bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Prediction of Mortality in Older Hospitalized Patients after Discharge as Determined by Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment
Authors: Su Chih-Hsuan , Lin Shih-Yi , Lee Chia-Lin , Lin Chu-Sheng , Hsu Pi-Shan , Lee Yu-Shan
Published: June 2022

Several dimensional impairments regarding Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment (CGA) have been shown to be associated with the prognosis of older patients. The purpose of this study is to investigate mortality prediction factors based upon clinical characteristics and test in CGA, and then subsequently develop a prediction model to classify both short- and long-term mortality risk in hospitalized older patients after discharge. A total of 1565 older patients with a median age of 81 years (74.0–86.0) were consecutively enrolled. The CGA, which included assessment of clinical, cognitive, functional, nutritional, and social parameters during hospitalization, as well as clinical information on each patient was recorded. Within the one-year follow up period, 110 patients (7.0%) had died. Using simple Cox regression analysis, it was shown that a patient’s Length of Stay (LOS), previous hospitalization history, admission Barthel Index (BI) score, Instrumental Activity of Daily Living (IADL) score, Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA) score, and Charlson’s Comorbidity Index (CCI) score were all associated with one-year mortality after discharge. When these parameters were dichotomized, we discovered that those who were aged ≥90 years, had a LOS ≥ 12 days, an MNA score < 17, a CCI ≥ 2, and a previous admission history were all independently associated with one-year mortality using multiple cox regression analyses. By applying individual scores to these risk factors, the area under the receiver operating characteristics curve (AUC) was 0.691 with a cut-off value score ≧ 3 for one year mortality, 0.801 for within 30-day mortality, and 0.748 for within 90-day mortality. It is suggested that older hospitalized patients with varying risks of mortality may be stratified by a prediction model, with tailored planning being subsequently implemented.
Race, Zoonoses and Animal Assisted Interventions in Pediatric Cancer
Authors: Cotoc Crina , Notaro Stephen
Published: June 2022

Emerging evidence accumulates regarding the benefits of animal-assisted interventions (AAIs) in facilitating pediatric cancer treatment and alleviating symptomatology through positive changes in the patients’ emotional, mental, and even physical status. A major concern expressed by healthcare providers and parents in implementing AAIs in hospital settings is the transmission of disease from animals to patients. Immunocompromised children, such as pediatric cancer patients are at increased risk for pet-associated diseases. Furthermore, existing disparities among the racial and ethnic minority groups of pediatric cancer patients can potentially exacerbate their risk for zoonoses. This literature review highlights the most common human infections from therapy animals, connections to the race and ethnic background of pediatric oncology patients, as well as means of prevention. The discussion is limited to dogs, which are typically the most commonly used species in hospital-based animal-assisted therapy. The aim is to highlight specific preventive measures, precautions and recommendations that must be considered in hospitals’ protocols and best practices, particularly given the plethora of benefits provided by AAI for pediatric cancer patients, staff and families.
Classroom Movement Breaks and Physically Active Learning Are Feasible, Reduce Sedentary Behaviour and Fatigue, and May Increase Focus in University Students: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Lynch Julia , O’Donoghue Gráinne , Peiris Casey L.
Published: June 2022

Background: University students are mostly sedentary in tertiary education settings which may be detrimental to their health and learning. This review aimed to examine the feasibility and efficacy of classroom movement breaks (CMB) and physically active learning (PAL) on physical and cognitive outcomes in university students in the tertiary setting. Methods: Five electronic databases (MEDLINE, CINAHL, Embase, PsychINFO, and PubMed) were searched for articles published up until November 2021. Manual searching of reference lists and citation tracking were also completed. Two reviewers independently applied inclusion and exclusion criteria and completed quality assessment. Articles were included if they evaluated CMB or PAL interventions delivered to university students in a tertiary setting. Results: Of the 1691 articles identified, 14 studies with 5997 participants met the inclusion criteria. Average study quality scores were poor for both CMB and PAL studies. CMBs and PAL are feasible in the tertiary setting and increase physical activity, reduce sedentary behaviour, increase wellbeing, and reduce fatigue in university students. In addition, CMBs increased student focus and attention in class and PAL had no detrimental effect on academic performance. Conclusions: University educators should feel confident in introducing CMB and/or PAL interventions into their classes to improve student health and wellbeing.
Nitrogen Addition Affects Nitrous Oxide Emissions of Rainfed Lucerne Grassland
Authors: Li Yuan , Wang Gang , Shurpali Narasinha J. , Shen Yuying
Published: June 2022

Nitrous oxide (N2O) is a potent greenhouse gas. Assessing the N2O emission from lucerne grasslands with nitrogen addition will aid in estimating the annual N2O emissions of such agriculture areas, particularly following summer rainfall events in light of precipitation variation associated with global change. Here, we measured soil N2O emissions, soil temperature and water content of lucerne grasslands with four levels of nitrogen addition over 25 days, which included 10 rainfall events. Results showed that nitrogen addition was observed to increase soil NO3−-N content, but not significantly improve dry matter yield, height or leaf area index. Nitrogen addition and rainfall significantly affected N2O emissions, while the response of N2O emissions to increasing nitrogen input was not linear. Relative soil gas diffusivity (Dp/Do) and water-filled pore space (WFPS) were good indicators of N2O diurnal dynamics, and Dp/Do was able to explain slightly more of the variation in N2O emissions than WFPS. Collectively, nitrogen addition did not affect lucerne dry matter yield in a short term, while it induced soil N2O emissions when rainfall events alter soil water content, and Dp/Do could be a better proxy for predicting N2O emissions in rainfed lucerne grasslands.
Developing a Socioeconomic Status Index for Chronic Disease Prevention Research in Canada
Authors: Khodayari Moez Elham , Maximova Katerina , Sim Shannon , Senthilselvan Ambikaipakan , Pabayo Roman
Published: June 2022

