bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Factors Associated with Return Visits by Elders within 72 Hours of Discharge from the Emergency Department
Authors: Wang Li-Hsiang , Lee Hui-Ling , Lin Chun-Chih , Lan Chia-Ju , Huang Pei-Ting , Han Chin-Yen
Published: June 2023

Elders have a higher rate of return visits to the emergency department (ED) than other patients. It is critical to understand the risk factors for return visits to the ED by elders. The aim of this study was to determine the factors associated with return visits to the ED by elders. This study retrospectively reviewed the hospital charts of elders who returned to the ED within 72 h after discharge from ED. The risk factors identified in the Triage Risk Screening Tool were applied in this study. Of the elders discharged from the ED, 8.64% made a return visit to the ED within 72 h. The highest revisit rate occurred within 24 h after discharge. Factors associated with return ED visits within 24 h by elders were difficulty walking and having discharge care needs. The factor associated with ED return visits within 24–48 h was polypharmacy. Difficulty walking, having discharge care needs, and hospitalization within the past 120 days were associated with return visits made within 48–72 h following discharge. Identifying the reasons for return visits to the ED and providing a continuous review of geriatric assessment and discharge planning could reduce unnecessary revisits.
Transforming Healthcare Analytics with FHIR: A Framework for Standardizing and Analyzing Clinical Data
Authors: Ayaz Muhammad , Pasha Muhammad Fermi , Alahmadi Tahani Jaser , Abdullah Nik Nailah Binti , Alkahtani Hend Khalid
Published: June 2023

In this study, we discussed our contribution to building a data analytic framework that supports clinical statistics and analysis by leveraging a scalable standards-based data model named Fast Healthcare Interoperability Resource (FHIR). We developed an intelligent algorithm that is used to facilitate the clinical data analytics process on FHIR-based data. We designed several workflows for patient clinical data used in two hospital information systems, namely patient registration and laboratory information systems. These workflows exploit various FHIR Application programming interface (APIs) to facilitate patient-centered and cohort-based interactive analyses. We developed an FHIR database implementation that utilizes FHIR APIs and a range of operations to facilitate descriptive data analytics (DDA) and patient cohort selection. A prototype user interface for DDA was developed with support for visualizing healthcare data analysis results in various forms. Healthcare professionals and researchers would use the developed framework to perform analytics on clinical data used in healthcare settings. Our experimental results demonstrate the proposed framework’s ability to generate various analytics from clinical data represented in the FHIR resources.
Age and Gender-Specific Pattern of Cardiovascular Disease Risk Factors in Saudi Arabia: A Subgroup Analysis from the Heart Health Promotion Study
Authors: Wahabi Hayfaa , Esmaeil Samia , Zeidan Rasmieh , Jamal Amr , Fayed Amel A.
Published: June 2023

Objective: To investigate gender and age-specific distribution patterns of cardiovascular disease risk factors in the Saudi population for tailored health policies. Methods: From the heart health promotion study, 3063 adult Saudis were included in this study. The study cohort was divided into five age groups (less than 40 years, 40–45 years, 46–50 years, 51–55 years and ≥56 years). The prevalence of metabolic, socioeconomic, and cardiac risk was compared between the groups. Anthropometric and biochemical data were gathered using the World Health Organization stepwise approach to chronic disease risk factors. The cardiovascular risk (CVR) was determined using the Framingham Coronary Heart Risk Score. Results: The prevalence of CVR risk increased with age in both genders. Both Saudi men and women exhibit similar propensities for sedentary lifestyles and unhealthy food habits. The prevalence of tobacco smoking was significantly higher and from an early age in males compared to females (28% and 2.7%, respectively, at age 18–29 years). There is no significant difference in either the prevalence of diabetes, hypertension, or metabolic syndrome between men and women before the age of 60 years. Old Saudi females (≥60 years) have a higher prevalence of diabetes (50% vs. 38.7%) and metabolic syndrome (55.9% versus 43.5%). Obesity was more prevalent in females aged 40–49 years onwards (56.2% vs. 34.9% males), with 62.9% of females aged ≥60 years being obese compared to 37.9% of males. Dyslipidaemia prevalence increased with the progression of age, significantly more in males than females. Framingham high-risk scores showed that 30% of males were at high risk of cardiovascular diseases at the age group of 50–59 years, while only 3.7% of the females were considered as such. Conclusions: Both Saudi men and women exhibit similar propensities for sedentary lifestyles and unhealthy food habits, with a marked increase in cardiovascular and metabolic risk factors with age. Gender differences exist in risk factor prevalence, with obesity as the main risk factor in women, while smoking and dyslipidaemia were the main risk factors in men.
Diagnostic Accuracy and Measurement Properties of Instruments Screening for Psychological Distress in Healthcare Workers—A Systematic Review
Authors: Emal Lima M. , Tamminga Sietske J. , Kezic Sanja , Schaafsma Frederieke G. , Nieuwenhuijsen Karen , van der Molen Henk F.
Published: June 2023

