bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Comportamento empreendedor:
Authors: Pedroso Paiva Cleidiane , Machado Rogério Ruas , Ricardo Siani Sergio , Passos Fortes Gustavo , Cesar Santos Carlos
Published: January 2022

O empreendedorismo destaca-se como um fenômeno de consequências econômicas e sociais representado na figura do empreendedor, sendo importante compreender e determinar os fatores que podem direcionar e induzir o comportamento das pessoas para a ação empreendedora. Diante disso, o presente estudo tem como objetivo identificar os fatores motivacionais que influenciaram os empreendedores a abrirem suas empresas no setor farmacêutico em Rondon do Pará. A pesquisa com abordagem qualitativa, de caráter exploratório, utilizou-se de estudo de múltiplos casos, e a coleta dos dados foram realizadas por meio de entrevistas semiestruturadas com cinco empreendedores do setor farmacêutico do município. Os resultados obtidos classificaram a intenção empreendedora a partir das necessidades pessoais, que movimentam o comportamento para a ação em empreender, atrelado às características encontradas nos empreendedores como iniciativa, inovação, persistência e a capacidade de assumir riscos, sob influência de elementos sociais e econômicos. Observou-se que a partir da junção desses elementos os empreendedores se sentiram confiantes para abrirem suas empresas.
The Art of Anatomy: Engaging Student Creativity in Undergraduate Anatomy Courses
Authors: Platt Kristen , Salmeron Kathleen , Hatcher April
Published: January 2022

Creativity is widely accepted to be a valuable skill to hone, but it is often difficult to define and even more difficult to measure. Artistic endeavors and creativity have historically had a close relationship with the sciences. However, recent trends have largely removed creativity from scientific inquiry and education. This shift has led to a large proportion of the coursework in anatomy fields to be strictly delivered via textbook and lecture and learning only gauged through quizzes and examinations. In the current work, we examined the assigning of creative projects during two semesters of a large undergraduate anatomy course at the University of Kentucky. We describe the showcasing of these creative works in both in-person and virtual formats. Future work will explore long-term impacts on student humanitarianism and professionalism as a result of the creative assignments.
To Use or Not to Use: Supplemental Technology in an Undergraduate Anatomy Lab
Authors: Persinger Jonah , Dunham Stacey , Husmann Polly
Published: January 2022

Basic Human Anatomy at Indiana University is a large undergraduate anatomy class with nearly five hundred students in twelve lab sections. In the fall of 2018, we added the Virtual Human Dissector software on an interactive Sectra table to our lab to help students fill the gap between idealized anatomical models and fully prosected cadavers. We evaluated this new technology using a cross-over study design with pre- and post-module quizzes, exam questions related to the modules, and a survey of student perceptions. Results indicate that while not all students enjoyed using the new technology, even those who did not report enjoying it could still identify gaps that the technology helped to fill. Quiz results showed greater increases in knowledge for those who completed the modules, particularly during the second semester. However, exam results did not demonstrate a longer-term difference in knowledge between those who completed a specific module and those who did not.
Composición, estructura e importancia ecológica de las Moraceae en un bosque residual de Ucayali, Perú
Authors: Ramírez Fred C. , Castillo Gumercindo A. , Flores Ymber , Galván Octavio F. , Riveros Luisa , Sáenz Lyanna H.
Published: January 2022

Las especies de la familia Moraceae tienen gran importancia económica, medicinal y ecológica en la Amazonía; sin embargo, existen escasos estudios sobre su diversidad y dinámica poblacional en los bosques residuales. El objetivo fue determinar la composición, estructura e importancia ecológica de las Moraceae en un bosque residual. El método aplicado fue el descriptivo y consistió en establecer 16 parcelas de 20 m × 50 m (0,10 ha), en un bosque residual de la subestación Alexánder von Humboldt, del Instituto Nacional de Innovación Agraria-INIA, Pucallpa, departamento de Ucayali, donde se evaluaron los individuos de hábito arbóreo o hemiepífito, con DAP ≥ 2,50 cm. La composición florística estuvo representada por 33 especies, distribuidas en 12 géneros; se encontró cinco especies no registradas para Ucayali. Estructuralmente, la familia estuvo representada por 138 individuos/ha con una distribución horizontal semejante a una “J” invertida irregular, sin embargo, existieron diferentes estructuras horizontales entre especies. Se determinó que el 85% de las especies se encontraban en la clase diamétrica I (2,50 a 9,99 cm), siendo la más abundante Pseudolmedia laevis (Ruiz & Pav.) J.F. Macbr. (41,88 individuos/ha); y las más dominantes fueron Brosimum utile (Kunth) Oken (1,71 m2 /ha) y Brosimum alicastrum subsp. bolivarense (Pittier) C.C.Berg (0,90 m2 / ha). Asimismo, P. laevis y B. utile fueron las de mayor importancia ecológica. La información de la presente investigación permitirá establecer una línea base, que puede ser utilizada para proponer el manejo de las Moraceae en bosques residuales del mismo ámbito de estudio.
Host Microbiomes in Tumor Precision Medicine: How far are we?
Authors: D’Amico Federica , Barone Monica , Tavella Teresa , Rampelli Simone , Brigidi Patrizia , Turroni Silvia
Published: January 2022

