bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A new approach for reducing pollutants level: a longitudinal cohort study of physical exercises in young people
Authors: Xu Yujuan , Gao Hongliang , Du Zhixiang , Liu He , Cheng Qi , Zhang Furong , Ye Juan , Wang Aiqing , Dou Yanjun , Ma Bei , Zhao Ningwei , Zhu Feng , Xu Xianlin , Shen Ning , Wu Jing , Xue Bin
Published: February 2022

Background

The present study aimed to evaluate the elimination of three common pollutants (dimethoate, benzo(a)pyrene (BaP) and bisphenol A (BPA) by different physical exercises and to assess the possible factors which could affect the pollutants elimination.

Methods

A total of 200 individuals who chose different kinds of exercises in accordance to their own wish were recruited. The levels of urinary pollutants were measured using β-glucuronidase hydrolysis followed by a high-performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry-based method.

Results

Totally, the levels of dimethoate, BaP and BPA were reduced after physical exercises. However, the elimination of BaP in male was higher than that in female but the elimination of BPA in female was higher than that in male. Multivariate logistic regression showed that the degree of heart rate (HR) change was a protective factor affecting the improvement effect of dimethoate, BaP and BPA while BMI (body mass index) was a risk factor. Nevertheless, sex was a risk factor affecting the improvement of dimethoate and BaP but had a lower efficacy on BPA improvement.

Conclusion

The present findings indicate that physical exercises can be considered as a novel approach to eliminate pollutants level in human body and can also give suggestions for choosing specific physical exercises to male and female individuals. Moreover, those who are with higher BMI need to lose weight before eliminating pollutant level through physical exercises.
Perimeter confinements of basic health zones and COVID-19 incidence in Madrid, Spain
Authors: David García-García , Rafael Herranz-Hernandez , Ayelén Rojas-Benedicto , Inmaculada León-Gómez , Amparo Larrauri , Marina Peñuelas , María Guerrero-Vadillo , Rebeca Ramis , Diana Gómez-Barroso
Published: February 2022

Background

A unique policy of perimeter closures of Basic Health Zones (small administrative health units) was implemented in the Autonomous Community of Madrid from September 21st 2020 to May 23rd 2021 to face the COVID-19 pandemic.

Aim

To assess the impact of local perimeter confinements on the 14-days cumulative incidence of SARS-CoV-2 during the second wave of the pandemic in Madrid, Spain.

Methods

We compare the errors in estimation of two families of mathematical models: ones that include the perimeter closures as explanatory covariables and ones that do not, in search of a significant improvement in estimation of one family over the other. We incorporate leave-one-out cross-validation, and at each step of this process we select the best model in AIC score from a family of 15 differently tuned ones.

Results

The two families of models provided very similar estimations, for a 1- to 3-weeks delay in observed cumulative incidence, and also when restricting the analysis to only those Basic Health Zones that were subject to at least one closure during the time under study. In all cases the correlation between the errors yielded by both families of models was higher than 0.98 (±10− 3 95% CI), and the average difference of estimated 14-days cumulative incidence was smaller than 1.49 (±0.33 95% CI).

Conclusion

Our analysis suggests that the perimeter closures by Basic Health Zone did not have a significant effect on the epidemic curve in Madrid.
Does aerobic exercise effect pain sensitisation in individuals with musculoskeletal pain? A systematic review
Authors: Tan Lynn , Cicuttini Flavia M , Fairley Jessica , Romero Lorena , Estee Mahnuma , Hussain Sultana Monira , Urquhart Donna M
Published: February 2022

Background

Pain sensitisation plays a major role in musculoskeletal pain. However, effective treatments are limited, and although there is growing evidence that exercise may improve pain sensitisation, the amount and type of exercise remains unclear. This systematic review examines the evidence for an effect of aerobic exercise on pain sensitisation in musculoskeletal conditions.

Methods

Systematic searches of six electronic databases were conducted. Studies were included if they examined the relationship between aerobic physical activity and pain sensitisation in individuals with chronic musculoskeletal pain, but excluding specific patient subgroups such as fibromyalgia. Risk of bias was assessed using Cochrane methods and a qualitative analysis was conducted.

Results

Eleven studies (seven repeated measures studies and four clinical trials) of 590 participants were included. Eight studies had low to moderate risk of bias. All 11 studies found that aerobic exercise increased pressure pain thresholds or decreased pain ratings in those with musculoskeletal pain [median (minimum, maximum) improvement in pain sensitisation: 10.6% (2.2%, 24.1%)]. In these studies, the aerobic exercise involved walking or cycling, performed at a submaximal intensity but with incremental increases, for a 4-60 min duration. Improvement in pain sensitisation occurred after one session in the observational studies and after 2-12 weeks in the clinical trials.

Conclusions

These findings provide evidence that aerobic exercise reduces pain sensitisation in individuals with musculoskeletal pain. Further work is needed to determine whether this translates to improved patient outcomes, including reduced disability and greater quality of life.
Changes in adipokine levels and metabolic profiles following bariatric surgery
Authors: Šebunova Natalja , Štšepetova Jelena , Kullisaar Tiiu , Suija Kadri , Rätsep Anneli , Junkin Igor , Soeorg Hiie , Lember Margus , Sillakivi Toomas , Mändar Reet
Published: February 2022

Background

Bariatric surgery is considered to be the most effective treatment option for weight reduction in obese patients. Abdominal obesity is frequently accompanied by metabolic syndrome (MS). Adipokines are cell signaling proteins that have direct impact upon the metabolic homeostasis. The purpose of this analysis was to evaluate the effect of bariatric surgery, including laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG) and laparoscopic gastric bypass (LRYGB) on the adipokine levels and metabolic profile as well as MS and status of type 2 diabetes (T2D).

