bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Understanding the Effects of Climate Change on the Distributional Range of Plateau Fish: A Case Study of Species Endemic to the Hexi River System in the Qinghai–Tibetan Plateau
Authors: Chen Zhaosong , Chen Liuyang , Wang Ziwang , He Dekui
Published: October 2022

Prediction of species’ potentially suitable distribution areas and their range shifts under future climate change has long been the focus of macroecology and biogeography. Gymnocypris chilianensis of Schizothoracinae and Triplophysa hsutschouensis of Triplophysa are isolated to the Shiyang, Heihe, and Shule Rivers of the Hexi River system, listed from east to west, along the northeastern part of the Qinghai–Tibetan Plateau (QTP). This spatial distribution provides a valuable set of conditions for investigating patterns of habitat suitability and potential impacts of accelerated plateau climate change on endemic plateau fish species. Here, we employed the maximum entropy (MaxEnt) model to first evaluate potentially suitable habitats of the two species and identify the primary impact factors under the current climate based on occurrence records and environmental variables; then, we predicted changes in suitable habitat areas and distribution centers under two representative concentration pathways (RCPs), 2.6 and 8.5, for the future (2050 and 2070). The results showed that annual precipitation and altitude were the two most important environmental factors predicting the suitable habitat of G. chilianensis and T. hsutschouensis. The areas of suitable habitat for G. chilianensis and T. hsutschouensis experienced a sequential westward decrease from the Shiyang River towards the Heihe and Shule Rivers under the current climate conditions. Under future climate changes, the areas of the potential geographical distribution of G. chilianensis and T. hsutschouensis were concentrated eastward towards the Shiyang River, the area of the species’ ancestral origins. Suitable habitat centers of the two species shifted eastward from the Heihe River to the Shiyang River and higher altitude areas. Additionally, G. chilianensis showed a greater reduction in suitable habitat and greater eastward range shift compared to T. hsutschouensis. These findings provide empirical evidence that accelerated climate change on the QTP has severe consequences for endemic populations with restricted and isolated habitats. This study demonstrates that different plateau fish have similarities and differences in their responses to climate change. Our findings also highlight that the effects of climate change must be incorporated into the integrated conservation plans for fish species on the QTP and its adjacent areas.
Restoration of Geographically Isolated Wetlands: An Amphibian-Centric Review of Methods and Effectiveness
Authors: Burrow Angela K. , Lance Stacey
Published: October 2022

Geographically isolated wetlands provide a critical habitat for pond-breeding amphibians, a taxa of broad conservation concern. Global wetland loss and degradation has made restoration essential for amphibian conservation. Restoration goals typically include recovering the wetlands’ physiochemical, hydrological, and ecological functions. However, for pond-breeding amphibians, successful restoration should also result in sustained populations, which is difficult to assess and infrequently reported. In this paper, we review the available evidence that restoration of geographically isolated wetlands promotes pond-breeding amphibian occupancy and population persistence. We provide an overview of restoration practices addressing hydrology, vegetation, and ecological processes within these unique environments and across spatial scales. We then summarize the evidence, and discuss the limitations, for evaluating successful restoration within the context of amphibian conservation across these categories. Finally, we provide recommendations for researchers and practitioners to leverage prior successes and establish systematic data collection and dissemination. Moving restoration of wetlands for amphibian conservation forward will require more robust data collection and reporting.
Content Validity and Utility of the Collaborative Process for Action Plans to Achieve Children’s Participation Goals
Authors: Palisano Robert J. , Chiarello Lisa A. , Vänskä Nea , Sipari Salla
Published: October 2022

Content validity and clinical utility of the Collaborative Process for Action Plans to Achieve Children’s Participation Goals were evaluated. The collaborative process is designed to assess child, family, and environment strengths and areas for improvement specific to a child’s participation goal and identify intervention strategies and the person(s) responsible for each strategy. Twelve pediatric therapists participated in one of two Nominal Group Consensus Process. Following discussion, therapists rated the importance of child, family, and environment attributes, clarity of wording, and the usefulness of the collaborative process. Ratings for 91% (first group consensus) and 100% (second group consensus) of the statements met the criterion for consensus, supporting content validity. Ten parent/child/therapist teams evaluated clinical utility. Written responses to open-ended questions were coded using inductive content analysis. Parents and therapists indicated that the collaborative process promotes engagement, the goal is considered from many viewpoints, and there is a joint commitment to the action plan. Limitations included time to complete, the need for preparation and more guidance, and unfamiliar expressions. Familiarity with collaborative, solution focused processes and participation interventions are considerations for use in practice. Research is recommended in which the action plan is implemented, progressed, and achievement of participation goals are evaluated.
Implementation of Programmatic Assessment: Challenges and Lessons Learned
Authors: Govaerts Marjan , Van der Vleuten Cees , Schut Suzanne
Published: October 2022

