bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A self-startup DC-DC boost converter for thermal energy harvesting in a 0.35 μm CMOS process
Authors: Yun Eun Jeong , Yu Chong Gun
Published: September 2022

In this paper a self-startup DC-DC boost converter for thermal energy harvesting applications is presented. A startup circuit boosts an internal supply voltage using a low voltage generated from a thermoelectric generator to operate the internal circuitry of the converter. To reduce power dissipation, the startup circuit is disabled after the startup operation is finished. A boosted output voltage is obtained by alternating an auxiliary converter for the internal supply voltage and a main converter for the output voltage. The converter has been implemented in a 0.35 μm complementary metal–oxide–semiconductor (CMOS) process. Measurement results shows that the designed converter is capable of generating an output voltage close to 3V from an input voltage of 200 mV, and can provide a maximum output power of 278 μW with an end-to-end power efficiency of 46.5%. It occupies an active area of 0.36 mm2.
Spoken language identification on 4 Indonesian local languages using deep learning
Authors: Wijonarko Panji , Zahra Amalia
Published: September 2022

Language identification is at the forefront of assistance in many applications, including multilingual speech systems, spoken language translation, multilingual speech recognition, and human-machine interaction via voice. The identification of indonesian local languages using spoken language identification technology has enormous potential to advance tourism potential and digital content in Indonesia. The goal of this study is to identify four Indonesian local languages: Javanese, Sundanese, Minangkabau, and Buginese, utilizing deep learning classification techniques such as artificial neural network (ANN), convolutional neural network (CNN), and long-term short memory (LSTM). The selected extraction feature for audio data extraction employs mel-frequency cepstral coefficient (MFCC). The results showed that the LSTM model had the highest accuracy for each speech duration (3 s, 10 s, and 30 s), followed by the CNN and ANN models.
Unmanned aerial vehicles and machine learning for detecting objects in real time
Authors: Al-Baghdadi Mustafa Fahem , Manaa Mehdi Ebady
Published: September 2022

An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) image recognition system in real-time is proposed in this study. To begin, the you only look once (YOLO) detector has been retrained to better recognize objects in UAV photographs. The trained YOLO detector makes a trade-off between speed and precision in object recognition and localization to account for four typical moving entities caught by UAVs (cars, buses, trucks, and people). An additional 1500 UAV photographs captured by the embedded UAV camera are fed into the YOLO, which uses those probabilities to estimate the bounding box for the entire image. When it comes to object detection, the YOLO competes with other deep-learning frameworks such as the faster region convolutional neural network. The proposed system is tested on a wild test set of 1500 UAV photographs with graphics processing unit GPU acceleration, proving that it can distinguish objects in UAV images effectively and consistently in real-time at a detection speed of 60 frames per second.
Load frequency control of multi area system under deregulated environment using artificial gorilla troops optimization
Authors: Anil Kumar Sambugari , Sathya Narayana Varma M. Siva , Gowd K. Jithendra
Published: September 2022

The artificial gorilla troops method is utilized in the tilt integral derivative (TID) controller that is discussed in this paper in order to adorn the load frequency control (LFC) in the restructured thermal-hydal system. The controller is implemented in simulink. In this study, a mathematical definition of the social life of gorillas and innovative methods for exploring and exploiting gorilla habitats are presented. By applying step load perturbations and using integral square error as the evaluation method, the dynamic properties of the system can be determined. It is clear that the newly developed method of optimizing artificial gorilla troops performs better than the grey-wolf optimization technique (GTO). In this paper, the TID controller and the proportional integral derivative (PID) controller are contrasted with regard to a variety of optimization strategies inorder to compare different power transcations.
Economic dispatch problem in smart grid system with considerations for pumped storage
Authors: Rizki Adil , Habachi Rachid , Tahiry Karim , Echchatbi Abdelwahed
Published: September 2022

