bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Research on Low-Carbon Capability Evaluation Model of City Regional Integrated Energy System under Energy Market Environment
Authors: Yang Zhangbin , Wang Xiaojing
Published: September 2022

In the context of the “carbon peaking and carbon neutrality” goal and energy marketization, the City Regional Integrated Energy System (CRIES), as an important participant in the energy market, pursues low-carbon development as its most important goal. Without a reasonable market participation structure and a comprehensive low-carbon evaluation system, it will be difficult to meet the needs of CRIES for low-carbon development in the energy market. Therefore, this paper first proposes a framework suitable for CRIES to participate in the energy market, and under the influence of the operating characteristics of the energy market, proposes an evaluation index system suitable for CRIES’ low-carbon capabilities in the energy market. The analytic network process–criteria importance through intercriteria correlation (ANP-CRITIC) method is used to determine the subjective and objective weights of each indicator, and the comprehensive weight of each indicator is calculated by the principle of moment estimation to achieve a quantitative evaluation of the low-carbon capability of CRIES in the energy market. Finally, taking a CRIES as an example, the analysis verifies that the proposed evaluation model and method can scientifically and comprehensively evaluate the low-carbon capability of CRIES in the energy market. The results show that the CRIES low-carbon capability evaluation results of different market schemes can be improved by up to 24.9%, and a fairer market transaction mechanism can promote the low-carbon development of CRIES.
Corporate Governance, Firm Performance and Financial Leverage across Developed and Emerging Economies
Authors: Kijkasiwat Ploypailin , Hussain Anwar , Mumtaz Amna
Published: September 2022

This research inquiry analyzed the association between corporate governance and firm performance through the mediating role of financial leverage based on panel data of 2568 firms during the period from 2002 to 2017. The study uses a two-step dynamic panel as well as a generalized method of moments (GMM) to estimate these relationships. The findings demonstrated financial leverage mediates the relationship between corporate governance and firm performance in the context of developed economies, and also in emerging economies. Additionally, firm performance is negatively associated with corporate governance through excessive leverage. The study suggests it is the responsibility of the board to use low financial leverage to enhance firm performance. In emerging countries, firms with a large-sized board use low leverage, whereas in developed countries, firms with a small-sized board use low leverage to enhance corporate performance.
A Comparison among Different Strategies to Detect Potential Unstable Behaviors in Postural Sway
Authors: Andò Bruno , Baglio Salvatore , Graziani Salvatore , Marletta Vincenzo , Dibilio Valeria , Mostile Giovanni , Zappia Mario
Published: September 2022

Assistive Technology helps to assess the daily living and safety of frail people, with particular regards to the detection and prevention of falls. In this paper, a comparison is provided among different strategies to analyze postural sway, with the aim of detecting unstable postural status in standing condition as precursors of potential falls. Three approaches are considered: (i) a time-based features threshold algorithm, (ii) a time-based features Neuro-Fuzzy inference system, and (iii) a Neuro-Fuzzy inference fed by Discrete-Wavelet-Transform-based features. The analysis was performed across a wide dataset and exploited performance indexes aimed at assessing the accuracy and the reliability of predictions provided by the above-mentioned strategies. The results obtained demonstrate valuable performances of the three considered strategies in correctly distinguishing among stable and unstable postural status. However, the analysis of robustness against noisy data highlights better performance of Neuro-Fuzzy inference systems with respect to the threshold-based algorithm.
A Low-Cost Luxometer Benchmark for Solar Illuminance Measurement System Based on the Internet of Things
Authors: Lorenzo Omar Guillán , Suárez-García Andrés , Peña David González , Fuente Manuel García , Granados-López Diego
Published: September 2022

Natural illumination has an important place in home automation applications. Among other advantages, it contributes to better visual health, energy savings, and lower CO2 emissions. Therefore, it is important to measure illuminance in the most accurate and cost-effective way. This work compares several low-cost commercial sensors (VEML 7700, TSL2591, and OPT3001) with a professional one (ML-020S-O), all of them installed outdoors. In addition, a platform based on the Internet of Things technology was designed and deployed as a centralized point of data collection and processing. Summer months have been chosen for the comparison. This is the most adverse situation for low-cost sensors since they are designed for indoor use, and their operating range is lower than the maximum reached by sunlight. The solar illuminance was recorded every minute. As expected, the obtained bias depends on the solar height. This can reach 60% in the worst circumstances, although most of the time, its value stays below 40%. The positive side lies in the good precision of the recordings. This systematic deviation makes it susceptible to mathematical correction. Therefore, the incorporation of more sensors and data that can help the global improvement of the precision and accuracy of this low-cost system is left as a future line of improvement.
A Partial Ambiguity Resolution Algorithm Based on New-Breadth-First Lattice Search in High-Dimension Situations
Authors: Wang Shouhua , You Zhiqi , Sun Xiyan , Yuan Libo
Published: September 2022

With the development and integration of GNSS systems in the world, the positioning accuracy and reliability of GNSS navigation services are increasing in various fields. Because the current multisystem fusion leads to an increase in the ambiguity dimension and the ambiguity parameters have discrete characteristics, the current conventional search algorithm leads to low search efficiency when the ambiguity dimension is large. Therefore, this paper describes a new algorithm that searches the optimal lattice points by lattice theory through the breadth-first algorithm and reduces the search space of ambiguity by calculating and judging the Euclidean distance between each search variable and the target one so as to propose a new lattice ambiguity search algorithm based on the breadth-first algorithm. The experimental results show that this method can effectively improve the search efficiency of ambiguity in high-dimension situations.
Estimation of Foot Trajectory and Stride Length during Level Ground Running Using Foot-Mounted Inertial Measurement Units
Authors: Suzuki Yuta , Hahn Michael E. , Enomoto Yasushi
Published: September 2022

