bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Pathophysiology of infection with SARS‐CoV‐2—What is known and what remains a mystery
Authors: Sridhar Siddharth , Nicholls John
Published: May 2021

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19), caused by coronavirus severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‐CoV‐2), has caused extensive disruption and mortality since its recent emergence. Concomitantly, there has been a race to understand the virus and its pathophysiology. The clinical manifestations of COVID‐19 are manifold and not restricted to the respiratory tract. Extrapulmonary manifestations involving the gastrointestinal tract, hepatobiliary system, cardiovascular and renal systems have been widely reported. However, the pathophysiology of many of these manifestations is controversial with questionable support for direct viral invasion and an abundance of alternative explanations such as pre‐existing medical conditions and critical illness. Prior research on SARS‐Co‐V and NL63 was rapidly leveraged to identify angiotensin‐converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) receptor as the key cell surface receptor for SARS‐CoV‐2. The distribution of ACE2 has been used as a starting point for estimating vulnerability of various tissue types to SARS‐CoV‐2 infection. Sophisticated organoid and animal models have been used to demonstrate such infectivity of extrapulmonary tissues in vitro, but the clinical relevance of these findings remains uncertain. Clinical autopsy studies are typically small and inevitably biased towards patients with severe COVID‐19 and prolonged hospitalization. Technical issues such as delay between time of death and autopsy, use of inappropriate antibodies for paraffin‐embedded tissue sections and misinterpretation of cellular structures as virus particles on electron micrograph images are additional problems encountered in the extant literature. Given that SARS‐CoV‐2 is likely to circulate permanently in human populations, there is no doubt that further work is required to clarify the pathobiology of COVID‐19.
Can FeNO help guide first‐line treatment in suspected asthma?
Authors: Fowler Stephen J.
Published: May 2021

See related article
Campylobacter jejuni ST50, a pathogen of global importance: A comparative genomic analysis of isolates from Australia, Europe and North America
Authors: Wallace Rhiannon L. , Cribb Danielle M. , Bulach Dieter M. , Ingle Danielle J. , Joensen Katrine G. , Nielsen Eva Møller , Leekitcharoenphon Pimlapas , Stingl Kerstin , Kirk Martyn D.
Published: May 2021

Campylobacter jejuni is the leading cause of bacterial gastroenteritis globally, and infections are often transmitted through consumption of raw or undercooked poultry. Campylobacter jejuni ST50 is among the top ten sequence types (STs) reported in the collected isolates listed at PubMLST records from poultry, food and clinical sources for Asia, Europe, North America, Oceania and South America. This study was designed to determine the most commonly reported C. jejuni STs globally using the PubMLST database and assess similarities between genomes of C. jejuni ST50 isolates from geographically distinct locations. To gain a better understanding of C. jejuni diversity, we compared draft genome sequences of 182 ST50 isolates recovered from retail or caecal poultry samples in Oceania, Europe and North America that were collected over a period of 9 years (2010 to 2018). Overall, phylogenetic analysis revealed that isolates from geographically distinct locations tended to cluster based on the continent where the sample was collected. Among ST50 isolates from Europe and North America, we identified resistance determinants associated with phenotypic resistance to beta‐lactams (EU: 55%; GB: 43.1%), tetracyclines (CA: 77.3%; EU: 37.5%; GB: 9.8%; US: 43.5%) and fluoroquinolones (EU: 60.0%; GB: 15.7%); no resistance determinants were identified in isolates from Australia. In general, the majority of the virulence genes, with rare exceptions such as wlaN, cj1138, hddA and rfbC, were evenly distributed throughout the genomes of all ST50 isolates in this study. Genomic‐based characterization of C. jejuni ST50 isolates from poultry on three continents highlighted that geographically distinct isolates have evolved independently but only represent a glimpse into the diversity of C. jejuni.
PROPERTIES OF CEMENT-FLY ASH MIXTURES WITH SUBSTANDARD FLY ASH AS A PARTIAL CEMENT AND FINE AGGREGATE REPLACEMENT
Authors: Pok Piseth , Julnipitawong Parnthep , Tangtermsirikul Somnuk
Published: May 2021

This research investigated the effects of using a substandard fly ash as a partial cement and/or fine aggregate replacement on the basic and durability properties of cement-fly mixtures. Experimental results showed that utilizing the substandard fly ash led to increase in water requirement and autoclave expansion of pastes. The strength activity indexes of the substandard fly ash passed the requirements of TIS 2135 and ASTM C618. Utilization of the substandard fly ash as cement replacement led to higher expansion of mortar bars stored in water and sodium sulfate expansion as compared to that of the OPC mixture. However, sodium sulfate resistance of mortar mixtures improved when utilizing the substandard fly ash as sand replacement material. The compressive strength of concrete at all ages was higher with the increase of the content of the substandard fly ash as sand replacement material. When the substandard fly ash was used as cement replacement material in concrete, the carbonation depth increased. On the other hand, the use of the substandard fly ash as sand replacement material decreased the carbonation depth of the concrete. Utilization of the substandard fly ash, both to replace cement and/or fine aggregate, reduced the rapid chloride penetration of the concrete.
Resilience of Pontian Farmers in the Face of the Impact Changes of Rapid Development in Iskandar Malaysia
Authors: Samion Joharudin , Said Ismail , Yoke Lai Lee , Mohd Suria Affandi Tun Mohd Irfan
Published: May 2021

