bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Augmentative and Alternative Communication Intervention for in-patient Individuals With Post-stroke Aphasia: Study Protocol of a Parallel-group, Pragmatic Randomized Controlled Trial
Authors: Huang Li , Chen Szu-Han Kay , Xu Shutian , Wang Yongli , Jin Xing , Wan Ping , Sun Jikang , Tao Jiming , Zhang Sicong , Zhang Guohui , Shan Chunlei
Published: March 2021

Background: People with post-stroke moderate to severe aphasia commonly receive speech-language therapy (SLT). However, the outcomes of SLT sometimes is limited. Augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) has been reported as an effective treatment approach to improve communication effectiveness, language performance, decreasing depression, and improving quality of life for this population. However, little evidence has demonstrated the use of AAC intervention (AACT) in early recovery from people with post-stroke aphasia in in-patient rehabilitation settings. Besides, only a few studies use a randomized controlled trial (RCT) to compare AACT with SLT to date. The present study focuses on the effect of including AACT in regular SLT for people with post-stroke moderate to severe aphasia (PWAs) in an in-patient rehabilitation setting. The present study aims to compare the potential effectiveness of AACT combined with SLT on communication effectiveness and language recovery with SLT alone for PWAs in in-patient rehabilitation settings.Methods: We strive to include 30 PWAs, enroll in an in-patient program, a single-blind, randomized controlled trial with two parallel groups, and a 2-week follow-up. Patients receive a one-hour treatment session, including either both AAC and SLT or SLT alone daily for ten consecutive sessions. Three assessment points include baseline, after intervention sessions, and after the 2-week follow-up to compare the two groups' intervention effectiveness. The primary outcome measure is the score differences on the Communication of Basic Needs of Functional Assessment of Communication Skills for Adult (FACS) pre- and post- intervention. The secondary outcome measures include the results of the Chinese Standard Aphasia Battery (ABC), the 10-item Hospital version of the Stroke Aphasic Depression Questionnaire (SADQH-10), and the Stroke-Specific Quality of Life Scale (SS-QOL) as well as a patient and caregiver satisfaction questionnaire.Discussion: This RCT of AACT in an in-patient rehabilitation setting will contribute to new scientific evidence to the field of aphasia rehabilitation in early recovery during the in-patient period. The paper describes the trial, which will explore the effect of combining AACT and SLT and SLT only, our choice of primary and secondary outcome measures, and proposed analyses. The study results will provide information for implementing AACT in the regular in-patient SLT of future RCTs.Trial registration: This trial is registered in the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry database (ChiCTR) as ChiCTR2000028870. Date registered: 5 January 2020.
A New Approach for Extreme Proportion Calculation: Median Estimate and Its Application to Evaluate Performance of HIV Assays With 100% Test Sensitivity or Specificity
Authors: Liu Jin , Shao Fang , Yang Jiaying , Liu Jinxi
Published: March 2021

BackgroundIn the evaluation of performance of HIV assays, extreme sample proportions often occur, with test sensitivity and/or specificity of 100%, which making it challenging to assess the assays accuracies. To overcome these challenges, we propose using median estimate as an evaluation indicator for such testing.MethodsBased on the principles of binomial distribution and confidence interval, median estimate was defined as \(p={0.5}^{\frac{1}{n}}\), which means that, when the sample size n is equal to the event number x, namely the sample proportion (e.g., test sensitivity) is 100%, the 50th percentile (median) of p (the estimate of population proportion) is \({0.5}^{\frac{1}{n}}\). After demonstrating the mathematical proof of the median estimate, the key programming commands of commercial software SAS and free software R were given. Subsequently, we developed an Excel-based calculation tool that allows users to fill in data in an Excel sheet without writing any program. Six cases of HIV screening and diagnostic tests and HIV infections incidence data were selected from related articles and World Health Organization reports published between 2009 and 2020.ResultsThe median estimates, which were proved in the range from \(\frac{n-1}{n}\) to 1 and within the confidence interval range, showed statistical plausibility. Six HIV testing cases were presented to illustrate its application and elaborate on the relationship between the median estimate and the conventional simple estimate. These cases demonstrate that, when extreme proportions occurred (i.e., false positive and/or false negative in testing were zero), the conventional simple estimates of sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value were 100% regardless of the sample size and prevalence. In contrast, the corresponding median estimates varied depending on the sample size and prevalence.ConclusionsAs evaluation indicators of HIV assays with extreme proportions, median estimates were more effective than conventional simple estimates. However, simple estimates objectively expressed the results of HIV testing. Because the correlation between median estimates and simple estimates was seamless, the two types of indicators were complementary in the evaluation of testing with extreme proportions. Hence, using both types of estimates could help evaluate HIV assays with extreme proportions more comprehensively.
Processing methodology of global anthropogenic emissions for air quality modeling
Authors: Pino-Cortés Ernesto
Published: March 2021

