bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Validity and Reliability of a Dietary Stages of Change Measure among Economically Disadvantaged African-American Adolescents
Authors: Di Noia Jennifer , Mauriello Leanne , Byrd-Bredbenner Carol , Thompson Debbe 
Published: June 2012

Purpose. To examine the construct validity and 2-month test-retest reliability of a staging measure for assessing readiness to consume five or more daily servings of fruits and vegetables among economically disadvantaged African-American adolescents. Design. Longitudinal survey. Setting. Youth services agencies serving low-income communities in New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania. Subjects. African-American adolescents (N = 390) aged 11 to 14 years. Measures. Self-report measures of stage of change and fruit and vegetable consumption. Analysis. Correlation analysis and analysis of covariance were used to examine, cross-sectionally, whether fruit and vegetable consumption differed by stage of change (validity assessment). Correlation analysis and Cohen's kappa (κ) were used to assess the degree of association and level of agreement between stages longitudinally (test-retest reliability assessment). Results. Fruit and vegetable consumption was moderately correlated with stage of change (r ≥ .54, p = .000). Consistent with the transtheoretical model, youths' consumption increased from earlier to later stages (p = .000). Forty-six percent of youths were in the same stage at both measurements. The correlation between stages was .26, and Cohen's κ was .20 (p = .000). Conclusions. Despite preliminary evidence of construct validity, the low test-retest reliability found suggests that further research and testing are needed to improve the stability of the measure.
Food Outlet Accessibility and Fruit and Vegetable Consumption
Authors: Ollberding Nicholas J. , Nigg Claudio R. , Geller Karly S. , Horwath Caroline C. , Motl Rob W. , Dishman Rod K. 
Published: June 2012

Purpose. To examine if spatial access to healthy and unhealthy outlets comprising the local food environment was associated with fruit and vegetable consumption. Design. Cross-sectional. Setting. Population-based sample residing in Hawaii. Subjects. Three hundred and eighty-four adults (36% Asian-American, 33% non-Hispanic white, 31% other/mixed race). Measures. A spatial model of the local food environment was constructed using radial buffers extending from participants' place of residence. Fruit and vegetable intake was estimated using the National Cancer Institute Fruit and Vegetable All-Day Screener. Analysis. Mean intakes of fruits and vegetables were compared for spatial access to total, healthy, and unhealthy food outlets at distances of .5 to 3.5 km. Multiple linear regression was used to estimate differences in fruit and vegetable intake for residing further from a food outlet or for residing in an area with a greater number of food outlets. Results. Residing in an area with a greater density of total or healthy food outlets was associated with a higher mean intake of fruits and vegetables (p < .05) at .5 km. No differences in mean intakes were detected for distances beyond .5 km or for regression models. Conclusion. Findings suggest that greater spatial accessibility to food outlets comprising the local food environment in Hawaii may not be meaningfully associated with fruit and vegetable consumption; however, associations were detected for the smallest spatial scale examined, warranting further investigation.
Medics as a Channel for Worksite Health Promotion in Remote Global Locations
Authors: Bullen Piroska A. Bisits 
Published: June 2012

Purpose. In the energy and mining sectors, it is common for employees to work in geographically remote locations, often with a medic for emergency response. This study evaluated an intervention to increase the number of medics conducting health promotion in remote worksites. Design. Interviews were conducted to gather data for informing intervention and survey development. The intervention was evaluated in a quasiexperimental posttest-only comparison group design using survey data collected at baseline and again after 12 months. Setting. The intervention was implemented in remote worksites (N = 201). There were 96 worksites in the intervention condition and 105 sites in the control condition. Subjects. The target population was medics, including nurses, doctors, and paramedics, operating in remote worksites in 44 countries. Intervention. The intervention was a series of campaign tool kits. The tool kits were adapted to the remote environment and could be customized for culture, language, and education level. Measures. The survey assessed frequency of health promotion activities, satisfaction with the intervention, and barriers to implementation. Analysis. Survey data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and χ2 tests. Interview results were coded to identify themes. Results. Most medics (88%) in the intervention group reported running “tool box talks” (short education sessions) on at least a monthly basis, compared with 78% in the comparison group (p = .056). The trend was similar for displaying posters (71% vs. 55%; p = .021) and advocating for policy changes (84% vs. 71%; p = .027). Medic satisfaction was high. Difficulty distributing tool kits was the main barrier to implementation. Conclusions. When provided with appropriate tools, medics may be an ideal channel for health promotion in remote worksites.
Enhancing Industry-Based Dissemination of an Occupational Sun Protection Program with Theory-Based Strategies Employing Personal Contact
Authors: Buller David B. , Andersen Peter A. , Walkosz Barbara J. , Scott Michael D. , Cutter Gary R. , Dignan Mark B. , Kane Ilima L. , Zhang Xiao 
Published: June 2012

