bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Cardiac Rhythm Monitoring Using Wearables for Clinical Guidance before and after Catheter Ablation
Authors: Hillmann Henrike Aenne Katrin , Soltani Samira , Mueller-Leisse Johanna , Hohmann Stephan , Duncker David
Published: April 2022

Mobile health technologies are gaining importance in clinical decision-making. With the capability to monitor the patient’s heart rhythm, they have the potential to reduce the time to confirm a diagnosis and therefore are useful in patients eligible for screening of atrial fibrillation as well as in patients with symptoms without documented symptom rhythm correlation. Such is crucial to enable an adequate arrhythmia management including the possibility of a catheter ablation. After ablation, wearables can help to search for recurrences, in symptomatic as well as in asymptomatic patients. Furthermore, those devices can be used to search for concomitant arrhythmias and have the potential to help improving the short- and long-term patient management. The type of wearable as well as the adequate technology has to be chosen carefully for every situation and every individual patient, keeping different aspects in mind. This review aims to describe and to elaborate a potential workflow for the role of wearables for cardiac rhythm monitoring regarding detection and management of arrhythmias before and after cardiac electrophysiological procedures.
Determination of Low Muscle Mass by Muscle Surface Index of the First Lumbar Vertebra Using Low-Dose Computed Tomography
Authors: Wang Ping-Huai , Gow Chien-Hung , Chiu Yen-Ling , Li Tien-Chi
Published: April 2022

The muscle index of the first vertebra (L1MI) derived from computed tomography (CT) is an indicator of total skeletal muscle mass. Nevertheless, the cutoff value and utility of L1MI derived from low-dose chest CT (LDCT) remain unclear. Adults who received LDCT for health check-ups in 2017 were enrolled. The cutoff values of L1MI were established in subjects aged 20–60 years. The cutoff values were used in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients to determine muscle quantity. A total of 1780 healthy subjects were enrolled. Subjects (n = 1393) aged 20–60 years were defined as the reference group. The sex-specific cutoff values of L1MI were 26.2 cm2/m2 for males and 20.9 cm2/m2 for females. Six subjects in the COPD group (6/44, 13.6%) had low L1MI. COPD subjects with low L1MI had lower forced expiratory volume in one second (0.81 ± 0.17 vs. 1.30 ± 0.55 L/s, p = 0.046) and higher COPD assessment test scores (19.5 ± 2.6 vs. 15.0 ± 4.9, p = 0.015) than those with normal L1MI. In conclusion, LDCT in health assessments may provide additional information on sarcopenia.
Fatty Acid-Binding Protein 7 (FABP-7), Glutamic Acid and Neurofilament Light Chain (NFL) as Potential Markers of Neurodegenerative Disorders in Psoriatic Patients—A Pilot Study
Authors: Nowowiejska Julia , Baran Anna , Hermanowicz Justyna Magdalena , Sieklucka Beata , Krahel Julita Anna , Kiluk Paulina , Pawlak Dariusz , Flisiak Iwona
Published: April 2022

Psoriasis and neurodegenerative diseases (NDs) are important medical, social and economic issues. The possible relationship of psoriasis and NDs has not been established yet. This study involved 60 patients with plaque-type psoriasis. Serum concentrations of fatty acid-binding protein 7 (FABP-7), glutamic acid (GA) and neurofilament light chain (NFL), which have been hardly studied in psoriasis before, were measured by ELISA before and after 12 weeks of treatment with acitretin or methotrexate. The concentration of FABP-7 and NFL in patients before the treatment was significantly higher than in the controls (p < 0.01, p < 0.001, respectively). After the treatment their concentration decreased, although FABP-7 did so insignificantly. The concentration of GA did not differ significantly between patients and controls and before and after the treatment but we found its negative correlation with CRP (p < 0.05). The duration of psoriasis does not seem to directly affect the risk of neurodegeneration and the severity only in patients with worse skin condition. Elevated FABP-7 and NFL, which are present in the brain, may be considered as potential indicators of NDs development in psoriatics, although it surely requires further research. GA might correspond with neuroinflammation in psoriasis. Systemic antipsoriatic therapy could be studied in order to improve cognitive impairment through lowering NDs biomarkers in some cases.
Modern Machine Learning Practices in Colorectal Surgery: A Scoping Review
Authors: Taha-Mehlitz Stephanie , Däster Silvio , Bach Laura , Ochs Vincent , von Flüe Markus , Steinemann Daniel , Taha Anas
Published: April 2022

Objective: The use of machine learning (ML) has revolutionized every domain of medicine. Surgeons are now using ML models for disease detection and outcome prediction with high precision. ML-guided colorectal surgeries are more efficient than conventional surgical procedures. The primary aim of this paper is to provide an overview of the latest research on “ML in colorectal surgery”, with its viable applications. Methods: PubMed, Google Scholar, Medline, and Cochrane library were searched. Results: After screening, 27 articles out of 172 were eventually included. Among all of the reviewed articles, those found to fit the criteria for inclusion had exclusively focused on ML in colorectal surgery, with justified applications. We identified existing applications of ML in colorectal surgery. Additionally, we discuss the benefits, risks, and safety issues. Conclusions: A better, more sustainable, and more efficient method, with useful applications, for ML in surgery is possible if we and data scientists work together to address the drawbacks of the current approach. Potential problems related to patients’ perspectives also need to be resolved. The development of accurate technologies alone will not solve the problem of perceived unreliability from the patients’ end. Confidence can only be developed within society if more research with precise results is carried out.
Helicobacter pylori Infection in a Pediatric Population from Romania: Risk Factors, Clinical and Endoscopic Features and Treatment Compliance
Authors: Rosu Oana-Maria , Gimiga Nicoleta , Stefanescu Gabriela , Anton Carmen , Paduraru Gabriela , Tataranu Elena , Balan Gheorghe G. , Diaconescu Smaranda
Published: April 2022

