bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Perceptions and knowledge of protein in dairy and plant‐based alternatives among stakeholders in the US marketplace
Authors: Schlepphorst Katherine I. , Clark Bridget E. , Pope Lizzy , Donahue Reilly , Belarmino Emily H.
Published: July 2023

This study explores beliefs about protein in dairy and plant‐based (PB) alternatives among stakeholders in the US marketplace and whether beliefs are associated with product preferences. Eight thousand and fifty‐two unique comments submitted to the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in response to a request for public input on the labelling of PB dairy alternatives (FDA‐2018‐N‐3522) were coded. Of these, 383 (4.8%) discussed protein and were analysed for protein‐specific themes. Themes were examined in relation to the submitter's product preference. Most comments that discussed protein focused on protein content and/or health outcomes believed to be associated with intake. Only one commenter who preferred dairy demonstrated an inaccurate understanding of protein content in dairy and PB alternatives, although nearly all failed to identify fortified soy beverage as an appropriate protein replacement; meanwhile, 14.2% who preferred PB alternatives demonstrated an inaccurate understanding regarding protein content in dairy and PB products. The results suggest knowledge gaps exist regarding protein in PB dairy alternatives, especially among those who prefer non‐dairy options.
Creep-Fatigue Life Property of P91 Welded Piping Subjected to Bending and Torsional Moments at High Temperature
Authors: Okuno Kazuma , Arai Masayuki , Ito Kiyohiro , Nishida Hidetaka
Published: July 2023

In recent years, the role of thermal power plants has shifted from providing a baseload to providing supplemental supply to compensate for fluctuations in the output of renewable energy sources. Thus, the operation of these plants involves frequent startup and shutdown cycles, which lead to extensive damage caused by creep and fatigue interactions. In addition, the piping utilized in thermal plants is subjected to a combined stress state composed of bending and torsional moments. In this study, a high-temperature fatigue testing machine capable of generating such a bending-torsional loading was developed. Creep-fatigue tests were conducted on P91 steel piping with weldment. The results clarified that the creep-fatigue life was reduced by the superposition of the torsional and bending moments and that it was further reduced by a holding load. It was shown that the creep-fatigue life of piping with weldment can be estimated accurately using the equivalent bending moment, which is composed of the torsional and bending moments. It was also confirmed that crack occurred in the heat-affected zone (HAZ) of the welded part, which has been often observed in actual thermal power equipment. From the finite element analysis, it was identified that cracking was initiated in the HAZ due to the accumulation of creep strain and increase in the hydrostatic pressure component during a holding load.
Determination of Multi-Component Failure in Automotive System Using Deep Learning
Authors: O’Donnell John , Yoon Hwan-Sik
Published: July 2023

The connectivity of modern vehicles allows for the monitoring and analysis of a large amount of sensor data from vehicles during their normal operations. In recent years, there has been a growing interest in utilizing this data for the purposes of predictive maintenance. In this paper, a multi-label transfer learning approach is proposed using 14 different pretrained convolutional neural networks retrained with engine simulation data to predict the failure conditions of a selected set of engine components. The retrained classifier networks are designed such that concurrent failure modes of an exhaust gas recirculation, compressor, intercooler, and fuel injectors of a four-cylinder diesel engine can be identified. Time-series simulation data of various failure conditions, which include performance degradation, are generated to retrain the classifier networks to predict which components are failing at any given time. The test results of the retrained classifier networks show that the overall classification performance is good, with the normalized value of mean average precision varying from 0.6 to 0.65 for most of the retrained networks. To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this work represents the first attempt to characterize such time-series data utilizing a multi-label deep learning approach.
Neural implants without brain surgery
Authors: Timko Brian P.
Published: July 2023

Injectable bioprobes record single-neuron activity from within blood vessels
Lower geriatric nutritional risk index is associated with a higher risk of all-cause mortality in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: a cohort study from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2013–2018
Authors: Chai Xuemin , Chen Yajuan , Li Youlun , Chi Jing , Guo Shuliang
Published: July 2023

Object

Malnutrition negatively affects patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). This study aimed to explore the potential association between malnutrition, as defined by the Geriatric Nutritional Risk Index (GNRI), and all-cause mortality in patients with COPD using the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES).

Method

The data of 579 adults with COPD during NHANES 2013–2018 were analysed. Each patient was assigned to one of the two groups according to GNRI values: normal nutritional status (GNRI>98) and malnutrition status (GNRI≤98). Survival curves and Cox regressions were applied to evaluate the association between nutritional status and mortality.

Results

Overall, the mean age was 63.4±0.5 years, and 53.9% of the patients were women. The prevalence of malnutrition was 6.6%, and the Kaplan-Meier curves for all-cause mortality according to nutritional status showed that malnutrition was associated with a higher incidence of all-cause mortality. The Cox regression analysis found that in the unadjusted model, the HR was 2.30 (95% CI 1.24 to 4.27, p=0.01). In the fully adjusted model, the adjusted HR was 2.47 (95% CI 1.36 to 4.5, p=0.003). Furthermore, subgroup analysis revealed that the risk of death due to malnutrition increased more than threefold in the low education and cancer subgroups.

