bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Role of Specialized Pro-Resolving Mediators in Neuropathic Pain
Authors: Leuti Alessandro , Fava Marina , Pellegrini Niccolò , Maccarrone Mauro
Published: August 2021

Inflammation and neuroinflammation are critical mechanisms in the generation of neuropathic pain that is experienced in several chronic diseases. The aberrant inflammation that triggers this pathophysiologic process can be tracked down to an exacerbated immune response, which establishes a vicious cycle and continuously recruits inflammatory cells by inducing chronic tissue damage. Recently, impairment of the cellular and molecular machinery orchestrated by specialized pro-resolving mediators (SPMs)—i.e., endogenous lipids termed resolvins, protectins, maresins, and lipoxins that confine the inflammatory cascades in space and time during the “resolution of inflammation”–has emerged as a crucial event in the derangement of the inflammatory homeostasis and the onset of chronic inflammation and pain. Indeed, a deviant inflammatory response that is not adequately controlled by the resolution network leads to the overproduction of pro-inflammatory eicosanoids that, opposite to SPMs, lead to neuropathic pain. Interestingly, in the last two decades convincing evidence has demonstrated that SPMs antagonize the in vivo activity of pro-inflammatory eicosanoids and, overall, exert potent anti-hyperalgesic effects in a number of pain-associated paradigms of disease, such as arthritis and chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy, as well as in many experimental models of pain like mechanical allodynia, chemical pain, heat hypersensitivity and phase 1 and 2 inflammatory pain. Of note, accumulated evidence supports a synergy between SPMs and other signalling pathways, such as those mediated by transient receptor potential (TRP) channels and those triggered by opioid receptors, suggesting that the cascade of events where inflammation and pain perception take part might be ways more intricated than originally expected. Here, we aim at presenting a state-of-the-art view of SPMs, their metabolism and signalling, in the context of cellular and molecular pathways associated to neuropathic pain.
Cannabidiol Induces Apoptosis and Perturbs Mitochondrial Function in Human and Canine Glioma Cells
Authors: Gross Chase , Ramirez Dominique A. , McGrath Stephanie , Gustafson Daniel L.
Published: August 2021

Cannabidiol (CBD), the major non-psychoactive compound found in cannabis, is frequently used both as a nutraceutical and therapeutic. Despite anecdotal evidence as an anticancer agent, little is known about the effect CBD has on cancer cells. Given the intractability and poor prognoses of brain cancers in human and veterinary medicine, we sought to characterize thein vitrocytotoxicity of CBD on human and canine gliomas. Glioma cells treated with CBD showed a range of cytotoxicity from 4.9 to 8.2 μg/ml; canine cells appeared to be more sensitive than human. Treatment with >5 μg/ml CBD invariably produced large cytosolic vesicles. The mode of cell death was then interrogated using pharmacologic inhibitors. Inhibition of apoptosis was sufficient to rescue CBD-mediated cytotoxicity. Inhibition of RIPK3, a classical necroptosis kinase, also rescued cells from death and prevented the formation of the large cytosolic vesicles. Next, cellular mitochondrial activity in the presence of CBD was assessed and within 2 hours of treatment CBD reduced oxygen consumption in a dose dependent manner with almost complete ablation of activity at 10 μg/ml CBD. Fluorescent imaging with a mitochondrial-specific dye revealed that the large cytosolic vesicles were, in fact, swollen mitochondria. Lastly, calcium channels were pharmacologically inhibited and the effect on cell death was determined. Inhibition of mitochondrial channel VDAC1, but not the TRPV1 channel, rescued cells from CBD-mediated cytotoxicity. These results demonstrate the cytotoxic nature of CBD in human and canine glioma cells and suggest a mechanism of action involving dysregulation of calcium homeostasis and mitochondrial activity.
The GATE-RTion/IDEAL Independent Dose Calculation System for Light Ion Beam Therapy
Authors: Grevillot L. , Boersma D. J. , Fuchs H. , Bolsa-Ferruz M. , Scheuchenpflug L. , Georg D. , Kronreif G. , Stock M.
Published: August 2021

Patient specific quality assurance can be improved using an independent dose calculation system. In addition, the implementation of such a system may support light ion beam therapy facilities in reducing the needs for beam time, by substituting some of the experimental patient-specific quality assurance procedures by independent dose calculation. The GATE-RTion-based IDEAL system for light ion beam therapy was developed for this purpose. It was built in a DICOM-in, DICOM-out fashion, for easy integration into a state-of-the-art technology-based workflow for scanned ion beam therapy. This article describes the IDEAL system, followed by its clinical implementation at MedAustron for proton and carbon ion beams. Medical physics acceptance and commissioning steps are presented together with key results: for 3D proton and carbon ion reference boxes, 97% of the points agreed within 5% from the measurements. Experimental validation of stopping powers using real pig samples were between 1.8% and 3.8% for soft tissues. Finally, five clinical cases are described, i.e. two proton and three carbon ion treatments. Dosimetric benchmarking against TPS calculations are presented and discussed in details. As expected, the IDEAL software evidenced limitations arising from the pencil beam algorithm available in the TPS for carbon ions, especially in the presence of air cavities. The IDEAL system was found to satisfy the clinical requirements for independent dose calculation of scanned ion beam delivery systems and is being clinically implemented at MedAustron. The open-source code as well as the documentation was released on the OpenGATE collaboration website, thus allowing for long term maintenance and future upgrades based on a more widespread utilization.
Network Reconstruction in Terms of the Priori Structure Information
Authors: Fu Jia-Qi , Guo Qiang , Yang Kai , Liu Jian-Guo
Published: August 2021