Zero-velocity assumption has been used for estimation of foot trajectory and stride length during running from the data of foot-mounted inertial measurement units (IMUs). Although the assumption provides a reasonable initialization for foot trajectory and stride length estimation, the other source of errors related to the IMU’s orientation still remains. The purpose of this study was to develop an improved foot trajectory and stride length estimation method for the level ground running based on the displacement of the foot. Seventy-nine runners performed running trials at 5 different paces and their running motions were captured using a motion capture system. The accelerations and angular velocities of left and right feet were measured with two IMUs mounted on the dorsum of each foot. In this study, foot trajectory and stride length were estimated using zero-velocity assumption with IMU data, and the orientation of IMU was estimated to calculate the mediolateral and vertical distance of the foot between two consecutive midstance events. Calculated foot trajectory and stride length were compared with motion capture data. The results show that the method used in this study can provide accurate estimation of foot trajectory and stride length for level ground running across a range of running speeds.
Just Chill! An Experimental Approach to Stereotypical Attributions Regarding Young Activists
Authors: Farinha Catarina , Rosa Miriam
Published: September 2022

Climate change is a crucial issue, which is mobilized by activists. However, activists are targeted with negative stereotypes, hindering their influence. Young activists are environmentally conscious, but the stereotypical attributions assigned to them are unknown, with competing predictions in the literature (for being activist vs being young). In two studies, we aimed at experimentally examining the stereotypical dimensions that are ascribed to activists (youth vs adult) based on the Stereotype Content Model (SCM), as well as a morality/trustworthiness dimension. Considering that activists are generally considered as high-competent, but low-warm, while youth are considered the opposite (low-competence and high-warmth), we hypothesized the impacts on morality/trustworthiness. Greta Thunberg and Jane Fonda were the personalities used in Study 1 (N = 276), randomly assigned to participants while keeping the same discourse excerpt. Thunberg was penalized in all stereotypical dimensions. In Study 2 (N = 228), fictional characters (teenager or adult) were used instead. As hypothesized, no differences were found in the warmth or competence dimensions, only in the morality/trustworthiness dimension, penalizing the young activist. These results highlight the importance of studying environmental activists considering different social categories in stereotypical appraisals. They also contribute to a better understanding of general resistance towards activists, as well as the factors that are detrimental to their social influence.
Relationship between Upper and Lower Body Strength and Basketball Shooting Performance
Authors: Cabarkapa Dimitrije , Eserhaut Drake A. , Fry Andrew C. , Cabarkapa Damjana V. , Philipp Nicolas M. , Whiting Shay M. , Downey Gabriel G.
Published: September 2022

Strength is one of the key physiological performance attributes related to optimal on-court basketball performance. However, there is a lack of scientific literature studying how strength relates to shooting proficiency, as a key basketball skill capable of discriminating winning from losing game outcomes. Thus, the purpose of the present study was to examine the relationship between maximal upper and lower body strength and free-throw, two-point, and three-point shooting accuracy. Ten males and seven females performed bench press and back squat one repetition maximum (1RM) and basketball shooting testing during two laboratory visits. The shooting protocol consisted of five sets of 15 free-throw, two-point, and three-point shots performed in sequential order. Each set was separated by a 30 min rest interval to minimize the influence of fatigue. Each subject attempted 225 shots, combining for a total of 3825 shots. The average free-throw, two-point, and three-point shooting accuracy for men were 74.5 ± 11.9, 68.4 ± 9.9, and 53.3 ± 14.9%, and for women 79.2 ± 11.2, 65.5 ± 8.4, and 51.2 ± 15.3%, respectively. The average bench press and back squat 1RM for men was 88.2 ± 18.6 and 117.0 ± 21.2 kg, and for women, 40.6 ± 7.5 and 66.9 ± 9.9 kg, respectively. The findings of the present study revealed no significant relationships between maximal upper and lower body strength and basketball shooting performance for both male and female participants. Neither bench press nor back squat 1RM was a good predictor of free-throw, two-point, and three-point shooting performance.
A Novel Large-Scale Stochastic Pushback Design Merged with a Minimum Cut Algorithm for Open Pit Mine Production Scheduling
Authors: Joshi Devendra , Chithaluru Premkumar , Singh Aman , Yadav Arvind , Elkamchouchi Dalia H. , Pérez-Oleaga Cristina Mazas , Anand Divya
Published: September 2022

Traditional optimization of open pit mine design is a crucial component of mining endeavors and is influenced by many variables. The critical factor in optimization is the geological uncertainty, which relates to the ore grade. To deal with uncertainties related to the block economic values of mining blocks and the general problem of mine design optimization, under unknown conditions, the best ultimate pit limits and pushback designs are produced by a minimum cut algorithm. The push–relabel minimal cut algorithm provides a framework for computationally efficient representation and processing of the economic values of mining blocks under multiple scenarios. A sequential Gaussian simulation-based smoothing spline technique was created. To produce pushbacks, an efficient parameterized minimum cut algorithm is suggested. An analysis of Indian iron ore mining was performed. The developed mine scheduling algorithm was compared with the conventional algorithm, and the results show that when uncertainty is considered, the cumulative metal production is higher and there is an additional increase of about 5% in net present value. The results of this work help the mining industry to plan mines in such a way that can generate maximum profit from the deposits.
Metals and Metalloids Increase in Cycas micronesica Seed Gametophyte Tissue in Shaded Growth Conditions
Authors: Marler Thomas E. , Shaw Christopher A.
Published: September 2022

