bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Health-Related Quality of Life by Gulf War Illness Case Status
Authors: Gifford Elizabeth J. , Boyle Stephen H. , Vahey Jacqueline , Sims Kellie J. , Efird Jimmy T. , Chesnut Blair , Stafford Crystal , Upchurch Julie , Williams Christina D. , Helmer Drew A. , Hauser Elizabeth R.
Published: April 2022

This study examines how health-related quality of life (HRQOL) and related indices vary by Gulf War illness (GWI) case status. The study population included veterans from the Gulf War Era Cohort and Biorepository (n = 1116). Outcomes were physical and mental health from the Veterans RAND 12 and depression, post-traumatic stress (PTSD), sleep disturbance, and pain. Kansas (KS) and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) GWI definitions were used. Kansas GWI derived subtypes included GWI (met symptom criteria; no exclusionary conditions (KS GWI: Sym+/Dx−)) and those without GWI: KS noncase (1): Sym+/Dx+, KS noncase (2): Sym−/Dx+, and noncase (3): Sym−/Dx−. CDC-derived subtypes included CDC GWI severe, CDC GWI mild-to-moderate and CDC noncases. Case status and outcomes were examined using multivariable regression adjusted for sociodemographic and military-related characteristics. Logistic regression analysis was used to examine associations between GWI case status and binary measures for depression, PTSD, and severe pain. The KS GWI: Sym+/Dx− and KS noncase (1): Sym+/Dx+ groups had worse mental and physical HRQOL outcomes than veterans in the KS noncase (2): Sym−/Dx+ and KS noncase (3): Sym−/Dx− groups (ps < 0.001). Individuals who met the CDC GWI severe criteria had worse mental and physical HRQOL outcomes than those meeting the CDC GWI mild-to-moderate or CDC noncases (ps < 0.001). For other outcomes, results followed a similar pattern. Relative to the less symptomatic comparison subtypes, veterans who met the Kansas symptom criteria, regardless of exclusionary conditions, and those who met the CDC GWI severe criteria experienced lower HRQOL and higher rates of depression, PTSD, and severe pain.
The Effect of Employee Competency and Organizational Culture on Employees’ Perceived Stress for Better Workplace
Authors: Kim Jina , Jung Hye-Sun
Published: April 2022

Although the meaningful relationship between organizational culture and employee performance is a widely-researched topic, there is scant research available how organizational culture impacts on employees’ perceived stress in the workplace, affecting their performance. This might cause a difficulty to guide practitioners as to what organizational elements can be applied to reduce employee perceived stress. To add the level of robustness and fill the gap in the literature, the present research explores the effect of organizational culture with employee competency on workers’ perceived stress which has emerged as a common occupational disease and affected employees psychologically and physically; thus, affecting their performance. Using 641 responses, the statistical findings of the present research insists that HR practitioners should match the type of organizational culture and employee competency situationally to reduce employee stress. The current authors suggest that organizations desiring the adaptability competencies (Professional competency) for their employees should build a clan organizational culture. In contrast, organizations should encourage a market organizational culture for their employees who possess customer orientation competency (Simply result-oriented competency). The research outcomes provide additional knowledge to the existing literature, enhance academicians’ understanding of the research topic, and serve as a significant knowledge base for further empirical research.
The Determinants of Vaccine Literacy in the Italian Population: Results from the Health Literacy Survey 2019
Authors: Cadeddu Chiara , Regazzi Luca , Bonaccorsi Guglielmo , Rosano Aldo , Unim Brigid , Griebler Robert , Link Thomas , De Castro Paola , D’Elia Roberto , Mastrilli Valeria , Palmieri Luigi
Published: April 2022

Vaccines are among the most important public health achievements of the last century; however, vaccine awareness and uptake still face significant challenges and the COVID-19 pandemic has only exacerbated this phenomenon. Vaccine Literacy (VL) is the ability to find, understand and judge immunisation-related information to make appropriate immunisation decisions. A cross-sectional study on a sample of 3500 participants, representative of the Italian adult population aged 18+ years, was conducted in Italy in 2021. A validated questionnaire, including sections on health literacy (HL), sociodemographic characteristics, risk factors, and lifestyles of respondents, was used. VL was measured by four items (item 19, 22, 26 and 29) of the HL section. While 67.6% of the respondents had a “good” (47.5%) or “sufficient” (20.1%) level of VL, 32.4% had “limited” VL levels. Although the overall VL level was quite high, many participants reported difficulties in dealing with vaccination information, particularly those with a lower educational level, those living in southern and insular regions of Italy, those with greater financial deprivation and those with a migration background. Improving VL in Italy should be a top priority in the political agenda, with special regard to socially and geographically disadvantaged communities.
Laugh before You Study: Does Watching Funny Videos before Study Facilitate Learning?
Authors: Wang Mengke , Chen Zengzhao
Published: April 2022

