bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Review of Biological Effects of Acute and Chronic Radiation Exposure on Caenorhabditis elegans
Authors: Dhakal Rabin , Yosofvand Mohammad , Yavari Mahsa , Abdulrahman Ramzi , Schurr Ryan , Moustaid-Moussa Naima , Moussa Hanna
Published: August 2021

Knowledge regarding complex radiation responses in biological systems can be enhanced using genetically amenable model organisms. In this manuscript, we reviewed the use of the nematode, Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans), as a model organism to investigate radiation’s biological effects. Diverse types of experiments were conducted on C. elegans, using acute and chronic exposure to different ionizing radiation types, and to assess various biological responses. These responses differed based on the type and dose of radiation and the chemical substances in which the worms were grown or maintained. A few studies compared responses to various radiation types and doses as well as other environmental exposures. Therefore, this paper focused on the effect of irradiation on C. elegans, based on the intensity of the radiation dose and the length of exposure and ways to decrease the effects of ionizing radiation. Moreover, we discussed several studies showing that dietary components such as vitamin A, polyunsaturated fatty acids, and polyphenol-rich food source may promote the resistance of C. elegans to ionizing radiation and increase their life span after irradiation.
A Polymorphism in C-C Chemokine Receptor 5 (CCR5) Associates with Löfgren’s Syndrome and Alters Receptor Expression as well as Functional Response
Authors: Karakaya Bekir , van Moorsel Coline H. M. , Veltkamp Marcel , Roodenburg-Benschop Claudia , Kazemier Karin M. , van der Helm-van Mil Annette H. M. , Huizinga Tom W. J. , Grutters Jan C. , Rijkers Ger T.
Published: August 2021

C-C chemokine receptor 5 (CCR5) and polymorphisms in CCR5 gene are associated with sarcoidosis and Löfgren’s syndrome. Löfgren’s syndrome is an acute and usually self-remitting phenotype of sarcoidosis. We investigated whether the single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) rs1799987 is associated with susceptibility for Löfgren’s syndrome and has an effect on CCR5 expression on monocytes and function of CCR5. A total of 106 patients with Löfgren’s syndrome and 257 controls were genotyped for rs1799987. Expression of CCR5 on monocytes was measured by flowcytometry. We evaluated calcium influx kinetics following stimulation upon N-formylmethionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine (fMLP) and macrophage inflammatory protein-1α (MIP-1α) on monocytes by measuring the median fluorescence intensity (MFI). The frequency of the G allele of rs1799987 was significantly higher in Löfgren’s syndrome than in healthy controls (p = 0.0015, confidence interval (CI) 1.22–2.32, odds ratio (OR) 1.680). Patients with a GG genotype showed higher CCR5 expression on monocytes than patients with the AA genotype (p = 0.026). A significantly (p = 0.027) lower count of patients with the GG genotype showed a calcium influx reaction to simulation upon MIP-1 α, compared with patients with the AA genotype. The rs1799987 G allele in CCR5 gene is associated with susceptibility to Löfgren’s syndrome and with quantitative and qualitative changes in CCR5, potentially effecting the inflammatory response.
PopulusPtERF85 Balances Xylem Cell Expansion and Secondary Cell Wall Formation in Hybrid Aspen
Authors: Seyfferth Carolin , Wessels Bernard A. , Vahala Jorma , Kangasjärvi Jaakko , Delhomme Nicolas , Hvidsten Torgeir R. , Tuominen Hannele , Lundberg-Felten Judith
Published: August 2021

Secondary growth relies on precise and specialized transcriptional networks that determine cell division, differentiation, and maturation of xylem cells. We identified a novel role for the ethylene-induced Populus Ethylene Response Factor PtERF85 (Potri.015G023200) in balancing xylem cell expansion and secondary cell wall (SCW) formation in hybrid aspen (Populus tremula x tremuloides). Expression of PtERF85 is high in phloem and cambium cells and during the expansion of xylem cells, while it is low in maturing xylem tissue. Extending PtERF85 expression into SCW forming zones of woody tissues through ectopic expression reduced wood density and SCW thickness of xylem fibers but increased fiber diameter. Xylem transcriptomes from the transgenic trees revealed transcriptional induction of genes involved in cell expansion, translation, and growth. The expression of genes associated with plant vascular development and the biosynthesis of SCW chemical components such as xylan and lignin, was down-regulated in the transgenic trees. Our results suggest that PtERF85 activates genes related to xylem cell expansion, while preventing transcriptional activation of genes related to SCW formation. The importance of precise spatial expression of PtERF85 during wood development together with the observed phenotypes in response to ectopic PtERF85 expression suggests that PtERF85 contributes to the transition of fiber cells from elongation to secondary cell wall deposition.
Immune Responses in the Glaucomatous Retina: Regulation and Dynamics
Authors: Shestopalov Valery I. , Spurlock Markus , Gramlich Oliver W. , Kuehn Markus H.
Published: August 2021

