bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Population food intake clusters and cardiovascular disease incidence: a Bayesian quantifying of a prospective population-based cohort study in a low and middle-income country
Authors: Rikhtehgaran Reyhaneh , Shamsi Khadijeh , Renani Elnaz Mojoudi , Arab Arman , Nouri Fatemeh , Mohammadifard Noushin , Marateb Hamid Reza , Mansourian Marjan , Sarrafzadegan Nizal 
Published: July 2023

AimsThis study was designed to explore the relationship between cardiovascular disease incidence and population clusters, which were established based on daily food intake.MethodsThe current study examined 5,396 Iranian adults (2,627 males and 2,769 females) aged 35 years and older, who participated in a 10-year longitudinal population-based study that began in 2001. The frequency of food group consumption over the preceding year (daily, weekly, or monthly) was assessed using a 49-item qualitative food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) administered via a face-to-face interview conducted by an expert dietitian. Participants were clustered based on their dietary intake by applying the semi-parametric Bayesian approach of the Dirichlet Process. In this approach, individuals with the same multivariate distribution based on dietary intake were assigned to the same cluster. The association between the extracted population clusters and the incidence of cardiovascular diseases was examined using Cox proportional hazard models.ResultsIn the 10-year follow-up, 741 participants (401 men and 340 women) were diagnosed with cardiovascular diseases. Individuals were categorized into three primary dietary clusters: healthy, unhealthy, and mixed. After adjusting for potential confounders, subjects in the unhealthy cluster exhibited a higher risk for cardiovascular diseases [Hazard Ratio (HR): 2.059; 95% CI: 1.013, 4.184] compared to those in the healthy cluster. In the unadjusted model, individuals in the mixed cluster demonstrated a higher risk for cardiovascular disease than those in the healthy cluster (HR: 1.515; 95% CI: 1.097, 2.092). However, this association was attenuated after adjusting for potential confounders (HR: 1.145; 95% CI: 0.769, 1.706).ConclusionThe results have shown that individuals within an unhealthy cluster have a risk that is twice as high for the incidence of cardiovascular diseases. However, these associations need to be confirmed through further prospective investigations.
Association of psychological distress, smoking and genetic risk with the incidence of lung cancer: a large prospective population-based cohort study
Authors: Zhang Jing , Wang Yi , Hua Tingting , Wei Xiaoxia , Jiang Xiangxiang , Ji Mengmeng , Ma Zhimin , Huang Yanqian , Wang Hui , Du Lingbin , Zhu Meng , Xu Lin , Wu Weibing , Ma Hongxia 
Published: July 2023

BackgroundEmerging evidence suggests a potential link between psychological distress (anxiety and depression) and lung cancer risk, however, it is unclear whether other factors such as tobacco smoking and genetic susceptibility modify the association.MethodsWe included 405,892 UK Biobank participants free of cancer at baseline. Psychological distress was measured using the Patient Health Questionnaire-4 (PHQ-4). A polygenic risk score (PRS) was calculated using 18 lung cancer-associated genetic loci. Multivariable Cox regression models were used to estimate hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs).ResultsDuring a median follow-up of 7.13 years, 1754 lung cancer cases were documented. The higher score of psychological distress was associated with an increased risk of lung cancer (HRper 1-SD= 1.07, 95% CI: 1.02-1.11) after adjustment for smoking and other confounders. Mediation analysis revealed that 16.8% (95% CI: 13.0%-20.6%) of the distress-lung cancer association was mediated by smoking. Compared with never smokers with no distress, participants with heavy smoking and high distress had the highest risk of lung cancer (HR=18.57, 95% CI: 14.51-23.76). Both multiplicative and additive interactions were observed between smoking and psychological distress in lung cancer. Furthermore, the greatest relative increase in risk was observed among those with high genetic risk and high distress (HR=1.87, 95%CI: 1.50-2.33), and there was a significant additive interaction between the PRS and psychological distress.ConclusionOur results indicate that psychological distress was associated with an elevated risk of incident lung cancer, and such relation was modified by tobacco smoking and genetic susceptibility.
Optical and electronic signal stabilization of plasmonic fiber optic gate electrodes: towards improved real-time dual-mode biosensing
Authors: Hasler Roger , Steger-Polt Marie-Helene , Reiner-Rozman Ciril , Fossati Stefan , Lee Seungho , Aspermair Patrik , Kleber Christoph , Ibáñez Maria , Dostalek Jakub , Knoll Wolfgang 
Published: July 2023

