bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
MatriGrid® Based Biological Morphologies: Tools for 3D Cell Culturing
Authors: Mai Patrick , Hampl Jörg , Baca Martin , Brauer Dana , Singh Sukhdeep , Weise Frank , Borowiec Justyna , Schmidt André , Küstner Johanna Merle , Klett Maren , Gebinoga Michael , Schroeder Insa S. , Markert Udo R. , Glahn Felix , Schumann Berit , Eckstein Diana , Schober Andreas
Published: May 2022

Recent trends in 3D cell culturing has placed organotypic tissue models at another level. Now, not only is the microenvironment at the cynosure of this research, but rather, microscopic geometrical parameters are also decisive for mimicking a tissue model. Over the years, technologies such as micromachining, 3D printing, and hydrogels are making the foundation of this field. However, mimicking the topography of a particular tissue-relevant substrate can be achieved relatively simply with so-called template or morphology transfer techniques. Over the last 15 years, in one such research venture, we have been investigating a micro thermoforming technique as a facile tool for generating bioinspired topographies. We call them MatriGrid®s. In this research account, we summarize our learning outcome from this technique in terms of the influence of 3D micro morphologies on different cell cultures that we have tested in our laboratory. An integral part of this research is the evolution of unavoidable aspects such as possible label-free sensing and fluidic automatization. The development in the research field is also documented in this account.
Elucidation of the Potential Hair Growth-Promoting Effect of Botryococcus terribilis, Its Novel Compound Methylated-Meijicoccene, and C32 Botryococcene on Cultured Hair Follicle Dermal Papilla Cells Using DNA Microarray Gene Expression Analysis
Authors: Oliva Aprill Kee , Bejaoui Meriem , Hirano Atsushi , Arimura Takashi , Linh Tran Ngoc , Uchiage Eriko , Nukaga Sachiko , Tominaga Kenichi , Nozaki Hiroyuki , Isoda Hiroko
Published: May 2022

A person’s quality of life can be adversely affected by hair loss. Microalgae are widely recognized for their abundance and rich functional components. Here, we evaluated the hair growth effect of a green alga, Botryococcus terribilis (B. terribilis), in vitro using hair follicle dermal papilla cells (HFDPCs). We isolated two types of cells from B. terribilis—green and orange cells, obtained from two different culture conditions. Microarray and real time-PCR results revealed that both cell types stimulated the expression of several pathways and genes associated with different aspect of the hair follicle cycle. Additionally, we demonstrated B. terribilis’ effect on collagen and keratin synthesis and inflammation reduction. We successfully isolated a novel compound, methylated-meijicoccene (me-meijicoccene), and C32 botryococcene from B. terribilis to validate their promising effects. Our study revealed that treatment with the two compounds had no cytotoxic effect on HFDPCs and significantly enhanced the gene expression levels of hair growth markers at low concentrations. Our study provides the first evidence of the underlying hair growth promoting effect of B. terribilis and its novel compound, me-meijicoccene, and C32 botryococcene.
Expression Profile of mRNAs and miRNAs Related to the Oxidative-Stress Phenomenon in the Ishikawa Cell Line Treated Either Cisplatin or Salinomycin
Authors: Januszyk Szymon , Mieszczański Paweł , Lurka Hubert , Sagan Dorota , Boroń Dariusz , Grabarek Beniamin Oskar
Published: May 2022

The oxidative stress phenomenon is a result of anticancer therapy. The aim of this study was the assessment of gene expression profile changes, and to determine the miRNAs regulating genes’ transcriptional activity in an Ishikawa endometrial cancer culture exposed to cisplatin or salinomycin, compared to a control culture. The molecular analysis comprised the microarray technique (mRNAs and micro RNA (miRNA), the real-time quantitative reverse transcription reaction (RTqPCR), enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) reactions, and Western blot. NR4A2, MAP3K8, ICAM1, IL21, CXCL8, CCL7, and SLC7A11 were statistically significantly differentiated depending not only on time, but also on the drug used in the experiment. The conducted assessment indicated that the strongest links were between NR4A2 and hsa-miR-30a-5p and has-miR-302e, MAP3K8 and hsa-miR-144-3p, CXCL8 and hsa-miR-140-3p, and SLC7A11 and hsa-miR-144-3p. The obtained results suggest that four mRNAs—NR4A2, MAP3K8, CXCL8 and SLC7A11—and four miRNAs—hsa-miR-30a-5p, hsa-miR-302e, hsa-miR-144-3p and hsa-miR-140-3—changed their expressions regardless of the chemotherapeutic agent used, which suggests the possibility of their use in monitoring the severity of oxidative stress in endometrial cancer. However, considering the results at both the mRNA and the protein level, it is most likely that the expressions of NR4A2, MAP3K8, CXCL8 and SLC7A11 are regulated by miRNA molecules as well as other epigenetic mechanisms.
Treatment Strategies for Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Harboring Common and Uncommon EGFR Mutations: Drug Sensitivity Based on Exon Classification, and Structure-Function Analysis
Authors: Kitadai Rui , Okuma Yusuke
Published: May 2022

