bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Effects of Health Shocks, Insurance, and Education on Income: Fresh Analysis Using CHNS Panel Data
Authors: Khelfaoui Issam , Xie Yuantao , Hafeez Muhammad , Ahmed Danish , Degha Houssem Eddine , Meskher Hicham
Published: July 2022

The most important asset for a person is their health and wellbeing. While it is possible to keep one’s health at its best, it is common for people to have health shocks (HSs; negative shocks to an individual’s health). In this study, using Chinese Health and Nutrition Survey (CHNS) panel data, we studied the impact of different HSs on income using new modified methods. Thus, we considered the substantial links among different HSs, levels of education, and insurance types, as well as their impact on people’s wealth defined by their income. The core aim of this study is to help devise and guide new policies to reduce the effect of these HSs through the proper use of education and insurance channels. In this research, we used simple pooled OLS regression to measure the different causality estimates of HSs, education, and insurance, as well as their interactions. Obtained through the use of up-to-date panel data, the study results are consistent with previous research using different HS and education measures. The findings of this research suggest revising previous policies concerning education levels and health insurance schemes.
Informal STEM Learning for Young Children: A Systematic Literature Review
Authors: Alexandre Suzanne , Xu Yaoying , Washington-Nortey Melissa , Chen Chinchih
Published: July 2022

Studies show that children spend considerable time engaged in informal learning outside of educational settings. Informal educational settings such as museums can provide a variety of opportunities to engage children in STEM learning and scientific discovery, which can increase school readiness. Research has also determined an achievement gap in students from low socio-economic backgrounds and in students who are dual language learners. The literature shows that this gap begins even before children enter formal schooling. This systematic review serves two purposes: to explore the impact of informal STEM learning (ISL) on school readiness and to examine the relationship between ISL and children’s social-emotional development, particularly in children who are dual language learners. Using PRISMA procedures, we identified 36 eligible studies in this systematic review. The findings illuminate the important role of parents and/or caregivers and the quality of design and interventions used at ISL sites, such as museums and zoos, on how ISL can impact school readiness for preschoolers. No research was found to specifically address the impact of ISL on school readiness for children who are dual language learners. The implications from the findings suggest that further research is needed on ISL for young children, particularly considering the dearth in research on young dual language learners. The implications further suggest that parents, ISL site designers, facilitators, and educators can benefit from learning about the impact of ISL on school readiness.
Benefits of Exercise in Multidisciplinary Treatment of Binge Eating Disorder in Adolescents with Obesity
Authors: Cena Hellas , Vandoni Matteo , Magenes Vittoria Carlotta , Di Napoli Ilaria , Marin Luca , Baldassarre Paola , Luzzi Alessia , De Pasquale Francesca , Zuccotti Gianvincenzo , Calcaterra Valeria
Published: July 2022

Obesity in childhood and adolescence represents a serious health problem worldwide. Similarly, eating disorders (EDs) are complex diseases that affect adolescents with an increasing prevalence and are an alarming health concern to both physical and mental health. Traditionally, obesity and EDs, particularly binge eating disorder (BED), have been considered separate conditions, but there is emerging evidence such as etiology, comorbidities, risk factors, psychosocial impairment, and prevention approaches, highlighting important overlaps among these conditions. In youth, the two conditions share risk factors and consequences at both the physical and psychological levels, requiring special care. Exercise, useful as strategy to prevent and treat overweight conditions, may have beneficial effects on BED symptoms, suggesting that it may be considered as one of the key factors in the treatment of individuals affected by obesity with BED. The purpose of this narrative review is to examine the bidirectional impact of obesity and BED in adolescents, in terms of risk factors, etiology and comorbid conditions. Specifically, we focused on the benefits of physical activity (PA) in the multidisciplinary treatment of subjects affected by obesity with BED. Even though additional research is needed to reach conclusions about the role of exercise in the treatment of obesity and comorbid BED, especially in adolescents, promising results have already suggested that closely monitored exercise is safe and, paired with cognitive behavioral therapy, may provide multiple benefits on both the physical and psychological levels. Tailored and integrated treatments for weight management and eating disorders are important to promptly and effectively treat obese subjects that have BED.
Does Adoption of Honeybee Pollination Promote the Economic Value of Kiwifruit Farmers? Evidence from China
Authors: Zhang Shemei , Ma Jiliang , Zhang Liu , Sun Zhanli , Zhao Zhijun , Khan Nawab
Published: July 2022

