bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Tree Rings of European Beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) Indicate the Relationship with Solar Cycles during Climate Change in Central and Southern Europe
Authors: Šimůnek Václav , Vacek Zdeněk , Vacek Stanislav , Ripullone Francesco , Hájek Vojtěch , D’Andrea Giuseppe
Published: February 2021

The impact of solar cycles on forest stands, while important in the development of the forest environment during climate change, has not yet been sufficiently researched. This work evaluates the radial growth of European beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) in the mountain areas of southern Italy and central Europe (Czech Republic, Poland) in correlation to solar cycles (sunspot number), extreme climatic events, air temperatures and precipitation totals. This research is focused on the evaluation of the radial growth of beech (140 dendrochronological samples with 90–247 years of age) from 1900 to 2019. The time span was divided into the following three periods: (1) a period of regular harvesting (1900–1969), (2) a period of air pollution crisis (1970–1985) and (3) a period of forest protection (1986–2019). The results indicate that the solar cycle was significantly involved in radial growth on all research plots. With regard to the evaluated precipitation totals, seasonal temperatures and the sunspot number, the latter was the most significant. Temperatures had a positive effect and precipitation had a negative effect on the radial increment of beech in central Europe, while in southern Italy, the effect of temperature and precipitation on the increment is reversed. In general, the limiting factor for beech growth is the lack of precipitation during the vegetation season. The number of negative pointer years (NPY) with an extremely low increment rose in relation to the decreasing southward latitude and the increasing influence of climate change over time, while a higher number of NPY was found in nutrient-richer habitats compared to nutrient-poorer ones. Precipitation and temperature were also reflected in the cyclical radial growth of European beech. The relationship between solar cycles and the tree ring increment was reversed in southern Italy and central Europe in the second and third (1970–2019) time periods. In the first time period (1900–1969), there was a positive relationship of the increment to solar cycles on all research plots. In the tree rings of European beech from southern Italy and central Europe, a relationship to the 11-year solar cycle has been documented. This study will attempt to describe the differences in beech growth within Europe, and also to educate forest managers about the relevant influence of solar cycles. Solar activity can play an important role in the growth of European beech in central and southern Europe, especially during the recent years of global climate change.
Evolutionary Genetics of Microbial Symbiosis
Authors: Baldo Laura , Werren John H.
Published: February 2021

Symbiosis is the living together of dissimilar organisms [...]
Additional Effects of Xbox Kinect Training on Upper Limb Function in Chronic Stroke Patients: A Randomized Control Trial
Authors: Ain Qurat Ul , Khan Sara , Ilyas Saad , Yaseen Amna , Tariq Iqbal , Liu Tian , Wang Jue
Published: February 2021

Background: Xbox Kinect-based virtual reality, being a novel approach, has therapeutic benefits in rehabilitation and its use is encouraged in stroke rehabilitation of upper extremities. Objective: Primary aim of the current study is to investigate the additional effects of Xbox Kinect training in combination with routine physiotherapy exercises based on each component of Fugl-Meyer Assessment Scale for Upper Extremity (FMA-UE). Moreover, effect of upper limb rehabilitation on cognitive functions was also assessed. Methods: This study was a parallel arm randomized control trial. Fifty-six participants were recruited and randomly allocated to either an Xbox Kinect training group (XKGT) or exercise training group (ETG). Measures of concern were recorded using FMA-UE, Box and Block Test (BBT), and Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MOCA). Evaluation was conducted at baseline and after completion of intervention at the sixth week. Results: There were significant differences from pre- to post-intervention scores of FMA-UE and BBT (p < 0.001) in both groups, whereas no difference was observed for MOCA (XKTG p value 0.417, ETG p value 0.113). At six-week follow-up there were significant differences between both groups in FMA-UE total score (p < 0.001), volitional movement within synergies (p < 0.001), wrist (p = 0.021), hand (p = 0.047), grasp (p = 0.006) and coordination/speed (p = 0.004), favoring the Xbox Kinect training group. Conclusion: To conclude, results indicate repetitive use of the hemiparetic upper extremity by Xbox Kinect-based upper limb rehabilitation training in addition to conventional therapy has a promising potential to enhance upper limb motor function for stroke patients.
An Intercategorical Ecology of Lead Exposure: Complex Environmental Health Vulnerabilities in the Flint Water Crisis
Authors: Liévanos Raoul S. , Evans Clare R. , Light Ryan
Published: February 2021

In 2014, city and state officials channeled toxic water into Flint, Michigan and its unevenly distributed and corroding lead service lines (LSLs). The resulting Flint water crisis is a tragic example of environmental racism against a majority Black city and enduring racial and spatial disparities in environmental lead exposures in the United States. Important questions remain about how race intersected with other established environmental health vulnerabilities of gender and single-parent family structure to create unequal toxic exposures within Flint. We address this question with (1) an “intercategorical ecology” framework that extends the “racial ecology” lens into the complex spatial and demographic dimensions of environmental health vulnerabilities and (2) a multivariate analysis using block-level data from the 2010 U.S. decennial census and a key dataset estimating the LSL connections for 56,038 land parcels in Flint. We found that blocks exposed to LSLs had, on average, higher concentrations of single-parent white, Black, and Latinx families. However, logistic regression results indicate that the likelihood of block exposure to LSLs was most consistently and positively associated with the percentage of single-father Black and single-mother Latina families, net of other racialized and gendered single-parent family structures, socioeconomic status, and the spatial concentration of LSL exposure.
Long-Term Economic Sustainability of Humanitarian Logistics—A Multi-Level and Time-Series Data Envelopment Analysis
Authors: Klumpp Matthias , Loske Dominic
Published: February 2021

