bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The current state of artificial intelligence-augmented digitized neurocognitive screening test
Authors: Sirilertmekasakul Chananchida , Rattanawong Wanakorn , Gongvatana Assawin , Srikiatkhachorn Anan
Published: March 2023

The cognitive screening test is a brief cognitive examination that could be easily performed in a clinical setting. However, one of the main drawbacks of this test was that only a paper-based version was available, which restricts the test to be manually administered and graded by medical personnel at the health centers. The main solution to these problems was to develop a potential remote assessment for screening individuals with cognitive impairment. Currently, multiple studies have been adopting artificial intelligence (AI) technology into these tests, evolving the conventional paper-based neurocognitive test into a digitized AI-assisted neurocognitive test. These studies provided credible evidence of the potential of AI-augmented cognitive screening tests to be better and provided the framework for future studies to further improve the implementation of AI technology in the cognitive screening test. The objective of this review article is to discuss different types of AI used in digitized cognitive screening tests and their advantages and disadvantages.
Review of public motor imagery and execution datasets in brain-computer interfaces
Authors: Gwon Daeun , Won Kyungho , Song Minseok , Nam Chang S. , Jun Sung Chan , Ahn Minkyu
Published: March 2023

The demand for public datasets has increased as data-driven methodologies have been introduced in the field of brain-computer interfaces (BCIs). Indeed, many BCI datasets are available in various platforms or repositories on the web, and the studies that have employed these datasets appear to be increasing. Motor imagery is one of the significant control paradigms in the BCI field, and many datasets related to motor tasks are open to the public already. However, to the best of our knowledge, these studies have yet to investigate and evaluate the datasets, although data quality is essential for reliable results and the design of subject− or system-independent BCIs. In this study, we conducted a thorough investigation of motor imagery/execution EEG datasets recorded from healthy participants published over the past 13 years. The 25 datasets were collected from six repositories and subjected to a meta-analysis. In particular, we reviewed the specifications of the recording settings and experimental design, and evaluated the data quality measured by classification accuracy from standard algorithms such as Common Spatial Pattern (CSP) and Linear Discriminant Analysis (LDA) for comparison and compatibility across the datasets. As a result, we found that various stimulation types, such as text, figure, or arrow, were used to instruct subjects what to imagine and the length of each trial also differed, ranging from 2.5 to 29 s with a mean of 9.8 s. Typically, each trial consisted of multiple sections: pre-rest (2.38 s), imagination ready (1.64 s), imagination (4.26 s, ranging from 1 to 10 s), the post-rest (3.38 s). In a meta-analysis of the total of 861 sessions from all datasets, the mean classification accuracy of the two-class (left-hand vs. right-hand motor imagery) problem was 66.53%, and the population of the BCI poor performers, those who are unable to reach proficiency in using a BCI system, was 36.27% according to the estimated accuracy distribution. Further, we analyzed the CSP features and found that each dataset forms a cluster, and some datasets overlap in the feature space, indicating a greater similarity among them. Finally, we checked the minimal essential information (continuous signals, event type/latency, and channel information) that should be included in the datasets for convenient use, and found that only 71% of the datasets met those criteria. Our attempts to evaluate and compare the public datasets are timely, and these results will contribute to understanding the dataset’s quality and recording settings as well as the use of using public datasets for future work on BCIs.
Evaluating the effect of R-Baclofen and LP-211 on autistic behavior of the BTBR and Fmr1-KO mouse models
Authors: Sharghi Shirin , Flunkert Stefanie , Daurer Magdalena , Rabl Roland , Chagnaud Boris Philippe , Leopoldo Marcello , Lacivita Enza , Hutter-Paier Birgit , Prokesch Manuela
Published: March 2023

Introduction

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a persistent neurodevelopmental condition characterized by two core behavioral symptoms: impaired social communication and interaction, as well as stereotypic, repetitive behavior. No distinct cause of ASD is known so far; however, excitatory/inhibitory imbalance and a disturbed serotoninergic transmission have been identified as prominent candidates responsible for ASD etiology.

Methods

The GABAB receptor agonist R-Baclofen and the selective agonist for the 5HT7 serotonin receptor LP-211 have been reported to correct social deficits and repetitive behaviors in mouse models of ASD. To evaluate the efficacy of these compounds in more details, we treated BTBR T+ Itpr3tf/J and B6.129P2-Fmr1tm1Cgr/J mice acutely with R-Baclofen or LP-211 and evaluated the behavior of animals in a series of tests.

Results

BTBR mice showed motor deficits, elevated anxiety, and highly repetitive behavior of self-grooming. Fmr1-KO mice exhibited decreased anxiety and hyperactivity. Additionally, Fmr1-KO mice’s ultrasonic vocalizations were impaired suggesting a reduced social interest and communication of this strain. Acute LP-211 administration did not affect the behavioral abnormalities observed in BTBR mice but improved repetitive behavior in Fmr1-KO mice and showed a trend to change anxiety of this strain. Acute R-Baclofen treatment improved repetitive behavior only in Fmr1-KO mice.

