions by integrating content directly addressing barriers to African Americans’ adherence with existing community-based diabetes self-management education programs. The aim of this study is to explore stakeholder perspectives on a novel culturally tailored diabetes self-management program for African Americans. Methods: Thirteen semi-structured individual interviews were conducted in a large Midwestern U.S. city with healthcare professionals and organizational leaders serving African American communities and/or providing diabetes education. Transcripts were analyzed using directed content analysis with the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research and inductive content analysis. Results: Five overarching themes were identified: (1) fulfill needs among stakeholders, (2) creating a supportive and trusting environment to address distrust, (3) building relationships and empowering peers, (4) logistical organization barriers to program implementation and (5) challenges to program acceptance by participants. Conclusion: Stakeholders delineated how the new culturally tailored diabetes self-management program aligned with the needs of African American patients. Perceived challenges and corresponding strategies to address barriers to participation were identified to inform program implementation and sustainability.
Demoralization and Its Association with Quality of Life, Sleep Quality, Spiritual Interests, and Suicide Risk in Breast Cancer Inpatients: A Cross-Sectional Study
Authors: Chang Ting-Gang , Hung Chih-Chiang , Huang Pei-Ching , Hsu Chiann-Yi , Yen Ting-Ting
Published: October 2022

With decreasing mortality, the quality of life, spiritual needs, and mental health of breast cancer patients have become increasingly important. Demoralization is a poor prognostic factor for cancer patients. The extent of demoralization in breast cancer patients and its association with these factors remains unclear. This cross-sectional study was conducted at a Taiwanese medical center. We enrolled 121 participants (34 with high demoralization and 87 with low demoralization, as per the Mandarin Version of Demoralization Scale). High demoralization was associated with reduced quality of life, sleep quality, and spiritual interests. Multivariate analyses revealed that the scores of the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire ≥ 62.5 (OR = 0.21, p = 0.002) and Spiritual Interests Related to Illness Tool Chinese Version ≥ 3.66 (OR = 0.11, p < 0.001) were associated with low demoralization. Demoralized patients with depression had a poorer quality of life and sleep quality. Although not statistically significant, depressed and demoralized participants were at a higher risk of suicide. Cancer patients with both depression and demoralization had the worst prognosis. Breast cancer patients exhibited demoralization when they had unmet bio-psycho-social-spiritual needs. An early assessment of demoralization may improve holistic healthcare for breast cancer patients.
Brain Fog and Quality of Life at Work in Non-Hospitalized Patients after COVID-19
Authors: Chatys-Bogacka Zaneta , Mazurkiewicz Iwona , Slowik Joanna , Bociaga-Jasik Monika , Dzieza-Grudnik Anna , Slowik Agnieszka , Wnuk Marcin , Drabik Leszek
Published: October 2022

