bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Monsters on MTV: Adaptation and the Gothic Music Video
Authors: Momcilovic Drago
Published: July 2023

Music videos of the MTV era often use gothic visual signifiers as decorative elements or creative expressions of the musician’s star persona or latest record. But several video clips from the early 1980s adapt the figure of gothic monstrosity, and in particular, the images and stories of the undead or beastly Other, in ways that dramatize the music video’s evolving aesthetic, commercial, and technological character and its unpredictable relation to Gothic. In this article, I look closely at the narrative elements of two important configurations of gothic-themed video clips: “Don’t Go” (1982) by Yazoo, “Telefone (Long Distance Love Affair)” (1983) by Sheena Easton, and “Mary Jane’s Last Dance” (1993) by Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, which creatively adapt textual elements of Mary Shelley’s 1818 novel Frankenstein and its various film adaptations and parodies and its cultural significance in the modern Western imaginary; and “Thriller” (1983) by Michael Jackson and “Heads Will Roll” (2009) by the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, which likewise adapt and reimagine aspects of John Landis’s 1981 horror comedy film An American Werewolf in London and its afterlife in the modern media ecosystem. These videos, I argue, trouble conventional understandings of the practice of adaptation as a one-to-one line of inheritance between source material and destination text. In so doing, furthermore, these clips amplify and elaborate certain socio-cultural anxieties about gender and race, personal and professional identity and autonomy, and technological innovation and automation that animate their source materials.
How the Mind Creates the Body and What Can Go Wrong: Case Studies of Misperceptions of the Body
Authors: Kasten Erich , Eilers Jill Julia
Published: July 2023

The review brings together a wealth of case studies, both from the authors’ patients and from the literature, about people whose bodies do not feel as they really should. Body parts suddenly become longer or shorter, heavier or lighter and there may be a loss of body control to the point where individuals feel as if they no longer have a body at all. The article differentiates by type of causes: mental disorders (e.g., psychosis), the influence of drugs on body perception and neurological causes. Depending on the type of body change, examples are given from the categories of sexually toned changes in body perception, out-of-body experiences and near-death experiences. Since there are countless types of body image disorders, the article is limited to a selective selection of the most interesting and sometimes obscure deviations.
Shoulder Pain and Trunk Muscles Endurance in Young Male and Female Swimmers
Authors: Paramanidis Nikolaos , Kabasakalis Athanasios , Koutlianos Nikolaos , Tsalis George , Kouidi Evangelia
Published: July 2023

Shoulder pain is a common syndrome in swimming and affects a large number of competitive swimmers. The purpose of the study was to investigate the relationship between pain in the shoulder girdle and the endurance of the trunk muscles in young swimmers. A total of 24 boys and 22 girls, aged 13 to 18 years, participated in the study. The measurements included the completion of a questionnaire (Shoulder Pain and Disability Index, SPADI) and a field test (McGill’s Torso Muscular Endurance Test). The total SPADI score correlated weakly and negatively with the endurance time of back muscles in both sexes (r2 = 0.10, p = 0.035), and moderately and negatively in girls (r2 = 0.23, p = 0.023). A weak negative correlation was found between the disability index and the back muscles’ endurance time in both sexes (r2 = 0.15, p = 0.007), which was moderate in girls only (r2 = 0.25, p = 0.019). The disability index displayed moderate negative correlations with the right oblique’s (r2 = 0.18, p = 0.049) and left oblique’s endurance time (r2 = 0.23, p = 0.024) in girls. Weight, body mass index, the total out-of-water training time per week and age significantly affected the endurance times of the trunk muscles in boys and girls (p < 0.05). In conclusion, strengthening the dorsal and the oblique muscles could reduce shoulder pain and disability in young swimmers and especially girls.
Examining the Gambling Behavior of University Students: A Cross-Sectional Survey Applying the Multi-Theory Model (MTM) of Health Behavior Change in a Single Institution
Authors: Kapukotuwa Sidath , Bonsu Laurencia , Chatterjee Anita , Fudolig Miguel , Sharma Manoj
Published: July 2023

Gambling among college students can start as a pastime activity. However, this pastime can lead to problem gambling and pathological gambling. This cross-sectional study aimed to identify and explain the initiation and sustenance of quitting gambling among university students who had participated in gambling during the past month and those who had not using a novel fourth-generation multi-theory model (MTM) of health behavior change. Data were collected from a sample of 1474 university students at a large southwestern university in the U.S. between January 2023 and February 2023, utilizing a validated 39-item survey. The statistical analyses employed in this study encompassed descriptive statistics, independent samples t-tests, and hierarchical regression modeling. Among students who had engaged in gambling in the past month, the constructs of participatory dialogue (β = 0.052; p < 0.05), behavioral confidence (β = 0.073; p < 0.0001), changes in the physical environment (β = 0.040; p = 0.0137), and demographic variables accounted for 27.7% of the variance in the likelihood of initiating the behavior change. Furthermore, the constructs of emotional transformation (β = 0.104; p = 0.0003) and practice for change (β = 0.060; p = 0.0368), and demographic variables accounted for 22.6% of the variance in the likelihood of sustaining quitting gambling behavior. The Multi-Theory Model (MTM) can be employed to design interventions aimed at reducing problem gambling among college students.
Investigating Colors and Techniques on the Wall Paintings of the ‘Tomb of the Philosophers’, an Early Hellenistic Macedonian Monumental Cist Tomb in Pella (Macedonia, Greece)
Authors: Brecoulaki Hariclia , Verri Giovanni , Kalaitzi Myrina , Maniatis Yannis , Lilimpaki-Akamati Maria
Published: July 2023

