bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Analisis Dampak Gaya Komunikasi Juru Bicara KPK Terhadap Persepsi Publik
Authors: Hadi Sigit Pramono
Published: March 2022

Since its establishment in 2002, the Indonesian Corruption Eradication Commission (Komisi Pemberantasan Korupsi – KPK) has become the center of public attention in the context of combating corruption in Indonesia. In the area of KPK's legal action, they often carry out arrest operations against the perpetrators of corruption, which are followed by a press conference with the aim of explaining the cases of corruption that are allegedly committed to the perpetrators. At the press conference the prominent role of the KPK spokesman was seen as the official representative of the institution. Likewise on various occasions, the Spokesman spoke on behalf of the KPK to explain the corruption cases handled by the KPK. This study aims to measure the impact of the KPK spokesman's communication style on public perception in the context of eradicating corruption in Indonesia. By using a quantitative approach, this study aims to find out how the causality relationship between the independent variable (X) is the Communication Style with the dependent variable (Y), namely Public Perception. Respondents were selected using a non-probability sampling technique, namely accidental sampling. From the results of the study, it was found that the communication style of the KPK Spokesman had a positive impact on public perception and this positive impact had an influence strength of 15%. Thus an understanding that public perception about eradicating corruption in Indonesia is influenced by the communication style of the KPK spokesman by 15%. While the other 85% is determined by other variables not included in this study.
Komunikasi Antarpribadi Pada Pasangan Suami Istri Muda yang Istrinya Tetap Bekerja
Authors: Setiawan Giovani Anggasta
Published: March 2022

Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk dapat menemukan fakta dan cara yang tepat dalam bersikap dan berkomunikasi antar pribadi bagi pasangan suami istri yang baru menikah khususnya bagi istri yang tetap bekerja. Penelitian ini menggunakan metodi penelitian deskriptif kualitatif yaitu suatu penelitian yang menggambarkan objek penelitian berdasarkan studi lapangan yang mampu memperlihatkan fakta-fakta yang ada. Peneliti mendapatkan sumber data melalui informan atau narasumber, yaitu pasangan muda yang baru menikah. Data dibagi menjadi 2 yakni data primer dan data sekunder. Data primer melalui wawancara dengan narasumber, data sekunder melalui buku-buku, internet, & jurnal. Beberapa penelitian sebelumnya menyatakan bahwa semakin rendah tingkat konflik pekerjaan maka semakin tinggi tingkat kepuasan perkawinan suatu pasangan. Hasil penelitian ini menunjukan bahwa proses komunikasi antar pribadi pasangan suami istri yang baru menikah sangatlah penting. Di zaman sekarang ini suatu keberatan bagi istri tetap bisa bekerja menjadi suatu hal yang relatif / tergantung dari masing-masing individu. Tidak ada hal yang menetapkan bahwa istri bekerja adalah suatu hal yang salah. Meresponi hal ini, terdapat 3 hal yang dapat dilakukan untuk menjaga kualitas komunikasi antar pribadi suami istri, yaitu: 1. Memahami & menjalani peran masing-masing dalam keluarga, 2. Menetapkan urutan prioritas terhadap aktifitas yang akan menjadi tanggung jawab dalam keluarga, 3. Menyusun strategi komunikasi antar pribadi setelah kedua nya sepakat akan bentuk aktivitas seperti apa yang akan dijalani selama menjalani kehidupan berumah tangga.
PERBEDAAN TINGKAT KECEMASAN ANTARA PRE DAN POST KOMUNIKASI TERAPEUTIK PADA PASIEN DENGAN LASER PHOTOKOAGULASI DI KLINIK MATA RSUD dr SAIFUL ANWAR MALANG
Authors: Herry Herry Indriyani Suryatmojo
Published: March 2022

Suryatmojo, Herry Indriyani. 2021. Perbedaan Tingkat Kecemasan Antara Pre dan Post  Komunikasi Terapeutik Pada Pasien Dengan Laser Photokoagulasi di Klinik Mata RSUD dr Saiful Anwar Malang. Sripsi Program Studi S1 Ilmu Keperawatan, Stikes Maharani Malang. (1). Lilla Maria.,S.Kep.,Ns.,M.Kep. (2). Rahmawati Maulidia.,S.Kep.,Ns.,M.Kep.

 

 

Kecemasan adalah keadaan khawatir atau tegang dalam diri individu yang terjadi ketika kebutuhan interpersonal akan keamanan dan/atau kebebasan dari perasaan tegang tidak terpenuhi. Cemas sering kali timbul ketika seseorang mau menghadapi tindakan medis/pembedahan. Komunikasi terapeutik yaitu komunikasi antara perawat dan pasien untuk tujuan terapi. Tujuan penelitian mengetahui perbedaan tingkat kecemasan antara pre dan post komunikasi terapeutik pada pasien dengan laser photokoagulasi. Penelitian ini merupakan penelitian studi korelasi dengan rancangan quasi eksperiment one group pre post test design, dengan jumlah populasi adalah 36 responden yang dilakukan laser photokoagulasi di Klinik Mata RSUD dr Saiful Anwar yang memenuhi kriteria inklusi setelah diberikan kuesioner dihitung lagi dengan menggunakan rumus Slovin. Hasil uji Wilcoxon menunjukkan ada perbedaan skala kecemasan (HARS) antara sebelum dan sesudah komunikasi terapeutik (p<0.05). Dari hasil penelitian ini peneliti menyimpulkan pentingnya komunikasi terapeutik adalah membina hubungan kerja sama yang ditandai dengan tukar menukar perilaku, perasaan, pikiran, dan pengalaman dalam membina hubungan intim yang terapeutik yang bertujuan untuk menyelesaikan masalah klien. Disarankan bagi yang berminat meneliti tentang komunikasi terapeutik dan tingkat kecemasan pada pasien diharapkan dapat menyempurnakan dengan penelitian faktor-faktor yang dapat mempengaruhi kualitas komunikasi terapeutik.

