bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Depressive Symptoms Feature-Based Machine Learning Approach to Predicting Depression Using Smartphone
Authors: Hong Juyoung , Kim Jiwon , Kim Sunmi , Oh Jaewon , Lee Deokjong , Lee San , Uh Jinsun , Yoon Juhong , Choi Yukyung
Published: June 2022

With the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, the number of patients suffering from depression is rising around the world. It is important to diagnose depression early so that it may be treated as soon as possible. The self-response questionnaire, which has been used to diagnose depression in hospitals, is impractical since it requires active patient engagement. Therefore, it is vital to have a system that predicts depression automatically and recommends treatment. In this paper, we propose a smartphone-based depression prediction system. In addition, we propose depressive features based on multimodal sensor data for predicting depressive mood. The multimodal depressive features were designed based on depression symptoms defined in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5). The proposed system comprises a “Mental Health Protector” application that collects data from smartphones and a big data-based cloud platform that processes large amounts of data. We recruited 106 mental patients and collected smartphone sensor data and self-reported questionnaires from their smartphones using the proposed system. Finally, we evaluated the performance of the proposed system’s prediction of depression. As the test dataset, 27 out of 106 participants were selected randomly. The proposed system showed 76.92% on an f1-score for 16 patients with depression disease, and in particular, 15 patients, 93.75%, were successfully predicted. Unlike previous studies, the proposed method has high adaptability in that it uses only smartphones and has a distinction of evaluating prediction accuracy based on the diagnosis.
Metabolic Comorbidities and Cardiovascular Disease in Pediatric Psoriasis: A Narrative Review
Authors: Marani Andrea , Rizzetto Giulio , Radi Giulia , Molinelli Elisa , Capodaglio Irene , Offidani Annamaria , Simonetti Oriana
Published: June 2022

Psoriasis vulgaris is a common inflammatory, immune mediated, chronic recurrent dermatosis. Psoriasis is also a systemic inflammatory disease, associated with numerous comorbidities, particularly metabolic ones. Here, we summarize and discuss, in a narrative review, the current knowledge about the metabolic comorbidities in psoriatic children. Obesity, insulin resistance, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and dyslipidemia are identified as the main comorbidities in psoriatic children. In conclusion, dermatologists should be aware of the metabolic comorbidities in children with psoriasis, modulating the therapeutic approach according to the patient’s clinical condition.
Estimation of Surgery Durations Using Machine Learning Methods-A Cross-Country Multi-Site Collaborative Study
Authors: Lam Sean , Zaribafzadeh Hamed , Ang Boon , Webster Wendy , Buckland Daniel , Mantyh Christopher , Tan Hiang
Published: June 2022

The scheduling of operating room (OR) slots requires the accurate prediction of surgery duration. We evaluated the performance of existing Moving Average (MA) based estimates with novel machine learning (ML)-based models of surgery durations across two sites in the US and Singapore. We used the Duke Protected Analytics Computing Environment (PACE) to facilitate data-sharing and big data analytics across the US and Singapore. Data from all colorectal surgery patients between 1 January 2012 and 31 December 2017 in Singapore and, 1 January 2015 to 31 December 2019 in the US were used, and 7585 cases and 3597 single and multiple procedure cases from Singapore and US were included. The ML models were based on categorical gradient boosting (CatBoost) models trained on common data fields shared by both institutions. The procedure codes were based on the Table of Surgical Procedure (TOSP) (Singapore) and the Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) codes (US). The two types of codes were mapped by surgical experts. The CPT codes were then transformed into the relative value unit (RVU). The ML models outperformed the baseline MA models. The MA, scheduled durations and procedure codes were found to have higher loadings as compared to surgeon factors. We further demonstrated the use of the Duke PACE in facilitating data-sharing and big data analytics.
Coronasomnia in Employees without a Direct Contact with COVID-19 Infected Patients in Their Workplace
Authors: Oțelea Marina Ruxandra , Zugravu Corina , Rașcu Agripina , Arghir Oana Cristina , Manolescu Loredana Sabina Cornelia , Mates Dana
Published: June 2022

Background: The aim of this analysis was to explore coronasomnia in second line workers. Methods: Data were collected via in an online questionnaire. Patients with new onset or aggravation of insomnia were defined as cases and those without insomnia as controls. Differences among groups were studied by nonparametric tests; the correlation among variables was assessed using regression, followed by Bonferroni adjustment. Results: There were 377 responders, grouped into 129 cases and 248 controls. Younger age (Odds Ratio = 0.97, p = 0.021), women (OR = 2.46, p = 0.016), workers belonging to a vulnerable group (OR = 2.36, p = 0.007), and those with previous history of insomnia (OR = 38.76, p = 0.00) were associated with coronasomnia. Increased home duties were directly related to insomnia (OR = versus home support which were indirectly associated). The constant preoccupation for SARS-CoV-2 media reports (OR = 3.6, p = 0.00009) and media consumption were components of the coronasomnia. In the adjusted models, the personal medical history, and the anxiety created by media alerts maintained their significance. Conclusion: Preventive measures to reduce the occurrence of insomnia in times of social stress in nonessential occupations should focus on health vulnerable groups, persons with previous history of insomnia and who develop anxiety from media.
Papier-Mâché Puppets’ Characterization by Infrared Imaging Techniques
Authors: Ceccarelli Sofia , Cao Erika , Orazi Noemi , Cicero Cristina , Mercuri Fulvio , Zammit Ugo , Terrei Alessandra , Paoloni Stefano
Published: June 2022

