bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Petrology of Mafic Dykes from the Njimom Area (West-Cameroon): A Contribution to the Characterization of Late Paleozoic and Mesozoic Magmatism in the Southern Continental Part of the Cameroon Volcanic Line
Authors: Keutchafo Noël-Aimée Kouamo , Simeni Nicole Armelle Wambo , Nforba Brillant Kandzi , Noucoucouk Agathe Arrissa , Sonmo Josiane Demlabin , Tchaptchet Depesquidoux Tchato , Tchouankoue Jean Pierre , Cucciniello Ciro
Published: December 2021

In the western Cameroon, crop out several dyke swarms of Paleozoic–Mesozoic age. These dykes intrude the Precambrian basement in the southern continental part of the Cretaceous Cameroon Volcanic Line. In the Njimom area, two groups of mafic dykes that crosscut the Neoproterozoic basement rocks have been observed. A first group intrudes the mylonites whereas the second group intrudes the granites. The dykes are alkaline basalts and hawaiites. The mineralogical assemblage of both groups of dykes consists of plagioclase, clinopyroxene, altered olivine, and opaque oxides. The dykes that cross-cut the Precambrian mylonitic gneisses show moderate TiO2 (1.7–2.0 wt.%), low MgO (4.4–7.1 wt.%), and compatible trace element concentrations (e.g., Cr = 70–180 ppm; Ni = 30–110 ppm). The dykes that intrude the granites have TiO2 contents between 2.3 and 2.5 wt.% and moderate compatible trace element concentrations (e.g., Cr = 260–280 ppm; Ni = 170–230 ppm). MgO varies from 5.9 to 9.2 wt.%. All mafic dykes are enriched in light lanthanide element and show moderate Zr/Nb and high Zr/Y, Nb/Yb, and Ti/V ratios similar to those of average ocean island basalt (OIB)-type magmas. Some dykes that intrude the mylonites show evidence of contamination by continental crust. The composition of the clinopyroxenes of the dykes that intrude the mylonites clearly indicate different and unrelated parental magmas from dykes that intrude the granites. Contents and fractionation of the least and the most incompatible elements suggest low degrees of partial melting (3–5%) of heterogeneous source slightly enriched in incompatible elements in the spinel stability field. The geochemical features of Njimom dykes (in particular the dykes that intrude the granites) are similar to those of Paleozoic and Mesozoic dykes recorded in the southern continental part of the Cameroon Volcanic Line, suggesting multiple reactivations of pre-existing fractures that resulted in the fragmentation of western Gondwana and the opening of the South Atlantic Ocean.
Genesis of the Eastern Adamello Plutons (Northern Italy): Inferences for the Alpine Geodynamics
Authors: Relvini Alessio , Martin Silvana , Carvalho Bruna B. , Prosser Giacomo , Toffolo Luca , Macera Patrizia , Bartoli Omar
Published: December 2021

The Corno Alto–Monte Ospedale magmatic complex crops out at the eastern border of the Adamello batholith, west of the South Giudicarie Fault (NE Italy). This complex includes tonalites, trondhjemites, granodiorites, granites and diorites exhibiting an unfoliated structure suggesting passive intrusion under extensional-to-transtensional conditions. Major, minor elements, REE and isotopic analyses and geochemical and thermodynamic modelling have been performed to reconstruct the genesis of this complex. Geochemical analyses unravel a marked heterogeneity with a lack of intermediate terms. Samples from different crust sections were considered as possible contaminants of a parental melt, with the European crust of the Serre basement delivering the best fit. The results of the thermodynamic modelling show that crustal melts were produced in the lower crust. Results of the geochemical modelling display how Corno Alto felsic rocks are not reproduced by fractional crystallization nor by partial melting alone: their compositions are intermediate between anatectic melts and melts produced by fractional crystallization. The tectonic scenario which favored the intrusion of this complex was characterized by extensional faults, active in the Southalpine domain during Eocene. This extensional scenario is related to the subduction of the Alpine Tethys in the Eastern Alps starting at Late Cretaceous time.
Needs Detection for Carers of Family Members with Dementia
Authors: Turró-Garriga Oriol , Fernández-Adarve Maria del Mar , Monreal-Bosch Pilar
Published: December 2021

Aim: To determine the perceived needs of carers of non-institutionalized family members that suffer from dementia. Methods: Two-steps qualitative study by focus groups of relatives in three centres of different characteristics from the Girona Health Region (step 1) and two in-depth interviews with significant professionals in dementia care (step 2). The analysis was performed based on the interpretation of the transcribed data and the bottom-up coding of categories and themes. The information was triangulated and coding was agreed upon. Results: There were three groups, 26 main carers of community-dwelling relatives with dementia in step 1 and two in-depth interviews with dementia-specialised healthcare and social care professionals in step 2. The demands were categorised according to three main themes: whether they were addressed to the members of care services for more direct and close care, to the agencies for a better joint working and less fragmented system, or to society for better comprehension and social recognition. We emphasize the need for a consultation-liaison reference figure throughout the process both for aspects of greater efficiency in the management of resources and for greater empowerment of carers.
Role-Play versus Standardised Patient Simulation for Teaching Interprofessional Communication in Care of the Elderly for Nursing Students
Authors: Cortés-Rodríguez Alda Elena , Roman Pablo , López-Rodríguez María Mar , Fernández-Medina Isabel María , Fernández-Sola Cayetano , Hernández-Padilla José Manuel
Published: December 2021