The Global Emissions Initiative (GEIA) stores and offers global datasets of emission inventories developed in the last 30 years. One of the most recently updated global datasets covering anthropogenic source emissions is the Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service (CAMS). This study applied NetCDF Command Operator (NCO) software to preprocess the anthropogenic sources included in the CAMS datasets and converted those files as an input in the Sparse Matrix Operator Kerner Emissions (SMOKE) model for future air quality modeling. As a result, six steps were applied to obtain the required file format. The case of the central coast in Chile was analyzed to compare the global database and official reports for the on-road transport sector. As a result, some differences were shown in the most populated locations of the domain of analysis. The rest of the zones registered similar values. The methodology exposed in this report could be applied in any other region of the planet for air quality modeling studies. The development of global datasets such as CAMS is useful for hemispheric analysis and could bring an estimation on the mesoscale scale. It represents an opportunity for those locations without official reports of non-updated data.
Geocoding and spatio-temporal modeling of long-term PM2.5 and NO2 exposure: the Mexican Teachers' Cohort
Authors: Karla Cervantes - Martínez , Horacio Riojas - Rodríguez , Carlos Díaz - Ávalos , Hortensia Moreno - Macías , Ruy López - Ridaura , Dalia Stern , Octavio Acosta - Montes Jorge , Luis Texcalac - Sangrador José
Published: March 2021

Epidemiological studies on the effects of air pollution in Mexico often use the environmental concentrations of monitors closest to the home as exposure proxies, yet this approach disregards the space gradients of pollutants and assumes that individuals have no intra-city mobility. Our aim was to develop high-resolution spatial and temporal models for predicting long-term exposure to PM2.5 and NO2 in a population of ~ 16 500 participants from the Mexican Teachers’ Cohort study. We geocoded the home and work addresses of participants. Using information from secondary sources on geographic and meteorological variables as well as other pollutants, we fitted two generalized additive models to predict monthly PM2.5 and NO2 concentrations in the 2004–2019 period. The models were evaluated through 10-fold cross validation. Both showed high predictive accuracy with out-of-sample data and no overfitting (CV RMSE = 0.102 for PM2.5 and CV RMSE = 4.497 for NO2). Participants were exposed to a monthly average of 24.38 (6.78) µg/m3 of PM2.5 and 28.21 (8.00) ppb of NO2 during the study period. These models offer a solid alternative for estimating PM2.5 and NO2 exposure with high spatio-temporal resolution for epidemiological studies in the Valle de México region.
PSYCHOSOCIAL PREDICTORS FOR THE INTENTION OF BRAZILIAN ELDERLY IN RECEIVING THE VACCINE AGAINST COVID-19
Authors: Coutinho Thales , Assunção Fernando , Dias Mariana , Moraes Thiago , Dias Natália
Published: March 2021

Once the immunizers are already available in the COVID-19 Pandemic, there is a need to identify the psychosocial factors that increase the positive attitude towards vaccines, particularly among the elderly. We investigated the role of psychosocial variables, which could affect the attitude towards the vaccines. Factors such as: uncertainty in relation to the vaccine, fear of COVID-19, political orientation, precisely the intention among the Brazilian elderly (>60 years, n = 328) to be vaccinated. There was a more positive intention towards Oxford-AstraZeneca in relation to Sinovac-CoronaVac. For the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine, less uncertainty regarding vaccines and greater fear of COVID-19 led the study to predict 26.6% of the intention to use it. In the case of Sinovac-CoronaVac, in addition to the previous variables, a left-wing political orientation led to a prediction of 44.3% in the intention to use it. It was also highlighted the importance of reducing uncertainty about vaccines in public campaigns to achieve older adults' mass vaccination.
Peroxidase isoenzymes from seedlings of VIGNA sp (V) landrace Vn: distribution and thermal stability
Authors: Mbassi Yves Mann Elate Lea , Bebandoue Marie Solange Evehe , Mbacham Wilfred Fon
Published: March 2021

Several soluble peroxidase isoenzymes are expressed in a landrace of Vigna sp cultivated in the north of Cameroon (landrace called Vn in previous study) during seed germination. There are at least two cathodic peroxidases and eight major anodic peroxidases as shown by their electrophoretic migration at pH 7.4 under native conditions. These isoperoxidases are more expressed in radicles than in shoots. They have different thermal stability, so that heat inactivation kinetics of crude peroxidase extracts from radicles does not fit the first-order model. One major anodic isoperoxidase of the slow migrating group and at least two others anodic isoperoxidases of the The slow and intermediate migrating groups of anodic isoperoxidasesanodic isoperoxidases are stable for ten minutes of incubation at 80°C and 85°C. The major anodic isoperoxidase of the The less anodic slow migrating groupisoperoxidase (named A6 in this study) shows in addition to this great thermal stability, a high activity during germination and is expressed both in radicles and shoots in large amounts. The combination of those characteristics makes thisthat isoperoxidase a a potential candidate for biotechnological applications.
Innovative Method for Obtaining Biologically Active Compounds from Brewery Mash
Authors: Kobelev Konstantin , Gernet Marina , Gribkova Irina
Published: March 2021

Introduction. Brewery mash, or brewer’s spent grain (BSG), is a by-product of brewing industry. It is known to contain valuable biologically active substances. However, their extraction is complicated by the presence of various polymers. The research featured various physicochemical methods for obtaining valuable biological compounds from brewery waste. The new method modified complex non-starch polysaccharides, lignin, arabinoxylans, and other high-molecular compounds associated with phenolic compounds. The research objective was to solve the problem of recycling industrial by-products that accumulate in large quantities and require expensive processing or disposal. The paper introduces new technological approaches for deep processing of BSG as a source of secondary raw materials in order to obtain extracts fortified with polyphenolic compounds.

