bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Public Health Measures to Address the Impact of Climate Change on Population Health—Proceedings from a Stakeholder Workshop
Authors: Jabakhanji Samira Barbara , Arnold Stephen Robert , Aunan Kristin , Chersich Matthew Francis , Jakobsson Kristina , McGushin Alice , Kelly Ina , Roche Niall , Stauffer Anne , Stanistreet Debbi
Published: October 2022

Background: The World Health Organization identified climate change as the 21st century’s biggest health threat. This study aimed to identify the current knowledge base, evidence gaps, and implications for climate action and health policymaking to address the health impact of climate change, including in the most underserved groups. Methods: The Horizon-funded project ENBEL (‘Enhancing Belmont Research Action to support EU policy making on climate change and health’) organised a workshop at the 2021-European Public Health conference. Following presentations of mitigation and adaptation strategies, seven international researchers and public health experts participated in a panel discussion linking climate change and health. Two researchers transcribed and thematically analysed the panel discussion recording. Results: Four themes were identified: (1) ‘Evidence is key’ in leading the climate debate, (2) the need for ‘messaging about health for policymaking and behaviour change’ including health co-benefits of climate action, (3) existing ‘inequalities between and within countries’, and (4) ‘insufficient resources and funding’ to implement national health adaptation plans and facilitate evidence generation and climate action, particularly in vulnerable populations. Conclusion: More capacity is needed to monitor health effects and inequities, evaluate adaptation and mitigation interventions, address current under-representations of low- or middle-income countries, and translate research into effective policymaking.
Ensiling Improved the Colonization and Degradation Ability of Irpex lacteus in Wheat Straw
Authors: Niu Dongze , Zhu Peng , Pan Tingting , Yu Changyong , Li Chunyu , Ren Jianjun , Xu Chuncheng
Published: October 2022

To develop a non-thermal method to replace steam autoclaving for white-rot fungi fermentation, Irpex lacteus spawn was inoculated in wheat straw (WSI) or ensiled WS (WSI) at varying ratios of 10%, 20%, 30%, 40%, and 50%, and incubated at 28 °C for 28 days to determine the effects of the ensiling and inoculation ratio on the colonization and degradation ability of Irpex lacteus in wheat straw (WS). The results demonstrate that ensiling effectively inhibited the growth of aerobic bacteria and molds, as well as other harmful microorganisms in WS, which created a favorable condition for the growth of I. lacteus. After the treatment of I. lacteus, the pH of EWSI decreased to below 5, while that of WSI, except for the feedstocks of WSI-50%, was around 7, indicating that I. lacteus colonized well in the ensiled WS because the substrates dominated by I. lacteus are generally acidic. Correspondingly, except for the molds in WSI-50% samples, the counts of other microorganisms in WSI, such as aerobic bacteria and molds, were significantly higher than those in EWSI (p < 0.05), indicating that contaminant microorganisms had a competitive advantage in non-ensiled substrates. Incubation with I. lacteus did not significantly affect the cellulose content of all samples. However, the NDS content of EWSI was significantly higher than that of WSI (p < 0.05), and the hemicellulose and lignin contents were significantly lower than the latter (p < 0.05), except for the NDS and hemicellulose contents of WSI-50% samples. Correlation analysis revealed a stronger negative correlation between NDS content and the contents of hemicellulose, cellulose, and lignin in EWSI, which could be caused by the destruction of lignin and hemicellulose and the conversion from structural carbohydrates to fungal polysaccharides or other compounds in NDS form. Even for WSI-50% samples, the sugar yield of WS treated with I. lacteus improved with an increasing inoculation ratio, but the ratio was not higher than that of the raw material. However, the sugar yield of EWSI increased by 51–80%, primarily owing to the degradation of lignin and hemicellulose. Above all, ensiling improves the colonization ability of I. lacteus in WS, which promotes the degradation of lignin and hemicellulose and the enzymic hydrolysis of cellulose, so combining ensiling and I. lacteus fermentation has promising potential in the pretreatment of WS.
When It Comes to Screen Golf and Baseball, What Do Participants Think?
Authors: Seong Bo-Hyun , Hong Chang-Yu
Published: October 2022

Screen golf and baseball activities have been popular as virtual game content and sport activities, but no one has cogently explained why they are attractive to Korean urban society. Our research team analyzed the decision-making process for participating in screen golf and baseball through a widely used technology acceptance model (TAM) to explain the relationship between perceived ease of use, perceived usefulness, personal attitude, and individual intention. Structural equation modeling (SEM) verified five hypotheses established through a literature review, and 400 effective samples obtained through online surveys provided material for analysis. As a result of the analysis, perceived usefulness was the most important variable leading to participation in virtual reality sports. Based on this finding, we could conclude that the successful popularization of virtual reality sports depends on the development of applications sophisticated enough to provide practical usefulness to participants, such as physical posture correction and an improvement in personal athletic skills.
Development and Evaluation of Machine Learning-Based High-Cost Prediction Model Using Health Check-Up Data by the National Health Insurance Service of Korea
Authors: Choi Yeongah , An Jiho , Ryu Seiyoung , Kim Jaekyeong
Published: October 2022

