bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Application of Ultrasound and Enzymes Could Be Promising Tools for Recovering Polyphenols during the Aging on Lees Process in Red Winemaking
Authors: Osete-Alcaraz Andrea , Bautista-Ortín Ana Belén , Pérez-Porras Paula , Gómez-Plaza Encarna
Published: December 2021

The final concentration of phenolic compounds in wines is usually lower than what might be expected, given their concentration in grapes. This is in part due to the interactions between cell walls from grapes and yeast with phenolics during red winemaking. Most of these aggregates are insoluble and end up precipitating, forming part of the lees. The objective of this study is to determine the capacity of ultrasounds and/or enzymes treatments (β-glucanase and a pectolytic enzyme) to release the anthocyanins and tannins adsorbed in the lees. The ultrasound (US) applied for 120 min slightly favored the extraction of anthocyanins and doubled tannin extraction. Shorter sonication times did not show any positive effect. The combination of β-glucanase and pectolytic enzyme was always more effective in the liberation of anthocyanins (both no-acylated and acylated anthocyanins) and tannins than the enzymes acting separately. The combination of US (120 min), β-glucanase and pectolytic enzyme showed an additive effect, increasing the extraction of phenolic compounds with respect to the individual treatments and also releasing a large quantity of low molecular weight polysaccharides, compounds of enological importance. These results of this study could be of enological interest, facilitating and accelerating the aging on lees process, through the liberation of polysaccharides and the recovery of the phenolic compounds lost during vinification.
The Layered Encapsulation of Vitamin B2 and β-Carotene in Multilayer Alginate/Chitosan Gel Microspheres: Improving the Bioaccessibility of Vitamin B2 and β-Carotene
Authors: Liao Peilong , Dai Shicheng , Lian Ziteng , Tong Xiaohong , Yang Sai , Chen Yashuang , Qi Weijie , Peng Xinhui , Wang Huan , Jiang Lianzhou
Published: December 2021

This research underlines the potential of alginate multilayered gel microspheres for the layered encapsulation and the simultaneous delivery of vitamin B2 (VB) and β-carotene (BC). Chitosan was used to improve the stability and controlled release ability of alginate-based gel microspheres. It was shown that a clear multilayered structure possessed the characteristics of pH response, and excellent thermal stability. The sodium alginate concentration and the number of layers had notable effects on mechanical properties and particle size of gel microspheres. Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction analyses further proved that VB and BC were encapsulated within the gel microspheres. Compared with the three-layer VB-loaded gel microspheres, the total release of VB from the three-layer VB and BC-loaded gel decreased from 93.23% to 85.58%. The total release of BC from the three-layer VB and BC-loaded gel increased from 66.11% to 69.24% compared with three-layer BC-loaded gel. The simultaneous encapsulation of VB and BC in multilayered gel microspheres can markedly improve their bioaccessibility and bioavailability. These results showed the multilayer gel microspheres synthesized herein have potential for applications in the layered encapsulation and simultaneous delivery of various bioactive substances to the intestinal tract.
Designing a Matrix Collocation Method for Fractional Delay Integro-Differential Equations with Weakly Singular Kernels Based on Vieta–Fibonacci Polynomials
Authors: Sadri Khadijeh , Hosseini Kamyar , Baleanu Dumitru , Salahshour Soheil , Park Choonkil
Published: December 2021

In the present work, the numerical solution of fractional delay integro-differential equations (FDIDEs) with weakly singular kernels is addressed by designing a Vieta–Fibonacci collocation method. These equations play immense roles in scientific fields, such as astrophysics, economy, control, biology, and electro-dynamics. The emerged fractional derivative is in the Caputo sense. By resultant operational matrices related to the Vieta–Fibonacci polynomials (VFPs) for the first time accompanied by the collocation method, the problem taken into consideration is converted into a system of algebraic equations, the solving of which leads to an approximate solution to the main problem. The existence and uniqueness of the solution of this category of fractional delay singular integro-differential equations (FDSIDEs) are investigated and proved using Krasnoselskii’s fixed-point theorem. A new formula for extracting the VFPs and their derivatives is given, and the orthogonality of the derivatives of VFPs is easily proved via it. An error bound of the residual function is estimated in a Vieta–Fibonacci-weighted Sobolev space, which shows that by properly choosing the number of terms of the series solution, the approximation error tends to zero. Ultimately, the designed algorithm is examined on four FDIDEs, whose results display the simple implementation and accuracy of the proposed scheme, compared to ones obtained from previous methods. Furthermore, the orthogonality of the VFPs leads to having sparse operational matrices, which makes the execution of the presented method easy.
Gene Expression and Mutational Profile in BAP-1 Inactivated Melanocytic Lesions of Progressive Malignancy from a Patient with Multiple Lesions
Authors: Zhou Yan , Nelson Andrew C. , He Yuyu , Munro Sarah A. , Song Kyu Young , Domingo-Musibay Evidio , Giubellino Alessio
Published: December 2021

