bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Application of machine learning in intelligent encryption for digital information of real-time image text under big data
Authors: Liu Liang , Gao Melody , Zhang Yong , Wang Yuxiang
Published: March 2022

In the context of big data, the exploration of the application effect of machine learning in intelligent encryption for real-time image text digital information aims to improve the privacy information security of people. Aiming at the problem of digital information leakage of real-time image text, the convolutional neural network is introduced and improved by adding a preprocessing module to form AlexNet, to encrypt the digital information of real-time image text. Besides, to take into account both the security effect and the real-time performance of the system, the image text is encrypted by the chaotic sequence generated by a one-dimensional chaotic system called Logistic-Sine and a multi-dimensional chaotic system named Lorenz. In this way, a real-time image text encryption model is constructed by combining the chaotic function and AlexNet. Finally, a simulation experiment is performed to analyze the performance of this model. The comparative analysis indicates that the recognition accuracy of feature extraction of image text by the intelligent encryption model reaches 94.37%, which is at least 3.05% higher than that of other neural network models by scholars in related fields. In the security analysis of image text encryption, the information entropy of pixel values at (0, 0) of the proposed model is close to the ideal value 8. Meanwhile, the value of the number of pixels change rate is generally more than 99.50%, and the value of the unified average changing intensity is generally more than 33.50%. This demonstrates that the model has good security in resisting attacks. Therefore, the constructed model can provide good security guarantee under the premise of ensuring the recognition accuracy, which can provide experimental basis for improving the security performance of real-time image text data in the future.
Health information-seeking behavior associated with linguistic group membership: latent class analysis of a population-based cross-sectional survey in Italy, August to September 2014
Authors: Ausserhofer Dietmar , Wiedermann Wolfgang , Becker Ulrich , Vögele Anna , Piccoliori Giuliano , Wiedermann Christian J. , Engl Adolf
Published: March 2022

Background

Evidence suggests an increasing demand for culturally and linguistically responsive disease prevention programs and health interventions. It is important to understand how individuals seek health information to address the potential needs of the health care system.

Methods

Latent classes of health information-seeking behaviors in a linguistically mixed region of Italy were explored through a population-based telephone survey of ten health information sources. Data were collected in August and September 2014 from 504 adults in South Tyrol, Italy (primary language German, 68%; Italian, 28%), and analyzed using latent class analysis and latent class multinomial logistic regression models.

Results

Three classes of health information-seeking behaviors emerged: “multidimensional” (23.3%), “interpersonal” (38.6%) and “technical/online” (38.1%). Compared to the “technical/online” class, “interpersonal” class members were older, had lower education than high school, and were less likely to be of Italian ethnicity. “Multidimensional” class members were more likely to be female, older, and of German ethnicity than those in the “technical/online” class.

Conclusions

Linguistic ethnicity explains membership in classes on health information-seeking behavior. Policymakers and healthcare providers should consider the health information-seeking behaviors of population subgroups to promote health and medical care in linguistic minority groups.
Decarbonisation of eastern European economies: monitoring, economic, social and security concerns
Authors: Radovanović Mirjana , Filipović Sanja , Vukadinović Simonida , Trbojević Milovan , Podbregar Iztok
Published: March 2022

Background

Decarbonisation of the European economy is one of the main strategic goals of energy transition in the European Union (EU), which aims to become a leader in this process by 2050 and to include other European countries making thus the European continent the first carbon neutral region in the world. Although decarbonisation is an important goal of the EU, the models for monitoring the progress of this process have not yet been clearly defined, and views on the social, economic, and security implications in terms of prioritising decarbonisation are conflicting. The main objective of this paper is to determine the methodological correctness of the existing method of decarbonisation monitoring, to develop a new monitoring model indicating the differences in the EU and European countries that are non-EU and to point out the underlying social, economic and security implications that must certainly find their place in the decision-making process in this field.

Results

The main results showed that there is no clearly defined model for monitoring the success of decarbonisation, while the indicators that are commonly used for this purpose make a model that, as the analysis shows—is methodologically incorrect. In the case of EU countries, the following indicators proved to be the most reliable: consumption-based CO2 and share in global CO2. For non-EU countries, the best monitoring indicators are CO2 per unit of GDP, consumption-based CO2, and renewable energy consumption. These indicators can explain 99% of the variance in decarbonisation success.

Conclusions

The basic conclusion of the paper is that even before the implementation, the decarbonisation monitoring model should be defined and methodologically tested, and the use of a single model for all EU countries or for all countries is not recommended. It is proposed to simplify the monitoring model, with an emphasis on monitoring of consumption-based CO2, which proved to be the most efficient in all sampled countries. The current method of monitoring is based exclusively on environmentally related indicators while ignoring the fact that decarbonisation is associated with almost all aspects of development. The additional social, economic and security aspects need to be developed and included in the further monitoring process.
Covert therapeutic micro-processes in non-recovered eating disorders with childhood trauma: an interpersonal process recall study
Authors: Olofsson Malin E. , Vrabel KariAnne R. , Hoffart Asle , Oddli Hanne W.
Published: March 2022

Method

To uncover therapeutic micro-processes from the perspectives of eating disorder (ED) treatment non-responders with childhood trauma (CT) late effects, we explored in-session experiences of poor long-term outcome patients. Female inpatients aged 28–59 (M = 40.2,SD = 5.0) from a randomised trial comparing Compassion Focused Therapy for EDs (n = 3) with Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for EDs (n = 3) were interviewed with video-assisted recall about a self-selected session. Data were analysed through Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) with Grounded Theory (GT) elements.