Although resources are scarce and outputs incorporate the potential to save human lives, efficiency measurement endeavors with data envelopment analysis (DEA) methods are not yet commonplace in the research and practice of non-government organizations (NGO) and states involved in humanitarian logistics. We present a boot-strapped DEA window analysis and Malmquist index application as a methodological state of the art for a multi-input and multi-output efficiency analysis and discuss specific adaptions to typical core challenges in humanitarian logistics. A characteristic feature of humanitarian operations is the fact that a multitude of organizations are involved on at least two levels, national and supra-national, as well as in two sectors, private NGO and government agencies. This is modeled and implemented in an international empirical analysis: First, a comprehensive dataset from the 34 least developed countries in Africa from 2002 to 2015 is applied for the first time in such a DEA Malmquist index efficiency analysis setting regarding the national state actor level. Second, an analysis of different sections in a Rohingya refugee camp in Bangladesh is analyzed based on a bootstrapped DEA with window analysis application for 2017, 2018, and 2019 quarter data regarding the private NGO level of operations in humanitarian logistics.
The Influence of Power on Leisure: Implications for Inclusive Leisure Services
Authors: Lopez Frias Francisco Javier , Dattilo John
Published: February 2021

Many people experience domination as they encounter oppression and marginalization because of power differentials limiting their leisure. We rely on Foucault for guidance to examine connections between power and opportunities for people to be included in leisure and recognize that, like Foucault, we experience privilege. Considering such privilege, we explore power and people connections, scrutinize ways power influences leisure, and examine methods to promote or resist power to increase leisure. Drawing on the analysis of power and leisure, we examine how discourse influences leisure and identify ways to facilitate inclusive leisure. We consider these aspects via Allen’s (1998) modalities of power-over, power-to, and power-with. Analyzing these modalities, we address barriers to leisure associated with power, strategies people use to engage in resistance through leisure, and ways inclusive leisure might occur. We conclude that each person can make positive contributions and offer inclusive leisure.
The Impacts of Illegal Toxic Waste Dumping on Children’s Health: A Review and Case Study from Pasir Gudang, Malaysia
Authors: Ibrahim Mohd Faiz , Hod Rozita , Toha Haidar Rizal , Mohammed Nawi Azmawati , Idris Idayu Badilla , Mohd Yusoff Hanizah , Sahani Mazrura
Published: February 2021

Poor management of hazardous waste can lead to environmental pollution, injuries, and adverse health risks. Children’s exposure to hazardous waste may cause serious acute and chronic health problems due to their higher vulnerability to the toxic effects of chemicals. This study examines an incident of illegal chemical dumping in Pasir Gudang, Malaysia and its potential health impacts on children. The study introduced a risk assessment of possible health-related effects due to chemical contamination based on a real case scenario where quantification of the contamination was not feasible. A literature review and spatial analysis were used as research methods. On 6th March 2019, tons of hazardous waste were illegally disposed into Kim Kim River, Pasir Gudang, Malaysia. They were identified as benzene, acrolein, acrylonitrile, hydrogen chloride, methane, toluene, xylene, ethylbenzene, and d-limonene. As a result, 975 students in the vicinity developed signs and symptoms of respiratory disease due to the chemical poisoning. The findings of this study indicate that more effective policies and preventive actions are urgently needed to protect human health, especially children from improper hazardous waste management.
Spatiotemporal Distribution Characteristics and Driving Forces of PM2.5 in Three Urban Agglomerations of the Yangtze River Economic Belt
Authors: Yan Jin-Wei , Tao Fei , Zhang Shuai-Qian , Lin Shuang , Zhou Tong
Published: February 2021

As part of one of the five major national development strategies, the Yangtze River Economic Belt (YREB), including the three national-level urban agglomerations (the Cheng-Yu urban agglomeration (CY-UA), the Yangtze River Middle-Reach urban agglomeration (YRMR-UA), and the Yangtze River Delta urban agglomeration (YRD-UA)), plays an important role in China’s urban development and economic construction. However, the rapid economic growth of the past decades has caused frequent regional air pollution incidents, as indicated by high levels of fine particulate matter (PM2.5). Therefore, a driving force factor analysis based on the PM2.5 of the whole area would provide more information. This paper focuses on the three urban agglomerations in the YREB and uses exploratory data analysis and geostatistics methods to describe the spatiotemporal distribution patterns of air quality based on long-term PM2.5 series data from 2015 to 2018. First, the main driving factor of the spatial stratified heterogeneity of PM2.5 was determined through the Geodetector model, and then the influence mechanism of the factors with strong explanatory power was extrapolated using the Multiscale Geographically Weighted Regression (MGWR) models. The results showed that the number of enterprises, social public vehicles, total precipitation, wind speed, and green coverage in the built-up area had the most significant impacts on the distribution of PM2.5. The regression by MGWR was found to be more efficient than that by traditional Geographically Weighted Regression (GWR), further showing that the main factors varied significantly among the three urban agglomerations in affecting the special and temporal features.
Promoting Self-Care in Nursing Encounters with Persons Affected by Long-Term Conditions—A Proposed Model to Guide Clinical Care
Authors: Hellqvist Carina
Published: February 2021

