bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Machine learning approach for predicting production delays: a quarry company case study
Authors: Kannan Rathimala , Abdul Halim Haq’ul Aqif , Ramakrishnan Kannan , Ismail Shahrinaz , Wijaya Dedy Rahman
Published: July 2022

Predictive maintenance employing machine learning techniques and big data analytics is a benefit to the industrial business in the Industry 4.0 era. Companies, on the other hand, have difficulties as they move from reactive to predictive manufacturing processes. The purpose of this paper is to demonstrate how data analytics and machine learning approaches may be utilized to predict production delays in a quarry firm as a case study. The dataset contains production records for six months, with a total of 20 columns for each production record for two machines. Cross Industry Standard Process for Data Mining approach is followed to build the machine learning models. Five predictive models were created using machine learning algorithms such as Decision Tree, Neural Network, Random Forest, Nave Bayes and Logistic Regression. The results show that Multilayer Perceptron Neural Network and Logistic Regression outperform other techniques and accurately predicts production delays with a F-measure score of 0.973. The quarry company's improved decision-making reducing potential production line delays demonstrates the value of this study.
Measuring science self-efficacy with a focus on the perceived competence dimension: using mixed methods to develop an instrument and explore changes through cross-sectional and longitudinal analyses in high school
Authors: Hu Xinyang , Jiang Yanxia , Bi Hualin
Published: July 2022

Background

In many countries and regions, such as the United States, Europe and China, a trend has emerged in which students’ enthusiasm for STEM is declining. This decline may be related to students’ lack of science self-efficacy. An accurate examination of students’ science self-efficacy can provide a research foundation for how to cultivate it. This paper used mixed methods to develop a valid science self-efficacy scale for high school students, focusing on the perceived competence dimension. A cross-sectional analysis exploring and interpreting differences across grades and genders in science self-efficacy among high school students was conducted. Subsequently, a 1-year longitudinal study was conducted on the development of science self-efficacy in China.

Results

This study developed a 24-item science self-efficacy instrument based on the Rasch model, and the validity of the instrument was assessed through multiple aspects, including face, content, construct, and predictive validity. This instrument was used to divide students' science self-efficacy into four different levels. A cross-sectional study examining 1564 high school students in 10th–12th grades revealed that students’ science self-efficacy exhibited a complex process of decreasing and then increasing by grade. Most girls’ science self-efficacy was higher than that of boys for Levels 1 and 4, while for the intermediate levels, i.e., Levels 2 and 3, most boys had higher science self-efficacy than girls. The quantitative and qualitative results of the longitudinal study through a 1-year follow-up of 233 high school students indicated that students’ science self-efficacy significantly improved. We revealed inconsistencies between cross-sectional and longitudinal studies of the change in science self-efficacy from 10 to 11th grade.

Conclusions

This study makes many contributions. First, we developed a science self-efficacy measurement instrument for high school students with high reliability and validity based on the Rasch model and characterized four different levels of student science self-efficacy. Second, the gender differences in science self-efficacy and the complex changes among grades were explained from the perspective of science self-efficacy level. Finally, students’ science self-efficacy significantly improved in the longitudinal study, which was explained by self-efficacy theory and the Chinese core competency-oriented science curriculum.
Development of the Cooperative Adoption Factors Instrument to measure factors associated with instructional practice in the context of institutional change
Authors: McAlpin Jacob D. , Ziker John P. , Skvoretz John , Couch Brian A. , Earl Brittnee , Feola Stephanie , Lane A. Kelly , Mertens Karl , Prevost Luanna B. , Shadle Susan E. , Stains Marilyne , Lewis Jennifer E.
Published: July 2022

Background

Many institutional and departmentally focused change efforts have sought to improve teaching in STEM through the promotion of evidence-based instructional practices (EBIPs). Even with these efforts, EBIPs have not become the predominant mode of teaching in many STEM departments. To better understand institutional change efforts and the barriers to EBIP implementation, we developed the Cooperative Adoption Factors Instrument (CAFI) to probe faculty member characteristics beyond demographic attributes at the individual level. The CAFI probes multiple constructs related to institutional change including perceptions of the degree of mutual advantage of taking an action (strategic complements), trust and interconnectedness among colleagues (interdependence), and institutional attitudes toward teaching (climate).

Results

From data collected across five STEM fields at three large public research universities, we show that the CAFI has evidence of internal structure validity based on exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis. The scales have low correlations with each other and show significant variation among our sampled universities as demonstrated by ANOVA. We further demonstrate a relationship between the strategic complements and climate factors with EBIP adoption through use of a regression analysis. In addition to these factors, we also find that indegree, a measure of opinion leadership, correlates with EBIP adoption.