The issues of community resilience arise from the need to develop an understanding of how people would respond to internal and external disturbances. In-depth discussion towards the impact of a city to a neighbouring district has little been discussed. The District of Pontian is located west of Iskandar Malaysia. It has received an unprecedented level of infrastructural development to boost the economy of Iskandar Malaysia. This study examines the land use pattern change of Pontian District impacted by Iskandar Malaysia. Additionally, the study aims to assess the social, economic and environmental capital and the factors that contribute to the adaptabilities and resilience of farmer communities in Pontian. Build-up area for each period using Google earth satellite imagery from the year 2005 to 2015, was classified to analyze the change of build-up area. Markov Chains technique is applied to predict changes of land use. Next, survey questionnaires were utilized to measure the levels of community resilience. Subsequently, an interview was employed to identify the factors that contribute to the stresses. The results indicate that rapid development of Iskandar Malaysia gave an impact to agricultural land and changed the land use pattern of Pontian. The findings revealed the perspective of individuals, community, and system resilience capacity to survive. It was found that farmers were able to adapt to various stresses. The result indicates that individuals and communities can be adaptive, absorptive, and transformative. The findings can assist in formulation of strategies for communities to be better prepared for the current and future impact of the triple threat of urbanization, globalization and climate change.
Knowledge, Readiness and Use of Flipped Classroom among Education Geography Student / Pengetahuan, Kesediaan dan Penggunaan Flipped Classroom Dalam Kalangan Pelajar Pendidikan Geografi UPSI
Authors: Mahat Hanifah , Saiful Bahri Sarah Afiqah , Hashim Mohmadisa , Nayan Nasir , Saleh Yazid
Published: May 2021

This study aimed to identify the learning methods based on the flipped classroom model among UPSI’s Geography students, focusing on the students who have completed university education courses including the courses that implement flipped classroom in line with the 21st Century Approach. A quantitative approach was applied in this study using a questionnaire as a research instrument. The study respondents included 92 samples from a total population of 120 students selected through simple random sampling. The questionnaire items constructed involved three variables, namely knowledge, readiness and usage of flipped classroom. A descriptive analysis was used to examine the level of knowledge, readiness and usage variables. The Pearson correlation analysis was used to examine the relationship of each study variable, and regression analysis was used for the purpose of analyzing the influence and contribution of knowledge and readiness variables on the usage of flipped classroom. The findings of the study showed that the students had a moderate level of flipped classroom knowledge (Mean=2.97, SP=0.18), a moderate level of flipped classroom readiness (Mean=2.83, SP=0.44) and a moderate level of flipped classroom usage (Mean=2.78, SP=0.42). Further, the findings of the Pearson correlation analysis showed that there was a strong and significant positive relationship between flipped classroom knowledge and flipped classroom readiness among the students (r=.508, p<0.01), moderate and significant positive relationship between flipped classroom knowledge towards flipped classroom usage among the students (r=.487, p<0.01) and a strong and significant positive relationship between flipped classroom readiness and flipped classroom usage among the students (r=.509, p<0.01). The regression analysis showed that flipped classroom readiness had given a higher influence and contribution than flipped classroom knowledge among the students. The influence of the contribution of the flipped classroom readiness variable on flipped classroom usage among the students was 25.9 percent with the values of R2=0.329, F=21.862, p<0.05. In conclusion, the prospective UPSI’s Geography educators have not yet mastered the flipped classroom learning strategies. The implications of this implementation of flipped classroom study can be used as a guide and direction for the students in increasing their knowledge and readiness as educators in carrying out a variety of activity usages through access to learning materials, in line with the 21st Century Learning goals.
The Development and Application of a Kinetic Theory for Modeling Dispersed Particle Flows
Authors: Reeks Michael W.
Published: May 2021

This Freeman Scholar article reviews the formulation and application of a kinetic theory for modeling the transport and dispersion of small particles in turbulent gas-flows. The theory has been developed and refined by numerous authors and now forms a rational basis for modeling complex particle laden flows. The formalism and methodology of this approach are discussed and the choice of closure of the kinetic equations involved ensures realizability and well posedness with exact closure for Gaussian carrier flow fields. The historical development is presented and how single-particle kinetic equations resolve the problem of closure of the transport equations for particle mass, momentum, and kinetic energy/stress (the so-called continuum equations) and the treatment of the dispersed phase as a fluid. The mass fluxes associated with the turbulent aerodynamic driving forces and interfacial stresses are shown to be both dispersive and convective in inhomogeneous turbulence with implications for the build-up of particles concentration in near wall turbulent boundary layers and particle pair concentration at small separation. It is shown how this approach deals with the natural wall boundary conditions for a flowing particle suspension and examples are given of partially absorbing surfaces with particle scattering and gravitational settling; how this approach has revealed the existence of contra gradient diffusion in a developing shear flow and the influence of the turbulence on gravitational settling (the Maxey effect). Particular consideration is given to the general problem of particle transport and deposition in turbulent boundary layers including particle resuspension. Finally, the application of a particle pair formulation for both monodisperse and bidisperse particle flows is reviewed where the differences between the two are compared through the influence of collisions on the particle continuum equations and the particle collision kernel for the clustering of particles and the degree of random uncorrelated motion (RUM) at the small scales of the turbulence. The inclusion of bidisperse particle suspensions implies the application to polydisperse flows and the evolution of particle size distribution.
Random versus regular square lattice experimental comparison for a subwavelength resonant metasurface
Authors: Lott Martin , Roux Philippe
Published: May 2021

