bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Correlation of Three Dimensions of Palate with Maxillary Arch Form and Perimeter as Predictive Measures for Orthodontic and Orthognathic Surgery
Authors: Kareem Fadil A. , Rauf Aras Maruf , Rasheed Tara Ali , Hussain Falah Abdullah
Published: June 2021

Hard palate is regarded as an important part of the human skull, which contributes to the separation of the oral and nasal cavities. The aims of the study were to investigate the morphology of the hard palate in order to create a general guideline of three-dimensional values of the palate in a Kurdish sample in the city of Sulaimani as well as determining the possible correlations between different palatal parameters in class I malocclusion with the maxillary arch form and perimeter. A retrospective study design was adopted by collecting 100 study models of orthodontic patients aged 16–24 years old attending different private dental clinics in the city of Sulaimani seeking orthodontic management. In this study, three-dimensional palatal measurements including depth, length, and width were measured in an attempt to discover their correlation with each maxillary arch form and perimeter. Additionally, measurements of inter-molar width, inter-canine width, and arch perimeter were carried out. About two-thirds of those seeking orthodontic treatment were females. Nearly 80% of the study sample had narrow palate followed by 15 and 5% of intermediate palate and broad palate, respectively. In regard to arch form, almost 90% of subjects were with tapered maxillary arch form and 10% of them with oval arch form. Males had increased dimensions compared to females, with significant differences, except in palatal depth in the molar area, and palatine height index, in which females showed increased dimensions than males but the differences were statistically non-significant. A strong positive correlation was observed between arch form and canine depth. In regard to arch perimeter, a strong negative correlation was found with molar depth and a medium positive correlation with each of canine depth, palatal width, and palatal length.
Uncertainty-Aware Deep Learning-Based Cardiac Arrhythmias Classification Model of Electrocardiogram Signals
Authors: Aseeri Ahmad O.
Published: June 2021

Deep Learning-based methods have emerged to be one of the most effective and practical solutions in a wide range of medical problems, including the diagnosis of cardiac arrhythmias. A critical step to a precocious diagnosis in many heart dysfunctions diseases starts with the accurate detection and classification of cardiac arrhythmias, which can be achieved via electrocardiograms (ECGs). Motivated by the desire to enhance conventional clinical methods in diagnosing cardiac arrhythmias, we introduce an uncertainty-aware deep learning-based predictive model design for accurate large-scale classification of cardiac arrhythmias successfully trained and evaluated using three benchmark medical datasets. In addition, considering that the quantification of uncertainty estimates is vital for clinical decision-making, our method incorporates a probabilistic approach to capture the model’s uncertainty using a Bayesian-based approximation method without introducing additional parameters or significant changes to the network’s architecture. Although many arrhythmias classification solutions with various ECG feature engineering techniques have been reported in the literature, the introduced AI-based probabilistic-enabled method in this paper outperforms the results of existing methods in outstanding multiclass classification results that manifest F1 scores of 98.62% and 96.73% with (MIT-BIH) dataset of 20 annotations, and 99.23% and 96.94% with (INCART) dataset of eight annotations, and 97.25% and 96.73% with (BIDMC) dataset of six annotations, for the deep ensemble and probabilistic mode, respectively. We demonstrate our method’s high-performing and statistical reliability results in numerical experiments on the language modeling using the gating mechanism of Recurrent Neural Networks.
Influence of Polyvinyl Alcohol Powder on the Mechanical Performance and Volume Stability of Sulfoaluminate–Portland Cement Composite
Authors: He Yuhong , Mo Liwu , Mao Zhongyang , Huang Fufan , Han Zhenghao
Published: June 2021

Cement quick repair materials generally have the defects of brittleness and early shrinkage. The modification of composite cement mortar by water-soluble glue powder—polyvinyl alcohol (PVA)—was studied in the condition of settled water cement ratio. At 90 days, the maximum flexural strength of mortar was 15.4 MPa, which was 1.3 times of the group without PVA and there was no strength shrinkage phenomenon. Through the analysis of the porosity, PVA improved the total porosity; high porosity could play a better role of buffering and absorbing the impact stress, effectively improving the toughness of mortar. At 28 days, the maximum impact resistance was 1.72 J/cm2, which was 1.75 times of the group without PVA. In addition, the increased total porosity also greatly absorbed the shrinkage stress at the early stage, and reduced the mortar self-shrinkage. When the PVA content was 1%, the volume self-shrinkage of mortar decreased from the initial 3360 μm·m−1 to 700 μm·m−1. According to the analysis of hydration heat, the addition of PVA effectively reduced the early hydration heat release rate and alleviated the concentrated heat release phenomenon to a certain extent. In this paper, the hydration reaction of composite cement and the action mechanism of PVA in composite cement were studied by means of X-ray diffraction, infrared spectrum and hydration heat analysis.
Development and Proof of Concept of a Low-Cost Ultrasound Training Model for Diagnosis of Giant Cell Arteritis Using 3D Printing
Authors: Recker Florian , Jin Lei , Veith Patrick , Lauterbach Mark , Karakostas Pantelis , Schäfer Valentin Sebastian
Published: June 2021