Conclusions

The CAFI uses the CACAO model of change to link the intended outcome of EBIP adoption with perception of EBIPs as mutually reinforcing (strategic complements), perception of faculty having their fates intertwined (interdependence), and perception of institutional readiness for change (climate). Our work has established that the CAFI is sensitive enough to pick up on differences between three relatively similar institutions and captures significant relationships with EBIP adoption. Our results suggest that the CAFI is likely to be a suitable tool to probe institutional change efforts, both for change agents who wish to characterize the local conditions on their respective campuses to support effective planning for a change initiative and for researchers who seek to follow the progression of a change initiative. While these initial findings are very promising, we also recommend that CAFI be administered in different types of institutions to examine the degree to which the observed relationships hold true across contexts.
MRI-based radiomics value for predicting the survival of patients with locally advanced cervical squamous cell cancer treated with concurrent chemoradiotherapy
Authors: Zhang Xiaomiao , Zhao Jingwei , Zhang Qi , Wang Sicong , Zhang Jieying , An Jusheng , Xie Lizhi , Yu Xiaoduo , Zhao Xinming
Published: July 2022

Background

To investigate the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-based radiomics value in predicting the survival of patients with locally advanced cervical squamous cell cancer (LACSC) treated with concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT).

Methods

A total of 185 patients (training group: n = 128; testing group: n = 57) with LACSC treated with CCRT between January 2014 and December 2018 were retrospectively enrolled in this study. A total of 400 radiomics features were extracted from T2-weighted imaging, apparent diffusion coefficient map, arterial- and delayed-phase contrast-enhanced MRI. Univariate Cox regression and least absolute shrinkage and selection operator Cox regression was applied to select radiomics features and clinical characteristics that could independently predict progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS). The predictive capability of the prediction model was evaluated using Harrell’s C-index. Nomograms and calibration curves were then generated. Survival curves were generated using the Kaplan-Meier method, and the log-rank test was used for comparison.

Results

The radiomics score achieved significantly better predictive performance for the estimation of PFS (C-index, 0.764 for training and 0.762 for testing) and OS (C-index, 0.793 for training and 0.750 for testing), compared with the 2018 FIGO staging system (C-index for PFS, 0.657 for training and 0.677 for testing; C-index for OS, 0.665 for training and 0.633 for testing) and clinical-predicting model (C-index for PFS, 0.731 for training and 0.725 for testing; C-index for OS, 0.708 for training and 0.693 for testing) (P < 0.05). The combined model constructed with T stage, lymph node metastasis position, and radiomics score achieved the best performance for the estimation of PFS (C-index, 0.792 for training and 0.809 for testing) and OS (C-index, 0.822 for training and 0.785 for testing), which were significantly higher than those of the radiomics score (P < 0.05).

Conclusions

The MRI-based radiomics score could provide effective information in predicting the PFS and OS in patients with LACSC treated with CCRT. The combined model (including MRI-based radiomics score and clinical characteristics) showed the best prediction performance.
Ecosystem-specific microbiota and microbiome databases in the era of big data
Authors: Lobanov Victor , Gobet Angélique , Joyce Alyssa
Published: July 2022

The rapid development of sequencing methods over the past decades has accelerated both the potential scope and depth of microbiota and microbiome studies. Recent developments in the field have been marked by an expansion away from purely categorical studies towards a greater investigation of community functionality. As in-depth genomic and environmental coverage is often distributed unequally across major taxa and ecosystems, it can be difficult to identify or substantiate relationships within microbial communities. Generic databases containing datasets from diverse ecosystems have opened a new era of data accessibility despite costs in terms of data quality and heterogeneity. This challenge is readily embodied in the integration of meta-omics data alongside habitat-specific standards which help contextualise datasets both in terms of sample processing and background within the ecosystem. A special case of large genomic repositories, ecosystem-specific databases (ES-DB’s), have emerged to consolidate and better standardise sample processing and analysis protocols around individual ecosystems under study, allowing independent studies to produce comparable datasets. Here, we provide a comprehensive review of this emerging tool for microbial community analysis in relation to current trends in the field. We focus on the factors leading to the formation of ES-DB’s, their comparison to traditional microbial databases, the potential for ES-DB integration with meta-omics platforms, as well as inherent limitations in the applicability of ES-DB’s.
The Impact of Pre-Exercise Carbohydrate Meal on the Effects of Yerba Mate Drink on Metabolism, Performance, and Antioxidant Status in Trained Male Cyclists
Authors: Krolikowski Thaiana C. , Borszcz Fernando K. , Panza Vilma P. , Bevilacqua Laura M. , Nichele Sarah , da Silva Edson L. , Amboni Renata D. M. C. , Guglielmo Luiz G. A. , Phillips Stuart M. , de Lucas Ricardo D. , Boaventura Brunna C. B.
Published: July 2022

Introduction

The consumption of yerba mate (YM), a source of antioxidants, in a fasted state increases fatty acid oxidation (FATox) during low–moderate-intensity exercise and improves performance in high-intensity exercise. However, the impact of a pre-exercise carbohydrate (CHO) meal on YM effects during exercise is unknown.

Objective

We investigated the effects of yerba mate drink (YMD) consumed in the fasted state (YMD-F) or after a CHO meal (YMD-CHO) on measurements of metabolism, performance, and blood oxidative stress markers in cycling exercise.