BAP-1 (BRCA1-associated protein 1) inactivated melanocytic lesions are a group of familial or sporadic lesions with unique histology and molecular features. They are of great clinical interest, at least in part due to the potential for malignant transformation and association with a familial cancer predisposition syndrome. Here, we describe a patient with multiple spatially and temporally distinct melanocytic lesions with loss of BAP1 expression by immunohistochemistry. RNA sequencing was performed on three independent lesions spanning the morphologic spectrum: a benign nevus, an atypical tumor, and a melanoma arising from a pre-existing BAP1-inactivated nevus. The three lesions demonstrated largely distinct gene expression and mutational profiles. Gene expression analysis revealed that genes involved in receptor protein kinase pathways were progressively upregulated from nevus to melanoma. Moreover, a clear enrichment of genes regulated in response to UV radiation was found in the melanoma from this patient, as well as upregulation of MAPK pathway-related genes and several transcription factors related to melanomagenesis.
Differential Analysis of A-to-I mRNA Edited Sites in Parkinson’s Disease
Authors: Pozdyshev Denis V. , Zharikova Anastasia A. , Medvedeva Maria V. , Muronetz Vladimir I.
Published: December 2021

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a widespread neuronal degenerative disorder with unexplored etiology. It is associated with various pathological events. In particular, the prefrontal cortex Brodmann area 9 (BA9) region is affected in PD. This frontal lobe brain region plays an important role in cognitive, motor, and memory-related functions. BA9 develops Lewy bodies in PD patients and shows essential changes in transcriptome and proteome, connected with mitochondria related pathways, protein folding pathways, and metallothioneins. Recently, altered adenosine to inosine mRNA editing patterns have been detected in various neurological pathologies. In this article, we present an investigation of differences in A-to-I RNA editing levels and specificity of mRNA editing sites in brain tissues of healthy and PD patients based on RNA sequencing data. Overall, decreased editing levels in the brains of PD patients were observed, potential editing sites with altered editing during PD were identified, and the role of different adenosine deaminases in this process was analyzed.
Acceptance of COVID-19 Vaccines among Patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease in Japan
Authors: Nishida Yu , Hosomi Shuhei , Kobayashi Yumie , Nakata Rieko , Ominami Masaki , Nadatani Yuji , Fukunaga Shusei , Otani Koji , Tanaka Fumio , Nagami Yasuaki , Taira Koichi , Kamata Noriko , Fujiwara Yasuhiro
Published: December 2021

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination is recommended for patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). However, the acceptance of COVID-19 vaccines has not been sufficiently evaluated in patients with IBD. We aimed to assess the acceptance and hesitancy of COVID-19 vaccination and related factors among these patients. A retrospective cohort study using a self-reported questionnaire was performed among patients with IBD between 22 June 2021 and 30 August 2021. Of the 187 participants, 10.2% (n = 19) were hesitant to be vaccinated. Patients in the vaccine-hesitant group were younger (p = 0.009) and had a shorter disease duration (p = 0.020). Vedolizumab was prescribed more frequently (p = 0.024) and immunomodulators were less frequently used (p = 0.027) in this group. Multivariable logistic regression analysis identified age (odds ratio [OR]: 0.96, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.92–1.00, p = 0.042) and the use of immunomodulators (OR: 0.08, 95% CI: 0.01–0.66, p = 0.019) as independent significant factors for vaccine hesitancy. The COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy rate in patients with IBD in Japan was 10% in this study. The Japanese COVID-19 vaccination campaign appears to be successful. The risk of COVID-19 among patients with IBD requires adequate measures to ensure that vaccines are accepted by vaccine-hesitant patients. These findings may be helpful in achieving adequate vaccination rates.
Three-Dimensional Dental Analysis for Sex Estimation in the Italian Population: A Pilot Study Based on a Geometric Morphometric and Artificial Neural Network Approach
Authors: Oliva Giorgio , Pinchi Vilma , Bianchi Ilenia , Focardi Martina , Paganelli Corrado , Zotti Rinaldo , Dalessandri Domenico
Published: December 2021

Dental dimorphism can be used for discriminating sex in forensic contexts. Geometric morphometric analysis (GMA) allows the evaluation of the shape and size, separately, of uneven 3D objects. This study presents experiments using a novel combination of GMA and an artificial neural network (ANN) for sex classification, applied to premolars of Caucasian Italian adults (50 females and 50 males). General Procrustes superimposition (GPS) and the partial least square (PLS) method were performed, respectively, to study the shape variance between sexes and to eliminate landmark variations. The “set-aside” approach was used to assess the accuracy of the proposed neural networks. As the main findings of the pilot study, the proposed method applied to the first upper premolar correctly classified 90% of females and 73% of males of the test sample. The accuracy was 0.84 and 0.80 for the training and test samples, respectively. The sexual dimorphism resulting from GMA was low, although statistically significant. GMA combined with the ANN demonstrated better sex classification ability than previous odontometric or dental morphometric methods. Future research could overcome some limitations by considering a larger sample of subjects and other kinds of teeth and experimenting with the use of computer vision for automatic landmark positioning.
The Caregiver Support Ratio in Europe: Estimating the Future of Potentially (Un)Available Caregivers
Authors: Ribeiro Oscar , Araújo Lia , Figueiredo Daniela , Paúl Constança , Teixeira Laetitia
Published: December 2021

