bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A modified TOP assay to detect per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances in aqueous film-forming foams (AFFF) and soil
Authors: Al Amin Md. , Luo Yunlong , Shi Feng , Yu Linbo , Liu Yanju , Nolan Annette , Awoyemi Olalekan Simon , Megharaj Mallavarapu , Naidu Ravi , Fang Cheng
Published: October 2023

Total oxidisable precursor (TOP) assay can oxidise some per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) and their precursors, most of which cannot be quantitatively detected so far, and convert them to detectable PFASs, such as perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAAs). However, the conversion is constrained by the complexity of the target samples, including co-existent organics, unknown PFAS precursors, and background. In this study, the TOP assay is modified to increase the oxidation and conversion efficiency by changing the initial concentration of target sample, increasing oxidising doses, time, temperature, etc. The modified TOP assay is applied to test several aqueous film-forming foams (AFFF) and a PFAS-contaminated soil extract. The sum concentrations of the detectable PFASs are increased by up to ∼534× in the AFFF samples and ∼7× in the PFAS-contaminated soil extract. The detectable fluorotelomer sulfonate (FTS, such as 6:2/8:2 FTS) is accounted as an oxidation indicator to monitor the oxidation and conversion progress of the oxidisable PFASs precursors to the detectable PFASs. Overall, the modified TOP assay could be an appropriate method for identifying missing PFASs mass in complex matrices by detecting the PFASs precursors effectively.
A novel method to extend viability and functionality of living heart slices
Authors: Ross Abigail J. , Krumova Iva , Tunc Berfin , Wu Qin , Wu Changhao , Camelliti Patrizia
Published: October 2023

Living heart slices have recently emerged as a powerful experimental model for fundamental cardiac research. By retaining the structure and function of the native myocardium while maintaining the simplicity of cell culture models, heart slices can be easily employed in electrophysiological, pharmacological, biochemical, and structural investigations. One single heart yields many slices (>20 slices for rodents, >100 slices for porcine or human hearts), however due to the low throughput of most assays and rapid slice degeneration within 24 h of preparation, many slices remain unused and are discarded at the end of the preparation day. Here we present a novel method to extend viability and functionality of living heart slices, enabling their use in experiments over several consecutive days following preparation. By combining hypothermic conditions with inhibition of myosin II ATPase using 2,3-butanedione monoxime (BDM), slices prepared from the left ventricle of porcine hearts remain viable and exhibit preserved contractile function and morphology for up to 6 days. Electrophysiological function was also confirmed over the 6 days by extracellular field potentials recordings. This simple method not only maximizes the use of slices prepared from one single heart, thus reducing the number of animals required, but also increases data reproducibility by allowing multiple electrophysiological, pharmacological, biochemical, and structural studies to be performed from the same heart.
Inter-geosphere interaction in the infrasonic range
Authors: Dolgikh Grigory , Budrin Sergey , Dolgikh Stanislav , Chupin Vladimir , Shvets Vyacheslav
Published: October 2023

On the basis of experimental data from laser strainmeters, a laser nanobarograph, and a laser meter of hydrosphere pressure variations, we studied inter-geosphere interaction in microseismic range (2–20 s) and in minute range (4–17 min). We established general patterns of transformation of the Earth’s crust upper layer oscillations into atmospheric oscillations, and atmospheric oscillations—into oscillations of the Earth’s crust upper layer in the specified ranges. Besides, we show that transformation coefficient has seasonal dependence, associated with different elastic characteristics of the Earth’s crust upper layer in winter and summer due to negative winter temperatures and high positive summer temperatures, and also different moisture saturation of the soils.
Ascent and decompressional boiling of geothermal liquids tracked by solute mass balances: a key to understand the hydrothermal explosions of Milos (Greece)
Authors: Chiodini G. , Bini G. , Massaro S. , Caliro S. , Kanellopoulos C. , Tassi F. , Vaselli O. , Vougioukalakis G. , Bachmann O.
Published: October 2023

Hydrothermal explosions occur through the sudden expansion of fluids at or near boiling condition with little or no precursors, making any kind of forecast difficult. Here, we investigate the processes occurring within hydrothermal systems in a potential critical state for explosions through a new methodology based on mass balances of thermal water solutes. The usage of this method reveals that the pore water samples of the Paleochori Bay (Milos, Greece; <20 m depth below sea level), chosen as a case study, are binary mixtures of a geothermal component and seawater, from which steam is either added through condensation of underlying, ascending vapors or separates through boiling. This new method enables us to quantify and map both the fraction of the original geothermal liquid in each pore water sample and that of the vapor supplied or separated from the solutions. Furthermore, the method allows us to compute the composition of the geothermal endmember. The map of the fraction of supplied vapor shows that decompressional boiling of ascending liquids predominantly focuses in the central part of the Paleochori Bay. Both the estimated composition and temperature (324°C) of the geothermal liquid endmember overlap those measured in geothermal well fluids at or near-boiling condition, except SO4 and SiO2. The lower SiO2 and higher SO4 content in the pore waters may be ascribed to the current production of an impermeable cap, which enables underlying fluids to accumulate and pressure to buildup. The evidence of liquid at or near boiling conditions and self-sealing processes in the Paleochori Bay suggests that decompressional boiling during abrupt pressure drawdowns might have caused hydrothermal explosions at Milos in historical times, whose occurrence is testified by several hydrothermal craters. Finally, our work shows that similar conditions favoring explosions still affect the hydrothermal system of Milos. The new methodology described in this work can find useful applications in the study of submerged hydrothermal systems and in understanding the physicochemical conditions that favor hydrothermal explosions.
Confucian or confusion? Analyses of international students’ self-rated intercultural sensitivity and its sociocultural predictors at Canadian universities
Authors: Yuan Xuechen
Published: October 2023

