bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Is Bipolar Disorder the Consequence of a Genetic Weakness or Not Having Correctly Used a Potential Adaptive Condition?
Authors: Carta Mauro Giovanni , Kalcev Goce , Scano Alessandra , Primavera Diego , Orrù Germano , Gureye Oye , Cossu Giulia , Nardi Antonio Egidio
Published: December 2022

It is hypothesized that factors associated with bipolar disorder could, uer defined conditions, produce adaptive behaviors. The aim is to verify whether a genetic feature associated with bipolar disorder can be found in people without bipolar disorder but with hyperactivity/exploration traits. Healthy old adults (N = 40) recruited for a previous study on exercise were subdivided using a previously validated tool into those with and without hyperactivity/exploration traits and compared with a group of old patients with bipolar disorder (N = 21). The genetic variant RS1006737 of CACNA1C was analyzed using blood samples, DNA extraction, real-time PCR, FRET probes, and SANGER method sequencing. People with hyperactivity/exploration traits and without bipolar disorder were like people with bipolar disorder regarding the frequency of the genetic variant (OR = 0.79, CI95%: 0.21–2.95), but were different from people without either hyperactivity/exploration traits and bipolar disorder (OR = 4.75, CI95%: 1.19–18.91). The combined group of people with hyperactivity/exploration traits without bipolar disorder plus people with bipolar disorder had a higher frequency of the variant than people without either hyperactivity/exploration traits or bipolar disorder (OR = 4.25, CI95%: 1.24–14.4). To consider the genetic profile of bipolar disorder not an aberrant condition opens the way to a new approach in which the adaptive potential would be a central point in psychosocial treatment in addition to drug therapy. Future research can confirm the results of our study.
A Special Case of Relapsing–Remitting Bilateral Encephalitis: Without Epilepsy, but Responding to Rituximab and with a Brain Biopsy Coinciding with Rasmussen Encephalitis
Authors: Liu Pei , Lin Xuemei , Zong Shenghua , Yan Yan , Liu Zhongzhong , Lu Qingli , Chang Qiaoqiao , Wu Songdi
Published: December 2022

A nine-year-old boy manifested with headache, progressive mild cognitive decline and hemiparesis, but without clinical epileptic seizures (with abnormal EEG waves). Brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed bilateral cortical lesions mainly on the right hemisphere, and new lesions developed in frontal, parietal, occipital and temporal lobes around the old lesions presenting as a lace-like or ring-like enhancement in T1 with contrast over a disease course of five years. A suspected diagnosis of primary angiitis of the central nervous system was initially considered. Treated with high-dose corticosteroids, intravenous immunoglobulins and monthly pulse cyclophosphamide, his symptoms worsened with the intracranial lesion progression. Brain biopsy of the right frontal lobe was performed nearly five years after onset; prominent neuronal loss, a microglial nodule, as well as parenchymal and perivascular lymphocytic infiltrate within the cortex were found, which coincided with RE pathology changes. Encouragingly, after a regimen of rituximab, lesions on the follow-up brain MRI tended to be stable. Apparently, it was immune-mediated, but did not strictly fit any known disease entity, although it was similar to RE. We summarize this unique case, including clinical characteristics, imaging and pathology findings. We also discuss the diagnosis and treatment, focusing on comparison to RE as well as other possible neurological diseases.
A Review of Margetuximab-Based Therapies in Patients with HER2-Positive Metastatic Breast Cancer
Authors: Alasmari Moudi M.
Published: December 2022

Breast cancer (BC) is the most commonly diagnosed cancer globally, with high mortality rates. Targeted drug therapies have revolutionized cancer treatment. For example, treatment with human epidermal receptor 2 (HER2) antagonists has markedly improved the prognosis of patients with HER2-positive BC (HER2 + BC). However, HER2+ metastatic BC (MBC) remains prevalent owing to its resistance to conventional anti-HER2 drugs. Therefore, novel agents are needed to overcome the limitations of existing cancer treatments and to enhance the progression-free and overall survival rates. Progress has been made by optimizing the fragment crystallizable (Fc) domain of trastuzumab, an IgG1 monoclonal, chimeric anti-HER2 antibody, to develop margetuximab. The modified Fc domain of margetuximab enhances its binding affinity to CD16A and decreases its binding affinity to CD32B, thereby promoting its antitumor activity. This review summarizes studies on the efficacy of margetuximab, discusses its utility as an anti-HER2 monoclonal antibody drug for the treatment of HER2 + BC, and presents the latest advances in the treatment of BC. This review provides insights into the clinical implication of margetuximab in HER2 + MBC treatment.
Efficacy and Safety of First-Line Targeted Treatment and Immunotherapy for Patients with Biliary Tract Cancer: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Yan Xin , Zou Huimin , Lai Yunfeng , Ung Carolina Oi Lam , Hu Hao
Published: December 2022