In the past few decades, health professions education programmes around the world have embraced the competency-based paradigm to guide the education and assessment of future healthcare workers [...]
Research on the Influence of Moisture Exchange between Oil and Cellulose on the Electrical Parameters of the Insulating Oil in Power Transformers
Authors: Kierczynski Konrad , Rogalski Przemyslaw , Bondariev Vitalii , Okal Pawel , Korenciak Daniel
Published: October 2022

The article presents an oil moistening method, identical to the oil moistening in power transformers. Moistening took place through the migration of moisture from the moistened pressboard to the brand new oil. The AC electrical parameters (admittance, phase shift angle, permittivity, loss tangent and conductivity) of the brand new and moistened insulating oil were tested. All measured parameters were found to be affected by the oil moistening. The greatest changes were observed in the loss tangent and conductivity. Moisturization increases the value of tanδ at a frequency of 10−4 Hz from about 20 to about 70. With an increase in frequency to about 400–1000 Hz, a minimum is observed, the position of which depends on the temperature. Its value for moistened oil is about six times lower than for brand new oil. This moisturizing increased the activation energy of the conductivity from 0.466 ± 0.0265 eV to 0.890 ± 0.0115 eV. This is likely due to the acceleration of water molecules diffusion from the pressboard into the oil with increasing temperatures. The observed changes in the oil parameters caused by moistening should be taken into account while analyzing the power transformers insulation condition using the FDS method.
Full-Scale Digesters: An Online Model Parameter Identification Strategy
Authors: Cortés Luis G. , Barbancho J. , Larios D. F. , Marin-Batista J. D. , Mohedano A. F. , Portilla C. , de la Rubia M. A.
Published: October 2022

This work presents a new standard in the model, identification, and control of monitoring purposes over anaerobic reactors. One requirement that guarantees a normal controller operation is for the faculty to measure the data needed periodically. Due to its inability to easily obtain the concentrations of acidogenic bacteria and methanogenic archaea periodically using reliable and commercial sensors, this paper presents an algorithm composed of an asymptotic observer (considering the reaction rates are unknown), aiming to estimate these concentrations. This method represents a significant advantage because it is possible to perform a resource-saving strategy using standard measurements, such as pH or alkalinity, to calculate them analytically in natural environments. Additionally, two yield parameters were included in the original anaerobic model two (AM2) to unlock implementations for a wide range of organic substrates. The static parameter identification was improved using a new method called step-ahead optimization. It demonstrates significant improvements fitting the mathematical model to data until a 78.7% increase in efficiency (compared with the traditional optimization method genetic algorithm). After the period of convergence, the state observer evidences a small error with a maximum 2% deviation. Finally, numerical simulations demonstrate the structure’s strengths, which constitutes a significant step in paving the way further to implement feasible, cost-effective controls and monitoring systems in the industry.
Feasibility of Waste Engine Oil Electrooxidation with Ni-Co and Cu-B Catalysts
Authors: Włodarczyk Paweł P. , Włodarczyk Barbara
Published: October 2022

To implement a circular economy policy, methods of using waste products as a starting point for other technologies are constantly researched. One of the waste products that should be disposed of after use is waste engine oil (WEO). Despite the permanent introduction of the electrification of cars, the number of combustion vehicles (and, thus, the production of WEO) is constantly increasing. For these reasons, the reuse of WEOs is extremely important; e.g., to use these oils for energy purposes. One of the potential uses of this type of oil is as fuel for fuel cells (for direct electricity production). To lower the production costs of electrodes for fuel cells, catalysts that do not contain precious metals are being constantly sought. This work shows the research of WEO electrooxidation feasibility with Ni-Co and Cu-B catalysts. The results showed the feasibility of the electrooxidation of WEO emulsion on Ni-Co and Cu-B electrodes in an electrolyte (a water solution of sulfuric acid). Moreover, it was shown that the electrooxidation of the WEO emulsion occurred for all concentrations of WEO in the emulsion for all measurement temperatures (20–80 °C). The highest current density obtained in the measurements was 11 mA cm−2 (at 60 °C) for the Ni-Co electrode.
Analysis of the Scope for Reducing the Level of Energy Consumption of Crew Transport in an Underground Mining Plant Using a Conveyor Belt System Mining Plant
Authors: Bogacz Paweł , Cieślik Łukasz , Osowski Dawid , Kochaj Paweł
Published: October 2022

One of the main elements that shape the production process in an underground mining plant is, in the broadest sense of the word, transport. Currently, a large amount of rolling stock from cable cars or suspended railways is maintained in mining plants, along with extensive infrastructure used for transporting crew and materials. The development of conveyor belt transport systems, as well as system process management, is increasing efficiency levels. Mining transport is a complex process, requiring large amounts of energy, which incurs significant production costs. We conduct a comparative analysis of the human transport system using a suspended railway with belt transport at Lubelski Węgiel “Bogdanka” Spółka Akcyjna (the largest hard coal mine in Poland), in terms of energy efficiency levels. We found that the process of transporting the crew in an underground mining plant to the production site using a conveyor belt system was less energy-intensive, and therefore created less emissions than the currently used model based on suspended queues. The analyses for the above project were conducted according to a model that was based on the study and analysis phase of the project through to its implementation and transfer to operational activities. The analysis was carried out based on the created simulation model, taking into account all elements of the crew transport process to and from the mining area. The implementation of the technical solution allowed for nearly a threefold reduction in the level of energy consumption and emissivity. In the analyzed model, the energy consumption in the first phase of production was 3.04 kWh per employee using the diesel rails system and 1.13 per employee using the belt conveyor system.
Data-Based Flow Rate Prediction Models for Independent Metering Hydraulic Valve
Authors: Su Wenbin , Ren Wei , Sun Hui , Liu Canjie , Lu Xuhao , Hua Yingli , Wei Hongbo , Jia Han
Published: October 2022

