bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Health Utility and Its Risk Factors in University Staff in China: A Cross-Sectional Survey from an Occupational Health Perspective
Authors: Zhou Hui Jun , Luo Guo Fen , Naidoo Nasheen , Shen Jian , Gao Meng Meng , Cheng Wei Xin , Dai Yong Le , Wei Jie
Published: December 2021

Backgrounds: The health of university staff is a major occupational health concern worldwide. Studies have reported low health-related quality of life (HRQOL), low job satisfaction and poor mental health in this occupational group. However, none of previous studies have measured health utility and compared it to a national norm. Therefore, this study was conducted to gain a deeper understanding of the HRQOL of university staff in China and to identify risk factors influential to their health. Methods: This was a cross-sectional survey conducted in a public university in China. Participants were interviewed face-to-face for demographic and socioeconomic information and health conditions. The Chinese version of the EQ-5D-5L instrument was used to measure HRQOL for calculating health utility. The relationship between health utility and sample characteristics was first examined using t-test and correlation analysis. Multivariate generalized linear models were further applied to evaluate the significance of these associations while adjusting for other variables. Results: The sample (n=154) had a mean age of 40.65 years and slightly more females (51.30%). The overall prevalence of diseases or symptoms was 81.17%. Participants attained the means (SDs) of 0.945 (0.073) and 83.00 (11.32) for the health utility and visual analogue scale respectively. The most affected domain was the anxiety/depression with 40.26% of participants reporting problems and 37.66% of the sample reported problems in the pain/discomfort domain. There were less than 5% participants reported problems in the mobility, self-care or daily activity domains individually. Multivariate models revealed that psychological/emotional conditions were associated with the largest utility loss of -0.067 (95%CI: -0.089, -0.045) followed by having a Master’s degree or higher (-0.048, 95%CI: -0.09, -0.005) and pain in body parts other than head, neck and back (-0.034, 95%CI: -0.055, -0.014).Conclusions: University staff in China may have worse HRQOL than the general population, which manifested mainly with the pain/discomfort and anxiety/depression domains. The significant factors for utility loss were having a Master’s degree or higher, psychological conditions and pain in body parts other than the head, neck and back. Targeted health promotion policies and programs should be created to benefit this occupational group and society overall.
Behavioral and Psychosocial Context of Pharmaceutical Cognitive Enhancers` Misuse
Authors: Tomažič Tina , Čelofiga Anita
Published: December 2021

Background
In an effort for better memory, greater motivation and concentration, otherwise healthy individuals use Pharmaceutical Cognitive Enhancers (PCE), medicines for the treatment of cognitive deficits of patients with various disorders and health problems, to achieve greater productivity, efficiency, and performance.
Methods
In our study, we examined the use of PCE use among 289 students at the Slovenian Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science in the behavioral and psychosocial context (students’ attitudes towards study, parents, health, leisure time and work). Furthermore, we addressed also the immediate reasons, or the hypothesized connections of behavioral and psychosocial aspects, related to PCE misuse. The study consisted of a structured questionnaire, and the chi-square tests were used.
Results
An analysis of student statements revealed differences in students` and parents` attitudes toward good academic grades. In addition, students chose among 17 values relating to relationships with parents, friends, partners, careers, study obligations, leisure, hobbies, material goods, appearance and the future, and assessed their importance. Regardless of the group they belonged to, young people cited the same values among the most important. Good grades and parental opinions have proven to be key factors in the context of PCE abuse.
Conclusions
This research was the first study to examine the relation between PCE misuse and the role of different behavioral and psychosocial factors. However, the further research is needed, both on the actual effects of PCE on healthy people, as well as on continuing research towards behavioral and psychosocial factors.
Research on Controlling Contact Electrification by Modification of Cellulose Molecule Surface with Amino Group
Authors: Zhang Sheng , Zhu Qiuxiao , Wang Tingting , Wang Xuchong , Sun Xiaoping , Wei Yuhe , Luo Lianxin
Published: December 2021

As a green material, cellulose is widely used in friction triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs). However, the weak polarity of the cellulose surface leads to its weak contact electrification performance, which is not conducive to its utilization in TENGs. In this study, epoxy chloropropane and ethylenediamine were grafted onto cellulose to form paper and were assembled with an FEP film. The output voltage, current, and surface charge density were 34.9%, 26.7%, and 16.7% higher than those of ordinary paper, respectively. When 20% nano TiO2 filler was added to the paper made from amino-modified cellulose, the output voltage, current, and surface charge density of the TENG increased by 70.9%, 226.7%, and 122.2%, respectively, compared with ordinary paper. As the air humidity of the TENG increased from 60% to 90%, the output voltage, current, and surface charge density were maintained at 53.7%, 38.9%, and 61.0%, respectively. When a 5 × 107 Ω resistor was connected to the working circuit, its output power reached 13.78 μ W·cm2. This showed that cellulose as a green material has wide application prospects in the field of TENG.
A Strategy to Identify Event Specific Hospitalizations in Large Health Claims Databases
Authors: Lambert Joshua , Sandhu Harpal , Kean Emily , Xavier Teenu , Brokman Aviv , Steckler Zachary , Park Lee , Stromberg Arnold
Published: December 2021