Glaucoma is a multifactorial disease resulting in progressive vision loss due to retinal ganglion cell (RGC) dysfunction and death. Early events in the pathobiology of the disease include oxidative, metabolic, or mechanical stress that acts upon RGC, causing these to rapidly release danger signals, including extracellular ATP, resulting in micro- and macroglial activation and neuroinflammation. Danger signaling also leads to the formation of inflammasomes in the retina that enable maturation of proinflammatory cytokines such IL-1β and IL-18. Chronic neuroinflammation can have directly damaging effects on RGC, but it also creates a proinflammatory environment and compromises the immune privilege of the retina. In particular, continuous synthesis of proinflammatory mediators such as TNFα, IL-1β, and anaphylatoxins weakens the blood–retina barrier and recruits or activates T-cells. Recent data have demonstrated that adaptive immune responses strongly exacerbate RGC loss in animal models of the disease as T-cells appear to target heat shock proteins displayed on the surface of stressed RGC to cause their apoptotic death. It is possible that dysregulation of these immune responses contributes to the continued loss of RGC in some patients.
Fabrication and Characterization of In0.9Ga0.1O EGFET pH Sensors
Authors: Chen Chia-Hsun , Liu Shu-Bai , Chang Sheng-Po
Published: August 2021

In this study, the In0.9Ga0.1O sensing membrane were deposited by using the RF magnetron sputtering at room temperature and combined with commercial MOSFETs as the extended gate field effect transistor (EGFET) pH sensors. The sensing performance of the In0.9Ga0.1O EGFET pH sensors were measured and analyzed in the pH value of range between 2 to 12. In the saturation region, the pH current sensitivity calculated from the linear relationship between the IDS and pH value was approximately 56.64 μA/pH corresponding to the linearity of 97.8%. In the linear region, the pH voltage sensitivity exhibited high sensitivity and linearity of 43.7 mV/pH and 96.3%, respectively. The In0.9Ga0.1O EGFET pH sensors were successfully fabricated and exhibited great linearity. The analyzed results indicated that the In0.9Ga0.1O was a robust material as a promising sensing membrane and effectively used for pH sensing detection application.
Energy Aware and Quality of Service Routing Mechanism for Hybrid Internet of Things Network
Authors: Diratie Eyassu Dilla , Sharma Durga Prasad , Al Agha Khaldoun
Published: August 2021

Wireless Multimedia Sensor Networks (WMSNs) based on IEEE 802.11 mesh networks are effective and suitable solutions for video surveillance systems in detecting intrusions in selected monitored areas. The IEEE 802.11-based WMSNs offer high bit rate video transmissions but are challenged by energy inefficiency issues and concerns. To resolve the energy inefficiency challenges, the salient research studies proposed a hybrid architecture. This newly evolved architecture is based on the integration of IEEE 802.11-based mesh WMSNs along with the LoRa network to form an autonomous and high bitrate, energy-efficient video surveillance system. This paper proposes an energy-aware and Quality of Service (QoS) routing mechanism for mesh-connected visual sensor nodes in a hybrid Internet of Things (IoT) network. The routing algorithm allows routing a set of video streams with guaranteed bandwidth and limited delay using as few visual sensor nodes as possible in the network. The remaining idle visual sensor nodes can be turned off completely, and thus it can significantly minimize the overall energy consumption of the network. The proposed algorithm is numerically simulated, and the results show that the proposed approach can help in saving a significant amount of energy consumption while guaranteeing bandwidth and limited delay.
Editorial for the Special Issue on “Emerging Trends in Phononic Crystals”
Authors: Nouh Mostafa , Parnell William J. , Hussein Mahmoud I.
Published: August 2021

Over the past three decades, the study of phononic crystals (PCs) has rapidly evolved into a prominent research field offering a versatile platform for the creation of structured materials with salient properties [...]
Clinicopathological Characteristics and Prognostic Factors in Ovarian Metastases from Right- and Left-Sided Colorectal Cancer
Authors: Kubeček Ondřej , Laco Jan , Špaček Jiří , Kubečková Alena , Petera Jiří , Krulichová Iva Selke , Bezrouk Aleš , Filip Stanislav , Kopecký Jindřich
Published: August 2021

Background: Secondary tumors of the ovary (STOs) account for 10–25% of all ovarian malignancies, including metastases from primary gynecological tumors. Colorectal cancer (CRC) has been recognized as one of the most common causes of STOs in Western countries. Despite it being well-known that CRC originating from the right versus left side of the colon/rectum differ substantially, there is a paucity of information regarding the effect of the primary tumor sidedness on the clinicopathological characteristics of STOs. Methods: This retrospective, observational chart review study included patients with histologically confirmed STOs of CRC origin diagnosed between January 2000 and December 2019. The clinicopathological characteristics of STOs originating from left-sided and right-sided CRC were compared. Univariable and multivariable analyses employing elastic net Cox proportional hazard models were used to evaluate potential prognostic factors. Further, the role of imaging methods in STOs diagnostics was evaluated. Results: Fifty-one patients with STOs of colorectal origin were identified. The primary tumor originated in the right and left colon/rectum in 39% and 61% of the cases, respectively. STOs originating from right-sided primary tumors were more frequently bilateral, associated with peritoneal carcinomatosis, had the ovarian surface affected by the tumor, and contained a mucinous component. The independent prognostic factors for overall survival in the whole cohort included: the presence of macroscopic residual disease after cytoreductive surgery, menopausal status, the application of systemic therapy, and the application of targeted therapy. In 54% of cases, the imaging methods failed to determine the laterality of the STOs correctly as compared to pathological reports and/or intraoperative findings. Conclusion: STOs originating from left-sided and right-sided CRC show distinct clinicopathological characteristics. Moreover, different metastatic pathways might be employed according to the primary tumor sidedness. Considering the discrepancies between radiological assessment and histopathological findings regarding the laterality of STOs, bilateral adnexectomy should be advised whenever feasible.
A Case of Stevens–Johnson Syndrome in Recurrent Late-Stage Ovarian Cancer Patient after Management of Chronic Pain with Elastomeric Pump
Authors: Cokan Andrej , Gavrić Lovrec Vida Gavrić , Takač Iztok
Published: August 2021

