bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Dynamic Pinhole Paper: Interacting with Horizontal Displays through Perforated Paper
Authors: Campos Cuauhtli , Kljun Matjaž , Čopič Pucihar Klen
Published: November 2022

Ubiquitous nature, versatility, and durability enabled paper to maintain its importance in the digital age. It is not surprising there have been numerous attempts to combine paper with the digital content. One way to do so is to place paper on a horizontal interactive display (e.g. tabletop or tablet). The paper thus becomes "the screen" on which the digital content is viewed, yet it also acts as a barrier that degrades the quality of the perceived image. This research tries to address this problem by proposing and evaluating a novel paper display concept called Dynamic pinhole paper. The concept is based on perforating the paper (to decrease its opacity) and moving digital content beneath the perforated area (to increase the resolution). To evaluate this novel concept, we fabricated the pinhole paper and implemented the software in order to run multiple user studies exploring the concept’s viability, optimal movement trajectory (amount, direction and velocity), and the effect of perforation on printing, writing and reading. The results show that the movement of digital content is a highly effective strategy for improving the resolution of the digital content through perforation where the optimal velocity is independent from trajectory direction (e.g. horizontal or circular) and amount of movement. Results also show the concept is viable on of the shelf hardware and that it is possible to write and print on perforated paper.
Semi-automated Analysis of Collaborative Interaction: Are We There Yet?
Authors: Neumayr Thomas , Augstein Mirjam , Schönböck Johannes , Rintel Sean , Leeb Helmut , Teichmeister Thomas
Published: November 2022

In recent years, research on collaborative interaction has relied on manual coding of rich audio/video recordings. The fine-grained analysis of such material is extremely time-consuming and labor-intensive. This is not only difficult to scale, but, as a result, might also limit the quality and completeness of coding due to fatigue, inherent human biases, (accidental or intentional), and inter-rater inconsistencies. In this paper, we explore how recent advances in machine learning may reduce manual effort and loss of information while retaining the value of human intelligence in the coding process. We present ACACIA (AI Chain for Augmented Collaborative Interaction Analysis), an AI video data analysis application which combines a range of advances in machine perception of video material for the analysis of collaborative interaction. We evaluate ACACIA's abilities, show how far we can already get, and which challenges remain. Our contribution lies in establishing a combined machine and human analysis pipeline that may be generalized to different collaborative settings and guide future research.
TiltWalker: Operating a Telepresence Robot with One-Hand by Tilt Controls on a Smartphone
Authors: Zand Ghazal , Ren Yuan , Arif Ahmed Sabbir
Published: November 2022

Mobile clients for telepresence robots are cluttered with interactive elements that either leave a little room for the camera feeds or occlude them. Many do not provide meaningful feedback on the robot's state and most require the use of both hands. These make maneuvering telepresence robots difficult with mobile devices. TiltWalker enables controlling a telepresence robot with one hand using tilt gestures with a smartphone. In a series of studies, we first justify the use of a Web platform, determine how far and fast users can tilt without compromising the comfort and the legibility of the display content, and identify a velocity-based function well-suited for control-display mapping. We refine TiltWalker based on the findings of these studies, then compare it with a default method in the final study. Results revealed that TiltWalker is significantly faster and more accurate than the default method. Besides, participants preferred TiltWalker's interaction methods and graphical feedback significantly more than those of the default method.
Effects of Display Layout on Spatial Memory for Immersive Environments
Authors: Liu Jiazhou , Prouzeau Arnaud , Ens Barrett , Dwyer Tim
Published: November 2022

In immersive environments, positioning data visualisations around the user in a wraparound layout has been advocated as advantageous over flat arrangements more typical of traditional screens. However, other than limiting the distance users must walk, there is no clear design rationale behind this common practice, and little research on the impact of wraparound layouts on visualisation tasks. The ability to remember the spatial location of elements of visualisations within the display space is crucial to support visual analytical tasks, especially those that require users to shift their focus or perform comparisons. This ability is influenced by the user's spatial memory but how spatial memory is affected by different display layouts remains unclear. In this paper, we perform two user studies to evaluate the effects of three layouts with varying degrees of curvature around the user (flat-wall, semicircular-wraparound, and circular-wraparound) on a visuo-spatial memory task in a virtual environment. The results show that participants are able to recall spatial patterns with greater accuracy and report more positive subjective ratings using flat than circular-wraparound layouts. While we didn't find any significant performance differences between the flat and semicircular-wraparound layouts, participants overwhelmingly preferred the semicircular-wraparound layout suggesting it is a good compromise between the two extremes of display curvature.
Predicting Touch Accuracy for Rectangular Targets by Using One-Dimensional Task Results
Authors: Usuba Hiroki , Yamanaka Shota , Sato Junichi , Miyashita Homei
Published: November 2022

We propose a method that predicts the success rate in pointing to 2D rectangular targets by using 1D vertical-bar and horizontal-bar task results. The method can predict the success rates for more practical situations under fewer experimental conditions. This shortens the duration of experiments, thus saving costs for researchers and practitioners. We verified the method through two experiments: laboratory-based and crowdsourced ones. In the laboratory-based experiment, we found that using 1D task results to predict the success rate for 2D targets slightly decreases the prediction accuracy. In the crowdsourced experiment, this method scored better than using 2D task results. Thus, we recommend that researchers use the method properly depending on the situation.
Remote Graphic-Based Teaching for Pupils with Visual Impairments: Understanding Current Practices and Co-designing an Accessible Tool with Special Education Teachers
Authors: Zhao Kaixing , Mulet Julie , Sorita Clara , Oriola Bernard , Serrano Marcos , Jouffrais Christophe
Published: November 2022

