bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Association between Assisted Reproductive Technology and the Risk of Autism Spectrum Disorders among Offspring: A Meta-analysis
Authors: Maleki Azam , Jenabi Ensiyeh , Bashirian Saeid , Khazaei Salman , Farhadi Nasab Abdollah
Published: April 2022

Background:

This review aimed to determine the association between assisted reproductive
technology (ART) and increased chances of having an autistic child.

Methods:

The Web of Science, PubMed, and Scopus databases were systematically searched for
studies published until December 2020 with the restricted English language. The Newcastle-Ottawa
Scale (NOS) for cohort and case-control studies has been used for the evaluation of quality in individual
studies. We evaluated the heterogeneity among the studies using I-squared. Publication bias
was assessed using the funnel plot and Egger’s and Begg’s tests. We presented results using odds
ratio (OR) and relative ratio (RR) estimates with its 95% confidence intervals (CI) using a randomeffects
model.

Results:

In total, 18 articles were included in the present study. The overall findings of the present
meta-analysis show that the use of ART didn’t associate with the risk of autism spectrum disorders
(ASD) among offspring based on OR and RR (OR = 1.04, 95% CI: 0.88-1.21) and (RR = 1 .26,
95% CI: 0.96- 1 .55), respectively. We showed a significant association between ART and the risk
of ASD in Asia than in the other regions without heterogeneity.

Conclusion:

Our result showed that the risk of ASD was not increased in children born from ART.
Possible interaction between ART and other regions with increased risk of ASD is important to
point and future studies of this topic were recommended.
The Insights on Why Diabetes Prevalence May Increase Amid or Post
COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: Sibiya Ntethelelo , Mzimela Nomusa , Mbatha Bonisiwe , Ngubane Phikelelani , Khathi Andile
Published: April 2022

Background:

Diabetes mellitus and prediabetes have been shown to be associated with
high rates of developing severe COVID 19 complications resulting in morbidity and mortality.
Emerging reports suggest that COVID 19 is associated with glycaemic control aberrations, although
the extent is not clear at present. Accordingly, in this review, the efforts are directed to shed
light on why we can anticipate an increase in diabetes cases amid or post-COVID 19 pandemic.

Methods:

Articles reviewed were identified using the Google Scholar database, and the search was
done using the English language.

Results:

Previous studies have shown that viral inflammation triggers insulin resistance, which can
progress to overt diabetes. SARS-CoV-2 has also been shown to cause acute pancreatitis, which
can increase the risk of developing diabetes mellitus. The control of the COVID 19 pandemic partly
relied on non-pharmaceutical measures, which included lockdowns. This resulted in a lack of
physical activity and unhealthy eating behaviour, which could contribute to obesity and, ultimately,
insulin resistance.

Conclusion:

While no concrete data has been established on the possibility of seeing an increase in
diabetes prevalence due to COVID 19, studies are necessary to establish the link. Despite the unavailability
of data at present, we suggest that frequent screening of diabetes and prediabetes should
be encouraged, especially in those individuals with a history of COVID 19 infection.
Antiviral Properties of Various Bioactive Components Present in the Root
of Glycyrrhiza glabra: Review
Authors: Joseph J. Noel , Shrivastava Akansha , Benny Bitto , Baig Mohamed Yusuf , Georgine S. Ann , Saral A. Mary
Published: April 2022

The plant, Glycyrrhiza glabra species (liquorice or licorice), a flowering plant of the bean family Fabaceae, is of utmost importance as it contains glycyrrhizin an important antiviral compound along with other significant phytoconstituents like glycyrrhetinic acid, glabrin A&B, triterpene sterols, isoflavones, and many more. Glycyrrhiza glabra has been recognized since time immemorial for its ethnopharmacological values, as it exhibits various pharmacological activities. The crux of this review focuses on the antiviral activity of liquorice against several viruses that pose a severe threat to humankind like herpes simplex virus (HSV), Hepatitis C virus (HCV), H5N1 virus, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), H3N2 virus, influenza, and influenza A virus, pseudorabies virus (PrV), etc. To recapitulate, this review article explains the compilation of data obtained from Scopus indexed journal articles over 5 years ranging from 2015 to 2020, which not only aims to shed light on the application of Glycyrrhiza glabra against human viruses but also on how to develop these responses further to improve the efficacy. Further the review also focuses on of Glycyrrhiza glabra for its potential commercial uses, such as for the treatment of porcine virus in pigs and piglets, is also verified.
Pyrazole Scaffolds: Centrality in Anti-Inflammatory and Antiviral Drug
Design
Authors: Karati Dipanjan , Mahadik Kakasaheb Ramoo , Kumar Dileep
Published: April 2022

Background:

Pyrazole is a component of a diversity of bioactive heterocyclic congeners
with a broad-spectrum range of biological and pharmacological uses. Designing novel pyrazole and
its analogues, revealing new routes for synthesizing this nucleus, exploring various potencies of that
heterocycles, and looking for possible applications of pyrazoles are all becoming more important due
to their numerous potential applications.