Objectives: Currently, ultrasound (US) is widely used for the diagnosis of giant cell arteritis (GCA). Our aim was to develop a low-cost US training model for diagnosis of GCA of the temporal and axillary artery using a modern 3D printing system. Methods: We designed an US training model, which enables measurement of the intima-media thickness (IMT) of temporal and axillary arteries using Autodesk Fusion360. This model was printed using a modern 3D printer (Formlabs Form3) and embedded in ballistic gelatine. The ultrasound images including measurement of the IMT by ultrasound specialists in GCA were compared to ultrasound images in acute GCA and healthy subjects. Results: Our ultrasound training model of the axillary and temporal artery displayed a very similar ultrasound morphology compared to real US images and fulfilled the OMERACT ultrasound definitions of normal and pathological temporal and axillary arteries in GCA. The IMT measurements were in line with published cut-off values for normal and pathological IMT values in GCA and healthy individuals. When testing the models on blinded US specialists in GCA, they were identified correctly in all test rounds with an intra-class coefficient of 0.99. Conclusion: The production of low-cost ultrasound training models of normal and pathological temporal and axillary arteries in GCA, which fulfil the OMERACT ultrasound definitions and adhere to the published IMT cut-off values in GCA, is feasible. Ultrasound specialists identified each respective model correctly in every case.
2 × 2 Textile Rectenna Array with Electromagnetically Coupled Microstrip Patch Antennas in the 2.4 GHz WiFi Band
Authors: Lopez-Garde Juan-Manuel , Del-Rio-Ruiz Ruben , Legarda Jon , Rogier Hendrik
Published: June 2021

The development of e-textiles is fostering research in wireless energy transmission. This paper presents a purely textile 2.4 GHz WiFi band 2 × 2 rectenna array for RF energy harvesting. It utilizes the electromagnetically coupled microstrip patch antenna topology and a simple and precise construction method that provides a good performance repeatability to create multilayer microstrip textile patch antennas. The rectifier is implemented with Schottky diodes and it takes the voltage doubling configuration. An average DC power of 1,1 mW was measured for 14 μW/cm2 of RF input power density, while the end-to-end average power conversion efficiency (PCE) measured was 31%. The characterization of the end-to-end PCE was evaluated considering the physical size of the prototype to make the comparison with other designs easier. Measurements in a real WiFi scenario were also performed, demonstrating its feasibility for feeding e-textiles.
A Fast and Simple Fault Diagnosis Method for Interleaved DC-DC Converters Based on Output Voltage Analysis
Authors: Li Po , Li Xiang , Zeng Tao
Published: June 2021

Interleaved DC-DC converters have been widely used in power conversion due to their high efficiency and reliability. In the application of new energy, this plays an increasingly important role in the grid-connected power generation of wind, solar, and tidal energy. Therefore, it is crucial to ensure the reliability and proper operation of interleaved DC-DC converters. We studied an open circuit fault (OCF) diagnosis method for a three-phase interleaved buck converter. We propose a non-invasive diagnosis method based on the output voltage using the harmonic amplitude and phase at the switching frequency as the diagnostic criteria. Evaluation was carried out on a hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) test platform to prove the validity of the proposed method. The results show that the presented method had high accuracy and robustness against OCFs, which could otherwise damage the system.
Comparative Evaluation of Direct Disposal and Pyro-SFR Nuclear Fuel Cycle Alternatives Using Multi Criteria Decision Making in Korea
Authors: Kim Sungki , Kim Jin-Seop , Cho Dong-Keun
Published: June 2021

The Korean government is currently evaluating two alternatives, direct disposal and pyroprocessing, for the disposal of spent nuclear fuel. This paper presents the ranking results of comparing and evaluating direct disposal and pyro-SFR fuel cycle alternatives using multi-criteria decision-making methods such as AHP, TOPSIS, and PROMETHEE. In considering the various evaluation criteria involved in these two alternatives, we aimed to determine the optimal choice in terms of the economic and social conditions of Korea. The evaluation criteria considered were safety, resource availability, environmental impact, economics, nuclear proliferation resistance, and public acceptance. The results show that the pyro-SFR fuel cycle alternative is more advantageous than direct disposal in the AHP and TOPSIS methods, whereas direct disposal is more advantageous in the PROMETHEE method because the ranking is reversed. TOPSIS assigns the ideal value and the most negative value among the input values to each criterion as a parameter reflecting the concept of distance between the best alternative and the worst alternative. In contrast, the PROMETHEE method first selects the preference function including the preference threshold, and calculates the preferred outflow and the preferred inflow for the detailed evaluation indicators. Therefore, differences exist in the methodologies of multi-criteria decision making. Nonetheless, the analysis results of the back-end fuel cycle option can greatly contribute to establishing a nuclear policy for the back-end nuclear fuel cycle, and these efforts will enable sustainable nuclear power generation.
A Tri-Layer Optimization Framework for Day-Ahead Energy Scheduling Based on Cost and Discomfort Minimization
Authors: Koukaras Paraskevas , Gkaidatzis Paschalis , Bezas Napoleon , Bragatto Tommaso , Carere Federico , Santori Francesca , Antal Marcel , Ioannidis Dimosthenis , Tjortjis Christos , Tzovaras Dimitrios
Published: June 2021