Background: Nursing interventions for persons affected by long-term conditions should focus on providing support to enhance the ability to manage disease in everyday life. Many clinical nurses feel they have inadequate training or experience to provide self-management support in a beneficial and structured way. This study explores the process towards independent self-care and management of disease in persons affected by Parkinson’s disease and the support required from healthcare to achieve this. It presents a nursing model to guide nurses in providing self-management support in the clinical care encounter. Methods: The results from three previously published articles investigating a self-management support program for persons with Parkinson’s disease were combined to form a new data set, and analyzed using qualitative thematic analysis. Results: Three separate, but interrelated, themes were identified, which described the process towards self-management of disease as expressed by the participants of the self-management program. Themes describe the factors important for developing and improving self-management abilities and actions. The results were applied to Orem’s Self-care deficit theory to suggest a model of self-management support in the clinical nursing encounter. Conclusion: This study investigated factors important for self-management and highlighted the unique contribution and focus of nursing support to promote independent self-care.
Telephone Emergency Service 142 (TelefonSeelsorge) during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Cross-Sectional Survey among Counselors in Austria
Authors: Humer Elke , Pieh Christoph , Probst Thomas , Kisler Ida-Maria , Schimböck Wolfgang , Schadenhofer Petra
Published: February 2021

Telephone emergency services play an important role in providing low-threshold, anonymous crisis intervention free of cost. The current study aims to examine the mental well-being and perceived stress level of counselors as well as the main topics of helpline callers during the COVID-19 pandemic in Austria. In the current study, 374 counselors were recruited within the Austrian nationwide organization TelefonSeelsorge during the second wave of COVID-19 infection in Austria. The mental well-being (WHO-5) and perceived stress-level (PSS-10) were assessed and counselors were asked about the frequency of different topics thematized by callers and changes compared to pre-pandemic times. Compared to a reference group of the Austrian general population, counselors experienced less stress (13.22 vs. 16.42) and higher mental well-being (66.26 vs. 57.36; p < 0.001). The most frequent topics during the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in Austria were loneliness and mental health. More calls were registered in 2020 compared to 2019 and especially the topics loneliness, mental health, professional activities and relationships were reported to be thematized more often during the COVID-19 pandemic compared to the time before (p < 0.001). The results contribute to an understanding of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on telephone crisis intervention.
Hospitalization Costs of Lower Limb Ulcerations and Amputations in Patients with Diabetes in Romania
Authors: Sima Diana I. , Bondor Cosmina I. , Vereşiu Ioan A. , Gâvan Norina A. , Borzan Cristina M.
Published: February 2021

In this retrospective case-control study conducted in Cluj-Napoca, Romania, we assessed the effect of ulcerations/amputations on hospitalization costs of patients with diabetes. Patients with (Group 1) or without (Group 2) ulcerations/amputations (case-control ratio 3:1) admitted to a single diabetes center between 2012–2017 were included. The effects of hospitalization days, age, duration of diabetes, body mass index and glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) on total costs was explored using a multivariate linear regression analysis, enter model. Overall, 876 patients were included (Group 1: 682, 323 [47.4%] with amputations; Group 2: 194). Median (interquartile range) total expenses in Group 1 were 40% higher compared to Group 2 (€724 [504; 1186] vs €517 [362; 645], p < 0.001). Significant differences were observed between hospitalization costs (p < 0.001), cost of food (p < 0.001), medication (p = 0.044), drugs administered at the emergency room/intensive care unit (p < 0.001) and other expenses (p = 0.003). Hospitalization costs represented 80.5% of total expenses in Group 1 and 76.3% in Group 2. In multivariate analysis, hospitalization days influenced significantly the total costs in both groups (p < 0.001); in Group 2, the effect of HbA1c was also significant (p = 0.021). Diabetic foot ulcers and subsequent amputations most likely impose a significant economic burden on the Romanian public healthcare system.
Lessons from the First Wave of COVID-19. What Security Measures Do Women and Men Require from the Hotel Industry to Protect against the Pandemic?
Authors: Rueda López Ramón , López-Felipe Teresa , Navajas-Romero Virginia , Menor-Campos Antonio
Published: February 2021