Conclusion

A low GNRI was an independent risk factor for all-cause mortality in patients with COPD.
Adult-onset Alexander disease with brainstem and cervical cord enhancing lesions
Authors: Oliveira Daniel Alves de , Araújo Luziany Carvalho , Paiva Anderson Rodrigues Brandão de , Melo Eduardo Sousa de
Published: July 2023

Leukodystrophies are a group of genetic diseases with diverse clinical features and prominent involvement of the central nervous system white matter. We describe a 27-year-old man who presented with a progressive neurological disease, and striking involvement of the brainstem and symmetrical white matter lesions on MR scanning. Having excluded several other causes of leukodystrophy, we confirmed Alexander disease when a genetic panel showed a probable pathogenic variant inGFAP: p.Leu359Pro. Clinicians should suspect Alexander disease in people with a progressive neurological motor decline who has pyramidal and bulbar signs and compatible neuroimaging.
Electronic and thermoelectric properties of the 2D Cu2FeSnS4: DFT study
Authors: Asefirad Sara , Nedaee-Shakarab B. , Elahi Seyed Mohammad , Boochani Arash , Akbari Hossien
Published: July 2023

Based on the density functional theory, the electronic, optical and thermoelectric properties of the Cu2FeSnS4 two-dimensional (2D) structure are investigated. The total energy of unit cell changes the curve in terms of its volume which indicates an equilibrium volume for this compound. The density of states and band structure show that the compound has half-metallic behavior with an electron gap of 0.7[Formula: see text]eV at up spin. The merit coefficient at high spin up to room temperature is in the range of 0.9 and is stable, making it a suitable option for thermoelectric applications.
An Improved Stochastic Averaging on the Piezoelectric Vibrational Harvester Model with Stiffness and Inertia Nonlinearities
Authors: Li Yusen , Ge Gen
Published: July 2023

In this paper, an improved stochastic averaging method is introduced to solve a monostable piezoelectric vibration energy harvester (VEH) model subject to basal Gaussian white and colored noises. First, the electric voltage is expressed as perturbations to the linear stiffness term and the damping term of the vibrational equation. Second, the original model is simplified into an Itô differential equation by the improved stochastic averaging method. Third, stationary solution of the Fokker–Plank–Kolmogorov function driven from the Itô equation is obtained, so that the stationary probability density functions (PDFs) of the displacement, velocity, and electrical voltage are obtained. With the help of the Monte Carlo, the effectiveness of these theoretical predictions is verified. Finally, the impacts of the nonlinear stiffness coefficient and nonlinear inertia coefficient on the responses are compared. It is found that the stiffness nonlinearity has stronger effect on the outputn electric voltage than the inertia nonlinearity.
Frequency Variation and Dynamic Behavior in a Moving Mass-Plate System
Authors: Yang Judy P. , Huang Shuo-Jen , Yau J. D.
Published: July 2023

As the frequency variation in a moving mass-plate system is seldom discussed in the previous work, this study first formulates the semi-analytical solutions of a system consisting of a moving mass on a square plate. Based on the moving mass-plate system, several finite element models with designed plate-type bridges are established to further investigate the effect of moving mass on a plate, the influence of bridge local modes, and the influence of moving loads on a bridge. The numerical results have shown that the frequency variation of a plate-type bridge can reach 30% for the first three modes. The unique phenomenon of wave propagation is exhibited in the acceleration responses of the plate-type bridge, while it is uncommon for a beam-type bridge. For design purpose, the following are remarked: (1) The use of Rayleigh damping on the stiffened bridge can effectively suppress the influence of local modes on the bridge deck. (2) The high stiffness in the moving load can be served as the damper to reduce the dynamic responses of a vehicle. (3) In the design stage of a plate-type bridge subjected to moving loads, the moving force is the most conservative one among the three moving loads.
The asymptotic behavior of solutions for stochastic evolution equations with pantograph delay
Authors: Liu Yarong , Wang Yejuan , Caraballo Tomas
Published: July 2023

The polynomial stability problem of stochastic delay differential equations has been studied in recent years. In contrast, there are relatively few works on stochastic partial differential equations with pantograph delay. The present paper is devoted to investigating large-time asymptotic properties of solutions for stochastic pantograph delay evolution equations with nonlinear multiplicative noise. We first show that the mild solutions of stochastic pantograph delay evolution equations with nonlinear multiplicative noise tend to zero with general decay rate (including both polynomial and logarithmic rates) in the [Formula: see text]th moment and almost sure senses. The analysis is based on the Banach fixed point theorem and various estimates involving the gamma function. Moreover, by using a generalized version of the factorization formula and exploiting an approximation technique and a convergence analysis, we construct the nontrivial equilibrium solution, defined for [Formula: see text], for stochastic pantograph delay evolution equations with nonlinear multiplicative noise. In particular, the uniqueness, Hölder regularity in time and general stability, in the [Formula: see text]th moment and almost sure senses, of the nontrivial equilibrium solution are established.
Quadratic BSDEs with mean reflection driven by G-brownian motion
Authors: Gu Zihao , Lin Yiqing , Xu Kun
Published: July 2023

In this paper, the well-posedness of a kind of backward stochastic differential equation driven by [Formula: see text]-Brownian motions ([Formula: see text]-BSDEs for short) with mean reflection is investigated. In particular, the generator is allowed having quadratic growth in [Formula: see text]. Combining a representation of the solution with [Formula: see text]-BMO martingale techniques, fixed point argument, and [Formula: see text]-method, existence and uniqueness results for such [Formula: see text]-BSDEs are provided under bounded and unbounded terminal condition.
On the cancellation problem for L-algebras
Authors: Ruan Xianglong , Liu Xiaochuan
Published: July 2023