Exposure to environmental toxins may be partly responsible for mammal neurodegenerative disorders. Consumption of seeds from Guam’s cycad tree has been linked to the disorder known as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis-parkinsonism dementia complex (ALS-PDC). The unambiguous identification of causal agents of ALS-PDC has been elusive. We have examined the levels of eight metals and metalloids in cycad seeds as a function of the ambient shade in which the plants were grown. Of these metals, the data strongly suggest that aluminum (Al) and selenium (Se) are present in washed flour prepared from southern Guam’s cycad seed tissues at elevated levels, especially when the trees are grown in shade. Previous authors have speculated that Al and Se are involved in various ALS outcomes, and our results support this interpretation.
Selected Results in Heavy-Quark Fragmentation
Authors: Corcella Gennaro
Published: September 2022

I review a few selected topics concerning heavy-quark fragmentation, taking particular care about bottom- and charm-quark production in e+e− annihilation and the inclusion of non-perturbative corrections. In particular, I discuss the recent developments of calculations carried out in the framework of perturbative fragmentation functions and the perspective to extend them to other processes and higher accuracy. Special attention is paid to the use of an effective strong coupling constant to model hadronization effects.
Despite Vaccination: A Real-Life Experience of Severe and Life-Threatening COVID-19 in Vaccinated and Unvaccinated Patients
Authors: Colaneri Marta , Asperges Erika , Calia Matteo , Sacchi Paolo , Rettani Marco , Cutti Sara , Albi Giuseppe , Bruno Raffaele
Published: September 2022

Some vaccinated individuals still develop severe COVID-19, and the underlying causes are not entirely understood. We aimed at identifying demographic, clinical, and coinfection characteristics of vaccinated patients who were hospitalized. We also hypothesized that coinfections might play a role in disease severity and mortality. We retrospectively collected data from our COVID-19 registry for whom vaccination data were available. Patients were split into groups based on the number of administered doses (zero, one, two, or three). Data were assessed with Chi-square and Kruskal–Wallis tests and multiple logistic regression analysis. We collected data from 1686 patients and found that intra-hospital mortality was not associated to the vaccination status (e.g., p = 0.2 with three doses), while older age, sepsis, and non-viral pneumonia were (p < 0.001). Unvaccinated patients needed mechanical ventilation more often (8.5%) than vaccinated patients, in whom the probability of mechanical ventilation decreased with increasing doses (8.7%, 2.8%, 0%). We did not find more coinfections in vaccinated people. We concluded that there is a lack of real-life data to adequately characterize the pathophysiology and risk factors of patients who develop severe COVID-19, but coinfections do not appear to play a role in disease severity.
In Vitro Stimulation with Live SARS-CoV-2 Suggests Th17 Dominance In Virus-Specific CD4+ T Cell Response after COVID-19
Authors: Kudryavtsev Igor , Matyushenko Victoria , Stepanova Ekaterina , Vasilyev Kirill , Rudenko Larisa , Isakova-Sivak Irina
Published: September 2022

The SARS-CoV-2 and influenza viruses are the main causes of human respiratory tract infections with similar disease manifestation but distinct mechanisms of immunopathology and host response to the infection. In this study, we investigated the SARS-CoV-2-specific CD4+ T cell phenotype in comparison with H1N1 influenza-specific CD4+ T cells. We determined the levels of SARS-CoV-2- and H1N1-specific CD4+ T cell responses in subjects recovered from COVID-19 one to 15 months ago by stimulating PBMCs with live SARS-CoV-2 or H1N1 influenza viruses. We investigated phenotypes and frequencies of main CD4+ T cell subsets specific for SARS-CoV-2 using an activation induced cell marker assay and multicolor flow cytometry, and compared the magnitude of SARS-CoV-2- and H1N1-specific CD4+ T cells. SARS-CoV-2-specific CD4+ T cells were detected 1–15 months post infection and the frequency of SARS-CoV-2-specific central memory CD4+ T cells was increased with the time post-symptom onset. Next, SARS-CoV-2-specific CD4+ T cells predominantly expressed the Th17 phenotype, but the level of Th17 cells in this group was lower than in H1N1-specific CD4+ T cells. Finally, we found that the lower level of total Th17 subset within total SARS-CoV-2-specific CD4+ T cells was linked with the low level of CCR4+CXCR3– ‘classical’ Th17 cells if compared with H1N1-specific Th17 cells. Taken together, our data suggest the involvement of Th17 cells and their separate subsets in the pathogenesis of SARS-CoV-2- and influenza-induced pneumonia; and a better understanding of Th17 mediated antiviral immune responses may lead to the development of new therapeutic strategies.
The Vaccine Hesitancy Profiles and Determinants of Seasonal Influenza among Chinese Community Healthcare Workers: A Cross-Sectional Study
Authors: Yang Xianxian , Tang Wenge , Tan Qiang , Mao Deqiang , Ding Xianbin
Published: September 2022

