bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Bearing Life Prediction Method Based on Parallel Multichannel Recurrent Convolutional Neural Network
Authors: Zhou Jianmin , Gao Sen , Li Jiahui , Xiong Wenhao
Published: October 2021

To extract the time‐series characteristics of the original bearing signals and predict the remaining useful life (RUL) more effectively, a parallel multichannel recurrent convolutional neural network (PMCRCNN) is proposed for the prediction of RUL. Firstly, the time domain, frequency domain, and time‐frequency domain features are extracted from the original signal. Then, the PMCRCNN model is constructed. The front of the model is the parallel multichannel convolution unit to learn and integrate the global and local features from the time‐series data. The back of the model is the recurrent convolution layer to model the temporal dependence relationship under different degradation features. Normalized life values are used as labels to train the prediction model. Finally, the RUL was predicted by the trained neural network. The proposed method is verified by full life tests of bearing. The comparison with the existing prognostics approaches of convolutional neural network (CNN) and the recurrent convolutional neural network (RCNN) models proves that the proposed method (PMCRCNN) is effective and superior in improving the accuracy of RUL prediction.
A Preliminary Study on Public Health Implications of Avian Tuberculosis in Selected Districts of the Oromia Region, Ethiopia
Authors: Debelu Tesfaye , Abunna Fufa , Kassa Gezahegne Mamo
Published: October 2021

Background. Avian tuberculosis is a zoonotic disease which remains a problem in extensive poultry production systems under which chickens scavenge for survival in unhygienic environments. Methodology. A cross-sectional study was conducted from November 2016 to June 2017 at high-land areas of Gerar Jarso and Ada’a and Boset districts located at mid and low altitudes of Oromia, Ethiopia, respectively, to assess the perception of farmers on the occurrence of avian tuberculosis in chickens and its public health implications using a semistructured questionnaire. Result. The study evidenced poor awareness of the farmers, as only 11% (10/91) of them had well-perceived occurrence of the disease in chickens and its risk of zoonosis. Conclusion. Hence, it revealed that there is poor public perception on the occurrence as well as public health implications of avian tuberculosis, demanding further studies for verification and technical interventions.
Assessment of Low Bone Mineral Density in Untreated Patients with Takayasu’s Arteritis
Authors: Mo Lingfei , Wang Jing , Ju BoMiao , Wang Yanhua , Luo Jing , Tian Juan , He Lan
Published: October 2021

Chronic inflammation affects bone metabolism and accelerates bone loss. This study is aimed at analyzing the prevalence of low bone mineral density (LBMD) in patients with untreated Takayasu’s arteritis (TA) and risk factors. Forty untreated TA patients were enrolled, including 38 premenopausal women and 2 men before 50 years old. The control group included 60 age‐ and gender‐matched healthy persons. Bone mineral density (BMD) of lumbar vertebrae and hip in patients with TA and the control group was measured by the dual‐energy X‐ray method. Serum 25OHD and β‐CTX were also measured. The lumbar BMD of TA patients (0.89 ± 0.11 g/cm2) was significantly lower than that of the healthy control (0.97 ± 0.11 g/cm2). The prevalence of LBMD at the lumbar spine (17.50%) was significantly higher than that of the control group (3.33%). However, there was no significant difference at the hip. The 25OHD of TA patients was lower than that of healthy controls, while the level of β‐CTX was higher. The levels of total cholesterol (TC), low‐density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL‐C), and high‐density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL‐C) in patients with LBMD were higher than those in patients with normal BMD. According to univariate correlation analysis, there was a significant negative correlation between LDL‐C and lumbar BMD. Binary logistic regression analysis showed that LDL‐C was an important factor affecting the occurrence of LBMD in patients with TA (OR = 25.269, P = 0.02). Our result reveals bone loss in TA patients, which hints the relationship among inflammation, lipid metabolism, and bone metabolism.
Risk Analysis and Reliability Assessment of Overhead Cranes Using Fault Tree Analysis Integrated with Markov Chain and Fuzzy Bayesian Networks
Authors: Mohammadi Heidar , Fazli Zohreh , Kaleh Hiro , Azimi Hamid Reza , Moradi Hanifi Saber , Shafiee Nasrin
Published: October 2021

Establishing an adequate level of reliability in the overhead crane operations is an important and vital principle to avoid undesirable consequences. To do this, it is appropriate to have a comprehensive approach for risk and reliability assessment of the most probable failure scenarios during overhead crane operations. In this study, fault tree analysis (FTA) in combination with fuzzy set theory, Bayesian network (BN), and Markov chain was used to evaluate the probability of top event and reliability of overhead cranes. A total of 47 basic events were identified for ladle fall in overhead cranes. The results showed that the probability of the ladle fall in the FT approach is equal to 0.0523035 and in the BN approach in the prior event is equal to 0.0273394 which is less than the FT method. Based on the values predicted by Markov chain, the reliability of the system decreases over time by 67.9% after 60 months. This study showed that the plan for ladle fall prevention should consider all influencing parameters identified by proper risk assessment methodologies.
BNT162b2 Vaccination during Pregnancy Protects Both the Mother and Infant: Anti-SARS-CoV-2 S Antibodies Persistently Positive in an Infant at 6 Months of Age
Authors: Mangat Chetna , Milosavljevic Natasa
Published: October 2021

