bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Spatial Pattern and Fairness Measurement of Educational Resources in Primary and Middle Schools: A Case Study of Chengdu–Chongqing Economic Circle
Authors: Lu Wei , Li Yuechen , Zhao Rongkun , He Bo , Qian Zihua
Published: September 2022

China’s education has developed rapidly in recent years, but the issue of educational equality still exists. Currently, there are few studies on educational resources, and their spatial pattern and fairness remain unclear. Thus, this study selected the point of interest data and spatial analysis methods to depict the spatial pattern of educational resources (containing the number of teachers, students, facilities, etc.). Then, we evaluated the equity of educational resources (including the number of schools and school teachers) in terms of geographic and population distribution by combining statistical yearbook data with two indices (the index of dissimilarity and agglomeration degree) to promote healthy urban development. The results show the following. (1) Educational resources have a multicenter spatial structure of “dual cores and multiple sub-centers”. The Moran index reflects a weak positive spatial correlation between educational resources. (2) The index of dissimilarity is between 0.02 and 0.21, which shows that the allocation of resources is relatively balanced. Regarding internal units, obvious differences exist in the agglomeration degree and equilibrium of educational resources.
Spatiotemporal Interaction and Socioeconomic Determinants of Rural Energy Poverty in China
Authors: Xia Siyou , Yang Yu , Qian Xiaoying , Xu Xin
Published: September 2022

This study investigated the energy poverty spatiotemporal interaction characteristics and socioeconomic determinants in rural China from 2000 to 2015 using exploratory time–space data analysis and a geographical detector model. We obtained the following results. (1) The overall trend of energy poverty in China’s rural areas was “rising first and then declining”, and the evolution trend of energy poverty in the three regions formed a “central–west–east” stepwise decreasing pattern. (2) There was a dynamic local spatial dependence and unstable spatial evolution process, and the spatial agglomeration of rural energy poverty in China had a relatively higher path dependence and locked spatial characteristics. (3) The provinces with negative connections were mainly concentrated in the central and western regions. Anhui and Henan, Inner Mongolia and Jilin, Jilin and Heilongjiang, Hebei and Shanxi, and Liaoning and Jilin constituted a strong synergistic growth period. (4) From a long-term perspective, the disposable income of rural residents had the greatest determinant power on rural energy poverty, followed by per capita GDP, rural labor education level, regulatory agencies, and energy investment. In addition, our findings showed that the selected driving factors all had enhanced effects on rural energy poverty in China through interaction effects.
Clinical Applications of Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning in Children with Cleft Lip and Palate—A Systematic Review
Authors: Huqh Mohamed Zahoor Ul , Abdullah Johari Yap , Wong Ling Shing , Jamayet Nafij Bin , Alam Mohammad Khursheed , Rashid Qazi Farah , Husein Adam , Ahmad Wan Muhamad Amir W. , Eusufzai Sumaiya Zabin , Prasadh Somasundaram , Subramaniyan Vetriselvan , Fuloria Neeraj Kumar , Fuloria Shivkanya , Sekar Mahendran , Selvaraj Siddharthan
Published: September 2022

Objective: The objective of this systematic review was (a) to explore the current clinical applications of AI/ML (Artificial intelligence and Machine learning) techniques in diagnosis and treatment prediction in children with CLP (Cleft lip and palate), (b) to create a qualitative summary of results of the studies retrieved. Materials and methods: An electronic search was carried out using databases such as PubMed, Scopus, and the Web of Science Core Collection. Two reviewers searched the databases separately and concurrently. The initial search was conducted on 6 July 2021. The publishing period was unrestricted; however, the search was limited to articles involving human participants and published in English. Combinations of Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) phrases and free text terms were used as search keywords in each database. The following data was taken from the methods and results sections of the selected papers: The amount of AI training datasets utilized to train the intelligent system, as well as their conditional properties; Unilateral CLP, Bilateral CLP, Unilateral Cleft lip and alveolus, Unilateral cleft lip, Hypernasality, Dental characteristics, and sagittal jaw relationship in children with CLP are among the problems studied. Results: Based on the predefined search strings with accompanying database keywords, a total of 44 articles were found in Scopus, PubMed, and Web of Science search results. After reading the full articles, 12 papers were included for systematic analysis. Conclusions: Artificial intelligence provides an advanced technology that can be employed in AI-enabled computerized programming software for accurate landmark detection, rapid digital cephalometric analysis, clinical decision-making, and treatment prediction. In children with corrected unilateral cleft lip and palate, ML can help detect cephalometric predictors of future need for orthognathic surgery.
Rehabilitation Outcomes for Patients with Motor Deficits after Initial and Repeat Brain Tumor Surgery
Authors: Krajewski Stanisław , Furtak Jacek , Zawadka-Kunikowska Monika , Kachelski Michał , Birski Marcin , Harat Marek
Published: September 2022

