bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Association of drinking water and environmental sanitation with diarrhea among under-five children: Evidence from Kersa demographic and health surveillance site, eastern Ethiopia
Authors: Mulatu Gutema , Ayana Galana Mamo , Girma Haileyesus , Mulugeta Yohannis , Daraje Gamachis , Geremew Abraham , Dheresa Merga
Published: November 2022

Background

Diarrhea remains one of the leading causes of mortality and morbidity, despite the global progression of eradicating the burden of diarrhea-related morbidity and mortality in the past two decades. In Sub-Saharan African (SSA) countries, there is inadequate supply and sanitation of safe water. However, there is a lack of literature that estimates the impact of drinking water and sanitation service on childhood diarrhea in Kersa Demographic and Health Surveillance. Therefore, the current study aimed to assess the prevalence and effect of water supply and environmental sanitation on diarrhea among under-five children from 2017 to 2021 in Kersa Demographic and Health Surveillance, Eastern Ethiopia.

Method

A prospective cohort study design was implemented among 6,261 children from the Kersa Health Demographic Surveillance System (HDSS), Eastern Ethiopia, from 1 January 2016 to 31 December 2021. STATA statistical software was used to extract data from the datasets. The binary logistic regression was used to identify the impact of water supply and environmental sanitation on diarrhea by controlling important confounders. The adjusted odds ratio (AOR) with a 95% confidence interval measures this association.

Result

The current study showed that among 6,261 under-five children, 41.75% of them had developed active diarrhea during the follow-up time. The final model depicted that having media exposure of 22% [AOR - 0.78 CI: (0.61, 0.98)], a protected tube well source of drinking water of 50% [AOR - 1.50, CI: (1.32, 1.71)], unprotected tube well source of drinking water of 66% [AOR - 1.66 CI: (1.27, 2.18)], having toilet facility of 13% [AOR - 0.87 CI: (0.78, 0.97)], and accessibility of source of water [AOR - 1.17 CI: (1.05, 1.30)] showed a significant association with diarrhea among under-five children.

Conclusion

The prevalence of diarrhea is found to be high in the Kersa District. The main predictors of diarrhea under five were a lack of latrines, an unimproved source of drinking water, and a distance from access to drinking water. The study setting should focus on increasing the adequacy of safe drinking water and sanitation.
Acute submaximal exercise does not impact aspects of cognition and BDNF in people with spinal cord injury: A pilot study
Authors: Nhan Keegan , Todd Kendra R. , Jackson Garett S. , Van der Scheer Jan W. , Dix Gabriel U. , Martin Ginis Kathleen A. , Little Jonathan P. , Walsh Jeremy J.
Published: November 2022

Objective

To investigate the effect of acute submaximal exercise, based on the spinal cord injury (SCI) Exercise Guidelines, on cognition and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in people with SCI.

Design

Eight adults (7 males) with traumatic SCI volunteered in this pre-registered pilot study. In randomized order, participants completed submaximal intensity arm cycling (60% of measured peak-power output at 55–60 rpm) for 30 min or time-matched quiet rest (control condition) on separate days. Blood-borne BDNF was measured in serum and plasma at pre-intervention, 0 min and 90 min post-intervention. Cognition was assessed using the Stroop Test and Task-Switching Test on an electronic tablet pre- and 10 min post-intervention.

Results

Submaximal exercise had no effect on plasma [F(2,12) = 1.09; P = 0.365; η² = 0.069] or serum BDNF [F(2,12) = 0.507; P = 0.614; η² = 0.024] at either 0 min or 90 min post-intervention. Similarly, there was no impact of exercise on either Stroop [F(1,7) = 2.05; P = 0.195; η² = 0.065] or Task-Switching performance [F(1,7) = 0.016; P = 0.903; η² < 0.001] compared to the control condition. Interestingly, there was a positive correlation between years since injury and resting levels of both plasma (r = 0.831; P = 0.011) and serum BDNF (r = 0.799; P = 0.023). However, there was not relationship between years since injury and the BDNF response to exercise.

Conclusions

Acute guideline-based exercise did not increase BDNF or improve aspects of cognition in persons with SCI. This work establishes a foundation for continued investigations of exercise as a therapeutic approach to promoting brain health among persons with SCI.
Territorial spillover of COVID-19 infections in Rome during the “second wave”
Authors: Lenzi Francesca Romana , Truglia Francesco Giovanni
Published: November 2022

The study investigates the spread of the effects of COVID in 2019 in the city of Rome, focusing on the socio-economic factors that affect the incidence of the virus in the 155 urban areas (UAs) of the city. The units of analysis of this study are the UAs. The survey emphasizes the weight of spatial contiguity between the 155 UAs. For this purpose, the spatial data model analyses the spillover between contiguous units of analysis, distinguishing direct and indirect spatial effects. Digital geocoding of the collected data has been performed to create a geodatabase (GDB) that allows the statistical information to be turned into geographic layers. Geographic layers represent information layers that can be overlapped with each other on the map of Rome. The database allowed the variables to be handled with spatial analysis methods. This emphasizes the usefulness of digital analysis methods for the study of such a complex and rapidly changing phenomenon as the spread of SARS-CoV-19 infection on an urban scale.
Surgical site infection prevention practice and associated factors among nurses working at public hospitals of the western part of southern nation, nationalities, and peoples’ region, Ethiopia: A cross-sectional study
Authors: Tesfaye Tamene , Dheresa Merga , Worku Teshager , Dechasa Deribe Bekele , Asfaw Henock , Bune Abera Jambo
Published: November 2022

Background

Surgical site infection is a major hazard for surgical patients and compromises their quality of life. Its effect is higher in developing countries compared to developed countries. Most of the studies done in Ethiopia regarding surgical site infection prevention practice on nurses who were not directly exposed to wound care, thus it produces less reliable results. Therefore, we aimed to assess surgical wound infection prevention practice among nurses who are directly involved in the care.

