bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Application of Percutaneous Needle Electrolysis Does Not Elicit Temperature Changes: An In Vitro Cadaveric Study
Authors: Borrella-Andrés Sergio , Malo-Urriés Miguel , Pérez-Bellmunt Albert , Arias-Buría José L. , Rodríguez-Sanz Jacobo , Albarova-Corral María Isabel , González-Rueda Vanessa , Gallego-Sendarrubias Gracia M. , Fernández-de-las-Peñas César , López-de-Celis Carlos
Published: November 2022

Percutaneous needle electrolysis (PNE) consists of the ultrasound-guided application of a galvanic electrical current through a solid filament needle. One proposed therapeutic mechanism for this intervention is a potential thermal effect. The aim of this study was to investigate if the application of PNE induces changes in temperature in different cadaveric musculoskeletal tissues. A repeated measure experimental cadaveric study was designed with 10 cryopreserved knees (5 men, 5 women). Sterile stainless-steel needles of 40 mm length and 0.30 mm caliber were used in this study. An ultrasound-guided needling puncture was performed in the targeted tissue (patellar tendon, infra-patellar fat, and vastus medialis muscle). Additionally, the tip of the needle was placed next to the thermometer sensor at the minimum possible distance without direct contact with it. The temperature differences before and after different applications were measured. The applications were: three applications for 3 s of 3 mA of intensity (3:3:3) when the tendon was the targeted tissue, three applications for 3 s of 1.5 mA of intensity (1.5:3:3) when the fat or muscle was the targeted tissue, and 24 s of 1 mA of intensity (1:24:1) in all tissues. No statistically significant Group*Time interactions were found in any tissue (tendon: F = 0.571, p = 0.459, ŋ2 = 0.03; fat pad: F = 0.093; p = 0.764, ŋ2 = 0.01; muscle: F = 0.681; p = 0.420, ŋ2 = 0.04). Overall, no changes in temperature were observed between both applications in the tendon (3:3:3 vs. 1:24:1) and fat/muscle (1.5:3:3 vs. 1:24:1) tissues. The application of two different percutaneous needle electrolysis protocols did not produce appreciable thermal changes in the tendon, fat, and muscle tissues of human cadavers. The results from the current cadaver study support that a thermal effect should not be considered as a mechanism of clinical action regardless of the targeted human tissue when applying percutaneous needle electrolysis since no changes in temperature after its application were observed.
Factors Affecting Masticatory Performance of Older Adults Are Sex-Dependent: A Cross-Sectional Study
Authors: Kim Hee-Eun , Wallace Janet , Sohn Woosung
Published: November 2022

This cross-sectional study assessed the oral and physical factors contributing to improvement of the masticatory performance of community-dwelling older adults in South Korea. We enrolled 84 healthy older adults (38 men, 46 women; age, 71.40 ± 5.15 years) and assessed their skeletal muscle mass index (SMI), functional tooth units (FTUs), and mixing ability index (MAI). Associations between variables were analyzed using Spearman’s correlation coefficient, and the effects of SMI and FTUs on the MAI were evaluated through linear multiple regression. FTUs were positively associated with the MAI in men and women (r = 0.339, p = 0.038 and r = 0.461, p = 0.001, respectively). SMI and FTUs were moderately associated in men (r = 0.459, p = 0.004). MAI showed an approximately 4.4 times increase for each FTU in men (B = 4.442, p = 0.037); however, after the SMI was added, this effect was no longer significant. In women, the MAI increased by about 6.7 times with each FTU (B = 6.685, p = 0.004). FTUs had a significant effect on the MAI only in women with low muscle mass. While there was no significant effect of the SMI on the MAI, its influence should not be overlooked.
Bisphenol AF Promoted the Growth of Uterus and Activated Estrogen Signaling Related Targets in Various Tissues of Nude Mice with SK-BR-3 Xenograft Tumor
Authors: Yu Mengjie , Tang Qianqian , Lei Bingli , Yang Yingxin , Xu Lanbing
Published: November 2022

Environmental estrogens can promote the growth, migration, and invasion of breast cancer. However, few studies evaluate adverse health impacts of environmental estrogens on other organs of breast cancer patients. Therefore, the present study investigated the effects of environmental estrogen bisphenol AF (BPAF) on the main organs of female Balb/cA nude mice with SK-BR-3 xenograft tumor by detecting the organ development and gene expression of targets associated with G protein-coupled estrogen receptor 1 (GPER1)-mediated phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/protein kinase B (PI3K/Akt) and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathways in hypothalamus, ovary, uterus, liver, and kidney. The results showed that BPAF at 20 mg/kg bw/day markedly increased the uterine weight and the uterine coefficient of nude mice compared to SK-BR-3 bearing tumor control, indicating that BPAF promoted the growth of uterus due to its estrogenic activity. Additionally, BPAF significantly up-regulated the mRNA relative expression of most targets related to nuclear estrogen receptor alpha (ERα) and GPER1-mediated signaling pathways in the hypothalamus, followed by the ovary and uterus, and the least in the liver and kidney, indicating that BPAF activated different estrogen activity related targets in different tissues. In addition, BPAF markedly up-regulated the mRNA expression of GPER1 in all tested tissues, and the molecular docking showed that BPAF could dock into GPER1. Because gene change is an early event of toxicity response, these findings suggested that BPAF might aggravate the condition of breast cancer patients through exerting its estrogenic activity via the GPER1 pathway in various organs.
Catalytic Pyrolysis of Sawdust with Desulfurized Fly Ash for Pyrolysis Gas Upgrading
Authors: Song Jinling , Tang Chuyang , An Xinyuan , Wang Yi , Zhou Shankun , Huang Chunhong
Published: November 2022