The lockdown period related to the COVID-19 pandemic has had a strong impact on the educational system in general, but more particularly on the special education system. Indeed, in the case of people with visual impairments, the regular tools relying heavily on images and videos were no longer usable. This specific situation highlighted an urgent need to develop tools that are accessible and that can provide solutions for remote teaching with people with VI. However, there is little work on the difficulties that this population encounters when they learn remotely as well as on the current practices of special education teachers. Such a lack of understanding limits the development of remote teaching systems that are adapted. In this paper, we conducted an online survey regarding the practices of 59 professionals giving lessons to pupils with VI, followed by a series of focus groups with special education workers facing teaching issues during the lockdown period. We followed an iterative design process where we designed successive low-fidelity prototypes to drive successive focus groups. We contribute with an analysis of the issues faced by special education teachers in this situation, and a concept to drive the future development of a tool for remote graphic-based teaching with pupils with VI.
The Effectiveness of Path-Segmentation for Modeling Lasso Times in Width-Varying Paths
Authors: Yamanaka Shota , Usuba Hiroki , Stuerzlinger Wolfgang , Miyashita Homei
Published: November 2022

Models of lassoing time to select multiple square icons exist, but realistic lasso tasks also typically involve encircling non-rectangular objects. Thus, it is unclear if we can apply existing models to such conditions where, e.g., the width of the path that users want to steer through changes dynamically or step-wise. In this work, we conducted two experiments where the objects were non-rectangular, with path widths that narrowed or widened, smoothly or step-wise. The results showed that the baseline models for pen-steering movements (the steering and crossing law models) fitted the timing data well, but also that segmenting width-changing areas led to significant improvements. Our work enables the modeling of novel UIs requiring continuous strokes, e.g., for grouping icons.
ElectronicsAR: Design and Evaluation of a Mobile and Tangible High-Fidelity Augmented Electronics Toolkit
Authors: Feger Sebastian S. , Semmler Lars , Schmidt Albrecht , Kosch Thomas
Published: November 2022

Exploring and interacting with electronics is challenging as the internal processes of components are not visible. Further barriers to engagement with electronics include fear of injury and hardware damage. In response, Augmented Reality (AR) applications address those challenges to make internal processes and the functionality of circuits visible. However, current apps are either limited to abstract low-fidelity applications or entirely virtual environments. We present ElectronicsAR, a tangible high-fidelity AR electronics kit with scaled hardware components representing the shape of real electronics. Our evaluation with 24 participants showed that users were more efficient and more effective at naming components, as well as building and debugging circuits. We discuss our findings in the context of ElectronicsAR's unique characteristics that we contrast with related work. Based on this, we discuss opportunities for future research to design functional mobile AR applications that meet the needs of beginners and experts.
Towards Immersive Collaborative Sensemaking
Authors: Yang Ying , Dwyer Tim , Wybrow Michael , Lee Benjamin , Cordeil Maxime , Billinghurst Mark , Thomas Bruce H.
Published: November 2022

When collaborating face-to-face, people commonly use the surfaces and spaces around them to perform sensemaking tasks, such as spatially organising documents, notes or images. However, when people collaborate remotely using desktop interfaces they no longer feel like they are sharing the same space. This limitation may be overcome through collaboration in immersive environments, which simulate the physical in-person experience. In this paper, we report on a between-groups study comparing collaborations on image organisation tasks, in an immersive Virtual Reality (VR) environment to more conventional desktop conferencing. Collecting data from 40 subjects in groups of four, we measured task performance, user behaviours, collaboration engagement and awareness. Overall, the VR and desktop interface resulted in similar speed, accuracy and social presence rating, but we observed more conversations and interaction with objects, and more equal contributions to the interaction from participants within groups in VR. We also identified differences in coordination and collaborative awareness behaviours between VR and desktop platforms. We report on a set of systematic measures for assessing VR collaborative experience and a new analysis tool that we have developed to capture user behaviours in collaborative setting. Finally, we provide design considerations and directions for future work.
The basement membrane in epidermal polarity, stemness, and regeneration
Authors: Rousselle Patricia , Laigle Chloé , Rousselet Gaelle
Published: November 2022

