bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Pelatihan Menghitung Anggaran Biaya Atap Rangka Baja Di Kelurahan Sanua Kota Kendari
Authors: Masdiana Masdiana , Sulha Sulha , Mursidi Baso , Machmud Sultan , Arsyad LM Nurrahmad , M.Rizal M.Rizal
Published: March 2022

Materials technology have developing rapidly especially since steel is used to replace wood as themain construction material This is not directly proportional to the skills of construction workers.Planning for material requirements and implementing occupational safety (SMK3) when doing workis less. So the Implementing Team carried out training activities at Sanua Sub district, Wesst-KendariDistrict, Kendari City, Southeast of Sulawesi. Team were training on how to calculate the roof trussbudget quickly and easily and they can design the material requirements so which are not materialwasted. The results of the training include increasing knowledge of calculating the cost budget sothat it can compare the cost of using steel which is not too expensive when using wood, especially interms of strength and maintenance and other result was the implementing SMK3 was important whenthey were working. Other results of the training were increased their knowledge of how to planbudgets quicly and Increasing awareness of the implementation of SMK3 is very important.Keywords: Flood adaptive settlement mockups.
Bimbingan Teknis Pembuatan Paving Block Pada Tukang Bangunan Di Kelurahan Wuawua Kecamatan Wuawua Kota Kendari
Authors: Umar Muhammad Zakaria , Faslih Arman , Halim Halim , Al-Ikhsan Ainussalbi
Published: March 2022

Mitra pengabdian ini terdiri dari RT 05 dan RT 06. Kedua mitra ini terletak di Jl. Chairul Anwar,Lorong Durian Dalam, Kelurahan Wuawua, Kecamatan Wuawua, Kota Kendari. Permasalahanpermasalahanmitrasebagaiberikut:(1)keterampilanmembangunparatukangbangunandiwilayahRT05 dan RT 06 masih bersifat konvensional; (2) para tukang bangunan di wilayah ini hanyamampu membuat bahan-bahan bangunan seperti kusen pintu, kusen jendela, dan konstruksi rangkaatap. Permasalahan-permasalahan ini dikhawatirkan pengetahuan tukang lokal mandeg dan dapatmempengaruhi pendapatan para tukang. Kegiatan pengabdian ini ditujukan untuk memberikanbimbingan teknis pembuatan paving block kepada para tukang bangunan lokal. Metode pelaksanaankegiatan ini dilakukan dengan cara penyuluhan dan praktik. Hasil dari kegiatan ini adalahpengetahuan pembuatan paving block para tukang bangunan meningkat setelah mengikuti bimbinganteknis.Kata Kunci: Tukang bangunan, paving block.
Pelatihan Pembuatan Video Pembelajaran Berbasis Powerpoint dan Soal Evaluasi Pembelajaran Menggunakan Google Forms Bagi Guru-Guru SMK Satria Kendari Pada Masa Pandemi Covid-19
Authors: Wibawa Gusti Ngurah Adhi , Makkulau Makkulau , Agusrawati Agusrawati , Yahya Irma
Published: March 2022

Kebijakan belajar dari rumah akibat pandemi Covid-19 mengakibatkan proses pembelajaran tidak dilakukan secara tatap muka. Kondisi ini mengakibatkan perlu inovasi dalam penggunaan media pembelajaran dan evaluasi pembelajaran yang dilakukan secara non tatap muka. Pengabdian kepada masyarakat ini bertujuan untuk melatih guru-guru SMK Satria Kendari cara membuat video pembelajaran menggunakan Powerpoint dan membuat soal evaluasi pembelajaran menggunakan Google Form. Dari hasil pelatihan dan pendampingan oleh tim pengabdian kepada peserta, ada perubahan kemampuan peserta dalam membuat video pembelajaran dan soal evaluasi. Jika sebelum pelatihan mereka membuat slide powerpoint tidak dalam bentuk video dan soal dibuat secara manual, maka setelah pelatihan mereka dapat membuat media pembelajaran dalam bentuk video yang dibuat dalam Powerpoint dan peserta dapat membuat soal melalui Google Form dan bagaimana cara melakukan rekapitulasi nilai yang sudah tersedia di Google Drive. Dari hasil evaluasi pelaksanaan pelatihan, dengan skor yang diberikan peserta sebesar 96 persen mengindikasikan bahwa peserta menunjukkan reaksi positif yang tinggi terhadap pelaksanaan pelatihan. Kata Kunci: covid-19, media pembelajaran, powerpoint, evaluasi pembelajaran, google forms PENDAHULUAN Kebijakan belajar di rumah akibat pandemik Covid-19 mengakibatkan proses pembelajaran dilakukan sec
ANALISIS KINERJA PENDAMPING DESA DALAM PROGRAM PEMBANGUNAN DESA DI KABUPATEN KOLAKA
Authors: Rakhmadi Moch Aldi , Bahtiar Bahtiar , Jopang Jopang
Published: March 2022

Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengetahui dan menganalisis kinerja pendamping desa dalam program pembangunan Desa di Kabupaten Kolaka. Penelitian ini menggunakan pendekatan kualitatif dengan informan sebanyak 13 orang. Pemilihan informan dilakukan secara purposive. Informan penelitian terdiri dari Sekretaris Dinas Pemberdayaan Masyarakat dan Desa Kabupaten Kolaka, Kepala Bidang Kelembagaan dan Peningkatan Kapasitas Dinas Pemberdayaan Masyarakat dan Desa Kabupaten Kolaka, 2 orang Tenaga Ahli Pemberdayaan Masyarakat, 3 orang Pendamping Pemberdayaan, 3 orang Camat dan 3 orang Kepala Desa. data dikumpulkan melalui metode wawancara dan studi dokumen. Pengolahan data dilakukan dengan teknik kualitatif deskriptif. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan kinerja Pendamping Desa dalam Program Pembangunan di Kabupaten Kolaka jika ditinjau dari aspek kualitas, kuantitas, efektivitas, kemandirian dan komitmen kerja telah berlangsung dengan baik, namun dari aspek ketepatan waktu belum terlaksana dengan baik. Hal ini disebabkan oleh kondisi geografis wilayah dampingan yang bervariasi, perencanaan, pelaksanaan dan pelaporan kegiatan serta perubahan RKPDes dan APBDes di Desa tidak sesuai dengan kalender tahunan Dana Desa.Kata Kunci : Kinerja, Pendamping Desa, Pembangunan
OPTIMALISASI PELAYANAN ADMINISTRASI KEPENDUDUKAN PADA DINAS KEPENDUDUKAN DAN PENCATATAN SIPIL KABUPATEN KOLAKA
Authors: Bahri Bahri , Gunawan Gunawan , Sulsalman Sulsalman
Published: March 2022

Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mendeskripsikan dan menganalisis optimalisasi pelayanan administrasi kependudukan pada Dinas Kependudukan dan Catatan Sipil Kabupaten Kolaka.  Penelitian ini menggunakan pendekatan kualitatif dengan informan yang dipilih secara purposive sampling yang berjumlah sebanyak 7 orang. data dalam penelitian ini diperoleh melalui wawancara, observasi, dan dokumentasi, data yang peroleh tersebut kemudian dianalisis secara kualitatif melalui analisis kualitatif model interaktif yang tediri dari reduksi data, penyajian data dan penarikan kesimpulan. Hasil penelitian ini menunjukkan bahwa Optimalisasi pelayanan administrasi publik pada Dinas Kependudukan dan Cacatan Sipil Kabupaten Kolaka dilakukan dengan peningkatan anggaran pada organisasi, penerapan value for money, penyediaan insentif berupa TTP bagi pegawai sesuai dengan beban kerja yang diberikan. Serta peningkatan kompetensi pegawai yang dapat ditingkatkan melalui pelatihan-pelatihan baik itu yang diselenggarakan oleh daerah, provinsi maupun pemerintah pusat, selain itu juga peningkatan kompotensi pegawai dapat dilakukan melalui pendidikan formal.Kata Kunci: Optimalisasi, Administrasi Kependudukan, Kinerja Pegawai
EFEKTIVITAS KEBIJAKAN PENGENDALIAN TRANSPORTASI DALAM RANGKA PENCEGAHAN PENYEBARAN COVID-19 PADA MODA TRANSPORTASI DARAT DALAM KOTA DI KOTA PEKANBARU
Authors: Agustina Sri , As’ari Hasim
Published: March 2022

Tujuan penelitian ini adalah untuk menganalisis efektivitas kebijakan pengendalian transportasi sebagai upaya untuk pencegahan penyebaran covid-19. Penelitian ini menggunakan metode penelitian deskriptif dengan pendekatan kualitatif. Yaitu menganalisis data yang terkumpul dengan cara mendeskripsikannya secara lengkap dan realistis yang dituangkan dalam bentuk tabel kemudian dideskripsikan dalam bentuk kata-kata secara detail sehingga lebih mudah untuk dipahami. Hasil penelitian ini menunjukkan bahwa efektivitas kebijakan pengendalian transportasi di Kota Pekanbaru belum berjalan efektif, karena masih terdapat kendala dalam pelaksanaannya dilapangan.  Kata kunci: Efektivitas, pengendalian transportasi, kebijakan, covid-19
The Role of IgA in Chronic Upper Airway Disease: Friend or Foe?
Authors: Sánchez Montalvo Alba , Gohy Sophie , Rombaux Philippe , Pilette Charles , Hox Valérie
Published: March 2022

Chronic upper airway inflammation is amongst the most prevalent chronic disease entities in the Western world with prevalence around 30% (rhinitis) and 11% (rhinosinusitis). Chronic rhinitis and rhinosinusitis may severely impair the quality of life, leading to a significant socio-economic burden. It becomes more and more clear that the respiratory mucosa which forms a physiological as well as chemical barrier for inhaled particles, plays a key role in maintaining homeostasis and driving disease. In a healthy state, the mucosal immune system provides protection against pathogens as well as maintains a tolerance toward non-harmful commensal microbes and benign environmental substances such as allergens. One of the most important players of the mucosal immune system is immunoglobulin (Ig) A, which is well-studied in gut research where it has emerged as a key factor in creating tolerance to potential food allergens and maintaining a healthy microbiome. Although, it is very likely that IgA plays a similar role at the level of the respiratory epithelium, very little research has been performed on the role of this protein in the airways, especially in chronic upper airway diseases. This review summarizes what is known about IgA in upper airway homeostasis, as well as in rhinitis and rhinosinusitis, including current and possible new treatments that may interfere with the IgA system. By doing so, we identify unmet needs in exploring the different roles of IgA in the upper airways required to find new biomarkers or therapeutic options for treating chronic rhinitis and rhinosinusitis.
A Biofabrication Strategy for a Custom-Shaped, Non-Synthetic Bone Graft Precursor with a Prevascularized Tissue Shell
Authors: Moss Sarah M. , Ortiz-Hernandez Monica , Levin Dmitry , Richburg Chris A. , Gerton Thomas , Cook Madison , Houlton Jeffrey J. , Rizvi Zain H. , Goodwin Paul C. , Golway Michael , Ripley Beth , Hoying James B.
Published: March 2022

