bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Short-term outcomes of deeper intubation technique of ileus tube for different types of acute intestinal obstruction patients: A retrospective multicenter study
Authors: Tan Yanlu , Yin Fangxu , Lu Zhihua , Huang Peng , Zhang Chengcai , Sun Jiuzheng , Wang Song , Dong Zhensheng
Published: December 2022

Background

Our previous research reported a novel deeper intubation technique (DIT) of the ileus tube for acute bowel obstruction patients. The present study was designed to evaluate the effect of this novel technique on the clinical outcomes of patients with obstruction using a large cohort.

Methods

The detailed clinical data were analyzed retrospectively from 496 obstruction patients who underwent intubation technique from 2014 to 2019 in five hospitals. The patients were divided into either the DIT group or the traditional intubation technique (TIT) group. The groups were matched in a 1:1 ratio using propensity scores, and the primary outcome was the short-term clinical outcomes for patients.

Results

The baseline characteristics were similar between the DIT group and the TIT group after matching. Compared with the TIT group, the DIT group had a significantly deeper intubation depth, with shorter hospital days, shorter time to first flatus and defecation, lower pain score, increased drainage volume, and lower emergency surgery rate. Importantly, the inflammatory factors such as white blood cell, C-reactive protein, and procalcitonin levels were significantly lower in the DIT group. In addition, the DIT treatment was significantly useful for adhesive obstruction patients.

Conclusion

The DIT procedure led to better short-term clinical outcomes compared with the TIT procedure, indicating that DIT is a safe and feasible technique for the treatment of intestinal obstruction that is worthy of further popularization and clinical application.
Soluble HLA peptidome: A new resource for cancer biomarkers
Authors: Tanuwidjaya Erwin , Schittenhelm Ralf B. , Faridi Pouya
Published: December 2022

Using circulating molecular biomarkers to screen for cancer and other debilitating disorders in a high-throughput and low-cost fashion is becoming increasingly attractive in medicine. One major limitation of investigating protein biomarkers in body fluids is that only one-fourth of the entire proteome can be routinely detected in these fluids. In contrast, Human Leukocyte Antigen (HLA) presents peptides from the entire proteome on the cell surface. While peptide-HLA complexes are predominantly membrane-bound, a fraction of HLA molecules is released into body fluids which is referred to as soluble HLAs (sHLAs). As such peptides bound by sHLA molecules represent the entire proteome of their cells/tissues of origin and more importantly, recent advances in mass spectrometry-based technologies have allowed for accurate determination of these peptides. In this perspective, we discuss the current understanding of sHLA-peptide complexes in the context of cancer, and their potential as a novel, relatively untapped repertoire for cancer biomarkers. We also review the currently available tools to detect and quantify these circulating biomarkers, and we discuss the challenges and future perspectives of implementing sHLA biomarkers in a clinical setting.
Case report: Rare intrapulmonary malignant mesothelioma complicated with myositis
Authors: Gong Dandan , Yu Jian , Jiang Xiaodong
Published: December 2022

Malignant pleural mesothelioma is an uncommon aggressive tumor. Its incidence is even lower when the lung parenchyma is the primary site. Myositis is a common paraneoplastic syndrome, but it rarely presents with malignant pleural mesothelioma. This report presents a rare intrapulmonary malignant mesothelioma complicated by cancer-associated myositis. The patient presented with limb muscle weakness as the first symptom and was diagnosed with intrapulmonary malignant mesothelioma complicated by cancer-associated myositis on the basis of clinical, histological, immunohistochemical, and radiological findings. The patient responded poorly to conventional hormone therapy and died of respiratory failure within 2 months after the first presence of limb muscle weakness.
The potential value of LC-MS non-targeted metabonomics in the diagnosis of follicular thyroid carcinoma
Authors: Qin Jiali , Yang Yang , Du Wei , Li Gang , Wu Yao , Luo Ruihua , Liu Shanting , Fan Jie
Published: December 2022

Background

To explore the metabolic differences of follicular thyroid carcinoma (FTC) by metabonomics, to find potential biomarkers for the diagnosis of FTC, and to explore the pathogenesis and diagnosis and treatment strategies of FTC.

Method

The metabonomics of 15 patients with FTC and 15 patients with follicular thyroid nodules(FTN) treated in Henan Cancer Hospital were analyzed by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS).

Results

The analysis showed that the metabolite profiles of FTC tissues could be well distinguished from those of control tissues, and 6 kinds of lipids were identified respectively, including lysophosphatidic acid(LysoPA) [LysoPA(0:0/18:0),LysoPA(0:0/18:2(9Z,12Z)],LysoPA[20:4(8Z,11Z,14Z,17Z)/0:0)]; phosphatidic acid(PA) [PA(20:3(8Z,11Z,14Z)/0:0),PA(20:4(5Z,8Z,11Z,14Z)/0:0),PA(20:5(5Z,8Z,11Z,14Z,17Z)/0:0)]; lysophosphatidylcholine(LPC) [LPC(18:1),LPC(16:0),LPC[16:1(9Z)/0:0],LPC(17:0),LPC[22:4(7Z,10Z,13Z,16Z),LPC(20:2(11Z,14Z); phosphatidylcholine(PC)(PC(14:0/0:0),PC(16:0/0:0); sphingomyelin(SM) (d18:0/12:0); fatty acid(FA)(18:1(OH3)]. There are 2 kinds of amino acids, including L-glutamate,L-glutamine.There are 3 other metabolites, including retinol,flavin adenine dinucleotide,androsterone glucuronide.Lipid metabolites are the main metabolites in these metabolites.The metabolic pathways related to FTC were analyzed by KEGG and HMDB, and 9 metabolic pathways were found, including 4 amino acid related metabolic pathways, 1 lipid metabolic pathways and 4 other related pathways.

