bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
What Skills Could Distinguish Developmental Dyscalculia and Typically Developing Children: Evidence From a 2-Year Longitudinal Screening
Authors: Li Danfeng , Zhang Xuejing , Zhang Li
Published: June 2022

Developmental dyscalculia (DD) is a mathematics learning disorder that affects approximately 5% to 7% of the population. This study aimed to detect the underlying domain-specific and domain-general differences between DD and typically developing (TD) children. We recruited 9-year-old primary school children to form the DD group via a 2-year longitudinal screening process. In total, 75 DD children were screened from 1,657 children after the one-time screening, and 13 DD children were screened from 1,317 children through a consecutive 2-year longitudinal screening. In total, 13 experimental tasks were administered to assess their cognitive abilities to test the domain-specific magnitude representation hypothesis (including symbolic and nonsymbolic magnitude comparisons) and four alternative domain-general hypotheses (including working memory, executive function, attention, and visuospatial processing). The DD group had worse performance than the TD group on the number sense task, finger sense task, shifting task, and one-back task after both one-time and two-time screening. Logistic regressions further indicated the differences on the shifting task and the nonsymbolic magnitude comparison task could distinguish DD and TD children. Our findings suggest that domain-specific nonsymbolic magnitude representation and domain-general executive function both contribute to DD. Thus, both domain-specific and domain-general abilities will be necessary to investigate and to intervene in DD groups in the future.
Development of customizable conductive thermal woven textile for ready-to-wear functional collections
Authors: Zhao Yuanfang , Li Li
Published: June 2022

With the emergence of conductive materials and the development of textile technologies, various wearable smart textiles have been created and their application has been greatly expanded. Among them, thermal textiles using thermal woven technology have been the subject of limited research but offer promising application potential. Unlike the traditional development procedure, the integrated design-driven strategy of thermal woven textiles mainly contains a yarn phase, fabric phase and apparel phase. This article introduces a design-driven approach to develop thermal functional garments for ready-to-wear collections applying thermal woven textiles. The fabric development procedure includes design, test, evaluation, simulation model setup and modification. The apparel development procedure aims to guide commercial production. Since there is almost no systematic guidance for thermal woven product development so far, this study will fill the gap and provide practical instruction.
Behavior Analytic Feeding Interventions: Current State of the Literature
Authors: Williams Keith , Seiverling Laura
Published: June 2022

The purpose of this paper was to review the current state of the behavior analytic feeding intervention literature. We highlight studies that we found to be important contributions to the recent literature in the following areas: food selectivity, chewing, packing, and food refusal/tube weaning and provide suggestions for future research and clinical work in these areas. We also discuss several current topics relevant to the field in hopes to further advance research and clinical practice. These topics include considering the benefits of innovative models of service delivery such as telehealth and caregiver-implemented interventions, the importance of evaluating long-term outcomes of behavioral feeding interventions, and lastly, ethical issues to consider in the designing and implementation of behavioral feeding interventions and training of practitioners in our field.
Improving Social Climate In Youth Detention
Authors: Trotter Chris , Evans Phillipa , Powers Tim
Published: June 2022

Ongoing concerns have been expressed about the poor rehabilitative climate of youth detention centers, with a number of government inquiries examining the nature of the centers and how to improve their rehabilitative culture. Emerging research points to staff training and support as mechanisms to improve institutional climate. This study examines the impact on institutional climate of training and coaching staff in effective practice skills. Staff and young people, across three Australian detention centers, were administered a validated social climate measure prior to and 3 to 6 months following training and coaching. The social climate improved at a statistically significant level for staff. For young people the social climate improved but the improvement was not statistically significant. The measure was also administered at two control sites for staff where minimal changes in social climate were seen, suggesting that the staff improvements flowed from the training and coaching rather than from other organizational factors. It is concluded that training and coaching improved detention center social climate for staff although the study does not provide evidence that it improved significantly for young people.
Concurrent Optimization of Cycle Length, Green Splits, and Offsets for the Diverging Diamond Interchange
Authors: Do Dawson , Chen Yen-Yu , Chang Gang-Len
Published: June 2022

Diverging diamond interchange (DDI) has received increased attention from the traffic community for its efficiency in reducing delays for vehicles at on- and off-ramps. The conflicting through movements between a DDI’s two crossover intersections mean that its signal plan must concurrently consider the progression for all critical paths to ensure overall efficiency. In light of DDI’s unique geometric features, the design of its signal plans typically starts with the cycle length and green splits for its two crossover intersections, and then employs available progression models to produce the optimal offsets for those critical paths. Such a two-stage design methodology, however, often cannot yield system-wide optimal results because the optimal progression bandwidth and signal settings are interdependent. Moreover, inefficient coordination between its two crossover intersections may cause excessive queues on the DDI’s bridge segment. This paper therefore presents a mixed-integer linear programming (MILP) model that can concurrently optimize the cycle length, green splits, and offsets for a DDI’s two crossover intersections under the given traffic patterns and geometric constraints such as the link length. The results of extensive numerical analyses with a real-world DDI have confirmed the effectiveness of the proposed model and its robustness in response to demand fluctuation.
Learner Engagement in a Business Simulation Game: Impact on Higher-Order Thinking Skills
Authors: Huang Yueh-Min , Silitonga Lusia M. , Murti Astrid T. , Wu Ting-Ting
Published: June 2022