Background: Biliary tract cancer is one of the most aggressive and fatal tumours. Gemcitabine with cisplatin chemotherapy has long been the first-line treatment, but the prognosis is poor. In recent years, targeted treatment and immunotherapy have produced encouraging outcomes requiring a thorough review and meta-analysis. Method: For this systematic review and meta-analysis, we searched four databases, starting from the inception dates of databases to 11 January 2022. This study comprised randomised clinical trials and cohort studies that used immunotherapy or targeted treatment as the first line of treatment for patients with biliary tract cancer. Results: From the 888 studies extracted, 33 trials were examined and found to meet the criteria. These included 3087 patients, 16 single-arm trials, 13 RCTs, one nRCT, a prospective single-arm pilot study, and a clinical setting in the real world. From 2010 to 2020, 33 studies were conducted using targeted treatment or immunologic therapies as first-line treatments for BTC patients, and 18 of those studies had positive outcomes. Conclusion: This study demonstrates that immunotherapy combined with chemotherapy as first-line treatment can provide survival benefits by improving the objective response rate for patients with unresectable biliary tract cancer. The potential for combination therapy to become a new trend in clinical treatment is promising but needs further clinical evaluation.
Comment on Feuerriegel et al. Assessment of Acute Lesions of the Biceps Pulley in Patients with Traumatic Shoulder Dislocation Using MR Imaging. Diagnostics 2022, 12, 2345
Authors: Martetschläger Frank , Wahal Naman
Published: December 2022

We wish to congratulate the authors for the successful publication of the article titled ‘Assessment of Acute Lesions of the Biceps Pulley in Patients with Traumatic Shoulder Dislocation Using MR Imaging’ [...]
Optimization of Two-Phase Ejector Mixing Chamber Length under Varied Liquid Volume Fraction
Authors: Yan Jia , Shu Yuetong , Jiang Jing , Wen Huaqin
Published: December 2022

The ejector performance varies with the mixing chamber length which is largely dependent on the fluid liquid volume fraction at the inlet. In this study, numerical simulations are conducted to optimize two mixing chamber lengths of a two-phase ejector under varied liquid volume fractions of 0–0.1 in two inlet fluids. The main findings are as follows: (1) The two optimal lengths of constant-pressure and constant-area mixing chambers are identified within 23–44 mm and 15–18 mm, respectively, when the primary inlet fluid is in two-phase; (2) the two optimal lengths are 2–5 mm and 9–15 mm, respectively, when the secondary inlet fluid is in two-phase; (3) when both inlets are in two-phase, the two optimal lengths are ranged in 5–23 mm and 6–18 mm; (4) little liquid within inlet fluid has a significant influence on ejector performances; and (5) optimal constant-pressure mixing chamber length and the sum of the two optimal lengths increase with the primary flow inlet liquid volume fraction but decrease with that of the secondary flow inlet.
Cluster-Based Structural Redundancy Identification for Neural Network Compression
Authors: Wu Tingting , Song Chunhe , Zeng Peng , Xia Changqing
Published: December 2022

The increasingly large structure of neural networks makes it difficult to deploy on edge devices with limited computing resources. Network pruning has become one of the most successful model compression methods in recent years. Existing works typically compress models based on importance, removing unimportant filters. This paper reconsiders model pruning from the perspective of structural redundancy, claiming that identifying functionally similar filters plays a more important role, and proposes a model pruning framework for clustering-based redundancy identification. First, we perform cluster analysis on the filters of each layer to generate similar sets with different functions. We then propose a criterion for identifying redundant filters within similar sets. Finally, we propose a pruning scheme that automatically determines the pruning rate of each layer. Extensive experiments on various benchmark network architectures and datasets demonstrate the effectiveness of our proposed framework.
Upgrading of Lignocellulosic Biomass to Hydrogen-Rich Gas
Authors: Grams Jacek
Published: December 2022

Due to limited fossil fuel reserves, the global political situation, and progressive environmental pollution, the development of new methods of hydrogen production is highly demanded [...]
Economic Assessment of Operation Strategies on Park-Level Integrated Energy System Coupled with Biogas: A Case Study in a Sewage Treatment Plant
Authors: Zhao Xin , Chen Yanqi , Xu Gang , Chen Heng
Published: December 2022

Operation strategies for a park-level integrated energy system (PIES) in terms of carbon prices and feed-in tariffs, have not been adequately studied. This paper addresses this knowledge gap by proposing operation strategies based on the PIES driven by biogas, solar energy, natural gas, and the power grid. Meanwhile, the electricity-driven dispatching strategy (EDS), thermal-driven dispatching strategy (TDS), cost-driven dispatching strategy (CDS) are compared to assess their impacts on operation cost, carbon dioxide emissions, etc. The flexibility and complementarity of the three operation strategies in energy supply are analyzed in detail. The results indicated that biogas was the main energy supply fuel, accounting for 46% to 72% of the total energy supply. About 33% to 54% of electricity was transmitted to the grid each month using the TDS. The annual initial capital cost of the CDS was only 1.39% higher than that of the EDS. However, the annual operation cost of the EDS was 16.86% higher than that of the CDS. The emissions of the EDS were the lowest, and the CDS had 38.51% higher emissions than the EDS. In the CDS, the ratio of carbon emission costs to operation costs was as high as 0.80 when the carbon tax reached USD 100/ton. The carbon tax had a greater impact on the CDS than the other strategies. Feed-in tariffs had a greater impact than the carbon tax on the TDS. This study provides an effective method for the selection of optimal operation strategies in regards to carbon prices and feed-in tariffs.
Numerical Simulation of CO2 Migration and Geochemical Reactions in Shihezi Formation Caprock, China
Authors: Li Zhuo , Lv Yanfang , Liu Bin
Published: December 2022

