bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Assessment of Psychosocial Functioning of Polish Nurses during COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: Rachubińska Kamila , Cybulska Anna Maria , Sołek-Pastuszka Joanna , Panczyk Mariusz , Stanisławska Marzanna , Ustianowski Przemysław , Grochans Elżbieta
Published: January 2022

(1) The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly affected the psychological well-being of people around the world. The aim of this study was to assess the levels of psychological distress of nurses (anxiety, depression, stress, insomnia) in relation to sociodemographic variables and psychosocial variables: self-assessment of health, quarantine, psychological support, presence of chronic diseases and the Impact of Events Scale (IES-R). (2) A total of 207 nurses working with COVID-19 patients at the Independent Public Clinical Hospital No. 1 of the Pomeranian Medical University in Szczecin participated in the study. The study was conducted with the diagnostic survey method, using the Athens Insomnia Scale, the Generalized Anxiety Disorder questionnaire, the Impact of Event Scale—Revised, the Patient Health Questionnaire-9, The Perceived Stress Scale and a questionnaire of our authorship. (3) Among the respondents, 40.58% suffered sleep disturbance, 36.71% had mild anxiety, 71.95% had high stress according to the PSS-10 and 31.88% had depression according to the PHQ-9. The study observed that the chances of insomnia decreased with the age of the respondents. Moreover, the form of employment of nurses significantly affected the levels of depression, anxiety and stress. (4) Education, gender and age were variables that significantly affected the severity of anxiety, depression and insomnia in the surveyed nurses working with patients with COVID-19.
Population Access to Hospital Emergency Departments: The Spatial Analysis in Public Health Research
Authors: Kisiała Wojciech , Rącka Izabela , Suszyńska Katarzyna
Published: January 2022

The emergency medical services support the primary health care system. Hospital emergency departments (HEDs), which provide medical assistance to all patients in a state of emergency are of considerable importance to the system. When studying access to HEDs, attention should be focused on spatial relations resulting from the location of HEDs and the places of residence of the potential patients. The aim of the paper is to explain the level of spatial accessibility of HEDs and its changes as a result of organizational and spatial transformations of HEDs’ networks in Poland. The research was conducted within two time series, comparing the changes in the distribution of HEDs in 2011 and 2021. GIS techniques were used to measure the distances between emergency departments and places of residence. It was observed that the transformation of the spatial organization of the hospital emergency department network in 2011–2021 resulted in the overall improvement of the spatial accessibility of these facilities, reducing the distance between them and places of residence.
Approaches Used to Describe, Measure, and Analyze Place of Practice in Dentistry, Medical, Nursing, and Allied Health Rural Graduate Workforce Research in Australia: A Systematic Scoping Review
Authors: Beks Hannah , Walsh Sandra , Alston Laura , Jones Martin , Smith Tony , Maybery Darryl , Sutton Keith , Versace Vincent L
Published: January 2022

Redressing the maldistribution of the health workforce in regional, rural, and remote geographical areas is a global issue and crucial to improving the accessibility of primary health care and specialist services. Geographical classification systems are important as they provide an objective and quantifiable measure of access and can have direct policy relevance, yet they are not always consistently applied in rural health research. It is unclear how research focusing on the graduate health workforce in Australia has described, measured, and analyzed place of practice. To examine approaches used, this review systematically scopes Australian rural studies focusing on dentistry, medicine, nursing, and allied health graduates that have included place of practice as an outcome measure. The Joanna Brigg’s Institute Scoping Review Methodology was used to guide the review. Database searches retrieved 1130 unique citations, which were screened, resulting in 62 studies for inclusion. Included studies were observational, with most focusing on the practice locations of medical graduates and predicators of rural practice. Variations in the use of geographical classification approaches to define rurality were identified and included the use of systems that no longer have policy relevance, as well as adaptations of existing systems that make future comparisons between studies challenging. It is recommended that research examining the geographical distribution of the rural health workforce use uniform definitions of rurality that are aligned with current government policy.
COVID-19-Associated Mental Health Impact on Menstrual Function Aspects: Dysmenorrhea and Premenstrual Syndrome, and Genitourinary Tract Health: A Cross Sectional Study among Jordanian Medical Students
Authors: Aolymat Iman , Khasawneh Ashraf I. , Al-Tamimi Mohammad
Published: January 2022

