Nevin Manimala

IEEE Trans Haptics. 2022 Mar 8;PP. doi: 10.1109/TOH.2022.3156122. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Time order errors have been investigated in several fields, and the time delay between subsequent stimuli in discrimination tasks is one example of such errors. However, the effect of these types of errors in thermal discrimination tasks is understudied. To evaluate the effect of inter-stimulus interval (ISI) on thermal perception, we used a discrimination task with a staircase method between two non-zero thermal stimuli. We found that JND ISI=0s was 3.10 and increased by 11.9% and 21.2% at JND ISI=3s and JND ISI=9s, respectively. Statistical analysis revealed that ISI was a statistically significant effect (p < 0.05) on thermal perception in our task. Future studies on thermal perception should keep the ISI consistent and report the time.

PMID:35259114 | DOI:10.1109/TOH.2022.3156122

IEEE Trans Pattern Anal Mach Intell. 2022 Mar 8;PP. doi: 10.1109/TPAMI.2022.3157444. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

The integral probability metric (IPM) equips generative adversarial nets (GANs) with the necessary theoretical support for comparing statistical moments in an embedded domain of the critic, while stabilising their training and mitigating the mode collapse issues. For enhanced intuition and physical insight, we introduce a generalisation of IPM-GANs which operates by directly comparing probability distributions rather than their moments. This is achieved through characteristic functions (CFs), a powerful tool that uniquely comprises all information about any general distribution. For rigour, we first theoretically prove the ability of the CF loss to compare probability distributions, and proceed to establish the physical meaning of the phase and amplitude of CFs. An optimal sampling strategy is then developed to calculate the CFs, and an equivalence between the embedded and data domains is proved under the reciprocal theory. This makes it possible to seamlessly combine IPM-GAN with an auto-encoder structure by an advanced anchor architecture, which adversarially learns a semantic low-dimensional manifold for both generation and reconstruction. This efficient reciprocal CF GAN (RCF-GAN) structure, uses only two modules and a simple training strategy to achieve the state-of-the-art bi-directional generation. Experiments demonstrate the superior performance of RCF-GAN on both regular (images) and irregular (graph) domains.

PMID:35259097 | DOI:10.1109/TPAMI.2022.3157444

J Am Coll Health. 2022 Mar 8:1-5. doi: 10.1080/07448481.2022.2039158. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Objective: Internet and development of digital media as a tool for online promotions provides avenues for early recruitment of college students into risky drinking. The objective of the study was to examine prevalence of alcohol promotions on web-based media and its possible effects on alcohol drinking by sex among college students in Kenya. Participants and Methods: A sample of 836 out of 1354 (61.7%) second and final year students in the school of education of a public urban university in Kenya participated in this online cross-sectional survey using awareness of online alcohol marketing and TWEAK questionnaires. Results: Facebook attracted most alcohol post per day (χ=3.6) and other apps collectively had least alcohol post per day (χ=0.8). Spearman’s correlation show significant association between online alcohol promotions and risky drinking (0.37; p < 0.001). At the overall level of exposure to online alcohol promotions on web-based media and risky drinking, we perceived a statistical significance difference (p < 0.001) in favor of male respondents. The regression model was successful in explaining approximately 56% of the adjusted variance in risky drinking habits. Conclusion: This significant level presence of online liquor promotions suggest that the youth had fairly open access to the mixed beverage creator’s items through web-based media stages which could impact youth to take part in early liquor drinking propensity. There was substantial presence of online alcohol promotions via web-based media scene that was related to risky drinking. Lastly, sex and online alcohol promotions could contribute to risky drinking among college students in Kenya.

PMID:35259070 | DOI:10.1080/07448481.2022.2039158

J Am Coll Health. 2022 Mar 8:1-9. doi: 10.1080/07448481.2022.2038178. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: The COVID-19 pandemic has drastically increased use of remote-delivered mental health services. This study identifies advantages and limitations of remote-delivered services on college campuses to inform mental health delivery post-pandemic. Methods: Clinicians (n = 30) were asked to evaluate COVID-19’s impact on their work, environment, and wellness in an online survey. Qualitative data was coded using a thematic analysis approach, while quantitative data was analyzed using descriptive statistics. Results: Many clinicians reported benefits of remote services, including increased accessibility, greater convenience, no change in therapeutic alliance, and decreased stress for clinicians. Clinicians also experienced challenges such as social isolation, technological difficulties, and personal/family concerns. Clinicians envisioned a hybrid service combining online and in-person activities post-pandemic. Conclusions: Overall, remote-delivered mental health services on college campuses have potential in increasing treatment quality while highlighting a necessity for further research in hybrid mental health delivery.

