bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Tooth Loss, Denture Use, and Cognitive Impairment in Chinese Older Adults: A Community Cohort Study
Authors: Yang Hai-Lian , Li Fu-Rong , Chen Pei-Liang , Cheng Xin , Mao Chen , Wu Xian-Bo
Published: March 2021

Background

Evidence regarding the associations of tooth loss and denture use with incident cognitive impairment is inconclusive in older adults, and few prospective studies have examined the potential interaction between tooth loss and denture use in these specific populations.

Methods

Data were assessed from 17 079 cognitively normal older adults aged ≥65 years, participating in the Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey. The outcome of interest was cognitive impairment (assessed by the Chinese version of Mini-Mental State Examination). The number of natural teeth and status of denture use were collected by a structural questionnaire.

Results

A total of 6456 cases of cognitive impairment were recorded during 88 627 person-years of follow-up. We found that compared with participants with 20+ teeth, those with 10–19, 1–9, and 0 teeth had increased risks of incident cognitive impairment (p-trend < .001). Participants without dentures also had a higher risk of incident cognitive impairment, compared with those who wore dentures. Effect modification by denture use was observed (p-interaction = .010). Specifically, among those without dentures, the adjusted hazard ratio (95% confidence interval) for participants with 10–19, 1–9, and 0 teeth were 1.19 (1.08, 1.30), 1.28 (1.17, 1.39), and 1.28 (1.16, 1.41), respectively, as compared to those with 20+ teeth. In contrary, among denture users, detrimental effect was only observed among those with 0 teeth (hazard ratio 1.14, 95% confidence interval: 1.16, 1.41).

Conclusions

In Chinese older adults, maintaining 20+ teeth is important for cognitive health; denture use would attenuate the detrimental effects of tooth loss, especially for partial tooth loss, on cognitive impairment.
Correlations of Subjective and Social Well-Being With Sedentary Behavior and Physical Activity in Older Adults—A Population-Based Study
Authors: Chen Shuyun , Calderón-Larrañaga Amaia , Saadeh Marguerita , Dohrn Ing-Mari , Welmer Anna-Karin
Published: March 2021

Background

Subjective and social well-being, avoiding sedentary behavior (SB), and engaging in physical activity (PA) are important factors for health in older adults, but the extent to which they are related to each other remains unclear. We aimed to investigate these correlations, and whether they differ by age.

Method

A cross-sectional study was carried out in 595 people aged 66 years and older, from the Swedish National study on Aging and Care in Kungsholmen. Subjective and social well-being (life satisfaction, positive and negative affect, social connections, social support, and social participation) were assessed through validated questionnaires and activPAL3 accelerometers provided information on SB and PA. Data were analyzed using multi-adjusted quantile regression models.

Results

Higher positive affect was significantly associated with less daily sitting time (β = −27.08, 95% confidence interval [CI]: −47.77, −6.39) and higher levels of light PA (LPA) (β = 40.67, 95% CI: 21.06, 60.28). Higher levels of social support and social participation were associated with less daily sitting time (β = −22.79, 95% CI: −39.97, −5.62; and β = −21.22, 95% CI: −39.99, −2.44) and more time in LPA (β = 23.86, 95% CI: 4.91, 42.81; and β = 25.37, 95% CI: 6.27, 44.47). Stratified analyses suggested that the associations of positive affect and social participation were strongest for individuals aged 80 years and older.

Conclusions

Our results suggest that older adults with higher levels of subjective and social well-being spend less time sitting and engage more in PA. This was especially evident among the oldest-old individuals. Future research should longitudinally investigate the directionality of these correlations.
Experimental Periodontal Disease Triggers Coronary Endothelial Dysfunction in Middle-Aged Rats: Preventive Effect of a Prebiotic β-Glucan
Authors: Silva Grazielle Caroline , Costa Eduardo Damasceno , Lemos Virgínia Soares , Queiroz-Junior Celso Martins , Pereira Luciano José
Published: March 2021

This study was aimed to verify the hypothesis that periodontal disease contributes to endothelial dysfunction in the coronary arteries of middle-aged rats. Besides we evaluated the effects of a prebiotic (β-glucan isolated from Saccharomyces cerevisiae) in preventing vascular dysfunction. The sample comprised young (sham and induced to periodontal disease) and middle-aged rats (sham, periodontal disease, sham-treated and periodontal disease-treated), at 12 and 57 weeks, respectively. The treated-groups received daily doses of β-glucan (50 mg/kg) orally (gavage) for 4 weeks, and periodontal disease was induced in the last 2 weeks by ligature. A myograph system assessed vascular reactivity. The expression of endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS), cyclooxygenase 1 (COX-1), COX-2, p47phox, gp91phox, NF-KB p65, p53, p21, and p16 was quantified by western blotting. Serum hydroperoxide production was measured by the ferrous oxidation–xylenol orange (FOX-2) assay method. Interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β), IL-10, and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) levels were evaluated by spectroscopic ultraviolet-visible analysis. Periodontal disease in middle-aged rats was associated with reduced acetylcholine-induced relaxations of coronary artery rings affecting the endothelium-dependent hyperpolarization- and the nitric oxide-mediated relaxations. The endothelial dysfunction was related to eNOS downregulation, pronounced impairment of the EDH-mediated relaxation, increased IL-1β and TNF-α proinflammatory cytokines, and also upregulation of NADPH oxidase and COXs, starting accumulate aging markers such as p53/p21 and the p16. Treatment with β-glucan effectively reduced bone loss in periodontal disease and delayed endothelial dysfunction in the coronary artery. Our data show that yeast β-glucan ingestion prevented oxidative stress and synthesis of proinflammatory marker and prevented eNOS reduction induced by periodontal disease in middle-aged rats. These results suggest that β-glucan has a beneficial effect on the coronary vascular bed.
Effect of Dietary Protein Intake on Bone Mineral Density and Fracture Incidence in Older Adults in the Health, Aging, and Body Composition Study
Authors: Weaver Ashley A , Tooze Janet A , Cauley Jane A , Bauer Douglas C , Tylavsky Frances A , Kritchevsky Stephen B , Houston Denise K
Published: March 2021

