bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Sleep and chronotype influence aerobic performance in young soccer players
Authors: Ciorciari Andrea , Mulè Antonino , Castelli Lucia , Galasso Letizia , Esposito Fabio , Roveda Eliana , Montaruli Angela
Published: May 2023

People can be classified into three chronotypes (CT): morning-type (M-type), Neither-type (N-type) and Evening-type (E-type). M-types perform better in the morning, E-types in the evening. It seems that bad sleep worsens physical performance. The impact of sleep and CT on specific sports and populations is unclear. Therefore, we wanted to assess agility, strength and endurance in young soccer players in relation to their sleep and chronotype. 58 players (13–19 years) were recruited. Sleep and CT were assessed by questionnaires. The physical trial was performed at 8:30 a.m. and 6:00 p.m., and included three tests to determine agility, strength and endurance. The sample was classified by CT as M-types (n = 11), N-types (n = 29) and E-types (n = 18). Furthermore, they were categorized as people with Good Sleep/Wake quality (GSW, n = 28) and people with Bad Sleep/Wake quality (BSW, n = 30). Comparing the three CTs in the aerobic test, M-types performed better in the morning (p = 0.01), while E-types in the evening (p < 0.001). GSW performed better than BSW (p = 0.019) in the aerobic test in the p.m. session. These results underline the difference in aerobic power between M-and E-types during the morning and evening session; moreover, they show a difference in p.m. aerobic performance according to sleep quality.
A new approach of using organ-on-a-chip and fluid–structure interaction modeling to investigate biomechanical characteristics in tissue-engineered blood vessels
Authors: Wang Liang , Chen Zaozao , Xu Zhuoyue , Yang Yi , Wang Yan , Zhu Jianfeng , Guo Xiaoya , Tang Dalin , Gu Zhongze
Published: May 2023

The tissue-engineered blood vessel (TEBV) has been developed and used in cardiovascular disease modeling, preclinical drug screening, and for replacement of native diseased arteries. Increasing attention has been paid to biomechanical cues in TEBV and other tissue-engineered organs to better recapitulate the functional properties of the native organs. Currently, computational fluid dynamics models were employed to reveal the hydrodynamics in TEBV-on-a-chip. However, the biomechanical wall stress/strain conditions in the TEBV wall have never been investigated. In this paper, a straight cylindrical TEBV was placed into a polydimethylsiloxane-made microfluidic device to construct the TEBV-on-a-chip. The chip was then perfused with cell culture media flow driven by a peristaltic pump. A three-dimensional fluid–structure interaction (FSI) model was generated to simulate the biomechanical conditions in TEBV and mimic both the dynamic TEBV movement and pulsatile fluid flow. The material stiffness of the TEBV wall was determined by uniaxial tensile testing, while the viscosity of cell culture media was measured using a rheometer. Comparison analysis between the perfusion experiment and FSI model results showed that the average relative error in diameter expansion of TEBV from both approaches was 10.0% in one period. For fluid flow, the average flow velocity over a period was 2.52 cm/s from the FSI model, 10.5% higher than the average velocity of the observed cell clusters (2.28 mm/s) in the experiment. These results demonstrated the facility to apply the FSI modeling approach in TEBV to obtain more comprehensive biomechanical results for investigating mechanical mechanisms of cardiovascular disease development.
Genome-wide association mapping of genomic regions associated with drought stress tolerance at seedling and reproductive stages in bread wheat
Authors: Reddy S Srinatha , Saini Dinesh Kumar , Singh G Mahendra , Sharma Sandeep , Mishra Vinod Kumar , Joshi Arun Kumar
Published: May 2023

Understanding the genetic architecture of drought stress tolerance in bread wheat at seedling and reproductive stages is crucial for developing drought-tolerant varieties. In the present study, 192 diverse wheat genotypes, a subset from the Wheat Associated Mapping Initiative (WAMI) panel, were evaluated at the seedling stage in a hydroponics system for chlorophyll content (CL), shoot length (SLT), shoot weight (SWT), root length (RLT), and root weight (RWT) under both drought and optimum conditions. Following that, a genome-wide association study (GWAS) was carried out using the phenotypic data recorded during the hydroponics experiment as well as data available from previously conducted multi-location field trials under optimal and drought stress conditions. The panel had previously been genotyped using the Infinium iSelect 90K SNP array with 26,814 polymorphic markers. Using single as well as multi-locus models, GWAS identified 94 significant marker-trait associations (MTAs) or SNPs associated with traits recorded at the seedling stage and 451 for traits recorded at the reproductive stage. The significant SNPs included several novel, significant, and promising MTAs for different traits. The average LD decay distance for the whole genome was approximately 0.48 Mbp, ranging from 0.07 Mbp (chromosome 6D) to 4.14 Mbp (chromosome 2A). Furthermore, several promising SNPs revealed significant differences among haplotypes for traits such as RLT, RWT, SLT, SWT, and GY under drought stress. Functional annotation and in silico expression analysis revealed important putative candidate genes underlying the identified stable genomic regions such as protein kinases, O-methyltransferases, GroES-like superfamily proteins, NAD-dependent dehydratases, etc. The findings of the present study may be useful for improving yield potential, and stability under drought stress conditions.
Metabolic engineering of plant secondary metabolites: prospects and its technological challenges
Authors: Mipeshwaree Devi Asem , Khedashwori Devi Khomdram , Premi Devi Pukhrambam , Lakshmipriyari Devi Moirangthem , Das Sudripta
Published: May 2023

