bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Application of Ohmic–Vacuum Combination Heating for the Processing of Senior-Friendly Food (Multiphase Food): Experimental Studies and Numerical Simulation
Authors: Joe Sung Yong , So Jun Hwi , Hwang Seon Ho , Cho Byoung-Kwan , Lee Wang-Hee , Kang Taiyoung , Lee Seung Hyun
Published: January 2021

The popularity of senior-friendly food has been increasing as the world enters the age of an aging society. It is required that senior-friendly food products are processed with the new concept of processing techniques that do not destroy the nutritional and sensory values. Ohmic heating can be an alternative to conventional heating methods for processing senior-friendly food with retaining excellent taste and quality because of less destruction of nutrients in the food. In this study, the ohmic–vacuum combination heating system was developed to process a multiphase type of senior-friendly food. Changes in physical and electrical properties of senior-friendly model foods were investigated depending on the experimental conditions such as vacuum pressure intensity and vacuum pretreatment time. Numerical simulations based on the experimental conditions were performed using COMSOL multiphysics. The ohmic–vacuum combination heating method with agitation reduced the heating time of the model food, and non-uniform temperature distribution in model food was successfully resolved due to the effect of vacuum and agitation. Furthermore, the difference was found in the hardness of solid particles depending on the vacuum treatment time and intensity after the heating treatment. The ohmic–vacuum combination heating system appeared effective when applying for the senior-friendly foods in multiphase form. The simulation results matched reasonably well with the experimental data, and the data predicted through simulation could save the cost and time of experimentation.
Characterization of the Oxygen Transmission Rate of New-Ancient Natural Materials for Wine Maturation Containers
Authors: Nevares Ignacio , del Alamo-Sanza Maria
Published: January 2021

Today, there is a trend in enology promoting a return to the use of old natural materials for the manufacture of storage and maturation wine tanks. One of the most sought-after characteristics of these materials is their permeability to oxygen from the atmosphere to improve wines without this being a harmful process. The reference performance in wine aging is, without doubt, the oak barrel for its ability to oxidize wines in a controlled way, thus improving them. It would be possible to mature wines in containers in which the use of wood is not obligatory, as opposed to aging in oak barrels or foudres. This work presents the results of oxygen permeation analysis under test conditions typical of a tank containing wine, using materials, such as concrete and granite. The oxygen permeability of the materials tested was very diverse, typical of natural materials. The results showed that earthenware presents an excessive permeability, not only to atmospheric oxygen, but also to liquids and needs treatment before being used in liquid containers. Claystone and concrete can be impermeable to liquids, but maintain permeability to atmospheric oxygen—making them candidates for use in permeable tanks for wine maturation. Finally, granite has some very interesting characteristics, though thickness control is required when calculating the desired oxygen transmission rate.
A New Approach for the Fractional Integral Operator in Time Scales with Variable Exponent Lebesgue Spaces
Authors: Akın Lütfi
Published: January 2021

Integral equations and inequalities have an important place in time scales and harmonic analysis. The norm of integral operators is one of the important study topics in harmonic analysis. Using the norms in different variable exponent spaces, the boundedness or compactness of the integral operators are examined. However, the norm of integral operators on time scales has been a matter of curiosity to us. In this study, we prove the equivalence of the norm of the restricted centered fractional maximal diamond-α integral operator Ma,δc to the norm of the centered fractional maximal diamond-α integral operator Mac on time scales with variable exponent Lebesgue spaces. This study will lead to the study of problems such as the boundedness and compactness of integral operators on time scales.
Total Tumor Load of mRNA Cytokeratin 19 in the Sentinel Lymph Node as a Predictive Value of Axillary Lymphadenectomy in Patients with Neoadjuvant Breast Cancer
Authors: Peña Karla B. , Kepa Amillano , Cochs Alba , Riu Francesc , Parada David , Gumà Josep
Published: January 2021

Although sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) has proved to be able to diagnose axillary lymph node status safely and reliably, there is still not enough evidence to suggest that it can be used in patients who have undergone neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) for lymph node-sparing surgery. The present study used molecular approaches to determine whether SLNB can be reliably used in patients who have been treated with NAC before SLN surgery, and whether the total tumor load of the SLN can be used as a predictive factor in axillary lymphadenectomy (ALD). We used one-step nucleic acid amplification (OSNA) to analyze a total of 111 consecutive patients who presented operable invasive breast carcinomas and who had been treated with NAC. SLN was positive in 55 patients and the identification rate was 100%. In 9 of these 55 patients, ALD showed that other lymph nodes were also involved. In all of the other 46 patients, the only lymph node to be identified as positive was SLN. Metastasis was not found in any of the axillary lymph nodes in the isolated tumor cell group. The total tumor load, defined as the amount of cytokeratin 19 mRNA copy numbers in all positives SLN (copies/µL), showed three risk groups related to the possibility of positive non-sentinel nodes. OSNA is a diagnostic technique that is highly sensitive, specific, and reproducible and it can be used to analyze sentinel lymph nodes after NAC. Total tumor load may be able to help predict additional metastases in axillary lymphadenectomy.
Telomere Length as a Biomarker for Race-Related Health Disparities
Authors: Selvaraju Vaithinathan , Phillips Megan , Fouty Anna , Babu Jeganathan Ramesh , Geetha Thangiah
Published: January 2021

