bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Immersive Virtual Reality in Alleviating Pain and Anxiety in Children During Immunization in Primary Care: A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial
Authors: Chang Zi Ying , Kang Gary Chun-Yun , Koh Eileen Yi Ling , Fong Rodney Jin Kai , Tang Jiasheng , Goh Chi Keong , Tan Ngiap Chuan
Published: March 2022

Background

Pediatric immunization is often associated with significant fear and anxiety among the children and their parents. Their distress may potentially affect their adherence to the childhood immunization schedule and the acceptance of other recommended vaccines by physicians.

Objective

The study primarily aimed to assess the feasibility of using immersive virtual reality (VR) during immunization in children in primary care. The secondary aim was to determine the effectiveness of immersive VR in alleviating pain and anxiety among children, reduction of anxiety of their parents and attending nurses during immunization compared to usual care without VR.

Methods

A pilot open-label randomized control trial was conducted at a public primary care clinic in Singapore. Thirty children, aged 4–10 years were randomized to an intervention group (n = 15) using VR and a control group (n = 15) without VR during immunization. Feasibility was assessed by the response rate to the use of VR. The Faces Pain Scale-Revised (FPS-R) and the Children’s Fear Scale (CFS) were used to determine their pain and anxiety, respectively. The anxiety level of their accompanying parents and attending nurses were evaluated using Visual Analog Scale (VAS) prior and post-immunization of these children. The FPS-R and CFS scores, and anxiety assessment for parents and nurses were assessed using Mann-Whitney U test. Wilcoxon signed rank test was used to assess the difference in the nurses’ experience of using the VR application.

Results

One child refused to use the VR equipment, constituting a rejection rate of 6.7% (1/15) but no adverse event occurred in the intervention arm. The overall response rate of 88% (30/34) when the parents were approached to participate in the study, indicating feasibility of using VR in childhood immunization. In the intervention group compared to the control group, the change in scores for CFS (median −1, IQR −2 to 0; P = 0.04), parental VAS (median −4, IQR −5 to −1; P = 0.04) were significantly decreased. After immunization, nurses scored favorably for VR, in terms of simplicity (median 9.5, IQR 5.72 to 10; P = 0.01), acceptability (median 10, IQR 5 to 10; P = 0.005) and willingness to use VR in the future (median 10, IQR 5 to 10; P = 0.02).

Conclusion

Immersive VR is feasible, safe and effective in alleviating anxiety among the children and parents. Nurses viewed the application of VR in childhood immunization favorably.

Clinical Trial Registration

[https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04748367], identifier [NCT04748367].
Case Report: Zellweger Syndrome and Humoral Immunodeficiency: The Relevance of Newborn Screening for Primary Immunodeficiency
Authors: Fazi C. , Lodi L. , Magi L. , Canessa C. , Giovannini M. , Pelosi C. , Pochiero F. , Procopio E. , Donati M. A. , Azzari C. , Ricci S.
Published: March 2022

Background

Zellweger syndrome (ZS) is a congenital autosomal recessive disease within the spectrum of peroxisome biogenesis disorders, characterized by the impairment of peroxisome assembly. The presence of peroxisome enzyme deficiencies leads to complex developmental sequelae, progressive disabilities, and multiorgan damage, due to intracellular accumulation of very-long-chain fatty acids (VLCFAs).

Case Presentation

We report the case of an infant affected by ZS in which agammaglobulinemia, detected through neonatal screening of congenital immunodeficiencies, appeared as a peculiar trait standing out among all the other classical characteristics of the syndrome. The exome analysis through next-generation sequencing (NGS), which had previously confirmed the diagnostic suspicion of ZS, was repeated, but no mutations causative of inborn error of immunity (humoral defect) were detected.

Conclusion

In this case, no genetic variants accountable for the abovementioned agammaglobulinemia were detected. Given that the scientific literature reports the involvement of peroxisomes in the activation of Nuclear Factor κ-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells (NF-κB) pathway, which is crucial for B-cell survival, with this work, we hypothesize the existence of a link between ZS and humoral immunodeficiencies. Further studies are required to confirm this hypothesis.
Tumor-Draining Lymph Node Reconstruction Promotes B Cell Activation During E0771 Mouse Breast Cancer Growth
Authors: Louie Dante Alexander Patrick , Oo Darellynn , Leung Glory , Lin Yujia , Stephens Matthew , Alrashed Omar , Tso Marcus , Liao Shan
Published: March 2022

