bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A Preliminary Study on the Validity and Stability of Projective Methods: An Application of the Structural Approach of Social Representations with Traditional Mexican Cheeses
Authors: Rojas-Rivas Edgar , Thomé-Ortiz Humberto , Espinoza-Ortega Angélica
Published: December 2022

Projective methods are qualitative tools used to study food consumer behavior. In recent years, there has been an increase in studies that use these tools to analyze consumer behavior, particularly with the word association (WA) technique. However, one of the challenges in using these methods is the stability and validity of the data. This research aimed to obtain preliminary information on the stability and validity of the associations generated by consumers with the WA technique, using the structural approach of social representations. For this, two studies were carried out; for the first study, a face-to-face survey was carried out in which 89 consumers participated, who wrote the first words that came to mind with the stimulus “Aculco” on a ballot paper. For the second study, 122 consumers completed the same task as in the first study; however, the participants were recruited from an online survey. A random sample (n = 50) of both studies was selected to explore the stability and validity of the results. In the three study samples, the words were grouped into categories and analyzed through the structural approach of social representations. The frequency of mention of the identified categories was compared with the chi-square test and the average position (AP) and the Cognitive Salience Index (CSI) were calculated. Prototype maps were built to study the structure of the categories according to the central core and peripheral areas. Cluster analysis was performed to corroborate the structure of the representations. Finally, multiple factor analysis (MFA) was performed to determine the similarity of the results obtained from the three samples using the RV coefficient. No statistical differences (p > 0.05) were identified in most of the representations (n = 11) generated from the WA task. Furthermore, the representation “Cheese and dairy products” was positioned in the central core of the three maps. The APs and the CSIs of each representation were similar in the three study samples. The RV coefficient (≥0.80) indicated similarity in the representations obtained. Results of this research can be useful for future studies that attempt to compare the stability and validity of the information based on qualitative and more flexible methodologies. Some methodological implications related to the validity and stability of projective methods are discussed.
QTRAP LC/MS/MS of Garlic Nanoparticles and Improving Sunflower Oil Stabilization during Accelerated Shelf Life Storage
Authors: Abdelli Nouara , Mekawi Enas , Ebrahim Abdel-Alim Mohammed , Salim Nesreen Saad , El-Nagar Mahran , Al-Dalain Sati Y. , Adlan Abdalla Ridab , Nagarajan Ganesan , Fadhal Emad , Ibrahim Rashid I. H. , Afkar Eman , Morsy Mohamed K.
Published: December 2022

The purpose of this research was to assess and utilize the bioactive compounds of garlic nanoparticles (Ga-NPs) as a natural antioxidant in sunflower oil (SFO) stored at 65 ± 1 °C for 24 days. The garlic nanoparticles (Ga-NPs) from the Balady cultivar were prepared, characterized, and added to SFO at three concentrations: 200, 600, and 1000 ppm (w/v), and they were compared with 600 ppm garlic lyophilized powder extract (Ga-LPE), 200 ppm BHT, 200 ppm α-tocopherol, and SFO without Ga-NPs (control). The QTRAP LC/MS/MS profile of Ga-NPs revealed the presence of four organosulfur compounds. Ga-NPs exhibited the highest capacity for phenolic, flavonoid, and antioxidant compounds. In Ga-NP SFO samples, the values of peroxide, p-anisidine, totox, conjugated dienes, and conjugated trienes were significantly lower than the control. The antioxidant indices of SFO samples containing Ga-NPs were higher than the control. The Ga-NPs enhanced the sensory acceptability of SFO treatments up to day 24 of storage. The shelf life of SFO treated with Ga-NPs was substantially increased (presuming a Q10 amount). The results show that Ga-NPs are a powerful antioxidant that improves SFO stability and extends the shelf life (~384 days at 25 °C).
Theobroma cacao and Theobroma grandiflorum: Botany, Composition and Pharmacological Activities of Pods and Seeds
Authors: Jean-Marie Elodie , Jiang Weiwen , Bereau Didier , Robinson Jean-Charles
Published: December 2022

Cocoa and cupuassu are evergreen Amazonian trees belonging to the genus Theobroma, with morphologically distinct fruits, including pods and beans. These beans are generally used for agri-food and cosmetics and have high fat and carbohydrates contents. The beans also contain interesting bioactive compounds, among which are polyphenols and methylxanthines thought to be responsible for various health benefits such as protective abilities against cardiovascular and neurodegenerative disorders and other metabolic disorders such as obesity and diabetes. Although these pods represent 50–80% of the whole fruit and provide a rich source of proteins, they are regularly eliminated during the cocoa and cupuassu transformation process. The purpose of this work is to provide an overview of recent research on cocoa and cupuassu pods and beans, with emphasis on their chemical composition, bioavailability, and pharmacological properties. According to the literature, pods and beans from cocoa and cupuassu are promising ecological and healthy resources.
Editorial on Special Issue: “Dynamics of Gels and Its Applications”
Authors: Yang Yiming , Jia Di
Published: December 2022

Gels are polymer networks swollen in various solvents [...]
Colloidal and Sedimentation Behavior of Kaolinite Suspension in Presence of Non-Ionic Polyacrylamide (PAM)
Authors: Abbasi Moud Aref
Published: December 2022

