bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Assessing perception of mattering in a cross-cultural university context: validity and reliability of the Italian and Hungarian versions of the University Mattering Scale (UM-S)
Authors: Matera Camilla , Papp Zsuzsanna Katalin , Paradisi Monica , Pieri Chiara , Catling Jonathan , Nerini Amanda
Published: December 2024

The present study aimed to gather evidence on the validity and reliability of the Italian and Hungarian versions of the University Mattering Scale (UM-S). This 10-item scale assesses university students’ perceptions of mattering across three dimensions: Awareness, Importance, and Reliance. University students from Italy (n = 210) and Hungary (n = 191) completed a questionnaire that included the adapted UM-S, along with measures of societal mattering, social support, well-being, and academic self-efficacy. A confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) supported the three-factor structure of the scale in both contexts. The scale demonstrated high internal consistency, providing evidence of its reliability. Consistent with the original version, both the Italian and Hungarian UM-S showed good discriminant and convergent validity, as evidenced by its association with instruments measuring perceived social support and societal mattering. Additionally, the scale showed strong criterion-related and incremental validity; university mattering significantly predicted students’ well-being and academic self-efficacy, even after controlling for perceived social support. Furthermore, the scale was partially invariant across countries at the scalar level. A comparison of UM-S scores between the two groups revealed that Hungarian students perceived higher levels of university mattering than their Italian counterparts. In conclusion, the Italian and Hungarian versions of the UM-S are appropriate for use in academic contexts to assess students’ sense of being valued by their university. The instrument, having been shown to be both valid and reliable, is suitable for both research and intervention purposes.
AI-powered fraud and the erosion of online survey integrity: an analysis of 31 fraud detection strategies
Authors: Pinzón Natalia , Koundinya Vikram , Galt Ryan E. , Dowling William O'R. , Baukloh Marcela , Taku-Forchu Namah C. , Schohr Tracy , Roche Leslie M. , Ikendi Samuel , Cooper Mark , Parker Lauren E. , Pathak Tapan B.
Published: December 2024

The proliferation of AI-powered bots and sophisticated fraudsters poses a significant threat to the integrity of scientific studies reliant on online surveys across diverse disciplines, including health, social, environmental and political sciences. We found a substantial decline in usable responses from online surveys from 75 to 10% in recent years due to survey fraud. Monetary incentives attract sophisticated fraudsters capable of mimicking genuine open-ended responses and verifying information submitted months prior, showcasing the advanced capabilities of online survey fraud today. This study evaluates the efficacy of 31 fraud indicators and six ensembles using two agriculture surveys in California. To evaluate the performance of each indicator, we use predictive power and recall. Predictive power is a novel variation of precision introduced in this study, and both are simple metrics that allow for non-academic survey practitioners to replicate our methods. The best indicators included a novel email address score, MinFraud Risk Score, consecutive submissions, opting-out of incentives, improbable location.
Essential oil supplementation improves insulin sensitivity and modulates the plasma metabolome of hyperinsulinemic horses
Authors: Loos Caroline M. M. , Zhao Shuang , Li Liang , Li Janet , Han Wei , Vanzant Eric S. , McLeod Kyle R.
Published: December 2024

The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of essential oil (EO) supplementation on insulin sensitivity (IS) and the plasma metabolome in insulin dysregulated (ID) horses. Horses were blocked by degree of IS and assigned randomly to treatment: oral daily bolus (50 mL) of either a plant derived EO supplement or carrier (CON). Mares were housed in dry lots with ad libitum access to grass hay and supplemented individually twice daily with a concentrate to meet nutrient requirements for mature horses. Before and after 6 wks of treatment, mares underwent a combined glucose-insulin tolerance test (CGIT) and an oral sugar test (OST) on separate days. Global metabolome analysis was conducted on plasma samples before and after treatment. Although treatment did not affect (p > 0.4) AUC or glucose clearance during CGIT, there was a treatment*covariate interaction (p ≤ 0.08) for insulin concentrations at 75 min (INS75) and positive phase time (PT) with EO decreasing both INS75 (p ≤ 0.002) and PT (p = 0.05) in horses with more severe initial degree of ID. Similarly, EO treatment reduced (p ≤ 0.006) insulinemic response to the OST in horses exhibiting higher pre-treatment responses (treatment*covariate, p = 0.004). There were 702 metabolites identified that were uniquely changed with EO treatment. Pathway analysis and biomarkers showed EO-mediated changes in amino acid, linoleic acid, mesaconic acid, TCA-cyle intermediates and bile acid metabolism. The directional changes in these pathways or biomarkers are consistent with changes in inulin sensitivity in other models. These data show that EO shifted the plasma metabolome and improved insulin sensitivity in horses.
Isolation and Characterization of Lytic Phages Infecting Clinical Klebsiella pneumoniae from Tunisia
Authors: Mourali Donia , Kazdaghli Rahma , Gara-Ali Marwa , Ben-Miled Houda , Mora-Quilis Lucas , Domingo-Calap Pilar , Ben-Mahrez Kamel
Published: December 2024