The identification of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutations and development of EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors (EGFR-TKIs) have dramatically improved the prognosis of advanced EGFR-mutated non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), setting a landmark in precision oncology. Exon 19 deletions and exon 21 L858R substitutions, which comprise the majority of common EGFR mutations, are predictors of good sensitivity to EGFR-TKIs. However, not all cancers harboring EGFR mutations are sensitive to EGFR-TKIs. Most patients harboring uncommon EGFR mutations demonstrate a poorer clinical response than those harboring common EGFR mutations. For example, cancers harboring exon 20 insertions, which represent approximately 4–12% of EGFR mutations, are generally insensitive to first- and second-generation EGFR-TKIs. Although understanding the biology of uncommon EGFR mutations is essential for developing treatment strategies, there is little clinical data because of their rarity. Moreover, clarifying the acquired resistance of EGFR-mutated NSCLC may lead to more precise treatments. Sequencing and structure-based analyses of EGFRmutated NSCLC have revealed resistance mechanisms and drug sensitivity. In this review, we discuss the strategies in development for treating NSCLC harboring common and uncommon EGFR mutations. We will also focus on EGFR-TKI sensitivity in patients harboring EGFR mutations based on the structural features.
The Role of Surgery for Oligometastatic Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer
Authors: Euhus Caleb J. , Ripley Taylor R. , Medina Cristian G.
Published: May 2022

Oligometastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is metastatic disease that refers to a limited number of metastatic sites. It is analogous to an intermediate stage of NSCLC, between localized and widely metastatic disease, even though no staging criteria establishes this distinction. Oligometastatic NSCLC describes a patient subgroup with limited metastasis to one or a few organs. These patients seem to have a more indolent cancer than those with diffuse metastasis. For these select patients with oligometastatic disease, the use of palliative systemic therapy over local aggressive treatment may be a missed opportunity to improve survival. The clear definition of this subgroup and identification of the best treatment remains the current challenge in the management of the disease. Surgery was the early cornerstone in the treatment of limited disease; however, as modalities such as chemotherapy, stereotactic radiosurgery, and immunotherapy have matured, the role of excision is less clearly defined. There are sparse randomized controlled trials comparing the efficacy of different treatment modalities in patients with oligometastatic NSCLC. However, there is a growing body of retrospective research detailing the prognostic factors that characterize the role of surgery in the management of these patients. This article clarifies the context and definition of the term oligometastatic, as it applies to NSCLC, and reviews the current results in the use of surgery for its management.
A Drug Screening Revealed Novel Potential Agents against Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma
Authors: Dell’Anno Irene , Melani Alessandra , Martin Sarah A. , Barbarino Marcella , Silvestri Roberto , Cipollini Monica , Giordano Antonio , Mutti Luciano , Nicolini Andrea , Luzzi Luca , Aiello Raffaele , Gemignani Federica , Landi Stefano
Published: May 2022

The lack of effective therapies remains one of the main challenges for malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM). In this perspective, drug repositioning could accelerate the identification of novel treatments. We screened 1170 FDA-approved drugs on a SV40-immortalized mesothelial (MeT-5A) and five MPM (Mero-14, Mero-25, IST-Mes2, NCI-H28 and MSTO-211H) cell lines. Biological assays were carried out for 41 drugs, showing the highest cytotoxicity and for whom there were a complete lack of published literature in MPM. Cytotoxicity and caspase activation were evaluated with commercially available kits and cell proliferation was assayed using MTT assay and by clonogenic activity with standard protocols. Moreover, the five most effective drugs were further evaluated on patient-derived primary MPM cell lines. The most active molecules were cephalomannine, ouabain, alexidine, thonzonium bromide, and emetine. Except for alexidine, these drugs inhibited the clonogenic ability and caspase activation in all cancer lines tested. The proliferation was inhibited also on an extended panel of cell lines, including primary MPM cells. Thus, we suggest that cephalomannine, ouabain, thonzonium bromide, and emetine could represent novel candidates to be repurposed for improving the arsenal of therapeutic weapons in the fight against MPM.
Acoustic Vibration Modes of Gold–Silver Core–Shell Nanoparticles
Authors: Otomalo Tadele Orbula , Di Mario Lorenzo , Hamon Cyrille , Constantin Doru , Toschi Francesco , Do Khanh-Van , Juvé Vincent , Ruello Pascal , O’Keeffe Patrick , Catone Daniele , Paladini Alessandra , Palpant Bruno
Published: May 2022

Bimetallic Au/Ag core–shell cuboid nanoparticles (NPs) exhibit a complex plasmonic response dominated by a dipolar longitudinal mode and higher-order transverse modes in the near-UV, which may be exploited for a range of applications. In this paper, we take advantage of the strong signature of these modes in the NP ultrafast transient optical response, measured by pump-probe transient absorption (TA) spectroscopy, to explore the NP vibrational landscape. The fast Fourier transform analysis of the TA dynamics reveals specific vibration modes in the frequency range 15–150 GHz, further studied by numerical simulations based on the finite element method. While bare Au nanorods exhibit extensional and breathing modes, the bimetallic NPs undergo more complex motions, involving the displacement of facets, edges and corners. The amplitude and frequency of these modes are shown to depend on the Ag shell thickness, as the silver load modifies the NP aspect ratio and mass. Moreover, the contributions of the vibrational modes to the experimental TA spectra are shown to vary with the probe laser wavelength at which the signal is monitored. Using the combined simulations of the NP elastic and optical properties, we elucidate this influence by analyzing the effect of the mechanisms involved in the acousto-plasmonic coupling.
HRAS Q61L Mutation as a Possible Target for Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer: Case Series and Review of Literature
Authors: Mathiot Laurent , Herbreteau Guillaume , Robin Siméon , Fenat Charlotte , Bennouna Jaafar , Blanquart Christophe , Denis Marc , Pons-Tostivint Elvire
Published: May 2022

