Relevant Finding Research Articles

The Use of 2 e-Learning Modalities for Diabetes Education Using Facebook in 2 Cities of Argentina During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Qualitative Study.

The COVID-19 pandemic and the confinement that was implemented in Argentina generated a need to implement innovative tools for the strengthening of diabetes care. Diabetes self-management education (DSME) is a core element of diabetes care; however, because of COVID-19 restrictions, in-person diabetes educational activities were suspended. Social networks have played an instrumental role in this context to provide DSME in 2 cities of Argentina and help persons with diabetes in their daily self-management. The aim of this study is to evaluate 2 diabetes education modalities (synchronous and asynchronous) using the social media platform Facebook through the content of posts on diabetes educational sessions in 2 cities of Argentina during the COVID-19 pandemic. In this qualitative study, we explored 2 modalities of e-learning (synchronous and asynchronous) for diabetes education that used the Facebook pages of public health institutions in Chaco and La Rioja, Argentina, in the context of confinement. Social media metrics and the content of the messages posted by users were analyzed. A total of 332 messages were analyzed. We found that in the asynchronous modality, there was a higher number of visualizations, while in the synchronous modality, there were more posts and interactions between educators and users. We also observed that the number of views increased when primary care clinics were incorporated as disseminators, sharing educational videos from the sessions via social media. Positive aspects were observed in the posts, consisting of messages of thanks and, to a lesser extent, reaffirmations, reflections or personal experiences, and consultations related to the subject treated. Another relevant finding was that the educator/moderator role had a greater presence in the synchronous modality, where posts were based on motivation for participation, help to resolve connectivity problems, and answers to specific user queries. Our findings show positive contributions of an educational intervention for diabetes care using the social media platform Facebook in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. Although each modality (synchronous vs asynchronous) could have differential and particular advantages, we believe that these strategies have potential to be replicated and adapted to other contexts. However, more documented experiences are needed to explore their sustainability and long-term impact from the users' perspective.

3-E feasibility analysis on photovoltaic/thermal application for residential buildings: a case study of Sub-Saharan Africa

ABSTRACT This study was driven by the need to comprehend and give long-term answers to Nigeria’s ongoing energy crises and energy famine, despite the country’s tremendous endowment of renewable energy. The first step toward proffering such solutions is to present the potential benefits of solar-driven technology for residential applications. This study simulates the performance of a photovoltaic/thermal system for electricity and hot water production for a typical four-person residential settlement in different regions in Nigeria. This study computes the economic feasibility, as well as the environmental implications of the proposed PVT system on the considered geopolitical zones in Nigeria. The performance of the system were assessed on a technical, economic and environmental basis. Final system yield, performance ratio, electrical efficiency, and solar fraction were used for technical assessments, and cost savings was used for economic analysis. The relevant finding revealed that the maximum final yield (in this study) of 159kWh/kWp is retrieved in Maiduguri, while the least final yield of 75.8kWh/kWp is retrieved in Port Harcourt. The northeast (Maiduguri) showed the best annual final yield of 1735kWh/kWp. Onitsha and Port Harcourt showed a maximum performance ratio of 76.3%, and 76.2% respectively. The value of LCOE obtained in this study is in the range of 0.2518$/kWh-0.3838$/kWh, with an average of 0.3056$/kWh

The voluntary sustainability standards and their contribution towards the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals: A systematic review on the coffee sector

AbstractIn 2015, the United Nations adopted the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Voluntary sustainability standards (VSSs) precede the SDGs and are a major governance tool for sustainability. Consequently, it is important to understand the role of VSS towards the achievement of the SDGs. This article contributes to answer this question through a systematic review of literature. Results revealed research gaps for key SDGs, such as SDG 5 (Gender Equality) and SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities). Another relevant finding is that more than half of the studied variables showed no significant difference between intervention or control group, or no significant change over time. This article encourages VSSs and policymakers to work collaboratively towards the use of common indicators and increased data transparency.

Institutional distance and US-based international mutual funds’ financial performance

In this research, we analyse the impact of the institutional distance between investor and investee countries on the risk-adjusted financial performance for a broad sample of US-based international mutual funds in the period 1997-2021 (1,704 equity mutual funds/106,521 monthly portfolios). Our results show that a greater institutional distance jeopardizes mutual fund financial performance. Another relevant finding is that holding a more country-concentrated portfolio positively impacts financial performance. In addition, we reveal an interaction effect between the two variables, meaning that the portfolio country concentration moderates the negative impact of institutional distance, supporting the information advantage theory.

