bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A Systematic Literature Review of Indoor Air Disinfection Techniques for Airborne Bacterial Respiratory Pathogens
Authors: Nguyen Thi Tham , Johnson Graham R. , Bell Scott C. , Knibbs Luke D.
Published: January 2022

Interrupting the transmission of airborne (<≈5 µm) respiratory pathogens indoors is not a new challenge, but it has attracted unprecedented interest due to the COVID-19 pandemic during 2020–2021. However, bacterial respiratory pathogens with known or potential airborne transmission account for an appreciable proportion of the communicable disease burden globally. We aimed to systematically review quantitative, laboratory-based studies of air disinfection techniques for airborne respiratory bacteria. Three databases (PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus) were searched, following PRISMA guidelines. A total of 9596 articles were identified, of which 517 were assessed in detail and of which 26 met the inclusion and quality assessment criteria. Seven air disinfection techniques, including UV-C light, filtration, and face masks, among others, were applied to 13 different bacterial pathogens. More than 80% of studies suggested that air disinfection techniques were more effective at inactivating or killing bacteria than the comparator or baseline condition. However, it was not possible to compare these techniques because of methodological heterogeneity and the relatively small number of the studies. Laboratory studies are useful for demonstrating proof-of-concept and performance under controlled conditions. However, the generalisability of their findings to person-to-person transmission in real-world settings is unclear for most of the pathogens and techniques we assessed.
Assessment of Hygiene Indicators When Using Gloves by Transport Workers in Russia during the COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: Belova Elena , Shashina Ekaterina , Zhernov Yury , Zabroda Nadezhda , Sukhov Vitaly , Gruzdeva Olga , Khodykina Tatyana , Laponova Evgenia , Makarova Valentina , Simanovsky Anton , Zhukova Anastasia , Isiutina-Fedotkova Tatiana , Shcherbakov Denis , Mitrokhin Oleg
Published: January 2022

The COVID-19 outbreak represents a global public health emergency. National governments have gradually introduced restrictive measures. Using respiratory protective equipment (face masks) and gloves was essential practice without specific infection control measures or guidelines. This study aimed to assess hygiene indicators when using gloves by transport workers in Russia during the COVID-19 pandemic and to develop integral indicators and recommendations for wearing gloves for workers for whom this is a mandatory requirement. For this purpose, 1103 transport workers were surveyed using a questionnaire. We investigated the hygiene aspects of gloves and evaluated the bacterial contamination of the contact side of the gloves based on the wash results. We assessed the socio-demographic characteristics of the respondents, the duration of the work shift, the frequency of use of types of gloves, skin manifestations, the degree of comfort, and bacterial growth. We carried out the ranking according to comfort, the absence of adverse dermatological reactions when wearing gloves, and bacterial contamination of the inner surface of the gloves. It has been identified that it is necessary to use a comprehensive assessment of gloves to create a register of protective equipment, taking into account the frequency with which it was worn, the severity of the skin condition, comfort, and bacterial contamination.
Game of Mirrors: Health Profiles in Patient and Physician Perceptions
Authors: Fineschi Daniele , Acciai Sofia , Napolitani Margherita , Scarafuggi Giovanni , Messina Gabriele , Guarducci Giovanni , Nante Nicola
Published: January 2022

The relationship between general practitioners and patients is privileged. The aim of this study was to assess the concordance between the health profile perceived by the patient and the one described by the doctor. We conducted a cross-sectional study between 2019–2020. Patients completed the 5d-5L (EQ-p) and clinicians completed it “from the patient’s perspective” (EQ-d), also consulting the clinical diary. Statistical analysis was performed using Stata 14 (Cohen’s kappa; Fisher’s exact test). The sample consisted of 423 patients. The mean age was 56.7 ± 19.2. There were significant differences by gender in usual activities, pain, and anxiety/depression (74.6% of men had no limitation in usual activities versus 64.5% of women (p < 0.01), 53.9% of men had no pain versus 38.5% of women (p < 0.01), and 60.3% of men had no anxiety/depression versus 38.5% of women (p < 0.01)). Physicians did not detect these differences. The concordance between EQ-p and EQ-d was substantial for mobility (k = 0.62; p < 0.01), moderate for self-care (k = 0.48; p < 0.01) and usual activities (k = 0.50; p < 0.01). Concordance was fair for pain/discomfort (k = 0.32; p < 0.01), anxiety/depression (k = 0.38; p < 0.01), and EQ Index (k = 0.21; p < 0.01). There was greater agreement for “objective “dimensions (mobility, self-care, and usual activities). A good doctor, to be considered as such, must try to put himself in the “patient’s pajamas” to feel his feelings and be on the same wavelength.
Talking about the Birth Family since the Beginning: The Communicative Openness in the New Adoptive Family
Authors: Santona Alessandra , Tognasso Giacomo , Miscioscia Carla Luisa , Russo Daniela , Gorla Laura
Published: January 2022