Background
Health insurance claims data offer a unique opportunity to study disease distribution on a large scale. Challenges arise in the process of accurately analyzing these raw data. One important challenge to overcome is the accurate classification of study outcomes. For example, using claims data, there is no clear way of classifying hospitalizations due to a specific event. This is because of the inherent disjointedness and lack of context that typically come with raw claims data.
Methods
In this paper, we propose a framework for classifying hospitalizations due to a specific event.
Results
We then test this framework in a health insurance claims database with approximately 4 million US adults who tested positive with COVID-19 between March and December 2020. Our claims specific COVID-19 related hospitalizations proportion is then compared to nationally reported rates from the Centers for Disease Control by age and sex.
Conclusions
The proposed methodology is a rigorous way to define event specific hospitalizations in claims data. This methodology can be extended to many different types of events and used on a variety of different types of claims databases.
ILDR1 Promotes Influenza a Virus Replication Through Binding to PLSCR1
Authors: Liu Yueyue , Lin Shuqian , Xie Yunhui , Zhao Lu , Du Haibo , Yang Shifa , Yin Bin , Li Guiming , Zhao Zengcheng , Huang Zhongli , Xu Zhigang , Wu Jiaqiang
Published: December 2021

As a natural antiviral regulator, phospholipid scramblase 1 (PLSCR1) has been shown to inhibit influenza virus replication in infected cells through interacting with NP of influenza A virus (IAV). But its antiviral function as well as the underlying regulatory mechanism has not been examined in vivo. In the present work, we show that PLSCR1 expression is decreased in H1N1 SIV-infected mice, and Plscr1−/−mice are more susceptible to H1N1 SIV infection. By performing yeast two-hybrid screening, we identified immunoglobulin-like domain-containing receptor 1 (ILDR1) as a novel PLSCR1-binding partner. ILDR1 is highly expressed in the lungs, and its expression level is increased after virus infection. Interestingly, ILDR1 could not directly interact with virus NP protein, but could combine with PLSCR1 competitively. Our data indicates that there is a previously unidentified PLSCR1-ILDR1-NP regulatory pathway playing a vital role in limiting IAV infection, which provides novel insights into IAV-host interactions.
Complex Network Analysis of Carbon Emission Transfers under Global Value Chains
Authors: Wang Yanfang , Yao Jingmin
Published: December 2021

Accompanied with the increasing complicated global value chain (GVC) networks is the carbon emission transfers among countries. Utilizing the complex network analysis alongside quadratic assignment procedure (QAP), this paper detects the community structure and influencing forces of the emission transfers under GVCs. The results imply that the bipolar structure of the network transformed gradually to tripolar owing largely to the surging of carbon emissions from China. Evidence on the existence of environmental Kuznets curve (EKC) in the emission transfers from high-income countries to low-income countries, and a U-shape relationship in the transfers in the reverse direction, suggesting that growing carbon emissions from both low- and high-income countries transferred to other high-income countries gradually. Gaps in technology, especially in patent applications, between source and destination countries played an important role therein. JEL: F14, F18, Q56, R15
Deposition, Microstructure and Nanoindentation of Multilayer Zr Nitride and Carbonitride Nanostructured Coatings
Authors: Ul-Hamid Anwar
Published: December 2021

Nitrides, carbides, and carbonitrides of transition metal elements like Zr, W, Ti, etc. are generally employed to produce hard coatings. Zirconium-based hard coatings have shown useful applications in the areas of tribology, biomedicine and electrical due to their high thermal stability, hardness, biocompatibility, good erosion, wear, and corrosion resistance. In this study, we created homogeneous and tenacious nanostructured hard coatings based on Zr with good mechanical properties. The magnetron sputter deposition technique was utilized to coat stainless steel 316L substrates with multilayers of Zr/ZrN and ZrN/ZrCN with individual layer thicknesses of 250 and 500 nm for each coating composition. The deposition conditions were adjusted to create two different coating thicknesses of 2 and 3 µm. The thickness of the coating was confirmed using Calotest and the coatings’ morphology and elemental composition were determined utilizing the atomic force microscope and scanning electron microscope equipped with energy dispersive x-ray spectrometer. Coating thickness and adhesion were measured using cross-sectional samples and XRD was utilized to analyze the coatings structure. Nanoindenter was employed to determine the instrumental nanoindentation hardness and elastic modulus. The influence of coating thickness on tribological behavior was further investigated using the ratio of nanohardness-to-elastic modulus (H/E). No evidence of decohesion was observed at the substrate/coatings interface, and the grains of all the coatings were observed to show columnar growth which were homogeneous, compact and dense. The grains of the ZrN/ZrCN coatings were observed to be denser, finer and more compact compared to those of the Zr/ZrN coatings. Correspondingly, higher hardness, modulus and H/E values were exhibited by ZrN/ZrCN than Zr/ZrN coatings. This suggests that the ZrN/ZrCN coatings are capable of exhibiting better wear resistance and fracture toughness. The coatings developed in this investigation are anticipated to be suitable for applications in tribology due to their excellent hardness and H/E properties.
Decrease in Regulatory T-cells and Increase in T Helper 17 Cells in Women With Recurrent Spontaneous Abortion
Authors: Badiee Mina , Ghafourian Mehri , Ghadiri Ata A. , Salehi Abdolah Mousavi , Nikbakhat Roshan , Chinipardaz Rahim
Published: December 2021