Objective

To assess surgical site infection prevention practice and associated factors among nurses working at public hospitals in the western part of the southern nation, nationalities, and peoples’ regions from March 1–31, 2020.

Methods

An institutional-based cross-sectional study design was conducted from March 1–31, 2020 among randomly selected 402 study participants. A structured and pretested questionnaire was used. EpiData Version 3.1 and Statistical Package for Social Science Version 20 were used for analysis. Bivariable and multivariable analysis was undertaken and p-value less than 0.05 at a 95% confidence interval was considered statistically significant.

Results

The overall good self-reported surgical site infection prevention practice of nurses was 46% (95% CI: 41.3, 50.7). Nurses who were BSc degree (AOR = 2.04; 95% CI: 1.31, 3.18), working in the units having surgical site infection prevention guidelines (AOR = 2.45; 95% CI: 1.34, 4.47), had ever taken infection prevention training (AOR = 2.23; 95% CI: 1.42, 3.49), had good knowledge (AOR = 1.82;95% CI: 1.13, 2.90) and had good attitude (AOR = 2.61;95% CI: 1.67, 4.10) performed good surgical site infection prevention activities as compared to their counterparts.

Conclusion

Nurses’ surgical site infection prevention practice was found to be low. To upgrade nurses’ practice the hospitals should develop their surgical site infection prevention guidelines based on WHO recommendations and provide training on it.
The gender wage gap in the French veterinary labor market
Authors: Berrada Mehdi , Ndiaye Youba , Raboisson Didier , Lhermie Guillaume
Published: November 2022

Among the most important recent changes in the veterinary profession is the increasing percentage of women. Understanding trends driving the veterinary labor market is important to enable leaders in the veterinary profession and policy makers to plot strategic actions that will improve the profession. The objective of this paper was to estimate the gender pay gap in the veterinary labor market. We analyzed data from an anonymous online survey conducted in France in 2021 by the veterinary practitioner union. We assessed the gender gap pay using two regression approaches, ordinary least squares method and Blinder-Oaxaca decomposition, while controlling for all other variables (ceteris paribus). We provided evidence that male veterinarians earned wages approximately 9.3% higher (controlling for all other variables). This difference represented the “unexplained variance” that may be due to gender discrimination or unobserved characteristics.
Meta-analysis of substitution value of maize with cassava (Manihot esculenta Cratnz) on growth performance of broiler chickens
Authors: Ogbuewu Ifeanyichukwu Princewill , Mbajiorgu Christian Anayo
Published: November 2022

There are variable results on the effect of cassava on the performance characteristics of broiler chickens. As a result, this meta-analysis was performed to determine the effect of cassava on feed intake, feed conversion ratio (FCR), and average daily gain (ADG) in broiler chickens. A methodical search performed on Google Scholar, Scopus, Web of Science, and PubMed databases as well as individual journals yielded 365 published articles. Out of 365 studies, 23 that met the inclusion criteria were used for the meta-analysis. Outcome measures were pooled using a random-effects model. Results were expressed as standardized mean differences (SMD) at 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Subgroup and meta-regression analyses were used to explore the effects of studied covariates (broiler strain, inclusion level of cassava, number of broilers per replicate, cassava processing methods, and cassava form) on measured outcomes. Results indicated that cassava had a small positive effect on feed intake (SMD = −0.07, 95% CI −0.26, 0.12) and FCR (SMD = 0.14; 95% CI 0.82, 1.746), but a large negative effect on ADG (SMD = −1.67; 95% CI −1.99, −1.35) compared to the controls. Subgroup analysis by cassava form showed that wet fermented cassava peel meal (WFCPM) had a moderate impact on feed intake (SMD = 0.62, 95% CI 0.47, 0.77) and ADG (SMD = 0.66, 95% CI 0.37, 0.95) in broiler chickens compared with the controls. Our results also found improved growth performance in broiler chickens fed cassava at 4–10%. There is evidence of between-study variance, and studied covariates explain most of the sources of heterogeneity. This study concluded that the replacement of maize with 4–10% WFCPM improved growth performance traits in broiler chickens.
Reliability of Polyetherketoneketone as Definitive Implant-Supported Bridges in the Posterior Region—An In Vitro Study of the Ultimate Fracture Load and Vertical Marginal Discrepancy after Artificial Aging
Authors: Visuttiwattanakorn Surakit , Suthamwat Apitchaya , Urapepon Somchai , Kiattavorncharoen Sirichai
Published: November 2022

