bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A Recognition Method of Truck Drivers’ Braking Patterns Based on FCM-LDA2vec
Authors: Xi Jianfeng , Zhao Yunhe , Li Zhiqiang , Jiang Yizhou , Feng Wenwen , Ding Tongqiang
Published: November 2022

Taking truck drivers’ braking patterns as the research objects, this study used a large amount of truck running data. A recognition method of truck drivers’ braking patterns was proposed to determine the distribution of braking patterns during the operation of trucks. First, the segmented data of braking behaviors were collected in order to extract 25 characteristic parameters. Additionally, seven main correlation factors were obtained by dimensionality reduction. The FCM clustering algorithm and CH scores were used to identify nine categories of truck drivers’ braking behaviors. Then the LDA2vec model was used to identify the distribution of different braking behavior words in braking patterns, and three categories of truck drivers’ braking patterns were identified. The test results showed that the accuracy of the truck drivers’ braking pattern recognition model based on LDA2vec was higher than 85%, and braking patterns of drivers in the daily operation process could be mined from vehicle operation data. Furthermore, through the monitoring and pre-warning of the braking patterns and targeted training of drivers, traffic accidents could be avoided. At the same time, this paper’s results can be used to protect human life and health and reduce environmental pollution caused by traffic congestion or traffic accidents.
Understanding Healthcare Professionals’ Knowledge on Perinatal Depression among Women in a Tertiary Hospital in Ghana: A Qualitative Study
Authors: Asare Sandra Fremah , Rodriguez-Muñoz Maria F.
Published: November 2022

Health conditions affecting women in the perinatal period still account for a major contribution to disease burden in Sub-Saharan Africa, yet there is a dearth of empirical research to understanding health professionals’ perspective on their experiences and how they care for perinatal women in depression. We used a qualitative exploratory descriptive approach through a face- to face-interview to explore the knowledge of 11 health professionals of Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, Kumasi- Ghana. Interviews were taped recorded and transcribed verbatim. The study adopted Haase’s modification of Colaizzi’s method for the analysis. Four main themes emerged: ineffective communication (Referral lapses among care providers, long waiting time, lack of confidentiality), workload (Inefficient staff to meet perinatal women’s need, no screening tools and time constraints), Reaction to patients symptoms (Identifying patient’s symptoms, assessment through patient’s centeredness and Education and counselling). Our results emerged that time constraints, stigmatization and lack of awareness delayed the care and management of perinatal depression among healthcare professionals in the hospital setting. There is the need to improve healthcare professionals’ knowledge on perinatal depression and it is imperative for the hospital administrators to invest in continuous training and professional development for healthcare professionals.
Computed Tomography Angiography Markers and Intraluminal Thrombus Morphology as Predictors of Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Rupture
Authors: Arbănași Emil Marian , Mureșan Adrian Vasile , Coșarcă Cătălin Mircea , Arbănași Eliza Mihaela , Niculescu Raluca , Voidăzan Septimiu Toader , Ivănescu Adrian Dumitru , Hălmaciu Ioana , Filep Rareș Cristian , Mărginean Lucian , Suzuki Shuko , Chirilă Traian V. , Kaller Réka , Russu Eliza
Published: November 2022

Background: Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is a complex vascular disease characterized by progressive and irreversible local dilatation of the aortic wall. Currently, the indication for repair is linked to the transverse diameter of the abdominal aorta, using computed tomography angiography imagery, which is one of the most used markers for aneurysmal growth. This study aims to verify the predictive role of imaging markers and underlying risk factors in AAA rupture. Methods: The present study was designed as an observational, analytical, retrospective cohort study and included 220 patients over 18 years of age with a diagnosis of AAA, confirmed by computed tomography angiography (CTA), admitted to Vascular Surgery Clinic of Mures County Emergency Hospital in Targu Mures, Romania, between January 2018 and September 2022. Results: Patients with a ruptured AAA had higher incidences of AH (p = 0.006), IHD (p = 0.001), AF (p < 0.0001), and MI (p < 0.0001), and higher incidences of all risk factors (tobacco (p = 0.001), obesity (p = 0.02), and dyslipidemia (p < 0.0001)). Multivariate analysis showed that a high baseline value of all imaging ratios markers was a strong independent predictor of AAA rupture (for all p < 0.0001). Moreover, a higher baseline value of DAmax (OR:3.91; p = 0.001), SAmax (OR:7.21; p < 0.001), and SLumenmax (OR:34.61; p < 0.001), as well as lower baseline values of DArenal (OR:7.09; p < 0.001), DACT (OR:12.71; p < 0.001), DAfemoral (OR:2.56; p = 0.005), SArenal (OR:4.56; p < 0.001), SACT (OR:3.81; p < 0.001), and SThrombusmax (OR:5.27; p < 0.001) were independent predictors of AAA rupture. In addition, AH (OR:3.33; p = 0.02), MI (OR:3.06; p = 0.002), and PAD (OR:2.71; p = 0.004) were all independent predictors of AAA rupture. In contrast, higher baseline values of SAmax/Lumenmax (OR:0.13; p < 0.001) and ezetimibe (OR:0.45; p = 0.03) were protective factors against AAA rupture. Conclusions: According to our findings, a higher baseline value of all imaging markers ratios at CTA strongly predicts AAA rupture and AH, MI, and PAD highly predicted the risk of rupture in AAA patients. Furthermore, the diameter of the abdominal aorta at different levels has better accuracy and a higher predictive role of rupture than the maximal diameter of AAA.
Comparing the activPAL CREA and GHLA Algorithms for the Classification of Postures and Activity in Free-Living Children
Authors: Buchan Duncan S. , Ugbolue Ukadike C.
Published: November 2022