Study objects and methods. The research featured BSG from malt subjected to treatment with ECA-activated water (catholyte with pH 9.6 ± 0.1), followed by enzymatic hydrolysis of cellulolytic enzyme preparations and extraction with a polar solvent of the resulting free polyphenolic substances. The experiments were based on standard methods for assessing the content of various biologically active substances.

Results and discussion. A 70% water-ethanol solution proved to be optimal at the BSG:extractant ratio of 2:1, process temperature = 50 ± 2°C, and extraction time = 60 ± 5 min. Under the same conditions, 70 %vol. of beer distillate made it possible to extract phenolic acids, flavonoid rutin, irreplaceable and nonessential amino acids, and non-starch polysaccharide β-glucan from the BSG matrix. The BSG treatment with 1M NaOH solution delivered viscous hydrolysates fortified with flavonoids rutin and quercetin, which did not happen when acid hydrolysis was used. The combined use of ECA-treated water (catholyte with pH 9.6 ± 0.1) for 24 ± 0.05 h, combined with biocatalysis with the enzyme preparation Viskoflo MG for 2 ± 0.05 h, made it possible to obtain BSG extracts with a high content of phenolic acids and aldehydes, as well as flavonoid rutin.

Conclusion. The study revealed the mechanism of hydrolytic decomposition of BSG non-starch polysaccharides, considering the compounds contained in the extracts. The BSG hydrolysates fortified with various phenolic compounds can be used in various food technologies, e.g., in fermented drinks.
Flour Baking Mixes: Optimal Operating Parameters for Vibration Mixers
Authors: Borodulin Dmitry , Sukhorukov Dmitry , Musina Olga , Shulbaeva Margarita , Zorina Tatyana , Kiselev Dmitry , Miller Ekaterina
Published: March 2021

Introduction. New long-storage flour baking mixes are a promising direction in the development of healthy diets. The research objective was to identify the rational parameters for using continuous vibration mixers in flour production.

Study objects and methods. The study featured wheat flour baking mixes. A correlation analysis helped to build mathematical models of the mixing process in vibration mixers using the sequential dilution method. By comparing the smoothing ability of several mixers, the authors identified their feasibility. The research included two full-factor laboratory experiments.

Results and discussion. The paper gives a brief review of modern mixing equipment and describes the effect of uneven feeding of bulk materials on the quality of the finished mixes. The vertical vibration mixers proved to be an optimal technical solution. The experiment featured the effect of the amplitude A (m), vibration frequency f (Hz), vibration angle β (°), and the height of the vibrofluidized bed on the process.

Conclusion. The research revealed the following optimal technological parameters: A = 0.0046 m, f = 33.48 Hz, the share of food salt = 0.05. Continuous vibration mixers provided uniform high-quality baking mixes.
Evaluation of the Effect of κ-casein Gene Polymorphism in Milk Powder on the Technological Properties of Acid-Induced Milk Gels
Authors: Kruchinin Alexandr , Turovskaya Svetlana , Illarionova Elena , Bigaeva Alana
Published: March 2021

Introduction. Yoghurt has become one of the most popular acid-induced dairy products in the world. Consumers see yoghurt not only as a tasty, protein-rich, and calcium-fortified dessert, but also as a product that improves intestinal microflora and prevents obesity, metabolic syndrome, type II diabetes, and cardiovascular diseases. The stability of the structure and consistency of yoghurt directly depend on the composition and properties of raw materials, including genetic and technological factors and compliance with temperature storage conditions. Yoghurt formulations include various dairy raw materials, e.g. milk powder. The research objective was to assess the effect of κ-casein gene polymorphism in milk powder on the technological properties of acid-induced milk gels when simulating different temperature storage conditions. Study objects and methods. The research featured yoghurt samples prepared from milk powder of CSN3 gene (AA and BB). Model systems of yoghurt were prepared from dry bulk milk, mixed by mass fraction of protein in the ratio of AA2:BB2 as 75:25, 50:50, and 25:75%, respectively. The experiment involved standard methods, optical methods, dynamic viscometry, and PCR-RFLP. Results and discussion. As the mass fraction of BB dry bulk milk increased, the structural and mechanical properties, dimensional stability, and surface tension increased, too. As the storage temperature fell from 4 ± 2 to 12 ± 2°C, the structural and mechanical properties, dimensional stability, surface tension, and moisture-holding ability decreased while maintaining the previously established dependencies. The CSN3 gene polymorphism proved to have no effect on the curd tension after fermentation. Significant differences between the allelic variants AA and BB became obvious only after complete cooling and structuring of the product. Conclusion. The obtained experimental results and the analysis of related publications suggested an indirect effect of the κ-casein gene polymorphism on the structural and mechanical properties, associated with a genetic effect on the average diameter of casein micelles in the original milk and the resulting biochemical and isothermal processes. The research made it possible to assess the effect of the CSN3 gene polymorphism on the technological properties of dry milk during its processing into fermented milk products.
Analysis of public policies and programmes towards water security in post-apartheid South Africa
Authors: Adom Richard Kwame , Simatele Mulala Danny
Published: March 2021