(1) Background. Stevens–Johnson syndrome (SJS) and toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN) are severe mucocutaneous reactions, characterized by extensive necrosis and detachment of the epidermis. (2) Case presentation. We present a case of a 46-year-old patient with late-stage high-grade serous ovarian cancer who was primarily treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy and interval debulking, which was followed by adjuvant chemotherapy. At first recurrence, she was again treated with chemotherapy, and due to severe abdominal pain, an elastomeric pump containing analgesics, anti-inflammatories, and ondansetron was administered. In the same month, she was admitted to the hospital due to severe dysphagia, and in the following days she developed haemorrhagic vesiculobullous lesions on the facial skin and trunk. Stevens–Johnson syndrome was confirmed and ondansetron as a plausible leading cause was discontinued. Despite multimodal treatment, her condition deteriorated, and she died. (3) Discussion and conclusion. Although gynaecologists rarely encounter Stevens–Johnson syndrome, high mortality of the disease should ensure a low threshold for diagnosing and treating this disease.
The Light and Shadow Brought to Teacher Education by Digitizing the Educational Environment: The Case of Japan
Authors: Kihara Toshiyuki
Published: August 2021

In this paper, the trends and issues of teacher education research and practices in Japan are clarified from the viewpoint of the digitization of the educational environment. This will be achieved through a review of the literature and policy documents on recent educational practices and teacher education. Firstly, Japanese teacher education and the ICT environment in schools are summarized. In addition, the Japanese concept of “teachers who continue to learn” and its multidimensional character is explained. Secondly, a model of the above idea that consists of five dimensions is introduced: (1) social navigators, (2) technical experts, (3) inquiry practitioners, (4) critical practitioners, and (5) members of professional learning communities. Thirdly, through the review, it is pointed out that all of them are affected by the digitization of the educational environment, which has been accelerated as a countermeasure to COVID-19. In conclusion, it is stated that the digitization of the educational environment and its accelerated progress casts both light and shadow on the role of Japanese teachers as reflective practitioners. Additionally, it is referenced that there are many differences among schools and regions on the ratio of light and shadow in Japan, even though it is geographically small.
Alternative Measures of Dependence for Cyclic Behaviour Identification in the Signal with Impulsive Noise—Application to the Local Damage Detection
Authors: Hebda-Sobkowicz Justyna , Nowicki Jakub , Zimroz Radosław , Wyłomańska Agnieszka
Published: August 2021

The local damage detection procedures in rotating machinery are based on the analysis of the impulsiveness and/or the periodicity of disturbances corresponding to the failure. Recent findings related to non-Gaussian vibration signals showed some drawbacks of the classical methods. If the signal is noisy and it is strongly non-Gaussian (heavy-tailed), searching for impulsive behvaior is pointless as both informative and non-informative components are transients. The classical dependence measure (autocorrelation) is not suitable for non-Gaussian signals. Thus, there is a need for new methods for hidden periodicity detection. In this paper, an attempt will be made to use alternative measures of dependence used in time series analysis that are less known in the condition monitoring (CM) community. They are proposed as alternatives for the classical autocovariance function used in the cyclostationary analysis. The methodology of the auto-similarity map calculation is presented as well as a procedure for a “quality” or “informativeness” assessment of the map is proposed. In the most complex case, the most resistant to heavy-tailed noise turned out the proposed techniques based on Kendall, Spearman and Quadrant autocorrelations. Whereas in the case of the local fault disturbed by the Gaussian noise, the most efficient proved to be a commonly-known approach based on Pearson autocorrelation. The ideas proposed in the paper are supported by simulation signals and real vibrations from heavy-duty machines.
Reliability Assessment of Passive Safety Systems for Nuclear Energy Applications: State-of-the-Art and Open Issues
Authors: Di Maio Francesco , Pedroni Nicola , Tóth Barnabás , Burgazzi Luciano , Zio Enrico
Published: August 2021

Passive systems are fundamental for the safe development of Nuclear Power Plant (NPP) technology. The accurate assessment of their reliability is crucial for their use in the nuclear industry. In this paper, we present a review of the approaches and procedures for the reliability assessment of passive systems. We complete the work by discussing the pending open issues, in particular with respect to the need of novel sensitivity analysis methods, the role of empirical modelling and the integration of passive safety systems assessment in the (static/dynamic) Probabilistic Safety Assessment (PSA) framework.
Comparative Numerical Study of the Influence of Film Hole Location of Ribbed Cooling Channel on Internal and External Heat Transfer
Authors: Jeon Shinyoung , Son Changmin
Published: August 2021

