Global Status Research Articles

Understanding Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) and Derivatives: Sources, Properties, and Health Impacts

PAHs, persistent organic pollutants (POPs), composed of 2-7 fused aromatic rings, emerge from processes involving incomplete combustion of organic materials. Released into the ambient air as vapors or adsorbed onto airborne particulate matter, these compounds undergo complex photochemical reactions with atmospheric pollutants such as ozone, NOX, SOX, and OH radicals and result in the formation of its derivatives which possess remarkably higher toxicity and carcinogenicity than its parent PAHs. This chapter delves into the contemporary knowledge surrounding Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) and their derivatives, shedding light on their sources, formation mechanisms, and inherent properties. It also comprehensively reviews the global status.

English for Business Communication

With globalisation, the significant role of communication has increased, and language has gained an important role in society and the global dimension used by people from different backgrounds as a lingua franca for international communication. As a result, the global status of English has an essential role in increasing the use of English as the medium through which several business people get their work done. Furthermore, the rapid growth of digital tools and technology has resulted in various emerging communication platforms that have undoubtedly altered workplace communication culture. Under this framework, “English for Business Communication” constitutes a vital up-to-date contribution to the realities of communication in business today and related literature. This volume consists of eleven chapters along with an Index section at the end, and each chapter comprises reflection questions, post-reading activities, and references.

Experimental Investigations for Recycling and Characterisation of EVA, PVF and PET Polymers from Waste Photovoltaic Modules

Photovoltaic (PV) modules are highly efficient and non-polluting power generators associated with solar energy. Recently, PV has attracted incessant attention due to its potential application in alternative energy generation. The rapid growth of the photovoltaic industry will lead to a sharp increase in the waste that is generated from PV panels. The most common silicon solar cells (close to 90% of the PV market) have a 20–30 years lifespan on average. The amount of PV e-waste will rise to globally 60–78 million tons and degraded PV modules to produce 10% of all electronic waste by the 2050 year are predicted [1]. However, electro-waste can be successfully used as a source of secondary materials.In this study, a unique procedure for recycling waste PV modules that differed from previous investigations was developed [2,3]. The first stage in recycling PV modules was to remove the aluminium frame and junction box, 18 %wt. and 1 %wt. of the module, respectively, which is typically done mechanically. The following stage was crucial, involving a mechanical-thermal method to remove the tempered glass, that accounts for 70 %wt. of the PV module. As a result, only 11 %wt. of the initial mass of the PV to the further stage of chemical delamination was subjected, which reduces the amount of solvents used. Among the aromatic and cyclic hydrocarbons, the solvents that best swelled the ethylene vinyl acetate, EVA encapsulate and allowed separation of the PV module were selected. In the next stages of the research, optimal conditions for the swelled EVA were selected. The effects of temperature, mixing and ultrasound on the separation time of different fractions were investigated. After the separation process of the laminated PV modules, a fraction of crushed silicon cells, metal ribbons (busbar, tabbing), EVA copolymer and backsheet was obtained. Silicon cells require further thermal treatment, pyrolysis to remove EVA copolymer contaminants. The metals can be recovered by chemical methods proposed in the literature [4]. The backsheet was separated from the EVA copolymer and was formed from polyethylene terephthalate, PET and polyvinylidene fluoride PVDF polymer layers. The purity of the recovered polymers were determined by analytical chemistry, FTIR spectroscopy, ED-XRF X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy and elemental analysis. Physiochemical properties were measured using the DSC calorimetry in order to determine the basic parameters of the material, i.e. the temperature of glass transition. The presented research techniques allow to fully characterize the recovered materials and indicate the direction of further development, as well as determine reuse in new photovoltaic modules.This work sheds a new light on safety of environment and safe use of electronic waste materials that are properly separated and treated. Xu, Y.; Li, J.; Tan, Q.; Peters, A.L.; Yang, C. Global Status of Recycling Waste Solar Panels: A Review. Waste Manag. 2018, 75, 450–458.Xu, X.; Lai, D.; Wang, G.; Wang, Y. Nondestructive silicon wafer recovery by a novel method of solvothermal swelling coupled with thermal decomposition. Chem. Eng. J. 2021, 418, 129457.Tembo, P.M.; Heninger, M.; Subramanian, V. An Investigation of the Recovery of Silicon Photovoltaic Cells by Application of an Organic Solvent Method. ECS J. Solid State Sci. Technol. 2021, 10, 025001Zante, G.; Rivera, R. M.; Hartley, J.M.; Abbott, A. P. Efficient recycling of metals from solar cells using catalytic etchants. J. Clean. Prod. 2022, 370, 133552.