Results

Covert patient strategies included self-effacement, regulating therapeutic distance to open up, and engaging with reflective rather than experiential interventions. First, self-effacement included submissive, passive or pretend responses to perceived criticising or violating therapist behaviours as well as other orientation and submission for approval. Second, some preferred a close patient–therapist alliance with therapist self-disclosure and reciprocity was a requirement for opening up; others required distance. Third, informants detached from experiential trauma work while engaging in joint reflection on post-trauma responses.

Conclusion

Informants were preoccupied with calibrating the emotional–relational landscape in session; we hypothesized that psychological insecurity and affective intolerance from CT limit their freedom to explore own in-session experiences.
Associations of self-repression with disordered eating and symptoms of other psychopathologies for men and women
Authors: Bachner-Melman Rachel , Watermann Yonatan , Lev-Ari Lilac , Zohar Ada H.
Published: March 2022

Background

Disordered eating has been found to be associated with constructs involving self-repression, such as selflessness (the tendency to relinquish one’s needs for others’), and concern for appropriateness (an alertness to information about social comparison and tendency to vary one’s behavior in different social situations). This study aimed to examine associations between these self-repression variables and symptoms of general psychopathology for women and men in a community sample.

Methods

Two hundred and thirty-six participants (92 men) aged 18–76 (M = 29.11 ± 10.10) volunteered to complete online measures of disordered eating, concern for appropriateness (cross-situational variability and attention to social comparison information), selflessness, and symptoms of depression, anxiety and somatization. Structural equation models were built to assess pathways between the study variables for men and women separately.

Results

A MANOVA 2*7 design showed that women scored significantly higher than men on measures of selflessness, disordered eating and depression. For men, selflessness scores were positively and significantly associated only with depression scores. Cross-situational variability scores were positively associated with depression, somatization and anxiety scores. For women, selflessness scores were positively and significantly associated with depression, disordered eating, somatization and anxiety scores. Cross-situational variability scores were positively and significantly associated with depression, anxiety and somatization scores but not with disordered eating scores. Attention to Social Comparison Information scores were positively and significantly associated only with disordered eating scores.

Conclusions

Self-repression is more closely linked to psychopathology in women than in men. For men, self-suppression seems to be associated with symptoms of internalizing disorders, but not disordered eating. Even for women, it appears that self-repression is not connected exclusively with disordered eating, but with symptoms of psychopathology in general. Future research should explore why self-suppression plays such a central role in women’s psychopathology.
UK children’s sleep and anxiety during the COVID-19 pandemic
Authors: Knowland Victoria C. P. , van Rijn Elaine , Gaskell M. Gareth , Henderson Lisa
Published: March 2022

Background

Sleep and mental wellbeing are intimately linked. This relationship is particularly important to understand as it emerges over childhood. Here we take the opportunity that the COVID-19 pandemic, and resulting lockdown in the UK, presented to study sleep-related behaviour and anxiety in school-aged children.

Methods

Parents and children were asked to complete questionnaires towards the start of the UK lockdown in April-to-May of 2020, then again in August of that year (when many restrictions had been lifted). We explored children’s emotional responses to the pandemic and sleep patterns at both time points, from the perspectives of parents and children themselves.

Results

Children’s bedtime anxiety increased at the start of the lockdown as compared to a typical week; however, by August, bedtime anxiety had ameliorated along with children’s COVID-19 related anxiety. Bedtime anxiety predicted how long it took children to fall asleep at night at both the start and the end of the lockdown. Bedtime and wake-up time shifted at the start of lockdown, but interestingly total sleep time was resilient (likely owing to an absence of early school start times) and was not predicted by child anxiety.

Conclusions

These findings further support calls for sleep quality (in particular, time taken to fall asleep) to be taken as a key indicator of mental health in children, particularly under usual circumstances when schools are open and sleep duration may be less resilient.
Measurement and analysis of facial features of terracotta warriors based on high-precision 3D point clouds
Authors: Hu Yungang , Lan Desheng , Wang Jingyang , Hou Miaole , Li Songnian , Li Xiuzhen , Zhu Lei
Published: March 2022