Communicative openness within the adoptive family changes over time and helps the child explore his/her history. We aimed to evaluate whether adoptive families communicate about specific adoption-related themes from the beginning of their lives as a family. We created an instrument to track the communication process during the first year of adoption, involving a sample of 537 internationally adopted children (313 males, 224 females, mean age of adoption: 4.9 years) at two time points: six (T1) and twelve (T2) months after adoption. Our results suggest that in the first year of placement, children express memories about the past but tend to not speak about their birth families. We discovered a significant difference (Wald test = 4.889; p = 0.027) in communication about the biological family between the two points. The presence of adoptive parents who speak about it impacts the child’s questions about the past (exp (B) = 2.452, p = 0.006) and whether the child speaks about his/her biological family (exp (B) = 2.373; p = 0.017). Then, in the first year of adoption, the presence of an adoptive parent who communicates openly helps the child to ask questions and share his/her thoughts.
An Effective Fingerprint-Based Indoor Positioning Algorithm Based on Extreme Values
Authors: Tao Ye , Yan Rongen , Zhao Long
Published: January 2022

Wi-Fi-based fingerprint indoor positioning technology has gained special attention, but the development of this technology has been full of challenges such as positioning time cost and positioning accuracy. Therefore, selecting reasonable Wireless Access Points (APs) for positioning is essential, as the more APs used for positioning, the higher the online computation, energy and time cost. Furthermore, the received signal strength (RSS) is easily affected by diverse interference (obstacles, multipath effects, etc.), decreasing the positioning accuracy. AP selection and positioning algorithms are proposed in this paper to solve these issues. The proposed AP selection algorithm fuses RSS distribution and interval overlap degree to select a small number of APs with high importance for positioning. The proposed positioning algorithm uses the location distance between reference points (RPs) to construct a circle and leverages extreme values (maximum and minimum values) of circles to determine the possibility that the test point (TP) appears in each circle, then it finds useful APs to determine the weight of RPs. Extensive experiments are conducted in two different areas, and the results show the effectiveness of the proposed algorithm.
High Glucose Impairs Expression and Activation of MerTK in ARPE-19 Cells
Authors: Puddu Alessandra , Ravera Silvia , Panfoli Isabella , Bertola Nadia , Maggi Davide
Published: January 2022

MerTK (Mer Tyrosine Kinase) is a cell surface receptor that regulates phagocytosis of photoreceptor outer segments (POS) in retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells. POS phagocytosis is impaired in several pathologies, including diabetes. In this study, we investigate whether hyperglycemic conditions may affect MerTK expression and activation in ARPE-19 cells, a retinal pigment epithelial cellular model. ARPE-19 cells were cultured in standard (CTR) or high-glucose (HG) medium for 24 h. Then, we analyzed: mRNA levels and protein expression of MerTK and ADAM9, a protease that cleaves the extracellular region of MerTK; the amount of cleaved Mer (sMer); and the ability of GAS6, a MerTK ligand, to induce MerTK phosphorylation. Since HG reduces miR-126 levels, and ADAM9 is a target of miR-126, ARPE-19 cells were transfected with miR-126 inhibitor or mimic; then, we evaluated ADAM9 expression, sMer, and POS phagocytosis. We found that HG reduced expression and activation of MerTK. Contextually, HG increased expression of ADAM9 and the amount of sMer. Overexpression of miR-126 reduced levels of sMer and improved phagocytosis in ARPE-19 cells cultured with HG. In this study, we demonstrate that HG compromises MerTK expression and activation in ARPE-19 cells. Our results suggest that HG up-regulates ADAM9 expression, leading to increased shedding of MerTK. The consequent rise in sMer coupled to reduced expression of MerTK impairs binding and internalization of POS in ARPE-19 cells.
Apoptosis as Driver of Therapy-Induced Cancer Repopulation and Acquired Cell-Resistance (CRAC): A Simple In Vitro Model of Phoenix Rising in Prostate Cancer
Authors: Corsi Francesca , Capradossi Francesco , Pelliccia Andrea , Briganti Stefania , Bruni Emanuele , Traversa Enrico , Torino Francesco , Reichle Albrecht , Ghibelli Lina
Published: January 2022

Apoptotic cells stimulate compensatory proliferation through the caspase-3-cPLA-2-COX-2-PGE-2-STAT3 Phoenix Rising pathway as a healing process in normal tissues. Phoenix Rising is however usurped in cancer, potentially nullifying pro-apoptotic therapies. Cytotoxic therapies also promote cancer cell plasticity through epigenetic reprogramming, leading to epithelial-to-mesenchymal-transition (EMT), chemo-resistance and tumor progression. We explored the relationship between such scenarios, setting-up an innovative, straightforward one-pot in vitro model of therapy-induced prostate cancer repopulation. Cancer (castration-resistant PC3 and androgen-sensitive LNCaP), or normal (RWPE-1) prostate cells, are treated with etoposide and left recovering for 18 days. After a robust apoptotic phase, PC3 setup a coordinate tissue-like response, repopulating and acquiring EMT and chemo-resistance; repopulation occurs via Phoenix Rising, being dependent on high PGE-2 levels achieved through caspase-3-promoted signaling; epigenetic inhibitors interrupt Phoenix Rising after PGE-2, preventing repopulation. Instead, RWPE-1 repopulate via Phoenix Rising without reprogramming, EMT or chemo-resistance, indicating that only cancer cells require reprogramming to complete Phoenix Rising. Intriguingly, LNCaP stop Phoenix-Rising after PGE-2, failing repopulating, suggesting that the propensity to engage/complete Phoenix Rising may influence the outcome of pro-apoptotic therapies. Concluding, we established a reliable system where to study prostate cancer repopulation, showing that epigenetic reprogramming assists Phoenix Rising to promote post-therapy cancer repopulation and acquired cell-resistance (CRAC).
CD26 Induces Colorectal Cancer Angiogenesis and Metastasis through CAV1/MMP1 Signaling
Authors: Ng Lui , Wong Sunny Kit-Man , Huang Zheng , Lam Colin Siu-Chi , Chow Ariel Ka-Man , Foo Dominic Chi-Chung , Lo Oswens Siu-Hung , Pang Roberta Wen-Chi , Law Wai-Lun
Published: January 2022