Higher-order thinking skills (HOTS) are reliable predictors of success in school and the workplace. A typical technique for encouraging higher-order thinking is to use instructional design interventions that engage learners in simple cognitive activities. Business simulation game (BSG) is one of the types of interactive learning environments that can increase HOTS. In addition, student engagement and attitude toward technology use are considered strong influences on HOTS. The study explored the effect of using a BSG on HOTS and student engagement. It examined the influence of attitude toward the use of a BSG on HOTS and student engagement. The results of the t-test analysis showed that learning activities using BSG had a positive effect on HOTS and student engagement. Additionally, PLS-SEM analysis results indicated that immersion, interaction, and intention to use the game influence student engagement. Furthermore, student engagement significantly influenced HOTS. The findings indicate that students must demonstrate that they are engaging actively in a course to improve HOTS and that a BSG can be a valuable and effective tool for promoting engagement. Moreover, the COVID-19 pandemic caused limitations in sampling and representativeness of respondents. Future research should involve a bigger sample size and students who have attended related courses.
Cerebral Digital Subtraction Angiography in Acute Intracranial Hemorrhage: Considerations in Critically Ill Children
Authors: Harrar DB , Sun LR , Goss M , Pearl MS
Published: June 2022

Cerebrovascular disorders are an important cause of morbidity and mortality in children. Although minimally invasive, cerebral digital subtraction angiography (DSA) has been shown to be safe in children and is a valuable, and perhaps underutilized, technique for the diagnosis and management of pediatric cerebrovascular disorders in the critical care setting. Through a case-based approach, we explore the utility of DSA in critically ill children with acute intracranial hemorrhage (ICH). We discuss the use of DSA in the acute management of aneurysm and arteriovenous malformation rupture as well as cerebral vasospasm. Those caring for critically ill children with acute ICH should consider cerebral DSA as part of a comprehensive approach to the diagnosis and management of these conditions.
Professional and Demographic Profile of Spanish-Speaking Child Neurologists in the United States
Authors: Torres Alcy R. , Mohanty Mugdha , Salvador Carla , Chavez Wilson , Mora Mauricio , Kuban Karl
Published: June 2022

>Objective: To ascertain the prevalence of culturally native Spanish-speaking child neurologists in the United States. Methods: Prevalence statistics regarding demographic and work profile were applied to data obtained from a cross-sectional electronic survey of Child Neurology Society (CNS) members. Results: Demographics of the 135 respondents were comparable to a similar CNS survey except for ethnicity as shown in Table 1 . Fifty- three percent were male and 24% were over age 60. Approximately a quarter were represented each from East, South, Midwest, and Western US. 42% self-identified as Spanish, Hispanic, or Latino. 62% spoke English as their primary language and 39% spoke Spanish as their primary language. Two-thirds graduated from a US medical school, 51% practice general neurology, and epilepsy was the most common subspecialty (18%). Two-thirds of respondents practice at a major teaching hospital, and 93% hold university academic appointments. 79% are AAN members. 76% did not have medical student debt at the time of the survey. 29% report signs consistent with burnout. 87% would choose Child Neurology again and 96% would recommend Child Neurology to a medical student. Conclusion: 40% of survey respondents self-identified as Hispanic, Latino or Spanish and spoke Spanish as the primary language and the majority practice in Academic Medicine. Nearly a third of those in the current survey identify burnout symptoms. Consideration of distinctive language and cultural characteristics across the US may lead to provision of a more patient-centered and equitable care.
A review of planetary roller screw mechanism for development and new trends
Authors: Wu Linping , Ma Shangjun , Fu Xiaojun , Zhang Jianxin , Liu Geng
Published: June 2022

With the rapid development of all electric mechanical equipment in the fields of industrial application, aerospace engineering, and national defense, planetary roller screw mechanism has attracted much attention as a new type actuator of electro-mechanical actuator system. This report systematically reviews previous large number of researches as well as new advancements on five types of planetary roller screw mechanisms from both available literatures and studies presented. Firstly, the general structure, merits, limitations, and the application of five types of planetary roller screw mechanisms are summarized. Then, the development state of the planetary roller screw mechanisms is elaborated in the three aspects: parameter design, contact properties, and performance analysis. Common problems and tendencies of theoretical analysis and calculation models are analyzed. Finally, the research directions and methods in the future on planetary roller screw mechanism are discussed. Key technologies and research challenges are presented in terms of multi-pair dynamic contact and multi-body vibration of system, and the development prospects for various planetary roller screw mechanisms in all electric mechanical equipment are summed up.
Yaw stability control for steer-by-wire vehicle based on radial basis network and terminal sliding mode theory
Authors: Chen Linbin , Tang Lan
Published: June 2022