The influence of film-hole position on internal and external heat transfer was investigated using Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD). A simplified geometry of an integrated configuration of a ribbed channel, film hole and mainstream passage is modeled to represent a turbine internal and external cooling scheme. The proposed configurations with nine different positions of film holes are parameterized to conduct a series of CFD calculations at a target blowing ratio of 0.8, 1.1 and 1.7. Since the present study is taking a comparative approach, CFX with SST models is applied as a primary tool and the results are compared with Fluent solver for selected cases (total 36 cases). Among the proposed nine positions, the film holes located in the separated flow region of a ribbed channel showed considerable enhancement in film effectiveness with minimum reduction and potential improvement in internal heat transfer. The finding offers a design opportunity to enhance internal as well as external heat transfer.
Harmonics Compensation by Using a Multi-Modular H-Bridge-Based Multilevel Converter
Authors: Gregor Raul , Pacher Julio , Espinoza Alejandro , Renault Alfredo , Comparatore Leonardo , Ayala Magno
Published: August 2021

This paper presents an active power filter based on a seven-level cascade H-bridge where the main contribution is a control strategy that combines model-based predictive control, the voltage vectors of the converter output levels, the phase shift PWM technique, and suboptimal DC-link voltage control. The proposed scheme greatly simplified the overall control system, making it well suited to compensate the current harmonics distortion at the grid side, generated by nonlinear loads connected to the point of common coupling. In addition, the proposed method achieved a balancing of the capacitor voltages of the seven-level cascade H-bridge converter by using the minimum DC-link voltage sensors. This feature significantly reduced the control system complexity and provided a low computational burden. Experimental results confirmed the feasibility and effectiveness of the proposed controller.
Energy Efficiency and Carbon Emission Impact on Competitiveness in the European Energy Intensive Industries
Authors: Zuoza Andrius , Pilinkienė Vaida
Published: August 2021

Climate change and efforts to mitigate it have given rise to an interest in the relationship between industry competitiveness, energy efficiency, and carbon emissions. A better understanding of this relationship can be essential for economic and environmental decision-makers. This paper presents empirical research evaluating industry competitiveness through the factors of energy efficiency and carbon emission in Europe’s most energy-intensive industries. The designed industry competitiveness measure index consists of seven components, grouped into three equally weighted sub-indexes: export performance, energy, and environmental. The export performance of the industry is described by the industry export growth rate, the share of the industry’s export, and the effects on the industry’s competitiveness of changes in a country’s export. The energy intensity of the industry and energy prices are integrated into the energy sub-index. The environmental sub-index consists of the industry’s emissions intensity, and the ratio of freely allocated allowances and verified emissions indicators. The findings indicate that countries with the highest index value also have a positive energy intensity and carbon emission indicator value. The average index value of each industry gradually reduces to zero, and the standard deviation of the index value shows a diminishing trend throughout all sectors, which implies that competitiveness in all sectors is increasing and that all countries are nearing the industry average. The ANOVA results show that: (1) the competitiveness index value was statistically significantly different in the investigated countries; (2) the competitiveness index value was statistically non-significantly different in the investigated industries; (3) there was a significant effect of the interaction between country and industry on the competitiveness index value. These results suggest that the country itself and industry/country interaction significantly affect the competitiveness index. However, it should be mentioned that industry per se does not substantially affect the competitiveness index score.
Education 4.0: Teaching the Basis of Motor Imagery Classification Algorithms for Brain-Computer Interfaces
Authors: Balderas David , Ponce Pedro , Lopez-Bernal Diego , Molina Arturo
Published: August 2021

Education 4.0 is looking to prepare future scientists and engineers not only by granting them with knowledge and skills but also by giving them the ability to apply them to solve real life problems through the implementation of disruptive technologies. As a consequence, there is a growing demand for educational material that introduces science and engineering students to technologies, such as Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Brain–Computer Interfaces (BCI). Thus, our contribution towards the development of this material is to create a test bench for BCI given the basis and analysis on how they can be discriminated against. This is shown using different AI methods: Fisher Linear Discriminant Analysis (LDA), Support Vector Machines (SVM), Artificial Neural Networks (ANN), Restricted Boltzmann Machines (RBM) and Self-Organizing Maps (SOM), allowing students to see how input changes alter their performance. These tests were done against a two-class Motor Image database. First, using a large frequency band and no filtering eye movement. Secondly, the band was reduced and the eye movement was filtered. The accuracy was analyzed obtaining values around 70∼80% for all methods, excluding SVM and SOM mapping. Accuracy and mapping differentiability increased for some subjects for the second scenario 70∼85%, meaning either their band with the most significant information is on that limited space or the contamination because of eye movement was better mitigated by the regression method. This can be translated to saying that these methods work better under limited spaces. The outcome of this work is useful to show future scientists and engineers how BCI experiments are conducted while teaching them the basics of some AI techniques that can be used in this and other several experiments that can be carried on the framework of Education 4.0.
Identification and Validation of Marketing Weight-Related SNP Markers Using SLAF Sequencing in Male Yangzhou Geese
Authors: Melak Sherif , Wang Qin , Tian Ye , Wei Wei , Zhang Lifan , Elbeltagy Ahmed , Chen Jie
Published: August 2021

