bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Returning the Favor? Feeling Obliged and Reported Participation in Discretionary Safety Activities
Authors: Laurent Julie , Chmiel Nik , Hansez Isabelle
Published: September 2021

Recent research has shown that the reported participation of employees in voluntary safety activities is related to the prevention of accidents and injuries. Encouraging such participation, then, is beneficial to organizations. A key question, therefore, is why employees should choose to report that they engage in such activities: what is their motivation given such activities are not compulsory? We used social exchange theory (SET) and organizational support theory (OST) to develop a model linking perceived organizational support to reports of safety participation. SET postulates that the benefits given (by an organization) are reciprocated with potential benefits to the giver as a result. OST emphasizes that feeling obliged is a key part of why people reciprocate the perceived support they get from their organization. Voluntary safety activities have the potential to benefit an organization, so for the first time, we test whether there is a link between perceived organizational support and the reported participation of employees in such activities, and whether the relationship is mediated by felt obligation. We also test whether another key SET motivation to reciprocate, the anticipated reward, is involved in mediating the relationship. A structural equation model with a sample of 536 workers from a Belgian public company, involved in the production and distribution of safe drinking water and in waste water treatment, supported the hypotheses of the authors. The model showed that felt obligation mediated the relationship between perceived organizational support and safety participation reports, and that the anticipatory reward, in the form of perceptions that management was committed to safety, also mediated the relationship between perceived organizational support and safety participation reports. These processes were shown to be separable from employee job engagement and employee perspectives on whether or not voluntary safety activities were part of their job. The findings add to the understanding of why employees choose reported participation in voluntary safety behaviors and also, add to the literature on OST by demonstrating for the first time the involvement of felt obligation and perceived management commitment to safety as mediators between outcomes and perceived organizational support.
Movement as a Somaesthetic Source of Subjectivity
Authors: Dobrowolski Robert , Pezdek Krzysztof
Published: September 2021

The paper discusses two opposite understandings of how the kinaesthetic experience of movement translates into the development of subjectivity. One of them, in which somatically experienced movement is regarded as a positive source of authentic self-fashioning, will be described within the framework of phenomenology. The other, which emphasises the inauthentic nature of movement, will be described in term of psychoanalysis. Subsequently, the two opposite interpretations will be discussed in the conciliatory perspective of aesthetic experience, in which the contradiction of spontaneity and conformity will be shown as a quasi-artistic factor which bolsters the dynamics of subjectivity development.
Impulsivity and Its Relationship With Lisdexamfetamine Dimesylate Treatment in Binge Eating Disorder
Authors: Griffiths Kristi R. , Aparício Leonor , Braund Taylor A. , Yang Jenny , Harvie Grace , Harris Anthony , Hay Phillipa J. , Touyz Stephen , Kohn Michael R.
Published: September 2021

High trait impulsivity is thought to contribute to the sense of loss of control over eating and impulses to binge eat experienced by those with binge eating disorder (BED). Lisdexamfetamine dimesylate (LDX), a drug approved for treatment of moderate to severe BED, has been shown to decrease impulsive features of BED. However, the relationship between LDX-related reductions of binge eating (BE) episodes and impulsivity has not yet been explored. Forty-one adults aged 18–40years with moderate to severe BED completed questionnaires and tasks assessing impulsivity at baseline and after 8weeks of 50–70mg of LDX. Twenty age-matched healthy controls were also assessed at two timepoints for normative comparison. Data were analysed using linear mixed models. BED participants exhibited increased self-reported motor, non-planning, cognitive and food-related impulsivity relative to controls but no differences in objective task-based measures of impulsivity. Food-related and non-planning impulsivity was significantly reduced by LDX, but not to normative levels. Individuals with higher baseline levels of motor and non-planning impulsivity, and loss of control over eating scores experienced the greatest reduction in BE frequency after 8weeks of LDX. Further, there were significant associations between the degree to which subjective loss of control over eating, non-planning impulsivity and BE frequency reduced after 8weeks of LDX. These data suggest that specific subjective measures of impulsivity may be able to predict who will have the greatest benefit from LDX treatment and that reductions in BE frequency may be moderated by concurrent reductions in non-planning impulsivity.
Entrepreneurial Team Knowledge Diversity and Creativity: A Multilevel Analysis of Knowledge Sharing, Individual Creativity, and Team Creativity
Authors: Hou Fei , Su Yu , Qi Mingde , Wang Lihua , Wang Qian
Published: September 2021

Although the academic community has consistent with the key role of entrepreneurial team knowledge diversity (ETKD), which serves as a critical catalyst of creativity in organizations, the extant research on the link between knowledge diversity and creativity is mainly concerned with individual creativity in single-level analyses. With emerging entrepreneurial ventures increasingly relying on innovation enhancement in the form of teams, there is research motivation to explore how team-level creativity develops. In this sense, this study attempts to investigate the underlying mechanism through which ETKD is associated with team-level creativity. Through a multilevel mediation model, this study proposes that ETKD can facilitate team creativity (TC) sequentially transmitted through individual-level team members' knowledge sharing (KS) and creativity. Based on a survey of 252 team members from 42 entrepreneurial teams in China, multilevel structural equation modeling (MSEM) is applied to test the top–down relationship between ETKD and KS, as well as the bottom-up link between individual creativity and TC. The findings show that our hypotheses are supported. Our findings provide some of the first empirical evidence to examine how knowledge-based diversity of entrepreneurial teams facilitates TC potential by multilevel approach. Theoretical contributions and practical implications are also offered.
The Role of Positive 3-H Words in Peacebuilding and Engagement in EFL/ESL Classes
Authors: Shi Xiaojing
Published: September 2021

