bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Acupuncture for Relieving Abdominal Pain and Distension in Acute Pancreatitis: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Zhu Fengya , Yin Shao , Zhu Xinyun , Che Deya , Li Zimeng , Zhong Yue , Yan Hui , Gan Daohui , Yang Lanying , Wu Xiaohan , Li Liuying
Published: December 2021

Background: Clinical evidence suggests that acupuncture is effective for relieving abdominal pain and distension in acute pancreatitis (AP). However, there is a lack of systematic reviews and meta-analyses that provide high-quality evidence of the efficacy and safety of acupuncture in this context.

Aim: To assess the efficacy and safety of acupuncture for relieving abdominal pain and distension in AP.

Methods: We searched the PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, Cochrane Library, CNKI, Wanfang, VIP, and China Biomedical Literature databases. Randomized controlled trials of acupuncture plus routine treatment (RT) vs. RT alone or RT plus sham/placebo acupuncture were included. Primary outcomes included total effectiveness rate, VAS scores for abdominal pain and distension, and time until relief of abdominal pain and distension. Secondary outcomes included time until recovery of bowel sound, time until first defecation, length of hospital stay, and APACHE II score.

Results: Nineteen eligible original studies (n = 1,503) were included. The results showed that acupuncture in combination with RT had a significant advantage in terms of increasing the total effectiveness rate [risk ratio: 1.15; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.06–1.24; P = 0.001]. Acupuncture also reduced the VAS score for abdominal pain [weighted mean difference (WMD): −1.45; 95% CI: −1.71 to −1.19; P < 0.0001] and the VAS score for abdominal distension (WMD: −0.71; 95% CI: −1.04 to −0.37; P < 0.0001) in patients with AP. Other results also showed the efficacy of acupuncture. One study reported adverse events after acupuncture.

Conclusion: Acupuncture in combination with RT has a better effect than RT alone for relieving abdominal pain and distension in AP. More rigorous studies are needed to confirm this result.

Systematic Review Registration: PROSPERO CRD42019147503 (https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/display_record.php?RecordID=147503).
Field Epidemiology and Public Health Research Priorities in the Eastern Mediterranean Region: Delphi Technique
Authors: Al Nsour Mohannad , Chahien Tala , Khader Yousef , Amiri Mirwais , Taha Hana
Published: December 2021

Research is essential for evidence-based decision making. This study aimed to identify research priorities in the areas of field epidemiology and public health in the Eastern Mediterranean Region (EMR) from the perspectives of public health professionals. A Delphi technique, using online survey, was employed to reach 168 public health professionals who have experience in the EMR countries. The study took place between November 2019 and January 2020. Consensus on the research priorities was reached after two-round online questionnaires. A list of top 10 field epidemiology and public health research priorities in the EMR was developed. Of those priorities, four fell under health in emergency, war and armed conflict, two under communicable diseases, two under immunization, one under digital health, and one under sexual, reproductive, and adolescent health. Availability, adequacy, and quality of health services in crisis settings were scored as a top priority (mean = 4.4, rank 1), followed by use of technology to improve the collection, documentation, and analysis of health data (mean = 4.28, rank 2), and capacity of countries in the region to respond to emergencies (mean = 4.25, rank 3). This study was conducted prior to COVID-19 pandemic and, thus, it did not capture COVID-19 research as a priority area. Nevertheless, identified priorities under communicable diseases including outbreak investigation of infectious diseases, epidemics and challenges related to communicable diseases in the EMR were still notable. In conclusion, the field epidemiology and public health research priorities identified in this study through a systematic inclusive process could be useful to make informed decisions and gear the research efforts to improve the health of people in the EMR.
Characterisation of Children's Head Motion for Magnetic Resonance Imaging With and Without General Anaesthesia
Authors: Eichhorn Hannah , Vascan Andreea-Veronica , Nørgaard Martin , Ellegaard Andreas H. , Slipsager Jakob M. , Keller Sune Høgild , Marner Lisbeth , Ganz Melanie
Published: December 2021

Head motion is one of the major reasons for artefacts in Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), which is especially challenging for children who are often intimidated by the dimensions of the MR scanner. In order to optimise the MRI acquisition for children in the clinical setting, insights into children's motion patterns are essential. In this work, we analyse motion data from 61 paediatric patients. We compare structural MRI data of children imaged with and without general anaesthesia (GA), all scanned using the same hybrid PET/MR scanner. We analyse several metrics of motion based on the displacement relative to a reference, decompose the transformation matrix into translation and rotation, as well as investigate whether different regions in the brain are affected differently by the children's motion. Head motion for children without GA was significantly higher, with a median of the mean displacements of 2.19 ± 0.93 mm (median ± standard deviation) during 41.7±7.5 min scans; however, even anaesthetised children showed residual head motion (mean displacement of 1.12±0.35 mm). For both patient groups translation along the z-axis (along the scanner bore) was significantly larger in absolute terms (GA / no GA: 0.87±0.29/0.92 ± 0.49 mm) compared to the other directions. Considering directionality, both patient groups were moving in negative z-direction and thus, out of the scanner. The awake children additionally showed significantly more nodding rotation (0.33±0.20°). In future studies as well as in the clinical setting, these predominant types of motion need to be taken into consideration to limit artefacts and reduce re-scans due to poor image quality.
Local vs. Avatar Robot: Performance and Perceived Workload of Service Encounters in Public Space
Authors: Baba Jun , Song Sichao , Nakanishi Junya , Yoshikawa Yuichiro , Ishiguro Hiroshi
Published: December 2021

