bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Identifying the Hidden Population: Former Intravenous Drug Users Who Are No Longer in Contact with Services. “Ask a Friend”
Authors: Donaldson Sarah R. , Radley Andrew , Dillon John F.
Published: January 2021

People who, after a period of drug use, have changed their lifestyle and left substance use behind them are a hidden population within our communities. Lack of contact with drug services may mean that they are not tested for hepatitis C (HCV) infection through service-led initiatives and, therefore, may be exposed to the chronic morbidity and risk of death inherent with a legacy of HCV infection. This study utilized respondent-driven sampling (RDS) in a novel fashion to find those at historical risk of HCV. The social networks of people with a history of drug use were mapped, and individuals not currently in contact with services were invited to come forward for testing by members of their social network. The study used a reference group to inform study methodology and communication methods to reach out to this hidden population. One hundred and nine individuals received dry blood spot tests for HCV, 17.4% were antibody positive. Fifty one individuals met the inclusion criteria for this study. One hundred and twenty three invite-to-test coupons were issued; however, only one wave of recruitment consisting of one participant resulted from this method. Using RDS in historical social networks was not effective in this study and did not reach this hidden population and increase testing for HCV. This study is registered with clinicaltrials.gov (Ref NCT03697135).
Determinants of Health Promotion Behaviors among Family Caregivers of Stroke Survivors
Authors: Kavga Anna , Govina Ourania , Galanis Petros , Kalemikerakis Ioannis , Vlachou Eugenia , Fotos Nikolaos , Tziaferi Styliani , Kalokairinou Athina
Published: January 2021

Purpose:To record the health promotion behaviors of family caregivers of stroke survivors, as well as potential determinants that could affect these behaviors. Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out through home visits in the Attica region using the convenience sampling method. The studied population included 109 survivors who had suffered a stroke and experienced functional problems, and their 109 primary caregivers, who were family members, lived in the same house and were fully responsible for their care. The dependent variables were the caregivers’ health promotion behaviors, while the independent variables were the survivors and caregivers’ demographic characteristics, survivors’ functional capacity, depression, social support and changes in caregivers’ lives from caring. Results: Better health promotional behaviors were associated with the following: patient having advanced age and a high level of functionality, caregivers assessing their own state of health as “good”, greater social support, a higher educational level and a higher income level. In addition, more hours of patient care were associated with a less healthy lifestyle for caregivers. Conclusions: Promoting the health of family caregivers of stroke survivors is crucial for both survivors and caregivers. For this reason, it is of great importance to detect factors that affect the health promotion behaviors of caregivers in order to carry out appropriate interventions and improve their quality of life.
Distance Education for Dutch Citizens Detained Abroad: A Mixed-Methods Case Study of the Foundation ‘Education behind Foreign Bars’
Authors: Brosens Dorien , Marynissen Silke , Lemmers Frans , Croux Flore
Published: January 2021

Foreign national prisoners have less educational opportunities than national prisoners. Therefore, the Dutch foundation ‘Education behind Foreign Bars’ (Eabt) provides distance education to Dutch nationals detained abroad. A mixed-methods case study is carried out to gain insight into the perspective of professionals and volunteers who are involved with Eabt and of the students taking a course from Eabt. This study consists of individual interviews with volunteers and professionals and pre- and post-surveys among students. The qualitative results show that following a course from Eabt happens in three steps: (1) Informing, (2) applying for the course, and (3) starting with the course, doing homework, and being assessed. During the course, students receive motivational and content-related support from the Netherlands and, depending on the local prison context, also from the detaining country. The professionals and volunteers identify various success factors and challenges of Eabt. The quantitative results demonstrate that students are primarily motivated to participate by their wish to acquire knowledge and skills and to prepare for life after detention. The students are satisfied about the support received and they seem to have more confidence in the future due to the course. Overall, Eabt is highly valued by both students, professionals, and volunteers.
Impacts of LaOx Doping on the Performance of ITO/Al2O3/ITO Transparent RRAM Devices
Authors: Han Guodu , Chen Yanning , Liu Hongxia , Wang Dong , Qiao Rundi
Published: January 2021

Fully transparent ITO/LaAlO3/ITO structure RRAM (resistive random access memory) devices were fabricated on glass substrate, and ITO/Al2O3/ITO structure devices were set for comparison. The electrical characteristics of the devices were analyzed by Agilent B1500A semiconductor analyzer. Compared with the ITO/Al2O3/ITO RRAM devices, the current stability, SET/RESET voltage distribution, and retention characteristic of the ITO/LaAlO3/ITO RRAM devices have been greatly improved. In the visible light range, the light transmittance of the device is about 80%, that of the LaAlO3 layer is about 95%, the on-off ratio of the device is greater than 40, and the data retention time is longer than 10,000 s. The devices have great optical and electrical properties and have huge application potential as fully transparent RRAM devices.
Sigmoidal NMFD: Convolutional NMF with Saturating Activations for Drum Mixture Decomposition
Authors: Vande Veire Len , De Boom Cedric , De Bie Tijl
Published: January 2021

