bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Similarities and Differences between EU Platforms in the AHA and AAL Domains from a Software Viewpoint
Authors: Gams Matjaž , Kolar Žiga , Vuk Zdenko , Samuelsson Christina , Jäger Bernhard , Dovgan Erik
Published: February 2022

The EU PlatformUptake project’s main goal is to investigate the usage of EU open and partly-open platforms in active and healthy aging (AHA) and ambient-assisted living (AAL) domains, from a software viewpoint. The aim of the project was to provide tools for a deeper interpretation and examination of the platforms, gather user feedback, and use it to improve the state-of-the-art approach in the AHA and AAL domains, and define instructions to enhance the platforms within the recommended order. The emphasis is on the software viewpoint for decision makers. In this paper, we present (i) the PlatformUptake methodology for AHA open platform assessments and its main objectives; (ii) clustering of the analyzed platforms; and (iii) the taxonomies generated from the text descriptions of the chosen platforms. With the use of the clustering tools, we present which platforms could be grouped together due to their similarities. Different numbers of clusters were obtained with two clustering approaches, resulting in the most informative two and four cluster groups. The platforms could be rather neatly presented in this way and, thus, potentially guide future platform structuring. Moreover, taxonomies, i.e., decision trees of platforms, were generated to easily determine each specific platform or to find platforms with the desired properties. Altogether, the computer comprehension of the platforms may be important additions to the human way of dealing with the AHA platforms, influencing future design, publications, related work, and research.
COVID-19 Identification from Low-Quality Computed Tomography Using a Modified Enhanced Super-Resolution Generative Adversarial Network Plus and Siamese Capsule Network
Authors: Nneji Grace Ugochi , Deng Jianhua , Monday Happy Nkanta , Hossin Md Altab , Obiora Sandra , Nahar Saifun , Cai Jingye
Published: February 2022

Computed Tomography has become a vital screening method for the detection of coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19). With the high mortality rate and overload for domain experts, radiologists, and clinicians, there is a need for the application of a computerized diagnostic technique. To this effect, we have taken into consideration improving the performance of COVID-19 identification by tackling the issue of low quality and resolution of computed tomography images by introducing our method. We have reported about a technique named the modified enhanced super resolution generative adversarial network for a better high resolution of computed tomography images. Furthermore, in contrast to the fashion of increasing network depth and complexity to beef up imaging performance, we incorporated a Siamese capsule network that extracts distinct features for COVID-19 identification.The qualitative and quantitative results establish that the proposed model is effective, accurate, and robust for COVID-19 screening. We demonstrate the proposed model for COVID-19 identification on a publicly available dataset COVID-CT, which contains 349 COVID-19 and 463 non-COVID-19 computed tomography images. The proposed method achieves an accuracy of 97.92%, sensitivity of 98.85%, specificity of 97.21%, AUC of 98.03%, precision of 98.44%, and F1 score of 97.52%. Our approach obtained state-of-the-art performance, according to experimental results, which is helpful for COVID-19 screening. This new conceptual framework is proposed to play an influential task in the issue facing COVID-19 and related ailments, with the availability of few datasets.
Comparison of Risk Assessment Schemes in GHPs and HACCP, FSMA Preventive Controls for Human Food, ISO 22000, and GFSI Recognized Standards with Risk Scoring Guidance in General Use with Fresh Produce
Authors: Surareungchai Suwimol , Borompichaichartkul Chaleeda , Rachtanapun Chitsiri , Pongprasert Nutthachai , Jitareerat Pongphen , Srilaong Varit
Published: February 2022

The intention of this qualitative research study was to provide a basic risk concept by comparing food risk assessment schemes and preparing general food risk scoring guidance for developing a simple and reliable practical fruit and vegetable qualitative food safety risk matrices for fresh produce entrepreneurs. These practical food safety risk matrices were verified using FDA fruit and vegetable food safety risk data. The FDA data were converted to a qualitative risk matrix referring to the fruit and vegetable 3 × 3 qualitative food safety risk matrix reference model. Other common qualitative risk matrix models, namely 3 × 3, 4 × 3, and 5 × 5, were constructed based on probability and severity scores for each hazard, as given in the FDA data. These were designated as practical fruit and vegetable 3 × 3, 4 × 3, and 5 × 5 qualitative food safety risk matrix models. The results of these models were compared with the fruit and vegetable 3 × 3 reference model. The two best compatible models are the 5 × 5 and 3 × 3 qualitative food safety risk matrix models. A preference test from focus group containing 12 participants showed good satisfaction overall, indicating that the practical fruit and vegetable 3 × 3, 4 × 3, and 5 × 5 qualitative food safety risk matrix models are useful for entrepreneurs. Understanding of basic risk concepts and verified scientific referencing of food safety risk matrices can improve entrepreneur’s risk assessment. This can be performed by using practical–scientific food safety risk matrices.
Effects of NaHSO3 on Cellular Metabolic Energy, Photosynthesis and Growth of Iris pseudacorus L.
Authors: Chen Tian , Wu Yanyou , Xing Deke , Duan Rongrong
Published: February 2022