This review aimed at investigating the role of help, hope, and harmony formally known as positive 3H on students' engagement and peacebuilding. This topic has recently attracted attention since teachers and the way they treat students are said to play a paramount role in the learning process and as a result, peace can be built in the classroom and students also are more likely to be actively engaged in the tasks. To start with, a definition for positive 3-H was presented coupled with the role it plays in language learning contexts. Then the way both inner peace and interpersonal peace have been applied in the learning process to build peace is discussed. Following that, the effects of positive 3-H on students' engagement and peacebuilding through raising some relevant activities are dealt with. Finally, implications and further directions are put forward.
Infodemic vs. Pandemic Factors Associated to Public Anxiety in the Early Stage of the COVID-19 Outbreak: A Cross-Sectional Study in China
Authors: Xu Jian , Liu Cong
Published: September 2021

Introduction: Every outbreak of an epidemic or pandemic disease is accompanied by the tsunami of information, which is also known as the infodemic. Infodemic makes it hard for people to find trustworthy sources and reliable guidance when they need it, and causes social panic about health, widens the gaps between races and regions, and even brings the social chaos all over the world. While most researchers and related parties made efforts to control the inaccurate information spreading online during the COVID-19 pandemic, the infodemic influence caused by the overload of accurate information were almost or completely ignored, and this will hinder the control of infodemic in future public health crises. This study aims to explore the infodemic vs. pandemic influence on people's psychological anxiety across different media sources in the early stage of the COVID-19 outbreak in China.

Methods: A cross-sectional study using online survey method was conducted by a data-collection service provider in April 2020. A total of 1,117 valid samples were finally collected from 5,203 randomly invited members via webpages and WeChat. The sample distribution covered the 30 provincial administrative divisions of mainland China.

Results: Hierarchical regression analysis for the potential pandemic sources and infodemic sources of psychological anxiety showed that the infodemic factors of attention to the coronavirus information (β = 0.154, p < 0.001) and commercial media exposure (β = 0.147, p < 0.001) is positively related to the level of anxiety. Statistics indicated that influence of the infodemic factors is over and above that of the pandemic factors (ΔR2 = 0.054, F = 14.199, and p < 0.001). Mediation analysis showed that information overload (B = 0.155, Boot SE = 0.022, and 95% Boot CI [0.112, 0.198]) mediates the link between attention to coronavirus information and anxiety; both information overload (B = 0.035, Boot SE = 0.014, and 95% Boot CI [0.009, 0.062]) and media vicarious traumatization (B = 0.106, Boot SE = 0.017, and 95% Boot CI [0.072, 0.140]) mediate the link between commercial media exposure and anxiety.

Conclusion: This study suggested that the influence of infodemic with mixed accurate and inaccurate information on public anxiety does exist, which could possibly go beyond that of the pandemic. Information overload and vicarious traumatization explain how infodemic may be associated to public anxiety. Finally, commercial media could be a major source of infodemic in the Chinese media context. Implications for the related parties were discussed.
In vivo Pooled Screening: A Scalable Tool to Study the Complexity of Aging and Age-Related Disease
Authors: Borch Jensen Martin , Marblestone Adam
Published: September 2021

Biological aging, and the diseases of aging, occur in a complex in vivo environment, driven by multiple interacting processes. A convergence of recently developed technologies has enabled in vivo pooled screening: direct administration of a library of different perturbations to a living animal, with a subsequent readout that distinguishes the identity of each perturbation and its effect on individual cells within the animal. Such screens hold promise for efficiently applying functional genomics to aging processes in the full richness of the in vivo setting. In this review, we describe the technologies behind in vivo pooled screening, including a range of options for delivery, perturbation and readout methods, and outline their potential application to aging and age-related disease. We then suggest how in vivo pooled screening, together with emerging innovations in each of its technological underpinnings, could be extended to shed light on key open questions in aging biology, including the mechanisms and limits of epigenetic reprogramming and identifying cellular mediators of systemic signals in aging.
ET-1 as a Sex-Specific Mechanism Impacting Age-Related Changes in Vascular Function
Authors: Kuczmarski Andrew V. , Welti Laura M. , Moreau Kerrie L. , Wenner Megan M.
Published: September 2021

