bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Electrocardiogram (ECG)-Based User Authentication Using Deep Learning Algorithms
Authors: Agrawal Vibhav , Hazratifard Mehdi , Elmiligi Haytham , Gebali Fayez
Published: January 2023

Personal authentication security is an essential area of research in privacy and cybersecurity. For individual verification, fingerprint and facial recognition have proved particularly useful. However, such technologies have flaws such as fingerprint fabrication and external impediments. Different AI-based technologies have been proposed to overcome forging or impersonating authentication concerns. Electrocardiogram (ECG)-based user authentication has recently attracted considerable curiosity from researchers. The Electrocardiogram is among the most reliable advanced techniques for authentication since, unlike other biometrics, it confirms that the individual is real and alive. This study utilizes a user authentication system based on electrocardiography (ECG) signals using deep learning algorithms. The ECG data are collected from users to create a unique biometric profile for each individual. The proposed methodology utilizes Convolutional Neural Networks (CNNs) and Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) to analyze the ECG data. The CNNs are trained to extract features from the ECG data, while the LSTM networks are used to model the temporal dependencies in the data. The evaluation of the performance of the proposed system is conducted through experiments. It demonstrates that it effectively identifies users based on their ECG data, achieving high accuracy rates. The suggested techniques obtained an overall accuracy of 98.34% for CNN and 99.69% for LSTM using the Physikalisch–Technische Bundesanstalt (PTB) database. Overall, the proposed system offers a secure and convenient method for user authentication using ECG data and deep learning algorithms. The approach has the potential to provide a secure and convenient method for user authentication in various applications.
Invasive Pulmonary Aspergillosis: Not Only a Disease Affecting Immunosuppressed Patients
Authors: Zaragoza Rafael , Sole-Violan Jordi , Cusack Rachel , Rodriguez Alejandro , Reyes Luis Felipe , Martin-Loeches Ignacio
Published: January 2023

Fungal infections have become a common threat in Intensive Care Units (ICU). The epidemiology of invasive fungal diseases (IFD) has been extensively studied in patients severely immunosuppressed over the last 20–30 years, however, the type of patients that have been admitted to hospitals in the last decade has made the healthcare system and ICU a different setting with more vulnerable hosts. Patients admitted to an ICU tend to have older age and higher severity of disease. Moreover, the number of patients being treated in ICU are often immunosuppressed as a result of the widespread use of immunomodulatory agents, such as corticosteroids, chemotherapy, and biological agents. The development of Invasive Pulmonary aspergillosis (IPA) reflects a different clinical trajectory to affected patients. The increasing use of corticosteroids would probably explain the higher incidence of IPA especially in critically ill patients. In refractory septic shock, severe community-acquired pneumonia (SCAP), and acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), the use of corticosteroids has re-emerged in order to decrease unacceptably high mortality rates associated with these clinical conditions. It is also pertinent to note that different reports have used different diagnosis criteria, and this might explain the different incidence rates. Another layer of complexity to better understand current IPA data is related to more aggressive acquisition of samples through invasive respiratory examinations.
Investigating Public–Private Cooperation in Migrant Labor Market Integration: A System Dynamics Study to Explore the Challenge for Greece
Authors: Blouchoutzi Anastasia , Tsaples Georgios , Manou Dimitra , Papathanasiou Jason
Published: January 2023

Migrant labor market integration is vital for the resilience of the host country and the migrant population’s sustainable livelihood. Greece, which hosts thousands of new immigrants, could seize the private sector’s experience to offer effective and holistic labor market integration opportunities to its migrant labor force. This paper explored the challenge for Greece as examined using a system dynamics methodology of the effects of wage subsidies and vocational training products on the employability of both the native and migrant populations in a framework of public–private cooperation under different scenarios and external factors.
Static Gesture Recognition Algorithm Based on Improved YOLOv5s
Authors: Wu Shengwang , Li Zhongmin , Li Shiji , Liu Qiang , Wu Weiyu
Published: January 2023

With the government’s increasing support for the virtual reality (VR)/augmented reality (AR) industry, it has developed rapidly in recent years. Gesture recognition, as an important human-computer interaction method in VR/AR technology, is widely used in the field of virtual reality. The current static gesture recognition technology has several shortcomings, such as low recognition accuracy and low recognition speed. A static gesture recognition algorithm based on improved YOLOv5s is proposed to address these issues. The content-aware re-assembly of features (CARAFE) is used to replace the nearest neighbor up-sampling method in YOLOv5s to make full use of the semantic information in the feature map and improve the recognition accuracy of the model for gesture regions. The adaptive spatial feature fusion (ASFF) method is introduced to filter out useless information and retain useful information for efficient feature fusion. The bottleneck transformer method is initially introduced into the gesture recognition task, reducing the number of model parameters and increasing the accuracy while accelerating the inference speed. The improved algorithm achieved an mAP(mean average precision) of 96.8%, a 3.1% improvement in average accuracy compared with the original YOLOv5s algorithm; the confidence level of the actual detection results was higher than the original algorithm.
Charge Transport Mechanism in the Forming-Free Memristor Based on PECVD Silicon Oxynitride
Authors: Gismatulin Andrei A. , Kamaev Gennadiy N. , Volodin Vladimir A. , Gritsenko Vladimir A.
Published: January 2023