Plants produce a wide range of secondary metabolites that play vital roles for their primary functions such as growth, defence, adaptations or reproduction. Some of the plant secondary metabolites are beneficial to mankind as nutraceuticals and pharmaceuticals. Metabolic pathways and their regulatory mechanism are crucial for targeting metabolite engineering. The clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)/Cas9-mediated system has been widely applied in genome editing with high accuracy, efficiency, and multiplex targeting ability. Besides its vast application in genetic improvement, the technique also facilitates a comprehensive profiling approach to functional genomics related to gene discovery involved in various plant secondary metabolic pathways. Despite these wide applications, several challenges limit CRISPR/Cas system applicability in genome editing in plants. This review highlights updated applications of CRISPR/Cas system-mediated metabolic engineering of plants and its challenges.
Transcriptome-wide expression analysis of MYB gene family leads to functional characterization of flavonoid biosynthesis in fruit coloration of Ziziphus Mill
Authors: Muhammad Noor , Luo Zhi , Zhao Xin , Yang Meng , Liu Zhiguo , Liu Mengjun
Published: May 2023

The Ziziphus mauritiana Lam. and Z. jujuba Mill. are the two most economically important members of the genus Ziziphus. The fruit color of Z. mauritiana remains green throughout fruit development in the majority of commercial cultivars, whereas its close relative, Z. jujuba Mill. turns from green to red in all cultivars. However, the lack of transcriptomic and genomic information confines our understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying fruit coloration in Z. mauritiana (Ber). In the present study, we performed the transcriptome-wide analysis of MYB transcription factors (TFs) genes in Z. mauritiana and Z. jujuba, and identified 56 ZmMYB and 60 ZjMYB TFs in Z. mauritiana and Z. jujuba, respectively. Through transcriptomic expression analysis, four similar MYB genes (ZmMYB/ZjMYB13, ZmMYB/ZjMYB44, ZmMYB/ZjMYB50, and ZmMYB/ZjMYB56) from Z. mauritiana and Z. jujuba were selected as candidate key genes regulating flavonoid biosynthesis. Among these genes, the ZjMYB44 gene was transiently highly expressed in fruit, and flavonoid content accumulation also increased, indicating that this gene can influence flavonoid content during the period of fruit coloration in Z. jujuba. The current study adds to our understanding of the classification of genes, motif structure, and predicted functions of the MYB TFs, as well as identifying MYBs that regulate flavonoid biosynthesis in Ziziphus (Z. mauritiana and Z. jujuba). Based on this information, we concluded that MYB44 is involved in the flavonoids biosynthesis pathway during the fruit coloring of Ziziphus. Our research results provide an important understanding of the molecular mechanism of flavonoid biosynthesis resulting in fruit coloration and laying a foundation for further genetic improvement of fruit color in Ziziphus.
Genetic analysis of mixed models of fruit sugar–acid fractions in a cross between jujube (Ziziphus jujuba Mill.) and wild jujube (Z. acido jujuba)
Authors: Zhi Yang , Chuanjiang Zhang , Xinfang Yang , Mengyi Dong , Zhenlei Wang , Fenfen Yan , Cuiyun Wu , Jiurui Wang , Mengjun Liu , Minjuan Lin
Published: May 2023

Chinese jujube (Ziziphus jujuba Mill.), an economically significant species in the Rhamnaceae family, is a popular fruit tree in Asia. The sugar and acid concentrations in jujube are considerably higher than those in other plants. Due to the low kernel rate, it is extremely difficult to establish hybrid populations. Little is known about jujube evolution and domestication, particularly with regard to the role of the sugar and acid components of jujube. Therefore, we used cover net control as a hybridization technique for the cross-breeding of Ziziphus jujuba Mill and ‘JMS2’ and (Z. acido jujuba) ‘Xing16’ to obtain an F1 population (179 hybrid progeny). The sugar and acid levels in the F1 and parent fruit were determined by HPLC. The coefficient of variation ranged from 28.4 to 93.9%. The sucrose and quinic acid levels in the progeny were higher than those in the parents. The population showed continuous distributions with transgressive segregation on both sides. Analysis by the mixed major gene and polygene inheritance model was performed. It was found that glucose is controlled by one additive-dominant major gene and polygenes, malic acid is controlled by two additive-dominant major genes and polygenes, and oxalic acid and quinic acid are controlled by two additive-dominant-epistatic major genes and polygenes. The results of this study provide insights into the genetic predisposition and molecular mechanisms underlying the role of sugar acids in jujube fruit.
The influence of stressful life events on procrastination among college students: multiple mediating roles of stress beliefs and core self-evaluations
Authors: Ma Xiaole , Li Zeheng , Lu Furong
Published: May 2023

Introduction

Few studies have documented the relationship between stressful life events and procrastination, which is a prevalent and troubling problem among college students. In this regard, the current study examined the association between stressful life events and procrastination through potential mediating effects of stress beliefs and core self-evaluations.