The human gut microbiome has received a crescendo of attention in recent years due to the countless influences on human pathophysiology, including cancer. Research on cancer and anticancer therapy is constantly looking for new hints to improve the response to therapy while reducing the risk of relapse. In this scenario, the gut microbiome and the plethora of microbial-derived metabolites are considered a new opening in the development of innovative anticancer treatments for a better prognosis. This narrative review summarizes the current knowledge on the role of the gut microbiome in the onset and progression of cancer, as well as in response to chemo-immunotherapy. Recent findings regarding the tumor microbiome and its implications for clinical practice are also commented on. Current microbiome-based intervention strategies (i.e., prebiotics, probiotics, live biotherapeutics and fecal microbiota transplantation) are then discussed, along with key shortcomings, including a lack of long-term safety information in patients who are already severely compromised by standard treatments. The implementation of bioinformatic tools applied to microbiomics and other omics data, such as machine learning, has an enormous potential to push research in the field, enabling the prediction of health risk and therapeutic outcomes, for a truly personalized precision medicine.
Stimulants and Depressor Drugs in the Sleep-wake Cycle Modulation: The Case of Alcohol and Cannabinoids
Authors: Murillo-Rodríguez Eric , Carreón Cristina , Acosta-Hernández Mario Eduardo , García-García Fabio
Published: January 2022

A complex neurobiological network drives the sleep-wake cycle. In addition, external stimuli, including stimulants or depressor drugs, also influence the control of sleep. Here we review the recent advances that contribute to the comprehensive understanding of the actions of stimulants and depressor compounds, such as alcohol and cannabis, in sleep regulation. The objective of this review is to highlight the neurobiological mechanism engaged by alcohol and cannabis in sleep control.
Catalytic Applications of Recent and Improved Covalent Organic Frameworks
Authors: Sharma Venu , Nemiwal Meena , Kumar Dinesh
Published: January 2022

Covalent Organic Frameworks (COFs) are porous crystalline materials that have emerged
as promising molecular materials in optoelectronics, catalysis, and gas storage applications. COFs exhibit
unique features, such as adaptability for various substrates, high chemical stability, tunability,
ease of working, and recyclability, making them efficient catalysts. The current mini-review article
discusses the synthesis and applications of COFs as catalysts. We hope that the present review will be
highly beneficial for researchers working in the area of COFs and their applications in catalysis.
Recent Advances in the Chemistry and Biological Activity of Sulfonamide
Derivatives
Authors: Yousif Mahmoud N.M. , El-Gazzar Abdel-Rahman B.A. , Hafez Hend N. , Fayed Ahmed A. , ElRashedy Ahmed , Yousif Nabil M.
Published: January 2022

This review describes different synthetic methods for the preparation of sulfonamides.
Generally, sulfonamides are synthesized from sulfonyl chloride derivative and amino derivative. A
series of sulfonamide derivatives 7a-c, 8a,b, 9, 10, 11a,b, and 12 were synthesized in alkaline media
by reacting different amino compounds with a p-toluene sulfonyl chloride. Different amino derivatives
13, 15, 17, 19, and 21 reacted with p-tolyl sulphonyl chloride to afford sulfonylamides 14, 16,
18, 20, and 22. Different reactions of sulfonamide derivatives have been summarized. Generally, the
sulfonamide function group does not participate in any reactions, but other functional groups in the
compound are involved in various reactions. Sulfonamides exhibit different biological activities, e.g.,
antibacterial activity, anticancer activity, urease inhibitory activity, radical scavenging activity, carbonic
anhydrase inhibitory activity, non-competitive lactoperoxidase inhibitory activity, antifungal
activity, and anti-mycobacterial activity.
Global Comprehensive Outlook of Hantavirus Contagion on Humans: A
Review
Authors: Ashique Sumel , Sandhu Navjot K , Das Supratim , Haque Sk. Niyamul , Koley Kartick
Published: January 2022

Hantaviruses are rodent viruses that have been identified as etiologic agents of 2 diseases in
humans: hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS) and nephropathiaepidemica (NE) in the Old
World and Hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS) in the New World. Orthohantavirus is a genus of
single-stranded, enveloped, negative-sense RNA viruses in the family Hantaviridae of the order Bunyavirales.
The important reservoir of Hantaviruses is rodents. Each virus serotype has its unique rodent
host species and is transmitted to human beings with the aid of aerosolized virus, which is shed in
urine, faeces and saliva and hardly by a bite of the contaminated host. Andes virus is the only Hantavirus
identified to be transmitted from human-to-human and its major signs and symptoms include fever,
headache, muscle aches, lungs filled with fluid, etc. In early 1993, this viral syndrome appeared in the
Four Corner location in the southwestern United States. The only accepted therapeutics for this virus is
Ribavirin. Recently, serological examinations to identify Hantavirus antibodies have become most
popular for investigation among humans and rodent reservoirs.
The Chance of COVID-19 Infection after Vaccination
Authors: Khalili-Tanha Ghazaleh , Khazaei Majid , Soleimanpour Saman , Ferns Gordon A , Avan Amir
Published: January 2022