Background: Klebsiella pneumoniae is an opportunistic pathogen that causes a wide range of infections worldwide. The emergence and spread of multidrug-resistant clones requires the implementation of novel therapeutics, and phages are a promising approach. Results: In this study, two Klebsiella phages, KpTDp1 and KpTDp2, were isolated from wastewater samples in Tunisia. These phages had a narrow host range and specifically targeted the hypervirulent K2 and K28 capsular types of K. pneumoniae. Both phages have double-stranded linear DNA genomes of 49,311 and 49,084 bp, respectively. Comparative genomic and phylogenetic analyses placed phage KpTDp2 in the genus Webervirus, while phage KpTDp1 showed some homology with members of the genus Jedunavirus, although its placement in a new undescribed genus may be reconsidered. The replication efficiency and lytic ability of these phages, combined with their high stability at temperatures up to 70 °C and pH values ranging from 3.5 to 8.2, highlight the potential of these phages as good candidates for the control of hypervirulent multidrug-resistant K. pneumoniae. Methods: Phage isolation, titration and multiplicity of infection were performed. The stability of KpTDp1 and KpTDp2 was tested at different pH and temperatures. Genomic characterization was done by genome sequencing, annotation and phylogenetic analysis. Conclusions: The ability of KpTDp1 and KpTDp2 to lyse one of the most virulent serotypes of K. pneumoniae, as well as the stability of their lytic activities to pH and temperature variations, make these phages promising candidates for antibacterial control.
Breast Tumor Detection and Diagnosis Using an Improved Faster R-CNN in DCE-MRI
Authors: Gui Haitian , Jiao Han , Li Li , Jiang Xinhua , Su Tao , Pang Zhiyong
Published: December 2024

AI-based breast cancer detection can improve the sensitivity and specificity of detection, especially for small lesions, which has clinical value in realizing early detection and treatment so as to reduce mortality. The two-stage detection network performs well; however, it adopts an imprecise ROI during classification, which can easily include surrounding tumor tissues. Additionally, fuzzy noise is a significant contributor to false positives. We adopted Faster RCNN as the architecture, introduced ROI aligning to minimize quantization errors and feature pyramid network (FPN) to extract different resolution features, added a bounding box quadratic regression feature map extraction network and three convolutional layers to reduce interference from tumor surrounding information, and extracted more accurate and deeper feature maps. Our approach outperformed Faster R-CNN, Mask R-CNN, and YOLOv9 in breast cancer detection across 485 internal cases. We achieved superior performance in mAP, sensitivity, and false positive rate ((0.752, 0.950, 0.133) vs. (0.711, 0.950, 0.200) vs. (0.718, 0.880, 0.120) vs. (0.658, 0.680, 405)), which represents a 38.5% reduction in false positives compared to manual detection. Additionally, in a public dataset of 220 cases, our model also demonstrated the best performance. It showed improved sensitivity and specificity, effectively assisting doctors in diagnosing cancer.
Architecture-Aware Augmentation: A Hybrid Deep Learning and Machine Learning Approach for Enhanced Parkinson’s Disease Detection
Authors: Khedimi Madjda , Zhang Tao , Merzougui Hanine , Zhao Xin , Geng Yanzhang , Djaroudib Khamsa , Lorenz Pascal
Published: December 2024

Parkinson’s Disease (PD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder affecting millions worldwide. Early detection is crucial for improving patient outcomes. Spiral drawing analysis has emerged as a non-invasive tool to detect early motor impairments associated with PD. This study examines the performance of hybrid deep learning and machine learning models in detecting PD using spiral drawings, with a focus on the impact of data augmentation techniques. We compare the accuracy of Vision Transformer (ViT) with K-Nearest Neighbors (KNN), Convolutional Neural Networks (CNN) with Support Vector Machines (SVM), and Residual Neural Networks (ResNet-50) with Logistic Regression, evaluating their performance on both augmented and non-augmented data. Our findings reveal that ViT with KNN, initially achieving 96.77% accuracy on unaugmented data, experienced a notable decline across all augmentation techniques, suggesting it relies heavily on global patterns in spiral drawings. In contrast, ResNet-50 with Logistic Regression showed consistent improvement with data augmentation, reaching 93.55% accuracy when rotation and flipping techniques were applied. These results highlight that hybrid models respond differently to augmentation, and careful selection of augmentation strategies is necessary for optimizing model performance. Our study provides important insights into the development of reliable diagnostic tools for early PD detection, emphasizing the need for appropriate augmentation techniques in medical image analysis.
Angiotensin II Exposure In Vitro Reduces High Salt-Induced Reactive Oxygen Species Production and Modulates Cell Adhesion Molecules’ Expression in Human Aortic Endothelial Cell Line
Authors: Kolobarić Nikolina , Kozina Nataša , Mihaljević Zrinka , Drenjančević Ines
Published: December 2024