Methods

A cross-sectional design was carried out and data were collected from a total of 794 Chinese college students with measures of stressful life events, core self-evaluations, stress beliefs, and procrastination.

Results

Stressful life events was positively associated with procrastination in college students. Stress beliefs and core self-evaluations played multiple mediating roles in this relationship.

Discussion

The study provided a novel perspective of finding the possible causes of procrastination in college students and highlighted the roles of stress beliefs and core self-evaluations.
A proposal for monitoring the process of internalization following Galperin's conception
Authors: Rivera Valdez Leonardo Daniel , López Cortés Vicente Arturo , García Flores Marco Antonio
Published: May 2023

Since the era of Piaget and Vygotsky, private speech (PS) has been widely discussed, but in recent years, the avenues for its study have greatly expanded. In this study, we explored the use of a recoding scheme for PS inspired by the studies of Pyotr Galperin. A coding scheme for social speech, PS, and the lack of speech, as the form of action (FA) has been proposed (i.e., external social speech, external audible speech, inaudible speech, and mental FA when no speech was produced). An exploratory study was conducted to elucidate the appropriateness of the coding scheme, both ontogenetically and during tasks. The results showed that both the coding scheme by type of speech and FA were adequate for differentiating ontogenetically between children. However, only the coding schemes of the FA were appropriate for differentiating between children as a function of their performance (i.e., time and scores) in a Tower of London task. Moreover, Galperin's scheme was more suitable when there was redundancy in performance between those with audible and inaudible external speech.
Self-efficacy, reflection, and resilience as predictors of work engagement among English teachers
Authors: Heng Qingzhi , Chu Lina
Published: May 2023

Introduction

Given the significant role of work engagement of teachers in educational contexts, some scholarly attention has been directed to exploring the predictors of this construct. Against this backdrop, this study aimed to investigate the predictors of teacher work engagement among Chinese English as a foreign language (EFL) teachers by testing a model that includes teacher self-efficacy, teacher reflection, and teacher resilience.

Methods

To achieve this goal, 512 EFL teachers were invited to participate in an online survey, which consisted of four questionnaires. The construct validity of the measures was confirmed through confirmatory factor analysis. Then, structural equation modeling was utilized to examine the relationships between the variables.

Results

The findings indicated that teacher self-efficacy, teacher reflection, and teacher resilience were direct predictors of work engagement, and teacher self-efficacy had an indirect effect on work engagement via teacher reflection and resilience. Similarly, teacher reflection also had an indirect impact on work engagement through teacher resilience.

Discussion

These results have important implications for teacher education programs. The significance of these predictors of work engagement among EFL teachers highlights the importance of fostering self-efficacy, reflection, and resilience among teachers in order to promote their work engagement. Further research can explore ways to enhance these predictors through training and support programs for teachers.
Sport and academic engagement of 1,387 Slovenian dual-career athletes before and during COVID-19 lockdown—what did we learn?
Authors: Drole Kristina , Paravlic Armin , Coakley Jay , Doupona Mojca
Published: May 2023

Introduction

Since the coronavirus disease outbreak in 2019, there have been several preventive measures and restrictions applied to minimize the transmission of the virus. While lockdown has affected our everyday lives, it has negatively impacted sport and athletes as well.

Methods

1,387 Slovenian dual-career (DC) athletes (47.4% females, 52.6% males) participated in the 22-item questionnaire to gather information on their sports and academic engagement before and during COVID-19 lockdown period. Half of the athletes were enrolled in education at the secondary level (n = 819, aged 15–18  years), while the others were enrolled in primary (n = 301, 8–14 years) and tertiary (n = 267, 19–36  years) education. All participants in the current study have a valid athlete categorization by the Slovenian Olympic Committee and are competing at either junior (31.7%), national (26.9%), prospective (29.5%), international (8.5%), world (2.3%) or Olympic (1.2%) level.

Results

DC athletes spent less time on training (−4.7 h; p < 0.001), learning (−1.0 h; p < 0.001), exams (−0.9 h; p < 0.001), laboratory work (−0.6 h; p < 0.001), and other educational activities (−0.3 h; p < 0.001) during COVID-19 lockdown compared to period before the lockdown. Their training environment was changed so they trained either at home or outdoors. Results showed that indoor (−3.7 h; p < 0.001) and team sport athletes (−1.3 h; p < 0.001) trained less than outdoor and individual sports. Male athletes spent more time on training both before (1.3 h; p < 0.001) and during lockdown (1.3 h; p < 0.001) and other sport-related activities (1.3 h; p < 0.001). On the other hand, female athletes spent more time on studying both before (1.5 h; p < 0.001) and during lockdown (2.6 h; p < 0.001). Both sport and educational activities were influenced by athletes’ age (p ≤ 0.017).