In this paper, we investigate the reconstruction of networks based on priori structure information by the Element Elimination Method (EEM). We firstly generate four types of synthetic networks as small-world networks, random networks, regular networks and Apollonian networks. Then, we randomly delete a fraction of links in the original networks. Finally, we employ EEM, the resource allocation (RA) and the structural perturbation method (SPM) to reconstruct four types of synthetic networks with 90% priori structure information. The experimental results show that, comparing with RA and SPM, EEM has higher indices of reconstruction accuracy on four types of synthetic networks. We also compare the reconstruction performance of EEM with RA and SPM on four empirical networks. Higher reconstruction accuracy, measured by local indices of success rates, could be achieved by EEM, which are improved by 64.11 and 47.81%, respectively.
Immune-Related Genes of Megalurothrips usitatus (Bagrall) Against Beauveria brongniartii and Akanthomyces attenuatus Identified Using RNA Sequencing
Authors: Chen Yueyin , Yang Bo , Li Zhaoyang , Yue Yang , Tian Qingheng , Chen Weiyi , Ali Shaukat , Wu Jianhui
Published: August 2021

Megalurothrips usitatus (Bagrall) is an important pest of legumes worldwide, causing great economic loss every year. Beauveria brongniartii and Akanthomyces attenuatus have shown considerable pathogenicity against M. usitatus in our previous studies. The medial lethal concentration (LC50) and the sublethal lethal concentration (LC25) of B. brongniartii isolate SB010 against M. usitatus were 8.38 × 105 and 1.73 × 105 conidia mL−1, respectively, whereas those of A. attenuatus isolate SCAUDCL-53 against M. usitatus were 4.37 × 105 and 2.97 × 104 conidia mL−1, respectively. This study reports the transcriptome-based explanation of the stress responses of M. usitatus following the application of B. brongniartii and A. attenuatus. The analysis of the transcriptomic data revealed the expression of 254, 207, 195, and 234 immunity-related unigenes by M. usitatus in response to B. brongniartii LC50 (SB1), B. brongniartii LC25 (SB2), A. attenuatus LC50 (V1), and A. attenuatus LC25 (V2), respectively. The biological function and metabolic pathway analyses showed that these unigenes were mainly related to pattern recognition receptors, information transduction factors, and reaction factors, such as scavenger receptor, cytochrome b5, cuticle protein, lysozyme, and serine protease.
L-Citrulline Influences the Body Temperature, Heat Shock Response and Nitric Oxide Regeneration of Broilers Under Thermoneutral and Heat Stress Condition
Authors: Uyanga Victoria A. , Wang Minghui , Tong Tian , Zhao Jingpeng , Wang Xiaojuan , Jiao Hongchao , Onagbesan Okanlawon M. , Lin Hai
Published: August 2021

Heat stress (HS) adversely affects several physiological responses in organisms, but the underlying molecular mechanisms involved are yet to be fully understood. L-Citrulline (L-Cit) is a nutraceutical amino acid that is gaining research interest for its role in body temperature regulation and nitric oxide synthesis. This study investigated whether dietary supplementation with L-Cit (1% of basal diet) could ameliorate the effects of acute HS on thermotolerance, redox balance, and inflammatory responses of broilers. Ross 308 broilers (288 chicks) were subjected to two environments; thermoneutral at 24°C (TNZ) or HS at 35°C for 5 h, and fed two diets; control or L-Cit. The results showed that HS increased the ear, rectal (RT), and core body (CBT) temperatures of broilers, along with higher respiratory rate. The RT and CBT readings were intermittently affected with time effect, whereas, L-Cit supplementation lowered the mean CBT than the control diet. Antioxidant assays showed that superoxide dismutase was increased during HS, while, catalase was promoted by L-Cit supplementation. In addition, L-Cit induced glutathione peroxidase activity compared to the control diet during HS. Hypothalamic heat shock protein (HSP)-90 was upregulated by HS, but L-Cit downregulated heat shock factor (HSF)-1, and HSP 60 mRNA expressions. HSF 3 mRNA expression was downregulated by L-Cit under TNZ condition. More so, HS increased the plasma nitric oxide (NO) concentration but lowered the total NO synthase (tNOS) activity. In contrast, L-Cit supplementation limited NO production but increased the tNOS activity. Arginase activity was increased in the control fed group during HS but L-Cit supplementation lowered this effect. The NOS-COX pathway was significantly affected under TNZ condition, since L-Cit supplementation downregulated the mRNA expression of iNOS-COX2 in the hypothalamus, and further reduced the serum PGE2 concentration. Together, these data indicates that L-Cit influenced the antioxidant defense, heat shock response and nitric oxide regeneration both under thermoneutral and HS conditions; and that L-Cit may be directly and/or indirectly involved in the central regulation of body temperature.
Location of Parasympathetic Innervation Regions From Electrograms to Guide Atrial Fibrillation Ablation Therapy: An in silico Modeling Study
Authors: Celotto Chiara , Sánchez Carlos , Mountris Konstantinos A. , Laguna Pablo , Pueyo Esther
Published: August 2021