The activPAL accelerometer has been used extensively in research to assess sedentary behaviour (SB) and physical activity (PA) outcomes. The aim of this study was to assess the comparability of PA and SB outcomes from two automated algorithms (CREA and GHLA) applied to the activPAL accelerometer. One hundred and twenty participants aged 8–12 years wore an activPAL accelerometer on their right thigh continuously for seven days on two occasions, providing valid data from 1058 days. The PALbatch software downloaded the data after applying the CREA and GHLA (latest) algorithms. The comparability of the algorithms were assessed using the mean absolute percent error (MAPE), intra-class correlation coefficients (ICC), and equivalence testing. Comparisons for daily wear time, primary lying, sitting and standing time, sedentary and stepping time, upright time, total number of steps, sit–stand transitions and stepping time ≤ 1 min revealed mainly small MAPE (≤2%), excellent ICCs (lower bound 95% CI ≥ 0.97), and equivalent outcomes. Time spent in sitting bouts > 60 min and stepping bouts > 5 min were not equivalent with the absolute zone needed to reach equivalence (≥7%). Comparable outcomes were provided for wear time and postural outcomes using the CREA or GHLA algorithms, but not for time spent in sitting bouts > 60 min and stepping bouts > 5 min.
Trade Flow Optimization Model for Plastic Pollution Reduction
Authors: Li Daming , Liu Canyao , Shi Yu , Song Jiaming , Zhang Yiliang
Published: November 2022

Managing plastic waste from an international perspective is complex, with many countries in the trade network playing distinct roles at different stages of the life-cycle of plastics. Trade flows are therefore the key to understanding global plastic market and its supply chains. In this paper, we formulate an optimization problem from the perspective of reducing global ocean plastic pollution, and create a novel framework based on a network flow model to identify the optimal international trade flows over the life-cycle of plastics. Our model quantifies global flows of production, consumption, and trade across the life-cycle of plastics from raw inputs and subsequent plastic products to its final stage as waste. Using panel data on plastic consumption, waste, and production, we compare the trade flows in reality and the optimal trade flows determined by our model and find that the two are highly correlated. We highlight the policy implications based on our model: increasing trade capacity and improving recycle rates in developing countries.
Influence of the Cognitive and Emotional Status of Patients with Chronic Pain on Treatment Success (Reduction in Pain Intensity and Adherence to Pharmacotherapy): A Prospective Study
Authors: Hnatešen Dijana , Radoš Ivan , Dimitrijević Iva , Budrovac Dino , Omrčen Ivan , Pavić Roman , Gusar Ivana , Čebohin Maja , Šolić Krešimir
Published: November 2022

This prospective study aimed to determine the cognitive and emotional status among patients with chronic pain and to examine the potential influence on the treatment success, measured by the reduction in pain intensity and adherence to pharmacotherapy. A total of seventy patients were followed for two months. The results of the comparison between patients who did and did not follow the physician’s instructions regarding adherence to pharmacotherapy showed a significant difference in cognitive status and a reduction in pain intensity. Patients who followed the physician’s instructions on taking analgesics had significantly higher scores on the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) of cognitive status and a substantially higher reduction in pain intensity. Scores on the MoCA test provide statistically significant indications regarding patients’ decision to follow instructions regarding adherence to pharmacotherapy. Scores on the MoCA test, anxiety, age, and pain intensity (measured with a numeric rating scale—NRS) on admission were identified as potential predictors for the reduction in pain intensity. The linear regression model was statistically significant (χ2 = 40.0, p < 0.001), explained between 43.5% and 61.1% of variance regarding the reduction in pain intensity. The findings of this study show that cognitive status, measured with MoCA, and emotional status, measured with the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale (DASS-21), significantly influence the reduction in pain intensity and adherence to pharmacotherapy. The results suggest that cognitive and emotional status may be potential predictors of treatment success. This finding points to the importance of a biopsychosocial approach in the treatment of chronic pain, where an important emphasis can be placed on the psychosocial determinants of pain.
Leadership Development: Exploring Relational Leadership Implications in Healthcare Organizations
Authors: Maritsa Evangelia , Goula Aspasia , Psychogios Alexandros , Pierrakos Georgios
Published: November 2022