In recent years, the demand for remote services has increased with concerns regarding the spread of infectious diseases and employees’ quality of life. Many attempts have been made to enable store staff to provide various services remotely via avatars displayed to on-site customers. However, the workload required on the part of service staff by the emerging new work style of operating avatar robots remains a concern. No study has compared the performance and perceived workload of the same staff working locally versus remotely via an avatar. In this study, we conducted an experiment to identify differences between the performance of in-person services and remote work through an avatar robot in an actual public space. The results showed that there were significant differences in the partial performance between working via an avatar and working locally, and we could not find significant difference in the overall performance. On the other hand, the perceived workload was significantly lower when the avatar robot was used. We also found that customers reacted differently to the robots and to the in-person participants. In addition, the workload perceived by operators in the robotic task was correlated with their personality and experience. To the best of our knowledge, this study is the first investigation of both performance and workload in remote customer service through robotic avatars, and it has important implications for the implementation of avatar robots in service settings.
Sexual Risk Behaviors, HIV Prevalence and Access to Reproductive Health Services Among Young Women Migrant Workers in the Industrial Zones in Vietnam
Authors: Ha Toan , Schensul Stephen L. , Schensul Jean J. , Nguyen Trang , Nguyen Nam
Published: December 2021

Background: Young migrant workers working in the industrial zones (IZ) in low and middle-income countries are at risk for HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases. This study examines the sex-related risks of young women migrant workers in the IZ in Vietnam.

Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional survey was conducted among 1,061 young migrant women working in the IZ park in Hanoi, Vietnam. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to identify factors associated with HIV testing and condom use at last sex.

Results: A total of 1,061 young women migrant workers completed the survey in which 652 participants consented to take the initial rapid HIV test. All but one participant tested negative indicating a HIV prevalence of 150 (95% CI: 27–860) per 100,000 population among this population. There were no differences in sexual behavior, use of sexual and reproductive health services, HIV knowledge, perceived HIV risk or alcohol use between those who were HIV tested and those not tested. Single participants reported high rates of first sex while living in the IZ and high rates of condom use during the first-time sex, however, they had low levels of condom use at last sex. While the majority of married participants used the SRH/HIV services, nearly 80% of the single participants who reported having sex never used SRH/HIV services since living in the IZ. However, single participants were over 4 times more likely to use condoms at last sex compared to married participants (OR = 4.67; 95%CI = 2.96–7.85). Participants with vocational school or higher education was more likely to use condom (OR = 2.19; 95%CI = 1.05–4.57). Neither HIV knowledge or alcohol use were associated with condom use.

Conclusions: Although HIV prevalence is very low among young women workers in the IZ in Vietnam, a significant number of them engaged in risky sexual behavior and low levels of condom use at last sex as well as low level of using SRH/HIV services highlights a need to develop interventions that provide tailored-made and cultural appropriate SRH education for unmarried female migrant workers to prevent risky sexual behaviors, sexually transmitted diseases and unwanted pregnancy.
Tackling Noise Pollution With Slow Sound
Authors: Parnell William J. , Rowley William D. , Curati Naomi R. M.
Published: December 2021

Noise pollution can reduce the quality and even the length of our lives, causing around 12,000 early deaths in Europe each year. Devices called resonators can be used to reduce unwanted noise from engines and fans, by cancelling out sound waves. However, the sound waves of low-pitched noises are difficult to cancel because they are very big: sometimes as long as 17 m! To cancel such large sound waves would require an impractically large resonator. One solution to this problem is to make the resonator from a special class of material called a metamaterial. Metamaterials have specially designed structures that give them properties that are not found in ordinary materials. This article explains how we used mathematics to design a metamaterial that slows down sound waves. Slowing the sound allows us to use smaller resonators, so we can cancel lower-pitched noises than we can with ordinary materials.
Learning From Human Responses to Deconditioning Environments: Improved Understanding of the “Use It or Lose It” Principle
Authors: Hart David A.
Published: December 2021

