bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Worldwide initiatives aimed to train professionals in the use of the ICD-11
Authors: Giordano Giulia M.
Published: November 2021

Background

The chapter on mental disorders of the 11th revision of the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-11) has been now finalized. Training of mental health professionals in the use of the chapter is taking place worldwide.

Main body of the abstract

Information is provided on the ICD-11 training courses taking place recently, including that co-organized by the Naples World Health Organization (WHO) Collaborating Centre on Research and Training in Mental Health and the European Psychiatric Association; those which will be held in the next few months, such as the one co-organized by the World Psychiatric Association and the Global Mental Health Academy, to be held online from 8 to 29 November 2021; and the training course set up by the WHO Collaborating Centre on Mental Health at the Columbia University, in collaboration with the WHO Department of Mental Health and Substance Use, which can be accessed only by the members of the WHO Global Clinical Practice Network.

Conclusion

Psychiatrists of all countries of the world are encouraged to become familiar with the ICD-11 chapter on mental disorders, which will be adopted shortly by most countries worldwide.
Naprapathy versus orthopaedic standard care for common musculoskeletal disorders: an 8-year follow-up of a pragmatic randomized controlled trial in Sweden
Authors: Lilje Stina , Eklund Andreas , Wykman Anders , Sundberg Tobias , Skillgate Eva
Published: November 2021

Background

Musculoskeletal pain is among the most common reasons for seeking care, specialist competence for its treatment in primary care limited and waiting lists for orthopaedics often amongst the longest. Many referrals to orthopaedics do not concern disorders that benefit from surgery. Manual therapy is effective, yet not integrated in national health care systems, and there is a lack of research on other than neck and low back pain, and a lack of long-term follow-ups.The present study evaluates the long-term effects of a manual therapy (naprapathy) for common orthopaedic disorders.

Methods

An 8-year follow-up (96 months) of a pragmatic randomized controlled trial of naprapathy (experimental group) versus standard orthopaedic care (control group) for non-surgical patients of working age with the most common musculoskeletal disorders on the waiting lists (n = 78). Bodily pain, physical function (SF36), Quality of life (QoL; SF6D), and data on health care utilization were collected. The treatments lasted from January 2007 to November 2007.

Results

N = 75 participants in the original study sample completed the 8-year follow-up. The differences in bodily pain (21.7 (95% CI: 9.1–34.3)), physical function (17.6 (6.7–28.4)), and QoLs (0.823 (95% CI: 0.785–0.862) compared with 0.713 (95% CI: 0.668–0.758)) were statistically significantly in favor of the experimental group (p-values < 0.01). After sensitivity analysis the experimental group had altogether 260 health care visits compared with 1161 in the control group.

Conclusions

Naprapathy is a continuously effective treatment. Together with earlier research our study suggests that specialized manual therapy should be considered when triaging patients with common non-surgical musculoskeletal disorders in national health care systems.

Trial registration: Not applicable, as per information given by ClinicalTrials.gov.
Cotton stubble detection based on wavelet decomposition and texture features
Authors: Yang Yukun , Nie Jing , Kan Za , Yang Shuo , Zhao Hangxing , Li Jingbin
Published: November 2021

Background

At present, the residual film pollution in cotton fields is crucial. The commonly used recycling method is the manual-driven recycling machine, which is heavy and time-consuming. The development of a visual navigation system for the recovery of residual film is conducive, in order to improve the work efficiency. The key technology in the visual navigation system is the cotton stubble detection. A successful cotton stubble detection can ensure the stability and reliability of the visual navigation system.

Methods

Firstly, it extracts the three types of texture features of GLCM, GLRLM and LBP, from the three types of images of stubbles, residual films and broken leaves between rows. It then builds three classifiers: Random Forest, Back Propagation Neural Network and Support Vector Machine in order to classify the sample images. Finally, the possibility of improving the classification accuracy using the texture features extracted from the wavelet decomposition coefficients, is discussed.

Results

The experiment proves that the GLCM texture feature of the original image has the best performance under the Back Propagation Neural Network classifier. As for the different wavelet bases, the vertical coefficient texture feature of coif3 wavelet decomposition, combined with the texture feature of the original image, is the feature having the best classification effect. Compared with the original image texture features, the classification accuracy is increased by 3.8%, the sensitivity is increased by 4.8%, and the specificity is increased by 1.2%.

Conclusions

The algorithm can complete the task of stubble detection in different locations, different periods and abnormal driving conditions, which shows that the wavelet coefficient texture feature combined with the original image texture feature is a useful fusion feature for detecting stubble and can provide a reference for different crop stubble detection.
A systematic literature review of frequency of vaso-occlusive crises in sickle cell disease
Authors: Zaidi Ahmar U. , Glaros Alexander K. , Lee Soyon , Wang Taiji , Bhojwani Rhea , Morris Eric , Donohue Breanne , Paulose Jincy , Iorga Şerban R. , Nellesen Dave
Published: November 2021

Background and purpose

Sickle cell disease (SCD) is a collection of rare inherited blood disorders affecting approximately 100,000 people in the U.S. and 20–25 million people globally. Individuals with SCD experience recurrent episodes of severe and unpredictable pain that are caused by vaso-occlusive crises (VOCs), a hallmark of the disease. VOCs are the primary cause of hospitalization in SCD, result in missed workdays and school days, and decrease quality of life (QoL). Although VOCs cause significant burden in the lives of individuals with SCD, there is no synthesis on the frequency of VOCs in the real world. This systematic literature review sought to identify literature describing the frequency of VOCs experienced by individuals with SCD in real-world settings.