Growth performance is a complex economic trait for avian production. The swan goose (Anser cygnoides) has never been exploited genetically like chickens or other waterfowl species such as ducks. Traditional phenotypic selection is still the main method for genetic improvement of geese body weight. In this study, specific locus amplified fragment sequencing (SLAF-seq) with bulked segregant analysis (BSA) was conducted for discovering and genotyping single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) associated with marketing weight trait in male geese. A total of 149,045 SNPs were obtained from 427,093 SLAF tags with an average sequencing depth of 44.97-fold and a Q30 value of 93.26%. After SNPs’ filtering, a total of 12,917 SNPs were included in the study. The 31 highest significant SNPs—which had different allelic frequencies—were further validated by individual-based AS-PCR genotyping in two populations. The association between 10 novel SNPs and the marketing weight of male geese was confirmed. The 10 significant SNPs were involved in linear regression model analysis, which confirmed single-SNP associations and revealed three types of SNP networks for marketing weight. The 10 significant SNPs were located within or close to 10 novel genes, which were identified. The qPCR analysis showed significant difference between genotypes of each SNP in seven genes. Developed SLAF-seq and identified genes will enrich growth performance studies, promoting molecular breeding applications to boost the marketing weight of Chinese geese.
Risk Factors for Depressive Symptoms in Korean Adult Stroke Survivors: The Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey IV–VII (2007–2018)
Authors: Hong Min-Woo , Lee Jong-Hwa , Lee Kyeong-Woo , Kim Sang-Beom , Kang Min-Gu
Published: August 2021

Depressive symptoms are common in stroke survivors, and they are associated with poor outcomes. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the depressive symptoms in stroke survivors and the risk factors for depressive symptoms in stroke survivors. We included 33,991 participants who were 19 years or older and had completed a questionnaire about the history of stroke from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES) IV–VII (from 2007 to 2018). The mean Patient Health Questionnaire-9 score and the prevalence of major depression, depressive symptoms, antidepressant treatment, suicidal ideation, and suicide attempts were significantly higher in stroke survivors than in non-stroke participants (4.4 vs. 2.6, 16.2% vs. 5.3%, 24.7% vs. 9.3%, 3.8% vs. 1.4%, 21.7% vs. 4.8%, and 2.5% vs. 0.6%, respectively, all p < 0.001). Complex sample multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that the female sex, unemployment, a low education level, a low family income, and activity limitations were independent risk factors for depressive symptoms in stroke survivors. Activity limitations showed the highest odds ratio among the independent factors, and its causes were further analyzed. The most common causes of activity limitations were stroke sequelae and musculoskeletal problems. To reduce depressive symptoms in stroke survivors, attention needs to be paid to minimizing stroke sequelae and musculoskeletal problems along with regular screening for depressive symptoms.
Early Risk Factors for Obesity in the First 1000 Days—Relationship with Body Fat and BMI at 2 Years
Authors: Díaz-Rodríguez Mercedes , Pérez-Muñoz Celia , Carretero-Bravo Jesús , Ruíz-Ruíz Catalina , Serrano-Santamaría Manuel , Ferriz-Mas Bernardo C.
Published: August 2021

(1) Background: Obesity is defined as an excessive accumulation of body fat. Several early developmental factors have been identified which are associated with an increased risk of childhood obesity and increased adiposity in childhood. The primary objective of the present study is to analyse the effect of various early risk factors on Body Mass Index (BMI) and body fat percentage at 2 years of age. (2) Methods: A prospective cohort study design was used, with the sample consisting of 109 mother-child pairs from whom data were collected between early pregnancy and 2 years old. Adiposity was determined based on skinfold measurements using the Brooks and Siri formulae. Mean comparison tests (Student’s t-test and ANOVAs) and multiple linear regression models were used to analyse the relationship between early programming factors and dependent variables. (3) Results: Maternal excess weight during early pregnancy (β = 0.203, p = 0.026), gestational smoking (β = 0.192, p = 0.036), and accelerated weight gain in the first 2 years (β = − 0.269, p = 0.004) were significantly associated with high body fat percentage. Pre-pregnancy BMI and accelerated weight gain in the first 2 years were associated with high BMI z-score (β = 0.174, p = 0.047 and β = 0.417, p = 0.000 respectively). The cumulative effect of these variables resulted in high values compared to the baseline zero-factor group, with significant differences in BMI z-score (F = 8.640, p = 0.000) and body fat percentage (F = 5.402, p = 0.002) when three factors were present. (4) Conclusions: The presence of several early risk factors related to obesity in infancy was significantly associated with higher BMI z-score and body fat percentage at 2 years of age. The presence of more than one of these variables was also associated with higher adiposity at 2 years of age. Early prevention strategies should address as many of these factors as possible.
The Effects of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Teleworking and Education in a Romanian Higher Education Institution: An Internal Stakeholders Perspective
Authors: Catană Ştefan-Alexandru , Toma Sorin-George , Barbu Andreea
Published: August 2021

