bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Management of Lung Cancer-Associated Malignant Pericardial Effusion with Intrapericardial Administration of Carboplatin: A Retrospective Study
Authors: Imai Hisao , Kaira Kyoichi , Masubuchi Ken , Minato Koichi
Published: December 2021

It has been reported that 5.1–7.0% of acute pericarditis are carcinomatous pericarditis. Malignant pericardial effusion (MPE) can progress to cardiac tamponade, which is a life-threatening condition. The effectiveness and feasibility of intrapericardial instillation of carboplatin (CBDCA; 150 mg/body) have never been evaluated in patients with lung cancer, which is the most common cause of MPE. Therefore, we evaluated the effectiveness and feasibility of intrapericardial administration of CBDCA following catheter drainage in patients with lung cancer-associated MPE. In this retrospective study, 21 patients with symptomatic lung cancer-associated MPE, who were administered intrapericardial CBDCA (150 mg/body) at Gunma Prefectural Cancer Center between January 2005 and March 2018, were included. The patients’ characteristics, response to treatment, and toxicity incidence were evaluated. Thirty days after the intrapericardial administration of CBDCA, MPE was controlled in 66.7% of the cases. The median survival period from the day of administration until death or last follow-up was 71 days (range: 10–2435 days). Grade 1–2 pain, nausea, fever, and neutropenia were noted after intrapericardial CBDCA administration. No treatment-related deaths were noted in the current study. Intrapericardial administration of CBDCA (150 mg/body) did not cause serious toxicity, and patients exhibited promising responses to lung cancer-associated MPE. Prospective studies using larger sample sizes are needed to explore the efficacy and safety of this treatment for managing lung cancer-associated MPE.
Proton Density Fat Fraction Spine MRI for Differentiation of Erosive Vertebral Endplate Degeneration and Infectious Spondylitis
Authors: Schmeel Frederic Carsten , Lakghomi Asadeh , Lehnen Nils Christian , Haase Robert , Banat Mohammed , Wach Johannes , Handke Nikolaus , Vatter Hartmut , Radbruch Alexander , Attenberger Ulrike , Luetkens Julian Alexander
Published: December 2021

Vertebral Modic type 1 (MT1) degeneration may mimic infectious disease on conventional spine magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), potentially leading to additional costly and invasive investigations. This study evaluated the diagnostic performance of the proton density fat fraction (PDFF) for distinguishing MT1 degenerative endplate changes from infectious spondylitis. A total of 31 and 22 patients with equivocal diagnosis of MT1 degeneration and infectious spondylitis, respectively, were retrospectively enrolled in this IRB-approved retrospective study and examined with a chemical-shift encoding (CSE)-based water-fat 3D six-echo modified Dixon sequence in addition to routine clinical spine MRI. Diagnostic reference standard was established according to histopathology or clinical and imaging follow-up. Intravertebral PDFF [%] and PDFFratio (i.e., vertebral endplate PDFF/normal vertebrae PDFF) were calculated voxel-wise within the single most prominent edematous bone marrow lesion per patient and examined for differences between MT1 degeneration and infectious spondylitis. Mean PDFF and PDFFratio of infectious spondylitis were significantly lower compared to MT1 degenerative changes (mean PDFF, 4.28 ± 3.12% vs. 35.29 ± 17.15% [p < 0.001]; PDFFratio, 0.09 ± 0.06 vs. 0.67 ± 0.37 [p < 0.001]). The areas under the curve (AUC) and diagnostic accuracies were 0.977 (p < 0.001) and 98.1% (cut-off at 12.9%) for PDFF and 0.971 (p < 0.001) and 98.1% (cut-off at 0.27) for PDFFratio. Our data suggest that quantitative evaluation of vertebral PDFF can provide a high diagnostic accuracy for differentiating erosive MT1 endplate changes from infectious spondylitis.
A Machine Learning Model for Predicting Unscheduled 72 h Return Visits to the Emergency Department by Patients with Abdominal Pain
Authors: Hsu Chun-Chuan , Chu Cheng-C.J. , Lin Ching-Heng , Huang Chien-Hsiung , Ng Chip-Jin , Lin Guan-Yu , Chiou Meng-Jiun , Lo Hsiang-Yun , Chen Shou-Yen
Published: December 2021

Seventy-two-hour unscheduled return visits (URVs) by emergency department patients are a key clinical index for evaluating the quality of care in emergency departments (EDs). This study aimed to develop a machine learning model to predict 72 h URVs for ED patients with abdominal pain. Electronic health records data were collected from the Chang Gung Research Database (CGRD) for 25,151 ED visits by patients with abdominal pain and a total of 617 features were used for analysis. We used supervised machine learning models, namely logistic regression (LR), support vector machine (SVM), random forest (RF), extreme gradient boosting (XGB), and voting classifier (VC), to predict URVs. The VC model achieved more favorable overall performance than other models (AUROC: 0.74; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.69–0.76; sensitivity, 0.39; specificity, 0.89; F1 score, 0.25). The reduced VC model achieved comparable performance (AUROC: 0.72; 95% CI, 0.69–0.74) to the full models using all clinical features. The VC model exhibited the most favorable performance in predicting 72 h URVs for patients with abdominal pain, both for all-features and reduced-features models. Application of the VC model in the clinical setting after validation may help physicians to make accurate decisions and decrease URVs.
MEG-Derived Symptom-Sensitive Biomarkers with Long-Term Test-Retest Reliability
Authors: Krieger Don , Shepard Paul , Soose Ryan , Puccio Ava , Beers Sue , Schneider Walter , Kontos Anthony P. , Collins Michael W. , Okonkwo David O.
Published: December 2021

