bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Ethics of Disruptive Technologies: Towards a General Framework
Authors: Hopster Jeroen
Published: August 2021

Disruptive technologies can be conceptualized in different ways. Depending on how they are conceptualized, different ethical issues come into play. This article contributes to a general framework to navigate the ethics of disruptive technologies. It proposes three basic distinctions to be included in such a framework. First, emerging technologies may instigate localized “first-order” disruptions, or systemic “second-order” disruptions. The ethical significance of these disruptions differs: first-order disruptions tend to be of modest ethical significance, whereas second-order disruptions are highly significant. Secondly, technologies may be classified as disruptive based on their technological features or based on their societal impact. Depending on which of these classifications one adopts and takes as the starting point of ethical inquiry, different ethical questions are foregrounded. Thirdly, the ethics of disruptive technology raises concerns at four different levels of technology assessment: the technology level, the artifact level, the application level, and the society level. The respective suitability of approaches in technology ethics to address concerns about disruptive technologies co-varies with the respective level of analysis. The article clarifies these distinctions, thereby laying some of the groundwork for an ethical framework tailored for assessing disruptive technologies.
WATS-SMS: A T5-based French Wikipedia Abstractive Text Summarizer for SMS
Authors: Fendji Jean Louis Ebongue Kedieng , Taira Désiré Manuel , Atemkeng Marcellin , Ali Adam Musa
Published: August 2021

Text summarization remains a challenging task in the Natural Language Processing field despite the plethora of applications in enterprises and daily life. One of the common use cases is the summarization of web pages which has the potential to provide an overview of web pages to devices with limited features. In fact, despite the increasing penetration rate of mobile devices in rural areas, the bulk of those devices offer limited features in addition to the fact that these areas are covered with limited connectivity such as the GSM network. Summarizing web pages into SMS becomes, therefore, an important task to provide information to limited devices. This work introduces WATS-SMS, a T5-based French Wikipedia Abstractive Text Summarizer for SMS. It is built through a transfer learning approach. The T5 English pre-trained model is used to generate a French text summarization model by retraining the model on 25,000 Wikipedia pages then compared with different approaches in the literature. The objective is twofold: (1) to check the assumption made in the literature that abstractive models provide better results compared to extractive ones; and (2) to evaluate the performance of our model compared to other existing abstractive models. A score based on ROUGE metrics gave us a value of 52% for articles with length up to 500 characters against 34.2% for transformer-ED and 12.7% for seq-2seq-attention; and a value of 77% for articles with larger size against 37% for transformers-DMCA. Moreover, an architecture including a software SMS-gateway has been developed to allow owners of mobile devices with limited features to send requests and to receive summaries through the GSM network.
The perspectives and experiences of physiotherapists and general practitioners in the use of the STarT Back Tool Tool: A review and meta-synthesis.
Authors: Hill Julia , Try Freya , Agnew Georgia , Saywell Nicola
Published: August 2021

Background: Chronic low back pain is associated with disability and work absence. Stratified primary care management of acute low back pain using a prognostic screening tool (STarT Back Tool, SBT) triages people with LBP into targeted treatment groups, matched to their level of risk of chronicity. The SBT was designed for use in the health service in the United Kingdom where it has been shown to improve clinical outcomes, patient satisfaction, and reduce treatment costs and time off work. Successful implementation of the SBT outside the UK is dependent on the health practitioners who will use it and the healthcare system in which they work. Gaining health practitioners’ perspectives on the SBT is an important step in implementation. Methods: A computerised search of qualitative literature was conducted across seven databases in March 2021 using keywords to identify studies investigating the perspectives of physiotherapists and general practitionners on the use of the SBT in primary health care. Study quality was assessed using the CASP tool. Data were coded and analysed using reflexive thematic analysis. Results: Eight articles met inclusion criteria and included the views of general practitionners and physiotherapists from primary health care settings from four countries. Three themes were created from the data, the first ‘making it work’, identifies factors that may influence implementation and continued use of the SBT in clinical practice. The second ‘will I do it?’, captured potential consequences of adopting the SBT and the third, ‘it’s all about the patient’ emphasised how the SBT may affect patients and their potential reactions. Conclusions: Physiotherapists and general practitionners found using the SBT frequently enhanced their practice. General practitioners expressed concerns about time constraints and potential for the SBT to undermine their clinical experience. Findings from this study will inform modifications to contextualise the tool to each healthcare environment.
Validation of chicken-specific pro-angiogenic growth factors three-dimensional structures and analysis of their role in high molecular weight heparin-induced angiogenesis
Authors: Manjunathan Reji , Periyaswami Vijayalakshmi , Ragunathan Malathi
Published: August 2021