 

Kata Kunci: Kecemasan, Komunikasi Terapeutik, Laser Photokoagulasi
Developing fully compatible taper and volume equations for all stem components of Eucalyptus globoidea Blakely trees in New Zealand
Authors: Boczniewicz Daniel , Mason Euan G. , Morgenroth Justin A.
Published: March 2022

Background: Individual-tree taper and volume equations are essential for forest management. They provide estimates of volume that are incorporated into plot-level volume equations and also into growth and yield models to estimate volumes per hectare in forest crops. Moreover, taper equations allow forest managers to estimate dimensions of logs that can be cut from stems in their forests when they have measured diameters at breast height and heights of trees in inventories. Compatible taper and volume equations have the property that the same individual tree volume can be estimated either from the tree volume equation or by integrating the taper equation. Durable eucalypt species such as Eucalyptus globoidea Blakely, however, have especially valuable heartwood and so managers require estimates of the volumes and shapes of heartwood zones within trees. Simple overall wood taper and volume equations would therefore be inadequate. Methods: 74 Eucalyptus globoidea trees were destructively sampled in 8 different trial plots throughout New Zealand. Tree ages were 7 to 29 years old, the DBHs were 11 to 67.6 cm and the heights were 7.2 to 35.4 m. All trees were felled and lengths and taper diameters outside bark were measured. To measure taper diameters of heartwood and sapwood, discs were cut at irregular intervals along the stems. Heartwood and sapwood components were identified by applying methyl orange dye and quantified using image analysis. In this study we extended compatibility so that sums of estimated volumes of separate components of stems, bark, sapwood and heartwood, would equal overall tree volume estimates. In addition, taper equations were made for outside bark, inside bark and heartwood that were compatible with their respective volume equations. Parameters of five volume equations for whole stem, whole wood, bark, sapwood, and heartwood were simultaneously estimated. Compatible taper equations for whole stem, stem wood and heartwood were estimated so that they were compatible with the volume equations, thereby creating a fully compatible system. Results: Root mean squared error (RMSE) of volume models were 0.1248298 m3 for heartwood, 0.05496807 m3 for sapwood, 0.1539625 m3 for wood inside bark, 0.1108201 m3 for bark and 0.1439786 m3 for wood including bark. RMSE of taper models was 2.572765 cm for heartwood, 2.348552 cm for wood inside bark and 2.474088 cm for wood including bark. Conclusions: A compatible system of multiple taper and volume equations can be fitted through the simultaneous fitting of parameters with minimal bias and precision levels of  ± 0.055-0.154 m3 for volume equations and ± 2.35 to 2.57 cm for taper equations. Leave-one-out cross-validation of the fitted models yielded very similar levels of precision and bias to those encountered when fitting models with the entire dataset.
The Effect of microRNA on the Production of Recombinant Protein in CHO Cells and its Mechanism
Authors: Liu Hui-Ning , Dong Wei-Hua , Lin Yan , Zhang Zhao-Hui , Wang Tian-Yun
Published: March 2022

Recombinant protein production by mammalian cells is the initial step in the manufacture of many therapeutic proteins. Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells are the most common host system to produce recombinant therapeutic proteins (RTPs). However, it is still challenging to maintain high productivity ensuring the good quality of RTPs produced by CHO cells. MicroRNAs(miRNAs) are short regulatory non-coding RNAs that can regulate cellular behavior and complex phenotypes. It has been found that miRNAs can enhance the expression level of recombinant proteins in CHO cells by promoting proliferation, resisting apoptosis, and regulating metabolism. miRNAs also can affect the quality of RTPs. In this review, we will discuss the effect and mechanism of miRNA on the expression level and quality of recombinant proteins in CHO cells.
Clinical Study of 8 Cases of CHD2 Gene Mutation–Related Neurological Diseases and Their Mechanisms
Authors: Luo Xiaona , Sun Xiaoang , Wang Yilin , Lin Longlong , Yuan Fang , Wang Simei , Zhang Wenjing , Ji Xiaobing , Liu Meiyan , Wu Shengnan , Lan Xiaoping , Zhang Jie , Yan Jingbin , Zeng Fanyi , Chen Yucai
Published: March 2022

Background: The chromodomain helicase DNA-binding protein 2 (CHD2) gene, is an ATPase and part of the CHD family of chromatin remodelers. Mutations in the CHD2 gene are inherited in an autosomal-dominant manner and can lead to intellectual disability, epilepsy, and autism. We investigated the clinical characteristics of CHD2-related conditions and their possible pathogenesis.

Methods: We collected and analysed the clinical data of patients that were identified as having CHD2 mutations. Genetic testing was performed using targeted sequencing or whole-exome sequencing. We analysed the expression of CHD2 and repressor element 1-silencing transcription factor (REST) in blood samples using quantitative PCR and the conservation of the mutations. The CHD2 mutations we identified were compared with the known mutations reported in the CHD2-related literature.