In this study, the catalytic effects of desulfurized fly ash (DFA) on the gaseous products of sawdust (SD) pyrolysis were investigated in a tubular furnace. The results indicated that DFA catalyzed the process of SD decomposition to improve the hydrogen content and the calorific value of pyrolysis gas. As to its effect on pyrolysis products, DFA increased the non-oxide content of CH4, C3H4, and H2 in pyrolysis gas by 1.4-, 1.8-, and 2.3-fold, respectively. Meanwhile, the catalytic effect of DFA reduced the CO and CO2 yields during DFA/SD pyrolysis. Based on the model compound method, CaSO3 and Ca(OH)2 in DFA was proved to have quite different catalytic effects on pyrolysis gas components. Ca(OH)2 accelerated the formation of CH4 and H2 through the cracking of methoxyl during lignin and cellulose degradation, while CaSO3 favored the generation of CO and CO2 due to the carbonyl and carboxyl of lignin in SD. CaSO3 also catalyzed SD pyrolysis to promote the C3H4 yield in pyrolysis gas. Overall, the catalytic pyrolysis of SD with DFA yielded negative-carbon emission, which upgraded the quality of the pyrolysis gas.
Preventive Effectiveness of Thoracic Side Airbags in Side-Impact Crashes Based on Korea In-Depth Accident Study (KIDAS) Database
Authors: Kong Joon Seok , Lee Kang Hyun , Kang Chan Young , Choi Dooruh , Kim Oh Hyun
Published: November 2022

Studies on the effectiveness of thoracic side airbags (tSABs) in preventing thoracic injuries is limited and conflicting. This retrospective observational study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of tSABs in side-impact crashes based on data for motor vehicle occupants (MVOs) who visited an emergency department in Korea. The data were obtained from the Korean In-Depth Accident Study (KIDAS) database for patients treated at Wonju Severance Christian Hospital between January 2011 and April 2020. Of the 3899 patients with road traffic injuries, data for 490 patients were used. The overall frequency of tSAB deployment in side-impact crashes was found to be 8.1%. In the multivariate analysis, elderly age, near-side impact, colliding with fixed objects, non-oblique force, and higher crush extent were found to be factors associated with higher thoracic injuries (Abbreviated Injury Scale ≥ 2). MVOs in crashes with tSAB deployment were at an increased risk of injury compared with MVOs in crashes with no deployment, but no statistical difference was observed [adjusted odds ratios (AORs): 1.65 (0.73–3.73)]. Further, the incidence of lung injury and rib fractures increased with tSAB activation (p < 0.05). These results demonstrate the limited capability of tSABs in preventing thoracic injuries in motor vehicle crashes.
Suicidal Ideation in the Australian Construction Industry: Prevalence and the Associations of Psychosocial Job Adversity and Adherence to Traditional Masculine Norms
Authors: Tyler Simon , Gunn Kate , Esterman Adrian , Clifford Bob , Procter Nicholas
Published: November 2022

Background: Suicide in the Australian Construction Industry (ACI) is a significant issue, however minimal understanding of suicidal ideation prevalence, as well as the potential role psychosocial job adversity and increased adherence to traditional masculine norms may play in its presence, is apparent. Method: A representative sample of Australian men (n = 11,132) were used to create initial understandings of prevalence of suicidal ideation (past two weeks), psychosocial job adversities and level of adherence to traditional masculine norms for the ACI (n = 1721) in comparison to a general population comprised of the remaining employed males from Other Industries (n = 9411). Additionally, due to their reported increased suicide vulnerability investigation of associations between suicidal ideation, psychosocial job adversities and adherence to traditional masculine norms for the ACI were undertaken. Results: No difference in suicidal ideation prevalence was reported between the ACI and those employed in Other Industries (p > 0.05), however, increased prevalence of psychosocial job adversities (p ≤ 0.001) and adherence to traditional masculine norms (p ≤ 0.001) for the ACI was seen. Significant multivariate associations between suicidal ideation, psychosocial job adversities (OR = 1.79, 95%CI [1.12–2.85]) and two domains of traditional masculine norms, self-reliance (OR = 1.29, 95%CI [1.09–1.51]) and risk-taking (OR = 1.20, 95%CI [1.01–1.41]), were reported. Conclusion: Results suggest need for increased understanding of later stage suicidal trajectory drivers in the ACI. Findings indicate need for prevention group/industry concentration on mitigation of psychosocial job adversities, as well as a more nuanced and increased discussion of the negative role of self-reliance and risk-taking domains of traditional masculine norms may play in ACI suicidal ideation, as opposed to the construct as a whole.
Generating Trust in Participatory Research on Plasmodium knowlesi Malaria: A Study with Rural Community Gatekeepers during the COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: Naserrudin Nurul Athirah , Culleton Richard , Pau Lin Pauline Yong , Baumann Sara Elizabeth , Hod Rozita , Jeffree Mohammad Saffree , Ahmed Kamruddin , Hassan Mohd Rohaizat
Published: November 2022

