bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Comparison of Endophytic and Epiphytic Microbial Communities in Surviving and Dead Korean Fir (Abies koreana) Using Metagenomic Sequencing
Authors: Choi Bae Young , Lee Suhyeon , Kim Jaewook , Park Hyeonseon , Kim Joon-Hyeok , Kim Minji , Park Soo-Je , Kim Ki-Tae , Ryu Hojin , Shim Donghwan
Published: November 2022

Plant endophyte and epiphyte communities cooperatively interact with their host plants and play crucial roles in sustaining plant fitness. In Korea, a variety of studies have been conducted to elucidate the reasons for the declining population of the endangered Korean fir (Abies koreana), but the relationship between microbiota and the healthy condition of trees remains unclear. Here, we conducted bacterial 16S rRNA gene and fungal ITS sequence analyses to dissect the composition of endophytic and epiphytic microbiota in both live and dead trees located in the same Mt. Jiri habitat. In the live trees, the bacterial class Armatimonadia and the lichenized fungi groups were significantly dominant, whereas many bacterial and fungal taxa mainly found in rotten wood were enriched in the dead trees. Functional prediction of the microbial communities in live trees suggested the possibility that bacterial endophytes and epiphytes play a role in inorganic nutrient metabolism and fungal endophytes and epiphytes produce biologically active secondary metabolites, thereby contributing to the healthy condition of Korean fir trees. The ecological function of endophytes and epiphytes in dead trees was predicted to be involved in the decomposition of wood for nutrient recycling. Our analyses revealed a distinct difference in microbial communities depending on the health condition of Korean fir trees. The results from this study would be useful for understanding the ecological function of endophytic and epiphytic microorganisms to conserve and manage this endangered species from ecologically vulnerable environments.
Tomographic Images Generated from Measurements in Standing Trees Using Ultrasound and Postprocessed Images: Methodological Proposals for Cutting Velocity, Interpolation Algorithm and Confusion Matrix Metrics Focusing on Image Quality
Authors: Palma Stella S. S. A. , dos Reis Mariana N. , Gonçalves Raquel
Published: November 2022

Tomographic images generated by wave propagation are important in tree inspections and can be performed in an economically more accessible way using conventional equipment and postprocessed images, but improvements are necessary to increase image quality, giving greater reliability to the results. The objective of this paper was to present a methodological proposal for the definition of parameters related to image quality produced with tomography using ultrasound equipment and postprocessed images. As a case study, the methodology was applied to five trees of the species Cenostigma pluviosum DC. Gagnon & GP Lewis (Sibipiruna). A total of 1512 tomographic images were constructed from five trees to evaluate the cutting velocity, the interpolation algorithms and the filter application. The photographs of the discs were used to evaluate the theoretical wave propagation routes in the measurement grid and to compare the tomographic images using confusion matrix metrics. The application of the methodology proposed in this species allowed us to conclude that the most appropriate velocity range for cavities inference was up to 40% Vmax and for cavities supplemented with biodeterioration up to 45% Vmax; the best interpolator was the Ellipses method with compensation, with the use of a filter; and the accuracy was the most appropriate metric for evaluating image quality.
Characterization of the Complete Mitochondrial Genome of the Spotted Catfish Arius maculatus (Thunberg, 1792) and Its Phylogenetic Implications
Authors: Yang Min , Yang Zimin , Liu Cuiyu , Lee Xuezhu , Zhu Kecheng
Published: November 2022

The spotted catfish, Arius maculatus (Siluriformes), is an important economical aquaculture species inhabiting the Indian Ocean, as well as the western Pacific Ocean. The bioinformatics data in previous studies about the phylogenetic reconstruction of Siluriformes were insufficient and incomplete. In the present study, we presented a newly sequenced A. maculatus mitochondrial genome (mtDNA). The A. maculatus mtDNA was 16,710 bp in length and contained two ribosomal RNA (rRNA) genes, thirteen protein-coding genes (PCGs), twenty-two transfer RNA (tRNA) genes, and one D-loop region. The composition and order of these above genes were similar to those found in most other vertebrates. The relative synonymous codon usage (RSCU) of the 13 PCGs in A. maculatus mtDNA was consistent with that of PCGs in other published Siluriformes mtDNA. Furthermore, the average non-synonymous/synonymous mutation ratio (Ka/Ks) analysis, based on the 13 PCGs of the four Ariidae species, showed a strong purifying selection. Additionally, phylogenetic analysis, according to 13 concatenated PCG nucleotide and amino acid datasets, showed that A. maculatus and Netuma thalassina (Netuma), Occidentarius platypogon (Occidentarius), and Bagre panamensis (Bagre) were clustered as sister clade. The complete mtDNA of A. maculatus provides a helpful dataset for research on the population structure and genetic diversity of Ariidae species.
Identification of Key Genes and Pathways Associated with Preeclampsia by a WGCNA and an Evolutionary Approach
Authors: Kondoh Kuniyo , Akahori Hiromichi , Muto Yoshinori , Terada Tomoyoshi
Published: November 2022