Objectives:

Pyrazole scaffolds have been proven to be successful as anti-viral and anti-inflammatory
therapeutics against multiple targets like HSV-1, NNRTI, H1N1, CoX-1, and CoX-2. Due to this
miscellany in the biotic area, this moiety has engrossed the consideration of many scientists to study
chemistry and pharmacological profile.

Results:

The review encompasses pyrazole having various scaffolds with multiple biological activities
and attempts have also been made to correlate their structure-activity relationship. Multiple pyrazole
correspondents have been synthesized as lead molecules and performed valuation for their actions.

Conclusion:

The incorporation of pyrazole with other pharmacophores in the molecule might lead to
novel potent therapeutic agents that will further help in designing potent lead molecules.
Potential for Application of Lignin Based Micro/Nanostructures as a
Micro/Nanocarrier in the Controlled Release Systems: A Review
Authors: Babapoor Aziz , Morad Samira , Azizi Mohammad Mehdi , Movasaghi Mina
Published: April 2022

Background:

A promising strategy is to apply biodegradable and biocompatibility
lignin micro/nanoparticles (LMPs/LNPs) as carriers or coating materials for biological active
agent delivery in agriculture medicine and pharmaceuticals. Controlled release systems (CRSs)
based on LMPs/LNPs are suitable systems to target specific tissues, cells, or plant roots by taking
advantage of the unique properties of LMPs/LNPs.

Methods:

This review discusses changes in the properties of LNPs caused by different parameters
in the synthesis method, such as the type of biologically active agent, loading/release method,
modification method, encapsulation efficiency, and release rate of the CRSs based on
LMPs/LNPs. Results: Research shows that during the LMPs/LNPs synthesis, nanospheres with a
porous surface, nanocapsules, or hollow nanospheres with excellent stability and chemical properties
are produced, which causes high loading capacity and reduced release rates of active
agents. Moreover, the advantages and technical challenges of lignin application as a micro/
nanocarrier were investigated.

Conclusion:

Finally, several suggestions for the future trend of research and development were
recommended.
Stem Cells in Bone Repair and Regeneration
Authors: Berika Mohamed , El-Hashash Ahmed H.K.
Published: April 2022

Bones normally function to provide both mechanical and locomotion supports in the body.
They are highly specialized connective tissues that are characterized by mineralized extracellular components,
which provide both rigidity and strength to bones. Stem cells hold great potentials for both the
repair and regeneration of different tissue types, including bone tissues. The future use of stem cell therapy
is promising for developing regenerative medicine approaches to treat disorders and diseases in a wide
range of tissues such as cartilages and bones. Data have been accumulated recently on the application of
different stem cell types in bone repair, regeneration, and disorders. In this article, we briefly describe the
bone structure and review research progress and recently accumulated data on stem cell differentiation
into osteoblasts as well as discuss the contributions of stem cell types to bone and cartilage repair, regeneration,
and disease.
Preclinical Studies on Neural Stem/Progenitor Cell Therapy for Ischemic
Stroke: A Systematic Review
Authors: Zhang Mengze , Wang Kan , Xue Chunran , Xie Chong , Wang Ze , Song Yaying , Yu Haojun , Hao Yong , Guan Yangtai
Published: April 2022

Background:

Neural stem/progenitor cells (NSPCs) transplantation has been recognized in
recent years as an effective strategy for the treatment of ischemic stroke. Several preclinical studies have
demonstrated the feasibility, safety, and efficacy of NSPCs therapy.

Method:

We conducted a systematic review of the published literature in Pubmed reporting the use of
NSPCs in preclinical studies between 2010 and 2021. Based on the articles reporting data, the key factors
affecting efficacy were listed.

Results:

A total of 71 preclinical studies, including 91 treatment arms, were identified. The results
showed that several factors could influence the outcomes of NSPCs transplantation, including the type of
donor cells, cell dose, time of administration after stroke, delivery route, and anesthetic. Treatment outcomes
were measured by infarct volume, behavioral tests, and molecular and cellular level results.

Conclusion:

Most of the preclinical studies reported statistically significant effects and very few adverse
reactions. Transplantation of NSPCs for ischemic stroke still needs to be optimized for several key factors.
A standardized treatment outcome assessment could ease the translation of evidence in clinical settings.
Thiazolopyrimidine Scaffold as a Promising Nucleus for Developing Anticancer
Drugs: A Review Conducted in Last Decade
Authors: Islam Md. Rabiul , Fahmy Hesham
Published: April 2022

The thiazolopyrimidine nucleus is a bioisosteric analog of purine and an important class of N-containing
heterocycles. Thiazolopyrimidine scaffolds are considered a promising class of bioactive compounds that encompass
diverse biological activities, such as antibacterial, antiviral, antifungal, anticancer, corticotrophin-releasing factor antagonists,
anti-inflammatory, antituberculosis, and glutamic receptors antagonists. Despite the importance of thiazolopyrimidines
from a pharmacological viewpoint, there is hardly a comprehensive review on this important heterocyclic
nucleus. Throughout the years, those scaffolds have been studied extensively for its anticancer properties and
several compounds were designed, synthesized, and evaluated for their anticancer effects with activity in the μM to nM
range. However, there are hardly any reviews covering the anticancer effects of thiazolopyrimidines.
In this review, an effort was made to compile literature covering the anticancer activity of thiazolopyrimidines reported
in the last decade (2010-2020). Nearly thirty articles were reviewed and compounds with IC50 < 50 μM against at least
50% of the used cell lines were listed in this review. The best ten compounds (10a, 14b, 17g, 18, 25e, 25k, 34e, 41i,
49a and 49c) showing the best anticancer activity against the corresponding cell lines during the last 10 years are highlighted.
By highlighting the most active compounds, this review article sheds light on the structural features associated with the
strongest anticancer effects to provide guidance for future research aiming to develop anticancer molecules.
Ontology Evaluation Tools: Current and Future Research
Authors: Debnath Narayan C. , Patel Archana
Published: April 2022