The ‘Tomb of the Philosophers’, owing its name to the iconographic theme depicted on the interior of its walls, offers a rare example of high-quality early Hellenistic painting, which enhances our knowledge on the use of painting materials and techniques in Greece during the late 4th–early 3rd century BC. The tomb was excavated in 2001 by the 17th Ephorate of Prehistoric and Classical Antiquities, in the area of the east cemetery of the ancient city of Pella and is among the largest built cist graves to have been found in the region to date. This article presents the results of a scientific investigation of the painting materials and techniques used in the tomb’s decoration by means of high-resolution visible- and raking-light imaging, broadband imaging (IRR, UIL, UVR, VIL), X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy and SEM-EDAX microanalysis on a representative number of samples. The examination of the paintings testifies to the application of elaborate painting techniques and to the use of a varied and rich chromatic ‘palette’ (iron oxides, Egyptian blue, malachite, conichalcite, cinnabar, lead white, carbon-based black, a purple organic colorant, yellow-orange arsenic and vanadium-based pigments). Furthermore, iconographic elements of the paintings were better visualized, allowing for a more accurate description and interpretation of the decorative program of the tomb.
Alternations in Physiological and Phytochemical Parameters of German Chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla L.) Varieties in Response to Amino Acid Fertilizer and Plasma Activated-Water Treatments
Authors: Omrani Malihe , Ghasemi Mojtaba , Modarresi Mohammad , Salamon Ivan
Published: July 2023

Plasma-activated water (PAW) is an emerging and promising green technology in agriculture in recent years. This study aimed to examine the influence of the spraying of PAW and amino acid fertilizer concentrations on German chamomile varieties’ physiological, biochemical, and phytochemical characteristics under field conditions. Method: The experiment was performed during 2020–2021 as a factorial using a randomized complete block design with three replications in an arid and semi-arid region east of the Persian Gulf. The factors contained five fertilizer levels (0 (control), 1, 2, 3 mL L−1 amino acid and PAW) and three German chamomile cultivars Bona, Bodegold, and Lianka). Physiological, biochemical, and phytochemical traits such as plant height, fresh and dried flower weight, chlorophyll a, b, carotenoids, CHN elements: N ratio, total protein, amino acid profile, essential oil yield, apigenin content, and major secondary metabolites were examined. Results: The ANOVA indicated that the impact of the cultivar and fertilizer was significant on all physiological, biochemical, and phytochemical studied parameters. The amino acid fertilizer and PAW enhanced physiological features, hydrogen, C: N ratio, essential oil yield, apigenin content, and main phytochemical compositions like chamazulene, and α-bisabolol, but it had no incremental effect on the carbon, nitrogen, and total protein percentage. Conclusion: Findings revealed that applying foliar amino acid fertilizer and PAW treatments improves physiological, biochemical, and phytochemical parameters in German chamomile cultivars under field conditions.
Effects of 5-Aminolevulinic Acid (5-ALA) on Physicochemical Characteristics and Growth of Pomegranate (Punica granatum L.)
Authors: Liu Sushuang , Liu Yanmin , He Hongtai , Lin Ziyi , Sun Jiong , Zhang Feixue , Zhou Lili , Wang Zebo , Zhang Zaibao , Zou Huasong
Published: July 2023

The pomegranate is one of the most essential crop fruits in the world. 5-Aminolevulinic acid (ALA) regulates the growth and development of 5-year-old pomegranate. However, for plenty of pome crops, conventional information on the physio-chemical characteristics underlying 5-ALA is limited. Therefore, in this study, we applied four different concentrations of 5-ALA treatments (0 mg L−1, 10 mg L−1, 20 mg L−1, 50 mg L−1, and 100 mg L−1), where 0 mg L−1 was considered as a control group, to evaluate the effects of 5-ALA on the physiochemical characteristics of pomegranates. Our results showed that maximal photochemical efficiency (FV/FM), photosystem (ΦPSII), and photochemical quenching (qP) increased at concentrations of 50 mg L−1 and 100 mg L−1 compared with controls. Anthocyanin contents were elevated by 2.27% and 1.33% at the 5-ALA concentrations of 50 mg L−1 and 100 mg L−1. Furthermore, qRT-PCRs of the DEGs, such as punica granatum chalcone synthase (PgCHS), chalcone isomerase (PgCHI), flavanone 3-hydroxylase (PgF3H), dihydroflavonol 4-reductase (PgDFR), anthocyanidin synthase (PgANS), and ultrafine-grained (PgUFG), showed up-regulations, except for chalcone isomerase (PgCHI), after 5-ALA treatments. The fresh weight of the fruit and the weight of the grains were elevated under 50 mg L−1 and 100 mg L−1 concentrations, and both the fresh weight of the fruit and the grain weight were higher than controls. Total sugar (TS) increased by 8.49% and 24.99%, total soluble solids (TSS) increased by 2.02% and 6.07%, soluble proteins increased by 1.16% and 1.15%, and the pH level of juice increased by 0.12% and 0.19%, respectively. In addition, the contents of ascorbic acid, total phenols, and total flavonoids increased by 24.18%, 2.53%, and 1.29%, respectively, compared with controls. Taken together, the antioxidant activities of SOD and POD also increased by 13.33% and 11.95% at concentrations of 100 mg L−1. Our results show that concentrations of 5-ALA treatments at 50 mg L−1 and 100 mg L−1 will be beneficial for crop cultivation.
Physiological and Gene Expression Analysis of Herbaceous Peony Resistance to Alternaria tenuissima Infection
Authors: Wu Yang , Lu Zhonghua , Zhu Yongfang , Guo Xianfeng
Published: July 2023