Background

- High-molecular weight heparin (HMWH), a molecule which is extensively in use as an anticoagulant shows concentration-dependent angiogenic and anti-angiogenic potential. Based on the concentration, HMWH can bind with both angiogenic and anti-angiogenic factors and exerts diverse effect. Our earlier data suggested that HMWH (15 kDa) can induce concentration-dependent neovascularization on chicken chorioallantoic membrane (CAM). The diffusion pattern of HMWH through various layers of CAM supports its internalized action with the various cellular components of angiogenesis. So far, no studies have reported the interactive potential of HMWH with various pro-angiogenic growth factors under physiological conditions. Hence, we aimed to find the transcription level interaction of HMWH with major pro-angiogenic growth factors. In connection to the research, for the first time, we validated the three-dimensional structures of chicken-specific pro-angiogenic growth factors such as FGF2, MMP2, MMP9, NOS3, VEGF A, and VEGF C to find the binding affinity of HMWH with the core-functional units of these growth factors.
Methods

- CAMs are incubated with 50, 100, and 150 µM concentration of HMWH. Changes in the transcription level of specified pro-angiogenic growth factors are analyzed by semi-PCR method. The functional aspects of these molecules are identified with zymogram and immunohistochemical approaches. Scanning electron microscopic technique is applied to find the morphological changes on CAM under HMWH incubation. Three-dimensional structure validation and molecular docking are performed using the SWISS-MODEL web server and AutoDock vina-PyRx software version 8.0.
Results

- HMWH can enhance the transcription level of major pro-angiogenic growth factors with a significant impact on FGF2 and MMP2 under 100 µM concentration. The in-silico analysis reveals that HMWH shows a higher binding affinity with FGF2 followed by MMP2, MMP9, NOS3, VEGF A, and VEGF C, respectively.
Conclusion

- The combined results from the experimental and in-silico analysis reveal that HMWH can interact with pro-angiogenic growth factors under micromolar concentration in physiological conditions while inducing angiogenesis. This observation further supports the therapeutic benefits of HMWH as an angiogenic factor under micromolar concentration.
A Novel Multi-Attribute Decision-Making Algorithm for Landfill Site Selection Based on Q-Rung Orthopair Probabilistic Hesitant Fuzzy Power Weight Muirhead Mean Operator
Authors: Ren Yaojun , Yuan Xiujiu , Lin Ruojing
Published: August 2021

BackgroundWith the rapid development of economy and the acceleration of urbanization, the garbage produced by urban residents also increases with the increase of population. In many big cities, the phenomenon of "garbage siege" has seriously affected the development of cities and the lives of residents. Sanitary landfill is an important way of municipal solid waste disposal. However, due to the restriction of social, environmental and economic conditions, landfill site selection has become a very challenging task. In addition, landfill site selection is full of uncertainty and complexity due to the lack of cognitive ability of decision-makers and the existence of uncertain information in the decision-making process.MethodsA novel multi-attribute decision making method based on q-rung orthopair probabilistic hesitant fuzzy power weight Muirhead mean (q-ROPHFPWMM) operator is proposed in this paper, which can solve the problem of landfill site selection well. This method uses probability to represent the hesitance of decision maker and retains decision information more comprehensively. The negative effect of abnormal data on the decision result is eliminated by using the power average operator. Muirhead mean operator is used to describe the correlation between attributes. ResultsAn example of landfill site selection is given to verify the effectiveness of the proposed method, and the advantages of the proposed method are illustrated by parameter analysis and comparative analysis. ConclusionThe q-ROPHFPWMM operator can describe the correlation between any evaluation factors and effectively reduce the impact of unreasonable evaluation information given by decision makers on the results. In addition, this method has a wider space for information expression, gives the decision maker a great degree of freedom in decision-making.
Influence of Thermal Activation and Silica Modulus on the Properties of Clayey-Lateritic Based Geopolymer Binders Cured at Room Temperature
Authors: METEKONG Jordan Valdès SONTIA , Kaze Cyriaque Rodrigue , Adesina Adeyemi , Nemaleu Juvenal Giogetti Deutou , Djobo Jean Noel Yankwa , Lemougna Patrick Ninla , Alomayri Thamer , Kamseu Elie , Melo Uphie Chinje , Tatietse Thomas Tamo
Published: August 2021

The growing demand and use of geopolymer binders have been of high interest in recent times due to their sustainability and economic benefits. However, locally available materials must be used in the production of geopolymer binders in order to maximize their benefits. In this study, a laterite soil which is a locally available material in many parts of the world was used as the aluminosilicate precursor. In order to produce the geopolymer binders, the laterite soil was activated thermally through calcination and the resulting calcined laterite was activated with an alkali activator composed of sodium hydroxide (NaOH) and sodium silicate (Na2SiO3). The influence of calcination temperature and the concentration of NaOH on the properties of the developed geopolymers was investigated. Calcination temperature used ranged between 550 °C to 750 °C and the NaOH concentrations used were 8 M and 10 M. The results from this study indicate that some locally available laterite soils can be utilized in the production of geopolymer binders if they undergo calcination. Increasing the calcination temperature from 550 °C to 750 °C resulted in the transformation of phases and an increase in the reactivity of the laterites, resulting in material with improved properties. The use of laterite calcined at 750 °C and activated with 8 M NaOH solution resulted to an increase in the 28 days compressive strength by 35.3 MPa compared to when laterite calcined at 550 °C was used. Increasing the concentration of the NaOH solution was also found to yield higher material performance. Microstructural investigations were also carried out to confirm the macrostructural properties.
Commercialization of Teff production in West North Ethiopia
Authors: Mossie Habtamu , Abate Dubale , Kasse Eden
Published: August 2021