In this paper, we consider the cancellation problem for the cartesian product of [Formula: see text]-algebras. Firstly, we show that [Formula: see text]-algebras with prime element [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text]-algebras satisfying the condition ([Formula: see text]) are cancellable. Furthermore, we also prove that the wedge-sum of cancellable [Formula: see text]-algebras is cancellable and each [Formula: see text]-algebra can be embedded into a cancellable [Formula: see text]-algebra. Finally, we give a class of [Formula: see text]-algebras satisfying the cancellation law which is different from the above [Formula: see text]-algebras.
Quantum-Inspired Vehicle Routing Scheme for Rebalancing in Bike Sharing Systems
Authors: Ou Chia-Ho , Chen Chih-Yu , Wang Chu-Fu , Chang Ching-Ray
Published: July 2023

Bike sharing systems (BSSs) are gaining popularity worldwide, and with the rise of global warming, they have become even more critical for reducing greenhouse gas emissions in cities. One of the key operations of a BSS is rebalancing, which involves maintaining the number of bikes at each station to a target value by arranging vehicle loading and unloading operations. This paper proposes a quantum-inspired vehicle routing scheme to solve the rebalancing problem in BSSs. The problem is modeled as a variant of the Traveling Salesman Problem (TSP), which is an NP-hard problem that is computationally difficult to solve. The proposed approach formulates the problem as a Quadratic Unconstrained Binary Optimization (QUBO) model, which can be solved using a digital annealer. The proposed scheme’s performance is evaluated on the Fujitsu digital annealer and compared with the proposed greedy algorithm. The experimental results show that the proposed approach outperforms the greedy algorithm in finding a better feasible solution.
Performance Optimization and Comprehensive Analysis of Binary Nutcracker Optimization Algorithm: A Case Study of Feature Selection and Merkle–Hellman Knapsack Cryptosystem
Authors: Abdel-Basset Mohamed , Mohamed Reda , Hezam Ibrahim M. , Sallam Karam M.
Published: July 2023

In this paper, a binary variant of a novel nature-inspired metaheuristic algorithm called the nutcracker optimization algorithm (NOA) is presented for binary optimization problems. Because of the continuous nature of the classical NOA and the discrete nature of the binary problems, two different families of transfer functions, namely S-shaped and V-shaped, are extensively investigated for converting the classical NOA into a binary variant, namely BNOA, applicable for various binary problems. Additionally, BNOA is improved using a local search strategy based on effectively integrating some genetic operators into the BNOA’s exploitation and exploration; this additional variant is called BINOA. Both BNOA and BINOA are evaluated using three common binary optimization problems, including feature selection, 0-1 knapsack, and the Merkle–Hellman knapsack cryptosystem (MHKC), and are compared to several robust binary metaheuristic optimizers in terms of statistical information, statistical tests, and convergence speed. The experiential findings show that BINOA is better than the classical BNOA and the other rival optimizers for both the 0-1 knapsack problem and attacking MHKC and is on par with some algorithms, like the genetic algorithm for feature selection.
Knowledge in Inflammatory Bowel Disease: Translation to Portuguese, Validation, and Clinical Application of the IBD-KNOW Questionnaire
Authors: Sequeira Cristiana , Coelho Mariana , Costa Santos Inês , Ramos Lopes Sara , Teixeira Cristina , Mangualde João , Cremers Isabelle , Oliveira Ana Paula
Published: July 2023

Background/Aims: Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)-related knowledge empowers patients, providing the development of adaptative coping strategies. Recently, a more comprehensive questionnaire for evaluating IBD-related knowledge was developed, the IBD-KNOW. The main aim of our study was to translate to Portuguese and validate the IBD-KNOW questionnaire. We also explored the predictors of high scores of disease-related knowledge and the effect of knowledge on health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and therapeutic adherence. Methods: This is an observational, unicentric, and cross-sectional study. We translated and adapted the original English version of the IBD-KNOW questionnaire into Portuguese. Afterwards, IBD patients in the outpatient clinics were invited to fill out a multimodal form including the Portuguese version of IBD-KNOW, a visual analogue scale (VAS) of self-perceived knowledge, the Portuguese version of Short IBD Questionnaire (SIBDQ) and the Portuguese version of Morisky Adherence Scale 8-item (MMAS-8). Demographic and disease characteristics were collected. We assessed validity (through discriminate validity among non-IBD volunteers and correlation between IBD-KNOW and VAS) and reliability (through internal consistency, test-retest, and intraclass correlation). Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS version 25.0. Results: The mean IBD-KNOW score was significantly different among non-IBD validation group (doctors: 23, nurses: 18, and non-medical volunteers: 12, p < 0.001). IBD-KNOW showed a high internal consistency (Cronbach’s α 0.78) and intraclass correlation (0.90). As expected, the IBD-KNOW score was positively correlated with VAS for self-perceived knowledge (r = 0.45, p < 0.001). One hundred and one patients with IBD (54 with ulcerative colitis and 47 with Crohn’s disease) completed the questionnaire at baseline. Multivariate analyses showed that a high IBD-KNOW score was associated with longer disease duration (OR: 2.59 [CI 1.11–5.74]; p = 0.04), previous hospitalization (OR: 3.63 [CI 1.301–9.96]; p = 0.01), current biologic treatment (OR: 3.37 [CI 1.31–8.65]; p = 0.02), and higher educational level (OR: 4.66 [CI 1.74–10.21]; p = 0.02). Moreover, there was no significant correlation between overall IBD-KNOW and SIBDQ, nor between IBD treatment adherence (MMAS-8 = 8) and a higher mean IBD-KNOW score (p = 0.552). Conclusion: The Portuguese version of IBD-KNOW is a simple, valid, and reliable tool for assessing IBD-related knowledge. Longer disease duration, hospitalization, use of biologics, and higher educational level are associated with higher levels of knowledge. Higher patient knowledge was not associated with higher HRQoL and adherence to therapy.
Optimization-Based Prediction Uncertainty Qualification of Climatic Parameters
Authors: Nourani Vahid , Sayyah-Fard Mina , Kantoush Sameh A. , Bharambe Khagendra P. , Sumi Tetsuya , Saber Mohamed
Published: July 2023