Background and Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate the association between H. pylori positivity with specific symptoms, risk factors and endoscopic patterns among the pediatric population in northeastern Romania. Materials and Methods: A prospective study was performed in 18 months on 185 children aged 6–18 years with an indication for upper digestive endoscopy. Demographic, anamnestic, symptomatic, endoscopic and histologic data were recorded. Results: Of 116 H. pylori-positive children, the most affected group was 15–17 years. Most (65.5%) of them were girls, with a significant association (p < 0.001). The majority (66.4%) lived in a rural area and 47.4% of children had an unsafe source of water and lived in overcrowded houses with no basic sanitary comfort. The most frequent symptom was epigastric pain (56.9%), and the main endoscopic appearance was nodularity and hyperemia. Patients diagnosed with H. pylori started triple-therapy treatment for 14 days. Only 13.8% stopped the treatment, mainly because of a misunderstanding of the treatment protocol (9.5%). Conclusions: Romanian teen girls living in rural areas are at high risk for H. pylori infection. Epigastric pain and endoscopic nodularity of the gastric mucosa were associated with the infection. As the resistance of the bacteria is unknown in our country, future research is needed in order to improve the eradication rate.
Implementing a Multifaceted Intervention among Internal Medicine Residents with Audit and Educative Data Feedback Significantly Reduces Low-Value Care in Hospitalized Patients
Authors: Kherad Omar , Bottequin Ezra , Steiner Dorsaf , Alibert Axelle , Eurin Rodolphe , Bothorel Hugo
Published: April 2022

Background: The dissemination of recommendations on low-value care alone may not lead to physicians’ behavioral changes. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether a multifaceted behavioral intervention among internal medicine residents could reduce low-value care in hospitalized patients. Methods: A pre–post quality improvement intervention was conducted at the Internal Medicine Division of La Tour hospital (Geneva, Switzerland) from May 2020 to October 2021. The intervention period (3 months) consisted of a multifaceted informational intervention with audits and educative feedback about low-value care. The pre- and post-intervention periods including the same six calendar months were compared in terms of number of blood samples per patient day, prescription rates of benzodiazepines (BZDs) and proton pump inhibitors (PPIs), as well as safety indicators including potentially avoidable readmissions, premature deaths and complications. results: A total of 3400 patients were included in this study; 1095 (32.2%) and 1155 (34.0%) were, respectively, hospitalized during the pre- and post-intervention periods. Patient characteristics were comparable between the two periods. Only the number of blood tests per patient day and the BZD prescription rate at discharge were significantly reduced in the post-intervention phase (pre: 0.54 ± 0.43 vs. post: 0.49 ± 0.60, p ≤ 0.001; pre: 4.2% vs. post: 1.7%, p = 0.003, respectively). PPI prescription rates remained comparable. Safety indicators analyses revealed no significant differences between the two periods of interest. Conclusions: Our results demonstrate a modest but statistically significant effect of a multifaceted educative intervention in reducing the number of blood tests and the BZD prescription rate at discharge in hospitalized patients. Limiting low-value services is very challenging and additional long-term interventions are necessary for wider implementation.
Nonlocal Free Vibrations of Metallic FGM Beams
Authors: Loja Maria A. R. , Rzeszut Katarzyna , Barbosa Joaquim I.
Published: April 2022

This work aims to analyse the free-vibration response of functionally graded, simply supported beams with different gradient directions, taking into account nonlocal effects. To this purpose, the first-order shear deformation theory and the nonlocal elasticity theory of Eringen are used, in order to assess the influence of size dependency effects on the free-vibration responses of those beams. The influence of other factors such as the aspect ratio of the beams and the evolution of the constituents’ mixture through the beam thickness and along its length is also considered. In this last case, a mixture distribution is proposed, accounting for the boundary conditions’ characteristics. The finite element model is first verified against existing alternative solutions, to assess and illustrate its performance. Based on the conclusions achieved, a set of parametric studies is then developed. The results are discussed considering the material distribution profiles, and conclusions are drawn with respect to their relative performance under the analysed conditions.
A Review of Watershed Implementations for Segmentation of Volumetric Images
Authors: Kornilov Anton , Safonov Ilia , Yakimchuk Ivan
Published: April 2022

