bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
COVID-19 Pandemic Preparedness in Egypt's Teaching Hospitals: A Needs Assessment Study
Authors: Abd El Ghaffar Muhammad Mostafa , Salem Marwa Rashad , Al Soda Mohamed Fawzy , Abd El Razik Madiha Said , Tahoon MarwAli Hassab , Tahoon Mohamed Fathy , Eysa Basem , Hegazy Abd Elfattah Elsayed , Eleraky Abdelkarem Emam , Eltayar Ayman A. , Eldarandly Wael Mahmoud Hossam El Din , Omran Dalia
Published: January 2022

Introduction

Regular collection and monitoring of data describing the dynamics of the utilization of healthcare services, especially in teaching hospitals (TH), which provide model quality medical services, are critical for COVID-19 pandemic preparedness.

Methods

The researchers analyzed data and information derived from service statistics reports from June 1st to July 15th, 2020 in terms of hospital resources, as well as utilization patterns of beds, ICU, and ventilators, for 11 screening hospitals affiliated with the General Organization of Teaching Hospitals and institutes in Egypt assigned by the Ministry of Health and Population to provide medical care for COVID-19 patients. Hospital indicators in terms of COVID-19 screening services, as well as utilization patterns of inpatient beds, ICU beds, and ventilators were computed.

Results

A total of 78,869 non-medical personnel and 2,176 medical personnel were presented with COVID-19 triage symptoms. Investigations conducted in the targeted 11 hospitals delineated that 22.2% of non-medical personnel and 27.9% of medical personnel were COVID-19 PCR-confirmed cases. The inpatient bed occupancy rate was 70% for non-medical patients and 67% for medical staff patients. For ICU, the bed occupancy rate was 92 % for non-medical patients and 88% for medical patients. Among the confirmed cases, 38% of medical patients utilized a ventilator vs. 36% of medical personnel cases. Hospital ranking according to utilization pattern among non-medical personnel, Hospital H ranked first in terms of the high load of screening services. Hospital C ranked first regarding the number of confirmed cases, whereas Hospital D ranked first for high ICU utilization among all teaching hospital ICU cases. With respect to medical personnel, Hospital G ranked first for the high load of screening services for the total studied cases. Hospital G ranked first for the number of confirmed cases. Hospital B ranked first regarding high ICU utilization among all teaching hospital ICU cases.

Conclusion

Teaching hospitals have demonstrated preparedness for the COVID-19 pandemic by maintaining an inpatient bed occupancy rate of 70% or less and ventilator utilization at <40% of confirmed cases. However, the ICU bed occupancy rate was more than 90% indicating a shortage of resources. In addition, there is variance across hospitals regarding caseload for resource reallocation decisions.
Burnout and Well-Being Among Medical Professionals in China: A National Cross-Sectional Study
Authors: Xiao Ying , Dong Dong , Zhang Huanyu , Chen Peipei , Li Xiangyan , Tian Zhuang , Jing Zhicheng , Zhang Shuyang
Published: January 2022

Objective

To determine the profile of Chinese medical professionals with burnout symptoms at the national level and identify the association between capability well-being and burnout.

Design and Setting

A cross-sectional study in a nonrandom national sample of medical staff from 6 provinces across western, central and eastern China.

Participants

Physicians, medical laboratory scientists, nurses, and general practitioners aged 18 years or above who submitted a completed online questionnaire from June 2019 to January 2020 successfully (N = 25,120).

Main Outcome Measures

The prevalence of burnout symptoms was assessed by the 22-item Maslach Burnout Inventory-Human Services Survey (MBI-HSS), which consists of three domains: emotional exhaustion (EE), depersonalization (DP), and personal achievement (PA). The overall high burnout was defined as EE score ≥27 or DP score ≥10. The capability well-being was measured by the Investigating Choice Experiments Capability Measure for Adults (ICECAP-A) and the overall ICECAP-A score was calculated using the UK value set, ranging from a score of 0–1. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was used to identify the association between well-being and the overall high burnout.

Results

Among the 25,120 participants, 60.8% of the participants reported at least one symptom of burnout, whereas 11.2% reported all three symptoms of burnout. In the adjusted model, ICECAP-A score was independently associated with high burnout (AOR = 0.018, 95% CI = 0.015–0.022). Medical staff who were males, with shorter working years, working in tertiary hospitals, and those with the specialties of psychiatry, intensive care, emergency medicine, internal medicine, oncology, and pediatrics were at higher risk of reporting burnout symptoms.

Conclusion

The burnout symptoms were relatively common among Chinese medical staff and they were found to be independently associated with capability well-being in health professionals. Interventions should be enhanced on vulnerable groups to reduce burnout and promote well-being in future studies.
A Crossover Randomized Controlled Trial of Priming Interventions to Increase Hand Hygiene at Ward Entrances
Authors: Schmidtke Kelly Ann , Aujla Navneet , Marshall Tom , Hussain Abid , Hodgkinson Gerard P. , Arheart Kristopher L. , Birnbach David J. , Kudrna Laura , Vlaev Ivo
Published: January 2022

Background

Research conducted in the United States suggests that two primes (citrus smells and pictures of a person's eyes) can increase hand gel dispenser use on the day they are introduced in hospital. The current study, conducted at a hospital in the United Kingdom, evaluated the effectiveness of these primes, both in isolation and in combination, at the entry way to four separate wards, over a longer duration than the previous work.

