bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Linguistic Analysis for Identifying Depression and Subsequent Suicidal Ideation on Weibo: Machine Learning Approaches
Authors: Pan Wei , Wang Xianbin , Zhou Wenwei , Hang Bowen , Guo Liwen
Published: February 2023

Depression is one of the most common mental illnesses but remains underdiagnosed. Suicide, as a core symptom of depression, urgently needs to be monitored at an early stage, i.e., the suicidal ideation (SI) stage. Depression and subsequent suicidal ideation should be supervised on social media. In this research, we investigated depression and concomitant suicidal ideation by identifying individuals’ linguistic characteristics through machine learning approaches. On Weibo, we sampled 487,251 posts from 3196 users from the depression super topic community (DSTC) as the depression group and 357,939 posts from 5167 active users on Weibo as the control group. The results of the logistic regression model showed that the SCLIWC (simplified Chinese version of LIWC) features such as affection, positive emotion, negative emotion, sadness, health, and death significantly predicted depression (Nagelkerke’s R2 = 0.64). For model performance: F-measure = 0.78, area under the curve (AUC) = 0.82. The independent samples’ t-test showed that SI was significantly different between the depression (0.28 ± 0.5) and control groups (−0.29 ± 0.72) (t = 24.71, p < 0.001). The results of the linear regression model showed that the SCLIWC features, such as social, family, affection, positive emotion, negative emotion, sadness, health, work, achieve, and death, significantly predicted suicidal ideation. The adjusted R2 was 0.42. For model performance, the correlation between the actual SI and predicted SI on the test set was significant (r = 0.65, p < 0.001). The topic modeling results were in accordance with the machine learning results. This study systematically investigated depression and subsequent SI-related linguistic characteristics based on a large-scale Weibo dataset. The findings suggest that analyzing the linguistic characteristics on online depression communities serves as an efficient approach to identify depression and subsequent suicidal ideation, assisting further prevention and intervention.
Forensic Identification: Dental Scan Data Sets of the Palatal Fold Pairs as an Individual Feature in a Longitudinal Cohort Study
Authors: Bjelopavlovic Monika , Degering Desiree , Lehmann Karl Martin , Thiem Daniel G. E. , Hardt Jochen , Petrowski Katja
Published: February 2023

The INTERPOL standard for the identification of unknown individuals includes the established primary characteristics of fingerprint, DNA, and teeth. Exposure to noxious agents such as fire and water often severely limits the availability of usable material such as fingerprints. In addition to teeth, the protected oral cavity also houses palatal fold pairs, which are the subject of this study to demonstrate individuality and consequently support identification. Material and Methods: In this cohort study, 105 participants’ palates were scanned twice with a dental intraoral scanner (Omnicam SIRONA®) over a 3 month period and were then analyzed using a matching program. The intraindividual and interindividual differences were determined, and the mean values and standard deviations were calculated and presented. Results: The intraindividual differences are highly significantly lower than the interindividual differences (p < 0.0001). Conclusions: Within the limitations of this study, the results suggest that palatal rugae pairs can be considered a highly individual feature and could be considered an identification feature in a young and healthy population.
Food Habits and Forms of Food Insecurity among International University Students in Oslo: A Qualitative Study
Authors: Bauch Charlotte , Torheim Liv Elin , Almendingen Kari , Molin Marianne , Terragni Laura
Published: February 2023

A growing number of studies indicate that university students and especially international students are prone to experiencing food insecurity (FI). Still, few studies have investigated forms of FI among international students in Europe. Thus, this qualitative study aims to explore experiences regarding FI among international university students in Oslo. Sixteen semi-structured interviews were conducted between May and June 2022 and analyzed using a thematic approach. The sustainable livelihood approach (SLA) was used as a framework for analyzing and interpreting the data. The students experienced food prices as being high and found food variety at the grocery stores to be low, resulting in struggles to fulfil their food preferences and keep a varied diet. Particularly, social aspects of eating were affected due to high dining prices or inadequate cooking facilities in student homes. However, no student openly reported skipping meals and many mentioned attention for healthy eating. Considering our results, it seems of importance to give more attention to cultural and social aspects related to FI when assessing FI among international students. As the number of international students is increasing, knowing more about this phenomenon can support the promotion of initiatives addressing FI in this population.
A Structural Validation of the Brief COPE Scale among Outpatients with Alcohol and Opioid Use Disorders
Authors: Kadi Melissa , Bourion-Bédès Stéphanie , Bisch Michael , Baumann Cédric
Published: February 2023