Emotions exist widely in the entire process of learning and affect students’ motivation as well as academic performance. In multimedia learning, academics usually focus on the impact of teachers’ emotions or the emotional design of multimedia learning materials on students’ emotions and learning results. Few studies have investigated how to enhance learning by regulating students’ pre-learning emotions. This study focused on whether playing funny videos before learning could promote students’ positive emotions to enhance their motivation, satisfaction, and learning outcomes. We randomly divided 81 elementary school students into two groups: experimental group and control group. While the experimental group watched funny video clips, the control group watched neutral video clips before starting the video learning. The experimental group had more positive pre-learning emotions than the control group. After the course, the emotion of the experimental group declined while that of the control group enhanced. However, positive pre-learning emotions still promoted students’ understanding and transfer of learning materials. Moreover, no significant differences were observed between the two groups in learning motivation, satisfaction, and retention tests. Furthermore, this paper analyzed the causes of the experimental results and discussed the insights for teaching.
Survey on Psychological Well-Being and Quality of Life in Visually Impaired Individuals: Dancesport vs. Other Sound Input-Based Sports
Authors: Carretti Giuditta , Mirandola Daniela , Sgambati Eleonora , Manetti Mirko , Marini Mirca
Published: April 2022

Sport practice has the widely demonstrated potential of promoting well-being and physical/mental health, especially in disabled individuals. Nowadays, visually impaired people can participate in several sports commonly adapted and played substituting visual input with auditory or tactile ones. By integrating movement and music, dance can simultaneously promote physical and emotional involvement and enhances vicarious sense recruitment. On these premises, we performed a survey to assess the psychological well-being (PWB) and quality of life (QoL) in visually impaired athletes, comparing dancesport vs other sound input-based sports. Twenty-one visually impaired dancers and twenty-seven visually impaired athletes practicing adapted baseball, showdown, blind futsal, or blind tennis completed a structured self-report survey including the Italian version of PWB-18 scale and the Short Form-12 (SF-12) questionnaire. Dancers reported significantly higher scores in PWB-18 autonomy, environmental mastery, and self-acceptance along with a higher PWB total score than the other athlete group. Similarly, the SF-12 questionnaire results demonstrated significantly higher scores in both physical and mental QoL of visually impaired dancers compared with other athletes. In conclusion, our findings suggest that, given its peculiarities, the practice of dancesport may have a stronger positive impact on PWB and QoL of visually impaired individuals than other sound input-based sports.
The Associations between Caregivers’ Emotional and Instrumental Feeding, Children’s Emotional Eating, and Children’s Consumption of Ultra-Processed Foods in China
Authors: An Meijing , Liu Xiyao , Guo Hao , Zhou Qianling
Published: April 2022

High consumption of ultra-processed foods (UPF) increases the risks of non-communicable diseases and all-cause mortality in adulthood, and the risk of early childhood caries. Limited evidence about factors influencing children’s consumption of UPF exists. This study was conducted to assess the prevalence of UPF consumption among children less than three years of age, and identify its associations with caregivers’ emotional and instrumental feeding, and children’s emotional eating. A cross-sectional study was conducted in Shijiazhuang, Hebei Province, China. Caregivers caring for children aged 6–36 months (n = 408) were recruited. Caregivers’ emotional and instrumental feeding practices and children’s emotional eating were assessed by the Parents’ Feeding Practices Scale for Infant and Young Child and Children’s Eating Behaviour Questionnaire, respectively. Children’s UPF consumption was assessed by a validated Food Frequency Questionnaire. Of the children, 86.8% consumed UPF. The highest percentage of UPF consumed was pastries (63.5%), followed by solid or semi-solid dairy products (58.8%), and reconstituted meat products (56.4%). Caregivers’ emotional and instrumental feeding was positively associated with children’s consumption of UPF (OR = 1.59, 95%CI: 1.01, 2.49), a higher frequency of UPF consumption weekly (OR = 1.80, 95%CI: 1.35, 2.39), and a larger amount of UPF consumption weekly (OR = 1.85, 95% CI: 1.38, 2.49). Children’s higher frequency of emotional undereating was associated with their UPF consumption (OR = 1.61, 95%CI: 1.07, 2.42) and a higher frequency of UPF consumption weekly (OR = 1.33, 95%CI: 1.03, 1.73). Children’s emotional undereating significantly mediated the associations between caregivers’ emotional and instrumental feeding and children’s consumption of reconstituted meat products. Caregivers should be educated to avoid emotional and instrumental feeding practices, and cultivate children’s good eating habits to improve children’s diet quality.
Optimization Strategy for Parks and Green Spaces in Shenyang City: Improving the Supply Quality and Accessibility
Authors: Wu Wen , Ding Kewei
Published: April 2022

In this study, we evaluated the supply quality of parks and green spaces within the Third Ring Road area in Shenyang city by combining a landscape pattern index analysis with a principal component analysis. Moreover, a network analysis based on the ArcGIS platform was used to measure the accessibility of parks and green spaces. The research results showed that the overall supply quality of parks and green spaces (−9.55) must be improved. The supply quality levels of the four analyzed park types could be ranked as follows: garden parks (118.00) > community parks (73.67) > comprehensive parks (−16.64) > specific parks (−32.17). Among the analyzed recreation parks, the accessibility of daily recreation parks was poor, while the overall service efficiency of weekly recreation parks was better, except in a few regions. These research results can provide suggestions for future green space planning in Shenyang city. In addition, from the perspective of landscape patterns, studying the service quality of parks and green spaces can provide new ideas for further research on accessibility.
Abundant Species Diversity and Essential Functions of Bacterial Communities Associated with Dinoflagellates as Revealed from Metabarcoding Sequencing for Laboratory-Raised Clonal Cultures
Authors: Deng Yunyan , Wang Kui , Hu Zhangxi , Tang Ying-Zhong
Published: April 2022

