bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Gender Differences in Anxiety, Attitudes, and Fear among Nursing Undergraduates Coping with CPR Training with PPE Kit for COVID
Authors: Maestre-Miquel Clara , Martín-Rodríguez Francisco , Durantez-Fernández Carlos , Martín-Conty José L. , Viñuela Antonio , Polonio-López Begoña , Romo-Barrientos Carmen , Criado-Álvarez Juan José , Torres-Falguera Francisca , Conty-Serrano Rosa , Jorge-Soto Cristina , Mohedano-Moriano Alicia
Published: November 2022

Background: The aim of this study was to examine the attitudes, fears, and anxiety level of nursing students faced with a critical clinical simulation (cardiopulmonary reanimation) with and without personal protective equipment (PPE). Methods: A pilot before–after study as conducted from 21 to 25 June 2021, with 24 students registered in the nursing degree of the Faculty of Health Sciences of the Castilla-La Mancha University (UCLM) in the city of Talavera de la Reina (Toledo, Spain). From 520 possible participants, only 24 were selected according to the exclusion and inclusion criteria. The STAI Manual for the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, a self-evaluation questionnaire, was used to study trait STAI (basal anxiety), trait STAI before CPR, state STAI after CPR, total STAI before CPR, and total STAI after CPR as the main variables. A t-test was used to study the STAI variables according to sex and the physiological values related to the anxiety level of participants. An ANOVA statistical test was used to perform a data analysis of the STAI variables. Results: A total of 54.2% of participants (IC 95% 35.1–72.1) suffered from global anxiety before the cardiopulmonary reanimation maneuvers (CPR). The results of the STAI before CPR maneuvers showed significant differences according to gender in state anxiety (p = 0.04), with a higher level of anxiety in women (22.38 ± 7.69 vs. 15.82 ± 7.18). Conclusions: This study demonstrates different levels of anxiety in terms of gender suffered by nursing students in high-pressure environments, such as a CPR situation.
Patient Outcomes following Immediate Tracheostomy and Emergency Decompressive Craniectomy in the Same Setting
Authors: Kumar Ramesh , Zenian Mohd Sofan , Maeng Tang Yiu , Fadzil Farizal , Mohd Azli Anis Nabillah
Published: November 2022

Early tracheostomy is recommended for patients with severe traumatic brain injury or stroke. Tracheostomy in the same setting as emergency decompressive craniectomy, on the other hand, has never been investigated. Our goal was to compare the outcomes related to the duration of mechanical ventilation in patients who had immediate (IT) vs. early (ET) tracheostomy following an emergency decompressive craniectomy in a Neurosurgical centre in Sabah, Malaysia. We reviewed 135 patients who underwent emergency decompressive craniectomy for traumatic brain injury (TBI) and stroke patients between January 2013 and January 2018 in this retrospective cohort study. The cohort included 49 patients who received immediate tracheostomy (IT), while the control group included 86 patients who received a tracheostomy within 7 days of decompressive surgery (ET). The duration of mechanical ventilation, length of stay (LOS) in the critical-care unit, and intravenous sedation were significantly shorter in the IT group compared to the ET group, according to the study. There was no significant difference between the two groups in the incidence of ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP), tracheostomy-related complications, or 30-day mortality rate. In conclusion, compared to early tracheostomy, immediate tracheostomy in the same setting as emergency decompressive craniectomy is associated with a shorter duration of mechanical ventilation and LOS in critical-care units with acceptable morbidity and mortality rates. This practise could be used in busy centres with limited resources, such as those where mechanical ventilators, critical-care unit beds, or OT wait times are an issue.
PMTCT Data Management and Reporting during the Transition Phase of Implementing the Rationalised Registers in Amathole District, Eastern Cape Province, South Africa
Authors: Oyebola Oyebanji G. , Debra Jackson , Thubelihle Mathole
Published: November 2022

Background: The National Department of Health, in March 2015, launched the implementation of Rationalisation of Register, aimed at reducing the amount of time invested in completing the registers and collecting data. Therefore, the number of registers used in the South African healthcare facilities was reduced from 56 to 6. Objectives: This study explored the effect of the rollout of Rationalisation of Register on the documentation and reporting of Prevention of Mother-to-Child Transmission (PMTCT) programme data with the existing source documents during the transitional period, especially with routine data collected and reported at various health care system levels. Methods: A mixed-method research approach was used, and three source documents, namely: Tally sheet, Antenatal care (ANC) register, and Tick register used for collecting and reporting PMTCT data, were reviewed. An in-depth interview was conducted with healthcare workers in four sub-districts of the Amathole district, Eastern Cape province of South Africa. Results: All selected facilities completed the three source documents. The facilities consolidated their PMTCT data monthly before reporting to the District Health Information System (DHIS). Less than half of the facilities had already started using the rationalised registers. However, they did not transition entirely because they still use other registers, especially the ANC register. Reasons for not displaying facility performance include clinicians not properly completing the clients’ information, and a shortage of staff to collect, report, and analyse data. Conclusions: PMTCT data management and reporting were challenging during the transitioning phase of implementing the rationalised registers because of different timelines instituted in the facilities and non-availability of source documents in some facilities. Capacity of the clinic staff involved in data collection should be built on programme care pathways, data monitoring, data capturing into the Routine Health Information System and complemented with coaching, mentoring, and supportive supervision for improved programme outputs and outcomes.
“What If I Die and No One Notices?” A Qualitative Study Exploring How Living Alone and in Poverty Impacts the Health and Well-Being of Older People in Hong Kong
Authors: Kwan Crystal , Tam Ho Chung
Published: November 2022