The caregiver support ratio (CSR) is defined as the number of potential caregivers aged 45–64 years, the most common caregiving age range, for each person aged 80+, the subgroup of older adults most at risk of needing long-term services and support. This study uses data from the CENSUS HUB database and from the UN database to calculate the current (last year available: 2011) and projected (2020, 2030, 2040 and 2050) CSR for a group of European countries. Mediterranean countries, France, Belgium, and Sweden presented the lowest CSR (5:1) in 2011. The countries with the highest CSR were Slovakia (9:1) and Ireland, Poland, Cyprus, and Malta (8:1). The estimated CSR is expected to progressively decline from 6:1 (2011) to 2:1 (2050) for all countries. Although differences in the CSR exist between countries, the number of people aged 45–64 who are available to care for each person aged 80+ will decrease uniformly in the coming decades. Cross-national challenges for gerontological social policies and healthcare provision are expected due to the increasing demand for long-term care among the oldest population.
Multi-Camera Workflow Applied to a Cultural Heritage Building: Alhambra’s Torre de la Cautiva from the Inside
Authors: Benítez Anto J. , Prieto Souto Xose , Armenteros Manuel , Stepanian Esteban M. , Cantos Rubén , García-Villaraco Miguel , Solano Jaime , Gómez Manzanares Ángela
Published: December 2021

It is increasingly necessary to generate accessible and navigable digital representations of historical or heritage buildings. This article explains the workflow that was applied to create such a digital component for one of the least accessible areas of the Alhambra palace in Granada, the so-called Torre de la Cautiva (Tower of the Captive). The main goal of this process was to create affordable, photorealistic 3D models that contribute to the dissemination of cultural heritage, the decision making for its conservation and restoration, and public engagement and entertainment. With enough preparation, the time spent gathering data following a Structure from Motion (SfM) approach can be significantly reduced by using a multi-camera (low cost DSLR) photogrammetric strategy. Without the possibility of artificial lighting, it was essential to use RAW images and calibrate the color in the scene for material and texture characterization. Through processing, the amount of data was reduced by optimizing the model’s topology. Thus, a photorealistic result was obtained that could be managed and visualized in immersive Visual Reality (VR) environments, simulating different historical periods and environmental and lighting conditions. The potential of this method allows, with slight modifications, the creation of HBIMs and the adaptation to VR systems development, whose current visualization quality is below the resolution of actionable models in rendering engines.
Light Spectrum Variably Affects the Acclimatization of Grafted Watermelon Seedlings While Maintaining Fruit Quality
Authors: Bantis Filippos , Dangitsis Christodoulos , Siomos Anastasios S. , Koukounaras Athanasios
Published: December 2021

In many countries of Europe and Eastern Asia, watermelon production is mainly based on the use of grafted seedlings. Upon grafting, seedlings undergo a period of healing where artificial lighting is provided by light-emitting diodes in controlled chambers in order to accelerate and improve the healing process. The objective of our study was to test the effect of light quality on the final product (i.e., seedlings ready for transplanting) in the nursery, as well as to evaluate the possible implications on fruit quality after field cultivation. Narrow-band blue (B) and red (R) wavelengths, 64–36% R-B (36B), 76–24% R-B (24B), 88–12% R-B (12B), and 83–12% R-B plus 5% far-red (12B+FR) wavelengths were tested. 12B+FR enhanced the root dry weight, root architecture, and maximum photosynthetic rate, while RB combinations generally showed better root system development with increased blue portion. R light induced inferior root dry weight and quality indices (root/shoot and shoot–dry–weight/length ratios), lower gas exchange parameters, and chlorophyll content, but high shoot length and leaf area. B light led to inferior root architecture, lower stem diameter, leaf area, and maximum photosynthetic rate. Both R and B wavelengths showed decreased concentration of macronutrients and trace elements. After field cultivation, fruit quality (i.e., morphology and color), and valuable nutritive characteristics (i.e., phenolics, carotenoids, lycopene, antioxidants) maintained high quality irrespective of light treatments. Overall, 12B+FR performed well in almost all qualitative parameters including the morphology, the root development, and photosynthesis, while also maintaining high fruit quality.
Russian Rivers Streamflow Forecasting Using Hydrograph Extrapolation Method
Authors: Borsch Sergei , Simonov Yuri , Khristoforov Andrei , Semenova Natalia , Koliy Valeria , Ryseva Ekaterina , Krovotyntsev Vladimir , Derugina Victoria
Published: December 2021