Repeat surgery is often required to treat brain tumor recurrences. Here, we compared the functional state and rehabilitation of patients undergoing initial and repeat surgery for brain tumors to establish their individual risks that might impact management. In total, 835 patients underwent operations, and 139 (16.6%) required rehabilitation during the inpatient stay. The Karnofsky performance status, Barthel index, and the modified Rankin scale were used to assess functional status, and the gait index was used to assess gait efficiency. Motor skills, postoperative complications, and length of hospital stay were recorded. Patients were classified into two groups: first surgery (n = 103) and repeat surgery (n = 30). Eighteen percent of patients required reoperations, and these patients required prolonged postoperative rehabilitation as often as those operated on for the first time. Rehabilitation was more often complicated in the repeat surgery group (p = 0.047), and the complications were more severe and persistent. Reoperated patients had significantly worse motor function and independence in activities of daily living before surgery and at discharge, but the deterioration after surgery affected patients in the first surgery group to a greater extent according to all metrics (p < 0.001). The length of hospital stay was similar in both groups. These results will be useful for tailoring postoperative rehabilitation during a hospital stay on the neurosurgical ward as well as planning discharge requirements after leaving the hospital.
The Role of Microfinance in China’s Rural Public Health: Evidence from the Anti-Poverty Microcredit Program
Authors: Wu Benjian , Cui Yi , Jiang Yushuo
Published: September 2022

This study presents nonlinear evidence of the effects of a microcredit program implemented in poverty-stricken villages in China on rural public health using multivariate-ordered Probit and IV-ordered Probit models. The results, which were based on a unique set of data gathered from two rounds of official tracking statistics obtained through investigation (2015 and 2018) at a household level, suggest that rural residents’ health levels and health insurance demands are related to the formal credit amount that they receive from the microcredit program. Further, the amount of debt that remains to be paid is a negative mediator and the poverty reduction degree is a positive mediator for the health impact of credit. After dividing the sample into subgroups according to income, credit rating and social network, the results show heterogeneity: the health outcomes of groups with a low income, a high credit rating and a strong social network are more significantly improved by loans. The estimations are still robust after using network and village clan numbers as instrumental variables to address endogeneity. Although most of the existing literature demonstrates that credit and indebtedness have negative impacts on health, our results supplement previous findings of the positive causality between access to formal credit and rural public health by showing that the former can exert positive effects by relaxing individuals’ external constraints and increasing health spending.
Using Decision Trees to Examine Environmental and Behavioural Factors Associated with Youth Anxiety, Depression, and Flourishing
Authors: Battista Katelyn , Patte Karen A. , Diao Liqun , Dubin Joel A. , Leatherdale Scott T.
Published: September 2022

Modifiable environmental and behavioural factors influence youth mental health; however, past studies have primarily used regression models that quantify population average effects. Decision trees are an analytic technique that examine complex relationships between factors and identify high-risk subgroups to whom intervention measures can be targeted. This study used decision trees to examine associations of various risk factors with youth anxiety, depression, and flourishing. Data were collected from 74,501 students across Canadian high schools participating in the 2018–2019 COMPASS Study. Students completed a questionnaire including validated mental health scales and 23 covariates. Decision trees were grown to identify key factors and subgroups for anxiety, depression, and flourishing outcomes. Females lacking both happy home life and sense of connection to school were at greatest risk for higher anxiety and depression levels. In contrast with previous literature, behavioural factors such as diet, movement and substance use did not emerge as differentiators. This study highlights the influence of home and school environments on youth mental health using a novel decision tree analysis. While having a happy home life is most important in protecting against youth anxiety and depression, a sense of connection to school may mitigate the negative influence of a poor home environment.
Factor Analysis Affecting Degree of Depression in Family Caregivers of Patients with Spinal Cord Injury: A Cross-Sectional Pilot Study
Authors: Lee Su-Jin , Kim Myung-Gwan , Kim Jung hee , Min Yu-Sun , Kim Chul-Hyun , Kim Kyoung-Tae , Hwang Jong-Moon
Published: September 2022

This study was conducted to determine the degree of depression in family caregivers of spinal-cord-injury patients and to identify factors influencing family caregivers’ depression. The final study subjects were 30 (family caregivers: 6 males and 24 females). The CES-D of family caregivers; general characteristics of spinal-cord-injury patients and family caregivers; and information on physical health, household income, leisure, social activity, family relationship, and life-in-general status of family caregiver were collected. A frequency analysis, normality test, Mann–Whitney test, Kruskal–Wallis test, Spearman Correlation analysis, hierarchical regression analysis, and spider network through a path model analysis were performed. As for the general characteristics, when the patient was economically active, the caregiver’s depression was mean ± SD; 2.04 ± 0.71; otherwise, it was mean ± SD 2.86 ± 0.74, indicating that the caregiver of the non-economic activity patient was more depressed (p = 0.013). In Model 1 of the multiple regression analysis to understand the effect on the depression of the caregiver, it was confirmed that the depression of the caregiver decreased as the family caregiver had more leisure and social activities (B = −0.718, p = 0.001). In Model 2, it was found that the depression of caregivers increased when the patient did not engage in economic activity (B = 0.438, p = 0.016). In the spider-web form through the path model analysis, as the family’s economic level increased, physical health increased by B = 0.755 (p < 0.001), and the increase in physical health (B = 0.424, p = 0.042) was, in turn, a factor in the increase of engagement in leisure and social activities. Various policies will be needed for the successful return to society of spinal-cord-injury patients by ensuring that their leisure and social activities and establishing measures to support their economical income.
Smoking Cessation Programs Are Less Effective in Smokers with Low Socioeconomic Status Even When Financial Incentives for Quitting Smoking Are Offered—A Community-Randomized Smoking Cessation Trial in Denmark
Authors: Pisinger Charlotta , Toxværd Cecilie Goltermann , Rasmussen Mette
Published: September 2022