Among the different forms of art, the puppet theatre constitutes a long-standing and often little-known tradition. The use of puppets as support for acting dates back to the Greek age, and it was mainly developed during the modern period. The reason for such a large diffusion was due to the possibility of using affordable materials, such as papier-mâché, for the puppets’ manufacture. In this paper, a method based on the combined use of pulsed thermography (PT) and mid-wave infrared reflectography (MIR) is, for the first time, proposed for the characterization of papier-mâché artworks. In particular, some puppets belonging to the collection of the Museo delle Civiltà in Rome and made by Olga Lampe Minelli, a 20th-century puppet master, were investigated in order to detect damaged areas, such as those affected by insect attacks, and, consequently, to specifically plan suitable restoration works. Finally, the investigations were also carried out after the restoration to evaluate the effectiveness of the adopted treatments.
Non-Vascular Ceramic Sherds Coming from Two Italian Etruscan Settlements: Peculiarities and Interpretation of Their Possible Use
Authors: Cantelli Margherita , Cimino Dafne , Facchi Alberta , Phaneuf Raymond J. , Zendri Elisabetta
Published: June 2022

Peculiar non-vascular ceramic slabs of uncertain use were found in two different Etruscan settlements of the Po Delta region (San Basilio di Ariano nel Polesine and Adria, North-East Italy) dated back to the first millennium BC. Different interpretations concerning the primary role of these fragments have been suggested by previous scholars. To bring to light an understanding of the construction processes that appear to be unique to the San Basilio and Adria settlements, a multi-analytical approach has been carried out. Macroscopic observations enabled these materials to be preliminary subdivided into groups based on chromatic features, followed by the identification of their chemical composition through FTIR-ATR spectroscopy. Moreover, the open porosity was estimated by the total water absorption test, and the superficial morphology and elemental composition of specific samples were analyzed using SEM-EDS. Furthermore, the firing temperature of a few selected fragments was evaluated by the TGA-DSC technique in order to investigate ancient production techniques. The results of the research lead us to consider the role of these peculiar non-vascular ceramic slabs as building materials due to their specific protective properties, considering the environmental conditions of the Po Delta region.
Brassinosteroid Applications Enhance the Tolerance to Abiotic Stresses, Production and Quality of Strawberry Fruits
Authors: Furio Ramiro N. , Salazar Sergio M. , Mariotti-Martínez Jorge A. , Martínez-Zamora Gustavo M. , Coll Yamilet , Díaz-Ricci Juan C.
Published: June 2022

Brassinosteriods (BRs) have increasingly been used to improve the yields and quality of various crops. In this work we studied the effect of two brassinosteroids, BB16 and EP24, on the growth promotion of Fragaria ananassa plants under normal conditions or exposed to water or saline stress. The influence of both BRs on the plant development and fruit quality was evaluated when cultivated in semi-hydroponic conditions. A marked growth-promoting effect was observed with both compounds when plants were cultivated under normal irrigation conditions and under saline and water stresses. BB16 and EP24 yielded plants with a higher dry weight, root length and surface, a higher number and area of leaves, a higher total weight of fruits per plant, and a higher percentage of fruits of commercial quality. Additionally, a higher content of chlorophyll, number of leaves, and increased dry weight was detected in plants treated with both BRs and exposed to water and saline stresses. Finally, when evaluating the production and quality of fruits obtained under semi-hydroponic conditions, we observed that the pre-harvest treatment with both compounds induced a higher fruit production and better quality of fruits. These results suggest the potential of these compounds to achieve a more sustainable management of strawberry cultivation.
Transcriptional Regulation in Leaves of Cut Chrysanthemum (Chrysanthemum morifolium) ‘FenDante’ in Response to Post-Harvest Ethylene Treatment
Authors: Liu Rui , Zuo Xuele , Chen Yu , Qian Ziyan , Xu Can , Wang Likai , Chen Sumei
Published: June 2022

The early wilting and yellowing of leaves in response to ethylene is the main limitation affecting the vase quality of cut chrysanthemums. Therefore, leaf senescence is the most difficult problem in the post-harvest and production of chrysanthemums. Nevertheless, the molecular mechanism of ethylene on the regulation of post-harvest senescence of cut chrysanthemum leaves is still unclear. In this study, we identified an ethylene-sensitive chrysanthemum ‘FenDante,’ which showed rapid chlorophyll content decrease under ethylene treatment, resulting in leaf yellowing and wilting before flower senescence. A new generation of Illumina sequencing platform was used to identify differentially expressed genes in the leaves in response to ethylene treatment in chrysanthemum. A total of 1.04 Gb of raw reads was obtained, including 753 and 2790 differentially expressed genes at 3 h and 24 h after ethylene treatment, respectively. KEGG analysis revealed that the differentially expressed genes are mainly involved in plant hormone synthesis and signal transduction, chlorophyll metabolism, aquaporins, and reactive oxygen species. The gene expression regulatory networks in the leaves of post-harvest cut chrysanthemums in response to ethylene treatment were studied, which lays the foundation for future research on the molecular mechanisms of ethylene-mediated leaf senescence in cut chrysanthemums.
In Vitro Micrografting of Horticultural Plants: Method Development and the Use for Micropropagation
Authors: Wang Min-Rui , Bettoni Jean Carlos , Zhang A-Ling , Lu Xian , Zhang Dong , Wang Qiao-Chun
Published: June 2022