In recent years, the increasing interest in ontologies resulted in the developing and publishing of many ontologies in the same or different domains. When users try to reuse the existing ontologies in their applications, they may encounter problems determining the most appropriate ontology based on their needs. Ontology evaluation is a process that helps users to examine the quality of the ontology based on different attributes. Many accessible and usable tools for ontology evaluation have been studied in the literature. However, finding an efficient ontology evaluation tool, following ontology specifications and their requirements (advantages/disadvantages), is still missing, limiting the researchers from determining possible future research. This paper aims to help new researchers and practitioners identify appropriate ontology evaluation tools based on their requirements and provide guidelines for future research directions on the same topic. This paper provides a detailed description of the different types of ontologies and classifies the available ontology evaluation tools into two categories, namely domain dependant ontology evaluation tools and domain-independent ontology evaluation tools.
A Novel Method for the Syntheses of Imidazo-Thiadiazoles as Potential
Antioxidants and Anti-Inflammatory Agents
Authors: Raut Dattatraya G. , Bhosale Raghunath B. , Lawand Anjana S. , Hublikar Mahesh G. , Kadu Vikas D. , Patil Sandeep B.
Published: April 2022

Background:

A literature survey revealed that many imidazo-thiadiazole molecules were used as key intermediates for the development of novel drugs. The synthesized imidazo-thiadiazole derivatives were tested for their in vitro antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. The purpose of this research paper is to provide readers with information regarding diseases caused by free radicals.

Objective:

The objective of this study is to develop novel antioxidant and anti-inflammatory drugs.

Methods::

Imidazo-thiadiazole derivatives 5a-f were synthesized through cyclo-condensation reactions in two steps. First, the synthesis of 2-amino-thiadiazole derivatives from substituted aromatic carbox-ylic acids and thiosemicarbazide by using POCl3 as a solvent as well as a catalyst was performed. In the next step, imidazo-thiadiazoles were prepared from 2-amino-thiadiazole derivatives with appropri-ate α-haloketones in the presence of polyethylene glycol-300 (PEG-300) as a green solvent. These im-idazo-thiadiazole derivatives were prepared by using a novel method. The synthesized compounds were in vitro tested for their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities.

Results:

In vitro evaluation report showed that nearly all molecules possess potential antioxidant activ-ity against 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), nitric oxide (NO), superoxide radical (SOR), and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) radical scavenging activity. Most of the imidazo-thiadiazole derivatives have shown significant anti-inflammatory activity as compared to diclofenac sodium as a reference standard.

Conclusion:

In the search for novel therapies to treat inflammation and oxidation, we have made efforts to develop anti-inflammatory and antioxidant agents with a preeminent activity. Imidazo-thiadiazoles 5a, 5e as well as 5f showed potential anti-inflammatory activity. All tested imidazo-thiadiazole deriv-atives (5a-f) showed potential antioxidant activity against one more radical scavenging species as com-pared to ascorbic acid as the reference standard. Thus, imidazo-thiadiazole derivatives constitute an interesting template for the design and development of new antioxidant as well as anti-inflammatory agents.
Parametric study of E. coli incidence with reference to the New Zealand freshwater standards and the Manawatū–Whanganui region
Authors: Marsland Stephen , McLachlan Robert , Tuffley Christopher
Published: April 2022

The New Zealand National Policy Statement for Freshwater Management 2020 sets several targets for freshwater quality, six of which are measurements of rivers; others relate to lakes. Each regional council is required to monitor freshwater quality and to respond as prescribed in order to meet the targets. One target of particular public interest  is based on four criteria determined from recent  E. coli readings, and concerns the health risk of swimming in a river. However, the inherent variability of the data makes it difficult to  determine the water quality state and trend reliably, particularly using traditional methods based on percentiles. Therefore, in this study we return to the parametric lognormal model of E. coli distribution, from which the official criteria were developed. We interpret the classification system in terms of the parametric model and show that the parametric model can reduce uncertainty and can incorporate more useful information, especially from very high E. coli readings, and is suitable for censored data. We apply the parametric model for state and trend to 135 sites in the Manawatū–Whanganui region.
Adapted Time Slice Model of Pinch Analysis for Direct-Indirect Heat Recovery in Buildings
Authors:   Department of Mechanical Engineering, Université de Sherbrooke, Québec, Canada, Akbari Hossein , Hosseinnia Seyed Mojtaba ,   Department of Mechanical Engineering, Université de Sherbrooke, Québec, Canada, Sorin Mikhail ,   Department of Mechanical Engineering, Université de Sherbrooke, Québec, Canada, Reddick Christopher ,   Department of Mechanical Engineering, Université de Sherbrooke, Québec, Canada, Laperle Dominic ,   Intégration Construction Inc., 147, rue Cynthia, Saint-Alphonse-de-Granby, Québec J0E 2A0, Canada
Published: April 2022