In this study, socioeconomic, medical treatment, and health check-up data from 2010 to 2017 of the National Health Insurance Service (NHIS) of Korea were analyzed. This year’s socioeconomic, treatment, and health check-up data are used to develop a predictive model for high medical expenses in the next year. The characteristic of this study is to derive important variables related to the high cost of domestic medical expenses users by using data on health check-up items conducted by the country. In this study, we tried to classify data and evaluate its performance using classification supervised learning algorithms for high-cost medical expense prediction. Supervised learning for predicting high-cost medical expenses was performed using the logistic regression model, random forest, and XGBoost, which have been known to result the best performance and explanatory power among the machine learning algorithms used in previous studies. Our experimental results show that the XGBoost model had the best performance with 77.1% accuracy. The contribution of this study is to identify the variables that affect the prediction of high-cost medical expenses by analyzing the medical bills using the health check-up variables and the Korea Classification Disease (KCD) large group as input variables. Through this study, it was confirmed that musculoskeletal disorders (M) and respiratory diseases (J), which are the most frequently treated diseases, as important KCD disease groups for high-cost prediction in Korea, affect the future high cost prediction. In addition, it was confirmed that malignant neoplasia diseases (C) with high medical cost per treatment are a group of diseases related to high future medical cost prediction. Unlike previous studies, it is the result of analyzing all disease data, so it is expected that the study will be more meaningful when compared with the results of other national health check-up data.
Predictors of Adherence to Cancer-Related mHealth Apps in Cancer Patients Undergoing Oncological or Follow-Up Treatment—A Scoping Review
Authors: Armbruster Christoph , Knaub Marie , Farin-Glattacker Erik , von der Warth Rieka
Published: October 2022

mHealth interventions in cancer care are being increasingly applied in various settings. Nevertheless, there is a phenomenon wherein individuals show different usage patterns, which could affect the effectiveness of the intervention. In general, it is important to know the predictors of app adherence and usage patterns to improve the design and content (i.e., tailoring). The aim of this scoping review was to provide an overview of predictors of adherence to cancer-related mHealth apps in cancer patients. A systematic literature search was conducted in March 2021 in the electronic databases PubMed, CINAHL, and PsychINFO without limitation in year, focusing on cancer patients undergoing oncological or follow-up treatment using mHealth apps. The initial database search yielded a total of N = 8035 records. After title, abstract, and full-text screening, 10 articles met inclusion criteria. Studies were published between 2013 and 2020. Studies focused on children and adolescents (2/10) as well as adults (8/10). The predictors identified could be categorized into sociodemographic variables, cancer-related factors and others. This study provides an initial insight into relevant predictors of app adherence in cancer patients. However, no clear predictor of increased app adherence was found. Further research of usage patterns is therefore needed so that mHealth interventions can be tailored during development.
Physical Fitness, Screen Time and Sleep Habits According to Obesity Levels in Schoolchildren: Findings from the Health Survey of the Extreme South of Chile
Authors: Carrasco-Marín Fernanda , Petermann-Rocha Fanny , Martorell Miquel , Concha-Cisternas Yenny , Parra-Soto Solange , Zapata-Lamana Rafael , Albornoz-Guerrero Javier , García-Pérez-de-Sevilla Guillermo , Parra-Rizo Maria Antonia , Cigarroa Igor
Published: October 2022

Obesity is a worry because it is associated with a greater burden of disease, and it has been shown to be related to the health habits and physical condition of children and adolescents. Objective: To associate physical fitness, screen time, and sleep habits with the different categories of obesity in schoolchildren from the extreme south of Chile. Methods: 583 schoolchildren were included in this cross-sectional analysis. The screen time and sleep habits were measured with the Sleep Self-Report questionnaire, while the physical fitness was assessed with the Alpha Fitness test battery. The Body Mass Index/age (BMI/age) and the Waist-to-Height ratio (WtHr) were used to define adiposity using the following categories: healthy weight/low-risk waist-to-height ratio (H/LR), healthy weight/high-risk waist-to-height ratio (H/HR), overweight/low-risk waist to height ratio (O/LR), and overweight/high-risk waist to height ratio (O/HR). Results: A considerable number of schoolchildren (23.2%) presented sleep problems, while the mean screen time was 9.3 (95% CI: 8.4; 10.1) hours/day. Schoolchildren classified as H/HR showed better physical fitness than the O/HR group but worse physical fitness than the H/LR group. Conclusions: Significant differences were evidenced in the physical fitness between the adiposity categories, which could open future lines of research concerning the characterization of the healthy weight-obese adiposity categories in children.
Comparing Resampling Algorithms and Classifiers for Modeling Traffic Risk Prediction
Authors: Wang Bo , Zhang Chi , Wong Yiik Diew , Hou Lei , Zhang Min , Xiang Yujie
Published: October 2022