Background

Dietary recommendations may underestimate the protein older adults need for optimal bone health. This study sought to determine associations of protein intake with bone mineral density (BMD) and fracture among community-dwelling White and Black older adults.

Method

Protein as a percentage of total energy intake (TEI) was assessed with a Food Frequency Questionnaire in 2160 older adults (73.5 ± 2.8 years; 51.5% women; 35.8% Black) in the Health, Aging, and Body Composition prospective cohort. Hip, femoral neck, and whole body BMD was assessed by dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry at baseline and 4 years, and lumbar trabecular, cortical, and integral BMD was assessed by computed tomography at baseline and 5 years. Fragility fractures over 5 years were adjudicated from self-report data collected every 6 months. Associations with tertiles of protein intake were assessed using analysis of covariance for BMD and multivariate Cox regression for fracture, adjusting for confounders.

Results

Participants in the upper protein tertile (≥15% TEI) had 1.8%–6.0% higher mean hip and lumbar spine BMD compared to the lower protein tertile (<13% TEI; p < .05). Protein intake did not affect change in BMD at any site over the follow-up period. Participants in the upper protein tertile had a reduced risk of clinical vertebral fracture over 5 years of follow-up (hazard ratio: 0.36 [95% confidence interval: 0.14, 0.97] vs lower protein tertile, p = .04).

Conclusions

Older adults with higher protein intake (≥15% TEI) had higher BMD at the hip, whole body, and lumbar spine, and a lower risk of vertebral fracture.
(The Struggle for) Refugee integration into the labour market: evidence from Europe
Authors: Fasani Francesco , Frattini Tommaso , Minale Luigi
Published: March 2021

We study the labour market performance of refugees vis-à-vis comparable migrants across 20 European countries and over time. In the first part of our analysis, we document that labour market outcomes for refugees are consistently worse than those for other migrants. Refugees are 11.6% less likely to have a job and 22% more likely to be unemployed than other migrants with similar characteristics. Their income, occupational quality and labour market participation are also relatively weaker. These gaps are larger relative to economic than non-economic migrants, and persist until about 10–15 years after immigration. In the second part of our analysis, we investigate the role of economic conditions and migration and asylum policy regimes at the time of arrival in shaping integration paths of refugees. First, we find that immigrating in a recession produces scarring effects for all migrants but no differential effect for forced migrants, leaving little role for this channel to explain observed refugee gaps. Secondly, we focus on the impact on refugees of being subject to spatial dispersal policies. Our estimates imply that dispersed refugees experience a persistent impact on their residential choices and substantial long run losses in their economic integration with respect to non-dispersed refugees.
Sleep Disruption, Fatigue, and Depression as Predictors of 6-Year Clinical Outcomes Following Allogeneic Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation
Authors: Rentscher Kelly E , Carroll Judith E , Juckett Mark B , Coe Christopher L , Broman Aimee T , Rathouz Paul J , Hematti Peiman , Costanzo Erin S
Published: March 2021

Background

Allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) is a widely used treatment for hematologic cancers, with survival rates ranging from 25% to 78%. Known risk factors for chronic graft-versus-host disease (cGVHD), a serious and common long-term complication, disease relapse, and mortality following HCT have been identified, but much of the variability in HCT outcomes is unexplained. Biobehavioral symptoms including depression, sleep disruption, and fatigue are some of the most prevalent and distressing for patients; yet research on biobehavioral risk factors for HCT outcomes is limited. This study evaluated patient-reported depression, sleep disruption, and fatigue as risk factors for cGVHD, disease relapse, and mortality.

Methods

Adults receiving allogeneic HCT for a hematologic malignancy (N = 241) completed self-report measures of depression symptoms, sleep quality, and fatigue (severity, interference) pre-HCT and 100 days post-HCT. Clinical outcomes were monitored for up to 6 years.