Background: Plasmodium knowlesi malaria is a zoonotic infection that affects rural communities in South East Asia. Although the epidemiology of the disease has been extensively researched, the voices of individuals within affected communities often go unheard. Here, we describe a study that explores the importance of gatekeepers in conducting research among rural communities, their perspectives on the challenges encountered when attempting to avoid malaria infection, and their views on participatory research. Methods: Between 1 November 2021 and 28 February 2022, we conducted a study in Kudat district, Sabah, using a multi-method design. All participants consented to the study, which included health care workers (HCWs) (n = 5), community leaders (n = 8), and faith leaders (n = 1). We conducted interviews, transect walks, and observations with gatekeepers to ensure data trustworthiness. All interviews were conducted in the Sabah Malay dialect. The sessions were audio- and video-recorded, transcribed into English and analyzed using thematic analysis. Results: Between 2017 and 2021, the number of cases of P. knowlesi malaria detected in humans ranged from 35 to 87 in villages under the care of the Lotong primary health care clinic. The challenges in controlling malaria include social norms, lifestyles, socioeconomic factors, environmental factors, and limitations of basic resources. Critical discussions regarding participation with the gatekeepers identified that face-to-face interviews were preferable to online discussions, and influenced willingness to participate in future research. Conclusion: This study was conducted among village gatekeepers during the COVID-19 pandemic and generated information to drive methodological changes, opening up new ideas by sharing perspectives on challenges in P. knowlesi malaria control among vulnerable communities. The study generated trust in the community and expanded knowledge regarding participation that is critical for future community-based studies.
Dispersion and Disparity: Bibliometric and Visualized Analysis of Research on Climate Change Science Communication
Authors: Chen Denghang , Guo Yanlong , Wang Chenyang , Xu Yinrui , Zhang Han
Published: November 2022

Research on climate change science communication began in the 1980s and is showing continued vitality and a wider interest at present. In order to track the development of global research on the communication of climate change hot topics and frontier progress since the 21st century, methods such as bibliometrics and co-word network analysis were used to analyze the publication of research papers in this field, and a total of 1175 valid papers published in 2000–2021 in the WOS core database were counted. Different dimensions such as temporal trend, spatial distribution, and author collaboration network were analyzed. The results show that, (1) climate change communication research has become a relatively independent research field and has entered a rapid development stage, and this field still has a broad research prospect in the new understanding of climate change and new international context. (2) At present, research in this field is still dominated by developed countries, but developing countries are actively building their unique climate communication discourse. (3) Public understanding and media information presentation have been hot topics in climate communication research in recent years. In the context of changing international situations and the development of global epidemics and new climate policies, changes in national actions will likely lead to new research topics and dialogues. Research shows that climate change science communication research is increasingly showing a trend of decentralization and differentiation.
Does Social Media Users’ Interaction Influence the Formation of Echo Chambers? Social Network Analysis Based on Vaccine Video Comments on YouTube
Authors: Sun Mingfei , Ma Xiaoyue , Huo Yudi
Published: November 2022

The characteristics and influence of the echo chamber effect (TECE) of health misinformation diffusion on social media have been investigated by researchers, but the formation mechanism of TECE needs to be explored specifically and deeply. This research focuses on the influence of users’ imitation, intergroup interaction, and reciprocity behavior on TECE based on the social contagion mechanism. A user comment–reply social network was constructed using the comments of a COVID-19 vaccine video on YouTube. The semantic similarity and Exponential Random Graph Model (ERGM) were used to calculate TECE and the effect of three interaction mechanisms on the echo chamber. The results show that there is a weak echo chamber effect (ECE) in the spread of misinformation about the COVID-19 vaccine. The imitation and intergroup interaction behavior are positively related to TECE. Reciprocity has no significant influence on TECE.
Country Parks as Sites of Emergency Medical Facility: A Case of COVID-19 in Hangzhou, China
Authors: Li Shuai , Wu Zheng , Tang Jiefang , Wang Shuo , Wang Pengfei
Published: November 2022

