bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
From Suspicion to Recognition—Being a Bystander to a Relative Affected by Acute Coronary Syndrome
Authors: Andersen Lene Søndergård , Lorentzen Vibeke , Beedholm Kirsten
Published: December 2021

Within cardiac research, an overwhelming number of studies have explored factors related to pre-hospital delay. However, there is a knowledge gap in studies that explore the bystander’s experiences or significance when an individual is affected by acute coronary syndrome (ACS). We conducted an interview study with 17 individuals affected by ACS and the bystander(s) involved and performed a qualitative thematic analysis. In the pre-hospital phase, the bystander moved from suspicion of illness to recognition of illness while trying to convince the individual affected by ACS (p-ACS) to respond to bodily sensations. This led to conflicts and dilemmas which affected the bystander both before and after the p-ACS was hospitalized. Bystanders may influence pre-hospital delay in both positive and negative direction depending on their own knowledge, convictions, and the nature of their interaction with the p-ACSs. The bystander’s influence during the pre-hospital delay is more extensive than previously recognized.
Effectiveness of Pediatric Concurrent Hospice Care to Improve Continuity of Care
Authors: Lindley Lisa C. , Cozad Melanie J. , Mack Jennifer W. , Keim-Malpass Jessica , Svynarenko Radion , Hinds Pamela S.
Published: December 2021

Background

The 2010 Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) mandated landmark hospice care legislation for children at end of life. Little is known about the impact of pediatric concurrent hospice care.

Objective

The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of pediatric concurrent vs standard hospice care on end-of-life care continuity among Medicaid beneficiaries.

Methods

Using national Medicaid data, we conducted a quasi-experimental designed study to estimate the effect of concurrent vs standard hospice care to improve end-of-life care continuity for children. Care continuity (i.e., hospice length of stay, hospice disenrollment, emergency room transition, and inpatient transition) was measured via claims data. Exposures were concurrent hospice vs standard hospice care. Using instrumental variable analysis, the effectiveness of exposures on care continuity was compared.

Results

Concurrent hospice care affected care continuity. It resulted in longer lengths of stays in hospice ( β = 2.76, P < .001) and reduced hospice live discharges ( β = −2.80, P < .05), compared to standard hospice care. Concurrent care was not effective at reducing emergency room ( β = 2.09, P < .001) or inpatient care ( β = .007, P < .05) transitions during hospice enrollment.

Conclusion

Our study provides critical insight into the quality of care delivered for children at end of life. These findings have policy implications.
Brown v. Board of Education and the Development of Special Education
Authors: Yell Mitchell
Published: December 2021

May 2020 was the 66th anniversary of the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling in Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka. In this case, perhaps the most important ruling of the 20th century, the Supreme Court ruled that the racial segregation of Black children in public schools was unconstitutional. In addition, the ruling in Brown v. Board had a profound effect on the education of children with disabilities. The purpose of this column is to examine the Supreme Court’s ruling and to explore the impact of the rulings on students with disabilities.
Helping Relationships From Significant Others Scale: Chinese Version
Authors: Chao Shu-Mei , Yen Miaofen , Teng Hsiu-Lan , Natashia Dhea , Yueh Fang-Ru
Published: December 2021

Using the helping relationships from significant others (HRSO) scale assists patients, such as those with chronic kidney disease (CKD), in adopting a healthy lifestyle to decelerate disease progression, complications, and mortality. To study the efficacy of the scale, we recruited a convenience sample ( n = 250) of patients with CKD from a nephrology clinic in southern Taiwan. Principal axis factor analysis and a promax rotation revealed a 15-item, three-factor explanation of 68.44 % of the total variance. The confirmatory factor analysis showed a good fit. The Composite reliability was .91, .89, and .92 in the same factors. Cronbach’s alpha was .90 for the 15-item scale, with the 3 subscales ranging from .86 to .91. The split reliability was .73. The HRSO is a valid and reliable scale to measure significant others’ support of patients with CKD in maintaining a healthy lifestyle.
Targeted Optical Neural Stimulation: A New Era for Personalized Medicine
Authors: Ping An , Pan Li , Zhang Jianmin , Xu Kedi , Schriver Kenneth E. , Zhu Junming , Roe Anna Wang
Published: December 2021

Targeted optical neural stimulation comprises infrared neural stimulation and optogenetics, which affect the nervous system through induced thermal transients and activation of light-sensitive proteins, respectively. The main advantage of this pair of optical tools is high functional selectivity, which conventional electrical stimulation lacks. Over the past 15 years, the mechanism, safety, and feasibility of optical stimulation techniques have undergone continuous investigation and development. When combined with other methods like optical imaging and high-field functional magnetic resonance imaging, the translation of optical stimulation to clinical practice adds high value. We review the theoretical foundations and current state of optical stimulation, with a particular focus on infrared neural stimulation as a potential bridge linking optical stimulation to personalized medicine.
Finite-time disturbance observer based-control of flexible spacecraft
Authors: Hajnorouzali Yasaman , Malekzadeh Maryam , Ataei Mohammad
Published: December 2021

