bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The timing point of exercise intervention regulates neuropathic pain-related molecules in the ipsilateral dorsal root ganglion neurons after sciatic nerve injury
Authors: Cho Yeong-Hyun , Seo Tae-Beom
Published: October 2022

The purpose of this study was to determine whether the timing of treadmill exercise application can control expression levels of neuropathic pain- and regeneration-related proteins in the ipsilateral lumbar 4 (L4) to 6 (L6) dorsal root ganglion cells (DRG) after sciatic nerve injury (SNI). The experimental rats were randomly divided into five groups: the normal control, SNI+sedentary (IS), exercise+SNI (EI), SNI+exercise (IE), exercise+SNI+exercise (EIE) groups. The rats in exercise groups performed treadmill exercise at a speed of 8 m/min for 30 min once a day during 14 days before and/or after SNI. For investigating the expression of specific neuropathic pain and regeneration-related proteins in DRG, we prepared L4 to L6 DRG in the ipsilateral side. In the quantitative analysis, growth associated protein 43 (GAP-43) and brain-derived neurotrophic factor levels were further increased in the ipsilateral DRG at all treadmill exercise groups than those in IS group. In the histological findings, GAP-43 was qualitatively increased IE and EIE groups than IS group at DRG. Wnt3a and β-catenin were dramatically downregulated in EIE and IE groups than IS groups. In addition, nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells and tumor necrosis factor-α were significantly decreased in IE and EIE groups than IS group in the ipsilateral DRG. Our findings suggested novel information that regular low-intensity exercise before and/or after SNI might be a therapeutic and preventive approaches for relieving neuropathic pain and improving axonal elongation after peripheral nerve injury.
The effects of workers’ job stress on organizational commitment and leaving intention in commercial sports centers
Authors: Lee Tae-Kyung , Moon Hwang-Woon , Kim Jun-Su
Published: October 2022

The purpose of this study is to identify the factors affecting the job stress of commercial sports center workers on organizational commitment and turnover intention. The causal relationship between their demographic characteristics and job stress was investigated for 261 out of 300 workers working at commercial sports centers in Seoul, Incheon, and Gyeonggi province. There was a difference by work type, and it was found that there was a difference between regular and contract workers. Role-related and interpersonal relationships had a negative influence relationship in terms of tenure commitment, normative commitment, and affective commitment. Job characteristics, role-related, interpersonal relationship, and compensation system had an influence on turnover intention. In other words, it was found that role-related and interpersonal relationships had a positive effect on turnover intention, and job characteristics and compensation system had a negative effect on turnover intention. It was found that job stress affects both organizational commitment and turnover intention. The results of this study indicate that job stress, organizational commitment, and turnover intention should be dealt with mainly in order to reduce turnover intention of commercial sports center workers. In other words, clearer guidelines on the role of commercial sports center workers and various welfare programs for improving human relationships should be provided. Therefore, commercial sports centers should continuously research and develop ways to maximize job satisfaction from the perspective of workers in order to reduce job stress and induce positive organizational commitment.
Just One Textbook?: Student Perceptions of and Preferences for Open and Affordable Educational Resources
Authors: Nelson Elizabeth , Riehman-Murphy Christina
Published: October 2022

In this study, we set out to assess undergraduate students’ perceptions of and preferences for open and affordable educational resources (OAER) in courses where their faculty member had recently adopted them as part of a campus library-led grant. A survey was sent to students at the completion of their semester in which the OAER were used, which yielded 223 responses over three years of surveying. Like many other studies before it, ours showed that students greatly appreciated the lack of cost associated with open and affordable materials. They also overwhelmingly perceived them as the same or better quality as commercial course materials they had used in other courses. However, student responses around their perceptions of and preferences for access and format yielded results that indicate that, when it comes to OAER, students are nearly as concerned about how they access their course materials and what format they are in as they are about how expensive their materials will be to purchase. In this article, we’ll discuss our analysis of these responses regarding students’ ranking of factors instructors should consider when assigning materials and their preferences and perceptions of how they access their course materials and what format those materials are provided in.
OER State Policy Discourse: Adding Equity to the Cost Savings Conversation
Authors: McCoy-Simmons Casey
Published: October 2022

In response to rising tuition, state disinvestment, and financial uncertainty over the years, open educational resources (OER) have been introduced as a solution to address the college affordability crisis (Colvard et al., 2018). The Scholarly Publishing and Academic Resources Coalition (SPARC) sees OER as not just a way to lift the financial burden of educational materials, but also as a path to improving teaching and learning, strengthening the economy, advancing societal goals, and breaking down barriers to education (SPARC, n.d.-b). State policymakers have created grant programs or other initiatives to incentivize the creation, use, or expansion of OER in an effort to decrease costs associated with postsecondary education. This raises the question of how state policy discourse defines the problem that then informs the solutions addressed in OER legislation and how introducing an equity discourse into OER policy making can strengthen efforts to remove barriers to higher education.
Do OER Textbooks Have Value Beyond Cost Savings?: An Analysis of Student Attitudes and Faculty Teaching Strategies in an American University
Authors: Wu Yang
Published: October 2022