Colloidal behavior of kaolinite particles in water was investigated in this manuscript, without and with the addition of a polymer flocculant (non-anionic polyacrylamide (PAM)), using diverse imaging techniques in addition to LUMisizer. The addition of PAM was found to be causing the formation of bridges among particles thus increasing their settling rates to the bottom of the container. To assess the size of flocs and the potential morphology of PAM around particles and their clusters, the state of flocs formation and polymer distribution was analyzed through various microscopical techniques, namely scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). SEM and TEM results revealed that, in the absence of PAM, the floc structure of the sediment was loose and irregularly distributed, while the presence of PAM made the sediment structures greatly denser. Later, using LUMisizer, dynamic light scattering (DLS) and the zeta potential of kaolinite, sedimentation, and colloidal behavior of suspension came under scrutiny. Using LUMisizer, the maximum packing and settling rates of the particles were experimentally obtained as roughly 44 vol%; settling rates were estimated in 63–352 µm/s when centrifugal force varied and, using maximum packing values, compressive yield was estimated to vary between 48–94 kPa. The results of this study are instructive in choosing appropriate polymers and operating conditions to settle clay minerals in tailing ponds. Additionally, the maximum packing of kaolinite particles was simulated with spherical particles with varied polydispersity to connect DLS data to the maximum packing values obtained using LUMisizer; the little discrepancy between simulation and experimental values was found to be encouraging.
Bta-miR-106b Regulates Bovine Mammary Epithelial Cell Proliferation, Cell Cycle, and Milk Protein Synthesis by Targeting the CDKN1A Gene
Authors: Wu Xin , Huang Jinfeng , Liu Yanan , Li Houcheng , Han Bo , Sun Dongxiao
Published: December 2022

Our previous studies found that bta-miR-106b and its corresponding target gene, CDKN1A, were differentially expressed between the mammary epithelium of lactating Holstein cows with extremely high and low milk protein and fat percentage, implying the potential role of bta-miR-106b in milk composition synthesis. In this study, with luciferase assay experiment, bta-miR-106b was validated to target the 3′-untranslated region (UTR) of bovine CDKN1A, thereby regulating its expression. Moreover, in bovine mammary epithelial cells (BMECs), over-expression of bta-miR-106b significantly down-regulated the CDKN1A expression at both mRNA and protein levels, and inhibitors of bta-miR-106b increased CDKN1A expression. Of note, we observed that bta-miR-106b accelerated cell proliferation and cell cycle, and changed the expressions of protein synthesis related pathways such as JAK-STAT and PI3K/AKT/mTOR through regulating CDKN1A expression. Our findings highlight the important regulatory role of bta-miR-106b in milk protein synthesis by targeting CDKN1A in dairy cattle.
Detection of Selection Signatures in Anqing Six-End-White Pigs Based on Resequencing Data
Authors: Chen Yige , Wu Xudong , Wang Jinglin , Hou Yinhui , Liu Ying , Wang Bo , Hu Xiaojing , Zheng Xianrui , Zhang Xiaodong , Ding Yueyun , Yin Zongjun
Published: December 2022

As a distinguished Chinese indigenous pig breed that exhibits disease resistance and high meat quality, the Anqing six-end-white (AQ) pig represents a valuable germplasm resource for improving the quality of the pig breeding industry. In this study, 24 AQ pigs that were distantly blood-related and 6 Asian Wild Boar (AWB) were selected for 10× deep-genome resequencing. The signatures of the selection were analyzed to explore the genetic basis of their germplasm characteristics and to identify excellent germplasm-related functional genes based on NGS data. A total of 49,289,052 SNPs and 6,186,123 indels were detected across the genome in 30 pigs. Most of the genetic variations were synonym mutations and existed in the intergenic region. We identified 275 selected regions (top 1%) harboring 85 genes by applying a crossover approach based on genetic differentiation (FST) and polymorphism levels (π ratio). Some genes were found to be positively selected in AQ pigs’ breeding. The SMPD4 and DDX18 genes were involved in the immune response to pseudorabies virus (PRV) and porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV). The BCL6 and P2RX6 genes were involved in biological regulation of immune T cells and phagocytes. The SLC7A4 and SPACA4 genes were related to reproductive performance. The MSTN and HIF1A genes were related to fat deposition and muscle development. Moreover, 138 overlapping regions were detected in selected regions and ROH islands of AQ pigs. Additionally, we found that the QTLs with the most overlapping regions were related to back fat thickness, meat color, pH value, fatty acid content, immune cells, parasitic immunity, and bacterial immunity. Based on functional enrichment analysis and QTLs mapping, we conducted further research on the molecular genetic basis of germplasm traits (disease resistance and excellent meat quality). These results are a reliable resource for conserving germplasm resources and exploiting molecular markers of AQ pigs.
The Role of the m6A RNA Methyltransferase METTL16 in Gene Expression and SAM Homeostasis
Authors: Mermoud Jacqueline E.
Published: December 2022