The outbreak of COVID-19 that was first reported in Wuhan, China, has constituted a new
emerging epidemic that has spread around the world. There are some reports illustrating the patients
getting re-infected after recovering from COVID-19. Here, we provide an overview of the biphasic
cycle of COVID-19, genetic diversity, immune response, and a chance of reinfection after recovering
from COVID-19. The new generation of COVID-19 is a highly contagious and pathogenic infection
that can lead to acute respiratory distress syndrome. Whilst most patients suffer from a mild form of
the disease, there is a rising concern that patients who recover from COVID-19 may be at risk of reinfection.
The proportion of the infected population is increasing worldwide; meanwhile, the rate and
concern of reinfection by the recovered population are still high. Moreover, there is little evidence on
the chance of COVID-19 infection even after vaccination, which is around one percent or less. Although
the hypothesis of zero reinfections after vaccination has not been clinically proven, further
studies should be performed on the recovered class in clusters to study the progression of the exposure
with the re-exposed subpopulations to estimate the possibilities of reinfection and, thereby, advocate
the use of these antibodies for vaccine creation.
Applications of Metagenomics for Unrevealing the Extended Horizons of Microbiota Prevalence from Soil to Human Health
Authors: Sharma Vrishty , Malla Muneer Ahmad , Kori Rajesh Kumar , Yadav Rajesh Singh , Azam Zaffar
Published: January 2022

Phylogenetic analysis of different ecosystems has shown that the number of microbial communities in a single sample exceeds their cultured counterparts. Microbes have been found throughout nature and can thrive in adverse conditions. Besides inhabiting diverse environments, they also play a key role in the maintenance of the ecosystem. Most of these microbes are either unculturable or difficult to culture with conventional culturing methods. Metagenomics is an emerging field of science that has been in the light for a decade and offers a potential way to assess microbial diversity. The development of metagenomics opens new ways to study genetic material directly from the environmental samples. DNA sequencing and synthesis technologies are making it possible to read and write entire genomes. The huge amount of data obtained from genome sequencing inevitably requires bioinformatics tools to handle and further process them for analysis. Advances in DNA sequencing and high-performance computing have brought about exemplar improvement in metagenomics, allowing in-depth study of the largely unexplored frontier of microbial life. This culture-independent method provides extensive information regarding the structure, composition, and function of the diverse assemblages of the environmental microbes. The current review presents an overview of the technical aspects of metagenomics along with its diverse applications.
Channel Capacity of Molecular Signaling via Diffusion in Confined Microenvironment
Authors: Chude-Okonkwo Uche A.K.
Published: January 2022

Aims:

To model molecular signal propagation in confined environment.

Background:

Molecular communication (MC) is rooted in the concepts of understanding, modeling,
and engineering information exchange among naturally and artificially synthesized nanosystems. To
develop or analyze an MC system, there is the need to model the communication channel through
which the molecular signal diffuse, from the transmitter to the receiver. Many models for the diffusion-
based MC channel have been proposed in the literature for evaluating the performance of MC
systems. Most of the contemporary works assume, and rightly so for some scenarios, that the MC
channels under consideration have infinite boundaries. However, this assumption becomes invalid in
bounded domains such as the interiors of natural cells and artificially synthesized nanosystems.

Objective:

In this paper, the model of molecular propagation in a confined. microenvironment is employ
to explore the effect of such an environment on the MC system.

Method:

The mutual information of the channel and specifically the closed-form expression of the
channel capacity of the molecular signaling in the confined geometry is derive.

Result:

Numerical results showing the variation in the channel capacity as the function of the channel
dimension are presented.

Conclusion:

Results showed that the channel capacity increases with the decrease in the channel dimension.
Subsequently, as the dimension of the channel tends to the nanoscale range typical of many
artificially synthesized nanosystems, the effect of the channel width on the capacity and by induction
on many other system metrics increases.
In Silico
Study of Pubchem Compounds for Solanum torvum as Antiviral Agent against SARS-CoV-2
Authors: Vaithilingam Subramaniyan , Vivekanandan Lakshmipathy , Krishna Moorthy S.
Published: January 2022

Background:

The recent epidemic outbreak of a novel coronavirus called SARS-CoV-2 has caused suffering among many people in the form of respiratory tract infection. Currently, there are no targeted drugs, and effective treatment options remain limited.

Objective:

In order to rapidly discover new compounds for clinical purposes, in silico drug design and virtual drug screening have been initiated to identify new drug leads that target the main protease of the COVID-19 virus. Mpro is a key CoV enzyme, which plays a pivotal role in mediating viral replication and transcription, making it an attractive drug target for this virus.

Methods:

The present study was done to investigate the PubChem compounds of an ayurvedic herb Solanum torvum as an effective antiviral agent against COVID-19. The PubChem compounds like Torvoside H, Torvoside A, Torvoside E, Torvoside F, Torvonin A, 2,3,4-trimethyltriacontane, Torvanol A Q27134802, 5-hexatriacontanone, Jurubine, Tritriacontan-3-one, Torvanol A, Chlorogenone Spirostane-3,6-dione of Solanum torvum were downloaded from NCBI PubChem database acting as ligands for protein ligand docking. The 3D structure of the viral MPro (PDB ID: 6yb7) was retrieved from the RCSB PDB database. The active sites and binding sites were analyzed, and Docking molecular simulations were realized among a total of 12 ligands against COVID-19.