Aging is a primary risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD), which is the leading cause of death in developed countries. Globally, the population of adults over the age of 60 is expected to double by the year 2050. CVD prevalence and mortality rates differ between men and women as they age in part due to sex-specific mechanisms impacting the biological processes of aging. Measures of vascular function offer key insights into cardiovascular health. Changes in vascular function precede changes in CVD prevalence rates in men and women and with aging. A key mechanism underlying these changes in vascular function is the endothelin (ET) system. Studies have demonstrated sex and sex hormone effects on endothelin-1 (ET-1), and its receptors ETA and ETB. However, with aging there is a dysregulation of this system resulting in an imbalance between vasodilation and vasoconstriction. Thus, ET-1 may play a role in the sex differences observed with vascular aging. While most research has been conducted in pre-clinical animal models, we describe more recent translational data in humans showing that the ET system is an important regulator of vascular dysfunction with aging and acts through sex-specific ET receptor mechanisms. In this review, we present translational evidence (cell, tissue, animal, and human) that the ET system is a key mechanism regulating sex-specific changes in vascular function with aging, along with therapeutic interventions to reduce ET-mediated vascular dysfunction associated with aging. More knowledge on the factors responsible for the sex differences with vascular aging allow for optimized therapeutic strategies to attenuate CVD risk in the expanding aging population.
Semantics in High-Dimensional Space
Authors: Karlgren Jussi , Kanerva Pentti
Published: September 2021

Geometric models are used for modelling meaning in various semantic-space models. They are seductive in their simplicity and their imaginative qualities, and for that reason, their metaphorical power risks leading our intuitions astray: human intuition works well in a three-dimensional world but is overwhelmed by higher dimensionalities. This note is intended to warn about some practical pitfalls of using high-dimensional geometric representation as a knowledge representation and a memory model—challenges that can be met by informed design of the representation and its application.
Interlocutors’ Age Impacts Teenagers’ Online Writing Style: Accommodation in Intra- and Intergenerational Online Conversations
Authors: Hilte Lisa , Daelemans Walter , Vandekerckhove Reinhild
Published: September 2021

The present study examines how teenagers adapt their language use to that of their conversation partner (i.e., the linguistic phenomenon of accommodation) in interactions with peers (intragenerational communication) and with older interlocutors (intergenerational communication). We analyze a large corpus of Flemish teenagers’ conversations on Facebook Messenger and WhatsApp, which appear to be highly peer-oriented. With Poisson models, we examine whether the teenage participants adjust their writing style to older interlocutors. The same trend emerges for three sets of prototypical markers of the informal online genre: teenagers insert significantly fewer of these markers when interacting with older interlocutors, thus matching their interlocutors’ style and increasing linguistic similarity. Finally, the analyses reveal subtle differences in accommodation patterns for the distinct linguistic variables with respect to the impact of the teenagers’ sociodemographic profiles and their interlocutors’ age.
The Impact of Machine Learning on 2D/3D Registration for Image-Guided Interventions: A Systematic Review and Perspective
Authors: Unberath Mathias , Gao Cong , Hu Yicheng , Judish Max , Taylor Russell H , Armand Mehran , Grupp Robert
Published: September 2021

Image-based navigation is widely considered the next frontier of minimally invasive surgery. It is believed that image-based navigation will increase the access to reproducible, safe, and high-precision surgery as it may then be performed at acceptable costs and effort. This is because image-based techniques avoid the need of specialized equipment and seamlessly integrate with contemporary workflows. Furthermore, it is expected that image-based navigation techniques will play a major role in enabling mixed reality environments, as well as autonomous and robot-assisted workflows. A critical component of image guidance is 2D/3D registration, a technique to estimate the spatial relationships between 3D structures, e.g., preoperative volumetric imagery or models of surgical instruments, and 2D images thereof, such as intraoperative X-ray fluoroscopy or endoscopy. While image-based 2D/3D registration is a mature technique, its transition from the bench to the bedside has been restrained by well-known challenges, including brittleness with respect to optimization objective, hyperparameter selection, and initialization, difficulties in dealing with inconsistencies or multiple objects, and limited single-view performance. One reason these challenges persist today is that analytical solutions are likely inadequate considering the complexity, variability, and high-dimensionality of generic 2D/3D registration problems. The recent advent of machine learning-based approaches to imaging problems that, rather than specifying the desired functional mapping, approximate it using highly expressive parametric models holds promise for solving some of the notorious challenges in 2D/3D registration. In this manuscript, we review the impact of machine learning on 2D/3D registration to systematically summarize the recent advances made by introduction of this novel technology. Grounded in these insights, we then offer our perspective on the most pressing needs, significant open problems, and possible next steps.
Risk Factors of Preterm Birth in Nepal: A Hospital-Based Matched Case-Control Study
Authors: Acharya Richa , Khanal Pratik , Bhattarai Hari Krishna , Amatya Archana
Published: September 2021

Background: Preterm birth is a significant cause of neonatal death globally. Nepal is in the 20th position in the world, with the highest rate of preterm deliveries. The risk factors of preterm birth have not been fully identified and established in Nepal. The study aims to identify risk factors of preterm birth among women who underwent delivery in a tertiary maternal hospital in Nepal.

Methods: This study employed a hospital-based matched case-control study design. The case included women who delivered before 37 weeks of gestation, and women who delivered between 37 and 42 weeks of gestation served as controls. The ratio of the case to control was 1:2, and matching was done for the type of delivery. The first author collected the data in the Paropakar Maternity and Women's Hospital between December 2015 and January 2016. Face-to-face interviews were conducted using a structured questionnaire. Backward conditional logistic regression was performed to identify the independent risk factors of preterm birth.

Results: Antihelminthic treatment during pregnancy was found to be protective for preterm birth. Women performing intensive physical work during their pregnancy and women exposed to indoor air pollution were more likely to have a preterm birth than women not performing intensive physical work and women not exposed to indoor pollution, respectively.