Point predictions of hydroclimatic processes through nonlinear modeling tools are associated with uncertainty. The main goal of this research was to construct prediction intervals (PIs) for nonlinear artificial neural network (ANN)-based models of evaporation and the standardized precipitation index (SPI). These are two critical indicators for climate for four stations in Iran (i.e., Tabriz, Urmia, Ardabil, and Ahvaz) to qualify their predicted uncertainty values (UVs). We used classical techniques of bootstrap (BS), mean variance estimation (MVE), and Delta, as well as an optimization-based method of lower upper bound estimation (LUBE), to construct and compare the PIs. The wavelet-based denoising method was also adopted to denoise input data, enhancing the modeling performance. The obtained results indicate the ability of the BS and LUBE methods to estimate the uncertainty bound. The Delta method mostly failed to find the desired coverage due to its narrow PIs. On the other hand, the MVE method, due to its wide bound, did not convey valuable information about uncertainty. According to the obtained results, denoising the input vector could enhance the PI quality in the modeling of the SPI by up to 76%. It was more prominent than reducing the UV for evaporation models, which was observed the most at the Ardabil station, up to 30%. The inherently more random nature of drought than the evaporation process was interpreted as the cause of this reaction. From the results, Urmia station seems the riskiest regarding drought ventures.

Significance Statement

The point predictions of evaporation and precipitation (in the form of SPI) are subject to uncertainty. The best way is to provide an area with the highest contingency as a prediction interval. The reduction in the width of such an interval leads to increased confidence in explaining and predicting these processes. We investigated different methods and found that by utilizing the optimization-based method for denoised inputs, uncertainty values of the output were conveyed better. Additionally, we concluded that the more random the process, the greater its uncertainty. A primary sense of the drought risk was made from the uncertainty perspective.
Novel developments in the prophylaxis and treatment of acute GVHD
Authors: Jamy Omer , Zeiser Robert , Chen Yi-Bin
Published: July 2023

Acute graft-versus-host disease (aGVHD) is a major life-threatening complication after allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplant. Traditional standard prophylaxis for aGVHD has included a calcineurin inhibitor plus an antimetabolite, whereas treatment has relied mainly on corticosteroids, followed by multiple nonstandard second-line options. In the past decade, this basic framework has been reshaped by approval of antithymocyte globulin products, the emergence of posttransplant cyclophosphamide, and recent pivotal trials studying abatacept and vedolizumab for GVHD prophylaxis, whereas ruxolitinib was approved for corticosteroid-refractory aGVHD treatment. Because of this progress, routine acute GVHD prophylaxis and treatment practices are starting to shift, and results of ongoing trials are eagerly awaited. Here, we review recent developments in aGVHD prevention and therapy, along with ongoing and future planned clinical trials in this space, outlining what future goals should be and the limitations of current clinical trial designs and end points.
CamPype: an open-source workflow for automated bacterial whole-genome sequencing analysis focused on Campylobacter
Authors: Ortega-Sanz Irene , Barbero-Aparicio José A. , Canepa-Oneto Antonio , Rovira Jordi , Melero Beatriz
Published: July 2023

Background

The rapid expansion of Whole-Genome Sequencing has revolutionized the fields of clinical and food microbiology. However, its implementation as a routine laboratory technique remains challenging due to the growth of data at a faster rate than can be effectively analyzed and critical gaps in bioinformatics knowledge.

Results

To address both issues, CamPype was developed as a new bioinformatics workflow for the genomics analysis of sequencing data of bacteria, especiallyCampylobacter, which is the main cause of gastroenteritis worldwide making a negative impact on the economy of the public health systems. CamPype allows fully customization of stages to run and tools to use, including read quality control filtering, read contamination, reads extension and assembly, bacterial typing, genome annotation, searching for antibiotic resistance genes, virulence genes and plasmids, pangenome construction and identification of nucleotide variants. All results are processed and resumed in an interactive HTML report for best data visualization and interpretation.

Conclusions

The minimal user intervention of CamPype makes of this workflow an attractive resource for microbiology laboratories with no expertise in bioinformatics as a first line method for bacterial typing and epidemiological analyses, that would help to reduce the costs of disease outbreaks, or for comparative genomic analyses. CamPype is publicly available athttps://github.com/JoseBarbero/CamPype.
Sarcoidosis: experience in a Mexican ophthalmological clinic
Authors: Salazar-Rodríguez Javier Alejandro , Sarmiento-Forero Diana , Hubbe-Tena Claudia , Concha-del-Rio Luz-Elena
Published: July 2023

Background

Sarcoidosis is an inflammatory disorder in which patients frequently develop ocular manifestations that precede systemic involvement, sometimes it even presents as an ocular isolated form of the disease. The purpose of this study is to report the ocular and systemic manifestations of sarcoidosis in a series of Mexican patients, as there is a low incidence of the disease in this population.