Frequency of subclavian artery stenosis in patients with mammarian artery coronary bypass and suspected coronary artery disease progression

We retrospectively analyzed patient records of all patients with a history of internal mammarian artery (IMA) coronary bypass undergoing coronary angiography at two cardiovascular centers between January 1st 1999 and December 31st 2019. A total of 11,929 coronary angiographies with or without percutaneous coronary intervention were carried out in 3921 patients. Our analysis revealed 82 (2%) patients with documented subclavian artery stenosis. Of these, 8 (10%) patients were classified as having mild, 18 (22%) moderate, and 56 (68%) severe subclavian artery stenosis. In 7 (9%) patients with subclavian artery stenosis, angiography revealed occlusion of the IMA graft. 26 (32%) patients with severe subclavian artery stenosis underwent endovascular or surgical revasculararization of the subclavian artery. In this retrospective multicenter study, subclavian artery stenosis was a relevant finding in patients with an internal mammarian artery coronary bypass graft undergoing coronary angiography. The development of dedicated algorithms for screening and ischemia evaluation in affected individuals may improve treatment of this potentially underdiagnosed and undertreated condition.

Cardiac sodium/hydrogen exchanger (NHE11) as a novel potential target for SGLT2i in heart failure

Abstract Background Despite the cardiac benefits of sodium/glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors (SGLT2i), their basic of action remains unclear. Sodium/hydrogen exchanger (NHE) has been proposed as mechanism of action of SGLT2i, but there are controversies related to its function and expression in heart failure (HF). Purpose We hypothesized that sodium transported-related molecules could be altered in human HF and they could be modulated through SGLT2i. Methods Transcriptome-level differences in genes involved in sodium transport between HF and control (CNT) were investigated in 36 heart samples with RNA-sequencing technology (HF, n=26; CNT, n=10). In addition, NHE11 and NHE1 protein levels were determined in 80 heart samples (HF, n=70; CNT, n=10) by ELISA assay. Furthermore, the effect of empagliflozin on NHE11 mRNA levels in rat left ventricular tissue (n=22) was studied through RT-qPCR. Results We observed alterations in several genes involved in sodium transport. Among them the overexpression in SLC9C2 (p=0.005) and SCL9A1 (p=0.020) genes, which encode the NHE11 and NHE1 proteins, respectively. In addition, cardiac protein levels of these molecules were determined. We found a significant increase in the concentration of NHE11 (p=0.042) and NHE1 (p=0.018) in HF. Moreover, NHE11 levels were correlated with left ventricular diameters. Due to the relevance of NHE11 changes observed, we studied the effect of SGLTi on its expression. NHE11 mRNA levels were reduced in rats treated with empagliflozin (p=0.010). Conclusions Our findings show alterations in several sodium transport, reinforce the importance of these channels in HF progression. We described upregulation in NHE11 and NHE1 in HF patients, but only NHE11 correlated with cardiac dysfunction. In addition, the most relevant finding is the change observed in the expression of the unknown NHE11 after treatment with empagliflozin. These results propose NHE11 as a potential target of SGLT2i in cardiac tissue. Funding Acknowledgement Type of funding sources: Public grant(s) – National budget only. Main funding source(s): National Institute of Health Carlos III European Regional Development Fund (ERDF)

High frequency of CD8 escape mutations in elite controllers as new obstacle for HIV cure

ABSTRACT Accumulation of mutations in epitopes of cytolytic-T-lymphocytes immune response (CTL) in HIV-reservoir seems to be one of the reasons for shock-and-kill strategy failure. Ten non-controller patients on successful cART (TX) and seven elite controllers (EC) were included. HIV-Gag gene from purified resting memory CD4+ T-cells was sequenced by Next-Generation-Sequencing. HLA class-I alleles were typed to predict optimal HIV-Gag CTL epitopes. For each subject, the frequency of mutated epitopes in the HIV-Gag gene, the proportion of them considered as CTL-escape variants as well as their effect on antigen recognition by HLA were assessed. The proportion (%) of mutated HIV-Gag CTL epitopes in the reservoir was high and similar in EC and TX (86%[50–100] and 57%[48–82] respectively, p=0.315). Many of them were predicted to negatively impact antigen recognition. Moreover, the proportion of mutated epitopes considered to be CTL-escape variants was also similar in TX and EC (77%[49–92] vs. 50%[33–75] respectively, p=0.117). Thus, the most relevant finding of our study was the high and similar proportions of HIV-Gag CTL-escape mutations in the reservoir of both HIV-noncontroller patients with cART (TX) and patients with spontaneous HIV-control (EC). Our findings suggest that escape mutations of CTL-response may be another obstacle to eliminate the HIV reservoir and constitute a proof of concept that challenges HIV cure strategies focused on the reactivation of reservoirs. Due to the small sample size that could impact the robustness of the study, further studies with larger cohorts of elite controller patients are needed to confirm these results.