The striking realism of the life-sized ceramic terracotta warriors has been attracting the interest of the public and archaeologists since they were discovered from the mausoleum complex of the first Chinese Emperor Qin Shihuang in the 1970s. It is still debated whether the life-size models were based on individual people or were just crafted from the standardized models. This research examined the facial features of the terracotta warriors in a quantitative and contactless way with the support of the High-precision 3D point cloud modelling technology and the anthropometric method. The similarities and dissimilarities were analyzed among the facial features of terracotta warriors and 29 modern Chinese ethnic groups using mathematical statistics methods such as MDS, ANOVA, ranking analysis and cluster analysis. The results reveal that the features of the terracotta warriors highly resemble those of contemporary Chinese people and indicate that terracotta warriors were crafted from real portraits and intended to constitute a real army to protect the Emperor Qin Shihuang in the afterlife.
Use of standard analytical tools to detect small amounts of smalt in the presence of ultramarine as observed in 15th-century Venetian illuminated manuscripts
Authors: Ricciardi Paola , Dooley Kathryn A. , MacLennan Douglas , Bertolotti Giulia , Gabrieli Francesca , Patterson Catherine Schmidt , Delaney John K.
Published: March 2022

A previous preliminary study of 15th-century Venetian manuscript fragments by the Master of the Murano Gradual identified the presence of cobalt in many ultramarine blue areas, suggesting the presence of smalt. This would represent an early use of this glassy pigment in Venetian illuminated manuscripts. Whereas sampling has been used to identify smalt in 15th century paintings, only non-invasive methods can be used on manuscripts due to their small size and fragile nature. Here we investigated four non-invasive analysis techniques to identify small amounts of smalt in the presence of ultramarine, including single-point and scanning XRF spectroscopy, UV–vis-NIR-SWIR reflectance spectroscopy (FORS), Raman spectroscopy, and external reflection FT-IR spectroscopy. This was done by studying paint mock-ups of ultramarine and smalt mixtures with and without the presence of a white pigment on parchment. The results showed molecular spectroscopy techniques (reflectance, Raman, and FTIR) require at least ~ 30–40% smalt by percent mass when in the presence of ultramarine in order to detect its presence, whereas elemental XRF spectroscopy can detect cobalt (and thus infer the presence of smalt) at the ~ 1% level. To further explore the inference of smalt by XRF, additional XRF analysis was conducted to specifically look for elements associated with cobalt minerals (i.e. nickel, arsenic, bismuth, etc.). High spatial resolution XRF scanning (60–100 μm X-ray spot size) was used to look for cobalt in smalt particles which are typically larger than those of ultramarine. These two XRF analysis approaches worked well with the mock-up paint samples, and were subsequently applied to the manuscripts for which molecular spectroscopy methods yielded no unambiguous evidence for smalt. The data underscore the challenges of conclusively identifying smalt in complex paint systems when samples are not available, but do suggest that the Master of the Murano illuminated manuscript fragments contain smalt, but perhaps not in a form or amount researchers are used to seeing in paintings.
Spatial pattern and influencing factors of intangible cultural heritage of music in Xiangxi, central China
Authors: Zhang Xianyong , Xiang Hui , Liu Rui
Published: March 2022

Intangible cultural heritage of music (ICHM) is an important part of intangible cultural heritage (ICH), and research on ICHM has extremely important theoretical value and practical significance. In this study, we aimed to analyze the spatial distribution characteristics of ICHMs and explore the main factors affecting their distribution in Xiangxi, Central China. Methods such as the nearest neighbor index, kernel density estimation, and buffer analysis were used in this study. The main conclusions are as follows: (1) the numbers of traditional music, traditional dance, traditional drama and quyi are 26, 29, 28 and 14, respectively, indicating that quyi is relatively lacking in Xiangxi; (2) the distribution of ICHMs in Xiangxi have spatial heterogeneity, and the main trend is agglomeration. The national ICHMs, provincial ICHMs and municipal ICHMs are mainly concentrated in the south, the west, and the central and northern regions, respectively. The high-density areas of traditional music and traditional dance are located in the south, of traditional drama in the west, and of quyi in the north. (3) The distribution of ICHMs is affected by four factors: namely rivers, topography, GDP and transportation. The 0–3 km buffer zone of the rivers, with 100% of national ICHMs, 83.33% of provincial ICHMs and 84.52% of municipal ICHMs, is the centralized distribution area of ICHMs. 100% of the national ICHMs, 94.44% of the provincial ICHMs and 91.67% of the municipal ICHMs are distributed in hilly (200–500 m) and low mountain areas (500–1000 m). Highways have the greatest impact on the distribution of ICHMs, followed by railways and ordinary roads. The economy has a significant positive impact on ICHM programs; the more developed the economy, the more ICHM projects. The results of this study can provide useful references for the theoretical research and practice management of ICH.
Enzymatic synthesis of high-titer nicotinamide mononucleotide with a new nicotinamide riboside kinase and an efficient ATP regeneration system
Authors: Qian Xiao-Long , Dai Yi-Si , Li Chun-Xiu , Pan Jiang , Xu Jian-He , Mu Bozhong
Published: March 2022

Background

β-Nicotinamide mononucleotide (NMN) is the direct precursor of nicotinamide coenzymes such as NAD+ and NADP+, which are widely applied in industrial biocatalysis especially involving cofactor-dependent oxidoreductases. Moreover, NMN is a promising candidate for medical uses since it is considered to be beneficial for improving health of aged people who usually suffer from an insufficient level of NAD+. To date, various methods have been developed for the synthesis of NMN. Chemical phosphorylation of nicotinamide riboside (NR) to NMN depends on excessive phosphine oxychloride and delicate temperature control, while fermentation of NMN is limited by low product titers, making it unsuitable for industrial-scale NMN production. As a result, the more efficient synthesis process of NMN is still challenging.

