bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Satisfaction of psychologically impaired patients with health-care services: A Saudi Arabian perspective
Authors: Alhomrani Majid , Alsanie Walaa F. , Abdulaziz Osama , Salih Magdi M. , Alamri Abdulwahab , Asdaq Syed Mohammed Basheeruddin , Alamri Abdulhakeem S.
Published: September 2022

Psychological problems affect a sizable portion of the population, and they require special care. In the current study, we aimed to assess patient satisfaction with the healthcare system at one of the multispecialty hospitals in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, as well as to identify potential factors that can have an impact on patient satisfaction. A validated pre-tested questionnaire including features to evaluate general hospital services (HS-6 items), nursing services (NS-3 items), pharmacy services (PS-7 items), and a standard patient satisfaction questionnaire (PSQ-18 item) was administered to patients who had been receiving therapy for their psychological disease for the past 3 months. Using binary and multiple regression analysis, the strengths of the associations between sociodemographic factors and patient satisfaction measures were evaluated. The results were expressed as adjusted odds ratios (AOR), which were deemed significant when the P value was < 0.05. Sixty-six percent of the 258 study participants were men, and sixty percent of them were between the ages of 18 and 35 years. The bulk of survey respondents (74%) were employed, married, and well–educated. Our research revealed that those who were employed (AOR, HS-2.5; NS-2.65, PS-2.32), have a higher education (AOR, HS-2.23, NS-2.63, PS-2.82), male gender (AOR, HS-1.12, NS-1.08, PS-1.86) and between the ages of 18 and 35 years (AOR, HS-1.48, NS-1.53, PS-1.67) were more likely to be satisfied with general hospital, nursing, and pharmacy services. Further, those who were married had 1.43 and 1.21 times more chance of satisfaction with the pharmacy and nursing services, respectively, compared to singles. Additionally, those with employment had odds of being satisfied that were 2.4 times higher, highly educated individuals had odds that were 2.1 times higher, participants between the ages of 18 and 35 had odds that were 1.51 times higher, and men had odds that were 1.41 times higher on the patient satisfaction questionnaire scale (PSQ-18). Overall, the study participants' satisfaction with general hospital, nursing, and pharmacy services was 70, 76.3, and 83.3%, respectively, compared to only 61.2% on the PSQ-18. Participants in the survey awarded the hospital amenities, pharmacy services, and nursing care high ratings. The medical care, however, fell short of expectations. The study's findings suggest that action needs to be taken to enhance healthcare system services, particularly in the psychological departments of the medical organization.
Joint association of smoking and physical activity with mortality in elderly hypertensive patients: A Chinese population-based cohort study in 2007–2018
Authors: Yang Yating , Xu Huilin , Liu Xiaoqin , Li Jiong , Liew Zeyan , Liu Xing , Huang Chen , Zhu Jingjing , Zhang Jinling , Chen Linli , Hao Yuantao , Qin Guoyou , Yu Yongfu
Published: September 2022

Background

Although associations of physical activity and smoking with mortality have been well-established, the joint impact of physical activity and smoking on premature mortality among elderly hypertensive population was still unclear. This study aimed to assess association of physical activity, smoking, and their interaction with all-cause and cardiovascular disease (CVD) mortality risk in elderly hypertensive patients.

Methods

We included 125,978 Chinese hypertensive patients aged 60–85 years [mean (SD) age, 70.5 (6.9) years] who had records in electronic health information system of Minhang District of Shanghai, China in 2007–2015. Cox regression was used to estimate individual and joint association of smoking and physical activity on all-cause and CVD mortality. Interactions were measured both additively and multiplicatively. Additive interaction was evaluated by relative excess risk due to interaction (RERI), attributable proportion due to interaction (AP) and synergy index (S).

Results

Among 125,978 elderly hypertensive patients (median age 70.1), 28,250 deaths from all causes and 13,164 deaths from CVD were observed during the follow-up up to 11 years. There was an additive interaction between smoking and physical inactivity [RERI: all-cause 0.19 (95% CI: 0.04–0.34), CVD 0.28 (0.06–0.50); AP: all-cause 0.09 (0.02–0.16), CVD 0.14 (0.04–0.23); S: all-cause 1.21 (1.04–1.42), CVD 1.36 (1.06–1.75)], while the concurrence of both risk factors was associated with more than 2-fold risk of death [hazard ratio (HR): all-cause 2.10 (1.99–2.21), CVD 2.19 (2.02–2.38)].

Conclusion

Our study suggested that smoking and physical inactivity together may have amplified association on premature death compared to the sum of their individual associations, highlighting the importance of improving behavioral factors in combination and promoting a comprehensive healthy lifestyle in hypertensive elderly.
COVID-19-related stigma and its relationship with mental wellbeing: A cross-sectional analysis of a cohort study in Japan
Authors: Sawaguchi Emiko , Nakamura Sho , Watanabe Kaname , Tsuno Kanami , Ikegami Hiromi , Shinmura Naoko , Saito Yoshinobu , Narimatsu Hiroto
Published: September 2022

Objective

Social stigma related to coronavirus disease (COVID-19), i. e., COVID-19 stigma, forms a burden on people socially, economically, and mentally. This study assessed COVID-19 stigma using a scale to identify a population likely to exhibit higher prejudice against COVID-19 itself as well as those infected with COVID-19.