The tourism sector in general and the hotel sector in particular face the challenge of managing appropriate security measures to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic. In this sense, it is useful to know which measures are most demanded by the clientele. This research, through non-parametric statistics tests, concluded that women are more demanding than men in relation to the security measures to be taken in hotels. More specifically, this research concludes that women are more demanding than men in relation to a set of measures including ensuring good hygiene conditions, the use of disinfectants, the existence of health and information checks, adapting the establishment to WHO recommendations, obtaining quality certification, measuring temperature, the need to provide information on protocols and measures, and the elimination of physical contact between people. This, as a practical application, makes it possible to know more accurately about the safety requirements of sex-segmented customers in the face of future health crises, allowing tourist managers to offer safer destinations and the hotel sector better health conditions for their clients.
Integrated Human Exposure to Air Pollution
Authors: Canha Nuno , Diapouli Evangelia , Almeida Susana Marta
Published: February 2021

Air pollution is one of the major environmental health problems that people face nowadays, affecting everyone in the world [...]
Sex Differences in the Association between Atrial Fibrillation and 90-Day Adverse Outcomes among Older Adults with Heart Failure: A Retrospective Cohort Study
Authors: Son Youn-Jung , Kim Da-Young , Won Mi Hwa
Published: February 2021

Sex differences in the prognostic impact of coexisting atrial fibrillation (AF) in older patients with heart failure (HF) have not been well-studied. This study, therefore, compared sex differences in the association between AF and its 90-day adverse outcomes (hospital readmissions and emergency room (ER) visits) among older adults with HF. Of the 250 older adult patients, the prevalence rates of coexisting AF between male and female HF patients were 46.0% and 31.0%, respectively. In both male and female older patients, patients with AF have a significantly higher readmission rate (male 46.0%, and female 34.3%) than those without AF (male 6.8%, and female 12.8%). However, there are no significant differences in the association between AF and ER visits in both male and female older HF patients. The multivariate logistic analysis showed that coexisting AF significantly increased the risk of 90-day hospital readmission in both male and female older patients. In addition, older age in males and longer periods of time after an HF diagnosis in females were associated with an increased risk of hospital readmission. Consequently, prospective cohort studies are needed to identify the impact of coexisting AF on short- and long-term outcomes in older adult HF patients by sex.
Heavy-Metal Phytoremediation from Livestock Wastewater and Exploitation of Exhausted Biomass
Authors: Hejna Monika , Onelli Elisabetta , Moscatelli Alessandra , Bellotto Maurizio , Cristiani Cinzia , Stroppa Nadia , Rossi Luciana
Published: February 2021

Sustainable agriculture is aimed at long-term crop and livestock production with a minimal impact on the environment. However, agricultural practices from animal production can contribute to global pollution due to heavy metals from the feed additives that are used to ensure the nutritional requirements and also promote animal health and optimize production. The bioavailability of essential mineral sources is limited; thus, the metals are widely found in the manure. Via the manure, metallic ions can contaminate livestock wastewater, drastically reducing its potential recycling for irrigation. Phytoremediation, which is an efficient and cost-effective cleanup technique, could be implemented to reduce the wastewater pollution from livestock production, in order to maintain the water conservation. Plants use various strategies for the absorption and translocation of heavy metals, and they have been widely used to remediate livestock wastewater. In addition, the pollutants concentrated in the plants can be exhausted and used as heat to enhance plant growth and further concentrate the metals, making recycling a possible option. The biomass of the plants can also be used for biogas production in anaerobic fermentation. Combining phytoremediation and biorefinery processes would add value to both approaches and facilitate metal recovery. This review focuses on the concept of agro-ecology, specifically the excessive use of heavy metals in animal production, the various techniques and adaptations of the heavy-metal phytoremediation from livestock wastewater, and further applications of exhausted phytoremediated biomass.
Cardiac Rehabilitation Based on the Walking Test and Telerehabilitation Improved Cardiorespiratory Fitness in People Diagnosed with Coronary Heart Disease during the COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: Batalik Ladislav , Konecny Vladimir , Dosbaba Filip , Vlazna Daniela , Brat Kristian
Published: February 2021

This study investigated an alternative home-based cardiac telerehabilitation model in consideration of the recommendations for the COVID-19 quarantine of people diagnosed with coronary heart disease (CHD). We hypothesized that using a 200 m fast walking test (200 mFWT) and telerehabilitation would create an effective alternative cardiac rehabilitation (CR) intervention that could improve cardiorespiratory fitness. Participants (n = 19, mean age 60.4 ± 9.6) of the 8-week intervention performed regular physical exercise at the target heart rate zone determined by calculations based on the 200 mFWT results. In our study, the participants were supervised using telerehabilitation. A total of 84% of participants completed the 8-week intervention. No adverse events were reported during telerehabilitation. The study participants noted a significant improvement (p < 0.001) in cardiorespiratory fitness expressed by an 8% reduction in the walking test time (Δ 8.8 ± 5.9 s). Home-based telerehabilitation based on 200 mFWT effectively increased the cardiorespiratory fitness in people with CHD with a low to moderate cardiovascular risk. This was a novel approach in CR during the COVID-19 pandemic. As research in this area is justified, this paper may serve as an alternative method of providing healthcare during the COVID-19 pandemic and as a basis for further upcoming randomized controlled trials.
Effects of Exercise Intervention on Mitochondrial Stress Biomarkers in Metabolic Syndrome Patients: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Authors: Chang Jae Seung , Namkung Jun
Published: February 2021

