bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Optimization of Thymidine Kinase-Based Safety Switch for Neural Cell Therapy
Authors: Locatelli Manon , Delhaes Flavien , Cherpin Ophélie , Black Margaret E. , Carnesecchi Stéphanie , Preynat-Seauve Olivier , Hibaoui Youssef , Krause Karl-Heinz
Published: February 2022

Cell therapies based on pluripotent stem cells (PSC), have opened new therapeutic strategies for neurodegenerative diseases. However, insufficiently differentiated PSC can lead to tumor formation. Ideally, safety switch therapies should selectively kill proliferative transplant cells while preserving post-mitotic neurons. In this study, we evaluated the potential of nucleoside analogs and thymidine kinase-based suicide genes. Among tested thymidine kinase variants, the humanized SR39 (SR39h) variant rendered cells most sensitive to suicide induction. Unexpectedly, post-mitotic neurons with ubiquitous SR39h expression were killed by ganciclovir, but were spared when SR39h was expressed under the control of the cell cycle-dependent Ki67 promoter. The efficacy of six different nucleoside analogs to induce cell death was then evaluated. Penciclovir (PCV) showed the most interesting properties with an efficiency comparable to ganciclovir (GCV), but low toxicity. We tested three nucleoside analogs in vivo: at concentrations of 40 mg/kg/day, PCV and GCV prevented tumor formation, while acyclovir (ACV) did not. In summary, SR39h under the control of a cell cycle-dependent promoter appears most efficient and selective as safety switch for neural transplants. In this setting, PCV and GCV are efficient inducers of cell death. Because of its low toxicity, PCV might become a preferred alternative to GCV.
Intestinal Microbiota Remodeling Protects Mice from Western Diet-Induced Brain Inflammation and Cognitive Decline
Authors: Jena Prasant Kumar , Setayesh Tahereh , Sheng Lili , Di Lucente Jacopo , Jin Lee Way , Wan Yu-Jui Yvonne
Published: February 2022

It has been shown that the Western diet (WD) induces systemic inflammation and cognitive decline. Moreover, probiotic supplementation and antibiotic treatment reduce diet-induced hepatic inflammation. The current study examines whether shaping the gut microbes by Bifidobacterium infantis (B. infantis) supplementation and antibiotic treatment reduce diet-induced brain inflammation and improve neuroplasticity. Furthermore, the significance of bile acid (BA) signaling in regulating brain inflammation was studied. Mice were fed a control diet (CD) or WD for seven months. B. infantis was supplemented to WD-fed mice to study brain inflammation, lipid, metabolomes, and neuroplasticity measured by long-term potentiation (LTP). Broad-spectrum coverage antibiotics and cholestyramine treatments were performed to study the impact of WD-associated gut microbes and BA in brain inflammation. Probiotic B. infantis supplementation inhibited diet-induced brain inflammation by reducing IL6, TNFα, and CD11b levels. B. infantis improved LTP and increased brain PSD95 and BDNF levels, which were reduced due to WD intake. Additionally, B. infantis reduced cecal cholesterol, brain ceramide and enhanced saturated fatty acids. Moreover, antibiotic treatment, as well as cholestyramine, diminished WD-induced brain inflammatory signaling. Our findings support the theory that intestinal microbiota remodeling by B. infantis reduces brain inflammation, activates BA receptor signaling, and improves neuroplasticity.
Prevention and Treatment of Cardiometabolic Diseases in Children with Overweight and Obesity: The Future of Healthcare
Authors: Calcaterra Valeria , Zuccotti Gianvincenzo
Published: February 2022

In this Special Issue we will consider the impact of obesity on health in order to review the latest findings on the risk factors associated with cardiometabolic diseases in children with overweight and obesity as well as to explore the pathogenic mechanisms and potential therapeutic targets. The role of weight-management strategies, including exercise, dietary changes and nutritional education, in preventing obesity-related complications will be considered. The improvement of many obesity-associated complications following bariatric surgery will also be reported. The timely implementation of preventive strategies in pediatric patients with overweight and obesity may ameliorate the future burden of weight-related diseases and the future of healthcare.
School-Level Perspectives of the Ontario Student Nutrition Program
Authors: Ismail Mariam R. , Gilliland Jason A. , Matthews June I. , Battram Danielle S.
Published: February 2022

The purpose of this study was to assess the implementation of a school snack program for children in elementary schools. School-level program volunteers’ experiences were explored using semi-structured interviews. Fieldnotes were taken during on-site school visits. Quantitative data were collected through a General Information Form and Weekly Logbooks. Seven elementary schools in Southwestern Ontario were invited and agreed to participate. Interviews (n = 27) revealed that volunteers valued the program for its universality, the excitement it created, the opportunity for students to try new foods, and the social interactions that it generated. Challenges included the burden on snack volunteers to plan, procure, and prepare foods; the competition the program posed for school priorities; limited funding; and a lack of clear purpose for the program. Suggestions for improvement included providing adequate and sustained resources and an integration of the program into the curriculum. Data obtained from 15 on-site visits, 7 General Information Forms, and 59 (out of a total of 70) Weekly Logbooks confirmed the data obtained from interviews. This research provides insights into the challenges of volunteer-led school snack programs in Canada and may guide policy makers, practitioners, and researchers in the development of a universal, nationally funded school food program.
Phenotypic Assessment of Probiotic and Bacteriocinogenic Efficacy of Indigenous LAB Strains from Human Breast Milk
Authors: Duraisamy Senbagam , Husain Fazal , Balakrishnan Senthilkumar , Sathyan Aswathy , Subramani Prabhu , Chidambaram Prahalathan , Arokiyaraj Selvaraj , Al-Qahtani Wahidah H. , Rajabathar Jothiramalingam , Kumarasamy Anbarasu
Published: February 2022