The use of multimodal readout mechanisms next to label-free real-time monitoring of biomolecular interactions can provide valuable insight into surface-based reaction mechanisms. To this end, the combination of an electrolyte-gated field-effect transistor (EG-FET) with a fiber optic-coupled surface plasmon resonance (FO-SPR) probe serving as gate electrode has been investigated to deconvolute surface mass and charge density variations associated to surface reactions. However, applying an electrochemical potential on such gold-coated FO-SPR gate electrodes can induce gradual morphological changes of the thin gold film, leading to an irreversible blue-shift of the SPR wavelength and a substantial signal drift. We show that mild annealing leads to optical and electronic signal stabilization (20-fold lower signal drift than as-sputtered fiber optic gates) and improved overall analytical performance characteristics. The thermal treatment prevents morphological changes of the thin gold-film occurring during operation, hence providing reliable and stable data immediately upon gate voltage application. Thus, the readout output of both transducing principles, the optical FO-SPR and electronic EG-FET, stays constant throughout the whole sensing time-window and the long-term effect of thermal treatment is also improved, providing stable signals even after 1 year of storage. Annealing should therefore be considered a necessary modification for applying fiber optic gate electrodes in real-time multimodal investigations of surface reactions at the solid-liquid interface.
Research on duplex underwater wireless laser communication system
Authors: Dong Bing , Tong Shoufeng , Zhang Peng , Du Yangfan 
Published: July 2023

To improve the bit error rate (BER) of underwater wireless laser communication and increase communication speed, a duplex underwater wireless laser communication system is designed. The system uses both blue and green lasers to transmit signals simultaneously, and adopts an improved modulation and demodulation algorithm to achieve separate modulation of the two sets of signals. A duplex underwater wireless laser communication system builds based on 440 and 550 nm lasers. On the basis of analyzing the absorption and scattering characteristics of seawater in laser communication, the influence of turbulence on communication efficiency is discussed. Improved the traditional duplex modulation algorithm and conducted communication testing at a depth of 2.0 m underwater. The experimental results show that when the communication distance increases from 5 to 50 m, the BER of the unoptimized duplex mode increases from 2.34 × 10−7 to 3.5 × 10−5. After adopting the optimization algorithm, the BER increases from 2.81 × 10−7 to 1.18 × 10−6, and the signal attenuation has been significantly suppressed. The duplex communication structure and algorithm can effectively reduce the impact of communication distance on bit BER.
Effects of exercise amount and intensity versus a combined exercise and lifestyle intervention on metabolic syndrome in adults with prediabetes: a STRRIDE-PD randomized trial
Authors: Bennett William C. , Collins Katherine A. , Johnson Johanna L. , Slentz Cris A. , Willis Leslie H. , Bales Connie W. , Huffman Kim M. , Kraus William E. 
Published: July 2023