To further improve the handling and steering performance of steer-by-wire vehicles, a layered control strategy is proposed for the steer-by-wire system, which includes the upper and lower controllers. In the upper control, considering the vehicle sideslip angle and yaw rate, an adaptive sliding mode control strategy is designed for the vehicle lateral stability. Due to the measurement difficulty of the sideslip angle, a robust sliding mode observer is designed to estimate the sideslip angle. In the lower control, a new adaptive global fast terminal sliding mode is proposed to ensure the tracking accuracy of the front wheel angle, considering the dynamic uncertainty characteristics of the steering-by-wire system. The adaptive part of the lower control adopts a radial basis function network, and the adaptive law is designed in Lyapunov sense to make the network approximate the unknown dynamics of the steering-by-wire system, thus the parameters of the steering-by-wire are not required to be completely known. Finally, the joint simulation of MATLAB/Simulink and Carsim verifies that the proposed layered controller has excellent control performance.
Precise and robust sideslip angle estimation based on INS/GNSS integration using invariant extended Kalman filter
Authors: Zhang Zhihuang , Zhao Jintao , Huang Changyao , Li Liang
Published: June 2022

Sideslip angle estimation is vital to the safety and active control of autonomous vehicles. In this paper, an innovative vehicle kinematic-based sideslip angle estimation method is proposed. The method is built on multi-sensor fusion, which fuses the information of inertial measurement unit, global navigation satellite system (GNSS), and onboard sensors to continuously estimate the attitude and velocity of the vehicle and thus obtain the sideslip angle. The invariant extended Kalman filter framework is adopted and the left-invariant form is derived to implement the GNSS measurement update. In order to solve the unobservability problem when only a single GNSS receiver is equipped, the vehicle motion constraint is introduced into the filter to improve the accuracy of heading angle estimation. The method is validated by field test and the results show that the method is robust in terms of converge efficiency. Furthermore, the sideslip angle estimation accuracy is satisfactory with the average absolute error less than 0.25°, which meets the active safety control requirements for autonomous driving.
New radiocarbon dates reveal pan-Holocene deposition of rodents at Trouing Jérémie #5, a sinkhole in the western Tiburon Peninsula, Haiti
Authors: Cooke Siobhán Bríghid , Erin Crowley Brooke
Published: June 2022

We present eight new radiocarbon dates for endemic and invasive rodents from Trouing Jérémie #5, a paleontologically-rich sink hole on the Tiburon Peninsula, Haiti. This includes new dates for two species that have been previously directly dated ( Isolobodon portoricensis and Brotomys voratus) as well as three endemic rodents which have no previous direct radiometric dates ( Plagiodontia velozi, Hexolobodon phenax, and Rhizoplagiodontia lemkei). The radiocarbon date for P. velozi, the largest of these species, is from the very early Holocene (10,995 ± 190 calendar years before present; Cal BP). Specimens of medium-bodied species, H. phenax and R. lemkei date to the mid-Holocene, while specimens of smaller-bodied I. portoricencis and B. voratus have dates falling in the Late-Holocene. These dates confirm that several of the extinct rodent species coexisted with the first humans, who arrived on the island ca. 6000 years ago. In contrast, murid Rattus specimens date to the last few centuries. Rats arrived with Europeans in the late 15th or early 16th Century and a radiocarbon date of ca. 500 Cal BP for one individual suggests that they likely spread quickly across the island. Collectively, these dates establish that vertebrate accumulations at Trouing Jérémie #5 span the Holocene. Remains from this site may provide a useful time sequence for future work examining ecological change across the Holocene as well as regional extirpation patterns.
Effects of blowing agents and curing temperatures on physical and mechanical properties of natural rubber foam for laminated floor tiles
Authors: Petdee Theerawat , Naemsai Thanwit , Pianhanuruk Ekkawit , Boonchouytan Worapong , Homkhiew Chatree
Published: June 2022

Falling on the floor has been one of the most common causes of breaking a bone. Falls in senior homes and care facilities can lead to immobility symptoms and treatments. Rubber flooring is a great alternative for fall protection. Thus, this study aimed to investigate the effects of organic blowing agents (dinitroso pentamethylene tetramine and azodicarbonamide) on the physical and mechanical properties of natural rubber foam used for laminated floor tiles. The curing temperatures were also examined in the range of 140–160 oC. From the experimental results, the blowing agent was an important component added to the rubber foam layer at various contents and temperatures. The compression set increased when curing temperatures and adding blowing agent increased. With an increase in the curing temperature, the elongation at break decreased. The findings indicated that the mechanical properties of natural rubber foam were significantly affected by the kind of blowing agent and the curing temperature. Finally, an optimal energy absorption was found in the dinitroso pentamethylene tetramine condition with 3 phr and the curing temperature of 160°C, which offers the maximum energy absorption value of 110 J.
Infant Presenting With Developmental Regression and Infantile Spasms Diagnosed as Zellweger Spectrum Disorder
Authors: Chhabra Kusumita , Balakrishnan Umamaheshwari , Amboiram Prakash , Jalan Anil
Published: June 2022

