bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Factors Influencing Post-traumatic Stress Symptoms in Chinese Adolescents During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: Ke Siyuan , Sun Li , Zhou Jiawei , Wang Yini , Bu Tianyi , Chu Haiyun , Yang Jiarun , Wang Wenbo , Wang Wantong , Li Jiarui , Zhao Lu , Qiao Zhengxue , Qiu Xiaohui , Yang Xiuxian , Cao Depin , Yang Yanjie
Published: May 2022

To investigate the prevalence of post-traumatic stress symptoms (PTSSs) and analyze the influencing factors of PTSS among adolescents in a large sample study during the COVID-19 pandemic, we did a cross-sectional study by collecting demographic data and mental health measurements from a large group of 175,318 adolescents in 32 Chinese provinces and autonomous regions, using the Impact of Event Scale-Revised (IES-R) that was used to measure the PTSS of the participants. The results showed that the prevalence of PTSS was 35.7% in Chinese adolescents during the COVID-19 pandemic. Binary logistic regression analysis showed that, for the personal risk factors, the older age, female gender, the personality domains of extroversion, the irregular sleep schedule, the lack of aerobic exercise, and the lack of peer support were associated with the higher levels of PTSS. The family subjective and objective factors were associated with higher levels of PTSS. Our findings suggested that family factors are the most important factors that affect Chinese adolescents' PTSS due to the longtime home quarantine.
Uric Acid and Diabetic Retinopathy: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Guo Yicong , Liu Siyue , Xu Huilan
Published: May 2022

Background

The relationship between uric acid (UA) and diabetic retinopathy (DR) remains ambiguous, and the results of current studies on the UA levels in patients with DR are conflicting. A meta-analysis was performed to provide a better understanding of the relationship between UA levels and DR.

Methods

PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, and the Cochrane Library databases were searched until December 11, 2021 to identify eligible studies, that compared the UA levels of the case group (patients with DR) and control group (controls with diabetes and healthy participants). The weighted mean difference (WMD) with a 95% confidence interval (CI) was used to evaluate the difference in UA levels between the case and control groups.

Results

Twenty-one studies involving 4,340 patients with DR and 8,595 controls (8,029 controls with diabetes and 566 healthy participants) were included in this meta-analysis. We found that patients with DR had significantly higher UA levels than those in the controls with diabetes (WMD = 36.28; 95% CI: 15.68, 56.89; P < 0.001) and healthy participants (WMD = 70.80; 95% CI: 19.85, 121.75; P = 0.006). There was an obvious heterogeneity among the 21 studies (I2 = 97%, P < 0.001). Subgroup analyses of different phases of DR showed that UA levels were significantly increased in participants with proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR) (WMD = 46.57; 95% CI: 28.51, 64.63; P < 0.001) than in controls with diabetes; however, the difference is not statistically significant when comparing UA levels in patients with non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy (NPDR) and controls with diabetes (WMD = 22.50; 95% CI: −6.07, 51.08; P = 0.120). In addition, UA levels were higher in participants with a body mass index (BMI) ≥25.0 kg/m2 and over 15 years of diabetes. Univariate meta-regression analysis revealed that BMI (P = 0.007, Adj R2 = 40.12%) and fasting blood glucose (FBG) (P = 0.040, Adj R2 = 29.72%) contributed to between-study heterogeneity.

Conclusions

In conclusion, our study provides evidence that UA levels are higher in patients with DR than those in the controls, but this difference is not statistically significant in the early phases. UA might be a potential biomarker for identifying disease severity in patients with DR, rather than predicting the onset of DR among patients with diabetes. However, more prospective and high-quality clinical evidence is required to confirm these present findings.

Systematic Review Registration

https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/display_record.php?RecordID=297708.
Inclusive Growth in the Era of Automation and AI: How Can Taxation Help?
Authors: Merola Rossana
Published: May 2022

In the last decades, the world economy is facing a massive rise in automation, robotics and Artificial Intelligence (AI) which, according to some analysts, could lead to significant job losses or job polarization and hence widen income and wealth disparities. This scenario may impede the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goal 8 (SDG 8). In this context, the role of government and regulation becomes crucial in order to prevent an undesirable scenario, where technological change, namely automation and AI, comes at the cost of mass unemployment and growing inequality. This paper focuses on the role of taxation as a possible tool for sharing the gains from automation and AI. Nowadays, advances in technology may have a direct impact on tax systems, which should be re-adapted to take into account new forms of jobs and new business models. The paper discusses pros and cons of several possible solutions and then compares progresses achieved in different countries. Concerning robot tax and digital taxes there are already some concrete steps undertaken both at national and international level, while other proposals remain still nebulous. Of course, taxationper se, and any single policy in general, is not sufficient to achieve a more inclusive and equal growth. It is instead crucial to create synergies across policies and a strong link between employment creation strategies, redistributive policies, skill development and social protection systems.
PIMP Your Stride: Preferred Running Form to Guide Individualized Injury Rehabilitation
Authors: Gindre Cyrille , Breine Bastiaan , Patoz Aurélien , Hébert-Losier Kim , Thouvenot Adrien , Mourot Laurent , Lussiana Thibault
Published: May 2022