Conclusion

There are significant differences in many metabonomic characteristics between FTC and FTN, suggesting that these metabolites can be used as potential biomarkers. Further study found that LysoPA and its analogues can be used as biomarkers in the early diagnosis of FTC.It may be related to the abnormal metabolism of phospholipase D (PLD), the key enzyme of LysoPA synthesis caused by RAS pathway. At the same time, it was found that the metabolic pathway of amino acids and lipids was the main metabolic pathway of FTC. The abnormality of LysoPA may be the cause of follicular tumor carcinogenesis caused by lipid metabolic pathway.
Activation of cancer immunotherapy by nanomedicine
Authors: Wang Lijuan , Xu Henan , Weng Lili , Sun Jin , Jin Ye , Xiao Chunping
Published: December 2022

Cancer is one of the most difficult diseases to be treated in the world. Immunotherapy has made great strides in cancer treatment in recent years, and several tumor immunotherapy drugs have been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Currently, immunotherapy faces many challenges, such as lacking specificity, cytotoxicity, drug resistance, etc. Nanoparticles have the characteristics of small particle size and stable surface function, playing a miraculous effect in anti-tumor treatment. Nanocarriers such as polymeric micelles, liposomes, nanoemulsions, dendrimers, and inorganic nanoparticles have been widely used to overcome deficits in cancer treatments including toxicity, insufficient specificity, and low bioavailability. Although nanomedicine research is extensive, only a few nanomedicines are approved to be used. Either Bottlenecks or solutions of nanomedicine in immunotherapy need to be further explored to cope with challenges. In this review, a brief overview of several types of cancer immunotherapy approaches and their advantages and disadvantages will be provided. Then, the types of nanomedicines, drug delivery strategies, and the progress of applications are introduced. Finally, the application and prospect of nanomedicines in immunotherapy and Chimeric antigen receptor T-cell therapy (CAR-T) are highlighted and summarized to address the problems of immunotherapy the overall goal of this article is to provide insights into the potential use of nanomedicines and to improve the efficacy and safety of immunotherapy.
Puerariae lobatae radix protects against UVB-induced skin aging via antagonism of REV-ERBα in mice
Authors: Ma Luyao , Huang Meiping , Sun Guanghui , Lin Yanke , Lu Danyi , Wu Baojian
Published: December 2022

Puerariae lobatae radix (PLR) is a wildly used herbal medicine. Here we aimed to assess the PLR efficacy against UVB (ultraviolet-B)-induced skin aging and to determine the mechanisms thereof. We found a significant protective effect of PLR (topical application) on UVB-induced skin aging in mice, as evidenced by reduced skin wrinkles, epidermal thickness, and MDA (malondialdehyde) content as well as increased levels of HYP (hydroxyproline) and SOD (superoxide dismutase) in the skin. In the meantime, Mmp-1, p21 and p53 levels were decreased in the skin of PLR-treated mice. Anti-aging effects of PLR were also confirmed in L929 cells. Furthermore, PLR up-regulated skin expression of BMAL1, which is a known regulator of aging by promoting Nrf2 and antioxidant enzymes. Consistently, Nrf2 and several genes (i.e., Prdx6, Sod1, and Sod2) encoding antioxidant enzymes in the skin were increased in PLR-treated mice. Moreover, based on Gal4 chimeric assay, Bmal1 reporter gene and expression assays, we identified PLR as an antagonist of REV-ERBα that can increase Bmal1 expression. Intriguingly, loss of Rev-erbα protected mice against UVB-induced skin aging and abrogated the protective effect of PLR. In conclusion, PLR acts as an antagonist of REV-ERBα and promotes the expression of BMAL1 to protect against skin aging in mice.
Sensitivity analysis of flexoelectric materials surrogate model based on the isogeometric finite element method
Authors: Li Haozhi , Zhao Juan , Guo Xiaokun , Cheng Yu , Xu Yanmin , Yuan Xiaohui
Published: December 2022

In this paper proposes a sensitivity analysis method based on a Polynomial Chaos Expansion (PCE) surrogate model for flexoelectric materials. The non-uniform rational B-splines (NURBS) basis functions to discretize the fourth-order partial differential equation for flexoelectricity and obtains a deterministic solution (electric potential). The mathematical expressions of surrogate model for the flexoelectric materials are established by considering uncertain parameters such as independent Young’s modulus, concentrated load and flexoelectric constants. The sensitivity expression is found by derivation the mathematical expression for the surrogate model. Moreover the finite difference method (FDM) are conducted in numerical examples to demonstrate the validity and correctness of the proposed algorithm.
Loss of SOX18/CLAUDIN5 disrupts the pulmonary endothelial barrier in ventilator-induced lung injury
Authors: Garcia-Flores Alejandro E. , Gross Christine M. , Zemskov Evgeny A. , Lu Qing , Tieu Kim , Wang Ting , Black Stephen M.
Published: December 2022

