bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Regression Analysis of Perceived Stress among Elite Athletes from Changes in Diet, Routine and Well-Being: Effects of the COVID-19 Lockdown and “Bubble” Training Camps
Authors: Washif Jad Adrian , Ammar Achraf , Trabelsi Khaled , Chamari Karim , Chong Christabelle Sheau Miin , Mohd Kassim Siti Fuzyma Ayu , Lew Philip Chun Foong , Farooq Abdulaziz , Pyne David B. , James Carl
Published: December 2021

The COVID-19 pandemic has affected the lifestyles and training of elite athletes around the world. The detrimental effects of lockdown periods may vary among individuals, as well as among sports and sexes. This study investigated the changes in dietary habits, and the predictors of perceived stress during lockdown and a “bubble” training camp. This cross-sectional, online survey involved 76 elite and world-class athletes from six able-bodied sports and nine parasports, all of whom were involved in a 30-day “bubble” training camp. Questions were asked on socio-demographics, training routines and wellbeing, perceived stress, and dietary habits, pertaining to “normal” training (prelockdown), lockdown training, and “bubble” camp training periods. Changes in perceived stress were trivial to small during lockdown compared to “normal” training, and trivial to moderate during a “bubble” camp, compared to lockdown. Para-athletes, males, older athletes, less experienced athletes, married individuals, and specific ethnicities appeared to be more detrimentally affected (increased perceived stress) by lockdown. These negative experiences, however, were largely reversed during “bubble” camps. During lockdown, more athletes reported increased evening snack consumption (+8%), later meal-times (+6%), decreased fluid intake (−6%), and no breakfast (+7%). These changes were reversed during “bubble” camps (12–18% improvements). Sport classification accounted for 16% of the increased perceived stress (p = 0.001) during lockdown. Overall, socio-demographic factors, improvements in training routines, well-being, and dietary habits explained 28% of the decreased perceived stress during a “bubble” camp. In conclusion, better dietary habits, training routines and well-being have implications for reduced perceived stress. During lockdown, “bubble” camps may be beneficial, but this observation may be a case-by-case consideration, and short split “bubble” periods are recommended.
Alcohol Use in China: Unrecorded and Recorded Bai Jiu in Three Rural Regions
Authors: Ding Lanyan , Song Baoping , Wu Chengli , Newman Ian M. , Yuen Lok-Wa , Qian Ling , Wang Botao , Zhang Wenjuan , Wei Ping
Published: December 2021

In China, approximately 70% of beverage alcohol is consumed in the form of spirits. An estimated 25% of all alcohol consumed is unrecorded, mostly spirits (bai jiu), produced outside regulatory systems in small neighborhood distilleries, mostly in rural areas. Unrecorded bai jiu drinkers are generally older, male, prefer higher-strength bai jiu, and drink daily and mostly at home. To explore possible regional differences, researchers used interview data from 2919 bai jiu drinkers in rural areas in Hebei, Anhui, and Hubei provinces in China. Results confirmed that patterns varied by province. The sample in Hubei preferred unrecorded bai jiu with a more stable preference to alcohol type, tended to drink less frequently, and reported experiencing less drinking pressure, suggesting lower-risk drinking patterns in this region. The Hebei and Anhui sample reported higher frequency and greater amount of alcohol consumption, were more likely to experience drinking pressure, indicating higher-risk patterns in alcohol use in these two regions. The results provide needed details about regional differences in unrecorded bai jiu drinking patterns that are not evident in aggregated data and suggest variations in drinking patterns that may reflect local geography, local values, traditions, and ethnic differences.
Measuring the Similarity of Metro Stations Based on the Passenger Visit Distribution
Authors: Zhu Kangli , Yin Haodong , Qu Yunchao , Wu Jianjun
Published: December 2021

The distribution of passengers reflects the characteristics of urban rail stations. The automatic fare collection system of rail transit collects a large amount of passenger trajectory data tracking the entry and exit continuously, which provides a basis for detailed passenger distributions. We first exploit the Automatic Fare Collection (AFC) data to construct the passenger visit pattern distribution for stations. Then we measure the similarity of all stations using Wasserstein distance. Different from other similarity metrics, Wasserstein distance takes the similarity between values of quantitative variables in the one-dimensional distribution into consideration and can reflect the correlation between different dimensions of high-dimensional data. Even though the computational complexity grows, it is applicable in the metro stations since the scale of urban rail transit stations is limited to tens to hundreds and detailed modeling of the stations can be performed offline. Therefore, this paper proposes an integrated method that can cluster multi-dimensional joint distribution considering similarity and correlation. Then this method is applied to cluster the rail transit stations by the passenger visit distribution, which provides some valuable insight into the flow management and the station replanning of urban rail transit in the future.
Query Processing of Geosocial Data in Location-Based Social Networks
Authors: D’Ulizia Arianna , Grifoni Patrizia , Ferri Fernando
Published: December 2021

The increasing use of social media and the recent advances in geo-positioning technologies have produced a great amount of geosocial data, consisting of spatial, textual, and social information, to be managed and queried. In this paper, we focus on the issue of query processing by providing a systematic literature review of geosocial data representations, query processing methods, and evaluation approaches published over the last two decades (2000–2020). The result of our analysis shows the categories of geosocial queries proposed by the surveyed studies, the query primitives and the kind of access method used to retrieve the result of the queries, the common evaluation metrics and datasets used to evaluate the performance of the query processing methods, and the main open challenges that should be faced in the near future. Due to the ongoing interest in this research topic, the results of this survey are valuable to many researchers and practitioners by gaining an in-depth understanding of the geosocial querying process and its applications and possible future perspectives.
Getting Real: The Challenge of Building and Validating a Large-Scale Digital Twin of Barcelona’s Traffic with Empirical Data
Authors: Argota Sánchez-Vaquerizo Javier
Published: December 2021