Critical-sized defects of irregular bones requiring bone grafting, such as in craniofacial reconstruction, are particularly challenging to repair. With bone-grafting procedures growing in number annually, there is a reciprocal growing interest in bone graft substitutes to meet the demand. Autogenous osteo(myo)cutaneous grafts harvested from a secondary surgical site are the gold standard for reconstruction but are associated with donor-site morbidity and are in limited supply. We developed a bone graft strategy for irregular bone-involved reconstruction that is customizable to defect geometry and patient anatomy, is free of synthetic materials, is cellularized, and has an outer pre-vascularized tissue layer to enhance engraftment and promote osteogenesis. The graft, comprised of bioprinted human-derived demineralized bone matrix blended with native matrix proteins containing human mesenchymal stromal cells and encased in a simple tissue shell containing isolated, human adipose microvessels, ossifies when implanted in rats. Ossification follows robust vascularization within and around the graft, including the formation of a vascular leash, and develops mechanical strength. These results demonstrate an early feasibility animal study of a biofabrication strategy to manufacture a 3D printed patient-matched, osteoconductive, tissue-banked, bone graft without synthetic materials for use in craniofacial reconstruction. The bone fabrication workflow is designed to be performed within the hospital near the Point of Care.
Engineered Bacterial Cellulose Nanostructured Matrix for Incubation and Release of Drug-Loaded Oil in Water Nanoemulsion
Authors: Di Natale Concetta , De Gregorio Vincenza , Lagreca Elena , Mauro Francesca , Corrado Brunella , Vecchione Raffaele , Netti Paolo Antonio
Published: March 2022

Bacterial cellulose (BC) is a highly pure form of cellulose produced by bacteria, which possesses numerous advantages such as good mechanical properties, high chemical flexibility, and the ability to assemble in nanostructures. Thanks to these features, it achieved a key role in the biomedical field and in drug delivery applications. BC showed its ability to modulate the release of several drugs and biomolecules to the skin, thus improving their clinical outcomes. This work displays the loading of a 3D BC nanonetwork with an innovative drug delivery nanoemulsion system. BC was optimized by static culture of SCOBY (symbiotic colony of bacteria and yeast) and characterized by morphological and ultrastructural analyses, which indicate a cellulose fiber diameter range of 30–50 nm. BC layers were then incubated at different time points with a nanocarrier based on a secondary nanoemulsion (SNE) previously loaded with a well-known antioxidant and anti-inflammatory agent, namely, coenzyme-Q10 (Co-Q10). Incubation of Co-Q10–SNE in the BC nanonetwork and its release were analyzed by fluorescence spectroscopy.
Molecular Characterization of Differentiated-Resistance MSC Subclones by Single-Cell Transcriptomes
Authors: Stucky Andres , Gao Li , Li Shengwen Calvin , Tu Lingli , Luo Jun , Huang Xi , Chen Xuelian , Li Xiaoqing , Park Tiffany H. , Cai Jin , Kabeer Mustafa H. , Plant Ashley S. , Sun Lan , Zhang Xi , Zhong Jiang F.
Published: March 2022

Background: The mechanism of tumorigenicity potentially evolved in mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) remains elusive, resulting in inconsistent clinical application efficacy. We hypothesized that subclones in MSCs contribute to their tumorgenicity, and we approached MSC-subclones at the single-cell level.

Methods: MSCs were cultured in an osteogenic differentiation medium and harvested on days 12, 19, and 25 for cell differentiation analysis using Alizarin Red and followed with the single-cell transcriptome.

Results: Single-cell RNA-seq analysis reveals a discrete cluster of MSCs during osteogenesis, including differentiation-resistant MSCs (DR-MSCs), differentiated osteoblasts (DO), and precursor osteoblasts (PO). The DR-MSCs population resembled cancer initiation cells and were subjected to further analysis of the yes associated protein 1 (YAP1) network. Verteporfin was also used for YAP1 inhibition in cancer cell lines to confirm the role of YAP1 in MSC--involved tumorigenicity. Clinical data from various cancer types were analyzed to reveal relationships among YAP1, OCT4, and CDH6 in MSC--involved tumorigenicity. The expression of cadherin 6 (CDH6), octamer-binding transcription factor 4 (OCT4), and YAP1 expression was significantly upregulated in DR-MSCs compared to PO and DO. YAP1 inhibition by Verteporfin accelerated the differentiation of MSCs and suppressed the expression of YAP1, CDH6, and OCT4. A survey of 56 clinical cohorts revealed a high degree of co-expression among CDH6, YAP1, and OCT4 in various solid tumors. YAP1 inhibition also down-regulated HeLa cell viability and gradually inhibited YAP1 nuclear localization while reducing the transcription of CDH6 and OCT4.

