bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
AKI in Hospitalized Children: Poorly Documented (and Underrecognized)
Authors: Jones Katherine , Neu Alicia , Fadrowski Jeffrey
Published: January 2022

Background: Acute kidney injury (AKI) is common in hospitalized children. We hypothesized that hospital-acquired AKI would be underrecognized and under-reported, with potential implications for prevention of future AKI and CKD risk stratification.

Methods: Five hundred thirty-two cases of AKI occurring over a 1 year period in a tertiary children's hospital in the United States were studied. AKI documentation was defined as any mention of AKI in the admission history and physical note, progress notes, or discharge summary. Nephrology follow-up was defined as a completed outpatient clinic visit within 1 year of discharge. Logistic regression was used to assess factors associated with documentation, consultation, and follow-up.

Results: AKI developed during 584/7,640 (7.6%) of hospitalizations: 532 cases met inclusion criteria. Documentation was present in 34% (185/532) of AKI cases and 90 (16.9%) had an inpatient nephrology consult. Among 501 survivors, 89 (17.8%) had AKI in their hospital discharge summary and 54 had outpatient nephrology follow up. Stage 3 AKI, peak creatinine >1 mg/dL and longer length of stay were associated with documentation. Stage 3 AKI and higher baseline creatinine were associated with inpatient nephrology consultation. Inpatient nephrology consultation was positively associated with outpatient nephrology follow up, but documentation in the discharge summary was not.

Conclusion: Most cases of AKI were not documented and the proportion of children seen by a nephrologist was low, even among those with more severe injury. Increased severity of AKI was associated with documentation and inpatient consultation. Poor rates of documentation has implications for AKI recognition and appropriate management and follow up.
Efficacy and Safety of Bilastine in the Treatment of Allergic Rhinitis: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis
Authors: Singh Randhawa Aranjit , Mohd Noor Norhayati , Md Daud Mohd Khairi , Abdullah Baharudin
Published: January 2022

Bilastine is a non-sedating second generation H1 oral antihistamine (OAH) for treating allergic rhinitis (AR) patients. The effect of bilastine has not previously been evaluated in a meta-analysis. The aim of this review was to determine the efficacy and safety of bilastine in treating AR. An electronic literature search was performed using Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), MEDLINE, Science Direct and Google Scholar up to March 2021. Randomized controlled trials comparing bilastine with placebo and standard pharmacotherapy were included. The included studies must have diagnosis of AR established by clinicians and the outcomes must have a minimum of 2 weeks of follow-up period. The primary outcomes assessed were total symptom score (TSS), nasal symptom score (NSS) and non-nasal symptom score (NNSS). The secondary outcomes were discomfort due to rhinitis, quality of life (QOL) and adverse events. The risk of bias and quality of evidence for all studies were appraised. The meta-analysis was done using Review Manager 5.3 software based on the random-effects model. The search identified 135 records after removal of duplicates. Following screening and review of the records, fifteen full-text articles were assessed for eligibility. Five trials involving 3,329 patients met the inclusion criteria. Bilastine was superior to placebo in improving TSS, NSS, NNSS, rhinitis discomfort score and QOL but has comparable efficacy with other OAHs in TSS, NSS, NNS, rhinitis discomfort score and QOL. There was no difference in adverse effects when bilastine was compared against placebo and other OAHs except for somnolence. Bilastine has fewer incidence of somnolence compared to cetirizine. The overall quality of evidence ranged from moderate to high quality. Bilastine is effective and safe in treating the overall symptoms of AR with comparable efficacy and safety with other OAHs except somnolence. Whilst bilastine has similar efficacy to cetirizine, somnolence is notably less in bilastine.
NVP-BEZ235 Inhibits Renal Cell Carcinoma by Targeting TAK1 and PI3K/Akt/mTOR Pathways
Authors: Li Bihui , Zhang Xing , Ren Qianyao , Gao Li , Tian Jing
Published: January 2022

