bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Plant foods consumed at the Neolithic site of Qujialing (ca. 5800-4200 BP) in Jianghan Plain of the middle catchment of Yangtze River, China
Authors: Khan Muslim , Yao Ling , Yang Yuzhang , Tao Yang , Li Weiya , Zhang Dewei , Luo Yunbing , Zhang Juzhong
Published: October 2022

The site of Qujialing experienced a long, sustained process of the development of Neolithic culture in the Jianghan Plain, with a period of some1600 years. Our previous studies based on macrofossil remains and phytoliths revealed that rice (Oryza sativa) from Qujialing was already domesticated, and millet (Setaria italica and Panicum miliaceum) had also been spread into the site since the Youziling Culture period (5800-5100 BP). Nevertheless, no direct evidence has been provided regarding the daily consumed plant foods, especially plant foods obtained by gathering, throughout the site occupation. This paper thus examines pottery sherds (n=41) associated with culinary practices from Qujialing with starch grain analysis. Apart from starch grains from rice and millet, the results indicate that job’s tears (Coix lacryma-jobi), lotus roots (Nelumbo nucifera), tubers possibly from Chinese yam (Dioscorea panthainca), acorns (Quercus sp.), and beans (Vigna sp. or/and Vicia sp.) were consumed by the ancient Qujialing people, within job’s tears and lotus roots were not discovered before in the macrofossil remains and phytoliths. Combining the starch data and multiple lines of evidence from macrofossil remains and phytoliths, it is suggested that rice was among the most frequently consumed plant foods since the first occupation phase at Qujialing, while acorns could have been gradually replaced by other agricultural products (i.e., rice) and became less important food ingredients, especially when agriculture was more developed in the last occupation phase at Qujialing. These novel findings not only complement our previous research by providing the first line of evidence of paleodiet in the Jianghan Plain from the perspective of starch grain analysis but also delivers a better understanding of the characterized dietary trends and agricultural development in the research region.
Job stress and burnout among ideological and political education teachers during the COVID-19 pandemic: A moderated mediation model
Authors: Shang Weiwei
Published: October 2022

Job burnout among ideological and political education (IPE) teachers in China is a complex problem and rewarding area of research. This study explored the relationship between job stress and burnout among ideological and political education (IPE) teachers in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. The cross-sectional design included a sample of self-report measures sampled from 362 university IPE teachers. Using multiple line regression analysis, our main findings were as follows: first, job stress had a significant predictive effect on work–family conflict and job burnout; second, work–family conflict mediated the relationship between job stress and job burnout; and finally, resilience productively moderated the relationships between job stress and both work–family conflict and burnout. These results suggest that resilient IPE teachers are less likely to suffer from burnout. They indicate the need to systematically foster resilience in trainees and experienced instructors as a means of coping with adverse work conditions.
Paranoid beliefs and conspiracy mentality are associated with different forms of mistrust: A three-nation study
Authors: Martinez Anton P. , Shevlin Mark , Valiente Carmen , Hyland Philip , Bentall Richard P.
Published: October 2022

Paranoia and conspiracy are terms typically used interchangeably. However, although the underlying content of these types of beliefs might be similar (e.g., seeing others as powerful and threatening), recent research suggests that these constructs differ in important ways. One important feature shared by both constructs is excessive mistrust but this aspect might play different roles in each belief system. In this study we explored the strength of associations of different trust predictors (i.e., trust in institutions, trust in sources of information, perceptual trust, and interpersonal trust) between conspiracy mentality and paranoid beliefs. We tested this association in a large representative multinational sample (United Kingdom n = 2025; Spain n = 1951; and Ireland n = 1041). Confirmatory factor analysis supported a two-factor model of conspiracy and paranoid beliefs in each nation sample. Path and equality of constraints analysis revealed that paranoia was more strongly associated with perceptual mistrust (bias towards mistrusting unfamiliar faces) whereas conspiracy was more strongly associated with mistrust in political institutions. Although interpersonal mistrust and trust in social sources of information were associated significantly with conspiracy their association with paranoid beliefs was stronger. These findings clarify the role of different trust processes in both belief systems. Limitations of this study are discussed.
Higher-achieving children are better at estimating the number of books at home: Evidence and implications
Authors: Eriksson Kimmo , Lindvall Jannika , Helenius Ola , Ryve Andreas
Published: October 2022

