bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Poison or Potion: Effects of Sunflower Phenolamides on Bumble Bees and Their Gut Parasite
Authors: Gekière Antoine , Semay Irène , Gérard Maxence , Michez Denis , Gerbaux Pascal , Vanderplanck Maryse
Published: April 2022

Specific floral resources may help bees to face environmental challenges such as parasite infection, as recently shown for sunflower pollen. Whereas this pollen diet is known to be unsuitable for the larval development of bumble bees, it has been shown to reduce the load of a trypanosomatid parasite (Crithidia bombi) in the bumble bee gut. Recent studies suggested it could be due to phenolamides, a group of compounds commonly found in flowering plants. We, therefore, decided to assess separately the impacts of sunflower pollen and its phenolamides on a bumble bee and its gut parasite. We fed Crithidia-infected and -uninfected microcolonies of Bombus terrestris either with a diet of willow pollen (control), a diet of sunflower pollen (natural diet) or a diet of willow pollen supplemented with sunflower phenolamides (supplemented diet). We measured several parameters at both microcolony (i.e., food collection, parasite load, brood development and stress responses) and individual (i.e., fat body content and phenotypic variation) levels. As expected, the natural diet had detrimental effects on bumble bees but surprisingly, we did not observe any reduction in parasite load, probably because of bee species-specific outcomes. The supplemented diet also induced detrimental effects but by contrast to our a priori hypothesis, it led to an increase in parasite load in infected microcolonies. We hypothesised that it could be due to physiological distress or gut microbiota alteration induced by phenolamide bioactivities. We further challenged the definition of medicinal effects and questioned the way to assess them in controlled conditions, underlining the necessity to clearly define the experimental framework in this research field.
A Multi-Site Assessment of Anesthetic Overdose, Hypothermic Shock, and Electrical Stunning as Methods of Euthanasia for Zebrafish (Danio rerio) Embryos and Larvae
Authors: Mocho Jean-Philippe , Lang Florian , Valentin Guillaume , Bedu Sébastien , McKimm Robin , Ramos Juan , Saavedra Torres Yolanda , Wheatley Sarah E. , Higgins Joseph , Millington Mollie E. , Lundegaard Pia Rengtved , Chamorro Valverde Rubén , Jenčič Vlasta , von Krogh Kristine
Published: April 2022

Euthanasia in zebrafish (Danio rerio) younger than 5 days post fertilization (dpf) is poorly described in the literature, and standardized protocols are lacking, most likely because larvae not capable of independent feeding are often not protected under national legislations. We assessed the euthanasia efficacy in laboratories in different countries of a one hour anesthetic overdose immersion with buffered lidocaine hydrochloride (1 g/L, with or without 50 mL/L of ethanol), buffered tricaine (1 g/L), clove oil (0.1%), benzocaine (1 g/L), or 2-phenoxyethanol (3 mL/L), as well as the efficacy of hypothermic shock (one hour immersion) and electrical stunning (for one minute), on zebrafish at <12 h post fertilization (hpf), 24 hpf, and 4 dpf. Based on the survival/recovery rates 24 h after treatment, the most effective methods were clove oil, lidocaine with ethanol, and electrical stunning. For 4 dpf larvae, signs of aversion during treatment demonstrated that all anesthetics, except lidocaine, induced aversive behavior. Therefore, the most suited euthanasic treatment was lidocaine hydrochloride 1 g/L, buffered with 2 g/L of sodium bicarbonate and mixed with 50 mL/L of ethanol, which euthanized both embryos and larvae in an efficient and stress-free manner. Electrical stunning also euthanized embryos and larvae efficiently and without signs of aversion; this method needs further assessment in other laboratories to draw firm conclusions.
Ductus Venosus Agenesis and Portal System Anomalies—Association and Outcome
Authors: Nagy Rodica Daniela , Cernea Nicolae , Dijmarescu Anda Lorena , Manolea Maria-Magdalena , Zorilă George-Lucian , Drăgușin Roxana Cristina , Vrabie Sidonia Cătălina , Dîră Laurențiu Mihai , Sîrbu Ovidiu Costinel , Novac Marius Bogdan , Drăgoescu Nicoleta Alice Marinela , Gheonea Mihaela , Stoica George Alin , Căpitănescu Răzvan Grigoraș , Iliescu Dominic-Gabriel
Published: April 2022

To evaluate the prenatal diagnosis of agenesis of ductus venosus (ADV) and portal venous system (PVS) anomalies and describe the outcome of these cases, either isolated or associated. We evaluated the intrahepatic vascular system regarding the presence of normal umbilical drainage and PVS characteristics in the second and third trimester of pregnancy. The associated anomalies and umbilical venous drainage were noted. Follow-up was performed at six months follow-up. Ultrasonography was performed in 3517 cases. A total of 19 cases were prenatally diagnosed: 18 ADV cases, seven abnormal PVS cases, and six associations of the two anomalies. We noted an incidence of 5.1‰ and 1.9‰ for ADV and PVS anomalies, respectively. Out of the 18 ADV cases, 27.7% were isolated. Five cases (26.3%) presented genetic anomalies. PVS anomalies were found in 33.3% of the ADV cases. ADV was present in 85.7% of the PVS anomalies. DV and PVS abnormalities were found with a higher than reported frequency. Normal DV is involved in the normal development of the PVS. Additional fetal anomalies are the best predictor for the outcome of ADV cases. Evaluation of PVS represents a powerful predictor for ADV cases and addresses the long-term prognosis.
Scanning Electrochemical Microscopy-Somatic Cell Count as a Method for Diagnosis of Bovine Mastitis
Authors: Kasai Shigenobu , Prasad Ankush , Kumagai Ryoma , Takanohashi Keita
Published: April 2022

