bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Effect of Graded-Reading Websites/Applications on EFL Undergraduates’ Reading Comprehension during COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: Alghizzi Talal Musaed , Elyas Tariq
Published: June 2022

The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in many educational changes, especially the shift towards the use of technology in all subjects. This longitudinal study was conducted to investigate the effect of learning environments—blended and online, alone and with graded-reading websites/applications—on the reading comprehension of Saudi undergraduates majoring in English during COVID-19 pandemic. In this study, 130 participants were selected (control: male [N = 21], female [N = 54]; or experimental: male [N = 21], female [N = 34]). Although the four gender-based groups were exposed to the same learning environments—first blended and later online, which were either partially or dependent on technology—only the male and female experimental groups were required to use graded-reading websites/applications for approximately 10 months during the COVID-19 school lockdowns. All participants took four tests (pretest, posttest 1, posttest 2, and delayed posttest). Using the SPSS program, the results indicated that the learning environments alone had a limited positive effect on the control groups’ reading comprehension in the short term, which either decreased significantly (male control group) or remained unchanged (female control group) in the long term. There were significant differences between all control groups and experimental groups across all tests (p < 0.000). However, the experimental male group outperformed their male counterpart across all posttests except for the second posttest: experimental male group mean was 15.43 whereas it was 16.19 for the control male group. However, combining learning environments and graded-reading websites/applications yielded gradual positive effects on the reading comprehension of the experimental groups in the short term, which continued into the long term for the male experimental group. The experimental groups outperformed the control groups on at least two out of three posttests. The study concluded that the effect of technology on the reading comprehension of Saudi male and female undergraduates is bounded by the type of specialized technology (i.e., reading websites/applications) and the applied learning environments (i.e., blended and online). Additionally, the study indicated that there is a need to investigate other important factors related to technology used in Saudi institutes, as well as its effects on students’ learning processes in ongoing changes in the education sector in Saudi Arabia.
Analysis of Mobile Robot Control by Reinforcement Learning Algorithm
Authors: Bernat Jakub , Czopek Paweł , Bartosik Szymon
Published: June 2022

This work presents a Deep Reinforcement Learning algorithm to control a differentially driven mobile robot. This study seeks to explain the influence of different definitions of the environment with a mobile robot on the learning process. In our study, we focus on the Reinforcement Learning algorithm called Deep Deterministic Policy Gradient, which is applicable to continuous action problems. We investigate the effectiveness of different noises, inputs, and cost functions in the neural network learning process. To examine the feature of the presented algorithm, a number of simulations were run, and their results are presented. In the simulations, the mobile robot had to reach a target position in a way that minimizes distance error. Our goal was to optimize the learning process. By analyzing the results, we wanted to recommend a more efficient choice of input and cost functions for future research.
Voltage Stability Analysis of a Power System with Wind Power Based on the Thevenin Equivalent Analytical Method
Authors: Zhou Xia , Liu Yishi , Chang Ping , Xue Feng , Zhang Tengfei
Published: June 2022

The traditional black-box Thevenin equivalent method cannot analyze the influence mechanism of wind power integration on Thevenin equivalent parameters. With the increase in wind power penetration, it will be difficult to accurately assess the voltage stability of power systems with wind power. Therefore, a Thevenin equivalent analytical method is proposed to analyze the voltage stability of a power system with wind power. This method adopts the equivalent model of wind power integration based on the current source model. It establishes the Thevenin equivalent analytical model for power systems with wind power by dividing the node types. Then, the analytical expressions of the Thevenin equivalent parameters are derived based on two equivalent modes to characterize the mechanism of wind power integration on the Thevenin equivalent parameters. In addition, the calculation flow chart of the voltage stability criterion is formulated based on the analytical value of the Thevenin equivalent impedance under different load growth ratios and wind power penetrations. Finally, a case study is conducted on the improved IEEE 39 node system with wind power. The results demonstrate the feasibility and effectiveness of the proposed Thevenin equivalent analytical method, which can more accurately judge the voltage stability of the power system with wind power.
An Adaptive Threshold Line Segment Feature Extraction Algorithm for Laser Radar Scanning Environments
Authors: Liu Yiting , Zhang Lei , Qian Kui , Sui Lianjie , Lu Yuhao , Qian Fufu , Yan Tingwu , Yu Hanqi , Gao Fangzheng
Published: June 2022

An accurate map is needed for the autonomous navigation of mobile robots in unknown environments. The application of laser radars has the advantages of high ranging accuracy and long ranging distances. Due to the small amount of data on laser radars and the influence of noise on the sensor itself, these amount to causing problems such as low accuracies of map construction and large positioning errors. Currently, the feature extraction of environmental line segments based on radar scanning data generally adopts the idea of recursion. However, the amount of calculations for applying recursion is large, and the threshold of extracted feature points needs to be set manually. Moreover, the fixed segmentation threshold will cause under-segmentation or over-segmentation. In this paper, an adaptive threshold-based feature extraction method for environmental line segments is proposed. The method denoises the original data first, and then an adaptive threshold of the nearest neighbor algorithm is provided to improve the accuracy of breakpoint judgment; next, the slope difference between adjacent line segments is evaluated according to the line segment fitting error in order to obtain the optimal corner feature. Finally, the point set is segmented to fit line-segment features. Based on actual environment tests, the environmental similarity of the line segment features extracted by the new algorithm in this paper increases by 8.3% compared with the IEPF (Iterative End Point Fit) algorithm. The algorithm avoids recursive operations, improves the efficiency by four times, and meets the real-time requirements of line segment fitting.
Experimental and Theoretical Modelling of Concentrating Photovoltaic Thermal System with Ge-Based Multi-Junction Solar Cells
Authors: Hmouda Rida Ali , Muzychka Yuri S. , Duan Xili
Published: June 2022