This paper aims to design an attitude controller for a flexible spacecraft under external disturbance and uncertainty. The spacecraft’s attitude is controlled by a super twisting controller based on a disturbance observer. This paper’s spacecraft system is non-minimum phase since mode-shapes are included in the output; thus, the following four methods are designed to compensate for the constraint: (1) The output redefinition method, where outputs are redefined as a combination of mode-shapes and quaternions. (2) The flexible spacecraft is controlled without measuring the mode-shapes, and only the quaternion parameters are selected as the output. (3) An advanced sliding surface is proposed, in which the mode-shapes are considered in the sliding surface. (4) The difference between flexible and rigid spacecraft dynamics is considered as disturbance, and its effect on the system is compensated. The finite-time stability of the closed-loop system is proved by leveraging the Lyapunov theory. The numerical simulation illustrates the closed-loop system’s effectiveness in terms of robustness compared to the existing controller and the four mentioned methods.
It Ain’t Over Till It's Over?: Correlates of Post-Separation Abuse Among Unmarried Women in the Republic of Korea
Authors: Shim Hyunjung , Wilkes Nicole , Hayes Brittany E.
Published: December 2021

This study investigates the correlates of post-separation abuse among unmarried women in the Republic of Korea ( n = 744). The study employs a logistic regression model to consider if prior intimate partner violence victimization, relationship characteristics, and separation characteristics are associated with post-separation abuse. The results showed that experiencing coercive control by the former partner during the relationship, initiating the separation, and having a lower income than her former partner's income increased the odds of post-separation abuse. The findings imply that programs designed to prevent victimization or enhance victims’ safety need to consider broader relationship and separation contexts.
Modelling Prenatal Care Pathways at a Central Hospital in Zimbabwe
Authors: David Rodreck , Evans Ruth , Fraser Hamish SF
Published: December 2021

Background:

Maternal mortality remains a problem in low-income countries (LICs). In Zimbabwe, there has been an unprecedented increase in maternal mortality in the last 2.5 decades. Effective prenatal care delivery, particularly early visits, appropriate number of visits, and receiving recommended care is viewed as key to reducing fatal care outcomes.

Aims:

This study sought to model and identify gaps requiring service and care delivery improvement in prenatal care pathways for pregnant women visiting Mpilo Central Hospital in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe.

Methods:

This was a case study of the services offered by an antenatal care department at Mpilo Central Hospital in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe. Evidence from literature in low-income countries was used to develop prenatal care pathway guidelines as a tool to guide care delivery and identify gaps in care and service delivery. One hundred cases of prenatal care records were reviewed to determine the prenatal care pathway and care delivered to pregnant women. This data was complemented by interviews with 20 maternity care clinicians.

Results:

In 100 maternity case records studied, 53% booked for prenatal care. Of the 53% (n = 53) pregnant women who booked, their first visit on their pregnancy was late at an average gestational age of 27.1 weeks with extremes of 30 to 40 weeks in 38% (n = 20) cases. Missing scheduled prenatal care appointments was prevalent, with only 11% (n = 6) having attended all the expected 5 visits, whilst 60% (n = 32) missed 3 or more. There were inadequacies in the care delivered to women in each visit compared to that expected in such areas as obstetrics, physical examinations and haematological tests. Maternity care clinicians attributed the cost of prenatal booking fees in the background of poverty and poor family support systems as key factors hindering women’s access to prenatal services.

Conclusions:

The current prenatal care pathway at MCH requires improvement in the areas of referral, adherence to appointment by pregnant women and visiting prenatal care early. Clinicians also need to adhere to standard clinical tests recommended for each specific pregnant woman’s visit. In the Zimbabwean setting with limited resources, where the number of visits is already low, pathways with reduced visits may not be appropriate. An investment into prenatal care by the government is recommended to enable the utilisation of interventions such as e-health technologies that may improve care delivery as well as adherence to best practices. E-health and mobile health technologies involving e-referrals, e-booking, decision support, and reminder systems are recommended for clinicians to manage and deliver appropriate care to patients as well as pregnant women to adhere to scheduled visits.
Hypothyroidism Is Associated With Longer Hospital Stay Following Implantation Of Left Ventricular Assist Device
Authors: Isa Sakiru O , Buhari Olajide , Adeniran-Isa Muminat , Baral Nischit , Adhikari Govinda , AbdulAzeem Basel , Savarapu Pramod , Adekolujo Oyebimpe , Hassan Mustafa , Adeboye Adedayo
Published: December 2021

Background:

There has been a steady and consistent rise in the use of left ventricular assist devices in the management of patients with advanced heart failure. Hypothyroidism also remains one of the most common endocrine conditions with a significant impact on the development and overall outcomes of heart failure. The authors analyzed the National Inpatient Sample to evaluate the effect of hypothyroidism on the in-hospital outcomes of patients with end-stage heart failure following the placement of left ventricular assist device.

Methods:

The national inpatient sample was queried to identify all adult patients who had LVAD placement from 2004 to 2014. They were subsequently divided into those with hypothyroidism and those without hypothyroidism. The primary outcome was in-hospital mortality. Other outcomes were acute kidney injury, length, and cost of hospitalization. Logistic regression models were created to determine the outcomes of interest.