The study examines the use of Open Educational Resource (OER) textbooks by 704 students in 9 courses at an American public research university in their learning. It seeks to better understand the effectiveness of OER in comparison to traditional textbooks by surveying how often students read OER textbooks and examining how instructors in the courses are teaching using OER. The study found an alarming trend, the impact of OER has been limited because of students not reading assigned textbooks, and instructors not actively teaching with them. This may be reflective of a phenomenon not previously noticed by OER researchers, high textbook prices causing many instructors to abandon serious use of textbooks while students are still painfully purchasing them, causing students to develop a habit of not reading textbooks. Findings of the study suggests that student textbook use, their attitudes towards textbooks and how instructors are teaching with OER textbooks are important factors in assessing the effectiveness of OER.
Doctoral Students’ Perspectives on Textbooks and Open Educational Resources: Needs, Impact, and Future Directions
Authors: Hosoi Mihoko , McGeary Bryan , Munip Lana
Published: October 2022

While discussions of textbook needs have typically focused on undergraduate students, doctoral students face some unique challenges related to course materials. Their positionality as students and also potentially future faculty, researchers, or instructors can provide useful insight as academic libraries seek opportunities to promote open textbooks. This article reports on the results of semi-structured in-depth interviews with 12 doctoral students in the College of Education at the Pennsylvania State University. Findings suggest that they obtain access to required textbooks in different ways and tend to purchase a personal copy of a textbook if they expected to use it in the future for their research. Their course selection was not impacted by the cost of the required textbook, although textbook requirements influenced their perception of the teaching faculty. Some already had experience publishing OER. Some others expressed interest in promoting OER or open access materials, while others expressed skepticism of these initiatives. Many articulated the importance of accessibility. Materials related to older seminal texts, ethnographical works, and methods textbooks were suggested as potential open textbook targets. Implications for academic libraries are discussed.
Finding Joy in OER Outreach: Letter from the Columns Editor, Elizabeth Batte
Authors: Batte Elizabeth
Published: October 2022

Letter from the Columns Editor.
Large-area fluorescence enhancement of R6G based on a uniform PVA-Au plasmonic substrate
Authors: Zhao Xuemiao , Zhang Lianyu , Lv Xin , Liu Jinhua , Liu Xinxin , Zhang Yuting , Zhang Dong , Li Shuhong , Wang Qingru
Published: October 2022

With the development of surface enhanced fluorescence (SEF) spectroscopy technology, uniform and low-cost SEF substrate is urgently needed. In this paper, the nanocomposite films of poly (vinyl alcohol) (PVA) embedded with in-situ Au particles, their localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) bands locate at different wavelengths from 525 nm to 569 nm, were used as substrates to enhance the fluorescence of rhodamine 6 G (R6G). The results shows that the uniform light emission in large area can be measured, and the maximum enhancement factor (EF) is about 13 folds. With increasing concentration of R6G films, the EF first increases and then slowly decreases. It is demonstrated that the EF greatly depends on the matching degree of the emission/excitation of R6G and the LSPR band of PVA-Au substrate. All the results further suggests that the PVA-Au substrate not only realize the fluorescence enhancement but also attenuates the fluorescence quenching at higher concentration. In addition, the local electric distribution of the substrate is simulated by using three-dimensional finite different time-domain (FDTD) to further demonstrate the mechanism of the SEF. This substrate has good development prospects in the fields of fluorescent probes and fluorescence imaging, which can be beneficial to the development of uniform and low-cost SEF substrate.
Understanding mechanisms of impact from community-led delivery of HIV self-testing: Mediation analysis of a cluster-randomised trial in Malawi
Authors: Indravudh Pitchaya P. , Terris-Prestholt Fern , Neuman Melissa , Kumwenda Moses K. , Chilongosi Richard , Johnson Cheryl C. , Hatzold Karin , Corbett Elizabeth L. , Fielding Katherine
Published: October 2022

Community HIV strategies are important for early diagnosis and treatment, with new self-care technologies expanding the types of services that can be led by communities. We evaluated mechanisms underlying the impact of community-led delivery of HIV self-testing (HIVST) using mediation analysis. We conducted a cluster-randomised trial allocating 30 group village heads and their catchment areas to the community-led HIVST intervention in addition to the standard of care (SOC) or the SOC alone. The intervention used participatory approaches to engage established community health groups to lead the design and implementation of HIVST campaigns. Potential mediators (individual perceptions of social cohesion, shared HIV concern, critical consciousness, community HIV stigma) and the outcome (HIV testing in the last 3 months) were measured through a post-intervention survey. Analysis used regression-based models to test (i) intervention-mediator effects, (ii) mediator-outcome effects, and (iii) direct and indirect effects. The survey included 972 and 924 participants in the community-led HIVST and SOC clusters, respectively. The community-led HIVST intervention increased uptake of recent HIV testing, with no evidence of indirect effects from changes in hypothesised mediators. However, standardised scores for community cohesion (adjusted mean difference [MD] 0.15, 95% CI -0.03 to 0.32, p = 0.10) and shared concern for HIV (adjusted MD 0.13, 95% CI -0.02 to 0.29, p = 0.09) were slightly higher in the community-led HIVST arm than the SOC arm. Social cohesion, community concern, and critical consciousness also apparently had a quadratic association with recent testing in the community-led HIVST arm, with a positive relationship indicated at lower ranges of each score. We found no evidence of intervention effects on community HIV stigma and its association with recent testing. We conclude that the intervention effect mostly operated directly through community-driven service delivery of a novel HIV technology rather than through intermediate effects on perceived community mobilisation and HIV stigma.
Quantitative single-cell analysis of Leishmania major amastigote differentiation demonstrates variably extended expression of the lipophosphoglycan (LPG) virulence factor in different host cell types
Authors: Mandell Michael A. , Beatty Wandy L. , Beverley Stephen M.
Published: October 2022