CO2 geological storage, which is an effective way to reduce CO2 emissions, is of great significance to mitigate the current greenhouse effect. In long-term CO2 storage, although the chemical reaction rate of CO2–brine–rock is slow, it can significantly change the mineral composition of rock and the structure and properties of pores and joints, and then change the transport process and distribution state of CO2 in porous media. Therefore, a simplified 2D geological model is established based on the geological data of the Shihezi Formation in the Ordos Basin, China. The mechanism of the CO2–brine–rock reaction and its effect on mineral transformation and pore permeability are studied. In the early stage of CO2 geological sequestration, the rate of CO2 intrusion into the caprock is fast, the CO2–brine–rock reaction in the early stage is mainly a dissolution reaction, and the porosity and permeability of the caprock show an increasing trend. During the period from 100 to 1000 years of CO2 sequestration, the vertical distance of CO2 intrusion into the caprock does not change much. During this period, the type of CO2–brine–rock reaction is mainly a precipitation reaction, which reduces the porosity and permeability of the caprock and increases the sealing ability of the caprock to a certain extent. Our results can not only provide theoretical support for the site selection and risk assessment of CO2 geological sequestration, but also provide a theoretical basis and practical guidance for large-scale commercial storage in the future.
Determination of the Interzonal Airflows in Naturally Ventilated Dwellings Based on Concentration Measurements of the Metabolic Carbon Dioxide
Authors: Bulińska Anna , Buliński Zbigniew
Published: December 2022

The role of interzonal airflows is especially pronounced in naturally ventilated buildings. In such buildings, reversed airflows in the ventilation stacks might occur as well. This affects the air exchange rate and contaminant distribution in buildings. A significant increase in carbon dioxide concentration is a characteristic phenomenon for poorly ventilated rooms. This paper demonstrates the application of metabolic carbon dioxide concentration measurements for interzonal airflow estimation in naturally ventilated buildings. The presented method is based on the continuous measurements of CO2 concentration at one point in each zone. These measurements are used to estimate airflow pattern in a multizone building by applying an inverse analysis. The developed methodology employs an iterative Levenberg-Marquardt procedure to maximise the nonlinear likelihood function. The validity of the method was verified against measurements carried out in a single naturally ventilated room. Further, the method was applied to calculate the airflow pattern in two apartments in Poland, containing 4 and 6 zones. The obtained results revealed very poor ventilation in both investigated apartments and reversed airflow in exhaust ducts. The amount of fresh air entering the rooms was insufficient to ensure good indoor air quality. The developed methodology can be effectively used as a diagnostic tool to identify the potential problems with ventilation systems.
Review on Subsea Pipeline Integrity Management: An Operator’s Perspective
Authors: Amaechi Chiemela , Hosie Grant , Reda Ahmed
Published: December 2022

For operators of oil and gas to save the cost of unforeseen events and risks, and to avoid unnecessary shutdowns, there is a need to have an effective subsea pipeline integrity management system. Currently a large number of subsea pipelines around the globe have already exceeded their design lives; nevertheless, they are still being operated safely, effectively and with diligent consideration towards Environmental, Health and Safety regulations, as well as international standards and best practices. In addition, many older flowlines have no permanent pigging facilities due to various design and operational limitations. For the unpiggable pipeline, the vast majority of the oil and gas operators use different inspection and monitoring techniques to provide essential integrity management data such as product chemistry, cathodic protection, electrical resistance probes and coupons, etc. However, translating such essential integrity management data into meaningful information to make crucial integrity-based decisions can be challenging. This paper presents a holistic approach that implements the required pipeline integrity management tools to facilitate the safe operation and maintenance of pipeline systems going forward. This paper also provides a review of the integrity of the ageing pipelines and underlines the practical pipeline integrity management steps and systems that maintain the condition of the subsea assets going forward.
Optimisation of Highly Efficient Composite Blades for Retrofitting Existing Wind Turbines
Authors: Jiang Yadong , Finnegan William , Flanagan Tomas , Goggins Jamie
Published: December 2022

Currently, wind energy, a reliable, affordable, and clean energy source, contributes to 16% of Europe’s electricity. A typical modern wind turbine design lifespan is 20 years. In European Union countries, the number of wind turbines reaching 20 years or older will become significant beyond 2025. This research study presents a methodology aiming to upgrade rotor blades for existing wind turbines to extend the turbine life. This methodology employs blade element momentum theory, finite element analysis, genetic algorithm, and direct screen methods to optimise the blade external geometry and structural design, with the main objective to increase the blade power capture efficiency and enhance its structural performance. Meanwhile, the compatibility between the blade and the existing rotor of the wind turbine is considered during the optimisation. By applying this methodology to a 225 kW wind turbine, an optimal blade, which is compatible with the turbine hub, is proposed with the assistance of physical testing data. The optimised blade, which benefits from high-performance carbon-fibre composite material and layup optimisation, has a reduced tip deflection and self-weight of 48% and 31%, respectively, resulting in a significant reduction in resources, while improving its structural performance. In addition, for the optimised blade, there is an improvement in the power production of approximately 10.5% at a wind speed of 11 m/s, which results in an increase of over 4.2% in average annual power production compared to the existing turbine, without changing the blade length. Furthermore, an advanced aero-elastic-based simulation is conducted to ensure the changes made to the blade can guarantee an operation life of at least 20 years, which is equivalent to that of the reference blade.
Modeling Number of Trees per Hectare Dynamics for Uneven-Aged, Mixed-Species Stands Using the Copula Approach
Authors: Rupšys Petras , Petrauskas Edmundas
Published: December 2022

