bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
TECNOLOGIAS DA INFORMAÇÃO E COMUNICAÇÃO E SEU USO NA SAÚDE PÚBLICA: CONTRIBUIÇÕES AOS OBJETIVOS DO DESENVOLVIMENTO SUSTENTÁVEL – ODS 3
Authors: Matinei Sandra , Stefani Silvio Roberto , Carraro Emerson
Published: April 2023

O uso das tecnologias da informação e comunicação - TICs está, a cada dia, mais alinhado com a saúde pública, o bem-estar e a qualidade de vida das pessoas, contribuindo com a ODS 3 ONU. As TICs poderão causar impactos positivos na saúde pública, promovendo o diálogo e fortalecendo a relação pacientes, profissionais e gestão pública. Este estudo teve por objetivo geral analisar a utilização da tecnologia de informação e comunicação e seu uso na Saúde Pública e sua aceitação pelos usuários na saúde pública no Município de Guarapuava/Paraná – Brasil, contribuindo com os objetivos do desenvolvimento sustentável. Foi realizado um survey com 156 pesquisados no município. Conclui-se que os boletins informativos, divulgados nas redes sociais pelo município são eficazes e úteis na busca de informações sobre pandemia, vacinação, número de casos ativos, óbitos e atualização sobre matriz de risco. O aplicativo “Fala Saúde”, disponível vem sendo utilizado pela população, mas ainda não possui a mesma efetividade junto aos participantes.
The European Commission and the construction of information society
Authors: Αικατερίνη Σιδερή
Published: April 2023

Η παρούσα διατριβή επικεντρώνεται στη ρύθμιση της κοινωνίας της πληροφορίας στην Ευρώπη και στην ευρωπαϊκήΕπιτροπή κατά τη διαμόρφωση νομοθετικών προτάσεων και την εφαρμογή των νόμων μέσω τηςευέλικτης ρύθμισης, με σεβασμό στη διαφορετικότητα, επιδιώκοντας την προώθηση τηςτη συμμετοχή διαφορετικών ενδιαφερόμενων μερών στη διαμόρφωση των νόμων που τα επηρεάζουν. Επιδιώκω νανα εξηγήσω τις παραπάνω διαδικασίες με δυναμικό τρόπο, ξεφεύγοντας από την εννοιολόγηση τηςρύθμισης ως (μόνο) αποτελεσματικής επιδίωξης του δημόσιου συμφέροντος και ουδέτερης διαμεσολάβησης μεταξύαυτόνομων κοινοτήτων. Χρησιμοποιούνται τα θεωρητικά εργαλεία του Bourdieu για να υποστηριχθεί ότι αν και θαείναι μέσα στην πρόθεση των παραγόντων να σχεδιάσουν ουδέτερους κανόνες και μέσα στο αρχικό ρυθμιστικό δίκαιολειτουργία του νόμου να προάγει τη συμμετοχή και τη διαβούλευση, ο νόμος ενσωματώνει ένα όραμα που ξεπερνά τηνλειτουργία του και οι πράκτορες αντιλαμβάνονται τον κοινωνικό κόσμο με τρόπο που ξεπερνά την αντίληψη. Για να καταδείξουμεαυτό, εξετάζω περιπτωσιολογικές μελέτες.
Μελέτη της επίδρασης συμβουλευτικής ψυχοεκπαιδευτικής προσέγγισης μέσω τέχνης σε ασθενείς με χρόνιο πόνο καλοήθους αιτιολογίας
Authors: Καλμαντή Ασημίνα
Published: April 2023