Immediately following their deposition into the mammalian host by an infected sand fly vector, Leishmania parasites encounter and are engulfed by a variety of cell types. From there, parasites may transit to other cell types, primarily macrophages or dendritic cells, where they replicate and induce pathology. During this time, Leishmania cells undergo a dramatic transformation from the motile non-replicating metacyclic stage to the non-motile replicative amastigote stage, a differentiative process that can be termed amastigogenesis. To follow this at the single cell level, we identified a suite of experimental ‘landmarks’ delineating different stages of amastigogenesis qualitatively or quantitatively, including new uses of amastigote-specific markers that showed interesting cellular localizations at the anterior or posterior ends. We compared amastigogenesis in synchronous infections of peritoneal and bone-marrow derived macrophages (PEM, BMM) or dendritic cells (BMDC). Overall, the marker suite expression showed an orderly transition post-infection with similar kinetics between host cell types, with the emergence of several amastigote traits within 12 hours, followed by parasite replication after 24 hours, with parasites in BMM or BMDC initiating DNA replication more slowly. Lipophosphoglycan (LPG) is a Leishmania virulence factor that facilitates metacyclic establishment in host cells but declines in amastigotes. Whereas LPG expression was lost by parasites within PEM by 48 hours, >40% of the parasites infecting BMM or BMDC retained metacyclic-level LPG expression at 72 hr. Thus L. major may prolong LPG expression in different intracellular environments, thereby extending its efficacy in promoting infectivity in situ and during cell-to-cell transfer of parasites expressing this key virulence factor.
Behavioral problems in anxious youth: Cross-sectional and prospective associations with reinforcement sensitivity and parental rejection
Authors: Kreuze Leonie J. , de Jong Peter J. , Jonker Nienke C. , Hartman Catharina A. , Nauta Maaike H.
Published: October 2022

A subsample of children and young people (CYP) with anxiety disorders presents with comorbid behavioral problems. These CYP have greater impairment in daily life, profit less from current treatments, and have an increased risk for continued mental problems. We investigated two potential explanations for these comorbid behavioral problems. First, high punishment sensitivity (PS) may lead to a strong inclination to experience threat, which may not only elicit anxiety but also defensive behavioral problems. Second, behavioral problems may arise from high reward sensitivity (RS), when rewards are not obtained. Behavioral problems may subsequently elicit parental rejection, thereby fueling anxiety. We used a cross-sectional (age = 16.1, N = 61) and prospective (age = 22.2, N = 91) approach to test the relationship between PS/RS and comorbid behavioral problems. Participants were a subsample of highly anxious CYP from a large prospective cohort study. PS/RS were indexed by a spatial orientation task. We also investigated the prospective association between behavioral problems and anxiety at 6-year follow-up, and the proposed mediation by parental rejection. PS and RS showed no cross-sectional or prospective relationships with comorbid behavioral problems in highly anxious CYP. Yet, behavioral problems in adolescence showed a small prospective relationship with anxiety in young adulthood, but this was not mediated nor moderated by parental rejection. No evidence was found for PS/RS being involved in comorbid behavioral problems in anxious CYP. Findings point to comorbid behavioral problems as potential factor contributing to the further increase of anxiety.
Online parent training platform for complementary treatment of disruptive behavior disorders in attention deficit hyperactivity disorder: A randomized controlled trial protocol
Authors: Chequer de Castro Paiva Gabrielle , Ferreira e Santos Daniel Augusto , Silva Jales Julia , Romano-Silva Marco Aurélio , Marques de Miranda Débora
Published: October 2022

Background

Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is associated with a diversity of impairments and Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD) is a very frequent comorbidity. Parent Training, as an evidence-based intervention, seems effective in reducing externalizing/disruptive behaviors, possibly leading to a better prognosis. This clinical trial aims to evaluate the effectiveness of an online parent training model as a complementary treatment for ADHD and ODD.