Leaf spot disease caused by Alternaria pathogens seriously threatens peony production. The physiological mechanism of peony resistance to the pathogen is little reported. This study aimed to reveal the defensive mechanism of peonies in response to the pathogen Alternaria tenuissima. The disease-resistant (R) variety ‘Zi Fengyu’ and susceptible (S) variety ‘Heihai Botao’ were employed, and some parameters in the leaves were analyzed after inoculation with A. tenuissima, mainly including the hypersensitive response (HR), activity of defensive enzymes, and expression of disease-resistance genes. The results showed that compared with the responses in the S genotype, HR occurred more rapidly in the R genotype. Meanwhile, the activity of antioxidant enzymes (superoxide dismutase, peroxidase, catalase, and ascorbate peroxidase) and other two defense enzymes (polyphenol oxidase and phenylalanine ammonia-lyase) increased more significantly, and the expression of pathogenesis-related (PR) genes (PlPR1, PlPR2, PlPR4B, PlPR5, and PlPR10) and two WRKY genes (PlWRKY13 and PlWRKY65) was more strongly induced. These responses collectively contributed to the disease resistance of the R genotype. These findings provided a theoretical basis for understanding the intrinsic mechanism of peony resistance to Alternaria leaf spot disease and breeding the disease-resistant peony varieties using a molecular approach.
Updates on Microgreens Grown under Artificial Lighting: Scientific Advances in the Last Two Decades
Authors: Pescarini Henrique Baeninger , Silva Vitor Gonçalves da , Mello Simone da Costa , Purquerio Luis Felipe Villani , Sala Fernando Cesar , Zorzeto Cesar Thais Queiroz
Published: July 2023

Microgreens have a high nutrient density and are beneficial to human health. Even though this class of vegetables have gaining increasing levels of attention in the last year, scientific research on the growth of microgreens in controlled environments under artificial lighting have not been thoroughly characterized. By describing the scientific outputs focused on the impacts of artificial illumination on microgreens, especially from the first two decades of the 21st century, it is therefore possible to detect advancements and research gaps in this research field. This review is divided in two parts: first, a general overview of the scientific production about microgreens; second, a systematic review of scientific studies exploring artificial lighting on the production of microgreens. The overview of scientific production on microgreens and artificial lighting across the Scopus, Web of Science, and Scielo databases, from 2000 to 2021, respectively, indicated three phases, as before 2011 no paper was found: phase 1 (2012 to 2014), six papers; phase 2 (2015 to 2018), fifteen papers; and phase 3 (2019 to 2021), forty-six papers, respectively. Mustard was the most evaluated crop under all production stages. With regard to the second part of this review, studies on artificial lighting with fluorescent lamps (high-pressure sodium light bulbs—HPS), from the supplementation to the replacement of HPS lighting with light emitting diode (LED) lamps, and plant responses with respect to light properties comprise the main works identified. Studies on the distribution of environmental factors under controlled microgreen cultivation present research gaps.
Flood Inundation and Depth Mapping Using Unmanned Aerial Vehicles Combined with High-Resolution Multispectral Imagery
Authors: Wienhold Kevin J. , Li Dongfeng , Li Wenzhao , Fang Zheng N.
Published: July 2023

The identification of flood hazards during emerging public safety crises such as hurricanes or flash floods is an invaluable tool for first responders and managers yet remains out of reach in any comprehensive sense when using traditional remote-sensing methods, due to cloud cover and other data-sourcing restrictions. While many remote-sensing techniques exist for floodwater identification and extraction, few studies demonstrate an up-to-day understanding with better techniques in isolating the spectral properties of floodwaters from collected data, which vary for each event. This study introduces a novel method for delineating near-real-time inundation flood extent and depth mapping for storm events, using an inexpensive unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV)-based multispectral remote-sensing platform, which was designed to be applicable for urban environments, under a wide range of atmospheric conditions. The methodology is demonstrated using an actual flooding-event—Hurricane Zeta during the 2020 Atlantic hurricane season. Referred to as the UAV and Floodwater Inundation and Depth Mapper (FIDM), the methodology consists of three major components, including aerial data collection, processing, and flood inundation (water surface extent) and depth mapping. The model results for inundation and depth were compared to a validation dataset and ground-truthing data, respectively. The results suggest that UAV-FIDM is able to predict inundation with a total error (sum of omission and commission errors) of 15.8% and produce flooding depth estimates that are accurate enough to be actionable to determine road closures for a real event.
Oral Health Inequities among CALD and Non-CALD Older Australians: A Decomposition Analysis
Authors: Jamieson Lisa , Mejia Gloria , Luzzi Liana , Ju Xiangqun
Published: July 2023