The number of books at home is commonly used as a proxy for socioeconomic status in educational studies. While both parents’ and students’ reports of the number of books at home are relatively strong predictors of student achievement, they often disagree with each other. When interpreting findings of analyses that measure socioeconomic status using books at home, it is important to understand how findings may be biased by the imperfect reliability of the data. For example, it was recently suggested that especially low-achieving students tend to underestimate the number of books at home, so that use of such data would lead researchers to overestimate the association between books at home and achievement. Here we take a closer look at how students’ and parents’ reports of the number of books at home relate to literacy among fourth grade students, by analyzing data from more than 250,000 students in 47 countries participating in 2011 PIRLS. Contrary to prior claims, we find more downward bias in estimates of books at home among high-achieving students than among low-achieving students, but unsystematic errors appear to be larger among low-achieving students. This holds within almost every country. It also holds between countries, that is, errors in estimates of books at home are larger in low-achieving countries. This has implications for studies of the association between books at home and achievement: the strength of the association will generally be underestimated, and this problem is exacerbated in low-achieving countries and among low-achieving students.
Bridging the environment and neurodevelopment for children’s health: Associations between real-time air pollutant exposures and cognitive outcomes
Authors: Medrano Josh , Crnosija Natalie , Prather Richard W. , Payne-Sturges Devon
Published: October 2022

Research suggests that children’s exposure to pollutants may impact their neurocognitive development. While researchers have found associations between air pollutants and cognitive development, these associations remain underspecified. Further, these exposures occur in the context of the built environment and may be exacerbated by local social vulnerability; in this context, individuals may experience a suite of socioenvironmental stressors that lead to increased cumulative risk exposure. In this pilot study, we tested whether real-time-measured personal exposure to PM2.5 relates to children’s executive function and mathematical skills, outcomes that may predict later mathematical performance, general academic performance and even employment outcomes. We recruited 30 families to participate in two rounds in Winter 2020 and Summer 2021. We collected children’s demographic data, as well as data about their living environment. In each round, children carried a small device that collected real-time ambient air pollution data for 3 days; parents logged their children’s activities each day. On the last day, children completed cognitive assessments indexing their working memory (n-back), inhibitory control (Go/No-Go), nonsymbolic math skills (dot comparison), and arithmetic skills (equation verification). Overall, 29 participants had pollutant readings from both rounds, and 21 had a full dataset. Nonparametric statistical analysis revealed no significant differences in ambient air pollution and cognitive performance over time, Spearman’s rho correlation assessment found that PM2.5 was not significantly correlated with cognitive outcomes in R1 and R2. However, the correlations suggested that an increase in PM2.5 was associated with worse working memory, inhibitory control, nonsymbolic skills, and arithmetic skills, at least in R1. We used each participant’s zip code-aggregated Social Vulnerability Index, which range from 0 to 1, with higher numbers indicating more social vulnerability. Wilcoxon Rank-Sum tests indicated that participants living in higher SVI zip codes (≥0.70; n = 15) were not significantly different from those living in lower SVI zip codes (<0.70; n = 14), in terms of their PM2.5 exposures and cognitive performance in each round. We also found that socioeconomic characteristics mattered, such that children whose parent (s) had at least a Master’s degree or earned more than $100,000 a year had lower PM2.5 exposures than children in the other end.
Exploring the law of color presentation of double-sided heterochromatic digital printing for textile
Authors: Duan Yiting , Zhang Min , Zhou Jiu , Zhou Hua , Xu Liming , Yang Heng
Published: October 2022

With the upgrading of production technology and design aesthetic of textile products, the development and application of double-sided digital printing technology have been gradually proposed in recent years. The production of double-sided heterochromatic digital printing requires high accuracy for color management, as in the production process, different input devices, display devices, and output devices each have varying color processing capabilities and color performance characteristics, which leads to the transfer of color between different devices and not being accurately reproduced. However, there is little research involved in the color formation laws in the design and production of double-sided heterochromatic digital printing. The purpose of this paper is to explore the prediction model of color presentation in double-sided heterochromatic digital printing. Due to the influence of the fabric thickness, the gap between the textile structure, and the infiltration rate of the printing pigments, the color of each side in double-sided, heterochromatic printing results often differs from the designed color. In this paper, taking chiffon fabric, which is one of the thinnest and has the strongest permeability in silk fabric, as an example fabric base, 24 colors from six hue angles and four chromas were selected as experimental colors. According to the color gamut of the digital printing machine, 15 out of 24 colors were selected as experimental colors. These 15 colors were printed on two sides in pairs to generate 225 color pairs as double-sided experimental samples. For these experimental samples, this paper conducts experiments from both subjective and objective aspects through the combination of subjective evaluation of psychophysics experiments and objective instrument measurement. Through the analysis of experimental data, the color difference prediction under the subjective model (R2 = 0.74) and objective model (R2 = 0.85) are given, respectively. The dominant color prediction model (R2 = 0.75) during double-sided heterochromatic digital printing has also been built. The combination of the three models can predict the color regularity of double-sided heterochromatic digital printing on silk, which may have a certain significance for the design and development of silk double-sided heterochromatic digital printing products.
Iraqi Kurdish EFL teachers’ beliefs about technological pedagogical and content knowledge: The role of teacher experience and education
Authors: Ali Sirwan Sadiq , Mohammadzadeh Behbood
Published: October 2022