Methods

We analyzed anthropometric parameters, blood levels of adipokines, vitamins, lipids and inflammatory markers in 30 bariatric surgery patients with obesity of class II or III 1 month before and 1 year after surgery as well as in 60 obese patients from general practice (GP) and 15 patients with normal body mass (control).

Results

The BMI was significantly higher among patients before surgery and GP patients in comparison to control and post-surgery patients. The levels of glucose, cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol, triglyceride and hs-CRP were the highest in patients before surgery but decreased significantly after surgery, while the level of HDL-cholesterol increased after surgery.

The levels of adiponectin increased and that of leptin decreased after surgery. The significant difference in the concentration of resistin was revealed between LSG and LRYGB methods. The relationship between resistin and vitamin D was also found. The patients with MS and T2D displayed significantly greater reduction in lipid markers and adipokine levels than the rest of patients.

Conclusion

Remarkable changes in levels of adipokines after bariatric surgery appear like increase in adiponectin and decrease in leptin levels. Significant improvement in anthropometric parameters, metabolic and inflammatory markers occurs, suggesting high potential for reduction of metabolic syndrome and risk for type 2 diabetes. We have shown for the first time ever that level of vitamin D may be involved in resistin regulation.
The role of diet in renal cell carcinoma incidence: an umbrella review of meta-analyses of observational studies
Authors: Liao Zhanchen , Fang Zhitao , Gou Siqi , Luo Yong , Liu Yiqi , He Zhun , Li Xin , Peng Yansong , Fu Zheng , Li Dongjin , Chen Haiyun , Luo Zhigang
Published: February 2022

Background

Evidence associating diet with the incidence of renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is inconclusive. We aimed to summarize evidence associating dietary factors with RCC incidence and assess the strength and validity of this evidence.

Methods

We conducted an umbrella review of systematic reviews or meta-analyses (SRoMAs) that assessed the association between diet and RCC incidence. Through April 2021, PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, The Cochrane Library, Scopus, and WCRF were searched. Two independent reviewers selected studies, extracted data, and appraised the quality of SRoMAs. According to credibility assessment criteria, evidence can be divided into five categories: convincing (class I), highly suggestive (class II), suggestive (class III), weak (class IV), and nonsignificant (class V).

Results

Twenty-nine meta-analyses were obtained after screening. After excluding 7 overlapping meta-analyses, 22 meta-analyses including 502 individual studies and 64 summary hazard ratios for RCC incidence were included: dietary patterns or dietary quality indices (n= 6), foods (n= 13), beverages (n= 4), alcohol (n= 7), macronutrients (n=15), and micronutrients (n=19). No meta-analyses had high methodological quality. Five meta-analyses exhibited small study effects; one meta-analysis showed evidence of excess significance bias. No dietary factors showed convincing or highly suggestive evidence of association with RCC in the overall analysis. Two protective factors had suggestive evidence (vegetables (0.74, 95% confidence interval 0.63 to 0.86) and vitamin C (0.77, 0.66 to 0.90)) in overall analysis. One protective factor had convincing evidence (moderate drinking (0.77, 0.70 to 0.84)) in Europe and North America and one protective factor had highly suggestive evidence (cruciferous vegetables (0.78, 0.70 to 0.86)) in North America.

Conclusions

Although many meta-analyses have assessed associations between dietary factors and RCC, no high-quality evidence exists (classes I and II) in the overall analysis. Increased intake of vegetables and vitamin C is negatively associated with RCC risk. Moderate drinking might be beneficial for Europeans and North Americans, and cruciferous vegetables might be beneficial to North Americans, but the results should be interpreted with caution. More researches are needed in the future.

Trial registration

PROSPEROCRD42021246619
The glymphatic hypothesis: the theory and the evidence
Authors: Hladky Stephen B. , Barrand Margery A.
Published: February 2022

The glymphatic hypothesis proposes a mechanism for extravascular transport into and out of the brain of hydrophilic solutes unable to cross the blood–brain barrier. It suggests that there is a circulation of fluid carrying solutes inwards via periarterial routes, through the interstitium and outwards via perivenous routes. This review critically analyses the evidence surrounding the mechanisms involved in each of these stages. There is good evidence that both influx and efflux of solutes occur along periarterial routes but no evidence that the principal route of outflow is perivenous. Furthermore, periarterial inflow of fluid is unlikely to be adequate to provide the outflow that would be needed to account for solute efflux. A tenet of the hypothesis is that flow sweeps solutes through the parenchyma. However, the velocity of any possible circulatory flow within the interstitium is too small compared to diffusion to provide effective solute movement. By comparison the earlier classical hypothesis describing extravascular transport proposed fluid entry into the parenchyma across the blood–brain barrier, solute movements within the parenchyma by diffusion, and solute efflux partly by diffusion near brain surfaces and partly carried by flow along “preferred routes” including perivascular spaces, white matter tracts and subependymal spaces. It did not suggest fluid entry via periarterial routes. Evidence is still incomplete concerning the routes and fate of solutes leaving the brain. A large proportion of the solutes eliminated from the parenchyma go to lymph nodes before reaching blood but the proportions delivered directly to lymph or indirectly via CSF which then enters lymph are as yet unclear. In addition, still not understood is why and how the absence of AQP4 which is normally highly expressed on glial endfeet lining periarterial and perivenous routes reduces rates of solute elimination from the parenchyma and of solute delivery to it from remote sites of injection. Neither the glymphatic hypothesis nor the earlier classical hypothesis adequately explain how solutes and fluid move into, through and out of the brain parenchyma. Features of a more complete description are discussed. All aspects of extravascular transport require further study.
Two-dimensional and three-dimensional T2 weighted imaging-based radiomic signatures for the preoperative discrimination of ovarian borderline tumors and malignant tumors
Authors: Liu Xuefen , Wang Tianping , Zhang Guofu , Hua Keqin , Jiang Hua , Duan Shaofeng , Jin Jun , Zhang He
Published: February 2022