Preeclampsia (PE) is the serious obstetric-related disease characterized by newly onset hypertension and causes damage to the kidneys, brain, liver, and more. To investigate genes with key roles in PE’s pathogenesis and their contributions, we used a microarray dataset of normotensive and PE patients and conducted a weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA). Cyan and magenta modules that are highly enriched with differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were revealed. By using the molecular complex detection (MCODE) algorithm, we identified five significant clusters in the cyan module protein–protein interaction (PPI) network and nine significant clusters in the magenta module PPI network. Our analyses indicated that (i) human accelerated region (HAR) genes are enriched in the magenta-associated C6 cluster, and (ii) positive selection (PS) genes are enriched in the cyan-associated C3 and C5 clusters. We propose these enriched HAR and PS genes, i.e., EIF4E, EIF5, EIF3M, DDX17, SRSF11, PSPC1, SUMO1, CAPZA1, PSMD14, and MNAT1, including highly connected hub genes, HNRNPA1, RBMX, PRKDC, and RANBP2, as candidate key genes for PE’s pathogenesis. A further clarification of the functions of these PPI clusters and key enriched genes will contribute to the discovery of diagnostic biomarkers for PE and therapeutic intervention targets.
Genomic Analysis to Elucidate the Lignocellulose Degrading Capability of a New Halophile Robertkochia solimangrovi
Authors: Lam Ming Quan , Oates Nicola C. , Leadbeater Daniel R. , Goh Kian Mau , Yahya Adibah , Md Salleh Madihah , Ibrahim Zaharah , Bruce Neil C. , Chong Chun Shiong
Published: November 2022

Robertkochia solimangrovi is a proposed marine bacterium isolated from mangrove soil. So far, the study of this bacterium is limited to taxonomy only. In this report, we performed a genomic analysis of R. solimangrovi that revealed its lignocellulose degrading ability. Genome mining of R. solimangrovi revealed a total of 87 lignocellulose degrading enzymes. These enzymes include cellulases (GH3, GH5, GH9 and GH30), xylanases (GH5, GH10, GH43, GH51, GH67, and GH115), mannanases (GH2, GH26, GH27 and GH113) and xyloglucanases (GH2, GH5, GH16, GH29, GH31 and GH95). Most of the lignocellulolytic enzymes encoded in R. solimangrovi were absent in the genome of Robertkochia marina, the closest member from the same genus. Furthermore, current work also demonstrated the ability of R. solimangrovi to produce lignocellulolytic enzymes to deconstruct oil palm empty fruit bunch (EFB), a lignocellulosic waste found abundantly in palm oil industry. The metabolic pathway taken by R. solimangrovi to transport and process the reducing sugars after the action of lignocellulolytic enzymes on EFB was also inferred based on genomic data. Collectively, genomic analysis coupled with experimental studies elucidated R. solimangrovi to serve as a promising candidate in seawater based-biorefinery industry.
Impact of Emerging Transport Technologies on Freight Economic and Environmental Performance: A System Dynamics View
Authors: Guo Taolei , Chen Junjie , Liu Pei
Published: November 2022

Road freight transport promotes economic development while impeding the future of green development due to excessive fossil fuel use. Road freight enterprises need to adapt to stricter environmental regulations while maintaining a reasonable level of profit. However, this is not easy in a growing economy such as China’s, whose domestic freight demand is increasing rapidly with economic growth. The development of emerging transport technologies (ETTs) creates great potential for reducing the negative environmental impact of road freight transport. This study considers five candidate ETTs: eco-driving, fleet platooning, vehicle utilization, optimized vehicle design, and renewable energy trucks. A system dynamics analytical framework is established to explore the long-term impact of ETTs on road profit and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions under the uncertainty of macroeconomic development. Road freight enterprises affiliated with the Qingdao port in China are taken as a case study. The economic and environmental impact of their adoption of ETTs is projected from 2020 to 2035. The results show that the economic growth in the port hinterland leads to an increase in road freight volume and profit, but it also yields a greater amount of GHG emissions from road transport. All of the candidate ETTs exhibit a positive effect on reducing GHG emissions from road transport, but they also cause profit losses due to a high application cost, even though they reduce transport operating costs by fuel savings. The results of the Sobol sensitivity analysis show that GHG reductions are sensitive to the adoption of ETTs. Thus, a carbon-based compensation mechanism is introduced. With this mechanism, road freight enterprises should prioritize vehicle utilization, optimized vehicle design, and eco-driving in their adoption of ETTs for more sustainable development. The results provide systems-based insights into ETT deployment decisions for road freight companies.
The Effects of Vestibular Rehabilitation and Manual Therapy on Patients with Unilateral Vestibular Dysfunction: A Randomized and Controlled Clinical Study
Authors: Sedeño-Vidal Ana , Hita-Contreras Fidel , Montilla-Ibáñez María Alharilla
Published: November 2022