Despite the wealth of research on injury prevention and biomechanical risk factors for running related injuries, their incidence remains high. It was suggested that injury prevention and reconditioning strategies should consider spontaneous running forms in a more holistic view and not only the injury location or specific biomechanical patterns. Therefore, we propose an approach using the preferred running form assessed through the Volodalen® method to guide injury prevention, rehabilitation, and retraining exercise prescription. This approach follows three steps encapsulated by the PIMP acronym. The first step (P) refers to the preferred running form assessment. The second step (I) is the identification of inefficiency in the vertical load management. The third step (MP) refers to the movement plan individualization. The answers to these three questions are guidelines to create individualized exercise pathways based on our clinical experience, biomechanical data, strength conditioning knowledge, and empirical findings in uninjured and injured runners. Nevertheless, we acknowledge that further scientific justifications with appropriate clinical trials and mechanistic research are required to substantiate the approach.
Telerehabilitation as a Method for Achieving Competencies in Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine Residency Training in a Developing Country: A Protocol for a Pilot Mixed-Methods Study
Authors: Leochico Carl Froilan D. , Carlos Frances Ann B. , Tiangco Anna Cecilia S. A. , Supnet Isabella E. , Ignacio Sharon D. , Mojica Jose Alvin P. , Rey-Matias Reynaldo R.
Published: May 2022

Background

In the second year of the COVID-19 pandemic, Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine (PRM) residents in a developing country continue to face a lack of in-person clinical exposure and learning opportunities. With the unprecedented shift to virtual care, it remains uncertain whether residents can achieve PRM competencies using telerehabilitation as a method of instruction.

Objective

To determine the PRM residents' ability to achieve competencies through telerehabilitation, as perceived by different stakeholders (residents, chief residents, training officers, and department heads).

Methods

This will be a pilot mixed-methods study, employing concurrent triangulation, in the Department of Rehabilitation Medicine in one large private medical center and one large government hospital in Manila, Philippines. There will be two phases of online data collection upon approval by their respective research ethics board. The first phase will involve an online Likert-scale questionnaire to obtain the residents' self-perceived attainment of competencies and learning of PRM topics and skills specified by the International Society of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine and the Philippine Board of Rehabilitation Medicine. The results of the survey will then be summarized and presented in a focus group discussion (FGD) with the department heads, training officers, and chief residents of the two institutions in an attempt to explain the residents' perceptions on their competencies achieved through virtual care. Afterwards, the qualitative data obtained from the FGD will then be thematically analyzed, and mixed methods integration will be employed to generate knowledge and recommendations.

Discussion

It is hypothesized that the majority of the residents had little to no experience with telerehabilitation pre-pandemic. Suddenly telerehabilitation was used to augment clinical training during the pandemic. It is uncertain whether telerehabilitation can help residents achieve competencies in the different domains of training, namely: patient safety and quality patient care; medical knowledge and procedural skills; interpersonal and communication skills; practice- and systems-based learning and improvement; reintegration of people with disabilities into the society; medical ethics and public health; quality assurance; policies of care and prevention for disabled people; and professionalism. The study results can provide insights on the aspects of a PRM curriculum that may have to be modified to ensure the training program is sensitive and appropriate to the changing training needs of the residents amid the pandemic and similar crises that may disrupt in-person clinical encounters in the future.
Impact of the Coronavirus Disease Pandemic and Related Vaccination in an Orthopedic Clinic in the United Arab Emirates: An Observational Study
Authors: Kim Seung-Kook , Park Seo-jung , Cho Dae-won , Kwak Hong-suk , Jin Hee-yon , Eum Su-hyun , Heo Eun-jung , Kim Gi-eun , Ji Ha-young , Park Seung-jun
Published: May 2022

The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic has influenced hospital visiting patterns. Although vaccination has decreased infection rates and disease severity, hospital visiting patterns and associated treatment changes related to orthopedics remain unexplored in the Middle East. Therefore, this study aimed to examine the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and vaccination on individual departments dealing with musculoskeletal disorders in the United Arab Emirates. Relationships between publicly available national data on the number of COVID-19 polymerase chain reaction tests and confirmed and recovered cases during May 2020–July 2021 and hospital data on the number of outpatients, inpatients, operations, and physiotherapy consultations were analyzed. In January 2021, the relationship between vaccination rate and orthopedic unit utilization was evaluated after vaccination campaign initiation. Multifactorial analysis revealed that an increased number of COVID-19-related deaths correlated with a decreased number of joint operations. Negative linear relationships were observed among confirmed and death cases with inpatient treatment and joint operation as well as recovered cases with inpatient treatment. Recovered cases with inpatient treatment and joint operation showed a positive linear relationship. Inpatient spine treatment showed a positive relationship with vaccination rates. The COVID-19 pandemic influenced orthopedic treatment in the Middle East, and vaccination campaigns facilitated inpatient spine treatment.
Assessment of Mitochondrial Function and Oxygen Consumption Measured During Ex Vivo Normothermic Machine Perfusion of Injured Pig Kidneys Helps to Monitor Organ Viability
Authors: Hunter James P. , Faro Letizia Lo , Rozenberg Kaithlyn , Dengu Fungai , Ogbemudia Anne , Weissenbacher Annemarie , Mulvey John F. , Knijff Laura , Gopalakrishnan Kishore , Ploeg Rutger J.
Published: May 2022