This study aims to describe and compare the effects of standardised patient simulation and role-play in the acquisition and retention of interprofessional communication in elderly care competence amongst nursing students. In this controlled clustered randomised trial, 121 nursing students attended a workshop on interprofessional communication in elderly care using role-play or standardised patient simulation. The study was conducted between September 2017 and February 2018. Participants’ knowledge, self-efficacy and communication skills were assessed using a simulated scenario at pre-test, post-test and 6-week follow-up points. Between-subject and within-subject differences were measured using counts and proportions of participants who achieved competence. Regardless of the strategy applied, a significant improvement in knowledge, skills, self-efficacy and overall interprofessional communication competence was found between pre-test and post-test. Moreover, there were significant differences between pre-test and follow-up for all the studied variables, but no differences were found between post-test and follow-up. Lastly, when comparing the success rates of both strategies, no significant differences were observed (p > 0.05). In conclusion, standardised patient simulation and role-play have been shown to promote an improvement on knowledge, self-efficacy and interprofessional communication skills in nursing students, although it is not possible to state which strategy is the most adequate for teaching this competency.
Post-Traumatic Growth in Professionals Caring for People with Intellectual Disabilities during COVID-19: A Psychological Intervention
Authors: Fernández-Ávalos María Inmaculada , Pérez-Marfil María Nieves , Fernández-Alcántara Manuel , Ferrer-Cascales Rosario , Cruz-Quintana Francisco , Turnbull Oliver Hugh
Published: December 2021

Background: Health professionals present a greater vulnerability to the effects of COVID-19 on their mental health, especially those who work with vulnerable groups such as those who suffer from intellectual disability (ID). The objective of the present research was to develop and verify the effectiveness of a psychological intervention for professionals in the field of ID to improve their mental health during this health crisis. Methods: A total of 32 professionals participated. The variables measured were: post-traumatic growth, mental health, burnout, coping strategies, resilience, life satisfaction, optimism, and cognitive and affective empathy. Results: The results revealed statistically significant differences in the post-traumatic growth variable. In the rest of the variables (mental health, burnout, coping strategies, resilience, vital satisfaction, optimism, and empathy), no significant differences between groups were found. Conclusions: An increase in the levels of post-traumatic growth was observed in the intervention group after a brief online psychological intervention. However, given the small sample size, these results should be taken with caution. Institutions should foster and promote interventions aimed at reducing the high emotional impact produced by COVID-19 in professionals that care for people diagnosed with ID.
A Prehospital Emergency Psychiatric Unit in an Ambulance Care Service from the Perspective of Prehospital Emergency Nurses: A Qualitative Study
Authors: Todorova Lizbet , Johansson Anders , Ivarsson Bodil
Published: December 2021

The prevalence of mental illness is steadily increasing, and ambulance teams frequently attend cases with suspected mental illness. A pilot project, Psychiatric Emergency Response Team (PAP), was carried out in which a prehospital emergency nurse (PEN) was accompanied by a psychiatric specialist nurse in the assessment of individuals with mental illness. The aim of the present study was to evaluate a prehospital emergency psychiatric unit from the perspective of PENs. A qualitative method using content analysis was applied. Seven senior PENs who had worked for 1 year in a prehospital psychiatric ambulance unit were interviewed individually. The analysis resulted in one main theme, “Transition from limited care and insufficient competence to improved and adequate care for psychiatric patients in ambulance care”. This emerged from six subcategories: inter-professional development, access to patient records, theambulance vehicle,non-conveyed patients, cooperation with the police and meetings with patients and next of kin. In conclusion, these results suggest that in ambulance care in general, there is a lack of knowledge and skills about mental illnesses and initial care options. The PAP concept opened new avenues for the care of patients with mental illness, which the PENs described very positively as being helpful and valuable.
Can Social Media Be Used as a Community-Building and Support Tool among Jewish Women Impacted by Breast and Ovarian Cancer? An Evidence-Based Observational Report
Authors: Dunn Catherine , Campbell Sydney , Marku Nikoleta , Fleischmann Adina , Silber Elana , Rosen Melissa , Tercyak Kenneth P.
Published: December 2021