Aim

This work attempted to construct an eco-friendly and cost-effective biocatalytic process for transforming the chemically synthesized NR into the highly value-added NMN.

Results

A new nicotinamide riboside kinase (Klm-NRK) was identified from Kluyveromyces marxianus. The specific activity of purified Klm-NRK was 7.9 U·mg–1 protein, ranking the highest record among the reported NRKs. The optimal pH of Klm-NRK was 7.0 in potassium phosphate buffer. The purified Klm-NRK retained a half activity after 7.29 h at 50 °C. The catalytic efficiencies (kcat/KM) toward ATP and nicotinamide riboside (NR) were 57.4 s−1·mM−1 and 84.4 s−1·mM−1, respectively. In the presence of an external ATP regeneration system (AcK/AcP), as much as 100 g·L–1 of NR could be completely phosphorylated to NMN in 8 h with Klm-NRK, achieving a molar isolation yield of 84.2% and a space–time yield of 281 g·L−1·day−1. These inspiring results indicated that Klm-NRK is a promising biocatalyst which provides an efficient approach for the bio-manufacturing of NMN in a high titer.

Graphical Abstract
A novel accessory protein ArCel5 from cellulose-gelatinizing fungus Arthrobotrys sp. CX1
Authors: Yuan Yue , Chen Chunshu , Wang Xueyan , Shen Shaonian , Guo Xiaoyu , Chen Xiaoyi , Yang Fan , Li Xianzhen
Published: March 2022

Improved understanding of cellulose swelling mechanism is beneficial for increasing the hydrolysis efficiency of cellulosic substrates. Here, we report a family 5 glycoside hydrolase ArCel5 isolated from the cellulose-gelatinizing fungus Arthrobotrys sp. CX1. ArCel5 exhibited low specific hydrolysis activity and high cellulose swelling capability, which suggested that this protein might function as an accessory protein. Homology modeling glycosylation detection revealed that ArCel5 is a multi-domain protein including a family 1 carbohydrate-binding module, a glycosylation linker, and a catalytic domain. The adsorption capacity, structural changes and hydrature index of filter paper treated by different ArCel5 mutants demonstrated that CBM1 and linker played an essential role in recognizing, binding and decrystallizing cellulosic substrates, which further encouraged the synergistic action between ArCel5 and cellulases. Notably, glycosylation modification further strengthened the function of the linker region. Overall, our study provides insight into the cellulose decrystallization mechanism by a novel accessory protein ArCel5 that will benefit future applications.

Graphical Abstract
De novo biosynthesis of τ-cadinol in engineered Escherichia coli
Authors: Sun Yue , Wu Shaoting , Fu Xiao , Lai Chongde , Guo Daoyi
Published: March 2022

τ-Cadinol is a sesquiterpene that is widely used in perfume, fine chemicals and medicines industry. In this study, we established a biosynthetic pathway for the first time in engineered Escherichia coli for production of τ-cadinol from simple carbon sources. Subsequently, we further improved the τ-cadinol production to 35.9 ± 4.3 mg/L by optimizing biosynthetic pathway and overproduction of rate-limiting enzyme IdI. Finally, the titer was increased to 133.5 ± 11.2 mg/L with a two-phase organic overlay-culture medium system. This study shows an efficient method for the biosynthesis of τ-cadinol in E. coli with the heterologous hybrid MVA pathway.

Graphical Abstract
Development of a continuum robot enhanced with distributed sensors for search and rescue
Authors: Yamauchi Yu , Ambe Yuichi , Nagano Hikaru , Konyo Masashi , Bando Yoshiaki , Ito Eisuke , Arnold Solvi , Yamazaki Kimitoshi , Itoyama Katsutoshi , Okatani Takayuki , Okuno Hiroshi G. , Tadokoro Satoshi
Published: March 2022

Continuum robots can enter narrow spaces and are useful for search and rescue missions in disaster sites. The exploration efficiency at disaster sites improves if the robots can simultaneously acquire several pieces of information. However, a continuum robot that can simultaneously acquire information to such an extent has not yet been designed. This is because attaching multiple sensors to the robot without compromising its body flexibility is challenging. In this study, we installed multiple small sensors in a distributed manner to develop a continuum-robot system with multiple information-gathering functions. In addition, a field experiment with the robot demonstrated that the gathered multiple information has a potential to improve the searching efficiency. Concretely, we developed an active scope camera with sensory functions, which was equipped with a total of 80 distributed sensors, such as inertial measurement units, microphones, speakers, and vibration sensors. Herein, we consider space-saving, noise reduction, and the ease of maintenance for designing the robot. The developed robot can communicate with all the attached sensors even if it is bent with a minimum bending radius of 250 mm. We also developed an operation interface that integrates search-support technologies using the information gathered via sensors. We demonstrated the survivor search procedure in a simulated rubble environment of the Fukushima Robot Test Field. We confirmed that the information provided through the operation interface is useful for searching and finding survivors. The limitations of the designed system are also discussed. The development of such a continuum robot system, with a great potential for several applications, extends the application of continuum robots to disaster management and will benefit the community at large.
A preliminary simulation-based qualitative study of healthcare students’ experiences of interprofessional primary care scenarios
Authors: Lunde Lene , Moen Anne , Jakobsen Rune B. , Møller Britta , Rosvold Elin O. , Brænd Anja M.
Published: March 2022