Conclusions: Women who had not consumed antihelminthic drugs per protocol, those exposed to indoor air pollution, and those who performed intensive work during pregnancy were at higher risk for preterm birth. Maternal health programs can encourage women to consume antihelminthic drugs, take proper rest during pregnancy, and prevent indoor pollution exposure.
The True Superheroes: Microorganisms Survive it All!
Authors: Otte Julia M. , Laufer-Meiser Katja
Published: September 2021

Did you know that microorganisms can live far up in the clouds and deep in the Earth’s crust? These tiny organisms have adapted to all special habitats on Earth. To study special habitats, scientists can focus on the microorganisms and their biological reactions, or on the non-living components, like minerals and chemical reactions. However, it can be difficult to separate the two! Since little was known about the best way to remove microorganisms from environmental samples without changing the non-living properties of the sample, we decided to perform an experiment to find out. We exposed marine sediments to three different methods of sterilization, to see which method was best for eliminating microorganisms. We also studied whether the three methods affected the chemical properties of our samples. We found that it is challenging to create sterile conditions because some microorganisms can survive high pressure, high temperature, radiation, and toxic chemicals!
Investigating Consumer Demand and Willingness to Pay for Fresh, Local, Organic, and “On-the-Stalk” Edamame
Authors: Lord Nick , Zhang Bo , Neill Clinton L.
Published: September 2021

Introduction of locally adapted, commercially viable edamame varieties can allow it to be marketed as fresh, local, organic, or on the stalk. Here, we utilized a one-and-one-half bounded (OOHB) elicitation format to estimate mean willingness to pay (WTP) for these external attributes in relation to a vector of explanatory variables. Results showed 84-, 85-, and 28-cent premiums for fresh, local, and organic edamame (10 oz). Pro-environmental attitudes drove WTP for all three of these attributes, while shopping location significantly increased mean WTP for fresh and organic attributes. A 40-cent price discount was observed for the “on-the-stalk” attribute, suggesting that convenience also plays an important role in marketing edamame. The results suggest that more research regarding edamame demand is warranted.
Rapid Progression to Complete Paraplegia After Electroacupuncture in a Patient With Spinal Dural Arteriovenous Fistula: A Case Report
Authors: Park Ki-Hoon , Jeon Chang-Hoon , Chung Nam-Su , Lee Han-Dong
Published: September 2021

Spinal dural arteriovenous fistula (SDAVF) usually has an insidious clinical course, but 5–15% of the cases have acute exacerbations. In some cases, there is an abrupt progression to paraplegia following an epidural injection or anesthesia. Electroacupuncture is a form of acupuncture that applies a small electrical current to needles inserted at specific points in the body. It is widely used for its analgesic effect on back pain. In this study, we report a rare case of SDAVF in which the symptoms of a patient worsened rapidly to complete paraplegia within a few hours after applying electroacupuncture to his back. A 49-year-old man had rapid progression to complete paraplegia within a few hours of electroacupuncture on his back. MRI showed SDAVF and worsening of cord signal change. An emergency operation was performed to ligate the SDAVF. The patient was able to walk 1 month post-operatively. Most of the neurological deficits had disappeared by 1 year post-operatively, with normalization of MRI. Our case emphasizes that SDAVF patients should be careful when exposed to any circumstances that might affect the circulation around the dural arteriovenous fistula, such as electroacupuncture. Patients should also be warned in advance about the possibility of rapid exacerbation of neurological symptoms. Regardless of the severity of the neurological symptoms, immediate treatment is essential for recovery and a better outcome.
Meta-Analysis of 3D Printing Applications in Traumatic Fractures
Authors: Yang Sha , Lin Huapeng , Luo Cong
Published: September 2021

Background: Traumatic fracture is a common orthopaedic disease, and application of 3D printing technology in fracture treatment, which entails utilisation of pre-operative printed anatomic fracture model, is increasingly gaining popularity. However, effectiveness of 3D printing-assisted surgery lacks evidence-based findings to support its application.

Materials and Methods: Embase, PubMed and Cochrane Library databases were systematically searched until October, 2020 to identify relevant studies. All randomised controlled trials (RCTs) comparing efficacy of 3D printing-assisted surgery vs. conventional surgery for traumatic fractures were reviewed. RevMan V.5.3 software was used to conduct meta-analysis.

Results: A total of 12 RCTs involving 641 patients were included. Pooled findings showed that 3D printing-assisted surgery had shorter operation duration [standardised mean difference (SMD) = −1.52, 95% confidence interval (CI) – 1.70 ~ −1.34, P < 0.00001], less intraoperative blood loss (SMD = 1.34, 95% CI 1.74 ~ 0.94, P < 0.00001), fewer intraoperative fluoroscopies (SMD = 1.25, 95% CI 1.64 ~ 0.87, P < 0.00001), shorter fracture union time (SMD = −0.15, 95% CI −0.25 ~ −0.05, P = 0.003), and higher rate of excellent outcomes (OR = 2.40, 95% CI 1.07 ~ 5.37, P = 0.03) compared with conventional surgery. No significant differences in complication rates were observed between the two types of surgery (OR = 0.69, 95% CI 0.69 ~ 1.42, P = 0.32).