Methods

A retrospective case series of patients with positive classification criteria for sarcoidosis who attended Asociacion Para Evitar la Ceguera en Mexico, IAP between 2011 and 2022. Descriptive statistics were used to report the clinical, laboratory, and imaging findings and treatment. Numerical results were presented using median values and first and third quartiles for distribution.

Results

Fourteen patients were included in this study, 10 of them had definite ocular sarcoidosis (biopsy-proven), 4 had presumed ocular sarcoidosis. The median age of onset was 52 (34; 67), with a predominance of female patients (71.4%). Ten patients (71.4%) debuted with ocular manifestations. The most common forms of ocular involvement were bilateral anterior uveitis (50%) and panuveitis (28.6%). Median follow-up was 24 (13–49) months.

Conclusions

Sarcoidosis is a rare, underdiagnosed condition in Mexico and ocular involvement can be an early manifestation of the disease. Ophthalmologists should be alert to the signs of ocular sarcoidosis and collaborate with a multidisciplinary team to screen for systemic involvement if suspicion is high.
Physiotherapy applied to palliative care patients: a descriptive practice-based study
Authors: Navarro-Meléndez A , Gimenez MJ , Robledo-Donascimento Y , Río-González A , Lendínez-Mesa A
Published: July 2023

Background

Over the last few years, the presence of physiotherapists in Palliative Care Units (PCU) has considerably grown based on evidence from studies supporting the use of non-pharmacological measures as part of Palliative Care (PC) treatments. However, more accumulated data are needed to definitively establish its added value. The present study describes the type of patients receiving physiotherapy in a PCU and the benefits obtained in relation to their degree of functional dependence.

Methods

An observational, prospective, descriptive, practice-based study was undertaken involving patients admitted to the PCU of Fundación Instituto San José (Madrid, Spain), who according to the PCU´s clinical practice, met the criteria for physiotherapy intervention. Daily clinical practice was unchanged for study reasons. Participants were assessed prior to initiating and at the end of the physiotherapy program using the following standard scales: the Barthel Index, the Functional Ambulation Categories scale, the Palliative Performance Scale, and the Braden scale. A descriptive analysis was performed and scale scores prior to and after treatment were compared using the Wilcoxon signed-rank test. Significance was set at 0.05.

Results

A total of 63 patients were included (mean age 71.98 ± 12.72; 61.9% males). Fifty-eight patients (92.1%) were oncological patients; of them, 35 (60.3%) had metastases. Prior to treatment, 28 (44.4%) participants had total dependence according to the Barthel index, and 37 (58.7%) were non-functional ambulator according to the FAC scale. At the end of treatment, the number of patients with total dependence decreased to 15 (23.8%) and those non-functional ambulator to 12 (19.0%).

Conclusions

Patients who benefited from physical therapy during their admission to our PCU were predominantly males with oncological processes, mainly lung cancer. PC including physiotherapy improved their functionality, independence and skills for activities of daily living in this sample of PCU patients.
Greater temporal regularity of primary care visits was associated with reduced hospitalizations and mortality, even after controlling for continuity of care
Authors: Khazen Maram , Abu Ahmad Wiessam , Spolter Faige , Golan-Cohen Avivit , Merzon Eugene , Israel Ariel , Vinker Shlomo , Rose Adam J.
Published: July 2023

Background

Previous studies have shown that more temporally regular primary care visits are associated with improved patient outcomes.

Objective

To examine the association of temporal regularity (TR) of primary care with hospitalizations and mortality in patients with chronic illnesses. Also, to identify threshold values for TR for predicting outcomes.

Design

Retrospective cohort study.

Participants

We used data from the electronic health record of a health maintenance organization in Israel to study primary care visits of 70,095 patients age 40 + with one of three chronic conditions (diabetes mellitus, heart failure, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease).

Main measures

We calculated TR for each patient during a two-year period (2016–2017), and divided patients into quintiles based on TR. Outcomes (hospitalization, death) were observed in 2018–2019. Covariates included the Bice-Boxerman continuity of care score, demographics, and comorbidities. We used multivariable logistic regression to examine TR’s association with hospitalization and death, controlling for covariates.

Key results

Compared to patients receiving the most regular care, patients receiving less regular care had increased odds of hospitalization and mortality, with a dose–response curve observed across quintiles (p for linear trend < 0.001). For example, patients with the least regular care had an adjusted odds ratio of 1.40 for all-cause mortality, compared to patients with the most regular care. Analyses stratified by age, sex, ethnic group, area-level SES, and certain comorbid conditions did not show strong differential associations of TR across groups.