Donor kidney assessment may improve organ utilisation. Normothermic Machine Perfusion (NMP) has the potential to facilitate this advance. The mechanism of action is not yet determined and we aimed to assess mitochondrial function during NMP. Anaesthetised pigs (n = 6) had one kidney clamped for 60 min. The healthy contralateral kidney was removed and underwent NMP for 8 h (healthy control (HC), n = 6). Following 60 min warm ischaemia the injured kidney underwent HMP for 24 h, followed by NMP for 8 h (n = 6). Mitochondria were extracted from fresh tissue for analysis. Injured kidneys were analysed as two separate groups (IMa, n = 3 and IMb, n = 3). Renal resistance was higher (0.39ï, ± 0.29 vs. 1.65ï, ± 0.85; p = 0.01) and flow was lower (55ï, ± 28 vs. 7ï, ± 4; p = 0.03) during HMP in IMb than IMa. NMP blood flow was higher in IMa versus IMb (2-way ANOVA; p < 0.001) After 60 min NMP, O2 consumption was significantly lower in IMb versus IMa (p ≤ 0.002). State-3 respiration was significantly different between the groups (37ï, ± 19 vs. 24ï, ± 14 vs. 10ï, ± 8; nmolO2/min/mg; p = 0.049). Lactate levels were significantly lower in IMa versus IMb (p = 0.028). Mitochondrial respiration levels during NMP may be suggestive of kidney viability. Oxygen consumption, renal blood flow and lactate can differentiate severity of kidney injury during NMP.
Motivations of Young Women Volunteers during COVID-19: A Qualitative Inquiry in Bahrain
Authors: Sengupta Debashish , Al-Khalifa Dwa
Published: May 2022

Volunteering work has played a major role in dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic crisis. Studying volunteering behavior is interesting because it holds many important lessons for businesses to attract and engage their primary stakeholders (employees and customers) and counter the challenges posed by the pandemic. As women make up a large percentage of volunteers, understanding the relationship between motivation and women intending to take up volunteering work during crises is necessary—particularly in collectivist Islamic societies. The present study examined the motivations of young women in Bahrain to volunteer for RT-PCR testing and vaccination drives sponsored by the government during the pandemic. The study also examined the effect of the volunteering experience on the lives of these women. The study was conducted using a mixed qualitative method that included focus groups and in-depth interviews. The research participants were millennial women who had undertaken volunteering during the pandemic. A few in-depth interviews were conducted with male volunteers to examine whether such motivations were influenced by gender. The findings of the research revealed normative, in addition to personal, motivators behind the act of volunteering, with a greater dominance of normative motivations such as the call of the homeland and philanthropy. The influence of the collectivist culture in shaping the normative motivations behind volunteering among these women was visible, and there was also an influence of religion and religious values.
The Duration of the Trial Influences the Effects of Mineral Deficiency and the Effective Phytase Dose in Broilers’ Diets
Authors: Javadi Mehran , Cerisuelo Alba , Cambra-López María , Macías-Vidal Judit , Donadeu Andrés , Dupuy Javier , Carpintero Laura , Ferrer Pablo , Pascual Juan José
Published: May 2022

Two trials varying in duration (short- and long-term) were conducted to evaluate the effects of providing deficient (NC) or sufficient (PC) Ca and P levels, and different doses of a new phytase (250, 500, and 1000 FTU/kg feed), in broiler feed on growth performance, nutrient digestibility and retention, and tibia mineralization. A total of 80 and 490 male chicks (Ross) of 21 and 1 days of age were used in the short- and long-term trials, respectively. In the long-term trial, chicks fed NC diets showed a lower (p < 0.05) average daily gain and feed intake compared to chicks fed PC and a greater (p < 0.05) feed conversion ratio compared to 500 and 1000 FTU/kg feed during the starting period. Regarding the effects on minerals’ and nutrients’ coefficients of retention, animals fed NC showed a significantly higher digestibility for P than those fed the PC diet in the long-term trial. Additionally, feeding 250 to 500 FTU/kg diets increased most of the nutrients’ digestibility in the short-term but only P digestibility in the long-term trial. Tibia mineralization increased linearly with phytase addition (p < 0.05) only in the long-term trial. In conclusion, the effects of dietary mineral and phytase levels on growth performance are more noticeable in young animals. In addition, the duration of the trial is key due to a possible adaptation phenomenon of birds to low P supplementary levels.
Partial Substitution of Corn Grain in the Diet with Beet Pulp Reveals Increased Ruminal Acetate Proportion and Circulating Insulin Levels in Korean Cattle Steers
Authors: Jeong Inhyuk , Na Sang Weon , Kang Hyeok Joong , Park Seung Ju , Jung Da Jin Sol , Beak Seok Hyeon , Lee Jaesung , Kim Do-Hyun , Kim Hyun Jin , Malekkhahi Mohammad , Ranaweera Kamburawala Kankanamge Tharindu Namal , Baik Myunggi
Published: May 2022