Background/Objectives: Increased sodium chloride (NaCl) intake led to leukocyte activation and impaired vasodilatation via increased oxidative stress in human/animal models. Interestingly, subpressor doses of angiotensin II (AngII) restored endothelium-dependent vascular reactivity, which was impaired in a high-salt (HS) diet in animal models. Therefore, the present study aimed to assess the effects of AngII exposure following high salt (HS) loading on endothelial cells’ (ECs’) viability, activation, and reactive oxygen species (ROS) production. Methods: The fifth passage of human aortic endothelial cells (HAECs) was cultured for 24, 48, and 72 h with NaCl, namely, the control (270 mOsmol/kg), HS320 (320 mOsmol/kg), and HS350 (350 mOsmol/kg). AngII was administered at the half-time of the NaCl incubation (10−4–10−7 mol/L). Results: The cell viability was significantly reduced after 24 h in the HS350 group and in all groups after longer incubation. AngII partly preserved the viability in the HAECs with shorter exposure and lower concentrations of NaCl. Intracellular hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and peroxynitrite (ONOO−) significantly increased in the HS320 group following AngII exposure compared to the control, while it decreased in the HS350 group compared to the HS control. A significant decrease in superoxide anion (O2.−) formation was observed following AngII exposure at 10−5, 10−6, and 10−7 mol/L for both HS groups. There was a significant decrease in intracellular adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM-1) and endoglin expression in both groups following treatment with 10−4 and 10−5 mol/L of AngII. Conclusions: The results demonstrated that AngII significantly reduced ROS production at HS350 concentrations and modulated the viability, proliferation, and activation states in ECs.
Immunotherapy in Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer: A Modified Delphi Survey Consensus on First Line Treatment, Special Populations and Rechallenge
Authors: Colonese Francesca , Bulotta Alessandra , Genova Carlo , Signorelli Diego , Bonanno Laura , Proto Claudia ,   Immunotherapy in NSCLC Delphi Panel, Cortinovis Diego Luigi
Published: December 2024

Background: The treatment landscape for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) has evolved significantly with the advent of immunotherapy. Nonetheless, uncertainty regarding optimal first-line treatments, special populations, and the feasibility of rechallenge remains. This study aims to investigate Italian oncologists’ opinions on these aspects through a Delphi Survey. Methods: A steering committee (SC) of six oncologists identified three topics of interest, namely NSCLC (first line) therapeutic choice, NSCLC special populations, and NSCLC immunotherapy rechallenge), and drafted several topic-related statements to be voted in the Delphi Survey by the 61 oncologists forming the Delphi Panel. The survey included two rounds, wherein the experts rated their agreement/disagreement with the statements on a 5-point Likert scale. Consensus was defined as agreement/disagreement by at least 75% of the panel. Results: The SC drafted 69 statements for the first round, of which 16 (23.2%) met the agreement threshold, 5 (7.2%) met the disagreement threshold, and 48 (69.6%) did not reach consensus. The SC revised the latter statements and drafted 37 for the second round. Overall, 5 (13.5%) statements met the agreement threshold, 1 (2.7%) met the disagreement threshold, and 31 (83.8%) did not reach consensus in the second round. Conclusions: The survey showed agreement on the necessity of molecular characterization, mutations, smoke, the role of steroid therapy, and immunotherapy rechallenge, and revealed several areas of uncertainty among Italian oncologists on the use of immunotherapy in NSCLC. Statements—where consensus was not met—can be used to guide future clinical research in resolving the issues.
Coley’s Toxin to First Approved Therapeutic Vaccine—A Brief Historical Account in the Progression of Immunobiology-Based Cancer Treatment
Authors: Devaraja K. , Singh Manisha , Sharan Krishna , Aggarwal Sadhna
Published: December 2024

Cancer immunobiology is one of the hot topics of discussion amongst researchers today, and immunotherapeutic modalities are among the selected few emerging approaches to cancer treatment that have exhibited a promising outlook. However, immunotherapy is not a new kid on the block; it has been around for centuries. The origin of cancer immunotherapy in modern medicine can be traced back to the initial reports of spontaneous regression of malignant tumors in some patients following an acute febrile infection, at the turn of the twentieth century. This review briefly revisits the historical accounts of immunotherapy, highlighting some of the significant developments in the field of cancer immunobiology, that have been instrumental in bringing back the immunotherapeutic approaches to the forefront of cancer research. Some of the topics covered are: Coley’s toxin—the first immunotherapeutic; the genesis of the theory of immune surveillance; the discovery of T lymphocytes and dendritic cells and their roles; the role of tumor antigens; relevance of tumor microenvironment; the anti-tumor (therapeutic) ability of Bacillus Calmette– Guérin; Melacine—the first therapeutic vaccine engineered; theories of immunoediting and immunophenotyping of cancer; and Provenge—the first FDA-approved therapeutic vaccine. In this review, head and neck cancer has been taken as the reference tumor for narrating the progression of cancer immunobiology, particularly for highlighting the advent of immunotherapeutic agents.
Advances in the Study of Anticipatory Postural Adjustments
Authors: Berg William P.
Published: December 2024

Postural stability is critical to the execution of almost any voluntary movement [...]
Nomogram Based on HRV for Predicting the Therapeutic Effects of Orthostatic Training in Children with Vasovagal Syncope
Authors: Du Xiaojuan , Liu Ping , Xiang Dandan , Zhang Chunyu , Du Junbao , Jin Hongfang , Liao Ying
Published: December 2024