Methods

In a randomized, repeated-measures, crossover design, eight trained male cyclists ingested (i) YMD-CHO, (ii) YMD-F, or (iii) control-water and CHO meal (Control-CHO). The YMD (an infusion of 5 g of ultrarefined leaves in 250 mL of water) was taken for 7 days and 40 min before exercise. CHO meal (1 g/kg body mass) was consumed 60 min before exercise. The cycling protocol included a 40-min low-intensity (~ 53%V̇O2peak) constant load test (CLT); a 20-min time trial (TT); and 4 × 10-sall-outsprints. Blood samples and respiratory gases were collected before, during, and/or after tests.

Results

During CLT, YMD-CHO increased FATox ~ 13%vs. YMD-F (P = 0.041) and ~ 27%vs. Control-CHO (P < 0.001). During TT, YMD-CHO increased FATox ~ 160%vs. YMD-F (P < 0.001) and ~ 150%vs. Control-CHO (P < 0.001). Power output during TT improved ~ 3% (P = 0.022) in YMD-CHOvs. Control-CHO and was strongly correlated with changes in serum total antioxidant capacity (r = −0.87) and oxidative stress index (r = 0.76) at post-exercise in YMD-CHO. Performance in sprints was not affected by YMD.

Conclusion

CHO intake did not negate the effect of YMD on FAToxor TT performance. Instead, a synergism between the two dietary strategies may be present.

Clinical Trial RegistrationNCT04642144. November 18, 2020. Retrospectively registered.
Study protocol: development and pilot testing of the Critical Care Pain Observation Tool for families (CPOT-Fam)
Authors: Shahid Anmol , Owen Victoria S. , Sept Bonnie G. , Longmore Shelly , Soo Andrea , Brundin-Mather Rebecca , Krewulak Karla D. , Moss Stephana J. , Plotnikoff Kara M. , Gélinas Céline , Fiest Kirsten M. , Stelfox Henry T.
Published: July 2022

Background

Patients in the intensive care unit (ICU) often have limited ability to communicate making it more difficult to identify and effectively treat their pain. Family caregivers or close friends of critically ill patients may be able to identify signs of pain before the clinical care team and could potentially assist in routine pain assessments. This study will adapt the Critical Care Pain Observation Tool (CPOT) for use by family members to create the CPOT-Fam and compare family CPOT-Fam assessments with nurse-provided CPOT assessments for a given patient.

Methods

This study will be executed in two phases:

1) Development of the CPOT-Fam — A working group of patient partners, ICU clinicians, and researchers will adapt the CPOT for use by family caregivers (creating the CPOT-Fam) and produce an accompanying educational module to deliver information on pain and how to use the tool. The CPOT-Fam will undergo preclinical testing with participants (i.e., members of the public and family caregivers of critically ill adults), who will complete the educational module and provide CPOT-Fam scores on sample cases. Feedback on the CPOT-Fam will be collected.

2) Pilot testing the CPOT — Fam family caregivers of critically ill adults will complete the educational module and provide information on the following: (1) demographics, (2) anxiety, (3) caregiving self-efficacy, and (4) satisfaction with care in the ICU. Family caregivers will then provide a proxy assessment of their critically ill loved one’s pain through the CPOT-Fam and also provide a subjective (i.e., questionnaire-based including open-ended responses) account of their loved one’s pain status. A comparison (i.e., agreement) will be made between family caregiver provided CPOT-Fam scores and ICU nurse-provided CPOT scores (collected from the provincial health information system), calculated independently and blinded to one another. Feasibility and acceptability of the CPOT-Fam will be determined.

Discussion

The results of this work will produce a family caregiver CPOT (i.e., CPOT-Fam), determine feasibility and acceptability of the CPOT-Fam, and compare pain assessments conducted by family caregivers and ICU nurses. The results will inform whether a larger study to determine a role for family caregivers in ICU pain assessment using the CPOT-Fam is warranted.
A case of afterload mismatch associated with shivering leading to fatal hypoxia in a COVID-19 patient
Authors: Suzuka Takanori , Naito Yusuke , Uemura Keiko , Ida Mitsuru , Egawa Junji , Kawaguchi Masahiko
Published: July 2022

Background

Fever and associated shivering are frequent symptoms in patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). High body temperature activates the immune system, which might be beneficial. However, shivering leads to high oxygen demand.

Case presentation

A 38-year-old man diagnosed with COVID-19 was transferred to our intensive care unit (ICU). His oxygen saturation (SpO2) level was approximately 92–95% and was managed with a high flow nasal cannula. Six hours after admission to the ICU, he started shivering, and his systolic blood pressure rose above 200 mmHg. Concomitantly, his SpO2 levels decreased rapidly. Mechanical ventilation was started, but oxygenation could not be maintained, requiring the establishment of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO).