Purpose: This study aims to investigate the ultimate fractural strength and marginal integrity of a three-unit implant-supported fixed partial denture (FPD) framework fabricated of polyetherketoneketone (PEKK) after simulated five-year clinical aging. Materials and Methods: Twelve FPD frameworks were milled (n = 6 per group). All experimental frameworks were cemented on identical stainless-steel abutment models and subjected to five years of clinically simulated thermomechanical aging. The vertical marginal gap values were analyzed using a scanning electron microscope before and after being subjected to each aging condition. A universal testing machine was used to evaluate the ultimate fracture load. Results: A significant increase in marginal gap values of the PEKK group was observed after five years of simulation aging (p < 0.001), while no significant difference was seen in the titanium group (p = 0.071). After thermocycling, the PEKK group showed a higher statistically significant mean marginal gap value (84.99 + 44.28 μm) than before (81.75 + 44.53 μm). The titanium group exhibited superior mechanical strength, with a fracture load significantly higher than that of the PEKK group (3050 + 385.30 and 1359.14 + 205.49 N, respectively). Conclusions: Thermocycling affects the marginal gap discrepancy of PEKK restoration. However, the mean vertical marginal gap values in PEKK and titanium groups after a five-year clinical aging simulation were clinically acceptable. The ultimate fracture load values were higher than the maximum bite force reported in the posterior region. Thus, PEKK could serve as a suitable alternative material to metal in the framework of fixed dental prostheses.
Assessing Database Contribution via Distributed Tracing for Microservice Systems
Authors: Liu Yulin , Yu Zengwen , Yuan Xiaoguang , Ke Wenjun , Fang Zhi , Du Tianfeng , Han Cuihong
Published: November 2022

Microservice architecture is the latest trend in software systems development and transformation. In microservice systems, databases are deployed in corresponding services. To better optimize runtime deployment and improve system stability, system administrators need to know the contributions of databases in the system. For the high dynamism and complexity of microservice systems, distributed tracing can be introduced to observe the behavior of business scenarios on databases. However, it is challenging to evaluate the database contribution by combining the importance weight of business scenarios with their behaviors on databases. To solve this problem, we propose a business-scenario-oriented database contribution assessment approach (DBCAMS) via distributed tracing, which consists of three steps: (1) determining the importance weight of business scenarios in microservice system by analytic hierarchy process (AHP); (2) reproducing business scenarios and aggregating the same operations on the same database via distributed tracing; (3) calculating database contribution by formalizing the task as a nonlinear programming problem based on the defined operators and solving it. To the best of our knowledge, our work is the first research to study this issue. The results of a series of experiments on two open-source benchmark microservice systems show the effectiveness and rationality of our proposed method.
A Review of Extreme Air Temperature Analysis in Croatia
Authors: Pandžić Krešo , Likso Tanja , Bonacci Ognjen
Published: November 2022

A historical review of extreme air temperature analysis in Croatia is presented. Two capital works on the subject were published in the 1970s by the Croatian Meteorological and Hydrological Service (DHMZ) and Faculty of Science University of Zagreb (PMF-Zagreb), respectively. The first is a monography on extreme value theory or extreme value analysis (EVA) with an application on more than a century-long time series of annual minima air temperature for Zagreb Grič weather station (Croatia) for the period 1862–1969. It is just a case study, with a lot of instructions regarding how to estimate the generalized extreme value (GEV) distribution parameters. The second is a master’s thesis with an application of the EVA on maxima air temperature time series for 41 weather stations from Croatia for the period 1950–1969. The shortness of the time series of the presented data caused instability in the estimation of GEV distribution parameters in transition areas from continental to maritime climate, but in general, the results are acceptable after a reduction of the 1950–1969 time series data on a ‘normal climate period’ 1910–1969. Both works were pioneering for that time in the South-Eastern Europe scale. A routine application of GEV distribution on the extreme air temperature (both minimum and maximum) for ten representative weather stations from Croatia is represented in Climate atlas of Croatia for the period 1961–1990, published by DHMZ in 2008. Theoretically estimated results fit well with empirical data. A review of long-term “warm” and “cold” indices of extreme air temperature for 41 weather stations from Croatia for the period 1951–2010 is represented in the Sixth National Communication Report of Croatia under the UNFCCC published by the Ministry for Environment and Nature Protection of Croatia (MZOIP) in 2014, showing a positive trend of “warm” and a negative trend of “cold” indices during the period 1951–2010 which tackled the non-stationarity of extreme air temperature time series. That topic of non-stationarity is more extensively considered using the results of a series of scientific papers published in the international journals which conducted a study of extreme air temperature of the wider Western Europe territory, including Croatia and other countries close to Croatia. Some authors of these papers stated that the GEV distribution parameters have to be considered as a function of time rather than fixed in time using covariates like North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO), coherent atmospheric blocking regions, linear trends in data caused by global warming and others covariates. The EVA results, connected with the global climate warming, could contribute to the national Natural Disaster Risk Reduction (NDRR) efforts.
Radial Basis Function Method for Predicting the Evolution of Aerosol Size Distributions for Coagulation Problems
Authors: Wang Kaiyuan , Hu Run , Xiong Yuming , Xie Fei , Yu Suyuan
Published: November 2022