Physical activity, mobility or patterned mobility (i.e., exercise) is intrinsic to the functioning of Homo sapiens, and required for maintenance of health. Thus, systems such as the musculoskeletal and cardiovascular systems appear to require constant reinforcement or conditioning to maintain integrity. Loss of conditioning or development of chronic deconditioning can have multiple consequences. The study of different types of deconditioning and their prevention or reversal can offer a number of clues to the regulation of these systems and point to how deconditioning poses risk for disease development and progression. From the study of deconditioning associated with spaceflight, a condition not predicted by evolution, prolonged bedrest, protracted sedentary behavior, as well as menopause and obesity and their consequences, provide a background to better understand human heterogeneity and how physical fitness may impact the risks for chronic conditions subsequent to the deconditioning. The effectiveness of optimized physical activity and exercise protocols likely depend on the nature of the deconditioning, the sex and genetics of the individual, whether one is addressing prevention of deconditioning-associated disease or disease-associated progression, and whether it is focused on acute or chronic deconditioning associated with different forms of deconditioning. While considerable research effort has gone into preventing deconditioning, the study of the process of deconditioning and its endpoints can provide clues to the regulation of the affected systems and their contributions to human heterogeneity that have been framed by the boundary conditions of Earth during evolution and the “use it or lose it” principle of regulation. Such information regarding heterogeneity that is elaborated by the study of deconditioning environments could enhance the effectiveness of individualized interventions to prevent deconditions or rescue those who have become deconditioned.
Discovery of Lijianmin-Chengkun Complexes and Their Oncological Application in Osseous and Intraarticular Lesions Around the Knee
Authors: Shao Xianhao , Li Jianmin , Zhang Ailin , Yao Yuan , Sun Feifei , Li Zhenzhong , Liu Tao , Hou Haiqing , Li Qiuyao , Li Zhenfeng , Gao Xiaofei , Yang Qiang , Li Yuchun , Li Ka , Cheng Kun
Published: December 2021

Objective: This research aims to refresh the limited understanding about the canal and vascular structures within the epiphysis and metaphysis of the tibia and femur and their oncological significance.

Methods: This study was started with characterization of a novel structure using radiographs and anatomic dissections, followed by a descriptive clinical study with 55 participants to investigate the effects of tumors on this novel discovery and a retrospective cohort study with 82 participants to investigate whether the structure would be a risk factor for tumor recurrence after the curettage of giant cell tumor of bone.

Results: A new anatomical knee structure, the Lijianmin-Chengkun (LC) complex, was discovered in healthy adults, and its clinical implications were examined in this study. This new-found anatomical structure is composed of an epiphyseal and metaphyseal canal which surrounds a blood vessel, foramen, and foramen-covered synovium. All LC complexes showed similar radiographical, anatomical, and histological characteristics and were located within specific tibial and femoral intercondylar regions. These LC complexes seem to facilitate tumor residue and extension and may be a risk factor for tumor recurrence after curettage of femoral and tibial giant cell tumors (P = 0.031).

Conclusion: The LC complexes are related to local tumor recurrence and bidirectional tumor dissemination between intraosseous and intraarticular regions. These findings have opened up a new perspective and may provide new targets for intervention in malignant and aggressive tumors around the knee joint.
A Nomogram Based on Clinicopathological and Ultrasound Imaging Characteristics for Predicting Cervical Lymph Node Metastasis in cN0 Unilateral Papillary Thyroid Microcarcinoma
Authors: Zhang Lina , Ling Yuwei , Zhao Ye , Li Kaifu , Zhao Jing , Kang Hua
Published: December 2021

Objective: The aim of this study was to establish a practical nomogram for preoperatively predicting the possibility of cervical lymph node metastasis (CLNM) based on clinicopathological and ultrasound (US) imaging characteristics in patients with clinically node-negative (cN0) unilateral papillary thyroid microcarcinoma (PTMC) in order to determine a personal surgical volume and therapeutic strategy.

Methods: A total of 269 consecutive patients diagnosed with cN0 unilateral PTMC by postoperative pathological examination from January 2018 to December 2020 were retrospectively analyzed. All the patients underwent lobectomy or thyroidectomy with routine prophylactic central lymph node dissection (CLND) and were divided into a CLNM group and a non-CLNM group. Using logistic regression, the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) regression analysis was applied to determine the risk factors for CLNM in patients with unilateral cN0 PTMC. A nomogram including risk-factor screening using LASSO regression for predicting the CLNM in patients with cN0 unilateral PTMC was further developed and validated.

Results: Risk factors identified by LASSO regression, including age, sex, tumor size, presence of extrathyroidal extension (ETE), tumor diameter/lobe thickness (D/T), tumor location, and coexistent benign lesions, were potential predictors for CLNM in patients with cN0 unilateral PTMC. Meanwhile, age (odds ratio [OR] = 0.261, 95% CI.104–0.605; P = 0.003), sex (men: OR = 3.866; 95% CI 1.758–8.880; P < 0.001), ETE (OR = 3.821; 95% CI 1.168–13.861; P = 0.032), D/T (OR = 72.411; 95% CI 5.483–1212.497; P < 0.001), and coexistent benign lesions (OR = 3.112 95% CI 1.407–7.303; P = 0.007) were shown to be significantly related to CLNM by multivariant logistic regression. A nomogram for predicting CLNM in patients with cN0 unilateral PTMC was established based on the risk factors identified by the LASSO regression analysis. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve for predicting CLNM by nomogram showed that the area under the curve (AUC) was 0.777 and exhibited an excellent consistency.