Background

Ovarian cancer is the most women malignancy in the whole world. It is difficult to differentiate ovarian cancers from ovarian borderline tumors because of some similar imaging findings.Radiomics study may help clinicians to make a proper diagnosis before invasive surgery.

Purpose

To evaluate the ability of T2-weighted imaging (T2WI)-based radiomics to discriminate ovarian borderline tumors (BOTs) from malignancies based on two-dimensional (2D) and three-dimensional (3D) lesion segmentation methods.

Methods

A total of 95 patients with pathologically proven ovarian BOTs and 101 patients with malignancies were retrospectively included in this study. We evaluated the diagnostic performance of the signatures derived from T2WI-based radiomics in their ability to differentiate between BOTs and malignancies and compared the performance differences in the 2D and 3D segmentation models. The least absolute shrinkage and selection operator method (Lasso) was used for radiomics feature selection and machine learning processing.

Results

The radiomics score between BOTs and malignancies in four types of selected T2WI-based radiomics models differed significantly at the statistical level (p < 0.0001). For the classification between BOTs and malignant masses, the 2D and 3D coronal T2WI-based radiomics models yielded accuracy values of 0.79 and 0.83 in the testing group, respectively; the 2D and 3D sagittal fat-suppressed (fs) T2WI-based radiomics models yielded an accuracy of 0.78 and 0.99, respectively.

Conclusions

Our results suggest that T2WI-based radiomic features were highly correlated with ovarian tumor subtype classification. 3D-sagittal MRI radiomics features may help clinicians differentiate ovarian BOTs from malignancies with high ACC.
Assessing the causal relationship between income inequality and mortality and self-rated health: protocol for systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Shimonovich Michal , Pearce Anna , Thomson Hilary , McCartney Gerry , Katikireddi Srinivasa Vittal
Published: February 2022

Background

Income inequality has been linked to health and mortality. While there has been extensive research exploring the relationship, the evidence for whether the relationship is causal remains disputed. We describe the methods for a systematic review that will transparently assess whether a causal relationship exists between income inequality and mortality and self-rated health.

Methods

We will identify relevant studies using search terms relating to income inequality, mortality, and self-rated health (SRH). Four databases will be searched: MEDLINE, ISI Web of Science, EMBASE, and the National Bureau of Economic Research. The inclusion criteria have been developed to identify the study designs best suited to assess causality: multilevel studies that have conditioned upon individual income (or a comparable measure, such as socioeconomic position) and natural experiment studies. Risk of bias assessment of included studies will be conducted using ROBINS-I. Where possible, we will convert all measures of income inequality into Gini coefficients and standardize the effect estimate of income inequality on mortality/SRH. We will conduct random-effects meta-analysis to estimate pooled effect estimates when possible. We will assess causality using modified Bradford Hill viewpoints and assess certainty using GRADE.

Discussion

This systematic review protocol lays out the complexity of the relationship between income inequality and individual health, as well as our approach for assessing causality. Understanding whether income inequality impacts the health of individuals within a population has major policy implications. By setting out our methods and approach as transparently as we can, we hope this systematic review can provide clarity to an important topic for public policy and public health, as well as acting as an exemplar for other “causal reviews”.
Education level and misuse of antibiotics in the general population: a systematic review and dose–response meta-analysis
Authors: Mallah Narmeen , Orsini Nicola , Figueiras Adolfo , Takkouche Bahi
Published: February 2022

Background

Numerous studies evaluated the association of education level with misuse of antibiotics by the general population, yet divergent findings were reported. Therefore, a meta-analysis was conducted to summarize this association.

Methods

A categorical and continuous dose–response meta-analysis of the association of education level with antibiotic misuse was undertaken. Summary odds ratios (ORs) and their 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were estimated using random-effect model.

Results

The meta-analysis included 85 studies from 42 countries of different socioeconomic status. Compared to low education (≤ 9 years), medium education (> 9–12 years) is associated with 20% lower odds of antibiotic misuse in high-income countries (OR = 0.80; 95% CI 0.66, 0.97), while high education (> 12 years) is associated with 14% lower odds of any aspect of antibiotic misuse (OR = 0.86; 95% CI 0.72, 1.03). The association is more pronounced in Middle East (OR = 0.64; 95% CI 0.42, 1.00) and countries of lower-middle economies (OR = 0.67, 95% CI 0.41, 1.11). Inversely, in Europe, high education is associated with 25% higher odds of antibiotic misuse (OR = 1.25, 95% CI 1.00, 1.58). Each additional year of education was associated with 4% lower odds of any aspect of antibiotic misuse in lower-middle economies (OR = 0.96; 95% CI 0.92, 1.00) and in Middle East (OR = 0.96; 95% CI 0.93, 1.00). Conversely, it was associated with 3% higher odds of antibiotic storage, a specific type of misuse (OR = 1.03, 95% CI 1.01, 1.06).

