bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Pathogenicity of PKCγ Genetic Variants—Possible Function as a Non-Invasive Diagnostic Biomarker in Ovarian Cancer
Authors: Shahid Kanza , Khan Khushbukhat , Badshah Yasmin , Mahmood Ashraf Naeem , Hamid Arslan , Trembley Janeen H. , Shabbir Maria , Afsar Tayyaba , Almajwal Ali , Abusharha Ali , Razak Suhail
Published: January 2023

Ovarian cancer has the highest mortality rate among gynecologic malignancies, owing to its misdiagnosis or late diagnosis. Identification of its genetic determinants could improve disease outcomes. Conventional Protein Kinase C-γ (PKCγ) dysregulation is reported in several cancers. Similarly, its variant rs1331262028 is also reported to have an association with hepatocellular carcinoma. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to analyze the variant rs1331262028 association with ovarian cancer and to determine its impact on PKCγ’s protein interactions. Association of variation was determined through genotyping PCR (cohort size:100). Protein–protein docking and molecular dynamic simulation were carried out to study the variant impact of PKCγ interactions. The study outcome indicated the positive association of variant rs1331262028 with ovarian cancer and its clinicopathological features. Molecular dynamics simulation depicted the potential influence of variation on PKCγ molecular signaling. Hence, this study provided the foundations for assessing variant rs1331262028 as a potential prognostic marker for ovarian cancer. Through further validation, it can be applied at the clinical level.
General Public’s Knowledge of Diabetes and Physical Activity in Saudi Arabia over Time: The Need to Refresh Awareness Campaigns
Authors: Alkhaldi Ghadah , Aljohani Naji , Hussain Syed Danish , Alfawaz Hanan A. , Hameidi Abdulaziz , Saadawy Gamal M. , Elsaid Mohamed A. , Alharbi Mohammed , Sabico Shaun , Al-Daghri Nasser M.
Published: January 2023

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a major health issue in Saudi Arabia. Prevention of DM and its complications requires an understanding of the disease and modifiable behaviors (e.g., physical activity—PA). The purpose of this study was to examine the trends in knowledge of the general population regarding DM to better understand the shortcomings in the current awareness programs. This article presents a cross-sectional series study where a survey was distributed to a total of 3493 participants over four years, from 2017 till 2020, to assess general knowledge about DM, including information about PA. The mean percentage of correct responses of DM general knowledge was 63.8 ± 19.0 in 2017, which decreased to 61.3 ± 18.7 in 2020 with a significant beta coefficient of −0.8 ± 0.2 (p < 0.001). Participants’ awareness about PA remained constantly high for four years: the mean percentage of correct responses was 82.1 ± 23.6 in 2017 and 82.0 ± 23.1 in 2020, and the beta coefficient was −0.5 ± 0.3 (p = 0.147). Furthermore, stratification by demographics showed that the majority of the subgroups (age, sex, educational status, marital status, having relative with DM, nationality) reported a significant declining trend in general DM knowledge. In addition, some of the subgroups also showed a declining trend in PA awareness. Future prevention efforts should assess the community’s DM knowledge regularly to tailor awareness efforts to the population segments that need heightened educational interventions.
What Are the Determinants of the Quality of Systematic Reviews in the International Journals of Occupational Medicine? A Methodological Study Review of Published Literature
Authors: La Torre Giuseppe , Bova Remigio , Cocchiara Rosario Andrea , Sestili Cristina , Tagliaferri Anna , Maggiacomo Simona , Foschi Camilla , Zomparelli William , Manai Maria Vittoria , Shaholli David , Barletta Vanessa India , Moretti Luca , Vezza Francesca , Mannocci Alice
Published: January 2023

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the methodological quality of systematic reviews published in occupational medicine journals from 2014 to 2021. Methods: Papers edited between 2014 and 2021 in the 14 open access journals with the highest impact were assessed for their quality. Studies were included if they were systematic reviews and meta-analyses, and if they were published in English. Results: The study included 335 studies. Among these, 149 were meta-analyses and 186 were systematic reviews. The values of the AMSTAR-2 score range between three and fourteen with a mean value of 9.85 (SD = 2.37). The factors that significantly and directly associate to a higher AMSTAR-2 score were impact factor (p = 0.003), number of consulted research databases (p = 0.011), declaration of PRISMA statement (p = 0.003), year of publication (p < 0.001) and performing a meta-analysis (p < 0.001).The R² values from the multivariate analysis showed that the AMSTAR-2 score could be predicted by the inclusion of these parameters by up to 23%. Conclusions: This study suggests a quality assessment methodology that could help readers in a fast identification of good systematic reviews or meta-analyses. Future studies should analyze more journals without applying language restrictions and consider a wider range of years of publication in order to give a more robust evidence for results.
High-Speed Dental Instruments: An Investigation of Protein-Contaminated Dental Handpieces with the Bicinchoninic Acid Assay in Dental Offices in Styria, Austria
Authors: Schalli Michael , Kogler Birgit , Miorini Tillo , Gehrer Michael , Reinthaler Franz F.
Published: January 2023