The epidermis is a specialized epithelium that constitutes the outermost layer of the skin, and it provides a protective barrier against environmental assaults. Primarily consisting of multilayered keratinocytes, the epidermis is continuously renewed by proliferation of stem cells and the differentiation of their progeny, which undergo terminal differentiation as they leave the basal layer and move upward toward the surface, where they die and slough off. Basal keratinocytes rest on a basement membrane at the dermal-epidermal junction that is composed of specific extracellular matrix proteins organized into interactive and mechanically supportive networks. Firm attachment of basal keratinocytes, and their dynamic regulation via focal adhesions and hemidesmosomes, is essential for maintaining major skin processes, such as self-renewal, barrier function, and resistance to physical and chemical stresses. The adhesive integrin receptors expressed by epidermal cells serve structural, signaling, and mechanosensory roles that are critical for epidermal cell anchorage and tissue homeostasis. More specifically, the basement membrane components play key roles in preserving the stem cell pool, and establishing cell polarity cues enabling asymmetric cell divisions, which result in the transition from a proliferative basal cell layer to suprabasal cells committed to terminal differentiation. Finally, through a well-regulated sequence of synthesis and remodeling, the components of the dermal-epidermal junction play an essential role in regeneration of the epidermis during skin healing. Here too, they provide biological and mechanical signals that are essential to the restoration of barrier function.
Effects of different diets used to induce obesity/metabolic syndrome on bladder function in rats
Authors: Wu Liyang , Wang Mingshuai , Maher Shaimaa , Fu Pingfu , Cai Dan , Wang Bingcheng , Gupta Sanjay , Hijaz Adonis , Daneshgari Firouz , Liu Guiming
Published: November 2022

Preclinical and human studies on the relationship between obesity/metabolic syndrome (MetS) and lower urinary tract dysfunction (LUTD) are inconsistent. We compared the temporal effects of feeding four different diets used to induce obesity/MetS, including 60% fructose, 2% cholesterol +10% lard, 30% fructose + 20% lard, or 32.5% lard diet, up to 42 wk, on metabolic parameters and bladder function in male Sprague-Dawley rats. Rats fed a 30% fructose + 20% lard or 32.5% lard diet consumed less food (grams), but only the 32.5% lard diet group took in more calories. Feeding rats a 60% fructose or 30% fructose + 20% lard diet led to glucose intolerance and increased blood pressure. Higher body weight and increased cholesterol levels were observed in the rats maintained on a 2% cholesterol +10% lard diet, whereas exposure to a 32.5% lard diet affected most of the above parameters. Voiding behavior measurement showed that voiding frequency and the total voided volume were lower in the experimental diet groups except for the 30% fructose + 20% lard group. The mean voided volume was lower in the 30% fructose + 20% lard and 32.5% lard groups compared with the control group. Cystometric analysis revealed a decreased bladder capacity, mean voided volume, intermicturition interval, and compliance in the 32.5% lard diet group. In conclusion, experimental diets including 60% fructose, 30% fructose + 20% lard, or 2% cholesterol + 10% lard diet differently affected physiological and metabolic parameters and bladder function to a limited extent, while exposure to a 32.5% lard diet had a greater impact.
Small LDL subfractions are associated with coronary atherosclerosis despite no differences in conventional lipids
Authors: Sæther Julie Caroline , Klevjer Marie , Giskeødegård Guro Fanneløb , Bathen Tone Frost , Gigante Bruna , Gjære Sigrid , Myhra Marthe , Vesterbekkmo Elisabeth Kleivhaug , Wiseth Rune , Madssen Erik , Bye Anja
Published: November 2022

Lipoprotein subfractions currently represent a new source of cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk markers that may provide more information than conventional lipid measures. We aimed to investigate whether lipoprotein subfractions are associated with coronary atherosclerosis in patients without prior known CVD. Fasting serum samples from 60 patients with suspected coronary artery disease (CAD) were collected before coronary angiography and analyzed by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. The severity of coronary atherosclerosis was quantified by the Gensini score (≤20.5 = nonsignificant coronary atherosclerosis, 20.6–30.0 = intermediate coronary atherosclerosis, ≥30.1 = significant CAD). Differences in lipoprotein subfractions between the three Gensini groups were assessed by two-way ANOVA, adjusted for statin use. Despite no differences in conventional lipid measures between the three Gensini groups, patients with significant CAD had higher apolipoprotein-B/apolipoprotein-A1 ratio, 30% more small and dense low-density lipoprotein 5 (LDL-5) particles, and increased levels of cholesterol, triglycerides, and phospholipids within LDL-5 compared with patients with nonsignificant coronary atherosclerosis and intermediate coronary atherosclerosis ( P ≤ 0.001). In addition, the low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol/high-density lipoprotein cholesterol ratio, and triglyceride levels of LDL 4 were significantly increased in patients with significant CAD compared with patients with nonsignificant coronary atherosclerosis. In conclusion, small and dense lipoprotein subfractions were associated with coronary atherosclerosis in patients without prior CVD. Additional studies are needed to explore whether lipoprotein subfractions may represent biomarkers offering a clinically meaningful improvement in the risk prediction of CAD.
Influence of Nonnutritive Sucking Habits on the Oral Carriage of Escherichia coli
Authors: Al Haidar Aseel
Published: November 2022

Objectives. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of nonnutritive sucking habits on the presence of oral Escherichia coli. Methods. One hundred and twenty children aged 3–5 years old were enrolled in the present case-control study, as follows: 60 children with continuous pacifier and thumb sucking habits (study group) and 60 children without any sucking habits (control group). The children in the two groups were matched in terms of age and gender. Information was gathered from the parents concerning their children using a special sheet. Sterile swabs were taken from both groups and cultured on agar plates. Then, they were subjected to further biochemical tests to identify E. coli species. The mean of the E. coli count was determined for each child. Descriptive, independent t-test and chi-square test statistics were used. The level of significance was set at

p
<
0.05

. Results. The presence of nonnutritive sucking habits was related to a higher carriage of E. coli among children. Conclusion. Nonnutritive sucking habits may act as a predisposing factor that enhances the colonization of oral E. coli.
Postpandemic Stress Disorder among Health Care Personnel: A Cross-Sectional Study (Silesia, Poland)
Authors: Grajek Mateusz , Szlacheta Patryk , Sobczyk Karolina , Krupa-Kotara Karolina , Łabuz-Roszak Beata , Korzonek-Szlacheta Ilona
Published: November 2022