According to the law of energy conservation, the energy consumed by plants to resist adversity is equal to the difference between photosynthetic energy and growth energy consumption and cellular metabolic energy in plants. The cellular metabolic energy is calculated based on the electrical signals in plants. This study mainly investigated the effect of NaHSO3 on the growth and energy traits of the aquatic plant Iris pseudacorus L. and explored the effect of NaHSO3 on energy consumption in the process of plant development. In this study, NaHSO3 was used for simulating sulfur pollution in water medium. During the 20-day experiment period, the response of I. pseudocorus to the polluted water sources simulated by adding different concentrations of NaHSO3 (0, 0.5, 2, 4, 10 mmol·L−1) was monitored, and the internal mechanism of the relationship between the forms of energy and the removal of sulfur pollution was analyzed. After the 20-day exposure experiment, the growth and nutrient absorption capacity were significantly inhibited, and this inhibition proved to be concentration-dependent. In addition, high concentrations (4 and 10 mmol·L−1) of NaHSO3 might affect photosynthesis by disrupting cell membrane systems as it may interfere with membrane proteins and lipids and thus alter membrane integrity. Therefore, the cellular metabolic energy was increased and the sulfur absorption by I. pseudocorus was promoted under the low concentration (0.5 mmol/L−1) compared with the control, the role of NaHSO3 in promoting the growth of I. pseudocorus is much greater than its toxic effect under low concentrations. Under the hydroponic culture which contained 0.5 mmol·L−1 of NaHSO3, I. pseudocorus grew well and absorbed more sulfur. The results can be used as a reference for the cultivation of aquatic plants dealing with sulfur pollution, and dilution strategy can be set up to treat water medium that is seriously polluted with sulfur.
Integrating a New Dietetic Care Process in a Health Information System: A System and Process Analysis and Assessment
Authors: Gäbler Gabriele , Lycett Deborah , Gall Walter
Published: February 2022

Managing routinely collected data in health care and public health is important for evaluation of interventions and answering research questions using “real life” and ”big data”. In addition to the technical requirements of information systems, both standardized terminology and standardized processes are needed. The aim of this project was to analyse and assess the integration of standardized terminology and document templates for a dietetic care process (DCP) into the health information system (HIS) in a hospital in Austria. Using an action research approach, the DCP was analysed through four expert interviews and the integration into the HIS through two expert interviews with observations. Key strengths and weaknesses for the main criteria (“integration of the ICF catalogue”, “adaption of the document templates”, “adaption of the DCP”, and the “adaption of the user authorizations”) were presented and proposals for improvement given. The system and process integration of the DCP is possible, and the document templates can be adapted with the software currently in use. Although an increase in resources and finances required is to be expected initially, the integration of a standardized dietetic terminology in combination with a standardized process is likely to improve the quality of care and support outcomes management and research.
Predictive Analysis of Healthcare-Associated Blood Stream Infections in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit Using Artificial Intelligence: A Single Center Study
Authors: Montella Emma , Ferraro Antonino , Sperlì Giancarlo , Triassi Maria , Santini Stefania , Improta Giovanni
Published: February 2022

Background: Neonatal infections represent one of the six main types of healthcare-associated infections and have resulted in increasing mortality rates in recent years due to preterm births or problems arising from childbirth. Although advances in obstetrics and technologies have minimized the number of deaths related to birth, different challenges have emerged in identifying the main factors affecting mortality and morbidity. Dataset characterization: We investigated healthcare-associated infections in a cohort of 1203 patients at the level III Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of the “Federico II” University Hospital in Naples from 2016 to 2020 (60 months). Methods: The present paper used statistical analyses and logistic regression to identify an association between healthcare-associated blood stream infection (HABSIs) and the available risk factors in neonates and prevent their spread. We designed a supervised approach to predict whether a patient suffered from HABSI using seven different artificial intelligence models. Results: We analyzed a cohort of 1203 patients and found that birthweight and central line catheterization days were the most important predictors of suffering from HABSI. Conclusions: Our statistical analyses showed that birthweight and central line catheterization days were significant predictors of suffering from HABSI. Patients suffering from HABSI had lower gestational age and birthweight, which led to longer hospitalization and umbilical and central line catheterization days than non-HABSI neonates. The predictive analysis achieved the highest Area Under Curve (AUC), accuracy and F1-macro score in the prediction of HABSIs using Logistic Regression (LR) and Multi-layer Perceptron (MLP) models, which better resolved the imbalanced dataset (65 infected and 1038 healthy).
Using Generic and Disease-Specific Measures to Assess Quality of Life before and after 12 Months of Hearing Implant Use: A Prospective, Longitudinal, Multicenter, Observational Clinical Study
Authors: Lassaletta Luis , Calvino Miryam , Sanchez-Cuadrado Isabel , Skarzynski Piotr Henryk , Cywka Katarzyna B. , Czajka Natalia , Kutyba Justyna , Tavora-Vieira Dayse , van de Heyning Paul , Mertens Griet , Staecker Hinrich , Humphrey Bryan , Zernotti Mario , Zernotti Maximo , Magele Astrid , Ploder Marlene , Zabeu Julia Speranza
Published: February 2022