An experimental comparison is reported here between two equivalent resonant subwavelength metasurfaces made of long aluminum beams glued closely together on a thin aluminum plate. One metasurface has a random distribution of the resonator beams, and the other has a regular square lattice of pitch 1.5 cm. The random lattice shows the “resonant” behavior of a typical metasurface, with a wide full bandgap for the first A0 Lamb mode. Instead, the regular square lattice combines Fano resonance with Bragg scattering at the edges of the passband, thus creating anisotropy and a pseudo bandgap. Comparisons with numerical simulations are performed, with good agreement with the experimental data. The multimodal response of the beams is also responsible for double negativity in a narrow frequency band, and the event of a pseudo bandgap around this same flexural resonance. In addition, the scattering regimes for both the random and regular metasurfaces are characterized using coherent and incoherent signal analysis.
Fairer shares
Authors: Cohen Jon , Kupferschmidt Kai
Published: May 2021

Rich countries cornered the marketplace for COVID-19 vaccines. Here are four strategies to protect the rest of the world.
Assessment of technique for rapid detection of Escherichia coli and Proteus species in urine by head-space gas-liquid chromatography
Authors: Hayward N J , Jeavons T H
Published: May 2021

A test depending on the production of ethanol by Escherichia coli from lactose and dimethyl disulfide by Proteus spp. from methionine in the early exponential phase of growth and the detection of these products by head-space gas-liquid chromatography has been applied to 75 specimens of urine selected to provide the most stringent trial of the test. The test was found to be rapid and reliable for the commonest findings in the microbiological examination of urine. In 3 to 4 h it detected "significant" numbers (greater than 10(5)/ml) of E. coli or of Proteus mirabilis or P. inconstans A, identified as Proteus spp., in 23 urines. It recorded the absence of infection from 32 urines containing borderline or "not significant" numbers of any organism. Significant numbers of other organisms in 13 urines were not mistaken for E. coli or Proteus spp. However, the test was less successful for some less common findings. Klebsiella ozenae in significant numbers in one urine was mistaken for E. coli. P. morganii in significant numbers in one urine was not detected. E. coli or P. mirabilis mixed with significant numbers of another organism were not detected in four out of five urines. The technique is simple and could be automated. It appears to merit more extensive trial in a hospital laboratory and further development to detect and correctly identify more species that cause urinary tract infections.
Cultivation of Chlamydia trachomatis in cycloheximide-treated mccoy cells
Authors: Ripa K T , Mårdh P A
Published: May 2021

An isolation technique for Chlamydia trachomatis using McCoy cells is described. In contrast to earlier techniques employing such cells, no pretreatment of the cells was used. The glutarimide antibiotic cycloheximide was added to the culture medium used for incubating the cells after infection. Cycloheximide was used at concentrations that depressed, but did not completely inhibit, the metabolism of the eucaryotic host cells. In studies on different immunotypes of C. trachomatis cultured in the yolk sac of embryonated hen eggs, the cycloheximide technique was compared with a method using pretreatment of cells with 5-iodo-2-deoxyuridine. The cycloheximide method gave greater numbers of inclusion-forming units per cover slip for all the immunotypes of trachoma-inclusion conjunctivitis agents tested, i.e., A through I. In a study of 194 cervical and urethral specimens from women, cycloheximide treatment of McCoy cells was found to be more efficient than 5-iodo-2-deoxyuridine treatment for the isolation of C. trachomatis.
Detection of circulating antigen during acute infections with Toxoplasma gondii by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay
Authors: van Knapen F , Panggabean S O
Published: May 2021

The serodiagnosis of toxoplasmosis is usually based on demonstration of antibodies by means of different serological methods. However, for confirmation of active toxoplasmosis, examination of paired sera is still needed. In this study a description is given of a sensitive enzyme method (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay) with which it is possible to detect circulating antigens during the acute stage of mouse and human toxoplasmosis. Preliminary investigations of human sera suggested that circulating antigens are only found during a short period (active phase) of the toxoplasma infection and that they can be found in cases of fresh infections as well as during reinfections. The possible clinical relevance is discussed.
Fifteen-minute consultation: oral ulceration in children
Authors: Johnston Laura , Warrilow Laura , Fullwood Isobel , Tanday Ajit
Published: May 2021

Objective

To review common presentation of oral ulcers in children and discuss management of symptoms and subsequent investigation.