Due to permanent contact with bodily secretions such as blood and saliva, the dental workplace poses a high risk of infection for patients as well as for personnel. High-speed dental instruments are still considered one of the major hygienic risks, as the high-speed rotation of the attachments leads to the retraction of infectious material from patients’ oral cavities. The aim of this study was to investigate the extent to which dental handpieces are contaminated after use. Spray-water samples were taken from different handpieces used in seven dental offices and protein concentrations were measured photometrically. In the first part of the study, samples were collected from each handpiece before and after the treatment of the patients. Additionally, the changes in protein concentration after consecutive treatments in which the same high-speed dental instrument was used were investigated. The results demonstrated measurable protein concentrations in 91.2% of a total of 398 samples, and 96.4% of the spray-water samples taken after treatment showed a discrepancy from the initial measured protein concentration. In 68.4% an increase in protein concentration was observed, whereas in 27.9% a decrease was measured. In conclusion, the internal contamination of high-speed dental instruments frequently occurs in daily usage and consequently may lead to the transmission of infectious agents by flushing the contaminated water out of the spray water tubes. Moreover, it must be pointed out that internal cleansing of handpieces is insufficient and that a final mechanical disinfection is indispensable.
Healthy Aging at Family Mealtimes: Associations of Clean Cooking, Protein Intake, and Dining Together with Mental Health of Chinese Older Adults amid COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: Zhou Shuai , Ding Xiangying , Leung Janet Tsin Yee
Published: January 2023

The present study aims to examine whether multiple dietary factors affect the mental health of older adults amid the COVID-19 pandemic. It proposes an integrative dietary framework that highlights environmental, nutritional, and social aspects of diet for healthy aging. Based on a sample of 7858 Chinese older adults, the associations between diet and depressive symptoms, along with the rural–urban divide, were examined using zero-inflated negative binomial regression. Overall, protein intake (incidence-rate ratio [IRR] = 0.89, p < 0.001), frequency of family dining together (IRR = 0.98, p < 0.001), and using tap water for cooking (IRR = 0.92, p < 0.01) were associated with lower incidence rates of depressive symptoms among older adults. Among rural older adults, frequency of family dining together (IRR = 0.97, p < 0.001) and tap water use (IRR = 0.89, p < 0.001) were associated with fewer depressive symptoms. However, urban residents who had a higher frequency of family dining together (IRR = 0.98, p < 0.05) and protein intake (IRR = 0.81, p < 0.001) exhibited fewer depressive symptoms. The findings revealed multifaceted dietary pathways towards healthy aging, which call for policies and interventions that improve diet quality for community-dwelling older adults.
Risk Factors for Early Hospital Readmission in Geriatric Patients: A Systematic Review
Authors: Cilla Francesco , Sabione Ilaria , D’Amelio Patrizia
Published: January 2023

The number of older patients is constantly growing, and early hospital readmissions in this population represent a major problem from a health, social and economic point of view. Furthermore, the early readmission rate is often used as an indicator of the quality of care. We performed a systematic review of the literature to better understand the risk factors of early readmission (30 and 90 days) in the geriatric population and to update the existing evidence on this subject. The search was carried out on the MEDLINE, EMBASE and PsycINFO databases. Three independent reviewers assessed the potential inclusion of the studies, and then each study was independently assessed by two reviewers using Joanna Briggs Institute critical appraisal tools; any discrepancies were resolved by the third reviewer. Studies that included inpatients in surgical wards were excluded. Twenty-nine studies were included in the review. Risk factors of early readmission can be classified into socio-economic factors, factors relating to the patient’s health characteristics, factors related to the use of the healthcare system and clinical factors. Among these risk factors, those linked to patient frailty play an important role, in particular malnutrition, reduced mobility, risk of falls, fatigue and functional dependence. The early identification of patients at higher risk of early readmission may allow for targeted interventions in view of discharge.
Repeated Massage Improves Swimmers’ Perceptions during Training Sessions but Not Sprint and Functional Performance: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Authors: Carvalho Flávia A. , Batista Natanael P. , Diniz Fernanda P. , Machado Aryane F. , Micheletti Jéssica K. , Pastre Carlos M.
Published: January 2023

This study aimed to investigate the effects of repeated massage adjusted for swimmers’ training on the perceptive, functional, and performance outcomes of a sprint. We also investigated the effects of a single short massage on swimmers’ self-reported perceptions after resistance training. This cross-over randomized controlled trial with concealed allocation, assessor blinding, and intention-to-treat analysis included 19 male and female competitive swimmers between 12 and 20 years old. Participants were subjected to three 12-min interventions over a week between resistance and swim training and monitored regarding training load and perceptions. After the intervention week we assessed: perceptive (well-being, heaviness, tiredness, discomfort, and pain), performance (sprint time, FINA points, and stroke characteristics), and functional outcomes (flexibility, squat jump, bench press, proprioception), in addition to athlete beliefs and preferences. A massage was defined as consisting of sliding movements on the arms, back, and anterior thigh, with metronomic rhythm control (1:1), and was divided into two protocols: superficial massage (SM) (light touch) and deep massage (DM) (light, moderate, intense effleurage) while the control (CON) rested. After repeated massage (SM and SM), participants had less chances to report tiredness, and they also maintained perceptions of well-being while CON got worse throughout the week. However, we found evidence of worsening of the perceptions of heaviness and pain at the main stages of the swim training for the massage groups. SM and DM had no effects over sprint and functional performance. Our results suggest that the swimmers were able to train harder with no harm to recovery.
Who Needs to Save Energy and Reduce Emissions? Perspective of Energy Misallocation and Economies of Scale
Authors: Jiang Weijie , Dai Jiaying , Cao Kairui , Jin Laiqun
Published: January 2023