We investigated the effects of the partial substitution of corn grain in the diet with beet pulp on growth performance, ruminal fermentation characteristics, microbial profiles, and blood lipogenic parameters in fattening steers. Twelve Korean cattle steers (body weight, 485 ± 19.32 kg; age, 18.0 ± 0.17 months) were equally divided into corn grain (CG) and beet pulp (BP) groups. Approximately 75% of dry matter of the requirement was offered as a concentrate portion, and the remaining 25% was offered as oat straw. Eighty percent of the concentrate portion was provided by a pelleted basal concentrate, and the remaining 20% with corn grain for the CG group, or 18% beet pulp plus 2.0% rumen-protected fat for the BP group, respectively, by top dressing. The experiment was conducted for 14 weeks, including a 2-week acclimation period. Growth rate was not affected by beet pulp feeding (p = 0.55). The molar proportions of ruminal acetate (p < 0.05) on wk 4, the relative abundances of ruminal cellulolytic bacteria, including Fibrobacter succinogenes (p = 0.01) and Ruminococcus albus (p = 0.04) on wk 12, and serum insulin concentrations (p < 0.05) on wk 12 were higher in the BP group than in the CG group, whereas the molar proportions of propionate (p < 0.05) on wks 8 and 12 and serum nonesterified fatty acids (p < 0.05) on wk 12 were lower in the BP group. Beet pulp could be used as a lipogenic energy source without affecting growth performance during the fattening period of cattle.
Recognition of Coat Pattern Variation and Broken Tail Phenomenon in the Asiatic Golden Cat (Catopuma temminckii)
Authors: Wang Yuan , Li Dajiang , Dunzhu Pubu , Liu Wulin , Feng Limin , Jin Kun
Published: May 2022

The Asian golden cat (Catopuma temminckii) is the most varied wild cat species in terms of coat color. Understanding coat pattern variation will help to elucidate the mechanisms behind it as well as its relationship with the environment. We conducted long-term (2013–2021) monitoring of Asian golden cats in the Yarlung Zangbo Grand Canyon National Nature Reserve, Tibet, using camera traps at 283 points over 89,991 camera days. A total of 620 cat photos were recorded, including 344 (55.48%) with recognizable color patterns. Vector graphics of the coat patterns were extracted from the field image data, which revealed 10 color types in the ratio common: cinnamon: reddish-brown long hair: ocelot: blackening: melanistic: gray: brown: brown short hair: pure black = 123:76:57:35:22:8:7:7:5:4. The genes for coat pattern variation are widespread in the Asian golden cat population and are relatively stable. The increase in population size intraspecific competition has led to the tail break phenotype in individual cats. The gene encoding for tail breakage in Asian golden cats remains unknown. This study provides basic information for understanding faunal diversity in the Eastern Himalayan biodiversity hotspot and serves as a reference for studies on the formation mechanisms for feline color pattern diversity.
Bidirectional Microbiome-Gut-Brain-Axis Communication Influences Metabolic Switch-Associated Responses in the Mosquito Anopheles culicifacies
Authors: Das De Tanwee , Sharma Punita , Tevatiya Sanjay , Chauhan Charu , Kumari Seena , Yadav Pooja , Singla Deepak , Srivastava Vartika , Rani Jyoti , Hasija Yasha , Pandey Kailash C. , Kajla Mayur , Dixit Rajnikant
Published: May 2022

The periodic ingestion of a protein-rich blood meal by adult female mosquitoes causes a drastic metabolic change in their innate physiological status, which is referred to as a ‘metabolic switch’. While understanding the neural circuits for host-seeking is modestly attended, how the gut ‘metabolic switch’ modulates brain functions, and resilience to physiological homeostasis, remains unexplored. Here, through a comparative brain RNA-Seq study, we demonstrate that the protein-rich diet induces the expression of brain transcripts related to mitochondrial function and energy metabolism, possibly causing a shift in the brain’s engagement to manage organismal homeostasis. A dynamic mRNA expression pattern of neuro-signaling and neuro-modulatory genes in both the gut and brain likely establishes an active gut–brain communication. The disruption of this communication through decapitation does not affect the modulation of the neuro-modulator receptor genes in the gut. In parallel, an unusual and paramount shift in the level of neurotransmitters (NTs), from the brain to the gut after blood feeding, further supports the idea of the gut’s ability to serve as a ‘second brain’. After blood-feeding, a moderate enrichment of the gut microbial population, and altered immunity in the gut of histamine receptor-silenced mosquitoes, provide initial evidence that the gut-microbiome plays a crucial role in gut–brain–axis communication. Finally, a comparative metagenomics evaluation of the gut microbiome highlighted that blood-feeding enriches the family members of the Morganellaceae and Pseudomonadaceae bacterial communities. The notable observation of a rapid proliferation of Pseudomonas bacterial sp. and tryptophan enrichment in the gut correlates with the suppression of appetite after blood-feeding. Additionally, altered NTs dynamics of naïve and aseptic mosquitoes provide further evidence that gut-endosymbionts are key modulators for the synthesis of major neuroactive molecules. Our data establish a new conceptual understanding of microbiome–gut–brain–axis communication in mosquitoes.
Insulin-like Growth Factor 2 Promotes Tissue-Specific Cell Growth, Proliferation and Survival during Development of Helicoverpa armigera
Authors: Zhao Yu-Meng , Wang Xiao-Pei , Jin Ke-Yan , Dong Du-Juan , Reiff Tobias , Zhao Xiao-Fan
Published: May 2022