Background: Among Australia’s older population, the burden of oral disease is disproportionality borne by culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) communities. This study aims to examine changes in untreated decay surfaces (DS) between 2004–2006 and 2017–2018 among older CALD and non-CALD Australians. Methods: Data were sourced Australian national oral health surveys conducted in 2004–2006 and 2017–2018. An Oaxaca–Blinder decomposition analysis was used to assess the contribution of socio-demographics and dental behaviours. Results: A total of 246 CALD and 2853 non-CALD dentate participants aged 60+ years took part in 2004–2006, and 363 and 4278 in 2017–2018, respectively. There were increases in mean DS for both CALD (0.74 to 1.42) and non-CALD (0.72 to 1.50) groups between 2004–2006 and 2017–2018. The decomposition model showed that, for CALD participants in 2004–2006 with untreated DS, 40% of the contribution was from not having dental insurance; nearly three-quarters of the contribution was from last dental visit being over one year ago (72.9%) in 2017–2018. Among non-CALD participants in 2017–2018 with untreated DS, 42.5% of the contribution was from the last dental visit being over one year ago. Conclusions: Our findings suggest that social determinants, including increased access to dental insurance, could mitigate the oral health inequities observed.
Effect of Lumbar Spine Mobility and Postural Alignment on Menstrual Pain in Young Women
Authors: Walicka-Cupryś Katarzyna , Pelc Agnieszka Renata , Pasierb Mirosław , Płonka Sylwia , Pal Agnieszka , Rosowska Nikola
Published: July 2023

(1) Background: Studies indicate that 45 to 95% of women suffer from painful periods. Despite frequent incidence, the problem is still underestimated. Menstruation-related ailments often correlate with high absenteeism at school and work, as well as limitation of social and scientific activity. The aim of this study was to assess the relationship between the size of the curvature, the mobility of the spine in the sagittal plane, and menstrual pain in young women. (2) Methods: The analysis included 224 women aged 18–26, mean of 21.56 ± 1.95, studying at the College of Medical Sciences of the University of Rzeszów. For this purpose, the measurement of the anterior–posterior curvature of the spine with a gravitational inclinometer, the Schober test and the authors’ questionnaire related to menstruation were used. (3) Results: The data analysis demonstrated a significant difference between the group with menstrual pain (MP) and the control group without pain (CG), where the angle of the lumbar sacral transition (p = 0.034), thoracolumbar transition (p = 0.044) and lumbar lordosis (p = 0.006) were statistically significantly lower in MP compared to CG. There were no significant differences in the measurement of the so-called smartphone hump and between the mobility of the lumbar spine and menstrual pain in any of the groups. (4) Conclusions: Women with menstrual pain are characterized by reduced lumbar lordosis and thoracic kyphosis, while sagittal mobility of the spine does not affect pain.
Perceived Role, Identity and Experiences of Pharmacists and the Potential Impact on COVID-19 Vaccine Uptake per Louisiana Region: A Prospective Cohort Study
Authors: Singleton Brittany A. , Al-Dahir Sara , Gillard Christopher , Earls Martha , Bommarito Julia , Duhe Malcolm , Phi Kevin
Published: July 2023

Some of the lowest COVID-19 community vaccination rates in America are found in Louisiana. This study investigated: (1) barriers that Louisiana pharmacists encountered during the pandemic; and (2) the effect of pharmacists’ role and identity confidence on willingness to enforce vaccine mandates, and COVID-19 vaccine uptake. Fifty-four community pharmacists from nine regions of Louisiana participated in the study. Pharmacists completed questionnaires about: personal demographics, patient population, vaccination encouragement, COVID-19 concerns, and vaccination administration rates. The importance of feeling like a trusted voice in the community, as well as professional perception and self-assurance, were measured using Likert scale questions. During focus groups, participants discussed experiences with the COVID-19 vaccination rollout and vaccination-related obstacles. As the pandemic progressed, pharmacists reported being overworked, understaffed, and overburdened with new responsibilities. In regions with lower vaccination rates, pharmacists were less likely to feel at ease enforcing vaccine mandates. Independent pharmacists were less comfortable enforcing vaccine mandates than chain pharmacists but had more positive perceptions of their role and identity. This study contributes to further understanding of pharmacy workflow obstacles and pharmacists’ perceptions of their professional roles and identities in the community.
Exploring the Evidence for the Paradigms of Recovery and Social Work Converging in Mental Health Service Delivery Worldwide: Reflections from an Irish Case Study
Authors: Swords Calvin , Houston Stan
Published: July 2023