Disparities between the races have been well documented in health and disease in the USA. Recent studies show that telomere length, a marker of aging, is associated with obesity and obesity-related diseases, such as heart disease and diabetes. The current study aimed to evaluate the connection between telomere length ratio, blood pressure, and childhood obesity. The telomere length ratio was measured in 127 children from both European American (EA) and African American (AA) children, aged 6–10 years old. AA children had a significantly high relative telomere to the single copy gene (T/S) ratio compared to EA children. There was no significant difference in the T/S ratio between normal weight (NW) and overweight/obese (OW/OB) groups of either race. Blood pressure was significantly elevated in AA children with respect to EA children. Hierarchical regression analysis adjusted for race, gender, and age expressed a significant relationship between the T/S ratio and diastolic pressure. Low T/S ratio participants showed a significant increase in systolic pressure, while a high T/S ratio group showed an increase in diastolic pressure and heart rate of AA children. In conclusion, our findings show that AA children have high T/S ratio compared to EA children. The high T/S ratio is negatively associated with diastolic pressure.
Analysis of Transcriptional Changes in Different Brassica napus Synthetic Allopolyploids
Authors: Wei Yunxiao , Li Guoliang , Zhang Shujiang , Zhang Shifan , Zhang Hui , Sun Rifei , Zhang Rui , Li Fei
Published: January 2021

Allopolyploidy is an evolutionary and mechanistically intriguing process involving the reconciliation of two or more sets of diverged genomes and regulatory interactions, resulting in new phenotypes. In this study, we explored the gene expression patterns of eight F2 synthetic Brassica napus using RNA sequencing. We found that B. napus allopolyploid formation was accompanied by extensive changes in gene expression. A comparison between F2 and the parent shows a certain proportion of differentially expressed genes (DEG) and activation\silent gene, and the two genomes (female parent (AA)\male parent (CC) genomes) showed significant differences in response to whole-genome duplication (WGD); non-additively expressed genes represented a small portion, while Gene Ontology (GO) enrichment analysis showed that it played an important role in responding to WGD. Besides, genome-wide expression level dominance (ELD) was biased toward the AA genome, and the parental expression pattern of most genes showed a high degree of conservation. Moreover, gene expression showed differences among eight individuals and was consistent with the results of a cluster analysis of traits. Furthermore, the differential expression of waxy synthetic pathways and flowering pathway genes could explain the performance of traits. Collectively, gene expression of the newly formed allopolyploid changed dramatically, and this was different among the selfing offspring, which could be a prominent cause of the trait separation. Our data provide novel insights into the relationship between the expression of differentially expressed genes and trait segregation and provide clues into the evolution of allopolyploids.
Imagination in Autism: A Chance to Improve Early Language Therapy
Authors: Vyshedskiy Andrey
Published: January 2021

Children with autism often have difficulties in imaginative play, Theory of Mind, and playing out different scenarios in their minds. Research shows that the root of these problems may be the voluntary imagination network that involves the lateral prefrontal cortex and its long frontoposterior connections to the temporal-parietal-occipital area. Previously disconnected visuospatial issues (stimulus overselectivity and tunnel vision) and language issues (lack of comprehension of spatial prepositions and complex recursive sentences) may be explained by the same voluntary imagination deficit. This review highlights the new insights into the mechanism of voluntary imagination, its difference from involuntary imagination, and its unusually strong critical period. Clearer developmental terminology and a better understanding of voluntary imagination have the potential to facilitate communication between therapists and parents, and improve therapy outcomes in children.
Impact of Peer-Led Cancer Education Program on Knowledge, Health Beliefs, Practice, and Self-Esteem Among Pairs of Nepalese High-School Students and Their Knowledge-Sharing Partners
Authors: Poudel Kritika , Sumi Naomi , Yano Rika
Published: January 2021

Raising cancer awareness among adolescents can increase their confidence in identifying cancer symptoms and develop healthy habits. This study tested the effectiveness of cancer education based on a new model among high schoolers. A non-randomized control group pre-post-test design study was conducted among 313 pairs of adolescent students and their knowledge-sharing partners in Lalitpur, Nepal. A baseline test was conducted before the education program, and it was followed up at two weeks and three months. Results were measured using a chi-square test, binary logistic regression, and a two-way repeated-measures ANOVA. There was a significant interaction effect of intervention and time on students’ knowledge, beliefs, self-esteem, and practice, along with a change in some scores of knowledge-sharing partners. Joint assignment supported the idea of diffusion of information within the family and in the neighborhood. The peer group discussion could encourage active learning and help students to participate visibly in problem-solving and reflecting more sustainably. Time constraints, lack of human resources, and support groups, might limit this program’s usage; however, preparing guidelines, and connecting communities, organizations, hospitals, volunteer health workers, and survivors can help make it more sustainable and approachable.
Heart Rate Variability Relates with Competition Performance in Professional Soccer Players
Authors: Malagù Michele , Vitali Francesco , Rizzo Ugo , Brieda Alessandro , Zucchetti Ottavio , Verardi Filippo Maria , Guardigli Gabriele , Bertini Matteo
Published: January 2021