Conclusion

Our results add value to the current available data on these mouse models and the respective compounds. Yet, additional studies are needed to further test R-Baclofen and LP-211 as potential treatments for ASD therapy.
Nutritional supplements improve cardiovascular risk factors in overweight and obese patients: A Bayesian network meta-analysis
Authors: Yu Zengli , Zhao Danyang , Liu Xinxin
Published: March 2023

Background

Overweight and obesity are considered as one of the major risk factors for cardiovascular diseases (CVD). At present, many studies have proved that multiple nutritional supplements play an active role in metabolic diseases. However, the comparative efficacy of different nutritional supplements in improving indicators of cardiometabolic risk in obese and overweight patients is uncertain.

Methods

Cochrane Library, PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science were searched for the period from January 1990 to March 2022. A random-effect model was built in the Bayesian network meta-analysis. The surface under the cumulative ranking analysis (SUCRA) and clustering rank analysis was performed for ranking the effects.

Results

The study included 65 RCTs with 4,241 patients. In terms of glucose control, probiotic was more conductive to improve FBG (MD: −0.90; 95%CrI: −1.41 to −0.38), FINS (MD: −2.05; 95%CrI: −4.27 to −0.02), HOMA-IR (MD: −2.59; 95%CI −3.42 to −1.76). Probiotic (MD: −11.15, 95%CrI −22.16 to −1.26), omega-3 (MD: −9.45; 95%CrI: −20.69 to −0.93), VD (MD: −17.86; 95%CrI: −35.53 to −0.27), and probiotic +omega-3 (MD: 5.24; 95%CrI: 0.78 to 9.63) were beneficial to the improvement of TGs, TC and HDL-C, respectively. The SUCRA revealed that probiotic might be the best intervention to reduce FBG, FINS, HOMA-IR; Simultaneously, α-lipoic acid, VD, and probiotic + omega-3 might be the best intervention to improve TGs, TC, and HDL-C, respectively. Cluster-rank results revealed probiotic had the best comprehensive improvement effect on glucose metabolism, and probiotic + omega-3 may have a better comprehensive improvement effect on lipid metabolism (cluster-rank value for FBG and FINS: 3290.50 and for TGs and HDL-C: 2117.61).

Conclusion

Nutritional supplementation is effective on CVD risk factors in overweight and obese patients. Probiotic supplementation might be the best intervention for blood glucose control; VD, probiotic + omega-3 have a better impact on improving lipid metabolism. Further studies are required to verify the current findings.
Comprehensive analysis reveals CCDC60 as a potential biomarker correlated with prognosis and immune infiltration of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma
Authors: Liu Zhixin , Chen Shuai , Jia Wenming , Qian Ye , Yang Xiaoqi , Zhang Minfa , Fang Tianhe , Liu Heng
Published: March 2023

Background

Coiled-coil domain containing 60 (CCDC60) is a member of the CCDC family, which participates in the progression of many types of cancer. However, the prognostic value of CCDC60 in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSC) and its function in tumor immunity remain unclear.

Methods

CCDC60 expression and its prognostic potential in HNSC were evaluated by bioinformatics approaches, which was validated in human HNSC samples. Genetic alteration analysis of CCDC60 and the underlying biological function of CCDC60 related co-expressed genes in HNSC were analyzed. The impact of CCDC60 on the regulation of immune infiltration in HNSC was comprehensively investigated. In vitro, a series of functional assays on CCDC60 were performed in HNSC cells.

Results

Our study has indicated that compared with the adjacent normal tissues, CCDC60 expression was considerably downregulated in HNSC tissues. High CCDC60 expression was connected with favorable outcome of HNSC patients, and its prognostic significance was examined by distinct clinical characteristics. We identified the CCDC60-related co-expression genes, which were mainly enriched in the NOD-like receptor signaling pathway associated with the inhibition of tumor growth, leading to a better prognosis of HNSC patients. In vitro, CCDC60 overexpression significantly inhibited the growth, migration and invasiveness but regulated cell cycle progression, and promoted cell adhesion of Fadu and Cal27 cells. Additionally, high CCDC60 expression had strong connections with the infiltrating levels of immune cells, immune marker sets, immunomodulators and chemokines in HNSC, suggesting that targeting CCDC60 could be a promising strategy to enhance the efficacy of immunotherapy for HNSC patients.

Conclusion

Tumor suppressor CCDC60 may be identified as a prognostic and immune-related indicator in HNSC, which had the potential functions in regulating the immune infiltration of HNSC and improving the response to immunotherapy for HNSC patients.
Prognostic and clinicopathological role of geriatric nutritional risk index in patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma: A meta-analysis
Authors: Cao Dan , Zhang Zongxin
Published: March 2023

Background

Previous studies have explored the relationship between the geriatric nutritional risk index (GNRI) and survival outcomes of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) cases, but the results were inconsistent. Consequently, the present meta-analysis was conducted to investigate how GNRI affects DLBCL and its function in terms of prognosis.

Methods

The Web of Science, PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Library databases were thoroughly searched until January 18, 2023. We calculated combined hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) to estimate the relationship between the GNRI and survival outcomes of patients with DLBCL.