Conclusions: A nomogram based on clinical and US imaging characteristics for predicting the probability of CLNM in patients with cN0 unilateral PTMC was developed, which showed a favorable predictive value and consistency. Further prospective research to observe the oncological outcomes is necessary to determine whether the nomogram could potentially guide a personalized surgical volume and surgical approach.
CAvant® WO-60 as an Effective Immunological Adjuvant for Avian Influenza and Newcastle Disease Vaccine
Authors: Lee Eun-Seo , Shim Young-Jung , Chathuranga W. A. Gayan , Ahn Young-Hoon , Yoon In-Joong , Yoo Sung-Sik , Lee Jong-Soo
Published: December 2021

Despite the immunogenicity of vaccines currently used in poultry, several pathogens, including avian influenza virus (AIV) and Newcastle disease virus (NDV), cause enormous economic losses to the global poultry industry. The efficacy of vaccines can be improved by the introduction of effective adjuvants. This study evaluated a novel water-in-oil emulsion adjuvant, CAvant® WO-60, which effectively enhanced both the immunogenicity of conserved influenza antigen sM2HA2 and inactivated whole H9N2 antigen (iH9N2). CAvant® WO-60 induced both humoral and cell-mediated immunity in mice and provided 100% protection from challenge with 10 LD50 of A/Aquatic bird/Korea/W81/2005 (H5N2) and A/Chicken/Korea/116/2004 (H9N2) AIV. Importantly, immunization of chickens with iH9N2 plus inactivated NDV LaSota (iNDV) bivalent inactivated vaccine emulsified in CAvant® WO-60 induced seroprotective levels of antigen-specific antibody responses. Taken together, these results suggested that CAvant® WO-60 is a promising adjuvant for poultry vaccines.
Risk-Factors for Soft-Tissue Injuries, Lacerations and Fractures During Racing in Greyhounds in New Zealand
Authors: Palmer Anna L. , Rogers Chris W. , Stafford Kevin J. , Gal Arnon , Bolwell Charlotte F.
Published: December 2021

Recognition of injuries in racing animals is essential to identify potential risk factors so actions can be taken to reduce or mitigate the cause of the injury to safeguard the animal. Racing greyhounds are subject to musculoskeletal injuries associated with athletic pursuit, in particular soft-tissue injuries, lacerations, and fractures. The objective of this study was therefore to determine risk factors for soft-tissue injuries, lacerations and fractures occurring during racing, using a cohort of greyhounds racing in New Zealand between 10th September 2014 and 31st July 2020. Dog-level, race-level and track-level risk factors for each outcome were assessed using mixed-effects multivariable logistic regression including trainer as a random effect. Throughout the study period there were 218,700 race starts by 4,914 greyhounds, with a total of 4,385 injuries. Of these, 3,067 (69.94%) were classed as soft-tissue injuries, 641 (14.62%) were reported as lacerations, and 458 (10.44%) were fractures. Greyhounds with a low racing frequency (racing more than 7 days apart) had 1.33 [95% confidence interval (CI): 1.06–1.67] times the odds of fracture compared to those racing more frequently. Older greyhounds had a greater odds of fracture compared with younger greyhounds. Racing every 7 days had a lower odds of soft-tissue injury compared with racing more than once a week. Dogs over 39 months had 1.53 (95% CI: 1.35–1.73) times the odds of sustaining a soft-tissue injury compared to the younger dogs. Greyhounds originating from Australia had a higher odds of fracture and laceration compared with New Zealand dogs. Better performing dogs (higher class) had a greater odds of fracture and laceration whilst maiden dogs had a higher odds of soft-tissue injury. Greyhounds starting from the outside box had a higher odds of fracture. There was considerable variation in the odds of soft-tissue injury at different racetracks. In conclusion, although the incidence of soft-tissue injuries was higher than other injury types, the repercussion of such injuries was less than those for fractures. The results from this study will help to inform intervention strategies aimed at reducing the rate of injuries in racing greyhounds, enhancing racing safety and greyhound welfare.
Implication of ARID1A Undercurrents and PDL1, TP53 Overexpression in Advanced Gastric Cancer
Authors: Qadir Jasiya , Majid Sabhiya , Khan Mosin Saleem , Rashid Fouzia , Wani Mumtaz Din , Bhat Showkat Ahmad
Published: December 2021

AT-rich interactive domain-containing protein 1A (ARID1A), TP53 and programmed cell death-ligand 1 (PDL1) are involved in several protein interactions that regulate the expression of various cancer-related genes involved in the progression of the cell cycle, cell proliferation, DNA repair, and apoptosis. In addition, gene expression analysis identified some common downstream targets of ARID1A and TP53. It has been established that tumors formed by ARID1A-deficient cancer cells exhibited elevated PDL1 expression. However, the aberrations in these molecules have not been studied in this population especially in Gastric Cancer (GC). In this backdrop we aimed to investigate the role of the ARID1A mutation and expression of ARID1A, TP53 and PDL1 genes in the etiopathogenesis of Gastric Cancer (GC) in the ethnic Kashmiri population (North India). The study included 103 histologically confirmed GC cases. The mutations, if any, in exon-9 of ARID1A gene was analysed by Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) followed by Sanger sequencing. The mRNA expression of the ARID1A, TP53 and PDL1 genes was analysed by Quantitative real time-PCR (qRT-PCR). We identified a nonsense mutation (c.3219; C > T) in exon-9 among two GC patients (∼2.0%), which introduces a premature stop codon at protein position 1073. The mRNA expression of the ARID1A, TP53 and PDL1 gene was significantly reduced in 25.3% and elevated in 47.6 and 39.8% of GC cases respectively with a mean fold change of 0.63, 2.93 and 2.43. The data revealed that reduced mRNA expression of ARID1A and elevated mRNA expression of TP53 and PDL1 was significantly associated with the high-grade and advanced stage of cancer. Our study proposes that ARAD1A under-expression and overexpression of TP53 and PDL1 might be crucial for tumor progression with TP53 and PDL1 acting synergistically.
Computational Interaction Analysis of Sirex noctilio Odorant-Binding Protein (SnocOBP7) Combined with Female Sex Pheromones and Symbiotic Fungal Volatiles
Authors: Li Yi-Ni , Hao En-Hua , Li Han , Yuan Xiao-Hui , Lu Peng-Fei , Qiao Hai-Li
Published: December 2021