The dynamic evolution of particle size distributions (PSDs) during coagulation is of great importance in many atmospheric and engineering applications. To date, various numerical methods have been developed for solving the general dynamic equation under different scenarios. In this study, a radial basis function (RBF) method was proposed to solve particle coagulation evolution. This method uses a Gaussian function as the basis function to approximate the size distribution function. The original governing equation was then converted to ordinary differential equations (ODEs), along with numerical quadratures. The RBF method was compared with the analytical solutions and sectional method to validate its accuracy. The comparison results showed that the RBF method provided almost accurate predictions of the PSDs for different coagulation kernels. This method was also verified to be reliable in predicting the self-preserving distributions reached over long periods and for describing the temporal evolution of moments. For multimodal coagulation, the RBF method also accurately predicted the temporal evolution of a bimodal distribution owing to scavenging effects. Moreover, the computational times of the RBF method for these cases were usually of the order of seconds. Thus, the RBF method is verified as a reliable and efficient tool for predicting PSD evolution during coagulation.
Human Exposure Assessment to Air Pollutants in AC Filters from Agricultural, Industrial, and Residential Areas
Authors: AlMulla Abdulaziz Abdulrahman , Berekaa Mahmoud , Saifullah  , Dahlawi Saad
Published: November 2022

High levels of potentially toxic metals and microbes in the atmosphere, especially indoor air, may severely threaten human health. Therefore, the concentration and associated health risks of heavy metals (Cd, Cr, Pb, Cu, Fe, Mn, and Zn), biological pollutants, and their risk to human health were assessed using air condition (AC) filter dust samples. Samples were collected from five locations representing agricultural, industrial, and residential settings of the Eastern Province, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The levels of trace metals varied considerably among sampling areas, with the highest levels of Cr and Cd recorded in the industrial area sites, followed by the agricultural and residential sites. The highest levels of Pb and Fe were found in the agricultural area sites, followed by the industrial and residential area sites. Among all the metals Cd, Cr, and Pb, showed a considerable health risk through a dermal pathway, and health risks for children from indoor dust exposure were higher compared to adults. Among the sites, the highest hazard quotient for these metals was found for Al-Qatif industrial area sites, and among the metals, it was the highest for Cd. The cancer risk from the metals contained in AC filter dust was negligible. Samples collected from agricultural and industrial area sites were substantially contaminated with bacteria and fungi, respectively. Bacterial contaminants were mostly Gram-negative, with considerable antibiotic resistance and hemolytic activity. Thus, indoor air quality assessed by AC filter dust depicted that the trace heavy metals and microorganisms could pose a considerable health risk for long-term exposure. Furthermore, this study demonstrated that AC filter dust could be a unique and reliable test sample for indoor environment assessment.
Factors Related to Percutaneous Coronary Intervention among Older Patients with Heart Disease in Rural Hospitals: A Retrospective Cohort Study
Authors: Yamane Fumiko , Ohta Ryuichi , Sano Chiaki
Published: November 2022

Determining whether emergency catheterization is necessary for treating heart disease in older patients in rural hospitals is important. Their transportation may be affected by ageism. This retrospective cohort study investigated the relationship between patient factors and emergency catheterization in rural hospitals in patients >65 years old who visited the emergency department and were transferred to tertiary hospitals. Factors related to emergency catheterization were analyzed using a logistic regression model. The average age of the exposure and control groups was 77.61 (standard deviation [SD], 13.76) and 74.90 (SD, 16.18) years, respectively. Men accounted for 54.8 and 67.5% of patients in the exposure and control groups, respectively. Factors related to emergency catheterization were Charlson comorbidity index ≥5 (odds ratio [OR], 0.23; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.06–0.94) and electrocardiogram (ECG) changes (OR, 3.24; 95% CI, 1.00–10.50). In these patients, age, time from onset to transfer, and serum troponin level were not significantly related to emergency catheterization, while ECG changes correlated with the indication for emergency catheterization. Emergency catheterization patients did not confirm that ageism was present. The decision for transfer to tertiary hospitals should consider comorbidities and ECG changes and should not be influenced by age, onset, and troponin level.
Correction: Iliescu, B.F. Learning by Exposure in the Visual System. Brain Sci. 2022, 12, 508
Authors: Iliescu Bogdan F.
Published: November 2022

Bryan Hansen and Valentin Dragoi were previously included as authors in the publication [...]
MOGAD Involving Cranial Neuropathies: A Case Report and Review of Literature
Authors: Du Yangsa , Xiao Ling , Ding Zijin , Huang Kailing , Xiao Bo , Feng Li
Published: November 2022

Myelin-oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG) antibody-associated disease (MOGAD) is an autoimmune-mediated demyelinating disease of the central nervous system (CNS). Patients with MOGAD may develop any combination of optic neuritis (ON), myelitis, brainstem syndrome and encephalitis. Reports of MOGAD with cranial nerve involvement are rare. Herein, we report a MOGAD patient with cranial neuropathies. In addition, we summarized the clinical features of the previously reported six MOG-IgG-positive cases with cranial nerve involvement and discussed the underlying mechanisms of MOGAD involving cranial nerves. Cranial neuropathy is an emerging phenotype in MOGAD, which has characteristics of both central and peripheral nervous system (PNS) involvement, with the trigeminal nerve being the most commonly affected nerve. MOG antibody testing in patients with cranial neuropathies is warranted, and immunotherapy is advocated when the risk of relapse is high. Although higher antibody titers and persistently positive serological test results are predictive of disease recurrence, the long-term outcomes of MOG-IgG-positive patients with cranial neuropathies remain largely unknown.
Neurological Manifestations of SARS-CoV2 Infection: A Narrative Review
Authors: Pavel Bogdan , Moroti Ruxandra , Spataru Ana , Popescu Mihaela Roxana , Panaitescu Anca Maria , Zagrean Ana-Maria
Published: November 2022