Recovery from substance use disorder requires access to effective coping resources. The most widely self-reported questionnaire used to assess coping responses is the Brief COPE; however, different factorial structures were found in a variety of samples. This study aimed to examine across outpatients with substance use disorders the factor structure of the short dispositional French version of the Brief Coping Orientation to Problem Experienced (COPE) inventory. The French version of the Brief COPE was administered in a sample of 318 outpatients with alcohol or opioid substance use disorder. A clustering analysis on latent variables (CLV) followed by a confirmatory factorial analysis (CFA) was conducted to examine the factor structure of the scale. The internal consistency of the Brief COPE and its subscales were also studied. The analysis revealed a nine-factor structure with a revised 24-item version consisting of functional strategies (four items), problem-solving (four items), denial (two items), substance use (two items), social support seeking (four items), behavioral disengagement (two items), religion (two items), blame (two items), and humor (two items) that demonstrated a good fit to the data. This model explained 53% of the total variance with an overall McDonald’s omega (ω) of 0.96 for the revised scale. The present work offers a robust and valid nine-factor structure for assessing coping strategies in French outpatients with opioid or alcohol substance use disorder. This structure tends to simplify its use and interpretation of results for both clinicians and researchers.
Mean Temperature and Drought Projections in Central Africa: A Population-Based Study of Food Insecurity, Childhood Malnutrition and Mortality, and Infectious Disease
Authors: Hassan Munum , Saif Kinza , Ijaz Muhammad Saad , Sarfraz Zouina , Sarfraz Azza , Robles-Velasco Karla , Cherrez-Ojeda Ivan
Published: February 2023

The Central African Region is an agricultural and fishing-based economy, with 40% of the population living in rural communities. The negative impacts of climate change have caused economic/health-related adverse impacts and food insecurity. This original article aims to research four key themes: (i) acute food insecurity (AFI); (ii) childhood malnutrition and mortality; (iii) infectious disease burden; and (iv) drought and mean temperature projections throughout the twenty-first century. Food insecurity was mapped in Central Africa based on the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) for AFI. The global hunger index (GHI) was presented along with the proportion of children with undernourishment, stunting, wasting, and mortality. Data for infectious disease burden was computed by assessing the adjusted rate of change (AROC) of mortality due to diarrhea among children and the burden of death rates due to pneumonia across all age groups. Finally, the mean drought index was computed through the year 2100. This population-based study identifies high levels of hunger across a majority of the countries, with the mean drought index suggesting extreme ends of wet and dry days and an overall rise of 1–3 °C. This study is a source of evidence for stakeholders, policymakers, and the population residing in Central Africa.
Comparing Fourteen Weeks of Multicomponent Training Versus Combined Training in Physically Inactive Older Women: A Randomized Trial
Authors: Rodrigues Guilherme da Silva , Rodrigues Karine Pereira , de Almeida Mariana Luciano , Sobrinho Andressa Crystine da Silva , Noronha Natalia Yumi , Benjamim Cicero Jonas Rodrigues , Silva Sabrina da , Rodrigues Jhennyfer Aline Lima , Júnior Carlos Roberto Bueno
Published: February 2023

Background: Combined (CT) and multicomponent training (MT) presents several benefits for aging individuals. However, the literature does not provide evidence on which of the two physical training models can better enhance improvements in physical capacity and health parameters in middle-aged and older women. Objective: The aim of this study was to compare the effects of MT and CT on physical capacity, cognitive, behavioral, and psychosocial assessment, and biochemical profile of physically inactive women aged between 50 and 70 years. Methods: Participants were randomized into two groups: MT (32 women, 64.2 ± 6.4 years) and CT (39 women, 61.4 ± 4.3 years). Both training sessions had a weekly volume of 180 min, for 14 weeks, with assessments at baseline and after the training period. Results: CT showed better results when compared to MT. In the four evaluation blocks, we noticed differences in the effect size (L = large, M = moderate, S = small, and T = trivial) between the groups in 26 variables in total, highlighting the CT group (L = 11, M = 5, S = 2, and T = 8) compared to the MT group (L = 8, M = 7, S = 7, and T = 4). Our findings showed group-time differences for strength variables using the maximum dynamic repetition test in upper and lower limbs and for agility. The multicomponent training showed improvement in the functional strength of the upper limbs evaluated through the elbow flexion and extension test (p = 0.037), and HDL (p = 0.022). Conclusions: Fourteen weeks of CT showed better benefits when compared to MT.
Does the Low-Carbon City Pilot Policy Improve the Urban Land Green Use Efficiency?—Investigation Based on Multi-Period Difference-in-Differences Model
Authors: Niu Shuchen , Luo Xiang , Yang Tiantian , Lin Guodong , Li Chongming
Published: February 2023

Improving urban land green use efficiency (ULGUE) is an effective way to increase social, economic, and ecological benefits and achieve regional sustainable development goals. This study takes three batches of low-carbon pilot cities construction as a quasi-natural experiment and investigates the impact of low-carbon pilot construction on ULGUE through the multi-period difference-in-differences method and spatial Dubin difference model (SDM-DID). The results show that (1) from 2006 to 2019, ULGUE in China increased. From the aspect of space, ULGUE in China gradually decreased from west to east, showing an obviously high agglomeration phenomenon in Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei and the Pearl River Delta; (2) after the robustness test, parallel trend test, and endogenous test, it is found that the conclusion that the low-carbon pilot construction can effectively improve ULGUE is still relevant and can indirectly improve ULGUE in the local region through fund allocation, talent gathering, and industrialization; and (3) the national ULGUE has significant positive spatial correlation. The results of the SDM-DID model confirm that the low-carbon pilot policy can produce the significant spatial spillover and drive the common advance of ULGUE in neighboring regions. Therefore, the resources and environmental conditions in each city are supposed to be taken into full consideration theoretically. Furthermore, it is necessary to effectively promote the development of ULGUE by strengthening the linkage of green production factors between different cities, so as to make meaningful contributions to promoting China’s overall green development.
Correlation of the Handgrip Strength and Body Composition Parameters in Young Judokas
Authors: Tavares Junior Antonio Carlos , Silva Henrique Santos , Penedo Tiago , do Amaral Rocha Leandro George Spínola , da Silva Alexsandro Santos , Venditti Junior Rubens , Dos-Santos Júlio Wilson
Published: February 2023