Background: There is still a need for studies on the quality of life (QoL) at work among COVID-19 survivors. Therefore, we aimed to evaluate the association between the brain fog symptoms and the QoL at work in non-hospitalized patients with previous SARS-CoV-2 infection. Methods: Three hundred non-hospitalized patients (79.33% women; median age, 36 years; interquartile range, 30–48 years) were included in the final analysis. An anonymous neuropsychological questionnaire containing eight different questions on the presence of brain fog symptoms in four time intervals, i.e., pre-COVID-19 and 0–4, 4–12, and >12 weeks after infection, was retrospectively introduced to patients and staff of the University Hospital in Krakow. Additionally, a four-point Likert scale was used to evaluate QoL at work in four time periods. Included were participants aged ≥ 18 years in whom the diagnosis of COVID-19 was confirmed by the RT-PCR from nasopharyngeal swab and the first symptoms occurred no earlier than 3 months before the completion of the questionnaire. Results: Before SARS-CoV-2 infection, 28.00% (n = 84) of patients reported poor QoL at work. Within 4, 4–12, and >12 weeks after infection, a decrease in QoL was observed in 75.67% (n = 227), 65.00% (n = 195), and 53.66% (n = 161) of patients, respectively (p < 0.001). With increasing deterioration of the QoL at work, the number of brain fog symptoms increased, and patients with severe QoL impairment exhibited a median of five symptoms for <4, 4–12, and >12 weeks post-COVID-19. In the multivariable logistic regression model, predictors of the deterioration of the QoL at work depended on the time from COVID-19 onset; in the acute phase of the disease (<4 weeks), it was predicted by impairment in remembering information from the past (OR 1.88, 95%CI: 1.18–3.00, p = 0.008) and multitasking (OR 1.96, 95%CI: 1.48–2.58, p < 0.001). Furthermore, an impairment in the QoL at work 4–12 weeks and >12 weeks after COVID-19 was independently associated with age (OR 0.46, 95%CI: 0.25–0.85, p = 0.014 and OR 1.03, 95%CI: 1.01–1.05, p = 0.025, respectively), problems with multitasking (OR 2.05, 95%CI: 1.40–3.01, p < 0.001 and OR 1.75, 95%CI: 1.15–2.66, p = 0.009, respectively), answering questions in an understandable/unambiguous manner (OR 1.99, 95%CI: 1.27–3.14, p = 0.003 and OR 2.00, 95%CI: 1.47–2.36, p = 0.001, respectively), and, only for the >12 week interval, problems with remembering information from the past (OR 2.21, 95%CI: 1.24–3.92, p = 0.007). Conclusions: Certain brain fog symptoms, such as impaired memory or multitasking, are predictors of a poorer QoL at work not only during the acute phase of COVID-19 but also within more than 12 weeks after the onset of infection.
“We Need Health for All”: Mental Health and Barriers to Care among Latinxs in California and Connecticut
Authors: Espinoza-Kulick Mario Alberto Viveros , Cerdeña Jessica P.
Published: October 2022

Latinx (im)migrant groups remain underserved by existing mental health resources. Past research has illuminated the complex factors contributing to this problem, including migration-related trauma, discrimination, anti-immigrant policies, and structural vulnerability. This paper uses decolonial-inspired methods to present and analyze results from two studies of Latinx (im)migrant communities in central California and southern Connecticut in the United States. Using mixed quantitative and qualitative analysis, we demonstrate the intersectional complexities to be addressed in formulating effective mental health services. Relevant social and structural factors including knowledge of mental health, access to insurance, and experiencing discrimination were significantly associated with anxiety symptoms, based on linear regression analysis. Ethnographic interviews demonstrate how complex trauma informs mental health needs, especially through the gendered experiences of women. Overlapping aspects of gender, language barriers, fear of authorities, and immigration status contoured the lived experiences of Latinx (im)migrants. Thematic analyses of open-ended survey responses also provide recommendations for solutions based on the experiences of those directly affected by these health disparities, particularly relating to healthcare access, affordability, and capacity. Building from these findings and past research, we recommend the adoption of a comprehensive model of mental health service provision for Latinx (im)migrants that takes into account Indigenous language access, structural competency, expanded health insurance, and resources for community health workers.
Two-Stage Gene Therapy (VEGF, HGF and ANG1 Plasmids) as Adjunctive Therapy in the Treatment of Critical Lower Limb Ischemia in Diabetic Foot Syndrome
Authors: Barć Piotr , Antkiewicz Maciej , Frączkowska-Sioma Katarzyna , Kupczyńska Diana , Lubieniecki Paweł , Witkiewicz Wojciech , Małodobra-Mazur Małgorzata , Baczyńska Dagmara , Janczak Dariusz , Skóra Jan Paweł
Published: October 2022