The physiology of reproduction is affected by psychological distress through neuroendocrine pathways. Historically, COVID-19 is one of the most stressful events with devastating consequences. This research aims to investigate the relationship between dysmenorrhea, PMS, and reproductive tract health on one hand, and COVID-19-related anxiety, depression, and stress on the other among medical students in Jordan. Medical students were invited through teaching platforms and social media to complete an online survey. SPSS software was used to analyze data. A total of 385 medical students participated in this research. Hence, 49.9% of the study population reported severe dysmenorrhea during COVID-19 compared to 36.9% before COVID-19 (p = 0.000). Dysmenorrhea was significantly associated with disruptions of sport and daily activities during COVID-19 (p = 0.015 and p = 0.002, respectively). The prevalence of PMS components, e.g., mastalgia, fatigue, headache, palpitation, and emotional and sleep disturbances, was raised during COVID-19 compared with before (p < 0.05). Symptoms of genitourinary tract infections, such as lower abdominal pain, vaginal discharge, genitalia rash/ulcers and itching, and urgency, were significantly increased after COVID-19 (p < 0.05). Positive Pearson correlations between COVID-19-associated mental health disorders and dysmenorrhea severity, PMS, and genital tract health abnormalities were observed (p < 0.05). The multiple linear regression model revealed that dysmenorrhea severity, PMS symptoms like palpitation, and genitourinary symptoms like lower abdominal pain and urgency were associated with worsening of depression, while dysuria was associated with a protective effect against depression. Moreover, it was observed that dysmenorrhea severity, PMS symptoms, such as headache and palpitation, and urinary urgency were associated with aggravation of anxiety. However, food craving and dysuria were protective against anxiety. Finally, dysmenorrhea severity, PMS symptoms of headache and palpitation, lower abdominal pain, and urgency were related to worsening of stress, whereas the premenstrual symptom of breast pain was a protective factor against stress. This work showed that COVID-19 pandemic-related psychological distress and menstrual, premenstrual, and genitourinary symptoms are closely related. Further future work is required to evaluate the long lasting-effects of the pandemic on mental health and the physiology of reproduction.
Design and Validation of Virtual Reality Task for Neuro-Rehabilitation of Distal Upper Extremities
Authors: Nath Debasish , Singh Neha , Saini Megha , Srivastava M. V. Padma , Mehndiratta Amit
Published: January 2022

Stroke, affecting approximately 15 million people worldwide, has long been a global cause of death and disability. Virtual Reality (VR) has shown its potential as an assistive tool for post-stroke rehabilitation. The objective of this pilot study was to define the task-specific performance metrics of VR tasks to assess the performance level of healthy subjects and patients quantitatively and to obtain their feedback for improving the developed framework. A pilot prospective study was designed. We tested the designed VR tasks on forty healthy right-handed subjects to evaluate its potential. Qualitative trajectory plots and three quantitative performance metrics—time taken to complete the task, percentage relative error, and trajectory smoothness—were computed from the recorded data of forty healthy subjects. Two patients with stroke were also enrolled to compare their performance with healthy subjects. Each participant received one VR session of 90 min. No adverse effects were noticed throughout the study. Performance metrics obtained from healthy subjects were used as a reference for patients. Relatively higher values of task completion time and trajectory smoothness and lower values of relative % error was observed for the affected hands w.r.t the unaffected hands of both the patients. For the unaffected hands of both the patients, the performance levels were found objectively closer to that of healthy subjects. A library of VR tasks for wrist and fingers were designed, and task-specific performance metrics were defined in this study. The evaluation of the VR exercises using these performance metrics will help the clinicians to assess the patient’s progress quantitatively and to design the rehabilitation framework for a future clinical study.
The Psychological Impacts of COVID-19 Pandemic among Emerging Adults: An Observational Cross-Sectional Study
Authors: Alghamdi Fatemah , Ashour Amal , Adeyemi Lola , Bamidele Paula , Nwambo-Logan Blessing , Alsharif Maha , Sindi Amal M. , Binmadi Nada
Published: January 2022

(1) Background: COVID-19 has had psychological impacts, particularly anxiety, depression, anger, and suicidal ideation, on the world’s populace, including young persons who were prone to mental health disorders even before the pandemic. We described the psychological impacts of COVID-19 among emerging adults aged 18–30 years in Saudi Arabia. (2) Methods: A cross-sectional survey was done among a randomly sampled population in Saudi Arabia between July 2020 and May 2021 using the DSM-5 Self-rated Level 1 Cross-Cutting Symptom Measure and Ask Suicide Questionnaire. Logistic regression was used to assess participant characteristics associated with reporting symptoms of mental disorders under each of the 13 domains that would warrant further investigation. (3) Results: Approximately, 91% of participants experienced different mental health symptoms; these participants are more likely to be young, female students, those who had a history of being diagnosed with a mental disorder, and those diagnosed or treated for COVID-19. (4) Conclusion: This study strongly showed an increased prevalence of mental health symptoms among young persons during the COVID-19 pandemic. Addressing the mental health burden among young persons in time using simple, self-administered screening tools linked to interventions will prevent dire consequences in the future.
Anaerobic Speed Reserve, Sprint Force–Velocity Profile, Kinematic Characteristics, and Jump Ability among Elite Male Speed- and Endurance-Adapted Milers
Authors: Jiménez-Reyes Pedro , Cuadrado-Peñafiel Víctor , Párraga-Montilla Juan A. , Romero-Franco Natalia , Casado Arturo
Published: January 2022