Watershed is a widely used image segmentation algorithm. Most researchers understand just an idea of this method: a grayscale image is considered as topographic relief, which is flooded from initial basins. However, frequently they are not aware of the options of the algorithm and the peculiarities of its realizations. There are many watershed implementations in software packages and products. Even if these packages are based on the identical algorithm–watershed, by flooding their outcomes, processing speed, and consumed memory, vary greatly. In particular, the difference among various implementations is noticeable for huge volumetric images; for instance, tomographic 3D images, for which low performance and high memory requirements of watershed might be bottlenecks. In our review, we discuss the peculiarities of algorithms with and without waterline generation, the impact of connectivity type and relief quantization level on the result, approaches for parallelization, as well as other method options. We present detailed benchmarking of seven open-source and three commercial software implementations of marker-controlled watershed for semantic or instance segmentation. We compare those software packages for one synthetic and two natural volumetric images. The aim of the review is to provide information and advice for practitioners to select the appropriate version of watershed for their problem solving. In addition, we forecast future directions of software development for 3D image segmentation by watershed.
Cognitive Abilities and Academic Achievement as Intercultural Competence Predictors in Russian School Students
Authors: Novikova Irina A. , Gridunova Marina V. , Novikov Alexey L. , Shlyakhta Dmitriy A.
Published: April 2022

The development of intercultural competence (ICC) is important for the modern personality in an unstable and diverse world, but there is a lack of research on this phenomenon in the context of age, gender and intellectual differences. The purpose of the present exploratory study is to identify relations between ICC, cognitive abilities and academic achievements among Russian school students. The sample included 106 (55% female) students in the 9th grade of Moscow secondary school. ICC was measured with the author’s modification of The Intercultural Sensitivity Scale by Khuhlaev and Chibisova, developed on the basis of the Developmental Model of Intercultural Sensitivity by Bennett. Cognitive abilities were determined with the School Test of Intellectual Development by Akimova et al. Academic achievements were evaluated using GPA. The findings of our research show that: (1) higher academic achievements and cognitive abilities usually characterize schoolchildren, who are not inclined to absolutize cultural differences and do not consider them to be barriers to intercultural interaction; (2) the most significant predictors of ICC features from the studied cognitive abilities are analogy and generalization, but generalization has opposite impacts in male and female students. This fact should be taken into account in the context of ICC developments, especially in male school students prone to ethnocentrism.
Low-Power Deep Learning Model for Plant Disease Detection for Smart-Hydroponics Using Knowledge Distillation Techniques
Authors: Musa Aminu , Hassan Mohammed , Hamada Mohamed , Aliyu Farouq
Published: April 2022

Recent advances in computing allows researchers to propose the automation of hydroponic systems to boost efficiency and reduce manpower demands, hence increasing agricultural produce and profit. A completely automated hydroponic system should be equipped with tools capable of detecting plant diseases in real-time. Despite the availability of deep-learning-based plant disease detection models, the existing models are not designed for an embedded system environment, and the models cannot realistically be deployed on resource-constrained IoT devices such as raspberry pi or a smartphone. Some of the drawbacks of the existing models are the following: high computational resource requirements, high power consumption, dissipates energy rapidly, and occupies large storage space due to large complex structure. Therefore, in this paper, we proposed a low-power deep learning model for plant disease detection using knowledge distillation techniques. The proposed low-power model has a simple network structure of a shallow neural network. The parameters of the model were also reduced by more than 90%. This reduces its computational requirements as well as its power consumption. The proposed low-power model has a maximum power consumption of 6.22 w, which is significantly lower compared to the existing models, and achieved a detection accuracy of 99.4%.
A Novel Parameter Identification Algorithm for 3-DOF Ship Maneuvering Modelling Using Nonlinear Multi-Innovation
Authors: Zhao Baigang , Zhang Xianku , Liang Cailei
Published: April 2022

In order to further explore more efficient identification algorithms that can solve the ship motion identification modeling problem, a novel identification algorithm for 3-DOF ship maneuvering modeling is proposed in this paper. Based on the recursive least-squares method, the proposed algorithm combines multi-innovation and nonlinear innovation techniques that focus on the innovation’s processing. In addition, its convergence capability is theoretically demonstrated. The identification algorithm shows good accuracy and convergence that is verified by a simulation experiment on a container ship. Furthermore, another simulation experiment using the full mission ship handling simulator demonstrates its generalization capability.
Intelligent Ship Collision Avoidance Algorithm Based on DDQN with Prioritized Experience Replay under COLREGs
Authors: Zhai Pengyu , Zhang Yingjun , Shaobo Wang
Published: April 2022

Ship collisions often result in huge losses of life, cargo and ships, as well as serious pollution of the water environment. Meanwhile, it is estimated that between 75% and 86% of maritime accidents are related to human factors. Thus, it is necessary to enhance the intelligence of ships to partially or fully replace the traditional piloting mode and eventually achieve autonomous collision avoidance to reduce the influence of human factors. In this paper, we propose a multi-ship automatic collision avoidance method based on a double deep Q network (DDQN) with prioritized experience replay. Firstly, we vectorize the predicted hazardous areas as the observation states of the agent so that similar ship encounter scenarios can be clustered and the input dimension of the neural network can be fixed. The reward function is designed based on the International Regulations for Preventing Collision at Sea (COLREGs) and human experience. Different from the architecture of previous collision avoidance methods based on deep reinforcement learning (DRL), in this paper, the interaction between the agent and the environment occurs only in the collision avoidance decision-making phase, which greatly reduces the number of state transitions in the Markov decision process (MDP). The prioritized experience replay method is also used to make the model converge more quickly. Finally, 19 single-vessel collision avoidance scenarios were constructed based on the encounter situations classified by the COLREGs, which were arranged and combined as the training set for the agent. The effectiveness of the proposed method in close-quarters situation was verified using the Imazu problem. The simulation results show that the method can achieve multi-ship collision avoidance in crowded waters, and the decisions generated by this method conform to the COLREGs and are close to the level of human ship handling.
A Summary of Environmental Monitoring Recommendations for Marine Energy Development That Considers Life Cycle Sustainability
Authors: Amerson Alicia M. , Harris Tyler M. , Michener Savanna R. , Gunn Cailene M. , Haxel Joseph H.
Published: April 2022