A memristor is a new generation memory that merges dynamic random access memory and flash properties. In addition, it can be used in neuromorphic electronics. The advantage of silicon oxynitride, as an active memristor layer, over other dielectrics it is compatibility with silicon technology. It is expected that SiNxOy-based memristors will combine the advantages of memristors based on nonstoichiometric silicon oxides and silicon nitrides. In the present work, the plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD) method was used to fabricate a silicon oxynitride-based memristor. The memristor leakage currents determine its power consumption. To minimize the power consumption, it is required to study the charge transport mechanism in the memristor in the high-resistance state and low-resistance state. The charge transport mechanism in the PECVD silicon oxynitride-based memristor in high and low resistance states cannot be described by the Schottky effect, thermally assisted tunneling model, Frenkel effect model of Coulomb isolated trap ionization, Hill–Adachi model of overlapping Coulomb potentials, Makram–Ebeid and Lannoo model of multiphonon isolated trap ionization, Nasyrov–Gritsenko model of phonon-assisted tunneling between traps, or the Shklovskii–Efros percolation model. The charge transport in the forming-free PECVD SiO0.9N0.6-based memristor in high and low resistance states is described by the space charge limited current model. The trap parameters responsible for the charge transport in various memristor states are determined. For the high-resistance state, the trap ionization energy W is 0.35 eV, and the trap concentration Nd is 1.7 × 1019 cm−3; for the low-resistance state, the trap ionization energy W is 0.01 eV, and the trap concentration Nt is 4.6 × 1017 cm−3.
Aperture-Level Simultaneous Transmit and Receive Simplified Structure Based on Hybrid Beamforming of Switching Network
Authors: Yi Hongbin , Wei Xizhang , Lin Tairan , Tang Yanqun , Xie Mingcong , Hu Dujuan
Published: January 2023

With the increasing competition for spectrum resources, the technology of simultaneous transmit and receive (STAR) is attracting more and more attention. However, full digital aperture-level simultaneous transmit and receive (FD-ALSTAR) is difficult to implement in a large-scale array with high frequency and bandwidth due to its high hardware cost and high power consumption. Therefore, this paper combines FD-ALSTAR with hybrid beamforming technology and proposes two categories and four types of aperture-level simultaneous transmit and receive simplified structures based on hybrid beamforming to reduce the number of RF links (NRF), hardware cost, and operation power consumption. In view of the complexity of the hardware of the fully connected hybrid beamforming structure and the low amplitude and phase control accuracy of the partially connected hybrid beamforming structure, an aperture-level simultaneous transmit and receive simplified structure based on hybrid beamforming of switching network (HBF-SN-ALSTAR) is proposed, and the mathematical model is established. The simulation results show that the simplified structure proposed in this paper can effectively reduce the NRF and power consumption, increase system redundancy, and improve system reliability. In a 144 × 144 antenna array, under the condition that NRF = 16 of HBF-SN-ALSTAR, that is, 1/9 of the number of FD-ALSTAR RF links, the effective isotropic isolation (EII) of the system is only 17 dB less than that of the FD-ALSTAR. The experimental results fully prove the effectiveness of the simplified structure.
Functional Mapping of the Brain for Brain–Computer Interfacing: A Review
Authors: Singh Satya P. , Mishra Sachin , Gupta Sukrit , Padmanabhan Parasuraman , Jia Lu , Colin Teo Kok Ann , Tsai Yeo Tseng , Kejia Teo , Sankarapillai Pramod , Mohan Anand , Gulyás Balázs
Published: January 2023

Brain–computer interfacing has been applied in a range of domains including rehabilitation, neuro-prosthetics, and neurofeedback. Neuroimaging techniques provide insight into the structural and functional aspects of the brain. There is a need to identify, map and understand the various structural areas of the brain together with their functionally active roles for the accurate and efficient design of a brain–computer interface. In this review, the functionally active areas of the brain are reviewed by analyzing the research available in the literature on brain–computer interfacing in conjunction with neuroimaging experiments. This review first provides an overview of various approaches of brain–computer interfacing and basic components in the BCI system and then discuss active functional areas of the brain being utilized in non-invasive brain–computer interfacing performed with hemodynamic signals and electrophysiological recording-based signals. This paper also discusses various challenges and limitations in BCI becoming accessible to a novice user, including security issues in the BCI system, effective ways to overcome those issues, and design implementations.
Investigation on a Shutdown Control Strategy with Residual Oxygen Rapid Elimination for Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell System
Authors: Fan Jing , Yang Yanbo , Ma Tiancai , Zhu Dong , Xu Xinru
Published: January 2023