Background. Postpandemic stress disorder (PPSD) is an unofficial term that refers to posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), a mental disorder resulting from increased stress, anxiety, and trauma associated with unpleasant life experiences. Many scientific studies indicate that symptoms of increased stress, job burnout, anxiety, and depressive disorders are associated with medical personnel performing their professional duties around COVID-19 patients. Objective. The purpose of this study was to assess the prevalence of symptoms that may indicate the presence of PPSD symptoms—depression, anxiety, and stress—in medical personnel. Material and Methods. The survey included 300 people, representatives of medical personnel. The group was divided into two sections. The first section numbered 150 and consisted of personnel in direct contact with COVID-19 patients (FR); the second group also consisted of 150 medical professionals, who but no longer directly involved in helping with COVID-19 cases (SR). The survey was conducted by indirect survey method using CAWI (computer-assisted web interview). The survey used a questionnaire technique. A proprietary tool enriched with standardized psychometric scales: BDI, GAD-7, FCV-19S, and PSS-10 was used. Kruskal-Wallis and Mann–Whitney

U

statistical tests were used in the statistical processing of the data. The probability level was 0.05. Results. Statistical inference made it clear that mental health problems that may indicate trauma are mainly present in the FR group. These symptoms decreased slightly in comparison between periods 2020 and 2021 (

p
<
0.05

). Conclusions. The COVID-19 pandemic significantly increased the prevalence of depression, anxiety, and stress among first responders. To ensure the psychological well-being of first responders, early assessment and care of mild depression, anxiety, and stress should be promoted to prevent the development of moderate and severe forms.
Triple Jeopardy: Rapidly Progressive Glomerulonephritis Induced by Triple Seropositive Disease—A Rare Case
Authors: Vedire Apurva , Upadrasta Gautham , Udongwo Ndausung , Rehman Faseeha , Hossain Mohammad A.
Published: November 2022

The double-positive disease is the co-occurrence of antiglomerular basement membrane (anti-GBM) disease and antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (ANCAs) and is an uncommon cause of renal failure. Our case of triple-positive disease is an even rarer cause of isolated renal failure, as it includes anti-GBM, antimyeloperoxidase (MPO), and antiproteinase 3 (PR3). We present a case of a 62-year-old Caucasian male with a history of multiple comorbidities, who presented to the emergency department (ED) with worsening dyspnea on exertion that started about one month prior to admission. He was found to be in renal failure secondary to triple-positive disease. We believe that the likely mechanism of our patient’s triple-positive disease was a drug-induced ANCA vasculitis overlapping with Goodpasture’s syndrome. We believe our case to be a valuable addition to the literature as it is a rare overlap syndrome without a previously established disease course or etiology.
Calculation Model and Case Study of Water-Saving Quantity in Typical Industrial Enterprises
Authors: Zhu Chunyan , Hu Mengting , Bai Xue , Zhang Lan
Published: November 2022

Water-saving quantity is an important index to measure the effect of water saving. Scientific calculation of water-saving quantity is a basic content of water saving work, and is also an important means to carry out water saving evaluation and guide industrial enterprises to use water reasonably. This paper puts forward that the connotation of water saving is the improvement of water efficiency. Based on this, the calculation model of water saving in typical industrial enterprises is constructed. The water-saving quantity of textile enterprises and beverage production enterprises before and after water-saving technological transformation is calculated, which provides a reference for the calculation of water saving in typical industrial enterprises.
Propulsion Energy Minimization for Fixed-Wing-UAV-Assisted Full-Duplex Mobile Relaying via Hybrid Trajectory Design
Authors: Shi Senyi , Ji Xiaodong , Wang Tao , Qian Chong , Huang Chenhao
Published: November 2022

This paper solved a propulsion energy minimization problem subject to a total data-bit constraint of an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV)-enabled full-duplex mobile relaying system, where a fixed-wing UAV is dispatched as a full-duplex mobile relay to assist data transfer from a source to a destination. Here, three trajectory flying modes are used, namely, the UAV first flies along a circular path above the source, next flies to the destination along a straight line, and finally flies along a circular path above the destination until all the data-bits have been transferred. Since the propulsion energy minimization problem is a nonconvex mixed integer programming problem, its closed-form solution is not tractable, and hence, it is transformed to three subproblems so as to simplify its solution. After solving the three subproblems, an iterative algorithm is proposed to achieve a suboptimal solution to the propulsion energy minimization problem, leading to a new hybrid circular/straight trajectory (HCST) design. Computer simulations are conducted to validate the effectiveness of the proposed HCST design. It is shown that the proposed HCST design performs well in terms of energy saving for the long distance and big data communication cases compared with the straight or circular flight trajectory design.
Knockdown of Adra2a Increases Secretion of Growth Factors and Wound Healing Ability in Diabetic Adipose-Derived Stem Cells
Authors: Zhao Xiangyuan , Zhang Yong , Zuo Xinzhen , Wang Shubai , Dong Xiao
Published: November 2022