The purpose of this secondary analysis was to determine what portion of the effects of a Diabetes Prevention Program-like intervention on metabolic syndrome (MetS) could be achieved with exercise alone, as well as to determine the relative importance of exercise intensity and amount to the total exercise effect on MetS. Sedentary, overweight adults with prediabetes were randomly assigned to one of four 6-month interventions: 1) low-amount/moderate-intensity (10 kcal/kg/week at 50% peak V˙O2); 2) high-amount/moderate-intensity (16 kcal/kg/week at 50% peak V˙O2); 3) high-amount/vigorous-intensity (16 kcal/kg/week at 75% peak V˙O2); or 4) diet (7% weight loss) plus low-amount/moderate-intensity (10 kcal/kg/week at 50% peak V˙O2). The primary outcome of this secondary analysis was change in the MetS z-score. A total of 130 participants had complete data for all five Adult Treatment Panel (ATP) III MetS criteria. The diet-and-exercise group statistically outperformed the MetS z-score and the ATP III score compared to the exercise alone group. Aerobic exercise alone achieved 24%–50% of the total effect of the combined diet-and-exercise intervention on the MetS score. Low-amount moderate-intensity exercise quantitatively performed equal to or better than the interventions of high-amount moderate-intensity or high-amount vigorous-intensity exercise in improving the MetS score. The combined diet-and-exercise intervention remains more efficacious in improving the MetS z-score. However, all three exercise interventions alone showed improvements in the MetS z-score, suggesting that a modest amount of moderate-intensity exercise is all that is required to achieve approximately half the effect of a diet-and-exercise intervention on the MetS.Clinical Trial Registration:clinicaltrials.gov, identifier NCT00962962.
Knockout of the polysialyltransferases ST8SiaII and ST8SiaIV leads to a dilatation of rete testis during postnatal development
Authors: Humpfle Luisa , Hachem Nadim E. , Simon Peter , Weinhold Birgit , Galuska Sebastian P. , Middendorff Ralf 
Published: July 2023

Polysialic acid (polySia) is a carbohydrate polymer that modulates several cellular processes, such as migration, proliferation and differentiation processes. In the brain, its essential impact during postnatal development is well known. However, in most other polySia positive organs, only its localization has been described so far. For instance, in the murine epididymis, smooth muscle cells of the epididymal duct are polysialylated during the first 2 weeks of postnatal development. To understand the role of polySia during the development of the epididymis, the consequences of its loss were investigated in postnatal polySia knockout mice. As expected, no polysialylation was visible in the absence of the polysialyltransferases ST8SiaII and ST8SiaIV. Interestingly, cGMP-dependent protein kinase I (PGK1), which is essentially involved in smooth muscle cell relaxation, was not detectable in peritubular smooth muscle cells when tissue sections of polySia knockout mice were analyzed by immunohistochemistry. In contrast to this signaling molecule, the structural proteins smooth muscle actin (SMA) and calponin were expressed. As shown before, in the duct system of the testis, even the expression of these structural proteins was impaired due to the loss of polySia. We now found that the rete testis, connecting the duct system of the testis and epididymis, was extensively dilated. The obtained data suggest that less differentiated smooth muscle cells of the testis and epididymis result in disturbed contractility and thus, fluid transport within the duct system visible in the enlarged rete testis.
Mental distress and well-being of university students amid COVID-19 pandemic: findings from an online integrative intervention for psychology trainees
Authors: Yotsidi Vasiliki , Nikolatou Eirini-Konstantina , Kourkoutas Elias , Kougioumtzis Georgios A. 
Published: July 2023

IntroductionUniversity students have been severely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, as significant changes supervened their academic and social life. To tackle these challenges, several adjustments in the educational methods may be warranted for cultivating a positive environment at higher education institutions. The aim of this study was to investigate the risk and protective factors of students’ mental health and well-being as well as their potential for flourishing in an undergraduate clinical psychology course that took place online due to the COVID-19 restrictive measures and incorporated positive psychology exercises as a means to empower young people amid the adverse conditions of the lockdown.MethodsIn total, 124 students attended the course and completed mental health (i.e., DASS-9, HADS, ERQ) and well-being (i.e., MHC-SF, SWLS, PANAS, GQ-6, BRS) measures at two time points (pre-and-post-test), during the first restrictions in Greece (March–June 2020).ResultsAccording to the results, students aged 18–20 years old reported higher levels of stress [χ2 = 14.72, p = 0.002], while students who felt that the quality of their studies had deteriorated [χ2 = 6.57, p = 0.038] reported increased levels of anxiety. High levels of depression were correlated with worse relationships with significant others (z = 7.02, p = 0.030 and χ2 = 11.39, p = 0.003 for family and friends, respectively), while gratitude and resilience were positively correlated with improved relationships with others, both during and after the lockdown. Factors associated with students’ well-being were satisfaction with life and gratitude.DiscussionThese results suggest that well-being enhancement factors may have added value to current educational practices for promoting students’ mental health and well-being in times of crisis.
Vision-related tasks in children with visual impairment: a multi-method study
Authors: Ghasemi Fard Fatemeh , Mirzaie Hooshang , Hosseini Seyed Ali , Riazi Abbas , Ebadi Abbas 
Published: July 2023