Conclusion

Although a common presentation in children, diagnosis can be challenging. Thorough history taking is critical towards diagnosis and supports signposting to relevant specialities. Clinicians should be able to support first-line symptomatic management of oral ulceration.
Experiences of cancer immunotherapy with immune checkpoint inhibitors (ExCIm)—insights of people affected by cancer and healthcare professionals: a qualitative study protocol
Authors: Jennings Stephen , Anstey Sally , Bower Janet , Brewster Alison , Buckman John , Fenlon Deborah , Fitzsimmons Deborah , Watts Tessa
Published: May 2021

Introduction

There is a global interest in cancer immunotherapy. Clinical trials have found that one group, immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs), has demonstrated clinical benefits across various cancers. However, research focused on the experiences of people affected by cancer who have undergone this treatment using qualitative methodology is currently limited. Moreover, little is known about the experiences and education needs of the healthcare staff supporting the people receiving these immunotherapies. This study therefore seeks to explore the experiences of using ICIs by both the people affected by cancer and the healthcare professionals who support those people, and use the findings to make recommendations for ICI supportive care guidance development, cancer immunotherapy education materials for healthcare professionals, cancer policy and further research.

Methods and analysis

Patient participants (n=up to 30) will be recruited within the UK. The sample will incorporate a range of perspectives, sociodemographic factors, diagnoses and ICI treatments, yet share some common experiences. Healthcare professionals (n=up to 15) involved in supporting people receiving immunotherapy will also be recruited from across the UK. Data will be generated through in-depth, semistructured interviews. Reflexive thematic analysis will be used to obtain thorough understanding of individual’s perspectives on, and experiences of, immunotherapy. Study dates are as follows: December 2019–March 2022.

Ethics and dissemination

The research will be performed in accordance with the UK Policy for Health and Social Care Research and Cardiff University’s Research Integrity and Governance Code of Practice (2018). The study received ethical approval from the West Midlands and Black Country Research Ethics Committee in October 2019. Health Research Authority and Health and Care Research Wales approvals were confirmed in December 2019. All participants will provide informed consent. Findings will be published in peer-reviewed journals, non-academic platforms, the Macmillan Cancer Support website, disseminated at relevant national and international conferences and presented via a webinar. The study is listed on the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Clinical Research Network Central Portfolio.
Diagnostic performance of food consumption for bacteraemia in patients admitted with suspected infection: a prospective cohort study
Authors: Takada Toshihiko , Fujii Kotaro , Kudo Masataka , Sasaki Sho , Yano Tetsuhiro , Yagi Yu , Tsuchido Yasuhiro , Ito Hideyuki , Fukuhara Shunichi
Published: May 2021

Objectives

A previous study reported that food consumption is useful to rule out bacteraemia in hospitalised patients. We aimed to validate the diagnostic performance of (1) food consumption and (2) a previously reported algorithm using food consumption and shaking chills for bacteraemia in patients admitted to hospital with suspected infection.

Design

Prospective cohort study.

Setting

Department of General Medicine in two acute care hospitals in Japan.

Participants

A total of 2009 adult patients who underwent at least two blood cultures on admission.

Primary outcome measures

The reference standard for bacteraemia was judgement by two independent specialists of infectious diseases. Food consumption was evaluated by the physician in charge asking the patient or their caregivers the following question on admission: ‘What percentage of usual food intake were you able to eat during the past 24 hours?’

Results

Among 2009 patients, 326 patients were diagnosed with bacteraemia (16.2%). Diagnostic performance of food consumption was sensitivity of 84.4% (95% CI 80.1 to 88), specificity of 19.8% (95% CI 18 to 21.8), positive predictive value (PPV) of 16.9% (95% CI 15.2 to 18.9) and negative predictive value (NPV) of 86.8% (95% CI 83.1 to 89.8). The discriminative performance was an area under the curve of 0.53 (95% CI 0.50 to 0.56). The performance of the algorithm using food consumption and shaking chills was sensitivity of 89% (95% CI 85.1 to 91.9), specificity of 18.8% (95% CI 17 to 20.7), PPV of 17.5% (95% CI 15.7 to 19.4) and NPV of 89.8% (95% CI 86.2 to 92.5).

Conclusion

Our results did not show the usefulness of food consumption and the algorithm using food consumption and shaking chills for the diagnosis of bacteraemia in patients admitted to hospital with suspected infection.
Implementation of a complex intervention to improve hospital discharge: process evaluation of a cluster randomised controlled trial
Authors: Rachamin Yael , Grischott Thomas , Neuner-Jehle Stefan
Published: May 2021

Objectives

To study the implementation of a cluster randomised controlled effectiveness-implementation hybrid trial testing the effectiveness of a medication review at hospital discharge combined with a communication stimulus between hospital physicians (HPs) and general practitioners (GPs) on rehospitalisation of multimorbid older patients.

Design

Extension of Grant’s mixed method process evaluation framework to trials with multilevel clustering.