Exploring technological pedagogical and content knowledge (TPACK) has obtained considerable importance over the past 2 years when education needs to rely on using online learning platforms due to the COVID pandemic. Teachers’ beliefs could play a determining role in their decisions and the ways they implement their knowledge. It has, however, been indicated that teachers’ beliefs about TPACK in language pedagogy merits additional empirical evidence, especially through a mixed-methods design. To this aim, this study probed teachers’ beliefs towards TPACK in general and its components in particular in Iraqi Kurdistan. Additionally, the role of teaching experience and education degree in affecting the teachers’ beliefs was explored. The data was collected through a questionnaire responded by 105 EFL (English a Foreign Language) teachers and enriched by qualitative data gathered through a structured interview. Overall, it was found that teachers generally had a higher level of pedagogy and subject matter knowledge than technological knowledge. Although the quantitative data indicated that the experienced teachers had significantly higher pedagogical, content, technological, and pedagogical content knowledge than the novice teachers, the qualitative analysis revealed that novice teachers were more skilled in the utilization of technology-related knowledge domains. Furthermore, Ph.D. participants demonstrated higher level of TPACK confidence than the BA ones. The findings are discussed in the light of theories on teachers’ beliefs, and implications for teachers and teacher educators are presented.
Talent acquisition and technology: A step towards sustainable development
Authors: Rehman Saqib , Ullah Aman , Naseem Khalida , Elahi Ali Raza , Erum Humaira
Published: October 2022

Purpose

The purpose of the research is to highlight the use of social media and information technology in employee recruitment by providing a conceptual recruitment model in the aspects of theoretical foundations and empirical evidence on the factors and outcomes leading to the use of social media recruiting technology (SMART).

Design/methodology/approach

A total of 4,481 organizations are listed as the population of the study, and a total of 589 responses are used in the study for data analysis. Selection of the sample is done based on the simple random sampling technique. Appropriateness of sample size is confirmed with the help of G*Power (3.1.9.2) software, which calculated a sample size of 326 with 99% power, a multiple correlation (R) of 0.30, and at a significance level of 0.05.

Findings

The paper provides empirical insights into the elements of the extended unified theory of acceptance and use of technology; i.e., performance expectancy, effort expectancy, social influence, facilitating conditions, hedonic motivation, habit, and price value have positive relations with the intention to adopt social media recruiting technology, and the intention impacts use of social media recruiting technology. Furthermore, the use of social media recruiting technology impacts outcome variables, i.e., social media recruiting time, cost, and recruitment quality, which establish the extension of the recruitment model with all factors and outcomes.

Originality

This study provides a model of employee recruitment to win the battle of acquiring human capital using social media recruiting technology as a step toward sustainable development, which has been conceptually defined and empirically tested. The comprehensiveness of the model has never been discussed in earlier studies.

Practical implications

Through this research, organizations will get an opportunity to experience enhancement in the scope of recruitment as a whole instead of considering recruitment as a traditional procedure, and the use of information technology can be expanded for progressive measures for future purposes and pandemic situations.
Psychological distress and post-traumatic growth in France during the COVID-19 pandemic: A mediation model of psychosocial safety climate as a determinant of work performance
Authors: Sandrin Émilie , Brun Jean-Pierre , Nguyen Christophe , Biron Caroline , Ivers Hans
Published: October 2022

The psychosocial safety climate (PSC) reflects workers’ perceptions of senior management’s concern for mental health. Because the COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated organizational issues, PSC could be a target for interventions attempting to preserve both the psychological health of employees and the economic health of companies. This study examines the direct and indirect relationships between PSC and work performance through two indicators of psychological health, psychological distress and post-traumatic growth, during a health crisis, i.e., prior to the second confinement in France. To this end, 2,004 participants from the French workforce completed a survey in October 2020. The results of mediation analyses indicate that PSC has a direct and positive influence on post-traumatic growth (PTG) and performance, as well as a direct negative influence on psychological distress. PSC also has an indirect positive influence on performance via psychological distress. Organizations that wish to jointly address mental health and performance at work would benefit from optimizing PSC.
Application and extension of the UTAUT2 model for determining behavioral intention factors in use of the artificial intelligence virtual assistants
Authors: García de Blanes Sebastián María , Sarmiento Guede José Ramón , Antonovica Arta
Published: October 2022