Capturing socioeconomic inequalities in relation to chronic disease is challenging since socioeconomic status (SES) encompasses many aspects. We constructed a comprehensive individual-level SES index based on a broad set of social and demographic indicators (gender, education, income adequacy, occupational prestige, employment status) and examined its relationship with smoking, a leading chronic disease risk factor. Analyses were based on baseline data from 17,371 participants of Alberta’s Tomorrow Project (ATP), a prospective cohort of adults aged 35–69 years with no prior personal history of cancer. To construct the SES index, we used principal component analysis (PCA) and to illustrate its utility, we examined the association with smoking intensity and smoking history using multiple regression models, adjusted for age and gender. Two components were retained from PCA, which explained 61% of the variation. The SES index was best aligned with educational attainment and occupational prestige, and to a lesser extent, with income adequacy. In the multiple regression analysis, the SES index was negatively associated with smoking intensity (p < 0.001). Study findings highlight the potential of using individual-level SES indices constructed from a broad set of social and demographic indicators in epidemiological research.
Community-Based Advanced Case Management for Patients with Complex Multimorbidity and High Medical Dependence: A Longitudinal Study
Authors: Kazawa Kana , Moriyama Michiko
Published: June 2022

This longitudinal study aimed to evaluate a community-based and nurse-led advanced case management model centered on disease management. Participants were chronically ill patients aged 20 years and older who were highly dependent on medical care. The case management group (CMG) received nurse-led advanced case management, and the comparison group (CG) was selected by matching estimated propensity scores with the CMG. We compared the changes in medico-economic indicators between the two groups and analyzed the physical and psychological indicators of the CMG over time. The CMG comprised 51 participants, of which eight dropped out by 12 months after registration. After 1:1 propensity score matching, there were 40 participants in the CMG and CG, respectively. At 12 months after the registration, there was no significant difference between the two groups and no change in the CMG. At 24 months after the registration, the CMG’s medical and long-term care costs decreased significantly, while the CG’s costs increased. Moreover, there was a significant reduction in the number of hospital days and hospital admissions in the CMG. Our findings revealed that nurse-led advanced case management could be useful for patients with complex needs to avoid hospitalization due to exacerbations.
Deploying and Maintaining Standards of New Pharmacy Services Provision in Poland-Introducing the National Pharmacist Competencies Assessment Tool: Pre-Registration Exam–Results of the Pilot Project
Authors: Merks Piotr , Religioni Urszula , Howell Aleksandra , Munzu Marvin , Panford-Quainoo Edwin , Neumann-Podczaska Agnieszka , Jaskólski Radosław , Kaczmarek Beata , Kaźmierczak Justyna , Blicharska Eliza , Olczyk Paweł , Barańska Agnieszka , Waszyk-Nowaczyk Magdalena , Krysiński Jerzy
Published: June 2022

Despite the functioning of the Bologna Declaration, the knowledge and skills of graduates educated in different countries may differ significantly. Therefore, this article aims to present the differences in results of the final exam in pharmacy among Polish pharmacy students. This exam was modeled on the British national exam supervised by the General Pharmaceutical Council. The exam was conducted in three cities in Poland, among a total of 175 final-year students (a full sample of those eligible was 451 with 276 refusals (38.58% response rate)). Taking the exam was voluntary and anonymous. The results indicate that none of the Polish students achieved the 70% mark required to pass the Great Britain exam. Significant differences in test results were noticed between cities. Students achieved the best average exam result in Bydgoszcz (46.35%), then in Warsaw (38.81%) and Łódź (38.35%). The pharmaceutical education system in Poland requires complete changes that will prepare future pharmacists for clinical work.
Effect of COVID-19 on Internet Usage of People with Disabilities: A Secondary Data Analysis
Authors: Park Eun-Young
Published: June 2022

The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic has led our society to lead a life different than before. People, including those with disabilities, have come to rely on information from the Internet. However, there is a lack of empirical studies on the impact of the pandemic on the Internet usage of people with disabilities. To address this gap, this study analyzed data from the 2020 Digital Divide Survey, which comprised data on 7000 non-disabled people and 2200 people with disabilities. This was used to compare the changes in usage of Internet services, and awareness and experience of COVID-19-related non-face-to-face services among non-disabled people and people with physical disabilities, brain lesions, visual impairments, hearing impairments, and language impairments. People with and without disabilities reported increased internet usage, but the increase was significantly higher in the non-disabled population than in people with disabilities (p < 0.05), except for people with language impairments. Specific changes to service usage, experience, and usefulness were different according to the type of disability. The non-disabled population showed a significantly greater increase in the use of social participation services than people with physical disabilities (p < 0.05). The results of this study suggest that digital services need to be developed flexibly to address the unique needs of people with different types of disabilities.
Older Adults’ Perspectives of Smart Technologies to Support Aging at Home: Insights from Five World Café Forums
Authors: Street Jackie , Barrie Helen , Eliott Jaklin , Carolan Lucy , McCorry Fidelma , Cebulla Andreas , Phillipson Lyn , Prokopovich Kathleen , Hanson-Easey Scott , Burgess Teresa ,   on behalf of the Smart Ageing Research Group
Published: June 2022