The COVID-19 pandemic has created the conditions for the expansion of teleworking (TW) in numerous sectors and organizations, and higher education institutions (HEIs) have had to adapt to this context. This paper aims to identify and analyze five factors (technology, individual involvement and skills, physical inactivity, psychological well-being, and household activities) that influence the effort and results in TW and education (E) in HEIs from the perspective of their key internal stakeholders. The data were gathered by a mix of qualitative and quantitative research methods, such as interviews and surveys. They were analyzed and interpreted through factorial analysis that uses the presentation of the main components as an extraction method, with the Varimax rotation method adopting Kaiser normalization, and processed with SPSS statistical software. This study shows that the effort and results of the key internal stakeholders of HEIs are influenced by the five factors. In this respect, students’ results are negatively influenced by technology and physical inactivity factors. Moreover, the efforts of auxiliary and non-teaching staff are highly positively influenced by the psychological well-being factor and their results are positively influenced by the individual involvement and skills factor and negatively influenced by the household activities factor.
Results of Pregnancy Control before and during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Comparison of Two Cohorts
Authors: Llorca Javier , Lechosa-Muñiz Carolina , Frank de Zulueta Pelayo , López-Gómez Sonia , Orallo Victoria , Alonso-Molero Jéssica , Arozamena-Llano Barbara , Jubete Yolanda , Paz-Zulueta María , Cabero María J. ,   on behalf of the MOACC-19 Group
Published: August 2021

The COVID-19 pandemic placed pregnant women at high risk, but behavioural changes have also led to lower rates of preterm births in high-income countries. The main goal of this article is to study the ongoing impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on pregnancy control and outcomes; this is a joint analysis of two cohorts. The pre-pandemic cohort includes 969 pregnant women recruited in 2018. The pandemic cohort comprises 1168 pregnant women recruited in 2020. Information on demographic and socioeconomic characteristics, reproductive history, characteristics of the current pregnancy and its outcome were obtained from medical records. Birth by Caesarean section was more frequent in the pre-pandemic cohort (adjusted odds ratio (OR) = 0.71, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.55–0.92). A birth weight lower than 2500 g and higher than 4000 g occurred more frequently in the pre-pandemic cohort (adjusted OR = 0.62, 95% CI: 0.41–0.93 for lower than 2500 g and adjusted OR = 0.30, 95% CI: 0.20–0.46 for higher than 4000 g). Exclusive breastfeeding upon hospital discharge was more frequent in the pandemic cohort than in the pre-pandemic cohort (60% vs. 54%, p = 0.005), with adjusted OR = 0.67, 95% CI: 0.52–0.86 for mixed breastfeeding and infant formula. In conclusion, we report reductions in Caesarean sections and reduced numbers of low birth weight babies during the pandemic in a hospital located in northern Spain. Further analysis will clarify if these reductions are related to changes in health-related behaviour or healthcare operation.
A Virtual Reality-Based Self-Help Intervention for Dealing with the Psychological Distress Associated with the COVID-19 Lockdown: An Effectiveness Study with a Two-Week Follow-Up
Authors: Riva Giuseppe , Bernardelli Luca , Castelnuovo Gianluca , Di Lernia Daniele , Tuena Cosimo , Clementi Alex , Pedroli Elisa , Malighetti Clelia , Sforza Francesca , Wiederhold Brenda K. , Serino Silvia
Published: August 2021

The aim of this study is to investigate the effectiveness of a novel self-administered at-home daily virtual reality (VR)-based intervention (COVID Feel Good) for reducing the psychological burden experienced during the COVID-19 lockdown in Italy. A total of 40 individuals who had experienced at least two months of strict social distancing measures followed COVID Feel Good between June and July 2020 for one week. Primary outcome measures were depression, anxiety, and stress symptoms, perceived stress levels, and hopelessness. Secondary outcomes were the experienced social connectedness and the level of fear experienced during the COVID-19 pandemic. Linear mixed-effects models were fitted to evaluate the effectiveness of the intervention. Additionally, we also performed a clinical change analysis on primary outcome measures. As concerning primary outcome measures, participants exhibited improvements from baseline to post-intervention for depression levels, stress levels, general distress, and perceived stress (all p < 0.05) but not for the perceived hopelessness (p = 0.110). Results for the secondary outcomes indicated an increase in social connectedness from T0 to T1 (p = 0.033) but not a significant reduction in the perceived fear of coronavirus (p = 0.412). Among these study variables, these significant improvements were maintained from post-intervention to the 2-week follow-up (p > 0.05). Results indicated that the intervention was associated with good clinical outcomes, low-to-no risks for the treatment, and no adverse effects or risks. Globally, evidence suggests a beneficial effect of the proposed protocol and its current availability in 12 different languages makes COVID Feel Good a free choice for helping individuals worldwide to cope with the psychological distress associated with the COVID-19 crisis, although large scale trials are needed to evaluate its efficacy.
Effectiveness of Colorectal Cancer Screening Promotion Using E-Media Decision Aids: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Ramli Nur Suhada , Manaf Mohd Rizal Abdul , Hassan Mohd Rohaizat , Ismail Muhamad Izwan , Nawi Azmawati Mohammed
Published: August 2021