Recovery within mental health service delivery is no longer a new consideration in the Western world. However, it is well-documented how challenging its implementation and translation to practice and reality have been in contemporary mental health systems. In conjunction with this, mental health social work is continuously being challenged and debated in relation to its role, responsibilities, and identity in service delivery. This is largely the consequence of the continued dominance of the biomedical model in relation to service delivery. Yet, if we critically reflect on the philosophy and ethos of recovery, it becomes very clear that social work should be the key profession to lead the development and improvement of recovery-orientated services across the globe. To illustrate this argument, the authors first draw on empirical research undertaken by the lead author within the Republic of Ireland on how recovery is socially constructed within mental health service delivery. The key stakeholders involved in the Irish study included professionals, service users, family members, and policy influencers, with participants taking part in semi-structured interviews. Secondly, the authors reflect on some of the findings from this Irish study, presenting an argument for not only a more significant role for social work in an Irish mental health context but also making comparisons from an international perspective. This includes exploring the role of critical social work traditions for supporting services to move beyond a philosophy of recovery that has, to date, overlooked the intersectional injustices and inequalities faced by hard-to-reach populations. Finally, the authors conclude by providing some possibilities for how the paradigms of social work and recovery can and should continue to converge towards each other, opening a space for social work to become a more dominant perspective within mental health systems worldwide.
The Dynamic between Self-Efficacy and Emotional Exhaustion through Studyholism: Which Resources Could Be Helpful for University Students?
Authors: Sanseverino Domenico , Molinaro Danila , Spagnoli Paola , Ghislieri Chiara
Published: July 2023

While university students have experienced increased stress, anxiety, and study obsession (studyholism) during the COVID-19 emergency, supportive university environments and academic self-efficacy (ASE) were found to be protective factors. However, the perception of overstudying could have impaired ASE’s protection against studyholism, akin to workaholism. Following the job-demands resource model, this contribution examines the moderating roles of study load and teaching staff support in the relationship between ASE and exhaustion, mediated by studyholism. 6736 students from 11 universities (69.8% females; Mean age 24.67 years) completed a self-report survey concerning various academic and life aspects. Results showed that ASE was partially mediated by studyholism in its negative relationship with exhaustion. Both study load and support moderate this relationship, although the interaction effect between studyholism and ASE is positive. Nonetheless, ASE plays a protective role for all levels of study load and support, while studyholism is confirmed to have a significant impact on exhaustion, both directly and through its mediating role. Considering the high scores of both studyholism and exhaustion in this sample, the enhancement of ASE should be complemented by teacher support centered around opportunities to review study strategies with the students and strong attention to preventive measures, such as in itinerant evaluation, which could enhance both the perception of positive support and strengthen ASE.
Implementation of a Community-Based Mind–Body (Tae-Bo) Physical Activity Programme on Health-Related Physical Fitness in Rural Black Overweight and Obese Women with Manifest Risk Factors for Multimorbidity
Authors: Mathunjwa Musa , Shaw Ina , Moran Jason , Sandercock Gavin R. , Brown Gregory A. , Shaw Brandon S.
Published: July 2023

Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) are the leading cause of death globally, particularly impacting low- and middle-income countries and rural dwellers. Therefore, this programme aimed to investigate if a community-based mind–body PA programme implemented in a low-resource setting could improve health-related physical fitness outcomes. Black overweight or obese adult women (25 ± 4.7 years) with a body mass index (BMI) > 25 kg·m−2 recruited from a rural settlement in South Africa with manifest risk factors for multimorbidity were assigned to a 10-week waiting-to-treat non-exercising control group (n = 65) or a community-based mind–body programme (n = 60) consisting of 45–60 min, thrice-weekly Tae-Bo. The intervention resulted in significant (p ≤ 0.05) improvements in body weight (p = 0.043), BMI (p = 0.037), and waist (p = 0.031) and hip circumferences (p = 0.040). Flexibility was found to be significantly increased at mid- and post-programme (p = 0.033 and p = 0.025, respectively) as was static balance (mid: p = 0.022; post: p = 0.019), hand grip strength (mid: p = 0.034; post: p = 0.029), sit-up performance (mid: p = 0.021; post: p = 0.018), and cardiorespiratory endurance (mid: p = 0.017; post: p = 0.011). No significant change was found in sum of skinfolds following the programme (p = 0.057). Such a community-based mind–body programme presents an opportunity to level health inequalities and positively improve health-related physical fitness in low-resource communities irrespective of the underlying barriers to participation.
Out-of-Pocket Health Expenditures Associated with Chronic Health Conditions and Disability in China
Authors: Gao Jingyi , Kim Hoolda , Mitra Sophie
Published: July 2023

The objective of this study is to estimate the extra costs of living associated with chronic health conditions and disabilities in China. Leveraging the 2018 China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study involving 13,530 respondents aged 50 and over, we apply both an ordinary least squares linear regression model and a logistic model to analyze the correlation between medical out-of-pocket expenditures (OOPEs) and chronic health conditions, as well as disabilities measured by Activities of Daily Living (ADL) and Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADL) limitations. This paper bridges the gap in the literature on OOPEs and their association with disabilities and chronic health conditions, respectively. We find that ADL limitations, IADL limitations, and chronic health conditions are consistently associated with higher OOPEs. The odds that older persons with disabilities and chronic health conditions incur OOPEs are two to three times higher than for persons without disabilities and chronic health conditions, respectively. Persons with disabilities and chronic health conditions have the highest OOPEs. The findings suggest that more policy and research attention is necessary to improve the financial protection of those with chronic health conditions and disabilities, including through access to comprehensive health insurance coverage.
Including People with Spinal Cord Injury in Research as Participants, Partners, and Personnel
Authors: Anderson Kim D.
Published: July 2023