Among the Zellweger spectrum disorders of peroxisomal biogenesis, Zellweger syndrome (ZS) is the most severe of identified disorders in this spectrum. Clinical features include facial dysmorphism, neuronal migration defects, failure to thrive, and hearing and visual impairment. Intracellular accumulation of very-long-chain fatty acid (VLCFA) damages developing organs (eg, liver, bone, kidneys, brain).It is diagnosed by estimating VLFCA and plasmalogen levels and genetic testing modalities. Mutations in the PEX group of genes are seen. The current case report highlights a case of ZS where the patient was thriving at 7 months with developmental delay, hypotonia, deafness, and seizures. The patient had chronic diarrhea and infantile spasms which are rarely described in peroxisomal biogenesis disorders. We report this child to highlight the diagnostic algorithmic approach of peroxisomal disorder.
A psychosocial exploration of resistances to service user involvement in United Kingdom National Health Service (NHS) mental health services
Authors: Moore Timothy , Zeeman Laetitia
Published: June 2022

Policy promotes the active participation of those with lived experience of mental health difficulties in UK NHS mental health services, from the level of collaborative care-planning to service delivery, leadership and development. However, research indicates different forms of resistance to the implementation of such service user involvement. This article reports the findings of a qualitative, interview-based study which used Foucauldian discourse analysis and psychoanalytic theory to understand how resistances are produced through the interplay of clinical mental health professionals’ subjectivity and their organisational context. Service user involvement was found to highlight conflicts within clinicians’ roles. Central to this conflict was an ambivalent relationship to the power associated with these roles. Power could protect professionals from work related stresses, but could also be used to dominate, silence and coerce service users in ways that conflicted with the core function of providing care. Whilst important, raising awareness of such conflict will arouse discomfort and resistance where psychological defences are challenged. A parallel is drawn with psychotherapeutic change, in which resistance must be understood and worked with as part of meaningful change.
A Meta-Analysis of Mid-Term Outcomes of Endovascular Aneurysm Sealing
Authors: Kouvelos G. , Nana P. , Brodis A. , Spanos K. , Tasoudis P. , Katsargyris A. , Verhoeven E.
Published: June 2022

Background-Aim:

Several studies have been published showing conflicting results on the outcome after endovascular aneurysm sealing (EVAS). The aim of the present study is to conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis of published evidence to assess the efficacy of EVAS in the management of patients with abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA).

Methods:

An electronic search of the English medical literature, from 2010 to March 2021, was conducted using MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Cochrane databases to find studies relevant to outcome after EVAS.

Results:

The final analysis included 12 articles published between 2011 and 2021, including 1440 patients. In total, 79.3% of the included patients underwent aneurysm treatment according to the instructions for use. Technical success was 98.8%. Overall, 30-day mortality was 1.3%. Procedure-related complications were reported in 4% of the cohort. During median follow-up of 28.1 months (range 9–72 months), the pooled estimate of endoleak type I, migration and reinterventions was 16% (95% confidence interval [CI]=7–25), 16% (95% CI=9–23), and 19% (95% CI=11–28), respectively. In a sub-analysis, 7 studies (703 patients) reported outcome with a mean follow-up of more than 2 years (range 24–72 months). In these studies, the pooled estimate of endoleak type I, migration, and reinterventions was 25% (95% CI=13–38), 22% (95% CI=19–26), and 27% (95% CI=21–33), respectively.

Conclusion:

Patients who have been treated with EVAS are in high risk for reintervention especially beyond 2 years following implantation. Close surveillance for patients treated with EVAS is mandatory.
An integrated life-cycle maintenance modeling and simulation framework for aero engine fleet management decision support
Authors: Sun Jianzhong , Sun Yuanchu , Chen Dan , Liu He
Published: June 2022

Aero engine fleet management concerns the engine life-cycle maintenance, repair, and overhaul process decision making as well as the associated fleet spare inventory management, which is strongly influenced by the environmental and operating conditions they are subjected to in service. In this paper a comprehensive life-cycle simulation framework is proposed for engine fleet management decision making support, covering the entire process from individual engine shop visit maintenance modeling to fleet level engine spare inventory planning. The result of case study shows that the proposed simulation framework is useful not only for lifetime reliability and maintenance cost prediction and fleet engine spares planning by properly accounting for the varying environmental and operating conditions, but also provides an effective decision support tool for engine fleet maintenance management.
The impact of COVID-19 on UK university students: Understanding the interconnection of issues experienced during lockdown
Authors: McGivern Paul , Shepherd Jack
Published: June 2022