Conclusions: We used single-cell sequencing to analyze undifferentiated MSCs and to discover a carcinogenic pathway in single-cell MSCs of differentiated resistance subclones.
Tenogenic Induction From Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells Unveils the Trajectory Towards Tenocyte Differentiation
Authors: Yoshimoto Yuki , Uezumi Akiyoshi , Ikemoto-Uezumi Madoka , Tanaka Kaori , Yu Xinyi , Kurosawa Tamaki , Yambe Shinsei , Maehara Kazumitsu , Ohkawa Yasuyuki , Sotomaru Yusuke , Shukunami Chisa
Published: March 2022

The musculoskeletal system is integrated by tendons that are characterized by the expression of scleraxis (Scx), a functionally important transcription factor. Here, we newly developed a tenocyte induction method using induced pluripotent stem cells established from ScxGFP transgenic mice by monitoring fluorescence, which reflects a dynamic differentiation process. Among several developmentally relevant factors, transforming growth factor-beta 2 (TGF-β2) was the most potent inducer for differentiation of tenomodulin-expressing mature tenocytes. Single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) revealed 11 distinct clusters, including mature tenocyte population and tenogenic differentiation trajectory, which recapitulated the in vivo developmental process. Analysis of the scRNA-seq dataset highlighted the importance of retinoic acid (RA) as a regulatory pathway of tenogenic differentiation. RA signaling was shown to have inhibitory effects on entheseal chondrogenic differentiation as well as TGF-β2-dependent tenogenic/fibrochondrogenic differentiation. The collective findings provide a new opportunity for tendon research and further insight into the mechanistic understanding of the differentiation pathway to a tenogenic fate.
Progress of CRISPR-Cas13 Mediated Live-Cell RNA Imaging and Detection of RNA-Protein Interactions
Authors: Cao Huake , Wang Yuechen , Zhang Ning , Xia Siyuan , Tian Pengfei , Lu Li , Du Juan , Du Yinan
Published: March 2022

Ribonucleic acid (RNA) and proteins play critical roles in gene expression and regulation. The relevant study increases the understanding of various life processes and contributes to the diagnosis and treatment of different diseases. RNA imaging and mapping RNA-protein interactions expand the understanding of RNA biology. However, the existing methods have some limitations. Recently, precise RNA targeting of CRISPR-Cas13 in cells has been reported, which is considered a new promising platform for RNA imaging in living cells and recognition of RNA-protein interactions. In this review, we first described the current findings on Cas13. Furthermore, we introduced current tools of RNA real-time imaging and mapping RNA-protein interactions and highlighted the latest advances in Cas13-mediated tools. Finally, we discussed the advantages and disadvantages of Cas13-based methods, providing a set of new ideas for the optimization of Cas13-mediated methods.
Surface-Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy Substrates: Plasmonic Metals to Graphene
Authors: Mhlanga Nikiwe , Ntho Thabang A. , Chauke Hleko , Sikhwivhilu Lucky
Published: March 2022

Surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS), a marvel that uses surfaces to enhance conventional Raman signals, is proposed for a myriad of applications, such as diagnosis of diseases, pollutants, and many more. The substrates determine the SERS enhancement, and plasmonic metallic nanoparticles such as Au, Ag, and Cu have dominated the field. However, the last decades have failed to translate SERS prototypes into real-life applications. Irreproducibility on the SERS signal that stems from the roughened SERS substrates is the main causative factor for this observation. To mitigate irreproducibility several two-dimensional (2-D) substrates have been sought for use as possible alternatives. Application of 2-D graphene substrates in Raman renders graphene-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (GERS). This account used density functional theory (DFT) substantiated with experimental Raman to compare the enhancement capabilities of plasmonic Au nanoparticles (SERS), graphene substrate (GERS), and coupling of the two SERS and GERS substrates. The DFT also enabled the study of the SERS and GERS systems molecular orbital to gain insight into their mechanisms. The amalgamation of the SERS and GERS occurrence, i.e., graphene doped with plasmonic metallic substrates showed a pronounced enhancement and matched the Au-driven enhancement emanating from both electromagnetic and charge transfer SERS and GERS mechanisms.
A Stoichiometric Solvent-Free Protocol for Acetylation Reactions
Authors: Valentini Francesca , Galloni Pierluca , Brancadoro Diana , Conte Valeria , Sabuzi Federica
Published: March 2022

Considering the remarkable relevance of acetylated derivatives of phenols, alcohols, and aryl and alkyl thiols in different areas of biology, as well as in synthetic organic chemistry, a sustainable solvent-free approach to perform acetylation reactions is proposed here. Acetylation reactions are classically performed using excess of acetic anhydride (Ac2O) in solvent-free conditions or by eventually working with stoichiometric amounts of Ac2O in organic solvents; both methods require the addition of basic or acid catalysts to promote the esterification. Therefore, they usually lead to the generation of high amounts of wastes, which sensibly raise the E-factor of the process. With the aim to develop a more sustainable system, a solvent-free, stoichiometric acetylation protocol is, thus, proposed. The naturally occurring phenol, thymol, can be converted to the corresponding—biologically active—ester with good yields, in the presence of 1% of VOSO4. Interestingly, the process can be efficiently adopted to synthesize other thymyl esters, as well as to perform acetylation of alcohols and aryl and alkyl thiols. Remarkably, a further improvement has been achieved replacing Ac2O with its greener alternative, isopropenyl acetate (IPA).
A Stable Core–Shell Si@SiOx/C Anode Produced via the Spray and Pyrolysis Method for Lithium-Ion Batteries
Authors: Li Xuelei , Zhang Wenbo , Wang Xiaohu , Teng Wanming , Nan Ding , Dong Junhui , Bai Liang , Liu Jun
Published: March 2022