(1) Objective: To determine the effect of a directed vestibular rehabilitation therapy (VRT) program with manual therapy (MT) on dizziness-related disability and imbalance symptoms among patients with peripheral unilateral vestibular dysfunction. (2) Methods: Eighty patients (54.75 ± 1.34 years) were allocated either to a control group (n = 40), who underwent a directed VRT program, or to an experimental group (n = 40), who received the same program plus MT once a week/4 weeks. We assessed their level of disability (Dizziness Handicap Inventory, DHI), balance confidence (the Activities-specific Balance Confidence scale—16 items), postural balance (resistive multisensor platform), and the frequency and intensity of dizziness symptoms (visual analog scale). (3) Results: Post-intervention between-group improvements were observed regarding DHI total score and intensity in the experimental group (p < 0.001), as well as four weeks later. Six months after, the experimental group exhibited improvements in the center of pressure velocity with eyes open (p = 0.019), DHI total score (p = 0.001) and subscales (all p < 0.05), and intensity (p = 0.003) and frequency (p = 0.010) of dizziness. Balance confidence improvements were observed 1 month (p = 0.035) and 6 months (p = 0.038) post-intervention. (4) Conclusions: Directed VRT plus MT is a safe and beneficial intervention that speeds up recovery for patients suffering from dizziness and instability derived from unilateral vestibular dysfunction.
Fast-Food Consumption, Dietary Quality, and Dietary Intake of Adolescents in Saudi Arabia
Authors: Mumena Walaa A. , Ateek Amaal A. , Alamri Rawan K. , Alobaid Sarah A. , Alshallali Salwa H. , Afifi Samah Y. , Aljohani Ghaida A. , Kutbi Hebah A.
Published: November 2022

High fast-food consumption is a common public-health concern among adolescents, due to its link to a number of non-communicable diseases. Frequent consumption of fast food may also affect diets of individuals; however, research addressing this issue is lacking in Saudi Arabia. We aimed to investigate the association between fast-food consumption, dietary quality, and dietary intake of adolescents in Saudi Arabia. This is a cross-sectional study of 617 healthy adolescents aged 11–18 years, who were recruited randomly from 16 middle- and high-schools located in Jeddah and Madinah, Saudi Arabia. Sociodemographic data were collected from parents. Dietary data, including the frequency of fast-food consumption, dietary quality (assessed using the short-form food frequency questionnaire), and dietary intake (assessed using multiple 24 h diet recalls from a subsample), were collected from the adolescents. Approximately one-third of adolescents (28.5%) reported frequent fast-food consumption (>two times a week). Results showed that a higher proportion of male adolescents frequently consumed fast-food, compared with female adolescents (32.8% vs. 24.8%, p = 0.039). Adolescents with the highest monthly family-income (≥SAR 21,000 ) reported a significantly higher frequency of fast-food consumption compared with families with a lower monthly income (p = 0.009). Frequency of fast-food consumption predicted lower dietary-quality in adolescents (Beta (B) = −0.27 [95% confidence interval (CI): −0.35 to –0.18]) and higher carbohydrate and free-sugar intake (B = 6.93 [95% CI: 0.78 to 13.1], and B = 3.93 [95% CI: 1.48 to 6.38], respectively). In conclusion, nutrition-intervention programs aiming to limit fast-food consumption and enhance the dietary quality of adolescents in Saudi Arabia, are warranted.
The Dissemination of Parent–Child Interaction Therapy in West Virginia during the Opioid Epidemic and COVID-19 Pandemic: A Qualitative Study
Authors: Druskin Lindsay R. , Han Robin C. , Phillips Sharon T. , Victory Erinn J. , Aman Emily , Tiano Jennifer , Stokes Jocelyn , McNeil Cheryl B.
Published: November 2022

The devastating impact of the opioid crisis on children and families in West Virginia was compounded by the COVID-19 pandemic and brought to light the critical need for greater mental health services and providers in the state. Parent–Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT) is an evidence-based treatment for child externalizing symptoms that teaches parents positive and appropriate strategies to manage child behaviors. The current qualitative study details barriers and facilitators to disseminating and implementing PCIT with opioid-impacted families across West Virginia during the COVID-19 pandemic. Therapists (n = 34) who participated in PCIT training and consultation through a State Opioid Response grant were asked to provide data about their experiences with PCIT training, consultation, and implementation. Almost all therapists (91%) reported barriers to telehealth PCIT (e.g., poor internet connection, unpredictability of sessions). Nearly half of therapists’ cases (45%) were impacted directly by parental substance use. Qualitative findings about the impact of telehealth and opioid use on PCIT implementation are presented. The dissemination and implementation of PCIT in a state greatly impacted by poor telehealth capacity and the opioid epidemic differed from the implementation of PCIT training and treatment delivery in other states, highlighting the critical importance of exploring implementation factors in rural settings.
Dental Criteria Could Alert for Malnutrition Risk and Inappropriate Choice of Food Texture in Older Subjects with Dementia: An Analytical Cross-Sectional Study
Authors: El Osta Nada , Wehbe Amine , Sleiman Nelly , Drancourt Noemie , El Osta Lana , Hennequin Martine
Published: November 2022