Conclusions

COVID-19 is known to cause thrombosis in the pulmonary microvasculature at the early stage of the disease. Under these circumstances, caution should be paid since shivering may worsen the patient’s condition.
Surgical face masks do not impair the decoding of facial expressions of negative affect more severely in older than in younger adults
Authors: Henke Lea , Guseva Maja , Wagemans Katja , Pischedda Doris , Haynes John-Dylan , Jahn Georg , Anders Silke
Published: July 2022

Surgical face masks reduce the spread of airborne pathogens but also disturb the flow of information between individuals. The risk of getting seriously ill after infection with SARS-COV-2 during the present COVID-19 pandemic amplifies with age, suggesting that face masks should be worn especially during face-to-face contact with and between older people. However, the ability to accurately perceive and understand communication signals decreases with age, and it is currently unknown whether face masks impair facial communication more severely in older people. We compared the impact of surgical face masks on dynamic facial emotion recognition in younger (18–30 years) and older (65–85 years) adults (N = 96) in an online study. Participants watched short video clips of young women who facially expressed anger, fear, contempt or sadness. Faces of half of the women were covered by a digitally added surgical face mask. As expected, emotion recognition accuracy declined with age, and face masks reduced emotion recognition accuracy in both younger and older participants. Unexpectedly, the effect of face masks did not differ between age groups. Further analyses showed that masks also reduced the participants’ overall confidence in their emotion judgements, but not their performance awareness (the difference between their confidence ratings for correct and incorrect responses). Again, there were no mask-by-age interactions. Finally, data obtained with a newly developed questionnaire (attitudes towards face masks, atom) suggest that younger and older people do not differ in how much they feel impaired in their understanding of other people’s emotions by face masks or how useful they find face masks in confining the COVID-19 pandemic. In sum, these findings do not provide evidence that the impact of face masks on the decoding of facial signals is disproportionally larger in older people.
Statistical feature training improves fingerprint-matching accuracy in novices and professional fingerprint examiners
Authors: Growns Bethany , Towler Alice , Dunn James D. , Salerno Jessica M. , Schweitzer N. J. , Dror Itiel E.
Published: July 2022

Forensic science practitioners compare visual evidence samples (e.g. fingerprints) and decide if they originate from the same person or different people (i.e. fingerprint ‘matching’). These tasks are perceptually and cognitively complex—even practising professionals can make errors—and what limited research exists suggests that existing professional training is ineffective. This paper presents three experiments that demonstrate the benefit of perceptual training derived from mathematical theories that suggest statistically rare features have diagnostic utility in visual comparison tasks. Across three studies (N = 551), we demonstrate that a brief module training participants to focus on statistically rare fingerprint features improves fingerprint-matching performance in both novices and experienced fingerprint examiners. These results have applied importance for improving the professional performance of practising fingerprint examiners, and even other domains where this technique may also be helpful (e.g. radiology or banknote security).
Possible ameliorative effect of human placental extract on methotrexate-induced nephrotoxicity in albino rats
Authors: Mahran Hoda A. , Khedr Yasser I. , Gawaan Yasmeen M. , El-Gerbed Mohamed SA.
Published: July 2022

Background

Methotrexate (MTX) is one of chemotherapeutic drugs that induce several side effects. The present study aimed to investigate the ameliorative effect of human placental extract (HPE) against MTX-induced nephrotoxicity in rats. In this study, forty adult male albino rats were equally divided into four groups. Control group: rats were daily injected intraperitoneally with physiological saline (0.5 ml for each rat) for 5 days, HPE group: rats were subcutaneously injected with HPE at a dose level of 10.08 mg/Kg b.w/day for 2 weeks, MTX group: rats were intraperitoneally injected with MTX at a dose level of 5 mg/Kg b.w/day for 5 consecutive days, MTX and HPE group: rats were intraperitoneally injected with MTX (at the same dosage of MTX group) for 5 days and at the same time they were subcutaneously injected with HPE (at an exact dosage of HPE group), daily for 2 weeks. Twenty-four hours after the last dose for each treatment, rats were killed and blood samples were collected for determination of urea, creatinine, sodium (Na+) and potassium (K+) levels. Kidney tissues were taken for histological examination and immunohistochemical staining of both cysteine-aspartic protease-3 (caspase-3) and proliferating antigen Ki-67 (Ki-67) expressions.

Results

From the obtained data, MTX induced nephrotoxicity through a highly significant increase in urea, creatinine, Na+ and K+ levels compared with the control group. In addition to massive histological alterations, a highly significant increase in caspase-3 expression and a significant decrease in Ki-67 expression were observed. On the other hand, injection with HPE ameliorated urea, creatinine, Na+ and K+ levels comparing to MTX group. Moreover, HPE markedly improved the histological and immunohistochemical changes resulted from MTX treatment.

Conclusions

It is concluded that HPE ameliorated the nephrotoxicity induced by MTX.
Thymic plasmacytoma presenting as polyneuropathy and revealing multiple myeloma: a case report
Authors: Laroussi Syrine , Moalla Khadija Sonda , Kallel Faten , Makni Saadia , Kallel Nozha , Farhat Nouha , Damak Mariem , Elloumi Moez , Sellami Tahya , Ben Mahfoudh Khaireddine , Mhiri Chokri
Published: July 2022

Background

Multiple myeloma (MM) is the most frequent malignant plasma cell disorder with proliferation of neoplastic plasma cells in the bone marrow or other tissue, most commonly in the upper aerodigestive tract. The invasion of the thymus is exceptional. Neurological complications are usual, but represent exceptionally the revealing symptom.