Methods

We adapted and modified the Cancer Stigma Scale to assess COVID-19 stigma and used it as the baseline survey of a cohort study in Japan. The questionnaire was disseminated to 1,573 participants (51.7% men) between December 2020 and March 2021. The questionnaire items included the infection status of individuals close to the respondent and their preventive behaviors related to COVID-19, quality of life (QOL; using the EuroQoL 5-Dimension 5-Level [EQ-5D-5L]), and psychological distress (using the 6-item Kessler Psychological Distress Scale [K6]). Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses were performed to validate the COVID-19 stigma scale, and we further used the structural equation modeling (SEM) to assess the relationship with QOL and psychological distress.

Results

COVID-19 stigma was calculated for the 257 (16.3%) participants who responded to the questionnaire. The mean age (standard deviation) was 54.5 (14.4) years, and 50.2% were men. Factor analysis revealed a five-factor model: Awkwardness (feeling uncomfortable being with a person infected before), Severity (fear of not being able to return to normal after infection), Avoidance (attitude of avoiding infected persons), Policy Opposition (expecting more public funding investment), and Personal Responsibility (believing that infected persons themselves are responsible for their infection). Participants > 70 years had the highest scores among other age groups considering all factors except for Policy Opposition. Standardized coefficients in SEM for COVID-19 stigma (latent variable) was highest for Severity (beta = 0.86). Regression coefficients of COVID-19 stigma on K6 and QOL were 0.21 (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.074–0.342) and −0.159 (95% CI −0.295–0.022), respectively.

Conclusion

People aged ≥ 70 years are more likely to exhibit COVID-19 stigma. Additionally, the results indicate that COVID-19 stigma impacts QOL and psychological distress.
Knowledge, attitude, and intention to accept COVID-19 vaccine among patients with chronic diseases in southern Ethiopia: Multi-center study
Authors: Adella Getachew Asmare , Abebe Kelemu , Atnafu Natnael , Azeze Gedion Asnake , Alene Tamiru , Molla Simegn , Ambaw Gizachew , Amera Tekalign , Yosef Amanuel , Eshetu Kirubel , Yeshambel Adisu , Nigatu Dabere , Abebe Endeshaw Chekol , Birhan Belete , Assefa Yibeltal
Published: September 2022

Background

Most of the COVID-19 fatal cases and severe illnesses like acute respiratory distress syndrome occur in older adults and other people who have underlying medical comorbidities. Understanding patients with chronic disease' knowledge, attitudes, and intention to take the COVID-19 vaccine and related factors are necessary to control the mortality of COVID-19 infection. Therefore, this study aimed to assess knowledge, attitudes, and intention to take the COVID-19 vaccine among patients with chronic disease in Southern Ethiopia.

Methods and materials

A facility-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 409 patients with chronic diseases having a follow-up at the hospitals of the Southern region of Ethiopia from November 14, 2021, to December 24, 2021. A structured, interviewer-administered questionnaire was used to collect data. Bivariate and multivariable logistic regression was conducted to show the association of variables with knowledge, attitude, and intention to take the COVID-19 vaccine. The associations of variables were declared with the use of a 95% CI and P-value < 0.05.

Results

Overall, 79.2, 70.9, and 58.2% of participants had good knowledge, favorable attitude, and intent to take the COVID-19 vaccine, respectively. Age ≥49 years old (AOR = 1.643; 95% CI = 1.008–3.060) and college and above level of education (AOR = 3.002; 95% CI = 1.897–5.021) were found to be significantly associated with knowledge about COVID-19 vaccine. College and above level of education (AOR = 1.510; 95% CI = 1.002–3.975) and good knowledge (AOR = 3.560; 95% CI = 1.481–6.120) were found to be significantly associated with intention to take COVID-19 vaccine.

Conclusion and recommendation

Intention to take the COVID-19 vaccine was low among patients with chronic diseases to achieve herd immunity. Therefore, a holistic and multi-sectoral partnership is necessary for a successful COVID-19 vaccination campaign. Further health education and communication are very crucial methods to improve vaccine acceptance and lastly to achieve herd immunity.
Secular trends in the mortality of gastrointestinal cancers across China, Japan, the US, and India: An age-period-cohort, Joinpoint analyses, and Holt forecasts
Authors: Cui Yiran , Cheng Gang , Tian Gang , He Simin , Yan Yan
Published: September 2022

Background

Colon cancer, esophageal cancer, and stomach cancer are the common causes of morbidity and mortality in China, Japan, the US., and India. The current study aims to assess and compare secular trends of the mortality of gastrointestinal cancers during the period, 1990–2017 in age-specific, time period, and birth cohort effects.

Method

We used the Joinpoint model to collect age-standardized mortality rates (ASMRs) for four countries. We designed an age-period-cohort (APC) analysis to estimate the independent effects on the mortality of three types of cancers.

Result

The Joinpoint model shows that in addition to the death rate of esophageal cancer in Japan, the ASMR of esophageal cancer and stomach cancer in other countries declined rapidly. The APC analysis presented a similar pattern of age effect between four countries for colon cancer and stomach cancer, which increased from 20 to 89 age groups. Differently, the period effect rapidly increased for esophageal cancer and stomach cancer in the US, and the period effect in China presented a declining volatility, showing its highest value in 2007. In future, highest mortality trends are likely to occur in China.