Despite the growing number of older people who live alone and in poverty, the intersection of these two social risk factors and the impacts on older adults’ health and well-being have not been widely examined. This qualitative study explores the challenges and strengths of 47 older people who live alone and in poverty in Hong Kong. Thematic analysis was used to identify eight themes related to challenges: (i) social isolation and loneliness, (ii) self-esteem and self-efficacy, (iii) declining mobility, health and activity levels, (iv) high medical expenses, (v) age discrimination and long wait times for medical health services, (vi) age discrimination, retirement, and wanting part-time employment, (vii) not enough gender-specific social participation activities, and (viii) housing insecurity. Four themes related to strengths were identified: (i) An “I have enough” mindset, (ii) strong formal social support, (iii) contributing to the community and others, and (v) “Most of us like to be alone.” Successfully addressing poverty in old age and tackling the challenges associated with living alone will require focusing on and activating not only external and systemic resources but also the intrinsic capacities and strengths of older adults themselves. Five discussion points are raised addressing the implications for future gerontological research and practice.
Shoulder Torque Production and Muscular Balance after Long and Short Tennis Points
Authors: Brito André V. , Carvalho Diogo D. , Fonseca Pedro , Monteiro Ana S. , Fernandes Aléxia , Fernández-Fernández Jaime , Fernandes Ricardo J.
Published: November 2022

Tennis is an asymmetric sport characterized by a systematic repetition of specific movements that may cause disturbances in muscular strength, power, and torque. Thus, we assessed (i) the torque, power, ratio production, and bilateral asymmetries in the shoulder’s external and internal rotations at 90 and 180°/s angular velocities, and (ii) the point duration influence of the above-mentioned variables. Twenty competitive tennis players performed external and internal shoulder rotations; an isokinetic evaluation was conducted of the dominant and non-dominant upper limbs before and after five and ten forehands. A higher torque production in the shoulder’s internal rotations at 90 and 180°/s was observed for the dominant vs. non-dominant sides (e.g., 63.1 ± 15.6 vs. 45.9 ± 9.8% and 62.5 ± 17.3 vs. 44.0 ± 12.6% of peak torque/body mass, p < 0.05). The peak torque decreased only after ten forehands (38.3 ± 15.8 vs. 38.2 ± 15.8 and 39.3 ± 16.1 vs. 38.1 ± 15.6 Nm, respectively, p < 0.05), but without impacting speed or accuracy. Unilateral systematic actions of tennis players caused contralateral asymmetries, evidencing the importance of implementing compensatory training. The forehand kinematic assessment suggests that racket and wrist amplitude, as well as speed, are important success determinants in tennis.
Impact of Subjective and Objective Factors on Subway Travel Behavior: Spatial Differentiation
Authors: Chen Qi , Yan Yibo , Zhang Xu , Chen Jian
Published: November 2022

People’s perceptions and understanding of the built environment can shape and regulate travel intention and behavior. From the perspective of urban design, improving the built urban environment is an important way to encourage green travel. This study determined the impact path from the built environment to subway travel behavior, considering the intermediate effect of psychological factors. The impact path could provide feedback for optimizing the built environment, thereby improving the ratio of subway travel. In this study, the impact path hypothesis of “objective environment—subjective psychological—travel behavior” was first proposed, taking travelers’ psychological perceptions as the intermediary variable. Second, questionnaires and geographic information were used to measure the objective environment and subjective psychological perceptions. Third, a structural equation model was constructed to verify the proposed path hypothesis. Finally, multiscale geographically weighted regression was used to analyze the influence of subjective and objective factors on travel behavior and its spatial differences. The empirical case sampled 405 residents of Zhengzhou, China. The results verified the proposed impact path hypothesis and revealed spatial heterogeneity in its impact on travel behavior. The research explains how travel behavior is generated and could support the optimization of the urban built environment.
Stimulation of the Vascular Endothelium and Angiogenesis by Blood-Flow-Restricted Exercise
Authors: Maga Mikołaj , Schönborn Martyna , Wachsmann-Maga Agnieszka , Śliwka Agnieszka , Krężel Jakub , Włodarczyk Aleksandra , Olszewska Marta , Nowobilski Roman
Published: November 2022