Case presentation

We report a case of polyneuropathy revealing a thymic plasmacytoma as a mediastinal invasion of MM in a 48-year-old woman. She was admitted after developing progressive ascending distal paresthesias and weakness in lower limbs. Examination showed symmetrical distal sensorimotor impairment with axillary and inguinal adenopathies. Electroneuromyography revealed a sensorimotor length-dependent neuropathy. Serum protein electrophoresis showed monoclonal protein peak in β-γ globulin region. Immunoelectrophoresis showed IgA lambda monoclonal gammapathy. Myelogram and bone marrow biopsy revealed plasmocytosis of 5%. Chest computed tomography showed a histologically confirmed thymic plasmacytoma associated with a lytic lesion of the 5th rib leading to the diagnosis of MM.

Conclusions

The association between a thymic plasmacytoma and peripheral neuropathy is rare and a workup for MM is necessary to guide therapeutic management.
Could early infusion of fish-oil-based lipid emulsion affect the need for intensive care in moderately diseased COVID-19 patients? A randomized clinical trial
Authors: Soliman Omar M. , Abbas Yara H. , Aboelhassan Arafa Mohamed Ahmed , Ismail Eman Ahmed
Published: July 2022

Background

Sixty moderate diseased COVID-19 patients were divided into two equal groups and were enrolled in a randomized double-blind clinical trial. Group C was delivered standard enteral nutrition plus 100 ml/day of 0.9% normal saline. Group L was delivered fish-oil-based lipid emulsion (FOBLE) supplementation to standard enteral nutrition at a dose of 100 ml/day. Both groups infused at a rate of 12.5 ml/h over 8 h for 5 days. We aimed to compare the effect of FOBLE versus placebo in COVID-19 disease to clarify the impact on the number of patients shifted to the ICU, oxygenation, inflammatory markers, and short-term outcomes (7 days).

Results

The failed conventional care and shift to ICU was significantly lower in group L in comparison to group C (six patients (20.0%) versus 14 patients (46.7%) shifted to ICU, P-value = 0.028). The inflammatory markers were determined and evaluated. Throughout the trial, there were no significant changes with the exception of the 7th day neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio (NLR), when the ratio was lower in group L than in group C (6.10 (3.90–7.20) versus 9.65 (8.30–10.90), respectively, P-value 0.001).

Conclusions

In moderate diseased COVID-19 patients, early administration of parenteral FOBLE as an adjuvant to enteral feeding reduces shifts and so minimizes the burden on the ICU.

Trial registration

ClinicalTrials.gov PRS (NCT04957940). Registered on 5 July 2021.
Metrics to evaluate implementation scientists in the USA: what matters most?
Authors: Maddox Brenna B. , Phan Mary L. , Byeon Y. Vivian , Wolk Courtney Benjamin , Stewart Rebecca E. , Powell Byron J. , Okamura Kelsie H. , Pellecchia Melanie , Becker-Haimes Emily M. , Asch David A. , Beidas Rinad S.
Published: July 2022

Background

Implementation science has grown rapidly as a discipline over the past two decades. An examination of how publication patterns and other scholarly activities of implementation scientists are weighted in the tenure and promotion process is needed given the unique and applied focus of the field.

Methods

We surveyed implementation scientists (mostly from the USA) to understand their perspectives on the following matters: (1) factors weighted in tenure and promotion for implementation scientists, (2) how important these factors are for success as an implementation scientist, (3) how impact is defined for implementation scientists, (4) top journals in implementation science, and (5) how these journals are perceived with regard to their prestige. We calculated univariate descriptive statistics for all quantitative data, and we used Wilcoxon signed-rank tests to compare the participants’ ratings of various factors. We analyzed open-ended qualitative responses using content analysis.

Results

One hundred thirty-two implementation scientists completed the survey (response rate = 28.9%). Four factors were rated as more important for tenure and promotion decisions: number of publications, quality of publication outlets, success in obtaining external funding, and record of excellence in teaching. Six factors were rated as more important for overall success as an implementation scientist: presentations at professional meetings, involvement in professional service, impact of the implementation scientist’s scholarship on the local community and/or state, impact of the implementation scientist’s scholarship on the research community, the number and quality of the implementation scientist’s community partnerships, and the implementation scientist’s ability to disseminate their work to non-research audiences. Participants most frequently defined and described impact as changing practice and/or policy. This expert cohort identified Implementation Science as the top journal in the field.

Conclusions

Overall, there was a significant mismatch between the factors experts identified as being important to academic success (e.g., tenure and promotion) and the factors needed to be a successful implementation scientist. Findings have important implications for capacity building, although they are largely reflective of the promotion and tenure process in the USA.
Implementing community pharmacy-based influenza point-of-care test-and-treat under collaborative practice agreement
Authors: Hohmeier Kenneth C. , McKeirnan Kimberly , Akers Julie , Klepser Michael , Klepser Stephanie A. , Chen Christe , Klepser Donald G.
Published: July 2022

Background

Early and accessible testing for influenza with point-of-care testing (POCT) can be a critical factor for deciding to begin antiviral treatment. More than 10,000 pharmacies across the USA offer Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments-waived POCT for infectious diseases, such as influenza A/B. Knowledge of barriers and facilitators to large-scale POCT implementation may be useful in scaling POCT for influenza test-and-treat services (Flu POCT). The objective of this study was to explore the experiences of pharmacists who were early adopters of Flu POCT and treatment under collaborative practice agreement in community pharmacy settings.