Conclusions: Indicators including operation duration, intraoperative blood loss, number of intraoperative fluoroscopies, fracture union time, and rates of excellent outcomes showed that 3D printing-assisted surgery is a superior alternative in treatment of traumatic fractures compared with conventional surgery. Moreover, the current study did not report significant differences in incidence of complications between the two approaches.

Systematic Review Registration: CRD42021239507.
Evolution of Surgical Management of Hemorrhoidal Disease: An Historical Overview
Authors: Pata Francesco , Gallo Gaetano , Pellino Gianluca , Vigorita Vincenzo , Podda Mauro , Di Saverio Salomone , D'Ambrosio Giancarlo , Sammarco Giuseppe
Published: September 2021

Hemorrhoidal disease (HD) is the symptomatic enlargement and/or distal displacement of the normal hemorrhoidal cushions and is one of the most frequent diseases in colorectal surgery. Several surgical or office-based therapies are currently available, with the aim of being a more tailored approach. This article aimed to elucidate the historical evolution of surgical therapy for HD from ancient times, highlighting the crucial steps, controversies, and pioneers in the field. In contrast with the previous literature on the topic that is often updated to the 1990s, with the introduction of stapled hemorrhoidopexy and transanal hemorrhoidal dearterialization, this article describes all new surgical and office-based treatments introduced in the first 20 years of the 2000s.
Differential Abundance of Brain Mitochondrial Proteins in Yak and Cattle: A Proteomics-Based Study
Authors: Ma Xiaoming , Zhang Qiang , La Yongfu , Fu Donghai , Jiang Hiu , Bao Pengjia , Wu Xiaoyun , Chu Min , Guo Xian , Yan Ping , Liang Chunnian
Published: September 2021

The plateau adaptability and stress resistance of yaks are widely known based on their capacity to survive under severe habitat conditions. However, a few studies on brain mitochondria have characterized these adaptations at the protein level. We identified and quantified the brain mitochondrial proteins using isobaric tags for relative and absolute quantification (iTRAQ) and Proteomics. Western blotting was used to verify changes in the expression of target proteins. A total of 57 differentially abundant proteins (DAPs) were identified in the yak brain tissue. Gene Ontology (GO) analysis showed molecular functions of these DAPs including downregulated oxidoreductase activity but upregulated coenzyme binding. Significantly enriched biological processes were oxidation–reduction process (downregulated) and small molecule metabolic processes (upregulated). STRING protein interaction analysis indicated a complex interaction between dehydrogenase, transaminase, and ATP synthetase families. Reactome pathway analysis highlighted that the majority of DAPs participated in aerobic metabolic pathways such as metabolism, citric acid cycle, and respiratory electron transport. Immunoblotting confirmed that changes in FKBP4 and ATPAF2 expression were consistent with the results of mass spectrometry. We performed a high-throughput screening to identify DAPs in brain mitochondria between yak and cattle, which could explain the plateau adaptability of yaks.
Efficacy and Safety of Intranasal Ketamine for Acute Pain Management in the Emergency Setting: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Seak Yee Sin , Nor Junainah , Tuan Kamauzaman Tuan Hairulnizam , Arithra Ariff , Islam Md Asiful
Published: September 2021

Due to overcrowding, personnel shortages, or problematic intravenous (IV) cannulation, acute pain management is often sub-optimal in emergency departments (EDs). The objective of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of intranasal (IN) ketamine for adult acute pain in the emergency setting. We searched and identified studies up to 21 May 2021 via PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, Cochrane Database, and Google Scholar. The random-effects model with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) was used to estimate mean differences (MDs) and odds ratios (ORs). The I2 statistic and Cochran’s Q test were used to determine heterogeneity. The protocol was registered in PROSPERO (CRD42020213391). Seven randomised controlled trials were included with a total of 1760 patients. There was no significant difference in pain scores comparing IN ketamine with IV analgesics or placebo at 5 (MD 0.94, p = 0.26), 15 (MD 0.15, p = 0.74), 25 (MD 0.24, p = 0.62), 30 (MD −0.05, p = 0.87), and 60 (MD −0.42, p = 0.53) minutes. There was also no significant difference in the need for rescue analgesics between IN ketamine and IV analgesics (OR 1.66, 95% CI: 0.57−4.86, p = 0.35, I2 = 70%). Only mild adverse effects were observed in patients who received IN ketamine. Our results suggest that IN ketamine is non-inferior to IV analgesics and may have a role in acute pain management among adults in the ED.
Prognostic Impact of Acute Cardiovascular Events in COVID-19 Hospitalized Patients—Results from the CORONA Germany Study
Authors: Gunawardene Melanie A. , Gessler Nele , Wohlmuth Peter , Heitmann Kathrin , Anders Philipp , Jaquet Kai , Herborn Christoph U. , Arnold Dirk , Bein Berthold , Bergmann Martin W. , Herrlinger Klaus R. , Stang Axel , Schreiber Ruediger , Wesseler Claas , Willems Stephan
Published: September 2021