BackgroundAppearance of improper immune responses against the fetus and/or inadequate immunoregulatory mechanisms during pregnancy may lead to recurrent spontaneous abortion (RSA). TH17 cells play a significant role in inducing inflammation, autoimmune disease, and acute transplant rejection, while regulatory T (Treg) cells moderate the function of immune system in order to retain homeostasis.MethodsThis case-control study was designed to evaluate TH17 as well as Treg cells in 25 women with RSA and 25 age-matched healthy non-pregnant women. Flow cytometric assay was performed using monoclonal antibodies to detect CD4+CD25+ Treg cells (CD25dim and CD25bright). FoxP3 and RORγt expressions were compared using real-time PCR, and pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines were measured by ELISA kits. Independent-samples T test was employed for statistical analysis. ResultsThe ratio of CD4+CD25bright T cells was remarkably lower in women with RSA (P<0.05), and CD4+CD25dim T cells did not show any significant difference among the groups (P>0.05). RORγt was up-regulated, and FoxP3 was down-regulated significantly in case group (P<0.05). The significant increase of IL-6 and IL-17 as well as the decrease of TGF-β was indicated in RSA group (P<0.05). Also, IL-10 did not vary among the groups (P>0.05). ConclusionThese remarks prove that the decrease in regulatory factors such as CD4+CD25bright T-cells, TGF-β and FoxP3 expression may disrupt immune tolerance and homeostasis during pregnancy. Also, the environment rich in RORγt, IL-6, and IL-17 suggests the detrimental role of TH17 cells, which may lead to fetal rejection.
An HGF-dependent positive feedback loop between bladder cancer cells and fibroblasts mediates lymphangiogenesis and lymphatic metastasis
Authors: Chen Changhao , Li Yuting , Luo Yuming , Zheng Hanhao , Lin Yan , An Mingjie , Kong Yao , Zhao Yue , Yin Yina , Ai Le , Ya Yiyao , Huang Jian , Li Zhihua
Published: December 2021

Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) are essential etiologic actors in promoting tumor progression via extensive reciprocal interactions with cancer cells. Yet, the biological role and regulatory mechanism of CAFs phenotype underlying lymph node (LN) metastasis of bladder cancer (BCa) remain unclear. Here, we report that BCa cell-secreted extracellular vesicles (EVs) played an important role in the CAF-enriched microenvironment, which correlated with BCa lymphangiogenesis and LN metastasis. RNA sequencing identified an EV-associated long noncoding RNA, LINC00665, which acted as a crucial mediator of CAF infiltration in BCa. LINC00665 mediated EV release from BCa cells to endow fibroblasts with the CAF phenotype, which reciprocally induced LINC00665 upregulation to form a RAB27B-HGF-c-Myc positive feedback loop, facilitating BCa lymphangiogenesis and LN metastasis. Importantly, we demonstrate that Cabozantinib significantly suppressed LINC00665-mediated BCa LN metastasis in an orthotopic xenograft model. Our study highlights a molecular mechanism by which LINC00665 induces a RAB27B-HGF-c-Myc positive feedback loop between cancer cells and fibroblasts to sustain BCa LN metastasis, and represents LINC00665 as a potential therapeutic target in BCa LN metastasis.
Relationship Classification based on Dependency Parsing and Pre-training Model
Authors: Yin Baosheng , Sun Yifei
Published: December 2021

As an important part of information extraction, relationship extraction aims to extract the relationships between given entities from natural language text. On the basis of the pre-training model R-BERT, this paper proposes an entity relationship extraction method that integrates entity dependency path and pre-training model, which generates a dependency parse tree by dependency parsing, obtains the dependency path of entity pair via a given entity, and uses entity dependency path to exclude such information as modifier chunks and useless entities in sentences. This model has achieved good F1 value performance on the SemEval2010 Task 8 dataset. Experiments on dataset show that dependency parsing can provide context information for models and improve performance.
Spatial Statistical Machine Learning Models to Assess Health Vulnerabilities in Children
Authors: Areed Wala Draidi , Price Aiden , Arnett Kathryn , Mengersen Kerrie
Published: December 2021

Background: The health and development of children during their first year of school is known to impact their social, emotional, and academic capabilities throughout and beyond early education. Physical health, motor development, social and emotional well-being, learning styles, language and communication, cognitive skills, and general knowledge are all considered to be important aspects of a child’s health and development. It is important for many organisations and governmental agencies to continually improve their understanding of the factors which determine or influence health vulnerabilities among children. This article studies the relationships between health vulnerabilities and educational factors among children in Queensland, Australia. In Queensland, the percentage of children who are developmentally vulnerable in at least one domain in 2018 was around 26%, and the overall percentage of attendance at preschool was around 75.4% These are the lowest rates among all states and territories of Australia. There is also substantial geographic variation in rates across the state. Methods: Spatial statistical machine learning models are reviewed and compared in the context of a study of geographic variation in the association between health vulnerabilities and attendance at preschool among children in Queensland, Australia. A new spatial random forest (SRF) model is suggested that can explain more of the spatial variation in data than other approaches.Results: In the case study, spatial models were shown to provide a better fit compared to models that ignored the spatial variation in the data. The SRF model was shown to be the only model which can explain all of the spatial variation in each of the health vulnerabilities considered in the case study. The spatial analysis revealed that the attendance at preschool factor has a strong influence on the physical health domain vulnerability and emotional maturity vulnerability among children in their first year of school. Conclusion: This study confirmed that it is important to take into account the spatial nature of data when fitting statistical machine learning models. A new spatial random forest model was introduced and was shown to explain more of the spatial variation and provide a better model fit in the case study of health vulnerabilities among children in Queensland. At small-area population level (statistical area level 2 (SA2)), increased attendance at preschool was strongly associated with reduced physical and emotional health vulnerabilities among children in their first year of school.
Effect of Exogenous and Endogenous Sulfide on The Production and The Export of Methylmercury by Sulfate Reducing Bacteria
Authors: Barrouilhet Sophie , Monperrus Mathilde , Tessier Emmanuel , Khalfaoui-Hassani Bahia , Guyoneaud Remy , Isaure Marie-Pierre , Goñi-Urriza Marisol
Published: December 2021