Background: Teff is only cereal crop Ethiopia’s in terms of production, acreage, and the number of farm holdings. It is one of the staples crops produced in the study area. However, the farm productivity, commercialization and level of intensity per hectare is low compared to the other cereals , Despite, smallholder farmers are not enough to participate in the teff market so the commercialization level is very low due to different factors. so, the study aimed to analyze determinants of smallholder farmer’s teff commercialization in west north, Ethiopia.Methods; A three-stage sampling procedure was used to take the sample respondents, 190 smallholder teff producers were selected to collect primary data through semi-structures questionnaires. Combinations of data analysis methods such as descriptive statistics and econometrics model (double hurdle) were used.Results: The average level of teff commercialization index of sampled Teff producers in the study area was 11.97%. The model result showed that the variables like age, gender, education, land size, variety, Teff market experience, distance to the nearest market, off-farm income, and credit were significantly affecting the market orientation of Teff production. Therefore, improving households’ market access, extension service, market orientation, education, and productivity of land (best agronomic practices) would enhance the commercialization level of smallholder Teff producers.
Moderating role of gender in influencing enterprise performance in emerging economies: Evidence from Saudi Arabian SMEs sector
Authors: Hassan Hend , Abdelkader Ahmed , Alhaimer Rashed , Abdelkader Marwa
Published: August 2021

The small and medium enterprise (SME) sector plays an important role in the development of the local, regional, and global economy. This study seeks to examine the relationships among several factors that are claimed to influence the performance of SMEs. Internal and external environmental factors, as well as the moderating role of gender on the research variables, are empirically examined. A survey of 142 entrepreneurs in the northern region of Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, using convenience sampling was conducted. Path analysis was used to test the research model using the Partial Least Squares (PLS) model by Warp PLS (ver. 7). Results suggest that both internal and external success factors influence enterprise performance. Based on statistically significant relationships, entrepreneurial orientation, human capital, and entrepreneur goals and motives (internal factors), as well as economic factors, socio-cultural factors, and legal and administrative factors (external factors) are influencing SME performance. Additionally, results indicate that SMEs almost perform at similar levels regardless of the gender of the SME owner. Gender is found to moderate the influence of economic factors, and legal and administrative factors on performance. There is no indication that gender moderates the influence of the rest of the factors on the performance. Such finding is surprising given the context of the study, i.e. Saudi Arabia was traditionally considered as a conservative male-dominated society. AcknowledgmentThis study was supported and funded by the research sector of Arab Open University – Kuwait Branch under decision number 21002. Authors would like to thank the National Entrepreneurship Institute “RIYADAH”, Tabuk branch, KSA for their support in data collection.
Does Media Exposure Affect the Utilization of Maternal Health Care Services? A Query from a Nationally Representative Survey of India
Authors: Barman Bikash , Mallick Rahul , Chouhan Pradip , Majumder Koyel
Published: August 2021

Maternal Health Care (MHC) is very essential for improvement in the health status of the mother and children. The present study attempts to show the role of mass media on the utilization of MHC services in India. The entire study depends on secondary data collected from the National Family Health Survey (NFHS-4, 2015-16). Initially, the data has been analyzed by some descriptive statistics and for the proper depiction of the result, binary logistic regression has been conducted. The unadjusted odds ratio (UOR) has shown media exposure positively and significantly associated with the utilization of the majority of MHC services. The adjusted odds ratio has a less effective association with the MHC services compare to the unadjusted odds ratio. Other controlling variables including maternal age, age at marriage, birth order, education, caste, religion, wealth index, place of residence, and the region has also affect the health care services.
Design and Study of In Silico Binding Dynamics of Certain Isoxazole Bearing Leads Against Aβ-42 and BACE-1 Loop in Protein Fibrillation
Authors: Mishra Puja , Basak Souvik , Mukherjee Arup , Basu Anindya
Published: August 2021

Aims:

Design isoxazole bearing leads as dual inhibitors against Amyloid β and BACE-1 loop
in protein fibrillation.

Background:

Protein fibrillation is one of the key reasons for several diseases, namely Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s,
and many others. One of the key strategies of preventing protein fibrillation is destabilizing the
protein fibrils themselves or inhibiting the amyloid fibril-forming pathway in the initial stage.

Introduction:

Attempts have been taken to design newer leads to inhibit protein fibrillation by targeting
the β-amyloidogenesis pathway in the brain. To exploit interfenestration between Amyloid β -42 protein
and BACE-1 (β-site amyloid precursor protein cleaving enzyme) for amyloidogenesis, studies are undertaken
to design dual inhibitors against the same.

Method:

In vitro binding interactions were found using docking, de novo ligand design, and MD simulation
study.

Results:

Three compounds bearing an isoxazole heterocyclic nucleus were designed which could successfully
bind to the hydrophobic raft and salt bridge residues Asp 23-Lys-26 of Amyloid β, destabilizing the
growing fibril. Additionally, one of our candidate compounds exhibited force of interaction with Thr232
at the S3 pocket of BACE-1, interacted with key residue Asp228, Tyr71, and Thr72 of the β-hairpin flap
and hydrogen bonding with Gly11 at loop 10s.