Climate change is one of the biggest environmental, political, economic, technological, and social challenges of the 21st century. Due to ever-increasing fossil fuels costs. The world energy system should be transitioned to renewable energy sources to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions. Solar energy is one of the suitable alternatives to fossil fuel usage. Currently, the most widely available solar technologies are solar photovoltaic (PV) and solar thermal. The integration of these two techniques enables the exploitation of the most significant amount of solar radiation. This combination has led to a hybrid photovoltaic/thermal system (PV/T). Concentrated solar radiation on PV cells, known as concentrated photovoltaic (CPV), effectively decreases PV receivers’ area and harnesses the same quantity of solar radiation. However, the main problem with CPV is the elevated PV surface temperature, which often requires active cooling. This issue can be solved by introducing a Concentrating Photovoltaic Thermal (CPVT) system. In this article, a new CPVT hybrid system based on Point Focus Fresnel Lens (PFFL) and embedded Multi Junction Photovoltaic (MJPV) (GaInP/InGaAs/Ge) cells has been experimentally investigated and numerically modelled under indoor conditions. Experiments and simulations were carried out at different heat transfer fluid (HTF) flow rates and under constant irradiation emitted from a sun simulator. The results indicate that the thermal and electrical performance of the CPVT system improves under the testing conditions, where the total efficiency was 68.7% and 73.5% for the experimental and CFD models, respectively. At the same time, the highest thermal efficiency of the experimental and CFD models was 49.5% and 55.4%, respectively. In contrast, the highest electrical efficiency was 36.5% and 37.1%. Therefore, the CPVT system has an excellent possibility of being competitive with conventional power generation systems.
Design and Evaluation of a Laminated Three-Phase Rotary Transformer for DFIG Applications
Authors: Botha Stefan , Gule Nkosinathi
Published: June 2022

In doubly fed induction generators (DFIGs), the rotor is excited through slip-ring and brush assemblies. These slip-ring and brush assemblies often require frequent routine maintenance, which affects the reliability of the DFIG. Alternatively, a contact-less energy transfer system, such as a rotary transformer, can be utilized in place of the slip rings. In DFIGs, the rotor frequency is very low, under 5 Hz, and this can lead to a huge rotary transformer since the transformer size is inversely proportional to its operating frequency. However, in a rotor-tied DFIG, whereby the rotor is connected directly to the grid whilst the stator is connected to a back-to-back converter, the rotor frequency becomes the grid frequency and can lead to a reasonably sized rotary transformer. In this paper, the design methodology of a three-phase rotary transformer that can be used in rotor-tied DFIG applications is proposed. The rotary transformer is coupled to the power windings of the rotor-tied DFIG and can improve its reactive power capabilities. The proposed methodology is validated with finite element analysis in 3D and can be used for an efficient design process with the proposed error correction. The proposed methodology is then applied in the design of a 6 kVA rotary transformer. Remarkable practical results are presented to demonstrate the effectiveness of the methodology. The rotary transformer is subsequently coupled to a rotor-tied DFIG and an acceptable performance is demonstrated for the entire system.
Reduction in Selected Torque Harmonics in a Three-Level NPC Inverter-Fed Induction Motor Drive
Authors: Chudzik Piotr , Steczek Marcin , Tatar Karol
Published: June 2022

The reduction or elimination of selected torque and current harmonics is widely used in multilevel inverter fed induction motor drives. A wide range of methods are employed to achieve this goal. Those modes of operation allow the avoidance of certain torque and current harmonics that may lead to disturbance and even mechanical and electrical resonance. In this paper, the selective harmonic elimination technique (SHE-PWM) is employed to reduce the chosen torque harmonics in a three-level NPC inverter-fed induction motor drive. The proposed method is compared with the synchronized carrier pulse width modulation technique (SCPWM). For both schemes of control simulation, a model is proposed using Simulink software. Furthermore, laboratory stand experiments are carried out to verify the correctness of torque harmonics formation.
Comprehensive Control Strategy Considering Hybrid Energy Storage for Primary Frequency Modulation
Authors: Yan Laiqing , Shui Tao , Xue Tailin , Wang Miao , Ma Ning , Li Kaiyue
Published: June 2022