Mercury (Hg) is a global pollutant of environmental and health concern; its methylated form, methylmercury (MeHg) is a potent neurotoxin. Sulfur-containing molecules play a role in MeHg production by microorganisms. While sulfides are considered to limit Hg methylation, sulfate and cysteine were shown to favor this process. However, these two forms can be endogenously converted by microorganisms into sulfide. Here, we explore the effect of sulfide (produced by the cell or supplied exogenously) on Hg methylation. For this purpose, Pseudodesulfovibrio hydrargyri BerOc1 was cultivated in non-sulfidogenic conditions with addition of cysteine and sulfide as well as in sulfidogenic conditions. We report that Hg methylation depends on sulfide concentration in the culture rather than on the initial form of sulfur (cysteine, sulfide or sulfate) added, and was independent of hgcA expression. Interestingly, MeHg production was maximal at 0.1-0.5 mM of sulfides. Besides, a strong positive correlation between MeHg in the extracellular medium and the increase of sulfide concentrations was observed, suggesting a facilitated MeHg export with sulfide and/or higher desorption from the cell. We demonstrate that sulfides (exogenous or endogenous) play a key role in controlling mercury methylation, and should be considered when investigating the impact of Hg on natural environments.
Preserved T-cell Response in anti-CD20 Treated Multiple Sclerosis Patients Following SARS-CoV-2 Vaccination
Authors: Faissner Simon , Heitmann Neele , Rohling Ricarda , Ceylan Ulas , Bongert Marielena , Marheinecke Corinna , Pedreiturria Xiomara , Ayzenberg Ilya , Hellwig Kerstin , Schmitz Ingo , Pfänder Stephanie , Gold Ralf
Published: December 2021

The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic has tremendous implications for the management of patients with autoimmune conditions such as multiple sclerosis (MS) under immune therapies targeting CD20+ B cells (aCD20). We here investigated humoral and cellular immune responses, including neutralization against SARS-CoV-2 WT and delta variant and T cell responses of aCD20-treated MS patients following SARS-CoV-2 vaccination compared to healthy controls. aCD20-treated MS patients had lower anti-SARS-CoV-2-Spike titers, which correlated with B-cell repopulation. Sera of aCD20 treated patients had reduced capacity to neutralize WT and delta pseudoviruses in vitro. On the contrary, aCD20 treated patients elicited higher frequencies of CD3+ T cells, Th1 cells, Th2 cells, Tc1 cells and CD8+IFN-γ+IL-2+ cells. In summary, aCD20 treated patients have a reduced humoral immune response, depending on B cell repopulation, in accordance with a shift of cellular immune response to a stronger Th1, Th2 and Tc1 phenotype, suggesting strong cellular protection against SARS-CoV-2.
Mosquito Host-Seeking Diel Rhythm and Chemosensory Gene Expression is Affected by Age and Plasmodium Stages
Authors: Hajkazemian Melika , Hill Sharon R. , Mozūraitis Raimondas , Ranford-Cartwright Lisa , Emami S. Noushin , Ignell Rickard
Published: December 2021

Malaria parasites can affect vector-related behaviours, increasing transmission success. Using Anopheles gambiae and Plasmodium falciparum, we consider the effect of interaction between infection stage and vector age on diel locomotion in response to human odour and the expression of antennal chemosensory genes. We demonstrate age-dependent behavioural diel compartmentalisation by uninfected females. Infection disrupts overall and diel activity patterns compared with age-matched controls. Mosquitoes carrying transmissible sporozoites are more active, shifting activity periods to coincide with human host availability, in response to human odour. Older, uninfected females reduce activity during their peak host-seeking period in response to human odour. Age- and infection stage-specific changes in odour-mediated locomotion coincide with altered transcript abundance of select chemosensory genes providing a possible molecular mechanism regulating the behaviour. Our results support the hypothesis that vector-related behaviours of female mosquitoes are altered by infection stage and further modulated by the age of the vector, and have important implications for malaria transmission and disease dynamics.
An in Vitro Study on The Antimicrobial Activity and Antioxidant Activities of The Extract of A Seaweed, Enteromorpha Intestinalis Against Certain Pathogens
Authors: Gomathy J , L Jayalakshmi , J Jayanthi , Ragunathan M.G.
Published: December 2021

