bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Home-Based Frailty Prevention Program for Older Women Participants of Kayoi-No-Ba during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Feasibility Study
Authors: Watanabe Ryota , Kojima Masayo , Yasuoka Mikako , Kimura Chieko , Kamiji Koto , Otani Takahiro , Tsujimura Shoko , Fujita Hitomi , Nogimura Akane , Ozeki Sae , Osawa Aiko , Arai Hidenori
Published: May 2022

This study presents a single-arm intervention that aimed to determine the feasibility of a three-month home-based exercise program to prevent the progression of frailty during COVID-19. We recruited four groups of Kayoi-no-ba, or community salons for frailty prevention, and a total of 69 community-dwelling older women who belonged to one of the Kayoi-no-ba in a preliminary study for a follow-up study. The intervention program was developed on the basis of the 5A approach, and the focus group by the volunteer leaders of Kayoi-no-ba. We adapted the National Center for Geriatrics and Gerontology Home Exercise Program for Older People for 10-min daily home-based exercise. For feasibility outcomes, 91.3% of the participants completed the intervention program, whereas the percentage of exercise performed was 86.5% during the intervention period. For health-related outcomes, the five times sit-to-stand test exhibited significant improvement after the intervention. The results of feasibility outcomes indicate that the program may be feasible due to the high rates of completion and exercise performed. Additionally, improvement was noted for the health indicators of the five times sit-to-stand test, which may help prevent frailty. The feasibility trial has provided the necessary data to design a future-cluster randomized controlled trial.
Optimal Planning and Management of Land Use in River Source Region: A Case Study of Songhua River Basin, China
Authors: Duan Yucong , Tang Jie , Li Zhaoyang , Yang Yao , Dai Ce , Qu Yunke , Lv Hang
Published: May 2022

Adjusting land use is a practical way to protect the ecosystem, but protecting water resources by optimizing land use is indirect and complex. The vegetation, soil, and rock affected by land use are important components of forming the water cycle and obtaining clean water sources. The focus of this study is to discuss how to optimize the demands and spatial patterns of different land use types to strengthen ecological and water resources protection more effectively. This study can also provide feasible watershed planning and policy suggestions for managers, which is conducive to the integrity of the river ecosystem and the sustainability of water resources. A watershed-scale land use planning framework integrating a hydrological model and a land use model is established. After quantifying the water retention value of land use types through a hydrological model, a multi-objective land use demands optimization model under various development scenarios is constructed. Moreover, a regional study was completed in the source area of the Songhua River in Northeast China to verify the feasibility of the framework. The results show that the method can be used to optimize land use requirements and obtain future land use maps. The water retention capacity of forestland is strong, about 2500–3000 m3/ha, and there are differences among different forest types. Planning with a single objective of economic development will expand the area of cities and cultivated land, and occupy forests, while multi-objective planning considering ecological and water source protection tends to occupy cultivated land. In the management of river headwaters, it is necessary to establish important forest reserves and strengthen the maintenance of restoration forests. Blindly expanding forest area is not an effective way to protect river headwaters. In conclusion, multi-objective land use planning can effectively balance economic development and water resources protection, and find the limits of urban expansion and key areas of ecological barriers.
The STress-And-Coping suppoRT Intervention (START) for Chinese Women Undergoing Abortion: A Randomized Controlled Trial Protocol
Authors: Wang Na , Zhu Xiu , Gamble Jenny , Elder Elizabeth , Allen Jyai , Creedy Debra K.
Published: May 2022

Background: Although undergoing an abortion is stressful for most women, little attention has been given to their psychological wellbeing. This protocol aims to assess the feasibility, acceptability, and primary effects of a complex intervention to promote positive coping behaviors and alleviate depression symptoms among Chinese women who have undergone an abortion. Methods: A two-arm randomized controlled trial design will be used. Participants will be recruited at their first appointment with the abortion clinic and randomly allocated to receive either the Stress-And-Coping suppoRT (START) intervention (in addition to standard abortion care) or standard care only. All participants will be followed-up at two- and six-weeks post-abortion. Approval has been granted by local and university ethics committees. This research was supported by an Australian Government Research Training Program Scholarship. Discussion: The results will assist refinement and further evaluations of the START intervention, contribute to improved abortion care practices in China, and enrich the evidence on improving women’s psychological well-being following abortion in China. Trial registration: Registered at the Chinese Clinical Trials.gov: ChiCTR2100046101. Date of registration: 4 May 2021.
Evaluating the Heterogeneity Effect of Fertilizer Use Intensity on Agricultural Eco-Efficiency in China: Evidence from a Panel Quantile Regression Model
Authors: Hou Mengyang , Xi Zenglei , Zhao Suyan
Published: May 2022