(1) Background: Relational Leadership Theory (RLT) has been gaining rising attention for the past 20 years with studies investigating multiple implications and practices of relationships within organizations. Yet, less attention has been given in healthcare settings. By virtue of the emerging need to move beyond exploring the quality of relationships and to move towards the exploitation of relational dynamics that influence leadership development in healthcare organizations, this study explores both the dyad relationships and the context in which those occur. With recent attention directed to the implementation of human-centered practices and the creation of effective networks to bring desired results, RLT is called on to advance this agenda within healthcare organizations. (2) Material and Methods: Research articles that examined leadership theories over the past thirty years were selected from computerized databases and manual searches. (3) Results: It is argued that the way and context in which relationships are formed between leaders and members is a social process that, in turn, shapes the effectiveness of the management of those organizations. Leadership is not rank—it is the relationship with the relational dynamics that play in the same context, creating evolutionary organizational processes. (4) Conclusions: This paper challenges leadership theory one step further. Exploring an organization through relational leadership theory is much like wearing the lens of ‘cause and effect’ in leadership behavioral studies. Therefore, this study contributes to this direction with a robust co-examination of relational dynamics that take place in the healthcare sector, showcasing a broader framework in which relational leadership is germinated and influences its outcomes.
The Relationship between Role Ambiguity and Workers’ Creativity during the COVID-19 Pandemic in China
Authors: Zhang Jing , Hong Yidan , Smith Andrew P.
Published: November 2022

Job role ambiguity is becoming more and more common due to the increase in telecommuting caused by the COVID-19 epidemic. In order to understand the internal mechanism of the association between role ambiguity and creativity, this study examined it in the context of the Demands–Resources–Individual Effects (DRIVE) model. Participants were employees from all walks of life in mainland China, with a total of 437 valid data. The results showed that role ambiguity had no significant direct effect on creativity but exerted a negative effect on creativity through the chain mediating effect of affective rumination and perceived stress. A good relationship with a supervisor helped employees reduce their affective rumination when faced with the pressure of role ambiguity. The results show that how employees perceive role ambiguity plays an essential role in determining the potency of the after-effect of role ambiguity. Resources from supervisors can help reduce the negative perception of ambiguous roles.
Substance Use Stigma and Community Drug Checking: A Qualitative Study Examining Barriers and Possible Responses
Authors: Davis Samantha , Wallace Bruce , Van Roode Thea , Hore Dennis
Published: November 2022

Background: Community drug checking is an emerging response to the overdose crisis. However, stigma has been identified as a potential barrier to service use that requires investigation. Methods: A qualitative study explored how best to implement drug checking services to the wider population including those at risk of overdose. A secondary analysis of 26 interviews with potential service users examine how stigma may be a barrier to service use and strategies to address this. A Substance Use Stigma Framework was developed to guide analysis. Results: Drug checking is operating in a context of structural stigma produced by criminalization. People fear criminal repercussions, anticipate stigma when accessing services, and internalize stigma resulting in shame and avoidance of services. A perceived hierarchy of substance use creates stigma results in stigma between service users and avoidance of sites associated with certain drugs. Participants frequently recommended drug checking to be located in more public spaces that still maintain privacy. Conclusions: Criminalization and societal views on substance use can deter service use. Strategies to mitigate stigma include employment of people with lived and living experience from diverse backgrounds; public yet private locations that preserve anonymity; and normalization of drug checking while decriminalization could address the root causes of stigma.
The Indirect Role of Passive-Avoidant and Transformational Leadership through Job and Team Level Stressors on Workplace Cyberbullying
Authors: Czakert Jan Philipp , Berger Rita
Published: November 2022

Research on workplace cyberbullying (WCB) is still scarce and needs verification. This study addressed the indirect influence of positive and negative leadership on WCB via perceived role stressors and negative team climate. The main goal is to test the applicability of the work environment hypothesis and job demands–resources model for WCB on a cross-sectional sample of n = 583 workers in Germany (n = 334) and Spain (n = 249). We tested multiple mediation models, and findings revealed that negative (passive-avoidant) leadership increased role and team stressors and thereby WCB exposure, whereas positive (transformational) leadership decreased the same stressors and thereby reduced WCB exposure. No cross-cultural differences were found, indicating portability of the results. This study highlights the explanatory factors for WCB at individual and team level and emphasizes the role of managers as shapers of the work environmental antecedents of WCB in the emergent digitalized working world. Theoretical implications and future research avenues are discussed.
Evaluation of the Effectiveness of Telemedicine Visits in a Pediatric Gastroenterology Service in the Context of COVID-19
Authors: Adroher Mas Cristina , Calvo Aroca Celia , Casadevall Llandrich Ricard , López Seguí Francesc , Martin Carpi Javier , García-Cuyàs Francesc
Published: November 2022