Neuroelectric measures derived from human magnetoencephalographic (MEG) recordings hold promise as aides to diagnosis and treatment monitoring and targeting for chronic sequelae of traumatic brain injury (TBI). This study tests novel MEG-derived regional brain measures of tonic neuroelectric activation for long-term test-retest reliability and sensitivity to symptoms. Resting state MEG recordings were obtained from a normative cohort (CamCAN, baseline: n = 613; mean 16-month follow-up: n = 245) and a chronic symptomatic TBI cohort (TEAM-TBI, baseline: n = 62; mean 6-month follow-up: n = 40). The MEG-derived neuroelectric measures were corrected for the empty-room contribution using a random forest classifier. The mean 16-month correlation between baseline and 16-month follow-up CamCAN measures was 0.67; test-retest reliability was markedly improved in this study compared with previous work. The TEAM-TBI cohort was screened for depression, somatization, and anxiety with the Brief Symptom Inventory and for insomnia with the Insomnia Severity Index and was assessed via adjudication for six clinical syndromes: chronic pain, psychological health, and oculomotor, vestibular, cognitive, and sleep dysfunction. Linear classifiers constructed from the 136 regional measures from each TEAM-TBI cohort member distinguished those with and without each symptom, p < 0.0003 for each, i.e., the tonic regional neuroelectric measures of activation are sensitive to the presence/absence of these symptoms and clinical syndromes. The novel regional MEG-derived neuroelectric measures obtained and tested in this study demonstrate the necessary and sufficient properties to be clinically useful, i.e., good test-retest reliability, sensitivity to symptoms in each individual, and obtainable using automatic processing without human judgement or intervention.
Correction: Mahler et al. Preservice Biology Teachers’ Scientific Reasoning Skills and Beliefs about Nature of Science: How Do They Develop and Is There a Mutual Relationship during the Development? Educ. Sci. 2021, 11, 558
Authors: Mahler Daniela , Bock Denise , Bruckermann Till
Published: December 2021

In the original version of the paper [...]
Association between Insufficient Sleep and Dental Caries among Preschoolers in Japan: A Cross-Sectional Multicentre Study
Authors: Ogawa Masato , Ogi Hiroto , Nakamura Daisuke , Nakamura Teruo , Izawa Kazuhiro P.
Published: December 2021

Recently, sleeping status has attracted attention for its relationship with oral health. In the present study, we have investigated the association between early childhood caries and sleeping status. A multicentre observational cross-sectional study was conducted among 332 preschoolers (aged 3–6 years) and their parents in Chitose, Japan. Dental caries and sleeping status were assessed in the children and the sleep quality and health literacy of the parents were also assessed. Univariate and multivariate regression analyses were used in order to investigate the effect of the sleeping status of the parents and their children on dental caries. Among the children, the prevalence of dental caries experience was 12.7%. The children without caries slept significantly longer and their parents had a better Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) score than those with caries experience. The sleeping status and the numbers of caries in the children were significantly correlated. Health literacy was better in those without caries experience. Parents’ PSQI was significantly positively correlated with the numbers of caries in the children (r = 0.19, p = 0.0004). The children’s sleep durations, screen time, and parental smoking status were independently associated with early childhood caries. Poor sleeping status of children and their parents is related to dental caries among preschoolers.
ACE: A Routing Algorithm Based on Autonomous Channel Scheduling for Bluetooth Mesh Network
Authors: Wang Minyue , Li Yeming , Lv Jiamei , Gao Yi , Qiao Cheng , Liu Baiqiang , Dong Wei
Published: December 2021

The Internet of Things (IoT) interconnects massive cyber-physical devices (CPD) to provide various applications, such as smart home and smart building. Bluetooth Mesh is an emerging networking technology, which can be used to organize a massive network with Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) devices. Managed-flooding protocol is used in Bluetooth Mesh to route the data packets. Although it is a highly desirable option when data transmission is urgent, it is inefficient in a larger and denser mesh network due to the collisions of broadcast data packets. In this paper, we introduce ACE: a Routing Algorithm based on Autonomous Channel Scheduling for Bluetooth Mesh Network. ACE relies on the existing Bluetooth Mesh messages to distribute routes without additional traffic overhead and conducts a beacon-aware routing update adaptively as the topology evolves. In ACE, BLE channel resources can be efficiently utilized by a channel scheduling scheme for each node locally and autonomously without any neighborly negotiation. We implement ACE on the nRF52840 from Nordic Semiconductor and evaluate its effectiveness on our testbed. Compared to the Bluetooth Mesh, our experiments proved that ACE could reduce the end-to-end latency by 16%, alleviate packets collisions issues, and increase the packet delivery ratio (PDR) by 30% under heavy traffic. Moreover, simulation results verified that ACE has better scalability when the size and density of networks become larger and denser.
The Potential of Harnessing Real-Time Occupancy Data for Improving Energy Performance of Activity-Based Workplaces
Authors: Brambilla Arianna , Candido Christhina , Hettiarachchi Isuru , Thomas Leena , Gocer Ozgur , Gocer Kenan , Mackey Martin , Biloria Nimish , Alizadeh Tooran , Sarkar Somwrita
Published: December 2021

