bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
BeeAR: Augmented Reality Beeline Navigation for Spatial Knowledge Acquisition
Authors: Mazurkiewicz Bartosz , Galvão Marcelo de Lima , Giannopoulos Ioannis
Published: September 2023

Navigation assistance systems have become integral to our daily routines, helping us to find our way through unfamiliar environments. However, their use may come at a price, as empirical evidence suggests a potentially harmful impact of these systems on our spatial abilities, including the acquisition of spatial knowledge. This could be remedied by giving users more freedom and involving them in the decision-making process. Therefore, we present a navigation system that combines augmented reality and Beeline Navigation (BeeAR). Here, the location of the destination is overlaid with a digital landmark and permanently displayed to the user via a visual, translucent AR display (without a map). Since the digital content is integrated into the real world, no mapping between the device and reality is required, potentially lowering the workload. Making one's own decisions along the route is expected to increase engagement with the environment, leading to increased acquisition of spatial knowledge. We compare BeeAR with findings from a previous study comparing Free Choice Navigation (FCN) and Turn-by-Turn (TBT) navigation conducted along the same routes on the outskirts of Vienna, Austria. Although BeeAR and FCN do not provide users with a map, BeeAR users could better retrace the walked route and remembered more points of interest along the route than FCN users. Participants of all three navigation conditions achieved a high configuration similarity between drawn points of interest and their true locations, albeit only one navigation condition included a map.
Co-Designing with Users the Explanations for a Proactive Auto-Response Messaging Agent
Authors: Jain Pranut , Farzan Rosta , Lee Adam J.
Published: September 2023

Explanations of AI Agents' actions are considered to be an important factor in improving users' trust in the decisions made by autonomous AI systems. However, as these autonomous systems evolve from reactive, i.e., acting on user input, to proactive, i.e., acting without requiring user intervention, there is a need to explore how the explanation for the actions of these agents should evolve. In this work, we explore the design of explanations through participatory design methods for a proactive auto-response messaging agent that can reduce perceived obligations and social pressure to respond quickly to incoming messages by providing unavailability-related context. We recruited 14 participants who worked in pairs during collaborative design sessions where they reasoned about the agent's design and actions. We qualitatively analyzed the data collected through these sessions and found that participants' reasoning about agent actions led them to speculate heavily on its design. These speculations significantly influenced participants' desire for explanations and the controls they sought to inform the agents' behavior. Our findings indicate a need to transform users' speculations into accurate mental models of agent design. Further, since the agent acts as a mediator in human-human communication, it is also necessary to account for social norms in its explanation design. Finally, user expertise in understanding their habits and behaviors allows the agent to learn from the user their preferences when justifying its actions.
Designing for Collaborative Non-Driving Related Activities in Future Cars: Fairness and Team Performance
Authors: Berger Melanie , Dey Debargha , Barati Bahareh , Pfleging Bastian , Bernhaupt Regina
Published: September 2023

With the gradual transition towards assisted and automated driving, the car will transform into a more social environment where passengers and drivers engage in Non-Driving-Related Activities (NDRA). To support collaboration among occupants in future vehicles, research suggests interactive systems controlled by several users at once. In this paper, we explore five concepts for the collaborative performance of NDRA with the use-case of music playlist creation. While prior work investigated the effect on social connectedness, we expand insights towards team performance and fairness. Results from a mixed-subject experiment (N=27) show that the concepts have major consequences on team performance and fairness. Certain concepts can promote or hinder coordination effectiveness and, in turn, impact intra-vehicular collaboration. Our observations also indicate that fairness is key to fostering social collaboration in AVs, while it does not naturally define a high team performance. Subsequently, we provide recommendations to guide future designs of collaborative NDRAs in vehicles.
[Don't] Let The Bodies HIIT The Floor: Fostering Body Awareness in Fast-Paced Physical Activity Using Body-Worn Sensors
Authors: Eska Bettina , Philip Marco , Wozniak Pawel W. , Schmidt Albrecht , Karolus Jakob
Published: September 2023

Technologies have become an integral part of physical activity. Yet, the majority of popular programs do not focus on promoting a genuine understanding of how sport affects our bodies. As apps and trackers persuade users to exercise more, lack of body awareness can be detrimental to health. In this work, we propose and evaluate the concept of in-session reflective feedback as a means to support informed exercise routines by design. We designed and implemented REPLAY, a system which presents users with a visualization of physiological signals (heart rate, movement) from body-worn sensors during high-intensity interval training (HIIT). Our evaluation showed that participants gained a better understanding of how their body reacted to physical activity, allowing them to understand its effect and recognize own weaknesses. Further, our work demonstrates how the type of feedback can significantly moderate a user's perceived exhaustion. We highlight how in-session reflective feedback using bodily signals can promote healthy and effective workouts through creating a deeper understanding of one's own body physiology and limits.
Exploring Opportunities for Multimodality and Multiple Devices in Food Journaling
Authors: Silva Lucas M. , Ankrah Elizabeth A. , Huai Yuqi , Epstein Daniel A.
Published: September 2023