The Influence of Social Media on the Cognition of Chinese Students in Malaysia

Malaysia is currently one of the most popular study destinations for overseas Chinese students. At the same time, due to global educational status and better media technology facilities, including social media, more Chinese students tend to live or study abroad. However, the different patterns of social media at home and abroad have created a cognitive gap among overseas Chinese students in Malaysia. Qualitative in-depth interviews and Focus group discussions with more than a dozen overseas Chinese students studying in Malaysia showed that social media use has multiple impacts and aids in structuring learning, lifestyle influences, and the relationship between social media use and cognitive formation. The findings suggest that China’s local social media has been identified as a widespread use by overseas Chinese students for cross-border daily interpersonal communication. It not only helps to construct the lifestyle of overseas Chinese students, but also helps maintain their social perception as “Chinese” by generating the image of home.

Knowledge mapping and research trends of distraction osteogenesis in oral and maxillofacial surgery

BackgroundDistraction osteogenesis (DO) has found extensive use in oral and maxillofacial surgery for correcting maxillofacial deformities due to its numerous advantages. However, comprehensive scientific and visual analyses of this field on a global scale are rare. Therefore, this study aims to provide a summary of the global trends and current status of DO in oral and maxillofacial surgery. MethodPublications concerning DO in oral and maxillofacial surgery were comprehensively searched and selected from the Web of Science Core Collection(WOSCC) database. We evaluated the annual contributions from institutions, journals, countries, and authors using bibliometric analysis software. ResultsA total of 541 publications were included in this study. The USA played a predominant role in this field, leading in both publication volume and international collaboration. Harvard University and the University of Hong Kong secured the top position in total publications, while the University of Texas System topped the list in total citations within this field. The Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery emerged as the primary contributing journal, and Cheung LX emerged as the primary contributing author in the field of distraction osteogenesis (DO) in oral and maxillofacial surgery. Keywords such as 'orthognathic surgery,' 'reconstruction,' and 'osteogenesis' are anticipated to be prominent topics in future research. ConclusionBetween 1995 and 2023, there has been rapid growth in the total number of publications within the field of distraction osteogenesis (DO) in oral and maxillofacial surgery. The USA stands out as the predominant country in this field. Surgeries, orthognathic surgery, and osteogenesis have emerged as prominent topics. The findings of our study offer valuable insights for scholars seeking to identify research hotspots and chart the developmental direction of DO in oral and maxillofacial surgery.

Global turbulence, emerging powers and the regional integration potential in the Global South

During the past decade the world has witnessed an increase of developments that are shaking the global status quo. Among others, China-US/West economic frictions and the Russian invasion in Ukraine are leading to a retreat of globalization, with emphasis being given to regional production networks and value chains. Likewise, there are signs of reorganization or reinforcement of regional integration schemes such as the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and South–South cooperation fora such as the BRICS in view of failure of global governance structuresto optimally address the various issues raised. This article explores these developments and highlights how the alternatives created by the emergence of new “grand” actors are producing a potential bandwagoning effect in the Global South.

The Impact of Demographic and Clinical Factors on the Quality of Life in Patients with Neurodegenerative Cerebellar Ataxias.