The primary objectives of this study were to evaluate the effect of hearing implant (HI) use on quality of life (QoL) and to determine which QoL measure(s) quantify QoL with greater sensitivity in users of different types of HIs. Participants were adult cochlear implant (CI), active middle ear implant (VIBRANT SOUNDBRIDGE (VSB)), or active transcutaneous bone conduction implant (the BONEBRIDGE (BB)) recipients. Generic QoL and disease-specific QoL were assessed at three intervals: pre-activation, 6 months of device use, and 12 months of device use. 169 participants completed the study (110 CI, 18VSB, and 41BB). CI users’ QoL significantly increased from 0–6 m device use on both the generic- and the disease-specific measures. On some device-specific measures, their QoL also significantly increased between 6 and 12 m device use. VSB users’ QoL significantly increased between all tested intervals with the disease-specific measure but not the generic measure. BB users’ QoL significantly increased from 0–6 m device use on both the generic- and the disease-specific measures. In sum, HI users experienced significant postoperative increases in QoL within their first 12 m of device use, especially when disease-specific measures were used. Disease-specific QoL measures appeared to be more sensitive than their generic counterparts.
A Bibliometric Analysis of the Literature on Norovirus Disease from 1991–2021
Authors: Ogunsakin Ropo E. , Ebenezer Oluwakemi , Ginindza Themba G.
Published: February 2022

Norovirus (NoV) is one of the oldest recognized diseases and the leading causal pathogen for acute gastroenteritis (AGE) worldwide. Though numerous studies have been reported on NoV disease, limited research has explored the publication trends in this area. As a result, the objective of this work was to fill the void by conducting a bibliometric study in publication trends on NoV studies as well as discovering the hotspots. The Web of Science central assemblage database was hunted for publications from 1991 to 2021 with “norovirus” in the heading. Microsoft Excel 2016, VOSviewer, R Bibliometrix, and Biblioshiny packages were deployed for the statistical analysis of published research articles. A total of 6021 published documents were identified in the Web of Science database for this thirty-year study period (1991–2021). The analyses disclosed that the Journal of Medical Virology was the leading journal in publications on norovirus studies with a total of 215 published articles, the Journal of Virology was the most cited document with 11,185 total citations. The United States of America (USA) has the most significant productivity in norovirus publications and is the leading country with the highest international collaboration. Analysis of top germane authors discovered that X. Jiang (135) and J. Vinje (119) were the two top relevant authors of norovirus publications. The commonly recognized funders were US and EU-based, with the US emerging as a top funder. This study reveals trends in scientific findings and academic collaborations and serves as a leading-edge model to reveal trends in global research in the field of norovirus research. This study points out the progress status and trends on NoV research. It can help researchers in the medical profession obtain a comprehensive understanding of the state of the art of NoV. It also has reference values for the research and application of the NoV visualization methods. Further, the research map on AGE obtained by our analysis is expected to help researchers efficiently and effectively explore the NoV field.
The Robust Italian Validation of the Coping Humor Scale (RI-CHS) for Adult Health Care Workers
Authors: Burro Roberto , Fermani Alessandra , Bongelli Ramona , Riccioni Ilaria , Muzi Morena , Bertolazzi Alessia , Canestrari Carla
Published: February 2022

The Coping Humor Scale (CHS) is a seven-item tool widely used to assess the use of humor in coping with stressful situations. The beneficial effect of humor in buffering the impact of negative experiences has been investigated in several contexts and populations; for this reason, the CHS has been used in many languages, but its solid validation in Italian is still missing. Our study aimed at building a robust instrument to measure coping humor strategies among Italian health care workers, a category which has been particularly exposed to stressful situations in the last two years. The CHS translated into Italian was administered to a sample of 735 health care workers during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in Italy. Confirmatory factor analysis and Rasch analysis were performed. As a result, a six-item Robust Italian Coping Humor Scale (RI-CHS) was validated and ready to use for future studies on Italian health care workers’ samples. This study gives evidence that our six-item solution works as a ruler (i.e., an instrument that meets the conditions of fundamental measurement in the context of the human sciences) to measure the degree to which Italian health care workers rely on humor to cope with stress.
Is Peracetic Acid Fumigation Effective in Public Transportation?
Authors: Kruszewska Ewelina , Czupryna Piotr , Pancewicz Sławomir , Martonik Diana , Bukłaha Anna , Moniuszko-Malinowska Anna
Published: February 2022