During the shutdown process of the fuel cell system for vehicles, the air entering the anode chamber can form the hydrogen/air interface, accelerating the carbon corrosion of the catalytic layer. According to optimized control strategies, the carbon corrosion of fuel cells can be reduced. Nowadays, the main control strategies include gas purging and the consumption of residual oxygen in the stack by the auxiliary load. However, the oxygen in the fuel cell stack cannot be fully consumed or can cause the single-cell voltage to rise to 0.8 V with an inappropriate discharge current drop rate and auxiliary load resistance value, thus affecting the protective effect of the shutdown strategy. In this work, a shutdown strategy of the fuel cell system is studied. After the experiment, the optimized value of the discharge current drop rate and the auxiliary load resistance were obtained. With the resistance value of 50 Ω and the current drop rate of 7 A/s, the shutdown time of the fuel cell system is 13.5 s and the time of single-cell voltage above 0.82 V in the fuel cell stack is 0.1 s. Thus, the optimized shutdown strategy can reduce the shutdown time.
Review on Test Benches Studying Sliding Electrical Contact and Synthesis of Experimental Results
Authors: Kziazyk Théo , Gavignet Eric , Cornuault Pierre-Henri , Baucour Philippe , Chamagne Didier
Published: January 2023

Sliding electrical contacts are commonly used with a slip ring to collect the current in moving system generators, alternators, or electrical motors. These contacts are also found in electrical transports without batteries, which are mostly supplied by means of a pantograph–catenary system. These systems are fraught with numerous issues. Among them, it is worth highlighting wear and heating, which lead to failures and pre-worn materials. Moreover, with the increase in speed and improvements in technologies and materials, new problems emerge. This is the case with the substitution of the classic copper strip with graphite or copper-impregnated graphite. Multiple works that studied sliding electrical contacts have been achieved recently, some by trying to create a model of the system based on experimental results, and others only based on experimental works and measurements. This paper aims to review articles from this last category by making a synthesis of different test benches used and then by opening a discussion based on different results highlighted by scholars. This discussion is divided into five points that constitute the system inputs. These are the environment, material, normal load, sliding speed, and current. Based on this discussion, a conclusion attempts to evaluate topics where results and trends are commonly established by authors and topics where there is a lack of work or some conflicts in the results or trends between different articles. For this last point, some perspectives are given for further experimental works.
Testing the Feasibility and Dietary Impact of Macaroni Fortified with Green Tea and Turmeric Curcumin Extract in Diabetic Rats
Authors: Hutachok Nuntouchaporn , Koonyosying Pimpisid , Paradee Narisara , Samakradhamrongthai Rajnibhas Sukeaw , Utama-ang Niramon , Srichairatanakool Somdet
Published: January 2023

Macaroni is a commercially available Italian food product that is popular among consumers around the world. The supplementation of green tea extract (GTE) and turmeric curcumin extract (TCE) in macaroni may serve as promising and beneficial bioactive ingredients. We aimed to produce functional macaroni, assess the degree of consumer satisfaction and study the antidiabetic activity in diabetic rats. In this study, macaroni was fortified with GTE, TCE and a mixture of GTE and TCE ratio of 1:1, w/w (GTE/TCE). The resulting products were then analyzed in terms of their chemical compositions, while the degree of consumer satisfaction was monitored and the hypoglycemic and hypolipidemic effects in streptozotocin (STZ)-rats were investigated. GTE/TCE-M exhibited the strongest antioxidant activity (p < 0.05), while phenolics were most abundant in GTE-M. The overall preference for GTE-M, TCE-M and GTE/TCE-M were within ranges of 4.7–5.1, 5.9–6.7 and 6.2–8.2, respectively, in the nine-point hedonic scale. Consumption of these three preparations of macaroni (30 and 300 mg/kg each) neither decreased nor exacerbated increasing blood glucose levels in diabetic rats, while GTE-M (30 mg/kg) tended to lower increased serum triglyceride and cholesterol levels. In conclusion, GTE/TCE-M containing high amounts of bioactive EGCG and curcumin exerted the strongest degree of antioxidant activity and received the highest level of acceptance. Importantly, consumption of GTE-M tentatively ameliorated serum lipid abnormalities in diabetic STZ-induced rats by inhibiting lipase digestion and lipid absorption. Herein, we are proposing that GTE-fortified macaroni is a functional food that can mitigate certain metabolic syndromes.
An Ultrasensitive Lateral Flow Immunoassay Based on Metal-Organic Framework-Decorated Polydopamine for Multiple Sulfonylureas Adulteration in Functional Foods
Authors: He Zixian , Liu Zhiwei , Xie Haihuan , Luo Pengjie , Li Xiangmei
Published: January 2023

Herein, an ultrasensitive lateral flow immunoassay (LFIA), based on metal-organic framework-decorated polydopamine (PCN-224@PDA) was first established to detect multiple sulfonylureas (SUs) in functional foods. The PCN-224@PDA was synthesized using the one-pot hydrothermal method and covalently coupled with SUs antibodies, and the coupling rate was up to 91.8%. The detection limits of the developed PCN-224@PDA-LFIA for multiple SUs in functional teas and capsules were 0.22–3.72 μg/kg and 0.40–3.71 μg/kg, and quantification limits were 0.75–8.19 μg/kg and 1.03–9.08 μg/kg, respectively. The analytical sensitivity was 128-fold higher than that of similar methods reported so far. The recovery rates ranged from 83.8 to 119.0%, with coefficients of variation of 7.6–14.4%. The parallel analysis of 20 real samples by LC-MS/MS confirmed the reliability of the proposed method. Therefore, our work offers novel, ultrasensitive, and rapid technical support for on-site monitoring of SUs in functional foods.
Microsatellite Instability and Aberrant Pre-mRNA Splicing: How Intimate Is It?
Authors: Corcos Laurent , Le Scanf Enora , Quéré Gaël , Arzur Danielle , Cueff Gwennina , Jossic-Corcos Catherine Le , Le Maréchal Cédric
Published: January 2023