Maximum isometric handgrip strength (MIHS) is a relevant parameter for judo performance and is related to health. Understanding the association between MIHS and MIHS relative (MIHSrel) and the absolute lean mass of the arm (LMarm) and the percentage of body fat (%BF) can provide important information for performance and health. The study aimed to investigate the correlation between MIHS and MIHSrel with the LMarm and the %BF of young judokas (sub-19, 15 males and 14 females). MIHS was measured using a multipurpose digital dynamometer with a load cell for computer. Body composition was measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA). The correlation between MIHS, MIHSrel with LMarm and %BF was verified through Pearson’s correlation, with a significance level of p < 0.05. Correlation between MIHSrel and %BF was very high only in female judokas for both arms (right, r = −0.76; left, r = −0.75). Correlations between LMarm and MIHS of the right and left arms ranged from very high to almost perfect for both sexes (r = 0.74 to 0.94). These results highlight the importance of strengthening the arms in young judokas, and controlling body fat for performance and health, especially in female judokas.
Is Glucose-6-Phosphate Dehydrogenase Deficiency a Risk Factor for Autoimmune Thyroid Disease? A Retrospective Case–Control Study
Authors: Dore Maria Pina , Fanciulli Giuseppe , Pes Giovanni Mario
Published: February 2023

Background: The risk of developing thyroid disorders (TDs) in subjects with inherited glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency is unknown. The aim of this study was to explore the association between autoimmune (AITD) and G6PD deficiency in Northern Sardinia, in a population with a high frequency of these two conditions. Methods: In this retrospective single-center case–control study, demographic and clinical data were collected from patients examined in a tertiary referral Gastroenterology Section of a teaching hospital. Results: In 8894 subjects examined (64.7% females), 1218 patients were diagnosed with TDs; more specifically, 767 were diagnosed with AITD and 451 were not (non-AITD). Overall, G6PD deficiency was more prevalent in TD patients compared with patients without TD (controls) (16.7% vs. 11.2%; p < 0.0001). Multivariable logistic regression analysis (after adjusting for age, sex, excess weight and smoking habits), confirmed a higher risk of AITD among G6PD deficient patients with an odds ratio (OR) of 1.36 and 95% confidence interval (CI) of 1.11–1.6, female patients (OR 1.33, 95% CI 1.07–1.65) and overweight patients (OR 1.22, 95% CI 1.03–1.44). Conclusions: The risk of AITD is increased in carriers of G6PD deficiency. A careful assessment of thyroid function is advisable in patients with inherited G6PD defects.
Sustainable Healthy Working Life for All Ages—Work Environment, Age Management and Employability
Authors: Nilsson Kerstin , Nygård Clas-Håkan , Midtsundstad Tove , Lundqvist Peter , Crawford Joanne
Published: February 2023

The proportion of elderly citizens is continuously increasing in most of the industrial world [...]
The Influence of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Emergency Medical Services to Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrests in a Low-Incidence Urban City: An Observational Epidemiological Analysis
Authors: Liu Chung-Hsien , Tsai Ming-Jen , Hsu Chi-Feng , Tsai Cheng-Han , Su Yao-Sing , Cai Deng-Chuan
Published: February 2023

The Emergency Medical Services (EMS) system faced overwhelming challenges during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. However, further information is required to determine how the pandemic affected the EMS response and the clinical outcomes of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) patients in COVID-19 low-incidence cities. A retrospective study was conducted in Chiayi, Taiwan, a COVID-19 low-incidence urban city. We compared the outcomes and rescue records before (2018–2019) and during (2020–2021) the COVID-19 pandemic. A total of 567 patients before and 497 during the pandemic were enrolled. Multivariate analysis revealed that the COVID-19 pandemic had no significant influence on the achievement of return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) and sustained ROSC but was associated with lower probabilities of survival to discharge (aOR = 0.43, 95% CI: 0.21–0.89, p = 0.002) and discharge with favorable neurologic outcome among OHCA patients (aOR = 0.35, 95% CI: 0.16–0.77, p = 0.009). Patients’ ages and OHCA locations were also discovered to be independently related to survival results. The overall impact of longer EMS rescue times on survival outcomes during the pandemic was not significant, with an exception of the specific group that experienced prolonged rescue times (total EMS time > 21 min).
The Effect of Publicly Available COVID-19 Information on the Functioning of Society, Businesses, Government and Local Institutions: A Case Study from Poland
Authors: Ober Józef , Karwot Janusz
Published: February 2023