Blood-flow-restricted exercise (BFRE) has been gaining constantly increasing interest in rehabilitation, but its influence on endothelial functions has not been well studied yet. Our aim is to examine the influence of low-resistance BFRE on endothelial functions and angiogenesis. This prospective cross-over study involved 35 young healthy adults. They conducted a 21-min low-resistant exercise with blood flow restricted by pressure cuffs placed on arms and tights. They also did the same training but without blood flow restriction. Endothelial parameters and angiogenesis biomarkers were evaluated before and up to 20 min after exercise. Both types of exercise increased Flow-Mediated Dilatation (FMD) but elevation after BFRE was more significant compared to the controls. The stiffness index decreased only after BFRE, while the reflection index decreased significantly after both types of exercise but was higher after BFRE. Platelet endothelial cell adhesion molecule (PECAM-1) and vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 (VEGFR-2) concentrations were increased by both exercise types but elevations were higher after BFRE compared to the controls. Only BFRE elevated the mean serum CD34 protein concentration. Based on these results, we can assume that low-resistance BFR exercise stimulates angiogenesis and improves endothelial functions more significantly compared to the same training performed without blood flow restriction.
COVID-19 Vaccine Hesitancy among U.S. Veterans Experiencing Homelessness in Transitional Housing
Authors: Gin June L. , Balut Michelle D. , Dobalian Aram
Published: November 2022

Little is known about COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy and acceptance among individuals experiencing homelessness, despite their higher risk for morbidity and mortality from SARS-CoV-2. This study examines COVID-19 vaccination attitudes and uptake among U.S. military Veterans experiencing homelessness enrolled in transitional housing programs funded by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). Telephone interviews were conducted with 20 Veterans in California, Florida, Iowa, Kentucky, and Massachusetts, USA (January–April 2021). A rapid analysis approach was used to identify and enumerate commonly occurring themes. Although 60% of interviewed Veterans either received the COVID-19 vaccine or were willing to do so, one-third expressed hesitancy to get vaccinated. COVID-19 vaccination attitudes (e.g., belief that the vaccines were inadequately tested), military experience, beliefs about influenza and other vaccines, and sources of information emerged as influential factors for COVID-19 vaccination uptake or hesitancy. Veterans in VA-funded homeless transitional housing programs are generally willing to be vaccinated. However, a substantial minority is reluctant to take the vaccine due to concerns about the COVID-19 vaccine and distrust of authority. Recommendations for increasing uptake include utilizing Veteran peers, homeless service providers, and healthcare providers as trusted messengers to improve confidence in the vaccine.
Describing the Ecology of Parenting Based on Preschool Mothers’ Social Relationships in Korea: An Ecological Theory Approach
Authors: Shim Kaka , Shin Hyunsook
Published: November 2022

Mothers’ social networks are important to their children’s health but still remains poorly understood in Korea. The purpose of the study was to explore the elements of social relationships in Korean preschool mothers to describe their parenting ecology. Data were collected from interviews with 32 mothers according to the Social Network Interview questionnaire and from their seven-day diaries describing their daily social relationships. Eleven ecological elements were identified. The social relationships of these mothers involved seven types of people: relatives, mothers of their children’s friends, kindergarten and learning center teachers, domestic workers providing parenting support, husbands, friends, and children’s friends. The mothers’ social relationships were also associated with four location types: kindergartens, private learning centers, health services centers, and private entertainment centers. The strongest element of the ecology of parenting in terms of frequency was relatives, followed by the mothers of their children’s friends and kindergarten teachers; for the location, the strongest was kindergartens, followed by private learning centers and health services centers. In conclusion, the strongest elements in parenting ecology should be evaluated during the assessment of children’s growth and development, and incorporated in the assessment tools used.
Weight Stigma among Young Adults in Thailand: Reliability, Validation, and Measurement Invariance of the Thai-Translated Weight Self Stigma Questionnaire and Perceived Weight Stigma Scale
Authors: Chirawat Paratthakonkun , Kamolthip Ruckwongpatr , Rattaprach Rattana , Nadhiroh Siti R. , Tung Serene En Hui , Gan Wan Ying , Pinyo Meephiam , Nabpran Teosagul , Rozzell-Voss Kaitlin N. , Latner Janet D. , Lin Chung-Ying
Published: November 2022

The previous studies found that the Weight Self Stigma Questionnaire (WSSQ) and Perceived Weight Stigma Scale (PWSS) have shown well-established psychometric properties for measuring weight stigma with strong reliability and validity from different languages. However, there is a lack of an appropriate instrument in assessing weight stigma in Thai samples. This study aimed to examine the Thai WSSQ and PWSS among Thai university students. Both instruments were also assessed for their measurement invariance across gender and weight status subgroups. A cross-sectional study was conducted on 801 university students in Thailand between January 2022 and July 2022. All participants completed a demographic questionnaire and a Thai version of the WSSQ, PWSS, and Depression Anxiety Stress Scale-21 (DASS-21) via an online survey. Reliability, validity, measurement invariance, and correlational analyses were performed to investigate whether the Thai versions of the WSSQ and PWSS psychometric properties were acceptable. Both translated questionnaires demonstrated overall acceptable psychometric properties and revealed a two-dimensional structure for the WSSQ, and unidimensional structure for the PWSS. Measurement invariance was obtained across gender and weight status subgroups. Additionally, both translated WSSQ and PWSS were significantly correlated with DASS-21. The Thai-translated WSSQ and PWSS showed strong validity, reliability, and factorial invariance across different subgroups for measuring weight stigma among Thai university students.
Healthcare Professionals’ Views and Perspectives towards Aging
Authors: Palsgaard Peggy , Maino Vieytes Christian A. , Peterson Natasha , Francis Sarah L. , Monroe-Lord Lillie , Sahyoun Nadine R. , Ventura-Marra Melissa , Weidauer Lee , Xu Furong , Arthur Anna E.
Published: November 2022