Globally, there is an urgent need for solutions that can support our aging populations to live well and reduce the associated economic, social and health burdens. Implementing smart technologies within homes and communities may assist people to live well and ‘age in place’. To date, there has been little consultation with older Australians addressing either the perceived benefits, or the potential social and ethical challenges associated with smart technology use. To address this, we conducted five World Cafés in two Australian states, aiming to capture citizen knowledge about the possibilities and challenges of smart technologies. The participants (n = 84) were aged 55 years and over, English-speaking, and living independently. Grounding our analysis in values-based social science and biomedical ethical principles, we identified the themes reflecting the participants’ understanding, resistance, and acceptance of smart technologies, and the ethical principles, including beneficence, non-maleficence, autonomy, privacy, confidentiality, and justice. Similar to other studies, many of the participants demonstrated cautious and conditional acceptance of smart technologies, while identifying concerns about social isolation, breaches of privacy and confidentiality, surveillance, and stigmatization. Attention to understanding and incorporating the values of older citizens will be important for the acceptance and effectiveness of smart technologies for supporting independent and full lives for older citizens.
Practice and System Factors Impact on Infection Prevention and Control in General Practice during COVID-19 across 33 Countries: Results of the PRICOV Cross-Sectional Survey
Authors: Collins Claire , Van Poel Esther , Šantrić Milićević Milena , Tripkovic Katica , Adler Limor , Bjerve Eide Torunn , Murauskiene Liubove , Windak Adam , Nessler Katarzyna , Tahirbegolli Bernard , Willems Sara
Published: June 2022

Infection prevention and control (IPC) is an evidence-based approach used to reduce the risk of infection transmission within the healthcare environment. Effective IPC practices ensure safe and quality healthcare. The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the need for enhanced IPC measures and the World Health Organization (WHO) emphasized the need for strict adherence to the basic principles of IPC. This paper aims to describe the IPC strategies implemented in general practice during the COVID-19 pandemic and to identify the factors that impact their adoption. Data were collected by means of an online self-reported questionnaire among general practices. Data from 4466 practices in 33 countries were included in the analysis. Our results showed a notable improvement in IPC during COVID-19 with more practices reporting that staff members never wore nail polish (increased from 34% to 46.2%); more practices reporting that staff never wear a ring/bracelet (increased from 16.1% to 32.3%); and more practices using a cleaning protocol (increased from 54.9% to 72.7%). Practice population size and the practice payment system were key factors related to adoption of a) range of IPC measures including patient flow arrangements and infrastructural elements. An understanding of the interplay between policy, culture, systemic supports, and behavior are necessary to obtain sustained improvement in IPC measures.
Spectroscopic Characteristics and Speciation Distribution of Fe(III) Binding to Molecular Weight-Dependent Standard Pahokee Peat Fulvic Acid
Authors: Zhang Yaqin , Liu Chang , Li Yuxia , Song Liuting , Yang Jie , Zuo Rui , Li Jian , Teng Yanguo , Wang Jinsheng
Published: June 2022

Peat-derived organic matter, as powerful chelators, is of great significance for the transport of Fe to the ocean and the enhancement of dissolved Fe. However, the iron binding capacity of molecular weight (MW)-fractionated dissolved organic matter is variable, due to its structure and composition heterogeneity. In this work, we used the standard Pahokee Peat fulvic acid (PPFA) as an example, and investigated the spectroscopy properties and Fe(III) binding ability of PPFA and different molecular weight fractions by UV–Vis absorbance and fluorescence spectroscopy and the Donnan Membrane Technique (DMT). The results showed binding sites for Fe(III) at the 263 nm and >320 nm regions in differential absorbance spectra. Upon increasing the iron concentration to 18.00 μmol·L−1, the critical binding capacity was exceeded, which resulted in a decrease in absorbance. Fe(III) was found to prefer to bind to humic-like components, and ultraviolet humic-like fluorophores displayed stronger binding strength. High molecular weight PPFA fractions (>10 kDa) possessed more aromatic and hydrophobic components, displayed a higher degree of humification, and exhibited higher metal binding potential. Furthermore, the speciation analysis and stability constant (cK) were calculated using Donnan membrane equilibrium. The correlation between cK values and PPFA spectral properties demonstrated that aromaticity, hydrophobicity, molecular weight and humification degree were crucial indices of PPFA–Fe(III) affinity. Significantly, the humification degree, represented by HIX, showed the strongest correlation (r = 0.929, p = 0.003), which could be used to estimate the binding strength. This study provides further understanding of the complexation mechanism of iron and DOM in the peat environment and identifies the considerable effect of molecular weight.
Heat Strain Evaluation of Power Grid Outdoor Workers Based on a Human Bioheat Model
Authors: Li Letian , Sun Boyang , Hu Zhuqiang , Zhang Jun , Gao Song , Bian Haifeng , Wu Jiansong
Published: June 2022