What makes them thrive? Protective factors for the academic success of Roma university students: A case study

The situation of oppression and discrimination of Roma people is a fact that can be observed in many research studies. This is in conjunction with segregation and unequal educational conditions for Roma students, which do not seem to improve despite economic investment and specific intervention programmes. We understand that these situations are ever-present and structural in our society and that they segregate and exclude and become cultural, social and educational barriers for Roma students to successfully continue their academic careers until they reach university. The aim of this study was to understand the views of Roma students at a university in the south of Spain regarding the factors that had enabled them to overcome the initial difficulties they had faced during primary and secondary education, and which had acted as protective factors against educational exclusion. We have included quantitative data through the use of questionnaires, and qualitative data through the use of interviews. The results suggest that these factors are diverse, intersecting and are not mutually exclusive. Family and teacher support and the presence of a non-segregated environment, as well as personal motivation and self-awareness, are key factors. A relevant finding has been the flexibility of cultural reference models that have allowed them to navigate the exclusionary structures of the school.

Invasive woody legumes: Climatic range shifts and their relationships to functional traits

AbstractAimAnalysis of the shifts in the climatic space for invasive species between native and introduced areas is a powerful tool for understanding their distribution patterns and the factors influencing their spread into new areas. In this study, we explored the shift in climatic distribution between ranges for invasive woody legumes and how the functional traits of these species are associated with their climatic distribution.LocationGlobal.Time periodPresent.Major taxa studiedInvasive woody legumes.MethodsWe evaluated the global patterns of occupation of the climatic space for 107 invasive woody legumes in their native and introduced distribution ranges, in addition to the differences in six key functional traits. We used the trait probability density (TPD) function to estimate species probabilistic niches. We then classified species into four groups according to the climatic differences between the distribution ranges. The comparisons between the climate shift groups and the distribution ranges were evaluated with mixed linear models. Additionally, we compared the functional traits between species groups using ANOVA.ResultsOverall, we found that invasive species exhibited low to moderate climatic overlap between their native and introduced distribution ranges. However, climatic conditions in the introduced range were different from those in the native range. Invasive legumes were clustered in four groups (conserved, expansion, dissociation and unfilling), with dissociation between climate niches being the most common one. In terms of functional traits, the most relevant finding was that the species in the expansion group had larger leaves than species in the dissociation group.Main conclusionsOur results showed no consistent climatic range shift across all invasive woody legume species from their native to their introduced distribution. However, some species tended to invade climatic conditions that were different from those in their native range, supporting the hypothesis that some invasive species are able to adapt to novel environmental conditions. Finally, functional traits might be a good predictor of how these species modify their climatic spaces.

Relation between asthma clinical presentation and diet patterns among adolescents living in Saudi Arabia: Evidence from national school-based study

Background: Dietary intervention based on evidence-based guidelines should be introduced into the clinical management of Asthmatic patients to promote overall health benefits and disease control. However, there is limited evidence in the Saudi medical literature. Objective of the study: To assess the association between diet patterns and asthma symptoms in Saudi adolescents. Subjects and Methods: In total, 4086 Saudi adolescents were recruited for the study. Data for this study were sourced from a national survey conducted by the Saudi Ministry of health. Results: 13.3% (n=543) of adolescents reported current wheeze in the past 12 months. The results showed that almost half of all adolescents reported unhealthy diet consumption on most or all days and a healthy diet was consumed at least twice per week in a third of them. The most important clinically relevant finding was a positive association between high weekly consumption of an unhealthy diet with asthma symptoms. Conclusion: Our findings suggest that the positive impact of diet on asthma control is encouraging. A healthy diet including fruits, vegetables, and fish, is implicated in the mitigation of asthma symptoms and severity.