The increase in the number of new energy sources connected to the grid has made it difficult for power systems to regulate frequencies. Although battery energy storage can alleviate this problem, battery cycle lives are short, so hybrid energy storage is introduced to assist grid frequency modulation. In this paper, a hybrid energy storage system composed of battery energy storage and super-capacitor energy storage systems was studied, and a comprehensive control strategy was proposed. Firstly, by setting the frequency dead zone of the energy storage to be smaller than that of the thermal power unit, the frequent action of the thermal power unit was avoided. Secondly, virtual inertial control and virtual droop control were effectively combined. Then, the state of charge of battery energy storage and super-capacitor energy storage was considered so that they could operate in harmony. Finally, a simulation model was built in MATLAB/SIMULINK, and case studies were conducted to verify the proposed control strategy. Results showed that the proposed control strategy could effectively reduce the frequency deviation of the power grid, and maintain the state of charge, reduce the number of operated batteries, and improve cycle life.
Towards Blockchain-Based Energy Trading: A Smart Contract Implementation of Energy Double Auction and Spinning Reserve Trading
Authors: Damisa Uyikumhe , Nwulu Nnamdi I. , Siano Pierluigi
Published: June 2022

The decentralization of power generation driven by the rise in the adoption of distributed energy resources paves the way for a new paradigm in grid operations. P2P energy trading is beneficial to the grid as well as the connected peers. A blockchain-based smart contract is well suited to transparently facilitate trades between energy consumers and producers without the services of intermediaries. In this paper, Ethereum-based smart contracts that facilitate double energy auction and spinning reserve trading are developed with Solidity, compiled, and deployed within the Remix IDE. Willing energy sellers/buyers submit offers/bids to a contract that implements the double auction procedure. In order to fulfil energy supply obligations, sellers are also able to purchase spinning reserves via another smart contract. The smart contracts’ effectiveness in performing the auction procedure and making payments is confirmed using an energy/reserve market scenario. The proposed scheme encourages further adoption of distributed energy resources and participation in local P2P energy trading.
Designing Dynamic Inductive Charging Infrastructures for Airport Aprons with Multiple Vehicle Types
Authors: Broihan Justine , Nozinski Inka , Pöch Niklas , Helber Stefan
Published: June 2022

In the effort to combat climate change, the CO2 emissions of the aviation sector must be reduced. The traffic caused by numerous types of ground vehicles on airport aprons currently contributes to those emissions as the vehicles typically operate with combustion engines, which is why an electrification of those vehicles has already begun. While stationary conductive charging of the vehicles is the current standard technology, dynamic wireless charging might be an attractive technological alternative, in particular for airport aprons; however, designing a charging network for an airport apron is a challenging task with important technical and economic aspects. In this paper, we propose a model to characterize the problem, especially for cases of multiple types of vehicles sharing the same charging network, such as passenger buses and baggage vehicles. In a numerical study inspired by real-world airports, we design such charging networks subject to service level constraints and evaluate the resulting structures via a discrete-event simulation, and thus, show the way to assess the margin of safety with respect to the vehicle batteries’ state of charge that is induced by the spatial structure of the charging network.
Detection of Students’ Problems in Distance Education Using Topic Modeling and Machine Learning
Authors: Alhazmi Huda
Published: June 2022

Following the rapid spread of COVID-19 to all the world, most countries decided to temporarily close their educational institutions. Consequently, distance education opportunities have been created for education continuity. The abrupt change presented educational challenges and issues. The aim of this study is to investigate the content of Twitter posts to detect the arising topics regarding the challenges of distance education. We focus on students in Saudi Arabia to identify the problems they faced in their distance education experience. We developed a workflow that integrates unsupervised and supervised machine learning techniques in two phases. An unsupervised topic modeling algorithm was applied on a subset of tweets to detect underlying latent themes related to distance education issues. Then, a multi-class supervised machine learning classification technique was carried out in two levels to classify the tweets under discussion to categories and further to sub-categories. We found that 76,737 tweets revealed five underlying themes: educational issues, social issues, technological issues, health issues, and attitude and ethical issues. This study presents an automated methodology that identifies underlying themes in Twitter content with a minimum human involvement. The results of this work suggest that the proposed model could be utilized for collecting and analyzing social media data to provide insights into students’ educational experience.
A Study of Fire Drone Extinguishing System in High-Rise Buildings
Authors: Wang Kai , Yuan Yingfeng , Chen Mengmeng , Lou Zhen , Zhu Zheng , Li Ruikun
Published: June 2022

Firefighting in high-rise buildings remains a difficult problem in the world because fire extinguishing equipment and tactics have many deficiencies in dealing with such building fires, especially for buildings higher than 50 m. In the present study, the LY100 fire extinguishing system is taken as an example to introduce the application of the fire drone in the fire control of high-rise buildings. The LY100 fire extinguishing system mainly contains the twin-rotor drone, high-pressure liquid fire extinguishing equipment, pressure fire extinguishing equipment, associated vehicle and extinguishing agent. The LY100 system can be deployed quickly and operated flexibly. Based on such advantages, the indoor fire, exterior thermal insulation layer fire and top platform fire of high-rise building can be extinguished in a timely manner with the LY100 system. In addition, four kinds of firefighting tactics are described in this paper, including one drone operation, double drone cooperative operation, three or more drone cooperative operations, and cooperating with the lifting fire truck. Finally, the experiments are presented to verify the spraying distance of the fire drone system.
The miR-200 Family Targeting amh Affects the Gonadal Development of Japanese Flounder
Authors: Zhang Haoran , Li Kun , Zhang Fayang , Wu Jikui , Zhang Junling
Published: June 2022