In spite of the promising in vitro and preclinical results, dual PI3K/Akt/mTOR inhibitor NVP-BEZ235, and ATP-competitive mTOR inhibitor PP242 both failed to confirm their inhibitory efficacy against renal cell carcinoma (RCC) in clinical settings. Therefore, a better understanding of the molecular mechanism is essential so as to provide possibilities for their use in combination with other agents. In present study, RCC cell lines (UMRC6, 786-0 and UOK121) were treated with NVP-BEZ235, PP242 or Rapamycin, an mTOR complex 1 (mTORC1)-specific inhibitor. They all suppressed cell proliferation and invasion, induced apoptosis and cell cycle arrest, and the effects were in the order of NVP-BEZ235 > PP242 > Rapamycin. Accordingly, the marked and sustained decrease in speckle-type POZ protein (SPOP) expression and phosphorylation of Akt and mTOR kinases was observed in RCC cells treated with NVP-BEZ235 and PP242, whereas only potent inhibition of mTOR activity was induced in Rapamycin-treated cells. In considering the overactivation of c-Jun and IκB-α in human renal tumor tissue, we next investigated the role of JNK and IKK pathways in the response of RCC cells to these compounds. First of all, transforming growth factor β activated kinase 1 (TAK1)-dependent activation of JNK/ (activator protein-1) AP-1 axis in RCC cells was proved by the repression of AP-1 activity with TAK1 or JNK inhibitor. Second, the profound inhibition of TAK1/JNK/AP-1 pathway was demonstrated in RCC cells treated with NVP-BEZ235 or PP242 but not Rapamycin, which is manifested as a reduction in activity of TAK1, c-Jun and AP-1. Meanwhile, subsequent to TAK1 inactivation, the activation of IκB-α was also reduced by NVP-BEZ235 and PP242. Likewise, in vivo, treatment with NVP-BEZ235 and PP242 suppressed the growth of xenografts generated from 786-0 and A498 cells, along with decreased expression of phospho-TAK1, phospho-c-Jun, and phospho-IκB-α. In contrast, Rapamycin elicited no significant inhibitory effects on tumor growth and phosphorylation of TAK1, c-Jun and IκB-α. We conclude that besides PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling, NVP-BEZ235, and PP242 simultaneously target TAK1-dependent pathways in RCC cells. Notably, these effects were more marked in the presence of NVP-BEZ235 than PP242, indicating the potential application of NVP-BEZ235 in combination therapy for RCC.
Extracts of Andrographis paniculata (Burm.f.) Nees Leaves Exert Anti-Gout Effects by Lowering Uric Acid Levels and Reducing Monosodium Urate Crystal-Induced Inflammation
Authors: Rahmi Eldiza Puji , Kumolosasi Endang , Jalil Juriyati , Buang Fhataheya , Jamal Jamia Azdina
Published: January 2022

Andrographis paniculata (Burm.f.) Nees has been found to have anti-inflammatory and immunostimulatory effects. This study was to investigate antihyperuricemic and anti-inflammatory effects of A. paniculata leaf extracts. Andrographolide, 14-deoxy-11,12-didehydroandrographolide, and neoandrographolide were quantified in 80% ethanol (EtOH80) and water extracts using High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) analysis. Antihyperuricemic activity was evaluated using a spectrophotometric in vitro inhibitory xanthine oxidase (XO) assay. The most active extract and andrographolide were further investigated in a hyperuricemic rat model induced by potassium oxonate to determine serum uric acid levels, liver XO activity, followed by Western blot analysis for renal urate transporter URAT1, GLUT9, and OAT1 to investigate the excretion of uric acid via kidney. Anti-inflammatory activity was assessed by in vitro interleukin assay for interleukin (IL-1α, IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8), and tumor necrosis factor (TNF-α) in monosodium urate (MSU) crystal-induced human fibroblast-like synoviocyte (HFLS) cells using ELISA-kits, followed by Western blot analysis for the expression of MyD88, NLRP3, NF-κB p65, and caspase-1 proteins to investigate the inflammation pathway. In vivo assay of the most active extract and andrographolide were performed based on the swelling rate and inhibition of pro-inflammatory mediator release from synovial fluid of a rat knee joint induced by MSU crystals. The results showed that the EtOH80 extract had a greater amount of andrographolide (11.34% w/w) than the water extract (1.38% w/w). In the XO inhibitory activity, none of the samples exhibited greater than 50% inhibition. However, in a rat model, EtOH80 extract (200 mg/kg/day) and andrographolide (30 mg/kg/day) decreased serum uric acid levels and reduced liver XO activity, reduced the protein expression levels of URAT1 and GLUT9, and restored the decrease in OAT1 levels. In the in vitro anti-inflammatory study, EtOH80 extract and andrographolide significantly decreased production of IL-1α, IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α, as well as inhibited the synthesis of MyD88, NLRP3, NF-κB p65, and caspase-1 in a concentration-dependent manner, almost comparable to dexamethasone. The EtOH80 extract (200 mg/kg/day) and andrographolide (30 mg/kg) significantly decreased swelling rate and IL-1α, IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α in the synovial fluid of rat models in a time-dependent manner, comparable to indomethacin (3 mg/kg/day). In conclusion, the findings show that EtOH80 extract has a substantial anti-gout effect by lowering uric acid levels and suppressing pro-inflammatory mediator production due to the andrographolide content, that might be beneficial in the treatment of gouty-inflammation.
Baicalein Alleviates Osteoarthritis Progression in Mice by Protecting Subchondral Bone and Suppressing Chondrocyte Apoptosis Based on Network Pharmacology
Authors: Yi Nanxing , Mi Yilin , Xu Xiaotong , Li Naping , Zeng Fan , Yan Ke , Tan Kaiyun , Kuang Gaoyan , Lu Min
Published: January 2022