Oral health indicators are usually collected to alert for the presence of infectious diseases, but the impact of poor oral health on the nutritional status of older people with dementia is often neglected. This study aims to explore the relationship between the number of posterior dental functional units (PFUs) and the anthropometric measure of malnutrition, the mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC), in older people with dementia while controlling for other variables, and to analyze whether the number of PFUs is considered when adjusting the texture of the food provided at mealtimes. A total of 103 individuals who were 70 years or older with dementia were recruited from seven institutions. Cognitive impairment was assessed using the Mini Mental State Examination. Data were collected from medical records (sociodemographic characteristics, presence of chronic diseases, prescribed medications, results of serum albumin level), as well as questionnaires (type of feeding routes, type of food texture, supplements intake, Activity of Daily Living index), clinical examinations (MUAC), and oral health parameters (PFUs, oral dryness, oral hygiene). MUAC was the dependent outcome variable. MUAC was associated with the number of PFUs (p = 0.032); participants with PFU ≤ 4 were 7.5 times more likely to have MUAC < 21 cm than others. Other associations were found between MUAC and albumin level (OR = 12.5; p = 0.001), modified food texture (OR = 4.2; p = 0.035), and length of institutional stay (OR = 5.2; p = 0.033); however, the type of oral feeding was not significantly related to the number of PFUs (p = 0.487) so there is an inadequate correlation between food texture and oral health status. Similar to MUAC, the number of PFUs could be an oral anthropometric criterion that is recorded during routine hygiene care to alert for the risk of malnutrition and the inappropriate choice of food texture in older individuals with dementia.
Perception and Knowledge of Portuguese Veterinarians about the Zoonotic Transmission of Helicobacter pylori and Helicobacter suis: The Need for One Health Intervention
Authors: Cortez Nunes Francisco , Teixeira Silvia , Maia Rui Leandro , Amorim Irina , Letra Mateus Teresa
Published: November 2022

Helicobacter species can colonize the gastrointestinal tract of both humans and animals, and are associated with gastrointestinal and extra-gastrointestinal diseases. Some studies indicate that animals, health professionals, and people in close contact with animals might be at higher risk for infection with gastric Helicobacter spp. Considering that veterinarians are professionals at risk for infection with zoonotic gastric Helicobacters and are also seen by many as health communicators concerning zoonoses, the aim of this study was to evaluate the Portuguese veterinarians’ perception and knowledge of Helicobacter spp. infection and its zoonotic risk/potential. Therefore, a structured questionnaire composed of 34 dichotomic, multiple-choice, rating scale, matrix, drop-down, and open-ended questions was developed and given to Portuguese veterinarians via an online platform from May 2021 to July 2021, and statistical analysis was used to obtain results. There was a total of 149 respondents, most of them (73.8%) being females. Evidently, Portuguese veterinarians have a limited perception regarding Helicobacter spp. infections. Of the respondents that “have heard of Helicobacter”, 17.6% do not know which animal species can be affected by it. Most of the companion animal veterinarians (76.2%) do not consider Helicobacter spp. infection a differential diagnosis when evaluating animals with gastritis. A significant percentage (37.2%) of the respondents that have “heard of H. suis” do not consider it a zoonotic bacterium. There is a need for education and sensitization of veterinarians regarding the potential zoonotic risk of Helicobacter spp. in order to elucidate these professionals to this One Health issue, as the number of reports of non-Helicobacter pylori Helicobacter in livestock, companion, and wild animals is increasing.
Secular Trends in Systemic Sclerosis Mortality in the United States from 1981 to 2020
Authors: Li Jing-Xing
Published: November 2022

Background: Systemic sclerosis (SSc) has the highest mortality rate among autoimmune disorders. Individuals with SSc frequently die from complications or infections related to SSc. Nonetheless, the sex–age–period interaction of SSc is complex and remains unclear. The study aims to analyze the secular trend of SSc mortality based on data regarding underlying cause of death (UCD) and multiple causes of death (MCD) and clarify the sex–age interaction with time. Methods: The multiple-cause mortality statistics provided by the National Center for Health Statistics were used to identify all deaths in the United States from 1981 to 2020 in which SSc was indicated anywhere on the death certificates. The age-standardized mortality rate (ASMR) was determined for both sexes, as well as the variations in these rates. Joinpoint regression analysis was utilized to determine the annual percentage change (APC) of ASMR. Results: A total of 44,672 and 66,259 individuals who died between 1981 and 2020 were identified based on the UCD and MCD data, respectively. According to the UCD data, SSc-related AMSR (SSc-ASMR) of the male and female decedents, respectively, declined from 5.01 and 1.94 in 1981–1990 to 4.77 and 1.32 in 2011–2020, respectively (mortality rate ratio 0.95, 95% confidence interval 0.92–0.98). From 1986 to 1999, the APC of SSc-ASMR in female decedents decreased except for those aged 45–64 years (APC 2.1%, p = 0.002). For MCD analysis, in trend 1, only APC of SSc-ASMR in male decedents aged 45–64 years decreased. The SSc-ASMR of both male and female decedents fell on trend 2 arm. In 2011–2020, the ratio of UCD to MCD increased across all age groups for both sexes compared to 1981–1990. Overall, compared to the male decedents, the SSc-ASMR in female decedents increased significantly before 1999, peaked in 1999, followed by continuous decrease until 2020 according to UCD and MCD statistics. Conclusions: Over the past four decades, the SSc deaths based on the MCD data were 1.48 times more than the UCD data, and the proportion of UCD over MCD increased over time. The SSc-ASMRs in all the sex–age groups significantly decreased over the past two decades. Notably, the mortality rate ratio of women to men with SSc increased in the past four decades.
Effect of Different Acid and Base Potassium Ferrate Pretreatment on Organic Acid Recovery by Anaerobic Digestion of Sludge
Authors: Tian Mengjia , Liu Feng , Guo Jiawen , Li Wei , Zhang Mao , Li Xiang
Published: November 2022