Digital food journaling can support personal goals, such as weight loss and developing healthy eating behaviors. However, traditional manual tracking demands great effort, often leading to lapses or abandonment. We explore opportunities for journaling with multiple input modalities and devices, leveraging people's daily interactions with a range of technologies. We report on an extended analysis of 15 participants' experiences with ModEat, a prototype supporting journaling with several input modalities on phone, computer, and voice assistants. Participants' modality and device preferences were largely influenced by their goals, but they frequently deviated from those preferences depending on device availability, perceived affordances, and characteristics of foods eaten. Participants rarely combined input modalities in entries, but some described that doing so allowed for more detailed journaling or serve as a placeholder for later. We discuss advantages and drawbacks of multimodal tracking and potential strategies for improving interactions.
Frappé: An Ultra Lightweight Mobile UI Framework for Rapid API-based Prototyping and Environmental Deployment
Authors: Rahman Adil , Heo Seongkook
Published: September 2023

QR codes have been used as an inexpensive means to connect users to digital platforms such as websites and mobile applications. However, despite their ubiquity, QR codes are limited in purpose and can only redirect users to the URL contained within it, thereby making their use heavily network dependent which can be unsuitable for use in ephemeral scenarios and areas with limited connectivity. In this paper, we introduce Frappé, a framework capable of deploying ultra lightweight UIs to mobile devices directly through QR codes, without requiring any network connectivity. This is achieved by decomposing the UI into metadata and storing it inside the QR code, while offloading the UI functionality to API calls. We also introduce enFrappé, a WYSIWYG tool for building Frappé UIs. We demonstrate the lightweight nature of our framework through a technical evaluation, whereas the usability of our UI builder tool is demonstrated through a user study.
GeShort: One-Handed Mobile Text Editing and Formatting with Gestural Shortcuts and a Floating Clipboard
Authors: Rakhmetulla Gulnar , Ren Yuan , Arif Ahmed Sabbir
Published: September 2023

GeShort is a novel method for one-handed text editing and formatting on mobile devices. It uses simple rules to facilitate direct cursor positioning, gestural shortcuts inspired by keyboard hotkeys for editing and formatting, and a floating clipboard to enable delayed, repeated, and block editing. A comparison between GeShort and the default Google keyboard revealed that users perform editing and formatting tasks about 11% and 22% faster, respectively, with GeShort. This is achieved by significantly reducing selection time by 11% and action time by 17%. A second study comparing the clipboard features of the two methods revealed that users perform advanced editing tasks 34% faster with GeShort. Besides, participants find GeShort less onerous in mental demand, physical demand, and effort, which likely contribute to the overall performance gain. They also perceive GeShort as faster and easier to use, feel that its functions are better integrated, thus want to keep using it on their devices.
VR-Hiking: Physical Exertion Benefits Mindfulness and Positive Emotions in Virtual Reality
Authors: Haliburton Luke , Pirker Benedikt , Holinski Paolo , Schmidt Albrecht , Wozniak Pawel W. , Hoppe Matthias
Published: September 2023

Exploring the great outdoors offers physical and mental health benefits. Hiking is healthy, provides a sense of accomplishment, and offers an opportunity to relax. However, a nature trip is not always possible, and there is a lack of evidence showing how these beneficial experiences can be replicated in Virtual Reality (VR). In response, we recruited (N=24) participants to explore a virtual mountain landscape in a within-subjects study with different levels of exertion: walking, using a chairlift, and teleporting. We found that physical exertion when walking produced significantly more positive emotions and mindfulness than other conditions. Our research shows that physically demanding outdoor activities in VR can be beneficial for the user and that the achievement of hiking up a virtual mountain on a treadmill positively impacts wellbeing. We demonstrate how physical exertion can be used to add mindfulness and positive affect to VR experiences and discuss consequences for VR designers.
PAWS: Personalized Arm and Wrist Movements With Sensitivity Mappings for Controller-Free Locomotion in Virtual Reality
Authors: Chowdhury Sohan , Delamare William , Irani Pourang , Hasan Khalad
Published: September 2023

Virtual Reality (VR) headsets equipped with multiple cameras enable hands-only teleportation techniques without requiring any physical controller. Hands-only teleportation is an effective alternative to controllers for navigation tasks in virtual reality - allowing users to move from one point to another instantaneously. However, the current implementation of hands-only techniques does not consider users' physical attributes (e.g., arm's reach). Thus, a hands-only teleportation technique can lead to different user experiences based on physical attributes. We propose PAWS, a personalized arm and wrist-based teleportation technique that incorporates users' physical attributes for improved teleportation experiences. We first evaluate different degrees of teleportation personalization with no-, partial, and full personalization. We find that full personalization offers faster locomotion - but at the cost of degraded performances with distant targets due to increased sensitivity. We hence further explore different combinations of mapping functions (e.g., sigmoid, quadratic) to personalize motor movements and find that asymmetric functions result in improved performance. Overall, our results show that PAWS helps users to navigate quickly in virtual environments.
Reality Anchors: Bringing Cues from Reality to Increase Acceptance of Immersive Technologies in Transit
Authors: Bajorunaite Laura , Brewster Stephen , Williamson Julie R.
Published: September 2023