CD26 has been reported as a marker for colorectal cancer stem cells endowed with tumor-initiating properties and capable of colorectal cancer (CRC) metastasis. In this study, we investigated the functional effect of CD26 on CRC angiogenesis and metastasis, and the potential underlying mechanism. The functional effects of CD26 overexpression or repression were determined by a wound healing experiment, and cell migration and invasion assays in vitro and in mouse models. Differentially expressed genes regulated by CD26 were identified by genome-wide mRNA expression array and validated by quantitative PCR. CD26 functionally regulated CRC cell migration and invasion in vitro and angiogenesis and metastasis in vivo. Genome-wide mRNA expression array and qPCR showed that MMP1 was up-regulated in CD26+ subpopulation, and a subsequent experiment demonstrated the regulatory effect of CD26 on MMP1 in CRC cell lines with CD26 repression or overexpression. Furthermore, overexpression of CAV1 abrogated the CD26-regulated MMP1 induction in CRC cell lines. This study demonstrated the functional roles of CD26 in inducing CRC migration, invasion, angiogenesis and metastasis and identified the potential involvement of MMP1 and CAV1 in such process. CD26 is an attractive therapeutic target for combating tumor progression to improve the prognosis of CRC patients.
Gut–Brain Axis as a Pathological and Therapeutic Target for Neurodegenerative Disorders
Authors: Toledo Alma Rosa Lezama , Monroy Germán Rivera , Salazar Felipe Esparza , Lee Jea-Young , Jain Shalini , Yadav Hariom , Borlongan Cesario Venturina
Published: January 2022

Human lifestyle and dietary behaviors contribute to disease onset and progression. Neurodegenerative diseases (NDDs), considered multifactorial disorders, have been associated with changes in the gut microbiome. NDDs display pathologies that alter brain functions with a tendency to worsen over time. NDDs are a worldwide health problem; in the US alone, 12 million Americans will suffer from NDDs by 2030. While etiology may vary, the gut microbiome serves as a key element underlying NDD development and prognosis. In particular, an inflammation-associated microbiome plagues NDDs. Conversely, sequestration of this inflammatory microbiome by a correction in the dysbiotic state of the gut may render therapeutic effects on NDDs. To this end, treatment with short-chain fatty acid-producing bacteria, the main metabolites responsible for maintaining gut homeostasis, ameliorates the inflammatory microbiome. This intimate pathological link between the gut and NDDs suggests that the gut-brain axis (GBA) acts as an underexplored area for developing therapies for NDDs. Traditionally, the classification of NDDs depends on their clinical presentation, mostly manifesting as extrapyramidal and pyramidal movement disorders, with neuropathological evaluation at autopsy as the gold standard for diagnosis. In this review, we highlight the evolving notion that GBA stands as an equally sensitive pathological marker of NDDs, particularly in Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and chronic stroke. Additionally, GBA represents a potent therapeutic target for treating NDDs.
CIDP: Current Treatments and Identification of Targets for Future Specific Therapeutic Intervention
Authors: Brun Susana , de Sèze Jérôme , Muller Sylviane
Published: January 2022

Chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP) is an acquired immune-mediated inflammatory disorder of the peripheral nervous system. This clinically heterogeneous neurological disorder is closely related to Guillain–Barré syndrome and is considered the chronic counterpart of that acute disease. Currently available treatments are mostly empirical; they include corticosteroids, intravenous immunoglobulins, plasma exchange and chronic immunosuppressive agents, either alone or in combination. Recent advances in the understanding of the underlying pathogenic mechanisms in CIDP have brought a number of novel ways of possible intervention for use in CIDP. This review summarizes selected pre-clinical and clinical findings, highlights the importance of using adapted animal models to evaluate the efficacy of novel treatments, and proposes the outlines of future directions to ameliorate the conditions of patients with CIDP.
Security Graphics with Multilayered Elements in the Near-Infrared and Visible Spectrum
Authors: Žiljak Gršić Jana , Jurečić Denis , Tepeš Golubić Lidija , Plehati Silvio
Published: January 2022

In this paper, the fusion of four graphics into one integrated graphic is selectively observed in the visible and infrared spectrum. Each graphic represents its own information derived from the following sources: vector graphics, drawing, photograph and textual information. One graphic will be visible to the naked eye after the print. The other graphics will be observed with an NIR surveillance camera. These other graphics are nested into the selected visible graphics. All the graphics together make up a security print product with the characteristics of an individual solution with multilayered elements. Reprinting is possible only for the person in possession of the solution created according to the algorithm based on the INFRAREDESIGN® method. When these graphics are printed on paper, it is impossible to produce an identical graphic prepress (C, M, Y, K) to produce forgery with the same dual properties in the visible and NIR spectrum.
Learning the Morphological and Syntactic Grammars for Named Entity Recognition
Authors: Sun Mengtao , Yang Qiang , Wang Hao , Pasquine Mark , Hameed Ibrahim A.
Published: January 2022