In the critical situation of energy shortage and environmental problems, Si has been regarded as one of the most potential anode materials for next-generation lithium-ion batteries as a result of the relatively low delithiation potential and the eminent specific capacity. However, a Si anode is subjected to the huge volume expansion–contraction in the charging–discharging process, which can touch off pulverization of the bulk particles and worsens the cycle life. Herein, to reduce the volume change and improve the electrochemical performance, a novel Si@SiOx/C anode with a core–shell structure is designed by spray and pyrolysis methods. The SiOx/C shell not only ensures the structure stability and proves the high electrical conductivity but also prevents the penetration of electrolytes, so as to avoid the repetitive decomposition of electrolytes on the surface of Si particle. As expected, Si@SiOx/C anode maintains the excellent discharge capacity of 1,333 mAh g−1 after 100 cycles at a current density of 100 mA g−1. Even if the current density reaches up to 2,000 mA g−1, the capacity can still be maintained at 1,173 mAh g−1. This work paves an effective way to develop Si-based anodes for high-energy density lithium-ion batteries.
Therapeutic Potential of Natural Plants Against Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease: Targeting the Interplay Between Gut Microbiota and Bile Acids
Authors: Sun QinMei , Xin Xin , An ZiMing , Hu YiYang , Feng Qin
Published: March 2022

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) remains a common disease with a significant health and economic burden worldwide. The gut microbiota (GM) and bile acids (BAs), which play important roles in the gut-liver axis, have been confirmed to jointly participate in the development of NAFLD. GM not only regulate bile acids’ synthesis, transport, and reabsorption by regulating other metabolites (such as trimetlyl amine oxide, butyrate), but also regulate dehydrogenation, dehydroxylation and desulfurization of bile acids. Meanwhile, disordered bile acids influence the gut microbiota mainly through promoting the bacterial death and lowering the microbial diversity. Although weight loss and lifestyle changes are effective in the treatment of NAFLD, the acceptability and compliance of patients are poor. Recently, increasing natural plants and their active ingredients have been proved to alleviate NAFLD by modulating the joint action of gut microbiota and bile acids, and considered to be promising potential candidates. In this review, we discuss the efficacy of natural plants in treating NAFLD in the context of their regulation of the complex interplay between the gut microbiota and bile acids, the crosstalk of which has been shown to significantly promote the progression of NAFLD. Herein, we summarize the prior work on this topic and further suggest future research directions in the field.
False Redemption—The Narrative Pattern of Korean Art Cinema
Authors: Bai Song Xu
Published: March 2022

Korean art cinema has an undeniable han favor, which is considered scholarly as the most characteristic aesthetic category of Korea. The iconic auteurs who pushed Korean brands to the international stages, such as Park Chan-wook, Kim Ki-duk, and Lee Chang Dong, did not only gain their fame with their han films, but also prompted the dominated style, which is the han motif. This article extracted the common narrative pattern of the internationally acclaimed Korean art films by comparing and reading the films under the assumed pattern of false redemption. The parallel Christian redemption is a good supplement for the better understanding of false redemption. The false redemption is the most popular and effective pattern for expressing the han motif.
Prevalence of Pulmonary Embolism and Deep Venous Thromboembolism in Patients With Acute Exacerbation of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Han Weihong , Wang Minghang , Xie Yang , Ruan Huanrong , Zhao Hulei , Li Jiansheng
Published: March 2022

Background

Acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AECOPD) increases the risk of pulmonary embolism (PE) and deep venous thrombosis (DVT). AECOPD combined with PE and DVT poses challenges for treatment and management. This necessitates prevention and management to estimate the overall prevalence of PE and DVT among patients with AECOPD and to identify the risk factors.

Methods

We searched the PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Library databases from their inception to January 9, 2021 and extracted the data from the included studies. The risk of bias was assessed for each study. We separately calculated the prevalence of PE and DVT in patients with AECOPD. Subgroup analysis and meta-regression analyses were performed to determine the sources of heterogeneity. Furthermore, we assessed the publication bias.

Results

The meta-analysis included 20 studies involving 5,854 people. The overall prevalence of PE and DVT among patients with AECOPD was 11% (95% CI: 0.06–0.17) and 9% (95% CI: 0.06–0.12), respectively. Subgroup analysis demonstrated that the prevalence of PE among patients with AECOPD was 12, 2, 7, and 16% in the European, South-East Asia, Western Pacific, and Eastern Mediterranean regions, respectively, and the DVT was 10, 9, 9, and 4%, respectively. The prevalence of PE among patients with AECOPD aged ≥ 70 and <70 years old was 6 and 15%, respectively, and the DVT was 8 and 9%, respectively. The prevalence of PE among patients with AECOPD diagnosed within 48 h and other times (beyond 48 h or not mentioned) was 16 and 6%, respectively, and DVT was 10 and 7%, respectively.

Conclusion

The pooled prevalence of PE and DVT among patients with AECOPD was insignificantly different between the different age groups and the WHO regions. However, the early diagnosis was associated with a higher prevalence of PE. Clinicians and the public need to further improve the awareness of prevention and management for PE and DVT among patients with AECOPD.