Results

This meta-analysis included seven articles involving 2,353 cases. A lower level of GNRI predicted dismal overall survival (HR=1.40, 95% CI=1.25–1.56, p<0.001) and inferior progression-free survival (HR=1.46, 95% CI=1.19-1.80, p<0.001) of DLBCL patients. Moreover, a low GNRI was significantly related to Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group Performance Status ≥2 (odds ratio [OR]=4.55, 95% CI=2.75–7.54, p<0.001), Ann Arbor stage III–IV (OR=2.91, 95% CI=2.38–3.57, p<0.001), B symptoms (OR=3.51, 95% CI=2.34–5.29, p<0.001), and extranodal disease (OR=2.90, 95% CI=2.32–3.63, p<0.001).

Conclusion

A lower GNRI level predicted poorer short- and long-term prognosis in patients with DLBCL. A low GNRI was correlated with clinical factors of disease progression in DLBCL patients.
Helsmoortel–van der Aa syndrome in a Chinese pediatric patient due to ADNP nonsense mutation: A case report
Authors: Chen Li-juan , You Zhong-min , Chen Wen-hong , Yang Si , Feng Chun-chen , Wang Hai-yong , Wang Ting , Zhu Yuan-yuan
Published: March 2023

Background

Helsmoortel–van der Aa syndrome, also known as ADNP syndrome, is a condition that causes developmental delay, language impairment, autism spectrum, and variable extraneurologic features. It is caused by heterozygous mutations in the ADNP gene on chromosome 20q13. Most of the genetic causes of Helsmoortel–van der Aa syndrome have been reported are as de novo nonsense or frameshift stop mutations in exon 5 of ADNP gene, while fewer truncating variants were discovered in exons 4 and the 5′ end of exon 5.

Methods

In our study, a 4-year-old female Chinese patient was reported with delayed psychomotor development, language impairment, ataxia, anxiety, aggressive behavior, and congenital heart defect. Trio whole exome sequencing and copy number variation sequencing were performed.

Results

A novel de novo heterozygous pathogenic mutation c.568C > T (p.Gln190Ter) was identified in the ADNP gene of the proband. His unaffected parents did not have the variant. According to the American College of Medical Genetics (ACMG) guidelines, c.568C > T was classiﬁed as “pathogenic”.

Conclusion

Our report indicated that c.568C > T (p.Gln190Ter) in ADNP gene is the cause of abnormal development of the nervous system, congenital heart disease and strabismus, broadening the spectrum of ADNP gene mutations associated with Helsmoortel–van der Aa syndrome.
Impact of premature rupture of membranes on clinical outcomes of extremely premature infants: A propensity score matching study
Authors: Cao Jing-Ke , Liu Chang-Geng , Wang Dan , Li Qiu-Ping
Published: March 2023

Background

Premature rupture of membranes (PROM) is a common cause of extremely premature infants (EPIs) and also leads to adverse preterm complications. However, the effect of PROM on EPIs remains contradictory. This study used propensity score matching (PSM) to adjust the baseline characteristics to explore the impact of PROM on clinical outcomes of extremely premature infants (EPIs).

Methods

Medical data of 470 EPIs at gestational age < 28weeks who received prenatal examination in our hospital between January 1, 2015 and December 31, 2020 were analyzed retrospectively. According to the presence or absence of PROM, they were divided into a PROM group and a non-PROM group. Ten covariates including birth weight, male sex, artificial conception, cesarean delivery, 5-min Apgar score ≤ 7, oligohydramnios, gestational hypertension, preeclampsia, antenatal steroid use, and complete steroid treatment were matched 1:1 by PSM. The major complication occurrence and mortality during hospitalization were compared between the two groups by t-test, nonparametric test or x2 test.

Results

Among the 470 infants enrolled, 157 (33.4%) were in the PROM group and 313 in the no-PROM group. After matching the ten confounding factors,276 cases were successfully enrolled. The incidence of early pulmonary hypertension (EPH) and severe retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) in the PROM group were higher than those in the no-PROM group [44.2% (61/138) vs. 29.0% (40/138); 34.8% (48/138) vs. 21.7% (30/138), x2 = 6.886 and 5.790, both P < 0.05]. However, there was no significant difference in the in-hospital mortality and the incidence of other major complications between the two groups (all P > 0.05).

Conclusions

PROM increased the incidence of EPH and severe ROP in EPI, but had no significant impact on in-hospital mortality, length of hospital stay, and the incidence of other complications.
Preparation of low-radioactive high-purity enriched 100MoO3 powder for AMoRE-II experiment
Authors: Yeon Hyojin , Choe JunSeok , Gileva Olga , Hahn Kevin Insik , Kang Woon Gu , Kim Go Woon , Kim Hong Joo , Kim Yena , Kim Yeongduk , Lee Eun Kyung , Lee Moo Hyun , Leonard Douglas S. , Milyutin Vitaly , Park HyangKyu , Park Su-Yeon , Shin KeonAh
Published: March 2023