Conclusion

Therefore, the obvious increase in colon cancer recommended that earlier tactics must be performed to reduce mortality from specific causes from 2018 to 2027.
Development of Adversity Quotient (AQ) index of pre-service teachers in Institute of Teacher Education (IPG)
Authors: Mohd Adnan Rafidah , Mohd Matore Mohd Effendi Ewan
Published: September 2022

The study aims to develop the Adversity Quotient (AQ) index of pre-service teachers during practicum training. The study also has assessed psychometric characteristics using the Rasch model. The original contribution is by addressing gaps of measuring AQ accurately among pre-service teachers through index at the Institute of Teacher Education (IPG) that not been widely explored. The research design entails a survey with a quantitative approach through questionnaires. The four main constructs of AQ comprises Control, Ownership, Reach, and Endurance (CORE model). This study involves several key procedures such as challenge identification, expert validity, item development, and psychometric testing of items before developing the index. A total of 96 items were produced and piloted over 159 pre-service teachers. Findings from the pilot study showed 54 items that met all assumptions from the Rasch model such as item fit, unidimensionality, local independence, reliability, and separation index. The actual study was conducted on 542 pre-service teachers from five Malaysian Institutes of Teacher Education (IPG) in the Central Zone through stratified random sampling. The data were analyzed using SPSS version 26.0 and WINSTEPS version 3.71.0.1. The findings showed the 46.86% of practicum pre-service teachers have a moderately high AQ index with 74.80. The Control and Ownership recorded a high level AQ index with 77.30 and 77.10, respectively, while Reach and Endurance were at a moderate level AQ index with 73.20 and 71.50. The AQ index of male pre-service teachers is higher (76.29) than the female (74.09). It can be seen that eighth semester pre-service teachers is higher (75.28) than the sixth semester (74.38). The Science (SN) field recorded as a highest index (80.45), while the Visual Arts Education (PSV) field has a lowest index score (70.29). Further studies can be done by reviewing the pre-service teacher development program by empowering the reach and endurance aspects to ensure that the future teachers are resilient to challenges.
Perceptions of sugar-sweetened beverages among adolescents in North Carolina
Authors: Haynes-Maslow Lindsey , Ray Sarah , Giombi Kristen
Published: September 2022

Introduction

Sugar-sweetened beverage (SSB) consumption among adolescents contributes to diet-related chronic disease including obesity, type 2 diabetes, and poor oral health.

Objective

To better understand adolescents' perceptions, attitudes, and consumption behaviors around SSBs by conducting virtual workshop discussions with adolescents in NC.

Materials and methods

Adolescents ages 11–17 in communities with a high proportion of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) eligible households were selected to participate in a series of virtual group workshops during summer 2021. A semi-structured discussion guide was used by a workshop facilitator. Workshop discussions centered around general health perceptions, SSB perceptions, and consumption behaviors. A thematic analysis was used to summarize knowledge, beliefs, attitudes, and perceptions around SSBs.

Results

Approximately 36 adolescents participated across four group workshops. Parents and caregivers influenced adolescents most when it came to making beverage choices. Positive SSB perceptions included liking the taste and the association with special times and social events. Negative opinions focused on associated health risks (diet-related chronic disease and poor oral health). Some adolescents acknowledged SSBs were not healthy but suggested they could be consumed occasionally. Very few participants mentioned any benefits from SSBs; those that mentioned benefits stated they provided energy, replaced electrolytes, and tasted good.

Conclusion

Findings provide several key insights that can contribute to the development of messages aimed at curbing SSB consumption among adolescents. For example, messages that focus on catching adolescents' attention and sharing short- and long-term health consequences of high SSB consumption resonated with adolescents, but because occasional SSB intake was not seen as consequential, messages that suggest abstinence from SSBs may not be helpful in reducing consumption.
Lung cancer screening with low-dose computed tomography: National expenditures and cost-effectiveness
Authors: Zeng Xiaohui , Zhou Zhen , Luo Xia , Liu Qiao
Published: September 2022

Objective

To compare the cost-effectiveness of undertaking low-dose computed tomography (LDCT) screening for early detection of lung cancer (LC) with different frequencies within the healthcare system of China, and estimate the additional national healthcare expenditure and five-year LC mortality associated with different screening frequencies.

Material and methods

A Markov model was established using national LC epidemiological data from the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, demographic data from the Chinese Statistical Yearbook, and cost and effectiveness data mainly from the Cancer Screening Program in China. The model included thirty sex-specific screening strategies, which were classified by initial screening age (30, 35, 40, 45, and 50), and screening intervals (intervals at single time point, 1, 2, 5, 10, and 20 years). The main model outputs were incremental cost-effectiveness ratios (ICERs), additional national healthcare expenditure and five-year LC mortality.

Results

The ICERs for LDCT screening strategies vs. non-screening strategy ranged from $16,086 per quality-adjusted life-year (QALY) to $3,675,491 per QALY in the male cohort, and from $36,624 per QALY to $5,943,556 per QALY in the female cohort. The annual increment national healthcare expenditures related to LDCT screening were varied from $0.25 to $13.39 billion, with the lower cost in the cohort with older screening ages and lower screening frequencies. More frequent screening with LDCT was associated with a greater reduction in LC death: an annual LDCT screening was linked to an estimated reduction in five-year LC death by 27.27–29.07%, while a one-off screening was linked to a reduction by 5.56–5.83%.