Background: Instruments with sufficient diagnostic accuracy are better able to detect healthcare workers (HCWs) who are at risk of psychological distress. The objective of this review is to examine the diagnostic accuracy and measurement properties of psychological distress instruments in HCWs. Methods: We searched in Embase, Medline and PsycINFO from 2000 to February 2021. We included studies if they reported on the diagnostic accuracy of an instrument. To assess the methodological quality of the studies with regard to diagnostic accuracy, we used the Quality Assessment of Diagnostic Accuracy Studies and, for the measurement properties, the Consensus-based Standards for the Selection of Health Measurement Instruments (COSMIN). Results: Seventeen studies reporting on eight instruments were included. Overall, the methodological quality assessing the diagnostic accuracy and measurement properties was low, specifically for items addressing the domain ‘index test’. The items addressing ‘reference standard’, ‘time and flow’ and ‘patient selection’ were mostly unclear. The criterion validity of the single-item burnout, the Burnout–Thriving Index, and the Physician Well-Being Index (PWBI) was sufficient, with area under the curve ranging from 0.75 to 0.92 and sensitivity 71–84%, respectively. Conclusion: Our findings indicate that it is questionable whether screening for HCWs at risk of psychological distress can be performed sufficiently with the included instruments due to the low numbers of studies per instrument and the low methodological quality.
BRAF-AXL-PD-L1 Signaling Axis as a Possible Biological Marker for RAI Treatment in the Thyroid Cancer ATA Intermediate Risk Category
Authors: Pizzimenti Cristina , Fiorentino Vincenzo , Ieni Antonio , Rossi Esther Diana , Germanà Emanuela , Giovanella Luca , Lentini Maria , Alessi Ylenia , Tuccari Giovanni , Campennì Alfredo , Martini Maurizio , Fadda Guido
Published: June 2023

The use of radioiodine therapy (RIT) is debated in intermediate-risk differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC) patients. The understanding of the molecular mechanisms involved in the pathogenesis of DTC can be useful to refine patient selection for RIT. We analyzed the mutational status of BRAF, RAS, TERT, PIK3 and RET, and the expression of PD-L1 (as a CPS score), the NIS and AXL genes and the tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TIL, as the CD4/CD8 ratio), in the tumor tissue in a cohort of forty-six ATA intermediate-risk patients, homogeneously treated with surgery and RIT. We found a significant correlation between BRAF mutations and a less than excellent (LER, according to 2015 ATA classification) response to RIT treatment (p = 0.001), higher expression of the AXL gene (p = 0.007), lower expression of NIS (p = 0.045) and higher expression of PD-L1 (p = 0.004). Moreover, the LER patient group had a significantly higher level of AXL (p = 0.0003), a lower level of NIS (p = 0.0004) and a higher PD-L1 level (p = 0.0001) in comparison to patients having an excellent response to RIT. We also found a significant direct correlation between the AXL level and PD-L1 expression (p < 0.0001) and a significant inverse correlation between AXL and NIS expression and TILs (p = 0.0009 and p = 0.028, respectively). These data suggest that BRAF mutations and AXL expression are involved in LER among DTC patients and in the higher expression of PD-L1 and CD8, becoming new possible biomarkers to personalize RIT in the ATA intermediate-risk group, as well as the use of higher radioiodine activity or other possible therapies.
Comprehensive Analysis of Circular RNAs in Endothelial Cells
Authors: Lichołai Sabina , Studzińska Dorota , Plutecka Hanna , Gubała Tomasz , Sanak Marek
Published: June 2023

Non-coding RNAs constitute a heterogeneous group of molecules that lack the ability to encode proteins but retain the potential ability to influence cellular processes through a regulatory mechanism. Of these proteins, microRNAs, long non-coding RNAs, and more recently, circular RNAs have been the most extensively described. However, it is not entirely clear how these molecules interact with each other. For circular RNAs, the basics of their biogenesis and properties are also lacking. Therefore, in this study we performed a comprehensive analysis of circular RNAs in relation to endothelial cells. We identified the pool of circular RNAs present in the endothelium and showed their spectrum and expression across the genome. Using different computational strategies, we proposed approaches to search for potentially functional molecules. In addition, using data from an in vitro model that mimics conditions in the endothelium of an aortic aneurysm, we demonstrated altered expression levels of circRNAs mediated by microRNAs.
Fatty Acid Desaturation Is Suppressed in Mir-26a/b Knockout Goat Mammary Epithelial Cells by Upregulating INSIG1
Authors: Zhu Lu , Jiao Hongyun , Gao Wenchang , Huang Lian , Shi Chenbo , Zhang Fuhong , Wu Jiao , Luo Jun
Published: June 2023

MicroRNA-26 (miR-26a and miR-26b) plays a critical role in lipid metabolism, but its endogenous regulatory mechanism in fatty acid metabolism is not clear in goat mammary epithelial cells (GMECs). GMECs with the simultaneous knockout of miR-26a and miR-26b were obtained using the CRISPR/Cas9 system with four sgRNAs. In knockout GMECs, the contents of triglyceride, cholesterol, lipid droplets, and unsaturated fatty acid (UFA) were significantly reduced, and the expression of genes related to fatty acid metabolism was decreased, but the expression level of miR-26 target insulin-induced gene 1 (INSIG1) was significantly increased. Interestingly, the content of UFA in miR-26a and miR-26b simultaneous knockout GMECs was significantly lower than that in wild-type GMECs and miR-26a- and miR-26b-alone knockout cells. After decreasing INSIG1 expression in knockout cells, the contents of triglycerides, cholesterol, lipid droplets, and UFAs were restored, respectively. Our studies demonstrate that the knockout of miR-26a/b suppressed fatty acid desaturation by upregulating the target INSIG1. This provides reference methods and data for studying the functions of miRNA families and using miRNAs to regulate mammary fatty acid synthesis.
Evaluation of Radiosensitization and Cytokine Modulation by Differentially PEGylated Gold Nanoparticles in Glioblastoma Cells
Authors: Kerr Bríanna N. , Duffy Daniel , McInerney Caitríona E. , Hutchinson Ashton , Dabaja Inaya , Bazzi Rana , Roux Stéphane , Prise Kevin M. , Butterworth Karl T.
Published: June 2023