The RNA methylation of adenosine at the N6-position (m6A) has attracted significant attention because of its abundance and dynamic nature. It accounts for more than 80% of all RNA modifications present in bacteria and eukaryotes and regulates crucial aspects of RNA biology and gene expression in numerous biological processes. The majority of m6A found in mammals is deposited by a multicomponent complex formed between methyltransferase-like (METTL) proteins METTL3 and METTL14. In the last few years, the list of m6A writers has grown, resulting in an expansion of our understanding of the importance of m6A and the methylation machinery. The characterization of the less familiar family member METTL16 has uncovered a new function of the m6A methylation apparatus, namely the fine-tuning of the cellular levels of the major methyl donor S-adenosylmethionine (SAM). METTL16 achieves this by adjusting the levels of the enzyme that synthesizes SAM in direct response to fluctuations in the SAM availability. This review summarizes recent progress made in understanding how METTL16 can sense and relay metabolic information and considers the wider implications. A brief survey highlights similarities and differences between METTL16 and the better-known METTL3/14 complex, followed by a discussion of the target specificity, modes of action and potential roles of METTL16.
Analysis of mRNA and lncRNA Expression Profiles of Breast Muscle during Pigeon (Columba livia) Development
Authors: Luo Yi , Hu Silu , Yan Peiqi , Wu Jie , Guo Hongrui , Zhao Ling , Tang Qianzi , Ma Jideng , Long Keren , Jin Long , Jiang Anan , Li Mingzhou , Li Xuewei , Wang Xun
Published: December 2022

The breast muscle is essential for flight and determines the meat yield and quality of the meat type in pigeons. At present, studies about long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) expression profiles in skeletal muscles across the postnatal development of pigeons have not been reported. Here, we used transcriptome sequencing to examine the White-King pigeon breast muscle at four different ages (1 day, 14 days, 28 days, and 2 years old). We identified 12,918 mRNAs and 9158 lncRNAs (5492 known lncRNAs and 3666 novel lncRNAs) in the breast muscle, and 7352 mRNAs and 4494 lncRNAs were differentially expressed in the process of development. We found that highly expressed mRNAs were mainly related to cell-basic and muscle-specific functions. Differential expression and time-series analysis showed that differentially expressed genes were primarily associated with muscle development and functions, blood vessel development, cell cycle, and energy metabolism. To further predict the possible role of lncRNAs, we also conducted the WGCNA and trans/cis analyses. We found that differentially expressed lncRNAs such as lncRNA-LOC102093252, lncRNA-G12653, lncRNA-LOC110357465, lncRNA-G14790, and lncRNA-LOC110360188 might respectively target UBE2B, Pax7, AGTR2, HDAC1, Sox8 and participate in the development of the muscle. Our study provides a valuable resource for studying the lncRNAs and mRNAs of pigeon muscles and for improving the understanding of molecular mechanisms in muscle development.
MiR-375 and miR-21 as Potential Biomarkers of Prostate Cancer: Comparison of Matching Samples of Plasma and Exosomes
Authors: Joković Suzana Matijašević , Dobrijević Zorana , Kotarac Nevena , Filipović Lidija , Popović Milica , Korać Aleksandra , Vuković Ivan , Savić-Pavićević Dušanka , Brajušković Goran
Published: December 2022

MiR-21 and miR-375 have been reported as dysregulated in prostate cancer (PCa) in multiple previous studies. Still, variable or even opposing data for the expression of these microRNAs in PCa were found, and their potential biomarker properties remain elusive. In an attempt to clarify their significance as PCa biomarkers, as well as to compare different types of specimens as a source of relevant microRNAs, we used plasma and matching plasma-derived exosomes from patients with PCa and patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). Plasma and exosomes were obtained from 34 patients with PCa and 34 patients with BPH, and their levels of expression of miR-21 and miR-375 were determined by RT-qPCR. We found no significant difference in the level of expression of these microRNAs in plasma and exosomes between patients with PCa and BPH. The level of exosomal miR-21 was elevated in PCa patients with high serum PSA values, as well as in patients with aggressive PCa, while for plasma samples, the results remained insignificant. For miR-375, we did not find an association with the values of standard prognostic parameters of PCa, nor with cancer aggressiveness. Therefore, our results support the potential prognostic role of exosomal miR-21 expression levels in PCa.
Relations between Fault and Fracture Network Affecting the Lastoni di Formin Carbonate Platform (Italian Dolomites) and Its Deformation History
Authors: Menegoni Niccolò , Inama Riccardo , Panara Yuri , Crozi Matteo , Perotti Cesare
Published: December 2022

In this study, we analyze the fault and fracture network of the Middle Triassic carbonate platform of the Lastoni di Formin (Italian Dolomites, Italy). The reconstruction of the deformation history is of primary importance for a full comprehension of the present structural setting of this carbonate platform. The huge dimensions of the carbonate body and superb exposure of its vertical cliffs and gently dipping top plateau make the Lastoni di Formin platform an ideal outcrop to integrate traditional fieldwork with Digital Outcrop Modelling analysis. The results of the structural studies partially confirm that the present-day fracture pattern is the result of differential compaction-induced deformation that generated WNW-ESE-trending extensional fractures and normal faults, perpendicular to the direction of progradation of the platform. Successively, extensional tectonics, likely related to the Jurassic rifting phase, led to the formation of NNW-SSE striking fractures and westward-dipping normal faults. A Neogene compressional tectonic event, characterized by N-S to NW-SE crustal shortening, deformed the platform, essentially with strike-slip structures.
Good Life without Happiness
Authors: Airaksinen Timo
Published: December 2022