Introduction: Assessment of actionable gene mutations and oncogene fusions have made a paradigm shift in treatment strategies of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). HRAS mutations involved around 0.2–0.8% of NSCLC patients, mostly on codon 61. For these patients, few data are available regarding clinical characteristics and response to therapies. Methods: Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS) done routinely at Nantes University Hospital was used to identify HRAS molecular alterations in NSCLC patients. We identified and described four HRAS p.GlnQ61Leu mutated patients. Literature of previously HRAS-mutant NSCLC cases was reviewed, and available data in solid tumour with the most advanced H-Ras specific inhibitor, tipifarnib, were presented. Results: Of 1614 patients diagnosed with advanced NSCLC from January 2018 to December 2020, four (0.25%) had HRAS p.Gln61Leu mutation. Three of them died during the first-line systemic therapy. Furthermore, three additional cases were identified in literature. All cases were current or former smokers, most of them had pleural or pericardial effusion at diagnosis. Conclusions: The clinical course of patients with HRAS-mutant NSCLC remains unclear. Furthers cases should be identified in order to clarify prognosis and response to therapies. Tipifarnib, a farnesyl transferase inhibitor, is a promising candidate to target HRAS-mutant tumours and should be explored in NSCLC patients.
Resistances to Educational Change: Teachers’ Perceptions
Authors: Lomba-Portela Lucía , Domínguez-Lloria Sara , Pino-Juste Margarita Rosa
Published: May 2022

Educational changes require a great effort on the part of the entire educational community and, above all, the active involvement of teachers. The aim of this article was to analyze the main resistances to change that predominate among teachers at different educational stages. Through a non-experimental design, using an online questionnaire, teachers’ beliefs about factors influencing resistance to change were collected. The results indicate that the participants do not have great resistance to educational change and that legislative changes and the perception of teachers as having excessive functions are the most common aspects of resistance. There is greater resistance to change among men and in public schools and as the experience and age of the teaching staff increases. Based on the results, it is suggested that the educational center be placed as the unit of change, increasing the leadership of the director to carry out the changes suggested by the center itself, fostering teamwork among teachers, and institutionally supporting innovative initiatives that are evaluated or facilitating teacher training in relation to their teaching practice.
Numerical and Experimental Study on Thermal Comfort of Human Body by Split-Fiber Air Conditioner
Authors: Yang Jie , Dong Zhimeng , Yang Huihan , Liu Yanyan , Wang Yunjie , Chen Fujiang , Chen Haifei
Published: May 2022

The thermal comfort of an enclosed room with air conditioner and air-distribution duct coupling can be studied, and the parameters of a split-fiber air conditioner can be optimized on the basis of studying the thermal comfort of various parts of the human body. In this paper, a room model with a distributed air conditioner was proposed. First, the rationality of the three thermal comfort characterization models of predict mean vote (PMV), predicted percentage of dissatisfied (PPD), and percentage of dissatisfied (PD) were verified through experiments and simulations. Then, the temperature and thermal comfort of various parts of the human body were explored when the air-distribution duct had different openings and different positions of the air outlet. The simulation results showed that compared with other situations, when the split-fiber air conditioner had three rows of holes (5-o’clock, 6-o’clock, 7-o’clock) and the air outlet was located in the middle of the right wall of the human body, the PMV, PPD, and PD of the measuring points around the human body fluctuated less, the indoor temperature field distribution fluctuated less, and there was no wind feeling around the human body, which can better meet the needs of human thermal comfort.
Modeling and Fuzzy FOPID Controller Tuned by PSO for Pneumatic Positioning System
Authors: Muftah Mohamed Naji , Faudzi Ahmad Athif Mohd , Sahlan Shafishuhaza , Shouran Mokhtar
Published: May 2022

A pneumatic cylinder system is believed to be extremely nonlinear and sensitive to nonlinearities, which makes it challenging to establish precise position control of the actuator. The current research is aimed at reducing the overshoot in the response of a double-acting pneumatic actuator, namely, the IPA positioning system’s reaction time. The pneumatic system was modeled using an autoregressive with exogenous input (ARX) model structure, and the control strategy was implemented using a fuzzy fractional order proportional integral derivative (fuzzy FOPID) employing the particle swarm optimization (PSO) algorithm. This approach was used to determine the optimal controller parameters. A comparison study has been conducted to prove the advantages of utilizing a PSO fuzzy FOPID controller over PSO fuzzy PID. The controller tuning algorithm was validated and tested using a pneumatic actuator system in both simulation and real environments. From the standpoint of time-domain performance metrics, such as rising time (tr), settling time (ts), and overshoot (OS%), the PSO fuzzy FOPID controller outperforms the PSO Fuzzy PID controller in terms of dynamic performance.
Automatic Recognition of Faults in Mining Areas Based on Convolutional Neural Network
Authors: Zou Guangui , Liu Hui , Ren Ke , Deng Bowen , Xue Jingwen
Published: May 2022