Over the past few decades, industry and academia have made great strides to improve aspects related with optimal energy management. These include better ways for efficient energy asset management, generating great opportunities for optimization of energy distribution, discomfort minimization, energy production, cost reduction and more. This paper proposes a framework for a multi-objective analysis, acting as a novel tool that offers responses for optimal energy management through a decision support system. The novelty is in the structure of the methodology, since it considers two distinct optimization problems for two actors, consumers and aggregators, with solution being able to completely or partly interact with the other one is in the form of a demand response signal exchange. The overall optimization is formulated by a bi-objective optimization problem for the consumer side, aiming at cost minimization and discomfort reduction, and a single objective optimization problem for the aggregator side aiming at cost minimization. The framework consists of three architectural layers, namely, the consumer, aggregator and decision support system (DSS), forming a tri-layer optimization framework with multiple interacting objects, such as objective functions, variables, constants and constraints. The DSS layer is responsible for decision support by forecasting the day-ahead energy management requirements. The main purpose of this study is to achieve optimal management of energy resources, considering both aggregator and consumer preferences and goals, whilst abiding with real-world system constraints. This is conducted through detailed simulations using real data from a pilot, that is part of Terni Distribution System portfolio.
Model-Based System Performance Analysis of a Solid Oxide Fuel Cell System with Anode Off-Gas Recirculation
Authors: Choi Eun-Jung , Yu Sangseok , Kim Ji-Min , Lee Sang-Min
Published: June 2021

Designing proper solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) system configurations is essential for their high efficiency. The present study analyzes the performance improvement of the SOFC system with anode off-gas recirculation (AOGR). Two AOGR configurations are suggested. Depending on the heat flows of off gases, the configurations are called AOGR #1 and #2, respectively. Additionally, a reference system is examined for comparison. This study aims to numerically evaluate the characteristics and performance of each system under various operating conditions such as fuel and air utilization factors. The operating current density and steam to carbon ratio are fixed at 0.3 A/cm2 and 2.5, respectively. The results indicate that the system performance shows a large difference depending on the system configurations. The SOFC system with AOGR has better performance than the reference system under the operating conditions considered in this paper. However, it is also revealed that depending on the system configuration and operating conditions, AOGR can be effective or ineffective for system performance. Therefore, a deliberate operating strategy for AOGR systems needs to be developed based on the load conditions.
A New Model Predictive Control Method for Eliminating Hydraulic Oscillation and Dynamic Hydraulic Imbalance in a Complex Chilled Water System
Authors: Yuan Yang , Zhu Neng , Zhou Haizhu , Wang Hai
Published: June 2021

To enhance the energy performance of a central air-conditioning system, an effective control method for the chilled water system is always essential. However, it is a real challenge to distribute exact cooling energy to multiple terminal units in different floors via a complex chilled water network. To mitigate hydraulic imbalance in a complex chilled water system, many throttle valves and variable-speed pumps are installed, which are usually regulated by PID-based controllers. Due to the severe hydraulic coupling among the valves and pumps, the hydraulic oscillation phenomena often occur while using those feedback-based controllers. Based on a data-calibrated water distribution model which can accurately predict the hydraulic behaviors of a chilled water system, a new Model Predictive Control (MPC) method is proposed in this study. The proposed method is validated by a real-life chilled water system in a 22-floor hotel. By the proposed method, the valves and pumps can be regulated safely without any hydraulic oscillations. Simultaneously, the hydraulic imbalance among different floors is also eliminated, which can save 23.3% electricity consumption of the pumps.
Spatially-Explicit Prediction of Capacity Density Advances Geographic Characterization of Wind Power Technical Potential
Authors: Harrison-Atlas Dylan , Maclaurin Galen , Lantz Eric
Published: June 2021

Mounting interest in ambitious clean energy goals is exposing critical gaps in our understanding of onshore wind power potential. Conventional approaches to evaluating wind power technical potential at the national scale rely on coarse geographic representations of land area requirements for wind power. These methods overlook sizable spatial variation in real-world capacity densities (i.e., nameplate power capacity per unit area) and assume that potential installation densities are uniform across space. Here, we propose a data-driven approach to overcome persistent challenges in characterizing localized deployment potentials over broad extents. We use machine learning to develop predictive relationships between observed capacity densities and geospatial variables. The model is validated against a comprehensive data set of United States (U.S.) wind facilities and subjected to interrogation techniques to reveal that key explanatory features behind geographic variation of capacity density are related to wind resource as well as urban accessibility and forest cover. We demonstrate application of the model by producing a high-resolution (2 km × 2 km) national map of capacity density for use in technical potential assessments for the United States. Our findings illustrate that this methodology offers meaningful improvements in the characterization of spatial aspects of technical potential, which are increasingly critical to draw reliable and actionable planning and research insights from renewable energy scenarios.
Integration of Voltage Source Converters in Steady-State RMS Short-Circuit Analysis
Authors: Teixeira Carlos Coelho , Leite Helder
Published: June 2021