In some languages, Named Entity Recognition (NER) is severely hindered by complex linguistic structures, such as inflection, that will confuse the data-driven models when perceiving the word’s actual meaning. This work tries to alleviate these problems by introducing a novel neural network based on morphological and syntactic grammars. The experiments were performed in four Nordic languages, which have many grammar rules. The model was named the NorG network (Nor: Nordic Languages, G: Grammar). In addition to learning from the text content, the NorG network also learns from the word writing form, the POS tag, and dependency. The proposed neural network consists of a bidirectional Long Short-Term Memory (Bi-LSTM) layer to capture word-level grammars, while a bidirectional Graph Attention (Bi-GAT) layer is used to capture sentence-level grammars. Experimental results from four languages show that the grammar-assisted network significantly improves the results against baselines. We also investigate how the NorG network works on each grammar component by some exploratory experiments.
Exploiting Distance-Based Structures in Data Using an Explainable AI for Stock Picking
Authors: Thrun Michael C.
Published: January 2022

In principle, the fundamental data of companies may be used to select stocks with a high probability of either increasing or decreasing price. Many of the commonly known rules or used explanations for such a stock-picking process are too vague to be applied in concrete cases, and at the same time, it is challenging to analyze high-dimensional data with a low number of cases in order to derive data-driven and usable explanations. This work proposes an explainable AI (XAI) approach on the quarterly available fundamental data of companies traded on the German stock market. In the XAI, distance-based structures in data (DSD) that guide decision tree induction are identified. The leaves of the appropriately selected decision tree contain subsets of stocks and provide viable explanations that can be rated by a human. The prediction of the future price trends of specific stocks is made possible using the explanations and a rating. In each quarter, stock picking by DSD-XAI is based on understanding the explanations and has a higher success rate than arbitrary stock picking, a hybrid AI system, and a recent unsupervised decision tree called eUD3.5.
The CYGNO Experiment
Authors: Amaro Fernando Domingues , Baracchini Elisabetta , Benussi Luigi , Bianco Stefano , Capoccia Cesidio , Caponero Michele , Cardoso Danilo Santos , Cavoto Gianluca , Cortez André , Costa Igor Abritta , Roque Rita Joanna da Cruz , Dané Emiliano , Dho Giorgio , Di Giambattista Flaminia , Di Marco Emanuele , Grilli di Cortona Giovanni , D’Imperio Giulia , Iacoangeli Francesco , Lima Júnior Herman Pessoa , Pinheiro Lopes Guilherme Sebastiao , Lopes Júnior Amaro da Silva , Maccarrone Giovanni , Mano Rui Daniel Passos , Marafini Michela , Marcelo Gregorio Robert Renz , Marques David José Gaspar , Mazzitelli Giovanni , McLean Alasdair Gregor , Messina Andrea , Bernardes Monteiro Cristina Maria , Nobrega Rafael Antunes , Pains Igor Fonseca , Paoletti Emiliano , Passamonti Luciano , Pelosi Sandro , Petrucci Fabrizio , Piacentini Stefano , Piccolo Davide , Pierluigi Daniele , Pinci Davide , Prajapati Atul , Renga Francesco , Rosatelli Filippo , Russo Alessandro , dos Santos Joaquim Marques Ferreira , Saviano Giovanna , Spooner Neil John Curwen , Tesauro Roberto , Tomassini Sandro , Torelli Samuele
Published: January 2022

The search for a novel technology able to detect and reconstruct nuclear and electron recoil events with the energy of a few keV has become more and more important now that large regions of high-mass dark matter (DM) candidates have been excluded. Moreover, a detector sensitive to incoming particle direction will be crucial in the case of DM discovery to open the possibility of studying its properties. Gaseous time projection chambers (TPC) with optical readout are very promising detectors combining the detailed event information provided by the TPC technique with the high sensitivity and granularity of latest-generation scientific light sensors. The CYGNO experiment (a CYGNus module with Optical readout) aims to exploit the optical readout approach of multiple-GEM structures in large volume TPCs for the study of rare events as interactions of low-mass DM or solar neutrinos. The combined use of high-granularity sCMOS cameras and fast light sensors allows the reconstruction of the 3D direction of the tracks, offering good energy resolution and very high sensitivity in the few keV energy range, together with a very good particle identification useful for distinguishing nuclear recoils from electronic recoils. This experiment is part of the CYGNUS proto-collaboration, which aims at constructing a network of underground observatories for directional DM search. A one cubic meter demonstrator is expected to be built in 2022/23 aiming at a larger scale apparatus (30 m3–100 m3) at a later stage.
On the Tree Gauge in Magnetostatics
Authors: Rapetti Francesca , Alonso Rodríguez Ana , De Los Santos Eduardo
Published: January 2022

We recall the classical tree-cotree technique in magnetostatics. (1) We extend it in the frame of high-order finite elements in general domains. (2) We focus on its connection with the question of the invertibility of the final algebraic system arising from a high-order edge finite element discretization of the magnetostatic problem formulated in terms of the magnetic vector potential. With the same purpose of invertibility, we analyse another classically used condition, the Coulomb gauge. (3) We conclude by underlying that the two gauges can be naturally considered in a high order framework without any restriction on the topology of the domain.
Paclitaxel-Loaded PLGA Coating Stents in the Treatment of Benign Cicatrical Airway Stenosis
Authors: Qiu Xiaojian , Liu Yan , Zhang Jie , Wang Ting , Wang Juan
Published: January 2022