As life expectancy increases, Osteoarthritis (OA) is becoming a more frequently seen chronic joint disease. The main characteristics of OA are loss of articular cartilage, subchondral bone sclerosis, and synovial inflammation. Baicalein (Bai), a traditional Chinese medicine extracted from Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi, has been demonstrated to exert notable anti-inflammatory effects in previous studies, suggesting its potential effect in the treatment of OA. In this study, we first predicted the action targets of Bai, mapped target genes related to OA, identified potential anti-OA targets for Bai, performed gene ontology (GO) enrichment, and KEGG signaling pathway analyses of the action targets, and analyzed the molecular docking of key Bai targets. Additionally, the effect and potential mechanism of Bai against OA were verified in mouse knee OA models induced by destabilized medial meniscus (DMM) surgery. GO and KEGG analyses showed that 19 anti-OA targets were mainly involved in the response to oxidative stress, the response to hypoxia and apoptosis, and the PI3K-Akt and p53 signaling pathways. Molecular docking results indicated that BAX, BCL 2, and Caspase 3 enriched in the apoptotic signaling pathway have high binding affinity with Bai. Validation experiments showed that Bai can significantly attenuate the loss of articular cartilage (OARSI score), suppress synovial inflammation (synovitis score), and ameliorate subchondral bone resorption measured by micro-CT. In addition, Bai notably inhibited the expression of apoptosis-related proteins in articular cartilage (BAX, BCL 2, and Caspase 3). By combining network pharmacology with experimental validation, our study identifies and verifies the importance of the apoptotic signaling pathway in the treatment of OA by Bai. Bai may have promising application and potential therapeutic value in OA treatment.
Ethnobotanical Documentation of Medicinal Plants Used by the Indigenous Panay Bukidnon in Lambunao, Iloilo, Philippines
Authors: Cordero Cecilia Salugta , Meve Ulrich , Alejandro Grecebio Jonathan Duran
Published: January 2022

The Panay Bukidnon is a group of indigenous peoples living in the interior highlands of Panay Island in Western Visayas, Philippines. Little is known about their ethnobotanical knowledge due to limited written records, and no recent research has been conducted on the medicinal plants they used in ethnomedicine. This study aims to document the medicinal plants used by the indigenous Panay Bukidnon in Lambunao, Iloilo, Panay Island. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 75 key informants from June 2020 to September 2021 to determine the therapeutic use of medicinal plants in traditional medicine. A total of 131 medicinal plant species distributed in 121 genera and 57 families were used to address 91 diseases in 16 different uses or disease categories. The family Fabaceae was best represented with 13 species, followed by Lamiaceae with nine species and Poaceae with eight species. The leaf was the most frequently used plant part and decoction was the most preferred form of preparation. To evaluate the plant importance, use value (UV), relative frequency citation (RFC), relative important index (RI), informant consensus factor (ICF), and fidelity level (FL) were used. Curcuma longa L. had the highest UV (0.79), Artemisia vulgaris L. had the highest RFC value (0.57), and Annona muricata L. had the highest RI value (0.88). Diseases and symptoms or signs involving the respiratory system and injury, poisoning, and certain other consequences of external causes recorded the highest ICF value (0.80). Blumea balsamifera (L.) DC. and Chromolaena odorata (L.) R.M. King & H. Rob were the most relevant and agreed species for the former and latter disease categories, respectively. C. odorata had the highest FL value (100%) and was the most preferred medicinal plant used for cuts and wounds. The results of this study serve as a medium for preserving cultural heritage, ethnopharmacological bases for further drug research and discovery, and preserving biological diversity.
Combination of Systems Pharmacology and Experimental Evaluation to Explore the Mechanism of Synergistic Action of Frankincense-Myrrh in the Treatment of Cerebrovascular Diseases
Authors: Liao Yucheng , Wang Jingwen , Guo Chao , Bai Min , Ju Bowei , Ran Zheng , Hu Junping , Yang Jianhua , Wen Aidong , Ding Yi
Published: January 2022

Frankincense-Myrrh is a classic drug pair that promotes blood circulation, and eliminates blood stasis. The combination of the two drugs has a definite clinical effect on the treatment of cerebrovascular diseases (CBVDs), but its mechanism of action and compatibility have not been elucidated. In this study, the bioactive components, core targets, and possible synergistic mechanisms of Frankincense-Myrrh in the treatment of CBVDs are explored through systems pharmacology combined with in vivo and in vitro experiments. Comparing target genes of components in Frankincense and Myrrh with CBVD-related genes, common genes were identified; 15 core target genes of Frankincense-Myrrh for the treatment of CBVDs were then identified using protein-protein interaction (PPI) analysis. It was also predicted through Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment analysis that the molecular mechanism of Frankincense-Myrrh action on CBVDs was mainly related to the regulation of neurotrophic factors and inflammatory responses. Frankincense-Myrrh significantly improved neurological function, decreased infarct volume, alleviated histopathological damage, inhibited microglial expression, and promoted the expression of neurons in middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO)-induced rats. The results of this study not only provide important theoretical support and experimental basis for the synergistic effect of Frankincense-Myrrh, but also provide new ideas for the prevention and treatment of cerebral ischemic injuries.
Obesity and the Development of Lung Fibrosis
Authors: Guo Xia , Sunil Christudas , Qian Guoqing
Published: January 2022

Obesity is an epidemic worldwide and the obese people suffer from a range of respiratory complications including fibrotic changes in the lung. The influence of obesity on the lung is multi-factorial, which is related to both mechanical injury and various inflammatory mediators produced by excessive adipose tissues, and infiltrated immune cells. Adiposity causes increased production of inflammatory mediators, for example, cytokines, chemokines, and adipokines, both locally and in the systemic circulation, thereby rendering susceptibility to respiratory diseases, and altered responses. Lung fibrosis is closely related to chronic inflammation in the lung. Current data suggest a link between lung fibrosis and diet-induced obesity, although the mechanism remains incomplete understood. This review summarizes findings on the association of lung fibrosis with obesity, highlights the role of several critical inflammatory mediators (e.g., TNF-α, TGF-β, and MCP-1) in obesity related lung fibrosis and the implication of obesity in the outcomes of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis patients.
Studying Heisenberg-like Uncertainty Relation with Weak Values in One-dimensional Harmonic Oscillator
Authors: Fan Xing-Yan , Shang Wei-Min , Zhou Jie , Meng Hui-Xian , Chen Jing-Ling
Published: January 2022