Improving care for the older population is a growing clinical need in the United States. Ageism and other attitudes of healthcare professionals can negatively impact care for older adults. This study investigated healthcare professionals’ (N = 140) views towards aging and characterized a confluence of factors influencing ageism perspectives in healthcare workers using path analysis models. These models proposed relationships between aging anxiety, expectations regarding aging, age, ageism, and knowledge. Aging anxiety had a less critical role in the final model than hypothesized and influenced ageism in healthcare workers through its negative effect (β = −0.27) on expectations regarding aging. In contrast, aging knowledge (β = −0.23), age (β = −0.27), and expectations regarding aging (β = −0.48) directly and inversely influenced ageism. Increased knowledge about the aging process could lower ageism amongst healthcare professionals and improve care for older adults. The results put forth in this study help to characterize and understand healthcare workers’ complex views towards the aging population they often encounter. Moreover, these results highlight the need and utility of leveraging practitioner education for combating ageism in the clinical setting.
Estimating Implicit and Explicit Gender Leadership Bias among Primary Healthcare Professionals in Saudi Arabia
Authors: Alzahrani Fahad , Al-Mansour Khalid , Alarifi Ghadah , Alyahya Saad , AlMehaizie Nasser , Almoaibed Hanaa
Published: November 2022

(1) Background: Women have become more influential and powerful; however, implicit bias continues to plague organizations when it comes to women in leadership positions. This study examines the implicit and explicit biases that favor men as leaders among Saudi Arabian primary healthcare professionals. (2) Methods: A secure, web-based survey was administered to primary healthcare professionals. The survey included questions about leadership as well as an Implicit Association Test (IAT) for implicit gender bias. (3) Results: Out of 690 eligible, 448 respondents completed the survey, representing a response rate of 65%. Male residents had a mean IAT score of 0.27 (SD 0.31) and females 0.12 (SD 0.29), both favoring males in leadership roles, and the difference was statistically significant. There was a significant association between gender and gender IAT. In the explicit bias, gender, education, gender of the current manager, and being manager were associated with the gender explicit bias. Explicit bias favoring males in leadership roles was associated with increased implicit bias favoring males in leadership roles. (4) Conclusions: This study found that explicit and implicit gender bias is present among primary healthcare professionals favoring men in leadership positions held by both men and women.
Research Priorities and Trends on Bioenergy: Insights from Bibliometric Analysis
Authors: Yuan Ruling , Pu Jun , Wu Dan , Wu Qingbai , Huhe Taoli , Lei Tingzhou , Chen Yong
Published: November 2022

Replacing fossil fuels with bioenergy is crucial to achieving sustainable development and carbon neutrality. To determine the priorities and developing trends of bioenergy technology, related publications from 2000 to 2020 were analyzed using bibliometric method. Results demonstrated that the number of publications on bioenergy increased rapidly since 2005, and the average growth rate from 2005 to 2011 reached a maximum of 20% per year. In terms of publication quantity, impact, and international collaboration, the USA had been leading the research of bioenergy technology, followed by China and European countries. Co-occurrence analysis using author keywords identified six clusters about this topic, which are “biodiesel and transesterification”, “biogas and anaerobic digestion”, “bioethanol and fermentation”, “bio-oil and pyrolysis”, “microalgae and lipid”, and “biohydrogen and gasification or dark fermentation”. Among the six clusters, three of them relate to liquid biofuel, attributing that the liquid products of biomass are exceptional alternatives to fossil fuels for heavy transportation and aviation. Lignocellulose and microalgae were identified as the most promising raw materials, and pretreating technologies and efficient catalysts have received special attention. The sharp increase of “pyrolysis” and “gasification” from 2011 to 2020 suggested that those technologies about thermochemical conversion have been well studied in recent years. Some new research trends, such as applying nanoparticles in transesterification, and hydrothermal liquefaction in producing bio-oil from microalgae, will get a breakthrough in the coming years.
The Role of L-Arginine-NO System in Female Reproduction: A Narrative Review
Authors: Bodis Jozsef , Farkas Balint , Nagy Bernadett , Kovacs Kalman , Sulyok Endre
Published: November 2022

Accumulating evidence are available on the involvement of l-arginine-nitric oxide (NO) system in complex biological processes and numerous clinical conditions. Particular attention was made to reveal the association of l-arginine and methylarginines to outcome measures of women undergoing in vitro fertilization (IVF). This review attempts to summarize the expression and function of the essential elements of this system with particular reference to the different stages of female reproduction. A literature search was performed on the PubMed and Google Scholar systems. Publications were selected for evaluation according to the results presented in the Abstract. The regulatory role of NO during the period of folliculogenesis, oocyte maturation, fertilization, embryogenesis, implantation, placentation, pregnancy, and delivery was surveyed. The major aspects of cellular l-arginine uptake via cationic amino acid transporters (CATs), arginine catabolism by nitric oxide synthases (NOSs) to NO and l-citrulline and by arginase to ornithine, and polyamines are presented. The importance of NOS inhibition by methylated arginines and the redox-sensitive elements of the process of NO generation are also shown. The l-arginine-NO system plays a crucial role in all stages of female reproduction. Insufficiently low or excessively high rates of NO generation may have adverse influences on IVF outcome.
IL-1RAP, a Key Therapeutic Target in Cancer
Authors: Frenay Jame , Bellaye Pierre-Simon , Oudot Alexandra , Helbling Alex , Petitot Camille , Ferrand Christophe , Collin Bertrand , Dias Alexandre M. M.
Published: November 2022