Methods

MEDLINE and 6 congresses were searched (date range: January 1, 2000 to June 30, 2020). Studies were reviewed independently by two researchers. Studies assessing frequency or prevalence of VOCs or VOC-related outcomes were included.

Results

Of 1438 studies identified in the search, 52 met pre-specified inclusion and exclusion criteria. Reported frequency of VOCs varied widely ranging from a mean or median of 0 VOCs/year to 18.2 VOCs/year. The proportion of patients experiencing ≥ 3 VOCs/year ranged from 4 to 67% and the proportion of patients experiencing ≥ 5 VOCs/year ranged from 18 to 59%. Measures of VOC severity were limited, with 13 studies considering frequency of complicated VOCs and only 1 study reporting duration of VOC episodes.

Conclusions

This is the first study to systematically assess published evidence pertaining to VOCs in real-world settings. Reported VOC frequency in real-world settings varied widely, with a majority of studies only considering VOCs managed in an inpatient or outpatient setting. Studies that considered VOCs managed at home reported a higher frequency of VOCs, suggesting that many studies may underestimate the frequency of VOCs. This systematic literature review (SLR) highlights the need for consistent reporting of (1) self-reported VOCs, including those managed at home, (2) definitions of VOCs, (3) complicated VOCs, and (4) duration of VOC episodes in literature.
Alterations in brain morphology by MRI in adults with neurofibromatosis 1
Authors: Wang Su , Mautner Victor-Felix , Buchert Ralph , Flibotte Stephane , Suppa Per , Friedman Jan M. , Heran Manraj K. S.
Published: November 2021

Objective

Neurofibromatosis 1 (NF1) is a rare autosomal dominant disease that causes the dysregulated growth of Schwann cells. Most reported studies of brain morphology in NF1 patients have included only children, and clinical implications of the observed changes later in life remain unclear. In this study, we used MRI to characterize brain morphology in adults with NF1.

Methods

Planar (2D) MRI measurements of 29 intracranial structures were compared in 389 adults with NF1 and 112 age- and sex-matched unaffected control subjects. The 2D measurements were correlated with volumetric (3D) brain measurements in 99 of the adults with NF1 to help interpret the 2D findings. A subset (n = 70) of these NF1 patients also received psychometric testing for attention deficits and IQ and was assessed for clinical severity of NF1 features and neurological problems. Correlation analysis was performed between the MRI measurements and clinical and psychometric features of these patients.

Results

Four of nine corpus callosum measurements were significantly greater in adults with NF1 than in sex- and age-matched controls. All seven brainstem measurements were significantly greater in adults with NF1 than in controls. Increased corpus callosum and brainstem 2D morphology were correlated with increased total white matter volume among the NF1 patients. No robust correlations were observed between the 2D size of these structures and clinical or neuropsychometric assessments.

Conclusion

Our findings are consistent with the hypothesis that dysregulation of brain myelin production is an important manifestation of NF1 in adults.
Clinical and molecular spectrum of P/Q type calcium channel Cav2.1 in epileptic patients
Authors: Alehabib Elham , Esmaeilizadeh Zahra , Ranji-Burachaloo Sakineh , Tafakhori Abbas , Darvish Hossein , Movafagh Abolfazl
Published: November 2021

Background

Epilepsy is a neurological disorder characterized by the potential to induce seizure and accompanied by cognitive, psychological, and social consequences.CACNA1Agene is a voltage-gated P/Q-type Cav2.1 channel that is broadly expressed in the central nervous system, and the pathogenic variants within this gene may be associated with the epileptic phenotype. In the present study, we collected clinical and molecular data related to epileptic patients withCACNA1Apathogenic variants and investigated possible meaningful relationship between age at onset, neurodevelopmental disorders, type of seizures, brain imaging abnormalities, genotype, and protein domains.

Results

In our retrospective literature studies, from among 890 articles reviewed, a total of 90 individuals were related to epilepsy phenotype. Our findings showed that about 90 percent of patients have shown the first symptoms in childhood and teenage years and different types of neurodevelopmental disorders, such as intellectual disability, developmental arrest, and behavioral disorders, have been common findings for these patients. Further, a wide range of abnormalities have been observed in their brain imaging, and generalized seizures have been the most type of seizures in these patients. However, our data showed no specific genotype–phenotype correlation in epileptic patients withCACNA1Apathogenic alterations.