Introduction

In mainstream psychological research, Confucian heritage culture is often the scapegoat for subjecting Confucian heritage culture students to cultural archetypes of reticence, obedience, and unassailability, leading to the stigmatization of international students. This study examines differences in international students’ self-rated intercultural sensitivity and the potential discrepancy that exists between large-scale differences in sociocultural dimensions and student perceptions of these dimensions.

Methods

A total of 120 international students enrolled at Canadian universities completed an online questionnaire which combines existing validated surveys on intercultural sensitivity and perceptions of sociocultural dimensions. Students were divided into two groups: Confucian and non-Confucian groups. The data analysis techniques include AN(C)OVAs, hierarchical linear regression, and Spearman’s rho correlation.

Results

The quantitative analyses lead to the main findings as follows: 1) Confucian heritage culture has little predictive value to intercultural sensitivity; 2) Confucian student group does not uniquely identify with Confucian values; 3) Second language apprehension, as the sole predictor, accounts for more variation in intercultural sensitivity than most sociocultural predictors combined.

Discussion

This study demonstrates that deterministic views of heritage culture may not accurately reflect international students’ personal identification with their heritage culture. Therefore, further research is needed to illuminate the role of studying abroad in deconstructing general culture and contextualizing students’ assumed fixed identities.
Association of triglyceride-glucose index levels with gestational diabetes mellitus in the US pregnant women: a cross-sectional study
Authors: Zeng Yan , Yin Li , Yin Xiaoping , Zhao Danqing
Published: October 2023

Objective

This investigation aimed to assess the correlation between the triglyceride-glucose (TyG) index and gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) in pregnant women in the United States.

Methods

We calculated the TyG index utilizing data from pregnant women who participated in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) through 1999 to March 2020, and then employed multivariate logistic regression, smoothed curve fitting, and subgroup analysis to investigate the association between the TyG index and gestational diabetes during pregnancy.

Results

Logistic regression models revealed a positive association between the TyG index and GDM, remaining significant even after adjusting for all confounding variables (OR=3.43, 95% CI: 1.20-9.85, P = 0.0216). Subgroup analysis demonstrated consistent correlations and showed that there is no difference in the TyG index among first trimester subgroup. The TyG index had limited diagnostic efficacy for GDM (AUC=0.57, 95% CI: 0.50-0.63).

Conclusion

The TyG index correlates positively with the GDM, however its diagnostic efficacy is limited. Further research on the TyG index as an early predictor of GDM is required.
Research on optimal configuration of park-level multi-energy complementary system with multiple evaluation indexes
Authors: Wu Yingjun , Chen Ji , Zhang Xinyuan , He Kewei , Jin Lei
Published: October 2023

At present, energy shortages are becoming increasingly severe, and the concept of park level multi energy complementary systems (MECS) has provided direction for sustainable energy development. In recent years, how to improve the economy and reliability of multi energy complementary systems has become a research hotspot in this field. In this paper, a two-layer optimal scheduling strategy is proposed to allocate the capacity of various energy equipment in the park, considering the comprehensive energy self-sufficiency rate, comprehensive energy utilization rate and energy shortage expectation. The proposed capacity allocation scheme can effectively improve the economy of MECS in the park. Finally, the effectiveness and practicability of the algorithm are verified by simulation analysis.
Morphological changes in hooded crows (Corvus cornix) related to urbanization
Authors: Benmazouz Isma , Jokimäki Jukka , Juhász Lajos , Kaisanlahti-Jokimäki Marja-Liisa , Paládi Petra , Kardos Gábor , Lengyel Szabolcs , Kövér László
Published: October 2023

Introduction

Urbanization has led to a recent surge of interest in urban biodiversity, and wildlife responses to urban environments have become a hot topic in environmental sciences and biodiversity conservation. However, adaptations to urbanization and the factors driving them are less understood.

Methodology

We studied possible morphological adaptations to urban environments by comparing body size and condition of adult and post-fledging juvenile Hooded Crows (Corvus cornix), a bird species that has recently colonised cities in eastern Europe, between two urban and two rural populations, between two different-sized cities and between locations within one city in Hungary.