Road infrastructure has significant effects on road traffic safety and needs further examination. In terms of traffic crash prediction, recent studies have started to develop deep learning classification algorithms. However, given the uncertainty of traffic crashes, predicting the traffic risk potential of different road sections remains a challenge. To bridge this knowledge gap, this study investigated a real-world expressway and collected its traffic crash data between 2013 and 2020. Then, according to the time-spatial density ratio (Pts), road sections were assigned into three classes corresponding to low, medium, and high risk levels of traffic. Next, different classifiers were compared that were trained using the transformed and resampled feature data to construct a traffic crash risk prediction model. Last, but not least, partial dependence plots (PDPs) were employed to interpret the results and analyze the importance of individual features describing the geometry, pavement, structure, and weather conditions. The results showed that a variety of data balancing algorithms improved the performance of the classifiers, the ensemble classifier superseded the others in terms of the performance metrics, and the combined SMOTEENN and random forest algorithms improved the classification accuracy the most. In the future, the proposed traffic crash risk prediction method will be tested in more road maintenance and design safety assessment scenarios.
Effect of 8-Week β-Alanine Supplementation on CRP, IL-6, Body Composition, and Bio-Motor Abilities in Elite Male Basketball Players
Authors: Turcu Ioan , Oancea Bogdan , Chicomban Mihaela , Simion Gabriel , Simon Sorin , Negriu Tiuca Codruța Ioana , Ordean Mircea Nicolae , Petrovici Alexandru Gabriel , Nicolescu Șeușan Nicoleta Adina , Hăisan Petronela Lăcrămioara , Hășmășan Ioan Teodor , Hulpuș Alexandru Ioan , Stoian Iulian , Ciocan Cătălin Vasile , Curițianu Ioana Maria
Published: October 2022

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of 8-week β-alanine supplementation on C-Reactive Protein (CRP), interleukin-6 (IL-6), body composition, and bio-motor abilities in elite male basketball players. Twenty male basketball players (age: 23 + 0.6 years; body mass: 78.3 + 4.8 kg; height:185.3 + 5.4 cm, %BF, 15.2 ± 4.8) volunteered to participate in this study. They were divided into a β-alanine group (BG, N = 10) and a placebo group (PG, N = 10). All players were preparing for university competitions and had played for over five years. Players used 6.4 g/d of β-alanine in BG and maltodextrin in PG. The participants were involved in regular basketball training three months before the study. CRP, IL-6, body composition parameters, and bio-motor abilities were measured before starting the exercises and after completing the eight-week training period. The research findings showed a significant decrease in CRP and IL-6 and an increase in anaerobic peak power between the pre-test and post-test, as well as between BG and PG groups (p < 0.05). Although the other measured factors were a relative improvement compared to the pre-test and also compared to PG, these changes were not statistically significant (p < 0.05). Eight weeks of β-alanine supplementation ameliorated increases in IL-6 and CRP associated with in-season physical stressors in collegiate basketball players. These changes in pro-inflammatory cytokines suggest that β-alanine supplementation may be a useful nutritional strategy for immune regulation and can also improve anaerobic performance compared to PG.
Creation of a Pilot School Health Research Network in an English Education Infrastructure to Improve Adolescent Health and Well-Being: A Study Protocol
Authors: Sharp Catherine A. , Widnall Emily , Albers Patricia N. , Willis Kate , Capner Colin , Kidger Judi , de Vocht Frank , Kaner Eileen , van Sluijs Esther M. F. , Fairbrother Hannah , Jago Russell , Campbell Rona
Published: October 2022

Schools play a significant role in promoting health and well-being and the reciprocal links between health and educational attainment are well-evidenced. Despite recognition of the beneficial impact of school-based health improvement programmes, significant barriers to improving health and well-being within schools remain. This study pilots a School Health Research Network in the South West of England (SW-SHRN), a systems-based health intervention bringing together schools, academic health researchers and public health and/or education teams in local authorities to share knowledge and expertise to improve the health and well-being of young people. A maximum of 20 secondary schools will be recruited to the pilot SW-SHRN. All students in Years 8 (age 12–13) and 10 (age 14–15) will be invited to complete a health and well-being questionnaire, generating a cohort of approximately 5000 adolescents. School environment questionnaires will also be completed with each school to build a regional picture of existing school health policies and programmes. Each school will be provided with a report summarising data for their students benchmarked against data for all schools in the network. Quantitative analysis will model associations between health risk behaviours and mental health outcomes and a qualitative process evaluation will explore the feasibility and sustainability of the network. This study will create adolescent health data to help provide schools and local authorities with timely and robust information on the health and well-being of their students and help them to identify areas in which public health interventions may be required. SW-SHRN will also help public health professionals focus their resources in the areas most at need.
Dynamic Taping Improves Landing Biomechanics in Young Volleyball Athletes
Authors: Wu Chih-Kuan , Lin Yin-Chou , Lai Chi-Ping , Wang Hsin-Ping , Hsieh Tsung-Hsun
Published: October 2022