Interactions between algae and bacteria represent an important inter-organism association in aquatic environments, which often have cascading bottom-up influences on ecosystem-scale processes. Despite the increasing recognition of linkages between bacterioplankton and dynamics of dinoflagellate blooms in the field, knowledge about the forms and functions of dinoflagellate-bacteria associations remains elusive, mainly due to the ephemeral and variable conditions in the field. In this study, we characterized the bacterial community associated with laboratory cultures of 144 harmful algal strains, including 130 dinoflagellates (covering all major taxonomic orders of dinoflagellates) and 14 non-dinoflagellates, via high-throughput sequencing for 16S rRNA gene amplicons. A total of 4577 features belonging to bacteria kingdom comprising of 24 phyla, 55 classes, 134 orders, 273 families, 716 genera, and 1104 species were recovered from the algal culture collection, and 3 phyla (Proteobacteria, Bacteroidetes, and Firmicutes) were universally present in all the culture samples. Bacterial communities in dinoflagellates cultures exhibited remarkable conservation across different algal strains, which were dominated by a relatively small number of taxa, most notably the γ-proteobacteria Methylophaga, Marinobacter and Alteromonas. Although the bacterial community composition between dinoflagellates and non-dinoflagellate groups did not show significant difference in general, dinoflagellates harbored a large number of unique features (up to 3811) with relatively low individual abundance and enriched in the potential methylotrophs Methylophaga. While the bacterial assemblages associated with thecate and athecate dinoflagellates displayed no general difference in species composition and functional groups, athecate dinoflagellates appeared to accommodate more aerobic cellulolytic members of Actinobacteria, implying a more possible reliance on cellulose utilization as energy source. The extensive co-occurrence discovered here implied that the relationships between these algal species and the bacterial consortia could be viewed as either bilaterally beneficial (i.e., mutualism) or unilaterally beneficial at least to one party but virtually harmless to the other party (i.e., commensalism), whereas both scenarios support a long-term and stable co-existence rather than an exclusion of one or the other. Our results demonstrated that dinoflagellates-associated bacterial communities were similar in composition, with enrichment of potential uncultured methylotrophs to one-carbon compounds. This work enriches the knowledge about the fundamental functions of bacteria consortia associated with the phycospheres of dinoflagellates and other HABs-forming microalgae.
Ecological Risk Assessment of Trace Metal in Pacific Sector of Arctic Ocean and Bering Strait Surface Sediments
Authors: Wang Juan , Gough William A. , Yan Jing , Lu Zhibo
Published: April 2022

The arctic region is a remote area with relatively few anthropogenic inputs, but there is increasing concern over toxic trace metal contamination in the Arctic Ocean. In this study, distribution characteristics of eight trace metals in the surface sediment of the Pacific Sector of the Arctic Ocean and Bering Strait are analyzed. The geochemical baseline value of each metal element is explored using the relative cumulative frequency curve method; the enrichment factor (EF), geo-accumulation index (Igeo) and potential ecological risk index (RI) are applied to assess the ecological risk level of the trace metals. According to the results, Cu, As and Hg had a little more content variation, and their contents in some areas were significantly higher than the previous reports. EF values show an obvious enrichment of element As, followed by Cr element with the moderate enrichment; the enrichment of the other six elements are not related to human activity. The Igeo value shows a moderately contaminated to heavily contaminated level of As and a moderately contaminated level of Cr. According to the potential ecological risk indexes in each site, most sites are at a low ecological risk level except five sites with RI/baseline values exceeding 150 which are at a moderate ecological risk level.
A Case Study about Joining Databases for the Assessment of Exposures to Noise and Ototoxic Substances in Occupational Settings
Authors: Clerc Frédéric , Pouyatos Benoit
Published: April 2022

Evaluating risks associated with multiple occupational exposures is no easy task, especially when chemical and physical nuisances are combined. In most countries, public institutions have created databases, which gather extensive information on occupational exposures or work-related diseases. Unfortunately, these tools rarely integrate medical and exposure information, and, above all, do not take into account the possible adverse effects of co-exposures. Therefore, an attempt to exploit and join different existing databases for the assessment of the health effects of multiple exposures is described herein. This case study examines three French databases describing exposures to noise and/or ototoxic chemicals (i.e., toxic to the ear) and the incidence rate of occupational deafness in different sectors. The goals were (1) to highlight occupational sectors where the workers are the most (co)exposed and (2) to determine whether this approach could confirm the experimental data showing that this co-exposure increases the risk of developing hearing loss. The results present data per occupational sector exposing workers to noise only, ototoxic chemicals only, noise and ototoxic chemicals, and neither of these two nuisances. The ten sectors in which the proportion of exposed workers is the highest are listed. This analysis shows that the rate of hearing loss in these sectors is high but does not show an increased incidence of hearing loss in co-exposed sectors.
Advances in Cancer Metabolism and Tumour Microenvironment
Authors: Smetana Karel , Masařík Michal
Published: April 2022