Accurate valve flow rate prediction is essential for the flow control process of independent metering (IM) hydraulic valve. Traditional estimation methods are difficult to meet the high-precision requirements under the restricted space of the valve. Thus data-based flow rate prediction method for IM valve has been proposed in this study. We took the four-spool IM valve as the research object, and carried out the IM valve experiments to generate labeled data. Picking up the post-valve pressure and valve opening as input, we developed and compared eight different data-based estimation models, including machine learning and deep learning. The results indicated that the SVR and DNN with three hidden layers performed better than others on the whole dataset in the trade-off of overfitting and precision. And MAPE of these two models was close to 4%. This study provides further guidelines on high-precision flow rate prediction of hydraulic valves, and has definite application value for development of digital and intelligent hydraulic systems in construction machinery.
Recent Advancements in Automated Vehicle Certification: How the Experience from the Nuclear Sector Contributed to Making Them a Reality
Authors: Donà Riccardo , Ciuffo Biagio , Tsakalidis Anastasios , Di Cesare Lorenzo , Sollima Calogero , Sangiorgi Marco , Galassi Maria Cristina
Published: October 2022

The current paper discusses the most recent advancements in automated vehicle (AV) certification and how existing regulations/best practices from the nuclear field helped make AVs a reality. In particular, three main pillars differentiate the newly devised certification frameworks from previous automotive regulations: the introduction of a safety management system, the adoption of in-service monitoring and reporting data logging systems, and the use of virtual testing to demonstrate the safety of the AV; a set of pillars that are also found in the nuclear practice. The argumentation is informed by relevant literature and shared experiences from the nuclear power plant and transportation fields where there are established safety practices to manage safety-critical cyber-physical systems. Although the nuclear and transportation fields might seem unrelated, strong synergies were found, including risk management approaches and operational data collection procedures, which supported the timely drafting of the new regulation for AVs. Nonetheless, some open challenges remain due to peculiar aspects of AVs that will need to be addressed in the near future. Namely, practical methodologies for the residual-risk calculation for the various Operational Design Domains (ODDs), the design of scalable monitoring techniques, and the definition of detailed procedures for the virtual testing tool qualification.
Influence of Variable Blocking Ratio on DDT Process
Authors: Feng Xiangzhou , Huang Xiqiao
Published: October 2022

The influence of a variable blocking ratio on the DDT process is investigated through numerical simulation and experiment. Two dimensionless parameters, the average blocking ratio (BR¯) and the blocking ratio change rate (α), are specified to characterize the blocking ratio of obstacles. Four arrangements are utilized to describe the variation trend of the blocking ratio in a combustor. The main results are as follows: The obstacles can stretch the flame surface and facilitate reflection and diffraction of shock waves, which causes the acceleration of the flame front. The “hot spot” plays a vital role in the formation process of detonation waves. The overdriven detonation waves generated from “hot spots” promote the energy in the primary reaction zone, stimulating the formation of self-sustaining detonation. Compared with the fixed blocking ratio arrangement, the variable blocking ratio of obstacles can shorten the DDT distance. When BR¯=0.43, |α| = 0.03, and the variation trend (0.52–0.34–0.49) is adopted, the minimum DDT distance is obtained in numerical and experimental results. This paper can help with the design of detonation combustors in the future.
The Anti-Obesity Compound Asperuloside Reduces Inflammation in the Liver and Hypothalamus of High-Fat-Fed Mice
Authors: Ishaq Muhammad , Tran Duyen , Yang Cheng , Ng Min , Kackanattil Arlene , Tata Karthik , Deans Bianca , Bleasel Martin , Vicenzi Silvia , Randall Cameron , Ahmad Tauseef , Vicario Carmelo , Ronci Maurizio , Zuccarini Mariachiara , Ciccarelli Renata , Scowen Paul , Chellappan Dinesh , Jacobson Glenn , Bissember Alex , Smith Jason , Eri Rajaraman , Canales Juan , Iglesias Miguel , Guven Nuri , Caruso Vanni
Published: October 2022