In vitro micrografting is an important technique supporting the micropropagation of a range of plant species, particularly woody plant species. Over the past several decades, in vitro micrografting has become a strategy to facilitate shoot recovery and acclimatization of in vitro-grown horticultural species. This review focuses on studies on horticultural crops over the past two decades that cover the establishment of in vitro micrografting, discusses factors affecting the success of in vitro micrografting, and provides commentary on the contribution of micrografting applications to the field of micropropagation. Considering the important roles of micrografting in the restoration of vigor and rooting competence, in promotion of shoot recovery following somatic embryogenesis and organogenesis, and in facilitation of shoot regrowth after cryopreservation, the potential use of this technique in facilitation of genetic engineering and safe conservation of horticultural species are specially highlighted.
Water Quality Assessment of Urban Ponds and Remediation Proposals
Authors: Rodrigues Andreia , Calheiros Cristina Sousa Coutinho , Teixeira Pedro , Galvão Ana
Published: June 2022

Ponds are a common feature in urban parks to provide aesthetic and recreational functions, but also deliver a wide range of ecosystem services. The objective of this study was to assess the water quality of six urban ponds in the city of Lisbon, Portugal, to determine the factors that influence it and consider remediation measures for them. Besides that, our study aims to deliver data in order to support the best approach for a future monitoring program, toward more strategic and sustainable management. Floating treatment wetlands (FTW) were installed in three of the ponds during the study, where nutrient levels were higher. Water sampling was performed since 2016, with more intensive campaigns in 2020 and 2021. Average pH ranged from 7.9 to 9.0, average Chemical Oxygen Demand ranged from 36 mg/L to 90 mg/L and average Total Suspended Solids ranged from 7 to 93 mg/L. The main factors that contribute to these values were identified as the presence of waterbirds, vegetative debris that falls in ponds, and contamination with sewage. The FTW that were installed in some of the ponds could help to improve the water quality, but additional measures such as removal of bottom sediments and leaves in the fall, may be necessary. It is expected that the assessment of water quality carried out in the urban ponds can contribute to the overall improvement of urban water management.
Propagation and Diffusion of Fluorescent Substances with Footprints in Indoor Environments
Authors: Ma Manman , Li Fei , Han Hao , Zhao Ziwang , Sun Yuxiao , Jing Yuanqi , Wang Lei
Published: June 2022

Some studies have shown that contaminants can be transferred between floors and the soles, and there are few studies on pollutant propagation caused by human walking in real-life situations. This study explored the propagation and diffusion law of ground pollutants from rubber soles to poly vinyl chloride (PVC) floor during indoor walking through employing a fluorescent solution as a simulant. The footprint decay (D) and transfer efficiency (τ) of the fluorescent solution transferred from the sole to the indoor floor during walking were analyzed based on the fluorescent footprint imaging. The effects of namely body weight (50–75 kg), walking frequency (80–120 steps/min), and solution viscosity (oil and water) were also investigated. It was found that the total fluorescence gray value on the ground decreased exponentially as the number of walking steps (i) increased. The relationship between the normalized gray value of the fluorescent solution (D) on each floor panel i was Di=aebi,2.1≤a≤3.8,–1.4≤b≤–0.7, and τ was distributed in the range of 0.51–0.72. All influencing factors had a significant effect on a, and a greater body weight resulted in a smaller a value, while only the body weight had a significant effect on b and τ, and a greater body weight led to larger b and lower τ values.
Occupational Health and Safety Receptivity towards Clinical Innovations That Can Benefit Workplace Mental Health Programs: Anxiety and Hypnotherapy Trends
Authors: Coventry Petrina
Published: June 2022

Anxiety is one of the most common mental health conditions experienced by people in Australia during their working years according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) and employers recognising that mental health impacts their organisation’s bottom line are increasingly interested in programs to promote better mental health, well-being, and productivity. Beyond management concern for productivity, statutory protection is necessary to safeguard mental health, under the Australian Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) Act, organisations have a duty to eliminate or minimise risks to psychological (mental) health by designing effective workplace systems and Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) practitioners are central to the design and responsibility in managing these systems. Despite literature indicating the benefits of OHS workplace mental health initiatives, such as improved overall health, reduced absenteeism, increased job satisfaction and morale, there remains a lack of empirical research around program measurement, and their effectiveness in this area has been brought into question. The OHS function is interested in improving research around the relationship and connection between work performance and mental health but: there are few studies regarding performance outcomes of mental health OHS services within management journals and insufficient information around the prevalence of psychological morbidity in the workplace and its impact. The purpose of this study was to assess OHS perception regarding anxiety and reveal perceptions and receptivity towards alternative therapies and solutions being used in clinical practice to deal with anxiety such as cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) with a focus on Hypnotherapy.
Profile of Bacterial Community and Antibiotic Resistance Genes in Typical Vegetable Greenhouse Soil
Authors: Yuan Xuexia , Zhang Yong , Sun Chenxi , Wang Wenbo , Wu Yuanjuan , Fan Lixia , Liu Bing
Published: June 2022