Supplemental data for this article can be accessed online at https://doi.org/10.1080/07448481.2022.2038178 .

PMID:35259062 | DOI:10.1080/07448481.2022.2038178

Strabismus. 2022 Mar 8:1-12. doi: 10.1080/09273972.2022.2046114. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

This study aimed to calculate the dose-response relationship and predictors of visual acuity (VA) improvement following occlusion therapy at the IWK Health Center Eye Clinic and to add to amblyopia therapy dose-response relationship literature. A retrospective chart review was performed, considering patients who reached an occlusion therapy outcome at the IWK Eye Clinic between 2012 and 2019. The treatment outcome was defined as equal VA or stable VA for three consecutive clinical visits despite reported compliance. Subjective patching hours from parental reports, not prescribed hours, were used for statistical analyses. One hundred and thirty-four patients (66 females and 68 males) ages 2-11 years were included. Results showed a dose-response relationship of 224 hours/0.1logMAR increase in VA and total dose of 1344 hours for full-time occlusion and 504 hours for part-time occlusion was required to reach outcome VA. The fastest VA improvement occurred with younger age at treatment initiation, during the first 4 weeks of treatment, and in patients with strabismic and/or severe amblyopia. Classification of amblyopia, age, VA chart, initial distance VA (amblyopic eye), and treatment dose predicted the hour dose-response relationship. Dose-response relationship was faster in younger participants, in participants with strabismic and severe amblyopia, and during the first month of occlusion. Additionally, by creating a GLM model of dose-response relationship, relationship calculations can be performed. Therefore, an estimated timeline can be developed to allow allocation of clinical resources and to prepare patients for the treatment duration required and possibly increase treatment compliance.

PMID:35259060 | DOI:10.1080/09273972.2022.2046114

Bioengineered. 2022 Mar;13(3):7340-7350. doi: 10.1080/21655979.2022.2037373.

ABSTRACT

The objective of the research was to investigate action mechanism of oxidative stress and cerebral injuries after subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) by Ghrelin and angiogenic factor G-patch and FHA domain 1 (Aggf1) and offer new research ideas to SAH clinical treatment and SAH-induced early cerebral injuries. SAH rat models were prepared by prechiasmatic anterior cistern injection. Specific Ghrelin and Aggf1 small interfering ribonucleic acid (siRNA) were designed and injected into silence Ghrelin or Aggf1 in rat left lateral ventricles. Rats were divided randomly into sham-operated (sham), SAH model, negative control siRNA, Ghrelin silence (Ghrelin^(-/-)), and Aggf1 silence groups. Changes of rat neurological impairment, encephaledema, cerebral tissue phosphorylated protein kinase (p-Akt), and content changes of caspase-3 protein and oxidative stress indexes were observed, including glutathione (GSH) and oxidized glutathione (GSSG). Results showed scores of neurological impairment and water content in SAH model group were reduced compared with sham group, while p-Akt protein and GSH contents were enhanced. However, caspase-3 protein and GSSG contents were declined, showing statistically meaningful difference (P < 0.05). Compared with SAH model group, scores of neurological impairment, cerebral tissue water content, and caspase-3 protein and GSSG contents in silence Ghrelin and Aggf1 groups were increased, while p-Akt protein and GSH contents were decreased, demonstrating statistically meaningful difference (P < 0.05). To conclude, silence Ghrelin and Aggf1 aggravated early cerebral injuries after SAH, revealing that Ghrelin and Aggf1 could protect brains to some degree.

PMID:35259055 | DOI:10.1080/21655979.2022.2037373

JCO Glob Oncol. 2022 Mar;8:e2100415. doi: 10.1200/GO.21.00415.

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: Cancer is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. This work presents the Arab-world females’ cancers (AFCs) statistics in 2020, compared with the 2018 AFCs statistics, the Arab-world male cancers statistics, and the world females’ cancers (WFCs) statistics in 2020. This can help set the stage for a better policy for cancer control programs and improve outcomes.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: A descriptive review of the 2020 Global Cancer Observatory concerning AFCs was performed. Data on various cancers were compiled and compared among the countries in the region and WFCs.