Many countries in the world, including South Africa, are water-stressed with increasing pressure on their water resources due to population growth, climate change, and inadequate funding. Post-independence in 1994, many policies and programmes were introduced by the government with the aim of promoting water management. While these policies and strategies achieved much in terms of water provision to communities and households, they failed to establish a water-conscious country with sufficient knowledge and expertise in water management. In addition, these policies and programmes are outdated, compartmentalised, complex, and lack robust water governance with resilient stakeholder partnerships that advance the more explicit second phase of the National Development Plan (NDP) to achieve water security under the threat of climate change. Using data collection tools inspired by the traditional method of participatory research, this paper analyses the structural and systematic factors hindering the implementation of comprehensive policies to achieve water security in South Africa. There is, therefore, an urgent need for South Africa to establish an independent water regulator to ensure coordination between different government departments, including the National Treasury, to strengthen weak governance capacity and to make it independent to attract private equity into the sector and to recover fiscal deficits in the water sector.
An assessment of groundwater quality in South-West zone of Surat city
Authors: Chaudhari Ankit N. , Mehta Darshan J. , Sharma Dr. Neeraj D.
Published: March 2021

Groundwater quality alludes to the state of the water that is arranged under the Earth's surface. Groundwater can accumulate in breaks in subsurface rocks and the centre of soil particles. Since various blends can break down in water and others can be suspended in water, there is a potential for pollution with harmful mixes including significant particles like Electrical Conductivity (EC), Total Dissolved Solids (TDS), and many others, such as Ca, Cl, F, Mg, NO3, SO4, and Total Hardness. This study examines groundwater quality in the study area of the South-West zone of Surat city, Gujarat. The South-West zone of Surat city is situated on the shoreline, causing the groundwater of the concerned area to be highly affected by seawater intrusion. The present study determines the Ground Water Quality Index (GWQI) from the year 2006 to 2015. It also predicts the approximate groundwater quality for the next 10 years. The outcome of this study suggests the need for certain improvement in groundwater quality by an appropriate method such as managed aquifer recharging (MAR). It will be beneficial for the people mainly dependent on the groundwater, particularly living near the coastal region.
Study of flow over piano key weir of different plan shapes with free and partially submerged outlet conditions
Authors: Abhash Amiya , Pandey K. K. , Tripathi Ravi P.
Published: March 2021

Piano key weirs are being increasingly used for better flood passage downstream, both as a new structure or on top of hydraulic structures like a dam, to increase their discharging capacity as well as reservoir storage. Much research has been done on rectangular plan-form, while other plan-forms warrant attention. The present study focuses on two different plan geometries of PKW, i.e., rectangular (RPKW) and trapezoidal with angle α equal to 9 degrees (TPKW9) for their head-discharge relation in a wide channel of 0.984 m width under free-flow condition. Since the role of CFD is increasingly becoming prominent in present times, a numerical study using ANSYS-FLUENT was also carried out to ascertain its relevance in predicting flows around complex structures like PKW. Further, the tailgate was closed to render the PKW's outlet from partial to fully submerged conditions. The effect of these submerged outlets was studied for any changes in the discharging capacity of the PKW. The study shows RPKW to be more hydraulically efficient than TPKW9 for the model geometry. Further, the study finds that under partial to full submergence of PKW outlets, both PKW units' discharging capability remains unchanged.
Indicator system optimization model for evaluating resilience of regional agricultural soil–water resource composite system
Authors: Xu Dan , Liu Jilong , Liu Dong , Fu Qiang , Li Mo , Faiz Muhammad Abrar , Liu Sicheng , Li Tianxiao , Cui Song , Yan Ge
Published: March 2021

Resilience is an important indicator for measuring regional sustainable development capacity. The construction of a suitable evaluation indicator system is the premise of evaluating regional sustainable development. In this study, taking the Jiansanjiang Administration of Heilongjiang Province in China as an example, a preliminary selection library of the evaluation indicator system for the resilience of a regional agricultural soil–water resource composite system covering seven subsystems and 59 indicators was established. Selection criteria such as the Dale indicator criteria, subjective and objective combination weighting and principal component analysis were introduced to construct an optimization model for the resilience evaluation indicator system for the ASWRS. First, 14 indicators that were incomplete or incapable were removed. Then, the Dale indicator selection criteria were used to ensure that 14 indicators were selected. The binary fuzzy comparison method and criteria importance through interference correlation method were used to calculate the combination weight. Finally, an indicator system optimization model was established. The indicator system was optimized from 59 to 35 indicators, and the completeness of the indicator system reached 85.75%. The proposed method had obvious advantages in terms of indicator identification and elimination, and it may truly achieve the goal of indicator optimization.
On the functional safety of a complex technical control system with digital twins
Authors: Shubinsky I. B. , Schabe Hendrik , Rozenberg E. N.
Published: March 2021

The Aim of this paper is to evaluate the advantages of digital twin technology as compared with the conventional approaches to the design of a vital two-channel system.