Background: During the first months of COVID-19, the Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition service of the Hospital Sant Joan de Déu in Barcelona, a leading pediatric center in Spain, introduced a new model of non-face-to-face care. Objective: To evaluate the impact of telephone consultations compared to those conducted face-to-face on healthcare utilization. Methodology: Two main indicators of effectiveness are used: the degree of resolution (percentage of first telemedicine visits that did not generate any new visits in the following 4 and 12 months) and the average number of subsequent visits. A distinction was made between visits for general pathologies (less complex) and those for pathologies treated in monographic consultations (chronic or complex pathologies). Effectiveness at 4 and 12 months was also compared. Results: After 4 months from the first visit, the degree of resolution is lower in the first telemedicine visits than in face-to-face visits for both general pathologies and those of monographic agendas for chronic and complex pathologies. After twelve months, the first general telemedicine visits are less resolute than face-to-face visits, while the resolution rate is the same for chronic and complex pathology visits. Each telemedicine visit generates on average more visits than face-to-face visits. In the short term, 133.4% more in the case of general visits and 51.4% more in the case of chronic and complex visits. In the long term, general telemedicine visits generate 57.31% more visits, while no statistically significant difference is observed between chronic and complex face-to-face and telemedicine visits. Conclusion: The results of this study show that the resolution capacity of the non-face-to-face model in pediatric care in the pandemic context is generally lower and generates more successive visits than the face-to-face model. This lower performance of the telemedicine model should be counterbalanced with its advantages.
COVID-19 Lockdown: Impact on Oral Health-Related Behaviors and Practices of Portuguese and Spanish Children
Authors: Costa Ana L. , Pereira Joana L. , Franco Lara , Guinot Francisco
Published: November 2022

This study aimed to assess and compare the impact of COVID-19 pandemic lockdowns on the oral health attitudes, dietary habits and access to dental care of Portuguese and Spanish children. A cross-sectional observational study involving caregivers of 3–17-year-old children who had cohabited during a COVID-19 pandemic lockdown in Spain and Portugal was conducted. Caregivers completed an online anonymous questionnaire. Aiming groups comparison, chi-square test was used for qualitative variables. 770 surveys were obtained. Significant changes in the children’s routine were higher in Portugal (p < 0.001). Both countries showed a large percentage of children who had between 2–3 snacks between meals (p < 0.001) and a higher consumption of snacks was particularly noticed among Spanish children with untreated dental caries during the lockdown (p = 0.003). Most caregivers reported children’s oral hygiene habits did not suffer noteworthy alterations (p = 0.417), although parental supervision of toothbrushing was associated with dental attendance during the lockdown. The majority of the sample had no dental attendance during confinement. Confinement appears to have not markedly affected the oral health status and habits of the majority of these children, although an important impact of some demographic and behavioral factors upon dietary and oral care/habits was detected.
Potential Health Risks of Lead Exposure from Early Life through Later Life: Implications for Public Health Education
Authors: Olufemi Adejoke Christianah , Mji Andile , Mukhola Murembiwa Stanley
Published: November 2022

Lead (Pb) exposure has been a serious environmental and public health problem throughout the world over the years. The major sources of lead in the past were paint and gasoline before they were phased out due to its toxicity. Meanwhile, people continue to be exposed to lead from time to time through many other sources such as water, food, soil and air. Lead exposure from these sources could have detrimental effects on human health, especially in children. UNICEF reported that approximately 800 million children have blood lead levels (BLLs) at or above 5 micrograms per deciliter (µg/dL) globally. This paper reports on the potential risks of lead exposure from early life through later life. The articles used in this study were searched from databases such as Springer, Science Direct, Hindawi, MDPI, Google Scholar, PubMed and other academic databases. The levels of lead exposure in low income and middle-income countries (LMICs) and high-income countries (HICs) were reported, with the former being more affected. The intake of certain nutrients could play an essential role in reducing (e.g., calcium and iron) or increasing (e.g., high fat foods) lead absorption in children. Elevated blood lead levels may disturb the cells’ biological metabolism by replacing beneficial ions in the body such as calcium, magnesium, iron and sodium. Once these ions are replaced by lead, they can lead to brain disorders, resulting in reduced IQ, learning difficulties, reduced attention span and some behavioral problems. Exposure to lead at an early age may lead to the development of more critical problems later in life. This is because exposure to this metal can be harmful even at low exposure levels and may have a lasting and irreversible effect on humans. Precautionary measures should be put in place to prevent future exposure. These will go a long way in safeguarding the health of everyone, most especially the young ones.
Status, Trend, and Prospect of Global Farmland Abandonment Research: A Bibliometric Analysis
Authors: Liu Bo , Song Wei , Sun Qian
Published: November 2022

Farmland abandonment is one of the most important land use changes in the world today and crucial to the sustainable development of the global environment. The authors carried out extensive research on farmland abandonment from many perspectives, but, due to the variety of the research contents, rich research perspectives, and complex research objects, the current research in this field lacks comprehensiveness, objectivity, and systematization. In this study, the bibliometric R software packages bibliometrix and biblioshiny (K-Synth Srl, Naples, Italy) were used to analyze the development history and current situation of 896 articles on farmland abandonment in the Web of Science core collection database from 1980 to 2021, revealing their research hotspots and predicting the future development trends. Over the past 40 years, the number of published papers on abandoned farmland has continuously increased. Research mainly focused on the ecological environment, with natural succession, biodiversity, and vegetation restoration being high-frequency keywords in this field. Research on the social aspects of farmland abandonment has developed rapidly in the past 6 years. Based on these findings, this paper put forward four future research directions: the data source for the extraction of abandoned farmland should transform to high spatial-temporal resolution and hyperspectral remote sensing images; the method should pay more attention to the time series change detection and the application of the model; future research should focus on the economic costs of the reclamation of abandoned farmland and the ecological consequences of such reclamation; and the global ecological impact of vegetation succession after the abandonment of farmland should be further discussed from a broader perspective.
Combined Training with Aerobic Exercise Performed Outdoors Can Promote Better Blood Pressure and Affective Responses in Individuals with Cardiovascular Risk Factors
Authors: De Moraes Janara Antunes , De Barcelos Guilherme Tadeu , Coneglian Juliana Cavestré , Do Espírito Santo Bárbara Carlin de Ramos , Delevatti Rodrigo Sudatti , Gerage Aline Mendes
Published: November 2022