With the rapid development of the economy, human survival and socio-economic development are facing the severe challenges of climate threats. Global warming is one of the greatest threats to human survival and political stability that has occurred in human history. The main factor causing global warming is the extensive use of energy; therefore, it is imperative to spend more effort in energy conservation and emission reduction. In this context, this paper provides a reference and basis for decision making on emission-reduction paths through the perspective of energy input misallocation and economies of scale of CO2 emissions. The results show that for cities with relatively low energy inputs, the impact of excessive energy input on CO2 emissions is stronger than the effect of the scale of energy input on reducing CO2 emissions. Therefore, these cities need to prioritize energy conservation and emission reduction. On the other hand, in cities with large energy inputs, the impact of the scale of energy input on reducing CO2 emissions is more significant than the effect of excessive energy input on CO2 emissions. Therefore, these areas should also focus on energy conservation and emission reduction. The results of this paper have theoretical value and practical significance for scientifically implementing energy conservation and emission reduction strategies, as well as reasonably planning energy conservation pathways.
How Antimicrobial Resistance Is Linked to Climate Change: An Overview of Two Intertwined Global Challenges
Authors: Magnano San Lio Roberta , Favara Giuliana , Maugeri Andrea , Barchitta Martina , Agodi Antonella
Published: January 2023

Globally, antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and climate change (CC) are two of the top health emergencies, and can be considered as two interlinked public health priorities. The complex commonalities between AMR and CC should be deeply investigated in a One Health perspective. Here, we provided an overview of the current knowledge about the relationship between AMR and CC. Overall, the studies included pointed out the need for applying a systemic approach to planetary health. Firstly, CC increasingly brings humans and animals into contact, leading to outbreaks of zoonotic and vector-borne diseases with pandemic potential. Although it is well-established that antimicrobial use in human, animal and environmental sectors is one of the main drivers of AMR, the COVID-19 pandemic is exacerbating the current scenario, by influencing the use of antibiotics, personal protective equipment, and biocides. This also results in higher concentrations of contaminants (e.g., microplastics) in natural water bodies, which cannot be completely removed from wastewater treatment plants, and which could sustain the AMR spread. Our overview underlined the lack of studies on the direct relationship between AMR and CC, and encouraged further research to investigate the multiple aspects involved, and its effect on human health.
Low-Grade Inflammation and Role of Anti-Inflammatory Diet in Childhood Obesity
Authors: Polak-Szczybyło Ewelina
Published: January 2023

At present, pediatric obesity is a significant public health concern. We have seen a surge of disorders that are obesity-related, e.g., insulin resistance (IR), type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, cancer, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), autoimmune disorders and many more. The mechanisms linking these diseases to excess body weight are related to low-grade inflammation (LGI). Although there is a limited number of studies assessing this immune process in childhood obesity, they indicate its significant importance for the health of future generations. There is a need for more research into the prevention and treatment of low-grade inflammation in childhood. The aim of this review is to present and discuss the process of “cold” inflammation, and its impact on health and anti-inflammation nutrition. A diet rich in anti-inflammatory nutrients may be the key to maintaining health, as well as recovery.
Methemoglobinemia Secondary to Inhalation of Automobile Emissions with Suicide Motivations
Authors: Tazón-Varela Manuel Antonio , Padilla-Mielgo Ángel , Villaverde-Plazas Raquel , Espinoza-Cuba Fabiola , Gallo-Salazar Nekane , Muñoz-Cacho Pedro
Published: January 2023

Background: Methemoglobinemia (MetHb) is a rare and potentially severe dyshemoglobinemia that can be induced by exposure to oxidizing agents, decreasing the functional capacity of the hemoglobin molecule to transport and release oxygen into the tissues. MetHb can originate from gases with oxidizing capacity generated by internal combustion engines, although since the universalization of catalyst converters in automobiles, a tiny proportion of MetHb poisoning is due to exposure to engine gases and fumes. Within this group, only two cases due to suicidal motivations have been reported in the last 30 years. Case presentation: Here, we expose the case of a patient with MetHb levels of 25.2% (normal 0–1.5%) who with suicidal motivations had attached and locked a hose to the exhaust pipe of her vehicle with electrical tape, becoming exposed to a sustained concentration of the vehicle’s exhaust. Upon her arrival at the emergency department, the presence of generalized greyish cyanosis with alterations of the sensorium, dissociation between saturation measured by arterial blood gas analysis and pulse oximetry (98% vs. 85%), no response to high-flow oxygen therapy, and an excellent response to intravenous methylene blue treatment were highlighted. Conclusions: This report illustrates an original case of acute toxic acquired MetHb due to inhalation of oxidizing substances originating from the bad ignition of an internal combustion engine. When evaluating a patient with suspected gas intoxication, we usually consider poisoning by the most common toxins, such as carbon monoxide or cyanide. In this context, we propose an algorithm to assist in the suspicion of this entity in patients with cyanosis in the emergency department. MetHb poisoning should be suspected, and urgent co-oximetry should be requested when there is no congruence between cyanosis intensity and oxygen saturation measured by pulse oximetry, if there is discordance between the results of oxygen saturation measured by arterial blood gas and pulse oximeter, and if there is no response to oxygen treatment. This algorithm could be useful to not delay diagnosis, improve prognosis, and limit potential sequelae.
The Quality of Life among Siblings of Autistic Individuals: A Scoping Review
Authors: Quatrosi Giuseppe , Genovese Dario , Amodio Emanuele , Tripi Gabriele
Published: January 2023