Virtual Assistants, also known as conversational artificial intelligence, are transforming the reality around us. These virtual assistants have challenged our daily lives by assisting us in the different dimensions of our lives, such as health, entertainment, home, and education, among others. The main purpose of this study is to develop and empirically test a model to predict factors that affect users' behavioral intentions when they use intelligent virtual assistants. As a theoretical basis for investigating behavioral intention of using virtual assistants from the consumers' perspective, researchers employed the extended Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT2). For this research paper, seven variables were analyzed: performance expectancy, effort expectancy, facilitating conditions, social influence, hedonic motivation, habit, and price/value. In order to improve consumer behavior prediction, three additional factors were included in the study: perceived privacy risk, trust, and personal innovativeness. Researchers carried out an online survey with 304 responses. The obtained sample was analyzed with Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) through IBM SPSS V. 27.0 and AMOS V 27.0. The main study results reveal that factors, such as habit, trust, and personal innovation, have a significant impact on the adoption of virtual assistants. However, on the other side, performance expectancy, effort expectancy, facilitating conditions, social influence, hedonic motivation, price/value, and perceived privacy risk were not significant factors in the users' intention to adopt this service. This research paper examines the effect of personal innovation, security, and trust variables in relation to the use of virtual assistants. It contributes to a more holistic understanding of the adoption of these intelligent devices and tries to fill the knowledge gap on this topic, as it is an emerging technology. This investigation also provides relevant information on how to successfully implement these technologies.
A web-based novel prediction model for predicting depression in elderly patients with coronary heart disease: A multicenter retrospective, propensity-score matched study
Authors: Tan Juntao , Xu Zhengguo , He Yuxin , Zhang Lingqin , Xiang Shoushu , Xu Qian , Xu Xiaomei , Gong Jun , Tan Chao , Tan Langmin
Published: October 2022

Background

Depression is associated with an increased risk of death in patients with coronary heart disease (CHD). This study aimed to explore the factors influencing depression in elderly patients with CHD and to construct a prediction model for early identification of depression in this patient population.

Materials and methods

We used propensity-score matching to identify 1,065 CHD patients aged ≥65 years from four hospitals in Chongqing between January 2015 and December 2021. The patients were divided into a training set (n = 880) and an external validation set (n = 185). Univariate logistic regression, multivariate logistic regression, and least absolute shrinkage and selection operator regression were used to determine the factors influencing depression. A nomogram based on the multivariate logistic regression model was constructed using the selected influencing factors. The discrimination, calibration, and clinical utility of the nomogram were assessed by the area under the curve (AUC) of the receiver operating characteristic curve, calibration curve, and decision curve analysis (DCA) and clinical impact curve (CIC), respectively.

Results

The predictive factors in the multivariate model included the lymphocyte percentage and the blood urea nitrogen and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels. The AUC values of the nomogram in the training and external validation sets were 0.762 (95% CI = 0.722–0.803) and 0.679 (95% CI = 0.572–0.786), respectively. The calibration curves indicated that the nomogram had strong calibration. DCA and CIC indicated that the nomogram can be used as an effective tool in clinical practice. For the convenience of clinicians, we used the nomogram to develop a web-based calculator tool (https://cytjt007.shinyapps.io/dynnomapp_depression/).

Conclusion

Reductions in the lymphocyte percentage and blood urea nitrogen and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels were reliable predictors of depression in elderly patients with CHD. The nomogram that we developed can help clinicians assess the risk of depression in elderly patients with CHD.
Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on children's mental health: A systematic review
Authors: Ng Catalina Sau Man , Ng Sally Sui Ling
Published: October 2022

Background

The outbreak of COVID-19 in December 2019 has caused unprecedented disruption to the structure of children's daily lives due to school closures, online learning, strict social distancing measures, limited access to outdoor activities and many other restrictions. Since children are more susceptible to stress than adults and there is a growing concern about the potential debilitating consequences of COVID-19 for children's mental health, the present review aims to provide empirical evidence on the groups who are most at risk of mental health problems and uncover the risk and protective factors of children's mental health.

Methods

A systematic search was performed, in accordance with PRISMA guidelines, in the electronic databases Web of Science (including SSCI and A&HI) and EBSCOhost (including ERIC, MEDLINE and APA PsycArticles and APA PsycINFO), for any empirical studies published between January 2020 and February 2022 that focused on children ≤ 12 years old.

Results

An initial search identified 2,133 studies. A total of 30 studies fulfilled the inclusion criteria and were analyzed. The evidence showed that many children were affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and experienced internalizing and externalizing behaviors. Worsened child mental health outcomes reflected socioeconomic inequalities as most at-risk children had parents with low educational attainment, were from families of low socioeconomic status and lived in small homes. Key risk factors were identified, including unhealthy lifestyle behaviors (extended screen time, sleep disturbances and less physical activity), increased pandemic-related stressors among parents and deteriorated mental health of parents, which were directly or indirectly associated with the pandemic safety measures, such as home confinement or social distancing. Protective factors including parents' resilience, positive parent-child relationship and school connectedness in relation to children's mental health were reported.