For the monitoring and management of forest resources, the main index is the stand volume, which is determined on the basis of the tree diameter, height, and number of trees per hectare of three-dimensional distribution. The development of trees in the forest stand is dynamic and is driven by random phenomena. In this study, the tree diameter, the potentially available area, and the height are described by the mixed-effect parameters of the Gompertz-type diffusion process. A normal copula function is used to connect a three-dimensional distribution to its one-dimensional margins. The newly developed model was illustrated using empirical data from 53 permanent experimental plots (measured for seven cycles), which were characterized as follows: pine forests (Pinus sylvestris), 63.8%; spruce (Picea abies), 30.2%; silver birch (Betula pendula Roth and Betula pubescens Ehrh.), 5.8%; and others, 0.2%. An analysis of the tree diameter and height of growth, including current and mean increments and inflection points, is presented. The models for the change in the number of trees per hectare with age are presented on the basis of the probabilistic density functions of the solutions of stochastic differential equations and the copula function. The dynamics of the number of trees per hectare are visualized graphically, and the goodness of fit of the newly developed models is evaluated using standard statistical measures.
Estimate Forest Aboveground Biomass of Mountain by ICESat-2/ATLAS Data Interacting Cokriging
Authors: Song Hanyue , Xi Lei , Shu Qingtai , Wei Zhiyue , Qiu Shuang
Published: December 2022

Compared with the previous full-waveform data, the new generation of ICESat-2/ATLAS (Advanced Terrain Laser Altimeter System) has a larger footprint overlap density and a smaller footprint area. This study used ATLAS data to estimate forest aboveground biomass (AGB) in a high-altitude, ecologically fragile area. The paper used ATLAS data as the main information source and a typical mountainous area in Shangri-La, northwestern Yunnan Province, China, as the study area. Then, we combined biomass data from 54 ground samples to obtain the estimated AGB of 74,873 footprints using a hyperparametric optimized random forest (RF) model. The total AGB was estimated by combining the best variance function model in geostatistics with the slope that is the covariates. The results showed that among the 50 index parameters and three topographic variables extracted based on ATLAS, six variables showed a significant correlation with AGB. They were, in order, number of canopy photons, Landsat percentage canopy, canopy photon rate, slope, number of photons, and apparent surface reflectance. The optimized random forest model was used to estimate the AGB within the footprints. The model accuracy was the coefficient of determination (R2) = 0.93, the root mean square error (RMSE) = 10.13 t/hm2, and the population estimation accuracy was 83.3%. The optimized model has a good estimation effect and can be used for footprint AGB estimation. The spatial structure analysis of the variance function of footprint AGB showed that the spherical model had the largest fitting accuracy (R2 = 0.65, the residual sum of squares (RSS) = 2.65 × 10−4), the nugget (C0) was 0.21, and the spatial structure ratio was 94.0%. It showed that the AGB of footprints had strong spatial correlation and could be interpolated by kriging. Finally, the slope in the topographic variables was selected as the co-interpolation variable, and cokriging spatial interpolation was performed. Furthermore, a continuous map of AGB spatial distribution was obtained, and the total AGB was 6.07 × 107 t. The spatial distribution of AGB showed the same trend as the distribution of forest stock. The absolute accuracy of the estimation was 82.6%, using the statistical value of the forest resource planning and design survey as a reference. The ATLAS data can improve the accuracy of AGB estimation in mountain forests.
Variation of Cones Production in a Silver Fir (Abies alba Mill.) Clonal Seed Orchard
Authors: Teodosiu Maria , Botezatu Anca , Ciocîrlan Elena , Mihai Georgeta
Published: December 2022

The current study is the first to describe fertility dynamics in a Silver fir (Abies alba Mill.) seed orchard and among the few reporting related information from a mature seed orchard. The research aim was to evaluate the female cone production in order to provide support to future management measures. Observations were conducted in a clonal seed orchard from the Eastern Carpathians over six years; all the ramets of 44 clones and the zero-inflated data were analyzed with generalized lineal mixed effects models in a Bayesian framework. The results indicated a higher influence of the year and probably of the sensitivity to climate, and less variability between clones, in both the Poisson and zero-inflated components of cones production. The repeatability of mean annual clone production suggests moderate continuity of cone crops in the production rank of individual clones, while the estimates of heritability were under a moderate genetic control. The values of heritability were influenced by the reporting scale (latent vs. original data scale); therefore, caution in the analysis of non-Gaussian data and in comparisons of heritability between seed orchards is required. The variation of the female cone production was higher than expected for a seed orchard, but with marked variation across years, similar to other related indicators, patterns specific to mature, and productive commercial seed orchards. Several management options to be applied in the future were also discussed.
Phylogenetic Analysis and Genetic Structure of Schlegel’s Japanese Gecko (Gekko japonicus) from China Based on Mitochondrial DNA Sequences
Authors: Xia Longjie , Cai Fengna , Chen Shasha , Cai Yao , Zhou Kaiya , Yan Jie , Li Peng
Published: December 2022