Autism spectrum disorders are a heterogeneous group of neurodevelopmental disorders presenting at a tender age, defined by qualitative deficits in social interactions and communication, thus having a substantial influence on the subject’s family unit. Quality of life (QoL) refers to a person’s perspective of their life situation, cultural and value background, objectives, expectations, and standards. When focusing on childhood and adolescence, age-related changes should be considered. For this scoping review, the authors used three peer-review literature database sources (PubMed/MEDLINE, Scopus, and ERIC) to delve deeper into components of the QoL of non-autistic siblings of autistic individuals. At the completion of the eligibility phase, 9 studies were included out of the 96 initial records. A total of 4/9 articles (45%) compared the non-autistic siblings of autistic individuals to the siblings of non-autistic people, while 3/9 articles (33%) compared the first group to the non-autistic siblings of patients with other chronic diseases. A total of 5/9 studies adopted specific questionnaires to evaluate QoL. Results from 6/9 articles revealed that the autism condition has varying effects on non-autistic siblings’ QoL. According to the considered research, non-autistic siblings of autistic individuals experienced decreased psychological well-being, less perceived social support, increased aggressiveness and conflict-proneness, and higher levels of anxiety and stress impacting their QoL. The present findings provide important implications for additional and more punctual studies in this sector. Furthermore, as being a non-autistic sibling of an autistic individual is commonly undervalued, this review advocates the need to organize and improve support services for siblings.
Consensus of Experts on the Treatment of Sexual Dysfunction after Surgery for Prostate Cancer in Taiwan
Authors: Chen Yu , Chang Hong-Chiang , Huang William J. , Wang Chii-Jye , Hwang Thomas I-Sheng , Liao Chun-Hou , Liu Chia-Chu , Pang See-Tong , Huang Eric Yi-Hsiu , Tsao Chih-Wei , Chen Kuo-Chiang , Liu Shih-Ping , Huang Chao-Yuan , Hsieh Cheng-Hsing , Jiann Bang-Ping
Published: January 2023

According to the Taiwan Cancer Report, in 2018, prostate cancer was one of the top five cancers reported in men. Each year, many patients with prostate cancer undergo radical prostatectomy (RP) therapy. One of the most common RP complications is erectile dysfunction (ED). Although consensus guidelines for the management of sexual dysfunction after prostate cancer surgery have been developed for many Western and Asian countries, no such clinical practice guidelines have been developed for Taiwan. The consensus opinions expressed in this article were discussed by numerous experienced physicians in Taiwan, based on both existing international guidelines and their individual experiences with clinical trials and providing advice to clinical physicians on how to inform patients of the risk of ED prior to surgery. This review also discusses how recovery and rehabilitation may be affected by socioeconomic status, the existence of an intimate relationship, comorbidities, or the need for cancer adjuvant therapy and how to determine rehabilitation goals and provide appropriate treatments to assist in the recovery of both short- and long-term sexual function.
Different Morphology of Branching Neovascular Network in Polypoidal Choroidal Vasculopathy: A Swept-Source Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography Study
Authors: Chen Lulu , Yuan Mingzhen , Sun Lu , Chen Youxin
Published: January 2023

Purpose: To evaluate the classification system of branching neovascular network (BNN) morphology in polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy (PCV) patients based on swept-source optical coherence tomography (SS-OCT) and swept-source optical coherence tomography angiography (SS-OCTA), and analyze the morphological features in each group as potential prognostic features. Methods: A total of 32 PCV eyes were included in this retrospective study. SS-OCT and SS-OCTA images of 6 mm × 6 mm centered on the foveal of each eye were analyzed. PCV cases were classified into three types (“trunk”, “glomeruli”, and “stick” type) based on the morphological features of BNN. OCT and OCTA features were compared among the three groups. The correlation of OCT/OCTA features with visual acuity at 12 months after anti-VEGF treatment was also analyzed. Results: Type 1 group had the largest BNN area and the largest numbers of polypoidal lesions. Type 2 group has the largest pigment epithelial detachment (PED) area, PED volume, subretinal fluid (SRF) area, and SRF volume. Type 3 group had better baseline BCVA, the smallest BNN area, the smallest PED size, and the smallest SRF size. Type 1 was also featured by a clear break on Bruch’s membrane which corresponded to the origin of neovascular tissue. BCVA at 12 months was not significantly different among groups. Baseline BCVA and baseline central macular thickness were correlated with the final BCVA. Conclusions: The current classification system based on BNN morphology on SS-OCTA was highly applicable and revealed distinct characteristics in each group. The BNN type was not correlated with BCVA at 12 months after treatment.
Artificial-Intelligence-Aided Radiographic Diagnostic of Knee Osteoarthritis Leads to a Higher Association of Clinical Findings with Diagnostic Ratings
Authors: Neubauer Markus , Moser Lukas , Neugebauer Johannes , Raudner Marcus , Wondrasch Barbara , Führer Magdalena , Emprechtinger Robert , Dammerer Dietmar , Ljuhar Richard , Salzlechner Christoph , Nehrer Stefan
Published: January 2023

