bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
A Hybrid Approach for Cardiac Blood Flow Vortex Ring Identification Based on Optical Flow and Lagrangian Averaged Vorticity Deviation
Authors: Yang Ke , Wu Shiqian , Samuel Oluwarotimi W. , Zhang Hui , Ghista Dhanjoo N. , Yang Di , Wong Kelvin K. L. 
Published: September 2021

Objective: The measurement of cardiac blood flow vortex characteristics can help to facilitate the analysis of blood flow dynamics that regulates heart function. However, the complexity of cardiac flow along with other physical limitations makes it difficult to adequately identify the dominant vortices in a heart chamber, which play a significant role in regulating the heart function. Although the existing vortex quantification methods can achieve this goal, there are still some shortcomings: such as low precision, and ignoring the center of the vortex without the description of vortex deformation processes. To address these problems, an optical flow Lagrangian averaged vorticity deviation (Optical flow-LAVD) method is proposed.Methodology: We examined the flow within the right atrium (RA) of the participants’ hearts, by using a single set of scans pertaining to a slice at two-chamber short-axis orientation. Toward adequate extraction of the vortex ring characteristics, a novel approach driven by the Lagrangian averaged vorticity deviation (LAVD) was implemented and applied to characterize the trajectory integral associated with vorticity deviation and the spatial mean of rings, by using phase-contrast magnetic resonance imaging (PC-MRI) datasets as a case study. To interpolate the time frames between every larger discrete frame and minimize the error caused by constructing a continuous velocity field for the integral process of LAVD, we implemented the optical flow as an interpolator and introduced the backward warping as an intermediate frame synthesis basis, which is then used to generate higher quality continuous velocity fields.Results: Our analytical study results showed that the proposed Optical flow-LAVD method can accurately identify vortex ring and continuous velocity fields, based on optical flow information, for yielding high reconstruction outcomes. Compared with the linear interpolation and phased-based frame interpolation methods, our proposed algorithm can generate more accurate synthesized PC-MRI.Conclusion: This study has developed a novel Optical flow-LAVD model to accurately identify cardiac vortex rings, and minimize the associated errors caused by the construction of a continuous velocity field. Our paper presents a superior vortex characteristics detection method that may potentially aid the understanding of medical experts on the dynamics of blood flow within the heart.
Effects of Four Lipid Metabolism-Related Polymorphisms on Body Composition Improvements After 12 Weeks of High-Intensity Interval Training and Dietary Energy Restriction in Overweight/Obese Adult Women: A Pilot Study
Authors: Andrade-Mayorga Omar , Díaz Erik , Salazar Luis A. 
Published: September 2021

Background: Polymorphisms in lipid metabolism-related genes have been associated with obesity and body composition, but these have been scarcely described concerning the magnitude of the response to exercise interventions in the overweight/obese population.Objective: To evaluate the association of perilipin 1 (PLIN1; rs1052700 and rs2304795), lipoprotein lipase (rs283), and adrenoceptor beta 3 (rs4994) polymorphisms with high and low responders (LoRes) to fat mass reduction after 12 weeks of high-intensity interval training (HIIT) and dietary energy restriction in overweight/obese adult women. In addition, we examined the effect of these genetic variants on body composition changes.Methods: Forty-three unrelated overweight/obese adult women were incorporated and genotyped, of which 30 women (age = 27.4 ± 7.9 years; BMI = 29.9 ± 3.3 kg/m2) successfully completed the 12-week supervised HIIT program plus an individually prescribed home hypocaloric diet.Results: An association was observed between the PLIN1 rs1052700 polymorphism with high and LoRes (χ2 = 8.138; 2 df; p = 0.01). Moreover, after the intervention, the carriers of TT genotype of PLIN1 rs1052700 as compared to AA and AT showed a greater reduction in absolute fat mass (Δ: −5.1 ± 1.8 vs. − 1.8 ± 1.4 vs. − 2.1 ± 2.3 kg; p = 0.04). The effect size of this fat mass reduction between TT and AT genotypes was a mean difference of −3.01 kg [95%IC − 4.88– − 1.1], and between TT and AA genotypes was −3.29 kg [95%IC − 4.86– − 1.65]. No differences were observed for other polymorphisms investigated.Conclusion: These results suggest that the rs1052700 (14995A&gt;T) polymorphism of the PLIN1 gene is associated with a differential response to fat mass reduction after a 12-week intervention in overweight/obese adult women. In addition, women with the TT genotype of this genetic variant showed greater changes in fat mass than AA and AT genotypes. However, further studies are needed to confirm these findings.
The Prominent Deck B Phenomenon in Schizophrenia: An Empirical Study on Iowa Gambling Task
Authors: Xu Mei , Lee We-Kang , Ko Chih-Hung , Chiu Yao-Chu , Lin Ching-Hung 
Published: September 2021