Background: Airway stent implantation used in the treatment of benign cicatricial airway stenosis (BCAS) can lead to local granulation and scar formation, resulting in restenosis and treatment failure. Methods: We systematically investigated a paclitaxel-loaded PLGA-coating stent (PLPCS) and analyzed the safety and efficacy of the PLPCS in patients with BCAS. Patients were enrolled from four hospitals in China and observed for six months after implantation, by bronchoscopy performed weekly in the first month and monthly thereafter. The stent was removed immediately upon detection of granulation tissue proliferation, leading to immobility of the stent. Results: Granulation tissue was formed one week after stent implantation, most of which was located at the upper edge of the stent and the narrowest airway in the stent. All stents were removed in three months (mean: 6.51 + 4.67 weeks), with a curative outcome in one case and ineffective results in two. The remaining seven patients developed complications within three months, necessitating early stent removal. The main complication was granulation formation, resulting in difficulty in stent removal. Conclusion: Although PLPCS showed beneficial effects in basic and animal experiments, it cannot prevent airway restenosis in actual practice, mainly due to granulation formation.
Metal Allergy Mediates the Development of Oral Lichen Planus via TSLP-TSLPR Signaling
Authors: Yunizar Mohammad Fadyl , Watanabe Megumi , Liu Lipei , Minami Norikazu , Ichikawa Tetsuo
Published: January 2022

Metal allergy is a T-cell-mediated delayed type of hypersensitive reaction. The pathogenetic mechanisms underlying the allergy are unclear, although the condition has been reported to be related to oral lichen planus (OLP), despite an absence of immunological studies to support this relationship. In this study, histopathological samples of OLP patients were examined to compare the metal allergy-positive and -negative groups, with a focus on the network of epidermal keratinocytes and T cells induced by thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP) and its receptor, TSLPR. Infiltration of T cells into the epithelium was revealed to be higher in the OLP lesions of metal allergy-positive patients than in those of metal allergy-negative patients. Moreover, TSLP-TSLPR signaling and TNF-α production were higher in the epithelial tissue samples of the metal allergy-positive patients than in the metal allergy-negative patients. Metal allergy is associated with both increased expressions of TSLP in keratinocytes and increased TNF-α levels in the epithelium. We propose that this would promote the accumulation of T cells at the lesion site, contributing to the formation of the disease. These results suggest that metal allergy may be an aggravating factor in the pathogenesis of OLP.
Post-COVID-19 Syndrome: Involvement and Interactions between Respiratory, Cardiovascular and Nervous Systems
Authors: Visco Valeria , Vitale Carolina , Rispoli Antonella , Izzo Carmine , Virtuoso Nicola , Ferruzzi Germano Junior , Santopietro Mario , Melfi Americo , Rusciano Maria Rosaria , Maglio Angelantonio , Di Pietro Paola , Carrizzo Albino , Galasso Gennaro , Vatrella Alessandro , Vecchione Carmine , Ciccarelli Michele
Published: January 2022

Though the acute effects of SARS-CoV-2 infection have been extensively reported, the long-term effects are less well described. Specifically, while clinicians endure to battle COVID-19, we also need to develop broad strategies to manage post-COVID-19 symptoms and encourage those affected to seek suitable care. This review addresses the possible involvement of the lung, heart and brain in post-viral syndromes and describes suggested management of post-COVID-19 syndrome. Post-COVID-19 respiratory manifestations comprise coughing and shortness of breath. Furthermore, arrhythmias, palpitations, hypotension, increased heart rate, venous thromboembolic diseases, myocarditis and acute heart failure are usual cardiovascular events. Among neurological manifestations, headache, peripheral neuropathy symptoms, memory issues, lack of concentration and sleep disorders are most commonly observed with varying frequencies. Finally, mental health issues affecting mental abilities and mood fluctuations, namely anxiety and depression, are frequently seen. Finally, long COVID is a complex syndrome with protracted heterogeneous symptoms, and patients who experience post-COVID-19 sequelae require personalized treatment as well as ongoing support.
Prevalence of Segmental Colitis Associated with Colonic Diverticulosis in a Prospective Cohort of Patients Who Underwent Colonoscopy in a Tertiary Center
Authors: Falangone Francesca , Esposito Gianluca , Angeletti Stefano , Pilozzi Emanuela , Corleto Vito Domenico , Di Giulio Emilio , Annibale Bruno , Carabotti Marilia
Published: January 2022

In patients with colonic diverticulosis, the prevalence of segmental colitis associated with diverticulosis (SCAD) is debated. The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of SCAD in consecutive patients with diverticulosis in a single tertiary center. Over a six-month period, consecutive adult patients with colonic diverticulosis were included. Patients with endoscopic signs of interdiverticular mucosal inflammation (erythema, friability, and ulcerations) were considered suspected SCAD and underwent multiple biopsy samplings to confirm diagnosis. Clinical features were collected from diverticulosis and suspected SCAD patients. In total, 367 (26.5%) of 1383 patients who underwent colonoscopy presented diverticulosis. Among diverticulosis patients, 4.3% (n = 16) presented macroscopic signs of interdiverticular mucosal inflammation and were identified as suspected SCAD. Compared to that of patients with diverticulosis, the age of suspected SCAD patients was significantly lower (60 ± 12.9 years (41.0–86.0) vs. 70 ± 10.6 years (38.0–93.0)) (p = 0.047). Among patients with suspected SCAD, one patient received a new diagnosis of Crohn’s disease, one had spirochetosis infection, and one presented drug-induced colitis. The remaining patients with suspected SCAD (n = 13) were not confirmed by histology. This observational study suggests that SCAD diagnosis is a challenge in clinical practice due to the heterogeneity of endoscopic findings and lack of stated histological criteria.
Reduced Vessel Density in the Mid-Periphery and Peripapillary Area of the Superficial Capillary Plexus in Non-Proliferative Diabetic Retinopathy
Authors: Chaher Amira , Fajnkuchen Franck , Tabary Sandrine , Giocanti-Aurégan Audrey
Published: January 2022