Background: Radiographic knee osteoarthritis (OA) severity and clinical severity are often dissociated. Artificial intelligence (AI) aid was shown to increase inter-rater reliability in radiographic OA diagnosis. Thus, AI-aided radiographic diagnoses were compared against AI-unaided diagnoses with regard to their correlations with clinical severity. Methods: Seventy-one DICOMs (m/f = 27:42, mean age: 27.86 ± 6.5) (X-ray format) were used for AI analysis (KOALA software, IB Lab GmbH). Subjects were recruited from a physiotherapy trial (MLKOA). At baseline, each subject received (i) a knee X-ray and (ii) an assessment of five main scores (Tegner Scale (TAS); Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS); International Physical Activity Questionnaire; Star Excursion Balance Test; Six-Minute Walk Test). Clinical assessments were repeated three times (weeks 6, 12 and 24). Three physicians analyzed the presented X-rays both with and without AI via KL grading. Analyses of the (i) inter-rater reliability (IRR) and (ii) Spearman’s Correlation Test for the overall KL score for each individual rater with clinical score were performed. Results: We found that AI-aided diagnostic ratings had a higher association with the overall KL score and the KOOS. The amount of improvement due to AI depended on the individual rater. Conclusion: AI-guided systems can improve the ratings of knee radiographs and show a stronger association with clinical severity. These results were shown to be influenced by individual readers. Thus, AI training amongst physicians might need to be increased. KL might be insufficient as a single tool for knee OA diagnosis.
Cationically Polymerized Epoxy and Radiation-Cured Acrylate Blend Nanocomposites Based on WS2 Nanoparticles Part B: Mechanical and Physical Properties
Authors: Gershoni Gilad , Dodiuk Hanna , Tenne Reshef , Kenig Samuel
Published: January 2023

The radiation curing paradigm of opaque WS2 nanoparticle (NP)-based epoxy/acrylate nanocomposites was studied and found to exhibit both a reduction in viscosity and an enhanced degree of curing when incorporating WS2 NPs. The objective of this study was to investigate the mechanical, thermal, and physical properties of a radiation-induced and cured epoxy/acrylate blend containing 0.3 to 1.0 wt.% WS2 NPs. Experimental results indicate that the tensile toughness increased by 22% upon optimizing the NP content compared to that of WS2-free formulations. Tensile fractured surfaces with different WS2 NP contents were analyzed with a scanning electron microscope and an atomic force microscope and showed distinctive morphology depending on the WS2 NP content, supporting the results of the tensile test. The energy required to break shear adhesion specimens demonstrated an increase of up to 60% compared to that of the neat resin. The glass transition temperature determined by dynamic mechanical analysis presented similar or higher values upon WS2 NP incorporation. Furthermore, up to 80% improvement in impact strength was demonstrated when WS2 NPs were dispersed in the epoxy/acrylate blend. It was concluded that the surface chemistry and dispersion level of the WS2 NPs are the major variables affecting the macro properties of cationically radiation-cured resins and their adhesion properties. This study is the first to demonstrate the possibility for radiation-induced curing of opaque NPs based on WS2 that serve as both a reinforcement nanoparticle at low concentrations and an enhancement of the degree of curing.
Acknowledgment to the Reviewers of J. Compos. Sci. in 2022
Authors:   J. Compos. Sci. Editorial Office
Published: January 2023

High-quality academic publishing is built on rigorous peer review [...]
Candida auris in Austria—What Is New and What Is Different
Authors: Spettel Kathrin , Kriz Richard , Wu Christine , Achter Lukas , Schmid Stefan , Galazka Sonia , Selitsch Brigitte , Camp Iris , Makristathis Athanasios , Lagler Heimo , Willinger Birgit
Published: January 2023

Candida auris is a novel and emerging pathogenic yeast which represents a serious global health threat. Since its first description in Japan 2009, it has been associated with large hospital outbreaks all over the world and is often resistant to more than one antifungal drug class. To date, five C. auris isolates have been detected in Austria. Morphological characterization and antifungal susceptibility profiles against echinocandins, azoles, polyenes and pyrimidines, as well as the new antifungals ibrexafungerp and manogepix, were determined. In order to assess pathogenicity of these isolates, an infection model in Galleria mellonella was performed and whole genome sequencing (WGS) analysis was conducted to determine the phylogeographic origin. We could characterize four isolates as South Asian clade I and one isolate as African clade III. All of them had elevated minimal inhibitory concentrations to at least two different antifungal classes. The new antifungal manogepix showed high in vitro efficacy against all five C. auris isolates. One isolate, belonging to the African clade III, showed an aggregating phenotype, while the other isolates belonging to South Asian clade I were non-aggregating. In the Galleria mellonella infection model, the isolate belonging to African clade III exhibited the lowest in vivo pathogenicity. As the occurrence of C. auris increases globally, it is important to raise awareness to prevent transmission and hospital outbreaks.
Acknowledgment to the Reviewers of Journal of Xenobiotics in 2022
Authors:   Journal of Xenobiotics Editorial Office
Published: January 2023