This paper presents a method of hydrograph extrapolation, intended for simple and efficient streamflow forecasting with up to 10 days lead time. The forecast of discharges or water levels is expressed by a linear formula depending on their values on the date of the forecast release and the five previous days. Such forecast techniques were developed for more than 2700 stream gauging stations across Russia. Forecast verification has shown that this method can be successfully applied to large rivers with a smooth shape of hydrographs, while for small mountain catchments, the accuracy of the method tends to be lower. The method has been implemented into real-time continuous operations in the Hydrometcentre of Russia. In the territory of Russia, 18 regions have been identified with a single dependency of the maximum lead time of good forecasts on the area and average slope of the catchment surface for different catchments of each region; the possibilities of forecasting river streamflow by the method of hydrograph extrapolation are approximately estimated. The proposed method can be considered as a first approximation while solving the problem of forecasting river flow in conditions of a lack of meteorological information or when it is necessary to quickly develop a forecasting system for a large number of catchments.
Reported Barriers to Hepatitis C Treatment among Pregnant and Early-Parenting Mothers Undergoing Substance Use Disorder Treatment in One U.S. State
Authors: Adekunle Ayooluwatomiwa Deborah , Harp Kathi L. , Al-Abdali Zaynab G. , Critchfield Agatha S. , Barnhart Sheila , Winter Kathleen T.
Published: December 2021

Nationwide, the prevalence of the hepatitis C virus (HCV) has risen in recent years. At least 90% of infected persons must be treated to achieve global elimination targets. The current study aimed to explore barriers to, and facilitators of, direct-acting antiviral (DAA) HCV treatment uptake amongst pregnant and early-parenting women undergoing comprehensive substance use treatment. Twenty participants with documented HCV antibody positivity were recruited from two substance use treatment centers in central Kentucky. Semi-structured interviews were conducted to explore knowledge about HCV, previous experiences, and intentions to seek care. Themes were extracted using an inductive analytical approach. Most participants were aware of the dangers posed by HCV infection. However, there was a high degree of misinformation about transmission mechanisms and treatment eligibility requirements. Low priority for HCV treatment also surfaced as a barrier to treatment uptake. Participants reported being unable to seek care due to time and resource limitations in the presence of a highly demanding treatment process. Findings from the current study suggest that more work is needed to eliminate residual barriers that limit access to HCV treatment among pregnant and early-parenting women in treatment for substance use disorder.
Exploring Factors Associated with Women’s Willingness to Provide Digital Fingerprints in Accessing Healthcare Services: A Cross-Sectional Study in Urban Slums of Bangladesh
Authors: Mistry Sabuj Kanti , Akter Fahmida , Hossain Md. Belal , Huda Md. Nazmul , Irfan Nafis Md. , Yadav Uday Narayan , Storisteanu Daniel M. L. , Arora Amit
Published: December 2021

Digital fingerprints are increasingly used for patient care and treatment delivery, health system monitoring and evaluation, and maintaining data integrity during health research. Yet, no evidence exists about the use of fingerprinting technologies in maternal healthcare services in urban slum contexts, globally. The present study aimed to explore the recently delivered women’s willingness to give digital fingerprints to community health workers to access healthcare services in the urban slums of Bangladesh and identify the associated factors. Employing a two-stage cluster random sampling procedure, we chose 458 recently delivered women from eight randomly selected urban slums of Dhaka city, Bangladesh. Chi-square tests were performed for descriptive analyses, and binary logistic regression analyses were performed to explore the factors associated with willingness to provide fingerprints. Overall, 78% of the participants reported that they were willing to provide digital fingerprints if that eased access to healthcare services. After adjusting for potential confounders, the sex of the household head, family type, and household wealth status were significantly associated with the willingness to provide fingerprints to access healthcare services. The study highlighted the potentials of using fingerprints for making healthcare services accessible. Focus is needed for female-headed households, women from poor families, and engaging husbands and in-laws in mobile health programs.
Demographic and Clinical Factors Associated with Reactivity of Anti-SARS-CoV-2 Antibodies in Serbian Convalescent Plasma Donors
Authors: Grujić Jasmina , Bujandrić Nevenka , Budakov-Obradović Zorana , Dolinaj Vladimir , Bogdan Damir , Savić Nebojša , Cabezas-Cruz Alejandro , Mijatović Dragana , Simin Verica , Anđelić Nikola , Banović Pavle
Published: December 2021

Passive immunotherapy with convalescent COVID-19 plasma (CCP) is used as a therapeutic procedure in many countries, including Serbia. In this study, we analyzed the association between demographic factors, COVID-19 severity and the reactivity of anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies (Abs) in Serbian CCP donors. Individuals (n = 468) recovered from confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection, and who were willing to donate their plasma for passive immunization of COVID-19 patients were enrolled in the study. Plasma samples were tested for the presence of IgG reactive to SARS-CoV-2 spike glycoprotein (S1) and nucleocapsid antigens. Individuals were characterized according to age, gender, comorbidities, COVID-19 severity, ABO blood type and RhD factor. Total of 420 candidates (420/468; 89.74%) reached the levels of anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG that qualified them for inclusion in CCP donation program. Further statistical analysis showed that male individuals (p = 0.034), older age groups (p < 0.001), existence of hypertension (p = 0.008), and severe COVID-19 (p = 0.000) are linked with higher levels of anti-SARS-CoV-2 Abs. These findings will guide the selection of CCP donors in Serbia. Further studies need to be conducted to assess the neutralization potency and clinical efficiency of CCP collected from Serbian donors with high anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG reactivity.
Investigating the “Embodied Spaces of Health” in Marathon Running: The Roles of Embodiment, Wearable Technology, and Affective Atmospheres
Authors: Ouyang Yi , Cai Xiaomei , Li Jie , Gao Quan
Published: December 2021