Purpose. Industry-based strategies for dissemination of an evidence-based occupational sun protection program, Go Sun Smart (GSS), were tested. Design. Two dissemination strategies were compared in a randomized trial in 2004–2007. Setting. The North American ski industry. Subjects. Ski areas in the United States and Canada (n = 69) and their senior managers (n = 469). Intervention. Employers received GSS through a basic dissemination strategy (BDS) from the industry's professional association that included conference presentations and free starter kits. Half of the areas also received the enhanced dissemination strategy (EDS), in which project staff met face-to-face with managers and made ongoing contacts to support program use. Measures. Observation of program materials in use and managers' reports on communication about sun protection. Analysis. The effects of two alternative dissemination strategies were compared on program use using PROC MIXED in SAS, adjusted for covariates using one-tailed p values. Results. Ski areas receiving the EDS used more GSS materials (x̄ = 7.36) than those receiving the BDS (x̄ = 5.17; F = 7.82, p < .01). Managers from more areas receiving the EDS reported communicating about sun protection in employee newsletters/flyers (x̄ = .97, p = .04), in guest e-mail messages (x̄ = .75, p = .02), and on ski area Web sites (x̄ = .38, p = .02) than those receiving the BDS (x̄ = .84, .50, .15, respectively). Conclusion. Industry professional associations play an important role in disseminating prevention programs; however, active personal communication may be essential to ensure increased implementation fidelity.
Does It Pay to Pay People to Share Information? Using Financial Incentives to Promote Peer Referral for Mammography among the Underinsured
Authors: Southwell Brian G. , Slater Jonathan S. , Nelson Christina L. , Rothman Alexander J. 
Published: June 2012

Purpose. Efforts to screen underinsured women for breast cancer face challenges in reaching desired audiences. One option is viral marketing through peer referral. We sought the optimal way to solicit nominations of peers. Design. An experiment (N = 2968) compared impact of incentives on peer nomination. Women were offered a $20 incentive each time someone they referred was screened, a $5 incentive for each name and valid address or phone number (regardless of screening completion), or no financial incentive for nomination. Setting. Study sample was drawn from free mammography program participants in Minnesota. Analysis. Post hoc Scheffé t-tests compared conditions on nominees per invitation card sent (N = 2968), mean number of nominees scheduling mammogram per referrer (n = 107), and proportion of total nominees (N = 1041) scheduling a mammogram for each incentive condition. Results. Offering $5 per nomination yielded .52 nominations per referral invitation sent, compared to .36 nominations per invitation sent for $20 per completed mammogram and only .17 nominations per invitation in the no incentive group. In the no incentive condition, however, each referrer generated .35 scheduled mammograms on average, which was statistically equivalent to the .16 scheduled mammograms delivered on average by $20 per completed mammogram referrers and statistically superior, p <.05, to the .09 rate produced by $5 per name referrers. Conclusion. Programs interested in peer referral could productively pursue the strategy without incurring incentive costs.
Psychological and Physiological Response of Students to Different Types of Stress Management Programs
Authors: Iglesias Silvia L. , Azzara Sergio , Argibay Juan Carlos , Arnaiz María Lores , de Valle Carpineta María , Granchetti Hugo , Lagomarsino Eduardo 
Published: June 2012