Ως Χρόνιος Πόνος (ΧΠ) ορίζεται αυτός, που έχει διάρκεια μεγαλύτερη των 3-6 μηνών ή ο πόνος που επανεμφανίζεται ανά τακτά χρονικά διαστήματα και αποτελεί από μόνος του μία ξεχωριστή νόσο. Σύμφωνα με μελέτες εμφανίζεται στο 20% του γενικού πληθυσμού παγκοσμίως και μπορεί να οδηγεί σε κατάθλιψη, άγχος, προβλήματα ύπνου, κακή ποιότητα ζωής και δαπανηρές θεραπείες. Σχεδιάστηκε μία δομημένη ομαδική παρέμβαση 10 εβδομαδιαίων συνεδριών, με ενισχυμένη ΓΣΘ για ΧΠ και την Εικαστική θεραπεία ως συμπληρωματικές, με προσανατολισμό στις ψυχοκοινωνικές διαστάσεις του ΧΠ, υιοθετώντας σύγχρονα δεδομένα διαχείρισης του πόνου. Ο σκοπός της μελέτης είναι να διερευνηθεί η επίδραση αυτής της παρέμβασης στη θετική διαχείριση του ΧΠ καλοήθους αιτιολογίας. Συμμετείχαν 100 εξωτερικοί ασθενείς, οι οποίοι παρακολουθούνται στο Ιατρείο Διαχείρισης Πόνου της Β΄ Πανεπιστημιακής Κλινικής Αναισθησιολογίας στο ΠΓΝ «ΑΤΤΙΚΟΝ», οι οποίοι χωρίστηκαν σε 50 άτομα στην ομάδα παρέμβασης και 50 άτομα στην ομάδα ελέγχου (συνήθης θεραπεία). Η ανάλυση της κλινικής μελέτης παρέμβασης με προέλεγχο - μετέλεγχο ανέδειξε οφέλη σε πολλές διαστάσεις που αξιολογήθηκαν με κλίμακες, όπως η επίπτωση του πόνου στη λειτουργικότητα (Ελληνικό Συνοπτικό Ερωτηματολόγιο Πόνου, BPI), η υποκειμενική αντίληψη του ψυχικού πόνου (Κλίμακα ψυχικού πόνου Orbach και Mikulincer), η ανοχή του ψυχικού πόνου (Ερωτηματολόγιο ανοχής του ψυχικού πόνου Orbach και Mikulincer), τα επίπεδα του άγχους και της κατάθλιψης (Νοσοκομειακή Κλίμακα Άγχους και Κατάθλιψης, HADS), η προσωπικότητα (Ερωτηματολόγιο Ιδιοσυγκρασίας και Χαρακτήρα, TCI-140), και η συνολική εκτίµηση της ποιότητας ζωής (Ερωτηματολόγιο Ποιότητας Ζωής του Παγκόσμιου Οργανισμού Υγείας, WHOQOL-BREF). Η μέση ηλικία των συμμετεχόντων ήταν τα 52,3 έτη και οι γυναίκες ήταν περισσότερες (84%). Τα ευρήματα της μελέτης δείχνουν στατιστικά σημαντική μείωση στην ένταση του σωματικού πόνου (p<0,001), στα καταθλιπτικά συμπτώματα (p<0,001), στη σύγχυση σχετικά με τον πόνο (p=0,037), καθώς και βελτίωση στην ανοχή του ψυχικού πόνου (p=0,012) και την αντιλαμβανόμενη ποιότητα ζωής (p<0,001) στην ομάδα παρέμβασης. Η παρούσα μελέτη παρέχει αποτελέσματα, τα οποία ενισχύουν την κλινική χρησιμότητα μίας ψυχοκοινωνικής θεραπευτικής παρέμβασης που περιλαμβάνει δημιουργικές και γνωσιακές τεχνικές, με στόχο την ολιστική διαχείριση του ΧΠ καλοήθους αιτιολογίας με καινοτόμες προσαρμοστικές και λειτουργικές στρατηγικές. Διαστάσεις της προσωπικότητας των ασθενών φαίνονται να επηρεάζουν τη συμμετοχή και ανταπόκριση στην παρέμβαση. Συγκεκριμένα, η διάσταση «Αυτο-ϋπερβατικότητα» σχετίζεται θετικά με την ποιότητα ζωής των ασθενών, αποτελώντας προβλεπτικό παράγοντα ως προς την πεποίθηση των ασθενών με χρόνιο πόνο να τον διαχειριστούν.
The genome sequence of a caddisfly, Limnephilus rhombicus (Linnaeus, 1758)
Authors: Broad Gavin R. , Price Benjamin W. , Wallace Ian ,   Natural History Museum Genome Acquisition Lab,   Darwin Tree of Life Barcoding collective,   Wellcome Sanger Institute Tree of Life programme,   Wellcome Sanger Institute Scientific Operations: DNA Pipelines collective,   Tree of Life Core Informatics collective,   Darwin Tree of Life Consortium
Published: April 2023

We present a genome assembly from an individual male Limnephilus rhombicus (a caddisfly; Arthropoda; Insecta; Trichoptera; Limnephilidae). The genome sequence is 1,578.8 megabases in span. Most of the assembly is scaffolded into 30 chromosomal pseudomolecules, including the Z sex chromosome. The mitochondrial genome has also been assembled and is 21.9 kilobases in length. Gene annotation of this assembly on Ensembl identified 12,969 protein coding genes.
Gut microbiota disorders in obesity and colorectal cancer
Authors: Szponarowicz Patrycja , Rzeszutko Mateusz , Snopkowski Bartosz , Raczkiewicz Przemysław , Panek Eliasz , Jasłowski Damian , Panasiuk Dominika , Korzec Tomasz , Sosnowski Jakub , Skrętowicz Mateusz
Published: April 2023

Obesity and related diseases such as colorectal cancer are an important clinical problem in highly developed countries. In this article, the relationship between the occurrence of these diseases and the gut microbiome is presented on the basis of scientific research. The gut microbiome increases the energy value of consumed meals by breaking down to simpler substances not digested by human enzymes, and is involved in the regulation of lipid and glucose metabolism in the body. A proper microbiota influences the formation of SCFAs, or short-chain fatty acids, which have a protective effect on intestinal cells.  Intestinal dysbiosis affects endotoxaemia and inflammation, which accompanies cancer and obesity.
Impact of sleep disorders on cardiovascular diseases
Authors: Snopkowski Bartosz , Szponarowicz Patrycja , Panek Eliasz , Jasłowski Damian , Rzeszutko Mateusz , Raczkiewicz Przemysław , Panasiuk Dominika , Skrętowicz Mateusz , Korzec Tomasz , Sosnowski Jakub
Published: April 2023

Introduction and purpose: Sleep disorders are a diverse and widespread group of diseases affecting the cardiovascular system. The aim of this paper is to review the available literature and to summarize how selected sleep disorders affect the development of hypertension, ischemic heart disease and stroke. Methods and materials: Materials available in the PubMed and Google Scholar database were analyzed using the keywords “sleep disorders”; “sleep apnea”; “insomnia”; “restless legs syndrome”; “cardiovascular disease”; “hypertension”; “coronary artery disease”; “stroke " in various configurations. State of knowledge: Sleep disorders are a wide group of diseases with a diverse phenotype and pathomechanism, having a diverse impact on the condition of the cardiovascular system, leading to the development of diseases in the above system. Summary: The risk of developing hypertension, ischemic heart disease and stroke depends on the accompanying sleep disorders. Occurs with obstructive sleep apnea and sleep shortening. The correlation of restless legs syndrome to stroke is unclear. The relationship between insomnia and hypertension and stroke is not clarified. Keywords: sleep disorders, cardiovascular diseases, sleep apnea, insomnia, restless legs syndrome.
O urzędzie koniuszego przemyskiego i królewskim stadzie koni pod Przemyślem
Authors: Wolski Marian
Published: April 2023