Currently, the available studies on the prediction of building energy performance and real occupancy data are typically characterized by aggregated and averaged occupancy patterns or large thermal zones of reference. Despite the increasing diffusion of smart energy management systems and the growing availability of longitudinal data regarding occupancy, these two domains rarely inform each other. This research aims at understanding the potential of employing real-time occupancy data to identify better cooling strategies for activity-based-working (ABW)-supportive offices and reduce the overall energy consumption. It presents a case study comparing the energy performance of the office when different resolutions of occupancy and thermal zoning are applied, ranging from the standard energy certification approach to real-time occupancy patterns. For the first time, one year of real-time occupancy data at the desk resolution, captured through computer logs and Bluetooth devices, is used to investigate this issue. Results show that the actual cooling demand is 9% lower than predicted, unveiling the energy-saving potential to be achieved from HVAC systems for non-assigned seating environments. This research demonstrates that harnessing real-time occupancy data for demand-supply cooling management at a fine-grid resolution is an efficient strategy to reduce cooling consumption and increase workers’ comfort. It also emphasizes the need for more data and monitoring campaigns for the definition of more accurate and robust energy management strategies.
Direct-Contact Air, Gravel, Ground Heat Exchanger in Air Treatment Systems for Cowshed Air Conditioning
Authors: Besler Maciej , Cepiński Wojciech , Kęskiewicz Piotr
Published: December 2021

This paper describes the analysis of the possibility of use of the direct-contact air, gravel, ground heat exchanger (acronym GAHE), patented at the Wroclaw University of Science and Technology, as a means of improving microclimate parameters in dairy cows’ barns. Different possibilities of introducing GAHE to the standard mechanical ventilation system of cowsheds have been proposed and investigated. Based on literature data, the required air parameters in the barns of dairy cows were determined and discussed. Computer simulations were carried out and the results obtained were compared to the baseline model. Year-round changes in microclimate parameters, especially air temperature, relative humidity, and THI index were investigated. The benefits of GAHE use were indicated. The possible increase in the minimum air volume of ventilation during the winter season and the decrease in the maximum values of this parameter in the summer were presented. Indications were made of the systems where the application of GAHE could be the most beneficial. A further research path has been proposed.
A New Model for Real-Time Prediction of Wellbore Stability Considering Elastic and Strength Anisotropy of Bedding Formation
Authors: Ding Liqin , Wang Zhiqiao , Lv Jianguo , Wang Yu , Liu Baolin
Published: December 2021

Severe wellbore stability issues were reported while drilling in laminated formation with weak planes such as beddings. To accurately determine the safe mud weight according to the changing environment is of primary importance for safety control of drilling. Considering both the elastic and strength anisotropy of bedding formation, a novel theoretical model is established and the stress and failure around wellbores are analyzed. The accuracy and applicability of the theoretical model is verified by in situ field data. For the purpose of fulfilling real-time prediction, the method flowchart of programming is also provided. The results show that the model built can be conveniently used to predict the stress distribution, failure area, and collapse and fracture pressure while drilling, and rather good predictions can be made compared to real field data. In addition, the inhomogeneity of in situ stress and elastic parameters affect the upper limit of the safe mud weight window (SMWW) greater than the lower limit. Negative SMWW may appear with the direction change of the wellbore or weak plane, especially when the azimuths of them change. As to the magnitude of SMWW, the anisotropic effects of Young’s modulus are greater than the Poisson’s ratio. The method established in this paper can greatly help with the precise prediction of wellbore stability as drilling proceeds in bedding formation.
Investigation of Oxy-Fuel Combustion through Reactor Network and Residence Time Data
Authors: Agizza Maria Angela , Bagheri Ghobad , Bürkle Sebastian , Faravelli Tiziano , Wagner Steven , Dreizler Andreas
Published: December 2021

Oxy-fuel combustion is a promising strategy to minimize the environmental impact of combustion-based energy conversion. Simple and flexible tools are required to facilitate the successful integration of such strategies at the industrial level. This study couples measured residence time distribution with chemical reactor network analysis in a close-to-reality combustor. This provides detailed knowledge about the various mixing and reactive characteristics arising from the use of the two different oxidizing streams.
Modeling and Forecasting Cryptocurrency Closing Prices with Rao Algorithm-Based Artificial Neural Networks: A Machine Learning Approach
Authors: Nayak Sanjib Kumar , Nayak Sarat Chandra , Das Subhranginee
Published: December 2021