City parks are suitable sites for the construction of emergency medical facilities. A comparison of various types of city parks revealed that country parks fit closely with site selection conditions for emergency medical facilities. Based on the latter site selection requirements, eight impact factors such as park type, effective avoidance area, spatial fragmentation degree, water source protection area, wind direction, distance from city center, impermeability, and transport duration were quantified, and then 29 country parks in the Hangzhou Urban Area were compared using Principal Component Analysis (PCA). The calculation results showed that Linglong Country Park has the highest score, taking into account the characteristics of safety, scalability, rehabilitation, convenience, pollution prevention, and isolation. Linglong can be given priority selection as a target location for emergency medical facilities. In addition, Silver Lake Country Park, Dongqiao Country Park, Taihuyuan Country Park, and Tuankou Country Park have higher scores and can be used as alternative targets for emergency plans. The scoring results prove that the evaluation method has a high degree of rigor, a significant degree of discrimination, and a high degree of consistency between the validity and weight assignment of each impact factor. In view of the different geographical conditions in each region, the weight assignment of each impact factor can be adjusted according to local conditions and can help make effective use of existing conditions and avoid disadvantages.
Analysis of the Impact of Communication Campaigns under the Project “Syphilis No”: A National Tool for Inducing and Promoting Health
Authors: Paiva Jordana Crislayne de Lima , Dias-Trindade Sara , Gonzalez Mario Orestes Aguirre , Barros Daniele Montenegro da Silva , Cardoso Pablo Holanda , Bezerra Pedro Henrique Castro , Lima Thaisa Gois Farias de Moura Santos , Lacerda Juciano de Sousa , Muneiro Lilian Carla , Cunha-Oliveira Aliete , Camarneiro Ana Paula , Barbalho Ingridy Marina Pierre , Valentim Ricardo Alexsandro de Medeiros
Published: November 2022

Syphilis is increasingly prevalent around the world as a result of complex factors. In Brazil, the government declared a syphilis epidemic in 2016 and then set a strategic agenda to respond to this serious public health problem. In a joint effort, Brazil’s Federal Court of Accounts (TCU) recommended that novel and diversified health communication strategies should be developed, which the “Syphilis No” project (SNP) later conducted through nationwide mass communication campaigns. We performed exploratory data analysis to identify and understand the results of three health communication campaigns by considering syphilis data trends in Brazil. The SNP, by using traditional and innovative means of communication, focused on multiple target audiences to encourage behavior changes through awareness and syphilis knowledge acquisition via the internet. In addition, the SNP disseminated information on syphilis testing, prevention, and treatment through social media and multiple media outlets. We observed that the period of the health campaigns corresponded to the period when the syphilis testing uptake increased and the number of reported cases dropped. Thus, our findings indicate that public health responses could substantially benefit from the use of health communication campaigns as a tool for health promotion, education, and transformation.
A Reliability of Active and Passive Knee Joint Position Sense Assessment Using the Luna EMG Rehabilitation Robot
Authors: Oleksy Łukasz , Królikowska Aleksandra , Mika Anna , Reichert Paweł , Kentel Monika , Kentel Maciej , Poświata Anna , Roksela Anna , Kozak Dominika , Bienias Katarzyna , Smoliński Marcel , Stolarczyk Artur , Mikulski Michał
Published: November 2022

Joint position sense (JPS) is the awareness of joint location in space, indicating accuracy and precision of the movement. Therefore, the aim of the present study is to determine the reliability of active and passive JPS assessment regarding the knee joint. This was carried out using the Luna EMG rehabilitation robot. Further analysis assessed whether the examination of only the dominant site is justified and if there are differences between sites. The study comprised 24 healthy male participants aged 24.13 ± 2.82 years, performing sports at a recreational level. Using the Luna EMG rehabilitation robot, JPS tests were performed for the right and left knees during flexion and extension in active and passive mode, in two separate sessions with a 1-week interval. Both knee flexion and extension in active and passive modes demonstrated high reliability (ICC = 0.866–0.982; SEM = 0.63–0.31). The mean JPS angle error did not differ significantly between the right and left lower limbs (p < 0.05); however, no between-limb correlation was noted (r = 0.21–0.34; p > 0.05). The Bland–Altman plots showed that the between-limb bias was minimal, with relatively wide limits of agreement. Therefore, it was concluded that the Luna EMG rehabilitation robot is a reliable tool for active and passive knee JPS assessment. In our study, JPS angle error did not differ significantly between left and right sides; however, the slight asymmetry was observed (visible in broad level of agreement exceeding 5° in Bland–Altman plots), what may suggest that in healthy subjects, e.g., active athletes, proprioception should always be assessed on both sides.
Exposure to Ambient Air Pollution and the Incidence of Dementia in the Elderly of England: The ELSA Cohort
Authors: Wood Dylan , Evangelopoulos Dimitris , Beevers Sean , Kitwiroon Nutthida , Katsouyanni Klea
Published: November 2022

Increasing evidence suggests an adverse association between ambient air pollution and the incidence of dementia in adult populations, although results at present are mixed and further work is required. The present study investigated the relationships between NO2, PM10, PM2.5 and ozone on dementia incidence in a cohort of English residents, aged 50 years and older, followed up between 2004 and 2017 (English Longitudinal Study of Ageing; n = 8525). Cox proportional hazards models were applied to investigate the association between time to incident dementia and exposure to pollutants at baseline. Hazard ratios (HRs) were calculated per 10 μg/m3. Models were adjusted for age, gender, physical activity, smoking status and level of education (the latter as a sensitivity analysis). A total of 389 dementia cases were identified during follow-up. An increased risk of developing dementia was suggested with increasing exposure to PM2.5 (HR: 1.10; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.88, 1.37), whilst NO2, PM10 and ozone exhibited no discernible relationships. Hazard ratios were 0.97 (CI: 0.89, 1.05) for NO2; 0.98 (CI: 0.89, 1.08) for PM10; 1.01 (CI: 0.94, 1.09) for ozone. In the London sub-sample (39 dementia cases), a 10 μg/m3 increase in PM10 was found to be associated with increased risk of dementia by 16%, although not statistically significant (HR: 1.16; CI: 0.90, 1.48), and the magnitude of effect for PM2.5 increased, whilst NO2 and ozone exhibited similar associations as observed in the England-wide study. Further work is required to fully elucidate the potentially adverse associations between air pollution exposure and dementia incidence.
Research on Risk and Resilience Evaluation of Urban Underground Public Space
Authors: Li Xiaojuan , Li Lulu , Lin Mingchao , Jim Chi Yung
Published: November 2022