Conclusion

The overall results highlight the urgent need for the implementation of tailor-made interventions for children with signs of internalizing and externalizing behaviors. Health promotion and prevention strategies by the government to maintain the mental health of children, particularly those from lower SES families who are at higher risk of worsened mental health are essential for post-pandemic policies.
Gleason score, surgical and distant metastasis are associated with cancer-specific survival and overall survival in middle aged high-risk prostate cancer: A population-based study
Authors: Cao Guangbiao , Li Yan , Wang Jinkui , Wu Xin , Zhang Zhaoxia , Zhanghuang Chenghao , Han Keqiang
Published: October 2022

Objective

According to statistics, patients with high-risk prostate cancer (PC) account for about 15% of prostate cancer diagnoses, and high-risk patients usually have a poor prognosis due to metastasis and recurrence and have a high mortality rate. Therefore, the accurate prediction of prognostic-related risk factors in middle-aged high-risk PC patients between 50 and 65 can help reduce patient mortality. We aimed to construct new nomograms for predicting cancer-specific survival (CSS) and Overall survival (OS) in middle-aged high-risk PC patients.

Methods

Data for patients aged between 50 and 65 years old and diagnosed with high-risk PC were obtained from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database. Univariate and multivariate Cox regression models were used to identify independent risk factors for CSS and OS in patients. Nomograms predicting CSS and OS were developed based on multivariate Cox regression models. The concordance index (C-index), the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC), and the calibration curve are used to detect the accuracy and discrimination of the model. Decision curve analysis (DCA) is used to detect the potential clinical value of this model.

Results

Between 2010 and 2018, 1,651 patients diagnosed with high-risk PC and aged 50–65 years were included. In this study, the training group (n = 1,146) and the validation group (n = 505) were randomly assigned in a ratio of 7:3. The results showed that M stage, Gleason (GS) and surgical mode were independent risk factors for CSS; marital status, T stage, M stage, surgical mode, and GS were independent risk factors for OS. The C-index for predicting CSS in the training and validation groups are 0.84 and 0.811, respectively; the C-index for predicting OS in the training and validation groups are 0.824 and 0.784, respectively. The AUC and the calibration curves also showed good accuracy and discrimination.

Conclusions

We constructed new nomograms to predict CSS and OS in middle-aged high-risk PC patients. The prediction tools showed good accuracy and reliability, which can help clinicians and patients to make better clinical decisions.
Evidence-based core information for health communication of tobacco control: The effect of smoking on risks of female disease
Authors: Liu Jin , Hao Yun-Yi , Mao Hui-Jia , Sun Xiang-Ju , Huang Xiao-Lu , Quan Chen-Xin , Cao Mei-Ling , Wei Shu-Ting , Jin Xue-Zheng , Wu Yi-Bo
Published: October 2022

Objective

Cigarettes have become the the biggest killer of contemporary female's health and beauty. What kind of health information is suitable for the general public is an important issue to be discussed globally. The purpose of this study is to generate systematic, rigorous, public-demand-oriented and appropriate core information relevant to tobacco control based on the best available evidence, combined with audience preferences and pre-dissemination content review from multidisciplinary expertise in order to improve the effectiveness of health communication of tobacco control.

Methods

Relevant systematic reviews meta-analysis that reported smoking on risks of female disease were identified by searching PubMed, Embase, the Cochrane Library, Web of Science, Clinical Trials.gov, and the International Clinical Trial Registry Platform. The Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) process was applied to assess the evidence in order to make rigorous core information. The audience prevalence survey was conducted to ensure that core information was targeted and tailored. Finally, the expert assessment was used for a pre-dissemination content review and to evaluate whether the core information was appropriate or not.

Results

The final core information consisted of eight parts concerning the effects of smoking and female cardiovascular disease, diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, respiratory disease, digestive system disease, mental disease, non-pregnant female reproductive system disease, as well as pregnant women and their fetuses. A total of 35 items of core information suitable for dissemination was included and the quality of evidence, the degree of public demand and the outcome of pre-dissemination content review were reported.

Conclusion

The core information related to female cardiovascular system diseases, as well as liver cancer and upper gastrointestinal cancer is the preferred content for health communication of tobacco control. The quality of evidence for core information related to pregnant women and their infants, as well as diseases of reproductive system, respiratory system, and diabetes needs to be improved to meet high public demand. The core information related to mental disease is more suitable for dissemination to patients with mental illness than to the general public. Besides, dissemination of core information should be individualized. Evidence-based Core Information for Health Communication of Tobacco Control would be helpful to provide evidence support for health communication related to tobacco control and enhance public health literacy for international communities that have high smoking prevalence and related disease burden.
Use of the reach, effectiveness, adoption, implementation, and maintenance (RE-AIM) framework to guide iterative adaptations: Applications, lessons learned, and future directions
Authors: Glasgow Russell E. , Battaglia Catherine , McCreight Marina , Ayele Roman , Maw Anna M. , Fort Meredith P. , Holtrop Jodi Summers , Gomes Rebekah N. , Rabin Borsika Adrienn
Published: October 2022

Introduction

Implementation science frameworks have been used widely for planning and evaluation, but seldom to guide adaptations during program implementation. There is great potential for these frameworks to be used to inform conceptual and data-driven decisions about adaptations.