Chemical fertilizer is one of the most important input factors in agricultural production, but the excessive use of fertilizer inevitably leads to the loss of agricultural eco-efficiency (AEE). Therefore, it is necessary to explore the impact of fertilizer use intensity (FUI) on AEE. However, ordinary panel regression, based on the assumption of parameter homogeneity may yield biased estimation conclusions. In this regard, a panel quantile regression model (QRM) was constructed with the provincial panel data of China from 1978–2020 to test the difference and variation of this impact under heterogeneous conditions. The model was then combined with the spatial econometric model to explore the effect of the spatial lag factor. The results are as follows: (1) The QSM has unveiled a great improvement space for AEE that remains low overall, despite displaying a rising trend; the highest AEE is in the eastern region. (2) The FUI has a significant negative effect on AEE with the rise in quantiles, this negative effect tended towards weakening overall, although it rebounded slightly; it was stronger in areas with low AEE. It is necessary to consider the heterogeneous conditions in comparison with the average treatment effect of ordinary panel econometric regressions. (3) The impact of FUI shows significant variability in different economic sub-divisions and different sub-periods. (4) After considering the spatial effect of fertilizer use, the negative influence on local AEE had a faster decay rate as the quantile rose, but could produce a positive spatial spillover effect on AEE in neighboring areas. Local governments should dynamically adjust and optimize their fertilizer reduction and efficiency improvement policies according to the level and development stage of their AEE to establish a complete regional linked agroecological cooperation mechanism.
Health Status and Access to Healthcare for Uninsured Migrants in Germany: A Qualitative Study on the Involvement of Public Authorities in Nine Cities
Authors: Kratzsch Lukas , Bozorgmehr Kayvan , Szecsenyi Joachim , Nöst Stefan
Published: May 2022

Non-governmental organisations (NGOs) regularly report data on their work with uninsured migrants (UM) within a (so-called) parallel health care system. The role and involvement of public authorities therein have yet been underrepresented in research. Our aim was to gain a better understanding of public authorities’ role in the parallel health care system and their view of the health situation of UM. We conducted qualitative semi-structured interviews with 12 experts recruited by purposive sampling from local public health authorities (LPHAs), state-level public health authorities (SPHAs), and social services offices (SSO) in nine cities, recorded, transcribed, and subjected the data to qualitative content analysis. LPHAs are more often directly involved in providing medical services, while SSOs and SPHAs function as gatekeepers for access to social benefits, including health insurance, and in grant-funded projects. NGOs keep substituting for the lack of access to regular health care from public institutions, but even in settings with extended services, public authorities and NGOs have not been able to provide sufficient care through the parallel health care system: Experts report gaps in the provision of health care with respect to the depth and height of coverage, due to the fragmentation of services and (ostensible) resource scarcity. Our study highlights the necessity for universal access to regular health care to overcome the fragmentation of services and improve access to needed health care for UM in Germany.
Food Waste Management Employing UV-Induced Black Soldier Flies: Metabolomic Analysis of Bioactive Components, Antioxidant Properties, and Antibacterial Potential
Authors: Lu Jiaxin , Guo Yuwen , Muhmood Atif , Lv Zheng , Zeng Bei , Qiu Yizhan , Zhang Luxi , Wang Pan , Ren Lianhai
Published: May 2022

Food waste, as a major part of municipal solid waste, has been increasingly generated worldwide. Efficient and feasible utilization of this waste material for biomanufacturing is crucial to improving economic and environmental sustainability. In the present study, black soldier flies (BSF) larvae were used as carriers to treat and upcycle food waste. Larvae of the BSF were incubated with UV light for 10, 20, and 30 min at a wavelength of 257.3 nm and an intensity of 8 W. The food waste utilization efficiency, antioxidant assays, antibacterial activity, and bioactive metabolites without and with UV treatment were determined and compared. Results showed that the BSF larvae feed utilization rate was around 75.6%, 77.7%, and 71.2% after UV treatment for 10, 20, and 30 min respectively, contrasting with the non-UV induced group (73.7%). In addition, it was perceived that the UV exposure enhanced antioxidant and antimicrobial properties of BSF extracts, and the maximum values were observed after 20 min UV induction time. Moreover, UV-induced BSF extracts showed an improved metabolic profile than the control group, with a change in the amino acids, peptides, organic acids, lipids, organic oxides, and other derivatives. This change in metabolomics profile boosted environmental signaling, degradation of starch, amino acids, sugars, and peptide metabolism. It was concluded that the bioconversion of food wastes using UV-induced BSF larvae can enhance the generation of a variety of functional proteins and bioactive compounds with potent antioxidant and antimicrobial activity. However, more studies are required to exploit the efficiency of UV treatment in improving BSF’s potential for upcycling of food wastes.
An Analysis of Biomechanical Parameters in OTP Police Physical Intervention Techniques for Occupational Risk Prevention
Authors: Vera-Jiménez José C. , Meléndez-Sánchez Felipe L. , Álvarez José A. , Ayuso Jesús
Published: May 2022