Cancer is a major cause of death worldwide and especially in high- and upper-middle-income countries. Despite recent progress in cancer therapies, such as chimeric antigen receptor T (CAR-T) cells or antibody-drug conjugate (ADC), new targets expressed by the tumor cells need to be identified in order to selectively drive these innovative therapies to tumors. In this context, IL-1RAP recently showed great potential to become one of these new targets for cancer therapy. IL-1RAP is highly involved in the inflammation process through the interleukins 1, 33, and 36 (IL-1, IL-33, IL-36) signaling pathways. Inflammation is now recognized as a hallmark of carcinogenesis, suggesting that IL-1RAP could play a role in cancer development and progression. Furthermore, IL-1RAP was found overexpressed on tumor cells from several hematological and solid cancers, thus confirming its potential involvement in carcinogenesis. This review will first describe the structure and genetics of IL-1RAP as well as its role in tumor development. Finally, a focus will be made on the therapies based on IL-1RAP targeting, which are now under preclinical or clinical development.
Clinical Effects of Photofunctionalization on Implant Stability and Marginal Bone Loss: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Lang Xinrui , Qiao Bo , Ge Ziyu , Yan Jiahui , Zhang Yanzhen
Published: November 2022

Background: Several clinical trials have recently been conducted to elucidate the effectiveness of photofunctionalization. The aim of this review was to systematically analyze the clinical effects of photofunctionalization on implant stability and marginal bone loss (MBL). Methods: An electronic search in four databases and a manual search were conducted in September 2022. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs), clinical controlled trials (CCTs), and cohort and case-control studies evaluating the effects of photofunctionalization on implant stability or marginal bone loss (MBL) in humans were included. The methodological quality assessment using RoB 2.0 and the ROBINS-I tool was performed based on different study designs. Results: Seven studies were included for a qualitative analysis, and five of them were chosen for a meta-analysis. The meta-analysis revealed that photofunctionalization significantly improved the stability of the implant 2 months after implantation (p = 0.04; MD = 3.48; 95% CI = −0.23 to 6.73) and increased the osseointegration speed index (OSI) (p = 0.007; MD = 2.13; 95% CI = 0.57 to 3.68). However, no significant improvements of implant stability were observed 2 weeks (p = 0.62), 4 weeks (p = 0.31), nor 4 months (p = 0.24) after implantation. The evaluation presented no significant reductions in MBL. Conclusions: Based on the positive effect of photofunctionalization on the rate of establishing implant stability, photofunctionalization may provide an effective and practical strategy to achieve faster osseointegration and reduce the overall healing time. Photofunctionalization appears to improve the implant stability. However, the clinical effect of photofunctionalization on MBL remains unclear due to the shortage of available studies.
Caries Management—The Role of Surface Interactions in De- and Remineralization-Processes
Authors: Flemming Jasmin , Hannig Christian , Hannig Matthias
Published: November 2022

Background: Bioadhesion and surface interactions on enamel are of essential relevance for initiation, progression and prevention of caries and erosions. Salivary proteins on and within initial carious and erosive lesions can facilitate or aggravate de- and remineralization. This applies for the pellicle layer, the subsurface pellicle and for proteins within initial carious lesions. Little is known about these proteinaceous structures related to initial caries and erosion. Accordingly, there is a considerable demand for an understanding of the underlying processes occurring at the interface between the tooth surface and the oral cavity in order to develop novel agents that limit and modulate caries and erosion. Objectives and findings: The present paper depicts the current knowledge of the processes occurring at the interface of the tooth surface and the oral fluids. Proteinaceous layers on dental hard tissues can prevent or aggravate demineralization processes, whereas proteins within initial erosive or carious lesions might hinder remineralization considerably and restrict the entry of ions into lesions. Conclusions: Despite the fact that organic–inorganic surface interactions are of essential relevance for de- and remineralization processes at the tooth surface, there is limited knowledge on these clinically relevant phenomena. Accordingly, intensive research is necessary to develop new approaches in preventive dentistry.
Peer–Peer Communication Using Novel Slice Handover Algorithm for 5G Wireless Networks
Authors: Pazhani.A Azhagu Jaisudhan , Gunasekaran P. , Shanmuganathan Vimal , Lim Sangsoon , Madasamy Kaliappan , Manoharan Rajesh , Verma Amit
Published: November 2022