This paper is an evaluation of seasonal influenza vaccination hesitancy (IVH) and its determinants among community HCWs in Chongqing, a city in southwest China. Methods: A cross-sectional survey of 1030 community HCWs with direct or indirect patient contact was conducted from July to September 2021 using a self-administered electronic questionnaire. Possible factors for IVH among community HCWs were investigated by multivariable logistic regression to yield adjusted odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Results: Overall, 46.2% of community HCWs were vaccinated in the 2020–2021 season, while 65.8% of community HCWs had IVH. “Don’t know the coverage in China” (OR: 1.46, 95% CI: 1.01–2.11; 40-year-old group OR: 3.02, 95% CI: 1.92–4.76), “complacency” (OR: 4.55, 95% CI: 3.14–6.60) were positively related with having IVH. The community HCWs that had a history of influenza vaccination (OR: 0.67 95% CI: 0.48–0.95) and groups with confidence and convenience (OR: 0.08, 95% CI: 0.06–0.12; OR: 0.34, 95% CI: 0.23–0.52, respectively) were more likely to completely accept vaccination. Conclusions: Measures such as improving the awareness and knowledge of influenza and vaccination and expanding the free vaccination policy, combined with improving the convenience of the vaccination service, will promote increased seasonal influenza vaccination-coverage in community HCWs in Chongqing.
Lymphocyte Subpopulations Associated with Neutralizing Antibody Levels of SARS-CoV-2 for COVID-19 Vaccination
Authors: Huang Wan-Ting , Weng Shao-Wen , Tzeng Hong-Tai , Yen Feng-Chun , Chiang Yu-Shao , You Huey-Ling
Published: September 2022

The comprehensive knowledge regarding the immune response during coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination is limited. The aim of this study was to longitudinally investigate not only the dynamic changes of peripheral lymphocyte subpopulations and cytokine levels but parallel changes of antibody levels against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Blood samples of 20 healthcare workers with two doses of COVID-19 vaccine were prospectively collected. The percentages of lymphocyte subpopulations from peripheral blood and cytokine production in lymphocytes with in vitro stimulation were assessed using eight-color flow cytometry. SARS-CoV-2 spike antibodies (anti-S Abs) and functional neutralizing antibodies (nAbs) were also measured. The relation between pre- and post-vaccination immunity was analyzed. There are 7 men and 13 women with a median age of 44.0 years (range: 25.7–59.5 years). The individuals had an increased percentage of lymphocytes at post-vaccination with statistical significance post first dose (p = 0.031). The levels of transitional cells (p = 0.001), such as plasmablasts (p < 0.001) and plasma cells (p = 0.031), were increased compared with pre-vaccination. Recent thymic emigrants of CD4+ T cells subsets were significantly higher at post-vaccination than those at pre-vaccination (p = 0.029). Intracellular levels of tumor necrosis factor-alpha, interferon-γ, interleukin (IL)-2, IL-21, transforming growth factor-beta and IL-17 produced by CD4+ T, CD8+ T, and natural killer cells were increased. All individual samples showed reactivity to anti-S Abs and the levels of nAbs were elevated after vaccination. The magnitude of adaptive immunity was associated with vaccine types and doses. Alterations of total memory B cells (p < 0.001), non-switched memory B cells (p = 0.016), and memory Treg cells (p < 0.001) were independent predictors for nAb levels. These findings might be helpful in elucidating the immune response of COVID-19 vaccination and in developing new strategies for immunization.
Design Strategies and Precautions for Using Vaccinia Virus in Tumor Virotherapy
Authors: Liu Xinjun , Zhao Jian , Li Xiaopeng , Lao Fengxue , Fang Min
Published: September 2022

Oncolytic virotherapy has emerged as a novel form of cancer immunotherapy. Oncolytic viruses (OVs) can directly infect and lyse the tumor cells, and modulate the beneficial immune microenvironment. Vaccinia virus (VACV) is a promising oncolytic vector because of its high safety, easy gene editing, and tumor intrinsic selectivity. To further improve the safety, tumor-targeting ability, and OV-induced cancer-specific immune activation, various approaches have been used to modify OVs. The recombinant oncolytic VACVs with deleting viral virulence factors and/or arming various therapeutic genes have displayed better therapeutic effects in multiple tumor models. Moreover, the combination of OVs with other cancer immunotherapeutic approaches, such as immune checkpoint inhibitors and CAR-T cells, has the potential to improve the outcome in cancer patients. This will open up new possibilities for the application of OVs in cancer treatment, especially for personalized cancer therapies.
Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Pandemic across Africa: Current Status of Vaccinations and Implications for the Future
Authors: Ogunleye Olayinka , Godman Brian , Fadare Joseph , Mudenda Steward , Adeoti Adekunle , Yinka-Ogunleye Adesola , Ogundele Sunday , Oyawole Modupe , Schönfeldt Marione , Rashed Wafaa , Galal Ahmad , Masuka Nyasha , Zaranyika Trust , Kalungia Aubrey , Malande Oliver , Kibuule Dan , Massele Amos , Chikowe Ibrahim , Khuluza Felix , Taruvinga Tinotenda , Alfadl Abubakr , Malik Elfatih , Oluka Margaret , Opanga Sylvia , Ankrah Daniel , Sefah Israel , Afriyie Daniel , Tagoe Eunice , Amu Adefolarin , Msibi Mlungisi , Etando Ayukafangha , Alabi Mobolaji , Okwen Patrick , Niba Loveline , Mwita Julius , Rwegerera Godfrey , Kgatlwane Joyce , Jairoun Ammar , Ejekam Chioma , Mavenyengwa Rooyen , Murimi-Worstell Irene , Campbell Stephen , Meyer Johanna
Published: September 2022