Cancers that belong to the microsatellite instability (MSI) class can account for up to 15% of all cancers of the digestive tract. These cancers are characterized by inactivation, through the mutation or epigenetic silencing of one or several genes from the DNA MisMatch Repair (MMR) machinery, including MLH1, MLH3, MSH2, MSH3, MSH6, PMS1, PMS2 and Exo1. The unrepaired DNA replication errors turn into mutations at several thousand sites that contain repetitive sequences, mainly mono- or dinucleotides, and some of them are related to Lynch syndrome, a predisposition condition linked to a germline mutation in one of these genes. In addition, some mutations shortening the microsatellite (MS) stretch could occur in the 3′-intronic regions, i.e., in the ATM (ATM serine/threonine kinase), MRE11 (MRE11 homolog) or the HSP110 (Heat shock protein family H) genes. In these three cases, aberrant pre-mRNA splicing was observed, and it was characterized by the occurrence of selective exon skipping in mature mRNAs. Because both the ATM and MRE11 genes, which as act as players in the MNR (MRE11/NBS1 (Nibrin)/RAD50 (RAD50 double strand break repair protein) DNA damage repair system, participate in double strand breaks (DSB) repair, their frequent splicing alterations in MSI cancers lead to impaired activity. This reveals the existence of a functional link between the MMR/DSB repair systems and the pre-mRNA splicing machinery, the diverted function of which is the consequence of mutations in the MS sequences.
Slope Dynamics in Relation to the Occupation and Abandonment of a Mountain Farm in Þistilfjörður, Northeast Iceland
Authors: Lebrun Julien , Bhiry Najat , Woollett James , Sæmundsson Þorsteinn
Published: January 2023

Extreme weather events such as storms, heavy snow accumulation, rapid snowmelt, and heavy rain have been closely related to slope instability in arctic and subarctic regions. In this paper, we investigate the historical activity of slope processes such as snow avalanches and debris flows in Þistilfjörður, northeastern Iceland, and examine their possible role in the occupation and abandonment of three archaeological sites located on slopes of Mt. Flautafell. The study combines geomorphological and stratigraphical surveys with historical records, notably Jarðabók Árna Magnússonar og Páls Vídalíns and Sýslu og sóknarlýsingar Bókmenntafélagsins Svalbarðssókn. Geomorphological surveys show numerous features that are indicative of active slope movement processes in and around the investigated sites. Our results suggest that the slopes experienced periods of instability during the occupation of these sites. The burial or destruction of some parts of the homefield at the Flautafell farm reveals slope activity, which may also be related, at least indirectly, to the abandonment of the farm at Norður Hús sometime before A.D. 1300. Nearby auxiliary farm installations of Stekkur remained untouched by slope processes even though they are situated in a vulnerable area. Further study and dating of slope processes and farm occupation could allow them to be used as proxies for deteriorating environmental conditions affecting the region.
Toward a Positive Life beyond COVID-19: Problem-Solving Appraisal as a Resistance Resource in the Relationship between Stress and Well-Being in Students
Authors: Pretorius Tyrone B. , Padmanabhanunni Anita
Published: January 2023

The COVID-19 pandemic is a major global stressor that has been associated with elevated risk of negative mental health symptoms. As a helping profession, our main task should be identifying factors that may shield individuals from the negative consequences of stress, rather than only focusing on the causes and symptoms of stress. One such factor, identified in the literature, is an individual’s perception of their problem-solving skills. In this study we investigate the role of problem-solving appraisal in the association between perceived stress and psychological well-being. Participants were students (n = 322) who completed the Problem Solving Inventory, the Perceived Stress Scale, the short forms of the trait scale of the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, and the Beck Hopelessness Scale. The results demonstrate the health-sustaining benefits of problem-solving appraisal, as all dimensions of problem-solving appraisal (problem-solving confidence, approach-avoidance style, and problem-solving control) were directly associated with hopelessness and anxiety. The stress-buffering role of problem-solving appraisal with respect to hopelessness was demonstrated through the interaction between perceived stress and problem-solving appraisal. However, problem-solving appraisal did not buffer the effects of stress on anxiety. The findings indicate that problem-solving appraisal may be an important protective resource that could be beneficial for coping with other negative events and experiences beyond COVID-19. The implications of these findings for interventions are discussed.
Development and Application of a Comprehensive Measure of Access to Health Services to Examine COVID-19 Health Disparities
Authors: Wakeel Fathima , Jia Haiyan , He Lifang , Shehadeh Karmel S. , Napper Lucy E.
Published: January 2023

