bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Identifying Stuttering in Arabic Speakers Who Stutter: Development of a Non-word Repetition Task and Preliminary Results
Authors: Alsulaiman Roaa , Harris John , Bamaas Sarah , Howell Peter
Published: March 2022

Stuttering and other conditions that affect speech fluency need to be identified at an early age in order that effective interventions can be given before the problems becomes chronic. This applies in countries where several languages are spoken including those in which English and Arabic are both widely used which calls for assessment procedures that work across these languages. The ‘universal' non-word repetition task (UNWR) has been established as an effective screening tool for discriminating between children who stutter (CWS) and children with word-finding difficulty for a number of languages. However, the UNWR does not apply to languages such as Arabic and Spanish. The present study aimed to: (1) introduce an Arabic English NWR (AEN_NWR); which was developed based on the same phonologically informed approach used with UNWR; (2) present preliminary non-word repetition data from Arabic-speaking CWS and adults who stutter (AWS). The AEN_NWR items comprises twenty-seven non-words that meet lexical phonology constraints across Arabic and English. The set of items includes non-words of two, three and four syllables in length. Preliminary non-word repetition data were collected from ten CWS between the ages of 6;5 and 16;7 (Mage = 12:1) and fourteen AWS between the ages of 19;2 and 31;0 (Mage = 24). Participants performed the non-word repetition task and provided a sample of spontaneous speech. The spontaneous speech samples were used to estimate %stuttered syllables (%SS). To validate that AEN_NWR performance provides an alternative way of assessing stuttering, a significant correlation was predicted between %SS and AEN_NWR performance. Also, word length should affect repetition accuracy of AEN_NWR. As predicted, there was a significant negative correlation between the AEN_NWR and %SS scores (r (25) = −0.5), p < 0.000). Overall, CWS were less accurate in their repetition than AWS at all syllable lengths. The AEN_NWR provides a new assessment tool for detecting stuttering in speaker of Arabic and English. Future studies would benefit from a larger sample of participants, and by testing a population-based sample. These studies would allow further investigation of the AEN_NWR as a screening measure for stuttering in preschool children.
Association Between Neonatal Arrhythmia and Mortality and Recurrence: A Retrospective Study
Authors: Ran Lihong , Li Jie , Bao Lei , Chen Long
Published: March 2022

Objective

The aim of the present study was to explore the association between neonatal arrhythmia (NA) and mortality and recurrence.

Methods

A single-center, retrospective study was performed between January 1, 2015, and December 31, 2019. Neonates with NA were eligible and divided into either benign or non-benign groups. The primary outcomes were mortality and recurrence within 2 to 6 years.

Results

NA was diagnosed in 189 patients (0.39%) after screening 47,911 hospitalized neonates, and 10 of them did not finish the follow-up. Finally, 179 neonates were included into the final analysis (58 in the non-benign NA and 121 in the benign NA groups). The incidences of death and recurrence for NA were 5.59% (10/179) and 18.44% (33/179). Compared with neonates with benign NA, those neonates with non-benign NA were shown higher rates of death (13.79% vs. 1.65%; odds ratio [OR], 5.73; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.07–31.01; p = 0.04) and recurrence (44.83% vs. 5.79%; OR, 8.49; 95% CI, 3.12–23.08; p < 0.001).

Conclusions

Neonates with non-benign NA were shown higher rates of death and recurrence when compared with benign NA. Because of high recurrence, more attention was needed in neonates with non-benign NA after discharge.
Erythema and Induration of Bacillus Calmette-Guérin Scar Associated With Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children in Japan: A Case Report
Authors: Tsuboya Naoki , Makino Hirotoshi , Mitani Yoshihide , Ito Michiko , Ohya Kazunobu , Morimoto Mari , Hanaki Ryo , Yodoya Noriko , Ohashi Hiroyuki , Sawada Hirofumi , Sugiyama Kenji , Hirayama Masahiro
Published: March 2022

Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children (MIS-C) is a rare febrile disorder with multisystem organ involvement temporally associated with coronavirus 2019 infection (COVID-19) and frequently exhibits features mimicking Kawasaki disease (KD), another febrile disorder in children. The pathogenesis and the full clinical spectrum of MIS-C is poorly understood: It is still unclear whether MIS-C and KD are different syndromes or represent a common spectrum. The erythema and induration of Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) scar is one of the characteristic findings of KD, and is useful for the diagnosis in countries where BCG vaccination is mandated in infancy. Furthermore, such findings in BCG scar were also reported after SARS-CoV-2 vaccination, which may be related to molecular mimicry. However, there are no reports of changes at the BCG scar in MIS-C cases. Here, we report a case of MIS-C in a 3-year-old Hispanic boy in Japan, with erythema and induration at the BCG scar. The patient received BCG vaccination at 16 months of age in Japan. Four weeks before the onset, he had positive polymerase chain reaction (PCR) results for SARS-CoV-2 following household outbreak, although he was asymptomatic. He presented with fever and gastrointestinal symptoms, followed by the appearance of all six principal findings of complete KD. He exhibited congestive heart failure, following intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) therapy. He was diagnosed with MIS-C based on characteristic mucocutaneous and gastrointestinal symptoms, decreased cardiac function, and coagulopathy, in addition to laboratory data consistent with MIS-C. The BCG finding was present from the early stage of the disease. The patient was refractory to two doses of IVIGs, and the third IVIG plus prednisolone resulted in defervescence and improvement in heart failure. No coronary involvement was observed. This is the first case of erythema and induration at the BCG scar associated with MIS-C accompanied by KD features, which may give clinical and mechanistic insights in the understanding of the disease. Since the full spectrum of MIS-C is still evolving and both of them are syndromes with overlapped clinical features, further studies are warranted for deep phenotyping of MIS-C with KD features relative to KD in countries with mandatory BCG programs in infancy.
Atypical Neurological Manifestation in Childhood Microscopic Polyangiitis: A Case Report and Review of Literature
Authors: Suksai Preawkalaya , Wasuanankun Suphawe , Lekhavat Vitit , Sirimongkolchaiyakul Ornatcha , Tangcheewinsirikul Sirikarn
Published: March 2022