The introduction of effective vaccines in December 2020 marked a significant step forward in the global response to COVID-19. Given concerns with access, acceptability, and hesitancy across Africa, there is a need to describe the current status of vaccine uptake in the continent. An exploratory study was undertaken to investigate these aspects, current challenges, and lessons learnt across Africa to provide future direction. Senior personnel across 14 African countries completed a self-administered questionnaire, with a descriptive analysis of the data. Vaccine roll-out commenced in March 2021 in most countries. COVID-19 vaccination coverage varied from low in Cameroon and Tanzania and up to 39.85% full coverage in Botswana at the end of 2021; that is, all doses advocated by initial protocols versus the total population, with rates increasing to 58.4% in Botswana by the end of June 2022. The greatest increase in people being fully vaccinated was observed in Uganda (20.4% increase), Botswana (18.5% increase), and Zambia (17.9% increase). Most vaccines were obtained through WHO-COVAX agreements. Initially, vaccination was prioritised for healthcare workers (HCWs), the elderly, adults with co-morbidities, and other at-risk groups, with countries now commencing vaccination among children and administering booster doses. Challenges included irregular supply and considerable hesitancy arising from misinformation fuelled by social media activities. Overall, there was fair to reasonable access to vaccination across countries, enhanced by government initiatives. Vaccine hesitancy must be addressed with context-specific interventions, including proactive programmes among HCWs, medical journalists, and the public.
Geospatial and Time Trend of Prevalence and Characteristics of Zero-Dose Children in Nigeria from 2003 to 2018
Authors: Sato Ryoko
Published: September 2022

Introduction: While recent years have observed a substantial improvement in vaccination coverage among children in developing countries, many children are still left out and remain unvaccinated. This study analyzes the trend of the prevalence and characteristics of zero-dose children in Nigeria over time. Methods: Using data from the Demographic and Health Survey in Nigeria from 2003 to 2018, I analyzed the prevalence and determinants of zero-dose children who had not received any DTP vaccine by geographical zone and over time. In addition, I conducted Blinder–Oaxaca decomposition analysis to evaluate the reasons for the change in the prevalence of zero-dose children over time. Results: The overall prevalence of zero-dose children reduced from over 60% in 2003 to 40% in 2018 in Nigeria. Rural areas had a higher prevalence of zero-dose children than urban areas and the gap was consistent over time. Southern zones consistently had a lower prevalence of zero-dose children, but northern zones observed more reductions in the prevalence of zero-dose children. The mother’s education and wealth level in a household are strongly associated with a lower likelihood of having zero-dose children. In both urban and rural areas, an improvement in the mother’s education level strongly explained the reduction in zero-dose children over time, while an increase in the wealth level also explained the reduction in zero-dose children in rural areas. Conclusions: While Nigeria has observed a substantial reduction in the prevalence of zero-dose children in the 15 years since 2003, the pattern of and explanatory factors for the reduction differ by geographical region. This analysis can be useful for identifying a targeting strategy to further reduce the prevalence of zero-dose children in Nigeria in the future.
The Effectiveness of Therapeutic Vaccines for the Treatment of Cervical Intraepithelial Neoplasia 3: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Ventura Cathy , Luís Ângelo , Soares Christiane P. , Venuti Aldo , Paolini Francesca , Pereira Luísa , Sousa Ângela
Published: September 2022

Cervical cancer (CC) is a disease that affects many women worldwide, especially in low-income countries. The human papilloma virus (HPV) is the main causative agent of this disease, with the E6 and E7 oncoproteins being responsible for the development and maintenance of transformed status. In addition, HPV is also responsible for the appearance of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN), a pre-neoplastic condition burdened by very high costs for its screening and therapy. So far, only prophylactic vaccines have been approved by regulatory agencies as a means of CC prevention. However, these vaccines cannot treat HPV-positive women. A search was conducted in several databases (PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and ClinicalTrials.gov) to systematically identify clinical trials involving therapeutic vaccines against CIN 3. Histopathological regression data, immunological parameters, safety, DNA clearance, and vaccine efficacy were considered from each selected study, and from the 102 articles found, 8 were selected based on the defined inclusion criteria. Histopathological regression from CIN 3 to CIN < 1 was 22.1% (95% CI: 0.627–0.967; p-value = 0.024), showing a vaccine efficacy of 23.6% (95% CI; 0.666–0.876; p-value < 0.001). DNA clearance was assessed, and the risk of persistent HPV DNA was 23.2% (95% CI: 0.667–0.885; p-value < 0.001). Regarding immunological parameters, immune responses by specific T-HPV cells were more likely in vaccinated women (95% CI: 1.245–9.162; p-value = 0.017). In short, these studies favored the vaccine group over the placebo group. This work indicated that therapeutic vaccines are efficient in the treatment of CIN 3, even after accounting for publication bias.
Global Implications for COVID-19 Vaccine Series Completion: Insights from Real-World Data from the United States
Authors: DeMartino Jessica K. , Wang Ruibin , Chen Cindy Y. , Ahmad Nina , Bookhart Brahim , Mascola Laurene
Published: September 2022