Lymph node metastasis is associated with tumor aggressiveness and poor prognosis in patients. Despite its significance in cancer progression, how immune cells in the tumor-draining lymph node (TDLN) participate in cancer immune regulation remains poorly understood. It has been reported that both anti-tumor and exhausted tumor-specific T cells can be induced in the TDLNs; however, B cell activation and maturation in the TDLN has received far less attention. In our studies using C57BL/6 mouse syngeneic E0771 breast cancer or B16F10 melanoma cell lines, tumor-associated antigens were found colocalized with the follicular dendritic cells (FDCs) in the germinal centers (GCs), where antigen-specific B cell maturation occurs. LN conduits and the subcapsular sinus (SCS) macrophages are two major routes of antigen trafficking to FDCs. Tumor growth induced LN conduit expansion in the B cell zone and disrupted the SCS macrophage layer, facilitating both the entry of tumor-associated antigens into the B cell zone and access to FDCs located in the GCs. Regional delivery of clodronate liposome specifically depleted SCS macrophages in the TDLN, increasing GC formation, and promoting tumor growth. Our study suggests that TDLN reconstruction creates a niche that favors B cell activation and maturation during tumor growth.
An Optogenetic Arrhythmia Model—Insertion of Several Catecholaminergic Polymorphic Ventricular Tachycardia Mutations Into Caenorhabditis elegans UNC-68 Disturbs Calstabin-Mediated Stabilization of the Ryanodine Receptor Homolog
Authors: Engel Marcial Alexander , Wörmann Yves René , Kaestner Hanna , Schüler Christina
Published: March 2022

Catecholaminergic polymorphic ventricular tachycardia (CPVT) is an inherited disturbance of the heart rhythm (arrhythmia) that is induced by stress or that occurs during exercise. Most mutations that have been linked to CPVT are found in two genes, i.e., ryanodine receptor 2 (RyR2) and calsequestrin 2 (CASQ2), two proteins fundamentally involved in the regulation of intracellular Ca2+ in cardiac myocytes. We inserted six CPVT-causing mutations via clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)-Cas9 into unc-68 and csq-1, the Caenorhabditis elegans homologs of RyR and CASQ, respectively. We characterized those mutations via video-microscopy, electrophysiology, and calcium imaging in our previously established optogenetic arrhythmia model. In this study, we additionally enabled high(er) throughput recordings of intact animals by combining optogenetic stimulation with a microfluidic chip system. Whereas only minor/no pump deficiency of the pharynx was observed at baseline, three mutations of UNC-68 (S2378L, P2460S, Q4623R; RyR2-S2246L, -P2328S, -Q4201R) reduced the ability of the organ to follow 4 Hz optogenetic stimulation. One mutation (Q4623R) was accompanied by a strong reduction of maximal pump rate. In addition, S2378L and Q4623R evoked an altered calcium handling during optogenetic stimulation. The 1,4-benzothiazepine S107, which is suggested to stabilize RyR2 channels by enhancing the binding of calstabin2, reversed the reduction of pumping ability in a mutation-specific fashion. However, this depends on the presence of FKB-2, a C. elegans calstabin2 homolog, indicating the involvement of calstabin2 in the disease-causing mechanisms of the respective mutations. In conclusion, we showed for three CPVT-like mutations in C. elegans RyR a reduced pumping ability upon light stimulation, i.e., an arrhythmia-like phenotype, that can be reversed in two cases by the benzothiazepine S107 and that depends on stabilization via FKB-2. The genetically amenable nematode in combination with optogenetics and high(er) throughput recordings is a promising straightforward system for the investigation of RyR mutations and the selection of mutation-specific drugs.
A Novel Organ-Specific Approach to Selectively Target Sensory Afferents Innervating the Aortic Arch
Authors: Elsaafien Khalid , Harden Scott W. , Johnson Dominique N. , Kimball Aecha K. , Sheng Wanhui , Smith Justin A. , Scott Karen A. , Frazier Charles J. , de Kloet Annette D. , Krause Eric G.
Published: March 2022

The brain maintains cardiovascular homeostasis, in part, via the arterial baroreflex which senses changes in blood pressure (BP) at the level of the aortic arch. Sensory afferents innervating the aortic arch employ baroreceptors to convert stretch exerted on the arterial wall into action potentials carried by the vagus nerve to second order neurons residing within the nucleus of the solitary tract (NTS). Although the baroreflex was described more than 80 years ago, the specific molecular, structural, and functional phenotype of the baroreceptors remain uncharacterized. This is due to the lack of tools that provide the genetic and target organ specificity that is required to selectively characterize baroreceptor afferents. Here, we use a novel approach to selectively target baroreceptors. Male mice on a C57BL/6J background were anesthetized with isoflurane, intubated, and artificially ventilated. Following sternotomy, the aortic arch was exposed, and a retrograde adeno-associated virus was applied to the aortic arch to direct the expression of channelrhoropsin-2 (ChR2) and/or tdTomato (tdTom) to sensory afferents presumably functioning as baroreceptors. Consistent with the structural characteristics of arterial baroreceptors, robust tdTom expression was observed in nerve endings surrounding the aortic arch, within the fibers of the aortic depressor and vagus nerves, cell bodies of the nodose ganglia (NDG), and neural projections to the caudal NTS (cNTS). Additionally, the tdTom labeled cell bodies within the NDG also expressed mRNAs coding for the mechanically gated ion channels, PIEZO-1 and PIEZO-2. In vitro electrophysiology revealed that pulses of blue light evoked excitatory post-synaptic currents in a subset of neurons within the cNTS, suggesting a functional connection between the labeled aortic arch sensory afferents and second order neurons. Finally, the in vivo optogenetic stimulation of the cell bodies of the baroreceptor expressing afferents in the NDG produced robust depressor responses. Together, these results establish a novel approach for selectively targeting sensory neurons innervating the aortic arch. This approach may be used to investigate arterial baroreceptors structurally and functionally, and to assess their role in the etiology or reversal of cardiovascular disease.
Polyamine: A Potent Ameliorator for Plant Growth Response and Adaption to Abiotic Stresses Particularly the Ammonium Stress Antagonized by Urea
Authors: Sheng Song , Wu Changzheng , Xiang Yucheng , Pu Wenxuan , Duan Shuhui , Huang Pingjun , Cheng Xiaoyuan , Gong Yuanyong , Liang Yilong , Liu Laihua
Published: March 2022