Conclusion

Individuals misuse antibiotics irrespective of their education level. Intervention programs to enhance the proper use of antibiotics should target all communities independent of their education level.
Successful ECMO-assisted open chest cardiopulmonary resuscitation in a postpartum patient with delayed amniotic fluid embolism
Authors: Wu Yafen , Luo Jin , Chen Tao , Zhan Hong , Liu Jinfa , Chen Junxing , Wang Shouping
Published: February 2022

Background

Amniotic fluid embolism (AFE) is a rare but potentially dangerous severe obstetrics complication, which is accompanied by an incidence between 1.9 and 6.1 per 100,000 births.

Case presentation

Here, we report an AFE case after cesarean delivery diagnosed on a cardiac arrest complicated by acute respiratory distress syndrome and coagulopathy. Diagnosis, risk factors and pathophysiology for AFE have been fully discussed, besides, extracorporeal membrane oxygenation in the early management of cardiac arrest was used, describing the indication, efficacy and successful performed of open-chest cardiopulmonary resuscitation for the patient.

Conclusion

In AFE with cute cardiovascular collapse, extracorporeal membrane oxygenation support can be considered as the alternative therapies.
An initiative to correlate the SPT and CPT data for an alluvial deposit of Dhaka city
Authors: Arifuzzaman  , Anisuzzaman Md.
Published: February 2022

The Standard Penetration Test (SPT) is the most common in-situ tests for soil investigations. On the other hand, the Cone Penetration Test (CPT) is considered one of the best investigation tools. Many CPT-SPT correlation relationships have been proposed worldwide to estimate soil parameter from the other's available data. However, unfortunately, no available SPT-CPT correlations are established for the alluvial soil of Dhaka city. This paper aims at presenting correlations among the SPT-N value, cone tip resistance (qc), sleeve friction resistance (fs), soil behavior index (Ic) and mean particle size (D50) for an alluvial soil deposit of Dhaka city. It is found that for the relationship between equivalent SPT N60-value and SPT N60-value the coarser soil layers As1 and As2 show the coefficient of correlation (R2) is 0.7106 and 0.534 respectively, which indicate a reliable relationship. In addition, the correlation between cone tip resistance (qc) and SPT N60-value shows very strong relationship which is very similar to proposed Meyerhof correlation. Furthermore, the relations between other mentioned parametres also shows a valid correlations similar to other authors.
Decrease of voriconazole trough levels during therapy with enteral nutrition: a case report
Authors: Kaneko Hiromi , Yamazaki Shingo , Uchida Masashi , Suzuki Takaaki , Murakami Kentaro , Matsubara Hisahiro , Kamei Katsuhiko , Ishii Itsuko
Published: February 2022

Background

Voriconazole (VRCZ) is the first-line therapy for chronic pulmonary aspergillosis and is available in both intravenous and oral formulations. The bioavailability of the oral form is estimated to be over 90% in healthy volunteers. Some drugs are reported to interact with enteral nutrition (EN), but there are few reports about the trough levels of VRCZ during EN therapy. Here, we describe changes in the VRCZ trough levels in a patient receiving continuous EN therapy.

Case presentation

The patient was a 58-year-old man with esophageal cancer and a history of partial pulmonary resection due to aspergilloma. He was taking oral VRCZ tablets and his VRCZ trough level was about 2 μg/mL before esophageal cancer surgery. Following esophagectomy, VRCZ was restarted on postoperative day 16. Crushed VRCZ tablets were administered via a jejunostomy tube because of swallowing difficulty. He was also receiving EN, which was interrupted only during the administration of VRCZ. When we checked his VRCZ level 5 days after restarting VRCZ, the trough level was 0.80 μg/mL. After increasing the VRCZ dose, reducing EN, and changing the administration route from jejunostomy tube to oral, his trough level increased to 1.87 μg/mL.

Conclusions

A decrease in the VRCZ trough level was observed when VRCZ was administered via a jejunostomy tube while the patient was receiving continuous EN. Careful monitoring of VRCZ levels is needed in such cases.
Anesthetic management of tracheal stent extraction using a double gum elastic bougie technique
Authors: Sato Satoshi , Chaki Tomohiro , Onaka Takayuki , Yamakage Michiaki
Published: February 2022

Background

Tracheal stenosis is a life-threatening condition, and management of a patient with a risk of tracheal stenosis is challenging for anesthesiologists. In this report, we describe a method for airway management using two gum elastic bougie method when removing a tracheal stent via a tracheostomy orifice with a risk of airway restenosis.

Case presentation

A 71-year-old man had an enlarged squamous cell carcinoma of the lung invading the upper mediastinum that had caused severe stenosis of the trachea. Two months after diagnosis, a tracheal stent had been placed to maintain tracheal patency. One month after stent placement, acute respiratory failure was induced by upper airway obstruction caused by subglottic airway edema due to mechanical stimulation of the cranial end of the stent, and the patient was rescued by oral tracheal intubation. Tracheal stent extraction was scheduled to relieve the laryngeal edema. Since there was a risk of tracheal restenosis because of the possibility of accidental evulsion of the orally tracheal tube which intubated to secure an emergency airway and tracheal stent extraction, two gum elastic bougies were inserted through the oral tracheal tube and tracheostomy orifice to facilitate re-intubation. After extraction of the tracheal stent, airway openness was maintained and tracheostomy was completed without any complication.