This retrospective cohort analysis leveraged vaccination data for BNT162b2, mRNA-1273, and Ad26.COV2.S in the United States from the Komodo Healthcare Map database, the TriNetX Dataworks USA Network, and Cerner Real-World EHR (electronic health record) Data to evaluate rates of adherence to and completion of COVID-19 vaccination series (November 2020 through June 2021). Individuals were indexed on the date they received the first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, with an adherence follow-up window of 42 days. Adherence/completion rates were calculated in the overall cohort of each database and by month of initiation and stratified by age, race/ethnicity, and urban/rural status. Overall adherence and completion to 2-dose COVID-19 mRNA vaccine schedules ranged from 79.4% to 87.4% and 81.0% to 89.2%, respectively. In TriNetX and Cerner, mRNA-1273 recipients were generally less adherent compared with BNT162b2 across sociodemographic groups. In Komodo, rates of adherence/completion between mRNA-1273 and BNT162b2 were similar. Adherence/completion were generally lower in younger (<65 years) versus older recipients (≥65 years), particularly for mRNA-1273. No other sociodemographic-based gaps in vaccine adherence/completion were identified. These data demonstrate high but incomplete adherence to/completion of multidose COVID-19 vaccines during initial vaccine rollout in the United States. Multidose schedules may contribute to challenges associated with successful global vaccination.
COVID-19 Vaccine Hesitancy among Health Professional Students: Cross-Sectional Data from the First Wave of the HOLISTIC Cohort Study
Authors: Loizzo Daniel D. , Datta Avisek , Dommaraju Sunil R. , Abdulbaseer Ummesalmah , Krishnan Jerry A. , Keehn Mary , Ahmed Rashid
Published: September 2022

Vaccine hesitancy has been observed around the world, but there is a paucity of data among a broad range of U.S. health professional students. The goal of this report is to present findings about COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy among a cross-section of U.S. health professional students and determine if hesitancy varies by demographic characteristics, health science college, and other factors. A cross-sectional analysis of HOLISTIC Cohort Study participants enrolled from April 14 2021 to May 5 2021 at seven health sciences colleges in the University of Illinois Chicago was used. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis were used to evaluate vaccine hesitancy items and identify domains. Among 555 health professional students, three domains (perceived benefit, trustworthiness, and risk) contribute to vaccine hesitancy. Significant differences were observed in the domains among students of different races as well as vaccination history. Compared to students in the College of Medicine, students in the Colleges of Applied Health Science (OR 0.43; CI [0.19–0.96]), Pharmacy (OR 0.38; CI [0.17–0.87]), Nursing (OR 0.35; CI [0.16–0.78]), and Social Work (OR 0.30; CI [0.11–0.78]) reported lower perceived benefit. Compared to students in the College of Medicine, students in the College of Applied Health Sciences (OR 0.39; CI [0.17–0.94]), Dentistry (OR 0.27; CI [0.10–0.76]), Nursing (OR 0.38; CI [0.16–0.94]), and Social work (OR 0.31; CI [0.11–0.86]) reported more trustworthiness and more concerns about risk (OR 2.80; CI [1.15–6.81] for College of Applied Health Sciences, OR 9.12; CI [2.80–29.75] for Dentistry, OR 3.77; CI [1.47–9.65] for Nursing, OR 3.14; CI [1.02–9.67] for Social Work). Our findings suggest the need for a tailored vaccination strategy among different subgroups of health professional students.
Susceptibility towards Chickenpox, Measles and Rubella among Healthcare Workers at a Teaching Hospital in Rome
Authors: La Torre Giuseppe , Marte Mattia , Imeshtari Valentin , Colaprico Corrado , Ricci Eleonora , Shaholli David , Barletta Vanessa India , Serruto Pasquale , Gaeta Aurelia , Antonelli Guido
Published: September 2022

Immunization is the best protection against chickenpox, measles and rubella. It is important to identify and immunize susceptible healthcare workers to prevent and control hospital infections. Our aim was to estimate the susceptibility level of healthcare workers at a Teaching Hospital in Rome concerning these diseases and the factors associated to the susceptibility. Methods: a cross sectional study was carried out at the Department of Occupational Medicine of the Umberto I General Hospital of Rome. Participants were recruited during routine occupational health surveillance. As far as inclusion criteria, the following professionals were considered: doctors, nurses, laboratory technicians and other health professionals. Concerning the exclusion criteria, patients with HIV, cancer and diseases of the immune system, and acute illness or fever more than 38.5 °C, were not included in the study. A blood sample was tested for the presence of antibodies against measles, rubella and chicken pox. Results: 1106 healthcare professionals were involved in the study (41.8% nurses, 30.4% doctors, 12.3% laboratory technicians, 15.1% other health professionals): 25 (2.3%), 73 (6.6%) and 35 (3.2%) of these were susceptible to measles, rubella and chicken pox, respectively. The only variable associated with susceptibility of measles was age (p < 0.001). Furthermore, there was evidence of an association between various susceptibilities, particularly between measles and chickenpox (OR: 4.38). Conclusion: this study showed that even if the majority of our healthcare professionals are immunized for MRV, it is necessary not to underestimate the seronegativity of non-immune ones. All health professionals should be vaccinated to ensure safety for patients, especially the weakest.
Dímero D y otros biomarcadores asociados con la letalidad en pacientes con COVID-19
Authors: Arreaga Carlos
Published: September 2022