In many types of music, percussion plays an essential role to establish the rhythm and the groove of the music. Algorithms that can decompose the percussive signal into its constituent components would therefore be very useful, as they would enable many analytical and creative applications. This paper describes a method for the unsupervised decomposition of percussive recordings, building on the non-negative matrix factor deconvolution (NMFD) algorithm. Given a percussive music recording, NMFD discovers a dictionary of time-varying spectral templates and corresponding activation functions, representing its constituent sounds and their positions in the mix. We observe, however, that the activation functions discovered using NMFD do not show the expected impulse-like behavior for percussive instruments. We therefore enforce this behavior by specifying that the activations should take on binary values: either an instrument is hit, or it is not. To this end, we rewrite the activations as the output of a sigmoidal function, multiplied with a per-component amplitude factor. We furthermore define a regularization term that biases the decomposition to solutions with saturated activations, leading to the desired binary behavior. We evaluate several optimization strategies and techniques that are designed to avoid poor local minima. We show that incentivizing the activations to be binary indeed leads to the desired impulse-like behavior, and that the resulting components are better separated, leading to more interpretable decompositions.
A Genetic Algorithm Optimized RNN-LSTM Model for Remaining Useful Life Prediction of Turbofan Engine
Authors: Chui Kwok Tai , Gupta Brij B. , Vasant Pandian
Published: January 2021

Understanding the remaining useful life (RUL) of equipment is crucial for optimal predictive maintenance (PdM). This addresses the issues of equipment downtime and unnecessary maintenance checks in run-to-failure maintenance and preventive maintenance. Both feature extraction and prediction algorithm have played crucial roles on the performance of RUL prediction models. A benchmark dataset, namely Turbofan Engine Degradation Simulation Dataset, was selected for performance analysis and evaluation. The proposal of the combination of complete ensemble empirical mode decomposition and wavelet packet transform for feature extraction could reduce the average root-mean-square error (RMSE) by 5.14–27.15% compared with six approaches. When it comes to the prediction algorithm, the results of the RUL prediction model could be that the equipment needs to be repaired or replaced within a shorter or a longer period of time. Incorporating this characteristic could enhance the performance of the RUL prediction model. In this paper, we have proposed the RUL prediction algorithm in combination with recurrent neural network (RNN) and long short-term memory (LSTM). The former takes the advantages of short-term prediction whereas the latter manages better in long-term prediction. The weights to combine RNN and LSTM were designed by non-dominated sorting genetic algorithm II (NSGA-II). It achieved average RMSE of 17.2. It improved the RMSE by 6.07–14.72% compared with baseline models, stand-alone RNN, and stand-alone LSTM. Compared with existing works, the RMSE improvement by proposed work is 12.95–39.32%.
Acknowledgment to Reviewers of Future Internet in 2020
Authors:   Future Internet Editorial Office
Published: January 2021

Peer review is the driving force of journal development, and reviewers are gatekeepers who ensure that Future Internet maintains its standards for the high quality of its published papers [...]
Measurement of Food Losses in a Hungarian Dairy Processing Plant
Authors: Tóth Katalin , Borbély Csaba , Nagy Bernadett , Szabó-Szentgróti Gábor , Szabó-Szentgróti Eszter
Published: January 2021

The phenomenon of food waste and food loss at any stage of the supply chain is significant in developed economies. The purpose of this article is to highlight the areas of milk processing where milk loss occurs, and, after quantifying the data obtained, reveal the extent of the losses. To achieve the goals, we conducted on-site visits to one of Hungary’s milk processors. The methodology is based on the Food Loss and Waste (FLW) standard, accordingly we determined the extent of milk loss at the company level, supplemented with loss values by each dairy product. During the analyzed processing stages (receiving of raw milk, skimming, pasteurization, Extended Shelf-Life (ESL) milk, cheese milk, sour cream, yoghurt, and kefir) 1203.4–1406.8 L of raw material per day can be accounted as losses, which makes up 0.9–1% of daily production. A Milk Production-Milk Losses (MPML) model was created where six factors (technology and automation, design of the plant aspects, quantity of orders, expertise of employees, number of product variants, optimal storage capacity) were methodized that significantly influence the rate of milk losses over different time periods. Our paper highlights how areas of the production stage can be developed to decrease milk loss.
Emotions Evoked by Colors and Health Functionality Information of Colored Rice: A Cross-Cultural Study
Authors: Jang Jin A , Oh Ji Eun , Na Yeseul , Yeo Ga Eun , Cho Mi Sook
Published: January 2021

