bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Metrics for Quantification of By-Process Segregation in Ge-Rich GST
Authors: Petroni Elisa , Serafini Andrea , Codegoni Davide , Targa Paolo , Mariani Luca , Scuderi Mario , Nicotra Giuseppe , Redaelli Andrea
Published: April 2022

Ge-rich GST alloys are the most promising materials for phase-change memory (PCM) to fulfill the soldering compliance and the tough data retention requirements of automotive applications. Significant efforts have been made to engineer those materials and optimize their integration inside the fabrication process of PCM. In this perspective, the physical characterization of the device and the material is instrumental in understanding the underlying physics, improving the process, and optimizing the interactions between the device, the process, and the material itself. Especially, microscopic investigations have gathered increasing interest, giving detailed descriptions of local material modulations that have a crucial role in cell programming and reliability performances. In this work, a deep analysis of Ge-rich GST microscopic alloy evolution during the integration process has been performed, exploiting analysis by EELS with TEM supported by a novel statistical data post-processing method. The new proposed statistical-based methodology also introduces new simple metrics for elemental compositional evaluations that have been exploited for process engineering.
Input Beam Matching and Beam Dynamics Design Optimizations of the IsoDAR RFQ Using Statistical and Machine Learning Techniques
Authors: Koser Daniel , Waites Loyd , Winklehner Daniel , Frey Matthias , Adelmann Andreas , Conrad Janet
Published: April 2022

We present a novel machine learning-based approach to generate fast-executing virtual radiofrequency quadrupole (RFQ) particle accelerators using surrogate modelling. These could potentially be used as on-line feedback tools during beam commissioning and operation, and to optimize the RFQ beam dynamics design prior to construction. Since surrogate models execute orders of magnitude faster than corresponding physics beam dynamics simulations using standard tools like PARMTEQM and RFQGen, the computational complexity of the multi-objective optimization problem reduces significantly. Ultimately, this presents a computationally inexpensive and time efficient method to perform sensitivity studies and an optimization of the crucial RFQ beam output parameters like transmission and emittances. Two different methods of surrogate model creation (polynomial chaos expansion and neural networks) are discussed and the achieved model accuracy is evaluated for different study cases with gradually increasing complexity, ranging from a simple FODO cell example to the full RFQ optimization. We find that variations of the beam input Twiss parameters can be reproduced well. The prediction of the beam with respect to hardware changes, e.g., the electrode modulation, are challenging on the other hand. We discuss possible reasons for that and elucidate nevertheless existing benefits of the applied method to RFQ beam dynamics design.
Chronic Elevation of Skeletal Muscle [Ca2+]i Impairs Glucose Uptake. An in Vivo and in Vitro Study
Authors: Uryash Arkady , Mijares Alfredo , Lopez Carlos E. , Adams Jose A. , Lopez Jose R.
Published: April 2022

Skeletal muscle is the primary site of insulin-mediated glucose uptake through the body and, therefore, an essential contributor to glucose homeostasis maintenance. We have recently provided evidence that chronic elevated intracellular Ca2+ concentration at rest [(Ca2+)i] compromises glucose homeostasis in malignant hyperthermia muscle cells. To further investigate how chronic elevated muscle [Ca2+]i modifies insulin-mediated glucose homeostasis, we measured [Ca2+]i and glucose uptake in vivo and in vitro in intact polarized muscle cells from glucose-intolerant RYR1-p.R163C and db/db mice. Glucose-intolerant RYR1-p.R163C and db/db mice have significantly elevated muscle [Ca2+]i and reduced muscle glucose uptake compared to WT muscle cells. Dantrolene treatment (1.5 mg/kg IP injection for 2 weeks) caused a significant reduction in fasting blood glucose levels and muscle [Ca2+]i and increased muscle glucose uptake compared to untreated RYR1-p.R163C and db/db mice. Furthermore, RYR1-p.R163C and db/db mice had abnormal basal insulin levels and response to glucose-stimulated insulin secretion. In vitro experiments conducted on single muscle fibers, dantrolene improved insulin-mediated glucose uptake in RYR1-p.R163C and db/db muscle fibers without affecting WT muscle fibers. In muscle cells with chronic elevated [Ca2+]i, GLUT4 expression was significantly lower, and the subcellular fraction (plasma membrane/cytoplasmic) was abnormal compared to WT. The results of this study suggest that i) Chronic elevated muscle [Ca2+]i decreases insulin-stimulated glucose uptake and consequently causes hyperglycemia; ii) Reduced muscle [Ca2+]i by dantrolene improves muscle glucose uptake and subsequent hyperglycemia; iii) The mechanism by which chronic high levels of [Ca2+]i interfere with insulin action appears to involve the expression of GLUT4 and its subcellular fractionation.
Flexible Thermal Sensitivity of Mitochondrial Oxygen Consumption and Substrate Oxidation in Flying Insect Species
Authors: Menail Hichem A. , Cormier Simon B. , Ben Youssef Mariem , Jørgensen Lisa Bjerregaard , Vickruck Jess L. , Morin Pier , Boudreau Luc H. , Pichaud Nicolas
Published: April 2022