Honeybee pollination plays a significant role in sustaining the balance and biodiversity of sustainable rural development, agricultural production, and environments. However, little research has been carried out on the agricultural and economic benefits of pollination, especially for small farmers. This study investigated the adoption of honeybee pollination and its impact on farmers’ economic value using primary data from 186 kiwifruit farmers in three major producing districts, such as Pujiang, Cangxi, and Dujiangyan, in the Sichuan province of China. This study was conducted in two different steps: first, we used a bivariate probit model to estimate factors influencing honeybee pollination and artificial pollination adoption; second, we further used the Dynamic Research Assessment Management (DREAM) approach to analyze the influence of the adopted honeybee pollination economic impact. The results showed that: (1) growers with higher social capital, proxied by political affiliation, are more aware of quality-oriented products, and older growers tend to choose less labor-intensive pollination technology; (2) with the increase in labor costs, more kiwifruit growers would choose honeybee pollination, and more educated growers, measured by the number of training certificates, are more likely to adopt honeybee pollination; (3) the lack of awareness and access to commercial pollinating swarms hinders the adoption of honeybee pollination; (4) in addition to the economic benefit to producers, honey pollination also brings an even larger consumer surplus. This study suggests some policy recommendations for promoting bee pollination in China: raising farmers’ awareness and understanding of bee pollination through training, promoting supply and demand in the pollination market, and optimizing the external environment through product standardization and certification.
Digitalization in Medicine: Are German Medical Students Well Prepared for the Future?
Authors: Sorg Heiko , Ehlers Jan P. , Sorg Christian G. G.
Published: July 2022

The German healthcare system is facing a major transformation towards digitalized medicine. The aim was to find out the attitude and the degree of preparation of upcoming medical professionals for digital medicine. By means of an online survey, medical students from 38 German faculties were asked about different topics concerning digitalization. Most students (70.0%) indicated that they had not had any university courses on digital topics. Thus, only 22.2% feel prepared for the technical reality of digitalized medicine. Most fear losing patient contact because of digitalized medicine and assume that the medical profession will not be endangered by digitalization. Security systems, data protection, infrastructure and inadequate training are cited as the top problems of digitalization in medicine. Medical students have major concerns about incorrect decisions and the consecutive medicolegal aspects of using digital support as part their treatment plans. Digitalization in medicine is progressing faster than it can currently be implemented in the practical work. The generations involved have different understandings of technology, and there is a lack of curricular training in medical schools. There must be a significant improvement in training in digital medical skills so that the current and future healthcare professionals are better prepared for digitalized medicine.
Supporting Design to Develop Rural Revitalization through Investigating Village Microclimate Environments: A Case Study of Typical Villages in Northwest China
Authors: Xin Kai , Zhao Jingyuan , Wang Tianhui , Gao Weijun
Published: July 2022

China has the largest number of villages in the world, and research on rural microclimate will contribute to global climate knowledge. A three-by-three grid method was developed to explore village microclimates through field measurement and ENVI-met simulation. A regression model was used to explore the mechanistic relationship between microclimate and spatial morphology, and predicted mean vote (PMV) was selected to evaluate outdoor thermal comfort. The results showed that ENVI-met was able to evaluate village microclimate, as Pearson’s correlation coefficient was greater than 0.8 and mean absolute percentage error (MAPE) was from 2.16% to 3.79%. Moreover, the air temperature of west–east road was slightly higher than that of south–north, especially in the morning. The height-to-width ratio (H/W) was the most significant factor to affect air temperature compared to percentage of building coverage (PBC) and wind speed. In addition, H/W and air temperature had a relatively strong negative correlation when H/W was between 0.52 and 0.93. PMV indicated that the downwind edge area of prevailing wind in villages was relatively comfortable. This study provides data support and a reference for optimizing village land use, mediating the living environment, and promoting rural revitalization.
Generation Method for Shaded Relief Based on Conditional Generative Adversarial Nets
Authors: Li Shaomei , Yin Guangzhi , Ma Jingzhen , Wen Bowei , Zhou Zhao
Published: July 2022

Relief shading is the primary method for effectively representing three-dimensional terrain on a two-dimensional plane. Despite its expressiveness, manual relief shading is difficult and time-consuming. In contrast, although analytical relief shading is fast and efficient, the visual effect is quite different from that of manual relief shading due to the low degree of terrain generalisation, inability to adjust local illumination, and difficulty in exaggerating and selective representation. We introduce deep learning technology to propose a generation method for shaded relief based on conditional generative adversarial nets. This method takes the set of manual relief shading-digital elevation model (DEM) slices as a priori knowledge, optimises network parameters through a continuous game of “generation-discrimination”, and produces a shaded relief map of any region based on the DEM. Test results indicate that the proposed method retains the advantages of manual relief shading and can quickly generate shaded relief with quality and artistic style similar to those of manual shading. Compared with other networks, the shaded relief generated by the proposed method not only depicts the terrain clearly but also achieves a good generalisation effect. Moreover, through the use of an adversarial structure, the network demonstrates stronger cross-scale generation ability.
3D Visualisation of the Historic Pre-Dam Vltava River Valley—Procedural and CAD Modelling, Online Publishing and Virtual Reality
Authors: Janovský Michal , Tobiáš Pavel , Cehák Vojtěch
Published: July 2022