The use of vegetable greenhouse production systems has increased rapidly because of the increasing demand for food materials. The vegetable greenhouse production industry is confronted with serious environmental problems, due to their high agrochemical inputs and intensive utilization. Besides this, antibiotic-resistant bacteria, carrying antibiotic-resistance genes (ARGs), may enter into a vegetable greenhouse with the application of animal manure. Bacterial communities and ARGs were investigated in two typical vegetable-greenhouse-using counties with long histories of vegetable cultivation. The results showed that Proteobacteria, Firmicutes, Acidobacteria, Chloroflexi, and Gemmatimonadetes were the dominant phyla, while aadA, tetL, sul1, and sul2 were the most common ARGs in greenhouse vegetable soil. Heatmap and principal coordinate analysis (PCoA) demonstrated that the differences between two counties were more significant than those among soils with different cultivation histories in the same county, suggesting that more effects on bacterial communities and ARGs were caused by soil type and manure type than by the accumulation of cultivation years. The positive correlation between the abundance of the intI gene with specific ARGs highlights the horizontal transfer potential of these ARGs. A total of 11 phyla were identified as the potential hosts of specific ARGs. Based on redundancy analysis (RDA), Ni and pH were the most potent factors determining the bacterial communities, and Cr was the top factor affecting the relative abundance of the ARGs. These results might be helpful in drawing more attention to the risk of manure recycling in the vegetable greenhouse, and further developing a strategy for practical manure application and sustainable production of vegetable greenhouses.
Does Technological Innovation Curb O3 Pollution? Evidence from Three Major Regions in China
Authors: Wang Wen-jun , Liu Yan-ni , Ying Xin-ru
Published: June 2022

At the end of 2020, when China’s three-year Blue Sky Protection Campaign was successfully concluded, the main pollutants, led by O3, increased instead of decreasing, creating a new air pollution problem. In this paper, the impact of the technological innovation level on O3 pollution and its inter-regional differences across three major regions from 2014 to 2019 are studied using the dynamic spatial Durbin model. Generally, in terms of ozone pollution showing significant spatial correlation, technological innovations in China are still not effective in curbing ozone pollution. Furthermore, technological innovation is a key factor affecting ozone pollution, and it is heterogeneous, demonstrating that the impact of technological innovation on O3 pollution is different among regions. Technological innovation in Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei significantly reduces local O3 pollution with spillover, while technological innovation in the Yangtze River Delta instead significantly exacerbates local O3 pollution, and the impact of technological innovation on O3 pollution in the Fenwei Plain is not significant. Third, other factors in O3 pollution also differ between regions, with the number of cars and the amount of foreign capital actually utilized being the main factors. Therefore, we should pay attention to the spillover of O3 pollution and technological innovation and strengthen regional cooperation according to our own characteristics to effectively suppress O3 pollution. Finally, the findings of this paper are representative, which provides a possible reference for other similar national or regional studies.
The Alcohol Industry and Social Responsibility: Links to FASD
Authors: Choate Peter , Badry Dorothy , Bagley Kerryn
Published: June 2022

Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder is directly linked to the consumption of alcohol during pregnancy. Prevention programs have been targeted at women of childbearing age and vulnerable populations. The beverage alcohol industry (manufacture, marketing, distribution, and retail) is often seen as playing a role in prevention strategies such as health warning labels. In this paper we explore the nature of the relationship between the industry and prevention programming. We consider the place of alcohol in society; the prevalence, social and economic costs of FASD; the ethical notion of alcohol-related harm and then move onto the question of public health partnerships with the industry including the potential conflicts of interests and ethical challenges in such partnerships.
Electrochemical Oxidation of Landfill Leachate after Biological Treatment by Electro-Fenton System with Corroding Electrode of Iron
Authors: Tang Juan , Yao Shuo , Xiao Fei , Xia Jianxin , Xing Xuan
Published: June 2022