Results:

Of 2643 patients in the study, 5.4% had hypothyroidism, and 94.6% did not. The hypothyroid patients were significantly older compared to the non-hypothyroid patients (mean age 58.6 years vs 49.95 years, P-value <.0001). Both groups had similar gender composition. In-hospital mortality was similar across both groups. However, there was a higher incidence of acute kidney injury (AKI) in the hypothyroid group (adjusted odds ratio [aOR 1.83, P-value <.001]). Hypothyroid patients had longer hospital stays (adjusted mean difference [aMD] 5.19, P-value .0001). Hospital charges were also higher in the hypothyroid group.

Conclusion:

This study found that LVAD is associated with longer hospital stay in hypothyroid patients with heart failure.
Exploring a systemic functional semiotics approach to understanding emotional expression in singing performance: Implications for music education
Authors: Ngo Thu , Spreadborough Kristal
Published: December 2021

Engagement with songs through performance and analysis is a key component of music curricula worldwide. Music learning has a significant impact on a number of student competencies, including enhancing students’ communicative abilities as they learn to manipulate, express, and share sound in both voice qualities and lyrics. However, common analyses of singing performance rarely focus exclusively on voice quality, and there is no systematic framework which considers how emotional meaning in lyrics interacts with emotional meaning in voice quality. Drawing on systemic functional semiotics, this article proposes a unified theoretical framework for examining how emotional meaning is co-constructed in the voice and lyrics in singing performance. This framework provides a novel approach for discussing and teaching song analysis and performance. The framework will be illustrated through the analysis of the interaction between voice quality and lyrics in the song “Someone Like You” performed by Adele.
War or peace tweets? The case of Pakistan
Authors: Fahmy Shahira S , Hussain Shabir
Published: December 2021

This study explores the application of social media in a violent conflict and examines the role that Twitter can play in communicative processes in light of peacebuilding practices. It bridges a gap in communication research by conducting a war/peace framing analysis on Twitter regarding the second deadliest terrorist attack in Pakistan. Our results challenge the idealistic perspectives of peace communication scholars, who predicted that digital platforms would lead to a strong peace framing approach. Similar to traditional media, the tweets were dominated by war frames. Results also showed the amount of war and peace indicators varied over time. Further, findings suggest the narrative that ultimately failed to highlight a peace framework, was largely shaped by local events and the power of traditional stakeholders.
Fields, features, and filters: how dating applications construct sexual fields and romantic and erotic capital
Authors: Regan Hannah
Published: December 2021

Young adults have gone from consulting matchmakers to app-makers, as they seek ways to meet sexual and romantic partners. Each dating application is constructed in a distinctive manner, creating unique “sexual fields” on each platform. In this study, I consider the affordances of four dating applications—the structure of profiles, available search filters, and application features—in order to understand how dating applications construct sexual fields and emphasize different forms of erotic and romantic capital. I find that which qualities constitute capital differs depending on the platform politics of the application, and the sexual fields vary according to the intended audience and outcome of the rules for interactions on the app. Such an analysis reveals how forces of heterosexism, racism, and classism operate in modern partner-seeking, both romantic and sexual.
Is Group Lending a Collateral for Informal Credit?
Authors: Venittelli Tiziana
Published: December 2021

This article explores how participation in microfinance programs affects informal credit conditions. Using data on the rural credit market of Andhra Pradesh, I provide evidence that group lending participants obtain lower interest rates from the informal credit market. This result can be explained by two main factors. On the one hand, due to joint liability, group lending clients have high incentives to monitor each other, which implies a reduction in the agency costs for moneylenders. On the other hand, as microfinance borrowers are required to invest the credit in income generating activities, they face a lower default risk. Taken together, these two mechanisms may explain why microcredit borrowers are perceived as less risky by informal lenders. Overall, the findings suggest that moneylenders benefit from the duality in the market, thus providing empirical support to recent theoretical research hypothesizing that there is a complementarity relationship between formal and informal credit suppliers.
The self-directed learning readiness of access to HE students at City College Plymouth, United Kingdom
Authors: Mbeau‐ache Cyril , Banks Brian , Ford Chris
Published: December 2021

This study examines the levels of self-directed learning skills for students on the Access to HE course at City College and how these skills relate to their academic achievement. In this study, 101 students participated in a survey and their self-directed learning readiness was measured using the Self-Directed Learning Readiness Scale (SRSSDL). Achievement was determined using the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS) tariff point system. The findings showed that 38% of students on the course had moderate levels of self-directed learning and 62% had high levels of self-directedness. The mean SRSSDL score for all students who took part in the study indicated just an above moderate level of self-directed learning. These findings suggest that areas for improvement should be identified and evaluated and strategies adopted with the help of the teacher to help improve students’ self-directed learning skills. Results from further analysis revealed that self-directed learning is strongly correlated with students’ academic achievement and that SRSSDL total score significantly predicted UCAS points ( p = .049). Based on these findings, including components of self-directed learning in teaching for students on the Access to HE course might be beneficial in improving their overall achievement.
Exploring the Feminization of Backseat Gaming Through Girlfriend Reviews YouTube Channel
Authors: Yodovich Neta , Kim Jinju
Published: December 2021