As a part of “The Vltava River” project, it was necessary to create a visualisation of the historic Vltava River valley before the construction of the so-called Vltava Cascade (nine dams built in the Vltava River basin between 1930 and 1992). Vectorisations of the Imperial Obligatory Imprints of the Stable Cadastre, and a terrain model created from contour lines from the State Map 1:5000-Derived (SMO-5), prepared in an earlier phase of the project, were used as a basis for this visualisation. Due to the extent of the modelled area, which is approximately 1670 km2, and the available underlying data realistically usable for the visualisation, mainly procedural modelling with the use of the CGA shape grammar was chosen for the creation of 3D objects. These procedurally created 3D models were completed with more detailed models of landmark buildings created in CAD. The outcomes were used to establish a virtual reality (VR) application in the Unreal Engine software. The results are a 3D scene created in a form corresponding approximately to the state of the Vltava River valley in the 19th century, which is available for viewing via a web application, and a VR scene used for demonstration at exhibitions.
Rapid Extreme Tropical Precipitation and Flood Inundation Mapping Framework (RETRACE): Initial Testing for the 2021–2022 Malaysia Flood
Authors: Tew Yi Lin , Tan Mou Leong , Juneng Liew , Chun Kwok Pan , Hassan Mohamad Hafiz bin , Osman Sazali bin , Samat Narimah , Chang Chun Kiat , Kabir Muhammad Humayun
Published: July 2022

The 2021–2022 flood is one of the most serious flood events in Malaysian history, with approximately 70,000 victims evacuated daily, 54 killed and total losses up to MYR 6.1 billion. From this devastating event, we realized the lack of extreme precipitation and flood inundation information, which is a common problem in tropical regions. Therefore, we developed a Rapid Extreme TRopicAl preCipitation and flood inundation mapping framEwork (RETRACE) by utilizing: (1) a cloud computing platform, the Google Earth Engine (GEE); (2) open-source satellite images from missions such as Global Precipitation Measurement (GPM), Sentinel-1 SAR and Sentinel-2 optical satellites; and (3) flood victim information. The framework was demonstrated with the 2021–2022 Malaysia flood. The preliminary results were satisfactory with an optimal threshold of five for flood inundation mapping using the Sentinel-1 SAR data, as the accuracy of inundated floods was up to 70%. Extreme daily precipitation of up to 230 mm/day was observed and resulted in an inundated area of 77.43 km2 in Peninsular Malaysia. This framework can act as a useful tool for local authorities and scientists to retrace the extreme precipitation and flood information in a relatively short period for flood management and mitigation strategy development.
A Moving Object Tracking Technique Using Few Frames with Feature Map Extraction and Feature Fusion
Authors: Abdulaziz AlArfaj Abeer , Mahmoud Hanan Ahmed Hosni
Published: July 2022

Moving object tracking techniques using machine and deep learning require large datasets for neural model training. New strategies need to be invented that utilize smaller data training sizes to realize the impact of large-sized datasets. However, current research does not balance the training data size and neural parameters, which creates the problem of inadequacy of the information provided by the low visual data content for parameter optimization. To enhance the performance of moving object tracking that appears in only a few frames, this research proposes a deep learning model using an abundant encoder–decoder (a high-resolution transformer (HRT) encoder–decoder). An HRT encoder–decoder employs feature map extraction that focuses on high resolution feature maps that are more representative of the moving object. In addition, we employ the proposed HRT encoder–decoder for feature map extraction and fusion to reimburse the few frames that have the visual information. Our extensive experiments on the Pascal DOC19 and MS-DS17 datasets have implied that the HRT encoder–decoder abundant model outperforms those of previous studies involving few frames that include moving objects.
Effects of the Lipid Profile, Type 2 Diabetes and Medication on the Metabolic Syndrome—Associated Gut Microbiome
Authors: Gradisteanu Pircalabioru Gratiela , Liaw Janie , Gundogdu Ozan , Corcionivoschi Nicolae , Ilie Iuliana , Oprea Luciana , Musat Madalina , Chifiriuc Mariana-Carmen
Published: July 2022

Metabolic syndrome (MetSyn) is a major health problem affecting approximately 25% of the worldwide population. Since the gut microbiota is highly connected to the host metabolism, several recent studies have emerged to characterize the role of the microbiome in MetSyn development and progression. To this end, our study aimed to identify the microbiome patterns which distinguish MetSyn from type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). We performed 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing on a cohort of 70 individuals among which 40 were MetSyn patients. The microbiome of MetSyn patients was characterised by reduced diversity, loss of butyrate producers (Subdoligranulum, Butyricicoccus, Faecalibacterium prausnitzii) and enrichment in the relative abundance of fungal populations. We also show a link between the gut microbiome and lipid metabolism in MetSyn. Specifically, low-density lipoproteins (LDL) and high-density lipoproteins (HDL) display a positive effect on gut microbial diversity. When interrogating the signature of gut microbiota in a subgroup of patients harbouring both MetSyn and T2DM conditions, we observed a significant increase in taxa such as Bacteroides, Clostridiales, and Erysipelotrichaceae. This preliminary study shows for the first time that T2DM brings unique signatures of gut microbiota in MetSyn patients. We also highlight the impact of metformin treatment on the gut microbiota. Metformin administration was linked to changes in Prevotellaceae, Rickenellaceae, and Clostridiales. Further research focusing on the microbiome-metabolome patterns is needed to clarify the exact association of various gut microbial communities with the progression of T2DM and the occurrence of various complications in MetSyn patients.
Molecular Biology of Human Fertility: Stepping towards a Tailored Approach
Authors: Laganà Antonio Simone , Uccella Stefano , Chiantera Vito , Garzon Simone
Published: July 2022