La COVID-19, en principio con cuadro fisiopatológico desconocido; llevó a una alta tasa de mortalidad. Los biomarcadores se tornaron valiosos para el pronóstico; identificando la gravedad y mortalidad de la enfermedad en pacientes hospitalizados. Según la fisiopatología, pacientes en estado crítico por COVID 19 padecen de hipercoagulabilidad; determinado por exámenes complementarios de laboratorio que señalan aumento de Dímero D, disminución de recuento de plaquetas y linfocitos; dichos cambios forman parte de la génesis del fallo multiorgánico convirtiéndose en un factor de riesgo de mortalidad. La metodología utilizada fue la revisión sistemática con base en directrices PRISMA, recopilando 2107 estudios, de los cuales se seleccionaron 12, de acuerdo a criterios de inclusión y exclusión. Las plataformas de búsqueda fueron PubMed, Scopus, WoS, Science direct. La revisión se basó en los conocimientos actuales de biomarcadores utilizados asociados a mortalidad en pacientes con COVID-19. De los 12 estudios, se registraron 2525 pacientes positivos a SARS-CoV2. Los resultados mostraron que la edad de los pacientes osciló entre 16 a 75 años, y su mortalidad fue en promedio entre 0 a 28.2%. Esta revisión concluye que el aumento del dímero D se asocia a complicaciones graves o mortalidad en pacientes con COVID-19; por lo tanto, pueden usarse como biomarcador predictivo, además sugiere que los análisis hematológicos de laboratorio contribuyen a identificar a los pacientes infectados por COVID-19 en grupos de riesgo, fundamental en el ámbito clínico y manejo terapéutico.
Minnesota Cottage Food Industry: Insights from Extension Food Safety Education
Authors: Omolo Morrine , McGoff Regina , Driessen Suzanne , Brandt Katherine , Slavin Joanne , Schmitt Michael
Published: September 2022

The cottage food industry has become a significant part of the food supply in Minnesota, most likely as a result of the growing consumer demand for locally produced, minimally processed and value-added foods. Using post-training evaluations, we characterized the cottage food producers in Minnesota and assessed the impact of our food safety course. The results showed that the producers are mostly white women (71%), producing and selling a variety of products. The learners gained knowledge to safely produce and handle homemade food products for direct sale to consumers. Majority (80%) of the learners were satisfied with the course.
Protecting cattle feedyard workers in the Central States region: Exploring state, regional, and national data on fatal and nonfatal injuries in agriculture and the beef production sector
Authors: Ramos Athena , Adhikari Suraj , Rautiainen Risto , Yoder Aaron
Published: September 2022

Working in agriculture can be dangerous. Despite ongoing efforts of Extension, animal production worker safety has not been adequately addressed. We present state, regional, and national counts and rates on fatal and nonfatal injuries in agriculture and animal production using publicly available data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. We found that animal production had a high number of fatal injuries and a higher rate of nonfatal injuries than the average within agriculture. More needs to be done to protect livestock workers from injury. Extension professionals can play a key role in increasing safety knowledge and changing behaviors.
Antibiotic Resistance Patterns in Pediatric Urinary Tract Infections: A Comparison Between 2013-2015 and 2019-2021
Authors: AKYOL ONDER Esra Nagehan , ERTAN Pelin
Published: September 2022

Objective: Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are one of the most common infections in children. The aim of this study was to assess and compare the etiology and antibiotic susceptibility results of urine cultures obtained between 2013-2015 and 2019-2021 and evaluate local epidemiologic differences over years.

Materials and Methods: A total of 1,000 samples with positive urine cultures (500 cultures each for the 2013-2015 and 2019-2021 periods) and antibiogram results were included in this study.

Results: The most grown uropathogens were Escherichia coli and Klebsiella spp. in both two periods. E. coli and Klebsiella spp. showed high resistance to ampicillin, amoxicillin, trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, cefuroxime, and ceftriaxone. The resistance rates of E. coli to ampicillin, amoxicillin and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole were reported as 65%, 46%, and 45%, respectively and significantly increased in 2019-2021 compared to 2013-2015 (p
Diyabetik Makula Ödeminde İntravitreal Ranibizumab Enjeksiyonunun Farklı Optik Koherens Tomografi Morfolojileri Üzerindeki Etkisi
Authors: ALTINIŞIK Muhammed , BAYRAKTAR Havvanur , KOYTAK Arif
Published: September 2022

Giriş ve Amaç: Spektral-domain optik koherens tomografi (SD-OKT) ile belirlenen farklı paternlerdeki diyabetik maküla ödemi (DMÖ) olgularında intravitreal ranibizumab (İVR) enjeksiyonunun erken dönem etkinliğini karşılaştırmak.

Gereç ve Yöntemler: Tek doz İVR uygulanmış nonproliferatif diyabetik retinopatiye sekonder DMÖ olguları retrospektif olarak analiz edildi. Klinik anlamlı santral DMÖ’sü olan ve santral fovea kalınlığı (SFK)≥250 µm olan gözler çalışmaya dahil edildi. Olgular SD-OKT morfolojisine göre; süngerimsi diffüz retina kalınlaşması (DRK), kistoid maküla ödemi (KMÖ) ve seröz retina dekolmanı (SRD) gruplarına ayrıldı. Gruplar enjeksiyon öncesi ve enjeksiyon sonrası birinci ay kontrollerinde, en iyi düzeltilmiş görme keskinliği (EİDGK), SFK ve total maküla volümü (TMV) değişimi açısından karşılaştırıldı. SFK değişimi üzerindeki başlangıç SFK değerlerinin etkisini dışlamak için ANCOVA analizi ve gruplar arasında randomizasyon yapılarak alt analizler yapıldı.