Results:

The PubChem compounds from the fruits of Solanum torvum showed good docking score and protein-ligand interaction, indicating that the PubChem compounds can cure the COVID-19 disease and act as an effective antiviral agent.

Conclusion:

Most of the PubChem compounds in the fruits of Solanum torvum showed better paramagnetic parameters.
CLOSING THE GAP FOR PHARMACOLOGICAL TREATMENT OF PAINFUL DIABETIC NEUROPATHY : THE POTENTIAL ROLE OF VITAMIN D
Authors: Taslim Pinzon Rizaldy , Angela Angela
Published: January 2022

Painful neuropathic pain is a challenging chronic pain to treat. It is heterogeneous in symptoms and could be resistant to the available treatments regimen. Current pharmacological treatments fail to achieve adequate pain relief in a most patients. The previous review showed that only less than 50% of patients can achieve good pain reduction with standard adjuvant treatment. The available adjuvants analgesic only focus in the symptom control, and do not interfere with the progressing damage of the nerve. Vit D insufficiency is quite frequent in type 2 diabetes patients.diabetes, particularly those with symptoms of DPN. The studies also showed that low serum vitamin D levels are an independent predictor of DPN development. Vitamin D supplementation is necessary for diabetic neuropathy patients since it promotes the synthesis of neurotrophins and neurotransmitters. Additional vitamin D therapy have big role in nerve growth factor and the regulation of neurotrophin and Ca2+ homeostasis in neurons, and provides protection for neurons in the peripheral nervous system. In this review, we do systematically search the studies about Vitamin D for the treatment of painful diabetic neuropathic condition. We used PubMed, Cochrane, Clinical Key, and search Google Scholar for papers that used vitamin D phrases. and painful diabetic neuropathy as our major database for this review and we make a systematic table to explain our review. However, there is still an unmet need in the management of neuropathic pain. The unmet needs maybe caused by the gap between pharmacological treatmnet in pain reduction in painful diabetic neuropathy patients. Therefore, in this review we discuss about the potential use of vitamin D as an add-on therapy to closing the gap in the management of neuropathic pain.
CASE REPORT OF ADULT-ONSET CHARCOT MARIE TOOTH TYPE X
Authors: Suherlim Richard , Agung Ayu Putri Laksmidewi Anak , NKA Sudiarini
Published: January 2022

Charcot-Marie-Tooth (CMT) or Hereditary Motor and Sensory Neuropathy (HMSN) is the most common hereditary peripheral nerve disease with progressive chronic weakness, muscle atrophy, and sensory disturbances. There are several types and subtypes of CMT with their respective clinical manifestations. In this article, we reported a patient with of CMT type X. A 43-year-old male patient was referred to a neurology clinic with weakness in both limbs for 2 years, accompanied by tingling and sensory disturbance in both hands and feet. There are several of his family members who had similar complaints. Lumbosacral magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) examination revealed mild nucleus pulposus herniation. Electroneuromyography (ENMG) examination revealed demyelinating sensory motor polyneuropathy. Histopathological examination of nerve biopsy showed demyelination of the sural nerve. It is hard to make a diagnosis of CMT, because it requires high suspicion from clinicians once encounter a suspected case and also need to supported by sophisticated equipment such as electrophysiological examinations, nerve biopsy examinations, and genetic examinations. It is vital for clinicians for being able to diagnose CMT correctly and provide treatment as soon as possible in order to maintain the patients’ quality of life.
An evaluation of Musyawarah Guru Mata Pelajaran (MGMP) program of Indonesian Language subject in vocational school
Authors: Pambudi Sigit , Hermawati Istiana
Published: January 2022

This study aims to evaluate the administrative program for Indonesian MGMP teachers, one of which is the Rencana Pelaksanaan Pembelajaran (RPP). This research is evaluation research with the CIPP model. The research population was 59 members of the Indonesian Language MGMP of vocational school at the Sleman Regency Vocational and all students whom the members of the MGMP taught. The teacher sample was selected using the total sampling technique involving 59 members, while the student sample was selected using the proportionate random sampling technique involving 375 students. The validity in this study uses content validity and construct validity, while the reliability uses Cronbach's Alpha. Data were collected using questionnaires, interviews, and observations and were analyzed using descriptive statistics. The results of the study show that: (1) the context of the Indonesian MGMP teacher administration program includes: program design, uses, and barriers based on teacher perceptions, the category is good at 33; (2) inputs include: infrastructure, materials, and instructors. Based on the teacher's perception, the category is good at 56; (3) the process includes: material presentation, discussion and question and answer, and making lesson plans based on the teacher's perception, the category is good at 69; (4) products in the form of teacher-made lesson plans based on perceptions the teacher category is good at 48; and product in teacher teaching abilities based on student perceptions have a good category by 80.
CIPP evaluation model - The agreement of the five ministers: Arranging and organizing junior high school teachers
Authors: Wadu Darius Imanuel , Ismanto Bambang
Published: January 2022