(1) Background: a set of ergonomic parameters that are relevant for risk assessment methods for the prevention of occupational risks, such as REBA or NIOSH, have been measured by means of inertial sensors that allow capturing the movements of the human body. These methods base their assessment on a number of postural and dynamic parameters. In the case of police physical intervention techniques, trunk, legs, arms, forearms and wrists angles, joint contact force and sheer force at the L5-Pelvic junction, asymmetry (angle and factor), and muscle power are the more relevant parameters to be considered. (2) Method: The data have been collected by means of a motion capture suit equipped with 19 inertial sensors. The large amount of data and the 3-dimensional plots have been managed by a powerful software package specific for ergonomic analysis. The police physical intervention technique used was OTP. (3) Results: Five ergonomic parameters in a traditional police physical intervention technique have been analyzed. REBA scores and ergonomic metrics have been recorded and discussed with some prevention risk limits from the literature. (4) Conclusions: the usage of inertial sensors to capture the movements in OTPs provides a new and quite an efficient viewpoint for occupational risk research studies.
Electricity Generation Forecast of Shanghai Municipal Solid Waste Based on Bidirectional Long Short-Term Memory Model
Authors: Liu Bingchun , Zhang Ningbo , Wang Lingli , Zhang Xinming
Published: May 2022

The accurate prediction of Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) electricity generation is very important for the fine management of a city. This paper selects Shanghai as the research object, through the construction of a Bidirectional Long Short-Term Memory (BiLSTM) model, and chooses six influencing factors of MSW generation as the input indicators, to realize the effective prediction of MSW generation. Then, this study obtains the MSW electricity generation capacity in Shanghai by using the aforementioned prediction results and the calculation formula of theMSW electricity generation. The experimental results show that, firstly, the mean absolute error (MAE), mean absolute percentage error (MAPE), and root mean square error (RMSE) values of the BiLSTM model are 42.31, 7.390, and 63.32. Second, it is estimated that by 2025, the maximum and minimum production of MSW in Shanghai will be 17.35 million tons and 8.82 million tons under the three scenarios. Third, it is predicted that in 2025, the maximum and minimum electricity generation of Shanghai MSW under the three scenarios will be 512.752 GWh/y and 260.668 GWh/y. Finally, this paper can be used as a scientific information source for environmental sustainability decision-making for domestic MSW electricity generation technology.
Awareness of Obesity-Related Cancers: A Complex Issue
Authors: Mojtahedi Zahra , Farjadian Shirin
Published: May 2022

Cancer rates are on the rise across the world, making the illness a public health crisis, particularly in developed countries where cancer has become a leading cause of death [...]
Utilization of Mind–Body Intervention for Integrative Health Care of COVID-19 Patients and Survivors
Authors: Yang Hyun-Jeong , Setou Noriko , Koh Eugene
Published: May 2022

Recent findings suggest a correlation between COVID-19 and diabetes, although the underlying causes are still little understood. COVID-19 infection tends to induce severe symptoms in patients with underlying diabetes, increasing their mortality rate. Moreover, COVID-19 itself appears to be a diabetogenic factor. In addition, mental health conditions, such as depression due to lockdown and anxiety about infection, were found to affect glycemic control and immunity, highlighting the importance of mental health care during the pandemic. Mind–Body Intervention (MBI), which includes meditation, yoga, and qigong, has emerged as a tool for mental health management due to its effects on stress reduction and the promotion of mental and physical well-being. Here, we review the latest randomized controlled trials to determine the effects of MBI on glycemic control and the immune system and discuss the underlying mechanisms by which MBI facilitates the virtuous cycle of stress management, glycemic control, and immune modulation. Furthermore, we examine the actual utilization of MBI during the COVID-19 pandemic era through recent studies. With proper online education, non-pharmacological MBI may be more widely used as an important tool for self-health care that complements the usual treatment of COVID-19 patients and survivors.
Spatiotemporal Mapping of Online Interest in Cannabis and Popular Psychedelics before and during the COVID-19 Pandemic in Poland
Authors: Al-Imam Ahmed , Motyka Marek A. , Witulska Zuzanna , Younus Manal , Michalak Michał
Published: May 2022