Conclusion

Indoor and team sport athletes were more affected by the governmental measures than outdoor and individual sport athletes. Male athletes experienced a greater decline in learning time compared to female athletes. DC is shown to be beneficial for athletes even in times of COVID-19 lockdown, as DC athletes report smaller decline in motivation, shifting attention from sport to study and having fewer mental problems due to uncertain sports future. The feedback of the preventive measures could serve to assist policy makers and athlete’s support staff to form and apply preventive measures that are more effective for DC athletes’ training and education.
The mediating effect of somatic symptom disorder between psychological factors and quality of life among Chinese breast cancer patients
Authors: Li Zimeng , Zhang Yening , Pang Ying , He Yi , Song Lili , Wang Yan , He Shuangzhi , Tang Lili
Published: May 2023

Objective

We conducted this cross-sectional study to explore the mediating and predicting role of somatic symptom disorder (SSD) between psychological measures and quality of life (QOL) among Chinese breast cancer patients.

Methods

Breast cancer patients were recruited from three clinics in Beijing. Screening tools included the Patient Health Questionnaire-15 (PHQ-15), the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), the General Anxiety Disorder-7 scale (GAD-7), the Health Anxiety Scale (Whiteley Index-8, WI-8), the Somatic Symptom Disorder B-Criteria Scale (SSD-12), the Fear of Cancer Recurrence scale (FCR-4), the Brief Illness Perception Questionnaire (BIPQ-8), and the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Breast (FACT-B). Chi-square tests, nonparametric tests, mediating effect analysis, and linear regression analysis were used for the data analysis.

Results

Among the 264 participants, 25.0% were screened positive for SSD. The patients with screened positive SSD had a lower performance status, and a greater number of patients with screened positive SSD received traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) (p < 0.05). Strong mediating effects of SSD were found between psychological measures and QOL among patients with breast cancer after adjusting for sociodemographic variables as covariates (p < 0.001). The range of the percentage mediating effects was 25.67% (independent variable = PHQ-9) to 34.68% (independent variable = WI-8). Screened positive SSD predicted low QOL in physical (B = −0.476, p < 0.001), social (B = −0.163, p < 0.001), emotional (B = −0.304, p < 0.001), and functional (B = −0.283, p < 0.001) well-being, as well as substantial concerns caused by breast cancer (B = −0.354, p < 0.001).

Conclusion

Screened positive SSD had strong mediating effects between psychological factors and quality of life among breast cancer patients. Additionally, screened positive SSD was a significant predictor of lower QOL among breast cancer patients. Effective psychosocial interventions for improving QOL should consider the prevention and treatment of SSD or integrated SSD caring dimensions for breast cancer patients.
Dose-response effects of acute exercise intensity on state anxiety among women with depression
Authors: Perkins Seana L. , Cook Dane B. , Herring Matthew P. , Meyer Jacob D.
Published: May 2023

Anxiety is common in people with major depressive disorder (MDD), yet the anxiolytic effects of acute exercise in MDD are unknown. The purpose of this analysis was to determine a potentially optimal acute exercise intensity for reducing state anxiety in women with MDD, the duration of the response, and the potential influences of depression severity and preferred-intensity exercise. Using a within-subject, randomized, counter-balanced design, 24 participants completed five separate visits including 20  min of steady-state bicycling at prescribed (via RPE) light, moderate, or hard intensities, a preferred/self-selected session, or a quiet rest (QR) session. State anxiety was measured via the State–Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI-Y1) and anxiety visual analog scale (VAS) at pre-, immediately (VAS only), 10  min, and 30  min post-exercise. Depression was measured via the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI-II) pre-exercise. Moderate exercise resulted in a moderate state anxiety reduction compared to QR 10 min (STAI-Y1: g = 0.59, padj = 0.040) and 30 min post-exercise (STAI-Y1: g = 0.61, padj = 0.032). Pairwise differences indicated each exercise session decreased state anxiety pre to 10 min and 30 min post-exercise (all padj < 0.05) for the STAI-Y1, and for moderate and hard exercise from pre to each time point post-exercise (all padj < 0.05) for the VAS. Depression severity was associated with state anxiety (p < 0.01) but did not influence the overall results. Prescribed moderate intensity exercise led to greater reductions in state anxiety compared to preferred at 30 m (STAI-Y1: g = 0.43, p = 0.04). These findings suggest steady-state prescribed moderate exercise reduces state anxiety in women with MDD for at least 30 min following exercise regardless of their depression severity.
A systems biology approach for discovering the cellular and molecular aspects of psychogenic non-epileptic seizure
Authors: Malekpour Mahdi , Jafari Aida , Kashkooli Mohammad , Salarikia Seyed Reza , Negahdaripour Manica
Published: May 2023

Objectives

Psychogenic non-epileptic seizure (PNES) is the most common non-epileptic disorder in patients referring to epilepsy centers. Contrary to common beliefs about the disease’s harmlessness, the death rate of PNES patients is similar to drug-resistant epilepsy. Meanwhile, the molecular pathomechanism of PNES is unknown with very limited related research. Thus, the aim of this in silico study was to find different proteins and hormones associated with PNES via a systems biology approach.