Methods

A crossover randomized controlled trial was conducted. Four wards were allocated for 6 weeks of observation to each of four conditions, including “control,” “olfactory,” “visual,” or “both” (i.e., “olfactory” and “visual” combined). It was hypothesized that hand hygiene compliance would be greater in all priming conditions relative to the control condition. The primary outcome was whether people used the gel dispenser when they entered the wards. After the trial, a follow up survey of staff at the same hospital assessed the barriers to, and facilitators of, hand hygiene compliance. The trial data were analyzed using regression techniques and the survey data were analyzed using descriptive statistics.

Results

The total number of individuals observed in the trial was 9,811 (female = 61%), with similar numbers across conditions, including “control” N = 2,582, “olfactory” N = 2,700, “visual” N = 2,488, and “both” N = 2,141. None of the priming conditions consistently increased hand hygiene. The lowest percentage compliance was observed in the “both” condition (7.8%), and the highest was observed in the “visual” condition (12.7%). The survey was completed by 97 staff (female = 81%). “Environmental resources” and “social influences” were the greatest barriers to staff cleaning their hands.

Conclusions

Taken together, the current findings suggest that the olfactory and visual priming interventions investigated do not influence hand hygiene consistently. To increase the likelihood of such interventions succeeding, future research should focus on prospectively determined mechanisms of action.
Covid Adult Mortality in Brazil: An Analysis of Multiple Causes of Death
Authors: Nogales Vasconcelos Ana Maria , Ishitani Lenice , Abreu Daisy Maria Xavier , França Elisabeth
Published: January 2022

Objective

This study aimed to analyze the chain of events and contributing causes associated with COVID-19 adult mortality (30–69 years old), based on qualified data on CoD from three Brazilian capitals cities, Belo Horizonte, Salvador, and Natal, in 2020.

Methods

Data of all deaths among residents in the three capitals in 2020 were provided by these municipalities' routine Mortality Information System (SIM). Mentions B34.2 with the markers U07.1 and U07.2 in the death certificate identified COVID-19 deaths. We used a multiple-cause-of-death approach better to understand the complexity of the morbid process of COVID-19. Conditions that appeared more frequently in the same line or above the COVID-19 mentions in the death certificate were considered a chain-of-event. Conditions that occurred more often after the codes for COVID-19 were considered as contributing.

Results

In 2020, 7,029 records from COVID-19 as the underlying cause of death were registered in SIM in the three capitals. Among these, 2,921 (41.6%) were deceased between 30 and 69 years old, representing 17.0% of deaths in this age group. As chain-of-events, the most frequent conditions mentioned were sepsis (33.4%), SARS (32.0%), acute respiratory failure (31.9%), unspecified lower respiratory infections (unspecified pneumonia) (20.1%), and other specified respiratory disorders (14.1%). Hypertension (33.3%), diabetes unspecified type (21.7%), renal failure (12.7%), obesity (9.8%), other chronic kidney diseases (4.9%), and diabetes mellitus type 2 (4.7%) were the most frequent contributing conditions. On average, 3.04 conditions were mentioned in the death certificate besides COVID-19. This average varied according to age, place of death, and capital.

Conclusion

The multiple-cause analysis is a powerful tool to better understand the morbid process due to COVID-19 and highlight the importance of chronic non-communicable diseases as contributing conditions.
Operationalizing a Rideshare Intervention for Colonoscopy Completion: Barriers, Facilitators, and Process Recommendations
Authors: Bell-Brown Ari , Chew Lisa , Weiner Bryan J. , Strate Lisa , Balmadrid Bryan , Lewis Cara C. , Hannon Peggy , Inadomi John M. , Ramsey Scott D. , Issaka Rachel B.
Published: January 2022

Introduction

Transportation is a common barrier to colonoscopy completion for colorectal cancer (CRC) screening. The study aims to identify the barriers, facilitators, and process recommendations to implement a rideshare non-emergency medical transportation (NEMT) intervention following colonoscopy completion within a safety-net healthcare setting.

Methods

We used informal stakeholder engagement, story boards—a novel user-centered design technique, listening sessions and the nominal group technique to identify the barriers, facilitators, and process to implementing a rideshare NEMT program following colonoscopy completion in a large safety-net healthcare system.

Results

Barriers to implementing a rideshare NEMT intervention for colonoscopy completion included: inability to expand an existing NEMT program beyond Medicaid patients and lack of patient chaperones with rideshare NEMT programs. Facilitators included: commercially available rideshare NEMT platforms that were lower cost and had shorter wait times than the alternative of taxis. Operationalizing and implementing a rideshare NEMT intervention in our healthcare system required the following steps: 1) identifying key stakeholders, 2) engaging stakeholder groups in discussion to identify barriers and solutions, 3) obtaining institutional sign-off, 4) developing a process for reviewing and selecting a rideshare NEMT program, 5) executing contracts, 6) developing a standard operating procedure and 7) training clinic staff to use the rideshare platform.