As one of the fundamental traits governing the operation of quantum world, the uncertainty relation, from the perspective of Heisenberg, rules the minimum deviation of two incompatible observations for arbitrary quantum states. Notwithstanding, the original measurements appeared in Heisenberg’s principle are strong such that they may disturb the quantum system itself. Hence an intriguing question is raised: What will happen if the mean values are replaced by weak values in Heisenberg’s uncertainty relation? In this work, we investigate the question in the case of measuring position and momentum in a simple harmonic oscillator via designating one of the eigenkets thereof to the pre-selected state. Astonishingly, the original Heisenberg limit is broken for some post-selected states, designed as a superposition of the pre-selected state and another eigenkets of harmonic oscillator. Moreover, if two distinct coherent states reside in the pre- and post-selected states respectively, the variance reaches the lower bound in common uncertainty principle all the while, which is in accord with the circumstance in Heisenberg’s primitive framework.
Phytohormone Priming of Tomato Plants Evoke Differential Behavior in Rhizoctonia solani During Infection, With Salicylate Priming Imparting Greater Tolerance Than Jasmonate
Authors: Koley Paulami , Brahmachari Subhadip , Saha Amitava , Deb Camelia , Mondal Monimala , Das Nebedita , Das Arpan , Lahiri Suvanwita , Das Mayukh , Thakur Manisha , Kundu Surekha
Published: January 2022

In the field of phytohormone defense, the general perception is that salicylate (SA)-mediated defense is induced against biotrophic pathogens while jasmonate (JA)-mediated defense functions against necrotrophic pathogens. Our goals were to observe the behavior of the necrotrophic pathogen Rhizoctonia solani in the vicinity, on the surface, and within the host tissue after priming the host with SA or JA, and to see if priming with these phytohormones would affect the host defense differently upon infection. It was observed for the first time, that R. solani could not only distinguish between JA versus SA-primed tomato plants from a distance, but surprisingly avoided SA-primed plants more than JA-primed plants. To corroborate these findings, early infection events were monitored and compared through microscopy, Scanning Electron Microscopy, and Confocal Laser Scanning Microscopy using transformed R. solani expressing green fluorescence protein gene (gfp). Different histochemical and physiological parameters were compared between the unprimed control, JA-primed, and SA-primed plants after infection. The expression of a total of fifteen genes, including the appressoria-related gene of the pathogen and twelve marker genes functioning in the SA and JA signaling pathways, were monitored over a time course during early infection stages. R. solani being traditionally designated as a necrotroph, the major unexpected observations were that Salicylate priming offered better tolerance than Jasmonate priming and that it was mediated through the activation of SA-mediated defense during the initial phase of infection, followed by JA-mediated defense in the later phase. Hence, the present scenario of biphasic SA-JA defense cascades during R. solani infection, with SA priming imparting maximum tolerance, indicate a possible hemibiotrophic pathosystem that needs to be investigated further.
Thermal Acclimation of Foliar Carbon Metabolism in Pinus taiwanensis Along an Elevational Gradient
Authors: Lyu Min , Sun Mengke , Peñuelas Josep , Sardans Jordi , Sun Jun , Chen Xiaoping , Zhong Quanlin , Cheng Dongliang
Published: January 2022

Climate change could negatively alter plant ecosystems if rising temperatures exceed optimal conditions for obtaining carbon. The acclimation of plants to higher temperatures could mitigate this effect, but the potential of subtropical forests to acclimate still requires elucidation. We used space-for-time substitution to determine the photosynthetic and respiratory-temperature response curves, optimal temperature of photosynthesis (Topt), photosynthetic rate at Topt, temperature sensitivity (Q10), and the rate of respiration at a standard temperature of 25°C (R25) for Pinus taiwanensis at five elevations (1200, 1400, 1600, 1800, and 2000 m) in two seasons (summer and winter) in the Wuyi Mountains in China. The response of photosynthesis in P. taiwanensis leaves to temperature at the five elevations followed parabolic curves, and the response of respiration to temperature increased with temperature. Topt was higher in summer than winter at each elevation and decreased significantly with increasing elevation. Q10 decreased significantly with increasing elevation in summer but not winter. These results showed a strong thermal acclimation of foliar photosynthesis and respiration to current temperatures across elevations and seasons, and that R25 increased significantly with elevation and were higher in winter than summer at each elevation indicating that the global warming can decrease R25. These results strongly suggest that this thermal acclimation will likely occur in the coming decades under climate change, so the increase in respiration rates of P. taiwanensis in response to climatic warming may be smaller than predicted and thus may not increase atmospheric CO2 concentrations.
Kaolin Particle Film Protects Grapevine cv. Cabernet Sauvignon Against Downy Mildew by Forming Particle Film at the Leaf Surface, Directly Acting on Sporangia and Inducing the Defense of the Plant
Authors: Wang Ying , Cao Xiao , Han Yulei , Han Xing , Wang Zhilei , Xue Tingting , Ye Qiuhong , Zhang Liang , Duan Xinyao , Wang Hua , Li Hua
Published: January 2022