Conclusion

Successful management of tracheal stent extraction was performed using a double gum elastic bougie technique.
Dietary composition of the Indian pangolin (Manis crassicaudata) in Gir National Park, India
Authors: Ram Mohan , Mesariya Darshit , Vasavada Dushyant , Mehta Dhawal
Published: February 2022

Background

The Indian pangolin is a globally endangered species and is accorded the highest level of protection under Indian legislation. The species has a wide distribution in the country. However, information on its ecology is scanty with limited accounts on the diet of the free-ranging population.

Results

We studied the diet of the Indian pangolin in a tropical dry deciduous forest of Gir National Park, India. A total of 12 faecal samples in the form of 22 pellets were collected between November 2019 and March 2020. The faecal matter’s length, diameter and girth were 4.80 cm ± 0.40 SE, 2.72 cm ± 0.12 SE and 8.49 cm ± 0.41 SE, respectively. The dry weight of the faecal matter was 22.31 g ± 3.24 SE. The composition of the faecal content by weight was majorly contributed by insect matter (56.53%), followed by grit (42.35%) and plant matter (1.12%). Faecal content’s analysis through microscopy revealed that insect matter was the most frequent constituent (53.59%), followed by grit (46.26%) and plant matter (0.05%); 0.1% of the constituents could not be identified. The ant genera contributing to the diet of the Indian pangolin include Camponotus, Crematogaster, Dorylus, Lophomyrmex, Monomorium, Myrmicaria, Pheidole and Tetraponera. The termite genera consumed by the Indian pangolin were Odontotermes and Cryptotermes.

Conclusions

The study’s findings contribute to enhance the ecological knowledge in a hitherto unexplored habitat and hold implications in the ex situ conservation efforts and rescue and rehabilitation of Indian pangolins in similar landscapes.
Epichloë scottii sp. nov., a new endophyte isolated from Melica uniflora is the missing ancestor of Epichloë disjuncta
Authors: Thünen Torsten , Becker Yvonne , Cox Murray P. , Ashrafi Samad
Published: February 2022

Here we describe a new, haploid and stroma forming species within the genus Epichloë, as Epichloë scottii sp. nov. The fungus was isolated from Melica uniflora growing in Bad Harzburg, Germany. Phylogenetic reconstruction using a combined dataset of the tubB and tefA genes strongly support that E. scottii is a distinct species and the so far unknown ancestor species of the hybrid E. disjuncta. A distribution analysis showed a high infection rate in close vicinity of the initial sampling site and only two more spots with low infection rates. Genetic variations in key genes required for alkaloid production suggested that E. scottii sp. nov. might not be capable of producing any of the major alkaloids including ergot alkaloid, loline, indole-diterpene and peramine. All isolates and individuals found in the distribution analysis were identified as mating-type B explaining the lack of mature stromata during this study. We further release a telomere-to-telomere de novo assembly of all seven chromosomes and the mitogenome of E. scottii sp. nov.
Effect of eggshell/N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF) mixing ratios on the sonochemical production of CaCO3 nanoparticles
Authors: Mensah Kenneth , Abdelmageed Ayda Mostafa , Shokry Hassan
Published: February 2022

Bio-CaCO3 nanoparticles have several applications and have attracted significant attention in current research. N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF) has been proven to be an effective non-volatile solvent for synthesizing bio-CaCO3 nanomaterials from eggshell. However, the optimum ratio of eggshell and DMF need to be specified to achieve maximum nano-CaCO3 production for large-scale purposes. Thus, this work investigated the effect of eggshell/DMF mixing ratios on the production of CaCO3 nanoparticles from the chicken eggshell. The nano-CaCO3 were synthesized via dry milling and then sonication at a frequency of 40 kHz for 6 h in the presence of DMF. The eggshell mass was varied from 0.5 to 20 g per 100 mL of DMF. The synthesized CaCO3 materials were characterized using SEM, TEM, EDX, XRD, and BET surface analysis. The eggshell/DMF ratio was optimized to maximize the production of CaCO3 nanoparticles, and its effect on the size, crystallinity, surface area, and porosity of the CaCO3 particles were discussed. Increasing eggshell/DMF ratio decreased the sonication efficiency with increasing crystallite and particle size. The specific surface area of the synthesized CaCO3 particles decreased with increasing eggshell/DMF ratio. 1 g/100 mL was the optimum or highest ratio to obtain 100% nano-CaCO3. At 1 g/100mL ratio, the bio-CaCO3 contained a crystallite size of 23.08 nm, particle size between 5 and 30 nm and surface area of 47.44 m2 g−1.
Role of thwarted belongingness, perceived burdensomeness and psychological distress in the association between adverse childhood experiences and suicidal ideation in college students
Authors: Bhargav Madhav , Swords Lorraine
Published: February 2022

Background

Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) have a detrimental impact on short- and long-term mental and physical health. A growing body of research has indicated that the prevalence of suicidal phenomena is significantly higher among individuals with a history of ACEs. However, there is a lack of understanding about processes that result in ACEs leading to suicidal ideation when testing within a theoretical framework.

Aims

To develop and test a multidimensional model that would explain the association between ACEs and suicidal ideation in college students.

Method

Data were obtained from a cross-sectional survey completed by 321 college students primarily recruited from universities in Ireland. Participants were aged 18–21 (n = 176) and 22–25 years (n = 145). An ACEs questionnaire, the Interpersonal Needs Questionnaire, which assessed thwarted belongingness and perceived burdensomeness, the CORE-10, which assessed psychological distress, and the Suicide Ideation Scale (SIS) were administered.