The method to diagnose mastitis is generally the somatic cell count (SCC) by flow cytometry measurement. When the number of somatic cells in raw milk is 2.0 × 105 cells/mL or more, the condition is referred to as mastitis. In the current study, we created a milk cell chip that serves as an electrochemical method that can be easily produced and used utilizing scanning electrochemical microscopy (SECM). The microelectrode present in the cell chip scans, and the difference between the oxygen concentration near the milk cell chip and in bulk is measured as the oxygen (O2) reduction current. We estimated the relationship between respiratory activity and the number of somatic cells in raw milk as a calibration curve, using scanning electrochemical microscopy-somatic cell count (SECM-SCC). As a result, a clear correlation was shown in the range of 104 cells/mL to 106 cells/mL. The respiration rate (F) was estimated to be about 10–16 mol/s per somatic cell. We also followed the increase in oxygen consumption during the respiratory burst using differentiation inducer phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) as an early stage of mastitis, accompanied with an increase in immune cells, which showed similar results. In addition, we were able to discriminate between cattle with mastitis and without mastitis.
Inflammation and Oxidative Stress as Common Mechanisms of Pulmonary, Autonomic and Musculoskeletal Dysfunction after Spinal Cord Injury
Authors: Rosales-Antequera Cristián , Viscor Ginés , Araneda Oscar F.
Published: April 2022

One of the etiopathogenic factors frequently associated with generalized organ damage after spinal cord injury corresponds to the imbalance of the redox state and inflammation, particularly of the respiratory, autonomic and musculoskeletal systems. Our goal in this review was to gain a better understanding of this phenomenon by reviewing both animal and human studies. At the respiratory level, the presence of tissue damage is notable in situations that require increased ventilation due to lower thoracic distensibility and alveolar inflammation caused by higher levels of leptin as a result of increased fatty tissue. Increased airway reactivity, due to loss of sympathetic innervation, and levels of nitric oxide in exhaled air that are similar to those seen in asthmatic patients have also been reported. In addition, the loss of autonomic control efficiency leads to an uncontrolled release of catecholamines and glucocorticoids that induce immunosuppression, as well as a predisposition to autoimmune reactions. Simultaneously, blood pressure regulation is altered with vascular damage and atherogenesis associated with oxidative damage. At the muscular level, chronically elevated levels of prooxidants and lipoperoxidation associated with myofibrillar atrophy are described, with no reduction or reversibility of this process through antioxidant supplementation.
Clostridium perfringens Associated with Foodborne Infections of Animal Origins: Insights into Prevalence, Antimicrobial Resistance, Toxin Genes Profiles, and Toxinotypes
Authors: Bendary Mahmoud M. , Abd El-Hamid Marwa I. , El-Tarabili Reham M. , Hefny Ahmed A. , Algendy Reem M. , Elzohairy Nahla A. , Ghoneim Mohammed M. , Al-Sanea Mohammad M. , Nahari Mohammed H. , Moustafa Walaa H.
Published: April 2022

Several food-poisoning outbreaks have been attributed to Clostridium perfringens (C. perfringens) worldwide. Despite that, this crisis was discussed in a few studies, and additional studies are urgently needed in this field. Therefore, we sought to highlight the prevalence, antimicrobial resistance, toxin profiles, and toxinotypes of C. perfringens isolates. In this study, 50 C. perfringens isolates obtained from 450 different animal origin samples (beef, chicken meat, and raw milk) were identified by phenotypic and genotypic methods. The antimicrobial susceptibility results were surprising, as most of the isolates (74%) showed multidrug-resistant (MDR) patterns. The phenotypic resistance to tetracycline, lincomycin, enrofloxacin, cefoxitin/ampicillin, and erythromycin was confirmed by the PCR detections of tet, lnu, qnr, bla, and erm(B) genes, respectively. In contrast to the toxinotypes C and E, toxinotype A prevailed (54%) among our isolates. Additionally, we found that the genes for C. perfringens enterotoxin (cpe) and C. perfringens beta2 toxin (cpb2) were distributed among the tested isolates with high prevalence rates (70 and 64%, respectively). Our findings confirmed that the C. perfringens foodborne crisis has been worsened by the evolution of MDR strains, which became the prominent phenotypes. Furthermore, we were not able to obtain a fixed association between the toxinotypes and antimicrobial resistance patterns.
Executive Functions in Birds
Authors: Bobrowicz Katarzyna , Greiff Samuel
Published: April 2022