About 1 in 40 Ashkenazi Jewish women carry a deleterious mutation in BRCA1/2 genes, predisposing them to hereditary breast/ovarian cancer (HBOC). Thus, efforts to prevent and control HBOC in the US must include sufficient outreach and education campaigns within and across the Jewish community. Social media (SM) is utilized in public health campaigns focused on cancer, but very little is known about the efficacy of those efforts when directed toward Jewish women at risk for (“previvors”) and affected by (“survivors”) HBOC. Here, we report on outcomes of a targeted SM campaign for this population, as led by a national not-for-profit HBOC advocacy organization. Mixed-methods data were obtained from n = 393 members of the community, including n = 20 key informants, and analyzed for engagement and satisfaction with its SM campaign and HBOC resources. Message recipients identified the SM campaign as helpful/meaningful (82%), of ‘newsworthy’ value (78%), and actionable/navigable (71%): interviews revealed that women were more likely to engage with SM if/when it featured stories relevant to their personal cancer experiences. SM is a valuable public health education tool to address the comprehensive cancer control and prevention needs of those previving and surviving with HBOC, including high-risk Jewish women.
Particulate Matter (PM) Adsorption and Leaf Characteristics of Ornamental Sweet Potato (Ipomoea batatas L.) Cultivars and Two Common Indoor Plants (Hedera helix L. and Epipremnum aureum Lindl. & Andre)
Authors: Lee Jong Kyu , Kim Do Yeon , Park Sang Hee , Woo Su Young , Nie Hualin , Kim Sun Hyung
Published: December 2021

Particulate matter (PM) is a serious threat to human health, climate, and ecosystems. Furthermore, owing to the combined influence of indoor and outdoor particles, indoor PM can pose a greater threat than urban PM. Plants can help to reduce PM pollution by acting as biofilters. Plants with different leaf characteristics have varying capacities to capture PM. However, the PM mitigation effects of plants and their primary factors are unclear. In this study, we investigated the PM adsorption and leaf characteristics of five ornamental sweet potato (Ipomea batatas L.) cultivars and two common indoor plants (Hedera helix L. and Epipremnum aureum Lindl. & Andre) exposed to approximately 300 μg m−3 of fly ash particles to assess the factors influencing PM adsorption on leaves and to understand the effects of PM pollution on the leaf characteristics of plants. We analyzed the correlation between PM adsorption and photosynthetic rate (Pn), stomatal conductance (gs), transpiration rate (Tr), leaf area (LA), leaf width/length ratio (W/L), stomatal density (SD), and stomatal pore size (SP). A Pearson’s correlation analysis and a principal component analysis (PCA) were used to evaluate the effects of different leaf characteristics on PM adsorption. The analysis indicated that leaf gas exchange factors, such as Pn and Tr, and morphological factors, such as W/L and LA, were the primary parameters influencing PM adsorption in all cultivars and species tested. Pn, Tr, and W/L showed a positive correlation with PM accumulation, whereas LA was negatively correlated.
Rapeseed as an Ornamental
Authors: Xiao Meili , Wang Huadong , Li Xiaonan , Mason Annaliese S. , Fu Donghui
Published: December 2021

Rapeseed (Brassica napus) is one of the most important oil crops worldwide. However, an intriguing new use for rapeseed has recently developed: as an ornamental. Tourism based on blossoming fields of these yellow flowers has become a new economic growth opportunity in China. From a breeding perspective, two main problems currently limit the potential of rapeseed as an ornamental. First, the flowering period is quite short (30 days on average), which limits economic income; second, the flower color in commercial cultivars is currently limited to bright yellow, which may pall quickly for sightseers. This review summarizes the possible problems of using rapeseed as an ornamental, and details factors affecting the flowering period, how the flowering period can be prolonged by integrating optimal cultivation measures or/and spraying with chemical reagents, and ways of creating and breeding rapeseed with diverse flower colors.
Vanadium Toxicity Induced Changes in Growth, Antioxidant Profiling, and Vanadium Uptake in Pepper (Capsicum annum L.) Seedlings
Authors: Altaf Muhammad Ahsan , Shu Huangying , Hao Yuanyuan , Zhou Yan , Mumtaz Muhammad Ali , Wang Zhiwei
Published: December 2021

Heavy metal contamination is one of the current serious environmental and agricultural soil issues, and it is mainly due to anthropogenic activities. Vanadium (V) is found in low concentrations in a wide range of plants and is widely distributed in soils. The current study aimed to determine how pepper seedlings responded to various V concentrations, as well as the detrimental effects of V on growth, root morphological traits, photosynthetic performance, reactive oxygen species (ROS), osmolytes production, antioxidant enzyme activities, and V uptake. Pepper seedlings (5 weeks old) were grown in hydroponic culture with six V levels (0, 10, 20, 30, 40, and 50 mg L−1 NH4VO3). After two weeks of V treatment, low level of V (10, 20 mg L−1) enhanced the growth status, conversely higher V (30, 40, and 50 mg L−1) level reduced the growth. The leaf gas exchange elements, pigments molecules, and root growth characteristics are also affected by higher V concentrations. Moreover, V uptake was higher in roots than in the shoot of pepper seedlings. Similarly, osmolytes content, ROS production, and antioxidant enzymes activities were significantly improved under V stress. Concluding, lower V (10, 20 mg L−1) concentration positively affected pepper growth, and higher V (30, 40, and 50 mg L−1) concentration had a detrimental effect on pepper physiological and biochemical mechanisms.
Changes in the Oral Cavity in Menopausal Women—A Narrative Review
Authors: Ciesielska Aleksandra , Kusiak Aida , Ossowska Agata , Grzybowska Magdalena Emilia
Published: December 2021