Microscopic polyangiitis (MPA), a systemic necrotizing vasculitis of small vessels, is primarily associated with necrotizing and crescentic glomerulonephritis and pulmonary capillaritis. Neurological involvement, particularly of the central nervous system (CNS) is scarcely observed. The diversity of CNS symptoms could puzzle the diagnosis causing delays in treatment and potentially having a considerable effect on patient's quality of life or even death. The aim of this case report is to highlight the unusual manifestation of MPA in order to raise awareness of this orphaned disease among pediatricians or even pediatric rheumatologists and neurologists.

Case Report

Herein we report the case of a 13-year-old Thai girl diagnosed with MPA presented with rapidly progressive glomerulonephritis (RPGN). Renal biopsy was performed demonstrated crescentic glomerulonephritis with negative immunofluorescence and positive titer of myeloperoxidase (MPO) antibody. Pulse methylprednisolone (MP) and cyclophosphamide (CYC) as well as plasmapheresis were initiated. Despite treatment with prednisolone (45 mg/day) and monthly CYC for two doses, she experienced a brief generalized tonic–clonic seizure during the follow-up period. The potential differential diagnosis of new-onset neurological manifestation contains infection owing to the immunocompromised status of the patient and CNS vasculitis as a result of the disease itself. Lumbar puncture was performed, and cerebrospinal fluid analysis demonstrated pleocytosis with negative infectious panel. Contrast magnetic resonance imaging studies of the brain showed multifocal patchy T2/FLAIR-hyperintense lesions in the cerebral as well as cerebellum regions, and irregular narrowing along the V4 segment of the right vertebral artery was demonstrated in magnetic resonance angiography. In the presence of CNS vasculitis, pulse MP and CYC were provided. The symptom of nervous system has progressively improved.

Conclusion

In our case, MPA revealed RPGN with neurological manifestation. Despite the fact that it is scarcely reported, CNS vasculitis is one of the organ-threatening symptoms. To improve patient morbidity and mortality, multidisciplinary care teams with prompt diagnosis and treatment are highly recommended.
Identifying Patients at Risk of Acute Kidney Injury Among Medicare Beneficiaries With Type 2 Diabetes Initiating SGLT2 Inhibitors: A Machine Learning Approach
Authors: Yang Lanting , Gabriel Nico , Hernandez Inmaculada , Vouri Scott M. , Kimmel Stephen E. , Bian Jiang , Guo Jingchuan
Published: March 2022

Introduction: To predict acute kidney injury (AKI) risk in patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D) prescribed sodium-glucose cotransporter two inhibitors (SGLT2i).

Methods: Using a 5% random sample of Medicare claims data, we identified 17,694 patients who filled ≥1 prescriptions for canagliflozin, dapagliflozin and empagliflozin in 2013–2016. The cohort was split randomly and equally into training and testing sets. We measured 65 predictor candidates using claims data from the year prior to SGLT2i initiation. We then applied three machine learning models, including random forests (RF), elastic net and least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) for risk prediction.

Results: The incidence rate of AKI was 1.1% over a median 1.5 year follow up. Among three machine learning methods, RF produced the best prediction (C-statistic = 0.72), followed by LASSO and elastic net (both C-statistics = 0.69). Among individuals classified in the top 10% of the RF risk score (i.e., high risk group), the actual incidence rate of AKI was as high as 3.7%. In the logistic regression model including 14 important risk factors selected by LASSO, use of loop diuretics [adjusted odds ratio (95% confidence interval): 3.72 (2.44–5.76)] had the strongest association with AKI incidence.