Our aim in this study was to assess the vessel density (VD) and vessel skeleton density (VSD) in the nasal area of the superficial capillary plexus (SCP) of diabetic subjects without diabetic retinopathy (DR), or in those with a non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy (NPDR), and to evaluate the relationship between the VD and VSD and the severity of DR. In this prospective study, the VD and VSD in the SCP were measured and analyzed on 6 × 6-mm macular and nasal optical coherence tomography angiography scans. The three concentric circles of the Early Treatment of Diabetic Retinopathy Study (ETDRS) grid were used and divided into zones numbered from 1 to 9 in the macular area and from 1 to 8 in the nasal area. The VD was significantly lower in the nasal peripapillary area (p = 0.0028), and both the VD and VSD were significantly lower in the macular area (p = 0.0131 and p = 0.0132, respectively) in patients with more severe DR. The SD was significantly lower in zones 5 (p = 0.0315) and 6 (p = 0.0324) in the nasal grid in patients with more severe DR. We showed a lower superficial capillary flow in the nasal periphery and peripapillary area in patients with more severe DR.
The Association between Low Levels of Low Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol and Intracerebral Hemorrhage: Cause for Concern?
Authors: Gurevitz Chen , Auriel Eitan , Elis Avishay , Kornowski Ran
Published: January 2022

Excessive levels of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) in the blood are a known risk factor for atherosclerosis, and a common target of treatment for primary and secondary prevention of cerebrocardiovascular disease. As lipid lowering agents including statins, ezetimibe and anti-proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9) inhibitors have shown good therapeutic results, the guidelines are constantly lowering the “optimal” LDL-C goals. However, old and new data point towards an association between low LDL-C and total cholesterol and intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH). In this review we aimed to shed light on this troubling association and identify the potential risk factors of such a potential adverse reaction. With respect to the data presented, we concluded that in patients with high risk of ICH, a cautious approach and individualized therapy strategy are advised when considering aggressive LDL reduction.
Gender Differences in All-Cause Mortality after Acute Myocardial Infarction: Evidence for a Gender–Age Interaction
Authors: Song Pil Sang , Kim Mi Joo , Seong Seok-Woo , Choi Si Wan , Gwon Hyeon-Cheol , Hur Seung-Ho , Rha Seung-Woon , Yoon Chang-Hwan , Jeong Myung Ho , Jeong Jin-Ok ,   KAMIR-NIH Investigators
Published: January 2022

Gender difference studies in mortality after acute myocardial infarction (AMI) have shown inconsistent results. A total of 13,104 patients from the KAMIR-NIH between November 2011 and December 2015 were classified into young (n = 3837 [29.3%]) and elderly (n = 9267 [70.7%]) patients. For the study, women <65 and men <55 years of age were considered “young”. In the adjusted model of the entire cohort, there was no significant difference in three-year all-cause mortality between women and men (17.8% vs. 10.3%; adjusted hazard ratio [HR], 0.953; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.799–1.137). However, when the entire cohort was subdivided into two age groups, young women showed an 84.3% higher mortality rate than young men (adjusted HR, 1.843; 95% CI, 1.098–3.095). Contrariwise, elderly women patients had a 20.4% lower hazard of mortality compared with elderly men (adjusted HR, 0.796; 95% CI, 0.682–0.929). The interaction of gender with age was significant, even after multiple adjustments (adjusted p for interaction = 0.003). The purpose of this study was to assess whether gender differences depend on the patients’ age. Based on our analysis, higher mortality of young women remains even in the contemporary era of AMI. A better understanding of the mechanisms underlying these differences is warranted.
The Role of Fibre Length on the Fatigue Failure of Injection-Moulded Composites at Elevated Temperatures under a Range of Axial Loading Conditions
Authors: Sabiston Trevor , Li Bin , Muhammad Waqas , Kang Jidong , Engler-Pinto Carlos
Published: January 2022

The effect of fibre length distribution on the fatigue behaviour of an injection-moulded PA66 carbon fibre composite is investigated. Two materials, short carbon fibre with a mean length of 100 microns, and long carbon fibre with a mean length of 580 microns, are subjected to fully reversed fatigue loading at room temperature and three stress ratios at 120 °C. The fatigue results are compared, and fracture surfaces are analyzed to determine the differing failure modes between the materials and loading conditions. At 120 °C, the fibre length has a significant effect on the fatigue behaviour with order of magnitudes of different fatigue life for a given stress amplitude during tensile fatigue loading. Under tensile loading, fatigue failure initates as fibre matrix debonding with pits present due to end effects in the short carbon fibre material. Under compression–compression loading, the fatigue life is matrix-dominated and should be treated as a maximum stress failure. Under this loading, a smooth crack propagates across the sample with buckling as the final failure mode.
Properties of the Acoustic Vector Field near the Underwater Planar Cavity Baffle and Its Application
Authors: Chen Hongyue , Zhu Zhongrui , Yang Desen
Published: January 2022