Discussion

Rideshare NEMT after procedural sedation is administered may improve colonoscopy completion rates and provide one solution to inadequate CRC screening. If successful, our rideshare model could be broadly applicable to other safety-net health systems, populations with high social needs, and settings where procedural sedation is administered.
Pose Generation for Social Robots in Conversational Group Formations
Authors: Vázquez Marynel , Lew Alexander , Gorevoy Eden , Connolly Joe
Published: January 2022

We study two approaches for predicting an appropriate pose for a robot to take part in group formations typical of social human conversations subject to the physical layout of the surrounding environment. One method is model-based and explicitly encodes key geometric aspects of conversational formations. The other method is data-driven. It implicitly models key properties of spatial arrangements using graph neural networks and an adversarial training regimen. We evaluate the proposed approaches through quantitative metrics designed for this problem domain and via a human experiment. Our results suggest that the proposed methods are effective at reasoning about the environment layout and conversational group formations. They can also be used repeatedly to simulate conversational spatial arrangements despite being designed to output a single pose at a time. However, the methods showed different strengths. For example, the geometric approach was more successful at avoiding poses generated in nonfree areas of the environment, but the data-driven method was better at capturing the variability of conversational spatial formations. We discuss ways to address open challenges for the pose generation problem and other interesting avenues for future work.
Dynamic Semantic World Models and Increased Situational Awareness for Highly Automated Inland Waterway Transport
Authors: Van Baelen Senne , Peeters Gerben , Bruyninckx Herman , Pilozzi Paolo , Slaets Peter
Published: January 2022

Automated surface vessels must integrate many tasks and motions at the same time. Moreover, vessels as well as monitoring and control services need to react to physical disturbances, to dynamically allocate software resources available within a particular environment, and to communicate with various other actors in particular navigation and traffic situations. In this work, the responsibility for the situational awareness is given to a mediator that decides how: 1) to assess the impact of the actual physical environment on the quality and performance of the ongoing task executions; 2) to make sure these tasks satisfy the system requirements; and 3) to be robust against disturbances. This paper proposes a set of semantic world models within the context of inland waterway transport, and discusses policies and methodologies to compose, use, and connect these models. Model-conform entities and relations are composed dynamically, that is, corresponding to the opportunities and challenges offered by the actual situation. The semantic world models discussed in this work are divided into two main categories: 1) the semantic description of a vessel’s own properties and relationships, called the internal world model, or body model, and 2) the semantic description of its local environment, called the external world model, or map. A range of experiments illustrate the potential of using such models to decide the reactions of the application at runtime. Furthermore, three dynamic, context-dependent, ship domains are integrated in the map as two-dimensional geometric entities around a moving vessel to increase the situational awareness of automated vessels. Their geometric representations depend on the associated relations; for example, with: 1) the motion of the vessel, 2) the actual, desired, or hypothesised tasks, 3) perception sensor information, and 4) other geometries, e.g., features from the Inland Electronic Navigational Charts. The ability to unambiguously understand the environmental context, as well as the motion or position of surrounding entities, allows for resource-efficient and straightforward control decisions. The semantic world models facilitate knowledge sharing between actors, and significantly enhance explainability of the actors’ behaviour and control decisions.
An Empirical Evaluation of Asymmetric Synchronous Collaboration Combining Immersive and Non-Immersive Interfaces Within the Context of Immersive Analytics
Authors: Reski Nico , Alissandrakis Aris , Kerren Andreas
Published: January 2022

Collaboration is an essential part of data analysis, allowing multiple users to combine their expertise and to debate about the interpretation of data discoveries using their contextual knowledge. The design of collaborative interfaces within the context of Immersive Analytics remains challenging, particularly due to the various user-centered characteristics of immersive technologies. In this article, we present the use case of a system that enables multiple users to synchronously explore the same data in a collaborative scenario that combines immersive and non-immersive interfaces in an asymmetric role setup. Such a setup allows for bridging the gap when applying heterogeneous display and interaction technologies, enabling each analyst to have an independent and different view of the data, while maintaining important collaborative aspects during the joint data exploration. We developed an immersive VR environment (head-mounted display, 3D gestural input) and a non-immersive desktop terminal (monitor, keyboard and mouse) centered around spatio-temporal data exploration. Supported through a real-time communication interface, synchronous collaborative features are integrated in both interfaces, facilitating the users in their ability to establish a shared context and to make spatio-temporal references. We conducted an empirical evaluation with five participant pairs (within-subject design) to investigate aspects of usability, user engagement, and collaboration during a confirmative analysis task. Synthesis of questionnaire results in combination with additional log file analysis, audio activity analysis, and observations, revealed good usability scores, high user engagement, as well as overall close and balanced collaboration of enthusiastic pairs during the task completion independent of their interface type, validating our system approach in general. Further supported through the self-constructed Spatio-Temporal Collaboration Questionnaire, we are able to contribute with discussion and considerations of the presented scenario and the synchronous collaborative features for the design of similar applications.
Bund katholischer Ärzte: Homeopathic Conversion Therapists in 21st Century Germany
Authors: Borkens Yannick
Published: January 2022