This study aimed to compare sprint, jump performance, and sprint mechanical variables between endurance-adapted milers (EAM, specialized in 1500–3000-m) and speed-adapted milers (SAM, specialized in 800–1500 m) and to examine the relationships between maximal sprint speed (MSS), anaerobic speed reserve (ASR), sprint, jump performance, and sprint mechanical characteristics of elite middle-distance runners. Fifteen participants (8 EAM; 7 SAM) were evaluated to obtain their maximal aerobic speed, sprint mechanical characteristics (force–velocity profile and kinematic variables), jump, and sprint performance. SAM displayed greater MSS, ASR, horizontal jump, sprint performance, and mechanical ability than EAM (p < 0.05). SAM also showed higher stiffness in the 40-m sprint (p = 0.026) and a higher ratio of horizontal-to-resultant force (RF) at 10 m (p = 0.003) and RFpeak (p = 0.024). MSS and ASR correlated with horizontal (r = 0.76) and vertical (r = 0.64) jumps, all sprint split times (r ≤ −0.85), stiffness (r = 0.86), and mechanical characteristics (r ≥ 0.56) during the 100-m sprint, and physical qualities during acceleration (r ≥ 0.66) and sprint mechanical effectiveness from the force–velocity profile (r ≥ 0.69). Season-best times in the 800 m were significantly correlated with MSS (r = −0.86). Sprint ability has a crucial relevance in middle-distance runners’ performance, especially for SAM.
“Green Enough Ain’t Good Enough:” Public Perceptions and Emotions Related to Green Infrastructure in Environmental Justice Communities
Authors: Meenar Mahbubur , Heckert Megan , Adlakha Deepti
Published: January 2022

The concept of biophilic urban planning has inspired neighborhood greening projects in many older urban communities in the USA and beyond. The strengths (e.g., environmental management, biodiversity, heat island mitigation) and challenges (e.g., greenwashing, green gentrification) of such projects are well-documented. Additional research on the relationship between these projects and various social factors (e.g., public perceptions, feelings, and mental health and well-being) is necessary to better understand how people adapt to said projects while struggling to navigate other more pressing socioeconomic issues, especially in communities facing environmental injustice and health inequity. In this article, we focus on one aspect of biophilic urban planning—green stormwater infrastructure (GSI) (e.g., rain gardens, bio-swales, pervious pavements, and wildflower meadows)—in Waterfront South, a post-industrial neighborhood in Camden, NJ, USA, where residents have faced environmental injustices for decades. Our qualitative analysis of in-depth semi-structured interviews of sixteen residents offered a thorough insight into their perceptions and emotions regarding different types of urban GSI projects. Residents acknowledge the many benefits that GSI offers to combat the neighborhood’s social and environmental injustices, but they are cautious about the possibility of some projects prompting new issues and concerns within the community. Our findings reveal potential implications in GSI planning, research, and practice in this neighborhood and similar urban places elsewhere that have yet to undergo gentrification.
Physical Performance, Cardiovascular Health and Psychosocial Wellbeing in Older Adults Compared to Oldest-Old Residential Seniors
Authors: Minghetti Alice , Donath Lars , Hanssen Henner , Roth Ralf , Lichtenstein Eric , Zahner Lukas , Faude Oliver
Published: January 2022

Background: This study analyzed physical, cardiovascular, and psychosocial health in different age groups at the far end of the lifespan. Methods: Sixty-two residential seniors participated in this cross-sectional study and were assigned according to age to either the older adults (n = 27; age: 74.8 (3.6); f: 23) or the oldest-old group (n = 35; age: 87.2 (5.0); f: 28). Gait speed, functional mobility, handgrip strength, and pulse wave velocity (PWV) were measured. Additionally, questionnaires to assess quality of life were applied. Mean between-group differences (Δ) and Hedge’s g with 95 % confidence intervals were calculated. Results: Oldest-old had moderately lower handgrip strength (Δ = −31.3 N, 95% CI [−66.30; −1.65], Hedge’s g = 0.49 [−0.97; 0.03]) and relevant lower gait speed than the older adults (Δ = −0.11 m/s [−0.28; 0.05], g = 0.34 [−0.89; 0.20]). All other physical parameters showed trivial differences. Very large effects were found in PWV in favor of the older adults (Δ = −2.65 m/s [−3.26; −2.04], g = −2.14 [−2.81; −1.36]). The questionnaires showed trivial to small differences. Conclusion: We found small differences in physical as well as psychosocial health between age groups with large inter-individual variance. Large differences were found in arterial stiffness, which increases with age. Exercise programs in nursing homes should consider physical, psychosocial, and cardiovascular variables more than age.
Recommendations on Weight Loss and Healthy Lifestyle in Prostate Cancer Clinical Guidelines: A Systematic Review
Authors: Rivera-Izquierdo Mario , Martínez-Ruiz Virginia , Jiménez-Moleón José Juan
Published: January 2022

Obesity is associated with negative prostate cancer outcomes (e.g., specific mortality, all-cause mortality, biochemical recurrence, etc.), according to the current scientific literature. Nevertheless, recommendations on weight loss and healthy lifestyles are poorly covered by clinicians. We aimed at identifying these recommendations from clinical practice guidelines (CPGs) for prostate cancer. We systematically searched MEDLINE, EMBASE, Web of Science, Scopus, guideline databases and online sources for CPGs updated from January 2015 to August 2021. The searches were independently conducted by two researchers, without language restrictions. A total of 97 prostate cancer guidelines, including 84 (86.6%) CPGs and 13 (13.4%) consensus statements, were included. Recommendations on reaching and maintaining a healthy weight or healthy lifestyles were provided by 7 (7.2%) and 13 (13.4%) documents, respectively. No differences regarding recommendations were found by type of document, year of publication or country. Our results suggest that professional societies and governments should update prostate cancer guidelines to include these recommendations for improving prostate cancer prognosis.
Awareness and Practices Related to Cervical Cancer among Females in Saudi Arabia
Authors: Zahid Heba M. , Qarah Alma B. , Alharbi Amal M. , Alomar Arwa E. , Almubarak Shaimaa A.
Published: January 2022