Methods

Qualitative research design with in-depth, semi-structured virtual video interviews of licensed US community pharmacists. Interview questions were derived from the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR). Interviewees were selected via a purposeful sampling of pharmacists who were enrolled in a nationwide clinical trial involving pharmacy-based influenza test-and-treat under a collaborative agreement. Interviews were recorded and transcribed. A deductive analytic approach was used via constructs from the CFIR.

Results

Six pharmacists were interviewed. Interviews ranged from 28 to 70 min, with an average length of 46 min. Four broad themes emerged from the data, and each had corresponding subthemes and supporting quotes: influence of the Flu POCT service characteristics on pharmacy implementation, influence of factors outside of the pharmacy setting in Flu POCT implementation, factors within the pharmacy setting influencing implementation, and process of implementing Flu POCT. A novel pharmacy-based Flu POCT implementation framework is presented.

Conclusions

Implementation of community pharmacy-based Flu POCT services is feasible; but, a thorough understanding of both barriers and facilitators to their implementation is needed to increase the spread and scale of these programs. Specifically, pharmacy stakeholders should focus efforts on increasing patient and provider awareness, pharmacist acceptance, leadership support, and support of health providers external to the pharmacy to improve implementation success.
Diagnosis of portal vein thrombosis in cirrhotic patients with and without hepatocellular carcinoma
Authors: Serag Waleed M. , Eysa Basem E.
Published: July 2022

Background

The levels of Annexin A5 (Annexin V) were measured in patients with and without HCC who had liver cirrhosis. These patients were followed for 12 months to determine the incidence of PVT and to determine the role of Annexin V in the diagnosis of PVT. Our goal was to look at the value of Annexin A5, platelet count, spleen size, portal flow velocity, portal vein width, Fibrosis 4, and APRI score in these individuals to see if they might be used as PVT markers.

Methods

Between March 2017 and August 2018, ninety-one HCV patients with cirrhosis with and without HCC, as well as a control group of twenty healthy people, were included in this longitudinal study at the NHTMRI. The blood anxA5 level was determined using a commercial Hyphen BioMed immunoassay using Stat Fax 4700’s Microstrip Reader l.

Results

Cirrhotic patients with and without HCC who developed PVT had higher Annexin A5 scales (5.75 + 0.18), compared to cirrhotic patients who did not develop PVT (3.63 + 1.08 (P 0.001). PVT was 20% in all cirrhotic patients after a year, 15% in cirrhotic patients without HCC, and 25% in cirrhotic patients with HCC. Cirrhotic patients who had PVT throughout the follow-up period had greater AnxA5 serum levels than cirrhotic patients who did not develop PVT.

Conclusions

In all cirrhotic patients, AnxA5 level, platelet count, spleen size, portal flow velocity, portal vein diameter, and Fibrosis 4 score might be employed as markers for PVT development.
A non-linear approach to the establishment of local biological control agent production units: a case study of fall armyworm in Bangladesh
Authors: Kadzamira Mariam A. T. J. , Chaudhary Malvika , Williams Frances , Dutta Nirmal K.
Published: July 2022

Background

Strides have been made in Bangladesh to promote the utilisation of biological control agents (BCAs), however farmer utilisation remains sub-optimal. The establishment of local BCA production hubs, although touted as a panacea to this problem, has no proven business case. This study makes the case for a non-linear business model.

Methods

Qualitative and quantitative data from maize growing areas in Bangladesh was collected via telephone interviews from key informants representing four key stakeholders—national research institute, regional research stations, farmer producer organisations and agro-dealers.

Results

Farmer uptake of BCAs in Bangladesh for FAW management is hindered by several factors—lack of BCAs availability in local markets, negative farmer and agro-dealer perceptions, poor input industry linkages for the supply of BCAs products to agro-dealers and inadequate institutional finances for capacity building of and technical support by research scientists and extension agents. Given these challenges to BCAs uptake, an innovation systems-based business model that links researchers, extensionists, agro-dealers and farmer producer organizations  in a non-linear pathway is proposed for Bangladesh. This translates into the establishment of local BCA production hubs owner-managed by farm entrepreneurs, with scientists providing them with nucleus culture, while extension services provide technical support for quality assurance. The interaction between all stakeholders is non-linear with all actors intellectually consulted and engaged, with technical capacity on BCAs available for any actor requiring it. Multi-disciplinary research, that takes into account feedback from stakeholders, complements the process thus generating robust and relevant knowledge for feedbacking to improve the business model, capacity building initiatives and farmer engagement.