Obesity produces a systemic low-grade inflammation associated with many adverse health conditions and, as we recently learned, with complications of COVID-19. Functional studies in animal models have demonstrated that asperuloside, an iridoid glycoside found in many medicinal plants, has produced promising anti-obesity results. However, the safety profile and the anti-inflammatory properties of asperuloside remain unknown. Here, we confirmed the previously reported anti-obesity properties of asperuloside, and, importantly, we performed toxicity studies assessing cell viability providing a dose reference for future animal experiments. Asperuloside significantly reduced blood levels of leptin and the mRNA levels of orexigenic peptides, such as NPY and AgRP in mice consuming HFD, with no effect on mice eating a standard chow diet. In addition, our results indicate that ASP reduced both hypothalamic and hepatic mRNA levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines such as IL-1, IL-6 and TNF-α as well as the blood levels of plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1), which are known to play a major role in the development of insulin resistance and cardiovascular complications. Collectively, our findings suggest that asperuloside is a safe compound for long-term use in animal models and that it reduces the elevated levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines occurring in obesity.
Mapping and Monitoring Forest Plantations in São Paulo State, Southeast Brazil, Using Fraction Images Derived from Multiannual Landsat Sensor Images
Authors: Shimabukuro Yosio E. , Arai Egidio , da Silva Gabriel M. , Dutra Andeise C. , Mataveli Guilherme , Duarte Valdete , Martini Paulo R. , Cassol Henrique L. G. , Ferreira Danilo S. , Junqueira Luís R.
Published: October 2022

This article presents a method, based on orbital remote sensing, to map the extent of forest plantations in São Paulo State (Southeast Brazil). The proposed method uses the random forest machine learning algorithm available on the Google Earth Engine (GEE) cloud computing platform. We used 30 m annual mosaics derived from Landsat-5 Thematic Mapper (TM) images and from Landsat-8 Operational Land Imager (OLI) images for the 1985 to 1995 and 2013 to 2021 time periods, respectively. These time periods were selected based on the planted areas’ rotation, especially the eucalypt’s short rotation. To classify the forest plantations, green, red, NIR, and MIR spectral bands, NDVI, GNDVI, NDWI, and NBR spectral indices, and vegetation, shade, and soil fractions were used for both sensors. These indices and the fraction images have the advantage of reducing the volume of data to be analyzed and highlighting the forest plantations’ characteristics. In addition, we also generated one mosaic for each fraction image for the TM and OLI datasets by computing the maximum value through the period analyzed, facilitating the classification of areas occupied by forest plantations in the study area. The proposed method allowed us to classify the areas occupied by two forest plantation classes: eucalypt and pine. The results of the proposed method compared with the forest plantation areas extracted from the land use and land cover maps, provided by the MapBiomas product, presented the Kappa values of 0.54 and 0.69 for 1995 and 2020, respectively. In addition, two pilot areas were used to evaluate the classification maps and to monitor the phenological stages of eucalypt and pine plantations, showing the rotation cycle of these plantations. The results are very useful for planning and managing planted forests by commercial companies and can contribute to developing an automatic method to map forest plantations on regional and global scales.
Fire Path Fighting in Forest Off-Road Using Improved ACA—An Example of The Northern Primitive Forest Region of The Great Xing’an Range in Inner Mongolia, China
Authors: Lu Zhaolin , Sun Shufa , Yuan Mingju , Yang Fei , Yin Haoyu
Published: October 2022

In order to deal with the threat of forest fire to the original forest resources, improve the efficiency of firefighting, and better protect the forest ecological resources in the original forest area. In this paper, the ant colony algorithm is used as the search algorithm for the firefighting path, and the Qiqian Forestry Bureau in the northern primitive forest region of the Great Xing‘an Range in Inner Mongolia is taken as the research object to select road entry points with different linear distances from the fire poin. By adjusting the pheromone volatility coefficient, the improved ant colony algorithm can better deal with the off-road firefighting path planning in forest environment. The simulation results show that using the road entry point with linear distance of 24.5 km as the starting point for the path planning of off-road firefighting in the northern the Great Xing‘an Range can effectively shorten the path and minimize the loss caused by forest fire. At the same time, it verifies the effectiveness and rationality of the path planning of the improved ant colony algorithm under such environmental conditions. The optimization scheme meets the needs of forest fire fighting in the original forest area, and can play a guiding role in design of the forest fire path planning in the original forest area in the northern Great Xing‘an Range of Inner Mongolia and a reference for fire path planning in other forest areas in China.
Investigation of Recognition and Classification of Forest Fires Based on Fusion Color and Textural Features of Images
Authors: Li Cong , Liu Qiang , Li Binrui , Liu Luying
Published: October 2022

An image recognition and classification method based on fusion color and textural features was studied. Firstly, the suspected forest fire region was segmented via the fusion RGB-YCbCr color spaces. Then, 10 kinds of textural features were extracted by a local binary pattern (LBP) algorithm and 4 kinds of textural features were extracted by a gray-level co-occurrence matrix (GLCM) algorithm from the suspected fire region. In terms of its application, a database of the forest fire textural feature vector of three scenes was constructed, including forest images without fire, forest images with fire, and forest images with fire-like interference. The existence of forest fires can be recognized based on the database via a support vector machine (SVM). The results showed that the method’s recognition rate for forest fires reached 93.15% and that it had a strong robustness with respect to distinguishing fire-like interference, which provides a more effective scheme for forest fire recognition.
Estimating Carbon Sink Strength of Norway Spruce Forests Using Machine Learning
Authors: Zhao Junbin , Lange Holger , Meissner Helge
Published: October 2022