Deep Learning-Based Feature Extraction of Acoustic Emission Signals for Monitoring Wear of Grinding Wheels.

Tool wear monitoring is a critical issue in advanced manufacturing systems. In the search for sensing devices that can provide information about the grinding process, Acoustic Emission (AE) appears to be a promising technology. The present paper presents a novel deep learning-based proposal for grinding wheel wear status monitoring using an AE sensor. The most relevant finding is the possibility of efficient feature extraction form frequency plots using CNNs. Feature extraction from FFT plots requires sound domain-expert knowledge, and thus we present a new approach to automated feature extraction using a pre-trained CNN. Using the features extracted for different industrial grinding conditions, t-SNE and PCA clustering algorithms were tested for wheel wear state identification. Results are compared for different industrial grinding conditions. The initial state of the wheel, resulting from the dressing operation, is clearly identified for all the experiments carried out. This is a very important finding, since dressing strongly affects operation performance. When grinding parameters produce acute wear of the wheel, the algorithms show very good clustering performance using the features extracted by the CNN. Performance of both t-SNE and PCA was very much the same, thus confirming the excellent efficiency of the pre-trained CNN for automated feature extraction from FFT plots.

Scenario Analysis of an Electric Power System in Colombia Considering the El Niño Phenomenon and the Inclusion of Renewable Energies

This paper develops and analyzes four energy scenarios for Colombia that consider the El Niño phenomenon and the inclusion of renewable energies in the energy generation matrix for the period 2020–2035. A comparative analysis is presented between the results of the different scenarios proposed. The most relevant finding is the use of the reserve margin as an indicator of system reliability. A scenario which included 7214 MW of large-scale non-conventional renewable energy, 10,000 MW of distributed generation, and 12,240 MW of hydroelectric power was assumed, with a reserve margin of over 50%. Additionally, it was found that for the scenarios in which a generation capacity with non-conventional renewable energies of less than 10,000 MW in 2034 was assumed, the reserve margin of the system in the seasons of the El Niño phenomenon will be less than historical records of the system. Alternatively, it was found that the scenarios in which the inclusion of at least 9600 MW of the electric power generation capacity of non-conventional renewable energies proposed by 2034 offer benefits in the reduction in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, which contributes to the achievement of the emission reduction objectives of the Paris Agreement.

Editors' Note: Neurofilament Light Chain Levels in Anti-NMDAR Encephalitis and Primary Psychiatric Psychosis