Research on access to health services during the COVID-19 pandemic is limited, and the conceptualization of access has not typically included access to community resources. We developed and tested an access-to-health-services measure and examined disparities in access among individuals in the U.S. during the pandemic. Data are from a U.S. sample of 1491 respondents who completed an online survey in August 2021. Linear regression models assessed the relationships between the access-to-health-services-measure components, including impact on access to medicine and medical equipment, impact on access to healthcare visits, and confidence in accessing community resources, and predictor variables, including sociodemographic- and health-related factors. Disparities in access to healthcare during the pandemic were associated with sociodemographic characteristics (i.e., race, gender, and age) and health-related characteristics (i.e., chronic illness, mental health condition, and disability). Factors such as race, gender, income, and age were associated with individuals’ degree of confidence in accessing community services. Our study presents a new access-to-health-services measure, sheds light on which populations may be most vulnerable to experiencing reduced access to health services, and informs the development of programmatic interventions to address the salient needs of these populations.
Impact of Plasticizer on the Intestinal Epithelial Integrity and Tissue-Repairing Ability within Cells in the Proximity of the Human Gut Microbiome
Authors: Shum Tim-Fat , Wang Liwen , Chiou Jiachi
Published: January 2023

Toxicological research into the impact of plasticizer on different organs has been reported in the past few decades, while their effects on shifting the gut microbiota and immune cells homeostasis in zebrafish were only studied recently. However, studies on the impact of plasticizer on human gut microbiota are scarce. In this study, we co-incubated healthy human fecal microbiota with different concentrations of Di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) and di-iso-nonyl phthalate (DINP), analyzed microbial composition by 16S rDNA sequencing, and compared the influence of their derived microbiomes on the human enterocyte (HT-29) and murine macrophage (RAW264.7) cell lines. Microbial diversity is reduced by DEHP treatment in a dose-dependent manner. DEHP treatment reduced the phyla Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes ratio, while DINP treatment promoted Proteobacteria. Expressions of tight/adherens junction genes in HT-29 and anti-inflammatory genes in RAW264.7 were down-regulated by plasticizer-co-incubated microbiota derived metabolites. Overall, it is observed that selected plasticizers at high dosages can induce compositional changes in human microbiota. Metabolites from such altered microbiota could affect the tight junction integrity of the intestinal epithelium and upset macrophage differentiation homeostasis in proximity. Chronic exposure to these plasticizers may promote risks of dysbiosis, leaky gut or the exacerbation of intestinal inflammation.
Role-Perceptions of Dutch Spiritual Caregivers in Implementing Multidisciplinary Spiritual Care: A National Survey
Authors: Meurs Jacqueline , Breedveld Roos , Geer Joep , Leget Carlo , Smeets Wim , Koorneef Robert , Vissers Kris , Engels Yvonne , Wichmann Anne
Published: January 2023

Background: During the course of their disease, patients often not only suffer physical discomfort, but also face psychological, social, and spiritual challenges. However, healthcare professionals often lack the knowledge and skills to address the spiritual dimension and are in need of support for taking this responsibility. Spiritual caregivers are experts in spiritual care, but their contribution to the integration of this care by other healthcare professionals is largely unknown. Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate how Dutch spiritual caregivers view their role in increasing the integration of spiritual care in daily healthcare practice as provided by other healthcare professionals in the Netherlands, and how they address this role. Methods: An online survey was conducted from May until June 2021 among spiritual caregivers working in Dutch healthcare. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics. Results: The majority of the 174 respondents answered that they already fulfil a role in the integration of spiritual care by, for example, providing education, coaching on the job, or participating in multidisciplinary consultation. However, the majority of respondents experienced barriers to their contribution, such as confusion of terminology and use of language while collaborating with other healthcare professionals and reluctance to share information. Conclusions: While spiritual caregivers realise having a role in increasing the integration of spiritual care into daily practice of other healthcare professionals, some practices and perceptions, especially from within their own discipline, may hamper this.
Health-Risk Behaviors among Chinese Adults during the COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: Li William Ho Cheung , Ho Laurie Long Kwan , Cheung Ankie Tan , Xia Wei , Song Peige , Chung Joyce Oi Kwan
Published: January 2023

This study analyzed archived data from a previous large-scale survey study on multiple health-risk behaviors among Chinese adults in Hong Kong between 21 June and 31 August 2021. In addition, this study examined participants’ perceptions of the risks associated with their behaviors, their attitudes toward adopting healthy behaviors, and the impact of COVID-19 on their health-risk behaviors. A total of 4605 participants who had at least one health-risk behavior were included in the analysis. The results showed that about half of the participants were unaware that non-communicable diseases (NCDs) can be caused by health-risk behaviors such as tobacco use, harmful use of alcohol, physical inactivity, and an unhealthy diet. More than half of the participants did not have regular body checkups or monitor their physical health at home. Many participants paid more attention to their health due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but few made changes to their unhealthy habits or adopted a healthier lifestyle. Of the 704 smokers, 60.9% did not realize that smoking increases the risk of transmitting COVID-19 to others. Only 32.2% and 11.9% smokers had the intention to quit smoking and reduced their cigarette consumption, respectively. Additionally, 13.6% reported that their daily cigarette consumption had increased, and 78.8% changed their smoking behavior during the pandemic. Healthcare professionals must educate the public about the association between health-risk behaviors and NCDs and between COVID-19 and NCDs. The government should formulate a long-term plan to strengthen the primary healthcare system and address the challenges posed by the rising prevalence of NCDs.
Could Failures in Peer to Peer Accommodation Be a Threat to Public Health and Safety? An Analysis of Users Experiences after the COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: Alonso-Almeida Maria del Mar
Published: January 2023