The COVID-19 virus frequently causes neurological complications. These have been described in various forms in adults and children. Headache, seizures, coma, and encephalitis are some of the manifestations of SARS-CoV-2-induced neurological impairment. Recent publications have revealed important aspects of viral pathophysiology and its involvement in nervous-system impairment in humans. We evaluated the latest literature describing the relationship between COVID-19 infection and the central nervous system. We searched three databases for observational and interventional studies in adults published between December 2019 and September 2022. We discussed in narrative form the neurological impairment associated with COVID-19, including clinical signs and symptoms, imaging abnormalities, and the pathophysiology of SARS-CoV2-induced neurological damage.
Neck Muscle Vibration Alters Upper Limb Proprioception as Demonstrated by Changes in Accuracy and Precision during an Elbow Repositioning Task
Authors: Tabbert Hailey , Ambalavanar Ushani , Murphy Bernadette
Published: November 2022

Upper limb control depends on accurate internal models of limb position relative to the head and neck, accurate sensory inputs, and accurate cortical processing. Transient alterations in neck afferent feedback induced by muscle vibration may impact upper limb proprioception. This research aimed to determine the effects of neck muscle vibration on upper limb proprioception using a novel elbow repositioning task (ERT). 26 right-handed participants aged 22.21 ± 2.64 performed the ERT consisting of three target angles between 80–90° (T1), 90–100° (T2) and 100–110° (T3). Controls (CONT) (n = 13, 6F) received 10 min of rest and the vibration group (VIB) (n = 13, 6F) received 10 min of 60 Hz vibration over the right sternocleidomastoid and left cervical extensor muscles. Task performance was reassessed following experimental manipulation. Significant time by group interactions occurred for T1: (F1,24 = 25.330, p < 0.001, ηp2 = 0.513) where CONT improved by 26.08% and VIB worsened by 134.27%, T2: (F1,24 = 16.157, p < 0.001, ηp2 = 0.402) where CONT improved by 20.39% and VIB worsened by 109.54%, and T3: (F1,24 = 21.923, p < 0.001, ηp2 = 0.447) where CONT improved by 37.11% and VIB worsened by 54.39%. Improvements in repositioning accuracy indicates improved proprioceptive ability with practice in controls. Decreased accuracy following vibration suggests that vibration altered proprioceptive inputs used to construct body schema, leading to inaccurate joint position sense and the observed changes in elbow repositioning accuracy.
MiniQEEG and Neurofeedback in Diagnosis and Treatment of COVID-19-Related Panic Attacks: A Case Report
Authors: Kopańska Marta , Dejnowicz-Velitchkov Agnieszka , Bartman Paulina , Szczygielski Jacek
Published: November 2022

Background: Both the global COVID-19 pandemic situation, as well as the current political situation in Eastern Europe may exacerbate anxiety and contribute to stress-related disorders such as panic disorder. Electroencephalography (EEG)-based neurofeedback provides both assessment of the subject’s brainwave activity as well as the possibility of its therapeutic correction. It is possible that it can be implemented as an auxiliary treatment in panic disorders of different origin. The aim of this feasibility study was to demonstrate (both short- and long-term) effectiveness of neurofeedback therapy in a patient with previously diagnosed panic attacks, related to fear of COVID-19 infection. Methods: We report the case study of a 47-year-old man affected by panic attacks, related to his profound, constant fear of COVID-19 infection and its sequelae. For the initial diagnostic workup, several clinical and research tools were used: 1. Baseline psychological exam; 2. Anxiety—targeted interview performed by miniQEEG therapist; 3. Analysis of previous clinical test results (EEG record/lab blood test); and 4. The miniQEEG exam (central strip recording Cz-C3-C4), The patient was subjected to regular EEG Neurofeedback sessions for two consecutive months. After completing the treatment, follow-up tests, as listed above were repeated immediately after completing the whole treatment program, as well as 1 and 2 years later. MiniQEEG results were compared with healthy control (age-matched male subject not affected with panic attacks) and evaluated over the time that the subject was involved in the study. Results: Initially, the patient was suffering from severe panic attacks accompanied by vegetative symptoms and from destructive and negative thoughts. After 8 consecutive weeks of treatment encompassing sixteen QEEG neurofeedback training sessions (each lasting 30 min), a subjective improvement of his complaints was reported. More importantly, QEEG records of the patient also improved, approximating the pattern of QEEG recorded in the healthy control. Conclusion: In this single case-based feasibility analysis, we demonstrate that systematic application of QEEG-Neurofeedback may result in manifest and durable therapeutic effect. Of note, use of this treatment may be a valuable option for patients with panic attack/panic disorder, especially if related to the psychological burden of the COVID-19/war era. Future studies on a larger patient population, especially with a longitudinal/prospective design, are warranted.
Study of the Unidimensionality of the Subjective Measurement Scale of Schizophrenia Coping Oral Health Profile and Index: SCOOHPI
Authors: Hamad Mohamad , Rude Nathalie , Mesbah Mounir , Siu-Paredes Francesca , Denis Frederic
Published: November 2022