High-quality academic publishing is built on rigorous peer review [...]
The Future of Cervical Cancer Prevention: From “One-Size-Fits-All” to Personalized Screening
Authors: Nygård Mari , Nygård Ståle
Published: January 2023

Cervical cancer screening represents an excellent model system for the development of personalized cancer-prevention strategies [...]
Long-Term Impact of the Great Chinese Famine on the Risks of Specific Arrhythmias and Severe Hypertension in the Offspring at an Early Stage of Aging
Authors: Zheng Qiutong , Pu Jianhong , Rui Can , Zhang Yumeng , Li Na , He Yun , Gu Ying , Ye Yang , Zhou Xiuwen , Xu Zhice
Published: January 2023

Perinatal malnutrition affects postnatal cardiovascular functions. This study used the Great Chinese Famine (GCF) to determine the long-term impact of perinatal undernutrition on hypertension and arrhythmias in older offspring. Subjects (n = 10,065) were divided into an exposed group whose fetal life was in the GCF and an unexposed group. The exposed group showed higher systolic/diastolic pressure, heart rate, and total cholesterol. Perinatal exposure to the GCF was a significant risk to Grade 2 and Grade 3 hypertension (OR = 1.724, 95%CI: 1.441–2.064, p < 0.001; OR = 1.480, 95%CI: 1.050–2.086, p < 0.05) compared to the control. The GCF also increased risks for myocardial ischemia (OR = 1.301, 95%CI: 1.135–1.490, p < 0.001), bradycardia (OR = 1.383, 95%CI: 1.154–1.657, p < 0.001), atrial fibrillation (OR = 1.931, 95%CI: 1.033–3.610, p < 0.05), and atrioventricular block (OR = 1.333, 95%CI: 1.034–1.719, p < 0.05). Total cholesterol, diabetes, and metabolic syndrome were associated with Grade 2 or Grade 3 hypertension after exposure to the GCF; high cholesterol, high BMI, diabetes, metabolic syndrome, and elevated blood pressure were linked to certain types of arrhythmias in exposed offspring. The results first demonstrated perinatal undernutrition was a significant risk factor for the development of Grade 2–3 hypertension and certain arrhythmias in humans. Perinatal undernutrition still significantly impacted cardiovascular systems of the aged offspring even 50 years after the GCF. The results also provided information to a specific population with a history of prenatal undernutrition for early prevention against cardiovascular diseases before aging.
Pricing European Options under Stochastic Volatility Models: Case of Five-Parameter Variance-Gamma Process
Authors: Nzokem Aubain Hilaire
Published: January 2023

The paper builds a Variance-Gamma (VG) model with five parameters: location (μ), symmetry (δ), volatility (σ), shape (α), and scale (θ); and studies its application to the pricing of European options. The results of our analysis show that the five-parameter VG model is a stochastic volatility model with a Γ(α,θ) Ornstein–Uhlenbeck type process; the associated Lévy density of the VG model is a KoBoL family of order ν=0, intensity α, and steepness parameters δσ2−δ2σ4+2θσ2 and δσ2+δ2σ4+2θσ2; and the VG process converges asymptotically in distribution to a Lévy process driven by a normal distribution with mean (μ+αθδ) and variance α(θ2δ2+σ2θ). The data used for empirical analysis were obtained by fitting the five-parameter Variance-Gamma (VG) model to the underlying distribution of the daily SPY ETF data. Regarding the application of the five-parameter VG model, the twelve-point rule Composite Newton–Cotes Quadrature and Fractional Fast Fourier (FRFT) algorithms were implemented to compute the European option price. Compared to the Black–Scholes (BS) model, empirical evidence shows that the VG option price is underpriced for out-of-the-money (OTM) options and overpriced for in-the-money (ITM) options. Both models produce almost the same option pricing results for deep out-of-the-money (OTM) and deep-in-the-money (ITM) options.
Is There Any Pattern Regarding the Vulnerability of Smart Contracts in the Food Supply Chain to a Stressed Event? A Quantile Connectedness Investigation
Authors: Ghosh Bikramaditya , Paparas Dimitrios
Published: January 2023

Blockchain can support the food supply chain in several aspects. Particularly, food traceability and trading across pre-existing contracts can make the supply chain fast, error-free, and support in detecting potential fraud. A proper algorithm, keeping in mind specific geographic, demographic, and additional essential parameters, would let the automated market maker (AMM) supply ample liquidity to pre-determined orders. AMMs are usually run by a set of sequential algorithms called a ‘smart contract’ (SM). Appropriate use of SM reduces food waste, contamination, extra or no delivery in due course, and, possibly most significantly, increases traceability. However, SM has definite vulnerabilities, making it less adaptable at times. We are investigating whether they are genuinely vulnerable during stressful periods or not. We considered seven SM platforms, namely, Fabric, Ethereum (ETH), Waves, NEM (XEM), Tezos (XTZ), Algorand (ALGO), and Stellar (XLM), as the proxies for food supply-chain-based smart contracts from 29 August 2021 to 5 October 2022. This period coincides with three stressed events: Delta (Covid II), Omicron (Covid III), and the Russian invasion of Ukraine. We found strong traces of risk transmission, comovement, and interdependence of SM return among the diversified SMs; however, the SMs focused on the food supply chain ended up as net receivers of shocks at both of the extreme tails. All these SMs share a stronger connection in both positive shocks (bullish) and negative shocks (bearish).
Confronting Focus Strategies in Finnish and in Italian: An Experimental Study on Object Focusing
Authors: Ylinärä Elina , Carella Giorgio , Frascarelli Mara
Published: January 2023