Peer to Peer (P2P) accommodation has effected a disruptive change in cities and traditional tourist destinations, with considerable growth in the number of customers and hosts offering services worldwide. This growth is not without the problems that arise from service quality failures. Previous research has largely concentrated on positive consumer responses to P2P accommodation, while failures in service have been neglected. Research regarding the impacts of failures on health and safety issues is particularly scarce, especially after the pandemic. Therefore, this research is exploratory in nature and drew on the real experiences of 91 guests worldwide since the beginning the pandemic until 2022. It analyses failures in public health and safety regarding P2P accommodation, classifying them and expanding the categories in order to design recovery strategies to mitigate the negative impacts. The findings provide novel insights that help understand failures in P2P accommodation from a guest’s perspective. Moreover, this research suggests recommendations to platforms and hosts that will help improve the levels of service quality and trustfulness for this type of accommodation.
The Impact of Urban Facilities on Crime during the Pre- and Pandemic Periods: A Practical Study in Beijing
Authors: Zhang Xinyu , Chen Peng
Published: January 2023

The measures in the fight against COVID-19 have reshaped the functions of urban facilities, which might cause the associated crimes to vary with the occurrence of the pandemic. This paper aimed to study this phenomenon by conducting quantitative research. By treating the area under the jurisdiction of the police station (AJPS) as spatial units, the residential burglary and non-motor vehicle theft that occurred during the first-level response to the public health emergencies (pandemic) period in 2020 and the corresponding temporal window (pre-pandemic) in 2019 were collected and a practical study to Beijing was made. The impact of urban facilities on crimes during both periods was analyzed independently by using negative binomial regression (NBR) and geographical weight regression (GWR). The findings demonstrated that during the pandemic period, a reduction in the count and spatial concentration of both property crimes were observed, and the impact of facilities on crime changed. Some facilities lost their impact on crime during the pandemic period, while other facilities played a significant role in generating crime. Additionally, the variables that always kept a stable significant impact on crime during the pre- and pandemic periods demonstrated a heterogeneous impact in space and experienced some variations across the periods. The study proved that the strategies in the fight against COVID-19 changed the impact of urban facilities on crime occurrence, which deeply reshaped the crime patterns.
Nature-Based Therapy in Individuals with Mental Health Disorders, with a Focus on Mental Well-Being and Connectedness to Nature—A Pilot Study
Authors: Joschko Lilly , Pálsdóttir Anna María , Grahn Patrik , Hinse Maximilian
Published: January 2023

In times of social and ecological crises, such as COVID-19 with lockdowns and implementing the impact of climate change, mental health degrades. Being outdoors in nature can be health-promoting, can decrease depression, and increase mental well-being. This pilot study investigated the relationships between nature-based therapy, mental health, and individuals’ connectedness to nature. We hypothesize that nature-based therapy has a positive impact on individual mental health and connectedness to nature. A mixed-method approach was used to evaluate the effectiveness of nature-based therapy for young psychosomatic patients. The results demonstrated improvements in mental well-being and connectedness to nature through therapy. Additionally, depression scores decreased. Patients reported the importance of the therapist setting the space, the supportive environment, the poems that fostered the nature connection, improvement at the soul level, and overall doing something meaningful. Every patient experienced nature-based therapy as effective. To conclude, the study gives a first insight into the processes of nature-based therapy in the German population at work and the effectiveness of nature-based therapy. Further questions, e.g., season effects, longitudinal effects, and whether patients with low connectedness to nature gain more out of the intervention remain unanswered.
COVID-19: Protocol and Checklist for Nursing Care Management at Urgent Care Units
Authors: Orestes Leticia Pereira , Meneguin Silmara , de Leo Aniele , Patini Mayara Salles Gasparini , Santos Bruna Pegorer , de Oliveira Cesar
Published: January 2023

Background: The 24 h urgent care units (24 h UCU) in Brazil are the main pre-admission hospital process of the public healthcare system and constitute an intermediate modality between primary care and hospital care. These units also provide care in cases of less severity that are not considered urgent. This study aimed to create and validate the content of a graphic protocol and checklist for the nursing care management of patients with a suspicion or confirmation of infection by COVID-19 at urgent care units. Methods: A methodological study was carried out in three phases: construct of items and dimensions of the checklist; evaluation of the checklist by specialists for content validation; and construct and content validation of the graphic protocol. Results: The checklist was evaluated by nine specialists. Eight items received suggestions for changes. Items with a content validity index ≥0.83 were maintained. With regard to content validity, despite the satisfactory level of agreement, the specialists suggested some changes in the writing of eight items. The graphic protocol was evaluated by six specialists and had an overall content validity of 0.97. Conclusion: The checklist with 44 items and three dimensions (Management, Biosafety and Care) and the protocol achieved a satisfactory standard of content validity for use at 24 h urgent care units. This protocol can contribute to the standardization and guidance of nursing actions in suspected and confirmed cases of COVID-19 at urgent care units, ensuring safe care based on scientific evidence.
Body Esteem and Self-Efficacy of Pregnant Women with Gestational Diabetes Mellitus
Authors: Bień Agnieszka , Pieczykolan Agnieszka , Korżyńska-Piętas Magdalena , Grzesik-Gąsior Joanna
Published: January 2023