This paper describes preparing radiopure molybdenum trioxide powder enriched with Mo-100 isotope for the AMoRE-II experiment. AMoRE-II, the second phase of the AMoRE experiments, will search for the neutrinoless double-beta decay (0νDBD) of the 100Mo isotope using over 100 kg of 100Mo embedded in 200 kg of ultra-pure Li2100MoO4 bolometric crystals. Efficient purification technology was developed and adapted to purify 100MoO3 powder with a 5 kg per month production capacity. Based on the ICP-MS analysis of purified powder, the 232Th and 238U were reduced to <9.4 μBq/kg and <50 μBq/kg, respectively. The concentrations of potassium, transition metals, and heavy metals were lower than 1 ppm. HPGe counting confirmed the reduction of progenies from the 232Th and 238U decay chains, reporting upper limits of <27 μBq/kg for 228Ac and <16 μBq/kg for 228Th. The 226Ra activity was acceptable at 110 ± 30 μBq/kg. In the last 3 years, 100 kg of pure 100MoO3 powder was produced. The production yield for the final purified product was above 90%, while irrecoverable losses were under 1.5%, and all by-products could be recycled further.
A comparison of the use of contrast media with different iodine concentrations for enhanced computed tomography
Authors: Du Yu , Wang Ya-Ning , Wang Qi , Qi Xiao-Hui , Shi Gao-Feng , Jia Li-Tao , Wang Xiang-Ming , Shi Jia-Bao , Liu Feng-Yun , Wang Li-Jia , Liu Xiang
Published: March 2023

Objective: In this study, we compared the enhancement of blood vessels and liver parenchyma on enhanced computed tomography (CT) of the upper abdomen with two concentrations of contrast media (400 and 300 mg I/mL) based on similar iodine delivery rate (IDR) of 0.88 and 0.9 g I/s and iodine load of 450 mg I/kg.

Methods: We randomly assigned 160 patients into two groups: iomeprol 400 mg I/mL (A group) and iohexol 300 mg I/mL (B group). The CT attenuation values of the main anatomical structures in the two groups with different scanning phases were measured and the image quality of the two groups was analyzed and compared. The peak pressure and local discomfort (including fever and pain) during contrast medium injection were recorded.

Results: The mean attenuation value of the abdominal aorta was 313.6 ± 29.6 in the A group and 322.4 ± 30.1 in the B group during the late arterial phase (p = 0.8). Meanwhile, the mean enhancement values of the portal vein were 176.2 ± 19.3 and 165.9 ± 24.5 in the A and B groups, respectively, during the portal venous phase (p = 0.6). The mean CT values of liver parenchyma were 117.1 ± 15.3 and 108.8 ± 18.7 in the A and B groups, respectively, during the portal venous phase (p = 0.9). There was no statistical difference in image quality, peak injection pressure (psi), and local discomfort between the two groups (p > 0.05).

Conclusion: When a similar IDR and the same iodine load are used, CT images with different concentrations of contrast media have the same subjective and objective quality, and can meet the diagnostic needs.
Transcriptomic and functional analyses reveal the molecular mechanisms underlying Fe-mediated tobacco resistance to potato virus Y infection
Authors: Xu Chuantao , Guo Huiyan , Li Rui , Lan Xinyu , Zhang Yonghui , Xie Qiang , Zhu Di , Mu Qing , Wang Zhiping , An Mengnan , Xia Zihao , Wu Yuanhua
Published: March 2023

Potato virus Y (PVY) mainly infects Solanaceous crops, resulting in considerable losses in the yield and quality. Iron (Fe) is involved in various biological processes in plants, but its roles in resistance to PVY infection has not been reported. In this study, foliar application of Fe could effectively inhibit early infection of PVY, and a full-length transcriptome and Illumina RNA sequencing was performed to investigate its modes of action in PVY-infected Nicotiana tabacum. The results showed that 18,074 alternative splicing variants, 3,654 fusion transcripts, 3,086 long non-coding RNAs and 14,403 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified. Specifically, Fe application down-regulated the expression levels of the DEGs related to phospholipid hydrolysis, phospholipid signal, cell wall biosynthesis, transcription factors (TFs) and photosystem I composition, while those involved with photosynthetic electron transport chain (PETC) were up-regulated at 1 day post inoculation (dpi). At 3 dpi, these DEGs related to photosystem II composition, PETC, molecular chaperones, protein degradation and some TFs were up-regulated, while those associated with light-harvesting, phospholipid hydrolysis, cell wall biosynthesis were down-regulated. At 9 dpi, Fe application had little effects on resistance to PVY infection and transcript profiles. Functional analysis of these potentially critical DEGs was thereafter performed using virus-induced gene silencing approaches and the results showed that NbCat-6A positively regulates PVY infection, while the reduced expressions of NbWRKY26, NbnsLTP, NbFAD3 and NbHSP90 significantly promote PVY infection in N. benthamiana. Our results elucidated the regulatory network of Fe-mediated resistance to PVY infection in plants, and the functional candidate genes also provide important theoretical bases to further improve host resistance against PVY infection.
Family-based psychosocial interventions for adult Latino patients with cancer and their caregivers: A systematic review
Authors: Guan Ting , Cook Paz , Xu Shenmeng , Ranzinger Lisa Hart , Conklin Jamie L. , Alfahad Abdulrahman Abdulmuslih S. , Ping Yu , Shieh Karl , Barroso Susana , Villegas Natalia , Song Lixin
Published: March 2023

Objective

This review aimed to systematically examine the characteristics and outcomes of family-based psychosocial interventions offered to adult Latino patients with cancer and their caregivers.