Sirex noctilio, a major forestry quarantine pest, has spread rapidly and caused serious harm. However, existing methods still need to be improved because its olfactory interaction mechanisms are poorly understood. In order to study the role of male-specific protein SnocOBP7 in the protein–ligand interactions, we selected it as the object of computational simulation and analysis. By docking it with 11 ligands and evaluating free binding energy decomposition, the three best binding ligands were found to be female sex pheromones ((Z)-7-heptacosene and (Z)-7-nonacosene) and symbiotic fungal volatiles ((−)-globulol). Binding mode analysis and computational alanine scanning suggested that five residues play key roles in the binding of each female sex pheromone to SnocOBP7, whereas two residues play key roles in (−)-globulol binding. Phe108 and Leu36 may be the crucial sites via which SnocOBP7 binds female sex pheromones, whereas Met40 may regulate the courtship behavior of males, and Leu61 may be related to mating and host finding. Our studies predicted the function of SnocOBP7 and found that the interaction between SnocOBP7 and pheromone is a complex process, and we successfully predicted its binding key amino-acid sites, providing a basis for the development of new prevention and control methods relying on female sex pheromones and symbiotic fungi.
Hematological and Biochemical Reference Values in Healthy Captive Tigers (Panthera tigris)
Authors: Proverbio Daniela , Perego Roberta , Baggiani Luciana , Ravasio Giuliano , Giambellini Daniela , Spada Eva
Published: December 2021

The tiger (Panthera tigris) is an endangered species. The health of individuals is important and any data on hematological and biochemical blood values can provide valuable information; when combined with physical assessment. This data assists in both the diagnosis of disease and some conservation strategies. The behavior of wild tigers makes it is extremely difficult to obtain biological samples from free-living subjects, therefore, data collected from captive tigers is highly valuable. The aim of this study was to provide additional information for the values of hematological and serum biochemical parameters in healthy captive tigers. Blood samples were collected from 22 clinically healthy tigers (Panthera tigris). The following parameters were analyzed: glucose, urea, creatinine, alanine aminotransferase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), total protein (TP) and red blood cells (RBCs), hemoglobin (Hb), hematocrit (Hct) and red cell indices; such as mean cell volume (MCV), mean cell Hb (MCH), mean cell Hb concentration (MCHC), platelet (PLT) and white blood cells (WBCs). The mean hematological values in our tiger population were not significantly different when compared with the same parameters in the previously studied tiger population. The mean values of RBCs and PLT were statistically significantly higher and the mean values of Hb, PCV, MCV, MCH, MCHC, and WBC were lower than the mean values obtained in previous studies on the Amur tiger. Further investigation of captive and free-living tigers is needed to identify the normal ranges for parameters in this endangered species.
Clonal Dissemination of Plasmid-Mediated Carbapenem and Colistin Resistance in Refugees Living in Overcrowded Camps in North Lebanon
Authors: Azour Adel , Al-Bayssari Charbel , Dagher Tania Nawfal , Fajloun Faraj , Fajloun Mark , Rolain Jean-Marc
Published: December 2021

Carbapenem and colistin-resistant bacteria represent a global public health problem. Refugees carrying these bacteria and living in inadequate shelters can spread these microorganisms. The aim of this study was to investigate the intestinal carriage of these bacteria in Syrian refugees in Lebanon. Between June and July 2019, 250 rectal swabs were collected from two refugee camps in North Lebanon. Swabs were cultured on different selective media. Antibiotic susceptibility testing was performed using the disk diffusion method. Carbapenemase-encoding genes and mcr genes were investigated using real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and standard polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Epidemiological relatedness was studied using multilocus sequence typing (MLST). From 250 rectal swabs, 16 carbapenem-resistant, 5 colistin-resistant, and 4 colistin and carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae were isolated. The isolates exhibited multidrug-resistant phenotypes. Seven Klebsiella pneumoniae isolates harboured the blaOXA-48 gene, and in addition four K. pneumoniae had mutations in the two component systems pmrA/pmrB, phoP/phoQ and co-harboured the blaNDM-1 gene. Moreover, the blaNDM-1 gene was detected in six Escherichia coli and three Enterobacter cloacae isolates. The remaining five E. coli isolates harboured the mcr-1 gene. MLST results showed several sequence types, with a remarkable clonal dissemination. An urgent strategy needs to be adopted in order to avoid the spread of such resistance in highly crowded underserved communities.
Two Birds One Stone: The Neuroprotective Effect of Antidiabetic Agents on Parkinson Disease—Focus on Sodium-Glucose Cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) Inhibitors
Authors: Lin Kai-Jung , Wang Tzu-Jou , Chen Shang-Der , Lin Kai-Lieh , Liou Chia-Wei , Lan Min-Yu , Chuang Yao-Chung , Chuang Jiin-Haur , Wang Pei-Wen , Lee Jong-Jer , Wang Feng-Sheng , Lin Hung-Yu , Lin Tsu-Kung
Published: December 2021