Voltage source converters (VSCs) are self-commutated converters able to generate AC voltages with or without the support of an AC connecting grid. VSCs allow fast control of active and reactive powers in an independent way. VSCs also have black start capability. Their use in high-voltage direct current (HVDC) systems, comparative to the more mature current source converter (CSC)-based HVDC, offers faster active power flow control. In addition, VSCs provide flexible reactive power control, independent at each converter terminal. It is also useful when connecting DC sources to weak AC grids. Steady-state RMS analysis techniques are commonly used for early-stage analysis, for design purposes and for relaying. Sources interfaced through DC/AC or AC/DC/AC converters, opposite to conventional generators, are not well represented by electromotive forces (E) behind impedance models. A methodology to include voltage source converters (VSCs) in conventional RMS short-circuit analysis techniques is advanced in this work. It represents an iterative procedure inside general calculation techniques and can even be used by those with only basic power electronics knowledge. Results are compared to those of the commercial software package PSS®CAPE to demonstrate the validity of the proposed rmsVSC algorithm.
Prospective of Upfront Nitrogen (N2) Removal in LNG Plants: Technical Communication
Authors: Almomani Fares , Othman Asmaa , Pal Ajinkya , Al-Musleh Easa I. , Karimi Iftekhar A.
Published: June 2021

Conventional natural gas (NG) liquefaction processes remove N2 near the tail of the plant, which limits production capacity and decreases energy efficiency and profit. Engineering calculations suggest that upfront N2 removal could have substantial economic benefits on large-scale liquefied natural gas (LNG) processes. This article provides an overview of the most promising technologies that can be employed for upfront N2 removal in the LNG process, focusing on the process selection and design considerations of all currently available upfront N2 removal technologies. The literature review revealed that although adsorption has proven to be a huge success in gas separation processes (efficiency ≥ 90%), most of the available adsorbents are CH4-selective at typical NG conditions. It would be more encouraging to find N2-selective adsorbents to apply in upfront N2 removal technology. Membrane gas separation has shown growing performance due to its flexible operation, small footprint, and reduced investment cost and energy consumption. However, the use of such technology as upfront N2 removal requires multi-stage membranes to reduce the nitrogen content and satisfy LNG specifications. The efficiency of such technology should be correlated with the cost of gas re-compression, product quality, and pressure. A hybrid system of adsorption/membrane processes was proposed to eliminate the disadvantages of both technologies and enhance productivity that required further investigation. Upfront N2 removal technology based on sequential high and low-pressure distillation was presented and showed interesting results. The distillation process, operated with at least 17.6% upfront N2 removal, reduced specific power requirements by 5% and increased the plant capacity by 16% in a 530 MMSCFD LNG plant. Lithium-cycle showed promising results as an upfront N2 chemical removal technology. Recent studies showed that this process could reduce the NG N2 content at ambient temperature and 80 bar from 10% to 0.5% N2, achieving the required LNG specifications. Gas hydrate could have the potential as upfront N2 removal technology if the is process modified to guarantee significant removals of low N2 concentration from a mixture of hydrocarbons. Retrofitting the proposed technologies into LNG plants, design alterations, removal limits, and cost analysis are challenges that are open for further exploration in the near future. The present review offers directions for different researchers to explore different alternatives for upfront N2 removal from NG.
Impact of Tetrapeptide-FSEY on Oxidative and Physical Stability of Hazelnut Oil-In-Water Emulsion
Authors: Shi Chenshan , Liu Miaomiao , Ma Qinghua , Zhao Tiantian , Liang Lisong , Zhang Bolin
Published: June 2021

This study investigates the antioxidant behaviors of a hazelnut tetrapeptide, FSEY (Phe-Ser-Glu-Tyr), in an oil-in-water emulsion. The emulsion was prepared with stripped hazelnut oil at a ratio of 10%. O/W emulsions, both with and without antioxidants (FSEY and TBHQ), were incubated at 37 °C. The chemical stabilities, including those of free radicals and primary and secondary oxidation productions, along with the physical stabilities, which include particle size, zeta-potential, color, pH, and ΔBS, were analyzed. Consequently, FSEY displayed excellent antioxidant behaviors in the test system by scavenging free lipid radicals. Both primary and secondary oxidation products were significantly lower in the FSEY groups. Furthermore, FSEY assisted in stabilizing the physical structure of the emulsion. This antioxidant could inhibit the increase in particle size, prevent the formation of creaming, and stabilize the original color and pH of the emulsion. Consequently, FSEY may be an effective antioxidant additive to use in emulsion systems.
A Content Analysis of Video Advertisements for Dietary Supplements in Japan
Authors: Iye Reina , Okuhara Tsuyoshi , Okada Hiroko , Yokota Rie , Kiuchi Takahiro
Published: June 2021