Artificial neural networks (ANNs) are suitable procedures for predicting financial time series (FTS). Cryptocurrencies are good investment assets; therefore, the effective prediction of cryptocurrencies has become a trending area of research. Capturing inherent uncertainties associated with cryptocurrency FTS with conventional methods is difficult. Though ANNs are the better alternative, fixing the optimal parameters of ANNs is a tedious job. This article develops a hybrid ANN through Rao algorithm (RA + ANN) for the effective prediction of six popular cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin, Litecoin, Ethereum, CMC 200, Tether, and Ripple. Six comparative models such as GA + ANN, PSO + ANN, MLP, SVM, LSE, and ARIMA are developed and trained in a similar way. All these models are evaluated through the mean absolute percentage of error (MAPE) and average relative variance (ARV) metrics. It is found that the proposed RA + ANN generated the lowest MAPE and ARV values, statistically different as compared with existing methods mentioned above, and hence can be recommended as a potential financial instrument for predicting cryptocurrencies.
Resistance-Nodulation-Cell Division (RND) Transporter AcrD Confers Resistance to Egg White in Salmonella enterica Serovar Enteritidis
Authors: Qin Xiaojie , Liu Yanhong , Shi Xianming
Published: December 2021

The excellent survival ability of Salmonella enterica serovar Enteritidis (S. Enteritidis) in egg white leads to outbreaks of salmonellosis frequently associated with eggs and egg products. Our previous proteomic study showed that the expression of multidrug efflux RND transporter AcrD in S. Enteritidis was significantly up-regulated (4.06-fold) in response to an egg white environment. In this study, the potential role of AcrD in the resistance of S. Enteritidis to egg white was explored by gene deletion, survival ability test, morphological observation, Caco-2 cell adhesion and invasion. It was found that deletion of acrD had no apparent effect on the growth of S. Enteritidis in Luria-Bertani (LB) broth but resulted in a significant (p < 0.05) decrease in resistance of S. Enteritidis to egg white and a small number of cell lysis. Compared to the wild type, a 2-log population reduction was noticed in the ΔacrD mutant with different initial concentrations after incubation with egg white for 3 days. Furthermore, no significant difference (p > 0.05) in the adhesion and invasion was found between the wild type and ΔacrD mutant in LB broth and egg white, but the invasion ability of the ΔacrD mutant in egg white was significantly (p < 0.05) lower than that in LB broth. This indicates that acrD is involved in virulence in Salmonella. Taken together, these results reveal the importance of AcrD on the resistance of S. Enteritidis to egg white.
Efficacy of Gamma Irradiation in Improving the Microbial and Physical Quality Properties of Dried Chillies (Capsicum annuum L.): A Review
Authors: Balakrishnan Naleene , Yusop Salma Mohamad , Rahman Irman Abdul , Dauqan Eqbal , Abdullah Aminah
Published: December 2021

Dried chilli is one of the highly traded spices globally and is well-known for its natural flavour, colour, and unique pungent taste. It is rich in nutrients and has medicinal benefits. During the dehydration and storage process, the proliferation of unwanted microorganisms in dried chilli is unavoidable. Recently, the occurrence of toxigenic fungi and faecal coliforms has been widespread that can cause severe illness and even death. Therefore, sanitation treatment is highly required to decontaminate undesirable microorganisms. Among the common sanitation treatments applied, food irradiation is gaining attention worldwide because of concern for post-harvest loss, foodborne disease, and more stringent regulation in dried chilli trading. Irradiation can successfully preserve dried chilli from pathogenic bacteria with minimal disturbance to critical physical properties, such as pungency and colour. It can also save dried chilli from secondary pollution by storing it into final packing before radiation which helps in distribution to market promptly after treatment. Furthermore, radiation does not leave any chemical residues after the treatment, ensuring the quality and safety of the dried chilli. The efficiency of radiation depends mainly on the initial level of contamination and the persistence of the harmful microorganism. A low irradiation dose is sufficient for dried chili to reduce microbial load to an acceptable level and eliminate pathogens even though a minimum radiation dose of 10 kGy is required for complete sterilization. However, high dosage may affect the colour properties. Gamma radiation, X-ray, and electron beam radiation are the three approved radiation sources for dried chilli in most countries and proven effective for dried chilli preservation. Thus, this review paper highlights the microbial and physical quality properties in gamma radiated dried chillies.
Antibacterial Mechanism of 3-Carene against the Meat Spoilage Bacterium Pseudomonas lundensis and Its Application in Pork during Refrigerated Storage
Authors: Tang Zhiling , Chen Haiming , Zhang Ming , Fan Zhuye , Zhong Qiuping , Chen Weijun , Yun Yong-Huan , Chen Wenxue
Published: December 2021