The COVID-19 pandemic has seriously affected many world regions’ societies and economies. The pandemic and the restrictions introduced in response to it have impacted social behaviour and the operation of businesses in various ways. The present study aimed to verify the impact of information on the COVID-19 outbreak in Poland on the frequency with which residents of Rybnik and the surrounding areas chose to stay in their houses or apartments, as well as the functioning of businesses. The originality of the study lies in the use of mediation modelling, in which the following were used as variables describing the epidemic in Poland: new cases of SARS-CoV-2 infection in Poland; the number of deaths caused by SARS-CoV-2 infection in Poland; and the number of people quarantined due to the COVID-19 epidemic in Poland. On the other hand, data on tap water consumption were used as variables describing the frequency with which residents of Rybnik and the surrounding areas chose to stay in their houses or apartments, the operation of businesses in and around the city, and the operation of government and local government institutions. The study’s conclusions confirm that publicly available information about the COVID-19 outbreak in Poland affected the frequency of residents of Rybnik and the surrounding areas staying in their houses or apartments as well as the functioning of businesses in Rybnik and the surrounding areas. The increasing number of people who died due to SARS-CoV-2 infection was associated with the limited functioning of government and local government institutions in and around Rybnik, which contributed to restrictions on the functioning of service industry companies in the city and surrounding areas.
Pregnancy Care during the COVID-19 Pandemic in Germany: A Public Health Lens
Authors: Leiße Antonia , Dötzer Julia , Ruhnau Alice , Aschentrup Leona , Fischer Florian , Wrona Kamil J.
Published: February 2023

The COVID-19 pandemic has led to various challenges in German health care, including pregnancy care. This paper aims to provide an overview of the pandemic-related challenges faced by pregnant women, new mothers, and their families in maternal and newborn care. A literature review was performed by including international literature as well as recommendations of institutions and official stakeholders. These challenges refer to restrictions at all stages of pregnancy, including wearing masks during labour, limitations of a companion of choice during birth, and restrictions of unvaccinated women from attending, e.g., antenatal classes. Compared with the general population, COVID-19 vaccination of pregnant women was recommended later, as pregnant women were initially excluded from clinical trials. Women who gave birth during the COVID-19 pandemic also reported mental health issues. The findings stress the importance of the inclusion of pregnant women in clinical trials. This might also help to overcome vaccine hesitancy among pregnant women and women seeking family planning. Taking the COVID-19 pandemic as an example, one must weigh the changes and restrictions associated with the potential disadvantages for mothers, newborns, and their families in pregnancy care against the measures to control the pandemic.
Older Worker-Orientated Human Resource Practices, Wellbeing and Leave Intentions: A Conservation of Resources Approach for Ageing Workforces
Authors: Farr-Wharton Ben , Bentley Tim , Onnis Leigh-ann , Caponecchia Carlo , Neto Abilio De Almeida , O’Neill Sharron , Andrew Catherine
Published: February 2023

At a time where there are ageing populations, global shortages of skilled labour, and migration pathways impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, retaining older workers presents as a vital strategic initiative for organizations globally. This study examines the role of Human Resource Practices (HRPs), which are oriented towards accommodating the needs of an ageing workforce in mitigating psychological distress and turnover intentions. The study collected self-reported survey data from 300 Australian employees over the age of 45, over two time points. Using structural equation modelling, the study analyzed the extent to which Older Worker-oriented Human Resources Practices (OW-HRPs) translate into employee psychological health and retention within organizations, through the mediation of ageism and work–life conflict. The results support our hypothesis that OW-HRPs are associated with lower ageism, better work–life balance; and in combination these reduce psychological distress and help retain older workers in the workforce. We conclude that OW-HRPs can foster work environments conducive to older worker wellbeing, supporting the retention of talent and maintaining effectiveness, in the face of substantial labour supply challenges brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic and an ageing population.
Evaluation of AIML + HDR—A Course to Enhance Data Science Workforce Capacity for Hispanic Biomedical Researchers
Authors: Heredia-Negron Frances , Alamo-Rodriguez Natalie , Oyola-Velazquez Lenamari , Nieves Brenda , Carrasquillo Kelvin , Hochheiser Harry , Fristensky Brian , Daluz-Santana Istoni , Fernandez-Repollet Emma , Roche-Lima Abiel
Published: February 2023

Artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) facilitate the creation of revolutionary medical techniques. Unfortunately, biases in current AI and ML approaches are perpetuating minority health inequity. One of the strategies to solve this problem is training a diverse workforce. For this reason, we created the course “Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning applied to Health Disparities Research (AIML + HDR)” which applied general Data Science (DS) approaches to health disparities research with an emphasis on Hispanic populations. Some technical topics covered included the Jupyter Notebook Framework, coding with R and Python to manipulate data, and ML libraries to create predictive models. Some health disparities topics covered included Electronic Health Records, Social Determinants of Health, and Bias in Data. As a result, the course was taught to 34 selected Hispanic participants and evaluated by a survey on a Likert scale (0–4). The surveys showed high satisfaction (more than 80% of participants agreed) regarding the course organization, activities, and covered topics. The students strongly agreed that the activities were relevant to the course and promoted their learning (3.71 ± 0.21). The students strongly agreed that the course was helpful for their professional development (3.76 ± 0.18). The open question was quantitatively analyzed and showed that seventy-five percent of the comments received from the participants confirmed their great satisfaction.
How Do Health, Biological, Behavioral, and Cognitive Variables Interact over Time in Children of Both Sexes? A Complex Systems Approach
Authors: Pereira Elenice , Thuany Mabliny , Bandeira Paulo , Gomes Thayse , dos Santos Fernanda
Published: February 2023