Potassium ferrate has strong oxidation in both acid and alkali environments, which has attracted extensive attention. However, the impact of the pH environment on this coupling process with the goal of resource recovery has not received attention. Under the goal of the efficient recovery of organic acid, the changes of solid–liquid characteristics of sludge after acid and alkaline ferrate pretreatment and during anaerobic digestion were discussed. The results showed that compared with blank control groups, after alkaline ferrate pretreatment, the volatile suspended solids (VSSs) decreased the most, reaching 28.19%. After being pretreated with alkaline ferrate, the sludge showed the maximum VFA accumulation (408.21 COD/g VSS) on the third day of digestion, which was 1.34 times higher than that of the acid ferrate pretreatment. Especially in an alkaline environment, there is no need to add additional alkaline substances to adjust the pH value, and the effect of sludge reduction and acid production is the best.
The Autonomic Imbalance of Myocardial Ischemia during Exercise Stress Testing: Insight from Short-Term Heart Rate Variability Analysis
Authors: Lin Ping-Yen , Tsai Cheng-Ting , Hsu Chang Francis , Lee Ying-Hsiang , Huang Han-Ping , Huang Chun-Che , Liu Lawrence Yu-Min , Hsu Long , Yang Ten-Fang , Lin Po-Lin
Published: November 2022

Exercise stress testing (EST) has limited power in diagnosing obstructive coronary artery disease (CAD). The heart rate variability (HRV) analysis might increase the sensitivity of CAD detection. This study aimed to evaluate the correlation between short-term HRV and myocardial ischemia during EST, including the acceleration, maximum, and recovery stages of heart rate (HR). The HRV during EST from 19 healthy (RHC) subjects and 35 patients with CAD (25 patients with insignificant CAD (iCAD), and 10 patients with significant CAD (sCAD)) were compared. As a result, all HRV indices decreased at the maximum stage and no significant differences between iCAD and sCAD were found. The low-frequency power of heart rate signal (LF) of the RHC group recovered relatively quickly from the third to the sixth minutes after maximum HR, compared with that of the sCAD group. The relative changes of most HRV indices between maximum HR and recovery stage were lower in the sCAD group than in the RHC group, especially in LF, the standard deviation of all normal to normal intervals (SDNN), and the standard deviation in the long axis direction of the Poincaré plot analysis (SD2) indices (p < 0.05). The recovery slope of LF was significantly smaller in the sCAD group than in the RHC group (p = 0.02). The result suggests that monitoring short-term HRV during EST provides helpful insight into the cardiovascular autonomic imbalance in patients with significant CAD. The relative change of autonomic tone, especially the delayed sympathetic recovery, could be an additional marker for diagnosing myocardial ischemia.
Representative Residential Property Model—Soft Computing Solution
Authors: Chmielewska Aneta , Renigier-Biłozor Małgorzata , Janowski Artur
Published: November 2022

Residential properties are a major component of the environment and economy and a key element for the quality of human life. Faced with disruptive ideological and technological changes in the world, real estate analysis has also become a key research problem for many academic centers and private institutions. Due to the complex nature of properties, they are one of the most difficult and troublesome subjects of analysis. Given the rapid advancements in competitive automated analytical models, the problem of data representative sample selection may prove to be a very wide-reaching subject. The aim of this paper was the assessment of the particular soft computing methods’ (e.g., Self-Organizing Maps, Rough Set Theory) usefulness for selecting a representative property model. The obtained results confirm that the use of these methods leads to the creation of a model that enables a more reality-based view of the uncertainty and imprecise residential environment.
The Impacts of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Hong Kong Nursing Students’ Mental Health and Quality of Life
Authors: Hung Maria Shuk Yu , Ng Winnie Wing Man , Choi Edward Kwok Yiu
Published: November 2022

Evidence shows that university students, especially healthcare students, experienced considerable health impacts during COVID-19. This study examined Hong Kong general nursing students’ mental health and quality of life during the COVID-19 pandemic. An online questionnaire composed of personal demographics, the Fear of COVID-19 scale (FCV-19S), the Depression Anxiety Stress Scale short version (DASS21), and the World Health Organization Quality of Life-BREF (WHOQOL-BREF) was used for data collection in early 2021. Among 380 respondents, 170 (45%) did not attend clinical practicum during the pandemic. Students who did not participate in clinical training scored lower in FCV-19S but higher in WHOQOL-BREF than those who participated (p = 0.001 or p < 0.001). FCV-19S and WHOQOL-BREF were negatively correlated (r = −0.623 to −0.446, p < 0.001). Slight negative correlations were found between the FCV-19S and DASS-21 scores. Although there were no significant differences in DASS21 (p = 0.294–0.931) between these two student groups, there was a considerably high prevalence rate of depression (57.1%), anxiety (47.6%), and stress (39.5%). Hong Kong nursing students, especially those who attended clinical practicum during the pandemic, experienced substantial emotional and quality of life implications. Local universities are recommended to organize appropriate interventions to prepare and support nursing students’ wellbeing and health in coping with future disasters.
Higher Risk of Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome and Risk Factors among Patients with COVID-19: A Systematic Review, Meta-Analysis and Meta-Regression
Authors: Tsai Yi-Tseng , Ku Han-Chang , Maithreepala Sujeewa Dilhani , Tsai Yi-Jing , Chen Li-Fan , Ko Nai-Ying , Konara Mudiyanselage Sriyani Padmalatha
Published: November 2022