Electrochemical oxidation of landfill leachate after biological treatment by a novel electrochemical system, which was constructed by introducing a corroding electrode of iron (Fec) between a boron-doped diamond (BDD) anode and carbon felt (CF) cathode (named as BDD–Fec–CF), was investigated in the present study. Response surface methodology (RSM) with Box–Behnken (BBD) statistical experiment design was applied to optimize the experimental conditions. Effects of variables including current density, electrolytic time and pH on chemical oxygen demand (COD) and ammonia nitrogen (NH3-N) removal efficiency were analyzed. Results showed that electrolytic time was more important than current density and pH for both COD and NH3-N degradation. Based on analysis of variance (ANOVA) under the optimum conditions (current density of 25 mA·cm−2, electrolytic time of 9 h and pH of 11), the removal efficiencies for COD and NH3-N were 81.3% and 99.8%, respectively. In the BDD–Fec–CF system, organic pollutants were oxidized by electrochemical and Fenton oxidation under acidic conditions. Under alkaline conditions, coagulation by Fe(OH)3 and oxidation by Fe(VI) have great contribution on organic compounds degradation. What is more, species of organic compounds before and after electrochemical treatment were analyzed by GC–MS, with 56 kinds components detected before treatment and only 16 kinds left after treatment. These results demonstrated that electrochemical oxidation by the BDD–Fec–CF system has great potential for the advanced treatment of landfill leachate.
An Analysis of the Spatiotemporal Characteristics and Diversity of Grain Production Resource Utilization Efficiency under the Constraint of Carbon Emissions: Evidence from Major Grain-Producing Areas in China
Authors: Wang Haokun , Chen Hong , Tran Tuyen Thi , Qin Shuai
Published: June 2022

As the most important driving force for ensuring the effective supply of grain in the country, the production stability of the major grain-producing areas directly concerns the national security of China. In this paper, considering the “water–soil–energy–carbon” correlation, water, soil and energy resource factors, and carbon emission constraints were included in an index system, and the global common frontier boundary three-stage super-efficient EBM–GML model was used to measure the grain production resource utilization efficiency of the major grain-producing areas in China from 2000 to 2019. This paper also analyzed the static and dynamic spatiotemporal characteristics and the restrictions of utilization efficiency. The results showed that, under the measurement of the traditional data envelopment analysis model, the grain production resource utilization efficiency in the major producing areas is relatively high, but there is still room to improve by more than 20%, and grain production still has enormous growth potential. After excluding external environmental and random factors, it was found that the utilization efficiency of grain production resources in the major producing areas decreased, and the efficiency and ranking of provinces changed significantly. External factors inhibit pure technical efficiency and expand the scale efficiency. The utilization efficiency of Northeast China was much higher than that of the Huang-Huai-Hai region and the middle and upper reaches of the Yangtze River region, and its grain production resource allocation management had obvious advantages. The total factor productivity index of food production resources showed an upward trend as a whole, and its change was affected by both technological efficiency and technological progress, of which technological progress had the greater impact. Therefore, reducing the differences in the external environment of different regions while making adjustments in accordance with their own potential is an effective way to further improve the utilization efficiency of food production resources.
The Use of Intergroup Social Comparison in Promoting Water Conservation: Evidence from a Survey Experiment in China
Authors: Wang Yijie , Xie Lei , Li Shuang
Published: June 2022

This study examines the effect of the intergroup social comparison approach in promoting water conservation. In an online survey experiment, participants first encountered normative persuasive messages, informative persuasive messages, or intergroup social comparison messages and then reported their willingness to conserve water, prior water usage, and demographic information. Results showed a significantly higher willingness to conserve water in the intergroup social comparison condition compared to other conditions. We further investigated whether this social comparison effect was moderated by prior water usage and the strength of comparison. Results suggest that prior water usage, rather than the strength of comparison, moderated the influence of intergroup social comparison. Moreover, the moderating effect of prior water usage only works when participants receive a low level of strength of comparison.
Moderation of the Association between Primary Language and Health by Race and Gender: An Intersectional Approach
Authors: Ahmed Neelam H. , Greaney Mary L. , Cohen Steven A.
Published: June 2022

In the United States (US), limited English proficiency is associated with a higher risk of obesity and diabetes. “Intersectionality”, or the interconnected nature of social categorizations, such as race/ethnicity and gender, creates interdependent systems of disadvantage, which impact health and create complex health inequities. How these patterns are associated with language-based health inequities is not well understood. The study objective was to assess the potential for race/ethnicity, gender, and socioeconomic status to jointly moderate the association between primary language (English/Spanish) and having obesity and diabetes. Using the 2018 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (n = 431,045), weighted generalized linear models with a logistic link were used to estimate the associations between primary language (English/Spanish) and obesity and diabetes status, adjusting for confounders using stratification for the intersections of gender and race/ethnicity (White, Black, Other). Respondents whose primary language was Spanish were 11.6% more likely to have obesity (95% CI 7.4%, 15.9%) and 15.1% more likely to have diabetes (95% CI 10.1%, 20.3%) compared to English speakers. Compared to English speakers, Spanish speakers were more likely to have both obesity (p < 0.001) and diabetes (p < 0.001) among White females. Spanish speakers were also more likely to have obesity among males and females of other races/ethnicities (p < 0.001 for both), and White females (p = 0.042). Among males of other racial/ethnic classifications, Spanish speakers were less likely to have both obesity (p = 0.011) and diabetes (p = 0.005) than English speakers. Health promotion efforts need to recognize these differences and critical systems–change efforts designed to fundamentally transform underlying conditions that lead to health inequities should also consider these critical sociodemographic factors to maximize their effectiveness.
Spatiotemporal Analysis of Gastrointestinal Tumor (GI) with Kernel Density Estimation (KDE) Based on Heterogeneous Background
Authors: Yang Zhenjie , He Sanwei , Zhang Huiyuan , Li Meifang , Liang Yuqing
Published: June 2022