Cancer represents an extremely complicated ecosystem where cancer cells communicate with non-cancer cells present in the tumour niche through intercellular contacts, paracrine production of bioactive factors and extracellular vesicles, such as exosomes [...]
Phytoglobin Expression Alters the Na+/K+ Balance and Antioxidant Responses in Soybean Plants Exposed to Na2SO4
Authors: Youssef Mohamed S. , Mira Mohammed M. , Renault Sylvie , Hill Robert D. , Stasolla Claudio
Published: April 2022

Soybean (Glycine max) is an economically important crop which is very susceptible to salt stress. Tolerance to Na2SO4 stress was evaluated in soybean plants overexpressing or suppressing the phytoglobin GmPgb1. Salt stress depressed several gas exchange parameters, including the photosynthetic rate, caused leaf damage, and reduced the water content and dry weights. Lower expression of respiratory burst oxidase homologs (RBOHB and D), as well as enhanced antioxidant activity, resulting from GmPgb1 overexpression, limited ROS-induced damage in salt-stressed leaf tissue. The leaves also exhibited higher activities of the H2O2-quenching enzymes, catalase (CAT) and ascorbate peroxidase (APX), as well as enhanced levels of ascorbic acid. Relative to WT and GmPgb1-suppressing plants, overexpression of GmPgb1 attenuated the accumulation of foliar Na+ and exhibited a lower Na+/K+ ratio. These changes were attributed to the induction of the Na+ efflux transporter SALT OVERLY SENSITIVE 1 (SOS1) limiting Na+ intake and transport and the inward rectifying K+ channel POTASSIUM TRANSPORTER 1 (AKT1) required for the maintenance of the Na+/K+ balance.
QSAR, Docking, and Molecular Dynamics Simulation Studies of Sigmacidins as Antimicrobials against Streptococci
Authors: Ye Jiqing , Yang Xiao , Ma Cong
Published: April 2022

Streptococci are a family of bacterial species significantly affecting human health. In addition, environmental Streptococci represent one of the major causes of diverse livestock diseases. Due to antimicrobial resistance, there is an urgent need for novel antimicrobial agent discovery against Streptococci. We discovered a class of benzoic acid derivatives named sigmacidins inhibiting the bacterial RNA polymerase-σ factor interaction and demonstrating excellent antimicrobial activity against Streptococci. In this work, a combinational computer approach was applied to gain insight into the structural basis and mechanism of action of sigmacidins as antimicrobials against Streptococcus pneumoniae. Both two- and three-dimensional quantitative structure-active relationships (2D and 3D QSAR) of sigmacidins displayed good predictive ability. Moreover, molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulation studies disclosed possible contacts between the inhibitors and the protein. The results obtained in this study provided understanding and new directions to the further optimizations of sigmacidins as novel antimicrobials.
Naturally-Sourced Antibacterial Polymeric Nanomaterials with Special Reference to Modified Polymer Variants
Authors: Rofeal Marian , Abdelmalek Fady , Steinbüchel Alexander
Published: April 2022

Despite the recent advancements in treating bacterial infections, antibiotic resistance (AR) is still an emerging issue. However, polymeric nanocarriers have offered unconventional solutions owing to their capability of exposing more functional groups, high encapsulation efficiency (EE) and having sustained delivery. Natural polymeric nanomaterials (NMs) are contemplated one of the most powerful strategies in drug delivery (DD) in terms of their safety, biodegradability with almost no side effects. Every nanostructure is tailored to enhance the system functionality. For example, cost-effective copper NPs could be generated in situ in cellulose sheets, demonstrating powerful antibacterial prospects for food safety sector. Dendrimers also have the capacity for peptide encapsulation, protecting them from proteolytic digestion for prolonged half life span. On the other hand, the demerits of naturally sourced polymers still stand against their capacities in DD. Hence, Post-synthetic modification of natural polymers could play a provital role in yielding new hybrids while retaining their biodegradability, which could be suitable for building novel super structures for DD platforms. This is the first review presenting the contribution of natural polymers in the fabrication of eight polymeric NMs including particulate nanodelivery and nanofabrics with antibacterial and antibiofilm prospects, referring to modified polymer derivatives to explore their full potential for obtaining sustainable DD products.
Engineered Glycosidases for the Synthesis of Analogs of Human Milk Oligosaccharides
Authors: Nekvasilová Pavlína , Hovorková Michaela , Mészáros Zuzana , Petrásková Lucie , Pelantová Helena , Křen Vladimír , Slámová Kristýna , Bojarová Pavla
Published: April 2022

Enzymatic synthesis is an elegant biocompatible approach to complex compounds such as human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs). These compounds are vital for healthy neonatal development with a positive impact on the immune system. Although HMOs may be prepared by glycosyltransferases, this pathway is often complicated by the high price of sugar nucleotides, stringent substrate specificity, and low enzyme stability. Engineered glycosidases (EC 3.2.1) represent a good synthetic alternative, especially if variations in the substrate structure are desired. Site-directed mutagenesis can improve the synthetic process with higher yields and/or increased reaction selectivity. So far, the synthesis of human milk oligosaccharides by glycosidases has mostly been limited to analytical reactions with mass spectrometry detection. The present work reveals the potential of a library of engineered glycosidases in the preparative synthesis of three tetrasaccharides derived from lacto-N-tetraose (Galβ4GlcNAcβ3Galβ4Glc), employing sequential cascade reactions catalyzed by β3-N-acetylhexosaminidase BbhI from Bifidobacterium bifidum, β4-galactosidase BgaD-B from Bacillus circulans, β4-N-acetylgalactosaminidase from Talaromyces flavus, and β3-galactosynthase BgaC from B. circulans. The reaction products were isolated and structurally characterized. This work expands the insight into the multi-step catalysis by glycosidases and shows the path to modified derivatives of complex carbohydrates that cannot be prepared by standard glycosyltransferase methods.
IDeS (Industrial Design Structure) Method Applied to the Automotive Design Framework: Two Sports Cars with Shared Platform
Authors: Frizziero Leonardo , Leon-Cardenas Christian , Colasurdo Gabriele , Vicaretti Alessandro , Liverani Alfredo
Published: April 2022