The pandemic profoundly disrupted university students’ lives. Many students have parenting and/or caring responsibilities and work part-time jobs. Undergraduate cohorts today are extremely diverse, comprised of people from a wide range of social, ethnic, economical and cultural backgrounds. Research has highlighted the different ways the pandemic has affected the lives of students globally. During lockdown(s) universities responded swiftly to students’ needs enabling them to continue with their studies, though such responses were reactive to targeted needs. Given this, a more granular understanding of the interconnectedness of the issues experienced by UK students during the pandemic is required. This study used conventional Content Analysis to review qualitative responses from 82 participants aged 18+ years. Participants also completed the validated Fear of COVID-19 scale. Three themes: Education, Health, and Quality of Life emerged from the data. The interrelatedness of these themes was highlighted, thus evidencing the complexity of the issues experienced. Overall, Fear of COVID-19 scores were low. These findings have implications for higher educational establishments and wider professional educational bodies moving forward. Whilst higher educational establishments supported students throughout lockdown(s) via targeted responses and interventions, these findings suggest that a more nuanced response to students’ needs is required in future.
Futurizing DBA Curriculum: A Class in Kazakhstan
Authors: Abdullah Nur Anisah
Published: June 2022

This essay aims to share with the community of practice an approach for incorporating and embedding Futures and scenarios into business school curriculum as part of strategy development practice with a view to strike a balance between scientific rigour and practical relevance of management education. Through the conduct of a 3-day Foresight for Strategy Development workshop curated for as an intensive course for a cohort of DBA students at the Narxoz Business School, Almaty, Kazakhstan, the author describes the step-by-step process of building scenarios and shares some of the learning outcomes from the workshop. The 3-day workshop was designed with two objectives; that is, to teach the basic skills of futures thinking by introducing futures studies, and to incorporate the five stages of scenario development process as part of strategic planning practice. While students learned the reasons for and the process of embedding scenarios as a planning tool, and were able to apply theory to practice in classroom exercises, this cohort of DBA students found it quite challenging to have a proper grasp of Futures concepts and methodologies. They were overwhelmed by the amount of contents they have to process within the space of a 3-day intensive workshop. This feedback was not peculiar to this cohort of students and it was a common lament received from the various workshops conducted in different countries including Malaysia, United Arab Emirates, Taiwan, Bahrain and Oman. This was particularly true with those in the developing economies where futures studies is relatively a new discipline. This experience tells us there is an opportunity to fill this void by introducing and embedding futures studies and scenarios as part of the planning and strategy development in Management courses in Kazakhstan.
Brand Exclusivity, Privacy and the Perception of Luxury in the ‘Physiognomy Mystery’ Events
Authors: Pang Phala
Published: June 2022

This study analyses the importance of exclusivity and privacy of Physiognomy Mystery, a private community (club) in the entertainment and arts sector. Through short interviews with selected members, the case presents customer perceptions on how the attachment to these core values could construct a brand of perceived luxury, increasing the final customer experience. A strong emotional attachment, the sense of community belonging and trust reflect a unique experience for the participants that could be exceptionally inferior for outsiders. It is finally shown that the co-development and immediate involvement of members on every operational aspect may finally create a brand community with the essence of luxury, fulfilling the demand of the selected members for private, iconic experiences on apparently conventional services.
Abandon Informed Consent in Favor of Probability-Based, Shared Decision-Making Following the Wishes of a Reasonable Person
Authors: James John T
Published: June 2022

Legally and ethically physicians must provide information to patients so they may make an informed decision about invasive procedures. The problem is who decides what information to provide. Is it the reasonable patient or the reasonable physician? Individual patients and individual physicians may differ from the norm on what is reasonable. This problem may be solved by shared decision-making in which the preferences of the patient and the probability-based knowledge of the physician are used to co-produce an optimal choice. Currently, patients are seldom prepared to engage in shared decision-making, and vestiges of meaningless “informed consent” are common. The present case study illustrates how “reasonable person” survey data may be used by a patient to engage in probability-based, shared decision-making with a surgeon planning to perform a laminectomy. Recommendations include probability-based, shared decision-making training for patients and physicians and improved documentation to facilitate learning.
Impact of T-cell immunity on chemotherapy response in childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia
Authors: Li Yizhen , Yang Xu , Sun Yu , Li Zhenhua , Yang Wenjian , Ju Bensheng , Easton John , Pei Deqing , Cheng Cheng , Lee Shawn , Pui Ching-Hon , Yu Jiyang , Chi Hongbo , Yang Jun J.
Published: June 2022