Individuals with disabilities are significantly underrepresented in research and are often not included in discussions on diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility. The Advisory Committee to the National Institutes of Health Director Working Group on Diversity formed an ad hoc Subgroup on Individuals with Disabilities to develop recommendations on how to enhance the inclusion of people with disabilities in the scientific workforce as well as throughout the research ecosystem. The article summarizes those recommendations and how they came about, then contextualizes them for the spinal cord injury (SCI) research field. Other fields that do not typically include individuals with disabilities in research can learn from the strong history of including people with SCI as research participants. There has been a growing drive within our field to enhance the inclusion of people living with SCI as research partners, but how are we doing with promoting their inclusion in the scientific workforce?
A Systematic Review Protocol for the Effectiveness of Psycho-Educational Intervention Programmes in Addressing the Psychological Risk Factors Associated with Non-Communicable Diseases among Adolescents
Authors: Bokolo Nokwanda P. , Van Niekerk Rudolph Leon , Mathews Verona , Leach Lloyd
Published: July 2023

The psychological health concerns and risk factors associated with non-communicable disease among adolescents have been prioritized on the agenda of international health institutions globally. The aims of this systematic review are to determine the various types of psycho-educational intervention programmes developed to address the psychological risk factors associated with non-communicable diseases among adolescents, and to assess the effectiveness of the psycho-educational intervention programmes. The systematic review will include case–control and randomized controlled studies. The review will be conducted using the following electronic databases, PubMed, CINAHL, Science Direct, Cochrane Library, SCOPUS, and ERIC, as well as the grey literature for the thesis repository from 2012 to 2022. The key search terms will include intervention programme, adolescents (aged 10–19 years), psychological risk factors and non-communicable diseases. The studies identified by the search strategy will be downloaded into Mendeley and exported to Covidence software for screening, quality assessment and data extraction. The quality assessment tool that will be utilized is the Joanna Briggs Institute critical appraisal checklists to ensure relevance and quality of the articles. This systematic review will use two types of data analysis: narrative synthesis of qualitative studies and meta-analysis of quantitative studies. The findings from this systematic review will provide evidence-based tools for the management of psychological risk factors associated with non-communicable diseases, as well as present key insights for future intervention programmes on the management of psychological risk factors associated with NCDs among adolescents.
Tiger Nut Milk’s Antiviral Properties against Enveloped and Non-Enveloped Viruses: Effect of Concentration and Adding Sugar
Authors: Tuñón-Molina Alberto , Cano-Vicent Alba , Serrano-Aroca Ángel
Published: July 2023

The global COVID-19 pandemic has warned scientists of the requirement to look for new antimicrobial compounds to prevent infection by this type of viral pathogen. Natural compounds are becoming a promising avenue of research thanks to their renewable, biodegradable, and non-toxic properties. In this work, tiger nut milk’s (TNM) antiviral properties, with and without sugar, were studied against enveloped and non-enveloped viruses. The antiviral properties of TNM were evaluated at different concentrations. The antiviral tests showed that TNM is antiviral against the enveloped bacteriophage phi 6, which is commonly used as a surrogate for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), although it did not have any antiviral effect against the non-enveloped bacteriophage MS2. We also found that adding sugar to this natural drink can improve its antiviral properties against enveloped viruses and render it antiviral against non-enveloped viruses like bacteriophage MS2. The antiviral activity of TNM depends on the TNM concentration. TNM is a natural bioproduct that could help to fight against viral infections and protect against a wide range of viral illnesses. These results confirm that the typical sweetened drink made from tiger nut extract and sugar (known as horchata in Spain) possesses broad-spectrum antiviral properties.
A Proteomic Study of the Bioactivity of Annona muricata Leaf Extracts in HT-1080 Fibrosarcoma Cells
Authors: Marrero Ana Dácil , Quesada Ana R. , Martínez-Poveda Beatriz , Medina Miguel Ángel , Cárdenas Casimiro
Published: July 2023

Graviola (Annona muricata) is a tropical plant with many traditional ethnobotanic uses and pharmacologic applications. A metabolomic study of both aqueous and DMSO extracts from Annona muricata leaves recently allowed us to identify dozens of bioactive compounds. In the present study, we use a proteomic approach to detect altered patterns in proteins on both conditioned media and extracts of HT-1080 fibrosarcoma cells under treatment conditions, revealing new potential bioactivities of Annona muricata extracts. Our results reveal the complete sets of deregulated proteins after treatment with aqueous and DMSO extracts from Annona muricata leaves. Functional enrichment analysis of proteomic data suggests deregulation of cell cycle and iron metabolism, which are experimentally validated in vitro. Additional experimental data reveal that DMSO extracts protect HT-1080 fibrosarcoma cells and HMEC-1 endothelial cells from ferroptosis. Data from our proteomic study are available via ProteomeXchange with identifier PXD042354.
The Sigma Receptors in Alzheimer’s Disease: New Potential Targets for Diagnosis and Therapy
Authors: Wang Tao , Jia Hongmei
Published: July 2023