Mitochondria have been suggested to be paramount for temperature adaptation in insects. Considering the large range of environments colonized by this taxon, we hypothesized that species surviving large temperature changes would be those with the most flexible mitochondria. We thus investigated the responses of mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) to temperature in three flying insects: the honeybee (Apis mellifera carnica), the fruit fly (Drosophila melanogaster) and the Colorado potato beetle (Leptinotarsa decemlineata). Specifically, we measured oxygen consumption in permeabilized flight muscles of these species at 6, 12, 18, 24, 30, 36, 42 and 45°C, sequentially using complex I substrates, proline, succinate, and glycerol-3-phosphate (G3P). Complex I respiration rates (CI-OXPHOS) were very sensitive to temperature in honeybees and fruit flies with high oxygen consumption at mid-range temperatures but a sharp decline at high temperatures. Proline oxidation triggers a major increase in respiration only in potato beetles, following the same pattern as CI-OXPHOS for honeybees and fruit flies. Moreover, both succinate and G3P oxidation allowed an important increase in respiration at high temperatures in honeybees and fruit flies (and to a lesser extent in potato beetles). However, when reaching 45°C, this G3P-induced respiration rate dropped dramatically in fruit flies. These results demonstrate that mitochondrial functions are more resilient to high temperatures in honeybees compared to fruit flies. They also indicate an important but species-specific mitochondrial flexibility for substrate oxidation to sustain high oxygen consumption levels at high temperatures and suggest previously unknown adaptive mechanisms of flying insects’ mitochondria to temperature.
Composition and Diversity of Soil Microbial Community Associated With Land Use Types in the Agro–Pastoral Area in the Upper Yellow River Basin
Authors: Liu Shiliang , Sun Yongxiu , Shi Fangning , Liu Yixuan , Wang Fangfang , Dong Shikui , Li Mingqi
Published: April 2022

The microorganisms of soil are sensitive to their living microenvironment, and their community structure and function will change with the environmental conditions. In the agro–pastoral area on the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau, revealing the diversity of the soil microbial communities and its response to different soil physicochemical properties and environmental factors are important for ecosystem management. The microbial (bacteria and archaea) community composition and diversity under different land use types (cultivated land, grazing grassland and planted forest) were analyzed by 16S rRNA (V4 region) method in a typical agro–pastoral region in the upper Yellow River basin. Also, the soil nutrients were studied and correlated with the microbial community. The results showed that the soil nutrient contents in grassland were low, but the available nutrients were relatively high. There was a great spatial variability under different distances to the river. The microbial community diversity was lower in the grassland than the cultivated land and forest land closer to the river. For all land uses, the dominant phyla of soil microorganisms included Proteobacteria, Actinobacteria, and Bacteroidetes, while the abundance of Clostridia was significantly higher than that of the other groups, indicating that Clostridia dominated the Firmicutes and affected soil microbial community composition. The linear discriminant analysis (LDA) effect size (LefSe) analysis showed different biomarkers were more abundant in grassland than other land use types, suggesting that the structure and diversity of soil microorganisms in grassland were significantly different compared with cultivated land and forest land. The distance-based redundancy analysis (db-RDA) results showed that the total phosphorus (TP) and calcium (Ca) were the key environmental factors affecting the diversity and abundance of the soil microbial community in cultivated land and forestland, respectively. However, the microbial diversity in grassland was more related to spatial distance of the river. These results provided a theoretical basis for the changes in the composition, structure, and function of soil microbial communities in agro–pastoral areas.
Auxin-Cytokinin Balance Shapes Maize Root Architecture by Controlling Primary Root Elongation and Lateral Root Development
Authors: Rivas M. Ángeles , Friero Iván , Alarcón M. Victoria , Salguero Julio
Published: April 2022

The root system is responsible for water and nutrients uptake from the soil, and therefore, its extension is basic for an efficient acquisition. The maize root system is formed by different types of roots, and the lateral root branching substantially increases the surface for nutrient uptake. Therefore, the regulation of lateral root formation is fundamental in the development of root functions. Root architecture is basically controlled by auxin and cytokinins, which antagonize in the formation of lateral roots (LR) along the primary root axis, with auxin, a stimulator, and cytokinins inhibitors of LR development. This interaction has been analyzed in several zones along the primary root where LRs in different developmental stages were located. The root has been divided into several zones, such as meristem, elongation zone, and mature zone, according to the developmental processes occurring in each one. As Arabidopsis root elongated more slowly than maize root, these zones are shorter, and its delimitation is more difficult. However, these zones have previously been delimitated clearly in maize, and therefore, they analyze the effect of exogenous hormones in several LR developmental stages. The inhibitory effect of cytokinin on lateral root formation was observed in already elongated primary root zones in which initial events to form new lateral roots are taking place. Contrarily, auxin increased LR formation in the primary root segments elongated in the presence of the hormone. The inhibitory effect of cytokinin was reversed by auxin in a concentration-dependent manner when both hormones were combined. However, auxin is unable to recover LR development in primary root zones that have been previously elongated only in the presence of cytokinin. This antagonistic auxin-cytokinin effect on LR development depended on the balance between both hormones, which controls the root system architecture and determines the formation of LR during the process of initiation.
Comprehensive Profiling of Tubby-Like Proteins in Soybean and Roles of the GmTLP8 Gene in Abiotic Stress Responses
Authors: Xu Hong-Ru , Liu Ying , Yu Tai-Fei , Hou Ze-Hao , Zheng Jia-Cheng , Chen Jun , Zhou Yong-Bin , Chen Ming , Fu Jin-Dong , Ma You-Zhi , Wei Wen-Liang , Xu Zhao-Shi
Published: April 2022