Background: The Iowa Gambling Task (IGT) was established to evaluate emotion-based decision-making ability under uncertain circumstances in clinical populations, including schizophrenia (Sz). However, there remains a lack of stable behavioral measures regarding discrimination for decision-making performance in IGT between schizophrenic cases and healthy participants. None of the Sz-IGT studies has specifically verified the prominent deck B (PDB) phenomenon gradually revealed in other populations. Here, we provided a global review and empirical study to verify these Sz-IGT issues.Methods: Seeking reliable and valid behavioral measures, we reviewed 38 studies using IGT to investigate decision-making behavior in Sz groups. The IGT, the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (WCST), and clinical symptoms evaluations were administered to 61 schizophrenia or schizoaffective cases diagnosed by psychiatrists and 62 demographically matched healthy participants.Results: There were no valid behavioral measures in IGT that could significantly identify the decision-making dysfunction of Sz. However, Sz cases, on average, made more choices from disadvantageous deck B relative to other decks, particularly in the later learning process (block 3–5). Compared to the control group, the Sz group was more impaired on the WCST. The high-gain frequency decks B and D showed significant correlations with WCST but no correlation between clinical symptoms and IGT/WCST.Conclusions: Gain–loss frequency (GLF) has a dominant and stable impact on the decision-making process in both Sz and control groups. PDB phenomenon is essentially challenging to be observed on the ground of the expected value (EV) viewpoint approach on the IGT in both populations. Consequently, caution should be exercised when launching the IGT to assess the decision-making ability of Sz under a clinical scenario.
Health Behavior and Associated Factors in Young Adult Cancer Patients
Authors: Stroske Isabelle , Geue Kristina , Friedrich Michael , Sender Annekathrin , Schmidt Ricarda , Richter Diana , Leuteritz Katja 
Published: September 2021

Objectives: Having cancer in young adulthood increases the risk of adverse long-term health effects. These risks can be influenced by one’s health behavior (HB). The aim of this study is therefore to investigate the presence of health behavior in adolescents and young adults (AYAs) and to identify associated factors.Design: Young cancer patients (18–39 years old at time of diagnosis) were surveyed at baseline and 12 months later via online or as a paper-pencil version.Methods: A spectrum of indicators for HB was assessed via seven items from the Questionnaire of Multiple Health Behavior (MHB). Multiple linear regression analyses were conducted to determine factors associated with patients’ HB indicators.Results: Five-hundred and fourteen AYAs (75% women) reported the highest level of health-conscious behavior for “avoidance of consumption of nicotine,” “follow medical recommendations,” and “being considerate in road traffic.” Less health-conscious behavior was reported for “keeping an appropriate and balanced diet” and “physical activity.” Significant improvements from baseline to the follow-up were observed for “regularly attending health screening” (Hedges’ g = 0.44). The analyzed factors explained up to 10% of the HB indicators. Women reported significantly more health-conscious behavior than men in four out of seven HB indicators. Higher quality of life (QoL) was associated with more health behavior in three out of seven HB indicators.Conclusion: Findings show a predominantly health-conscious lifestyle in AYA cancer patients, though we also found harmful behavior which needs to be better approached—e.g., through improving AYAs’ health education. AYA men should be particularly targeted in specific prevention and health promotion measures. Future work should identify other factors associated with HB to evaluate targets for intervention.
EffECTively Treating Depression: A Pilot Study Examining Manualized Group CBT as Follow-Up Treatment After ECT
Authors: Carstens Luisa , Hartling Corinna , Aust Sabine , Domke Ann-Kathrin , Stippl Anna , Spies Jan , Brakemeier Eva-Lotta , Bajbouj Malek , Grimm Simone 
Published: September 2021