Artykuł przedstawia – na podstawie źródeł dotąd niewykorzystywanych w ogóle bądź jedynie marginalnie – historię królewskiej hodowli koni pod Przemyślem oraz związanego z nią urzędu koniuszego, jedynego, jaki funkcjonował w Koronie na przełomie średniowiecza i czasów nowożytnych. Ukazuje ewolucję jego uposażenia, kompetencji i obowiązków, zmian w nomenklaturze, wreszcie skład osobowy, począwszy od schyłku XV w. po 1614 r., w którym umarł ostatni pełniący ten urząd.
Rozwój regionalny w warunkach centralnego planowania. Przypadek Polski w latach 1960–1973
Authors: Koryś Piotr , Tymiński Maciej
Published: April 2023

Artykuł koncentruje się na wpływie polityki inwestycyjnej na konwergencję regionalną w Polsce w latach 1960–1973. Na podstawie oficjalnych statystyk dotyczących regionalnego produktu materialnego netto i brutto oraz struktury zawodowej (sektor materialny/niematerialny) zrekonstruowano poziom PKB dla poszczególnych regionów Polski. Przeprowadzona analiza wykazała brak konwergencji regionalnej zarówno typu sigma, jak i beta. W rezultacie przeprowadzone badanie potwierdziło, że przestrzenna alokacja inwestycji w Polsce okresu rządów Gomułki i Gierka nie sprzyjała polityce konwergencji, a ze względu na inne cechy gospodarki centralnie planowanej spontanicznie wyłaniający się polaryzacyjny model rozwoju również okazał się nieefektywny.
ABORDAGEM HOLÍSTICA NA EDUCAÇÃO
Authors: Araújo Miguel Almir L. de
Published: April 2023

Neste texto explicitamos algumas reflexões acerca da cosmovisão holística e sua relação com a Educação. Fazemos referência ao paradigma cartesiano-newtoniano, realçando sua predominância em nossa cultura. Discorremos sobre a Holística como forma de compreensão  do mundo a partir da coexistência  dinâmica e interdependente  dos seres e fenômenos que o compõem, em seu fluxo permanente de mudanças, fundando-se  na dialogia entre Ciência, Arte, Filosofia e Tradição. Acentuamos as contribuições da Holística para a Educação no sentido de que aquela  prima  pela formação da inteireza de nosso ser, mediante a interação de nossos hemisférios direito e esquerdo no cultivo da sensibilidade  crítico- criadora,  de consciências  alargadas,  dos valores  primordiais  da   ética, da solidariedade, da amorosidade, da beleza.
CONFLITOS NO CAMPO RELIGIOSO BAIANO: PROTESTANTES E CATÓLICOS NO SÉCULO XIX
Authors: Da Silva Elizete
Published: April 2023

Pretende-se, no presente artigo, fazer uma abordagem pre- liminar, da composição do campo religioso baiano no século passado, destacando-se  a repercussão  e as reações   provocadas   com   a   instalação do protestantismo em uma sociedade culturalmente marcada pelo afro- catolicismo.  Será destacada  na   análise  a   inserção  da   Igreja  Anglicana e da Primeira Igreja Batista do Brasil.
MUNICIPALIZAÇÃO DO ENSINO FUNDAMENTAL: DE ANÍSIO TEIXEIRA AOS EMBATES CONTEMPORÂNEOS
Authors: Almeida Silva Antonia
Published: April 2023

A municipalização do ensino começa a ser tematizada, no Brasil, a partir dos anos cinqüenta, quando Anísio Teixeira passou a identificá-la como estratégia para a expansão  do ensino  fundamental. Desde então, a polêmica em torno desse tema vem ocupando a pauta dos debates sobre educação. O que para uns não passa de uma reforma político-administrativa, para outros, é um processo histórico de redistribuição do poder. Este trabalho documenta algumas inferências e algumas questões que têm marcado os debates ao longo  desses  anos e oferece  algumas reflexões sobre os embates contemporâneos em torno da problemática em destaque.
INFORMÁTICA: AINDA É PRECISO PENSAR SOBRE ISSO?
Authors: Teles Lopes José
Published: April 2023

Os problemas da sociedade contemporânea tais como a tragédia das massas famintas de alguns países africanos, as previsões de 80% da população mundial habitando o terceiro mundo no início do século XXI e as conseqüências da introdução – sem critérios sociais – das novas tecnologias, representam alguns dos itens do que se convencionou chamar problemática mundial. Questões dessa natureza constituem um emaranhado de problemas que não podem ser resolvidos e enfrentados de forma singular e isolada. São questões de alto grau de complexidade que envolvem decisões de nível técnico, social, político, ecológico etc.. Na busca de soluções, deve-se levar em consideração os estudos realizados sobre abastecimento de energia convencional, utilização de energia nuclear, desaparecimento de florestas tropicais, explosão demográfica, degradação do meio ambiente e informática, entre outros.
Synchronized triple-wavelength fiber lasers at 1, 1.55, and 1.9 µm
Authors: Zheng Jiancheng , Li Diao , Liu Peng , Cui Xiaoqi , Geng Wei , Zhang Qiang , Xu Zhenyu , Kauppinen Esko I. , Sun Zhipei
Published: April 2023