Tectonic interpretation is critical to a coal mine’s safe production, and fault interpretation is an essential component of seismic tectonic interpretation. With the increasing necessity for accuracy in fault interpretation in coal mines, it is increasingly challenging to achieve greater accuracy only through traditional fault interpretation. The convolutional neural network (CNN) is a machine learning method established in recent years and it has been widely applied in coal mine fault interpretation because of its powerful feature-learning and classification capabilities. To improve the accuracy and efficiency of fault interpretation in coal mines, an automatic seismic fault identification method based on the convolutional neural network has been developed. Taking a mining area in eastern Yunnan province as an example, the CNN model realized automatic identification of faults with eight seismic attributes as feature inputs, and the model-training parameters were optimized and compared. Ten faults in the area were selected to analyze the prediction effect, and a comparative experiment was done with model structure parameters and training sets. The experimental results indicate that the training parameters have a significant influence on the training time and testing accuracy of the model, while structural parameters and training sets affect the actual prediction effect of the model. By comparison, the fault results predicted by the convolutional neural network are in good agreement with the manual interpretation, and the accuracy of the model is more than 85%, which proves that this method has certain feasibility and provides a new way to shorten the fault interpretation period and improve the interpretation accuracy.
Dynamic Response Analysis of Dual-Flow Channel Pump Station Structure under Water Pressure Pulsation
Authors: Hou Chengcheng , Cheng Li , Pan Weifeng , Li Songbai , Jiao Weixuan
Published: May 2022

The RNG k-ε model turbulence model is used to carry out a CFD numerical simulation of the dual-flow channel pumping station. Through the model test, the accuracy of the numerical simulation of the dual-flow channel pump device is verified. Using the harmonic response analysis method, the water pressure fluctuating load calculated under different startup conditions under the design water level is applied to the pumping station. In this way, the dynamic response law of the pump station structure under the action of water pressure pulsation is studied. The calculation results show that the values of pressure pulsation in the drainage condition and the water diversion condition are relatively close, and the main difference is the difference in the water levels of the inlet and outlet water. Under different working conditions, the amplitude of the pumping station building basically shows the characteristics that the vertical amplitude is greater than the horizontal amplitude. The maximum dynamic displacement under drainage condition is greater than that under the diversion condition, and the maximum dynamic displacement appears at the control gate. Under the three working conditions, the maximum dynamic stress of each characteristic part of the pumping station building is low. The maximum total dynamic stress under the drainage condition is greater than that under the diversion condition.
Familial Diabetes in Obese PCOS Predisposes Individuals to Compensatory Hyperinsulinemia and Insulin Resistance (IR) Also for Reduced Hepatic Insulin Extraction (HIE)
Authors: Genazzani Alessandro D. , Battipaglia Christian , Semprini Elisa , Arnesano Melania , Ambrosetti Fedora , Sponzilli Alessandra , Tomatis Veronica , Petrillo Tabatha
Published: May 2022

Background: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a frequent reproductive disease characterized by hyperandrogenism, oligo /anovulation, and polycystic aspects at ultrasound. In these last years, a body of evidence disclosed the frequent occurrence in PCOS patients of insulin resistance (IR) and compensatory hyperinsulinemia. Aim: To evaluate whether any relationship exists between IR, compensatory hyperinsulinemia and familial predisposition to diabetes. Methods: A group of overweight/obese PCOS patients (n = 84) was selected from our Clinic database according to the Rotterdam criteria and the following parameters were extracted from the database: insulin, C Peptide, aspartate amino transferase (AST), alanine amino transferase (ALT), HOMA (Homeostasis Model Assessment) index, total cholesterol, LDL (Low Density Lypoprotein), HDL (High Density Lypoprotein), and body mass index (BMI). The presence and absence of diabetes among first grade relatives (parents and/or grandparents) were also considered. The Hepatic Insulin Extraction (HIE) index was computed as a ratio between insulin and C-Peptide plasma levels. Results: PCOS patients with familial diabetes showed higher levels of ALT, AST, HOMA index, and HIE. Baseline insulin levels above 12 μU/mL were more frequently observed in PCOS with familial diabetes. HIE index, ALT, and AST were higher in these latter PCOS patients than in PCOS without diabetic first grade relatives, sustaining the hypothesis of an impaired liver clearance of insulin in the case of familial diabetes. Conclusions: According to our study, the presence of anamnestic evidence of familial diabetes together with baseline levels of insulin higher that 12 µIU/mL and elevated transaminase levels should be considered as a consistent clinical suspect of liver impairment that might trigger compensatory hyperinsulinemia and lead to NAFLD and liver steatosis.
Rapid and Efficient Regeneration of Populus ussuriensis Kom. from Root Explants through Direct De Novo Shoot Organogenesis
Authors: Yang Shuyu , Liu Runze , Li Wenlong , Jing Yanan , Pak Solme , Li Chenghao
Published: May 2022