Background: Psychedelics represent a unique subset of psychoactive substances that can induce an aberrant state of consciousness principally via the neuronal 5-HT2A receptor. There is limited knowledge concerning the interest in these chemicals in Poland and how they changed during the pandemic. Nonetheless, these interests can be surveyed indirectly via the web. Objectives: We aim to conduct a spatial-temporal mapping of online information-seeking behavior concerning cannabis and the most popular psychedelics before and during the pandemic. Methods: We retrieved online information search data via Google Trends concerning twenty of the most popular psychedelics from 1 January 2017 to 1 January 2022 in Poland. We conducted Holt–Winters exponential smoothing for time series analysis to infer potential seasonality. We utilized hierarchical clustering analysis based on Ward’s method to find similarities of psychedelics’ interest within Poland’s voivodships before and during the pandemic. Results: Twelve (60%) psychedelics had significant seasonality; we proved that psilocybin and ayahuasca had annual seasonality (p-value = 0.0120 and p = 0.0003, respectively), and four substances—LSD, AL-LAD, DXM, and DOB—exhibited a half-yearly seasonality, while six psychedelics had a quarterly seasonal pattern, including cannabis, dronabinol, ergine, NBOMe, phencyclidine, and salvinorin A. Further, the pandemic influenced a significant positive change in the trends for three substances, including psilocybin, ergine, and DXM. Conclusions: Different seasonal patterns exist for psychedelics, and some might correlate with school breaks or holidays in Poland. The pandemic induced some changes in the temporal and spatial trends. The spatial-temporal trends could be valuable information to health authorities and policymakers responsible for monitoring and preventing addictions.
The Relationship between Duration of Smartphone Uses and Anxiety in University Students during the COVID-19 Outbreak
Authors: Wang Jianmin , Li Wang , Ding Liang , Chen Shulei
Published: May 2022

Background: During the COVID-19 pandemic, China adopted a home isolation policy, which caused lifestyle changes for university students, including increased smartphone use. Several studies indicate that problematic smartphone use is associated with anxiety. However, this association has not been examined in the context of epidemics. The aim of this study was to investigate whether the duration of smartphone use was associated with anxiety in Chinese university students during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: Participants included 9716 university students (5458 men and 4258 women) from Liaoning, China. We assessed the duration of smartphone use with a self-reported questionnaire. Anxiety was assessed using the generalized anxiety disorder seven-item scale. A multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to determine the adjusted association between smartphone use and anxiety. Results: After adjusting for confounding factors, we observed a positive association between smartphone use duration and the prevalence of anxiety in all participating students. Compared with short periods of smartphone usage, the odds ratios (95% confidence interval) for moderate and long smartphone usage duration were 1.17 (1.00, 1.36) and 1.58 (1.36, 1.83), respectively. This significant positive association did not change in the sex-stratified analysis (for both men and women). Conclusions: Our examination of the association between duration of smartphone uses and university students’ anxiety levels revealed that long smartphone use was associated with a high prevalence of anxiety during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Predictive Utility of Composite Child Feeding Indices (CCFIs) for Child Nutritional Status: Comparative Analyses for the Most Suitable Formula for Constructing an Optimum CCFI
Authors: Anin Stephen Kofi , Ansong Richard Stephen , Fischer Florian , Kraemer Alexander
Published: May 2022

Composite child feeding indices (CCFIs) developed from various relevant measures of dietary intake by infants and young children have several potential applications in nutritional epidemiological studies for the development and deployment of precise public health nutrition interventions against child undernutrition. The predictive utility of some CCFIs (computed from varying formulation components) for child nutritional status (stunting, wasting, and underweight) were compared. The purpose of the study was to identify the most suitable among them for possible standardization, validation, and adoption by nutritional health researchers. Using cluster sampling, data from 581 mother–child pairs were collected. Multivariable regression analyses were applied to the data obtained through a community-based analytical cross-sectional survey design. Three of the CCFIs were found to be significantly associated with only wasting (WHZ) from the linear regression models after adjusting for potential confounders and/or correlates. None of the CCFIs (whether in the continuous nor categorical form) was consistently predictive of all three measures of child nutritional status, after controlling for potential confounders and/or correlates, irrespective of the choice of regression method. CCFI 5 was constructed using a dimension reduction technique—namely principal component analysis (PCA)—as the most optimal summary index in terms of predictiveness for child wasting status, validity, and reliability (Cronbach’s α = 0.80) that captured relevant dimensions of optimal child food intake. The dimension reduction approach that was used in constructing CCFI 5 is recommended for standardization, validation, and possible adoption for wider applicability across heterogeneous population settings as an optimum CCFI usable for nutritional epidemiological studies among children under five years.
Environmentally Just Futures: A Collection of Community-Driven African Environmental Education and Improvement Initiatives
Authors: Nwanaji-Enwerem Onyemaechi , Baccarelli Andrea A. , Curwin Brian D. , Zota Ami R. , Nwanaji-Enwerem Jamaji C.
Published: May 2022

Advocating for healthy environments is a matter of justice. Changes in environments have tremendous impacts on the health of communities, and oftentimes, individuals are unable to safeguard themselves through individual actions alone. Efforts frequently require collective action and are often most effective when led by the communities most impacted. In this spirit, we launched “Vibrations”, an African environment photo essay contest. Through funding and publicity, we aimed to support community-led environmental improvement and education initiatives presently taking place on the continent. We received nearly two dozen submissions and selected eight winners. The winners come from five countries (Ghana, Kenya, Mozambique, Nigeria, and South Africa) and have taken on a range of projects aimed at improving environments across a variety of African regions. Projects included efforts to combat pollution, create environmentally conscious school curricula, utilize clean energy sources, and spread awareness about environmental justice concerns in local communities. It is our hope that this report highlights these transformative community-driven efforts, promotes continued conversations on environmental justice in Africa, and encourages meaningful action via policy changes and collaborations throughout the African continent and beyond.
Differences in Stress, Stress-Coping Behavior, and Quality of Life Based on the Performance of Korean Ladies Professional Golf Association Tour Players
Authors: Kim Soon-Young , Choi Chulhwan
Published: May 2022