Conclusion:

Protein flexibility dynamics of the Aβ-42 protein revealed that there is a considerable conformational
change of the same with or without ligand binding. The lower RMSF of the bound region and
reprogramming residual contacts within the Aβ-42 protein suggested successful binding of the ligand with
the protein, lowering the access for further β-β dimerization.
Methylene Blue not Contraindicated in Treating Hemodynamic Instability in Pediatric and Neonate Patients
Authors: Gonçalves-Ferri Walusa A. , Albuquerque Agnes A.S. , Evora Patricia Martinez , Evora Paulo R.B.
Published: August 2021

:

The present review was carried out to describe publications on the use of methylene
blue (MB) in pediatrics and neonatology, discussing dose, infusion rate, action characteristics, and
possible benefits for a pediatric patient group. The research was performed on the data sources
PubMed, BioMed Central, and Embase (updated on Aug 31, 2020) by two independent investigators.
The selected articles included human studies that evaluated MB use in pediatric or neonatal patients
with vasoplegia due to any cause, regardless of the applied methodology. The MB use and 0
to 18-years-old patients with vasodilatory shock were the adopted criteria. Exclusion criteria were
the use of MB in patients without vasoplegia and patients ≥ 18-years-old. The primary endpoint
was the increase in mean arterial pressure (MAP). Side effects and dose were also evaluated.
Eleven studies were found, of which 10 were case reports, and 1 was a randomized clinical study.
Only two of these studies were with neonatal patients (less than 28 days-old), reporting a small
number of cases (1 and 6). All studies described the positive action of MB on MAP, allowing the
decrease of vasoactive amines in several of them. No severe side effects or death related to the use
of the medication were reported. The maximum dose used was 2 mg/kg, but there was no consensus
on the infusion rate and drug administration timing. Finally, no theoretical or experimental basis
sustains the decision to avoid MB in children claiming it can cause pulmonary hypertension.
The same goes for the concern of a possible deleterious effect on inflammatory distress syndrome.
Electrochemical Sensing of Dextrose and Photocatalytic Activities by Nickel Ferrite Nanoparticles Synthesized by Probe Sonication Method
Authors: Alam Mir Waqas
Published: August 2021

Background:

Electrochemical sensing has been widely used as a glucose sensor.

Methods:

In the present work, we have investigated the application of nickel ferrite (NiFe2O4) nanoparticles
(NFNPs) for dextrose sensing applications. NFNPS were synthesized by using a simple and
low-cost probe sonication method (PSM). The structural, optical and electrochemical properties of
prepared nanoparticles were measured by using XRD, FTIR and DRS techniques.

Results:

The PXRD pattern confirmed the formation of inverse spinel structure for NFNPs with a
face-cente red cubic (FCC) structure. The diffuse reflectance spectral studies revealed the energy
band gap of NFNPs as deduced to be 2.50 eV by using Kubelka-Munk function. The efficiencies in
the photocatalytic degradation of Acid Red 88 (AR-88) and Acid Blue 88 (AB-88) dyes were found
to be better with 93.45% and 84.45%, respectively. The EIS parameters corroborated the significant
reduction in the charge transfer resistance of NFNPs electrode. The sensing of dextrose in acidic
solution by using NFNP through carbon paste electrode was successful.

Conclusion:

The obtained sensing and photocatalytic results revealed that the synthesized NFNPs
could be a better electrode material for the detection of dextrose with high electrode reversibility, in
addition to its excellent photocatalytic characteristics towards the dye degradation.
Efficacy and Safety of Mesenchymal Stem Cell Therapy in Patients with Acute Myocardial Infarction: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials
Authors: Zhang Run-feng , Yu Jiang , Mao Yi-li , Zhang Heng
Published: August 2021

Background and Objectives:

The adjuvant treatment of stem cell therapy for acute myocardial infarction (AMI) has been studied in multiple clinical trials, but many questions remain to be addressed, such as efficacy, safety, identification of the optimal cell type, tractable route of delivery, transplant dosage, and transplant timing. The current meta-analysis aimed to explore the issues of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) transplantation in patients with AMI based on published randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and guide the design of subsequent clinical trials of MSCs therapy for AMI.

Methods:

The Cochrane Library, PubMed, EMBASE databases were searched for relevant clinical trials from January 1, 2000, to January 23, 2021. Results from RCTs involving MSCs transplantation for the treatment of AMI were identified. According to the Cochrane systematic review method, the literature quality, including studies, was evaluated and valid data was extracted. Rev- Man 5.3 and Stata 15.1 software were used for Meta-analysis.