This paper examines how spaces of health are produced through embodied and affective practices in marathon running in China. While the social-cultural effects of distance running have gained increasing attention among public health scholars and policymakers, there has been little effort paid to the spatiality of running and its contributions to producing healthy spaces for the general public. This paper therefore fills the lacuna through a qualitative study that was conducted with 29 amateur marathon runners in China. Drawing on the Gioia Methodology in coding and analyzing qualitative data, we highlight the interactive effects of body, wearable technology, and affective atmospheres in producing what we call “embodied space of health.” We suggest that the embodied space of health is not simply the bodily experience per se but rather a relational space constituted through the co-production of body, non-human objects, and space/place. It is through these relational spaces that the effects of health and well-being (e.g., self-exploration and therapeutic feelings) emerge in marathon.
Improved Calculation Method of Coupling Factors for Low-Frequency Wireless Power Transfer Systems
Authors: Ahn Jangyong , Hong Seon-Eui , Kim Haerim , Song Kyunghwan , Choi Hyung-Do , Ahn Seungyoung
Published: December 2021

The concept of a coupling factor was introduced in International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) 62311 and 62233 to provide a product safety assessment that considers the localized exposure when an electromagnetic field (EMF) source is close to the human body. To calculate the coupling factors between the human body and EMF source, a numerical calculation should be carried out to calculate the internal quantities of the human body models. However, at frequencies below 10 MHz, the computed current density or internal electric field has computational artifacts from segmentation or discretization errors. Specifically, coupling factors are calculated based on the maximum values, which may include computational artifacts due to abnormal peaks. In this study, we propose an improved calculation method to remove computational artifacts by applying the 99.99th percentile in calculating the coupling factors without underestimation. The performance of the proposed method is verified through a comparison based on various human body models with wireless power transfer (WPT) systems and compliance with the reference levels and basic restrictions. The results indicate that the proposed method can provide uniform coupling factors by reducing the computational errors by up to 65.3% compared to a conventional method.
How Do People Who Are Homeless Find Out about Local Health and Social Care Services: A Mixed Method Study
Authors: Heaslip Vanessa , Green Sue , Simkhada Bibha , Dogan Huseyin , Richer Stephen
Published: December 2021

Background: There are significant numbers of people experiencing homelessness both in the UK and internationally. People who are homeless are much more likely to die prematurely and, therefore, need strong access to ongoing health and social care support if we hope to address the health disparity they face. Objectives: The aim of the research was to explore how people who are homeless identify and locate appropriate health and social care services. Design: A mixed methods research study was applied on people who are currently homeless or had previously experienced homelessness. Settings: The research study was based in an urban area in the southwest of England. The area was chosen as it was identified to be in the top 24 local authorities for the number of homeless individuals. Participants: A hundred individuals participated in the survey, of those 32% were living on the streets whilst 68% were living in temporary accommodation such as a charity home, shelter or a hotel paid for by the local authority. In addition, 16 participated in either a focus group or one-to-one interview Methods: The quantitative component consisted of a paper-based questionnaire whilst the qualitative aspect was focus groups/one-to-one interviews. The COREQ criteria were used in the report of the qualitative aspects of the study. Results: Quantitative data identified poor health in 90% of the sample. Access to both healthcare and wider wellbeing services (housing and food) was problematic and support for this was largely through third sector charity organisations. Qualitative data identified numerous systemic, individual and cultural obstacles, leaving difficulty for people in terms of knowing who to contact and how to access services, largely relying on word of mouth of other people who are homeless. Conclusions: In order to address health inequities experienced by people who are homeless, there is a need to review how information regarding local health and wider wellbeing services is provided in local communities.
Psychological Wellbeing, Worry, and Resilience-Based Coping during COVID-19 in Relation to Sleep Quality
Authors: Tousignant Olivia H. , Hopkins Sarah W. , Stark Abigail M. , Fireman Gary D.
Published: December 2021

The current study evaluated the impact of psychological wellbeing on sleep quality during the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. A novel empirical model tested variables that mediate and moderate this impact. First, a relationship was established between psychological wellbeing during the COVID-19 pandemic and sleep quality. Second, resilience-based coping associated with the COVID-19 pandemic was tested as a mediator of the impact of psychological wellbeing on sleep quality. Third, dispositional rumination, mindfulness, and worry were compared as moderators of the impact of psychological wellbeing on sleep quality. Fourth, a moderated mediated model was tested for each moderator. Online survey data was collected from 153 adults in the United States. Results demonstrated that coping with the COVID-19 pandemic partially mediated the impact of psychological wellbeing on sleep quality. Worry, but not rumination or mindfulness, moderated the impact. A moderated mediation model failed to demonstrate significance, indicating that the data are best represented by distinct mediation and moderation models. Thus, interventions aimed at improving sleep quality should prioritize concurrent reduction in worry and increase in resilience-based coping strategies. This study provides practical and theoretical contribution to the literature by demonstrating relationships between key variables and contextualizing how the model can be used for assessments and interventions during widespread crises.
Factors Associated with the HPV Vaccination among Korean Americans and Koreans: A Systematic Review
Authors: Jo Soojung , Han Soo-Yeon , Walters Connor A.
Published: December 2021