Heat integration techniques such as pinch analysis can play a significant role in saving energy in the design of buildings. The application of pinch analysis in this sector encounters difficulties due to the highly time-dependent behavior of energy streams such as waste heat and solar thermal collectors, as well as the possible need for heat storage units (HSUs). The existing pinch models in the literature either bear little relation to reality because they ignore the time dependency of the streams, or they do not respect the pinch analysis minimum temperature difference of the system, which leads to temperature penalties. This study introduces a novel and straightforward adapted time slice model of pinch analysis, beneficial for energy targeting in buildings. First, an algorithm for the selection of the appropriate time slice duration is proposed. Then, additional steps are embedded in the conventional problem table algorithm to account for both direct heat transfer (co-existing streams) and indirect heat transfer (time mismatched streams requiring thermal energy storage). i.e., the modified table includes both external and internal streams, respectively. The detailed application of the proposed model is demonstrated through the analysis of a direct-indirect heat recovery system for a residential test building equipped with waste heat and solar energy, considering a summer’s day. This case study, or sample calculation, determines the HSU specifications, including their design temperatures and volumes. A heat exchanger evaluation quantifies both their number and their thermal conductances, which are an economic indicator of the system capital cost.
Where Opioid Overdose Patients Live Far From Treatment: Geospatial Analysis of Underserved Populations in New York State
Authors: Abell-Hart Kayley , Rashidian Sina , Teng Dejun , Rosenthal Richard N , Wang Fusheng
Published: April 2022

Background

Opioid addiction and overdose have a large burden of disease and mortality in New York State (NYS). The medication naloxone can reverse an overdose, and buprenorphine can treat opioid use disorder. Efforts to increase the accessibility of both medications include a naloxone standing order and a waiver program for prescribing buprenorphine outside a licensed drug treatment program. However, only a slim majority of NYS pharmacies are listed as participating in the naloxone standing order, and less than 7% of prescribers in NYS have a buprenorphine waiver. Therefore, there is a significant opportunity to increase access.

Objective

Identifying the geographic regions of NYS that are farthest from resources can help target interventions to improve access to naloxone and buprenorphine. To maximize the efficiency of such efforts, we also sought to determine where these underserved regions overlap with the largest numbers of actual patients who have experienced opioid overdose.

Methods

We used address data to assess the spatial distribution of naloxone pharmacies and buprenorphine prescribers. Using the home addresses of patients who had an opioid overdose, we identified geographic locations of resource deficits. We report findings at the high spatial granularity of census tracts, with some neighboring census tracts merged to preserve privacy.

Results

We identified several hot spots, where many patients live far from the nearest resource of each type. The highest density of patients in areas far from naloxone pharmacies was found in eastern Broome county. For areas far from buprenorphine prescribers, we identified subregions of Oswego county and Wayne county as having a high number of potentially underserved patients.

Conclusions

Although NYS is home to thousands of naloxone pharmacies and potential buprenorphine prescribers, access is not uniform. Spatial analysis revealed census tract areas that are far from resources, yet contain the residences of many patients who have experienced opioid overdose. Our findings have implications for public health decision support in NYS. Our methods for privacy can also be applied to other spatial supply-demand problems involving sensitive data.
Current and Future Needs for Human Resources for Ethiopia’s National Health Information System: Survey and Forecasting Study (Preprint)
Authors: Tilahun Binyam , Endehabtu Berhanu F , Gashu Kassahun D , Mekonnen Zeleke A , Animut Netsanet , Belay Hiwot , Denboba Wubshet , Alemu Hibret , Mohammed Mesoud , Abate Biruk
Published: April 2022

BACKGROUND

Strengthening the national health information system is one of Ethiopia’s priority transformation agendas. A well-trained and competent workforce is the essential ingredient to a strong health information system. However, this workforce has neither been quantified nor characterized well, and there is no roadmap of required human resources to enhance the national health information system.

OBJECTIVE

We aimed to determine the current state of the health information system workforce and to forecast the human resources needed for the health information system by 2030.

METHODS

We conducted a survey to estimate the current number of individuals employed in the health information system unit and the turnover rate. Document review and key-informant interviews were used to collect current human resources and available health information system position data from 110 institutions, including the Ministry of Health, federal agencies, regional health bureaus, zonal health departments, district health offices, and health facilities. The Delphi technique was used to forecast human resources required for the health information system in the next ten years: 3 rounds of workshops with experts from the Ministry of Health, universities, agencies, and regional health bureaus were held. In the first expert meeting, we set criteria, which was followed by expert suggestions and feedback.