Methods

Patients and their families will be screened upon their entry into the Research Center of Impulsivity and Attention (NITIDA) at UFMG—Brazil. Ninety families whose children are male, between 6–12 years old, and have significant externalizing symptoms and whose primary caregiver have complete high school education will be invited to participate. Families will be randomized (1:1) into 03 groups: 1) standard care; 2) standard care + face-to-face parent training; 3) standard care + online parent training. Interventions are analogous, differing only in delivery format. In the face-to-face format, the intervention will be conducted by a specialized therapist and the online format will be carried out through a platform. There will be six sessions/modules, arranged on a weekly basis. Measures of externalizing symptoms, parental and children quality of life, parental stress and parenting style will be collected at baseline and after the intervention.

Discussion

This clinical trial intends to verify the effects of a new, online, model of an evidence-based intervention, which would allow a wider access in the Brazilian context.

Trial registration

Registered on Brazilian Registry of Clinical Trials (ReBEC). Number: RBR-6cvc85. July 24th (2020) 05:35 pm.
Masculine men do not like feminine wording: The effectiveness of gendered wording in health promotion leaflets in the UK
Authors: Baxter Katherine , Czarnecka Barbara , Schivinski Bruno , Massaro Maria Rita
Published: October 2022

Following mixed-methods sequential design and drawing on the message-audience congruence concept and homophily theory, across three studies in the UK, we examined the effect of gendered wording and endorser’s gender on the effectiveness of leaflets promoting walking. In Study 1, a mall-intercept study achieved 247 completed questionnaires. Results demonstrated that men and women indicated the highest behavioural intentions for communal wording presented by a male endorser. However, pairwise comparisons revealed that when the wording of the advert was agentic and the endorser was male, males indicated significantly higher scores of behavioural intentions compared with females. Attitude towards the ad for women was highest for communal wording/female endorser; for men it was for agentic wording/male endorser. In Study 2, consumers’ views towards the gendered content were explored in 20 semi-structured interviews. In study 3 we examined the impact of the respondent’s gender role identity on gendered content effectiveness. Overall, when controlled for level of gender role identity, only masculine males evaluated leaflets featuring communal wording negatively which suggests that wording matters only for masculine males, but not for other men and women. Theoretically, we identified that gender-based message-respondent congruence is not a necessary aspect of communications to be effective, except for one group: masculine males. Our study identified dominant gender role identity as a factor that explained respondents’ preferences for presented stimuli. Specifically, males who display masculine gender role identity differ in evaluations of communal wording from all other groups. Social and commercial marketers who target men and women with exercise-related services should consider the use of agentic wording endorsed by a male endorser when targeting masculine men to increase the likelihood of eliciting positive attitudes towards the communication. However, such distinctions should not be associated with differences in women’s evaluations or men who do not report masculine gender role identity.
Statistical analysis of Covid-19 mortality rate via probability distributions
Authors: Farooq Muhammad , Ijaz Muhammad , Atif Muhammad , Abushal Tahani , El-Morshedy Mahmoud
Published: October 2022

Among other diseases, Covid 19 creates a critical situation around the world. Five layers have been recorded so far, resulting in the loss of millions of lives in different countries. The virus was thought to be contagious, so the government initially severely forced citizens to keep a distance from each other. Since then, several vaccines have been developed that play an important role in controlling mortality. In the case of Covid-19 mortality, the government should be forced to take significant steps in the form of lockdown, keeping you away or forcing citizens to vaccinate. In this paper, modeling of Covid-19 death rates is discussed via probability distributions. To delineate the performance of the best fitted model, the mortality rate of Pakistan and Afghanistan is considered. Numerical results conclude that the NFW model can be used to predict the mortality rate for Covid-19 patients more accurately than other probability models.
Fasting blood glucose and risk of incident pancreatic cancer
Authors: Kim Young Jin , Oh Chang-Mo , Park Sung Keun , Jung Ju Young , Kim Min-Ho , Ha Eunhee , Nam Do Jin , Kim Yeji , Yang Eun Hye , Lee Hyo Choon , Shin Soon Su , Ryoo Jae-Hong
Published: October 2022

Background

The number of patients with diabetes and impaired fasting blood glucose in Korea is rapidly increasing compared to the past, and other metabolic indicators of population are also changed in recent years. To clarify the mechanism more clearly, we investigated the association between fasting blood glucose and incidence of pancreatic cancer in this retrospective cohort study.

Methods

In Korea National Health Information Database, 19,050 participants without pancreatic cancer in 2009 were enrolled, and followed up until 2013. We assessed the risk of incident pancreatic cancer according to the quartile groups of fasting blood glucose level (quartile 1: <88 mg/dL, quartile 2: 88–97 mg/dL, quartile 3: 97–109 mg/dL and quartile 4: ≥109 mg/dL). Multivariate Cox-proportional hazard model was used in calculating hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence interval (CI) for incident pancreatic cancer.

Results

Compared with quartile1 (reference), unadjusted HRs and 95% CI for incident pancreatic cancer significantly increased in order of quartile2 (1.39 [1.01–1.92]), quartile3 (1.50 [1.09–2.07]) and quartile4 (2.18 [1.62–2.95]), and fully adjusted HRs and 95% CI significantly increased from quartile2 (1.47 [1.05–2.04]), quartile3 (1.61 [1.05–2.04]) to quartile4 (2.31 [1.68–3.17]).