Pseudomonas lundensis is the main bacterium responsible for meat spoilage and its control is of great significance. 3-Carene, a natural monoterpene, has been proved to possess antimicrobial activities. This study aimed to investigate the antibacterial activity and mechanism of 3-carene against the meat spoilage bacterium P. lundensis, and explore its application on pork. After 3-carene treatment, cellular structural changes were observed. Cell walls and membranes were destroyed, resulting in the leakage of alkaline phosphatase and cellular contents. The decreased activity of Ca2+-Mg2+-ATPase and Na+-K+-ATPase showed the imbalance of intracellular ions. Subsequently, adenosine triphosphate (ATP) content and oxidative respiratory metabolism characteristics indicated that 3-carene inhibited the metabolism of the tricarboxylic acid cycle in P. lundensis. The results of binding 3-carene with the vital proteins (MurA, OmpW, and AtpD) related to the formation of the cell wall, the composition of the cell membrane, and the synthesis of ATP further suggested that 3-carene possibly affected the normal function of those proteins. In addition, the growth of P. lundensis and increase in pH were inhibited in pork during the 5 days of cold storage after the samples were pre-treated with 3-carene. These results show the anti-P. lundensis activity and mechanism of 3-carene, and its potential use in meat preservation under refrigerated conditions.
Assessment of Potential Toxicity of Onion-like Carbon Nanoparticles from Grilled Turbot Scophthalmus maximus L.
Authors: Wang Zuzhe , Bi Jingran , Wang Haitao , Tan Mingqian
Published: December 2021

Although the presence of foodborne nanoparticles was confirmed in grilled fish in a previous study, the evaluation of potential health risks of these NPs was insufficient. In the present study, the potential toxicity of onion-like carbon nanoparticles (OCNPs) separated from grilled turbot Scophthalmus maximus L. was evaluated using mouse osteoblasts cells model and zebrafish (Danio rerio) model. Cytotoxicity evaluation revealed that the OCNPs penetrated into the MC3T3-E1 cells without arousing cell morphology changes. No evident apoptosis or damage of cells was observed with increasing OCNPs’ concentration to 20 mg/mL. In the hemolysis test, OCNPs did not show an obvious hemolysis effect on red blood cells. In the acute toxicity test, the LC50 value (212.431 mg/L) of OCNPs to zebrafish showed a weak acute toxicity. In subacute toxicity test, after exposure to OCNPs (30 mg/L, 40 mg/L) for 10 days, a significant increase of reactive oxygen species level of zebrafish was observed. Meanwhile, redundant ROS content caused inhibition to several antioxidant enzymes and induced lipid and protein peroxidation damages according to the upregulation of malondialdehyde and protein carbonyl levels. The chronic toxicity test results indicated that oxidative stress was only observed in the high concentration group of OCNPs-treated zebrafish.
Characteristics of Physicochemical Properties of Chalky Grains of Japonica Rice Generated by High Temperature during Ripening
Authors: Nakamura Sumiko , Satoh Ayaka , Aizawa Masaki , Ohtsubo Ken’ichi
Published: December 2021

Global warming has caused devastating damage to starch biosynthesis, which has led to the increase in chalky grains of rice. This study was conducted to characterize the qualities of chalky rice grains and to develop the estimation formulae for their quality damage degree. We evaluated the chalkiness of 40 Japonica rice samples harvested in 2019, in Japan. Seven samples with a high ratio of chalky rice grains were selected and divided into two groups (whole grain and chalky grain). As a results of the various physicochemical measurements, it was shown that the surface layer hardness (H1) of cooked rice grains from chalky grains was significantly lower, and their overall hardness was significantly lower than those from the whole grains. In addition, α- and β-amylase activities, and sugar contents of the chalky rice grains were significantly higher than those of the whole rice grains. The developed estimation formula for the degree of retrogradation of H1 based on the α-amylase activities and pasting properties, showed correlation coefficients of 0.84 and 0.81 in the calibration and validation tests, respectively. This result presents the formula that could be used to estimate and to characterize the cooking properties of the rice samples ripened under high temperature.
Shifted Fractional-Order Jacobi Collocation Method for Solving Variable-Order Fractional Integro-Differential Equation with Weakly Singular Kernel
Authors: Abdelkawy Mohamed A. , Amin Ahmed Z. M. , Lopes António M. , Hashim Ishak , Babatin Mohammed M.
Published: December 2021

We propose a fractional-order shifted Jacobi–Gauss collocation method for variable-order fractional integro-differential equations with weakly singular kernel (VO-FIDE-WSK) subject to initial conditions. Using the Riemann–Liouville fractional integral and derivative and fractional-order shifted Jacobi polynomials, the approximate solutions of VO-FIDE-WSK are derived by solving systems of algebraic equations. The superior accuracy of the method is illustrated through several numerical examples.
Systematic Review of Dementia Support Programs with Multicultural and Multilingual Populations
Authors: Demanes Abriella , Ward Katherine T. , Wang Amy Tu , Hess Mailee
Published: December 2021