Systematic Review Registration

PROSPERO, identifier CRD42021260827.
Combined Electron Microscopy Approaches for Arterial Glycocalyx Visualization
Authors: Chevalier Laurence , Selim Jean , Castro Celia , Cuvilly Fabien , Baste Jean-Marc , Richard Vincent , Pareige Philippe , Bellien Jeremy
Published: March 2022

Mainly constituted of glycosaminoglycans and proteoglycans, the glycocalyx is anchored in the plasma membrane, covering, in particular, the extracellular face of the arterial endothelium. Due to its complex three-dimensional (3D) architecture, the glycocalyx interacts with a wide variety of proteins, contributing to vascular permeability, the flow of mechanotransduction, and the modulation of local inflammatory processes. Alterations of glycocalyx structure mediate the endothelial dysfunction and contribute to the aggravation of peripheral vascular diseases. Therefore, the exploration of its ultrastructure becomes a priority to evaluate the degree of injury under physiopathological conditions and to assess the impact of therapeutic approaches. The objective of this study was to develop innovative approaches in electron microscopy to visualize the glycocalyx at the subcellular scale. Intravenous perfusion on rats with a fixing solution containing aldehyde fixatives enriched with lanthanum ions was performed to prepare arterial samples. The addition of lanthanum nitrate in the fixing solution allowed the enhancement of the staining of the glycocalyx for transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and to detect elastic and inelastic scattered electrons, providing complementary qualitative information. The strength of scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was used on resin-embedded serial sections, allowing rapid and efficient large field imaging and previous correlative TEM observations for ultrastructural fine details. To demonstrate the dynamic feature of the glycocalyx, 3D tomography was provided by dual-beam focus-ion-beam-SEM (FIB-SEM). These approaches allowed us to visualize and characterize the ultrastructure of the pulmonary artery glycocalyx under physiological conditions and in a rat pulmonary ischemia-reperfusion model, known to induce endothelial dysfunction. This study demonstrates the feasibility of combined SEM, TEM, and FIB-SEM tomography approaches on the same sample as the multiscale visualization and the identification of structural indicators of arterial endothelial glycocalyx integrity.
MCMTC: A Pragmatic Framework for Selecting an Experimental Design to Inform the Development of Digital Interventions
Authors: Nahum-Shani Inbal , Dziak John J. , Wetter David W.
Published: March 2022

Advances in digital technologies have created unprecedented opportunities to deliver effective and scalable behavior change interventions. Many digital interventions include multiple components, namely several aspects of the intervention that can be differentiated for systematic investigation. Various types of experimental approaches have been developed in recent years to enable researchers to obtain the empirical evidence necessary for the development of effective multiple-component interventions. These include factorial designs, Sequential Multiple Assignment Randomized Trials (SMARTs), and Micro-Randomized Trials (MRTs). An important challenge facing researchers concerns selecting the right type of design to match their scientific questions. Here, we propose MCMTC – a pragmatic framework that can be used to guide investigators interested in developing digital interventions in deciding which experimental approach to select. This framework includes five questions that investigators are encouraged to answer in the process of selecting the most suitable design: (1) Multiple-component intervention: Is the goal to develop an intervention that includes multiple components; (2) Component selection: Are there open scientific questions about the selection of specific components for inclusion in the intervention; (3) More than a single component: Are there open scientific questions about the inclusion of more than a single component in the intervention; (4) Timing: Are there open scientific questions about the timing of component delivery, that is when to deliver specific components; and (5) Change: Are the components in question designed to address conditions that change relatively slowly (e.g., over months or weeks) or rapidly (e.g., every day, hours, minutes). Throughout we use examples of tobacco cessation digital interventions to illustrate the process of selecting a design by answering these questions. For simplicity we focus exclusively on four experimental approaches—standard two- or multi-arm randomized trials, classic factorial designs, SMARTs, and MRTs—acknowledging that the array of possible experimental approaches for developing digital interventions is not limited to these designs.
Performance Assessment of the Cloud for Prototypical Instant Computing Approaches in Geoscientific Hazard Simulations
Authors: Behrens Jörn , Schulz Arne , Simon Konrad
Published: March 2022

Computing forecasts of hazards, such as tsunamis, requires fast reaction times and high precision, which in turn demands for large computing facilities that are needed only in rare occasions. Cloud computing environments allow to configure largely scalable on-demand computing environments. In this study, we tested two of the major cloud computing environments for parallel scalability for relevant prototypical applications. These applications solve stationary and non-stationary partial differential equations by means of finite differences and finite elements. These test cases demonstrate the capacity of cloud computing environments to provide scalable computing power for typical tasks in geophysical applications. As a proof-of-concept example of an instant computing application for geohazards, we propose a workflow and prototypical implementation for tsunami forecasting in the cloud. We demonstrate that minimal on-site computing resources are necessary for such a forecasting environment. We conclude by outlining the additional steps necessary to implement an operational tsunami forecasting cloud service, considering availability and cost.
Hydrothermal Vent Complexes Control Seepage and Hydrocarbon Release on the Overriding Plate of the Tyrrhenian-Ionian Subduction System (Paola Basin)
Authors: Rovere Marzia , Mercorella Alessandra , Gamberi Fabiano , Zgur Fabrizio
Published: March 2022