This study aimed to examine the emotional responses evoked by cooked colored rice and its health functionality information in both consumers who eat rice as a staple food and consumers who do not eat rice as a staple food. Specifically, Korean and American consumers were exposed to colored rice and its health functionality information and an emotion lexicon was generated and measured based on focus group interviews (FGI) and two online consumer surveys. In test 1, the emotions evoked by presentation of stimuli to Koreans (N = 10) and Americans (N = 10) were extracted through FGIs and the first online consumer survey (Koreans = 69; Americans = 68) and an emotion lexicon was generated. As a result, a total of 34 terms were confirmed. Test 2 was conducted during the second online consumer survey (capturing data from a total of 208 Koreans and 208 Americans), utilizing the terms generated in test 1. In this test, only the colors (CO) of colored rice were presented to one group, while colors and health functionality information (CO&H) were presented to the other group. The overall liking for stimuli in both countries was highly correlated with familiarity. Koreans showed significantly more familiarity and liking for CO of white and black CO rice, while Americans showed significantly more familiarity and liking for CO of white and yellow rice. Hierarchical cluster analysis was performed to categorize the emotion terms, and the emotion terms were sorted into the three clusters, “Positive”, “Negative”, and “New”, for both countries. Under informed conditions, the emotions became more positive, and emotions in the “New” cluster were evoked in both countries. The current study employed a cross-cultural approach to assess consumers’ emotional responses to colored rice and health functionality information. Our findings suggest that providing foods with preferred colors for each culture and providing sufficient information on the said foods will help to promote unfamiliar foods.
Knowledge, Utility, and Preferences for Beef Label Traceability Information: A Cross-Cultural Market Analysis Comparing Spain and Brazil
Authors: Magalhaes Danielle Rodrigues , Campo María del Mar , Maza María Teresa
Published: January 2021

The consumer environment determines consumers’ buying behavior and product preferences, and understanding these factors allows businesses in the industry to identify market demands. In view of the different contexts, Spain and Brazil, there are differences in the consumption of beef, in the production and the regulatory process concerning beef, and in particular the traceability system. The traceability system is mandatory in Spain and voluntary in Brazil. From these prerogatives, this cross-cultural study carried out through a self-administered questionnaire with 2132 Spanish and Brazilian beef buyers/consumers, aimed at comparing and understanding the familiarity with the bovine traceability system and traceability information of the label as a food security indicator. It is concluded that traceability information is well received by consumers as an attribute of credibility, and consumers are interested in ensuring that the item they buy is of known and reliable origin. But more incentives may help clarify the advantages of purchasing food with certified traceability, making it more effective for consumers to use this knowledge.
Brown Algae Potential as a Functional Food against Hypercholesterolemia: Review
Authors: André Rebeca , Pacheco Rita , Bourbon Mafalda , Serralheiro Maria Luísa
Published: January 2021

Brown algae have been part of the human diet for hundreds of years, however, in recent years, commercial and scientific interest in brown algae has increased due to the growing demand for healthier diet by the world population. Brown algae and its metabolites, such as carotenoids, polysaccharides, phlorotannins, and proteins, have been associated with multiple beneficial health effects for different diseases, such as cardiovascular diseases, one of the main causes of death in Europe. Since high blood cholesterol levels are one of the major cardiovascular risks, this review intends to provide an overview of current knowledge about the anti-hypercholesterolemic effect of different brown algae species and/or their isolated compounds.
Green Extraction of Phenolic Compounds from Lotus Seedpod (Receptaculum Nelumbinis) Assisted by Ultrasound Coupled with Glycerol
Authors: Bao Nina , Wang Di , Fu Xizhe , Xie Hujun , Gao Guizhen , Luo Zisheng
Published: January 2021

Lotus Receptaculum Nelumbinis has been sparking wide research interests due to its rich phenolic compounds. In the present work, ultrasonic-assisted extraction coupled with glycerol was employed to extract phenolic compounds from Receptaculum Nelumbinis and the process was optimized using a response surface methodology with Box-Behnken design (BBD). The optimal conditions for the total phenolic content (TPC) extract were obtained: glycerol concentration of 40%, an extraction temperature of 66 °C, ultrasonic time of 44 min, and the solvent-to-solid ratio of 55 mL/g. Under these optimum extraction conditions, the extraction yield of TPC was 92.84 ± 2.13 mg gallic acid equivalents (GAE) /g. Besides, the antioxidant activities demonstrated the ability of free radical scavenging by four different methods that included 2,2-Diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP), 2,2′-azinobis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS), and reducing activity (RA) were 459.73 ± 7.07, 529.97 ± 7.30, 907.61 ± 20.28, and 983.66 ± 11.80 μmol TE/g, respectively. Six phenolic compounds were identified by ultra-high pressure liquid chromatography combined with triple-time-of-flight mass spectrophotometry (UPLC-Triple-TOF/MS) from the extracts. Meanwhile, Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) was conducted to identify the characteristic functional groups of the extracts and thus reflected the presence of polyphenols and flavonoids. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) illustrated the microstructure difference of four treatments, which might explain the relationships between antioxidant activities and the structures of phenolic compounds.
Acknowledgment to Reviewers of Forecasting in 2020
Authors:   Forecasting Editorial Office
Published: January 2021

Peer review is the driving force of journal development, and reviewers are gatekeepers who ensure that Forecasting maintains its standards for the high quality of its published papers [...]
Gases—An Open Access Journal
Authors: Anthony Edward J.
Published: January 2021

Gases (ISSN 2673-5628) is an international and interdisciplinary peer-reviewed open access journal on gas science and engineering published quarterly online by MDPI [...]
Acknowledgment to Reviewers of Gels in 2020
Authors:   Gels Editorial Office
Published: January 2021