A good life combines lively living and a good purpose, which depend on action results and consequences. They supervene upon the action results that create life’s meaning. A good life is never evil because evil deeds, as such, are not part of the agent’s action repertoire. Agents cannot claim them as their own; if they do, dishonest hypocrisy and social stigmatization follow. But, when action results are good, the purpose is good, too. One cannot realize an evil purpose by acting morally. I argue against the idea that a passive, dreaming life could be a good life. I discuss specific kinds of religious life that follow a monastic rule. A good life may not be happy, although it tends to be so. I discuss various theories of happiness, including the traditional Socratic view that virtue and virtue only make an agent happy. I conclude that a good life is not the same as a virtuous life; hence, a good life can be unhappy. To conclude, I discuss personal autonomy in social life. A good life requires that one’s actions and goals are one’s own, but such ownership is hard to realize because of a social life’s complicated and demanding mutual dependencies. I conclude that full ownership is fiction, so a good life is a social life.
Kinematic Strategies for Sustainable Well-Being in Aging Adults Influenced by Footwear and Ground Surface
Authors: Tian Miao , Lei Ye , Wang Yunyi , Wang Shitan , Li Jun , Yuan Shu
Published: December 2022

Falls are an inescapable problem influencing the health and threatening the safety of older adults. Exploring the kinematic strategies of aging adults can help reduce the risk of falls. To study kinematic strategies of aging adults in response to footwear (flat shoes, toe spring shoes, rocker sole shoes) and ground surfaces (level ground, grassland and rock road), a 3D motion capture system and subjective stability evaluation, with 14 female participants, were performed. Results indicated that footwear and ground surfaces significantly impacted joint dynamics during walking. Compared with young adults, aging adults tended to adopt a more conservative walking pattern. Wearing different shoes on the three ground surfaces mainly reduced the ROM (range of motion) of the ankle (p < 0.05). By analyzing the objective and subjective results, rocker sole shoes gave aging adults a stronger sense of instability, so they controlled the movement of ankle joint initiatively. When walking on grassland and rock road, aging adults adjusted the movements of hip, knee and ankle joints to maintain gait stability. Aging adults are recommended to strengthen flexibility training of the ankle joint, perform hip adduction and abduction exercises, and wear rocker sole shoes to improve their balance ability and sustainable well-being.
Self-Care for Nurses and Midwives: Findings from a Scoping Review
Authors: Sist Luisa , Savadori Sara , Grandi Annalisa , Martoni Monica , Baiocchi Elena , Lombardo Carlotta , Colombo Lara
Published: December 2022

Self-care for health care professionals is essential in order to optimize the care they provide and to prevent serious consequences for their health. This scoping review aimed to identify (a) the concepts used in the literature to describe self-care; (b) interventions that influence self-care. The scoping review was conducted according to the criteria and methodology by Arksey and O’Malley, from November 2020 to January 2021, by consulting the following databases: Pubmed, CINAHL, Scopus, PsycInfo, Cochrane Library, Joanna Briggs Library. Various keywords and MesH terms were used for the search, including self-care, nurses, midwives, nursing, midwifery, self-compassion, and self-awareness. Eighteen studies were included. The concept of self-care is related to three constructs: (a) Mindfulness; (b) Compassion; and (c) Resilience. In the literature, self-care interventions can be distinguished as (a) mindfulness-based; (b) educational; (c) multimodal approach; and (d) mind-body interventions. In recent years, the concept of self-care is a topic of great interest in the literature; dealing with self-care from both a theoretical and a practical—personal and professional—perspective has become more important in order to promote practitioners’ well-being. This scoping review helps to clarify the terms related to self-care and looks at tested interventions to improve the well-being of caregivers.
Melanoma Detection Using Deep Learning-Based Classifications
Authors: Alwakid Ghadah , Gouda Walaa , Humayun Mamoona , Sama Najm Us
Published: December 2022

One of the most prevalent cancers worldwide is skin cancer, and it is becoming more common as the population ages. As a general rule, the earlier skin cancer can be diagnosed, the better. As a result of the success of deep learning (DL) algorithms in other industries, there has been a substantial increase in automated diagnosis systems in healthcare. This work proposes DL as a method for extracting a lesion zone with precision. First, the image is enhanced using Enhanced Super-Resolution Generative Adversarial Networks (ESRGAN) to improve the image’s quality. Then, segmentation is used to segment Regions of Interest (ROI) from the full image. We employed data augmentation to rectify the data disparity. The image is then analyzed with a convolutional neural network (CNN) and a modified version of Resnet-50 to classify skin lesions. This analysis utilized an unequal sample of seven kinds of skin cancer from the HAM10000 dataset. With an accuracy of 0.86, a precision of 0.84, a recall of 0.86, and an F-score of 0.86, the proposed CNN-based Model outperformed the earlier study’s results by a significant margin. The study culminates with an improved automated method for diagnosing skin cancer that benefits medical professionals and patients.
Assessment of Perception and Barriers toward Orthodontic Treatment Needs in the Saudi Arabian Adult Population
Authors: Alshammari Abdulrahman K. , Siddiqui Ammar A. , Al Shammary Nawaf H. , Malik Yasser R. , Alam Mohammad Khursheed
Published: December 2022