Methods

Different bioinformatics databases and literature review were used to find proteins associated with PNES. The protein-hormone interaction network of PNES was constructed to discover its most influential compartments. The pathways associated with PNES pathomechanism were found by enrichment analysis of the identified proteins. Besides, the relationship between PNES-related molecules and psychiatric diseases was discovered, and the brain regions that could express altered levels of blood proteins were discovered.

Results

Eight genes and three hormones were found associated with PNES through the review process. Proopiomelanocortin (POMC), neuropeptide Y (NPY), cortisol, norepinephrine, and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) were identified to have a high impact on the disease pathogenesis network. Moreover, activation of Janus kinase-signaling transducer and activator of transcription (JAK–STAT) and JAK, as well as signaling of growth hormone receptor, phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase /protein kinase B (PI3K/AKT), and neurotrophin were found associated with PNES molecular mechanism. Several psychiatric diseases such as depression, schizophrenia, and alcohol-related disorders were shown to be associated with PNES predominantly through signaling molecules.

Significance

This study was the first to gather the biochemicals associated with PNES. Multiple components and pathways and several psychiatric diseases associated with PNES, and some brain regions that could be altered during PNES were suggested, which should be confirmed in further studies. Altogether, these findings could be used in future molecular research on PNES patients.
Behavioral effects of triazolam and pregnanolone combinations: reinforcing and sedative-motor effects in female rhesus monkeys
Authors: Cook Jemma E. , Platt Donna M. , Rüedi-Bettschen Daniela , Rowlett James K.
Published: May 2023

Introduction

Benzodiazepines (BZs) are prescribed as anxiolytics, but their use is limited by side effects including abuse liability and daytime drowsiness. Neuroactive steroids are compounds that, like BZs, modulate the effects of GABA at the GABAA receptor. In a previous study, combinations of the BZ triazolam and neuroactive steroid pregnanolone produced supra-additive (i.e., greater than expected effects based on the drugs alone) anxiolytic effects but infra-additive (i.e., lower than expected effects based on the drugs alone) reinforcing effects in male rhesus monkeys, suggestive of an improved therapeutic window.

Methods

Female rhesus monkeys (n=4) self-administered triazolam, pregnanolone, and triazolam-pregnanolone combinations intravenously under a progressive-ratio schedule. In order to assess characteristic sedative-motor effects of BZ-neuroactive steroid combinations, female rhesus monkeys (n=4) were administered triazolam, pregnanolone, and triazolam-pregnanolone combinations. Trained observers, blinded to condition, scored the occurrence of species-typical and drug-induced behaviors.

Results

In contrast to our previous study with males, triazolam-pregnanolone combinations had primarily supra-additive reinforcing effects in three monkeys but infra-additive reinforcing effects in one monkey. Scores for deep sedation (i.e., defined as atypical loose-limbed posture, eyes closed, does not respond to external stimuli) and observable ataxia (any slip, trip, fall, or loss of balance) were significantly increased by both triazolam and pregnanolone. When combined, triazolam-pregnanolone combinations had supra-additive effects for inducing deep sedation, whereas observable ataxia was attenuated, likely due to the occurrence of robust sedative effects.

Discussion

These results suggest that significant sex differences exist in self-administration of BZ-neuroactive steroid combinations, with females likely to show enhanced sensitivity to reinforcing effects compared with males. Moreover, supra-additive sedative effects occurred for females, demonstrating a higher likelihood of this adverse effect when these drug classes are combined.
Mentalizing and epistemic trust as critical success factors in psychosomatic rehabilitation: results of a single center longitudinal observational study
Authors: Riedl David , Rothmund Maria Sophie , Grote Vincent , Fischer Michael J. , Kampling Hanna , Kruse Johannes , Nolte Tobias , Labek Karin , Lampe Astrid
Published: May 2023

Background

Inpatient psychosomatic rehabilitation is a key treatment for patients with mental health issues. However, knowledge about critical success factors for beneficial treatment outcomes is scarce. The aim of this study was to evaluate the association of mentalizing and epistemic trust with the improvement of psychological distress during rehabilitation.

Methods

In this naturalistic longitudinal observational study, patients completed routine assessments of psychological distress (BSI), health-related quality of life (HRQOL; WHODAS), mentalizing (MZQ), and epistemic trust (ETMCQ) before (T1) and after (T2) psychosomatic rehabilitation. Repeated measures ANOVA (rANOVAs) and structural equation models (SEMs) were calculated to investigate the association of mentalizing and epistemic trust with the improvement in psychological distress.

Results

A total sample of n = 249 patients were included in the study. Improvement in mentalizing was correlated with improvement in depression (r = 0.36), anxiety (r = 0.46), and somatization (r = 0.23), as well as improved cognition (r = 0.36), social functioning (r = 0.33), and social participation (r = 0.48; all p < 0.001). Mentalizing partially mediated changes in psychological distress between T1 and T2: the direct association decreased from β = 0.69 to β = 0.57 and the explained variance increased from 47 to 61%. Decreases in epistemic mistrust (β = 0.42, 0.18–0.28; p < 0.001) and epistemic credulity (β = 0.19, 0.29–0.38; p < 0.001) and increases in epistemic trust (β = 0.42, 0.18–0.28; p < 0.001) significantly predicted improved mentalizing. A good model fit was found (χ2 = 3.248, p = 0.66; CFI = 0.99; TLI = 0.99; RMSEA = 0.000).