Studies showed that compared to normal adipose-derived stem cells (ASCs), ASCs from type 2 diabetic (T2D) mice were less effective in treating diabetic cutaneous wounds. However, the mechanisms remain unclear. Our transcriptomic profiling comparison showed that the expression of α2A-adrenergic receptor (Adra2a) was significantly increased in ASCs from T2D mice (T2D ASCs). Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate whether the elevated Adra2a is involved in the diminished wound-healing capabilities of T2D ASCs. RNA-seq was used to compare the transcriptomic profiles of T2D and normal ASCs. The differential genes were verified by real-time RT-qPCR. Clonidine was used to active Adra2a, and lentivirus-mediated RNAi was used to knockdown Adra2a. The secretion and expression of growth factors were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and real-time RT-qPCR, respectively. The cAMP and PKA activity were also detected. Wound healing abilities of various ASCs were assessed in T2D mouse excisional wound models. The results showed Adra2a agonist clonidine decreased the expression and secretion of growth factors, cAMP content, and activity of PKA in ASCs, while Adra2a knockdown T2D ASCs showed the opposite effects. Adra2a knockdown T2D ASCs also showed increased wound-healing capabilities compared to untreated T2D ASCs. Altogether, T2D increased Adra2a expression, which may subsequently decrease the expression and secretion of growth factors and eventually diminish the wound-healing capabilities of T2D ASCs. Adra2a knockdown can restore the secretion of growth factors in T2D ASCs and then accelerate the wound healing, which may provide a new possibility in the treatment of diabetic wounds.
Analysis of Seismic Damage Modes of Landslides Containing Tunnels under Horizontal Earthquake Action
Authors: Sun Hao , Wu Honggang , Ma Zhigang , Yuan Zhou , Feng Kang
Published: November 2022

With the vigorous development of railway and highway construction, tunnel construction often follows the mountains and rivers, crossing high-intensity landslide areas, and potential earthquakes triggering damage in areas including tunnel landslides have become a hot issue today. Based on this, this paper performs a shaker test on the tunnel-containing landslide body, inputs horizontal seismic waves, and tests the acceleration response data of different bits in the landslide body. By analyzing the temporal and frequency domain transformations of the acceleration response at different positions in the slope body combined with the deformation characteristics of the slope, and then analyzing the seismic response of the slope under the action of the front and back seismic sequences, the results show that (1) the existence of the tunnel has the effect of energy dissipation and vibration reduction, making the energy input at T8, and the measuring point on the upper part of the tunnel at the lowest. (2) When the seismic wave is transmitted, it will cause reflection around the tunnel, forming complex seismic wave field, resulting in the irregular distribution of acceleration amplification coefficient. (3) There is a high correlation between seismic responses of different levels. When the acceleration response of the preseismic response to the landslide-containing tunnel is not considered, the acceleration response of the postseismic response to the slope and the structure will be lower than the real value. (4) The sequence of failure at different locations of landslide mass containing tunnel is found through marginal spectrum analysis. It is concluded that the failure mode of landslide mass with tunnel is extrusion and sliding out of the middle slope. The research results can provide some reference for the reinforcement design of landslide with tunnel in high-intensity area.
Assessment of Patients’ Views on Drug Benefits and Risks: An Interview Study with Cardiovascular Patients
Authors: Wakob Ines , Wintsche Ina , Frisch Annett , Remane Yvonne , Laufs Ulrich , Bertsche Thilo , Schiek Susanne
Published: November 2022

Better and balanced information strategies supporting cardiovascular patients’ adherence are required. Cardiovascular drugs have outstanding morbidity and mortality benefits. This can be counteracted by patients’ perceptions of risks. Drug information should help the patient but not fuel unwarranted fears. We performed a cross-sectional survey of patients admitted to a cardiology ward. We evaluated (i) the patients’ general benefit-risk estimation of their pharmacotherapy; (ii) views on benefits; (iii) views on risks; and (iv) information sources. Additionally, we assessed aspects of anxiety and depression with the Patient Health Questionnaire-4 (PHQ-4). (i) 67 patients (66%) rated expected drug benefits higher than potential risks. (ii) 72% of benefits motivated the patients to take their medication as prescribed. Patients more frequently mentioned surrogate markers as benefits than clinical benefits (

p
<
0.001

). (iii) 56% of risks mentioned were perceived as bothersome and 35% as concerning. Risks were more often perceived as bothersome and concerning by patients with higher PHQ-4 scores (

p
=
0.016

). (iv) Physicians were the most frequent information source of benefits (92% of patients) and risks (45%), and pharmacy staff for 27% and 14%, respectively. Laymen or media served as sources of information on benefits in 39%, for risks in 40%, and package leaflets in 26% and 36%. 42% of the patients would like to receive more information on benefits versus 27% on risks. Our results suggest that knowledge of benefits motivates patients to take their drugs as prescribed. There is already good information on surrogate markers for process control with active patient involvement. However, a lack of knowledge still exists in relation to clinical benefits. Regarding risks, it has been shown that patients with higher PHQ-4 scores are more likely to be bothered or concerned. Both emphases on clinical benefits and individualization depending on PHQ-4 scores may be valuable resources for patient counseling to support adherence.
Applications of Computer Vision on Automatic Potato Plant Disease Detection: A Systematic Literature Review
Authors: Sinshaw Natnael Tilahun , Assefa Beakal Gizachew , Mohapatra Sudhir Kumar , Beyene Asrat Mulatu
Published: November 2022