Disscusion: Our machine learning model efficiently identified patients at risk of AKI among Medicare beneficiaries with T2D undergoing SGLT2i treatment.
Recent Progress of Two-Dimensional Transition Metal Dichalcogenides for Thermoelectric Applications
Authors: Zhou Wei , Gong Huimin , Jin Xiaohe , Chen Yang , Li Huimin , Liu Song
Published: March 2022

Two-dimensional transition metal dichalcogenides (2D-TMDs) have sparked immense interest, resulting from their unique structural, electronic, mechanical, and thermal properties. The band structures, effective mass, electron mobility, valley degeneracy, and the interactions between phonons and heat transport properties in 2D-TMDs can be efficiently tuned via various approaches. Moreover, the interdependent electrical and thermal conductivity can be modulated independently to facilitate the thermoelectric (TE)-based energy conversion process, which enables optimization of TE properties and promising TE applications. This article briefly reviews the recent development of TE properties in 2D-TMDs. First, the advantages of 2D-TMDs for TE applications are introduced. Then, the manipulations of electrical and thermal transport in 2D-TMDs are briefly discussed, including various influencing factors such as thickness effect, structural defects, and mechanical strain. Finally, the recent advances in the study of electrical, thermal transport, and TE properties of 2D-TMDs, TE-related applications, the challenges, and the future prospects in this field are reviewed.
In Situ Study of Cave 98 Murals on Dunhuang Grottoes Using Portable Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy
Authors: Yin Yaopeng , Yu Zongren , Sun Duixiong , Shan Zhongwei , Cui Qiang , Zhang Yiming , Feng Yaqi , Shui Biwen , Wang Zhuo , Yin Zhiyuan , Chai Bolong , Zhang Wenyuan , Dong Chenzhong , Su Bomin
Published: March 2022

The investigation of painted layers on murals at Cave 98 from Dunhuang Grottoes was carried out in situ using portable laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) for the first time. The ablation effect of laser pulses on a mural surface was evaluated under fixed experimental parameters, and the results showed that the influence of laser ablation on ancient murals was acceptable. Then the pigments used in the red, green, and blue layers were indicated with the LIBS spectral data of the corresponding color coupled with a classifiable model of pigments based on the principal component analysis (PCA) method. Finally, the depth profiling of the multilayer structure composed with overlapped painted layers was determined based on the pigment size information of the superficial green layer and the relationship of laser shots and ablation depth, and the thickness of the superficial green layer was analyzed quantitatively, which fits well with the result of the cross-sectional analysis. Therefore, this work can shed light on the great potential for ancient mural applications in LIBS.
Partially Resistant Avocado Rootstock Dusa® Shows Prolonged Upregulation of Nucleotide Binding-Leucine Rich Repeat Genes in Response to Phytophthora cinnamomi Infection
Authors: Fick Alicia , Swart Velushka , Backer Robert , Bombarely Aureliano , Engelbrecht Juanita , van den Berg Noëlani
Published: March 2022

Avocado is an important agricultural food crop in many countries worldwide. Phytophthora cinnamomi, a hemibiotrophic oomycete, remains one of the most devastating pathogens within the avocado industry, as it is near impossible to eradicate from areas where the pathogen is present. A key aspect to Phytophthora root rot disease management is the use of avocado rootstocks partially resistant to P. cinnamomi, which demonstrates an increased immune response following infection. In plant species, Nucleotide binding-Leucine rich repeat (NLR) proteins form an integral part of pathogen recognition and Effector triggered immune responses (ETI). To date, a comprehensive set of Persea americana NLR genes have yet to be identified, though their discovery is crucial to understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying P. americana-P. cinnamomi interactions. In this study, a total of 161 PaNLR genes were identified in the P. americana West-Indian pure accession genome. These putative resistance genes were characterized using bioinformatic approaches and grouped into 13 distinct PaNLR gene clusters, with phylogenetic analysis revealing high sequence similarity within these clusters. Additionally, PaNLR expression levels were analyzed in both a partially resistant (Dusa®) and a susceptible (R0.12) avocado rootstock infected with P. cinnamomi using an RNA-sequencing approach. The results showed that the partially resistant rootstock has increased expression levels of 84 PaNLRs observed up to 24 h post-inoculation, while the susceptible rootstock only showed increased PaNLR expression during the first 6 h post-inoculation. Results of this study may indicate that the partially resistant avocado rootstock has a stronger, more prolonged ETI response which enables it to suppress P. cinnamomi growth and combat disease caused by this pathogen. Furthermore, the identification of PaNLRs may be used to develop resistant rootstock selection tools, which can be employed in the avocado industry to accelerate rootstock screening programs.
Leaf Polyphenolic Profile as a Determinant of Croatian Native Grapevine Varieties’ Susceptibility to Plasmopara viticola
Authors: Štambuk Petra , Šikuten Iva , Karoglan Kontić Jasminka , Maletić Edi , Preiner Darko , Tomaz Ivana
Published: March 2022

Since grapevine is highly susceptible to various pathogens, enormous amounts of pesticides are applied each season to achieve profitable production. One of the most destructive grapevine diseases is downy mildew, and their interaction has been in the spotlight for more than a decade. When it comes to a metabolome level, phenolic compounds are relevant to investigate due to their involvement in the plant immune system and known antifungal properties. Croatian grapevine germplasm is highly heterogeneous due to its long history of cultivation in diversified geographical regions. Since it has been found that native varieties react differently to the infection of Plasmopara viticola, the intention of this study is to define if the chemical background of the leaves, i.e., polyphenolic composition, is responsible for these dissimilarities. Therefore, the leaves of 17 genotypes, among which 14 were native and 3 were controls, were analyzed using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) in four terms: before inoculation and 24, 48, and 96 h post inoculation (hpi). During this early phase, significant differences were found neither between the terms nor between the non-inoculated and inoculated samples, except for resveratrol-3-O-glucoside. By applying principal component analysis (PCA) using initial leaf polyphenolic composition, varieties of V. vinifera were clearly separated into three different groups corresponding to their International Organization of Vine and Wine (OIV) classes of susceptibility to P. viticola. Results obtained in this research suggest that the initial constitutive polyphenolic composition of the cultivar leaves has a crucial influence on their susceptibility to P. viticola, and this finding can be used to improve the success of grapevine breeding programs toward downy mildew resistance.
Nocebo Effects of Clinical Communication and Placebo Effects of Positive Suggestions on Respiratory Muscle Strength
Authors: Zech Nina , Scharl Leoni , Seemann Milena , Pfeifer Michael , Hansen Ernil
Published: March 2022