Background: There is an urgent need for effective follow-up treatments after acute electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) in depressed patients. Preliminary evidence suggests psychotherapeutic interventions to be a feasible and efficacious follow-up treatment. However, there is a need for research on the long-term usefulness of such psychotherapeutic offers in a naturalistic setting that is more representative of routine clinical practice. Therefore, the aim of the current pilot study was to investigate the effects of a half-open continuous group cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) with cognitive behavioral analysis system of psychotherapy elements as a follow-up treatment for all ECT patients, regardless of response status after ECT, on reducing depressive symptoms and promoting psychosocial functioning.Method: Group CBT was designed to support patients during the often-difficult transition from inpatient to outpatient treatment. In a non-controlled pilot trial, patients were offered 15weekly sessions of manualized group CBT (called EffECTiv 2.0). The Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scale was assessed as primary outcome; the Beck Depression Inventory, WHO Quality of Life Questionnaire–BREF, and the Cognitive Emotion Regulation Questionnaire were assessed as secondary outcomes. Measurements took place before individual group start, after individual group end, and 6months after individual group end.Results: During group CBT, Post-ECT symptom reduction was not only maintained but there was a tendency toward a further decrease in depression severity. This reduction could be sustained 6months after end of the group, regardless of response status after ECT treatment. Aspects of quality of life and emotion regulation strategies improved during group CBT, and these improvements were maintained 6months after the end of the group.Conclusion: Even though the interpretability of the results is limited by the small sample and the non-controlled design, they indicate that manualized group CBT with cognitive behavioral analysis system of psychotherapy elements might pose a recommendable follow-up treatment option after acute ECT for depressed patients, regardless of response status after ECT. This approach might not only help to further reduce depressive symptoms and prevent relapse, but also promote long-term psychosocial functioning by improving emotion regulation strategies and psychological quality of life and thus could be considered as a valuable addition to clinical routine after future validation.
How Does It Feel to Be Online? Psychotherapists’ Self-Perceptions in Telepsychotherapy Sessions During the COVID-19 Pandemic in Italy
Authors: Mancinelli Elisa , Gritti Emanuela S. , Schiano Lomoriello Arianna , Salcuni Silvia , Lingiardi Vittorio , Boldrini Tommaso 
Published: September 2021

Aims:The COVID-19 pandemic and consequent extreme restrictions imposed by governments across the world forced psychotherapists to abruptly change their working modality. The first aim of the current study was to assess psychotherapists’ self-perceptions (i.e., affective and cognitive perceptions about their self and their self in relation to clients) when providing telepsychotherapy during the first peak of the COVID-19 pandemic in Italy. The second aim was to explore the associations between psychotherapists’ self-perceptions, characteristics, and clinical practices.Method:An online survey was administered to 281 Italian licensed psychotherapists (Mage=45.15;SD=10.2; 83.6% female) between April 5 and May 10, 2020. The survey comprisedad-hocquestions that were designed to collect sociodemographic details and information related to working practices. Moreover, a semantic differential (SD) scale was developed to assess psychotherapists’ self-perceptions, and a factor analysis was performed from the SD items.Results:The SD scale showed an overall trend of positive psychotherapist self-perception during telepsychotherapy, despite reports of greater fatigue and directive and talkative behavior during sessions. Four SD factors accounted for 45% of the variance: “Affective Availability,” “Attitude Predisposition,” “Well-being,” and “Interventionism.” Scores on the first three factors were indicative of psychotherapists’ Positive vs. Negative self-perception. A comparison of the Positive and Negative attitudinal profiles using the chi-squared test with Yates’s correction and a Monte Carlo simulation found that psychotherapists with a Positive profile reported greater satisfaction with the telematic modality and were more likely to perceive that their clients were able to maintain privacy during sessions.Conclusion:The results suggest that Italian psychotherapists have been able to promptly adapt to the imposed telematic modality during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, they may have attempted to compensate for their physical distance from clients by intervening more during sessions. These findings may support psychotherapists who are currently practicing and inform future practitioners who are considering the use of telematic treatment as a routine component of psychotherapeutic care.
Thalamo-Habenular Connection Differences Between Patients With Major Depressive Disorder and Normal Controls
Authors: Cho Seo-Eun , Kim Nambeom , Na Kyoung-Sae , Kang Chang-Ki , Kang Seung-Gul 
Published: September 2021