Even in modern Germany of the 21st century there is still homophobia and other intolerances towards different sexualities and genders. These are also evident in the presence of so-called conversion therapies, which are still offered although there are already legal efforts. Among those groups, the Bund katholischer Ärzte (Association of Catholic Doctors) is a unique curiosity. Although this group is no longer really active, it is currently moving into the German focus again due to criminal charges and reporting in the tabloid press. The aim of this publication is to bring the Bund katholischer Ärzte not only into a more scientific but also into a more international focus. Furthermore, it is an ideal example to show what strange effects homophobia can produce.
“I don’t Teach Violence, I Teach Self-Control”; The Framing of Mixed Martial Arts Between Mental Health and Well-Being
Authors: Domaneschi Lorenzo , Ricci Oscar
Published: January 2022

This paper draws on conceptual and analytical tools from cultural sociology to analyze media representations of the MMA right after the murder of a twenty-year-old boy, that took place in a small village in central Italy by a gang of young men, two of whom frequented a MMA gym. While often characterized as violent and uncivilized, MMA has a core following of fans who watch and practice MMA out of an interest in the effects of the sport in terms of health and well-being. Through in depth qualitative analysis of  MMA media discourse offered by traditional and new media, this paper explores the way the MMA media constructs symbolic boundaries around different kinds of fights inside and outside the gym, through aesthetic and moral evaluations based on the hierarchical ‘distinctions’ between “violence” and “health” as possible outcomes of the MMA training process. Particularly, we carry out a discourse analysis based on Italian Newspapers, Magazines and Facebook groups dedicated to MMA, through which we frame the multiple representations of the discursive production built around the MMA in Italy. Our aim is to identify the different ways in which the discussion about this event provided narrative paths and points of view about the meaning of MMA, focusing on the reputational consequences concerning health, especially in its physical and mental expressions. This research may prove useful for scholars interested in MMA, culture, and sports media studies.
Predicting Dropout From Organized Football: A Prospective 4-Year Study Among Adolescent and Young Adult Football Players
Authors: Van Yperen Nico W. , Jonker Laura , Verbeek Jan
Published: January 2022

Previous studies have shown that enjoyment is one of the key predictors of dropout from organized sport, including organized football. However, prospective studies, particularly studies focused on long-term dropout, are largely lacking. Drawing on the basic principles of interdependence theory, in the present prospective study among 1,762 adolescent and young adult football players (27.1% women, mean age 17.74 years, SD = 1.35), we tested the predictive value of sport enjoyment, perceived alternatives, and restraining forces on football players' short-term (6 months) and long-term (4 years) dropout from organized football. As anticipated, the results of the logistic regression and follow-up analyses indicate that players' enjoyment was the main predictor of (short-term and long-term) dropout. In addition, relative to remainers, dropouts perceived more alternatives in terms of other sports, had fewer family members involved in their football club, and were older at the time they started playing organized football. We conclude that particularly measures aimed at enhancing sport enjoyment may prevent players from dropping out from organized football in both the short and long term. In addition, dropout rates may be reduced by attracting and engaging youth at a very young age (from 6 years), and their siblings, parents, and other family members as well.
In Utero Exposure to Environmental Tobacco Smoke Increases Neuroinflammation in Offspring
Authors: Durão Ana Carolina Cardoso dos Santos , Brandão Wesley Nogueira , Bruno Vitor , W. Spelta Lídia Emmanuela , Duro Stephanie de Oliveira , Barreto dos Santos Nilton , Paranhos Beatriz Aparecida Passos Bismara , Zanluqui Nágela Ghabdan , Yonamine Maurício , Pierre Schatzmann Peron Jean , Munhoz Carolina Demarchi , Marcourakis Tania
Published: January 2022

The embryonic stage is the most vulnerable period for congenital abnormalities. Due to its prolonged developmental course, the central nervous system (CNS) is susceptible to numerous genetic, epigenetic, and environmental influences. During embryo implantation, the CNS is more vulnerable to external influences such as environmental tobacco smoke (ETS), increasing the risk for delayed fetal growth, sudden infant death syndrome, and immune system abnormalities. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of in utero exposure to ETS on neuroinflammation in the offspring of pregnant mice challenged or not with lipopolysaccharide (LPS). After the confirmation of mating by the presence of the vaginal plug until offspring birth, pregnant C57BL/6 mice were exposed to either 3R4F cigarettes smoke (Kentucky University) or compressed air, twice a day (1h each), for 21 days. Enhanced glial cell and mixed cell cultures were prepared from 3-day-old mouse pups. After cell maturation, both cells were stimulated with LPS or saline. To inhibit microglia activation, minocycline was added to the mixed cell culture media 24 h before LPS challenge. To verify the influence of in utero exposure to ETS on the development of neuroinflammatory events in adulthood, a different set of 8-week-old animals was submitted to the Autoimmune Experimental Encephalomyelitis (EAE) model. The results indicate that cells from LPS-challenged pups exposed to ETS in utero presented high levels of proinflammatory cytokines such as interleukin 6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNFα) and decreased cell viability. Such a proinflammatory environment could modulate fetal programming by an increase in microglia and astrocytes miRNA155. This scenario may lead to the more severe EAE observed in pups exposed to ETS in utero.
Total Perineal Prostatectomy: A Retrospective Study in Six Dogs
Authors: Zambelli Daniele , Ballotta Giulia , Valentini Simona , Cunto Marco
Published: January 2022