Recommendations derived from papers documenting the Triton Field Trials (TFiT) study of marine energy environmental monitoring technology and methods under the Triton Initiative (Triton), as reported in this Special Issue, are summarized here. Additionally, a brief synopsis describes how to apply the TFiT recommendations to establish an environmental monitoring campaign, and provides an overview describing the importance of identifying the optimal time to perform such campaigns. The approaches for tracking and measuring the effectiveness of recommendations produced from large environmental monitoring campaigns among the stakeholder community are discussed. The discussion extends beyond the initial scope of TFiT to encourage discussion regarding marine energy sustainability that includes life cycle assessment and other life cycle sustainability methodologies. The goal is to inspire stakeholder collaboration across topics associated with the marine energy industry, including diversity and inclusion, energy equity, and how Triton’s work connects within the context of the three pillars of energy sustainability: environment, economy, and society.
Dissolved Gaseous Mercury (DGM) in the Gulf of Trieste, Northern Adriatic Sea
Authors: Kotnik Jože , Žagar Dušan , Novak Gorazd , Ličer Matjaž , Horvat Milena
Published: April 2022

Continuous dissolved gaseous mercury (DGM) measurements were performed during the summer months (May to September 2019) in the Gulf of Trieste (northern Adriatic Sea), a well-studied contaminated site due to releases of mercury from the former mercury mine Idrija in Slovenia. Continuous DGM data were regularly checked by the discrete manual method to assure traceability and comparability of the results and used for the calculation of the upward flux of Hg(0) between the water and the air compartment, using the gas exchange model applied in previous studies in the Mediterranean Sea. DGM concentrations measured by continuous and discrete methods showed good agreement, 68.7 and 73.5 ng·m−3, respectively. The diurnal DGM variability examined by sorting the DGM concentrations in 24 1-h intervals was extremely low (68.3–69.2 ng·m−3). Various environmental parameters measured at oceanographic buoy Vida, and the nearby stations were used to determine the relationship between DGM and the individual environmental parameters. The correlation with the oxygen saturation was pronounced during the July high DGM event (R2 = 0.70, p < 0.05), and the gradient between the bottom and surface temperature was correlated with both DGM peaks in June and July (R2 = 0.42 and R2 = 0.43, p < 0.05). Transport from the more polluted northern part of the Gulf was determined as the most probable source of both high DGM events. The computed average annual Hg(0) flux across the water–air interface (5.13 ng·m−2·h−1) was lower than those reported in recent studies. We assume that for an appropriate assessment of the Hg evasion flux and of the temporal DGM variability in such heterogeneously polluted coastal areas, both spatial and temporal coverage are required.
Invasive Rhinosinusitis Caused by Alternaria infectoria in a Patient with Autosomal Recessive CARD9 Deficiency and a Review of the Literature
Authors: Paccoud Olivier , Vignier Nicolas , Boui Mohammed , Migaud Mélanie , Vironneau Pierre , Kania Romain , Méchaï Frédéric , Brun Sophie , Alanio Alexandre , Tauziède-Espariat Arnault , Adle-Biassette Homa , Ouedraogo Elise , Bustamante Jacinta , Bouchaud Olivier , Casanova Jean-Laurent , Puel Anne , Lanternier Fanny
Published: April 2022

Phaeohyphomycoses comprise a heterogeneous group of fungal infections caused by dematiaceous fungi and have primarily been reported in patients with underlying acquired immunodeficiencies, such as hematological malignancies or solid-organ transplants. Over the past decade, a growing number of patients with phaeohyphomycosis but otherwise healthy were reported with autosomal recessive (AR) CARD9 deficiency. We report a 28-year-old woman who presented with invasive rhinosinusitis caused by Alternaria infectoria. Following a candidate gene sequencing approach, we identified a biallelic loss-of-function mutation of CARD9, thereby further broadening the spectrum of invasive fungal diseases found in patients with inherited CARD9 deficiency. In addition, we reviewed 17 other cases of phaeohyphomycosis associated with AR CARD9 deficiency. Physicians should maintain a high degree of suspicion for inborn errors of immunity, namely CARD9 deficiency, when caring for previously healthy patients with phaeohyphomycosis, regardless of age at first presentation.
Molecular Analysis in a Glioblastoma Cohort—Results of a Prospective Analysis
Authors: Lauretti Liverana , Cenci Tonia , Montano Nicola , Offi Martina , Giordano Martina , Caccavella Valerio M. , Mangraviti Antonella , Agostini Ludovico , Olivi Alessandro , Gabriele Lucia , Larocca Luigi M. , Pallini Roberto , Martini Maurizio , D’Alessandris Quintino Giorgio
Published: April 2022