One of the most serious problems in people with diabetes is diabetic foot syndrome. Due to the peripheral location of atherosclerotic lesions in the arterial system of the lower extremities, endovascular treatment plays a dominant role. However, carrying out these procedures is not always possible and does not always bring the expected results. Gene therapy, which stimulates angiogenesis, improves not only the inflow from the proximal limb but also the blood redistribution in individual angiosomes. Due to the encouraging results of sequential treatment consisting of intramuscular injections of VEGF/HGF bicistronic plasmids followed by a month of ANG1 plasmids, we decided to use the described method for the treatment of critical ischemia of the lower limbs in the course of diabetes and, more specifically, in diabetic foot syndrome. Twenty-four patients meeting the inclusion criteria were enrolled in the study. They were randomly divided into two equal groups. The first group of patients was subjected to gene therapy, where the patients received intramuscular injections of pIRES/VEGF165/HGF plasmids and 1 month of ANG-1 plasmids. The remaining patients constituted the control group. Gene therapy was well tolerated by most patients. The wounds healed significantly better in Group 1. The minimal value of ABI increased significantly in Group 1 from 0.44 ± 0.14 (± standard deviation) to 0.47 ± 0.12 (with p = 0.028) at the end of the study. There were no significant differences in the control group. In the gene treatment group, PtcO2 increased significantly (from 28.71 ± 10.89 mmHg to 33.9 ± 6.33 mmHg with p = 0.001), while in Group 2, no statistically significant changes were found. The observed resting pain decreased significantly in both groups (Group 1 decreased from 6.80 ± 1.48 to 2.10 ± 1.10; p < 0.001; the control group decreased from 7.44 ± 1.42 to 3.78 ± 1.64 with p < 0.001). In our study, we evaluated the effectiveness of gene therapy with the growth factors described above in patients with CLI in the course of complicated DM. The therapy was shown to be effective with minimal side effects. No serious complications were observed.
Building Information Modeling (BIM) Driven Carbon Emission Reduction Research: A 14-Year Bibliometric Analysis
Authors: Liu Zhen , Li Peixuan , Wang Fenghong , Osmani Mohamed , Demian Peter
Published: October 2022

Governments across the world are taking actions to address the high carbon emissions associated with the construction industry, and to achieve the long-term goals of the Paris Agreement towards carbon neutrality. Although the ideal of the carbon-emission reduction in building projects is well acknowledged and generally accepted, it is proving more difficult to implement. The application of building information modeling (BIM) brings about new possibilities for reductions in carbon emissions within the context of sustainable buildings. At present, the studies on BIM associated with carbon emissions have concentrated on the design stage, with the topics focusing on resource efficiency (namely, building energy and carbon-emission calculators). However, the effect of BIM in reducing carbon emissions across the lifecycle phases of buildings is not well researched. Therefore, this paper aims to examine the relationship between BIM, carbon emissions, and sustainable buildings by reviewing and assessing the current state of the research hotspots, trends, and gaps in the field of BIM and carbon emissions, providing a reference for understanding the current body of knowledge, and helping to stimulate future research. This paper adopts the macroquantitative and microqualitative research methods of bibliometric analysis. The results show that, in green-building construction, building lifecycle assessments, sustainable materials, the building energy efficiency and design, and environmental-protection strategies are the five most popular research directions of BIM in the field of carbon emissions in sustainable buildings. Interestingly, China has shown a good practice of using BIM for carbon-emission reduction. Furthermore, the findings suggest that the current research in the field is focused on the design and construction stages, which indicates that the operational and demolition stages have greater potential for future research. The results also indicate the need for policy and technological drivers for the rapid development of BIM-driven carbon-emission reduction.
A Cognitive Systems Engineering Approach Using Unsupervised Fuzzy C-Means Technique, Exploratory Factor Analysis and Network Analysis—A Preliminary Statistical Investigation of the Bean Counter Profiling Scale Robustness
Authors: Rad Dana , Cuc Lavinia Denisia , Lile Ramona , Balas Valentina E. , Barna Cornel , Pantea Mioara Florina , Bâtcă-Dumitru Graziella Corina , Szentesi Silviu Gabriel , Rad Gavril
Published: October 2022

A bean counter is defined as an accountant or economist who makes financial decisions for a company or government, especially someone who wants to severely limit the amount of money spent. The rise of the bean counter in both public and private companies has motivated us to develop a Bean Counter Profiling Scale in order to further depict this personality typology in real organizational contexts. Since there are no scales to measure such traits in personnel, we have followed the methodological steps for elaborating the scale’s items from the available qualitative literature and further employed a cognitive systems engineering approach based on statistical architecture, employing cluster, factor and items network analysis to statistically depict the best mathematical design of the scale. The statistical architecture will further employ a hierarchical clustering analysis using the unsupervised fuzzy c-means technique, an exploratory factor analysis and items network analysis technique. The network analysis which employs the use of networks and graph theory is used to depict relations among items and to analyze the structures that emerge from the recurrence of these relations. During this preliminary investigation, all statistical techniques employed yielded a six-element structural architecture of the 68 items of the Bean Counter Profiling Scale. This research represents one of the first scale validation studies employing the fuzzy c-means technique along with a factor analysis comparative design.
Why Is the Australian Health Sector So Far behind in Practising Climate-Related Disclosures?
Authors: Deweerdt Tom
Published: October 2022