The COVID-19 pandemic made more people aware of the danger of viruses and bacteria, which is why disinfection began to be used more and more often. Epidemiological safety must be ensured not only in gathering places, but also in home and work environments. It is especially challenging in public transportation, which is a perfect environment for the spread of infectious disease. Therefore, the aim of the study was the identification of bacteria in crowded places and the evaluation of the effect of fumigation with peracetic acid (PAA) in public transportation. Inactivation of microorganisms in buses and long-distance coaches was carried out using an automatic commercial fogging device filled with a solution of peracetic acid stabilized with acetic acid (AA) and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). Before and after disinfection, samples were taken for microbiological tests. The most prevalent bacteria were Micrococcus luteus and Bacillus licheniformis.Staphylococcus epidermidis was only present in buses, whereas Staphylococcus hominis and Exiguobacterium acetylicum were only present in coaches. Statistical analysis showed a significant reduction in the number of microorganisms in samples taken from different surfaces after disinfection in vehicles. The overall effectiveness of disinfection was 81.7% in buses and 66.5% in coaches. Dry fog fumigation with peracetic acid is an effective method of disinfecting public transport vehicles.
Effectiveness Evaluation of a Primary School-Based Intervention against Heatwaves in China
Authors: Li Yonghong , Sun Bo , Yang Changlin , Zhuang Xianghua , Huang Liancheng , Wang Qingqing , Bi Peng , Wang Yan , Yao Xiaoyuan , Cheng Yibin
Published: February 2022

Background: Evidence of the effectiveness of intervention against extreme heat remains unclear, especially among children, one of the vulnerable populations. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of a primary school-based intervention program against heatwave and climate change in China to provide evidence for development of policies for adaptation to climate change. Methods: Two primary schools in Dongtai City, Jiangsu Province, China, were randomly selected as intervention and control schools (CTR registration number: ChiCTR2200056005). Health education was conducted at the intervention school to raise students’ awareness and capability to respond to extreme heat during May to September in 2017. Knowledge, attitude, and practice (KAP) of students and their parents at both schools were investigated by questionnaire surveys before and after intervention. The changes in KAP scores after intervention were evaluated using multivariable difference-in-difference (DID) analysis, controlling for age, sex, etc. Results: The scores of knowledge, attitude, and practice of students and their parents increased by 19.9% (95%CI: 16.3%, 23.6%) and 22.5% (95%CI: 17.8%, 27.1%); 9.60% (95%CI: 5.35%, 13.9%) and 7.22% (95%CI: 0.96%, 13.5%); and 9.94% (95%CI: 8.26%, 18.3%) and 5.22% (95%CI: 0.73%, 9.71%), respectively, after intervention. The KAP score changes of boys were slightly higher than those of girls. Older students had higher score changes than younger students. For parents, the higher the education level, the greater the score change, and change in scores was greater in females than in males. All the health education activities in the program were significantly correlated with the changes in KAP scores of primary school students after intervention, especially those curricula with interesting activities and experiential learning approaches. Conclusions: Heat and health education program in primary school was an effective approach to improve cognition and behavior for both students and their parents to better adapt to heatwaves and climate change. The successful experience can be generalized to respond to the increasing extreme weather/climate events in the context of climate change, such as heatwaves, and other emergent occasions or public health education, such as the control and prevention of COVID-19.
Intimate Partner Violence and Mental Health during Lockdown of the COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: Glowacz Fabienne , Dziewa Amandine , Schmits Emilie
Published: February 2022

Background: This study took place in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. The present research assesses the association between lockdown conditions (such as time spent at home, living environment, proximity to contamination and social contacts), mental health (including intolerance of uncertainty, anxiety and depression) and intimate partner violence within the community. This study evaluates the indirect effect of anxiety and depression on the relationship between intolerance of uncertainty and intimate partner violence (physical assault and psychological aggression). Methods: 1532 adults (80.8% of women, Mage = 35.34) were recruited from the Belgian general population through an online self-report questionnaire completed during the lockdown (from April 17 to 1 May 2020). Results: The results demonstrate that the prevalence of physical assault (including both perpetration and victimization) was significantly higher in men, whereas the prevalence of psychological aggression was significantly higher in women. Men reported significantly more violence during lockdown. Women, on the other hand, were more anxious and more intolerant of uncertainty. No difference between men and women was found for depression. Anxiety and depression significantly mediated the relationship between intolerance of uncertainty and physical assault and psychological aggression. Sex did not moderate the mediation. Conclusion: Clinical implications for public health policy are highlighted.
Sleepless in Solitude—Insomnia Symptoms Severity and Psychopathological Symptoms among University Students during the COVID-19 Pandemic in Poland
Authors: Fila-Witecka Karolina , Malecka Monika , Senczyszyn Adrianna , Wieczorek Tomasz , Wieckiewicz Mieszko , Szczesniak Dorota , Piotrowski Patryk , Rymaszewska Joanna
Published: February 2022