The prognostic role of epidermal growth factor receptor variant III (EGFRvIII), a constitutively activated oncogenic receptor, in glioblastoma is controversial. We performed a prospective study enrolling 355 patients operated on for de novo glioblastoma at a large academic center. The molecular profile, including EGFRvIII status, MGMT promoter methylation, and VEGF expression, was assessed. Standard parameters (age, clinical status and extent of surgical resection) were confirmed to hold prognostic value. MGMT promoter methylation portended a slightly improved survival. In the whole series, confirming previous results, EGFRvIII was not associated with worsened prognosis. Interestingly, female sex was associated with a better outcome. Such findings are of interest for the design of future trials.
The Detrimental Clinical Associations of Anxiety and Depression with Difficult Asthma Outcomes
Authors: Fong Wei , Rafiq Ishmail , Harvey Matthew , Stanescu Sabina , Ainsworth Ben , Varkonyi-Sepp Judit , Mistry Heena , Kyyaly Mohammed , Barber Clair , Freeman Anna , Wilkinson Tom , Djukanovic Ratko , Dennison Paddy , Haitchi Hans , Kurukulaaratchy Ramesh
Published: April 2022

Difficult asthma describes asthma in which comorbidities, inadequate treatment, suboptimal inhaler technique and/or poor adherence impede good asthma control. The association of anxiety and depression with difficult asthma outcomes (exacerbations, hospital admissions, asthma control, etc.) is unclear. This study assessed the clinical associations of anxiety and depression with difficult asthma outcomes in patients with a specialist diagnosis of difficult asthma. Using real-world data, we retrospectively phenotyped patients from the Wessex Asthma Cohort of Difficult Asthma (N = 441) using clinical diagnoses of anxiety and depression against those without anxiety or depression (controls). Additionally, we stratified patients by severity of psychological distress using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). We found that depression and/or anxiety were reported in 43.1% of subjects and were associated with worse disease-related questionnaire scores. Each psychological comorbidity group showed differential associations with difficult asthma outcomes. Anxiety alone (7.9%) was associated with dysfunctional breathing and more hospitalisations [anxiety, median (IQR): 0 (2) vs. controls: 0 (0)], while depression alone (11.6%) was associated with obesity and obstructive sleep apnoea. The dual anxiety and depression group (23.6%) displayed multimorbidity, worse asthma outcomes, female predominance and earlier asthma onset. Worse HADS-A scores in patients with anxiety were associated with worse subjective outcomes (questionnaire scores), while worse HADS-D scores in patients with depression were associated with worse objective (ICU admissions and maintenance oral corticosteroid requirements) and subjective outcomes. In conclusion, anxiety and depression are common in difficult asthma but exert differential detrimental effects. Difficult asthma patients with dual anxiety and depression experience worse asthma outcomes alongside worse measures of psychological distress. There is a severity-gradient association of HADS scores with worse difficult asthma outcomes. Collectively, our findings highlight the need for holistic, multidisciplinary approaches that promote early identification and management of anxiety and depression in difficult asthma patients.
Methods for Stratification and Validation Cohorts: A Scoping Review
Authors: Torres Moral Teresa , Sanchez-Niubo Albert , Monistrol-Mula Anna , Gerardi Chiara , Banzi Rita , Garcia Paula , Demotes-Mainard Jacques , Haro Josep ,   the PERMIT Group
Published: April 2022

Personalized medicine requires large cohorts for patient stratification and validation of patient clustering. However, standards and harmonized practices on the methods and tools to be used for the design and management of cohorts in personalized medicine remain to be defined. This study aims to describe the current state-of-the-art in this area. A scoping review was conducted searching in PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science, Psycinfo and Cochrane Library for reviews about tools and methods related to cohorts used in personalized medicine. The search focused on cancer, stroke and Alzheimer’s disease and was limited to reports in English, French, German, Italian and Spanish published from 2005 to April 2020. The screening process was reported through a PRISMA flowchart. Fifty reviews were included, mostly including information about how data were generated (25/50) and about tools used for data management and analysis (24/50). No direct information was found about the quality of data and the requirements to monitor associated clinical data. A scarcity of information and standards was found in specific areas such as sample size calculation. With this information, comprehensive guidelines could be developed in the future to improve the reproducibility and robustness in the design and management of cohorts in personalized medicine studies.
FOXN3 and GDNF Polymorphisms as Common Genetic Factors of Substance Use and Addictive Behaviors
Authors: Vereczkei Andrea , Barta Csaba , Magi Anna , Farkas Judit , Eisinger Andrea , Király Orsolya , Belik Andrea , Griffiths Mark D. , Szekely Anna , Sasvári-Székely Mária , Urbán Róbert , Potenza Marc N. , Badgaiyan Rajendra D. , Blum Kenneth , Demetrovics Zsolt , Kotyuk Eszter
Published: April 2022