Results:

After literature search and detailed evaluation, 9 randomized controlled trials enrolling 460 patients were included in the quantitative analysis. Pooled analyses indicated that MSCs therapy was associated with a significantly greater improvement in overall left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), and the effect was maintained for up to 24 months. No significant difference in favor of MSCs treatment in left ventricular (LV) volume and in the risk of rehospitalization as a result of heart failure (HF) was noted, compared with the controls. For transplantation dose, the LVEF of patients accepting a MSCs dose of 107-108 cells was significantly increased by 2.62% (95% CI 1.54 to 3.70; P < 0.00001; I2 =0%), but this increase was insignificant in the subgroup that accepted a MSCs dose of < 107 cells (1.65% in LVEF, 95% CI, 0.03 to 3.27; P =0.05; I2 =75%) or >108 cells (4.65% in LVEF, 95% CI, -4.55 to 13.48; P =0.32; I2 =95%), compared with the controls. For transplantation timing, a significant improvement of LVEF of 3.18% was achieved in the group of patients accepting a MSCs infusion within 2 to 14 days after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) (95% CI, 2.89 to 3.47; P <0.00001; I2 = 0). There was no association between MSCs therapy and major adverse events.

Conclusion:

Results from our systematic review suggest that MSCs therapy for patients with AMI appears to be safe and might induce a significant increase in LVEF with a limited impact on LV volume and rehospitalization caused by HF. The effect was maintained for up to 24 months. MSCs dose of 107-108 cells was more likely to achieve better clinical endpoints than <107 or >108 cells. The optimal time window for cell transplantation might be within 2-14 days after PCI. This meta-analysis was registered with PROSPERO, number CRD 42021241104.
Rolipram Rescues Memory Consolidation Deficits Caused by Sleep Deprivation:
Implication of the cAMP/PKA and cAMP/Epac Pathways
Authors: Maher Ahmed , El Sayed Nesrine , Nafea Heba , Gad Mohamed
Published: August 2021

Background:

Over the last few years, the number of people suffering from sleeping disorders
has increased significantly despite negative effects on cognition and an association with
brain inflammation.

Objectives:

We assessed memory deficits caused by Sleep Deprivation (SD) to determine the therapeutic
effect of phosphodiesterase 4 (PDE4) inhibitors on SD-induced memory deficits and to investigate
whether the modulation of memory deficits by PDE4 inhibitors is mediated by a protein
kinase A (PKA)-independent pathway in conjunction with a PKA-dependent pathway.

Methods:

Adult male mice were divided into four groups. Three SD groups were deprived of
Rapid Eye Movement (REM) sleep for 12 h a day for six consecutive days. They were tested daily
in the Morris water maze to evaluate learning and memory. One of the SD groups was injected
with a PDE4 inhibitor, rolipram (1 mg/kg ip), whereas another had rolipram co-administered with
chlorogenic acid (CHA, 20 mg/kg ip), an inhibitor of PKA. After 6 days, the mice were sacrificed,
and the hippocampi were evaluated for cyclic AMP (cAMP) and nuclear factor Nrf-2 levels. The
hippocampal expression of PKA, phosphorylated cAMP Response Element-Binding Protein (CREB),
and phosphorylated glycogen synthase 3β (Ser389) were also evaluated.

Results:

SD caused a significant decrease in cAMP levels in the brain and had a detrimental effect
on learning and memory. The administration of rolipram or rolipram+CHA resulted in an improvement
in cognitive function.

Conclusion:

The present study provides evidence that restoration of memory with PDE4 inhibitors
occurs through a dual mechanism involving the PKA and Epac pathways.
Degradation of the O-phenylphenol Fungicide in Water by Unconventional CeO2-WO3 Photocatalysts
Authors: Fiorenza Roberto , Balsamo Stefano Andrea , Scirè Salvatore
Published: August 2021

Background:

Water pollution due to emerging contaminants such as pesticides, pharmaceutics and/or plasticizers, is a serious environmental problem strictly connected to the safety of human and ecosystem life. For this reason, the development of high-performing (photo)catalysts for water purification is crucial.

Objective:

In recent years, the synergistic effects in Advanced Oxidation Processes (AOPs) can perform better strategies to remove recalcitrant contaminants from water. In this contest, the (photo)catalytic activity of CeO2-WO2materials for the degradation of the orto-phenylphenol fungicide comparing the photocatalytic, the Fenton and the photo-Fenton-like processes, has been examined.

Methods:

The samples were synthetized through deposition-precipitation mediated with the hexamethylenetetramine (HMTA) surfactant. The chemico-physical properties of the materials were examined by Raman, UV-Vis Diffuse Reflectance (Uv-vis DRS) and X-Ray photoelectron (XPS) spectroscopies, N2 adsorption-desorption measurements and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The (photo)catalytic measurements were made through a home-made photoreactor irradiated by a solar lamp. The degradation of the fungicide was measured by UV-vis spectroscopy.

Results :

An efficient heterojunction was formed between the CeO2 and the WO2 oxides, which provided a good degradation percentage of the pesticide (65%) employing the solar photo-Fenton-like reaction that was the best performing process among the three investigated AOPs. The addition of WO3on CeO2 facilitated the ionic exchange between the Ce and the W ions, boosting the redox properties of cerium oxide.