Tubby-like proteins (TLPs) are transcription factors that are widely present in eukaryotes and generally participate in growth and developmental processes. Using genome databases, a total of 22 putative TLP genes were identified in the soybean genome, and unevenly distributed across 13 chromosomes. Phylogenetic analysis demonstrated that the predicted GmTLP proteins were divided into five groups (I-V). Gene structure, protein motifs, and conserved domains were analyzed to identify differences and common features among the GmTLPs. A three-dimensional protein model was built to show the typical structure of TLPs. Analysis of publicly available gene expression data showed that GmTLP genes were differentially expressed in response to abiotic stresses. Based on those data, GmTLP8 was selected to further explore the role of TLPs in soybean drought and salt stress responses. GmTLP8 overexpressors had improved tolerance to drought and salt stresses, whereas the opposite was true of GmTLP8-RNAi lines. 3,3-diaminobenzidine and nitro blue tetrazolium staining and physiological indexes also showed that overexpression of GmTLP8 enhanced the tolerance of soybean to drought and salt stresses; in addition, downstream stress-responsive genes were upregulated in response to drought and salt stresses. This study provides new insights into the function of GmTLPs in response to abiotic stresses.
Genomic and Transcriptomic Analyses Reveal Pathways and Genes Associated With Brittle Stalk Phenotype in Maize
Authors: Liu Jun , Sun Chuanbo , Guo Siqi , Yin Xiaohong , Yuan Yuling , Fan Bing , Lv Qingxue , Cai Xinru , Zhong Yi , Xia Yuanfeng , Dong Xiaomei , Guo Zhifu , Song Guangshu , Huang Wei
Published: April 2022

The mechanical strength of the stalk affects the lodging resistance and digestibility of the stalk in maize. The molecular mechanisms regulating the brittleness of stalks in maize remain undefined. In this study, we constructed the maize brittle stalk mutant (bk5) by crossing the W22:Mu line with the Zheng 58 line. The brittle phenotype of the mutant bk5 existed in all of the plant organs after the five-leaf stage. Compared to wild-type (WT) plants, the sclerenchyma cells of bk5 stalks had a looser cell arrangement and thinner cell wall. Determination of cell wall composition showed that obvious differences in cellulose content, lignin content, starch content, and total soluble sugar were found between bk5 and WT stalks. Furthermore, we identified 226 differentially expressed genes (DEGs), with 164 genes significantly upregulated and 62 genes significantly downregulated in RNA-seq analysis. Some pathways related to cellulose and lignin synthesis, such as endocytosis and glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI)-anchored biosynthesis, were identified by the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Gene and Genomes (KEGG) and gene ontology (GO) analysis. In bulked-segregant sequence analysis (BSA-seq), we detected 2,931,692 high-quality Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms (SNPs) and identified five overlapped regions (11.2 Mb) containing 17 candidate genes with missense mutations or premature termination codons using the SNP-index methods. Some genes were involved in the cellulose synthesis-related genes such as ENTH/ANTH/VHS superfamily protein gene (endocytosis-related gene) and the lignin synthesis-related genes such as the cytochrome p450 gene. Some of these candidate genes identified from BSA-seq also existed with differential expression in RNA-seq analysis. These findings increase our understanding of the molecular mechanisms regulating the brittle stalk phenotype in maize.
Brassinosteroid-Insensitive 1-Associated Receptor Kinase 1 Modulates Abscisic Acid Signaling by Inducing PYR1 Monomerization and Association With ABI1 in Arabidopsis
Authors: Shang Yun , Yang Dami , Ha Yunmi , Hur Yoon-Sun , Lee Myeong Min , Nam Kyoung Hee
Published: April 2022