The present study examined gender differences in health, physical activity, physical fitness, real and perceived motor competence, and executive function indicators in three time points, and analyzed the dynamic and non-linear association between health, biological, behavioral, and cognitive variables in children followed over time. A total of 67 children (aged between six and 10 years) were followed during two years and split into two cohorts (six to eight years old: C1; eight to 10 years old: C2). Data regarding health, physical activity, real and perceived motor competence, physical fitness, and executive function indicators were obtained according to their respective protocols. Comparison tests and network analysis were estimated. Significant gender differences were found in both cohorts. The emerged networks indicated different topologies in both cohorts. No clusters were observed between the variables in C1, and there was a greater number of interactions at eight years of age. Sparse networks were observed in children aged eight and 10 years in C2, and greater connectivity was observed at nine years of age between health, physical fitness, motor competence, and physical activity indicators. This study showed that there are non-linear dynamic relationships between health, biological, behavioral, and cognitive variables over time during child development.
Multidimensional Measures and the Extra Costs of Disability: How Are They Related?
Authors: Pinilla-Roncancio Mónica
Published: February 2023

People with disabilities are more likely than individuals without disabilities to face higher levels of deprivation and multidimensional poverty, and those deprivations might be associated with the extra costs of living with a disability. However, there has not been an analysis of how multidimensional poverty measures are related to the extra costs of disability or whether these measures can be used as a proxy of the standard of living in the analysis of the extra costs of disability. This paper aims to analyse whether multidimensional poverty measures can be used to study the extra costs of disability and, based on the capability approach, how multidimensional poverty is related to the extra costs of disability. This paper discusses theoretical, technical, and methodological aspects to be considered when studying the relationship between extra costs and multidimensional poverty, and we used data from Chile and Nigeria to illustrate this relationship. We conclude that when analysing the extra costs of disability, multidimensional measures might be an option; however, it is necessary to clearly stablish the relationship among income, deprivation, and the extra costs of disability.
Changes in Substance Use Treatment Providers’ Delivery of the 5A’s for Non-Cigarette Tobacco Use in the Context of a Comprehensive Tobacco-Free Workplace Program Implementation
Authors: Siddiqi Ammar D. , Chen Tzuan A. , Britton Maggie , Martinez Leal Isabel , Carter Brian J. , Correa-Fernández Virmarie , Rogova Anastasia , Kyburz Bryce , Williams Teresa , Casey Kathleen , Reitzel Lorraine R.
Published: February 2023

Tobacco use treatment is not prioritized in substance use treatment centers (SUTCs), leading to tobacco-related health inequities for patients with substance use disorders (SUDs) and necessitating efforts to enhance providers’ care provision. Training providers on how to treat tobacco use increases their intervention on patients’ smoking, but limited work addresses its effects on their non-cigarette tobacco use intervention provision. This study redressed this gap using data from 15 unaffiliated SUTCs in Texas (serving 82,927 patients/year) participating in a tobacco-free workplace program (TFWP) that included provider education on treating tobacco use, including non-cigarette tobacco use. SUTC providers completed surveys before (n = 259) and after (n = 194) TFWP implementation. Past-month screening/intervention provision for non-cigarette tobacco use (the 5A’s; ask, advise, assess, assist, arrange) and provider factors theoretically and practically presumed to underlie change [i.e., beliefs about concurrently treating tobacco use disorder (TUD) and other SUDs, self-efficacy for tobacco use assessment (TUA) delivery, barriers to treating tobacco dependence, receipt of tobacco intervention training] were assessed. Generalized linear or linear mixed models assessed changes over time from before to after TFWP implementation; low vs. high SUTC-level changes in provider factors were examined as moderators of changes in 5A’s delivery. Results indicated significant improvement in each provider factor and increases in providers’ asking, assisting, and arranging for non-cigarette tobacco use over time (ps < 0.04). Relative to their counterparts, SUTCs with high changes in providers’ beliefs in favor of treating patients’ tobacco use had greater odds of advising, assessing, assisting, and arranging patients, and SUTCs with greater barrier reductions had greater odds of advising and assisting patients. Results suggest that TFWPs can address training deficits and alter providers’ beliefs about treating non-tobacco TUD during SUD care, improve their TUA delivery self-efficacy, and reduce intervention barriers, ultimately increasing intervention provision for patients’ non-cigarette tobacco use. SUTCs with the greatest room for improvement in provider beliefs and barriers to care provision seem excellent candidates for TFWP implementation aimed at increasing non-cigarette tobacco use care delivery.
Validation of the Recovery Experience Questionnaire in a Lithuanian Healthcare Personnel
Authors: Kazlauskas Evaldas , Dumarkaite Austeja , Gelezelyte Odeta , Nomeikaite Auguste , Zelviene Paulina
Published: February 2023