Four members of the miR-200 family in Japanese flounder (Paralichthys olivaceus) have sex-biased expression patterns, but their target genes and how they work in the development of the gonads are rarely known. Anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) can inhibit the development of Muller’s duct in female mammals and regulate the formation of gametes after sexual maturity. There is no Muller’s duct in teleosts, but the amh gene still exists. Knockout of amh results in sex reversal from male to female. Therefore, it is essential to explore the relationship between the miR-200 family and amh to clarify what role miR-200 plays in the development of the gonads. In Japanese flounder, the two binding sites for the miR-200 family in the 3′UTR of amh were found through bioinformatic prediction. Double luciferase and green fluorescent protein reporter experiments demonstrated amh to be directly targeted by miR-200a and miR-200b. Moreover, miR-200a and miR-200b reduced the expression of amh through site 1 rather than site 2. To explore the regulatory role of miR-200a in gonadal development, we further overexpressed miR-200a in the primary Sertoli cells of the testis. With the overexpression of miR-200a, the expression of amh decreased, while the expression of the other two male sex-related genes, dmrt1 (doublesex and mab-3 related transcription factor 1) and gsdf (diagonal soma driven factor), increased significantly. This result indicates that the miR-200 family regulates the gonadal differentiation and development by targeting amh in Japanese flounder.
Cloning of Grass Carp Chemokine XC Receptor 1 (XCR1) Gene and Evaluation of Its Expression in Various Organs after GCRV Infection
Authors: Yu Hailuo , Liu Yi , Xiao Tiaoyi , Wang Hongquan , Xu Baohong
Published: June 2022

Interaction between the chemokine receptor XCR1 and its ligand is closely related to the immune function in animals; however, there are only a few reports on role of XCR1 in the immune system of fish. We aimed to analyze the expression of XCR1 in various organs or tissues of grass carp before and after Grass Carp Reovirus (GCRV) infection to better understand the function of XCR1 in resistance to GCRV infection. We cloned and sequenced the cDNA of grass carp XCR1 and analyzed the molecular structure of XCR1 based its amino acid sequence. Further, we analyzed the relative expression levels of XCR1 in different organs or tissues of male parent grass carp with GCRV resistance (P1) and their first-generation offspring (F1) before and after GCRV infection. Our results show that the total length of cDNA of the grass carp XCR1 gene is 1659 bp and encodes 365 amino acids. XCR1 contains seven conserved transmembrane helical domains. The homologous tertiary structure of XCR1 is similar to its homologs in other species. After artificial GCRV infection, there were significant differences in the expression of the grass carp XCR1 gene in different tissues, at different time points, and between P1 and F1 fish. These results will contribute to our understanding of the role of XCR1 in fish immune responses and contribute to the development of GCRV-resistant grass carp.
A Novel Method for the Preparation of Poly (Acrylamide-co-Acrylonitrile) Upper Critical Solution Temperature Thermosensitive Hydrogel by the Partial Dehydration of Acrylamide Grafted Polypropylene Sheets
Authors: Ling Yi , Chen Liuyuchen , Huang Mingjun , Zhou Cheng , Yang Liming , Niu Hejingying , Su Li , Yang Yuejiao , Pirraco Rogério P. , Reis Rui L. , Chen Jie
Published: June 2022

In an attempt to find a potential application of cell culture harvesting, a novel method for the preparation of an upper critical solution temperature (UCST) thermosensitive hydrogel was studied. An electron accelerator was used as the electron beam (EB) radiation source, and acrylamide (AAm) was first grafted onto the pre-irradiated polypropylene (PP) sheet. Then, the grafting layer of poly (acrylamide-co-acrylonitrile) (P (AAm-co-AN)) was obtained by the partial dehydration of the acylamino group into the cyano group in the solution mixture of sulfoxide chloride (SOCl2) and dimethyl formamide (DMF). The effects of the absorbed dose, AAm concentration, reaction time, and temperature on the degree of grafting were studied, respectively. The effect of the SOCl2 concentration on the conversion degree of the cyano group from the acylamino group was studied, followed by the temperature of the UCST. The UCST properties of the grafted samples with P (AAm-co-AN) were studied by quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) and atomic force microscope (AFM), respectively. The cytotoxicities of the hydrogels against cells were verified by CCK-8 studies.
Special Issue “Writing Genealogy: Auto/Biographical Research, Autoethnography and Narrative Inquiry”: An Introduction
Authors: Connor Helene
Published: June 2022

Writing about genealogy within the ‘academy’ has been hindered by the perception that researching family history and genealogy belongs in the realm of hobbyists as something you might peruse in retirement [...]
Reducing Hydrogen Boil-Off Losses during Fuelling by Pre-Cooling Cryogenic Tank
Authors: Ghaffari-Tabrizi Fardin , Haemisch Jan , Lindner Daniela
Published: June 2022