Clinical pregnancies and live births result from a complex interaction of molecular pathways at the level of the female and male gametes during their development and interaction for fecundation, and the subsequent development of the embryo before, during, and after implantation [...]
Molecular Mapping of Antifungal Mechanisms Accessing Biomaterials and New Agents to Target Oral Candidiasis
Authors: Anuța Valentina , Talianu Marina-Theodora , Dinu-Pîrvu Cristina-Elena , Ghica Mihaela Violeta , Prisada Răzvan Mihai , Albu Kaya Mădălina Georgiana , Popa Lăcrămioara
Published: July 2022

Oral candidiasis has a high rate of development, especially in immunocompromised patients. Immunosuppressive and cytotoxic therapies in hospitalized HIV and cancer patients are known to induce the poor management of adverse reactions, where local and systemic candidiasis become highly resistant to conventional antifungal therapy. The development of oral candidiasis is triggered by several mechanisms that determine oral epithelium imbalances, resulting in poor local defense and a delayed immune system response. As a result, pathogenic fungi colonies disseminate and form resistant biofilms, promoting serious challenges in initiating a proper therapeutic protocol. Hence, this study of the literature aimed to discuss possibilities and new trends through antifungal therapy for buccal drug administration. A large number of studies explored the antifungal activity of new agents or synergic components that may enhance the effect of classic drugs. It was of significant interest to find connections between smart biomaterials and their activity, to find molecular responses and mechanisms that can conquer the multidrug resistance of fungi strains, and to transpose them into a molecular map. Overall, attention is focused on the nanocolloids domain, nanoparticles, nanocomposite synthesis, and the design of polymeric platforms to satisfy sustained antifungal activity and high biocompatibility with the oral mucosa.
Altered Balance of Reelin Proteolytic Fragments in the Cerebrospinal Fluid of Alzheimer’s Disease Patients
Authors: Lopez-Font Inmaculada , Lennol Matthew P. , Iborra-Lazaro Guillermo , Zetterberg Henrik , Blennow Kaj , Sáez-Valero Javier
Published: July 2022

Reelin binds to the apolipoprotein E receptor apoER2 to activate an intracellular signaling cascade. The proteolytic cleavage of reelin follows receptor binding but can also occur independently of its binding to receptors. This study assesses whether reelin proteolytic fragments are differentially affected in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) subjects. CSF reelin species were analyzed by Western blotting, employing antibodies against the N- and C-terminal domains. In AD patients, we found a decrease in the 420 kDa full-length reelin compared with controls. In these patients, we also found an increase in the N-terminal 310 kDa fragment resulting from the cleavage at the so-called C-t site, whereas the 180 kDa fragment originated from the N-t site remained unchanged. Regarding the C-terminal proteolytic fragments, the 100 kDa fragment resulting from the cleavage at the C-t site also displayed increased levels, whilst the one resulting from the N-t site, the 250 kDa fragment, decreased. We also detected the presence of an aberrant reelin species with a molecular mass of around 500 kDa present in AD samples (34 of 43 cases), while it was absent in the 14 control cases analyzed. These 500 kDa species were only immunoreactive to N-terminal antibodies. We validated the occurrence of these aberrant reelin species in an Aβ42-treated reelin-overexpressing cell model. When we compared the AD samples from APOE genotype subgroups, we only found minor differences in the levels of reelin fragments associated to the APOE genotype, but interestingly, the levels of fragments of apoER2 were lower in APOE ε4 carriers with regards to APOE ε3/ε3. The altered proportion of reelin/apoER2 fragments and the occurrence of reelin aberrant species suggest a complex regulation of the reelin signaling pathway, which results impaired in AD subjects.
Prognostic Value of Association of Copy Number Alterations and Cell-Surface Expression Markers in Newly Diagnosed Multiple Myeloma Patients
Authors: Dragoș Mihaiela L. , Ivanov Iuliu C. , Mențel Mihaela , Văcărean-Trandafir Irina C. , Sireteanu Adriana , Titianu Amalia A. , Dăscălescu Angela S. , Stache Alexandru B. , Jitaru Daniela , Gorgan Dragoș L.
Published: July 2022

Multiple myeloma results from the clonal proliferation of abnormal plasma cells (PCs) in the bone marrow (BM). In this study, the cell surface expression markers (CD) on atypical PCs (detected by multiparametric flow cytometry (MFC)) were correlated with copy number alterations (CNAs) in the genome (detected by multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification (MLPA)) to assess their impact on prognosis in newly diagnosed MM patients. Statistically significant results were obtained when different stages of PC maturation (classified based on CD19 and CD81 expression) were associated with CD117 expression and identified CNAs. In the intermediately differentiated PC group (CD19(−) CD81(+)), patients who didn’t express CD117 had a lower median progression free survival (PFS) (p = 0.024). Moreover, within this group, patients with less than three adverse CNAs, which harbor CD117, had a better outcome with a PFS of more than 48 months compared with 19 months (p = 0.008). Considering all the results, our study suggested the need to integrate both the CD markers and copy number alterations to evaluate the prognosis of newly diagnosed multiple myeloma patients.
PD1 Deficiency Modifies Cardiac Immunity during Baseline Conditions and in Reperfused Acute Myocardial Infarction
Authors: Michel Lars , Korste Sebastian , Spomer Armin , Hendgen-Cotta Ulrike Barbara , Rassaf Tienush , Totzeck Matthias
Published: July 2022