Breast milk is the combination of bioactive compounds and microflora that promote newborn’s proper growth, gut flora, and immunity. Thus, it is always considered the perfect food for newborns. Amongst their bioactives, probiotic communities—especially lactic acid bacteria (LAB)—are characterized from breast milk over the first month of parturition. In this study, seven LAB were characterized phenotypically and genotypically as Levilactobacillus brevis BDUMBT08 (MT673657), L. gastricus BDUMBT09 (MT774596), L. paracasei BDUMBT10 (MT775430), L. brevis BDUMBT11 (MW785062), L. casei BDUMBT12 (MW785063), L. casei BDUMBT13 (MW785178), and Brevibacillus brevis M2403 (MK371781) from human breast milk. Their tolerance to lysozyme, acid, bile, gastric juice, pancreatic juice, and NaCl and potential for mucoadhesion, auto-aggregation, and co-aggregation with pathogens are of great prominence in forecasting their gut colonizing ability. They proved their safety aspects as they were negative for virulence determinants such as hemolysis and biofilm production. Antibiogram of LAB showed their sensitivity to more than 90% of the antibiotics tested. Amongst seven LAB, three isolates (L. brevis BDUMBT08 and BDUMBT11, and L. gatricus BDUMBT09) proved their bacteriocin producing propensity. Although the seven LAB isolates differed in their behavior, their substantial probiotic properties with safety could be taken as promising probiotics for further studies to prove their in vivo effects, such as health benefits, in humans.
Amorphous Carbon Coatings with Different Metal and Nonmetal Dopants: Influence of Cathode Modification on Laser-Arc Evaporation and Film Deposition
Authors: Krülle Tim , Kaulfuß Frank , Weihnacht Volker , Hofmann Falko , Kirsten Florian
Published: February 2022

In this study, the arc evaporation of pure graphite and composite cathodes with small amounts of metals (Mo, Fe) or nonmetals (B, Si) was investigated by means of a laser-arc process. Both specific aspects of the arc evaporation and the effects on the deposition of the doped and undoped carbon coatings were studied. The deposition rate, the chemical composition and the mechanical properties of the generated films were evaluated. In addition, the dependence of the deposition rate and the composition on the height position of the substrates in relation to the cathode were also the subject of the investigations. Finally, the erosion rate and the arc spot behavior on the cathode were analyzed. It is shown that homogeneously doped (t)a-C:X coatings can be reliably synthesized with the laser-arc technique. There are differences in the various properties of the coatings and the deposition rate. The latter is attributed in particular to the erosion behavior of the cathodes.
The 1S0 Pairing Gap in Neutron Matter
Authors: Gandolfi Stefano , Palkanoglou Georgios , Carlson Joseph , Gezerlis Alexandros , Schmidt Kevin E.
Published: February 2022

We report ab initio calculations of the S wave pairing gap in neutron matter calculated using realistic nuclear Hamiltonians that include two- and three-body interactions. We use a trial state, properly optimized to capture the essential pairing correlations, from which we extract ground state properties by means of auxiliary field diffusion Monte Carlo simulations. We extrapolate our results to the thermodynamic limit by studying the finite-size effects in the symmetry-restored projected Bardeen-Cooper-Schrieffer (PBCS) theory and compare our results to other ab initio studies done in the past. Our quantum Monte Carlo results for the pairing gap show a modest suppression with respect to the mean-field BCS values. These results can be connected to cold atom experiments, via the unitarity regime where fermionic superfluidity assumes a unified description, and they are important in the prediction of thermal properties and the cooling of neutron stars.
Diagnosis of Indigenous Non-Malarial Vector-Borne Infections from Malaria Negative Samples from Community and Rural Hospital Surveillance in Dhalai District, Tripura, North-East India
Authors: Bhowmick Ipsita Pal , Pandey Apoorva , Subbarao Sarala K. , Pebam Rocky , Majumder Tapan , Nath Aatreyee , Nandi Diptarup , Basu Analabha , Sarkar Apurba , Majumder Saikat , Debbarma Jotish , Dasgupta Dipanjan , Borgohain Arup , Chanda Rajdeep , Das Mandakini , Gogoi Karuna , Gogoi Kongkona , Joshi Pyare Laal , Kaur Harpreet , Borkakoti Biswajyoti , Ranjan Bhattacharya Dibya , Khan Abdul Mamood , Sen Satyajit , Narain Kanwar
Published: February 2022