Background: Dementia care programs have become more common due to a growing number of persons living with dementia and lack of substantial benefit from pharmacologic therapies. Cultural and language differences may present barriers to access and efficacy of these programs. In this article, we aimed to systematically review the current literature regarding outcomes of dementia care programs that included multicultural and non-English speaking populations. Methods: A systematic review was conducted using four scientific search engines. All studies included in the review are English language, randomized control trials evaluating various care coordination models. The initial search strategy focusing on studies specifically targeting multicultural and non-English speaking populations resulted in too few articles. We expanded our search to articles that included these populations although these populations may not have been the focus of the study. Results: Seven articles met inclusion criteria for final review. Measured outcomes included emergency room use, hospitalizations, provider visits, quality of life indicators, depression scores, and caregiver burden. Conclusions: Dementia care programs demonstrate significant ability to provide support and improve outcomes for those living with dementia and their caregivers. There is limited research in this field and thus opportunity for further study in underserved and safety net populations including more high-quality randomized controlled trials with larger sample sizes.
Nutrition of Pregnant and Lactating Women in the First 1000 Days of Infant
Authors: Billeaud Claude , Brines Juan , Belcadi Wafae , Castel Bérénice , Rigourd Virginie
Published: December 2021

Nutrition for pregnant and breastfeeding women is fundamental to the development of the child in its first 1000 days and beyond. To evaluate the adequacy of this nutrition, we have relied on historical dietary surveys and on personal French studies (4 studies from 1997 to 2014) involving dietary surveys over 3 days (3D-Diet). Furthermore, our team specialized in lipids has measured the fatty acids of breast milk, which reflect the dietary intake of lipids, from breast milk (1997–2014) and from the lipids of cord blood and maternal fat tissue, in 1997. According to our results, pregnancy needs require an additional 300 Kcal, but surveys show a bad equilibrium of macronutrients: an excess of proteins of fetus [17% of total energy intake (TEI) vs. 15%], excess of fats (45% vs. 35%), excess of saturated fatty acids (SFA), not enough polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), particularly omega 3, and a deficit in carbohydrates (45% vs. 55%). There is also a deficiency in calcium, iron, magnesium, zinc, and vitamins D, B6, B5, and folates. Breast milk adequately provides all the macronutrients necessary for the growth of the child. Proteins and carbohydrates vary little according to the mother’s diet; on the other hand, its composition in lipids, trace elements, and vitamins is highly variable with the mother’s diet of breast milk. In our study in 2014, in 80 participants, the diet was low in calories (1996 Kcal vs. 2200 Kcal RDA), normoprotidic, normolipidic, but low in carbohydrate, especially polysaccharides. We note a very insufficient intake of fish and dairy products, and therefore calcium, but also magnesium, zinc, iron, and vitamins D, E, B6, and folate. Consequently, if the mother does not achieve a diet adequate to her needs during pregnancy and breastfeeding, it will be necessary to resort to medicinal supplements in minerals, trace elements, vitamins, and omega 3.
A Comprehensive Analysis of E-Health Literacy Research Focuses and Trends
Authors: Wang Chen , Wu Xiangyi , Qi Huiying
Published: December 2021

Objective: To sort out the research focuses in the field of e-health literacy, analyze its research topics and development trends, and provide a reference for relevant research in this field in the future. Methods: The literature search yielded a total of 431 articles retrieved from the core dataset of Web of Science using the keywords “ehealth literacy”, “E-health literacy” and “electronic health literacy”. A bibliometric analysis was performed by using CiteSpace to explore the development history, hot themes, and trends of future research in the field of e-health literacy. Results: The thematic evolution path in e-health literacy was divided into three stages. The research focuses were inspected from four aspects: evaluation, correlation with health-promotion behaviors, influencing factors, and intervention measures for improvement. Conclusion: E-health literacy research faces challenges such as the development of the connotation of the term, the objectivity of evaluation methods, and the long-term impact of interventions. Future research themes in e-health literacy will include the standardization of evaluation instruments and the individualization of therapeutic strategies.
Multimorbidity in the Elderly: A Systematic Bibliometric Analysis of Research Output
Authors: Zhou Xuan , Zhang Dan
Published: December 2021

Objective: This study aimed to analyze the progression and trends of multimorbidity in the elderly in China and internationally from a bibliometric perspective, and compare their differences on hotspots and research fronts. Methods: Publications between January 2001 and August 2021 were retrieved from WOS and CNKI databases. Endnote 20 and VOSviewer 1.6.8 were used to summarize bibliometric features, including publication years, journals, and keywords, and the co-occurrence map of countries, institutions, and keywords was drawn. Results: 3857 research papers in English and 664 research papers in Chinese were included in this study. The development trends of multimorbidity in the elderly are fully synchronized in China and other countries. They were divided into germination period, development period, and prosperity period. Research literature in English was found to be mainly focused on public health, and the IF of the literature is high; In China, however, most research papers are in general medicine and geriatrics with fewer core journals. Co-occurrence analysis based on countries and institutions showed that the most productive areas were the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and Australia, while the Chinese researchers have made little contribution. The clustering analysis of high-frequency keywords in China and around the globe shows that the hotspots have shifted from individual multimorbidity to group multimorbidity management. Sorting out the top 10 highly cited articles and highly cited authors, Barnett, K’s article published in Lancet in 2012 is regarded as a milestone in the field. Conclusion: Multimorbidity in the elderly leads to more attention in the world. Although China lags behind global research the research fronts from disease-centered to patient-centered, and individual management to population management is consistent.
The Relationships between Sibling Characteristics and Motor Performance in 3- to 5-Year-Old Typically Developing Children
Authors: Derikx Dagmar F. A. A. , Kamphorst Erica , van der Veer Gerda , Schoemaker Marina M. , Hartman Esther , Houwen Suzanne
Published: December 2021