Poor landing biomechanics such as hip adduction, internal rotation, and knee valgus have been recognized as modifiable risk factors of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury. Dynamic taping is a newly developed technique with better elasticity and extensibility, which could change the landing biomechanics. The purpose of this study was to identify whether dynamic taping could improve lower limb biomechanics in athletes. Forty-two high school volleyball athletes (21 males and 21 females) participated in the study. Biomechanical properties, including the landing error scoring system (LESS) and anterior–posterior knee laxity, were evaluated before and after the application of dynamic tape while athletes performed the jump-landing task. As a result, we found that dynamic tape significantly reduced the faulty landing strategy by an average of 0.64 errors in all volleyball athletes. The effect induced by dynamic tape was more prominent in female athletes and high-risk athletes (1.1 errors). Furthermore, the application of dynamic tape improved anterior–posterior knee laxity, especially in female athletes (p < 0.001). In conclusion, we found that dynamic tape provided a short-term, passive, and clinically significant means to normalize inadequate biomechanics during landing in athlete groups, which could have a protective effect and further alleviate the risk of ACL injury.
Competent Witnesses: How Penitentiary Workers Explain the Violence in Italian Prisons during the COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: Testoni Ines , Viezzoli Davide , Biancalani Gianmarco , Armezzani Maria , Zamperini Adriano
Published: October 2022

Background: During the COVID-19 pandemic, in the Italian prison of Santa Maria Capua Vetere (SMCV), prison police repressed a riot with extreme violence, bringing the state of prisons and the conditions of prisoners back to the attention of the Italian public opinion. Objective: This exploratory study aimed to collect the experiences and the competent opinions of the social and health personnel of Italian prisons regarding the episode of violence that happened in SMCV; the general state of health of the Italian prison system was explored, too, together with the collection of proposals for interventions aimed at the eradication of violence in prison. Method: The study employed a qualitative research design. Eighteen social-health workers from 12 Italian prisons were interviewed using in-depth interviews of ~60 min each that were conducted and recorded via Skype video calls. The interview transcripts were analyzed with qualitative reflexive thematic analysis (RTA) to identify the most relevant and recursive themes. Results: Four themes were identified: (1) reactions and thoughts about the events of SMCV; (2) structural problems of Italian prison police; (3) Italian prison system; and (4) reform proposals. Conclusions: A new and deeper awareness of the suffering of the current Italian penitentiary system emerged, together with courageous reform proposals that can restore dignity and centrality to the re-education of the detainees, preventing further future violence.
The Increasing Population Movements in the 21st Century: A Call for the E-Register of Health-Related Data Integrating Health Care Systems in Europe
Authors: Dziedzic Arkadiusz , Riad Abanoub , Tanasiewicz Marta , Attia Sameh
Published: October 2022

The escalating mass influx of people to Europe in the 21st century due to geopolitical and economic reasons as well as food crises ignites significant challenges for national health care services. The lack or disruption of cross-border, e-transferred, health-related data negatively affects the health outcome and continuous care, particularly in medically compromised individuals with an unsettled status. Proposal: The urgent need of a structured database, in the form of a health-related data register funded by the European Union that allows a swift exchange of crucial medical data, was discussed to flag ever-increasing migrants’ health problems, with a primary aim to support an adequate health care provision for underserved people who are at risk of deteriorating health. The data security information technology aspects, with a proposed and drafted structure of an e-health register, were succinctly highlighted. Conclusions: Focusing on long-term benefits and considering future waves of mass relocation, an investment in a health-related data register in Europe could vastly reduce health care disparities between minority groups and improve epidemiological situations with regard to major illnesses, including common, communicable diseases as well as oncological and infectious conditions. Commissioners, policymakers, and stakeholders are urged to continue a collective action to ensure vulnerable people can access health services by responding to the ongoing global migration crisis.
Impact of Soil Fertilized with Biomass Ash on Depth-Related Variability of Culturable Bacterial Diversity and Selected Physicochemical Parameters in Spring Barley Cultivation
Authors: Pastuszczak Miłosz , Stanek-Tarkowska Jadwiga , Kačániová Miroslava
Published: October 2022

This study investigated the effect of different doses of fertilization with biomass combustion ash (Salix viminalis L. willow) on changes in the biological, chemical, and physical properties of soil. The experiment was carried out on podzolic and chernozem soils in a one-way field experiment (fertilization dose: control (without fertilization), NPK (nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and potassium (K)), 100, 200, 300, 400, 500 kg K2O ha−1). The biomass ash was characterized by a pH value of 12.83 ± 0.68 and a high content of macronutrients. The samples were collected from 0–5, 10–15, and 20–25 cm soil layers under the cultivation of spring barley (Hordeum vulgare L) cv. Planet in April and August 2021. Mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) was used for microbiological analyses, which revealed the presence of 53 culturable species from 11 genera: Bacillus, Pseudomonas, Paenibacillus, Lysinibacillus, Pseudarthrobacter, Arthrobacter, Staphylococcus, Paenarthrobacter, Micrococcus, Rhodococcus, and Flavobacterium. The podzolic and chernozem soils exhibited the presence of 28 and 44 culturable species, respectively. The study showed an increase in the number of microorganisms in the top layer of the soil profile. However, the number of bacteria decreased at the depths of 10–15 cm and 20–25 cm. With depth, the bulk density (BD) and moisture increased.
Analysis of the Number and Type of Vaccinations Performed among Polish Soldiers in 2018–2021
Authors: Zawadzka Magdalena , Ejchman-Pac Ewelina
Published: October 2022