Mechanical strain contributes to ventilator-induced lung injury (VILI) through multi-factorial and complex mechanisms that remain unresolved. Prevailing evidence suggests that the loss of pulmonary endothelial tight junctions (TJs) plays a critical role. TJs are dynamically regulated by physiologic and hemodynamic forces to stabilize the endothelial barrier. The transcription factor sex-determining region Y-box (SOX)-18 is important in regulating blood vessel development and vascular permeability through its ability to regulate the transcription of Claudin-5, an endothelial TJ protein. Previously, we demonstrated that SOX18 expression is increased by shear stress in the pulmonary endothelium. Therefore, in this study, we investigated how mechanical strain mediated through cyclic stretch affects the SOX18/Claudin-5 regulatory axis. Our data demonstrate that SOX18 and Claudin-5 are downregulated in human lung microvascular endothelial cells (HLMVEC) exposed to cyclic stretch and the mouse lung exposed to high tidal mechanical ventilation. Overexpression of SOX18 reduced the loss of Claudin-5 expression in HLMVEC with cyclic stretch and preserved endothelial barrier function. Additionally, overexpression of Claudin-5 in HLMVEC ameliorated barrier dysfunction in HLMVEC exposed to cyclic stretch, although SOX18 expression was not enhanced. Finally, we found that the targeted overexpression of SOX18 in the pulmonary vasculature preserved Claudin-5 expression in the lungs of mice exposed to HTV. This, in turn reduced lung vascular leak, attenuated inflammatory lung injury, and preserved lung function. Together, these data suggest that enhancing SOX18 expression may prove a useful therapy to treat patients with ventilator-induced lung injury.
Temperatures leading to heat escape responses in Antarctic marine ectotherms match acute thermal limits
Authors: Morley S. A. , Chu J. W. F. , Peck L. S. , Bates A. E.
Published: December 2022

Thermal tolerance windows are key indicators of the range of temperatures tolerated by animals and therefore, a measure of resilience to climate change. In the ocean, where ectotherms are immersed, body temperatures are tightly coupled to environmental temperature and species have few options for thermoregulation. However, mobile species do have the ability to orientate towards optimal temperatures and move away from sub-optimal or dangerous temperatures. Escape responses are one such locomotory behavior, which typically manifests as a series of violent flicking movements that move individuals out of dangerous environments. We tested 11 species of Antarctic marine ectotherms, from one of the most stable shallow water marine environments, with an annual temperature range of −2°C to +2°C, that are vulnerable to small degrees of warming. Three species, the clamLaternula elliptica, the sea cucumberCucumaria georgiana, and the brittlestarOphionotus victoriae, showed no, or virtually no, escape response to temperature. Escape responses from a further eight species had a median response temperature of 11.2 (interquartile range, 10°C–15.7°C), which is well above current environmental temperatures but close to the range for acute lethal limits of Antarctic marine ectotherms (CTmaxrange, 17.2°C–26.6°C). This highlights that both acute tolerance limits and escape responses, fall outside current environmental temperatures, but also those predicted for 100s of years in the Southern Ocean. In a warmer Southern Ocean Antarctic fauna may not have the capacity to use temperature to select optimal thermal conditions, which leaves adaptation as a primary mechanism for their persistence.
Heart sound classification based on improved mel-frequency spectral coefficients and deep residual learning
Authors: Li Feng , Zhang Zheng , Wang Lingling , Liu Wei
Published: December 2022

Heart sound classification plays a critical role in the early diagnosis of cardiovascular diseases. Although there have been many advances in heart sound classification in the last few years, most of them are still based on conventional segmented features and shallow structure-based classifiers. Therefore, we propose a new heart sound classification method based on improved mel-frequency cepstrum coefficient features and deep residual learning. Firstly, the heart sound signal is preprocessed, and its improved features are computed. Then, these features are used as input features of the neural network. The pathological information in the heart sound signal is further extracted by the deep residual network. Finally, the heart sound signal is classified into different categories according to the features learned by the neural network. This paper presents comprehensive analyses of different network parameters and network connection strategies. The proposed method achieves an accuracy of 94.43% on the dataset in this paper.
Detection of ryanodine receptor G4911E and I4754M mutation sites and analysis of binding modes of diamide insecticides with RyR on Galeruca daurica (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae)
Authors: Ren Hao , Zhang Hongling , Ni Ruoyao , Li Yanyan , Li Ling , Wang Wenhe , Tian Yu , Pang Baoping , Tan Yao
Published: December 2022