Downy mildew is a major threat to viticulture, leading to severe yield loss. The use of traditional copper-based fungicides is effective, but has adverse effects on the environment and human health, making it urgent to develop an environmentally friendly disease management program. Multi-functional kaolin particle film (KPF) is promising as an effective and safer treatment strategy, since this material lacks chemically active ingredients. In this study, ability of Kaolin particle film (KPF) pretreatment to protect grapevine leaves from Plasmopara viticola was tested and the mode of action of KPF was analyzed. KPF application reduced the disease severity and the development of intercellular hyphae. Additionally, there was reduced accumulation of H2O2 and malondialdehyde (MDA) with pretreatment. The observation of ultrastructure on the leaf surface showed KPF deposition and stomatal obstruction, indicating that KPF protected plants against disease by preventing the adhesion of pathogens to the leaf surface and blocking invasion through the stomata. KPF pretreatment also activated host defense responses, as evidenced by increased activities of anti-oxidative enzymes [superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD), and catalase (CAT)] and defense-related enzymes [phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL), chitinases, and β-1,3-glucanases], increased phytohormone signals [abscisic acid (ABA), salicylic acid (SA), and jasmonic acid (JA)] and the up-regulation of defense genes related to plant defense. Overall, these results demonstrate that KPF treatment counters grapevine downy mildew by protecting leaves and enhancing plant defense responses.
Untargeted Metabolomics Reveals Multiple Phytometabolites in the Agricultural Waste Materials and Medicinal Materials of Codonopsis pilosula
Authors: Zeng Xu , Li Jiaxue , Lyu Xinkai , Chen Juan , Chen Xiaomei , Guo Shunxing
Published: January 2022

Codonopsis pilosula has been used in traditional Chinese medicine for hundreds of years, where it has been used to treat anaemia, fatigue, a weak spleen, and stomach problems, among other ailments. The roots of C. pilosula are considered medicinal, while the aerial parts are always directly discarded after harvest in autumn or winter. Some studies have shown that the stems and leaves of C. pilosula also contain a variety of active metabolites, including saponins, flavonoids, terpenoids, and polysaccharides. To efficiently utilise resources, waste products from C. pilosula leaves and stems were analysed by untargeted metabolomics and chemometrics. A total of 1508 metabolites were detected and annotated, of which 463 were identified as differentially expressed metabolites (DEMs). These DEMs were grouped into classes, such as carboxylic acids and derivatives, steroids, organic oxygen compounds, fatty acyls, prenol lipids, and flavonoids. Metabolic profiling of C. pilosula tissues showed that the contents of polyacetylenes, polyenes, flavonoids, some alkaloids, steroids, terpenoids, and organic acids were higher in stems and leaves, whereas the contents of the main lignans and some alkaloids were more enriched in roots. Moreover, C. pilosula stems and leaves also contained a lobetyolin, syringin and atractylenolide III, which were detected by LC-MS/MS and HPLC-UV. The extracts of C. pilosula aerial parts also showed stronger antioxidant properties than roots. C. pilosula stems and leaves were rich in active ingredients and might have great value for development and utilisation.
Applying Evidence-Centered Design to Measure Psychological Resilience: The Development and Preliminary Validation of a Novel Simulation-Based Assessment Methodology
Authors: Kleitman Sabina , Jackson Simon A. , Zhang Lisa M. , Blanchard Matthew D. , Rizvandi Nikzad B. , Aidman Eugene
Published: January 2022

Modern technologies have enabled the development of dynamic game- and simulation-based assessments to measure psychological constructs. This has highlighted their potential for supplementing other assessment modalities, such as self-report. This study describes the development, design, and preliminary validation of a simulation-based assessment methodology to measure psychological resilience—an important construct for multiple life domains. The design was guided by theories of resilience, and principles of evidence-centered design and stealth assessment. The system analyzed log files from a simulated task to derive individual trajectories in response to stressors. Using slope analyses, these trajectories were indicative of four types of responses to stressors: thriving, recovery, surviving, and succumbing. Using Machine Learning, the trajectories were predictive of self-reported resilience (Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale) with high accuracy, supporting construct validity of the simulation-based assessment. These findings add to the growing evidence supporting the utility of gamified assessment of psychological constructs. Importantly, these findings address theoretical debates about the construct of resilience, adding to its theory, supporting the combination of the “trait” and “process” approaches to its operationalization.
Paranormal Experience Profiles and Their Association With Variations in Executive Functions: A Latent Profile Analysis
Authors: Drinkwater Kenneth Graham , Dagnall Neil , Denovan Andrew , Parker Andrew , Escolà-Gascón Álex
Published: January 2022