Polyamine(s) (PA, PAs), a sort of N-containing and polycationic compound synthesized in almost all organisms, has been recently paid considerable attention due to its multifarious actions in the potent modulation of plant growth, development, and response to abiotic/biotic stresses. PAs in cells/tissues occur mainly in free or (non- or) conjugated forms by binding to various molecules including DNA/RNA, proteins, and (membrane-)phospholipids, thus regulating diverse molecular and cellular processes as shown mostly in animals. Although many studies have reported that an increase in internal PA may be beneficial to plant growth under abiotic conditions, leading to a suggestion of improving plant stress adaption by the elevation of endogenous PA via supply or molecular engineering of its biosynthesis, such achievements focus mainly on PA homeostasis/metabolism rather than PA-mediated molecular/cellular signaling cascades. In this study, to advance our understanding of PA biological actions important for plant stress acclimation, we gathered some significant research data to succinctly describe and discuss, in general, PA synthesis/catabolism, as well as PA as an internal ameliorator to regulate stress adaptions. Particularly, for the recently uncovered phenomenon of urea-antagonized NH4+-stress, from a molecular and physiological perspective, we rationally proposed the possibility of the existence of PA-facilitated signal transduction pathways in plant tolerance to NH4+-stress. This may be a more interesting issue for in-depth understanding of PA-involved growth acclimation to miscellaneous stresses in future studies.
Moral Dilemmas in Hospitals: Which Shooting Victim Should Be Saved?
Authors: Navarick Douglas J. , Moreno Kristen M.
Published: March 2022

Moral judgments can occur either in settings that call for impartiality or in settings that allow for partiality. How effective are impartiality settings such as hospitals in suppressing personal biases? Portrayed as decision-makers in an emergency department, 431 college students made judgments on which of two victims of a mass shooting should receive immediate, life-saving care. Patients differed in ways that could reveal biases, e.g., age (8 vs. 80 years), kinship (stranger vs. cousin), gender (female vs. male), and villain/hero (shooter vs. policeman who stopped him). Participants rated each patient’s moral deservingness to receive immediate care and the likelihood they would choose the patient. Both scales showed young favored over old, cousin (or daughter) over stranger, and policeman over shooter (largest difference). In a hospital-room scenario with high risk of injury from falling, age bias disappeared. With moderate fall risk, age bias reversed and kinship deservingness bias disappeared. Bias decreases when there is a decrease in severity of potential harm to the preferred stakeholder. Settings that call for impartiality are not reliable “boundary conditions” against expressions of bias. In the absence of explicit guidelines for allocating scarce resources, a systematic, objective method of random selection offers a potentially useful strategy.
The Psychology Analysis for Post-production of College Students’ Short Video Communication Education Based on Virtual Image and Internet of Things
Authors: Tang Wufeng
Published: March 2022

To improve the understanding of film and television postproduction for college students in the era of intelligent media, a study is conducted on college students’ short video communication education and audience psychology based on the rapid development of virtual image and the Internet of Things (IoT). Primarily, the collaborative filtering algorithm (CFA) is optimized and combined with the principle of Spark and Hadoop platforms as well as the IoT and virtual image technologies. Then, a hybrid computing model is proposed, and the two algorithms are improved and combined, with 90,000 network video records as data samples. Finally, the push accuracy of the hybrid algorithm and the traditional algorithm is calculated and compared, and based on this, a questionnaire survey on the audience psychology of short video production is carried out for college students. The results show that the time user of the combined algorithm is always at least 0.4 s faster than that of a single algorithm and the running speed of the algorithm with five nodes is nearly 80% higher than the algorithm with a single node. The Spark algorithm with multinode has good versatility in image recording and processing of large groups of college students. When processing more than 100,000 image records, the deviation values of Spark and Hadoop with a single node exceeded 1.1, but the deviation value of the hybrid algorithm was still lower than 1.1. With the increase of data volume, the deviation values of the three algorithms are increasing. Compared with the traditional CFA algorithm, the optimized algorithm has a higher speed in processing data and is more accurate in content pushing. From the questionnaire survey of college students, it is found that contemporary college students are not active in learning knowledge of virtual images. Hence, it is concluded that colleges must carry out relevant courses based on short video communication education and strengthen the short video communication education of college students. A reference is provided for the development of college students’ short video communication education in the digital age.
Commitment and Wellbeing: The Relationship Dilemma in a Two-Wave Study
Authors: Chambel Maria José , Carvalho Vânia Sofia
Published: March 2022