Peer review is the driving force of journal development, and reviewers are gatekeepers who ensure that Gels maintains its standards for the high quality of its published papers [...]
Acknowledgment to Reviewers of Genealogy in 2020
Authors:   Genealogy Editorial Office
Published: January 2021

Peer review is the driving force of journal development, and reviewers are gatekeepers who ensure that Genealogy maintains its standards for the high quality of its published papers [...]
Acknowledgment to Reviewers of Genes in 2020
Authors:   Genes Editorial Office
Published: January 2021

Peer review is the driving force of journal development, and reviewers are gatekeepers who ensure that Genes maintains its standards for the high quality of its published papers [...]
Forest Fire Spreading Using Free and Open-Source GIS Technologies
Authors: Mangiameli Michele , Mussumeci Giuseppe , Cappello Annalisa
Published: January 2021

Forest fires are one of the most dangerous events, causing serious land and environmental degradation. Indeed, besides the loss of a huge quantity of plant species, the effects of fires can go far beyond: desertification, increased risk of landslides, soil erosion, death of animals, etc. For these reasons, mathematical models able to predict fire spreading are needed in order to organize and optimize the extinguishing interventions during fire emergencies. This work presents a new system to simulate and predict the movement of the fire front based on free and open source Geographic Information System (GIS) technologies and the Rothermel surface fire spread model, with the adjustments made by Albini. We describe the mathematical models used, provide an overview of the GIS design and implementation, and present the results of some simulations at Etna volcano (Sicily, Italy), characterized by high geomorphological heterogeneity, and where the native flora and fauna may be preserved and perpetuated. The results consist of raster maps representing the progress times of the fire front starting from an ignition point and as a function of the topography and wind directions. The reliability of results is strictly affected by the correct positioning of the fire ignition point, by the accuracy of the topography that describes the morphology of the territory, and by the setting of the meteorological conditions at the moment of the ignition and propagation of the fire.
The Evaluation of Further Complications after the Extraction of the Third Molar Germ: A Pilot Study in Paediatric Dentistry
Authors: D’Angeli Giacomo , Zara Francesca , Vozza Iole , D’Angeli Francesco Maria , Sfasciotti Gian Luca
Published: January 2021

Some authors suggest germectomy to prevent the impaction of mandibular third molars, which can cause anterior crowding. The aim of the study, conducted with 2 years of follow-up, was to clarify when the extraction of the germ of the third molar is optimal, together with possible post-operative complications. A new surgical approach was performed through the application of a combined suture, which can provide better wound healing. The study was performed on 25 patients with a mean age of 15.44 ± 2.06. Based on orthodontic and surgical indications, 46 germectomies were performed. Follow-ups were conducted after 1 week, 2 weeks, 4 weeks, 1 year and 2 years. All procedures were carried out by the same operator and were standardized. Data analysis was conducted using R-Software. Statistical evaluation used the chi-squared test and the Monte Carlo test. The level of significance was set as 0.05. Results showed that out of 46 germectomies, the prevalence of complications was 4.2% for two patients (8%). Both complications were observed in male patients. In the first case, the patient (at Nolla stage 7) showed delayed onset infections after four weeks; in the second case, the patient (at Nolla stage 6) showed bleeding immediately after surgery and suture. With reference to delayed onset infections, no statistically significant association was found among gender (χ2 = 0.719; p = 0.396), germ development stage (χ2 = 2.595; p = 0.658) or Winter’s classifications (χ2 = 0.046; p = 0.829); similarly, no significant associations were found among bleeding, gender (χ2 = 0.719; p = 0.396), germ development stage (χ2 = 2.595; p = 0.658) or Winter’s classification (χ2 = 0.046; p = 0.829). From our results, it is also possible to state that post-operative complications following germectomy of the mandibular third molar germ in adolescence occur in a significantly reduced percentage of patients, so this oral surgery treatment becomes a reliable surgical technique in adolescence.
Assessment of the Readiness and Resilience of Czech Society against Water-Related Crises
Authors: Kavan Štěpán , Kročová Šárka , Pokorný Jiří
Published: January 2021

This assessment of societal readiness and resilience to water-related situations in the Czech Republic focuses on an interdisciplinary approach in the Czech Republic for solving this problem. The goal of the article is to evaluate and characterize the preparedness for handling water-related crises. The analysis is carried out via a SWOT analysis, which is a universal analytical method used to understand and interpret strengths and weaknesses and to identify opportunities and threats. For the calculation of the weight factor of the SWOT analysis, an assessment was determined based on the multicriteria analysis. The pair comparison method was used to determine the relative importance of the parameters of the strengths and weaknesses, opportunities and threats. The Fuller Triangle method was chosen for the system used to make the comparisons of the individual criteria. The uniqueness of the study consists of the issue of water management, which is thus reflected from a non-traditional perspective, being a contemporary model—the paradigm of the view on the preparedness of the planning documentation as one of the characteristics of societal resilience for water-related crises. The result of the research is the fact that a positive approach prevails in the researched area from the perspective of preparedness for water-related crises. For the creation of the conditions, the factors arising from the internal environment currently prevail slightly over those arising from the external environment.
Smartphone Use during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Social Versus Physical Distancing
Authors: David Meredith E. , Roberts James A.
Published: January 2021