Populus ussuriensis is an important tree species with high economic and ecologic values. However, traditional sexual propagation is time-consuming and inefficient, challenging afforestation and wood production using P. ussuriensis, and requires a rapid and efficient regeneration system. The present study established a rapid, efficient, and stable shoot regeneration method from root explants in P. ussuriensis using several plant growth regulators. Most shoot buds (15.2 per explant) were induced at high efficiency under WPM medium supplemented with 221.98 μM 6-BA, 147.61 μM IBA, and 4.54 μM TDZ within two weeks. The shoot buds were further multiplicated and elongated under WPM medium supplemented with 221.98 μM 6-BA, 147.61 μM IBA, and 57.74 μM GA3 for four weeks. The average number and efficiency of elongation of multiplication and elongation for induced shoot buds were 75.2 and 78%, respectively. All the shoots were rooted within a week and none of them showed abnormality in rooting. The time spent for the entire regeneration of this direct shoot organogenesis was seven weeks, much shorter than conventional indirect organogenesis with the callus induction phase, and no abnormal growth was observed. This novel regeneration system will not only promote the massive propagation, but also accelerate the genetic engineering studies for trait improvement of P. ussuriensis species.
Quality-of-Service-Linked Privileged Content-Caching Mechanism for Named Data Networks
Authors: H. S. Shrisha , Boregowda Uma
Published: May 2022

The domain of information-centric networking (ICN) is expanding as more devices are becoming a part of connected technologies. New methods for serving content from a producer to a consumer are being explored, and Named Data Networking (NDN) is one of them. The NDN protocol routes the content from a producer to a consumer in a network using content names, instead of IP addresses. This facility, combined with content caching, efficiently serves content for very large networks consisting of a hybrid and ad hoc topology with both wired and wireless media. This paper addresses the issue of the quality-of-service (QoS) dimension for content delivery in NDN-based networks. The Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) classifies QoS traffic as (prompt, reliable), prompt, reliable, and regular, and assigns corresponding priorities for managing the content. QoS-linked privileged content caching (QLPCC) proposes strategies for Pending Interest Table (PIT) and content store (CS) management in dedicated QoS nodes for handling priority content. QoS nodes are intermediately resourceful NDN nodes between content producers and consumers which specifically manage QoS traffic. The results of this study are compared with EQPR, PRR probability cache, and Least Frequently Used (LFU) and Least Fresh First (LFF) schemes, and QLPCC outperformed the latter-mentioned schemes in terms of QoS-node CS size vs. hit rate (6% to 47%), response time vs, QoS-node CS size (65% to 90%), and hop count vs. QoS-node CS size (60% to 84%) from the perspectives of priority traffic and overall traffic. QLPCC performed predictably when the NDN node count was increased from 500 to 1000, showing that the strategy is scalable.
Enhancing the Accuracy of Solving Riccati Fractional Differential Equations
Authors: Toma Antonela , Dragoi Flavius , Postavaru Octavian
Published: May 2022

In this paper, we solve Riccati equations by using the fractional-order hybrid function of block-pulse functions and Bernoulli polynomials (FOHBPB), obtained by replacing x with xα, with positive α. Fractional derivatives are in the Caputo sense. With the help of incomplete beta functions, we are able to build exactly the Riemann–Liouville fractional integral operator associated with FOHBPB. This operator, together with the Newton–Cotes collocation method, allows the reduction of fractional differential equations to a system of algebraic equations, which can be solved by Newton’s iterative method. The simplicity of the method recommends it for applications in engineering and nature. The accuracy of this method is illustrated by five examples, and there are situations in which we obtain accuracy eleven orders of magnitude higher than if α=1.
Evaluation of Hand–Dug Wells in Rural Haiti
Authors: Schram Hayley E. , Wampler Peter J.
Published: May 2022

Water resources, especially safe, potable water, are limited for many Haitians. In areas where shallow groundwater is available, many household water needs such as laundry, bathing, and cooking are supplied by hand–dug wells. In order to better understand the water quality and prevalence of these household wells, 35 hand–dug wells were surveyed and sampled near the Hôpital Albert Schweitzer in Deschapelles, Haiti. Water samples were collected and tested for fecal coliform and Escherichia coli using the IDEXX Colilert–18 method. Of the samples collected, 89 percent were determined unsafe to use as a drinking water source based on the World Health Organization standard of 1.0 colony–forming unit (cfu) E. coli per 100 mL. Sixty–six percent of the wells exceeded recreational/body contact standards for the state of Michigan (130 cfu/100 mL). Some of these wells were deemed suitable for conversion to a new well type called in situ filtration (ISF) wells. In situ filtration wells are installed with an internal sand filter pack, PVC casing, pump, and cap which seals the well from surface contamination and provides additional water treatment as water is pumped. Previous ISF installations have reduced E. coli to safe drinking water levels within 90 days.
Text Mining Analysis of Korean University Students’ Academic Coaching Intake Session Reports
Authors: Lee Ahram , Lee Soo Jeung , Lee Jee Young , Rhee Eunjeong
Published: May 2022