Immersive technologies allow us to control and customise how we experience reality, but are not widely used in transit due to safety, social acceptability, and comfort barriers. We propose that cues from reality can create reference points in virtuality, which we call Reality Anchors, will reduce these barriers. We used simulated public transportation journeys in a lab setting to explore Reality Anchors using speculative methods in two studies. Our first study (N=20) explored how elements of reality like objects, furniture, and people could be used as anchors, demonstrating that visibility of other passengers and personal belongings could reduce barriers. Our second study (N=19) focused on journey types that emerged from the first study - self-managed vs. externally managed journeys - revealing that self-managed journeys increased the need for anchors. We conclude that Reality Anchors can reduce concerns associated with immersive technology use in transit, especially for self-managed journeys.
SensCon: Embedding Physiological Sensing into Virtual Reality Controllers
Authors: Chiossi Francesco , Kosch Thomas , Menghini Luca , Villa Steeven , Mayer Sven
Published: September 2023

Virtual reality experiences increasingly use physiological data for virtual environment adaptations to evaluate user experience and immersion. Previous research required complex medical-grade equipment to collect physiological data, limiting real-world applicability. To overcome this, we present SensCon for skin conductance and heart rate data acquisition. To identify the optimal sensor location in the controller, we conducted a first study investigating users' controller grasp behavior. In a second study, we evaluated the performance of SensCon against medical-grade devices in six scenarios regarding user experience and signal quality. Users subjectively preferred SensCon in terms of usability and user experience. Moreover, the signal quality evaluation showed satisfactory accuracy across static, dynamic, and cognitive scenarios. Therefore, SensCon reduces the complexity of capturing and adapting the environment via real-time physiological data. By open-sourcing SensCon, we enable researchers and practitioners to adapt their virtual reality environment effortlessly. Finally, we discuss possible use cases for virtual reality-embedded physiological sensing.
Single-tap Latency Reduction with Single- or Double- tap Prediction
Authors: Nishida Naoto , Ikematsu Kaori , Sato Junichi , Yamanaka Shota , Tsubouchi Kota
Published: September 2023

Touch surfaces are widely utilized for smartphones, tablet PCs, and laptops (touchpad), and single and double taps are the most basic and common operations on them. The detection of single or double taps causes the single-tap latency problem, which creates a bottleneck in terms of the sensitivity of touch inputs. To reduce the single-tap latency, we propose a novel machine-learning-based tap prediction method called PredicTaps. Our method predicts whether a detected tap is a single tap or the first contact of a double tap without having to wait for the hundreds of milliseconds conventionally required. We present three evaluations and one user evaluation that demonstrate its broad applicability and usability for various tap situations on two form factors (touchpad and smartphone). The results showed PredicTaps reduces the single-tap latency from 150--500 ms to 12 ms on laptops and to 17.6 ms on smartphones without reducing usability.
Studying the Visual Representation of Microgestures
Authors: Lambert Vincent , Chaffangeon Caillet Adrien , Goguey Alix , Malacria Sylvain , Nigay Laurence
Published: September 2023

The representations of microgestures are essentials for researchers presenting their results through academic papers and system designers proposing tutorials to novice users. However, those representations remain disparate and inconsistent. As a first attempt to investigate how to best graphically represent microgestures, we created 21 designs, each depicting static and dynamic versions of 4 commonly used microgestures (tap, swipe, flex and hold). We first studied these designs in a quantitative online experiment with 45 participants. We then conducted a qualitative laboratory experiment in Augmented Reality with 16 participants. Based on the results, we provide design guidelines on which elements of a microgesture should be represented and how. In particular, it is recommended to represent the actuator and the trajectory of a microgesture. Also, although preferred by users, dynamic representations are not considered better than their static counterparts for depicting a microgesture and do not necessarily result in a better user recognition.
Tap to Sign: Towards using American Sign Language for Text Entry on Smartphones
Authors: Hassan Saad , Glasser Abraham , Shengelia Max , Starner Thad , Forbes Sean , Qualls Nathan , Sepah Sam S.
Published: September 2023

Soon, smartphones may be capable of allowing American Sign Language (ASL) signing and/or fingerspelling for text entry. To explore the usefulness of this approach, we compared emulated fingerspelling recognition with a virtual keyboard for 12 Deaf participants. With practice, fingerspelling is faster (42.5 wpm), potentially has fewer errors (4.02% corrected error rate) and higher throughput (14.2 bits/second), and is as desired as virtual keyboard texting (31.9 wpm; 6.46% corrected error rate; 10.9 bits/second throughput). Our second study recruits another 12 Deaf users at the 2022 National Association for the Deaf conference to compare the walk-up usability of fingerspelling alone, signing, and virtual keyboard text entry for interacting with an emulated mobile assistant. Both signing and virtual keyboard text entry were preferred over fingerspelling.
Typing Behavior is About More than Speed: Users' Strategies for Choosing Word Suggestions Despite Slower Typing Rates
Authors: Lehmann Florian , Kornecki Itto , Buschek Daniel , Feit Anna Maria
Published: September 2023