High urban density, land scarcity, rapid population growth, and traffic congestion have restricted urban development. In response, selected multiple functions have increasingly been integrated into the underground public space (UPS) to maximize the 3D utilization of precious urban space. The accelerated intensity of UPS use has alerted safety concerns. UPS with enclosed and confined natures, complex building structures, locations usually in cramped areas, and limited emergency exits are potentially more prone to heavy casualties and losses in natural or human-made disasters. As research on UPS safety is limited and focused on single risks, we attempted to fill the knowledge gap by developing an integrated risk analysis of UPS to understand risk resilience and improve risk management. From the perspective of the UPS system, four latent factors were identified: natural environment, economic environment, facilities and equipment, and physical structure. Seventeen resilience indicators subsumed under the factors were selected based on resilience concepts. A questionnaire was designed to gather opinions on the relative importance rating of the resilience indicators. SPSS and AMOS software were enlisted to build a structural equation model (SEM), validate the data and model, and calculate the path coefficients and index weights to test four hypotheses. The SEM model results were employed to develop a holistic resilience enhancement strategy under a four-phase framework: before, during, after, and long-term, and under four latent factors. The resilience enhancements can optimize UPS disaster prevention, rescue and evacuation, mitigation, and response management.
How to Increase Employees’ Proactive Vitality Management? Testing the Effect of a Training Intervention
Authors: Bălăceanu Alexandra , Vîrgă Delia
Published: November 2022

Drawing on the Job Demands-Resources theory, we investigate the effectiveness of an online intervention based on training in energy management strategies using an experimental design. The intervention focused on creating awareness about the importance of energy in completing tasks, shaping the present state, and proactively identifying valuable strategies to manage vitality during work. Additionally, we expected an increase in work-related strategies (i.e., setting a new goal) and a decrease in micro-breaks (i.e., mental and physical). Participants were enrolled voluntarily in the intervention and randomly assigned to the experimental group (N = 42) and the control group (N = 44). Results of the ANCOVA showed that, in the experimental group, the intervention positively impacted changes in proactive vitality management. Furthermore, the results indicated that the participants from the experimental group used fewer physical micro-breaks after the intervention. Additionally, after the training and weekly level, the results showed a decrease in work-related strategies and physical micro-breaks in the experimental group. Thus, organizations could facilitate employees to learn to engage in different energy management strategies according to their preferences.
Oral-Health-Related Self-Efficacy among the Elderly Population in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Authors: Anweigi Lamyia , Aldegheishem Alhanoof , Azam Ambreen , Alromaih Yara , Alkeait Fatima , Alhaimy Lama , Ahmeda Ahmad , Bishti Shaza , Tamimi Faleh , Ba-Hattab Raidan
Published: November 2022

Oral health self-efficacy is a fundamental determinant of behavioral changes among elderly patients. Objective: To assess the oral self-efficacy among the Saudi population aged 65 years old and above in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Methodology: This was a cross-sectional survey conducted on elderly individuals in Riyadh. An Arabic version of the Geriatric Self-Efficacy Scale for Oral Health (GSEOH) was administered to all participants. The dependent variables included oral function, oral hygiene habits, and dental visits. For the statistical analysis, two independent sample t-tests and a one-way ANOVA test were used. Significance was judged at a p-value less than 0.05. Results: Of 400 participants recruited, 53% were males. About 58% had retained teeth, and 72% had visited a dentist in the past 12 months. Overall, 31.6%, 34.64%, 22.65%, and 11.14% of the participants rated their oral health as good, fairly good, rather poor, and poor, respectively. Age (p < 0.001), educational level (p < 0.001), and working status (p < 0.001) were significantly associated with GSEOH scores. Other sociodemographic characteristics were not found to affect the GSEOH scores. Conclusions: The overall self-efficacy of oral health among Saudi elderly individuals is fairly good. Age, educational level, and occupational status are the main determinants of oral health self-efficacy scores.
The Experiences of Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioners with Clinical Supervision in South Korea: A Grounded Theory Approach
Authors: Lee Sung-Nam , Kim Hyun-Jin
Published: November 2022