The purpose of this study is to explore hotspots or clusters of gastrointestinal tumors (GI) and their spatiotemporal distribution characteristics and the changes over time in 293 villages and communities in Jianze County, central China, through the kernel density estimation (KDE) method based on the rarely considered heterogeneous background. The main findings were: (1) Heterogeneous background impact: there were substantial differences in the GI case rate among people of different ages and genders in Jianze County. Specifically, the GI case rate was significantly higher in the elderly population over 65 than in the population under 65, and higher in men than in women. (2) GI in Jianze County exhibited spatial specific and aggregated hotspots. The high-value spatial clusters were mainly located in Hujindian Town in the northern county, Wupu Town and Geputan Town in the middle, and Xiaxindian Town in the south. Some villages had persistent hot spots for multiple years. (3) Most GI hotspots in Jianze County were concentrated in areas with both high density of local chemical plants and with water systems in the neighbourhood. We expect that this study provides a scientific basis for exploring unknown risk factors of tumor occurrence from a spatial perspective in the future.
River Ecological Corridor: A Conceptual Framework and Review of the Spatial Management Scope
Authors: Han Qi , Wang Xiaogang , Li Yun , Zhang Zhengxian
Published: June 2022

Studying the spatial management scope of the river ecological corridor is a crucial step in effectively managing river health problems. For various purposes and needs, human beings intervene excessively in the river, resulting in the problems of unclear spatial scope, unclear ownership, and unreasonable functional utilization of the river ecological corridor. However, there is scarce research on the management scope of the river ecological corridor at present, and on the coordination relationship with territorial spatial protection planning. Therefore, in order to solve this key problem, this paper reviews and summarizes the current research status and development trends in terms of the concept, components, and other basic theories of the river ecological corridor, as well as relevant policy regulations. The relationship between the spatial scope of the river ecological corridor and the territorial spatial control line is analyzed, including the relationship with the river shoreline, aquatic ecological redline, “three control lines” and other control lines. Accordingly, this study reviewed the spatial management and control scope of the river ecological corridor. It also determined that the boundary line of the river shoreline management is the minimum line, the aquatic ecological redline, and the “three control lines” are the outermost boundary lines, in which the aquatic ecological redline has priority over other control lines. It also points out the thinking of determining the management scope in the protection and restoration of the river ecological corridor in the future. Our findings can provide a decision-making basis for the management of river ecological space.
SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19 Research Trend during the First Two Years of the Pandemic in the United Arab Emirates: A PRISMA-Compliant Bibliometric Analysis
Authors: Al-Omari Basem , Ahmad Tauseef , Al-Rifai Rami H.
Published: June 2022

Scientific research is an integral part of fighting the COVID-19 pandemic. This bibliometric analysis describes the COVID-19 research productivity of the United Arab Emirates (UAE)-affiliated researchers during the first two years of the pandemic, 2020 to 2022. The Web of Science Core Collection (WoSCC) database was utilized to retrieve publications related to COVID-19 published by UAE-affiliated researcher(s). A total of 1008 publications met the inclusion criteria and were included in this bibliometric analysis. The most studied broad topics were general internal medicine (11.9%), public environmental occupational health (7.8%), pharmacology/pharmacy (6.3%), multidisciplinary sciences (5%), and infectious diseases (3.4%). About 67% were primary research articles, 16% were reviews, and the remaining were editorials letters (11.5%), meeting abstracts/proceedings papers (5%), and document corrections (0.4%). The University of Sharjah was the leading UAE-affiliated organization achieving 26.3% of the publications and funding 1.8% of the total 1008 published research. This study features the research trends in COVID-19 research affiliated with the UAE and shows the future directions. There was an observable nationally and international collaboration of the UAE-affiliated authors, particularly with researchers from the USA and England. This study highlights the need for in-depth systematic reviews addressing the specific COVID-19 research-related questions and studied populations.
Mycotoxin-Linked Mutations and Cancer Risk: A Global Health Issue
Authors: Ekwomadu Theodora , Mwanza Mulunda , Musekiwa Alfred
Published: June 2022

Humans continue to be constantly exposed to mycotoxins, mainly through oral exposure (dietary), inhalation, or dermal contact. Recently, it has been of increasing interest to investigate mycotoxin-linked carcinogenicity. This systematic review was conducted to synthesize evidence of the association between mycotoxin-linked mutations and the risk of cancer, to provide an overview of the data linking exposure to different mycotoxins with human cancer risk, and to provide an update on current research on the risk of cancer associated with human exposure to mycotoxins. PRISMA guidelines were used when conducting the systematic review. PubMed, MEDLINE, and CINAHL electronic databases were comprehensively searched to extract the relevant studies published from inception to May 2022. A total of sixteen relevant studies (4907 participants) were identified and included in this review. Of these, twelve studies were from Asia, while four of the studies were conducted in Africa. The overall meta-analysis result found no significant association, although some of the studies confirmed an association between mycotoxin-linked mutations and primary liver cancer risk. Mainly, the experimental studies have shown associations between mycotoxin-linked mutations and cancer risk, and there is a need for researchers to confirm these links in epidemiological studies in order to guide public health policies and interventions.
Understanding Spatial Characteristics of Refugee Accommodations Associated with Refugee Children’s Physical Activity in Microenvironments: Six Case Studies in Berlin
Authors: Chen Siqi , Knöll Martin
Published: June 2022