Focus is cross-linguistically associated with a number of different strategies, such as fronting, clefting, markers, and prosody. In some cases, the choice between one strategy or another is determined by language-specific rules, while in others, two or more strategies seem to be optional, and thus, somehow “unpredictable”. In this experimental study, we investigate the syntactic strategies employed in object focusing in Finnish and in Italian by examining the syntactic, semantic, and pragmatic features underlying the choice of a specific Focus strategy. In particular, the present experiment is aimed to investigate two strategies employed in both languages for object Focus realization, namely, Focus in situ and fronting, in order to verify whether the choice between them is influenced by a specific type of feature, a combination of Focus-related features, the verb category involved, or the interplay between these three factors. The incidence of alternative constructions, in particular clefting in Italian and the -hAn discourse marker in Finnish, is also taken into consideration, and relevant asymmetries are analyzed in a comprehensive, comparative account.
Dynamics of Epiretinal Membrane Peeling under Perfluorocarbon Liquid Evaluated by Intraoperative OCT
Authors: Caporossi Tomaso , Picardi Stefano Maria , Gambini Gloria , Baldascino Antonio , Carlà Matteo Mario , Molle Andrea , Scampoli Alessandra , Governatori Lorenzo , Rizzo Stanislao
Published: January 2023

Background: The aim of this study is to provide intraoperative data demonstrating a significant difference in the membrane peeling dynamics performed under a perfluorocarbon (PFCL) bubble, compared to normal balanced saline solution (BSS). Methods: This is a prospective, interventional, single-center study on a series of 36 consecutive eyes of 36 patients affected by primary epiretinal membrane (ERM). Eighteen eyes underwent standard ERM peeling, while 18 eyes received a PFCL-assisted procedure. Intraoperative optical coherence tomography (iOCT) B-Scans were collected to evaluate the displacement angle (DA) between the underlying retinal plane and the flap of epiretinal tissue, along with the number of times the surgeon had to grab the flap during the intervention. Follow-up visits were carried out at postoperative week 1 and months 1, 3 and 6. Results: The mean DA was 164.8° ± 4.0 in the PFCL-assisted group and 119.7° ± 8.7 in the standard group, with a statistically significant difference between groups (p < 0.001). Moreover, we found a significant difference in the amount of ERM grabs between the two groups (7.2 ± 2.5 in the PFCL-assisted group vs. 10.3 ± 3.1 in the standard group, p = 0.005). The mean BCVA and metamorphopsia significantly improved in both groups (p < 0.05), with no significant intergroup difference at all follow-up visits. Similarly, CST significantly decreased in both groups, and final CST was similar between the two groups (p = 0.719). Overall, three eyes in the standard group developed postoperative dissociated optic nerve fiber layer (DONFL, 16.6%), compared to none of the PFCL-assisted group. Conclusion: We reported a statistically significant difference in the intraoperative peeling dynamics of the PFCL-assisted group, accounting for a decreased tendency in the tearing of the ERM flap and possibly reduced damage to the fiber layer, with equal effectiveness in improving visual function and foveal thickness.
Food for Thought: Proteomics for Meat Safety
Authors: Tarbeeva Svetlana , Kozlova Anna , Sarygina Elizaveta , Kiseleva Olga , Ponomarenko Elena , Ilgisonis Ekaterina
Published: January 2023

Foodborne bacteria interconnect food and human health. Despite significant progress in food safety regulation, bacterial contamination is still a serious public health concern and the reason for significant commercial losses. The screening of the microbiome in meals is one of the main aspects of food production safety influencing the health of the end-consumers. Our research provides an overview of proteomics findings in the field of food safety made over the last decade. It was believed that proteomics offered an accurate snapshot of the complex networks of the major biological machines called proteins. The proteomic methods for the detection of pathogens were armed with bioinformatics algorithms, allowing us to map the data onto the genome and transcriptome. The mechanisms of the interaction between bacteria and their environment were elucidated with unprecedented sensitivity, specificity, and depth. Using our web-based tool ScanBious for automated publication analysis, we analyzed over 48,000 scientific articles on antibiotic and disinfectant resistance and highlighted the benefits of proteomics for the food safety field. The most promising approach to studying safety in food production is the combination of classical genomic and metagenomic approaches and the advantages provided by proteomic methods with the use of panoramic and targeted mass spectrometry.
Acknowledgment to the Reviewers of Life in 2022
Authors:   Life Editorial Office
Published: January 2023

High-quality academic publishing is built on rigorous peer review [...]
Location Allocation of Biorefineries for a Switchgrass-Based Bioethanol Supply Chain Using Energy Consumption and Emissions
Authors: Haji Esmaeili Seyed Ali , Sobhani Ahmad , Ebrahimi Sajad , Szmerekovsky Joseph , Dybing Alan , Keramati Amin
Published: January 2023