Dr. Guasp et al. assessed the performance of serum neurofilament light chain (NfL) testing in differentiating anti-NMDA receptor encephalitis (NMDARe) from psychiatric causes of a first episode of psychosis (pFEP) in an observational study of 118 patients with NMDARe (33 of whom had isolated psychosis at presentation), comparing them with 45 patients with pFEP, 36 patients with herpes simplex encephalitis (HSV), and 36 healthy controls. They found that young patients with first episode psychosis and serum NfL ≥15 pg/mL had a 120 times higher chance of having NMDARe than pFEP, with this cutoff correctly classifying 96% of patients with pFEP and 85% of patients with NMDARe and isolated psychosis. Notably, all patients with HSV also had serum NFL≥15 pg/mL. The authors concluded that patients with first episodes of psychosis of unclear etiology and serum NfL ≥15 pg/mL should undergo testing for NMDAR antibodies in the CSF. In response, Dr. Vale notes that the presence of NMDAR antibodies is not essential for diagnosing autoimmune encephalitis, given that other autoantibodies can cause psychotic presentations, and that elevations of NfL may reflect comorbidities causing central or peripheral neuroaxonal damage. Dr. Vale argues that given the severity of first episodes of psychosis, all such patients should be considered for CSF examinations, as was the historical practice for concerns of neurosyphilis. Responding to these comments, the authors agree that CSF studies should be reincorporated in the evaluation of patients with new onset psychosis, but note that they restricted their study to the identification of NMDARe, given that this condition can almost perfectly mimic psychiatric causes of first episodes of psychosis, in contrast to other autoimmune encephalitides, which typically have other concurrent neurologic features. They argue that the usefulness of serum NfL testing seen in their study is a relevant finding, regardless of any other underlying contributors to NfL elevation. This exchange highlights the importance of ongoing research into noninvasive markers of neurologic causes of psychosis. It is the editors' opinion that in practice, routine CSF testing for all patients with first episodes of psychosis is unlikely to be feasible in all psychiatric facilities, and as such, screening using serum markers will likely complement clinical examination-guided autoantibody testing in the future. Dr. Guasp et al. assessed the performance of serum neurofilament light chain (NfL) testing in differentiating anti-NMDA receptor encephalitis (NMDARe) from psychiatric causes of a first episode of psychosis (pFEP) in an observational study of 118 patients with NMDARe (33 of whom had isolated psychosis at presentation), comparing them with 45 patients with pFEP, 36 patients with herpes simplex encephalitis (HSV), and 36 healthy controls. They found that young patients with first episode psychosis and serum NfL ≥15 pg/mL had a 120 times higher chance of having NMDARe than pFEP, with this cutoff correctly classifying 96% of patients with pFEP and 85% of patients with NMDARe and isolated psychosis. Notably, all patients with HSV also had serum NFL≥15 pg/mL. The authors concluded that patients with first episodes of psychosis of unclear etiology and serum NfL ≥15 pg/mL should undergo testing for NMDAR antibodies in the CSF. In response, Dr. Vale notes that the presence of NMDAR antibodies is not essential for diagnosing autoimmune encephalitis, given that other autoantibodies can cause psychotic presentations, and that elevations of NfL may reflect comorbidities causing central or peripheral neuroaxonal damage. Dr. Vale argues that given the severity of first episodes of psychosis, all such patients should be considered for CSF examinations, as was the historical practice for concerns of neurosyphilis. Responding to these comments, the authors agree that CSF studies should be reincorporated in the evaluation of patients with new onset psychosis, but note that they restricted their study to the identification of NMDARe, given that this condition can almost perfectly mimic psychiatric causes of first episodes of psychosis, in contrast to other autoimmune encephalitides, which typically have other concurrent neurologic features. They argue that the usefulness of serum NfL testing seen in their study is a relevant finding, regardless of any other underlying contributors to NfL elevation. This exchange highlights the importance of ongoing research into noninvasive markers of neurologic causes of psychosis. It is the editors' opinion that in practice, routine CSF testing for all patients with first episodes of psychosis is unlikely to be feasible in all psychiatric facilities, and as such, screening using serum markers will likely complement clinical examination-guided autoantibody testing in the future.

Systematic mapping of technologies for supporting choreographic composition

Technology has increasingly occupied other areas of sciences and humanities, including art and dance. Over the years, initiatives to use technological applications in artistic performances have been observed and this research is developed regarding this context and the challenge of using technology to support the artist’s imagined creations. The systematic mapping of the literature carried out is part of a broad search for studies that portray the interdisciplinarity of these two universes, aiming to find technologies that support the choreographic composition process, focusing on tools that work together with the choreographer’s activities. The methodology consisted of using search terms in research repositories, which initially returned 635 publications, which were filtered by inclusion and exclusion criteria, to undergo further analysis. Eighteen tools were identified and explored in which the main applicability was the simulation of movements through graphic animation. From the operating mode of these applications, the challenges of the existing relationship between technology and the creation of dance were discussed. This study only incorporates technologies that act as a support tool by sharing the compositional effort, which creates the opportunity for future investigations into other ways of using technology in dance creation. The main contribution of this paper is identifying and classifying the main integration strategies of technology and dance composition, as well as summarizing the data and discussing its implications, been the identification of the lack of involvement of artists (end users) in the early stages of the development process the most relevant finding.

Follow-up blood cultures in Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia: a probability-based optimization.

Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia (SAB) is a relevant finding which prompts a thorough diagnostic work-up. Follow-up blood cultures (BC) are essential in this work-up. We investigate the probability of detecting an ongoing bacteremia after initiation of active therapy according to the number of BC taken at key time points. A retrospective analysis of all patients with SAB in a 6-year period was performed. Total number of BCs taken and the positivity was registered for each day after start of therapy. A positivity-rate was corrected using a logistic mixed effects model. Observed detection frequencies were applied to calculate detection probabilities using binomial distributions. Three hundred and seventeen cases were withheld for analysis. A BC bottle positivity rate of 66.7% was found 1day after initiation of active therapy, which decreased to 48.5% on day 4. When using 1 set of FU-BC, 73.4% of persisting SABs are detected. To maintain a probability of detection of ≥ 90%, 2 BC sets should be taken on day 2 and day 4 after start of therapy. In 10 of 109 patients with positive FU-BC, skip phenomena were registered, with a significant higher proportion in patients with < 4 BC bottles taken (14%) than when ≥ 4 BC bottles were taken (4.1%). We recommend taking 2 BC sets on days 2 and 4 after start of therapy in order to detect ≥ 90% of persisting SABs, limiting skip phenomena and blood volume required. We strongly advice against taking a single BC set as follow-up for SAB.