Conclusion

Fasting blood glucose even with pre-diabetic range was significantly associated with the incident pancreatic cancer in Korean.
Accounting for the clustering and nesting effects verifies most conclusions. Corrected analysis of: “Randomized nutrient bar supplementation improves exercise-associated changes in plasma metabolome in adolescents and adult family members at cardiometabolic risk”
Authors: Jamshidi-Naeini Yasaman , Golzarri-Arroyo Lilian , Vorland Colby J. , Brown Andrew W. , Dickinson Stephanie , Allison David B.
Published: October 2022

In a published randomized controlled trial, household units were randomized to a nutrient bar supplementation group or a control condition, but the non-independence of observations within the same household (i.e., the clustering effect) was not accounted for in the statistical analyses. Therefore, we reanalyzed the data appropriately by adjusting degrees of freedom using the between-within method, and accounting for household units using linear mixed effect models with random intercepts for family units and subjects nested within family units for each reported outcome. Results from this reanalysis showed that ignoring the clustering and nesting effects in the original analyses had resulted in anticonservative (i.e., too small) time x group interaction p-values. Still, majority of the conclusions remained unchanged.
Development and validation of a clinical predictive model for severe and critical pediatric COVID-19 infection
Authors: Wong Judith Ju Ming , Abbas Qalab , Liauw Felix , Malisie Ririe Fachrina , Gan Chin Seng , Abid Muhammad , Efar Pustika , Gloriana Josephine , Chuah Soo Lin , Sultana Rehena , Thoon Koh Cheng , Yung Chee Fu , Lee Jan Hau ,   PACCOVRA Investigators of the PACCMAN research group
Published: October 2022

Introduction

Children infected with COVID-19 are susceptible to severe manifestations. We aimed to develop and validate a predictive model for severe/ critical pediatric COVID-19 infection utilizing routinely available hospital level data to ascertain the likelihood of developing severe manifestations.

Methods

The predictive model was based on an analysis of registry data from COVID-19 positive patients admitted to five tertiary pediatric hospitals across Asia [Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia (two centers) and Pakistan]. Independent predictors of severe/critical COVID-19 infection were determined using multivariable logistic regression. A training cohort (n = 802, 70%) was used to develop the prediction model which was then validated in a test cohort (n = 345, 30%). The discriminative ability and performance of this model was assessed by calculating the Area Under the Curve (AUC) and 95% confidence interval (CI) from final Receiver Operating Characteristics Curve (ROC).

Results

A total of 1147 patients were included in this analysis. In the multivariable model, infant age group, presence of comorbidities, fever, vomiting, seizures and higher absolute neutrophil count were associated with an increased risk of developing severe/critical COVID-19 infection. The presence of coryza at presentation, higher hemoglobin and platelet count were associated with a decreased risk of severe/critical COVID-19 infection. The AUC (95%CI) generated for this model from the training and validation cohort were 0.96 (0.94, 0.98) and 0.92 (0.86, 0.97), respectively.

Conclusion

This predictive model using clinical history and commonly used laboratory values was valuable in estimating the risk of developing a severe/critical COVID-19 infection in hospitalized children. Further validation is needed to provide more insights into its utility in clinical practice.
Do aqueous solutions contain net charge?
Authors: Ye Tao , Pollack Gerald H.
Published: October 2022

Solutions with high pH values are sometimes thought to contain net negative charge because of an excess of OH- groups, while solutions with low pH values are thought opposite. To follow up on these speculations, we used a simple electrochemical cell to study three types of solution: electrolyzed waters with differing pH values; acids and bases with different pH values; and various salt solutions. When electrolyzed waters of various pH values were tested against water of pH 7, we found that acidic waters were indeed positively charged, while basic waters were negatively charged. We found much the same when standard acids and bases were compared to reference solutions: acidic solutions were positively charged while basic solutions were negatively charged. Various salts, including NaCl, KCl, Na2SO4, and K2SO4, were also tested against DI water (containing trace amounts of NaCl to lend conductivity). Surprisingly, all salts were found to be negatively charged, more so as their concentrations increased. This collection of results supports the hypothesis that at least some aqueous solutions may contain net charge.
Knowledge, beliefs, attitude, and practices of E-cigarette use among dental students: A multinational survey
Authors: Alhajj Mohammed Nasser , Al-Maweri Sadeq Ali , Folayan Morenike O. , Halboub Esam , Khader Yousef , Omar Ridwaan , Amran Abdullah G. , Al-Batayneh Ola B. , Celebić Asja , Persic Sanja , Kocaelli Humeyra , Suleyman Firas , Alkheraif Abdulaziz A. , Divakar Darshan D. , Mufadhal Abdulbaset A. , Al-Wesabi Mohammed A. , Alhajj Wadhah A. , Aldumaini Mokhtar A. , Khan Saadika , Al-Dhelai Thiyezen A. , Alqahtani Ahmed Shaher , Murad Ali H. , Makzoumé Joseph E. , Kohli Shivani , Ziyad Tareq A.
Published: October 2022

Background

E-cigarette use is a trend worldwide nowadays with mounting evidence on associated morbidities and mortality. Dentists can modify the smoking behaviors of their patients. This study aimed to explore the knowledge, beliefs, attitude, and practice of E-cigarette use among dental students.