Patients’ decisions regarding orthodontic treatment are influenced by a variety of factors, such as their subjective opinions of how their oral cavity looks, age, gender, educational level, and income. The present study aimed to measure the orthodontic treatments needs for the Saudi Arabian population, and also to report potential barriers towards it. It is an observational study with cross sectional design. Data was collected from nationals and residents living in Saudi Arabia and who are at least 18 years old. A total of 1184 adult patients (880 females and 304 males) were included in this study. The population for the study was reached and chosen using a non-probability snowball sampling method. A validated and reliable questionnaire was distributed to the participants electronically through google form. Inferential statistics was applied using Pearson Chi Square test. p value < 0.05 was considered significant. The majority of the sample (73.2%) exhibited a favorable attitude toward orthodontic treatment. Most participants including male and female gender wanted orthodontic treatment primarily to have their protruding teeth fixed. The proportion of persons who cited chewing difficulty as the reason they needed orthodontic treatment was strongly influenced by the monthly income variable (p = 0.005). Cost and time of orthodontic therapy were the biggest obstacles to undergoing treatment, accounting for 34.5% and 19.5%, respectively. There was highly significant difference between the underlying medical conditions and the age and monthly income variables (p = 0.000). Based on the findings of the present study, it can be concluded that protruding teeth are the most important treatment needs perceived by the Saudi population, followed by spacing in between teeth, crowding of teeth, and unaesthetic smile. Cost of the orthodontic treatment was identified as the most significant barrier to the treatment needs, followed by long duration of orthodontic treatment, and pain.
The Breeding of High-Quality Dandelions by NaCl Induced Callus Variation Combined with a Drosophila Tumor Cell Migration Test
Authors: Wu Zhe , Li Zhaojia , Feng Wei , Meng Ran , Wang Xiuping , Wu Chenxi
Published: December 2022

Creating high-quality and salt-tolerant plant germplasm is an effective strategy to improve the utilization of saline-alkali land. Salt-induced callus mutation was used to create dandelion germplasm and mutant dandelion calluses were obtained under NaCl concentrations of 0.8%, 1%, and 1.2% with the identification of random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) markers. A new dandelion line, “Binpu 2”, selected from the progenies of dandelion tissue culture plantlets that originated from callus treated under 0.8% NaCl, was evaluated in light of its morphological characteristics, bioactive components, and antitumor functions. Results showed that the plant shape of “Binpu 2”was nearly upright; its cichoric acid content was 6.7 mg/g, which was 39.6% and 36.7% higher than its mother plant and local dandelion cultivar, respectively; its leaf water extracts of 0.2 g/mL had a significant inhibitory effect on cell polarity disruption-induced cell migration without affecting drosophila normal growth, revealed by the strong inhibitory effect on tumor cell migration, the increased level of MMP1 and β-Integrin, and the reduced E-cadherin expression. Our results suggested that “Binpu 2” originated from salt-induced mutant performed better than its mother plant and processed strong antitumor function, which was suitable for amplified cultivation in saline-alkali land for food and medicinal industrial development.
Groundwater Variability in a Semi-Arid River Basin, Central India
Authors: Niranjannaik M. , Kumar Amit , Beg Zafar , Singh Abhilash , Swarnkar Somil , Gaurav Kumar
Published: December 2022

The Betwa River basin, a semi-arid catchment that has been classified as a major hotspot of groundwater depletion in Central India. The rainfall and streamflow intermittency have affected agricultural practices due to the variability of groundwater availability for irrigation. This study evaluates the spatial and temporal variations of groundwater level (GWL) in the last 25 years (1993–2018) in the catchment. We applied a nonparametric Seasonal Trend decomposition based on the Loess (STL) method to decompose the GWL time series into the seasonal, trend, and remainder components. We observed that the GWL in the northeastern regions of the basin has depleted about 3–5 mbgl in the last two decades. During the same period, the basin has experienced a reduction in the rainfall magnitude (2.07 mm/yr). We observed that the overexploitation of groundwater for irrigation and rainfall variability have greatly impacted the GWL condition in the study area. Further, if the groundwater extraction continues at present rates, the Betwa River basin may experience severe depletion in the future.
Numerical Simulation of an Oil Mist Particle Emission and Gas–Oil Separation Device of a Closed Machine Tool in the Post-Environmental Area
Authors: Wang Xin , Liu Yuhong , Zhao Jinchi , Zhou Yujing , Wang Fei
Published: December 2022