In order to apply the acoustic vector hydrophone on a ship, the properties of the acoustic vector field near the underwater planar cavity baffle are studied based on the Euler description and Lagrange description. The acoustic vector field is calculated based on the transfer matrices and matched boundary conditions. It is shown that the interference structure appears in the acoustic field. In particular, the particle velocity direction and intensity vector cannot directly reflect the azimuth of the source. The points at which the particle velocity is zero are saddle points and nodal points in the particle velocity vector field. Moreover, the particle motion is generally an ellipse near the planar cavity baffle. Furthermore, this paper defines a parameter that can fully represent the particle motion, and the direction of arrival (DOA) can be estimated using a single acoustic vector hydrophone using this parameter in some cases. At the end, the validity of the theoretical calculation and the method of using the parameter to estimate the DOA are verified experimentally.
Tiger King and the Exegesis of COVID-19 Media Coverage of Nonhuman Animals
Authors: Alonso-Recarte Claudia
Published: January 2022

Beginning with the premise that the media participates in the manufacturing of the societal consent that enables and perpetuates the systematized exploitation of nonhuman animals, this article explores how media coverage of such nonhuman animals (and of wildlife in particular) during the COVID-19 crisis may influence our consumption of popular entertainment in a way that centralizes the discussion on the implications of established speciesist practices. I specifically focus on the impact of the first season of Netflix’s successful docuseries Tiger King: Murder, Mayhem, and Madness, directed by Eric Goode and Rebecca Chaiklin, which was released in March 2020, a key moment in the worldwide management of the pandemic. Tiger King has generated significant controversy because of its languid commitment to a solid conservationist message and to the paradigm of animal advocacy documentaries. However, understanding how and why nonhuman animals were considered newsworthy by COVID-19 media provides us with some interpretative keys through which to reapproach the significance of the show. Analyzing the series’ main themes and motifs in light of the media’s narratives on lockdown, wildlife, and human interference over nature allows us to continue exploring methodologies through which to question the multiple anthropocentric discourses that structure and order societal consent to the existence of zoos.
Novel and Efficient Quantitative Posterior-Circulation-Structure-Based Scale via Noncontrast CT to Predict Ischemic Stroke Prognosis: A Retrospective Study
Authors: Fang Wen-Hui , Chen Ying-Chu , Tsai Ming-Chen , Ko Pi-Shao , Wang Ding-Lian , Su Sui-Lung
Published: January 2022

(1) Background: Posterior circulation ischemic stroke has high mortality and disability rates and requires an early prediction prognosis to provide the basis for an interventional approach. Current quantitative measures are only able to accurately assess the prognosis of patients using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). However, it is difficult to obtain MRI images in critically urgent cases. Therefore, the development of a noncontrast CT-based rapid-assist tool is needed to enhance the value of the clinical application. (2) Objective: This study aimed to develop an auxiliary-annotating noncontrast CT-efficient tool, which is based on a deep learning model, to provide a quantitative scale and the prognosis of posterior circulation ischemic stroke patients. (3) Methods: A total of 31 patients with posterior circulation ischemic stroke, diagnosed in the stroke registry at the Tri-Service General Hospital from November 2019 to July 2020, were included in the study, with a total of 578 CT images collected from noncontrast CT and MRI that were ≤ 3 days apart. A 5-fold cross validation was used to develop an image segmentation model to identify nine posterior circulation structures, and intersection over union (IoU) was used to assess the ability of the model to identify each structure. A quantitative score was integrated to assess the importance of the proportion of ischemic lesions in each posterior circulation structure, and the ROC curve was compared with the semiquantitative score for prognostic power. The prognoses of the patients were defined into two groups of 18 patients. An mRS score of 0–2 at discharge was defined as a good prognosis, while an mRS score of 3–6 was deemed to be a poor prognosis. (4) Results: The performance of the image segmentation model for identifying the nine posterior circulation structures in noncontrast CT images was evaluated. The IoU of the left cerebellum was 0.78, the IoU of the right cerebellum was 0.79, the IoU of the left occipital lobe was 0.74, the IoU of the right occipital lobe was 0.68, the IoU of the left thalamus was 0.73, the IoU of the right thalamus was 0.75, the IoU of the medulla oblongata was 0.82, and the IoU of the midbrain was 0.83. The prognostic AUC of posterior circulation patients predicted using a quantitative integrated score was 0.74, which was significantly higher than that of the pc-ASPECTS (AUC = 0.63, p = 0.035), with a sensitivity of 0.67 and a specificity of 0.72. (5) Conclusions: In this study, a deep learning model was used to develop a noncontrast CT-based quantitative integrated score tool, which is an effective tool for clinicians to assess the prognosis of posterior circulation ischemic stroke.
Environmental Enrichment Factors Associated with the Activity Level of Bottlenose Dolphins under Professional Care
Authors: Lauderdale Lisa K. , Shorter Kenneth Alex , Zhang Ding , Gabaldon Joaquin , Mellen Jill D. , Granger Douglas A. , Walsh Michael T. , Miller Lance J.
Published: January 2022