Methods

We summarize recent applications using Iterative RE-AIM to capture and guide adaptations. Iterative RE-AIM can be repeated at multiple time points customized to each project and involves the following activities: identification of key implementation partners; rating importance of and progress on each RE-AIM dimension (reach, effectiveness, adoption, implementation, and maintenance); use of summary data on ratings to identify one or two RE-AIM dimensions for adaptations and implementation strategies; and evaluation of progress and impact of adaptations. We summarize recent and ongoing Iterative RE-AIM applications across multiple care coordination and pain management projects within the Veterans Health Administration, a hypertension control trial in Guatemala, a hospital-based lung ultrasound implementation pilot, and a colorectal cancer screening program in underserved communities.

Results

Iterative RE-AIM appears feasible, helpful, and broadly applicable across diverse health care issues, interventions, contexts, and populations. In general, the RE-AIM dimension showing the largest gap between importance and progress has been Reach. The dimensions most frequently selected for improvement have been Reach and Implementation. We discuss commonalities, differences and lessons learned across these various applications of Iterative RE-AIM. Challenges include having objective real time data on which to make decisions, having key implementation staff available for all assessments, and rapidly scoring and providing actionable feedback. We discuss print and online resources and materials to support Iterative RE-AIM.

Conclusions

The use of Iterative RE-AIM to guide and support understanding of adaptations has proven feasible across diverse projects and in multiple case studies, but there are still questions about its strengths, limitations, essential components, efficiency, comparative effectiveness, and delivery details. Future directions include investigating the optimal frequency and timing for iterative applications; adding contextual assessments; developing more continuous and rapid data on which to make adaptation decisions; identifying opportunities to enhance health equity; and determining the level of facilitation that is most cost-effective.
Sub-surface plasma flows and the flare productivity of solar active regions
Authors: Lekshmi B. , Jain Kiran , Komm Rudolf W. , Nandy Dibyendu
Published: October 2022

The extreme space weather conditions resulting from high energetic events likes solar flares and Coronal Mass Ejections demand for reliable space weather forecasting. The magnetic flux tubes while rising through the convection zone gets twisted by the turbulent plasma flows, energizing the system and resulting in flares. We investigate the relationship between the subsurface plasma flows associated with flaring active regions and their surface magnetic flux and current helicity. The near-surface horizontal velocities derived from the ring-diagram analysis of active region patches using Global Oscillation Network Group Doppler velocity measurements are used to compute the fluid dynamics descriptors like vertical divergence, vorticity and kinetic helicity used in this work. The flaring active regions are observed to have large value of vertical vorticity and kinetic helicity. Also, the horizontal flow divergence, vorticity, flux, kinetic and current helicities are observed to be significantly correlated and evolve in phase with each other. We observe that the integrated values of the above flow and magnetic parameters observed 1 day prior to the flare are significantly correlated with the integrated flare intensity of the active region. Hence, we show that strong vorticity/kinetic helicities lead to larger active region twisting, presumably generating high-intensity flares.
Does rest breed rust? An examination of DNP-Rest decisions and performance in the National Basketball Association regular and post-season
Authors: Pradhan Sean , Miller Travis J.
Published: October 2022

Within the National Basketball Association (NBA), players and teams maintain that having healthy players sit out some games during the regular season may help them be more productive during the post-season. This decision to not play in order to rest the player, aptly noted as a DNP-Rest decision on injury reports, is in line with team and player goals, and fits with a growing body of evidence in support of the power of rest for health and performance. However, these practices conflict with some goals of the league, which has a vested interest in having the top talent play to attract broadcasters, advertisers, live spectators, and thus, enhance viewership. The current study is among the first to test the theory that strategically resting healthy players during the regular season results in better performance, as indicated by Player Efficiency Rating (PER) and Win Shares, during the post-season. Utilizing data from the 2016–17 through the 2020–21 NBA seasons, there was not sufficient evidence to suggest that resting more games during the regular season results in better performance in the post-season. Findings from a nested case-control study of 184 players (92 cases; 92 controls) also showed no differences in the change in performance from regular to post-season between cases of players who received rest during the regular season and matched controls. Although the restorative effects of rest might be considerable in the short term, the current study provides additional evidence to suggest that the impact may not carry over into the post-season.
No-till improves selected soil properties, phosphorous availability and utilization efficiency, and soybean yield on some smallholder farms in South Africa
Authors: Chauke Patience B. , Nciizah Adornis D. , Wakindiki Isaiah I. C. , Mudau Fhatuwani N. , Madikiza Seneo , Motsepe Matiga , Kgakatsi Ikalafeng
Published: October 2022