Background: This study intended to find out whether the parameters of heart rate variability (HRV) can predict the treatment efficacy of orthostatic training among pediatric cases of vasovagal syncope (VVS). Methods: Patients with VVS who underwent orthostatic training were retrospectively enrolled. Lasso and logistic regression were used to sift through variables and build the model, which is visualized using a nomogram. The model’s performance was evaluated through calibration plots, a receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve, and decision curve analysis (DCA) for both datasets. Results: In total, 119 participants were included in the analysis, and 73 and 46 were assigned to the training and validation datasets, respectively. Five factors with nonzero coefficients were chosen based on lasso regression: age, the root means square of successive differences between normal sinus beats (rMSSD), standard deviation of the averages normal-to-normal intervals in all 5-min segments, minimum heart rate, and high frequency. Drawing from the logistic regression analysis results, the visual predictive model incorporated two variables, namely age and rMSSD. For the training dataset, the sensitivity was 0.686 and the specificity was 0.868 with an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.81 (95% CI, 0.71–0.91) for the ROC curve. For the validation dataset, the AUC of the ROC was 0.80 (95% CI, 0.66–0.93), while sensitivity and specificity were recorded at 0.625 and 0.909, respectively. In the calibration plots for both datasets, the predicted probabilities correlated well with the actual probabilities. According to the DCA, the visual predictive model gained a significant net benefit across a wide threshold range. Conclusions: Pediatric patients with VVS can benefit from orthostatic training using a visual predictive model comprising age and rMSSD.
Is It Possible to Perform Quality Neonatal CPR While Maintaining Skin-to-Skin Contact? A Crossover Simulation Study
Authors: Santos-Folgar Myriam , Alonso-Calvete Alejandra , Seijas-Vijande Adriana , Sartages-Castro Ana , Otero-Agra Martín , Fernández-Méndez María , Barcala-Furelos Roberto , Fernández-Méndez Felipe
Published: December 2024

Background: This study aimed to assess the feasibility and quality of resuscitation maneuvers performed on a newborn over the mother’s body while maintaining SSC and delayed cord clamping. Methods: A randomized crossover manikin study compared standard cardiopulmonary resuscitation (Std-CPR) and cardiopulmonary resuscitation during SSC (SSC-CPR). Nursing students (n = 40) were recruited and trained in neonatal CPR. The quality of the CPR, including compression and ventilation variables, was evaluated using Laerdal Resusci Baby QCPR® manikins. Findings: No significant differences were found in the compression variables between the Std-CPR and the SSC-CPR. The quality variables demonstrated comparable results between the two techniques. The quality of the compressions showed medians of 74% for the Std-CPR and 74% for the SSC-CPR (p = 0.79). Similarly, the quality of the ventilations displayed medians of 94% for the Std-CPR and 96% for the SSC-CPR (p = 0.12). The overall CPR quality exhibited medians of 75% for the Std-CPR and 82% for the SSC-CPR (p = 0.06). Conclusions: Performing CPR on a newborn over the mother’s body during SSC is feasible and does not compromise the quality of resuscitation maneuvers. This approach may offer advantages in preserving maternal–newborn bonding and optimizing newborn outcomes. Further studies are needed to address the limitations of this research, including the use of simulations that may not fully replicate real-life conditions, the lack of analysis of different types of labor, and the unpredictability of the maternal response during resuscitation.
Exploring Digital Stress of Finnish Adolescents and Their Parents
Authors: Siakas Dimitrios , Siakas Niilo , Siakas Kerstin , Lampropoulos Georgios
Published: December 2024

Background/Objectives: The way people communicate has significantly changed due to technological advances and penetration of cell phones and broadband connection into everyday activities. Nowadays, individuals are constantly connected through the Internet. This influences social experiences, self and social identity, and can cause digital stress, which often leads to negative emotions, psychosomatic outcomes, and diseases. It is a matter of concern for the adolescents and their families. This paper investigates how Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) and social media influence adolescents’ and parents’ digital stress and anxiety. Methods: Based on two digital stressors scales, a 30-item questionnaire was created. A quantitative analysis of data deriving from 164 Finnish adolescents and 53 of their parents regarding digital stress was conducted. Results: “Privacy Intrusion”, “Availability stress/Online vigilance”, and “Usefulness” were the most essential stressor factors for both students and parents. Additionally, the most significant stressor factors for students were the “Fear of Missing Out/FoMO” and “Approval Anxiety” factors while for parents were the “Safety/Security” and “Technical Support” factors. No significant differences were observed between the overall digital stress of adolescents and parents. In contrast to the existing literature, no connection between “Connection (Information) Overload” and digital stress was found. Conclusions: This paper contributes to debates regarding the effects of the use of digital resources, ICTs, and social media on processes at school, at work, and at home. The findings of our study confirm and further validate those of previous studies with the exception of “Connection (Information) Overload”, which needs to be further investigated to understand the reasons behind it.
Dysregulation Profile in Preschoolers with Autism Spectrum Disorder: An Italian Multi-Center Perspective
Authors: Conti Eugenia , Calderoni Sara , Guerrera Silvia , Guzzetta Andrea , Palermo Giuseppina , De Giacomo Andrea , Tancredi Raffaella , Vicari Stefano , Turi Marco
Published: December 2024