The aetiology of non-malaria vector-borne diseases in malaria-endemic, forested, rural, and tribal-dominated areas of Dhalai, Tripura, in north-east India, was studied for the first time in the samples collected from malaria Rapid Diagnostic Kit negative febrile patients by door-to-door visits in the villages and primary health centres. Two hundred and sixty serum samples were tested for the Dengue NS1 antigen and the IgM antibodies of Dengue, Chikungunya, Scrub Typhus (ST), and Japanese Encephalitis (JE) during April 2019–March 2020. Fifteen Dengue, six JE, twelve Chikungunya, nine ST and three Leptospirosis, and mixed infections of three JE + Chikungunya, four Dengue + Chikungunya, three Dengue + JE + Chikungunya, one Dengue + Chikungunya + ST, and one Dengue + ST were found positive by IgM ELISA tests, and four for the Dengue NS1 antigen, all without any travel history. True prevalence values estimated for infections detected by Dengue IgM were 0.134 (95% CI: 0.08–0.2), Chikungunya were 0.084 (95% CI: 0.05–0.13), Scrub were 0.043 (95% CI: 0.01–0.09), and Japanese Encephalitis were 0.045 (95% CI: 0.02–0.09). Dengue and Chikungunya were associated significantly more with a younger age. There was a lack of a defined set of symptoms for any of the Dengue, Chikungunya, JE or ST infections, as indicated by the k-modes cluster analysis. Interestingly, most of these symptoms have an overlapping set with malaria; thereby, it becomes imperative that malaria and these non-malaria vector-borne disease diagnoses are made in a coordinated manner. Findings from this study call for advances in routine diagnostic procedures and the development of a protocol that can accommodate, currently, in practicing the rapid diagnosis of malaria and other vector-borne diseases, which is doable even in the resource-poor settings of rural hospitals and during community fever surveillance.
The Value of Contrast-Enhanced Ultrasound (CEUS) in the Detection of Perfusion Disturbances in Abdominal Wall Hernias Compared with Surgical and Histological Assessment
Authors: Safai Zadeh Ehsan , Görg Christian , Kuttkat Phillip , Dietrich Christoph Frank , Westhoff Christina Carolin , Rodepeter Fiona , Trenker Corinna , Görg Marvin , Kirschbaum Andreas , Alhyari Amjad
Published: February 2022

Purpose: This study aimed to evaluate the value of contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) in the evaluation of perfusion disturbance in irreducible abdominal wall hernias (AWHs). Methods: From 2006 to 2018, 50 patients with an irreducible AWH were examined using B-mode ultrasound (B-US) and CEUS. The ultrasound findings were correlated with subsequent surgical and histological results. The presence of non-enhanced areas (NEAs) in hernia contents on CEUS and the presence of non-perfused areas (NPAs) on surgical and histological evaluation were analyzed retrospectively. Results: On CEUS, 13/50 hernia contents (26.0%) revealed NEAs during complete CEUS examination and 37/50 (74.0%) revealed no NEAs during CEUS examination. On surgical and histological evaluation, NPAs in hernia contents were identified in 11/13 cases (93.3%) with NEAs on CEUS. CEUS was found to have a sensitivity of 100.0%, a specificity of 94.9%, a positive predictive value of 84.6%, and a negative predictive value of 100.0% for the identification of perfusion disturbance in AWHs. Conclusions: The findings of this study demonstrate that using CEUS as an imaging method may be helpful for evaluating the perfusion of hernia contents in incarcerated AWHs. On CEUS, the presence of NEAs may suggest perfusion disturbance in hernia contents.
Unusual Histology in Mesothelioma: A Report of Two Cases with a Brief Review
Authors: Bono Francesca , Ceola Stefano , Beretta Carlo , Jaconi Marta
Published: February 2022

Mesothelioma is often difficult to diagnose due to its rarity and its unusual histopathological features that could lend to diagnostic pitfalls and misdiagnosis. The WHO histological classification of pleural tumors in 2021 recommended a pathologic grading system for malignant pleural mesothelioma. Architectural aspects and cytological features, with nuclear grading, bent on a neoplastic score with fundamental prognostic and diagnostic value. Unusual features must be correctly assigned in the grading system to avoid misdiagnosis, especially toward metastatic lesions or reactive pleural processes. In this paper, we present two cases as examples of unusual morphological and architectural features with a brief literature review.
Beyond Equal-Power Sparse NOMA: Two User Classes and Closed-Form Bounds on the Achievable Region
Authors: Zaidel Benjamin M. , Shental Ori , Shamai (Shitz) Shlomo
Published: February 2022

Non-orthogonal multiple access (NOMA) is a promising technology for future beyond-5G wireless networks, whose fundamental information-theoretic limits are yet to be fully explored. Considering regular sparse code-domain NOMA (with a fixed and finite number of orthogonal resources allocated to any designated user and vice versa), this paper extends previous results by the authors to a setting comprising two classes of users with different power constraints. Explicit rigorous closed-form analytical inner and outer bounds on the achievable rate (total class throughput) region in the large-system limit are derived and comparatively investigated in extreme-SNR regimes. The inner bound is based on the conditional vector entropy power inequality (EPI), while the outer bound relies on a recent strengthened version of the EPI. Valuable insights are provided into the potential performance gains of regular sparse NOMA in practically oriented settings, comprising, e.g., a combination of low-complexity devices and broadband users with higher transmit power capabilities, or combinations of cell-edge and cell-center users. The conditions for superior performance over dense code-domain NOMA (taking the form of randomly spread code-division multiple access), as well as a relatively small gap to the ultimate performance limits, are identified. The proposed bounds are also applicable for the analysis of interference networks, e.g., Wyner-type cellular models.
The Dominant Motives of Mergers and Acquisitions in the Energy Sector in Western Europe from the Perspective of Green Economy
Authors: Niemczyk Jerzy , Sus Aleksandra , Borowski Kamil , Jasiński Bartosz , Jasińska Katarzyna
Published: February 2022