The COVID-19 pandemic continues to wreak havoc across the globe. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, limiting face-to-face interaction is the best strategy for reducing the spread of COVID-19. We investigate the impact of social distancing on social connection and well-being, while also considering the moderating influence of smartphone use. In a survey of 400 students, the study presented herein finds that smartphone use attenuates the negative impact of social distancing on social connection and well-being. Contrary to popular sentiments regarding the influence of smartphone use on well-being, increased smartphone use during the pandemic may foster social connection and well-being. Overall, the research presented provides evidence that the perceived loss of social connection with others is not a de facto outcome of social distancing. The study’s findings have important implications for public policymakers, government officials, and others, including consumer researchers. These implications include stressing the important role technology can play in staying socially connected during the current pandemic and the importance of reframing “social distancing” as “physical distancing with social connectedness”.
A National Examination of the Spatial Extent and Similarity of Offenders’ Activity Spaces Using Police Data
Authors: Curtis-Ham Sophie , Bernasco Wim , Medvedev Oleg , Polaschek Devon
Published: January 2021

It is well established that offenders’ routine activity locations (nodes) shape their crime locations, but research examining the geography of offenders’ routine activity spaces has to date largely been limited to a few core nodes such as homes and prior offense locations, and to small study areas. This paper explores the utility of police data to provide novel insights into the spatial extent of, and overlap between, individual offenders’ activity spaces. It includes a wider set of activity nodes (including relatives’ homes, schools, and non-crime incidents) and broadens the geographical scale to a national level, by comparison to previous studies. Using a police dataset including n = 60,229 burglary, robbery, and extra-familial sex offenders in New Zealand, a wide range of activity nodes were present for most burglary and robbery offenders, but fewer for sex offenders, reflecting sparser histories of police contact. In a novel test of the criminal profiling assumptions of homology and differentiation in a spatial context, we find that those who offend in nearby locations tend to share more activity space than those who offend further apart. However, in finding many offenders’ activity spaces span wide geographic distances, we highlight challenges for crime location choice research and geographic profiling practice.
Evaluation Methods for Citizen Design Science Studies: How Do Planners and Citizens Obtain Relevant Information from Map-Based E-Participation Tools?
Authors: Müller Johannes
Published: January 2021

A successful e-participation campaign in urban planning relies on good two-way communication between the expert and the citizen. While the presentation of information from planners to citizens is one concern of that topic, we address in this paper the question of how citizens’ inputs can be evaluated for map-based e-participation tools. The interest is, on the one side, in the usefulness of the input for the planner and, on the other side, in performing a quick assessment which can provide feedback to the participant via the tool’s interface. We use a test dataset that was acquired with an online city planning tool that uses 3D geometries and develop analysis methods from it that can also be generalized for other map-based e-participation tools. These analysis methods are meant to be applied to large datasets and to enhance e-participation methods in urban planning and design to citizen (design) science approaches. The methods range from the calculation of simple parameters and heatmaps over clustering to point pattern analysis. We evaluate the presented approaches by their computation time and their usefulness for the planner and non-expert citizen and investigate their potential to serve as a composite analysis. We found that functions of the point pattern analysis reveal relevant information of the users’ inputs but require a simplified presentation. We introduce a spatial dispersion index as an example to present the relations between objects in a clear way.
The Prevention of Periprosthetic Joint Infection in Primary Total Hip Arthroplasty Using Pre-Operative Chlorhexidine Bathing
Authors: Su Wen-Chi , Lai Yu-Chin , Lee Cheng-Hung , Shih Cheng-Min , Chen Chao-Ping , Hung Li-Ling , Wang Shun-Ping
Published: January 2021

Periprosthetic joint infection (PJI) after total hip arthroplasty (THA) is a devastating complication. The aim of this study was to investigate whether preoperative bathing using chlorhexidine gluconate (CHG) before THA can effectively reduce the postoperative PJI rate. A total of 933 primary THA patients, with the majority being female (54.4%) were included in the study. Primary THA patients who performed preoperative chlorhexidine bathing were assigned to the CHG group (190 subjects), and those who did not have preoperative chlorhexidine bathing were in the control group (743 subjects). The effects of chlorhexidine bathing on the prevention of PJI incidence rates were investigated. Differences in age, sex, and the operated side between the two groups were not statistically significant. Postoperative PJI occurred in four subjects, indicating an infection rate of 0.43% (4/933). All four infected subjects belonged to the control group. Although the PJI cases were significantly more in the control group than in the CHG group, statistical analysis revealed no statistical significance in the risk of PJI occurrence between the two groups (p = 0.588). Preoperative skin preparation by bathing with a 2% chlorhexidine gluconate cleanser did not produce significant effects on the prevention of postoperative PJI in primary THA.
Association of Exercise-Based Cardiac Rehabilitation with Progression of Paroxysmal to Sustained Atrial Fibrillation
Authors: Buckley Benjamin J. R. , Harrison Stephanie L. , Fazio-Eynullayeva Elnara , Underhill Paula , Lane Deirdre A. , Thijssen Dick H. J. , Lip Gregory Y. H.
Published: January 2021