In recent years, the leaf beetle Galeruca daurica has broken out in the northern grasslands of Inner Mongolia, its management still mainly depends on chemical control using traditional insecticides or with novel action. The study was aim to identify mutation locus associated with resistance to diamide insecticides in field population of G. daurica, to provide a reference for rational selection of insecticides and to avoid the rapid resistance development to diamide insecticides. We cloned the full length of the ryanodine receptor gene of G. daurica (GdRyR), constructed 3D model and transmembrane regions by homologous modeling based on deduced amino acid sequence. Two potential mutation loci (Gly4911Glu and Ile4754Met) and allelic mutation frequencies were detected in individuals of G. daurica. In addition, their binding patterns to two diamide insecticides (chlorantraniliprole, cyantraniliprole) were analyzed separately using a molecular docking method. The full-length cDNA sequence of GdRyR (GenBank accession number: OP828593) was obtained by splicing and assembling, which is 15,399 bp in length and encodes 5,133 amino acids. The amino acid similarity of GdRyR with that of other Coleopteran insects were 86.70%–91.33%, which possessed the typical structural characteristics. An individual resistance allelic mutation frequency test on fifty field leaf beetles has identified 12% and 32% heterozygous individuals at two potential mutation loci Gly4911Glu and Ile4754Met, respectively. The affinity of the I4754M mutant model of GdRyR for chlorantraniliprole and cyantraniliprole was not significantly different from that of the wild type, and all had non-covalent interactions such as hydrogen bonding, hydrophobic interactions and π-cation interactions. However, the G4911E mutant model showed reduced affinity and reduced mode of action with two diamide insecticides, thus affecting the binding stability of the ryanodine receptor to the diamide insecticides. In conclusion, the G4911E mutation in GdRyR may be a potential mechanism for the development of resistance to diamide insecticides on G. daurica and should be a key concern for resistance risk assessment and reasonable applications of diamide insecticides for control in future. Moreover, this study could provide a reference for ryanodine receptor structure-based insecticides design.
Super resolution live imaging: The key for unveiling the true dynamics of membrane traffic around the Golgi apparatus in plant cells
Authors: Ito Yoko , Uemura Tomohiro
Published: December 2022

In contrast to the relatively static image of the plants, the world inside each cell is surprisingly dynamic. Membrane-bounded organelles move actively on the cytoskeletons and exchange materials by vesicles, tubules, or direct contact between each other. In order to understand what is happening during those events, it is essential to visualize the working components in vivo. After the breakthrough made by the application of fluorescent proteins, the development of light microscopy enabled many discoveries in cell biology, including those about the membrane traffic in plant cells. Especially, super-resolution microscopy, which is becoming more and more accessible, is now one of the most powerful techniques. However, although the spatial resolution has improved a lot, there are still some difficulties in terms of the temporal resolution, which is also a crucial parameter for the visualization of the living nature of the intracellular structures. In this review, we will introduce the super resolution microscopy developed especially for live-cell imaging with high temporal resolution, and show some examples that were made by this tool in plant membrane research.
A transcriptome analysis of Benincasa hispida revealed the pathways and genes involved in response to Phytophthora melonis infection
Authors: Cai Jinsen , Yang Songguang , Liu Wenrui , Yan Jinqiang , Jiang Biao , Xie Dasen
Published: December 2022

Wilt disease caused by Phytophthora melonis infection is one of the most serious threats to Benincasa hispida production. However, the mechanism of the response of B. hispida to a P. melonis infection remains largely unknown. In the present study, two B. hispida cultivars with different degrees of resistance to P. melonis were identified: B488 (a moderately resistant cultivar) and B214 (a moderately susceptible cultivar). RNA-seq was performed on P. melonis-infected B488 and B214 12 hours post infection (hpi). Compared with the control, 680 and 988 DEGs were respectively detected in B488 and B214. A KEGG pathway analysis combined with a cluster analysis revealed that phenylpropanoid biosynthesis, plant-pathogen interaction, the MAPK signaling pathway-plant, and plant hormone signal transduction were the most relevant pathways during the response of both B488 and B214 to P. melonis infection, as well as the differentially expressed genes in the two cultivars. In addition, a cluster analysis of transcription factor genes in DEGs identified four genes upregulated in B488 but not in B214 at 6 hpi and 12 hpi, which was confirmed by qRT-PCR. These were candidate genes for elucidating the mechanism of the B. hispida response to P. melonis infection and laying the foundation for the improvement of B. hispida.
Adult Chinese Spanish L2ers’ acquisition of phi-agreement and temporal concord: The role of morphosyntactic features and adverb/subject-verb distance
Authors: Mao Tiaoyuan , Biondo Nicoletta , Zheng Zilong
Published: December 2022

Introduction

While phi-agreement and concord are suggested to differ in nature during the first language (L1) acquisition, the acquisition of adverb-verb TC and SV person/number agreement by Chinese Spanish second language (L2) learners has only received limited attention. The current study examined morphosyntactic processing by advanced Chinese Spanish L2 learners (L2ers), whose L1 lacks the explicit morphological marking of tense and phi-agreement.

Method

Chinese Spanish L2ers and native Spanish speakers were asked to complete a self-paced grammaticality judgment task, where the grammaticality of adverb-verb TC and SV person/number agreement as well as the adverb/subject-verb distance were manipulated.

Results

For both native Spanish speakers and L2ers, SV agreement violations are detected earlier and judged more accurately than adverb-verb TC violations. Furthermore, L2ers process SV number agreement less efficiently than SV person agreement (but as efficiently as adverb-verb TC). And there is no influence of the adverb/subject-verb distance on the processing of verbal inflection.