The aim of the research, the results of which are used in this publication, was to identify the motives for mergers and acquisitions in the energy sector after the introduction of green economy elements in Western Europe. The mentioned region is the group of countries where changes related to the move to green energy are most visible (in addition to some countries from other regions, such as Singapore, New Zealand, or countries of the Arabian Peninsula). The research assumed the hypothesis that over the years since the Paris Conference the themes of mergers and acquisitions have changed from motives close to the views related to energy generation in traditional systems (black energy in large, monopolistic systems) to motives close to green energy (the research hypothesis). This was confirmed in the research, as business risk diversification (defined as diversification of the power sources from black to green) was the most popular M&A motive. In addition to emphasizing the direction of changes in the M&A motives, the authors of this study decided to check whether since 2015 (when the Paris Conference was organized) the motives behind the M&A transactions conducted by companies operating in the electrical energy generation sector have changed, making their motives close to the green energy dominant in Western Europe. Apart from verification of the abovementioned hypothesis, the aim of the research was to check whether there are any characteristic directions of changes in M&A motives across companies from particular Western European countries. The motives are changing from positional approaches to motives closer to resource approaches (green economy). The research used a critical analysis of the literature on the subject, a study that used desk research based on openly available sources and our own analytical tool developed for the needs of this analysis, which is the transformation of the concept of analysis of the M&A motives proposed in K. Borowski’s research: “The strategic development of the technology companies. The mergers and acquisitions perspective”.
Development of an Optimized Curtailment Scheme through Real-Time Simulation
Authors: Kim Jeong-Hwan , Nam Iseul , Kang Sungwoo , Jung Seungmin
Published: February 2022

When a lot of surplus power occurs in wind power system, an output limit is implemented to directly or indirectly curtail the output to maintain a balance between the supply and demand of the power system. The curtailment process of a large-scale wind farm causes loss of power and mechanical loads. Resultantly, imbalanced curtailments often occur, resulting in unilateral burdens for the owners of wind farms. Considering the curtailment issue, the study for minimizing system loss of power plants is required in terms of operational efficiency. This paper proposes an algorithm to achieve flexible control during the actual power curtailment process in a wind farm, considering the wake effect. Here, the Monte Carlo method was adopted to calculate the curtailment weight in wind farms by using power loss terms. In addition, an equivalent model of a real wind farm was implemented and simulated through real simulation computer-aided design (RSCAD) software. This paper verified the effectiveness of the proposed method by applying the curtailment communication signal to a real-time digital simulator (RTDS). The results showed a reduction in the computational loading of individual wind turbine curtailment values with the decline of the total effective power loss.
Upgrading the Power Capacity of a Three-Conductor MVAC Line by Converting to DC
Authors: Bardanov Aleksey I. , Solovev Sergei V. , Alvarez Ricardo , Munoz-Guijosa Juan M. , Jiménez Carrizosa Miguel Jiménez , Mora Andrés
Published: February 2022

Several countries around the world are undergoing a radical transformation of their electricity networks, with the widespread integration of distributed generation based on renewable energy sources at the center of the change. Under these scenarios, DC links are becoming an attractive option for the infrastructure of modern networks, especially at medium voltage levels. This work is devoted to the integration of DC systems in existing AC networks by converting AC power lines to DC. The work presents a novel method for converting a three-conductor medium voltage AC transmission line to DC. The efficiency of the proposed conversion is assessed in terms of increased power capacity. It is shown that the proposed approach allows for increasing the power capacity of the line by at least 10%. The feasibility and effectiveness of the proposed method are then confirmed by laboratory experiments.
Machine Learning Schemes for Anomaly Detection in Solar Power Plants
Authors: Ibrahim Mariam , Alsheikh Ahmad , Awaysheh Feras , Alshehri Mohammad
Published: February 2022

The rapid industrial growth in solar energy is gaining increasing interest in renewable power from smart grids and plants. Anomaly detection in photovoltaic (PV) systems is a demanding task. In this sense, it is vital to utilize the latest updates in machine learning technology to accurately and timely disclose different system anomalies. This paper addresses this issue by evaluating the performance of different machine learning schemes and applying them to detect anomalies on photovoltaic components. The following schemes are evaluated: AutoEncoder Long Short-Term Memory (AE-LSTM), Facebook-Prophet, and Isolation Forest. These models can identify the PV system’s healthy and abnormal actual behaviors. Our results provide clear insights to make an informed decision, especially with experimental trade-offs for such a complex solution space.
A Review on the Estimation of Power Loss Due to Icing in Wind Turbines
Authors: Contreras Montoya Leidy Tatiana , Lain Santiago , Ilinca Adrian
Published: February 2022