This paper scrutinizes the feminization of backseat gaming by examining the successful YouTube gaming reviews channel, Girlfriend Reviews. As video games are considered a male-dominated hobby, this channel, which provides the perspective of a male gamer’s girlfriend offers a compelling case study to explore the ways in which women can access the gaming community. Through analyzing the opinions and sentiments expressed in the comment sections, we explore how viewers engage with the channel and why they support or condone it. We argue that viewers gravitate toward the channel for three significant reasons: the girlfriend being (1) a supportive backseat gamer, (2) who holds no prior knowledge on gaming, and (3) does not engage with feminist discourse. We argue that the position of “the girlfriend”/“backseat gamer” provides women an alternative pathway into the gaming community. However, moments of pushback demonstrate the fragility of women’s position in such presumed male-dominated communities.
Differences of Sedentary Behavior, Physical Activity, and Metabolic Syndrome Severity Among Metabolic Syndrome Clusters
Authors: Booker Robert , Jones Raymond , Galloway Riley , Holmes Megan E.
Published: December 2021

Background: Sedentary behavior (SB), physical activity (PA), and metabolic syndrome (MetS) are risk indicators for cardiometabolic diseases. Novel methods for researching MetS by the 16 unique clusters (i.e., WC+FBG+BP) and as a continuous severity z-score (MetS-Z) have emerged. This study examined how SB, PA, and MetS-Z differed among MetS clusters and SB and PA differences by MetS-Z tertiles. Methods: Using 2015-2016 National Health and Nutritional Examination Survey (NHANES) data, participants with MetS (N = 792) were identified. Subsequently, sex-, race-, and ethnicity-specific MetS-Z were calculated. SB and PA differences were compared between MetS clusters and MetS-Z tertiles. Additionally, MetS-Z was compared between MetS clusters. Results: The WC+FBG+BP MetS cluster was prevalent among 23.80% of participants (95% CIs, 18.41-30.18) and the overall mean MetS-Z was 1.16 (1.08-1.24). Participants reported over 6 daily hours of SB (393.41 minutes⋅day-1 [370.07-416.75]). The TRI+FBG+BP+HDL MetS cluster had less SB than the WC+TRI+FBG+HDL, WC+TRI+HDL, and WC+FBG+BP MetS clusters. PA did not differ between MetS clusters and no differences in SB or PA between MetS-Z tertiles. Conclusions: Limited differences in SB and PA were observed. Participants with 4 or more MetS criteria had worse MetS-Z. Efforts should support replacing SB with PA to improve cardiometabolic health.
Incorporating Prior Information in Adaptive Model Predictive Control for Multivariable Artificial Pancreas Systems
Authors: Sun Xiaoyu , Rashid Mudassir , Hobbs Nicole , Brandt Rachel , Askari Mohammad Reza , Cinar Ali
Published: December 2021

Background:

Adaptive model predictive control (MPC) algorithms that recursively update the glucose prediction model are shown to be promising in the development of fully automated multivariable artificial pancreas systems. However, the recursively updated glycemic prediction models do not explicitly consider prior knowledge in the identification of the model parameters. Prior information of the glycemic effects of meals and physical activity can improve model accuracy and yield better glycemic control algorithms.

Methods:

A glucose prediction model based on regularized partial least squares (rPLS) method where the prior information is encoded as the regularization term is developed to provide accurate predictions of the future glucose concentrations. An adaptive MPC is developed that incorporates dynamic trajectories for the glucose setpoint and insulin dosing constraints based on the estimated plasma insulin concentration (PIC). The proposed adaptive MPC algorithm is robust to disturbances caused by unannounced meals and physical activities even in cases with missing glucose measurements. The effectiveness of the proposed adaptive MPC based on rPLS is investigated with in silico subjects of the multivariable glucose-insulin-physiological variables simulator (mGIPsim).

Results:

The efficacy of the proposed adaptive MPC strategy in regulating the blood glucose concentration (BGC) of people with T1DM is assessed using the average percent time in range (TIR) for glucose, defined as 70 to 180 mg/dL inclusive, and the average percent time in hypoglycemia (<70 and >54 mg/dL) and level 2 hypoglycemia (≤54 mg/dL). The TIR for a cohort of 20 virtual subjects of mGIPsim is 81.9% ± 7.4% (with no hypoglycemia or severe hypoglycemia) for the proposed MPC compared with 73.9% ± 7.6% (0.2% ± 0.1% in hypoglycemia and 0.1% ± 0.1% in level 2 hypoglycemia) for an MPC based on a recursive autoregressive exogenous (ARX) model.

Conclusions:

The adaptive MPC algorithm that incorporates prior knowledge in the recursive updating of the glucose prediction model can contribute to the development of fully automated artificial pancreas systems that can mitigate meal and physical activity disturbances.
Mobile App Interventions to Improve Medication Adherence Among Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Patients: A Systematic Review of Clinical Trials
Authors: Shrivastava Tarani Prakash , Goswami Shikha , Gupta Rahul , Goyal Ramesh K.
Published: December 2021

Background:

Medication adherence in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients is often suboptimal resulting in complications. There has been a growing interest in using mobile apps for improving medication adherence.