Gekko japonicus, i.e., Schlegel’s Japanese Gecko, is an important species which is widely distributed in East Asia. However, the information about population genetics of this species from China remains unclear. To address this issue, we used sequences from a fragment of the mitochondrial protein-coding gene cytochrome c oxidase I to estimate genetic diversity, genetic structure, and historical demography of G. japonicus populations from China. Phylogenetic analysis indicated that G. japonicus had a close relationship with Gekko wenxianensis. A total of 14 haplotypes were obtained, of which haplotype 1 was the most common and widely distributed. The genetic diversity of G. japonicus was comparatively low across different geographic populations. The populations of G. japonicus were divided into four groups which exhibited low levels of genetic differentiation, and expressed an unclear pattern of population structuring. In addition, potential population expansion of G. japonicus has occurred as well. Overall, these results demonstrate that the populations of G. japonicus reveal low genetic diversity in China, which is attributed to the founder and bottleneck events among populations. Our results will provide meaningful information on the population genetics of G. japonicus and will provide some insights into the study of origin of populations.
Constructing the ADHD Child in Historical Children’s Literature
Authors: Hou Xiaoyu
Published: December 2022

In this article, debates around ideas of childhood and disability will be engaged through the close reading of the retrospective diagnosis of a child with ADHD in an early work of German children’s literature (also widely translated, including into English in 1848), Heinrich Hoffmann’s poem Struwwelpeter. ADHD is one of the most widely diagnosed and medicated childhood developmental disorders of the present day. At the same time, recent debates have raised questions about the diagnostic criteria, the potential side effects and efficacy of medication, and the impact of the current political context on the diagnosis and treatment of ADHD. Drawing on Michel Foucault’s classic arguments about bio-power (2008), as well as the most recent work of critical psychology on childhood developmental disorders, the article draws out both how retrospective diagnoses of ADHD and other disorders, including Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD), are defined by current criteria within the political context of the current psychological, cultural, and medical controversies.
Prevalence of Cigarettes and Waterpipe Smoking among Jordanians, Refugees, and Migrants in Jordan and Its Associated Factors: A Secondary Data Analysis
Authors: Alkouri Osama , Khader Yousef , Al-Bashaireh Ahmad M.
Published: December 2022

Smoking is a major public health threat resulting in increased morbidity and mortality. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of current smoking among different adult populations in Jordan, including Jordanians, refugees, and migrants and determine the factors associated with smoking. A cross-sectional survey was conducted during the period of June–September 2021 among Jordanians, Syrian refugees (both urban and camp refugees), and migrants living in four governorates in Jordan, including Amman, Zarqa, Mafraq, and Irbid. The selection of the four governorates was based on criteria related to the presence of Syrian refugees in host communities. The highest prevalence of cigarette smoking was among urban Jordanians (51.1%), followed by non-camp refugees (46.7%), while the highest prevalence for waterpipe (43.2%) and dual smoking (28.7%) was among non-camp refugees. Being male, aged 25–45 years old, unemployed, and having less than a high school education, as well as being urban Jordanians, were all associated with higher odds of cigarette smoking. Being male, unemployed, and urban Jordanians or non-camp refugees were variables associated with higher odds of waterpipe smoking. The study findings indicate that the identification of smoking prevalence in Jordan and its associated factors, including gender, educational level, employment status, regional area, migration, and exposure to traumas, should be considered by healthcare providers to formulate smoking cessation programs tailored to their needs and ultimately reduce smoking prevalence.
Prevalence and Factors Associated with Cardiovascular Lifestyle Risk Factors among Pregnant Women in Burkina Faso: Evidence from a Cross-Sectional Study
Authors: Garanet Franck , Coulibaly Abou , Baguiya Adama , Kirakoya-Samadoulougou Fati , Kouanda Seni
Published: December 2022

Data on lifestyle risk factors for cardiovascular diseases, such as smoking, alcohol consumption, inadequate physical activity, and insufficient consumption of fruits and vegetables, in pregnant women in Africa, are scarce. This study aimed to estimate the prevalence of cardiovascular lifestyle risk factors among pregnant women in Burkina Faso and identify their associated factors. Pregnant women who attended antenatal care services between December 2018 and March 2019 were included in this study. A modified Poisson regression model was used to estimate adjusted prevalence ratios (aPR) with a 95% confidence interval. A total of 1027 pregnant women participated in this study. The prevalence of alcohol consumption, tobacco use, inadequate physical activity, and insufficient consumption of fruits and vegetables were 10.2% [8.5–12.2], 3.0% [2.1–4.3], 79.4% [76.9–81.8], and 53.5% [50.5–56.6], respectively. The prevalence of more than one cardiovascular lifestyle risk factor in pregnant women was 50.9% [48.0–54.0]. The predictors significantly associated with more than one cardiovascular lifestyle risk factor were women over 30 years old aPR 1.26; 95% CI [1.03–1.53]), women living in fourth wealth index households (aPR 1.23; 95% CI [1.06–1.42]), in semi-urban areas (aPR 5.46; 95% CI [4.34–6.88]), and women with no occupation (aPR 1.31; 95% CI [1.18–1.44]). The prevalence of more than one cardiovascular lifestyle risk factor was high during pregnancy in Burkina Faso. Women of childbearing age should be advised on how healthy behaviors can lead to improved pregnancy outcomes.
Influence of Confining Pressure on Nonlinear Failure Characteristics of Coal Subjected to Triaxial Compression
Authors: Li Qiuping , Liu Jie , Lu Shouqing , Wang Zaiquan , Wang Hao , Wu Yimeng , Wang Yupu , Ying Di , Li Mingjie
Published: December 2022