Synchronized lasers working at different wavelengths are of great significance for numerous applications, such as high-energy femtosecond pulse emission, Raman microscopy, and precise timing distribution. Here, we report synchronized triple-wavelength fiber lasers working at 1, 1.55, and 1.9 µm, respectively, by combining the coupling and injection configurations. The laser system consists of three fiber resonators gained by ytterbium-doped fiber, erbium-doped fiber, and thulium-doped fiber, respectively. Ultrafast optical pulses formed in these resonators are obtained by passive mode-locking with the use of a carbon-nanotube saturable absorber. A maximum cavity mismatch of ∼1.4 mm is reached by the synchronized triple-wavelength fiber lasers in the synchronization regime by finely tuning the variable optical delay lines incorporated in the fiber cavities. In addition, we investigate the synchronization characteristics of a non-polarization-maintaining fiber laser in an injection configuration. Our results provide a new, to the best of our knowledge, perspective on multi-color synchronized ultrafast lasers with broad spectral coverage, high compactness, and a tunable repetition rate.
Thermo-mechanical properties of BaGa2GeS(e)6 nonlinear optical crystals
Authors: Exner Ginka , Susner Michael A. , Murray Joel , Grigorov Aleksandar , Siebenaller Ryan , Conner Benjamin S. , Rowe Emmanuel , Guha Shekhar , Petrov Valentin
Published: April 2023

We report measurements of the thermo-mechanical properties of two
recently developed non-chalcopyrite, trigonal, mid-IR nonlinear
optical crystals, BaGa2GeS6 and
BaGa2GeSe6. These include orientation dependent
hardness and Young’s modulus, thermal expansion in the
200–430 K temperature range, and thermal conductivity in
the 184–473 K temperature range. Covering similar
wavelength ranges, these new quaternary compounds appear to be very
promising alternatives to the classical ternary chalcopyrites
AgGaS2 and AgGaSe2 due to the advantageous
properties evinced by the thermo-mechanical data.
A framework for deriving analytic steady states of biochemical reaction networks
Authors: Hernandez Bryan S. , Lubenia Patrick Vincent N. , Johnston Matthew D. , Kim Jae Kyoung
Published: April 2023

The long-term behaviors of biochemical systems are often described by their steady states. Deriving these states directly for complex networks arising from real-world applications, however, is often challenging. Recent work has consequently focused on network-based approaches. Specifically, biochemical reaction networks are transformed into weakly reversible and deficiency zero generalized networks, which allows the derivation of their analytic steady states. Identifying this transformation, however, can be challenging for large and complex networks. In this paper, we address this difficulty by breaking the complex network into smaller independent subnetworks and then transforming the subnetworks to derive the analytic steady states of each subnetwork. We show that stitching these solutions together leads to the analytic steady states of the original network. To facilitate this process, we develop a user-friendly and publicly available package, COMPILES (COMPutIng anaLytic stEady States). With COMPILES, we can easily test the presence of bistability of a CRISPRi toggle switch model, which was previously investigated via tremendous number of numerical simulations and within a limited range of parameters. Furthermore, COMPILES can be used to identify absolute concentration robustness (ACR), the property of a system that maintains the concentration of particular species at a steady state regardless of any initial concentrations. Specifically, our approach completely identifies all the species with and without ACR in a complex insulin model. Our method provides an effective approach to analyzing and understanding complex biochemical systems.
The association between cognitive ability and body mass index: A sibling-comparison analysis in four longitudinal studies
Authors: Wright Liam , Davies Neil M. , Bann David
Published: April 2023

Background

Body mass index (BMI) and obesity rates have increased sharply since the 1980s. While multiple epidemiologic studies have found that higher adolescent cognitive ability is associated with lower adult BMI, residual and unobserved confounding due to family background may explain these associations. We used a sibling design to test this association accounting for confounding factors shared within households.

Methods and findings

We used data from four United States general youth population cohort studies: the National Longitudinal Study of Youth 1979 (NLSY-79), the NLSY-79 Children and Young Adult, the NLSY 1997 (NLSY-97), and the Wisconsin Longitudinal Study (WLS); a total of 12,250 siblings from 5,602 households followed from adolescence up to age 62. We used random effects within-between (REWB) and residualized quantile regression (RQR) models to compare between- and within-family estimates of the association between adolescent cognitive ability and adult BMI (20 to 64 years). In REWB models, moving from the 25th to 75th percentile of adolescent cognitive ability was associated with −0.95 kg/m2 (95% CI = −1.21, −0.69) lower BMI between families. Adjusting for family socioeconomic position reduced the association to −0.61 kg/m2 (−0.90, −0.33). However, within families, the association was just −0.06 kg/m2 (−0.35, 0.23). This pattern of results was found across multiple specifications, including analyses conducted in separate cohorts, models examining age-differences in association, and in RQR models examining the association across the distribution of BMI. Limitations include the possibility that within-family estimates are biased due to measurement error of the exposure, confounding via non-shared factors, and carryover effects.

Conclusions

The association between high adolescent cognitive ability and low adult BMI was substantially smaller in within-family compared with between-family analysis. The well-replicated associations between cognitive ability and subsequent BMI may largely reflect confounding by family background factors.
A reliable and robust online validation method for creating a novel 3D Affective Virtual Environment and Event Library (AVEL)
Authors: Mavridou Ifigeneia , Balaguer-Ballester Emili , Nduka Charles , Seiss Ellen
Published: April 2023