Glioblastoma (GBM) is known as the most aggressive type of malignant brain tumour, with an extremely poor prognosis of approximately 12 months following standard-of-care treatment with surgical resection, radiotherapy (RT), and temozolomide treatment. Novel RT-drug combinations are urgently needed to improve patient outcomes. Gold nanoparticles (GNPs) have demonstrated significant preclinical potential as radiosensitizers due to their unique physicochemical properties and their ability to pass the blood–brain barrier. The modification of GNP surface coatings with poly(ethylene) glycol (PEG) confers several therapeutic advantages including immune avoidance and improved cellular localisation. This study aimed to characterise both the radiosensitizing and immunomodulatory properties of differentially PEGylated GNPs in GBM cells in vitro. Two GBM cell lines were used, U-87 MG and U-251 MG. The radiobiological response was evaluated by clonogenic assay, immunofluorescent staining of 53BP1 foci, and flow cytometry. Changes in the cytokine expression levels were quantified by cytokine arrays. PEGylation improved the radiobiological efficacy, with double-strand break induction being identified as an underlying mechanism. PEGylated GNPs also caused the greatest boost in RT immunogenicity, with radiosensitization correlating with a greater upregulation of inflammatory cytokines. These findings demonstrate the radiosensitizing and immunostimulatory potential of ID11 and ID12 as candidates for RT-drug combination in future GBM preclinical investigations.
Mitochondrial Regulation of Ferroptosis in Cancer Therapy
Authors: Cheng Xiaoxia , Zhang Jiale , Xiao Yichen , Wang Zhihang , He Jin , Ke Mengquan , Liu Sijie , Wang Qun , Zhang Lei
Published: June 2023

Ferroptosis, characterized by glutamate overload, glutathione depletion, and cysteine/cystine deprivation during iron- and oxidative-damage-dependent cell death, is a particular mode of regulated cell death. It is expected to effectively treat cancer through its tumor-suppressor function, as mitochondria are the intracellular energy factory and a binding site of reactive oxygen species production, closely related to ferroptosis. This review summarizes relevant research on the mechanisms of ferroptosis, highlights mitochondria’s role in it, and collects and classifies the inducers of ferroptosis. A deeper understanding of the relationship between ferroptosis and mitochondrial function may provide new strategies for tumor treatment and drug development based on ferroptosis.
Tomato Biodiversity and Drought Tolerance: A Multilevel Review
Authors: Conti Veronica , Parrotta Luigi , Romi Marco , Del Duca Stefano , Cai Giampiero
Published: June 2023

Ongoing global climate change suggests that crops will be exposed to environmental stresses that may affect their productivity, leading to possible global food shortages. Among these stresses, drought is the most important contributor to yield loss in global agriculture. Drought stress negatively affects various physiological, genetic, biochemical, and morphological characteristics of plants. Drought also causes pollen sterility and affects flower development, resulting in reduced seed production and fruit quality. Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) is one of the most economically important crops in different parts of the world, including the Mediterranean region, and it is known that drought limits crop productivity, with economic consequences. Many different tomato cultivars are currently cultivated, and they differ in terms of genetic, biochemical, and physiological traits; as such, they represent a reservoir of potential candidates for coping with drought stress. This review aims to summarize the contribution of specific physio-molecular traits to drought tolerance and how they vary among tomato cultivars. At the genetic and proteomic level, genes encoding osmotins, dehydrins, aquaporins, and MAP kinases seem to improve the drought tolerance of tomato varieties. Genes encoding ROS-scavenging enzymes and chaperone proteins are also critical. In addition, proteins involved in sucrose and CO2 metabolism may increase tolerance. At the physiological level, plants improve drought tolerance by adjusting photosynthesis, modulating ABA, and pigment levels, and altering sugar metabolism. As a result, we underline that drought tolerance depends on the interaction of several mechanisms operating at different levels. Therefore, the selection of drought-tolerant cultivars must consider all these characteristics. In addition, we underline that cultivars may exhibit distinct, albeit overlapping, multilevel responses that allow differentiation of individual cultivars. Consequently, this review highlights the importance of tomato biodiversity for an efficient response to drought and for preserving fruit quality levels.
CSF Markers of Oxidative Stress Are Associated with Brain Atrophy and Iron Accumulation in a 2-Year Longitudinal Cohort of Early MS
Authors: Burgetova Andrea , Dusek Petr , Uher Tomas , Vaneckova Manuela , Vejrazka Martin , Burgetova Romana , Horakova Dana , Srpova Barbora , Kalousova Marta , Noskova Libuse , Levova Katerina , Krasensky Jan , Lambert Lukas
Published: June 2023