Financial incentives offered to those who quit smoking have been found effective, also in persons with low socioeconomic status (SES), but no previous study has investigated who benefits most: smokers with low or high SES. In this community-randomized trial (“Richer without smoking”), three Danish municipalities were randomized to reward persons who were abstinent when attending the municipal smoking cessation program (FIMs) and three municipalities were randomized to spend the same amount on smoking cessation campaigns recruiting smokers to the smoking cessation program (CAMs). The municipalities each received approximately USD 16,000. An intention-to-treat approach was used in analyses. In regression analyses adjusted for individual- and municipal-level differences, we found that smokers with high SES living in FIMs had significantly higher proportion of validated long-term successful quitters (OR (95% CI): 2.59 (1.6–4.2)) than high-SES smokers living in CAM. Smokers with low SES, however, did not experience the same benefit of financial incentives as smokers with high SES. Neither the FIMs nor the CAMs succeeded in attracting more smokers with low SES during the intervention year 2018 than the year before. Our study showed that smokers with low SES did not experience the same benefit of financial incentives as smokers with high SES.
Whether Green Finance Improves Green Innovation of Listed Companies—Evidence from China
Authors: Dong Zhao , Xu Haodong , Zhang Zhifeng , Lyu Yipin , Lu Yuqi , Duan Hongyan
Published: September 2022

Facing the intensification of global carbon emissions and the increasingly severe pressure of environmental pollution, listed companies urgently need to promote green innovation, achieve green transformation, and alleviate environmental problems. Green finance policy has played a significant role as a financial strategy for environmental governance in affecting green innovation level over the years. In this context, taking the green finance reform and innovation pilot zone (GFRIPZ) implemented in 2017 in China as a quasi-natural experiment, this paper analyzes the impact of green finance policy on green innovation level of listed companies by the difference-in-difference model. Based on the data of Chinese A-share listed companies from 2008 to 2020, the results of empirical analysis show that green finance significantly promotes green innovation of listed companies. The effect is profound on green utility model patents, but less pronounced on green invention patents. Among all these pilot zones, the policy effects of GFRIPZ ranked in descending order are Zhejiang, Guangdong, Jiangxi, Guizhou, and Xinjiang. In addition, green finance has a more significant impact on heavy-polluting industries, large and state-owned enterprises, and listed companies located in the eastern region. Furthermore, the effects of industry heterogeneity ranked in descending order are energy, manufacturing, processing, and engineering industry, while it is not obvious in the service industry. Mechanism analysis suggests that the effect is driven by a reduction in the cost of debt financing and an increase in the long-term debt ratio. The findings provide implications for policymakers to promote the level of green innovation and environmental governance. Therefore, policymakers should support the long-term creative development of green invention patents by reducing the cost of debt financing and increasing the long-term debt ratio and consider the heterogeneous characteristics of listed companies when formulating green finance policies.
Stress-Tolerant Endophytic Isolate Priestia aryabhattai BPR-9 Modulates Physio-Biochemical Mechanisms in Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) for Enhanced Salt Tolerance
Authors: Shahid Mohammad , Zeyad Mohammad Tarique , Syed Asad , Singh Udai B. , Mohamed Abdullah , Bahkali Ali H. , Elgorban Abdallah M. , Pichtel John
Published: September 2022

In efforts to improve plant productivity and enhance defense mechanisms against biotic and abiotic stresses, endophytic bacteria have been used as an alternative to chemical fertilizers and pesticides. In the current study, 25 endophytic microbes recovered from plant organs of Triticum aestivum L. (wheat) were assessed for biotic (phyto-fungal pathogens) and abiotic (salinity, drought, and heavy metal) stress tolerance. Among the recovered isolates, BPR-9 tolerated maximum salinity (18% NaCl), drought (15% PEG-6000), and heavy metals (µg mL−1): Cd (1200), Cr (1000), Cu (1000), Pb (800), and Hg (30). Based on phenotypic and biochemical characteristics, as well as 16S rDNA gene sequencing, endophytic isolate BPR-9 was recognized as Priestia aryabhattai (accession no. OM743254.1). This isolate was revealed as a powerful multi-stress-tolerant crop growth promoter after extensive in-vitro testing for plant growth-promoting attributes, nutrient (phosphate, P; potassium, K; and zinc, Zn) solubilization efficiency, extracellular enzyme (protease, cellulase, amylase, lipase, and pectinase) synthesis, and potential for antagonistic activity against important fungal pathogens viz. Alternaria solani, Rhizoctonia solani, Fusarium oxysporum, and Ustilaginoidea virens. At elevated salt levels, increases were noted in indole-3-acetic acid; siderophores; P, K, and Zn-solubilization; ACC deaminase; and ammonia synthesized by Priestia aryabhattai. Additionally, under in-vitro plant bioassays, wheat seedlings inoculated with P. aryabhattai experienced superior growth compared to non-inoculated seedlings in high salinity (0–15% NaCl) environment. Under NaCl stress, germination rate, plant length, vigor indices, and leaf pigments of wheat seedlings significantly increased following P. aryabhattai inoculation. Furthermore, at 2%-NaCl, B. aryabhattai greatly and significantly (p ≤ 0.05) decreased relative leaf water content, membrane damage, and electrolyte leakage compared with the non-inoculated control. Catalase, superoxide dismutase, and peroxidase activity increased by 29, 32, and 21%, respectively, in wheat seedlings exposed to 2% NaCl and inoculated with the bacteria. The present findings demonstrate that endophytic P. aryabhattai strains might be used in the future as a multi-stress reducer and crop growth promoter in agronomically important crops including cereals.
Use of Laughter for the Detection of Parkinson’s Disease: Feasibility Study for Clinical Decision Support Systems, Based on Speech Recognition and Automatic Classification Techniques
Authors: Terriza Miguel , Navarro Jorge , Retuerta Irene , Alfageme Nuria , San-Segundo Ruben , Kontaxakis George , Garcia-Martin Elena , Marijuan Pedro , Panetsos Fivos
Published: September 2022