The autonomic nervous system (ANS) plays an essential role in the generation and maintenance of cardiac arrhythmias. The cardiac ANS can be divided into its extrinsic and intrinsic components, with the latter being organized in an epicardial neural network of interconnecting axons and clusters of autonomic ganglia called ganglionated plexi (GPs). GP ablation has been associated with a decreased risk of atrial fibrillation (AF) recurrence, but the accurate location of GPs is required for ablation to be effective. Although GP stimulation triggers both sympathetic and parasympathetic ANS branches, a predominance of parasympathetic activity has been shown. This study aims was to develop a method to locate atrial parasympathetic innervation sites based on measurements from a grid of electrograms (EGMs). Electrophysiological models representative of non-AF, paroxysmal AF (PxAF), and persistent AF (PsAF) tissues were developed. Parasympathetic effects were modeled by increasing the concentration of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine (ACh) in randomly distributed circles across the tissue. Different circle sizes of ACh and fibrosis geometries were considered, accounting for both uniform diffuse and non-uniform diffuse fibrosis. Computational simulations were performed, from which unipolar EGMs were computed in a 16 × 1 6 electrode mesh. Different distances of the electrodes to the tissue (0.5, 1, and 2 mm) and noise levels with signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) values of 0, 5, 10, 15, and 20 dB were tested. The amplitude of the atrial EGM repolarization wave was found to be representative of the presence or absence of ACh release sites, with larger positive amplitudes indicating that the electrode was placed over an ACh region. Statistical analysis was performed to identify the optimal thresholds for the identification of ACh sites. In all non-AF, PxAF, and PsAF tissues, the repolarization amplitude rendered successful identification. The algorithm performed better in the absence of fibrosis or when fibrosis was uniformly diffuse, with a mean accuracy of 0.94 in contrast with a mean accuracy of 0.89 for non-uniform diffuse fibrotic cases. The algorithm was robust against noise and worked for the tested ranges of electrode-to-tissue distance. In conclusion, the results from this study support the feasibility to locate atrial parasympathetic innervation sites from the amplitude of repolarization wave.
sEMG Activity in Superimposed Vibration on Suspended Supine Bridge and Hamstring Curl
Authors: Aguilera-Castells Joan , Buscà Bernat , Arboix-Alió Jordi , Miró Adrià , Fort-Vanmeerhaeghe Azahara , Peña Javier
Published: August 2021

Traditionally in strength and conditioning environments, vibration has been transmitted using platforms, barbells, dumbbells, or cables but not suspension devices. This study aimed to examine the effects on the lower limb of applying superimposed vibration on a suspension device. Twenty-one physically active men and women performed supine bridge and hamstring curl exercises in three suspended conditions (non-vibration, vibration at 25 Hz, and vibration at 40 Hz). In each exercise condition, the perceived exertion scale for resistance exercise (OMNI-Res) was registered, and the electromyographic signal was assessed for gastrocnemius (medialis and lateralis), biceps femoris, semitendinosus, gluteus maximus, and rectus femoris. A linear mixed model indicated a significant fixed effect for vibration at 25 Hz and 40 Hz on muscle activity in suspended supine bridge (p < 0.05), but no effect for suspended hamstring curl (p > 0.05). Likewise, the Friedman test showed a significant main effect for vibration at 25 Hz and 40 Hz in suspended supine bridge (p < 0.05) but not for suspended hamstring curl (p > 0.05) on OMNI-Res. Post hoc analysis for suspended supine bridge with vibration at 25 Hz showed a significant activation increase in gastrocnemius lateralis (p = 0.008), gastrocnemius medialis (p = 0.000), semitendinosus (p = 0.003) activity, and for semitendinosus under 40 Hz condition (p = 0.001) compared to the non-vibration condition. Furthermore, OMNI-Res was significantly higher for the suspended supine bridge at 25 Hz (p = 0.003) and 40 Hz (p = 0.000) than for the non-vibration condition. Superimposed vibration at 25 Hz elicits a higher neuromuscular response during the suspended supine bridge, and the increase in vibration frequency also raises the OMNI-Res value.
Precipitation Variability Affects Aboveground Biomass Directly and Indirectly via Plant Functional Traits in the Desert Steppe of Inner Mongolia, Northern China
Authors: Cheng Huan , Gong Yuanbo , Zuo Xiaoan
Published: August 2021