In neurodegenerative cerebellar ataxias, not only ataxia but also extra-cerebellar signs have a significant impact on patients' health related to quality of life (HRQoL). The aim of this study was to evaluate the various aspects of HRQoL and predictors of QoL in patients with neurodegenerative cerebellar ataxias. We included a total of 107 patients with cerebellar degenerative ataxia. Patients filled out the validated Serbian version of the SF-36 used for the assessment of HRQoL. All patients were clinically evaluated using SARA, INAS, and neuropsychological tests to assess their global cognitive status and different psychiatric scales. The most frequent types of neurodegenerative cerebellar ataxias were autosomal dominant ataxias (38.3%) and sporadic ataxias (32.7%). Mean age at diagnosis was 35.3 ± 16.23 years, and disease duration was on average 12.1 ± 9.91 years. Mean total SF-36 score was 50.63 ± 20.50. Hierarchical regression analysis showed that in the case of the PHC score, the most significant predictors are the patient's actual age, severity of ataxia, and ACE total score. For MHC, the Hamilton depression score was the most important predictor. Our study has shown that HRQoL measured by SF-36 in patients with neurodegenerative cerebellar disorders is strongly influenced by impaired mobility and depression.

고교학점제와 고등학교 ‘중국어’ IB 교육과정의 접근 가능성 모색

Objectives According to the implementation of the high school credit system, we pay attention to the lack of dis-cussion on the opening of Chinese subjects in relation to the introduction of the IB diploma program, which has recently become a big issue in the education world. And We searched for the possibility of opening a IB Chinese subjects when operating an IB doploma program in a public high school in Korea.
 Methods For this study, through literature analysis, we introduce cases of schools that operate the IB curriculum among domestic high schools and compare and analyze them with cases of foreign IB World Schools to reveal the justification for opening IB Chinese courses and the necessary requirements for opening IB Chinese courses. Policy support was proposed.
 Results As a result of the study, there are many IB World Schools in Asia that open IB Chinese subjects, and con-sidering China's global status is gradually increasing, it is justified to open an IB Chinese subjects. However, there is no case of opening a Chinese subject in public high schools that currently operate an IB diploma grogram in Korea. It revealed that this was caused by the decision of English as a second foreign language based on the regu-lations governing DLDP in Korea.
 Conclusions In order to solve this problem, various programs such as fostering English-speaking Chinese teach-ers, producing IB Chinese textbooks, guaranteeing students' right to choose subjects through opening various foreign language subjects, opening courses tailored to the IB subject system, and providing social policy support in connection with universities and companies, etc. It was suggested that a level of political support is needed.

Test of Practical Judgment (TOP-J): Construct, Criterion, and Incremental Validity in a Community Sample of Older Adults.

The Test of Practical Judgment (TOP-J) is a stand-alone judgment measure that is considered to tap into aspects of executive functioning (EF) and inform clinical predictions of daily functioning in older adults. Past validation research is variable and has some limitations. The present study sought to examine the reliability and construct, criterion, and incremental validities of scores on TOP-J 9-item version (TOP-J/9). Participants were 95 community-dwelling older adults aged 60 to 85. Participants completed TOP-J/9, measures of EF and global cognition, and three different modalities of instrumental activities of daily living (IADLs) (self-report, performance-based tasks conducted in the laboratory, and performance-based tasks completed at home over 3weeks). TOP-J/9 scores showed adequate internal consistency (α = 0.73) after correcting for the low number of items. TOP-J/9 was correlated with global cognition and EF, although EF did not survive correction for lower-order processes. Finally, although TOP-J/9 scores were associated with home-based IADL tasks (but not with self-report and laboratory-based IADLs), providing some evidence of criterion validity, they did not incrementally contribute to home-based IADL performance beyond other cognitive measures. However, when two items pertaining to social/ethical judgment were removed, this modified version of TOP-J did relate to EF beyond lower-order processes and contributed uniquely to prediction of home-based IADLs beyond other measures. Results suggest that TOP-J/9 taps into global cognitive status (but not necessarily EF) and predicts "real-world" functioning (but not above and beyond other cognitive measures). TOP-J psychometrics may be improved by removing two social/ethical items.