Setting

General internal medicine wards in Swiss hospitals.

Participants

Convenience samples of 15 chief physicians (of 21 hospitals participating in the effectiveness trial), 60 (74) senior HPs, 65 (164) junior HPs and 187 (411) GPs.

Implementation strategy

Two-hour teaching sessions for senior HPs on a patient-centred, checklist-guided discharge routine.

Process evaluation components

Data collection on recruitment, delivery and response from chief physicians (semistructured interviews), senior HPs, junior HPs, GPs (surveys) and patients (via HPs). Quantitative data were summarised using descriptive statistics, and interviews analysed using thematic analysis.

Outcome measures

Intervention dose (quantitative), implementation fidelity (qualitative), feasibility and acceptability, facilitators and barriers, implementation support strategies.

Results

Recruitment of hospitals was laborious but successful, with 21 hospitals recruited. Minimal workload and a perceived benefit for the clinic were crucial factors for participation. Intervention dose was high (95% of checklist activities carried out), but intervention fidelity was limited (discharge letters) or unknown (medication review). Recruitment and retention of patients was challenging, partly due to patient characteristics (old, frail) and the COVID-19 pandemic: Only 612 of the anticipated 2100 patients were recruited, and 31% were lost to follow-up within the first month after discharge. The intervention was deemed feasible and helpful by HPs, and the relevance of the topic appreciated by both HPs and GPs.

Conclusions

The results from this evaluation will support interpretation of the findings of the effectiveness study and may inform researchers and policy makers who aim at improving hospital discharge.

Trial registration number

ISRCTN18427377.
Effect of nalbuphine on rocuronium injection pain
Authors: Huang Wenfang , Huang Jinjin , Wang Dongpi , Hu Yaoqin , Wang Jiangmei , Lin Hongfei
Published: May 2021

Objective

Rocuronium-associated intravenous injection pain occurs frequently in children during induction of anesthesia. The aim of this study was to systematically evaluate the benefits of nalbuphine in patients with rocuronium-associated injection pain.

Methods

Ninety children undergoing tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy in our hospital between October 2019 and September 2020 were randomly divided into the following groups, with 30 patients per group: control group (group C), lidocaine group (group L), and nalbuphine group (group N). Routine 0.1 mg/kg midazolam and 2 mg/kg propofol were injected intravenously. After sedation, children in group C, group L, and group N were administered an intravenous injection of saline, lidocaine (10 mg/mL), or nalbuphine hydrochloride (2 mg/mL), respectively, at a dosage of 0.1 mL/kg. Intravenous injection of rocuronium stock solution (0.6 mg/kg) was administered 2 minutes later. Pain was evaluated using Ambeshs 4-pointscale. The incidence of rocuronium injection pain was compared among the three groups, and postoperative adverse reactions, such as drowsiness, bradycardia, hypotension, and respiratory depression, were evaluated.

Results

The incidence of injection pain among children in group N was significantly lower than that in group C and group L (p<0.05). The incidence of drowsiness in group N was significantly higher than that in the other groups (p<0.05). The incidences of hypotension, bradycardia, and respiratory depression were not significantly different among the three groups (p>0.05).

Conclusions

Intravenous nalbuphine during induction of anesthesia effectively prevented rocuronium-associated injection pain in children. Drowsiness is a complication.
Persistence modules, symplectic Banach–Mazur distance and Riemannian metrics
Authors: Stojisavljević Vukašin , Zhang Jun
Published: May 2021

We use persistence modules and their corresponding barcodes to quantitatively distinguish between different fiberwise star-shaped domains in the cotangent bundle of a fixed manifold. The distance between two fiberwise star-shaped domains is measured by a nonlinear version of the classical Banach–Mazur distance, called symplectic Banach–Mazur distance and denoted by [Formula: see text]. The relevant persistence modules come from filtered symplectic homology and are stable with respect to [Formula: see text]. Our main focus is on the space of unit codisc bundles of orientable surfaces of positive genus, equipped with Riemannian metrics. We consider some questions about large-scale geometry of this space and in particular we give a construction of a quasi-isometric embedding of [Formula: see text] into this space for all [Formula: see text]. On the other hand, in the case of domains in [Formula: see text], we can show that the corresponding metric space has infinite diameter. Finally, we discuss the existence of closed geodesics whose energies can be controlled.
Berth Allocation in Transshipment Ports by Considering Quay Crane Coverage and Ship Fuel Consumption
Authors: Yu Shucheng , Wang Bochen , Zhang Si , Zhen Lu
Published: May 2021

This study investigates an integrated model for the continuous berth allocation and quay crane scheduling problem by considering quay crane coverage range, ship fuel consumption, and transshipment costs. A nonlinear mixed-integer programming model is proposed. Some nonlinear parts in this model are linearized by approximation approaches. While the objective function aims to minimize waiting costs, it also seeks to minimize fuel consumption costs from the current port to the next port and housekeeping costs generated by transshipment between vessels. A local branching-based solution algorithm is designed to solve the proposed model. Computational experiments are conducted to validate the effectiveness of the proposed scientific programming model and efficiency of the algorithm.
Prevalence of Depression and Sleep Disorders in Patients on Dialysis: A Cross-Sectional Study in Qatar
Authors: Al-Ali Fadwa , Elshirbeny Mostafa , Hamad Abdullah , Kaddourah Ahmad , Ghonimi Tarek , Ibrahim Rania , Fouda Tarek
Published: May 2021