Clarifying the response of community and dominance species to climate change is crucial for disentangling the mechanism of the ecosystem evolution and predicting the prospective dynamics of communities under the global climate scenario. We examined how precipitation changes affect community structure and aboveground biomass (AGB) according to manipulated precipitation experiments in the desert steppe of Inner Mongolia, China. Bayesian model and structural equation models (SEM) were used to test variation and causal relationship among precipitation, plant diversity, functional attributes, and AGB. The results showed that the responses of species richness, evenness, and plant community weighted means traits to precipitation changes in amount and year were significant. The SEM demonstrated that precipitation change in amount and year has a direct effect on richness, evenness, and community-weighted mean (CWM) for height, leaf area (LA), specific leaf area (SLA), leaf dry matter content (LDMC), leaf nitrogen content (LNC), and leaf carbon content (LCC) and AGB; there into CWM for height and LDMC had a direct positive effect on AGB; LA had a direct negative effect on AGB. Three dominant species showed diverse adaptation and resource utilization strategies in response to precipitation changes. A. polyrhizum showed an increase in height under the precipitation treatments that promoted AGB, whereas the AGB of P. harmala and S. glareosa was boosted through alterations in height and LA. Our results highlight the asynchronism of variation in community composition and structure, leaf functional traits in precipitation-AGB relationship. We proposed that altered AGB resulted from the direct and indirect effects of plant functional traits (plant height, LA, LDMC) rather than species diversity, plant functional traits are likely candidate traits, given that they are mechanistically linked to precipitation changes and affected aboveground biomass in a desert steppe.
Response of Plant Rhizosphere Microenvironment to Water Management in Soil- and Substrate-Based Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) Systems: A Review
Authors: Tan Bo , Li Yihan , Liu Tiegang , Tan Xiao , He Yuxin , You Xueji , Leong Kah Hon , Liu Chao , Li Longguo
Published: August 2021

As natural agroecology deteriorates, controlled environment agriculture (CEA) systems become the backup support for coping with future resource consumption and potential food crises. Compared with natural agroecology, most of the environmental parameters of the CEA system rely on manual management. Such a system is dependent and fragile and prone to degradation, which includes harmful bacteria proliferation and productivity decline. Proper water management is significant for constructing a stabilized rhizosphere microenvironment. It has been proved that water is an efficient tool for changing the availability of nutrients, plant physiological processes, and microbial communities within. However, for CEA issues, relevant research is lacking at present. The article reviews the interactive mechanism between water management and rhizosphere microenvironments from the perspectives of physicochemical properties, physiological processes, and microbiology in CEA systems. We presented a synthesis of relevant research on water–root–microbes interplay, which aimed to provide detailed references to the conceptualization, research, diagnosis, and troubleshooting for CEA systems, and attempted to give suggestions for the construction of a high-tech artificial agricultural ecology.
Far-Red Light-Induced Azolla filiculoides Symbiosis Sexual Reproduction: Responsive Transcripts of Symbiont Nostoc azollae Encode Transporters Whilst Those of the Fern Relate to the Angiosperm Floral Transition
Authors: Dijkhuizen Laura W. , Tabatabaei Badraldin Ebrahim Sayed , Brouwer Paul , Rijken Niels , Buijs Valerie A. , Güngör Erbil , Schluepmann Henriette
Published: August 2021

Water ferns of the genus Azolla and the filamentous cyanobacteria Nostoc azollae constitute a model symbiosis that enabled the colonization of the water surface with traits highly desirable for the development of more sustainable crops: their floating mats capture CO2 and fix N2 at high rates using light energy. Their mode of sexual reproduction is heterosporous. The regulation of the transition from the vegetative phase to the spore forming phase in ferns is largely unknown, yet a prerequisite for Azolla domestication, and of particular interest as ferns represent the sister lineage of seed plants. Sporocarps induced with far red light could be crossed so as to verify species attribution of strains from the Netherlands but not of the strain from the Anzali lagoon in Iran; the latter strain was assigned to a novel species cluster from South America. Red-dominated light suppresses the formation of dissemination stages in both gametophyte- and sporophyte-dominated lineages of plants, the response likely is a convergent ecological strategy to open fields. FR-responsive transcripts included those from MIKCC homologues of CMADS1 and miR319-controlled GAMYB transcription factors in the fern, transporters in N. azollae, and ycf2 in chloroplasts. Loci of conserved microRNA (miRNA) in the fern lineage included miR172, yet FR only induced miR529 and miR535, and reduced miR319 and miR159. Phylogenomic analyses of MIKCC TFs suggested that the control of flowering and flower organ specification may have originated from the diploid to haploid phase transition in the homosporous common ancestor of ferns and seed plants.
Morphological, Physiological, and Molecular Responses of Sweetly Fragrant Luculia gratissima During the Floral Transition Stage Induced by Short-Day Photoperiod
Authors: Liu Xiongfang , Wan Youming , An Jing , Zhang Xiujiao , Cao Yurong , Li Zhenghong , Liu Xiuxian , Ma Hong
Published: August 2021