Methods

We searched six databases from their inception dates through June 2022. Studies were eligible for inclusion if they (1) targeted both adult Latino patients diagnosed with cancer and their adult caregivers or reported subgroup analyses of Latino patients and caregivers; (2) included family-based psychosocial interventions; (3) used randomized controlled trial (RCT) or quasi-experimental designs; and (4) were published in English, Spanish or Portuguese. Members of our multidisciplinary team assessed the risk of bias in the reviewed studies using the Cochrane Collaboration's Risk of Bias Tool.

Results

Our database searches yielded five studies. The studies were conducted in the U.S. and Brazil. Three studies were RCTs, and two used quasi-experimental designs. The sample sizes ranged from 18 to 230 patient-caregiver dyads. These studies culturally adapted the intervention contents and implementation methods and involved bilingual interventionists. The interventions had beneficial effects on multiple aspects of psychosocial outcomes for both patients and caregivers. We also identified methodological limitations in the reviewed studies.

Conclusions

Findings from this systematic review help deepen our understanding of family-based psychosocial interventions for Latinos affected by cancer. The small number of psychosocial interventions focused on adult Latino cancer patients and their caregivers is concerning, considering that Latino populations are disproportionally burdened by cancer. Future research needs to design and evaluate culturally-appropriate interventions to support Latino patients and families who cope with cancer.

Systematic review registration

https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?RecordID=274993, identifier CRD42021274993.
“The show must go on”: How Paralympic athletes safeguarded their mental well-being and motivation to train for the postponed Tokyo 2020 games
Authors: Van Biesen Debbie , Morbee Sofie
Published: March 2023

Introduction

After the decision to postpone the Tokyo 2020 Games due to the COVID-19 pandemic, athletes had to adjust to a novel situation with feelings of uncertainty and insecurity. Grounded in Self-Determination Theory, this study was the first to examine whether different motivational profiles among Paralympic athletes can be identified, and to link these profiles with the athletes’ emotional, cognitive, and performance-related outcomes in times of a pandemic.

Methods

Five months before the start of the Paralympic Games, the participants (N = 32; mean age = 33.2 ± 6.8 years) completed an online questionnaire measuring their demographics, basic psychological needs, perceived stress, depressive symptoms, general well-being, and motivational self-regulation strategies. Two months after the Games, they completed a second online questionnaire measuring their actual and perceived performance at the past Games.

Results

Through K-means cluster analysis, three distinct clusters were identified based on the athletes’ dominant type of motivation, these are, dominantly amotivated (n = 11), autonomously motivated (n = 12), and controlled motivated (n = 9). Comparisons of athletes’ emotional, cognitive, and performance-related outcomes depending on their motivational profile revealed that the athletes with a dominantly amotivated profile had the least adaptive outcomes (i.e., low need satisfaction, high need frustration, and more depressive symptoms). Athletes with a dominantly autonomously motivated profile made less use of controlling self-motivating strategies compared to the other two profiles. Moreover, their actual performance at the Paralympic Games was better.

Discussion

Although none of the athletes were at severe risk for depression or showed extremely high levels of stress, these results confirm that improving the quality of athletes’ motivation can safeguard their well-being and enhance performance in Paralympic Sports.
Rapid development of an evidence- and consensus-based guideline for controlling transmission of SARS-CoV-2 in schools during a public health emergency – A process evaluation
Authors: Wabnitz Katharina , Rueb Mike , Pfadenhauer Lisa M. , Strahwald Brigitte , Rehfuess Eva A.
Published: March 2023

Introduction

Different measures to prevent and control the spread of SARS-CoV-2 have been implemented in German schools. Decisions regarding such measures should be informed by evidence regarding their effectiveness, and their unintended consequences for health and society. A multi-stakeholder panel was convened to develop an evidence- and consensus-based guideline for school measures, using the novel WHO-INTEGRATE framework. Developing a guideline to inform decision-making outside of the clinical realm during a public health emergency was unprecedented in Germany. This study aims to identify lessons learnt for similar endeavours by addressing the following research question: What were the strengths and weaknesses of the guideline development process as perceived by the different groups involved?

Methods

Fifteen semi-structured interviews were conducted virtually. We recruited participants aiming to include the perspectives of all groups contributing to the guideline development, including both panel members (scientists, practitioners, school family and observers) and the guideline secretariat. For analysis, we carried out deductive-inductive thematic qualitative text analysis according to Kuckartz, structuring findings using a category system.

Results

Due to time pressure, the guideline secretariat was heavily involved not only in synthesising the evidence but also in developing and drafting recommendations. Participants critically reflected on certain methods-related decisions, including the development of draft recommendations and application of the WHO-INTEGRATE framework by scientists only. The full potential of the framework might not have been harnessed. Participants’ understanding of relevant and valid evidence varied, and the available evidence base was limited. Participants represented different types of expertise, notably expertise informed by scientific evidence and expertise grounded in lived experience, influencing their involvement in the guideline development process and discussions during meetings.

Conclusion

Developing an evidence- and consensus-based public health guideline in only three months was challenging, notably because of the involvement of a broad range of stakeholders and the use of a novel Evidence-to-Decision framework, both unprecedented in Germany. Learning from this process with a view to “institutionalising” the development of public health guidelines and refining methods can contribute to more evidence-informed public health decision-making in Germany and beyond, in general and during a public health emergency.
Information and communication technology development and health gap nexus in Africa
Authors: Megbowon Ebenezer Toyin , David Oladipo Olalekan
Published: March 2023

Introduction

Development of information and communication technology has been identified as a tool for fast and effective information gathering and dissemination, and as a means through which almost every social and economic sector (including the health sector) could achieve economic, operational, and service delivery efficiencies that can enable the realization of targeted outcomes. ICT can serve as a tool for achieving international agreements (including the Alma Ata Declaration of 1978), thereby accelerating the achievement of various global development targets.