Conclusions:

The strong interaction between CeO2 and WO3 and the peculiar properties of this unconventional composite pave the way to its use as a promising material for water depollution.
Tips for a reduction of false positives in manual RT-PCR diagnostics of SARS-CoV-2
Authors: Alvarez Francisco J. , Perez-Cardenas Mariela , Gudiño Marco , Tellkamp Markus P.
Published: August 2021

RT-PCR is the standard gold technique for testing the presence of RNA of the coronavirus causing Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS-CoV-2) due to its high specificity and sensitivity. Despite its general use and reliability, no lab in the world is immune to the generation of false positives. These errors cause a loss of confidence in the technique's power and damage the image of laboratories. More importantly, they can take a toll on tested individuals and have economic, psychological, and health-associated effects. Most false positives are caused during a manual operation inside the laboratory. However, not much has been published about the errors associated with particular laboratory techniques used to detect the virus since the beginning of the actual pandemic. This work precisely reflects on events that occur during manual RT-PCR diagnostics in a COVID-19 laboratory, providing tips for reducing false-positive results.
Development and Validation of an Arterial Pressure-Based Cardiac Output Algorithm Using a Convolutional Neural Network: Retrospective Study Based on Prospective Registry Data
Authors: Yang Hyun-Lim , Jung Chul-Woo , Yang Seong Mi , Kim Min-Soo , Shim Sungho , Lee Kook Hyun , Lee Hyung-Chul
Published: August 2021

Background

Arterial pressure-based cardiac output (APCO) is a less invasive method for estimating cardiac output without concerns about complications from the pulmonary artery catheter (PAC). However, inaccuracies of currently available APCO devices have been reported. Improvements to the algorithm by researchers are impossible, as only a subset of the algorithm has been released.

Objective

In this study, an open-source algorithm was developed and validated using a convolutional neural network and a transfer learning technique.

Methods

A retrospective study was performed using data from a prospective cohort registry of intraoperative bio-signal data from a university hospital. The convolutional neural network model was trained using the arterial pressure waveform as input and the stroke volume (SV) value as the output. The model parameters were pretrained using the SV values from a commercial APCO device (Vigileo or EV1000 with the FloTrac algorithm) and adjusted with a transfer learning technique using SV values from the PAC. The performance of the model was evaluated using absolute error for the PAC on the testing dataset from separate periods. Finally, we compared the performance of the deep learning model and the FloTrac with the SV values from the PAC.

Results

A total of 2057 surgical cases (1958 training and 99 testing cases) were used in the registry. In the deep learning model, the absolute errors of SV were 14.5 (SD 13.4) mL (10.2 [SD 8.4] mL in cardiac surgery and 17.4 [SD 15.3] mL in liver transplantation). Compared with FloTrac, the absolute errors of the deep learning model were significantly smaller (16.5 [SD 15.4] and 18.3 [SD 15.1], P<.001).

Conclusions

The deep learning–based APCO algorithm showed better performance than the commercial APCO device. Further improvement of the algorithm developed in this study may be helpful for estimating cardiac output accurately in clinical practice and optimizing high-risk patient care.
Advancing Health Equity in Digital Mental Health: Lessons From Medical Anthropology for Global Mental Health
Authors: Kozelka Ellen Elizabeth , Jenkins Janis H , Carpenter-Song Elizabeth
Published: August 2021

Digital health engenders the opportunity to create new effective mental health care models—from substance use recovery to suicide prevention. Anthropological methodologies offer a unique opportunity for the field of global mental health to examine and incorporate contextual mental health needs through attention to the lived experience of illness; engagement with communities; and knowledge of context, structures, and systems. Attending to these diverse mental health needs and conditions as well as the limitations of digital health will allow global mental health researchers, practitioners, and patients to collaboratively create new models for care in the service of equitable, accessible recovery.
The Influence of Social Distancing Behaviors and Psychosocial Factors on Physical Activity During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Cross-sectional Survey Study
Authors: Cross Troy J , Isautier Jennifer M J , Morris Sarah J , Johnson Bruce D , Wheatley-Guy Courtney M , Taylor Bryan J
Published: August 2021

Background

The COVID-19 pandemic has arguably facilitated a shift toward increased sedentariness and reduced physical activity. Moreover, there is mounting evidence that mental health has also declined during the pandemic. However, it remains unknown to what extent social distancing (SD) behaviors and mental health have affected the physical activity levels of the general population.

Objective

The purpose of this study was to determine the influence of SD behaviors and prevailing mental health on the odds of being physically active during the early COVID-19 pandemic response.

Methods

A total of 4819 adults (2474/4819, 51.3%, female) from the US population with a median age of 46 (IQR 35-59) completed an online survey during the early pandemic response (April-June 2020). The survey included questions on adherence to 11 SD behaviors, and validated questionnaires which assessed self-reported physical activity, depression, anxiety, and mental well-being. Respondents were categorized into 2 physical activity groups: inactive (0-599 metabolic equivalent of task [MET]-minutes/week) and active (≥600 MET-minutes/week). A logistic generalized additive model (GAM) was used to determine which SD factors and mental health outcomes were associated with physical activity level.