Purpose. To design, implement, and examine the psychoneuroendocrine responses of three different types of stress management programs. Design. Randomly assigned. A pre/post experimental design comparing variables between three different programs and a control group. The first program included training in deep breathing, relaxation response, meditation, and guided imagery techniques (RRGI). The second program included training in cognitive behavioral techniques (CB). The third program included both RRGI and CB (RRGICB). Setting. The study was conducted at Buenos Aires University. Subjects. Participants (N = 52) were undergraduate students. Measures. Anxiety, anger, hopelessness, neuroticism, respiration rate, and salivary cortisol levels were assessed. Analysis. Wilcoxon signed rank test was used to investigate differences in pre and post variables. Results. Subjects in the RRGI group showed significantly lower levels of anxiety (p < .011), anger (p < .012), neuroticism (p < .01), respiratory rate (p < .002), hopelessness (p < .01), and salivary cortisol (p < .002) after the treatment. Subjects in the CB group showed significantly lower levels of anxiety (p < .018), anger (p < .037), and neuroticism (p < .03) after the treatment. Subjects in the RRGICB group showed significantly lower levels of anxiety (p < .001), anger (p < .001), neuroticism (p < .008), hopelessness (p < .01), respiratory rate (p < .001), and salivary cortisol (p < .002) after the treatment. Subjects in the control group showed only one variable modification, a significant increase in cortisol levels (p < .004). Conclusions. The combination of deep breathing, relaxation response, meditation, and guided imagery techniques with CB seems to be effective at helping people to deal with stress.
Preliminary Resultson the use of Autologous Cell Culture Grafts of Buccal Mucosa in Urethral Repairs
Authors: Palminteri Enzo , Berdondini Elisa , Maruccia Serena , Larocca Lorenzo , Iannotta Luca , Franco Giorgio , Gentile Vincenzo , Ceccarelli Simona , Marchese Cinzia 
Published: June 2012

Objective We present our preliminary experience with the use of autologous cell cultures of buccal mucosa (BM) in urethral repair. Patients and methods Five patients with urethral stenosis underwent staged urethral reconstruction with MB autologous cell culture grafts. MB biopsies were obtained from each patient. Keratinocytes and fibroblasts were isolated. This cel-lular suspension was seeded into Petri dishes. The cultures were kept in chemically specific ground for keratinocyte cultures. Once they reached the proper confluence and extension for urethral reconstruction, the cultures were transplanted in the patients. During the first stage of surgery, after the removal of healing tissues, the MB culture grafts were transplanted in order to recreate a neo-urethral plate. Six months later, the neo-urethral plate was re-tubularized. Results Average follow-up was 24 mo. We reported successful staged reconstruction in 2 cases (40%). Three cases (60%) were unsuccessful. One patient developed a scar retraction of the grafts after the first stage of surgery, which prevented broad urethral reconstruction. Two patients who had completed the staged reconstructive process, developed a re-stenosis. There were no reported graft site infections and none of the grafts was rejected. Conclusions We report the procedure in order to obtain and use an MB homologous cell culture. Using autologous material reduced the surgical time and wiped out the risk of rejection; on the other hand, the tissue was so thin and with no adequate scaffold that the healing retraction of the graft was increased, thus compromising the urethral reconstruction. Preliminary results confirm that bio-engineering applied to urethral surgery is far from obtaining adequate tissue with reference to extension, thickness and biological features.
Vectors in CRISPR Gene Editing for Neurological Disorders: Challenges and Opportunities
Authors: Xiong Kexin , Wang Xiaxia , Feng Caicai , Zhang Kaixiang , Chen Di , Yang Sen 
Published: February 2025

AbstractDiseases of the nervous system are recognized as the second leading cause of death worldwide. The global prevalence of neurological diseases, such as Huntington's disease, Alzheimer's disease, and Parkinson's disease has seen a significant rise due to the increasing proportion of the aging population. The discovery of the clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR) genome editing technique has paved way for universal neurological diseases treatment. However, finding a safe and effective method to deliver CRISPR gene‐editing tools remains a main challenge for genome editing therapies in vivo. Adeno‐associated virus (AAV) is currently one of the most commonly used vector systems, but some issues remain unresolved, including capsid immunogenicity, off‐target mutations, and potential genotoxicity. To address these concerns, researchers are actively encouraging the development of new delivery systems, like virus‐like particles and nanoparticles. These novel systems have the potential to enhance targeting efficiency, thereby offering possible solutions to the current challenges. This article reviews CRISPR delivery vectors for neurological disorders treatment and explores potential solutions to overcome limitations in vector systems. Additionally, the delivery strategies of CRISPR systems are highlighted as valuable tools for studying neurological diseases, and the challenges and opportunities that these vectors present.
Molecular Trojan Based on Membrane‐Mimicking Conjugated Electrolyte for Stimuli‐Responsive Drug Release
Authors: Meng Yingying , Gao Ji , Huang Xiaoran , Liu Pengke , Zhang Chibin , Zhou Peirong , Bai Yuanqing , Guo Jingjing , Zhou Cheng , Li Kai , Huang Fei , Cao Yong 
Published: February 2025