Methods

Consequently, based on a sample of 38 countries from 2000 to 2018, this study investigates the effect of ICT development on the health gap, and whether the effect varies by gender and sub-region in Africa. The dependent variable (health gap) was measured as the difference between the achieved life expectancy at birth of 60 years and the Alma Ata Declaration of 1978 targeted life expectancy at birth of 60 years. The main independent variables are ICT indicators (ICT index, mobile cellular subscriptions, and internet access), while the gross domestic product (GDP), which is the measure of economic growth, healthcare expenditure, urbanization, and labor market outcome, is employed as control variables. The effect was examined using Driscoll-Kraay standard errors, feasible generalized least squares (FGLS), and panel-corrected standard error (PCSE).

Results and discussion

The findings of the Driscoll-Kraay standard errors estimation technique supported by those of FGLS and PCSE suggest that ICT does act as an indispensable stimulator for Africa to significantly exceed the international health target of life expectancy at birth of 60 years. It can be concluded that African leaders need to take advantage and maximize the health-enhancing potential of the internet component of ICT through relevant policies that would improve internet coverage, connectivity, and access for individuals and health institutions.
Impact of green space on residents' wellbeing: A case study of the Grand Canal (Hangzhou section)
Authors: Xia Yuke
Published: March 2023

Introduction

In this study aimed to discuss the importance of the combination of cultural heritage management and green development for urban development by analyzing the upgrading and renovation of the Grand Canal (Hangzhou section) as a successful case. In recent years, green development has risen to prominence as a paradigm shift. Additionally, culture, as an engine to drive urban development, has received more attention.

Methods

This research used a hybrid approach to examine the importance of combining green development with cultural heritage management. The qualitative method was an interview analysis of 13 residents living in the Hangzhou section of the Grand Canal. Based on the analysis of multiple water quality variables in Hangzhou from 1998 and 2014 to 2021, the empirical results proved that it is feasible to integrate green development (environment and economy) into the cultural heritage management of the case study area.

Results and discussion

The results further prove that only through an understanding of the relationship between cultural heritage and green development can a virtuous cycle of development be created, thereby promoting the continuous development of a unique and historically significant urban area. The results of this study suggest that, in the development of mega-cities, although the preservation and inheritance of historical and cultural heritage conflicts with the green development of modern cities, a successful example has been explored in Hangzhou, including grassroots governance efforts like Gongshu District. There, the two factors can be mutually compatible and promote each other, enhancing the well-being and happiness of local residents.
Cultural collectivism, intimate partner violence, and women's mental health: An analysis of data from 151 countries
Authors: Rajkumar Ravi Philip
Published: March 2023

Culture, defined as the distinctive, learned beliefs and patterns of behavior that are particular to a given group or community, is a key determinant of mental health. The cultural dimension of individualism-collectivism, which measures the extent to which a given society accords importance to individuals as opposed to larger groups, has been associated with cross-national variations in mental health outcomes such as depression and suicide. However, this cultural dimension is also associated with variations in the frequency of intimate partner violence (IPV), which has a significant and sustained adverse impact on women's mental health. This study examines the relationships between individualism-collectivism, the frequency of IPV, and rates of depression and suicide in women, based on data from 151 countries. In this data set, IPV was significantly associated with age-standardized rates of depression and suicide in women, even after adjusting for demographic variables. Cultural collectivism was positively correlated with IPV, but this relationship was significantly influenced by national income and women's educational attainment. In multivariate analyses, IPV, but not cultural collectivism, remained significantly associated with depression in women. These results highlight the importance of screening for and addressing IPV in women seeking mental health care, particularly in low- and middle-income countries where cultural and economic factors may both increase the risk of IPV and delay or impede its reporting.
How Can We Address What We Do Not Measure? A Systematic Scoping Review of the Measurement and Operationalization of Social Determinants of Health Research on Long-Acting Reversible Contraceptive among Adolescents in the US
Authors: Poehling Catherine , Mary Downey Margaret , Gwan Anwei Polly , Cannady Sarah , Ismail Olivia
Published: March 2023

Teen pregnancy is often considered an adverse health outcome that accentuates gender inequities, diminishes opportunities, and jeopardizes the safety of adolescent and young adult birthing people. Long-Acting Reversible Contraceptives (LARC) have been hailed as a panacea for teen pregnancy. However, adolescents and emerging adults intersect with multiple assaults on their health and well-being due to gender inequity and racism. To establish equitable care, it is imperative to discern all barriers that influence their reproductive autonomy. This study evaluates the measurement, operationalization, and quality of research conducted on adolescents and emerging adults that analyzed the use of LARC within the social determinant of health framework (SDOH) in the US. SDOH were assessed using the Dahlgren and Whitehead model, and reports were analyzed using a modified version of the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) Critical Appraisal tools. Nineteen articles were included in this study. Researchers found the insufficient measurement of race, ethnicity, sexuality, and gender among studies on LARC and SDOH in adolescents and emerging adults. Future studies must measure a full range of identities in data collection to generate knowledge on the impact of SDOH and LARC use among diverse populations.
Air Pollution in South Texas: A Short Communication of Health Risks and Implications
Authors: Pinakana Sai Deepak , Mendez Esmeralda , Ibrahim Ismaila , Majumder Md. Salahuddin , Raysoni Amit U.
Published: March 2023