Conclusions

Our study focused on epileptic phenotype in patients withCACNA1Apathogenic variants and showed a wide range of clinical and molecular heterogeneity with no specific genotype–phenotype correlation. It seems that incomplete penetrance,de-novovariants, and modifier genes are obstacles in predicting the clinical outcome.
A non-internalised CD38-binding radiolabelled single-domain antibody fragment to monitor and treat multiple myeloma
Authors: Duray Elodie , Lejeune Margaux , Baron Frederic , Beguin Yves , Devoogdt Nick , Krasniqi Ahmet , Lauwers Yoline , Zhao Yong Juan , D’Huyvetter Matthias , Dumoulin Mireille , Caers Jo
Published: November 2021

Background

Antibody-based therapies targeting CD38 are currently used as single agents as well as in combination regimens for multiple myeloma, a malignant plasma cell disorder. In this study, we aimed to develop anti-CD38 single-domain antibodies (sdAbs) that can be used to trace CD38+ tumour cells and subsequently used for targeted radionuclide therapy. SdAbs are derived from Camelidae heavy-chain antibodies and have emerged as promising theranostic agents due to their favourable pharmacological properties.

Methods

Four different anti-CD38 sdAbs were produced, and their binding affinities and potential competition with the monoclonal antibody daratumumab were tested using biolayer interferometry. Their binding kinetics and potential cell internalisation were further studied after radiolabelling with the diagnostic radioisotope Indium-111. The resulting radiotracers were evaluated in vivo for their tumour-targeting potential and biodistribution through single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT/CT) imaging and serial dissections. Finally, therapeutic efficacy of a lead anti-CD38 sdAb, radiolabelled with the therapeutic radioisotope Lutetium-177, was evaluated in a CD38+ MM xenograft model.

Results 

We retained anti-CD38 sdAb #2F8 as lead based on its excellent affinity and superior stability, the absence of competition with daratumumab and the lack of receptor-mediated internalisation. When intravenously administered to tumour-xenografted mice, radiolabelled sdAb #2F8 revealed specific and sustained tumour retention with low accumulation in other tissues, except kidneys, resulting in high tumour-to-normal tissue ratios. In a therapeutic setting, myeloma-bearing mice received three consecutive intravenous administrations of a high (18.5 MBq) or a low radioactive dose (9.3 MBq) of 177Lu-DTPA-2F8 or an equal volume of vehicle solution. A dose-dependent tumour regression was observed, which translated into a prolonged median survival from 43 days for vehicle-treated mice, to 62 days (p = 0.027) in mice receiving the low and 65 days in mice receiving the high (p = 0.0007) radioactive dose regimen, respectively.

Conclusions

These results highlight the theranostic potential of radiolabelled anti-CD38 sdAbs for the monitoring and treatment of multiple myeloma.
APOS—antibiotic prophylaxis for preventing infectious complications in orthognathic surgery: study protocol for a phase III, multicentre, randomised, controlled, double blinded, clinical trial with two parallel study arms
Authors: Ristow Oliver , Hofele Christof , Münch Philipp , Danner Sylvia , Dietzel Anja , Krisam Johannes , Klose Christina , Pilz Maximilian , Hoffmann Jürgen , Freudlsperger Christian
Published: November 2021

Background

It is a constant debate among surgeons whether the use of prolonged postoperative antibiotics may reduce surgical site infection rates. As specific treatment guidelines are still lacking, many surgeons continue to use broad-spectrum antibiotics, causing not only increased costs but also contributing to the potential for antibiotic resistance. Hence, there is an urgent need for an appropriately designed prospective clinical trial, to investigate whether a prophylactic use of antibiotics after surgery actually decreases surgical site infections to a clinically relevant degree.

Methods

This study presents a multicentre, randomised, controlled, double-blinded, clinical trial with two parallel study arms to demonstrate that no postoperative antibiotic prophylaxis (AP) is not inferior to antibiotic prophylaxis with respect to surgical site infections in patients having undergone orthognathic surgery. The primary efficacy endpoint is defined as the occurrence of postoperative surgical site infections within 30 days of surgery. Secondary endpoints are further efficacy and subject-oriented parameters within 90 days after surgery. The entire trial is planned for 54 months, with an enrolment of 1420 patients over 39 months by 14 national participating centres.

Discussion

As a highly standardised procedure on an exceeding, healthy and young homogenous study population and identical processes all over the world, elective orthognathic surgery as clean-contaminated procedure provides comparable intervention groups with balanced baseline characteristics, comparable surgical duration, even when performed within multiple centres. Therefore, evaluating antibiotic prophylaxis after orthognathic surgery will be of high scientific value representable for other surgical procedures.

Trial registration

DRKS—German Clinical Trials Register—DRKS00022838; EudraCT No. 2020-001397-30. Registered on 29 March 2021
Spread and scale of an electronic deprescribing software to improve health outcomes of older adults living in nursing homes: study protocol for a stepped wedge cluster randomized trial
Authors: Nadeau Marc-Eric , Henry Justine L. , Lee Todd C. , Bortolussi-Courval Émilie , Goodine Carole , McDonald Emily G.
Published: November 2021

Background

Medication overload or problematic polypharmacy is a major problem causing widespread harm, particularly to older adults. Taking multiple medications increases the risk of potentially inappropriate medications (PIMs), and residents in long-term care (LTC) are frequently prescribed 10 or more medications at once. One strategy to address this problem is for the physician and/or pharmacist to perform regular medication reviews; however, this process can be complicated and time-consuming. With a prescription review, medications may be decreased, changed, or stopped altogether. MedReviewRx is a software that runs an analysis using deprescribing rules to produce a report to guide medication reviews addressing medication overload for residents in LTC.