The present study was set to validate two different suburban-type sportscar bodies with shared common underpinnings. The chosen method to develop this project was the Industrial Design Structure (IDeS), which characterizes the ability to use the different innovative techniques known within the industrial field, across the whole organization. This method is embodied by following a series of structured analysis tools, such as QFD (Quality Function Deployment), Benchmarking (BM), Top-Flop analysis (TFA), Stylistic Design Engineering (SDE), Prototyping, Testing, Budgeting and Planning. This project aims to study the present-day car market and to foresee deployment in the near future. This attempt was confirmed by delivering the complete styling and technical feasibility characteristics of two different sports cars, obtained by the IDeS methodology. This approach of embodying design together with phases of product development would provide a better engineered, target-oriented product, that uses state-of-the-art style and CAD environments to reduce product development time and, hence, overall Time to Market (TTM).
Diversity of Child and Family Characteristics of Children with Hearing Loss in Family-Centered Early Intervention in The Netherlands
Authors: van der Zee Rosanne B. , Dirks Evelien
Published: April 2022

Background: Family-centered early intervention (FCEI) for children with hearing loss (HL) supports caregivers to promote their children’s language development. To provide FCEI services that are relevant and accessible to meet diverse needs, insight into the characteristics of children with HL is important. In the current study, various characteristics of children with HL and intervention-related factors are examined in relation to spoken language outcomes. Methods: Child and family characteristics, language outcomes and data on intervention were extracted from FCEI records for 83 children. Family involvement ratings were obtained from EI providers. Relations between characteristics, intervention, family involvement and language outcomes were analyzed and predictors for children’s language outcomes were investigated. Results: The characteristics of children with HL in FCEI are very diverse. Family involvement and the occurrence of additional disabilities were predictive for children’s receptive and expressive language abilities; the start of FCEI was not. Maternal education was predictive for expressive language outcomes only. Conclusions: The current study showed the diversity in characteristics of children with HL and their families in the degree of HL, etiology, cultural background, home language, family involvement and additional disabilities. We conclude that ’one size does not fit all’, and FCEI programs should acknowledge the unique strengths and challenges of every individual family.
Old and New Drugs for Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia: Lights and Shadows of Real-World Evidence
Authors: Marchetti Monia , Vitale Candida , Rigolin Gian Matteo , Vasile Alessandra , Visentin Andrea , Scarfò Lydia , Coscia Marta , Cuneo Antonio
Published: April 2022

Several novel treatments for chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) have been recently approved based on the results of randomized clinical trials. However, real-world evidence (RWE) is also requested before and after drug authorization in order to confirm safety and to provide data for health technology assessments. We conducted a scoping review of the available RWE for targeted treatments of CLL, namely ibrutinib, acalabrutinib, idelalisib, and venetoclax, as well as for chemoimmunotherapy (CIT). In particular, we searched studies published since 1 January 2010 and reported outcomes of the above treatments based on health databases, registries, or phase IV studies, including named-patient programs. We included both full papers and abstracts of studies presented at major meetings. Overall, 110 studies were selected and analyzed: 28,880 patients were treated with ibrutinib, 1424 with idelalisib, 751 with venetoclax, 496 with acalabrutinib, and 14,896 with CIT. Reported discontinuation rates were higher than in clinical trials, while effectiveness could not be indirectly compared with clinical trials since a detailed case mix, including cytogenetic risk factors, was partially available and propensity scores rarely applied. RWE on CLL can help to set realistic outcomes with novel treatments, however, real-world studies should be fostered, and available data shared.
Association of Increased Vascular Stiffness with Cardiovascular Death and Heart Failure Episodes Following Intervention on Symptomatic Degenerative Aortic Stenosis
Authors: Baran Jakub , Kablak-Ziembicka Anna , Kleczynski Pawel , Alfieri Ottavio , Niewiara Łukasz , Badacz Rafał , Pieniazek Piotr , Legutko Jacek , Zmudka Krzysztof , Przewlocki Tadeusz , Podolec Jakub
Published: April 2022