Seaweeds are potential bio resources of marine ecosystem and they are the producers of marine ecological energy chain and also possess many bioactive compounds with them. The seaweed Enteromorpha intestinalis is the plant material chosen for the study and was collected from the Pulicat estuary. The collected seaweeds were processed to synthesise nanoparticles out of them and the synthesised silver nanoparticle’s in vitro antimicrobial and antioxidant activity was evaluated. The antibacterial activity was determined by the action against Salmonella typhi, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus, Vibrio parahaemolyticus and Micrococcus luteus. Similarly the in vitro antifungal effect was also explored against Candida albicans, Trichoderma viridae, Aspergillus niger, Rizhopus sp and Penicillium notatum. Among them, Staphylococcus aureus and Aspergillus niger were found to be highly susceptible to the synthesised nanoparticles. When the antioxidant efficacy of synthesized nanoparticle was tested using different methods such as DPPH and ABTS it was observed that they possessed appreciable antioxidant property whose efficiency was correlated with their respective positive standards. These investigations illustrated the potential effects of the seaweed E. intestinalis for using them as an active antimicrobial and antioxidant agent.
Obeticholic Acid Protects Against Cholestatic Liver Injury Induced by Lithocholic Acid via Inhibiting Exogenous Cell Apoptosis
Authors: Zhu Yangping , Wang Changling , Yu Jingyi , Miao Yingying , Chai Yuanyuan , Jiang Zhenzhou , Yu Qinwei
Published: December 2021

Background: Lithocholic acid (LCA) is one kind of endogenous bile acids which is a typical index in primary biliary cholangitis (PBC). It could cause severe cholestatic liver injury in rodents. Obeticholic acid (OCA) is a major treatment for PBC. However, its effect and mechanism in LCA-induced liver injury was still unclear beside of bile acid regulation. This study aims to evaluate the hepatoprotective effect and mechanism of OCA against LCA-induced cholestatic liver injury. Results: LCA-induced upregulations of ALT, AST, ALP and TBA were reduced and the bile acid profiles in serum, liver and bile were improved significantly by OCA. This bile acid regulating effect of OCA was mainly based on increasing the expression of bile acid efflux transporters bile salt export pump (BSEP), multidrug resistant associated protein 2 (MRP2), MRP3 and multi-drug resistance 3 (MDR3) instead of bile acid synthesis inhibition. Furthermore, it was found that OCA reduced the activation and expression of Caspase 8/3 signaling pathway without the change of p-MLKL and BAX in LCA-induced cholestatic model. And the inhibition of Caspase 8/3 signaling pathway depended on the activation of Farnesoid X receptor (FXR) to inhibit Caspase 8 cleavage to form a active complex.Conclusions: This study found OCA improved LCA-induced cholestatic liver injury via FXR-induced exogenous cell apoptosis, which provided a new evidence for the application of OCA to ameliorate PBC in clinical.
Environmental Assessment in the Pre-launch Phase of Hayabusa2 for Safety Declaration of Returned Samples From Asteroid (162173) Ryugu: Background Monitoring of Possible Contaminants During Development of the Sampler System
Authors: Sakamoto Kanako , Takano Yoshinori , Sawada Hirotaka , Okazaki Ryuji , Noguchi Takaaki , Uesugi Masayuki , Yano Hajime , Yada Toru , Abe Masanao , Tachibana Shogo
Published: December 2021

We report the ground-based environmental assessments during development of the sampler system until the launch of the Hayabusa2 spacecraft. We conducted static monitoring of potential contaminants to assess the environmental cleanliness during (1) laboratory work throughout the development and manufacturing of the sampler devices, (2) installation of the sampler system on the spacecraft, and (3) transportation to the launch site at the JAXA’s Tanegashima Space Center. Major elements and ions detected in our inorganic analysis were sodium (Na), potassium (K), and ionized chloride (Cl–); those were positively correlated with the total organic content and with exposure duration in the range from 101 to 103 nanogram per monitor coupon within a ~30 mm-diameter scale. We confirmed that deposits on the coupon were totally less than the microgram-scale order during manufacturing, installation, and transportation in the pre-launch phase. The present assessment yields a nominal safety declaration for sample analysis of the pristine sample (>5 g) returned from asteroid (162173) Ryugu combined with a highly clean environmental background level. We expect that the Hayabusa2-returned sample from Ryugu without severe and/or unknown contamination will allow us to provide native profiles recorded in the carbonaceous asteroid history.
Perceived Vulnerability to Disease Questionnaire: Psychometric Validation with a Portuguese Sample
Authors: Ferreira Jacqueline , Magalhães Ana C. , Bem-Haja Pedro , Alho Laura , Silva Carlos F. , Soares Sandra C.
Published: December 2021

Background

Individual differences in one’s perceived vulnerability to disease are implicated in psychological distress, social and behavioral disease avoidance phenomena. The Perceived Vulnerability to Disease Questionnaire (PVD) is the most extensively used measure when it comes to assessing subjective vulnerability to infectious diseases. However, this measure is not yet accessible to the Portuguese population. The present study examined the psychometric properties of the PVD with 136 Portuguese participants.
Methods

Factorial, convergent and discriminant validity (of both the scale and between each factor), and reliability analysis were assessed.
Results

A modified bifactorial model, comprised of Perceived Infectability and Germ Aversion factors, was obtained, with acceptable goodness-of-fit indices, adequate convergent and discriminant validity, and good internal consistencies.
Conclusions

Overall, the 10-items European-Portuguese PVD appears to be a reliable and valid measure of one’s perceived vulnerability to disease, with potential relevance for application in both research and clinical practice pertaining to disease-avoidance processes.
Service Process Factors Affecting Patients’ and Clinicians’ Experiences on Rapid Teleconsultation Implementation in Out-patient Neurology Services during COVID-19 Pandemic: A Scoping Review
Authors: Meng Guangxia , McAiney Carrie , Perlman Christopher M. , McKillop Ian , Tisseverasinghe Therese , Chen Helen H.
Published: December 2021