The purpose of this study is to use a descriptive qualitative method to describe the program of the agreement of the five ministers that was implemented in Salatiga. According to the findings, the implementation of the program to organize and arrange Civil Servant teachers in the city of Salatiga is still not going well. This issue prompted additional research into the process of leveling and rearranging teachers. Problems in the implementation of the ongoing program at the Salatiga Education Office were discovered with the assistance of CIPP. In terms of context, the implementation procedures are consistent with the Regional Government’s procedures in terms of vision and mission, objectives, and identification of needs and opportunities. The input is seen to be by the Mayor of Salatiga’s decision, such as aspects of strategy, procedures, and teacher placement. However, the Education, Youth, and Sports Office does not manage funds because there is no allocation. The stages of the process have been running, including readiness identification and monitoring, mutation implementation, and discipline. The result stage demonstrates that while not all of them have achieved their goals, such as equal distribution of teachers in schools, they have done well in terms of benefits, impacts, and sustainability. As a result of the results obtained from the input and output aspects, the Salatiga government must allocate funds for the teacher transfer program for organizing and rearranging middle school teachers in Salatiga to run as expected.
Bugs in the Virtual Clinic: Confronting Telemedicine’s Challenges Through Empathy and Support
Authors: Crotty Bradley H , Somai Melek
Published: January 2022

Although telemedicine has been an important conduit for clinical care during the COVID-19 pandemic, not all patients have been able to meaningfully participate in this mode of health care provision. Challenges with accessing telemedicine using consumer technology can interfere with the ability of patients and clinicians to meaningfully connect and lead to significant investments in time by clinicians and their staff. In this narrative case, we identify issues related to patients’ use of technology, make comparisons between telehealth adoption and the deployment of electronic health records, and propose that building intuitive and supported digital care experiences for patients is required to make virtual care sustainable.
Survivorship of Patients After Long Intensive Care Stay With Exploration and Experience in a New Zealand Cohort (SPLIT ENZ): Protocol for a Mixed Methods Study
Authors: Sutton Lynsey , Bell Elliot , Every-Palmer Susanna , Weatherall Mark , Skirrow Paul
Published: January 2022

Background

Post Intensive Care Syndrome (PICS) was defined by the Society of Critical Care Medicine in 2012 with subsequent international research highlighting poor long-term outcomes; reduced quality of life; and impairments, for survivors of critical illness. To date, there has been no published research on the long-term outcomes of survivors of critical illness in New Zealand.

Objective

The aim of this study is to explore long-term outcomes after critical illness in New Zealand. The primary objectives are to describe and quantify symptoms and disability, explore possible risk factors, and to identify unmet needs in survivors of critical illness.

Methods

This will be a mixed methods study with 2 components. First, a prospective cohort study of approximately 100 participants with critical illness will be followed up at 1, 6, and 12 months after hospital discharge. The primary outcome will be disability assessed using the World Health Organization Disability Assessment Scale 2.0. Secondary outcomes will focus on mental health using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale and the Impact of Events Scale-revised, cognitive function using the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (Montreal Cognitive Assessment–BLIND), and health-related quality of life using the European Quality of Life-Five Dimension-Five Level. The second element of the study will use qualitative grounded theory methods to explore participants experiences of recovery and highlight unmet needs.

Results

This study was approved by the New Zealand Northern A Health and Disability Ethics Committee on August 16, 2021 (21/NTA/107), and has been registered with the Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry on October 5, 2021. SPLIT ENZ is due to start recruitment in early 2022, aiming to enroll 125 patients over 2 years. Data collection is estimated to be completed by 2024-2025 and will be published once all data are available for reporting.

Conclusions

Although international research has identified the prevalence of PICS and the extent of disability in survivors of critical illness, there is no published research in New Zealand. Research in this field is particularly pressing in the context of COVID-19, an illness that may include PICS in its sequelae.

Trial Registration

Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry ACTRN1262100133588; https://www.anzctr.org.au/Trial/Registration/TrialReview.aspx?id=382566&showOriginal=true&isReview=true

International Registered Report Identifier (IRRID)

PRR1-10.2196/35936
Feasibility of Monitoring Health and Well-being in Emerging Adults: Pilot Longitudinal Cohort Study (Preprint)
Authors: Lystad Reidar P , Fajardo Pulido Diana , Peters Lorna , Johnstone Melissa , Ellis Louise A , Braithwaite Jeffrey , Wuthrich Viviana , Amin Janaki , Cameron Cate M , Mitchell Rebecca J
Published: January 2022

BACKGROUND

Emerging adulthood is a distinct segment of an individual’s life course. The defining features of this transitional period include identity exploration, instability, future possibilities, self-focus, and feeling in-between, all of which are thought to affect quality of life, health, and well-being. A longitudinal cohort study with a comprehensive set of measures would be a valuable resource for improving the understanding of the multifaceted elements and unique challenges that contribute to the health and well-being of emerging adults.

OBJECTIVE

The main aim of this pilot study was to evaluate the feasibility and acceptability of recruiting university graduates to establish a longitudinal cohort study to inform the understanding of emerging adulthood.