Large-scale microsimulations are increasingly resourceful tools for analysing in detail citywide effects and alternative scenarios of our policy decisions, approximating the ideal of ‘urban digital twins’. Yet, these models are costly and impractical, and there are surprisingly few published examples robustly validated with empirical data. This paper, therefore, presents a new large-scale agent-based traffic microsimulation for the Barcelona urban area using SUMO to show the possibilities and challenges of building these scenarios based on novel fine-grained empirical big data. It combines novel mobility data from real cell phone records with conventional surveys to calibrate the model comparing two different dynamic assignment methods for getting an operationally realistic and efficient simulation. Including through traffic and the use of a stochastic adaptive routing approach results in a larger 24-hour model closer to reality. Based on an extensive multi-scalar evaluation including traffic counts, hourly distribution of trips, and macroscopic metrics, this model expands and outperforms previous large-scale scenarios, which provides new operational opportunities in city co-creation and policy. The novelty of this work relies on the effective modelling approach using newly available data and the realistic robust evaluation. This allows the identification of the fundamental challenges of simulation to accurately capture real-world dynamical systems and to their predictive power at a large scale, even when fed by big data, as envisioned by the digital twin concept applied to smart cities.
Platelet Mitochondrial Bioenergetics Reprogramming in Patients with Urothelial Carcinoma
Authors: Palacka Patrik , Gvozdjáková Anna , Rausová Zuzana , Kucharská Jarmila , Slopovský Ján , Obertová Jana , Furka Daniel , Furka Samuel , Singh Keshav K. , Sumbalová Zuzana
Published: December 2021

Mitochondrial bioenergetics reprogramming is an essential response of cells to stress. Platelets, an accessible source of mitochondria, have a crucial role in cancer development; however, the platelet mitochondrial function has not been studied in urothelial carcinoma (UC) patients. A total of 15 patients with UC and 15 healthy controls were included in the study. Parameters of platelet mitochondrial respiration were evaluated using the high-resolution respirometry method, and the selected antioxidant levels were determined by HPLC. In addition, oxidative stress was evaluated by the thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) concentration in plasma. We demonstrated deficient platelet mitochondrial respiratory chain functions, oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS), and electron transfer (ET) capacity with complex I (CI)-linked substrates, and reduced the endogenous platelet coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) concentration in UC patients. The activity of citrate synthase was decreased in UC patients vs. controls (p = 0.0191). γ-tocopherol, α-tocopherol in platelets, and β-carotene in plasma were significantly lower in UC patients (p = 0.0019; p = 0.02; p = 0.0387, respectively), whereas the plasma concentration of TBARS was increased (p = 0.0022) vs. controls. The changes in platelet mitochondrial bioenergetics are consistent with cell metabolism reprogramming in UC patients. We suppose that increased oxidative stress, decreased OXPHOS, and a reduced platelet endogenous CoQ10 level can contribute to the reprogramming of platelet mitochondrial OXPHOS toward the activation of glycolysis. The impaired mitochondrial function can contribute to increased oxidative stress by triggering the reverse electron transport from the CoQ10 cycle (Q-junction) to CI.
The Crosstalk of Long Non-Coding RNA and MicroRNA in Castration-Resistant and Neuroendocrine Prostate Cancer: Their Interaction and Clinical Importance
Authors: Hu Che-Yuan , Wu Kuan-Yu , Lin Tsung-Yen , Chen Chien-Chin
Published: December 2021

Prostate cancer is featured by its heterogeneous nature, which indicates a different prognosis. Castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) is a hallmark of the treatment-refractory stage, and the median survival of patients is only within two years. Neuroendocrine prostate cancer (NEPC) is an aggressive variant that arises from de novo presentation of small cell carcinoma or treatment-related transformation with a median survival of 1–2 years from the time of diagnosis. The epigenetic regulators, such as long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) and microRNAs (miRNAs), have been proven involved in multiple pathologic mechanisms of CRPC and NEPC. LncRNAs can act as competing endogenous RNAs to sponge miRNAs that would inhibit the expression of their targets. After that, miRNAs interact with the 3’ untranslated region (UTR) of target mRNAs to repress the step of translation. These interactions may modulate gene expression and influence cancer development and progression. Otherwise, epigenetic regulators and genetic mutation also promote neuroendocrine differentiation and cancer stem-like cell formation. This step may induce neuroendocrine prostate cancer development. This review aims to provide an integrated, synthesized overview under current evidence to elucidate the crosstalk of lncRNAs with miRNAs and their influence on castration resistance or neuroendocrine differentiation of prostate cancer. Notably, we also discuss the mechanisms of lncRNA–miRNA interaction in androgen receptor-independent prostate cancer, such as growth factors, oncogenic signaling pathways, cell cycle dysregulation, and cytokines or other transmembrane proteins. Conclusively, we underscore the potential of these communications as potential therapeutic targets in the future.
Development of New Collagen/Clay Composite Biomaterials
Authors: Marin Maria Minodora , Ianchis Raluca , Leu Alexa Rebeca , Gifu Ioana Catalina , Kaya Madalina Georgiana Albu , Savu Diana Iulia , Popescu Roxana Cristina , Alexandrescu Elvira , Ninciuleanu Claudia Mihaela , Preda Silviu , Ignat Madalina , Constantinescu Roxana , Iovu Horia
Published: December 2021