Human papilloma virus (HPV) is the most common risk factor for cervical cancer. Cervical cancer can be prevented with vaccination and early screening methods using pap smears. However, the acceptance of these approaches can be affected by the awareness level of the population. This cross-sectional study aimed to assess knowledge and practices related to cervical cancer among women in the Al Madinah Province in Saudi Arabia. A total of 1489 responses were included in the analysis. The median awareness score related to cervical cancer was eight out of 20 points. Vaginal bleeding, dyspareunia, and leg pain were correctly identified by 79.8%, 43.7%, and 19.3% of the women, respectively. Thirty-four percent of the study sample knew that the sexually transmitted virus is a risk factor for cervical cancer. Only 44.6% were able to correctly identify pap smear as a screening tool, and 12.6% knew that there was a HPV vaccine. This study revealed a low to moderate awareness level toward cervical cancer, pap smear, and HPV vaccine. Thus, awareness campaigns are urgently needed to increase the awareness level for early detection and prevention of the disease.
Feasibility of Using Facebook to Engage SNAP-Ed Eligible Parents and Provide Education on Eating Well on a Budget
Authors: Lawton Kristen , Hess Lindsey , McCarthy Heather , Marini Michele , McNitt Katie , Savage Jennifer S.
Published: January 2022

This study examined the use of Facebook to provide education on food resource management and healthy eating on a budget to parents of preschool aged children participating in Head Start. A convenience sample of 25 parents participated in a Facebook group based on Sesame Street’s Food for Thought: Eating Well on a Budget curriculum over a 3-week period. Parent engagement was assessed by examining views, likes, and comments on posts. Qualitative data were used to assess knowledge, attitudes, and barriers experienced related to healthy eating on a budget. The results suggest that parents were engaged throughout the intervention, as evidenced by views, likes, and comments on Facebook posts, as well as by study retention (90%). Interactions with the intervention materials varied by post content, with discussion questions having the highest level of interaction. Facebook was found to be a feasible platform for delivering the intervention, and the Facebook-adapted version of the Sesame Street curriculum was shown to engage Head Start parents living in rural areas. Further research should explore the use of social media platforms for delivering nutrition education interventions to rural populations that are otherwise difficult to reach.
Changes in Biomarkers of Tobacco Exposure among Cigarette Smokers Transitioning to ENDS Use: The Population Assessment of Tobacco and Health Study, 2013–2015
Authors: Anic Gabriella M. , Rostron Brian L. , Hammad Hoda T. , van Bemmel Dana M. , Del Valle-Pinero Arseima Y. , Christensen Carol H. , Erives Gladys , Faulcon Lisa M. , Blount Benjamin C. , Wang Yuesong , Wang Lanqing , Bhandari Deepak , Calafat Antonia M. , Kimmel Heather L. , Everard Colm D. , Compton Wilson M. , Edwards Kathryn C. , Goniewicz Maciej L. , Wei Binnian , Hyland Andrew , Hatsukami Dorothy K. , Hecht Stephen S. , Niaura Raymond S. , Borek Nicolette , Ambrose Bridget K. , Chang Cindy M.
Published: January 2022

Limited data are available for how biomarkers of tobacco exposure (BOE) change when cigarette smokers transition to using electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS). Using biomarker data from Waves 1 (2013–2014) and 2 (2014–2015) of the PATH Study, we examined how mean BOE concentrations, including metabolites of nicotine, tobacco-specific nitrosamines (TSNA), polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH), and volatile organic compounds (VOC) and metals, changed when 2475 adult smokers transitioned to using ENDS or quit tobacco products. Exclusive smokers who transitioned to dual use had a significant decrease in NNAL (4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanol), but not nicotine metabolites, most PAHs, metals, or VOCs. Exclusive smokers who became dual users had significant reductions in total nicotine equivalents, NNAL, and 2CyEMA (acrylonitrile metabolite), but only in those who reduced cigarettes per day (CPD) by >=50%. Smokers who transitioned to exclusive ENDS use had significant reductions in most TSNAs, PAHs, and VOCs; however, nicotine metabolites did not decrease in dual users who became exclusive ENDS users. Smokers who quit tobacco use had significant decreases in nicotine metabolites, all TSNAs, most PAHs, and most VOCs. Cigarette smokers who became dual users did not experience significant reductions in most BOEs. Reductions were impacted by changes in CPD. However, transitioning from smoking to no tobacco or exclusive ENDS use was associated with reduced exposure to most BOEs measured. Future analyses could incorporate additional waves of PATH data and examine changes in biomarker exposure by ENDS device type and CPD.
Influence of Self-Efficacy on Cancer-Related Fatigue and Health-Related Quality of Life in Young Survivors of Childhood Cancer
Authors: Saito Masayo , Hiramoto Izumi , Yano Michihiro , Watanabe Arata , Kodama Hideya
Published: January 2022