Oral health awareness during the menopausal period is essential to minimize the inevitable inconveniences which may occur due to hormonal changes. The decrease in estrogen hormone concentration impacts the oral mucosa in a similar way to the vaginal mucosa due to the presence of estrogen receptors in both of these structures. An estrogen deficiency also affects the maturation process of the oral mucosal epithelium and can lead to its thinning and atrophy, making it more susceptible to local mechanical injuries, causing a change in pain tolerance and problems in the use of removable prosthetic restorations. Mucosal epithelium during the menopausal period is more vulnerable to infections, candidiasis, burning mouth syndrome, oral lichen planus (OLP), or idiopathic neuropathy. Moreover, salivary glands are also hormone-dependent which leads to changes in saliva secretion and its consistency. In consequence, it may affect teeth and periodontal tissues, resulting in an increased risk of caries and periodontal disease in menopausal women. Due to the large variety of complaints and symptoms occurring in the oral cavity, menopausal women constitute a significant group of patients who should receive special preventive and therapeutic care from doctors and dentists in this particular period.
COVID-19-Related Lifestyle Changes among Community-Dwelling Older Adult Day-Care Users: A Qualitative Study
Authors: Teramura Akira , Kimura Yumi , Hamada Kosuke , Ishimoto Yasuko , Kawamori Masato
Published: December 2021

In Japan, the community-based comprehensive care system is an important initiative. The purpose of this study was to understand COVID-19-related lifestyle changes experienced by older adults who lived in communities and used day-care services. Using a qualitative inductive research method, semi-structured interviews were conducted with 13 older adults who used day-care services in Kyoto City, which assessed lifestyle changes before and after the spread of COVID-19 during March–April 2021. The extracted lifestyle change codes were classified into six categories and 16 subcategories. The data revealed that older adults felt socially isolated and experienced multiple changes in their lives, including limited leisure activities, changes in roles, decreased interpersonal interaction with family and acquaintances, poor diet and sleep quality, and reduced attention to personal appearance and grooming. The findings suggest that during COVID-19, older adults had difficulty adapting to the various changes in their lives and showed a decline in physical and mental functioning. Thus, it is important for day-care facilities to create sustainable spaces in response to the various care needs of community-dwelling older adults whose lifestyles have changed as a result of the COVID-19 situation.
Understanding the Pathways from Prenatal and Post-Birth PM2.5 Exposure to Infant Death: An Observational Analysis Using US Vital Records (2011–2013)
Authors: Khadka Aayush , Canning David
Published: December 2021

We studied the relationship of prenatal and post-birth exposure to particulate matter < 2.5 μm in diameter (PM2.5) with infant mortality for all births between 2011 and 2013 in the conterminous United States. Prenatal exposure was defined separately for each trimester, post-birth exposure was defined in the 12 months following the prenatal period, and infant mortality was defined as death in the first year of life. For the analysis, we merged over 10 million cohort-linked live birth–infant death records with daily, county-level PM2.5 concentration data and then fit a Structural Equation Model controlling for several individual- and county-level confounders. We estimated direct paths from the two exposures to infant death as well as indirect paths from the prenatal exposure to the outcome through preterm birth and low birth weight. Prenatal PM2.5 exposure was positively associated with infant death across all trimesters, although the relationship was strongest in the third trimester. The direct pathway from the prenatal exposure to the outcome accounted for most of this association. Estimates for the post-birth PM2.5–infant death relationship were less precise. The results from our study add to a growing literature that provides evidence in favor of the potential harmful effects on human health of low levels of air pollution.
Prevalence, Incidence, and Factors Associated with Posttraumatic Stress at Three-Month Follow-Up among New York City Healthcare Workers after the First Wave of the COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: Shechter Ari , Chiuzan Codruta , Shang Yimeng , Ko Gavin , Diaz Franchesca , Venner Hadiah K. , Shaw Kaitlin , Cannone Diane E. , McMurry Cara L. , Sullivan Alexandra M. , Rivera Reynaldo R. , Vose Courtney , Shapiro Peter A. , Abdalla Marwah
Published: December 2021

Background: Prevalence, incidence, and factors associated with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms at follow-up among healthcare workers after the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic are unknown. Methods: A web survey invitation was sent to healthcare worker listservs at a NYC medical center (April, 2020). The Primary Care (PC)-PTSD questionnaire was used to screen for PTSD symptoms at baseline and then every 2 weeks for 10 weeks. Incidence and prevalence of PTSD symptoms were determined at each time point. Multivariable generalized estimating equation models were performed to investigate the factors associated with a positive PC-PTSD screen at follow-up. Results: Median age (interquartile range) of N = 230 participants was 36 (31–48) years; 79.6% were women; 82.6% worked in COVID-19-focused settings. The prevalence of PTSD symptoms decreased from 55.2% at baseline to 25.0% at 10 weeks (p < 0.001). Among participants who had a baseline negative screen for PTSD symptoms, the incidence of PTSD at 10 weeks was 12.2% (p-trend 0.034). In multivariable-adjusted analyses, being a nurse (odds ratio [OR]: 1.70, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.06–2.71), female (OR: 3.00, 95% CI: 1.59, 5.72), and working in a COVID-19-focused location (OR: 1.51, 95% CI: 1.02, 2.21) were associated with increased odds of PTSD symptoms at 10-weeks. Conclusions: PTSD symptoms improved over 3 months following the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. However, one out of four NYC healthcare workers still had an increased risk for PTSD at 10-weeks. Screening healthcare workers for PTSD symptoms should be considered during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Impact of the Changes in the Frequency of Social Participation on All-Cause Mortality in Japanese Older Adults: A Nationwide Longitudinal Study
Authors: Shimatani Keiichi , Komada Mayuko T. , Sato Jun
Published: December 2021