Results

Cox proportional hazard models (2-tailed) adjusting for patient demographic and medical characteristics revealed that high pre-HCT sleep disruption (Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index >9; hazard ratio [HR] = 2.74, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.27 to 5.92) and greater post-HCT fatigue interference (HR = 1.32, 95% CI = 1.05 to 1.66) uniquely predicted increased risk of mortality. Moderate pre-HCT sleep disruption (Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index 6-9) predicted increased risk of relapse (HR = 1.99, 95% CI = 1.02 to 3.87). Biobehavioral symptoms did not predict cGVHD incidence.

Conclusions

Biobehavioral symptoms, particularly sleep disruption and fatigue interference, predicted an increased risk for 6-year relapse and mortality after HCT. Because these symptoms are amenable to treatment, they offer specific targets for intervention to improve HCT outcomes.
A comprehensive evaluation of binning methods to recover human gut microbial species from a non-redundant reference gene catalog
Authors: Borderes Marianne , Gasc Cyrielle , Prestat Emmanuel , Galvão Ferrarini Mariana , Vinga Susana , Boucinha Lilia , Sagot Marie-France
Published: March 2021

The human gut microbiota performs functions that are essential for the maintenance of the host physiology. However, characterizing the functioning of microbial communities in relation to the host remains challenging in reference-based metagenomic analyses. Indeed, as taxonomic and functional analyses are performed independently, the link between genes and species remains unclear. Although a first set of species-level bins was built by clustering co-abundant genes, no reference bin set is established on the most used gut microbiota catalog, the Integrated Gene Catalog (IGC). With the aim to identify the best suitable method to group the IGC genes, we benchmarked nine taxonomy-independent binners implementing abundance-based, hybrid and integrative approaches. To this purpose, we designed a simulated non-redundant gene catalog (SGC) and computed adapted assessment metrics. Overall, the best trade-off between the main metrics is reached by an integrative binner. For each approach, we then compared the results of the best-performing binner with our expected community structures and applied the method to the IGC. The three approaches are distinguished by specific advantages, and by inherent or scalability limitations. Hybrid and integrative binners show promising and potentially complementary results but require improvements to be used on the IGC to recover human gut microbial species.
Graphene oxide-based rechargeable respiratory masks
Authors: Figerez Stelbin Peter , Patra Sudeshna , Rajalakshmi G , Narayanan Tharangattu N
Published: March 2021

Respiratory masks having similar standards of ‘N95’, defined by the US National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, will be highly sought after, post the current COVID-19 pandemic. Here, such a low-cost (∼$1/mask) mask design having electrostatic rechargeability and filtration efficiency of >95% with a quality factor of ∼20 kPa−1 is demonstrated. This filtration efficacy is for particles of size 300 nm. The tri-layer mask, named PPDFGO tri, contains nylon, modified polypropylene (PPY), and cotton nonwoven fabrics as three layers. The melt-spun PPY, available in a conventional N95 mask, modified with graphene oxide and polyvinylidene fluoride mixture containing paste using a simple solution casting method acts as active filtration layer. The efficacy of this tri-layer system toward triboelectric rechargeability using small mechanical agitations is demonstrated here. These triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG)-assisted membranes have high electrostatic charge retention capacity (∼1 nC/cm2 after 5 days in ambient condition) and high rechargeability even in very humid conditions (>80% RH). A simple but robust permeability measurement set up is also constructed to test these TENG-based membranes, where a flow rate of 30–35 L/min is maintained during the testing. Such a simple modification to the existing mask designs enabling their rechargeability via external mechanical disturbances, with enhanced usability for single use as well as for reuse with decontantamination, will be highly beneficial in the realm of indispensable personal protective equipment.
Effect of within-litter birth weight variation after cross-fostering on piglet preweaning growth and mortality
Authors: Vande Pol Katherine D , Bautista Rafael O , Harper Heath , Shull Caleb M , Brown Catherine B , Ellis Michael
Published: March 2021

Cross-fostering is commonly used in commercial swine production to equalize litter sizes and/or adjust piglet birth weights within litters. However, there is limited published information on optimum cross-fostering procedures. This study evaluated the effects of within-litter birth weight variation after cross-fostering (using litters of 14 piglets) on piglet preweaning mortality (PWM) and weaning weight (WW). An RCBD was used (blocking factors were day of farrowing and sow parity, body condition score, and functional teat number) with an incomplete factorial arrangement of the following two treatments: 1) birth weight category (BWC): light (<1.0 kg), medium (1.0 to 1.5 kg), or heavy (1.5 to 2.0 kg); 2) litter composition: uniform, all piglets in the litter of the same BWC [uniform light (14 light piglets); uniform medium (14 medium piglets); uniform heavy (14 heavy piglets)]; mixed, piglets in the litter of two or more BWC [L+M (seven light and seven medium piglets); M+H (seven medium and seven heavy piglets); L+M+H (three light, six medium, and five heavy piglets)]. Piglets were weighed at 24 h after birth and randomly allotted to litter composition treatment from within BWC; all piglets were cross-fostered. There were 47 blocks of six litters (total 282 litters and 3,948 piglets). Weaning weights were collected at 18.7 ± 0.64 d of age; all PWM was recorded. Individual piglet WW and PWM data were analyzed using PROC MIXED and PROC GLIMMIX of SAS, respectively; models included fixed effects of BWC, litter composition, and the interaction, and random effects of sow within the block. There was litter composition by BWC interactions (P ≤ 0.05) for WW and PWM. Within each BWC, WW generally increased and PWM generally decreased as littermate weight decreased. For example, WW was greatest (P ≤ 0.05) for light piglets in uniform light litters, for medium piglets in L+M litters, and for heavy piglets in L+M+H litters. Preweaning mortality was lowest (P ≤ 0.05) for medium piglets in L+M litters, and for heavy piglets in L+M+H litters; however, litter composition had no effect (P > 0.05) on PWM of light piglets. In conclusion, increasing the average birth weight of littermates after cross-fostering generally decreased WW and increased PWM for piglets of all birth weight categories. This implies that the optimum approach to cross-fostering that maximizes piglet preweaning growth and survival is likely to vary depending on the birth weight distribution of the population.
Developing a novel diabetes distress e-learning program for diabetes educators: an intervention mapping approach
Authors: Halliday Jennifer A , Speight Jane , Russell-Green Sienna , O Eric , Hagger Virginia , Morris Ann , Sturt Jackie , Hendrieckx Christel
Published: March 2021