Vaccinations are the most important intervention for controlling the ongoing coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus. BNT162b2 is an mRNA-based vaccine, which is promising and safe for use during pregnancy, as it could help prevent SARS-CoV-2 infection and its complications during pregnancy. Other vaccines, such as influenza and Tdap (tetanus toxoid, reduced diphtheria toxoid, and acellular pertussis) vaccines, provide significant protection for babies. Recent studies have shown that COVID-19 antibodies are present in newborns at birth, owing to maternal BNT162b2 vaccination during pregnancy; however, it is currently unclear how long these antibodies could protect infants from SARS-CoV-2 infection and its complications. Herein, we present the case of a preterm baby born at 33 weeks via an emergency cesarean section owing to maternal complications. The mother had received two doses of the BNT162b2 vaccine at 22 and 26 weeks of gestation. Positive anti-SARS-CoV-2 S antibodies were detected in the infant at 2 weeks, 6 weeks, 3 months, and 6 months of age. This is the first case report in which BNT162b2 vaccination during pregnancy yielded a persistent immune response in an infant at 6 months of age. The declining anti-SARS-CoV-2 S antibody titers noted at 6 months of age emphasize the need for the vaccination of children at this age.
On the Multiplicity of Solutions for the Discrete Boundary Problem Involving the Singular
ϕ
-Laplacian
Authors: Qiu Zihua
Published: October 2021

In this paper, we consider the multiplicity of solutions for a discrete boundary value problem involving the singular

ϕ

-Laplacian. In order to apply the critical point theory, we extend the domain of the singular operator to the whole real numbers. Instead, we consider an auxiliary problem associated with the original one. We show that, if the nonlinear term oscillates suitably at the origin, there exists a sequence of pairwise distinct nontrivial solutions with the norms tend to zero. By our strong maximum principle, we show that all these solutions are positive under some assumptions. Moreover, the solutions of the auxiliary problem are solutions of the original one if the solutions are appropriately small. Lastly, we give an example to illustrate our main results.
Session Recommendation Model Based on Context‐Aware and Gated Graph Neural Networks
Authors: Li Dan , Gao Qian
Published: October 2021

The graph neural network (GNN) based approach has been successfully applied to session‐based recommendation tasks. However, in the face of complex and changing real‐world situations, the existing session recommendation algorithms do not fully consider the context information in user decision‐making; furthermore, the importance of context information for the behavior model has been widely recognized. Based on this, this paper presents a session recommendation model based on context‐aware and gated graph neural networks (CA‐GGNNs). First, this paper presents the session sequence as data of graph structure. Second, the embedding vector representation of each item in the session graph is obtained by using the gated graph neural network (GGNN). In this paper, the GRU in GGNN is expanded to replace the input matrix and the state matrix in the conventional GRU with input context captured in the session (e.g., time, location, and holiday) and interval context (representing the proportion of the total session time of each item in the session). Finally, a soft attention mechanism is used to capture users’ interests and preferences, and a recommendation list is given. The CA‐GGNN model combines session sequence information with context information at each time. The results on the open Yoochoose and Diginetica datasets show that the model has significantly improved compared with the latest session recommendation methods.
The Efficacy of Moxibustion on the Serum Levels of CXCL1 and β-EP in Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis
Authors: Tao Siyu , Wang Xue , Liao Chenxi , Xiong Yan , Tang Jie , Jiang Nannan , Li Yuan , Hu Xinyue , Shuai Rouxian , Wang Yueyue , Wu Ping
Published: October 2021

Objective. This study aims to evaluate the efficacy of moxibustion on joint swelling and pain and the levels of C-X-C motif chemokine ligand 1 (CXCL1), β-endorphin (β-EP) in serum of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients and to investigate the anti-inflammatory and analgesic mechanism of moxibustion on improving RA. Methods. Sixty-eight patients with RA were randomly and equally classified into the control and treatment groups. The control group was treated with routine drug therapy, while the treatment group received routine drug therapy and moxibustion. Both groups were treated for eight weeks. The symptoms and laboratory indicators of RA patients were compared in the two groups before and after intervention. Results. Sixty-one patients completed the study: four patients dropped out from the treatment group and three from the control group. Trial endpoints were change (∆) in symptoms, measured by Ritchie’s articular index (RAI), swollen joint count (SJC), and laboratory indicators, measured by the level of CXCL1, β-EP, tumor necrosis factor-a (TNF-α), and interleukin-1β (IL-1β). ∆RAI, ∆SJC, ∆CXCL1, ∆β-EP, ∆TNF-α, and ∆IL-1β in the treatment group were superior to the control group (13.50 [14.50] versus 6.00 [13.00] in ∆RAI, 4.00 [3.00] versus 2.00 [4.00] in ∆SJC, 0.04 ± 0.79 ng/mL versus -0.01 ± 0.86 ng/mL in ∆CXCL1, -2.43 [5.52] pg/mg versus -0.04 [4.09] pg/mg in ∆β-EP, 3.45 [5.90] pg/mL versus 1.55 [8.29] pg/mL in ∆TNF-α, and 6.15 ± 8.65 pg/mL versus 1.28 ± 8.51 pg/mL in ∆IL-1β; all