There are two significant issues with the incorporation of smart grid technology in power system operating studies including the economic emission, unit commitment problem (UCP). Economic dispatch problem (EDP) is a UCP sub-problem which find the optimum output for a given combination of running units. When using electro-energy systems to strategically distribute the power produced by all plants, the power economic dispatch problem is especially important. Pumped storage units that have the capacity to store energy can provide spinning reserves, which will lower overall costs and emissions. The general goal of this study is to develop control and optimization algorithms that are appropriate for managing new generation electrical networks. In this research work, the economic dispatch issue in a ten-unit smart grid system is resolved using the crow search algorithm (CSA), which acts as a local optimizer of the eagle strategy (ES). The outcomes of the ES-CSA program are compared to those found in the literature. The results of simulations suggest that adopting ES-CSA can lead to the generation of reliable and enough power that can meet the needs of both civil and industrial areas.
The role of artificial intelligence in enhancing administrative decision support systems by depend on knowledge management
Authors: Abed Alshadoodee Hasanain Abdalridha , Gheni Mansoor Muneer Sameer , Kuba Hasanien Kariem , Gheni Hassan Muwafaq
Published: September 2022

This study illustrates the role of artificial intelligence in enhancing administrative decision support systems by depend on knowledge management. As per new technologies are evolving and the workflow need more concious approach of implementation, thus the role of artificial intelligence is evolved in support to decision making. The study takes privates college administration as a varible on which the results rely. The upgrades in innovation have upgraded most techniques for leading business tasks that further develop organizations and administration conveyance. Companies in this area need to wander into digitizing of all industry cycles, business sequences linked to administration and more essential services in educational institutes over time. The need for a proper decision-making support using knowledge management stills create a big gap in the foundation of an effective and efficient eductaional system for the good governance and to improve the image of some institute. The examination interaction has been intended to follow an iterative methodology of information revelation chose for the review. Using the statistical package for social sciences (IBM-SPSS) version 23 logic instrument, the illustrative research was completed with insights into the segment profile of the respondents. Hayes' process macro v3.3 with SPSS was used to analyze the interceding effect.
A proposed approach for diabetes diagnosis using neuro-fuzzy technique
Authors: Alasaady Maher Talal , Mohd Aris Teh Noranis , Sharef Nurfadhlina Mohd , Hamdan Hazlina
Published: September 2022

Diabetes is a chronic disease characterized by a decrease in pancreatic insulin production. The immune system will be harmed due to this condition, which will raise blood sugar levels. However, early detection of diabetes enables patients to begin treatment on time, therefore reducing or eliminating the risk of severe consequences. One of the most significant challenges in the healthcare unit is disease diagnosis. Traditional techniques of disease diagnosis are manual and prone to inaccuracy. This paper proposed an approach for diagnosing diabetes using the adaptive neuro-fuzzy inference system (ANFIS) based on Pima Indians diabetes dataset (PIDD). The three stages of the proposed approach are pre-processing classification and evaluation. Normalization, imputation, and anomaly detection are part of the pre-processing stage. The pre-processing was done by normalizing the data, replacing the missing values, and using the local outlier factor (LOF) technique. In the classification stage, ANFIS classifiers were trained using the hybrid learning algorithm of the neural network. Finally, the evaluation procedures use the last stage’s sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy metrics. The obtained classification accuracy was 92.77%, and it seemed rather promising compared to the other classification applications for this topic found in the literature.
K-Means clustering-based semi-supervised for DDoS attacks classification
Authors: Jasim Mahdi Nsaif , Gaata Methaq Talib
Published: September 2022