Diabetes distress is a common negative emotional response to the ongoing burden of living with diabetes. Elevated diabetes distress is associated with impaired diabetes self-management and quality of life yet rarely identified and addressed in clinical practice. Health professionals report numerous barriers to the provision of care for diabetes distress, including lack of skills and confidence, but few diabetes distress training opportunities exist. The purpose of this paper is to describe how we utilized Intervention Mapping to plan the development, implementation, and evaluation of a novel diabetes distress e-learning program for diabetes educators, to meet a well-documented need and significant gap in diabetes care. A multidisciplinary team (combining expertise in research, health and clinical psychology, diabetes education, nursing, tertiary education, and website architecture) developed a diabetes distress e-learning program. We followed a six-step process (logic model of the problem, program outcomes and objectives, program design, program production, program implementation plan, and evaluation plan) known as Intervention Mapping. The program is underpinned by educational and psychological theory, including Bloom’s Taxonomy of Educational Objectives and social cognitive theory. We developed a short (estimated 4 h) e-learning program for diabetes educators, which draws on the content of the Diabetes and Emotional Health handbook and toolkit. It integrates a 7As model, which provides a stepwise approach to identifying and addressing diabetes distress. Our diabetes distress e-learning program has been developed systematically, guided by an Intervention Mapping approach. In the next phase of the project, we will trial the e-learning.
Neurovascular evidence for a co-occurrence of teeth and baleen in an Oligocene mysticete and the transition to filter-feeding in baleen whales
Authors: Ekdale Eric G , Deméré Thomas A
Published: March 2021

Extant baleen whales (Mysticeti) have a deciduous foetal dentition, but are edentulous at birth. Fossils reveal that the earliest mysticetes possessed an adult dentition. Aetiocetids, a diverse clade of Oligocene toothed mysticetes, have a series of small palatal foramina and associated sulci medial to the postcanine dentition. The openings have been homologized with lateral palatal foramina that transmit neurovascular structures to baleen in extant mysticetes, thereby implying a co-occurrence of teeth and baleen in aetiocetids. However, homology of the foramina and sulci have been questioned. Using CT-imaging, we report that the lateral palatal foramina of Aetiocetus weltoni are connected internally to the superior alveolar canal, which transmits neurovascular structures to baleen in extant mysticetes and to teeth in extant odontocetes. Furthermore, the lateral palatal foramina of Aetiocetus are separate from the more medially positioned canals for the greater palatine arterial system. These results provide critical evidence to support the hypothesis that the superior alveolar neurovasculature was co-opted in aetiocetids and later diverging mysticetes to serve a new function associated with baleen. We evaluate competing hypotheses for the transition from teeth to baleen, and explore the transition from raptorial feeding in early mysticetes to filter-feeding in extant species.
Factors That Influence NICU Health Care Professionals' Decision Making to Implement Family-Centered Care
Authors: Vittner Dorothy , DeMeo Stephen , Vallely Jaxon , Parker Mary , Baxter Anna , McGrath Jacqueline
Published: March 2021

Background:

Neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) is a multifaceted, technology-driven high stress environment for professionals, infants and families.

Purpose:

Examine healthcare professionals' beliefs and perceptions regarding providing FCC within the context of NICU.

Methods:

This exploratory descriptive study used an online-survey format. The survey comprised several instruments including the Perceived Stress Scale, symptoms of burnout subscale from the Professional Quality of Life scale, and the Family Nurse Caring Belief Scale (FNCBS). Demographic and open-ended items were also included.