Power grid outdoor workers are usually exposed to hot environments and could suffer the threats to occupational health and safety like heat strain and injury. In order to predict and assess the thermophysiological responses of grid workers in the heat, the clothing thermal insulation of grid worker ensembles was measured by a thermal manikin and a multi-segment human bioheat model was employed to evaluate the thermophysiological response parameters of grid workers such as core temperature, skin temperature and sweat loss. The results show that working in a hot environment can cause a obvious increase in core temperature and skin temperature of grid workers, and the acceptable maximum working time of grid workers varies greatly in different hot environments. A reasonable work organization strategy can effectively decrease the core temperature and sweat loss, increasing the duration of acceptable maximum working time for grid workers. This study is helpful to assess heat-related risks of grid workers and support power grid companies to rationalize work organization strategies and personal protection guidelines.
Trend Distribution of Violent Injuries in Taiwan from 2000 to 2015
Authors: Huang Yao-Ching , Yu Chia-Peng , Wang Bing-Long , Chung Ren-Jei , Lin Iau-Jin , Chung Chi-Hsiang , Sun Chien-An , Yu Pi-Ching , Huang Shi-Hao , Chien Wu-Chien , Wu Sheng-Tang
Published: June 2022

This study aims to understand the trend distribution of violent injuries in Taiwan from 2000 to 2015. It used the data of outpatient, emergency, and hospitalization of 2 million people in the National Health Insurance sample from 2000 to 2015. We analyzed children and adolescents (hereinafter referred to as children, 0–17 years old), adults (18–64 years old), and The Elderly (over 65 years old) who suffered for the first time. The standardized rate of medical treatment for violent injuries was compared annually using the Poisson regression method. A total of 11,077 victims (7163 men, 3914 women) suffered violence during the 15 years, and the standardized rate of medical treatment for violence in adults dropped from 6.01 (1/104) in 2001 to 2.58 (1/104) in 2015. The standardized rate of medical treatment in adults over the years was higher than that in children (2.962001, 1.232015) and The Elderly (3.522001, 1.622015). The medical treatment rate of the adult generation is higher than that of the children and the elderly. The relative hazard ratio (RR) decreased from 2.38 in 2001 to 1.13 in 2014 (but the RR in 2014 was not significant). Furthermore, the rate of adult violence treatment has been decreasing every year, which shows that the government has achieved remarkable results in general violence prevention. With the accelerated aging of Taiwan’s population, it is expected that older adults exposed to the risk of violence will also increase and become more serious. Therefore, the government should continue to pay attention to this issue.
A Qualitative Exploration of the Experiences and Perceptions of Interpersonal Relationships Prior to Attempting Suicide in Young Adults
Authors: McClelland Heather , Evans Jonathan J. , O’Connor Rory C.
Published: June 2022

Suicide is a leading public health concern. Research studies have identified significant associations between loneliness and suicidal ideation/behaviour both cross-sectionally and prospectively. Despite this, research specifically focusing on identifying the nature of loneliness experienced prior to suicide, and the role it has in association with other preceding factors, has not been fully explored. The current study recruited ten participants with a history of suicide attempts (five female, four male and one non-binary; mean age: 22.5, range: 20–25 years) to take part in one-to-one, semi-structured interviews via remote video conferencing to explore experiences of social support and loneliness prior to suicide attempt. Using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis, several aspects of loneliness emerged as important themes that were present prior to participants’ suicide attempts. Additional themes identified were patterns of social support, personality traits, emotional secrecy and social transition. Evidence suggests that a positive relationship with parents, knowing someone with similar experiences or having membership in more than one friendship group may reduce feelings of loneliness and/or intentions to die. This research makes an important contribution to understanding the role of loneliness in relation to suicide attempts by highlighting the importance of social supports being emotionally available to those experiencing distress.
Quality of Life of Adolescents Facing a Parental Illness: A Person-Oriented Approach
Authors: Pilato Jade , Dorard Géraldine , Chevrier Basilie , Leu Agnes , Untas Aurélie
Published: June 2022

Studies that have investigated the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) of adolescents facing a parental illness showed inconsistent results, and none used a person-oriented approach allowing for a deeper understanding of their experience. The aim of this study was to compare the HRQoL of adolescents facing a parental illness to that of their peers, and to explore their HRQoL through a person-oriented approach. The sample consisted of 1324 adolescents recruited in secondary schools (11–15 years old). Adolescents completed questionnaires assessing sociodemographic characteristics, parental illness, HRQoL (KIDSCREEN-52), and academic performance and caring activities (MACA-YC18). Adolescents facing a parental illness showed significantly lower HRQoL than their peers on all dimensions. The cluster analysis yielded five patterns of HRQoL among adolescents facing a parental illness: Low HRQoL; High HRQoL; Moderate HRQoL with High Social Acceptance; High Well-Being, High Moods and Emotions, and High Social Support and Peers. These clusters differed according to demographics, the type of parental illness, illness perception, academic performance, and level of caring activities. The Low HRQoL cluster showed especially low academic performance and high level of caring activities. This multidimensional HRQoL evaluation thus helps to foreground the diversity of these adolescents’ experiences in order to better address their needs.
Using Latent Class Analyses to Examine Health Disparities among Young Children in Socially Disadvantaged Families during the COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: Wong Rosa S. , Tung Keith T. S. , Rao Nirmala , Chan Ko Ling , Fu King-Wa , Yam Jason C. , Tso Winnie W. Y. , Wong Wilfred H. S. , Lum Terry Y. S. , Wong Ian C. K. , Ip Patrick
Published: June 2022