Forests sequester atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) which is important for climate mitigation. Net ecosystem production (NEP) varies significantly across forests in different regions depending on the dominant tree species, stand age, and environmental factors. Therefore, it is important to evaluate forest NEP and its potential changes under climate change in different regions to inform forestry policy making. Norway spruce (Picea abies) is the most prevalent species in conifer forests throughout Europe. Here, we focused on Norway spruce forests and used eddy covariance-based observations of CO2 fluxes and other variables from eight sites to build a XGBoost machine learning model for NEP estimation. The NEP values from the study sites varied between −296 (source) and 1253 (sink) g C m−2 yr−1. Overall, among the tested variables, air temperature was the most important factor driving NEP variations, followed by global radiation and stand age, while precipitation had a very limited contribution to the model. The model was used to predict the NEP of mature Norway spruce forests in different regions within Europe. The NEP median value was 494 g C m−2 yr−1 across the study areas, with higher NEP values, up to >800 g C m−2 yr−1, in lower latitude regions. Under the “middle-of-the-road” SSP2-4.5 scenario, the NEP values tended to be greater in almost all the studied regions by 2060 with the estimated median of NEP changes in 2041–2060 to be +45 g C m−2 yr−1. Our results indicate that Norway spruce forests show high productivity in a wide area of Europe with potentially future NEP enhancement. However, due to the limitations of the data, the potential decrease in NEP induced by temperature increases beyond the photosynthesis optima and frequent ecosystem disturbances (e.g., drought, bark beetle infestation, etc.) still needs to be evaluated.
A Flashforward Look into Solutions for Fruit and Vegetable Production
Authors: Maupilé Léa , Boualem Adnane , Chaïb Jamila , Bendahmane Abdelhafid
Published: October 2022

One of the most important challenges facing current and future generations is how climate change and continuous population growth adversely affect food security. To address this, the food system needs a complete transformation where more is produced in non-optimal and space-limited areas while reducing negative environmental impacts. Fruits and vegetables, essential for human health, are high-value-added crops, which are grown in both greenhouses and open field environments. Here, we review potential practices to reduce the impact of climate variation and ecosystem damages on fruit and vegetable crop yield, as well as highlight current bottlenecks for indoor and outdoor agrosystems. To obtain sustainability, high-tech greenhouses are increasingly important and biotechnological means are becoming instrumental in designing the crops of tomorrow. We discuss key traits that need to be studied to improve agrosystem sustainability and fruit yield.
Epigenetic and Proteomic Biomarkers of Elevated Alcohol Use Predict Epigenetic Aging and Cell-Type variation Better Than Self-Report
Authors: Beach Steven R. H. , Ong Mei Ling , Gibbons Frederick X. , Gerrard Meg , Lei Man-Kit , Dawes Kelsey , Philibert Robert A.
Published: October 2022

Excessive alcohol consumption (EAC) has a generally accepted effect on morbidity and mortality, outcomes thought to be reflected in measures of epigenetic aging (EA). As the association of self-reported EAC with EA has not been consistent with these expectations, underscoring the need for readily employable non-self-report tools for accurately assessing and monitoring the contribution of EAC to accelerated EA, newly developed alcohol consumption DNA methylation indices, such as the Alcohol T Score (ATS) and Methyl DetectR (MDR), may be helpful. To test that hypothesis, we used these new indices along with the carbohydrate deficient transferrin (CDT), concurrent as well as past self-reports of EAC, and well-established measures of cigarette smoking to examine the relationship of EAC to both accelerated EA and immune cell counts in a cohort of 437 young Black American adults. We found that MDR, CDT, and ATS were intercorrelated, even after controlling for gender and cotinine effects. Correlations between EA and self-reported EAC were low or non-significant, replicating prior research, whereas correlations with non-self-report indices were significant and more substantial. Comparing non-self-report indices showed that the ATS predicted more than four times as much variance in EA, CDT4 cells and B-cells as for both the MDR and CDT, and better predicted indices of accelerated EA. We conclude that each of the non-self-report indices have differing predictive capacities with respect to key alcohol-related health outcomes, and that the ATS may be particularly useful for clinicians seeking to understand and prevent accelerated EA. The results also underscore the likelihood of substantial underestimates of problematic use when self-report is used and a reduction in correlations with EA and variance in cell-types.
Time-Varying Gene Expression Network Analysis Reveals Conserved Transition States in Hematopoietic Differentiation between Human and Mouse
Authors: Gao Shouguo , Chen Ye , Wu Zhijie , Kajigaya Sachiko , Wang Xujing , Young Neal S.
Published: October 2022