Photoperiod-regulated floral transition is vital to the flowering plant. Luculia gratissima “Xiangfei” is a flowering ornamental plant with high development potential economically and is a short-day woody perennial. However, the genetic regulation of short-day-induced floral transition in L. gratissima is unclear. To systematically research the responses of L. gratissima during this process, dynamic changes in morphology, physiology, and transcript levels were observed and identified in different developmental stages of long-day- and short-day-treated L. gratissima plants. We found that floral transition in L. gratissima occurred 10 d after short-day induction, but flower bud differentiation did not occur at any stage under long-day conditions. A total of 1,226 differentially expressed genes were identified, of which 146 genes were associated with flowering pathways of sugar, phytohormones, photoperiod, ambient temperature, and aging signals, as well as floral integrator and meristem identity genes. The trehalose-6-phosphate signal positively modulated floral transition by interacting with SQUAMOSA PROMOTER-BINDING-LIKE PROTEIN 4 (SPL4) in the aging pathway. Endogenous gibberellin, abscisic acid, cytokinin, and jasmonic acid promoted floral transition, whereas strigolactone inhibited it. In the photoperiod pathway, FD, CONSTANS-LIKE 12, and nuclear factors Y positively controlled floral transition, whereas PSEUDO-RESPONSE REGULATOR 7, FLAVIN-BINDING KELCH REPEAT F-BOX PROTEIN 1, and LUX negatively regulated it. SPL4 and pEARLI1 positively affected floral transition. Suppressor of Overexpression of Constans 1 and AGAMOUSLIKE24 integrated multiple flowering signals to modulate the expression of FRUITFULL/AGL8, AP1, LEAFY, SEPALLATAs, SHORT VEGETATIVE PHASE, and TERMINAL FLOWER 1, thereby regulating floral transition. Finally, we propose a regulatory network model for short-day-induced floral transition in L. gratissima. This study improves our understanding of flowering time regulation in L. gratissima and provides knowledge for its production and commercialization.
The Impact of the Aussie Optimism Program on the Emotional Coping of 5- to 6-Year-Old Children
Authors: Oorloff Selina , Rooney Rosanna , Baughman Natalie , Kane Robert , McDevitt Maryanne , Bryant Aidan
Published: August 2021

Research indicates that mental health disorders can occur in children as young as 4 years of age, prompting the need for prevention programs for young children. The ability to use healthy strategies to cope with emotions is a protective factor against mental health disorders that can be effectively taught to children from an early age. The current study used a pre-test post-test cluster randomized controlled trial to test the efficacy of the new Aussie Optimism: I Spy Feelings Program. The aim of the study was to investigate the effects of the program on children’s emotional coping. The program included content on emotion regulation strategies, focusing on the emotions of happiness, sadness, anger, fear, and worry. The participants were 73 children (intervention = 33; control = 40) from pre-primary classes. Four schools were cluster randomized to the intervention or control group, resulting in two schools in each condition. Parents completed measures of their children’s emotional coping with sadness, anger and worry. Children in the intervention group participated in ten sessions of the I Spy Feelings Program, spread over 5 weeks. The results indicated a significant, small to moderate intervention effect for coping with anger. Children in the control group decreased in their ability to cope with anger, while children in the intervention group remained stable. No intervention effects were found for coping with sadness or worry, with results for these emotions staying stable across time for both groups. This pilot study will inform the further development of the program. The effects of the program on coping with anger provide support for the use of emotion regulation strategies in intervention programs to maintain healthy emotional coping, which is a protective factor against internalizing and externalizing disorders in childhood.
An Early Examination: Psychological, Health, and Economic Correlates and Determinants of Social Distancing Amidst COVID-19
Authors: Im Hohjin , Ahn Christopher , Wang Peiyi , Chen Chuansheng
Published: August 2021

Federal and local government agencies were quick to issue orders for residents to shelter-in-place in response to the COVID-19 outbreak. This study utilized data collected from Unacast Inc., spanning observations of 3,142 counties across 50 states and the District of Columbia (N = 230,846) from March 8, 2020 to April 13, 2020 (n = 104,930) and from April 14, 2020 to May 24, 2020 (n = 131,912) in a 3-level multilevel model to examine the correlates of social distancing behavior, as measured by the relative reduction in (1) distance traveled and (2) non-essential visitations since baseline pre-COVID-19 times. Results showed that educational attainment and political partisanship were the most consistent correlates of social distancing. State-level indicators of culture appeared to have differentiated effects depending on whether the model outcomes were reduction in general mobility or to non-essential venues. State-level neuroticism was generally positively related to social distancing, but states marked by high neuroticism were slower to engage in such behaviors. Counties and states characterized as already engaging in preventive health measures (e.g., vaccination rates, preparedness for at-risk populations) enjoyed quicker engagement in social distancing. Specific implications of findings and future directions are discussed.
Development of a Chinese College Students' Attitudes Toward Sexual Swear Words Scale
Authors: Wei Ying , Chen Qingsong
Published: August 2021

Sexual swear words are frequently used and considered vulgar and controversial in Chinese. The study of attitude is not only an important part of the study of swear words, but is also an important way for predicting their use. To date, few independent studies have been conducted on Chinese sexual swear words; those that have been conducted mostly focus on language ontology rather than language use. The studies have mainly used qualitative research methods, with a lack of empirical analysis and use of measurement tools. It is feasible and necessary to study college students as the object of sexual swear words because of the prevalence of “Zu'an culture” and the abuse of sexual swear words. Based on the current research status of Chinese swear words and the context of using swear words on campus, this paper combines the research of linguistic differences in swearing, psychological theories, and social science measurement theories and uses SPSS and Mplus statistical software to develop Chinese college students' attitudes toward Sexual Swear Words Scale. The participants consist of students from Zhejiang Normal University and other universities. A total of 262 college students participated in the preliminary test. Through item analysis and exploratory factor analysis, the formal scale was formed. A total of 608 college students were formally tested, and confirmatory factor analysis, reliability, and validity tests were carried out to produce the final scale. The scale contains three subscales: Cognition (17 items), Affection (17 items), and Behavior Tendency (15 items). The results show that each subscale model fits well, has good reliability and validity, and can be used as an important tool to measure attitudes of Chinese college students toward sexual swear words.
Moderating Multiple Mediation Model of the Impact of Inclusive Leadership on Employee Innovative Behavior
Authors: Wang Hui , Chen Min , Li Xiangqing
Published: August 2021

