bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Liquiritin Attenuates Lipopolysaccharides-Induced Cardiomyocyte Injury via an AMP-Activated Protein Kinase-Dependent Signaling Pathway
Authors: Mou Shan-Qi , Zhou Zi-Ying , Feng Hong , Zhang Nan , Lin Zheng , Aiyasiding Xiahenazi , Li Wen-Jing , Ding Wen , Liao Hai-Han , Bian Zhou-Yan , Tang Qi-Zhu 
Published: May 2021

Background: Liquiritin (LIQ) is a traditional Chinese medicine that has been reported to regulate inflammation, oxidative stress and cell apoptosis. However, the beneficial effects of LIQ in lipopolysaccharides (LPS)-induced septic cardiomyopathy (SCM) has not been reported. The primary goal of this study was to investigate the effects of LIQ in LPS-induced SCM model.Methods: Mice were pre-treated with LIQ for 7 days before they were injected with LPS (10 mg/kg) for inducing SCM model. Echocardiographic analysis was used to evaluate cardiac function after 12 h of LPS injection. Thereafter, mice were sacrificed to collect hearts for molecular and histopathologic assays by RT-PCR, western-blots, immunohistochemical and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase nick-end labeling (TUNEL) staining analysis respectively. AMPKα2 knockout (AMPKα2−/−) mice were used to elucidate the mechanism of LIQ Neonatal rat cardiomyocytes (NRCMs) treated with or without LPS were used to further investigate the roles and mechanisms of LIQ in vitro experiments.Results: LIQ administration attenuated LPS-induced mouse cardiac dysfunction and reduced mortality, based upon the restoration of EF, FS, LVEDs, heart rate, dp/dt max and dp/dt min deteriorated by LPS treatment. LIQ treatment also reduced mRNA expression of TNFα, IL-6 and IL-1β, inhibited inflammatory cell migration, suppressed cardiac oxidative stress and apoptosis, and improved metabolism. Mechanistically, LIQ enhanced the phosphorylation of AMP-activated protein kinase α2 (AMPKα2) and decreased the phosphorylation of mTORC1, IκBα and NFκB/p65. Importantly, the beneficial roles of LIQ were not observed in AMPKα2 knockout model, nor were they observed in vitro model after inhibiting AMPK activity with an AMPK inhibitor.Conclusion: We have demonstrated that LIQ exerts its protective effects in an SCM model induced by LPS administration. LIQ reduced inflammation, oxidative stress, apoptosis and metabolic alterations via regulating AMPKα2 dependent signaling pathway. Thus, LIQ might be a potential treatment or adjuvant for SCM treatment.
Development of a Novel Web Camera-Based Contact-Free Major Depressive Disorder Screening System Using Autonomic Nervous Responses Induced by a Mental Task and Its Clinical Application
Authors: Unursaikhan Batbayar , Tanaka Nobuaki , Sun Guanghao , Watanabe Sadao , Yoshii Masako , Funahashi Kazuki , Sekimoto Fumihiro , Hayashibara Fumiaki , Yoshizawa Yutaka , Choimaa Lodoiravsal , Matsui Takemi 
Published: May 2021