Objective:

The objective of this work was to systematically review the clinical trials that have used mobile app–based interventions in T2DM patients for improving medication adherence.

Methodology:

A systematic search was performed to identify published clinical trials between January 2008 and December 2020 in databases—PubMed, Cochrane Library, and Google Scholar. All studies were assessed for risk of bias using quality rating tool from the Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Interventions.

Results:

Seven clinical studies having 649 participants were studied. The median sample size was 58 (range = 41-247) and the median age of participants was 53.2 (range = 48-69.4) years. All studies showed improvements in adherence; however, only three studies reported statically significant improvements in adherence measures. Selected studies were deemed as unclear in their risk of bias and the most common source of risk of bias among the studies was the absence of objective outcome assessment.

Conclusions:

Mobile apps appear to be effective interventions to help improve medication adherence in T2DM patients compared with conventional care strategies. The features of the App to improvise medical adherence cannot be defined based on the meta-analysis because of heterogeneity of study designs and less number of sample size. Systematically planned studies would set up applicability of mobile apps in the clinical management of T2DM.
‘Enter the Dream Tiger’. Borges, Abbau and the Shrouded Hall of Mirrors of Educational Reflection
Authors: Hodkinson Alan
Published: December 2021

This article reflects upon initial teacher education programme’s employment of reflection. The article argues that the orginary ground of educational reflection, dominated by theorists such as Dewey and Schon, has been colonised by a form of ‘Total Reflection’ that is conceptualised and manufactured within the Teacher Standards and its associated discourse. Through employment of the concept of Abbau, the work of Borges and mirror theory, the article reveals how student teachers are not enabled to be reflective but instead are created as the celebrated automata whose professional image is shrouded, codified and solidified by a Master Weaving machine. The article suggests that if educational reflection is to become useful in teacher development, then it must return to its past incarnations.
“It’s Pure Chaos Every Day”: COVID-19 and the work of Canadian federal institutional parole officers
Authors: Norman Mark , Ricciardelli Rosemary
Published: December 2021

As the Canadian federal correctional system grappled with the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, institutional parole officers, who play a central role in prisoners’ case management team, remained essential service providers. Working in uncertain circumstances, these correctional workers navigated new and rapidly changing protocols and risks, while attempting to continue to provide support to those on their caseloads. Based on semi-structured interviews with 96 institutional parole officers, conducted after Canada’s “first wave” of COVID-19 infections, we analyze three ways in which their work was impacted by the pandemic: shifting workloads, routines, and responsibilities; increased workloads due to decarceration (i.e., efforts to reduce the number of incarcerated individuals); and the navigation of new forms of risk and uncertainty. This study advances the understanding of stress and risk in probation and parole work and presents recommendations to ameliorate the occupational stresses experienced by correctional workers during and beyond COVID-19.
Factors Influencing the Consumer Acceptance of Innovation in Handicraft Products
Authors: Shafi Mohsin , Junrong Liu , Yang Yongzhong , Jian Deng , Rahman Imran UR , Moudi Mahdi
Published: December 2021

This study investigates the factors influencing consumer acceptance of certain types of innovation in handicraft products. Another aim of the article is construct/scale development applicable to handicrafts because our study collected scale items from other studies and tried to develop constructs applicable to handicraft products. The descriptive analysis through a quantitative cross-sectional consumer survey was applied along with cluster analysis for consumer market segmentation following the acceptance of certain types of innovations. Eight factors were discovered through EFA. The construct scores for authenticity innovation, packaging innovation, value-adding, product improvement, product design innovation, alternative/new materials, quality materials, and technological innovations were used in the cluster analysis. The results show that most consumers are open to accepting innovation in handicrafts. Particularly, consumers prefer those innovations that do not modify the traditional features and characteristics of products, such as authenticity, packaging, and quality-related innovations. However, consumers considered technological innovations as more skeptical. The comparison of socio-demographic profile of consumer segments with their acceptance of innovation indicates that the younger generation and well-educated consumers are more willing to accept innovation in handicraft products. Contrarily, the old-age consumers were unwilling to accept the innovation and prefer to purchase authentic and quality products. Additionally, as income increases, people like more authentic and quality products. This study focused on an emerging topic for handicraft industry, that is, innovation considered controversial, challenging, and received less attention from scholars in past. Further, this study is the first of its kind to explore the consumer acceptance of innovation in handicraft products.
What Do We Know About Customer Churn Behaviour in the Telecommunication Industry? A Bibliometric Analysis of Research Trends, 1985–2019
Authors: Bhattacharyya Jishnu , Dash Manoj Kumar
Published: December 2021