Healthcare workers (HCWs) often experience high levels of stress, anxiety, and depression due to high workloads and responsibilities in their professional activities. Therefore, recovery from work-related stress is highly important in HCWs. The Recovery Experience Questionnaire (REQ) is a 16-item self-reported measure covering four stress recovery domains: psychological detachment from work, relaxation, mastery, and control. The current study aimed to test the REQ’s psychometric properties in a sample of Lithuanian HCWs. In total, 471 HCWs from various healthcare institutions participated in this study. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was used to test the structure of the REQ. We also used the Brief Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-4) and the World Health Organization Psychological Well-Being Index (WHO-5) to assess the mental health of the study participants. The CFA analysis supported the correlated four-factor structure of the REQ. Furthermore, we found significant correlations between the levels of REQ and anxiety, depression, and well-being. We conclude that the REQ is a valid measure that could be a useful tool in research on HCWs’ mental health. It could also be used in healthcare settings for the evaluation of well-being among healthcare staff.
Virtual Scene Construction of Wetlands: A Case Study of Poyang Lake, China
Authors: Lu Sheng , Fang Chaoyang , Xiao Xin
Published: February 2023

Due to the complexity of wetland ecosystems, wetlands have a wide area of alternating land and water zones and complex vegetation composition, making it challenging to achieve dynamic displays of virtual wetland scenes using three-dimensional modeling. This study proposes a workflow of game engine-based virtual wetland scene construction for the rapid modeling of virtual wetland scenes. The virtual wetland scene construction work utilized Poyang Lake as the primary research area. It integrated unmanned aerial vehicle data collection technology and geographic information technology with 3D (three-dimensional) modeling of wetland elements and scene program modeling of the game engine to complete the construction and dynamic development of virtual wetland scenes. In addition, it used various virtual reality technologies to display the virtual wetland scene. The virtual scene of Poyang Lake combined with actual data was more realistic and had higher simulation. In reality, the digital wetland scene of Poyang Lake realizes multiple forms of virtual experience and provides users with a profoundly immersive virtual experience. This comprehensive virtual scene workflow in the study can serve as a technical resource for building 3D scenes. It can also provide a technical reference for the digital twin watershed project of Poyang Lake, which has practical application value.
Argonaute 2 Restores Erectile Function by Enhancing Angiogenesis and Reducing Reactive Oxygen Species Production in Streptozotocin (STZ)-Induced Type-1 Diabetic Mice
Authors: Liu Fang-Yuan , Yin Guo Nan , Ock Jiyeon , Fridayana Fitri Rahma , Niloofar Lashkari , Huang Yan , Vo Minh Nhat , Suh Jun-Kyu , Hong Soon-Sun , Kang Ju-Hee , Ryu Ji-Kan
Published: February 2023

Severe vascular and nerve damage from diabetes is a leading cause of erectile dysfunction (ED) and poor response to oral phosphodiesterase 5 inhibitors. Argonaute 2 (Ago2), a catalytic engine in mammalian RNA interference, is involved in neurovascular regeneration under inflammatory conditions. In the present study, we report that Ago2 administration can effectively improve penile erection by enhancing cavernous endothelial cell angiogenesis and survival under diabetic conditions. We found that although Ago2 is highly expressed around blood vessels and nerves, it is significantly reduced in the penis tissue of diabetic mice. Exogenous administration of the Ago2 protein restored erectile function in diabetic mice by reducing reactive oxygen species production-signaling pathways (inducing eNOS Ser1177/NF-κB Ser536 signaling) and improving cavernous endothelial angiogenesis, migration, and cell survival. Our study provides new evidence that Ago2 mediation may be a promising therapeutic strategy and a new approach for diabetic ED treatment.
The Evolution of Single-Cell RNA Sequencing Technology and Application: Progress and Perspectives
Authors: Wang Shuo , Sun Si-Tong , Zhang Xin-Yue , Ding Hao-Ran , Yuan Yu , He Jun-Jie , Wang Man-Shu , Yang Bin , Li Yu-Bo
Published: February 2023

As an emerging sequencing technology, single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-Seq) has become a powerful tool for describing cell subpopulation classification and cell heterogeneity by achieving high-throughput and multidimensional analysis of individual cells and circumventing the shortcomings of traditional sequencing for detecting the average transcript level of cell populations. It has been applied to life science and medicine research fields such as tracking dynamic cell differentiation, revealing sensitive effector cells, and key molecular events of diseases. This review focuses on the recent technological innovations in scRNA-Seq, highlighting the latest research results with scRNA-Seq as the core technology in frontier research areas such as embryology, histology, oncology, and immunology. In addition, this review outlines the prospects for its innovative application in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) research and discusses the key issues currently being addressed by scRNA-Seq and its great potential for exploring disease diagnostic targets and uncovering drug therapeutic targets in combination with multiomics technologies.
Cationic Polystyrene-Based Hydrogels as Efficient Adsorbents to Remove Methyl Orange and Fluorescein Dye Pollutants from Industrial Wastewater
Authors: Alfei Silvana , Grasso Federica , Orlandi Valentina , Russo Eleonora , Boggia Raffaella , Zuccari Guendalina
Published: February 2023