Background: Acute myocardial injury (AMJ), assessed by elevated levels of cardiac troponin, is associated with fatal outcome in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). However, the role of acute cardiovascular (CV) events defined by clinical manifestation rather than sole elevations of biomarkers is unclear in hospitalized COVID-19 patients. Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate acute clinically manifest CV events in hospitalized COVID-19 patients. Methods: From 1 March 2020 to 5 January 2021, we conducted a multicenter, prospective, epidemiological cohort study at six hospitals from Hamburg, Germany (a portion of the state-wide 45-center CORONA Germany cohort study) enrolling all hospitalized COVID-19 patients. Primary endpoint was occurrence of a clinically manifest CV-event. Results: In total, 132 CV-events occurred in 92 of 414 (22.2%) patients in the Hamburg-cohort: cardiogenic shock in 10 (2.4%), cardiopulmonary resuscitation in 12 (2.9%), acute coronary syndrome in 11 (2.7%), de-novo arrhythmia in 31 (7.5%), acute heart-failure in 43 (10.3%), myocarditis in 2 (0.5%), pulmonary-embolism in 11 (2.7%), thrombosis in 9 (2.2%) and stroke in 3 (0.7%). In the Hamburg-cohort, mortality was 46% (42/92) for patients with a CV-event and 33% (27/83) for patients with only AMJ without CV-event (OR 1.7, CI: (0.94–3.2), p = 0.077). Mortality was higher in patients with CV-events (Odds ratio(OR): 4.8, 95%-confidence-interval(CI): [2.9–8]). Age (OR 1.1, CI: (0.66–1.86)), atrial fibrillation (AF) on baseline-ECG (OR 3.4, CI: (1.74–6.8)), systolic blood-pressure (OR 0.7, CI: (0.53–0.96)), potassium (OR 1.3, CI: (0.99–1.73)) and C-reactive-protein (1.4, CI (1.04–1.76)) were associated with CV-events. Conclusion: Hospitalized COVID-19 patients with clinical manifestation of acute cardiovascular events show an almost five-fold increased mortality. In this regard, the emergence of arrhythmias is a major determinant.
Sensor Placement with Two-Dimensional Equal Arc Length Non-Uniform Sampling for Underwater Terrain Deformation Monitoring
Authors: Xu Chunying , Hu Junwei , Chen Jiawang , Ge Yongqiang , Liang Ruixin
Published: September 2021

Sensor placement plays an important role in terrain deformation monitoring systems and has an essential effect on data collection. The difficulty of sensor placement entails obtaining the most adequate and reliable information with the fewest number of sensors. Most sensor placement schemes are currently based on randomized non-uniform sampling and probability statistics, such as structural modality and optimization methods, which are difficult to directly apply due to the randomness and spatial heterogeneity of terrain deformation. In this study, the placement conditions of two-dimensional non-uniform sampling with equal arc length were deduced for underwater terrain deformation monitoring based on the MEMS accelerometer network. In order to completely reconstruct the underwater terrain, the arc length interval of the sensors should be less than 12Ω (Ω is the maximum frequency of the detected terrain). The maximum MRE and maximum RMSE were both less than seven percent in a terrain deformation monitoring experiment and a water tank test. The research results help technicians apply contact sensor arrays for underwater terrain monitoring.
A Parametric Tool for Studying a New Tracheobronchial Silicone Stent Prototype: Toward a Customized 3D Printable Prosthesis
Authors: Zurita-Gabasa Jesús , Sánchez-Matás Carmen , Díaz-Jiménez Cristina , López-Villalobos José Luis , Malvè Mauro
Published: September 2021

The management of complex airway disorders is challenging, as the airway stent placement usually results in several complications. Tissue reaction to the foreign body, poor mechanical properties and inadequate fit of the stent in the airway are some of the reported problems. For this reason, the design of customized biomedical devices to improve the accuracy of the clinical results has recently gained interest. The aim of the present study is to introduce a parametric tool for the design of a new tracheo-bronchial stent that could be capable of improving some of the performances of the commercial devices. The proposed methodology is based on the computer aided design software and on the finite element modeling. The computational results are validated by a parallel experimental work that includes the production of selected stent configurations using the 3D printing technology and their compressive test.
Lie Point Symmetries, Traveling Wave Solutions and Conservation Laws of a Non-linear Viscoelastic Wave Equation
Authors: Márquez Almudena P. , Bruzón María S.
Published: September 2021

This paper studies a non-linear viscoelastic wave equation, with non-linear damping and source terms, from the point of view of the Lie groups theory. Firstly, we apply Lie’s symmetries method to the partial differential equation to classify the Lie point symmetries. Afterwards, we reduce the partial differential equation to some ordinary differential equations, by using the symmetries. Therefore, new analytical solutions are found from the ordinary differential equations. Finally, we derive low-order conservation laws, depending on the form of the damping and source terms, and discuss their physical meaning.
Generalized Fractional Calculus for Gompertz-Type Models
Authors: Ascione Giacomo , Pirozzi Enrica
Published: September 2021