Background: Heart rate variability (HRV) is widely used in professional soccer players as a tool to assess individual response to training load. Different devices and methods are available for HRV assessment. The relationship between HRV and competitive soccer matches performance is not documented. Methods: We monitored HRV in professional soccer players throughout a game season. Measurements were performed with a portable lightweight device in weekly 5 min sessions from which we obtained the value of the square root of the mean squared differences of successive beat-to-beat intervals (rMSSD). Game parameters of run and velocity were collected. Results: Twenty-seven players were monitored with a total of 121 observations. The rMSSD significantly related with the total distance covered (p = 0.036) and with the distance covered running at >15 km/h (p = 0.039) during soccer games. Conclusions: HRV was associated with competition performance in professional soccer players.
Nutritional Characterization and Storage Ability of Salicornia ramosissima and Sarcocornia perennis for Fresh Vegetable Salads
Authors: Antunes Maria , Gago Custódia , Guerreiro Adriana , Sousa Ana , Julião Miriam , Miguel Maria , Faleiro Maria , Panagopoulos Thomas
Published: January 2021

The aim of this work was to study the potential of two halophytes for fresh salads. Sarcocornia perennis (SAR) and Salicornia ramosissima (SAL) plant tips were harvested in May and July, and stored at 4 °C for 14 days. At harvest, mineral analyses (Na, K, Mg, Ca, P, N, Fe, Zn, Cu, Pb and Cd), chlorophyll content, protein, β-carotene and ascorbic acid were performed. Color (CIELab), phenolics, antioxidant activity and microbial contamination were measured at harvest and after 14 days storage at 4 °C, and a taste panel evaluated the products. SAL had generally slightly higher values of vitamin C, phenols and carotenoids than SAR. In SAR after 14 days of storage, the levels of phenols and the antioxidant activity were higher than at harvest, both in May and July. The opposite was observed for SAL. In this case, only the antioxidant activity was higher after 14 days of storage. Microbial contamination was very low, not reaching even half of critical limits. Both halophytes had good nutritional value, being suitable for use as fresh salads which can be stored for up to 14 days at 4 °C. SAR seems to be a better source of antioxidants, Ca and Fe than SAL and has less general quality and nutritional value changes from harvest time through cold storage. Fresh tips of both halophytes showed better appearance and nutritional quality when harvested in the early season (May) than at the end of the season (July).
Can an Incremental Step Test Be Used for Maximal Lactate Steady State Determination in Swimming? Clues for Practice
Authors: Espada Mário C. , Alves Francisco B. , Curto Dália , Ferreira Cátia C. , Santos Fernando J. , Pessôa-Filho Dalton M. , Reis Joana F.
Published: January 2021

We aimed to compare the velocity, physiological responses, and stroke mechanics between the lactate parameters determined in an incremental step test (IST) and maximal lactate steady state (MLSS). Fourteen well-trained male swimmers (16.8 ± 2.8 years) were timed for 400 m and 200 m (T200). Afterwards, a 7 × 200-m front-crawl IST was performed. Swimming velocity, heart rate (HR), blood lactate concentration (BLC), stroke mechanics, and rate of perceived exertion (RPE) were measured throughout the IST and in the 30-min continuous test (CT) bouts for MLSS determination. Swimming velocities at lactate threshold determined with log-log methodology (1.34 ± 0.06 m∙s−1) and Dmax methodology (1.40 ± 0.06 m∙s−1); and also, the velocity at BLC of 4 mmol∙L−1 (1.36 ± 0.07) were not significantly different from MLSSv, however, Bland–Altman analysis showed wide limits of agreement and the concordance correlation coefficient showed poor strength of agreement between the aforementioned parameters which precludes their interchangeable use. Stroke mechanics, HR, RPE, and BLC in MLSSv were not significantly different from the fourth repetition of IST (85% of T200), which by itself can provide useful support to daily practice of well-trained swimmers. Nevertheless, the determination of MLSSv, based on a CT, remains more accurate for exercise evaluation and prescription.
Development and Validation of an Online Survey to Assess Perception of Diabetes Risk and Barriers and Facilitators to Weight Loss Following Gestational Diabetes
Authors: Gray Kristy L. , Grebenshchikova Mayya , O’Reilly Sharleen L. , McKellar Lois , Clifton Peter M. , Keogh Jennifer B.
Published: January 2021