Executive functions comprise of top-down cognitive processes that exert control over information processing, from acquiring information to issuing a behavioral response. These cognitive processes of inhibition, working memory, and cognitive flexibility underpin complex cognitive skills, such as episodic memory and planning, which have been repeatedly investigated in several bird species in recent decades. Until recently, avian executive functions were studied in relatively few bird species but have gained traction in comparative cognitive research following MacLean and colleagues’ large-scale study from 2014. Therefore, in this review paper, the relevant previous findings are collected and organized to facilitate further investigations of these core cognitive processes in birds. This review can assist in integrating findings from avian and mammalian cognitive research and further the current understanding of executive functions’ significance and evolution.
Effect of Temperature on Long-Term Thermal Conductivity of Closed-Cell Insulation Materials
Authors: Molleti Sudhakar , Van Reenen David
Published: April 2022

This study examines the isolated impact of temperature on the accelerated aging of closed-cell foam insulation materials. Laboratory aging of closed-cell foams was conducted at three temperatures: −10, 23 and 50 °C. This was to cover the range of the material’s in-service range within a Canadian climate. Three polyisocyanurate foam and one extruded polystyrene foam insulations were considered in the study. The three polyisocyanurate foam products tested showed significant variability in polynomial functions at lower mean temperatures when newly manufactured; however, these differences were found to diminish over time. Thermal conductivity decreased between 0% and 17% depending on mean temperature following equivalent 5-year aging at 23 °C. Aging polyisocyanurate specimens at −10 °C was found to decrease rate of change in thermal conductivity by approximately 5% compared to aging at 23 °C when measured at a mean temperature of 24 °C, while aging at 50 °C had a smaller impact. However, at mean temperatures below the beginning of condensation point, there was greater variability in the impact of aging temperature. For the extruded polystyrene, thermal conductivity decreased between 8% and 10% following equivalent 5-year aging at 23 °C and displayed a linear relationship with a 23% difference in thermal conductivity between −10 °C and 40 °C.
A Review of Wi-Fi-Based Traffic Detection Technology in the Field of Intelligent Transportation Systems
Authors: Lin Yongjie , Li Qihang , Lyu Duanya , Wang Xiaofei
Published: April 2022

With the increasing innovation and development of Wi-Fi technology, its penetration in the various fields of industry and academia is becoming more and more profound. As the core infrastructure of traffic data collection in the field of Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS), Wi-Fi-based traffic detectors have great potential for use in traffic target positioning, perception, and pattern recognition due to their low cost and extensive infrastructure deployment. This paper conducts a comprehensive review of three major Wi-Fi-based traffic detection applications in the field of ITS: target positioning, traffic parameter extraction, and travel mode identification. Among these, target positioning is one of the most widespread applications of Wi-Fi technology, which is also the basis for two other research aspects. Moreover, Wi-Fi-based positioning can be divided into two categories: ranging-based positioning and range-free one; in the field of transportation, it can also be categorized into pedestrian positioning and vehicle positioning based on travel mode. To further demonstrate the effectiveness of Wi-Fi-based ITS applications in practice, this study compares the various Wi-Fi-involved models and algorithms around the world, as well as provides some ideas and inspiration along with this direction.
Soft Tissue Sarcoma Study: Association of Genetic Alterations in the Apoptosis Pathways with Chemoresistance to Doxorubicin
Authors: Kirilin Evgeny M. , Fetisov Timur I. , Moiseeva Natalia I. , Lesovaya Ekaterina A. , Laletina Lidia A. , Makhmudova Leyla F. , Manikaylo Angelika E. , Fomina Liliya Y. , Burov Denis A. , Bokhyan Beniamin Yu. , Zinovieva Victoria Y. , Vilkova Alice S. , Mekheda Larisa V. , Kozlov Nikolay A. , Scherbakov Alexander M. , Belitsky Gennady A. , Švedas Vytas , Kirsanov Kirill I. , Yakubovskaya Marianna G.
Published: April 2022

Soft tissue sarcomas (STS) are heterogeneous cancers with more than 100 histological subtypes, different in molecular alterations, which make its personalized therapy very complex. Gold standard of chemotherapy for advanced STS includes combinations of Doxorubicin and Ifosfamide or Gemcitabine and Docetaxel. Chemotherapy is efficient for less than 50% of patients and it is followed by a fast development of drug resistance. Our study was directed to the search of genetic alterations in cancer cells associated with chemoresistance of undifferentiated pleomorphic and synovial sarcomas to the abovementioned genotoxic drugs. We analyzed chemoresistance of cancer cells in vitro using primary STS cultures and performed genetic analysis for the components of apoptotic signaling. In 27% of tumors, we revealed alterations in TP53, ATM, PIK3CB, PIK3R1, NTRK1, and CSF2RB. Cells from STS specimens with found genetic alterations were resistant to Dox, excluding the only one case when TP53 mutation resulted in the substitution Leu344Arg associated with partial oligomerization loss and did not cause total loss of TP53 function. Significant association between alterations in the components of apoptosis signaling and chemoresistance to Dox was found. Our data are important to elaborate further the therapeutic strategy for STS patients with alterations in apoptotic signaling.
Second MAFA Variant Causing a Phosphorylation Defect in the Transactivation Domain and Familial Insulinomatosis
Authors: Fottner Christian , Sollfrank Stefanie , Ghiasi Mursal , Adenaeuer Anke , Musholt Thomas , Schad Arno , Miederer Matthias , Schadmand-Fischer Simin , Weber Matthias M. , Lackner Karl J. , Rossmann Heidi
Published: April 2022