The stress of a coal seam increases with an increase in the mining depth, which makes the failure mechanism of a coal mass more complex. To reveal the deformation and failure law of deep coal, a series of triaxial experiments was carried out via laboratory experiments and numerical simulation experiments to analyze the influence of the confining stress on the nonlinear failure characteristics of coal. Based on the crack-propagation model, the values for the inelastic flexibility S1 and the damage variable D were calculated. The results showed that the value of S1 decreased with an increase in the confining stress, which indicated that the increase in the confining pressure could inhibit the crack propagation and that the inhibitory effect was more obvious when the confining pressure increased in a small range of 4 to 12 MPa. The damage variable decreased with an increase in the confining pressure at the yield point; moreover, with an increase in the initial confining pressure, the damage rate gradually decreased. The coal body changed from the compression state to the expansion state when moving from the yield point to the peak point, and the compression value of the yield point and the dilation value of the peak point increased with the increase in the confining pressure. After the coal body entered the yield stage, the change in the confining pressure had a more significant effect on the damage to the coal body.
Contributors to COVID-19-Related Childbirth Anxiety among Pregnant Women in Two Pandemic Waves
Authors: Taubman–Ben-Ari Orit , Chasson Miriam , Erel-Brodsky Hilit , Abu-Sharkia Salam , Skvirsky Vera , Horowitz Eran
Published: December 2022

COVID-19 has impacted all levels of daily life for people everywhere, with particularly serious implications for pregnant women. This paper examines the COVID-19-related childbirth anxiety (CCA) of Israeli women in the first two waves of the pandemic. We first present two psychotherapeutic case studies with pregnant women in the two waves. This is followed by an empirical study that compared the contribution of background variables, psychological distress, economic concerns, and personal resources to CCA in two samples, Wave 1, March–April 2020 (n = 403) and Wave 2, September–October 2020 (n = 1401), and two subpopulations, Jewish and Arab women. Findings reveal that CCA was significantly lower in Wave 2 than in Wave 1. Furthermore, poorer health, higher education, being an Arab, later gestational week, at-risk pregnancy, wave, higher psychological distress, greater economic concerns, and lower self-compassion contributed to higher childbirth anxiety. Wave moderated the association between optimism and anxiety. The findings of the empirical study, together with insights from the case studies, provide evidence of a decrease in CCA later in the crisis, and indicate the significance of resources for coping with the psychological implications of the pandemic. Moreover, they suggest the importance of empowering self-reliance techniques, such as self-compassion, which was significantly associated with lower anxiety, above and beyond the background and psychological variables. Clinical Impact Statement: Using both psychotherapeutic cases and empirical findings, this study points to the risk and resilience factors that contributed to pregnant women’s COVID-19-related childbirth anxiety (CCA) in the first two waves of the pandemic. The study suggests that CCA was higher in the first wave, as well as among women from a minority group. At the same time, the research shows that resilience resources of optimism and self-compassion contributed to the reduction of anxiety. These findings may guide interventions for the vulnerable group of pregnant women in times of crisis.
The 8-Week Efficacy of Frequency Rhythmic Electrical Modulated System (FREMS) as an Add-on Therapy in the Treatment of Symptomatic Diabetic Peripheral Polyneuropathy
Authors: Gorczyca-Siudak Daria , Dziemidok Piotr
Published: December 2022

Background: Frequency Rhythmic Electrical Modulated System (FREMS) is a method of transcutaneous treatment based on frequency-modulated electromagnetic neural stimulation. Its efficacy in neuropathic pain in diabetes mellitus still lacks enough research. Methods: A randomized, single-blind, sham-controlled trial in individuals with symmetric distal polyneuropathy (SDPN) as an add-on therapy compared to standard therapy with alpha-lipoic acid. Participants were randomized to FREMS and standard of care (SOC) versus SOC only. The primary outcome was a change from baseline in perceived pain assessed by visual analogue scale (VAS) after 5 days of treatment and after 8 weeks of follow-up between treatment groups. Results: After 5 days of treatment, patients in both groups felt significant reduction in pain as measured by VAS, although only FREMS treatment lasted for 8 weeks and induced a significant improvement in quality of life measured by EuroQol 5-Dimension 5-Level (EQ-5D-5L) and Clinical Global Impression of Change (CGI-C) questionnaires. There were non-significant differences observed in the instrument pain assessment. No relevant side effects were recorded during the study. Conclusions: FREMS as an addition to alpha-lipoic acid therapy occurred to be a beneficial method of treatment in individuals with SDPN and was associated with improvements in pain severity, quality of life and clinical global improvement.
Agricultural Supply-Side Structural Reform and Path Optimization: Evidence from China
Authors: Shi Yun , Osewe Maurice , Anastacia Chebet , Liu Aijun , Wang Shutao , Latif Abdul
Published: December 2022