Mobile word suggestions can slow down typing, yet are still widely used. To investigate the apparent benefits beyond speed, we analyzed typing behavior of 15,162 users of mobile devices. Controlling for natural typing speed (a confounding factor not considered by prior work), we statistically show that slower typists use suggestions more often but are slowed down by doing so. To better understand how these typists leverage suggestions -- if not to improve their speed -- we extract eight usage strategies, including completion, correction, and next-word prediction. We find that word characteristics, such as length or frequency, along with the strategy, are predictive of whether a user will select a suggestion. We show how to operationalize our findings by building and evaluating a predictive model of suggestion selection. Such a model could be used to augment existing suggestion algorithms to consider people's strategic use of word predictions beyond speed and keystroke savings.
User-Aware Rendering: Merging the Strengths of Device- and User-Perspective Rendering in Handheld AR
Authors: Hueber Sebastian , Wilhelm Johannes , Schäfer René , Voelker Simon , Borchers Jan
Published: September 2023

In handheld AR, users have only a small screen to see the augmented scene, making decisions about scene layout and rendering techniques crucial. Traditional device-perspective rendering (DPR) uses the device camera's full field of view, enabling fast scene exploration, but ignoring what the user sees around the device screen. In contrast, user-perspective rendering (UPR) emulates the feeling of looking through the device like a glass pane, which enhances depth perception, but severely limits the field of view in which virtual objects are displayed, impeding scene exploration and search.

We introduce the notion of User-Aware Rendering. By following the principles of UPR, but pretending the device is larger than it actually is, it combines the strengths of UPR and DPR. We present two studies showing that User-Aware AR imitating a 50% larger device successfully achieves both enhanced depth perception and fast scene exploration in typical search and selection tasks.
Capturing Types
Authors: Boruch-Gruszecki Aleksander , Odersky Martin , Lee Edward , Lhoták Ondřej , Brachthäuser Jonathan
Published: September 2023

Type systems usually characterize the shape of values but not their free variables. However, many desirable safety properties could be guaranteed if one knew the free variables captured by values. We describe

CC
< :◻

, a calculus where such captured variables are succinctly represented in types, and show it can be used to safely implement effects and effect polymorphism via scoped capabilities. We discuss how the decision to track captured variables guides key aspects of the calculus, and show that

CC
< :◻

  admits simple and intuitive types for common data structures and their typical usage patterns. We demonstrate how these ideas can be used to guide the implementation of capture checking in a practical programming language.
Extensible Proof Systems for Infinite-State Systems
Authors: Cleaveland Rance , Keiren Jeroen J. A.
Published: September 2023

This article revisits soundness and completeness of proof systems for proving that sets of states in infinite-state labeled transition systems satisfy formulas in the modal mu-calculus in order to develop proof techniques that permit the seamless inclusion of new features in this logic. Our approach relies on novel results in lattice theory, which give constructive characterizations of both greatest and least fixpoints of monotonic functions over complete lattices. We show how these results may be used to reason about the sound and complete tableau method for this problem due to Bradfield and Stirling. We also show how the flexibility of our lattice-theoretic basis simplifies reasoning about tableau-based proof strategies for alternative classes of systems. In particular, we extend the modal mu-calculus with timed modalities, and prove that the resulting tableau method is sound and complete for timed transition systems.
How to Engineer eLearning: An evidence-based human-centered design process for modern times
Authors: Wilson Douglas A.
Published: September 2023

This review highlights
Learning Engineering Toolkit: Evidenced-based Practices from The Learning Sciences, Instructional Design, and Beyond
edited by Jim Goodell and Janet Kolodner.
Learning Engineering Toolkit
serves as a detailed field guide to the collaborative and interdisciplinary aspects of learning engineering. Using an e-Learning and instructional design perspective, this review critically examines the core of the book's message; a foundational definition for learning engineering; and associated themes, strategies, and tools used to illuminate this promising field.
Detecting Deepfake Videos using Spatiotemporal Trident Network
Authors: Lin Kaihan , Han Weihong , Li Shudong , Gu Zhaoquan , Zhao Huimin , Mei Yangyang
Published: September 2023

The widespread dissemination of Deepfake in social networks has posed serious security risks, thus necessitating the development of an effective Deepfake detection technique. Currently, video-based detectors have not been explored as extensively as image-based detectors. Most existing video-based methods only consider temporal features without combining spatial features, and do not mine deeper-level subtle forgeries, resulting in limited detection performance. In this paper, a novel
spatiotemporal trident network (STN)
is proposed to detect both spatial and temporal inconsistencies of Deepfake videos. Since there is a large amount of redundant information in Deepfake video frames, we introduce
convolutional block attention module (CBAM)
on the basis of the I3D network and optimize the structure to make the network better focus on the meaningful information of the input video. Aiming at the defects in the deeper-level subtle forgeries, we designed three
feature extraction modules (FEMs)
of RGB, optical flow, and noise to further extract deeper video frame information. Extensive experiments on several well-known datasets demonstrate that our method has promising performance, surpassing several state-of-the-art Deepfake video detection methods.
The Implications of Particle Morphology on the Capacity Retention, Side Reactions, and Impedance Build-Up of Nickel-Rich NCMs upon Cycling in Full-Cells: Poly- vs. Single-Crystalline NCM851005
Authors: Oswald Stefan , Bock Moritz , Gasteiger Hubert A.
Published: September 2023