Since 25 March 2020, all schools, colleges, and universities in Poland have indefinitely closed and, where possible, have activated distance learning because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Considering that the undergraduate years are usually characterized by a high prevalence of emotional disorders and sleep problems, it can be expected that the current situation may have a remarkable impact on the student population. This study aimed to investigate the occurrence of sleep problems among Polish university students as well as the relationship of insomnia symptoms severity with psychopathological symptoms, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms, and behavioral factors, such as substance use, changes in the amount of sleep, and the level of physical activity during the COVID-19 pandemic. Data were collected from 1111 Polish university students via an online survey conducted between IV and VI 2020. The survey included demographic variables, the level of psychopathological symptoms (General Health Questionnaire, GHQ-28), insomnia (Insomnia Severity Index, ISI), and symptoms of posttraumatic stress (Impact of Events Scale-Revised, IES-R). The results showed that over half of the studied group of students had some form of sleep disturbances during the period of data collection, with moderate-to-severe insomnia symptoms noted in 21.6%. At the same time, the majority of the sample declared they slept more during the pandemic. A significant positive correlation was observed between the severity of insomnia symptoms and PTSD symptoms, as well as GHQ scores, increased substance use, and decreased physical activity. An additional association between the presence of dreams related to the event and insomnia symptoms as well as GHQ scores has been found. The results suggest that sleep problems may be prevalent among university students during the pandemic. Moreover, although the symptoms of insomnia, as well as the severity of sleep disturbance, significantly correlated with all the investigated variables, the direction of those associations remains to be established.
Sleep Quality, Mental Health and Learning among High School Students after Reopening Schools during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Results of a Cross-Sectional Online Survey
Authors: Puteikis Kristijonas , Mameniškytė Ainė , Mameniškienė Rūta
Published: February 2022

We aimed to assess whether high school students’ sleep quality, mental health and learning changed during the COVID-19 pandemic as adolescents transitioned from learning online back to studying in person. We conducted an anonymous online cross-sectional survey study at three competitive high schools in Vilnius, Lithuania, after they were reopened. Students provided subjective views on their study quality, their health as well as daily life while studying either virtually or in person and completed the Beck depression inventory (BDI), the Generalized anxiety scale-7 (GAD-7) and the Pittsburgh sleep quality index (PSQI). Among 628 (70.4% female) respondents, 268 (42.7%), 342 (54.5%) and 398 (63.4%) are suspected to have depression, an anxiety disorder or poor sleep, respectively. Students reported better study quality (Z = −12.435, p < 0.001) and physical health (Z = −9.176, p < 0.001), but worse sleep quality (Z = −19.489, p < 0.001), shorter sleep duration (Z = −19.509, p < 0.001) and worse self-reported mental health (Z = −2.220, p < 0.05) while learning in person. However, higher scores of in-person study quality and physical health were associated with lower depression and anxiety levels as well as better sleep. Our study suggests that the reopening of schools may exacerbate sleep and mental health-related issues among high school students but also be beneficial for their academic development and levels of physical activity.
Exploring the Correlation between Time Management, the Mediterranean Diet, and Physical Activity: A Comparative Study between Spanish and Romanian University Students
Authors: Indreica Elena-Simona , Badicu Georgian , Nobari Hadi
Published: February 2022

Background: The investigation started from the premise that there are links between time management (TM), physical activity (PA), and the Mediterranean diet (MD). The aim of our study is to determine the correlation between the variables TM, the MD, and PA in Spanish and Romanian university students. Methods: The study was conducted on a group of 296 students (198 Romanian and 98 Spanish students between the ages of 23.44 ± 5.92 years, with 108 males and 188 females, where 171 were from the sports faculty and 125 were from the psychology faculty), using the Time Management Questionnaire (TMQ) to measure TM, the KIDMED test to measure MD, and the International Physical Activity Questionnaire-Short Form (IPAQ-SF) to measure PA. Results: The obtained results show that there are significant differences, regarding MD and PA, between the Romanian and Spanish respondents, between the respondents from the sports faculty and those from the psychology faculty, and between the female and male respondents. The TM variable did not show a significant difference depending on the country, faculty, or gender. There was only a significant relationship between the MD and the other two variables (TM and PA). Conclusions: Significant differences were observed between the variables the MD and PA, but not TM, depending on the country, gender, and faculty. There was only a significant correlation between the MD and the other two variables (TM and PA). The results provided us with relevant data for the need for a TM protocol to improve the MD adherence and PA in university students.
Acculturation and Cardiovascular Risk Screening among African Immigrants: The African Immigrant Health Study
Authors: Ogungbe Oluwabunmi , Turkson-Ocran Ruth-Alma , Koirala Binu , Byiringiro Samuel , Liu Xiaoyue , Elias Sabrina , Mensah Danielle , Turkson-Ocran Emmanuel , Nkimbeng Manka , Cudjoe Joycelyn , Baptiste Diana , Commodore-Mensah Yvonne
Published: February 2022

Acculturation and immigration-related factors may impact preventive, routine cardiovascular risk (CV) screening among African immigrants. We examined the associations between length of stay, percent of life spent in the U.S. (proxy for acculturation), and CV screening. Outcomes were recent screening for hypertension, diabetes, and dyslipidemia. Multivariable logistic regression analyses were used to examine these relationships. Among 437 African immigrants, 60% were males, mean age was 47 years, 61% had lived in the U.S. for ≥10 years, mean length of stay was 15 years, and 81% were employed. Only 67% were insured. In the 12 months prior, 85% had screened for hypertension, 45% for diabetes, and 63% for dyslipidemia. African immigrants with a ≥10-year length of U.S. stay had 2.20 (95%Confidence Intervals: 1.31–3.67), and those with >25% years of life spent in the U.S. had 3.62 (95%CI: 1.96–6.68) higher odds of dyslipidemia screening compared to those with a <10-year length of stay and ≤25% years of life spent in the U.S., respectively. Overall, screening for CV risk higher in African immigrants who have lived longer (≥10 years) in the U.S. Recent African immigrants may experience challenges in accessing healthcare. Health policies targeting recent and uninsured African immigrants may improve access to CV screening services.
Promoting Inclusive Outdoor Recreation in National Park Governance: A Comparative Perspective from Canada and Spain
Authors: Aguilar-Carrasco Maria José , Gielen Eric , Vallés-Planells Maria , Galiana Francisco , Almenar-Muñoz Mercedes , Konijnendijk Cecil
Published: February 2022