Results

Adult crows from the rural cropland-woodland area were lighter and in poorer condition than crows from the rural grassland area or those from the medium-sized city. There were no differences in morphological traits of adults or juveniles between the large and the medium-sized cities. The comparison of multiple trapping locations within the city of Debrecen showed that juveniles in the Zoo area were larger, heavier, and in better condition than individuals in the other locations and that adults in the Zoo had longer wings and tarsi than adults in other locations. Our results indicated that urbanized Hooded Crows showed some morphological changes to live in urban environments, but we did not find large-scale, consistent differences between urban and rural areas. However, we found significant variation within one city.

Discussion

Our results suggest that urban-rural environmental differences may be mediated by local factors, of which the year-round availability of anthropogenic food is fundamental. Such food is widely available in cities, although its quality may be suboptimal for bird development. Our study suggests that the variation in body size variables is probably more site-dependent than gradient-dependent and shows that documenting wildlife adaptations to urban environments requires multiple spatial scales ranging from regional to local (within-city) scales.
Male and female are not the same: a multicenter study of static and dynamic functional connectivity in relapse-remitting multiple sclerosis in China
Authors: Wang Yao , Duan Yunyun , Wu Yuling , Zhuo Zhizheng , Zhang Ningnannan , Han Xuemei , Zeng Chun , Chen Xiaoya , Huang Muhua , Zhu Yanyan , Li Haiqing , Cao Guanmei , Sun Jie , Li Yongmei , Zhou Fuqing , Li Yuxin
Published: October 2023

Background

Sex-related effects have been observed in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS), but their impact on functional networks remains unclear.

Objective

To investigate the sex-related differences in connectivity strength and time variability within large-scale networks in RRMS.

Methods

This is a multi-center retrospective study. A total of 208 RRMS patients (135 females; 37.55 ± 11.47 years old) and 228 healthy controls (123 females; 36.94 ± 12.17 years old) were included. All participants underwent clinical and MRI assessments. Independent component analysis was used to extract resting-state networks (RSNs). We assessed the connectivity strength using spatial maps (SMs) and static functional network connectivity (sFNC), evaluated temporal properties and dynamic functional network connectivity (dFNC) patterns of RSNs using dFNC, and investigated their associations with structural damage or clinical variables.

Results

For static connectivity, only male RRMS patients displayed decreased SMs in the attention network and reduced sFNC between the sensorimotor network and visual or frontoparietal networks compared with healthy controls [P<0.05, false discovery rate (FDR) corrected]. For dynamic connectivity, three recurring states were identified for all participants: State 1 (sparse connected state; 42%), State 2 (middle-high connected state; 36%), and State 3 (high connected state; 16%). dFNC analyses suggested that altered temporal properties and dFNC patterns only occurred in females: female patients showed a higher fractional time (P<0.001) and more dwell time in State 1 (P<0.001) with higher transitions (P=0.004) compared with healthy females. Receiver operating characteristic curves revealed that the fraction time and mean dwell time of State 1 could significantly distinguish female patients from controls (area under the curve: 0.838-0.896). In addition, female patients with RRMS also mainly showed decreased dFNC in all states, particularly within cognitive networks such as the default mode, frontoparietal, and visual networks compared with healthy females (P < 0.05, FDR corrected).

Conclusion

Our results observed alterations in connectivity strength only in male patients and time variability in female patients, suggesting that sex-related effects may play an important role in the functional impairment and reorganization of RRMS.
“Input/output cytokines” in epidermal keratinocytes and the involvement in inflammatory skin diseases
Authors: Morizane Shin , Mukai Tomoyuki , Sunagawa Ko , Tachibana Kota , Kawakami Yoshio , Ouchida Mamoru
Published: October 2023

Considering the role of epidermal keratinocytes, they occupy more than 90% of the epidermis, form a physical barrier, and also function as innate immune barrier. For example, epidermal keratinocytes are capable of recognizing various cytokines and pathogen-associated molecular pattern, and producing a wide variety of inflammatory cytokines, chemokines, and antimicrobial peptides. Previous basic studies have shown that the immune response of epidermal keratinocytes has a significant impact on inflammatory skin diseases. The purpose of this review is to provide foundation of knowledge on the cytokines which are recognized or produced by epidermal keratinocytes. Since a number of biologics for skin diseases have appeared, it is necessary to fully understand the relationship between epidermal keratinocytes and the cytokines. In this review, the cytokines recognized by epidermal keratinocytes are specifically introduced as “input cytokines”, and the produced cytokines as “output cytokines”. Furthermore, we also refer to the existence of biologics against those input and output cytokines, and the target skin diseases. These use results demonstrate how important targeted cytokines are in real skin diseases, and enhance our understanding of the cytokines.
Analysis of clinical features of oxcarbazepine-induced Stevens-Johnson syndrome and toxic epidermal necrolysis
Authors: Yan Qingzi , Liu Xiang , Lei Haibo , Liu Renzhu , Hu Yixiang
Published: October 2023

Background

Stevens-Johnson syndrome (SJS) is considered a hypersensitivity syndrome affecting the skin and mucous membranes. It has been reported that an anticonvulsant drug, oxcarbazepine, may cause Stevens-Johnson syndrome and toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN). However, the clinical features of oxcarbazepine-induced Stevens-Johnson syndrome (SJS) and toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN) remain ambiguous. This article aims to explore the clinical features of SJS/TEN.