Introduction:

The effects of specific suggestions are usually studied by measuring parameters that are directly addressed by these suggestions. We recently proposed the use of a uniform, unrelated, and objective measure like maximal muscle strength that allows comparison of suggestions to avoid nocebo effects and thus to improve communication. Since reduced breathing strength might impair respiration and increase the risk of post-operative pulmonary complications, the aim of the present study was to evaluate the effects of the suggestions on respiratory muscle power. Both the identification and neutralization of negative suggestions in the clinical context and stimulating suggestions could improve breathing force, a predictor of physical fitness and convalescence.

Methods

In 50 healthy, adult volunteers, respiratory muscle strength was measured by maximal inspiratory and expiratory pressures, as well as by maximal inspiratory and expiratory flows. Baseline was compared to values after application of eleven suggestions, five out of clinical context, including memory of negative or positive past, risk information for informed consent, and a non-verbal suggestion. Six stimulating suggestions included self-affirmation, empowering words, a heroic mirror image, and an imagination.

Results

All suggestions showed an impact on respiratory muscle strength, indicating placebo and nocebo effects. No single parameter could represent the breathing force in its complexity, however, trends and different specific aspects of it were measured. The strongest reaction was observed with the recall of a previous negative situation resulting in a reduction in expiratory flow to 96.1% of baseline (p = 0.041). After risk information, a decrease was observed in three of the parameters, with the highest extend in expiratory pressure by 4.4%. This nocebo effect was neutralized by adding positive aspects to the risk information. Every intended strengthening suggestion resulted in statistically significant increases of at least one parameter, with changes of up to 10% (e.g., MEP 110.3%, p = 0.001), indicating placebo effects. Here, expiration was more affected than inspiration. Sex was the only influencing factor reaching statistical significance, with stronger reactions in women.

Conclusion

Respiratory muscle strength proved to be sensitive to suggestions with clinical context, as well as suggestions intended for stimulation. With this objective measurement, evaluation, and comparison of different suggestions is possible to help avoid nocebo effects. The demonstrated effect of supporting suggestions can be followed up and used in clinical practice.
Strategies for Improving Text Reading Ability Based on Human-Computer Interaction in Artificial Intelligence
Authors: Shen Guorong
Published: March 2022

In order to improve text reading ability, a human-computer interaction method based on artificial intelligence (AI) human-computer interaction is proposed. Firstly, the design of the AI human-computer interaction model is constructed, which includes the Stanford Question Answering Dataset (SQuAD) and the designed baseline model. There are three components: the coding layer is based on a cyclic neural network (recurrent neural network [RNN] encoder layer), which aims to encode the problem and text into a hidden state; the interaction layer is used to integrate problems and text representation; the output layer connects two independent soft Max layers after a fully connected layer, one is used to obtain the starting position of the answer in the text and the other is used to obtain the ending position. In the interaction layer of the model, this manuscript uses hierarchical attention and aggregation mechanism to improve text coding. The traditional model interaction layer has a simple structure, which leads to weak relevance between text and problems, and poor understanding ability of the model. Finally, the self-attention model is used to further enhance the feature representation of text. The experimental results show that the improved model in this manuscript is compared with the public AI human-computer interaction reading comprehension model. According to the data in the table, the accuracy of the model in this manuscript is better than that of the baseline model, in which the exact match (EM) value is increased by 1.4% and the F1 value is increased by 2.7%. However, compared with improvement point 2, the EM and F1 values of the model have decreased by 0.7%. It shows that the output layer has a certain impact on the effect of the model, and the improvement and optimization of the output layer can also improve the performance of the model. It is proved that AI human-computer interaction can effectively improve text reading ability.
The Willingness of the Elderly to Choose Nursing Care: Evidence From in China
Authors: Wang Chengcheng , Zhang Fanyu , Pan Chao , Guo Shuyi , Gong Xianghong , Yang Dong
Published: March 2022