Network attacks of the distributed denial of service (DDoS) form are used to disrupt server replies and services. It is popular because it is easy to set up and challenging to detect. We can identify DDoS attacks on network traffic in a variety of ways. However, the most effective methods for detecting and identifying a DDoS attack are machine learning approaches. This attack is considered to be among the most dangerous internet threats. In order for supervised machine learning algorithms to function, there needs to be tagged network traffic data sets. On the other hand, an unsupervised method uses network traffic analysis to find assaults. In this research, the K-Means clustering algorithm was developed as a semi-supervised approach for DDoS classification. The proposed algorithm is trained and tested with the CICIDS2017 dataset. After using the proposed hybrid feature selection methods and applying multiple training, testing, and carefully sorting DDoS traffic through a series of experiments, the optimum 2 centroids were found to be DDoS and normal. The generated centroids can be used to classify network traffic. So the proposed method succeeded to cluster the network traffic to safe and theat.
Analysis of instrumentation system for photovoltaic pyranometer used to measure solar irradiation level
Authors: Megantoro Prisma , Syahbani Muhammad Akbar , Perkasa Sigit Dani , Muzadi Ahmad Rahmad , Afif Yusrizal , Mukhlisin Agus , Vigneshwaran Pandi
Published: September 2022

A pyranometer is a device used to measure the level of solar irradiation. This device has a sensor that measures the density of the electromagnetic flux of solar radiation on a flat plane. The electromagnetic flux density parameter is converted into an electrical parameter in watts per square meter. Pyranometers are used in weather station devices to analyze and predict weather conditions. Solar power generation systems are usually also installed with this device. It is intended to monitor solar irradiation's condition to examine the generating system's performance. This article discusses the photovoltaic-based pyranometer characterization method. The characterization method is carried out to determine the measurement parameters such as accuracy, precision, and hysteresis. Knowing these parameters will make it possible to see the performance of measuring solar irradiation levels by a measuring instrument for solar irradiation levels, like a pyranometer. The characterization method is to compare the measurement results with standard instruments. The solar irradiance level monitoring is also optimal, accurate, and precise with a reliable measurement method.
Aortic Cellular Diversity and Quantitative Genome-Wide Association Study Trait Prioritization Through Single-Nuclear RNA Sequencing of the Aneurysmal Human Aorta
Authors: Chou Elizabeth L. , Chaffin Mark , Simonson Bridget , Pirruccello James P. , Akkad Amer-Denis , Nekoui Mahan , Lino Cardenas Christian Lacks , Bedi Kenneth C. , Nash Craig , Juric Dejan , Stone James R. , Isselbacher Eric M. , Margulies Kenneth B. , Klattenhoff Carla , Ellinor Patrick T. , Lindsay Mark E.
Published: September 2022

Background:

Mural cells in ascending aortic aneurysms undergo phenotypic changes that promote extracellular matrix destruction and structural weakening. To explore this biology, we analyzed the transcriptional features of thoracic aortic tissue.

Methods:

Single-nuclear RNA sequencing was performed on 13 samples from human donors, 6 with thoracic aortic aneurysm, and 7 without aneurysm. Individual transcriptomes were then clustered based on transcriptional profiles. Clusters were used for between-disease differential gene expression analyses, subcluster analysis, and analyzed for intersection with genetic aortic trait data.

Results:

We sequenced 71 689 nuclei from human thoracic aortas and identified 14 clusters, aligning with 11 cell types, predominantly vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) consistent with aortic histology. With unbiased methodology, we found 7 vascular smooth muscle cell and 6 fibroblast subclusters. Differentially expressed genes analysis revealed a vascular smooth muscle cell group accounting for the majority of differential gene expression. Fibroblast populations in aneurysm exhibit distinct behavior with almost complete disappearance of quiescent fibroblasts. Differentially expressed genes were used to prioritize genes at aortic diameter and distensibility genome-wide association study loci highlighting the genes
JUN, LTBP4
(latent transforming growth factor beta-binding protein 1), and
IL34
(interleukin 34) in fibroblasts,
ENTPD1, PDLIM5
(PDZ and LIM domain 5),
ACTN4
(alpha-actinin-4), and
GLRX
in vascular smooth muscle cells, as well as
LRP1
in macrophage populations.