Background. The resistive (RI) and pulsatile (PI) indices are markers of vascular stiffness (VS) which are associated with outcomes in patients with cardiovascular disease. We aimed to assess whether VS might predict incidence of cardiovascular death (CVD) and heart failure (HF) episodes following intervention on degenerative aortic valve stenosis (DAS). Methods. The distribution of increased VS (RI ≥ 0.7 and PI ≥ 1.3) from supra-aortic arteries was assessed in patients with symptomatic DAS who underwent aortic valve replacement (AVR, n = 127) or transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI, n = 119). During a 3-year follow-up period (FU), incidences of composite endpoint (CVD and HF) were recorded. Results. Increased VS was found in 100% of TAVI patients with adverse event vs. 88.9% event-free TAVI patients (p = 0.116), and in 93.3% of AVR patients with event vs. 70.5% event-free (p = 0.061). Kaplan–Mayer free-survival curves at 1-year and 3-year FU were 90.5% vs. 97.1 % and 78% vs. 97.1% for patients with increased vs. lower VS. (p = 0.014). In univariate Cox analysis, elevated VS (HR 7.97, p = 0.04) and age (HR 1.05, p = 0.024) were associated with risk of adverse outcomes; however, both failed in Cox multivariable analysis. Conclusions. Vascular stiffness is associated with outcome after DAS intervention. However, it cannot be used as an independent outcome predictor.
Prognostic Markers of Ocrelizumab Effectiveness in Multiple Sclerosis: A Real World Observational Multicenter Study
Authors: Lanzillo Roberta , Carotenuto Antonio , Signoriello Elisabetta , Iodice Rosa , Miele Giuseppina , Bisecco Alvino , Maniscalco Giorgia Teresa , Sinisi Leonardo , Romano Felice , Di Gregorio Maria , Lavorgna Luigi , Trojsi Francesca , Moccia Marcello , Fratta Mario , Capasso Nicola , Dubbioso Raffaele , Petracca Maria , Spiezia Antonio Luca , Gallo Antonio , Petruzzo Martina , De Angelis Marcello , Bonavita Simona , Lus Giacomo , Tedeschi Gioacchino , Brescia Morra Vincenzo
Published: April 2022

Pivotal trials showed the effectiveness of the monoclonal antibody ocrelizumab in relapsing and progressive multiple sclerosis (MS). However, data on everyday practice in MS patients and markers of treatment effectiveness are scarce. We aimed to collect real-world data from ocrelizumab-treated MS patients, relapsing-remitting (RR) and progressive MS patients (PMS), including active secondary progressive MS (aSPMS) and primary progressive MS (PPMS) patients, and to explore potential prognostic factors of clinical outcome. Patients were enrolled at MS centres in the Campania region, Italy. We collected clinic-demographic features retrospectively one year before ocrelizumab start (T−1), at ocrelizumab start (T0), and after one year from ocrelizumab start (T1). We explored possible clinical markers of treatment effectiveness in those patients receiving ocrelizumab treatment for at least one year using multilevel-mixed models. We included a total of 383 MS patients (89 RRMS and 294 PMS; 205 females, mean age: 45.8 ± 11.2, disease duration: 12.7 ± 11.6 years). Patients had a mean follow-up of 12.4 ± 8.2 months, and 217 patients completed one-year ocrelizumab treatment. Overall, EDSS increased from T−1 to T0 (coeff. = 0.30, 95% coefficient interval [CI] = 0.19–0.41, p < 0.001) without a further change between T0 and T1 (p = 0.61). RRMS patients did not show an EDSS change between T−1 and T0 nor between T0 and T1. Conversely, PMS patients showed EDSS increase from T−1 to T0 (coeff. = 0.34, 95% CI = 0.22–0.45, p < 0.001) without a further change between T0 and T1 (p = 0.21). PMS patients with a time from conversion shorter than 2 years showed increased EDSS from T−1 to T0 (coeff. = 0.63, 95% CI = 0.18–1.08, p = 0.006) without a further change between T0 and T1 (p = 0.94), whereas PMS patients with a time from conversion longer than 2 years showed increased EDSS from T0 to T1 (coeff. = 0.30, 95% CI = 0.11–0.49, p = 0.002). Naïve patients showed an EDSS decrease between T0 and T1 (coeff. = −0.30, 95% CI = −0.50–−0.09, p = 0.004). In conclusion, our study highlighted that early ocrelizumab treatment is effective in modifying the disability accrual in MS patients.
Perioperative Supplemental Oxygen and Postoperative Copeptin Concentrations in Cardiac-Risk Patients Undergoing Major Abdominal Surgery—A Secondary Analysis of a Randomized Clinical Trial
Authors: Taschner Alexander , Kabon Barbara , Graf Alexandra , Adamowitsch Nikolas , Falkner von Sonnenburg Markus , Fraunschiel Melanie , Horvath Katharina , Fleischmann Edith , Reiterer Christian
Published: April 2022

Noncardiac surgery is associated with hemodynamic perturbations, fluid shifts and hypoxic events, causing stress responses. Copeptin is used to assess endogenous stress and predict myocardial injury. Myocardial injury is common after noncardiac surgery, and is often caused by myocardial oxygen demand-and-supply mismatch. In this secondary analysis, we included 173 patients at risk for cardiovascular complications undergoing moderate- to high-risk major abdominal surgery. Patients were randomly assigned to receive 80% or 30% oxygen throughout surgery and the first two postoperative hours. We evaluated the effect of supplemental oxygen on postoperative Copeptin concentrations. Copeptin concentrations were measured preoperatively, within two hours after surgery, on the first and third postoperative days. In total, 85 patients received 0.8 FiO2, and 88 patients received 0.3 FiO2. There was no significant difference in postoperative Copeptin concentrations between both study groups (p = 0.446). Copeptin increased significantly within two hours after surgery, compared with baseline in the overall study population (estimated effect: −241.7 pmol·L−1; 95% CI −264.4, −219.1; p < 0.001). Supplemental oxygen did not significantly attenuate postoperative Copeptin release. Copeptin concentrations showed a more immediate postoperative increase compared with previously established biomarkers. Nevertheless, Copeptin concentrations did not surpass Troponin T in early determination of patients at risk for developing myocardial injury after noncardiac surgery.
Carotid Artery Stenting in Patients with Symptomatic and Asymptomatic Stenosis: In-Hospital Clinical Outcomes at a Single Neurovascular Center
Authors: Hajiyev Kamran , Hellstern Victoria , Cimpoca Alexandru , Wendl Christina , Bäzner Hansjörg , Henkes Hans , von Gottberg Philipp
Published: April 2022