The agricultural sector’s supply-side reform is fundamental to ensuring food security and social stability. This paper uses a comprehensive analysis method to reflect on China’s agricultural reform from 1970 to 2020. We observe that China’s agriculture made significant progress before 2020 due to preferential policies and demographic dividends. This production-oriented mode has led to the co-existence of overstocking, the rapid growth of imports, and ecological degradation. A follow-up survey acknowledged that rural complex is a comprehensive social network with substantial radiant effect involving government-sponsored projects, sector-specific programs, corporate and societal assistance. The sustainable development of the rural complex lies in industrial planning, system restructuring, and institutional arrangement. Therefore, this article anchors its system structure under the ESG principle and green development philosophy. It diversifies the agro-economy to advance digitalization and de-carbonization of the rural economy.
Unit Costs in Health Economic Evaluations: Quo Vadis, Austria?
Authors: Mayer Susanne , Łaszewska Agata , Simon Judit
Published: December 2022

Evidence-informed healthcare decision-making relies on high quality data inputs, including robust unit costs, which in many countries are not readily available. The objective of the Department of Health Economics’ Unit Cost Online Database, developed based on systematic reviews of Austrian costing studies, is to make conducting economic evaluations from healthcare and societal perspectives more feasible with publicly available unit cost information in Austria. This article aims to describe trends in unit cost data sources and reporting using this comprehensive database as a case study to encourage relevant national and international methodological discussions. Database analysis and synthesis included publication/study characteristics and costing reporting details in line with the Consolidated Health Economic Evaluation Reporting Standards (CHEERS 2022) with the year of the database launch as the cut-off point to assess how the methods have developed over time. Forty-two full economic evaluations and 278 unit costs were analyzed (2004–2016: 34 studies/232 unit costs, 2017–2022: 8 studies/46 unit costs). Although the reporting quality of costing details including the study perspective, unit cost sources and years has improved since 2017, the unit cost estimates and sources remained heterogeneous in Austria. While methodologically standardized national-level unit costs would be the gold standard, a systematically collated list of unit costs is a first step towards supporting health economic evaluations nationally.
Spectrofluorimetric and Computational Investigation of New Phthalimide Derivatives towards Human Neutrophil Elastase Inhibition and Antiproliferative Activity
Authors: Donarska Beata , Świtalska Marta , Wietrzyk Joanna , Płaziński Wojciech , Łączkowski Krzysztof Z.
Published: December 2022

Herein, nine phthalimide-based thiazoles (4a–4i) were synthesized and investigated as new human neutrophil elastase (HNE) inhibitors using spectrofluorimetric and computational methods. The most active compounds containing 4-trifluoromethyl (4c), 4-naphthyl (4e) and 2,4,6-trichloro (4h) substituents in the phenyl ring exhibited high HNE inhibitory activity with IC50 values of 12.98–16.62 µM. Additionally, compound 4c exhibited mixed mechanism of action. Computational investigation provided a consistent picture of the ligand-receptor pattern of inter-actions, common for the whole considered group of compounds. Moreover, compounds 4b, 4c, 4d and 4f showed high antiproliferative activity against human cancer cells lines MV4-11, and A549 with IC50 values of 8.21 to 25.57 µM. Additionally, compound 4g showed high activity against MDA-MB-231 and UMUC-3 with IC50 values of 9.66 and 19.81 µM, respectively. Spectrophotometric analysis showed that the most active compound 4c demonstrated high stability under physiological conditions.
Does Sulfoquinovosyl Diacylglycerol Synthase OsSQD1 Affect the Composition of Lipids in Rice Phosphate-Deprived Root?
Authors: Sun Yafei , Qin Qin , Song Ke , Sun Lijuan , Jiang Tingting , Yang Shiyan , Li Zhouwen , Xu Guohua , Sun Shubin , Xue Yong
Published: December 2022

Lipids are the essential components of the cell intracellular and plasma membranes. Sulfoquinovosyldiacylglycerol (SQDG) is a glycolipid; glycolipids can replace phospholipids in maintaining phosphate (Pi) homeostasis in plants which are undergoing Pi starvation. Sulfoquinovosyl diacylglycerol synthase 1 (OsSQD1) is a critical enzyme in the first step of catalyzation in the formation of SQDG in rice. In this study, the expression pattern of different zones in roots of OsSQD1 in response to different Pi conditions is examined, and it is found that OsSQD1 is highly expressed in lateral roots under Pi-sufficient and -deficient conditions. The root phenotype observation of different OsSQD1 transgenic lines suggests that the knockout/down of OsSQD1 inhibits the formation and growth of lateral roots under different Pi conditions. Additionally, the lipid concentrations in OsSQD1 transgenic line roots indicate that OsSQD1 knockout/down decreases the concentration of phospholipids and glycolipids in Pi-starved roots. The OsSQD1 mutation also changes the composition of different lipid species with different acyl chain lengths, mainly under Pi-deprived conditions. The relative transcript expression of genes relating to glycolipid synthesis and phospholipid degradation is estimated to help study the mechanism by which OsSQD1 exerts an influence on the alteration of lipid composition and concentration in Pi-starved roots. Moreover, in Pi-starved roots, the knockout of OsSQD1 decreases the unsaturated fatty acid content of phospholipids and glycolipids. To summarize, the present study demonstrates that OsSQD1 plays a key role in the maintenance of phospholipid and glycolipid composition in Pi-deprived rice roots, which may influence root growth and development under Pi-deprived conditions.
Interplay of Cellular mRNA, miRNA and Viral miRNA during Infection of a Cell
Authors: Zhdanov Vladimir P.
Published: December 2022