Background: The Schizophrenia Coping Oral Health Profile and Index (SCOOHPI) scale studies the coping strategies of schizophrenic patients with regard to oral health. The structural validity of this scale is studied has been studied using factor analyses. In this article, we study the unidimensionality of the SCOOHPI scale to use it as an index. Methods: We studied the internal consistency of the items of the SCOOHPI scale. Then, we studied the construct validity. The unidimensionality of the SCOOHPI scale was studied by the partial credit model. Results: The data used in this study come from five hospitals, and the total number of individuals participating in this study is 96, of which 72% are men and 59% are smokers. The SCOOHPI scale has good internal consistency (α = 0.84). The validity of divergence was checked by the absence of correlation between the SCOOHPI scale and the GOHAI (General Oral Health Assessment Index) scale. The unidimensionality of the SCOOHPI scale with data smoothing was demonstrated by the partial credit model. Conclusion: In this study, we completed the study of the psychometric validation of the SCOOHPI. The SCOOHPI scale can then contribute to improving evaluation of the coping strategies of schizophrenic patients with regard to oral health.
The Application of Two-Dimensional Continuous Wavelet Transform Based on Active Infrared Thermography for Subsurface Defect Detection in Concrete Structures
Authors: Saleh Ali K. , Sakka Zafer , Almuhanna Hasan
Published: November 2022

The early condition-based assessment of civil infrastructures plays an essential role in extending their service life, preventing undesirable sudden failures, and reducing maintenance and rehabilitation costs. One of the most commonly used and fastest nondestructive testing (NDT) techniques is infrared thermography (IRT), which has emerged as a powerful method for assessing general concrete quality and detecting subsurface damage in structural members. Nevertheless, the accurate detection and classification of localized defects is still a challenging task to achieve. The contribution made by enhancing defect detection using two-dimensional (2D) wavelet transformation (WT) as a post-processing method, however, has received little attention within the field of active IR thermography. In this study, we explored the use of continuous wavelet transform (CWT) to visualize how the wavelet function at different frequencies could enhance the damage features of thermal images. A concrete slab under an applied heat flux was tested experimentally by an IR camera with well-controlled excitation sources. The qualitative visualization of thermograms was translated into quantitative results by extracting, processing, and post-processing the values assigned to the pixels in the thermal images. With the assumption of there being no oriented damage features, an isotropic (non-directional) Mexican hat wavelet was utilized as the mother wavelet. The experimental results showed that the 2D-CWT method achieved strong detection performance in extracting discriminatory features (defective areas) from the acquired thermal images. Compared with raw thermograms, the resultant CWT-transformed images were less affected by the non-uniform heating effect, and the boundaries of the defects contrasted more strongly. The 2D-CWT method demonstrates good sensitivity when an appropriate wavelet type and scale factor are chosen. Due to the desire to detect localized defects, adjusting the scale factor of the wavelet is important to improve the efficiency of detection as lower scale factors provide the finer details of thermal images, whereas higher scale factors provide the general outline of internal defects. The findings of this study represent a further step toward improving thermographic data for more precise defect-detection imaging, and principally for large concrete structures, that can be verified easily using other NDT surveys.
RNA Polymerase I Is Uniquely Vulnerable to the Small-Molecule Inhibitor BMH-21
Authors: Jacobs Ruth Q. , Fuller Kaila B. , Cooper Stephanie L. , Carter Zachariah I. , Laiho Marikki , Lucius Aaron L. , Schneider David A.
Published: November 2022

Cancer cells require robust ribosome biogenesis to maintain rapid cell growth during tumorigenesis. Because RNA polymerase I (Pol I) transcription of the ribosomal DNA (rDNA) is the first and rate-limiting step of ribosome biogenesis, it has emerged as a promising anti-cancer target. Over the last decade, novel cancer therapeutics targeting Pol I have progressed to clinical trials. BMH-21 is a first-in-class small molecule that inhibits Pol I transcription and represses cancer cell growth. Several recent studies have uncovered key mechanisms by which BMH-21 inhibits ribosome biosynthesis but the selectivity of BMH-21 for Pol I has not been directly measured. Here, we quantify the effects of BMH-21 on Pol I, RNA polymerase II (Pol II), and RNA polymerase III (Pol III) in vitro using purified components. We found that BMH-21 directly impairs nucleotide addition by Pol I, with no or modest effect on Pols II and III, respectively. Additionally, we found that BMH-21 does not affect the stability of any of the Pols’ elongation complexes. These data demonstrate that BMH-21 directly exploits unique vulnerabilities of Pol I.
Cell-Penetrating Peptides (CPPs) as Therapeutic and Diagnostic Agents for Cancer
Authors: Bottens Ryan A. , Yamada Tohru
Published: November 2022