Conclusion

Under a willingness-to-pay (WTP) threshold of three times the Chinese gross domestic product (GDP) per capita (US $37,654), annual screening with an initiating age at 50 was most cost-effective in both male and female cohorts. By taking into account both the national healthcare expenditures and the effect of LDCT screening, our study results support undertaking LDCT screening annually from 50 years old in general populations.
Morphology and rheology of composites of poly(styrene-co-2-vinyl pyridine) copolymers and phosphotungstic acid
Authors: He Qingbin , Zhang Yanjie , Zhang Zhijie , Qian Hu-Jun , Chen Quan
Published: September 2022

Morphological and rheological properties are examined for poly(styrene-co-2-vinyl pyridine) (P(S-co-2VP)) copolymers upon introducing phosphotungstic acid, one kind of polyoxometalates (POMs). The phosphotungstic acid protonates the 2VP monomers, and the deprotonated phosphotungstic acid effectively crosslinks the protonated 2VP monomers, inducing phase segregation into the S-rich and 2VP-rich domains. Linear viscoelasticity (LVE) of the composite samples strongly relies on the continuity of the 2VP-rich domains and can be classified into the following three types. (1) For 2VP-rich sphere domains in the S-rich matrix, LVE is akin to the conventional elastomer characterized by a wide rubbery regime before the terminal relaxation. (2) For bicontinuous morphology, where both the 2VP-rich and S-rich domains are continuous, two glassy processes manifest in LVE, and the chain relaxation is controlled by the continuous ion dissociation in the less mobilized 2VP-rich domain. (3) When the 2VP-rich domain is the only continuous phase, only the glassy modulus of the 2VP-rich domain manifests in LVE, and the chain relaxation is activated by the continuous ionic dissociations in the matrix. Surprisingly, the relaxation time obtained for all three abovementioned morphologies can be reduced to a universal behavior once the average glass transition temperature of the 2VP-rich region and the number of effective stickers per chain have been properly normalized, indicating that these two parameters control the chain-dimensional dynamics.
Application of three-dimensional (3D) reconstruction in the treatment of video-assisted thoracoscopic complex segmentectomy of the lower lung lobe: A retrospective study
Authors: Wang Xinyu , Wang Qing , Zhang Xindi , Yin Hang , Fu Yujie , Cao Min , Zhao Xiaojing
Published: September 2022

Background

An increasing number of lung ground-glass nodules (GGNs) have been detected ever since low-dose computer tomography started growing in popularity. Three-dimensional (3D) reconstruction technology plays a critical role in lung resection, especially in segmentectomy. In this study, we explore the role of 3D reconstruction in thoracoscopic complex segmentectomy of lower lung lobe.

Methods

A total of 97 patients who underwent complex segmentectomy of lower lung lobe from January 2021 to March 2022 were retrospectively analyzed. We divided these patients into a 3D group (n = 42) and a routine group (n = 55) based on preoperative 3D reconstruction or without this procedure. The demographics of patients and GGNs were collected and perioperative outcomes were compared between the two groups.

Results

All of the baseline characteristics between the groups were comparable (all P > 0.05). There was no 30-day postoperative mortality and conversion in the two groups. The operation time of the 3D group was significantly shorter than that of the routine group (111.4 ± 20.8 min vs. 127.1 ± 32.3 min, P = 0.007). The number of stapler reloads during surgery in the 3D group was less than that in the routine group (9.0 ± 2.2 vs. 10.4 ± 2.6, P = 0.009). The rate of air leakage on postoperative days 1–3 was lower in the 3D group (11.9% vs. 30.9%, P = 0.027). In addition, the resection margins of all patients in the 3D group were adequate, while four patients in the routine group had inadequate resection margins, although there was no statistically significant difference (P = 0.131). Intraoperative blood loss, postoperative drainage, postoperative hospital stay, pneumonia/atelectasis, and hemoptysis were similar between the two groups.

Conclusions

For performing complex segmentectomy of the lower lung lobe, the procedure of 3D reconstruction may shorten the operation time, decrease the number of stapler reloads, prevent postoperative air leakage, and guarantee a safe surgical margin. Therefore, 3D reconstruction is recommended for complex segmentectomy of the lower lung lobe.
The application of in situ TEM on the grain boundary brittleness of precipitation-strengthened Ni-based superalloys: Recent progress and perspective
Authors: Zhou Qian , Ding Qingqing , Zhang Yuefei , Wei Xiao , Zhang Ze , Bei Hongbin
Published: September 2022