The fabrication of collagen-based biomaterials for skin regeneration offers various challenges for tissue engineers. The purpose of this study was to obtain a novel series of composite biomaterials based on collagen and several types of clays. In order to investigate the influence of clay type on drug release behavior, the obtained collagen-based composite materials were further loaded with gentamicin. Physiochemical and biological analyses were performed to analyze the obtained nanocomposite materials after nanoclay embedding. Infrared spectra confirmed the inclusion of clay in the collagen polymeric matrix without any denaturation of triple helical conformation. All the composite samples revealed a slight change in the 2-theta values pointing toward a homogenous distribution of clay layers inside the collagen matrix with the obtaining of mainly intercalated collagen-clay structures, according X-ray diffraction analyses. The porosity of collagen/clay composite biomaterials varied depending on clay nanoparticles sort. Thermo-mechanical analyses indicated enhanced thermal and mechanical features for collagen composites as compared with neat type II collagen matrix. Biodegradation findings were supported by swelling studies, which indicated a more crosslinked structure due additional H bonding brought on by nanoclays. The biology tests demonstrated the influence of clay type on cellular viability but also on the antimicrobial behavior of composite scaffolds. All nanocomposite samples presented a delayed gentamicin release when compared with the collagen-gentamicin sample. The obtained results highlighted the importance of clay type selection as this affects the performances of the collagen-based composites as promising biomaterials for future applications in the biomedical field.
The Effect of Early Life Stress on Emotional Behaviors in GPR37KO Mice
Authors: Veenit Vandana , Zhang Xiaoqun , Ambrosini Antonio , Sousa Vasco , Svenningsson Per
Published: December 2021

GPR37 is an orphan G-protein-coupled receptor, a substrate of parkin which is linked to Parkinson’s disease (PD) and affective disorders. In this study, we sought to address the effects of early life stress (ELS) by employing the paradigm of limited nesting material on emotional behaviors in adult GPR37 knockout (KO) mice. Our results showed that, while there was an adverse effect of ELS on various domains of emotional behaviors in wild type (WT) mice in a sex specific manner (anxiety in females, depression and context-dependent fear memory in males), GPR37KO mice subjected to ELS exhibited less deteriorated emotional behaviors. GPR37KO female mice under ELS conditions displayed reduced anxiety compared to WT mice. This was paralleled by lower plasma corticosterone in GPR37KO females and a lower increase in P-T286-CaMKII by ELS in the amygdala. GPR37KO male mice, under ELS conditions, showed better retention of hippocampal-dependent emotional processing in the passive avoidance behavioral task. GPR37KO male mice showed increased immobility in the forced swim task and increased P-T286-CaMKII in the ventral hippocampus under baseline conditions. Taken together, our data showed overall long-term effects of ELS—deleterious or beneficial depending on the genotype, sex of the mice and the emotional context.
Terazosin Stimulates Pgk1 to Remedy Gastrointestinal Disorders
Authors: Liu Jingjing , Zhao Wenyang , Li Chun , Wu Tongyu , Han Liang , Hu Zhuozhou , Li Xiangxiang , Zhou Jing , Chen Xinping
Published: December 2021

Gastrointestinal disease is the most common health concern that occurs due to environmental, infectious, immunological, psychological, and genetic stress. Among them, the most frequent diseases are gastric ulcer (GU) and ulcerative colitis (UC). DSS-induced UC and ethanol-stimulated GU models resemble the pathophysiology of human gastrointestinal disease. The current study was designed to explore the anti-oxidation, anti-inflammation, anti-cell death properties of terazosin, an α-adrenergic receptor antagonist, in vivo and in vitro. Our results indicate that terazosin dramatically activates Pgk1, and upregulates glycose metabolism, evidenced by the enhanced ATP production and higher LDH enzymatic activity. Also, terazosin significantly enhances p-AKT expression and inhibits NF-κB p65 activation through abrogating the phosphorylation of IKBα, as well as lowers Caspase-1 and GSDMD expression. The findings in this study demonstrate that terazosin exhibits anti-inflammatory effects by downregulating NF-κB-GSDMD signal pathway, along with enhancing glycolysis for gastrointestinal disease treatment. Meanwhile, we also find terazosin ameliorates ethanol-induced gastric mucosal damage in mice. Collectively, as a clinical drug, terazosin should be translated into therapeutics for gastrointestinal disease soon.
Empirical Assessment of the Long-Term Impact of an Embedded Systems Programming Requalification Programme
Authors: Cunha João , Durães João , Alves Ana , Coutinho Fernanda , Barreiros Jorge , Amaro José Pedro , Silva Marco , Santos Frederico
Published: December 2021