The literature on telecommunications customer churn behaviour has grown in importance and volume since the early 2000s. This study performed a quantitative bibliometric retrospection of selected journals that qualified for the ABDC journal quality list to examine relevant studies published by them on customer churn research in telecommunication. Using bibliometric data from 175 research articles available in the Scopus database, this review sheds light on the publication trends, articles, stakeholders, prevalent research techniques, and topics of interest over three decades (1985–2019). According to the findings of this review, the current level of contributions are manifested through ten overarching groups of scholarship—namely churn prediction and modelling, feature selection techniques and comparison, customer retention strategy and relationship management, service recovery, pricing and switching cost, legislation, legal, and policy, word-of-mouth and post-switching behaviour, new service adoption, brand credibility, and loyalty. The existing literature has predominantly utilized quantitative methods to their full potential. For far too long, scholars, according tothe study’s central thesis, have ignored the metatheoretical consequences of relying solely on a logical positivism paradigm. In addition, we highlight research directions and the need for customer churn research to go beyond feature selection and modelling.
Single-cell multiomics reveals increased plasticity, resistant populations, and stem-cell–like blasts in KMT2A-rearranged leukemia
Authors: Chen Changya , Yu Wenbao , Alikarami Fatemeh , Qiu Qi , Chen Chia-hui , Flournoy Jennifer , Gao Peng , Uzun Yasin , Fang Li , Davenport James W. , Hu Yuxuan , Zhu Qin , Wang Kai , Libbrecht Clara , Felmeister Alex , Rozich Isaiah , Ding Yang-yang , Hunger Stephen P. , Felix Carolyn A. , Wu Hao , Brown Patrick A. , Guest Erin M. , Barrett David M. , Bernt Kathrin M. , Tan Kai
Published: December 2021

KMT2A-rearranged (KMT2A-r) infant acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is a devastating malignancy with a dismal outcome, and younger age at diagnosis is associated with increased risk of relapse. To discover age-specific differences and critical drivers that mediate poor outcome in KMT2A-r ALL, we subjected KMT2A-r leukemias and normal hematopoietic cells from patients of different ages to single-cell multiomics analyses. We uncovered the following critical new insights: leukemia cells from patients <6 months have significantly increased lineage plasticity. Steroid response pathways are downregulated in the most immature blasts from younger patients. We identify a hematopoietic stem and progenitor-like (HSPC-like) population in the blood of younger patients that contains leukemic blasts and form an immunosuppressive signaling circuit with cytotoxic lymphocytes. These observations offer a compelling explanation for the ability of leukemias in young patients to evade chemotherapy and immune-mediated control. Our analysis also revealed preexisting lymphomyeloid primed progenitors and myeloid blasts at initial diagnosis of B-ALL. Tracking of leukemic clones in 2 patients whose leukemia underwent a lineage switch documented the evolution of such clones into frank acute myeloid leukemia (AML). These findings provide critical insights into KMT2A-r ALL and have clinical implications for molecularly targeted and immunotherapy approaches. Beyond infant ALL, our study demonstrates the power of single-cell multiomics to detect tumor intrinsic and extrinsic factors affecting rare but critical subpopulations within a malignant population that ultimately determines patient outcome.
Delamination Testing of AlSi10Mg Sandwich Structures with Pyramidal Lattice Truss Core made by Laser Powder Bed Fusion
Authors: Nuño M. , Bühring J. , Rao M. N. , Schröder K. -U.
Published: December 2021

Sandwich structures possess a high bending stiffness compared to monolithic structures with a similar weight. This makes them very suitable for lightweight applications, where high stiffness to weight ratios are needed. Most common manufacturing methods of sandwich structures involve adhesive bonding of the core material with the sheets. However, adhesive bonding is prone to delamination, a failure mode that is often difficult to detect. This paper presents the results of delamination testing of fully additive manufactured (AM) AlSi10Mg sandwich structures with pyramidal lattice truss core using Laser Powder Bed Fusion (LPBF). The faces and struts are 0.5 mm thick, while the core is 2 mm thick. The inclination of the struts is 45°. To characterise the bonding strength, climbing drum peel tests and out-of-plane tensile tests are performed. Analytical formulas are derived to predict the expected failure loads and modes. The analytics and tests are supported by finite element (FE) calculations. From the analytic approach, design guidelines to avoid delamination in AM sandwich structures are derived. The study presents a critical face sheet thickness to strut diameter ratio for which the structure can delaminate. This ratio is mainly influenced by the inclination of the struts. The peel tests resulted in face yielding, which can also be inferred from the analytics and numerics. The out-of-plane tensile tests didn’t damage the structure.
Fault Diagnosis Based on BP Neural Network Optimized by Beetle Algorithm
Authors: Xiao Maohua , Zhang Wei , Wen Kai , Zhu Yue , Yiliyasi Yilidaer
Published: December 2021