Adult-onset familial insulinomatosis is a rare disorder with recurrent, severe hypoglycemia caused by multiple insulin-secreting pancreatic tumors. The etiology was unclear until the variant p.Ser64Phe in the transcription factor MAFA, a key coordinator of β-cell insulin secretion, was defined as the cause in two families. We here describe detailed genetic, clinical, and family analyses of two sisters with insulinomatosis, aiming to identify further disease causes. Using exome sequencing, we detected a novel, heterozygous missense variant, p.Thr57Arg, in MAFA’s highly conserved transactivation domain. The impact of the affected region is so crucial that in vitro expression studies replacing Thr57 have already been performed, demonstrating a phosphorylation defect with the impairment of transactivation activity and degradation. However, prior to our study, the link to human disease was missing. Furthermore, mild hyperglycemia was observed in six additional, heterozygote family members, indicating that not only insulinomatosis but also MODY-like symptoms co-segregate with p.Thr57Arg. The pre-described MAFA variant, p.Ser64Phe, is located in the same domain, impairs the same phosphorylation cascade, and results in the same symptoms. We confirm MAFA phosphorylation defects are important causes of a characteristic syndrome, thus complementing the pathophysiological and diagnostic disease concept. Additionally, we verify the high penetrance and autosomal dominant inheritance pattern.
Expression of CD47 and SIRPα Macrophage Immune-Checkpoint Pathway in Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer
Authors: Giatromanolaki Alexandra , Mitrakas Achilleas , Anestopoulos Ioannis , Kontosis Andreas , Koukourakis Ioannis M. , Pappa Aglaia , Panayiotidis Mihalis I. , Koukourakis Michael I.
Published: April 2022

Background: Cancer cells escape macrophage phagocytosis by expressing the CD47 integrin-associated protein that binds to the SIRPα ligand (signal regulatory protein alpha) expressed by macrophages. Immunotherapy targeting this pathway is under clinical development. Methods: We investigated the expression of CD47/SIRPα molecules in a series of 98 NSCLCs, in parallel with the infiltration of tumor stroma by CD68+ macrophages, tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs), and PD-L1/PD-1 molecules. Results: Extensive membranous CD47 expression by cancer cells characterized 29/98 cases. SIRPα and CD68 were expressed, to a varying extent, by tumor-associated macrophages (Μφ, TAMs). A high CD68Mφ-score in inner tumor areas was linked with improved overall survival (p = 0.005); and this was independent of the stage (p = 0.02, hazard ratio 0.4). In contrast, high SIRPα expression by CD68+ TAMs (SIRPα/CD68-ratio) was linked with CD47 expression by cancer cells, low TIL-score, and poor prognosis (p = 0.02). A direct association of CD47 expression by cancer cells and the % FOXP3+ TILs (p = 0.01, r = 0.25) was also noted. Conclusions: TAMs play an important role in the prognosis of operable NSCLC. As SIRPα+ macrophages adversely affect prognosis, it is suggested that the CD47/SIRPα axis is a sound target for adjuvant immunotherapy policies, aiming to improve the cure rates in operable NSCLC.
Design and Development of a Catalytic Fixed-Bed Reactor for Gasification of Banana Biomass in Hydrogen Production
Authors: Tacuri Diego , Andrade Christian , Álvarez Paúl , Abril-González Mónica , Zalamea Silvana , Pinos-Vélez Verónica , Jara Lourdes , Montero-Izquierdo Andres
Published: April 2022

Hydrogen produced from biomass is an alternative energy source to fossil fuels. In this study, hydrogen production by gasification of the banana plant is proposed. A fixed-bed catalytic reactor was designed considering fluidization conditions and a height/diameter ratio of 3/1. Experimentation was carried out under the following conditions: 368 °C, atmospheric pressure, 11.75 g of residual mass of the banana (pseudo-stem), an average particle diameter of 1.84 mm, and superheated water vapor as a gasifying agent. Gasification reactions were performed using a catalyzed and uncatalyzed medium to compare the effectiveness of each case. The catalyst was Ni/Al2O3, synthesized by coprecipitation. The gas mixture produced from the reaction was continuously condensed to form a two-phase liquid–gas system. The synthesis gas was passed through a silica gel filter and analyzed online by gas chromatography. To conclude, the results of this study show production of 178 mg of synthesis gas for every 1 g of biomass and the selectivity of hydrogen to be 51.8 mol% when a Ni 2.5% w/w catalyst was used. The amount of CO2 was halved, and CO was reduced from 3.87% to 0% in molar percentage. Lastly, a simulation of the distribution of temperatures inside the furnace was developed; the modeled behavior is in agreement with experimental observations.
Microbiological Risk Assessment of Ready-to-Eat Leafy Green Salads via a Novel Electrochemical Sensor
Authors: Grasso Simone , Di Loreto Maria Vittoria , Arienzo Alyexandra , Gallo Valentina , Sabatini Anna , Zompanti Alessandro , Pennazza Giorgio , De Gara Laura , Antonini Giovanni , Santonico Marco
Published: April 2022