Patients with end-stage renal disease treated with dialysis have poor quality of life (QOL). Improving QOL in these patients with multiple comorbidities is a large challenge. We performed a cross-sectional study to evaluate the prevalence and associated factors of depression and sleep disorders in this population. Our primary aim was to evaluate QOL measures in dialysis patients in Qatar through a series of validated questionnaires mainly concerning depression and sleep disorders. Our secondary aim was to study the associations of age, sex, and comorbid conditions with the QOL measures. We hypothesized that end-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients on dialysis would have disturbed QOL due to both ESRD and dialysis and comorbidities. This prospective cross-sectional study included adult ESRD patients receiving either hemodialysis (HD) or peritoneal dialysis (PD) in the main tertiary dialysis unit in Qatar. We administered two surveys to evaluate depression (the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale, http://www.bmedreport.com/archives/7139) and sleep disorders (the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, https://www.sleep.pitt.edu/instruments/). We also reviewed patient demographics, comorbidities, and laboratory test results to evaluate any associated factors. We randomly studied 253 patients (62% on HD and 38% on PD). Overall, 48% of patients had depression, while 83.8% had sleep disorders. The PD had more poor sleepers than the HD group (89.1% versus (vs.) 75%,

p
=
0.003

). Most of our dialysis patients had poor sleep, but it was more significant in the elderly group 109 (90%) than in the young group 103 (78%) (

p
=
0.009

). Patients with diabetes mellitus (DM) had significantly more prevalence of poor sleep (131 (88.5%)) than those without DM (81 (77.1%),

p
=
0.01

). More female patients had depression than male patients (52% vs. 25%,

p
<
0.0001

; odds ratio: 3.27 (95% confidence interval: 1.9–5.6),

p
<
0.0001

). This is the first study in Qatar to evaluate depression and sleep disorders in patients on dialysis therapy.
[Retracted] Analysis of the Impact of Big Data on E‐Commerce in Cloud Computing Environment
Authors: Yu Rongrui , Wu Chunqiong , Yan Bingwen , Yu Baoqin , Zhou Xiukao , Yu Yanliang , Chen Na
Published: May 2021

This article starts with the analysis of the existing electronic commerce system, summarizes its characteristics, and analyzes and solves its existing problems. Firstly, the characteristics of the relational database My Structured Query Language (MySQL) and the distributed database HBase are analyzed, their respective advantages and disadvantages are summarized, and the advantages and disadvantages of each are taken into account when storing data. My SQL is used to store structured business data in the system, while HBase is used to store unstructured data such as pictures. These two storage mechanisms together constitute a data storage subsystem. Secondly, considering the large amount of data in the e‐commerce system and the complex calculation of the data mining algorithm, this paper uses MapReduce to realize the parallelization of the data mining algorithm and builds a Hadoop‐based commodity recommendation subsystem on this basis. We use JavaEE technology to design a full‐featured web mall system. Finally, based on the impact of cloud computing, mobile e‐commerce is analyzed, including relevant theories, service mode, architecture, core technology, and the application in e‐commerce, which can realize e‐commerce precision marketing, find the optimal path of logistics, and take effective security measures to avoid transaction risks. This method can avoid the disadvantages of the traditional e‐commerce, where large‐scale data cannot be processed in a timely manner, realize the value of mining data behind, and realize the precision marketing of e‐commerce enterprises.
[Retracted] Massive Open Online Course Fast Adaptable Computer Engineering Education Model
Authors: Liu Xiaokui , Gao Feng , Jiao Qingju
Published: May 2021

Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) is a new online education model that provides new opportunities and challenges for the development and reform of teaching in colleges and universities. This paper first builds a MOOC‐based model of influencing factors of blended learning adaptability. Through investigation and research, it is found that the six influencing factors all have different ways and different degrees of influence on learning adaptability. Among them, learning motivation has a direct and significant impact on learning adaptability, and learning self‐efficacy not only has a direct and significant impact on learning adaptability but also has an indirect impact on learning adaptability through learning motivation. Teacher teaching has indirect effects on learning adaptability through learning self‐efficacy, learning motivation, and learning support. Learning support not only has a direct and significant impact on learning adaptability but also has an indirect impact on learning adaptability through learning motivation. MOOC platform has a direct and significant impact on learning adaptability. The quality of course content has a direct and significant impact on learning adaptability through the MOOC platform and learning motivation. The creative results of this research are mainly embodied in the combination of theory and practice, exploring and forming related results based on MOOC‐based college students’ learning adaptability. According to the MOOC‐based learning‐adaptive intervention model, teaching practice is carried out to verify the effect of the intervention model from two aspects of student procedural performance and result performance. Finally, in view of the problems existing in traditional computer teaching in colleges and universities, combined with the design ideas and basic characteristics of MOOC, the teaching mode reform of computer courses is analyzed and discussed, and a MOOC‐based computer engineering education teaching mode is proposed.
Analysis Model of Risk Factors of Urban Bus Operation Based on FTA‐CLR
Authors: Xi Jianfeng , Zhao Yunhe , Ding Tongqiang , Tian Jian , Li Lianjie
Published: May 2021