Background: The thalamus and habenula are thought to be key brain regions in the etiology of major depressive disorder (MDD); however, few studies have investigated the structural connection between them. We compared the number of white matter tracts between the thalamus and habenula between patient with MDD and normal controls (NCs).Methods: The habenula and thalamus region of interest masks were extracted from brain magnetic resonance imaging data and individual tractography analysis was performed. First, we compared the number of fiber connections from the habenula to the thalamus between the MDD (n = 34) and NC (n = 37) groups and also compared hemispherical differences to investigate possible asymmetries.Results: There was a significant difference in the number of tracts in the right habenula-left mediodorsal thalamus pair between the two groups. For hemispherical fiber connections, the waytotal ratio of the right ipsilateral tract between the thalamus and habenula was significantly higher than that of the left ipsilateral tract in both groups.Conclusion: The number of right habenula-left mediodorsal thalamus tracts was higher in patients with MDD than in NCs. These results indicate that MDD is related to the disintegration of the left thalamus-right habenula tract function with an increased number of tracts as a compensational mechanism.
Neuroanatomical Correlates of Impulsive Choices and Risky Decision Making in Young Chronic Tobacco Smokers: A Voxel-Based Morphometry Study
Authors: Conti Aldo Alberto , Baldacchino Alexander Mario 
Published: September 2021

Introduction: Impairments in the multifaceted neuropsychological construct of cognitive impulsivity are a main feature of chronic tobacco smokers. According to the literature, these cognitive impairments are relevant for the initiation and maintenance of the smoking behavior. However, the neuroanatomical correlates of cognitive impulsivity in chronic smokers remain under-investigated.Methods: A sample of 28 chronic smokers (mean age = 28 years) not affected by polysubstance dependence and 24 matched non-smoker controls was recruited. Voxel Based Morphometry (VBM) was employed to assess Gray Matter (GM) volume differences between smokers and non-smokers. The relationships between GM volume and behavioral manifestations of impulsive choices (5 trial adjusting delay discounting task, ADT-5) and risky decision making (Cambridge Gambling Task, CGT) were also investigated.Results: VBM results revealed GM volume reductions in cortical and striatal brain regions of chronic smokers compared to non-smokers. Additionally, smokers showed heightened impulsive choices (p &lt; 0.01, Cohen's f = 0.50) and a riskier decision- making process (p &lt; 0.01, Cohen's f = 0.40) compared to non-smokers. GM volume reductions in the left Anterior Cingulate Cortex (ACC) correlated with impaired impulsive and risky choices, while GM volume reductions in the left Ventrolateral Prefrontal Cortex (VLPFC) and Caudate correlated with heightened impulsive choices. Reduced GM volume in the left VLPFC correlated with younger age at smoking initiation (mean = 16 years).Conclusion: Smokers displayed significant GM volume reductions and related cognitive impulsivity impairments compared to non-smoker individuals. Longitudinal studies would be required to assess whether these impairments underline neurocognitive endophenotypes or if they are a consequence of tobacco exposure on the adolescent brain.
Yoga Program for Type 2 Diabetes Prevention (YOGA-DP) Among High-Risk People: Qualitative Study to Explore Reasons for Non-participation in a Feasibility Randomized Controlled Trial in India
Authors: Mishra Pallavi , Greenfield Sheila Margaret , Harris Tess , Hamer Mark , Lewis Sarah Anne , Singh Kavita , Nair Rukamani , Mukherjee Somnath , Krishnamurthy Manjunath Nandi , Harper David Ross , Tandon Nikhil , Kinra Sanjay , Prabhakaran Dorairaj , Chattopadhyay Kaushik 
Published: September 2021