Results:

Sample consisted of 115 multidisciplinary participants working in a level IV neonatal intensive care unit. Participants report strong levels of FCC beliefs. Participants strongly agreed (82%) or agreed (18%) that no matter how sick the infant is, he or she needs to be treated as an individual. A significant correlation (r=−0.343, P < .001) exists between participant's stress composite score and FNCBS composite score. There were significant relationships between participant's years of experience (F = 5.35, P < .002) and education levels (F = 2.60, P < .05) and higher FNCBS composite scores. There were also significant relationships between participant's years of experience (F = 4.77, P < .004) and education (F = 2.89, P < .039) with higher Perceived Stress Scale composite scores.

Implications for Practice:

Results suggest that while participants agreed that FCC is important, they also believed that inadequate staffing and inappropriate assignments may lead to rationing of care.

Implications for Research:

Further research is needed to explore factors that lead to rationing of FCC.
Assessment of Cs-137, Am-241, and Cf-252 in Well Logging
Authors: Shhub Abdu Naser
Published: March 2021

This paper assesses radiation exposures resulting from 137Cs, 241Am, and 252Cf during well logging incidents. Based on a hypothetical rupture incident, the computer code RESRAD-OFFSITE is run for both offsite and onsite exposure locations. The absorbed doses are compared among three radioactive sources. The adverse health and environmental impact of 241Am is higher than the impact from the other two radioactive sources (137Cs and 252Cf) due to its relatively long half-life and radioactive progeny. The serious impact of 241Am will appear many years after its abandonment depending on its initial activity in the soil. For offsite, the highest maximum dose is due to 241Am (6.18 mSv y−1), which is more than 22 times the maximum doses from 137Cs and 252Cf. For onsite, the highest maximum doses are due to 241Am (121 mSv y−1), which is more than twice the maximum doses from 137Cs and 252Cf. For offsite and onsite, the dominant pathway for 137Cs is direct radiation from soil, the dominant pathway for 241Am is drinking water followed by plant ingestion, and the dominant pathway for 252Cf is direct radiation from soil. Doses from 137Cs and 252Cf are mainly impacted by the contamination on the surface. For 241Am, the opposite is true. Americium-241 doses are mainly impacted by the contamination below the surface. Based on these findings, the exposure impact for replacing an 241Am neutron source for well logging with 252Cf is assessed.
Distraction Osteogenesis Plus Permanent Rigid Fixation for Mandibular Deformities in Nongrowing Patients: A Comparative Study
Authors: Mahmood Barakat Abdelreheem
Published: March 2021

Distraction osteogenesis (DO) is a commonly used intervention of mandibular deformities. However, relapse of the newly constructed mandible is a significant concern. The present comparative study aimed to investigate use of rigid fixation in addition to DO in management of mandibular deformities. The present study included 20 patients with mandibular deformities indicated for DO. The study comprised 10 patients who agreed to perform rigid fixation (DO + RF) and other 10 patients who refused to perform the additional procedure (DO). All patients were subjected to standard mandibular DO. In patients subjected to additional RF with plate and screws, on the last day of distraction, the distractor is removed in the theatre under general anesthesia. Then by an intraoral incision on the previous scar, the distracted part is explored and the plate is applied in the lower part of the mandible to avoid destruction of the teeth roots. All patients are subjected to close observation and radiological evaluation for the appearance of any complication, signs of relapse at the intervals of 1 week and 6 months and 1 year. At the end of follow-up, 2 patients in the DO + RF group relapsed while all patients in the DO only group relapsed (P < 0.001). The relapsed distance was significantly greater in the DO group [(median (range): 0.3 (0.1–1.3) versus 0.0 (0.0–0.2), P ≤ 0.001]. DO + RF provided significantly lower rate and distance of relapse in nongrowing patients with mandibular deformities.
Impact of a Telephone Intervention on Bowel Preparation Quality for Colonoscopy in the Elderly
Authors: Hu Chun-Jiu , Jiang Lin-Yan , Sun Lin-Yin , Hu Chun-Yan , Shi Ke-Mei , Bao Zhen-Fei , Zhou Feng , Xu Lei , Wang Wei-Hong
Published: March 2021

Bowel preparation is the basis of colonoscopy, and adequate bowel preparation is essential to the success of colonoscopy. Studies have been reported that telephone intervention can improve the quality of bowel preparation, while it remains unclear regarding effectiveness with the elderly. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of telephone intervention on the quality of bowel preparation for colonoscopy in elderly outpatients. In total, 162 outpatients older than 65 years were enrolled and randomly divided into a control group and a study group. Patients in the study group were re-educated through telephone by a specific nurse 2 days before colonoscopy, whereas participants in the control group received education only on the day of appointment. The Ottawa score was used to evaluate the quality of bowel preparation between the two groups. In this study, no significant differences were observed in age, gender, body mass index, educational level, smoking and/or alcohol drinking, waiting time to colonoscopy, reasons for colonoscopy, and colonoscopic findings between the control group and the study group. Participants in the study group had higher adequate bowel preparation and compliance than the control group (83.1% vs. 59.5%, p = .03; 96.4% vs. 74.7%, p < .001). Univariate analysis showed that only noncompliance with start time was significantly associated with satisfactory bowel preparation in elderly patients. In conclusion, telephone intervention 2 days before colonoscopy can improve the quality of bowel preparation in the elderly.
Scent dog identification of SARS-CoV-2 infections, similar across different body fluids
Authors: Jendrny Paula , Twele Friederike , Meller Sebastian , Schulz Claudia , von Köckritz-Blickwede Maren , Osterhaus Ab , Ebbers Hans , Ebbers Janek , Pilchová Veronika , Pink Isabell , Welte Tobias , Manns Michael Peter , Fathi Anahita , Addo Marylyn Martina , Ernst Christiane , Schäfer Wencke , Engels Michael , Petrov Anja , Marquart Katharina , Schotte Ulrich , Schalke Esther , Volk Holger Andreas
Published: March 2021