RESULTS

As of April 2020, there were 10,344 health information system professionals working in the governmental health system. Nearly 95% (20/21) of district health offices and 86.7% (26/30) of health centers reported that the current number of health information system positions was inadequate. In the period from June 2015 to June 2019, health information technicians had high turnover (48/244, 19.7%) at all levels of the health system. In the next ten years, we estimate that 50,656 health information system professionals will be needed to effectively implement the Ethiopia's national health information system.

CONCLUSIONS

Current health information system–related staffing levels were found to be inadequate. To meet the estimated need of 50,656 multidisciplinary health information system professionals by 2030, the Ministry of Health and regional health bureaus, in collaboration with partners and academic institutions, need to work on retaining existing and training additional health information system professionals.
Assessment of a Mobile Health iPhone App for Semiautomated Self-management of Chronic Recurrent Medical Conditions Using an N-of-1 Trial Framework: Feasibility Pilot Study (Preprint)
Authors: Mande Archana , Moore Susan L , Banaei-Kashani Farnoush , Echalier Benjamin , Bull Sheana , Rosenberg Michael A
Published: April 2022

BACKGROUND

Management of chronic recurrent medical conditions (CRMCs), such as migraine headaches, chronic pain, and anxiety/depression, remains a major challenge for modern providers. Our team has developed an edge-based, semiautomated mobile health (mHealth) technology called iMTracker that employs the N-of-1 trial approach to allow self-management of CRMCs.

OBJECTIVE

This study examines the patterns of adoption, identifies CRMCs that users selected for self-application, and explores barriers to use of the iMTracker app.

METHODS

This is a feasibility pilot study with internet-based recruitment that ran from May 15, 2019, to December 23, 2020. We recruited 180 patients to pilot test the iMTracker app for user-selected CRMCs for a 3-month period. Patients were administered surveys before and after the study.

RESULTS

We found reasonable usage rates: a total of 73/103 (70.9%) patients who were not lost to follow-up reported the full 3-month use of the app. Most users chose to use the iMTracker app to self-manage chronic pain (other than headaches; 80/212, 37.7%), followed by headaches in 36/212 (17.0%) and mental health (anxiety and depression) in 27/212 (12.8%). The recurrence rate of CRMCs was at least weekly in over 93% (169/180) of patients, with 36.1% (65/180) of CRMCs recurring multiple times in a day, 41.7% (75/180) daily, and 16.1% (29/180) weekly. We found that the main barriers to use were the design and technical function of the app, but that use of the app resulted in an improvement in confidence in the efficiency and safety/privacy of this approach.

CONCLUSIONS

The iMTracker app provides a feasible platform for the N-of-1 trial approach to self-management of CRMCs, although internet-based recruitment provided limited follow-up, suggesting that in-person evaluation may be needed. The rate of CRMC recurrence was high enough to allow the N-of-1 trial assessment for most traits.
Social Media, Public Health, and Community Mitigation of COVID-19: Challenges, Risks, and Benefits (Preprint)
Authors: Basch Corey H , Basch Charles E , Hillyer Grace C , Meleo-Erwin Zoe C
Published: April 2022

UNSTRUCTURED

Shortly after the first case reports in 2019, COVID-19 was declared a pandemic. Early messages from trusted experts, which later proved to be inadequate or incorrect, highlight the need for continual adjustment of messages to the public as scientific knowledge evolves. During this time, social media exploded with greatly sought-after information, some of which was misinformation based on incomplete or incorrect facts or disinformation purposefully spread to advance a specific agenda. Because of the nature of social media, information, whether accurate or not at the time posted, lives on and remains accessible to the public even when its usefulness has been discredited. While the impact of mis/disinformation on COVID-19 risk-reducing behaviors is debatable, it is clear that social media has played a significant role in both extending the reach of COVID-19–related falsehoods and promoting evidence-based content. Over the last decade, social media has become a dominant source of information that consumers turn to for health information. A great deal of misinformation and disinformation has reached large numbers of social media users, which points to a need for the agencies of the US Public Health Service to create communications to convey accurate and current information and appeals that will actually be viewed. This viewpoint highlights the challenges, risks, and potential benefits that social media present in mitigating the COVID-19 pandemic.
Peer Review of “Modeling Years of Life Lost Due to COVID-19, Socioeconomic Status, and Nonpharmaceutical Interventions: Development of a Prediction Model” (Preprint)
Authors: Chakalov Bozhidar
Published: April 2022

UNSTRUCTURED

This is a peer review report related to MS#30144.
Does acute virtual reality exergaming enhance mood and executive function?:A crossover trial (Preprint)
Authors: Ochi Genta , Kuwamizu Ryuta , Fujimoto Tomomi , Ikarashi Koyuki , Yamashiro Koya , Sato Daisuke
Published: April 2022

BACKGROUND

Virtual reality (VR) exergaming is a new intervention strategy to help humans engage in physical activity to enhance mood. VR exergaming may improve both mood and executive function by acting on the prefrontal cortex, expanding the potential benefits. However, the impact of VR exergaming on executive function has not been fully investigated, and associated intervention strategies have not yet been established.

OBJECTIVE

This study investigated the effects on mood and executive function of 10 minutes of VR exergaming.