The objective of this article is to review the methodologies used in the last 15 years to estimate the power loss in wind turbines due to their exposure to adverse meteorological conditions. Among the methods, the use of computational fluid dynamics (CFD) for the three-dimensional numerical simulation of wind turbines is highlighted, as well as the use of two-dimensional CFD simulation in conjunction with the blade element momentum theory (BEM). In addition, a brief review of other methodologies such as image analysis, deep learning, and forecasting models is also presented. This review constitutes a baseline for new investigations of the icing effects on wind turbines’ power outputs. Furthermore, it contributes to a continuous improvement in power-loss prediction and the better response of icing protection systems.
A Study of the Thin Film-Coated Swelling Retarding Particles in Fractured Carbonate Reservoirs for Water Plugging and Profile Control
Authors: Li Guojun , Fu Meilong , Li Xuejiao , Hu Jiani
Published: February 2022

T oilfield is the fractured-vuggy carbonate reservoir at a temperature of around 130 °C, with salinity of up to 22 × 104 mg/L. In order to solve the problem of the high water cut in the late development stage of T oilfield, we selected XN-T from 27 kinds of swelling retarding particles by testing their swelling capacity, and coated a thin film to improve its retarding swelling capacity. The mechanisms of strong water absorption and water-holding abilities of particles were analyzed by infrared spectrometry and SEM. In the core flow experiment, the plugging rate was found to be 98.42%. Finally, the injection parameters of the coated particles were optimized to maximize the water plugging and profile control ability, resulting in an optimal particle size of 0.4–0.6 mm and a mass fraction of 10%.
Effects of an Unsteady Morphing Wing with Seamless Side-Edge Transition on Aerodynamic Performance
Authors: Abdessemed Chawki , Bouferrouk Abdessalem , Yao Yufeng
Published: February 2022

This paper presents an unsteady flow analysis of a 3D wing with a morphing trailing edge flap (TEF) and a seamless side-edge transition between the morphed and static parts of a wing by introducing an unsteady parametrization method. First, a 3D steady Reynolds-averaged Navier–Stokes (RANS) analysis of a statically morphed TEF with seamless transition is performed and the results are compared with both a baseline clean wing and a wing with a traditional hinged flap configuration at a Reynolds number of 0.7 × 106 for a range of angles of attack (AoA), from 4° to 15°. This study extends some previous published work by examining the inherent unsteady 3D effects due to the presence of the seamless transition. It is found that in the pre-stall regime, the statically morphed wing produces a maximum of a 22% higher lift and a near constant drag reduction of 25% compared with the hinged flap wing, resulting in up to 40% enhancement in the aerodynamic efficiency (i.e., lift/drag ratio). Second, unsteady flow analysis of the dynamically morphing TEF with seamless flap side-edge transition is performed to provide further insights into the dynamic lift and drag forces during the flap motions at three pre-defined morphing frequencies of 4 Hz, 6 Hz, and 8 Hz, respectively. Results have shown that an initially large overshoot in the drag coefficient is observed due to unsteady flow effects induced by the dynamically morphing wing; the overshoot is proportional to the morphing frequency which indicates the need to account for dynamic morphing effects in the design phase of a morphing wing.
Dental Patients’ Perspective on COVID-19: A Systematic Review
Authors: Salgarello Stefano , Audino Elisabetta , Bertoletti Paolo , Salvadori Matteo , Garo Maria Luisa
Published: February 2022

The COVID-19 epidemic has changed patients’ approach to dental treatments. While dentists worldwide have shown an excellent level of adaptability to face the new challenges presented by the unprecedented situation due to the rapid spread of COVID-19, dental patients have witnessed a sudden suspension of elective treatments and a slow resumption of dental care activities after several national lockdowns. In addition, the general climate of anxiety and fear due to the high COVID-19 risk and the high level of mortality has influenced the perception and attitudes of people towards dental activity, inducing many dental patients to avoid appointments to the dentist if not highly urgent. We present an overview of the current state of knowledge about dental patients’ perception, perspective, attitude, and expectations towards a full resumption of regular dental treatments.
A New Numerical Scheme for Time Fractional Diffusive SEAIR Model with Non-Linear Incidence Rate: An Application to Computational Biology
Authors: Nawaz Yasir , Arif Muhammad Shoaib , Shatanawi Wasfi
Published: February 2022

In this paper, we propose a modified fractional diffusive SEAIR epidemic model with a nonlinear incidence rate. A constructed model of fractional partial differential equations (PDEs) is more general than the corresponding model of fractional ordinary differential equations (ODEs). The Caputo fractional derivative is considered. Linear stability analysis of the disease-free equilibrium state of the epidemic model (ODEs) is presented by employing Routh–Hurwitz stability criteria. In order to solve this model, a fractional numerical scheme is proposed. The proposed scheme can be used to find conditions for obtaining positive solutions for diffusive epidemic models. The stability of the scheme is given, and convergence conditions are found for the system of the linearized diffusive fractional epidemic model. In addition to this, the deficiencies of accuracy and consistency in the nonstandard finite difference method are also underlined by comparing the results with the standard fractional scheme and the MATLAB built-in solver pdepe. The proposed scheme shows an advantage over the fractional nonstandard finite difference method in terms of accuracy. In addition, numerical results are supplied to evaluate the proposed scheme’s performance.
Signal-Noise Identification for Wide Field Electromagnetic Method Data Using Multi-Domain Features and IGWO-SVM
Authors: Zhang Xian , Li Diquan , Li Jin , Liu Bei , Jiang Qiyun , Wang Jinhai
Published: February 2022