Rising income inequality is strongly linked to health disparities, particularly in regions where uneven distribution of wealth and income has long been a concern. Despite emerging evidence of COVID-19-related health inequalities for adults, limited evidence is available for children and their parents. This study aimed to explore subtypes of families of preschoolers living in the disadvantaged neighborhoods of Hong Kong based on patterns of family hardship and to compare their patterns of parenting behavior, lifestyle practices, and wellbeing during the COVID-19 pandemic. Data were collected from 1338 preschoolers and their parents during March to June 2020. Latent class analysis was performed based on 11 socioeconomic and disease indicators. Multivariate logistic regressions were used to examine associations between identified classes and variables of interest during the COVID-19 pandemic. Four classes of family hardship were identified. Class 1 (45.7%) had the lowest disease and financial burden. Class 2 (14.0%) had the highest financial burden. Class 3 (5.9%) had the highest disease burden. Class 4 (34.5%) had low family income but did not receive government welfare assistance. Class 1 (low hardship) had lower risks of child maltreatment and adjustment problems than Class 2 (poverty) and Class 3 (poor health). However, children in Class 1 (low hardship) had higher odds of suffering psychological aggression and poorer physical wellbeing than those in Class 4 (low income), even after adjusting for child age and gender. The findings emphasize the need to adopt flexible intervention strategies in the time of large disease outbreak to address diverse problems and concerns among socially disadvantaged families.
Characteristics and Health Risk Assessment of Heavy Metal Pollution in Haikou Bay and Adjacent Seas
Authors: Wang Dezhong , Zhang Honghai , Zhu Wenzhuo , Zhang Xiaoling , Yang Qiao , Liu Mei , Chen Qingguo
Published: June 2022

Heavy metal contamination in coastal waters may pose a serious threat to aquatic products and human health. This study aimed to gain a better understanding of the pollution-induced by heavy metals in Haikou Bay and adjacent seas and assessed the potential ecological risk. The spatial distributions of heavy metals including Cu, Pb, Zn, Cd, Cr, Hg, and As were analyzed in the surface and bottom water, surface sediment, and five species of fish collected from Haikou Bay and adjacent seas. For seawater, the results showed that the horizontal distribution of the seven heavy metal elements in the study area had no uniform pattern due to the influence of complex factors, such as land-based runoff, port shipping, and ocean current movement. In contrast, the vertical distribution of these heavy metal elements, except for Zn and Cd, showed high concentrations in the surface water and low concentrations in the bottom water. Due to the symbiotic relationship between Zn and Cd, the distributions of these two elements were similar in the study areas. Different from the complex distribution of heavy metals in water, the highest concentrations of these elements in surface sediment all occurred at station 11 except for Pb. Our study revealed that organic carbon and sulfide are important factors affecting the heavy metal concentrations in the surface sediments. Heavy metals in waters and surface sediment were lower than the quality standard of class I according to the China National Standard for Seawater Quality and the sediment quality, except for Zn in water, suggesting that the seawater and surface sediment in Haikou Bay and adjacent seas has not been polluted by heavy metals. Additionally, the heavy metal As was the main element affecting the quality of fish in this study area, and attention should be paid in the future. The target hazard quotient (THQ) values of seven heavy metal elements in fish were all lower than 1.0, indicating that eating fish in this area will not pose a risk to human health. These results provide valuable information for further understanding the status of heavy metal pollution in Haikou Bay and adjacent seas and the development of targeted conversation measures for the environment and fish consumers.
Machine Learning-Based Regression Framework to Predict Health Insurance Premiums
Authors: Kaushik Keshav , Bhardwaj Akashdeep , Dwivedi Ashutosh Dhar , Singh Rajani
Published: June 2022

Artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) in healthcare are approaches to make people’s lives easier by anticipating and diagnosing diseases more swiftly than most medical experts. There is a direct link between the insurer and the policyholder when the distance between an insurance business and the consumer is reduced to zero with the use of technology, especially digital health insurance. In comparison with traditional insurance, AI and machine learning have altered the way insurers create health insurance policies and helped consumers receive services faster. Insurance businesses use ML to provide clients with accurate, quick, and efficient health insurance coverage. This research trained and evaluated an artificial intelligence network-based regression-based model to predict health insurance premiums. The authors predicted the health insurance cost incurred by individuals on the basis of their features. On the basis of various parameters, such as age, gender, body mass index, number of children, smoking habits, and geolocation, an artificial neural network model was trained and evaluated. The experimental results displayed an accuracy of 92.72%, and the authors analyzed the model’s performance using key performance metrics.
A Technical and Operational Perspective on Quality Analysis of Stitching Images with Multi-Row Panorama and Multimedia Sources for Visualizing the Tourism Site of Onshore Wind Farm
Authors: Lai Jhe-Syuan , Tsai Yi-Hung , Chang Min-Jhen , Huang Jun-Yi , Chi Chao-Ming
Published: June 2022