Materials and methods

This multinational, cross-sectional, questionnaire-based study recruited undergraduate dental students from 20 dental schools in 11 countries. The outcome variable was current smoking status (non-smoker, E-cigarette user only, tobacco cigarette smoker only, dual user). The explanatory variables were country of residence, sex, age, marital status, and educational level. Multiple linear regression analysis was performed to explore the explanatory variables associated with E-cigarette smoking.

Results

Of the 5697 study participants, 5156 (90.8%) had heard about E-cigarette, and social media was the most reported source of information for 33.2% of the participants. For the 5676 current users of E-cigarette and/or tobacco smoking, 4.5% use E-cigarette, and 4.6% were dual users. There were significant associations between knowledge and country (P< 0.05), educational level (B = 0.12; 95% CI: 0.02, 0.21; P = 0.016) and smoking status (P< 0.05). The country of residence (P< 0.05) and smoking status (P< 0.05) were the only statistically significant factors associated with current smoking status. Similarly, there were statistically significant associations between attitude and country (P< 0.05 for one country only compared to the reference) and history of previous E-cigarette exposure (B = -0.52; 95% CI: -0.91, -0.13; P = 0.009). Also, the practice of E-cigarettes was significantly associated with country (P< 0.05 for two countries only compared to the reference) and gender (B = -0.33; 95% CI: -0.52, -0.13; P = 0.001).

Conclusion

The knowledge of dental students about E-cigarette was unsatisfactory, yet their beliefs and attitudes were acceptable. Topics about E-cigarette should be implemented in the dental curriculum.
Task-based profiles of language impairment and their relationship to cognitive dysfunction in Parkinson’s disease
Authors: Lowit Anja , Thies Tabea , Steffen Julia , Scheele Franziska , Roheger Mandy , Kalbe Elke , Barbe Michael
Published: October 2022

Objective

Parkinson’s Disease (PD) is associated with both motor and non-motor problems, such as cognitive impairment. Particular focus in this area has been on the relationship between language impairment and decline in other cognitive functions, with the literature currently inconclusive on how the nature and degree of language impairment relate to cognition or other measures of disease severity. In addition, little information is available on how language problems identified in experimental task set-ups relate to competency in self-generated language paradigms such as picture description, monologues or conversations. This study aimed to inform clinical management of language impairment in PD by exploring (1) language performance across a range of experimental as well as self-generated language tasks, (2) how the relationship between these two aspects might be affected by the nature of the cognitive and language assessment; and (3) to what degree performance can be predicted across the language tasks.

Methods

22 non-demented people with PD (PwPD) and 22 healthy control participants performed a range of cognitive and language tasks. Cognitive tasks included a screening assessment in addition to tests for set shifting, short term memory, attention, as well as letter and category fluency. Language was investigated in highly controlled grammar tasks as well as a Sentence Generation and a Narrative.

Results

The study highlighted impaired ability in set-shifting and letter fluency in the executive function tasks, and a higher rate of grammatical and lexical errors across all language tasks in the PD group. The performance in the grammar task was linked to set shifting ability, but error rates in Sentence Generation and Narrative were independent of this. There was no relevant relationship between performances across the three language tasks.

Conclusions

Our results suggest that there is a link between executive function and language performance, but that this is task dependent in non-demented PwPD. This has implications for the management of language impairment in PD, both for assessment and for designing effective interventions.
Perceptions of ecosystem services: Comparing socio-cultural and environmental influences
Authors: Thiemann Miriam , Riebl Rebekka , Haensel Maria , Schmitt Thomas M. , Steinbauer Manuel J. , Landwehr Theresa , Fricke Ute , Redlich Sarah , Koellner Thomas
Published: October 2022

Ecosystem services such as food provisioning, climate regulation, nutrient cycling, or recreation in open landscapes underpin human wellbeing. They are highly dependent on land use, land cover and utilization pattern as well as environmental factors like climate, topography and soil. In consequence, ecosystem services supply shows a high spatial variability. However, it is less clear if the perception of the importance of ecosystem services is similarly heterogeneous in space and amongst societal actors. The aim of this large-scale study was to explore whether land cover and climate gradients as well as socio-cultural factors influence the perceptions of ecosystem services of four groups of societal actors: citizens, farmers, foresters and nature managers. Spatially explicit survey data of 3018 respondents allowed to gain insight into the distribution of perceived importance of 21 ecosystem services in the federal state of Bavaria, Germany together with the respondents’ socio-cultural characterisation (e.g. gender, education and hobbies in nature). Responses were analysed through descriptive statistics, redundancy analysis, and Generalized Linear Models. Results reveal that the perceived importance of many ecosystem services was consistently high across groups, although perception differed for some ecosystem services (e.g. production of energy plants and timber as well as recreation in urban green space). Compared to other actor groups, farmers attributed slightly lower importance to all ES except provisioning services. Socio-cultural factors better explained variability in perceived importance of ecosystem services than land cover and climate gradients. This might be either explained by the fact that the environmental gradients vary not strong enough in our case study or that they do not shape the perceptions of respondents. A limitation of the study is that the sample of respondents obtained is not representative for the population, but biased towards persons interested in the topics of the survey. Still the consensus indicated by the overall positive perception of ecosystem services among respondents highlights the integrative potential of ecosystem services when included in decision-making.
A prospective cohort study of dynamic cell-free DNA elevation during cardiac surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass
Authors: Ishay Shlomo Yaron , Abu-Tailakh Muhammad , Raichel Lior , Hershenhoren Tal F. , Matsa Menahem , Lev-Ran Oren , Gideon Sahar , Douvdevani Amos
Published: October 2022