Nowadays, the growing interest in a healthy lifestyle, to compensate for modern stressful habits, has led to an increased demand for wholesome products with quick preparation times. Fresh and ready-to-eat leafy green vegetables are generally perceived as salutary and safe, although they have been recognized as a source of food poisoning outbreaks worldwide. The reason is that these products retain much of their indigenous microflora after minimal industrial processing, and are expected to be consumed without any additional treatment by consumers. Microbiological safety requires a systematic approach that encompasses all aspects of production, processing and distribution. Nevertheless, the most common laboratory techniques used for the detection of pathogens are expensive, time consuming, need laboratory professionals and are not able to provide prompt results, required to undertake effective corrective actions. In this context, the solution proposed in this work is a novel electrochemical sensing system, able to provide real-time information on microbiological risk, which is also potentially embeddable in an industrial production line. The results showed the sensor ability to detect leafy green salad bacterial contaminations with adequate sensibility, even at a low concentration.
The impact of Mayer–Rokitansky–Küster–Hauser Syndrome on Psychology, Quality of Life, and Sexual Life of Patients: A Systematic Review
Authors: Tsarna Ermioni , Eleftheriades Anna , Eleftheriades Makarios , Kalampokas Emmanouil , Liakopoulou Maria-Konstantina , Christopoulos Panagiotis
Published: April 2022

Background: Mayer–Rokitansky–Küster–Hauser (MRKH) syndrome is a rare congenital syndrome characterized by uterovaginal agenesis. Most patients are diagnosed during adolescence, when body image and sexual identity are shaped. Our main objective was to investigate how MRKH syndrome affects psychology, quality of life (QoL), and the sexual life of patients compared with non-affected individuals. Methods: Original peer-reviewed research papers examining psychological outcomes, QoL, and sexual function of MRKH patients were searched in PubMed. Titles, abstracts, and full text from potentially eligible records were reviewed by two independent reviewers. Case reports and papers published not in English were excluded. Results: Our search identified 63 records, of which 20 were included: 10 examined psychological and psychosocial outcomes, 14 examined sexual function outcomes, and 6 examined QoL outcomes. Results may be affected by selection bias and confounding due to differences between MRKH patients and controls. Conclusions: MRKH could be associated with a higher prevalence of anxiety and depression symptoms and social insecurity compared with women of a similar age without the condition. MRKH could also be associated with greater pain and discomfort during sexual intercourse and limitations in arousal, lubrication, and orgasm. MRKH patients more commonly experience impairment of mental-health-related QoL, but physical-health-related QoL is not affected.
Effects of Occupational Therapy via Telerehabilitation on Occupational Balance, Well-Being, Intrinsic Motivation and Quality of Life in Syrian Refugee Children in COVID-19 Lockdown: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Authors: Belhan Çelik Sümeyye , Özkan Esma , Bumin Gonca
Published: April 2022

We aimed to evaluate the effects of an occupational training program via telerehabilitation on well-being (WB), occupational balance (OB), intrinsic motivation (IM), and quality of life (QoL) in Syrian refugee children resettled in Turkey during the COVID-19 pandemic. This was a single-center, prospective, randomized, non-blinded trial in which children aged 13–15 years and attending a secondary school were recruited. OB, WB, IM, and QoL were evaluated via the OB Questionnaire (OBQ11), the Well-Star Scale (WSS), the IM Scale (IMS), and the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory (PedsQL). The intervention group attended online occupational therapy classes. Online classes were carried out as five sessions per week, each session lasting 1 h, for 3 weeks. Questionnaires were performed at the outset of the study and following the training program. Overall, 52 refugee children were randomized into the intervention and control groups, each including 26 children. The mean OBQ11, WSS, IMS, and PedsQL scores significantly improved more in the intervention group than in the control group. This was the first study investigating the effects of a customized online training course on OB, WB, IM, and QoL in Syrian refugee children, also affected unfavorably by the COVID-19 lockdown. Our results showed significant improvements in all the study scales that we used to quantify the alterations in the aforementioned traits.
Nurse’s Evaluation on Health Education in Portuguese Pediatric Hospitals and Primary Care for Children/Young and Parents
Authors: Pereira Anabela Fonseca , Escola Joaquim , Rodrigues Vitor , Almeida Carlos
Published: April 2022

Aim: This study aimed to analyze the nurse’s evaluation of the health education practice to children and parents. Methods: This is a descriptive and transversal research with a quantitative approach. The selection took place by non-probabilistic convenience sampling, and was developed with nurses on health units for pediatric hospitalization and primary health care in northern Portugal (Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro Hospital Center, EPE, Northern Regional Health Administration, Northern Local Health Unit, EPE.). Data were collected using a questionnaire with a sample of 311 nurses in the second semester of 2018. Results: 77.5% (n = 241) of nurses perform health education daily; 65% (n = 202) prepare according to the identified needs; the “Identification of children/young and parents’ health priorities” was considered to be the most facilitating element (n = 279; 89.7%); the most difficult element was the “Fear of confidentiality breach by the children/young and parents” (74.6%; n = 232); and 65.9% (n = 205) of nurses considered this practice to have equal importance compared to other nursing interventions. It was also found that academic/professional qualifications and the place of professional practice influence the importance that nurses attribute to HE practice. Conclusions: We can state that there is an appreciation of the binomial child and parents for a better identification of needs, and of the importance attributed to the current legal guidelines (letting themes leading to good health practices be addressed by nurses), which translates into a practice capable of influencing the determinants of health, which promotes health-enhancing behaviors and thus both leads to health gains and reinforces the nurse’s position as health-promoting agents.
Recent Advances in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
Authors: Chiappedi Matteo , Mensi Martina Maria
Published: April 2022