Background

Introducing interprofessional education (IPE) in healthcare curricula can prepare students for healthcare practices that have become increasingly complex. The use of simulation is promoted to support IPE. This study explores healthcare students’ experiences of participating in common, sub-acute patient scenarios that routinely occur in clinical practice in primary care. More specifically, it looks at how sub-acute patient scenarios from primary care can help develop interprofessional collaborative competence.

Methods

Medical students (N = 10), master’s students in advanced geriatric nursing (N = 8) and bachelor’s students in nursing (N = 9) participated in the simulations. The students were in their last or second-to-last year of education. We conducted five semi-structured focus group interviews with the participants’ directly after the simulation training to elicit experiences related to the scenarios, the simulation and interprofessional collaboration. The transcripts were analysed using systematic text condensation. To supplement the focus group interviews, the students also completed the interprofessional collaborative competency attainment survey (ICCAS), which measures the students’ self-assessed interprofessional competence.

Results

Three main themes emerged from the analysis of the focus group interviews: realism, uncertainty and reflection. The students emphasised the importance of authentic and recognisable scenarios. They said the vague and unspecific patient symptoms created uncertainty in the situation, making it difficult to understand the patient’s diagnosis. Despite that uncertainty, they described the experience as positive. Further, the students expressed that the simulation increased their confidence in interprofessional collaboration and prepared them for future work. The results from the ICCAS questionnaire showed that the students reported a subjective positive change in their interprofessional competence after participating in the scenarios.

Conclusions

This study showed that simulation-based IPE with sub-acute primary care scenarios contributes to develop interprofessional collaborative competence in healthcare education. Sub-acute scenarios can supplement the more common approaches with acute care scenarios and aid in developing the collaborative competence required to work in healthcare teams.
What makes online teaching spatial? Examining the connections between K-12 teachers’ spatial skills, affect, and their use of spatial pedagogy during remote instruction
Authors: Rocha Kelsey , Lussier Catherine M. , Atit Kinnari
Published: March 2022

Spatial skills are critical for student success in K-12 STEM education. Teachers’ spatial skills and feelings about completing spatial tasks influence students’ spatial and STEM learning at both the primary and secondary levels. However, whether spatial skills and spatial anxiety differ or not between these two teacher levels is unknown. Additionally, the relations between teachers’ spatial skills, spatial anxiety, and their use of spatial pedagogical practices in remote learning settings is unknown. Here, we investigated if spatial skills and spatial anxiety differ between teachers working at primary versus secondary levels, and examined the relations between their spatial skills and spatial anxiety while accounting for additional influential factors—general reasoning ability and general anxiety. Lastly, we investigated how teachers’ spatial skills in conjunction with their spatial anxiety relate to their use of spatial teaching practices for online instruction. Sixty-two K-12 teachers completed measures of spatial skills, spatial anxiety, general anxiety, general reasoning, and a teaching activities questionnaire. Results indicate that spatial skills and spatial anxiety may not vary between teachers working at primary versus secondary levels, but that higher spatial skills in teachers are associated with lower spatial anxiety for mental manipulation tasks. Additionally, teachers with weaker spatial skills and lower mental manipulation anxiety reported more frequently using spatial teaching practices when teaching remotely due to COVID-19. These findings may have broad implications for teacher professional development with regards to developing students’ spatial skills during remote learning.
Microbial community dynamics in electroactive biofilms across time under different applied anode potentials
Authors: Chang Chao-Chin , Chen Yu-Chun , Yu Chang-Ping
Published: March 2022

In bioelectrochemical wastewater treatment systems, electrochemically active bacteria (EAB) in the anode can simultaneously treat wastewater and produce electricity via extracellular electron transfer. The anode potential has been reported as one way for selecting EAB; though, conflicting results of the relationship between applied potentials and the performance and community composition of EAB have been reported. In this study, we investigated the cultivation time and applied anode potentials (+0.2, 0, −0.2, and −0.4 V vs. Ag/AgCl) on the performance of current production and the compositions of the microbial community. Our results showed that the applied potentials affected the performance of current production, but the effect was substantially reduced with cultivation time. Particularly, the current gradually increased from negative to positive values with time for the applied anode potential at −0.4 V, implying the anode biofilm shifted from accepting electrons to producing electrons. In addition, principal coordinates analysis results indicated that microbial community compositions became closer to each other after long-term enrichment. Subsequently, principal component analysis demonstrated that systems with applied potentials from +0.2, 0 to −0.2 V and at −0.4 V were, respectively, reclassified into principal component 1 (higher-energy-harvesting group) and principal component 2 (lower-energy-harvesting group), implying in addition to cultivation time, the amount of energy available for bacterial growth is another key factor that influences EAB populations. Overall, this study has demonstrated that the selected cultivation time and the particular anode potentials applied in the study determine whether the applied anode potentials would affect the community and performance of EAB.
Pre-microRNAs single nucleotide variants (rs3746444 A > G and rs2910164 C > G) increase the risk of ischemic stroke in the Egyptian population: a case–control study
Authors: Abdelghany Wafaa M. , Zoheir Naguib , Abd Elhamid Samah , Ahmed Sandra , Gomaa Kareeman
Published: March 2022