Although acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is highly responsive to chemotherapy, it is unknown how or which host immune factors influence the long-term remission of this cancer. To this end, we systematically evaluated the effects of T-cell immunity on Ph+ ALL therapy outcomes. Using a murine Arf−/−BCR-ABL1 B-cell ALL model, we showed that loss of T cells in the host drastically increased leukemia relapse after dasatinib or cytotoxic chemotherapy. Although ABL1 mutations emerged early during dasatinib treatment in both immunocompetent and immunocompromised hosts, T-cell immunity was essential for suppressing the outgrowth of drug-resistant leukemia. Bulk and single-cell transcriptome profiling of T cells during therapy pointed to the activation of type 1 immunity-related cytokine signaling being linked to long-term leukemia remission in mice. Consistent with these observations, interferon γ and interleukin 12 directly modulated dasatinib antileukemia efficacy in vivo. Finally, we evaluated peripheral blood immune cell composition in 102 children with ALL during chemotherapy and observed a significant association of T-cell abundance with treatment outcomes. Together, these results suggest that T-cell immunity plays pivotal roles in maintaining long-term remission of ALL, highlighting that the interplay between host immunity and drug resistance can be harnessed to improve ALL chemotherapy outcomes.
EMDLP: Ensemble multiscale deep learning model for RNA methylation site prediction
Authors: Wang Honglei , Liu Hui , Huang Tao , Li Gangshen , Zhang Lin , Sun Yanjing
Published: June 2022

Background

Recent research recommends that epi-transcriptome regulation through post-transcriptional RNA modifications is essential for all sorts of RNA. Exact identification of RNA modification is vital for understanding their purposes and regulatory mechanisms. However, traditional experimental methods of identifying RNA modification sites are relatively complicated, time-consuming, and laborious.

Machine learning approaches have been applied in the procedures of RNA sequence features extraction and classification in a computational way, which may supplement experimental approaches more efficiently. Recently, convolutional neural network (CNN) and long short-term memory (LSTM) have been demonstrated achievements in modification site prediction on account of their powerful functions in representation learning. However, CNN can learn the local response from the spatial data but cannot learn sequential correlations. And LSTM is specialized for sequential modeling and can access both the contextual representation but lacks spatial data extraction compared with CNN. There is strong motivation to construct a prediction framework using natural language processing (NLP), deep learning (DL) for these reasons.

Results

This study presents an ensemble multiscale deep learning predictor (EMDLP) to identify RNA methylation sites in an NLP and DL way. It organically combines the dilated convolution and Bidirectional LSTM (BiLSTM), which helps to take better advantage of the local and global information for site prediction.

The first step of EMDLP is to represent the RNA sequences in an NLP way. Thus, three encodings, e.g., RNA word embedding, One-hot encoding, and RGloVe, which is an improved learning method of word vector representation based on GloVe, are adopted to decipher sites from the viewpoints of the local and global information. Then, a dilated convolutional Bidirectional LSTM network (DCB) model is constructed with the dilated convolutional neural network (DCNN) followed by BiLSTM to extract potential contributing features for methylation site prediction. Finally, these three encoding methods are integrated by a soft vote to obtain better predictive performance. Experiment results on m1A and m6A reveal that the area under the receiver operating characteristic(AUROC) of EMDLP obtains respectively 95.56%, 85.24%, and outperforms the state-of-the-art models. To maximize user convenience, a user-friendly webserver for EMDLP was publicly available at http://www.labiip.net/EMDLP/index.php (http://47.104.130.81/EMDLP/index.php).

Conclusions

We developed a predictor for m1A and m6A methylation sites.
Blood urea nitrogen to creatinine ratio is associated with in-hospital mortality among critically ill patients with cardiogenic shock
Authors: Sun Di , Wei Changmin , Li Zhen
Published: June 2022

Backgrounds

Although Blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and serum creatinine concentration (Cr) has been widely measured in daily clinical practice, BUN-to-Cr ratio (BCR) for prognosis among patients admitted with cardiogenic shock (CS) remains unknown. The present study was conducted to assess the prognostic effectiveness of BCR on CS.

Methods and results

Records of data for patients with CS were extracted from public database of the Medical Information Mart for Intensive Care-III (MIMIC-III). The primarily endpoint was in-hospital mortality. We incorporated multivariate Cox regression model and Kaplan–Meier curve to evaluate the relationship between BCR and in-hospital mortality, adjusting for potential confounders. Data of 1137 patients with CS were employed for the final cohort, with 556 in the low BCR (< 20) and 581 in the high BCR (≥ 20) group. In the multivariate Cox model and Kaplan–Meier curve, compared to low BCR, we found high BCR was independently associated with significantly improved in-hospital survival for CS (HR 0.66, 95% CI 0.51–0.84;P < 0.01). The benefit of high BCR on in-hospital survival for CS was remaining among subgroups of acute kidney injury (AKI) and non-AKI.

Conclusions

Our analysis indicated that high BCR, as compared to low BCR, was correlated with improved in-hospital survival for participants with CS, with or without AKI. The results need to be proved in large prospective studies.
Elevated Th17 cell proportion, related cytokines and mRNA expression level in patients with hypertension-mediated organ damage: a case control study
Authors: Wang Zhuoqun , Wang Jiannan , Yang Pengfei , Song Xiwen , Li Yongle
Published: June 2022

Background

Immune abnormalities and inflammatory responses play critical roles in progression of hypertension. Basic studies have confirmed that Th17 cell and related cytokines are important in promoting hypertension-mediated organ damage, but few clinical evidences have been published. Therefore, our study aimed to investigate the relationship between Th17 cell and its related cytokines and hypertension-mediated organ damage in human.