METHODS

A total of 12 participants played an exergame, “FitXR” under three conditions: a virtual reality exergame (VR-EX) condition in which they played using a head-mounted display (HMD); playing the exergame in front of a flat display (2D-EX), and a resting condition in which they sat in a chair (RS). The color-word Stroop task (CWST), which assesses executive function, the short form of the Profile of Mood States second edition (POMS2) and the short form of the Two-Dimensional Mood Scale (TDMS), which assess mood, were administered
before and after the exercise or rest conditions.

RESULTS

The VR-EX condition increased the POMS2 vigor-activity score, and the TDMS arousal and vitality scores, suggesting that VR exergaming enhanced mood. Conversely, there was no effect on CWST performance in either the 2D-EX or VR-EX conditions. Interestingly, the VR-EX condition showed a significant positive correlation between changes in CWST arousal and reaction time. This suggests that the exergaming effect on improving executive function may disappear under an excessively increased arousal level in VR exergaming.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings showed that 10 minutes of VR exergaming enhanced mood, but did not affect executive function. This suggests that some VR content may increase cognitive demands, leading to psychological fatigue and cognitive decline (cognitive fatigue) as an individual approaches the limits of available attentional capacity. Although VR exergaming has the potential to induce physical activity by enhancing mood, there is insufficient evidence on executive function effects. To further increase the value of VR exergaming, it is essential to further examine the combination of exercise and VR that enhances both brain function and mood.
Physiotherapy intervention for treating cervicogenic headache by comparing effect of TYPE IV LASER and Myofascial Release in Middle aged population: A Study Protocol (Preprint)
Authors: Thakur Swati , Chahal 2nd Aksh , Shaphe 3rd Mohammad Abu , Alshehri 4th Mohammed M , Alajam 5th Ramzi A , Beg 6th Rashid A , Kothiyal Saumya
Published: April 2022

UNSTRUCTURED

Cervicogenic Headache (CH) is a secondary type of headache which is often unilateral. It radiates to regions such as cervical, occipital, frontal, temporal and pre-orbital. Pain episodes show varying duration of fluctuating or continuous pain. Myofascial Release (MFR) is a therapeutic technique that uses gentle pressure and stretching intending to decrease pain, restore optimized length and facilitate the release of fascial restrictions. High-intensity laser therapy (HILT) is a higher-intensity laser radiation that is a new painless and powerful modality that has significant results in pain reduction. The study is a pre-test post-test experimental in which 30 subjects will be divided into two groups based on block randomisation (Group A- Myofascial release) (Group B - Type IV LASER). The experimental evidence to support the claim of effectiveness of Type IV LASER in Cervicogenic Headache is not sufficient in terms of therapeutic effects. The aim of this study is to compare effectiveness of Type IV LASER and Myofascial Release in reducing the impacts following Cervicogenic Headache and improving the quality of life.
Trial Registration number is (CTRI/2020/05/024968). Universal Trial Number (UTN) is U1111-1263-5183.
Beyond Pathogen Filtration: Possibility of Smart Masks as Wearable Devices for Personal and Group Health and Safety Management (Preprint)
Authors: Lee Peter , Kim Heepyung , Kim Yongshin , Choi Woohyeok , Zitouni M Sami , Khandoker Ahsan , Jelinek Herbert F , Hadjileontiadis Leontios , Lee Uichin , Jeong Yong
Published: April 2022

UNSTRUCTURED

Face masks are an important way to combat the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the prolonged pandemic has revealed confounding problems with the current face masks, including not only the spread of the disease but also concurrent psychological, social, and economic complications. As face masks have been worn for a long time, people have been interested in expanding the purpose of masks from protection to comfort and health, leading to the release of various “smart” mask products around the world. To envision how the smart masks will be extended, this paper reviewed 25 smart masks (12 from commercial products and 13 from academic prototypes) that emerged after the pandemic. While most smart masks presented in the market focus on resolving problems with user breathing discomfort, which arise from prolonged use, academic prototypes were designed for not only sensing COVID-19 but also general health monitoring aspects. Further, we investigated several specific sensors that can be incorporated into the mask for expanding biophysical features. On a larger scale, we discussed the architecture and possible applications with the help of connected smart masks. Namely, beyond a personal sensing application, a group or community sensing application may share an aggregate version of information with the broader population. In addition, this kind of collaborative sensing will also address the challenges of individual sensing, such as reliability and coverage. Lastly, we identified possible service application fields and further considerations for actual use. Along with daily-life health monitoring, smart masks may function as a general respiratory health tool for sports training, in an emergency room or ambulatory setting, as protection for industry workers and firefighters, and for soldier safety and survivability. For further considerations, we investigated design aspects in terms of sensor reliability and reproducibility, ergonomic design for user acceptance, and privacy-aware data-handling. Overall, we aim to explore new possibilities by examining the latest research, sensor technologies, and application platform perspectives for smart masks as one of the promising wearable devices. By integrating biomarkers of respiration symptoms, a smart mask can be a truly cutting-edge device that expands further knowledge on health monitoring to reach the next level of wearables.
Burden of tyrosine kinase inhibitor failure in Chinese chronic myeloid leukemia patients: a systematic literature review
Authors: Zhang Yanli , Chen Wendong , Pathak Ashutosh , Yang Yicheng , Yang Dajun , Zhai Yifan
Published: April 2022