RESULTS: A total estimate of 244,317 new cases and 132,249 deaths is reported in AFCs; representing 2.65% and 2.99% of WFCs, respectively, with an average crude incidence/mortality ratio of 116.2 (/100,000 population)/62.9 (/100,000 population) and an age-standardized incidence/mortality ratio of 137.7(/100,000 population)/77.2(/100,000 population) compared with 238.8(/100,000 population)/114.6(/100,000 population) and 186(/100,000 population)/84.2(/100,000 population) of WFCs, respectively. Five-year prevalent cases were 585,295; 2.28% of WFCs. In comparison to males, females accounted for 47.8% of the whole population, 52.9% in incidence, 46.9% in mortality, and 56.9% in the prevalence of patients with cancer. Mortality-to-incidence ratio (MIR) was 0.54 (range 0.39-0.62 in Arab countries, compared with 0.48 globally), and it ranged from 0.14 to 0.97 in the 30 AFC types. Breast cancer was the most common cancer in incidence and mortality, with an MIR of 0.39.

CONCLUSION: The 2020 descriptive analysis of the females’ cancers in the Arab world revealed a relatively high MIR compared with females’ cancers worldwide; a lower MIR compared with the males; and comparable MIR to 2018 one. We call for more in-depth studies to determine the causes of these differences that might translate into actionable interventions and better outcomes.

PMID:35259001 | DOI:10.1200/GO.21.00415

J Strength Cond Res. 2021 Nov 1;35(11):3236-3242. doi: 10.1519/JSC.0000000000003263.

ABSTRACT

Tinius, RA, Blankenship, M, Maples, JM, Pitts, BC, Furgal, K, Norris, ES, Hoover, DL, Olenick, A, Lambert, J, and Cade, WT. Validity of the 6-minute walk test and Young Men’s Christian Association (YMCA) submaximal cycle test during midpregnancy. J Strength Cond Res 35(11): 3236-3242, 2021-Submaximal exercise testing can be a feasible alternative to maximal testing within special populations to safely predict fitness levels; however, submaximal exercise testing has not been well-validated for use during pregnancy. The purpose of this study was to determine the concurrent validity of the 6-minute walk test (6MWT) and the YMCA submaximal cycle test (YMCAT) to predict V̇o2max in physically active women during midpregnancy. Thirty-seven (n = 37) pregnant women (22.1 ± 1.4 weeks’ gestation) and 10 (n = 10) nonpregnant women participated in the study. Subjects completed a graded maximal treadmill test at 1 visit to measure maximal oxygen consumption (V̇o2max), and then subjects completed the 6MWT and YMCAT in randomized order during a separate visit. The predicted V̇o2max from each submaximal test were compared with the measured V̇o2max from the treadmill test to assess the validity of these tests during pregnancy. Among pregnant women, predicted V̇o2max from the YMCAT was not correlated to the measured V̇o2max (r = 0.14, p = 0.42), and the predicted V̇o2max from the 6MWT was only moderately correlated (r = 0.40, p = 0.016) to the measured V̇o2max. Among nonpregnant women, the predicted V̇o2max values from both the YMCAT and the 6MWT had strong correlations with the measured V̇o2max values (YMCAT: r = 0.71, p = 0.02; 6MWT: r = 0.80, p = 0.006). Neither test demonstrated concurrent validity among the pregnant sample. The main finding is that the YMCAT is not a valid method to estimate V̇o2max during midpregnancy (likely due to physiological changes in heart rate [HR] during pregnancy). The 6MWT has potential to be used clinically for estimating fitness as actual and predicted values did positively correlate, and it is not dependent on HR responses to exercise. However, if a precise measure of fitness is needed, then neither test appears to have strong validity for use during midpregnancy.

PMID:35258271 | DOI:10.1519/JSC.0000000000003263

Clin Chem Lab Med. 2022 Mar 8. doi: 10.1515/cclm-2022-0088. Online ahead of print.

NO ABSTRACT

PMID:35258238 | DOI:10.1515/cclm-2022-0088

Rev Environ Health. 2022 Mar 9. doi: 10.1515/reveh-2022-0034. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

While Dieudonné has praised thoroughness of Leszczynski’s review of EHS studies, he was critical of the final conclusions. Leszczynski strongly disagrees with argumentation of Dieudonné that EHS issue is settled and that biomarker research is unnecessary because it is expensive and might produce false positives. Leszczynski’s opinion is that his review has demonstrated how very poor scientifically and inadequate statistically is the to-date executed research on EHS. Dieudonné’s approach of using such poor science to justify claim that EHS issue is settled and there is no causality link between EHS and EMF exposures, is completely unjustified and simply false.

PMID:35258236 | DOI:10.1515/reveh-2022-0034