(1) Background: analyses of gene networks can elucidate hematopoietic differentiation from single-cell gene expression data, but most algorithms generate only a single, static network. Because gene interactions change over time, it is biologically meaningful to examine time-varying structures and to capture dynamic, even transient states, and cell-cell relationships. (2) Methods: a transcriptomic atlas of hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells was used for network analysis. After pseudo-time ordering with Monocle 2, LOGGLE was used to infer time-varying networks and to explore changes of differentiation gene networks over time. A range of network analysis tools were used to examine properties and genes in the inferred networks. (3) Results: shared characteristics of attributes during the evolution of differentiation gene networks showed a “U” shape of network density over time for all three branches for human and mouse. Differentiation appeared as a continuous process, originating from stem cells, through a brief transition state marked by fewer gene interactions, before stabilizing in a progenitor state. Human and mouse shared hub genes in evolutionary networks. (4) Conclusions: the conservation of network dynamics in the hematopoietic systems of mouse and human was reflected by shared hub genes and network topological changes during differentiation.
How Does Migration Working Experience Change Farmers’ Social Capital in Rural China?
Authors: Chi Liang
Published: October 2022

While a growing number of farmers migrate to urban sectors to engage in off-farm employment, little is known whether and how the migration working experience (MWE) changes farmers, especially their social capital. Using a survey data set with 2863 farm households in 14 provinces in China, we developed a mediation model to examine the impact of MWE on social capital, as well as the roles of household income, farmers’ risk attitude, and information and communications technologies (ICTs). We show that MWE has a significantly positive impact on social capital and weak ties in social capital, which is mediated by household income, risk attitude, and ICT adoption. In particular, MWE can increase income, enhance risk preference, and promote ICT adoption, thus, leading to higher social capital. Moreover, ICTs play a moderating role in the impact of MWE on income and risk preference, that is, ICTs can decrease the impact of MWE on income, and completely substitute the impact of MWE on risk attitude. Our study provides an explanation for the reason why farmers are willing to migrate despite unfavorable working conditions they may endure in urban areas.
Addressing the Mental Health Challenges of Refugees—A Regional Network-Based Approach in Middle Hesse Germany
Authors: Hanewald Bernd , Knipper Michael , Daub Janneke , Ebert Saskia , Bogdanski Christina , Hinder Laura , Hall Mila , Berthold Daniel , Stingl Markus
Published: October 2022

Refugees constitute a vulnerable group with an increased risk of developing trauma-related disorders. From a clinician’s integrative perspective, navigating the detrimental impact of the social, economic, structural, and political factors on the mental health of refugees is a daily experience. Therefore, a collective effort must be made to reduce health inequities. The authors developed a treatment concept which provides broader care structures within a scientific practitioner’s approach. The resulting “Trauma Network” addresses the structural challenges for refugees in Middle Hesse. Accompanying research provided a sound basis for further discussions with policy-makers to improve the situation for refugees in the short- and long-term.
Hospital Surge Capacity Preparedness in Disasters and Emergencies: Protocol for a Systematic Review
Authors: Hasan Md. Khalid , Nasrullah Sarker Mohammad , Quattrocchi Annalisa , Arcos González Pedro , Castro Delgado Rafael
Published: October 2022

Hospitals’ medical surge preparedness or surge capacity preparedness plays a significant role in reducing mortalities and in the treatment of severe injuries in disasters and emergencies. Though actions or activities for surge capacity preparedness of hospitals are discussed in several studies, they remain fragmented and need to be compiled. This systematic review will provide a comprehensive synthesis of evidence of actions or steps taken to strengthen hospitals’ medical surge preparedness in disasters and emergencies, which will eventually help develop surge capacity programs and relevant policies. All the studies published in peer-reviewed journals between 1 January 2016 and 30 July 2022, with full text available, will be included in this review. Seven electronic databases—PubMed, Scopus, MEDLINE, CINAHL, Embase, PsycINFO, and Ovid—will be searched. Two reviewers will independently screen the titles and abstracts using the eligibility criteria, review full-text articles, and extract data with the help of CADIMA software. A third reviewer will help resolve any discrepancies during the whole process. The extracted data will be narratively synthesized with the key characteristics and findings of the studies. The NIH quality assessment tools will be used to scale up the the quality of the retrieved quantitative studies. Moreover, the mixed methods appraisal tool (MMAT) and Noyes et al. guidelines will be used to assess the mixed methods studies and qualitative studies quality assessment, respectively.
Bullying in Adolescents Practising Sport: A Structural Model Approach
Authors: Ortiz-Marcos José Manuel , Lendínez-Turón Ana , Solano-Sánchez Miguel Ángel , Tomé-Fernández María
Published: October 2022