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is the second most common neurodegenerative disease after Alzheimer’s disease affecting more than 1% of the population over 65 years old. The etiology of the disease is unknown and there are only symptomatic managements available with no known disease-modifying treatment. Aging, genes, and environmental factors contribute to PD development and key players involved in the pathophysiology of the disease include oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction, autophagic–lysosomal imbalance, and neuroinflammation. Recent epidemiology studies have shown that type-2 diabetes (T2DM) not only increased the risk for PD, but also is associated with PD clinical severity. A higher rate of insulin resistance has been reported in PD patients and is suggested to be a pathologic driver in this disease. Oral diabetic drugs including sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors, glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists, and dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4) inhibitors have been shown to provide neuroprotective effects in both PD patients and experimental models; additionally, antidiabetic drugs have been demonstrated to lower incidence rates of PD in DM patients. Among these, the most recently developed drugs, SGLT2 inhibitors may provide neuroprotective effects through improving mitochondrial function and antioxidative effects. In this article, we will discuss the involvement of mitochondrial-related oxidative stress in the development of PD and potential benefits provided by antidiabetic agents especially focusing on sglt2 inhibitors.
Comparison of the Biological Potential and Chemical Composition of Brazilian and Mexican Propolis
Authors: Silva-Beltrán Norma Patricia , Umsza-Guez Marcelo Andrés , Ramos Rodrigues Daniela Méria , Gálvez-Ruiz Juan Carlos , de Paula Castro Thiago Luiz , Balderrama-Carmona Ana Paola
Published: December 2021

Propolis is a resinous substance collected by bees from plants and its natural product is available as a safe therapeutic option easily administered orally and readily available as a natural supplement and functional food. In this work, we review the most recent scientific evidence involving propolis from two countries (Brazil and Mexico) located in different hemispheres and with varied biomes. Brazil has a scientifically well documented classification of different types of propolis. Although propolis from Brazil and Mexico present varied compositions, they share compounds with recognized biological activities in different extraction processes. Gram-negative bacteria growth is inhibited with lower concentrations of different types of propolis extracts, regardless of origin. Prominent biological activities against cancer cells and fungi were verified in the different types of extracts evaluated. Antiprotozoal activity needs to be further evaluated for propolis of both origins. Regarding the contamination of propolis (e.g., pesticides, toxic metals), few studies have been carried out. However, there is evidence of chemical contamination in propolis by anthropological action. Studies demonstrate the versatility of using propolis in its different forms (extracts, products, etc.), but several potential applications that might improve the value of Brazilian and Mexican propolis should still be investigated.
Understanding Horizon 2020 Data: A Knowledge Graph-Based Approach
Authors: Giarelis Nikolaos , Karacapilidis Nikos
Published: December 2021

This paper aims to meaningfully analyse the Horizon 2020 data existing in the CORDIS repository of EU, and accordingly offer evidence and insights to aid organizations in the formulation of consortia that will prepare and submit winning research proposals to forthcoming calls. The analysis is performed on aggregated data concerning 32,090 funded projects, 34,295 organizations participated in them, and 87,067 public deliverables produced. The modelling of data is performed through a knowledge graph-based approach, aiming to semantically capture existing relationships and reveal hidden information. The main contribution of this work lies in the proper utilization and orchestration of keyphrase extraction and named entity recognition models, together with meaningful graph analytics on top of an efficient graph database. The proposed approach enables users to ask complex questions about the interconnection of various entities related to previously funded research projects. A set of representative queries demonstrating our data representation and analysis approach are given at the end of the paper.
Classifying Multivariate Signals in Rolling Bearing Fault Detection Using Adaptive Wide-Kernel CNNs
Authors: van den Hoogen Jurgen , Bloemheuvel Stefan , Atzmueller Martin
Published: December 2021

With the developments in improved computation power and the vast amount of (automatic) data collection, industry has become more data-driven. These data-driven approaches for monitoring processes and machinery require different modeling methods focusing on automated learning and deployment. In this context, deep learning provides possibilities for industrial diagnostics to achieve improved performance and efficiency. These deep learning applications can be used to automatically extract features during training, eliminating time-consuming feature engineering and prior understanding of sophisticated (signal) processing techniques. This paper extends on previous work, introducing one-dimensional (1D) CNN architectures that utilize an adaptive wide-kernel layer to improve classification of multivariate signals, e.g., time series classification in fault detection and condition monitoring context. We used multiple prominent benchmark datasets for rolling bearing fault detection to determine the performance of the proposed wide-kernel CNN architectures in different settings. For example, distinctive experimental conditions were tested with deviating amounts of training data. We shed light on the performance of these models compared to traditional machine learning applications and explain different approaches to handle multivariate signals with deep learning. Our proposed models show promising results for classifying different fault conditions of rolling bearing elements and their respective machine condition, while using a fairly straightforward 1D CNN architecture with minimal data preprocessing. Thus, using a 1D CNN with an adaptive wide-kernel layer seems well-suited for fault detection and condition monitoring. In addition, this paper clearly indicates the high potential performance of deep learning compared to traditional machine learning, particularly in complex multivariate and multi-class classification tasks.
Comprehensive Assessment of the Dynamics of Banana Chilling Injury by Advanced Optical Techniques
Authors: Herppich Werner B. , Zsom Tamás
Published: December 2021