Colorectal cancer (CRC)-screening reduces mortality, yet remains underutilized. The use of electronic media (e-media) decision aids improves saliency and fosters informed decision-making. This systematic review aimed to determine the effectiveness of CRC-screening promotion, using e-media decision aids in primary healthcare (PHC) settings. Three databases (MEDLINE, Web of Science, and the Cochrane Library) were searched for eligible studies. Studies that evaluated e-media decision aids compared to usual care or other conditions were selected. Quality was assessed by using Cochrane tools. Their effectiveness was measured by CRC-screening completion rates, and meta-analysis was conducted to calculate the pooled estimates. Ten studies involving 9393 patients were included in this review. Follow-up durations spanned 3–24 months. The two types of decision-aid interventions used were videos and interactive multimedia programs, with durations of 6–15 min. Data from nine feasible studies with low or some risk of bias were synthesized for meta-analysis. A random-effects model revealed that CRC-screening promotion using e-media decision aids were almost twice as likely to have screening completion than their comparisons (OR 1.62, 95% CI: 1.03–2.62, p < 0.05). CRC-screening promotion through e-media has great potential for increasing screening participation in PHC settings. Thus, its development should be prioritized, and it should be integrated into existing programs.
Chemical, Biological and Morphological Properties of Fine Particles during Local Rice Straw Burning Activities
Authors: Ramli Nur Amanina , Md Yusof Noor Faizah Fitri , Zarkasi Kamarul Zaman , Suroto Azrin
Published: August 2021

Rice straw is commonly burned openly after harvesting in Malaysia and many other Asian countries where rice is the main crop. This operation emits a significant amount of air pollution, which can have severe consequences for indoor air quality, public health, and climate change. Therefore, this study focuses on determining the compositions of trace elements and the morphological properties of fine particles. Furthermore, the species of bacteria found in bioaerosol from rice burning activities were discovered in this study. For morphological observation of fine particles, FESEM-EDX was used in this study. Two main categories of particles were found, which were natural particles and anthropogenic particles. The zinc element was found during the morphological observation and was assumed to come from the fertilizer used by the farmers. ICP-OES identifies the concentration of trace elements in the fine particle samples. A cultured method was used in this study by using nutrient agar. From this study, several bacteria were identified: Exiguobavterium indicum, Bacillus amyloliquefaciens, Desulfonema limicola str. Jadabusan, Exiguobacterium acetylicum, Lysinibacillus macrolides, and Bacillus proteolyticus. This study is important, especially for human health, and further research on the biological composition of aerosols should be conducted to understand the effect of microorganisms on human health.
Changes of Dentition State in Leukemic Patients during Chemotherapy
Authors: Ptasiewicz Maja , Maksymiuk Paweł , Chałas Renata
Published: August 2021

A number of systemic diseases including hematological disorders have manifestations in the oral cavity region. These manifestations may often represent early signs of the underlying hematopoietic disease and occur frequently in leukemia. Despite the fact that leukemia has long been known to be associated with oral health deterioration, the available literature on this topic consists mostly of case reports, without data to conclude these. The aim of the study was to assess dentition state in leukemic patients during one cycle of chemotherapy and its correlation with blood parameters. The study included 102 adults treated because of leukemia at the Clinic of Haemato-Oncology and Bone Marrow Transplantation at the university hospital in Lublin, Poland. The sample group consisted of 51 women and 51 men aged 22 to 72 (54.07 ± 10.33) with following diagnoses: Acute myelogenous leukemia (AML)—55 patients (53.92%), Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL)—17 patients (16.67%), Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL)—16 patients (15.69%), Chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML)—10 patients (9.80%), Acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) —3 patients (2.94%), Chronic hairy cell leukemia (HCL)—1 patient (0.98%). DMFT index was used to assess dentition state. After the cycle of chemotherapy, their dentition state changed in terms of decayed, missing and filled teeth and correlated with hematological parameters. Adult patients with leukemia have high dental treatment needs, and high number of missing teeth; thus, a comprehensive and fast dental treatment is necessary to avoid systemic complications and ensure better quality of life.
Exploring the Impact of Different Types of Do-Not-Resuscitate Consent on End-of-Life Treatments among Patients with Advanced Kidney Disease: An Observational Study
Authors: Yang Chiu-Hsien , Wu Chien-Yi , Low Joseph T. S. , Chuang Yun-Shiuan , Huang Yu-Wen , Hwang Shang-Jyh , Chen Ping-Jen
Published: August 2021