Methods

This study enrolled 179 patients with hypertension (including 92 with hypertension-mediated organ damage and 87 without hypertension-mediated organ damage) and 63 healthy participants. The proportion of Th17 cells in peripheral blood mononuclear cells was measured by flow cytometry. The concentrations of interleukin-17 and interleukin-23 were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Real time-polymerase chain reaction was used to detect the mRNA expression levels of interleukin-17, retinoic acid-related orphan receptor (ROR) γt and signal transducer and activator of transcription-3 (STAT-3).

Results

The proportion of Th17 cells, the concentration of interleukin-17 and interleukin-23 and the mRNA expression levels of interleukin-17, retinoic acid-related orphan receptor γt and signal transducer and activator of transcription-3 were significantly increased in hypertension-mediated organ damage group compared with those in non-hypertension-mediated organ damage group and control group (P < 0.005).

Conclusion

Th17 cells and their associated cytokines may be involved in hypertension-mediated organ damage formation and may be able to serve as new biomarkers of hypertension-mediated organ damage and potential therapeutic targets.
Automating risk of bias assessment in systematic reviews: a real-time mixed methods comparison of human researchers to a machine learning system
Authors: Jardim Patricia Sofia Jacobsen , Rose Christopher James , Ames Heather Melanie , Echavez Jose Francisco Meneses , Van de Velde Stijn , Muller Ashley Elizabeth
Published: June 2022

Background

Machine learning and automation are increasingly used to make the evidence synthesis process faster and more responsive to policymakers’ needs. In systematic reviews of randomized controlled trials (RCTs), risk of bias assessment is a resource-intensive task that typically requires two trained reviewers. One function of RobotReviewer, an off-the-shelf machine learning system, is an automated risk of bias assessment.

Methods

We assessed the feasibility of adopting RobotReviewer within a national public health institute using a randomized, real-time, user-centered study. The study included 26 RCTs and six reviewers from two projects examining health and social interventions. We randomized these studies to one of two RobotReviewer platforms. We operationalized feasibility as accuracy, time use, and reviewer acceptability. We measured accuracy by the number of corrections made by human reviewers (either to automated assessments or another human reviewer’s assessments). We explored acceptability through group discussions and individual email responses after presenting the quantitative results.

Results

Reviewers were equally likely to accept judgment by RobotReviewer as each other’s judgement during the consensus process when measured dichotomously; risk ratio 1.02 (95% CI 0.92 to 1.13; p = 0.33). We were not able to compare time use. The acceptability of the program by researchers was mixed. Less experienced reviewers were generally more positive, and they saw more benefits and were able to use the tool more flexibly. Reviewers positioned human input and human-to-human interaction as superior to even a semi-automation of this process.

Conclusion

Despite being presented with evidence of RobotReviewer’s equal performance to humans, participating reviewers were not interested in modifying standard procedures to include automation. If further studies confirm equal accuracy and reduced time compared to manual practices, we suggest that the benefits of RobotReviewer may support its future implementation as one of two assessors, despite reviewer ambivalence. Future research should study barriers to adopting automated tools and how highly educated and experienced researchers can adapt to a job market that is increasingly challenged by new technologies.
The long-term effect of job mobility on workers’ mental health: a propensity score analysis
Authors: Maniscalco Laura , Schouteden Martijn , Boon Jan , Vandenbroeck Sofie , Mehlum Ingrid Sivesind , Godderis Lode , Matranga Domenica
Published: June 2022

Objectives

The main purpose of this longitudinal study was to elucidate the impact of external job mobility, due to a change of employer, on mental health.

Methods

A cohort of Belgian employees from the IDEWE occupational medicine registry was followed-up for twenty-seven years, from 1993 to 2019. The use of drugs for neuropsychological diseases was considered as an objective indicator of mental health. The covariates were related to demographic, physical, behavioural characteristics, occupational and work-related risks. Propensity scores were calculated with a Cox regression model with time-varying covariates. The PS matching was used to eliminate the systematic differences in subjects’ characteristics and to balance the covariates’ distribution at every time point.

Results

The unmatched sample included 11,246 subjects, with 368 (3.3%) that changed their job during the baseline year and 922 (8.2%) workers that left their employer during the follow-up. More than half of the matched sample were males, were aged less than 38 years old, did not smoke, were physically active, and normal weighted, were not exposed to shift-work, noise, job strain or physical load. A strong association between job mobility and neuropsychological treatment was found in the matched analysis (HR = 2.065, 95%CI = 1.397–3.052, P-value < 0.001) and confirmed in the sensitivity analysis (HR of 2.012, 95%CI = 1.359–2.979, P-value < 0.001). Furthermore, it was found a protective role of physical activity and a harmful role of job strain on neuropsychological treatment.