Dietary supplements are widely advertised and the market is expanding worldwide. Research suggests that dietary supplement advertising may lead consumers to make inappropriate health-related decisions, to express behaviors such as overdosing, and to neglect healthy lifestyle behaviors. We conducted a content analysis of video advertisements for dietary supplements and described the content of advertisements with high numbers and frequent views. We analyzed 82 video advertisements on YouTube that promoted fat-reduction effects. We extracted 22 themes and classified them into 10 categories. The categories with the highest numbers of advertisements were “Exemption” (i.e., consuming the product frees the audience from refraining from binge eating) (20 ads, 24.4%) and “Health Concerns” (i.e., the product intake solves the health concerns of the audience) (19 ads, 23.2%). These advertisements may stimulate negative audience attitudes toward appropriate health behaviors. The category with the most frequent views was “Lifestyle” (i.e., adding product intake to a healthy lifestyle) (3,035,298 views). “Lifestyle” advertisements portray physical activity in a positive light and may promote appropriate health behaviors in the audience. We discuss the possible effects of the advertisements on audiences and consider issues for future research and practice.
Patterns of Periodontal Destruction among Smokeless Tobacco Users in a Central Indian Population
Authors: Anand Pradeep S. , Mishra Supriya , Nagle Deepti , Kamath Namitha P. , Kamath Kavitha P. , Anil Sukumaran
Published: June 2021

Background: Findings of studies testing the association between smokeless tobacco (SLT) use and periodontal health have shown varying results in different populations. Considering the high prevalence of SLT use in India, the present study was conducted to understand the pattern of periodontal destruction within different areas of the dentition among SLT users. Methods: Age, gender, oral hygiene habits, the frequency and duration of SLT consumption, the type of SLT product used, and the site of retention of the SLT product in the oral cavity were recorded among 90 SLT users. Probing depth (PD), recession (REC), and clinical attachment loss (CAL) at SLT-associated and non SLT-associated teeth of the mandibular arch were compared based on the site of retention of the SLT product, the type of product used, and the duration of the habit. Results: REC and CAL were significantly higher at the SLT-associated zones compared to non SLT-associated zones and at both interproximal and mid-buccal sites of SLT-associated teeth. Among individuals who had the habit for more than 5 years and also among those who had the habit for 5–10 years, PD, REC, and CAL were significantly higher at SLT-associated teeth than at non SLT-associated teeth. Significantly greater periodontal destruction was observed at SLT-associated teeth among khaini users and gutkha users. Conclusions: Smokeless tobacco consumption resulted in greater destruction of periodontal tissues. The severity of periodontal destruction at SLT-associated sites differed depending on the type of smokeless tobacco used, the site of retention of the SLT, and the duration of the habit.
Point Process Models for the Spread of Coccidioidomycosis in California
Authors: Wang Jiajia , Harrigan Ryan J. , Schoenberg Frederic P.
Published: June 2021

Coccidioidomycosis is an infectious disease of humans and other mammals that has seen a recent increase in occurrence in the southwestern United States, particularly in California. A rise in cases and risk to public health can serve as the impetus to apply newly developed methods that can quickly and accurately predict future caseloads. The recursive and Hawkes point process models with various triggering functions were fit to the data and their goodness of fit evaluated and compared. Although the point process models were largely similar in their fit to the data, the recursive point process model offered a slightly superior fit. We explored forecasting the spread of coccidioidomycosis in California from December 2002 to December 2017 using this recursive model, and we separated the training and testing portions of the data and achieved a root mean squared error of just 3.62 cases/week.
A Randomized Controlled Trial Protocol to Test the Efficacy of a Dual-Task Multicomponent Exercise Program vs. a Simple Program on Cognitive and Fitness Performance in Elderly People
Authors: Párraga-Montilla Juan Antonio , Aibar-Almazán Agustín , Cabrera-Linares José Carlos , Lozano-Aguilera Emilio , Serrano Huete Víctor , Escarabajal Arrieta María Dolores , Latorre-Román Pedro Ángel
Published: June 2021

Background: The necessity of improve the life quality in elderly people is well-known. The aim of this study was to determine the effects of physical and cognitive training programs, as well as their combination on the cognitive functions and physical capacities in women over 80 years old. Methods: Forty-three women took part in this study (80.86 ± 5.03 years). They were divided into four groups (three experimental groups and one control group). Experimental group 1 performed cognitive training. Experimental group 2 did physical–cognitive training, and Experimental Group 3 accomplished physical training. All of training programs had duration of eight weeks (five sessions of 60 min per week). We measured cognitive variables with the Stroop test, D2 test, and Trail Making test. Physical variables were measured with handgrip strength, Minute Step Test, and visual–acoustic reaction time. Results. Control group reduces his physical and cognitive capacities, while the three experimental groups increase these capacities. We found a strong correlation between the increase of physical and cognitive capacities. Conclusion: Eight weeks of training physical, cognitive or mixed, increased physical and cognitive functions of elderly people which may reduce the negative effects of the aging process.
The Impact of E-Book Reading on Young Children’s Emergent Literacy Skills: An Analytical Review
Authors: López-Escribano Carmen , Valverde-Montesino Susana , García-Ortega Verónica
Published: June 2021