With the accelerating aging of the population and the worsening psychological conditions of older people, the traditional mode of family support for the elderly in China does not always meet the physical and psychological needs of the elderly, and more social support modes for the elderly are needed. Based on 3,513 valid questionnaires on the long-term care and protection needs of Chinese residents, this paper uses a logit regression model to analyze the factors influencing the willingness of the elderly to choose nursing care. The results show that intergenerational family support for the elderly is a significant psychological driver on the willingness of the elderly to choose nursing care. Compared with the elderly living with family, empty nesters or older people living alone are more inclined to select nursing care when they have difficulties taking care of themselves. The physical health of the elderly affects their willingness to choose nursing care, and elderly individuals with more hospitalizations are less likely to select nursing care. In addition, elderly females who are relatively young, have a high level of education, have a high income, have a nursing home near the residence, and are already covered by medical insurance are more willing to choose nursing care. The results of this study are of great importance for improving the medical services and aging care services for the elderly and providing theoretical support for alleviating the psychological and social pressure brought by population aging.
Stigmatization and Social Support of Pregnant Women With HIV or Syphilis in Eastern China: A Mixed-Method Study
Authors: Zhang Xiaohui , Wang Xiaoyan , Wang Hong , He Xinmei , Wang Xinyu
Published: March 2022

Background

Stigmatization and poor social support are challenges faced by individuals living with HIV or sexually transmitted disease, which can have a profound negative impact on their healthcare. Mother-to-child transmission of either HIV or syphilis can lead to adverse maternal and fetal outcomes. The aim of this study was to investigate stigmatization and social support of pregnant women with HIV or syphilis in eastern China.

Methods

This was an explanatory sequential mixed-method study conducted in Zhejiang province, China in 2019. Stigmatization, social support, and the associated factors toward HIV or syphilis were evaluated using questionnaires. The social support rating scale was used to evaluate social support, where a score <25% was defined as poor social support. A logistic regression model was used to explore the association between stigmatization and poor social support.

Results

A total of 448 women (HIV positive, N = 93; syphilis, N = 355) were recruited in this study. Higher stigmatization was observed in pregnant women with HIV compared to those with syphilis (53.76% vs. 24.36%, p < 0.001), and poorer social support was observed in women with HIV compared with those with syphilis (40.86% vs. 19.86%, p < 0.001), with significant distributions of the total social support scores (Z = −1.976, p = 0.048) and scores on objectivity (Z = −2.036, p = 0.042) and subjectivity (Z = −2.500, p = 0.012). Similar social support among HIV or syphilis pregnant women was observed in medical healthcare facilities. In multivariable logistic model analysis, stigmatization (ORadj = 2.927; 95%CI, 1.714–4.996; p < 0.001) and ethnic minority (ORadj = 2.373; 95%CI, 1.113–5.056; p = 0.025) were negatively associated with social support. Interestingly, employment status was associated with improved social support (ORadj = 0.345; 95%CI, 0.180–0.662; p = 0.001).

Conclusion

Stigmatization among pregnant women with HIV or syphilis remains high. We demonstrated that stigmatization was a significant predictor of low social support in pregnant women with HIV or syphilis. The support shown in medical facilities was similar toward pregnant women with HIV or syphilis. Implementation of stigmatization eradication and social support strategies targeting pregnant women with HIV or syphilis may therefore improve the dual elimination of mother-to-child transmission service.
Inflammatory Indexes for Assessing the Severity and Disease Progression of Ulcerative Colitis: A Single-Center Retrospective Study
Authors: Lin Hanyang , Bai Zhaohui , Wu Qiong , Chu Guiyang , Zhang Yongguo , Guo Xiaozhong , Qi Xingshun
Published: March 2022

Background

Active and severe ulcerative colitis (UC) and non-response to 5-aminosalicylic acid (5-ASA) are related to poor outcomes and should be accurately identified. Several integrated inflammatory indexes are potentially useful to assess the disease severity in patients with acute or critical diseases but are underexplored in patients with UC.

Methods

Patients with UC consecutively admitted to our hospital between January 2015 and December 2020 were retrospectively grouped according to the activity and severity of UC and response to 5-ASA. The neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), systemic immune-inflammation index (SII), neutrophil-to-platelet ratio (NPR), platelet-to-albumin ratio (PAR), C-reactive protein-to-albumin ratio (CAR), and C-reactive protein-to-lymphocyte ratio (CLR) were calculated. The areas under receiver operating characteristic curves (AUC) were calculated.

Results

Overall, 187 patients with UC were included, of whom 151 were active, 55 were severe, and 14 were unresponsive to 5-ASA. The active UC group had significantly higher NLR, PLR, SII, and PAR levels. SII had the greatest predictive accuracy for active UC, followed by PLR, PAR, and NLR (AUC = 0.647, 0.641, 0.634, and 0.626). The severe UC group had significantly higher NLR, PLR, SII, PAR, CAR, and CLR levels. CLR had the greatest predictive accuracy for severe UC, followed by CAR, PLR, SII, NLR, and PAR (AUC = 0.732, 0.714, 0.693, 0.669, 0.646, and 0.63). The non-response to the 5-ASA group had significantly higher CAR and CLR levels. CAR had a greater predictive accuracy for non-response to 5-ASA than CLR (AUC = 0.781 and 0.759).

