bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
HEALTHCARE EXPENDITURE IN PATIENTS TREATED WITH VENLAFAXINE OR SELECTIVE SEROTONIN REUPTAKE INHIBITORS FOR DEPRESSION AND ANXIETY
Authors: Wan GJ , Crown WH , Berndt ER , Finkelstein SN , Ling D
Published: April 2023

We compared healthcare expenditure over a six‐month period following initiation of therapy with either venlafaxine (immediate and extended‐release) or a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) in depressed patients with or without anxiety. Patients beginning treatment for a new depressive episode were identified retrospectively using the administrative data of the MEDSTAT MarketScan® database for the period 1994–1999. Before beginning therapy, patients prescribed venlafaxine had more non‐mental illnesses (0.85vs0.76; p<0.01) and hospitalisations for mental illness (0.53vs0.29; p<0.05) than patients prescribed SSRIs. In the six months after initiating treatment, venlafaxine was associated with lower hospitalisation expenditure for non‐mental illness ($177vs$526; p<0.01) than SSRIs, although total healthcare expenditure was not significantly different. Venlafaxine was associated with a 50% decrease in the odds of hospitalisation for non‐mental illness compared with SSRIs, with significantly lower inpatient expenditure.
ABOLITION OF WOLFF‐PARKINSON‐WHITE PATTERN DURING EPISODES OF ANGINA
Authors: Mourad D , Al‐Bawi AM , Cherian G
Published: April 2023

A 70‐year‐old woman presented with unstable angina following a myocardial infarction. At cardiac catheterisation she had inferoapical dyskinesia, blocked right and circumflex arteries and an 80% stenosis of the left anterior descending artery. When free of angina, the ECG showed a Wolff‐Parkinson‐White (WPW) pattern consistent with a posterior free wall accessory pathway. However, during some episodes of angina at rest, she reverted to normal conduction and back again to the WPW pattern after the angina subsided with sublingual nitrate. The disappearance of the WPW pattern during angina can be explained by transient ischaemia blocking conduction in the accessory pathway.
MASSIVE UPPER GASTROINTESTINAL HAEMORRHAGE DUE TO INTRAGASTRIC RUPTURE OF A SPLENIC ARTERY ANEURYSM
Authors: Moawad M , Ray S , Joseph JV
Published: April 2023

Most cases of splenic artery aneurysm are asymptomatic, being found incidentally at the time of investigations (e.g. ultrasound, computed tomography, angiography) or laparotomy for other conditions. Rupture of a splenic artery aneurysm with erosion into the stomach is a rare cause of massive upper gastrointestinal haemorrhage. This case report is, to our knowledge, only the second case of splenic artery aneurysm presenting with massive upper gastrointestinal haemorrhage due to erosion into the stomach in a nulliparous woman.
NEVER FORGET THE RISKS OF IMMUNOSUPPRESSION
Authors: Mackillop LH , O'Donnell J , Ayliffe W , Jayawardene SA
Published: April 2023

It has been widely reported in the literature that malignant neoplasms are a recognised complication of immunosuppression following organ transplantation. These days, immunosuppressive drugs are being used for many conditions outside the transplant setting. A case of a de novo astrocytoma in a patient on long‐term immunosuppression for psoriatic arthritis is described
ETHNIC DIFFERENCES IN PERIPHERAL VASCULAR DISEASE
Authors: Makin A , Silverman S , Lip GYH
Published: April 2023

The wide variation in the way coronary artery disease (CAD) affects different ethnic groups and the associated risk factor profiles of these groups have been extensively studied, but ethnic differences in the clinical manifestations of peripheral vascular disease (PVD) have been relatively neglected. The aim of the present review is to provide an overview of PVD in different ethnic groups and to explore possible pathophysiological factors accounting for these differences. Atherosclerotic PVD is generally less prevalent in Indo‐Asians and Afro‐Caribbeans than in Caucasians, despite the ‘classical’ risk factors being as prevalent, if not more so, suggesting the possibility of as yet unidentified risk factors in these groups. Angiographic and microscopic evidence suggests that patients of African or Afro‐Caribbean origin suffer from a different pattern of PVD, which primarily affects the distal arteries. In contrast, Indo‐Asians tend to suffer from thromboangiitis obliterans (Buerger's disease) far more frequently than other ethnic groups; thus, their arterial disease appears to present much earlier and with greater severity. However, if this sub‐category of patient is excluded, they seem to suffer much less from ‘simple’ atherosclerotic disease than their Caucasian counterparts. Despite a higher prevalence of diabetes among Indo‐Asians, the prevalence of intermittent claudication is considerably less in this ethnic group.
INVASIVE LOBULAR CARCINOMA OF THE BREAST PRESENTING SUCCESSIVELY WITH COLONIC AND GASTRIC METASTASES
Authors: Basu S , Last A , Shinkfield M
Published: April 2023

Involvement of the gastrointestinal tract by metastases from invasive lobular carcinoma of the breast is well recognised. We report a unique case where, four years after the initial management of the primary breast disease, the patient developed colonic metastases followed by a disease‐free interval of two years and then presented with gastric metastases. The patient responded successfully to first‐ and second‐line chemotherapeutic agents on both occasions and is currently being maintained on third‐line hormonal therapy.
18. GENETICS OF BREAST CANCER
Authors: Irving M , Elmslie F , Berg J
Published: April 2023