Results: Eight patients with CHD2 gene mutations were analysed. Six mutations were identified; four were unreported previously (c.670C>T; c.4012A>C; c.2416dup; c.1727–1728insAT), and two were known mutations: c.5035C>T (two cases) and c.4173dup (two cases). Among these mutations, seven were de novo mutations, and one could not be determined because the parents refused genetic testing. The clinical manifestations included mild or severe intellectual disability, epilepsy, and behavioural abnormalities. Quantitative PCR showed that the CHD2 gene expression levels among the patients, parents, and the controls were not significantly different. The levels of REST gene expression in the patients were significantly higher than those of the controls; thus, mutation of the CHD2 gene led to an increase in the expression level of the REST gene. The mutations reported were all located in conserved positions in different species. Among the various medications administered for treatment, valproate showed the best results for the treatment of epilepsy caused by CHD2 gene mutation.

Conclusion: Mutation in CHD2 did not lead to a significant decrease in its expression level, indicating that the clinical phenotype was unrelated to its expression level, and the mutant protein may retain some function. Most of the mutations relatively stable. In addition, the clinical manifestations from the same mutation in the CHD2 gene were different among the known cases; this may be related to the regulation of REST or other regulatory factors.
Using Incremental Changes to Convert Lignocellulosic Feedstocks to Cellulosic Ethanol
Authors: Resch Michael G. , Emme Brandon
Published: March 2022

One billion tons of biomass feedstocks have been identified for the production of renewable biofuels and biochemicals. This is one of the key carbon feedstocks to supply energy to the transportation sector for light duty, heavy duty and aviation fuels. Utilization of lignocellulosic feedstocks supports an improved energy security by reducing demand of petroleum imports, agricultural development, job creation, and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. To date, however, operational challenges have stymied the industrial production of large volumes of lignocellulosic-based fuels and chemicals. As a result, significant research investment has been led by the United States Department of Energy to understand and improve operational reliability at pioneer cellulosic biorefineries. In this perspective article lignocellulosic conversion technologies are described that have been adopted from the starch ethanol process. The developed process culminated in successful demonstration of 1,000-h integrated runs using several feedstocks, including switchgrass, energy sorghum, and two types of corn kernel fiber. This article highlights process development that solved several of the issues that plagued—and continue to plague—many in the cellulosic sugars space such as biomass feeding into equipment, high ash content, diversified co-product value, and others.
Roles of the RANKL–RANK Axis in Immunity—Implications for Pathogenesis and Treatment of Bone Metastasis
Authors: Li Bo , Wang Pengru , Jiao Jian , Wei Haifeng , Xu Wei , Zhou Pingting
Published: March 2022

A substantial amount patients with cancer will develop bone metastases, with 70% of metastatic prostate and breast cancer patients harboring bone metastasis. Despite advancements in systemic therapies for advanced cancer, survival remains poor for those with bone metastases. The interaction between bone cells and the immune system contributes to a better understanding of the role that the immune system plays in the bone metastasis of cancer. The immune and bone systems share various molecules, including transcription factors, signaling molecules, and membrane receptors, which can stimulate the differentiation and activation of bone‐resorbing osteoclasts. The process of cancer metastasis to bone, which deregulates bone turnover and results in bone loss and skeletal-related events (SREs), is also controlled by primary cancer-related factors that modulate the intratumoral microenvironment as well as cellular immune process. The nuclear factor kappa B ligand (RANKL) and the receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa B (RANK) are key regulators of osteoclast development, bone metabolism, lymph node development, and T-cell/dendritic cell communication. RANKL is an osteoclastogenic cytokine that links the bone and the immune system. In this review, we highlight the role of RANKL and RANK in the immune microenvironment and bone metastases and review data on the role of the regulatory mechanism of immunity in bone metastases, which could be verified through clinical efficacy of RANKL inhibitors for cancer patients with bone metastases. With the discovery of the specific role of RANK signaling in osteoclastogenesis, the humanized monoclonal antibody against RANKL, such as denosumab, was available to prevent bone loss, SREs, and bone metastases, providing a unique opportunity to target RANKL/RANK as a future strategy to prevent bone metastases.
CD11c+ B Cells Participate in the Pathogenesis of Graves’ Disease by Secreting Thyroid Autoantibodies and Cytokines
Authors: Cao Yedi , Zhao Xue , You Ran , Zhang Yang , Qu Chenxue , Huang Youyuan , Yu Yang , Gong Yan , Cong Tiechuan , Zhao Enmin , Zhang Lanbo , Gao Ying , Zhang Junqing
Published: March 2022

Graves’ disease (GD) is a common autoimmune disorder with an elevation in pathogenic autoantibodies, specifically anti-thyrotropin receptor antibodies (TRAbs), which are secreted by autoreactive B cells. To date, there has been little research on self-reactive B cells in GD. In the current study, we reported that a unique B-cell subset, CD11c+B cells, was expanded in the peripheral blood (PB) of GD patients, as detected by flow cytometry. The frequency of CD11c+B cells was positively correlated with serum TRAb levels. The flow cytometry data showed that CD11c expression was higher in a variety of B-cell subsets and that CD11c+B cells presented a distinct immunophenotype compared to paired CD11c-B cells. Immunohistochemical and immunofluorescence staining indicated the presence of CD11c+CD19+B cells in lymphocyte infiltration areas of the GD thyroid. Flow cytometric analysis of PB and fine-needle aspiration (FNA) samples showed that compared to PB CD11c+B cells, CD11c+B cells in the thyroid accumulated and further differentiated. We found that CD11c+B cells from the PB of GD patients were induced to differentiate into autoreactive antibody-secreting cells (ASCs) capable of secreting TRAbsin vitro. Luminex liquid suspension chip detection data showed that CD11c+B cells also secreted a variety of cytokines, including proinflammatory cytokines, anti-inflammatory cytokines, and chemokines, which might play roles in regulating the local inflammatory response and infiltration of lymphocytes in the thyroid. In addition, we performed a chemotaxis assay in a Transwell chamber to verify that CD11c+B cells were recruited by thyroid follicular cells (TFCs)viathe CXCR3-CXCL10 axis. In conclusion, our study determined that CD11c+B cells were involved in the pathogenesis of GD in multiple ways and might represent a promising immunotherapeutic target in the future.
The Role of Ten-Eleven Translocation Proteins in Inflammation
Authors: Gerecke Christian , Egea Rodrigues Caue , Homann Thomas , Kleuser Burkhard
Published: March 2022