P

 < 0.05). Conclusion. Moxibustion can improve the joint swelling and pain symptoms in patients with RA, which may be related to the fact that moxibustion can reduce the release of inflammatory factors in patients with RA and downregulate the level of CXCL1 and increase the level of β-EP at the same time. This trial is registered with ChiCTR-IOR-17012282.
Antitamper Image Watermarking Based on Cellular Network Topology for IoT‐Themed Mobile Forensics
Authors: Xie Xiao-zhu , Chang Ching-Chun , Yang Zhong-Liang , Li Li
Published: October 2021

The Internet of Things (IoT) connects physical and digital worlds with mobile devices, accompanied by a surge in cybersecurity issues. With the rapid adoption of mobile devices, mobile forensics emerges as a new interdisciplinary field that concerns many forms of sabotage and cybercrime in the context of mobile computing. One of the most common cyberattacks is tampering. Digital watermarking is a tamper‐evident technique used to protect data integrity. In this paper, we present an antitamper image watermarking scheme designed for mobile communications with low computational cost. A reference matrix based on cellular network topology is introduced to guide the watermark embedding and extraction processes. This reference matrix serves as a lookup table to reduce computational complexity, thereby enabling efficient implementation on mobile devices. Our scheme is aimed at offering high accuracy in detecting and localizing tampered regions. We also achieve a high watermarking capacity while leaving the visual quality of the carrier images nearly unharmed. Experimental results validate the effectiveness of our scheme against various types of simulated forgery including cropping and copy/paste attacks.
[Retracted] Study on DTN Routing Protocol of Vehicle Ad Hoc Network Based on Machine Learning
Authors: Liang Hua , Shang Yanhong , Wang Sha
Published: October 2021

The vehicle‐mounted self‐organizing network is a part of the MANET network. It is placed between the roadside vehicle and the fixed communication equipment. It can serve as a hub for road vehicles and can enable multihorsepower wireless mechanisms to exchange data between vehicles. This article is aimed at studying the DTN routing protocol based on machine learning in the vehicle self‐organizing network. When data is forwarded, the node will determine the forwarding route selection according to its own coordinate information, the coordinate information of neighboring nodes, and the coordinate information of the destination node. Usually, the purpose is for the geographic coordinates of the node to be stored in the data packet. And data packets are periodically transmitted between nodes on each network. So that when you publish your own coordinate nodes, you can update the location information of nearby nodes at any time. This paper proposes that routing technology has become one of the most important challenges in vehicle self‐organization, and there are many reasons for this. These reasons include frequent changes in the network topology and fast‐moving mobile nodes. The experimental results in this paper show that more than 67% of the network data is obtained through the Gawk data extraction tool to quantify GPSR performance indicators and obtain the average driving speed of the current vehicle node. When increasing, the average end‐to‐end transmission delay of the GPSR routing protocol increases, and the average transmission rate decreases.
Stem Cell Therapy and Exercise for Treatment of Intervertebral Disc Degeneration
Authors: Li Bo , Yang Yunmei , Wang Lan , Liu Guanghua
Published: October 2021

As part of the motor system, intervertebral disc (IVD) is a complicated tissue with multiple components. The degeneration of IVD may result in low back pain (LBP), which strongly impairs quality of life. Various causes are related to the degeneration of IVD, including cell senescence, hydration lost, and inflammation. Stem cells founded in different tissues have attracted the interest of the researchers and clinicians to study the implication of these cells in the treatment for tissue injury and degeneration. In this report, we will review the study of stem cells in the treatment for IVD degeneration. On the other hand, the effect of exercise on IVD degeneration and the relationship between IVD degeneration and musculoskeletal disorders like sarcopenia are discussed.
Influence of Upper Seam Extraction on Abutment Pressure Distribution during Lower Seam Extraction in Deep Mining
Authors: Wang Feng , Jie Zeqi , Ma Bo , Zhu Weihao , Chen Tong
Published: October 2021

Pressure‐relief coal mining provides an effective way to decrease stress concentration in deep mining and ensures mining safety. However, there is currently a lack of research and field verification on the pressure‐relief efficiency and influencing factors during upper seam extraction on the lower seam. In order to make up for this deficiency, in this study, field measurements were conducted in panel Y485, which has a maximum depth of 1030 m and is partially under the goaf of the upper 5# seam in the Tangshan coal mine, China, and evolution of advanced abutment pressure was analyzed. Numerical simulations were conducted to study of influence of key strata on advanced abutment pressure. Influence mechanisms of the upper seam extraction on the advanced abutment pressure distribution during lower seam extraction were revealed. The results indicate that the distribution of advanced abutment stress is influenced by the key strata in the overlying strata. The key strata above the upper coal seam were fractured due to the upper coal seam mining, and the advanced abutment stress was only influenced by the key strata between the two seams during lower coal seam mining. When key strata were present between two seams, the extraction of the lower seam still faces potential dynamic disasters after the extraction of the upper seam. In this case, it would be necessary to fracture the key strata between the two seams in advance for the purpose of mining safety. Key strata in the overlying strata of the 5# seam were fractured during extraction, and advanced abutment pressure was only influenced by the key strata located between the two mined seams. The influence distance of advanced abutment pressure in panel Y485 decreased from 73 m to 38 m, and the distance between the peak advanced abutment pressure and the panel decreased from 29 m to 20.5 m, achieving a pronounced pressure‐relief effect.
circSLC30A7 Inhibits Hepatocellular Carcinoma Cell Proliferation via the miR-767-5p/FBXW7/NOTCH1 Axis
Authors: Yu Xiaotian , Zhang Yun , Jiang Chao , Zhan Feng , Shen Zhenwei , Shen Zhenghai , Zhang Feng
Published: October 2021