Some of the limiting factors for smallholder farmer soybean production in South Africa are low native soil phosphorus (P) availability and poor utilization efficiency of added P. Phosphorus fertilization, use of improved or high yield potential cultivars and appropriate cropping systems could increase soybean yields. The objective of this study was to determine the effects of tillage, cultivar and P fertilization levels on P uptake and P use efficiency, as well as plant growth, yield, grain protein and oil content, in a soybean based cropping system. The study was conducted under dryland conditions at Sheepmoor, Mpumalanga. A field experiment was established in a randomized complete block design. Treatments were arranged in a 2 × 3 × 3 strip-split-plot structure. There were two tillage systems [no-till (NT) and conventional tillage (CT)], three cultivars (PAN 1614R, PAN 1521R, and PAN 1532R), and three phosphorus rates (0, 30, and 60 kg/ha). All treatment combinations were replicated three times. P uptake improved with P application, although there were no differences between 30 and 60 kg/ha whilst PFP was significantly higher at 30 kg/ha P. Yield was significantly higher at 30 kg/ha P application under NT and varied with cultivars. P application at 30 and 60 kg/ha significantly reduced oil content by 11.3 and 7.16%, respectively, but had inverse effects on protein content. The activities of acid phosphatase (ACP) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) also increased with P application. Improvement of soybean yield and its attributes, grain quality, P uptake, PFP, soil physicochemical and microbial properties emphasize the importance of fertilizer application, sustainable cropping systems coupled with careful cultivar selection. Therefore, in order to improve soil fertility and soybean yield under small farm conditions, the application of no-till and optimum application of fertilizers should be prioritized.
Backyard poultry farming with improved germplasm: Sustainable food production and nutritional security in fragile ecosystem
Authors: Singh Mahak , Mollier R. T. , Paton R. N. , Pongener N. , Yadav Rekha , Singh Vinay , Katiyar Rahul , Kumar Rakesh , Sonia Chongtham , Bhatt Mukesh , Babu S. , Rajkhowa D. J. , Mishra V. K.
Published: October 2022

Approximately 3 billion people were unable to afford a healthy diet in 2019 because of poverty and inequality. Most of these people live in Asia and Africa. Furthermore, 30% of the world population was affected by moderate to severe food insecurity in 2020, and most of this population lives in low- and middle-income countries. The world is at a critical juncture, and there is an urgent need for transformative food systems that ensure the empowerment of poor and vulnerable population groups, often smallholders with limited access to resources or those living in remote locations, as well as the empowerment of women, children, and youth (FAO,2018). The backyard poultry production system (BPPS), as practiced by 80% of the world's rural population, can be that transformative change in low- and middle-income countries. Although the BPPS has low productivity, it still plays an important role in the food and nutritional security of rural people living in fragile ecosystems. Backyard poultry has been recognized as a tool for poverty alleviation and women empowerment besides ensuring food and nutritional security for rural poor. Poultry meat and eggs are the cheapest and best source of good quality protein, minerals, and vitamins. The introduction of improved backyard poultry germplasm has improved the productivity of this system in resource-poor settings and thereby improved the income and nutritional security of poor households. With these birds, the availability, access, utilization, and stability of food security have improved at household and national levels. Diseases, predation, non-availability of improved germplasm, lack of access to markets, and lack of skills are the major constraints to the adoption of improved backyard poultry. These constraints can be addressed by involving a network of community animal service providers. The improved backyard poultry germplasm will dominate the backyard poultry production system in the future and will be a tool for ensuring food and nutritional security on a sustainable basis, more particularly in low- and middle-income countries.
Distal and proximal control of rhythmic gene transcription
Authors: Román-Figueroa Abraham , Tenorio-Hernández Luis , Furlan-Magaril Mayra
Published: October 2022

The circadian clock synchronizes the temporal activity of physiological processes with geophysical time. At the molecular level circadian rhythms arise from negative feedback loops between activator and repressor transcription factors whose opposite and rhythmic activity at gene promoters sustains cyclic transcription. Additional epigenetic mechanisms driving rhythmic transcription involve dynamic remodeling of the proximal and distal chromatin environment of cyclic genes around the day. In this context, previous studies reported that thousands of enhancer elements display rhythmic activity throughout the 24 h and more recently, 3C-based technologies have shown that circadian genes establish static and rhythmic contacts with enhancers. However, the precise mechanisms by which the clock modulates gene topology are yet to be fully characterized and at the frontier of chronobiology. Here we review evidence of the proximal and long-distance epigenetic mechanisms controlling circadian transcription in health and disease.
Advancements in drug delivery methods for the treatment of brain disease
Authors: Partridge Brittanie , Eardley Allison , Morales Brianna E. , Campelo Sabrina N. , Lorenzo Melvin F. , Mehta Jason N. , Kani Yukitaka , Mora Josefa K. Garcia , Campbell Etse-Oghena Y. , Arena Christopher B. , Platt Simon , Mintz Akiva , Shinn Richard L. , Rylander Christopher G. , Debinski Waldemar , Davalos Rafael V. , Rossmeisl John H.
Published: October 2022