This article aims to analyse the relationship between the bullying aggressor and bullying victim profile related to practising or not practising sport in adolescents living in southern Spain. The research includes male and female participants aged between 12 and 16 years in different secondary schools in the provinces of Andalusia, Ceuta and Melilla in the period between February 2022 and June 2022. The study aims to extend the existing scientific, theoretical and empirical knowledge on the influence of playing sport or not on disruptive bullying attitudes in adolescents. To this end, two initial hypotheses were designed; the first hypothesises that bullying victim behaviours are associated with future bullying aggressor behaviours when practising sport; and the second states that victim behaviours are associated with future bullying aggressor behaviours when not practising sport. To verify them, SPSS software was used for the preliminary analysis of the scale and sociodemographic profile. Additionally, the study is based on structural equation modelling methodology and variance-based methods employing SmartPLS v3.3 software. The results show the importance of sport or physical activity to reduce the chances of carrying out bullying actions on other peers and/or classmates. Therefore, it is considered necessary to prevent bullying in the classroom by implementing sports intervention programmes in educational centres.
Meeting the Needs of Rural Veterans: A Qualitative Evaluation of Whole Health Coaches’ Expanded Services and Support during COVID-19
Authors: Hale-Gallardo J. , Kreider Consuelo M. , Castañeda Gail , LeBeau Kelsea , Varma Deepthi S. , Knecht Cheri , Cowper Ripley Diane , Jia Huanguang
Published: October 2022

The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore perspectives of Whole Health (WH) coaches at the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) on meeting the needs of rural Veterans during the COVID-19 pandemic. The evaluation design employed a qualitative description approach, employing focus groups and in-depth interviews with a convenience sample of WH coaches across the VHA system. Fourteen coaches who work with rural Veterans participated in either one of three focus groups, individual interviews, or both. The focus group data and in-depth interviews were analyzed separately using thematic analysis, and findings were then merged to compare themes across both datasets. Four primary themes were identified: bridging social risk factors for rural Veterans, leveraging technology to stay connected with Veterans at-a-distance, redirecting Veterans to alternate modes of self-care, and maintaining flexibility in coaching role during COVID-19. One overarching theme was also identified following a post-hoc analysis driven by interdisciplinary team discussion: increased concerns for Veteran mental health during COVID-19. Coaches reported using a variety of strategies to respond to the wide-ranging needs of rural Veterans during the pandemic. Implications of findings for future research and practice are discussed.
Longitudinal Shifts in Movement Behaviors during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Relations to Posttraumatic Stress Disorder among University Students
Authors: Feng Jie , Lau Patrick Wing Chung , Shi Lei , Huang Wendy Yajun
Published: October 2022

This study examined the longitudinal changes of movement behaviors and their relationships with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) among university students during the coronavirus disease 2019 in China. A total of 569 university students completed online surveys twice (Time 1: between December 2020 and January 2021; Time 2: between November and December 2021). Physical activity, sedentary behavior, sleep duration and quality, as well as PTSD were self-reported. According to Canadian 24-h movement guidelines, the longitudinal shifts in each movement behavior from Time 1 to Time 2 were divided into four categories (consistently meeting the guidelines, from meeting to not meeting the guidelines, from not meeting to meeting the guidelines, and consistently not meeting the guidelines). Generalized linear mixed models were conducted using 410 valid responses (20.2 ± 1.0 years old at Time 2, 41.2% males). From Time 1 to Time 2, 22.2%, 2.0%, and 45.6% of the students consistently met the physical activity, sedentary behavior, and sleep guidelines, respectively. Compared to those who consistently met the sedentary behavior guideline, students who consistently failed to meet or changed from meeting to not meeting the guidelines had higher levels of PTSD. Students who had poor sleep quality at both time points or changed from good to bad sleep quality had higher levels of PTSD than those who maintained good sleep quality over time. Compared to those who consistently failed to meet the guideline, students who consistently met the PA guideline had higher levels of PTSD. These findings highlight the needs to improve and maintain healthy behaviors for mental health.
Vulnerable Factors Affecting Urinary N-Methylformamide Concentration among Migrant Workers in Manufacturing Industries in Comparison with Native Workers in the Republic of Korea (2012–2019)
Authors: Lee Kyung-Eun , Park Kayoung , Park Dong Joon , Park Sungkyun
Published: October 2022

Background: Occupational studies on N-N-dimethylformamide (DMF) exposure among migrant workers in Korea are scarce. We determined the urine concentration of N-methylformamide (NMF) among migrant workers with DMF exposure and compared the data with those of native workers. Methods: Data were collected from Workers’ Special Health Examination and Work Environment Monitoring databases during 2014–2019. Workers aged ≥20 years were eligible to participate in the special health examination for DMF exposure. Urine concentrations of NMF were determined and compared between migrant and native workers. We also evaluated the factors affecting the difference in the urine concentration of NMF between the migrant and native workers. Multiple logistic regression was performed by adding confounders step by step. Results: Among 9259 subjects, 504 (5.2%) were migrant workers. The mean urinary concentration of NMF was 6.73 mg/L in migrant workers, which was significantly higher than that in native workers (2.06 mg/L, p < 0.001). The odds of a urine concentration of NMF > 30 mg/L were significantly higher in migrant workers than in native workers after adjusting for sex and age (odds ratio [OR] = 7.31, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 4.66–11.45). However, the odds between the native and migrant workers were not significantly different when fully adjusted for confounders (OR = 1.12, 95% CI = 0.65–1.94). Conclusions: The excessive exposure to DMF among migrant workers was attributed not to differences in biological characteristics but to their work environment. Workers must have awareness of the use of protective equipment and knowledge of hazardous chemicals that they may be exposed to, especially at the workplace.
Additives in Children’s Nutrition—A Review of Current Events
Authors: Savin Marijana , Vrkatić Aleksandra , Dedić Danijela , Vlaški Tomislav , Vorgučin Ivana , Bjelanović Jelena , Jevtic Marija
Published: October 2022