Koreans and Korean Americans (KAs) have limited HPV knowledge and awareness. KAs share a culture with Koreans, and this culture has affected their behavior around HPV. This systematic review aimed to synthesize the factors associated with HPV vaccination among Koreans and KAs. The literature search was done with four databases. The vaccination rate, awareness and knowledge of HPV, and factors associated with vaccination intention were identified. Eighteen articles were selected. Koreans and KAs had low levels of HPV knowledge and awareness. Perceived benefits and seriousness were associated with vaccination intention. Cervical cancer history, beliefs that their daughters need a pap smear test, sexual intercourse experiences, occupation, low education, and income were associated with vaccination intention. This systematic review discovered that HPV vaccination behavior is associated with HPV vaccine awareness, perceived benefits of the vaccine, and the perceived seriousness of HPV infection among Koreans and KAs. Based on the results, we suggest healthcare providers provide a HPV vaccine recommendation by emphasizing the benefits of the vaccination to Koreans and KAs. This study can be the basis for developing interventions to increase HPV vaccination by guiding the target population and variables, as well as the intervention content.
The Diet of Children Attending a Holiday Programme in the UK: Adherence to UK Food-Based Dietary Guidelines and School Food Standards
Authors: Crilley Eilish , Brownlee Iain , Defeyter Margaret Anne
Published: December 2021

Child poverty rates are rising, particularly in London, putting more children at risk of experiencing food insecurity. Holiday programmes in the UK provide children who receive free schools meals during term time with access to free/low-cost holiday clubs offering nutritious food and enriching activities during the school holidays. This study aimed to investigate whether children’s dietary intake was more adherent to the UK Eatwell Guide throughout the day and meets School Food Standards (SFS) for the lunchtime meal on a club attendance versus a non-attendance day. A repeated measures design was used to assess data on the food and drink intake of children (n = 57) aged 7–16 years old using a 24 h recall method on two separate occasions: once based on an attending club day and once based on a non-attending club day. The results showed children’s diet quality improved (p = 0.007) on an attending club day (mean: 58.0 ± SD 12.6) versus a non-attending club day (51.8 ± 15.0). Children also more closely adhered to the SFS (p = 0.001) on an attending club day (median = 9, interquartile range = 8–9) versus a non-attending club day (median = 7, interquartile range = 6–8). This suggests that holiday programmes targeting children who receive free school meals during term time have the potential to improve children’s dietary behaviours during the school holidays, underlining the importance of holiday programmes to support food security.
The Impact of Different Periods of Walking Experience on Kinematic Gait Parameters in Toddlers
Authors: Gimunová Marta , Sebera Martin , Bozděch Michal , Kolářová Kateřina , Vodička Tomáš , Zvonař Martin
Published: December 2021

This study aimed to analyse the kinematic differences in gait between three groups of toddlers who differed in their weeks of independent walking (IW) experience, but not in anthropometrical characteristics, to determine the relationship between walking experience without the side effect of morphological differences on gait parameters. Twenty-six toddlers participated in this study. Depending on the week of their IW, toddlers were divided into three groups: Group 1 (1–5 weeks of IW), Group 2 (6–10 weeks of IW), and Group 3 (11–15 weeks of IW). Each toddler walked barefooted over a 2-m long pathway, and 3D kinematic data were obtained. A decrease in the upper limb position, hip flexion, and step width, i.e., changes towards the adult gait pattern, were observed in Group 3. Less experienced walkers exhibited a wider step width despite no statistically significant difference in body mass and height between groups. Results of this study show no statistically significant difference in step length between groups, suggesting that step length is more related to height than to the walking experience. The increased step length in more experienced walkers reported in previous studies may therefore be a result of different heights and not walking experience.
Effectiveness of the FED Method in the Treatment of Idiopathic Scoliosis of Girls Aged 11–15 Years
Authors: Trzcińska Sandra , Koszela Kamil , Kuszewski Michał
Published: December 2021