Conclusion

Mentalizing was identified as a critical success factor in psychosomatic inpatient rehabilitation. A key component to increase mentalizing in this treatment context is the improvement of epistemic mistrust.
Increased thalamic gray matter volume induced by repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation treatment in patients with major depressive disorder
Authors: Wang Zhongheng , Zhang Dongning , Guan Muzhen , Ren Xiaojiao , Li Dan , Yin Kaiming , Zhou Ping , Li Baojuan , Wang Huaning
Published: May 2023

Purpose

Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) is an effective therapy in improving depressive symptoms in MDD patients, but the intrinsic mechanism is still unclear. In this study, we investigated the influence of rTMS on brain gray matter volume for alleviating depressive symptoms in MDD patients using structural magnetic resonance imaging (sMRI) data.

Methods

Patients with first episode, unmedicated patients with MDD (n = 26), and healthy controls (n = 31) were selected for this study. Depressive symptoms were assessed before and after treatment by using the HAMD-17 score. High-frequency rTMS treatment was conducted in patients with MDD over 15 days. The rTMS treatment target is located at the F3 point of the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex. Structural magnetic resonance imaging (sMRI) data were collected before and after treatment to compare the changes in brain gray matter volume.

Results

Before treatment, patients with MDD had significantly reduced gray matter volumes in the right fusiform gyrus, left and right inferior frontal gyrus (triangular part), left inferior frontal gyrus (orbital part), left parahippocampal gyrus, left thalamus, right precuneus, right calcarine fissure, and right median cingulate gyrus compared with healthy controls (P < 0.05). After rTMS treatment, significant growth in gray matter volume of the bilateral thalamus was observed in depressed patients (P < 0.05).

Conclusion

Bilateral thalamic gray matter volumes were enlarged in the thalamus of MDD patients after rTMS treatment and may be the underlying neural mechanism for the treatment of rTMS on depression.
Social deprivation and SARS-CoV-2 testing: a population-based analysis in a highly contrasted southern France region
Authors: Landier Jordi , Bassez Léa , Bendiane Marc-Karim , Chaud Pascal , Franke Florian , Nauleau Steve , Danjou Fabrice , Malfait Philippe , Rebaudet Stanislas , Gaudart Jean
Published: May 2023

Background

Testing was the cornerstone of the COVID-19 epidemic response in most countries until vaccination became available for the general population. Social inequalities generally affect access to healthcare and health behaviors, and COVID-19 was rapidly shown to impact deprived population more drastically. In support of the regional health agency in Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur (PACA) in South-Eastern France, we analyzed the relationship between testing rate and socio-demographic characteristics of the population, to identify gaps in testing coverage and improve targeting of response strategies.

Methods

We conducted an ecological analysis of SARS-CoV-2/COVID-19 testing rate in the PACA region, based on data aggregated at the finest spatial resolution available in France (IRIS) and by periods defined by public health implemented measures and major epidemiological changes. Using general census data, population density, and specific deprivation indices, we used principal component analysis followed by hierarchical clustering to define profiles describing local socio-demographic characteristics. We analyzed the association between these profiles and testing rates in a generalized additive multilevel model, adjusting for access to healthcare, presence of a retirement home, and the age profile of the population.

Results

We identified 6 socio-demographic profiles across the 2,306 analyzed IRIS spatial units: privileged, remote, intermediate, downtown, deprived, and very deprived (ordered by increasing social deprivation index). Profiles also ranged from rural (remote) to high density urban areas (downtown, very deprived). From July 2020 to December 2021, we analyzed SARS-CoV-2/COVID-19 testing rate over 10 periods. Testing rates fluctuated strongly but were highest in privileged and downtown areas, and lowest in very deprived ones. The lowest adjusted testing rate ratios (aTRR) between privileged (reference) and other profiles occurred after implementation of a mandatory healthpass for many leisure activities in July 2021. Periods of contextual testing near Christmas displayed the largest aTRR, especially during the last periods of 2021 after the end of free convenience testing for unvaccinated individuals.

Conclusion

We characterized in-depth local heterogeneity and temporal trends in testing rates and identified areas and circumstances associated with low testing rates, which the regional health agency targeted specifically for the deployment of health mediation activities.
Risk factors associated with indoor transmission during home quarantine of COVID-19 patients
Authors: Liu Yang , Chai Yan-Hua , Wu Yi-Fan , Zhang Yu-Wei , Wang Ling , Yang Ling , Shi Yi-Han , Wang Le-Le , Zhang Li-Sha , Chen Yan , Fan Rui , Wen Yu-Hua , Yang Heng , Li Li , Liu Yi-Han , Zheng Hui-Zhen , Jiang Ji-Jin , Qian Hao , Tao Ru-Jia , Qian Ye-Chang , Wang Ling-Wei , Chen Rong-Chang , Xu Jin-Fu , Wang Chen
Published: May 2023

Purpose

The study aimed to identify potential risk factors for family transmission and to provide precautionary guidelines for the general public during novel Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) waves.