Conclusions:

Using nuclear RNA sequencing, we describe the cellular diversity of healthy and aneurysmal human ascending aorta. Sporadic aortic aneurysm is characterized by differential gene expression within known cellular classes rather than by the appearance of novel cellular forms. Single-nuclear RNA sequencing of aortic tissue can be used to prioritize genes at aortic trait loci.
Clinical Practice Variations in the Management of Ischemia With No Obstructive Coronary Artery Disease
Authors: Luu Judy M. , Wei Janet , Shufelt Chrisandra L. , Asif Anum , Tjoe Benita , Theriot Paul , Bairey Merz C. Noel
Published: September 2022

Background

Ischemia with no obstructive coronary artery disease is a condition associated with major adverse cardiovascular outcomes. To date, there are no specific American Heart Association or American College of Cardiology guidelines. The objective of this survey is to better understand the clinical practice and knowledge gaps that exist nationally.

Methods and Results

Participant‐specific links for a survey with 11 questions and 3 reminders were sent between September and October 2020 to the American College of Cardiology CardioSurve Panel. The panel consist of randomly selected cardiologists (n=437) who represent the current profile of the American College of Cardiology US membership. The survey received a 30% response rate. Of the 172 respondents, 130 (76%) indicated that they have treated patients with ischemia with no obstructive coronary artery disease. Although the majority (69%) are generally confident in their ability to manage this condition, 1 of 3 report lack of confidence or are neutral. The American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association Chronic Stable Angina Guidelines are the most commonly used reference for treating ischemia with no obstructive coronary artery disease (81%), with most cardiologists wanting additional clinical guidance, such as randomized controlled trials (61%). More than 4 of 5 cardiologists rarely or never order advanced imaging modalities to assess coronary flow reserve. Approximately 2 of 3 of respondents frequently prescribe statins (68%), aspirin (66%), calcium channel blockers (63%), and β blockers or α/β blockers (55%). However, nearly 70% never prescribe angiotensin‐converting enzyme inhibitors or angiotensin receptor blockers.

Conclusions

This survey demonstrates heterogeneity in the management of ischemia with no obstructive coronary artery disease among US cardiologists, identifies support for guideline development, and outlines knowledge gaps for research and education in the therapeutic management of this condition.
Effects of a Dietitian‐Led, Telehealth Lifestyle Intervention on Blood Pressure: Results of a Randomized, Controlled Trial
Authors: Chang Alexander R. , Gummo Lauren , Yule Christina , Bonaparte Heather , Collins Charlotte , Naylor Allison , Appel Lawrence J. , Juraschek Stephen P. , Bailey‐Davis Lisa
Published: September 2022

Background

Limited data exist on the benefits of lifestyle behavior change delivered using telehealth and web‐based applications with varied support on blood pressure (BP).

Methods and Results

We conducted a 2‐site randomized controlled trial at Geisinger (January 2019–March 2021) to compare the efficacy of 2 remotely delivered strategies using web‐based applications in participants with 24‐hour systolic BP 120–160 mm Hg and body mass index ≥25 kg/m
2
. Both arms received access to web‐based applications and the same lifestyle guidance per American Heart Association guidelines. One arm received minimal nonclinical staff support, and the other arm received dietitian support with motivational interviewing during weekly calls. The primary outcome was 12‐week change in 24‐hour systolic BP. A total of 187 participants were randomly assigned, with 156 (83.4%) completing the trial. In both arms, 24‐hour systolic BP was reduced at follow‐up, but the difference in BP change was not significant (dietitian‐led arm, −6.73 mm Hg [95% CI, −8.64 to −4.82]; minimal‐support arm, −4.92 [95% CI, −7.01 to −2.77];
P
comparing groups=0.2). The dietitian‐support arm had greater 12‐week improvements in the secondary outcomes sleep systolic BP (mean, −6.92 versus −1.45;
P
=0.004), sleep diastolic BP (−3.31 versus 0.73;
P
=0.001), and self‐reported physical activity (866 versus −243 metabolic equivalent task minutes per week;
P
=0.01) and tended to have improvements in weight loss (−5.11 versus −3.89 kg;
P
=0.1) and Healthy Eating Index–2015 score (9.23 versus 6.43 units;
P
=0.09).