Background/Objectives: Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a lifelong neurodevelopmental condition characterized by social communication impairments and repetitive behaviors. Recent reports show that one in thirty-six 8-year-old children are autistic, signifying a considerable public health concern. According to previous studies, emotional dysregulation (ED) affects 50–60% of individuals with ASD and includes symptoms such as poor emotional control, heightened reactivity, and a low frustration tolerance. The main aims of the current study are to investigate the prevalence of ED among autistic preschoolers (below 6 years of age) and to assess the impacts of gender and intellectual disability on their emotional dysregulation profile. Methods: Data have been collected from three children’s research hospitals in Italy (IRCCS Stella Maris Foundation, Stella Maris Mediterraneo Foundation, and IRCCS Bambino Gesù). Parents of 825 autistic pre-schooled children (mean age: 39.68 months, SD: 10.51 months) completed a general questionnaire and the Child Behaviour Checklist (CBCL), a reliable caregiver-reported assessment tool which provides a dysregulation profile. Results: A total of 30% of the children displayed a severe-to-moderate ED (emotional dysregulation) profile, with these children exhibiting significantly higher emotional–behavioral problems compared to those without ED. Males with ED exhibited greater emotional reactivity than females with ED. However, no significant relationships were found between ED and age, autism severity (ADOS-2), or intellectual disability. Conclusions: The results underline the importance of early, tailored interventions to face emotional challenges in young children with ASD, potentially improving long-term outcomes for this population.
Multi-Context Strategies and Opportunities for Increasing Levels of Physical Activity in Children and Young People: A Literature Review
Authors: Arufe-Giráldez Víctor , Pereira Loureiro Javier , Groba González María Betania , Nieto Riveiro Laura , Canosa Domínguez Nereida María , Miranda-Duro María del Carmen , Concheiro Moscoso Patricia , Rodríguez-Padín Rocío , Roibal Pravio Javier , Lagos Rodríguez Manuel , Ramos-Álvarez Oliver
Published: December 2024

Background: In today’s society, low levels of physical activity are observed in the child and adolescent population, which can cause numerous pathologies, such as obesity and mental health problems. Objective: This article aims to compile all the contexts and scenarios where it is possible to increase the levels of daily physical activity of children and young people, and which have significant scientific support. Method. To do so, a literature review was carried out examining four key contexts for intervention: school, extracurricular, family, and socio-community. Results: The results indicate that the school context, with strategies such as physical education classes and active breaks, is crucial but insufficient on its own, so it is essential to complement it with interventions in extracurricular, family, and socio-community environments. The involvement of families, access to adequate infrastructure such as parks and green areas, and the responsible use of technology, including active video games and the role of influencers on social networks, are presented as key elements to combat a sedentary lifestyle. Conclusions: It is important to highlight the importance of establishing socio-educational programs that adopt a comprehensive approach to promote physical activity in children and youth, highlighting the scientific evidence that supports the effectiveness of intervening in multiple scenarios. This review concludes that a coordinated approach between different actors (schools, families, communities) is necessary to ensure that children and youth reach adequate levels of physical activity, which not only improves their physical health, but also their mental well-being and cognitive development.
Algorithm for Trajectory Simplification Based on Multi-Point Construction in Preselected Area and Noise Smoothing Processing
Authors: Huang Simin , Yang Zhiying
Published: December 2024

Simplifying trajectory data can improve the efficiency of trajectory data analysis and query and reduce the communication cost and computational overhead of trajectory data. In this paper, a real-time trajectory simplification algorithm (SSFI) based on the spatio-temporal feature information of implicit trajectory points is proposed. The algorithm constructs the preselected area through the error measurement method based on the feature information of implicit trajectory points (IEDs) proposed in this paper, predicts the falling point of trajectory points, and realizes the one-way error-bounded simplified trajectory algorithm. Experiments show that the simplified algorithm has obvious progress in three aspects: running speed, compression accuracy, and simplification rate. When the trajectory data scale is large, the performance of the algorithm is much better than that of other line segment simplification algorithms. The GPS error cannot be avoided. The Kalman filter smoothing trajectory can effectively eliminate the influence of noise and significantly improve the performance of the simplified algorithm. According to the characteristics of the trajectory data, this paper accurately constructs a mathematical model to describe the motion state of objects, so that the performance of the Kalman filter is better than other filters when smoothing trajectory data. In this paper, the trajectory data smoothing experiment is carried out by adding random Gaussian noise to the trajectory data. The experiment shows that the Kalman filter’s performance under the mathematical model is better than other filters.
The Impact of Corporate Social Responsibility on the Use of Earnings Management in the Context of Internal Financial and Macroeconomic Factors: The Case of Lithuania
Authors: Bachtijeva Diana , Tamulevičienė Daiva , Subačienė Rasa
Published: December 2024