Digital transformation has increased the demand for skilled Information Technology (IT) professionals, to an extent that universities cannot satisfy it with newly graduated students. Furthermore, the economical downturn has created difficulties and scarcity of opportunities in other areas of activity. This combination of factors led to the need to consider requalification programmes that enable individuals with diverse specialisations and backgrounds to realign their careers to the IT area. This has led to the creation of many coding bootcamps, providing intensive full-time courses focused on unemployed people or unhappy with their jobs, and individuals seeking a career change. A multidisciplinary group of higher education teachers, in collaboration with several industry stakeholders, have designed and promoted an embedded systems programming course, using an intensive project-based learning approach comprising 6 months of daylong classes and a 9 months internship. Having finished two editions of the programme, a questionnaire was presented to the students that finished successfully, in order to evaluate the long-term benefits to graduates and companies. This paper presents a brief discussion of the programme organisation and pedagogical methodologies, as well as the results of the questionnaire, conducted following a Goal–Question–Metric (GQM) approach. The results demonstrate very positive outcomes, both for graduates and companies.
Lipids from Insects in Cosmetics and for Personal Care Products
Authors: Franco Antonio , Salvia Rosanna , Scieuzo Carmen , Schmitt Eric , Russo Antonella , Falabella Patrizia
Published: December 2021

Insects, the most varied group of known organisms on Earth, are arousing great interest also for the possibility to use them as a feed and food source. The mass rearing of some species, defined as “bioconverters”, is spreading worldwide, thanks to their sustainability. At the end of the bioconversion process, breeders obtain eco-friendly biomolecules of high biological and economic value, including proteins and lipids, from larvae of bioconverter insects, in particular Hermetia illucens. Besides the most classical use of insect lipids as food additives, they are also used in the formulation of several products for personal care. The composition of insect lipids depends on the substrate on which the insects are reared but also on the insect species, so the cosmetic producers should consider these features to choose their insect starting point. The most abundant fatty acids detected in H. illucens are lauric, myristic, palmitic, and oleic acids, regardless of feed substrate; its fatty acids composition is favorable for soap composition, while their derivatives are used for detergent and shampoo. Here, we offer an overview of insect lipids, their extraction methods, and their application in cosmetics and personal care products.
Black, Caspian Seas and Central Asia Silk Association (BACSA) for the Future of Sericulture in Europe and Central Asia
Authors: Tzenov Panomir , Cappellozza Silvia , Saviane Alessio
Published: December 2021

The history and recent activities of the Black Caspian Seas and Central Asia Silk Association are presented in this paper: the countries that participated in its foundation, the FAO’s action to revitalize sericulture in Eastern Europe and Central Asia, the following widening of the Association geographical limits of to enclose other European countries, which were not well-represented in other similar organizations. Some statistical data are illustrated for a better description of the scenario in which the BACSA executive board acted: the world silk production quantity and the relative production of BACSA countries in respect to the Chinese expansion. The themes treated in the BACSA conferences are reported to explain which matters the Executive Board considered the most relevant for the relaunch of this activity in relationships to the international challenges in the subsequent years; the project proposals that were presented to international donors are summarized. A SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats) analysis is shown, where key-factors in determining the strengths and weaknesses of this organization and its member countries for a successful re-establishment of sericulture, are considered. In addition, future trends of sericulture with regard to innovative productions and the Green Deal are examined.
Impact of Superconductors’ Properties on the Measurement Sensitivity of Resonant-Based Axion Detectors
Authors: Alimenti Andrea , Torokhtii Kostiantyn , Di Gioacchino Daniele , Gatti Claudio , Silva Enrico , Pompeo Nicola
Published: December 2021

Axions, hypothetical particles theorised to solve the strong CP problem, are presently being considered as strong candidates for cold dark matter constituents. The signal power of resonant-based axion detectors, known as haloscopes, is directly proportional to their quality factor Q. In this paper, the impact of the use of superconductors on the performances of haloscopes is studied by evaluating the obtainable Q. In particular, the surface resistance Rs of NbTi, Nb3Sn, YBa2Cu3O7−δ, and FeSe0.5Te0.5 is computed in the frequency, magnetic field, and temperature ranges of interest, starting from the measured vortex motion complex resistivity and the screening lengths of these materials. From Rs, the quality factor Q of a cylindrical haloscope with copper conical bases and a superconductive lateral wall, operating with the TM010 mode, is evaluated and used to perform a comparison of the performances of the different materials. Both YBa2Cu3O7−δ and FeSe0.5Te0.5 are shown to improve the measurement sensitivity by almost an order of magnitude, with respect to a whole Cu cavity, while NbTi is shown to be suitable only at lower frequencies (<10 GHz). Nb3Sn can provide an intermediate improvement of the whole spectrum of interest.
Characterization of Irradiated Boron, Carbon-Enriched and Gallium Si-on-Si Wafer Low Gain Avalanche Detectors
Authors: Castillo García Lucía , Gkougkousis Evangelos Leonidas , Grieco Chiara , Grinstein Sebastian
Published: December 2021

Low Gain Avalanche Detectors (LGADs) are n-on-p silicon sensors with an extra doped p-layer below the n-p junction which provides signal amplification. The moderate gain of these sensors, together with the relatively thin active region, provides excellent timing performance for Minimum Ionizing Particles (MIPs). To mitigate the effect of pile-up during the High-Luminosity Large Hadron Collider (HL-LHC) era, both ATLAS and CMS experiments will install new detectors, the High-Granularity Timing Detector (HGTD) and the End-Cap Timing Layer (ETL), that rely on the LGAD technology. A full characterization of LGAD sensors fabricated by Centro Nacional de Microelectrónica (CNM), before and after neutron irradiation up to 1015 neq/cm2, is presented. Sensors produced in 100 mm Si-on-Si wafers and doped with boron and gallium, and also enriched with carbon, are studied. The results include their electrical characterization (I-V, C-V), bias voltage stability and performance studies with the Transient Current Technique (TCT) and a Sr-90 radioactive source setup.
Factors Associated with the Development of Coagulopathy after Open Traumatic Brain Injury
Authors: Chen Yuhui , Tian Jun , Chi Bin , Zhang Shangming , Wei Liangfeng , Wang Shousen
Published: December 2021