This study aims to elucidate how self-efficacy influences cancer-related fatigue and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in young survivors of childhood cancer. Forty-six young survivors (age range, 8–18 years) of childhood cancer who were currently in complete remission completed measures for self-efficacy (Pediatric General Self-Efficacy Scale (PedsSE)), cancer-related fatigue (Cancer-related Fatigue Score (CRFS)), and HRQoL (Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory 4.0 Generic Core Scale, Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory (PedsQL)). Structural relationships between the PedsSE and CRFS or PedsQL, including the effects of potential demographic or clinical confounders, were examined by machine learning random forest algorithms and structural equation modeling. According to the distribution of the PedsQL, six survivors with PedsQL < 70 were determined to have compromised HRQoL (referred to as “low-PedsQL survivors”). The random forest model identified six variables for the prediction of the CRFS, with the PedsSE being the most important, and eight variables for the distinction of low-PedsQL survivors, with the CRFS being the most and the PedsSE the third most important variable. The structural equation model indicated that a direct influence of the PedsSE on the PedsQL was less detectable (β = −0.049), whereas an indirect influence of the PedsSE on the PedsQL via the CRFS was evident (β = 0.333). The model explained 51% of the variation of the CRFS and 28% of the variation of the PedsQL. The PedsSE was strongly correlated with “altered mood” in the subclass of the CRFS (r = −0.470), and “altered mood” was strongly correlated with the PedsQL (r = 0.737). In conclusion, self-efficacy is a major determinant of cancer-related fatigue and influences HRQoL via cancer-related fatigue in survivors of childhood cancer. The main pathway from self-efficacy to HRQoL is thought to be via the emotional aspect of cancer-related fatigue. However, unlike adult survivors of cancer, self-efficacy for young survivors may not contribute much to self-management behaviors that maintain HRQoL.
The Vocabulary of Infants with an Elevated Likelihood and Diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Infant Language Studies Using the CDI and MSEL
Authors: Belteki Zsofia , Lumbreras Raquel , Fico Kloe , Haman Ewa , Junge Caroline
Published: January 2022

Diagnoses of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) are typically accompanied by atypical language development, which can be noticeable even before diagnosis. The siblings of children diagnosed with ASD are at elevated likelihood for ASD diagnosis and have been shown to have higher prevalence rates than the general population. In this paper, we systematically reviewed studies looking at the vocabulary size and development of infants with autism. One inclusion criterion was that infants were grouped either pre-diagnostically as elevated or typical likelihood or post-diagnostically as ASD or without ASD. This review focused on studies that tested infants up to 24 months of age and that assessed vocabulary either via the parent-completed MacArthur–Bates Communicative Developmental Inventory (CDI) or the clinician-administered Mullen Scales of Early Learning (MSEL). Our systematic search yielded 76 studies. A meta-analysis was performed on these studies that compared the vocabulary scores of EL and TL infants pre-diagnostically and the scores of ASD and non-ASD infants post-diagnostically. Both pre- and post-diagnostically, it was found that the EL and ASD infants had smaller vocabularies than their TL and non-ASD peers, respectively. The effect sizes across studies were heterogenous, prompting additional moderator analyses of age and sub-group analyses of the language measure used (CDI or MSEL) as potential moderators of the effect size. Age was found to be a moderator both in the pre- and post-diagnostical groups, however, language measure was not a moderator in either diagnostic group. Interpretations and future research directions are discussed based on these findings.
Bootstrapping Time-Varying Uncertainty Intervals for Extreme Daily Return Periods
Authors: Makatjane Katleho , Tsoku Tshepiso
Published: January 2022

This study aims to overcome the problem of dimensionality, accurate estimation, and forecasting Value-at-Risk (VaR) and Expected Shortfall (ES) uncertainty intervals in high frequency data. A Bayesian bootstrapping and backtest density forecasts, which are based on a weighted threshold and quantile of a continuously ranked probability score, are developed. Developed backtesting procedures revealed that an estimated Seasonal autoregressive integrated moving average-generalized autoregressive score-generalized extreme value distribution (SARIMA–GAS–GEVD) with a skewed student-t distribution had the best prediction performance in forecasting and bootstrapping VaR and ES. Extension of this non-stationary distribution in literature is quite complicated since it requires specifications not only on how the usual Bayesian parameters change over time but also those with bulk distribution components. This implies that the combination of a stochastic econometric model with extreme value theory (EVT) procedures provides a robust basis necessary for the statistical backtesting and bootstrapping density predictions for VaR and ES.
Application of “Observation Minus Reanalysis” Method towards LULC Change Impact over Southern India
Authors: Nayak Sridhara , Maity Suman , Sahu Netrananda , Saini Atul , Singh Kuvar Satya , Nayak Hara Prasad , Dutta Soma
Published: January 2022