Metabolic syndrome (MetS) pathogenesis involves oxidative stress associated with mitochondrial dysfunction, which triggers integrated stress responses via various compensatory metabolic modulators like mitokines and hepatokines. However, the regulatory mechanisms underlying the exercise-derived benefits with respect to mitokines and hepatokines (potential MetS biomarkers) are unknown. Thus, we investigated the effects of exercise training on MetS biomarkers and their associations with clinical parameters. In this single-center trial, 30 women with MetS were randomly assigned to 12-week supervised exercise or control groups (1:1) and compared with 12 age-matched healthy volunteers. All participants completed the study except one subject in the control group. Expectedly, serum levels of the mitokines, fibroblast growth factor-21 (FGF21), growth differentiation factor-15 (GDF15), and the hepatokine, angiopoietin-like 6 (ANGPTL6), were higher in MetS patients than in healthy volunteers. Moreover, their levels were markedly attenuated in the exercise group. Further, exercise-mediated changes in serum FGF21 and GDF15 correlated with changes in the homeostasis model of assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) and appendicular lean mass (ALM), respectively. Additionally, changes in serum triglycerides and ANGPTL6 were correlated with changes in leptin. Aberrant mitokine and hepatokine levels can be rectified by relieving metabolic stress burden. Therefore, exercise training may reduce the need for the compensatory upregulation of MetS metabolic modulators by improving gluco-lipid metabolism.
Enablers of Patient Knowledge Empowerment for Self-Management of Chronic Disease: An Integrative Review
Authors: Vainauskienė Vestina , Vaitkienė Rimgailė
Published: February 2021

The non-development of the concept of patient knowledge empowerment for disease self-management and the non-development of the theory of patient knowledge empowerment in patients with chronic diseases, cause methodological inconsistency of patient empowerment theory and does not provide a methodological basis to present patient knowledge empowerment preconditions. Therefore, the aim of the present integrative review was to synthesize and critically analyze the patient knowledge enablers distinguished in the public health management theory, the knowledge sharing enablers presented in the knowledge management theory and to integrate them by providing a comprehensive framework of patient knowledge enablers. To implement the purpose of the study, in answering the study question of what patient knowledge empowerments are and across which levels of patient knowledge empowerment they operate, an integrative review approach was applied as proposed by Cronin and George. A screening process resulted in a final sample of 78 papers published in open access, peer-review journals in the fields of public health management and knowledge management theories. Based on the results of the study, the Enablers of Patient Knowledge Empowerment for Self-Management of Chronic Disease Framework was created. It revealed that it is important to look at patient knowledge empowerment as a pathway across the empowerment levels through which both knowledge enablers identified in public health management theory and knowledge sharing enablers singled out in knowledge management theory operate. The integration of these two perspectives across patient empowerment levels uncovers a holistic framework for patient knowledge empowerment.
The Associations Between Older Driver Licensure Laws with Travel and Passenger Behaviors Among Adults Aged 65 Years or Older (United States, 2003–2017)
Authors: Shen Sijun , Ramirez Marizen , Hamann Cara J. , Morris Nichole , Peek-Asa Corinne , Zhu Motao
Published: February 2021

Introduction: The aging population has been rapidly growing in the United States (U.S.). In line with this trend, older adults’ mobility and transportation safety are an increasing priority. Many states have implemented driver licensure laws specific to older adults to limit driving among the elderly with driving skill decline. Evaluations of these laws have primarily focused on their safety benefits related to older drivers’ fatal crash rate or injury rate. However, very few studies investigated licensure law effects on older adults’ mobility. Objective: The objective of our study is to evaluate the association between older driver licensure laws and older adult daily traveling and passenger exposure. Methods: The 2003–2017 American Time Use Survey (ATUS) data were linked with statewide driver licensure law provisions. Adults aged 55–64 years were used as the reference group to control for the effects of non-licensure-law factors (e.g., economic trend). We used modified Poisson regressions with robust variance to estimate the relationships between licensure law provisions and the likelihoods of older men and women’s daily traveling and passenger behaviors. Results: Laws requiring a vision test at in-person renewal were associated with increased daily traveling likelihood for women aged 75 years or older, primarily as a passenger. Laws requiring a knowledge test were related to a reduced daily overall traveling likelihood for women aged 75 years or older. Conclusions: In general, licensure law provisions are not strongly related to older adults’ mobility, in particular for older male adults. Older female adults’ daily mobility may be more likely to be influenced by the change of licensure laws than older male adults. The existence of gender-based disparities in responding to licensure laws requires future studies to account for the gender difference in estimating the effects of those traffic policies on older adults’ mobility and traffic safety.
Different Responses to Stress, Health Practices, and Self-Care during COVID-19 Lockdown: A Stratified Analysis
Authors: Bermejo-Martins Elena , Luis Elkin O. , Sarrionandia Ainize , Martínez Martín , Garcés María Sol , Oliveros Edwin Y. , Cortés-Rivera Cristian , Belintxon Maider , Fernández-Berrocal Pablo
Published: February 2021