Background: The incidence of coagulopathy after open traumatic brain injury (TBI) is high. Coagulopathy can aggravate intracranial hemorrhage and further increase morbidity and mortality. The purpose of this study was to determine the clinical characteristics of coagulopathy after open TBI and its relationship with the prognosis. Methods: This study retrospectively evaluated patients with isolated open TBI from December 2018 to December 2020. Coagulopathy was defined as international normalized ratio (INR) > 1.2, activated thromboplastin time (APTT) > 35 s, or platelet count <100,000/μL. We compared the relationship between the clinical, radiological, and laboratory parameters of patients with and without coagulopathy, and the outcome at discharge. Logistic regression analysis was used to evaluate the risk factors associated with coagulopathy. We then compared the effects of treatment with and without TXA in open TBI patients with coagulopathy. Results: A total of 132 patients were included in the study; 46 patients developed coagulopathy. Patients with coagulopathy had significantly lower platelet levels (170.5 × 109/L vs. 216.5 × 109/L, p < 0.001), and significantly higher INR (1.14 vs. 1.02, p < 0.001) and APTT (30.5 s vs. 24.5 s, p < 0.001) compared to those with no coagulopathy. A Low Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score, high neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio (NLR), low platelet/lymphocyte ratio (PLR), and hyperglycemia at admission were significantly associated with the occurrence of coagulopathy. Conclusions: Coagulopathy often occurs after open TBI. Patients with a low GCS score, high NLR, low PLR, and hyperglycemia at admission are at greater risk of coagulopathy, and therefore of poor prognosis. The efficacy of TXA in open TBI patients with coagulopathy is unclear. In addition, these findings demonstrate that PLR may be a novel indicator for predicting coagulopathy.
The Role of Glial Cells in Regulating Feeding Behavior: Potential Relevance to Anorexia Nervosa
Authors: Frintrop Linda , Trinh Stefanie , Seitz Jochen , Kipp Markus
Published: December 2021

Eating behavior is controlled by hypothalamic circuits in which agouti-related peptide-expressing neurons when activated in the arcuate nucleus, promote food intake while pro-opiomelanocortin-producing neurons promote satiety. The respective neurotransmitters signal to other parts of the hypothalamus such as the paraventricular nucleus as well as several extra-hypothalamic brain regions to orchestrate eating behavior. This complex process of food intake may be influenced by glia cells, in particular astrocytes and microglia. Recent studies showed that GFAP+ astrocyte cell density is reduced in the central nervous system of an experimental anorexia nervosa model. Anorexia nervosa is an eating disorder that causes, among the well-known somatic symptoms, brain volume loss which was associated with neuropsychological deficits while the underlying pathophysiology is unknown. In this review article, we summarize the findings of glia cells in anorexia nervosa animal models and try to deduce which role glia cells might play in the pathophysiology of eating disorders, including anorexia nervosa. A better understanding of glia cell function in the regulation of food intake and eating behavior might lead to the identification of new drug targets.
From Emotional (Dys)Regulation to Internet Addiction: A Mediation Model of Problematic Social Media Use among Italian Young Adults
Authors: Quaglieri Alessandro , Biondi Silvia , Roma Paolo , Varchetta Manuel , Fraschetti Angelo , Burrai Jessica , Lausi Giulia , Martí-Vilar Manuel , González-Sala Francisco , Di Domenico Alberto , Giannini Anna Maria , Mari Emanuela
Published: December 2021

Internet addiction (IA) has mostly been investigated with the fear of missing out and difficulties in emotional regulation. The present study examined the link between IA and variables related to problematic social media use (i.e., fear of missing out, social media addiction), together with emotional (dys)regulation and personality traits, providing new insights and an integrated assessment of IA. In total, 397 participants, aged 18–35 years (M = 22.00; SD = 3.83), were administered a set of questionnaires pertaining to IA, problematic social media use, emotional (dys)regulation, and personality traits. Pearson’s correlations showed significant associations between IA and the investigated variables, and the tested mediation model highlighted the crucial role played by emotional (dys)regulation in the fear of missing out and problematic use of social networks. Overall, the findings provide support for a new integrated model for understanding the features, predictors, and risk factors of IA.
Aspirin Use Is Not Associated with the Risk of Metachronous Gastric Cancer in Patients without Helicobacter pylori Infection
Authors: Kim Ji Eun , Kim Tae Jun , Lee Hyuk , Lee Yeong Chan , Chung Hwe Hoon , Min Yang Won , Min Byung-Hoon , Lee Jun Haeng , Kim Jae J.
Published: December 2021