This study performed a land use and land cover (LULC) change analysis over Southern India for the period 1981–2006 from the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) images of AVHRR data and applied the “observation minus reanalysis” (OMR) method to investigate the impact of the LULC change on the temperature of the region. The LULC change analysis indicated that the areas under agriculture/fallow land were significantly increased while the areas under shrubs/small vegetation were decreased during the period 1981–2006. The areas under forest cover and barren land were also decreased but relatively low compared to the other LULC types. The OMR results showed that the LULC changes over urban areas contributed to warming with a temperature of 0.02 °C during this period, while that over non-urban areas showed a cooling effect with a temperature reduction of 0.29 °C and that over the whole Southern India (looked at an average) indicated a cooling effect with a temperature reduction of 0.063 °C. The comparative analysis between the two (LULC change analysis and OMR) results showed that the cooling over Southern India was mostly due to the expansion of agriculture/fallow land and the decline of shrubs/small vegetation. The study suggests that the OMR method reasonably demonstrates the effect of LULC changes on the temperature over Southern India.
VINS-Dimc: A Visual-Inertial Navigation System for Dynamic Environment Integrating Multiple Constraints
Authors: Fu Dong , Xia Hao , Liu Yujie , Qiao Yanyou
Published: January 2022

Most visual–inertial navigation systems (VINSs) suffer from moving objects and achieve poor positioning accuracy in dynamic environments. Therefore, to improve the positioning accuracy of VINS in dynamic environments, a monocular visual–inertial navigation system, VINS-dimc, is proposed. This system integrates various constraints on the elimination of dynamic feature points, which helps to improve the positioning accuracy of VINSs in dynamic environments. First, the motion model, computed from the inertial measurement unit (IMU) data, is subjected to epipolar constraint and flow vector bound (FVB) constraint to eliminate feature matching that deviates significantly from the motion model. This algorithm then combines multiple feature point matching constraints that avoid the lack of single constraints and make the system more robust and universal. Finally, VINS-dimc was proposed, which can adapt to a dynamic environment. Experiments show that the proposed algorithm could accurately eliminate the dynamic feature points on moving objects while preserving the static feature points. It is a great help for the positioning accuracy and robustness of VINSs, whether they are from self-collected data or public datasets.
The Effect of RADA16-I and CDNF on Neurogenesis and Neuroprotection in Brain Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury
Authors: Liu Xingyu , Ren Haiyuan , Peng Ai , Cheng Haoyang , Chen Jiahao , Xia Xue , Liu Ting , Wang Xiaojing
Published: January 2022

Scaffold materials, neurotrophic factors, and seed cells are three elements of neural tissue engineering. As well-known self-assembling peptide-based hydrogels, RADA16-I and modified peptides are attractive matrices for neural tissue engineering. In addition to its neuroprotective effects, cerebral dopamine neurotrophic factor (CDNF) has been reported to promote the proliferation, migration, and differentiation of neural stem cells (NSCs). However, the role of RADA16-I combined with CDNF on NSCs remains unknown. First, the effect of RADA16-I hydrogel and CDNF on the proliferation and differentiation of cultured NSCs was investigated. Next, RADA16-I hydrogel and CDNF were microinjected into the lateral ventricle (LV) of middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) rats to activate endogenous NSCs. CDNF promoted the proliferation of NSCs, while RADA16-I induced the neural differentiation of NSCs in vitro. Importantly, both RADA16-I and CDNF promoted the proliferation, migration, and differentiation of endogenous NSCs by activating the ERK1/2 and STAT3 pathways, and CDNF exerted an obvious neuroprotective effect on brain ischemia-reperfusion injury. These findings provide new information regarding the application of the scaffold material RADA16-I hydrogel and the neurotrophic factor CDNF in neural tissue engineering and suggest that RADA16-I hydrogel and CDNF microinjection may represent a novel therapeutic strategy for the treatment of stroke.
Deciphering the Complex Molecular Pathogenesis of Myotonic Dystrophy Type 1 through Omics Studies
Authors: Espinosa-Espinosa Jorge , González-Barriga Anchel , López-Castel Arturo , Artero Rubén
Published: January 2022

Omics studies are crucial to improve our understanding of myotonic dystrophy type 1 (DM1), the most common muscular dystrophy in adults. Employing tissue samples and cell lines derived from patients and animal models, omics approaches have revealed the myriad alterations in gene and microRNA expression, alternative splicing, 3′ polyadenylation, CpG methylation, and proteins levels, among others, that contribute to this complex multisystem disease. In addition, omics characterization of drug candidate treatment experiments provides crucial insight into the degree of therapeutic rescue and off-target effects that can be achieved. Finally, several innovative technologies such as single-cell sequencing and artificial intelligence will have a significant impact on future DM1 research.
Lactobacillus paracasei KW3110 Prevents Inflammatory-Stress-Induced Mitochondrial Dysfunction in Mouse Macrophages
Authors: Yamazaki Takahiro , Yamada Sayuri , Ohshio Konomi , Sugamata Miho , Morita Yuji
Published: January 2022