Owing to the airflow field within airtight machines, oil mist particles escape with the airflow from the machine shell gaps and are emitted externally to the post-environmental area, causing air pollution and threatening workers’ health. The existing local exhaust system is ineffective in capturing oil mist particles. This study proposes a gas–oil separation device that can “in-situ control” the oil mist particles in situ and weaken their outgoing emission and that uses numerical simulations to compare and analyse the emission characteristics of oil mist particles, before and after the addition of the separation device at different exhaust air volumes and particle emission speeds, and to design the structural parameters of the device to improve the separation efficiency of oil mist particles. The structural parameters of the proposed device are designed to improve the separation efficiency of oil mist particles. Studies have shown that for every 200 m3/h increase in exhaust air volume, the capture efficiency increases by around 3%, and the particle concentration at the gap in the machine loading door decreases from 9.4 × 10−7 kg/m3 to 7.7 × 10−7 kg/m3. The overall escape rate of oil mist particles is in the range of 10–13% after the addition of a pressure relief device. Numerical simulations are performed to analyse the effects of inlet airflow velocity, folding plate spacing, and folding plate angle on the separation efficiency of oil mist particles. Results show that an increase in the inlet velocity of the airflow increases the particle separation efficiency. The most suitable structural parameters for the separation device and the machine are as follows: 60° angle of the folding plate and 30 mm distance between plates, where the separation efficiency is above 80%, and the average separation efficiency is about 86%. The results of this study can be used as a reference for the study of the emission of oil mist particles from enclosed mechanical cutting machines.
Effect of the Kangaroo Mother Method after Preterm Delivery on Maternal Stress and Anxiety in the Context of the COVID-19 Pandemic—A Cohort Study
Authors: Cristóbal-Cañadas Delia , Parrón-Carreño Tesifón , Nievas-Soriano Bruno José
Published: December 2022

Background: The kangaroo mother method (KMM) may benefit infants and mothers in many ways. However, few studies focused on its efficacy on maternal anxiety and stress, especially in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. Objective: To examine the effect of the kangaroo mother method (KMM) on postnatal stress and anxiety in mothers of preterm infants in neonatal intensive care, in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: A cohort study of two groups of 56 mother-infant dyads recruited from a neonatal intensive care unit was conducted. Two groups were compared in terms of the mean duration of KMM during the twelve days of the study: the intervention group (mean duration of more than ninety minutes per day) and the control group (less than ninety minutes). Maternal stress was measured using the Parental Stressor: Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (PSS: NICU) scale and STAI E/R questionnaire before and after intervention (KMM). Demographic and other maternal covariates were extracted from medical records. Daily NICU records were used to track the frequency and duration of KMM sessions. Results: Mothers of the intervention group scored lower on the PSS: NICU and STAI E/R, although no statistically significant differences were found (p > 0.05). Conclusions: Contrary to research based on biological and physiological parameters in newborns or performed before the COVID-19 pandemic, the differences found in applying subjective scales in mothers in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic were not significant. Therefore, mothers’ perception of physical contact with their preterm infants may not have been as positive due to their fear of transmitting COVID.
CEEMDAN-IPSO-LSTM: A Novel Model for Short-Term Passenger Flow Prediction in Urban Rail Transit Systems
Authors: Zeng Lu , Li Zinuo , Yang Jie , Xu Xinyue
Published: December 2022

Urban rail transit (URT) is a key mode of public transport, which serves for greatest user demand. Short-term passenger flow prediction aims to improve management validity and avoid extravagance of public transport resources. In order to anticipate passenger flow for URT, managing nonlinearity, correlation, and periodicity of data series in a single model is difficult. This paper offers a short-term passenger flow prediction combination model based on complete ensemble empirical mode decomposition with adaptive noise (CEEMDAN) and long-short term memory neural network (LSTM) in order to more accurately anticipate the short-period passenger flow of URT. In the meantime, the hyperparameters of LSTM were calculated using the improved particle swarm optimization (IPSO). First, CEEMDAN-IPSO-LSTM model performed the CEEMDAN decomposition of passenger flow data and obtained uncoupled intrinsic mode functions and a residual sequence after removing noisy data. Second, we built a CEEMDAN-IPSO-LSTM passenger flow prediction model for each decomposed component and extracted prediction values. Third, the experimental results showed that compared with the single LSTM model, CEEMDAN-IPSO-LSTM model reduced by 40 persons/35 persons, 44 persons/35 persons, 37 persons/31 persons, and 46.89%/35.1% in SD, RMSE, MAE, and MAPE, and increase by 2.32%/3.63% and 2.19%/1.67% in R and R2, respectively. This model can reduce the risks of public health security due to excessive crowding of passengers (especially in the period of COVID-19), as well as reduce the negative impact on the environment through the optimization of traffic flows, and develop low-carbon transportation.
Emotional Universe of Nurse Case Managers Regarding Care for Elderly at Risk in Spain: A Hermeneutical Study
Authors: Pastor-López Ángeles , Ventura-Puertos Pedro E. , Hernández-Ascanio José , Cantón-Habas Vanesa , Martínez-Angulo Pablo , Rich-Ruiz Manuel
Published: December 2022