AbstractEnhancing payload encapsulation stability while enabling controlled drug release are both critical objectives in drug delivery systems but are challenging to reconcile. This study introduces a zwitterionic conjugated electrolyte (CE) molecule named Zwit, which acts as a molecular Trojan by mimicking the lipid bilayers. When integrated into liposome membranes, Zwit rigidifies the bilayer structure likely due to its hydrophobic interactions providing structural support, thus inhibiting drug leakage. Upon 808 nm laser excitation, Zwit rapidly accelerates DOX release from liposome core, likely due to light‐triggered conformational changes or photothermal effects that compromise membrane permeability. These findings demonstrate Zwit’s ability to overcome the challenge of simultaneously preventing premature payload leakage and enabling stimuli‐responsive drug release with a single component. Additionally, Zwit exhibits excellent biocompatibility with membranes, outperforming its quaternary ammonium counterpart and commonly used dye indocyanine green (ICG). By harnessing its NIR‐II emission, Zwit enables durable in vivo biodistribution tracking of nanocarriers, whereas ICG suffers from significant dye leakage. In subcutaneous tumor models, the synergistic effects of chemotherapy and thermotherapy facilitated by this light‐triggered system induced a potent antitumor immune response, further enhancing anticancer efficacy. This work underscores the potential of membrane‐mimicking CEs as multifunctional tools in advanced drug delivery systems.
Tumor‐Targeted Glutamine Metabolism Blocker Synergizes with TiO2‐Au Janus Nanoparticles for Enhanced Sono‐Metabolic Antitumor Therapy
Authors: Zheng Jinling , Zhao Fenghuan , Pariente Eugenie , Xu Xiaoyu , Zhang Xu , Shabiti Shayibai , Ke Yingying , Hao Junjie , Delville Jean‐Pierre , Delville Marie Helene , Li Wenjun 
Published: February 2025

AbstractSonodynamic therapy (SDT) is a promising therapeutic modality known for its non‐invasiveness, temporal‐spatial controllability, and deeper tissue penetration. However, the SDT treatment efficacy is still hampered by the scarcity of ideal sonosensitizers and complex tumor microenvironment (TME). To address these challenges, a sono‐metabolic nano‐composite (TiO2‐Au@DON) using the metabolic reprogramming prodrugs of 6‐Diazo‐5‐oxo‐l‐norleucine (DON) grafted on TiO2‐Au Janus nanoparticles (NPs) is fabricated. The coupling of TiO2 and gold in the TiO2‐Au@DON effectively prevents the fast recombination of excited electrons and holes under ultrasound irradiation. The result is the generation of higher levels of both type I and II reactive oxygen species (ROS) compared to pure TiO2, which helps overcome the limitations of SDT in the hypoxic TME. Furthermore, the TiO2‐Au Janus NPs act as nano‐carriers, delivering DON prodrugs to the tumor site. The released DON can disrupt nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate hydrogen (NADPH) and tumor redox homeostasis by reprogramming the metabolic pathways while it intensifies the activities of immune cells. This metabolic disruption amplifies SDT‐mediated oxidative stress, resulting in the increase of tumor sensitivity to ROS through TiO2‐Au@DON‐integrated synergistic effects of SDT and glutamine reprogramming strategies. This increased sensitivity ultimately induces robust immunogenic cell death (ICD), enhancing antitumor therapeutic efficacy and remodeling the tumor's immunosuppressive microenvironment.
112 Gb s−1 Germanium Photodetector at 2 µm Enabled by a 3D Integrated Waveguide Loop
Authors: Wang Jianing , Zhang Xuelin , Li Yihang , Wang Xi , Xiao Shumin , Song Qinghai , He Zuyuan , Du Jiangbing , Tsang Hon Ki , Xu Ke 
Published: February 2025