Conclusions

Mentoring and capacity building leveraged via engagement of research institutions; and demonstration of technology use and guidance utilising extension services and agro-dealer networks, will promote the utilisation of BCAs for FAW management and enable local farm entrepreneurs to meet the increased demand via establishment of local BCA production hubs.
Optimization of photosynthesis for sustainable crop production
Authors: Muhie Seid Hussen
Published: July 2022

Crop production will need to increase by about 60% to satisfy the demand of food for the fast-growing population globally. A number of recent studies have provided strong support demonstrating that improving the photosynthetic efficiency via different systems can provide an avenue to improve yield potential of crops. Photosynthesis a regulated system that drives biological processes including crop yields. Hence, this review focuses on improvement of the efficiency of photosynthesis via different mechanisms; decreasing photorespiration, transforming C3 crops to C4 pathway, optimization of Calvin Benson cycle / Rubisco, and electron transport. Further work should be done on transgenic crops with modified photosynthesis. Optimization of the activity of Rubisco may not be successful in some moisture stress areas, and consideration of photoprotection could offer some advantages. Optimization of source-sink relationship would represent another promising way to improve crop yield. A strong sink can increase crop yield even under stress conditions.
An amalgamation property for metric groups
Authors:   Silesian University of Technology, Popowicz Jessica , Ivanov Aleksander ,   Silesian University of Technology
Published: July 2022

In this paper we show that under some mild assumptions two copies of a metric group can be freely amalgamated over any central subgroup so that the distance between them is sufficiently small.
Approximating length-based invariants in atomic Puiseux monoids
Authors:   University of Florida, Polo Harold
Published: July 2022

A numerical monoid is a cofinite additive submonoid of the nonnegative integers, while a Puiseux monoid is an additive submonoid of the nonnegative cone of the rational numbers. Using that a Puiseux monoid is an increasing union of copies of numerical monoids, we prove that some of the factorization invariants of these two classes of monoids are related through a limiting process. This allows us to extend results from numerical to Puiseux monoids. We illustrate the versatility of this technique by recovering various known results about Puiseux monoids.
Trees with maximum sum of the two largest Laplacian eigenvalues
Authors: Zheng Yirong , Li Jianxi , Chang Sarula
Published: July 2022

Let $T$ be a tree of order $n$ and $S_2(T)$ be the sum of the two largest Laplacian eigenvalues of $T$. Fritscher et al. proved that for any tree $T$ of order $n$, $S_2(T) \leq n+2-\frac{2}{n}$. Guan et al. determined the tree with maximum $S_2(T)$ among all trees of order $n$. In this paper, we characterize the trees with $S_2(T) \geq n+1$ among all trees of order $n$ except some trees. Moreover, among all trees of order $n$, we also determine the first $\lfloor\frac{n-2}{2}\rfloor$ trees according to their $S_2(T)$. This extends the result of Guan et al.
Comminuted Distal Radial Fracture with Large Rotated Palmar Medial Osteochondral Fragment in the Joint
Authors: Gökkus Kemal , Sagtas Ergin , Kesgin Engin , Aydin Ahmet Turan
Published: July 2022

Introduction: Intra-articular distal radius fractures have long been massively discussed in the literature, but regarding to fractures that possess rotated volar medial fragment in the joint a few amount papers has been written. In this article, we would like to emphasize the significance of the rotated palmar medial (lunate facet) fragment. Case Report: A 39-year-old man fell from a height of about 3 m and landed on his right outstretched hand; within 40 min, he arrived at our clinic presenting with a severe pain and swelling in his right wrist. Initial X-rays of the wrist revealed dorsal subluxation of the radiocarpal joint with dorsal comminution of the radial articular surface and fracture of the radial styloid process, with (nearly inverted) ~ 140–150° rotation of the palmar medial fragment. With an additional volar approach, the fragment reduced and stabilized with two K-wires and wrist immobilized in external fixator. The patient returned to daily activities without any discomfort and pain after the 1 year from the surgery. Conclusion: Overlooking of palmar rotated osteochondral fragment will cause deficiency to build proper pre-operative strategy to approach the reduction of the fragment. The incompetence of reduction will deteriorate the articular surface and lead to early osteoarthritis of the wrist. The surgeon should detect this fragment and should be familiar with volar approaches of the wrist. Above average surgical experience would be needed for successful reduction. Keywords: Comminuted distal radius fracture, Intra-articular fracture, Palmar ulnar rotated fragment, Lunate facet fragment, K-wire fixation.Introduction:
IOT and Machine Learning based Automatic Toll Collection System
Authors: Mandal Anupriya , Singh Divyansh , Shukla Rachel , Patil M.V.
Published: July 2022

Automatic Toll Collection System is a wireless system which autmomatically collects the toll charge to vehicle at various toll booths in many metropolitian cities. It is very efficient and fast processing technology which will eliminate heavy congestion and over crowding of vehicles in cities. It accelerates hassle free toll collection system and traffic monitoring. This system detects the arrival of vehicle and then captures the image of number plate.
Epidemiology of benign thyroid disorders in the adult population of the Republic of Belarus: analysis of nationwide statistics 2009 to 2019
Authors: Yakubouski S. U. , Kandratsenka H. H. , Salko O. B. , Kuz’menkova E. I.
Published: July 2022

BACKGROUND. Nowadays, the Republic of Belarus belongs to the countries with sufficient iodine supply, which made it possible to reduce the incidence of non-toxic goiter and congenital hypothyroidism. However, even a slight change in iodine consumption influences the pattern of thyroid diseases. In addition to iodine deficiency, other environmental conditions, as well as genetic factors, play a significant role in the etiology of thyroid diseases.