Methods

This study will employ a mixed methods effectiveness-implementation hybrid type 2 study design. To measure effectiveness, a stepped wedge cluster randomized trial design is planned, which allows us to approximate a randomized clinical trial. Approximately 1000 residents living in LTC will be recruited from five facilities in New Brunswick. The study will begin with 3 months of baseline data on rates of deprescribing. Thereafter, every 3 months a new cluster will enter the intervention mode. The intervention consists of medication reviews augmented with the MedReviewRx software, which will be used by staff and clinicians in the facilities. The estimated study duration is 18 months and the main outcome will be the proportion of patients with one or more PIMs deprescribed (reduced/stopped or changed to a safer alternative) in the 90 days following a prescription review. The goal is to study the impact of MedReviewRx on medication overload among older adults living in LTC. In typical fashion of a stepped wedge cluster randomized trial, each cluster acts as an internal control (before and after) as well as a control for the other clusters (external control). Qualitative data collected will include resident/caregiver attitudes towards deprescribing and semi-structured interviews with staff working in the long-term care homes.

Discussion

This study design addresses issues with seasonality and allows all clusters to participate in the intervention, which is an advantage when the intervention is related to quality improvement. This study will provide valuable information on PIM use, cost savings, and facilitators and challenges associated with medication reviews and deprescribing. This study represents an important step towards understanding and promoting tools to guide safe and rational reduction of PIM use among older adults.

Trial registration

NCT04762303, Registered February 21, 2021.
The importance of adherence to international standards for depositing open data in public repositories
Authors: Forero Diego A. , Curioso Walter H. , Patrinos George P.
Published: November 2021

There has been an important global interest in Open Science, which include open data and methods, in addition to open access publications. It has been proposed that public availability of raw data increases the value and the possibility of confirmation of scientific findings, in addition to the potential of reducing research waste. Availability of raw data in open repositories facilitates the adequate development of meta-analysis and the cumulative evaluation of evidence for specific topics. In this commentary, we discuss key elements about data sharing in open repositories and we invite researchers around the world to deposit their data in them.
Feasibility of home-based sampling of salivary cortisol and cortisone in healthy adults
Authors: Sørensen Sarah Overgaard , Pedersen Jesper , Rasmussen Martin G. , Kristensen Peter L. , Grøntved Anders
Published: November 2021

Objective

Salivary cortisol and cortisone are used as biomarkers of physiological stress. Careful sampling of saliva for profiling of awakening response and the diurnal slope can be challenging in free-living environments, and validated sampling protocols are lacking. Therefore, we investigated (1) the level of compliance to a three-day home-based salivary sampling protocol, and (2) the within subject day-to-day variability of cortisol and cortisone outcomes and the required measuring days to obtain high reproducibility.

Results

Nineteen healthy adults (mean age: 42, 50% females) participated. Participants collected in total 434 salivary samples out of 456 scheduled (four samples per day over three consecutive days at two time points). We found high level of compliance to the proposed free-living salivary sampling protocol with 18 (95%) and 16 (84%) participants being compliant to numbers and timing of samples, respectively. The area under the curve for the morning salivary samples and peak-to-bed slope had moderate reproducibility for cortisol and cortisone (intraclass correlation coefficient: 0.51–0.68, and mean coefficient of variation: 14.7%-75.3%). Three-to-four measuring days were required for high reproducibility of the area under the curve for the morning salivary samples and peak-to-bed slope using this free-living salivary sampling protocol.

Trial registration Clinical trial registered with www.clinicaltrials.gov (NCT03788525).
Placental extract suppresses the formation of fibrotic deposits by tumor necrosis factor alpha and transforming growth factor beta-induced epithelial–mesenchymal transition in ARPE-19 cells
Authors: Igarashi Kyoko , Sugimoto Koji , Hirano Eiichi
Published: November 2021

Objective

Epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT) is involved in the development of proliferative vitreoretinopathy (PVR) and subsequent fibrosis. Previously, we demonstrated that placental extract ameliorates fibrosis in a mouse model of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis. In this study, we evaluated whether placental extract influences EMT and fibrosis through cytokine-induced EMT in the retinal pigment epithelial cells, in vitro.