Results

The GAM analysis revealed that wearing a facemask in public (odds ratio [OR] 1.46, 95% CI 1.14-1.79; P=.003), limiting the use of public transport (OR 1.47, 95% CI 1.19-1.83; P=.001), and restricting travel outside the house (OR 1.56, 95% CI 1.19-2.05; P=.002) were SD behaviors associated with higher odds of being more physically active. Conversely, avoiding physical activity outside the house was associated with higher odds of being inactive (OR 0.52, 95% CI 0.46-0.63; P<.001). Leaving the house more frequently, and a higher mental well-being were associated with increasing odds of being physically active (P<.001). Engaging with a moderate number of SD behaviors (3-7 total) was positively associated with physical activity, whereas a very high SD vigilance (ie, engaging with ≥10 total behaviors) decreased the odds of being active during the early pandemic response.

Conclusions

Based on the findings of our study, we suggest that future public health messaging of SD guidelines should include (1) a clear portrayal of the benefits of regular exercise on mental health; and (2) a specific focus on how to be physically active outdoors in a COVID-safe manner.
Communicating the Implementation of Open Notes to Health Care Professionals: Mixed Methods Study (Preprint)
Authors: Jonnergård Karin , Petersson Lena , Erlingsdóttir Gudbjörg
Published: August 2021

BACKGROUND

The literature on how to communicate reform in organizations has mainly focused on levels of hierarchy and has largely ignored the variety of professions that may be found within an organization. In this study, we focus on the relationship between media type and professional responses.

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this study was to investigate whether and how belonging to a profession influences the choice of communication media and the perception of information when a technical innovation is implemented in a health care setting.

METHODS

This study followed a mixed methods design based on observations and participant studies, as well as a survey of professionals in psychiatric health care in Sweden. The χ2 test was used to detect differences in perceptions between professional groups.

RESULTS

The use of available communication media differed among professions. These differences seem to be related to the status attached to each profession. The sense-making of the information appears to be similar among the professions, but is based on their traditional professional norms rather than on reflection on the reform at hand.

CONCLUSIONS

When communicating about the implementation of a new technology, the choice of media and the message need to be attuned to the employees in both hierarchical and professional terms. This also applies to situations where professional employees are only indirectly affected by the implementation. A differentiated communication strategy is preferred over a downward cascade of information.
Substandard and Falsified Medicines: Proposed Methods for Case Finding and Sentinel Surveillance (Preprint)
Authors: Pisani Elizabeth , Hasnida Amalia , Rahmi Mawaddati , Kok Maarten Olivier , Harsono Steven , Anggriani Yusi
Published: August 2021

UNSTRUCTURED

The World Health Organization and others warn that substandard and falsified medicines harm health and waste money, especially in low- and middle-income countries. However, no country has measured the market-wide extent of the problem, and no standardized methods exist to estimate the prevalence of either substandard or falsified medicines. This is, in part, because the task seems overwhelming; medicine markets are huge and diverse, and testing medicines is expensive. Many countries do operate some form of postmarket surveillance of medicine, but their methods and goals differ. There is currently no clear guidance on which surveillance method is most appropriate to meet specific public health goals. In this viewpoint, we aimed to discuss the utility of both case finding and risk-based sentinel surveillance for substandard and falsified medicines, linking each to specific public health goals. We posit that choosing the system most appropriate to the goal, as well as implementing it with a clear understanding of the factors driving the production and sale of substandard and falsified medicines, will allow for surveillance resources to be concentrated most efficiently. We adapted principles used for disease outbreak responses to suggest a case-finding system that uses secondary data to flag poor-quality medicines, proposing risk-based indicators that differ for substandard and falsified medicines. This system potentially offers a cost-effective way of identifying “cases” for market withdrawal, enhanced oversight, or another immediate response. We further proposed a risk-based sentinel surveillance system that concentrates resources on measuring the prevalence of substandard and falsified medicines in the risk clusters where they are most likely to be found. The sentinel surveillance system provides base data for a transparent, spreadsheet-based model for estimating the national prevalence of substandard and falsified medicines. The methods we proposed are based on ongoing work in Indonesia, a large and diverse middle-income country currently aiming to achieve universal health coverage. Both the case finding and the sentinel surveillance system are designed to be adaptable to other resource-constrained settings.
An App-Based Just-in-Time Adaptive Self-management Intervention for Care Partners (CareQOL): Protocol for a Pilot Trial (Preprint)
Authors: Carlozzi Noelle E , Choi Sung Won , Wu Zhenke , Miner Jennifer A , Lyden Angela K , Graves Christopher , Wang Jitao , Sen Srijan
Published: August 2021

BACKGROUND

Care partners (ie, informal family caregivers) of individuals with health problems face considerable physical and emotional stress, often with a substantial negative impact on the health-related quality of life (HRQOL) of both care partners and care recipients. Given that these individuals are often overwhelmed by their caregiving responsibilities, low-burden self-management interventions are needed to support care partners to ensure better patient outcomes.

OBJECTIVE

The primary objective of this study is to describe an intensive data collection protocol that involves the delivery of a personalized just-in-time adaptive intervention that incorporates passive mobile sensor data feedback (sleep and activity data from a Fitbit [Fitbit LLC]) and real time self-reporting of HRQOL via a study-specific app called CareQOL (University of Michigan) to provide personalized feedback via app alerts.