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is an incurable neurodegenerative disorder which affects over 10 million people worldwide. Early detection and correct evaluation of the disease is critical for appropriate medication and to slow the advance of the symptoms. In this scenario, it is critical to develop clinical decision support systems contributing to an early, efficient, and reliable diagnosis of this illness. In this paper we present a feasibility study for a clinical decision support system for the diagnosis of PD based on the acoustic characteristics of laughter. Our decision support system is based on laugh analysis with speech recognition methods and automatic classification techniques. We evaluated different cepstral coefficients to identify laugh characteristics of healthy and ill subjects combined with machine learning classification models. The decision support system reached 83% accuracy rate with an AUC value of 0.86 for PD–healthy laughs classification in a database of 20,000 samples randomly generated from a pool of 120 laughs from healthy and PD subjects. Laughter could be employed for the efficient and reliable detection of PD; such a detection system can be achieved using speech recognition and automatic classification techniques; a clinical decision support system can be built using the above techniques. Significance: PD clinical decision support systems for the early detection of the disease will help to improve the efficiency of available and upcoming therapeutic treatments which, in turn, would improve life conditions of the affected people and would decrease costs and efforts in public and private healthcare systems.
Attention to Women’s Sexual and Reproductive Health at the Street Outreach Office
Authors: Barbosa Nayara Gonçalves , Hasimoto Thaís Massita , Michelon Thamíris Martins , Mendes Lise Maria Carvalho , Santos Gustavo Gonçalves dos , Monteiro Juliana Cristina dos Santos , Gomes-Sponholz Flávia Azevedo
Published: September 2022

The aim of study was to understand care strategies for homeless women, focusing on aspects of sexual and reproductive health from the perspective of Street Outreach Office strategy professionals. This is a qualitative study carried out in a large city in the countryside of São Paulo, Brazil. Data were collected from December 2020 to April 2021 through semi-structured interviews, and the results were obtained through content analysis and thematic modality. Nine health professionals participated in this study, and the analysis of the interviews allowed identifying three thematic categories: (i) being female and sex on the streets (violence and oppression); (ii) gynecology as a gateway to comprehensive care for homeless women; and (iii) pregnancy, puerperium and motherhood in the context of the streets. This study contributes to the reflection of professional practices within the Street Outreach Office, allowing the understanding of challenges in assisting homeless women, aiming to raise awareness of professionals and services that make up the health care network.
A Forest of Forests: A Spatially Weighted and Computationally Efficient Formulation of Geographical Random Forests
Authors: Georganos Stefanos , Kalogirou Stamatis
Published: September 2022

The aim of this paper is to present developments of an advanced geospatial analytics algorithm that improves the prediction power of a random forest regression model while addressing the issue of spatial dependence commonly found in geographical data. We applied the methodology to a simple model of mean household income in the European Union regions to allow easy understanding and reproducibility of the analysis. The results are encouraging and suggest an improvement in the prediction power compared to previous techniques. The algorithm has been implemented in R and is available in the updated version of the SpatialML package in the CRAN repository.
HBIM Open Source: A Review
Authors: Diara Filippo
Published: September 2022

Historic Building Information Modelling (HBIM) methodology has revolutionized the entire cultural heritage documentation panorama since 2009. At the same time, the possibility of creating and managing HBIM projects by using open source solutions opened new research paths in 2016. Different reasons can drive the utilisation of free and open source software (FOSS), however the accessibility of a tailor-made project should be the main purpose. After six years of research on open source HBIM, this paper will review the actual panorama of designed and operative programmes on informative models of historic architecture built with FOSS solutions. Different aspects will be analysed, from open source software setup to parametric modelling and from semantic dimension to data exchange and cloud accessibility. Then, the advantages and drawbacks of open source protocols will be highlighted. Lastly, the next updates, future scenarios and developments on open source HBIM will be estimated.
Potential Ecological Distributions of Urban Adapters and Urban Exploiters for the Sustainability of the Urban Bird Network
Authors: Winarni Nurul L. , Fuad Habiburrachman A. H. , Anugra Bhisma G. , Kaunain Nabilla Nuril , Anisafitri Shania , Atria Mega , Putrika Afiatry
Published: September 2022