Methods. The system is described with a Markovian model. This model allows defining the quantitative safety characteristics if the system is affected by right-side failures.

Results. The system’s primary quantitative safety indicators were identified as the mean time to wrong-side failure and mean time to right-side failure along with the quantitative relations of the prime and additional costs for a batch of products.

Conclusion. Transforming the initial item into a system with digital twins allows significantly reducing the rate of wrong-side failures. This effect may be obtained not only with the use of digital twins, but also as the result of the system transitioning into the state of right-side failure in each event of discrepancy betwin the initial item and/or the digital twins. It has been established that the mean time to right-side failure under such conditions is not less than the mean time to failure of the initial item. That means that highly efficient measures for safety improvement allow maintaining the system dependability at a level not lower than that of the initial item. The introduction of digital twins into a system is a new, not yet tested way of ensuring system safety. The decision on the benefits of additional costs is taken by the customer and system developer together. At the same time, it must be taken into consideration that in case of large batches of manufactured technical systems, the effect of additional costs is reduced and the effect of significantly improved safety is maintained.
APP/PS1 Gene-Environment Noise Interaction Aggravates AD-like Neuropathology in Hippocampus Via Activation of the VDAC1 Positive Feedback Loop
Authors: Chi Huimin , Zhai Qingfeng , Zhang Ming , Su Donghong , Cao Wa , Li Wenlong , She Xiaojun , Yang Honglian , Wang Kun , Gao Xiujie , Ma Kefeng , Cui Bo , Qiu Yugang
Published: March 2021

Background:

Environmental risk factors, including environmental noise stress, and genetic
factors, have been associated with the occurrence and development of Alzheimer’s disease
(AD). However, the exact role and mechanism of AD-like pathology induced by environment-gene
interactions between environmental noise and APP/PS1 gene remain elusive.

Methods:

Herein, we investigated the impact of chronic noise exposure on AD-like neuropathology
in APP/PS1 transgenic mice. The Morris water maze (MWM) task was conducted to evaluate
AD-like changes. The hippocampal phosphorylated Tau, amyloid-β (Aβ), and neuroinflammation
were assessed. We also assessed changes in positive feedback loop signaling of the voltage-dependent
anion channel 1 (VDAC1) to explore the potential underlying mechanism linking AD-like neuropathology
to noise-APP/PS1 interactions.

Results:

Long-term noise exposure significantly increased the escape latency and the number of
platform crossings in the MWM task. The Aβ overproduction was induced in the hippocampus of
APP/PS1 mice, along with the increase of Tau phosphorylation at Ser396 and Thr231 and the increase
of the microglia and astrocytes markers expression. Moreover, the VDAC1-AKT (protein kinase
B)-GSK3β (glycogen synthase kinase 3 beta)-VDAC1 signaling pathway was abnormally activated
in the hippocampus of APP/PS1 mice after noise exposure.

Conclusion:

Chronic noise exposure and APP/PS1 overexpression may synergistically exacerbate
cognitive impairment and neuropathological changes that occur in AD. This interaction may be mediated
by the positive feedback loop of the VDAC1-AKT-GSK3β-VDAC1 signaling pathway.
In Vivo/Ex Vivo EPR Investigation of the Brain Redox Status and Blood-Brain Barrier Integrity in the 5xFAD Mouse Model of Alzheimer's Disease
Authors: Vesković Ana , Nakarada Đura , Pavićević Aleksandra , Prokić Bogomir , Perović Milka , Kanazir Selma , Popović-Bijelić Ana , Mojović Miloš
Published: March 2021

Background:

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the most common neurodegenerative disorder
characterized by cognitive decline and total brain atrophy. Despite the substantial scientific effort,
the pathological mechanisms underlying neurodegeneration in AD are currently unknown. In
most studies, amyloid β peptide has been considered the key pathological change in AD. However,
numerous Aβ-targeting treatments have failed in clinical trials. This implies the need to shift the research
focus from Aβ to other pathological features of the disease.

Objective:

The aim of this study was to examine the interplay between mitochondrial dysfunction,
oxidative stress and blood-brain barrier (BBB) disruption in AD pathology, using a novel approach
that involves the application of electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy.

Methods:

In vivo and ex vivo EPR spectroscopy using two spin probes (aminoxyl radicals) exhibiting
different cell-membrane and BBB permeability were employed to assess BBB integrity and
brain tissue redox status in the 5xFAD mouse model of AD. In vivo spin probe reduction decay
was analyzed using a two-compartment pharmacokinetic model. Furthermore, 15 K EPR spectroscopy
was employed to investigate the brain metal content.

Results:

This study has revealed an altered brain redox state, BBB breakdown, as well as ROS-mediated
damage to mitochondrial iron-sulfur clusters, and up-regulation of MnSOD in the 5xFAD
model.