Due to their superior strength and oxidation resistance at high temperatures, precipitation-strengthened Ni-based superalloys are widely used in load-bearing hot components in energy generation systems, such as gas/steam engines in aircraft or power plants. However, brittleness originating from a grain boundary (GB) in a certain temperature range is one of the greatest deadlocks, which desperately restricts their thermal-mechanical processing capabilities and also industrial applications. Experimental and theoretical investigations of the origin of GB brittleness with aims to overcome it still attract many research efforts in the high-temperature material field. It is desirable to understand the GB embrittlement mechanism by dynamically investigating the entire GB cracking process in real time under stress/temperature combination, which might be hardly revealed by a traditional experiment on precipitation strength/theoretical technologies. Current advances in high-temperature mechanical testing systems, which can be operated in a transmission electron microscope (TEM), provide unique opportunities for in situ exploration of the mechanistic origins of GB brittleness of superalloys with the resolution up to an atomic scale. Here, we first briefly give an overview of the phenomenon and current understanding on GB brittleness, followed by introducing the state-of-art techniques in an in situ TEM/mechanical testing system (MTS). In the end, we will also discuss the potential application of the in situ TEM/MTS on GB brittleness and a perspective overlook.
The neurobiology of pain and facial movements in rodents: Clinical applications and current research
Authors: Domínguez-Oliva Adriana , Mota-Rojas Daniel , Hernández-Avalos Ismael , Mora-Medina Patricia , Olmos-Hernández Adriana , Verduzco-Mendoza Antonio , Casas-Alvarado Alejandro , Whittaker Alexandra L.
Published: September 2022

One of the most controversial aspects of the use of animals in science is the production of pain. Pain is a central ethical concern. The activation of neural pathways involved in the pain response has physiological, endocrine, and behavioral consequences, that can affect both the health and welfare of the animals, as well as the validity of research. The strategy to prevent these consequences requires understanding of the nociception process, pain itself, and how assessment can be performed using validated, non-invasive methods. The study of facial expressions related to pain has undergone considerable study with the finding that certain movements of the facial muscles (called facial action units) are associated with the presence and intensity of pain. This review, focused on rodents, discusses the neurobiology of facial expressions, clinical applications, and current research designed to better understand pain and the nociceptive pathway as a strategy for implementing refinement in biomedical research.
Effect of the Yield Level, the Inflation Environment and the Pandemic on the Lapse Rates of Life Insurances
Authors: Szepesváry László
Published: September 2022

This study examines the lapse rates of certain life insurances in relation to various economic and non-economic events, analysing empirical insurance data, in search of answers to the questions of what impact the changed yield and inflation environments and lockdowns due to Covid-19 had on the cancellation of contracts, and how sensitive policyholders are to changes in yields in the case of certain investment-type insurances. In addition to the conclusions drawn on the basis of time series data, further statistical analyses (such as Granger causality testing, contract classification with k-means clustering) contribute to a more complete picture. The effect of certain changes in the interest rate level on lapses can be detected in the case of the single premium investment-type insurance under review (especially for the higher premium classes). No similar behaviour is typical of the current premium insurances under review, and so far it has also not been possible to detect any significant relationship with lapses in connection with inflation or the lockdowns due to Covid-19.
Algorithms for Automatic Data Validation and Performance Assessment of MOX Gas Sensor Data Using Time Series Analysis
Authors: Hammer Christof , Sporrer Sebastian , Warmer Johannes , Kaul Peter , Thoelen Ronald , Jung Norbert
Published: September 2022

The following work presents algorithms for semi-automatic validation, feature extraction and ranking of time series measurements acquired from MOX gas sensors. Semi-automatic measurement validation is accomplished by extending established curve similarity algorithms with a slope-based signature calculation. Furthermore, a feature-based ranking metric is introduced. It allows for individual prioritization of each feature and can be used to find the best performing sensors regarding multiple research questions. Finally, the functionality of the algorithms, as well as the developed software suite, are demonstrated with an exemplary scenario, illustrating how to find the most power-efficient MOX gas sensor in a data set collected during an extensive screening consisting of 16,320 measurements, all taken with different sensors at various temperatures and analytes.
The Organizational Commitment of Public Administrative Leaders and Their Subjective Career Success: Case of the Saudi Irrigation Organization
Authors: Semlali Yahdih , Elrayah Musaddag
Published: September 2022

Organizational commitment is a vital topic in the management field. This quantitative study aims to gain insights into the main factors that affect a leader’s subjective career success and its relations with the level of commitment. The data in this study include all Saudi leaders who work at the Saudi Irrigation Organization. About 120 managers participated in this study. Primary data were collected through Mayer’s questionnaire, which was sent through the official work email. The questionnaire consists of 5 scale items to measure subjective career success, 8 scale items to measure affective commitment, 6 scale items to measure continuous commitment, and 8 scale items to measure normative commitment. This study used the quantitative survey research design. The findings show significant relationships between affective commitment and normative commitment and subjective career success. It also found no significant relationship between continuous commitment and subjective career success.
Do We Learn to Internalize Stigma from Our Parents? Comparison of Internalized Stigmatization in Adolescents Diagnosed with ADHD and Their Parents
Authors: Dikeç Gül , Bilaç Öznur , Kardelen Cansın , Sapmaz Şermin Yalin
Published: September 2022