Brassinosteroid-Insensitive 1-Associated Receptor Kinase 1 (BAK1) is a versatile kinase involved in many different plant developmental responses. Previously, we showed that BAK1 interacts with open stomata 1 (OST1), a cytoplasmic kinase, to promote abscisic acid (ABA)-induced stomatal closure. ABA is a plant hormone that primarily regulates stress responses and is recognized by the PYRABACTIN RESISTANCE1 (PYR1)/PYR1-LIKE (PYL)/REGULATORY COMPONENT OF ABA RECEPTORS (RCAR), which activates ABA signaling. Here, we demonstrated that BAK1 interacts with PYR1 and phosphorylates PYR1 in response to ABA in plants. We identified T137 and S142 of PYR1 as the phosphosites targeted by BAK1. Using phosphomimetic (PYR1DD) and phospho-dead (PYR1AA) PYR1 compared with wild-type PYR1, we showed that transgenic plants overexpressing a phosphomimetic PYR1 exhibited hypersensitivity to the inhibition of ABA-induced root growth and seed germination and increased ABA-induced stomatal closure and ABA-inducible gene expression. As underlying reasons for these phenomena, we further demonstrated that phosphorylated PYR1 existed in a monomeric form, in which ABA binding was increased, and the degree of complex formation with ABI1 was also increased. These results suggest that BAK1 positively modulates ABA signaling through interaction with PYR1, in addition to OST1.
Multiple Methods Synergistically Promote the Synchronization of Somatic Embryogenesis Through Suspension Culture in the New Hybrid Between Pinus elliottii and Pinus caribaea
Authors: Li Fengqing , Yao Jiabao , Hu Lingfeng , Chen Jinhui , Shi Jisen
Published: April 2022

Pinus elliottii × Pinus caribaea is an interspecific pine hybrid of major economic importance. Somatic embryogenesis and plant regeneration in P. elliottii × P. caribaea on solid medium have been reported previously; however, a current limitation is the lack of a stable and effective method for its commercial use. The objective of this study was to establish a suspension culture system and evaluate the effect of multiple methods synergistically on the synchronization of embryo development in P. elliottii × P. caribaea. For the former, a protocol to initiate and establish a suspension culture system of P. elliottii × P. caribaea was presented. Based on biomass growth, the growth of embryogenic calli (EC) followed an S-shape curve in suspensions grown for a 15-day period, and the exponential phase of cell suspensions was reached between days 3 and 6. The initial packed cell volume (PCV) and revolutions per minute (rpm) have a significant effect on the proliferation of EC, and the highest proliferation multiple reached 6.86 (±0.06) at the initial density of 5 ml PCV under a 9–10 days transfer interval in the dark on a rotary shaker at 70 rpm. For the latter, the influence of abscisic acid (ABA), ammonium (NH4+), nitrate (NO3–), low temperature, and polyethylene glycol (PEG) on somatic embryogenesis was very significant. When EC were suspended in the medium at a presence of 37.84 μM/L ABA, as many as 274 mature cotyledonary embryos/ml PCV of cells were thereafter formed in the mature medium, and 266 somatic embryos were obtained on mature medium after suspension culture in liquid medium containing 10 mmol/L NH4+ and 30 mmol/L NO3–. Furthermore, reducing the concentration of 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid gradually and at 4°C incubation for 12 h in the initial exponential phase could promote the synchronization of somatic embryogenesis, which resulted in 260 mature cotyledonary embryos. This suspension culture system and method of synchronic control can be used in the large-scale production of P. elliottii × P. caribaea seedlings.
Novel Functional Analysis for Pathogenic Proteins of Bursaphelenchus xylophilus in Pine Seed Embryos Using a Virus Vector
Authors: Kirino Haru , Konagaya Ken-ichi , Shinya Ryoji
Published: April 2022

Pine wilt disease (PWD), which is caused by the pine wood nematodeBursaphelenchus xylophilus, is among the most serious tree diseases worldwide. PWD is thought to be initiated by sequential excessive hypersensitive responses toB. xylophilus. Previous studies have reported candidate pathogenic molecules inducing hypersensitive responses in pine trees susceptible toB. xylophilus. The functions of some of these molecules have been analyzed in model plants using transient overexpression; however, whether they can induce hypersensitive responses in natural host pines remains unclear due to the lack of a suitable functional analysis method. In this study, we established a novel functional analysis method for susceptible black pine (Pinus thunbergii) seed embryos using transient overexpression by theApple latent spherical virusvector and investigated five secreted proteins ofB. xylophiluscausing cell death in tobacco to determine whether they induce hypersensitive responses in pine. We found that three of five molecules induced significantly higher expression in pathogenesis-related genes ( p < 0.05), indicating hypersensitive response in pine seed embryos compared with mock and green fluorescence protein controls. This result suggests that tobacco-based screening may detect false positives. This study is the first to analyze the function of pathogenic candidate molecules ofB. xylophilusin natural host pines using exogenous gene expression, which is anticipated to be a powerful tool for investigating the PWD mechanism.
Biotechnological Road Map for Innovative Weed Management
Authors: Wong Albert Chern Sun , Massel Karen , Lam Yasmine , Hintzsche Jessica , Chauhan Bhagirath Singh
Published: April 2022