Methods

Systematic searches of several Chinese and English databases were conducted for case reports published on PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science, MEDLINE, CNKI from January 1, 2007 to March 1, 2023.

Results

A total of seventeen patients (10 males and 7 females) were included in this study, including nine adult patients and eight pediatric patients. The results showed that males seem to have a higher prevalence of SJS/TEN than females, and SJS/TEN usually occurs within 2 weeks after administration of oxcarbazepine (OXC). The main clinical manifestations among the included patients were rashes or maculopapules (17 cases, 100%), fever (11 cases, 64.7%), mucosal lesions (15 cases, 88.2%), conjunctivitis with/without ocular discharge (12 cases, 70.6%), and blisters (12 cases, 70.6%). After stopping OXC or switching to other drugs that treat primary disease as well as treatment with IVIG, glucocorticoid, anti-allergy, and fluid replacement, eight of the included patients recovered completely, and another eight of the included patients reported symptomatic improvement, while the prognosis of one of the included patients was not reported.

Conclusion

Diverse clinical signs and symptoms of SJS/TEN might result in misinterpretation and delayed diagnosis. It should be identified and treated immediately to avoid significant consequences and potentially jeopardize patients’ lives.
ReverseDock: a web server for blind docking of a single ligand to multiple protein targets using AutoDock Vina
Authors: Krause Fabian , Voigt Karsten , Di Ventura Barbara , Öztürk Mehmet Ali
Published: October 2023

Several platforms exist to perform molecular docking to computationally predict binders to a specific protein target from a library of ligands. The reverse, that is, docking a single ligand to various protein targets, can currently be done by very few web servers, which limits the search to a small set of pre-selected human proteins. However, the possibility to in silico predict which targets a compound identified in a high-throughput drug screen bind would help optimize and reduce the costs of the experimental workflow needed to reveal the molecular mechanism of action of a ligand. Here, we present ReverseDock, a blind docking web server based on AutoDock Vina specifically designed to allow users with no computational expertise to dock a ligand to 100 protein structures of their choice. ReverseDock increases the number and type of proteins a ligand can be docked to, making the task of in silico docking of a ligand to entire families of proteins straightforward. We envision ReverseDock will support researchers by providing the possibility to apply inverse docking computations using web browser. ReverseDock is available at: https://reversedock.biologie.uni-freiburg.de/
Directed functional connectivity of the sensorimotor system in young and older individuals
Authors: Goelman Gadi , Dan Rotem , Bezdicek Ondrej , Jech Robert
Published: October 2023

Introduction

Studies in the sensorimotor system of older versus young individuals have shown alterations in functional connectivity and organization. Our objective was to explore the implications of these differences in terms of local organizations, and to identify processes that correlate with neuropsychological parameters.

Methods

Using a novel multivariate analysis method on resting-state functional MRI data obtained from 50 young and 31 older healthy individuals, we identified directed 4-node functional pathways within the sensorimotor system and examined their correlations with neuropsychological assessments.

Results

In young individuals, the functional pathways were unidirectional, flowing from the primary motor and sensory cortices to higher motor and visual regions. In older individuals, the functional pathways were more complex. They originated either from the calcarine sulcus or the insula and passed through mutually coupled high-order motor areas before reaching the primary sensory and motor cortices. Additionally, the pathways in older individuals that resembled those found in young individuals exhibited a positive correlation with years of education.

Discussion

The flow pattern of young individuals suggests efficient and fast information transfer. In contrast, the mutual coupling of high-order motor regions in older individuals suggests an inefficient and slow transfer, a less segregated and a more integrated organization. The differences in the number of sensorimotor pathways and of their directionality suggests reduced efferent degenerated pathways and increased afferent compensated pathways. Furthermore, the positive effect of years of education may be associated with the Cognitive Reserve Hypothesis, implying that cognitive reserve could be maintained through specific information transfer pathways.
Classifying human emotions in HRI: applying global optimization model to EEG brain signals
Authors: Staffa Mariacarla , D'Errico Lorenzo , Sansalone Simone , Alimardani Maryam
Published: October 2023