It is well known that breast cancer often occurs in clusters within families. This clustering can be attributed to mutations in the breast cancer susceptibility genes, BRCA1 and BRCA2, in 16% of familial cases. Women with a family history of breast cancer, in whom no mutation is identified, are still at increased risk of developing the disease. This review addresses methods for estimating and stratifying risk of developing breast cancer based on family history. It also indicates how to identify patients likely to carry mutations in BRCA1 or BRCA2 and gives recommendations for intervention for women with a family history of breast cancer.
SUMATRIPTAN NASAL SPRAY FOR MIGRAINE: A REVIEW OF STUDIES IN PATIENTS AGED 17 YEARS AND YOUNGER
Authors: Hämäläinen M , Jones M , Loftus J , Saiers J
Published: April 2023

This review considers the epidemiology, clinical manifestations and functional consequences of migraine in children and adolescents and surveys the studies establishing the efficacy and tolerability of sumatriptan nasal spray in this patient population. Although therapeutic advances in paediatric and adolescent migraine have lagged behind those in adult migraine, the first systematic studies of migraine medications in young patients have brought about progress in the past five years. These studies show that therapeutic approaches suitable for adult patients are not always applicable to paediatric and adolescent patients. Because of the unique characteristics of paediatric and adolescent migraine, it has been difficult to demonstrate in young patients the efficacy of oral sumatriptan and other triptan tablets, which are the medications of choice for adult migraine. With sumatriptan, this finding has proven to be a consequence of the form in which the drug was administered rather than the inherent properties of the drug. The availability of sumatriptan nasal spray allows the benefits of migraine‐specific therapy to be extended to children and adolescents. In both well‐controlled, single‐episode studies and long‐term, multiple‐episode studies, sumatriptan nasal spray has been effective and well tolerated for the acute treatment of migraine in children and adolescents. Except for unpleasant taste, which is not significantly distressing to patients, sumatriptan nasal spray has a tolerability profile similar to that of placebo in young patients.
MANAGEMENT OF HYPERTHYROIDISM IN TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO
Authors: Teelucksingh S , Akong J , Klijn C , Ramdass M , Naraynsingh V
Published: April 2023

A questionnaire study of current practices regarding the investigation and treatment of hyperthyroidism was undertaken in Trinidad and Tobago between December 1999 and March 2000. The study evaluated the choice of laboratory tests requested and the therapeutic choices for a standard patient with hyperthyroidism. In addition, clinical scenarios based upon variations of the standard case (by altering age, gender, goitre size and duration of disease) were also tested. Two hundred and ninety‐six questionnaires were sent; 134 (45%) were returned, of which four were excluded for incomplete data. Ninety five per cent of respondents requested biochemical confirmation but the range of tests varied widely. Thyroid scintigraphy was requested by 36% and thyroid ultrasound by 35%. Medical treatment (75%) with antithyroid drugs was the most popular choice for treatment of the standard patient. This did not change significantly if the patient was male. On the other hand, radioiodine (62%) was more popular in the treatment of chronic/relapsing hyperthyroidism (p<0.005). In the elderly, medical management was still the most popular choice (57%) but the choice of radioiodine therapy was significantly increased compared with that in the standard patient (36% vs 19%) (p<0.005). In a young female with a large goitre and chronic disease, surgical intervention (61%) was the treatment of choice, especially among surgeons and general practitioners; radioiodine was chosen by 28% of respondents (mostly internists). There is need for clear guidelines in investigating thyroid disease but therapeutic choices are well informed and consistent with accepted practice elsewhere. In particular there is a fairly liberal attitude towards radioiodine use in hyperthyroidism.
FROM ADRENALINE TO FORMOTEROL: ADVANCES IN β‐AGONIST THERAPY IN THE TREATMENT OF ASTHMA
Authors: Campbell LM
Published: April 2023

Long‐acting β2‐agonists (formoterol and salmeterol) represent the latest advance in a series of improvements in β2‐agonist asthma therapy since the introduction of isoprenaline. Traditional inhaled short‐acting β2‐agonists (salbutamol and terbutaline) provide rapid as‐needed symptom relief and short‐term prophylactic protection against bronchoconstriction induced by exercise or other stimuli. Where symptoms are not adequately controlled by corticosteroids alone, inhaled selective long‐acting β2‐agonists are used additionally for maintenance. Salmeterol and formoterol are well tolerated, provide effective long‐term symptom control and reduce the incidence of exacerbations; any development of tolerance or masking of underlying inflammation with continual use does not appear to be clinically relevant. Formoterol is both rapid acting (as fast as salbutamol) and long acting (similar to salmeterol). Increasing clinical evidence suggests that inhaled formoterol is a convenient and well‐tolerated treatment that is effective both for regular maintenance and as‐needed relief of symptoms.
FOLK REMEDIES STILL IN USE: A CASE OF SOFT PALATE AND UVULAR OEDEMA DUE TO ECBALIUM ELATERIUM
Authors: Koussidis GA , Mountantonakis S , Petrichou CC
Published: April 2023

A case of soft palate and uvular oedema due to nasal administration of juice produced from the fruit of the plant Ecbalium elaterium, widely known as squirting cucumber, is presented. The patient recovered after administration of subcutaneous adrenaline and methylprednisolone. Cucurbitacins have been implicated in the past as toxic constituents of plants from the Cucurbitaceae family. Either an allergic reaction or a direct toxic effect of the constituents is responsible for the occurrence. A few similar cases have been reported, mostly in eastern Mediterranean countries.
TWIN REVERSED ARTERIAL PERFUSION (TRAP) SYNDROME
Authors: Sen S , Esen UI , Sturgiss SN
Published: April 2023