The rising interest in single-crystalline NCMs (LiMO2, M = Ni, Co, Mn) has generated numerous publications which feature promising results in terms of cycle-life improvement when compared to the conventional polycrystalline analogues. To elucidate the effect of the two morphologies on the capacity retention and the internal resistance, this study aims to discriminate the effect of different degradation phenomena of polycrystalline and single-crystalline NCM851005 (LiNi0.85Co0.10Mn0.05O2) in coin full-cells cycled against graphite anodes. The impact of the particle morphology is analyzed over the course of more than 200 charge/discharge cycles for two temperatures of 25 and 45 °C, applying 4.1 or 4.4 V as upper cutoff voltages. The morphology-dependent surface area changes, resulting mainly from the tendency of polycrystalline NCMs towards particle cracking upon calendering, charging, and extended cycling, are quantified via krypton-gas physisorption, and the consequences of particle cracking regarding the amount of gas evolution, transition-metal dissolution, loss of lithium inventory, and resistance build-up are evaluated. In particular, the pronounced cathode impedance build-up of polycrystalline NCMs, investigated by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy using a micro-reference electrode in full-cells, exposes the impact of particle cracking and the induced electronic resistances within a secondary agglomerate on the rate capability.
New Insights into Co-Administration of Anti-Tuberculosis Drug Rifampicin with Acetaminophen and Vitamin C: Strong Electrochemical Evidence for the Detoxification
Authors: Zivari-Moshfegh Faezeh , Nematollahi Davood
Published: September 2023

In order to discover more information about the toxic metabolites formed from the oxidation of rifampicin and acetaminophen in the body, the electrochemical oxidation of these drugs together and also in the presence of vitamin C was studied. This work has led to strong evidence of a catalytic reaction between vitamin C and the oxidized form of rifampicin. Also, contrary to the published reports, the results of this study have discovered another catalytic reaction between oxidized acetaminophen and rifampicin. The results of this study can be used to prevent the toxic effects of rifampicin and acetaminophen and/or prevent the poor bioavailability of these drugs.
Research on Improvement of Detection of Pb2+ in Environment Waters by Graphene/Nafion Modified Glassy Carbon Electrode
Authors: Pu Sudan , Wang Ruonan , Bai Xuehua , Li Shurong , Meng Peijun , Luo Lixia
Published: September 2023

An electrochemical determination of Pb2+ by cyclic voltammetry, differential pulse voltammetry and differential pulse anodic stripping voltammetry in various waters using a glassy carbon electrode modified with graphene/Nafion mixture has been developed. A series of optimum conditions such as graphene concentration, modifying amount, Nafion concentration, scanning speed, pH, accumulation potential and time were optimized. Under optimal experiments, some evaluation indexes were analyzed. Graphene/Nafion/GCE was successfully used in the detection and quantification of Pb2+ in various real water samples using three methods above. Differential pulse anodic stripping voltammetry method that is adopted to study the linear range and the detection limit for Pb2+ proved to be more effective than the other two. The wider range is 0.02∼24.15 μM, the lower detection limit is 5.1 mM and the recovery is 96.1%∼109.0%. To sum up, it will provide a theoretical basis and the practical method for the analysis of heavy metal polltants in different kinds of water.
Assessment of the incretin effect in healthy subjects: concordance between clamp and OGTT methods
Authors: Aulinger Benedikt A. , D’Alessio David A.
Published: September 2023

This proof-of-concept study shows that the incretin effect can be reliably assessed by two different methods with similar quantitative results. A single-day hyperglycemic clamp with oral glucose ingestion allows the determination of the incretin effect with fewer study days and less day-to-day variability.
The differential effect of age on upper limb sensory processing, proprioception, and motor function
Authors: Saenen Leen , Verheyden Geert , Orban de Xivry Jean-Jacques
Published: September 2023

Sensory processing consists in the integration and interpretation of sensory information by the brain over time and can be affected by lesion while proprioception remains intact. We investigated how sensory processing can be used to reproduce and identify shapes. We showed that the effect of age on sensory processing is more pronounced than its effect on proprioception or motor function. Age and cognition are related to sensory processing, not proprioception or motor function.
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease in Cameroon: Prevalence and Predictors—A Multisetting Community-Based Study
Authors: Massongo Massongo , Balkissou Adamou Dodo , Endale Mangamba Laurent-Mireille , Poka Mayap Virginie , Ngah Komo Marie Elisabeth , Nsounfon Abdou Wouoliyou , Kuaban Alain , Pefura Yone Eric Walter
Published: September 2023