Boil-off losses occur when gaseous hydrogen has to be released from a cryogenic tank due to liquid hydrogen evaporating. These are a substantial drawback for all areas in which liquid hydrogen is discussed as a potential fuel to limit the climate impact. Especially boil-off losses during fuelling are one of the most significant source of losses along the liquid hydrogen pathway. To analyse and minimize such losses, simulations of the filling process are performed with the simulation tool “EcoSimPro”. The simulations are validated with an analytical solution. The results show that boil-off losses can be significantly reduced by pre-cooling the cryogenic tank with liquid nitrogen. This method is most effective for relatively small tanks that could be used e.g., in small air crafts or air taxis.
The Effectiveness of Interventions to Evaluate and Reduce Healthcare Costs of Potentially Inappropriate Prescriptions among the Older Adults: A Systematic Review
Authors: Mucherino Sara , Casula Manuela , Galimberti Federica , Guarino Ilaria , Olmastroni Elena , Tragni Elena , Orlando Valentina , Menditto Enrica ,   on behalf of the EDU.RE.DRUG Group
Published: June 2022

Potentially inappropriate prescribing (PIP) is associated with an increased risk of adverse drug reactions, recognized as a determinant of adherence and increased healthcare costs. The study’s aim was to explore and compare the results of interventions to reduce PIP and its impact on avoidable healthcare costs. A systematic literature review was conducted according to Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) statement guidelines. PubMed and Embase were queried until February 2021. Inclusion criteria followed the PICO model: older patients receiving PIP; Interventions aimed at health professionals, structures, and patients; no/any intervention as a comparator; postintervention costs variations as outcomes. The search strategy produced 274 potentially relevant publications, of which 18 articles met inclusion criteria. Two subgroups were analyzed according to the study design: observational studies assessing PIP frequency and related-avoidable costs (n = 10) and trials, including specific intervention and related outcomes in terms of postintervention effectiveness and avoided costs (n = 8). PIP prevalence ranged from 21 to 79%. Few educational interventions carried out to reduce PIP prevalence and avoidable costs resulted in a slowly improving prescribing practice but not cost effective. Implementing cost-effective strategies for reducing PIP and clinical and economic implications is fundamental to reducing health systems’ PIP burden.
Governance of Heritable Human Gene Editing World-Wide and Beyond
Authors: Xue Yang , Shang Lijun
Published: June 2022

To date, the controversy surrounding the unknown risks and consequences of heritable genome editing has grown, with such work raising biosafety and ethical concerns for future generations. However, the current guideline of global governance is limited. In the context of the new framework for the governance of human genome editing developed by the World Health Organization (WHO) committee, this paper presents further analysis by highlighting predicaments of governance on germline engineering that merit the most attention: (1) building a scientific culture informed by a broader set of values and considerations in the internal scientific community at large, such as codes of ethics, and education, in addition to awareness-raising measures; and (2) reflecting on and institutionalizing policies in grassroots practice according to local conditions in external governance, such as the experimentalist governance, which is a multi-layered model of governance that establishes an open-ended framework from the top and offers stakeholders the freedom of discussion. The key to achieving these goals is more democratic deliberation between the public and the inclusive engagement of the global scientific community, which has been extensively used in the Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention (BTWC). On a global scale, we believe that practicing heritable human genome editing in accordance with the WHO and BTWC appears to be a good choice.
Detecting Sentiment toward Emerging Infectious Diseases on Social Media: A Validity Evaluation of Dictionary-Based Sentiment Analysis
Authors: Lee Sanguk , Ma Siyuan , Meng Jingbo , Zhuang Jie , Peng Tai-Quan
Published: June 2022

Despite the popularity and efficiency of dictionary-based sentiment analysis (DSA) for public health research, limited empirical evidence has been produced about the validity of DSA and potential harms to the validity of DSA. A random sample of a second-hand Ebola tweet dataset was used to evaluate the validity of DSA compared to the manual coding approach and examine the influences of textual features on the validity of DSA. The results revealed substantial inconsistency between DSA and the manual coding approach. The presence of certain textual features such as negation can partially account for the inconsistency between DSA and manual coding. The findings imply that scholars should be careful and critical about findings in disease-related public health research that use DSA. Certain textual features should be more carefully addressed in DSA.
Social Inequalities in the Association between Social Infrastructure and Mental Health: An Observational Cross-Sectional Analysis of Children and Adolescents in Germany
Authors: Stahlmann Katharina , Mena Emily , Kuhnert Ronny , Conrad André , Bolte Gabriele
Published: June 2022

The mental health (MH) of especially children and adolescents with low socioeconomic status (SES) benefits from access to greenspaces. This study aimed at investigating social inequalities in the association between several types of social infrastructure (SI) and MH in children and adolescents. The sample comprised 12,624 children and adolescents of the KiGGS Wave 2 study (2014–2017). KiGGS provided information on SI (access to playgrounds, sports fields, swimming pools, parks) for all children and the environmental module (GerES V) within KiGGS on the walking time to SI for a subsample. Social inequality was measured by parental SES and the German Index of Socioeconomic deprivation and MH by the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire. Ordinal logistic regression analyses showed that access to fewer SI places was associated with higher odds of MH problems. Children and adolescents experiencing high (but not medium or low) socioeconomic deprivation at the municipal level were more likely to have MH problems when having less access to SI places. At the individual level, MH problems in high- and low-SES, but not medium-SES children and adolescents were associated with no access to SI places. Children and adolescents from high socioeconomically deprived areas and with low and high SES might benefit from high-availability SI.
Perceived Risk of COVID-19 and Employee Decision-Making: How Psychological Distress during the Pandemic Increases Negative Performance Outcomes among Healthcare Workers
Authors: Moyo Ngqabutho , Bhappu Anita D. , Bhebhe Moment , Ncube Farai
Published: June 2022