Maintaining world-class performance, irrespective of the influence of various psychological factors, is the most important task for professional athletes. By recognizing and coping with profession-related stress, athletes can improve their performance and maintain their quality of life as a professional. This study compared and analyzed the stress, stress-coping behavior, and quality of life of world-class athletes based on their objective performance. Data were collected from 234 professional golfers active on the Korean Ladies Professional Golf Association Tour and Dream Tour. Using performance as an independent variable, one-way multivariate variance analysis was performed for comparative analysis. The results indicated that professional tour golf players showed statistically significant differences in (a) stress from fellow players, (b) performance-related stress, and (c) passive stress-coping behavioral factors. Groups with higher levels of performance experienced more stress than their counterparts and coped with stress through a more passive attitude. Importantly, efforts to improve performance under fierce competition and lead a better life are essential for maintaining psychological stability.
“Lived the Pandemic Twice”: A Scoping Review of the Unequal Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Asylum Seekers and Undocumented Migrants
Authors: Mengesha Zelalem , Alloun Esther , Weber Danielle , Smith Mitchell , Harris Patrick
Published: May 2022

Background: Emerging evidence suggests that the COVID-19 pandemic is widening pre-pandemic health, social, and economic inequalities between refugees, migrants, and asylum seekers and the general population. This global scoping review examined the impact of the pandemic on community-based asylum seekers and undocumented migrants in high- and upper-middle-income countries. Methods: We conducted a systematic search of peer-reviewed articles in PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and ProQuest Central. We applied Katikireddi’s framework of understanding and addressing inequalities to examine the differential impact of the pandemic across exposure, vulnerability to infection, disease consequences, social consequences, effectiveness of control measures, and adverse consequences of control measures. Results: We included 32 articles in the review. The analysis showed that asylum seekers and undocumented migrants experienced greater exposure to the COVID-19 virus and higher infection rates. They also experienced differential social consequences in the form of job loss and lost and/or reduced work hours. The effectiveness of pandemic response measures on asylum seekers and undocumented migrants was also affected by pre-pandemic social and economic marginalisation, exclusion from pandemic-induced policy measures, lack of appropriate pandemic communication, and variable trust in governments and authority. Pandemic control measures had greater adverse consequences on asylum seekers and undocumented migrants than the general population, with the majority of studies included in this review reporting worsened mental health and social isolation conditions and reduced access to health care. Conclusions: Asylum seekers and undocumented migrants experienced a disproportionate impact of the COVID-19 pandemic across the six thematic areas of comparison. Policies that reduce exposure and vulnerability to the infection, grant equitable access to health and social care, and build capacities and resilience, are critical to enable asylum seekers and undocumented migrants to cope with and recover from pre-pandemic and pandemic-induced inequalities.
Association between Meteorological Factors and Mumps and Models for Prediction in Chongqing, China
Authors: Zhang Hong , Su Kun , Zhong Xiaoni
Published: May 2022

(1) Background: To explore whether meteorological factors have an impact on the prevalence of mumps, and to make a short–term prediction of the case number of mumps in Chongqing. (2) Methods: K–means clustering algorithm was used to divide the monthly mumps cases of each year into the high and low case number clusters, and Student t–test was applied for difference analysis. The cross–correlation function (CCF) was used to evaluate the correlation between the meteorological factors and mumps, and an ARIMAX model was constructed by additionally incorporating meteorological factors as exogenous variables in the ARIMA model, and a short–term prediction was conducted for mumps in Chongqing, evaluated by MAE, RMSE. (3) Results: All the meteorological factors were significantly different (p < 0.05), except for the relative humidity between the high and low case number clusters. The CCF and ARIMAX model showed that monthly precipitation, temperature, relative humidity and wind velocity were associated with mumps, and there were significant lag effects. The ARIMAX model could accurately predict mumps in the short term, and the prediction errors (MAE, RMSE) were lower than those of the ARIMA model. (4) Conclusions: Meteorological factors can affect the occurrence of mumps, and the ARIMAX model can effectively predict the incidence trend of mumps in Chongqing, which can provide an early warning for relevant departments.
Hematologic System Dysregulation in Critically Ill Septic Patients with Anemia—A Retrospective Cohort Study
Authors: Czempik Piotr F. , Herzyk Jan , Wilczek Dawid , Krzych Łukasz J.
Published: May 2022