Earnings management is a widespread phenomenon in practice, with researchers therefore focusing on trying to understand what motives and factors lead to companies engaging in earnings management. In addition to internal financial and macroeconomic factors, the influence of institutional factors including corporate social responsibility (CSR) has been widely studied in recent years. In Lithuania, there have been no studies on the manipulation of accounting information in socially responsible companies. Therefore, this study aims to identify the impact of CSR on the application of earnings management in the context of internal financial and macroeconomic factors. The results of this study are significant as they not only enable assessing the impact of social responsibility on the application of earnings management in Lithuanian companies, but also the influence of macroeconomic factors such as the gross domestic product (GDP), inflation, foreign direct investment (FDI), average wages, and unemployment, as well as internal financial factors such as leverage, returns on assets (RoA), and the profitability of EBIT. The results show that CSR reduces the use of earnings management, regardless of whether it is accrual-based or real earnings management. Additionally, this analysis demonstrates that, among the internal financial factors, leverage carries the most substantial influence. The higher a company’s leverage, the more inclined that company is to use earnings management. Exploring the impact of macroeconomic indicators, it was found that the GDP, inflation, and unemployment rate have a statistically significant impact on the use of earnings management, albeit only if the firm uses accrual-based earnings management and adopts a profit-enhancing strategy.
Investigating the Relationship Between Leadership for Learning and Student Achievement Through the Mediation of Teacher Performance: A Meta-Analytic Structural Equation Modeling (MASEM) Approach
Authors: Papadakis Stamatios , Kanadlı Sedat , Kardas Abdurrahman , Tülübaş Tijen , Karakose Turgut , Polat Hakan
Published: December 2024

The Leadership for Learning (LfL) framework is often used to investigate the effect of leadership on student achievement (SA). This framework encompasses instructional leadership (IL), transformational leadership (TL), and distributed leadership (DL) qualities that are likely to influence teaching–learning processes at school. The existing literature indicates that LfL can influence both teacher performance and practices and students’ achievement significantly. The current study aims to investigate the mediating role of teacher performance in the relationship between LfL and student achievement using meta-analytical structural equation modeling (MASEM). Correlation values obtained from 60 studies (a total of 36,331 participants) investigating the relationship between these variables were used for the meta-analysis. The findings showed that all three types of leadership affected teacher performance directly, and teacher performance had a direct effect on student achievement. While the effect of IL on SA was mostly indirect, TL and DL were found to affect student achievement both directly and indirectly through teacher performance. Our findings suggest significant implications for not only researchers but also policy-makers and practitioners to improve school performance.
Anesthetic Gases: Environmental Impacts and Mitigation Strategies for Fluranes and Nitrous Oxide
Authors: Anderson William A. , Rao Anita
Published: December 2024

Anesthetic gases represent a small but significant portion of the environmental impact of health care in many countries. These compounds include several fluorocarbons commonly referred to as “fluranes”. The fluranes are greenhouse gases (GHG) with global warming potentials in the hundreds to thousands and are also PFAS compounds (per- and polyfluorinated alkyl substances) according to at least one definition. Nitrous oxide (N2O) is sometimes used as an adjunct in anesthesia, or for sedation, but has a significant stratospheric ozone depletion potential as well as GHG effects. Reducing emissions of these compounds into the environment is, therefore, a growing priority in the health care sector. Elimination or substitution of the highest impact fluranes with alternatives has been pursued with some success but limitations remain. Several emission control strategies have been developed for fluranes including adsorption onto solids, which has shown commercial promise. Catalytic decomposition methods have been pursued for N2O emission control, although mixtures of fluranes and N2O are potentially problematic for this technology. All such emission control technologies require the effective scavenging and containment of the anesthetics during use, but the limited available information suggests that fugitive emissions into the operating room may be a significant route for unmitigated losses of approximately 50% of the used fluranes into the environment. A better understanding and quantification of such fugitive emissions is needed to help minimize these releases. Further cost–benefit and techno-economic analyses are also needed to identify strategies and best practices for the future.
The Mechanism of Relieving Diarrheal Irritable Bowel Syndrome Using Polyphenols from Ribes nigrum L. Based on a Network Pharmacology Analysis and 16S rRNA Sequencing
Authors: Yu Xi , Wang Xiaotian , Liu Xintong , Li Fangfei , Bao Yihong , Chai Yangyang
Published: December 2024