In order to comprehensively analyze the risk factors and accurately find the high risk factors related to accidents, an analysis model of risk factors of urban bus operation is proposed, in which the advantages of the structural analysis of the Fault Tree Analysis (FTA) and the correlation analysis of the Cumulative Logistic Regression (CLR) are combined. Firstly, based on the accident data in Northeast China, FTA is used to compile the urban bus operation fault tree. In the fault tree, 16 bus operation risk factors are classified, while the risk factors are sorted and compared from three aspects: structural importance, probability importance, and critical importance. And then, the 11 higher risk factors are selected according to the discriminant principle. Secondly, bus operation accidents are divided into fatal accidents, injury accidents, and major economic loss accidents. The CLR model is used to fit the much higher risk factors that lead to urban bus operation accidents from above 11 higher risk factors. Finally, the scientific rationality and applicability of the model are verified, through the goodness of fit test and the comparison test with the actual probability of occurrence.
A Quantitative Study on the Benefit of Various Waste Classifications
Authors: Zhang Jiahe , Zhang Zhenying , Zhang Jiayue , Fan Guoyang , Wu Dazhi
Published: May 2021

Chinese economic development has continuously increased national municipal solid waste (MSW) output. However, the existing MSW classification method is insufficient and exacerbates several urgent problems. There are many factors to consider in Chinese waste classification (population, MSW production, food waste content, water content, economy, environment, and waste disposal methods). Based on research and analysis, MSW classification should highlight and implement treatment methods that focus on incineration, the distinct treatment of kitchen waste, and landfills as a waste disposal supplement. MSW is divided into five categories: kitchen waste, incineration, recyclable, hazardous waste, and other waste. Using economic benefit analysis, life cycle assessment, and radar chart analysis, a quantitative study is conducted on the classification methods of MSW used in Germany, the US, the UK, Sweden, Japan, China, and this study. The results indicate that a more refined classification can effectively improve many aspects of MSW management, especially regarding economic and environmental benefits, which are significantly affected. Effective MSW management can reduce the cost of waste disposal by 69.4% and greenhouse gas and acidic substance emissions and increase the energy utilisation rate four fold. This research is of great significance to environmental protection and the development of a circular economy and provides a reference for the management of MSW.
Remaining Useful Life Estimation through Deep Learning Partial Differential Equation Models: A Framework for Degradation Dynamics Interpretation Using Latent Variables
Authors: Cofre-Martel Sergio , Lopez Droguett Enrique , Modarres Mohammad
Published: May 2021

Remaining useful life (RUL) estimation is one of the main objectives of prognostics and health management (PHM) frameworks. For the past decade, researchers have explored the application of deep learning (DL) regression algorithms to predict the system’s health state behavior based on sensor readings from the monitoring system. Although the state‐of‐art results have been achieved in benchmark problems, most DL‐PHM algorithms are treated as black‐box functions, giving little‐to‐no control over data interpretation. This becomes an issue when the models unknowingly break the governing laws of physics when no constraints are imposed. The latest research efforts have focused on applying complex DL models to achieve low prediction errors rather than studying how they interpret the data’s behavior and the system itself. This paper proposes an open‐box approach using a deep neural network framework to explore the physics of a complex system’s degradation through partial differential equations (PDEs). This proposed framework is an attempt to bridge the gap between statistic‐based PHM and physics‐based PHM. The framework has three stages, and it aims to discover the health state of the system through a latent variable while still providing a RUL estimation. Results show that the latent variable can capture the failure modes of the system. A latent space representation can also be used as a health state estimator through a random forest classifier with up to a 90% performance on new unseen data.
Personalized Emotion Recognition and Emotion Prediction System Based on Cloud Computing
Authors: Tian Wenqiang
Published: May 2021