The health sector in Australia and the ASX100 is lagging far behind in the implementation of carbon management and climate risk analysis. This case study highlights the low quantity and quality of the sector compared to its market weight. The analysis of CDP disclosures for Australian healthcare companies shows this delay and a general lack of interest in the Task Force on Climate-Related Financial Disclosures’ (TCFD) recommendations. Yet, the physical and transitory risks for these companies do exist. The reasons for this inaction represent a knowledge gap in the literature, but several hypotheses are formulated, such as the lack of pressure from public authorities. At the level of the ten largest healthcare companies in the world, this failure to act is not systemic, so the scope of analysis must be broadened to see a pattern emerging.
Associations between Mental Health, Lifestyle Factors and Worries about Climate Change in Norwegian Adolescents
Authors: Leonhardt Marja , Granrud Marie Dahlen , Bonsaksen Tore , Lien Lars
Published: October 2022

Climate change is a serious global health threat that has an impact on young people’s lives and may influence their mental health. Since the global climate strike movement, many adolescents have expressed worries about climate change. Thus, the aim of this study is to examine the prevalence of worries about climate change, and factors associated with worries about climate change, in a representative sample of Norwegian adolescents. Data were retrieved from Ungdata, an annual nationwide online youth survey. Adolescents (n = 128,484) from lower and upper secondary school participated in the study. Data were analysed descriptively and with logistic regression. Most of the adolescents were not worried or a little worried about climate change. Girls, pupils who had at least one parent with higher education and pupils from urban areas were more inclined to worry about the climate. Adolescents who worried about the climate had more symptoms of depression than those who were less worried. While worry about climate change may constitute an additional burden for adolescents experiencing depressive symptoms, such worry can also be seen to reflect climate-friendly values.
Sex Differences in Cardiovascular Disease Mortality in Brazil between 1996 and 2019
Authors: Mansur Antonio de Padua , Favarato Desidério , Strunz Célia Maria Cassaro , Avakian Solange Desirée , Pereira-Barretto Antonio Carlos , Bocchi Edimar Alcides , César Luiz Antonio Machado
Published: October 2022

Background: cardiovascular diseases (CVD) are Brazil’s leading causes of death in women and men. This study analyzed age-adjusted death rate (DRaj) trends from all causes of death (ACD), CVD, ischemic heart disease (IHD), and stroke in women and men aged 35 to 74 years from 1996 to 2019. Methods: We analyzed DRaj trends for all causes of death (ACD), CVD, IHD, and stroke. Data were from the Ministry of Health mortality database. Joinpoint Regression Program™ performed trend analysis and adjustments in death rates. Average annual percentage change (AAPC) determined the intensity of changes. Results: In women, DRaj reduced for ACD (AAPC = −1.6%); CVD (AAPC = −2.6%); IHD (AAPC = −1.9%); and stroke (AAPC = −4.6%) (p < 0.001 for all). In men, ACD reduced from 1996 to 2004 (AAPC = −0.9%; p < 0.001), from 2012 to 2019 (AAPC = −1.9%; p < 0.001), and unchanged from 2004 to 2012; CVD (AAPC = −2.1%); IHD (AAPC = −1.5%); stroke (AAPC = −4.9%) (p < 0.001 for all) reduced from 1996 to 2019. From 1996 to 2019, the male/female ratio for ACD remained unchanged. CVD increased from 1.58 to 1.83, IHD from 1.99 to 2.30, and stroke from 1.52 to 1.83. Conclusion: ACD, CVD, IHD, and stroke were reduced more significantly in women, and the ratio of CVD, IHD, and CVD in men and women increased more in men. Future studies will be needed to determine the main factors responsible for a better outcome in women.