The understanding of the kinetics of gene expression in cells infected by viruses is currently limited. As a rule, the corresponding models do not take viral microRNAs (miRNAs) into account. Such RNAs are, however, operative during the replication of some viruses, including, e.g., herpesvirus. To clarify the kinetics of this category (with emphasis on the information available for herpesvirus), I introduce a generic model describing the transient interplay of cellular mRNA, protein, miRNA and viral miRNA. In the absence of viral miRNA, the cellular miRNA is considered to suppress the populations of mRNA and protein due to association with mRNA and subsequent degradation. During infection, the viral miRNA suppresses the population of cellular miRNA and via this pathway makes the mRNA and protein populations larger. This effect becomes appreciable with the progress of intracellular viral replication. Using biologically reasonable parameters, I investigate the corresponding mean-field kinetics and show the scale of the effect of viral miRNAs on cellular miRNA and mRNA. The scale of fluctuations of the populations of these species is illustrated as well by employing Monte Carlo simulations.
Tumor-Microenvironment Characterization of the MB49 Non-Muscle-Invasive Bladder-Cancer Orthotopic Model towards New Therapeutic Strategies
Authors: Domingos-Pereira Sonia , Sathiyanadan Karthik , Polak Lenka , Haefliger Jacques-Antoine , Schmittnaegel Martina , Ries Carola H. , Jichlinski Patrice , Roth Beat , Derré Laurent , Nardelli-Haefliger Denise
Published: December 2022

Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) instillations for the treatment of non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer patients can result in significant side effects and treatment failure. Immune checkpoint blockade and/or decreasing tumor-infiltrating myeloid suppressor cells may be alternative or complementary treatments. Here, we have characterized immune cell infiltration and chemoattractant molecules in mouse orthotopic MB49 bladder tumors. Our data show a 100-fold increase in CD45+ immune cells from day 5 to day 9 tumors including T cells and mainly myeloid cells. Both monocytic myeloid-derived suppressor-cells (M-MDSC) and polymorphonuclear (PMN)-MDSC were strongly increased in day 9 tumors, with PMN-MDSC representing ca. 70% of the myeloid cells in day 12 tumors, while tumor associated macrophages (TAM) were only modestly increased. The kinetic of PD-L1 tumor expression correlated with published data from patients with PD-L1 expressing bladder tumors and with efficacy of anti-PD-1 treatment, further validating the orthotopic MB49 bladder-tumor model as suitable for designing novel therapeutic strategies. Comparison of chemoattractants expression during MB49 bladder tumors grow highlighted CCL8 and CCL12 (CCR2-ligands), CCL9 and CCL6 (CCR-1-ligands), CXCL2 and CXCL5 (CXCR2-ligands), CXCL12 (CXCR4-ligand) and antagonist of C5/C5a as potential targets to decrease myeloid suppressive cells. Data obtained with a single CCR2 inhibitor however showed that the complex chemokine crosstalk would require targeting multiple chemokines for anti-tumor efficacy.
Reclassification of TCGA Diffuse Glioma Profiles Linked to Transcriptomic, Epigenetic, Genomic and Clinical Data, According to the 2021 WHO CNS Tumor Classification
Authors: Zakharova Galina , Efimov Victor , Raevskiy Mikhail , Rumiantsev Pavel , Gudkov Alexander , Belogurova-Ovchinnikova Oksana , Sorokin Maksim , Buzdin Anton
Published: December 2022

In 2021, the fifth edition of the WHO classification of tumors of the central nervous system (WHO CNS5) was published. Molecular features of tumors were directly incorporated into the diagnostic decision tree, thus affecting both the typing and staging of the tumor. It has changed the traditional approach, based solely on histopathological classification. The Cancer Genome Atlas project (TCGA) is one of the main sources of molecular information about gliomas, including clinically annotated transcriptomic and genomic profiles. Although TCGA itself has played a pivotal role in developing the WHO CNS5 classification, its proprietary databases still retain outdated diagnoses which frequently appear incorrect and misleading according to the WHO CNS5 standards. We aimed to define the up-to-date annotations for gliomas from TCGA’s database that other scientists can use in their research. Based on WHO CNS5 guidelines, we developed an algorithm for the reclassification of TCGA glioma samples by molecular features. We updated tumor type and diagnosis for 828 out of a total of 1122 TCGA glioma cases, after which available transcriptomic and methylation data showed clustering features more consistent with the updated grouping. We also observed better stratification by overall survival for the updated diagnoses, yet WHO grade 3 IDH-mutant oligodendrogliomas and astrocytomas are still indistinguishable. We also detected altered performance in the previous diagnostic transcriptomic molecular biomarkers (expression of SPRY1, CRNDE and FREM2 genes and FREM2 molecular pathway) and prognostic gene signature (FN1, ITGA5, OSMR, and NGFR) after reclassification. Thus, we conclude that further efforts are needed to reconsider glioma molecular biomarkers.