In most developing countries, the contribution of agriculture to gross domestic product is significant. Plant disease is one of the major factors that adversely affect crop yield. Traditional plant disease detection techniques are time-consuming, biased, and ineffective. Potato is among the top consumed plants in the world, in general, and in developing countries, in particular. However, potato is affected by different kinds of diseases which minimize their yield and quantity. The advancement in AI and machine learning has paved the way for new methods of tackling plant disease detection. This study presents a comprehensive systematic literature review on the major diseases that harm potato crops. In this effort, computer vision-based techniques are employed to identify potato diseases, and types of machine learning algorithms used are surveyed. In this review, 39 primary studies that have provided useful information about the research questions are chosen. Accordingly, the most common potato diseases are found to be late blight, early blight, and bacterial wilt. Furthermore, the review discovered that deep learning algorithms were more frequently used to detect crop diseases than classical machine learning algorithms. Finally, the review categorized the state-of-the-art algorithms and identifies open research problems in the area.
Studying the Link between Rheumatoid Arthritis and Gut Dysbiosis: A Mini Review
Authors: Haider Mohammad Zulqurnain
Published: November 2022

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune disease that affects the joints and may lead to disability. Recent advances have allowed us to study the human gut microbiota in great details. Numerous studies have shown that changes in gut microbiota may be playing a critical role in the pathogenesis of RA. In this review we summarize human and animal studies which show evidence that gut microbiota is directly affecting not only the development of RA but also its progression. In this review we also show evidence on how altering gut microbiota could be used as a treatment for RA.
Effects of Mindfulness-Based Interventions on Gray Matter Volume in Patients with Opioid Dependence
Authors: Wolf Robert Christian , Fahmy Reham , Wasfi Maha , Mamdouh Rania , Moussa Kareem , Schmitgen Mike M. , Wolf Nadine D. , Hirjak Dusan , Sambataro Fabio , Kubera Katharina M.
Published: November 2022

Introduction: Recently, several mindfulness-based programs showed promising clinical effects in the treatment of psychiatric disorders including substance use disorders. However, very little is known about the effects of mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) on brain structure in such patients. Methods: This study aimed to detect changes in gray matter volume (GMV) in opioid-dependent patients receiving MBI during their first month of treatment. Thirty patients were assigned to either 3 weeks of MBI (n = 16) or treatment as usual (TAU, n = 14) and were investigated using structural magnetic resonance imaging before and after treatment. Longitudinal pipeline of the Computational Anatomy Toolbox for SPM (CAT12) was used to detect significant treatment-related changes over time. The identified GMV changes following treatment were related to clinically relevant measures such as impulsivity, distress tolerance, and mindfulness. Results: After treatment, increased mindfulness scores were found in individuals receiving MBI compared to TAU. In the MBI group, there were also significant differences with respect to distress tolerance and impulsivity. Effects on mindfulness, distress tolerance, and impulsivity were also found in the TAU group. Longitudinal within-group analysis revealed increased left anterior insula GMV in individuals receiving MBI. Anterior insula volume increase was associated with decreased impulsivity levels. In the TAU group, significant GMV changes were found in the right lingual gyrus and right entorhinal cortex. Discussion/Conclusion: MBI can yield significant clinical effects during early abstinence from opioid dependence. MBI is particularly associated with increased insula GMV, supporting an important role of this region in the context of MBI-induced neural changes.
Bakterielle vs. Pilzkeratitis: Automatisierte Fotodiagnose durch Deep Learning?
Authors: Bachmann Björn
Published: November 2022

Purpose: Microbial keratitis is an urgent condition in ophthalmology that requires prompt treatment. This study aimed to apply deep learning algorithms for rapidly discriminating between fungal keratitis (FK) and bacterial keratitis (BK). Methods: A total of 2167 anterior segment images retrospectively acquired from 194 patients with 128 patients with BK (1388 images, 64.1%) and 66 patients with FK (779 images, 35.9%) were used to develop the model. The images were split into training, validation, and test sets. Three convolutional neural networks consisting of VGG19, ResNet50, and DenseNet121 were trained to classify images. Performance of each model was evaluated using precision (positive predictive value), sensitivity (recall), F1 score (test's accuracy), and area under the precision-recall curve (AUPRC). Ensemble learning was then applied to improve classification performance. Results: The classification performance in F1 score (95% confident interval) of VGG19, DenseNet121, and RestNet50 was 0.78 (0.72-0.84), 0.71 (0.64-0.78), and 0.68 (0.61-0.75), respectively. VGG19 also demonstrated the highest AUPRC of 0.86 followed by RestNet50 (0.73) and DenseNet (0.60). The ensemble learning could improve performance with the sensitivity and F1 score of 0.77 (0.81-0.83) and 0.83 (0.77-0.89) with an AUPRC of 0.904. Conclusions: Convolutional neural network with ensemble learning showed the best performance in discriminating FK from BK compared with single architecture models. Our model can potentially be considered as an adjunctive tool for providing rapid provisional diagnosis in patients with microbial keratitis.
Large Common Mitochondrial DNA Deletions Are Associated with a Mitochondrial SNP T14798C Near the 3′ Breakpoints
Authors: Hjelm Brooke E. , Ramiro Christian , Rollins Brandi L. , Omidsalar Audrey A. , Gerke Daniel S. , Das Sujan C. , Sequeira Adolfo , Morgan Ling , Schatzberg Alan F. , Barchas Jack D. , Lee Francis S. , Myers Richard M. , Watson Stanley J. , Akil Huda , Bunney William E. , Vawter Marquis P.
Published: November 2022