Conclusion:

The EPR spin probes were shown to be excellent in vivo reporters of the 5xFAD neuronal
tissue redox state, as well as the BBB integrity, indicating the importance of in vivo EPR spectroscopy
application in preclinical studies of neurodegenerative diseases.
Covalent Organic Frameworks for Electrochemical Sensors: Recent
Research and Future Prospects
Authors: Wang Linyu , Hong Shasha , Yang Yuxi , Song Yonghai , Wang Li
Published: March 2021

Background:

In recent years, electrochemical sensors are widely preferred because of their high sensitivity, rapid response, low cost and easy miniaturization. Covalent organic frameworks (COFs), a porous crystalline polymer formed by organic units connected by covalent bonds, have been widely used in gas adsorption and separation, drug transportation, energy storage, photoelectric catalysis, electrochemistry and other aspects due to their large specific surface, excellent stability, high inherent porosity, good crystallinity as well as structural and functional controllability. The topological structure of COFs can be designed in advance, the structural units and linkage are diversified, and the structure is easy to be functionalized, which are all beneficial to their application in electrochemical sensors.

Methods:

The types, synthesis methods, properties of covalent organic frameworks and some examples of using covalent organic frameworks in electrochemical sensors are reviewed.

Results:

Due to their characteristics of a large specific surface, high porosity, orderly channel and periodically arranged π electron cloud, COFs are often used to immobilize metal nanoparticles, aptamers or other materials to achieve the purpose of building electrochemical sensors with high sensitivity and good stability. Since the structure of COFs can be predicted, different organic units can build COFs with different structures and properties. Therefore, organic units with certain functional groups can be selected to build COFs with certain properties and used directly for electrochemical sensors.

Conclusion:

COFs have a good application prospect in electrochemical sensors.
Rudolf Boehm (1927–2019)
Authors: De Visscher Jacques
Published: March 2021

  Op 21 november 2013 gaf Rudolf Boehm over Marx zijn ‘laatste lezing’, zo werdin een rondschrijven aangekondigd. Een lezing was het niet, want Boehm,gehinderd door een heel slecht zicht, kon nog nauwelijks iets lezen. Hij gafbijgevolg een uiteenzetting, een goed voorbereide voordracht van meer dan eenuur over wat hij bij het denken en schrijven van Karl Marx zelf denkt, ingaand opde vraag ‘wat hebben we vandaag aan de inzichten van de auteur van Das Kapital?’ Veel nieuws was niet te horen, maar daar ging het mij niet om, integendeel. Ikkwam luisteren naar wat Boehm ons wist te bieden: een vertolking van een bekendstuk, zoals we naar een bekend muziekstuk kunnen luisteren, waarin veeleer devertolking dan de neergeschreven compositie ons interesseert.
COVID-19 and obesity: what is known about the features of pathogenesis and treatment?
Authors: Kanorskii S. G.
Published: March 2021

The increasing prevalence of overweight and obesity is a public health problem worldwide. During the COVID-19 pandemic, obesity is associated with a higher risk of severe disease and adverse clinical outcome of SARS-CoV-2 infection. It may be associated with chronic systemic inflammation, impaired immune response and metabolic disturbances in obese patients. In order to establish possible pathogenetic links between obesity and COVID-19, an analysis of experimental, clinical studies, their meta-analyzes, literature reviews from the PubMed/MedLine database was carried out using the keywords «COVID-19» and «obesity». This review discusses the potential pathogenesis and treatment features of obese patients with COVID-19.
The role of neurovascular conflict in the pathogenesis of classical trigeminal neuralgia and the dynamics of approaches to its visualization
Authors: Baliazina E. V. , Evusyak O. M. , Baliazin V. A. , Kadyan N. G.
Published: March 2021

The thematic review discusses various points of view on the topographic and atomic features of the location of the root of the trigeminal nerve and the superior cerebellar artery that serve as the foundation for the development of classical trigeminal neuralgia. The diagnostic capabilities of magnetic resonance imaging in the recognition of neurovascular conflict as the pathogenetic basis of the disease are considered. The search for diagnostic criteria that distinguish neurovascular conflict from neurovascular contact by improving both the performance of MRI and the new technical possibilities of its interpretation is highlighted in the chronological aspect. The possibilities of multispiral X-ray computed angiography in 3D mode as an alternative method for diagnosing neurovascular conflict are described.
The use of beta-blockers in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and chronic heart failure in real clinical practice
Authors: Karoli N. A. , Borodkin A. V. , Rebrov A. P.
Published: March 2021

Objective: to reveal the features of the use of beta-blockers (BB) in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and chronic heart failure (CHF) in real clinical practice.

Materials and methods: the study included 90 patients with COPD and CHF, and 41 patients with CHF of ischemic genesis without COPD.