The diagnosis of gestational diabetes mellitus provokes a change in a pregnant woman’s lifestyle, which may affect her well-being and precipitate a sense of loss of self-control over her own body. The perception of “body image” is not only physical appearance and physical attractiveness but also the emotional attitude to the body and beliefs about it. The aim of the study was to analyze the factors affecting body esteem and analyze the relationship between body esteem and self-efficacy in pregnant women with gestational diabetes mellitus. The study was conducted in the period from April 2019 to January 2021 among 287 women with gestational diabetes mellitus with the use of the following research tools: Body Esteem Scale (BES) and Generalized Self-Efficacy Scale (GSES). The explanatory variables for the sexual attractiveness variable were age (β = 0.252; p = 0.006) and education (β = 0.334; p = 0.007), for the weight concern variable were age (β = 0.161; p = 0.005), BMI (β = 0.334; p = 0.005), and education (β = 0.252; p = 0.033), for the physical condition variable, were age (β = 0.096; p = 0.004) and education (β = 0.213; p = 0.006). Positive correlations were found between self-efficacy and body esteem in the aspects of sexual attractiveness (p = 0.350), weight concern (p = 0.296), and physical condition (p = 0.286). Positive correlations were found between self-efficacy and body esteem in the aspects of sexual attractiveness (p = 0.350), weight concern (p = 0.296), and physical condition (p = 0.286). Older women who had better education and a lower BMI rated their bodies better. In women with gestational diabetes mellitus, high self-efficacy determines a better perception of their bodies in all areas: sexual attractiveness, weight concern, and physical condition.
Heavy Metals in Soil around a Typical Antimony Mine Area of China: Pollution Characteristics, Land Cover Influence and Source Identification
Authors: Li Xiaoqian , Tang Yaning , Wang Xinghua , Song Xiaodong , Yang Jiaxue
Published: January 2023

To understand contamination characteristics and identify sources of heavy metals in soil affected by complex mine activities, a detailed survey of soil heavy metals from different land cover types was investigated around the Xikuangshan (XKS) antimony mine in south-central China. Soil samples had average concentrations of Sb, As, Cd, Cr, Hg, Pb, Cu, Zn and Ni exceeding their background level in the Hunan province. Sb, As and Cd were the main pollutants. A total of 86.8% of samples were severely polluted, characterized by the Nemerow’s comprehensive index, and 68.4% of samples were of very high potential ecological risk, primarily contributed by Sb, Cd and Hg. Among different land cover patterns, Hg, Pb and Cd concentrations showed a statistically significant difference. The application of Pearson correlation, principal component analysis (PCA) and hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA) combined with spatial interpolation GIS mapping revealed that Ni, Cr and Cu were mainly from natural parent materials, whereas other heavy metals were related to anthropogenic sources. Pb, As and Hg were mainly derived from smelting processes of sulfide minerals in the XKS area. The agricultural practice is the main factor for the accumulation of Cd and Zn, and sphalerite smelting also contributed to high Zn concentrations. Particularly, spatial variation of soil Sb concentrations was affected by multiple factors of complex antimony mine activities related to mining, beneficiation and smelting in the XKS area. These results are useful for the prevention and reduction of heavy metal contamination in soils by various effective measures in typical regions affected by antimony mine activities.
Impact of Digital Transformation on Enterprise Carbon Intensity: The Moderating Role of Digital Information Resources
Authors: Yang Guoge , Wang Fengyi , Deng Feng , Xiang Xianhong
Published: January 2023

In the context of China’s “digital power” strategy, the realization of a green and low-carbon shift in manufacturing has become a necessary condition to promote the economy, and the digital factor has increasingly become a new driving force. The text mining and IPCC methods were used to measure manufacturing enterprise digitalization and the level of enterprise carbon emission intensity from 2011 to 2021, respectively. This study then explored the impact of digitalization on manufacturing enterprise carbon emission intensity based on the least squares method model and instrumental variable method model. This research comes to three conclusions. (1) Digitalization can significantly reduce the enterprise carbon emission intensity of China’s manufacturing industry, and the influence shows a “marginal increase.” (2) Notably, a mechanism analysis indicates the intermediary effect sizes of four crucial intermediaries: green technology innovation > financing constraint > information asymmetry > energy use efficiency. Interestingly, digital information resources positively moderate the positive effect of digitalization on carbon emission intensity through three paths: financing constraints, green technology innovation, and information asymmetry. (3) The influence shows evident signs of heterogeneity—as environmental regulation, financial development, executive education, and R&D quality advance, the inhibiting effect of digitalization on enterprise carbon emission intensity becomes more pronounced. Finally, corresponding policy suggestions are proposed.
Digital Twin: A Future Health Challenge in Prevention, Early Diagnosis and Personalisation of Medical Care in Paediatrics
Authors: Calcaterra Valeria , Pagani Valter , Zuccotti Gianvincenzo
Published: January 2023