Conclusion

SII, CLR, and CAR may be useful for assessing the severity and progression of UC, but remain not optimal.
Somatic Symptoms, Anxiety, and Depression Among College Students in the Czech Republic and Slovakia: A Cross-Sectional Study
Authors: Gavurova Beata , Ivankova Viera , Rigelsky Martin , Mudarri Tawfik , Miovsky Michal
Published: March 2022

Studying in college can be a challenging time for many students, which can affect their mental health. In addition to academic pressure and stressful tasks, another aggravating factor in student life is the ongoing coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. The aim of the study was to examine the prevalence of anxiety, depression, and somatic symptoms in Czech and Slovak college students during the COVID-19 pandemic and to evaluate possible socio-demographic determinants of mental health problems. A total of 3,099 respondents participated in this cross-sectional study (Czech Republic: 1,422, Slovakia: 1,677). The analyzes included the Patient Health Questionnaire for somatic symptoms (PHQ-15), the Generalized Anxiety Disorder instrument (GAD-7), and the Patient Health Questionnaire for depression (PHQ-9). Socio-demographic factors were gender, age, family structure, marital status, form of study, degree of study, year of study, field of study, distance between home and college, residence, and housing during the semester. Among Czech students, prevalence of somatic complaints, anxiety and depression was 72.2, 40.3, and 52%, respectively. Among Slovak students, prevalence of somatic complaints, anxiety and depression was 69.5, 34.6, and 47%, respectively. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the most severe mental health problems were identified in a non-negligible part of the sample (Czech Republic: PHQ-15 = 10.1%, GAD-7 = 4.9%, PHQ-9 = 3.4%; Slovakia: PHQ-15 = 7.4%, GAD-7 = 3.5%, PHQ-9 = 2.7%). Regarding the differences between the analyzed countries, a significantly higher score in somatic symptoms, anxiety, and depression was identified in the Czech Republic. Significant differences in mental disorders were found in most socio-demographic characteristics. The main results of the logistic regression analysis revealed that risk factors for mental health disorders in Czech and Slovak students were female gender, younger age, third degree of study, and study of Informatics, Mathematics, Information and Communication Technologies (ICT). Especially in the case of these high-risk groups of students, public policies should consider a response to impending problems. The findings are an appeal for a proactive approach to improving the mental health of students and for the implementation of effective prevention programs, which are more than necessary in the Czech and Slovak college environment.
Terahertz-Based Joint Communication and Sensing for Precision Agriculture: A 6G Use-Case
Authors: Usman Muhammad , Ansari Shuja , Taha Ahmad , Zahid Adnan , Abbasi Qammer H. , Imran Muhammad Ali
Published: March 2022

By 2050, experts estimate that the agricultural produce must increase by 60%–70% to meet the needs of the ever increasing population of the world. To this aim, the concept of precision agriculture or smart farming has recently been coined. The idea of precision agriculture is well represented as a smart management system, having the ability to monitor, observe, sense, measure and control the health and water contents in plants at nano-scale and crops at macro-scale. The goal is to maximise the production while preserving the vital resources. The combination of terahertz (THz) based sensing technology to estimate plant health at a cellular level, and wireless sensor networks deployed within crops to monitor different variables while making intelligent decisions is far reaching. The integration and operation of such a macro-nano-sensor system requires a sustainable communication infrastructure that considers the demands of remote and agile agricultural environments. In this paper, an integrated sensing and communication system for plant health monitoring that utilises THz signals, is presented as a 6G use case. The joint architecture is outlined and various challenges including energy harvesting, practical implementation among others, followed by recommendations for future research are presented.
Crisis Ahead? Why Human-Robot Interaction User Studies May Have Replicability Problems and Directions for Improvement
Authors: Leichtmann Benedikt , Nitsch Verena , Mara Martina
Published: March 2022

There is a confidence crisis in many scientific disciplines, in particular disciplines researching human behavior, as many effects of original experiments have not been replicated successfully in large-scale replication studies. While human-robot interaction (HRI) is an interdisciplinary research field, the study of human behavior, cognition and emotion in HRI plays also a vital part. Are HRI user studies facing the same problems as other fields and if so, what can be done to overcome them? In this article, we first give a short overview of the replicability crisis in behavioral sciences and its causes. In a second step, we estimate the replicability of HRI user studies mainly 1) by structural comparison of HRI research processes and practices with those of other disciplines with replicability issues, 2) by systematically reviewing meta-analyses of HRI user studies to identify parameters that are known to affect replicability, and 3) by summarizing first replication studies in HRI as direct evidence. Our findings suggest that HRI user studies often exhibit the same problems that caused the replicability crisis in many behavioral sciences, such as small sample sizes, lack of theory, or missing information in reported data. In order to improve the stability of future HRI research, we propose some statistical, methodological and social reforms. This article aims to provide a basis for further discussion and a potential outline for improvements in the field.
Assessing the Impact of Water Insecurity on Maternal Mental Health at Six Nations of the Grand River
Authors: Sultana Afroza , Wilson Julie , Martin-Hill Dawn , Davis-Hill Lori , Homer Janet
Published: March 2022