Introduction: Large somatic deletions of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) accumulate with aging in metabolically active tissues such as the brain. We have cataloged the breakpoints and frequencies of large mtDNA deletions in the human brain. Methods: We quantified 112 high-frequency mtDNA somatic deletions across four human brain regions with the Splice-Break2 pipeline. In addition, we utilized PLINK/Seq to test the association of mitochondrial genotypes with the abundance of these high-frequency mtDNA deletions. A conservative p value threshold of 5E−08 was used to find the significant loci. Results: One mtDNA SNP (T14798C) was significantly associated with mtDNA deletions in two brain regions, the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) and the superior temporal gyrus. Since the DLPFC showed the most robust association between T14798C and two deletion breakpoints (7816–14807 and 5462–14807), this association was tested in the DLPFC of a replication sample and validated the first results. Incorporating the C allele at 14,798 bp increased the perfect/imperfect length of the repeat at the 3′ breakpoint of the two associated deletions. Conclusion: This is the first study to identify the association of mtDNA SNP with large mtDNA deletions in the human brain. The T14798C allele located in the MT-CYB gene is a common polymorphism that occurs in several mitochondrial haplogroups. We hypothesize that the T14798C association with two deletions occurs by extending the repeat length around the 3′ deletion breakpoints. This simple mechanism suggests that mtDNA SNPs can affect the mitochondrial genome structure, especially in brain where high levels of reactive oxygen species lead to deletion accumulation with aging.
An Overview of Telehealth in the Management of Cardiovascular Disease: A Scientific Statement From the American Heart Association
Authors: Takahashi Edwin A. , Schwamm Lee H. , Adeoye Opeolu M. , Alabi Olamide , Jahangir Eiman , Misra Sanjay , Still Carolyn H. ,   on behalf of the American Heart Association Council on Cardiovascular Radiology and Intervention, Council on Hypertension, Council on the Kidney in Cardiovascular Disease, and Stroke Council
Published: November 2022

Telehealth enables the remote delivery of health care through telecommunication technologies and has substantially affected the evolving medical landscape. The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated the utilization of telehealth as health care professionals were forced to limit face-to-face in-person visits. It has been shown that information delivery, diagnosis, disease monitoring, and follow-up care can be conducted remotely, resulting in considerable changes specific to cardiovascular disease management. Despite increasing telehealth utilization, several factors such as technological infrastructure, reimbursement, and limited patient digital literacy can hinder the adoption of remote care. This scientific statement reviews definitions pertinent to telehealth discussions, summarizes the effect of telehealth utilization on cardiovascular and peripheral vascular disease care, and identifies obstacles to the adoption of telehealth that need to be addressed to improve health care accessibility and equity.
Sodium Restriction in Patients With Heart Failure: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Clinical Trials
Authors: Colin-Ramirez Eloisa , Sepehrvand Nariman , Rathwell Sarah , Ross Heather , Escobedo Jorge , Macdonald Peter , Troughton Richard , Saldarriaga Clara , Lanas Fernando , Doughty Robert , McAlister Finlay A. , Ezekowitz Justin A.
Published: November 2022

Background:

Sodium restriction is a nonpharmacologic treatment suggested by practice guidelines for the management of patients with heart failure (HF). In this study, we synthesized the data from randomized controlled trials (RCTs) evaluating the effects of sodium restriction on clinical outcomes in patients with HF.

Methods:

In this aggregate data meta-analysis, Cochrane Central, MEDLINE (Medical Literature Analysis and Retrieval System Online), Embase Ovid, and CINAHL (Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature) Plus databases were searched up to April 2, 2022. RCTs were included if they investigated the effects of sodium/salt restriction as compared to no restriction on clinical outcomes in patients with HF. Outcomes of interest included mortality, hospitalization, change in New York Heart Association functional class, and quality of life (QoL).

Results:

Seventeen RCTs were identified (834 and 871 patients in intervention and control groups, respectively). Sodium restriction did not reduce the risk of all-cause death (odds ratio, 0.95 [95% CI, 0.58–1.58]), hospitalization (odds ratio, 0.84 [95% CI, 0.62–1.13]), or the composite of death/hospitalization (odds ratio, 0.88 [95% CI, 0.63–1.23]). The results were similar in different subgroups, except for the numerically lower risk of death with reduced sodium intake reported in RCTs with dietary sodium at the 2000 to 3000 mg/d range as opposed to <2000 mg/d (and in RCTs with versus without fluid restriction as a co-intervention). Among RCTs reporting New York Heart Association change, 2 RCTs (which accounted for two-thirds of the data) showed improvement in New York Heart Association class with sodium restriction. Substantial heterogeneity existed for QoL: 6 RCTs showed improvement of QoL and 4 RCTs showed no improvement of sodium restriction on QoL.