Conclusions

This study suggests that advanced Chinese Spanish L2ers tend to use native-like cognitive mechanisms for phi-agreement and concord computations, though their sensitivity to agreement violations may be further influenced by the morphosyntactic feature involved.
Effect of restaurant consumers’ anticipated emotions on perceived value and behavioral intention in the COVID-19 context
Authors: Jiang Yanmei , Lau Antonio K. W.
Published: December 2022

While hospitality scholars have been conducting research on post-pandemic consumption recovery, the impact of the psychological consequences of COVID-19 on consumers’ post-pandemic behavior remains insufficiently addressed. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to explore the relationships among anticipated emotions, perceived value, perceived threat, and dining-out intention in the COVID-19 context. In this study, 621 restaurant consumers in China were surveyed and the data were analyzed with structural equation modeling. The results suggested that positive anticipated emotions affect perceived hedonic, utilitarian, and social values, whereas negative anticipated emotions affect hedonic value. Hedonic and utilitarian values then influence dining-out intention. Perceived threat in terms of perceived severity and susceptibility to COVID-19 was explored to moderate the impacts of hedonic and social values on the intention. This study contributes to the literature by identifying the positive, distinct roles of both anticipated emotions on consumer dining-out intention through perceived values and threats during the early recovery of COVID-19.
Factors affecting the adoption of green prevention and control techniques by family farms: Evidence from Henan province of China
Authors: Chen Tingting , Lu Xiaojing , Wu Zhanyong
Published: December 2022

Encouraging farmers to adopt green prevention and control techniques (GCTs) is conducive to ensuring the quality and safety of agricultural products, the ecological environment and agricultural production in China. To explore the factors influencing vegetable farmers’ adoption of GCTs, this study utilized the “information-motivation-behavior” intervention (IMB) model and ordered logistic model to empirically study the adoption behavior of 653 vegetable farmers in Henan Province, China. Estimation results indicated that the IMB model significantly predicted farmers’ adoption of GCTs: 1) From the perspective of adoption decisions, 88.82% of the farmers have adopted GCTs, but the degree of adoption is low. 2) the farmers’ adoption of GCTs IMB model specifies that higher levels of GCTs information, motivation, and behavioral skills should result in a greater likelihood of engaging in GCTs adoption behavior. 3) Motivation and behavioral skills are activated through information. 4) Finally, motivation can indirectly affect farmers’ GCTs adoption behavior through behavioral skills. The results of this study support the need for the government to promote the use of GCTs for vegetable pest control, as well as advance integrated prevention and control in the agricultural industry.
Gender role attitudes and work–family conflict: A multiple mediating model including moderated mediation analysis
Authors: Chen Gongxing , Zhang Jiamiao , Hu Yingying , Gao Yuan
Published: December 2022

With the fierce labor market competition, the family population’s size continues to expand, and the conflict between work and family requirements for individual roles becomes increasingly intense. Most studies focus on work–family conflict as an antecedent variable, and few studies use work–family conflict as an outcome variable. This study aimed to explore the underlying mechanism of the relationship between gender role attitudes and work–family conflict. Two models were tested using conditional process analysis for testing direct and indirect effects on a sample of 324 employees: A serial multiple mediation model, and the multiple mediation model including the moderating role of education level and subjective socioeconomic status. The results suggested that (1) gender role attitudes significantly and positively predicted work–family conflict. (2) Parental sacrifice and subjective well-being played multiple mediating roles between gender role attitudes and work–family conflict. (3) Education level moderated the relationship between gender role attitudes and parental sacrifice, as evidenced by the fact that low education level amplified the positive predictive effect of gender role attitudes on parental sacrifice. (4) Subjective socioeconomic status moderated the relationship between gender role attitudes and subjective well-being, suggesting that high subjective socioeconomic status amplified the negative predictive effect of gender role attitudes on subjective well-being. This work contributes to the understanding of the process underlying the relationship between gender role attitudes and work–family conflict, and to the literature reporting the possible moderated role of education level and subjective socioeconomic status on the influence outcomes of gender role attitudes. Theoretical and practical implications are also discussed.
Effects of social media tourism information quality on destination travel intention: Mediation effect of self-congruity and trust
Authors: Wang Huimin , Yan Jinzhe
Published: December 2022

The asymmetry of tourism information makes social media an important information source. Previous research has been conducted on the influence of tourist-generated content on tourism consumption behavior, but few studies have concentrated on the mechanism of tourism information quality on consumers’ travel intention in the social media environment. Adopting the Elaboration Likelihood Model, this paper aims to investigate how the information quality of social media affects consumers’ travel intention rationally and emotionally and the moderation effect of tourists’ prior knowledge. The empirical results indicate that the quality of social media information positively affects travel intention and self-congruity and trust mediates the relationship between the quality of social media information and travel intention. Moreover, this study identified that tourists’ prior knowledge negatively modifies the relationship between information quality and self-congruity in line with the proposed hypotheses. The research explores the influence mechanism of tourist-generated content quality on consumers’ travel intention, which benefits destination management and content marketing.
Resilience and active inference
Authors: Miller Mark , Albarracin Mahault , Pitliya Riddhi J. , Kiefer Alex , Mago Jonas , Gorman Claire , Friston Karl J. , Ramstead Maxwell J. D.
Published: December 2022