Siblings have been hypothesized to positively impact the motor performance of children by acting as examples and by providing a safe environment, but they may also negatively impact motor performance because they could compete for the parent’s time and care. Therefore, this study investigates the relationship between several sibling characteristics and motor performance in 3- to 5-year-old children. The sample consisted of 205 3- to 5-year-old children (mean age 50.9 ± 10.0 months, 52.2% boys). The Movement Assessment Battery for Children-2 was used to measure motor performance. The sibling variable was operationalized as the number of siblings present, the age difference between a child and its siblings, and the birth order position of a child. The confounding variables that were taken into account were the age, sex, and behavioral problems of the child and maternal education level. None of the investigated sibling variables were related to the total motor performance of a child after controlling for possible confounding variables. The absence of any associations between the sibling variables and motor performance might be explained by the characteristics of the study sample, the possibility that there is no linear relationship, or the presence of still unknown moderating or mediating factors.
Migraine Headaches after Major Surgery with General or Neuraxial Anesthesia: A Nationwide Propensity-Score Matched Study
Authors: Liao Chung-Yi , Li Chun-Cheng , Liu Hsin-Yi , Chen Jui-Tai , Cherng Yih-Giun , Chen Tzeng-Ji , Dai Ying-Xiu , Wu Hsiang-Ling , Liu Wan-Chi , Tai Ying-Hsuan
Published: December 2021

Migraine headaches can be provoked by surgical stress and vasoactive effects of anesthetics of general anesthesia in the perioperative period. However, it is unclear whether general anesthesia increases the migraine risk after major surgery. Incidence and risk factors of postoperative migraine are also largely unknown. We utilized reimbursement claims data of Taiwan’s National Health Insurance and performed propensity score matching analyses to compare the risk of postoperative migraine in patients without migraine initially who underwent general or neuraxial anesthesia. Multivariable logistic regressions were applied to calculate the adjusted odds ratio (aOR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) for migraine risk. A total of 68,131 matched pairs were analyzed. The overall incidence of migraine was 9.82 per 1000 person-years. General anesthesia was not associated with a greater risk of migraine compared with neuraxial anesthesia (aORs: 0.93, 95% CI: 0.80–1.09). This finding was consistent across subgroups of different migraine subtypes, uses of migraine medications, and varying postoperative periods. Influential factors for postoperative migraine were age (aOR: 0.99), sex (male vs. female, aOR: 0.50), pre-existing anxiety disorder (aOR: 2.43) or depressive disorder (aOR: 2.29), concurrent uses of systemic corticosteroids (aOR: 1.45), ephedrine (aOR: 1.45), and theophylline (aOR: 1.40), and number of emergency room visits before surgery. There was no difference in the risk of postoperative migraine between surgical patients undergoing general and neuraxial anesthesia. This study identified the risk factors for postoperative migraine headaches, which may provide an implication in facilitating early diagnoses and treatment.
Academic Performance during the COVID-19 Pandemic and Its Relationship with Demographic Factors and Alcohol Consumption in College Students
Authors: Vargas-Ramos Julio César , Lerma Claudia , Guzmán-Saldaña Rebeca María Elena , Lerma Abel , Bosques-Brugada Lilian Elizabeth , González-Fragoso Claudia Margarita
Published: December 2021

The COVID-19 pandemic has caused many changes in the education sector worldwide, and school curricula have had to adapt to a non-face-to-face modality. However, international studies have concluded that this modality has affected the academic performance of students. The present study aimed to compare the academic performance of a sample of college students from before the start of quarantine with their current performance, and to test whether various demographic factors influenced these changes in conjunction with alcohol consumption. With a non-experimental, comparative and longitudinal design, we applied an ad hoc questionnaire, in conjunction with the AUDIT questionnaire, in a sample of college students (n = 341), and we also obtained data of academic average and failed subjects. The demographic factors that influenced academic performance were sex (p < 0.01), age (p < 0.01) and alcohol consumption (p = 0.001). Most students showed an improvement in their academic average during the quarantine period. Women without failed subjects and low-risk alcohol consumption obtained a better average in this period. In conclusion sex, age and alcohol consumption level were factors associated with academic performance during the quarantine period due to the COVID-19 pandemic; and women had a higher academic average than men did.
The Associations between Objectively Measured Physical Activity and Physical Function in Community-Dwelling Older Japanese Men and Women
Authors: Yatsugi Harukaze , Chen Tao , Chen Si , Liu Xin , Kishimoto Hiro
Published: December 2021