Sigma (σ) receptors are a class of unique proteins with two subtypes: the sigma-1 (σ1) receptor which is situated at the mitochondria-associated endoplasmic reticulum (ER) membrane (MAM), and the sigma-2 (σ2) receptor, located in the ER-resident membrane. Increasing evidence indicates the involvement of both σ1 and σ2 receptors in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer’s disease (AD), and thus these receptors represent two potentially effective biomarkers for emerging AD therapies. The availability of optimal radioligands for positron emission tomography (PET) neuroimaging of the σ1 and σ2 receptors in humans will provide tools to monitor AD progression and treatment outcomes. In this review, we first summarize the significance of both receptors in the pathophysiology of AD and highlight AD therapeutic strategies related to the σ1 and σ2 receptors. We then survey the potential PET radioligands, with an emphasis on the requirements of optimal radioligands for imaging the σ1 or σ2 receptors in humans. Finally, we discuss current challenges in the development of PET radioligands for the σ1 or σ2 receptors, and the opportunities for neuroimaging to elucidate the σ1 and σ2 receptors as novel biomarkers for early AD diagnosis, and for monitoring of disease progression and AD drug efficacy.
Raman Spectroscopy Profiling of Splenic T-Cells in Sepsis and Endotoxemia in Mice
Authors: Osadare Ibukun Elizabeth , Xiong Ling , Rubio Ignacio , Neugebauer Ute , Press Adrian T. , Ramoji Anuradha , Popp Juergen
Published: July 2023

Sepsis is a life-threatening condition that results from an overwhelming and disproportionate host response to an infection. Currently, the quality and extent of the immune response are evaluated based on clinical symptoms and the concentration of inflammatory biomarkers released or expressed by the immune cells. However, the host response toward sepsis is heterogeneous, and the roles of the individual immune cell types have not been fully conceptualized. During sepsis, the spleen plays a vital role in pathogen clearance, such as bacteria by an antibody response, macrophage bactericidal capacity, and bacterial endotoxin detoxification. This study uses Raman spectroscopy to understand the splenic T-lymphocyte compartment profile changes during bona fide bacterial sepsis versus hyperinflammatory endotoxemia. The Raman spectral analysis showed marked changes in splenocytes of mice subjected to septic peritonitis principally in the DNA region, with minor changes in the amino acids and lipoprotein areas, indicating significant transcriptomic activity during sepsis. Furthermore, splenocytes from mice exposed to endotoxic shock by injection of a high dose of lipopolysaccharide showed significant changes in the protein and lipid profiles, albeit with interindividual variations in inflammation severity. In summary, this study provided experimental evidence for the applicability and informative value of Raman spectroscopy for profiling the immune response in a complex, systemic infection scenario. Importantly, changes within the acute phase of inflammation onset (24 h) were reliably detected, lending support to the concept of early treatment and severity control by extracorporeal Raman profiling of immunocyte signatures.
The Evolution of Life Is a Road Paved with the DNA Quadruplet Symmetry and the Supersymmetry Genetic Code
Authors: Rosandić Marija , Paar Vladimir
Published: July 2023

Symmetries have not been completely determined and explained from the discovery of the DNA structure in 1953 and the genetic code in 1961. We show, during 10 years of investigation and research, our discovery of the Supersymmetry Genetic Code table in the form of 2 × 8 codon boxes, quadruplet DNA symmetries, and the classification of trinucleotides/codons, all built with the same physiochemical double mirror symmetry and Watson–Crick pairing. We also show that single-stranded RNA had the complete code of life in the form of the Supersymmetry Genetic Code table simultaneously with instructions of codons’ relationship as to how to develop the DNA molecule on the principle of Watson–Crick pairing. We show that the same symmetries between the genetic code and DNA quadruplet are highly conserved during the whole evolution even between phylogenetically distant organisms. In this way, decreasing disorder and entropy enabled the evolution of living beings up to sophisticated species with cognitive features. Our hypothesis that all twenty amino acids are necessary for the origin of life on the Earth, which entirely changes our view on evolution, confirms the evidence of organic natural amino acids from the extra-terrestrial asteroid Ryugu, which is nearly as old as our solar system.
Intervention of Dietary Protein Levels on Muscle Quality, Antioxidation, and Autophagy in the Muscles of Triploid Crucian Carp (Carassius carassius Triploid)
Authors: He Zhimin , Cai Yuyang , Xiao Yang , Cao Shenping , Zhong Gaode , Li Xinting , Li Yanfang , Luo Junhan , Tang Jianzhou , Qu Fufa , Liu Zhen , Liu Suchun
Published: July 2023

The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of dietary protein levels on flesh quality, oxidative stress, and autophagy status in the muscles of triploid crucian carp (Carassius carassius triploid), and the related molecular mechanisms. Six experimental diets with different protein levels (26%, 29%, 32%, 35%, 38%, 41%) were formulated. A total of 540 fish with an initial weight of 11.79 ± 0.09 g were randomly assigned to 18 cages and six treatments with three replicates of 30 fish each for 8 weeks feeding. It could be found that the whole-body ash content significantly increased in high protein level groups (p < 0.05). The 29% dietary protein level group exhibited the highest muscle moisture, although there was an inconspicuous decrease in the chewiness of the muscles when compared with the other groups. The dietary protein level influenced the content of free amino acids and nucleotides, especially the content of flavor amino acids, which exhibited an increasing tendency along with the increasing protein level, such as alanine and glutamic acid, while the flavor nucleotides showed different fluctuation trends. Moreover, the genes related to muscle development were shown to be influenced by the dietary protein level, especially the expression of MRF4, which was up-regulated with the increasing dietary protein levels. The 29% dietary protein level promoted the majority of analyzed muscle genes expression to the highest level when compared to other dietary levels, except the Myostain, whose expression reached its highest at 38% dietary protein levels. Furthermore, the effect of dietary protein levels on antioxidant signaling pathway genes were also examined. High protein levels would boost the expression of GSTα; GPX1 and GPX4α mRNA expression showed the highest level at the 32% dietary protein group. The increasing dietary protein level decreased both mRNA and protein expressions of Nrf2 by up-regulating Keap1. Autophagy-related gene expression levels reached the peak at 32% dietary protein level, as evidenced by a similar change in protein expression of FoxO1. In summary, muscle nutritional composition, antioxidative pathways, and autophagy levels were affected by the dietary protein levels. A total of 29–32% dietary protein level would be the appropriate level range to improve muscle quality and promote the antioxidant and autophagy capacity of triploid crucian carp muscles.
Highly-Sensitive In Vitro Bioassays for FSH, TSH, PTH, Kp, and OT in Addition to LH in Mouse Leydig Tumor Cell
Authors: Klett Danièle , Pellissier Lucie , Lomet Didier , Derouin-Tochon Flavie , Robert Vincent , Nguyen Thi Mong Diep , Duittoz Anne , Reiter Eric , Locatelli Yann , Dupont Joëlle , Dardente Hugues , Jean-Alphonse Frédéric , Combarnous Yves
Published: July 2023