AbstractRecently, the 2 µm wavelength band has attracted increasing interest because of its potential prospects for free‐space and fiber optical communications. Silicon photonic integrated circuits can operate in this band, but a major challenge exists for integrated photodetectors because the photon energies in this wavelength band are less than the energy bandgap of germanium which is the material used for in silicon photonic photodetectors for the conventional optical communications bands. While it is possible to have weak optical absorption at the 2‐µm wavelength band using strained germanium and defect states, the need for a long absorption length can degrade the resistance‐capacitance (RC) limited bandwidth. To address this problem, we proposed a compact 3D waveguide loop to improve both the responsivity and the bandwidth. A closed loop for light‐matter interaction enhancement is demonstrated, enabling the responsivity of the detector to reach 0.11 A W−1 at wavelengths of 1955 nm. The measured 3 dB bandwidth of the photodetector is 36 GHz and is sufficient for high‐speed detection of 112 Gb s−1 PAM‐4 signals. The device is fabricated in a commercial foundry and extends the high‐speed communications capabilities of silicon photonics to the 2 µm wavelength band.
Remote Luminescent Temperature Sensing Using 3D‐Printed Eu(III)‐Doped Micropolymers at the Tip of an Optical Fiber
Authors: Baltieri Ricardo Santos , Reupert Aaron , Manzani Danilo , Wondraczek Lothar 
Published: February 2025

AbstractAdditive manufacturing offers a novel and versatile approach for fabricating micro‐ and nanoscale structures, allowing direct printing onto the tip of optical fibers. This technology facilitates the miniaturization of existing sensors and the development of new ones, providing exceptional precision and reproducibility. Meanwhile, optical thermometry based on lanthanide luminescence demonstrates significant potential for contactless and remote temperature measurements. This work employs two‐photon polymerization 3D printing to fabricate microstructures at the tip of a multimode silica optical fiber, incorporating the Eu3+ thenoyltrifluoroacetonate (tta) coordination complex. Temperature sensing measurements are conducted using two different methods: the Luminescence Intensity Ratio (LIR), which utilizes emissions from both the polymer fiber coating and the Eu3⁺ complex, and an RGB colorimetric analysis derived from optical images. The results confirm the successful development of an Eu3+‐doped resin/polymer and temperature evaluation in the range of 296 to 363 K using the returning emission from the fiber tip. A relative sensitivity of 5.0% K⁻¹ is achieved in the LIR method, with exceptional stability of the structure in different solvents and temperatures, showcasing the potential of this integrated approach for high‐performance, miniaturized optical temperature sensing.
A Portable and Low‐Cost Single Board Computer‐Based Spectrophotometric Platform for Optical Analysis in the UV and Visible Range
Authors: Tonelli Alessandro , Tortone Anna , Grazioli Alessandro , Pasquali Francesco , Sozzi Michele , Candiani Alessandro , Capelli Luca , Bertucci Alessandro 
Published: February 2025

AbstractThe growing ability of high‐performance consumer electronics is fostering innovation in prototyping and research. Although the Raspberry Pi single‐board computer (SBC) is widely used across various fields, including diagnostics, applications involving UV‐based reading remain underexplored. In this study, a simple, low‐cost (less than 100 euros), and portable device for UV–vis measurements based on Raspberry Pi is presented. The system integrates the AS7341 multi‐channel multispectral digital sensor, offering analytical performance comparable to two commercial spectrophotometers – one benchtop and one portable – in terms of linearity, limit of detection, quantitation, and repeatability. Furthermore, the device demonstrates reliable performance both in analyzing real wine samples using two different commercial enzymatic kits and in quantifying different concentrations of synthetic DNA oligonucleotides. By providing a ready‐to‐use, portable, and affordable platform for UV–vis diagnostics, this prototype is well‐suited for resource‐limited settings, educational environments, and IoT applications where numerous distributed sensors are required for specific diagnostic tasks.