A virtual tour of the onshore wind farm near Gaomei Wetland, Taichung City, Taiwan, was produced by producing panoramic images of the site by stitching images captured with a full-frame digital single-lens reflex camera and a multi-row panorama instrument, which automatically and precisely divided each scene into several images. Subsequently, the image stitching quality was improved by calculating the root mean square error (RMSE) of tie point matching and adjusting the tie points. Errors due to eccentricity attributed to the camera’s relative position to the rotational axis of the multi-row panorama instrument were examined and solved; the effect of the overlap rate on image stitching quality was also investigated. According to the study results, the overlap rate between the original images was inversely proportional to the RMSE and directly proportional to the time required for photography and image processing. The stitching quality was improved by resolving eccentricity and by increasing the number of tie points. The RMSEs of the panoramas of all stations were all less than 5 pixels. Subsequently, multimedia materials providing information on wind turbine attributes were combined with the panorama platform to establish a virtual reality tour platform. The content of the platform could be accessed with a smartphone and viewed with a virtual reality device and could promote both tourist attractions and wind energy.
Editorial Commentary on the IJGI Special Issue “Mapping Indigenous Knowledge in the Digital Age”
Authors: Thumbadoo Romola V. , Taylor D. R. Fraser
Published: June 2022

Indigenous mapping is rapidly entering the domain of cartography, and digital technology is facilitating the engagement of communities, particularly Indigenous communities, in order to map their own locational stories, histories, cultural heritage, and environmental and political priorities [...]
Nitric Oxide Signalling in Descending Vasa Recta after Hypoxia/Re-Oxygenation
Authors: Xu Minze , Lichtenberger Falk-Bach , Erdoǧan Cem , Lai Enyin , Persson Pontus B. , Patzak Andreas , Khedkar Pratik H.
Published: June 2022

Reduced renal medullary oxygen supply is a key factor in the pathogenesis of acute kidney injury (AKI). As the medulla exclusively receives blood through descending vasa recta (DVR), dilating these microvessels after AKI may help in renoprotection by restoring renal medullary blood flow. We stimulated the NO-sGC-cGMP signalling pathway in DVR at three different levels before and after hypoxia/re-oxygenation (H/R). Rat DVR were isolated and perfused under isobaric conditions. The phosphodiesterase 5 (PDE5) inhibitor sildenafil (10−6 mol/L) impaired cGMP degradation and dilated DVR pre-constricted with angiotensin II (Ang II, 10−6 mol/L). Dilations by the soluble guanylyl cyclase (sGC) activator BAY 60-2770 as well as the nitric oxide donor sodium nitroprusside (SNP, 10−3 mol/L) were equally effective. Hypoxia (0.1% O2) augmented DVR constriction by Ang II, thus potentially aggravating tissue hypoxia. H/R left DVR unresponsive to sildenafil, yet sGC activation by BAY 60-2770 effectively dilated DVR. Dilation to SNP under H/R is delayed. In conclusion, H/R renders PDE5 inhibition ineffective in dilating the crucial vessels supplying the area at risk for hypoxic damage. Stimulating sGC appears to be the most effective in restoring renal medullary blood flow after H/R and may prove to be the best target for maintaining oxygenation to this vulnerable area of the kidney.
Photorhabdus luminescens TccC3 Toxin Targets the Dynamic Population of F-Actin and Impairs Cell Cortex Integrity
Authors: Dong Songyu , Zheng Weili , Pinkerton Nicholas , Hansen Jacob , Tikunova Svetlana B. , Davis Jonathan P. , Heissler Sarah M. , Kudryashova Elena , Egelman Edward H. , Kudryashov Dmitri S.
Published: June 2022

Due to its essential role in cellular processes, actin is a common target for bacterial toxins. One such toxin, TccC3, is an effector domain of the ABC-toxin produced by entomopathogenic bacteria of Photorhabdus spp. Unlike other actin-targeting toxins, TccC3 uniquely ADP-ribosylates actin at Thr-148, resulting in the formation of actin aggregates and inhibition of phagocytosis. It has been shown that the fully modified F-actin is resistant to depolymerization by cofilin and gelsolin, but their effects on partially modified actin were not explored. We found that only F-actin unprotected by tropomyosin is the physiological TccC3 substrate. Yet, ADP-ribosylated G-actin can be produced upon cofilin-accelerated F-actin depolymerization, which was only mildly inhibited in partially modified actin. The affinity of TccC3-ADP-ribosylated G-actin for profilin and thymosin-β4 was weakened moderately but sufficiently to potentiate spontaneous polymerization in their presence. Interestingly, the Arp2/3-mediated nucleation was also potentiated by T148-ADP-ribosylation. Notably, even partially modified actin showed reduced bundling by plastins and α-actinin. In agreement with the role of these and other tandem calponin-homology domain actin organizers in the assembly of the cortical actin network, TccC3 induced intense membrane blebbing in cultured cells. Overall, our data suggest that TccC3 imposes a complex action on the cytoskeleton by affecting F-actin nucleation, recycling, and interaction with actin-binding proteins involved in the integration of actin filaments with each other and cellular elements.
Amitriptyline Accelerates SERT Binding Recovery in a Rat 3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) Model: In Vivo 4-[18F]-ADAM PET Imaging
Authors: Tsai Chi-Jung , Chiu Chuang-Hsin , Kuo Yu-Yeh , Huang Wen-Sheng , Yu Tsung-Hsun , Flores Leo Garcia , Yeh Skye Hsin-Hsien , Ma Kuo-Hsing
Published: June 2022