Twin reversed arterial perfusion (TRAP) syndrome is an extremely rare manifestation of feto‐fetal transfusion syndrome. This condition is seen in monozygotic twin pregnancies, where the affected twin is perfused retrogradely by the healthy twin. The affected twin presents with bizarre malformations such as acardia and acephalus. We present such a case, which was diagnosed prenatally. The pregnancy progressed uneventfully to term.
Defect mechanisms, oxygen vacancy trapping ability in rare‐earth doped BaTiO3 from first‐principles and thermodynamics
Authors: Cheng Xu , Zhen YiChao , Zhao Peiyao , Hui Kezhen , Xiao Mengjian , Guo Limin , Fu Zhenxiao , Cao Xiuhua , Li Longtu , Wang Xiaohui
Published: April 2023

The defect mechanisms of rare earth (RE) doped BaTiO3 have a strong impact on the electrical performance of the multilayer ceramics capacitors (MLCCs). Oxygen vacancy is the main reason for the device degradation over longtime use, while the effect of the doping strategy on controlling the oxygen vacancies is not yet quantitatively understood. In this work, the grand canonical thermodynamic defect model based on first‐principle calculations is applied to evaluate the defect mechanism of RE‐doped BaTiO3 under practical experimental condition. The charge compensation and prior site occupancy of RE are found not only associated with ionic size but also exhibit transitions with oxygen partial pressure and doping concentration. Furthermore, the oxygen vacancy trapping ability of RE ions is evaluated from the perspectives of thermodynamics and kinetics. The migration barrier among first nearest oxygen sites dramatically changed depending on the RE site occupancy. The large trapping ability is contributed by the relatively large negative binding energy of the defect complex and comparable RE concentrations substituted on Ba and Ti sites. The two conditions can be achieved in amphoteric ions doped systems, while in pure donor doped BT only one of these conditions can be satisfied. Although the self‐compensated defect complexes exhibit the highest binding energy, the trapping ability contributed by different defect complexes (, , REBa − RETi) is generally comparable in these systems. This feature of amphoteric RE ions accounts for the improvement of the lifetime and reliability of MLCCs.
In search of operational resilience: How and when improvisation matters
Authors: Essuman Dominic , Ataburo Henry , Boso Nathaniel , Anin Emmanuel Kwabena , Appiah Listowel Owusu
Published: May 2023

The need to improvise during supply chain disruptions to enhance operational resilience is ever more critical. Yet, managers appear to lack an understanding of how and when improvisation matters. We apply the conservation of resources theory to conceptualize how firms activate spontaneous and creative improvisation during supply chain disruptions and theorize how that relates to operational resilience in low and high supply chain disruption conditions. We test our arguments on primary data from a sample of 259 firms in Ghana. We find that creative improvisation has a positive relationship with operational resilience, and this relationship is stronger in high supply chain disruption conditions. Spontaneous improvisation, on the contrary, is unrelated to operational resilience in both low and high supply chain disruption conditions. These findings indicate that not all types of improvisation contribute to operational resilience, suggesting the need for a nuanced approach to theorizing and applying the improvisation concept in supply chains.
Potentials and limits of mechanical plastic recycling
Authors: Klotz Magdalena , Haupt Melanie , Hellweg Stefanie
Published: May 2023

Plastics consumption continues to steeply increase worldwide, while resultant waste is currently mostly landfilled, discarded to the environment, or incinerated. This significantly contributes to global warming and causes negative health and ecosystem effects. Increasing the circularity of plastics can reduce these impacts. This study investigated to which extent plastics' circularity can be increased by mechanical recycling. For this purpose, future scenarios involving increased waste collection, improved product design, and improved waste sorting were assessed. The system studied consists of 11 plastic types in 69 product groups consumed and arising as waste in Switzerland. By means of a material flow analysis, the amounts of consumption, waste, and secondary material utilizable in product manufacturing were quantified for the year 2040. For the waste not mechanically recycled, treatment situations mainly involving energy recovery in waste‐to‐energy plants and cement kilns were modeled. A life cycle assessment of the complete plastic material flow system was conducted. We found that the mechanical recycling rate calculated based on the utilizable secondary material can be increased to up to 31%. This can lower the plastic carbon footprint by one quarter (1.3% of today's total Swiss carbon footprint) compared to no recycling. Important barriers to a further increase of the recycling rate were inaccessibility, the large diversity of plastic grades, and contamination. The remaining impact at maximum recycling is mainly caused by polyurethanes, polypropylene, and polystyrene production. In conclusion, the potential of mechanical plastic recycling is limited, but it can, as one of several measures, contribute to combating climate change.
Insomnia nosology: a systematic review and critical appraisal of historical diagnostic categories and current phenotypes
Authors: Nyhuis Casandra C. , Fernandez‐Mendoza Julio
Published: May 2023