Circular RNAs, noncoding RNAs, have attracted much attention in various human tumor research fields. They regulate the development of various human cancers via microRNA sponges. This study aimed to assess the molecular mechanism of circSLC30A7 in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). In our study, we identified that circSLC30A7 was significantly downregulated in HCC cell lines and tissues. Furthermore, gain and loss function experiments were conducted to elucidate the biological functions of circSLC30A7 in HCC cell lines. Mechanistically, circSLC30A7 sponged miR-767-5p, inhibiting the expression of its downstream protein, FBXW7. In summary, this study revealed that circSLC30A7 is an essential tumor suppressor that inhibits HCC tumorigenesis through the miR-767-5p/FBXW7/NOTCH1 axis. Taken together, circSLC30A7 reduces HCC malignancy and can be a biomarker for HCC management.
Effects of Curcumin on Aging: Molecular Mechanisms and Experimental Evidence
Authors: Bahrami Afsane , Montecucco Fabrizio , Carbone Federico , Sahebkar Amirhossein
Published: October 2021

Aging is characterized by a progressive inability to maintain homeostasis, self‐repair, renewal, performance, and fitness of different tissues throughout the lifespan. Senescence is occurring following enormous intracellular or extracellular stress stimuli. Cellular senescence serves as an antiproliferative process that causes permanent cell cycle arrest and restricts the lifespan. Senescent cells are characterized by terminal cell cycle arrest, enlarged lysosome, and DNA double‐strand breaks as well as lipofuscin granularity, senescence‐associated heterochromatin foci, and activation of DNA damage response. Curcumin, a hydrophobic polyphenol, is a bioactive chemical constituent of the rhizomes of Curcuma longa Linn (turmeric), which has been extensively used for the alleviation of various human disorders. In addition to its pleiotropic effects, curcumin has been suggested to have antiaging features. In this review, we summarized the therapeutic potential of curcumin in the prevention and delaying of the aging process.
[Retracted] Effects of Novel Material Field Effect Transistor for Heterogeneous Energy and Traffic‐Aware Secure Applications
Authors: Ambika Bhuvaneswari C. , Kanmani Ruby E. D. , Manjunathan A. , Balamurugan R. , Jenopaul P. , Tizazu Belachew Zegale
Published: October 2021

The advent of the automated technological revolution has enabled the Internet of Things to rejuvenate, revolutionize, and redeem the services of sensors. The recent development of microsensor devices is distributed in a real‐world terrestrial environment to sense various environmental changes. The energy consumption of the remotely deployed microsystems depends on its utilization efficiency. Improper utilization of sensor nodes’ heterogeneity could lead to uneven energy consumption and load imbalance across the network, which will degrade the performance of the network. The proposed heterogeneous energy and traffic aware (HETA) considers the key parameters such as delay, throughput, traffic load, energy consumption, and life span. The residual energy and a minimum distance between the base station and cluster members are taken into consideration for the cluster head selection. The probability of hitting data traffic has been utilized to analyse energy and traffic towards the base station. The role of the sensor node has been realized and priority‐based data forwarding are also proposed. As a result, the heterogeneous energy and traffic aware perform well in balancing traffic towards the base station, which is analysed in terms of maximum throughput and increase in a lifetime of heterogeneous energy networks more than 5000 rounds, and the algorithm outperforms 34.5% of nodes are alive with transmissible energy. The proposed research also endorses unequal clustering and minimum energy consumption. We have modeled our proposed research using various p‐type junctionless nanowire FET without doping injunctions. The materials used in this analysis were silicon (Si), germanium (Ge), indium phosphide (InP), gallium arsenide (GaAs), and Al(x)Ga(1−x)As. The dimensions of the p‐type cylindrical nanowire channel were 25 nm long and 10 nm in diameter.
Research and Design of Distributed IoT Water Environment Monitoring System Based on LoRa
Authors: Chen Wei , Hao Xiao , Lu JianRong , Yan Kui , Liu Jin , He ChenYu , Xu Xin
Published: October 2021

In order to solve the problems of high labor cost, long detection period, and low degree of information in current water environment monitoring, this paper proposes a lake water environment monitoring system based on LoRa and Internet of Things technology. The system realizes remote collection, data storage, dynamic monitoring, and pollution alarm for the distributed deployment of multisensor node information (water temperature, pH, turbidity, conductivity, and other water quality parameters). Moreover, the system uses STM32L151C8T6 microprocessor and multiple types of water quality sensors to collect water quality parameters in real time, and the data is packaged and sent to the LoRa gateway remotely by LoRa technology. Then, the gateway completes the bridging of LoRa link to IP link and forwards the water quality information to the Alibaba Cloud server. Finally, end users can realize the water quality control of monitored water area by monitoring management platform. The experimental results show that the system has a good performance in terms of real‐time data acquisition accuracy, data transmission reliability, and pollution alarm success rate. The average relative errors of water temperature, pH, turbidity, and conductivity are 0.31%, 0.28%, 3.96%, and 0.71%, respectively. In addition, the signal reception strength of the system within 2 km is better than ‐81 dBm, and the average packet loss rate is only 94%. In short, the system’s high accuracy, high reliability, and long distance characteristics meet the needs of large area water quality monitoring.
Specific Cytokine Profiles Predict the Severity of Influenza A Pneumonia: A Prospectively Multicenter Pilot Study
Authors: Xie Yu , Yu Yan , Zhao Lili , Ning Pu , Luo Qiongzhen , Zhang Ying , Yin Lu , Zheng Yali , Gao Zhancheng
Published: October 2021