Background

The main strategy to contain the current SARS-CoV-2 pandemic remains to implement a comprehensive testing, tracing and quarantining strategy until vaccination of the population is adequate.

Methods

Ten dogs were trained to detect SARS-CoV-2 infections in beta-propiolactone inactivated saliva samples. The subsequent cognitive transfer performance for the recognition of non-inactivated samples were tested on saliva, urine, and sweat in a randomised, double-blind controlled study.

Results

Dogs were tested on a total of 5242 randomised sample presentations. Dogs detected non-inactivated saliva samples with a diagnostic sensitivity of 84% and specificity of 95%. In a subsequent experiment to compare the scent recognition between the three non-inactivated body fluids, diagnostic sensitivity and specificity were 95% and 98% for urine, 91% and 94% for sweat, 82%, and 96% for saliva respectively.

Conclusions

The scent cognitive transfer performance between inactivated and non-inactivated samples as well as between different sample materials indicates that global, specific SARS-CoV-2-associated volatile compounds are released across different body secretions, independently from the patient’s symptoms.

Funding

The project was funded as a special research project of the German Armed Forces. The funding source DZIF-Fasttrack 1.921 provided us with means for biosampling.
Microchannel patterning strategies forin vitrostructural connectivity modulation of neural networks
Authors: Maisonneuve B. G. C. , Vieira J. , Larramendy F. , Honegger T.
Published: March 2021

Compartmentalized microfluidic chips have demonstrated tremendous potential to createin vitrominimalistic environments for the reproduction of the neural circuitry of the brain. Although the protocol for seeding neural soma in these devices is well known and has been widely used in myriad studies, the accurate control of the number of neurites passing through the microchannels remains challenging. However, the regulation of axonal density among different groups of neurons is still a requirement to assess the inherent structural connectivity between neuronal populations. In this work, we report the effect of microchannel patterning strategies on the modulation of neuronal connectivity by applying dimensional modifications on microchannel-connected microfluidic chambers. Our results show that those strategies can modulate the direction and the number of neuronal projections of passage, therefore regulating the strength of the structural connections between two populations of neurons. With this approach, we provide innovative microfluidic design rules for the engineering ofin vitrophysiologically relevant neural networks.
Subclinical myocardial injury and cardiovascular mortality: Racial differences in prevalence and risk (from the third National Health and Nutrition Examination survey)
Authors: Broughton Stephen T. , Ahmad Muhammad , Soliman Elsayed Z. , Magnani Jared W.
Published: March 2021

Background

Subclinical myocardial injury (SCMI) determined from the Electrocardiographic Cardiac Infarction/Injury Score (CIIS) is associated with increased risk of cardiovascular disease and mortality. We hypothesized that SCMI prevalence and association with mortality would differ by race, categorized as non‐Hispanic White (White), non‐Hispanic Black (Black), and Mexican American.

Methods

Our analysis included 5,852 participants (age 58.5 ± 13.2 years; 54% women, 52% Whites, 23% Blacks, and 25% Mexican American participants) from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES III, 1988–94) who were free of cardiovascular disease at the time of enrollment. SCMI was defined as the presence of CIIS ≥ 10 score points on the 12‐lead ECG. Prevalence of SCMI and its association with cardiovascular mortality were examined in each race/ethnic group in models adjusted for sociodemographics and common cardiovascular risk factors.

Results

SCMI prevalence was 23.4% in Whites, 21.8% in Blacks, and 18.0% in Mexican Americans. Compared to Whites, Blacks were as likely to have SCMI (odds ratio [OR] 0.95, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.80–1.13), while Mexican Americans were less likely (OR 0.74, 95% CI 0.62–0.88). SCMI was not associated with increased risk of cardiovascular mortality in either Whites (hazard ratio [HR] 1.18, 95% CI 0.95–1.48) or Blacks (HR 1.19, 95% CI 0.79–1.80). In contrast, SCMI in Mexican Americans was associated with increased risk of cardiovascular mortality (HR 1.74, 95% CI 1.13–2.67, p < .05).