Methods

A retrospective cohort study with numerous COVID-19 patients recruited was conducted in Shanghai. Epidemiological data including transmission details, demographics, vaccination status, symptoms, comorbidities, antigen test, living environment, residential ventilation, disinfection and medical treatment of each participant were collected and risk factors for family transmission were determined.

Results

A total of 2,334 COVID-19 patients participated. Compared with non-cohabitation infected patients, cohabitated ones were younger (p = 0.019), more commonly unvaccinated (p = 0.048) or exposed to infections (p < 0.001), and had higher rates of symptoms (p = 0.003) or shared living room (p < 0.001). Risk factors analysis showed that the 2019-nCov antigen positive (OR = 1.86, 95%CI 1.40–2.48, p < 0.001), symptoms development (OR = 1.86, 95%CI 1.34–2.58, p < 0.001), direct contact exposure (OR = 1.47, 95%CI 1.09–1.96, p = 0.010) were independent risk factors for the cohabitant transmission of COVID-19, and a separate room with a separate toilet could reduce the risk of family transmission (OR = 0.62, 95%CI 0.41–0.92, p = 0.018).

Conclusion

Patients showing negative 2019-nCov antigen tests, being asymptomatic, living in a separate room with a separate toilet, or actively avoiding direct contact with cohabitants were at low risk of family transmission, and the study recommended that avoiding direct contact and residential disinfection could reduce the risk of all cohabitants within the same house being infected with COVID-19.
CC-4066 therapy delivered to kidneys during cold storage and assessed with normothermic reperfusion is feasible and safe
Authors: Meertens Pommelien , Mellati Azita , Dumbill Richard , Lo Faro M. Letizia , Rozenberg Kaithlyn , Mulvey John , Fliri Hans , Ploeg Rutger , Hunter James
Published: May 2023

Introduction

Currently there is an urgent need to translate interventions that may be beneficial to marginal donor kidneys prior to transplant, to improve their quality from bench to bedside. This project investigated the effects of CC-4066, a potent dual inhibitor of cyclophilin proteins A and D, treatment during static cold storage (SCS) in a porcine model of renal ischemia-reperfusion injury (IRI) using Normothermic Reperfusion (NR).

Materials and methods

Porcine kidneys and autologous blood were retrieved in pairs from a local abattoir (n = 7). One kidney from each pair was randomly allocated to treatment and one allocated to control and flushed with preservation solution containing CC-4066 or vehicle. After 7 h of SCS kidneys underwent 3 h Normothermic Reperfusion (NR) with autologous whole blood while perfusion characteristics and samples were collected.

Results

Perfusion and metabolic parameters showed similar trends and no statistical differences were observed between the groups. IL-6 showed a significant increase over time but no significant difference between groups (p-value 0.009 and 0.14 respectively, two-way ANOVA). Oxygen consumption and lactate levels were similar between groups but there was increased vacuolation on histology in the control group.

Conclusions

The addition of CC-4066 during SCS of kidneys is safe and feasible and has no adverse or detrimental effects on perfusion during assessment on NR. There was no difference in cytokine levels although there was a trend towards less vacuolation on histology in the treatment group.
When vulnerabilities are exploited—The role of sextortion in the WASH sector in Bangladesh
Authors: Merkle Ortrun , Allakulov Umrbek , Gonzalez Debora , Sánchez Alfredo Hernández , Rabbi Sifat E. , Hasan Zobair
Published: May 2023

It has long been acknowledged that many aspects of Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) are highly gendered and that women face an increased risk of violence when access to WASH services is not adequate. However, not enough studies explore where these incidents of violence occur or document the different forms of violence. This research paper will add to the newly emerging research on sextortion as a form of violence that women and girls encounter disproportionately in accessing WASH. This form of violence that takes place at the intersection of corruption and sexual violence has dire social, economic and health consequences, yet little is known as of what increases vulnerability to sextortion. Analyzing original data from a standardized survey with adult women (n = 1,200), interviews (n = 21) and focus group discussions (n = 5), this paper examines the factors that make women vulnerable to sextortion in accessing WASH services. The study was conducted in 2 rural and 2 urban areas in Bangladesh between September and December 2021. The analysis shows that those women living in poverty, in water insecure households and in rural areas are especially vulnerable to experiencing sextortion. The research also shows that the vulnerability factors, while overlapping are not the same as those making women vulnerable to experiencing sexual and gender-based violence, highlighting the importance of studying sextortion separately. The findings contribute to an emerging evidence-base around sextortion, which remains an understudied phenomenon posing an obstacle to the achievement of safe access to water and sanitation for all.
Transformation of the concepts and practice of total pain and total care: 30 years of Danish hospices
Authors: Timm Helle
Published: May 2023