While national parks (NPs) have for a long time made substantial contributions to visitor well-being, many spaces remain out of reach of people with disabilities (PwDs). This is partly due to a lack of policies that take accessibility for broader intersectional audiences into consideration. This paper evaluates governance and legal frameworks in NPs in both Canada and Spain. A decision-making framework based on intersectionality realities is proposed to assess current conditions of environmental good governance using a set of descriptors created to scrutinize laws and technical documents that can promote equitable access to NPs. To validate results derived from the regulatory evaluation, semistructured interviews with park managers were carried out. Results revealed the importance of incorporating equity discourses into policies that regulate NP networks to guarantee that all the intersectional realities for park uses are considered in their management. Furthermore, when a country develops a well-structured federal framework under which the rights of PwDs are ensured, it transcends other fields of law. Differences between the Canadian and the Spanish situation are highlighted, as well as the need for links between higher-level policies and laws and on-the-ground implementation, with NP management plans playing an important role.
Gender Identity, Disability, and Unmet Healthcare Needs among Disabled People Living in the Community in the United States
Authors: Mulcahy Abigail , Streed Carl G. , Wallisch Anna Marie , Batza Katie , Kurth Noelle , Hall Jean P. , McMaughan Darcy Jones
Published: February 2022

Disabled adults and transgender people in the United States face multiple compounding and marginalizing forces that result in unmet healthcare needs. Yet, gender identity among disabled people has not been explored, especially beyond binary categories of gender. Using cross-sectional survey data, we explored the rates of disability types and the odds of unmet healthcare needs among transgender people with disabilities compared to cisgender people with disabilities. The rates of disability type were similar between transgender and cisgender participants with two significant differences. Fewer transgender participants identified physical or mobility disability as their main disability compared to cisgender participants (12.31%/8 vs. 27.68/581, p < 0.01), and more transgender participants selected developmental disability as their main disability compared to cisgender participants (13.85%/9 vs. 3.67%/77, p < 0.001). After adjusting for sociodemographic characteristics, the odds of disabled transgender participants reporting an unmet need were higher for every unmet need except for preventative services.
The Inhaler Technique Questionnaire (InTeQ): Development and Validation of a Brief Patient-Reported Measure
Authors: Lizano-Barrantes Catalina , Garin Olatz , Dima Alexandra L. , van Ganse Eric , de Bruin Marijn , Belhassen Manon , Mayoral Karina , Pont Àngels , Ferrer Montse
Published: February 2022

There is a need for instruments designed for patients with asthma to self-report their performance of inhaling steps. We aimed to develop an accessible and easy-to-use patient-reported tool for inhaler technique assessment, which could also serve as a training and monitoring resource for any type of inhaler device, and to evaluate its feasibility, validity, and reliability in adults with asthma. The development was based on literature review and pilot testing with clinicians and patients. The Inhaler Technique Questionnaire (InTeQ) asks about the frequency of performing five steps when using inhalers (on a five-point Likert scale). We analyzed data from adults with persistent asthma (n = 361). We examined the measurement model using Mokken scaling analysis, construct validity by assessing hypotheses on expected discrimination among known groups, and reliability based on internal consistency and reproducibility. Means of the InTeQ items were in the range of 0.23–1.61, and coefficients of homogeneity were above the cutoff point, demonstrating the unidimensionality of the scale. Known groups’ global score differences were statistically significant between patients reporting having “Discussed in detail” or having “Not discussed/Only in general” the inhaler technique with their healthcare providers (p = 0.023). The Cronbach’s alpha coefficient was 0.716, and the intraclass correlation coefficient was 0.775. The InTeQ is a feasible, valid, and reliable instrument for self-reporting inhaler technique on any type of device.
Spatial Patterns of the Spread of COVID-19 in Singapore and the Influencing Factors
Authors: Ma Jianfang , Zhu Haihong , Li Peng , Liu Chengcheng , Li Feng , Luo Zhenwei , Zhang Meihui , Li Lin
Published: February 2022