This study compared internalized stigmatization levels of adolescents diagnosed with attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) with those of their parents. The study’s data were collected from 107 adolescents diagnosed with ADHD and their parents between July 2020 and March 2021. The adolescents were followed up in the child and adolescent psychiatry outpatient clinic of a university hospital in western Turkey. The information forms for adolescents and parents, the Internalized Stigma of Mental Illness Scale—Adolescent Form (ISMI-AF) and the Parental Internalized Stigma of Mental Illness Scale (PISMI), were used to collect the data. There was no statistically significant difference between the total scores of internalized stigma and subscale mean scores of the adolescents and their parents (p > 0.05); only the subscale scores for stereotype endorsement were found to be significantly different (p < 0.05). PISMI scores affected ISMI-AF scores, which can be interpreted as parents’ perspectives and attitudes toward stigmatization affecting adolescents. For ADHD, whose frequency is increasing daily, intervention studies should be conducted to reduce adolescents’ and parents’ internalized stigma and to enhance the educational outcomes of adolescents.
Estimation of Liquid Hydrogen Fuels in Aviation
Authors: Choi Younseok , Lee Jinkwang
Published: September 2022

As the demand for alternative fuels to solve environmental problems increases worldwide due to the greenhouse gas problem, this study predicted the demand for liquid hydrogen fuel in aviation to achieve ‘zero-emission flight’. The liquid hydrogen fuel models of an aircraft and all aviation sectors were produced based on the prediction of aviation fleet growth through the classification of currently operated aircraft. Using these models, the required amount of liquid hydrogen fuel and the total cost of liquid hydrogen were also calculated when various environmental regulations were satisfied. As a result, it was found to be necessary to convert approximately 66% to 100% of all aircraft from existing aircraft to liquid hydrogen aircraft in 2050, according to regulations. The annual liquid hydrogen cost was 4.7–5.2 times higher in the beginning due to the high production cost, but after 2030, it will be maintained at almost the same price, and it was found that the cost was rather low compared to jet fuel.
Spatial Distribution, Pollution Characteristics, and Health Risk Assessment of Heavy Metals in Soils from a Typical Agricultural County, East China
Authors: Yu Linsong , Liu Hongbo , Liu Weidong , Qin Pinrui , Yu Jian , Zhou Bing , Zhang Fugui , Chen Ziwan , Zhao Yuyan , Shi Zeming
Published: September 2022

This study collected 1135 topsoil samples of cultivated land in Laiyang County, eastern China, to analyze the distribution, pollution and health risks of heavy metals (As, Cd, Cu, Cr, Hg, Ni, Pb and Zn). The results show that: (1) the levels of eight heavy metals at some sites were higher than the risk screening values in China, and there was heavy metal pollution. (2) An improved geoaccumulation index was used to evaluate soil pollution. The average value of Igeo before and after improvement was 0.32 (Iml, no pollution to medium pollution) and −0.04 (Iol, no pollution), respectively. (3) Hg and Cd were identified as the main contributors to ecological risk in this study, with a cumulative ecological risk contribution percentage > 65%. The results of the potential ecological risk index (PERI) show that 9.3% of the sampling sites were considered to have moderate ecological risk. (4) As, Pb, Ni and Cu made a contribution of >95% in terms of non-carcinogenic risk to adults and children through different exposure routes, and different soil intake routes posed no non-carcinogenic risk to adults; there was a sampling site with HQChildren > 1, which was consistent with the non-carcinogenic risk site, indicating that children in this location and surrounding areas are more likely to face dual health risks. Therefore, it is necessary to promote the risk management of heavy metals in the study area in order to safely use soil resources.
Agricultural Field Boundary Delineation with Satellite Image Segmentation for High-Resolution Crop Mapping: A Case Study of Rice Paddy
Authors: Wang Mo , Wang Jing , Cui Yunpeng , Liu Juan , Chen Li
Published: September 2022

Parcel-level cropland maps are an essential data source for crop yield estimation, precision agriculture, and many other agronomy applications. Here, we proposed a rice field mapping approach that combines agricultural field boundary extraction with fine-resolution satellite images and pixel-wise cropland classification with Sentinel-1 time series SAR (Synthetic Aperture Radar) imagery. The agricultural field boundaries were delineated by image segmentation using U-net-based fully convolutional network (FCN) models. Meanwhile, a simple decision-tree classifier was developed based on rice phenology traits to extract rice pixels with time series SAR imagery. Agricultural fields were then classified as rice or non-rice by majority voting from pixel-wise classification results. The evaluation indicated that SeresNet34, as the backbone of the U-net model, had the best performance in agricultural field extraction with an IoU (Intersection over Union) of 0.801 compared to the simple U-net and ResNet-based U-net. The combination of agricultural field maps with the rice pixel detection model showed promising improvement in the accuracy and resolution of rice mapping. The produced rice field map had an IoU score of 0.953, while the User‘s Accuracy and Producer‘s Accuracy of pixel-wise rice field mapping were 0.824 and 0.816, respectively. The proposed model combination scheme merely requires a simple pixel-wise cropland classification model that incorporates the agricultural field mapping results to produce high-accuracy and high-resolution cropland maps.
Poultry Meat Quality in Antibiotic Free Production Has Improved by Natural Extract Supplement
Authors: Rossi Raffaella , Vizzarri Francesco , Ratti Sabrina , Corino Carlo
Published: September 2022