Ten-eleven translocation proteins (TET1-3) are dioxygenases that oxidize 5-methyldeoxycytosine, thus taking part in passive and active demethylation. TETs have shown to be involved in immune cell development, affecting from self-renewal of stem cells and lineage commitment to terminal differentiation. In fact, dysfunction of TET proteins have been vastly associated with both myeloid and lymphoid leukemias. Recently, there has been accumulating evidence suggesting that TETs regulate immune cell function during innate and adaptive immune responses, thereby modulating inflammation. In this work, we pursue to review the current and recent evidence on the mechanistic aspects by which TETs regulate immune cell maturation and function. We will also discuss the complex interplay of TET expression and activity by several factors to modulate a multitude of inflammatory processes. Thus, modulating TET enzymes could be a novel pharmacological approach to target inflammation-related diseases and myeloid and lymphoid leukemias, when their activity is dysregulated.
Complement C3a Enhances the Phagocytic Activity of B Cells Through C3aR in a Fish
Authors: Ma Zi-You , Liang Jia-Xin , Li Wen-Shuo , Sun Yuan , Wu Chang-Song , Hu Ya-Zhen , Li Jun , Zhang Yong-An , Zhang Xu-Jie
Published: March 2022

The complement system is an important part of the immune system of teleost fish. Besides, teleost B cells possess both phagocytic activity and adaptive humoral immune function, unlike mammalian B1 cells with phagocytic activity and B2 cells specific to adaptive humoral immunity. However, the cross talk between complement system and phagocytic B cells in teleost fish still requires elucidation. Here, we show that, unlike tetrapods with a singleC3gene, nineC3genes were identified from the grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella) genome, namedC3.1-C3.9. Expression analysis revealed that C3.1 is the dominant C3 molecule in grass carp, for its expression was significantly higher than that of the other C3 molecules both at the mRNA and protein levels. The C3a fragment of C3.1 (C3a.1) was determined after the conserved C3 convertase cleavage site. Structural analysis revealed that C3a.1 consists of four α-helixes, with the C-terminal region forming a long α-helix, which is the potential functional region. Interestingly, we found that the recombinant GST-C3a.1 protein and the C-terminal α-helix peptide of C3a.1 both could significantly enhance the phagocytic activity of IgM+B cells. Further study revealed that the C3a receptor (C3aR) was highly expressed in grass carp IgM+B cells, and the phagocytosis-stimulating activity of C3a.1 could be dramatically inhibited by the anti-C3aR antibodies, indicating that C3a.1 performed the stimulating function through C3aR on IgM+B cells. Taken together, our study not only uncovered the novel phagocytosis-stimulating activity of C3a, but also increased our knowledge of the cross talk between complement system and phagocytic B cells in teleost fish.
Presumed COL4A3/COL4A4 Missense/Synonymous Variants Induce Aberrant Splicing
Authors: Deng Haiyue , Zhang Yanqin , Ding Jie , Wang Fang
Published: March 2022

Background

The incorrect interpretation of missense and synonymous variants can lead to improper molecular diagnosis and subsequent faulty genetic counselling. The aim of this study was to evaluate the pathogenicity of presumed COL4A3/COL4A4 missense and synonymous variants detected by next-generation sequencing to provide evidence for diagnosis and genetic counselling.

Methods

Patients' clinical findings and genetic data were analysed retrospectively. An in vitro minigene assay was conducted to assess the effect of presumed COL4A3/COL4A4 missense and synonymous variants on RNA splicing.

Results

Five unclassified COL4A3/COL4A4 variants, which were detected in five of 343 patients with hereditary kidney diseases, were analysed. All of them were predicted to affect splicing by Human Splicing Finder. The presumed COL4A3 missense variant c.4793T > G [p. (Leu1598Arg)] resulted in a loss of alternative full-length transcript during the splicing process. The COL4A3 transcript carried synonymous variant c.765G > A [p. (Thr255Thr)], led to an in-frame deletion of exon 13. Nevertheless, variants c.3566G > A [p. (Gly1189Glu)] in COL4A3 and c.3990G > A [p. (Pro1330Pro)], c.4766C > T [p. (Pro1589Leu)] in COL4A4 exhibited no deleterious effect on splicing. Among the five patients harbouring the abovementioned COL4A3/COL4A4 variants, three patients were genetically diagnosed with autosomal recessive Alport syndrome, one patient was highly suspected of having thin basement membrane nephropathy, and the other patient was clinically diagnosed with Alport syndrome.