Our objective was to describe the development and validation of a survey investigating barriers to weight loss, perception of diabetes risk, and views of diet strategies following gestational diabetes (GDM). The survey underwent three stages of development: generation of items, expert evaluation, and pilot testing. A content validation index (CVI) was calculated from expert responses regarding item relevance, coherence, clarity, and response options. Experts also responded to the domain fit of questions linked to the Theoretical Domains Framework (TDF). Pilot responders answered the survey and responded to review questions. Six experts in the field of nutrition, midwifery, psychology, or other health or medical research completed the expert review stage of the survey. In the pilot test, there were 20 responders who were women with previous GDM and who were living in Australia. The overall CVI from the expert review was 0.91. All questions except one received an I-CVI of >0.78 for relevance (n = 35). Fourteen of the 27 items linked to the TDF received an agreement ratio of <1.0. Twenty-seven of the 31 pilot questions were completed by ≥90% of responders. Pilot review questions revealed an agreement percentage of ≥86% (n = 12) regarding the survey’s ease to complete, understand, importance, length, and interest level. The final survey tool consists of 30 items and achieved content validation through expert evaluation and pilot testing.
Influence of Meteorological Factors on the COVID-19 Transmission with Season and Geographic Location
Authors: Yang Xiao-Dong , Li Hong-Li , Cao Yue-E
Published: January 2021

The purpose of this study is to investigate whether the relationship between meteorological factors (i.e., daily maximum temperature, minimum temperature, average temperature, temperature range, relative humidity, average wind speed and total precipitation) and COVID-19 transmission is affected by season and geographical location during the period of community-based pandemic prevention and control. COVID-19 infected case records and meteorological data in four cities (Wuhan, Beijing, Urumqi and Dalian) in China were collected. Then, the best-fitting model of COVID-19 infected cases was selected from four statistic models (Gaussian, logistic, lognormal distribution and allometric models), and the relationship between meteorological factors and COVID-19 infected cases was analyzed using multiple stepwise regression and Pearson correlation. The results showed that the lognormal distribution model was well adapted to describing the change of COVID-19 infected cases compared with other models (R2 > 0.78; p-values < 0.001). Under the condition of implementing community-based pandemic prevention and control, relationship between COVID-19 infected cases and meteorological factors differed among the four cities. Temperature and relative humidity were mainly the driving factors on COVID-19 transmission, but their relations obviously varied with season and geographical location. In summer, the increase in relative humidity and the decrease in maximum temperature facilitate COVID-19 transmission in arid inland cities, while at this point the decrease in relative humidity is good for the spread of COVID-19 in coastal cities. For the humid cities, the reduction of relative humidity and the lowest temperature in the winter promote COVID-19 transmission.
Demographic and Risk Factor Differences between Children with “One-Time” and “Repeat” Visits to the Emergency Department for Asthma
Authors: Rangachari Pavani , Chen Jie , Ahuja Nishtha , Patel Anjeli , Mehta Renuka
Published: January 2021

This retrospective study examines demographic and risk factor differences between children who visited the emergency department (ED) for asthma once (“one-time”) and more than once (“repeat”) over an 18-month period at an academic medical center. The purpose is to contribute to the literature on ED utilization for asthma and provide a foundation for future primary research on self-management effectiveness (SME) of childhood asthma. For the first round of analysis, an 18-month retrospective chart review was conducted on 252 children (0–17 years) who visited the ED for asthma in 2019–2020, to obtain data on demographics, risk factors, and ED visits for each child. Of these, 160 (63%) were “one-time” and 92 (37%) were “repeat” ED patients. Demographic and risk factor differences between “one-time” and “repeat” ED patients were assessed using contingency table and logistic regression analyses. A second round of analysis was conducted on patients in the age-group 8–17 years to match another retrospective asthma study recently completed in the outpatient clinics at the same (study) institution. The first-round analysis indicated that except age, none of the individual demographic or risk factors were statistically significant in predicting of “repeat” ED visits. More unequivocally, the second-round analysis revealed that none of the individual factors examined (including age, race, gender, insurance, and asthma severity, among others) were statistically significant in predicting “repeat” ED visits for childhood asthma. A key implication of the results therefore is that something other than the factors examined is driving “repeat” ED visits in children with asthma. In addition to contributing to the ED utilization literature, the results serve to corroborate findings from the recent outpatient study and bolster the impetus for future primary research on SME of childhood asthma.
Do Diabetes Mellitus Differences Exist within Generations? Three Generations of Moluccans in The Netherlands
Authors: Bodewes Adee , Agyemang Charles , Kunst Anton E.
Published: January 2021

Background: Diabetes mellitus (DM) is known to be more prevalent among migrants compared to their host populations. It is unclear whether DM prevalence differs between generations among migrants. We investigated the differences in DM prevalence among three generations of Moluccans, who have been living for over 65 years in the Netherlands, compared to the Dutch population. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, data of a healthcare insurance database on hospital and medication use (Achmea Health Database) were used. The dataset contained 5394 Moluccans and 52,880 Dutch persons of all ages. DM differences were assessed by means of logistic regression, adjusting for age, sex, urbanization, and area socio-economic status. Results: The prevalence of DM was higher in all generations of Moluccans compared to the Dutch. The adjusted odds ratios (AORs) for DM were significantly higher in total group of Moluccans compared to the Dutch (AOR 1.60, 95% CI 1.42–1.80) and across the first and second generation of Moluccans compared to the Dutch (first generation (1.73, 1.47–2.04) and second generation (1.44, 1.19–1.75). Higher AOR were found for first generation men (1.55, 1.22–1.97) and first (1.90, 1.52–2.37) and second (1.63, 1.24–2.13) generation Moluccan women compared to the Dutch. AOR for the third generation Moluccans was increased to a similar extent (1.51, 0.97–2.34), although not statistical significant. Conclusions: Our findings show higher odds of DM across generations of Moluccans compared to the Dutch. DM prevention strategies for minorities should be targeted at all migrant generations in host countries.
Effectiveness of Motor Imagery on Motor Recovery in Patients with Multiple Sclerosis: Systematic Review
Authors: Gil-Bermejo-Bernardez-Zerpa Ana , Moral-Munoz Jose A. , Lucena-Anton David , Luque-Moreno Carlos
Published: January 2021