Leadership is an important antecedent variable of employee innovative behavior. In previous studies, the influence of inclusive leadership on employee innovative behavior mainly focus on one mediating variable, which may lead to a deviation in parameter estimation due to the omission of other mediating variables. According to the social cognitive theory and motivation theory and from the perspective of cognitive–motivation integration, this study establishes a moderating multi-mediation model to understand the impact of inclusive leadership on employee innovative behavior. Psychological safety and creative self-efficacy are used as mediating variables, and innovation rewards are used as moderating variables. The data are collected from 418 employees of the manufacturing industry in China. The results show that, at first, inclusive leadership has a positive effect on employee innovative behavior. Secondly, both psychological safety and creative self-efficacy play partial mediating effects between inclusive leadership and employee innovative behavior, with the effect of the former being significantly smaller than that of the latter. Thirdly, innovation rewards positively moderate the relationships of “psychological safety—employee innovative behavior” and of “creative self-efficacy—employee innovative behavior.” Fourthly, innovation rewards positively moderate the indirect effect of inclusive leadership on employee innovative behavior through psychological safety and creative self-efficacy. These findings are not only helpful to expand how inclusive leadership influences the innovative behavior of employees but also provides some suggestions for enterprise innovation development.
Analysis of Entrepreneurial Motivation on Entrepreneurial Psychology in the Context of Transition Economy
Authors: Shi Baisheng , Wang Tao
Published: August 2021

This study aims to explore the connotation of entrepreneurial motivation in the context of a transitional economy. The actual situations of 135 young entrepreneurs are investigated based on questionnaire surveys and case analyses. The influences of different entrepreneurial motivation factors on entrepreneurial psychology are analyzed. Results demonstrate that the item of “gain wealth” on the entrepreneurial motivation scale has the highest score of 3.98 points. In contrast, the scores of opportunity motivation and survival motivation are basically the same, with great differences between different individuals. The dimensions of policies, regulations, and government functions on the entrepreneurial environment scale have high ranks and levels, while the support of industry associations needs to be strengthened. Generally, the entrepreneurial psychology scale has high scores; most of the items score above 3.45 points, indicating that entrepreneurship not only improves the quality of work and life for young entrepreneurs but also promotes the personal growth of entrepreneurs. The multiple stepwise regression analysis reveals significant correlations between survival and opportunity motivations of young entrepreneurs and their subjective psychology and social psychology. The results can provide experimental and useful reference materials for the following investigations.
Coronavirus Disease 2019–Related Stigma in China: A Descriptive Study
Authors: Zhao Li , Wang Zhen , Guan Jian , Shen Panyan , Zhao Wen , Zuo Guoguo
Published: August 2021

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) tremendously impacts the physical and mental health of humans worldwide. Consequently, studies on COVID-19 remain extensive. However, most of them were mainly focused on the pathological mechanisms and treatment methods from medical perspectives. Various reports have indicated that COVID-19 is closely related to stigma and discrimination, but little statistical information has been integrated quantitatively to describe the situation in China. Thus, this study investigated the COVID-19-related stigma of individuals. We collected the online survey data from 1,920 Chinese participants from October to December 2020. Findings showed that 306 (15.94%), 285 (14.84%), 265 (13.80%), and 100 (5.21%) participants endorsed stigma toward individuals in high-risk areas, recovered patients with COVID-19, families of recovered patients with COVID-19, and frontline healthcare providers, respectively. To understand the possible factors that could impact the COVID-19-related stigma, knowledge about COVID-19 was investigated. Generally, knowledge about COVID-19 was negatively associated with COVID-19-related stigma in general, while no significant relationship existed between the knowledge about COVID-19 and the COVID-19-related stigma in the groups who had held COVID-19-related stigma. Ultimately, individuals showed COVID-19-related stigma toward recovered patients and their families, individuals in high-risk areas, and frontline healthcare providers to some extent. The results of this study can provide reference to nations, governments, and organizations in addressing the stigma issues raised by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Homicide, Inequality, and Climate: Untangling the Relationships
Authors: Kuznar Lawrence A. , Day Jeffrey
Published: August 2021

Researchers debate the causal connections between homicide, inequality, and temperature. This study examines these relationships globally based on country-level data. A new measure of inequality is introduced that provides a more granular measure of inequality patterns than commonly used metrics. The approach allows estimation of risk sensitive decision-making that helps to explain how class impacts violence under different climate conditions. The results indicate that homicide rates are higher when poorer segments of populations are disproportionately influenced by temperature, middle class segments are influenced by inequality, and the wealthy are influenced by middle and impoverished class dynamics.
Relationship Between Heart Rate, Oxygen Consumption, and Energy Expenditure in Futsal
Authors: Silva Henrique Santos da , Nakamura Fabio Yuzo , Papoti Marcelo , da Silva Alexsandro Santos , Dos-Santos Julio Wilson
Published: August 2021