Conclusions

COL4A3 presumed missense variant p. (Leu1598Arg) and synonymous variant p. (Thr255Thr) affect RNA splicing, which highlights the prime importance of transcript analysis of unclassified exonic sequence variants for better molecular diagnosis and genetic counselling. Meanwhile, the reliability of splicing predictions by predictive tools for exonic substitutions needs to be improved.
Iron Overload in Chronic Kidney Disease: Less Ferritin, More T2*MRI
Authors: Nashwan Abdulqadir J. , Yassin Mohamed A. , Mohamed Ibrahim Mohamed Izham , Abdul Rahim Hanan F. , Shraim Mujahed
Published: March 2022

To date, there is no consensus on the most reliable marker of iron status in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). Serum ferritin is used routinely, although it may be a misleading marker for iron overload. The success of T2* MRI in monitoring iron overload in patients with hemoglobinopathies can be beneficial to monitoring patients with CKD.
GFAP and S100B: What You Always Wanted to Know and Never Dared to Ask
Authors: Janigro Damir , Mondello Stefania , Posti Jussi P. , Unden Johan
Published: March 2022

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a major global health issue, with outcomes spanning from intracranial bleeding, debilitating sequelae, and invalidity with consequences for individuals, families, and healthcare systems. Early diagnosis of TBI by testing peripheral fluids such as blood or saliva has been the focus of many research efforts, leading to FDA approval for a bench-top assay for blood GFAP and UCH-L1 and a plasma point-of-care test for GFAP. The biomarker S100B has been included in clinical guidelines for mTBI (mTBI) in Europe. Despite these successes, several unresolved issues have been recognized, including the robustness of prior data, the presence of biomarkers in tissues beyond the central nervous system, and the time course of biomarkers in peripheral body fluids. In this review article, we present some of these issues and provide a viewpoint derived from an analysis of existing literature. We focus on two astrocytic proteins, S100B and GFAP, the most commonly employed biomarkers used in mTBI. We also offer recommendations that may translate into a broader acceptance of these clinical tools.
Fluxomics - New Metabolomics Approaches to Monitor Metabolic Pathways
Authors: Emwas Abdul-Hamid , Szczepski Kacper , Al-Younis Inas , Lachowicz Joanna Izabela , Jaremko Mariusz
Published: March 2022

Fluxomics is an innovative -omics research field that measures the rates of all intracellular fluxes in the central metabolism of biological systems. Fluxomics gathers data from multiple different -omics fields, portraying the whole picture of molecular interactions. Recently, fluxomics has become one of the most relevant approaches to investigate metabolic phenotypes. Metabolic flux using 13C-labeled molecules is increasingly used to monitor metabolic pathways, to probe the corresponding gene-RNA and protein-metabolite interaction networks in actual time. Thus, fluxomics reveals the functioning of multi-molecular metabolic pathways and is increasingly applied in biotechnology and pharmacology. Here, we describe the main fluxomics approaches and experimental platforms. Moreover, we summarize recent fluxomic results in different biological systems.
Augmented Renal Clearance in Severe Infections—An Important Consideration in Vancomycin Dosing: A Narrative Review
Authors: Xiao Qile , Zhang Hainan , Wu Xiaomei , Qu Jian , Qin Lixia , Wang Chunyu
Published: March 2022

Vancomycin is a hydrophilic antibiotic widely used in severe infections, including bacteremia and central nervous system (CNS) infections caused by Gram-positive bacteria such as methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), coagulase-negative staphylococci and enterococci. Appropriate antimicrobial dosage regimens can help achieve the target exposure and improve clinical outcomes. However, vancomycin exposure in serum and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) is challenging to predict due to rapidly changing pathophysiological processes and patient-specific factors. Vancomycin concentrations may be decreased for peripheral infections due to augmented renal clearance (ARC) and increased distribution caused by systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS), increased capillary permeability, and aggressive fluid resuscitation. Additionally, few studies on vancomycin’s pharmacokinetics (PK) in CSF for CNS infections. The relationship between exposure and clinical response is unclear, challenging for adequate antimicrobial therapy. Accurate prediction of vancomycin pharmacokinetics/pharmacodynamics (PK/PD) in patients with high interindividual variation is critical to increase the likelihood of achieving therapeutic targets. In this review, we describe the interaction between ARC and vancomycin PK/PD, patient-specific factors that influence the achievement of target exposure, and recent advances in optimizing vancomycin dosing schedules for severe infective patients with ARC.
Modeling of Solid State Detectors Using Advanced Multi-Threading: The TCoDe and TFBoost Simulation Packages
Authors: Brundu D. , Contu A. , Cossu G. M. , Loi A.
Published: March 2022

Particle tracking for future experiments at colliders is an incredible challenge in terms of sensor technology and readout. Simulation tools are a crucial ingredient to investigate new layouts able to cope with harsh radiation conditions and, at the same time, provide valuable timing information for track finding algorithms. Detailed and numerous simulations of energy deposits as well as sensor and front-end electronics responses imply a heavy usage of computing resources. In this paper, we present two software packages that, via massive parallelization and dedicated algorithms, allow for a significant speed-up in simulation time.
Effects of Classroom-Based Resistance Training With and Without Cognitive Training on Adolescents’ Cognitive Function, On-task Behavior, and Muscular Fitness
Authors: Robinson Katie J. , Lubans David R. , Mavilidi Myrto F. , Hillman Charles H. , Benzing Valentin , Valkenborghs Sarah R. , Barker Daniel , Riley Nicholas
Published: March 2022

Aim: Participation in classroom physical activity breaks may improve children’s cognition, but few studies have involved adolescents. The primary aim of this study was to examine the effects of classroom-based resistance training with and without cognitive training on adolescents’ cognitive function.