BackgroundPrior to the COVID-19 outbreak, the adoption of teleconsultation for outpatient neurology services was limited. Since the COVID-19 pandemic, many outpatient neurology services have rapidly switched to teleconsultation worldwide. However, it remains unclear how this change has impacted patients' and clinicians' perceptions of service quality. The purpose of this scoping review is to identify process factors that influence patients' and clinicians' experiences of outpatient teleconsultation services during COVID-19.MethodsArksey and O’Malley scoping review framework was used to search PubMed, Scopus, CINAHL, and PsycInfo for original peer-reviewed research studies that examined the experiences of synchronous teleconsultation between a clinician and patient in a home-setting since the World Health organization announced the COVID-19 global pandemic. The service quality model SERVQUAL was used to conduct a deductive thematic analysis to identify the key factors that impacted the patients’ and clinicians’’ perception of teleconsultation services. Results A total of nineteen studies published between January 1, 2020, and April 17, 2021, were identified. The most common service process factors affecting the patients' and clinicians' experiences of teleconsultation were technical issues, addressing logistical needs, communication, ability to perform clinical activities, appropriate triage, and administrative support. Conclusions Our findings identified six key service process factors affecting the patients' and clinicians' teleconsultation experiences in outpatient neurology services. The need for a new triage system and standardizing administrative virtual care workflow are identified as important steps to improve patients and clinicians’ teleconsultation experiences compared to pre-COVID. More research is needed to assess outpatient neurology teleconsultation service quality from patients' and clinicians' perspectives.
Brightness change is optimal stimulus for parasol retinal ganglion cells
Authors: Pinchuk Artem
Published: December 2021

Magnocellular-projecting retinal ganglion cells show spike response in two cases. Firstly, as a result of presentation of the optimal stimulus. Secondly, rebound excitation when removing the opposite stimulus. Also, there are studies suggesting that rebound excitation meets conditions to participate in visual perception at the same sensitivity and reaction speed as a response to the optimal stimulus. Thus, white noise stimulation creates possibility to catch the form of a smooth transition from one type of response to another. Using freely available data, a spike-triggered behavior map was built that does not show the area of silence between those two types of spike triggers. Moreover, linear filter with biphasic temporal properties which work as the derivative kernel demonstrate that both responses are two sides of the same coin. Thus, it is suggested to determine the optimal stimulus for magnocellular-projecting retinal ganglion cells as brightness change according to concentric center–surround receptive field structure.
Moisture Sources for Precipitation Variability over the Arabian Peninsula
Authors: Horan Matthew , Batibeniz Fulden , Kucharski Fred , Almazroui Mansour , Abid Muhammad Adnan , Fu Joshua , Ashfaq Moetasim
Published: December 2021

We apply a Lagrangian-based moisture back trajectory method on two reanalysis datasets to determine the moisture sources for wet season precipitation over the Arabian Peninsula, defined as land on the Asian Continent to the south of the Turkish border and west of Iran. For this purpose, we make use of evaporative source region between 65°W–120°E and 30°S–60°N which is divided into twelve sub-regions. Our results indicate a north to south spatiotemporal heterogeneity in the characteristics of dominant moisture sources. In the north, moisture for precipitation is mostly sourced from European land and major water bodies, such as Mediterranean and Caspian Seas. Areas further south dependent on moisture transport from the Western Indian Ocean and parts of the African continent. El Nino Southern Oscillation cycle (ENSO) oscillation exhibits an overall positive but sub-seasonally varying influence on the precipitation variability over the region with mostly positive moisture anomalies form all major source regions. A significant drying trend exists over parts of the Peninsula, which is partly attributed to anomalies in the moisture advection from the Congo Basin and South Atlantic Ocean. However, precipitation trends over the terrestrial part of evaporative source region vary across observations and reanalysis datasets, which warrants the need for additional modeling studies to further our understanding in the identification of key processes contributing to the negative trends.
SARS-CoV-2 Herd Immunity of the Kyrgyz Population in 2021
Authors: Popova Anna Y. , Kasymov Omor T. , Smolenski Vyacheslav Y. , Смирнов Вячеслав , Egorova Svetlana A. , Nurmatov Zuridin S. , Milichkina Anzhelika M. , Suranbaeva Gulmira S. , Khamitova Irina V. , Zueva Elena V. , Ivanov Valery A. , Nuridinova Zhanylai N. , Derkenbaeva Aisuluu А. , Drobyshevskaya Victoria G. , Sattarova Gulsun Z. , Gubanova Alexandra V. , Zhimbaeva Oyuna B. , Razumovskaya Alexandra Р. , Verbov Vyacheslav N. , Likhachev Ivan V. , Totolian Areg A.
Published: December 2021