Significant efforts have been made in the past decade to humanize both the form and function of social robots to increase their acceptance among humans. To this end, social robots have recently been combined with brain-computer interface (BCI) systems in an attempt to give them an understanding of human mental states, particularly emotions. However, emotion recognition using BCIs poses several challenges, such as subjectivity of emotions, contextual dependency, and a lack of reliable neuro-metrics for real-time processing of emotions. Furthermore, the use of BCI systems introduces its own set of limitations, such as the bias-variance trade-off, dimensionality, and noise in the input data space. In this study, we sought to address some of these challenges by detecting human emotional states from EEG brain activity during human-robot interaction (HRI). EEG signals were collected from 10 participants who interacted with a Pepper robot that demonstrated either a positive or negative personality. Using emotion valence and arousal measures derived from frontal brain asymmetry (FBA), several machine learning models were trained to classify human's mental states in response to the robot personality. To improve classification accuracy, all proposed classifiers were subjected to a Global Optimization Model (GOM) based on feature selection and hyperparameter optimization techniques. The results showed that it is possible to classify a user's emotional responses to the robot's behavior from the EEG signals with an accuracy of up to 92%. The outcome of the current study contributes to the first level of the Theory of Mind (ToM) in Human-Robot Interaction, enabling robots to comprehend users' emotional responses and attribute mental states to them. Our work advances the field of social and assistive robotics by paving the way for the development of more empathetic and responsive HRI in the future.
Enhancing the accuracy of electroencephalogram-based emotion recognition through Long Short-Term Memory recurrent deep neural networks
Authors: Yousefi Mohammad Reza , Dehghani Amin , Taghaavifar Hamid
Published: October 2023

Introduction

Emotions play a critical role in human communication, exerting a significant influence on brain function and behavior. One effective method of observing and analyzing these emotions is through electroencephalography (EEG) signals. Although numerous studies have been dedicated to emotion recognition (ER) using EEG signals, achieving improved accuracy in recognition remains a challenging task. To address this challenge, this paper presents a deep-learning approach for ER using EEG signals.

Background

ER is a dynamic field of research with diverse practical applications in healthcare, human-computer interaction, and affective computing. In ER studies, EEG signals are frequently employed as they offer a non-invasive and cost-effective means of measuring brain activity. Nevertheless, accurately identifying emotions from EEG signals poses a significant challenge due to the intricate and non-linear nature of these signals.

Methods

The present study proposes a novel approach for ER that encompasses multiple stages, including feature extraction, feature selection (FS) employing clustering, and classification using Dual-LSTM. To conduct the experiments, the DEAP dataset was employed, wherein a clustering technique was applied to Hurst’s view and statistical features during the FS phase. Ultimately, Dual-LSTM was employed for accurate ER.

Results

The proposed method achieved a remarkable accuracy of 97.5% in accurately classifying emotions across four categories: arousal, valence, liking/disliking, dominance, and familiarity. This high level of accuracy serves as strong evidence for the effectiveness of the deep-learning approach to emotion recognition (ER) utilizing EEG signals.

Conclusion

The deep-learning approach proposed in this paper has shown promising results in emotion recognition using EEG signals. This method can be useful in various applications, such as developing more effective therapies for individuals with mood disorders or improving human-computer interaction by allowing machines to respond more intelligently to users’ emotional states. However, further research is needed to validate the proposed method on larger datasets and to investigate its applicability to real-world scenarios.
Circulating microRNAs correlate with structural and functional MRI parameters in patients with multiple sclerosis
Authors: Geiger Lili , Orsi Gergely , Cseh Tamás , Gombos Katalin , Illés Zsolt , Czéh Boldizsár
Published: October 2023

Introduction

Circulating microRNAs are promising biomarkers for multiple sclerosis (MS). Our aim was to correlate serum microRNA levels with various magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) parameters.

Methods

We recruited 50 MS patients and measured cervical spine and cerebral white matter lesions together with regional brain volumes. Microstructural changes in the white matter were investigated with diffusion tensor imaging. Magnetic resonance spectroscopy was performed to measure cerebral metabolites. Functional connectivity within the default mode network was examined with resting-state functional MRI. On the day of the MRI measurements, we collected serum samples and carried out quantitative analysis of ten pre-selected microRNAs using droplet digital PCR.

Results

Serum level of miR-143.3p could differentiate between MS subtypes and had lower levels in progressive MS types. We found significant associations between microRNA levels and MRI measures: (1) higher miR-92a.3p and miR-486.5p levels were associated with greater total white matter lesion volumes within the cervical spine, (2) decreased miR-142.5p levels was associated with reduced total creatinine concentration and (3) miR-92a.3p, miR-142.5p and miR-486.5p levels were associated with functional connectivity strengths between specific nodes of the default mode network. Specifically, we found a negative association between miR-92a.3p and miR-486.5p levels and connectivity strength between the lateral temporal cortex and posterior inferior parietal lobule, and a positive association between miR-142.5p level and connectivity strength between the retrosplenial cortex and temporal pole. However, miRNA levels were not associated with regional brain volumes.