The purpose of the study was to compare the effects of two models of combined training (CT) (aerobic and resistance exercise realized in the same training session), with aerobic training performed in different environments (indoor or outdoor), on blood pressure (BP), heart rate (HR), and affective response in individuals with cardiovascular risk factors. Twenty-six participants were allocated, in a non-randomized design, into CT with aerobic exercise performed indoors (ICT) or outdoors (OCT). Both groups were submitted to three weekly CT sessions, with aerobic exercises performed on ergometers or an athletics track. Before and after nine weeks of training, BP and HR at rest were measured. In the last session of the training, the affective response was collected. The individuals were 65.8 ± 7.8 (ICT) and 67.3 ± 8.2 (OCT) years. Lower values of diastolic BP were observed for the OCT group at post-training (p < 0.001). Moreover, in OCT, a significant inverse correlation was identified between the affective response to training and changes in systolic BP (r = −0.60; p = 0.03) and mean BP (r = −0.62; p = 0.02). In conclusion, CT, with aerobic exercise performed outdoors, seems to be more effective in reducing BP with better affective responses to training.
Abdominal Wall Block Decreases Intraoperative Opioid Con-Sumption by Surgical Pleth Index-Guided Remifentanil Administration in Single-Port Laparoscopic Herniorrhaphy: A Prospective Randomized Controlled Trial
Authors: Kim Eung Don , Lee Youngin , Choi Segyu , Lee Hyein , Ohn Chaeryeon , Kwon Woojin
Published: November 2022

Abdominal wall blocks (AWBs) can reduce pain during surgery and lessen opioid demand. Since it is difficult to know the exact level of intraoperative pain, it is not known how much the opioid dose should be reduced. In this study, using the surgical pleth index (SPI), which indicates pain index from sympathetic fibers, the amount of remifentanil consumption was investigated. We conducted single-port laparoscopic hernia repair in 64 patients, as follows: the regional block group (R group) was treated with AWB, while the control group (C group) was only subjected to general anesthesia. In both groups, the remifentanil concentration was adjusted to maintain the SPI score between 30 and 40 during surgery. The primary parameter was the amount of remifentanil. A total of 52 patients completed the study (24 in the R group, 28 in the C group). The remifentanil dose during surgery was decreased in the R group (29 ± 21 vs. 56 ± 36 ng/kg/min; p = 0.002). Visual analogue scale score and additional administrated analgesics were also low in the R group. As such, AWB can reduce the remifentanil dose while maintaining the same pain level.
Measuring Pro-Environmental Behavior Triggered by Environmental Values
Authors: Ahmat Zainuri Nuryazmin , Abd-Rahman Norshariani , Halim Lilia , Chan Mee Yeang , Mohd Bazari Nisa Nadirah
Published: November 2022

Pro-environmental behavior in addressing climate change is influenced by multi-dimensional factors—knowledge, values, intention and sociodemographic background. Correlational studies between environmental values and environmental behaviors have not been able to determine values or behaviors that need to be given priority in future interventions. Therefore, this study firstly determined the environmental values and pro-environmental behavior that are easy or difficult to embrace by 152 respondents with low socioeconomic background. Secondly, we identified the extent pro-environmental behavior is triggered by environmental values. This survey study employs the Rasch analysis model. The respondents had difficulty in associating themselves with biospheric values however readily demonstrated consideration toward altruistic values, especially related to concerns for future generations. In terms of environmental conservation behavior, the respondents were not willing to relinquish comfort easily, such as giving up self-driving and taking public transportation or reducing usage of electricity. In addition, adults of low socioeconomic background find it difficult to endorse statements such as getting involved in campaigns related to environmental conservation. Thus, younger family members must be educated about conservation behaviors such as environmental campaigns commonly offered at schools, and these youngsters can be encouraged to extend their role by educating their parents.
Promoting Strategies for Healthy Environments in University Halls of Residence under Regular Epidemic Prevention and Control: An Importance—Performance Analysis from Zhejiang, China
Authors: Zhao Yulu , Xu Xinye , Cai Gangwei , Hu Zhetao , Hong Yan
Published: November 2022