The aim of the present cross-sectional study was to analyze the differential impact of the first COVID-19 lockdown (3 April 2020) on stress, health practices, and self-care activities across different Hispanic countries, age range, and gender groups. One thousand and eighty-two participants from Spain, Chile, Colombia, and Ecuador took part in this study. Irrespective of the country, and controlling for income level, young people, especially females, suffered a greater level of stress, perceived the situation as more severe, showed less adherence to health guidelines, and reported lower levels of health consciousness, in comparison to their male peers and older groups. However, in the case of self-care, it seems that older and female groups are generally more involved in self-care activities and adopt more healthy daily routines. These results are mostly similar between Colombia, Ecuador, and Spain. However, Chile showed some different tendencies, as males reported higher levels of healthy daily routines and better adherence to health guidelines compared to females and people over the age of 60. Differences between countries, genders, and age ranges should be considered in order to improve health recommendations and adherence to guidelines. Moreover, developing community action and intersectoral strategies with a gender-based approach could help to reduce health inequalities and increase the success of people’s adherence to health guidelines and self-care-promoting interventions. Future studies should be addressed to explore the possible causations of such differences in more cultural-distant samples and at later stages of the current outbreak.
Intimate Relationships as Perceived by Adolescents: Concepts and Meanings
Authors: Moreira Isabel , Fernandes Maria , Silva Armando , Veríssimo Cristina , Leitão Maria , Filipe Luísa , Sá Maria
Published: February 2021

Adolescence is a period of great changes and the assumption of risk behaviours at the level of sexuality may have implications for health and well-being. Nowadays, adolescents live free from constraints and prioritise freedom, using their own terminology to label their relationships, it becoming in turn important to conceptualise intimacy relationships from their perspective. Therefore, a qualitative, descriptive, and exploratory study was performed. Participants included 109 adolescents aged 14 and 18 years old from public schools in central Portugal. Data were collected using 12 focus groups and a content analysis was undertaken. These terms attributed to intimate relationships by adolescents are, for the most part, mutual for both genders: crush, friendzone, friends with benefits, making out, dating, and similar in terms of meaning. In an intimate relationship, adolescents give priority to factors such as respect, trust, and love. The fear of loneliness, obsession, and low self-esteem are reasons pointed out by adolescents for maintaining an unhealthy intimate relationship. Adolescents’ knowledge of language about their intimate relationships is essential to establish effective communication and to build intervention programs in the healthy intimacy relationships field.
Porphyromonas gingivalis HmuY and Bacteroides vulgatus Bvu—A Novel Competitive Heme Acquisition Strategy
Authors: Siemińska Klaudia , Cierpisz Patryk , Śmiga Michał , Olczak Teresa
Published: February 2021

Human oral and gut microbiomes are crucial for maintenance of homeostasis in the human body. Porphyromonas gingivalis, the key etiologic agent of chronic periodontitis, can cause dysbiosis in the mouth and gut, which results in local and systemic infectious inflammatory diseases. Our previous work resulted in extensive biochemical and functional characterization of one of the major P. gingivalis heme acquisition systems (Hmu), with the leading role played by the HmuY hemophore-like protein. We continued our studies on the homologous heme acquisition protein (Bvu) expressed by Bacteroides vulgatus, the dominant species of the gut microbiome. Results from spectrophotometric experiments showed that Bvu binds heme preferentially under reducing conditions using Met145 and Met172 as heme iron-coordinating ligands. Bvu captures heme bound to human serum albumin and only under reducing conditions. Importantly, HmuY is able to sequester heme complexed to Bvu. This is the first study demonstrating that B. vulgatus expresses a heme-binding hemophore-like protein, thus increasing the number of members of a novel HmuY-like family. Data gained in this study confirm the importance of HmuY in the context of P. gingivalis survival in regard to its ability to cause dysbiosis also in the gut microbiome.
Early Lipid Raft-Related Changes: Interplay between Unilateral Denervation and Hindlimb Suspension
Authors: Bryndina Irina G. , Shalagina Maria N. , Protopopov Vladimir A. , Sekunov Alexey V. , Zefirov Andrey L. , Zakirjanova Guzalia F. , Petrov Alexey M.
Published: February 2021