Conclusions

We found an association between more temporally regular care in antecedent years and reduced hospitalization and mortality of patients with chronic illness in subsequent years, after controlling for covariates. There was no clear threshold value for temporal regularity; rather, more regular primary care appeared to be better across the entire range of the variable.
L-GIREMI uncovers RNA editing sites in long-read RNA-seq
Authors: Liu Zhiheng , Quinones-Valdez Giovanni , Fu Ting , Huang Elaine , Choudhury Mudra , Reese Fairlie , Mortazavi Ali , Xiao Xinshu
Published: July 2023

Although long-read RNA-seq is increasingly applied to characterize full-length transcripts it can also enable detection of nucleotide variants, such as genetic mutations or RNA editing sites, which is significantly under-explored. Here, we present an in-depth study to detect and analyze RNA editing sites in long-read RNA-seq. Our new method, L-GIREMI, effectively handles sequencing errors and read biases. Applied to PacBio RNA-seq data, L-GIREMI affords a high accuracy in RNA editing identification. Additionally, our analysis uncovered novel insights about RNA editing occurrences in single molecules and double-stranded RNA structures. L-GIREMI provides a valuable means to study nucleotide variants in long-read RNA-seq.
RETRACTED ARTICLE: Support attack detection algorithm for recommendation system based on deep learning
Authors: Li Xin , Wang Zhixiao
Published: July 2023

In order to enhance the performance of recommendation systems that support attack detection algorithms, we have designed a novel approach based on deep learning. Specifically, our algorithm focuses on improving convergence, user scoring accuracy, algorithm efficiency, and detection accuracy. To achieve this, we first construct a preliminary user rating matrix, which is optimised by incorporating the user preference word matrix and the weight of the preference word. Additionally, we adjust the size of the matrix using principal component analysis. Next, we construct a deep, bidirectional RNN model based on the deep learning network. This model is then combined with the user scoring matrix to identify the type of user. In the case of abnormal or false users, our algorithm is able to identify the recommendation system’s support attack through the detection results. The experimental results demonstrate the effectiveness of our algorithm. Specifically, our approach achieves fast convergence speeds, with the loss value remaining low throughout the process. Moreover, we achieve high average accuracy in user scoring, with a score of 97.14%. The detection time of the recommendation system support attack is also consistently lower than 0.7 s. Furthermore, our approach achieves an average accuracy of 98.09% in the detection of recommendation system support attacks. Overall, our algorithm shows promising results for practical applications in the field of recommendation systems.
Liver care, live from Vienna
Authors: Bager Palle
Published: July 2023

Palle Bager looks back at some of the key discussion points from the International Liver Conference, 2023
SARS-CoV-2 protein structure and sequence mutations: Evolutionary analysis and effects on virus variants
Authors: Lomoio Ugo , Puccio Barbara , Tradigo Giuseppe , Guzzi Pietro Hiram , Veltri Pierangelo
Published: July 2023

The structure and sequence of proteins strongly influence their biological functions. New models and algorithms can help researchers in understanding how the evolution of sequences and structures is related to changes in functions. Recently, studies of SARS-CoV-2 Spike (S) protein structures have been performed to predict binding receptors and infection activity in COVID-19, hence the scientific interest in the effects of virus mutations due to sequence, structure and vaccination arises. However, there is the need for models and tools to study the links between the evolution of S protein sequence, structure and functions, and virus transmissibility and the effects of vaccination. As studies on S protein have been generated a large amount of relevant information, we propose in this work to use Protein Contact Networks (PCNs) to relate protein structures with biological properties by means of network topology properties. Topological properties are used to compare the structural changes with sequence changes. We find that both node centrality and community extraction analysis can be used to relate protein stability and functionality with sequence mutations. Starting from this we compare structural evolution to sequence changes and study mutations from a temporal perspective focusing on virus variants. Finally by applying our model to the Omicron variant we report a timeline correlation between Omicron and the vaccination campaign.
Tiberio Claudio Candido como ejemplo del ascenso de los personajes de origen africano en el gobierno de Septimio Severo
Authors: Sánchez Alguacil Jesús
Published: July 2023

En el presente artículo pretendemos acercarnos a la figura del general númida Tiberio Claudio Candido, que obtuvo honores y cargos de importancia en el transcurso de los siglos II-III d.C. bajo el favor del emperador Lucio Septimio Severo. Desarrolló un papel importantísimo en las guerras de sucesión de Septimio Severo al trono tras la muerte de Cómodo en 192 d.C. Su vida nos muestra de primera mano la progresiva incorporación de personajes de las provincias a puestos de gran responsabilidad. Este ascenso lo conocemos gracias a algunos restos epigráficos junto a la interpretación del relato que nos transmiten las fuentes escritas.
A tudatos jelenlét öt aspektusának mérésére alkalmas kérdőív (FFMQ-24) hazai adaptációja és 10. évfolyamos tanulók körében végzett előméréseinek eredményei
Authors: Budis Imola
Published: July 2023

A mindfulness egy meglehetősen új kutatási terület Magyarországon, a neveléstudomány területén egyáltalán nincs erre a jelenségre irányuló empirikus vizsgálat. Tanulmányunk célja, hogy beszámoljon a tudatos jelenlét mérésére alkalmas Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire (FFMQ-24) mérőeszköz hazai adaptálási folyamatáról és két, 10. évfolyamosok körében kivitelezett előmérésének eredményeiről. Az SPSS, Jamovi és Smart- PLS3 programok segítségével elvégzett, részletes statisztikai adatelemzés által vizsgáltuk az adaptált kérdőív működését és jóságmutatóit. Mindezt annak érdekében, hogy megfelelő megbízhatósággal, faktorszerkezettel és itemszintű diszkriminációs validitás-értékekkel bíró kérdőívváltozatot hozzunk létre. Az első mérés eredményei mentén átdolgozott kérdőívváltozatot alkalmaztuk a második mérésben. Az utóbbi eszközváltozat faktorstruktúrája és belső konzisztenciája a kis mintaelemszám (n = 66) ellenére is kifejezetten jó. Az RMSEA-érték (0,080) szintén kiváló illeszkedést jelez. Három item nem illeszkedett tökéletesen. A tudatos cselekvés alskála részét alkotó 23. tétel valószínűleg az individuális preferenciák miatt nem működött megfelelően. A reagálásmentesség faktorhoz tartozó 18. és 21. állítások esetében pedig a vírushelyzet látens hatásai befolyásolhatták a részt vevő diákok válaszadási mintázatait. A teljes kérdőív jó megbízhatósággal rendelkezik (α = 0,803). Az öt alskála közül egyedül a tudatos cselekvés Cronbach-α (= 0,487) értéke kevésbé jó, ugyanakkor a szerkezeti megbízhatóságot mutató CR értéke (0,711) elfogadható, tehát az itemek betöltik funkciójukat, adatgyűjtésre alkalmasak. A többi alskála reliabilitás- (α = 0,586-0,779) és CR-értékei (0,696–0,850) megfelelő működésre utalnak. Összegezve az eredményeket, a második kérdőívváltozat hazai adatgyűjtésre használható, megbízható és a tudatos jelenlét mérésére alkalmas mérőeszköznek ítélhető.
Improving Effective Screening and Management of Obesity in an Urgent Care Clinic
Authors: Cynowa Heather , Hodges Stephanie , Swinson Christy
Published: July 2023