Previous studies have shown that more frequent social participation was associated with a reduced risk of mortality. However, limited studies have explored the changes in the frequency of social participation in older adults. We investigated the impact of the changes in the frequency of social participation on all-cause mortality in Japanese older adults aged 60 years and older. The current study, conducted as a secondary analysis, was a retrospective cohort study using open available data. The participants were 2240 older adults (45.4% male and 54.6% female) sampled nationwide from Japan who responded to the interview survey. Changes in the frequency of social participation were categorized into four groups (none, initiated, decreased, and continued pattern) based on the responses in the baseline and last surveys. The Cox proportional-hazards model showed a decreased risk of all-cause mortality in decreased and continued patterns of social participation. Stratified analysis by sex showed a decreased risk of mortality in the continued pattern only among males. The results of the current study suggest that the initiation of social participation at an earlier phase of life transition, such as retirement, may be beneficial for individuals.
Evaluating In Silico the Potential Health and Environmental Benefits of Houseplant Volatile Organic Compounds for an Emerging ‘Indoor Forest Bathing’ Approach
Authors: Roviello Valentina , Scognamiglio Pasqualina Liana , Caruso Ugo , Vicidomini Caterina , Roviello Giovanni N.
Published: December 2021

The practice of spending time in green areas to gain the health benefits provided by trees is well known, especially in Asia, as ‘forest bathing’, and the consequent protective and experimentally detectable effects on the human body have been linked to the biogenic volatile organic compounds released by plants. Houseplants are common in houses over the globe and are particularly appreciated for aesthetic reasons as well for their ability to purify air from some environmental volatile pollutants indoors. However, to the best of our knowledge, no attempt has been made to describe the health benefits achievable from houseplants thanks to the biogenic volatile organic compounds released, especially during the day, from some of them. Therefore, we performed the present study, based on both a literature analysis and in silico studies, to investigate whether the volatile compounds and aerosol constituents emitted by some of the most common houseplants (such as peace lily plant, Spathiphyllum wallisii, and iron plant, Aspidistra eliator) could be exploited in ‘indoor forest bathing’ approaches, as proposed here for the first time not only in private houses but also public spaces, such as offices, hospitals, and schools. By using molecular docking (MD) and other in silico methodologies for estimating vapor pressures and chemico-physical/pharmacokinetic properties prediction, we found that β-costol is an organic compound, emitted in appreciable amounts by the houseplant Spathiphyllum wallisii, endowed with potential antiviral properties as emerged by our MD calculations in a SARS-CoV-2 Mpro (main protease) inhibition study, together with sesquirosefuran. Our studies suggest that the anti-COVID-19 potential of these houseplant-emitted compounds is comparable or even higher than known Mpro inhibitors, such as eugenol, and sustain the utility of houseplants as indoor biogenic volatile organic compound emitters for immunity boosting and health protection.
Evolution of the Spatial-Temporal Pattern and Social Performance Evaluation of Community Sports and Fitness Venues in Shanghai
Authors: Sun Feng , Zhang Jinhe , Ma Jingxuan , Wang Chang , Hu Senlin , Xu Dong
Published: December 2021

The study of the spatial-temporal pattern and social performance of urban public services is a basic task for achieving urban fairness and justice. Through spatial analysis and social performance evaluation, this study explores the evolution of spatial-temporal patterns and the social performance of community sports and fitness venues in Shanghai from 1982 to 2019. The results show that the construction of Shanghai’s community sports and fitness venues presents the evolution pattern of “urbanization-suburbanization-reurbanization”. The center of construction has always been in the urban area and first moved toward the south and then toward the north. Government investment was the main source of funds for the construction of venues, and social investment has been steadily growing. The number and area of multiple types of venues has increased significantly, including trails, gymnasiums, and courts. The overall service coverage radius of Shanghai’s community sports and fitness venues has been significantly increased, and the regional equality between the core and peripheral areas has been obviously improved. The overall per capita service location entropy has not been significantly improved. The old city center and the peripheral area have always been the low-value areas, and the old city center is surrounded by high-value areas. The “low-high-low” three-circle spatial structure continues to exist, but around the old city center, the scope of the high-value area has expanded markedly. There was a significant optimization of social performance from 1999 to 2009. The social performance of the community sports and fitness venues in urban areas is better than that in suburban areas, but the optimization of social performance in suburban areas is greater than that in urban areas. The above analysis is expected to provide references for rationally arranging urban sports and fitness spaces, enhancing the fairness of urban public services, improving the quality of residents’ lives, and assisting the implementation of the “Healthy China” national strategy.
Long-Term Follow-Up of Device-Assisted Clampless Off-Pump Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting Compared with Conventional On-Pump Technique
Authors: Bassano Carlo , Nardi Paolo , Buioni Dario , Asta Laura , Pisano Calogera , Bertoldo Fabio , Altieri Claudia , Ruvolo Giovanni
Published: December 2021