During development, cells constantly undergo fate choices by differentiating, proliferating, and dying as part of tissue remodeling. However, we only begin to understand the mechanisms of these different fate choices. Here, we took the lepidopteran insect Helicoverpa armigera, the cotton bollworm, as a model to reveal that insulin-like growth factor 2 (IGF-2-like) prevented cell death by promoting cell growth and proliferation. Tissue remodeling occurs during insect metamorphosis from larva to adult under regulation by 20-hydroxyecdysone (20E), a steroid hormone. An unknown insulin-like peptide in the genome of H. armigera was identified as IGF-2-like by sequence analysis using human IGFs. The expression of Igf-2-like was upregulated by 20E. IGF-2-like was localized in the imaginal midgut during tissue remodeling, but not in larval midgut that located nearby. IGF-2-like spread through the fat body during fat body remodeling. Cell proliferation was detected in the imaginal midgut and some fat body cells expressing IGF-2-like. Apoptosis was detected in the larval midgut and some fat body cells that did not express IGF-2-like, suggesting the IGF-2-like was required for cell survival, and IGF-2-like and apoptosis were exclusive, pointing to a survival requirement. Knockdown of Igf-2-like resulted in repression of growth and proliferation of the imaginal midgut and fat body. Our results suggested that IGF-2-like promotes cell growth and proliferation in imaginal tissues, promoting cell death avoidance and survival of imaginal cells during tissue remodeling. It will be interesting to determine whether the mechanism of action of steroid hormones on insulin growth factors is conserved in other species.
Numerical Simulation of Solid–Liquid Interface of GaInSb Crystal Growth with Travelling Heater Method
Authors: Wang Pei , Zhang Zheng , Li Xiang , Suo Kainan , Liu Juncheng
Published: May 2022

The heat transfer and liquid phase convection during GaInSb crystal growth via the traveling heater method (with a seed) were investigated using numerical simulation to optimize the process parameters and shorten the experimental period in order to produce a high-quality crystal widely used to make various optoelectronic devices. There will be a phenomenon of “thermal impermeability” with an increase in crystal radii for the same furnace temperature profile. The maximum furnace temperature should display an increase of at least 1030 K to 1060 K in order to ensure the successful introduction of the seed with an increase of the crystal radius from 0.01 m to 0.03 m. The interface bending of the solid–liquid interface significantly increases with an increase of the crystal radius from 0.01 m to 0.02 m by about 50%, 67%, and 140%, corresponding to the maximum furnace temperatures 1030 K, 1040 K, and 1050 K, respectively. However, it decreases significantly when the maximum temperature increases from 1030 K to 1050 K, from 0.16 to 0.05, 0.2 to 0.105, and 0.24 to 0.12, corresponding to the crystal radii 0.01 m, 0.015 m, and 0.02 m, respectively. The maximum flow velocity of melt increases slightly with the furnace maximum temperature for the same radius, less than about 6%. However, it increases significantly with the increase of the radius from 0.01 m to 0.02 m, more than 68%.
A Canadian Perspective: Monoclonal Antibodies for Pre- and Post-Exposure Protection from COVID-19 in Vulnerable Patients with Hematological Malignancies
Authors: Owen Carolyn , Robinson Sue , Christofides Anna , Sehn Laurie H.
Published: May 2022

Patients with hematological malignancies have an increased risk of serious outcomes following COVID-19 infection, suggesting broader protection is needed beyond vaccination. Monoclonal antibodies such as sotrovimab, casirivimab–imdevimab, and bamlanivimab have provided valuable options for the treatment of COVID-19 disease. More recently, monoclonal antibodies have been examined for the prevention of COVID-19 infection. The monoclonal antibody combination, tixagevimab–cilgavimab, was recently approved by Health Canada as pre-exposure prophylaxis against COVID-19 in individuals who are immunocompromised or where vaccination is not recommended. Prophylactic approaches such as the use of tixagevimab–cilgavimab, in addition to COVID-19 vaccination, may provide additional protection for patients with hematological malignancies who are at greater risk of serious outcomes from COVID-19 infection.
Cancer Clinic Redesign: Opportunities for Resource Optimization
Authors: Fung-Kee-Fung Michael , Ozer Rachel S. , Davies Bill , Pick Stephanie , Duke Kate , Stewart David J. , Reaume M. Neil , Ward Marcus , Balchin Katelyn , MacRae Robert M. , Nelson Shannon , Renaud Julie , Garvin Dennis , Madore Suzanne , Pantarotto Jason R.
Published: May 2022

Ambulatory cancer centers face a fluctuating patient demand and deploy specialized personnel who have variable availability. This undermines operational stability through the misalignment of resources to patient needs, resulting in overscheduled clinics, budget deficits, and wait times exceeding provincial targets. We describe the deployment of a Learning Health System framework for operational improvements within the entire ambulatory center. Known methods of value stream mapping, operations research and statistical process control were applied to achieve organizational high performance that is data-informed, agile and adaptive. We transitioned from a fixed template model by an individual physician to a caseload management by disease site model that is realigned quarterly. We adapted a block schedule model for the ambulatory oncology clinic to align the regional demand for specialized services with optimized human and physical resources. We demonstrated an improved utilization of clinical space, increased weekly consistency and improved distribution of activity across the workweek. The increased value, represented as the ratio of monthly encounters per nursing worked hours, and the increased percentage of services delivered by full-time nurses were benefits realized in our cancer system. The creation of a data-informed demand capacity model enables the application of predictive analytics and business intelligence tools that will further enhance clinical responsiveness.
Human Communities in Protected Natural Areas and Biodiversity Conservation
Authors: Olmos-Martínez Elizabeth , Romero-Schmidt Heidi Leticia , Blázquez María del Carmen , Arias-González Camilo , Ortega-Rubio Alfredo
Published: May 2022