Global status of research on gastrointestinal cancer patients’ quality of life: A bibliometric and visual analysis from 2003 to 2023

ObjectiveTo analyze the current research status, hotspots, and frontiers in the field of Gastrointestinal (GI) cancer and quality of life (QoL) through the bibliometrics method, and to provide references and guidance for future research. MethodsLiterature related to GI cancer and QoL from April 1, 2003 to March 31, 2023 was retrieved from the Web of Science Core Collection database. CiteSpace 6.2.R1 was performed for collaboration analysis, keyword co-occurrence analysis, and document co-citation analysis. ResultsA total of 1224 publications were included in this study. There has been a significant increase in the number of publications in this field over the past two decades. The United States, the Karolinska Institute and the University of Amsterdam, and Pernilla Lagergren are the most prolific country, institution, and author, respectively. The links between most of the research constituents were relatively thin (centrality <0.1). The keyword analysis indicates that the benefits of physical activity on QoL, the levels of psychological distress and its relationship with QoL, as well as the development and validation of QoL measurement tools have been the research hotspots. Open-label/double-blind trials exploring therapeutic interventions and more targeted new drugs or more effective drug combinations, and longitudinal studies determining the direction of the association between psychological distress and QoL at different time points, may be emerging trends in this field. ConclusionThe cooperation among countries, institutions, and authors in this field should be strengthened. In addition, the health benefits of light physical activity, interventions for QoL, trajectory and direction of the relationship between psychological distress and QoL may be the focus of future research.

Ethno-medicinal plants used by Jadh Bhotiya Community of District Uttarakashi, Uttarakhand, India

In the present study, our aim was to document the traditional knowledge regarding ethno-medicinal plants used by the Jadh-Bhotiya community in the Uttarakashi district (Uttarakhand, India). A total of 54 taxa, belonging to 49 genera and 31 families, were recorded with medicinal properties. Lamiaceae, Liliaceae and Orchidaceae were the dominant families (in terms of number of species), while the top genera included Berberis, Habenaria, Malaxis and Polygonatum. Herbs constituted the dominant life form (82%), followed by shrubs and trees (9% each). Roots (20%) and the whole plant (13%) showed a higher proportion of use for medication. Powder (33%) and paste (20%) were the most frequently used drug preparation methods. Regional conservation assessment analysis revealed that 76% of the species were recorded under the 'Least Concern' (LC) category, followed by 'Vulnerable' (VU) with 13% of the species, and 11% of the species were recorded under the 'Near Threatened' (NT) category. Aconitum heterophyllum, Arnebia benthamii, Nardostachys jatamansi, Rheum australe, Saussurea obvallata and Taxus wallichiana were recorded under the ‘Near Threatened’ (NT) category. Angelica glauca, Carduus edelbergii, Dactylorhiza hatagirea, Ephedra gerardiana, Lilium polyphyllum, Malaxis acuminata, and Malaxis muscifera were recorded under the ‘Vulnerable’ (VU) category, while the remaining species were recorded under the ‘Least Concern’ (LC) category. The knowledge about therapeutic information concerning plants in the study area and elsewhere is diminishing day by day. Regional-level conservation status of plant species can be helpful in the global conservation status assessment. It is recommended that conservation measures be applied for the betterment of those species falling under various conservation categories, especially the threatened ones. Additionally, more ethno-medicinal studies are recommended in such remote regions to further enhance our understanding of traditional medicinal practices and contribute to the conservation of indigenous plant knowledge.

Global research status analysis of the association between aortic aneurysm and inflammation: a bibliometric analysis from 1999 to 2023.