Perineal hernia refers to the herniation of pelvic and abdominal viscera into the subcutaneous perineal region through a pelvic diaphragm weakness: a concomitant prostatic disease is observed in 25–59% of cases. Prostatectomy involves the removal of the prostate, either partially (partial prostatectomy) or completely (total prostatectomy). In case of complicated perineal hernia, staged procedures are recommended: celiotomy in order to perform colopexy, vasopexy, cystopexy, and/or to treat the prostatic disease, and perineal access in order to repair the perineal hernia. Very few reports relate prostatectomy using a perineal approach and, to the extent of the author’s knowledge, this technique has not been thoroughly investigated in the literature. The aim of this article is to retrospectively describe the total perineal prostatectomy in dogs presenting perineal hernia with concomitant prostatic diseases which required the removal of the gland. The experience in six dogs (three dogs with the prostate within hernial contents and three dogs with intrapelvic prostate) is reported as well as advantages, disadvantages, and limitations of the surgical procedure. In the authors’ clinical practice, total perineal prostatectomy has been a useful surgical approach to canine prostatic diseases, proven to be safe, well tolerated, and effective.
Performance Efficiency of Conventional Treatment Plants and Constructed Wetlands towards Reduction of Antibiotic Resistance
Authors: Hazra Moushumi , Durso Lisa M.
Published: January 2022

Domestic and industrial wastewater discharges harbor rich bacterial communities, including both pathogenic and commensal organisms that are antibiotic-resistant (AR). AR pathogens pose a potential threat to human and animal health. In wastewater treatment plants (WWTP), bacteria encounter environments suitable for horizontal gene transfer, providing an opportunity for bacterial cells to acquire new antibiotic-resistant genes. With many entry points to environmental components, especially water and soil, WWTPs are considered a critical control point for antibiotic resistance. The primary and secondary units of conventional WWTPs are not designed for the reduction of resistant microbes. Constructed wetlands (CWs) are viable wastewater treatment options with the potential for mitigating AR bacteria, their genes, pathogens, and general pollutants. Encouraging performance for the removal of AR (2–4 logs) has highlighted the applicability of CW on fields. Their low cost of construction, operation and maintenance makes them well suited for applications across the globe, especially in developing and low-income countries. The present review highlights a better understanding of the performance efficiency of conventional treatment plants and CWs for the elimination/reduction of AR from wastewater. They are viable alternatives that can be used for secondary/tertiary treatment or effluent polishing in combination with WWTP or in a decentralized manner.
Dynamic Finite Element Modelling and Vibration Analysis of Prestressed Layered Bending–Torsion Coupled Beams
Authors: Kashani MirTahmaseb , Hashemi Seyed M.
Published: January 2022

Free vibration analysis of prestressed, homogenous, Fiber-Metal Laminated (FML) and composite beams subjected to axial force and end moment is revisited. Finite Element Method (FEM) and frequency-dependent Dynamic Finite Element (DFE) models are developed and presented. The frequency results are compared with those obtained from the conventional FEM (ANSYS, Canonsburg, PA, USA) as well as the Homogenization Method (HM). Unlike the FEM, the application of the DFE formulation leads to a nonlinear eigenvalue problem, which is solved to determine the system’s natural frequencies and modes. The governing differential equations of coupled flexural–torsional vibrations, resulting from the end moment, are developed using Euler–Bernoulli bending and St. Venant torsion beam theories and assuming linear harmonic motion and linearly elastic materials. Illustrative examples of prestressed layered, FML, and unidirectional composite beam configurations, exhibiting geometric bending-torsion coupling, are studied. The presented DFE and FEM results show excellent agreement with the homogenization method and ANSYS modeling results, with the DFE’s rates of convergence surpassing all. An investigation is also carried out to examine the effects of various combined axial loads and end moments on the stiffness and fundamental frequencies of the structure. An illustrative example, demonstrating the application of the presented methods to the buckling analysis of layered beams is also presented.
An Interview with Gregory Sholette about the Precarious Workers Pageant Project
Authors: Cruzeiro Cristina Pratas , Douglas Anne , Madeira Cláudia , Elias Helena
Published: January 2022

PrecariousWorkers Pageant[...]
Online Measurement System for Dynamic Flow Bioreactors to Study Barrier Integrity of hiPSC-Based Blood–Brain Barrier In Vitro Models
Authors: Choi Jihyoung , Mathew Sanjana , Oerter Sabrina , Appelt-Menzel Antje , Hansmann Jan , Schmitz Tobias
Published: January 2022

Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) is a noninvasive, reliable, and efficient method to analyze the barrier integrity of in vitro tissue models. This well-established tool is used most widely to quantify the transendothelial/epithelial resistance (TEER) of Transwell-based models cultured under static conditions. However, dynamic culture in bioreactors can achieve advanced cell culture conditions that mimic a more tissue-specific environment and stimulation. This requires the development of culture systems that also allow for the assessment of barrier integrity under dynamic conditions. Here, we present a bioreactor system that is capable of the automated, continuous, and non-invasive online monitoring of cellular barrier integrity during dynamic culture. Polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) casting and 3D printing were used for the fabrication of the bioreactors. Additionally, attachable electrodes based on titanium nitride (TiN)-coated steel tubes were developed to perform EIS measurements. In order to test the monitored bioreactor system, blood–brain barrier (BBB) in vitro models derived from human-induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSC) were cultured for up to 7 days. We applied equivalent electrical circuit fitting to quantify the electrical parameters of the cell layer and observed that TEER gradually decreased over time from 2513 Ω·cm2 to 285 Ω·cm2, as also specified in the static control culture. Our versatile system offers the possibility to be used for various dynamic tissue cultures that require a non-invasive monitoring system for barrier integrity.
Serpinin in the Skin
Authors: Fraquelli Cristina , Hauzinger Jasmine , Humpel Christian , Nolano Maria , Provitera Vincenzo , Sharma Vinay Kumar , Loh Peng , Pidsudko Zenon , Blatsios Georgios , Troger Josef
Published: January 2022

The serpinins are relatively novel peptides generated by proteolytic processing of chromogranin A and they are comprised of free serpinin, serpinin-RRG and pGlu-serpinin. In this study, the presence and source of these peptides were studied in the skin. By Western blot analysis, a 40 kDa and a 50 kDa protein containing the sequence of serpinin were detected in the trigeminal ganglion and dorsal root ganglia in rats but none in the skin. RP-HPLC followed by EIA revealed that the three serpinins are present in similar, moderate amounts in rat dorsal root ganglia, whereas in the rat skin, free serpinin represents the predominant molecular form. There were abundant serpinin-positive cells in rat dorsal root ganglia and colocalization with substance P was evident. However, much more widespread distribution of the serpinins was found in dorsal root ganglia when compared with substance P. In the skin, serpinin immunoreactivity was found in sensory nerves and showed colocalization with substance P; as well, some was present in autonomic nerves. Thus, although not exclusively, there is evidence that serpinin is a constituent of the sensory innervation of the skin. The serpinins are biologically highly active and might therefore be of functional significance in the skin.
Coronary Artery Disease and Cancer: Treatment and Prognosis Regarding Gender Differences
Authors: Lange Stefan A. , Reinecke Holger
Published: January 2022

Cardiovascular disease and cancer remain the leading causes of hospitalization and mortality in high-income countries. Survival after myocardial infarction has improved but there is still a difference in clinical outcome, mortality, and developing heart failure to the disadvantage of women with myocardial infarction. Most major cardiology trials and registries have excluded patients with cancer. As a result, there is only very limited information on the effects of coronary artery disease in cancer patients. In particular, the outcomes in women with cancer and coronary artery disease and its management remain empiric. We reviewed studies of over 27 million patients with coronary artery disease and cancer. Our review focused on the most important types of cancer (breast, colon, lung, prostate) and hematological malignancies with particular attention to sex-specific differences in treatment and prognosis.
Personalized 3-Gene Panel for Prostate Cancer Target Therapy
Authors: Iacobas Sanda , Iacobas Dumitru Andrei
Published: January 2022

Many years and billions spent for research did not yet produce an effective answer to prostate cancer (PCa). Not only each human, but even each cancer nodule in the same tumor, has unique transcriptome topology. The differences go beyond the expression level to the expression control and networking of individual genes. The unrepeatable heterogeneous transcriptomic organization among men makes the quest for universal biomarkers and “fit-for-all” treatments unrealistic. We present a bioinformatics procedure to identify each patient’s unique triplet of PCa Gene Master Regulators (GMRs) and predict consequences of their experimental manipulation. The procedure is based on the Genomic Fabric Paradigm (GFP), which characterizes each individual gene by the independent expression level, expression variability and expression coordination with each other gene. GFP can identify the GMRs whose controlled alteration would selectively kill the cancer cells with little consequence on the normal tissue. The method was applied to microarray data on surgically removed prostates from two men with metastatic PCas (each with three distinct cancer nodules), and DU145 and LNCaP PCa cell lines. The applications verified that each PCa case is unique and predicted the consequences of the GMRs’ manipulation. The predictions are theoretical and need further experimental validation.
Biogas, Biomethane and Digestate Potential of By-Products from Green Biorefinery Systems
Authors: Ravindran Rajeev , Donkor Kwame , Gottumukkala Lalitha , Menon Abhay , Guneratnam Amita Jacob , McMahon Helena , Koopmans Sybrandus , Sanders Johan P. M. , Gaffey James
Published: January 2022

Global warming and climate change are imminent threats to the future of humankind. A shift from the current reliance on fossil fuels to renewable energy is key to mitigating the impacts of climate change. Biological raw materials and residues can play a key role in this transition through technologies such as anaerobic digestion. However, biological raw materials must also meet other existing food, feed and material needs. Green biorefinery is an innovative concept in which green biomass, such as grass, is processed to obtain a variety of protein products, value-added co-products and renewable energy, helping to meet many needs from a single source. In this study, an analysis has been conducted to understand the renewable energy potential of green biorefinery by-products and residues, including grass whey, de-FOS whey and press cake. Using anaerobic digestion, the biogas and biomethane potential of these samples have been analyzed. An analysis of the fertiliser potential of the resulting digestate by-products has also been undertaken. All the feedstocks tested were found to be suitable for biogas production with grass whey, the most suitable candidate with a biogas and biomethane production yield of 895.8 and 544.6 L/kg VS, respectively, followed by de-FOS whey and press cake (597.4/520.3 L/kg VS and 510.7/300.3 L/kg VS, respectively). The results show considerable potential for utilizing biorefinery by-products as a source for renewable energy production, even after several value-added products have been co-produced.
Surface Properties of Plasma-Activated Chitosan Foils
Authors: Terpiłowski Konrad , Chibowski Emil
Published: January 2022