Insomnia nosology has significantly evolved since the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM)‐III‐R first distinguished between ‘primary’ and ‘secondary’ insomnia. Prior International Classification of Sleep Disorders (ICSD) nosology ‘split’ diagnostic phenotypes to address insomnia's heterogeneity and the DSM nosology ‘lumped’ them into primary insomnia, while both systems assumed causality for insomnia secondary to health conditions. In this systematic review, we discuss the historical phenotypes in prior insomnia nosology, present findings for currently proposed insomnia phenotypes based on more robust approaches, and critically appraise the most relevant ones. Electronic databases PsychINFO, PubMED, Web of Science, and references of eligible articles, were accessed to find diagnostic manuals, literature on insomnia phenotypes, including systematic reviews or meta‐analysis, and assessments of the reliability or validity of insomnia diagnoses, identifying 184 articles. The data show that previous insomnia diagnoses lacked reliability and validity, leading current DSM‐5‐TR and ICSD‐3 nosology to ‘lump’ phenotypes into a single diagnosis comorbid with health conditions. However, at least two new, robust insomnia phenotyping approaches were identified. One approach is multidimensional‐multimethod and provides evidence for self‐reported insomnia with objective short versus normal sleep duration linked to clinically relevant outcomes, while the other is multidimensional and provides evidence for two to five clusters (phenotypes) based on self‐reported trait, state, and/or life‐history data. Some approaches still need replication to better support whether their findings identify true phenotypes or simply different patterns of symptomatology. Regardless, these phenotyping efforts aim at improving insomnia nosology both as a classification system and as a mechanism to guide treatment.
Critical literacy: an approach to child rights education in Uganda and Canada
Authors: Jones Shelley , Manion Kathleen
Published: May 2023

For children to know how to fully participate in and most effectively lead the world they will inherit, they must learn how to critically engage with it and be knowledgeable about foundational rights and instruments that support such engagement. Together, critical literacy, which encourages the examination and interrogation of the underlying assumptions of dominant narratives and ‘legitimate’ knowledge, and children's rights education, which involves children in learning how to express their ideas and fully participate in society (as appropriate to their age and ability), offer a powerful approach—theoretical and pedagogical—to engage children in active engagement of the world, especially with respect to the promotion of social justice. However, the layers of complexity and risks associated with deep consideration of challenging topics require expert guidance and compassionate role modelling from teachers of young children. Our paper considers the intersections between critical literacy and global child rights with reference to a study conducted with young school children in Canada and Uganda to discuss how teachers can support meaningful learning experiences in the classroom that can promote children's agency and social justice commitments.
Medium‐Run Impacts of Iron‐Fortified School Lunch on Anaemia, Cognition, and Learning Outcomes in India*
Authors: von Grafenstein Liza , Kumar Abhijeet , Kumar Santosh , Vollmer Sebastian
Published: April 2023

Using a phase‐in research design, we provide experimental evidence on the impacts of early versus late initiation of iron fortification in school lunch programmes on children's health and cognitive outcomes in India. We find higher haemoglobin levels and a lower likelihood of anaemia in the early treatment group that experienced 4 years of treatment, compared to the late treatment group that was exposed to one and a half years of treatment. Despite significant health gains, we do not find evidence for treatment effects on cognitive and educational outcomes. Heterogeneity analyses show evidence of gendered effects – the anaemia reduction is lower among females relative to males.
Examining Associations Between Discrimination, Social Cohesion, and Health among White LGBT versus POC LGBT Chicagoans
Authors: Kannout Lynn , Du Bois Steff
Published: April 2023

Consistent with the minority stress perspective, lesbian/gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) individuals on average report worse health than heterosexual individuals in several domains, for example, general health, mental health, physical health, and healthcare access. Intersectionality‐based research shows that LGBT people of color (POC) are, on average, at even greater risk for adverse health outcomes. Discrimination and social cohesion may be two mechanisms underlying these between‐ and within‐group disparities, given that both constructs are frequently reported within marginalized populations, and that both broadly relate to health. This study used data from the Chicago Department of Public Health to examine broad health differences between White LGBT and LGBT POC, and to test specific models in which social cohesion mediated links between discrimination and health. LGBT POC reported experiencing worse general health, lower access to health care, more experiences of discrimination, and lower feelings of social cohesion than did White LGBT individuals. No mediation effects emerged; however, there was a direct effect of experiencing discrimination on mental health distress. Discrimination exposure inversely related to the feelings of social cohesion.
Efficient methods for multiple types of precise gene‐editing in Chlamydomonas
Authors: Chen Hui , Yang Qing‐Lin , Xu Jia‐Xi , Deng Xuan , Zhang Yun‐Jie , Liu Ting , Rots Marianne G. , Xu Guo‐Liang , Huang Kai‐Yao
Published: April 2023

Precise gene‐editing using CRISPR/Cas9 technology remains a long‐standing challenge, especially for genes with low expression and no selectable phenotypes in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii, a classic model for photosynthesis and cilia research. Here, we developed a multi‐type and precise genetic manipulation method in which a DNA break was generated by Cas9 nuclease and the repair was mediated using a homologous DNA template. The efficacy of this method was demonstrated for several types of gene editing, including inactivation of two low‐expression genes (CrTET1 and CrKU80), the introduction of a FLAG‐HA epitope tag into VIPP1, IFT46, CrTET1 and CrKU80 genes, and placing a YFP tag into VIPP1 and IFT46 for live‐cell imaging. We also successfully performed a single amino acid substitution for the FLA3, FLA10 and FTSY genes, and documented the attainment of the anticipated phenotypes. Lastly, we demonstrated that precise fragment deletion from the 3′‐UTR of MAA7 and VIPP1 resulted in a stable knock‐down effect. Overall, our study has established efficient methods for multiple types of precise gene editing in Chlamydomonas, enabling substitution, insertion and deletion at the base resolution, thus improving the potential of this alga in both basic research and industrial applications.
NATURE MAKES AN ASCENT FROM THE LOWER TO THE HIGHER: GREGORY OF NYSSA ON HUMAN DISTINCTIVENESS
Authors: Behr John
Published: May 2023