Aortic aneurysm is a chronic arterial disease that can lead to aortic rupture, causing severe complications and life-threatening risks for patients, and it is one of the common causes of death among the elderly. Increasing evidence suggests that inflammation plays an important role in the progression of aortic aneurysm. However, there is a lack of literature-based quantitative analysis in this field. Up to March 30, 2023, we collected 3,993 articles related to aortic aneurysm and inflammation from the Web of Science Core Collection (WoSCC) database for bibliometric analysis. The collected literature data were subjected to visual analysis of regional distribution, institutions, authors, keywords, and other information using tools such as CiteSpace, VOSviewer, the R package "bibliometric," and online platforms. The number of publications in this research field has been steadily increasing each year, with the United States and China being the main contributing countries. Harvard University in the United States emerged as the most active and influential research institution in this field. Jonathan Golledge and Peter Libby were identified as the authors with the highest publication output and academic impact, respectively. Researchers in this field tend to publish their findings in influential journals such as the Journal of Vascular Surgery and Arteriosclerosis Thrombosis and Vascular Biology. "Abdominal aortic aneurysm," "giant cell arteritis," "arterial stiffness," and "smooth muscle cells" were identified as the hottest topics in the field of aortic aneurysm and inflammation. In terms of keyword co-occurrence analysis, "Clinical relevant studies of AA" (red), "Inflammatory activation" (green), "Inflammatory mechanisms related to pathogenesis" (dark blue), "Cytokines" (yellow), "Risk factors" (purple), and "Pathological changes in vascular wall" (cyan) formed the major research framework in this field. "Inflammation-related pathogenesis" and "inflammation activation" have emerged as recent hot research directions, with "monocytes," "progression," and "proliferation" being the prominent topics. This study provides a comprehensive analysis of the knowledge network framework and research hotspots in the field of aortic aneurysm and inflammation through a literature-based quantitative approach. It offers valuable insights to guide scholars in identifying meaningful research directions in this field.

Ecological status of three Angiosperms (Alysicarpus bupleurifolius var. hybridus DC, Hibiscus hoshiarpurensis and Ceropegia bulbosa Roxb. var lushii) in Punjab (India)

Around the world, several plant species are fighting for their survival in the new urbanized world to which they are not adapted to and these species face a significant risk of extinction in the near future. Such species are categorized as “threatened species” in the IUCN redlist. In India, there are several herbaceous plant species that are getting pushed to those zones of existence and the scenario is no different in the northwestern state of Punjab where changes in the land cover use has been challenging the survival of several plant species including a few natives. This article focuses on existing knowledge base on the three angiosperm species in Punjab, Alysicarpus bupleurifolius var. hybridus DC and Hibiscus hoshiarpurensis and Ceropegia bulbosa Roxb. var lushii, that have been identified by Punjab Biodiversity Board as threatened in the state. It is important to understand here that comprehensive information on geographic distribution, ecology and threats to these species is lacking on global databases and even the threat status is apparently ambiguous. Alysicarpus bupleurifolius var. hybridus DC, which has been identified as endemic herb in the state, is listed as endangered species by Punjab Biodiversity Board, however the variety itself has not yet found its place in the IUCN redlist. The species, Alysicarpus bupleurifolius, is listed as the Least Concern species in the IUCN red list. Similarly, the global IUCN status of Hibiscus hoshiarpurensis, another herb identified as endemic to the state, is not known however the species is listed as threatened by the Punjab Biodiversity Board. According to The Plant list (database maintained by The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew and Missouri Botanical Garden), the plant species status is still unresolved. Ceropegia bulbosa Roxb. Var lushii, that has a distribution in a few states of India, has been identified as threatened on regional scale however the species has not yet been assessed for the IUCN Redlist.

Comprehensive Multiomics Analysis of Monozygotic Twin Discordant for Double Outlet Right Ventricle

AbstractThe objective of this study was to understand and measure epigenetic changes associated with the occurrence of CHDs by utilizing the discordant monozygotic twin model. A unique set of monozygotic twins discordant for double-outlet right ventricles (DORVs) was used for this multiomics study. The cardiac and muscle tissue samples from the twins were subjected to whole genome sequencing, whole genome bisulfite sequencing, RNA-sequencing and liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry analysis. Sporadic DORV cases and control fetuses were used for validation. Global hypomethylation status was observed in heart tissue samples from the affected twins. Among 36,228 differentially methylated regions (DMRs), 1097 DMRs involving 1039 genes were located in promoter regions. A total of 419 genes, and lncRNA–mRNA pairs involved 30 genes, and 62 proteins were significantly differentially expressed. Multiple omics integrative analysis revealed that five genes, including BGN, COL1A1, COL3A1, FBLN5, and FLAN, and three pathways, including ECM-receptor interaction, focal adhesion and TGF-β signaling pathway, exhibited differences at all three levels. This study demonstrates a multiomics profile of discordant twins and explores the possible mechanism of DORV development. Global hypomethylation might be associated with the risk of CHDs. Specific genes and specific pathways, particularly those involving ECM–receptor interaction, focal adhesion and TGF–β signaling, might be involved in the occurrence of CHDs.