The bird community in urban areas indicates the species-specific adaptability to urban conditions such as the increase in man-made habitats. Urban adapters and urban exploiters, two groups that make up most of the urban birds, were assessed to determine their suitable habitat and explain their distribution, as well as to determine the environmental predictors for the two bird groups assemblages in Depok, one of Jakarta’s satellite cities. We used the point-count method to survey the birds in three habitat types, green spaces, residentials, and roadside, and then we used Maximum Entropy (MaxEnt) to analyze the species distribution modeling. We also the predicted habitat distributions for the urban adapters and urban exploiters based on several environmental predictors. Our results suggest that both urban adapters and urban exploiters were abundant in residential areas. Eurasian tree sparrows (Passer montanus) and cave swiflets (Collocalia linchi) were the most common species in all three habitat types. On average, canopy cover was most extensive in green spaces followed by residential and roadside areas. Urban exploiters were likely to have a high suitability extent compared to urban adapters. The distributions of both groups were affected by the distance to perennial water, then by land function for the urban adapters, and distance to patches for the urban exploiters. The presence of urban adapters and urban exploiters in residential areas suggests that home gardens supported critical habitats when green spaces were unavailable.
Identification of Road Network Intersection Types from Vehicle Telemetry Data Using a Convolutional Neural Network
Authors: Erramaline Abdelmajid , Badard Thierry , Côté Marie-Pier , Duchesne Thierry , Mercier Olivier
Published: September 2022

GPS trajectories collected from automotive telematics for insurance purposes go beyond being a collection of points on the map. They are in fact a powerful data source that we can use to extract map and road network properties. While the location of road junctions is readily available, the information about the traffic control element regulating the intersection is typically unknown. However, this information would be helpful, e.g., for contextualizing a driver’s behavior. Our focus is to use a map-matched GPS OBD-dongle dataset provided by a Canadian insurance company to classify intersections into three classes according to the type of traffic control element present: traffic light, stop sign, or no sign. We design a convolutional neural network (CNN) for classifying intersections. The network takes as entries, for a defined number of trips, the speed and the acceleration profiles over each segment of one meter on a window around the intersection. Our method outperforms two other competing approaches, achieving 99% overall accuracy. Furthermore, our CNN model can infer the three classes even with as few as 25 trips.
Copper Modulates Adult Neurogenesis in Brain Subventricular Zone
Authors: Liu Luke L. , van Rijn Richard M. , Zheng Wei
Published: September 2022

The subventricular zone (SVZ) in lateral ventricles is the largest neurogenic region in adult brain containing high amounts of copper (Cu). This study aims to define the role of Cu in adult neurogenesis by chelating labile Cu ions using a well-established Cu chelator D-Penicillamine (D-Pen). A neurosphere model derived from adult mouse SVZ tissues was established and characterized for its functionality with regards to neural stem/progenitor cells (NSPCs). Applying D-Pen in cultured neurospheres significantly reduced intracellular Cu levels and reversed the Cu-induced suppression of NSPC’s differentiation and migration. An in vivo intracerebroventricular (ICV) infusion model was subsequently established to infuse D-Pen directly into the lateral ventricle. Metal analyses revealed a selective reduction of Cu in SVZ by 13.1% (p = 0.19) and 21.4% (p < 0.05) following D-Pen infusions at low (0.075 μg/h) and high (0.75 μg/h) doses for 28 days, respectively, compared to saline-infused controls. Immunohistochemical studies revealed that the 7-day, low-dose D-Pen infusion significantly increased Ki67(+)/Nestin(+) cell counts in SVZ by 28% (p < 0.05). Quantification of BrdU(+)/doublecortin (DCX)(+) newborn neuroblasts in the rostral migration stream (RMS) and olfactory bulb (OB) further revealed that the short-term, low-dose D-Pen infusion, as compared with saline-infused controls, resulted in more newborn neuroblasts in OB, while the high-dose D-Pen infusion showed fewer newborn neuroblasts in OB but with more arrested in the RMS. Long-term (28-day) infusion revealed similar outcomes. The qPCR data from neurosphere experiments revealed altered expressions of mRNAs encoding key proteins known to regulate SVZ adult neurogenesis, including, but not limited to, Shh, Dlx2, and Slit1, in response to the changed Cu level in neurospheres. Further immunohistochemical data indicated that Cu chelation also altered the expression of high-affinity copper uptake protein 1 (CTR1) and metallothionein-3 (MT3) in the SVZ as well as CTR1 in the choroid plexus, a tissue regulating brain Cu homeostasis. Taken together, this study provides first-hand evidence that a high Cu level in SVZ appears likely to maintain the stability of adult neurogenesis in this neurogenic zone.
Sunitinib versus Pazopanib Dilemma in Renal Cell Carcinoma: New Insights into the In Vitro Metabolic Impact, Efficacy, and Safety
Authors: Amaro Filipa , Pisoeiro Carolina , Valente Maria João , Bastos Maria de Lourdes , Guedes de Pinho Paula , Carvalho Márcia , Pinto Joana
Published: September 2022