The effects of motor imagery (MI) on functional recovery of patients with neurological pathologies, such as stroke, has been recently proven. The aim of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of MI on motor recovery and quality of life (QOL) in patients with multiple sclerosis (pwMS). A search was carried out in the following scientific databases: PubMed, CINAHL, PEDro, Scopus, Cochrane and Web of Science, up to November 2020. The grey literature and reference lists of potentially relevant articles were also searched. The Checklist for Measuring Quality and The Cochrane collaboration’s tool were used to assess the methodological quality and risk of bias of the studies. Five studies were included in the systematic review. Findings showed that pwMS using MI had significant improvements in walking speed and distance, fatigue and QOL. In addition, several benefits were also found in dynamic balance and perceived walking ability. Although the evidence is limited, rehabilitation using MI with the application of musical and verbal guides (compared to non-intervention or other interventions), can produce benefits on gait, fatigue and QOL in pwMS with a low score in the Expanded Disability Status Scale.
Sex-Specific Differences in the Toxic Effects of Heavy Fuel Oil on Sea Urchin (Strongylocentrotus intermedius)
Authors: Wang Xuanbo , Ren Hang , Li Xishan , Chen Huishu , Ju Zhonglei , Xiong Deqi
Published: January 2021

The purpose of this study was to explore and compare the sex-specific differences in the toxic effects of water-accommodated fractions of 380# heavy fuel oil (HFO WAF) on the sea urchin Strongylocentrotus intermedius. Sea urchins were acutely exposed to HFO WAF at different nominal concentrations (0%, 10% and 20%) for seven days. The results showed that females had a higher polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) bioaccumulation in gonad tissues and that both the total antioxidant capacity (TAC) and lipid peroxidation (LPO) levels in the gonad tissues of females were much higher than those of males. The PAHs bioaccumulation in gametes indicated that parents’ exposure could lead to a transfer of PAHs to their offspring, and eggs had higher TAC and LPO than sperms. After maternal and paternal exposure to HFO WAF, the frequency of morphological abnormalities of the offspring was increased when compared to the control. Overall, these results indicated that maternal exposure to HFO WAF could cause more significantly toxic effects on sea urchins than paternal exposure could, which could lead to more significantly negative effects on their offspring.
The Perceived Impact of COVID-19 among Treatment-Seeking Smokers: A Mixed Methods Approach
Authors: Rosoff-Verbit Zoe , Logue-Chamberlain Erin , Fishman Jessica , Audrain-McGovern Janet , Hawk Larry , Mahoney Martin , Mazur Alexa , Ashare Rebecca
Published: January 2021

The consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic on behavioral health, including tobacco use, are not fully known. The current study sought to measure the perceived impact of COVID-19 and the resulting stay-at-home orders in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and Buffalo, New York on smokers enrolled in four smoking cessation trials between March 2020 and July 2020. The survey collected quantitative data regarding life changes due to COVID-19, health/exposure status, and the impact on their cessation attempt (e.g., motivation to quit, change in triggers). The questionnaire collected qualitative data to better understand how such changes could explain changes in smoking behavior. Of the 42 participants surveyed, approximately half indicated that COVID-19 changed their motivation and ability to quit or remain quit. Among those who reported that it was easier to quit following the stay-at-home orders (n = 24), most attributed this to concerns regarding the severity of COVID-19 among smokers. Among those who reported more difficulty quitting (n = 15), most attributed this to their increased stress due to the pandemic and the inability to access activities, places, or people that could help them manage triggers. Given public health warnings of continued surges in COVID-19, these data provide insight into who may benefit from further smoking cessation support should existing restrictions or new stay-at-home orders be enacted.
Evolutionary Games of Low-Carbon Behaviors of Construction Stakeholders under Carbon Taxes
Authors: Du Qiang , Yan Yunqing , Huang Youdan , Hao Chanchan , Wu Jiao
Published: January 2021

The development of low-carbon buildings (LCBs) in China has not reached its expected status, although the Chinese government has formulated many relevant regulations. The real estate developers and consumers are essential participants in the development of LCBs. This paper explores whether the government’s implementation of the carbon tax will change their choices of LCBs. Evolutionary game models between developers and consumers are established under static and dynamic carbon taxes. Their evolutionarily stable strategies (ESS) are deduced in different situations. According to the real scenarios in China, numerical simulations are further conducted to show that carbon tax influences the low-carbon behaviors of stakeholders in the construction industry. Under a static carbon tax, the two players cannot reach an equilibrium state, while the game system is stable under a dynamic tax. The probability of the developers constructing LCBs is positively related to the carbon tax, while its degree is gradually weakened as the tax rate increases. Therefore, an appropriate tax should be set to promote the development of LCBs effectively. Finally, policy implications are put forwarded to guide the participants’ low-carbon behaviors and reduce the carbon emissions in the Chinese construction industry.
A Technology-Mediated Interventional Approach to the Prevention of Metabolic Syndrome: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Kim Gaeun , Lee Ji-Soo , Lee Soo-Kyoung
Published: January 2021