We demonstrate here that highly sensitive in vitro bioassays for FSH, TSH, and PTH can be set up in mouse Leydig Tumor Cells (mLTC), in addition to the normal LH/CG bioassay, after they were transfected with expression vectors encoding the corresponding Gs Protein-Coupled Receptors (GsPCR), such as FSHR, TSHR, or PTHR. Although the β2 adrenergic receptor is also a GsPCR, its expression in mLTC led to a significant but very low cAMP response compared to those observed with FSH, TSH, or PTH. Similarly, after transfection of the GiPCR MT1 melatonin receptor, we did not observe any inhibitory effect by melatonin of the LH or hCG stimulation. Interestingly, after transfection of mLTC with the human kisspeptin receptor (hKpR), which is a GqPCR, we observed a dose-dependent synergy of 10−12–10−7 M kisspeptin variants with a fixed concentration of 0.3 nM LH or hCG. Without any exogenous receptor transfection, a 2 h preincubation with OT or AVP led to a dose-dependent cAMP response to a fixed dose of LH or hCG. Therefore, highly sensitive in vitro bioassays for various hormones and other GPCR ligands can be set up in mLTC to measure circulating concentrations in only 3–10 µL of blood or other body fluids. Nevertheless, the development of an LHRKO mLTC cell line will be mandatory to obtain strict specificity for these bioassays to eliminate potential cross-reaction with LH or CG.
Use of Urinary Biomarkers in Discriminating Interstitial Cystitis/Bladder Pain Syndrome from Male Lower Urinary Tract Dysfunctions
Authors: Yu Wan-Ru , Jiang Yuan-Hong , Jhang Jia-Fong , Kuo Hann-Chorng
Published: July 2023

To analyze the urinary biomarkers in men with lower urinary-tract symptoms (LUTS) and identify interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome (IC/BPS) from the other lower urinary-tract dysfunctions (LUTDs) by the levels of characteristic urinary biomarkers. In total, 198 men with LUTS were prospectively enrolled and urine samples were collected before intervention or medical treatment. Videourodynamic studies were routinely performed and the LUTDs were diagnosed as having bladder-outlet obstruction (BOO) such as bladder-neck dysfunction, benign prostatic obstruction, or poor relaxation of external sphincter (PRES); and bladder dysfunction such as detrusor overactivity (DO), hypersensitive bladder (HSB), and IC/BPS. Patients suspicious of IC/BPS were further confirmed by cystoscopic hydrodistention under anesthesia. The urine samples were investigated for 11 urinary inflammatory biomarkers including eotaxin, IL-6, IL-8, CXCL10, MCP-1, MIP-1β, RANTES, TNF-α, NGF, BDNF, and PGE2; and 3 oxidative stress biomarkers 8-OHdG, 8-isoprostane, and TAC. The urinary biomarker levels were analyzed between LUTD subgroups and IC/BPS patients. The results of this study revealed that among the patients, IC/BPS was diagnosed in 48, BOO in 66, DO in 25, HSB in 27, PRES in 15, and normal in 17. Patients with BOO had a higher detrusor pressure and BOO index than IC/BPS, whereas patients with IC/BPS, BOO, and DO had a smaller cystometric bladder capacity than the PRES and normal subgroups. Among the urinary biomarkers, patients with IC/BPS had significantly higher levels of eotaxin, MCP-1, TNF-α, 8-OHdG, and TAC than all other LUTD subgroups. By a combination of different characteristic urinary biomarkers, TNF-α, and eotaxin, either alone or in combination, had the highest sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value to discriminate IC/BPS from patients of all other LUTD subgroups, BOO, DO, or HSB subgroups. Inflammatory biomarker MCP-1 and oxidative stress biomarkers 8-OHdG and TAC, although significantly higher in IC/BPS than normal and PRES subgroups, did not have a diagnostic value between male patients with IC/BPS and the BOO, DO, or HSB subgroups. The study concluded that using urinary TNF-α and eotaxin levels, either alone or in combination, can be used as biomarkers to discriminate patients with IC/BPS from the other LUTD subgroups in men with LUTS.