Introduction: Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) eradication can prevent metachronous gastric cancer (MGC) after the performance of an endoscopic resection for early gastric cancer (EGC). However, 50% of infections persist after eradication, and the identification of MGC protective factors is important. The anti-tumor activity of aspirin has been demonstrated, but its efficacy in preventing MGC remains controversial. We evaluated the effect of aspirin on metachronous recurrence in H. pylori-negative patients. Methods: A total of 4351 patients were evaluated between January 2007 and December 2016, and 2151 patients who met the inclusion criteria were analyzed. The primary outcome was the cumulative incidence of MGC after an endoscopic resection for EGC. Results: During a 5-year median follow-up (interquartile range, 3.5–6.2), MGC developed in 176 (7.7%) patients, with a cumulative incidence of 89.4% in aspirin users and 92.7% in non-users; this difference was not statistically significant (p = 0.64). The duration of aspirin uses and the occurrence of MGC in both groups were not significantly different. There was no significant difference between groups when the duration of aspirin use was categorized into ≤1 year (hazard ratio (HR), 0.64; 0.20–2.01, p = 0.45), 1–4 years (HR, 1.35; 0.66–2.76, p = 0.41), and >4 years (HR, 1.17; 0.67–2.03, p = 0.58). Conclusions: Aspirin use was not associated with a lower risk of MGC in H. pylori-negative patients. Further prospective studies are needed.
Surgical Applications of Lymphatic Vessel Visualization Using Photoacoustic Imaging and Augmented Reality
Authors: Suzuki Yushi , Kajita Hiroki , Watanabe Shiho , Otaki Marika , Okabe Keisuke , Sakuma Hisashi , Takatsume Yoshifumi , Imanishi Nobuaki , Aiso Sadakazu , Kishi Kazuo
Published: December 2021

Lymphaticovenular anastomosis (LVA) is a widely performed surgical procedure for the treatment of lymphedema. For good LVA outcomes, identifying lymphatic vessels and venules is crucial. Photoacoustic lymphangiography (PAL) is a new technology for visualizing lymphatic vessels. It can depict lymphatic vessels at high resolution; therefore, this study focused on how to apply PAL for lymphatic surgery. To visualize lymphatic vessels, indocyanine green was injected as a color agent. PAI-05 was used as the photoacoustic imaging device. Lymphatic vessels and veins were visualized at 797- and 835-nm wavelengths. First, it was confirmed whether the branching of the vasculature as depicted by the PAL was consistent with the actual branching of the vasculature as confirmed intraoperatively. Second, to use PAL images for surgical planning, preoperative photoacoustic images were superimposed onto the patient limb through augmented reality (AR) glasses (MOVERIO Smart Glass BT-30E). Lymphatics and venule markings drawn using AR glasses were consistent with the actual intraoperative images obtained during LVA. To anastomose multiple lymphatic vessels, a site with abundant venous branching was selected as the incision site; and selecting the incision site became easier. The anatomical morphology obtained by PAL matched the surgical field. AR-based marking could be very useful in future LVA.
Lifestyle and Pain following Cancer: State-of-the-Art and Future Directions
Authors: Lahousse Astrid , Roose Eva , Leysen Laurence , Yilmaz Sevilay Tümkaya , Mostaqim Kenza , Reis Felipe , Rheel Emma , Beckwée David , Nijs Jo
Published: December 2021

This review discusses chronic pain, multiple modifiable lifestyle factors, such as stress, insomnia, diet, obesity, smoking, alcohol consumption and physical activity, and the relationship between these lifestyle factors and pain after cancer. Chronic pain is known to be a common consequence of cancer treatments, which considerably impacts cancer survivors’ quality of life when it remains untreated. Improvements in lifestyle behaviour are known to reduce mortality, comorbid conditions (i.e., cardiovascular diseases, other cancer, and recurrence) and cancer-related side-effects (i.e., fatigue and psychological issues). An inadequate stress response plays an important role in dysregulating the body’s autonomic, endocrine, and immune responses, creating a problematic back loop with pain. Next, given the high vulnerability of cancer survivors to insomnia, addressing and treating those sleep problems should be another target in pain management due to its capacity to increase hyperalgesia. Furthermore, adherence to a healthy diet holds great anti-inflammatory potential for relieving pain after cancer. Additionally, a healthy diet might go hand in hand with weight reduction in the case of obesity. Consuming alcohol and smoking have an acute analgesic effect in the short-term, with evidence lacking in the long-term. However, this acute effect is outweighed by other harms on cancer survivors’ general health. Last, informing patients about the benefits of an active lifestyle and reducing a sedentary lifestyle after cancer treatment must be emphasised when considering the proven benefits of physical activity in this population. A multimodal approach addressing all relevant lifestyle factors together seems appropriate for managing comorbid conditions, side-effects, and chronic pain after cancer. Further research is needed to evaluate whether modifiable lifestyle factors have a beneficial influence on chronic pain among cancer survivors.
Poor Long-Term Renal Allograft Survival in Patients with Chronic Antibody-Mediated Rejection, Irrespective of Treatment—A Single Center Retrospective Study
Authors: Wu Kaiyin , Schmidt Danilo , López del Moral Covadonga , Osmanodja Bilgin , Lachmann Nils , Zhang Qiang , Halleck Fabian , Choi Mira , Bachmann Friederike , Ronicke Simon , Duettmann Wiebke , Naik Marcel G. , Schrezenmeier Eva , Rudolph Birgit , Budde Klemens
Published: December 2021