(1) Background: The unknown etiology of idiopathic scoliosis and its three-dimensional nature make the cause-and-effect therapeutic management difficult. A tendency to progression of scoliosis and the failure of many methods of conservative treatment have prompted the search for new methods that would stop and correct deformations. One of them is the FED method, used in the conservative treatment of idiopathic scolioses, in which all scoliotic curves are corrected. The aim of this study was a comparative analysis of the effectiveness of idiopathic scoliosis treatment with the FED and FITS methods. (2) Methods: The study included 60 randomly selected girls, aged 11 to 15 years, treated with the FED and FITS methods. They were diagnosed with idiopathic scoliosis grade II according to Cobb and double-curve scoliosis type I and II according to King–Moe classification. The results of the therapy were assessed with the use of the Bunnell scoliometer. The examinations were performed before the start of the therapy—on the first day of the child’s stay—and 3 weeks after the therapy. The angle of trunk rotation and the sum of two rotations were assessed using a scoliometer. (3) Results: The performed statistical analysis demonstrated significant changes in the examined parameters in both therapeutic groups. (4) Conclusions: 1. The obtained results indicate that the FED therapy may prove to be an effective method of treating idiopathic scoliosis; however, it requires further research in a larger group of patients; 2. both methods significantly improved trunk rotation in primary and secondary scoliosis, but after using summing parameters (SDR parameter), the FED method appeared to be statistically more effective.
Nature-Based Citizen Science as a Mechanism to Improve Human Health in Urban Areas
Authors: Williams Craig R. , Burnell Sophie M. , Rogers Michelle , Flies Emily J. , Baldock Katherine L.
Published: December 2021

The world is becoming increasingly urbanised, impacting human interactions with natural environments (NEs). NEs take a number of forms, ranging from pristine, modified, to built NEs, which are common in many urban areas. NEs may include nature-based solutions, such as introducing nature elements and biological processes into cities that are used to solve problems created by urbanisation. Whilst urbanisation has negative impacts on human health, impacting mental and physical wellbeing through a number of mechanisms, exposure to NEs may improve human health and wellbeing. Here, we review the mechanisms by which health can be improved by exposure to NEs, as explained by Stress Reduction Theory, Attention Restoration Theory, and the ‘Old Friends’/biodiversity hypothesis. Such exposures may have physiological and immunological benefits, mediated through endocrine pathways and altered microbiota. Citizen Science, which often causes exposure to NEs and social activity, is being increasingly used to not only collect scientific data but also to engage individuals and communities. Despite being a named component of scientific and environmental strategies of governments, to our knowledge, the intrinsic health benefits of Citizen Science in NEs do not form part of public health policy. We contend that Citizen Science programs that facilitate exposure to NEs in urban areas may represent an important public health policy advance.
Does Telerehabilitation Help in Reducing Disability among People with Musculoskeletal Conditions? A Preliminary Study
Authors: Alsobayel Hana , Alodaibi Faris , Albarrati Ali , Alsalamah Norah , Alhawas Fadwa , Alhowimel Ahmed
Published: December 2021

Introduction: During the coronavirus pandemic, an initiative was launched in Saudi Arabia to provide telerehabilitation for people with musculoskeletal conditions who were unable to access in-person physiotherapy due to the associated lockdown. The purpose of this study was to explore the therapeutic impact and acceptability of telerehabilitation among the Saudi population. Methods: Ninety-five participants were recruited through an online advertisement and received a physiotherapy consultation and interventions via an online video conference platform (Google Meet). Following screening for red flags, participants received tailored education and conditioning exercises 2–3 times a week for 6 weeks. Outcome measures were recorded at baseline and 6 weeks and comprised the Pain Self-Efficacy Questionnaire, Patient-Specific Functional Scale, Musculoskeletal Health Questionnaire and a satisfaction survey. Results: The most frequent musculoskeletal conditions reported were lower back (37%), knee (14%) and neck (10%) pain and post-operative conditions (15%). Participants showed significant improvements in outcomes at the end of the program (p < 0.001) with effect sizes ranging from 0.6 to −1.9 and reported a high level of satisfaction with the telerehabilitation intervention. Conclusion: This study showed that telerehabilitation was an acceptable method of providing physiotherapy interventions for patients with musculoskeletal conditions in Saudi Arabia.
Emotions and Motivations Underlying Adherence to the Anti-COVID-19 Vaccination Campaign: A Survey on a Sample of Italians under 30 Years
Authors: Carpinelli Luna , De Caro Francesco , Savarese Giulia , Capunzo Mario , Mollo Monica , Moccia Giuseppina
Published: December 2021

Background: In Italy, the under-30 age category was the one that joined the anti-COVID-19 vaccination campaign in an important way. This study investigates the emotional states and motivations underlying joining the anti-COVID-19 vaccination campaign. Methods: A questionnaire consisting of SF-12, STAI Y, and open questions was administered to investigate the state of health, the state of anxiety, and motivational states of the participants. Results: Of the sample, 80.7% were vaccinated at the first call, deeming the action important to combat the infection. However, 48.2% stated that they were quite worried about the problems related to the pandemic, 37.3% feared being directly infected, and 43.4% were worried about the health of relatives and friends. Conclusions: The positive impact that the vaccination campaign has had on the under-30 category is very significant for the immunization process, which is of fundamental importance for fighting the pandemic, so the “benefits” outweigh the “risks” related to the COVID-19 vaccine.
Relationships between Expenditure of Regional Governments and Suicide Mortalities Caused by Six Major Motives in Japan
Authors: Hasegawa Toshiki , Fukuyama Kouji , Okada Motohiro
Published: December 2021