Conclusion

We provide here further evidence that circulating microRNAs may show correlation with both structural and functional neuroimaging outcomes in patients with MS.
The safety and efficacy of delayed surgery by simulating clinical progression of observable papillary thyroid microcarcinoma: a retrospective analysis of 524 patients from a single medical center
Authors: Shi Liuhong , Le Kehao , Qi Haiou , Feng Yibing , Zhou Liang , Wang Jianbiao , Xie Lei
Published: October 2023

Objective

When active surveillance (AS) is developed in the patients with low-risk papillary thyroid microcarcinoma (PTMC), a medical center needs to ensure the delayed operation that is caused by PTMC clinical progression to have the same prognosis as that of immediate operation. The objective of this study was to investigate the efficacy of delayed surgery by simulating clinical progression (tumor size enlargement and appearance of lymph node metastasis) of PTMCs with AS in a single medical center.

Methods

We retrospectively analyzed the response to therapy in 317 papillary thyroid carcinoma patients treated with total thyroidectomy and post-operative radioactive iodine ablation. They were classified into three groups according to tumor size (group A ≤0.5 cm; group B >0.5 cm and ≤1 cm; group C >1 cm and ≤1.5 cm) or two groups according to the presence (cN1) or absence (cN0) of the clinical lymph node (LN) metastasis. Groups C and cN1 were regarded as simulated clinical progression of observational PTMC and the operation for them was assumed to be “delayed surgery”. However, Groups A, B and cN0 were regarded as no clinical progression and the operation for them was considered as immediate surgery.

Results

There were no significantly differences in excellent response to therapy and recurrence-free survival not only among the group A, B and C, but also between the group cN0 and cN1. In other words, these insignificant differences were found between immediate and simulated “delayed” surgeries.

Conclusion

For the PTMC patients suitable for AS, the oncological outcomes were also excellent even if surgery was delayed until after the presence of clinical progression, according to our clinical simulation. Furthermore, we consider that it was feasible for medical centers to assess the ability to implement AS for PTMC patients by retrospectively analyzing their own previous clinical data using the described simulation.
Medication-overuse headache—a review of different treatment strategies
Authors: Krymchantowski Abouch , Jevoux Carla , Krymchantowski Ana Gabriela , Ramos Luiza Barbosa , Barbosa Jackeline S. S. , Silva-Neto Raimundo Pereira
Published: October 2023

Medication-overuse headache (MOH) can develop from primary headaches. MOH is usually the result of overuse of symptomatic medications. It is a noteworthy personal and societal burden. The identification and treatment of patients at risk for MOH is an essential component of MOH management. Medication overuse can be modifiable and can advance from episodic to chronic migraine. Treatment for MOH is complex, and experts in the field have varied views on the most appropriate strategy for MOH treatment. The objective of this review is to give a comprehensive synopsis of the literature for the management of MOH. Treatment strategies, such as detoxification and prevention, are the debatable issues. Medication withdrawal is the foundation for management. The available literature suggested abrupt withdrawal with preventive approaches for early management. Bridging therapy could be useful to get relief from withdrawal symptoms. Multidisciplinary choices proved beneficial in supporting withdrawal and preventing relapse. Worldwide, the termination of overused medications has been observed as a standard treatment strategy; however, patient-specific approaches should be taken.
PreEpiSeizures: description and outcomes of physiological data acquisition using wearable devices during video-EEG monitoring in people with epilepsy
Authors: Abreu Mariana , Carmo Ana Sofia , Peralta Ana Rita , Sá Francisca , Plácido da Silva Hugo , Bentes Carla , Fred Ana Luísa
Published: October 2023

The PreEpiSeizures project was created to better understand epilepsy and seizures through wearable technologies. The motivation was to capture physiological information related to epileptic seizures, besides Electroencephalography (EEG) during video-EEG monitorings. If other physiological signals have reliable information of epileptic seizures, unobtrusive wearable technology could be used to monitor epilepsy in daily life. The development of wearable solutions for epilepsy is limited by the nonexistence of datasets which could validate these solutions. Three different form factors were developed and deployed, and the signal quality was assessed for all acquired biosignals. The wearable data acquisition was performed during the video-EEG of patients with epilepsy. The results achieved so far include 59 patients from 2 hospitals totaling 2,721 h of wearable data and 348 seizures. Besides the wearable data, the Electrocardiogram of the hospital is also useable, totalling 5,838 h of hospital data. The quality ECG signals collected with the proposed wearable is equated with the hospital system, and all other biosignals also achieved state-of-the-art quality. During the data acquisition, 18 challenges were identified, and are presented alongside their possible solutions. Though this is an ongoing work, there were many lessons learned which could help to predict possible problems in wearable data collections and also contribute to the epilepsy community with new physiological information. This work contributes with original wearable data and results relevant to epilepsy research, and discusses relevant challenges that impact wearable health monitoring.
Teaching the physiology of the human body in non-formal spaces: pilot experience of a Service-Learning methodology and the interaction between students of different educational levels
Authors: García-Durán Laura , Claros Silvia , Zamorano-González Pablo , González-García Marta , Carrillo-Franco Laura , Ponce-Velasco Marina , Gago Belén , García-Fernández María , López-González Manuel Víctor , Aiastui Ana
Published: October 2023