In this prospective longitudinal study, we quantified regional brain volume and susceptibility changes during the first two years after the diagnosis of multiple sclerosis (MS) and identified their association with cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) markers at baseline. Seventy patients underwent MRI (T1 and susceptibility weighted images processed to quantitative susceptibility maps, QSM) with neurological examination at the diagnosis and after two years. In CSF obtained at baseline, the levels of oxidative stress, products of lipid peroxidation, and neurofilaments light chain (NfL) were determined. Brain volumetry and QSM were compared with a group of 58 healthy controls. In MS patients, regional atrophy was identified in the striatum, thalamus, and substantia nigra. Magnetic susceptibility increased in the striatum, globus pallidus, and dentate and decreased in the thalamus. Compared to controls, MS patients developed greater atrophy of the thalamus, and a greater increase in susceptibility in the caudate, putamen, globus pallidus and a decrease in the thalamus. Of the multiple calculated correlations, only the decrease in brain parenchymal fraction, total white matter, and thalamic volume in MS patients negatively correlated with increased NfL in CSF. Additionally, negative correlation was found between QSM value in the substantia nigra and peroxiredoxin-2, and QSM value in the dentate and lipid peroxidation levels.
Temporal and Spatial Patterns of Inflammation and Tissue Injury in Patients with Postoperative Respiratory Failure after Lung Resection Surgery: A Nested Case–Control Study
Authors: Kormish Jay , Ghuman Tejas , Liu Richard Y. , Srinathan Sadeesh K. , Tan Lawrence , Graham Kristen , Enns Stephanie , Buduhan Gordon , Halayko Andrew J. , Pascoe Christopher D. , Kidane Biniam
Published: June 2023

Thoracic surgeries involving resection of lung tissue pose a risk of severe postoperative pulmonary complications, including acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and respiratory failure. Lung resections require one-lung ventilation (OLV) and, thus, are at higher risk of ventilator-induced lung injury (VILI) attributable to barotrauma and volutrauma in the one ventilated lung, as well as hypoxemia and reperfusion injury on the operated lung. Further, we also aimed to assess the differences in localized and systemic markers of tissue injury/inflammation in those who developed respiratory failure after lung surgery versus matched controls who did not develop respiratory failure. We aimed to assess the different inflammatory/injury marker patterns induced in the operated and ventilated lung and how this compared to the systemic circulating inflammatory/injury marker pattern. A case–control study nested within a prospective cohort study was performed. Patients with postoperative respiratory failure after lung surgery (n = 5) were matched with control patients (n = 6) who did not develop postoperative respiratory failure. Biospecimens (arterial plasma, bronchoalveolar lavage separately from ventilated and operated lungs) were obtained from patients undergoing lung surgery at two timepoints: (1) just prior to initiation of OLV and (2) after lung resection was completed and OLV stopped. Multiplex electrochemiluminescent immunoassays were performed for these biospecimen. We quantified 50 protein biomarkers of inflammation and tissue injury and identified significant differences between those who did and did not develop postoperative respiratory failure. The three biospecimen types also display unique biomarker patterns.
Import and Implications of Vanadium in Live Aspects
Authors: Rehder Dieter
Published: June 2023

In Earth’s regions accessible for living organisms (Earth’s crust, crude oil, water sanctuaries and lower atmosphere), vanadium is present in the oxidation states +III and—essentially—+IV (cationic) and +V (cationic and anionic), with the redox interchange and biochemical recycling often monitored by bacteria. Organisms having available vanadium-containing (bio)molecules with essential functions for life include marine brown algae (haloperoxidases), ascidians and fan worms, as well as terrestrial organisms, viz., nitrogen-fixing bacteria (associated with the roots of legumes), and the fly agaric mushroom. The hypohalite generated by the algal haloperoxidases in turn is involved in the emission of bromoform into the atmosphere. Nitrogen fixation (N2 ε NH4+) is a process of immanent importance for life on our planet. Other bacterial issues include the reduction of vanadate to VO2+. Medicinal applications of vanadium coordination compounds are directed towards the treatment of diabetes mellitus (vanadium complexes with hypoglycemic activity) and cancer—although boundaries are set due to side effects such as oxidative damage elicited by vanadium-induced hyperoxide formation. Physiological actions of vanadium are often invoked due to the structural and physiological similarity between vanadate and phosphate. An additional field of medicinal applications addresses the treatment of cancer, such as leukaemia, malignant melanoma and bone cancer.
Association between Glaucoma Progression in Macular Ganglion Cell Complex and Disc Hemorrhage: Differences between Superior and Inferior Hemiretinas
Authors: Tachibana Gaku , Higashide Tomomi , Nitta Koji , Sugiyama Kazuhisa
Published: June 2023

Disc hemorrhage (DH) is often associated with glaucoma progression. A vertically asymmetrical pattern is typical of glaucoma progression, but it remains unclear whether the association between DH and glaucoma progression differs between the superior and inferior hemiretinas. We compared the thickness changes of the macular ganglion cell complex (GCC) in the hemiretinas of normal-tension glaucoma patients with or without DH, as well as between hemiretinas positive and negative for DH, during five years. Both the superior and inferior hemiretinas in the DH-positive group had a more negative GCC thickness slope in association with more DH counts compared to those in the DH-negative group. Conversely, only the inferior hemiretina exhibited a significant relationship between GCC thickness slope and DH counts when hemiretinas positive and negative for DH in the DH-positive group were compared. In the superior hemifield, the slope of the total deviation changes in the DH-positive hemifield of the DH-positive group was more negative compared to that of the DH-negative group. The association between DH and glaucoma progression in the macular GCC may be stronger in the inferior hemiretina, suggesting that more attention should be paid to DH in the inferior disc area as a sign of glaucoma progression.
Prevalence, Intensity and Psychosocial Burden of Acne Itch: Two Different Cohorts Study
Authors: Szepietowska Marta , Bień Beata , Krajewski Piotr K. , Stefaniak Aleksandra A. , Matusiak Łukasz
Published: June 2023