This essay explores the way in which early Christian writers held an eschatological understanding of what it is to be human, something that is to be attained, through the transformation of death and resurrection, and something that requires our assent. In this context, the article offers a new reading of the late fourth‐century work entitled On the Human Image of God (otherwise known in English as On the Making of Man) by Gregory of Nyssa. It argues that Gregory structured his text in parallel to the three parts of Timaeus’ speech in Plato's dialogue. The resulting picture sees creation as a dynamic ascent from the lower forms of life to the higher, a growth which is recapitulated in the life‐span of each human being, and also the growth of the human race into the totality of human beings that together constitute the human being in the image of God, the body of Christ.
A learned Born series for highly-scattering media
Authors: Stanziola Antonio , Arridge Simon , Cox Ben T. , Treeby Bradley E.
Published: May 2023

A new method for solving the wave equation is presented, called the learned Born series (LBS), which is derived from a convergent Born series but its components are found through training. The LBS is shown to be significantly more accurate than the convergent Born series for the same number of iterations, in the presence of high contrast scatterers, while maintaining a comparable computational complexity. The LBS is able to generate a reasonable prediction of the global pressure field with a small number of iterations, and the errors decrease with the number of learned iterations.
Systematic Evaluation of Pharmacokinetic Models for Model-Informed Precision Dosing of Meropenem in Critically Ill Patients Undergoing Continuous Renal Replacement Therapy
Authors: Schatz Lea Marie , Brinkmann Alexander , Röhr Anka , Frey Otto , Greppmair Sebastian , Weinelt Ferdinand , Zoller Michael , Scharf Christina , Hempel Georg , Liebchen Uwe
Published: May 2023

The altered pharmacokinetics of renally cleared drugs such as meropenem in critically ill patients receiving continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT) might impact target attainment. Model-informed precision dosing (MIPD) is applied to individualize meropenem dosing.
Enforced Dimerization of CD45 by the Adenovirus E3/49K Protein Inhibits T Cell Receptor Signaling
Authors: Windheim Mark , Reubold Thomas F. , Aichane Khadija , Gaestel Matthias , Burgert Hans-Gerhard
Published: May 2023

The battle between viruses and their hosts is an ongoing arms race. Whereas the host tries to detect and eliminate the virus, the latter counteracts such antiviral measures to replicate and spread.
Investigating Possible Interspecies Communication of Plasmids Associated with Transfer of Third-Generation Cephalosporin, Quinolone, and Colistin Resistance Between Simultaneously Isolated Escherichia Coli and Klebsiella Pneumoniae
Authors: Quan Jingjing , Hu Huangdu , Zhang Huichuan , Meng Yan , Liao Weichao , Zhou Junxin , Han Xinhong , Shi Qiucheng , Zhao Dongdong , Wang Qian , Jiang Yan , Yu Yunsong
Published: May 2023

The genome sequence of bacterial pathogens commonly provides a detailed clue of genetic communication among clones or even distinct species. The intestinal microecological environment is a representative ecological niche for genetic communication.
Supplemental Material: Collapse of terrestrial ecosystems linked to heavy metal poisoning during the Toarcian oceanic anoxic event
Authors: Baranyi Viktoria , al. et
Published: May 2023

Description of the geological setting, analytical methods, supplemental information, figures, and raw data.  
Does Trade Openness Affect Global Entrepreneurship Development? Evidence from BRICS Countries
Authors: Rahman Md. Mominur , Deb Bishawjit Chandra , Rahman Muhammad Shajib , Uddin M. M. Mofiz , Ramzan Muhammad , Hossain Mohammad Jubair , Uddin Gias
Published: April 2023

Emerging nations focus more on new and innovative business activities across national borders for economic advancement. Further, trade openness has recently emerged in BRICS countries. Thus, global entrepreneurship development can be a great opportunity for the traded open countries. In line with this, the study aims to examine the impact of trade openness on global entrepreneurship development in BRICS countries. The study collected balanced-panel data from BRICS countries for 2001–2020 and applied random-effects estimation to analyze the data. The study drives a cross-sectional dependence test, unit root test, and model specification test before applying the estimated model. The study further checked the robustness of the findings by alternative estimation methods like FMOLS and DOLS and found similar results. The results revealed that trade openness positively influences global entrepreneurship development, but average tariffs can discourage entrepreneurs. Specifically, trade openness through trade spread, trade freedom, and average tariffs increase the total early-stage entrepreneurial activities and entrepreneurial intentions rate in BRICS countries. Through cross-country analysis, the study found that trade openness significantly enhances global entrepreneurship development in Brazil, India, China, and South Africa rather than in Russia. The study found similar results after checking the robustness of the findings by alternative estimation methods like FMOLS and DOLS. Thus, the findings could be a great insight for the policymakers of BRICS countries. Governments, academics, international entrepreneurs, etc., can use the findings in future decisions as a policy dialogue.
Landing Reliability Assessment of Airdrop System Based on Vine-Bayesian Network
Authors: Cheng Wei , Yang Chunxin , Ke Peng
Published: April 2023