The Haudenosaunee or Six Nations (SN) is a matrilineal society sustained through reciprocal relationships with nature and all creation. Haudenosaunee hold a special relationship and responsibility with water, as it is the first environment of humans. Colonialism attacked Haudenosaunee land, women, children, and traditional ways of life. The Haudenosaunee were displaced from their land and were forced to migrate to a reserve. Colonial and capitalist agendas contaminated water leaving the Six Nations, Canada's most populated reserve, without clean running water and making SN women and children more vulnerable to water insecurity. The Ohneganos, an SN community project, is intersectional, and the intersectionality of health, culture and water identified maternal health as understudied in water insecurity research. Research on Indigenous mental health mainly focused on suicide and substance abuse and ignored the root causes of violent colonial structures and policies such as the Indian Act and residential schools. Our research suggests that gender, migration and water for Indigenous communities must be contextualized with larger violent colonial structures such as environmental racism and epistemic violence. Ohneganos research examines impacts of water insecurity on maternal health and co-developed design and implementation with Six Nations Birthing Center (SNBC). The SNBC's traditional Haudenosaunee health care practices shaped the research, revealing the critical importance of community-led research's efficacy. Haudenosaunee and anthropological research methods are employed to assess the impact of water insecurity on maternal mental health. The co-designed semi-structured interviews highlight the voices of 54 participants consisting of mothers (n= 41), grandparents (n= 10), and midwives (n= 3) of SN. Most participants expressed that the lack of clean water had profound impacts on mental health and had recurring thoughts about the lack of clean water in the SN community. Mental health issues, including depression and anxiety, were reported due to a lack of running water. Despite experiencing water insecurity, Haudenosaunee women demonstrate resiliency through culturally innovative adaptations to their changing environment.
What Might the Future Climate Look Like?
Authors: Moseid Kine Onsum , Hofer Stefan , Schulz Michael
Published: March 2022

Our planet’s climate is warming rapidly, mostly because of greenhouse gases released by human activities. Earth’s future depends on our actions, and getting a glimpse into the future could help us make smart decisions right now. A climate model is a computer-based twin of our planet's climate system, and many different climate models exist because there are many ways to describe the complex planet we live on. Scientists experiment with what the future might look like by changing the amounts of greenhouse gases and particles (pollution) in the computer atmosphere within a climate model. This way, we can figure out the amount of greenhouse gases we can safely emit to avoid dangerous climate change. Currently, climate models estimate that we will end up with a warming of 3°C by 2100, but this can still change depending on our actions.
Taxonomy of Asteroids From the Legacy Survey of Space and Time Using Neural Networks
Authors: Penttilä A. , Fedorets G. , Muinonen K.
Published: March 2022

The Legacy Survey of Space and Time (LSST) is one of the ongoing or future surveys, together with the Gaia and Euclid missions, which will produce a wealth of spectrophotometric observations of asteroids. This article shows how deep learning techniques with neural networks can be used to classify the upcoming observations, particularly from LSST, into the Bus-DeMeo taxonomic system. We report here a success ratio in classification up to 90.1% with a reduced set of Bus-DeMeo types for simulated observations using the LSST photometric filters. The scope of this work is to introduce tools to link future observations into existing Bus-DeMeo taxonomy.
Hyperoxia Improves Repeated-Sprint Ability and the Associated Training Load in Athletes
Authors: Cyr-Kirk Shannon , Billaut François
Published: March 2022

This study investigated the impact of hyperoxic gas breathing (HYP) on repeated-sprint ability (RSA) and on the associated training load (TL). Thirteen team- and racquet-sport athletes performed 6-s all-out sprints with 24-s recovery until exhaustion (power decrement ≥ 15% for two consecutive sprints) under normoxic (NOR: FIO2 0.21) and hyperoxic (HYP: FIO2 0.40) conditions in a randomized, single-blind and crossover design. The following variables were recorded throughout the tests: mechanical indices, arterial O2 saturation (SpO2), oxygenation of the vastus lateralis muscle with near-infrared spectroscopy, and electromyographic activity of the vastus lateralis, rectus femoris, and gastrocnemius lateralis muscles. Session TL (work × rate of perceived exertion) and neuromuscular efficiency (work/EMG [Electromyography]) were calculated. Compared with NOR, HYP increased SpO2 (2.7 ± 0.8%, Cohen's effect size ES 0.55), the number of sprints (14.5 ± 8.6%, ES 0.28), the total mechanical work (13.6 ± 6.8%, ES 0.30), and the session TL (19.4 ± 7.0%, ES 0.33). Concomitantly, HYP increased the amplitude of muscle oxygenation changes during sprints (25.2 ± 11.7%, ES 0.36) and recovery periods (26.1 ± 11.4%, ES 0.37), as well as muscle recruitment (9.9 ± 12.1%, ES 0.74), and neuromuscular efficiency (6.9 ± 9.0%, ES 0.24). It was concluded that breathing a hyperoxic mixture enriched to 40% O2 improves the total work performed and the associated training load during an open-loop RSA session in trained athletes. This ergogenic impact may be mediated by metabolic and neuromuscular alterations.
Treatment Effectiveness and Tolerability of Long-term Adjuvant First- and Second-Generation Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitor at Different Doses in Patients With Stage IIA–IIIB Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor-Mutated Lung Adenocarcinoma: A Retrospective Study
Authors: Ye Jing-Ren , Chen Pei-Hsing , Chuang Jen-Hao , Lin Mong-Wei , Tsai Tung-Ming , Hsu Hsao-Hsun , Chen Jin-Shing
Published: March 2022

Introduction

For patients with epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)-mutated lung cancer who undergo surgery, adjuvant tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) therapy other than osimertinib is an alternative option. We aimed to discuss the long-term safety and efficacy of TKI treatment in real-world data.