The programmed cell death protein 1 (PD1) immune checkpoint prevents inflammatory tissue damage by inhibiting immune reactions. Understanding the relevance of cardiac PD1 signaling may provide new insights into the inflammatory events under baseline conditions and disease. Here, we demonstrate distinct immunological changes upon PD1 deficiency in healthy hearts and during reperfused acute myocardial infarction (repAMI). In PD1-deficient mice, upregulated inflammatory cytokines were identified under baseline conditions including cardiac interleukins and extracellular signal-related kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2). A murine in vivo repAMI model to determine inflammatory changes in the early phase showed downregulation of the ligand PDL1, paralleled by an endothelial injury, indicated by loss of the CD31 signal. Immunofluorescence imaging showed decreased PDL1 expression specifically in the infarct zone, highlighting an involvement in PDL1 in myocardial injury response. Pharmacological depletion of PD1 prior to repAMI did not alter the area of infarction but led to increased numbers of CD8+ T cells in treated mice. We conclude that PD1/PDL1 signaling plays a significant role in healthy hearts and repAMI, emphasizing the relevance of adaptive immunity during myocardial injury. The findings highlight the risk for adverse outcomes from acute myocardial infarction in the growing group of patients receiving immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy.
Enhancing Inference on Physiological and Kinematic Periodic Signals via Phase-Based Interpretability and Multi-Task Learning
Authors: Soleimani Reza , Lobaton Edgar
Published: July 2022

Physiological and kinematic signals from humans are often used for monitoring health. Several processes of interest (e.g., cardiac and respiratory processes, and locomotion) demonstrate periodicity. Training models for inference on these signals (e.g., detection of anomalies, and extraction of biomarkers) require large amounts of data to capture their variability, which are not readily available. This hinders the performance of complex inference models. In this work, we introduce a methodology for improving inference on such signals by incorporating phase-based interpretability and other inference tasks into a multi-task framework applied to a generative model. For this purpose, we utilize phase information as a regularization term and as an input to the model and introduce an interpretable unit in a neural network, which imposes an interpretable structure on the model. This imposition helps us in the smooth generation of periodic signals that can aid in data augmentation tasks. We demonstrate the impact of our framework on improving the overall inference performance on ECG signals and inertial signals from gait locomotion.
Quality of Life and Psychological Distress among Patients with Small Renal Masses
Authors: Vartolomei Liliana , Cotruș Andrei , Stanciu Camelia , Delcea Cristian , Tozzi Marco , Lievore Elena , Crocetto Felice , Del Giudice Francesco , Lucarelli Giuseppe , Muto Matteo , Ferro Matteo
Published: July 2022

Background: Quality of life (QoL) and psychological distress represent an important aspect of the daily life of cancer patients. The aim of this systematic review was to critically analyze available literature regarding QoL and psychological distress in patients with small renal masses (SRMs). (2) Methods: A systematic search of EMBASE, PUBMED and American Psychological Association (APA-net) was performed on 30 April 2022. Studies were considered eligible if they included patients with SRMs, had a prospective or retrospective design, included at least 10 patients, were published in the last 20 years, and assessed the QoL or psychological distress in patients that underwent active surveillance (AS) in comparison to those that underwent ablation/surgery treatments. (3) Results: The patients that underwent AS were statistically significantly older, with smaller renal masses than those that underwent surgery/ablation. A study showed a significant reduction in total scores of Short Form-12 (SF-12) among AS patients when compared to partial nephrectomy (PN) patients at enrollment (95.0 ± 15.8 vs. 99.1 ± 13.9), 2 years (91.0 ± 16.4 vs. 100.3 ± 14.3), and at 3 years (92.9 ± 15.9 vs. 100.3 ± 14.3), p < 0.05, respectively. That was mainly due to lower physical health scores. On the other hand, another study showed that AS patients with a biopsy-proven malignant tumor had a worse psychological distress sub-score (PDSS) compared to patients treated with surgery/ablation after biopsy. (4) Conclusions: It seems that there is an influence on QoL and psychological distress while on AS of SMRs. However, due to the low amount of available data, the impact of AS or active treatment on QoL or psychological distress of patients with small renal masses warrants further investigation.
Cognitive Stimulation as Alternative Treatment to Improve Psychological Disorders in Patients with Mild Cognitive Impairment
Authors: Carcelén-Fraile María del Carmen , Llera-DelaTorre Ana María , Aibar-Almazán Agustín , Afanador-Restrepo Diego Fernando , Baena-Marín Mateo , Hita-Contreras Fidel , Brandão-Loureiro Vânia , García-Garro Patricia Alexandra , Castellote-Caballero Yolanda
Published: July 2022