Diarrheal irritable bowel syndrome (IBS-D) is a chronic bowel condition that leads to intestinal dysfunction and is typically accompanied by diarrhea, stomach pain, and abdominal distension. Ribes nigrum L. polyphenols (RNPs), which are natural plant polyphenols, are the subject of this study, which aims to assess their potential in improving IBS-D and to explore the underlying mechanisms through a network pharmacology analysis and 16S rRNA sequencing. Next, mice models of diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel were established, and the mice with IBS-D were treated with RNPs. The effect of RNPs was then evaluated in terms of body weight, abdominal withdrawal reflex (AWR), Bristol score, fecal water percentage, diluted fecal volume, total intestinal transit time, immune index, histopathological observation, and changes in inflammatory factors. Finally, 16S rRNA sequencing and reverse q-RTPCR were utilized to evaluate the components that mediate the impact of RNPs on IBS-D. It was found that when RNP treatment was administered to mice with IBS-D, they decreased the water content in their stools, raised their immunological scores, and decreased the amount of inflammatory substances in their bodies. Moreover, through 16S rRNA sequencing, it was shown that the RNP treatment increased the relative abundances of Bacteroides, Alloprevotella, and Alistipes, which led to the remodeling of gut microbiota. In summary, RNPs significantly improved the conditions of mice with IBS-D by inhibiting the FoxO pathway and enhancing gut microbiota. This study concludes that RNPs could significantly improve the symptoms of mice with IBS-D through these means.
Strategies to Improve Hydrolysis Efficiency of Fish Skin Collagen: Study on ACE Inhibitory Activity and Fibroblast Proliferation Activity
Authors: Chang Cuihua , Ma Yuzhou , Yang Yanjun , Su Yujie , Gu Luping , Li Junhua
Published: December 2024

Collagen peptides play a crucial role in promoting skin elasticity and enhancing joint health, with potential functions to be explored. Enzyme hydrolysis is crucial for the molecular weight and sequence of peptides, influencing the bio-activity. In this study, the angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitory activity and fibroblast proliferation activity of differentially molecular weight peptides derived from dual- or triple-enzyme hydrolysis were compared. Ultrafiltration membrane filtration was used to separate the hydrolyzed prepared collagen peptides into two components based on the molecular size. The results showed that the low-molecular-weight peptide fraction containing peptides with P at the C-terminal, such as KP, RP, and POGP, exhibited high ACE inhibitory activity. The low-molecular-weight peptide fraction obtained through triple-enzyme hydrolysis incorporating ginger protease exhibited the highest ACE inhibitory activity, with an IC50 3.1 mg/mL. In addition, the triple-enzyme hydrolyzed collagen peptides passing across membranes displayed higher migration rates and enhanced collagen synthesis capabilities, containing peptide sequences, such as POGP, POGA, and LPO, potentially promoting fibroblast proliferation. The results would provide practical guidance for the production of collagen peptides with high ACE inhibitory activity and fibroblast proliferation activity, in terms of enzyme processing and highly active peptide separation.
Quantitative Assessment of Volatile Profile and Sensory Perception of Artisan Bread Made in the City of Valencia
Authors: Sanmartín Gemma , Sánchez-Adriá Isabel Elena , Salvador Ana , Prieto Jose A. , Estruch Francisco , Randez-Gil Francisca
Published: December 2024

Artisan bread, known for its simple recipes, natural ingredients, and traditional techniques, has seen a surge in demand, especially following the COVID-19 pandemic. Small bakeries emphasize extended fermentation processes and prioritize sensory qualities in their products. However, the impact of ingredients on the quality characteristics of artisan bread remains underexplored. Here, a set of breads from artisanal bakeries in Valencia, Spain, was characterized. Bread dough pH, total titratable acidity (TTA), and acid content were influenced by flour type and sourdough use, creating different environments for volatile compound (VOC) generation. Over 50 VOCs, including aldehydes, alcohols, acids, and furans, were identified in crumb and crust samples of most artisan bread samples, compared to fewer than 20 VOCs in control industrial bread, where ketones dominated. Whole flours, such as spelt, durum wheat, or T80, along with the leavening agent, affected the abundance of certain volatiles, particularly in the crust. Additionally, the use of spelt or wheat flour impacted crumb texture, while sourdough improved taste intensity, acidity, and crumb color. Finally, certain sensory attributes were also influenced by the presence of hydrocarbons and furans in the volatile fraction of both crumb and crust. Overall, the results provide new insights into the influence of ingredients on the quality of artisan bread and can help bakers refine recipes while maintaining a natural ingredient list. Hence, the work is substantial for the artisan bread industry and consumers.
Association Between Sleep Quality and Duration During Pregnancy and Risk of Infant Being Small for Gestational Age: Prospective Birth Cohort Study
Authors: Zhu Huimin , Liu Xinchen , Wei Min , Gao Rui , Liu Xuemei , Li Xiuxiu , Liu Xuhua , Chen Weiqing
Published: December 2024