Suicide mortality in Japan reduced in the period of 2009–2018. A number of studies identified the impact of financial governmental support for social welfare systems on suicide mortality; however, the detailed effects of specific regional policies, designed according to regional cultural, economic, education and welfare situations, on suicide mortality remain to be clarified. Therefore, the present study analyses the associations between the regional governmental expenditure of six major divisions, “public health”, “public works”, “police”, “ambulance/fire services”, “welfare” and “education”, and suicide mortalities caused by six major suicidal motives, related to “family”, “health”, “economy”, “employment”, “romance” and “school”, across the 47 prefectures in Japan during the period of 2009–2018, using fixed-effect analysis of hierarchal linear regression with robust standard error. The expenditure of “public works” displayed a positive relationship with suicide mortality of females caused by family-related motives but was not related to other suicide mortalities, whereas the expenditures in “public health”, “police”, “ambulance/fire services”, “welfare” and “education” contributed to a reduction in suicide mortality, at least in some statistical indicators. The expenditures of both “ambulance/fire” and “education” were predominantly effective among the six major divisions of regional governmental expenditure in reducing suicide mortalities. In the education subdivisions, the expenditure of “kindergarten” was related to a reduction in suicide mortalities caused by a wide spectrum of motives. The amount of expenditure of welfare indicated the limited possibility of facilitating a reduction in suicide mortalities caused by only motives associated with economy or employment. However, in the welfare subdivisions, the expenditure of “child welfare” and “social welfare” was effective in reducing suicide mortalities, but the expenditure of “elderly welfare” was unexpectedly related to an increase in suicide mortalities. These results suggest that most Japanese people are struggling to bring up children even in the situation of an increasing elderly population with a decreasing birth rate. Therefore, it is important to enhance the investment welfare policy for the future to improve the childcare environment. Although the issue of an increasing elderly population and a decreasing birth rate in Japan has not yet improved, the obtained results suggest that evidence-based welfare expenditure redistributions of prefectures and municipalities could improve Japanese society and welfare systems.
Predictors and Assessment of Hospice Use for End-Stage Renal Disease Patients in Taiwan
Authors: Chen Hung-Cheng , Wu Chien-Yi , Hsieh Hui-Ya , He Jiun-Shiuan , Hwang Shang-Jyh , Hsieh Hui-Min
Published: December 2021

Objectives: Hospice and early palliative care are generally considered as an alternative and supportive care to offer symptoms relief and optimize the quality of life among end-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients, but hospice care remains underutilized. This study aimed to examine patient and health system characteristics and develop a patient assessment scale to evaluate ESRD patients for hospice care after the implementation of non-cancer hospice care reimbursement policy in 2009 in Taiwan. Method: We conducted a retrospective cohort study using nationwide population-based datasets. Adult long-term dialysis patients between 2009 and 2012 were included. Multivariable logistic regression and the Firth penalized likelihood estimation were used to estimate the likelihood of receiving hospice care. A receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) analysis and C-statistic were calculated to determine the optimal models for a patient assessment of hospice use. Results: Patients who were older, comorbid with anemia (odds ratio [OR] 3.53, 95% CI 1.43–8.70) or sepsis (OR 1.62, 95% CI 1.08–2.44), with longer dialysis durations, more hospitalizations (OR 4.68, 95% CI 2.56–8.55), or primary provider care with hospice (OR 5.15, 95% CI 2.80–9.45) were more likely to receive hospice care. The total score of the patient assessment scale of hospice care was 0–28 with a cut-off value of 19 based on the results of the receiver operating characteristic curve. Conclusion: Given the “Patient Right to Autonomy Act” implemented in Taiwan in 2019 to promote the concept of a “good quality of death”, this patient assessment scale may help health professionals target ESRD patients for hospice care and engage in shared decision making and the advance care planning process.
Associations of Physical Activity, School Safety, and Non-Prescription Steroid Use in Adolescents: A Structural Equation Modeling Approach
Authors: Brusseau Timothy A. , Burns Ryan D.
Published: December 2021

Non-prescription steroid use can negatively impact adolescent physical and mental health and wellbeing. Determining correlates of this risk behavior is needed to help mitigate its prevalence. Two potential correlates are physical activity and school safety. The purpose of this study was to examine the associations of physical activity, school safety, and non-prescription steroid use within a sample of adolescents from the 2015–2019 US National Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS). A multi-stage cluster sampling procedure yielded a representative sample of US adolescents from the 2015–2019 YRBS (n = 44,066; 49.6% female). Two latent variables indicating physical activity and unsafe schools were the independent variables. The dependent variable was a self-report of non-prescription steroid use. A weighted structural equation model examined the associations between physical activity and unsafe schools with non-prescription steroid use, controlling for age, sex, BMI %tile, race/ethnicity, and sexual minority status. The latent physical activity variable did not associate with non-prescription steroid use (β = 0.007, 95%CI: −0.01–0.02, p = 0.436); however, the unsafe schools latent variable did associate with non-prescription steroid use (β = 0.64, 95%CI: 0.59–0.69, p < 0.001). An unsafe school environment may be a determinant of non-prescription steroid use in adolescents. Physical activity behaviors did not associate with steroid use.