Background. In the fight against coronavirus infection, an important direction is control of herd immunity to the pathogen. SARS-CoV-2 herd immunity is formed naturally as a result of manifest or asymptomatic infection, or artificially as a result of vaccination Aim: To assess the SARS-CoV-2 herd immunity status of the Kyrgyz population. Materials and methods. A cross-sectional, randomized study of SARS-CoV-2 herd immunity was carried out according to a program developed by Rospotrebnadzor, with the participation of the Saint Petersburg Pasteur Institute, taking into account WHO recommendations. In all study stages cloud service (internet) technologies were used. The ethics committees of the Preventive Medicine Association (Kyrgyzstan) and the Saint Petersburg Pasteur Institute (Russia) approved the study. A total of 9,471 volunteers were selected, representing 0.15% (95% CI 0.14-0.15) of the total population. They were randomized according to age and region. Antibodies (Abs) to the nucleocapsid antigen (Nag) were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) of volunteer blood plasma. For vaccinated individuals, Abs to the SARS-CoV-2 receptor-binding domain antigen (RBDag) were determined. Statistical processing of the results was carried out using Excel 2010 and other programs. Differences were designated as statistically significant at p<0.05. Results. The seroprevalence of the general population was 48.7% (95% CI 47.7-49.7), with a maximum in the group of '60-69 year old' (59.2% (56.6-61.7)) and a minimum in the group '1-17 y.o.' (32.7% (95 CI 29.4-36.1)). The largest proportion seropositive was found in the Chui region (51.3% (95% CI 47.9-54.8)). The lowest was in Osh city (38.1% (95 CI 32.6-43.9)). The maximum seropositivity was detected among healthcare workers (57.1% (95% CI 55.4-58.8); the minimum was noted among artists (38.6% (95% CI 26.0-52.4)). Asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 positivity was 79.1% (96% CI 77.9-80.3). Vaccination with Sputnik V, EpiVacCorona, or Sinopharm formed comparable levels of immunity. Conclusions. The herd immunity to SARS-CoV-2 Nag is 48.75% (95% CI 47.7-49.7), and the overall immunity (Nag + RBDag) is 57%.
The Impact of Educational Concerns and Satisfaction on Baccalaureate Nursing Students’ Distress and Quality of Life During the Covid-19 Pandemic. A Cross-Sectional Study
Authors: Flølo Tone Nygaard , Gjeilo Kari Hanne , Andersen John Roger , Haraldstad Kristin , Hjelmeland Inger Helene Hardeland , Iversen Marjolein Memelink , Løyland Borghild , Norekvål Tone Merete , Riiser Kirsti , Rohde Gudrun , Urstad Kristin Hjortland , Utne Inger , Beisland Elisabeth Grov
Published: December 2021

BackgroundHigh levels of psychological distress and poor overall quality of life (QOL) have been identified among nursing students during the COVID-19 pandemic. The pandemic necessitated improvised reconstructions of educational curriculums and restrictions in clinical placement and training at campuses, possibly reducing educational quality. ObjectivesWe explored whether baccalaureate nursing students’ concerns and satisfaction with the educational curriculum, focusing on the conduct of clinical training, were associated with perceived psychological distress and overall QOL.Methods Baccalaureate nursing students (N=6088) from five Norwegian universities were invited to an internet-based, cross-sectional survey during the second wave of the pandemic. The survey included COVID-19 specific questions on health, education and clinical training, the Fear of COVID-19 scale (FCV-19S), The Hopkins Symptom Checklist (SCL-5) and overall QOL. Data from national surveys on satisfaction with the educational curriculum, before and during the pandemic were used for comparison.Results In total, 2605 (43%) students responded, of whom 1591 (61%) had been engaged in clinical training during the pandemic. Overall, 53% were either satisfied or fully satisfied with their educational curriculum, with the level of satisfaction being significantly lower than pre-pandemic reference values. Also, 79% were concerned or highly concerned about the educational quality. In multiple regression analyses for all students, lower levels of satisfaction and higher levels of quality concerns were associated with worse SCL-5 scores. Furthermore, satisfaction with the educational curriculum was positively associated with overall QOL. For students engaged in clinical training, only concerns about infecting others were additionally associated with psychological distress. None of the items related to clinical training were associated with overall QOL. Conclusion Nursing students’ educational satisfaction and quality concerns may significantly impact perceived psychological distress and overall QOL during a pandemic. However, with necessary adaptations implemented, concerns regarding the conduct of clinical training account for little of these associations.
Effects of Sporisorium Reiliana Polysaccharides and Phoenix Dactylifera Monosaccharides on the Gut Microbiota and Serum Metabolism in Mice with Fructose-Induced Hyperuricaemia
Authors: Zhang Zhixuan , Wang Ziyan , Lu Chenyang , Zhou Jun , Han Jiaojiao , Su Xiurong
Published: December 2021

In recent decades, the prevalence of hyperuricaemia has increased, and dietary fructose is an important risk factor for the development of this disease. This study investigated and compared the effects of Sphacelotheca reiliana polysaccharides and Phoenix dactylifera monosaccharides on a series of physiological and biochemical indicators and on metagenomes and serum metabolites in mice with hyperuricaemia caused by a high-fructose diet. S. reiliana polysaccharides inhibited uric acid biosynthesis and promoted uric acid excretion, thereby alleviating the hyperuricaemia phenotype. In addition, hyperuricaemia was closely related to the gut microbiota. After treatment with S. reiliana polysaccharides, the abundance of Bacteroidetes and Proteobacteria in the mouse intestines was decreased, the expression of genes involved in glycolysis/gluconeogenesis metabolic pathways and purine metabolism was downregulated, and the dysfunction of the gut microbiota was alleviated. With regard to serum metabolism, the abundance of hippuric acid, uridine, kynurenic acid, propionic acid and arachidonoyl decreased, and the abundance of serum metabolites in inflammatory pathways involved in kidney injury and gout, such as bile acid metabolism, purine metabolism and tryptophan metabolism pathways, decreased. P. dactylifera monosaccharides aggravated hyperuricaemia. This research provides a valuable reference for the development of sugar applications.
Evaluation of Seismic Response Modification Factor (R) for Moderate-Rise RC Buildings with Vertical Irregular Configurations
Authors: Ahmed Momen Mohamed , Abdo Mohamed Abdel-Basset , Mohamed Waleed Abo El-Wafa
Published: December 2021