Study objective: To evaluate the long-term outcomes of clampless off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting (C-OPCAB) compared with conventional on-pump double clamping coronary artery bypass grafting (C-CABG). Methods: From October 2006 to December 2011, 366 patients underwent isolated coronary artery bypass grafting. After propensity score matching of preoperative variables, 143 pairs were selected who received C-OPCAB with the use of device-assisted PAS-Port proximal venous graft anastomoses or C-CABG, performed by the same surgeon experienced in both techniques. Data of the two groups of patients were retrospectively analyzed up to 14 years of follow-up. Results: As compared with C-OPCAB, in the C-CABG patients, the performed number of grafts per patient was higher (2.9 ± 0.5 vs. 2.6 ± 0.6, p-value 0.0001). At 14 years, overall survival, including in-hospital death, was 64 ± 4.7% for the C-OPCAB vs. 55 ± 5.5% for the C-CABG, freedom from overall MACCEs 51 ± 6.2% vs. 41 ± 7.7%, and from late cardiac death 94 ± 2.4% vs. 96 ± 2.2% (p-value not significant, for all comparisons). No significant statistical differences were observed in the actual rates of adverse events during follow-up. Independent predictors of survival were advanced age at operation (p-value 0.001) and a lower mean value of preoperative left ventricular ejection fraction (p-value 0.015). Conclusions: Our single-center study analysis suggests that clampless OPCAB using device-assisted proximal anastomoses proved to be not inferior to double-clamping CABG in the long-term follow-up, provided that involved surgeons are familiar with both techniques. These conclusions are supported by a large and long-term follow-up period, eliminating potential bias, i.e., by means of the propensity score matching and analyzing single-surgeon experience.
Association of Pregestational BMI and Gestational Weight Gain with Maternal and Neonatal Outcomes in Adolescents and Adults from Mexico City
Authors: Sámano Reyna , Chico-Barba Gabriela , Flores-Quijano María Eugenia , Godínez-Martínez Estela , Martínez-Rojano Hugo , Ortiz-Hernandez Luis , Nájera-Medina Oralia , Hernández-Trejo María , Hurtado-Solache Cristopher
Published: December 2021

During pregnancy, adolescents experience physiological changes different from adults because they have not concluded their physical growth. Therefore, maternal and neonatal outcomes may not be the same. This paper aimed to analyze the association between pregestational BMI (pBMI) and gestational weight gain (GWG) with maternal and neonatal outcomes in adolescent and adult pregnant women. The authors performed an observational study that included 1112 women, where 52.6% (n = 585) were adolescents. Sociodemographic information, pBMI, GWG, neonatal anthropometric measures, and maternal and neonatal outcomes were obtained. Adolescent women had a mean lower (21.4 vs. 26.2, p ≤ 0.001) pBMI than adults and a higher gestational weight gain (12.3 vs. 10.7 kg, p ≤ 0.001). According to Poisson regression models, gestational diabetes is positively associated with insufficient GWG and with pregestational obesity. Furthermore, the probability of developing pregnancy-induced hypertension increased with pBMI of obesity compared to normal weight. Preeclampsia, anemia, and preterm birth were not associated with GWG. Insufficient GWG was a risk factor, and being overweight was a protective factor for low birth weight and small for gestational age. We conclude that pBMI, GWG, and age group were associated only with gestational diabetes and low birth weight.
Sorption of SARS-CoV-2 Virus Particles to the Surface of Microplastics Released during Washing Processes
Authors: Belišová Noemi , Konečná Barbora , Bachratá Nikoleta , Ryba Jozef , Potočárová Alena , Tamáš Michal , Phuong Anh Le , Púček Ondrej , Kopáček Juraj , Mackul’ak Tomáš
Published: December 2021

The research aims at washing processes as possible sources of microplastics, specifical microfibers in wastewater, and the behavior of the virus particles SARS-CoV-2 in wastewater after the washing process as well as their ability to sorb to the surface of microfibers, released from washing processes. The conclusions of the research point to the ability of the virus to attach to possible solid impurities such as textile fibers (microfibers) occurring in the sewer and to the ability of wash water to influence their possible occurrence in the sewer. The highest efficiency (more than 99%) of removal virus particles was after washing process, using liquid washing powder, and washing soda. These findings may gradually contribute to a better understanding of the behavior of the virus particles in the sewer.
Perception and Performance of Physical Activity Behavior after Head and Neck Cancer Treatment: Exploration and Integration of Qualitative and Quantitative Findings
Authors: Sealy Martine J. , Stuiver Martijn M. , Midtgaard Julie , van der Schans Cees P. , Roodenburg Jan L. N. , Jager-Wittenaar Harriët
Published: December 2021