Young children’s use of digital devices is increasing as we progress through the 21st century and handheld and mobile devices, such as smartphones and tablets, have become increasingly available. While older children using tablets to read has been more broadly investigated, less is known about the impacts of digital reading on children at the stage of literacy acquisition. An analytical review was conducted on the effects of interactive e-book interventions for young children’s literacy development when compared to (a) listening to print books, (b) regular school programs, and (c) reading non-enhanced and non-interactive e-books. A significant additional beneficial effect of e-book interventions was found for phonological awareness and vocabulary learning based on data from 1138 children in 14 randomized controlled trial (RCT) studies. When e-books are properly selected and used, children develop literacy skills equally well and sometimes better than with print books. Additionally, e-book interventions outperformed the regular school program in the development of literacy skills. Similarly, enhanced e-book conditions revealed benefits over the non-enhanced e-book interventions in literacy skill acquisition. The impact of these findings related to health issues, e-book design, disadvantaged populations, and adult-led e-book sharing is discussed.
Use of the Hospital Survey of Patient Safety Culture in Norwegian Hospitals: A Systematic Review
Authors: Olsen Espen , Leonardsen Ann-Chatrin Linqvist
Published: June 2021

This review aims to provide an overview of empirical studies using the HSOPSC in Norway and to develop recommendations for further research on patient safety culture. Oria, an online catalogue of scientific databases, was searched for patient safety culture in February 2021. In addition, three articles were identified via Google Scholar searches. Out of 113 retrieved articles, a total of 20 articles were included in our review. These were divided into three categories: seven perception studies, six intervention studies, and seven reliability and validation studies. The first study conducted in Norway indicated a need to improve patient safety culture. Only one intervention study was able to substantially improve patient safety culture. The validity of HSOPSC is supported in most studies. However, one study indicated poor quality in relation to the testing of criteria related to validity. This review is limited to Norwegian healthcare but has several relevant implications across the research field, namely that intervention studies should (1) validate dimensions more carefully, (2) avoid pitfalls related to both factor analysis methods and criteria validity testing, (3) consider integrating structural models into multilevel improvement programs, and (4) benefit from applying different, new versions of HSOPSC developed in Norway.
Associations between Community Built Environments with Early Care and Education Classroom Physical Activity Practices and Barriers
Authors: Williams Bethany D. , Sisson Susan B. , Dev Dipti A. , Lowery Bryce , Horm Diane , Campbell Janis , Finneran Denise , Graef-Downard Jennifer , Whaley Linda
Published: June 2021

The influence of community-built environments on physical activity (PA) support in Early Childhood Education settings (ECEs) is unknown. The purpose of this cross-sectional study was to determine associations between community PA environments and ECE classroom PA practices. We included licensed Oklahoma ECE directors serving 3-to-5-year-old children. Parks and playground locations were exported from Google Earth. National Walkability Index was derived from 2010 US Census data. ArcMap 10.6 was used to geocode ECE locations, which were within an Activity Desert if no parks/playgrounds were located within a 1-mile radius or if Walkability Index was 10.5 or below. Classroom PA practices were determined by using the Nutrition and PA Self-Assessment tool (NAP SACC). Barriers to implementing practices were reported. Most Head Starts (n = 41; 80.3%), center-based childcare settings (CBC; n = 135; 87.0%), and family childcare homes (FCCHs; n = 153; 96.4%) were in an Activity Desert. Parks/playgrounds within a 10-mile buffer were correlated with classroom PA practices in FCCHs only (p < 0.001). Activity Desert status was not related to classroom PA practices for any ECE context (p > 0.029). While FCCHs may be the most vulnerable to lack of park and playground access, overall findings suggest ECEs provide a healthful micro-environment protective of the typical influence of community-built environments.
Prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 Infection at the University of Barcelona during the Third COVID-19 Pandemic Wave in Spain
Authors: Videla Sebastián , Otero Aurema , Martí Sara , Domínguez M. Ángeles , Fabrellas Nuria , Delgado-Hito M. Pilar , Cruz Imma , Tebé Cristian , Vinuesa Teresa , Ardila Fernando , Sancho Marta , Fernández Esteve , Figuerola Montserrat , Ciruela Francisco
Published: June 2021

The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic started in December 2019 and still is a major global health challenge. Lockdown measures and social distancing sparked a global shift towards online learning, which deeply impacted universities’ daily life, and the University of Barcelona (UB) was not an exception. Accordingly, we aimed to determine the impact of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic at the UB. To that end, we performed a cross-sectional study on a sample of 2784 UB members (n = 52,529). Participants answered a brief, ad hoc, online epidemiological questionnaire and provided a nasal swab for reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) SARS-CoV-2 analysis and a venous blood sample for SARS-CoV-2 IgG antibody assay. Total prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 infection (positive RT-PCR or positive IgG) was 14.9% (95%CI 13.3 to 17.0%). Forty-four participants (1.6%, 95%CI: 1.2–2.1%) were positive for SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR. IgG against SARS-CoV-2 was observed in 12.8% (95%CI: 11.6–14.1%) of participants. Overall, while waiting for population vaccination and/or increased herd immunity, we should concentrate on identifying and isolating new cases and their contacts.
Risk Attitude in Multicriteria Decision Analysis: A Compromise Approach
Authors: Ribes Juan , González-Pachón Jacinto
Published: June 2021