The concept of total pain endeavors to encompass central aspects of suffering in relation to severe disease, death and dying. Dame Cicely Saunders introduced the concept in the early 1960s in relation to care for the terminally ill and dying patients with cancer. An examination of Danish palliative care, particularly Danish hospice care, indicates that total pain continues to be a relevant concept today. To further explore the current relevance of total pain the study examines its underlying ontology, epistemology and methodology. The study also addresses how the understanding and practice of total pain theory has developed throughout its history, in addition to how the understanding of concepts and practices is constantly being negotiated, shaped and transformed in relation to changes in society and by individuals, groups and organizations. The first of 21 hospices in Denmark opened in 1992 and they represent a case in point for exploring the transformation of total pain and total care since then. The empirical data, which are based on materials relevant to the history of the hospice movement and practice in Denmark, include national policy documents, local yearbooks, mapping, research, documentation of practice, interviews and on-going dialogue with management and staff at Danish hospices over the last 25 years. The study, which takes an abductive analytical approach, draws on my own experiences and empirical data, in addition to the empirical and theoretical research of others but also gains inspiration from a theoretical institutional logic perspective. Research shows that there are three main co-existing and interrelated institutional logics in the history of Danish hospices: care, medicine and governance. Based on inspiration from sociological and philosophical palliative care research and data on the development of Danish hospices, this study demonstrates how the concepts and practices of total pain and total care have been transformed in the compromises made due to the co-existence of these competing logics.
Economic impact of COVID-19 on income and use of livelihoods related coping mechanisms in Chad
Authors: Kang Yunhee , Wabyona Edgar , Udahemuka Francois Regis , Traore Alladari , Doocy Shannon
Published: May 2023

Introduction

Impacts of the economic slowdown due to COVID-19 were prevalent in SubSaharan African countries. Using four nationally representative surveys collected in 2020 (rural n = 13,208; urban n = 1736) and 2021 (n = 14,730; n = 2,231), this secondary analysis evaluates economic impacts of the pandemic on household income and use of livelihoods-related coping mechanisms in Chad.

Methods

Univariate and multivariate regression, accounting for the survey design and sampling weights, was used to examine risk factors for reported income reduction and coping mechanism use and the associations with food expenditures and food security.

Results

The economic impact of COVID-19 was greater in urban areas than rural areas in 2020 with improvement in urban areas and deterioration in rural areas in 2021. The reported income reduction was associated with female and unmarried household heads, living in the Saharan zone, and in rural areas, non-agricultural income sources. In urban areas, having skilled/unskilled labor as the primary income source was protective. Risk factors for the adoption of livelihoods-related coping mechanisms were similar to those of income reduction, with findings related to poor living conditions. Income reduction due to COVID-19 was associated with the use of stress and crisis coping strategies and lower household expenditure in both years and poor food consumption in rural areas in 2020.

Discussion

This study elucidates the potential impact pathways of COVID-19 from a household economic downturn to limited food spending, poor food consumption, and increased use of coping mechanisms. Findings are relevant for informing the targeting of assistance in future economic shocks and suggest prioritizing socioeconomically vulnerable households.
Net effects of pasture-raised poultry on arthropod communities driven by top-down and bottom-up forces in a mixed-cover crop system
Authors: Garcia Karina , Halmos Viktor , Thongjued Kantima , Dupuis Julian R. , Gonthier David J.
Published: May 2023

As consumer demand and grower interest for pasture-raised poultry grow, more research is needed to understand the ecological consequences of the integration of pasture-raised poultry on agroecosystems. Poultry could have profound and complex net effects on arthropod communities given their high density per area, broad omnivory, and high manure deposition. Further, some studies suggest poultry may aid in the suppression of agricultural pests in integrated systems. Yet, unlike wild birds, pasture-raised poultry have received little attention in the field of agroecological net effects. Across 2 years, we examined how an absence (control- cover crop only), low- [9.51 m2 (102.4 ft.2) of pasture per broiler] and high-densities [4.76 m2 (51.2 ft.2) of pasture per broiler] of broilers impacted cover crop biomass, ground-dwelling arthropods, and plant-dwelling arthropods in a rotationally grazed mixed-cover crop system. High- and low-density poultry treatments had 7.8-fold and 3.5-fold less cover crop biomass compared to the control treatment after 1–3 days of access, respectively. Despite the depletion of cover crops, there were substantial positive effects on ground-dwelling arthropods. Most striking was the impact on house fly larvae where high-density poultry treatments had ~1,432-fold more house fly larvae relative to the control treatments. Dung beetle, spider, and rove beetle mean relative abundances increased 47-, 2.4-, and 3.5-fold, respectively, from the control treatment to the high-density poultry treatment. In contrast, the mean relative abundances of plant-dwelling arthropod orders Coleoptera, Hemiptera, and Hymenoptera were 4-, 5-, and 3.6-fold higher, respectively, in the control treatment relative to the high-density poultry treatment. Overall, these results suggest that pasture-raised poultry may promote the abundance of ground-dwelling arthropods through bottom-up mechanisms by depositing fecal material. However, poultry decreased the abundance of plant-dwelling arthropods, likely by destroying their habitat and food resources (via consumption and trampling of cover crop) and direct consumption of arthropods. While the integration of poultry into crop rotations is thought to benefit crop yield through nutrient deposition in the form of manure, this study suggests it may also stimulate the soil and ground-foraging arthropod food webs. This study is the first to evaluate the impacts of pastured poultry to arthropod communities in a mixed-cover crop system.