The blood-brain barrier (BBB) presents a formidable obstacle to the effective delivery of systemically administered pharmacological agents to the brain, with ~5% of candidate drugs capable of effectively penetrating the BBB. A variety of biomaterials and therapeutic delivery devices have recently been developed that facilitate drug delivery to the brain. These technologies have addressed many of the limitations imposed by the BBB by: (1) designing or modifying the physiochemical properties of therapeutic compounds to allow for transport across the BBB; (2) bypassing the BBB by administration of drugs via alternative routes; and (3) transiently disrupting the BBB (BBBD) using biophysical therapies. Here we specifically review colloidal drug carrier delivery systems, intranasal, intrathecal, and direct interstitial drug delivery methods, focused ultrasound BBBD, and pulsed electrical field induced BBBD, as well as the key features of BBB structure and function that are the mechanistic targets of these approaches. Each of these drug delivery technologies are illustrated in the context of their potential clinical applications and limitations in companion animals with naturally occurring intracranial diseases.
Integrated analysis of miRNA and mRNA expression profiles in testes of Landrace and Hezuo boars
Authors: Zhang Bo , Yan Zunqiang , Gao Yi , Li Jiyou , Wang Zike , Wang Pengfei , Yang Qiaoli , Huang Xiaoyu , Gun Shuangbao
Published: October 2022

Precocious puberty is closely related to testicular development and spermatogenesis, and there is increasing evidence that miRNAs are involved in regulation of testicular development and spermatogenesis. However, little is known about the regulation of microRNAs (miRNAs) during precocious maturation in Hezuo (HZ) boars. In this study, serum Testosterone (T), Estradiol (E2), Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and Luteinizing hormone (LH) levels were detected in HZ and Landrace (LC) boars in the postnatal period at 30, 90, 120, 180, and 240 days, and the testes of HZ and LC boars at 30 and 120 days were used for histological observation. In addition, we performed small RNA-Seq to identify miRNA at sexual immaturity (30-days-old) and maturity (120-days-old) of HZ boar testis (using LC boar as control) to reveal the key miRNA in regulation of precocious puberty. Hormone assay results showed that high levels of T, E2, FSH, and LH may be related to precocious sexual maturity of HZ boars, and that FSH may play an important function before sexual maturity. Histological observation showed that HZ boars developed earlier than LC boars and had reached sexual maturity at 120 days. Small RNA-Seq yielded a total of 359 exist miRNAs, 767 known miRNAs and 322 novel miRNAs in 12 samples; 549, 468, 133, and 247 differentially expressed (DE) miRNAs were identified between Ha vs. Hb, La vs. Lb, Ha vs. La, and Hb vs. Lb (log2 fold change >1 and p < 0.05). Enrichment analysis showed that target genes of these DE miRNAs were enriched in many gene ontology (GO) terms and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) signaling pathways (such as PI3K-Akt, Hippo and Rap1 signaling pathways) were related to testicular development and spermatogenesis. Further screening, some miRNAs (such as ssc-miR-29b, ssc-miR-199b, ssc-miR-383, ssc-miR-149, ssc-miR-615, and ssc-miR-370) were possibly associated with precocious puberty. These results provide new light on miRNA regulatory mechanisms involved in precocious puberty.
Plasma Extracellular Vesicles-Derived miR-99a-5p: A Potential Biomarker to Predict Early Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma
Authors: Huang Qiang , Shen Yu-Jie , Hsueh Chi-Yao , Zhang Yi-Fan , Yuan Xiao-Hui , Zhou Yu-Juan , Li Jiao-Yu , Lin Lan , Wu Chun-Ping , Hu Chun-Yan
Published: October 2022

Purpose: This study aimed to investigate the applicability of plasma extracellular vesicles (EVs) miR-99a-5p as a potential head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) diagnostic biomarker.

Methods: The miRNA expression of HNSCC tissue and plasma EVs were profiled by small RNA sequencing. qRT-PCR was performed to detect miR-99a-5p expression in HNSCC (n = 93) and benign disease (n = 39) plasma EVs and formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tissue (n = 110). We constructed receiver-operating characteristic curves to investigate the diagnostic efficiency of plasma EVs miR-99a-5p.

Results: Tumor tissue exhibited lower miR-99a-5p than para-tumor tissue. Patients with high miR-99a-5p expression exhibited significantly more p16 positive status. In contrast, HNSCC plasma EVs harbored more miR-99a-5p than the benign disease group. Plasma EVs miR-99a-5p distinguished HNSCC with area under the curve (AUC) of 0.7494 (95% CI: 0.6692–0.8296; p < 0.0001), with 61.54% sensitivity and 75.27% specificity, respectively. Furthermore, plasma EVs miR-99a-5p also distinguished early HNSCC with AUC of 0.7394 (95% CI: 0.6284–0.8504; p = 0.0002), with 79.07% sensitivity and 61.54% specificity, respectively.

Conclusion: Plasma EVs miR-99a-5p is a potential biomarker for predicting early HNSCC.