In the post-epidemic era, regular epidemic prevention and control is a daunting and ongoing task for nations all around the world. University halls of residence have been important spaces where university students balance their studies, work, and personal lives after COVID-19. Therefore, a healthy physical living environment deserves more attention. This paper compares situations before and after COVID-19 in an effort to evaluate the impact of indoor environments in university halls of residence on students. The study proposed eight vital dimensions for creating a healthy university hall of residence environment and, from 14 September to 4 October 2022, used an online questionnaire to collect data from 301 university students studying in Zhejiang, China. The key quality of service characteristics for fostering a healthy environment in university halls of residence were discovered using descriptive statistical analysis and revised importance–performance analysis (IPA). We found that an improved indoor physical environment and efficient arrangement of indoor space were crucial for the health of university students. The quality of educational services could be improved, and indoor exercise should be utilized effectively, both of which can contribute significantly to a healthy indoor environment. This study aims to contribute to the development of future initiatives to support healthy physical living environments in university halls of residence.
Tooth Loss, Cognitive Impairment and Fall Risk: A Cross-Sectional Study of Older Adults in Rural Thailand
Authors: Turnbull Niruwan , Cherdsakul Pichayasuda , Chanaboon Sutin , Hughes David , Tudpor Kukiat
Published: November 2022

Tooth loss is associated with both cognitive impairment and fall risk. However, the relationships between these variables are complex and bidirectional. Observed associations have been reported in separate studies but data on rural-dwelling older adults remain sparse. This cross-sectional study investigated socioeconomic and dental factors affecting cognitive functions, and the association between tooth loss, cognitive functioning, and fall risk. Two hundred and thirty-one rural-dwelling older adults (60–74 years old) were recruited from a single Dental Service Unit. Cognitive function and fall risk were assessed with the Mini-Mental State Examination and the Morse Fall Scale, respectively. Oral examinations were performed by a dentist using the Community Periodontal Index of Treatment Needs form. 38.1%, had >16 tooth loss. Socioeconomic data and health status were obtained from a questionnaire and interviews. Age, Activities of Daily Living (ADL) score, and the number of teeth lost was significantly associated with impaired cognitive function. Chi-square analysis showed that cognitive function was also associated with fall risk. Past research suggests that much cognitive impairment and fall risk is induced by tooth loss. Service planners need to be aware of the complex bidirectional relationships between these variables and give higher priority to dental services that can improve the general health status and social functioning of older rural adults.
The Impact of Job Insecurity on Knowledge-Hiding Behavior: The Mediating Role of Organizational Identification and the Buffering Role of Coaching Leadership
Authors: Jeong Jeeyoon , Kim Byung-Jik , Kim Min-Jik
Published: November 2022

As the global economic situation deteriorates due to the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic, the business environment is plagued by uncertainty and risk. To address this, many organizations have sought to optimize efficiency, especially by downsizing and restructuring, to reduce costs. This causes anxiety among employees, who worry about whether they will be fired. We hypothesize that such job insecurity increases knowledge-hiding behavior by employees, and we investigate the mechanism underlying such a negative effect. In addition, we attempt to capture the boundary conditions of how to reduce the adverse effects of job insecurity, focusing on the role of coaching leadership. Using three-wave time-lagged cohort-study data from 346 Korean workers, we empirically found that employees who perceive job insecurity are less likely to feel organizational identification, leading to increased knowledge-hiding behavior. This study also demonstrated that coaching leadership operates as a boundary condition which buffers the negative influence of job insecurity on organizational identification. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed.
HIGEA: An Intelligent Conversational Agent to Detect Caregiver Burden
Authors: Castilla Eugenia , Escobar Juan José , Villalonga Claudia , Banos Oresti
Published: November 2022

Mental health disorders increasingly affect people worldwide. As a consequence, more families and relatives find themselves acting as caregivers. Most often, these are untrained people who experience loneliness, abandonment, and often develop signs of depression (i.e., caregiver burden syndrome). In this work, we present HIGEA, a digital system based on a conversational agent to help to detect caregiver burden. The conversational agent naturally embeds psychological test questions into informal conversations, which aim at increasing the adherence of use and avoiding user bias. A proof-of-concept is developed based on the popular Zarit Test, which is widely used to assess caregiver burden. Preliminary results show the system is useful and effective.
Early Detection and Control of the Next Epidemic Wave Using Health Communications: Development of an Artificial Intelligence-Based Tool and Its Validation on COVID-19 Data from the US
Authors: Lazebnik Teddy , Bunimovich-Mendrazitsky Svetlana , Ashkenazi Shai , Levner Eugene , Benis Arriel
Published: November 2022

Social media networks highly influence on a broad range of global social life, especially in the context of a pandemic. We developed a mathematical model with a computational tool, called EMIT (Epidemic and Media Impact Tool), to detect and control pandemic waves, using mainly topics of relevance on social media networks and pandemic spread. Using EMIT, we analyzed health-related communications on social media networks for early prediction, detection, and control of an outbreak. EMIT is an artificial intelligence-based tool supporting health communication and policy makers decisions. Thus, EMIT, based on historical data, social media trends and disease spread, offers an predictive estimation of the influence of public health interventions such as social media-based communication campaigns. We have validated the EMIT mathematical model on real world data combining COVID-19 pandemic data in the US and social media data from Twitter. EMIT demonstrated a high level of performance in predicting the next epidemiological wave (AUC = 0.909, F1 = 0.899).
Inhibitory Effect of Monoterpenoid Glycosides Extracts from Peony Seed Meal on Streptococcus suis LuxS/AI-2 Quorum Sensing System and Biofilm
Authors: Li Jinpeng , Shen Yamin , Zuo Jing , Gao Shuji , Wang Haikun , Wang Yuxin , Yi Li , Hou Xiaogai , Wang Yang
Published: November 2022