Objective. Little is known concerning chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), where the disease remains underdiagnosed. We aimed to estimate its prevalence in Cameroon and look for its predictors. Methods. Adults aged 19 years and older were randomly selected in 4 regions of Cameroon to participate in a cross-sectional community-based study. Data were collected in the participant’s home or place of work. Spirometry was performed on selected participants. COPD was defined as the postbronchodilator forced expiratory volume in 1 second/forced vital capacity ratio

FEV
1
/
FVC

<
lower

limit of normal, using the global lung initiative (GLI) equations for Black people. Binomial logistic regression was used to seek COPD-associated factors. The strength of the association was measured using the adjusted odds ratio (aOR). Results. A total of 5055 participants (median age (25th-75th percentile) = 43 (30–56) years, 54.9% of women) were enrolled. COPD prevalence (95% confidence interval (95% CI)) was 2.9% (2.4, 3.3)%. Independent predictors of COPD (aOR (95% CI)) were a high educational level (4.7 (2.0, 11.1)), living in semiurban or rural locality (1.7 (1.4, 3.0)), tobacco smoking (1.7 (1.1, 2.5)), biomass fuel exposure (1.9 (1.1, 3.3)), experience of dyspnea (2.2 (1.4, 3.5)), history of tuberculosis (3.6 (1.9, 6.7)), and history of asthma (6.3 (3.4, 11.6)). Obesity was protective factor (aOR

95
%
CI

=
0.3

(0.2, 0.5)). Conclusion. The prevalence of COPD was relatively low. Alternative risk factors such as biomass fuel exposure, history of tuberculosis, and asthma were confirmed as predictors.
High-Fat Mouse Model to Explore the Relationship between Abnormal Lipid Metabolism and Enolase in Pancreatic Cancer
Authors: Qin Lin , Sun Kai , Shi Li , Xu Yushan , Zhang Rongping
Published: September 2023

Malignant tumors have become a major social health problem that seriously threatens human health, among which pancreatic cancer has a high degree of malignancy, difficult diagnosis and treatment, short survival time, and high mortality. More and more attention has been paid to abnormal lipid metabolism as a momentous carcinogenesis mechanism. Here, we explored the relationship between abnormal lipid metabolism, enolase, and pancreatic cancer by clinical data analysis. A high-fat mouse model was constructed, and then, a subcutaneous tumorigenesis mouse model of carcinoma of pancreatic cells and a metastatic neoplasm mouse pattern of pancreatic carcinoma cells injected through the tail vein were constructed to explore whether abnormal lipid metabolism affects the progression of pancreatic cancer in mice. We constructed a high-lipid model of pancreatic carcinoma cell lines and knockdown and overexpressed enolase in pancreatic carcinoma cell lines and investigated whether high lipid regulates epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) by upregulating enolase (ENO), thereby promoting the cells of pancreatic carcinoma to invade and migrate. Triglycerides, total cholesterol, free cholesterin, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), and neuron-specific enolase (NSE) from pancreatic cancer patients and nonpancreatic cancer patients were tested. The differences in blood lipids between patients with and without pancreatic carcinoma were compared, and the correlation between blood lipids and neuron-specific enolase was analyzed. We confirmed that the serum triglyceride level of pancreatic cancer patients at initial diagnosis is overtopping nonpancreatic cancer patients, and the neuron-specific enolase level of patients with pancreatic carcinoma is better than nonpancreatic carcinoma sufferers. Triglyceride level is positively correlated with neuron-specific enolase level, and serum triglyceride level has predictive value for pancreatic cancer. Hyperlipidemia can promote tumor growth and increase the expression levels of ENO1, ENO2, and ENO3 in subcutaneous tumor formation of pancreatic cancer in mice. Additional hyperlipidemia promoted pancreatic carcinoma metastasis in the lung in mice injected through the tail vein, which confirmed that hyperlipidemia accelerated the process of EMT by increasing the expression of ENO1, ENO2, and ENO3, therefore promoting the pancreatic cancer cell metastasis.
Availability and Utilization of Psychosocial Services for Breast Cancer Patients in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia: A Mixed Method Study
Authors: Wondimagegnehu Abigiya , Abebe Workeabeba , Hirpa Selamawit , Kantelhardt Eva J. , Addissie Adamu , Zebrack Bradley , Teferra Solomon
Published: September 2023

The provision of psychosocial services has a substantial impact on cancer care by reducing emotional distress and improving both the quality of life and survival of patients, but the availability and utilization of such services have not been well studied in developing countries, particularly, Ethiopia. Therefore, we explored the types of psychosocial services available for breast cancer patients in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. A mixed method study was conducted using a cross-sectional survey involving 428 breast cancer patients, followed by a qualitative study. A total of nine in-depth interviews (IDIs) were conducted with four breast cancer patients and five key informants using two separate interview guides. In addition to descriptive statistics, logistic regression was performed to identify factors associated with the provision of psychosocial services. Thematic analysis was used for the qualitative data, using NVivo 12 plus software. Only 47 (11.1%) patients received psychosocial services in the form of counselling, emotional support, or information provision. Health professionals reportedly provided such services along with their routine activities, and patients predominantly received social/emotional support from family members, friends, and colleagues. There were no well-structured counselling services, emotional support, or group discussion sessions for breast cancer patients in these health facilities. The main reasons for not providing these services were high patient flow/workload, inadequate space, lack of training, and not having qualified professionals to organise and deliver psychosocial services in these hospitals. Only one in ten breast cancer patients received psychosocial services from health professionals, and the services were not delivered in a structured way. Therefore, psychosocial services should be integrated in both private and government health facilities in Ethiopia.
Development and Content Validation of a Brief French Tool for Self-Assessment of Supportive and Palliative Care Needs in Patients with Cancer: The ACCOmPAgNE Tool
Authors: Chaumier François , Hardouin Jean-Benoit , Bourdon Marianne
Published: September 2023