Examining the Implications of Political Thuggery on Electoral Process in Nigeria

The paper focuses on examining the implications of Political Thuggery on Electoral Process in Nigeria. Its general objective is to examine the effects of political thuggery or violence on electoral process with inferences from Nigeria; with specific objectives to i). Identify the implications of Political Thuggery to national security, and ii). proffer policy-based recommendations including implementation strategies to curbing the anomalies. The paper achieved its objectives by adopting qualitative descriptive method of analysis; its instruments of data collection included secondary sources --books, newspapers, journals, internet, and observations of the trend of political activities in Nigeria. For Indepth understanding of the discourse, the paper made extrapolations from three (3) relevant notions: the notions of Democratic Culture, Vested Interest, and Legitimation-crisis. In its investigation, relevant finding or outcome was made. The finding revealed that there is a positive correlation between Political Thuggery and Electoral Process --that is, the more political thuggery increases, the more electoral process anomalies increase too. The paper therefore concluded that, political thuggery has negative implications to national security. A few recommendations were proffered: 1. Salaries of political officers should be reduced to make political office less attractive, thus making politics no more a "do or die" affair; inter alia.&#x0D; &#x0D; Received: 11 July 2022 / Accepted: 25 August 2022 / Published: 2 September 2022

A study on Ishikawa’s original basic tools of quality control in healthcare

PurposeThe main purpose of this study is to investigate Ishikawa’s statement that “95% of problems in processes can be accomplished using the 7 Quality Control (QC) tools” and explore its validity within the health-care sector. The study will analyze the usage of the 7 QC tools in the health-care service sector and the benefits, challenges and critical success factors (CSFs) for the application of the 7 QC tools in this sector.Design/methodology/approachIn order to evaluate Ishikawa’s statement and how valid his statement is for the health-care sector, an online survey instrument was developed, and data collection was performed utilizing a stratified random sampling strategy. The main strata/clusters were formed by health-care professionals working in all aspects of health-care organizations and functions. A total of 168 participants from European health-care facilities responded to the survey.FindingsThe main finding of this study is that 62% of respondents were trained in the 7 QC tools. Only 3% of participants in the health-care sector perceived that the seven tools of QC can solve above 90% of quality problems as originally claimed by Dr Ishikawa. Another relevant finding presented in this paper is that Histograms, Cause and Effect diagrams and check sheets are the most used tools in the health-care sector. The least used tools are Stratification and Scatter diagrams. This paper also revealed that the 7 QC tools proposed by Dr Ishikawa were most used in hospital wards and in administration functions. This work also presents a list of CSFs required for the proper application of the 7 QC tools in healthcare.Research limitations/implicationsThis research was carried out in European health-care facilities – and there is an opportunity to expand the study across global health-care facilities. There is also an opportunity to study the use of the tools and their impact on hospital performance using the Action Research methodology in a health-care organization.Originality/valueTo the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the very first research within the health-care sector that focused on investigating the usage of all the 7 basic tools and challenging Dr Ishikawa’s statement: “95% of problems in processes can be accomplished using the 7 Quality Control (QC) tools” from his book “What is Quality Control?” The results of this study represent an important first step toward a full understanding of the applicability of these tools in the health-care sector.