The landing phase of an airdrop process is prone to accidents, and thus, it is important to assess the landing reliability for an airdrop system. However, full field tests to assess the reliability are unacceptable due to their cost and the time required. As such, it is necessary to estimate the reliability in the design stage. To address this problem, a method based on vine-Bayesian Network (vine-BN) is proposed to assess the landing reliability by fusing multisource information. First, the network structure is determined by the relationship between data of simulation or ground tests and failure modes. Then, nodes are defined as random variables on [0, 1] based on the definition of the performance metric. Finally, the dependence between nodes is quantified by expert opinions. To illustrate the effectiveness of the method, a particular ground test or simulation is chosen to establish a network for a typical heavy cargo airdrop system (HCADS). Forward and backward propagation is carried out on the network. The forward analysis predicts the landing reliability in the design stage through multisource information fusion. Beta distribution is applied to fit the fusion result, so Bayesian inference is made to perform field test times decision-making. The backward analysis works to identify the key performance metrics related to landing reliability. The results and analysis manifest that vine-BN is feasible for fusing multisource information. Through the network, the reliability of the current design can be predicted effectively, and the field test times can be remarkably reduced. This method plays a crucial role in airdrop system design and reducing test time and labor.
Decision Key-Value Feature Construction for Multihoming Big Data Network
Authors: Zahra Musaddak Maher Abdul , Nagabushanam M. , Kumaraswamy S. , Shah Devangkumar Umakant , Singh Charanjeet , Hasan Mohammad Najmus Saquib
Published: May 2023

The random forest algorithm under the MapReduce framework has too many redundant and irrelevant features, low training feature information, and low parallelization efficiency when dealing with multihoming big data network problems, so parallelism is based on information theory, and norms is proposed for random forest algorithm (PRFITN). In this paper, the technique used first builds a hybrid dimensional reduction approach (DRIGFN) focused on information gain and the Frobenius norm, successfully reducing the number of redundant and irrelevant features; then, an information theory feature is offered. This results in the dimensionality-reduced dataset. Finally, a technique is suggested in the Reduce stage. The features are grouped in the FGSIT strategy, and the stratified sampling approach is employed to assure the information quantity of the training features in the building of the decision tree in the random forest. When datasets are provided as key/value pairs, it is common to want to aggregate statistics across all objects with the same key. To acquire global classification results and achieve a rapid and equal distribution of key-value pairs, a key-value pair redistribution method (RSKP) is used, which improves the cluster’s parallel efficiency. The approach provides a superior classification impact in multihoming large data networks, particularly for datasets with numerous characteristics, according to the experimental findings. We can utilize feature selection and feature extraction together. In addition to minimizing overfitting and redundancy, lowering dimensionality contributes to improved human interpretation and cheaper computing costs through model simplicity.
Optimum Stratification Using Dynamic Programming with a Mixture of Ratio and Product Estimators under Super Population Model
Authors: Danish Faizan , Jan Rafia , Daniyal Muhammad , Tawiah Kassim
Published: April 2023

In this study, we have utilized two study variables and one auxiliary variable. The auxiliary variable is used as the stratification variable, and we selected the sample using the stratification variable with a mixture of ratio and product estimators. Under super population set‐up, minimal equations have been obtained through minimization of the aggregated variance with the help of the variables under study. The objective function is minimized with respect to the constraints under consideration. The dynamic programming approach has been used to minimize the variance and obtain the optimum strata boundaries. Empirical studies have also been made on the proposed rule utilizing different distributions. A simulation study has been done which shows the gain in precision using the proposed method.
[Retracted] An Effective Machine Learning‐Based Model for an Early Heart Disease Prediction
Authors: Bizimana Pierre Claver , Zhang Zuping , Asim Muhammad , Abd El-Latif Ahmed A.
Published: April 2023

Heart disease (HD) has become a dangerous problem and one of the most significant mortality factors worldwide, which requires an expensive and sophisticated detection process. Most people are affected due to the failure of the heart which seriously threatens their lives due to high morbidity and mortality. Therefore, accurate prediction and diagnosis are needed for early prevention, detection, and treatment to reduce the death threats to human life. However, an early and accurate prediction of HD is still a challenging task to be addressed. In this work, we propose a machine learning‐based prediction model (MLbPM) that exploits a combination of the data scaling methods, the split ratios, the best parameters, and the machine learning algorithms for predicting HD. The performance of the proposed model is tested by performing experiments on a University of California Irvine HD dataset to indicate the presence or absence of HD. The results show that the proposed MLbPM provides an accuracy of 96.7% when logistic regression, robust scaler, best parameter, and 70 : 30 as a split ratio of the dataset are considered. In addition, MLbPM outperforms other compared works in terms of accuracy.
Some Properties and Applications of a New General Triple Integral Transform “Gamar Transform’’
Authors: Sedeeg Abdelilah Kamal H.
Published: April 2023

The goal of this study is to suggest a new general triple integral transform known as Gamar transform. Next, we compare the current transform to a number of existing triple integral transforms such as those by Laplace, Sumudu, Elzaki, Aboodh, and Laplace–Aboodh–Sumudu. We outline its essential properties and prove some important results, including linearity property, existence theorem, triple convolution theorem, and derivatives properties. Moreover, the proposed new transform is applied to solve some partial differential equations (PDEs) such as Laplace, Mboctara, and Wave equations. The capacity of general triple integral transforms to change PDEs into simple algebraic equations is demonstrated.
Auriculotherapy Modulates Macrophage Polarization to Reduce Inflammatory Response in a Rat Model of Acne
Authors: Zuo Guang , Gao Yidan , Lu Guangtong , Bu Ming , Liu Jun , Zhang Juncha , Fan Xisheng , Chen Hao , Wang Xuesong , She Yanfen
Published: April 2023