Modern consumers are conscious of the relationship between meat quality and animal welfare. Today, slow-growing chickens are associated with a higher broiler welfare. The present work aims to evaluate the effect of dietary natural extract supplementation with polyphenols and seaweed mixtures (PPE) on breast and thigh muscles quality parameters in Hubbard JA57 slow growth chicken in antibiotic-free production. Five hundred Hubbard female chickens (250 from control and 250 from experimental group) were housed on floor pens (10 pens/treatment, 25 birds/pen) and assigned to two experimental groups: a control group (CON) receiving a commercial diet and another group receiving the same diet supplemented with 0.3% of polyphenols and seaweed mixtures (PPE). Dietary supplementation with PPE did not affect (p > 0.05) growth performances. The breast pH tended to be lower (p = 0.062) in PPE groups. The protein content of breast muscles resulted higher in PPE samples (p < 0.05) than controls. The thigh muscles from PPE group showed a lower (p < 0.05) malondialdehyde content than CON during refrigerated storage. In conclusion, the PPE supplement improves breast muscle protein content and oxidative stability of thigh muscle. This feeding practice is suggested to enhance the nutritional and technological parameters of meat Hubbard slow growth chicken in antibiotic-free production.
Effect of a Hygiene Protocol on Denture-Related Stomatitis Remission, Local Inflammatory Factors, and Hemodynamic Responses by Arterial Pressure
Authors: Ribeiro Adriana Barbosa , Ribeiro Aline Barbosa , de Araújo Camila Borba , Fortes Caroline Vieira , Clemente Lorena Mosconi , Paranhos Helena de Freitas Oliveira , Watanabe Evandro , Salgado Helio Cesar , Silva-Lovato Cláudia Helena
Published: September 2022

Denture-related stomatitis (DRS) is frequent oral inflammation in complete denture wearers. This study evaluated the effect of a hygiene protocol on DRS remission, local inflammatory factors, and hemodynamic responses. Thirty-three individuals were enrolled in the study. The outcomes were measured before and after 10 days of a hygiene protocol treatment consisting of brushing the palate with a soft brush and water and denture brushing with a denture-specific brush and mild soap, as well as immersion of the denture for 20 min in a 0.25% sodium hypochlorite solution. Data were analyzed by paired Wilcoxon for biofilm removal and CFU count of microorganisms. The paired T test was used to assess salivary MUC 1, cytokines, and arterial pressure (p < 0.05). A significant difference was found in the DRS degree (p < 0.001), biofilm (p < 0.001), microbial load of Candida spp. (p < 0.001), Gram-negative (p < 0.004), Staphylococcus spp. (p < 0.001), and S. mutans (p < 0.001) of the denture, and S. mutans (p < 0.001) of the palate after use of the protocol. The salivary flow (p = 0.2) and pH (p = 0.97) did not change; there was an increase of MUC 1 (p = 0.049) and a decrease in IL-6 (p = 0.038), IL-2 (p = 0.04), IL-10 (p = 0.041), and IFNγ (p = 0.04). There was also a decrease in systolic (p = 0.012) and mean arterial pressure (p = 0.02). The current hygiene protocol reduced the inflammation degree of DRS and promoted an improvement of local inflammatory factors and a reduction in the systolic arterial pressure of the patients.
Maltol, a Natural Flavor Enhancer, Inhibits NLRP3 and Non-Canonical Inflammasome Activation
Authors: Ahn Huijeong , Lee Gilyoung , Han Byung-Cheol , Lee Seung-Ho , Lee Geun-Shik
Published: September 2022

Maltol (3-hydroxy-2-methyl-4-pyrone) is used widely as a food and cosmetic supplement, and it has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities. Inflammasome causes the maturation and secretion of interleukin (IL)-1β and -18 through the activation of caspase-1 (Casp1), which contributes to various inflammatory diseases. This study examined the effects of maltol on the inflammasome activation in macrophages and mice. Lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-primed macrophages were treated with a trigger of NLRP3, NLRC4, AIM2, or non-canonical (NC) inflammasomes in the presence of maltol. The secretion of IL-1β and IL-18 and the cleavage of Casp1 were analyzed as indices of inflammasome activation. Mice were injected with LPS and an NLRP3 trigger with or without maltol, and the peritoneal IL-1β secretions were observed. The effects of maltol on reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and Casp1 activity were analyzed to determine the mechanism. Maltol inhibited the activation of NLRP3 and NC inflammasomes, but it did not alter the other inflammasomes. Maltol also attenuated IL-1β secretion resulting from the inflammasome activation in mice. The anti-inflammatory mechanism of maltol was revealed by the inhibition of ROS production and Casp1 activity. Maltol is suggested to be promising as a anti-inflammasome molecule.
An Artificial Intelligence-Based Algorithm for the Assessment of Substitution Voicing
Authors: Uloza Virgilijus , Maskeliunas Rytis , Pribuisis Kipras , Vaitkus Saulius , Kulikajevas Audrius , Damasevicius Robertas
Published: September 2022