In most agriculture farmlands, weed management is predominantly reliant on integrated weed management (IWM) strategies, such as herbicide application. However, the overuse and misuse of herbicides, coupled with the lack of novel active ingredients, has resulted in the uptrend of herbicide-resistant weeds globally. Moreover, weedy traits that contribute to weed seed bank persistence further exacerbate the challenges in weed management. Despite ongoing efforts in identifying and improving current weed management processes, the pressing need for novel control techniques in agricultural weed management should not be overlooked. The advent of CRISPR/Cas9 gene-editing systems, coupled with the recent advances in “omics” and cheaper sequencing technologies, has brought into focus the potential of managing weeds in farmlands through direct genetic control approaches, but could be achieved stably or transiently. These approaches encompass a range of technologies that could potentially manipulate expression of key genes in weeds to reduce its fitness and competitiveness, or, by altering the crop to improve its competitiveness or herbicide tolerance. The push for reducing or circumventing the use of chemicals in farmlands has provided an added incentive to develop practical and feasible molecular approaches for weed management, although there are significant technical, practical, and regulatory challenges for utilizing these prospective molecular technologies in weed management.
Quantitative Ubiquitylomic Analysis of the Dynamic Changes and Extensive Modulation of Ubiquitylation in Papaya During the Fruit Ripening Process
Authors: Mo Yuxing , Jiang Bian , Huo Jingxin , Lu Jiayi , Zeng Xiaoyue , Zhou Yan , Zhang Tao , Yang Min , Wei Yuerong , Liu Kaidong
Published: April 2022

Lysine ubiquitination is a highly conserved post-translational modification with diverse biological functions. However, there is little available information on lysine ubiquitination of non-histone proteins in papaya (Carica papaya L.). In total, 3,090 ubiquitination sites on 1,249 proteins with diverse localizations and functions were identified. Five conserved ubiquitinated K motifs were identified. Enrichment analysis showed that many Hsps were differentially ubiquitinated proteins (DUPs), suggesting an essential role of ubiquitination in degradation of molecular chaperone. Furthermore, 12 sugar metabolism-related enzymes were identified as DUPs, including an involvement of ubiquitination in nutrimental changes during the papaya ripening process. The ubiquitination levels of five fruit ripening-related DUPs, including one ethylene-inducible protein, two 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid oxidases, one endochitinase, and one cell wall invertase, were significantly changed during the ripening process. Our study extends the understanding of diverse functions for lysine ubiquitination in regulation of the papaya fruit ripening process.
The Role of Cognitive Emotion Regulation for Making and Keeping Friend and Conflict Networks
Authors: Ricciardi Courtney , Kornienko Olga , Garner Pamela W.
Published: April 2022

We used social network analysis (SNA) to examine how adaptive ER strategies (acceptance, positive reappraisal, refocusing, and putting in perspective) and maladaptive ER strategies (rumination, catastrophizing, self- and other-blame) predict the creation and maintenance of friendship and conflict relationships within a mixed-gender social group. Participants (n = 193, 53% female, M age = 19.4 years, 62.1% White) reported on emotion regulation, friendship, and conflict nominations at two time points. Stochastic actor-oriented models revealed that similarity in endorsement of adaptive ER strategies predicted maintenance of friendship and conflict relationships over time. However, new conflict relationships were more likely to form between those who differed in use of adaptive ER. Finally, more frequent use of maladaptive ER strategies was related to termination of existing conflict ties and the creation of new ones. Deploying social network analysis as a methodology for examining social relationships enables the unpacking the dynamics of multiple social relationships (friend and conflict), identifying the role of ER for structuring of social relationships among group members. Although cognitive ER is an intra-individual process, it fundamentally occurs within a social environment and our results advance the knowledge of how ER contributes to how this social environment is created in a first place.
Apology and Its Acceptance: Perceived Reconciliatory Attitudes Reduce Outgroup Dehumanization
Authors: Jin Wen Jie , Park Sang Hee , Park Joonha
Published: April 2022

Based on real-life intergroup animosities originating from a historical conflict, the current study examined how the perceived stance of the outgroup about the conflict affects the dehumanization of the outgroup. In Study 1 (N= 120), Korean undergraduates attributed morehuman natureto the Japanese after reading an article that the Japanese government did (vs. refused to) issue an official apology for a historical wrong. In turn, the more human nature assigned to the Japanese predicted higher expectations about positive mutual relations in the future. Similarly, in Study 2 (N= 209), Japanese undergraduates attributed morehuman uniquenessto Koreans after reading an article that an official apology for a historical wrong from Japan was accepted (vs. rejected) by Koreans. The higher the perceived human uniqueness of Koreans was, the higher were the willingness to help and the expectations of a positive relationship in the future. The findings demonstrate how mutual dehumanization can be reduced as a result of the other side’s reconciliatory stances and can further contribute to improving intergroup relations.
The Influence of Social Crowding on Consumers’ Preference for Green Products
Authors: Wenting Feng , Lijia Wang , Cuixin Gao
Published: April 2022