Vaccination is a very common topic, but it is rarely raised or discussed with respect to military members. Soldiers are one of the main professional groups to be immunized on a regular basis. The military actively participates in research on new vaccine preparations. This paper presents data from 2018–2021 on vaccination among Polish soldiers. The material obtained from the Central Register of Vaccination for Professional Soldiers was analyzed using descriptive statistical methods. The number of injections performed in a given period depends on the location of the ongoing missions and the vaccination schedule specific to a given Polish Military Contingent. In Poland, soldiers undergo preventive vaccinations in accordance with the scheme developed by the Armed Forces Operational Command, taking into account the specific nature of the service, epidemiological risks and the calendar of current preventive vaccinations. Soldiers serving abroad are immunized against typhoid, hepatitis A, hepatitis B, rabies, measles, tick-borne encephalitis, Japanese encephalitis, polio, diphtheria, meningococcal disease, chickenpox, cholera and yellow fever. Regular vaccinations for soldiers are necessary to minimize the spread of infectious diseases, and they have a beneficial effect upon the effectiveness of military operations.
Inter-Regional Patients’ Migration for Hospital Orthopedic Intensive Rehabilitation: The Italian Experience
Authors: Guarducci Giovanni , Messina Gabriele , Carbone Simona , Urbani Andrea , Nante Nicola
Published: October 2022

Background: Following the introduction of administrative federalism in the Italian National Health Service, inter-regional patients’ mobility has become increasingly relevant because, in addition to being an indirect index of the quality of care, it has important economic and financial implications. This study aimed to evaluate the fulfillment of the need for hospital orthopedic intensive rehabilitation on site and care-seeking patients’ migration to other regions. Methods: From 2011 to 2019, the data of intensive orthopedic rehabilitation extracts from the Hospital Discharge Cards provided by Italian Ministry of Health were analyzed. We studied the hospital networks of every Italian region (catchment areas). The epidemiological flows of inter-regional mobility were analyzed with Gandy’s Nomogram, while the financial flows were analyzed through Attraction Absorption and Escape Production Indexes. Results: Gandy’s Nomogram showed that only Piedmont, Lombardy, A.P. of Trento, E. Romagna, Umbria and Abruzzo had good public hospital planning for intensive orthopedic rehabilitation, with a positive balance for all studied periods. Lombardy, E. Romagna, Piedmont, Veneto and Latium have absorbed approximately 70% of all financial flows (about EUR 60.5 million). Conclusions: Only six regions appear to be able to satisfy the care needs of their residents, with a positive epidemiological and financial balance for all studied periods.
Appealing to Individual Fears or Social Norms: How Can the Public Be Persuaded to Accept COVID-19 Vaccination through Risk Communication?
Authors: Wang Fangfei , Zhang Sifan , Lei Lei
Published: October 2022

In the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, improving the public’s understanding of the increased efficacy and safety of the COVID-19 vaccines through scientific risk communication campaigns, promoting the public’s acceptance and willingness to receive COVID-19 vaccines, and forming collective actions at the social level will deeply impact on the effect of COVID-19 prevention in various countries, which is also a key factor that governments need to address urgently. Previous research on risk communication has mostly focused on microscopic perspectives of how to stimulate individual self-protection behaviors by awakening threat and efficacy perceptions; however, a lack of observation of social collective actions means there is a risk of failure regarding COVID-19 epidemic reduction and prevention. In this regard, this study was based on the issue of vaccination in the context of the COVID-19 epidemic through a highly regulated and controlled research experiment in China (n = 165), which was designed to examine the impact of two risk communication frameworks, appealing to individual fears and appealing to social norms, on the public’s acceptance and recommendations of COVID-19 vaccines, thus outlining the path of action from individual protection to collective epidemic prevention. Both the “fear appeals” framework and the “social norms” framework were found to have a positive effect on the Chinese public’s vaccination acceptance. Specifically, social norms information may increase vaccination acceptance by enhancing the public’s perceptions of social responsibility, while fear appeals information may reduce their perceptions of threat and social pressure to get the vaccine. Female and highly educated groups were more likely to refuse to recommend vaccination after reading the risk communication information. These results can be a useful supplement to the theory and practice of risk communication.
Vitamin D and Swimming Exercise Prevent Obesity in Rats under a High-Fat Diet via Targeting FATP4 and TLR4 in the Liver and Adipose Tissue
Authors: Kolieb Eman , Maher Shymaa Ahmed , Shalaby Mohammed Nader , Alsuhaibani Amnah Mohammed , Alharthi Afaf , Hassan Wael A. , El-Sayed Karima
Published: October 2022