Using socioecological concepts and within a historical biodiversity conservation context, this research study reviews the main interactions between human communities and protected natural areas (PNAs) to describe their different stages over time and assess the implications arising from climate change. The review suggests that both society and governments have raised awareness and interest regarding the importance of biodiversity conservation. The interactions of human communities in these areas have had different effects on biodiversity use, management, and conservation. Local communities have historically developed traditional uses of natural resources that allow them to remain over time and conserve them. Thus, the interest in PNAs as a conservation instrument has increased worldwide. Regarding climate change, this study found evidence indicating that PNAs may act as buffer barriers to prevent biodiversity loss and mitigate the impacts of extreme events; nevertheless, a great variation can be expected. The magnitude of the impacts on human communities, levels of vulnerability, and resilience capacity of PNAs facing climate change (CC) rely on many factors, such as location, extent, composition, management, and ecology of a given protected area. Therefore, the new scenarios that CC may bring are challenging current systematic conservation planning and traditional management methods of the natural resources that are vital for people. Finally, the authors suggest that society is increasingly aware of PNAs as one of the best tools humans have to prevent biodiversity loss, and potentially buffer the effects of CC. These increases in social awareness of biodiversity conservation importance and PNAs are gratifying and spread optimism about the future that next generations may face.
Fermatean Fuzzy Schweizer–Sklar Operators and BWM-Entropy-Based Combined Compromise Solution Approach: An Application to Green Supplier Selection
Authors: Wei Dongmei , Meng Dan , Rong Yuan , Liu Yi , Garg Harish , Pamucar Dragan
Published: May 2022

The Fermatean fuzzy set (FFS) is a momentous generalization of a intuitionistic fuzzy set and a Pythagorean fuzzy set that can more accurately portray the complex vague information of elements and has stronger expert flexibility during decision analysis. The Combined Compromise Solution (CoCoSo) approach is a powerful decision-making technique to choose the ideal objective by fusing three aggregation strategies. In this paper, an integrated, multi-criteria group-decision-making (MCGDM) approach based on CoCoSo and FFS is used to assess green suppliers. To begin, several innovative operations of Fermatean fuzzy numbers based on Schweizer–Sklar norms are presented, and four aggregation operators utilizing the proposed operations are also developed. Several worthwhile properties of the advanced operations and operators are explored in detail. Next, a new Fermatean fuzzy entropy measure is propounded to determine the combined weight of criteria, in which the subjective and objective weights are computed by an improved best-and-worst method (BWM) and entropy weight approach, respectively. Furthermore, MCGDM based on CoCoSo and BWM-Entropy is brought forward and employed to sort diverse green suppliers. Lastly, the usefulness and effectiveness of the presented methodology is validated by comparison, and the stability of the developed MCGDM approach is shown by sensitivity analysis. The results shows that the introduced method is more stable during ranking of green suppliers, and the comparative results expound that the proposed method has higher universality and credibility than prior Fermatean fuzzy approaches.
Development and Evaluation of Newly Designed Coaxial Cylindrical Plasma Reactor with Liquid Flow Control and Post-Discharge Reactions for Water Treatment
Authors: Tachibana Kosuke , Hanabata Ryosuke , Furuki Takashi , Ichiki Ryuta , Kanazawa Seiji , Kocik Marek
Published: May 2022

Water purification by non-equilibrium atmospheric pressure plasma has attracted much attention and is expected to be a next-generation method. However, general approaches to improve the energy efficiency of the water purification have not been revealed. Therefore, to investigate important factors for increasing its energy efficiency, we developed coaxial cylindrical plasma reactors where pulsed streamers were generated between a high-voltage electrode and running water film. To evaluate the performance of the plasma reactors, we measured hydroxyl (OH) radicals in solution based on a chemical probe method using disodium terephthalic acid (NaTA) and decolorized indigo carmine solution. Our experimental results showed that the production rate of the OH radicals was approximately 20 nmol/s and that the energy efficiency of the decolorization was on the order of 10 g/kWh. In addition, we found that controlling liquid flow based on the Coandă effect and introducing the intermittent operation of the streamer discharges to use post-discharge reactions increased the energy efficiency by a factor of approximately 3.5, which indicated that these approaches are effective to improve the performance of the water purification by plasma.
An Indoor and Outdoor Multi-Source Elastic Fusion Navigation and Positioning Algorithm Based on Particle Filters
Authors: Fan Guangwei , Sheng Chuanzhen , Yu Baoguo , Huang Lu , Rong Qiang
Published: May 2022