METHODS

Participants from 3 diverse care partner groups will be enrolled (care partners of persons with spinal cord injury, care partners of persons with Huntington disease, and care partners of persons with hematopoietic cell transplantation). Participants will be randomized to either a control group, where they will wear the Fitbit and provide daily reports of HRQOL over a 3-month (ie, 90 days) period (without personalized feedback), or the just-in-time adaptive intervention group, where they will wear the Fitbit, provide daily reports of HRQOL, and receive personalized push notifications for 3 months. At the end of the study, participants will complete a feasibility and acceptability questionnaire, and metrics regarding adherence and attrition will be calculated.

RESULTS

This trial opened for recruitment in November 2020. Data collection was completed in June 2021, and the primary results are expected to be published in 2022.

CONCLUSIONS

This trial will determine the feasibility and acceptability of an intensive app-based intervention in 3 distinct care partner groups: care partners for persons with a chronic condition that was caused by a traumatic event (ie, spinal cord injury); care partners for persons with a progressive, fatal neurodegenerative disease (ie, Huntington disease); and care partners for persons with episodic cancer conditions that require intense, prolonged inpatient and outpatient treatment (persons with hematopoietic cell transplantation).

CLINICALTRIAL

ClinicalTrials.gov NCT04556591; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04556591

INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT

DERR1-10.2196/32842
The Construction and Operational Modes of Internet Hospital in China: A Hospital Based Survey Study (Preprint)
Authors: Chen Xuejiao , Wu Xinxia , Zhang Qihang , Jing Ran , Cheng Weibin , Tian Junzhang , Jin Changxiao
Published: August 2021

BACKGROUND

China empowers internet hospitals to fight against COVID-19, of which embrace a booming development after the COVID-19 epidemic. Despite the increasing importance of internet hospitals, there has still been few systematic summaries of its construction and operational modes.

OBJECTIVE

The primary purpose of this study was to understand the construction and operational modes of internet hospitals in China.

METHODS

Data were collected from September 2020 to October 2020 on the hospital construction, operation, quality, evaluation, and medical staff’s self-perception of internet hospital services based on 39 medical institutions and 356 medical staff. The Likert five-subscale method was used to evaluate the innovative service modes of internet hospitals. The root cause analysis (fishbone diagram) was used to analyze the root causes and influencing factors of the current deficiencies faced by internet hospitals.

RESULTS

Among the 39 internet hospitals, the majority were self-constructed (26, 66.7%) and self-managed (22, 56.4%). Self-construction and self-management hospitals had lower levels in the ratio of online doctors to offline doctors (P=0.006), number of doctors in other medical institutions (P=0.006), number of online nurses (P=0.004), and the ratio of online nurses to offline doctors than other modes hospitals (P＜0.001). Moreover, self-construction and self-management hospitals accounted for a higher proportion of whether it was connecting with the provincial regulatory platform rather than other modes of hospitals (P=0.033). Among the 17 evaluation aspects on medical staff’s self-perception of internet hospital services, these five got the highest scores: transparency of various fees, reasonable fees, optimization of the space cost for patients, conscientious and responsible attitude of medical staff in the process of diagnosis and treatment, medical staff who were dignified in appearance, neatly dressed, properly behaved. The root causes and influencing factors of the current deficiencies faced by internet hospitals included 5 aspects: human, channels, prices, services and time.

CONCLUSIONS

There were differences between self-construction and self-management modes and other modes of internet hospitals. This study enriches the literature on construction and operational modes of internet hospitals and provides additional policy implications for tele-medicine management.
Informal Coping Strategies Among People Who Use Opioids During COVID-19: Thematic Analysis of Reddit Forums (Preprint)
Authors: Arshonsky Josh , Krawczyk Noa , Bunting Amanda M , Frank David , Friedman Samuel R , Bragg Marie A
Published: August 2021

BACKGROUND

The COVID-19 pandemic has transformed how people seeking to reduce opioid use access treatment services and navigate efforts to abstain from using opioids. Social distancing policies have drastically reduced access to many forms of social support, but they may have also upended some perceived barriers to reducing or abstaining from opioid use.

OBJECTIVE

This qualitative study aims to identify informal coping strategies for reducing and abstaining from opioid use among Reddit users who have posted in opioid-related subreddits at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic.

METHODS

We extracted data from 2 major opioid-related subreddits. Thematic data analysis was used to evaluate subreddit posts dated from March 5 to May 13, 2020, that referenced COVID-19 and opioid use, resulting in a final sample of 300 posts that were coded and analyzed.

RESULTS

Of the 300 subreddit posts, 100 (33.3%) discussed at least 1 type of informal coping strategy. Those strategies included psychological and behavioral coping skills, adoption of healthy habits, and use of substances to manage withdrawal symptoms. In addition, 12 (4%) subreddit posts explicitly mentioned using social distancing as an opportunity for cessation of or reduction in opioid use.

CONCLUSIONS

Reddit discussion forums have provided a community for people to share strategies for reducing opioid use and support others during the COVID-19 pandemic. Future research needs to assess the impact of COVID-19 on opioid use behaviors, especially during periods of limited treatment access and isolation, as these can inform future efforts in curbing the opioid epidemic and other substance-related harms.