The goal of 5G wireless networks is to address the growing need for network services among users. User equipment has progressed to the point where users now expect diverse services from the network. The latency, reliability, and bandwidth requirements of users can all be classified. To fulfil the different needs of users in an economical manner, while guaranteeing network resources are resourcefully assigned to consumers, 5G systems plan to leverage technologies like Software Defined Networks, Network Function Virtualization, and Network Slicing. For the purpose of ensuring continuous handover among network slices, while catering to the advent of varied 5G application scenarios, new mobility management techniques must be adopted in Sliced 5G networks. Users want to travel from one region of coverage to another region without any fading in their network connection. Different network slices can coexist in 5G networks, with every slice offering services customized to various QoS demands. As a result, when customers travel from one region of coverage to another, the call can be transferred to a slice that caters to similar or slightly different requirements. The goal of this study was to develop an intra- and inter-slice algorithm for determining handover decisions in sliced 5G networks and to assess performance by comparing intra- and inter-slice handovers. The proposed work shows that an inter-slice handover algorithm offers superior quality of service when compared to an intra-slice algorithm.
Integrating Blockchain for Health Insurance in Indonesia with Hash Authentication
Authors: Sutanto Erwin , Mulyana Rahmat , Arisgraha Franky Chandra Satria , Escrivá-Escrivá Guillermo
Published: November 2022

The use of blockchain has received great attention in its adoption as a financial instrument in cryptocurrencies. This phenomenon needs to be considered in the sense not only as a form of financial transactions but also in other fields such as health, which is also a challenge for modern society. In addition, several government policies have also supported the provision of health services as a form of improving people’s living standards in the form of insurance. In this study, we try to design the system by using UML diagram and simulate the use of DApps offered by the Vexanium Ecosystem. For example, three basic activities between patients, doctors, and insurance will be simulated in the form of the transaction ledger. This method allows us to speed up the authentication process that previously needed to be performed for a long time with bureaucracy becoming the rule in smart contracts in a matter of minutes. The evaluation of this method will then be compared with eight existing blockchain projects. The result in healthcare processes is cost savings through increased automation, speed, standardization, and efficiency. All of this can be a preliminary analysis of its application in Indonesia, particularly related to the authentication and recording of medical records.
Artificial Intelligence in Cancer Research: Trends, Challenges and Future Directions
Authors: Sebastian Anu Maria , Peter David
Published: November 2022

The World Health Organization (WHO), in their 2022 report, identified cancer as one of the leading causes of death, accounting for about 16% of deaths worldwide. The Cancer-Moonshot community aims to reduce the cancer death rate by half in the next 25 years and wants to improve the lives of cancer-affected people. Cancer mortality can be reduced if detected early and treated appropriately. Cancers like breast cancer and cervical cancer have high cure probabilities when treated early in accordance with best practices. Integration of artificial intelligence (AI) into cancer research is currently addressing many of the challenges where medical experts fail to bring cancer to control and cure, and the outcomes are quite encouraging. AI offers many tools and platforms to facilitate more understanding and tackling of this life-threatening disease. AI-based systems can help pathologists in diagnosing cancer more accurately and consistently, reducing the case error rates. Predictive-AI models can estimate the likelihood for a person to get cancer by identifying the risk factors. Big data, together with AI, can enable medical experts to develop customized treatments for cancer patients. The side effects from this kind of customized therapy will be less severe in comparison with the generalized therapies. However, many of these AI tools will remain ineffective in fighting against cancer and saving the lives of millions of patients unless they are accessible and understandable to biologists, oncologists, and other medical cancer researchers. This paper presents the trends, challenges, and future directions of AI in cancer research. We hope that this paper will be of help to both medical experts and technical experts in getting a better understanding of the challenges and research opportunities in cancer diagnosis and treatment.
Low Incidence of Acute Antibody-Mediated Rejection after HLA Desensitization in Living Donor Kidney Transplant Recipients
Authors: Fernández Rivera Constantino , Rodríguez Magariños Catuxa , Calvo Rodríguez María , Ferreiro Hermida Tamara , Blanco Pardo Marta , López Muñiz Andrés , Erráez Guerrero Sara , García Gago Leticia , Alonso Hernández Ángel
Published: November 2022

Desensitization allows the performance of human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-incompatible transplants. However, the incidence of acute rejection (AR) is high. This study aims to analyze the incidence of AR after transplantation with HLA-incompatible living donors in patients who underwent desensitization. Patients were immunosuppressed with tacrolimus, mycophenolic acid derivatives, and steroids after being desensitized with rituximab, plasma exchange, and/or immunoadsorption with specific cytomegalovirus immunoglobulins. A negative complement-dependent cytotoxicity or flow cytometry crossmatch and a donor-specific antibody titer < 1000 mean fluorescence intensity (MFI) were used to determine desensitization efficacy. A total of 36 patients underwent desensitization, and 27 (75%) were transplanted. After a follow-up of 58 ± 58 months (Min–Max: 0.13–169.5), five episodes of AR occurred: two antibody-mediated and three T-cell-mediated. No differences were found in baseline calculated panel-reactive antibodies (cPRA), class I or II MFI, number of antibodies, or Relative Intensity Scale (RIS) between AR and non-AR patients. Patients with antibody-mediated AR had higher cPRA (NS), MFI class I (p = 0.07) and class II (p = 0.006), and RIS (p = 0.01). The two patients with antibody-mediated AR and one patient with T-cell-mediated AR lost their grafts. In conclusion, the incidence of acute antibody-mediated rejection after desensitization was 7.4%, which occurred early post-transplantation in patients with high MFI and was associated with early graft loss.
Purification and Identification of Peptides from Oyster (Crassostrea hongkongensis) Protein Enzymatic Hydrolysates and Their Anti-Skin Photoaging Effects on UVB-Irradiated HaCaT Cells
Authors: Peng Zhilan , Gao Jialong , Su Weimin , Cao Wenhong , Zhu Guoping , Qin Xiaoming , Zhang Chaohua , Qi Yi
Published: November 2022