The Banff 2017 report permits the diagnosis of pure chronic antibody-mediated rejection (cAMR) in absence of microcirculation inflammation. We retrospectively investigated renal allograft function and long-term outcomes of 67 patients with cAMR, and compared patients who received antihumoral therapy (cAMR-AHT, n = 21) with patients without treatment (cAMRwo, n = 46). At baseline, the cAMR-AHT group had more concomitant T-cell-mediated rejection (9/46 (19.2%) vs. 10/21 (47.6%); p = 0.04), a higher g-lesion score (0.4 ± 0.5 versus 0.1 ± 0.3; p = 0.01) and a higher median eGFR decline in the six months prior to biopsy (6.6 vs. 3.0 mL/min; p = 0.04). The median eGFR decline six months after biopsy was comparable (2.6 vs. 4.9 mL/min, p = 0.61) between both groups, and three-year graft survival after biopsy was statistically lower in the cAMR-AHT group (35.0% vs. 61.0%, p = 0.03). Patients who received AHT had more infections (0.38 vs. 0.20 infections/patient; p = 0.04). Currently, antihumoral therapy is more often administered to patients with cAMR and rapidly deteriorating renal function or concomitant TCMR. However, long-term graft outcomes remain poor, despite treatment.
Acute Mesenteric Ischemia in COVID-19 Patients
Authors: Serban Dragos , Tribus Laura Carina , Vancea Geta , Stoian Anca Pantea , Dascalu Ana Maria , Suceveanu Andra Iulia , Tanasescu Ciprian , Costea Andreea Cristina , Tudosie Mihail Silviu , Tudor Corneliu , Gangura Gabriel Andrei , Duta Lucian , Costea Daniel Ovidiu
Published: December 2021

Acute mesenteric ischemia is a rare but extremely severe complication of SARS-CoV-2 infection. The present review aims to document the clinical, laboratory, and imaging findings, management, and outcomes of acute intestinal ischemia in COVID-19 patients. A comprehensive search was performed on PubMed and Web of Science with the terms “COVID-19” and “bowel ischemia” OR “intestinal ischemia” OR “mesenteric ischemia” OR “mesenteric thrombosis”. After duplication removal, a total of 36 articles were included, reporting data on a total of 89 patients, 63 being hospitalized at the moment of onset. Elevated D-dimers, leukocytosis, and C reactive protein (CRP) were present in most reported cases, and a contrast-enhanced CT exam confirms the vascular thromboembolism and offers important information about the bowel viability. There are distinct features of bowel ischemia in non-hospitalized vs. hospitalized COVID-19 patients, suggesting different pathological pathways. In ICU patients, the most frequently affected was the large bowel alone (56%) or in association with the small bowel (24%), with microvascular thrombosis. Surgery was necessary in 95.4% of cases. In the non-hospitalized group, the small bowel was involved in 80%, with splanchnic veins or arteries thromboembolism, and a favorable response to conservative anticoagulant therapy was reported in 38.4%. Mortality was 54.4% in the hospitalized group and 21.7% in the non-hospitalized group (p < 0.0001). Age over 60 years (p = 0.043) and the need for surgery (p = 0.019) were associated with the worst outcome. Understanding the mechanisms involved and risk factors may help adjust the thromboprophylaxis and fluid management in COVID-19 patients.
Coronary Flow Velocity Reserve Using Dobutamine Test for Noninvasive Functional Assessment of Myocardial Bridging
Authors: Aleksandric Srdjan B. , Djordjevic-Dikic Ana D. , Giga Vojislav L. , Tesic Milorad B. , Soldatovic Ivan A. , Banovic Marko D. , Dobric Milan R. , Vukcevic Vladan , Tomasevic Miloje V. , Orlic Dejan N. , Boskovic Nikola , Jovanovic Ivana , Nedeljkovic Milan A. , Stankovic Goran , Ostojic Miodrag C. , Beleslin Branko D.
Published: December 2021

Background: It has been shown that coronary flow velocity reserve (CFVR) measurement by transthoracic Doppler echocardiography (TTDE) during dobutamine (DOB) provocation provides a more accurate functional evaluation of myocardial bridging (MB) compared to adenosine. However; the cut-off value of CFVR during DOB for identification of MB associated with myocardial ischemia has not been fully clarified. Purpose: This prospective study aimed to determine the cut-off value of TTDE-CFVR during DOB in patients with isolated-MB, as compared with stress-induced wall motion abnormalities (VMA) during exercise stress-echocardiography (SE) as reference. Methods: Eighty-one symptomatic patients (55 males [68%], mean age 56 ± 10 years; range: 27–74 years) with the existence of isolated-MB on the left anterior descending artery (LAD) and systolic MB-compression ≥50% diameter stenosis (DS) were eligible to participate in the study. Each patient underwent treadmill exercise-SE, invasive coronary angiography, and TTDE-CFVR measurements in the distal segment of LAD during DOB infusion (DOB: 10–40 μg/kg/min). Using quantitative coronary angiography, both minimal luminal diameter (MLD) and percent DS at MB-site at end-systole and end-diastole were determined. Results: Stress-induced myocardial ischemia with the occurrence of WMA was found in 23 patients (28%). CFVR during peak DOB was significantly lower in the SE-positive group compared with the SE-negative group (1.94 ± 0.16 vs. 2.78 ± 0.53; p < 0.001). ROC analyses identified the optimal CFVR cut-off value ≤ 2.1 obtained during high-dose dobutamine (>20 µg/kg/min) for the identification of MB associated with stress-induced WMA, with a sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive value of 96%, 95%, 88%, and 98%, respectively (AUC 0.986; 95% CI: 0.967–1.000; p < 0.001). Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that MLD and percent DS, both at end-diastole, were the only independent predictors of ischemic CFVR values ≤2.1 (OR: 0.023; 95% CI: 0.001–0.534; p = 0.019; OR: 1.147; 95% CI: 1.042–1.263; p = 0.005; respectively). Conclusions: Noninvasive CFVR during dobutamine provocation appears to be an additional and important noninvasive tool to determine the functional severity of isolated-MB. A transthoracic CFVR cut-off ≤2.1 measured at a high-dobutamine dose may be adequate for detecting myocardial ischemia in patients with isolated-MB.
Structural Changes in Trabecular Bone, Cortical Bone and Hyaline Cartilage as Well as Disturbances in Bone Metabolism and Mineralization in an Animal Model of Secondary Osteoporosis in Clostridium perfringens Infection
Authors: Tomczyk-Warunek Agnieszka , Blicharski Tomasz , Muszyński Siemowit , Tomaszewska Ewa , Dobrowolski Piotr , Blicharski Rudolf , Jarecki Jaromir , Arczewska-Włosek Anna , Świątkiewicz Sylwester , Józefiak Damian
Published: December 2021