Noise tends to limit the quality of wide field electromagnetic method (WFEM) data and exploration results. The existing WFEM denoising methods lack the signal identification process and are only able to filter or eliminate abnormalities in the time or frequency domain, which easily leads to the loss of more abundant real data and to low data quality. Thus, we built the WFEM data sample library to extract the multi-domain features. Then, neighborhood search and location sharing were used to improve the grey wolf optimizer (IGWO) algorithm. The support vector machine (SVM) parameters were optimized by IGWO to train multi-domain features, and an IGWO-SVM data model was generated. We used the data model to quantitatively test the WFEM signal and noise in the simulation and measured data. This method can effectively identify the WFEM signal and noise, eliminate the identified noise, and use the identified signal to reconstruct the effective data. Finally, the digital coherence technique was used to extract the spectrum amplitude of the effective frequency points. The experiments demonstrated the advantage of the convergence of IGWO algorithms and the comparison of the SVM parameters optimization techniques. The proposed method can quickly and effectively search the optimal SVM parameters, significantly improve the identification effect of WFEM signal noise, and completely remove the abnormal noise waveform in the reconstructed data. The more stable electric field curves in the results verify the effectiveness of the algorithm design and optimized identification method.
Extended Prescribing Roles for Pharmacists in Poland—A Survey Study
Authors: Miszewska Jagoda , Wrzosek Natalia , Zimmermann Agnieszka
Published: February 2022

Background: In recent years, a systematic increase in the role and powers of pharmacists has been observed. The COVID-19 pandemic has shown that this is a professional group that is extremely necessary for the smooth functioning of the health care system. One of the important powers of pharmacists is the possibility of issuing prescriptions for both patients in the pharmacy and for themselves and their family members. Polish pharmacists obtained extended entitlements in this field in March 2020. Due to the extension of pharmacists’ prescribing rights in Poland, it was decided in this study to determine the current practice of pharmaceutical prescribing, and pharmacists’ views on their new duties. Methods: The study used the method of a questionnaire, which was distributed to all pharmacists actively working in Poland. During the study, 309 completed questionnaires were obtained that gathered information about prescriptions written by pharmacists, as well as their opinions related to this entitlement. The results of the survey were analyzed using descriptive statistics. Results: Out of all authorized pharmacists, 75.62% use the new, extended authorization to issue pharmaceutical prescriptions. About half of them believe their prescriptions should be refundable. Only 11.52% of respondents do not use the entitlement to issue prescriptions for themselves or their family members. In addition, it was noticed that those who write such prescriptions most often use the fully paid version. Conclusions: Polish pharmacists use the new entitlements willingly but carefully. The legal provisions governing electronic prescription should be clearer. In addition, the idea of continued prescription should be developed as this is the most common reason that pharmacists issue prescriptions.
The Association between Stressful Life Events and Emotional and Behavioral Problems in Children 0–7 Years Old: The CIKEO Study
Authors: Fang Yuan , Raat Hein , Windhorst Dafna A. , Fierloos Irene N. , Jonkman Harrie , Hosman Clemens M. H. , Crone Matty R. , Jansen Wilma , van Grieken Amy
Published: February 2022

Background: Stressful life events (SLEs) are recognized risk factors for emotional and behavioral problems, but the association is understudied among young children. Our aim was to examine the association between exposure to SLEs and emotional and behavioral problems in young children up to 7 years old. Methods: We analyzed baseline data from 959 children (mean age = 3.3 years; SD = 1.9; 47.5% girls) in the CIKEO study, a community-based longitudinal study in the Netherlands. Linear regression was used to assess the associations between the total as well as the individual exposure to SLEs experienced in the past 12 months, and emotional and behavioral problems assessed by CBCL 1.5-5. Interactions of SLEs and child age, sex, ethnic background, and socioeconomic status were explored. Results: Higher total exposure to SLEs, as indicated by the number of SLEs, was significantly associated with higher CBCL total, internalizing and externalizing problem scores (p for trend < 0.05). The results did not differ by child age, sex, ethnic background, or family SES. Six out of the 12 SLEs explored were independently associated with greater CBCL total/externalizing/internalizing scores (p < 0.05). Conclusions: Exposure to SLEs is associated with higher levels of emotional and behavioral problems in young children, and the impact of SLEs may vary depending on the types of events. Stressful life events might be a useful target for interventions to improve emotional and behavioral well-being among young children.
Oral Health-Related Knowledge, Attitudes and Behaviours of Arab Dental Students: Multi-National Cross-Sectional Study and Literature Analysis 2000–2020
Authors: Riad Abanoub , Al-Khanati Nuraldeen Maher , Issa Julien , Zenati Mazen , Abdesslem Nèziha Ben , Attia Sameh , Krsek Martin
Published: February 2022