In this research, we examined how COVID-19 impacts employee decision-making and performance, knowing that this virus has negatively affected public health, crippled economies, and transformed social and business environments across the globe. To quantitatively test our specific hypotheses regarding the effects of employees’ perceived risk of COVID-19 and psychological distress on negative performance outcomes, we surveyed 443 healthcare workers who were employed by a group of private hospitals in Zimbabwe. These essential workers were delivering day-to-day frontline services with high exposure to COVID-19 during the pandemic. We find that employees’ perceived risk of COVID-19 increases their disengagement, turnover intention, burnout, and low morale at a p < 0.05 significance level. These latter relationships are mediated by employees’ psychological distress at a p < 0.05 significance level. Our findings shed light on how the COVID-19 pandemic is affecting the cognitions and behaviors of the frontline workers who are vulnerable to this contagious disease. Turnover intentions are amplified among healthcare employees, due to their perceived risk of COVID-19 and the resulting psychological distress. Similarly, burnout becomes predominant as these workers worry about contracting the coronavirus due to the poor working conditions they face. As such, our research confirms that the pandemic has intensified the precariousness of work and challenge of managing employee performance, especially for frontline healthcare workers.
Can Fear of COVID-19 Be Predicted by Religiosity and Trust in Institutions among Young Adults? A Prospective Cross-National Study
Authors: Ochnik Dominika , Rogowska Aleksandra M. , Arzenšek Ana , Benatov Joy
Published: June 2022

The aim of this study was to reveal whether religiosity and trust in institutions are longitudinal predictors of change in fear of COVID-19 (FCV-19) across Poland, Germany, Slovenia, and Israel among young adults over a three-month period. The representative sample consisted of 1723 participants between the ages of 20 and 40 years (M = 30.74, SD = 5.74) across Poland (n = 446), Germany (n = 418), Slovenia (n = 431), and Israel (n = 428). The first measurement was carried out in February 2020 and the second was conducted in May/June 2020. A repeated-measures, two-way, mixed-factor ANOVA was performed to examine changes over time (T) and across countries (C) as well as the interaction of time and country (TxC) for FCV-19, religiosity, and trust in institutions. The results showed a significant decrease over time and differences between countries in all variables, as well as in TxC for FCV-19 and trust in institutions. Linear generalized estimating equations (GEEs) were used to assess the longitudinal change between T1 and T2 in FCV-19, including religiosity and trust in institutions as predictors, country as a factor, and gender and age as confounders. Female gender, religiosity, and trust in institutions were found to be significant longitudinal predictors of change in FCV-19. Country was a significant moderator of the relationship between trust in institutions and FCV-19, with the highest result achieved in Poland. Religiosity and trust in institutions were positive predictors of change in fear of COVID-19 among young adults across countries. Religious and governmental institutions should take this into consideration when communicating with believers and citizens during challenging situations.
Relationships between Green Space Attendance, Perceived Crowdedness, Perceived Beauty and Prosocial Behavior in Time of Health Crisis
Authors: Noël Tania , Dardenne Benoit
Published: June 2022

An emergent body of evidence shows the impact of exposure to nature on prosocial attitudes and interpersonal relationships. This study examines relationships between green space (GS) attendance, perceived beauty of the space, perceived crowdedness of the space, and prosocial behavior. A cross-sectional study with snowball sampling was conducted in April 2020. All participants (N = 1206) responded to an online survey that included a French version of the social value orientation slider measure (used as a proxy for prosocial behavior), questions about the lockdown, and their GS attendance. After retaining only participants who had visited a GS at least once since the beginning of their lockdown (N = 610), multiple linear regressions showed that social orientation scores demonstrated associations with the interaction between GS attendance and perceived crowdedness of the GS, suggesting that attending low crowded GS is linked to increasing prosociality. These results provide insight into the roles that GS can have during a health crisis and suggest some practical implications.
Omega-6 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids Enhance Tumor Aggressiveness in Experimental Lung Cancer Model: Important Role of Oxylipins
Authors: Montecillo-Aguado Mayra , Tirado-Rodriguez Belen , Antonio-Andres Gabriela , Morales-Martinez Mario , Tong Zhen , Yang Jun , Hammock Bruce D. , Hernandez-Pando Rogelio , Huerta-Yepez Sara
Published: June 2022