There has been little consensus around the sequential relationship between organizational affective commitment and workers’ wellbeing. In line with the Conservation of Resources Theory, results of this two-wave study with a contact center employee sample (N = 483) showed that organizational affective commitment decreases work ill-being (i.e., burnout) and increases work wellbeing (i.e., work-engagement). Furthermore, in keeping with the loss spiral assumption of this theory, the mediating role of burnout in the affective commitment-health relationship was supported in this study. However, in accordance with the Job Demand-Resources, work engagement was found not to prevent effects on health. The findings have implications for the organizational affective commitment theory, as well as for organizational occupational health policies and interventions.
A Randomized-Controlled Trial of EMDR Flash Technique on Traumatic Symptoms, Depression, Anxiety, Stress, and Life of Quality With Individuals Who Have Experienced a Traffic Accident
Authors: Yaşar Alişan Burak , Konuk Emre , Kavakçı Önder , Uygun Ersin , Gündoğmuş İbrahim , Taygar Afra Selma , Uludağ Esra
Published: March 2022

The Flash Technique of Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is widely recognized for its effectiveness in reducing the effects of emotional responses associated with traumatic memories. Using a randomized-controlled trial methodology, this study attempts to establish the efficacy of the EMDR Flash Technique. This study’s sample includes volunteers who were involved in traffic accidents and were given the randomized EMDR Flash Technique and Improving Mental Health Training for Primary Care Residents (mhGAP) Stress management module. The participants were given a socio-demographic data form, the Depression-Anxiety-Stress 21 scale (DASS-21), the Impact of Event Scale-Revised (IES-R), and the WHOQOL Quality of Life scale. Participants were evaluated using measurements taken before and after the application, as well as a one-month follow-up. The mean age of the participants was 36.20 (11.41) years and 82.1% (n = 32) were female. The DASS-21 Anxiety (η2 = 0.085), IES-R Intrusion (η2 = 0.101), Avoidance (η2 = 0.124), Total (η2 = 0.147), and WHOQOL-BREF Psychological (η2 = 0.106) score improvements of the EMDR Flash Technique group were shown to be statistically significant when compared to the mhGAP group. However, no statistically significant difference in the DASS-21 Depression, Stress, Impact of Event Scale-Revised Hyperarousal WHOQOL-BREF General Health, Physical, Social Relationships, and Environment component scores was reported between the two groups. The present study’s findings clearly demonstrate that the EMDR Flash technique, when applied to persons involved in traffic accidents, is successful in improving anxiety, intrusion, avoidance, total traumatic stress, and mental quality of life symptoms for at least 1 month. We believe that these findings will improve the reliability and applicability of the EMDR Flash Technique, which was tested for the first time in a clinical randomized-controlled trial (RCT).
The Psychological Motivations to Social Innovation and Transmitting Role of Social Worth
Authors: Lin Mei-Lan , Yu Tai-Kuei , Sadat Andi Muhammad
Published: March 2022

Social innovation has a great chance to overcome problems in complex environments. Individuals’ concern for environmental, social, and ethical issues has gradually grown, prompting the rise of new types of consumers, who shift their environmental concerns into action. Social entrepreneurship participants mostly act as beneficiaries and initiators in the process of social innovation. Social exchange theory explains the linkage between individual psychological factors and personal social cognitive perceptions that inspire social innovation intention. The current research framework is constructed to inspect the individual mental process of psychological motivation associated with social innovation intention. The purpose is to understand the relationships between the psychological level of moral idealism, ecological concern, and prior experience on cognitive perceptions of social worth; subsequently, social worth, prosocial motivation, perspective-taking, and positive feelings are examined to discover their influence on social innovation behavioral intention. The transmitting role of social worth exercises a transformative function between participants’ psychological motivation, social cognition, and social innovation intention. The research is conducted using partial least squares (PLS) analysis software. The research results reinforce our understanding of theories of individual psychological motivations on social innovation. The findings also offer some suggestions for sustainability education to social enterprise practitioners with respect to recruiting young people and continuing to generate new ideas.
The Efficacy of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Tic Disorder: A Meta-Analysis and a Literature Review
Authors: Shou Songting , Li Yuanliang , Fan Guohui , Zhang Qiang , Yan Yurou , Lv Tiying , Wang Junhong
Published: March 2022

Background

At present, tic disorder has attracted the attention of medical researchers in many countries. More clinicians choose non-drug therapy, especially cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) because of the cognitive side effects of drug therapy. However, few studies had assessed its efficacy. It is necessary to have a more comprehensive understanding of the literature quality of CBT and its intervention effect.

Methods

In this study, MEDLINE, Embase, and Cochrane were searched from the beginning to June 15, 2021 to study the efficacy of -CBT on tic disorder. Only studies using the Yale Global Tic Severity Scale (YGTSS) and the control group were included.

Results

A total of 12 randomized controlled trials (RCTs), including 536 patients with tic disorders, were identified. The results showed that the effect of CBT was better than that of the control group. The pooled standardized mean difference (SMD) was −0.34 (95% CI: −0.61, −0.07). The effect size of CBT differs from different intervention conditions. In seven studies, the subjects’ motor tic scores were counted. The sample size of the experimental group was 224 and that of the control group was 218. The pooled SMD was −0.43 (95% CI: −0.75, −0.11). Seven studies counted the vocal tic scores of subjects, 224 in the experimental group and 218 in the control group. The pooled SMD was −0.22 (95% CI: −0.54, −0.11). Seven studies counted the tic impairment scores of subjects, 220 in the experimental group and 214 in the control group. The pooled SMD was −0.48 (95% CI: −0.73, −0.23).