Background

Ischemic stroke (IS) is the most leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Micro RNA (miRNA) genetic variants have been identified as a part of IS non-modifiable risk markers. This study aims to identify the possible association of rs2910164 C > G of pre-miRNA-146a and rs3746444 A > G of pre-miRNA-499 with increased IS risk. C-reactive protein (CRP) was studied as one of the mediators of the genetic disturbance in IS. The study included 100 patients with atherosclerotic IS and 100 age and sex matched healthy controls with more than one risk factor for IS. Variants were evaluated by the real-time polymerase chain reaction technique using TaqMan probes. CRP levels were assayed by immunoturbidimetry method on COBAS analyzer.

Results

Regarding rs3746444 A > G, the G allele, and its containing genotypes (GG and GG + AG) were associated with high IS incidence. Increased CRP levels were found to induce IS by GG and GG + AG genotypes, with a cut value of 7.5 mg/ L in differentiation between AA genotype and GG + AG genotypes. Combining the G allele of rs3746444 A > G with either G or C allele of rs2910164 C > G had enhanced the risk. For rs2910164 C > G, the G allele, and the combined GG + GC genotypes were associated with IS risk elevation with no correlation to CRP levels.

Conclusion

The G involving genetic variants of rs3746444 A > G and rs2910164 C > G were associated with an enhanced IS risk. CRP showed higher levels in GG and AG genotypes of rs3746444 with no relation to rs2910164 genotypes.
Opportunities to improve the impact of two national clinical audit programmes: a theory-guided analysis
Authors: Willis T. A. , Wood S. , Brehaut J. , Colquhoun H. , Brown B. , Lorencatto F. , Foy R.
Published: March 2022

Background

Audit and feedback is widely used in healthcare improvement, with evidence of modest yet potentially important effects upon professional practice. There are approximately 60 national clinical audit programmes in the UK. These programmes often develop and adapt new ways of delivering feedback to optimise impacts on clinical practice. Two such programmes, the National Diabetes Audit (NDA) and the Trauma Audit Research Network (TARN), recently introduced changes to their delivery of feedback. We assessed the extent to which the design of these audit programmes and their recent changes were consistent with best practice according to the Clinical Performance Feedback Intervention Theory (CP-FIT). This comprehensive framework specifies how variables related to the feedback itself, the recipient, and the context operate via explanatory mechanisms to influence feedback success.

Methods

We interviewed 19 individuals with interests in audit and feedback, including researchers, audit managers, healthcare staff, and patient and public representatives. This range of expert perspectives enabled a detailed exploration of feedback from the audit programmes. We structured interviews around the CP-FIT feedback cycle and its component processes (e.g. Data collection and analysis, Interaction). Our rapid analytic approach explored the extent to which both audits applied features consistent with CP-FIT.

Results

Changes introduced by the audit programmes were consistent with CP-FIT. Specifically, the NDA’s increased frequency of feedback augmented existing strengths, such as automated processes (CP-FIT component: Data collection and analysis) and being a credible source of feedback (Acceptance). TARN’s new analytic tool allowed greater interactivity, enabling recipients to interrogate their data (Verification; Acceptance). We also identified scope for improvement in feedback cycles, such as targeting of feedback recipients (Interaction) and feedback complexity (Perception) for the NDA and specifying recommendations (Intention) and demonstrating impact (Clinical performance improvement) for TARN.

Conclusions

The changes made by the two audit programmes appear consistent with suggested best practice, making clinical improvement more likely. However, observed weaknesses in the feedback cycle may limit the benefits of these changes. Applying CP-FIT via a rapid analysis approach helps identify strengths and remediable weaknesses in the design of audit programmes that can be shared with them in a timely manner.
Social Media and Professional Development for Oncology Professionals
Authors: Chidharla Anusha , Utengen Audun , Attai Deanna J. , Drake Emily K. , van Londen G.J. , Subbiah Ishwaria M. , Henry Elizabeth , Murphy Martina , Barry Maura M. , Manochakian Rami , Moerdler Scott , Loeb Stacy , Graff Stephanie L. , Leyfman Yan , Thompson Michael A. , Markham Merry J.
Published: March 2022

The use of social media continues to increase in health care and academia. Health care practice, particularly the oncologic field, is constantly changing because of new knowledge, evidence-based research, clinical trials, and government policies. Therefore, oncology trainees and professionals continue to strive to stay up-to-date with practice guidelines, research, and skills. Although social media as an educational and professional development tool is no longer completely new to medicine and has been embraced, it is still under-researched in terms of various outcomes. Social media plays several key roles in professional development and academic advancement. We reviewed the literature to evaluate how social media can be used for professional development and academic promotion of oncology professionals.
The Socioeconomic Consequences of Cushing’s Syndrome: A Nationwide Cohort Study
Authors: Ebbehoj Andreas , Søndergaard Esben , Jepsen Peter , Stochholm Kirstine , Svane Helene Matilde Lundsgaard , Madsen Morten , Poulsen Per Løgstrup , Jørgensen Jens Otto Lunde
Published: March 2022

Context

The long-term somatic and psychiatric consequences of Cushing’s syndrome are well-described, but the socioeconomic consequences are largely unknown.