Epidemiological and phenomenological studies suggest shared underpinnings between multiple addictive behaviors. The present genetic association study was conducted as part of the Psychological and Genetic Factors of Addictions study (n = 3003) and aimed to investigate genetic overlaps between different substance use, addictive, and other compulsive behaviors. Association analyses targeted 32 single-nucleotide polymorphisms, potentially addictive substances (alcohol, tobacco, cannabis, and other drugs), and potentially addictive or compulsive behaviors (internet use, gaming, social networking site use, gambling, exercise, hair-pulling, and eating). Analyses revealed 29 nominally significant associations, from which, nine survived an FDRbl correction. Four associations were observed between FOXN3 rs759364 and potentially addictive behaviors: rs759364 showed an association with the frequency of alcohol consumption and mean scores of scales assessing internet addiction, gaming disorder, and exercise addiction. Significant associations were found between GDNF rs1549250, rs2973033, CNR1 rs806380, DRD2/ANKK1 rs1800497 variants, and the “lifetime other drugs” variable. These suggested that genetic factors may contribute similarly to specific substance use and addictive behaviors. Specifically, FOXN3 rs759364 and GDNF rs1549250 and rs2973033 may constitute genetic risk factors for multiple addictive behaviors. Due to limitations (e.g., convenience sampling, lack of structured scales for substance use), further studies are needed. Functional correlates and mechanisms underlying these relationships should also be investigated.
Association between Smoking Status and Incident Non-Cystic Fibrosis Bronchiectasis in Young Adults: A Nationwide Population-Based Study
Authors: Yang Bumhee , Han Kyungdo , Kim Bongseong , Kang Hyung Koo , Kim Jung Soo , Kim Eung-Gook , Choi Hayoung , Lee Hyun
Published: April 2022

Smoking traditionally has not been considered as a cause of bronchiectasis. However, few studies have evaluated the association between smoking and bronchiectasis. This study aimed to investigate the association between smoking status and bronchiectasis development in young adults. This study included 6,861,282 adults aged 20–39 years from the Korean National Health Insurance Service database 2009–2012 who were followed-up until the date of development of bronchiectasis, death, or 31 December 2018. We evaluated the incidence of bronchiectasis according to smoking status. During a mean of 7.4 years of follow-up, 23,609 (0.3%) participants developed bronchiectasis. In multivariable Cox regression analysis, ex-smokers (adjusted hazard ratio (aHR) = 1.07, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.03–1.13) and current-smokers (aHR = 1.06, 95% CI = 1.02–1.10) were associated with incident bronchiectasis, with the highest HR in ≥ 10 pack-years current smokers (aHR = 1.12, 95% CI = 1.06–1.16). The association of smoking with bronchiectasis was more profound in females than in males (p for interaction < 0.001), in younger than in older participants (p for interaction = 0.036), and in the overweight and obese than in the normal weight or underweight (p for interaction = 0.023). In conclusion, our study shows that smoking is associated with incident bronchiectasis in young adults. The association of smoking with bronchiectasis development was stronger in females, 20–29 year-olds, and the overweight and obese than in males, 30–40-year-olds, and the normal weight or underweight, respectively.
Impaired Humoral Immunity with Concomitant Preserved T Cell Reactivity in IBD Patients on Treatment with Infliximab 6 Month after Vaccination with the SARS-CoV-2 mRNA Vaccine BNT162b2: A Pilot Study
Authors: Vollenberg Richard , Tepasse Phil-Robin , Lorentzen Eva , Nowacki Tobias Max
Published: April 2022

Introduction: The Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has been caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2). The most important approach to prevent severe disease progression and to contain the pandemic is the use of COVID-19 vaccines. The aim of this study was to investigate the humoral and cellular response in immunosuppressed patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) on treatment with anti-TNF (infliximab, adalimumab) and anti-α4ß7-Integrin (vedolizumab) 6 months after mRNA vaccination against SARS-CoV-2 compared to healthy subjects. Methods: In this prospective study, 20 IBD patients and 9 healthy controls were included 6 months after the second BNT162b2 vaccination. In addition to quantitative determination of IgG antibody levels against the SARS-CoV-2 receptor-binding domain (RBD) of the spike protein subunit S1, a SARS-CoV-2 surrogate neutralization test (sVNT) was used to assess potential neutralization capacity. SARS-CoV-2-specific T-cell responses were measured using an interferon-γ (IFN-γ) release assay (IGRA; Euroimmun Medical Laboratory Diagnostics, Lübeck, Germany). Results: S-IgG could still be detected in the majority of IBD patients 6 months after second vaccination. Compared to healthy controls, IBD patients treated with anti-TNF agents showed both lower neutralizing activity in sVNT (percent inhibition of ACE2 receptor binding by RBD protein) and lower IgG-S (AU/mL) antibody levels (AB) (sVNT: 79% vs. 2%, p < 0. 001; AB: 1018 AU/mL vs. 141 AU/mL, p = 0.025). In contrast, patients on therapy with vedolizumab showed no impairment in humoral immune response (sVNT, S-IgG) compared with healthy controls. Specific T-cellular reactivity was detected in 73% of IBD patients and in 67% of healthy controls independent of immunosuppressive therapy (anti-TNF., vedolizumab) (p = 0.189). Conclusion: Six months after BNT162b2 vaccination, this study found significantly decreased antibody levels in patients under anti-TNF therapy. IBD patients under anti-TNF and vedolizumab therapy had no impairment of T-cellular reactivity compared to healthy controls at this time point. Further studies with larger collectives for confirmation should follow.
Use of Geographically Weighted Regression (GWR) to Reveal Spatially Varying Relationships between Cd Accumulation and Soil Properties at Field Scale
Authors: Chen Zhifan , Zhang Sen , Geng Wencai , Ding Yongfeng , Jiang Xingyuan
Published: April 2022