Conclusions

Both the dietitian‐ and minimal‐support interventions reduced 24‐hour systolic BP similarly, although the dietitian‐led intervention led to greater improvements in several secondary cardiometabolic outcomes.

Registration

URL:
https://www.clinicaltrials.gov
; Unique identifier: NCT03700710.
An Uncertainty Measure for Prediction of Non-Gaussian Process Surrogates
Authors: Hu Caie , Zeng Sanyou , Li Changhe
Published: September 2022

Model management is an essential component in data-driven surrogate-assisted evolutionary optimization. In model management, the solutions with a large degree of uncertainty in approximation play an important role. They can strengthen the exploration ability of algorithms and improve the accuracy of surrogates. However, there is no theoretical method to measure the uncertainty of prediction of Non-Gaussian process surrogates. To address this issue, this article proposes a method to measure the uncertainty. In this method, a stationary random field with a known zero mean is used to measure the uncertainty of prediction of Non-Gaussian process surrogates. Based on experimental analyses, this method is able to measure the uncertainty of prediction of Non-Gaussian process surrogates. The method's effectiveness is demonstrated on a set of benchmark problems in single surrogate and ensemble surrogates cases.
Why Don’t We Sleep Enough? A Field Experiment among College Students
Authors: Avery Mallory , Giuntella Osea , Jiao Peiran
Published: September 2022

This study investigates the mechanisms affecting sleep choice and explores whether commitment devices and monetary incentives can be used to promote healthier sleep habits. To this end, we conducted a field experiment with college students, providing them incentives to sleep and collecting data from wearable activity trackers, surveys, and time-use diaries. Monetary incentives were effective in increasing sleep duration with some evidence of persistence after the incentive was removed. We uncover evidence of demand for commitment. Our results are consistent with partially sophisticated time-inconsistent preferences and overconfidence and have implications for the effectiveness of information interventions on sleep choice.
Regulated Revenues and Hospital Behavior: Evidence from a Medicare Overhaul
Authors: Gross Tal , Sacarny Adam , Shi Maggie , Silver David
Published: September 2022

We study a 2008 policy reform in which Medicare revised its hospital payment system to better reflect patients’ severity of illness. We construct a simulated instrument that predicts a hospital’s policy-induced change in reimbursement using pre-reform patients and postreform rules. The reform led to large persistent changes in Medicare payment rates across hospitals. Hospitals that faced larger gains in Medicare reimbursement increased the volume of Medicare patients they treated. The estimates imply a volume elasticity of 1.2. To accommodate greater volume, hospitals increased nurse employment, but also lowered length of stay.
Review of the genus Pleurotroppopsis Girault (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae) with interspecific phylogenetic relationships based on morphological characters
Authors: CAO HUAN-XI , DALE-SKEY NATALIE , BURWELL CHRIS J. , ZHU CHAO-DONG
Published: September 2022

This study is dedicated to the late Dr. John LaSalle, and reviews the world species of Pleurotroppopsis Girault (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae); fourteen species are treated, of which two are newly described: P. dactylispae Cao & Zhu sp. nov. from China and P. peukscutella Cao & Zhu sp. nov. from Malaysia. On the basis of morphological characters, tentative relationships among genera allied to Pleurotroppopsis are discussed. A revised definition of Pleurotroppopsis is presented based on study of type specimens of all species and a critical review of previous studies on the genus. In addition, parsimony analyses were conducted to infer a phylogeny of Pleurotroppopsis species based on a unique data matrix of morphological characters. Keys to genera allied to Pleurotroppopsis and to known species of Pleurotroppopsis are provided.
A Bias Correction Scheme with the Symmetric Cloud Proxy Variable and Its Influence on Assimilating All-Sky GOES-16 Brightness Temperatures
Authors: Feng Chengfeng , Pu Zhaoxia
Published: September 2022