Objective

We studied employment status, educational level, risk of depression, and other socioeconomic outcomes of Cushing’s syndrome in the years before diagnosis and after surgery.

Design

Nationwide register-based cohort study.

Methods

We used a validated algorithm to identify 424 patients operated for adrenal (n = 199) or pituitary Cushing’s syndrome (n = 225) in Denmark from January 1, 1986 to December 31, 2017. We obtained socioeconomic registry data from 10 years before diagnosis (year −10) to 10 years after surgery (year +10) and included a sex- and age-matched reference population. We identified prognostic factors for returning to work using modified Poisson regression.

Results

Compared to the reference population, the patients’ employment was permanently reduced from year −6 [relative risk (RR) 0.92, 95% CI 0.84-0.99] to year +10 (RR 0.66, 95% CI 0.57-0.76). Sick leave (RR 2.15, 95% CI 1.40-3.32) and disability pension (RR 2.60, 95% CI 2.06-3.27) were still elevated in year +10. Annual income, education, parenthood, relationship status, and risk of depression were also negatively impacted, but parenthood and relationship status normalized after surgery. Among patients, negative predictors of full-time employment after surgery included female sex, low education, comorbidity, and depression.

Conclusion

Cushing’s syndrome negatively affects a wide spectrum of socioeconomic variables many years before diagnosis of which only some normalize after treatment. The data underpin the importance of early diagnosis and continuous follow-up of Cushing’s syndrome and, not least, the pervasive health threats of glucocorticoid excess.
Regional Anesthesia Associated With Decreased Inpatient and Outpatient Opioid Demand in Tibial Plateau Fracture Surgery
Authors: Cunningham Daniel J. , LaRose Micaela , Zhang Gloria , Patel Preet , Paniagua Ariana , Gadsden Jeffrey , Gage Mark J.
Published: March 2022

BACKGROUND:

Regional anesthesia (RA) has been used to reduce pain and opioid usage in elective orthopedic surgery. The hypothesis of this study was that RA would be associated with decreased opioid demand in tibial plateau fracture surgery.

METHODS:

Inpatient opioid consumption and 90-day outpatient opioid prescribing in all patients ≥18 years of age undergoing tibial plateau fracture surgery from July 2013 to July 2018 (n = 264) at a single, level I trauma center were recorded. The presence or absence of perioperative RA was noted. Of 60 patients receiving RA, 52 underwent peripheral nerve blockade (PNB) with single-shot sciatic-popliteal (40.0%; n = 24), femoral (26.7%; n = 16), adductor canal (18.3%; n = 11), or fascia iliaca (1.7%; n = 1) block with ropivacaine. Ten patients received epidural analgesia (EA) with either single-shot spinal (11.7%; n = 7) blocks or continuous epidural (5.0%; n = 3). Additional baseline and treatment characteristics were recorded, including age, sex, race, body mass index (BMI), smoking, chronic opioid use, American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) score, injury mechanism, additional injuries, open injury, and additional inpatient surgery. Statistical models, including multivariable generalized linear models with propensity score weighting to adjust for baseline patient and treatment characteristics, were used to assess perioperative opioid demand with and without RA.

RESULTS:

RA was associated with reduced inpatient opioid usage from 0 to 24 hours postoperatively of approximately 5.2 oxycodone 5-mg equivalents (0.74 incident rate ratio [IRR]; 0.63–0.86 CI; P < .001) and from 24 to 48 hours postoperatively of approximately 2.9 oxycodone 5-mg equivalents (0.78 IRR; 0.64–0.95 CI; P = .014) but not at 48 to 72 hours postoperatively. From 1 month preoperatively to 2 weeks postoperatively, RA was associated with reduced outpatient opioid prescribing of approximately 24.0 oxycodone 5-mg equivalents (0.87; 0.75–0.99; P = .044) and from 1 month preoperatively to 90 days postoperatively of approximately 44.0 oxycodone 5-mg equivalents (0.83; 0.71–0.96; P = .011), although there was no significant difference from 1 month preoperatively to 6 weeks postoperatively. There were no cases of acute compartment syndrome in this cohort.