Numerous studies have confirmed that 3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) produces long-lasting changes to the density of the serotonin reuptake transporter (SERT). Amitriptyline (AMI) has been shown to exert neuroprotective properties in neuropathologic injury. Here, we used a SERT-specific radionuclide, 4-[18F]-ADAM, to assess the longitudinal alterations in SERT binding and evaluate the synergistic neuroprotective effect of AMI in a rat MDMA model. In response to MDMA treatment regimens, SERT binding was significantly reduced in rat brains. Region-specific recovery rate (normalized to baseline) in the MDMA group at day 14 was 71.29% ± 3.21%, and progressively increased to 90.90% ± 7.63% at day 35. AMI dramatically increased SERT binding in all brain regions, enhancing average ~18% recovery rate at day 14 when compared with the MDMA group. The immunochemical staining revealed that AMI markedly increased the serotonergic fiber density in the cingulate and thalamus after MDMA-induction, and confirmed the PET findings. Using in vivo longitudinal PET imaging, we demonstrated that SERT recovery was positively correlated with the duration of MDMA abstinence, implying that lower SERT densities in MDMA-induced rats reflected neurotoxic effects and were (varied) region-specific and reversible. AMI globally accelerated the recovery rate of SERT binding and increased SERT fiber density with possible neuroprotective effects.
State-of-the-Art Molecular Oncology of Lung Cancer in Taiwan
Authors: Luo Yung-Hung , Liang Kung-Hao , Huang Hsu-Ching , Shen Chia-I , Chiang Chi-Lu , Wang Mong-Lien , Chiou Shih-Hwa , Chen Yuh-Min
Published: June 2022

Lung cancers are life-threatening malignancies that cause great healthcare burdens in Taiwan and worldwide. The 5-year survival rate for Taiwanese patients with lung cancer is approximately 29%, an unsatisfactorily low number that remains to be improved. We first reviewed the molecular epidemiology derived from a deep proteogenomic resource in Taiwan. The nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (NRF2)antioxidant mechanism was discovered to mediate the oncogenesis and tumor progression of lung adenocarcinoma. Additionally, DNA replication, glycolysis and stress response are positively associated with tumor stages, while cell-to-cell communication, signaling, integrin, G protein coupled receptors, ion channels and adaptive immunity are negatively associated with tumor stages. Three patient subgroups were discovered based on the clustering analysis of protein abundance in tumors. The first subgroup is associated with more advanced cancer stages and visceral pleural invasion, as well as higher mutation burdens. The second subgroup is associated with EGFR L858R mutations. The third subgroup is associated with PI3K/AKT pathways and cell cycles. Both EGFR and PI3K/AKT signaling pathways have been shown to induce NRF2 activation and tumor cell proliferation. We also reviewed the clinical evidence of patient outcomes in Taiwan given various approved targeted therapies, such as EGFR-tyrosine kinase inhibitors and anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK)inhibitors, in accordance with the patients’ characteristics. Somatic mutations occurred in EGFR, KRAS, HER2 and BRAF genes, and these mutations have been detected in 55.7%, 5.2%, 2.0% and 0.7% patients, respectively. The EGFR mutation is the most prevalent targetable mutation in Taiwan. EML4-ALK translocations have been found in 9.8% of patients with wild-type EGFR. The molecular profiling of advanced NSCLC is critical to optimal therapeutic decision-making. The patient characteristics, such as mutation profiles, protein expression profiles, drug-resistance profiles, molecular oncogenic mechanisms and patient subgroup systems together offer new strategies for personalized treatments and patient care.
Evidence for Dual Activation of IK(M) and IK(Ca) Caused by QO-58 (5-(2,6-Dichloro-5-fluoropyridin-3-yl)-3-phenyl-2-(trifluoromethyl)-1H-pyrazolol[1,5-a]pyrimidin-7-one)
Authors: Wu Chao-Liang , Fu Poyuan , Cho Hsin-Yen , Chuang Tzu-Hsien , Wu Sheng-Nan
Published: June 2022