Purpose. Studying the cytokine profiles in influenza A pneumonia could be helpful to better understand the pathogenesis of the disease and predict its prognosis. Patients and Methods. Patients with influenza A pneumonia (including 2009H1N1, H1N1, H3N1, and H7N1) hospitalized in six hospitals from January 2017 to October 2018 were enrolled (ClinicalTrials.gov ID, NCT03093220). Sputum samples were collected within 24 hours after admission and subsequently analyzed for cytokine profiles using a Luminex assay. Results. A total of 35 patients with influenza A pneumonia were included in the study. The levels of IL‐6, IFN‐γ, and IL‐2 were increased in patients with severe influenza A pneumonia (n =10) (P = 0.002, 0.009, and 0.008, respectively), while those of IL‐5, IL‐25, IL‐17A, and IL‐22 were decreased compared to patients with nonsevere pneumonia (P = 0.0001, 0.009, 0.0001, and 0.006, respectively). The levels of IL‐2 and IL‐6 in the nonsurvivors (n = 5) were significantly higher than those in the survivors (P = 0.043 and 0.0001, respectively), while the levels of IL‐5, IL‐17A, and IL‐22 were significantly lower (P = 0.001, 0.012, and 0.043, respectively). The IL‐4/IL‐17A ratio has the potential to be a good predictor (AUC = 0.94, P < 0.05, sensitivity = 88.89%, specificity = 92.31%) and an independent risk factor (OR, 95% CI: 3.772, 1.188‐11.975; P < 0.05) for intermittent positive pressure ventilation (n = 9). Conclusion. Significant dysregulation of cytokine profiles can be observed in patients with severe influenza A pneumonia.
Dislocation after Posterior Stabilized Primary Total Knee Replacement: A Rare Complication in Four Cases
Authors: Spierenburg W. , Mutsaerts E. L. A. R. , van Raay J. J. A. M.
Published: October 2021

Introduction. Dislocation of a total knee arthroplasty is a rare complication that has rarely been described, while the total knee arthroplasty is frequently performed. From literature, we know patient-related factors, like obesity, neuropsychiatric disease, and severe valgus or varus deformity, are associated with higher risk of dislocation. We show our cases for awareness of the risk factors for surgeons. Case Presentations. We present four patients with a dislocation after a total knee arthroplasty. We compare these case reports with previous literature and show the most important risk factors for these dislocations. In our cases, three of them suffered from obesity, which possibly has contributed to the dislocation. Three patients did have instability which emphasizes the importance of ligament balancing while performing a total knee replacement. In all cases, an exchange of the polyethylene liner was performed. Conclusion. Implant-related factors and surgical technique as well as patient-related factors can contribute to this uncommon complication. Obesity, neuropsychiatric disorders, and a severe valgus or varus deformity are important patient-related risk factors. Our cases show these risk factors too. Some of these risk factors were encountered as well as other comorbidity factors. Such risk factors must be taken into consideration when deciding whether to perform a total knee arthroplasty. This stresses the importance of patient education and shared decision-making before performing a total knee replacement.
Anticoagulation with Argatroban in a Patient with Heparin-Induced Thrombocytopenia and Renal Insufficiency Undergoing Orthotopic Heart Transplantation
Authors: Green Michael Stuart , Mathew Johann , Hoffman Christopher Ryan , Liu Henry
Published: October 2021

Unfractionated heparin is the anticoagulant of choice for cardiac surgery that requires cardiopulmonary bypass. However, it can cause serious side effects like heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT), an immune-mediated process where antibodies are directed against heparin and platelet 4 complexes. In such cases, alternative pharmacologic strategies are implemented to facilitate safe bypass conditions. A woman with severe decompensated heart failure was heparinized for intra-aortic balloon pump and subsequent LVAD placement. On day 6, a fall in platelets from 113,000 to 26,000 was noted. She was diagnosed with HIT. Heparin was discontinued and replaced with an argatroban infusion for the duration of her care until heart transplantation was completed. We review the mechanism, diagnosis, and complications of HIT. We discuss cardiopulmonary bypass and its relation to heparin, HIT, and heparin alternatives. We discuss argatroban’s relevant pharmacology, clinical use, advantages, and disadvantages.
Role of the Emphysema Index Combined with the Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Assessment Test Score in the Evaluation of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
Authors: Ding Qi , Wei Xia , Li Jie , Gao Yan-Zhong , Xu Shu-Di , Yu Nan , Mi Jiu-Yun , Mi Bai-Bing , Guo You-Min
Published: October 2021