In the process of Wavelet Analysis, only the low-frequency signals are re-decomposed, and the high-frequency signals are no longer decomposed, resulting in a decrease in frequency resolution with increasing frequency. Therefore, in this paper, firstly, Wavelet Packet Decomposition is used for feature extraction of vibration signals, which makes up for the shortcomings of Wavelet Analysis in extracting fault features of nonlinear vibration signals, and different energy values in different frequency bands are obtained by Wavelet Packet Decomposition. The features are visualized by the K-Means clustering method, and the results show that the extracted energy features can accurately distinguish the different states of the bearing. Then a fault diagnosis model based on BP Neural Network optimized by Beetle Algorithm is proposed to identify the bearing faults. Compared with the Particle Swarm Algorithm, Beetle Algorithm can quickly find the error extreme value, which greatly reduces the training time of the model. At last, two experiments are conducted, which show that the accuracy of the model can reach more than 95%, and the model has a certain anti-interference ability.
Measurement and Characterisation of a Diffuse Acoustic Field Using a Phased Array
Authors: Cheng Jingwei
Published: December 2021

A diffuse acoustic field has been increasingly used to infer temporal changes in the structures, such as early dislocations and microcracking. This study explores three different techniques to characterise acoustic field by using a single ultrasonic phased array. The first two techniques are proposed to measure spatial uniformity of wave field by examining differences in the integral of energy and the maximum energy respectively at multiple inspection locations. The third one is developed to evaluate the degree of phase coherence between propagating waves transmitted sequentially by two neighbouring array elements. The efficacy of these techniques are investigated by examining their metrics on simulations and well-known samples. The results suggest that two selected metrics can be used to quantitatively estimate the diffuse field start time as well as the field size by comparing their value with the idealised diffuse state (15% for the energy integral metric,ηareaand 1 for the phase coherence metric,ηphase) and identifying the convergence start point.
Multifunctional Gold Nanoparticles for Improved Diagnostic and Therapeutic Applications: A Review
Authors: Sibuyi Nicole Remaliah Samantha , Moabelo Koena Leah , Fadaka Adewale Oluwaseun , Meyer Samantha , Onani Martin Opiyo , Madiehe Abram Madimabe , Meyer Mervin
Published: December 2021

The medical properties of metals have been explored for centuries in traditional medicine for the treatment of infections and diseases and still practiced to date. Platinum-based drugs are the first class of metal-based drugs to be clinically used as anticancer agents following the approval of cisplatin by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) over 40 years ago. Since then, more metals with health benefits have been approved for clinical trials. Interestingly, when these metals are reduced to metallic nanoparticles, they displayed unique and novel properties that were superior to their bulk counterparts. Gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) are among the FDA-approved metallic nanoparticles and have shown great promise in a variety of roles in medicine. They were used as drug delivery, photothermal (PT), contrast, therapeutic, radiosensitizing, and gene transfection agents. Their biomedical applications are reviewed herein, covering their potential use in disease diagnosis and therapy. Some of the AuNP-based systems that are approved for clinical trials are also discussed, as well as the potential health threats of AuNPs and some strategies that can be used to improve their biocompatibility. The reviewed studies offer proof of principle that AuNP-based systems could potentially be used alone or in combination with the conventional systems to improve their efficacy.
Genetic architecture of protein expression and its regulation in the mouse brain
Authors: Erickson Alyssa , Zhou Suiping , Luo Jie , Li Ling , Huang Xin , Even Zachary , Huang He , Xu Hai-Ming , Peng Junmin , Lu Lu , Wang Xusheng
Published: December 2021

Background

Natural variation in protein expression is common in all organisms and contributes to phenotypic differences among individuals. While variation in gene expression at the transcript level has been extensively investigated, the genetic mechanisms underlying variation in protein expression have lagged considerably behind. Here we investigate genetic architecture of protein expression by profiling a deep mouse brain proteome of two inbred strains, C57BL/6 J (B6) and DBA/2 J (D2), and their reciprocal F1 hybrids using two-dimensional liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry (LC/LC-MS/MS) technology.

Results

By comparing protein expression levels in the four mouse strains, we observed 329 statistically significant differentially expressed proteins between the two parental strains and characterized the genetic basis of protein expression. We further applied a proteogenomic approach to detect variant peptides and define protein allele-specific expression (pASE), identifying 33 variant peptides with cis-effects and 17 variant peptides showing trans-effects. Comparison of regulation at transcript and protein levels show a significant divergence.

Conclusions

The results provide a comprehensive analysis of genetic architecture of protein expression and the contribution of cis- and trans-acting regulatory differences to protein expression.
Epigenetic modifications potentially controlling the allelic expression of imprinted genes in sunflower endosperm
Authors: Zhang Zhichao , Yu Shuai , Li Jing , Zhu Yanbin , Jiang Siqi , Xia Haoran , Zhou Yue , Sun Daqiu , Liu Meiling , Li Cong , Zhu Yanshu , Ruan Yanye , Dong Xiaomei
Published: December 2021

Background

Genomic imprinting is an epigenetic phenomenon mainly occurs in endosperm of flowering plants. Genome-wide identification of imprinted genes have been completed in several dicot Cruciferous plant and monocot crops.