Results

After controlling for gender and sexual orientation, results revealed a significant direct effect of ACEs on suicidal ideation such that more accumulated ACEs were associated with higher suicidal ideation (effect size 0.30; 95% CI 0.047–0.538). A significant indirect effect of ACEs on suicidal ideation through perceived burdensomeness and psychological distress, and thwarted belongingness and psychological distress, was observed (effect size 0.90; 95% CI 0.558–1.270).

Conclusions

Findings suggest that ACEs have a detrimental impact on college students’ mental health. Results highlight the potential benefits of ACE-informed interventions that target thwarted belongingness and perceived burdensomeness to countervail suicidal ideation in college students.
Machine Learning–Based Analysis of Treatment Sequences Typology in Advanced Non–Small-Cell Lung Cancer Long-Term Survivors Treated With Nivolumab
Authors: Chouaïd Christos , Grumberg Valentine , Batisse Alexandre , Corre Romain , Giaj Levra Matteo , Gaudin Anne-Françoise , Prodel Martin , Lortet-Tieulent Joannie , Assié Jean-Baptiste , Cotté Francois-Emery
Published: February 2022

PURPOSE

Immune checkpoint inhibitors substantially changed advanced non–small-cell lung cancer (aNSCLC) management and can lead to long-term survival. The aims of this study were (1) to use a machine learning method to establish a typology of treatment sequences on patients with aNSCLC who were alive 2 years after initiating a treatment with anti–programmed death-ligand 1 monoclonal antibody nivolumab and (2) to describe the patients' characteristics according to the typology of treatment sequences.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This retrospective observational study was based on data from the comprehensive French hospital discharge database for all patients with lung cancer with at least one line of platinum-based chemotherapy, starting nivolumab between January 1, 2015, and December 31, 2016, and alive 2 years after nivolumab treatment initiation. Patients were followed until December 31, 2018. A typology of most common treatment sequences was established using hierarchical clustering with time sequence analysis.

RESULTS

Two thousand two hundred twelve study patients were, on average, 63.0 years old, 69.9% of them were men, and 61.9% had a nonsquamous cell carcinoma. During the 2 years after nivolumab treatment initiation, clusters of patients with four basic types of treatment sequences were identified: (1) almost continuous nivolumab treatment (44% of patients); (2) nivolumab most of the time followed by a treatment-free interval or a chemotherapy (15% of patients); and a short or medium nivolumab treatment, followed by (3) a long systemic treatment-free interval (17% of patients) or (4) a long chemotherapy (23% of patients).

CONCLUSION

This machine learning approach enabled the identification of a typology of four representative treatment sequences observed in long-term survival. It was noted that most long-term survivors were treated with nivolumab for well over 1 year.
Molecular Subtyping Resource: a user-friendly tool for rapid biological discovery from transcriptional data
Authors: Ahmaderaghi Baharak , Amirkhah Raheleh , Jackson James , Lannagan Tamsin R. M. , Gilroy Kathryn , Malla Sudhir B. , Redmond Keara L. , Quinn Gerard , McDade Simon S. , ACRCelerate Consortium  , Maughan Tim , Leedham Simon , Campbell Andrew S. D. , Sansom Owen J. , Lawler Mark , Dunne Philip D.
Published: February 2022

Generation of transcriptional data has dramatically increased in the past decade, driving the development of analytical algorithms that enable interrogation of the biology underpinning the profiled samples. However, these resources require users to have expertise in data wrangling and analytics, reducing opportunities for biological discovery by ‘wet-lab’ users with a limited programming skillset. Although commercial solutions exist, costs for software access can be prohibitive for academic research groups. To address these challenges, we have developed an open source and user-friendly data analysis platform for on-the-fly bioinformatic interrogation of transcriptional data derived from human or mouse tissue, called Molecular Subtyping Resource (MouSR). This internet-accessible analytical tool, https://mousr.qub.ac.uk/, enables users to easily interrogate their data using an intuitive ‘point-and-click’ interface, which includes a suite of molecular characterisation options including quality control, differential gene expression, gene set enrichment and microenvironmental cell population analyses from RNA sequencing. The MouSR online tool provides a unique freely available option for users to perform rapid transcriptomic analyses and comprehensive interrogation of the signalling underpinning transcriptional datasets, which alleviates a major bottleneck for biological discovery.

This article has an associated First Person interview with the first author of the paper.
Diagnostic grading of parotid lesions by conventional ultrasound: a pilot study
Authors: Wang Yanqing , Nie Fang , Wang Peihua , Wang Longli
Published: February 2022

Objectives:

To provide a graded diagnosis of benign and malignant lesions in the parotid gland by conventional ultrasound, and thus to predict the probability of malignancy of the lesions.

Methods:

Retrospective analysis of conventional ultrasound images of 150 patients with parotid lesions by two observers. Parotid lesions were classified into seven patterns and then categorised into eight grades: Grade 0, unsatisfied illustration on ultrasound; Grade 1, normal parotid gland; Grade 2, definitively benign; Grade 3, probably benign; Grade 4, indeterminate; Grade 5, probably malignant; Grade 6, highly suggestive malignant and Grade 7, already had malignant diagnosis. Combined with the pathological results, the conventional ultrasound diagnostic grade of parotid lesions was evaluated for predicting the probability of malignancy.