Conclusion

The literature shows that different CBTs can significantly reduce the total score of tic disorder and the score of motor tic, but cannot significantly reduce the score of vocal tic. In the future, more new interventions were needed to improve the symptoms of different patients, especially vocal tic.
Potential Mechanisms for Why Not All Antipsychotics Are Able to Occupy Dopamine D3 Receptors in the Brain in vivo
Authors: Kiss Béla , Krámos Balázs , Laszlovszky István
Published: March 2022

Dysfunctions of the dopaminergic system are believed to play a major role in the core symptoms of schizophrenia such as positive, negative, and cognitive symptoms. The first line of treatment of schizophrenia are antipsychotics, a class of medications that targets several neurotransmitter receptors in the brain, including dopaminergic, serotonergic, adrenergic and/or muscarinic receptors, depending on the given agent. Although the currently used antipsychotics display in vitro activity at several receptors, majority of them share the common property of having high/moderate in vitro affinity for dopamine D2 receptors (D2Rs) and D3 receptors (D3Rs). In terms of mode of action, these antipsychotics are either antagonist or partial agonist at the above-mentioned receptors. Although D2Rs and D3Rs possess high degree of homology in their molecular structure, have common signaling pathways and similar in vitro pharmacology, they have different in vivo pharmacology and therefore behavioral roles. The aim of this review, with summarizing preclinical and clinical evidence is to demonstrate that while currently used antipsychotics display substantial in vitro affinity for both D3Rs and D2Rs, only very few can significantly occupy D3Rs in vivo. The relative importance of the level of endogenous extracellular dopamine in the brain and the degree of in vitro D3Rs receptor affinity and selectivity as determinant factors for in vivo D3Rs occupancy by antipsychotics, are also discussed.
The Impact of Different Parental Figures of Adolescents Living With HIV: An Evaluation of Family Structures, Perceived HIV Related Stigma, and Opportunities for Social Support
Authors: Wowolo Gloria , Cao Wangnan , Bosomtwe Dennis , Enimil Anthony , Tarantino Nicholas , Barker David H. , Galárraga Omar
Published: March 2022

Although antiretroviral therapy (ART) has changed the expected health outcomes for HIV, there are still issues related to stigma, how people living with HIV are perceived, and the availability of social support. The purpose of this study was to explore the associations between family structure and psychosocial wellbeing reflected by perceived HIV stigma and social support among adolescents living with HIV in Kumasi, Ghana. This article used baseline data from two mixed methods studies that evaluated the safety and preliminary efficacy of group-based support programs for ART adherence improvement among adolescents living in Kumasi, Ghana (N = 70, aged 12–18 years). A multivariate linear regression analysis was employed to examine the associations between family structure and the outcomes of stigma and social support. The main variables for family structure were single mothers and female caregivers. We found that single motherhood was a significant determinant of stigma. When compared to other categories of caregiver types, adolescents being raised by their single mothers was associated with a 0.259 decrease in the mean internal HIV stigma score (p = 0.029). Also, for female adolescents, being raised by a female guardian (e.g., mother, aunt, grandmother, and sister) was associated with a 20.92 point increase in the overall support index (p = 0.005). This study shows that the type of parent or guardian, and their gender, influences the perceived stigma and available social support among adolescents living with HIV in Ghana. Vulnerable subgroups of adolescents living with HIV, particularly those raised up by male caregivers, should be provided with additional support.
The Prevalence of Pharmacological Neuroenhancement Among University Students Before and During the COVID-19-Pandemic: Results of Three Consecutive Cross-Sectional Survey Studies in Germany
Authors: Dietz Pavel , Werner Antonia M. , Reichel Jennifer L. , Schäfer Markus , Mülder Lina M. , Beutel Manfred , Simon Perikles , Letzel Stephan , Heller Sebastian
Published: March 2022

Background

According to the literature, the conditions of studying and living as well as the psychological, social and health behavior-related variables, which were strongly related to pharmacological neuroenhancement (PN) before the pandemic, significantly changed during the pandemic. For this reason, it is expected that the prevalence of PN among university students is higher during the pandemic compared to before the pandemic. Therefore, the present study aimed to investigate and compare the prevalence of PN among university students before and during the COVID-19-pandemic.

Methods

Three online surveys assessing the 12-month prevalence of PN were conducted among university students at the University of Mainz, Germany. The first survey took place in summer term 2019 (before the pandemic), the second in summer term 2020 (during the first German lockdown), and the third in summer term 2021 (after the second German lockdown). Pearson's chi-square test was used to test whether the 12-month prevalence of PN differed significantly between the three surveys.