Results

Placental extract did not inhibit EMT, but it suppressed excessive mesenchymal reactions and the subsequent fibrosis. These results suggest that placental extract effectively ameliorates EMT-associated fibrosis in PVR. This beneficial effect could be partially attributed to the suppression of excessive mesenchymal reactions.
An open source library to parse and analyze online collaborative knowledge-building portals
Authors: Verma Amit Arjun , Iyengar S.R.S , Setia Simran , Dubey Neeru
Published: November 2021

With the success of collaborative knowledge-building portals, such as Wikipedia, Stack Overflow, Quora, and GitHub, a class of researchers is driven towards understanding the dynamics of knowledge building on these portals. Even though collaborative knowledge building portals are known to be better than expert-driven knowledge repositories, limited research has been performed to understand the knowledge building dynamics in the former. This is mainly due to two reasons; first, unavailability of the standard data representation format, second, lack of proper tools and libraries to analyze the knowledge building dynamics.We describe Knowledge Data Analysis and Processing Platform (KDAP), a programming toolkit that is easy to use and provides high-level operations for analysis of knowledge data. We propose Knowledge Markup Language (Knol-ML), a generic representation format for the data of collaborative knowledge building portals. KDAP can process the massive data of crowdsourced portals like Wikipedia and Stack Overflow efficiently. As a part of this toolkit, a data-dump of various collaborative knowledge building portals is published in Knol-ML format. The combination of Knol-ML and the proposed open-source library will help the knowledge building community to perform benchmark analysis.Link of the repository: Verma et al. (2020)Video Tutorial: Verma et al. (2020)Supplementary Material: Verma et al. (2020)
Neonatal abstinence syndrome is a potential cause of low TREC copy number
Authors: Adatia Adil , Ling Ling , Chakraborty Pranesh , Brick Lauren , Brager Rae
Published: November 2021

Severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID) is a rare genetic condition characterized by significant T cell lymphopenia and impaired T cell function. Many jurisdictions use the quantitation of T cell receptor excision circles (TRECs) to screen for SCID in newborns, but false positives may be seen in several conditions. We report 3 newborns with neonatal abstinence syndrome who presented with decreased TREC copy number.
Chronic gastrointestinal bleeding caused by a Dieulafoy’s lesion in the small intestine: a case report
Authors: Salimi Javad , Behzadi Mohamad , Ramandi Alireza , Jafarinia Mehdi , Zand Hamid , Pirouzian Mohammad
Published: November 2021

Introduction

Dieulafoy’s lesion, first found by Paul Georges Dieulafoy, is an infrequent but important cause of recurrent upper gastrointestinal bleeding. The bleeding is usually severe, but patients rarely present with chronic, occult gastrointestinal bleeding.

Case presentation

In this article, we discuss the case of a 68-year-old caucasian man with a history of recurrent hematemesis and chronic anemia with evidence of extravasation of contrast in the lumen of the bowel loop on computed tomography angiography. The patient was taken to the operating room, and a laparotomy procedure was performed.

Conclusion

Due to the infrequency of Dieulafoy’s lesion compared with other causes of gastrointestinal bleeding, it is often missed in the process of differential diagnosis. In this article, we have demonstrated the importance of this disease and different approaches to the treatment of this lesion, considering the location of the lesion among other factors.
Allogeneic vs. autologous mesenchymal stem/stromal cells in their medication practice
Authors: Li Chenghai , Zhao Hua , Cheng Linna , Wang Bin
Published: November 2021

Mesenchymal stem/stromal cell (MSC)-based therapeutics is already available for treatment of a range of diseases or medical conditions. Autologous or allogeneic MSCs obtained from self or donors have their own advantages and disadvantages in their medical practice. Therapeutic benefits of using autologous vs. allogeneic MSCs are inconclusive. Transplanted MSCs within the body interact with their physical microenvironment or niche, physiologically or pathologically, and such cells in a newly established tissue microenvironment may be impacted by the pathological harmful environmental factors to alter their unique biological behaviors. Meanwhile, a temporary microenvironment/niche may be also altered by the resident or niche-surrounding MSCs. Therefore, the functional plasticity and heterogeneity of MSCs caused by different donors and subpopulations of MSCs may result in potential uncertainty in their safe and efficacious medical practice. Acknowledging a connection between MSCs’ biology and their existing microenvironment, donor-controlled clinical practice for the long-term therapeutic benefit is suggested to further consider minimizing MSCs potential harm for MSC-based individual therapies. In this review, we summarize the advantages and disadvantages of autologous vs. allogeneic MSCs in their therapeutic applications. Among other issues, we highlight the importance of better understanding of the various microenvironments that may affect the properties of niche-surrounding MSCs and discuss the clinical applications of MSCs within different contexts for treatment of different diseases including cardiomyopathy, lupus and lupus nephritis, diabetes and diabetic complications, bone and cartilage repair, cancer and tissue fibrosis.
Fatigue driving detection based on electrooculography: a review
Authors: Tian Yuanyuan , Cao Jingyu
Published: November 2021

To accurately identify fatigued driving, establishing a monitoring system is one of the important guarantees of improving traffic safety and reducing traffic accidents. Among many research methods, electrooculogram signal (EOG) has unique advantages. This paper presents a systematic literature review of these technologies and summarizes a basic framework of fatigue driving monitoring system based on EOGs. Then we summarize the advantages and disadvantages of existing technologies. In addition, 80 primary references published during the last decade were identified. The multi-feature fusion technique based on EOGs performs better than other traditional methods due to its low cost, low power consumption and low intrusion, while its application is still limited which needs more efforts to obtain good and generalizable results. And then, an overview of the literature on technology is given, revealing a premier and unbiased survey of the existing empirical research of classification techniques that have been applied to fatigue driving analysis. Finally, this paper adds value to the current literature by investigating the application of EOG signals in fatigued driving and the design of related systems, future guidelines have been provided to practitioners and researchers to grasp the major contributions and challenges in the state-of-the-art research.
Quantitative analysis of galactose using LDI-TOF MS based on a TiO2 nanowire chip
Authors: Noh Joo-Yoon , Kim Moon-Ju , Kim Mira , Kim Jo-Il , Park Jong-Min , Yun Tae Gyeong , Kang Min-Jung , Pyun Jae-Chul
Published: November 2021