The prevalence of obesity has risen in the last decades, and it has caused massive health burdens on people’s health, especially metabolic and cardiovascular issues. The risk of vitamin D insufficiency is increased by obesity, because adipose tissue alters both the requirements for and bioavailability of vitamin D. Exercise training is acknowledged as having a significant and long-term influence on body weight control; the favorable impact of exercise on obesity and obesity-related co-morbidities has been demonstrated via various mechanisms. The current work illustrated the effects of vitamin D supplementation and exercise on obesity induced by a high-fat diet (HFD) and hepatic steatosis in rats and explored how fatty acid transport protein-4 (FATP4) and Toll-like receptor-4 antibodies (TLR4) might be contributing factors to obesity and related hepatic steatosis. Thirty male albino rats were divided into five groups: group 1 was fed a normal-fat diet, group 2 was fed an HFD, group 3 was fed an HFD and given vitamin D supplementation, group 4 was fed an HFD and kept on exercise, and group 5 was fed an HFD, given vitamin D, and kept on exercise. The serum lipid profile adipokines, interleukin-6 (IL-6), and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) were analyzed, and the pathological changes in adipose and liver tissues were examined. In addition, the messenger–ribonucleic acid (mRNA) expression of FATP4 and immunohistochemical expression of TLR4 in adipose and liver tissues were evaluated. Vitamin D supplementation and exercise improved HFD-induced weight gain and attenuated hepatic steatosis, along with improving the serum lipid profile, degree of inflammation, and serum adipokine levels. The expression of FATP4 and TLR4 in both adipose tissue and the liver was downregulated; it was noteworthy that the group that received vitamin D and was kept on exercise showed also improvement in the histopathological picture of this group. According to the findings of this research, the protective effect of vitamin D and exercise against obesity and HFD-induced hepatic steatosis is associated with the downregulation of FATP4 and TLR4, as well as a reduction in inflammation.
Climate Change, Public Health and Human Rights
Authors: Meier Benjamin Mason , Bustreo Flavia , Gostin Lawrence O.
Published: October 2022

Climate change poses a cataclysmic threat to public health and human rights [...]
Key Factors, Planning Strategy and Policy for Low-Carbon Transport Development in Developing Cities of China
Authors: Yang Liu , Wang Yuanqing , Lian Yujun , Guo Zhongming , Liu Yuanyuan , Wu Zhouhao , Zhang Tieyue
Published: October 2022

Exploring key impact factors and their effects on urban residents’ transport carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions is significant for effective low-carbon transport planning. Researchers face the model uncertainty problem to seek a rational and better explanatory model and the key variables in the model set containing various factors after they are arranged and combined. This paper uses the Bayesian Model Averaging method to solve the above problem, explore the key variables, and determine their relative significance and averaging effects. Beijing, Xi’an, and Wuhan are selected as three case cities for their representation of developing Chinese cities. We found that the initial key factor increasing transport emissions is the high dependence on cars, and the second is the geographical location factor that much more suburban residents suffer longer commuting. Developing satellite city rank first for reducing transport emissions due to more local trips with an average short distance, the second is the metro accessibility, and the third is polycentric form. Key planning strategies and policies are proposed: (i) combining policies of car restriction based on vehicle plate number, encouraging clean fuel cars, a carbon tax on oil uses, and rewarding public transit passengers; (ii) fostering subcenters’ strong industries to develop self-contained polycentric structures and satellite cities, and forming employment and life circle within 5 km radius; and (iii) integrating bus and rail transit services in the peripheral areas and suburbs and increasing the integration level of muti-modes transferring in transport hubs. The findings will offer empirical evidence and reference value in developing cities globally.
Promote or Demote? Investigating the Impacts of China’s Transferable Development Rights Program on Farmers’ Income: A Case Study from Chongqing
Authors: Cheng Long , Xu Zhengchun , Li Jintao
Published: October 2022

China has been undergoing rapid urbanization and industrialization process since the adoption of economic reform and open-door policy in 1978, which is leading to tremendous urban growth and encroachment on rural farmland. To address the conflicts between urban development and farmland protection, the Chinese government introduced the transferable development rights (TDR) program named the Link Policy, and it was popularized nationwide given the tremendous land revenue from policy implementation. However, as farmers are the key stakeholders, the impacts of the policy on farmers’ income need to be examined and justified. Thus, this paper aims to fill this gap by taking Chongqing as a case study. The synthetic control method was introduced to construct a synthetic Chongqing without the policy implementation using the 49 municipal cities and Chongqing during 2000–2017. Findings from the analysis indicate that Chongqing’s TDR program significantly promoted farmers’ income at the beginning of the policy implementation, while the positive impacts became weak afterward. Based on these findings, a few policy suggestions including a fair revenue distribution scheme and protection of farmers’ land use rights are offered to facilitate the policy implementation and increase farmers’ household income in the coming future.
Effects of Biofilms on Trace Metal Adsorption on Plastics in Freshwater Systems
Authors: Liu Zhilin , Adyel Tanveer M. , Wang Zhiyuan , Wu Jun , Liu Jianchao , Miao Lingzhan , Hou Jun
Published: October 2022