Research institutes and universities have strengthened the development of biomedicine outreach activities, constituing a non-formal education system of science literacy, although with little commitment from undergraduate students. However, as a Service-Learning methodology, these outreach activities could work as a tool for the acquisition of skills by students of Health Science Degrees. Described here is the development of the workshop entitled “Exploring the human body” at the Biodonostia Health Research Institute and the pilot experience of its implementation as a Service-Learning activity at the University of Málaga. Firstly, 359 secondary education students were mentored by Ph.D. students through a 5-station workshop with experiments and activities related to the physiology of the human body. Then, 301 undergraduate students of Medicine and Nursing Degrees advised 965 secondary education students. Both groups of students assessed the workshop via questionnaires and a debriefing. The data showed an overall score of 4.6 out of 5 for the workshop. Undergraduate students reported a positive impact on their academic background (4.8 out of 5), mainly due to the improvement of oral communication skills (34%). Therefore, this methodology could be a valid and applicable tool to develop the cross-disciplinary competences of undergraduate students.
6-deoxy-6-amino chitosan: a preventative treatment in the tomato/Botrytis cinerea pathosystem
Authors: Moola Naadirah , Jardine Anwar , Audenaert Kris , Rafudeen Mohamed Suhail
Published: October 2023

6-deoxy-6-amino chitosan (aminochitosan) is a water-soluble chitosan derivative with an additional amine group at the C-6 position. This modification has improved aqueous solubility, in vitro antifungal activity and is hypothesized to have enhanced in vivo antifungal activity compared to native chitosan. Gray mold disease in tomatoes is caused by the fungus, Botrytis cinerea, and poses a severe threat both pre- and post-harvest. To investigate the optimal concentration of aminochitosan and its lower molecular weight fractions for antifungal and priming properties in the tomato/B. cinerea pathosystem, different concentrations of aminochitosan were tested in vitro on B. cinerea growth and sporulation and in vivo as a foliar pre-treatment in tomato leaves. The leaves were monitored for photosynthetic changes using multispectral imaging and hydrogen peroxide accumulation using DAB. Despite batch-to-batch variations in aminochitosan, it displayed significantly greater inhibition of B. cinerea in vitro than native chitosan at a minimum concentration of 1 mg/mL. A concentration-dependent increase in the in vitro antifungal activities was observed for radial growth, sporulation, and germination with maximum in vitro inhibition for all the biopolymer batches and lower MW fractions at 2.5 and 5 mg/mL, respectively. However, the inhibition threshold for aminochitosan was identified as 1 mg/mL for spores germinating in vivo, compared to the 2.5 mg/mL threshold in vitro. The pre-treatment of leaves displayed efficacy in priming direct and systemic resistance to B. cinerea infection at 4, 6 and 30 days post-inoculation by maintaining elevated Fv/Fm activity and chlorophyll content due to a stronger and more rapid elicitation of the defense systems at earlier time points. Moreover, these defense systems appear to be ROS-independent at higher concentrations (1 and 2.5 mg/mL). In addition, aminochitosan accumulates in the cell membrane and therefore acts to increase the membrane permeability of cells after foliar spray. These observations corroborate the notion that aminochitosan biopolymers can exert their effects through both direct mechanisms of action and indirect immunostimulatory mechanisms. The contrast between in vitro and in vivo efficacy highlights the bimodal mechanisms of action of aminochitosan and the advantageous role of primed plant defense systems.
A study on factors influencing Chinese undergraduate EFL learners’ self-directed use of mobile English learning resources
Authors: Shen Fengdan , Liang Linling , Feng Yufang
Published: October 2023

This study aimed to examine the factors that potentially impact the self-directed use of mobile English learning resources (MELR). The participants were 206 Chinese undergraduate EFL learners at Yangzhou University in Mainland China. Applying and modifying the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT), this study involved six constructs, including students’ performance expectancy, effort expectancy, social influence, facilitating conditions, perceived playfulness, and behavioral intention to use MELR. The structural equation modeling (SEM) technique was adopted to analyze the data collected from the questionnaire. The findings showed that facilitating conditions acted as the most significant predictor of behavioral intention to adopt MELR, followed by effort expectancy, perceived playfulness, and performance expectancy. However, social influence did not have significant effects on students’ use of MELR. Pedagogical implications for teachers and students were also presented in the end.
Self-regulation, stress appraisal, and esport action performance
Authors: Trotter Michael G. , Obine Emmanuel A. C. , Sharpe Benjamin T.
Published: October 2023