Streptococcus suis LuxS/AI-2 quorum sensing system regulates biofilm formation, resulting in increased pathogenicity and drug resistance, and diminished efficacy of antibiotic treatment. The remaining peony seed cake after oil extraction is rich in monoterpenoid glycosides, which can inhibit the formation of bacterial biofilm. In this study, we investigated the effect of seven major monocomponents (suffruticosol A, suffruticosol B, suffruticosol C, paeonifloin, albiflorin, trans-ε-viniferin, gnetin H) of peony seed meal on minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) of S. suis. The results showed that the MICs of the seven single components were all greater than 200 μg/mL, with no significant bacteriostatic and bactericidal advantages. Crystal violet staining and scanning electron microscope observation showed that the seven single components had a certain inhibitory effect on the biofilm formation ability of S. suis at sub-MIC concentration. Among them, the ability of paeoniflorin to inhibit biofilm was significantly higher than that of the other six single components. AI-2 signaling molecules were detected by bioreporter strain Vibrio harvey BB170. The detection results of AI-2 signal molecules found that at 1/2 MIC concentration, paeoniflorin significantly inhibited the production of S. suis AI-2 signal, and the inhibitory effect was better than that of the other six single components. In addition, molecular docking analysis revealed that paeoniflorin had a significant binding activity with LuxS protein compared with the other six single components. The present study provides evidence that paeoniflorin plays a key role in the regulation of the inhibition of S. suis LuxS/AI-2 system and biofilm formation in peony seed meal.
Adolescent Depression from a Developmental Perspective: The Importance of Recognizing Developmental Distress in Depressed Adolescents
Authors: Rikard-Bell Christopher , Hunt Caroline , McAulay Claire , Hay Phillipa , Morad Arshia , Cunich Michelle , Touyz Stephen
Published: November 2022

Objective: To make the case that developmental distress needs to be assessed when evaluating adolescent depression. Methods: Reviews of relevant papers relating to adolescent depression. Results: Adolescent depression is a common and costly health condition, confounded by a lack of consensus among health professionals regarding evidence-based approaches regarding treatments. Little attention has been paid to the contribution of developmental distress. Conclusion: The current adult-like model of adolescent depression fails to advance the understanding of adolescent depression. A systematic evidence-based approach to identifying developmental self-perception distress in depressed adolescents could provide important advances in treatment to improve short-term and longer-term mental health outcomes. This paper proposes the creation of a psychometric tool to systematically measure developmental self-perception distress in adolescents with depression.
Black Plastic Film Mulching Increases Soil Nitrous Oxide Emissions in Arid Potato Fields
Authors: Meng Chaobiao , Zhao Jianyu , Wang Ning , Yang Kaijing , Wang Fengxin
Published: November 2022

Black plastic film mulching is a common practice for potato production in the arid area of Northwest China. Many studies have reported the significant positive effect of black plastic film mulch on potato harvest, while the effect of black plastic film mulch treatment on soil nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions is still unclear. As a consequence, this study aimed to examine the effect of black plastic film mulch treatment on N2O emission from arid upland potato fields. With the static chamber-gas chromatography method, soil N2O emissions were measured. The results showed that black plastic film mulching treatment significantly increased cumulative soil N2O emissions by 21–26% compared with non-mulched treatment. Cumulative N2O emission positively correlated with soil temperature, soil moisture, soil CO2 concentration, and amoA-AOB abundance. This study indicated that black plastic film mulching, mainly through increasing soil temperature and soil moisture, increasing soil carbon dioxide (CO2) concentration, and promoting the abundance of nitrification-related functional gene of amoA-AOB, regulated N2O emissions. This study also highlighted that the specific soil environment under black plastic film mulch is conducive to N2O emissions and lay the foundation for settling the contradiction between food production and greenhouse gas mitigation in upland soils. The negative effects of black plastic film mulching on the environment should be considered in future applications in food production.
Associations between Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and Lifetime Experience of Car Crashes and Burns: A Cross-Sectional Study
Authors: Ford Kat , Hughes Karen , Cresswell Katie , Griffith Nel , Bellis Mark A.
Published: November 2022

Unintentional injury is a significant cause of disease burden and death. There are known inequalities in the experience of unintentional injuries; however, to date only a limited body of re-search has explored the relationship between exposure to adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and unintentional injury. Using a cross-sectional sample of the adult general public (n = 4783) in Wales (national) and England (Bolton Local Authority), we identify relationships between ACE exposure and experience of car crashes and burns requiring medical attention across the life course. Individuals who had experienced 4+ ACEs were at significantly increased odds of having ever had each outcome measured. Furthermore, compared to those with no ACEs, those with 4+ were around two times more likely to report having had multiple (i.e., 2+) car crashes and over four times more likely to report having had burns multiple times. Findings expand the evidence base for the association between ACEs and negative health consequences and emphasise the need for effective interventions to prevent ACEs and their impact on life course health and well-being. Such knowledge can also be used to develop a multifaceted approach to injury prevention.
ASEAN-5 Stock Price Index Valuation after COVID-19 Outbreak through GBM-MCS and VaR-SDPP Methods
Authors: Hersugondo Hersugondo , Widyarti Endang Tri , Maruddani Di Asih I , Trimono Trimono
Published: November 2022