Objective. This study aimed to develop and perform a content validation of a brief French tool for self-assessment of supportive and palliative care needs in patients with cancer, using four different approaches: issue’s importance, problem intensity, problem burden, and expressed need for help. Methods. Items, questions, and response scales were based on a literature review and discussions within a multidisciplinary scientific committee. A panel of experts evaluated the relevance, comprehensiveness, and comprehensibility of each item and question using the Delphi method. These properties were also assessed through cognitive debriefing interviews with cancer patients. Results. Eleven domains were selected from the literature review: physical, role, social, psychological, patient care and support, healthcare, information, financial, activities of daily living, spirituality, and sexuality. A scientific committee created 15 items and five questions. Two Delphi rounds were required to reach a consensus among the 29 experts on a pilot version. Twenty-three cancer patients were involved in the cognitive debriefing interviews. All items and questions were considered as relevant. Acceptability was good, and four items were reformulated based on patients’ comments. Conclusion. This brief French tool has a very good content validity and can be used in clinical practice.
FIGURE 6 from Serum Free Fatty Acid Changes Caused by High Expression of Stearoyl-CoA Desaturase 1 in Tumor Tissues Are Early Diagnostic Markers for Ovarian Cancer
Authors: Katoh Kanoko , Katoh Yuki , Kubo Akiko , Iida Miho , Ikeda Yuji , Iwata Takashi , Nishio Hiroshi , Sugawara Masaki , Kato Daiki , Suematsu Makoto , Hirai Shuichi , Kawana Kei
Published: September 2023

Development of the stage I/II ovarian cancer detection model using serum FFAs levels. Diagnostic performance of the diagnostic index using FA18:1 and FA20:0 in the discovery (A) and validation (B) sets. Left: Comparison between healthy donor (HD) and patients with stage I/II ovarian cancer (Ov Pt). Right: ROC analysis. Threshold was set by calculating Youden index by ROC analysis using the discovery set. C, ROC analysis with cross-validation method applied to the complete dataset. D, Diagnostic performance of diagnostic index using CA125 on the discovery (left) and validation (right) sets. E, Test performance of DI (CA125) and DI (FA18:1, FA20:0) combination. Left: Patients with stage I/II ovarian cancer (n = 30) were diagnosed using DI (CA125) values. Black dots indicate true positive and red (clear cell), blue (serous), green (mucinous), and white (others) dots indicate false negative. Right: Patients with a false negative diagnosis by DI (CA125; n = 10) were successfully diagnosed using DI (FA18:1, FA20:0). ****, P < 0.0001.
FIGURE 3 from Serum Free Fatty Acid Changes Caused by High Expression of Stearoyl-CoA Desaturase 1 in Tumor Tissues Are Early Diagnostic Markers for Ovarian Cancer
Authors: Katoh Kanoko , Katoh Yuki , Kubo Akiko , Iida Miho , Ikeda Yuji , Iwata Takashi , Nishio Hiroshi , Sugawara Masaki , Kato Daiki , Suematsu Makoto , Hirai Shuichi , Kawana Kei
Published: September 2023

Correlation between SCD1 gene expression in tumor tissue and serum levels of SCD1-related FFAs in patients with ovarian cancer. A, Comparison of 18 FFAs in serum between patients with ovarian cancer and healthy donors, summarized in volcano plots. FFAs –log10 (P value) greater than 1.3 were considered significant. Correlation between SCD1 gene expression in ovarian tumor tissue and serum fatty acid ratios, FA16:1/FA16:0 (B) and FA18:1/18:0 (C), representing SCD1 activity, using paired samples (n = 23).
Data from Serum Free Fatty Acid Changes Caused by High Expression of Stearoyl-CoA Desaturase 1 in Tumor Tissues Are Early Diagnostic Markers for Ovarian Cancer
Authors: Katoh Kanoko , Katoh Yuki , Kubo Akiko , Iida Miho , Ikeda Yuji , Iwata Takashi , Nishio Hiroshi , Sugawara Masaki , Kato Daiki , Suematsu Makoto , Hirai Shuichi , Kawana Kei
Published: September 2023