The primary aim of this study was to compare the measured oxygen consumption (Measured-VO2) in a simulated futsal game (S-Game) with the estimated oxygen consumption (Estimated-VO2) through a regression equation between heart rate (HR) and oxygen consumption (VO2) (HR-VO2) in treadmill running, and a secondary aim was to calculate the total energy expenditure (EE) in S-Game. Ten professional players (22.20 ± 3.22 years) were evaluated. HR-VO2 was determined individually in the continuous test on the treadmill (ContTest). The Measured-VO2 in S-Game was compared with the Estimated-VO2 in the ContTest. Alactic and lactic pathways were estimated by VO2. The Estimated-VO2 presented no statistically significant difference with the Measured-VO2, using the paired t-test (p = 0.38). However, the correlation between Estimated- and Measured-VO2 was very weak (r = −0.05), and it presented poor agreement (concordance correlation coefficient = −0.04). In addition, a Bland–Altman plot presented bias of −2.8 ml/kg/min and individual difference as large as 19 ml/kg/min. The HR-VO2 determined by the ContTest was not a good individual predictor of VO2. The high intensity and intermittent nature of the futsal game possibly caused dissociation in the HR-VO2 relationship. ContTest is not recommended for estimating VO2 and calculating individual EE in the futsal game. This is recommended only for the group mean. The total EE in S-Game was 13.10 ± 1.25 kcal.min−1 (10.81 ± 1.57 metabolic equivalents). The contributions from the metabolic pathways were as follows: aerobic (93%), alactic (5%), and lactic (2%).
Effects of Print Exposure on an Online Lexical Decision Task: A Direct Replication Using a Web-Based Experimental Procedure
Authors: Kim Dahyeon , Lowder Matthew W. , Choi Wonil
Published: August 2021

Due to the global pandemic, behavioral sciences including psychology that have traditionally relied on face-to-face data collection methods are facing a crisis. Given these circumstances, the present study was designed as a web-based replication of the findings reported in Lee et al. (2019) on the relationship between print exposure measured by the Korean Author Recognition Test (KART) and online measures of word processing using the lexical decision task and offline measures of language ability. We used the PsychoPy3 and Pavlovia platform in which participants were presented with a series of tasks in an entirely web-based environment. We found that scores on the KART were correlated with scores on a measure of language skills as well as self-reported reading habits. In addition, KART scores modulated the word frequency effect in the lexical decision task such that participants with higher KART scores tended to have smaller frequency effects. These results were highly consistent with previous lab-based studies including Lee et al. indicating that web-based experimental procedures are a viable alternative to lab-based face-to-face experiments.
Testing the Efficacy of a 1-Day Police Decision-Making and Autonomic Modulation Intervention: A Quasi-Random Pragmatic Controlled Trial
Authors: Di Nota Paula Maria , Arpaia Joseph , Boychuk Evelyn Carol , Collins Peter I. , Andersen Judith Pizarro
Published: August 2021

Contemporary discourse has identified several urgent priorities concerning police training and education, including: (a) empirically testing and validating the effectiveness of current programming in reducing lethal force decision-making errors; (b) integrating evidence-based content and pedagogical approaches into police curriculum; and (c) understanding the breadth and length of programming necessary to ensure learning and transfer of skills to operational field settings. Widespread calls to identify effective and actionable training programs have been met with numerous research studies, systematic reviews, and policy recommendations that reveal the need to train officers’ internal physiological awareness, which is foundational in shaping cognitive decision-making, emotion regulation, and behavior under stressful conditions. Several investigations have shown improvements to both lethal force errors and physiological recovery following a multi-day autonomic modulation (AM) intervention. Immediate and sustained training gains are observed following repeated practice with clinically validated protocols integrated into training scenarios. Despite evidence-based support for AM in addressing the aforementioned priorities, police organizations are faced with limited time and funding for training and education. The goal of the current quasi-random pragmatic controlled trial was to evaluate the effectiveness of a modified 1-day version of an established AM intervention. A sample of active-duty police officers were quasi-randomly assigned to an AM intervention (n = 82) or waitlist control group (n = 105). Lethal force errors and objective measures of autonomic arousal and recovery were measured during reality-based scenarios pre- and post-training and at 12-month follow-up. In contrast to previous investigations of longer AM intervention protocols, no significant training-related improvements to behavioral or physiological outcomes were found immediately post-intervention or at follow-up. The current results suggest that single-day training is insufficient to learn the physiological awareness and regulation skills necessary to perform effectively during lethal force encounters, as demonstrated by a lack of immediate or sustained training effects. Practical considerations, such as resource allocation, that may undermine the effectiveness of implementing evidence-based police training are discussed.
Unknown Enemy and Psychopathological Responses: A Cross-Sectional Nationwide Study Assessing the Knowledge About COVID-19
Authors: Maciaszek Julian , Lenart Marta , Misiak Błazej , Grzebieluch Jolanta , Gawłowski Paweł , Ciułkowicz Marta , Łuc Dorota , Szcześniak Dorota , Rymaszewska Joanna
Published: August 2021