Refugee children often spend a considerable amount of time in refugee accommodations with limited space and limited access to communal facilities. Such environmental settings make it difficult for refugee children to engage in physical activity (PA), which is essential for their health and social inclusion. While there is a strong evidence base for environmental attributes associated with non-refugee children’s PA, only a few studies have focused on refugee children. This article presents an exploratory study on the spatial characteristics of six refugee accommodations in Berlin and their relation to school-aged refugee children’s opportunities to engage in PA. Micro-environmental attributes included building typology and availability, size, and access to communal PA spaces using Space Syntax. PA opportunities were assessed using staff surveys, interviews, and field trips. Results indicated that none of the case studies provided a comprehensive range of PA opportunities. They also revealed unequal access within the facilities. Whereas the role of size was inconsistent, vital predictors included fewer floors and corridors with easy access to internal and external PA spaces. Our recommendations include prioritizing compact buildings with moderate heights when retrofitting existing facilities and raising awareness for the importance of active play for this vulnerable group.
Abstinence Rate, Adverse Events and Withdrawal Symptoms after Varenicline Use and Predicting Factors of Smoking Abstinence: A Multicentre Single-State Study in Malaysia
Authors: Choo Shea Jiun , Chang Chee Tao , Tangiisuran Balamurugan , Latif Mohd Faiz Abdul , Sanusi Nor Aida , Harun Sabariah Noor
Published: June 2022

(1) Background: Varenicline is a widely prescribed agent in smoking cessation. However, the abstinence rate, the incidence of adverse events and withdrawal symptoms, have not been widely studied locally. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of smoking abstinence, adverse events and withdrawal symptoms associated with varenicline use, as well as possible factors contributing to successful smoking abstinence. (2) Methods: This was a retrospective, cohort study conducted in twenty-two government-operated smoking cessation clinics across the state of Perak, Malaysia. The medical records of adult smokers (age ≥ 18 years old) who were prescribed with varenicline between January 2017 and June 2018 were traced. The medical records of smokers who used pharmacotherapy other than varenicline, those who received less than four weeks of varenicline treatment, and with missing data were excluded. (3) Results: Sixty-eight out of 114 subjects (59.6%) successfully achieved smoking abstinence. Probable varenicline-induced chest pain was documented in three subjects. Altered behaviour (n = 2) and auditory hallucinations (n = 1) were also reported. Varenicline treatment duration is a significant predictive factor for successful smoking abstinence (odds ratio (OR) = 2.45; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.74–3.45; p < 0.001), followed by age (OR = 1.25; 95% CI 1.005–1.564; p = 0.045), the presence of adverse events (OR = 0.096; 95% CI 0.014–0.644; p = 0.016) and withdrawal symptoms (OR = 0.032; 95% CI 0.016–0.835; p = 0.032). (4) Conclusion: Almost two-thirds of the subjects achieved smoking abstinence with varenicline. The duration of the treatment, as well as the patients’ ages had a significant influence on successful smoking abstinence. Rare cases of cardiovascular and neuropsychiatric-related adverse events were reported, warranting continuous surveillance and adverse drug reaction reporting.
Bio-Enhanced Degradation Strategies for Fluoroquinolones in the Sewage Sludge Composting Stage: Molecular Modification and Resistance Gene Regulation
Authors: Jin Xingyan , Zhao Yuanyuan , Ren Zhixing , Wang Panpan , Li Yu
Published: June 2022

The molecular/protein–protein docking and the index normalization method assisted by the entropy weight method were used to quantitatively evaluate the biodegradability of fluoroquinolones (FQs) under different biodegradation systems. Four biodegradability three-dimensional quantitative structure–activity relationship (3D-QSAR) models of FQs were constructed to design FQ derivatives with improved biodegradability. Through the evaluation of the environmental friendliness and functional properties, the FQ derivatives with high biodegradability, improved functionality, and environmental friendliness were screened. Moreover, four bio-enhanced degradation scenarios of FQs were set up according to the different temperatures and carbon–nitrogen ratio (C/N) in the sewage sludge composting stage, and the molecular dynamic (MD) simulation assisted by protein–protein docking was used to screen the external environmental factors that promote the degradation of FQs by thermophilic bacteria or group under different scenarios. Finally, MD simulation assisted by sampling method was used to validate and screen the application scheme of field measures to enhance the expression of antibacterial resistance of FQ derivatives in an agricultural soil environment after activated sludge land use. This study aims to provide theoretical support for the development of highly biodegradable FQ derivatives and the mitigation of potential risks that FQs may pose to the environment and humans through the food chain.
Is There a Direct Link between Sexual Satisfaction and Restrictions during the Second Wave of the COVID-19 Pandemic?
Authors: Rogowska Aleksandra M. , Wójcik Natalia , Janik Aleksandra , Klimala Paulina
Published: June 2022