Muscle disuse and denervation leads to muscle atrophy, but underlying mechanisms can be different. Previously, we have found ceramide (Cer) accumulation and lipid raft disruption after acute hindlimb suspension (HS), a model of muscle disuse. Herein, using biochemical and fluorescent approaches the influence of unilateral denervation itself and in combination with short-term HS on membrane-related parameters of rat soleus muscle was studied. Denervation increased immunoexpression of sphingomyelinase and Cer in plasmalemmal regions, but decreased Cer content in the raft fraction and enhanced lipid raft integrity. Preliminary denervation suppressed (1) HS-induced Cer accumulation in plasmalemmal regions, shown for both nonraft and raft-fractions; (2) HS-mediated decrease in lipid raft integrity. Similar to denervation, inhibition of the sciatic nerve afferents with capsaicin itself increased Cer plasmalemmal immunoexpression, but attenuated the membrane-related effects of HS. Finally, both denervation and capsaicin treatment increased immunoexpression of proapoptotic protein Bax and inhibited HS-driven increase in antiapoptotic protein Bcl-2. Thus, denervation can increase lipid raft formation and attenuate HS-induced alterations probably due to decrease of Cer levels in the raft fraction. The effects of denervation could be at least partially caused by the loss of afferentation. The study points to the importance of motor and afferent inputs in control of Cer distribution and thereby stability of lipid rafts in the junctional and extrajunctional membranes of the muscle.
COMP and TSP-4: Functional Roles in Articular Cartilage and Relevance in Osteoarthritis
Authors: Maly Kathrin , Andres Sastre Enrique , Farrell Eric , Meurer Andrea , Zaucke Frank
Published: February 2021

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a slow-progressing joint disease, leading to the degradation and remodeling of the cartilage extracellular matrix (ECM). The usually quiescent chondrocytes become reactivated and accumulate in cell clusters, become hypertrophic, and intensively produce not only degrading enzymes, but also ECM proteins, like the cartilage oligomeric matrix protein (COMP) and thrombospondin-4 (TSP-4). To date, the functional roles of these newly synthesized proteins in articular cartilage are still elusive. Therefore, we analyzed the involvement of both proteins in OA specific processes in in vitro studies, using porcine chondrocytes, isolated from femoral condyles. The effect of COMP and TSP-4 on chondrocyte migration was investigated in transwell assays and their potential to modulate the chondrocyte phenotype, protein synthesis and matrix formation by immunofluorescence staining and immunoblot. Our results demonstrate that COMP could attract chondrocytes and may contribute to a repopulation of damaged cartilage areas, while TSP-4 did not affect this process. In contrast, both proteins similarly promoted the synthesis and matrix formation of collagen II, IX, XII and proteoglycans, but inhibited that of collagen I and X, resulting in a stabilized chondrocyte phenotype. These data suggest that COMP and TSP-4 activate mechanisms to protect and repair the ECM in articular cartilage.
Potential Neuroprotective Mechanisms of Methamphetamine Treatment in Traumatic Brain Injury Defined by Large-Scale IonStar-Based Quantitative Proteomics
Authors: Shen Shichen , Zhang Ming , Ma Min , Rasam Sailee , Poulsen David , Qu Jun
Published: February 2021

Although traumatic brain injury (TBI) causes hospitalizations and mortality worldwide, there are no approved neuroprotective treatments, partly due to a poor understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying TBI neuropathology and neuroprotection. We previously reported that the administration of low-dose methamphetamine (MA) induced significant functional/cognitive improvements following severe TBI in rats. We further demonstrated that MA mediates neuroprotection in part, via dopamine-dependent activation of the PI3K-AKT pathway. Here, we further investigated the proteomic changes within the rat cortex and hippocampus following mild TBI (TM), severe TBI (TS), or severe TBI plus MA treatment (TSm) compared to sham operated controls. We identified 402 and 801 altered proteins (APs) with high confidence in cortical and hippocampal tissues, respectively. The overall profile of APs observed in TSm rats more closely resembled those seen in TM rather than TS rats. Pathway analysis suggested beneficial roles for acute signaling through IL-6, TGFβ, and IL-1β. Moreover, changes in fibrinogen levels observed in TSm rats suggested a potential role for these proteins in reducing/preventing TBI-induced coagulopathies. These data facilitate further investigations to identify specific pathways and proteins that may serve as key targets for the development of neuroprotective therapies.
FOXC1 Downregulates Nanog Expression by Recruiting HDAC2 to Its Promoter in F9 Cells Treated by Retinoic Acid
Authors: Xue Hongni , Liu Fayang , Ai Zhiying , Ke Jie , Yu Mengying , Chen Bingxue , Guo Zekun
Published: February 2021

FOXC1, a transcription factor involved in cell differentiation and embryogenesis, is demonstrated to be a negative regulator of Nanog in this study. FOXC1 is up-regulated in retinoic acid-induced differentiation of F9 Embryonal Carcinoma (EC) cells; furthermore, FOXC1 specifically inhibits the core pluripotency factor Nanog by binding to the proximal promoter. Overexpression of FOXC1 in F9 or knockdown in 3T3 results in the down-regulation or up-regulation of Nanog mRNA and proteins, respectively. In order to explain the mechanism by which FOXC1 inhibits Nanog expression, we identified the co-repressor HDAC2 from the FOXC1 interactome. FOXC1 recruits HDAC2 to Nanog promoter to decrease H3K27ac enrichment, resulting in transcription inhibition of Nanog. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report that FOXC1 is involved in the epigenetic regulation of gene expression.
Hypothalamic Microglial Heterogeneity and Signature under High Fat Diet–Induced Inflammation
Authors: Mendes Natália Ferreira , Jara Carlos Poblete , Zanesco Ariane Maria , de Araújo Eliana Pereira
Published: February 2021