Green-ripe banana fruit are sensitive to chilling injury (CI) and, thus, prone to postharvest quality losses. Early detection of CI facilitates quality maintenance and extends shelf life. CI affects all metabolic levels, with membranes and, consequently, photosynthesis being primary targets. Optical techniques such as chlorophyll a fluorescence analysis (CFA) and spectroscopy are promising tools to evaluate CI effects in photosynthetically active produce. Results obtained on bananas are, however, largely equivocal. This results from the lack of a rigorous evaluation of chilling impacts on the various aspects of photosynthesis. Continuous and modulated CFA and imaging (CFI), and VIS remission spectroscopy (VRS) were concomitantly applied to noninvasively and comprehensively monitor photosynthetically relevant effects of low temperatures (5 °C, 10 °C, 11.5 °C and 13 °C). Detailed analyses of chilling-related variations in photosynthetic activity and photoprotection, and in contents of relevant pigments in green-ripe bananas, helped to better understand the physiological changes occurring during CI, highlighting that distinct CFA and VRS parameters comprehensively reflect various effects of chilling on fruit photosynthesis. They revealed why not all CFA parameters can be applied meaningfully for early detection of chilling effects. This study provides relevant requisites for improving CI monitoring and prediction.
An Integrated Study of Water Weakening and Fluid Rock Interaction Processes in Porous Rocks: Linking Mechanical Behavior to Surface Properties
Authors: Geremia Davide , David Christian , Ismail Rachid , El Haitami Alae
Published: December 2021

We investigated the impact of water weakening on the mechanical behavior of Obourg Chalk and Ciply Chalk (Mons Basin, Belgium). Different mechanical tests were conducted to estimate the unconfined compressive strength (UCS), tensile strength, Young’s modulus, mechanical strength under triaxial loading, critical pressure, fracture toughness, cohesion, and internal friction coefficient on samples either dry or saturated with water or brine. This extensive dataset allowed us to calculate wet-to-dry ratios (WDR), i.e., the ratio between any property for a dry sample to that for the water-saturated sample. For both chalks, we found that water has a strong weakening effect with WDR ranging from 0.4 to 0.75. Ciply Chalk exhibits more water weakening than Obourg Chalk. The highest water weakening effect was obtained for UCS, critical pressure, and Young’s modulus. Weakening effects are still present in brine-saturated samples but their magnitude depends on the fluid composition. The mechanical data were correlated to variations in surface energy derived from three different methods: fracture mechanics, contact angle goniometry, and atomic force microscopy. Water weakening in the tested chalks can be explained by a clear reduction in surface energy and by the existence of repulsive forces which lower the cohesion.
Effective Capacity Analysis of NOMA Networks with Short Packets
Authors: Zhang Xiurong , Yue Xinwei , Kang Shaoli
Published: December 2021

Low latency and a massive connection have become the requirements of energy internet wireless communication. Effective capacity analysis of non-orthogonal multiple access (NOMA) networks with short packets is of vital importance in energy internet communication planning and design. Low-latency communications are one of the main application scenarios in next-generation wireless networks. This paper focuses on the effective capacity of NOMA networks, where the finite blocklength, delay exponent, and transmission error probability are taken into account. New exact and asymptotic expressions of effective capacities are derived for arbitrarily ordered users with a finite blocklength. Based on the analytical results, the high Signal-to-Noise Ratio slopes of effective capacity in NOMA networks are carefully attained. The numerical results validate that (a) non-orthogonal users are capable of obtaining a larger effective capacity when the blocklength decreases, and that (b), as the value of the error probability and delay exponent increases, the effective capacity of non-orthogonal users worsens.
Expediting Finite Element Analyses for Subject-Specific Studies of Knee Osteoarthritis: A Literature Review
Authors: Paz Alexander , Orozco Gustavo A. , Korhonen Rami K. , García José J. , Mononen Mika E.
Published: December 2021

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a degenerative disease that affects the synovial joints, especially the knee joint, diminishing the ability of patients to perform daily physical activities. Unfortunately, there is no cure for this nearly irreversible musculoskeletal disorder. Nowadays, many researchers aim for in silico-based methods to simulate personalized risks for the onset and progression of OA and evaluate the effects of different conservative preventative actions. Finite element analysis (FEA) has been considered a promising method to be developed for knee OA management. The FEA pipeline consists of three well-established phases: pre-processing, processing, and post-processing. Currently, these phases are time-consuming, making the FEA workflow cumbersome for the clinical environment. Hence, in this narrative review, we overviewed present-day trends towards clinical methods for subject-specific knee OA studies utilizing FEA. We reviewed studies focused on understanding mechanisms that initiate knee OA and expediting the FEA workflow applied to the whole-organ level. Based on the current trends we observed, we believe that forthcoming knee FEAs will provide nearly real-time predictions for the personalized risk of developing knee OA. These analyses will integrate subject-specific geometries, loading conditions, and estimations of local tissue mechanical properties. This will be achieved by combining state-of-the-art FEA workflows with automated approaches aided by machine learning techniques.
PGPB Improve Photosynthetic Activity and Tolerance to Oxidative Stress in Brassica napus Grown on Salinized Soils
Authors: Rossi Massimiliano , Borromeo Ilaria , Capo Concetta , Glick Bernard R. , Del Gallo Maddalena , Pietrini Fabrizio , Forni Cinzia
Published: December 2021