There is evidence that a lack of appropriate knowledge regarding global changes might be associated with various psychopathological responses. In this study, we tested the hypothesis that knowledge about COVID-19 correlates with the severity of psychopathological symptoms as measured by standardized questionnaires. The questionnaires were obtained using the Computer Assisted Web Interviews (CAWI) method during the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in Poland using the original COVID-19 knowledge questionnaire and the General Health Questionnaire-28 (GHQ-28). A series of bivariate tests and linear regression analyses were performed with a p < 0.05. All analyses were performed in Statistica 13.3. We enrolled 1,002 respondents. The rate of correct answers in the original questionnaire ranged from 44.6 to 84.1%, and the average was 60.1%. Four hundred and twenty participants (42%) met the criterion for the presence of relevant psychopathological symptoms. A significant negative correlation was found between the number of points obtained in the COVID-19 knowledge questionnaire and the GHQ-28 scores, both in relation to the total score and all its subscales. The following factors in the linear regression model were correlated with severity of somatic symptoms: knowledge about the COVID-19 pandemic (B = −0.12, P = 0.000), sex (B = 0.12, P = 0.000), use of psychiatric or psychological care (B = 0.20, P < 0.000) and chronic diseases (B = 0.09, P = 0.002). In this study, we observed a negative correlation between the knowledge about the COVID-19 pandemic and the severity of psychopathological symptoms. The results clearly indicate that the complexity of the global problem of the current pandemic is related to the development of psychopathological symptoms. However, longitudinal studies are needed to identify the direction of causality.
The Schoolteachers' Version of the Stress and Anxiety to Viral Epidemics-9 (SAVE-9) Scale for Assessing Stress and Anxiety During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: Yoo Soyoung , Lee Jihoon , Ju Gawon , Lee Sangha , Suh Sooyeon , Chung Seockhoon
Published: August 2021

This study aimed to validate the schoolteachers' version of the Stress and Anxiety to Viral Epidemics-9 (SAVE-9) scale. This scale assessed the work-related stress and anxiety response of schoolteachers to the COVID-19 pandemic. A total of 400 schoolteachers participated in an online survey between March 4 and 15, 2021. The survey questionnaire included the schoolteachers' version of the SAVE-9, Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), and Generalized Anxiety Disorders-7 (GAD-7) scales. A scree test and parallel analysis suggested a single-factor structure model for the schoolteachers' version of the SAVE-9 scale (real-data eigenvalue = 68.89, 95th percentile of the random eigenvalues = 27.56). The SAVE-9 scale showed good internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha = 0.853) and good convergent validity with GAD-7 (rho = 0.545,p< 0.001) and PHQ-9 (rho = 0.434,p< 0.001) scale scores. This, schoolteachers' version of the SAVE-9 scale is a reliable and valid rating scale that can be applied to teachers in a pandemic situation.
The Role of Veterinarians in Mass Casualty Disasters: A Continuing Need for Integration to Disaster Management
Authors: Holmquist Lindsey S. , O'Neal James Patrick , Swienton Ray E. , Harris Curtis A.
Published: August 2021

The need to prepare veterinarians to serve as part of the disaster medical response for mass casualty incidents has been recognized since at least the 1960's. The potential value of incorporating veterinarians for mass casualty disaster response has been noted by organizations throughout the world. Clinical veterinarians are highly trained medical professionals with access to equipment, medications, and treatment capabilities that can be leveraged in times of crisis. The ongoing threat of disasters with the current widespread healthcare access barriers requires the disaster management community to address the ethical constraints, training deficiencies and legal limitations for veterinary medical response to mass casualty disasters. An ethical imperative exists for veterinarians with translatable clinical skills to provide care to humans in the event of a mass casualty disaster with insufficient alternative traditional medical resources. Though this imperative exists, there is no established training mechanism to prepare veterinarians for the provision of emergency medical care to humans. In addition, the lack of clear guidance regarding what legal protections exist for voluntary responders persists as a barrier to rapid and effective response of veterinarians to mass casualty disasters. Measures need to be undertaken at all levels of government to address and remove the barriers. Failure to do so reduces potentially available medical resources available to an already strained medical system during mass casualty events.
Emerging Role of Ultrasound in Dysphagia Assessment and Intervention: A Narrative Review
Authors: Hsiao Ming-Yen , Wu Chueh-Hung , Wang Tyng-Guey
Published: August 2021

Ultrasonography has gained increasing attention as a non-invasive and radiation-free instrument for the assessment of swallowing function. In the past decades, an extensive repertoire of ultrasonographic techniques, such as, B-mode dynamic scanning, pixel analysis, M-mode, Doppler, 3D reconstruction, and sonoelastography, has been applied in the evaluation of oropharyngeal structures and movement. Yet, a universal consensus on the examination protocols and clinical implications remains to be established. This review aimed to provide a brief introduction of the application of ultrasound in dysphagia assessment and intervention, encompassing the ultrasonography of swallowing-related muscles, tongue movement, and hyolaryngeal excursion, as well as ultrasound-guided interventions in the management of dysphagia. In addition to non-invasiveness, ultrasonography, a portable, easy to use, and low-cost technique, could compliment videofluoroscopic swallowing study as a first-line screening and follow-up tool for the evaluation of swallowing function, although further study is warranted to provide quantitative diagnostic and prognostic values. Finally, ultrasonography aids in the precisely targeted injection of botulinum toxin in patients exhibiting oropharyngeal muscle spasticity.