The field of child and adolescent psychiatry is receiving growing attention, although a number of local differences still exist in terms of academic curricula, board certifications and even definitions of what is to be considered part of this field or not [...]
Management of Sporadic Vestibular Schwannomas in Children—Volumetric Analysis and Clinical Outcome Assessment
Authors: Zipfel Julian , Gorbachuk Mykola , Gugel Isabel , Tatagiba Marcos , Schuhmann Martin U.
Published: April 2022

Vestibular schwannomas (VS) usually manifest between the 5th and 8th decade of life. Most pediatric cases are associated with Neurofibromatosis type 2 and sporadic VS are rare in this age group. Few case series have been published. We report on our institutional series of sporadic VS in children. We included all cases between 2003 and 2021; 28 of 1635 patients harbored a sporadic VS and were younger than 21 years old. A retrospective review of clinical parameters and surgical data as well as outcomes was performed. All procedures were performed via a retrosigmoid approach. Preoperative imaging was assessed, and tumor volumetry was performed. Mean follow-up was 28 months, symptomatology was diverse. Most children and adolescents presented with hearing loss and tinnitus. All cases with multiple preoperative magnetic resonance imaging scans showed volumetric tumor growth between 1 and 18%/month (mean 8.9 ± 5.6%). Cystic tumor morphology and bone erosion was seen in larger tumors. Gross total resection was possible in 78% of patients and no recurrence was observed. All patients with subtotal resection showed tumor regrowth. Sporadic VS in children are rare and present with a high clinical variability. Surgical resection is the primary therapy and is feasible with favorable results comparable to the adult age group.
Supportive Neighborhoods, Family Resilience and Flourishing in Childhood and Adolescence
Authors: Barnhart Sheila , Bode Molly , Gearhart Michael C. , Maguire-Jack Kathryn
Published: April 2022

Flourishing is linked with health and well-being in childhood and adulthood. This study applied a promotive factors model to examine how neighborhood assets might benefit child and adolescent flourishing by promoting family resilience. Using data from the combined 2018 and 2019 National Survey of Children’s Health, structural equation models tested direct and indirect relationships between neighborhood physical environment, neighborhood social cohesion, family resilience, and flourishing among 18,396 children and 24,817 adolescents. After controlling for multiple covariates that may influence flourishing, the models supported that higher levels of neighborhood social cohesion were directly associated with higher levels of flourishing adolescents, and indirectly by positive associations with family resilience for both children and adolescents. No indirect effects between neighborhood physical environments and flourishing were supported by the data for either children or adolescents. However, neighborhood physical environments were positively associated with adolescent flourishing. Understanding social environmental factors that strengthen and enhance child and adolescent flourishing are critical toward designing prevention, intervention, and policy efforts that can build on the existing strengths of families and their communities.
Nanoencapsulation of Red Bell Pepper Carotenoids: Comparison of Encapsulating Agents in an Emulsion Based System
Authors: Petito Nicolly de Lima , Devens Julia Marim , Falcão Deborah Quintanilha , Dantas Fábio Moyses Lins , Passos Thaís Souza , Araujo Katia Gomes de Lima
Published: April 2022

Red bell pepper extract rich in carotenoids was (RBPE) encapsulated with four different encapsulating agents: calcium caseinate (ECC), bovine gelatin (EBG), whey proteins isolate (EWPI), and concentrate (EWPC), aiming to investigate the most effective material to coat and enable the water dispersibility of pigments. Formulations were obtained by the oil in water (O/W) emulsification technique, followed by freeze-drying. Samples were analyzed by encapsulation efficiency, high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), dynamic light scattering (DLS), atomic force microscopy (AFM), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), dispersion stability, and CIELab. Nanoformulations showed a carotenoid encapsulation efficiency of 54.0% (ECC), 57.6% (EWPI), 56.6 % (EWPC), 64.0 % (EBG). Recovered carotenoid profiles from nanoformulations showed similarity to the RBPE, indicating the efficiency of the encapsulation process. Average particle sizes of approximately 109 nm (ECC), 71 nm (EWPI), 64 nm (EWPC), and 173 nm (EBG) were obtained. AFM revealed that all formulations exhibited spherical forms and a heterogeneous distribution profile. Regarding TGA, formulations presented similar thermal behaviors to and lower decomposition speeds than RBPE, suggesting improved thermal stability. Powder formulations were easily dispersed in water (8 mg/mL) and presented intense color and stability to sedimentation for 48 h. Results indicated that all formulations and the chosen technique efficiently increased carotenoid dispersibility in water, indicating their potential to be applied as natural food pigments.
pH-Dependent Coloring of Combination Effect Pigments with Anthocyanins from Brassica oleracea var. capitata F. rubra
Authors: Çoruh Orkun , Gündüz Güngör , Çolak Üner , Maviş Bora
Published: April 2022