Results:

There was excellent interobserver agreement of both readers for patterns and grades (K = 0.89 and 0.90, p < 0.01). The proportions of the malignancies in conventional ultrasound Grade 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 according to the two readers 0 and 0, 0 and 0, 8.7% and 8.8%, 54.2% and 50%, 100% and 100%, respectively. The sensitivity, specificity and area under ROC curve were 64.0%, 91.2%, 0.809 and 64.0%, 89.6%, 0.802, respectively, using Grade 5 of the two readers as the best grade for diagnosing benign and malignant parotid lesions.

Conclusion:

The conventional ultrasound diagnostic grade of parotid lesions can be used to evaluate the risk of malignancy and will be helpful to improve the imaging diagnosis and clinical treatment.
Career planning courses increase career readiness of graduate and postdoctoral trainees
Authors: Layton Rebekah L. , Solberg V. Scott H. , Jahangir Arthee E. , Hall Joshua D. , Ponder Christine A. , Micoli Keith J. , Vanderford Nathan L.
Published: February 2022

Background: Given national calls for intentional career development during graduate and post-graduate scientific training, this study assessed career readiness development within the context of academic career courses. The current study evaluated the effects of academic career courses offered at two institutions that were specifically designed to increase career awareness, interest, and career-related confidence among doctoral students and postdoctoral fellows.

Methods: Participants enrolled in a career course at trainees’ respective academic institutions and responded to pre- and post-course surveys (n=32, n=148). The paper offers a thematic analysis of each of the two courses using an individualized learning plan career development framework and describes the results of their respective pretest-posttest evaluations which indicated increases in career readiness.

Results: Though the format and content provided in each course varied, participation was associated with increases in career readiness. Participants reported increased career-awareness including a greater familiarity with different types of careers overall. Furthermore, interest in tenure track faculty careers increased in both samples, which may assuage fears that exposure to diverse career pathways could reduce interest in academic careers. Transferrable skills, including career planning and awareness also significantly increased. Course participants reported an increase in the number and type of mentors they interacted with beyond their principal faculty mentor (other faculty, professional PhDs, peers, and administrative staff).

Conclusions: Findings provide supporting evidence for the benefits of implementing structured career development efforts during PhD training; even with varying content, delivery methods, and instructor type, both academic career courses led to significant gains in career awareness and readiness. Successful development and delivery of academic career courses, with a focus on career planning skills, suggest that institutions can utilize these and are an effective way to prepare PhDs for their transition from training positions into careers.
Prevalence of oral manifestations in patients with lupus erythematosus in a sample of the Egyptian population: a hospital based cross-sectional study
Authors: Saeed Hager Moustafa , Mohammad Amr Eman , Rezk Lotfy Rezk Alshaimaa , Abd Elmoneim Wesam
Published: February 2022

Background: Several systemic diseases manifest themselves in the oral cavity. Oral manifestations of lupus erythematosus (LE) are associated with a significantly increased risk of cancer. Dentists who are unaware of these lesions will possibly miss them. This cross-sectional study aimed to assess the prevalence of oral manifestations in patients with LE in a sample of the Egyptian population.

Methods: A descriptive study was performed on 189 patients attending the Internal Medicine Department, Rheumatology Clinic in EL Qasr EL Ainy Hospital, Cairo University. Every patient was examined clinically after completing a questionnaire. Moreover, patients’ medical records were also evaluated.  The oral manifestations were recorded according to the WHO guide to physical examination of the oral cavity and classified according to their morphologic aspects and localization.

Results: Out of 189 patients, there were 182 females (96.3%) and seven males (3.7%). The prevalence of oral lesions in LE patients was 55.6%. The most affected site was the tongue 25.7%. The most common clinical aspect was patches, 53%. About 77.1% of the lesions were asymptomatic. 

Conclusions: The present study emphasizes the importance of early diagnosis of oral lesions to recognize patients with LE as the WHO considers oral manifestations of LE a widespread state. Also, implementation of oral hygiene measures and treatment to improve patients’ nutritional state and health-related quality of life are recommended.
Prospective cohort study of the predictive value of inflammatory biomarkers over clinical variables in children and young people with cancer presenting with fever and neutropenia
Authors: Phillips Bob
Published: February 2022

Introduction

Fever during chemotherapy induced neutropenia is a common and potentially life-threatening complication of the treatment of childhood cancer. Predictions of poor outcome could be enhanced by incorporating serum biomarkers of inflammation at presentation and reassessment.

Methods

A prospective cohort study was conducted of children under 18 years old, being treated for cancer or a cancer-like condition, who presented with fever (≥ 38.0°C) and neutropenia (neutrophil count < 0.5*109/L). Clinical features were recorded, along with three experimental inflammatory biomarkers: procalcitonin (PCT), interleukin-6 (IL-6) and interleukin-8 (IL-8). Outcomes included serious medical complications (SMC): any infection related mortality, critical care and organ support, severe sepsis, septic shock, significant microbiologically defined infection, or radiologically confirmed pneumonia.

Results

Biomarker assessments were undertaken in 43 episodes of fever and neutropenia, from 31 patients aged between four months and 17 years old (median six years): 20 were female and 22 had acute leukaemia. Five episodes of SMC were noted. PCT, IL-6 and IL-8 had poor individual discriminatory ability (C-statistic 0.48 to 0.60) and did not add to the value of clinical risk stratification tools. Insufficient data were collected to formally assess the value of repeated assessments.