Modern medicine must move from a wait-and-see and remedial system to a preventive and interdisciplinary science that aims to provide patients with personalised and precise treatment planning [...]
COVID-19 Pandemic Impact on the Maternal Mortality in Kazakhstan and Comparison with the Countries in Central Asia
Authors: Zhamantayev Olzhas , Kayupova Gaukhar , Nukeshtayeva Karina , Yerdessov Nurbek , Bolatova Zhanerke , Turmukhambetova Anar
Published: January 2023

Maternal mortality ratio is one of the sensitive indicators that can characterize the performance of healthcare systems. In our study we aimed to compare the maternal mortality ratio in the Central Asia region from 2000 to 2020, determine its trends and evaluate the association between the maternal mortality ratio and Central Asia countries’ total health expenditures. We also compared the maternal mortality causes before and during the pandemic in Kazakhstan. The data were derived from the public statistical collections of each Central Asian country. During the pre-pandemic period, Central Asian nations had a downward trend of maternal mortality. Maternal mortality ratio in Central Asian countries decreased by 38% from 47.3 per 100,000 live births in 2000 to 29.5 per 100,000 live births in 2020. Except for Uzbekistan, where this indicator decreased, all Central Asian countries experienced a sharp increase in maternal mortality ratio in 2020. The proportion of indirect causes of maternal deaths in Kazakhstan reached 76.3% in 2020. There is an association between the maternal mortality ratio in Central Asian countries and their total health expenditures expressed in national currency units (r max = −0.89 and min = −0.66, p < 0.01). The study revealed an issue in the health data availability and accessibility for research in the region. The findings suggest that there must be additional efforts from the local authorities to enhance the preparedness of Central Asian healthcare systems for the new public health challenges and to improve health data accessibility.
Confucianism and Gender Ratios of Suicide in the World: A WHO Data-Based Study
Authors: Wang Wei , Zhang Jie , Thompson Wayne L.
Published: January 2023

This study explores how Confucianism affects suicide rates by gender. Data for the study come from the World Health Organization document “Suicide Worldwide in 2019”, which provides frequency and gender ratios for suicide rates in 183 member countries. One-way ANOVA and multiple linear regression analysis were used to examine potential differences in suicide rates and male to female ratio of suicides. Independent variables include region, income level, culture, and Confucian values that may be related to suicide. Suicide rates for Confucian countries do not show significant differences from European countries. However, these countries have lower suicide gender ratios.
Experience and Perceptions among Older Outpatients after Myocardial Infarction following an Exercise Intervention: A Qualitative Analysis from the PIpELINe Trial
Authors: Raisi Andrea , Piva Tommaso , Myers Jonathan , Zerbini Valentina , Mandini Simona , Zappaterra Tamara , Mazzoni Gianni , Tonet Elisabetta , Pavasini Rita , Campo Gianluca , Grazzi Giovanni , Visintin Emilio Paolo
Published: January 2023

Traditional cardiac rehabilitation (CR) programs effectively improve physical performance and outcomes after myocardial infarction (MI). However, older patients are less likely to participate in such programs. The aim of this qualitative analysis was to investigate experiences and perceptions of cardiac outpatients enrolled in an innovative and exercise-based CR program and to identify possible barriers to improving adherence and quality of life. Semi-structured interviews were conducted on a sample of 31 patients (84% male; age 76 ± 6 years) from the Physical Activity Intervention in Elderly after Myocardial Infarction (PIpELINe) trial, after about six months of the event. Three main themes were identified: Personal feelings after the event; lifestyle change and perception of barriers; and relationships with familiars. Participants perceived sensations of fear at the time of their diagnosis and showed awareness of the importance of following specific health suggestions. They reported a significative change in previous habits and highlighted the need for periodic controls. Few of them felt insecure in carrying out daily activities or practicing exercise and reported an unnecessary protection from the family members. These findings will provide valuable insights for the development of a more feasible patient-centered CR model of intervention.
Regional Differences in Ca2+ Signaling and Transverse-Tubules across Left Atrium from Adult Sheep
Authors: Cros Caroline , Douard Matthieu , Chaigne Sebastien , Pasqualin Come , Bru-Mercier Gilles , Recalde Alice , Pascarel-Auclerc Caroline , Hof Thomas , Haïssaguerre Michel , Hocini Meleze , Jaïs Pierre , Bernus Olivier , Brette Fabien
Published: January 2023

Cardiac excitation-contraction coupling can be different between regions of the heart. Little is known at the atria level, specifically in different regions of the left atrium. This is important given the role of cardiac myocytes from the pulmonary vein sleeves, which are responsible for ectopic activity during atrial fibrillation. In this study, we present a new method to isolate atrial cardiac myocytes from four different regions of the left atrium of a large animal model, sheep, highly relevant to humans. Using collagenase/protease we obtained calcium-tolerant atrial cardiac myocytes from the epicardium, endocardium, free wall and pulmonary vein regions. Calcium transients were slower (time to peak and time to decay) in free wall and pulmonary vein myocytes compared to the epicardium and endocardium. This is associated with lower t-tubule density. Overall, these results suggest regional differences in calcium transient and t-tubule density across left atria, which may play a major role in the genesis of atrial fibrillation.