Methods: Participants were 97 secondary school students (45.4% females, mean age 15.78 ± 0.44). Four-year 10 classes from one school were included in this four-arm cluster randomized controlled trial. Classes were randomly assigned to the following groups: sedentary control with no cognitive training, sedentary with cognitive training, resistance training without cognitive training, and resistance training with cognitive training. Sessions varied in levels of both cognitive demand and resistance training (i.e., high vs. low) and were administered three times per week for 4 weeks (12 sessions). Inhibition, cognitive flexibility, episodic memory, on-task behavior, and muscular fitness were assessed at baseline and post-test. Linear mixed models were used to examine changes within and between groups.

Results: In comparison with the control group, episodic memory improved significantly in the resistance training without cognitive training group (−9.87 units, 95% CI: −17.71 to −2.03, p = 0.014, d = 0.72). There were no group-by-time effects for inhibition or cognitive flexibility. Classroom activity breaks both with and without cognitive demand improved participants’ on-task behavior in comparison with the control and sedentary group. The resistance training programs did not lead to improvements in muscular fitness.

Conclusion: Participation in body weight resistance training without cognitive training led to selective improvements in episodic memory. No training effects were found for inhibition or cognitive flexibility. A longer study period may be necessary to induce improvements in muscular fitness and associated changes in inhibition and cognitive flexibility.

Clinical Trial Registration:https://www.anzctr.org.au/ACTRN12621001341819.aspx, Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry—ACTRN12621001341819.
Processing of Spoken Emotions in Schizophrenia: Forensic and Non-forensic Patients Differ in Emotional Identification and Integration but Not in Selective Attention
Authors: Leshem Rotem , Icht Michal , Ben-David Boaz M.
Published: March 2022

Patients with schizophrenia (PwS) typically demonstrate deficits in visual processing of emotions. Less is known about auditory processing of spoken-emotions, as conveyed by the prosodic (tone) and semantics (words) channels. In a previous study, forensic PwS (who committed violent offenses) identified spoken-emotions and integrated the emotional information from both channels similarly to controls. However, their performance indicated larger failures of selective-attention, and lower discrimination between spoken-emotions, than controls. Given that forensic schizophrenia represents a special subgroup, the current study compared forensic and non-forensic PwS. Forty-five PwS listened to sentences conveying four basic emotions presented in semantic or prosodic channels, in different combinations. They were asked to rate how much they agreed that the sentences conveyed a predefined emotion, focusing on one channel or on the sentence as a whole. Their performance was compared to that of 21 forensic PwS (previous study). The two groups did not differ in selective-attention. However, better emotional identification and discrimination, as well as better channel integration were found for the forensic PwS. Results have several clinical implications: difficulties in spoken-emotions processing might not necessarily relate to schizophrenia; attentional deficits might not be a risk factor for aggression in schizophrenia; and forensic schizophrenia might have unique characteristics as related to spoken-emotions processing (motivation, stimulation).
Intraoperative Injection of Normal Saline Through Lumbar Drainage for Transnasal Endoscopic Repair of Complex CSF Leaks
Authors: Wei Xiaoming , Zhang Fan , Qiu Yankai , Shen Hong , Ilyasova Tatiana , Liu Li
Published: March 2022

Objective

It is well known that accurate location of the leak in the operation is crucial for repairing cerebrospinal fluid leakage. The study aims to investigate the application of intraoperative injection of normal saline through lumbar drainage in repairing complex leaks.

Methods

The fistulas of all patients with CSF leak were located by computed tomography cisternography (CTC) or heavy T2 magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) before surgery. Before anesthesia, the patient underwent lumbar drainage implantation, and then 20 ml of normal saline was slowly injected through the lumbar drainage to observe the patient's response. The surgical approach was designed based on the preoperative imaging data. When the operation was near to the suspected fistula, normal saline was injected through lumbar drainage (20 ml each time) to confirm the leak location. After CSF leak repair, saline was injected again to confirm whether the repair was successfully.

Result

Of the 5 patients with complex leaks, 4 cases were repaired by transnasal endoscopy method, and 1 case was repaired by transnasal endoscopy method and epidural method. A total of 7 leaks were found during the operation. During the operation, 40–120 ml of normal saline was injected through lumbar drainage. Cauda equina neuralgia was developed in patients who received 120 ml normal saline, which was relieved by intrathecal injection of dexamethasone. During the follow-up of 3 months, 1 case suffered from brain abscess, which was controlled by vancomycin. There was no recurrence of rhinorrhea.

Conclusion

Intraoperative injection of normal saline through lumbar drainage can not only better expose the complex leak but also check the repair effect of the leak during transnasal endoscopic repair, which is effective and avoids side effects.
A Novel Prognostic Factor TIPE2 in Bladder Cancer
Authors: Jiang Yu , Zhang Zhiqiang , Wang Xian , Feng Zhenzhong , Hong Bo , Yu Dexin , Wang Yi
Published: March 2022

Objective: We sought to identify tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha-induced protein 8-like 2 (TIPE2/TNFAIP8L2) expression in bladder cancer and its relationship to clinicopathological findings and prognosis.