Clinical supervision (CS) helps improve expertise and job satisfaction in nursing staff, but its grounded research is limited. This study was conducted to derive a grounded theory based on the lived experiences of psychiatric mental health nurse practitioners (PMHNPs) in clinical supervision. Data were collected from January to April 2018 through in-depth unstructured interviews with 19 PMHMPs. Supervision of mental health nurses was necessary because of the “lack of ability to integrate theory and practice” and “difficulty working alone”. The “poor supervision system” has been strengthened. The nurses used strategies such as “asking for help”, “intensive training and sharing with the supervisor”, “modeling of the supervisor and developing competencies”, “continuing self-reflection and learning”, and “participating in professional activities”, according to the level of “personality characteristics”, “institutional supervision policy”, and “relationship with the supervisor”. Consequently, the core objective of “supporting each other and becoming healthcare experts” was achieved. These findings can be used as a basis for education, practices, research, and policy development of mental health nursing. This study highlights areas for policy improvement to ensure that high-quality mental health nursing can be achieved through appropriately targeted CS.
History of Sex Work Is Associated with Increased Risk of Adverse Mental Health and Substance Use Outcomes in Transgender Adults
Authors: Pandey Ajay Keshav , Seelman Kristie
Published: November 2022

Understanding factors influencing mental health and substance use in transgender and gender diverse people is critical to reducing disparities in this population. We sought to investigate whether a history of sex work was associated with increased prevalence of poor mental health, substance use, and a negative experience within drug and alcohol treatment facilities. We conducted a secondary analysis of the data of 25,204 transgender respondents of the 2015 United States Transgender Survey. We estimated multiple logistic regressions to assess the association between a history of sex work and adverse mental health and substance use outcomes. We then estimated mean prevalence of adverse outcomes by type of sex work. Finally, we performed chi-square analysis to explore differences in mistreatment at drug and alcohol treatment facilities. Respondents with a history of sex work were significantly more likely to have poorer psychological health, suicidality, and substance use after adjusting for covariates. Among those who visited drug and alcohol treatment facilities, those with a history of sex work were significantly more likely to report adverse experiences (26.34% vs. 11.63%). Our findings highlight the increased risk of adverse outcomes in transgender sex workers and emphasize the need for interventions targeting this subgroup of transgender people.
Baseline Proteinuria and Serum Creatinine Concentration as Clinical Predictors of Complete Renal Response in Patients with Lupus Nephritis: A Single-Center Experience
Authors: Konieczny Andrzej , Kasenberg Izabela , Mikołajczak Aleksandra , Donizy Piotr , Hałoń Agnieszka , Krajewska Magdalena
Published: November 2022

The aim of the study was to identify robust predictors of complete renal response (CRR), within 36 months, in a single-center cohort of lupus nephritis (LN) patients. Patients with biopsy-confirmed LN who underwent kidney biopsy between 1 January 2010 and 31 December 2020 were included and followed up for at least 6 months. CRR was defined as a reduction of urinary protein-to-creatinine ratio (UPCR) below 0.50 g/g. We evaluated baseline demographic, laboratory, and biopsy characteristics as potential predictors of CRR, and selected the variables further evaluated with Kaplan–Meier curves and log-rank tests. The traits with a p-value < 0.1 were later tested with both uni- and multivariable Cox proportional hazard models. Our sample consisted of 57 patients (84% females, median age 32 years), out of which 63.2% reached CRR within 36 months. The initial UPCR and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) were the only variables in multivariable Cox regression model, which were selected through backward elimination, with a significance threshold <0.05 (HR = 0.77, p = 0.01 and HR = 1.02, p = 0.001). Our results confirmed the role of initial UPCR and serum creatinine concentration (sCr) as predictors of CRR in LN.
Health Professionals’ Experience with the First Implementation of the Organizational Health Literacy Self-Assessment Tool for Primary Care (OHL Self-AsseT)—A Qualitative Reflexive Thematic Analysis
Authors: Stuermer Natascha , De Gani Saskia Maria , Beese Anna-Sophia , Giovanoli Evack Jennifer , Jaks Rebecca , Nicca Dunja
Published: November 2022

Organizational health literacy (OHL) is crucial for public health, in turn health care organizations play vital roles in improving populations’ health literacy. Therefore, the aim of this qualitative study was to explore how the organizational health literacy self-assessment tool (OHL Self-AsseT) was implemented, used, and understood by primary care teams from a network of general practices and a Home Care Service Organization in Zurich, Switzerland. Reflexive thematic analysis with a constructivist orientation was used to analyze data from 19 interviews pre- and post-OHL Self-AsseT use. Normalization Process Theory supported structuring of inductively developed themes. Findings show that the participants experienced working with the OHL Self-AsseT meaningful, as it helped with “Addressing OHL construction sites” so that they could “build momentum for change”. The experience of “Succeeding together in construction” led to a “feeling of team-efficacy during change”. Practical use of the tool and/or discussions about OHL led to a growing conceptual understanding, which was described as “Using a construction plan–making sense of ongoing OHL activities”. To conclude, the OHL Self-AsseT encouraged teams to initiate change, led to greater team-efficacy and supported the construction of OHL. Improved implementation strategies will support this intervention’s scale-up as a base for effectiveness testing.
Research on the Creep Model of Deep Coal Roadway and Its Numerical Simulation Reproduction
Authors: Zhang Qiming , Wang Enyuan , Ding Zeng
Published: November 2022