Dental students are the future leaders of oral health in their respective communities; therefore, their oral health-related attitudes and behaviours are of practical value for primary disease prevention. The present study aimed to evaluate oral health-related knowledge, attitudes, and behaviours of dental students in Arab countries and explore the potential sociodemographic predictors of their oral health outcomes. A multi-centre, cross-sectional study was conducted during the academic year 2019/2020 in three Arab countries: Lebanon, Syria, and Tunisia. The study used a validated Arabic version of the Hiroshima University Dental Behavioural Inventory (HU-DBI) composed of original twenty items that assess the level of oral health-related knowledge, attitudes, and behaviours, and four additional dichotomous items related to tobacco smoking, alcohol drinking, problematic internet use, and regular dental check-up The HU-DBI score ranges between 0 and 12. A total of 1430 students took part in this study, out of which 60.8% were females, 57.8% were enrolled in clinical years, 24.5% were tobacco smokers, 7.2% were alcohol drinkers, and 87% reported internet addiction. The mean HU-DBI score was 6.31 ± 1.84, with Lebanon having the highest score (6.67 ± 1.83), followed by Syria (6.38 ± 1.83) and Tunisia (6.05 ± 1.83). Clinical students (6.78 ± 1.70) had higher HU-DBI scores than their preclinical peers (5.97 ± 1.86). The year-over-year analysis revealed that dental public health and preventive dentistry courses had significantly and positively impacted the undergraduate students’ knowledge, attitudes, and behaviours. The gender-based differences were not statistically significant, with a modest trend favouring males, especially oral health behaviours. Tobacco smoking, alcohol drinking, and problematic internet use were associated with lower HU-DBI scores. In the Arab world, the economic rank of the country where the dental students live/study was weakly correlated with the students’ mean HU-DBI score.
The Evaluation of Physical Activity Habits in North Italian People before and during COVID-19 Quarantine: A Pilot Study
Authors: Mauro Mario , Grigoletto Alessia , Zambon Maria Cristina , Bettocchi Marzia , Pegreffi Francesco , Fimognari Carmela , Bragonzoni Laura , Maietta Latessa Pasqualino , Toselli Stefania
Published: February 2022

COVID-19 caused a global pandemic state. Many governments enforced quarantines which had several negative effects on peoples’ health. The present study aimed to investigate the social restriction effects on the physical activity (PA) habits of north Italian people and understand whether PA was a healthy support during lockdown. Moreover, it analysed some possible strategies which could promote an active lifestyle when the pandemic ends. A new questionnaire was proposed (Cronbach’s alpha = 0.816), and 309 surveys were collected in people from two Italian regions (53.72% from Emilia-Romagna and 46.28% from Veneto; 62.46% were female and 37.54% were male; and the age range was 46.67 ± 15.45 years). The number of younger people (≤25 years) who practiced PA increased during lockdown (p < 0.01); in addition, they were more active than people who were 26–35 years old (p < 0.001). The training frequency before COVID-19 was higher in females than males (p = 0.01), and the frequency of weekly PA increased during lockdown in groups aged 26–35 years (p < 0.001). Despite the fact that PA was a psychological support during lockdown (p < 0.001), performing forced home-based PA demotivated people (p < 0.001). Finally, people thought to practice outdoor PA (OPA) at the end of lockdown because they wanted to retain contact with nature, which can improve psychological well-being. Future strategies to promote OPA may increase participation in PA, especially in older people.
Hair Cortisol, Perceived Stress, and the Effect of Group Dynamics: A Longitudinal Study of Young Men during Compulsory Military Training in Lithuania
Authors: Smaliukienė Rasa , Bekesiene Svajone , Mažeikienė Asta , Larsson Gerry , Karčiauskaitė Dovilė , Mazgelytė Eglė , Vaičaitienė Ramutė
Published: February 2022

Previous research shows a nonlinear dependency between hair cortisol concentrations and perceived stress levels. This may be due to stress being targeted at the individual level despite it also being a social phenomenon which is often affected by group dynamics. Therefore, the objective of this study was to determine the influence of perceived stress on the hair cortisol level, considering the impact of the variables of group dynamics (interpersonal, task, and norm cohesion). Information was collected on 11 groups of, in total, 112 young men in three phases of time during their compulsory military training (covering nine months in total). The classification and regression tree (C&RT) method was used to predict hair cortisol concentrations in groups. The results show that the variability of the hair cortisol level in young men groups can be explained by perceived stress only when the groups were in formation process (47.7% normalised importance in Model 1) and when the groups were working on their final tasks (37.80% normalised importance in Model 3); meanwhile, the importance of perceived stress in explaining hair cortisol concentrations is low when the group is in a routine period of a group life-span (28.9% normalised importance in Model 2). Interpersonal cohesion (normalised importance 100% in Model 1 and 80.0% in Model 3) and task cohesion (normalised importance 78.6% in Model 2) were the most important predictors in the study area. These results point to the importance of the elements of group dynamics when it comes to explaining the nature of hair cortisol as accumulated stress biomarkers in young men.
Association of Muscle Strength with Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease in Korean Adults
Authors: Lee Sung-Bum , Kwon Yu-Jin , Jung Dong-Hyuk , Kim Jong-Koo
Published: February 2022