Lactobacillus paracasei KW3110 (KW3110) has anti-inflammatory effects, including the prevention of blue light exposure induced retinal inflammation and ageing-related chronic inflammation in mice. The mechanism involves the promotion of anti-inflammatory cytokine interleukin (IL)-10 production by KW3110, leading to reduced pro-inflammatory cytokine IL-1β production. Although various stress-induced mitochondrial damages are associated with excessive inflammatory responses, the effect of KW3110 on inflammatory-stress-induced mitochondrial damage remains unknown. In this study, we investigated the effect of KW3110 on inflammatory stress-induced mitochondrial damage using the murine macrophage-like cell line J774A.1. KW3110 treatment suppressed lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced mitochondrial dysfunction, including downregulation of membrane potential, induction of reactive oxygen species, and respiratory dysfunction. In addition, KW3110 prevented LPS-induced disruption of mitochondrial morphology including cristae structures. IL-10 treatment also ameliorated LPS-induced mitochondrial dysfunction and morphology disruption. These results suggest that KW3110 prevents LPS-induced mitochondrial dysfunction, potentially via promoting IL-10 production in mouse macrophages. We are the first to reveal a suppressive effect of lactic acid bacteria on mitochondrial morphology disruption in inflammatory-stressed macrophages. Our findings contribute to understanding inflammatory-stress-induced mitochondrial damage and developing food ingredients with preventive effects on mitochondrial-damage-derived inflammatory conditions.
Synthesis of Sucrose-HDI Cooligomers: New Polyols for Novel Polyurethane Networks
Authors: Lakatos Csilla , Kordován Marcell Árpád , Czifrák Katalin , Nagy Lajos , Vadkerti Bence , Daróczi Lajos , Zsuga Miklós , Kéki Sándor
Published: January 2022

Sucrose-1,6-hexamethylene diisocyanate (HDI) cooligomers were synthesized and used as new polyols for poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL)-based polyurethanes. The polyaddition reaction of sucrose and HDI was monitored by MALDI-TOF MS. It was found that by selecting appropriate reaction conditions, mostly linear oligomer chains containing 16 sucrose units could be obtained. For the synthesis of polyurethane networks, prepolymers were prepared by the reaction of poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL, 10 kg/mol) with HDI or 4,4′-methylene diphenyl diisocyanate (MDI) and were reacted with sucrose-HDI cooligomers. The so-obtained sucrose-containing polyurethanes were characterized by means of attenuated total reflectance Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FT IR), swelling, mechanical (uniaxial tensile tests) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC).
The Importance of Small Extracellular Vesicles in the Cerebral Metastatic Process
Authors: Tămaș Flaviu , Bălașa Rodica , Manu Doina , Gyorki Gabriel , Chinezu Rareș , Tămaș Corina , Bălașa Adrian
Published: January 2022

Brain metastases represent more than 50% of all cerebral tumors encountered in clinical practice. Recently, there has been increased interest in the study of extracellular vesicles, and the knowledge about exosomes is constantly expanding. Exosomes are drivers for organotropic metastatic spread, playing important roles in the brain metastatic process by increasing the permeability of the blood–brain barrier and preparing the premetastatic niche. The promising results of the latest experimental studies raise the possibility of one day using exosomes for liquid biopsies or as drug carriers, contributing to early diagnosis and improving the efficacy of chemotherapy in patients with brain metastases. In this review, we attempted to summarize the latest knowledge about the role of exosomes in the brain metastatic process and future research directions for the use of exosomes in patients suffering from brain metastatic disease.
Heroin Regulates Orbitofrontal Circular RNAs
Authors: Floris Gabriele , Gillespie Aria , Zanda Mary Tresa , Dabrowski Konrad R. , Sillivan Stephanie E.
Published: January 2022

The number of drug overdose deaths involving opioids continues to rise in the United States. Many patients with opioid use disorder (OUD) that seek treatment still experience relapse. Perseverant opioid seeking behaviors represent a major challenge to treating OUD and additional therapeutic development will require insight into opioid-induced neurobiological adaptations. In this study, we explored the regulation of a novel class of RNAs, circular RNAs (circRNAs), by the addictive opioid heroin in the rat orbitofrontal cortex (OFC), a brain region that mediates behavioral responses to rewarding stimuli. Microarray analysis identified 76 OFC circRNAs significantly regulated in male rats after heroin self-administration. We evaluated the specificity of these findings by measuring heroin-associated circRNA expression in female rats after heroin self-administration and in rats that self-administered sucrose. We identify circGrin2b, circUbe2cp, circAnks1a, circAdcy5 and circSlc24A2 as heroin-responsive circRNAs in the OFC. Linear mRNA levels of heroin-associated circRNAs were unchanged except for Grin2b and Adcy5. An integrated bioinformatics analysis of regulated circRNAs identified microRNAs predicted to bind heroin-associated circRNAs and downstream targets of circRNA: microRNA sponging. Thus, heroin regulates the expression of OFC RNA splice variants that circularize and may impact cellular processes that contribute to the neurobiological adaptations that arise from chronic heroin exposure.
Tadalafil Treatment of Mice with Fetal Growth Restriction and Preeclampsia Improves Placental mTOR Signaling
Authors: Tanaka Kayo , Tanaka Hiroaki , Tachibana Ryota , Yoshikawa Kento , Kawamura Takuya , Takakura Sho , Takeuchi Hiroki , Ikeda Tomoaki
Published: January 2022