Maintaining or increasing physical activity (PA) may prevent loss of muscle mass and strength after completion of head and neck cancer (HNC) treatment. However, the exercise level of HNC patients may not meet PA guidelines. We aimed to explore HNC survivors’ views on PA, their report of PA, and to compare these with objectively measured PA. Combined qualitative and quantitative data of HNC survivors were explored post-treatment. Data from semi-structured interviews, questionnaires, and objective measurements of PA were collected, analyzed, and integrated. This resulted in the identification of five themes related to prioritizing, day-to-day life, intention, positive feelings, and social support, respectively, in nine HNC survivors (male: n = 5; age: 52–67 years). Objectively measured PA levels were sedentary to low. The lack of intention to increase PA may be related to HNC survivors’ perception that their current activity level is sufficient, despite low levels of measured PA. While some participants feel they need no help with PA, others are insecure about possible harms. Healthcare professionals may be able to help improve PA in HNC survivors with a tailored approach that reduces fear of harm and helps to incorporate higher intensity PA in daily activities.
Increased Accessibility to Primary Healthcare Due to Nurse Prescribing of Medicines
Authors: Kilańska Dorota , Lipert Anna , Guzek Marika , Engelseth Per , Marczak Michał , Sienkiewicz Kamila , Kozłowski Remigiusz
Published: December 2021

Since January 2016, nurses and midwives in Poland have had the right, with some restrictions, to prescribe medicines. Consequently, Polish patients received the same opportunity as in other countries worldwide: easier access to certain health services, i.e., medical prescribing. The aim of this study was to assess the impact of structural changes which increased the nurses’ competences on the accessibility to prescription visits for patients receiving primary healthcare on the example of Medical and Diagnostic Centre (MDC), and to discuss the general trend of legal changes in nursing profession regulations. We performed a detailed analysis of the data on the MDC patient population in Siedlce who received at least one prescription written by a general practitioner and/or a nurse/midwife in the years 2017–2019.The largest number of prescription visits made by nurses concerned patients aged 50–70 years, as this age range includes the largest number of patients with chronic diseases who need continued pharmacological treatment originally administered by doctors. An increasing tendency for prescription visits made by nurses was recorded, with a simultaneous downward trend in the same type of visits undertaken by doctors at MDC. Nurses’ involvement in prescribing medications as a continued pharmacotherapy during holiday seasons results in patients having continuous access to medication. An upward trend was also observed in the number of medications prescribed by nurses per patient. Structural changes in the legal regulations of the nursing profession improve patients’ access to prescription visits under primary healthcare. Further research is recommended to evaluate the dynamics of these trends and the impact of newly introduced nursing competences on the accessibility of prescription visits for patients.
FinTech Companies: A Bibliometric Analysis
Authors: Tepe Gencay , Geyikci Umut Burak , Sancak Fatih Mehmet
Published: December 2021

The financial-technology industry has recently attracted the attention of many sectors. The financial-technology industry designs new and unusual technological financial services in many areas. It combines technology with finance and provides an alternative to the traditional financial system. In the scope of this study, 636 publications were obtained from Scopus. Various tools, such as Microsoft Excel for frequency analysis, and VOSviewer for data visualization, were used. The open-source codes used for bibliometric analysis through the R Studio program were developed by the authors and used for citation-metrics analysis. The main aim of this study was to find out the most influential studies and authors and to reveal the distributions and impacts of publications in the FinTech area between 2015 and 2021 from the Scopus database. The results indicate that the most influential journal is Sustainability Switzerland, and the most cited author is Gomber et al. Additionally, Rabbani has the most publications, while China has emerged as the most productive country. On the other hand, this study found that FinTech research clustered in four areas. These areas are computer science, business management, economics, and social sciences. This FinTech study examines financial services, financial access, and financial technology, where FinTech is at the center. It also focuses on cryptocurrency, bitcoin, and smart contracts where the blockchain is at the center. The results reveal a systematic map of existing studies. Further, the study plays a guiding role in future research.
Spatial Patterns of Urban Innovation and Their Evolution from Perspectives of Capacity and Structure: Taking Shenzhen as an Example
Authors: Hu Erjie , Hu Di , He Handong
Published: December 2021

Innovation is a key factor for a country’s overall national strength and core competitiveness. The spatial pattern of innovation reflects the regional differences of innovation development, which can provide guidance for the regional allocation of innovation resources. Most studies on the spatial pattern of innovation are at urban and above spatial scale, but studies at urban internal scale are insufficient. The precision and index of the spatial pattern of innovation in the city needs to be improved. This study proposes to divide spatial units based on geographic coordinates of patents, designs the innovation capability and innovation structure index of a spatial unit and their calculation methods, and then reveals the spatial patterns of innovation and their evolutionary characteristics in Shenzhen during 2000–2018. The results show that: (1) The pattern of innovation capacity of secondary industry exhibited a pronounced spatial spillover effect with a positive spatial correlation. The innovation capacity and innovation structure index of the secondary industry evolved in a similar manner; i.e., they gradually extended from the southwest area to the north over time, forming a tree-like distribution pattern with the central part of the southwest area as the “root” and the northwest and northeast areas as the “canopy”. (2) The pattern of innovation capacity of tertiary industry also had a significant spatial spillover effect with a positive spatial correlation. There were differences between the evolutions of innovation capacity and innovation structure index of tertiary industry. Specifically, its innovation capacity presented a triangular spatial distribution pattern with three groups in the central and eastern parts of the southwest area and the south-eastern part of the northwest area as the vertices, while its innovative structure showed a radial spatial distribution pattern with the southwestern part of the southwest area as the source and a gradually sparse distribution toward the northeast. (3) There were differences between the evolution modes of secondary and tertiary industries. Areas with high innovation capacity in the secondary industry tended to be more balanced, while areas with high innovation capacity in the tertiary industry did not necessarily have a balanced innovation structure. Through the method designed in this paper, the spatial pattern of urban innovation can be more precise and comprehensive revealed, and provide useful references for the development of urban innovation.
Hypothermia Induced by Oxcarbazepine after Transient Forebrain Ischemia Exerts Therapeutic Neuroprotection through Transient Receptor Potential Vanilloid Type 1 and 4 in Gerbils
Authors: Kim Hyung-Il , Lee Jae-Chul , Kim Dae Won , Shin Myoung Cheol , Cho Jun Hwi , Ahn Ji Hyeon , Lim Soon-Sung , Kang Il Jun , Park Joon Ha , Won Moo-Ho , Lee Tae-Kyeong
Published: December 2021