Background: Chronic itch is a common symptom of inflammatory skin diseases. This study was undertaken to evaluate the presence and intensity of itching in two different cohorts of acne subjects. Additionally, the influence of itching on the psychosocial status of acne individuals was assessed. Methods: Consecutive acne patients seeking dermatological advice and university students diagnosed with acne during dermatological screening were considered. The clinical and psychological aspects of acne were assessed using a variety of instruments. Results: About 40% of acne subjects in both cohorts reported itching. The mean WI-NRS during the last 3 days in acne patients was 3.83 ± 2.31 points (mild itch) and was significantly more severe (p < 0.001) than in university students diagnosed with acne (2.09 ± 1.29 points). Itch intensity did not depend on the clinical severity of acne. In consecutive acne patients, itch intensity correlated with quality-of-life impairments (assessed using DLQI and CADI) and HADS scores. There was no correlation between itch intensity and stigmatization levels. Conclusions: Itching seems to be a common phenomenon in acne sufferers. Acne itch significantly influences patients’ well-being and should be considered in a holistic approach to acne patients.
Identifying Patients with Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease in Primary Care: How and for What Benefit?
Authors: Schreiner Andrew D. , Sattar Naveed
Published: June 2023

Despite its increasing prevalence, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) remains under-diagnosed in primary care. Timely diagnosis is critical, as NAFLD can progress to nonalcoholic steatohepatitis, fibrosis, cirrhosis, hepatocellular carcinoma, and death; furthermore, NAFLD is also a risk factor linked to cardiometabolic outcomes. Identifying patients with NAFLD, and particularly those at risk of advanced fibrosis, is important so that healthcare practitioners can optimize care delivery in an effort to prevent disease progression. This review debates the practical issues that primary care physicians encounter when managing NAFLD, using a patient case study to illustrate the challenges and decisions that physicians face. It explores the pros and cons of different diagnostic strategies and tools that physicians can adopt in primary care settings, depending on how NAFLD presents and progresses. We discuss the importance of prescribing lifestyle changes to achieve weight loss and mitigate disease progression. A diagnostic and management flow chart is provided, showing the key points of assessment for primary care physicians. The advantages and disadvantages of advanced fibrosis risk assessments in primary care settings and the factors that influence patient referral to a hepatologist are also reviewed.
Gaining an Understanding of Pneumocystosis in Wales
Authors: Ayling-Smith Jonathan , Backx Matthijs , Grant Elizabeth , Dhillon Rishi , Duckers Jamie , Hood Kerenza , White P. Lewis
Published: June 2023

Pneumocystis pneumonia (PcP) is a serious complication of many significant immunocompromising conditions. Prior incidence estimates in Wales are based on PcP’s presentation in the HIV and transplant populations. The objectives were to describe the incidence of PcP in Wales using laboratory reporting measures and assess the impact of underlying immunosuppression cause on mortality. All positive PCR results for PcP between 2015 and 2018 were identified. The total number of unique positives with clinical and radiological correlation was 159 patients, a mean of 39.75 annually. The healthcare records of these patients were reviewed. The mortality at one month was 35.2% and 49.1% at one year. HIV remains the commonest cause of immunosuppression but has lower mortality than non-HIV conditions (12% vs. 59% at one year, p < 0.00001). Non-HIV conditions were categorised as life-threatening and non-life threatening but had a non-significant mortality (66% vs. 54%; p = 0.149), highlighting the negative impact of PcP. An incidence of PcP in Wales of 1.23–1.26 cases per 100,000 has been identified, 32–35% greater than the upper limit previously estimated. There is high mortality in non-HIV patients regardless of immunosuppression cause. A heightened awareness of PcP in these groups will hasten diagnosis and potentially improve mortality.
Scientific Literature Database Coverage of Randomized Clinical Trials for Central Serous Chorioretinopathy
Authors: Boberg-Ans Lars C. , Klefter Oliver N. , Rasmussen Marie L. R. , van Dijk Elon H. C. , Subhi Yousif
Published: June 2023