The formation of plastisphere on plastics and their potential impact on freshwater ecosystems have drawn increasing attention. However, there is still limited information about the effects of plastisphere on the heavy metal adsorption capacity and the related mechanism of plastic debris in different freshwaters. Herein, the trace metal adsorption capacity, kinetics and adsorption mechanisms of virgin and biofilm-covered plastic debris were investigated. Polypropylene (PP) and polyethylene terephthalate (PET) plastic debris were placed in three freshwaters (Xuanwu Lake, Donghu Lake and the Qinhuai River) for 45 days to incubate biofilms. Batch adsorption experiments were performed to compare the adsorption processes of trace metal on virgin and biofilm-covered plastics. Results showed that biofilms increase the adsorption of metals on plastics, and the adsorption isotherms were well fitted by the Langmuir model. Furthermore, the adsorption capacities for lead (Pb(II)) were higher than that of cadmium (Cd(II)) and zinc (Zn(II)), with 256.21 and 277.38 μg/g (Pb(II)) adsorbed in biofilm-covered PP and PET, respectively, in Xuanwu Lake. The adsorption kinetics of metals on plastic debris were significantly affected by the biofilms, by switching the intraparticle diffusion for virgin plastic debris to film diffusion for the biofilm-covered plastic debris. Moreover, the complexation of functional groups within the biofilms might mainly contribute to the increases of metal adsorption, involving the participation of oxygen and nitrogen groups. Overall, these results suggested that biofilms reinforce the potential role of plastics as a carrier of trace metals in freshwaters.
Self-Medication Behaviors of Chinese Residents and Consideration Related to Drug Prices and Medical Insurance Reimbursement When Self-Medicating: A Cross-Sectional Study
Authors: Zhang Ziwei , Ge Pu , Yan Mengyao , Niu Yuyao , Liu Diyue , Xiong Ping , Li Qiyu , Zhang Jinzi , Yu Wenli , Sun Xinying , Liu Zhizhong , Wu Yibo
Published: October 2022

Background: Self-medication has become a common phenomenon. Economic factors are important factors that affect the self-medication of residents. This study aimed to investigate the current status of self-medication behaviors in China and explored the related factors affecting considerations associated with medical insurance reimbursement or drug price in self-medication. Methods: A national cross-sectional investigation was conducted among Chinese people over 18 years old under a multi-stage sampling method through a questionnaire, which includes demographic sociological characteristics, self-medication behaviors and scales. The Chi-square test was used to analyze whether the respondents consider medical insurance reimbursement or drug price as an important factor when purchasing over-the-counter (OTC) drugs. Logistic regression was used to examine the associated factors of considering medical insurance reimbursement or drug price. Results: In total, 9256 respondents were included in this study; 37.52% of the respondents regarded drug prices as an important consideration, and 28.53% of the respondents attached great importance to medical insurance reimbursement. Elderly respondents who lived in the central region, had medical insurance, and had lower levels of health literacy were more likely to consider the medical insurance reimbursement, while respondents with high monthly family income as well as students were less likely to consider the same issue (p < 0.05). Respondents settled in the central and western regions, students, those without fixed occupations, those who suffered from chronic diseases, or those with lower health literacy were more likely to consider drug prices, while the respondents with bachelor degrees, urban population and high per capita monthly income were less likely to consider the drug prices (p < 0.05). Conclusion: Self-medication behaviors with OTC drugs were prevalent in China, and consideration factors of medical insurance reimbursement or drug prices were related to socio-demographic characteristics and health literacy. There is a need to take measures to reduce the economic burden of self-medication, improve the health literacy of residents and strengthen public health education.
Emotion-Focused Mobile App for Promoting Self-Compassion, Self-Protection, and Self-Criticism
Authors: Halamová Júlia , Mihaľo Jakub , Bakoš Lukáš
Published: October 2022

The COVID-19 pandemic has changed our daily lives and restricted access to traditional psychological interventions. Hence there is an immediate and growing demand for accessible and scalable mental health solutions. Emotion-focused training for self-compassion and self-protection was developed and distributed using mobile phone technologies, and its effectiveness was tested. The available research sample consisted of 97 participants with a mean age of 26.06 years and a standard deviation of 10.53. Participants using the mobile app underwent a 14-day program aimed at reducing self-criticism while increasing self-compassion and self-protection. Pre- and post-measurements were collected. The results showed a statistically significant medium effect on self-compassion, self-criticism, and self-protection performance and a significant small effect on self-protection distress. The finding that a 14-day mobile app was able to foster well-being in the form of self-compassion, self-protection, and self-criticism is promising. It indicates the potential for individuals to obtain help through the use of remote tools such as MHapps for a fraction of the usual cost, at their own pace, and without other restrictions.
An Approach for Fall Prediction Based on Kinematics of Body Key Points Using LSTM
Authors: Mobasheri Bahareh , Tabbakh Seyed Reza Kamel , Forghani Yahya
Published: October 2022