Mica-titania pearlescent pigments (MTs) were previously coated with organic molecules to obtain combination pigments (CPs) for achieving certain improvements or functionalities. Anthocyanins (ACNs) are molecules that can be extracted from natural resources and exhibit color changes via pH modifications of the enclosing medium. The purpose of the study was to produce a new series of CPs by depositing ACNs on MTs at different pH values, to observe the changes in color, and to associate these changes to thermogravimetrically determined deposition efficiencies in light of spectral differences. The extraction and deposition methods were based on aqueous chemistry and were straightforward. The ACN deposition generally increased with increasing pH and correlated with the consistency between the charges of the MT surfaces and the dominant ACN species at a specific pH value. The fluorescence of the CPs was inversely correlated with the deposition quantities invoking the possibility of a quenching effect.
Understanding the Complex Impacts of Seatbelt Use on Crash Outcomes
Authors: Rezapour Mahdi , Ksaibati Khaled
Published: April 2022

Despite the importance of seatbelt use in the reduction of injuries and fatalities, the majority of past studies failed to account for the complex nature of seatbelts on the safety of roadways. The complexity of seatbelt use is especially related to a possible association between seatbelt use and other factors at the time of crashes. Ignoring those interaction terms might result in unrealistic or biased point estimates regarding the underlying impact of seatbelt use on roadway safety. For instance, is the impact of seatbelt use on the severity of crashes stable or varies based on other factors such as gender? Or does the impact of seatbelt use changes based on whether a driver is under the influence of alcohol or not? The mixed logit model was used to model the severity of crashes. In this study we focused on interaction terms between seatbelt use and all other plausible predictors of crashes. The results highlighted that there are important and significant interaction terms between seatbelt status and other predictors such as drivers under the influence (DUI), drivers with invalid driver’s licenses, lack of attention in crashes, having a citation record, ejected drivers, and other environmental and roadway characteristics. For instance, it was found that the impact of seatbelt use on the severity of crashes varies based on the actions that drivers took before crashes, such as improper lane changes or following too close. On the other hand, seatbelt use is more effective in crash severity reduction for ejected drivers and less effective for drivers under the influence of alcohol or unattended drivers. The results provide important information to gain a better understanding regarding the effectiveness of seatbelt use.
Mixtures of Dipolar Gases in Two Dimensions: A Quantum Monte Carlo Study
Authors: Pradas Sergi , Boronat Jordi
Published: April 2022

We studied the miscibility of two dipolar quantum gases in the limit of zero temperature. The system under study is composed of a mixture of two Bose gases with dominant dipolar interaction in a two-dimensional harmonic confinement. The dipolar moments are all considered to be perpendicular to the plane, turning the dipolar potential in a purely repulsive and isotropic model. Our analysis is carried out by using the diffusion Monte Carlo method, which allows for an exact solution to the many-body problem within some statistical noise. Our results show that the miscibility between the two species is rather constrained as a function of the relative dipolar moments and masses of the two components. A narrow regime is predicted where both species mix and we introduce an adimensional parameter whose value quite accurately predicts the miscibility of the two dipolar gases.
The Hesperornithiformes: A Review of the Diversity, Distribution, and Ecology of the Earliest Diving Birds
Authors: Bell Alyssa , Chiappe Luis M.
Published: April 2022

The Hesperornithiformes (sometimes referred to as Hesperornithes) are the first known birds to have adapted to a fully aquatic lifestyle, appearing in the fossil record as flightless, foot-propelled divers in the early Late Cretaceous. Their known fossil record—broadly distributed across the Northern Hemisphere—shows a relatively rapid diversification into a wide range of body sizes and degrees of adaptation to the water, from the small Enaliornis and Pasquiaornis with lesser degrees of diving specialization to the large Hesperornis with extreme morphological specializations. Paleontologists have been studying these birds for over 150 years, dating back to the “Bone Wars” between Marsh and Cope, and as such have a long history of naming, and renaming, taxa. More recent work has focused to varying degrees on the evolutionary relationships, functional morphology, and histology of the group, but there are many opportunities remaining for better understanding these birds. Broad-scale taxonomic evaluations of the more than 20 known species, additional histological work, and the incorporation of digital visualization tools such as computed tomography scans can all add significantly to our understanding of these birds.
Product Tests in Virtual Reality: Lessons Learned during Collision Avoidance Development for Drones
Authors: Settgast Volker , Kostarakos Konstantinos , Eggeling Eva , Hartbauer Manfred , Ullrich Torsten
Published: April 2022

Virtual reality (VR) and real-world simulations have become an important tool for product development, product design, and product tests. Product tests in VR have many advantages, such as reproducibility and shortened development time. In this paper, we investigate the virtual testing of a collision avoidance system for drones in terms of economic benefits. Our results show that virtual tests had both positive and negative effects on the development, with the positive aspects clearly predominating. In summary, the tests in VR shorten the development time and reduce risks and therefore costs. Furthermore, they offer possibilities not available in real-world tests. Nevertheless, real-world tests are still important.
Technological Features of Construction and Reconstruction of Geotechnical Structures in the Arctic Zone
Authors: Shepitko Taisiya V. , Lutsky Svyatoslav Ya. , Nak Grigory I. , Cherkasov Alexander M.
Published: April 2022