AIM. To analyze the dynamics of the main epidemiological indicators of benign thyroid diseases from 2009 to 2019 in the adult population of the Republic of Belarus, using the data of official state statistics.

MATERIALS AND METHODS. The indicators of the incidence and prevalence of benign thyroid diseases were studied on the basis of state statistics for 2009–2019. To analyze the dynamics of the studied indicators, regression analysis was used with the construction of linear and polynomial models.

RESULTS. A decrease in the incidence and prevalence of diffuse euthyroid goiter and an increase in the incidence and prevalence of nodular euthyroid goiter, thyroiditis, acquired hypothyroidism, Graves’ disease, as well as the incidence of nodular toxic goiter were revealed.

CONCLUSION. Obtained data indicate, that there is an increase in the prevalence of most of the studied thyroid diseases, despite the adequate iodine supply. The above justifies the need for further study of the causes of the identified trends, as well as the necessity of developing new methods of diagnosis and treatment of thyroid diseases.
Variation analyses of extractive contents by NIR-spectroscopy bring out the differences between agroforestry and forestry walnut (Juglans regia × nigra) trees
Authors: Heim Lucie , Brancheriau Loïc , Marchal Remy , Boutahar Nabila , Lotte Sylvain , Denaud Louis , Badel Eric , Meghar Karima , Candelier Kevin
Published: July 2022

Wood characteristics of trees grown in agroforestry systems are little studied, even if growth conditions are different from conventional stands. This work aimed to determine the impact of the agroforestry system on the heartwood formation process of hybrid walnut (Juglans regia × nigra) trees, especially the resulting extractive contents. Ethanol and water extractions were successively performed on wood samples taken across the diameter of the trunk of agroforestry (AF) and forest (FC) walnut trees to get the radial distribution of the extractive contents. All the samples were analyzed by NIR-spectroscopy and NIR-hyperspectral imaging. Statistical discriminant models were developed to classify the samples from both different forestry systems, according to their chemical composition. The results indicated no significant differences between the values of extractive contents of AF and FC walnut woods, whatever the radial position. At the intra-tree scale, the quantity of extractives does not increase significantly with the radial position. However, partial least squares-discriminant analysis (PLS-DA) regression models, developed with NIRS measurements, showed that significant chemical differences exist between AF and FC trees, especially for extractives composition and lignin content. This allowed to classify wood specimens from both forestry systems. These results were confirmed by hyperspectral camera analyses.
Identification of two novel ACAT1 variant associated with beta-ketothiolase deficiency in a 9-month-old boy
Authors: Wang Yujuan , Gao Qian , Wang Wei , Xin Xiaowei , Yin Yi , Zhao Chun , Jin Youpeng
Published: July 2022

Objectives

Mitochondrial acetoacetyl-CoA thiolase (beta-ketothiolase, T2) is necessary for the catabolism of ketone bodies andisoleucine. T2 deficiency is an autosomal recessive metabolic disorder caused by variant in the ACAT1 gene. In this report, we describe two novel ACAT1 variant identified in a Chinese family.

Case presentation

The 9-month-old male proband was admitted to the pediatric intensive care unit for altered consciousness. At the time of admission, the patient had acidosis, drowsiness, and respiratory failure. Both urine organic acid analyses and LC–MS/MS suggested T2 deficiency. Novel compound heterozygous variant (c.871G>C and c.1016_1017del) in the ACAT1 gene were detected in the proband by WES and verified through direct sequencing. Family analysis demonstrated that the first variant was transmitted from his father and the second variant was from his mother, indicating autosomal recessive inheritance. This report is the first to describe the association of these variant with T2 deficiency based on genetic testing. Although these variant were identified in the patient’s elder sister and elder brother, they continue to be asymptomatic.

Conclusions

We identified two novel ACAT1 variants associated with T2 deficiency. The identification expands the spectrum of known variant linked to the disorder.
Assessment for nuclear security using Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) incorporated with Neural Networking Method in nuclear power plants (NPPs)
Authors: Jang Kyung Bae , Baek Chang Hyun , Woo Tae Ho
Published: July 2022

Nuclear terrorism is studied by the complex algorithm with Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) and neural networking method. For the modeling, the modified crisis response is incorporated with the AHP level structure of five detections. It is applied to select the nine ranks with an input layer, hidden layer, and output layer in a neural networking algorithm containing the operator’s thinking. For 60 years, the range of the secure operation is between 0.01972 in the 18th year and 0.02099 in the 41st year, which means the highest range of security is about 1.064 times higher than that of the lowest value in this study. For the graphics, the highest and lowest values are seen as detection #5 and #1 respectively. The five sites differ in a dynamic manner where the #5 site is more than that of #1. This anti-terrorism study could be applied to energy or chemical plants in the future.