Additives are defined as substances added to food with the aim of preserving and improving safety, freshness, taste, texture, or appearance. While indirect additives can be found in traces in food and come from materials used for packaging, storage, and technological processing of food, direct additives are added to food with a special purpose (canning). The use of additives is justified if it is in accordance with legal regulations and does not pose a health or danger to consumers in the prescribed concentration. However, due to the specificity of the child’s metabolic system, there is a greater risk that the negative effects of the additive will manifest. Considering the importance of the potential negative impact of additives on children’s health and the increased interest in the control and monitoring of additives in food for children, we have reviewed the latest available literature available through PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar. Expert data were taken from publicly available documents published from January 2010 to April 2022 by internationally recognized professional organizations. It was found that the most frequently present additives in the food consumed by children are bisphenols, phthalates, perfluoroalkyl chemicals, perchlorates, pesticides, nitrates and nitrites, artificial food colors, monosodium glutamate, and aspartame. Increasing literacy about the presence and potential risk through continuous education of parents and young people as well as active monitoring of newly registered additives and harmonization of existing legal regulations by competent authorities can significantly prevent the unwanted effects of additives on children’s health.
Nutritional Status Indicators as Predictors of Postoperative Complications in the Elderly with Gastrointestinal Cancer
Authors: Ścisło Lucyna , Bodys-Cupak Iwona , Walewska Elżbieta , Kózka Maria
Published: October 2022

In patients scheduled for surgery, nutritional disorders worsen during the perioperative period, which is often a risk factor for postoperative complications. The aim of the study was to determine relationship between the preoperative nutritional status of elderly people with stomach, pancreatic and colon cancer and the incidence of postoperative complications and the length of hospital stay. The study included 143 patients with gastrointestinal cancer, aged 65–68, qualified for surgery. Mini Nutritional Assessment, body mass index questionnaires and medical records were used. Malnutrition was found in 9.8%, and a risk of malnutrition in 53.5% of the respondents. Body mass index showed overweight in 28% and obesity in 14% of the patients. Complications occurred in all types of nutritional status, the most common were those requiring intensive care unit treatment (36.8%), pancreatic and biliary fistulas (29.4%) and surgical site infections (58.2%). Gastric cancer patients at risk of malnutrition stayed longer in the hospital. Postoperative complications and longer hospital stays were observed more frequently in cases of overweight, obesity, malnutrition and its risk. Disturbances in the nutritional status, in the form of malnutrition and its risk, as well as overweight and obesity, determined more frequent occurrence of postoperative complications and longer hospital stay.
Differences in and Factors Related to Willingness to Provide Care to Patients with Suspected or Confirmed COVID-19 in Long-Term Care Facilities
Authors: Yu Jia-Rong , Lin Lan-Ping , Lin Jin-Ding
Published: October 2022

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has exerted tremendous effects on the residents of and caregivers at long-term care facilities (LTCF). The combination of a vulnerable, aged population, staffing shortages, and inadequate resources in LTCF will cause a great negative impact in these sectors. Addressing the caregiver’s lack of interest in providing care for patients with COVID-19 is a great challenge for institutional managers. The primary objective of this study was to analyze the factors related to the willingness of personnel at LTCF to provide care to patients with COVID-19. This was a cross-sectional study in which personnel from 10 LTCF were recruited as participants through convenience sampling and completed structured questionnaires. A total of 500 questionnaires were distributed and 385 valid questionnaires were recovered, posting a response rate of 77%. A statistical analysis was performed using SPSS 22.0. The results of the survey revealed that only 30% of the participants were willing to provide care to patients with COVID-19; 23% more of the participants were willing to provide such care if their institutions provided sufficient PPE. Regarding other conditions, 31.5% and 76% of the participants expressed that they would be willing to provide such care if their compensation were increased and working hours were reduced. In the univariate analysis, the willingness of participants with different characteristics (job categories, years of holding a professional certificate, job location type, monthly income, experience with caring for patients with confirmed COVID-19, and completion of training related to communicable disease control) varied significantly (p < 0.05). Furthermore, in the logistic regression analysis, several demographic and professional characteristics (education level, job category, number of patients served daily, and monthly income) were significantly correlated with willingness to provide care to patients with COVID-19 (p < 0.05). On the basis of these findings, the LTCF should securitize the associated factors of care wiliness in personnel to eliminate the difference of the willingness to provide care to patients with suspected or confirmed COVID-19.