Cardiac surgery and cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) are associated with a systemic inflammatory reaction that occasionally induces a life-threatening organ dysfunction caused by the dysregulated host response to the damage-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs). In severe inflammation, cell-free DNA (cfDNA) and histones are released by inflammatory cells and damaged tissue and act as DAMPs. We sought to characterize the changes in circulating cell-free DNA (cfDNA) levels during CPB. Primary outcomes were renal failure, ventilation time (>18 hr), length of stay (LOS) in the intensive care unit (ICU) (>48hr), hospital LOS (>15 days), and death. We looked for associations with blood tests and comparison to standard scores. In a prospective cohort study, we enrolled 71 patients undergoing non-emergent coronary artery bypass grafting. Blood was drawn at baseline, 20 and 40 minutes on CPB, after cross-clamp removal, and 30 minutes after chest closure. cfDNA was measured by our fast fluorescent method. Baseline cfDNA levels [796 (656–1063) ng/ml] increased during surgery, peaked after cross-clamp removal [2403 (1981–3357) ng/ml] and returned to baseline at recovery. The difference in cfDNA from 20 to 40 minutes on CPB (ΔcfDNA 40–20) inversely correlated with peripheral vascular disease (PVD), longer ventilation time, and longer ICU and hospital length of stay (LOS). Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve of ΔcfDNA 40–20 for long ICU-LOS (>48hr) was with an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.738 (p = 0.022). ROC AUC of ΔcfDNA 40–20 to long Hospital LOS (>15 days) was 0.787 (p = 0.006). Correction for time on CPB in a multivariate logistic regression model improved ROC-AUC to 0.854 (p = 0.003) and suggests that ΔcfDNA 40–20 is an independent risk factor. To conclude, of measured parameters, including STS and Euroscore, the predictive power of ΔcfDNA 40–20 was the highest. Thus, measurement of ΔcfDNA 40–20 may enable early monitoring of patients at higher risk. Further studies on the mechanism behind the negative association of ΔcfDNA 40–20 with PVD and outcomes are warranted.
Compassion fatigue among frontline healthcare workers during the covid-19 pandemic in Tunisia
Authors: Omri Nihel , Ezzi Olfa , Ammar Asma , Benzarti Wafa , Loghmari Dorra , Toulgui Emna , Ben Abdelkarim Asma , Boukadida Asma , Njah Mansour , Mahjoub Mohamed
Published: October 2022

Background

Healthcare workers (HCWs) are highly vulnerable to compassion fatigue (CF), which not only leads to decreased mental and physical health, but also to deterioration in the safety of care delivered. Our study aims to measure compassion satisfaction (CS), CF levels and their predictors among Tunisian HCWs.

Methods

We conducted a cross-sectional study among HCWs caring for confirmed and suspected Covid-19 patients, staff at two university hospitals in Sousse, Tunisia during the 4thwave of coronavirus through a self-administrated Questionnaire, using the French version of the Professional Quality of Life scale ProQol, version 5.

Results

A total of 274 professionals were recruited with a mean age of 32.87±8.35 years. HCWs tend to have an overall moderate levels of compassion satisfaction, secondary traumatic stress and burnout with mean scores 35.09±7.08, 29.72±7.62, 28.54±5.44 respectively. Self-reported resilience (β = 0.14, p = 10−3), work engagement (β = 0.39, p = 10−3) and burnout (β = -0.32, p = 10−3) were the predictors of compassion satisfaction in the linear regression analysis (adjusted r2 = 0.45). Similarly, limited work experience, compassion satisfaction and secondary traumatic sub-scores were the determinants of burnout (β = -0.1, p = 0.04; β = -0.54, p = 10−3; β = 0.35, p = 10−3 respectively); (adjusted r2 = 0.48). Regarding STS, female professionals (β = 0.20, p = 10−3), being married (β = 0.19, p = 10−3), the fear of transmitting the infection (β = 0.11, p = 0.03) and burnout (β = 0.39, p = 10−3) were the predictors for the occurrence of secondary traumatic stress (adjusted r2 = 0.48).