Results: patients with COPD and CHF were significantly less likely to receive beta-blockers (BB) compared with patients with CHF. Of the BB patients with COPD and CHF were primarily prescribed bisoprolol, its average dose was 4.45 ± 1.74 mg per day. Patients with COPD and CHF of ischemic genesis of BB were prescribed significantly more often, and diuretics were significantly less likely than patients with COPD and CHF without myocardial infarction. Patients with COPD and CHF with ejection fraction of the left ventricle (LVEF) more than 40% were less likely to take BB than patients with COPD and CHF with reduced EF (less than 40%), and also less frequently, than patients with CHF without COPD with LVEF more than 40%.

Conclusion: BB, as first-line drugs in the treatment of CHF, was prescribed on an outpatient basis only to half of patients with COPD and CHF, which does not comply with current guidelines for the management of patients with comorbid conditions. In the vast majority of cases, highly selective BB were prescribed. It should be noted low doses of BB, the absence of dose titration, which does not correspond to modern recommendations for the treatment of chronic heart failure.
Gorban Features of autonomic regulation of heart rate depending on the composition of the body in young people
Authors: Gorban V. V. , Menshix V. S. , Gorban E. V.
Published: March 2021

Objective: of the research was to study preclinical changes in heart rate variability (HRV) associated with overweight and obesity in young people in order to determine the targets of predictive therapy.

Material and methods: the study involved 105 young men and 111 young women aged 18 to 30 years. Questionnaires, anthropometry with determination of body mass index and waist circumference, bioimpedansometry with determination of body fat (BF) and visceral fat (VF) level, as well as monitoring of HRV based on short (ten-minute) records were carried out.

Result: young people of both sexes showed a high frequency of overweight (24.1%) and obesity (18.5%), as well as a low level of physical activity (FA, 46.3%). In 28.8% of young men and 12.5% of young women with overweight and obesity, there was a high level of VF. Taking into account the outstripping increase in VF as compared to BF, it is reasonable to divide the VF levels into low (<5 conventional units), intermediate (5-9 conventional units), and high (> 9 conventional units). In overweight young people, compared with normal body weight, HRV is characterized by less pronounced parasympathetic activity, and in girls compared with young men, there is less total HRV. A high HRV level is associated with such HRV indicators as an increase values of LF/ HF and SDANN, reflecting, respectively, a reduction in the parasympathetic and enhanced sympathetic activity of the autonomic nervous system with a predominance of the central circuit of heart rhythm regulation over the autonomous one.

Conclusion: to diagnose autonomic imbalance in young people, it is necessary to determine the composition of the body, FA level, take into account the individual dynamics of HRV parameters, since they rarely exceed the norm. Changes in total HRV, sympathetic and parasympathetic activity during the non-drug correction of obesity should be monitored with an emphasis on pNN (50) and SDANN indicators associated with BF, and when correcting physical activity — on the indicator of voltage index of regulatory systems.
Association of general blood count indicators with the severity of COVID-19 in hospitalized patients
Authors: Gubenko N. S. , Budko A. A. , Plisyuk A. G. , Orlova I. A.
Published: March 2021

Purpose: to study the relationship of the indicators of the general blood test with the severity of the course of COVID-19 in hospitalized patients.

Materials and methods: the study included 165 patients (92 men — 55.8%, and 73 women — 44.2%, the average age — 59.9 years) who were treated at the Moscow State University Medical Center in the period from April to June 2020 with a diagnosis of COVID-19. All patients underwent: general blood test, CRP, CT of the lungs. The severity of the clinical condition was assessed using the SHOCK-COVID and NEWS-2 scales.

Results: a more severe clinical condition of patients and a greater severity of lung damage on admission were statistically significantly associated with a decrease in the number of red blood cells and hemoglobin, as well as with a greater width of the distribution of red blood cells (RDW-SD). The rate of erythrocyte sedimentation (ESR) was significantly associated with the clinical condition of patients evaluated by SHOCK-COVID (r=0.61, p<0.001) and the marker of CRP inflammation (r=0.55, p<0.001). An increase in the absolute number of neutrophils (N), a decrease in the absolute number of lymphocytes (L), and, as a result, an increase in the N/L ratio index was a marker of a more severe course of the disease. It was the N/L index that had the maximum correlation coefficient with the most commonly used marker of systemic inflammation - CRP (r=0.50, p<0.001). The decrease in the level of CRP by discharge was associated with a significant decrease in ESR (r=0.36, p<0.001), the index of the ratio of neutrophil and lymphocyte levels (N/L) (r=0.39, p<0.001), and an increase in the width of the distribution of red blood cells (RDW-SD r=0.25, p<0.01; RDW-CV r=0.57, p<0.001).

Conclusions: the most informative indicators of the general blood test at admission to the hospital, allowing to assess the severity of the disease — the width of the distribution of red blood cells, the index of the ratio of neutrophils to lymphocytes and ESR.
Health Care Cybersecurity Challenges and Solutions Under the Climate of COVID-19: Scoping Review
Authors: He Ying , Aliyu Aliyu , Evans Mark , Luo Cunjin
Published: March 2021

Background

COVID-19 has challenged the resilience of the health care information system, which has affected our ability to achieve the global goal of health and well-being. The pandemic has resulted in a number of recent cyberattacks on hospitals, pharmaceutical companies, the US Department of Health and Human Services, the World Health Organization and its partners, and others.