Objective: To estimate the global risk and risk factors associated with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) among patients with COVID-19: Design: A systematic review, meta-analysis and meta-regression. Setting and Participants: Hospitals or nursing homes and patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome after COVID-19. Methods: The literature review was systematically conducted on Embase, MEDLINE, CINAHL, and Web of Science, in addition to manual searches and reference list checking from 1 January 2019 to 2 March 2022. The search terms included coronavirus, acute respiratory syndrome, acute respiratory distress syndrome and observational studies. Three reviewers independently appraised the quality of the studies and extracted the relevant data using the Joanna Briggs Institute abstraction form and critical appraisal tools. A study protocol was registered in PROSPERO (CRD42022311957). Eligible studies were meta-analyzed and underwent meta-regression. Results: A total of 12 studies were included, with 148,080 participants. The risk ratio (RR) of ARDS was 23%. Risk factors were age ≥ 41–64 years old (RR = 15.3%, 95% CI =0.14−2.92, p = 0.03); fever (RR = 10.3%, 95% CI = 0.03−2.03, p = 0.04); multilobe involvement of the chest (RR = 33.5%, 95% CI = 0.35–6.36, p = 0.02); lymphopenia (RR = 25.9%, 95% CI = 1.11–4.08, p = 0.01); mechanical ventilation with oxygen therapy (RR = 31.7%, 95% CI = 1.10–5.25, p = 0.002); European region (RR = 16.3%, 95% CI = 0.09–3.17, p = 0.03); sample size ≤ 500 (RR = 18.0%, 95% CI = 0.70–2.89, p = 0.001). Conclusions and Implications: One in four patients experienced ARDS after having COVID-19. The age group 41–64 years old and the European region were high-risk groups. These findings can be used by policymakers to allocate resources for respiratory care facilities and can also provide scientific evidence in the design of protocols to manage COVID-19 worldwide.
Effect of Pregnancy on Postoperative Nausea and Vomiting in Female Patients Who Underwent Nondelivery Surgery: Multicenter Retrospective Cohort Study
Authors: Kim Jong-Ho , Kim Namhyun , Lee Soo-Kyung , Kwon Young-Suk
Published: November 2022

Pregnant women usually have several risk factors of postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) and physiologic changes that make them susceptible to PONV development. We investigated the risk of PONV and postoperative vomiting (PV) in pregnant women in nondelivery surgery compared to nonpregnant women. This study included female adult patients who underwent nondelivery surgery at five hospitals between January 2011 and March 2021. To identify the association between pregnancy and PONV, logistic regression was used to calculate the odds ratio and 95% confidence intervals (CIs), adjusting for covariates. A total of 60,656 (nonpregnant women = 57,363 and pregnant women = 3293) complete patient outcomes and perioperative data were eligible for analysis. Although there was no significant association between pregnancy and PONV, the risk of PV in the pregnant women was 3.9-fold higher (95% confidence interval (95% CI), 3.06–4.97) than in the nonpregnant women. In addition, increased pregnancy duration increased the risk of PV (odds ratio (95% CI), 1.05 (1.01–1.09)) and preoperative nausea, and vomiting increased the risk of PONV (odds ratio (95% CI), 2.68 (1.30–5.54)) and PV (odds ratio (95% CI), 4.52 (2.36–8.69)). Pregnancy increased the risk of PV in female patients who underwent nondelivery surgery, and pregnancy duration and preoperative nausea and vomiting also were associated with PONV or PV.
An Empirical Study of Promotion Pressure among University Teachers in China Using Event History Analysis
Authors: Liu Xiaoyan , Zhang Lele , Ma Haowen , Nan Haofeng , Liu Ran
Published: November 2022

Objective: We sought to understand the status of promotion pressure among university teachers in China. This study explored the promotion duration and influencing factors among teachers in different disciplines of the social sciences. Methods: Using event history analysis, this study collected data regarding university teachers of China. The sample included 536 teachers who had been promoted from assistant to associate professor and 243 teachers promoted from associate to full professor. Our results revealed that the overall time required for promotion in the social sciences is relatively long. For those promoted from assistant to associate professor, the mean time for promotion was 14.155 years, with a median of 11 years, while for the transition from associate to full professor, the mean was 13.904 years with a median of nine years. Furthermore, in the survival function of the promotion duration, there is a stage pattern for both assistant to associate professor and associate to full professor. In addition, the Kaplan–Meier results showed that the mean promotion time in economics was the shortest. The Cox regression results indicated that males had a higher chance of promotion than females, and faculty members with doctoral degrees had a higher likelihood of promotion than those without. For those advancing from assistant to associate professor, the university of employment had significant positive effects on promotion. This paper provides empirical support for the current societal concerns regarding promotion pressure among university teachers.
The Medication Experience of TB/HIV Coinfected Patients: Qualitative Study
Authors: Resende Natália Helena de , Martins Ursula Carolina de Morais , Ramalho-de-Oliveira Djenane , Silva Dirce Inês da , de Miranda Silvana Spíndola , Reis Adriano Max Moreira , Carvalho Wânia da Silva , Mendonça Simone de Araújo Medina
Published: November 2022