This study aimed to purify and identify antiphotoaging peptides from oyster (Crassostrea hongkongensis) protein enzymatic hydrolysates (OPEH) and to investigate the possible mechanism underlying its antiphotoaging effect. Multiple methods (Ultrafiltration, G25 Chromatography, RP-HPLC, and LC/MS/MS) had been used for this purpose, and eventually, two peptides, including WNLNP and RKNEVLGK, were identified. Particularly, WNLNP exerted remarkable antiphotoaging effect on the UVB-irradiated HaCaT photoaged cell model in a dose-dependent manner. WNLNP exerted its protective effect mainly through inhibiting ROS production, decreasing MMP-1 expression, but increasing extracellular pro-collagen I content. Furthermore, WNLNP downregulated p38, JNK, ERK, and p65 phosphorylation in the MAPK/NF-κB signaling pathway and attenuated bax over-expressions but reversed bcl-2 reduction in UVB- irradiated HaCaT cells. The molecular docking analysis showed that WNLNP forms five and seven hydrogen bonds with NF-κB (p65) and MMP-1, respectively. This study suggested that a pentapeptide WNLNP isolated from OPEH had great potential to prevent and regulate skin photoaging.
A Single Amino Acid Replacement Boosts the Analgesic Activity of α-Conotoxin AuIB through the Inhibition of the GABABR-Coupled N-Type Calcium Channel
Authors: Wei Yuanmei , Zhang Min , Yu Shuo , Huang Qiuyuan , Chen Rongfang , Xu Shujing , Huang Yue , Yu Yunzhou , Liao Ming , Dai Qiuyun
Published: November 2022

α-conotoxin AuIB is the only one of the 4/6 type α-conotoxins (α-CTxs) that inhibits the γ-aminobutyric acid receptor B (GABABR)-coupled N-type calcium channel (CaV2.2). To improve its inhibitory activity, a series of variants were synthesized and evaluated according to the structure–activity relationships of 4/7 type α-CTxs targeting GABABR-coupled CaV2.2. Surprisingly, only the substitution of Pro7 with Arg results in a 2–3-fold increase in the inhibition of GABABR-coupled CaV2.2 (IC50 is 0.74 nM); substitutions of position 9–12 with basic or hydrophobic amino acid and the addition of hydrophobic amino acid Leu or Ile at the second loop to mimic 4/7 type α-CTxs all failed to improve the inhibitory activity of AuIB against GABABR-coupled CaV2.2. Interestingly, the most potent form of AuIB[P7R] has disulfide bridges of “1–4, 2–3” (ribbon), which differs from the “1–3, 2–4” (globular) in the isoforms of wildtype AuIB. In addition, AuIB[P7R](globular) displays potent analgesic activity in the acetic acid writhing model and the partial sciatic nerve injury (PNL) model. Our study demonstrated that 4/6 type α-CTxs, with the disulfide bridge connectivity “1–4, 2–3,” are also potent inhibitors for GABABR-coupled CaV2.2, exhibiting potent analgesic activity.
Diagnosing Coronary Artery Disease on the Basis of Hard Ensemble Voting Optimization
Authors: Mohammedqasim Hayder , Mohammedqasem Roa’a , Ata Oguz , Alyasin Eman Ibrahim
Published: November 2022

Background and Objectives: Recently, many studies have focused on the early diagnosis of coronary artery disease (CAD), which is one of the leading causes of cardiac-associated death worldwide. The effectiveness of the most important features influencing disease diagnosis determines the performance of machine learning systems that can allow for timely and accurate treatment. We performed a Hybrid ML framework based on hard ensemble voting optimization (HEVO) to classify patients with CAD using the Z-Alizadeh Sani dataset. All categorical features were converted to numerical forms, the synthetic minority oversampling technique (SMOTE) was employed to overcome imbalanced distribution between two classes in the dataset, and then, recursive feature elimination (RFE) with random forest (RF) was used to obtain the best subset of features. Materials and Methods: After solving the biased distribution in the CAD data set using the SMOTE method and finding the high correlation features that affected the classification of CAD patients. The performance of the proposed model was evaluated using grid search optimization, and the best hyperparameters were identified for developing four applications, namely, RF, AdaBoost, gradient-boosting, and extra trees based on an HEV classifier. Results: Five fold cross-validation experiments with the HEV classifier showed excellent prediction performance results with the 10 best balanced features obtained using SMOTE and feature selection. All evaluation metrics results reached > 98% with the HEV classifier, and the gradient-boosting model was the second best classification model with accuracy = 97% and F1-score = 98%. Conclusions: When compared to modern methods, the proposed method perform well in diagnosing coronary artery disease, and therefore, the proposed method can be used by medical personnel for supplementary therapy for timely, accurate, and efficient identification of CAD cases in suspected patients.
Study on the Changes in the Microcosmic Environment in Forward Osmosis Membranes to Reduce Membrane Resistance
Authors: Zhao Yang , Duan Liang , Liu Xiang , Song Yonghui
Published: November 2022