Methods: Immunohistochemical (IHC) staining for TIPE2 was performed on 110 archived radical cystectomy specimens. Ten high-power fields were randomly selected from each specimen to observe and record the percentage of immunoreactive cells of TIPE2 in tumor cells (grade 0–4) and the corresponding immunostaining intensity (grade 0–3). The expression score of TIPE2 was obtained by multiplying the results of the above two scores, which ranged from 0 to 12 points. The cut-off point of the sum of the scores were defined as follows: 0–3 scores were defined as negative expression (-); >3 scores were classified as positive expression, < 7, low expression, ≥7, high expression.

Results: In 110 cases, TIPE2 was stained in various degrees in bladder cancer tissues, and expressed in both nucleus and cytoplasm. 4.5% (5/110) showed negative expression, 40.9% (45/110) showed low expression, and 54.5% (60/110) showed high expression. TIPE2 expression was negatively correlated with lymph node metastasis (p = 0.004) and disease progression (p = 0.021). Survival curves were plotted to show that patients with high TIPE2 expression had a progression-free survival curve above those with negative/low TIPE2 expression (p = 0.027). In multivariate Cox proportional hazard regression analysis, TIPE2 was a protective factor for progression-free survival in bladder urothelial carcinoma (p = 0.031), pT stage (p = 0.016) was a risk factor for progression-free survival, and age was a risk factor for overall survival (p = 0.020).

Conclusion: TIPE2 may be a new biomarker to predict the disease progression and prognosis of patients with urothelial carcinoma of the bladder.
A Dynamic Distributed Deterministic Load-Balancer for Decentralized Hierarchical Infrastructures
Authors: Sioutas Spyros , Sourla Efrosini , Tsichlas Kostas , Vonitsanos Gerasimos , Zaroliagis Christos
Published: March 2022

In this work, we propose D3-Tree, a dynamic distributed deterministic structure for data management in decentralized networks, by engineering and extending an existing decentralized structure. Conducting an extensive experimental study, we verify that the implemented structure outperforms other well-known hierarchical tree-based structures since it provides better complexities regarding load-balancing operations. More specifically, the structure achieves an O(logN) amortized bound (N is the number of nodes present in the network), using an efficient deterministic load-balancing mechanism, which is general enough to be applied to other hierarchical tree-based structures. Moreover, our structure achieves O(logN) worst-case search performance. Last but not least, we investigate the structure’s fault tolerance, which hasn’t been sufficiently tackled in previous work, both theoretically and through rigorous experimentation. We prove that D3-Tree is highly fault-tolerant and achieves O(logN) amortized search cost under massive node failures, accompanied by a significant success rate. Afterwards, by incorporating this novel balancing scheme into the ART (Autonomous Range Tree) structure, we go one step further to achieve sub-logarithmic complexity and propose the ART+ structure. ART+ achieves an O(logb2logN) communication cost for query and update operations (b is a double-exponentially power of 2 and N is the total number of nodes). Moreover, ART+ is a fully dynamic and fault-tolerant structure, which supports the join/leave node operations in O(loglogN) expected WHP (with high proability) number of hops and performs load-balancing in O(loglogN) amortized cost.
Editorial for the Special Issue on “Machine Learning in Healthcare and Biomedical Application”
Authors: Sarica Alessia
Published: March 2022

In the last decade, Machine Learning (ML) has indisputably had a pervasive application in healthcare and biomedical applications [...]
Evolutionary Optimization of Spiking Neural P Systems for Remaining Useful Life Prediction
Authors: Custode Leonardo Lucio , Mo Hyunho , Ferigo Andrea , Iacca Giovanni
Published: March 2022

Remaining useful life (RUL) prediction is a key enabler for predictive maintenance. In fact, the possibility of accurately and reliably predicting the RUL of a system, based on a record of its monitoring data, can allow users to schedule maintenance interventions before faults occur. In the recent literature, several data-driven methods for RUL prediction have been proposed. However, most of them are based on traditional (connectivist) neural networks, such as convolutional neural networks, and alternative mechanisms have barely been explored. Here, we tackle the RUL prediction problem for the first time by using a membrane computing paradigm, namely that of Spiking Neural P (in short, SN P) systems. First, we show how SN P systems can be adapted to handle the RUL prediction problem. Then, we propose the use of a neuro-evolutionary algorithm to optimize the structure and parameters of the SN P systems. Our results on two datasets, namely the CMAPSS and new CMAPSS benchmarks from NASA, are fairly comparable with those obtained by much more complex deep networks, showing a reasonable compromise between performance and number of trainable parameters, which in turn correlates with memory consumption and computing time.
Design of Selective Laser Melting (SLM) Structures: Consideration of Different Material Properties in Multiple Surface Layers Resulting from the Manufacturing in a Topology Optimization
Authors: Holoch Jan , Lenhardt Sven , Revfi Sven , Albers Albert
Published: March 2022

Topology optimization offers a possibility to derive load-compliant structures. These structures tend to be complex, and conventional manufacturing offers only limited possibilities for their production. Additive manufacturing provides a remedy due to its high design freedom. However, this type of manufacturing can cause areas of different material properties in the final part. For example, in selective laser melting, three areas of different porosity can occur depending on the process parameters, the geometry of the part and the print direction, resulting in a direct interrelation between manufacturing and design. In order to address this interrelation in design finding, this contribution presents an optimization method in which the three porous areas are identified and the associated material properties are considered iteratively in a topology optimization. For this purpose, the topology optimization is interrupted in each iteration. Afterwards, the three areas as well as the material properties are determined and transferred back to the topology optimization, whereby those properties are used for the calculation of the next iteration. By using the optimization method, a design with increased volume-specific stiffness compared to a design of a standard topology optimization can be created and will be used in the future as a basis for the extension by a global strength constraint to maintain the maximum permissible stress and the minimum wall thickness.
High-Precision Anti-Interference Control of Direct Drive Components
Authors: Zheng Jieji , Jiang Xianliang , Ren Guangan , Xie Xin , Fan Dapeng
Published: March 2022