(1) Background: Mild cognitive impairment is becoming one of the most common clinical manifestations affecting older people. For this reason, developing non-pharmacological strategies to help improve or maintain the physical condition of patients with mild dementia has become a priority. Therefore, the objective of this study is to provide evidence about the effects of a cognitive stimulation program on cognitive performance, anxiety, depression, and quality of life in people with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and aged > 70. (2) Methods: This study is a randomized clinical trial. A total of 72 elderly people with MCI participated: 35 in the control group who did not receive any intervention and 36 in the experimental group who received a cognitive stimulation program for 12 weeks. Cognitive performance, depression, anxiety and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) were measured using the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), the Yesavage Geriatric Depression Scale, the Hamilton Rating Scale, and the SF-12, respectively. (3) Results: In the experimental group, significant results were obtained on cognitive performance, depression, anxiety and general health, emotional role, social functioning, vitality, mental health and mental component summary domains of the SF-12. (4) Conclusions: a cognitive stimulation program of 12 weeks improves cognitive performance, anxiety, depression, and HRQoL in people with MCI aged > 70.
3D-PAST: Risk Assessment Model for Predicting Venous Thromboembolism in COVID-19
Authors: Lee Yi , Jehangir Qasim , Lin Chun-Hui , Li Pin , Sule Anupam A. , Poisson Laila , Balijepally Venugopal , Halabi Abdul R. , Patel Kiritkumar , Krishnamoorthy Geetha , Nair Girish B.
Published: July 2022

Hypercoagulability is a recognized feature in SARS-CoV-2 infection. There exists a need for a dedicated risk assessment model (RAM) that can risk-stratify hospitalized COVID-19 patients for venous thromboembolism (VTE) and guide anticoagulation. We aimed to build a simple clinical model to predict VTE in COVID-19 patients. This large-cohort, retrospective study included adult patients admitted to four hospitals with PCR-confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection. Model training was performed on 3531 patients hospitalized between March and December 2020 and validated on 2508 patients hospitalized between January and September 2021. Diagnosis of VTE was defined as acute deep vein thrombosis (DVT) or pulmonary embolism (PE). The novel RAM was based on commonly available parameters at hospital admission. LASSO regression and logistic regression were performed, risk scores were assigned to the significant variables, and cutoffs were derived. Seven variables with assigned scores were delineated as: DVT History = 2; High D-Dimer (>500–2000 ng/mL) = 2; Very High D-Dimer (>2000 ng/mL) = 5; PE History = 2; Low Albumin (<3.5 g/dL) = 1; Systolic Blood Pressure <120 mmHg = 1, Tachycardia (heart rate >100 bpm) = 1. The model had a sensitivity of 83% and specificity of 53%. This simple, robust clinical tool can help individualize thromboprophylaxis for COVID-19 patients based on their VTE risk category.
MRI Assessment of the Early Disc Degeneration Two Levels above Fused Lumbar Spine Segment: A Comparison after Unilateral and Bilateral Transforaminal Lumbar Interbody Fusion (TLIF) Procedure
Authors: Dujic Milka Kljaic , Recnik Gregor , Milcic Milko , Bosnjak Eva , Rupreht Mitja
Published: July 2022

Background: Adjacent segment degeneration (ASD) has become a great concern as a late complication in patients following fusion spine surgery with a potential need for revision surgery. Segments above the fused spine have higher mobility and they are especially prone to accelerated disc degeneration. The purpose of our study is to investigate early disc degenerative changes two levels above a surgically fused lumbar spine segment and to compare MRI analyses after unilateral and bilateral TLIF procedures. Methods: A total of 117 patients were included in this cross-sectional retrospective single center study (after bilateral TLIF surgery: n = 91, and after unilateral TLIF: n = 26). In both groups, the average patient age was similar: 62.84 years (SD = 12.53) in the unilateral TLIF group and 60.67 years (SD = 11.89) in the bilateral TLIF group. On average, MRI was performed 2.5 years after surgery (SD = 2.09). The modified eight-level Pfirrmann grading system was used for the assessment of disc degeneration severity. Descriptive statistics and the Mann–Whitney test were used to show differences in the Pfirrmann grades regarding the after-surgery period and the patient age. The Wilcoxon signed-rank test results were used to display differences in the Pfirrmann grades before and after surgery. Results: The comparison of mean values, regardless of the type of surgery, shows that this mean value is on average higher in the first segment adjacent to the fused spine segment. The assessment of the intervertebral disc structure in BIL TLIF is higher in both the first and the second segment. Early disc degeneration progression is subtle yet detectable (UNI TLIF 9.28% vs. BIL TLIF 16.74%). The assessment of the intervertebral disc structure is on average lower in patients aged less than 50 years at time of surgery compared with patients aged more than 50 years in UNI TLIF, and higher in the BIL TLIF group, for both the first and the second segment. Conclusion: Patients who had undergone unilateral TLIF fusion surgery have a lower rate of early disc degenerative changes. Considering a significantly higher rate of progressive disc degenerative changes in the elderly with bilateral fusion surgery, extra caution is required in the selection of appropriate surgical technique.
Injection Lap Riveting of Aluminum Busbars—A Thermo-Electro-Mechanical Investigation
Authors: Pragana João P. M. , Sampaio Rui F. V. , Bragança Ivo M. F. , Silva Carlos M. A. , Martins Paulo A. F.
Published: July 2022