In terms of indoor and outdoor positioning, in recent years, researchers at home and abroad have proposed some multisource integrated navigation and positioning methods, but these methods are navigation and positioning methods for a single scene. When it comes to the switching of indoor and outdoor complex scenes, these methods will cause the results of position with a marked jump and affect the accuracy of navigation and positioning. Aiming at the navigation and positioning problem in the case of indoor and outdoor complex scene switching, this paper proposes a multisource elastic navigation and positioning method based on particle filters, which makes full use of the redundant information of multisource sensors, constructs an elastic multisource fusion navigation and positioning model after eliminating abnormal data, elastically gives different particle weights to multisource sensors according to environmental changes and realizes the elastic fusion and positioning of multisource sensors through filtering. The test results show that this method has high navigation and positioning accuracy, the dynamic positioning accuracy is better than 0.7 m and there will be no jumping of positioning results in the process of scene switching, which improves the navigation and positioning accuracy and stability in complex and changeable indoor and outdoor environments.
Satisfaction with Physical Activity among Students in the Last Cycle of Primary Education in Extremadura
Authors: Rojo-Ramos Jorge , González-Becerra María José , Gómez-Paniagua Santiago , Adsuar José Carmelo
Published: May 2022

Satisfaction with physical activity during Physical Education classes leads to improved health and adherence to future healthy lifestyle habits, in addition, higher levels of physical activity have also been widely associated with higher academic achievement in primary school. To find out how satisfied Extremadura students are with the physical activity they perform, a questionnaire was distributed with different items related to positive and negative feelings they may feel during the practice. The differences between the items of the questionnaire and the total median scores according to sex and center location were analyzed and found to be present in all the items that refer to positive feelings. Additionally, the relationship between age and the mean score obtained through the questionnaire was evaluated, without discovering any significant correlations. The results showed that students are generally satisfied with the physical activity they practice in their classes and that this has benefited their academic performance.
Psychometric Validation of Senior Perceived Physical Literacy Instrument
Authors: Liu Chien-Yu , Lin Linda Li-Chuan , Sheu Jiunn-Jye , Sum Raymond Kim-Wai
Published: May 2022

Aim: To validate the Senior Perceived Physical Literacy Instrument (SPPLI). Methods: In the pilot study, we refined the Perceived Physical Literacy Instrument (PPLI, Cronbach’s α = 0.94, initially designed for adults) into SPPLI using internal reliability, content validity, and construct validity results. A total of 341 older adults recruited from community centers in Southern Taiwan participated in the study. A principle component analysis (PCA) identified three components of SPPLI. Results: Eleven items were captured from the 18-item PPLI as the SPPLI (Cronbach’s α = 0.90). SPPLI exhibits three components: attitude toward physical activity, physical activity ability, and sociality around physical activity. Significant differences were discovered in physical activity ability by educational attainment (p < 0.05) and in all three components by stage of exercise (maintenance vs. non-maintenance) (p < 0.05). The SPPLI possesses proper reliability and validity to assess physical literacy among older adults. Conclusions: This instrument is suggested for physical literacy assessments in physical activity programs to assess the needs of older adults and/or the effectiveness of an intervention program that aims to improve the attitude, ability, and sociality of physical activity.
Profiling the Atopic Dermatitis Epidermal Transcriptome by Tape Stripping and BRB-seq
Authors: Hu Tu , Todberg Tanja , Andersen Daniel , Danneskiold-Samsøe Niels Banhos , Hansen Sofie Boesgaard Neestrup , Kristiansen Karsten , Ewald David Adrian , Brix Susanne , Rosa Joel Correa da , Hoof Ilka , Skov Lone , Litman Thomas
Published: May 2022

Tape stripping is a non-invasive skin sampling technique, which has recently gained use for the study of the transcriptome of atopic dermatitis (AD), a common inflammatory skin disorder characterized by a defective epidermal barrier and perturbated immune response. Here, we performed BRB-seq—a low cost, multiplex-based, transcriptomic profiling technique—on tape-stripped skin from 30 AD patients and 30 healthy controls to evaluate the methods’ ability to assess the epidermal AD transcriptome. An AD signature consisting of 91 differentially expressed genes, specific for skin barrier and inflammatory response, was identified. The gene expression in the outermost layers, stratum corneum and stratum granulosum, of the skin showed highest correlation between tape-stripped skin and matched full-thickness punch biopsies. However, we observed that low and highly variable transcript counts, probably due to low RNA yield and RNA degradation in the tape-stripped skin samples, were a limiting factor for epidermal transcriptome profiling as compared to punch biopsies. We conclude that deep BRB-seq of tape-stripped skin is needed to counteract large between-sample RNA yield variation and highly zero-inflated data in order to apply this protocol for population-wide screening of the epidermal transcriptome in inflammatory skin diseases.
A Weed-Derived Hierarchical Porous Carbon with a Large Specific Surface Area for Efficient Dye and Antibiotic Removal
Authors: Liang Dadong , Tian Xingyi , Zhang Yupeng , Zhu Guanya , Gao Qiang , Liu Junbo , Yu Xiaoxiao
Published: May 2022