Cell-Penetrating Peptides (CPPs) are short peptides consisting of <30 amino acids. Their ability to translocate through the cell membrane while carrying large cargo biomolecules has been the topic of pre-clinical and clinical trials. The ability to deliver cargo complexes through membranes yields potential for therapeutics and diagnostics for diseases such as cancer. Upon cellular entry, some CPPs have the ability to target specific organelles. CPP-based intracellular targeting strategies hold tremendous potential as they can improve efficacy and reduce toxicities and side effects. Further, recent clinical trials show a significant potential for future CPP-based cancer treatment. In this review, we summarize recent advances in CPPs based on systematic searches in PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and Scopus databases until 30 September 2022. We highlight targeted delivery and explore the potential uses for CPPs as diagnostics, drug delivery, and intrinsic anti-cancer agents.
CAM-Xenograft Model Provides Preclinical Evidence for the Applicability of [68Ga]Ga-Pentixafor in CRC Imaging
Authors: Benčurová Katarína , Friske Joachim , Anderla Maximilian , Mayrhofer Manuela , Wanek Thomas , Nics Lukas , Egger Gerda , Helbich Thomas H. , Hacker Marcus , Haug Alexander , Mitterhauser Markus , Balber Theresa
Published: November 2022

Colorectal cancer is one of the leading causes of cancer-related deaths worldwide. Increased expression of CXCR4 has been associated with liver metastasis, disease progression, and shortened survival. Using in vitro cell binding studies and the in ovo model, we aimed to investigate the potential of [68Ga]Ga-Pentixafor, a radiotracer specifically targeting human CXCR4, for CRC imaging. Specific membrane binding and internalisation of [68Ga]Ga-Pentixafor was shown for HT29 cells, but not for HCT116 cells. Accordingly, [68Ga]Ga-Pentixafor accumulated specifically in CAM-xenografts derived from HT29 cells, but not in HCT116 xenografts, as determined by µPET/MRI. The CAM-grown xenografts were histologically characterised, demonstrating vascularisation of the graft, preserved expression of human CXCR4, and viability of the tumour cells within the grafts. In vivo viability was further confirmed by µPET/MRI measurements using 2-[18F]FDG as a surrogate for glucose metabolism. [68Ga]Ga-Pentixafor µPET/MRI scans showed distinct radiotracer accumulation in the chick embryonal heart, liver, and kidneys, whereas 2-[18F]FDG uptake was predominantly found in the kidneys and joints of the chick embryos. Our findings suggest that [68Ga]Ga-Pentixafor is an interesting novel radiotracer for CRC imaging that is worth further investigation. Moreover, this study further supports the suitability of the CAM-xenograft model for the initial preclinical evaluation of targeted radiopharmaceuticals.
Clinical Efficacy of Hypofractionated Proton Beam Therapy for Intrahepatic Cholangiocarcinoma
Authors: Kim Tae Hyun , Woo Sang Myung , Lee Woo Jin , Chun Jung Won , Cho Yu Ri , Kim Bo Hyun , Koh Young-Hwan , Kim Sang Soo , Oh Eun Sang , Lee Do Yeul , Lee Sung Uk , Suh Yang-Gun , Moon Sung Ho , Park Joong-Won
Published: November 2022

Forty-seven patients with intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (IHCC) who received proton beam therapy (PBT) were analyzed to evaluate the clinical efficacy and safety of hypofractionated PBT in patients with inoperable or recurrent IHCC. The median prescribed dose of PBT was 63.3 GyE (range: 45–80 GyE) in 10 fractions, and the median duration of follow-up in all the patients was 18.3 months (range: 2.4–89.9 months). Disease progression occurred in 35 of the 47 (74.5%) patients; local, intrahepatic, and extrahepatic progression occurred in 5 (10.6%), 20 (42.6%), and 29 (61.7%) patients, respectively. The 2-year freedom from local progression (FFLP), progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS) rates, and median time of OS were 86.9% (95% confidence interval [CI], 74.4–99.4%), 16.8% (95% CI, 4.3–29.3%), 42.7% (95% CI, 28.0–57.4%), and 21.9 months (95% CI, 16.2–28.3 months), respectively; grade ≥ 3 adverse events were observed in four (8.5%) patients. In selected patients with localized disease (no viable tumors outside of the PBT sites), the median time of OS was 33.8 months (95% CI, 5.4–62.3). These findings suggest that hypofractionated PBT is safe and could offer a high rate of FFLP and promising OS in patients with inoperable or recurrent IHCC.
Placental Mesenchymal Dysplasia and Beckwith–Wiedemann Syndrome
Authors: Soejima Hidenobu , Hara Satoshi , Ohba Takashi , Higashimoto Ken
Published: November 2022