In fields on which decisions need to be taken including health, as we are seeing nowadays in the COVID-19 crisis, decision-makers face multiple criteria and results with a random component. In stochastic multicriteria decision-making models, the risk attitude of the decision maker is a relevant factor. Traditionally, the shape of a utility function is the only element that represents the decision maker’s risk attitude. The eduction process of multi-attribute utility functions implies some operational drawbacks, and it is not always easy. In this paper, we propose a new element with which the decision maker’s risk attitude can be implemented: the selection of the stochastic efficiency concept to be used during a decision analysis. We suggest representing the risk attitude as a conflict between two poles: risk neutral attitude, associated with best expectations, and risk aversion attitude, associated with a lower uncertainty. The Extended Goal Programming formulation has inspired the parameter that is introduced in a new risk attitude formulation. This parameter reflects the trade-off between the two classical poles with respect to risk attitude. Thus, we have produced a new stochastic efficiency concept that we call Compromise Efficiency.
Isookanin Inhibits PGE2-Mediated Angiogenesis by Inducing Cell Arrest through Inhibiting the Phosphorylation of ERK1/2 and CREB in HMEC-1 Cells
Authors: Xin Yingji , Roh Kyungbaeg , Cho Eunae , Park Deokhoon , Whang Wankyunn , Jung Eunsun
Published: June 2021

Inflammation is increasingly recognized as a critical mediator of angiogenesis, and unregulated angiogenic responses often involve human diseases. The importance of regulating angiogenesis in inflammatory diseases has been demonstrated through some successful cases of anti-angiogenesis therapies in related diseases, including arthritis, but it has been reported that some synthetic types of antiangiogenic drugs have potential side effects. In recent years, the importance of finding alternative strategies for regulating angiogenesis has begun to attract the attention of researchers. Therefore, identification of natural ingredients used to prevent or treat angiogenesis-related diseases will play a greater role. Isookanin is a phenolic flavonoid presented in Bidens extract, and it has been reported that isookanin possesses some biological properties, including antioxidative and anti-inflammatory effects, anti-diabetic properties, and an ability to inhibit α-amylase. However, its antiangiogenic effects and mechanism thereof have not been studied yet. In this study, our results indicate that isookanin has an effective inhibitory effect on the angiogenic properties of microvascular endothelial cells. Isookanin shows inhibitory effects in multiple stages of PGE2-induced angiogenesis, including the growth, proliferation, migration, and tube formation of microvascular endothelial cells. In addition, isookanin induces cell cycle arrest in S phase, which is also the reason for subsequent inhibition of cell proliferation. The mechanism of inhibiting angiogenesis by isookanin is related to the inhibition of PGE2-mediated ERK1/2 and CREB phosphorylation. These findings make isookanin a potential candidate for the treatment of angiogenesis-related diseases.
Granulomatous Inflammation in ANCA-Associated Vasculitis
Authors: Müller Antje , Krause Bettina , Kerstein-Stähle Anja , Comdühr Sara , Klapa Sebastian , Ullrich Sebastian , Holl-Ulrich Konstanze , Lamprecht Peter
Published: June 2021

ANCA-associated vasculitis (AAV) comprises granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA), microscopic polyangiitis (MPA), and eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis (EGPA). While systemic vasculitis is a hallmark of all AAV, GPA is characterized by extravascular granulomatous inflammation, preferentially affecting the respiratory tract. The mechanisms underlying the emergence of neutrophilic microabscesses; the appearance of multinucleated giant cells; and subsequent granuloma formation, finally leading to scarred or destroyed tissue in GPA, are still incompletely understood. This review summarizes findings describing the presence and function of molecules and cells contributing to granulomatous inflammation in the respiratory tract and to renal inflammation observed in GPA. In addition, factors affecting or promoting the development of granulomatous inflammation such as microbial infections, the nasal microbiome, and the release of damage-associated molecular patterns (DAMP) are discussed. Further, on the basis of numerous results, we argue that, in situ, various ways of exposure linked with a high number of infiltrating proteinase 3 (PR3)- and myeloperoxidase (MPO)-expressing leukocytes lower the threshold for the presentation of an altered PR3 and possibly also of MPO, provoking the local development of ANCA autoimmune responses, aided by the formation of ectopic lymphoid structures. Although extravascular granulomatous inflammation is unique to GPA, similar molecular and cellular patterns can be found in both the respiratory tract and kidney tissue of GPA and MPA patients; for example, the antimicrobial peptide LL37, CD163+ macrophages, or regulatory T cells. Therefore, we postulate that granulomatous inflammation in GPA or PR3-AAV is intertwined with autoimmune and destructive mechanisms also seen at other sites.
CdS Nanoplates Modification as a Platform for Synthesis of Blue-Emitting Nanoparticles
Authors: Lesiak Anna , Banski Mateusz , Woznica Hanna , Żak Andrzej , Cabaj Joanna , Podhorodecki Artur
Published: June 2021