QO-58 (5-(2,6-dichloro-5-fluoropyridin-3-yl)-3-phenyl-2-(trifluoromethyl)-1H-pyrazolol[1,5-a]pyrimidin-7-one) has been regarded to be an activator of KV7 channels with analgesic properties. However, whether and how the presence of this compound can result in any modifications of other types of membrane ion channels in native cells are not thoroughly investigated. In this study, we investigated its perturbations on M-type K+ current (IK(M)), Ca2+-activated K+ current (IK(Ca)), large-conductance Ca2+-activated K+ (BKCa) channels, and erg-mediated K+ current (IK(erg)) identified from pituitary tumor (GH3) cells. Addition of QO-58 can increase the amplitude of IK(M) and IK(Ca) in a concentration-dependent fashion, with effective EC50 of 3.1 and 4.2 μM, respectively. This compound could shift the activation curve of IK(M) toward a leftward direction with being void of changes in the gating charge. The strength in voltage-dependent hysteresis (Vhys) of IK(M) evoked by upright triangular ramp pulse (Vramp) was enhanced by adding QO-58. The probabilities of M-type K+ (KM) channels that will be open increased upon the exposure to QO-58, although no modification in single-channel conductance was seen. Furthermore, GH3-cell exposure to QO-58 effectively increased the amplitude of IK(Ca) as well as enhanced the activity of BKCa channels. Under inside-out configuration, QO-58, applied at the cytosolic leaflet of the channel, activated BKCa-channel activity, and its increase could be attenuated by further addition of verruculogen, but not by linopirdine (10 μM). The application of QO-58 could lead to a leftward shift in the activation curve of BKCa channels with neither change in the gating charge nor in single-channel conductance. Moreover, cell exposure of QO-58 (10 μM) resulted in a minor suppression of IK(erg) amplitude in response to membrane hyperpolarization. The docking results also revealed that there are possible interactions of the QO-58 molecule with the KCNQ or KCa1.1 channel. Overall, dual activation of IK(M) and IK(Ca) caused by the presence of QO-58 eventually may have high impacts on the functional activity (e.g., anti-nociceptive effect) residing in electrically excitable cells. Care must be exercised when interpreting data generated with QO-58 as it is not entirely KCNQ/KV7 selective.
In Vitro, Ex Vivo, and In Vivo Models for the Study of Pemphigus
Authors: Lotti Roberta , Atene Claudio Giacinto , Zanfi Emma Dorotea , Bertesi Matteo , Zanocco-Marani Tommaso
Published: June 2022

Pemphigus is a life-threatening autoimmune disease. Several phenotypic variants are part of this family of bullous disorders. The disease is mainly mediated by pathogenic autoantibodies, but is also directed against two desmosomal adhesion proteins, desmoglein 1 (DSG1) and 3 (DSG3), which are expressed in the skin and mucosae. By binding to their antigens, autoantibodies induce the separation of keratinocytes, in a process known as acantholysis. The two main Pemphigus variants are Pemphigus vulgaris and foliaceus. Several models of Pemphigus have been described: in vitro, ex vivo and in vivo, passive or active mouse models. Although no model is ideal, different models display specific characteristics that are useful for testing different hypotheses regarding the initiation of Pemphigus, or to evaluate the efficacy of experimental therapies. Different disease models also allow us to evaluate the pathogenicity of specific Pemphigus autoantibodies, or to investigate the role of previously not described autoantigens. The aim of this review is to provide an overview of Pemphigus disease models, with the main focus being on active models and their potential to reproduce different disease subgroups, based on the involvement of different autoantigens.
OsGRP3 Enhances Drought Resistance by Altering Phenylpropanoid Biosynthesis Pathway in Rice (Oryza sativa L.)
Authors: Xu Wuwu , Dou Yangfan , Geng Han , Fu Jinmei , Dan Zhiwu , Liang Ting , Cheng Mingxing , Zhao Weibo , Zeng Yafei , Hu Zhongli , Huang Wenchao
Published: June 2022

As a sessile organism, rice often faces various kinds of abiotic stresses, such as drought stress. Drought stress seriously harms plant growth and damages crop yield every year. Therefore, it is urgent to elucidate the mechanisms of drought resistance in rice. In this study, we identified a glycine-rich RNA-binding protein, OsGRP3, in rice. Evolutionary analysis showed that it was closely related to OsGR-RBP4, which was involved in various abiotic stresses. The expression of OsGRP3 was shown to be induced by several abiotic stress treatments and phytohormone treatments. Then, the drought tolerance tests of transgenic plants confirmed that OsGRP3 enhanced drought resistance in rice. Meanwhile, the yeast two-hybrid assay, bimolecular luminescence complementation assay and bimolecular fluorescence complementation assay demonstrated that OsGRP3 bound with itself may affect the RNA chaperone function. Subsequently, the RNA-seq analysis, physiological experiments and histochemical staining showed that OsGRP3 influenced the phenylpropanoid biosynthesis pathway and further modulated lignin accumulation. Herein, our findings suggested that OsGRP3 enhanced drought resistance in rice by altering the phenylpropanoid biosynthesis pathway and further increasing lignin accumulation.
The Interplay between cGMP and Calcium Signaling in Alzheimer’s Disease
Authors: Jehle Aileen , Garaschuk Olga
Published: June 2022

Cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) is a ubiquitous second messenger and a key molecule in many important signaling cascades in the body and brain, including phototransduction, olfaction, vasodilation, and functional hyperemia. Additionally, cGMP is involved in long-term potentiation (LTP), a cellular correlate of learning and memory, and recent studies have identified the cGMP-increasing drug Sildenafil as a potential risk modifier in Alzheimer’s disease (AD). AD development is accompanied by a net increase in the expression of nitric oxide (NO) synthases but a decreased activity of soluble guanylate cyclases, so the exact sign and extent of AD-mediated imbalance remain unclear. Moreover, human patients and mouse models of the disease present with entangled deregulation of both cGMP and Ca2+ signaling, e.g., causing changes in cGMP-mediated Ca2+ release from the intracellular stores as well as Ca2+-mediated cGMP production. Still, the mechanisms governing such interplay are poorly understood. Here, we review the recent data on mechanisms underlying the brain cGMP signaling and its interconnection with Ca2+ signaling. We also discuss the recent evidence stressing the importance of such interplay for normal brain function as well as in Alzheimer’s disease.