The long-term stability of coal mine roadway engineering is critical to the safe mining of coal resources and the protection of the surface environment. In this paper, the creep test of coal samples in coal roadway was carried out by multi-stage constant load method, and the test results showed that when the stress level was low, the creep curve had a attenuated stage and a steady-state stage, and the steady-state creep rate tended to increase with the increase in the stress level; When the stress level was higher than the yield stress, the creep rate curve appeared to have an acceleration stage after the steady-state stage. The instability failure mode of the coal sample was mainly shear failure with local tension failure. For this, a New Fractional-order Nonlinear Viscoelastic-plastic Rheological Model (NFNVRM) was established by introducing Abel elements and Nonlinear elements, and the constitutive equation of the model was deduced. The new model can fully reflect the stable decay stage and accelerated rheological stages of coal samples, and the parameter identification curve was consistent with the experimental results, which verifies the correctness and reasonableness of the NFNVRM. Meanwhile, based on the FLAC3D secondary development interface, the constitutive equations of the NFNVRM were written into the software to obtain new Dynamic Link Library (DLL) files. The simulation results were consistent with the experimental results when the DLL file was called. Finally, the NFNVRM.dll was applied to predict the surrounding rock deformation of an S mine. The study’s findings offer suggestions for environmental protection.
Forest Carbon Reserve Calculation and Comprehensive Economic Value Evaluation: A Forest Management Model Based on Both Biomass Expansion Factor Method and Total Forest Value
Authors: Zhao Jing , Hu Hui , Wang Jinglei
Published: November 2022

With the continuous intensification of global climate warming, the carbon cycle has become the focus of global climate change, and the calculation and value evaluation of forest carbon reserves is a key link in promoting the global carbon cycle system. Considering the climatic factors, the biomass expansion factor method (BEF) is used to calculate the forest carbon reserves, selecting the best Gompertz model, adding the time change to the forecast model to predict the growth of forest stock, and the four key indexes of total forest value (TEV) are selected for comprehensive evaluation of forest value. The results show that the carbon fixation efficiency and prediction of forest farms depend largely on the trees, and products can provide more value. Accordingly, it is suggested that broad-leaved trees and younger trees should be planted, and broad-leaved trees should be planted to increase forest stock, increase the vertical distribution of forests to increase carbon reserves, and make trees into wood products with longer retention time to achieve higher total forest value.
Examining the Relationship between Land Use/Land Cover (LULC) and Land Surface Temperature (LST) Using Explainable Artificial Intelligence (XAI) Models: A Case Study of Seoul, South Korea
Authors: Kim Minjun , Kim Dongbeom , Kim Geunhan
Published: November 2022

Understanding the relationship between land use/land cover (LULC) and land surface temperature (LST) has long been an area of interest in urban and environmental study fields. To examine this, existing studies have utilized both white-box and black-box approaches, including regression, decision tree, and artificial intelligence models. To overcome the limitations of previous models, this study adopted the explainable artificial intelligence (XAI) approach in examining the relationships between LULC and LST. By integrating the XGBoost and SHAP model, we developed the LST prediction model in Seoul and estimated the LST reduction effects after specific LULC changes. Results showed that the prediction accuracy of LST was maximized when landscape, topographic, and LULC features within a 150 m buffer radius were adopted as independent variables. Specifically, the existence of surrounding built-up and vegetation areas were found to be the most influencing factors in explaining LST. In this study, after the LULC changes from expressway to green areas, approximately 1.5 °C of decreasing LST was predicted. The findings of our study can be utilized for assessing and monitoring the thermal environmental impact of urban planning and projects. Also, this study can contribute to determining the priorities of different policy measures for improving the thermal environment.
Influencing Factors and Realization Path of Power Decarbonization—Based on Panel Data Analysis of 30 Provinces in China from 2011 to 2019
Authors: Ren Ning , Zhang Xiufan , Fan Decheng
Published: November 2022

2011–2019 was the critical period of the low-carbon transformation of the power industry, reflecting the deepening influence of market mechanisms. Decarbonization of the new power system is a systematic project that needs to strengthen the top-level design and overall planning. Therefore, the paper first evaluates the decarbonization of the existing power system and controls the grid architecture, power structure, energy utilization, supply chain, and trading market to further optimize the system by strengthening the basic theoretical research of the new power system, exploring the key elements of the low-carbon development of the power system, promoting the breakthrough of the key subjects, and formulating the new power system decarbonization path. In the international push for carbon neutrality goals, identifying key factors in the decarbonization of the power system is critical to achieving low-carbon development in the power sector. Combined with the characteristics and development trends of the power industry, the five dimensions of “Power generation decarbonization (SP)”, “Energy utilization efficiency (EU)”, “Supply chain decarbonization (SC)”, and “Power grid decarbonization (PG)”, and “the Trading system (TS)” are selected to construct an evaluation index system for the power decarbonization and identify the key factors. The Analytic Network Process (ANP) Method is used to calculate the index weight and measure the decarbonization level of the power industry in 30 provinces in China from 2011 to 2019. The evaluation results reveal that the overall decarbonization level of the power industry is on the rise and has stabilized after peaking in 2016. The regression results of the systematic GMM estimation show that “the intensity of cross-regional transmission”, “the degree of carbon market participation”, “technology innovation”, and “policy support” can significantly promote power decarbonization, and different regions have heterogeneity. Therefore, we propose to achieve technological innovation and upgrading in the eastern region, strengthen the construction of smart grids in the central region, optimize the power structure in the western region, and improve the market mechanism as a whole, to form a low-carbon development path for the power industry.
Comparison of Length of Hospital Stay for Community-Acquired Infections Due to Enteric Pathogens, Influenza Viruses and Multidrug-Resistant Bacteria: A Cross-Sectional Study in Hungary
Authors: Orosz Nikolett , Tóthné Tóth Tünde , Vargáné Gyuró Gyöngyi , Tibor Nábrádi Zsoltné , Hegedűsné Sorosi Klára , Nagy Zsuzsa , Rigó Éva , Kaposi Ádám , Gömöri Gabriella , Adi Santoso Cornelia Melinda , Nagy Attila
Published: November 2022