Adsorption is an economical and efficient method for wastewater treatment, and its advantages are closely related to adsorbents. Herein, the Abutilon theophrasti medicus calyx (AC) was used as the precursor for producing the porous carbon adsorbent (PCAC). PCAC was prepared through carbonization and chemical activation. The product activated by potassium hydroxide exhibited a larger specific surface area, more mesopores, and a higher adsorption capacity than the product activated by sodium hydroxide. PCAC was used for adsorbing rhodamine B (RhB) and chloramphenicol (CAP) from water. Three adsorption kinetic models (the pseudo-first-order, pseudo-second-order, and intra-particle diffusion models), four adsorption isotherm models (the Langmuir, Freundlich, Sips, and Redlich–Peterson models), and thermodynamic equations were used to investigate adsorption processes. The pseudo-second kinetic and Sips isotherm models fit the experimental data well. The adsorption mechanism and the reusability of PCAC were also investigated. PCAC exhibited a large specific surface area. The maximum adsorption capacities (1883.3 mg g−1 for RhB and 1375.3 mg g−1 for CAP) of PCAC are higher than most adsorbents. Additionally, in the fixed bed experiments, PCAC exhibited good performance for the removal of RhB. These results indicated that PCAC was an adsorbent with the advantages of low-cost, a large specific surface area, and high performance.
Dynamic and Comparative Transcriptome Analyses Reveal Key Factors Contributing to Cadmium Tolerance in Broomcorn Millet
Authors: Liu Jiajia , Zhang Dazhong , Zhang Yuanbo , Zhou Hao , Chen Pengliang , Yuan Yuhao , Yang Qinghua , Zhao Lin , Feng Baili
Published: May 2022

Broomcorn millet (Panicum miliaceum L.) has great potential in Cd phytoextraction, but its mechanisms are largely unknown. Two contrasting broomcorn millet varieties, ‘Ningmi6’ (Cd-sensitive variety) and ‘4452’ (Cd-tolerant variety), were investigated through morphological, physiological, and transcriptomic analyses to determine the factors responsible for their differential Cd tolerance and translocation. The Cd-tolerant variety can accumulate more Cd, and its cell wall and vacuole component Cd proportions were higher compared with the Cd-sensitive variety. Under Cd stress, the glutathione content and peroxidase activity of the Cd-tolerant variety were significantly higher than those of the Cd-sensitive variety. Additionally, weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) revealed hub modules that were associated with Cd stress and/or variety. Notably, genes involved in these hub modules were significantly enriched for roles in glutathione metabolism, phenylpropanoid biosynthesis, ABC transport, and metal ion transport process. These results suggested that regulation of genes associated with cell wall precipitation and vacuole compartmentalization may increase Cd tolerance and reduce Cd translocation in the Cd-tolerant variety, although it can absorb more Cd. This study provides a foundation for exploring molecular mechanisms of Cd tolerance and transport in broomcorn millet and new insights into improving Cd phytoremediation with this crop through genetic engineering.
Epigenetic Connection of the Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide and Its Potential in Migraine
Authors: Fila Michal , Sobczuk Anna , Pawlowska Elzbieta , Blasiak Janusz
Published: May 2022

The calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) is implicated in the pathogenesis of several pain-related syndromes, including migraine. Targeting CGRP and its receptor by their antagonists and antibodies was a breakthrough in migraine therapy, but the need to improve efficacy and limit the side effects of these drugs justify further studies on the regulation of CGRP in migraine. The expression of the CGRP encoding gene, CALCA, is modulated by epigenetic modifications, including the DNA methylation, histone modification, and effects of micro RNAs (miRNAs), circular RNAs, and long-coding RNAs (lncRNAs). On the other hand, CGRP can change the epigenetic profile of neuronal and glial cells. The promoter of the CALCA gene has two CpG islands that may be specifically methylated in migraine patients. DNA methylation and lncRNAs were shown to play a role in the cell-specific alternative splicing of the CALCA primary transcript. CGRP may be involved in changes in neural cytoarchitecture that are controlled by histone deacetylase 6 (HDAC6) and can be related to migraine. Inhibition of HDAC6 results in reduced cortical-spreading depression and a blockade of the CGRP receptor. CGRP levels are associated with the expression of several miRNAs in plasma, making them useful peripheral markers of migraine. The fundamental role of CGRP in inflammatory pain transmission may be epigenetically regulated. In conclusion, epigenetic connections of CGRP should be further explored for efficient and safe antimigraine therapy.
Precise Stepwise Synthesis of Donor-Acceptor Conjugated Polymer Brushes Grafted from Surfaces
Authors: Grobelny Anna , Grobelny Artur , Zapotoczny Szczepan
Published: May 2022

Donor-acceptor (D-A) conjugated polymers are promising materials in optoelectronic applications, especially those forming ordered thin films. The processability of such conjugated macromolecules is typically enhanced by introducing bulky side chains, but it may affect their ordering and/or photophysical properties of the films. We show here the synthesis of surface-grafted D-A polymer brushes using alternating attachment of tailored monomers serving as electron donors (D) and acceptors (A) via coupling reactions. In such a stepwise procedure, alternating copolymer brushes consisting of thiophene and benzothiadiazole-based moieties with precisely tailored thickness and no bulky substituents were formed. The utilization of Sonogashira coupling was shown to produce densely packed molecular wires of tailored thickness, while Stille coupling and Huisgen cycloaddition were less efficient, likely because of the higher flexibility of D-A bridging groups. The D-A brushes exhibit reduced bandgaps, semiconducting properties and can form aggregates, which can be adjusted by changing the grafting density of the chains.