This paper focuses on the construction of deterministic and stochastic extensions of the Gompertz curve by means of generalized fractional derivatives induced by complete Bernstein functions. Precisely, we first introduce a class of linear stochastic equations involving a generalized fractional integral and we study the properties of its solutions. This is done by proving the existence and uniqueness of Gaussian solutions of such equations via a fixed point argument and then by showing that, under suitable conditions, the expected value of the solution solves a generalized fractional linear equation. Regularity of the absolute p-moment functions is proved by using generalized Grönwall inequalities. Deterministic generalized fractional Gompertz curves are introduced by means of Caputo-type generalized fractional derivatives, possibly with respect to other functions. Their stochastic counterparts are then constructed by using the previously considered integral equations to define a rate process and a generalization of lognormal distributions to ensure that the median of the newly constructed process coincides with the deterministic curve.
Vaginal Microbiota of the Sexually Transmitted Infections Caused by Chlamydia trachomatis and Trichomonas vaginalis in Women with Vaginitis in Taiwan
Authors: Chiu Shu-Fang , Huang Po-Jung , Cheng Wei-Hung , Huang Ching-Yun , Chu Lichieh Julie , Lee Chi-Ching , Lin Hsin-Chung , Chen Lih-Chyang , Lin Wei-Ning , Tsao Chang-Huei , Tang Petrus , Yeh Yuan-Ming , Huang Kuo-Yang
Published: September 2021

The three most common sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are Chlamydia trachomatis (CT), Neisseria gonorrhoeae (GC) and Trichomonas vaginalis (TV). The prevalence of these STIs in Taiwan remains largely unknown and the risk of STI acquisition affected by the vaginal microbiota is also elusive. In this study, a total of 327 vaginal swabs collected from women with vaginitis were analyzed to determine the presence of STIs and the associated microorganisms by using the BD Max CT/GC/TV molecular assay, microbial cultures, and 16S rRNA sequencing. The prevalence of CT, TV, and GC was 10.8%, 2.2% and 0.6%, respectively. A culture-dependent method identified that Escherichia coli and Streptococcus agalactiae (GBS) were more likely to be associated with CT and TV infections. In CT-positive patients, the vaginal microbiota was dominated by L. iners, and the relative abundance of Gardnerella vaginalis (12.46%) was also higher than that in TV-positive patients and the non-STIs group. However, Lactobacillus spp. was significantly lower in TV-positive patients, while GBS (10.11%), Prevotella bivia (6.19%), Sneathia sanguinegens (12.75%), and Gemella asaccharolytica (5.31%) were significantly enriched. Using an in vitro co-culture assay, we demonstrated that the growth of L. iners was suppressed in the initial interaction with TV, but it may adapt and survive after longer exposure to TV. Additionally, it is noteworthy that TV was able to promote GBS growth. Our study highlights the vaginal microbiota composition associated with the common STIs and the crosstalk between TV and the associated bacteria, paving the way for future development of health interventions targeting the specific vaginal bacterial taxa to reduce the risk of common STIs.
Induced Polarization as a Tool to Assess Alteration in Geothermal Systems: A Review
Authors: Revil Andre , Gresse Marceau
Published: September 2021

The mineral alteration patterns in high- to low-temperature geothermal fields affect the induced polarization (electrical conductivity and chargeability) properties of volcanic rocks. Indeed, these properties are sensitive to the cation exchange capacity and the porosity of the rock, which are both dependent on the alteration path, temperature, and depth of burial. Therefore induced polarization tomography appears as a powerful non-intrusive geophysical method to investigate alteration patterns in geothermal fields. Among clay minerals, the production of smectite through prograde reactions occurs progressively in volcanic rocks up to 220 °C. The presence of smectite dominates the induced polarization response of the volcanic rocks because of its very large cation exchange capacity. It follows that induced polarization can be used as a non-intrusive temperature proxy up to 220 °C for both active and inactive geothermal fields, recording the highest temperatures reached in the past. The influence of magnetite and pyrite, two semi-conductors, also has a strong influence regarding the induced polarization properties of volcanic rocks. Various field examples are discussed to show how induced polarization can be used to image volcanic conduits and smectite-rich clay caps in volcanic areas for both stratovolcanoes and shield volcanoes.
Benchmarking the ACEnano Toolbox for Characterisation of Nanoparticle Size and Concentration by Interlaboratory Comparisons
Authors: Peters Ruud , Elbers Ingrid , Undas Anna , Sijtsma Eelco , Briffa Sophie , Carnell-Morris Pauline , Siupa Agnieszka , Yoon Tae-Hyun , Burr Loïc , Schmid David , Tentschert Jutta , Hachenberger Yves , Jungnickel Harald , Luch Andreas , Meier Florian , Kocic Jovana , Kim Jaeseok , Park Byong , Hardy Barry , Johnston Colin , Jurkschat Kerstin , Radnik Jörg , Hodoroaba Vasile-Dan , Lynch Iseult , Valsami-Jones Eugenia
Published: September 2021

ACEnano is an EU-funded project which aims at developing, optimising and validating methods for the detection and characterisation of nanomaterials (NMs) in increasingly complex matrices to improve confidence in the results and support their use in regulation. Within this project, several interlaboratory comparisons (ILCs) for the determination of particle size and concentration have been organised to benchmark existing analytical methods. In this paper the results of a number of these ILCs for the characterisation of NMs are presented and discussed. The results of the analyses of pristine well-defined particles such as 60 nm Au NMs in a simple aqueous suspension showed that laboratories are well capable of determining the sizes of these particles. The analysis of particles in complex matrices or formulations such as consumer products resulted in larger variations in particle sizes within technologies and clear differences in capability between techniques. Sunscreen lotion sample analysis by laboratories using spICP-MS and TEM/SEM identified and confirmed the TiO2 particles as being nanoscale and compliant with the EU definition of an NM for regulatory purposes. In a toothpaste sample orthogonal results by PTA, spICP-MS and TEM/SEM agreed and stated the TiO2 particles as not fitting the EU definition of an NM. In general, from the results of these ILCs we conclude that laboratories are well capable of determining particle sizes of NM, even in fairly complex formulations.
Film-Forming Spray of Water-Soluble Chitosan Containing Liposome-Coated Human Epidermal Growth Factor for Wound Healing
Authors: Umar Abd. Kakhar , Sriwidodo Sriwidodo , Maksum Iman Permana , Wathoni Nasrul
Published: September 2021