Methods

From January 2011 to May 2020, patients with stage II–III EGFR-mutated adenocarcinoma who underwent cancer resection surgery at a single center were enrolled. The primary endpoint was disease relapse, and the secondary endpoint was overall survival. In total, 30 patients were included in the study. In our study, all patients underwent complete resection using video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery. The patients were divided into a dose interruption (prolonged interval use) group and non-dose adjustment group.

Results

The patients' pathological stages were II–III. The initial EGFR TKIs were mostly gefitinib (n = 25, 83%), and others were erlotinib (n = 3, 10%) and afatinib (n = 2, 6%). The mean disease-free survival (DFS) was 53.3 months. The 2- and 5-year DFS rate was 90.0 and 73.3%, respectively. The median TKI treatment duration in this study was 44.5 months (range, 6–133 months), which was the longest in the literature review. Of these patients, nine had dose interruption. We compared the two groups and found no treatment differences between them. There were no significant side effect potentials between both groups.

Conclusion

To our knowledge, this study provides the longest experience of TKI in patients with resected EGFR mutations and also provided a dose reduction strategy (prolonged medication interval) for patients who had intolerable side effects.
A Three-Surgeon–Six-Hand Operation Using a 4K-3D Exoscope for Neurological Surgery: A Case Report
Authors: Tamura Ryota , Kuranari Yuki , Katayama Makoto
Published: March 2022

Background

Advances in digital imaging including evolving of 3-dimensional (3D) exoscope has allowed its use as an alternative to microscopes in neurosurgery. The exoscope can concede wide space around the operating table and patient. Here, we show a three-surgeon–six-hand operative approach using a 4K-3D exoscope. Practical advantages and disadvantages of this approach are discussed.

Clinical Presentation

A 58-year-old male was refered with a 60 mm diameter meningioma in the right frontal convexity. The tumor removal was done by an operator and two assistants with a scrub nurse while viewing images displayed on a 55-inch monitor with integrated 4K and 3D visualization technology retrieved by KINEVO®. Meaningful communication between the operator and two assistants allowed for simultaneous, and precise surgical procedures. Gross total removal was achieved without damaging the brain.

Conclusion

The ocular-free, openness of 4K-3D exoscope allows for a three-surgeon–six-handed operation, which leads to simultaneous surgical maneuvers by multiple hands, shorter operative time, flexible/intermittent brain retraction made by two assistants, and educational benefits owing to the surgical procedure being visually shared.
Radiography, CT, and MRI Diagnosis of Enzootic Nasal Tumor in Goats Infected With Enzootic Nasal Tumor Virus
Authors: Li Ling-xu , Lv Ying-jun , Guo Qing-yong , Liao Yun , Guo Yi-wen , Su Ze-nan , Yao Da-wei , Yang De-ji
Published: March 2022

The aim of this study was to describe radiography, computed tomography (CT), and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings of enzootic nasal tumors in goats infected with enzootic nasal tumor viruses. Five of six goats with a mean age of 2 years, showed clinical signs of respiratory disease. Head radiographs showed increased density of the unilateral or bilateral nasal cavity in four goats, and a CT scan showed that the space-occupying lesion of the nasal cavity originated from the ethmoid bone and was enhanced homogeneously postcontrast in all goats. The nasal concha was destroyed and the paranasal sinus mucosa was thickened and filled with fluid in some goats. On MRI, the mass exhibited equal or slightly higher signal intensity on T2 weighted images, equal signal intensity on T1 weighted images, a high signal on fluid-attenuated inversion recovery images and heterogeneous enhancement postcontrast. After dissection, histopathological examination of the mass and virus genome detection of the nasal secretions confirmed that the intranasal mass was a low-grade adenocarcinoma and that the goats were infected with enzootic nasal tumor virus type 2. In conclusion, CT and MRI have high diagnostic values for enzootic nasal tumors because they match the postmortem findings and are more accurate than radiography.
Viral Vector Vaccines Against ASF: Problems and Prospectives
Authors: Ravilov Rustam Kh. , Rizvanov Albert A. , Mingaleev Danil N. , Galeeva Antonina G. , Zakirova Elena Yu. , Shuralev Eduard A. , Rutland Catrin S. , Khammadov Nail I. , Efimova Marina A.
Published: March 2022

African swine fever (ASF) is a highly contagious viral disease affecting pigs, with mortality rates a primary focus as they can reach up to 100%. The widespread and colossal economic losses from ASF have impacts on the development of animal husbandry practices in most countries within Africa, Asia, and Europe. Currently, a variety of approaches toward the development of vaccines against ASF are being employed. A promising new concept centered around more economical and time-consuming vaccine production is based on the use of viral vectors to deliver selected immunogens. This review discusses the results obtained from testing various viral vectors as carriers of targeted ASF virus genes. The safety and prospects of viral vectors, the possibilities around modulating cellular and humoral immune responses by choosing genes expressing immunodominant antigens, and the degree of protection in experimental animals from infection with a lethal dose of virulent ASF virus strains have been shown and discussed.