METHODS

This pilot study was conducted among graduates at a large university. It involved collecting web-based survey data at baseline (ie, graduation) and 12 months post baseline, and linking survey responses to health records from administrative data collections. The feasibility outcome measures of interest included the recruitment rate, response rate, retention rate, data linkage opt-out rate, and availability of linked health records. Descriptive statistics were used to evaluate the representativeness of the sample, completeness of the survey responses, and data linkage characteristics.

RESULTS

Only 2.8% of invited graduates (238/8532) agreed to participate in this pilot cohort study, of whom 59.7% (142/238) responded to the baseline survey. The retention rate between the baseline and follow-up surveys was 69.7% (99/142). The completeness of the surveys was excellent, with the proportion of answered questions in each survey domain ranging from 87.3% to 100% in both the baseline and follow-up surveys. The data linkage opt-out rate was 32.4% (77/238).

CONCLUSIONS

The overall recruitment rate was poor, while the completeness of survey responses among respondents ranged from good to excellent. There was reasonable acceptability for conducting data linkage of health records from administrative data collections and survey responses. This pilot study offers insights and recommendations for future research aiming to establish a longitudinal cohort study to investigate health and well-being in emerging adults.

CLINICALTRIAL

Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry number ACTRN12618001364268; https://tinyurl.com/teec8wh

INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT

RR2-10.2196/16108
Effectiveness of Digital Counseling Environments on Anxiety, Depression, and Adherence to Treatment Among Patients Who Are Chronically Ill: Systematic Review (Preprint)
Authors: Paalimäki-Paakki Karoliina , Virtanen Mari , Henner Anja , Nieminen Miika T , Kääriäinen Maria
Published: January 2022

BACKGROUND

Patients who are chronically ill need novel patient counseling methods to support their self-care at different stages of the disease. At present, knowledge of how effective digital counseling is at managing patients’ anxiety, depression, and adherence to treatment seems to be fragmented, and the development of digital counseling will require a more comprehensive view of this subset of interventions.

OBJECTIVE

This study aims to identify and synthesize the best available evidence on the effectiveness of digital counseling environments at improving anxiety, depression, and adherence to treatment among patients who are chronically ill.

METHODS

Systematic searches of the EBSCO (CINAHL), PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science databases were conducted in May 2019 and complemented in October 2020. The review considered studies that included adult patients aged ≥18 years with chronic diseases; interventions evaluating digital (mobile, web-based, and ubiquitous) counseling interventions; and anxiety, depression, and adherence to treatment, including clinical indicators related to adherence to treatment, as outcomes. Methodological quality was assessed using the standardized Joanna Briggs Institute critical appraisal tool for randomized controlled trials or quasi-experimental studies. As a meta-analysis could not be conducted because of considerable heterogeneity in the reported outcomes, narrative synthesis was used to synthesize the results.

RESULTS

Of the 2056 records screened, 20 (0.97%) randomized controlled trials, 4 (0.19%) pilot randomized controlled trials, and 2 (0.09%) quasi-experimental studies were included. Among the 26 included studies, 10 (38%) digital, web-based interventions yielded significantly positive effects on anxiety, depression, adherence to treatment, and the clinical indicators related to adherence to treatment, and another 18 (69%) studies reported positive, albeit statistically nonsignificant, changes among patients who were chronically ill. The results indicate that an effective digital counseling environment comprises high-quality educational materials that are enriched with multimedia elements and activities that engage the participant in self-care. Because of the methodological heterogeneity of the included studies, it is impossible to determine which type of digital intervention is the most effective for managing anxiety, depression, and adherence to treatment.

CONCLUSIONS

This study provides compelling evidence that digital, web-based counseling environments for patients who are chronically ill are more effective than, or at least comparable to, standard counseling methods; this suggests that digital environments could complement standard counseling.
Toward Using Twitter Data to Monitor COVID-19 Vaccine Safety in Pregnancy: Proof-of-Concept Study of Cohort Identification (Preprint)
Authors: Klein Ari Z , O'Connor Karen , Gonzalez-Hernandez Graciela
Published: January 2022

BACKGROUND

COVID-19 during pregnancy is associated with an increased risk of maternal death, intensive care unit admission, and preterm birth; however, many people who are pregnant refuse to receive COVID-19 vaccination because of a lack of safety data.

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this preliminary study was to assess whether Twitter data could be used to identify a cohort for epidemiologic studies of COVID-19 vaccination in pregnancy. Specifically, we examined whether it is possible to identify users who have reported (1) that they received COVID-19 vaccination during pregnancy or the periconception period, and (2) their pregnancy outcomes.

METHODS

We developed regular expressions to search for reports of COVID-19 vaccination in a large collection of tweets posted through the beginning of July 2021 by users who have announced their pregnancy on Twitter. To help determine if users were vaccinated during pregnancy, we drew upon a natural language processing (NLP) tool that estimates the timeframe of the prenatal period. For users who posted tweets with a timestamp indicating they were vaccinated during pregnancy, we drew upon additional NLP tools to help identify tweets that reported their pregnancy outcomes.