The role of nurse case managers (NCM) involves a rarely visible emotional labor, even more when their role focuses on the care of elders at risk (EAR). Motivated by the lack of qualitative research on the emotional universe of NCM, this study explores the emotional universe (EU) of NCM regarding the care they provide to EAR in primary health care as well as the reasons that generate these emotions. An interpretative–phenomenological approach was implemented in southern Spain, with a purposive sampling that included nurses playing the NCM role for at least three years. Data collection was conducted in two periods (between September 2019 and July 2022). The primary collection tool was the semi-structured individual interview, with starting categories based on Bisquerra’s EU taxonomy. The analysis followed Ricoeur’s considerations, using the Nvivo software. In the NCM’s EU, the recognition of the social phenomena stands out, with an open feeling of empathy regarding the desire of the EAR to continue living at home. However, there was also helplessness, resignation, disappointment, and frustration when EAR rejected their proposals. Furthermore, the system’s limitations aroused compassion in the NCM and made them go beyond the limits of their role. This EU requires that their role be valued more, and higher responsiveness must be enforced to improve EAR care.
Temporal Trend of Gestational Syphilis between 2008 and 2018 in Brazil: Association with Socioeconomic and Health Care Factors
Authors: Dantas Janmilli da Costa , Marinho Cristiane da Silva Ramos , Pinheiro Yago Tavares , Silva Richardson Augusto Rosendo da
Published: December 2022

The increased number of cases in recent years has turned syphilis into a global public health problem. In 2020, 115,371 cases of acquired syphilis were reported (detection rate of 54.5 cases/100,000 inhabitants) in Brazil. In that same period, the country notified 61,441 cases of gestational syphilis (detection rate of 21.6 per 1000 live births). The number of syphilis cases points to the need to reinforce surveillance, prevention, and infection control actions, which is a worrying scenario for government organizations. This study aims to describe the temporal trend of gestational syphilis from 2008 to 2018 in Brazilian regions and to associate its detection rate with socioeconomic and health care indicators. We conducted an ecological study of temporal trends using secondary data from the Department of Informatics of the Unified Health System. The temporal trend was analyzed using the Joinpoint Regression program. The annual percent change (APC) and 95% confidence intervals (95%CI) were estimated and tested; statistical significance was assessed using the Monte Carlo permutation test. Correlations were assessed using Pearson’s correlation coefficient, and statistical significance was calculated using Pearson’s product-moment correlation. The gestational syphilis detection rate increased between 2008 and 2018. The South region showed the greatest trend, whereas the Midwest region presented the lowest trend. The following variables were significantly correlated with the gestational syphilis detection rate: Municipal Human Development Index, illiteracy rate, percentage of primary health care coverage, and proportion of doctors, nurses, and basic health units per inhabitant. Health policies are needed to mitigate social vulnerabilities and strengthen primary health care.
Can Global Value Chains Embedment Reduce Carbon Emissions Embodied in Exports?—Empirical Test Based on the Manufacturing Industries
Authors: Zhou Hongwei , Kong Yawen , Liu Shuguang , Feng Shan
Published: December 2022

Active participation in the global value chains (GVC) has been recognized as an important factor in curbing the growth of carbon emissions. However, how GVC embedment affects carbon emissions in economies and what are the pathways of its impact need to be further studied. This paper analyzes the mechanism of GVC embedment affecting carbon emissions embodied in exports (CEEE) and selects 17 manufacturing industries in 36 economies around the world for empirical testing. It is found that GVC embedment significantly reduces the CEEE. Specifically, GVC embedment has a suppressive effect on the CEEE of both developed and developing countries, and the former has a greater suppressive effect than the latter; the effect on the CEEE of low-tech industries is significantly negative but not conducive to carbon emissions reduction in high-tech industries; complex and forward embedment have higher emissions reduction effects compared with simple and backward embedment. More importantly, GVC embedment reduces the CEEE through energy conservation effect, structure effect and transfer effect, and all of them show significant inverted U-shaped mediation effect. The findings of this paper have important implications for the sustainable economic development around the world under the GVC division of labor system.
Integrative Wellness Approaches to Mitigate Perceived Stress, Increase Vitality, and Build Community during COVID-19: A Pilot Study
Authors: Vermeesch Amber , Garrigues Layla , Littzen-Brown Chloé
Published: December 2022

Introduction: In January 2020, a small, private school of nursing in a university in the pacific northwest, established the Initiative for Vital Practice (I4VP). The I4VP’s primary goal was to create a sustainable pathway for increasing vital practice through increasing resiliency and self-care practices. Objectives. The ensuing pathway’s objectives were to, (1) take previously identified factors related to perceived stress related to workloads, impacts on professional quality of life and psychosocial exposures during the COVID-19 pandemic; and (2) develop and pilot test a wellness intervention (i.e., wellness pods) for faculty and staff to build community and find new ways to enhance well-being through peer support. Methods: Five focused Wellness Pods were developed on Microsoft Teams platform using the individual channels: (1) stress and mind–body exploration pod; (2) mindfulness in healthcare pod; (3) healing relationship pod; (4) environmental pod; and (5) physical activity pod. Faculty and staff self-selected into a Wellness Pod that interested them. The Wellness Pods met weekly in person over a period of two months. Quantitative and qualitative data was collected via cross-sectional surveys including: four sociodemographic items, one item on current stress level, one write-in item on current stress management at work, two write-in items focused on the cognitive reasoning for participation, the 7-item subjective vitality scale focused individual difference, the 7-item subjective vitality scale focused on the state level, the 10-item perceived stress scale, and one item ranking which wellness pod the individual wanted to participate in. There was one trained facilitator for the overall Wellness Pods operations and communication. Results. The average score on the perceived stress scale was 22.3 (SD = 3.5), indicating moderate levels of perceived stress. The average score on the individual difference vitality score was 26.5 (SD = 7.6), whereas the state level vitality score was 21.4 (SD = 9.98), indicating moderate levels of subjective vitality. Two categories: stress management and wellness pods, were identified through content analysis. Conclusions: Through pilot testing, this project demonstrated feasibility for future wellness pods interventions for faculty and staff at schools of nursing. Future research is needed to evaluate the effectiveness of the wellness pods intervention.
Health-Related Quality of Life (HRQOL) Instruments and Mobility: A Systematic Review
Authors: Hernández-Segura Natalia , Marcos-Delgado Alba , Pinto-Carral Arrate , Fernández-Villa Tania , Molina Antonio J.
Published: December 2022