Background. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of the emphysema index (EI) in distinguishing chronic bronchitis (CB) from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and its role, combined with the COPD Assessment Test (CAT) score, in the evaluation of COPD. Methods. A total of 92 patients with CB and 277 patients with COPD were enrolled in this study. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were analyzed to evaluate whether the EI can preliminarily distinguish chronic bronchitis from COPD. Considering the heterogeneity of COPD, there might be missed diagnosis of some patients with bronchitis type when differentiating COPD patients only by EI. Therefore, patients with COPD were classified according to the CAT score and EI into four groups: Group 1 (EI < 16%, CAT < 10), Group 2 (EI < 16%, CAT ≥ 10), Group 3 (EI ≥ 16%, CAT < 10), and Group 4 (EI ≥ 16%, CAT ≥ 10). The records of pulmonary function and quantitative computed tomography findings were retrospectively analyzed. Results. ROC curve analysis showed that EI = 16.2% was the cutoff value for distinguishing COPD from CB. Groups 1 and 2 exhibited significantly higher maximal voluntary ventilation (MVV) percent predicted (pred), forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1)/forced vital capacity (FVC), maximal midexpiratory flow of 25–75% pred, carbon monoxide-diffusing capacity (DLCO)/alveolar ventilation (VA), FEV1 % predp≤0.013, and maximal expiratory flow 50% pred (allp<0.05) than Group 4. FEV1/FVC and DLCO/VA were significantly lower in Group 3 than in Group 2 (p=0.002andp<0.001, respectively). The residual volume/total lung capacity was higher in Group 3 than in Groups 1 and 2p<0.05. Conclusions. The combination of EI and CAT was effective in the evaluation of COPD.
COVID-19 infodemic and Indonesian emotional and mental health state
Authors: Syakurah Rizma Adlia , Linardi Violantina , Bonita Ilsyafitri
Published: October 2021

The currently ongoing coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic induced built-up fear and anxiety notably with non-stop surge information through all media. Understanding of emotional and mental health impact during this state is urgently needed for further intervention. This study aimed to identify the current pattern of depression, anxiety, stress and, emotional disorder presented in the society and the association between Indonesian news-seeking behaviour and their mental health state during the COVID-19 outbreak. A cross-sectional study with 1,508 respondents was carried out with online questionnaire consisted of depression, anxiety, and stress scale (DASS) and SRQ-20 as assessment tools that was distributed through social media platforms from April 2−June 8, 2020. Data was analyzed using Mann Whitney, Kruskal Wallis, Post Hoc with Bonferroni, and Chi-square test (p<0.05). As much as 20.7% of respondents were depressed, 36.9% had anxiety, 25.5% had been stress, and 27.6% had emotional disorder. Most respondents actively searched about COVID-19 especially through television and social media platforms such as Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. Type of news and level of trust in COVID-19 news were the factors that influenced emotional and mental health state (p=<0.05). Providing mental health support in a timely and appropriate manner through a hotline team, media, or multidisciplinary team, including mental health professional is an important thing that the Indonesian government must do to help the Indonesian people through this pandemic.
Barreiras sanitárias e sua contribuição à formação médica: um relato de experiência
Authors: Razera Ricardo José , Paula Ana Maria Alves de , Camilo Rafael Pimenta , Alves Gisele , Oliveira Ana Carolina Prioste de , Paulino Danilo Borges
Published: October 2021

Introdução: Tendo em vista o enfrentamento da pandemia da COVID-19, em um município mineiro foram realizadas ações de Educação em Saúde em barreiras sanitárias, através da comunicação entre estudantes da saúde (principalmente estudantes de medicina) e a comunidade. Objetivo: Relatar a experiência de estudantes de Medicina em trabalho voluntário em barreiras sanitárias no contexto da pandemia de COVID-19 e refletir sobre sua contribuição para a formação médica. Método: Relato de experiência que reflete a atuação de dois estudantes de Medicina em barreiras sanitárias na cidade de Uberaba-MG, durante os meses de março e abril de 2020, em quatro oportunidades distintas. Nas ocasiões, foi avaliada a existência de sintomas no(a) motorista e nos(as) passageiros(as) e ações de prevenção e promoção da saúde foram compartilhadas. Posteriormente, foi elaborado o presente relato, refletindo com base na literatura sobre as potencialidades e limitações da vivência para a prática da Educação em Saúde e para a formação médica. Resultados: Identificou-se que foi possível edificar uma aprendizagem compartilhada entre diversas áreas da saúde e a população. Contribuiu-se, assim, para a sedimentação do conhecimento teórico dos estudantes através de uma prática interprofissional consoante às Diretrizes Curriculares Nacionais de 2014 para o curso de Medicina. Além disso, o conceito de “Educação em Saúde” foi contemplado a partir do empoderamento dos(as) cidadãos(ãs) alcançados(as) com a ação, especialmente em assuntos como higiene, isolamento social, acesso à saúde, principais sintomas, vacinação e, sobretudo, desconstrução de fake news, perfazendo uma dinâmica extremamente exitosa. Conclusão: A experiência contribuiu com a Educação em Saúde da população ecom a formação dos(as) voluntários(as), principalmente estudantes de medicina, através do diálogo e da construção de saberes com responsabilidade social.
Assessment of clinical and laboratorial parameters and the usefulness of the Brain Natiuretic Peptide as a predictor for successful extubation in the ICU
Authors: Martins Maria Aparecida Vitagliano , El-Fakhouri Silene , Conterno Luciene de Oliveira , Sampaio Thie Uehara
Published: October 2021