Exploring the spatial patterns of COVID-19 transmission and its key determinants could provide a deeper understanding of the evolution of the COVID-19 pandemic. The goal of this study is to investigate the spatial patterns of COVID-19 transmission in different periods in Singapore, as well as their relationship with demographic and built-environment factors. Based on reported cases from 23 January to 30 September 2020, we divided the research time into six phases and used spatial autocorrelation analysis, the ordinary least squares (OLS) model, the multiscale geographically weighted regression (MGWR) model, and dominance analysis to explore the spatial patterns and influencing factors in each phase. The results showed that the spatial patterns of COVID-19 cases differed across time, and imported cases presented a random pattern, whereas local cases presented a clustered pattern. Among the selected variables, the supermarket density, elderly population density, hotel density, business land proportion, and park density may be particular fitting indicators explaining the different phases of pandemic development in Singapore. Furthermore, the associations between determinants and COVID-19 transmission changed dynamically over time. This study provides policymakers with valuable information for developing targeted interventions for certain areas and periods.
The Use of Spatial Interpolation to Improve the Quality of Corn Silage Data in Case of Presence of Extreme or Missing Values
Authors: Koutsos Thomas M. , Menexes Georgios C. , Eleftherohorinos Ilias G.
Published: February 2022

Agricultural spatial analysis has the potential to offer new ways of analyzing crop data considering the spatial information of the measurements. Moving from farmers’ estimates and crop-cuts techniques to interpolation is a new challenge, and a promising path to achieving more reliable results, especially in the case of field data with extreme or missing values. By comparing the main descriptive statistics of three types of crop parameters (fresh weight, dry weight, and ear weight) in three randomly taken maize plots, we found that the issue of missing values can be addressed by using interpolation to calculate estimated values of given parameters in non-sampling locations. Moreover, based on the descriptive statistics, the implementation of interpolation can reduce crop field variability (extreme values) and achieve an improvement of coefficient of variation (CV) values up to 30%, compared with other methods used, such as the replacing of missing values by the average of all data, or the average of the row or column, with an improvement of only up to 15%. These findings strongly suggest that the implementation of an interpolation method in case of extreme or missing values in crop data is an effective process for improving their quality, and consequently, their reliability. As a result, the application of spatial interpolation to existing crop data can provide more dependable estimations of average crop parameters values, compared to the usual farmers’ estimates.
All Burglaries Are Not the Same: Predicting Near-Repeat Burglaries in Cities Using Modus Operandi
Authors: Borg Anton , Svensson Martin
Published: February 2022

The evidence that burglaries cluster spatio-temporally is strong. However, research is unclear on whether clustered burglaries (repeats/near-repeats) should be treated as qualitatively different crimes compared to spatio-temporally unrelated burglaries (non-repeats). This study, therefore, investigated if there were differences in modus operandi-signatures (MOs, the habits and methods employed by criminals) between near-repeat and non-repeat burglaries across 10 Swedish cities, as well as whether MO-signatures can aid in predicting if a burglary is classified as a near-repeat or a non-repeat crime. Data consisted of 5744 residential burglaries, with 137 MO features characterizing each case. Descriptive data of repeats/non-repeats is provided together with Wilcoxon tests of MO-differences between crime pairs, while logistic regressions were used to train models to predict if a crime scene was classified as a near-repeat or a non-repeat crime. Near-repeat crimes were rather stylized, showing heterogeneity in MOs across cities, but showing homogeneity within cities at the same time, as there were significant differences between near-repeat and non-repeat burglaries, including subgroups of features, such as differences in mode of entering, target selection, types of goods stolen, as well the traces that were left at the crime scene. Furthermore, using logistic regression models, it was possible to predict near-repeat and non-repeat crimes with a mean F1-score of 0.8155 (0.0866) based on the MO. Potential policy implications are discussed in terms of how data-driven procedures can facilitate analysis of spatio-temporal phenomena based on the MO-signatures of offenders, as well as how law enforcement agencies can provide differentiated advice and response when there is suspicion that a crime is part of a series as opposed to an isolated event.
Deciphering the Effect of Lysine Acetylation on the Misfolding and Aggregation of Human Tau Fragment 171IPAKTPPAPK180 Using Molecular Dynamic Simulation and the Markov State Model
Authors: Shah Syed Jawad Ali , Zhong Haiyang , Zhang Qianqian , Liu Huanxiang
Published: February 2022

The formation of neurofibrillary tangles (NFT) with β-sheet-rich structure caused by abnormal aggregation of misfolded microtubule-associated protein Tau is a hallmark of tauopathies, including Alzheimer’s Disease. It has been reported that acetylation, especially K174 located in the proline-rich region, can largely promote Tau aggregation. So far, the mechanism of the abnormal acetylation of Tau that affects its misfolding and aggregation is still unclear. Therefore, revealing the effect of acetylation on Tau aggregation could help elucidate the pathogenic mechanism of tauopathies. In this study, molecular dynamics simulation combined with multiple computational analytical methods were performed to reveal the effect of K174 acetylation on the spontaneous aggregation of Tau peptide 171IPAKTPPAPK180, and the dimerization mechanism as an early stage of the spontaneous aggregation was further specifically analyzed by Markov state model (MSM) analysis. The results showed that both the actual acetylation and the mutation mimicking the acetylated state at K174 induced the aggregation of the studied Tau fragment; however, the effect of actual acetylation on the aggregation was more pronounced. In addition, acetylated K174 plays a major contributing role in forming and stabilizing the antiparallel β-sheet dimer by forming several hydrogen bonds and side chain van der Waals interactions with residues I171, P172, A173 and T175 of the corresponding chain. In brief, this study uncovered the underlying mechanism of Tau peptide aggregation in response to the lysine K174 acetylation, which can deepen our understanding on the pathogenesis of tauopathies.
Comprehensive Research on Past and Future Therapeutic Strategies Devoted to Treatment of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis
Authors: Sever Belgin , Ciftci Halilibrahim , DeMirci Hasan , Sever Hilal , Ocak Firdevs , Yulug Burak , Tateishi Hiroshi , Tateishi Takahisa , Otsuka Masami , Fujita Mikako , Başak Ayşe Nazlı
Published: February 2022