Physical function is one of the most important constructs assessed in health-related quality of life (HRQOL), and it could be very useful to assess movement ability from the perspective of the patient. The objective of this study was to compare the content of the domains related to mobility covered by the HRQOL questionnaires based on the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) and to evaluate their quality according to the COnsensus-based Standards for the selection of health Measurement INstruments (COSMIN) guidance. For this, a systematic review was carried out in the databases Scopus, Web of Science and Science Direct. The inclusion criteria were development and/or validation studies about generic HRQOL measures, and the instruments had to include items related to mobility and studies written in English or Spanish. The comparison of content was performed using the ICF coding system. A total of 3614 articles were found, 20 generic HRQOL instruments were identified and 120 (22.4%) mobility-related items were found. Walking was the most represented category. Low-quality evidence on some measurement properties of the generic HRQOL instruments was revealed. The CAT-Health is a useful questionnaire to be used in rehabilitation due to its psychometric properties and its content.
The Microbiome–Gut–Brain Axis and Dementia: A Bibliometric Analysis
Authors: Sun He-Li , Feng Yuan , Zhang Qinge , Li Jia-Xin , Wang Yue-Ying , Su Zhaohui , Cheung Teris , Jackson Todd , Sha Sha , Xiang Yu-Tao
Published: December 2022

Background: Associations between the microbiome–gut–brain axis and dementia have attracted considerable attention in research literature. This study examined the microbiome–gut–brain axis and dementia-related research from a bibliometric perspective. Methods: A search for original research and review articles on the microbiome–gut–brain axis and dementia was conducted in the Web of Science Core Collection (WOSCC) database. The R package “bibliometrix” was used to collect information on countries, institutions, authors, journals, and keywords. VOSviewer software was used to visualize the co-occurrence network of keywords. Results: Overall, 494 articles met the study inclusion criteria, with an average of 29.64 citations per article. Corresponding authors of published articles were mainly from China, the United States and Italy. Zhejiang University in China and Kyung Hee University in Korea were the most active institutions, while the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease and Nutrients published the most articles in this field. Expected main search terms, “Parkinson disease” and “chain fatty-acids” were high-frequency keywords that indicate current and future research directions in this field. Conclusions: This bibliometric study helped researchers to identify the key topics and trends in the microbiome–gut–brain axis and dementia-related research. High-frequency keywords identified in this study reflect current trends and possible future directions in this field related to methodologies, mechanisms and populations of interest.
Correction: Yang et al. A Study on the Spatio-Temporal Land-Use Changes and Ecological Response of the Dongting Lake Catchment. ISPRS Int. J. Geo-Inf. 2021, 10, 716
Authors: Yang Nan , Mo Wenbo , Li Maohuang , Zhang Xian , Chen Min , Li Feng , Gao Wanchao
Published: December 2022

The authors of the published paper [...]
Two Faces of the Screened Bottom Boards—An Ambiguous Influence on the Honey Bee Winter Colony Loss Rate
Authors: Mazur Ewa Danuta , Czopowicz Michał , Gajda Anna Maria
Published: December 2022

We conducted a citizen science survey on the winter honey bee colony losses in Poland from 2017/18 to 2019/20 to determine the influence of the use of screened bottom boards on the winter colony losses due to various causes. A total of 1035 beekeepers with 40,003 colonies reported valid data. The overall winter colony loss rate ranged from 10.7% to 13.9%, and in every year, the overall winter colony loss rate was higher than 10% (which is considered as acceptable in Poland). The study reveals that the use of screened bottom boards was associated with reduced overall loss rate. However, the nature of this relationship was not the same in terms of all types of colony losses: while the use of screened bottom boards was associated with a reduced mortality rate (management-related colony loss rate due to dead colonies) in which the empty hives were observed (colony depopulation syndrome, CDS), it was associated with an increased mortality rate in which the lack of food was observed (starvation). Given that in our study the role of CDS in the overall colony loss rate was 2.5-fold higher than the role of starvation, the final influence of the use of screened bottom boards on the overall colony loss rate turned out to be beneficial. Given the well-known beneficial role of screened bottom boards in varroosis control, they are highly recommended in beekeeping practices in Poland.