Thin films of chitosan are often deposited on various surfaces to provide them with antiseptic properties. In the presented research, chitosan foils were obtained using two methods and treated with nitrogen plasma. The obtained materials were characterized by measuring the wettability of the test liquids, and the apparent surface free energy was calculated using the Tadmor equilibrium contact angles. The surface topography was characterized using optical profilometry and SEM. On the other hand, the effect of plasma on surface groups was investigated using the FTIR-ATR technique. Plasma activation of the surface increases the polarity of the surface. This is observed in the changed surface roughness and the share of functional groups on the surface.
Microwave Roasting Characteristics of Cuprous Chloride Residue from Zinc Hydrometallurgy
Authors: Guo Zhanyong , Li Fachuang , Zhang Qian , Su Guang , Chang Jun , Zhou Huilin
Published: January 2022

High-efficiency dechlorination processes are crucial for the clean utilization of CuCl waste residue from zinc hydrometallurgical processes. A new method of oxygen-enriched microwave roasting has been proposed to improve the dechlorination process. The cavity perturbation method was used in this paper to measure the permittivity of a CuCl residue at various temperatures and apparent densities. The results show that temperature had a more significant effect on the loss tangent when it exceeded 400 °C more than that of apparent densities. The degree of dechlorination of CuCl residue exceeded 93% after 90 min of microwave roasting at 450 °C and 150 mL/min oxygen flow, which was 12% higher than that of conventional calcination. The elemental distribution in samples was studied using single-point, linear, and lateral scans at the microscale, and the microstructure and phase changes of the CuCl residue under a microwave field were characterized by XRD and SEM-EDS. This study shows that microwaves can promote the dechlorination reaction by decreasing the activation energy from 52.69 kJ/mol to 42.36 kJ/mol.
Diagnostic and Therapeutic Challenges in a Patient with Synchronous Very High-Risk Prostate Adenocarcinoma and Anal Carcinoma
Authors: Wallach Jonathan , Youssef Irini , Leaf Andrea , Schwartz David
Published: January 2022

A 79-year-old HIV-negative Caucasian man with a medical history of smoking 20 pack-years (quit 40 years prior), early-stage non-small cell lung cancer status post-lobectomy 13 years earlier at an outside hospital without evidence of recurrence, and benign prostatic hypertrophy was diagnosed with synchronous very high-risk prostate adenocarcinoma and early-stage anal basaloid squamous cell carcinoma. He proceeded to undergo concurrent treatment for these tumors, consisting of androgen deprivation therapy, external beam radiation therapy, and a brachytherapy boost for the prostate adenocarcinoma; for the anal carcinoma, he was treated with definitive chemoradiation. Over 3.5 years since the completion of radiotherapy, he remains in clinical and biochemical remission.
The Benefit of Intraoperative Magnetic Resonance Imaging in Endoscopic and Microscopic Transsphenoidal Resection of Recurrent Pituitary Adenomas
Authors: Pala Andrej , Knoll Andreas , Schneider Max , Etzrodt-Walter Gwendolin , Karpel-Massler Georg , Wirtz Christian Rainer , Hlavac Michal
Published: January 2022

The surgical treatment of recurrent adenomas can be challenging. Intraoperative magnetic resonance imaging (iMRI) can improve the orientation and increase the safe extent of resection. We conducted a quantitative and qualitative retrospective analysis of recurrent adenomas treated by endoscopic or microscopic iMRI-assisted transsphenoidal surgery. A total number of 59 resections were selected. Detailed volumetric measurements, tumor characteristics, and MRI features of intraoperative remnants were evaluated. Intraoperative MRI increased the gross total resection (GTR) rate from 33.9% to 49.2%. Common locations of tumor remnants after iMRI were the clivus, the wall of the cavernous sinus or the perforation of the diaphragm. Increasing tumor volume and the microscopic technique were significantly associated with further resection after iMRI in the univariate analysis (p = 0.004, OR 1.6; p = 0.009, OR 4.4). Only the increasing tumor volume was an independent predictor for further resection (p = 0.007, OR 1.5). A significantly higher proportion of GTRs was achieved with the endoscopic technique (p = 0.001). Patients with a large recurrent pituitary adenoma who underwent microscopic transsphenoidal resection were the most likely to benefit from iMRI regarding the extent of resection. Occult invasions of the cavernous sinus and/or the clivus were the most common findings leading to further resection of tumor remnants after iMRI.
Data-Driven Recommendations for Establishing Threshold Values for the NIS Trend Indicator in the Mediterranean Sea
Authors: Galanidi Marika , Zenetos Argyro
Published: January 2022