Sunitinib and pazopanib are tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) used as first-line therapy for metastatic renal cell carcinoma (RCC). Although these TKIs are associated with similar survival outcomes, some differences have been reported in their safety profiles. In this work, traditional toxicological endpoints (cell viability and growth, oxidative stress, and nuclear morphology) and 1H NMR spectroscopy-based metabolomics analysis were used to provide new insights into the cytotoxicity and metabolic mechanisms underlying sunitinib and pazopanib treatments. Tumoral (Caki-1) and non-tumoral (HK-2) human renal cells were exposed to clinically relevant concentrations of sunitinib (2 µM) or pazopanib (50 µM). Sunitinib showed selectivity for cancer cells, inhibiting proliferation, and inducing apoptotic death of Caki-1 cells, whereas pazopanib had a similar cytotoxic effect in both tumoral and non-tumoral cells. 1H-NMR metabolomics unveiled a higher impact of sunitinib on the levels of intracellular metabolites of Caki-1 cells (seven dysregulated metabolites), suggesting dysregulations on amino acid, glutathione and glycerophospholipid metabolisms. In contrast, pazopanib had a higher impact on the levels of extracellular metabolites of Caki-1 cells (seven dysregulated metabolites in culture medium), unveiling alterations on amino acid and energetic metabolisms. In HK-2 cells, sunitinib caused only a minor increase in intracellular isoleucine levels, whereas pazopanib induced several alterations on the intracellular (three dysregulated metabolites) and extracellular (three dysregulated metabolites) compartments suggesting changes on amino acid, glycerophospholipid, and energy metabolisms. Our results demonstrate that these TKIs elicit distinct cellular and metabolic responses, with sunitinib showing better in vitro efficacy against target RCC cells and lesser nephrotoxic potential than pazopanib.
Suppression of Tumor Growth and Cell Migration by Indole-Based Benzenesulfonamides and Their Synergistic Effects in Combination with Doxorubicin
Authors: Nguyen Phuong Linh , Elkamhawy Ahmed , Choi Young Hee , Lee Chang Hoon , Lee Kyeong , Cho Jungsook
Published: September 2022

Pharmacological inhibition of the enzyme activity targeting carbonic anhydrases (CAs) demonstrated antiglaucoma and anticancer effects through pH control. Recently, we reported a series of indole-based benzenesulfonamides as potent CA inhibitors. The present study aimed to evaluate the antitumor effects of these compounds against various cancer cell lines, including breast cancer (MDA-MB-231, MCF-7, and SK-BR-3), lung cancer (A549), and pancreatic cancer (Panc1) cells. Overall, more potent cytotoxicity was observed on MCF-7 and SK-BR-3 cells than on lung or pancreatic cancer cells. Among the 15 compounds tested, A6 and A15 exhibited potent cytotoxic and antimigratory activities against MCF-7 and SK-BR-3 cells in the CoCl2-induced hypoxic condition. While A6 and A15 markedly reduced the viability of control siRNA-treated cells, these compounds could not significantly reduce the viability of CA IX-knockdown cells, suggesting the role of CA IX in their anticancer activities. To assess whether these compounds exerted synergism with a conventional anticancer drug doxorubicin (DOX), the cytotoxic effects of A6 or A15 combined with DOX were analyzed using Chou−Talalay and Bliss independence methods. Our data revealed that both A6 and A15 significantly enhanced the anticancer activity of DOX. Among the tested pairs, the combination of DOX with A15 showed the strongest synergism on SK-BR-3 cells. Moreover, this combination further attenuated cell migration compared to the respective drug. Collectively, our results demonstrated that A6 and A15 suppressed tumor growth and cell migration of MCF-7 and SK-BR-3 cells through inhibition of CA IX, and the combination of these compounds with DOX exhibited synergistic cytotoxic effects on these breast cancer cells. Therefore, A6 and A15 may serve as potential anticancer agents alone or in combination with DOX against breast cancer.
Association between High Normal TSH Levels and Obesity in Women with Anti-Thyroid Autoantibodies (ATAs)
Authors: Velluzzi Fernanda , Pisanu Silvia , Galletta Maura , Fosci Michele , Secci Gianni , Deledda Andrea , Boi Francesco , Rodia Rossella , Fanciulli Giuseppe , Delitala Alessandro Palmerio , Sainas Gianmarco , Loviselli Andrea
Published: September 2022

A positive correlation between Thyroid-Stimulating Hormone (TSH) and Body Mass Index (BMI) has been reported in many studies, but data on this topic remain controversial, especially when TSH values are in the normal range. Moreover, few studies have evaluated the co-existence of thyroid autoimmunity. This study investigated the role of thyroid autoimmunity in the interconnection between TSH, BMI, and waist circumference (WC) in euthyroid patients with overweight or obesity. We enrolled 902 patients (213 males; mean age ± SD: 45 ± 14 years; mean BMI ± SD: 35.8 ± 6.5 kg/m2), with normal serum TSH concentration; anti-thyroid autoantibodies (ATAs) were evaluated in 752 patients (186 males). Patients were divided into four BMI classes, based on WHO criteria, and the relationship between BMI, WC, and TSH was evaluated in the whole sample and compared to ATAs positivity, observed in 235 patients (44 males). No significant difference was found between TSH levels in the BMI classes. A statistically significant correlation between TSH and BMI was found only in ATAs-positive females (N = 191, Spearman rho: 0.149; p-value: 0.040). However, this finding was not confirmed when considering the WC. Our study shows a positive correlation only between TSH and BMI in obese women with positive ATAs, suggesting that in these patients, the high normal levels of TSH could be attributed to a mild thyroid failure with a possible worsening obesity-related effect, and both need a careful evaluation.
Intramedullary Spinal Cord Abscess with Concomitant Spinal Degenerative Diseases: A Case Report and Systematic Literature Review
Authors: Jabbar Redwan , Szmyd Bartosz , Jankowski Jakub , Lusa Weronika , Pawełczyk Agnieszka , Wysiadecki Grzegorz , Tubbs R. Shane , Iwanaga Joe , Radek Maciej
Published: September 2022