Environmental enrichment can be used to improve the welfare of dolphins in zoos and aquariums. Bottlenose dolphins under professional care are typically provided with a range of enrichment that has a variety of features and levels of complexity at various frequencies. In the present study, a subset of data from a larger study entitled “Towards understanding the welfare of cetaceans in zoos and aquariums” (colloquially called the Cetacean Welfare Study) was used to examine the relationship between activity level and enrichment buoyancy as well as enrichment provisioning schedules. Survey data were collected from accredited zoos and aquariums related to the types of enrichment provided to the dolphins and the frequency and duration they were supplied. Non-invasive bio-logging devices were used to record the dolphin kinematics one day per week over the course of two five-week data collection periods. Activity level related positively with the total duration of time non-stationary enrichment was provided. In addition, providing a larger number of enrichment types each between 26% and 50% of the days in a month (i.e., rotating many different types of enrichment across days on a moderate schedule) was positively related to activity level. Activity level was negatively related to the number of times sinking enrichment was provided. Understanding how the temporal schedule and features of various types of enrichment are related to activity levels will aid in developing progressively more effective enrichment programs.
Impacts of Ground Fissures on Soil Properties in an Underground Mining Area on the Loess Plateau, China
Authors: Mi Jiaxin , Yang Yongjun , Hou Huping , Zhang Shaoliang , Ding Zhongyi , Hua Yifei
Published: January 2022

Mining-induced ground fissures are the main type of geological disasters found on the Loess Plateau, China, and cause great impacts on the soil properties around ground fissures. However, little research has been conducted on the quantitative relationship between ground fissures and changes in soil properties. To address this, 40 ground fissures in the Yungang mining area, Datong City, Shanxi Province, China, were investigated, and changes in soil properties (soil organic matter, soil moisture, field capacity, bulk density, soil porosity, and grain compositions) were revealed by the difference in soil properties between the edge and contrast points around ground fissures. Redundancy analyses were used to illustrate the relationships between the value (Si_DV) and percentage (Si_DP) of the difference in soil properties between the edge and contrast points, as well as the ground fissures. The characteristics of ground fissures that had a significant correlation according to Pearson correlation analysis with Si_DP were selected and analyzed via multivariate linear fitting model, random forest model, and Back Propagation (BP) neural network model, respectively. Results show that soil organic matter, soil moisture content, bulk density, field capacity, and the content of clay at the edge points were significantly less than those at the contrast points; conversely, soil porosity at the edge points was significantly greater. The average percentage of the difference between the edge points and contrast points of ground fissures in these six properties was 15.27%, while soil moisture content showed the greatest change (20.65%). The Si_DP was significantly correlated with the width, slope, and vegetation coverage of ground fissures; however, the vegetation coverage was the determining factor. BP neural network model had the greatest performance in revealing the relationships between ground fissures and changes in soil properties. The model for soil organic matter had the highest accuracy (R2 = 0.89), and all others were above 0.5. This research provides insights into the quantitative relationship between ground fissures and their impacts on soil physical properties, which can be used in conjunction with remote sensing images to rapidly assess soil erosion risks caused by mining on a large scale, given that soil physical properties are closely related to topsoil stability.
Hotspots of Yield Loss for Four Crops of the Belt and Road Terrestrial Countries under 1.5 °C Global Warming
Authors: Tong Miao , Dai Erfu , Wu Chunsheng
Published: January 2022

The Fifth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate change (IPCC) shows that climate change poses severe risks to the Belt and Road region and could cut future crop production. Identifying the positions and features of hotspots, which refer to regions with severe yield loss at 1.5 °C global warming, is the key to developing proper mitigation and adaptation policies to ensure regional food security. This study examined yield loss hotspots of four crops (maize, rice, soybean and wheat) at 1.5 °C global warming under RCP8.5. Yield data were derived from simulations of multiple climate-crop model ensembles from the Inter-Sectoral Impact Model Intercomparison Project (ISI-MIP). Hotspots were identified by setting a threshold of the 10th percentile of crop yields during the reference period (1986–2005). To quantify the likelihood of crop yield loss hotspots within multi-model ensembles, the agreement of model combinations for hotspots was calculated for each crop at the grid scale with 0.5° × 0.5° spatial resolution. Results revealed spatial heterogeneity of cultivation structure and hotspot likelihood for four crops. The four crops’ production of SA (South Asia) and SEA (Southeast Asia) accounts for more than 40% of the total production in the Belt and Road region, roughly four times the amount produced in CEE (Central and Eastern Europe) and NEA (Northeast Asia). Besides, the hotspots likelihood of maize, rice and soybean is generally larger in SA/SEA than that in CEE/NEA which means the risk of yield reduction is higher in the current main agricultural area. According to IPCC’s classification rules for likelihood, four crops’ hotspot patterns were displayed under the 1.5 °C global warming. As the highest-yielding crop, maize shows the largest proportion of “likely” hotspots (hotspot likelihood > 66%), which is about 6.48%, accounting for more than four times that of the other three crops. In addition, four crops’ hotspots are mainly distributed in SEA and SA. Overall, SEA and SA are vulnerable subregions and maize is the vulnerable crop of the Belt and Road region. Our results could provide information on target areas where mitigation or adaptations are needed to reduce the adverse influence of climate change in the agricultural system.