Fetal growth restriction (FGR) is a major cause of poor perinatal outcomes. Although several studies have been conducted to improve the prognosis of FGR in infants, no effective intrauterine treatment method has been established. This study aimed to use tadalafil, a phosphodiesterase 5 inhibitor (PDE5) inhibitor, as a novel intrauterine treatment and conducted several basic and clinical studies. The study investigated the effects of tadalafil on placental mTOR signaling. Tadalafil was administered to mice with L-NG-nitroarginine methyl ester (L-NAME)-induced FGR and associated preeclampsia (PE). Placental phosphorylated mTOR (p-mTOR) signaling was assessed by fluorescent immunohistochemical staining and Western blotting. The expression of p-mTOR was significantly decreased in mice with FGR on 13 days post coitum (d.p.c.) but recovered to the same level as that of the control on 17 d.p.c. following tadalafil treatment. The results were similar for 4E-binding protein 1 (4E-BP1) and S6 ribosomal (S6R) protein, which act downstream in the mTOR signaling pathway. We demonstrate that the tadalafil treatment of FGR in mice improved placental mTOR signaling to facilitate fetal growth. Our study provides the key mechanistic detail about the mode of action of tadalafil and thus would be helpful for future clinical studies on FGR.
The Association between Gut Microbiota and Osteoarthritis: Does the Disease Begin in the Gut?
Authors: Ramires Luciano C. , Santos Gabriel Silva , Ramires Rafaela Pereira , da Fonseca Lucas Furtado , Jeyaraman Madhan , Muthu Sathish , Lana Anna Vitória , Azzini Gabriel , Smith Curtis Scott , Lana José Fábio
Published: January 2022

Some say that all diseases begin in the gut. Interestingly, this concept is actually quite old, since it is attributed to the Ancient Greek physician Hippocrates, who proposed the hypothesis nearly 2500 years ago. The continuous breakthroughs in modern medicine have transformed our classic understanding of the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) and human health. Although the gut microbiota (GMB) has proven to be a core component of human health under standard metabolic conditions, there is now also a strong link connecting the composition and function of the GMB to the development of numerous diseases, especially the ones of musculoskeletal nature. The symbiotic microbes that reside in the gastrointestinal tract are very sensitive to biochemical stimuli and may respond in many different ways depending on the nature of these biological signals. Certain variables such as nutrition and physical modulation can either enhance or disrupt the equilibrium between the various species of gut microbes. In fact, fat-rich diets can cause dysbiosis, which decreases the number of protective bacteria and compromises the integrity of the epithelial barrier in the GIT. Overgrowth of pathogenic microbes then release higher quantities of toxic metabolites into the circulatory system, especially the pro-inflammatory cytokines detected in osteoarthritis (OA), thereby promoting inflammation and the initiation of many disease processes throughout the body. Although many studies link OA with GMB perturbations, further research is still needed.
Active and Passive Mediated Social Touch with Vibrotactile Stimuli in Mobile Communication
Authors: Wei Qianhui , Hu Jun , Li Min
Published: January 2022

Tactile technology in mobile devices makes mediated social touch (MST) a possibility. MST with vibrotactile stimuli can be applied in future online social communication applications. There may be different gestures to trigger vibrotactile stimuli for senders and receivers. In this study, we compared senders with gestures and receivers without gestures to identify the differences in perceiving MST with vibrotactile stimuli. We conducted a user study to explore differences in the likelihood to be understood as a social touch with vibrotactile stimuli between senders and receivers. The results showed that for most MST, when participants acted as senders and receivers, there were no differences in understanding MST with vibrotactile stimuli when actively perceiving with gestures or passively perceiving without gestures. Researchers or designers could apply the same vibrotactile stimuli for senders’ and the receivers’ phones in future designs.
Fsmpy: A Fuzzy Set Measures Python Library
Authors: Sidiropoulos George K. , Apostolidis Kyriakos D. , Damianos Nikolaos , Papakostas George A.
Published: January 2022

This paper presents the fsmpy Python library for the implementation of any type of measures and comparisons of different types of fuzzy sets, as well as other important and useful utilities and algorithms. In this paper, we analyze the motivation behind its implementation, the design principles followed, the implemented modules of the library and its capabilities, considering intuitionistic fuzzy sets as the case study. Lastly, some examples of its application to widely used pattern recognition, medical diagnosis and image segmentation are presented.
Sex-Specific Effect of the Dietary Protein to Carbohydrate Ratio on Personality in the Dubia Cockroach
Authors: Bouchebti Sofia , Cortés-Fossati Fernando , Vales Estepa Ángela , Plaza Lozano Maria , S. Calovi Daniel , Arganda Sara
Published: January 2022

Animal personality, defined by behavioral variations among individuals consistent over contexts or time, is shaped by genetic and environmental factors. Among these factors, nutrition can play an important role. The Geometric Framework of Nutrition has promoted a better understanding of the role of the macronutrient proportion in animal development, survival, reproduction, and behavior, and can help to disentangle its modulatory effect on animal personality. In this study, we investigated the effects of protein to carbohydrate (P:C) ratio in the personality of the cockroach Blaptica dubia. Newly emerged adults were fed over a period of eight weeks on five different diets varying in their P:C ratio and their diet consumption, mass variation, survival, exploratory behavior, and mobility were assessed. We found that females, unlike males, were able to regulate their nutrient intake and preferred carbohydrate-rich diets. Females also gained more body mass and lived longer compared to males. In addition, their behavior and mobility were not affected by the diet. In males, however, high-protein diets induced a bolder personality. We suggest that the sex-specific effects observed on both survival and behavior are related to the nutrient intake regulation capacity and might improve the species’ fitness in adverse nutritional conditions.