Background: Patients with advanced kidney disease have a symptomatic and psychological burden which warrant renal supportive care or palliative care. However, the impact of do-not-resuscitate consent type (signed by patients or surrogates) on end-of-life treatments in these patients remains unclear. Objective: We aim to identify influential factors correlated with different do-not-resuscitate consent types in patients with advanced kidney disease and the impact of do-not-resuscitate consent types on various life-prolonging treatments. Methods: This was a retrospective observational study. We included patients aged 20 years and over, diagnosed with advanced kidney disease and receiving palliative and hospice care consultation services between January 2014 and December 2018 in a tertiary teaching hospital in Taiwan. We reviewed medical records and used logistic regression to identify factors associated with do-not-resuscitate consent types and end-of-life treatments. Results: A total of 275 patients were included, in which 21% signed their do-not-resuscitate consents. A total of 233 patients were followed until death, and 32% of the decedents continued hemodialysis, 75% underwent nasogastric (NG) tube placement, and 70% took antibiotics in their final seven days of life. Do-not-resuscitate consents signed by patients were associated with reduced life-prolonging treatments including feeding tube placement and antibiotic use in the last seven days (odd ratio and 95% confidence interval were 0.16, 0.07–0.34 and 0.33, 0.16–0.69, respectively) compared to do-not-resuscitate consents signed by surrogates. Conclusions: Do-not-resuscitate consent signed by patients and not by surrogates may reflect better patients’ autonomy and reduced life-prolonging treatments in the final seven days of patients with advanced kidney disease.
Hair Lead, Aluminum, and Other Toxic Metals in Normal-Weight and Obese Patients with Coronary Heart Disease
Authors: Skalny Anatoly V. , Kopylov Philippe Yu , Paoliello Monica M. B. , Chang Jung-Su , Aschner Michael , Bobrovnitsky Igor P. , Chao Jane C.-J. , Aaseth Jan , Chebotarev Sergei N. , Tinkov Alexey A.
Published: August 2021

The objective of the present study was to evaluate hair toxic metal levels in patients with obesity and/or coronary heart disease (CHD). Following a 2 × 2 factorial design, subjects without CHD were grouped into normal weight control (n = 123) and obese groups (n = 140). Patients suffering from CHD were divided into normal weight (n = 180) and obese CHD subjects (n = 240). Hair Al, As, Cd, Hg, Ni, and Pb levels were evaluated using inductively-coupled plasma mass-spectrometry. The data demonstrate that hair Al and Hg levels were higher in obese subjects as compared to normal weight controls. Normal weight CHD patients were characterized by significantly higher hair Al, As, Cd, and Pb levels when compared to healthy subjects. The highest hair Al, As, and Pb levels were observed in obese CHD patients, significantly exceeding the respective values in other groups. Factorial analysis revealed significant influence of factorial interaction (CHD*obesity) only for hair Pb content. Given the role of obesity as a risk factor for CHD, it is proposed that increased toxic metal accumulation in obesity may promote further development of cardiovascular diseases.
The Humanoid Robot Sil-Bot in a Cognitive Training Program for Community-Dwelling Elderly People with Mild Cognitive Impairment during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Authors: Park Eun-A , Jung Ae-Ri , Lee Kyoung-A
Published: August 2021

Background: Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is a stage preceding dementia, and early intervention is critical. This study investigated whether multi-domain cognitive training programs, especially robot-assisted training, conducted 12 times, twice a week for 6 weeks can improve cognitive function and depression decline in community-dwelling older adults with mild cognitive impairment (MCI). Methods: A randomized controlled trial was conducted with 135 volunteers without cognitive impairment aged 60 years old or older. Participants were first randomized into two groups. One group consisted of 90 participants who would receive cognitive training and 45 who would not receive any training (NI). The cognitive training group was randomly divided into two groups, 45 who received traditional cognitive training (TCT) and 45 who received robot-assisted cognitive training (RACT). The training for both groups consisted of a daily 60 min session, twice a week for six weeks. Results: RACT participants had significantly greater post-intervention improvement in cognitive function (t = 4.707, p < 0.001), memory (t = −2.282, p = 0.007), executive function (t = 4.610, p < 0.001), and depression (t = −3.307, p = 0.004). TCT participants had greater post-intervention improvement in memory (t = −6.671, p < 0.001) and executive function (t = 5.393, p < 0.001). Conclusions: A 6-week robot-assisted, multi-domain cognitive training program can improve the efficiency of global cognitive function and depression during cognitive tasks in older adults with MCI, which is associated with improvements in memory and executive function.
Analysis of a Vaping-Associated Lung Injury Outbreak through Participatory Surveillance and Archival Internet Data
Authors: Hswen Yulin , Yom-Tov Elad
Published: August 2021

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention alerted of a suspected outbreak of lung illness associated with using E-cigarette products in September 2019. At the time that the CDC published its alert little was known about the causes of the outbreak or who was at risk for it. Here we provide insights into the outbreak through analysis of passive reporting and participatory surveillance. We collected data about vaping habits and associated adverse reactions from four data sources pertaining to people in the USA: A participatory surveillance platform (YouVape), Reddit, Google Trends, and Bing. Data were analyzed to identify vaping behaviors and reported adverse events. These were correlated among sources and with prior reports. Data was obtained from 720 YouVape users, 4331 Reddit users, and over 1 million Bing users. Large geographic variation was observed across vaping products. Significant correlation was found among the data sources in reported adverse reactions. Models of participatory surveillance data found specific product and adverse reaction associations. Specifically, cannabidiol was found to be associated with fever, while tetrahydrocannabinol was found to be correlated with diarrhea. Our results demonstrate that utilization of different, complementary, online data sources provide a holistic view of vaping associated lung injury while augmenting traditional data sources.