Background: Research suggested that the COVID-19 pandemic-related restrictions decreased sexual function and satisfaction. The present study examines the direct relationship between sexual satisfaction and restrictions during the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: A cross-sectional study was performed in Poland between 3 September 2020 and 18 January 2021. A convenience sample of 1364 adults, aged 18–67 (M = 25.13, SD = 6.45), among whom 62.39% were women, and 23.17% were single, completed anonymous web-based survey. The Sexual Satisfaction Questionnaire (SSQ) and Stringency Index (IS) were used to assess sexual satisfaction and the level of restrictions during the pandemic, respectively. Results: No direct association was found between sexual satisfaction and the level of restrictions during the lockdown. Sexual satisfaction was significantly worse among single participants than those living in a couple. No gender differences were found in sexual satisfaction. Conclusions: Future studies should examine an indirect association between sexual satisfaction and restrictions during the pandemic via stress and anxiety. Single relationship status should be considered a risk factor for sexual satisfaction, so single individuals should be a target group for prevention programs during the pandemic.
Associations between Children’s Health-Related Characteristics, Self-Esteem, and Fathers’ Parenting Practices and Media Addiction among Younger School-Aged Korean Children
Authors: Eo Yong-Sook , Lee Yeon-Hee
Published: June 2022

This study aimed to investigate the relationship between media addiction levels among early school-aged children and their health status, self-esteem, and their fathers’ parenting practices. Therefore, we analyzed the data from a total of 1149 fathers and children from the 10th year (2017) survey of the Panel Study on Korean Children (PSKC), by the Korean Children’s Panel Research Institute. Specifically, a multinomial logistic analysis was conducted to identify the factors affecting children’s media addiction. The media addiction levels were 68.8%, 24.9%, and 6.3%, in general, high-risk, and potential-risk users, respectively. When media addiction levels were used as the reference group for general users, the pattern observed in the data revealed a direct positive association between media use time and the probability of becoming a potential-risk user (79.4%, OR = 1.79, 95% CI: 1.20, 2.68). Furthermore, when general users were used as the reference group, the male gender accounted for the majority of high-risk users, at 99% (OR = 1.99, 95% CI: 1.46, 2.71). Within this group, the children’s body mass index (BMI) was high (5%, OR = 1.05, 95% CI: 1.00, 1.11), their media use time increased by 1 h a day (145%, OR = 2.45, 95% CI: 1.93, 3.11), their self-esteem decreased (32%, OR = 0.68, 95% CI: 0.49, 0.95), the fathers’ authoritative parenting practices were low (37%, OR = 0.63, 95% CI: 0.43, 0.92), and the permissive parenting practices were high (92%, OR = 1.92, 95% CI: 1.09, 3.37). Therefore, the results of this study highlight children’s media use time and the risk factors related to high BMIs in order to prevent media addiction among early school-aged children. Our findings also suggest appropriate parenting practices and highlight the need to strengthen children’s self-esteem.
The Relation of Diet and Health: You Are What You Eat
Authors: Lederer Ann-Kathrin , Huber Roman
Published: June 2022

The intake of food is more than just a necessary process for ensuring the functionality of the human body [...]
Decarbonization and the Benefits of Tackling Climate Change
Authors: Miralles-Quirós María Mar , Miralles-Quirós José Luis
Published: June 2022

Since the industrial revolution, humans have increasingly influenced the Earth’s temperature and climate [...]
Occurrence and Transport of Isothiazolinone-Type Biocides from Commercial Products to Aquatic Environment and Environmental Risk Assessment
Authors: Paun Iuliana , Pirvu Florinela , Iancu Vasile Ion , Chiriac Florentina Laura
Published: June 2022

This study investigated the occurrence and transport of four isothiazolinone-type biocides from commercial products to wastewater treatment plants (influents, sludges, and effluents) and to natural emissaries (upstream and downstream the wastewater treatment plants) in Romania. All four biocides were determined in personal care and household products, with the highest concentration of 76.4 µg/L OIT (2-octyl-4-isothiazolin-3-one). For environmental samples, three of the four isothiazolinones were determined, CMI (5-chloro-2-methyl-4-isothiazolin-3-one) being the prominent compound for water samples. The maximum concentration of 84.0 µg/L in influent, 122 µg/L upstream, and 144 µg/L downstream the wastewater treatment plants were obtained for CMI. Unlike water samples, in the sewage sludge samples, OIT proved to be the dominant compound, with concentration up to 5.80 µg/g d.w. The extremely high levels of isothiazolinone determined in different WWTPs from Romania may be due to the COVID-19 pandemic situation, during which a much larger amount of cleaning, hygiene, and personal care products was used. The isothiazolinone-type biocides were readily removed from the influents of the five WWTPs, with the mean removal rate up to 67.5%. The mean mass loading value for the targeted biocides based on influent was 20.4 μg/day/1000 people, while the average environmental emissions were 6.93 μg/day/1000 people for effluents. The results obtained for riverine water combine with statistical analysis showed that the anthropogenic activities are the major contamination sources of the surface waters. Preliminary ecological risk evaluation showed that BIT (1,2-benzisothiazol-3(2H)-one), OIT, and CMI could pose a very high risks to different aquatic species living in the receiving aquatic environments.