Results

The 12-month prevalence of PN was 10.4% in 2019, 11.3% in 2020, and 8.0% in 2021. Chi-square tests revealed no statistical difference in the prevalence of PN between 2019 and 2020. Overall, the use of PN was lower in 2021 compared to 2019 (p < 0.0001) as well as in comparison to 2020 (p = 0.001). Only the use of cannabis slightly increased from 2019 to 2020 (7.1 vs. 8.3%) and decreased in 2021 (5.4%). At all three time points, cannabis was the most commonly used substance for the purpose of PN. Consequently, the results suggest that the prevalence of PN was highly intertwined with the prevalence of cannabis use for PN.

Discussion

The decrease in the prevalence of PN of around three percentage points in 2021 compared to the previous years was a surprising finding. It may be mainly due to the decrease in the prevalence of cannabis for the purpose of PN. However, the fairly high prevalence of PN of around 8% in 2021 is still an important finding that demonstrates that there is still an urgent need for prevention initiatives among university students to combat the use of PN.
The Importance of Using Plant Resources During COVID-19 Pandemics to Mitigate Daily Needs and Some Diseases
Authors: Luo Binsheng , Bhatt Arvind
Published: March 2022

At the end of 2019, the coronavirus virus COVID-19 has brought the whole world a serious disaster. During this special time, some rural communities were least affected by the epidemic, mainly reflected on the rational utilization of natural biological resources, including edible and medicinal plants and the management of the home gardens. This paper deconstructed the self-responses of rural communities during the pandemic time and tried to provide some suggestions for local government on policymaking. In the end, the future development of ethnobiology in China has been discussed.
The Impact of Hyperkalemia on Mortality and Healthcare Resource Utilization Among Patients With Chronic Kidney Disease: A Matched Cohort Study in China
Authors: Zhang Jiahui , He Xiaoning , Wu Jing
Published: March 2022

Objectives

This study aimed to estimate the impact of hyperkalemia on 1-year survival and all-cause healthcare resource utilization among patients with chronic kidney disease in China.

Methods

Adult new-onset chronic kidney disease patients were identified between 2012 and 2016, among which the hyperkalemia and non-hyperkalemia cohorts were further selected and matched. Survival and all-cause healthcare resource utilization during a 12 month period were compared using Kaplan-Meier curves with log-rank test, Cox proportional hazard model, and Kaplan-Meier sample average method.

Results

Among 1,003 pairs of patients (mean age 67.2 ± 14.3 years), the 1-year all-cause mortality was 5.39-times higher in the hyperkalemia cohort than the non-hyperkalemia cohort (hazard ratio = 5.39, P < 0.001). The mean costs and number of healthcare services among the hyperkalemia patients were significantly higher (P < 0.05) in each follow-up month. An annual increase cost of ¥38,479 was observed in the hyperkalemia cohort, largely due to the sharp increase in inpatient costs during the first month after hyperkalemia events (¥22,204 vs. 1,032, P < 0.001). Medication costs were the most important cost component for both cohorts [¥26,786 (45%) vs. ¥12,378(60%)]. However, hyperkalemia patients spent more on non-medication treatment [¥13,410(23%) vs. ¥2,335(11%)] including nursing, monitoring, etc. Hyperkalemia patients had more annual inpatient admissions (1.9 vs. 0.7) and length of stays (28.6 vs. 8.7), while the number of outpatient visits (36.8 vs. 36.4) were similar.

Conclusions

In Chinese chronic kidney disease patients, hyperkalemia is associated with substantially increased clinical and economic burdens that are driven by the short period following the hyperkalemia events, which strengthens calls for sufficient supervision and management of serum potassium.
A Conceptual View of Cognitive Intervention in Older Adults With and Without Cognitive Decline—A Systemic Review
Authors: Mendes Liliana , Oliveira Joana , Barbosa Fernando , Castelo-Branco Miguel
Published: March 2022

Background: Dementia is the one of the most common and prominent disease in the elderly person that results in the Cognitive interventions. In this study, we aim to conceptualize the cognitive intervention for older adults with and without cognitive dysfunction and to clarify the heterogeneity existing in this literature field by determining the main variables implicated.

Methods: We conducted a study analysis using previous literature highlighting the significant data reporting empirical results from cognitive intervention for healthy older adults and other seniors with different types of dementia. Each paper was reviewed in terms of compensatory cognitive training, cognitive remediation, enrichment, cognitive activation, brain training, cognitive stimulation, cognitive training, and cognitive rehabilitation. The research analysis was performed following rigorous inclusion and exclusion criteria with the purpose of collecting relevant answers to our research questions.

Results: We included a total of 168 studies in our review. Our findings indicated heterogeneity regarding methods, concepts, and procedures. Additionally, the values were integrated using different information existing in this field.