This paper presents a new mechanical joining process to assemble aluminum busbars in energy distribution systems. The process is based on the extension of injection lap riveting to the connection of busbars made from the same material as the rivets and requires redesigning the joints to ensure complete filling with good mechanical interlocking and appropriate contact pressures on the overlapping area. The experimental work was carried out in unit cells and involved the fabrication of the riveted joints and the evaluation of their electrical resistance at different service temperatures. Comparisons with the bolted joints that were fabricated and tested for reference purposes show that injection riveted joints provide lower values of electrical resistance and require much less space for assembly due to the absence of material protrusions above and below their surfaces. Numerical simulation with finite elements allows the relating of the reduction in electrical resistance with the changes in the electric current flow when the bolts are replaced by the new type of rivets. The experimental and numerical predictions revealed that the new type of rivets experience an increase in electrical resistance of up to 6 μΩ (30%) when the service temperature approaches 105 °C. Still, the resistance at this temperature (26.2 μΩ) is more than 3 times smaller than that of the bolted joints (80.5 μΩ).
Towards Virtual 3D Asset Price Prediction Based on Machine Learning
Authors: Korbel Jakob J. , Siddiq Umar H. , Zarnekow Rüdiger
Published: July 2022

Although 3D models are today indispensable in various industries, the adequate pricing of 3D models traded on online platforms, i.e., virtual 3D assets, remains vague. This study identifies relevant price determinants of virtual 3D assets through the analysis of a dataset containing the characteristics of 135.384 3D models. Machine learning algorithms were applied to derive a virtual 3D asset price prediction tool based on the analysis results. The evaluation revealed that the random forest regression model is the most promising model to predict virtual 3D asset prices. Furthermore, the findings imply that the geometry and number of material files, as well as the quality of textures, are the most relevant price determinants, whereas animations and file formats play a minor role. However, the analysis also showed that the pricing behavior is still substantially influenced by the subjective assessment of virtual 3D asset creators.
Planning Effective Conservation Landscapes for Nature and People: An Editorial Overview
Authors: Bertzky Bastian , Corrigan Colleen , Snyman Susan
Published: July 2022

The interrelated global crises of biodiversity loss, climate change, disease, and war are all caused and experienced by humankind [...]
Gender Analysis of Landholding and Situation of Female-Headed Households after Land Registration: The Case of Machakel Woreda
Authors: Mengesha Ayelech Kidie , Bauer Thomas , Damyanovic Doris , Agegnehu Sayeh Kassaw , Mansberger Reinfried , Stoeglehner Gernot
Published: July 2022

Well-implemented and functioning land administration systems are able to improve the wellbeing of rural households and support the achievement of the UN Sustainable Development Goals. As cadastral data are an essential part of a modern land administration system for documenting and securing the boundaries of parcels, Ethiopia recently embarked on one of the largest land surveying programs for rural land registration in Africa. Cadastral and land registration data provided by the land administration office of the woreda were analyzed using a Geographical Information System to investigate whether parcels of female-headed households were disadvantaged compared to parcels of male-headed households with regard to parcel size, parcel features, and access to infrastructure. In addition, the situation of female-headed households after the land registration process was analyzed in more detail. To this aim, quantitative and qualitative data were collected in the Ethiopian Machakel woreda through a household survey, in-depth interviews, focus group discussions, and key informant interviews. The results document no significant gender discrepancies in parcel features and access to infrastructures. In general, women confirmed an improvement in the wellbeing of female-headed households after the land registration and certification process.
Comparative Transcriptome Analysis Reveals Differential Gene Expression in Resistant and Susceptible Watermelon Varieties in Response to Meloidogyne incognita
Authors: Zhu Yingchun , Yuan Gaopeng , Zhao Renzong , An Guolin , Li Weihua , Si Wenjing , Liu Junpu , Sun Dexi
Published: July 2022