Background. The inflammatory response is an important part of the pathogenesis of acne vulgaris. Auriculotherapy has been shown to have a good therapeutic effect on this disease. The aim of this study was to explore the mechanism underlying the anti-inflammatory effect of auriculotherapy in the treatment of acne vulgaris. Methods. Propionibacterium acnes was injected subcutaneously into the ears of rats to establish an animal model of acne. The auriculotherapy intervention in rats consisted of auricular bloodletting therapy (ABT), auricular point sticking (APS), or a combination of both (ABPS). The anti-inflammatory effects of auriculotherapy were evaluated by measuring changes in ear thickness, local body surface microcirculation in the ear, and serum inflammatory factors in rats. The polarization of macrophages was analyzed by flow cytometry, and the expression of TLR2/NF-κB signaling pathway in the target tissues was analyzed using western blot. Results. ABT, APS, and ABPS all reduced the erythema of ear acne, decreased microcirculation in localized ear acne, and decreased serum levels of TNF-α and IL-1β in rats. Meanwhile, the three interventions reduced M1-type macrophages and increased M2-type macrophages; only APS could reduce the expression of TLR2/NF-κB signaling pathway. Conclusion. ABT, APS, and ABPS can improve the inflammatory symptoms of acne and reduce inflammatory cytokines. APS may exert anti-inflammatory effects by altering macrophage polarization and decreasing TLR2/NF-κB expression.
Cement-Based Graphene Oxide Composites: A Review on Their Mechanical and Microstructure Properties
Authors: Kedir Amin , Gamachu Merga , Alex Alexander Gladwin
Published: April 2023

Concrete is a material made from cement that is widely used because it has a high compressive strength, is resistant to water, is easy to mold, and is cheap to make. But concrete’s biggest problem is that it’s easy to break because it does not resist cracking well, has low tensile strength, and cannot take a lot of stress. Researchers have been successful in enhancing the quality of cement composites by using fibers, admixtures, and other cementitious materials. When it comes to building objects, nanotechnology could open up a whole new world. Building materials have made nanosized materials that are used to make cementitious materials stronger and last longer. For example, they stop microcracks from starting and spreading. One of the most well-known graphene derivative nanomaterials is graphene oxide (GO), which has a lot of active oxygen-containing groups on its surface, outstanding mechanical properties, and thermal conductivity. Researchers have found that adding small amounts of GO in various dosages increases the flexural, tensile, and compressive strengths of cement paste and mortar. The majority of studies have looked at cement paste and mortar. There are few GO-concrete studies. One of the most characteristic graphene derivative nanomaterials, graphene oxide (GO), has a huge specific surface area, outstanding mechanical properties, thermal conductivity, and a lot of active oxygen-containing groups on its surface. Small amounts of GO at various dosages boost the flexural, tensile, and compressive strengths of cement paste and mortar, according to researchers. Most researches have examined cement paste and mortar. There are few GO-concrete studies. This article review paper will be useful for engineers and researchers investigating the impact of GO on mechanical qualities and advanced nanomaterials in cement-based materials like concrete. It will also be a point of reference for further research.
On the Existence and Stability of Bounded Solutions for Abstract Dynamic Equations on Time Scales
Authors: Duque Cosme , Leiva Hugo , Gallo Rodolfo , Tridane Abdessamad
Published: April 2023

In this article we study the existence and stability of bounded solutions for semilinear abstract dynamic equations on time scales in Banach spaces. In order to do so, we use the definition of the Riemann delta-integral to prove a result about closed operator in Banach spaces and then we just use the representation of bounded solutions as an improper delta-integral from minus infinite to

t

. We prove the existence, uniqueness, and exponential stability of such bounded solutions. As particular cases, we study the existence of periodic and almost periodic solutions as well. Finally, we present some equations on time scales where our results can be applied.
Haematopinus suis Infestation in Pig Farms in Busogo Sector, Rwanda
Authors: Niyonsenga E. , Twizerimana J. , Mwabonimana M. F.
Published: May 2023

Haematopinus suis(H. suis) is a common ectoparasite of pigs and is economically important worldwide. H. suis is responsible for anemia and poor feed conversion rate that lead to poor growth in pig husbandry. This study assessed the prevalence and risk factors of H. suis in pigs through a cross-sectional survey in Busogo sector of Musanze district. Fifty-five (55) pigs, representing 10% of 555 pigs from 20 farms, were examined physically for the presence of H. suis, and a total number of 559 H. suis were collected from them in Busogo sector of Musanze district. Data were analyzed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS). Results showed that out of 55 pigs, a total number of 35 pigs (63.6%), were found infested with H. suis in Busogo sector of Musanze district. The infestation by H. suis was associated with the farming system, animal breeds, animal’s category, sex, pig hygiene, and piggery hygiene. Results showed a high (

P

 < 0.05) prevalence in pigs reared in the intensive system (91.4%), whereas large whites were the most affected breed (60%). The prevalence of H. suis varied significantly (