Background
Nearly 40% of the adult population in the United States are considered obese by current standards, which equates to approximately 93 million people. Obesity is a chronic disease that is linked to more than 40 other diseases, including hypertension, heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and at least 13 distinct types of cancers. The direct and indirect costs of obesity have been estimated at up to $210 billion annually.

Local problem
In Cumberland County, North Carolina, 34% of the adult population was considered obese. The aim of this quality improvement study was to increase effective care (screening, patient engagement, and referral to treatment) in adult patients with a BMI greater than 30 kg/m2 to 75% within 90 days.

Methods
A rapid cycle plan-do-study-act framework was used to evaluate four focus areas concurrently over 8 weeks with a small test of change completed in each 2-week cycle.

Interventions
An expanded screening with a checklist, shared decision-making tools (SDMTs), and a referral to treatment checklist were implemented. Activities from the team engagement plan were initiated.

Results
The effective care of patients increased by 42 percentage points while engaging both the patients and the staff.

Conclusions
Utilizing standardized communication, SDMTs, checklists, and management plans improved effective care while motivating and enabling patients to take control of their care and make sustainable lifestyle changes that enhance overall health.
Urbanität – Beiträge zu einem verhaltenstheoretischen und planungsbezogenen Konzept
Authors: Steinbach Josef
Published: July 2023

Mit dem Aufkommen der postmodernen Kultur ist auch die Diskussion über verschiedene Formen von „Urbanität“ wieder in Gang gekommen, nachdem diese Thematik – angeregt besonders durch die Bücher von Jane Jacobs und Hans P. Bahrdt – schon in den 60er Jahren im Blickpunkt des Interesses gestanden war. Allerdings besteht weiterhin keine Einigkeit über die Deutung des Begriffes, und es gibt daher auch verschiedenste planerische Ansätze zur Realisierung entsprechender Leitbilder. Ihre Wirksamkeit bleibt allerdings oft beschränkt. In diesem Beitrag wird versucht, ein verhaltenstheoretisches Konzept zu entwickeln, das von verschiedenen Grundmerkmalen ausgeht (individuelle Lebensstile, Organisationsmuster der städtischen Gesellschaft, Eigenschaften städtischer baulicher Strukturen). Urbanität wird definiert als Erlebnisinhalte (Lebensgefühle), welche Outputs von städtischen Aktivitätenmustern bilden und deren Intensität von der Existenz spezieller Raumstrukturen abhängt. Aus der genaueren Analyse dieses „Produktionsapparates“ werden Strategien zur Planung von Urbanität abgeleitet.
Raumwirtschaftliche Aspekte der Kohäsionspolitik vor dem Hintergrund neuer Außenhandelstheorien
Authors: Fisch Gerhard
Published: July 2023

Die Diskussion um die Kohäsionspolitik der Europäischen Union beschränkt sich weitgehend auf die Frage nach der Höhe verteilungspolitisch relevanter Transfers in ärmere Beitrittsländer. Berücksichtigt man jedoch neuere und auf die Wettbewerbsdynamik abstellende außenhandelstheoretische Ansätze, so bieten sich interessante Perspektiven der Kohäsionspolitik, die nicht unbedingt auf Angleichung abzielt, sondern sich zunächst an dem Ziel der Integration weniger entwickelter Gebiete in die gemeinschaftsinterne Arbeitsteilung orientiert. Überdies bietet die raumwirtschaftliche Interpretation neuer Außenhandelstheorien einen generellen Einblick in die Problematik der Integration heterogener Staaten, was durch die politischen Veränderungen in Mittel- und Osteuropa besonders aktuell geworden ist.
Formación docente y Calidad de la educación
Authors: Trujillo Losada Milton Fernando , García Sánchez Daniela , Franco Romero Julián Fernando
Published: July 2023