Deterioration of true resting state electroencephalographic alpha rhythms in patients with mild cognitive impairment due to Alzheimer’s disease at a 6‐Month follow‐Up

AbstractBackgroundPrevious studies have shown that patients with Mild Cognitive Impairment due to Alzheimer’s disease (ADMCI) were characterized by reduced posterior rsEEG alpha rhythms after a 12‐month follow‐up (Babiloni et al., 2013). However, none of them have found an alpha deterioration considering a shorter follow‐up.A promising neurophysiological biomarker of the quiet vigilance alteration is the measurement of the posterior rsEEG alpha rhythms reduction in amplitude (reactivity) in the transition from the eyes‐closed to the eyes‐open condition (Babiloni et al., 2022).Here we tested the exploratory hypothesis that ADMCI reactive patients may display a deterioration of rsEEG alpha rhythms at a 6‐month follow‐up as a sign of disease progression (a relevant feature for intervention clinical trials).MethodClinical, neuroimaging, and rsEEG datasets in 52 ADMCI and 60 matched healthy elderly (Healthy) seniors were available from an international archive (www.pdwaves.eu). The rsEEG frequency bands were individual delta, theta, and alpha (defined based on its posterior topography and “reactivity” to the eyes‐open condition) or background frequency (BGF), as well as fixed beta (14‐30 Hz) and gamma (30‐40 Hz). Cortical source estimation was performed by eLORETA freeware.ResultA substantial (&gt; ‐10%) reduction in the posterior alpha source activities during the eyes‐open condition in about 90% and 70% of the Healthy and ADMCI participants, respectively. In the younger ADMCI participants (mean age of 64.3±1.1) with “reactive” rsEEG alpha source activities, posterior alpha source activities during the eyes‐closed condition predicted the global cognitive status at 6‐month follow‐up. In all younger ADMCI participants with “reactive” rsEEG alpha source activities, posterior alpha source activities during the eyes‐closed condition reduced in magnitude at that follow‐up. These effects could not be explained by neuroimaging and neuropsychological biomarkers of AD.ConclusionThese results suggest that in ADMCI patients, the true (“reactive”) posterior rsEEG alpha rhythms, when present, predict (in relation to younger age) and are quite sensitive to the effects of the disease progression on neurophysiological mechanisms underpinning vigilance regulation.

Inter‐network connectivity of early Aβ and tau‐seeded functional networks is associated with longitudinal tau accumulation in at‐risk cognitively normal older adults