BackgroundTo increase the consultation rate of potential major depressive disorder (MDD) patients, we developed a contact-type fingertip photoplethysmography-based MDD screening system. With the outbreak of SARS-CoV-2, we developed an alternative to contact-type fingertip photoplethysmography: a novel web camera-based contact-free MDD screening system (WCF-MSS) for non-contact measurement of autonomic transient responses induced by a mental task.MethodsThe WCF-MSS measures time-series interbeat intervals (IBI) by monitoring color tone changes in the facial region of interest induced by arterial pulsation using a web camera (1920 × 1080 pixels, 30 frames/s). Artifacts caused by body movements and head shakes are reduced. The WCF-MSS evaluates autonomic nervous activation from time-series IBI by calculating LF (0.04–0.15 Hz) components of heart rate variability (HRV) corresponding to sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous activity and HF (0.15–0.4 Hz) components equivalent to parasympathetic activities. The clinical test procedure comprises a pre-rest period (Pre-R; 140 s), mental task period (MT; 100 s), and post-rest period (Post-R; 120 s). The WCF-MSS uses logistic regression analysis to discriminate MDD patients from healthy volunteers via an optimal combination of four explanatory variables determined by a minimum redundancy maximum relevance algorithm: HF during MT (HFMT), the percentage change of LF from pre-rest to MT (%ΔLF(Pre–R⇒MT)), the percentage change of HF from pre-rest to MT (%ΔHF(Pre–R⇒MT)), and the percentage change of HF from MT to post-rest (%ΔHF(MT⇒Post–R)). To clinically test the WCF-MSS, 26 MDD patients (16 males and 10 females, 20–58 years) were recruited from BESLI Clinic in Tokyo, and 27 healthy volunteers (15 males and 12 females, 18–60 years) were recruited from Tokyo Metropolitan University and RICOH Company, Ltd. Electrocardiography was used to calculate HRV variables as references.ResultThe WCF-MSS achieved 73% sensitivity and 85% specificity on 5-fold cross-validation. IBI correlated significantly with IBI from reference electrocardiography (r= 0.97,p&lt; 0.0001). Logit scores and subjective self-rating depression scale scores correlated significantly (r= 0.43,p&lt; 0.05).ConclusionThe WCF-MSS seems a promising contact-free MDD screening apparatus. This method enables web camera built-in smartphones to be used as MDD screening systems.
The Effect of Social Support on Athlete Burnout in Weightlifters: The Mediation Effect of Mental Toughness and Sports Motivation
Authors: Shang Yao , Yang Shi-Yong 
Published: May 2021

Objectives: Athlete burnout is a crucial concern affecting the development and athletic performance of young weightlifters. To reduce or relieve the prevalence of athlete burnout, this study examined the relationship across social support, sports motivation, mental toughness, and athlete burnout in weightlifters.Methods: A total of 315 weightlifters aged 17–28 years old (151 males, 164 females; Mage = 18.89 years, SD = 3.66) from Sichuan, Chongqing, and Shanxi in China participated in this survey. The Perceived Available Support in Sport Questionnaire (PASS-Q), Sports Motivation Questionnaire (SMQ), Sports Mental Toughness Questionnaire (SMTQ), and Athlete Burnout Questionnaire (ABQ) were used in this study. SPSS Statistics 19.0, AMOS 21.0, and PROCESS 3.0 macro were used to analyze the collected data.Results: The results indicated that weightlifters’ social support could negatively significantly affect athlete burnout [beta = −0.398; 95% confidence interval (CI): −0.3699, −0.2184; P &lt; 0.05) via mental toughness and sports motivation. The mediation analysis revealed that they had partial mediating effect, including three paths: First, social support had a direct effect on athlete burnout (beta = −0.150; 95% CI: −0.1824, −0.0397; P &lt; 0.05); second, sport mental toughness had a mediating effect on athlete burnout (beta = −0.113; 95% CI: −0.1703, −0.0631; P &lt; 0.05); and finally, sports motivation had a mediating effect on athlete burnout (beta = −0.124; 95% CI: −0.1751, −0.0793; P &lt; 0.05).Conclusion: The findings revealed that social support could inhibit or prevent athlete burnout via mental toughness and sports motivation; thus, to decrease or relieve the prevalence of burnout in weightlifters, it is an important solution to enhance their social support.
Individual Insomnia Symptom and Increased Hazard Risk of Cardiocerebral Vascular Diseases: A Meta-Analysis
Authors: Hu Shiyu , Lan Tao , Wang Yang , Ren Lijie 
Published: May 2021