Human epidermal growth factor (hEGF) has been known to have excellent wound-healing activity. However, direct application to the wound area can lead to low hEGF bioavailability due to protease enzymes or endocytosis. The use of liposomes as coatings and carriers can protect hEGF from degradation by enzymes, chemical reactions, and immune reactions. Sustained release using a matrix polymer can also keep the levels of hEGF in line with the treatment. Therefore, this study aimed to develop a film-forming spray of water-soluble chitosan (FFSWSC) containing hEGF-liposomes as a potential wound dressing. The hEGF-liposomes were prepared using the hydration film method, and the preparation of the FFSWSC was achieved by the ionic gelation method. The hydration film method produced hEGF-liposomes that were round and spread with a Z-average of 219.3 nm and encapsulation efficiency of 99.87%, whereas the film-forming solution, which provided good sprayability, had a formula containing 2% WSC and 3% propylene glycol with a viscosity, spray angle, droplet size, spray weight, and occlusion factor of 21.94 ± 0.05 mPa.s, 73.03 ± 1.28°, 54.25 ± 13.33 µm, 0.14 ± 0.00 g, and 14.57 ± 3.41%, respectively. The pH, viscosity, and particle size of the FFSWSC containing hEGF-liposomes were stable during storage for a month in a climatic chamber (40 ± 2 °C, RH 75 ± 5%). A wound healing activity test on mice revealed that hEGF-liposomes in FFSWSC accelerated wound closure significantly, with a complete wound closure on day 6. Based on the findings, we concluded that FFSWSC containing hEGF-liposomes has the potential to be used as a wound dressing.
Multifaceted Effects of Lycopene: A Boulevard to the Multitarget-Based Treatment for Cancer
Authors: Marzocco Stefania , Singla Rajeev K. , Capasso Anna
Published: September 2021

Lycopene is a pigment belonging to the group of carotenoids and it is among the most carefully studied antioxidants found especially in fruit and vegetables. As a carotenoid, lycopene exerts beneficial effects on human health by protecting lipids, proteins, and DNA from damage by oxidation. Lycopene is a powerful oxygen inactivator in the singlet state. This is suggestive of the fact that lycopene harbors comparatively stronger antioxidant properties over other carotenoids normally present in plasma. Lycopene is also reported to hinder cancer cell proliferation. The uncontrolled, rapid division of cells is a characteristic of the metabolism of cancer cells. Evidently, lycopene causes a delay in the progression of the cell cycle, which explains its antitumor activity. Furthermore, lycopene can block cell transformation by reducing the loss of contact inhibition of cancer cells. This paper collects recent studies of scientific evidence that show the multiple beneficial properties of lycopene, which acts with different molecular and cellular mechanisms.
A Fluorine-19 Magnetic Resonance Probe, Shiga-Y5, Downregulates Thioredoxin-Interacting Protein Expression in the Brain of a Mouse Model of Alzheimer’s Disease
Authors: Pahrudin Arrozi Aslina , Abu Bakar Zulzikry Hafiz , Taguchi Hiroyasu , Yanagisawa Daijiro , Tooyama Ikuo
Published: September 2021

Thioredoxin-interacting protein (TXNIP) is involved in multiple disease-associated functions related to oxidative stress, especially by inhibiting the anti-oxidant- and thiol-reducing activity of thioredoxin (TXN). Shiga-Y5 (SY5), a fluorine-19 magnetic resonance probe for detecting amyloid-β deposition in the brain, previously showed therapeutic effects in a mouse model of Alzheimer’s disease; however, the mechanism of action of SY5 remains unclear. SY5 passes the blood–brain barrier and then undergoes hydrolysis to produce a derivative, Shiga-Y6 (SY6), which is a TXNIP-negative regulator. Therefore, this study investigates the therapeutic role of SY5 as the prodrug of SY6 in the thioredoxin system in the brain of a mouse model of Alzheimer’s disease. The intraperitoneal injection of SY5 significantly inhibited TXNIP mRNA (p = 0.0072) and protein expression (p = 0.0143) induced in the brain of APP/PS1 mice. In contrast, the levels of TXN mRNA (p = 0.0285) and protein (p = 0.0039) in the brain of APP/PS1 mice were increased after the injection of SY5. The ratio of TXN to TXNIP, which was decreased (p = 0.0131) in the brain of APP/PS1 mice, was significantly increased (p = 0.0072) after the injection of SY5. These results suggest that SY5 acts as a prodrug of SY6 in targeting the thioredoxin system and could be a potential therapeutic compound in oxidative stress-related diseases in the brain.