All-sky assimilation of brightness temperatures (BTs) from GOES-16 infrared water vapor channels is challenging, primarily because these channels are sensitive to cloud ice that causes large nonlinear errors in the forecast and forward models. Thus, bias correction (BC) for all-sky assimilation of GOES-16 BTs is vital. This study examines the impacts of different BC schemes, especially for a scheme with a quartic polynomial of cloud predictors (the ASRBC4 scheme), on the analysis and WRF Model forecasts of tropical cyclones when assimilating the all-sky GOES-16 channel-8 BTs using the NCEP GSI-based 3D ensemble–variational hybrid data assimilation (DA) system with variational BC (VarBC). Long-term statistics are performed during the NASA Convective Processes Experiment field campaign (2017). Results demonstrate that the ASRBC4 scheme effectively reduces the average of all-sky scaled observation-minus-backgrounds (OmBs) in a cloudy sky and alleviates their nonlinear conditional biases with respect to the symmetric cloud proxy variable, in contrast to the BC schemes without the cloud predictor or with a first-order cloud predictor. In addition, adopting the ASRBC4 scheme in DA decreases the positive temperature increments at 200 hPa and the accompanying midlevel cyclonic wind increments in the analysis of Tropical Storm (TS) Cindy (2017). Applying the ASRBC4 scheme also leads to better storm-track predictions for TS Cindy (2017) and Hurricane Laura (2022), compared to experiments with other BC schemes. Overall, this study highlights the importance of reducing nonlinear biases of OmBs in a cloudy sky for successful all-sky assimilation of BTs from GOES-16 infrared water vapor channels.
Quasi-static axial crushing performance of thin-walled tubes with circular hole discontinuities
Authors: Alshahrani Hassan , Sebaey Tamer A. , Awd Allah Mahmoud M. , Abd El-baky Marwa A.
Published: September 2022

This paper investigates the crashworthiness performance of square pipes with induced holes. Glass reinforced epoxy (GFRP) specimens were fabricated and tested under quasi-static axial crashing. Four design parameters were chosen, each at three levels, to calculate crashworthiness indicators. The design parameters are the hole diameter (d), the hole position to specimen length ratio (P/L), the number of holes and distribution (n), and crosshead speed (V). Taguchi technique has been adapted to get the optimum crashworthiness parameters. Experiments based on Taguchi’s orthogonal array with 9 experimental runs (L9) were performed. Optimal conditions with the maximum absorbed energy (U) and minimum initial peak force ([Formula: see text]) were determined. The main effects, signal to noise ratio (S/N), and analysis of variance (ANOVA) have been investigated. Results indicated that “V” followed by “d” are the highest influencing parameters on the values of “U” with a contribution of 49% and 43%, respectively. The dominant influencing parameter on the values of [Formula: see text] is “n” with a contribution of 94%. Finally, confirmation tests were carried out to validate the estimated model with respect to experimental results. The optimum U and [Formula: see text] of GFRP square pipes with circular cutouts were compared with those of non-porous specimens.
Collaborative working and building partnership: Bringing the two worlds together
Authors: Strudwick Kate , Johnson Lee , Dyer Peter
Published: September 2022

This paper shares lessons learnt through a partnership project, the Blue Light Programme, by presenting a discussion of key themes inherent in building collaborations between academia and policing. With a focus on sharing experiences with the partnership project, where the academics took the role of a critical friend as part of the project team, the paper explores the balances with meeting both academic and practical considerations. The article explores connecting cultures within the research project and provides insights into partnership approaches with policing and other emergency services. The article purposely does not present results of the partnership project but explores the balance and relationships built between organisations. Presenting wider contextual references on policing culture, the reality of insider and outsider perspectives, the benefits and challenges arising through the role of critical friends in collaboration projects are explored. As critical friends, there was an acknowledgement of the dynamism between the services in the project, its collectiveness in practice, where the project team were able to use the critical friends as a supporting role, one which placed integrity and good methodological practice as the forefront in project evaluation between academia and policing. The paper concludes with observations on moving forward with partnership roles, and the ways to achieve shared goals, where paths enhancing collaborative working can align despite often coming from two different directions.
Going to Zion! Experiencing Environmental Sociology in an Iconic National Park
Authors: Burley David
Published: September 2022