Conclusions

Our study found that workers with external job mobility have a doubled risk of treatment with neuropsychological medication, compared to workers without job mobility.
Scope of Iranian community health nurses ‘services from the viewpoint of the managers and nurses: a content analysis study
Authors: Hosseinnejad Aazam , Rassouli Maryam , Jahani Simin , Elahi Nasrin , Molavynejad Shahram
Published: June 2022

Background

Considering the need for nurses specializing in community health and in order to define professional duties for future planning towards creating the position of community health nurses in the primary health care system of Iran, this study aims to explain the range of services which can be provided by community health nurses from the perspective of the mangers and nurses.

Methods

The present qualitative study was conducted with the approach of contract content analysis in Iran in 2020. This study was conducted through in-depth and semi-structured interviews with 22 participants, including community health nursing faculty members, health deputies and managers, community health nurses working in health centers, and the care seekers visiting comprehensive health centers. The samples were selected through purposeful sampling. The interviews continued until data saturation. Data analysis was performed simultaneously with data collection. The interviews were recorded, transcribed, and analyzed through Graneheim & Lundman’s content analysis method, and data management was done using MAXQDA software. To achieve data trustworthiness, the criteria presented by Lincoln and Guba were used.

Results

The obtained data were classified into the two main categories of service provision settings and service provision domains. The category service provision settings covered 7 subcategories including participation in the family physician plan, activities at the centers for vulnerable groups of the community, establishing private community health clinics, leading health promotion programs in the 3rd generation hospitals, activities in comprehensive health centers, follow-ups and home visits, and activities in schools’ health units. Service provision domains consisted of 6 subcategories including participation in health planning, decision-making, and policymaking, research on the health system, health promotion, monitoring and coordination, providing care for the patients with non-communicable diseases and high-risk groups, and eldercare.

Conclusions

From the participants’ perspective, important services that can be provided by the community health nurse are health promotion, the management of chronic patients and the elderly, follow-ups, and home visits. Therefore, it is recommended that health policy makers pay attention to the service provision areas and the services providable by the community health nurse in their macro-planning, and to provide primary health care in comprehensive health centers using inter-professional care models, integrating the community health nurse into the care team.
Transcriptomic analysis reveals pathophysiological relationship between chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and periodontitis
Authors: Liu Shuqin , Fu Yun , Ziebolz Dirk , Li Simin , Schmalz Gerhard , Li Fan
Published: June 2022

Background

The aim of this study was to detect potential crosstalk genes, pathways and immune cells between periodontitis and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

Methods

Chronic periodontitis (CP, GSE156993) and COPD (GSE42057, GSE94916) datasets were downloaded. Differential expressed genes (DEGs;p < 0.05) were assessed and screened for overlapping results, following functional pathway enrichment analyses (p < 0.05). The xCell method was used to assess immune cell infiltration relationship between CP and COPD. Features of the detected cross-talk genes were revealed using conventional Recursive Feature Elimination (RFE) algorithm in R project. Receiver-operating characteristic curves were applied to evaluate the predictive value of the genes. Furthermore, Pearson correlation analysis was performed on crosstalk markers and infiltrating immune cells in CP and COPD, respectively.

Results

A total of 904 DEGs of COPD and 763 DEGs of CP were acquired, showing 22 overlapping DEGs between the two diseases. Thereby 825 nodes and 923 edges were found in the related protein–protein-interaction network. Eight immune cell pairs were found to be highly correlated to both CP and COPD (|correlation coefficients |> 0.5 andp-value < 0.05). Most immune cells were differently expressed between COPD and CP. RFE identified three crosstalk genes, i.e. EPB41L4A-AS1, INSR and R3HDM1. In correlation analysis, INSR was positively correlated with Hepatocytes in CP (r = 0.6714,p = 0.01679) and COPD (r = 0.5209,p < 0.001). R3HDM was positively correlated with Th1 cells in CP (r = 0.6783,p = 0.0153) and COPD (r = 0.4120,p < 0.01).

Conclusion

EPB41L4A-AS1, INSR and R3HDM1 are potential crosstalk genes between COPD and periodontitis. R3HDM was positively correlated with Th1 cells in both diseases, while INSR was positively correlated with Hepatocytes in periodontitis and COPD, supporting a potential pathophysiological relationship between periodontitis and COPD.
Emerging roles for lncRNA-NEAT1 in colorectal cancer
Authors: Azizidoost Shirin , Ghaedrahmati Farhoodeh , Anbiyaee Omid , Ahmad Ali Riyadh , Cheraghzadeh Maryam , Farzaneh Maryam
Published: June 2022

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third cause of cancer death in the world that arises from the glandular and epithelial cells of the large intestine, during a series of genetic or epigenetic alternations. Recently, long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) has opened a separate window of research in molecular and translational medicine. Emerging evidence has supported that lncRNAs can regulate cell cycle of CRC cells. LncRNA NEAT1 has been verified to participate in colon cancer development and progression. NEAT1 as a competing endogenous RNA could suppress the expression of miRNAs, and then regulate molecules downstream of these miRNAs. In this review, we summarized emerging roles of NEAT1 in CRC cells.