Aim:
To conduct a systematic literature review of real-world evidence on the burden of tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) failure in Chinese patients with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML).
Methods:
We identified 155 references in Chinese- and English-language journals from 2001 to 2021.
Results:
The age-adjusted mortality rate in Chinese CML patients was decreasing. Imatinib treatment had a higher annual treatment failure risk than nilotinib (0.199 vs 0.041). Patients with TKI treatment failure tended to be young (median: 38.6 years), have progressive disease (44.3%) and harbor
BCR-ABL1
mutations (51.6%). The disease burden of TKI treatment failure included reduced health outcomes and increased health resource utilization and costs.
Conclusion:
CML relapse cases could continuously rise in China due to increasing TKI treatment failure over extended survival.
Biofilm Production and its Association with Multi Drug Resistance in Pseudomonas aeruginosa among ICU Patients with Special Reference to ESBL, AmpC and MBL production
Authors: Shukla Shivendra Dutt , Gupta Geeta , Khatoon Razia , Jain Ritu , Gupta Ankita
Published: April 2022

Multidrug resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa is an alarming and emerging public health problem globally across the developing countries. Pseudomonas aeruginosa is still a major cause for nosocomial infection and approx 10-20% of these patients are admitted to the ICU’s. Bacterial isolates those are biofilm producers are more drug resistant than biofilm Non-producers. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the production of biofilm and β-lactamases (ESBL, MBL, AmpC) in multi drug resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolated from ICU patients. The present cross-sectional prospective study was carried out in the Department of Microbiology, Santosh Medical College & Hospital, Ghaziabad, Uttar-Pradesh, India. A total of 115 isolates of P. aeruginosa were isolated from 502 clinical samples. After confirmation of MDR status of P. aeruginosa further processing for biofilm and beta lactamases was performed accordingly. Biofilm production was done by test tube method and tissue culture plate method along with phenotypic profiling of ESBL, MBL and AmpC was performed by disc potentiation test; IMP-EDTA combined disc test and Cefoxitin Cloxacillin Double Disc synergy test (CC-DDST) respectively. Out of 502 total human clinical samples 115 isolates were Pseudomonas aeruginosa giving the prevalence rate of 23%. Among 115 isolates of P. aeruginosa 60 (52%) were MDR phenotypes, Out of 60 MDR isolates 23 (38.3%) were ESBL producers, 22 (36.6%) were MBL producers, and 3(5%) were AmpC producers. Out of total 115 isolates 68(59%) isolates were biofilm producers and 47 (40.8%) were biofilm non-producers. Strict antibiotic policies with early detection of beta lactamases and detection of biofilm production should be performed regularly for all clinical isolates of Pseudomonas aeruginosa so as to guide antibiotic selection along with better management of severe infection in ICU patients.
Phytostimulating Potential of Endophytic Bacteria from Ethnomedicinal Plants of North-East Indian Himalayan Region
Authors: Tamreihao K. , Devi Asem Kajal , Langamba Pangamba , Singh Heikham Naresh , Kshetri Pintubala , Rajiv Chongtham , Singh Thangjam Surchandra , Langhu Tabitha , Sharma Susheel Kumar , Ansari Meraj Alam , Roy Subhra Saikat
Published: April 2022

North-East Indian Himalayan Region has a humid subtropical climate having diverse ecosystems. The majority of the population of the region depends on agriculture for sustainable livelihood. However, it can produce only 1.5% of the country’s food grains, thereby importing from other parts of the country for consumption. To feed the increase in the population of the region, there is an urgent need to augment the agricultural and allied products to sustain the population and uplift the economic conditions. Plant beneficial endophytes isolated from ethnomedicinal plants of North-East India play an important role as a plant growth promoter by the production of phytohormones, solubilization and mobilization of mineral nutrients. It also indirectly promotes growth by protecting the plants from diseases through the production of antibiotics, enzymes and volatile compounds. The bacteria also have the potential to induce systemic resistance against various abiotic stresses. Since the region has various agro-climatic conditions, the plants are continuously affected by abiotic stress particularly, acidity, drought and waterlogging, there is a need to explore the indigenous endophytes that can mitigate the stress and enhance the sustainable development of agricultural products.
Brain Tumor Detection Using Deep Learning
Authors: Akbani Sufiyan Salim , Naaz Adeeba , Kausar Nazish , Razzaque Prof. Abdul
Published: April 2022

Abstract: One of the most leading death causes in the world is brain tumor. Tumor Detection is one of the most difficult tasks in medical image processing. In fact, the manual classification with human-assisted support can be improper prediction and diagnosis shown by medical evidence. The detection task is too difficult to perform because there is a lot of diversity in the images as brain tumors come in different shapes and textures. Recently, deep learning techniques showed promising results towards improving accuracy of detection and classification of brain tumor from magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). In this paper, we propose a deep learning model for the classification of brain tumors from MRI images using convolutional neural network (CNN) based on transfer learning. The implemented system explores a number of CNN architectures, image preprocessing and transfer learning model named MobilNet to achieve the better performance and accuracy. Keywords: Deep learning, convolutional neural network, Transfer learning, Brain tumor, medical image classification, MobileNet architecture, etc.
ANSIEDADE PRÉ-COMPETITIVA E SINTOMAS DE BURNOUT EM ESCOLARES PRATICANTES DE ESPORTES
Authors: Moreira Janine Alaíde Gonçalves Lima Feitosa , Freire Gabriel Lucas Morais , Nunes Dafne Thaynara Freitas , Ribeiro Laura Carvalho , Fidelix Yara Lucy , Júnior José Roberto de Andrade do Nascimento
Published: April 2022