Active fluid seeps have been described in a wide range of geological environments and geodynamic contexts, which include continental shelves of non-volcanic passive margins and accretionary wedges. Fluids seeping in hybrid volcanic-sedimentary basins, characterized by the presence of magmatic intrusive complexes, have always received less attention. We detected and imaged dozens of distinct gas flares, as high as 700 m, on the continental slope of the Paola Basin in the southeastern Tyrrhenian Sea, at 550–850 m water depth. The sedimentary basin is surrounded by Pleistocene active and inactive volcanoes and volcanic-intrusive complexes, which formed in the back-arc basin of the Calabrian subduction zone, in response to subduction-induced mantle flow. Gas flares develop above pockmarks, craters and mud flows that form over and along the scarps of mound structures and correspond to seismic zones of free gas accumulation in the sub-seafloor. Here, methane-derived siderite shows enrichment in δ13C and δ18O isotopes likely related to methanogenesis and intermittent venting of deep-sourced CO2. Multichannel seismic reflection data showed that the gas flares develop in correspondence of doming and diapirism apparently originating from the top of the Messinian evaporites and nearby magmatic sills, that are present in the lower part of the Plio-Quaternary succession. These diapiric structures can be related to seafloor hydrothermal vent complexes fed by the igneous intrusions. Our data suggest that the vent complexes acted as fluid migration pathways and gas conduits, which at times are bounded by deep-rooted normal faults, leading to post-explosive near-surface microbial activity and seep carbonate formation. Fluids being mobilised by magmatism in the study area include: hydrocarbons and hydrothermal fluids generated at depth, interstitial water expelled during formation of polygonal faults. The close spatial correlation between seafloor seep manifestations, fluid migration pathways in the sub-surface involving part of the Messinian units and igneous features indicates that magmatic activity has been the main driver of fluid flow and can have a long-term effect in the southern Tyrrhenian Sea.
Improvements of Sea Fog Forecasting Based on CMA-TYM
Authors: Huang Bin , Zhang Jin , Cao Yuenan , Gao Xiaoyu , Ma Suhong , Sun Chenghu
Published: March 2022

Based on the operational version of the China Meteorological Administration Typhoon Model (CMA-TYM, formerly known as GRAPES_TYM), a series of numerical tests are conducted by optimizing the boundary layer parameterization scheme, vertical resolution, and boundary conditions. Instead of the sea surface temperature (SST) from the Global Forecast System (GFS) model, more accurate daily SST data reflecting the daily SST variation are used as the boundary condition. The new SST dataset is capable of representing the key points in the area, including the low coastal SST related to upwelling, the intrusion of the Yellow Sea (YS) Warm Current, and the ocean front between the YS and the East China Sea. An analysis of the performances of two boundary layer parameterization schemes (the Yonsei University scheme and the Medium-Range Forecast scheme) in characterizing turbulent heat exchange reveals that the former can more accurately reflect offshore turbulence and forecast the fog area. By increasing the number of vertical layers of the model to 68 and reducing the height of the bottom layer to approximately 10 m, the model presents a better performance in simulating the rapid formation and dissipation of sea fog. With the above improvements, the equitable threat score (ETS) for the hindcasting of eleven sea fog cases in the spring of 2018 increases by 61%, mainly due to the increase in the correctly forecasted fog area.
Prediction Method of TBM Tunneling Parameters Based on PSO-Bi-LSTM Model
Authors: Zhang Qinglong , Zhu Yanwen , Ma Rui , Du Canxun , Du Sanlin , Shao Kun , Li Qingbin
Published: March 2022

With the wide application of full-face rock tunnel boring machine (TBM) in tunnel construction, the self-adaptive adjustment of TBM tunneling parameters is of great significance for the safety and efficiency of TBM tunnelling. Aiming at the shortcomings of the current TBM data mining capability and optimization methods of tunneling parameters, this paper proposes a prediction method of TBM tunneling parameters based on particle swarm optimization-bi-directional long short-term memory (PSO-Bi-LSTM) model, which selects the complete tunneling cycle data to predict the TBM tunneling parameters, and uses a number of numerical methods such as binary state discriminant function and 3σ criterion to preprocess the operation data of TBM3 bid section of Songhua River water conveyance project. By comparing with the Bi-LSTM model and evaluating the prediction effect under different surrounding rock levels, the applicability and prediction performance of the model to different strata are verified. The results show that the prediction accuracy of the model is proportional to the surrounding rock grade. Compared with the Bi-LSTM, the overall prediction effect of the proposed PSO-Bi-LSTM model is better, which can assist the intelligent construction of TBM with similar geological conditions.
Mechanism and Inducing Factors of Rockburst Events of Roadways Under Ultrathick Strata
Authors: Hao Zhen , Sun Guangzhong , Zhang Guohua
Published: March 2022

The overlying strata of the Yima coalfield are ultrathick conglomerate. Aiming at the problem of frequent occurrence of rockburst events in the central Yima coalfield during 2006–2015, the characteristics of rockburst events, microseismic (MS) monitoring, and rockburst event-inducing factors were analyzed through data mining and field investigation methods. The results showed that the rockburst events in roadways mainly occurred during mining of the working face, and they occurred at a large buried depth and were within the influence of mining stress, accompanied by an abrupt energy release. The occurrence of rockburst in roadways was accompanied by a sudden release of energy. The ultrathick strata and the fault nearby were the key influence factors of rockburst events. The stress field of roadway surrounding rocks was changed because of the mining disturbance, roadway repair and maintenance, and blasting, which would change the regional stress fields in the surrounding rocks and induce roadway rockburst events. The characteristics of rockburst events were floor heave, sharp convergence of two side walls, severe damage of the supporting body, and even closure of the roadway. The occurrence of rockburst can be prevented by reducing the mining speed and injecting water into coal seam.
Linking High School Students’ Achievement Goal Orientations With Their Competence Beliefs and Their Perception of Teachers’ Emotional Support During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: Smith Jonathan , Nadeau Marie-France , Archambault Isabelle , Guimond Fanny-Alexandra , St-Amand Jérôme , Fitzpatrick Caroline , Gagnon Mathieu
Published: March 2022