AbstractBackgroundFunctional connectivity (FC) between networks may be related to Aβ and tau interactions in preclinical Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Here, we investigated associations between inter‐network FC of early Aβ and tau‐seeded networks, APOEe4, global Aβ, and longitudinal tau accumulation in cognitively healthy older adults (OA).MethodVoxel‐wise PiB‐PET and FTP‐PET OA images were ordered by increasing pathology burden and iteratively compared to a reference set of young adult (YA) PET images. Peak voxels of the earliest significant differences were matched to Brainnetome ROIs and used to construct separate Aβ and tau‐seeded networks within a group average YA FC matrix (Figure 1). Next, the average inter‐network FC between all node pairs between the networks was calculated in OA (n = 60; aged 77.6±5.5). Longitudinal FTP slopes of the entorhinal cortex (EC) and inferior temporal gyrus (ITG) were estimated using linear mixed effects models. Linear regression was used to assess relationships between baseline inter‐network FC, APOEe4 status, baseline global PiB, and both a prior ROI and voxel‐wise FTP slopes.ResultIn all OA, inter‐network FC was not associated with baseline global PIB (t(58) = ‐0.23, p = 0.82), EC FTP slope (t(58) = 0.49, p = 0.63), or ITG FTP slope (t(58) = ‐1.45, p = 0.15). There was a significant interaction between baseline global PiB status and inter‐network FC where FC was negatively associated with ITG FTP slope in PiB+ participants (t(56) = ‐2.01, p = 0.04; Figure 2A). There was also a significant interaction between APOEe4 status and inter‐network FC in predicting ITG FTP slope with a negative relationship only in e4 carriers (t(56) = ‐3.19, p = 0.003; Figure 2B). Voxel‐wise analyses revealed significant negative relationships between inter‐network FC and FTP slope in the left fusiform gyrus and ITG in PiB+ participants and e4 carriers, respectively (Figure 2C‐D).ConclusionLower baseline inter‐network FC of early Aβ and tau‐seeded networks was associated with greater longitudinal tau accumulation outside of the medial temporal lobe (MTL) in cognitively normal OA with higher AD risk (i.e., elevated Aβ or APOEe4). Our results suggest that this network disruption is associated with faster rates of tau accumulation outside of the MTL, possibly reflecting a later stage in the preclinical progression to AD.

Novel EEG tools to predict early cognitive impairments in Parkinson’s disease

AbstractBackgroundParkinson’s disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disorder mainly characterised by motor symptoms but often also associated with dementia, increasing in likelihood with duration of disease. Electroencephalography (EEG) can aid in the early diagnosis of those at risk of developing dementia. Therefore, we analysed EEG recordings across conscious states from PD patients with and without cognitive symptoms (Latreille et al in 2016, https://doi.org/10.1093/brain/aww018).MethodBaseline data (REM sleep, NREM sleep, WAKE) from 38 PD patients (15 with and 23 without mild cognitive impairment) and 27 healthy subjects provided power spectra (qEEG), relative band power, as well as dominant frequency and its standard deviation to investigate markers for cognitive impairment. At follow‐up (an average 4.5 years after baseline), 11 patients developed dementia (PDD). Connectivity measures for left and right occipital and central electrodes were obtained as described in Crouch et al, 2018, https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598‐018‐19707‐1.ResultqEGG analyses confirmed previous reports of enhanced theta power during REM, NREM and WAKE for patients who developed PDD. A reduction in alpha power during WAKE was observed for MCI and PDD groups when compared to controls. Alpha rhythms generally decrease with age, alongside enhanced theta power, and this outcome may contribute to the global cognitive status of patients. A reduced and less variable dominant frequency was evident for MCI and PDD patients during WAKE, indicative of reduced flexibility of the network. Finally, rPDC detected disease‐specific changes, such as enhanced cross‐hemispheric connectivity in PDD in the alpha band during NREM sleep that indicate a lack of dynamism in the network. Also noted was the diminished interhemispheric communication in delta power between both central and occipital channels in PDD during WAKE.ConclusionTogether, we here confirm that changes of theta and alpha power are optimal discriminatory biomarkers for PD with cognitive decline (with MCI and at risk of dementia). Also, spectral and rPDC analyses indicate that dementia in PD is preceded by a loss of dynamism in EEG activity during MCI stages, both at the electrode and network level.

Global research on artificial intelligence in thyroid-associated ophthalmopathy: A bibliometric analysis

PurposeTo provide an overview of global publications on artificial intelligence (AI) in thyroid-associated ophthalmopathy (TAO) through bibliometric analysis. MethodsPublications related to AI in TAO from inception until April 2023 were retrieved from the Web of Science database. The trends of publications and citations, publishing performance, collaboration among countries and institutions, and the funding agencies, relevant research domains, leading journals, hotspots and their evolution were identified. ResultsA total of 55 publications were included for analysis. The number of publications and citations continued to grow since 1998, with a significant acceleration of growth after 2020. China is the most productive country with the highest number of productive institutions, followed by the United States. European countries have the most extensive collaboration. The most relevant research domain was radiology, nuclear medicine & medical imaging. The European Journal of Radiology was one of the most productive journals, with the most influential articles published. "Thyroid-associated ophthalmopathy" and "neural network" maintain hotspots during the entire period. Studies were more focused on clinical features during 1998 and 2016, clinical features and medical data during 2017 and 2020, and medical data and AI techniques during 2021 and 2023. ConclusionsThis study summarized the global research status regarding AI in TAO in terms of trends, countries, institutions, research domains, journals, and key topics. AI has shown great potential in TAO. Sponsored by funding agencies such as NSFC, China has become the most productive country in the field of AI in TAO. Our findings help researchers better understand the development of this field and provide valuable clues for future research directions.