This study investigated relationships between inter-class variations in paranormal experience and executive functions. A sample of 516 adults completed self-report measures assessing personal encounter-based paranormal occurrences (i.e., Experience, Practitioner Visiting, and Ability), executive functions (i.e., General Executive Function, Working and Everyday Memory, and Decision Making) together with Emotion Regulation and Belief in the Paranormal. Paranormal belief served as a measure of convergent validity for experience-based phenomena. Latent profile analysis (LPA) combined experience-based indices into four classes based on sample subpopulation scores. Multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) then examined interclass differences. Results revealed that breadth of paranormal experience was associated with higher levels of executive functioning difficulties for General Executive Function, Working Memory, Decision Making, and Belief in the Paranormal. On the Everyday Memory Questionnaire, scores differed on Attention Tracking (focus loss) and Factor 3 (visual reconstruction), but not Retrieval (distinct memory failure). In the case of the Emotion Regulation Scale, class scores varied on Expressive Suppression (control), however, no difference was evident on Cognitive Reappraisal (reframing). Overall, inter-class comparisons identified subtle differences in executive functions related to experience. Since the present study was exploratory, sampled only a limited subset of executive functions, and used subjective, self-report measures, further research is necessary to confirm these outcomes. This should employ objective tests and include a broader range of executive functions.
A Data-Driven Expectation Prediction Framework Based on Social Exchange Theory
Authors: Cao Enguo , Jiang Jinzhi , Duan Yanjun , Peng Hui
Published: January 2022

Along with the rapid application of new information technologies, the data-driven era is coming, and online consumption platforms are booming. However, massive user data have not been fully developed for design value, and the application of data-driven methods of requirement engineering needs to be further expanded. This study proposes a data-driven expectation prediction framework based on social exchange theory, which analyzes user expectations in the consumption process, and predicts improvement plans to assist designers make better design improvement. According to the classification and concept definition of social exchange resources, consumption exchange elements were divided into seven categories: money, commodity, services, information, value, emotion, and status, and based on these categories, two data-driven methods, namely, word frequency statistics and scale surveys, were combined to analyze user-generated data. Then, a mathematical expectation formula was used to expand user expectation prediction. Moreover, by calculating mathematical expectation, explicit and implicit expectations are distinguished to derive a reliable design improvement plan. To validate its feasibility and advantages, an illustrative example of CoCo Fresh Tea & Juice service system improvement design is further adopted. As an exploratory study, it is hoped that this study provides useful insights into the data mining process of consumption comment.
Can Acting Out Online Improve Adolescents’ Well-Being During Contact Restrictions? A First Insight Into the Dysfunctional Role of Cyberbullying and the Need to Belong in Well-Being During COVID-19 Pandemic-Related Contact Restrictions
Authors: Pfetsch Jan S. , Schultze-Krumbholz Anja , Lietz Katrin
Published: January 2022

Connecting with peers online to overcome social isolation has become particularly important during the pandemic-related school closures across many countries. In the context of contact restrictions, feelings of isolation and loneliness are more prevalent and the regulation of these negative emotions to maintain a positive well-being challenges adolescents. This is especially the case for those individuals who might have a high need to belong and difficulties in emotional competences. The difficult social situation during contact restrictions, more time for online communication and maladaptive emotion regulation might lead to aggressive communication patterns in the form of cyberbullying perpetration. In an online study with N = 205 adolescents aged 14–19 (M = 15.83, SD = 1.44; 57% girls), we assessed the frequency of online and offline contacts, need to belong, emotion regulation problems, feelings of loneliness, and cyberbullying perpetration as predictors of adolescents’ well-being. In particular, we explored whether cyberbullying perpetration might function as a maladaptive strategy to deal with feelings of loneliness and therefore predicts well-being. This effect was expected to be stronger for those with a higher need to belong and with higher emotion regulation problems. Results of a hierarchical regression analysis revealed that well-being was significantly predicted by less emotion regulation difficulties, less feeling isolated and more cyberbullying perpetration. We also tested whether the need to belong or emotion regulation problems moderated the association between cyberbullying and well-being. While the results for emotion regulation problems were not significant, the moderation effect for the need to belong was significant: For students with a high need to belong, well-being was more strongly related to cyberbullying perpetration than for students with a medium need to belong. For students with a low need to belong, cyberbullying was not significantly associated with well-being. That cyberbullying perpetration predicted well-being positively is rather surprising in the light of previous research showing negative psychosocial outcomes also for cyberbullying perpetrators. The moderation analysis provides a hint at underlying processes: In times of distance learning and contact restrictions, cyberbullying may be a way of coming into contact with others and to regulate loneliness maladaptively.
Therapists’ Expressions of Agreement in Therapeutic Conversations With Chinese Children With ASD: Strategies, Sequential Positions and Functions
Authors: Zeng Xiaorong , Ma Bosen , Li Chenxi , Zhang Laiyun , Li Chenxi , Li Haifeng
Published: January 2022

Based on conversations between 10 Chinese children with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) and five therapists in the context of Naturalistic Intervention, this study investigated the therapists’ agreement expressions in this typical setting. The study found that (1) the therapists mainly used four agreement strategies: acknowledgment, positive evaluation, repetition and blending. These four strategies could be used individually or in combination. The first three strategies and their combinations were used frequently during the therapeutic conversation. (2) With the major occurrences in the post-expansion position, the agreement expressions in the therapeutic conversation mainly performed three functions, namely, creating a supportive therapeutic relationship, serving as positive reinforcers and implementing interventions pertinent to communication skills. (3) This study proposed that the therapists’ preferred use of agreement expressions in the intervention process could be explained by the features of Naturalistic Intervention.
A Review of Foreign Language Learners’ Emotions
Authors: Yu Qiangfu
Published: January 2022