Air pollution is a major public health concern. The region of South Texas in the United States has experienced high levels of air pollution in recent years due to an increase in population, cross-border trade between the U.S.A. and Mexico, and high vehicular activity. This review assesses the relationships between human health and air pollution in South Texas. A thorough scientific search was performed using PubMed, Science Direct, and ProQuest, with most of the literature focusing on the source apportionment of particulate matter that is 2.5 microns or less in width (PM2.5), Carbon Dioxide (CO2), carbon monoxide (CO), Black Carbon (BC), and associated health risks for children and pregnant women. Findings from the source apportionment studies suggest the role of industries, automobiles emissions, agricultural burning, construction work, and unpaved roads in the overall deterioration of air quality and deleterious health effects, such as respiratory and cardiovascular diseases. This review demonstrates the pressing need for more air pollution and health effects studies in this region, especially the Brownsville–Harlingen–McAllen metropolitan area.
Automatic Tumor Identification from Scans of Histopathological Tissues
Authors: Kundrotas Mantas , Mažonienė Edita , Šešok Dmitrij
Published: March 2023

Latest progress in development of artificial intelligence (AI), especially machine learning (ML), allows to develop automated technologies that can eliminate or at least reduce human errors in analyzing health data. Due to the ethics of usage of AI in pathology and laboratory medicine, to the present day, pathologists analyze slides of histopathologic tissues that are stained with hematoxylin and eosin under the microscope; by law it cannot be substituted and must go under visual observation, as pathologists are fully accountable for the result. However, a profuse number of automated systems could solve complex problems that require an extremely fast response, accuracy, or take place on tasks that require both a fast and accurate response at the same time. Such systems that are based on ML algorithms can be adapted to work with medical imaging data, for instance whole slide images (WSIs) that allow clinicians to review a much larger number of health cases in a shorter time and give the ability to identify the preliminary stages of cancer or other diseases improving health monitoring strategies. Moreover, the increased opportunity to forecast and take control of the spread of global diseases could help to create a preliminary analysis and viable solutions. Accurate identification of a tumor, especially at an early stage, requires extensive expert knowledge, so often the cancerous tissue is identified only after experiencing its side effects. The main goal of our study was to expand the ability to find more accurate ML methods and techniques that can lead to detecting tumor damaged tissues in histopathological WSIs. According to the experiments that we conducted, there was a 1% AUC difference between the training and test datasets. Over several training iterations, the U-Net model was able to reduce the model size by almost twice while also improving accuracy from 0.95491 to 0.95515 AUC. Convolutional models worked well on groups of different sizes when properly trained. With the TTA (test time augmentation) method the result improved to 0.96870, and with the addition of the multi-model ensemble, it improved to 0.96977. We found out that flaws in the models can be found and fixed by using specialized analysis techniques. A correction of the image processing parameters was sufficient to raise the AUC by almost 0.3%. The result of the individual model increased to 0.96664 AUC (a more than 1% better result than the previous best model) after additional training data preparation. This is an arduous task due to certain factors: using such systems’ applications globally needs to achieve maximum accuracy and improvement in the ethics of Al usage in medicine; furthermore if hospitals could give scientific inquiry validation, while retaining patient data anonymity with clinical information that could be systemically analyzed and improved by scientists, thereby proving Al benefits.
Enhancing Digital Health Services with Big Data Analytics
Authors: Berros Nisrine , El Mendili Fatna , Filaly Youness , El Bouzekri El Idrissi Younes
Published: March 2023

Medicine is constantly generating new imaging data, including data from basic research, clinical research, and epidemiology, from health administration and insurance organizations, public health services, and non-conventional data sources such as social media, Internet applications, etc. Healthcare professionals have gained from the integration of big data in many ways, including new tools for decision support, improved clinical research methodologies, treatment efficacy, and personalized care. Finally, there are significant advantages in saving resources and reallocating them to increase productivity and rationalization. In this paper, we will explore how big data can be applied to the field of digital health. We will explain the features of health data, its particularities, and the tools available to use it. In addition, a particular focus is placed on the latest research work that addresses big data analysis in the health domain, as well as the technical and organizational challenges that have been discussed. Finally, we propose a general strategy for medical organizations looking to adopt or leverage big data analytics. Through this study, healthcare organizations and institutions considering the use of big data analytics technology, as well as those already using it, can gain a thorough and comprehensive understanding of the potential use, effective targeting, and expected impact.
The Choice of the Most Appropriate Suture Threads for Pancreatic Anastomoses on the Basis of Their Mechanical Characteristics
Authors: Pagnanelli Michele , De Gaetano Francesco , Nappo Gennaro , Capretti Giovanni , Costantino Maria Laura , Zerbi Alessandro
Published: March 2023