Conclusions

Incorporating serum biomarkers of inflammation at presentation of episodes of fever with neutropenia in childhood does not clearly improve risk stratification. The value of serial assessments requires further investigation.
Psychopathic traits and empathy: moral decision making and complex affect expression recognition
Authors: Tanaś Łukasz , Łuczak Ewa
Published: February 2022

Cel pracy

Kwestia szczególnych deficytów poznawczych w psychopatii jest wciąż nierozstrzygnięta. Wiele dowodów wskazuje na problemy z empatią afektywną. Celem pracy była weryfikacja hipotezy o korelacji pomiędzy cechami psychopatii, a trudnościami w zakresie rozpoznawania złożonej ekspresji mimicznej oraz podejmowaniem decyzji moralnych bez uwzględniania aspektu potencjalnej krzywdy.

Metoda

Zbadano 58 mężczyzn (populacja studentów i więźniów). Psychopatię oceniano za pomocą kwestionariusza PCL-R. Rozpoznanie złożonych wyrażeń emocjonalnych oceniano za pomocą narzędzia "Twarze" ze Skali Inteligencji Emocjonalnej i moralnych skłonności do unikania krzywdy ("deontologicznych") i maksymalizacji konsekwencji ("utylitarystycznych"), które mierzono za pomocą metody dysocjacji procesów.

Wyniki

Więźniowie wykazywali braki prawidłowego rozpoznawania ekspresji, zarówno dla bodźców pozytywnych, jak i negatywnych. Więźniowie z wysokim poziomem psychopatii dodatkowo wykazywali wysoki wskaźnik błędów fałszywego rozpoznania negatywnych emocji. Grupa więźniów z wysokim poziomem psychopatii wykazała się niższą, niż grupa studentów i grupa więźniów z niskim poziomem psychopatii, skłonnością do unikania krzywdy. Wysoki poziom psychopatii wiązał się z deklaracjami, że przedstawione dylematy moralne były "łatwymi decyzjami". Różnice między grupami w skłonności do maksymalizacji konsekwencji w decyzjach moralnych nie były istotne.

Wnioski

Wyniki potwierdzają hipotezę mówiącą o związku psychopatii z ogólnymi zaburzeniami procesów afektywnych. Cechy psychopatyczne związane są z gorszym rozpoznaniem złożonych ekspresji emocjonalnych, a dysfunkcja ta objawia się nie jako niepewność decyzji, lecz jako wysoka liczba fałszywych wskazań. Więźniowie o cechach psychopatycznych deklarują również, że dylematy moralne odnoszące się do potencjalnych ofiar wymagają "łatwych decyzji" i wykazują zmniejszoną responsywność na krzywdę. Ważnym i problematycznym elementem psychopatii wydaje się być dysfunkcjonalne działanie empatii afektywnej przy jednoczesnej nieświadomości tych dysfunkcji.
Polish adaptation and validation of the Mentalization Scale (MentS) – a self-report measure of mentalizing
Authors: Jańczak Monika
Published: February 2022

Cel pracy

Badania miały na celu ustalenie rzetelności, struktury czynnikowej i trafności Skali Mentalizacji (Mentalization Scale, MentS) – samoopisowego narzędzia do pomiaru mentalizacji.

Metoda

Zbadano dwie grupy osób. Pierwsza grupa (N = 202) to studenci poznańskich uczelni wyższych, druga grupa (N = 229) składała się z osób zatrudnionych na różnych stanowiskach, o zróżnicowanym wykształceniu. Wykorzystano kwestionariusze: Skala Mentalizacji, Kwestionariusz Zaburzenia Osobowości Borderline, Skala Doświadczeń w Bliskich Związkach – ECR-R, skrócona wersja inwentarza osobowości International Personality Item Pool NEO Personality Inventory, Skrócona Skala Ilorazu Empatii i Kwestionariusz Inteligencji Emocjonalnej - Cechy.

Wyniki

Analiza rzetelności wykazała wysoką spójność wewnętrzną wszystkich trzech podskal MentS, a przeprowadzona analiza czynnikowa pozwoliła na potwierdzenie trójczynnikowej struktury kwestionariusza. Mentalizacja mierzona kwestionariuszem MentS wykazała pozytywny związek z konstruktami pokrewnymi: empatią i inteligencją emocjonalną. Trafność MentS potwierdzają także uzyskane związki mentalizacji z przywiązaniem, cechami borderline i wymiarami osobowości oraz obserwowane różnice międzypłciowe

Wnioski

Weryfikacja zakładanych w badaniu hipotez prowadzi do konkluzji o wysokiej wartości psychometrycznej polskiej wersji Skali Mentalizacji (MentS) - nowego narzędzia do pomiaru mentalizacji, które może być wykorzystywane do szybkiego, ale jednocześnie wielowymiarowego pomiaru mentalizacji.
Ghosts in the Machine: How Marketing and Human Capital Investments Enhance Customer Growth When Innovative Services Leverage Self-Service Technologies
Authors: Saldanha Terence J. V. , Kathuria Abhishek , Khuntia Jiban , Konsynski Benn R.
Published: February 2022

Practice and Policy Abstract
A Stochastic Representation for Nonlocal Parabolic PDEs with Applications
Authors: Dai Min , Kou Steven , Yang Chen
Published: February 2022

We establish a stochastic representation for a class of nonlocal parabolic terminal–boundary value problems, whose terminal and boundary conditions depend on the solution in the interior domain; in particular, the solution is represented as the expectation of functionals of a diffusion process with random jumps from boundaries. We discuss three applications of the representation, the first one on the pricing of dual-purpose funds, the second one on the connection to regenerative processes, and the third one on modeling the entropy on a one-dimensional nonrigid body.