Tuberculosis (TB) and human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS) pharmacotherapy and the stigma related to both diseases are complex. The patients’ subjective experiences with diseases and medications are of utmost importance in pharmaceutical care practice. This study aimed to understand the subjective medication experience of TB and HIV/AIDS coinfected patients. The study was based on descriptive research of a qualitative and quantitative nature using data collected during pharmaceutical care appointments and from medical records from September 2015 to December 2016 at a tertiary infectious diseases referral hospital in Southeastern Brazil. Data from 81 patients were analyzed. Regarding patient subjective medication experience, the following responses to the quantitative questionnaire were most frequent: preference for a route of administration (12.4%) and for non-pharmacological therapy (50.6%); concerns about price (11.1%) and adverse effects (18.5%); and association of a worsening of their health status with a change in medication dosage (23.5%). In the thematic analysis, adversity and socially constructed aspects were more prominent. Resolvability, associated with the patient’s understanding of relief from signs and symptoms and health recovery, was observed; however, feelings of ambivalence permeated the other aspects, hence leading to treatment abandonment. The evaluation of patient medication experience can be a path to understanding and intervening in the phenomenon of treatment abandonment among TB and HIV/AIDS coinfected individuals.
Evaluation of an Interactive Web-Based Health Program for Weight Loss—A Randomized Controlled Trial
Authors: Fichtner Urs Alexander , Armbruster Christoph , Bischoff Martina , Maiwald Phillip , Sehlbrede Matthias , Tinsel Iris , Brame Judith , Kohl Jan , König Daniel , Fuchs Reinhard , Wurst Ramona , Farin-Glattacker Erik
Published: November 2022

Personal behavior patterns, such as unhealthy diet and lack of physical activity, lead to the development of overweight and obesity. These are associated with other comorbidities, reduced quality of life, premature frailty and increased mortality. Personalized web-based interventions are promising in inducing behavioral change leading to effective reductions in body weight at relatively low costs. However, the long-term effects have not been thoroughly investigated. This work evaluates the effectiveness of web-based interactive weight loss coaching and compares it to a non-interactive web-based health program. Therefore, a randomized controlled trial (RCT) was implemented, measuring primary and secondary outcomes at four time points (program start; end of the 12-week-program; 6 months after program end, 12 months after program end). The net sample covered 1499 subjects in the intervention group and 1492 in the control group. On average, the IG was 43 years old (±13.6), 80.1% male, and had 86.4 kg body weight (±16.1) at baseline. The CG was 42.7 years old (±13.9), 79.5% male and had a mean body weight of 86.1 (±15.7). Multilevel analyses with fixed effects were carried out both from the perspective of an intention-to-treat (ITT) and a complete cases approach (CCA). In sum, our adjusted models suggest a weight loss of 0.4 kg per time point. At the end of the program, significant differences in weight loss in % to baseline (delta M = 1.8 in the CCA) were observed in favor of the intervention group. From a long-term perspective, no superiority of the intervention group in comparison to the control group could be found. More intensive use of the program was not statistically associated with higher weight loss.
Simultaneous Inhibition of Histone Deacetylases and RNA Synthesis Enables Totipotency Reprogramming in Pig SCNT Embryos
Authors: de Macedo Mariana Priotto , Glanzner Werner Giehl , Gutierrez Karina , Currin Luke , Guay Vanessa , Carrillo Herrera Maria Elena , da Silva Zigomar , Baldassarre Hernan , McGraw Serge , Bordignon Vilceu
Published: November 2022

Combining somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) with genome editing technologies has emerged as a powerful platform for the creation of unique swine lineages for agricultural and biomedical applications. However, successful application of this research platform is still hampered by the low efficiency of these technologies, particularly in attaining complete cell reprogramming for the production of cloned pigs. Treating SCNT embryos with histone deacetylase inhibitors (HDACis), such as Scriptaid, has been routinely used to facilitate chromatin reprogramming after nuclear transfer. While increasing histone acetylation leads to a more relaxed chromatin configuration that facilitates the access of reprogramming factors and DNA repair machinery, it may also promote the expression of genes that are unnecessary or detrimental for normal embryo development. In this study, we evaluated the impact of inhibiting both histone deacetylases and RNA synthesis on pre- and post-implantation development of pig SCNT embryos. Our findings revealed that transcription can be inhibited for up to 40 h of development in porcine embryos, produced either by activation, fertilization or SCNT, without detrimentally affecting their capacity to form a blastocyst and their average number of cells at this developmental stage. Importantly, inhibiting RNA synthesis during HDACi treatment resulted in SCNT blastocysts with a greater number of cells and more abundant transcripts for genes related to embryo genome activation on days 2, 3 and 4 of development, compared to SCNT embryos that were treated with HDACi only. In addition, concomitant inhibition of histone deacetylases and RNA synthesis promoted the full reprograming of somatic cells, as evidenced by the normal fetal and full-term development of SCNT embryos. This combined treatment may improve the efficiency of the genome-editing + SCNT platform in swine, which should be further tested by transferring more SCNT embryos and evaluating the health and growth performance of the cloned pigs.
Sucrose Consumption during Late Adolescence Impairs Adult Neurogenesis of the Ventral Dentate Gyrus without Inducing an Anxiety-like Behavior
Authors: Sánchez-Huerta Karla , Saldaña-Salinas Rosaura Debbie , Bustamante-Nieves Pablo Edson , Jiménez Adriana , Corzo-Cruz Alejandro , Martínez-Vargas Marina , Guevara-Guzmán Rosalinda , Velasco Iván , Estudillo Enrique
Published: November 2022