Many studies have used sensors attached to adults in order to collect signals by which one can carry out analyses to predict falls. In addition, there are research studies in which videos and photographs were used to extract and analyze body posture and body kinematics. The present study proposes an integrated approach consisting of body kinematics and machine learning. The model data consist of video recordings collected in the UP-Fall Detection dataset experiment. Three models based on long-short-term memory (LSTM) network—4p-SAFE, 5p-SAFE, and 6p-SAFE for four, five, and six parameters—were developed in this work. The parameters needed for these models consist of some coordinates and angles extracted from videos. These models are easy to apply to the sequential images collected by ordinary cameras, which are installed everywhere, especially on aged-care premises. The accuracy of predictions was as good as 98%. Finally, the authors discuss that, by applying these models, the health and wellness of adults and elderlies will be considerably promoted.
Fear of Death during COVID-19 Does Not Explain Post-Infection Depression Symptoms beyond Reported Symptoms during the Infection in COVID-19 Survivors
Authors: Speichert Leoni-Johanna , Schweda Adam , Witzke Oliver , Konik Margarethe , Rohn Hana , Stettner Mark , Musche Venja , Herchert Klaas , Fink Madeleine , Geiger Sheila , Bäuerle Alexander , Skoda Eva-Maria , Teufel Martin , Dinse Hannah
Published: October 2022

The COVID-19 pandemic poses an unprecedented global burden to the general population and, in particular, to individuals who have been infected with SARS-CoV-2. In the context of the discussion about “post COVID-19”, the aim of the study was to advance research on mental health and long-term consequences after COVID-19. In total, 214 COVID-19 survivors (female: 54.2%; hospitalized: 36.7%) participated in the repeated cross-sectional assessment. In addition to demographic data, mental and somatic symptoms, fear of death at the time of infection, and depressive (PHQ-8) and generalized anxiety symptoms (GAD-7) were assessed. Results showed an increased prevalence of depressive symptoms and symptoms of generalized anxiety compared to observations in the general population prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. Psychological symptoms of depression and reported levels of fear of death during the SARS-CoV-2 infection showed a negative association with the time interval since COVID-19 diagnosis. Furthermore, although fear of death during the acute COVID-19 was related to depression and generalized anxiety, this association was predominantly explained by the presence of mental and somatic symptoms. In conclusion, initial fear of death does not impact mental health beyond the overall symptom burden. Furthermore, depressive symptoms appear to vanish across time since infection.
Development of the Children and Adolescents Physical Activity and Sedentary Questionnaire (CAPAS-Q): Psychometric Validity and Clinical Interpretation
Authors: Fillon Alicia , Pereira Bruno , Vanhelst Jérémy , Baran Joanna , Masurier Julie , Guirado Terry , Boirie Yves , Duclos Martine , Julian Valérie , Thivel David
Published: October 2022

Background: Pediatricians’ clinical practice and health interventions in youths require instruments with adequate psychometric properties to assess physical activity (PA), sedentary behaviors (SB), and their subdomains. Objective: To assess the psychometric properties of the Children and Adolescents Physical Activity and Sedentary-Questionnaire (CAPAS-Q) in healthy French children and adolescents. Methods: The CAPAS-Q has been developed through a rigorous collective procedure and consists of a 31 items self-administered questionnaire evaluating children’s 7-day PA and SB dimensions and subdomains. Participants (n = 103, aged 8–18 years old) completed the questionnaire twice (7 days apart) and wore an ActiGraph GT3X + accelerometer for 7 days. Anthropometric measurements and body composition were assessed. Results: Cronbach alpha for PA and SB dimensions were 0.71 and 0.68, respectively. Reproducibility was found moderate to good, with Lin’s coefficients of 0.69 and 0.68 for PA and SB dimensions, respectively. Reproducibility was higher for adolescents compared to children. PA dimension was positively correlated with moderate PA, vigorous PA, moderate to vigorous PA, and total PA times and negatively correlated with SB time (p < 0.05). SB dimension and screen time were positively correlated with SB time and negatively correlated with LPA, MPA, MVPA, and total PA times (p < 0.05). Spearman correlation coefficients were fair to moderate, ranging between 0.23–0.45. Conclusion: The CAPAS-Q proposes a reliable and valid evaluation of French children and adolescents’ PA and SB, providing clinicians with potential intervention levels to improve youth movement behaviors.
Synergistic Efficacy of Plaque Control with Intralesional Triamcinolone Acetonide Injection on Erosive Non-Gingival Oral Lichen Planus: A Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial
Authors: Zhao Wei , Lin Duanxian , Deng Shuzhi , Wang Shimeng , Guo Yiqing , Yang Jin , Shi Xueke , Zhou Hongmei
Published: October 2022

This study is the first time to assess the synergistic efficacy and safety of plaque control on erosive non-gingival oral lichen planus (OLP). A randomized, controlled, clinical trial with blind evaluation was designed, and 48 OLP patients with erosive non-gingival OLP lesions were randomly assigned to the experimental group (n = 25, receiving intralesional triamcinolone acetonide injection, periodontal scaling, and oral hygiene instruction) and the control group (n = 23, only receiving intralesional triamcinolone acetonide injection) once a week for 2 weeks. Erosion size, pain level, plaque index, and community periodontal index were measured at every visit. Patients cured of erosion were followed up for 3 months to evaluate the recurrence rate. Adverse reactions were also recorded. At day 14 ± 2, the experimental group showed a higher completely healed percentage of erosion, a greater reduction of erosion size and pain level. However, no significant difference was observed in the recurrence rate. No participants had any severe adverse reactions. In conclusion, an improvement was observed in patients with plaque control, and future studies with larger sample sizes are needed to reinforce the external validity of this study.