Induction of stress defense response and quality retention in minimally processed peaches through the application of gamma irradiation treatments

Consumers demand fruit and vegetable products "on the go" that maintain color, flavor, nutritional and bioactive compounds almost equal to fresh products. Irradiation represents an effective technology traditionally used in fruit and vegetable as a phytosanitary treatment to preserve food quality and safety. In the present study we evaluated the effect of gamma irradiation treatments at several doses (0, 0.1, 0.3, 1.0, 2.5 kGy) on the quality and biochemical aspects of minimally processed peaches (Prunus persica L. Batsch) with low oxygen permeability packaging. During minimal processing, peach slices were treated in an antioxidant solution containing 1 % ascorbic acid and 0.5 % citric acid for 2 min. Trays of minimally processed peaches were irradiated packed inside cardboard boxes. Changes in color, firmness and polyphenoloxidase (PPO) and peroxidase (POD) activities of peaches were analyzed at different storage times (0, 7, 14 d) at 4 °C. In addition, the stress response of plant to these treatments was assessed by using the induction of heat shock proteins (HSP) as a biochemical marker. Results show that irradiation caused no substantial changes in chromatic parameters, although an immediate reduction in firmness and POD activity was observed, proportional to the increased doses applied. In turn, PPO activity remained stable while the activity of some of its isoenzymes decreased for doses higher than 0.3 kGy. The overexpression of HSP, only detected for irradiation doses of 0.1 and 0.3 kGy, in coincidence with the best performing treatments, constitutes a relevant finding not previously reported in fruit. Therefore, low doses of irradiation promoted the physiological and biochemical defense mechanisms of the fruit. HSP could thus be used in plant tissues as a biomarker of the stress brought about by exposure to irradiation, capable of preventing physiological damage. These preliminary results suggest that irradiation treatments (up to 1.0 kGy) in combination with modified atmosphere packaging (from 19 % and 10 % O2 at 0 d to 3 % and 15 % CO2 at 14 d of storage) could render high quality peach products with an extended shelf life.

Assessing HapHop-Physio: An Exer-Learning Game to Support Therapies for Children with Specific Learning Disorders

The HapHop-Physio exer-learning game is a cognitive rehabilitation solution for children with learning disorders to train memory and attention functions. Therefore, HapHop-Physio must be assessed as an appropriate tool developed to support the enhancement of essential cognitive skills. In this paper, we aim to establish the validity of HapHop-Physio in a healthcare setting with children receiving training with this tool. HapHop-Physio was developed through interaction between clinical experts, one graphic designer, and game developers. Following an assessment framework for serious games in healthcare, the game’s rationale, functionality, validity, and data safety are described. Particularly, the validity was assessed with experts through a case study conducted in three phases with 12 children diagnosed with Specific Learning Disorders. The baseline of the cognitive profile of the children was obtained and trained with HapHop-Physio. General trends and findings were obtained through an exploratory analysis of the gathered results from the phases. The validity aspects were achieved through continuous feedback from the experts, allowing to improve the game in five features: game structure, scoring system, avatars, login system, and clinicians’ dashboard. The application of the assessment framework in HapHop-Physio guarantees end users that the game is safe and effective enough to be used for supporting memory and attention training. One relevant finding from the case study was that cognitive performance improved in 11 out of 12 children at the end of the training. The positive outcomes of this assessment indicate the game’s appropriateness for a healthcare setting. However, the improvement in cognitive performance cannot be associated with HapHop-Physio in this case study. Consequently, it needs to be evaluated in a controlled experiment (including a control group) to ensure that it leads to cognitive rehabilitation in reality.

COVID-19 Pandemic and Remote Consultations in Children: A Bibliometric Analysis.

Telemedicine is becoming a standard method of consultation, and the COVID-19 pandemic has increased its need. Telemedicine is suitable for non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in the pediatric population, as these are chronic conditions that affect many children worldwide. The aim of this study was to analyze the bibliometric parameters of publications on the use of telemedicine for the most common NCDs in children before and after the COVID-19 pandemic. Following the electronic search, 585 records were selected. “Metabolic diseases” was the most frequent topic before and after the pandemic, accounting for 34.76% in 2017–2019 and 33.97% in 2020–2022. The average IF of the journals from which records were retrieved was 5.46 ± 4.62 before and 4.58 ± 2.82 after the pandemic, with no significant variation. The number of citations per reference averaged 14.71 ± 17.16 in 2017–2019 (95% CI: 12.07; 17.36) and 5.54 ± 13.71 in 2020–2022 (95% CI: 4.23; 6.86). Asthma, metabolic diseases, and neurodevelopmental disorders were the most explored topics. A relevant finding concerns the increasing number of observational studies after the pandemic, with a reduction of the interventional studies. The latter type of study should be recommended as it can increase the evaluation of new strategies for the management of NCDs.