ObjectiveFunctional Vision (FV) is vital for the successful growth of children with visual impairment. However, tasks related to measuring FV have not been thoroughly studied for this population. To address this gap, this study seeks to establish a comprehensive set of vision-related tasks that consider both the difficulty levels of activities and the ages of children with visual impairment.MethodsThis study utilized a sequential multi-method design, including a scoping review, a qualitative content analysis, and a focus group. Firstly, a scoping review was conducted to identify vision-related tasks based on the literature. Then, to contextualize the vision-related tasks, a qualitative content analysis was carried out. Subsequently, a focus group was conducted to categorize the identified tasks based on their difficulty levels and the children’s level of dependency. We utilized the directed content analysis method to analyze the data, using the occupational domain of the Occupational Therapy Practice Framework 4th edition (OTPF-4) as the primary framework.ResultsDuring the review phase, which included 22 studies, and the interview phase, which involved 16 participants, a total of 95 and 85 vision-related tasks were identified, respectively. These tasks were then categorized into 17 activities and five occupations, which included activities of daily living (ADL), instrumental activities of daily living (IADL), education, play, and participation in social activities. Among these occupations, ADL was the easiest, while participation in social activities was the most challenging. Finally, the tasks were arranged based on their difficulty level for children with visual impairment.ConclusionA comprehensive list of vision-related tasks has been developed based on the difficulty level of the tasks and the degree of dependency of children with visual impairment. This list can be used to develop standardized instruments for assessing FV in children with visual impairment.
A predictive model of perceived stress during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in university students Ecuadorians
Authors: Reivan Ortiz Geovanny Genaro , Yanza Rafael , Campoverde Ximena , Estrada Cherres Johanna Paulina , Reinoso García Lourdes Priscila , Diaz José , Granero Pérez Roser 
Published: July 2023

Background and objectivesThe situation caused by the confinement due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the mobility restriction implemented by governments worldwide had a significant impact on people’s routines. Stressors are known to increase emotional imbalance, uncertainty, and frustration in the general population. This study explores the factors that predispose to the risk of perceived stress from COVID-19 and determines the underlying mediating mechanisms in the Ecuadorian population.MethodThe cross-sectional study an incidental non-probabilistic sample of n = 977 participating student volunteers from the four regions of the Republic of Ecuador (68.6% women and 31.4% men). Data on emotional regulation (ERQ), perceived stress (PSS), active procrastination (APS), diagnosis and symptoms related to COVID-19, social isolation, coexistence, and a sociodemographic questionnaire (biological sex, marital status, and age) were recruited. Statistical analysis was based on a structural equation model.ResultsThe risk of suffering perceived stress in the COVID-19 pandemic was higher for single women who have lived longer in social isolation, have lived with more people, have poor emotional regulation and high rates of procrastination. This structural model is similar in all Ecuadorian regions χ2 = 21.54 (p = 0.760), RMSEA = 0.001 (95%CI, 0.00–0.02), CFI = 0.998; TLI = 0.999; SRMR = 0.020.DiscussionAlthough our findings are consistent and revealing for the scientific community, the lack of discrimination of the data due to strict isolation measures, taken at different periods by the Ecuadorian government against positive cases of COVID-19, is discussed. The research was applied to the university population, it would be representative to extend the study to schools and colleges.ConclusionWe consider this work as a starting point for the creation of preventive models against perceived stress in the university environment in the event of health emergencies.
Exploring the association between perceived male attitudes and female attitudes toward the discontinuation of Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting in Egypt
Authors: Zsabokorszky Zita , Van de Velde Sarah , Michielsen Kristien , Van Eekert Nina 
Published: July 2023