Background: Technology-mediated interventions help overcome barriers to program delivery and spread metabolic syndrome prevention programs on a large scale. A meta-analysis was performed to evaluate the impact of these technology-mediated interventions on metabolic syndrome prevention. Methods: In this meta-analysis, from 30 January 2018, three databases were searched to evaluate interventions using techniques to propagate diet and exercise lifestyle programs for adult patients with metabolic syndrome or metabolic risk. Results: Search results found 535 citations. Of these, 18 studies met the inclusion criteria analyzed in this article. The median duration of intervention was 4 months and the follow-up period ranged from 1.5 to 30 months. The standardized mean difference (SMD) between the two groups was waist circumference −0.35 (95% CI −0.54, −0.15), triglyceride −0.14 (95% CI −0.26, −0.03), fasting blood glucose −0.31 (95% CI −0.42, −0.19), body weight −1.34 (95% CI −2.04, −0.64), and body mass index −1.36 (95% CI −2.21, −0.51). There was no publication bias in this study. Conclusion: Technology-mediated intervention improved clinically important metabolic syndrome related indicators such as excess body fat around the waist, fasting glucose, and body mass index. These interventions will play an important role in the dissemination of metabolic syndrome prevention programs.
Analysis of Location Selection of Public Service Facilities Based on Urban Land Accessibility
Authors: Wang Wei , Zhou Zihao , Chen Jun , Cheng Wen , Chen Jian
Published: January 2021

Urbanization has been a flourishing process in a wide range of developing countries. The planning and construction of public service facilities is a crucial component of this process. Existing planning methods of public service facilities focused on macroscopic indicators like population and GDP. In this way, accessibility and transportation conditions were neglected. Four typical counties in China were selected as samples where travel surveys and questionnaire surveys on public service facilities were conducted. Taking education and medical care as representative public service facilities, this study used geographic information processing to connect the locations of public service facilities at all levels with the urban land accessibility. Then, analysis of variance was used to obtain correlations between the level of public service facilities and the urban land accessibility. The results showed that the urban land accessibility of locations of public service facilities follows a normal distribution. Categories of facilities showed significant difference on urban land accessibility. Therefore, intervals of urban land accessibility of locations of public service facilities within one standard deviation from the mean were constructed by category. These intervals built a connection between transportation conditions with locations of public service facilities. Corresponding relation of carbon emission of facility-related trips and urban land accessibility was established as an example of an application. Carbon emissions caused by facility-related trips can be reduced by locating facilities at locations with appropriate urban land accessibility.
Making the Case for Proactive Strategies to Alleviate Homelessness: A Systems Approach
Authors: Nourazari Sara , Lovato Kristina , Weng Suzie S.
Published: January 2021

Homelessness is a complex public health issue that affects some of the most vulnerable populations in the United States. This study takes a holistic approach to better understand and analyze the multiple factors and their interconnections that contribute to the complexity of this problem. A systems analysis was conducted by utilizing the system dynamics method, which allows analyzing and comparing trends and behavior of system outcomes for different “what if” scenarios, interventions, and policy implications. Three leverage points were identified in this study to increase the effectiveness and efficiency of the current strategies to address homelessness: (1) increasing the number of affordable permanent housing units, (2) increasing the utilization of transitional housing units or shelters by the individuals experiencing homelessness, and (3) providing preventative services to at-risk populations before the onset of homelessness. Our results demonstrate that the most effective strategy is an amalgam of the solutions identified by these three leverage points. In addition, a policy analysis was conducted to study and estimate the effectiveness of various potential scenarios. This research provides data-driven and model-based insights into how decision-makers can utilize a systems approach to analyze new policy implications and create effective solutions to homelessness.
What Sun Protection Practices Should Be Adopted by Trainee Teachers to Reduce the Risk of Skin Cancer and Other Adverse Outcomes?
Authors: De Castro-Maqueda Guillermo , Lagares Franco Carolina , Gutiérrez-Manzanedo José V. , Gobba Fabriziomaria , Blázquez Sánchez Nuria , De Troya-Martin Magdalena
Published: January 2021