M. incognita is a major parasitic plant disease in watermelon production, causing serious economic losses. Although there are many studies on root-knot nematode, the resistance mechanism is still unclear. In this study, in order to fully understand the mechanism of watermelon resistance to root-knot nematode, the relatively strongly resistant ‘Hongzi watermelon’ variety and the susceptible ‘M16’ watermelon variety were used as materials, combined with RNA sequencing (RNA-seq), to analyze the expression abundance of resistant and susceptible varieties at 0, 2, 8 and 15 days post-infection (DPI) by M. incognita. The number of differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in the four comparison groups (A0_B0, A1_B1, A2_B2 and A3_B3) was 3645, 2306, 4449 and 2362, respectively, and there were 835 shared DEGs among them. GO annotation and KEGG pathway enrichment analysis showed that 835 DEGs were mainly involved in phenylpropane biosynthesis and carbon metabolism. Furthermore, lignin-biosynthesis-related genes (4CL (4-coumaric acid-CoA ligase), C3H (coumaric acid 3-hydroxylase), CSE (caffeoyl shikimate esterase), COMT (caffeic acid-O-methyltransferase), CCR (cinnamyl CoA reductase) and PRX (peroxidase)), defense-related proteins (UDP-glucoronosyl/UDP-glucosyl transferase, UGT84A13; salicylic acid binding protein, SABP2) and some transcription factors (TFs) were highlighted, which may be potential candidate genes for further analysis in the infection process of M. incognita. These results suggest that watermelon can achieve resistance to M. incognita by increasing the content of lignin and phenols in root or improving ROS level. These RNA-seq data provide new knowledge for future functional studies and will be helpful to further elucidate the molecular mechanism of resistance to M. incognita in watermelon.
Androgens Tend to Be Higher, but What about Altered Progesterone Metabolites in Boys and Girls with Autism?
Authors: Gasser Benedikt , Kurz Johann , Escher Genevieve , Mistry Hiten D. , Mohaupt Markus G.
Published: July 2022

Background: Evidence exists that steroid hormones are altered in individuals with autism, especially androgens. Despite lower prevalence in girls than boys, evidence of potential alterations in progesterone metabolites is sparse, so the aim of this study was to elucidate different progesterone metabolites in affected children with autism versus healthy controls. Material and Methods: Circadian urine samples from 48 boys and 16 girls with autism spectrum disorders and a matched case–control group were analysed for progesterone metabolites by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry and normalised for creatinine excretion. Results: In boys with autism, the majority of progesterone metabolites were reduced, such as progesterone, 6a-OH-3a5b-TH-progesterone, or 20a-DH-progesterone (p < 0.01 for all). In girls with autism, a similar pattern of reduction in progesterone metabolites was detected; however, potentially due to the relatively small sample, this pattern was only detectable on the level of a trend. Discussion: As stated, androgen levels are higher in boys and girls with autism, but evidence for progesterone metabolites is much sparser. The pattern of a decrease in progesterone metabolites suggests the existence of an altered routing of steroid metabolites, probably in combination with a dysregulation of the HPAG axis. As, recently, increased CYP17A1 activity has been suggested, the stronger routing towards androgens is further implied in line with our findings of lower progesterone concentrations in boys and girls with autism than healthy controls.
Advanced Materials for Oral Application
Authors: Rusu Laura-Cristina , Ardelean Lavinia Cosmina
Published: July 2022

This Special Issue of Materials explores the wide variety of dental materials, which enables the dentists and dental technicians to select the most suitable therapeutic solution for each patient [...]
Basic Mechanism of Surface Topography Evolution in Electron Beam Based Additive Manufacturing
Authors: Breuning Christoph , Pistor Julian , Markl Matthias , Körner Carolin
Published: July 2022

This study introduces and verifies a basic mechanism of surface topography evolution in electron beam additive manufacturing (E-PBF). A semi-analytical heat conduction model is used to examine the spatio-temporal evolution of the meltpool and segment the build surface according to the emerging persistent meltpool domains. Each persistent domain is directly compared with the corresponding melt surface, and exhibits a characteristic surface morphology and topography. The proposed underlying mechanism of topography evolution is based on different forms of material transport in each distinct persistent domain, driven by evaporation and thermocapillary convection along the temperature gradient of the emerging meltpool. This effect is shown to be responsible for the upper bound of the standard process window in E-PBF, where surface bulges form. Based on this mechanism, process strategies to prevent the formation of surface bulges for complex geometries are proposed.
Effect of Surface Topology on the Apparent Thermal Diffusivity of Thin Samples at LFA Measurements
Authors: Szczepaniak Robert
Published: July 2022

This paper deals with the problem of the influence of surface topography on the results of thermal diffusivity measurements when determined using the instantaneous surface heat source method, also called the pulse method. The analysis was based on numerical tests carried out using Comsol Multiphysics software. The results of experimental investigations on the actual material structure using an electron microscope, an optical microscope and a profilometer were used to develop a numerical model. The influence of the non-uniformity of the surface of the tested sample on the determined values of half-time of the thermal response of the sample’s rough surface to the impulse forcing on the opposing flat surface was determined by developing the data for simulated measurements. The effect of the position of the response data reading area on the obtained simulation results was also analyzed. The obtained results can be used to improve the accuracy of experimental heat transfer studies performed on thin-film engineering structures depending on the uniformity and parallelism of the material applied to engineering structures. The difference in half-life determination error results for various analyzed models can be as high as 16.7%, depending on the surface from which the responses of the heating impulse are read. With an equivalent model in which 10% of the material volume corresponds to the rough part as a single inclusion, hemisphere, the error in determining thermal diffusivity was equal to 3.8%. An increase in the number of inclusions with smaller weight reduces an error in the determination of thermal diffusivity, as presented in the paper.