With the increasingly crowded shopping environment, social crowding has become an important factor that affects consumers’ psychology and behavior. However, the impact of social crowding on consumers’ preference for green products hasn’t been focused on. Therefore, the aim of this paper is to empirically investigate the influence of social crowding on consumers’ preference for green products. With four studies, the present research examines how social crowding influences consumers’ preferences and uncovers the underlying psychological mechanism. The research shows that consumers prefer green products more under the condition of high social crowding than low, and safety needs mediate the impact of social crowding on green products preference. However, the impact of social crowding on the preference for products is only significant in green products. It also demonstrates the moderating effect of introversion-extraversion personality traits between social crowding and green products preference. For extraverted consumers, social crowding won’t affect their preference for green products, while for introverted consumers, social crowding is more likely to increase their preference for green products. This study contributes to marketing research by proposing and testing a new mechanism that underlies social crowding.
Communication and Emotional Vocabulary; Relevance for Mental Health Among School-Age Youths
Authors: Rimehaug Tormod , Kårstad Silja Berg
Published: April 2022

Background

The association between language and mental health may be connected to several aspects of language. Based on the known associations, emotional vocabulary could be an important contribution to mental health and act as a risk, protective or resilience factor for mental health in general. As a preliminary test of this hypothesis, an assessment of emotional vocabulary was constructed and used among youths in school age. Cross-sectional associations and prediction models with parent-reported youth mental health as outcome were examined for emotional vocabulary as well as general vocabulary, non-verbal problem solving and social communication, controlled for age, gender and subsamples.

Results

Emotional vocabulary, general vocabulary and non-verbal problem solving were directly associated with each other and similarly associated with age and gender. However, they were not significantly associated with social communication skills or mental health in the expected direction. Only social communication skills showed significant negative associations with behavioral mental health problems, suggesting these skills to be potential resources related to mental health.

Implication

Future research should investigate whether behavioral problems may be prevented or improved by developing better social communication skills among community school-age youths. However, our results suggest that merely expanding emotional vocabulary is not likely to produce such effects unless this is integrated with improving social communication.
Uses of Energy Psychology Following Catastrophic Events
Authors: Feinstein David
Published: April 2022

Energy psychology, as most widely practiced, integrates the manual stimulation of acupuncture points with imaginal exposure, cognitive restructuring, and other evidence-based psychotherapeutic procedures. Efficacy for energy psychology protocols has been established in more than 120 clinical trials, with meta-analyses showing strong effect sizes for PTSD, anxiety, and depression. The approach has been applied in the wake of natural and human-made disasters in more than 30 countries. Four tiers of energy psychology interventions following the establishment of safety, trust, and rapport are described, including (1) immediate relief/stabilization, (2) reducing limbic arousal to trauma-based triggers, (3) overcoming complex psychological difficulties, and (4) promoting optimal functioning. The first tier is most pertinent in psychological first aid immediately following a disaster, with the subsequent tiers progressively being introduced over time with complex stress reactions and chronic disorders. Advantages of adding the stimulation of acupuncture points to a conventional exposure approach are identified, and challenges around cultural sensitivities and unintended effects are discussed. After establishing a framework for introducing energy psychology in disaster relief efforts, reports from a sampling of settings are presented, based on interviews with this paper’s author. These include accounts of relief work with survivors of mass shootings, genocide, ethnic warfare, earthquakes, hurricanes, tornadoes, floods, wildfires, and the COVID-19 pandemic. Hundreds of other reports from the field show a pattern of strong outcomes following the use of energy psychology in the days or weeks after a disaster and in the subsequent treatment of trauma-based psychological problems. Many of these accounts corroborate one another in terms of rapid relief and long-term benefits. Finally, examples of more efficient delivery methods utilizing large groups, lay counselors, digital technology, and cultivating community resilience are presented.
Adolescents’ Algorithmic Resistance to Short Video APP’s Recommendation: The Dual Mediating Role of Resistance Willingness and Resistance Intention
Authors: Lv Xing , Chen Yang , Guo Weiqi
Published: April 2022

Adolescents have gradually become a vital group of interacting with social media recommendation algorithms. Although numerous studies have been conducted to investigate negative reactions (both psychological and behavioral reactance) that the dark side of recommendation algorithms brings to social media users, little is known about the resistance intention and behavior based on their agency in the daily process of encountering algorithms. Focusing on the concept of algorithm resistance, this study used a two-path model (distinguishing resistance willingness and resistance intention) to investigate the algorithmic resistance of rural Chinese adolescents (N= 905) in their daily use of short video apps. The findings revealed that the perceived threat to freedom, algorithmic literacy, and peer influence were positively associated with the resistance willingness and intention; while the independent psychology on algorithmic recommendations significantly weakened resistance willingness and intention. Furthermore, this study verified the mediating role of resistance willingness and intention between the above independent variables and resistance behavior. Additionally, the positive impact of resistance willingness on resistance intention was confirmed. In conclusion, this study offers a comprehensive approach to further understanding adolescents’ algorithmic resistance awareness and behavior by combining psychological factors, personal competency, and interpersonal influences, as well as two types of resistance reactions (rational and irrational).
Reward Salience and Choice in a Controlling Context: A Lab Experiment
Authors: Hendijani Rosa , Steel Piers
Published: April 2022