Academic coaching has been emphasized in Korean universities as an effective measure to assist students’ academic achievement and success. To better assess the needs of the students, the current study investigated academic coaching intake session reports archived at a Korean university from January 2017 to August 2021 and examined students’ descriptions of their academic concerns and barriers. The intake session reports were categorized according to (1) students’ affiliated department tracks, namely Humanities and Social Science (HSS) and Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) tracks, and (2) the time the coaching sessions took place, i.e., before and after the outbreak of COVID-19. Text mining analysis was conducted to calculate the frequency of keywords, their degree of centrality, and the frequency of bigrams, or the sets of two adjacent words, for each category. Wordclouds and word networks were also visualized. The results indicated that the word study was dominant in both categories, reflecting the education culture in Korea. Similarities and differences between the two categories were also reported. Based on the results, practical implications for academic coaches, educators, and university administrators were proposed, and limitations were discussed.
Effect of Reconstructive Procedures of the Extracranial Segment of the Carotid Arteries on Damage to the Blood–Brain Barrier
Authors: Terlecki Piotr , Przywara Stanisław , Terlecki Karol , Janczak Dariusz , Antkiewicz Maciej , Zubilewicz Tomasz
Published: May 2022

Introduction: Endarterectomy and angioplasty of the internal carotid artery are surgical measures for the prevention of ischemic stroke. Perioperative complications are caused by concomitant embolism and reperfusion syndrome leading to damage of the blood–brain barrier. Methods: The study included 88 patients divided into two groups, depending on the surgical technique used: internal carotid artery endarterectomy (CEA), 66 patients, and percutaneous carotid angioplasty and stenting (CAS), 22 patients. Blood was drawn 24 h before surgery, as well as 8, 24, and 48 h post-surgery. The assessment of damage to the blood–brain barrier was based on the evaluation of the concentration of claudin-1 and occludin, aquaporin-4, the measurements of the activity of metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) and -9 (MMP-9), and the assessment of central nervous system damage, measured by changes in the blood S100β protein concentration. Results: A significant increase in the concentration of the blood–brain barrier damage markers and increased MMP-2 and MMP-9 activity were found in patient blood. The degree of damage to the blood–brain barrier was higher in the CEA group. Conclusions: The authors’ own research has indicated that revascularization of the internal carotid artery may lead to damage to the central nervous system secondary to damage to the blood–brain barrier.
The Mediating Effect of E-Cigarette Harm Perception in the Relationship between E-Cigarette Advertising Exposure and E-Cigarette Use
Authors: Jiang Nan , Xu Shu , Li Le , El-Shahawy Omar , Freudenberg Nicholas , Shearston Jenni A. , Sherman Scott E.
Published: May 2022

Exposure to e-cigarette advertising is associated with e-cigarette use among young people. This study examined the mediating effect of e-cigarette harm perception on the above relationship. Cross-sectional survey data were collected from 2112 college students in New York City in 2017–2018. The analytic sample comprised 2078 participants (58.6% females) who provided completed data. Structural equal modeling was performed to examine if e-cigarette harm perception mediated the relationship between e-cigarette advertising exposure (via TV, radio, large signs, print media, and online) and ever e-cigarette use and susceptibility to e-cigarette use. About 17.1% of participants reported ever e-cigarette use. Of never users, 17.5% were susceptible to e-cigarette use. E-cigarette advertising exposure was mainly through online sources (31.5%). Most participants (59.4%) perceived e-cigarettes as equally or more harmful than cigarettes. Advertising exposure showed different effects on e-cigarette harm perception depending on the source of the advertising exposure, but perceiving e-cigarettes as less harmful than cigarettes was consistently associated with e-cigarette use and susceptibility. Low harm perception mediated the association between advertising exposure (via online, TV, and radio) and ever e-cigarette use and between online advertising exposure and e-cigarette use susceptibility. Regulatory actions are needed to address e-cigarette marketing, particularly on the Internet.
Determinants of Sleep Disorders and Occupational Burnout among Nurses: A Cross-Sectional Study
Authors: Młynarska Agnieszka , Bronder Magdalena , Kolarczyk Ewelina , Manulik Stanisław , Młynarski Rafał
Published: May 2022

Background: The aim of the study was to assess the determinants of the sleep disorders that occur among nurses working in a shift system by assessing the influence of sociodemographic factors, the impact of shift work, and the occurrence of occupational burnout. Methods: The study included 300 nurses who work shifts in the Silesian Region (Poland). The research was conducted using standardized research tools: the Karolinska Sleepiness Scale (KSS), the Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS), the Athens Insomnia Scale (AIS), and the Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI). Results: Among the sociodemographic factors, in the KSS analysis, sleep disorders were most common in men (CI: 0.038; p < 0.001), in divorced individuals (CI: 1.436; p = 0.045), and in individuals who were overweight (CI: 1.927; p = 0.026). Multiple linear regression showed that sleep disorders (p < 0.001) were an independent predictor of MBI among nurses who worked shifts. Conclusions: Sleep disturbances affect the burnout of nurses who work shifts.
Gaps to Best Practices for Teleconsultations Performed by General Practitioners: A Descriptive Cross-Sectional Study
Authors: Carrier Alexandre , Fernez Karyne , Chrusciel Jan , Laplanche David , Cormi Clément , Sanchez Stéphane
Published: May 2022