Objective: The relationships between physical activity (PA) and physical function (PF) among older Japanese adults have been examined before, with some studies reporting that moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) is positively associated with PF. However, it is unclear whether the observed associations differ between men and women. In this study, we investigated the associations of objectively measured MVPA, light physical activity (LPA), and sedentary time (ST) with different PF levels in older Japanese men and women. Subjects and Methods: A total of 810 community-dwelling subjects aged 65–75 years were investigated (52.1% women, 47.9% men). The PF variables included grip strength, one-leg standing, usual and maximum walking speeds, and chair-standing time. PA (MVPA, LPA, and ST) and the number of steps taken daily were assessed for seven consecutive days by a tri-axial accelerometer. We determined the sex-specific quartiles of MVPA, LPA, and ST and analyzed their associations with physical function in separate models for each exposure measure. Results: In the crude analysis, MVPA was significantly associated with all PF variables in the men, and with the usual walking speed, max. walking speed, and chair-standing time in the women. Neither LPA nor ST was significantly associated with any PF variables. After adjusting potential confounding factors, significant associations between MVPA and usual walking speed remained in the men and women. Conclusions: Only greater moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) was significantly associated with higher levels of PF variables in both men and women. Thus, time spent in moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) can help older adults maintain or improve their physical function.
Respiratory Syncytial Virus Resurgence in Italy: The Need to Protect All Neonates and Young Infants
Authors: Bozzola Elena
Published: December 2021

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is the most prevalent cause of viral respiratory infections in children up to the age of 2 years and causes a wide range of clinical manifestations [...]
Emergency Management of Medical Wastewater in Hospitals Specializing in Infectious Diseases: A Case Study of Huoshenshan Hospital, Wuhan, China
Authors: He Jia-Jun , Zhao Shu-Shu , Zhang Hui , Liu Xia-Ying , Li Qin , Fu Wen-Xuan
Published: December 2021

Medical wastewater originating from hospitals specializing in infectious diseases pose a major risk to human and environmental health during pandemics. However, there have been few systematic studies on the management of this type of wastewater management. The function of the Huoshenshan Hospital as a designated emergency field hospital for the treatment of COVID-19 has provided lessons for the management measures of medical wastewater, mainly including: (1) Modern information technology, management schemes, and related standard systems provided the legislative foundation for emergency management of medical wastewater. (2) The three-tier prevention and control medical wastewater management system ensured the discharged wastewater met water quality standards, especially for the leak-proof sealed collection system of the first tier, and the biological and chemical treatment technology of the second tier. (3) The establishment of an effective three-tier medical wastewater quality monitoring accountability system. This system was particularly relevant for ensuring continuous data monitoring and dynamic analysis of characteristic indicators. (4) Information disclosure by government and public supervision promoted successful implementation of medical wastewater management and control measures. Public questionnaires (n = 212) further confirmed the effectiveness of information disclosure. The results of this study can act as methodological reference for the emergency management of wastewater in designated infectious disease hospitals under similar situations.
Morning versus Evening Intake of Creatine in Elite Female Handball Players
Authors: Jurado-Castro Jose Manuel , Campos-Pérez Julián , Vilches-Redondo M Ángeles , Mata Fernando , Navarrete-Pérez Ainoa , Ranchal-Sanchez Antonio
Published: December 2021

A great deal of evidence has been gathered on the use of creatine as an ergogenic supplement. Recent studies show greater benefits when creatine ingestion is performed close in time to training, but few studies tackle the way that circadian rhythms could influence creatine consumption. The aim of this study was therefore to observe the influence circadian rhythms exert on sports performance after creatine supplementation. Our method involved randomly assigning fourteen women players of a handball team into two groups in a single-blind study: one that consumed the supplement in the morning and one that consumed it in the evening, with both groups following a specific training program. After twelve weeks, the participants exhibited a decreased fat percentage, increased body weight and body water, and improved performance, with these results being very similar in the two groups. It is therefore concluded that, although circadian rhythms may influence performance, these appear not to affect creatine supplementation, as creatine is stored intramuscularly and is available for those moments of high energy demand, regardless of the time of day.
Commuter Mobility Patterns in Social Media: Correlating Twitter and LODES Data
Authors: Petutschnig Andreas , Albrecht Jochen , Resch Bernd , Ramasubramanian Laxmi , Wright Aleisha
Published: December 2021

The Longitudinal Employer-Household Dynamics Origin-Destination Employment Statistics (LODES) are an important city planning resource in the USA. However, curating these statistics is resource-intensive, and their accuracy deteriorates when changes in population and urban structures lead to shifts in commuter patterns. Our study area is the San Francisco Bay area, and it has seen rapid population growth over the past years, which makes frequent updates to LODES or the availability of an appropriate substitute desirable. In this paper, we derive mobility flows from a set of over 40 million georeferenced tweets of the study area and compare them with LODES data. These tweets are publicly available and offer fine spatial and temporal resolution. Based on an exploratory analysis of the Twitter data, we pose research questions addressing different aspects of the integration of LODES and Twitter data. Furthermore, we develop methods for their comparative analysis on different spatial scales: at the county, census tract, census block, and individual street segment level. We thereby show that Twitter data can be used to approximate LODES on the county level and on the street segment level, but it also contains information about non-commuting-related regular travel. Leveraging Twitter’s high temporal resolution, we also show how factors like rush hour times and weekends impact mobility. We discuss the merits and shortcomings of the different methods for use in urban planning and close with directions for future research avenues.