This paper describes the development and validation of 3D Affective Virtual environments and Event Library (AVEL) for affect induction in Virtual Reality (VR) settings with an online survey; a cost-effective method for remote stimuli validation which has not been sufficiently explored. Three virtual office-replica environments were designed to induce negative, neutral and positive valence. Each virtual environment also had several affect inducing events/objects. The environments were validated using an online survey containing videos of the virtual environments and pictures of the events/objects. They survey was conducted with 67 participants. Participants were instructed to rate their perceived levels of valence and arousal for each virtual environment (VE), and separately for each event/object. They also rated their perceived levels of presence for each VE, and they were asked how well they remembered the events/objects presented in each VE. Finally, an alexithymia questionnaire was administered at the end of the survey. User ratings were analysed and successfully validated the expected affect and presence levels of each VE and affect ratings for each event/object. Our results demonstrate the effectiveness of the online validation of VE material in affective and cognitive neuroscience and wider research settings as a good scientific practice for future affect induction VR studies.
Changes to utilization and provision of health care in German GP practices during the COVID 19-pandemic: Protocol for a mixed methods study on the viewpoint of GPs, medical practice assistants, and patients
Authors: Doepfmer Susanne , Akdenizli Kemal , Dashti Hiwa , Heintze Christoph , Kaden Frank , Kuempel Lisa , Kuschick Doreen , Medrow Natascha , Neidhardt-Akdenizli Andrea , Otto-Gogoll Susanna , Reicherdt Isabelle , Steenweg Lydia , Toutaoui Kahina
Published: April 2023

Introduction

During the COVID-19 pandemic, general practitioners (GPs) continued to be a main point of contact for patients. For GP practices, it was and still is a challenge to meet constantly changing requirements due to the various phases of the pandemic. The aim of the study is to explore retrospectively the subjective experience with supply and utilization of health care services from the perspective of general practitioners, medical practice assistants and patients, in particular regarding instances of underutilization of services for non-Covid related conditions, adjustments due to the pandemic, and the appropriateness of care.

Methods

The study is carried out within the RESPoNsE research practice network in three of Germany’s federal states: Berlin, Brandenburg, and Thuringia (RESPoNsE—Research practice network east). The study follows a convergent mixed method design, and consists of the following sections: a) two anonymous paper-based questionnaires filled out by GPs and medical practice assistants (MPAs), at an interval of 12 to 18 months; b) in-depth qualitative interviews conducted among a subgroup of GPs and MPAs; c) anonymous paper-based questionnaires among patients of participating practices. The idea for the study was derived from discussions with the practice advisory board of the RESPoNsE network. The themes and issues to be explored in the surveys and interviews are developed and discussed in the practice advisory board, the patient advisory board, and with interested MPAs. The questionnaires will be analyzed descriptively, exploring the effect of demographic variables. Qualitative content analysis is used to analyze the data from the interviews and focus groups.

Discussion

The study focuses on the conditions of GP care during the COVID-19 pandemic. A broad insight is provided as GPs and MPAs, as well as patients, are involved. It provides the opportunity to express needs and concerns. The results can support future discussions on lessons learned from the pandemic and necessary changes in health care delivery.

Trial registration

Trial registration at the German Clinical Trials Register:DRKS00028095.
MicroRNAs expressed during normal wound healing and their associated pathways: A systematic review and bioinformatics analysis
Authors: Azevedo Morgana Lüdtke , Silveira Roberta Giorgi , Nedel Fernanda , Lund Rafael Guerra
Published: April 2023

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are responsible for regulating gene expression post-transcriptionally. Are involved in several biological processes, such as wound healing. Understanding the miRNAs involved in this process is fundamental for the development of new therapies. So, due to the need to understand the role of these molecules, we aimed systematically review the literature in order to identify which miRNAs are involved in the wound healing and determine, through bioinformatics analysis, which signaling pathways are associated with these miRNAs. An electronic search was performed in the following databases: National Library of Medicine National Institutes of Health (PubMed), Science Direct, Scifinder, Scopus and Web of Science, using the descriptors: “(microRNA [MeSH])” and “(skin [MeSH])” and “(wound healing [MeSH])”. After the search, two independent and previously calibrated reviewers selected the articles that analyzed the expression pattern of miRNAs in wound healing in in vivo studies, using the software Zotero bibliography manager. Following, bioinformatic analysis was performed using the software DIANA Tools, mirPath v.3 and the data was interpreted. The bioinformatics analysis revealed that on the day 1 there were 13 union pathways, eight of which were statistically significant. Still on the day 1, among the miRNAs that had a decrease in their expression, 12 of 17 union pathways found were statistically significant. On the day 5, among the miRNAs with an increase in expression, 16 union pathways were found, 12 of which were statistically significant. Finally, among the miRNAs with decreased expression, 11 of 15 union pathways found were statistically significant. Although it has been found substantial heterogeneity in the studies, with this systematic review, it was possible to study the panorama of miRNAs that may be altered in the wound healing. The present review summarizes existing evidence of miRNAs associated to wound healing, and these findings can contribute to new therapeutic approaches.
Online health communities influence people’s health behaviors in the context of COVID-19
Authors: Chen Xu
Published: April 2023

The online health community has the functions of online consultation, health record management and disease information interaction as an online medical platform. In the context of the pandemic, the existence of online health communities has provided a favorable environment for information acquisition and knowledge sharing among different roles, effectively improving the health of human, and popularizing health knowledge. This paper analyzes the development and importance of domestic online health communities, and sorts out users’ participation behaviors, types of behaviors, and continuous participation behaviors, influence motives, and motivational patterns in online health communities. Taking the operation status of the online health community during the pandemic period as an example, the computer sentiment analysis method was used to obtain seven categories of participation behaviors and the proportion of various behaviors of online health community users, and the conclusion is: the emergence of the pandemic, making the online health community a platform where people are more inclined to choose to consult health issues, and user interaction behaviors have become more active on the platform.
Solitary-specific drinking to cope motives explain unique variance in solitary drinking behavior but not alcohol problems compared to general drinking to cope motives
Authors: Skrzynski Carillon J. , Creswell Kasey G.
Published: April 2023

Objective

Adolescent and young adult solitary drinking is prospectively associated with alcohol problems, and it is thus important to understand why individuals engage in this risky drinking behavior. There is substantial evidence that individuals drink alone to cope with negative affect, but all prior studies have assessed motives for alcohol use without specifying the context of such use. Here, we directly compared solitary-specific drinking to cope motives with general drinking to cope motives in their ability to predict solitary drinking behavior and alcohol problems. We hypothesized that solitary-specific drinking motives would provide additional predictive utility in each case.