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a rapidly debilitating fatal neurodegenerative disorder, causing muscle atrophy and weakness, which leads to paralysis and eventual death. ALS has a multifaceted nature affected by many pathological mechanisms, including oxidative stress (also via protein aggregation), mitochondrial dysfunction, glutamate-induced excitotoxicity, apoptosis, neuroinflammation, axonal degeneration, skeletal muscle deterioration and viruses. This complexity is a major obstacle in defeating ALS. At present, riluzole and edaravone are the only drugs that have passed clinical trials for the treatment of ALS, notwithstanding that they showed modest benefits in a limited population of ALS. A dextromethorphan hydrobromide and quinidine sulfate combination was also approved to treat pseudobulbar affect (PBA) in the course of ALS. Globally, there is a struggle to prevent or alleviate the symptoms of this neurodegenerative disease, including implementation of antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs), induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), CRISPR-9/Cas technique, non-invasive brain stimulation (NIBS) or ALS-on-a-chip technology. Additionally, researchers have synthesized and screened new compounds to be effective in ALS beyond the drug repurposing strategy. Despite all these efforts, ALS treatment is largely limited to palliative care, and there is a strong need for new therapeutics to be developed. This review focuses on and discusses which therapeutic strategies have been followed so far and what can be done in the future for the treatment of ALS.
Uncoupling Protein 1 Does Not Produce Heat without Activation
Authors: Li Yongguo , Fromme Tobias
Published: February 2022

Mitochondrial uncoupling protein 1 (UCP1) is the crucial mechanistic component of heat production in classical brown fat and the newly identified beige or brite fat. Thermogenesis inevitably comes at a high energetic cost and brown fat, ultimately, is an energy-wasting organ. A constrained strategy that minimizes brown fat activity unless obligate will have been favored during natural selection to safeguard metabolic thriftiness. Accordingly, UCP1 is constitutively inhibited and is inherently not leaky without activation. It follows that increasing brown adipocyte number or UCP1 abundance genetically or pharmacologically does not lead to an automatic increase in thermogenesis or subsequent metabolic consequences in the absence of a plausible route of concomitant activation. Despite its apparent obviousness, this tenet is frequently ignored. Consequently, incorrect conclusions are often drawn from increased BAT or brite/beige depot mass, e.g., predicting or causally linking beneficial metabolic effects. Here, we highlight the inherently inactive nature of UCP1, with a particular emphasis on the molecular brakes and releases of UCP1 activation under physiological conditions. These controls of UCP1 activity represent potential targets of therapeutic interventions to unlock constraints and efficiently harness the energy-expending potential of brown fat to prevent and treat obesity and associated metabolic disorders.
Interleukin-1 Induces the Release of Lubricating Phospholipids from Human Osteoarthritic Fibroblast-like Synoviocytes
Authors: Thottakkattumana Parameswaran Vishnu , Hild Christiane , Eichner Gerrit , Ishaque Bernd , Rickert Markus , Steinmeyer Juergen
Published: February 2022

(1) Background: Synovial fluid (SF) from knee joints with osteoarthritis (OA) has increased levels of phospholipids (PL). We have reported earlier that TGF-ß and IGF-1 stimulate fibroblast-like synoviocytes (FLS) to synthesize increased amounts of PLs. The current study examined whether IL-1ß induces the release of PLs in FLS and the underlying mechanism. (2) Methods: Cultured human OA FLS were treated with IL-1ß alone and with pathway inhibitors or with synthetic liver X receptor (LXR) agonists. Cholesterol hydroxylases, ABC transporters, apolipoproteins (APO), LXR, sterol regulatory binding proteins (SREBPs), and 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A reductase (HMGCR) were analyzed by RT-PCR, Western blot, and ELISA. The release of radiolabeled PLs from FLS was determined, and statistical analysis was performed using R (N = 5–9). (3) Results: Like synthetic LXR agonists, IL-1ß induced a 1.4-fold greater release of PLs from FLS. Simultaneously, IL-1ß upregulated the level of the PL transporter ABCA1 and of cholesterol hydroxylases CH25H and CYP7B1. IL-1ß and T0901317 stimulated the expression of SREBP1c, whereas only T0901317 enhanced SREBP2, HMGCR, APOE, LXRα, and ABCG1 additionally. (4) Conclusions: IL-1ß partially controls PL levels in OA-SF by affecting the release of PLs from FLS. Our data show that IL-1ß upregulates cholesterol hydroxylases and thus the formation of oxysterols, which, as natural agonists of LXR, increase the level of active ABCA1, in turn enhancing the release of PLs.