A novel method for quantifying galactose was developed to serve as a newborn screening test for galactosemia using laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight (LDI-TOF) mass spectrometry (MS) with a TiO2 nanowire chip. Herein, phosphate citrate buffer, serum, and dried blood spot (DBS) were employed for the quantitative analysis of galactose. To quantitatively analyze galactose, its reduction potential was used to oxidize o-phenylene diamine (OPD) into 2,3-diaminophenazine (DA), which were both detected using LDI-TOF MS with a TiO2 nanowire chip according to the concentration of galactose. The reproducibility and the interference of glucose were determined to demonstrate the applicability of this method. Moreover, mixtures of galactose, phenylalanine, and 17 α-OHP were analyzed to determine the interference induced by other biomarkers of metabolic disorders. The OPD oxidation of galactose was found to be selectively achieved under high-glucose conditions, similar to human blood, thereby showing good reproducibility. The intensities of the mass peaks of OPD and DA based on LDI-TOF MS with a TiO2 nanowire chip were linearly correlated in the galactose concentration range of 57.2–220.0 μg/mL (r2 = 0.999 and 0.950, respectively) for serum samples and 52.5–220.0 μg/mL (r2 = 0.993 and 0.985, respectively) for DBS after methanol precipitation/extraction. The enzyme immunoassay and LDI-TOF MS analysis results were statistically analyzed, and a mixture of phenylalanine, 17 α-OHP, and galactose was simultaneously investigated quantitatively at the cutoff level.
Authentic STEM research, practices of science, and interest development in an informal science education program
Authors: Habig Bobby , Gupta Preeti
Published: November 2021

Background

Two critical challenges in science education are how to engage students in the practices of science and how to develop and sustain interest. The goal of this study was to examine the extent to which high school youth, the majority of whom are members of racial and ethnic groups historically underrepresented in STEM, learn the skills and practices of science and in turn develop interest in conducting scientific research as part of their career pursuits. To accomplish this goal, we applied Hidi and Renninger’s well-tested theoretical framework for studying interest development in the context of a museum-based, informal science education (ISE) program. We used a mixed methods approach, incorporating both survey and interview data, to address three research questions: (1) As youth engage in authentic science research, do they develop perceived competence in mastering the skills and practices of science? (2) Do participants increase, maintain, or decrease interest in science research as a result of this experience? (3) How does participation in scientific practices manifest in non-program contexts?

Results

Our study yielded three main results. First, we found that participants developed competence in mastering several of the skills and practices of science. Strikingly, there was significant improvement in self-reported level of competency for 15 specific research skills. Second, we found that participants maintained their interest in scientific research over time. Our post-survey results revealed that one hundred percent of students were either excited about or expressed deep interest in scientific research. Based on a Phases of Interest Development Rubric developed for this study, most participants exhibited emerging individual interest. Finally, participants exhibited significant increases in the frequency in which they engaged in scientific practices outside of the program.

Conclusions

Our findings suggest that participation in authentic research in an ISE context affords youth critical opportunities for gaining mastery of several of the skills and practices of science, which in turn reinforces, and in some cases increases participants’ interest in scientific research beyond the span of the program.
Interleukin-6: evolving role in the management of neuropathic pain in neuroimmunological disorders
Authors: Serizawa Kenichi , Tomizawa-Shinohara Haruna , Miyake Shota , Yogo Kenji , Matsumoto Yoshihiro
Published: November 2021

Background

Neuropathic pain in neuroimmunological disorders refers to pain caused by a lesion or disease of the somatosensory system such as multiple sclerosis (MS) and neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD). MS and NMOSD are autoimmune disorders of the central nervous system, and ≥ 50% of patients with these disorders experience chronic neuropathic pain. The currently available medications for the management of neuropathic pain have limited effectiveness in patients with MS and NMOSD, and there is an unmet medical need to identify novel therapies for the management of chronic neuropathic pain in these patients. In this review article, we summarize the role of interleukin-6 (IL-6) in the pathogenesis of MS and NMOSD and the ameliorative effects of anti–IL-6 therapies in mouse models of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE).