Global status, recent trends, and knowledge mapping of olive oil research and cardiovascular disease: 50 years of investigations through bibliometric analysis.

In the Mediterranean diet, olive oil serves as the predominant fat source and has been linked to a decreased risk of mortality related to cardiovascular diseases (CVD). Still, there is no conclusive evidence correlating olive oil consumption to CVD. The aim of this study is to assess the global research, current research trends, and knowledge mapping related to the correlation between the consumption of olive oil and CVD using bibliometric analysis. On August 19, 2023, a title-specific literature search was conducted on the Scopus database using the search terms "olive oil" and "cardiovascular disease" with a date range of the past 50 years. Subsequently, bibliometric tools such as VOSviewer and Bibliometrix were employed to analyze and evaluate the obtained documents. The search yielded (n = 429) publications and showed an upward trend in the annual publication count over the last five decades. The publication number exhibited a gradual increase with a rate of 5.55%. The results also indicated that 2530 authors, 759 institutions, 47 countries, and 223 journals have publications in this research domain. The present bibliometric study will be a valuable research reference for describing the worldwide research patterns concerning the relationship between olive oil and CVD during the past 50 years. In the future, the application of olive oil for the treatment of CVDs may be an emerging research trend. Apart from this, collaborations among authors, countries, and organizations are expected.

Bibliometric analysis of the global research status and trends of mechanotransduction in cancer.

The development of cancer is thought to involve the dynamic crosstalk between the tumor cells and the microenvironment they inhabit. Such crosstalk is thought to involve mechanotransduction, a process whereby the cells sense mechanical cues such as stiffness, and translate these into biochemical signals, which have an impact on the subsequent cellular activities. Bibliometric analysis is a statistical method that involves investigating different aspects (including authors' names and affiliations, article keywords, journals and citations) of large volumes of literature. Despite an increase in mechanotransduction-related research in recent years, there are currently no bibliometric studies that describe the global status and trends of mechanotransduction-related research in the cancer field. To investigate the global research status and trends of mechanotransduction in cancer from a bibliometric viewpoint. Literature on mechanotransduction in cancer published from January 1, 1900 to December 31, 2022 was retrieved from the Web of Science Core Collection. Excel and GraphPad software carried out the statistical analysis of the relevant author, journal, organization, and country information. The co-authorship, keyword co-occurrence, and keyword burst analysis were visualized with VOSviewer and CiteSpace. Of 597 publications from 745 institutions in 45 countries were published in 268 journals with 35510 citation times. With 270 articles, the United States is a well-established global leader in this field, and the University of California system, the most productive (n = 36) and influential institution (n = 4705 citations), is the most highly active in collaborating with other organizations. Cancers was the most frequent publisher with the highest H-index. The most productive researcher was Valerie M. Weaver, with 10 publications. The combined analysis of concurrent and burst keywords revealed that the future research hotspots of mechanotransduction in cancer were related to the plasma membrane, autophagy, piezo1/2, heterogeneity, cancer diagnosis, and post-transcriptional modifications. Mechanotransduction-related cancer research remains a hot topic. The United States is in the leading position of global research on mechano-oncology after almost 30 years of investigations. Research group cooperations exist but remain largely domestic, lacking cross-national communications. The next big topic in this field is to explore how the plasma membrane and its localized mechanosensor can transduce mechanical force through post-transcriptional modifications and thereby participate in cellular activity regulations and cancer development.