Background: Yoga-based interventions can be effective in preventing type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). We developed a Yoga program for T2DM prevention (YOGA-DP) among high-risk people and conducted a feasibility randomized controlled trial (RCT) in India. The objective of this study was to identify and explore why potential participants declined to participate in the feasibility RCT.Methods: An exploratory qualitative study, using semi-structured interviews, was conducted at a Yoga center in New Delhi, India. Fourteen people (10 women and four men) who declined to participate in the feasibility RCT were interviewed, and 13 of them completed the non-participant questionnaire, which captured their socio-demographics, diets, physical activities, and reasons for declining.Results: Three types of barriers were identified and explored which prevented participation in the feasibility RCT: (1) personal barriers, such as lack of time, perceived sufficiency of knowledge, preferences about self-management of health, and trust in other traditional and alternative therapies; (2) contextual barriers, such as social influences and lack of awareness about preventive care; and (3) study-related barriers, such as lack of study information, poor accessibility to the Yoga site, and lack of trust in the study methods and intervention.Conclusions: We identified and explored personal, contextual, and study-related barriers to participation in a feasibility RCT in India. The findings will help to address recruitment challenges in future Yoga and other RCTs.Clinical Trial Registration:www.ClinicalTrials.gov, identifier: CTRI/2019/05/018893.
Medical Costs of Stroke Care Between Women With and Without Dysmenorrhea: A Population-Based Comparison
Authors: Lin Ya-Wen , Sung Fung-Chang , Lin Ming-Hung , Muo Chih-Hsin , Teng Yu-Kuei , Kao Chia-Hung , Tzeng Ya-Ling 
Published: September 2021

Objective: This study investigated the medical care costs of stroke type between age-matched cohorts with and without dysmenorrhea using the National Health Insurance Research Database (NHIRD).Methods: We collected all 66,048 women with dysmenorrhea and 66,048 women without dysmenorrhea whose age (15-44-year-old) and index year (from 1997 to 2013) were matched for comparison. We assessed the incidence and compared the risk of stroke and stroke subtype in two cohorts. The proportional distributions of stroke subtypes by age between the two cohorts were compared among the women with stroke, and their hospitalization rate was also estimated. In addition, medical cost, length of stay, and the medical cost within 30 days after stroke were compared between the two cohorts.Results: The stroke risk in dysmenorrhea was greater than comparisons (HR = 1.26, 95% CI = 1.11–1.42). Proportionally, hemorrhagic stroke (HS) significantly decreased with age in both cohorts, whereas ischemic stroke (IS) significantly increased with age when both cohorts were combined. The dysmenorrhea cohort had a higher portion of transient cerebral ischemia (TIA) stroke than comparisons (31.3 vs. 24.2%, p = 0.01) and a lower risk of hospitalization for IS (OR = 0.48, 95% CI = 0.21–0.69). Among the four-stroke subtypes, the cost of care for TIA was the least (US$157 ± 254). The average cost for stroke care was not significantly different between women with and without dysmenorrhea.Conclusion: The hospitalization rate and medical costs of TIA are lower than other types. All women should prevent and treat TIA as soon as possible to avoid recurrence or progression to major stroke events and reduce medical costs, regardless of whether they have dysmenorrhea.
Burden of Vitamin D, Vitamin B12 and Folic Acid Deficiencies in an Aging, Rural Indian Community
Authors: Sundarakumar Jonas S. , Shahul Hameed Shafeeq K. ,   SANSCOG Study Team, Ravindranath Vijayalakshmi 
Published: September 2021

Introduction: The important role of micronutrient deficiencies in aging-related disorders including dementia is becoming increasingly evident. However, information on their burden in India is scarce, especially, among aging and rural communities.Methods: Prevalence of vitamin D, B12 and folic acid deficiency was measured in an ongoing, aging cohort, from rural India–Srinivaspura Aging Neurosenescence and COGnition (SANSCOG) study cohort. Serum level estimation of vitamin D, B12 and folic acid, using chemiluminescence immunoassay, was performed on 1648 subjects (872 males, 776 females).Results: Mean vitamin D, B12 and folic acid levels were 23.4 ± 10.6 ng/ml, 277.4 ± 194.4 pg/ml and 6 ± 3.5 ng/ml), respectively. Prevalence of low vitamin D (&lt;30 ng/ml), vitamin D deficiency (&lt;20 ng/ml), B12 deficiency (&lt;200 pg/ml) and folic acid deficiency (&lt;3 ng/ml) were 75.7, 39.1, 42.3, and 11.1%, respectively. Significantly more women had vitamin D deficiency, whereas more men had folic acid deficiency. Women belonging to the oldest age group (≥75 years) had the maximum burden of low vitamin D (94.3%) and folic acid deficiency (21.8%).Discussion: Older, rural-dwelling Indians have high burden of vitamin D and B12 deficiencies, which is concerning given the potentially negative consequences on cognition, immunity and frailty in the aging population. Urgent public health strategies are needed to address this issue and prevent or mitigate adverse consequences.