Conclusion

More resilience promoting interventions and more coping skills programs must be implemented to fulfill HCWs’ psychological well-being needs.
Proinflammatory profile in the skin of Parkinson’s disease patients with and without pain
Authors: Lama Joana , Salabasidou Elena , Volkmann Jens , Kuzkina Anastasia , Duty Susan , Üçeyler Nurcan
Published: October 2022

Background

Pain is a common non-motor symptom of Parkinson`s disease (PD), however, its pathomechanism remains elusive.

Objective

We aimed to investigate the local gene expression of selected proinflammatory mediators in patients with PD and correlated our data with patients`pain phenotype.

Methods

We recruited 30 patients with PD and 30 healthy controls. Pain intensity of patients was assessed using the Numeric Rating Scale (NRS) and patients were stratified into PD pain (NRS≥4) and PD No Pain (NRS<4) subgroups. Skin punch biopsies were immunoassayed for protein-gene product 9.5 as a pan-neuronal marker and intraepidermal nerve fiber density (IEFND). Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) analysis was performed to assess the gene expression of inflammatory mediators in the skin compared to controls.

Results

Patients with PD had lower distal IENFD compared to healthy controls. In skin samples, IL-2 (p<0.001) and TNF-α (p<0.01) were expressed higher in PD patients compared to controls. IL-1β (p<0.05) was expressed higher in the PD pain group compared to healthy controls. PD patients with pain receiving analgesics had a lower expression of TNF-α (p<0.05) in the skin compared to those not receiving treatment.

Conclusions

Our data suggest the occurrence of a local, peripheral inflammatory response in the skin in PD, but do not support this being a relevant factor contributing to pain in PD.
Alpha-SGANet: A multi-attention-scale feature pyramid network combined with lightweight network based on Alpha-IoU loss
Authors: Li Hong , Zhou Qian , Mao Yao , Zhang Bing , Liu Chao
Published: October 2022

The design of deep convolutional neural networks has resulted in significant advances and successes in the field of object detection. However, despite these achievements, the high computational and memory costs of such object detection networks on the edge or in mobile scenarios are one of the most significant barriers to their broad adoption. To solve this problem, this paper introduces an improved lightweight real-time convolutional neural network based on YOLOv5, called Alpha-SGANet: A multi-attention-scale feature pyramid network combined with a lightweight network based on Alpha-IoU loss. Firstly, we add one more prediction head to detect different-scale objects, design a lightweight and efficient feature extraction network using ShuffleNetV2 in the backbone, and reduce information loss using the SPP module with a smaller convolutional nucleus. Then, cleverly, employ GAFPN to improve feature transition processing in the neck region, including the usage of the Ghost module to construct efficient feature maps to help prediction. The CBAM module was further integrated to find areas of interest in the scene; finally, combined with Alpha-IOU loss for model supervision training, the biggest performance improvement was achieved. The experiment results show that, compared with YOLOv5s, our proposed method can achieve higher accuracy with fewer parameters and has real-time speed through verification on the PASCAL VOC dataset and MS COCO dataset.
Management and outcome of post-myocardial infarction ventricular septal rupture—A Low-Middle-Income Country Experience
Authors: Aijaz Saba , Peerwani Ghazal , Bugti Asadullah , Sheikh Sana , Mustaqeem Marium , Mal Sharwan Bhuro , Memon Ahson , Khan Ghufranullah , Pathan Asad
Published: October 2022

Background

Ventricular septal rupture (VSR) is a rare complication after acute myocardial infarction (AMI) especially in the reperfusion era but its associated mortality has remained high. This case series evaluated in-hospital and intermediate-term mortality in VSR patients. Additionally, we also analyzed risk factors, clinical presentation, intervention, and predictors of in-hospital mortality in VSR patients.

Methods

Data of 67 patients with echocardiography confirmed diagnosis of VSR from January 2011 to April 2020 was extracted from hospital medical records. Records were also reviewed to document 30 day and 1-year mortality, recurrent heart failure admission, repeat myocardial infarction, and revascularization. In addition, telephonic follow-up was done to assess health-related quality of life(HRQOL) assessed by KCCQ-12. SCAI shock classification was used to categorize severity of cardiogenic shock. Univariate and multivariable logistic regression was used to determine predictors of in-hospital mortality. Survival function was presented using the Kaplan-Meier survival curve.

Results

Mean age of patients was 62.7 ± 11.1 years, 62.7% were males. 65.7% of the patients presented more than 24 hours after MI and did not receive reperfusion therapy. Median time from AMI to VSR diagnosis was 2 (1–5) days. VSR closure was attempted in 53.7% patients. In-hospital mortality was 65.7%. At univariate level, predictors of in-hospital mortality were non-surgical management, basal VSR, right ventricular dysfunction, early VSR post-MI, and severe cardiogenic shock at admission (class C, D, or E). Adjusted predictors of in-hospital mortality included non-surgical management, basal VSR and advanced cardiogenic shock. There were 5 deaths during median followup of 44.1 months. HRQOL in patients available on followup was good (54.5%) or excellent (45.5%).

Conclusion

High in-hospital mortality was seen in VSR patients. VSR closure is the preferred treatment to get long-term survival, however, timing of repair as well as severity of cardiogenic shock plays a significant role in determining prognosis.