Lung cancer is currently the leading cause of cancer death worldwide; it is often diagnosed at an advanced stage and bears poor prognosis. It has been shown that diet is an important environmental factor that contributes to the risk and mortality of several types of cancers. Intake of ω-3 and ω-6 PUFAs plays an important role in cancer risk and progression. Current Western populations have high consumption of ω-6 PUFAs with a ratio of ω-6/ω-3 PUFAs at 15:1 to 16.7:1 This high consumption of ω-6 PUFAs is related to increased cancer risk and progression. However, whether a diet rich in ω-6 PUFAs can contribute to tumor aggressiveness has not been well investigated. We used a murine model of pulmonary squamous cell carcinoma to study the aggressiveness of tumors in mice fed with a diet rich in ω-6 PUFAs and its relationship with oxylipins. Our results shown that the mice fed a diet rich in ω-6 showed a marked increase in proliferation, angiogenesis and pro-inflammatory markers and decreased expression of pro-apoptotic proteins in their tumors. Oxylipin profiling revealed an upregulation of various pro-tumoral oxylipins including PGs, HETEs, DiHETrEs and HODEs. These results demonstrate for the first time that high intake of ω-6 PUFAs in the diet enhances the malignancy of tumor cells by histological changes on tumor dedifferentiation and increases cell proliferation, angiogenesis, pro-inflammatory oxylipins and molecular aggressiveness targets such as NF-κB p65, YY1, COX-2 and TGF-β.
Genetic Evidence for a Causal Relationship between Hyperlipidemia and Type 2 Diabetes in Mice
Authors: Shi Lisa J. , Tang Xiwei , He Jiang , Shi Weibin
Published: June 2022

Dyslipidemia is considered a risk factor for type 2 diabetes (T2D), yet studies with statins and candidate genes suggest that circulating lipids may protect against T2D development. Apoe-null (Apoe-/-) mouse strains develop spontaneous dyslipidemia and exhibit a wide variation in susceptibility to diet-induced T2D. We thus used Apoe-/- mice to elucidate phenotypic and genetic relationships of circulating lipids with T2D. A male F2 cohort was generated from an intercross between LP/J and BALB/cJ Apoe-/- mice and fed 12 weeks of a Western diet. Fasting, non-fasting plasma glucose, and lipid levels were measured and genotyping was performed using miniMUGA arrays. We uncovered a major QTL near 60 Mb on chromosome 15, Nhdlq18, which affected non-HDL cholesterol and triglyceride levels under both fasting and non-fasting states. This QTL was coincident with Bglu20, a QTL that modulates fasting and non-fasting glucose levels. The plasma levels of non-HDL cholesterol and triglycerides were closely correlated with the plasma glucose levels in F2 mice. Bglu20 disappeared after adjustment for non-HDL cholesterol or triglycerides. These results demonstrate a causative role for dyslipidemia in T2D development in mice.
MicroRNAs in the Regulation of Endometrial Receptivity for Embryo Implantation
Authors: Shekibi Manizha , Heng Sophea , Nie Guiying
Published: June 2022

Development of endometrial receptivity is crucial for successful embryo implantation and pregnancy initiation. Understanding the molecular regulation underpinning endometrial transformation to a receptive state is key to improving implantation rates in fertility treatments such as IVF. With microRNAs (miRNAs) increasingly recognized as important gene regulators, recent studies have investigated the role of miRNAs in the endometrium. Studies on miRNAs in endometrial disorders such as endometriosis and endometrial cancer have been reviewed previously. In this minireview, we aim to provide an up-to-date knowledge of miRNAs in the regulation of endometrial receptivity. Since endometrial remodelling differs considerably between species, we firstly summarised the key events of the endometrial cycle in humans and mice and then reviewed the miRNAs identified so far in these two species with likely functional significance in receptivity establishment. To date, 29 miRNAs have been reported in humans and 15 miRNAs in mice within various compartments of the endometrium that may potentially modulate receptivity; miRNAs regulating the Wnt signalling and those from the let-7, miR-23, miR-30, miR-200 and miR-183 families are found in both species. Future studies are warranted to investigate miRNAs as biomarkers and/or therapeutic targets to detect/improve endometrial receptivity in human fertility treatment.
Spheroid Formation and Peritoneal Metastasis in Ovarian Cancer: The Role of Stromal and Immune Components
Authors: Rakina Militsa , Kazakova Anna , Villert Alisa , Kolomiets Larisa , Larionova Irina
Published: June 2022

Ovarian cancer (OC) is one of the most common gynecological cancers, with the worst prognosis and the highest mortality rate. Peritoneal dissemination (or carcinomatosis) accompanied by ascites formation is the most unfavorable factor in the progression and recurrence of OC. Tumor cells in ascites are present as either separate cells or, more often, as cell aggregates, i.e., spheroids which promote implantation on the surface of nearby organs and, at later stages, metastases to distant organs. Malignant ascites comprises a unique tumor microenvironment; this fact may be of relevance in the search for new prognostic and predictive factors that would make it possible to personalize the treatment of patients with OC. However, the precise mechanisms of spheroid formation and carcinomatosis are still under investigation. Here, we summarize data on ascites composition as well as the activity of fibroblasts and macrophages, the key stromal and immune components, in OC ascites. We describe current knowledge about the role of fibroblasts and macrophages in tumor spheroid formation, and discuss the specific functions of fibroblasts, macrophages and T cells in tumor peritoneal dissemination and implantation.
A Novel Multi-View Ensemble Learning Architecture to Improve the Structured Text Classification
Authors: Gonçalves Carlos Adriano , Vieira Adrián Seara , Gonçalves Célia Talma , Camacho Rui , Iglesias Eva Lorenzo , Diz Lourdes Borrajo
Published: June 2022