Production engineering methods and geotechnical instrumentation for the construction and reconstruction of railway beds in high temperatures in the Arctic zone are proposed. High-technology construction facilitates the development of transport infrastructure of the energy-producing industries in the Arctic. The example of the Northern Latitudinal Railway (NLR) highlights the probability of dangerous cryogenic processes and phenomena during works, such as waterlogging and the structural decline of the active soil layer, the development of taliks, and frost cracking, which lead to a decrease in bearing capacity of soil. The features of the construction and production plans used at the sites of railway embankment reconstruction with heavy-duty equipment are outlined. New process control methods have been developed based on the selection of and systematic changes in the parameters of maximum permissible construction loads depending on the results of geotechnical structure monitoring. The structural diagram of high technology for strengthening the weak subgrade soil under the conditions of talik development is substantiated. In order to regulate intensive process parameters, the vehicle fleet needs to be equipped with positioning devices and automation process control systems. The effectiveness of process control in terms of improving the reliability and accelerating roadbed consolidation is substantiated.
Interior Environment Design Method for Positive Mental Health in Lockdown Times: Color, Textures, Objects, Furniture and Equipment
Authors: Martín López Lucía , Fernández Díaz Ana Belén
Published: April 2022

In March 2020, the World Health Organization declared the outbreak of a COVID-19 pandemic accompanied by a series of mass lockdowns. Some of the consequences of these lockdowns were (1) psychological problems, (2) development of simultaneous activities in spaces not prepared for it, and (3) indoor spaces that generate negative emotions in people. To improve people’s mental health during times of lockdown, this research proposes a methodology to design positive interior environments through color, texture, objects, furniture, and equipment. For this, 147 qualitative surveys were carried out, the structure of which is based on research methods and tools inherited from marketing discipline (Likert Scale and Customer Satisfaction Score). Several operative graphs were created to make decisions on the design of interior environments. To avoid some of the problems caused by indoor environments during lockdowns it is recommended that users return to paying attention to the design of the interior spaces of their homes. Note that there is no standard solution to this problem, but a method to design interior environments based on people’s positive mental health such as the one presented here can help. The trends found in this work open a field of exploration towards the improvement of interior spaces through neutral colors, natural materials (cotton and wood) and objects with which emotional relationships are created, either with the objects (collections) or because they allow you to connect with other people (technology). It is considered necessary to continue with the research by expanding the sample to incorporate into the analysis the most vulnerable sectors of population during COVID-19 lockdowns.
Editorial: Diabetology: Feature Papers 2021
Authors: Clifton Peter M.
Published: April 2022

We begin this editorial with a discussion about insulin [...]
Automated Generation of Synoptic Reports from Narrative Pathology Reports in University Malaya Medical Centre Using Natural Language Processing
Authors: Tan Wee-Ming , Teoh Kean-Hooi , Ganggayah Mogana , Taib Nur , Zaini Hana , Dhillon Sarinder
Published: April 2022

Pathology reports represent a primary source of information for cancer registries. University Malaya Medical Centre (UMMC) is a tertiary hospital responsible for training pathologists; thus narrative reporting becomes important. However, the unstructured free-text reports made the information extraction process tedious for clinical audits and data analysis-related research. This study aims to develop an automated natural language processing (NLP) algorithm to summarize the existing narrative breast pathology report from UMMC to a narrower structured synoptic pathology report with a checklist-style report template to ease the creation of pathology reports. The development of the rule-based NLP algorithm was based on the R programming language by using 593 pathology specimens from 174 patients provided by the Department of Pathology, UMMC. The pathologist provides specific keywords for data elements to define the semantic rules of the NLP. The system was evaluated by calculating the precision, recall, and F1-score. The proposed NLP algorithm achieved a micro-F1 score of 99.50% and a macro-F1 score of 98.97% on 178 specimens with 25 data elements. This achievement correlated to clinicians’ needs, which could improve communication between pathologists and clinicians. The study presented here is significant, as structured data is easily minable and could generate important insights.
Resin Cement Residue Removal Techniques: In Vitro Analysis of Marginal Defects and Discoloration Intensity Using Micro-CT and Stereomicroscopy
Authors: Gaile Mara , Papia Evaggelia , Zalite Vita , Locs Janis , Soboleva Una
Published: April 2022

The objective was to compare marginal defects and evaluate discoloration for adhesively cemented veneers in vitro when using two cement removal techniques. Twenty premolars were prepared with chamfer and borders in enamel. IPS e.max CAD veneers were cemented using Panavia V5 and divided in two groups (n = 10): cement excess removed with a probe after tack-curing for 3–5 s, or cement excess removed with a brush, then completely polymerized. All teeth were stored in alginate gel until micro-CT examination. Scanning was performed twice: directly after cementation and after thermocycling (5000 cycles, between 5 and 55 °C). To analyze discoloration, teeth were colored using 0.5% basic fuchsine and examined under a stereomicroscope. Depth of dye infiltration was scored 0 (no discoloration) to 5 (discoloration along the entire margin). Statistically significant differences of cement defects before thermocycling were reported, where brushing showed more defects than probing (p = 0.0161). After thermocycling, the defects increased for both groups. Extensive discoloration was the most common (55.56%) when removing excess by probing; by brushing, 90% of the specimens exhibited slight discoloration (p = 0.008). Regression analysis showed no relationship between type of defect and degree of discoloration. Removing cement with a brush causes more marginal defects, however less discoloration after thermocycling.