RESULTS

We manually verified the content of tweets detected automatically, identifying 150 users who reported on Twitter that they received at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccination during pregnancy or the periconception period. We manually verified at least one reported outcome for 45 of the 60 (75%) completed pregnancies.

CONCLUSIONS

Given the limited availability of data on COVID-19 vaccine safety in pregnancy, Twitter can be a complementary resource for potentially increasing the acceptance of COVID-19 vaccination in pregnant populations. The results of this preliminary study justify the development of scalable methods to identify a larger cohort for epidemiologic studies.
Administration of Parenteral Vitamin C in Patients With Severe Infection: Protocol for a Systematic Review and Meta-analysis (Preprint)
Authors: Agarwal Arnav , Basmaji John , Fernando Shannon M , Ge Fang Zhou , Xiao Yingqi , Faisal Haseeb , Honarmand Kimia , Hylands Mathieu , Lau Vincent I , Lewis Kimberley , Couban Rachel , Lamontagne François , Adhikari Neill KJ
Published: January 2022

BACKGROUND

Severe infections are characterized by inflammation and oxidative damage. Ascorbic acid (vitamin C) administration may attenuate oxidative damage and, in turn, reduce vascular endothelial injury in pulmonary and systemic vasculature.

OBJECTIVE

We aim to describe a protocol for a living systematic review that will evaluate the effectiveness and safety of parenteral vitamin C administration in adults with severe infections, including those with COVID-19.

METHODS

We searched Ovid MEDLINE, Embase, CINAHL, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention COVID-19 database, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, and ClinicalTrials.gov from inception to March 30, 2021, for randomized controlled trials evaluating parenteral vitamin C versus no parenteral vitamin C in hospitalized adults with severe infection. Eligible studies will include at least 1 arm involving any dose of parenteral vitamin C alone or in combination with other cointerventions and at least 1 arm not involving parenteral vitamin C. The primary outcomes of interest will include in-hospital, 30-day, and 90-day mortality. Title and abstract screening, full-text screening, data extraction, and risk of bias evaluation via a modified Risk of Bias 2.0 tool will be conducted independently and in pairs. We will perform random effects modeling for meta-analyses, in which study weights will be generated by using the inverse variance method. We will assess certainty in effect estimates by using the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation methodology. Meta-analyses will be updated iteratively as new trial evidence becomes available.

RESULTS

Among the 1386 citations identified as of March 30, 2021, a total of 17 eligible randomized controlled trials have been identified as of September 2021. We are in the process of updating the search strategy and associated data analyses.

CONCLUSIONS

The results will be of importance to critical care physicians and hospitalists who manage severe infection and COVID-19 in daily practice, and they may directly inform international clinical guidance. Although our systematic review will incorporate the most recent trial evidence, ongoing trials may change our confidence in the estimates of effects, thereby necessitating iterative updates in the form of a living review.

CLINICALTRIAL

PROSPERO CRD42020209187; https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?RecordID=209187

INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT

RR1-10.2196/33989
Developing a Smartphone-Based Adjunct Intervention to Reduce Cannabis Use Among Juvenile Justice-Involved Adolescents: Protocol for a Multiphase Study (Preprint)
Authors: Helseth Sarah A , Guigayoma John , Price Dayna , Spirito Anthony , Clark Melissa A , Barnett Nancy P , Becker Sara J
Published: January 2022

BACKGROUND

Adolescents involved in the juvenile justice system who use cannabis are at an increased risk of future substance use disorders and rearrest. Many court-involved, nonincarcerated (CINI) youth are referred for services in the community and often encounter multiple barriers to care, highlighting the need for minimally burdensome services that can be delivered in justice settings. Digital health interventions are accessible, easy to implement, and can provide ongoing support but have not been developed to address the unique needs of CINI youth who use cannabis.

OBJECTIVE

This multiphase study will aim to develop, implement, and pilot test a novel smartphone app, Teen Empowerment through Computerized Health (TECH), to reduce cannabis and other substance use among CINI youth. TECH is conceptualized as a digital adjunct to a brief computerized intervention delivered by our family court partner.

METHODS

Following the principles of user-centered design, phase I interviews with CINI youth aged 14-18 years (n=14-18), their caregivers (n=6-8), and behavioral health app developers (n=6-8) will guide the TECH design decisions. Next, in phase II, CINI youth (n=10) will beta test the TECH app prototype for 1 month; their feedback regarding feasibility and acceptability will directly inform the app refinement process. Finally, in phase III, CINI youth (n=60) will participate in a pilot randomized controlled trial for 6 months, comparing the preliminary effectiveness of the adjunctive TECH app on cannabis use outcomes.

RESULTS

Phase I data collection began in September 2020 and was completed in December 2021; 14 CINI youth, 8 caregivers, and 11 behavioral health app developers participated in the study. Phases II and III will occur in 2022 and 2023 and 2023 and 2025, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

This body of work will provide insight into the feasibility and acceptability of a smartphone-based adjunctive intervention designed for CINI youth. Phase III results will offer a preliminary indication of the effectiveness of the TECH app in reducing cannabis use among CINI youth.

INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT

DERR1-10.2196/35402
Authors’ Response to Peer Reviews of “Continuous User Experience Monitoring of a Patient-Completed Preoperative Assessment System in the United Kingdom: Cross-sectional Study” (Preprint)
Authors: Maramba Inocencio Daniel , Chatterjee Arunangsu
Published: January 2022

UNSTRUCTURED

These are author responses to peer review of ms#31679.
Peer Review of “Continuous User Experience Monitoring of a Patient-Completed Preoperative Assessment System in the United Kingdom: Cross-sectional Study” (Preprint)
Authors: Mbwogge Mathew
Published: January 2022

UNSTRUCTURED

This is a peer review report for ms#31679.
Survivorship of Patients After Long Intensive Care Stay With Exploration and Experience in a New Zealand Cohort (SPLIT ENZ): Protocol for a Mixed Methods Study (Preprint)
Authors: Sutton Lynsey , Bell Elliot , Every-Palmer Susanna , Weatherall Mark , Skirrow Paul
Published: January 2022

BACKGROUND

Post Intensive Care Syndrome (PICS) was defined by the Society of Critical Care Medicine in 2012 with subsequent international research highlighting poor long-term outcomes; reduced quality of life; and impairments, for survivors of critical illness. To date, there has been no published research on the long-term outcomes of survivors of critical illness in New Zealand.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study is to explore long-term outcomes after critical illness in New Zealand. The primary objectives are to describe and quantify symptoms and disability, explore possible risk factors, and to identify unmet needs in survivors of critical illness.

METHODS

This will be a mixed methods study with 2 components. First, a prospective cohort study of approximately 100 participants with critical illness will be followed up at 1, 6, and 12 months after hospital discharge. The primary outcome will be disability assessed using the World Health Organization Disability Assessment Scale 2.0. Secondary outcomes will focus on mental health using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale and the Impact of Events Scale-revised, cognitive function using the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (Montreal Cognitive Assessment–BLIND), and health-related quality of life using the European Quality of Life-Five Dimension-Five Level. The second element of the study will use qualitative grounded theory methods to explore participants experiences of recovery and highlight unmet needs.

RESULTS

This study was approved by the New Zealand Northern A Health and Disability Ethics Committee on August 16, 2021 (21/NTA/107), and has been registered with the Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry on October 5, 2021. SPLIT ENZ is due to start recruitment in early 2022, aiming to enroll 125 patients over 2 years. Data collection is estimated to be completed by 2024-2025 and will be published once all data are available for reporting.

CONCLUSIONS

Although international research has identified the prevalence of PICS and the extent of disability in survivors of critical illness, there is no published research in New Zealand. Research in this field is particularly pressing in the context of COVID-19, an illness that may include PICS in its sequelae.

CLINICALTRIAL

Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry ACTRN1262100133588; https://www.anzctr.org.au/Trial/Registration/TrialReview.aspx?id=382566&showOriginal=true&isReview=true

INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT

PRR1-10.2196/35936
Use of chatbots during the coronavirus pandemic: A scoping review and case study (Preprint)
Authors: Macarayan Erlyn Rachelle King , Tan Justin Vincent
Published: January 2022

BACKGROUND

Digital technologies such as chatbots have been widely used during the pandemic. However, the use of such technologies has both benefits and risks.

OBJECTIVE

An updated review of COVID-19 chatbots is needed to determine how such technologies can be used to provide maximum health benefits, especially during a pandemic

METHODS

In this study, we reviewed the literature on the use of chatbots during the COVID-19 pandemic, and identifies any issues and gaps in the literature, so the results can inform future scholars on chatbot and emergency response design and evaluation.

RESULTS

: The results indicate that chatbots have been widely used at both small and national levels across countries. Known uses of chatbots during the pandemic were in population surveillance, case identification, contact tracing, disease management, and general public communication. Although chatbots have offered ease of use and scalability, concerns have been raised, particularly about how chatbots will ensure data privacy and cybersecurity, bias due to limited user representation, and the risks of misinformation. Thus, we highlight both the benefits and risks of chatbots that provide COVID-related information. We found that chatbots offer speed, scalability, accessibility, personalization, and quickness support for self-care while also reducing hospital load and stigma. Despite these benefits, chatbots have some risks and issues to address, including issues pertaining to the actual effectiveness of chatbots, data privacy, cybersecurity, safety risks, and misinformation. There is also a need for a solid infrastructure, guidance, and representative user groups and engagement. Beyond outlining the key benefits and risks of using chatbots during the COVID-19 pandemic, we also highlighted the best practices from the literature and strategies recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO) and other international organizations to address the key issues in the use of chatbots for pandemic preparedness and response. We also determined the different chatbot strategies used by the WHO to address COVID-19 that are critical in guiding future pandemic preparedness and response efforts worldwide. We found specific use cases showing how interfaces across various sectors, as well as support from different funding sources, are critical to reaching and engaging additional chatbot users and ensuring high chatbot quality.

CONCLUSIONS

Health systems in the future will likely become digital. Additional guidelines and research must be done in the evaluation and use of new technologies, such as chatbots, in emergency preparedness and response. Collaborations across multiple actors are needed to the ensure efficiency and effectiveness of the use of chatbots in the healthcare system.