Objective: Previous studies suggested that insomnia was associated with an increased risk of cardiocerebral vascular diseases (CVDs) but not clear in different insomnia symptoms. We performed a meta-analysis to investigate the association of individual insomnia symptoms and risk of CVDs.Methods: In this meta-analysis, we systematically searched published articles by using electronic databases including PubMed, Cochrane Library, MedLine, and Google Scholar. Studies were enrolled if they indicated clear insomnia symptoms, prospective, and evaluated the association of insomnia symptoms and CVD outcome in adults free of CVDs at baseline.Results: There were seven prospective cohort studies with sample sizes ranging from 2,960 to 487,200 included in this meta-analysis. Mean follow-up duration was 10.6 years. Insomnia symptoms of having difficulty initiating or maintaining sleep (DIS or DMS), non-restorative sleep (NRS), and early morning awakening (EMA) were analyzed in this study. All studies were compared under a random-effects model. NRS, DIS, and DMS were, respectively, related to 16% [hazard ratio (HR) 1.16, 95% CI 1.07–1.24], 22% (HR 1.22, 95% CI 1.06–1.40), and 14% (HR 1.14, 95% CI 1.02–1.27) higher risk of first-ever CVD incidence during the follow-up. Based on our analysis, EMA was not a risk factor of CVDs (HR 1.06, 95% CI 0.99–1.13).Conclusion: This study suggested that symptoms of DIS, DIM, or NRS were associated with a higher risk of CVD incidence in insomnia patients free of CVDs at baseline. But this association was not significant in insomnia patients complaining about EMA.
Effects of a Brief Web-Based “Social Norms”-Intervention on Alcohol, Tobacco and Cannabis Use Among German University Students: Results of a Cluster-Controlled Trial Conducted at Eight Universities
Authors: Pischke C. R. , Helmer S. M. , Pohlabeln H. , Muellmann S. , Schneider S. , Reintjes R. , Schmidt-Pokrzywniak A. , Girbig M. , Krämer A. , Icks A. , Walter U. , Zeeb H. 
Published: May 2021

Background and Aim: “Social norms” (SN)-interventions are aimed at changing existing misperceptions regarding peer substance use by providing feedback on actual norms, thereby affecting personal substance use. It is unknown whether SN-intervention effects previously demonstrated in US students can be replicated in German students. The aim of the INSIST-study was to examine the effects of a web-based SN-intervention on substance use.Design: Cluster-controlled trial.Setting: Eight Universities in Germany.Participants and Measurements: Students were recruited at four intervention vs. four delayed intervention control Universities. 4,463 students completed baseline, 1,255 students (59% female) completed both baseline and 5-months follow-up web-based surveys on personal and perceived peer substance use. Intervention participants received feedback contrasting personal and perceived peer use with previously assessed use and perceptions of same-sex, same-university peers. Intervention effects were assessed via multivariable mixed logistic regression models.Findings: Relative to controls, reception of SN-feedback was associated with higher odds for decreased alcohol use (OR: 1.91, 95% CI 1.42-2.56). This effect was most pronounced in students overestimating peer use at baseline and under or accurately estimating it at follow-up (OR: 6.28, 95% CI 2.00-19.8). The OR was 1.33 (95% CI 0.67-2.65) for decreased cannabis use in students at intervention Universities and was statistically significant at 1.70 (95% CI 1.13-2.55) when contrasting unchanged and decreased with increased use. Regarding tobacco use and episodes of drunkenness, no intervention effects were found.Conclusions: This study was the first cluster-controlled trial suggesting beneficial effects of web-based SN-intervention on alcohol and cannabis use in a large sample of German University students.Clinical Trial Registration: The trial registration number of the INSIST-study is DRKS00007635 at the “German Clinical Trials Register.”
Reduced Risk of Hospitalization With Stronger Community Belonging Among Aging Canadians Living With Diabetes: Findings From Linked Survey and Administrative Data
Authors: Gupta Neeru , Sheng Zihao 
Published: May 2021

Background: Social isolation has been identified as a substantial health concern in aging populations, associated with adverse chronic disease outcomes and health inequalities; however, little is known about the interconnections between social capital, diabetes management, and hospital burdens. This study aimed to assess the role of community belonging with the risk of potentially avoidable hospitalization among aging adults living with diabetes in Canada.Methods: The study leveraged a novel resource available through Statistics Canada's Social Data Linkage Environment: the Canadian Community Health Survey linked to administrative health records from the hospital Discharge Abstract Database. A population-representative sample of 13,580 community-dwelling adults aged 45 and over with diabetes was identified. Multiple logistic regression was used to assess the association of individuals' sense of community belonging with the risk of diabetes-related hospitalization over the period 2006–2012.Results: Most (69.9%) adults with diabetes reported a strong sense of belonging to their local community. Those who reported weak community belonging were significantly more likely to have been hospitalized for diabetes (χ2 = 13.82; p &lt; 0.05). The association between weak community attachment and increased risk of diabetes hospitalization remained significant [adjusted OR: 1.80 (95%CI: 1.12–2.90)] after controlling for age, education, and other sociodemographic and behavioral factors.Conclusion: The COVID-19 pandemic has resurfaced attention to the need to better address social capital and diabetes care in public health strategies. While the causal pathways are unclear, this national study highlighted that deficits in social attachments may place adults with diabetes at greater risk of acute complications leading to hospitalization.
Comparison of Granular Bone Grafts and Transverse Process Bone Grafts for Single-Segmental Thoracic Tuberculosis: A Retrospective Single-Center Comparative Study
Authors: Du Xing , Ou Yunsheng , Zhu Yong , Luo Wei , Jiang Guanyin , Jiang Dianming 
Published: May 2021