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, adolescents have experienced limitations in their everyday activities. Consequently, their mental health has become an area of concern. However, there has been much less of a focus on the factors and mechanisms contributing to how they have approached their various academic activities during the pandemic. The current study fills this gap by investigating associations between adolescents’ competence beliefs and perception of teachers’ emotional support and their achievement goals (mastery, performance, and work avoidance) at the onset of the second wave of this pandemic in Canada. Participants were 90 Canadian high school adolescents in grades 9 and 10 and they were surveyed in November of 2020. Data were analyzed using multiple regression and mediation analyses. Among the most salient results, competence beliefs were found to predict achievement goals, above and beyond teachers’ emotional support, and these beliefs were significantly and positively associated with mastery and performance orientation, and marginally and negatively associated with work avoidance orientation. Results also showed that competence beliefs mediated the association between teachers’ emotional support and the mastery goal orientation. These findings are discussed in light of relevant pre-pandemic evidence about the role of competence beliefs and teachers’ emotional support on achievement goal orientations.
Incidence of Diabetic Ketoacidosis Among Pediatrics With Type 1 Diabetes Prior to and During COVID-19 Pandemic: A Meta-Analysis of Observational Studies
Authors: Alfayez Osamah M. , Aldmasi Kholood S. , Alruwais Nada H. , Bin Awad Nouf M. , Al Yami Majed S. , Almohammed Omar A. , Almutairi Abdulaali R.
Published: March 2022

Background

Previous reports suggest that the Coronavirus Disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic might have affected incidences of diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) and new diagnoses of type 1 diabetes. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to estimate the risk of DKA, including severe DKA, during the COVID-19 pandemic versus the prior-to-COVID-19 period among pediatric patients with type 1 diabetes.

Methods

PubMed and EMBASE were searched for observational studies investigating the risk of DKA among pediatric patients with type 1 diabetes during the COVID-19 pandemic and the prior-to-COVID-19 period. A random meta-analysis model was performed to estimate the relative risk of DKA during the COVID-19 pandemic compared to before the pandemic. Subgroup analyses were conducted based on the type 1 diabetes status, established or newly diagnosed. In addition, sensitivity analysis was conducted for studies that reported results from adjusted analysis for potential confounders using fixed effect model.

Results

A total of 20 observational studies reported the risk of DKA, of which 18 reported the risk of severe DKA. The risks of DKA and severe DKA were 35% (RR 1.35, 95%CI 1.2-1.53, I2 = 71%) and 76% (RR 1.76, 95%CI 1.33-2.33, I2 = 44%) higher in the during-COVID-19 group compared to the prior-to-COVID-19 group, respectively. Among patients with newly diagnosed type 1 diabetes, the risk of DKA was 44% higher for the during-COVID-19 group compared to the prior-to-COVID-19 group (RR 1.44, 95%CI 1.26-1.65; I2 = 64%). Only two studies reported the risk of DKA among patients with established type 1 diabetes and the cumulative risk was not statistically significant. In the sensitivity analysis, four studies reported an adjusted odds ratio (aOR) of the risk of DKA during COVID-19 compared to the prior-to-COVID-19 period. The fixed estimate from the meta-analysis found an increase in the risk of DKA in the during-COVID-19 group compared to the prior-to-COVID-19 group (aOR 2.04, 95%CI 1.66-2.50).

Conclusions

This study showed that DKA risk, especially the risk of severe DKA, has increased significantly during the pandemic. Healthcare systems must be aware and prepared for such an increase in DKA cases and take all necessary measures to prevent future spikes during the pandemic.

Systematic Review Registration

https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?RecordID=272775, identifier PROSPERO [CRD42021272775].
Economic Impacts of the U.S. Renewable Fuel Standard: An Ex-Post Evaluation
Authors: Taheripour Farzad , Baumes Harry , Tyner Wallace E.
Published: March 2022

This paper examines the extent to which biofuel production has been driven over time by the U.S. Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) and the extent to which it was driven by non-RFS policies and market forces. While the RFS has played a critical role in providing a secure environment to produce and use more biofuels, at least in the 2000s, it was not the only factor that encouraged the biofuel industry to grow. While the existing literature has successfully identified the key drivers of the growth in biofuels, it basically has failed to properly quantify the impacts and contributions of each of these drivers separately. This paper develops short- and long-run economic analyses, using Partial Equilibrium (PE) and Computable General Equilibrium (CGE) models, to differentiate the economic impacts of the RFS from other drivers that have helped biofuels to grow. Results show: 1) the bulk of the ethanol production prior to 2012 was driven by what was happening in the national and global markets for energy and agricultural commodities and by the federal and sometimes state incentives for biofuel production; 2) the medium-to long-run price impacts of biofuel production were not large; 3) due to biofuel production, regardless of the drivers, real crop prices have increased between 1.1 and 5.5% in 2004–11 with only one-tenth of the price increases were assigned to the RFS, 4) for 2011–16, the long-run price impacts of biofuels were less than the time period of 2004–11, as in the second period biofuel production increased at much slower rate; 5) biofuel production, regardless of the drivers, has increased the US annual farm incomes by $8.3 billion between 2004–11 with an extra additional annual income of $2.3 billion between 2011–2016; 6) the modeling practices provided in this paper assign 28% of the expansion in farm incomes of the period of 2004–2011 and 100% of the extra additional incomes of the period of 2011–16 to the RFS.