Sarcopenia is known to be associated with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). However, few studies have revealed the association between muscle strength and prevalence of NAFLD. We investigated the association by using relative handgrip strength in a nationwide cross-sectional survey. The participants were recruited from the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys (KNHANES). A total of 27,531 subjects from the KNHANES were selected in our study. We used normalized handgrip strength, which is called relative handgrip strength. The index was defined as handgrip strength divided by BMI. These subjects were divided into quartile groups according to relative handgrip strength. NAFLD was defined as hepatic steatosis index >36. Multinomial logistic regression was analysed to investigate the association between relative handgrip strength with prevalence of NAFLD. The mean age of study population was 45.8 ± 0.3 in men, and 48.3 ± 0.2 in women. The proportion of males was 37.5%. In multiple linear regression, relative handgrip strength was inversely associated with HSI index (Standardized β = −0.70; standard error (SE), 0.08; p < 0.001 in men, Standardized β = −0.94; standard error (SE), 0.07; p < 0.001 in women). According to the logistic regression model, the prevalence of NAFLD decreased with quartile 4 groups in relative handgrip strength, compared with quartile 1 groups (OR 0.42 [0.32–0.55] in men; OR 0.30 [0.22–0.40] in women). Relative handgrip strength, used as a biomarker of sarcopenia, is independently inversely associated with NAFLD.
An Investigation of Influential Users in the Promotion and Marketing of Heated Tobacco Products on Instagram: A Social Network Analysis
Authors: Gu Jiayan , Abroms Lorien C. , Broniatowski David A. , Evans W. Douglas
Published: February 2022

While an increasing body of the literature has documented the exposure to emerging tobacco products including heated tobacco products (HTPs) on social media, few studies have investigated the various stakeholders involved in the generation of promotional tobacco content. This study constructed a social network of Instagram users who posted IQOS content, a leading HTP brand, between 1 January and 5 April 2021 and identified users who positioned near the center of the network. We identified 4526 unique Instagram users who had created 19,951 IQOS-related posts during the study period. Nearly half of the users (42.1%) were business accounts authorized by Instagram, among which 59.0% belonged to Personal Goods and General Merchandise Stores and 18.1% belonged to Creators and Celebrities. For users with higher in-degree, out-degree, betweenness, and closeness centrality in the network, the majority of them were accounts directly associated with IQOS (e.g., containing “iqos” in username) or related to tobacco business as self-identified in the bio. Our findings further refine the social media marketing presence of tobacco products and suggest that the current self-regulatory efforts led by social media platforms are far from enough.
Citizens’ Perceptions of Landscape Changes and Their Driving Forces: Evidence from Poland
Authors: Solecka Iga , Krajewski Piotr , Krzyżanek Aleksandra , Garczyńska Ada
Published: February 2022

The main aim of our studies was to explore the driving forces of landscape change and their impact on the landscape as perceived by citizens in our study. We use quantitative tools for unravelling processes of landscape change over time and a qualitative tool aimed at capturing people’s perceptions about those changes. We use the two municipalities of Ostrów Wielkopolski and Kąty Wrocławskie as illustrative examples of urban and urban–rural municipalities in two time periods, 2006–2021 and 2012–2018, in Poland. We apply a three-stage approach: (1) to identify the main landscape changes based on land-cover data, (2) to characterize those changes with the use of orthophoto maps and (3) to identify the driving forces of landscape changes with the use of an online survey and interviews. The results show a large agreement between the perceived and actual level of changes. We identified key landscape change processes in both municipalities, and we conclude that citizens’ perceptions concerning those processes in both municipalities differed depending on the context, the level of changes, and the way this process was planned and implemented. In both municipalities, the respondents pointed out political driving forces of landscape change as key underlying drivers. Future landscape planning should consider citizens’ approaches towards landscape change to achieve better societal approval and improve the quality of life of the inhabitants.
Investigating Web-Based Nutrition Education Interventions for Promoting Sustainable and Healthy Diets in Young Adults: A Systematic Literature Review
Authors: Ghammachi Nadine , Dharmayani Putu Novi Arfirsta , Mihrshahi Seema , Ronto Rimante
Published: February 2022

Background: Our current rapidly growing food systems are imposing a heavy burden on both environmental sustainability and human health. Sustainable and healthy diets aim to promote optimal health and have a minimal environmental impact. This study aimed to critically review and synthesise the evidence on the effectiveness of web-based nutrition education interventions aiming to promote sustainable and healthy diets among young adults. Methods: A systematic search of four databases (Medline, PsycINFO, Scopus, and Embase) was conducted in March 2021. Studies were included if they used an online platform to deliver the intervention to young adults and measured at least one aspect of sustainable and healthy diets, such as plant-based food intake, food waste, and local and seasonal produce. Of the 2991 studies, a total of 221 full-text articles were assessed for eligibility of which 22 were included in the final review. Results: A majority of the studies (82%) targeted fruit and vegetable consumption, and close to a quarter of studies (23%) targeted other aspects of a sustainable and healthy diet, such as red meat intake. Only one study included multiple aspects of a sustainable and healthy diet. Program delivery outcomes reported overall positive feedback and engagement. Conclusion: This review suggests that web-based interventions may be effective in promoting some sustainable diet-related outcomes in young adults. However, there is a need for developing and evaluating future programs to promote sustainable diets more comprehensively in order to help young adults make healthy and sustainable food choices.