Background: To compare the clinical efficacy of granular bone grafts and transverse process bone grafts for single-segmental thoracic tuberculosis (TB).Methods: The clinical records of 52 patients who were diagnosed with single-segmental thoracic TB and treated by one stage posterior debridement, bone graft fusion, and internal fixation in our department from 2015 to 2018 were retrospectively analyzed. Among them, 25 cases were in the granular bone graft group and 27 cases in the transverse processes bone graft group. Outcomes including the visual analog scale (VAS), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), C-reactive protein (CRP), neurological function, operative time, operative blood loss, hospital stay, Cobb angle, bone graft fusion time, and postoperative complications were all recorded and analyzed.Results: There were no significant differences in operative time, operative blood loss, and hospital stay between the two groups (P &gt; 0.05). With an average follow-up of 18–33 months, all patients in the two groups showed significant improvement in VAS score, ESR, CRP, and neurological function compared with preoperative measurements (P &lt; 0.05), however, no significant differences were found for the last follow-up (P &gt; 0.05). The two groups showed similar Cobb angle correction (P &gt; 0.05), but the granular bone graft group had a larger Cobb angle loss than the transverse processes bone graft group (P &lt; 0.05). The bone graft fusion time of the granular bone graft group was shorter than that of the transverse processes bone graft group (P &lt; 0.05). No significant difference was found in the postoperative complications rate between the two groups (P &gt; 0.05).Conclusion: Granular bone grafts and transverse process bone grafts may achieve comparable clinical efficacy for single-segmental thoracic TB, but the former method had a shorter bone fusion time.
Comentario de libros.
Authors: Botella Luis , Pacheco Meritxell 
Published: May 2021

Comentario del libro "Constructivismo en psicoterapia".
Teniendo en cuenta la demanda creciente de literatura sobre psicoterapia constructivista en español, cabe recibir con entusiasmo la traducción a nuestro idioma de esta obra publicada originalmente en lengua inglesa por la American Psychologycal Association (1995). El carácter fundacional del libro en general y de su primera parte en particular, permite contextualizar la evolución de las psicoterapias constructivistas hasta la fecha y vislumbrar dónde situará el futuro a los psicoterapeutas constructivistas, y quienes podrían llegar a ser nuestros compañeros de viaje.
Electrochemical Fingerprint Biosensor for Natural Indigo Dye Yielding Plants Analysis
Authors: Fan Boyuan , Wang Qiong , Wu Weihong , Zhou Qinwei , Li Dongling , Xu Zenglai , Fu Li , Zhu Jiangwei , Karimi-Maleh Hassan , Lin Cheng-Te 
Published: May 2021

Indigo is a plant dye that has been used as an important dye by various ancient civilizations throughout history. Today, due to environmental and health concerns, plant indigo is re-entering the market. Strobilanthes cusia (Nees) Kuntze is the most widely used species in China for indigo preparation. However, other species under Strobilanthes have a similar feature. In this work, 12 Strobilanthes spp. were analyzed using electrochemical fingerprinting technology. Depending on their electrochemically active molecules, they can be quickly identified by fingerprinting. In addition, the fingerprint obtained under different conditions can be used to produce scattered patter and heatmap. These patterns make plant identification more convenient. Since the electrochemically active components in plants reflect the differences at the gene level to some extent, the obtained electrochemical fingerprints are further used for the discussion of phylogenetics.
Eating Motives and Other Factors Predicting Emotional Overeating during COVID-19 in a Sample of Polish Adults
Authors: Modrzejewska Adriana , Czepczor-Bernat Kamila , Modrzejewska Justyna , Matusik Paweł 
Published: May 2021