In the economic globalization era, mainly since 2010, ASEAN countries’ financial and investment sectors have emerged to accelerate economic growth. The driving factor for the financial sector’s contribution is the public’s growing interest in financial asset investment products, of which the most chosen one in ASEAN is stocks. However, the COVID-19 pandemic at the end of 2019 affected the growth of stock investments, causing market conditions to be unstable. People held back their interest in investing in stocks because they thought this condition would bring significant losses. Therefore, in this study, the ASEAN-5 stock price index was evaluated to analyze the general stock price conditions for each stock market in the new standard era. The valuation included price predictions and risk of loss using the GBM-MCS and VaR-VC models. The results showed that the GBM-MCS model was more accurate than the GBM model because it had a more stable MAPE value. Referring to the VaR-VC value, the prediction of losses in the ASEAN topfive stock markets for 21–25 April 2022 ranged from 1% to 15%.
LAG3/CD4 Genes Variants and the Risk for Restless Legs Syndrome
Authors: Jiménez-Jiménez Félix Javier , Gómez-Tabales Javier , Alonso-Navarro Hortensia , Rodríguez Christopher , Turpín-Fenoll Laura , Millán-Pascual Jorge , Álvarez Ignacio , Pastor Pau , Calleja Marisol , García-Ruiz Rafael , Navarro-Muñoz Santiago , Recio-Bermejo Marta , Plaza-Nieto José Francisco , García-Albea Esteban , García-Martín Elena , Agúndez José A. G.
Published: November 2022

According to several studies, inflammatory factors could be related to the pathogenesis of idiopathic restless legs syndrome (RLS). In addition, RLS and Parkinson’s disease (PD) have shown a possible relationship, and recent studies have shown an association between CD4 rs1922452 and CD4 rs951818 single nucleotide variants (SNVs) and the risk for PD. For these reasons, we investigated the possible association between common variants in the LAG3/CD4 genes (which encoded proteins involved in inflammatory and autoimmune responses) and the risk for RLS in a Caucasian Spanish population. We assessed the frequencies of CD4 rs1922452, CD4 rs951818, and LAG3 rs870849 genotypes and allelic variants in 285 patients with idiopathic RLS and 350 healthy controls using a specific TaqMan-based qPCR assay. We also analyzed the possible influence of the genotypes’ frequencies on several variables, including age at onset of RLS, gender, family history of RLS, and response to drugs commonly used in the treatment of RLS. We found a lack of association between the frequencies of genotypes and allelic variants of the 3 SNVs studied and the risk of RLS, and a weak though significant association between the CD4 rs1922452 GG genotype and an older age at onset of RLS. With the exception of this association, our findings suggest that common SNVs in the CD4/LAG3 genes are not associated with the risk of developing idiopathic RLS in Caucasian Spanish people.
Electrostatic Interactions Are the Primary Determinant of the Binding Affinity of SARS-CoV-2 Spike RBD to ACE2: A Computational Case Study of Omicron Variants
Authors: Sang Peng , Chen Yong-Qin , Liu Meng-Ting , Wang Yu-Ting , Yue Ting , Li Yi , Yin Yi-Rui , Yang Li-Quan
Published: November 2022

To explore the mechanistic origin that determines the binding affinity of SARS-CoV-2 spike receptor binding domain (RBD) to human angiotensin converting enzyme 2 (ACE2), we constructed the homology models of RBD-ACE2 complexes of four Omicron subvariants (BA.1, BA.2, BA.3 and BA.4/5), and compared them with wild type complex (RBDWT-ACE2) in terms of various structural dynamic properties by molecular dynamics (MD) simulations and binding free energy (BFE) calculations. The results of MD simulations suggest that the RBDs of all the Omicron subvariants (RBDOMIs) feature increased global structural fluctuations when compared with RBDWT. Detailed comparison of BFE components reveals that the enhanced electrostatic attractive interactions are the main determinant of the higher ACE2-binding affinity of RBDOMIs than RBDWT, while the weakened electrostatic attractive interactions determine RBD of BA.4/5 subvariant (RBDBA.4/5) lowest ACE2-binding affinity among all Omicron subvariants. The per-residue BFE decompositions and the hydrogen bond (HB) networks analyses indicate that the enhanced electrostatic attractive interactions are mainly through gain/loss of the positively/negatively charged residues, and the formation or destruction of the interfacial HBs and salt bridges can also largely affect the ACE2-binding affinity of RBD. It is worth pointing out that since Q493R plays the most important positive contribution in enhancing binding affinity, the absence of this mutation in RBDBA.4/5 results in a significantly weaker binding affinity to ACE2 than other Omicron subvariants. Our results provide insight into the role of electrostatic interactions in determining of the binding affinity of SARS-CoV-2 RBD to human ACE2.