The COVID-19 pandemic led to large increases in telemedicine activity worldwide. This rapid growth, however, may have impacted the quality of care where compliance with guidelines and best practices are concerned. The aim of this study was to describe the recent practices of a telemedicine activity (teleconsultations) and the breaches of best practice guidelines committed by general practitioners (GPs) in the Greater Eastern Region of France. A cross-sectional study was conducted using a 33-item questionnaire and was provided to the Regional Association of Healthcare Professionals, Union Régionale des Professionnels de Santé (URPS) to be shared amongst the GPs. Between April and June 2021, a total of 233 responses were received, showing that (i) by practicing telemedicine in an urban area, (ii) performing a teleconsultation at the patient’s initiative, and (iii) carrying out more than five teleconsultations per week were factors associated with a significantly higher level of best practices in telemedicine. All in all, roughly a quarter of GPs (25.3%, n = 59) had a self-declared good telemedicine practice, and the rules of good practice are of heterogeneous application. Despite the benefits of learning on the job for teleconsultation implementation during the COVID-19 lockdowns, there may be a clear need to develop structured and adapted telemedicine training programs for private practice GPs.
Rapid Assessment of Oxidative Damage Potential: A Comparative Study of Engineered Stone Dusts Using a Deoxyguanosine Assay
Authors: Thredgold Leigh , Ramkissoon Chandnee , Kumarasamy Chellan , Gun Richard , Rowett Shelley , Gaskin Sharyn
Published: May 2022

The popularity of engineered stone (ES) has been associated with a global increase in occupational lung disease in workers exposed to respirable dust during the fabrication of benchtops and other ES products. In this study, the reactivity and subsequent oxidative reduction potential of freshly generated ES dusts were evaluated by (i) comparing different engineered and natural stones, (ii) comparing settled and respirable stone dust fractions and (iii) assessing the effect of ageing on the reactivity of freshly generated stone dust. An established cell-free deoxyguanosine hydroxylation assay was used to assess the potential for oxidative DNA damage. ES dust exhibited a higher relative reactivity than two of the three natural stones tested. Respirable dust fractions were found to be significantly more reactive than their corresponding settled fraction (ANOVA, p < 0.05) across all stone types and samples. However, settled dust still displayed high relative reactivity. The lower reactivity of the settled dust was not due to decay in reactivity of the respirable dust when it settled but rather a result of the admixture of larger nonrespirable particles. No significant change in respirable dust reactivity was observed for three ES samples over a 21-day time period, whereas a significant decrease in reactivity was observed in the natural stone studied. This study has practical implications for dust control and housekeeping in industry, risk assessment and hazard management.
Working Conditions of Occupational Physicians—A Scoping Review
Authors: Eisch Eva , Kuper Paulina , Lindert Lara , Choi Kyung-Eun (Anna)
Published: May 2022

Occupational physicians (OPs) offer a wide range of health support for employees and are confronted with varying job characteristics and demands. They monitor occupational health and safety and promote work(place)-related health measures and assessments. While helping employees to (re)gain a healthy status, their own job satisfaction as well as the investigation of their working conditions have earned limited research attention. Thus, this scoping review aims to summarize the current state of knowledge concerning OPs’ working conditions, i.e., work-related resources and stressors. PubMed, Web of Science and LIVIVO as well as grey literature were screened for relevant English or German articles until 10/2021. From a total of 1683 identified publications, we analyzed 24 full text articles that fulfilled all inclusion criteria. The overall study sample included 3486 male (54.6%), 2892 female (45.3%) and 5 diverse OPs, from which 1049 OPs worked in full-time (85.6%) and 177 in part-time (14.4%). The majority (72.4%) worked for the Occupational Health Service (OHS), 13% were self-employed, and 14.6% worked for a company/in-house service. The classification of stressors and resources was based on an inductively generated categorization scheme. We categorized 8 personal, relational and environmental resources and 10 stress factors. The main resources were support for personnel development and promotion, positive organizational policy, promoting work-life balance and other aspects of health. Key stressors were information deficits, organizational deficiency and uncertainty as well as socioeconomic influences and high professional obligations. The working conditions of OPs are still a topic with too little research attention. This scoping review reveals several starting points to maintain a healthy OP workforce and gives recommendations for action for the near future.
Nursing, Commitment, and Leadership: More Nurses for a Better Health Care Model—Be a Nurse to Be a Leader
Authors: Gea-Caballero Vicente , Marín-Maicas Patricia , Sufrate-Sorzano Teresa , Di Nitto Marco , Rozensztrauch Anna , Juárez-Vela Raúl
Published: May 2022

For the celebration of International Nurses Day in 2022, the International Council of Nurses (ICN) has proposed the slogan “Nursing, a voice to lead: Invest in nurses and respect rights for global health” [1]. [...]
How Income and Income Inequality Drive Depressive Symptoms in U.S. Adults, Does Sex Matter: 2005–2016
Authors: Zare Hossein , Meyerson Nicholas S. , Nwankwo Chineze Adania , Thorpe Roland J.
Published: May 2022