Bulgular: Çalışmaya 101 olgu (44 DRK, 40 KMÖ ve 17 SRD) dahil edildi. Gruplar yaş ve cinsiyet dağılımı açısından benzerdi (p>0,05). Başlangıç EİDGK ve TMV değerleri arasında anlamlı fark yok iken (p>0,05), başlangıç SFK değerleri büyükten küçüğe doğru sırası ile SRD, KMÖ ve DRK şeklinde sıralandı (p
EVALUATION OF TREATMENT VOLUME DETERMINATION FOR ANAPLASTIC OLIGODENDROGLIOMAS BASED ON MULTIMODALITY IMAGING: AN ORIGINAL ARTICLE
Authors: AKIN Mustafa , DUZOVA Mursel
Published: September 2022

Objective: Utility of radiation therapy (RT) has been well established for management of World Health Organization (WHO) grade 3 anaplastic oligodendroglioma. Nevertheless, optimal target definition for radiotherapeutic management of WHO grade 3 anaplastic oligodendroglioma requires elucidation. Within this context, treatment volume determination for WHO grade anaplastic oligodendroglioma based on multimodality imaging is assessed in this original research article.

Materials and methods: Treatment volume determination for RT by incorporation of MRI or by CT-simulation images only was comparatively assessed for patients receiving RT for WHO grade 3 anaplastic oligodendroglioma in this original research article.

Results: VersaHD (Elekta, UK) Linear Accelerator (LINAC) was used for treatment with 6 MV photons. IGRT techniques were utilized for treatment verification. Ground truth target volume was used as the reference for actual treatment and for comparison purposes, and it was determined after meticulous evaluation on an individual basis. Primary outcome measure of the study was comparative assessment of treatment volume determination by either CT-only imaging and by CT-MR fusion based imaging. This study revealed that the ground truth target volume was identical with treatment volume definition by CT-MR fusion based imaging.

Conclusion: This study reveals improved treatment volume determination for WHO grade 3 anaplastic oligodendrogliomas by incorporation of MRI in the treatment planning procedure. Clearly, further studies are warranted to shed light on this issue.
Comparison of Early Outcomes of Laparoscopic Floppy Nissen Fundoplication and Laparoscopic Toupet Fundoplication in the Treatment of Type III and IV Hiatal Hernia
Authors: TAYAR Serkan , KALAYCI Tolga
Published: September 2022

Objective: This study aims to compare the laparoscopic Floppy Nissen fundoplication technique (LFNFT) and the laparoscopic Toupet fundoplication technique (LTFT) used in treating Type III and IV hiatal hernias (HHs).

Materials and Methods: This retrospective analysis was conducted after ethical approval. Patients who underwent Type III and IV hiatal hernia surgery were searched between January 2020 and May 2022. Patients who underwent LFNFT and LTFT for hiatal hernia repair were selected. Patients under 18 and patients who were followed up in our clinic after surgery were excluded from the study. The clinical and follow-up differences between the groups were evaluated statistically.

Results: Of the 38 patients who met the study criteria, 27 (71.1%) were female. The mean age of all patients was 41.39±14.03 years (21-77). 10 (26.3%) patients had Type 3 HH, and the remaining patients (73.7%) had Type 4 HH. LFNFT was performed on 27 (71.1%) patients, and LTFT on 11 (28.9%). Complications developed in 14 (36.8%) patients in the postoperative follow-up, and the most common difficulty was gas bloating, with a rate of 13.1%. In comparing the groups, LTFT was preferred in the male patients (p=0.005) and younger patients (p
Assessment of the functional state and level of physical fitness of people with immunodeficiency virus with different levels of T-lymphocytes in the practice of a physical therapist
Authors: Orfin Andrii , Mazepa Maria
Published: September 2022

Purpose: to assess the functional state of patients with human immunodeficiency virus with different levels of T-lymphocytes for use in the practice of physical therapy.

Materials and methods. We examined 24 patients with human immunodeficiency virus at the stage of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome at the outpatient stage of treatment. The patients were divided into 2 groups. Group 1 included 11 patients with CD4+ T-lymphocyte levels <100 cells ml-1, and group 2 included 13 patients with CD4+ T-lymphocyte levels above 150 cells ml-1 (р<0.01). The clinical and anamnestic data, the main anthropometric parameters and physiological indices, the results of carpal dynamometry, the 6-minute walk test, characterizing the functional state of people living with the human immunodeficiency virus, were studied. The results of immunological, virological and biochemical parameters were also studied.

Results. Anthropometric indicators: Group 1 – body mass index 48.9±7.4 kg m2-1, waist to hip ratio ratio 0.92±0.17 cm, leg circumference 16.6±0.8 cm; Group 2 – body mass index 23.1±2.8 kg m2 -1, waist to hip ratio ratio 1.14±0.11 cm, leg circumference 15.9±1.4 cm (р>0.05 ). Indicators of physiological indices: Reed - group 1 - 17.3±7.2%, group 2 -  18.3±11.8% (p>0.05); Hobbes - group I 70.9 ± 5.5%, group 2 - 93.6 ± 11.8% (p<0.05), Kerdo - group 1 was 26.6 ± 14.2%, group 2 - 10 .8 ± 14.7% (р<0.05). Index of functional changes group 2 - 2.44±0.2 points, group 2 - 2.59±0.3 points (p>0.05). Dynamometry indicators - group I - 17.5 ± 6.8 kg, group 2 - 28.1 ± 9.4 kg (р>0.05); strength index – group 1 35.3±-9.6%, group 2 40.5±10.4% (р>0.05); 6 min walk test in group 1 - 402.8±40.04 m, group 2 459.7±56.1 m (р<0.05). Indicators of biochemical studies were in reference values ??in patients of both groups.

Conclusions. There is a decrease in the functional state and the predominance of catabolic processes in people with human immunodeficiency virus with a significant deficiency of CD4+ T-lymphocytes.