Ovarian cancer has a poor prognosis and is difficult to detect in early stages. Therefore, developing new diagnostic markers for early-stage ovarian cancer is critical. Here, we developed a diagnostic marker for early-stage ovarian cancer on the basis of fatty acid metabolism characteristics of cancer cells. The expression of various fatty acid metabolizing enzymes such as stearoyl-CoA desaturase 1 (SCD1) was altered in early-stage ovarian cancer tissue compared with that in normal ovarian tissue. Changes in the expression of fatty acid metabolizing enzymes, particularly SCD1, in cancer tissues were found to alter concentrations of multiple free fatty acids (FFA) in serum. We were the first to show that fatty acid metabolic characteristics in tissues are related to the FFA composition of serum. Surprisingly, patients with stage I/II ovarian cancer also showed significant changes in serum levels of eight FFAs, which can be early diagnostic markers. Finally, using statistical analysis, an optimal early diagnostic model combining oleic and arachidic acid levels, fatty acids associated with SCD1, was established and confirmed to have higher diagnostic power than CA125, regardless of histology. Thus, our newly developed diagnostic model using serum FFAs may be a powerful tool for the noninvasive early detection of ovarian cancer.
Significance:
Measurement of serum FFA levels by changes in the expression of fatty acid metabolizing enzymes in tumor tissue would allow early detection of ovarian cancer. In particular, the SCD1-associated FFAs, oleic and arachidic acid, would be powerful new screening tools for early-stage ovarian cancer.
Em busca de João Gilberto e Germano Mathias: um possível encontro entre as poéticas de Sérgio Sant'Anna e João Antônio
Authors: Coração Cláudio Rodrigues , Serelle Marcio de Vasconcellos
Published: September 2023

Este ensaio se fundamenta na análise dos contos “O concerto de João Gilberto no Rio de Janeiro”, de Sérgio Sant’Anna, e “Abraçado ao meu rancor”, de João Antônio, para investigar aproximações entre as poéticas desses autores. A partir de diferentes perspectivas sociais, as narrativas convergem na fusão entre fato e ficção, entre autor e narrador e no desafio ao gênero literário. Orquestrados pela experiência fragmentária moderna e em diálogo com a estética de dois compositores brasileiros, João Gilberto (no texto de Sant’Anna) e Germano Mathias (no de João Antônio), os contos tecem a crítica da vida urbana em ruínas.
Experiência exitosa na implantação de projeto piloto de Farmácia Viva em Araraquara-SP
Authors: Moreira Raquel Regina Duarte , Baldo Matheus do Nascimento , Pierri Maria Eduarda Senna , Geanfrancesco Caio , Leite Ana Luiza Mamede , Oliveira José Ricardo Soares de , Silva Érica Tomé da , Fagnani Luciano Roberto , Bertolini Erick Vinicius , Silva Silvani da , Guerrero Ana Maria Quílez
Published: September 2023

O Programa Farmácia Viva (FV) foi planejado com o objetivo de produzir fitoterápicos de qualidade com garantia de segurança e eficácia a partir de plantas medicinais validadas, buscando oferecer uma opção terapêutica, além de desenvolver trabalhos educativos sobre o uso correto de plantas medicinais. Este artigo tem por objetivo descrever a implantação de projeto piloto de FV na Unidade de Saúde da Família (USF) de Araraquara, com a finalidade de oferecer a fitoterapia como recurso terapêutico, promovendo o uso racional de plantas medicinais na Atenção Primária à Saúde (APS), resgatando o saber popular e baseado no conhecimento científico. Foi realizado um levantamento das principais doenças que acometem a população local e, a partir daí, foram selecionadas as plantas medicinais do projeto. Posteriormente iniciou-se o preparo do terreno para cultivo das mudas. Concomitantemente, foram realizadas rodas de conversa, cursos e oficinas com a comunidade e a equipe de saúde da USF sobre preparo de mudas e uso racional de plantas medicinais. Os resultados mostraram que ansiedade, problemas respiratórios, gástricos e inflamação são as patologias que mais acometem a população local. As seguintes espécies foram selecionadas para serem cultivadas: Curcuma longa (cúrcuma), Cymbopogon citratus (capim limão), Lippia alba (lípia), Maytenus ilicifolia (espinheira santa), Mikania glomerata (guaco) e Plectrantus barbatus (boldo nacional), seguindo o Formulário Fitoterápico da Farmacopeia Brasileira. As rodas de conversa, oficinas e cursos possibilitaram à comunidade e equipe de saúde local o acesso às informações científicas, em linguagem simples, valorizando trocas de experiências, descrevendo as plantas medicinais, suas propriedades terapêuticas, forma de preparo, dosagem e contraindicações. As oficinas de chá permitiram aos participantes resgatar a memória afetiva da família, fator importante para o sucesso do projeto FV. A FV é um projeto social que tem demonstrado resgatar a autoestima da comunidade e a capacidade de orientar o uso racional de plantas medicinais, valorizando a fitoterapia como recurso terapêutico de escolha no sistema de saúde.
A autonomia do profissional dentro do processo de cuidado na Atenção Primária”: um sonho realizado por Francine Campolim
Authors: Pierri Maria Eduarda Senna , Moreira Raquel Regina Duarte
Published: September 2023

Nesta entrevista, Francine Campolim fala sobre a experiência da implantação da fitoterapia em Itapeva/SP em colaboração com uma cooperativa local.