CONCLUSIONS:

In tibial plateau fracture surgery, RA was associated with reduced inpatient opioid consumption up to 48 hours postoperatively and reduced outpatient opioid demand up to 90 days postoperatively without an associated risk of acute compartment syndrome. RA should be considered for patients undergoing tibial plateau fracture fixation.
Time to Steroid Independence After Laser Interstitial Thermal Therapy vs Medical Management for Treatment of Biopsy-Proven Radiation Necrosis Secondary to Stereotactic Radiosurgery for Brain Metastasis
Authors: Sankey Eric W. , Grabowski Matthew M. , Srinivasan Ethan S. , Griffin Andrew S. , Howell Elizabeth P. , Otvos Balint , Tsvankin Vadim , Barnett Gene H. , Mohammadi Alireza M. , Fecci Peter E.
Published: March 2022

BACKGROUND:

Radiation necrosis (RN) after stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) for brain metastases (BM) can result in significant morbidity, compounded by the effects of extended steroid therapy. Laser interstitial thermal therapy (LITT) is a minimally invasive procedure that can offer definitive treatment for RN while potentially obviating the need for prolonged steroid use.

OBJECTIVE:

To compare LITT vs medical management (MM) in the treatment of RN.

METHODS:

A multicenter, retrospective study was performed of SRS-treated patients with BM who developed biopsy-proven RN and were treated with LITT or MM. Clinical outcome data were compared by treatment modality.

RESULTS:

Seventy-two patients met criteria with a median follow-up of 10.0 months (4.2-25.1), and 57 patients (79%) underwent LITT. Four MM (27%) and 3 LITT patients (5%) demonstrated radiographic progression (P = .031) at a median of 5.3 and 4.0 months (P = .40). There was no significant difference in overall survival (LITT median of 15.2 vs 11.6 months, P = .60) or freedom from local progression (13.6 vs 7.06 months, P = .40). Patients stopped steroid therapy earlier in the LITT cohort at a median of 37 days compared with 245 days (P < .001). When controlled for follow-up duration, patients treated with LITT were 3 times more likely to be weaned off steroids before the study end point (P = .003).

CONCLUSION:

These data suggest that LITT for treatment of biopsy-proven RN after SRS for BM significantly decreases time to steroid independence. Prospective trials should be designed to further validate the utility of LITT for RN and its impact on steroid-induced morbidity.
The roles of dynein and myosin VI motor proteins in endocytosis
Authors: Mayya Chaithra , Naveena A. Hema , Sinha Pankhuri , Wunder Christian , Johannes Ludger , Bhatia Dhiraj
Published: March 2022

Endocytosis is indispensable for multiple cellular processes, including signalling, cell adhesion, migration, as well as the turnover of plasma membrane lipids and proteins. The dynamic interplay and regulation of different endocytic entry routes requires multiple cytoskeletal elements, especially motor proteins that bind to membranes and transport vesicles along the actin and microtubule cytoskeletons. Dynein and kinesin motor proteins transport vesicles along microtubules, whereas myosins drive vesicles along actin filaments. Here, we present a brief overview of multiple endocytic pathways and our current understanding of the involvement of these motor proteins in the regulation of the different cellular entry routes. We particularly focus on structural and mechanistic details of the retrograde motor proteins dynein and myosin VI (also known as MYO6), along with their adaptors, which have important roles in the early events of endocytosis. We conclude by highlighting the key challenges in elucidating the involvement of motor proteins in endocytosis and intracellular membrane trafficking.
Case Report: Rare Case of NF2 in Pregnancy with Favorable Maternal and Perinatal Outcome, Under General Anesthesia Caesarean Section
Authors: Pratiktio Nanda Bagus , Joewono Hermanto Tri , Marcianora Nareswari Imanadha Cininta , Ardiansyah Djohan , Indarto S Rahadian , Ferriastuti Widiana
Published: March 2022

Background: Neurofibromatosis type 2 (NF2) is an autosomal dominant disease due to chromosome 22 (22q12.2) mutation with a prevalence of 1:33,000-40,000. As many as 50% of cases are familial, 30-60% are genetic mosaic, de novo mutations. Tumor growth in NF often becomes more rapid in pregnancy. Pregnancy with NF2 has a risk of complications of hypertension, preeclampsia, cardiovascular problems, and IUGR (Intrauterine growth restriction).

Case Reports: A 26-year-old woman, 29/30 weeks gestational age complaint of visual impairment, hearing loss, and multiple body masses. The results of MRI examination of the Head and whole Spine with contrast showed bilateral vestibular schwannoma, meningiomatosis, cervical schwannoma (C1-C5), which were features of NF2. Routine clinical evaluation, laboratory tests, fetal growth examination, and multidisciplinary management were performed during the antenatal care. There were no signs of increased intracranial pressure, hydrocephalus, and complications of preeclampsia, fetal abnormalities, or IUGR. A termination at 37 weeks of gestation with Caesarean Section and General Anesthesia  was decided to reduce the increase of intracranial pressure during labor. A male infant was born with a birth weight of 2600 grams, without any abnormalities. 

Conclusion: Pregnancy in NF2 patient has a potential risk of tumor growth progression, preeclampsia, and IUGR,  therefore it is necessary to monitor and evaluate the mother and fetus multidisciplinary during the pregnancy process to get good maternal and fetal outcomes. The mode of delivery in neurofibromatosis is determined mainly by obstetric indications.