Methods

Current underage drinkers (N = 307; 90% female; ages 18–20) recruited from a TurkPrime panel March-May 2016 completed online surveys querying solitary alcohol use, general and solitary-specific coping motives, and alcohol problems.

Results

Both solitary-specific and general coping motives were positively associated with a greater percentage of total drinking time spent alone in separate models, after controlling for solitary-specific and general enhancement motives, respectively. However, the model with solitary-specific motives accounted for greater variance than the general motives model based on adjusted R2 values (0.8 versus 0.3, respectively). Additionally, both general and solitary-specific coping motives were positively associated with alcohol problems, again controlling for enhancement motives, but the model including general motives accounted for greater variance (0.49) than the solitary-specific motives model (0.40).

Conclusion

These findings provide evidence that solitary-specific coping motives explain unique variance in solitary drinking behavior but not alcohol problems. The methodological and clinical implications of these findings are discussed.
COVID-19 self-testing in Nigeria: Stakeholders’ opinions and perspectives on its value for case detection
Authors: Undelikwo Veronica A. , Shilton Sonjelle , Folayan Morenike Oluwatoyin , Alaba Oluwatoyin , Reipold Elena Ivanova , Martínez-Pérez Guillermo Z.
Published: April 2023

Background

COVID-19 testing coverage is limited in Nigeria. Access to rapid SARS-CoV-2 antigen-detection self-testing kits may help improve the detection of asymptomatic and mildly symptomatic cases and increase the country’s low rate of SARS-CoV-2 testing. Before implementing self-testing in Nigeria, assessing the population’s perceptions regarding this approach is imperative. In mid-2021, an exploratory cross-sectional qualitative research was conducted to investigate stakeholders’ values and preferences for SARS-CoV-2 self-testing in Nigeria.

Methods

In-person and online semi-structured interviews and focus group discussions with healthcare workers, representatives of civil society, and potential implementors of self-testing delivery programs were used to explore values and perceptions around access to conventional provider-initiated COVID-19 testing. Topics included the public’s values in relation to SARS-CoV-2 self-testing, the safe and effective use of SARS-CoV-2 self-testing, and likely actions upon receiving a positive SARS-CoV-2 self-test result. A thematic analysis approach was applied.

Results

The 58 informants (29 female) reported that Nigeria has limited availability of conventional provider-delivered SARS-CoV-2 testing. While just a few informants were familiar with SARS-CoV-2 self-testing, they generally supported using self-testing as an approach that they felt could assist with early case detection and improve access to testing. Concerns relating to the use of self-testing mainly related to the ability of low-literate individuals to use and interpret the self-tests, the affordability of self-tests, equity of access, and the availability of healthcare system support for those who self-test positive.

Conclusion

Although the Nigerian public perceive multiple benefits associated with access to SARS-CoV-2 self-testing, the perceived inefficiency of the national health service delivery system may limit the access of users of the kits to psychosocial and clinical support. Nevertheless, in Nigeria, where COVID-19 vaccine coverage is low and the risk of further waves of COVID-19 is high, self-testing may assist in the prompt detection of cases and contribute to halting the spread of the virus.
Exploring the associations between number of children, multi-partner fertility and risk of obesity at midlife: Findings from the 1970 British Cohort Study (BCS70)
Authors: Stannard Sebastian , Berrington Ann , Alwan Nisreen A.
Published: April 2023

Background

Early parenthood, high parity, and partnership separation are associated with obesity. However, the emergence of non-marital partnerships, serial partnering and childbearing across unions, means that it is important to consider their association to obesity. This paper examined the associations between number of biological children and multi-partner fertility (MPF)—defined as having biological children with more than one partner, with obesity at midlife.

Method

The sample consisted of 2940 fathers and 3369 mothers in the 1970 British Cohort Study. The outcome was obesity (BMI 30 or over) at age 46. Fertility and partnership histories ascertained the number of live biological children and MPF status by age 42. The associations were tested using logistic regression adjusting for confounders at birth, age 10 and age 16. Adult factors recorded at age 42 including age at first birth, smoking status, alcohol dependency, educational attainment and housing tenure were considered as mediators.

Results

For fathers, obesity odds did not differ according to number of children or MPF. In unadjusted models, mothers with one child (OR 1.24 95%CI 1.01–1.51), mothers who had two children with two partners (OR 1.45 95%CI 1.05–1.99), and mothers who had three or more children with two or more partners (OR 1.51 95%CI 1.18–1.93) had higher odds of obesity. In adjusted models, there remained an association between mothers with one child and odds of obesity (OR 1.30 95%CI 1.05–1.60). All other associations were attenuated when confounders were included.