Intramedullary spinal cord abscess (ISCA) is a rare clinical pathology of the central nervous system that usually accompanies other underlying comorbidities. Traditionally it has been associated with significant mortality and neurological morbidities because it is often difficult to diagnose promptly, owing to its nonspecific clinical and neuroimaging features. The mortality rate and the outcome of these infections have been improved by the introduction into clinical practice of antibiotics, advanced neuroimaging modalities, and immediate surgery. We report the case of a 65-year-old male patient who presented with a progressive spastic gait and lumbar pain, predominantly in the left leg. An MRI image revealed an expansile intramedullary cystic mass in the thoracic spinal cord, which was initially diagnosed as a spinal tumor. He underwent laminectomy and myelotomy, and eventually the pus was drained from the abscess. The follow-up MRI showed improvement, but the patient’s paraplegia persisted. In light of his persistent hypoesthesia and paraplegic gait with developing neuropathic pain, he was readmitted, and an MRI of his lumbar spine revealed multilevel degenerative disease and tethered spinal cord syndrome with compression of the medulla at the L2–L3 level. The patient underwent central flavectomy with bilateral foraminotomy at the L2–L3 level, and the medulla was decompressed. Postoperatively, his neurological symptoms were significantly improved, and he was discharged from hospital on the third day after admission. In support of our case, we systematically reviewed the recent literature and analyzed cases published between 1949 and May 2022, including clinical features, mechanisms of infection, predisposing factors, radiological investigations, microbial etiologies, therapies and their duration, follow-ups, and outcomes. Initial clinical presentation can be misleading, and the diagnosis can be challenging, because this condition is rare and coexists with other spinal diseases. Hence, a high index of suspicion for making an accurate diagnosis and timely intervention is required to preclude mortality and unfavorable outcomes. Our case is a clear example thereof. Long-term follow-up is also essential to monitor for abscess recurrences.
Probiotics in the Management of Mental and Gastrointestinal Post-COVID Symptomes
Authors: Łoniewski Igor , Skonieczna-Żydecka Karolina , Sołek-Pastuszka Joanna , Marlicz Wojciech
Published: September 2022

Patients with “post-COVID” syndrome manifest with a variety of signs and symptoms that continue/develop after acute COVID-19. Among the most common are gastrointestinal (GI) and mental symptoms. The reason for symptom occurrence lies in the SARS-CoV-2 capability of binding to exact receptors, among other angiotensin converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) receptors in gastrointestinal lining and neuropilin-1 (NRP-1) in the nervous system, which leads to loss of gastrointestinal and blood-brain barriers integrity and function. The data are mounting that SARS-CoV-2 can trigger systemic inflammation and lead to disruption of gut-brain axis (GBA) and the development of disorders of gut brain interaction (DGBIs). Functional dyspepsia (FD) and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) are the most common DGBIs syndromes. On the other hand, emotional disorders have also been demonstrated as DGBIs. Currently, there are no official recommendations or recommended procedures for the use of probiotics in patients with COVID-19. However, it can be assumed that many doctors, pharmacists, and patients will want to use a probiotic in the treatment of this disease. In such cases, strains with documented activity should be used. There is a constant need to plan and conduct new trials on the role of probiotics and verify their clinical efficacy for counteracting the negative consequences of COVID-19 pandemic. Quality control is another important but often neglected aspect in trials utilizing probiotics in various clinical entities. It determines the safety and efficacy of probiotics, which is of utmost importance in patients with post-acute COVID-19 syndrome.
Exhaled Breath Analysis for Investigating the Use of Inhaled Corticosteroids and Corticosteroid Responsiveness in Wheezing Preschool Children
Authors: Bannier Michiel A. G. E. , Kienhorst Sophie , Jöbsis Quirijn , van de Kant Kim D. G. , van Schooten Frederik-Jan , Smolinska Agnieszka , Dompeling Edward
Published: September 2022

Exhaled breath analysis has great potential in diagnosing various respiratory and non-respiratory diseases. In this study, we investigated the influence of inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) on exhaled volatile organic compounds (VOCs) of wheezing preschool children. Furthermore, we assessed whether exhaled VOCs could predict a clinical steroid response in wheezing preschool children. We performed a crossover 8-week ICS trial, in which 147 children were included. Complete data were available for 89 children, of which 46 children were defined as steroid-responsive. Exhaled VOCs were measured by GC-tof-MS. Statistical analysis by means of Random Forest was used to investigate the effect of ICS on exhaled VOCs. A set of 20 VOCs could best discriminate between measurements before and after ICS treatment, with a sensitivity of 73% and specificity of 67% (area under ROC curve = 0.72). Most discriminative VOCs were branched C11H24, butanal, octanal, acetic acid and methylated pentane. Other VOCs predominantly included alkanes. Regularised multivariate analysis of variance (rMANOVA) was used to determine treatment response, which showed a significant effect between responders and non-responders (p < 0.01). These results show that ICS significantly altered the exhaled breath profiles of wheezing preschool children, irrespective of clinical treatment response. Furthermore, exhaled VOCs were capable of determining corticosteroid responsiveness in wheezing preschool children.
Osteoporotic Vertebral Body Fractures: New Trends in Differential Diagnosis, Bracing and Surgery
Authors: Korovessis Panagiotis
Published: September 2022