There is no information regarding whether changes in the microbiological balance of the gastrointestinal tract as a result of an infection with Clostridium perfringens influence the development of metabolic bone disorders. The experiment was carried out on male broiler chickens divided into two groups: control (n = 10) and experimental (n = 10). The experimental animals were infected with Clostridium perfringens between 17 and 20 days of age. The animals were euthanized at 42 days of age. The structural parameters of the trabecular bone, cortical bone, and hyaline cartilage as well as the mineralization of the bone were determined. The metabolism of the skeletal system was assessed by determining the levels of bone turnover markers, hormones, and minerals in the blood serum. The results confirm that the disturbed composition of the gastrointestinal microflora has an impact on the mineralization and metabolism of bone tissue, leading to the structural changes in cortical bone, trabecular bone, and hyaline cartilage. On the basis of the obtained results, it can be concluded that changes in the microenvironment of the gastrointestinal tract by infection with C. perfringens may have an impact on the earlier development of osteoporosis.
Impacts of Lithium Salts on the Thermal and Mechanical Characteristics in the Lithiated PEO/LAGP Composite Electrolytes
Authors: Lee Jeremy , Rottmayer Michael , Huang Hong
Published: December 2021

Lithium batteries utilizing solid-state electrolytes have the potential to alleviate their safety hazard, reduce packaging volume, and enable flexible design. Polymer/ceramic composite electrolytes (CPE) are more attractive because the combination is capable of remedying and/or transcending individual constituent’ properties. Recently, we fabricated a series of free-standing composite electrolyte membranes consisting of Li1.4Al0.4Ge1.6(PO4)3 (LAGP), polyethylene oxide (PEO), and lithium salts. In this study, we characterized thermal and mechanical properties of the CPEs with two representative lithium salts, i.e., lithium boron fluoride (LiBF4) and lithium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide (LiTFSI). We found that the type of lithium salt can prevail the LAGP ceramic loadings on altering the key properties. It is observed that LiTFSI, compared with LiBF4, causes more significant reduction in terms of the crystallinity of PEO, melting transition, and mechanical strengths. The differences in these aspects can be ascribed to the interactions between the polymer matrix and anions in lithium salt.
LoRaWAN Base Station Improvement for Better Coverage and Capacity
Authors: Turčinović Filip , Šišul Gordan , Bosiljevac Marko
Published: December 2021

Low Power Wide Area Network (LPWAN) technologies provide long-range and low power consumption for many battery-powered devices used in Internet of Things (IoT). One of the most utilized LPWAN technologies is LoRaWAN (Long Range WAN) with over 700 million connections expected by the year 2023. LoraWAN base stations need to ensure stable and energy-efficient communication without unnecessary repetitions with sufficient range coverage and good capacity. To meet these requirements, a simple and efficient upgrade in the design of LoRaWAN base station is proposed, based on using two or more concentrators. The development steps are outlined in this paper and the evaluation of the enhanced base station is done with a series of measurements conducted in Zagreb, Croatia. Through these measurements we compared received messages and communication parameters on novel and standard base stations. The results showed a significant increase in the probability of successful reception of messages on the novel base station which corresponds to the increase of base station capacity and can be very beneficial for the energy consumption of most LoRaWAN end devices.
A Comparative Study on Energy Consumption Forecast Methods for Electric Propulsion Ship
Authors: Kim Ji-Yoon , Lee Jong-Hak , Oh Ji-Hyun , Oh Jin-Seok
Published: December 2021

Efficient vessel operation may reduce operational costs and increase profitability. This is in line with the direction pursued by many marine industry stakeholders such as vessel operators, regulatory authorities, and policymakers. It is also financially justifiable, as fuel oil consumption (FOC) maintenance costs are reduced by forecasting the energy consumption of electric propulsion vessels. Although recent technological advances demand technology for electric propulsion vessel electric power load forecasting, related studies are scarce. Moreover, previous studies that forecasted the loads excluded various factors related to electric propulsion vessels and failed to reflect the high variability of loads. Therefore, this study aims to examine the efficiency of various multialgorithms regarding methods of forecasting electric propulsion vessel energy consumption from various data sampling frequencies. For this purpose, there are numerous machine learning algorithm sets based on convolutional neural network (CNN) and long short-term memory (LSTM) combination methods. The methodology developed in this study is expected to be utilized in training the optimal energy consumption forecasting model, which will support tracking of degraded performance in vessels, optimize transportation, reflect emissions accurately, and be applied ultimately as a basis for route optimization purposes.