Excessive sun exposure and insufficient protection are the main risk factors for the onset of melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancer (the most common types of cancer suffered by fair-skinned populations) and other adverse effects on the skin and eyes. Epidemiological data highlight the scant awareness of this risk among young people and the high rates of sunburn often recorded among this population. The main aim of the present study is to examine sun exposure and protection behavior by university students. A cross-sectional questionnaire-based study was undertaken to investigate sun exposure and protection practices among students of education sciences at a university in southern Spain. The data obtained were used to perform a descriptive, comparative analysis, by groups and by gender, of photoprotection and skin self-examination practices. The reliability and validity of the questionnaire were both tested. Of the 315 students who completed the questionnaire, 74.6% had suffered at least one sunburn during the previous year. Few made frequent use of sunscreen or protective clothing and 89.5% did not self-examine their skin. The metric properties of the questionnaire revealed its excellent reliability and validity. Among the Spanish university students considered, there was little awareness of the risk of excessive sun exposure, self-protection was insufficient, the potential exposure to dangerous levels of ultraviolet radiation was high, and most had suffered one or more sunburns in the last year. Intervention strategies should be implemented to highlight the risks involved and the need for more appropriate sun protection practices. Information campaigns should be conducted in this respect so that, when these students become teachers, they will have adequate knowledge of the risks involved and of the benefits of addressing this problem effectively, and will ultimately transfer these health education competences to their own students.
Perceived Stress in Relation to Quality of Life and Resilience in Patients with Advanced Chronic Kidney Disease Undergoing Hemodialysis
Authors: García-Martínez Pedro , Ballester-Arnal Rafael , Gandhi-Morar Kavita , Castro-Calvo Jesús , Gea-Caballero Vicente , Juárez-Vela Raúl , Saus-Ortega Carlos , Montejano-Lozoya Raimunda , Sosa-Palanca Eva María , Gómez-Romero María del Rosario , Collado-Boira Eladio
Published: January 2021

Background: Patients with chronic kidney disease undergo various stages of therapeutic adaptation which involve lifestyle modifications, physical changes, and adjustment to renal replacement therapy. This process produces adaptive stress. Objective: To identify how resilience, health- related quality of life, and sociodemographic, clinical, and hemodialysis routine-related variables are related to perceived stress in patients with chronic kidney disease receiving hemodialysis for more than six months. Methods: This was a multicenter and cross-sectional study involving 144 patients from the Valencian Community (Spain). The assessment scales used for the study were the Perceived Stress Scale 10, the Kidney Disease Quality of Life 36, and the Connors–Davidson Resilience Scale. To identify variables with predictive power over Perceived Stress Scale 10 scores, multiple regression analyses were performed. Results: Employment status (p = 0.003), resilience (p < 0.001), and quality of life (p < 0.001) were shown to be significantly related to perceived stress. The regression models determined that health-related quality of life and resilience explained up to 27.1% of the variance of total PSS10 scores. Conclusions: Resilience was identified as one of the most important predictors of Perceived Stress Scale 10 scores. Thus, the development of interventions to promote resilience may have a positive impact on perceived stress in patients with chronic kidney disease.
Analysis of Traffic Crashes Caused by Motorcyclists Running Red Lights in Guangdong Province of China
Authors: Zhang Guangnan , Tan Ying , Zhong Qiaoting , Hu Ruwei
Published: January 2021

Motorcycles are among the primary means of transport in China, and the phenomenon of motorcyclists running red lights is becoming increasingly prevalent. Based on the traffic crash data for 2006–2010 in Guangdong Province, China, fixed- and random-parameter logit models are used to study the characteristics of motorcyclists, vehicles, roads, and environments involved in red light violations and injury severity resulting from motorcyclists’ running red lights in China. Certain factors that affect the probability of motorcyclists running red lights are identified. For instance, while the likelihood of violating red light signals during dark conditions is lower than during light conditions for both car drivers and pedestrians, motorcyclists have significantly increased probability of a red light violation during dark conditions. For the resulting severe casualties in red-light-running crashes, poor visibility is a common risk factor for motorcyclists and car drivers experiencing severe injury. Regarding the relationship between red light violations and the severity of injuries in crashes caused by motorcyclists running red lights, this study indicated that driving direction and time period have inconsistent effects on the probability of red light violations and the severity of injuries. On the one hand, the likelihood of red light violations when a motorcycle rider is turning left/right is higher than when going straight, but this turning factor has a nonsignificant impact on the severity of injuries; on the other hand, reversing, making a U-turn and changing lanes have nonsignificant effects on the probability of motorcyclists’ red light violations in contrast to going straight, but have a very significant impact on the severity of injuries. Moreover, the likelihood of red light violations during the early morning is higher than off-peak hours, but this time factor has a negative impact on the severity of injuries. Measures including road safety educational programs for targeted groups and focused enforcement of traffic policy and regulations are suggested to reduce the number of crashes and the severity of injuries resulting from motorcyclists running red lights.
Residual Multi-Attention Classification Network for A Forest Dominated Tropical Landscape Using High-Resolution Remote Sensing Imagery
Authors: Yu Tong , Wu Wenjin , Gong Chen , Li Xinwu
Published: January 2021