This study presents a compound control algorithm that enhances the servo accuracy and disturbance suppression capability of direct drive components (DDCs). The servo performance of DDCs is easily affected by external disturbance and the deterioration of assembly characteristics due to a lack of deceleration device. The purpose of this study is to compensate for the impact of external and internal disturbances on the system. First, a linear state space model of the system is established. Second, we analyzed the main factors restricting the performance of DDCs which includes sensor noise, friction and external disturbance. Then, a fractional-order proportional integral (FOPI) controller was used to eliminate the steady-state error caused by the time-invariable disturbance which can also improve the system’s anti-interference capability. A state-augmented Kalman filter (SAKF) was proposed to suppress the quantization noise and compensate for the time-varying disturbances simultaneously. The effectiveness of the proposed compound algorithm was demonstrated by comparative experiments, demonstrating a maximum 89.34% improvement. The experimental results show that, compared with the traditional PI controller, the FOPISAKF controller can not only improve the tracking accuracy of the system, but also enhance the disturbance suppression ability.
A Model-Free Output Feedback Control Approach for the Stabilization of Underactuated TORA System with Input Saturation
Authors: Pan Changzhong , Cui Chenchen , Zhou Lan , Xiong Peiyin , Li Zhijing
Published: March 2022

The horizontal translational oscillator with a rotational actuator (TORA) is a typical underactuated mechanical system, whose control problem is still open and theoretically challenging. At present, the existing control methods are structurally complicated and require an exact knowledge of the system parameters. Moreover, few works have considered the output feedback stabilization of the TORA system subject to practical constraints of input saturation and angular velocity unmeasurement. To address these problems, this paper proposes a novel model-free amplitude-limited control approach to stabilize the TORA system at the origin using only angle feedback. Firstly, the passivity of the horizontal TORA system is analyzed, based on which a novel Lyapunov function augmented with an auxiliary signal is constructed by taking the input saturation into account. Then, an amplitude-limited control law is derived in a straightforward manner. In order to make the control law independent of velocity feedback, the auxiliary signal is designed in terms of the ball rotational angle and an output of a dynamic system. The asymptotic stability of the entire control system is rigorously guaranteed by utilizing Lyapunov theory and LaSalle’s invariance principle. Finally, simulation results with comparisons to existing methods demonstrate the effectiveness and superiority of the proposed control approach.
Differential Physiological Response and Antioxidant Activity Relative to High-Power Micro-Waves Irradiation and Temperature of Tomato Sprouts
Authors: Radzevičius Audrius , Sakalauskienė Sandra , Dagys Mindaugas , Simniškis Rimantas , Karklelienė Rasa , Juškevičienė Danguolė , Račkienė Roma , Brazaitytė Aušra
Published: March 2022

Among the various types of stress, microwaves and temperature can induce major impacts on plant growth. There is information describing the thermal impact of microwaves on living organisms, but it is necessary to segregate the warming effect and direct impact of microwaves irradiation on plants. It was detected that High Power Microwaves (HPM) (9.3 GHz) and elevated temperature exposure upon tomato seeds and sprouts in primary ontogenetic stages showed a slightly incentive effect on plant-growing indicators such as dry mass, fresh mass, plants height, and assimilation area. Such a positive effect on plant growing parameters could be related to saccharides distribution by microwaves in seeds or plants and nutrients mobilization. Moreover, tomato plants (+R) and seeds (R) irradiation significantly reduced the content of non-structural carbohydrates (raphinose, glucose, fructose, and sucrose). Obtained results confirm that a common plant acclimatization response to various environmental elements is the concentration of secondary metabolites and antioxidants.
Integrated Pest Management of Field Crops
Authors: Bažok Renata
Published: March 2022

The Special Issue “Integrated Pest Management of Field Crops” contains eight original research articles and two review articles dealing with different aspects of IPM in some of the major field crops, including Potato [...]
Investigation into Experimental and DEM Simulation of Guide Blade Optimum Arrangement in Multi-Rotor Combine Harvesters
Authors: Liang Zhenwei , Li Jun , Liang Jianmin , Shao Yifan , Zhou Tengfei , Si Zengyong , Li Yaoming
Published: March 2022

The cleaning performance of the cleaning shoe of a multi-rotor combine harvester has proven to be poor owing to the threshed output entering the cleaning section in an uneven manner. Experimental results indicated that the arrangement of the guide blades on the return plate surface has a significant effect on the threshed output distribution. In this paper, DEM (discrete element method) simulations were carried out in the EDEM software to examine the effect of the height of the guide blade, the installation angle, and the number of guide blades on threshed output distribution before entering the cleaning shoe. Based on the simulated results under different guide blades arrangements, the optimum arrangement location was obtained. The simulation’s results were verified by a field experiment and were consistent with the experimental results. The field experiment results indicate that the cleaning performance significantly improved with the proper guide blade arrangement. The corresponding grain impurity ratio declined significantly from 1.26% to 0.67%, and the grain sieve loss ratio, with a decrease of 53.2%, was reduced from 1.11% to 0.52%.