Osmotic microbial fuel cells (OsMFCs) are an emerging wastewater treatment technology in bioelectricity generation, organic substrate removal, and wastewater reclamation. To address this issue, proton-conductive sites were strengthened after using the forward osmosis (FO) membrane by reducing the membrane resistance. The mechanism of improving electricity generation was attributed mainly to the unique characteristics of the membrane material and the water flux characteristics of the FO membrane. In particular, only when the concentration of catholyte was greater than 0.3 M was the membrane resistance the main contributor to the overall internal resistance. Meanwhile, through the simulation of the concentration inside the membrane, the changes in the membrane thickness direction and the phase transition of the internal structure of the membrane from the dry state (0% water content) to the expansion state (>50%water content) were analyzed, which were influenced by the water flux, further explaining the important role of the membrane’s microenvironment in reducing the membrane impedance. This further opens a novel avenue for the use of OsMFCs in practical engineering applications.
Upgraded User-Friendly Image-Activated Microfluidic Cell Sorter Using an Optimized and Fast Deep Learning Algorithm
Authors: Lee Keondo , Kim Seong-Eun , Nam Seokho , Doh Junsang , Chung Wan Kyun
Published: November 2022

Image-based cell sorting is essential in biological and biomedical research. The sorted cells can be used for downstream analysis to expand our knowledge of cell-to-cell differences. We previously demonstrated a user-friendly image-activated microfluidic cell sorting technique using an optimized and fast deep learning algorithm. Real-time isolation of cells was carried out using this technique with an inverted microscope. In this study, we devised a recently upgraded sorting system. The cell sorting techniques shown on the microscope were implemented as a real system. Several new features were added to make it easier for the users to conduct the real-time sorting of cells or particles. The newly added features are as follows: (1) a high-resolution linear piezo-stage is used to obtain in-focus images of the fast-flowing cells; (2) an LED strobe light was incorporated to minimize the motion blur of fast-flowing cells; and (3) a vertical syringe pump setup was used to prevent the cell sedimentation. The sorting performance of the upgraded system was demonstrated through the real-time sorting of fluorescent polystyrene beads. The sorter achieved a 99.4% sorting purity for 15 μm and 10 μm beads with an average throughput of 22.1 events per second (eps).
Crosstalk Suppressed 3D Light Field Display Based on an Optimized Holographic Function Screen
Authors: Zhang Hui , Yu Xunbo , Gao Xin , Zhong Chongli , Chen Yingying , Sang Xinzhu , Wang Kuiru
Published: November 2022

A holographic function screen (HFS) can recompose the wavefront and re-modulate the light-field distribution from a three-dimensional (3D) light field display (LFD) system. However, the spread function of existing HFSs does not particularly suit integral imaging (II) 3D LFD systems, which causes crosstalk and reduces the sharpness of reconstructed 3D images. An optimized holographic function screen with a flat-top rectangular spread function (FRSF) was designed for an II 3D LFD system. A simulation was carried out through ray tracing, which verified that the proposed diffusion function could suppress crosstalk and improve the overall effect.
Efforts in Bioprospecting Research: A Survey of Novel Anticancer Phytochemicals Reported in the Last Decade
Authors: Anifowose Saheed O. , Alqahtani Wejdan S. N. , Al-Dahmash Badr A. , Sasse Florenz , Jalouli Maroua , Aboul-Soud Mourad A. M. , Badjah-Hadj-Ahmed Ahmed Y. , Elnakady Yasser A.
Published: November 2022

Bioprospecting natural products to find prominent agents for medical application is an area of scientific endeavor that has produced many clinically used bioactive compounds, including anticancer agents. These compounds come from plants, microorganisms, and marine life. They are so-called secondary metabolites that are important for a species to survive in the hostile environment of its respective ecosystem. The kingdom of Plantae has been an important source of traditional medicine in the past and is also enormously used today as an exquisite reservoir for detecting novel bioactive compounds that are potent against hard-to-treat maladies such as cancer. Cancer therapies, especially chemotherapies, are fraught with many factors that are difficult to manage, such as drug resistance, adverse side effects, less selectivity, complexity, etc. Here, we report the results of an exploration of the databases of PubMed, Science Direct, and Google Scholar for bioactive anticancer phytochemicals published between 2010 and 2020. Our report is restricted to new compounds with strong-to-moderate bioactivity potential for which mass spectroscopic structural data are available. Each of the phytochemicals reported in this review was assigned to chemical classes with peculiar anticancer properties. In our survey, we found anticancer phytochemicals that are reported to have selective toxicity against cancer cells, to sensitize MDR cancer cells, and to have multitarget effects in several signaling pathways. Surprisingly, many of these compounds have limited follow-up studies. Detailed investigations into the synthesis of more functional derivatives, chemical genetics, and the clinical relevance of these compounds are required to achieve safer chemotherapy.