Introduction: Identification of predictors for successful extubation in an Intensive Care Unity and use of Brain Natriuretic Peptides (BNP) in predicting mechanical ventilation weaning and extubation outcome.Aims: Evaluation of the effect of variables such as patient´s age, severity score, use of sedation, use of vasoactive drugs, hydric balance, blood gas data, days under mechanical ventilation, the occurrence of adverse events and plasma BNP levels on the success of extubation.Method: A prospective cohort study of adult patients admitted to a 12- bed-general ICU, from April 1st 2016 to August 10th 2017, under mechanical ventilation for > 24 h, accompanied until discharge or death. Clinical variables were analyzed and BNP was assessed before initiation of Spontaneous Breathing Trial (SBT) and then again before extubation. Statistical Analysis: a descriptive and comparative data analysis, univariate and logistic regressionanalysis for verification of variables independently related to successful extubation (p < 0.05).Results: Study of 105 patients, mean age of 53.9 ± 19.8 years, 81% of success in extubation; the overall mortality rate of 11.4%; variables associated to successful extubation: age, APACHE II, SAPS II, days of hospitalization before ICU admittance, days under mechanical ventilation, days of stay in ICU and occurrence of nosocomial infection (p < 0.05); BNP levels were lower in patients with successful extubation although not statistically significant;multivariate analysis showed that patient’s age and days of hospitalization before ICU admittance were each independently linked to extubation failure; APACHE II score and days of hospitalization before ICU admittance were each independently associated to risk of death.Conclusion: Despite being older and with higher severity scores, patients had a higher success rate in extubation than found in similar studies. However, the mortality rate in cases of failed extubation was higher. Data obtained was in agreement to studies that suggested that patient´s age, severity score, days of hospitalization before ICU admittance, days of stay in ICU, days under MV and infection occurrence were all variables associated as much extubation failure as to risk of death. A direct association between BNP levels and successful extubation and the usefulness of assessing BNP in the conduction of WMV was not confirmed.
Complete blood count alterations in COVID-19 patients
Authors: Palladino Mariangela
Published: October 2021

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic represents a scientific and social crisis. One of the main unmet needs for coronavirus disease 2019 is its unpredictable clinical course, which can rapidly change in an irreversible outcome. COVID-19 patients can be classified into mild, moderate, and severe. Several haematological parameters, such as platelets, white blood cell total count, lymphocytes, neutrophils, (together with neutrophil-lymphocyte and platelet-lymphocyte ratio), and haemoglobin were described to be associated with COVID-19 infection and severity. The purpose of these review is to describe the current state of the art about complete blood count alterations during COVID-19 infection, and to summarize the crucial role of some haematological parameters during the course of the disease. Decreased platelet, lymphocyte, haemoglobin, eosinophil, and basophil count, increased neutrophil count and neutrophil-lymphocyte and platelet-lymphocyte ratio have been associated with COVID-19 infection and a worse clinical outcome. Our study adds some novelty about the identification of effective biomarkers of progressive disease, and might be helpful for diagnosis, prevention of complications, and effective therapy.
Spiradiclis yuanyangensis (Rubiaceae), a new species from Yunnan, China
Authors: WU LEI , LIU CHENG , SONG XIAO-FEI , CHEN YOU-SHENG
Published: October 2021

Spiradiclis yuanyangensis is described and illustrated from Yunnan Province in southwestern China. It is morphologically most similar to S. petrophila H. S. Lo, but differs from the latter mainly by its stem pubescent, corolla tube 4–5 mm (vs. ca. 2 mm) long, and short-styled corolla inside without a villous ring. A detailed description, line drawings and colour photographs are provided, together with notes on conservation status.
Using Conditional Nonlinear Optimal Perturbation to Generate Initial Perturbations in ENSO Ensemble Forecasts
Authors: Zhou Qian , Chen Lei , Duan Wansuo , Wang Xu , Zu Ziqing , Li Xiang , Zhang Shouwen , Zhang Yunfei
Published: October 2021

Using the latest operational version of the ENSO forecast system from the National Marine Environmental Forecasting Center (NMEFC) of China, ensemble forecasting experiments are performed for El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) events that occurred from 1997 to 2017 by generating initial perturbations of the conditional nonlinear optimal perturbation (CNOP) and Climatically relevant Singular Vector (CSV) structures. It is shown that when the initial perturbation of the leading CSV structure in the ensemble forecast of the CSVs-scheme is replaced by those of the CNOP structure, the resulted ensemble ENSO forecasts of the CNOP+CSVs-scheme tend to possess a larger spread than the forecasts obtained with the CSVs-scheme alone, leading to a better match between the root mean square error and the ensemble spread, a more reasonable Talagrand diagram and an improved Brier skill score (BSS). All these results indicate that the ensemble forecasts generated by the CNOP+CSVs-scheme can improve both the accuracy of ENSO forecasting and the reliability of the ensemble forecasting system. Therefore, ENSO ensemble forecasting should consider the effect of nonlinearity on the ensemble initial perturbations to achieve a much higher skill. It is expected that fully nonlinear ensemble initial perturbations can be sufficiently yielded to produce ensemble forecasts for ENSO, finally improving the ENSO forecast skill to the greatest possible extent. The CNOP will be a useful method to yield fully nonlinear optimal initial perturbations for ensemble forecasting.
Calculation of Spectral Optical Constants Using Combined Ellipsometric and Reflectance Methods for Smooth and Rough Bulk Samples
Authors: Fortin Gilles
Published: October 2021