We hypothesised that the higher levels of emotion-related predictors (eating motive in the form of affect regulation and COVID-19-related stress) would be associated with higher emotional overeating, after accounting for the effects of demographic variables (gender and BMI) and other eating motives (visual- and attitude-related predictors: liking, pleasure, visual appeal; body- and health-related predictors: need and hunger, health, weight control). Participants (N = 868; Mage = 33.53 years, SD = 11.98) completed: the Eating Motivation Survey, the Emotional Overeating Questionnaire, a COVID-19-related stress measure and a socio-demographic survey. The final step of the regression with emotional overeating was significant; affect regulation and COVID-19-related stress were significantly related to emotional overeating (ΔF p < 0.001, Adj. ΔR2 = 0.13). During the COVID-19 pandemic, eating can, on the one hand, help to cope with the current difficult situation and the negative emotions associated with it; on the other hand, frequent use of this tendency can lead to rigid regulation of affect and use of this mechanism as the dominant mechanism. Therefore, limited social contact, related disruptions in daily activities and stress resulting from COVID-19 should generate appropriate interventions, not necessarily focusing only on emotional eating, but also on the resources of the individual. It is worth encouraging specialists to implement alternative methods of contact with their patients, e.g., online.
Gestión de Cobranza: un abordaje teórico desde el ámbito financiero
Authors: Díaz Leydy , Flores Enríquez Daibis Yesica 
Published: May 2021

El objetivo de la revisión tiene por finalidad determinar de qué manera una buena gestión de cobranza impacta favorablemente a las empresas, asimismo abordar de manera teórica la importancia de la gestión de cobranza a partir de hechos que suceden en los diferentes ámbitos comerciales de dónde surge como respuesta al sistema financiero de una empresa, para dar recursos que puedan aumentar la liquidez mediante una adecuada gestión de cobranza. Es así pues que en la búsqueda se detectó que las principales causas del retraso en las cuentas por cobrar, es la ausencia de adecuadas políticas de cobranzas para otorgar el plazo de días de pago a los clientes y la falta de un adecuado compromiso del personal con la organización. En este sentido, la gestión de las cuentas por cobrar está dirigido a incrementar la liquidez de la empresa, siendo así necesario las políticas de cobranza, que permitirá ver en qué situación se encuentra la empresa frente a sus obligaciones financieras. En ese sentido el análisis del estado que presentaba la empresa se ha encontrado la falta de políticas definidas, sobre todo para los créditos a empresas extranjeras y el personal no está capacitado para las funciones que el área necesita.
ABSTRACT
The purpose of this review is to determine how good collection management favorably impacts companies, as well as theoretically addressing the importance of collection management based on events that occur in the different commercial areas from which it arises as response to the financial system of a company, to provide resources that can increase liquidity through good collection management. Thus, in the search it was found that the main causes of the delay in the accounts receivable, is the absence of adequate collection policies to grant the period of days of payment to the clients and the lack of an adequate commitment of the staff with the organization. In this sense, the management of the accounts receivable are aimed at increasing the liquidity of the company, thus being necessary the collection policies, which will allow to see in what situation the company is in front of its financial obligations. In this sense, the analysis of the state presented by the company has found the lack of defined policies, especially for loans to foreign companies and the staff is not trained for the functions that the area needs.
Implementación del método de costos basados en actividades (ABC) en unidad de laboratorio médico
Authors: Hernández Aurelys , Bastidas Gregory , Plested Laura 
Published: May 2021

El presente estudio tiene por objetivo general, implementar el método de costos basados en actividades (ABC) en la unidad de laboratorio del centro de atención médico primario Central Salud Integral, C.A. Teóricamente, está soportado en la metodología de costos basados en actividades (ABC), la cual identifica las actividades realizadas, los recursos que se consumen y las actividades demandadas por cada servicio, contribuyendo así en la mejora de la eficiencia operativa de la organización. La metodología de la investigación, estuvo enmarcada en un proyecto factible y soportado en un trabajo de campo – documental desde un nivel descriptivo. El ABC permitió identificar las actividades que se realizan en el laboratorio de Central Salud Integral, C.A., determinar los recursos que estas consumen y asignar mediante inductores; el costo por actividad.

The present study aims to implement the method of costs based on activities (ABC) in the laboratory unit of the medical center of primary care of CSICA. Theoretically, it is supported in the ABC methodology, which identifies the activities done, the consumed resources and the activities demanded by every service, contributing in the improvement of the operative efficiency of the organization. The investigation methodology used a feasible and supported fieldwork project as a framework in a descriptive level. Thus, the ABC allowed to identify the activities that are being executed in the laboratory of CSICA, to determine the resources that these consume and to assign by means of inducers; the cost for activity.