Progression of atrial fibrillation (AF) is associated with worsened prognosis for cardiovascular events and mortality. Exercise-based-cardiac rehabilitation programmes have shown preliminary promise for primary and secondary prevention of AF. Yet, such interventions are typically reserved for patients with acute coronary syndrome or undergoing revascularization. Using a retrospective cohort design, the present study investigated the association of exercise-based cardiac rehabilitation on the progression of paroxysmal to sustained AF, compared to propensity-matched controls. Patients with a diagnosis of paroxysmal AF were compared between those with and without an electronic medical record of exercise-based cardiac rehabilitation within 6-months of diagnosis. Using cox regression models, we ascertained odds of 2-year incidence for AF progression. This cohort of 9808 patients with paroxysmal AF demonstrated that exercise-based cardiac rehabilitation was associated with 26% lower odds of AF progression (odds ratio 0.74, 95% CI 0.66–0.83) compared to propensity-matched controls. This beneficial effect seemed to vary across patient subgroups. In conclusion, findings revealed that exercise-based cardiac rehabilitation was associated with significantly lower odds of progression from paroxysmal to sustained AF at 2-years follow-up compared to propensity-matched controls.
Long-Term Prognostic Value of Cognitive Impairment on Top of Frailty in Older Adults after Acute Coronary Syndrome
Authors: Sanchis Juan , Bonanad Clara , García-Blas Sergio , Ruiz Vicent , Fernández-Cisnal Agustín , Sastre Clara , Ruescas Arancha , Valero Ernesto , González Jessika , Mollar Anna , Miñana Gema , Núñez Julio
Published: January 2021

Frailty is a marker of poor prognosis in older adults after acute coronary syndrome. We investigated whether cognitive impairment provides additional prognostic information. The study population consisted of a prospective cohort of 342 older (>65 years) adult survivors after acute coronary syndrome. Frailty (Fried score) and cognitive function (Pfeiffer’s Short Portable Mental Status Questionnaire—SPMSQ) were assessed at discharge. The endpoints were mortality or acute myocardial infarction at 8.7-year median follow-up. Patient distribution according to SPMSQ results was: no cognitive impairment (SPMSQ = 0 errors; n = 248, 73%), mild impairment (SPMSQ = 1–2 errors; n = 52, 15%), and moderate to severe impairment (SPMSQ ≥3 errors; n = 42, 12%). A total of 245 (72%) patients died or had an acute myocardial infarction, and 216 (63%) patients died. After adjustment for clinical data, comorbidities, and Fried score, the SPMSQ added prognostic value for death or myocardial infarction (per number of errors; HR = 1.11, 95%, CI 1.04–1.19, p = 0.002) and death (HR = 1.11, 95% 1.03–1.20, p = 0.007). An SPMSQ with ≥3 errors identified the highest risk subgroup. Geriatric conditions (SPSMQ and Fried score) explained 19% and 43% of the overall chi-square of the models for predicting death or myocardial infarction and death, respectively. Geriatric assessment after acute coronary syndrome should include both frailty and cognitive function. This is particularly important given that cognitive impairment without dementia can be subclinical and thus remain undetected.
Quality of Life in Young Adults after Flatfoot Surgery: A Case-Control Study
Authors: Martinelli Nicolò , Bianchi Alberto , Prandoni Lorenzo , Maiorano Emanuele , Sansone Valerio
Published: January 2021

The true impact of surgery for flatfoot deformities on patient’s quality of life and health status remains poorly defined. The aim of this study is to evaluate the quality of life and the return to daily tasks and sports or physical activities in young adults after surgical correction of flatfoot deformity. Patients treated for bilateral symptomatic flat foot deformity were retrospectively studied. The healthy control group comprised a matched reference population with no history of foot surgery or trauma that was voluntary recruited from the hospital community. All subjects were asked to fill out questionnaires centered on the assessment of the health-related quality of life (Short-form 36; SF-36) and physical activity (International Physical Activity Questionnaire; IPAQ). Most study group SF-36 subscales were lower when compared to the control group. Among the study group, post-operatively, 36.6% of patients managed to resume low levels of sports activity, 40% were sufficiently active and were able to perform moderate sports activity (an activity that requires moderate physical effort and which forces the patient to breathe with a frequency only moderately higher than normal), while 23.3% of them were active or very active and were able to perform intense physical activity. Most IPAQ scores were statistically different from the control group. The present study suggests that patients treated with medializing calcaneal osteotomy and navicular-cuneiform arthrodesis for symptomatic flafoot had lower levels of quality of life and physical activity when compared to healthy subjects. After surgery, patients showed a significant improvement in the clinical scores.
Liver X Receptor Expression and Pentraxin 3 Production in Chronic Rhinosinusitis and Sinonasal Mucosal Fibroblast Cells
Authors: Tsai Yih-Jeng , Shen Ping-Hung , Luo Sheng-Dean , Wu Wen-Bin
Published: January 2021