Conclusion: In conclusion, we highlighted that this is the first review that clarify the discrepancy of various existing definitions, methods, and procedures, as well as the overlapping information in the cognitive interventions.
Temperature-Dependent Regulation of Proteostasis and Longevity
Authors: Vakkayil Kavya Leo , Hoppe Thorsten
Published: March 2022

Temperature is an important environmental condition that determines the physiology and behavior of all organisms. Animals use different response strategies to adapt and survive fluctuations in ambient temperature. The hermaphrodite Caenorhabditis elegans has a well-studied neuronal network consisting of 302 neurons. The bilateral AFD neurons are the primary thermosensory neurons in the nematode. In addition to regulating thermosensitivity, AFD neurons also coordinate cellular stress responses through systemic mechanisms involving neuroendocrine signaling. Recent studies have examined the effects of temperature on altering various signaling pathways through specific gene expression programs that promote stress resistance and longevity. These studies challenge the proposed theories of temperature-dependent regulation of aging as a passive thermodynamic process. Instead, they provide evidence that aging is a well-defined genetic program. Loss of protein homeostasis (proteostasis) is one of the key hallmarks of aging. Indeed, proteostasis pathways, such as the heat shock response and aggregation of metastable proteins, are also controlled by thermosensory neurons in C. elegans. Prolonged heat stress is thought to play a critical role in the development of neurodegenerative protein misfolding diseases in humans. This review presents the latest evidence on how temperature coordinates proteostasis and aging. It also discusses how studies of poikilothermic organisms can be applied to vertebrates and provides new therapeutic strategies for human disease.
On Aerial Robots with Grasping and Perching Capabilities: A Comprehensive Review
Authors: Meng Jiawei , Buzzatto Joao , Liu Yuanchang , Liarokapis Minas
Published: March 2022

Over the last decade, there has been an increased interest in developing aerial robotic platforms that exhibit grasping and perching capabilities not only within the research community but also in companies across different industry sectors. Aerial robots range from standard multicopter vehicles/drones, to autonomous helicopters, and fixed-wing or hybrid devices. Such devices rely on a range of different solutions for achieving grasping and perching. These solutions can be classified as: 1) simple gripper systems, 2) arm-gripper systems, 3) tethered gripping mechanisms, 4) reconfigurable robot frames, 5) adhesion solutions, and 6) embedment solutions. Grasping and perching are two crucial capabilities that allow aerial robots to interact with the environment and execute a plethora of complex tasks, facilitating new applications that range from autonomous package delivery and search and rescue to autonomous inspection of dangerous or remote environments. In this review paper, we present the state-of-the-art in aerial grasping and perching mechanisms and we provide a comprehensive comparison of their characteristics. Furthermore, we analyze these mechanisms by comparing the advantages and disadvantages of the proposed technologies and we summarize the significant achievements in these two research topics. Finally, we conclude the review by suggesting a series of potential future research directions that we believe that are promising.
Saving the Incredible Salt Marsh Harvest Mouse!
Authors: Smith Katherine R. , Riley Melissa K. , Barthman-Thompson Laureen M. , Estrella Sarah A.
Published: March 2022

Did you know that one of the most unique and incredible mammals in the world is found only in the San Francisco Bay-Estuary? The salt marsh harvest mouse is an endangered species because over 90% of its coastal marsh habitat has been lost due to human development. This species can swim for over 2h, can climb using its tail like a fifth limb, can eat salty foods, and can even drink water saltier than the ocean! For decades, people thought this animal could live only in tidal marshes dominated by salt-loving plants. However, in the past few years, we have learned many new things about the salt marsh harvest mouse. For example, we now know it can live in non-tidal marshes and forage on freshwater plants. Unfortunately, the superhero abilities of this mouse will not protect it from all the threats it faces in the future, such as sea-level rise.
Reflections on Reconfiguring Methods During COVID-19: Lessons in Trust, Partnership, and Care
Authors: McKinnon Katharine , Hill Ann , Appel Margie , Hill Deborah , Caffery Jo , Pamphilon Barbara
Published: March 2022

This paper is a set of reflections from researchers in the Center for Sustainable Communities, University of Canberra, drawing out emerging lessons from the process of re-configuring research methods during COVID-19. The pandemic has presented new spaces of negotiation, struggle, and interdependence within research projects and research teams. It has left researchers often uncertain about how to do their work effectively. At the same time, it has opened up opportunities to re-think how researchers undertake the work of research. In this paper we reflect on several current research programs that have had to undergo rapid design shifts to adjust to new conditions under COVID-19. The rapid shift has afforded some surprisingly positive outcomes and raised important questions for the future. In our reflections we look at the impact of COVID-19 at different stages of designing research with partners, establishing new relationships with partners and distant field sites, and data collection and analysis. We draw on Participatory Action Research (PAR) methodological ideas and highlight ways in which we have adapted and experimented with PAR methods during the pandemic. We reflect on the aspects of PAR that have assisted us to continue in our work, in particular, how PAR foregrounds diverse ways of knowing, being and doing, and prioritizes local aspirations, concerns and world views to drive the research agenda and the processes of social or economic change that accompany it. PAR also helps us to reflect on methods for building relationships of mutual trust, having genuine and authentic collaborations, and open conversations. We reflect on the potential lessons for PAR and community engaged research more generally. Amidst the challenges, our experience reveals new pathways for research practice to rebalance power relationships and support local place-conscious capacity for action.
Nomograms for Predicting Specific Distant Metastatic Sites and Overall Survival of Breast Invasive Ductal Carcinoma Patients After Surgery: A Large Population-Based Study
Authors: Feng Yuqian , Zhang Yiting , Xiang Yuying , Guo Kaibo , Jin Huimin , Ruan Shanming , Guan Zhuoya
Published: March 2022

Background

Breast cancer (BC) has become the most common malignancy worldwide, accounting for 11.7% of newly diagnosed cancer cases last year. Invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC) is the most common pathological type of BC. However, there were few studies to predict distant metastatic sites and overall survival (OS) of IDC patients.