Multi-view ensemble learning exploits the information of data views. To test its efficiency for full text classification, a technique has been implemented where the views correspond to the document sections. For classification and prediction, we use a stacking generalization based on the idea that different learning algorithms provide complementary explanations of the data. The present study implements the stacking approach using support vector machine algorithms as the baseline and a C4.5 implementation as the meta-learner. Views are created with OHSUMED biomedical full text documents. Experimental results lead to the sustained conclusion that the application of multi-view techniques to full texts significantly improves the task of text classification, providing a significant contribution for the biomedical text mining research. We also have evidence to conclude that enriched datasets with text from certain sections are better than using only titles and abstracts.
An Evaluation of the Physicochemical Properties of Preservative-Free 0.005% (w/v) Latanoprost Ophthalmic Solutions, and the Impact on In Vitro Human Conjunctival Goblet Cell Survival
Authors: Freiberg Josefine C. , Hedengran Anne , Heegaard Steffen , Petrovski Goran , Jacobsen Jette , Cvenkel Barbara , Kolko Miriam
Published: June 2022

Purpose: To examine the physicochemical properties of five preservative-free (PF) 0.005% latanoprost ophthalmic products; Monoprost®, Latanest®, Gaap Ofteno®, Xalmono®, and Xaloptic® Free. Furthermore, the study investigated the mucin production and cell survival of primary cultured human conjunctival goblet cells when treated with PF eye drops. Method: The pH value, osmolality, and surface tension were examined. Cell survival was analyzed using lactate dehydrogenase and tetrazolium dye colorimetric assays. Mucin production was analyzed with immunohistochemical staining. Results: Monoprost® (pH value 6.84 ± 0.032) had a pH value closest to the pH value of tear fluid (pH value 7.4–7.6), whereas Gaap Ofteno® (pH value 6.34 ± 0.004) and Latanest® (pH value 6.33 ± 0.003) had the lowest pH values. Gaap Ofteno® (325.9 ± 2.9 mosmol/kg) showed iso-osmolar probabilities, whereas the other products were hypo-osmolar. Gaap Ofteno® (60.31 ± 0.35 mN/m) had a higher surface tension compared to the tear fluid (40 to 46 mN/m), as described in the literature. No significant differences in goblet cell survival or mucin release were observed between the treatments and control. Conclusion: Significant differences in pH value, osmolality, and surface tension were observed. However, this did not affect the viability of the goblet cells or the release of mucin. Clinical studies are required to evaluate the long-term effects of use on efficacy and safety.
Animal Models and Helicobacter pylori Infection
Authors: Ansari Shamshul , Yamaoka Yoshio
Published: June 2022

Helicobacter pylori colonize the gastric mucosa of at least half of the world’s population. Persistent infection is associated with the development of gastritis, peptic ulcer disease, and an increased risk of gastric cancer and gastric-mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphoma. In vivo studies using several animal models have provided crucial evidence for understanding the pathophysiology of H. pylori-associated complications. Numerous animal models, such as Mongolian gerbils, transgenic mouse models, guinea pigs, and other animals, including non-human primates, are being widely used due to their persistent association in causing gastric complications. However, finding suitable animal models for in vivo experimentation to understand the pathophysiology of gastric cancer and MALT lymphoma is a complicated task. In this review, we summarized the most appropriate and latest information in the scientific literature to understand the role and importance of H. pylori infection animal models.
Association of Intradialytic Hypotension and Ultrafiltration with AKI-D Outcomes in the Outpatient Dialysis Setting
Authors: Abdel-Rahman Emaad M. , Casimir Ernst , Lyons Genevieve R. , Ma Jennie Z. , Gautam Jitendra K.
Published: June 2022

Identifying modifiable predictors of outcomes for cases of acute kidney injury requiring hemodialysis (AKI-D) will allow better care of patients with AKI-D. All patients with AKI-D discharged to University of Virginia (UVA) outpatient HD units between 1 January 2017 to 31 December 2019 (n = 273) were followed- for up to six months. Dialysis-related parameters were measured during the first 4 weeks of outpatient HD to test the hypothesis that modifiable factors during dialysis are associated with AKI-D outcomes of recovery, End Stage Kidney Disease (ESKD), or death. Patients were 42% female, 67% Caucasian, with mean age 62.8 ± 15.4 years. Median number of dialysis sessions was 11 (6–15), lasting 3.6 ± 0.6 h. At 90 days after starting outpatient HD, 45% recovered, 45% were declared ESKD and 9.9% died, with no significant changes noted between three and six months. Patients who recovered, died or were declared ESKD experienced an average of 9, 10 and 16 intradialytic hypotensive (IDH) episodes, respectively. More frequent IDH episodes were associated with increased risk of ESKD (p = 0.01). A one liter increment in net ultrafiltration was associated with 54% increased ratio of ESKD (p = 0.048). Optimizing dialysis prescription to decrease frequency of IDH episodes and minimize UF, and close monitoring of outpatient dialysis for patients with AKI-D, are crucial and may improve outcomes for these patients.