Sucrose consumption impairs behavioral and cognitive functions that correlate with decreased neurogenesis in animal models. When consumed during early adolescence, this disaccharide promotes anxious and depressive behaviors, along with a reduction in the generation of new neurons in the dentate gyrus of the hippocampus. Data concerning sucrose consumption during late adolescence are lacking, and the effect of sucrose intake on the ventral dentate gyrus of the hippocampus (which modulates anxiety and depression) remains elusive. Here, we tested whether sucrose intake during late adolescence causes anxiety or impaired neurogenesis in the ventral dentate gyrus. Rats did not display anxiety-like behaviors neither at the light–dark box test nor at the open field exploration. However, there was a significant increase in proliferative cells in the subgranular zone of the ventral dentate gyrus in rats exposed to sucrose (p < 0.05). This increased proliferation corresponded to neural stem cells (Radial Type 1 cells) in the group exposed to sucrose until adulthood but was not present in rats exposed to sucrose only during late adolescence. Remarkably, the phosphorylation of ERK1/2 kinases was increased in the hippocampi of rats exposed to sucrose only during late adolescence, suggesting that the increased proliferation in this group could be mediated by the MAPK pathway. On the other hand, although no differences were found in the number of immature granular neurons, we observed more immature granular neurons with impaired dendritic orientation in both groups exposed to sucrose. Finally, GAD65/67 and BCL2 levels did not change between groups, suggesting an unaltered hippocampal GABAergic system and similar apoptosis, respectively. This information provides the first piece of evidence of how sucrose intake, starting in late adolescence, impacts ventral dentate gyrus neurogenesis and contributes to a better understanding of the effects of this carbohydrate on the brain at postnatal stages.
Interaction of Masitinib with Organic Cation Transporters
Authors: Harrach Saliha , Haag Jasmin , Steinbüchel Martin , Schröter Rita , Neugebauer Ute , Bertrand Jessica , Ciarimboli Giuliano
Published: November 2022

Tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKI) such as Masitinib were reported to be useful as therapeutic options in malignant disorders and nonmalignant diseases, like coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Most kinases must be translocated into targeted cells by the action of specific transport proteins, as they are hydrophilic and not able to cross cell membranes freely. Accordingly, the efficacy of TKI in target cells is closely dependent on the expression of their transporters. Specifically, Masitinib is an organic cation and is expected to interact with organic cation transporters (OCT and Multidrug and Toxin Extrusion proteins—MATE-). The aim of this work was to characterize the interaction of Masitinib with different OCTs. Human embryonic kidney 293 cells stably transfected with murine or human OCT were used for the experiments. The interaction of Masitinib with OCTs was investigated using quenching experiments. The intracellular accumulation of this drug was quantified using high performance liquid chromatography. Our results identified interactions of Masitinib with almost all investigated mouse (m) and human (h) OCTs and hMATE1 and indicated OCT1 and hOCT2 to be especially potent Masitinib translocators across cell membranes. Interestingly, some important differences were observed for the interaction with murine and human OCTs. In the future, investigations concerning further in vitro and in vivo properties of Masitinib and its efficacy related to transporter-related uptake mechanisms under pathophysiological conditions should be performed. Clinical trials in humans and other animals with Masitinib have already shown promising results. However, further research is necessary to understand the disease specific transport mechanisms of Masitinib to contribute to a successful and responsible therapy employment.
Comparison of the Anticancer Effects of Arvanil and Olvanil When Combined with Cisplatin and Mitoxantrone in Various Melanoma Cell Lines—An Isobolographic Analysis
Authors: Marzęda Paweł , Wróblewska-Łuczka Paula , Florek-Łuszczki Magdalena , Drozd Małgorzata , Góralczyk Agnieszka , Łuszczki Jarogniew J.
Published: November 2022

Due to the unique structures of arvanil and olvanil, the drugs combine certain properties of both cannabinoids and vanilloids, which makes them able to stimulate both TPRV1 and CB1 receptors and causes them to be interesting agents in the setting of carcinoma treatment. The aim of this study was to investigate the cytotoxic and anti-proliferative effects of arvanil and olvanil when administered alone and in combination with cisplatin (CDDP) and mitoxantrone (MTX), using various primary (A375, FM55P) and metastatic (SK–MEL 28, FM55M2) human malignant melanoma cell lines. The results indicate that both arvanil and olvanil inhibited (dose-dependently) the viability and proliferation of various malignant melanoma cells, as demonstrated by MTT and BrdU assays. The safety profile of both arvanil and olvanil tested in human keratinocytes (HaCaT) and normal human melanocytes (HEMa–LP) revealed that neither arvanil nor olvanil caused significant cytotoxicity in HaCaT and HEMa–LP cell lines in LDH and MTT assays. Isobolographically, it was found that both arvanil and olvanil exerted additive interactions with MTX and antagonistic interactions with CDDP in the studied malignant melanoma cell lines. In conclusion, the combinations of arvanil or olvanil with MTX may be considered as a part of melanoma multi-drug therapy; however, the combination of these compounds with CDDP should be carefully considered due to the antagonistic interactions observed in the studied malignant melanoma cell lines.