Background: Systematic literature searches are the cornerstone of systematic reviews. In this study, we evaluated database coverage of randomized clinical trials for central serous chorioretinopathy (CSC). Methods: We searched 12 databases (BIOSIS Previews, CINAHL, the Cochrane Central, Current Contents Connect, Data Citation Index, Derwent Innovations Index, EMBASE, KCI-Korean Journal Database, MEDLINE, PubMed, SciELO Citation Index, and Web of Science Core Collection) on 10 April 2023 for randomized clinical trials for CSC. After identifying all eligible studies across all databases, we investigated the coverage of these studies within each database, including the coverage of any combination of two databases. Results: The 12 databases yielded 848 records for screening, of which 76 were randomized clinical trials for CSC. No single database provided full coverage. The most comprehensive coverage was provided by EMBASE (88%), the Cochrane Central (87%), and PubMed (75%). A combined search in the Cochrane Central and PubMed led to complete coverage (100%) while reducing the number of records for screening from 848 to 279. Conclusions: Systematic review search design should include multiple databases. For randomized clinical trials for CSC, the combination of the Cochrane Central and PubMed provides an excellent balance between coverage and workload.
Hiccup-like Contractions in Mechanically Ventilated Patients: Individualized Treatment Guided by Transpulmonary Pressure
Authors: Akoumianaki Evangelia , Bolaki Maria , Prinianakis Georgios , Konstantinou Ioannis , Panagiotarakou Meropi , Vaporidi Katerina , Georgopoulos Dimitrios , Kondili Eumorfia
Published: June 2023

Hiccups-like contractions, including hiccups, respiratory myoclonus, and diaphragmatic tremor, refer to involuntary, spasmodic, and inspiratory muscle contractions. They have been repeatedly described in mechanically ventilated patients, especially those with central nervous damage. Nevertheless, their effects on patient-ventilator interaction are largely unknown, and even more overlooked is their contribution to lung and diaphragm injury. We describe, for the first time, how the management of hiccup-like contractions was individualized based on esophageal and transpulmonary pressure measurements in three mechanically ventilated patients. The necessity or not of intervention was determined by the effects of these contractions on arterial blood gases, patient-ventilator synchrony, and lung stress. In addition, esophageal pressure permitted the titration of ventilator settings in a patient with hypoxemia and atelectasis secondary to hiccups and in whom sedatives failed to eliminate the contractions and muscle relaxants were contraindicated. This report highlights the importance of esophageal pressure monitoring in the clinical decision making of hiccup-like contractions in mechanically ventilated patients.
Financial Inclusion and Economic Growth in Sub-Saharan Africa—A Panel ARDL and Granger Non-Causality Approach
Authors: Jima Meshesha Demie , Makoni Patricia Lindelwa
Published: June 2023

Many earlier development finance studies have attempted to assess the relationship between financial inclusion and economic growth. However, the findings of these studies vary from economy to economy and region to region due to various social and economic factors. We, therefore, deemed it pertinent to examine the relationship between financial inclusion and economic growth while further identifying the direction of causality between the two variables in twenty-six (26) Sub-Saharan African (SSA) economies using annual secondary data over the 2000–2019 period. In our paper, we used the principal component analysis (PCA) technique to develop a single composite index to proxy financial inclusion while adopting panel unit root, system generalised method of moment (GMM), and ARDL cointegration tests to assess the stationarity properties, assess the factors that affect economic growth, and examine the long-run relationships between financial inclusion and economic growth, respectively. In addition, a Granger non-causality test is used to verify the direction and magnitude of causality. Our study revealed that financial inclusion and economic growth share a strong long-run relationship and that there is bi-directional causality, indicating synergy between these two variables. In order to ensure sustainable economic growth, we thus recommend that developing countries develop macroeconomic policies that will promote financial inclusion while enhancing the functioning and regulation of the domestic financial markets to ensure that all citizens are catered for in the available instruments, products, and service offerings. Within the same policy framework, efforts must be made to further support productive sectors of the economy to ensure economic growth.
Identification of Ground Deformation Patterns in Coal Mining Areas via Rapid Topographical Analysis
Authors: Du Zhen , Feng Li , Wang Haiheng , Dong Ying , Luo Da , Zhang Xu , Liu Hao , Zhang Maosheng
Published: June 2023

Coal mining inevitably brings some negative impacts, such as surface subsidence, aquifer breakage, and land degradation, to the eco-geological environment in the mining area. Among these impacts, coal mining-induced ground deformation is the most serious and has threatened the geological, ecological, and human settlement securities of mining areas. Efforts existing in the literature apply to ground deformation identification in mined-out areas at the meso-/micro and short-time scales. However, when looking back at coal mining history, there are few ways to quickly and accurately quantify ground deformation at the regional and long-time scales. In this context, we propose a method for identifying ground deformation patterns in coal mining areas using historical high-precision digital elevation models (DEMs), including data preprocessing, DEM subtraction operations, interpretation, and fitting correction. This method was applied to the Yulin National Energy and Chemical Base and successfully identified the ground deformation characteristics of the Yulin coal mining area from 2015 to 2019. By determining surface subsidence displacement, excavation depth, stacking height, and the position of the goaf suspended roof area, the objective situation of ground deformation in Yulin mining area was obtained, and the mining methods and distribution characteristics of different surface deformations were analyzed and determined. The research results are of great significance for the development of mineral resources in mining areas, reducing geological disaster risks, protecting the ecological environment, and achieving the goal of coordinated development in mining areas.
Estimation and Climate Impact Analysis of Terrestrial Vegetation Net Primary Productivity in China from 2001 to 2020
Authors: Chen Zhaotong , Chen Jiangping , Xu Gang , Sha Zongyao , Yin Jianhua , Li Zijian
Published: June 2023