In this article, we aim to conceptualize and formalize the construct of resilience using the tools of active inference, a new physics-based modeling approach apt for the description and analysis of complex adaptive systems. We intend this as a first step toward a computational model of resilient systems. We begin by offering a conceptual analysis of resilience, to clarify its meaning, as established in the literature. We examine an orthogonal, threefold distinction between meanings of the word “resilience”: (i) inertia, or the ability to resist change (ii) elasticity, or the ability to bounce back from a perturbation, and (iii) plasticity, or the ability to flexibly expand the repertoire of adaptive states. We then situate all three senses of resilience within active inference. We map resilience as inertia onto high precision beliefs, resilience as elasticity onto relaxation back to characteristic (i.e., attracting) states, and resilience as plasticity onto functional redundancy and structural degeneracy.
Waste separation—Who cares? Organizational climate and supervisor support’s role in promoting pro-environmental behaviors in the workplace
Authors: Costa Adriana , Mouro Carla , Duarte Ana Patrícia
Published: December 2022

Corporate environmental sustainability is currently a major goal of many businesses. This study’s main objectives were to examine the interactive role of green organizational climate and supervisor support in predicting pro-environmental behaviors (PEBs) at work, namely paper and plastic waste separation, and to test the mediating role of individual-level variables of the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) in this relationship. The research specifically tested the attitude, subjective norms, and perceived behavioral control’s mediation of the relationship between green organizational climate and self-reported waste separation, and whether supervisor support moderates the relationship between green climate and TBP variables. Data for this cross-sectional study were collected with an online survey of 311 workers and multiple regression analyses, with the macro Process, were performed to test the hypotheses. The findings confirm the TPB variables’ mediating effect. Perceived green climate is positively related to employees’ attitudes, subjective norms, and perceived behavioral control regarding waste separation, which in turn are connected to higher reported levels of paper and plastic separation. The workers’ perception of supervisor support moderates the relationship between green climate and subjective norms in favor of paper separation. These findings indicate that green climate is less strongly linked to subjective norms when supervisor support is perceived as stronger than when it is seen as weaker. In conclusion, a green organizational climate plays a determining role in workers’ separation of waste at work as it fosters individual motives to perform these behaviors. Moreover, supervisors can provide their workers with social norms and inspire them to support environmental sustainability practices. Thus, as part of an overall transition strategy to achieve sustainability, organizations need to invest in green policies and practices and incentivize supervisors to encourage PEBs and capitalize on their close links to subordinates to foster sustainable norms.
The Relationships Between Career-Related Emotional Support From Parents and Teachers and Career Adaptability
Authors: Song Yuan , Mu Fang , Zhang Jiahong , Fu Mingchen
Published: December 2022

Career-related support from parents and teachers plays an essential role in the process of promoting young people’s career development. This study examined the relationship between parents’ and teachers’ career-related support and career adaptability among Chinese male primary school preservice teachers (N = 772). The participants completed the Career Adapt-Abilities Scale–Short Version (CAAS), the Career-Related Parental Support Scale (CRPSS), and the Career-Related Teacher Support Scale (CRTSS). Results showed that a high level of emotional support from parents and teachers had more effects on the career adaptability of Chinese male primary school preservice teachers then other aspects in the scale, and teachers’ emotional support is more important than parents’ emotional support. Notably, there is a complex correlation among education level and occupation of parents and their children’s occupational adaptability. These findings carry implications for supporting teachers and parents in facilitating preservice teachers’ career adaptability. Future research could identify the differential effects of different forms of teacher support and parental support relate to career adaptability.
Associations between adolescent students’ multiple domain task value-cost profiles and STEM aspirations
Authors: Vinni-Laakso Janica , Upadyaya Katja , Salmela-Aro Katariina
Published: December 2022

According to the modern expectancy-value theory, students’ task values may differ across domains, manifesting as varying motivational patterns. In middle school, students’ motivation becomes increasingly apparent and may direct their future occupational aspirations. Using a person-oriented approach, this study examines students’ self-concept, and positive and negative task values (i.e., utility value, intrinsic value, and emotional cost) across Finnish language, math, biology, and physics, and the stability of the identified profiles. Further, the associations of the profiles with students’ subsequent academic achievement and math and natural science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM)/health science STEM aspirations, and gendered effects were examined. Longitudinal data was collected through Grades 7 to 9 in 21 middle schools in Helsinki, Finland (N = 1,309, N = 1,179, N = 818, respectively; age 13–15 years; 55.9% female). Latent profile analysis (LPA) identified four task value profiles in Grades 7 and 8: Low motivation high cost STEM (13%/13%) showed low task values with high cost, especially in math and physics; High motivation low cost STEM (7%/8%) showed the highest task values with the lowest cost, especially in math and physics; High motivation high cost (18%/17%) showed high task values and cost across domains; and Moderate motivation and cost (62%/62%) showed moderate task values and cost across domains. The latent transition analysis identified Moderate motivation and cost as the most stable profile across 2 years. In comparison to the other profiles, students with a Low motivation high cost STEM profile were less likely to have STEM aspirations in Grade 9. These results suggests that majority of middle school students are highly to moderately motivated in various domains, however, some students simultaneously experience high cost. It may reflect the increasingly difficult courses and study demands in middle school.
Reach and perceived effectiveness of a community-led active outreach postvention intervention for people bereaved by suicide
Authors: Hill Nicole T. M. , Walker Roz , Andriessen Karl , Bouras Hamza , Tan Shawn R. , Amaratia Punam , Woolard Alix , Strauss Penelope , Perry Yael , Lin Ashleigh
Published: December 2022

Background

Postvention is a core component of suicide prevention strategies, internationally. However, the types of supports provided to people impacted by suicide vary widely. This study examines the perceived effectiveness of the Primary Care Navigator (PCN) model for people bereaved by suicide. The PCN model was implemented in response to a suicide cluster. It is an active outreach postvention intervention, initiated by police in response to a suspected suicide and links individuals to support in the immediate aftermath of their loss.