Objective

The aim of this review was to identify key cybersecurity challenges, solutions adapted by the health sector, and areas of improvement needed to counteract the recent increases in cyberattacks (eg, phishing campaigns and ransomware attacks), which have been used by attackers to exploit vulnerabilities in technology and people introduced through changes to working practices in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods

A scoping review was conducted by searching two major scientific databases (PubMed and Scopus) using the search formula “(covid OR healthcare) AND cybersecurity.” Reports, news articles, and industry white papers were also included if they were related directly to previously published works, or if they were the only available sources at the time of writing. Only articles in English published in the last decade were included (ie, 2011-2020) in order to focus on current issues, challenges, and solutions.

Results

We identified 9 main challenges in cybersecurity, 11 key solutions that health care organizations adapted to address these challenges, and 4 key areas that need to be strengthened in terms of cybersecurity capacity in the health sector. We also found that the most prominent and significant methods of cyberattacks that occurred during the pandemic were related to phishing, ransomware, distributed denial-of-service attacks, and malware.

Conclusions

 This scoping review identified the most impactful methods of cyberattacks that targeted the health sector during the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as the challenges in cybersecurity, solutions, and areas in need of improvement. We provided useful insights to the health sector on cybersecurity issues during the COVID-19 pandemic as well as other epidemics or pandemics that may materialize in the future.
A Virtual Reality Game to Change Sun Protection Behavior and Prevent Cancer: User-Centered Design Approach
Authors: Horsham Caitlin , Dutton-Regester Ken , Antrobus Jodie , Goldston Andrew , Price Harley , Ford Helen , Hacker Elke
Published: March 2021

Background

Public health sun safety campaigns introduced during the 1980s have successfully reduced skin cancer rates in Australia. Despite this success, high rates of sunburn continue to be reported by youth and young adults. As such, new strategies to reinforce sun protection approaches in this demographic are needed.

Objective

This study aims to develop a virtual reality (VR) game containing preventive skin cancer messaging and to assess the safety and satisfaction of the design based on end user feedback.

Methods

Using a two-phase design approach, we created a prototype VR game that immersed the player inside the human body while being confronted with growing cancer cells. The first design phase involved defining the problem, identifying stakeholders, choosing the technology platform, brainstorming, and designing esthetic elements. In the second design phase, we tested the prototype VR experience with stakeholders and end users in focus groups and interviews, with feedback incorporated into refining and improving the design.

Results

The focus groups and interviews were conducted with 18 participants. Qualitative feedback indicated high levels of satisfaction, with all participants reporting the VR game as engaging. A total of 11% (2/8) of participants reported a side effect of feeling nauseous during the experience. The end user feedback identified game improvements, suggesting an extended multistage experience with visual transitions to other environments and interactions involving cancer causation. The implementation of the VR game identified challenges in sharing VR equipment and hygiene issues.

Conclusions

This study presents key findings highlighting the design and implementation approaches for a VR health intervention primarily aimed at improving sun protection behaviors. This design approach can be applied to other health prevention programs in the future.
Reducing the Impact of Confounding Factors on Skin Cancer Classification via Image Segmentation: Technical Model Study (Preprint)
Authors: Maron Roman C , Hekler Achim , Krieghoff-Henning Eva , Schmitt Max , Schlager Justin G , Utikal Jochen S , Brinker Titus J
Published: March 2021

BACKGROUND

Studies have shown that artificial intelligence achieves similar or better performance than dermatologists in specific dermoscopic image classification tasks. However, artificial intelligence is susceptible to the influence of confounding factors within images (eg, skin markings), which can lead to false diagnoses of cancerous skin lesions. Image segmentation can remove lesion-adjacent confounding factors but greatly change the image representation.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to compare the performance of 2 image classification workflows where images were either segmented or left unprocessed before the subsequent training and evaluation of a binary skin lesion classifier.

METHODS

Separate binary skin lesion classifiers (nevus vs melanoma) were trained and evaluated on segmented and unsegmented dermoscopic images. For a more informative result, separate classifiers were trained on 2 distinct training data sets (human against machine [HAM] and International Skin Imaging Collaboration [ISIC]). Each training run was repeated 5 times. The mean performance of the 5 runs was evaluated on a multi-source test set (n=688) consisting of a holdout and an external component.

RESULTS

Our findings showed that when trained on HAM, the segmented classifiers showed a higher overall balanced accuracy (75.6% [SD 1.1%]) than the unsegmented classifiers (66.7% [SD 3.2%]), which was significant in 4 out of 5 runs (P<.001). The overall balanced accuracy was numerically higher for the unsegmented ISIC classifiers (78.3% [SD 1.8%]) than for the segmented ISIC classifiers (77.4% [SD 1.5%]), which was significantly different in 1 out of 5 runs (P=.004).

CONCLUSIONS

Image segmentation does not result in overall performance decrease but it causes the beneficial removal of lesion-adjacent confounding factors. Thus, it is a viable option to address the negative impact that confounding factors have on deep learning models in dermatology. However, the segmentation step might introduce new pitfalls, which require further investigations.