One of the challenges in the motivation literature is examining the simultaneous effect of different motivational mechanisms on overall motivation and performance. The motivational congruence theory addresses this by stipulating that different motivational mechanisms can reinforce each other if they have similar effects on the perceived locus of causality. Reward salience and choice are two motivational mechanisms which their joint effects have been long debated. Built upon the motivational congruence effect, a recent empirical study affirms that a salient reward in a condition characterized by lack of choice and a non-salient reward in a condition characterized by provision of choice both increase overall motivation and performance. In this study, we examine the effect of reward salience and choice on overall motivation and performance in a controlling context, an effect which has not been studied before. A 2 (choice: present, absent) × 3 (reward: salient, non-salient, none) factorial design was conducted to examine research hypotheses. The results show that under controlling conditions, salient reward improves overall motivation and performance compared to non-salient and no-reward conditions.
Social Integration and Health Among Young Migrants in China: Mediated by Social Mentality and Moderated by Gender
Authors: Zhou Jingjing , Zhu Li , Zhang Junwei
Published: April 2022

Population mobility has been one of the most basic social characteristics of China’s reform and opening up for more than 40 years. As the main labor force in Chinese cities, young migrants have made major contributions toward China’s economic miracle as the country has experienced rapid industrialization and urbanization. However, frequent mobility has caused an imbalanced social mentality in young migrants and often leads to issues with social integration, which has made this group more vulnerable with respect to their health. This study used the 2013 and 2015 Chinese General Social Survey (CGSS) data of 1,007 young migrants to investigate social mentality mediating the linkage between social integration and health among young migrants. Additionally, to probe the moderating role of gender, multi-group structural equation modeling was applied to test if the pathways in the mediation model differed between young male and female migrants in a significant way. The results suggested that after controlling for the influence of age, marital status, education, and personal annual income, social integration positively impacted the health of young migrants in a significant way; social mentality mediated the action of social integration on this group’s health; and with respect to gender difference, on the three paths of social integration affecting health, social integration affecting social mentality, and social mentality affecting health, young male migrants were more affected than young female migrants. The findings of this study could help improve gender-specific policies on the health of the floating population and offer important theoretical reference and practical suggestions for future research.
A Clinical and Psychopathological Approach to Radicalization Among Adolescents
Authors: Campelo Nicolas , Oppetit Alice , Thompson Caroline , Cohen David , Louet Estelle
Published: April 2022

Recent studies have shown higher rates of radicalization of adolescents than in the 2000s. Since 2015, radicalization prevention units have been implemented in child and adolescent psychiatry departments in France. We aimed to report on the psychopathology of adolescents who were followed up in a university department due to their “radical conduct.” Based on the available clinical data (from child psychiatry consultations, long-term family and/or individual therapy, and psychological testing) for 20 adolescents with “radical conduct,” we examined the nature of their radical conduct, their psychopathology, their family characteristics, and the existence or absence of traumatic experiences. Among the 20 adolescents, 4 had radical conduct associated with a delusional syndrome (schizophrenia or a psychotic episode after substance abuse). For the other 16, we found no psychotic conditions. The analysis of other data showed that the adolescents shared some characteristics, such as an important prevalence of intrafamilial violence, sexual abuse, imprisonment of family members, traumatic family histories, and significant psychological control or dependence phenomena occurring in divided families. This diversity of psychopathologies appears consistent with previous studies highlighting the relevance of diverse profiles depending on the presence of a delusional syndrome, the individual's gender and the individual's attraction to violence. Finally, we discuss some psychopathological hypotheses and make therapeutic recommendations. We believe that child and adolescent psychotherapy/psychiatry has a role to play in countering violent extremism by offering adolescents a way out of radical commitment.
Psychological Distress, Fear and Coping Strategies During the Second and Third Waves of the COVID-19 Pandemic in Southern Germany
Authors: Elsayed Mohamed , Schönfeldt-Lecuona Carlos , Welte Xenia Anna , Dardeer Khaled Tarek , Kamal Manar Ahmed , Abdelnaby Ramy , Rudek Markus A. , Riedel Evelyne , Denkinger Michael , Gahr Maximilian , Connemann Bernhard J. , Alif Sheikh M. , Banik Biswajit , Cross Wendy , Rahman Muhammad Aziz
Published: April 2022

Background

The COVID-19 pandemic has imposed enormous psychological discomfort and fear across the globe, including Germany.

Objectives

To assess the levels of COVID-19 associated psychological distress and fear amongst Southern German population, and to identify their coping strategies.