Results

Here, we analyzed global patterns of allelic gene expression in developing endosperm of sunflower which belongs to the composite family. Totally, 691 imprinted loci candidates were identified in 12 day-after-pollination sunflower endosperm including 79 maternally expressed genes (MEG) and 596 paternally expressed genes (PEG), 6 maternally expressed noncoding RNAs (MNC) and 10 paternally expressed noncoding RNAs (PNC). And a clear clustering of imprinted genes throughout the rapeseed genome was identified. Generally, imprinting in sunflower is conserved within a species, but intraspecific variation also was detected. Limited loci in sunflower are imprinted in other several different species. The DNA methylation pattern around imprinted genes were investigated in embryo and endosperm tissues. In CG context, the imprinted genes were significantly associated with differential methylated regions exhibiting hypomethylation in endosperm and hypermethylation in embryo, which indicated that the maternal demethylation in CG context potentially induce the genomic imprinting in endosperm.

Conclusion

Our study would be helpful for understanding of genomic imprinting in plants and provide potential basis for further research in imprinting in sunflower.
Communicating incidental and reportable findings from research MRIs: considering factors beyond the findings in an underrepresented pediatric population
Authors: Vander Wyst Kiley B. , Olson Micah L. , Bailey Smita S. , Valencia Ana Martinez , Peña Armando , Miller Jeffrey , Shub Mitchell , Seabrooke Lee , Pimentel Janiel , Olsen Kiri , Rosenberg Robert B. , Shaibi Gabriel Q.
Published: December 2021

Background

The application of advanced imaging in pediatric research trials introduces the challenge of how to effectively handle and communicate incidental and reportable findings. This challenge is amplified in underserved populations that experience disparities in access to healthcare as recommendations for follow-up care may be difficult to coordinate. Therefore, the purpose of the present report is to describe the process for identifying and communicating findings from a research MRI to low-income Latino children and families.

Methods

Latino adolescents (n = 86) aged 12–16 years old with obesity and prediabetes underwent a research MRI (3 Tesla Philips Ingenia®) as part of a randomized controlled diabetes prevention trial. The research MRIs were performed at baseline and 6 months to assess changes in whole-abdominal fat distribution and organ fat in response to the intervention. An institutional pathway was developed for identifying and reporting findings to participants and families. The pathway was developed through a collaborative process with hospital administration, research compliance, radiology, and the research team. All research images were reviewed by a board-certified pediatric radiologist who conveyed findings to the study pediatrician for determination of clinical actionability and reportability to children and families. Pediatric sub-specialists were consulted as necessary and a primary care practitioner (PCP) from a free community health clinic agreed to receive referrals for uninsured participants.

Results

A total of 139 images (86 pre- and 53 post-intervention) were reviewed with 31 findings identified and 23 deemed clinically actionable and reportable. The only reportable finding was severely elevated liver fat (> 10%,n = 14) with the most common and concerning incidental findings being horseshoe kidney (n = 1) and lung lesion (n = 1). The remainder (n = 7) were less serious. Of youth with a reportable or incidental finding, 18 had a PCP but only 7 scheduled a follow-up appointment. Seven participants without a PCP were referred to a safety-net clinic for follow-up.

Conclusions

With the increased utilization of high-resolution imaging in pediatric research, additional standardization is needed on what, when, and how to return incidental and reportable findings to participants, particularly among historically underrepresented populations that may be underserved in the community.

Trial registration

Preventing Diabetes in Latino Youth,NCT02615353
Acute fibrinous and organizing pneumonia complicated with hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis caused by chronic active Epstein-Barr virus infection: a case report
Authors: Wu Xiaojing , Wang Kejing , Gao Yayue , Cai Ying , Wang Wenqiao , Zhong Dingrong , Zhan Qingyuan
Published: December 2021

Background

Acute fibrinous and organizing pneumonia (AFOP) is a rare lung condition that is associated with acute lung injury. Its etiology may be idiopathic or secondary to a series of conditions, including immune-related diseases, unclassified connective tissue diseases, hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, infections, hematological diseases and drug induced lung toxicity. We report for the first time a case of AFOP complicated with hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) caused by chronic active Epstein-Barr virus (CAEBV) infection.

Case presentation

A 64-year-old man was admitted with a complaint of fever and dyspnea for 2 weeks. The patient presented with elevated serum aminotransferase levels, splenomegaly, progressive decrease of red blood cells and platelets, hyperferritinemia, hypofibrinogenemia, and elevated of Soluble interleukin-2 receptor (sCD25). His chest computed tomography (CT) scan revealed multiple patchy consolidation in both lungs and multiple lymphadenopathy in the mediastinum and hilum. The serology for antibodies of VCA-IgG was positive, EBV-DNA in peripheral blood was elevated, and EBV nucleic acid was detected in the alveolar lavage fluid. Histopathology of the lung tissue showed a dominant of intra-alveolar fibrin and organizing pneumonia. Hemophagocytic cells was found in the bone marrow smear and biopsy. EBV-DNA was detected in lung tissue and bone marrow using in situ hybridization with an EBV-encoded RNA (EBER) probe. After 50 days of hospitalization, he was improved in lung and hemogram.

Conclusion

We report a case of AFOP with HLH caused by CAEBV in an immunocompetent adult, suggesting that AFOP may be a rare but serious complication caused by CAEBV, and glucocorticoid therapy may improve short-term prognosis.