Conclusions:

In a meta-analysis of RCTs, sodium restriction was not associated with fewer deaths or hospitalizations in patients with HF. Dietary sodium restriction may be associated with improvements in symptoms and QoL.
Abstract EC104: Mitochondrial Microdomain Disruption Results In Sinus Node Dysfunction In Heart Failure
Authors: Ren Lu , Gopireddy Raghavender Reddy , Perkins Guy , Timofeyev Valeriy , Lyu Yankun , Diloretto Daphne A , Overton James , Xu Wilson , Grainger Nathan , Dedkova Elena N , Zhang Xiao-Dong , Yamoah Ebenezer , Navedo Manuel F , Chiamvimonvat Nipavan , Thai Phung N
Published: November 2022

Introduction:
Sinoatrial node (SAN), the leading pacemaker region, generates electrical impulses that propagate throughout the heart. SAN dysfunction with bradyarrhythmia is well documented in heart failure (HF). However, the underlying mechanisms are not entirely understood. Mitochondria are critical to cellular processes that determine life or death of the cell. Therefore, proper communication with the mitochondria is essential for normal cellular function. We tested the hypothesis that alterations in the mitochondria-sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) connectomics underlie SAN dysfunction in HF.

Methods:
We took advantage of a mouse model of pressure-overload induced HF by transverse aortic constriction (TAC) and a SAN-specific CRISPR/Cas9 mediated gene silencing of
mitofusin-2
(
Mfn2
).

Results:
TAC mice exhibited impaired cardiac function with HF, cardiac fibrosis, and profound SAN dysfunction. Ultrastructural imaging using electron microscope (EM) tomography revealed abnormal mitochondrial structure with increased SR-mitochondria distance. The expression of the SR-mitochondria tether GTPase protein Mfn-2 was significantly down-regulated and showed reduced colocalization with ryanodine receptor (RyR2) in HF SAN cells. Indeed, SAN-specific gene silencing of
Mfn-2
led to alterations in the mitochondrial-SR microdomains[MFN1] and SAN dysfunction. Finally, disruption in the mitochondrial-SR microdomains resulted in abnormal mitochondrial Ca
2+
handling, alterations in localized PKA activity, and impaired mitochondrial function in HF SAN cells.

Conclusion:
The study provides insight on the role of mitochondrial-SR microdomains in SAN automaticity and into possible therapeutic targets for SAN dysfunction in HF patients.
Abstract EC106: Cardiac Fibroblast GSK-3α Aggravates Ischemic Cardiac Injury By Promoting Fibrosis, Inflammation, And Impairing Angiogenesis
Authors: Umbarkar Prachi , Tousif Sultan , Ejantkar Suma , Toro Cora Angelica , Zhang Qinkun , Lal Hind
Published: November 2022

Background:
Myocardial Infarction (MI) is the leading cause of death worldwide. Numerous studies from our lab and others have implicated Glycogen Synthase Kinase-3 (GSK-3) as a promising therapeutic target for cardiovascular diseases. GSK-3 is a family of ubiquitously expressed serine/threonine kinases. GSK-3 isoforms appear to play overlapping, unique, and even opposing functions in the heart. Previously our group has identified that cardiac fibroblast (CF) GSK-3β acts as a negative regulator of fibrotic remodeling in the ischemic heart. However, the role of CF-GSK-3α in MI-induced adverse cardiac remodeling is not defined.

Methods and Results:
To determine the role of CF-GSK-3α in MI-induced adverse cardiac remodeling, GSK-3α was deleted specifically in the activated fibroblast/myofibroblast using tamoxifen (TAM)-inducible Periostin promoter-driven Cre recombinase system. At 12 weeks of age, mice were fed with TAM diet. After 1 week of TAM treatment, control (GSK-3α
fl/fl
Cre
-/-
) and KO (GSK-3α
fl/fl
Cre
+/-
) mice were subjected to permanent LAD ligation (MI) surgery. Echocardiographic analysis revealed that control mice developed severe systolic dysfunction and dilative cardiac remodeling post-MI. These MI-induced pathologies were remarkably prevented by myofibroblast-specific GSK-3α deletion. To further confirm the role of CF-GSK-3α in processes contributing to cardiac remodeling, we harvested the hearts at 4 weeks post-MI and analyzed signature genes of adverse remodeling. Specifically, qPCR analysis was performed to examine the gene panels of inflammation (TNFα, IL-6, IL-1β), fibrosis (COL1A1, COL3A1, COMP), and angiogenesis (VEGFR2, CD31, HIF-1α). As expected, ischemic injury induced the expression of inflammation and fibrosis-related genes in the control group. In contrast, CF-GSK-3α KO hearts did not display any of these hallmarks. Another critical feature of adverse cardiac remodeling is impaired angiogenesis. Indeed, the CF-GSK-3α KO hearts were protected from MI-induced reduction in angiogenesis-related genes. Taken together, our findings support a driving role of CF-GSK-3α in MI-induced adverse cardiac remodeling.

Conclusion:
Our findings suggest a critical role of CF-GSK-3α in pathological cardiac remodeling and heart failure that could be therapeutically targeted for future clinical applications.