In the present work, we analysed time series data on the introduction of new non-indigenous species (NIS) in the Mediterranean between 1970 and 2017, aiming to arrive at recommendations concerning the reference period and provisional threshold values for the NIS trend indicator. We employed regression analysis and breakpoint structural analysis. Our results confirm earlier findings that the reference conditions differ for the four Mediterranean subregions, and support a shortening of the reporting cycle from six to three years, with a two-year time lag for the ensuing assessment. Excluding Lessepsian fishes and parasites, the reference period, defined as the most recent time segment with stable mean new NIS values, was estimated as 1997–2017 for the eastern Mediterranean, 2012–2017 for the central Mediterranean, 2000–2017 for the Adriatic and 1970–2017 for the western Mediterranean. These findings are interpreted primarily on the basis of a basin scale temperature regime shift in the late 1990s, shifts in driving forces such as shellfish culture, and as a result of intensified research efforts and citizen scientist initiatives targeting NIS in the last decade. The threshold values, i.e., the three-year average new NIS values during the reference period, are indicative and will ultimately depend on the choice of species and pathways to be used in the calculations. This is discussed through the prism of target setting in alignment with specific management objectives.
Observations on the Association between Some Buprestid and Cerambycid Beetles and Black Frankincense Resin Inducement
Authors: Sommerlatte Hilary , Wyk Ben-Erik Van
Published: January 2022

Samburu resin harvesters in northern Kenya maintain that frankincense resin flow from Boswellia neglecta and Commiphora confusa is induced by insect larval activity. Observations on the insects’ larval behaviour support these claims. During the frankincense harvest, buprestid beetle larvae, identified as a Sphenoptera species, are found under B. neglecta resin, eating the monoterpene-rich inner bark, which apparently stimulates the trees to produce copious amounts of fresh resin. The same behaviour was observed with cerambycid beetle larvae, identified as Neoplocaederus benningseni Kolbe, on C. confusa trees. Remarkably, these insects have developed the capacity to digest the resin-saturated inner bark and overcome the toxic, repellent characteristics of oleo-monoterpenes. The frankincense resin also appears to act as a protective covering during the insects’ larval and pupal stages. Excessive tree damage was not noted from these insect invasions. Even though the tree species are from different genera, the resin produced by both is black, with a very similar aromatic chemical profile. The question thus arises as to whether the larval feeding behaviour of these beetle species has an influence, not only on the physical appearance but also on the chemical composition of the resins.
Indication of Possible Shifts in Copepod Species Composition in St. Pauls Inlet, a Fjordal Estuary Connected to the Gulf of St. Lawrence
Authors: Stevens Erin N. , Campbell Christine E.
Published: January 2022

St. Pauls Inlet, a coastal brackish lake/estuary within Gros Morne National Park in Newfoundland and Labrador (Canada), is a semi-enclosed body of water with a narrow 80-m wide opening to the marine Gulf of St. Lawrence and with freshwater input from 24 streams. An initial biological survey of St. Pauls Inlet in 1977/78 during Park planning stages found dominant members of the mesozooplankton community to be copepods of genera Acartia, Calanus, Oithona, and Temora. Subsequent surveys of 2009, 2010, and 2019 found Calanus abundance to be much reduced or absent and low adult microcrustacean (copepods + cladocerans) densities. Recent data suggest that Calanus finmarchicus, a large energy-rich copepod, has declined across the Gulf of St. Lawrence and the wider Northwest Atlantic, with the zooplankton community shifting towards smaller, warm-water copepods This shift is coincident with rising surface sea-surface temperatures in the Atlantic. Mid-July temperatures in the inlet were higher in 2009, 2010, and 2019 compared with 1977. Shifting zooplankton abundances in St. Pauls Inlet, even with reduced exchange with the Gulf, may reflect wider trends in the Northwest Atlantic and be a useful indicator of a changing coastal environment in this national park.
Annular Lichenoid Dermatitis (of Youth)
Authors: Annessi Giorgio , Annessi Emanuele
Published: January 2022

About 20 years after its first description, Annular Lichenoid Dermatitis of Youth (ALDY) is recognized as a distinctive lichenoid dermatosis with specific clinical and histological features. The disease occurs mostly in young persons all over the world, runs a chronic course, and has an obscure etiopathogenesis. Clinically, lesions consist of persistent, asymptomatic erythematous macules and round-oval annular patches with a red-violaceous non-scaling border and central hypopigmentation, mostly localized on the groin and flanks. Histology shows a peculiar lichenoid dermatitis characterized by irregular epidermal hyperplasia with an alternation of thinned and quadrangular rete ridges and a dense band-like lichenoid infiltrate of lymphocytes in the papillary dermis. Typically, there is infiltration of lymphocytes into the lower epidermal layers with massive necrosis/apoptosis of keratinocytes, which is limited to the tips of rete ridges. Dermal lymphocytes are usually CD3+, CD4+, while most of the intraepidermal T cells are CD8+. Analysis of TCR-γ-chain gene rearrangement displayed polyclonality in all cases examined. Differential diagnosis mainly includes morphea, mycosis fungoides, annular erythemas and inflammatory lesions of vitiligo. Topical corticosteroids and topical tacrolimus represent the most effective drugs for ALDY treatment.