Background: Carotid artery stenting (CAS) is a minimally invasive and proven percutaneous procedure that is widely used to treat patients with symptomatic and asymptomatic carotid artery stenosis. The purpose of this study was to characterize the in-hospital outcomes of symptomatic and asymptomatic patients undergoing CAS at a single neurovascular center. Methods: The study was conducted as a retrospective analysis of 1158 patients (asymptomatic, n = 636; symptomatic, n = 522; male, n = 816; median age, 71 years; NASCET method, 70–99% stenosis, n = 830) who underwent CAS between May 2009 and December 2020. In-hospital neurological outcomes, adverse reactions to iodinated contrast media, acute myocardial infarction, intraprocedural complications, and access-site issues were evaluated. The primary endpoints were disabling stroke (including disabling cerebral hyperperfusion syndrome [CHS]) and all in-hospital deaths. Results: A carotid stent could not be deployed in one patient due to calcified plaques (technical failure rate of 0.09%). Four patients (0.3%) experienced in-hospital, stroke-associated death, while five patients (0.4%) died from non-stroke-related causes. All stroke-associated deaths occurred in the symptomatic group and were due to CHS. The disabling stroke rate was 0.9% overall (n = 10; 0.5% versus 1.3% in asymptomatic versus symptomatic patients, respectively). Nineteen patients (1.6%) reached the in-hospital primary endpoint. More patients in the symptomatic group achieved this endpoint than in the asymptomatic group (2.5% versus 0.9%, respectively; p = 0.060). Conclusions: An evaluation was conducted on the in-hospital outcomes of 1158 patients at a single center who underwent CAS and was performed by trained physicians who were supervised by a senior neurovascular interventionist with over 20 years of experience, confirming the excellent safety profile of this procedure with a low rate of complications.
A Hybrid Method for 3D Reconstruction of MR Images
Authors: Lechelek Loubna , Horna Sebastien , Zrour Rita , Naudin Mathieu , Guillevin Carole
Published: April 2022

Three-dimensional surface reconstruction is a well-known task in medical imaging. In procedures for intervention or radiation treatment planning, the generated models should be accurate and reflect the natural appearance. Traditional methods for this task, such as Marching Cubes, use smoothing post processing to reduce staircase artifacts from mesh generation and exhibit the natural look. However, smoothing algorithms often reduce the quality and degrade the accuracy. Other methods, such as MPU implicits, based on adaptive implicit functions, inherently produce smooth 3D models. However, the integration in the implicit functions of both smoothness and accuracy of the shape approximation may impact the precision of the reconstruction. Having these limitations in mind, we propose a hybrid method for 3D reconstruction of MR images. This method is based on a parallel Marching Cubes algorithm called Flying Edges (FE) and Multi-level Partition of Unity (MPU) implicits. We aim to combine the robustness of the Marching Cubes algorithm with the smooth implicit curve tracking enabled by the use of implicit models in order to provide higher geometry precision. Towards this end, the regions that closely fit to the segmentation data, and thus regions that are not impacted by reconstruction issues, are first extracted from both methods. These regions are then merged and used to reconstruct the final model. Experimental studies were performed on a number of MRI datasets, providing images and error statistics generated from our results. The results obtained show that our method reduces the geometric errors of the reconstructed surfaces when compared to the MPU and FE approaches, producing a more accurate 3D reconstruction.
Fungal Richness of Cytospora Species Associated with Willow Canker Disease in China
Authors: Lin Lu , Pan Meng , Tian Chengming , Fan Xinlei
Published: April 2022

Species of Cytospora are considered important plant pathogens of a wide range of plant hosts, especially Salicaceae plants. Salix (Salicaceae, Malpighiales) has been widely cultivated in China because of its strong ecological adaptability, fast growth, and easy reproduction. In this study, a total of eight species of Cytospora were discovered on Salix in China, including C. ailanthicola, C. alba, C. chrysosperma, C. gigaspora, C. nivea, C. paracinnamomea, C. rostrata, and C. sophoriopsis. Among them, C. alba and C. paracinnamomea were identified as novel species based on morphology and phylogenetic analyses of ITS, act, rpb2, tef1-α, and tub2 gene sequences and were confirmed as pathogens of willow canker disease by pathogenicity tests. The mycelial growth rates of strains from these two novel species (C. alba and C. paracinnamomea) had optimum temperatures of 21 to 22 °C and an optimum pH value of 5 to 6. The effectiveness of six carbon sources on the mycelial growth showed that fructose and maltose had the highest influence. Cytospora species richness was significantly positively correlated with dry and wet areas. This study represents a significant evaluation of Cytospora associated with willow canker disease in China and provides a theoretical basis for predicting the potential risk of willow canker disease.
THEORETICAL FUNDAMENTALS OF FORMATION OF PROFESSIONAL COMPETENCIES OF FOOTBALL COACHES IN UKRAINE
Authors: SVIERTNIEV O.
Published: April 2022