Sepsis can affect various organs as well as the hematologic system. Systemic dysregulation, present in sepsis, affects particularly red blood cells (RBCs). One of the widely available RBC indices is RBC distribution width (RDW). Sepsis may also affect hemostasis, with septic patients presenting with coagulopathy or disseminated intravascular coagulation. The aim of our study was to analyze the impact of sepsis on RBC indices and coagulation parameters on admission to the intensive care unit (ICU) and their association with presence of sepsis and sepsis outcomes in anemic critically ill patients. We performed a retrospective observational study covering consecutive patients admitted to a 10-bed mixed ICU in the years 2020–2021. We found significant differences between septic and non-septic patients for the following parameters: RDW (p = 0.02), INR (p < 0.01), aPTT (p < 0.01), D-dimers (p < 0.01), fibrinogen (p = 0.02), platelets (p = 0.04). International normalized ratio was the only parameter with adequate sepsis predictive value (AUROC = 0.70; 95% CI 0.63–0.76; p < 0.01), with an optimal cut-off value of >1.21. Combination of INR with fibrinogen and a severity of disease score improved INR’s predictive value (AUROC 0.74–0.77). Combination of INR with a severity of disease score was an adequate ICU mortality predictor in septic patients (AUROC 0.70–0.75). Sepsis significantly affects RDW and most coagulation parameters. Increased INR can be used for sepsis screening, whereas combination of INR with a severity of disease score can be a predictor of short-term mortality in septic patients.
Projected Losses of Ecosystem Services Incurred by Reserve Resources of Cultivated Land Development and Development Priority: A Case Study of Linzhou City in Henan Province, China
Authors: Zhou Zhuoyi , Chen Tian , Li Ling , Wang Xiuli , Feng Xinwei , Lu Jie
Published: May 2022

The development of reserve resources of cultivated land (RRCL) is a vital way of supplementing cultivated land, and plays a crucial role in ensuring food security. However, if we blindly pursue the quantity of development while ignoring the conservation of the ecosystem, we are likely to waste land resources and destroy the ecological environment. Therefore, it is necessary to address the urgent issue of preventing ecological risks resulting from the development of RRCL and to enhance the actual effect of supplementing cultivated land. Taking Linzhou City in Henan Province as an example, this paper first assessed the tillability of RRCL and estimated the functionality of ecosystem services. Then it projected the losses of ecosystem services incurred by RRCL development, based on which it determined the development priority. The following conclusions were drawn: (1) The total area of RRCL in Linzhou City amounts to 8845 hectares. (2) According to the research forecast, the total annual losses of ecosystem services incurred by RRCL development in Linzhou City include: water conservation of 776,200 m3, soil retention of 340.84 t, and carbon sequestration and oxygen release of 2311.12 t. Moreover, the total value of losses amounts to RMB 15.7754 million. (3) The ecological losses incurred by RRCL development vary with the different types of land. Overall, the ecological loss derived from reclaimable land is inferior to that of cultivable land, with the average value of ecological loss amounting to RMB 600 and RMB 5300 per hectare, respectively. The ecological loss from the development of class II land is: pond < garden land < artificial grassland < artificial forest land < natural grassland < bare land. Moreover, land development should be postponed when the quantity of ecological losses reaches level III or higher. (4) Corrections are made based on the ecological coefficient of the economic potential of RRCL development so as to determine the priority of development. The research findings indicate that the priority of development of eastern towns is higher than that of central and western towns in Linzhou City, with Donggang and Hengshui topping the priority list and Shibanyan, Lingyang, and Chengguan having the lowest priority.
Ischemic Preconditioning Improves Handgrip Strength and Functional Capacity in Active Elderly Women
Authors: Telles Luiz Guilherme da Silva , Billaut François , Cunha Gélio , Ribeiro Aline de Souza , Monteiro Estêvão Rios , Barreto Ana Cristina , Leitão Luís , Panza Patrícia , Vianna Jeferson Macedo , Novaes Jefferson da Silva
Published: May 2022