Main body

Intraperitoneal injection of MR16-1, an anti–IL-6 receptor (IL-6R) antibody, reduced mechanical allodynia and spontaneous pain in EAE mice, which was attributed to a reduction in microglial activation and inhibition of the descending pain inhibitory system. The effect of anti–IL-6 therapies in ameliorating neuropathic pain in the clinical setting is controversial; a reduction in pain intensity has been reported with an anti–IL-6 antibody in four studies, namely a case report, a pilot study, a retrospective observational study, and a case series. Pain intensity was evaluated using a numerical rating scale (NRS), with a lower score indicating lesser pain. A reduction in the NRS score was reported in all four studies. However, in two randomized controlled trials of another anti–IL-6R antibody, the change in the visual analog scale pain score was not statistically significantly different when compared with placebo. This was attributed to the low mean pain score at baseline in both the trials and the concomitant use of medications for pain in one of the trials, which may have masked the effects of the anti–IL-6R antibody on neuropathic pain.

Conclusion

Thus, anti–IL-6 therapies might have a potential to reduce neuropathic pain, but further investigations are warranted to clarify the effect of inhibition of IL-6 signaling on neuropathic pain associated with MS and NMOSD.
The ‘New Urban Science’: towards the interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary pursuit of sustainable transformations
Authors: Karvonen Andrew , Cvetkovic Vladimir , Herman Pawel , Johansson Karl , Kjellström Hedvig , Molinari Marco , Skoglund Mikael
Published: November 2021

Digitalisation is an increasingly important driver of urban development. The ‘New Urban Science’ is one particular approach to urban digitalisation that promises new ways of knowing and managing cities more effectively. Proponents of the New Urban Science emphasise urban data analytics and modelling as a means to develop novel insights on how cities function. However, there are multiple opportunities to broaden and deepen these practices through collaborations between the natural and social sciences as well as with public authorities, private companies, and civil society. In this article, we summarise the history and critiques of urban science and then call for a New Urban Science that embraces interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary approaches to scientific knowledge production and application. We argue that such an expanded version of the New Urban Science can be used to develop urban transformative capacity and achieve ecologically resilient, economically prosperous, and socially robust cities of the twenty-first century.
Seismic velocity model building using neural networks: Training data design and learning generalization
Authors: Alzahrani Hani , Shragge Jeffrey
Published: November 2021

Data-driven artificial neural networks (ANNs) offer several advantages over conventional deterministic methods in a wide range of geophysical problems. For seismic velocity model building, judiciously trained ANNs offer the possibility of estimating high-resolution subsurface velocity models. However, a significant challenge of ANNs is training generalization, which is the ability of an ANN to apply the learning from the training process to test data not previously encountered. In the context of velocity model building, this means learning the relationship between velocity models and the corresponding seismic data from a set of training data, and then using acquired seismic data to accurately estimate unknown velocity models. We have asked the following question: What types of velocity model structures need to be included in the training process so that the trained ANN can invert seismic data from a different (hypothetical) geologic setting? To address this question, we create four sets of training models: geologically inspired and purely geometric, with and without background velocity gradients. We find that using geologically inspired training data produces models with well-delineated layer interfaces and fewer intralayer velocity variations. The absence of a certain geologic structure in training models, however, hinders the ANN’s ability to recover it in the testing data. We use purely geometric training models consisting of square blocks of varying size to demonstrate the ability of ANNs to recover reasonable approximations of flat, dipping, and curved interfaces. However, the predicted models suffer from intralayer velocity variations and nonphysical artifacts. Overall, the results successfully determine the use of ANNs in recovering accurate velocity model estimates and highlight the possibility of using such an approach for the generalized seismic velocity inversion problem.
Topography-dependent eikonal tomography based on the fast-sweeping scheme and the adjoint-state technique
Authors: Guo Gaoshan , Lan Haiqiang , Zhou Xiaole , Liu Youshan , Bin Waheed Umair , Chen Jingyi
Published: November 2021

First-arrival traveltime tomography has been widely used for upper crustal velocity modeling, but it usually suffers from the problem of complex surface topography. To overcome this problem, we have developed a new topography-dependent eikonal tomography scheme that combines a developed accurate and efficient traveltime modeling method and introduces a flexible and robust adjoint inversion scheme in the presence of irregular topography. A surface-flattening scheme is used to handle the irregular surface, where the real model is discretized by curvilinear grids and the irregular free surface is mathematically flattened through the transformation from Cartesian to curvilinear coordinates. Based on this parameterization, the forward traveltime modeling is conducted by a monotone fast-sweeping method that discretizes the factored topography-dependent eikonal equation with a point-source condition. This algorithm can circumvent the source-singularity problem and decrease the numerical error in the vicinity of a point source in the curvilinear system. Then, the gradient-based inversion is used to minimize the misfit function, which is achieved by a matrix-free adjoint-state method without cumbersome ray tracing and explicit estimation of the Fréchet derivative matrix in the curvilinear coordinate system. The new tomographic scheme is evaluated through numerical examples with different seismic structures with complex topography, and then applied to a wide-angle profile acquired in the northeastern Tibetan Plateau. The results validate the effectiveness and efficiency of our tomography scheme in constructing shallow crustal velocity models with irregular topography.
Identification of overpressures resulting from undercompaction and hydrocarbon generation in shale-dominated settings using well-log data
Authors: Tang Longxiang , Lu Jungang , Yang Mingyi , Zhang Huaqin , Xiao Zhenglu , Yao Jingli , Lu Zixing , Han Meimei
Published: November 2021