The long pentraxin 3 (PTX3) is a prototypic molecule for recognizing pathogens. Liver X receptors (LXRs), belonging to nuclear receptors (NRs) for cholesterol metabolism through heterodimerizing with other NRs, were recently reported to participate in inflammation. However, their roles in chronic rhinosinusitis without nasal polyps (CRSsNP) are unclear. Therefore, this study was sought to explore roles of LXRs in chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) sinonasal tissues and derived fibroblasts. Immunohistochemistry indicated that LXRα and β expression and lipid/fat deposition were differentially expressed in the control and CRSsNP nasal mucosa. GW7647 (a peroxisome proliferator activated receptor α (PPARα) agonist) and GW3965 (a dual agonist for LXRα and β) significantly caused PTX3 induction in the fibroblast cells. GW3965 induced PTX3 mRNA and protein expression, and the induction substantially led to PTX3 secretion. Meanwhile, an endogenous agonist-cholesterol had a similar enhancing effect on the induction of PTX3 protein. LXR siRNA knockdown to lower LXRα or β expression significantly compromised PTX3 induction. Interestingly, GW3965 also induced phosphoinositide 3-kinase/protein kinase B (PI3K/Akt) activation and its inhibition reduced PTX3 expression. Collectively, we demonstrated here for the first time that CRSsNP nasal mucosa differentially expresses LXRα and β and deposits lipids/fats that may contain cholesterol metabolites to activate LXRs. Activation of LXRs leads to PTX3 production in sinonasal mucosa-derived fibroblasts. Our previous study showed PTX3 overexpression in the nasal cavity of CRSsNP, whereas this study highlights that cholesterol metabolites and LXR activation regulate PTX3 production and may contribute to antimicrobial activity and tissue repair during CRSsNP progression.
Ventricular Assist Device-Specific Infections
Authors: Qu Yue , Peleg Anton Y. , McGiffin David
Published: January 2021

Ventricular assist device (VAD)-specific infections, in particular, driveline infections, are a concerning complication of VAD implantation that often results in significant morbidity and even mortality. The presence of a percutaneous driveline at the skin exit-site and in the subcutaneous tunnel allows biofilm formation and migration by many bacterial and fungal pathogens. Biofilm formation is an important microbial strategy, providing a shield against antimicrobial treatment and human immune responses; biofilm migration facilitates the extension of infection to deeper tissues such as the pump pocket and the bloodstream. Despite the introduction of multiple preventative strategies, driveline infections still occur with a high prevalence of ~10–20% per year and their treatment outcomes are frequently unsatisfactory. Clinical diagnosis, prevention and management of driveline infections are being targeted to specific microbial pathogens grown as biofilms at the driveline exit-site or in the driveline tunnel. The purpose of this review is to improve the understanding of VAD-specific infections, from basic “bench” knowledge to clinical “bedside” experience, with a specific focus on the role of biofilms in driveline infections.
The Skull’s Girder: A Brief Review of the Cranial Base
Authors: Rengasamy Venugopalan Shankar , Van Otterloo Eric
Published: January 2021

The cranial base is a multifunctional bony platform within the core of the cranium, spanning rostral to caudal ends. This structure provides support for the brain and skull vault above, serves as a link between the head and the vertebral column below, and seamlessly integrates with the facial skeleton at its rostral end. Unique from the majority of the cranial skeleton, the cranial base develops from a cartilage intermediate—the chondrocranium—through the process of endochondral ossification. Owing to the intimate association of the cranial base with nearly all aspects of the head, congenital birth defects impacting these structures often coincide with anomalies of the cranial base. Despite this critical importance, studies investigating the genetic control of cranial base development and associated disorders lags in comparison to other craniofacial structures. Here, we highlight and review developmental and genetic aspects of the cranial base, including its transition from cartilage to bone, dual embryological origins, and vignettes of transcription factors controlling its formation.
Deep Concatenated Residual Networks for Improving Quality of Halftoning-Based BTC Decoded Image
Authors: Prasetyo Heri , Wicaksono Hari Prayuda Alim , Hsia Chih-Hsien , Guo Jing-Ming
Published: January 2021

This paper presents a simple technique for improving the quality of the halftoning-based block truncation coding (H-BTC) decoded image. The H-BTC is an image compression technique inspired from typical block truncation coding (BTC). The H-BTC yields a better decoded image compared to that of the classical BTC scheme under human visual observation. However, the impulsive noise commonly appears on the H-BTC decoded image. It induces an unpleasant feeling while one observes this decoded image. Thus, the proposed method presented in this paper aims to suppress the occurring impulsive noise by exploiting a deep learning approach. This process can be regarded as an ill-posed inverse imaging problem, in which the solution candidates of a given problem can be extremely huge and undetermined. The proposed method utilizes the convolutional neural networks (CNN) and residual learning frameworks to solve the aforementioned problem. These frameworks effectively reduce the impulsive noise occurrence, and at the same time, it improves the quality of H-BTC decoded images. The experimental results show the effectiveness of the proposed method in terms of subjective and objective measurements.
Inflammatory versus Anti-Inflammatory Profiles in Major Depressive Disorders—The Role of IL-17, IL-21, IL-23, IL-35 and Foxp3
Authors: Gałecka Małgorzata , Bliźniewska-Kowalska Katarzyna , Orzechowska Agata , Szemraj Janusz , Maes Michael , Berk Michael , Su Kuan-Pin , Gałecki Piotr
Published: January 2021