Background: Aging decreases some capacities in older adults, sarcopenia being one of the common processes that occur and that interfered with strength capacity. The present study aimed to verify the acute effect of IPC on isometric handgrip strength and functional capacity in active elderly women. Methods: In a single-blind, placebo-controlled design, 16 active elderly women (68.1 ± 7.6 years) were randomly performed on three separate occasions a series of tests: (1) alone (control, CON); (2) after IPC (3 cycles of 5-min compression/5-min reperfusion at 15 mmHg above systolic blood pressure, IPC); and (3) after placebo compressions (SHAM). Testing included a handgrip isometric strength test (HIST) and three functional tests (FT): 30 s sit and stand up from a chair (30STS), get up and go time (TUG), and 6 min walk distance test (6MWT). Results: HIST significantly increased in IPC (29.3 ± 6.9 kgf) compared to CON (27.3 ± 7.1 kgf; 7.1% difference; p = 0.01), but not in SHAM (27.7 ± 7.9; 5.5%; p = 0.16). The 30STS increased in IPC (20.1 ± 4.1 repetitions) compared to SHAM (18.5 ± 3.5 repetitions; 8.7%; p = 0.01) and CON (18.5 ± 3.9 repetitions; 8.6%; p = 0.01). TUG was significantly lower in IPC (5.70 ± 1.35 s) compared to SHAM (6.14 ± 1.37 s; −7.2%; p = 0.01), but not CON (5.91 ± 1.45 s; −3.7%; p = 0.24). The 6MWT significantly increased in IPC (611.5 ± 93.8 m) compared to CON (546.1 ± 80.5 m; 12%; p = 0.02), but not in SHAM (598.7 ± 67.6 m; 2.1%; p = 0.85). Conclusions: These data suggest that IPC can promote acute improvements in handgrip strength and functional capacity in active elderly women.
The Positive Effects of Poria cocos Extract on Quality of Sleep in Insomnia Rat Models
Authors: Kim Hyeyun , Park Injune , Park Kyunyong , Park Seohyun , Kim Yeong , Park Byong-Gon
Published: May 2022

Sleep disorders may have various causes and can incur mental and/or physical symptoms, and affect an individual’s quality of life. In this study, we confirm that the Poria cocos extract (PCET) can improve sleep quality and structure by promoting inhibitory neurotransmission via the γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) type A (GABAA) receptors based on the mechanisms revealed in the experiment with superior cervical ganglion neurons. Pentobarbital-induced sleep tests were conducted in order to determine whether the PCET extract improves the sleep quality and structure in normal ICR mice. Sleep latency and duration were checked with the righting reflex. To simulate the state of awakening as well as a normal sleep state, caffeine was administered orally before the PCET diet. After oral gavage of PCET, sleep latency was decreased, and total sleep duration was increased in normal and caffeine-induced sleep disturbance state. In the ACTH-induced sleep disturbed models, administration of PCET significantly reduced the sleep latency and increased the non-REM sleep duration, which was analyzed in real-time EEG by implanting wireless electrodes in SD rats. PCET was found to improve the sleep quality under a normal sleep state through the GABAA receptor; it also promoted and improved the sleep quality and sleep structure in both the arousal activation state and stress-based sleep disturbance.
Plasma-Activated Water for Food Safety and Quality: A Review of Recent Developments
Authors: Rahman Mizanur , Hasan Md. Shariful , Islam Raihanul , Rana Rahmatuzzaman , Sayem ASM , Sad Md. Abdullah As , Matin Abdul , Raposo António , Zandonadi Renata Puppin , Han Heesup , Ariza-Montes Antonio , Vega-Muñoz Alejandro , Sunny Atiqur Rahman
Published: May 2022

Plasma-activated water (PAW) has received a lot of attention lately because of its antibacterial efficacy and eco-friendly nature. Compared to traditional disinfectants, this novel and intriguing option has a high disinfectant capacity while causing little to no modifications to the foodstuffs. Until now, PAW has successfully demonstrated its effectiveness against a broad range of microorganisms on a wide variety of food items. Though the efficacy of PAW in microbial reduction has been extensively reviewed, a relatively significant issue of food quality has been largely overlooked. This review aims to summarize the current studies on the physicochemical characteristics and antimicrobial potential of PAW, with an in-depth focus on food quality and safety. According to recent studies, PAW can be a potential microbial disinfectant that extends the shelf life of various food products, such as meat and fish products, fruits and vegetables, cereal products, etc. However, the efficacy varies with treatment conditions and the food ingredients applied. There is a mixed opinion about the effect of PAW on food quality. Based on the available literature, it can be concluded that there has been no substantial change in the biochemical properties of most of the tested food products. However, some fruits and vegetables had a higher value for the enzyme superoxide dismutase (SOD) after PAW treatment, while only a few demonstrated a decrease in the Thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) value. Sensory properties also showed no significant difference, with some exceptions in meat and fish products.
Do Physical Activity, BMI, and Wellbeing Affect Logical Thinking?
Authors: Skurvydas Albertas , Lisinskiene Ausra , Majauskiene Daiva , Valanciene Dovile , Dadeliene Ruta , Fatkulina Natalja , Sarkauskiene Asta
Published: May 2022