In the present study, we investigated the neuroprotective effect of post-ischemic treatment with oxcarbazepine (OXC; an anticonvulsant compound) against ischemic injury induced by transient forebrain ischemia and its mechanisms in gerbils. Transient ischemia was induced in the forebrain by occlusion of both common carotid arteries for 5 min under normothermic conditions (37 ± 0.2 °C). The ischemic gerbils were treated with vehicle, hypothermia (whole-body cooling; 33.0 ± 0.2 °C), or 200 mg/kg OXC. Post-ischemic treatments with vehicle and hypothermia failed to attenuate and improve, respectively, ischemia-induced hyperactivity and cognitive impairment (decline in spatial and short-term memory). However, post-ischemic treatment with OXC significantly attenuated the hyperactivity and the cognitive impairment, showing that OXC treatment significantly reduced body temperature (to about 33 °C). When the hippocampus was histopathologically examined, pyramidal cells (principal neurons) were dead (lost) in the subfield Cornu Ammonis 1 (CA1) of the gerbils treated with vehicle and hypothermia on Day 4 after ischemia, but these cells were saved in the gerbils treated with OXC. In the gerbils treated with OXC after ischemia, the expression of transient receptor potential vanilloid type 1 (TRPV1; one of the transient receptor potential cation channels) was significantly increased in the CA1 region compared with that in the gerbils treated with vehicle and hypothermia. In brief, our results showed that OXC-induced hypothermia after transient forebrain ischemia effectively protected against ischemia–reperfusion injury through an increase in TRPV1 expression in the gerbil hippocampal CA1 region, indicating that TRPV1 is involved in OXC-induced hypothermia.
Novel Homozygous Missense Variant in GJA3 Connexin Domain Causing Congenital Nuclear and Cortical Cataracts
Authors: Hassan Abdullah Y. , Yousaf Sairah , Levin Moran R. , Saeedi Osamah J. , Riazuddin Saima , Alexander Janet L. , Ahmed Zubair M.
Published: December 2021

Congenital cataracts (CC) are responsible for approximately one-tenth of childhood blindness cases globally. Here, we report an African American family with a recessively inherited form of CC. The proband demonstrated decreased visual acuity and bilateral cataracts, with nuclear and cortical cataracts in the right and left eye, respectively. Exome sequencing revealed a novel homozygous variant (c.563A > G; p.(Asn188Ser)) in GJA3, which was predicted to be pathogenic by structural analysis. Dominantly inherited variants in GJA3 are known to cause numerous types of cataracts in various populations. Our study represents the second case of recessive GJA3 allele, and the first report in African Americans. These results validate GJA3 as a bona fide gene for recessively inherited CC in humans.
Current Immunotherapeutic Strategies Targeting the PD-1/PD-L1 Axis in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer with Oncogenic Driver Mutations
Authors: Tanaka Ichidai , Morise Masahiro
Published: December 2021

Treatment strategies targeting programed cell death 1 (PD-1) or its ligand, PD-L1, have been developed as immunotherapy against tumor progression for various cancer types including non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The recent pivotal clinical trials of immune-checkpoint inhibiters (ICIs) combined with cytotoxic chemotherapy have reshaped therapeutic strategies and established various first-line standard treatments. The therapeutic effects of ICIs in these clinical trials were analyzed according to PD-L1 tumor proportion scores or tumor mutational burden; however, these indicators are insufficient to predict the clinical outcome. Consequently, molecular biological approaches, including multi-omics analyses, have addressed other mechanisms of cancer immune escape and have revealed an association of NSCLC containing specific driver mutations with distinct immune phenotypes. NSCLC has been characterized by driver mutation-defined molecular subsets and the effect of driver mutations on the regulatory mechanism of PD-L1 expression on the tumor itself. In this review, we summarize the results of recent clinical trials of ICIs in advanced NSCLC and the association between driver alterations and distinct immune phenotypes. We further discuss the current clinical issues with a future perspective for the role of precision medicine in NSCLC.