Methods

A cross-sectional survey using an online questionnaire was conducted in healthcare and community settings in the region of Ulm, Southern Germany. Assessment inventories were the Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (K-10), the Brief Resilient Coping Scale (BRCS), and the Fear of COVID-19 Scale (FCV-19S), which were valid and reliable tools.

Results

A total of 474 Individuals participated in the study. The mean age was 33.6 years, and 327 (69%) were females. Most participants (n = 381, 80.4%) had high levels of psychological distress, whereas only 5.1% had high levels of fear, and two-thirds of participants showed higher levels of coping. Moderate to very high levels of psychological distress were associated with being female, living alone, distress due to employment changes, experiencing financial impact, having multiple co-morbidities, being a smoker, increased alcohol use over the previous 6 months, contact with COVID-19 cases and healthcare providers for COVID-19-related stress. Individuals who were ≥60 years, lived with non-family members, had co-morbidities and visited a healthcare provider had higher levels of fear. Higher levels of education and income showed better coping amongst participants.

Conclusion

Psychological distress was very high during the COVID-19 pandemic in Germany and associated with low levels of coping. This study identified vulnerable groups of people, who should be given priorities for addressing their health and wellbeing in future crisis periods.
Development and Validation of a Model to Predict the Contract Service of Family Doctor: A National Survey in China
Authors: Nie Zhiqiang , Chen Chen , Chen Guo , Wang Chao , Gan Yong , Feng Yingqing , Lu Zuxun
Published: April 2022

Background

Previous studies have reported a relatively low utilization of family doctor contract services (FDCS) in China, while the associated factors are unknown. The current study aimed to explore the factors associated with the utilization of FDCS, and then developed and validated a predictive model based on these identified factors.

Methods

We conducted a nationwide cross-sectional study using an online questionnaire, from March 2019 to April of 2019. Routinely collected variables in daily practice by family doctors were used to develop a derivation model to determine the factors associated with FDCS utilization, and then the external performance of the model was tested.

Results

A total of 115,717 and 49,593 participants were included in the development and validation datasets, respectively. Nearly 6.8% of the participants who signed a contract with FDCS received healthcare services from family doctors in China. Factors associated with the utilization of FDCS included age, male sex, self-reported household income, education attainment, insurance status, self-reported health status, smoking, drinking, self-reported physical activity status, chronic disease, walking distance from the nearest community center, and illness in the last 2 weeks, with an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) of 0.660 [95% confidence interval (CI), 0.653–0.667] and good calibration. Application of this nomogram in the validation dataset also showed acceptable diagnostic value with an AUC of 0.659 (95% CI, 0.649–0.669) and good calibration.

Conclusion

Twelve easily obtainable factors in daily practice of family doctors were used to develop a model to predict the utilization of FDCS, with a moderate performance.
Levels of Burnout and Its Determinant Factors Among Nurses in Private Hospitals of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, Ethiopia, 2020. A Multi Central Institutional Based Cross Sectional Study
Authors: Feleke Dejen Getaneh , Chanie Ermiase Sisay , Hagos Misganaw Girma , Derseh Behailu Tariku , Tassew Sheganew Fetene
Published: April 2022

Background

Burnout among nurses is a significant problem in healthcare establishments and has negative implications on clinical outcomes. International studies have shown the prevalence of burnout ranged from 10 to 70%. However, this is unknown among nurses in private hospitals in Addis Ababa. The study was intended to assess the levels of burnout and the associated factors among nurses working in private hospitals in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, 2020.

Methods

An institution-based cross-sectional study was used. A probability sampling, specifically, a simple random sampling technique was employed to collect data, and the Maslach burnout inventory human services survey (MBI-HSS) instrument was adapted to measure the levels of burnout. The data obtained was edited manually and entered into EPI-data version 4.6 and then exported to SPSS version 25 for analysis. Logistic regression was used to identify the association between the dependent and independent variables and variables with p < 0.25 on bivariate analysis were taken into multivariate logistic regression, and then variables with p < 0.05 were considered statistically significant.

Result

A total of 385 questionnaires were distributed to participants, but only 368 (96%) of them were collected and included in this study. The majority 56% and 69.8% of them were females and belonged to the age group of 20–29 years, respectively. Two hundred seven (56.5%) of them reported suffering from a high level of burnout. In the multivariate logistic regression analysis, night duty shift [AOR = 2.699; 95% CI: (1.043–6.987)], excessive workload [AOR = 6.013; 95% CI: (3.016–11.989)], staff shortage [AOR = 6.198; 95% CI: (3.162–12.147)], persistent interpersonal conflict [AOR = 2.465; 95% CI: (1.225–4.961)], and nurses' poor health status [AOR = 3.4878; 95% CI: (1.815–8.282)] demonstrated a statistical significant association with the professional burnout.

Conclusions and Recommendations

Nurses' burnout in private hospitals of Addis Ababa was highly prevalent. Therefore, ensuring adequate staffing and minimizing the workload of nurse professionals are mandatory to prevent it.