Conclusions

Mothers who had children with multiple partners had higher odds of obesity. However this association was completely attenuated when parental and child confounders were accounted for; suggesting that this association may be explained by confounding. Mothers who had one child only may be at increased odds of obesity, however this could be due to multiple factors including age at first birth.
Dual career experiences of elite coaches enrolled at university level
Authors: Fusco Andrea , Capranica Laura , Palumbo Federico , Mosci Giulio , Ciaccioni Simone , Doupona Mojca , Cortis Cristina , Guidotti Flavia
Published: April 2023

The lifelong education of coaches is one of the priorities of the European Union. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate Italian elite coaches’ motivation to engage in a sport-related academic education, and its demands, barriers, support, and relocation issues in relation to their dual career (DC) path. Sixteen Italian elite coaches (e.g., certified fourth-level national team coaches, senior team coaches) enrolled in a specifically tailored Bachelor’s degree in sports sciences at the University of Rome Foro Italico (Italy) volunteered for this study. A qualitative approach integrating inductive and deductive reasoning, and thematic analysis was applied to participants’ responses to an open-ended item survey. Independently from relocation, student-coaches’ DC perceptions resulted in 15 lower-order themes further organized in 5 high-er-order themes (e.g., Benefit, Challenge, Expectation, Organization, and Support), each related to the contexts (e.g., Personal, Academic, Sport), the DC dimension (e.g., micro, meso, macro, and policy), and the DC push (e.g., facilitating) /pull (e.g., hindering) factors. The elite coaches’ insights emphasize the complexity of the coach lifelong education at university level, and provide valuable information for promoting European and National (e.g., Italian) DC recommendations for elite sportspersons through a cooperation between sport bodies and higher educational institutions.
Opportunistic colonoscopy in healthy individuals: A non-trivial risk of adenoma
Authors: Jin Xiaoliang , Cai Chang , Zhao Jing , Huang Liang , Jin Bo , Jia Yixin , Lyu Bin
Published: April 2023

Background

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the second leading cause of cancer death worldwide. Opportunistic colonoscopy may be beneficial in reducing the incidence of CRC by detecting its precursors.

Aim

To determine the risk of colorectal adenomas in a population who underwent opportunistic colonoscopy, and demonstrate the need for opportunistic colonoscopy.

Methods

A questionnaire was distributed to patients who underwent colonoscopy in the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang Chinese Medical University from December 2021 to January 2022. The patients were divided into two groups, the opportunistic colonoscopy group who underwent a health examination including colonoscopy without intestinal symptoms due to other diseases, and the non-opportunistic group. The risk of adenomas and influence factors were analyzed.

Results

Patients who underwent opportunistic colonoscopy had a similar risk to the non-opportunistic group, in terms of overall polyps (40.8% vs. 40.5%, P = 0.919), adenomas (25.8% vs. 27.6%, P = 0.581), advanced adenomas (8.7% vs. 8.6%, P = 0.902) and CRC (0.6% vs. 1.2%, P = 0.473). Patients with colorectal polyps and adenomas in the opportunistic colonoscopy group were younger (P = 0.004). There was no difference in the detection rate of polyps between patients who underwent colonoscopy as part of a health examination and those who underwent colonoscopy for other reasons. In patients with intestinal symptoms, abnormal intestinal motility and changes in stool characteristics were frequent (P = 0.014).

Conclusion

The risk of overall colonic polyps, advanced adenomas in healthy people undergoing opportunistic colonoscopy no less than that in the patients with intestinal symptoms, positive FOBT, abnormal tumor markers, and who accepted re-colonoscopy after polypectomy. Our study indicates that more attention should be paid to the population without intestinal symptoms, especially smokers and those older than 40 years.
Grape seed meal by-product is able to counteract oxidative stress induced by lipopolysaccharide and dextran sulphate in IPEC cells and piglets after weaning
Authors: Pistol Gina Cecilia , Marin Daniela Eliza , Bulgaru Valeria Cristina , Anghel Andrei Cristian , Sărăcilă Mihaela , Vlassa Mihaela , Filip Miuta , Taranu Ionelia
Published: April 2023

Oxidative stress is a pivotal factor in the pathogenesis of intestinal inflammation, leading to cellular damage and tissue injury. Natural antioxidants compounds found in agro-industrial by-products have proven their effectiveness in treatment of intestinal inflammation and oxidative stress, exhibiting many favourable effects. The aim of this study was to evaluate the capacity of a grape seed meal byproduct (GSM) to counteract the effects induced by E. coli lipopolysaccharide (LPS, 5μg/ml) in vitro on IPEC-1 cells and by dextran sulphate sodium (DSS, 1g/b.w./day) in vivo on piglets after weaning. Reactive oxygen species (ROS), pro-oxidant markers (malondialdehyde MDA, thiobarbituric acid reactive substances TBARS, protein carbonyl, DNA oxidative damage) antioxidant enzymes (catalase -CAT, superoxide dismutase -SOD, glutathione peroxidase -GPx, endothelial and inducible nitric oxide synthases -eNOS and iNOS) and several important components of Keap1/Nrf2 signalling pathway were analysed in IPEC-1 cells as well as in piglet’s colon and lymph nodes. Our results demonstrated that GSM extract or 8% dietary GSM showed anti-oxidant properties counteracting the pro-oxidant response (ROS, MDA-TBARS, protein carbonyl, DNA/RNA damage) induced by LPS or DSS and restoring the levels of endogenous antioxidant enzymes, including CAT, SOD, GPx, eNOS and iNOS in colon and mesenteric lymph nodes. These beneficial effects were modulated via Nrf2 signalling pathway in both in vitro and in vivo studies.
Archaeological evidence for two culture diverse Neanderthal populations in the North Caucasus and contacts between them
Authors: Doronicheva Ekaterina V. , Golovanova Liubov V. , Doronichev Vladimir B. , Kurbanov Redzhep N.
Published: April 2023