Community-acquired infections (CAI) can affect the duration of care and mortality of patients. Therefore, we aimed to investigate these as well as factors influencing the length of hospital stay in patients with CAI due to enteric pathogens, influenza viruses and multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacteria. We obtained data on 531 patients with CAI from the medical databases of a Hungarian university hospital and analyzed their characteristics using a regression model. Patients with MDR bacterial infection had the highest mortality (26.24%) and they stayed significantly longer in the hospital than cases with other CAIs. Our results showed that infection by Clostridioides difficile (odds ratio (OR): 6.98, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.03–47.48; p = 0.047), MDR Escherichia coli (OR: 7.64, 95% CI: 1.24–47.17; p = 0.029), MDR Klebsiella spp. (OR: 7.35, 95% CI: 1.15–47.07; p = 0.035) and hospitalization in the department of pulmonology (OR: 5.48, 95% CI: 1.38–21.76; p = 0.016) and surgery (OR: 4.19, 95% CI: 1.18–14.81; p = 0.026) significantly increased, whereas female sex (OR: 0.62, 95% CI: 0.40–0.97; p = 0.037) and hospitalization in the department of pediatrics (OR: 0.17, 95% CI: 0.04–0.64; p = 0.009) decreased the odds of staying in the hospital for more than 6 days. Our findings provide new information on the epidemiology of CAI and can contribute to the development of public health programs that decrease the burden of infections acquired in the community.
Posttraumatic Growth and Posttraumatic Depreciation: Associations with Core Beliefs and Rumination
Authors: Romeo Annunziata , Castelli Lorys , Zara Georgia , Di Tella Marialaura
Published: November 2022

Background: The positive transformation (i.e., posttraumatic growth, PTG) that can emerge after the struggles associated with a stressful life event has been widely investigated. However, less attention has been paid to the negative posttraumatic changes (i.e., posttraumatic depreciation, PTD) that might occur after a traumatic experience. This study aimed to investigate the role of a series of psychological factors (e.g., disruption of core beliefs, rumination, and depressive symptoms) in predicting PTG and PTD, separately considered. Methods: To reach this goal, 601 participants who experienced different types of traumatic events were recruited. They were asked to indicate sociodemographic and trauma-related information and to complete self-report measures assessing PTG/PTD, core beliefs, rumination, and depressive symptoms. Results: The results of regression analyses showed that gender, age, time since the trauma, core beliefs, deliberate/intrusive rumination, and depressive symptoms were significant predictors of PTG. Conversely, core beliefs, intrusive rumination, and depressive symptoms were found to be positively related to PTD. Conclusions: Taken together, these findings highlight the role that different psychological factors may play in the manifestation of the PTG and/or PTD dimensions. From a clinical perspective, professionals should pay attention to these factors when a person struggles in coping with a highly stressful experience.
The Association of Resilience with Mental Health in a Large Population-Based Sample (LIFE-Adult-Study)
Authors: Weitzel Elena Caroline , Löbner Margrit , Glaesmer Heide , Hinz Andreas , Zeynalova Samira , Henger Sylvia , Engel Christoph , Reyes Nigar , Wirkner Kerstin , Löffler Markus , Riedel-Heller Steffi G.
Published: November 2022

Resilience describes a good adaptation to adversity. Strengthening resilience is a promising approach in the prevention of mental health problems. Yet, research on the association of resilience with mental health symptoms in the general population is scarce. The aim of our study is to examine comprehensively the association of resilience with depressive symptoms, anxiety, and perceived stress in a large population-based sample. We analyzed data of n = 3762 participants from the follow-up assessment of the LIFE-Adult-Study, a population-based cohort study in Leipzig. Assessments included resilience (RS-11), depressive symptoms (CES-D), anxiety (GAD-7), and perceived stress (PSQ). The association of resilience with mental health symptoms was examined via multiple linear regression analyses. In our analyses, higher resilience predicted less mental health problems and contributed significantly to the explained variance in mental health outcomes. Women, individuals with previous mental disorders, and those without employment had higher mental health symptoms. Resilience is closely associated with mental health problems in the general population. Vulnerable groups should be targeted with public health measures. Strengthening resilience is a promising approach in the large-scale prevention of mental disorders.