Based on the concepts of organic geochemistry and well-log characteristics, we have determined the differences between undercompaction overpressure (UCOP) and hydrocarbon-generating pressurization (HGP) from well logs in the Chang 7 shale, Ordos Basin. The results revealed that shales have better hydrocarbon generation potential than mudstones. We found that UCOP is characterized by significant changes of the acoustic transit time (AC), compensation neutron (CNL), density (DEN), and resistivity (RT) on the well logs. Although HGP causes obvious changes in AC and RT logs, minor deviations are generally revealed in CNL and DEN logs. Further studies revealed that although UCOP occurs primarily in thick shale layers of the sedimentary center, HGP is predominant in the thin shales of the sedimentary edge. The reason for this difference may be attributed to the ubiquity of the shales associated with HGP, with the variation in well logs caused by the HGP concealed by the abnormal variation of UCOP. These findings thus revealed the distribution and well-log features of abnormal overpressure for the different generating mechanisms, thus providing significant guidance for further exploration and development of the overpressured formations.
Disentangling capacity and the First-tier Tribunal: bringing case law into clinical practice
Authors: Jawaid Zumer Arif , Brindle Nick , Kennedy Michael
Published: November 2021

It has been common clinical practice for staff members to make an application to a mental health tribunal (the First-tier Tribunal (Mental Health) in England or the Mental Health Review Tribunal in Wales) on behalf of a patient detained in hospital for psychiatric treatment who may lack capacity to make that application, for example in dementia in-patient settings. Following a series of cases in the Upper Tribunal, such practice may not be appropriate and there is now a risk that the application will be struck out. It is important that clinicians are aware of developments in case law and therefore we provide guidance on how clinicians should approach applications to the tribunal and the assessments of capacity that may be required.
From the Margins to the Center
Authors: Braun Jolie
Published: November 2021

Self-publishing is a topic not typically discussed in the literature classroom, yet it can provide an opportunity to highlight voices and works from the margins, think critically about the publishing methods, and promote the study of the book as a cultural artifact. This article provides a case study on using special collections materials to teach undergraduates about self-published American literature. It includes suggestions about how to find and select materials, details about facilitating a discussion and a hands-on activity on the topic, and recommendations for adapting these ideas for other teaching contexts.
What Does a Good Teacher Do Now?
Authors: Day Jathan , Hughes Sarah , Zanders Crystal , Van Zanen Kathryn , Moos Andrew
Published: November 2021

Five graduate students reflect on their experiences in multiple roles to address the question, What does a good teacher do now?—during a pandemic, in a moment of reckoning with white supremacy, in the face of uncounted griefs and challenges. We contend that good teachers craft communities of care for students, colleagues, and themselves. We advance trauma, accessibility, surveillance, and labor as particular sites for that project.
Investigation of Stem Cell Applications on In Vitro Fertilization in Rats
Authors: GUMURDU A , OZTURK S , AYDEMIR I , TUGLU MI
Published: November 2021

We aimed to search the effects of bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cell-conditioned media on in vitro fertilization by investigation of lifetime of germ cells cleavage, degeneration rates and embryo quality. For this purpose, firstly MSCs were isolated from femurs and tibias of the rat, and cells were cultured until the fourth passage. Sperm and oocytes were collected from male and female rats. Oocytes were added in Human Tubal Fluid Media (HTFM), Single Step Media (SSM), Alpha-MEM Media (AMM) and Bone Marrow-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cell-Conditioned Media (CM). Thousand sperm were added into the media which including oocytes. Embryos were allowed to produce by IVF. The development of the embryos was followed until the 11th day, and the arrest, degeneration rates and alive embryos were established. The embryos reached 2, 4, 8, 16 cells stages and morula stage in the CM. While AMM had a negative effect on fertilization and embryo development, the most favourable effect was shown to be caused by CM in comparison with the other medias. These results have shown that the beneficial effects of CM in IVF would be a significant increase in the rate of fertility and development of embryos.
Epidemiosurveillance of Brucella infection in humans, non-ruminants and wildlife from Pakistan perspective (2000-2020)
Authors: ZEESHAN AKRAM M , ULLAH KHAN A , SHAUKAT ALI B , SHAHID S , BATOOL A
Published: November 2021

This review aimed at providing an overview of the prevalence and epidemiosurveillance of brucellosis in non-ruminants and humans in Pakistan during 2000-2020. Sero-prevalence of brucellosis has been reported in non-ruminants such as camels, equines, dogs and humans with the range of 0.5-21%, 16.23-62.6%, 9.2-63.8% and 2.0-70% respectively. Non-target species like Avian, reptiles and amphibians were also reported with the prevalence of 2.5%, 24.9% and 25% respectively. Ignorance and indifference make it endemic in ruminants and much-neglected disease in non-ruminants with less or no studies reported in canines. Vaccines are available and being used for ruminants while none is available for non-ruminants, which may serve as an important source of spreading disease in animals and humans. In Pakistan, it is considered as ignored disease in non-ruminants lacking effective policies for control and eradication. This review guides policymakers to draw guidelines regarding brucellosis control and eradication using one health approach.