Neanderthals were widespread during the Middle Palaeolithic (MP) across Europe and Asia, including the Caucasus Mountains. Occupying the border between eastern Europe and West Asia, the Caucasus is important region regarding the Neanderthal occupation of Eurasia. On current radiometric estimates, the MP is represented in the Caucasus between about 260–210 ka and about 40 ka. Archaeological record indicates that several culture diverse MP hominin populations inhabited the Caucasus, but the region complex population history during this period remains poorly understood. In this paper, we identify for the first time the archaeological evidence indicating contacts between two culture diverse MP Neanderthal populations in the North Caucasus and discuss the nature of these contacts. Basing on the lithic assemblages that we excavated at Mezmaiskaya cave in the north-western Caucasus (Kuban River basin) and Saradj-Chuko grotto in the north-central Caucasus (Terek River basin), dating from MIS 5 to MIS 3, and comparative data from other MP sites in the Caucasus, we identify two large cultural regions that existed during the late MP in the North Caucasus. The distinctive toolkits and stone knapping technologies indicate that the MP assemblages from Mezmaiskaya cave and other sites in the west of North Caucasus represent a Caucasian variant of the Eastern Micoquian industry that was wide spread in central and eastern Europe, while the assemblages from Saradj-Chuko Grotto and other sites in the east of North Caucasus closely resemble the Zagros Mousterian industry that was wide spread in the Armenian Highlands, Lesser Caucasus and Zagros Mountains. The archaeological evidence implies that two culture diverse populations of Neanderthals settled the North Caucasus during the Late Pleistocene from two various source regions: from the Armenian Highlands and Lesser Caucasus along the Caspian Sea coast, and from Russian plain along the Sea of Azov coast.
A new iterative initialization of EM algorithm for Gaussian mixture models
Authors: You Jie , Li Zhaoxuan , Du Junli
Published: April 2023

Background

The expectation maximization (EM) algorithm is a common tool for estimating the parameters of Gaussian mixture models (GMM). However, it is highly sensitive to initial value and easily gets trapped in a local optimum.

Method

To address these problems, a new iterative method of EM initialization (MRIPEM) is proposed in this paper. It incorporates the ideas of multiple restarts, iterations and clustering. In particular, the mean vector and covariance matrix of sample are calculated as the initial values of the iteration. Then, the optimal feature vector is selected from the candidate feature vectors by the maximum Mahalanobis distance as a new partition vector for clustering. The parameter values are renewed continuously according to the clustering results.

Results

To verify the applicability of the MRIPEM, we compared it with other two popular initialization methods on simulated and real datasets, respectively. The comparison results of the three stochastic algorithms indicate that MRIPEM algorithm is comparable in relatively high dimensions and high overlaps and significantly better in low dimensions and low overlaps.
A foot and mouth disease ranking of risk using cattle transportation
Authors: Moreno Fausto , Galvis Juan , Gómez Francisco
Published: April 2023

Foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) is a highly infectious condition that affects domestic and wild cloven-hoofed animals. This disease has substantial economic consequences. Livestock movement is one of the primary causes of disease dissemination. The centrality properties of the livestock mobilization transportation network provide valuable information for surveillance and control of FMD. However, the same transportation network can be described by different centrality descriptions, making it challenging to prioritize the most vulnerable nodes in the transportation network. This work considers the construction of a single network risk ranking, which helps prioritize disease control measurements. Results show that the proposed ranking constructed on 2016 livestock mobilization data may predict an actual outbreak reported in the Cesar (Colombia) region in 2018, with a performance measured by the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of 0.91. This result constitutes the first quantitative evidence of the predictive capacity of livestock transportation to target FMD outbreaks. This approach may help decision-makers devise strategies to control and prevent FMD.
The SARS-CoV-2 Alpha variant was associated with increased clinical severity of COVID-19 in Scotland: A genomics-based retrospective cohort analysis
Authors: Pascall David J. , Vink Elen , Blacow Rachel , Bulteel Naomi , Campbell Alasdair , Campbell Robyn , Clifford Sarah , Davis Chris , da Silva Filipe Ana , El Sakka Noha , Fjodorova Ludmila , Forrest Ruth , Goldstein Emily , Gunson Rory , Haughney John , Holden Matthew T. G. , Honour Patrick , Hughes Joseph , James Edward , Lewis Tim , Lycett Samantha , MacLean Oscar , McHugh Martin , Mollett Guy , Onishi Yusuke , Parcell Ben , Ray Surajit , Robertson David L. , Shabaan Sharif , Shepherd James G. , Smollett Katherine , Templeton Kate , Wastnedge Elizabeth , Wilkie Craig , Williams Thomas , Thomson Emma C. ,   The COVID-19 Genomics UK (COG-UK) Consortium
Published: April 2023

Objectives

The SARS-CoV-2 Alpha variant was associated with increased transmission relative to other variants present at the time of its emergence and several studies have shown an association between Alpha variant infection and increased hospitalisation and 28-day mortality. However, none have addressed the impact on maximum severity of illness in the general population classified by the level of respiratory support required, or death. We aimed to do this.

Methods

In this retrospective multi-centre clinical cohort sub-study of the COG-UK consortium, 1475 samples from Scottish hospitalised and community cases collected between 1st November 2020 and 30th January 2021 were sequenced. We matched sequence data to clinical outcomes as the Alpha variant became dominant in Scotland and modelled the association between Alpha variant infection and severe disease using a 4-point scale of maximum severity by 28 days: 1. no respiratory support, 2. supplemental oxygen, 3. ventilation and 4. death.

Results

Our cumulative generalised linear mixed model analyses found evidence (cumulative odds ratio: 1.40, 95% CI: 1.02, 1.93) of a positive association between increased clinical severity and lineage (Alpha variant versus pre-Alpha variants).

Conclusions

The Alpha variant was associated with more severe clinical disease in the Scottish population than co-circulating lineages.