The net primary productivity (NPP) of vegetation is an important indicator reflecting the vegetation dynamics and carbon sequestration capacity in a region. In recent years, China has implemented policies to carry out ecological protection. To understand the changes in the distribution of vegetation NPP in China and the influence of climate factors, the Carnegie–Ames–Stanford approach (CASA) model was used to estimate the NPP from 2001 to 2020. In this paper, several sets of measurement datasets and products were collected to evaluate the effectiveness of the model and suggestions were provided for the modification of the CASA model based on the evaluation results. In addition to the correlation analysis, this paper presents a statistical method for analyzing the quantitative effects in individual climatic factors on NPP changes in large regions. The comparison found that the model has a better estimation effect on grassland and needleleaf forest. The estimation error for the evergreen needleleaf forest (ENF) and deciduous broadleaf forest (DBF) decreases with the warming of the climatic zone, while the evergreen broadleaf forest (EBF) and deciduous needleleaf forest (DNF) do the opposite. The changes in total CASA NPP were consistent with the trends of other products, showing a dynamic increasing trend. In terms of the degree of correlation between the NPP changes and climatic factors, the NPP changes were significantly correlated with temperature in about 10.39% of the vegetation cover area and with precipitation in about 26.92% of the vegetation cover area. It was found that the NPP variation had a negative response to the temperature variation in Inner Mongolia grasslands, while it had a positive but small effect (±10 g C) in the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau grasslands. Precipitation had a facilitative effect on the grassland NPP variation, while an increase in the annual precipitation of more than 200 mm had an inhibitory effect in arid and semi-arid regions. This study can provide data and methodological reference for the ecological assessment of large-scale regional and climate anomalous environments.
Acute Myocardial Infarction in Patients with Hereditary Thrombophilia—A Focus on Factor V Leiden and Prothrombin G20210A
Authors: Badescu Minerva Codruta , Butnariu Lăcrămioara Ionela , Costache Alexandru Dan , Gheorghe Liliana , Seritean Isac Petronela Nicoleta , Chetran Adriana , Leancă Sabina Andreea , Afrăsânie Irina , Duca Ștefania-Teodora , Gorduza Eusebiu Vlad , Costache Irina Iuliana , Rezus Ciprian
Published: June 2023

Factor V (FV) Leiden and prothrombin G20210A are the most common hereditary thrombophilias. While their role in venous thromboembolism is well known, there are still uncertainties regarding their relationship with arterial thrombotic events, especially coronary ones. Our research, based on an in-depth analysis of the available literature, provides up-to-date information on the relationship between FV Leiden and prothrombin G20210A and acute myocardial infarction. FV Leiden and prothrombin G20210A screening should be implemented only in select cases, such as acute coronary syndrome in young individuals and/or in the absence of traditional cardiovascular risk factors and/or in the absence of significant coronary artery stenosis at angiography. Their identification should be followed by the implementation of optimal control of modifiable traditional cardiovascular risk factors to reduce the risk of recurrent events and genotyping and genetic counseling of all family members of affected cases for proper prophylaxis. An extended dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) may be considered, given the lower risk of bleeding under DAPT conferred by FV Leiden.
Artificial Flesh: Rights and New Technologies of the Human in Contemporary Cultural Texts
Authors: Dayal Samir
Published: June 2023

My essay explores challenges posed to the discourse of rights from new technologies of the human as these are represented in a range of cultural texts—Spike Jonze’s film her, Marie Kondo’s The Magic of Tidying Up, Ian McEwan’s Machines Like Me, and Kazuo Ishiguro’s Klara and the Sun. These works share a concern with the implications of a relationship, a shared or co-produced world, in which both humans and nonhumans have agency. I conclude by revisiting the bifurcated discourses of antihumanism, especially through a brief consideration of an Afropessimist critique of the category of “Man”, to ask: What status, affordances, and rights, should be extended to nonhumans: robots, anthropomorphized commodities, humanoids, AIs, or human adjacents, or to those excluded or abjected from the category of “the fully human”?
Improving of 100Cr6 Steel Corrosion and Wear Properties in Simulated Sea Water Environment by Tungsten-Doped DLC Coating
Authors: Vicen Martin , Kajánek Daniel , Trško Libor , Bokůvka Otakar , Buchtík Martin , Florková Zuzana , Frkáň Martin
Published: June 2023

A progressive type of tungsten-doped DLC coating was applied to a quenched and tempered 100Cr6 steel with the aim to improve the wear and corrosion properties in simulated seawater conditions and to compare the performance to conventional DLC coating. Tungsten doping caused a shift of the corrosion potential (Ecorr) to a lower negative value of −172 mV, while the conventional DLC exhibited an Ecorr of −477 mV. In dry conditions, the W-DLC coefficient of friction is slightly higher than that of the conventional DLC (0.187 for the W-DLC vs. 0.137 for the DLC), but in cases of a saltwater environment, this difference becomes almost negligible (0.105 for the W-DLC vs. 0.076 for the DLC). The conventional DLC coating also started to show marks of deterioration when exposed to a combination of wear in a corrosive environment, while the W-DLC layer still maintained its integrity.
Preparation of a High-Silicon ZSM-5 Molecular Sieve Using Only Coal Gangue as the Silicon and Aluminum Sources
Authors: Zheng Yunsheng , Zhou Junxia , Ma Zhijun , Weng Xingyuan , Cheng Liang , Tang Guorong
Published: June 2023