The spatial variation of correlation between Cd accumulation and its impact factors plays an important role in precise management of Cd contaminated farmland. Samples of topsoils (n = 247) were collected from suburban farmland located at the junction of the Yellow River Basin and the Huaihe River Basin in China using a 200 m × 200 m grid system. The total and available contents of Cd (T-Cd and A-Cd) in topsoils were analyzed by ICP-MS, and their spatial distribution was analyzed using kriging interpolation with the GIS technique. Geographically weighted regression (GWR) models were applied to explore the spatial variation and their influencing mechanisms of relationships between major environmental factors (pH, organic matter, available phosphorus (A-P)) and Cd accumulation. Spatial distribution showed that T-Cd, A-Cd and their influencing factors had obvious spatial variability, and high value areas primarily cluster near industrial agglomeration areas and irrigation canals. GWR analysis revealed that relationships between T-Cd, A-Cd and their environmental factors presented obvious spatial heterogeneity. Notably, there was a significant negative correlation between soil pH and T-Cd, A-Cd, but with the increase of pH in soil the correlation decreased. A novel finding of a positive correlation between OM and T-Cd, A-Cd was observed, but significant positive correlation only occurred in the high anthropogenic input area due to the complex effects of organic matter on Cd activity. The influence intensity of pH and OM on T-Cd and A-Cd increases under the strong influence of anthropogenic sources. Additionally, T-Cd and A-Cd were totally positively related to soil A-P, but mostly not significantly, which was attributed to the complexity of the available phosphorus source and the differences in Cd contents in chemical fertilizer. Furthermore, clay content might be an important factor affecting the correlation between Cd and soil properties, considering that the correlation between Cd and pH, SOM, A-P was significantly lower in areas with lower clay particles. This study suggested that GWR was an effective tool to reveal spatially varying relationships at field scale, which provided a new idea to further explore the related influencing factors on spatial distribution of contaminants and to realize precise management of a farmland environment.
Legal, Procedural and Social Aspects of Land Valuation in Land Consolidation: A Comparative Study for Selected Central and Eastern Europe Countries and Turkey
Authors: Ertunç Ela , Muchová Zlatica , Tomić Hrvoje , Janus Jaroslaw
Published: April 2022

The article presents the results of the analysis of the legal and practical aspects of the implementation of land value maps for land consolidation in four countries: Slovakia, Croatia, Poland and Turkey. The discussion indicated that it is not possible at present to construct fully universal methods of automatic earth valuation for LC. The reason is that there are too many different approaches to land value mapping. Identification of areas with similar characteristics (valuation factors) needs to be conducted prior to valuation of individual parcels. In both cases, the agronomic value from the farmer’s point of view is the key valuation criterion. It was pointed out that achieving versatility of algorithms can occur only as a result of extensive parameterisation of the developed models, both in terms of the number of factors considered, as well as the manner and strength of their interaction. The development directions of land valuation mass methods should proceed with the widest possible scope of public participation determining the principles of this valuation, which increases the level of acceptance of both the result of the land valuation itself and the subsequent effects of the land consolidation project.
Getting Blended Finance to Where It’s Needed: The Case of CBNRM Enterprises in Southern Africa
Authors: Smith Jessica , Samuelson Mikael , Libanda Benedict Moore , Roe Dilys , Alhassan Latif
Published: April 2022

Blended finance aims to unlock additional private finance for the sustainable development goals (SDGs), however, it has not yet reached the anticipated scale to deliver on SDG 15: Life on Land. So far, blended finance approaches have not been fully adapted to the context where conservation activities take place, for example on communal lands—a common tenure arrangement for conservation in southern Africa. This study identifies opportunities, barriers, and risks to up-scaling private finance for nature in the context of community-based natural resource management (CBNRM) in southern Africa. It considers the feasibility and desirability of relevant revenue streams towards achieving long-term financial sustainability in conservation landscapes, including sustainable wildlife economies and payment for ecosystem services (PES), and involving indigenous peoples and local communities (IPLCs) particularly within CBNRM tenure arrangements. It concludes that a ‘CBNRM investment guarantee’ or similar would be transformational for hundreds of thousands of conservation enterprises and their beneficiaries regionally, but currently no such tailored de-risking mechanism exists.
Ecological Risk Assessment of Transboundary Region Based on Land-Cover Change: A Case Study of Gandaki River Basin, Himalayas
Authors: Cui Bohao , Zhang Yili , Wang Zhaofeng , Gu Changjun , Liu Linshan , Wei Bo , Gong Dianqing , Rai Mohan Kumar
Published: April 2022