The choice of the most appropriate suture threads for pancreatic anastomoses may play an important role in reducing the incidence of post-operative pancreatic fistula (POPF). The literature on this topic is still not conclusive. The aim of this study was to analyze the mechanical characteristics of suture materials to find the best suture threads for pancreatic anastomoses. A single-axial electromagnetic actuation machine was used to obtain the stress–deformation relationship curves and to measure both the ultimate tensile strength (UTS) and the Young’s modulus at the 0–3% deformation range (E0–3) of four different suture materials (Poliglecaprone 25, Polydioxanone, Polyglactin 910, and Polypropylene) at baseline and after incubation in saline solution, bile, and pancreatic juice for 1, 3, and 7 days. Polydioxanone and Polypropylene showed stable values of UTS and E0–3 in all conditions. Polyglactin 910 presented significant UTS and E0–3 variations between different time intervals in all types of liquids analyzed. Poliglecaprone 25 lost half of its strength in all biological liquids analyzed but maintained low E0–3 values, which could reduce the risk of lacerations of soft tissues. These results suggest that Polydioxanone and Poliglecaprone 25 could be the best suture materials to use for pancreatic anastomoses. In vivo experiments will be organized to obtain further confirmations of this in vitro evidence.
Processing and Tribological Properties of PEO Coatings on AlZn5.5MgCu Aluminium Alloy with Incorporated Al-Cu-Fe Quasicrystals
Authors: Torskaya Elena V. , Morozov Alexei V. , Malyshev Vladimir N. , Shcherbakova Olga O.
Published: March 2023

The modification of ceramic PEO coatings developed for friction units is in trend of modern research aimed at the improvement of friction and wear. This study presents ceramic coatings formed on AlZn5.5MgCu aluminum alloy by microarc oxidation (PEO) in a one-stage technological process with inclusions of Al-Cu-Fe quasi-crystals. The technology of rubbing quasi-crystals into the surface of the coating during final polishing was also used. Friction and wear tests, followed by analysis of the surface and cross-sections by SEM microscopy, showed that quasicrystals affect the coating structure and frictional characteristics. The addition of a small amount of modifier to the electrolyte (0.5 percent), as well as rubbing-in technology, can reduce the coefficient of friction (up to 16 percent) and wear rate (up to 43 times) compared to pure ceramic coatings. More modifier provides a negative result.
Robust Control for UAV Close Formation Using LADRC via Sine-Powered Pigeon-Inspired Optimization
Authors: Yuan Guangsong , Duan Haibin
Published: March 2023

This paper designs a robust close-formation control system with dynamic estimation and compensation to advance unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) close-formation flights to an engineer-implementation level. To characterize the wake vortex effect and analyze the sweet spot, a continuous horseshoe vortex method with high estimation accuracy is employed to model the wake vortex. The close-formation control system will be implemented in the trailing UAV to steer it to the sweet spot and hold its position. Considering the dynamic characteristics of the trailing UAV, the designed control system is divided into three control subsystems for the longitudinal, altitude, and lateral channels. Using linear active-disturbance rejection control (LADRC), the control subsystem of each channel is composed of two cascaded first-order LADRC controllers. One is responsible for the outer-loop position control and the other is used to stabilize the inner-loop attitude. This control system scheme can significantly reduce the coupling effects between channels and effectively suppress the transmission of disturbances caused by the wake vortex effect. Due to the cascade structure of the control subsystem, the correlation among the control parameters is very high. Therefore, sine-powered pigeon-inspired optimization is proposed to optimize the control parameters for the control subsystem of each channel. The simulation results for two UAV close formations show that the designed control system can achieve stable and robust dynamic performance within the expected error range to maximize the aerodynamic benefits for a trailing UAV.
GL-YOLO-Lite: A Novel Lightweight Fallen Person Detection Model
Authors: Dai Yuan , Liu Weiming
Published: March 2023

The detection of a fallen person (FPD) is a crucial task in guaranteeing individual safety. Although deep-learning models have shown potential in addressing this challenge, they face several obstacles, such as the inadequate utilization of global contextual information, poor feature extraction, and substantial computational requirements. These limitations have led to low detection accuracy, poor generalization, and slow inference speeds. To overcome these challenges, the present study proposed a new lightweight detection model named Global and Local You-Only-Look-Once Lite (GL-YOLO-Lite), which integrates both global and local contextual information by incorporating transformer and attention modules into the popular object-detection framework YOLOv5. Specifically, a stem module replaced the original inefficient focus module, and rep modules with re-parameterization technology were introduced. Furthermore, a lightweight detection head was developed to reduce the number of redundant channels in the model. Finally, we constructed a large-scale, well-formatted FPD dataset (FPDD). The proposed model employed a binary cross-entropy (BCE) function to calculate the classification and confidence losses. An experimental evaluation of the FPDD and Pascal VOC dataset demonstrated that GL-YOLO-Lite outperformed other state-of-the-art models with significant margins, achieving 2.4–18.9 mean average precision (mAP) on FPDD and 1.8–23.3 on the Pascal VOC dataset. Moreover, GL-YOLO-Lite maintained a real-time processing speed of 56.82 frames per second (FPS) on a Titan Xp and 16.45 FPS on a HiSilicon Kirin 980, demonstrating its effectiveness in real-world scenarios.