Conclusion

Mexican Americans had a lower prevalence of SCMI, but increased risk of cardiovascular mortality. Screening for SCMI may identify individuals at increased risk and improve targeted prevention efforts.
Whole‐body diffusion‐weighted magnetic resonance imaging: Diagnosis and follow up of prostate cancer and beyond
Authors: Yoshida Soichiro , Takahara Taro , Arita Yuki , Sakaino Shinjiro , Katahira Kazuhiro , Fujii Yasuhisa
Published: March 2021

The diffusion‐weighted imaging signal is derived from the motion of water molecules. It represents the physiological characteristics of tissue and is an essential imaging sequence for prostate cancer. Whole‐body diffusion‐weighted imaging facilitates the assessment of pathological conditions throughout the body. The concept of diffusion‐weighted whole‐body imaging with background body signal suppression and technological advances has led to routine clinical deployment of whole‐body diffusion‐weighted imaging as a one‐step staging tool for prostate cancer. Furthermore, whole‐body diffusion‐weighted imaging has the potential to reveal the state of osseous lesions, for which conventional imaging techniques are suboptimal for monitoring the response to therapy, and extraosseous lesions, and holds promise as a new imaging‐based therapeutic approach. This article reviews the basics of whole‐body diffusion‐weighted imaging, and focuses on application of whole‐body diffusion‐weighted imaging in the clinical management of prostate cancer at various stages in the course of the disease.
Horizontal transmission of Piscirickettsia salmonis from the wild sub‐Antarctic notothenioid fish Eleginops maclovinus to rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) under experimental conditions
Authors: Quintanilla Juan Carlos , González Margarita P. , García Juan Pablo , Olmos Paola , Contreras‐Lynch Sergio
Published: March 2021

Piscirickettsia salmonis is the aetiological agent of piscirickettsiosis, a bacterial disease that affects farmed salmonids, causing high mortalities and significant economic losses in the Chilean salmon farm industry. Given the Chilean native fish species Patagonian blenny, Eleginops maclovinus, lives in the vicinity of salmon farms, it is relevant to clarify the epidemiological role that this species could play in the transmission and/or dissemination of this pathogen. This study aimed to evaluate the bidirectional transmission of P. salmonis between the Patagonian blenny and Oncorhynchus mykiss (rainbow trout), via a cohabitation challenge model. The results of this study demonstrated the transmission of the bacteria from Patagonian blennies to rainbow trout, considering the specific mortality in cohabitant rainbow trout, reaching 46%: the necropsy of these specimens, evidencing the characteristic pathological lesions of the disease and the positive results of the qPCR analysis for P. salmonis, in the same individuals. In contrast, no mortalities of Patagonian blenny specimens were recorded in the challenged experimental groups. This study is the first report showing the horizontal transmission of P. salmonis from a native non‐salmonid species, such as the Patagonian blenny, to a salmonid species, generating the disease and specific mortality in rainbow trout, using a cohabitation challenge.
Is obesity a manifestation of systemic racism? A ten‐point strategy for study and intervention
Authors: Aaron D.G. , Stanford F.C.
Published: March 2021

In the recent past, there has been rising attention to systemic racism. The ensuing discussions have largely focused on COVID‐19 and policing. Despite long‐standing disparities in obesity across racial and ethnic groups and obesity’s important role in COVID‐19 disparities, there has been minimal attention to whether obesity itself could be a manifestation of systemic racism. Nor has there been serious policy attention dedicated to alleviating obesity and its disproportionate burden on BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color). We discuss whether obesity’s disproportionate harms to BIPOC may be attributed to systemic racism, and we provide a ten‐point strategy for studying and solving the core public health issues at the intersection of obesity and systemic racism.
Applying the CRPD to People With Intellectual and Developmental Disability With Behaviors of Concern During COVID‐19
Authors: Nankervis Karen , Chan Jeffrey
Published: March 2021

People with intellectual and developmental disability (IDD) are a vulnerable population in all aspects of access and participation, abuse and neglect, and being subject to the use of restrictive practices. Accordingly, they are a group whose human rights can be impacted where equal access to supports, services, and accessible information is compromised. The current COVID‐19 pandemic is a global humanitarian emergency that has had a devastating impact across the world, for all people. Growing concern has been raised about the impact of the COVID‐19 virus on the health of people with disabilities and there has been subsequent development of strategies and protocols to promote equal access to information, health supports, and services. People with IDD have high levels of underlying comorbidity that increases their risk of contracting COVID‐19 and measures to protect them from infection are critically important. However, those measures may trigger behaviors of concern and increase the risk of being subjected to restrictive practices. While some attention has been paid to the health impacts of COVID‐19 on people with disabilities, there has been less paid to the impact on the human rights of people with IDD who present with behaviors of concern. The aim of this paper is to provide a hypothetical exploration of the impacts of pandemic prevention measures on people with IDD and behaviors of concern in the context of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD). In the absence of available guidance for working with people with IDD with behaviors of concern during COVID‐19, we suggest behavior support response plans that aim to ensure that people with IDD with behaviors of concern are supported properly in a time of significant disruption for them, thereby safeguarding their human rights.
An Approach to Integrate Product and Process Design Using Augmented Liaison Diagram, Assembly Sequencing, and Assembly Line Balancing
Authors: Takai Shun
Published: March 2021