Spectra of the optical constants n and k of a substance are often deduced from spectroscopic measurements, performed on a thick and homogeneous sample, and from a model used to simulate these measurements. Spectra obtained for n and k using the ellipsometric method generally produce polarized reflectance simulations in strong agreement with the experimental measurements, but they sometimes introduce significant discrepancies over limited spectral ranges, whereas spectra of n and k obtained with the single-angle reflectance method require a perfectly smooth sample surface to be viable. This paper presents an alternative method to calculate n and k. The method exploits both ellipsometric measurements and s-polarized specular reflectance measurements, and compensates for potential surface scattering effects with the introduction of a specularity factor. It is applicable to bulk samples having either a smooth or a rough surface. It provides spectral optical constants that are consistent with s-polarized reflectance measurements. Demonstrations are performed in the infrared region using a glass slide (smooth surface) and a pellet of compressed ammonium sulfate powder (rough surface).
What brings contracting back in-house? A synthesis of international evidence
Authors: Lu Jiahuan , Hung Wan-Ju
Published: October 2021

Contracting back-in has received growing scholarly attention, but there is little empirical consensus in the literature as to what drives governments to bring previously contracted work back in-house and to what extent. This study performs a meta-analysis to synthesize 332 effect sizes from 16 existing studies concerning the antecedents of contracting back-in across different countries. The analysis indicates that contracting back-in is a market management strategy driven by low levels of market competition, high proportions of for-profit contractors, insufficient cost savings, and inadequate contract management. Meanwhile, contracting back-in is a political move shaped by left-wing political ideology and employee opposition to outsourcing. Environmental factors including unemployment rate, population size, and population density also play a role. This study provides empirical generalizations of previous results and contributes a more coherent knowledge base for future studies.

Points for practitioners

Our analysis indicates that contracting back-in is driven by a mix of both pragmatic and political factors, but pragmatic factors related to contracting management complexity shape contracting back-in in a more forceful way. Our findings also suggest that factors pushing governments to contract out do not necessarily have an impact on contracting back-in. Government decisions to contract out and contract back-in may be based on different considerations.
Social work with refugees: Examining social workers’ role and practice in times of crisis in Greece
Authors: Teloni Dimitra-Dora , Dedotsi Sofia , Lazanas Alexis , Telonis Aristeidis
Published: October 2021

Since the so-called ‘refugee crisis’ in 2015–2016, the hostile EU migration policies, the restricted access of refugees to welfare and neoliberalism have put social work in a rather difficult position. This self-funded quantitative research was carried out from June to August 2018 in Greece, addressing social workers working with refugees in various organizations, such as NGOs, public institutions and EU-funded projects. This article will present and discuss social work’s day-to-day practice with refugees and the social workers’ role as human rights defenders and claimants of social justice in the context of systematic violation of the human rights of refugees.
Variety Effects in Mobile Advertising
Authors: Rafieian Omid , Yoganarasimhan Hema
Published: October 2021

Mobile app users are often exposed to a sequence of short-lived marketing interventions (e.g., ads) within each usage session. This study examines how an increase in the variety of ads shown in a session affects a user's response to the next ad. The authors leverage the quasi-experimental variation in ad assignment in their data and propose an empirical framework that accounts for different types of confounding to isolate the effects of a unit increase in variety. Across a series of models, the authors consistently show that an increase in ad variety in a session results in a higher response rate to the next ad: holding all else fixed, a unit increase in variety of the prior sequence of ads can increase the click-through rate on the next ad by approximately 13%. The authors then explore the underlying mechanism and document empirical evidence for an attention-based account. The article offers important managerial implications by identifying a source of interdependence across ad exposures that is often ignored in the design of advertising auctions. Furthermore, the attention-based mechanism suggests that platforms can incorporate real-time attention measures to help advertisers with targeting dynamics.
Democracy, reputation for resolve, and civil conflict
Authors: Crisman-Cox Casey
Published: October 2021

There is a long-running disagreement about how regime type affects a country’s ability to project resolve. Specifically, there is an open question about whether being a democracy helps or hurts a country’s reputation for resolve. I consider this question by directly estimating a state’s reputation for resolve using a unified theoretical and statistical approach. To be precise, I derive an empirical model from a dynamic game of continuous-time bargaining where each side fights in order to build a reputation for resolve. I then fit this model using data on the duration and termination of civil conflicts between 1946 and 2009. I find that while governments tend to have stronger reputations for resolve than the rebels they face, democracies are seen as much less likely to be resolved both prior to and during conflict than their autocratic counterparts. Likewise, democracies are more likely to end a conflict by making a policy change in favor of the rebels than autocracies. Despite these differences, both democracies and autocracies experience a discrete increase in their reputations for resolve once conflict begins, with democracies receiving a much larger boost. As such, these findings contrast with a large literature on democratic credibility theory, while simultaneously providing evidence consistent with some of the logic behind democratic credibility theory.