Methods

A retrospective cross-sectional mixed methods approach was used to (1) identify the reach of the PCN model, (2) describe the type of support provided to people bereaved by a suspected suicide and (3) identify the perceived effectiveness of the PCN model from the perspective of WA police, postvention stakeholders and individuals bereaved by suicide. Quantitative data was used to examine the characteristics of suicide in the region, the characteristics of people who received bereavement support, and the types of support that were provided. Interviews with police, postvention stakeholders, and people bereaved by a suspected suicide were conducted to identify the perceived effectiveness of the intervention.

Results

Between 1 January 2019 and 31 March 2021 there were 80 suspected suicides. Active outreach was provided to 347 bereaved individuals via the PCN model. Just under half of those who were offered outreach accepted further support (N = 164) in the form of suicide bereavement information (98%), mental health or clinical support (49.6%), specialized postvention counseling (38.4%), financial assistance (16%) and assistance with meals (16%), followed by housing assistance (14%) and referral to community services (11%). Police, stakeholders, and people with lived experience of a suspected suicide perceived the PCN model to be effective at connecting them to the community, linking people to support, and preventing suicide.

Conclusion

The results provide evidence supporting the perceived effectiveness of an active outreach approach to postvention that provides acute support to people bereaved by suicide. Findings highlight important practical areas of support such as providing referral pathways and information on grief and suicide loss in the immediate aftermath of a suicide loss.
The changes in family functioning and family happiness during the COVID-19 pandemic: The situation in Thailand
Authors: Limsuwan Nida , Prachason Thanavadee , Wisajun Pattarabhorn
Published: December 2022

Background

The effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on family well-being and functioning were generally a concern for healthcare providers in many countries.

Objectives

To explore the changes in family functioning and family happiness during the pandemic in Thailand and to investigate factors associated with the changes in family happiness.

Methods

This was a cross-sectional study conducted between November and December 2021. Online questionnaires regarding family functioning, family happiness, domestic violence, and COVID-19-related experiences were used.

Results

A total of 485 participants were included in this study. The perceived family happiness slightly decreased from 8.19 (pre-pandemic score) to 7.62 (post-pandemic score). In contrast, the general family functioning (SCORE-15 index), strength, and communication subscale scores after the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic were significantly lower than those of the pre-pandemic period. Moreover, the prevalence of verbal and physical violence significantly reduced during the pandemic. In addition, the change in family functioning was the strongest factor associated with the change in family happiness.

Conclusion

In general, family functioning slightly improved; however, perceived family happiness decreased during the pandemic. In addition, the change in family functioning was the strongest factor associated with the change in family happiness.
Short-term effects of air pollutants on outpatients with psoriasis in a Chinese city with a subtropical monsoon climate
Authors: Wang Ting , Xia Yuanrui , Zhang Xinhong , Qiao Nini , Ke Susu , Fang Quan , Ye Dongqing , Fan Yinguang
Published: December 2022

Introduction

Psoriasis is a common skin disease that seriously affects patients' quality of life. The association of air pollutants with psoriasis, and the extent of their effects remains unclear.

Methods

Based on a distributed lag non-linear model, this study explored the short-term effects of air pollutants on outpatients with psoriasis in Hefei, China, between 2015 and 2019 by analyzing the exposure–lag–response relationship, after controlling for confounding influences such as meteorological factors, long-term trends, day of the week, and holidays. Stratified analyses were performed for patients of different ages and genders.

Results

The maximum relative risks of psoriasis outpatients' exposure to SO2, NO2, and O3 were 1.023 (95% confidence intervals (CI): 1.004–1.043), 1.170 (95% CI: 1.046–1.307), and 1.059 (95% CI: 1.030–1.090), respectively. An increase of 10 μg/m3 of NO2 was associated with a 2.1% (95% CI: 0.7–3.5%) increase in outpatients with psoriasis, and a decrease of 10 μg/m3 of O3 was associated with an 0.8% (95% CI: 0.4–1.2%) increase in outpatients with psoriasis. Stratified analyses showed that male subjects were more sensitive to a change in meteorological factors, while female subjects and outpatients with psoriasis aged 0–17 years old were more sensitive to a change in air pollutants.

Discussion

Short-term air pollutant exposures were associated with outpatients having psoriasis, suggesting that patients and high-risk people with psoriasis should reduce their time spent outside and improve their skin protection gear when air quality is poor.
Prevalence of anisometropia and associated factors in Shandong school-aged children
Authors: Xu Zihang , Wu Ziyun , Wen Ying , Ding Meihua , Sun Wei , Wang Yirong , Shao Zhen , Liu Yi , Yu Mingkun , Liu Guoyong , Hu Yuanyuan , Bi Hongsheng
Published: December 2022

Objective

To investigate anisometropia's prevalence and associated factors in school-aged children.