Water pollution from dyes is harmful to the environment, plants, animals, and humans and is one of the most widespread problems afflicting people throughout the world. Adsorption is a widely used method to remove contaminants derived from the textile industry, food colorants, printing, and cosmetic manufacturing from water. Here, aiming to develop new low-cost and up-scalable adsorbent materials for anionic dye remediation and water decontamination by electrostatic interactions, two cationic resins (R1 and R2) were prepared. In particular, they were obtained by copolymerizing 4-ammonium methyl and ethyl styrene monomers (M1 and M2) with dimethylacrylamide (DMAA), using N-(2-acryloylamino-ethyl)-acrylamide (AAEA) as cross-linker. Once characterized by several analytical techniques, upon their dispersion in an excess of water, R1 and R2 provided the R1- and R2-based hydrogels (namely R1HG and R2HG) with equilibrium degrees of swelling (EDS) of 900% and 1000% and equilibrium water contents (EWC) of 90 and 91%, respectively. By applying Cross’ rheology equation to the data of R1HG and R2HG’s viscosity vs. shear rate, it was established that both hydrogels are shear thinning fluids with pseudoplastic/Bingham plastic behavior depending on share rate. The equivalents of -NH3+ groups, essential for the electrostatic-based absorbent activity, were estimated by the method of Gaur and Gupta on R1 and R2 and by potentiometric titrations on R1HG and R2HG. In absorption experiments in bulk, R1HG and R2HG showed high removal efficiency (97–100%) towards methyl orange (MO) azo dye, fluorescein (F), and their mixture (MOF). Using F or MO solutions (pH = 7.5, room temperature), the maximum absorption was 47.8 mg/g in 90′ (F) and 47.7 mg/g in 120′ (MO) for R1, while that of R2 was 49.0 mg/g in 20′ (F) and 48.5 mg/g in 30′ (MO). Additionally, R1HG and R2HG-based columns, mimicking decontamination systems by filtration, were capable of removing MO, F, and MOF from water with a 100% removal efficiency, in different conditions of use. R1HG and R2HG represent low-cost and up-scalable column packing materials that are promising for application in industrial wastewater treatment.
Applying Next-Generation Sequencing and Multi-Omics in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
Authors: Tiew Pei Yee , Meldrum Oliver W. , Chotirmall Sanjay H.
Published: February 2023

Microbiomics have significantly advanced over the last decade, driven by the widespread availability of next-generation sequencing (NGS) and multi-omic technologies. Integration of NGS and multi-omic datasets allow for a holistic assessment of endophenotypes across a range of chronic respiratory disease states, including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Valuable insight has been attained into the nature, function, and significance of microbial communities in disease onset, progression, prognosis, and response to treatment in COPD. Moving beyond single-biome assessment, there now exists a growing literature on functional assessment and host–microbe interaction and, in particular, their contribution to disease progression, severity, and outcome. Identifying specific microbes and/or metabolic signatures associated with COPD can open novel avenues for therapeutic intervention and prognosis-related biomarkers. Despite the promise and potential of these approaches, the large amount of data generated by such technologies can be challenging to analyze and interpret, and currently, there remains a lack of standardized methods to address this. This review outlines the current use and proposes future avenues for the application of NGS and multi-omic technologies in the endophenotyping, prognostication, and treatment of COPD.
Gemfibrozil-Induced Intracellular Triglyceride Increase in SH-SY5Y, HEK and Calu-3 Cells
Authors: Bachmann Cornel Manuel , Janitschke Daniel , Lauer Anna Andrea , Erhardt Tobias , Hartmann Tobias , Grimm Marcus Otto Walter , Grimm Heike Sabine
Published: February 2023

Gemfibrozil is a drug that has been used for over 40 years to lower triglycerides in blood. As a ligand for peroxisome proliferative-activated receptor-alpha (PPARα), which is expressed in many tissues, it induces the transcription of numerous genes for carbohydrate and lipid-metabolism. However, nothing is known about how intracellular lipid-homeostasis and, in particular, triglycerides are affected. As triglycerides are stored in lipid-droplets, which are known to be associated with many diseases, such as Alzheimer’s disease, cancer, fatty liver disease and type-2 diabetes, treatment with gemfibrozil could adversely affect these diseases. To address the question whether gemfibrozil also affects intracellular lipid-levels, SH-SY5Y, HEK and Calu-3 cells, representing three different metabolically active organs (brain, lung and kidney), were incubated with gemfibrozil and subsequently analyzed semi-quantitatively by mass-spectrometry. Importantly, all cells showed a strong increase in intracellular triglycerides (SH-SY5Y: 170.3%; HEK: 272.1%; Calu-3: 448.1%), suggesting that the decreased triglyceride-levels might be due to an enhanced cellular uptake. Besides the common intracellular triglyceride increase, a cell-line specific alteration in acylcarnitines are found, suggesting that especially in neuronal cell lines gemfibrozil increases the transport of fatty acids to mitochondria and therefore increases the turnover of fatty acids for the benefit of additional energy supply, which could be important in diseases, such as Alzheimer’s disease.
Quantum Mechanical Study of Oxygen Ligands Protonation for the Stable States of the Laccase Active Site
Authors: Gavryushov Sergei , Kuzmich Nikolay N. , Polyakov Konstantin M.
Published: February 2023