Promoting economic development and improving people’s quality of life have a lot to do with the continuous improvement of cloud computing technology and the rapid expansion of applications. Emotions play an important role in all aspects of human life. It is difficult to avoid the influence of inner emotions in people’s behavior and deduction. This article mainly studies the personalized emotion recognition and emotion prediction system based on cloud computing. This paper proposes a method of intelligently identifying users’ emotional states through the use of cloud computing. First, an emotional induction experiment is designed to induce the testers’ positive, neutral, and negative three basic emotional states and collect cloud data and EEG under different emotional states. Then, the cloud data is processed and analyzed to extract emotional features. After that, this paper constructs a facial emotion prediction system based on cloud computing data model, which consists of face detection and facial emotion recognition. The system uses the SVM algorithm for face detection, uses the temporal feature algorithm for facial emotion analysis, and finally uses the classification method of machine learning to classify emotions, so as to realize the purpose of identifying the user’s emotional state through cloud computing technology. Experimental data shows that the EEG signal emotion recognition method based on time domain features performs best has better generalization ability and is improved by 6.3% on the basis of traditional methods. The experimental results show that the personalized emotion recognition method based on cloud computing is more effective than traditional methods.
STK11/LKB1 Loss of Function Is Associated with Global DNA Hypomethylation and S-Adenosyl-Methionine Depletion in Human Lung Adenocarcinoma
Authors: Koenig Michael J. , Agana Bernice A. , Kaufman Jacob M. , Sharpnack Michael F. , Wang Walter Z. , Weigel Christoph , Navarro Fabio C.P. , Amann Joseph M. , Cacciato Nicole , Arasada Rajeswara Rao , Gerstein Mark B. , Wysocki Vicki H. , Oakes Christopher , Carbone David P.
Published: May 2021

STK11 (liver kinase B1, LKB1) is the fourth most frequently mutated gene in lung adenocarcinoma, with loss of function observed in up to 30% of all cases. Our previous work identified a 16-gene signature for LKB1 loss of function through mutational and nonmutational mechanisms. In this study, we applied this genetic signature to The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) lung adenocarcinoma samples and discovered a novel association between LKB1 loss and widespread DNA demethylation. LKB1-deficient tumors showed depletion of S-adenosyl-methionine (SAM-e), which is the primary substrate for DNMT1 activity. Lower methylation following LKB1 loss involved repetitive elements (RE) and altered RE transcription, as well as decreased sensitivity to azacytidine. Demethylated CpGs were enriched for FOXA family consensus binding sites, and nuclear expression, localization, and turnover of FOXA was dependent upon LKB1. Overall, these findings demonstrate that a large number of lung adenocarcinomas exhibit global hypomethylation driven by LKB1 loss, which has implications for both epigenetic therapy and immunotherapy in these cancers.

Significance:

Lung adenocarcinomas with LKB1 loss demonstrate global genomic hypomethylation associated with depletion of SAM-e, reduced expression of DNMT1, and increased transcription of repetitive elements.
Oncolytic Vaccinia Virus Gene Modification and Cytokine Expression Effects on Tumor Infection, Immune Response, and Killing
Authors: Inoue Tomoyoshi , Byrne Thomas , Inoue Mitsuko , Tait Madeline E. , Wall Patrick , Wang Annabel , Dermyer Michael R. , Laklai Hanane , Binder Joseph J. , Lees Clare , Hollingsworth Robert , Maruri-Avidal Liliana , Kirn David H. , McDonald Donald M.
Published: May 2021

Oncolytic vaccinia viruses have promising efficacy and safety profiles in cancer therapy. Although antitumor activity can be increased by manipulating viral genes, the relative efficacy of individual modifications has been difficult to assess without side-by-side comparisons. This study sought to compare the initial antitumor activity after intravenous administration of five vaccinia virus variants of the same Western Reserve backbone and thymidine kinase gene deletion in RIP-Tag2 transgenic mice with spontaneous pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors. Tumors had focal regions of infection at 5 days after all viruses. Natural killer (NK) cells were restricted to these sites of infection, but CD8+ T cells and tumor cell apoptosis were widespread and varied among the viruses. Antitumor activity of virus VV-A34, bearing amino acid substitution A34K151E to increase viral spreading, and virus VV-IL2v, expressing a mouse IL2 variant (mIL2v) with attenuated IL2 receptor alpha subunit binding, was similar to control virus VV-GFP. However, antitumor activity was significantly greater after virus VV-A34/IL2v, which expressed mIL2v together with A34K151E mutation and viral B18R gene deletion, and virus VV-GMCSF that expressed mouse GM-CSF. Both viruses greatly increased expression of CD8 antigens Cd8a/Cd8b1 and cytotoxicity genes granzyme A, granzyme B, Fas ligand, and perforin-1 in tumors. VV-A34/IL2v led to higher serum IL2 and greater tumor expression of death receptor ligand TRAIL, but VV-GMCSF led to higher serum GM-CSF, greater expression of leukocyte chemokines and adhesion molecules, and more neutrophil recruitment. Together, the results show that antitumor activity is similarly increased by viral expression of GM-CSF or IL2v combined with additional genetic modifications.
Targeting Solid Tumors Using CD3 Bispecific Antibodies
Authors: Crawford Alison , Chiu Danica
Published: May 2021

Immunotherapies to treat cancer have made tremendous progress over the past decade. In particular, T cell–directed therapies have gained considerable attention with CD3 bispecific antibodies and CAR T cells showing potent responses against hematologic tumors. At present, the ability to adapt these therapeutics to treat solid tumors is less established. Herein, we discuss recent advances in T cell–engaging CD3 bispecific antibodies targeting solid tumors, potential mechanisms of resistance, and future prospects. A better understanding of the mechanisms of immune evasion in solid tumors will enable the development of strategies to overcome this resistance and inform choices of therapeutic combinations.