Land-cover change is a major cause of global ecosystem degradation, a severe threat to sustainable development and human welfare. In mountainous regions that cross national political boundaries, sensitive and fragile ecosystems are under complex disturbance pressures. Land-cover change may further exacerbate ecological risks in these regions. However, few studies have assessed the ecological risks in transboundary areas. This study focused on the Gandaki Basin (GRB), a typical transboundary region in the Himalayas. Based on the dynamic change in land cover, the landscape ecological risk index (ERI) model was constructed to assess the ecological risk in the GRB, revealing the evolution characteristics and spatial correlation of such a risk during the period 1990–2020. The results showed that all land cover types in the GRB have changed over the last 30 years. The interconversion of cropland and forestland was a distinctive feature in all periods. Overall, the medium and medium to low ecological risk level areas account for approximately 65% of the study area. The areas of high ecological risk were mainly distributed in the high elevation mountains of the northern Himalayas, while the low risk areas were located in the other mountains and hills of Nepal. In addition, the ecological risk in the Gandaki basin has shown a fluctuating trend of increasing over the past 30 years. However, there were different phases, with the order of ecological risk being 2020 > 2000 > 2010 > 1990. Ecological risks displayed positive spatial correlation and aggregation characteristics across periods. The high–high risk clusters were primarily located in the high and medium high ecological risk areas, while the low–low risk clusters were similar to low risk levels region. The findings provided the reference for ecosystem conservation and landscape management in transboundary areas.
An Equity Evaluation on Accessibility of Primary Healthcare Facilities by Using V2SFCA Method: Taking Fukuoka City, Japan, as a Case Study
Authors: Du Mengge , Zhao Shichen
Published: April 2022

The primary healthcare facilities are among the most basic needs of the residents, huge in quantity and widespread. Their distributions are directly related to people’s health, which affects the sustainable development of cities. The accessibility calculation of primary level healthcare facilities and the equity evaluation of accessibility from the perspective of medical service category and urban population is very important for the decision-making of layout and configuration but has been ignored for a long time. This study took the primary healthcare facilities of Fukuoka city in Japan as research objects; it first used the variable two-step floating catchment area (V2SFCA) method to calculate the healthcare catchment areas (HCAs) of medical service providers and the population catchment area (PCAs) of medical demand locations, and then obtained the accessibility to primary healthcare facilities. Finally, the spatial disparities of accessibility were evaluated from three aspects: overall space distribution by using Global and Local Moran’s I, service quality, and the population to be served. The results showed that HCAs were from 500 m to 6400 m, PCAs ranged from 500 m to 3000 m, the use of variable catchments can improve the accuracy of accessibility assessment results; the accessibility of primary healthcare facilities was clustered and had significant spatial differences, which were high in urban center and low in suburban area; the obvious differences in the accessibility distribution characteristics of clinics in differential diagnosis and treatment departments led to different degrees of unsaturation in the types of medical services obtained by residents; although the elderly’s demand for basic medical care was many times higher than that of other age groups, the accessibility in high-demand areas was generally low, and the situation in severely high-demand areas was more serious. This work puts forward a multi-dimensional realistic evaluation system for equality accessibility of primary healthcare facilities, providing the data support for the medical resources and facilities’ allocation and the intensive land use.
Financial Analysis of the Use of Land: Agriculture or Woodlot
Authors: Ninson Jacqueline , Egyir Irene S. , Mensah-Bonsu Akwasi , Onumah Edward Ebo
Published: April 2022

Agriculture is the main driver of deforestation. In other to reduce deforestation, a viable alternative livelihood strategy, aside from agriculture, must be in place to provide a sustainable income for investors. Managing forests for sustainable production (the forest economy) has been suggested as an alternative for sustainable land use practice. In the current study, we undertook a comparative analysis of woodlots and agriculture. The profitability of agriculture and woodlot production in Ghana was compared using a profitability model. We looked at profitability in terms of Net Present Value (NPV) and the Benefit-Cost Ratio (BCR) of three regions in Ghana, namely, Ashanti, Bono-East, and Western Regions. We found that woodlot producers with contractual relationships with the Forest Commission and other forestry companies produce the highest Net Present Value (NPV) and Benefit-Cost Ratio (BCR). However, this profitability is marginally higher than that of agriculture, which gives a fixed yearly return. This means woodlot production may not be a panacea to reducing agriculture in Ghana.
The Influence of Collusive Information Dissemination on Bidder’s Collusive Willingness in Urban Construction Projects
Authors: Wang Xiaowei , Ye Kunhui , Zhuang Taozhi , Liu Rui
Published: April 2022

The process of urbanization and urban regeneration is inseparable from the implementation of urban construction projects. Current studies show a large amount of collusive bidding in urban construction projects, which has seriously affected healthy and sustainable urban development. Therefore, the governance of collusive bidding in urban construction projects is crucial to sustainable urbanization and urban renewal. In reality, the collusion information dissemination (CID) is a key influential factor in the bidder’s collusive willingness (BCW). Knowing the influence of CID on BCW will help city managers to have a clearer understanding of the causes and governance focus of collusive bidding. Thus, the study using the multi-agent simulation technology simulates the influence of CID on BCW in different market scales, communication intensities, and trust boundaries based on the Deffuant model. The research found that the negative impact of the CID on the market is more incredible in cities with smaller market sizes, and effectively inhibiting the CID can reduce the occurrence of collusion. Moreover, the research also found that colluders always form their collusive alliances within CID networks. These findings suggest that urban managers should strengthen the suppression of collusive bidding by weakening the dissemination of collusive information and blocking the CID networks.