Background: Due to the growing demand for energy and environmental issues related to using fossil fuels, it is becoming tremendously important to find alternative energy sources. Bioethanol produced from switchgrass is considered as one of the best alternatives to fossil fuels. Methods: This study develops a two-stage supply chain modeling approach that first determines feasible locations for constructing switchgrass-based biorefineries in the state of North Dakota by using Geographic Information Systems (GIS) analysis. In the second stage, the profit of the corresponding switchgrass-based bioethanol supply chain is maximized by developing a mixed-integer linear program that aims to commercialize the bioethanol production while impacts of energy use and carbon emission costs on the supply chain decisions and siting of biorefineries are included. Results: The numerical results show that carbon emissions and energy consumption penalties affect optimal biorefinery selections and supply chain decisions. Conclusions: We conclude that there is no need to penalize both emissions and energy use simultaneously to achieve desirable environmental benefits, otherwise, the supply chain becomes non-profitable. Moreover, imposing emissions or energy consumption penalties makes the optimization model closer to supply sources while having higher land rental costs. Such policies would promote sustainable second-generation biomass production, thus decreasing reliance on fossil fuels.
Strength Analysis and Structure Optimization of the Crankshaft of an Opposed-Power Reciprocating Pump
Authors: Liu Chuan , Wei Xiuting , Yi Zuyao , Li Zhiqin , Zhu Changhao , Ma Ze
Published: January 2023

The opposed-power reciprocating pump has the characteristics of high pressure, large flow, and high efficiency and energy saving. However, due to the special structure of the opposed-power reciprocating pump, existing theoretical methods cannot analyze its dynamic performance. Therefore, this paper proposes a method of analyzing the power end of the opposed-power reciprocating pump. Firstly, according to the working principle and structural characteristics of the traditional plunger pump, the novel and complex structure of the opposed-power reciprocating pump is analyzed by analogy, and the force analysis model of the crankshaft is established. The dynamic analysis model of the Matlab program is used to solve the dynamic load and section stress in the working process, and the variation law of crankshaft load is obtained. The 25 most critical working conditions are selected for analysis, and the most critical station and section of the crankshaft are obtained. With the connection between ANSYS Workbench and Solidworks, the model is imported into ANSYS Workbench, the load on the crank pin is loaded by APDL command flow, and the static analysis of the crankshaft is carried out to obtain the stress and strain of the crankshaft. Finally, the static and fatigue strength of the dangerous section is checked, and it is proven that the strength and stiffness of the crankshaft meet the design requirements. The results show that the dynamic analysis results of the crankshaft under critical working conditions are consistent with the finite element analysis, verifying the rationality of the method and providing a reference for the improvement and optimized design of the crankshaft of the opposed-power reciprocating pump.
Solitary Wave Solutions of the Fractional-Stochastic Quantum Zakharov–Kuznetsov Equation Arises in Quantum Magneto Plasma
Authors: Mohammed Wael W. , Al-Askar Farah M. , Cesarano Clemente , El-Morshedy M.
Published: January 2023

In this paper, we consider the (3 + 1)-dimensional fractional-stochastic quantum Zakharov–Kuznetsov equation (FSQZKE) with M-truncated derivative. To find novel trigonometric, hyperbolic, elliptic, and rational fractional solutions, two techniques are used: the Jacobi elliptic function approach and the modified F-expansion method. We also expand on a few earlier findings. The extended quantum Zakharov–Kuznetsov has practical applications in dealing with quantum electronpositron–ion magnetoplasmas, warm ions, and hot isothermal electrons in the presence of uniform magnetic fields, which makes the solutions obtained useful in analyzing a number of intriguing physical phenomena. We plot our data in MATLAB and display various 3D and 2D graphical representations to explain how the stochastic term and fractional derivative influence the exact solutions of the FSEQZKE.
Prediction of Infectious Disease to Reduce the Computation Stress on Medical and Health Care Facilitators
Authors: Shekhawat Shalini , Saxena Akash , Zeineldin Ramadan A. , Mohamed Ali Wagdy
Published: January 2023

Prediction of the infectious disease is a potential research area from the decades. With the progress in medical science, early anticipation of the disease spread becomes more meaningful when the resources are limited. Also spread prediction with limited data pose a deadly challenge to the practitioners. Hence, the paper presents a case study of the Corona virus (COVID-19). COVID-19 has hit the major parts of the world and implications of this virus, is life threatening. Research community has contributed significantly to understand the spread of virus with time, along with meteorological conditions and other parameters. Several forecasting techniques have already been deployed for this. Considering the fact, the paper presents a proposal of two Rolling horizon based Cubic Grey Models (RCGMs). First, the mathematical details of Cubic Polynomial based simple grey model is presented than two models based on time series rolling are proposed. The models are developed with the time series data of different locations, considering diverse overlap period and rolling values. It is observed that the proposed models yield satisfactory results as compared with the conventional and advanced grey models. The comparison of the performance has been carried out with calculation of standard error indices. At the end, some recommendations are also framed for the authorities, that can be helpful for decision making in tough time.