In the past, many researchers have investigated the effects of different conservative and operative treatments for Osteoporotic Vertebral Fractures (OVFs) [...]
Evaluation of Spatial Reconstruction and Driving Factors of Tourism-Based Countryside
Authors: Nie Chengjing , Liu Zewei , Yang Linsheng , Wang Li
Published: September 2022

The spatial reconstruction process of suburban villages is an important aspect of integrated urban–rural development. Evaluating the level of spatial reconstruction of tourist villages and the characteristics of their developmental stages has become a critical issue in current rural development. Exploring the spatial reconstruction of typical tourist-oriented villages can help provide experiences for other rural spatial reconstructions. In this study, East Tumen Village and West Tumen Village in Shijiazhuang City, Hebei Province, were selected as the research objects of rural tourism space. Through in-depth interviews and human–computer interactive interpretation of remote sensing images, this study traced the process of rural spatial reconstruction. The spatial reconstruction index of the rural tourism space was constructed from three dimensions: production space (product production capacity, industrial development activity, production space foundation), living space (living space convenience, tourism space convenience, living space comfort, living space foundation), and ecological space (ecological space regulation ability, ecological space stability capacity, ecological space foundation). Using the rural spatial reconstruction intensity index and rural spatial reconstruction contribution rate, this study quantitatively evaluated the spatial development level of tourism villages on a microscopic scale and examined the stage characteristics of their spatial reconstruction. The results show that the two villages experienced a budding stage, a development stage, and an accelerated development stage from 2005 to 2020 and have not yet reached a stable stage of relative balance and coordination; production activities are integrated into other spaces, and single-function space has become production–living and production–ecology composite space. The spatial reconstruction of East and West Tumen villages is driven by a combination of ‘top-down’ external drivers, such as rural tourism development, multi-governance subject participation, and public policy, and ‘bottom-up’ internal drivers, such as production demand, living demand, and ecological demand.
Danish-English Bilinguals’ Cognate Processing in L1 and L2 Visual Lexical Decision Tasks
Authors: Krogh Simone Møller
Published: September 2022

Previous research and the BIA+ model support the hypothesis of language nonselective access during bilingual word recognition with language-ambiguous words like cognates organized in two distinct lexical representations. This paper adds to the existing literature by investigating how task demands and language proficiency influence cognate processing. Twenty-six Danish-English bilinguals with upper-intermediate to advanced L2 proficiencies performed four visual lexical decision tasks in which stimulus list composition (pure or mixed) and target language (L1 or L2) were varied. This study thus distinguishes itself from other studies by employing a within-subjects design to investigate a bilingual’s two languages. Significant cognate inhibition effects were found in the L2 mixed language condition while none of the other three tasks yielded significant results. Especially the absence of cognate facilitation effects in the L2 pure language condition was remarkable given the findings of previous literature. With reference to the BIA+ model’s assumptions of differing resting level activations for L1 and L2 lexical representations, the impact of L2 proficiency on cognate processing was tested in a post-hoc analysis dividing participants into two groups. This analysis revealed cognate facilitation effects for L2 upper-intermediate bilinguals in the L2 pure language condition while the results of the L1 tasks for both groups of bilinguals remained non-significant. The results therefore suggest that within-subject cognate processing is modulated by L2 proficiency in certain circumstances.
Fabrication of Boron-Doped Diamond Film Electrode for Detecting Trace Lead Content in Drinking Water
Authors: Wu Liang , Liu Xinghong , Yu Xiang , Xu Shijue , Zhang Shengxiang , Guo Shiman
Published: September 2022

This work aimed to fabricate a boron-doped diamond film electrode for detecting trace amounts of lead in drinking water so as to safeguard it for the public. Available detectors suffer from high costs and complex analytical processes, and commonly used electrodes for electrochemical detectors are subject to a short life, poor stability, and secondary pollution during usage. In this work, a boron-doped diamond (BDD) electrode was prepared on a porous titanium substrate, and the microstructure and electrochemical properties of the BDD electrode were systematically studied. Moreover, the stripping parameters were optimized to obtain a better signal response and determine the detection index. As a result, diamond particles were closely arranged on the surface of the BDD electrode with good phase quality. The electrode showed high electrochemical activity, specific surface area, and low charge transfer resistance, which can accelerate the stripping reaction process of Pb2+. The BDD electrode presented a low detection limit of 2.62 ppb for Pb2+ under an optimized parameter set with an enrichment time of 150 s and a scanning frequency of 50 Hz. The BDD electrode also has good anti-interference ability. The designed BDD electrode is expected to offer a reliable solution for the dilemma of the availability of metal electrodes and exhibits a good application prospect in the trace monitoring of Pb2+ content in drinking water.