Soil salinization, one of the most common causes of soil degradation, negatively affects plant growth, reproduction, and yield in plants. Saline conditions elicit some physiological changes to cope with the imposed osmotic and oxidative stresses. Inoculation of plants with some bacterial species that stimulate their growth, i.e., plant growth-promoting bacteria (PGPB), may help plants to counteract saline stress, thus improving the plant’s fitness. This manuscript reports the effects of the inoculation of a salt-sensitive cultivar of Brassica napus (canola) with five different PGPB species (separately), i.e., Azospirillum brasilense, Arthrobacter globiformis, Burkholderia ambifaria, Herbaspirillum seropedicae, and Pseudomonas sp. on plant salt stress physiological responses. The seeds were sown in saline soil (8 dS/m) and inoculated with bacterial suspensions. Seedlings were grown to the phenological stage of rosetta, when morphological and physiological features were determined. In the presence of the above-mentioned PGPB, salt exposed canola plants grew better than non-inoculated controls. The water loss was reduced in inoculated plants under saline conditions, due to a low level of membrane damage and the enhanced synthesis of the osmolyte proline, the latter depending on the bacterial strain inoculated. The reduction in membrane damage was also due to the increased antioxidant activity (i.e., higher amount of phenolic compounds, enhanced superoxide dismutase, and ascorbate peroxidase activities) in salt-stressed and inoculated Brassica napus. Furthermore, the salt-stressed and inoculated plants did not show detrimental effects to their photosynthetic apparatus, i.e., higher efficiency of PSII and low energy dissipation by heat for photosynthesis were detected. The improvement of the response to salt stress provided by PGPB paves the way to further use of PGPB as inoculants of plants grown in saline soils.
Deep Learning-Based Community Detection Approach on Multimedia Social Networks
Authors: Ferraro Antonino , Moscato Vincenzo , Sperlì Giancarlo
Published: December 2021

Exploiting multimedia data to analyze social networks has recently become one the most challenging issues for Social Network Analysis (SNA), leading to defining Multimedia Social Networks (MSNs). In particular, these networks consider new ways of interaction and further relationships among users to support various SNA tasks: influence analysis, expert finding, community identification, item recommendation, and so on. In this paper, we present a hypergraph-based data model to represent all the different types of relationships among users within an MSN, often mediated by multimedia data. In particular, by considering only user-to-user paths that exploit particular hyperarcs and relevant to a given application, we were able to transform the initial hypergraph into a proper adjacency matrix, where each element represents the strength of the link between two users. This matrix was then computed in a novel way through a Convolutional Neural Network (CNN), suitably modified to handle high data sparsity, in order to generate communities among users. Several experiments on standard datasets showed the effectiveness of the proposed methodology compared to other approaches in the literature.
A Survey of Structure of Atmospheric Turbulence in Atmosphere and Related Turbulent Effects
Authors: Wang Fazhi , Du Wenhe , Yuan Qi , Liu Daosen , Feng Shuang
Published: December 2021

The Earth’s atmosphere is the living environment in which we live and cannot escape. Atmospheric turbulence is a typical random inhomogeneous medium, which causes random fluctuations of both the amplitude and phase of optical wave propagating through it. Currently, it is widely accepted that there exists two kinds of turbulence in the aerosphere: one is Kolmogorov turbulence, and the other is non-Kolmogorov turbulence, which have been confirmed by both increasing experimental evidence and theoretical investigations. The results of atmospheric measurements have shown that the structure of atmospheric turbulence in the Earth’s atmosphere is composed of Kolmogorov turbulence at lower levels and non-Kolmogorov turbulence at higher levels. Since the time of Newton, people began to study optical wave propagation in atmospheric turbulence. In the early stage, optical wave propagation in Kolmogorov atmospheric turbulence was mainly studied and then optical wave propagation in non-Kolmogorov atmospheric turbulence was also studied. After more than half a century of efforts, the study of optical wave propagation in atmospheric turbulence has made great progress, and the theoretical results are also used to guide practical applications. On this basis, we summarize the development status and latest progress of propagation theory in atmospheric turbulence, mainly including propagation theory in conventional Kolmogorov turbulence and one in non-Kolmogorov atmospheric turbulence. In addition, the combined influence of Kolmogorov and non-Kolmogorov turbulence in Earth’s atmosphere on optical wave propagation is also summarized. This timely summary is very necessary and is of great significance for various applications and development in the aerospace field, where the Earth’s atmosphere is one part of many links.