Most international design codes consider the nonlinear seismic performance of a structure by the concept of reduction/modification factor (R). Then, an elastic static force-based method can be normally used for seismic design to create earthquake resistant RC buildings. The response modification factor (R) is sensitive to many aspects such as overall ductility, over-strength, damping, and redundancy levels. Indeed, these factors are severely affected by geometric irregularity of the structural system. So, R-value does not become a constant number for the all types of structures with the same lateral load resisting system, as many standard codes noted. It depends on types, combination, and degrees of geometric vertical irregularity. This research assesses the actual values of R for regular and familiar vertical irregularity cases in RC buildings with moment-resisting frames (MRF) systems. Also, it takes into account the reduction percent that may occurs in R-value due to these studied vertical irregularities. The vertical irregularity cases, such as set-back and soft story, are essentially needed to be studied greater than ever due to the wide propagation of these types of buildings in Egypt, recently. In addition, the potential analytical methods that may be used to calculate R-value in comparison with Egyptian code’s value. Nonlinear static pushover analysis is carried out using ETABS via three-dimensional numerical models. The findings prove that vertical irregular models have poor seismic capacities, in comparison with regular one, due to their sudden change in lateral stiffness than that with regular aspect. So, the response modification factor (R) must be re-calculated or even scaled-down before design stage with 15% and 25% for single and combined vertical irregularity, respectively. In addition, this investigation derives a vital equation between R values with vertical irregularity ratios in each studied model. This equation shall be a guide for seismic design codes, structural design engineers, and researchers. Accordingly, the response modification factor R does not become a fixed value regardless vertical irregularity aspects of the buildings, but it has a variable value that depend on their inelastic seismic performance of the lateral load resisting systems.
Green Synthesis of Silver Nanoparticles Using Mixed Leaves Aqueous Extract of Wild Olive and Pistachio: Characterization, Enhancing Antioxidant, Antimicrobial Potential and Effect on Virulence Factors of Candida
Authors: ESSGHAIER Badiaa , Khedher Ghada Ben , Hannachi Hédia , Dridi Rihab , Zid Mohamed Faouzi , Chaffei Chiraz
Published: December 2021

Olea europaea subsp. europaea and Pistacia lentiscus are well known as natural sources of secondary metabolites promising in various fields. Phenolic compounds from Plant are suitable markers to differentiate varieties related to geographical area. This work aimed to enhance the antimicrobial potential of new green silver nanoparticles AgNPs using for the first time the mixed leaves extract of Olea europaea subsp. europaea var. sylvestris and Pistacia lentiscus from natural geographical association and describe their antimicrobial, antibiofilm and their effect on virulence factor of Candida. A rapid, simple environmentally approach for biosynthesis of AgNPs by using mixed plant aqueous extract acts both as reducing and capting agents without any solvent or hazardous reagents. The AgNPs were characterized by UV-Vis spectrophotometer, FTIR spectrum and the X-ray crystallography. The AgNPs showed superior antioxidant activity by measuring DPPH, Ferric Antioxidant Reducing Power (FRAP) and the total antioxidant activity. It was most richness with flavonoids, tannins, alkaloids and total polyphenols contents compared to plant extract. The new AgNPs possess high bactericidal and fungicidal effects against clinical strains, limit spore’s germination of filamentous fungi, announcing high anti-biofilm activity, synergistic effect with the conventional antibiotic’s drugs and affecting virulence factors of Candida (Proteinase, Phospholipase and morphogenesis).
Mutation of OsCAX1a Results in Panicle Degeneration in Rice
Authors: Gan Quan , Song Fengshun , Lin Cuixiang , Ni Dahu
Published: December 2021

Background: Rice is one of the most common cereal crops in China. Increasing the yield of rice has always been a primary purpose of rice breeding. However, panicle degeneration in rice, a complex characteristic regulated by many genes and commonly encountered in rice production, seriously reduces the yield. Findings: In this study, we obtained a new apical panicle degeneration mutant named ym48, which exhibits a serious degeneration rate and reduced grain yield in rice. After fine mapping, the OsCAX1a gene responsible for Ca2+ selection and transportation was identified. In the ym48 mutant of the OsCAX1a gene, a A to G substitution was noted at the 190th nucleotide, and the corresponding 64th amino acid was changed from threonine to alanine. Also, the tolerance from Ca2+ stress was damaged due to the mutation. Phylogenetics, protein sequence alignment and motif identification of CAX family members in Arabidopsis and rice indicated that this mutation site was highly conserved and might play an essential role in Ca2+ transportation. Moreover, the OsCAX1a expression pattern was analyzed in rice. qRT-PCR and GUS (β-glucuronidase) staining experiments showed that OsCAX1a was highly expressed in roots, stems and panicles and that its expression increased with panicle development. Conclusions: These results demonstrated that OsCAX1a played an essential role in the regulation of panicle development for the first time and mutation of OsCAX1a would generate the panicle degeneration in rice. This study provided a new view point to explore the mechanism of panicle development and degeneration in rice.