Electronic sport has seen substantial growth in market value and popularity in the last 10 years. With this growth has come the pursuit of elite esports performance, especially from a psychological perspective. This study aimed to investigate potential variations in self-regulation levels among athletes of different levels (national vs. student), compare the self-regulation profiles of CS:GO players in the current study to an international sample of e’athletes and to assess the predictive capacity of self-regulation on performance outcomes. A total of 53 esports athletes (student competitors, n = 27 and national-level CS:GO competitors, n = 26), participated in an experiment exploring self-regulation, DRES, and action performance. Furthermore, analysis comparing our collective findings against a larger global sample of e’athletes (n = 993) was conducted. Results demonstrated that CS:GO players who displayed higher levels of self-regulation tended to perceive stressful situations as challenges, consequently showcasing superior accuracy and time trial performance. In contrast, individuals with lower self-regulation tended to perceive such situations as threats, which correlated with less favorable performance outcomes. On a broader scale, the study observed that CS:GO competitors generally exhibited lower levels of self-regulation when compared to the larger global sample. Furthermore, self-regulation was identified as a mediating variable in the relationship between stress appraisal and performance, suggesting that improved self-regulation skills can lead to enhanced accuracy and quicker time trial performance. This may imply that competitors with greater self-regulatory abilities perceive themselves as having more personal resources, enabling them to effectively assess challenging situations and employ problem-focused coping strategies. Overall, this research underscores the significance of self-regulation in optimizing esports performance, while providing valuable insights for player development, action performance, and overall outcomes in the field.
Positive effects of physical activity in autism spectrum disorder: how influences behavior, metabolic disorder and gut microbiota
Authors: Ranieri Annaluisa , Mennitti Cristina , Falcone Noemi , La Monica Ilaria , Di Iorio Maria Rosaria , Tripodi Lorella , Gentile Alessandro , Vitale Maria , Pero Raffaella , Pastore Lucio , D’Argenio Valeria , Scudiero Olga , Lombardo Barbara
Published: October 2023

Autism spectrum disorder is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by social interactions and communication skills impairments that include intellectual disabilities, communication delays and self-injurious behaviors; often are present systemic comorbidities such as gastrointestinal disorders, obesity and cardiovascular disease. Moreover, in recent years has emerged a link between alterations in the intestinal microbiota and neurobehavioral symptoms in children with autism spectrum disorder. Recently, physical activity and exercise interventions are known to be beneficial for improving communication and social interaction and the composition of microbiota. In our review we intend to highlight how different types of sports can help to improve communication and social behaviors in children with autism and also show positive effects on gut microbiota composition.
Seroprevalence, infection, and personal protective equipment use among Colombian healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic
Authors: Beltrán Edgar O. , Martignon Stefania , Coronel-Ruiz Carolina , Velandia-Romero Myriam L. , Romero-Sanchez Consuelo , Avila Viviana , Castellanos Jaime E.
Published: October 2023

Introduction

Healthcare workers (HCWs) are at the forefront of the COVID-19 response and frequently come into close contact with patients and their virus-contaminated body fluids. Recent studies have identified differential risks of infection and the use of personal protective equipment (PPE) among HCWs. However, available data might be interpreted with caution because of differences in the national health systems, local implementation issues, and adherence limitations to guidelines. A comprehensive description of infection, exposure at work, and biosafety habits during the COVID-19 pandemic has not been conducted among the HCW groups in Latin American populations.

Objective

To describe SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence, infections, and extent of PPE use during the COVID-19 pandemic among HCWs at three different times, including dental practitioners (DP), nursing assistants (NA), physicians (P), and respiratory therapists (RT), from Bogotá, Colombia. Methods: After IRB approval, this cross-sectional study included 307 HCWs. Participants provided nasopharyngeal swabs and blood samples to detect viral RNA (RT-qPCR) and IgM/IgG anti-SARS-CoV-2 (ELFA-ELISA) at baseline (BL) and two follow-ups. Infection prevalence was defined as the number of positive-tested participants (RT-qPCR and/or IgM). Data on clinical status and biosafety habits were collected each time.

Results

Differential infection prevalence was found among HCWs through the study timeline (BL: RT-qPCR = 2.6%, IgM = 1.6%; follow-up 1 (45 days after BL): RT-qPCR = 4.5%, IgM = 3.9%; follow-up 2 (60 days after BL): RT-qPCR = 3.58%, IgM = 1.3%. Dental practitioners showed a higher infection frequency in BL and follow-up 1. IgG-positive tested HCWs percentage progressively increased from BL to follow-ups among the whole sample while index values decreased. Limitations in N95 availability and a high perception of occupational risk were reported.

Conclusion

A low prevalence of active SARS-CoV-2 infections among HCWs groups was found. Over time, there was an increase in participants showing IgG antibodies, although the levels of these antibodies in the blood decreased. Additionally, HCWs reported limitations in the availability of PPE as well as a variation in their safety practices.