The purpose of this research was to develop an artificial intelligence-based method for evaluating substitution voicing (SV) and speech following laryngeal oncosurgery. Convolutional neural networks were used to analyze spoken audio sources. A Mel-frequency spectrogram was employed as input to the deep neural network architecture. The program was trained using a collection of 309 digitized speech recordings. The acoustic substitution voicing index (ASVI) model was elaborated using regression analysis. This model was then tested with speech samples that were unknown to the algorithm, and the results were compared to the auditory-perceptual SV evaluation provided by the medical professionals. A statistically significant, strong correlation with rs = 0.863 (p = 0.001) was observed between the ASVI and the SV evaluation performed by the trained laryngologists. The one-way ANOVA showed statistically significant ASVI differences in control, cordectomy, partial laryngectomy, and total laryngectomy patient groups (p < 0.001). The elaborated lightweight ASVI algorithm reached rapid response rates of 3.56 ms. The ASVI provides a fast and efficient option for SV and speech in patients after laryngeal oncosurgery. The ASVI results are comparable to the auditory-perceptual SV evaluation performed by medical professionals.
A Novel Model for Enhancing the Resilience of Smart MicroGrids’ Critical Infrastructures with Multi-Criteria Decision Techniques
Authors: Almaleh Abdulaziz , Tipper David , Al-Gahtani Saad F. , El-Sehiemy Ragab
Published: September 2022

Microgrids have the potential to provide reliable electricity to key components of a smart city’s critical infrastructure after a disaster, hence boosting the microgrid power system’s resilience. Policymakers and electrical grid operators are increasingly concerned about the appropriate configuration and location of microgrids to sustain post-disaster critical infrastructure operations in smart cities. In this context, this paper presents a novel method for the microgrid allocation problem that considers several technical and economic infrastructure factors such as critical infrastructure components, geospatial positioning of infrastructures, power requirements, and microgrid cost. In particular, the geographic allocation of a microgrid is presented as an optimization problem to optimize a weighted combination of the relative importance of nodes across all key infrastructures and the associated costs. Furthermore, the simulation results of the formulated optimization problem are compared with a modified version of the heuristic method based on the critical node identification of an interdependent infrastructure for positioning microgrids in terms of the resilience of multiple smart critical infrastructures. Numerical results using infrastructure in the city of Pittsburgh in the USA are given as a practical case study to illustrate the methodology and trade-offs. The proposed method provides an effective method for localizing renewable energy resources based on infrastructural requirements.
Evaluating Tissue Mechanical Properties Using Quantitative Mueller Matrix Polarimetry and Neural Network
Authors: Mi Changjiang , Shao Conghui , He Honghui , He Chao , Ma Hui
Published: September 2022

Evaluation of the mechanical properties of biological tissues has always been an important issue in the field of biomedicine. The traditional method for mechanical properties measurement is to perform in vitro tissue deformation experiments. With the fast development of optical and image processing techniques, more and more non-invasive and non-contact optical methods have been applied to the analysis of tissue mechanical features. In this study, we use Mueller matrix polarimetry to quantitatively obtain the mechanical properties of bovine tendon tissues. Firstly, to study the structural information and the changes in the optical characteristics of the tendon tissue under different stretching states, 3 × 3 Mueller matrix images of bovine tendon tissue samples are acquired by backscattering measurement setups based on a polarized camera. Then, we extract the frequency distribution histograms (FDHs) of the Mueller matrix elements to reveal the structural changes of the tendon tissue more clearly during the stretching process. Last, we calculate the Mueller matrix transformation (MMT) parameters, the total anisotropy t1 and the anisotropy direction α1 of the tendon tissue samples under different stretching processes to quantitatively characterize their structural changes under different mechanical states. The central moments of the MMT parameters can be used to distinguish the different stretching states of the tendon tissue. For better discrimination based on the MMT parameters, we design a multilayer neural network that takes the first-order moments of the MMT parameters as the input features. After training, a high-precision classification model of the stretching states of tendon tissue samples is finally obtained, and the total classification accuracy achieves 98%. The experimental results show that the Mueller matrix polarimetry can be a potential non-contact tool for tissue mechanical properties evaluation.
Smoking and High-Sensitivity Troponin I Levels in Young and Healthy Adults from the General Population
Authors: Grossmann Kirsten , Aeschbacher Stefanie , Wohlwend Niklas , Blum Steffen , Weideli Ornella C. , Telser Julia , Risch Martin , Risch Lorenz , Conen David
Published: September 2022

Lower troponin concentrations measured in smokers in a healthy population raise the question of whether a lower troponin threshold should be considered for tobacco users. We aim to evaluate differences in troponin levels according to the smoking status in healthy young adults. Participants aged 25–41 years were enrolled in a population-based observational study. The smoking status was self-assessed, and participants were classified as never-, past-, and current smokers. Pack-years of smoking were calculated. High-sensitivity cardiac troponin I (hs-cTnI) concentrations were measured from thawed blood samples, and associations were assessed using multivariable linear regression analyses. We included 2155 subjects in this analysis. The mean (SD) age was 35.4 ± 5.22 years; 53% were women. The median hs-cTnI levels across smoking status categories were 0.70 (interquartile range 0.43–1.23) ng/L in never smokers (n = 1174), 0.69 (interquartile range 0.43–1.28) ng/L in past smokers (n = 503), and 0.67 (interquartile range 0.41–1.04) ng/L in current smokers (n = 478), p = 0.04. The troponin levels remained significantly lower in current smokers after adjustment for potential confounders (β-coefficient [95%CI] of −0.08 [−0.25; −0.08], p < 0.001). Our results confirm that current smokers have lower hs-cTnI levels than past or never smokers, with a significant dose–response relationship among current smokers. The absolute differences in hs-cTnI levels were small.