IntroductionThere are 200 million girls and women alive worldwide that have undergone the practice of Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting (FGM/C) and 4 million girls are at risk of undergoing the practice each year. FGM/C provides no known health benefits, while puts a plethora of medical, psychological, and sexual health risks into perspective. One of the countries where the prevalence of FGM/C is the highest in the World, even though local authorities legally banned the practice in 2008, is Egypt. Within the Egyptian context, there are several complex socioeconomic, religious, and cultural drivers that influence the familial decision making of the daughters being cut. Female attitudes hold great significance in the process, because mothers and female family members are typically the prime decision makers at the daughter's circumcision. However, whilst FGM/C is often performed to enhance marriageability and address male preferences, in practicing communities there is little to no open communication between men and women about the practice, making women rely on their perceptions on FGM/C related expectations of men. Even though the connection between female and perceived male attitudes toward the discontinuation was established almost 20 years ago, since then to our knowledge little is known about the further characteristics of this association. Therefore, this study aims to explore the association between female and perceived male attitudes within families of a younger cohort and moreover attempts to provide a more layered picture of it within different levels of education.MethodsTo explore the relation between female and perceived male attitudes toward the discontinuation of FGM/C we conducted a 3-step binary logistic regression model.ResultsOur results show that women are significantly less likely to favor a continuation of FGM/C if they think men are disapproving of the practice, compared to women that think men want it to continue. The strength of this association partially varies between the different levels of education as it is less pronounced at the level of secondary education, compared to the reference group.DiscussionIn alignment with previous findings in the literature, women were more likely to support the discontinuation of FGM/C if they believed that men want the practice to discontinue as well and vice versa. At a higher level of secondary education however this association is less pronounced. This result concludes that the role of perceived male attitudes should be an important factor associated with female ones and studied further, and underlines the importance of education in women empowerment.
PENGARUH PERIKLANAN TERHADAP KEPUTUSAN SISWA DALAM MEMILIH SEKOLAH DI SEKOLAH MENENGAH KEJURUAN ISLAM PENGUJI SUKABUMI
Authors: Rizky Nu Ainiyah Dini , Saddam Muhamad , Fahrozi Ridwan 
Published: July 2023

Sekolah menengah kejuruan (SMK) Islam Penguji Kota Sukabumi merupakan satuan pendidikan tingkat menengah dibawah naungan Dinas Pendidikan Provinsi Jawa Barat dan berada dibawah naungan Yayasan Islam Penguji berdiri sejak tahun 1995. Periklanan merupakan salah satu variabel yang mempengaruhi keputusan siswa, karena dengan periklanan yang jelas akan dapat meningkatkan keputusan siswa. Penelitian ini dilakukan di Sekolah Menengah Kejuruan Islam Penguji Kota Sukabumi. Tujuan penelitian ini adalah untuk mengetahui periklanan, untuk mengetahui keputusan dan untuk mengetahui pengaruh periklanan terhadap keputusan. Fenomena yang terjadi pada Sekolah Menengah Kejuruan Islam Penguji adalah turun naiknya jumlah penerimaan siswa yang masuk ke SMK Islam Penguji Kota Sukabumi. Permasalahan tersebut diduga rendahnya penerimaan jumlah siswa baru dari target yang di tetapkan di SMK Penguji Sukabumi. Metode penelitian ini menggunakan metode deskriptif dan asosiatif. Pada penelitian ini menggunakan data primer dengan menggunakan observasi serta penyebaran kuesioner kepada responden. Teknik pengambilan sampling menggunakan probability sampling dengan rumus slovin. Jumlah populasi yang berjumlah 148 orang, dari hasil perhitungan dengan menggunakan rumus slovin tersebut dapat hasil sejumlah 55,9 dibulatkan menjadi 60. Dari hasil penelitian ini diketahui bahwa adanya pengaruh yang signifikan variabel (X) Periklanan terhadap variabel (Y) Keputusan. oleh karena itu sekolah harus terus meningkatkan periklanan dengan cara meningkatkan frekuensi iklan pada anggaran iklan dan penayangan iklan dan meningkatkan hubungan dengan masyarakat sekitar lingkungan sekolah.