Laccases are enzymes catalyzing the oxidation of a wide range of organic and inorganic substrates accompanied by molecular oxygen reduction to water. Recently, oxygen reduction by laccases has been studied by single-crystal serial X-ray crystallography with increasing absorption doses at subatomic resolution. There were two determined structures corresponding to the reduced and oxidized stable states of the laccase active site. However, the protonation of the oxygen ligands involved cannot be determined even at subatomic resolution. In the present work, the protonation of oxygen ligands in the active site of laccase for the two stable states determined in the X-ray study was explored using quantum mechanical and continuum-electrostatics calculations. This is important for understanding the reaction of the oxygen reduction mechanism in laccases. The high precision of X-ray data at subatomic resolutions allowed us to optimize the quantum mechanical calculations.
DNA Methylation as a Diagnostic, Prognostic, and Predictive Biomarker in Head and Neck Cancer
Authors: Liouta Galateia , Adamaki Maria , Tsintarakis Antonis , Zoumpourlis Panagiotis , Liouta Anastasia , Agelaki Sofia , Zoumpourlis Vassilis
Published: February 2023

Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is a term collectively used to describe all cancers that develop in the oral and nasal cavities, the paranasal sinuses, the salivary glands, the pharynx, and the larynx. The majority (75%) of all newly diagnosed cases are observed in patients with locally advanced and aggressive disease, associated with significant relapse rates (30%) and poor prognostic outcomes, despite advances in multimodal treatment. Consequently, there is an unmet need for the identification and application of tools that would enable diagnosis at the earliest possible stage, accurately predict prognostic outcomes, contribute to the timely detection of relapses, and aid in the decision for therapy selection. Recent evidence suggests that DNA methylation can alter the expression of genes in a way that it favors tumorigenesis and tumor progression in HNSCC, and therefore represents a potential source for biomarker identification. This study summarizes the current knowledge on how abnormally methylated DNA profiles in HNSCC patients may contribute to the pathogenesis of HNSCC and designate the methylation patterns that have the potential to constitute clinically valuable biomarkers for achieving significant advances in the management of the disease and for improving survival outcomes in these patients.
Plasma Sphingoid Base Profiles of Patients Diagnosed with Intrinsic or Idiosyncratic Drug-induced Liver Injury
Authors: Gai Zhibo , Samodelov Sophia L. , Alecu Irina , Hornemann Thorsten , Grove Jane I. , Aithal Guruprasad P. , Visentin Michele , Kullak-Ublick Gerd A.
Published: February 2023

Sphingolipids are exceptionally diverse, comprising hundreds of unique species. The bulk of circulating sphingolipids are synthesized in the liver, thereby plasma sphingolipid profiles represent reliable surrogates of hepatic sphingolipid metabolism and content. As changes in plasma sphingolipid content have been associated to exposure to drugs inducing hepatotoxicity both in vitro and in rodents, in the present study the translatability of the preclinical data was assessed by analyzing the plasma of patients with suspected drug-induced liver injury (DILI) and control subjects. DILI patients, whether intrinsic or idiosyncratic cases, had no alterations in total sphingoid base levels and profile composition compared to controls, whereby cardiovascular disease (CVD) was a confounding factor. Upon exclusion of CVD individuals, elevation of 1-deoxysphingosine (1-deoxySO) in the DILI group emerged. Notably, 1-deoxySO values did not correlate with ALT values. While 1-deoxySO was elevated in all DILI cases, only intrinsic DILI cases concomitantly displayed reduction of select shorter chain sphingoid bases. Significant perturbation of the sphingolipid metabolism observed in this small exploratory clinical study is discussed and put into context, in the consideration that sphingolipids might contribute to the onset and progression of DILI, and that circulating sphingoid bases may function as mechanistic markers to study DILI pathophysiology.
A Novel Framework on Security and Energy Enhancement Based on Internet of Medical Things for Healthcare 5.0
Authors: Natarajan Rajesh , Lokesh Gururaj Harinahallo , Flammini Francesco , Premkumar Anitha , Venkatesan Vinoth Kumar , Gupta Shashi Kant
Published: February 2023

Background: The Internet of Medical Things, often known as IoMT, is a revolutionary method of connecting medical equipment and the software that operates on it to the computer networks that are used in healthcare 5.0. The rapid development of smart medical devices on IoMT platforms has led to the adoption of major technologies in the modernization of healthcare procedures, the administration of diseases, and the improvement in patient treatment standards. The IoMT offers a variety of cloud-based applications, including data exchange, data screening, patient surveillance, information collection and analysis, and hygienic hospital attention. Wireless sensor networks (WSNs) are responsible for both the gathering and delivery of data. Method: The safety of patients and their right to privacy are the top priorities in the healthcare sector. Anyone may see and modify the patient’s health information because the data from these smart gadgets are sent wirelessly through the airways. Hence, we developed a unique elliptic curve cryptography-based energy-efficient routing protocol (ECC-EERP) to provide a high level of security and energy efficient system for healthcare 5.0. Data can be encrypted using the key-based method ECC-EERP. It employs pairs of public and private keys to decrypt and encrypts web traffic and reducse the amount of energy needed by a WSN in aggregate. Result and Discussion: The efficiency of the suggested method was evaluated in comparison with that of a variety of existing methods. The suggested method was evaluated with the use of many parameters such as security, encryption throughput, energy efficiency, network lifetime, communication overload, computation time, and implementation cost. The results showed that the proposed technique provides enhanced security and energy efficiency.