Objetivo: Este documento reconoce que la educación y el sistema educativo constituyen uno de los principales instrumentos de cambio con el que cuenta una sociedad; también señala la importancia que el profesorado desempeña para la educación y la formación en los distintos niveles y etapas del sistema educativo como mediador de los procesos de enseñanza y aprendizaje. Metodología: El análisis documental realizado a 19 documentos (y 455 abstract), desde la perspectiva hermenéutica, señala que desde hace tres décadas, las cuestiones relacionadas con las características y condiciones de la profesión docente se han convertido en objeto permanente de atención en la investigación sobre educación. Resultados: Este ejercicio de indagación ha rastreado reformas educativas de algunos países de América Latina que se han llevado a cabo para reformar la carrera docente con el propósito del mejoramiento de la calidad de los sistemas educativos nacionales e internacionales. Conclusiones: Este interés ha permitido ubicar la formación docente inicial y el desarrollo profesional continuo como los elementos centrales de la calidad educativa, sobre los cuales se han proyectado estudios, diagnósticos, programas y diferentes intervenciones a nivel de políticas institucionales de carácter nacional e internacional.
INVESTIGATION OF PROTEIN PATTERNS AND ANTIOXIDANT ACTIVITY OF COLLAGEN HYDROLYSATES FROM SKIN OF FAN-BELLIED LEATHERJACKET Monacanthus chinensis BY VARIOUS ENZYMES
Authors: Ky Pham Xuan , Vy Phan Bao , Ha Dao Viet , Hy Le Ho Khanh , Hong Nguyen Thu , Thiet Doan Thi , Anh Nguyen Phuong
Published: July 2023

Collagen extracted from the skin of fan-bellied leatherjacket was hydrolyzed and tested for antioxidant activity. The yields of acid soluble collagen (ASC) and pepsin soluble collagen (PSC) were 14.8% and 19.6%, respectively, based on the wet weight of skin. The SDS-PAGE results showed that collagen from the skin of this fish consists of α1 and α2 chains with molecular weight (MW) approximately 100 kDa, identified as type I collagen. Hydrolysis of collagen by the other enzymes, such as papain, bromelain, pepsin and alcalase could produce the peptides with MW less than 28 kDa. Hydrolyzed collagen possessed the antioxidant activity with different levels and greater than that of normal collagen.
ON THE CHARACTERISTICS OF CIRCULATION IN THE UPWELLING REGION OF THE SOUTHERN VIETNAM
Authors: Vinh Nguyen Kim
Published: July 2023

The main results of experimental investigation of the circulation characteristics in the upwelling region of the  Southern Vietnam, based on the current data received in the cruises of the Vietnam-German Project “Upwelling”, are noted here. This project may be estimated as having the most detail current measurement  and the biggest rate in this Vietnamese sea area. The current velocity can reach more than 100 cm/s. The  main current direction is related to the monsoon directions: northeastern and southwestern. It may be formed two pictures of the horizontal circulation in the upwelling region of the Southern Vietnam in the eastwestern monsoon. The first is characterized by an eastern stream off the Vietnamese coast at the latitude of 120N.  The second is characterized by forming of the two-layer circulation: in the surface layer there is current related to monsoon (it has mainly the northeastern direction) and in the subsurface layer - north - south direction current. The southern current can reach to the 100N latitude. The thickness of surface current is about 50 meters. And the subsurface current is located from the depth of 60 to about 130 meters. The  longitude velocity component of these currents can reach more than 35 and 50 cm/s relatively. Here there  noted some indirect methods for calculating the upwelling velocity and its application to this upwelling  region. The results showed that the rate of upwelling velocities is 10-3 - 10-2 cm/s.
SOME BIOLOGICAL CHARACTERISTIC OF SILVER RED SNAPPER CATCHED IN THE SEA WATERS OF NHA TRANG- KHANH HOA
Authors: Mao Nguyen Dinh , Thanh Nguyen Dich
Published: July 2023

This paper presents some main results of study on the biology for Silver red snapper  (Lutjanus argentimaculatus Forskal, 1775) in the seawaters  of Nha Trang - Khanh Hoa during 2005 - 2006. The study is concluded that the minimum size of female  Lutjanus argentimaculatus at maturity is 48 cm (3 age), and that the spawning may occur at fish size of 48 - 76 cm. The fecundity of female is variable in fish size or age groups: the number of ova at the length of 4 age is 895 × 103, 5 age is 995 × 103 and 6 age is 4,1 × 106 ova. The sex ratio of L. argenlimaculatus in general that on young,  immature fishes have the ratio dominated by males, whereas those that capture  mostly older and spaning age fishes have sex rutios that are mostly females.
SCIENTIFIC COMMUNICATIONS 1:
Authors: An Nguyen Tac , Van Nguyen Thanh
Published: July 2023

Hội nghị lần thứ VII của ủy ban Hải dương học liên chính phủ khu vực Tây Thái Bình Dương (IOC/WESTPAC)
FECAL INDICATOR BACTERIA AND AQUATIC PATHOGEN BACTERIA VIBRIOS IN NAI LAGOON, NINH THUAN
Authors: Mien Pham Thi , Huong Le Lan , Huong Le Hoai , Thi Vo Hai
Published: July 2023

Monitoring fecal pollution using fecalindicator bacteria (fecal coliform - FC) and common aquatic pathogen bacteria group of Vibrios are crucial criteria for integration coastal zone mallagement.FC and Vibrio were an alyzed following standard method. Density of FC and Vibrio varied temporally and not depend on total particulate of organic matler (with R2= 0.55 and R2 = 0.66) respectively. After 30 days ofohservatio 11, there was a sudden increase in number of Vibrio in sediments. It was significant relative to tow/particulate of organic matter. Density of Vibrio was not excess the standard limit for marine aquaculture, however, dellsity of Vibrio was high in sediments with maximum of 4.59 x 102 cfu/g. Density of FC was depended on both concentration of total particulate of organic matter and human activities in Nai lagoon.