Importance: Depression is one of the leading causes of disability in the United States. Depression prevalence varies by income and sex, but more evidence is needed on the role income inequality may play in these associations. Objective: To examine the association between the Poverty to Income Ratio (PIR)—as a proxy for income—and depressive symptoms in adults ages 20 years and older, and to test how depression was concentrated among PIR. Design: Using the 2005–2016 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), we employed Negative Binomial Regression (NBRG) in a sample of 24,166 adults. We used a 9-item PHQ (Public Health Questionnaire, PHQ-9) to measure the presence of depressive symptoms as an outcome variable. Additionally, we plotted a concentration curve to explain how depression is distributed among PIR. Results: In comparison with high-income, the low-income population in the study suffered more from greater than or equal to ten on the PHQ-9 by 4.5 and 3.5 times, respectively. The results of NBRG have shown that people with low-PIR (IRR: 1.30, 95% CI: 1.23–1.37) and medium-PIR (IRR: 1.55, 95% CI: 1.46–1.65) have experienced a higher relative risk ratio of having depressive symptoms. Women have a higher IRR (IRR: 1.29, 95% CI: 1.24–1.34) than men. We observed that depression was concentrated among low-PIR men and women, with a higher concentration among women. Conclusion and Relevance: Addressing depression should target low-income populations and populations with higher income inequality.
Perceived Work Ability during Enforced Working from Home Due to the COVID-19 Pandemic among Finnish Higher Educational Staff
Authors: Kyrönlahti Saila , Neupane Subas , Nygård Clas-Håkan , Oakman Jodi , Juutinen Soile , Mäkikangas Anne
Published: May 2022

Background: Due to COVID-19 pandemic, many employees were forced to suddenly shift to working from home (WFH). How this disruption of work affected employees’ work ability is not known. In this study, we investigated the developmental profiles of work ability among Finnish higher education employees in a one-year follow-up during the enforced WFH. Secondly, we investigated demographic, organizational, and ergonomic factors associated with the developmental profiles. Methods: A longitudinal web-survey was conducted with four measurement points (April 2020–February 2021). Employees of a Finnish university who answered the questionnaire at baseline and at least at two follow-up surveys (n = 678) were included (71% women, 45% teachers/research staff, 44% supporting staff, 11% hired students). Perceived work ability was measured on a scale of 1–5 in all timepoints. Latent class growth curve analysis was used to identify profiles of work ability. Multinomial logistic regression was used to determine the associations of demographic factors, perceived stress, musculoskeletal pain, functionality of home for work, and organizational support with the work ability profiles. Results: Six distinct work ability profiles were identified. For most (75%), work ability remained stable during the follow-up. A total of 17% had a favourable trend (very good-stable or increasing) of work ability, and 8% had non-favourable (poor-stable or decreasing). Poor ergonomics at home, low organizational support, high stress, and musculoskeletal pain were associated with non-favourable development of work ability. Conclusions: Heterogeneity in development of work ability during forced WFH was found. Several factors were identified through which work ability can be supported.
Combined Low Plant and High Animal Dietary Pattern Is Associated with a Lower Risk of Anemia among Dyslipidemic Adult Women in Taiwan: A Retrospective Study from 2001 to 2015
Authors: Purnamasari Sintha Dewi , Hsu Chien-Yeh , Chen Yi-Tien , Kurniawan Adi Lukas , Lee Hsiu-An , Chao Jane C.-J.
Published: May 2022

Anemia and dyslipidemia often occurs in premenopausal women. This study investigated the association between dietary patterns and anemia among dyslipidemic women in Taiwan. This study recruited 22,631 dyslipidemic women aged 20–45 years between 2001 and 2015. The dietary assessment was collected by a validated food frequency questionnaire. The biochemical data including blood lipids, red blood cells, hemoglobin, hematocrit, and C-reactive protein (CRP) were retrieved from the database. Women with a combined high plant diet (HP) and low animal diet (LA) were associated with a lower prevalence of obesity (11.7%), central obesity (16.0%), high total cholesterol (16.4%), and high low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (11.9%), and had lower hemoglobin (12.9 ± 1.4 g/dL), hematocrit (38.8 ± 3.6%), and CRP levels (20.6 ± 31.4 nmol/L). The low plant diet (LP) + high animal diet (HA) pattern was negatively associated with moderate to severe anemia (OR: 0.76, 95% CI: 0.64–0.92, p = 0.004) compared to the low plant diet (LP) + low animal diet (LA) pattern. However, the HP + LA pattern was positively correlated with moderate to severe anemia (OR: 1.22, 95% CI: 1.04–1.43, p = 0.015). In conclusion, a low plant and high animal diet plays a role in preventing anemia development among dyslipidemic women.
Positive Humor and Work Withdrawal Behaviors: The Role of Stress Coping Styles in the Hotel Industry Amid COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: Elshaer Ibrahim A. , Azazz Alaa M. S. , Fayyad Sameh
Published: May 2022

Working in the hospitality industry is stressful due to the intensive workload and extended work hours; this stress has increased after the COVID-19 pandemic due to high levels of job insecurity, downsizing, and laying off procedures. Employees in the hotel industry can deal with stress positively by utilizing task-coping styles or negatively by emotion- and avoidance-coping styles. Building on the transactional theory of stress and coping, and the benign violation theory of humor, the current study explores the relationships between positive humor and work withdrawal behaviors with the mediating effects of coping styles. A total of 407 hotel employees participated, and the obtained data were analyzed by structural equation modeling with partial least squares (PLS). The results asserted that affiliative humor is able to reduce coping with stresses via the negative styles and to increase coping with stresses via the positive style. The results also demonstrated the ability of task-coping in reducing work withdrawal behavior. Significant insights into theoretical and practical implications are further discussed.