Background: Maternal sleep disturbance is a risk factor for adverse outcomes like preterm birth. However, the association of maternal sleep quality and duration with the risk of the infant being small for gestational age (SGA) remains inconclusive, and the specific critical window of vulnerability has yet to be clearly identified. Therefore, this study aims to investigate the effect of maternal sleep quality and duration on the risk of having an SGA infant and to identify the critical window for this association. Methods: One thousand six hundred and seventy-seven participants from the Shenzhen Birth Cohort Study were included. Maternal sleep duration and quality during pregnancy were assessed using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) in early (<19 weeks), mid- (24–28 weeks), and late (32–38 weeks) pregnancy. Multivariate logistic regression analyses were used to examine the association of an SGA infant with sleep duration and quality, along with their specific effects across the different pregnancy stages. Results: The pregnant women with short sleep duration (≤7 h/day) in the early stage of pregnancy appeared to have a higher risk of having an SGA infant (aOR = 1.93, 95% CI = 1.32~2.79). Additionally, poor sleep quality combined with short sleep duration was associated with an even higher risk of having an SGA infant (aOR = 2.08, 95% CI = 1.32~3.23). However, this association was observed only during early pregnancy. Conclusions: The women with short sleep duration were associated with SGA risk, and the early stage of pregnancy might be a particularly sensitive period for this relationship. Addressing maternal sleep problems during pregnancy as part of antenatal care is crucial for reducing the likelihood of having an SGA infant and improving the overall birth outcomes.
Mediating Role of Job Satisfaction in the Relationship Between Leisure-Time Physical Activity and Emotional State of Healthcare Workers: A Cross-Sectional Survey
Authors: Fischetti Francesco , Pepe Ilaria , Greco Gianpiero , Ranieri Maurizio , Poli Luca , Vimercati Luigi , Cataldi Stefania
Published: December 2024

Background: Work-related stress among healthcare employees can lead to burnout, worsened mood, and job dissatisfaction. Although physical activity is known to enhance mood and mental health, its impact on job satisfaction and emotional well-being in healthcare workers is under-researched. This study aimed to explore the associations between leisure-time physical activity (LTPA), job satisfaction, and emotional state and to investigate the mediating role of job satisfaction in the effect of LTPA on the emotional state of healthcare workers. Methods: A self-administered questionnaire, including items on LTPA, job satisfaction, and the emotional state, was distributed to 98 healthcare workers affiliated with the Bari Polyclinic Hospital (Mean age = 46.3; SD = 15.4 years). Composite measures of global job satisfaction and emotional state were extracted by Factor Analysis using the principal components method. The relationship between LTPA, job satisfaction, and the emotional state was investigated through General Linear Model (GLM) mediation models. Results: There was no significant direct effect of LTPA on negative emotional states (β = −0.08, p = 0.37). However, job satisfaction significantly mediated this relationship (β = −0.09, p = 0.04), indicating that engaging in LTPA increased job satisfaction, which in turn reduced negative emotional states. Similarly, LTPA did not have a significant direct effect on positive emotional states (β = 0.06, p = 0.48), but it indirectly resulted in increased positive emotional states through its positive impact on job satisfaction (β = 0.12, p = 0.03). Conclusions: The findings indicate that LTPA indirectly influences both negative and positive emotional states through job satisfaction. Engaging in LTPA enhances job satisfaction, which subsequently leads to reductions in negative emotional states and increases in positive emotional states among healthcare workers. These results underscore the importance of promoting physical activity as a strategy to improve job satisfaction (JS) and the emotional well-being of healthcare workers.
Psychosocial Impact of Quarantines: A Systematic Review with Meta-Analysis
Authors: González Catarina Fabiola González , Navarro Marcelo , Soto Fabiola María del Carmen Helbig , Branco Braulio Henrique Magnani , Avello Daniela , Carmine Florencia , Márquez Álvarez Nicolás , Sandoval Cristian , Landim Síbila Floriano , Leiva-Bianch Marcelo
Published: December 2024

Background: Quarantine is one of the most effective strategies to control outbreaks of communicable diseases. Individuals under isolation or quarantine experience both physical and mental effects. Therefore, given its widespread implementation around the world, it is pertinent to analyze this effect on physical and mental health. The psychosocial impact model, which divides four dimensions into two main points, exposure or protection and positive or negative responses, was used to analyze the psychosocial impact of quarantine. Objectives: The present study aimed to investigate the psychosocial impact of people exposed to or protected from quarantine. Methods: We conducted a search for primary articles in the Web of Science and Scopus databases, and after applying the inclusion and exclusion criteria, we meta-analyzed five of them. Results: Quarantined individuals were more likely to experience anxiety (K = 4; OR = 2.62) and depressive symptoms (K = 6; OR = 1.61) compared to those who did not undergo quarantine. Researchers discuss a twofold increase in the probability of anxiety or depression among those in quarantine. As a result, advancing interventions that reduce this impact is critical for both health and the global economy. Conclusions: In terms of economic variables, the non-moderation of GDP per capita and the moderation of the GINI index stand out, demonstrating that countries must move toward policies that promote the reconstruction of more resilient and inclusive societies.
Barriers to Physical Activity Participation in Children and Adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorder
Authors: Salar Sarvin , Jorgić Bojan M. , Olanescu Mihai , Popa Ilie Danut
Published: December 2024

Background: Children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorders tend to participate in less physical activity. The purpose of this study was to identify barriers to physical activity participation in children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) based on parental reports. Methods: The sample comprised 370 children and adolescents with ASD, aged 8–20 years. Simple random sampling was selected. We designed a questionnaire and used the survey method for data collection. Data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. Results: The results revealed several barriers to physical activity participation: interpersonal barriers were the top priority, followed by friends and peers as well as psychological factors as the second and third priorities. Additionally, family, cognition, management and planning, social and cultural factors, and skills were identified as the fourth through eighth barriers, respectively. Conclusions: Understanding these barriers is crucial for developing effective school- and community-based strategies to promote physical activity participation.