Methods

A cross-sectional school-based study was conducted in Shandong Province, China, including children aged 4 to 17 from 9 schools. Anisometropia was defined as the differences between the two eyes in spherical equivalent (SE) or cylinder degree of 1.00 diopter (D) or more [SE or cylindrical (CYL) difference ≥ 1.00 D] after cycloplegic autorefraction. The Generalized Linear Model (GLM) was used to analyze the effects of ocular parameters [the differences between eyes in axial length (AL), habitual visual acuity (HVA), and corneal astigmatism (CA)] and lifestyle parameters (time spent indoor near work and outdoor activities) on anisometropia.

Results

Total 4,198 (93.4%) of the 4,494 children were included in the statistical analysis. The mean difference in inter-eye SE was 0.42 ± 0.61 D. The prevalence of anisometropia was 13.2% (95%CI: 12.1 to 14.2%) (SE anisometropia's prevalence:10.3%; CYL anisometropia's prevalence: 4.1%), increased with older age (OR = 1.10, P = 0.002), the worse myopic eye (myopia vs. premyopia, OR = 1.87, P = 0.002), the worse hyperopic eye (hyperopia vs. premyopia, OR = 1.77, P = 0.013), larger difference in inter-eye AL (0.1–0.3 vs. ≤ 0.1, OR = 1.67, P = 0.008; >0.3 vs. ≤ 0.1, OR = 28.61, P < 0.001), HVA (>0.2 vs. ≤ 0.2, OR = 3.01, P < 0.001), CA (OR = 6.24, P < 0.001), the worse stereoacuity (>100 vs. ≤ 100, OR = 1.59, P = 0.001), longer indoor near work time per day on weekends (4–8 vs. <4, OR = 1.41, P = 0.038; ≥8 vs. <4, OR = 1.40, P = 0.131), and shorter outdoor activity time per day on weekdays (≥1 vs. <1, OR = 0.75, P = 0.046) in multivariable analysis. In the SE anisometropia group, the difference in inter-eye AL (>0.3 vs. ≤ 0.1, β: 0.556, 95%CI: 0.050 to 1.063), HVA (>0.2 vs. ≤ 0.2, β: 0.511, 95%CI: 0.312 to 0.710), and CA (β: 0.488, 95%CI: 0.289 to 0.688), stereoacuity (>100 vs. ≤ 100, β: 0.299, 95%CI: 0.110 to 0.488) had a positive impact on the difference in inter-eye SE.

Conclusions

Ocular parameters and lifestyle parameters are associated with the occurrence of anisometropia in children aged 4 to 17 years, including the difference in inter-eye AL, HVA, CA, stereoacuity, indoor near work time, and outdoor activity time. Preventing myopia and early treating anisometropic amblyopia may be effective ways to reduce the prevalence of anisometropia.
Life cycle and circularity metrics to measure the sustainability of closed-loop agri-food pathways
Authors: Falcone Giacomo , Stillitano Teodora , Iofrida Nathalie , Spada Emanuele , Bernardi Bruno , Gulisano Giovanni , De Luca Anna Irene
Published: December 2022

This work aims to present a methodological proposal based on Life Cycle (LC) methodologies, and circularity performance indicators, to assess closed-loop pathways by providing comprehensive results on economic and environmental impacts generated by agri-food production systems. The methodological approach will be tested on olive oil production systems, one of the most important agri-food chains for Mediterranean countries, whose import and export significance is set to grow in light of the shrinking market supply of seed oils. Some insights for the co-products valorization are provided through the evaluation of the reuse of by-products as a possible resource capable to improve the sustainability of the olive oil farms. The integrated application of three different methodologies, Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), Environmental Life Cycle Costing (ELCC) and Material Circularity Indicator (MCI), enabled comparative evaluation of Extra Virgin Olive Oil (EVOO) production under a linear production model with production under a circular model. The circular scenario was better in most environmental impact categories, registering an improvement in Global Warming Potential (GWP) of nearly 30%. In economic terms, there was a lower production cost for the circular scenario and a lower environmental cost by reducing the use of synthetic products through the reuse of waste products. The circular scenario recorded a higher degree of circularity due to a reduction in virgin raw materials used in the production process and a reduction in non-recoverable waste. The implementation of circular strategies represents one of the possible trajectories to guide the ecological transition, and the proposed methodological framework can support the decisions of both producers and public decision-makers toward more sustainable and efficient production patterns.
Sustainable Investments in the Insurance Sector
Authors: Deák Viktória , Tőrös-Barczel Nikolet , Holczinger Norbert , Szebelédi Ferenc
Published: December 2022

Achieving global environmental and climate agreements requires the efforts of not only supranational organisations and states, but also the financial sector, including the insurance sector. In addition to the core business of insurance companies, i.e. the undertaking of risk, their investments also play a key role. Recent years have seen an increasing number of unit-linked products that seek to contribute to some sustainability goal. However, the sustainability approaches and investor disclosures of collective investment undertakings and unit-linked asset funds have not been uniform, warranting regulation on account of the growing risk of greenwashing. New EU legislation has created the opportunity, inter alia, to distinguish collective investment undertakings and asset funds in terms of sustainability and to ensure greater transparency for investors. While there is no doubt about the need for regulation, at this stage it poses a number of challenges for institutions.