In the past half century, the research on emotions of foreign language learners (FLL) has shifted the focus from an exclusive analysis of negative emotions to a more holistic study of both negative emotions and positive emotions, and currently to mediators of multiple emotions. Of the FLL’s negative emotions, foreign language anxiety (FLA) attracts the most attention. Researchers have widely discussed the relationship between FLA and foreign language achievement, the influencing factors of FLA, the dynamicity of FLA as well as regulation and intervention strategies of FLA. Foreign language enjoyment (FLE) is the most heavily studied research subject on FLL’s positive emotions. Researchers generally focus on the influencing factors of FLE, the dynamicity of FLE and the relationship between FLE and FLA. With the implementation of holistic education, emotional intelligence (EI), a mediator of multiple emotions of FLL, has been becoming a newly hot topic in the field of FLL’s emotions. By reviewing the previous studies, this paper proposes that the future research on FLL emotion needs to expand the research perspectives, enrich the research topics, and innovate the research methods.
Mediation Effect of Self-Efficacy and Resilience on the Psychological Well-Being of Lebanese People During the Crises of the COVID-19 Pandemic and the Beirut Explosion
Authors: Hong Jihoon , Mreydem Hussein Walid , Abou Ali Bayan Tarek , Saleh Nada Omar , Hammoudi Sajida Fawaz , Lee Jukab , Ahn Junseok , Park Jangho , Hong Youjin , Suh Sooyeon , Chung Seockhoon
Published: January 2022

Introduction: Self-efficacy signifies an individual's belief in their own ability to perform the actions required to achieve a particular performance. In this study, we used an online survey to assess the mediation effect of resilience and self-efficacy on the overall psychological well-being of Lebanese people during the crises of the COVID-19 pandemic and the Beirut explosion.

Methods: Overall, 567 Lebanese people participated in an online survey between March 17–28, 2021. The survey included the Stress and Anxiety to Viral Epidemics-6 items (SAVE-6), Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), Connor–Davidson Resilience Scale-2 items, WHO-5 Well-being Index, General Self-Efficacy scale, and a single item on insomnia. We also assessed their risk perception regarding exposure to COVID-19 or explosions.

Results: About 53% of participants were assessed as having depression (PHQ-9 ≥ 10) in the recent crisis. About half of participants (53.2%) reported feeling more stressed by COVID-19 than by the Beirut explosion, and 23.4% felt more stressed by the Beirut explosion than by COVID-19. Only the SAVE-6 score differed significantly between groups with greater stress responses to COVID-19 and the Beirut explosion. Self-efficacy mediated the influence of depression on people's psychological well-being, and self-efficacy and resilience mediated the influence of viral anxiety on psychological well-being.

Conclusion: Self-efficacy is important for reducing people's depression and improving their psychological well-being during the Lebanon crises and also mediates the influence of anxiety in response to the viral epidemic on their psychological well-being in some people.
Behavioral and Gene Regulatory Responses to Developmental Drug Exposures in Zebrafish
Authors: Mech Aleksandra M. , Merteroglu Munise , Sealy Ian M. , Teh Muy-Teck , White Richard J. , Havelange William , Brennan Caroline H. , Busch-Nentwich Elisabeth M.
Published: January 2022

Developmental consequences of prenatal drug exposure have been reported in many human cohorts and animal studies. The long-lasting impact on the offspring—including motor and cognitive impairments, cranial and cardiac anomalies and increased prevalence of ADHD—is a socioeconomic burden worldwide. Identifying the molecular changes leading to developmental consequences could help ameliorate the deficits and limit the impact. In this study, we have used zebrafish, a well-established behavioral and genetic model with conserved drug response and reward pathways, to identify changes in behavior and cellular pathways in response to developmental exposure to amphetamine, nicotine or oxycodone. In the presence of the drug, exposed animals showed altered behavior, consistent with effects seen in mammalian systems, including impaired locomotion and altered habituation to acoustic startle. Differences in responses seen following acute and chronic exposure suggest adaptation to the presence of the drug. Transcriptomic analysis of exposed larvae revealed differential expression of numerous genes and alterations in many pathways, including those related to cell death, immunity and circadian rhythm regulation. Differential expression of circadian rhythm genes did not correlate with behavioral changes in the larvae, however, two of the circadian genes, arntl2 and per2, were also differentially expressed at later stages of development, suggesting a long-lasting impact of developmental exposures on circadian gene expression. The immediate-early genes, egr1, egr4, fosab, and junbb, which are associated with synaptic plasticity, were downregulated by all three drugs and in situ hybridization showed that the expression for all four genes was reduced across all neuroanatomical regions, including brain regions implicated in reward processing, addiction and other psychiatric conditions. We anticipate that these early changes in gene expression in response to drug exposure are likely to contribute to the consequences of prenatal exposure and their discovery might pave the way to therapeutic intervention to ameliorate the long-lasting deficits.
Trauma and Social Pathways to Psychosis, and Where the Two Paths Meet
Authors: Heriot-Maitland Charles , Wykes Til , Peters Emmanuelle
Published: January 2022