Methods

Post-operative IDC patients from 2010 to 2016 in the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database were reviewed. Nomograms were developed to predict the specific distant metastatic sites and OS of IDC patients. The performance of nomograms was evaluated with the calibration curves, area under the curve (AUC), and decision curve analysis (DCA). Kaplan-Meier analysis and log-rank tests were used to estimate the survival times of IDC patients with distant metastases.

Results

A total of 171,967 post-operative IDC patients were enrolled in our study. Univariate and multivariate analyses were used to establish the nomograms of significant variables. The AUC of the nomograms for the prediction of liver, lung, bone, and brain metastases was 0.903, 0.877, 0.863, and 0.811, respectively. In addition, the AUC of the nomogram for the prediction of 1-, 3-, and 5-year OS was 0.809, 0.813, 0.787, respectively. Calibration curves and DCA showed good consistency and clinical benefits, respectively.

Conclusions

We constructed new predictive models for liver, lung, brain, bone metastases and 1-, 3-, and 5-year OS in IDC patients. These can help clinicians to individualize the treatment of IDC patients, so that patients can get the more appropriate treatment options.
Glycemic Control Regimens in the Prevention of Surgical Site Infections: A Meta-Analysis of Randomized Clinical Trials
Authors: Lai Jing , Li Qihong , He Ying , Zou Shiyue , Bai Xiaodong , Rastogi Sanjay
Published: March 2022

Background

Increased risk of surgical site infections (SSIs) caused by hyperglycemia makes it necessary to follow perioperative glucose lowering strategies to reduce postoperative complications. A meta-analysis was conducted to understand the efficacy of intensive vs. conventional blood glucose lowering regimens on the incidence of SSIs and hypoglycemia from various randomized controlled studies (RCTs).

Materials and Methods

A systematic literature review was conducted using MEDLINE and Central databases for RCTs that involved intensive (lower blood glucose target levels) vs. conventional (higher blood glucose target levels) strategies in patients undergoing various types of surgeries. The primary outcomes were SSIs or postoperative wound infections. Hypoglycemia and mortality outcomes were also studied. A random-effects model was used to calculate the pooled risk ratio (RR), and subgroup analyses were performed.

Results

A total of 29 RCTs were included in the meta-analysis with the information from 14,126 patients. A reduction in overall incidence of SSIs was found (RR 0.63, 0.50–0.80, p = 0.0002, I2= 56%). Subgroup analyses showed that intensive insulin regimens decreased the risk of SSIs in patients with diabetes, in cardiac and abdominal surgical procedures, and during the intraoperative and postoperative phases of surgery. However, the risk of hypoglycemia and mortality was increased in the intensive group compared to the conventional group.

Conclusion

The results of the meta-analysis provide support for the use of intensive insulin regimens during the perioperative phase for decreasing the incidence of SSIs in certain patient populations and surgical categories.
Telocytes and Their Structural Relationships With the Sperm Storage Tube and Surrounding Cell Types in the Utero-Vaginal Junction of the Chicken
Authors: Zhu Xudong , Wang Qi , Pawlicki Piotr , Wang Ziyu , Pawlicka Bernadetta , Meng Xiangfei , Feng Yongchao , Yang Ping
Published: March 2022

Telocytes (TCs) are a new type of mesenchymal cells that have been discovered recently in many organs and tissues. However, studies of TCs in the avian reproductive system are still at the beginning. Chickens are one of the world's most popular domesticated animals, providing inexpensive but valuable proteins and nutrients from chickens and eggs to nourish the human bodies. Chickens have important scientific value; thus, understanding the reproductive system regulations seems to be important. The utero-vaginal junction is involved in the regulation of sperm storage. The sperm storage tube (SST) in the utero-vaginal junction stores sperm. The purpose of this study was to investigate the existence of TCs in the utero-vaginal junction of the chicken, and their structural relationships with the sperm storage tube and surrounding cell types. We studied the morphology, ultrastructure, and immune characterization of TCs.

Methods

The utero-vaginal junction of 4-month-old healthy adult chickens (n = 10) were used for Masson's staining, fluorescent in situ hybridization technique (FISH), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) analysis. The results showed that TCs were present in the utero-vaginal junction. TCs appear as CD34 immunopositive and C-kit immunopositive. They were identified especially via small-body and long-protrusion telopodes (Tps) containing Podomers (Pm) and Podoms (Pd). The Tps were bent, folded, and intertwined with each other, sometimes in the shape of a labyrinth. The Tps were embedded between collagen fiber bundles, smooth muscle bundles, and around blood vessels and releasing vesicles. TCs surround these glands, forming heteromorphic cell connections with surrounding lymphocytes and plasma cells, smooth muscle cells, blood vessels, collagen fibers, and fibroblast-formed homotypic or allotypic connections in a complex three-dimensional network structure. This study provides a morphological basis for the possible role of TCs in regulating the utero-vaginal junction physiological role and in intercellular communication.