Placental mesenchymal dysplasia (PMD) is characterized by placentomegaly, aneurysmally dilated chorionic plate vessels, thrombosis of the dilated vessels, and large grapelike vesicles, and is often mistaken for partial or complete hydatidiform mole with a coexisting normal fetus. Androgenetic/biparental mosaicism (ABM) has been found in many PMD cases. Beckwith–Wiedemann syndrome (BWS) is an imprinting disorder with complex and diverse phenotypes and an increased risk of developing embryonal tumors. There are five major causative alterations: loss of methylation of imprinting control region 2 (KCNQ1OT1:TSS-DMR) (ICR2-LOM), gain of methylation at ICR1 (H19/IGF2:IG-DMR) (ICR1-GOM), paternal uniparental disomy of 11 (pUPD11), loss-of-function variants of the CDKN1C gene, and paternal duplication of 11p15. Additional minor alterations include genetic variants within ICR1, paternal uniparental diploidy/biparental diploidy mosaicism (PUDM, also called ABM), and genetic variants of KCNQ1. ABM (PUDM) is found in both conditions, and approximately 20% of fetuses from PMD cases are BWS and vice versa, suggesting a molecular link. PMD and BWS share some molecular characteristics in some cases, but not in others. These findings raise questions concerning the timing of the occurrence of the molecularly abnormal cells during the postfertilization period and the effects of these abnormalities on cell fates after implantation.
Nomogram-Based Survival Predictions and Treatment Recommendations for Locally Advanced Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma Treated with Upfront Surgery
Authors: Zhu Jie , Han Yongtao , Ni Wenjie , Chang Xiao , Wu Lei , Wang Yi , Jiang Li , Tan Yan , Xiao Zefen , Wang Qifeng , Peng Lin
Published: November 2022

Background and purpose: The aim of this study is to develop a prognostic nomogram, quantify survival benefit, and guide risk-dependent adjuvant therapy for locally advanced esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (LA-ESCC) after esophagectomy. Materials and methods: This was a single-center, retrospective study of consecutive LA-ESCCs treated by curative-intent esophagectomy with internal validation and independent external validation in a randomized controlled trial. After factor selection by the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator regression, a nomogram was developed to estimate 5-year overall survival (OS) based on the Cox proportional hazards model. The area under the curve (AUC) and calibration plot were used to determine its discriminative and predictive capacities, respectively. Survival improvement from adjuvant therapy was quantified and plotted corresponding to nomogram score. Results: A total of 1077, 718, and 118 patients were included for model development, internal validation, and external validation, respectively. The nomogram identified eight significant prognostic factors: gender, pathological T and N stages, differentiation, surgical margin, lymphovascular invasion, number of lymph node resection, and adjuvant therapy. The nomogram showed superior discriminative capacity than TNM stage (AUC: 0.76 vs. 0.72, p < 0.01), with significant survival differences among different risk stratifications. The calibration plot illustrated a good agreement between nomogram-predicated and actual 5-year OS. Consistent results were concluded after external validation. At least 10% 5-year OS improvement from adjuvant chemoradiotherapy and chemotherapy was expected in almost all patients (nomogram score 110 to 260) and patients mainly with high-intermediate risk (nomogram score 159 to 207), respectively. Conclusions: The clinicopathological nomogram predicting 5-year OS for LA-ESCC after esophagectomy was developed with high accuracy. The proposed nomogram showed better performance than TNM stage and provided risk-dependent and individualized adjuvant treatment recommendations.
Deep Learning Techniques to Diagnose Lung Cancer
Authors: Wang Lulu
Published: November 2022

Medical imaging tools are essential in early-stage lung cancer diagnostics and the monitoring of lung cancer during treatment. Various medical imaging modalities, such as chest X-ray, magnetic resonance imaging, positron emission tomography, computed tomography, and molecular imaging techniques, have been extensively studied for lung cancer detection. These techniques have some limitations, including not classifying cancer images automatically, which is unsuitable for patients with other pathologies. It is urgently necessary to develop a sensitive and accurate approach to the early diagnosis of lung cancer. Deep learning is one of the fastest-growing topics in medical imaging, with rapidly emerging applications spanning medical image-based and textural data modalities. With the help of deep learning-based medical imaging tools, clinicians can detect and classify lung nodules more accurately and quickly. This paper presents the recent development of deep learning-based imaging techniques for early lung cancer detection.
Diversity of Palaearctic Dragonflies and Damselflies (Odonata)
Authors: Kalkman Vincent J. , Boudot Jean-Pierre , Futahashi Ryo , Abbott John C. , Bota-Sierra Cornelio A. , Guralnick Robert , Bybee Seth M. , Ware Jessica , Belitz Michael W.
Published: November 2022

More than 1.2 million distribution records were used to create species distribution models for 402 Palaearctic species of dragonflies and damselflies. On the basis of these diversity maps of total, lentic and lotic diversity for the whole of the Palaearctic (excluding China and the Himalayan region) are presented. These maps show a clear pattern of decreasing diversity longitudinally, with species numbers dropping in the eastern half of Europe and remaining low throughout a large part of Russia, then increasing again towards Russia’s Far East and Korea. There are clear differences in diversity patterns of lentic and lotic species, with lentic species being dominant in colder and more arid areas. Areas with a high diversity of species assessed as threatened on the IUCN red list are largely restricted to the Mediterranean, Southwest Asia, and Japan, with clear hotspots found in the Levant and the southern half of Japan. The diversity at species, generic, and family level is higher in the south of Japan than in areas at a similar latitude in the western Mediterranean. This is likely to be the result of the more humid climate of Japan resulting in a higher diversity of freshwater habitats and the stronger impact of the glacial periods in the Western Palaearctic in combination with the Sahara, preventing tropical African lineages dispersing northwards.