This cross-sectional study aimed to compare pre-competitive anxiety and burnout symptoms of adolescents participating in the Arapiraca-AL School Games according to age group and practice time. Participated in the research 120 young adolescents (101 boys and 19 girls) participating in the futsal (n = 94) and handball (n = 26) in the the Arapiraca-AL School Games in the year 2020. The instruments used were a sociodemographic questionnaire, the Competitive State Anxiety Inventory (CSAI-2R) and the Athletes Burnout Questionnaire (ABQ). Data analysis was conducted performed using the Kolmogorov-Smirnov and “U” Mann-Whitney tests (p <0.05). The results showed that adolescents had a higher self-confidence score (Md = 5.00), followed by cognitive anxiety (Md = 3.20) and somatic anxiety (Md = 2.83). Regarding burnout, score a higher was observed in the reduced sense of dimension of accomplishment (Md = 2.83), followed by the dimensions of physical and emotional exhaustion (Md = 2.50) and sports devaluation (Md = 2.14) . No significant difference was found (p> 0.05) found when comparing the dimensions of pre-competitive anxiety and burnout according to the time of practice (Table 3). It was concluded that age and time of practice were not involved in the symptoms of pre-competitive anxiety and burnout of adolescents participating in the School Games.
Molecular Docking Studies with Garlic Phytochemical Constituents to Inhibit the Human EGFR Protein for Lung Cancer Therapy
Authors: Sarkar Diptendu , Ganguly Amritendu
Published: April 2022

In both developed and emerging economies, carcinoma is one of the most frequent malignancies. Non-small cell lung cancer accounts for 80% of all melanoma within India. The basic concept of molecular precision medicine for lung cancer is the EGFR (Epidermal growth factor receptor), which belongs to the tyrosine kinase receptor family (RTKs). Garlic (Allium sativum L), an Indian Traditional spice from the Allium family, appears to be capable of inhibiting cancer cell formation through an apoptotic route. In the present research, the competence and binding ability of various phytochemical compounds from garlic targeting lung melanoma marker protein were assessed. Garlic's medicinal benefits are assumed to be due to key components within the elemental composition, such as organosulfur compounds and flavonoids. There were 19 compounds along with 2 reference compounds that were used for molecular docking purposes. The study revealed that the chemicals investigated are bound effectively to EGFR. When compared to water-soluble and lipid-soluble organosulfur compounds, garlic flavonoids had the anticipated free energy of interaction. Especially in contrast to Alliin, S-Methyl-L-cysteine, Kaempferol, Quercetin, Myrecetin, Apigenin along with Erlotinib demonstrated excellent interaction. Alliin, the much more prevalent component throughout the whole garlic bulb, has a stronger affinity via intermolecular hydrogen bonding, with a binding energy of -7.4 kcal/ Mol. The water-soluble chemical S-Methyl-L-cysteine also had positive interactions with EGFR (-7.3 Kcal/mol). Among the flavonoid groups studied, Quercetin, Myrecetin and Apigenin were found to be the best suitable compound with a binding energy of -8.5 kcal/ Mol. The current findings pave the way for a deeper understanding of garlic's active substance interactions with EGFR. The substances discovered might be utilised as a prototype for anti-cancer treatmentHowever, more research into these compounds' biochemical functions is required before they can be used to treat lung cancer.
Systematic review of sustainable corporate governance of SMEs: Conceptualisation and propositions
Authors: Akomea-Frimpong Isaac , Asogwa Ikenna Elias , Tenakwah Emmanuel Junior
Published: April 2022

Recent global events and actions toward climate change have heightened the urgency of sustainability in all aspects of life. However, few studies exist on the incorporation of sustainability principles into the corporate governance practices of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). This study aims to review the current state of the literature on the incorporation of sustainability principles in corporate governance practices of SMEs, validate the outcomes and set future research agenda. This research was conducted using a systematic literature review (SLR). Findings suggest female executives, board size, firm size, board diversity, board independence and ownership concentration are the dominant themes in sustainable corporate governance (SCG) of small businesses. Studies are predominately conducted in the European context with some studies in Asia and North America while studies in Africa and South America are limited. The study showed that corporate governance models of SMEs have excluded pertinent issues such as climate change, digitization, and racial equality. Although the study concentrated on limited but highly relevant literature, the results establish the basis for further studies and enhance debates on sustainable models for corporate governance practices of SMEs. Compared to existing studies, the outcomes of this study emphasise the need to prioritise sustainability-inspired research of SMEs and provide solutions to integrate sustainable practices in small businesses. The study offers a guiding framework for managers and policy makers to promote progressive and sustainable practices in managing SMEs.