The traditional preparation of ZSM-5 molecular sieves relies on chemical reagents to provide silicon and aluminum sources, which are limited as raw materials and cannot be commonly used in production practice. Using coal gangue as the raw material and using medium-temperature chlorination roasting and the pressure acid leaching process to control the silicon–aluminum ratio [n(Si/Al)] of coal gangue, a ZSM-5 molecular sieve was prepared using the alkali melting hydrothermal method. The pressure acid leaching process solved the limitation that kaolinite and mica cannot simultaneously be activated. Under optimal conditions, the n(Si/Al) of the coal gangue increased from 6.23 to 26.14 and complied with the requirements for the synthesis n(Si/Al) of a ZSM-5 molecular sieve. The effect of n(Si/Al) on the preparation of the ZSM-5 molecular sieve was studied. Finally, spherical granular ZSM-5 molecular sieve material with a microporous specific surface area of 169.6329 m2/g, an average pore diameter of 0.6285 nm, and a pore volume of 0.0988 cm3/g was prepared. Providing ideas for the high-value utilization of coal gangue, it is significant for solving the problem of coal gangue solid waste, as well as the problem of ZSM-5 molecular sieve feed stock.
Nano-Mechanical Behavior of Ti6Al4V Alloy Manufactured Using Laser Powder Bed Fusion
Authors: Liović David , Franulović Marina , Kamenar Ervin , Kozak Dražan
Published: June 2023

The microstructure of Ti6Al4V alloy, manufactured using laser powder bed fusion (L-PBF), is affected by process parameters and heat treatment. However, their influence on the nano-mechanical behavior of this widely applicable alloy is still unknown and scarcely reported. This study aims to investigate the influence of the frequently used annealing heat treatment on mechanical properties, strain-rate sensitivity, and creep behavior of L-PBF Ti6Al4V alloy. Furthermore, the influence of different utilized L-PBF laser power–scanning speed combinations on mechanical properties of annealed specimens has been studied as well. It has been found that the effect of high laser power remains present in the microstructure even after annealing, resulting in increase in nano-hardness. Moreover, the linear relation between the Young’s modulus and the nano-hardness after annealing has been established. Thorough creep analysis revealed dislocation motion as a dominant deformation mechanism, both for as-built and annealed conditions of the specimens. Although annealing heat treatment is beneficial and widely recommended, it reduces the creep resistance of Ti6Al4V alloy manufactured using L-PBF. The results presented within this research article contribute to the L-PBF process parameter selection, as well as to understanding the creep behavior of these novel and widely applicable materials.
Optimization of Reinforcing Patch Effects on Cracked Plates Using Analytical Modeling and Taguchi Design
Authors: Aabid Abdul
Published: June 2023

Over the past four decades, the use of composite materials for the repair of cracked structural plates with glued patches has been extensively studied. Attention has been focused on determining a mode-I crack opening displacement, which is important in tension load and in preventing the failure of a structure due to small damages. Therefore, the significance of conducting this work is to determine the mode-I crack displacement of the stress intensity factor (SIF) using analytical modeling and an optimization method. In this study, an analytical solution was obtained for an edge crack on a rectangular aluminum plate with single- and double-sided quasi-isotropic reinforcing patches, using linear elastic fracture mechanics and Rose’s analytical approach. Additionally, an optimization technique with the Taguchi design was used to define the optimal solution of the SIF from the suitable parameters and levels. As a result, a parametric study was conducted to assess the mitigation of the SIF using analytical modeling, and the same data were used to optimize the results via the Taguchi design. This study successfully determined and optimized the SIF, demonstrating an energy- and cost-efficient approach to address damage control in structures.
Illumination Removal via Gaussian Difference L0 Norm Model for Facial Experssion Recognition
Authors: Li Xiaohe , Yang Wankou
Published: June 2023

Face images in the logarithmic space can be considered as a sum of the texture component and lighting map component according to Lambert Reflection. However, it is still not easy to separate these two parts, because face contour boundaries and lighting change boundaries are difficult to distinguish. In order to enhance the separation quality of these to parts, this paper proposes an illumination standardization algorithm based on extreme L0 Gaussian difference regularization constraints, assuming that illumination is massively spread all over the image but illumination change boundaries are simple, regular, and sparse enough. The proposed algorithm uses an iterative L0 Gaussian difference smoothing method, which achieves a more accurate lighting map estimation by reserving the fewest boundaries. Thus, the texture component of the original image can be restored better by simply subtracting the lighting map estimated. The experiments in this paper are organized with two steps: the first step is to observe the quality of the original texture restoration, and the second step is to test the effectiveness of our algorithm for complex face classification tasks. We choose the facial expression classification in this step. The first step experimental results show that our proposed algorithm can effectively recover face image details from extremely dark or light regions. In the second step experiment, we use a CNN classifier to test the emotion classification accuracy, making a comparison of the proposed illumination removal algorithm and the state-of-the-art illumination removal algorithm as face image preprocessing methods. The experimental results show that our algorithm works best for facial expression classification at about 5 to 7 percent accuracy higher than other algorithms. Therefore, our algorithm is proven to provide effective lighting processing technical support for the complex face classification problems which require a high degree of preservation of facial texture. The contribution of this paper is, first, that this paper proposes an enhanced TV model with an L0 boundary constraint for illumination estimation. Second, the boundary response is formulated with the Gaussian difference, which strongly responds to illumination boundaries. Third, this paper emphasizes the necessity of reserving details for preprocessing face images.