The pathways from trauma—via dissociation—to psychosis have been thoroughly tested and evidenced, but what has received less attention has been the social pathways—via dissociation—to psychosis. Often social factors are more commonly linked to other influences, e.g., to appraisals and the creation of negative schema in cognitive models, or to unsupportive caregiving experiences where there is high “expressed emotion.” However, evidence is now emerging that negative social rank experiences, such as being excluded or shamed, may themselves have dissociative properties, which poses intriguing questions as to how trauma pathways and social pathways might interact. This article reviews the state of knowledge in trauma and social pathways to psychosis and then considers the potential mechanisms and the relationships between them, specifically (i) dissociation, (ii) attachment, and (iii) social rank. Recommendations are suggested for future modeling and testing of three-way interactions (dissociation × attachment × social rank) in the pathway from trauma to psychosis.
Global Adversities, the Media, and Mental Health
Authors: Kesner Ladislav , Horáček Jiří
Published: January 2022

Global communities are currently confronted with a number of complex problems and threats, the reality of which is amplified by the media. These environmental and socio-political stressors have been accompanied by the spread of problematic psychological and behavioural tendencies, such as the growing polarisation of opinions and values, online radicalisation and extremism, deepening xenophobia and nationalism, the proliferation of irrational beliefs and conspiracy theories, and resistance to rational public policy measures. Here we argue that although they fall outside the scope of psychopathology, they nevertheless currently constitute a major challenge for psychiatry as a research domain and a clinical practise. To substantiate this claim, we outline the mechanisms by which media-transmitted stressors impact mental well-being and possibly psychopathology. The common denominator of these global problems and the media's construction of reality is the increase in uncertainty, unpredictability, and uncontrollability, which prompts defensive responding and, in predisposed individuals, functions as a potent source of chronic stress. These contribute to cognitive inflexibility, a strong predisposing factor for the development of rigid beliefs and attitudes, which to varying degrees underlie the adverse psychological and behavioural tendencies mentioned above. We suggest that the tightening of beliefs and ideas that is the result of cognitive rigidity may correspond to the clinical characteristics of induced delusional disorder. This can be seen as a (ultimately maladaptive) defensive strategy for coping with a high degree of uncertainty and unpredictability. We conclude by briefly outlining the possible ways in which psychiatry can face this challenge.
Vaccinators' Perception of HPV Vaccination in the Saa Health District of Cameroon
Authors: Haddison Eposi , Tambasho Afizu , Kouamen Gael , Ngwafor Randolph
Published: January 2022

Introduction: Cervical cancer is the second most prevalent cancer among women in Cameroon. In November 2020, the HPV vaccine was introduced into the expanded programme on immunisation. However, uptake of the vaccine has been slow in the Centre region as opposed to other regions in the country. We therefore sought to describe vaccinators' perception of HPV vaccination in Saa health district.

Methods: A self-administered questionnaire with both open-ended and closed questions was used to assess the perception of HPV vaccination among 24 vaccinators from the Saa health district. Quantitative data were summarised as proportions while qualitative data were deductively and inductively coded and thematically analysed.

Results: Most vaccinators (75%, n = 18) had a good knowledge about cervical cancer and HPV vaccination. Fourteen (58.3%, n = 14) vaccinators correctly reported the target group, number and spacing of doses for the HPV vaccine. Fourteen (58.3%) vaccinators favoured HPV vaccination while the others (n = 10) were sceptical. Sceptics felt manufacturers hadn't given enough proof of the safety of the vaccine and lacked confidence in government's assessment of the epidemiological situation. The COVID 19 pandemic, fear of infertility and the negative influence of social media were perceived as the main reasons for community hesitancy. Vaccinators criticised health authorities for failing to sensitise the population about the HPV vaccine before its introduction.

Conclusion: Vaccinators' perceptions of HPV vaccination may influence the offer of HPV vaccination services. Measures to increase acceptance of HPV vaccination and ownership of the activity among vaccinators have to be put in place.
Substantial Impact of COVID-19 on Self-Reported Mental Health of Healthcare Professionals in the Netherlands
Authors: de Vroege Lars , van den Broek Anneloes
Published: January 2022

Initially, the COVID-19 pandemic caused a continued pressure on professionals working in hospitals due to the increase of affected patients. At the moment, the pandemic continues but thanks to all kinds of measures (e.g., social distancing) workload seems to decrease at the hospitals. On the contrary, patients with long-lasting symptoms due to COVID-19 infection or the pandemic begin to merge at the mental healthcare institutions in the Netherlands but this also holds true for other countries. Furthermore, healthcare professionals are affected by safety measures such as working from home, which led to an increased feeling of stress and may have led to a misbalance in work and private life. As a result, the question whether healthcare employees in mental healthcare experience impaired mental health remains unclear and chances are fair that mental health problems such as exhaustion and burnout may be prevalent. This study describes an online survey in which mental health amongst mental healthcare professionals is investigated. About 1,300 professionals from a large number of mental healthcare institutions replied the survey. Around 50% of the respondents experienced increased levels of stress. Feelings of anxiety, anger, and sadness were also increasingly experienced due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Furthermore, 4.2% replied that they were considering resigning their jobs which is alarming considering the shortage of healthcare professionals in mental healthcare institutions. The results support the importance of treatment or support of professionals in mental healthcare that experience psychological ailments.