Under high-fat feeding, the hypothalamus atypically undergoes pro-inflammatory signaling activation. Recent data from transcriptomic analysis of microglia from rodents and humans has allowed the identification of several microglial subpopulations throughout the brain. Numerous studies have clarified the roles of these cells in hypothalamic inflammation, but how each microglial subset plays its functions upon inflammatory stimuli remains unexplored. Fortunately, these data unveiling microglial heterogeneity have triggered the development of novel experimental models for studying the roles and characteristics of each microglial subtype. In this review, we explore microglial heterogeneity in the hypothalamus and their crosstalk with astrocytes under high fat diet–induced inflammation. We present novel currently available ex vivo and in vivo experimental models that can be useful when designing a new research project in this field of study. Last, we examine the transcriptomic data already published to identify how the hypothalamic microglial signature changes upon short-term and prolonged high-fat feeding.
Oncolytic Virotherapy and Microenvironment in Multiple Myeloma
Authors: Marchica Valentina , Costa Federica , Donofrio Gaetano , Giuliani Nicola
Published: February 2021

Multiple myeloma (MM) is a hematologic malignancy characterized by the accumulation of bone marrow (BM) clonal plasma cells, which are strictly dependent on the microenvironment. Despite the improvement of MM survival with the use of new drugs, MM patients still relapse and become always refractory to the treatment. The development of new therapeutic strategies targeting both tumor and microenvironment cells are necessary. Oncolytic virotherapy represent a promising approach in cancer treatment due to tumor-specific oncolysis and activation of the immune system. Different types of human viruses were checked in preclinical MM models, and the use of several viruses are currently investigated in clinical trials in MM patients. More recently, the use of alternative non-human viruses has been also highlighted in preclinical studies. This strategy could avoid the antiviral immune response of the patients against human viruses due to vaccination or natural infections, which could invalid the efficiency of virotherapy approach. In this review, we explored the effects of the main oncolytic viruses, which act through both direct and indirect mechanisms targeting myeloma and microenvironment cells inducing an anti-MM response. The efficacy of the oncolytic virus-therapy in combination with other anti-MM drugs targeting the microenvironment has been also discussed.
Integrated Analysis of Small RNA, Transcriptome, and Degradome Sequencing Reveals the MiR156, MiR5488 and MiR399 Are Involved in the Regulation of Male Sterility in PTGMS Rice
Authors: Sun Yujun , Xiong Xinguo , Wang Qian , Zhu Lan , Wang Lei , He Ying , Zeng Hanlai
Published: February 2021

A photoperiod- and thermo-sensitive genic male sterile (PTGMS) line is the basic material for two-hybrid rice and is an important genetic breeding resource. Peiai64S (PA64S) is an important germplasm resource of PTGMS rice, and it has been applied to two-line hybrid rice systems in China. Pollen fertility in PA64S is regulated by the temperature and photoperiod, but the mechanism of the fertility transition is unclear. In this study, we obtained the male fertile plant PA64S(F) and the male sterile plant PA64S(S) by controlling different temperatures under long light conditions and used the male fertile and sterile plants to investigate the role of microRNAs (miRNAs) in regulating male fertility in rice. We performed the small RNA library sequencing of anthers from PA64S(S) and PA64S(F). A total of 196 miRNAs were identified—166 known miRNAs among 27 miRNA families and 30 novel miRNAs. In the transcriptome analysis, the Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway analysis of differentially expressed genes revealed significant enrichment in the synthesis and metabolism of fatty acids and some secondary metabolism pathways such as fatty acid metabolism and phenylalanine metabolism. With a comprehensive analysis of miRNA, transcriptome, and degradome sequencing, we identified that 13 pairs of miRNA/target genes regulated male fertility in rice by responding to temperature change, among which the miR156, miR5488, and miR399 affect the male fertility of PA64S by influencing SPLs, the lignin synthesis of anther walls, and the flavonoid metabolism pathway. The results provide a new understanding of PTGMS rice, which will help us better understand the potential regulatory mechanisms of male sterility in the future.
Data Experts as the Balancing Power of Big Data Ethics
Authors: Novak Richard , Pavlicek Antonin
Published: February 2021

In this theoretical paper, we explore Big Data ethics in the broader context of general data ethics, stakeholder groups, demand for governance and regulation, social norms, and human values. We follow and expand on the digital divide, governance, and regulatory theories, and we apply them to many levels and contexts, such as state and society, organization, enterprise governance of IT (EGIT), and data projects, among others. We introduce the new role and responsibility of data experts as an important stakeholder group in the balance of power of Big Data ethics because they simultaneously hold a position in groups of data-rich organizations and data-poor users. We argue that the balancing role of data experts consists of motivation and competence, a sense of responsibility for data ethics, and the possibility and means to influence Big Data issues. Finally, we conclude our research by model mapping the role of data experts in Big Data ethics and proposing them as a balancing power.