P

 < 0.05) among sexes, and females were the most affected (60%). Results related to pig hygiene revealed that all farmers were practicing washing skin three times per week, whereas only 60.0% of them were removing the bedding in their piggery. The study concluded that H. suis is present and remains a problem in the study area. Therefore, the study recommends to create farmer’s awareness on the disease in pigs and its impact through training. Researchers should continue further studies on H. suis prevention with appropriate pig husbandry and management practices and the efficacy of acaricides used.
Supplementary Table S3 from Comparative Analysis of the Humoral Immune Response to the EBV Proteome across EBV-Related Malignancies
Authors: Argirion Ilona , Pfeiffer Ruth M. , Proietti Carla , Coghill Anna E. , Yu Kelly J. , Middeldorp Jaap M. , Sarathkumara Yomani D. , Hsu Wan-Lun , Chien Yin-Chu , Lou Pei-Jen , Wang Cheng-Ping , Rothman Nathaniel , Lan Qing , Chen Chien-Jen , Mbulaiteye Sam M. , Jarrett Ruth F. , Glimelius Ingrid , Smedby Karin E. , Hjalgrim Henrik , Hildesheim Allan , Doolan Denise L. , Liu Zhiwei
Published: May 2023

Supplementary Table S3 shows positivity rates of the 46 individual markers among cases and controls in each study
Table S5 from Deep Transcriptome Profiling of Multiple Myeloma Using Quantitative Phenotypes
Authors: Griffin Rosalie , Hanson Heidi A. , Avery Brian J. , Madsen Michael J. , Sborov Douglas W. , Camp Nicola J.
Published: May 2023

Time to first-line treatment failure covariates and added predictive values.
Table S1 from Deep Transcriptome Profiling of Multiple Myeloma Using Quantitative Phenotypes
Authors: Griffin Rosalie , Hanson Heidi A. , Avery Brian J. , Madsen Michael J. , Sborov Douglas W. , Camp Nicola J.
Published: May 2023

Cox regression beta coefficients for overall survival (OS), progression free survival (PFS), and time to treatment failure (TTF). Beta coefficients are by per spectra standard deviation. The quantitative spectra risk score for an outcome is the weighted sum of the spectra retained in its model based on their beta coefficients.
Supplemental Figure S6 from Deep Transcriptome Profiling of Multiple Myeloma Using Quantitative Phenotypes
Authors: Griffin Rosalie , Hanson Heidi A. , Avery Brian J. , Madsen Michael J. , Sborov Douglas W. , Camp Nicola J.
Published: May 2023

Time to first line treatment failure spectra score. A) Quantile-quantile plot. B) Gaussian mixture modeling to identify patients at high and low risk of early treatment failure. C) Patients in the spectra high-risk TTF (n = 31, 25 events) had median TTF of 9.2 months compared to low-risk patients (n = 736, 344 events) with median TTF of 32.8 months.
Supplemental Figure S5 from Deep Transcriptome Profiling of Multiple Myeloma Using Quantitative Phenotypes
Authors: Griffin Rosalie , Hanson Heidi A. , Avery Brian J. , Madsen Michael J. , Sborov Douglas W. , Camp Nicola J.
Published: May 2023

Progression free survival spectra score. A) Quantile-quantile plot. B) Gaussian mixture modeling to identify patients at high and low risk of progression. C) PFS high-risk patients (n = 60, 50 events) had median survival of 9.7 months. PFS low-risk patients (n = 707, 342 events) had median survival of 35.7 months.
Supplemental Figure S3 from Deep Transcriptome Profiling of Multiple Myeloma Using Quantitative Phenotypes
Authors: Griffin Rosalie , Hanson Heidi A. , Avery Brian J. , Madsen Michael J. , Sborov Douglas W. , Camp Nicola J.
Published: May 2023

Scree plot of CoMMpass transcriptome dimensions. To limit overfitting in spectra derivation, we used dimension reduction to focus only on the first k spectra (largest k components of variation), selected using a scree test (Cattell, 1966).
Supplementary Figure S4 from Neighborhood Socioeconomic Status and Racial and Ethnic Survival Disparities in Oral Cavity and Laryngeal Cancer
Authors: Liu Yupeng , Zhong Lydia , Puram Sidharth V. , Mazul Angela L.
Published: May 2023

Four KM curves depicting the 5-year overall survival of larynx cancer patients in Asian subgroups.
Supplementary Figure S3 from Neighborhood Socioeconomic Status and Racial and Ethnic Survival Disparities in Oral Cavity and Laryngeal Cancer
Authors: Liu Yupeng , Zhong Lydia , Puram Sidharth V. , Mazul Angela L.
Published: May 2023

Four KM curves depicting 5-year overall survival of oral cavity cancer patients in Asian subgroups.
Table S8 from Diet Quality and All-Cause Mortality in Women with Breast Cancer from the Breast Cancer Family Registry
Authors: Haslam Danielle E. , John Esther M. , Knight Julia A. , Li Zhongyu , Buys Saundra S. , Andrulis Irene L. , Daly Mary B. , Genkinger Jeanine M. , Terry Mary Beth , Zhang Fang Fang
Published: May 2023

Table S8 Shows Hazard Ratios and 95% Confidence Intervals for Total Mortality in Women Diagnosed with Breast Cancer with or without Excluding People Reporting Post-Diagnosis Diet Less than 12 Month after Diagnosis