In this paper, the study of surface modification of two-dimensional (2D), non-luminescent CdS nanoplates (NPLs) by thiol-containing ligands is presented. We show that a process of twophase transfers with appropriate ligand exchange transforms non-luminescent NPLs into spherical CdS nanoparticles (NPs) exhibiting a blue photoluminescence with exceptionally high quantum yield ~90%. In the process, transfer from inorganic solvent to water is performed, with appropriately selected ligand molecules and pH values (forward phase transfer), which produces NPs with modified size and shape. Then, in reverse phase transfer, NPs are transferred back to toluene due to surface modification by combined Cd (OL)2 and Cd (Ac)2. As a result, spherical NPs are formed (average diameter between 4 and 6 nm) with PL QY as high as 90%. This is unique for core only CdS NPs without inorganic shell.
Differential Regulation of Gonadotropins as Revealed by Transcriptomes of Distinct LH and FSH Cells of Fish Pituitary
Authors: Hollander-Cohen Lian , Golan Matan , Levavi-Sivan Berta
Published: June 2021

From mammals to fish, reproduction is driven by luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) temporally secreted from the pituitary gland. Teleost fish are an excellent model for addressing the unique regulation and function of each gonadotropin cell since, unlike mammals, they synthesize and secrete LH and FSH from distinct cells. Only very distant vertebrate classes (such as fish and birds) demonstrate the mono-hormonal strategy, suggesting a potential convergent evolution. Cell-specific transcriptome analysis of double-labeled transgenic tilapia expressing GFP and RFP in LH or FSH cells, respectively, yielded genes specifically enriched in each cell type, revealing differences in hormone regulation, receptor expression, cell signaling, and electrical properties. Each cell type expresses a unique GPCR signature that reveals the direct regulation of metabolic and homeostatic hormones. Comparing these novel transcriptomes to that of rat gonadotrophs revealed conserved genes that might specifically contribute to each gonadotropin activity in mammals, suggesting conserved mechanisms controlling the differential regulation of gonadotropins in vertebrates.
Effects of Berry Anthocyanins on Cognitive Performance, Vascular Function and Cardiometabolic Risk Markers: A Systematic Review of Randomized Placebo-Controlled Intervention Studies in Humans
Authors: Ahles Sanne , Joris Peter J. , Plat Jogchum
Published: June 2021

Supplementation with anthocyanins, which are a type of flavonoids mainly found in various berries, is hypothesized to be a promising approach to lower the risk of developing cognitive decline. The aim of this systematic review was to provide a comprehensive overview of dietary intervention trials describing effects of berry anthocyanins on cognitive performance in humans, while also addressing potential underlying mechanisms. A total of 1197 articles were identified through a systematic search, and 49 studies reporting effects on cognitive performance (n = 18), vascular function (n = 22), or cardiometabolic risk markers (n = 32) were included. Significant improvements were observed on memory, while some of the studies also reported effects on attention and psychomotor speed or executive function. Vascular function markers such as brachial artery flow-mediated vasodilation were also affected and consistent evidence was provided for the beneficial effects of berry anthocyanins on endothelial function. Finally, studies reported improvements in blood pressure, but effects on metabolic risk markers (e.g. carbohydrate and lipid metabolism) were less consistent. In conclusion, this review provides evidence for the beneficial effects of berry anthocyanins on cognitive performance as memory improved. Whether observed anthocyanin-induced improvements in vascular function and blood pressure underlie beneficial effects on cognitive performance warrants further study.
Comparative Analysis of Histone H3K4me3 Distribution in Mouse Liver in Different Diets Reveals the Epigenetic Efficacy of Cyanidin-3-O-glucoside Dietary Intake
Authors: Persico Giuseppe , Casciaro Francesca , Marinelli Alessandra , Tonelli Chiara , Petroni Katia , Giorgio Marco
Published: June 2021

Background: Different diets result in significantly different phenotypes through metabolic and genomic reprogramming. Epigenetic marks, identified in humans and mouse models through caloric restriction, a high-fat diet or the intake of specific bioactives, suggest that genomic reprogramming drives this metabolic reprogramming and mediates the effect of nutrition on health. Histone modifications encode the epigenetic signal, which adapts genome functions to environmental conditions, including diets, by tuning the structure and properties of chromatin. To date, the effect of different diets on the genome-wide distribution of critical histone marks has not been determined. Methods: Using chromatin immunoprecipitation sequencing, we investigated the distribution of the trimethylation of lysine 4 of histone H3 in the liver of mice fed for one year with five different diets, including: chow containing yellow corn powder as an extra source of plant bioactives or specifically enriched with cyanidin-3-O-Glucoside, high-fat-enriched obesogenic diets, and caloric-restricted pro-longevity diets. Conclusions: Comparison of the resulting histone mark profiles revealed that functional food containing cyanidin determines a broad effect.