Concurrent engineering is a product development approach in which engineers simultaneously design products and processes to improve customer satisfaction, enhance product quality, and reduce product costs. While various design methodologies have been proposed to support concurrent engineering, development of a systematic methodology that comprehensively integrates product and process design is still an ongoing research need. Traditional design for assembly (DFA) has been extended to concurrently design subassemblies and assembly sequences; however, the optimum assembly sequence depends on the efficiency of the assembly line and how assembly tasks are assigned to workstations without causing extensive idle time. This study extends past approaches in the concurrent design of products and processes by integrating assembly line balancing, assembly line design, and sensitivity analysis of assembly line design in addition to assembly line sequencing. In particular, this study proposes an approach to simultaneously design products and processes by integrating (1) a liaison diagram augmented with additional information on the type of liaisons (e.g., screw fixing, snap fitting, or contacting) to find stable subassemblies and corresponding assembly tasks, (2) assembly sequencing to generate all feasible assembly sequences that satisfy requirements for stable subassembly, (3) assembly line balancing to identify all possible assignments of tasks to workstations and to find corresponding cycle times and utilization, (4) assembly line designs that include the types and number of assembly lines for each product design, and (5) sensitivity analysis to evaluate the robustness of the assembly line design.
When Machine Learning Meets Privacy
Authors: Liu Bo , Ding Ming , Shaham Sina , Rahayu Wenny , Farokhi Farhad , Lin Zihuai
Published: March 2021

The newly emerged machine learning (e.g., deep learning) methods have become a strong driving force to revolutionize a wide range of industries, such as smart healthcare, financial technology, and surveillance systems. Meanwhile, privacy has emerged as a big concern in this machine learning-based artificial intelligence era. It is important to note that the problem of privacy preservation in the context of machine learning is quite different from that in traditional data privacy protection, as machine learning can act as both friend and foe. Currently, the work on the preservation of privacy and machine learning are still in an infancy stage, as most existing solutions only focus on privacy problems during the machine learning process. Therefore, a comprehensive study on the privacy preservation problems and machine learning is required. This article surveys the state of the art in privacy issues and solutions for machine learning. The survey covers three categories of interactions between privacy and machine learning: (i) private machine learning, (ii) machine learning-aided privacy protection, and (iii) machine learning-based privacy attack and corresponding protection schemes. The current research progress in each category is reviewed and the key challenges are identified. Finally, based on our in-depth analysis of the area of privacy and machine learning, we point out future research directions in this field.
On the Exact Analysis of an Idealized Quantum Switch
Authors: Vardoyan Gayane , Guha Saikat , Nain Philippe , Towsley Don
Published: March 2021

Protocols that exploit quantum communication technology offer two advantages: they can either extend or render feasible the capabilities of their classical counterparts, or they exhibit functionality entirely unachievable through classical means alone. For an example of the former, quantum key distribution protocols such as E91 [2] and BBM92 [1] can in principle yield information-theoretic security by using entanglement to generate secure key bits. These raw secret key bits can then be distilled into a one-time pad to encode messages sent between two parties. For an example of the latter, distributed quantum sensing frameworks such as [3] and [11] employ entanglement to overcome the standard quantum limit [4].
Fair Caching Networks
Authors: Liu Yuezhou , Li Yuanyuan , Ma Qian , Ioannidis Stratis , Yeh Edmund
Published: March 2021

We study fair content allocation strategies in caching networks through a utility-driven framework, where each request achieves a utility of its caching gain rate. The resulting problem is NP-hard. Submodularity allows us to devise a deterministic allocation strategy with an optimality guarantee factor arbitrarily close to 1-1/e. When 0 < α ≤ 1, we further propose a randomized strategy that attains an improved optimality guarantee, (1 - 1/e)1-α, in expectation. Through extensive simulations over synthetic and real-world network topologies, we evaluate the performance of our proposed strategies and discuss the effect of fairness.
RealWear
Authors: Kim Myungsuk , Chun Myoungjun , Hong Duwon , Kim Yoona , Cho Geonhee , Lee Dusol , Kim Jihong
Published: March 2021

NAND flash memory has revolutionized how we manage data in modern digital systems, significant improvements are needed in flash-based storage systems to meet the requirements of emerging data-intensive applications. In this paper, we address the problem of NAND aging markers that represent the wearing degree of NAND cells. Since all flash operations are affected by the wearing status of NAND cells, an accurate NAND aging marker is critical to develop flash optimization techniques. From our evaluation study, we first show that the existing P/E cyclebased aging marker (PeWear) is inadequate to estimate the actual aging status of NAND blocks, thus losing opportunities for further optimizations. To overcome the limitations of PeWear, we propose a new NAND aging marker, RealWear, based on extensive characterization studies using real 3D TLC flash chips. By considering multiple variables that can affect the NAND cell wear, RealWear can accurately indicate the actual wear status of NAND blocks during run time. Using three case studies, we demonstrate that RealWear is effective in enhancing the lifetime and performance of a flash storage system. Our experimental results showed that RealWear can extend the lifetime of individual NAND blocks by 63% and can reduce the GC overhead by 21%. Furthermore, RealWear significantly mitigates read latency fluctuations, guaranteeing that the read latency can be bounded with at most 2 read retry operations.