Background: The authors of this research study intended to verify whether there are any changes in gene expression in depressed patients without coexisting inflammatory diseases for selected immune-inflammatory factors that are particularly important in autoimmune disease pathogenesis (IL-17, IL-21, IL-23, IL-35, Foxp3). Methods: The study was carried out on a group of 190 patients with depression and 100 healthy volunteers. The severity of depressive symptoms was assessed using the Hamilton Depression Scale. RT-PCR was used to evaluate mRNA expression and ELISA was used to measure protein expression of these genes. Results: The level of gene expression for IL-17, IL-21, IL-23, and IL-35 was substantially higher in the group of patients with depression compared to the control group. The mean mRNA expression of Foxp3 was considerably reduced in patients suffering from depressive disorders. There was a statistically significant correlation between the number of hospitalizations and the expression of specific inflammatory factors. Conclusions: Expression of specific inflammatory genes may be a factor in the etiopathogenesis of depressive disorders. The duration of the disease seems to be more important for the expression of the genes in question than the severity of depression. These cytokines may affect the metabolism of neurotransmitters and neuroendocrine functions in the brain as well as be a marker and a new potential therapeutic target for recurrent depressive disorders.
Hypothalamic Norepinephrine Concentration and Heart Mass in Hypertensive ISIAH Rats Are Associated with a Genetic Locus on Chromosome 18
Authors: Redina Olga E. , Smolenskaya Svetlana E. , Polityko Yulia K. , Ershov Nikita I. , Gilinsky Michael A. , Markel Arcady L.
Published: January 2021

The relationship between activation of the sympathetic nervous system and cardiac hypertrophy has long been known. However, the molecular genetic basis of this association is poorly understood. Given the known role of hypothalamic norepinephrine in the activation of the sympathetic nervous system, the aim of the work was to carry out genetic mapping using Quantitative Trait Loci (QTL) analysis and determine the loci associated both with an increase in the concentration of norepinephrine in the hypothalamus and with an increase in heart mass in Inherited Stress-Induced Arterial Hypertension (ISIAH) rats simulating the stress-sensitive form of arterial hypertension. The work describes a genetic locus on chromosome 18, in which there are genes that control the development of cardiac hypertrophy associated with an increase in the concentration of norepinephrine in the hypothalamus, i.e., genes involved in enhanced sympathetic myocardial stimulation. No association of this locus with the blood pressure was found. Taking into consideration previously obtained results, it was concluded that the contribution to the development of heart hypertrophy in the ISIAH rats is controlled by different genetic loci, one of which is associated with the concentration of norepinephrine in the hypothalamus (on chromosome 18) and the other is associated with high blood pressure (on chromosome 1). Nucleotide substitutions that may be involved in the formation or absence of association with blood pressure in different rat strains are discussed.
Autism Spectrum Disorder from the Womb to Adulthood: Suggestions for a Paradigm Shift
Authors: Panisi Cristina , Guerini Franca Rosa , Abruzzo Provvidenza Maria , Balzola Federico , Biava Pier Mario , Bolotta Alessandra , Brunero Marco , Burgio Ernesto , Chiara Alberto , Clerici Mario , Croce Luigi , Ferreri Carla , Giovannini Niccolò , Ghezzo Alessandro , Grossi Enzo , Keller Roberto , Manzotti Andrea , Marini Marina , Migliore Lucia , Moderato Lucio , Moscone Davide , Mussap Michele , Parmeggiani Antonia , Pasin Valentina , Perotti Monica , Piras Cristina , Saresella Marina , Stoccoro Andrea , Toso Tiziana , Vacca Rosa Anna , Vagni David , Vendemmia Salvatore , Villa Laura , Politi Pierluigi , Fanos Vassilios
Published: January 2021

The wide spectrum of unique needs and strengths of Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) is a challenge for the worldwide healthcare system. With the plethora of information from research, a common thread is required to conceptualize an exhaustive pathogenetic paradigm. The epidemiological and clinical findings in ASD cannot be explained by the traditional linear genetic model, hence the need to move towards a more fluid conception, integrating genetics, environment, and epigenetics as a whole. The embryo-fetal period and the first two years of life (the so-called ‘First 1000 Days’) are the crucial time window for neurodevelopment. In particular, the interplay and the vicious loop between immune activation, gut dysbiosis, and mitochondrial impairment/oxidative stress significantly affects neurodevelopment during pregnancy and undermines the health of ASD people throughout life. Consequently, the most effective intervention in ASD is expected by primary prevention aimed at pregnancy and at early control of the main effector molecular pathways. We will reason here on a comprehensive and exhaustive pathogenetic paradigm in ASD, viewed not just as a theoretical issue, but as a tool to provide suggestions for effective preventive strategies and personalized, dynamic (from womb to adulthood), systemic, and interdisciplinary healthcare approach.