Tropical forests are of vital importance for maintaining biodiversity, regulating climate and material cycles while facing deforestation, agricultural reclamation, and managing various pressures. Remote sensing (RS) can support effective monitoring and mapping approaches for tropical forests, and to facilitate this we propose a deep neural network with an encoder–decoder architecture here to classify tropical forests and their environment. To deal with the complexity of tropical landscapes, this method utilizes a multi-scale convolution neural network (CNN) to expand the receptive field and extract multi-scale features. The model refines the features with several attention modules and fuses them through an upsampling module. A two-stage training strategy is proposed to alleviate misclassifications caused by sample imbalances. A joint loss function based on cross-entropy loss and the generalized Dice loss is applied in the first stage, and the second stage used the focal loss to fine-tune the weights. As a case study, we use Hainan tropical reserves to test the performance of this model. Compared with four state-of-the-art (SOTA) semantic segmentation networks, our network achieves the best performance with two Hainan datasets (mean intersection over union (MIoU) percentages of 85.78% and 82.85%). We also apply the new model to classify a public true color dataset which has 17 semantic classes and obtain results with an 83.75% MIoU. This further demonstrates the applicability and potential of this model in complex classification tasks.
Loss of miR-23b/27b/24-1 Cluster Impairs Glucose Tolerance via Glycolysis Pathway in Mice
Authors: Jiang Yong-Hui , Man Yuan-Yuan , Liu Yue , Yin Chang-Jian , Li Jia-Lin , Shi Huang-Cong , Zhao Han , Zhao Shi-Gang
Published: January 2021

Alterations in miRNAs are associated with many metabolic disorders, such as type 2 diabetes (T2DM). The miR-23b/27b/24-1 cluster contains miR-23b, miR-27b, and miR-24-1, which are located within 881 bp on chromosome 9. Studies examining the roles of miR-23b, miR-27b, and miR-24-1 have demonstrated their multifaceted functions in variable metabolic disorders. However, their joint roles in metabolism in vivo remain elusive. To investigate this subject, we constructed miR-23b/27b/24-1 cluster knockout (KO) mice. Compared with wild-type (WT) mice, the KO mice exhibited impaired glucose tolerance, which was accompanied by a reduction in the respiratory exchange rate (RER). These alterations were more noticeable after a high-fat diet (HFD) induction. Hepatic metabolomic results showed decreased expression of reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH), nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD), phosphoenolpyruvic acid (PEP), and phosphoric acid, which are involved in the glycolysis pathway. The transcriptomic results indicated that genes involved in glycolysis showed a downregulation trend. qPCR and Western blot revealed that pyruvate kinase (PKLR), the key rate-limiting enzyme in glycolysis, was significantly reduced after the deletion of the miR-23b/27b/24-1 cluster. Together, these observations suggest that the miR-23b/27b/24-1 cluster is involved in the regulation of glucose homeostasis via the glycolysis pathway.
Mitochondrial DNA Replacement Techniques to Prevent Human Mitochondrial Diseases
Authors: Sendra Luis , García-Mares Alfredo , Herrero María José , Aliño Salvador F.
Published: January 2021

Background: Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) diseases are a group of maternally inherited genetic disorders caused by a lack of energy production. Currently, mtDNA diseases have a poor prognosis and no known cure. The chance to have unaffected offspring with a genetic link is important for the affected families, and mitochondrial replacement techniques (MRTs) allow them to do so. MRTs consist of transferring the nuclear DNA from an oocyte with pathogenic mtDNA to an enucleated donor oocyte without pathogenic mtDNA. This paper aims to determine the efficacy, associated risks, and main ethical and legal issues related to MRTs. Methods: A bibliographic review was performed on the MEDLINE and Web of Science databases, along with searches for related clinical trials and news. Results: A total of 48 publications were included for review. Five MRT procedures were identified and their efficacy was compared. Three main risks associated with MRTs were discussed, and the ethical views and legal position of MRTs were reviewed. Conclusions: MRTs are an effective approach to minimizing the risk of transmitting mtDNA diseases, but they do not remove it entirely. Global legal regulation of MRTs is required.
Endogenous Opioid Signaling in the Mouse Retina Modulates Pupillary Light Reflex
Authors: Cleymaet Allison M. , Berezin Casey-Tyler , Vigh Jozsef
Published: January 2021

Opioid peptides and their receptors are expressed in the mammalian retina; however, little is known about how they might affect visual processing. The melanopsin-expressing intrinsically photosensitive retinal ganglion cells (ipRGCs), which mediate important non-image-forming visual processes such as the pupillary light reflex (PLR), express β-endorphin-preferring, µ-opioid receptors (MORs). The objective of the present study was to elucidate if opioids, endogenous or exogenous, modulate pupillary light reflex (PLR) via MORs expressed by ipRGCs. MOR-selective agonist [D-Ala2, MePhe4, Gly-ol5]-enkephalin (DAMGO) or antagonist D-Phe-Cys-Tyr-D-Trp-Arg-Thr-Pen-Thr-NH2 (CTAP) was administered via intravitreal injection. PLR was recorded in response to light stimuli of various intensities. DAMGO eliminated PLR evoked by light with intensities below melanopsin activation threshold but not that evoked by bright blue irradiance that activated melanopsin signaling, although in the latter case, DAMGO markedly slowed pupil constriction. CTAP or genetic ablation of MORs in ipRGCs slightly enhanced dim-light-evoked PLR but not that evoked by a bright blue stimulus. Our results suggest that endogenous opioid signaling in the retina contributes to the regulation of PLR. The slowing of bright light-evoked PLR by DAMGO is consistent with the observation that systemically applied opioids accumulate in the vitreous and that patients receiving chronic opioid treatment have slow PLR.