The article considers the theoretical foundations of the formation of professional competencies of football coaches in Ukraine, as a basis for their professional growth and competitiveness in the labor market.The modern normative-legal provision of the field of physical culture and sports is studied and the positions of specialists are defined. The classifier of professions and their qualification characteristics as a basic component of training a coach (coach-teacher) in the field of higher education reform are analyzed. The basic competencies of bachelor and master of specialty 017 Physical culture and sports are substantiated.It is proved that the professional competence of a football coach is a basic and system-forming concept and is considered as a system of knowledge, skills and personal qualities that correspond to the content of his professional activity.Modern aspects of the implementation of educational programs in the system of coaching education of the Ukrainian Football Association are highlighted. The peculiarities of the organization and holding of advanced training courses for football coaching staff in regional federations are studied.The basic components of the process of training and retraining of football coaches that ensure the formation of professional competencies in the system of coaching education of the Ukrainian Football Association are identified.
ORGANIZATIONAL AND MANAGEMENT WORK OF SCIENTISTTEACHER P SHEVCHENKO
Authors: KOVALENKO I.
Published: April 2022

The importance of taking into account the positive achievements of domestic pedagogy for the development of modern education, especially in the context of intensification of the process of decentralization of local government. The purpose of the article was to highlight the pedagogical experience of P I Shevchenko, former rector of Kryvyi Rih State Pedagogical University, as head of the city (Kryvyi Rih) Department of Public Education from August 1965 to October 1979, to study the longevity of previous management ideas and theories as a methodological guide for modern education managers. Leading research methods: analysis and generalization of archival material, problem and retrospective analysis. The study of documentary sources of the Dnieper Regional State Archive (Kryvyi Rih City Executive Committee Department), which contains material from P I Shevchenko’s reports at city meetings of Kryvyi Rih school principals, identified a range of issues that were of priority importance in the organizational and managerial work of the scientist-teacher. It was revealed that during his work P. Shevchenko solved the issues of development of educational infrastructure of the whole city and adjacent districts, ensuring sustainable functioning of schools, preschool, out-of-school, vocational educational institutions of the city and adjacent districts.Within his official powers, P. Shevchenko also took care of preschool institutions, demanded to pay attention to the caloric content and variety of baby food, compliance with sanitary and hygienic norms in the institution, timely repairs in kindergartens, improvement of playgrounds and more. The regional peculiarities of the city, which were characterized by the rapid development of metallurgical production, required systematic career guidance work, to which, first of all, the lessons of labor training were directed. The articulation of these issues before the educators of the city was leading in the activities of P. Shevchenko in the late 70’s of the twentieth century.The appeal to the documents that left the imprint of P. Shevchenko’s organizational and managerial work as the head of the city department of public education proves the consistent implementation in his managerial activity of the idea of combining study and work, the idea that is now called dual education. In his work, P. Shevchenko was guided by the then decisions of party institutions, but the priority in his work was a personal interest in solving the problems of that time, which was manifested in his ability to form strategic goals and determine the algorithm of priority actions for their implementation. It is proved that P. Shevchenko’s activity was concentrated around the problems of the educational branch of the city, pedagogical collectives, apprentices, which were considered as a guarantee of successful social and economic development of the state.
TRAINING INSTITUTIONS FOR TEACHERS OF PRIMARY CLASSES OF POLTAVA REGION OF THE END OF XIX EARLY XX CENTURIES
Authors: SAVCHENKO S. , DEMUS Ya.
Published: April 2022

The article deals with the activity of teacher training institutions of Poltava region, features of their activity and foundation, characterizes the organization of the educational process. Emphasis is placed on the role of zemstvos in the activities of these educational institutions. In the second half of the 19th century, much attention was paid to the training of public school teachers. Public organizations (zemstvos, societies) and, in contrast to the previous time, the Ministry of Public Education played an important role. Thus, in 1865 in each educational district (except Kyiv) “at one of the county schools…, at the discretion of the trustee,… before the establishment in the future… special teacher’s seminaries” were established pedagogical courses. A year later their number doubled Kyiv educational district since 1862 at the University of St. Vladimir there was a “pedagogical school for the training of teachers of folk schools in the south-western provinces”). Teachers’ seminaries are secondary pedagogical educational institutions for the training of teachers of public primary schools. They had a 3- and 4-year course of study.Young people at least 16 years old of all classes and religions were admitted after passing the entrance exams according to the program of two-grade primary schools. Preparatory classes were opened for entrants. Maintained at the expense of state and zemstvo funds. Taught: the law of God, Russian and Church Slavonic languages, arithmetic, geometry, Russian and general history and geography, science, drawing, calligraphy, basics of pedagogy, gymnastics, singing, music, pedagogical practical classes, handicrafts. Extracurricular activities were practiced. Teachers were graduates of universities, teachers’ institutes, gymnasiums.