We studied 6368 people (4544 women and 1824 men; aged 18–74 years). The research goal was to determine whether the Cognitive Reflection Test score (logical thinking compared with intuitive thinking) depends—and in what way it depends—on the healthy lifestyle components and emotional health-related components as well as age (18–74 years) and gender. We established that analytical vs. intuitive thinking depended on components of a healthy lifestyle, physical activity, sleep, eating habits, smoking and alcohol consumption, specificity of sporting activity, body mass index, and emotional health-related components (stress, depression, impulsivity, subjective health, emotional intelligence), as well as age and gender. We found that logical thinking was not associated with sleep, moderate-to-vigorous PA, impulsivity, subjective health, and components of a healthy lifestyle. However, logical thinking decreases with age, gender (higher in men than in women), BMI (decreases in both genders over the second degree of obesity), depression (the more severe depression in women, the worse their logical thinking), sedentary behavior (people who sat for longer periods had more difficulty solving problems), and in professional sportswomen (logical thinking is worse in professional sportswomen than in sedentary women, amateur sportswomen, or women who use gyms). Finally, we determined inverse correlations between logical thinking, emotional intelligence, and stress.
Effects of Team-Based Learning on Students’ Teamwork, Learning Attitude, and Health Care Competence for Older People in the Community to Achieve SDG-3
Authors: Yang Shang-Yu , Liu Cheng , Hsieh Pei-Lun
Published: May 2022

Background: Team-based learning (TBL) was studied in several preclinical settings, but evidence for its effectiveness in community nursing education is scant. A community health care nursing course was developed, and nursing students engaged in TBL to achieve Sustainable Development Goal 3. Purpose: This study aimed to examine the effect of TBL model integration on students’ learning attitude, community understanding, and community care competence for achieving SDG 3 and determine the extent to which the TBL model altered students’ nursing competence for providing community health care. We compared the effect of TBL and traditional learning (TL) in terms of community health care knowledge objectives. Methods: TBL was employed as the teaching strategy to guide students’ discussion of community care issues, allowing them to fully utilize the knowledge acquired in their community practice. We used an unblinded crossover design, and 99 students participated in the community health nursing course. Results: The results demonstrated that TBL improved participants’ community understanding and enhanced their skills for assessing and fulfilling community needs. The experimental and control groups differed significantly in their TBL performance, learning attitude, and nursing competencies. The performance of those who engaged in TBL was higher than that of those who engaged in TL on all community issues. TBL appears to be a more effective method than TL in terms of achieving nursing students’ knowledge objectives. Conclusions: Regarding practical application, the proposed intervention enables nursing students to acquire professional knowledge related to community aging health care and nursing skills, and establish partnerships with community residents. This facilitates the achievement of the United Nations’ sustainable development goal of ensuring healthy living and promoting well-being at all ages.
The Study of Alternative Fire Commanders’ Training Program during the COVID-19 Pandemic Situation in New Taipei City, Taiwan
Authors: Lee Sheng-Chieh , Lin Ching-Yuan , Chuang Ying-Ji
Published: May 2022

In Taiwan, firefighters are responsible for transporting confirmed coronavirus cases to hospitals or epidemic prevention hotels. During the epidemic, in order to reduce the chance of cross-infection between the general public and the fire brigade, traditional collective mobilization training was limited. As a solution, this study combines a fire command course (C1) and a VR simulation for training fire station captains (VRST) and then applies the pre- and post-test evaluation approaches and the after-class questionnaire to summarize the learning effectiveness. The results show that, from a total of 244 captains that were trained, the after-training scores are significantly better when compared with the scores before training (p < 0.05, Cohen’s d > 0.8). Additionally, the post-test scores collected during the epidemic (n = 158) have no significant difference compared to the ones taken before the outbreak (2019, n = 86) in terms of sizing up, decision making, and safety management. The training results are still improving. The after-class questionnaire showed that most trainees believed that VRST helped to improve their confidence as incident commanders (ICs) (mean = 4.63, top box = 66.98%), with the novice and suburban groups exhibiting more significant improvements in command ability after the training. After the pandemic, VRST can continue as a regular training method for ICs. Because of the intervention of VRST, the differences in the command experience between different IC groups can be compensated for.
Effect of Judo Athletes’ Psychological Function on Sports Coping Skills: Moderated Mediating Effect of Tension
Authors: Kim Hye-Young , Chung Eun-Jung , Kim Sang-Woo , Lee Byoung-Hee
Published: May 2022

This study aimed to investigate the effects of Judo athletes’ psychological function on sports coping skills through self-management: the moderated mediating effect of tension. A total of 124 participants (66 males and 58 females) were included, comprising high school students, college students, and judo team players (age 16 to 30, 20.51 ± 3.17) in the Republic of Korea. The psychological function was measured using the Profile of Mood Test, Athletes’ Self-Management Questionnaire, and Athletic Coping Skills Inventory-28. The results of the analysis of the moderating effect of the athlete’s self-management behavior showed that tension had a moderating effect on the relationship between the athlete’s self-management behavior and sports coping skills. The mediating effect analysis revealed a mediating effect of self-management behavior on the relationship between player vitality and sports coping skills. It was also confirmed that tension had a moderating effect on athletes’ self-management behavior and sports coping skills. Therefore, it was confirmed that the higher the self-management, the more moderated the mediating effect on sports coping skills. In conclusion, it was confirmed that psychological function affects sports coping skills, and thereby, the mediating effect of the athlete’s self-management behavior is regulated by tension. In future research, it will be necessary to study the sports coping ability and performance of judo athletes according to tension control.