In this article, I examine the effects of an environmental sociology travel study program in Zion National Park (United States) on 11 students during the summers of 2018 and 2019. I outline the program, and then I use students’ reflections in their posttrip final papers to illustrate the effects of the program on their sense of environmental identity. While there was some variance in the growth of environmental identity, all students reported that they were profoundly affected by the program. For many, their environmental identity became salient. I also argue that we, as sociologists, need to grow our experiential environmental education so that many will become advocates for environmental change but also so that some will become the leaders we need to address the climate crisis and the environmental, social, and economic injustices that are deepening because of it.
Laryngotracheal Recurrent Papillomatosis: A Case Study and Survey of Surgical and Systemic Management
Authors: Borrelli Michela , Nasrollahi Tasha , Raskin Jonathan , Khan Sana , Alexander Ronda E
Published: September 2022

This case report presents a 72-year-old man with longstanding recurrent respiratory papillomatosis (RRP). He has undergone multiple procedures for the condition, including an apparent urgent surgical airway followed by tracheoplasty repair. Modern management of complicated RRP should include both local debulking and systemic approaches. Systemic bevacizumab (Avastin) has shown some initial success as an effective treatment option, in addition to other medications such as pembrolizumab. Other future care strategies may include an HPV vaccination and other adjuvants; vaccination has been reported to have the possibility of drastically reducing the incidence of RRP.
PET imaging studies to investigate functional expression of mGluR2 using [11C]mG2P001
Authors: Yuan Gengyang , Dhaynaut Maeva , Guehl Nicolas J , Neelamegam Ramesh , Moon Sung-Hyun , Qu Xiying , Poutiainen Pekka , Afshar Sepideh , Fakhri Georges El , Normandin Marc D , Brownell Anna-Liisa
Published: September 2022

Metabotropic glutamate receptor 2 (mGluR2) has been extensively studied for the treatment of various neurological and psychiatric disorders. Understanding of the mGluR2 function is pivotal in supporting the drug discovery targeting mGluR2. Herein, the positive allosteric modulation of mGluR2 was investigated via the in vivo positron emission tomography (PET) imaging using 2-((4-(2-[11C]methoxy-4-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl)piperidin-1-yl)methyl)-1-methyl-1 H-imidazo[4,5- b]pyridine ([11C]mG2P001). Distinct from the orthosteric compounds, pretreatment with the unlabeled mG2P001, a potent mGluR2 positive allosteric modulator (PAM), resulted in a significant increase instead of decrease of the [11C]mG2P001 accumulation in rat brain detected by PET imaging. Subsequent in vitro studies with [3H]mG2P001 revealed the cooperative binding mechanism of mG2P001 with glutamate and its pharmacological effect that contributed to the enhanced binding of [3H]mG2P001 in transfected CHO cells expressing mGluR2. The in vivo PET imaging and quantitative analysis of [11C]mG2P001 in non-human primates (NHPs) further validated the characteristics of [11C]mG2P001 as an imaging ligand for mGluR2. Self-blocking studies in primates enhanced accumulation of [11C]mG2P001. Altogether, these studies show that [11C]mG2P001 is a sensitive biomarker for mGluR2 expression and the binding is affected by the tissue glutamate concentration.
Botulinum toxin A for management of refractory concurrent buccal and inferior alveolar nerve post-traumatic neuropathies: a case report
Authors: Capon Chloé , Crevant Aurélien , Pointin Armelle , Sulukdjian Arek , Moreau Nathan
Published: September 2022

Painful post-traumatic trigeminal neuropathy (PPTTN) can result from iatrogenic injury to one or more branches of the trigeminal nerve during oral surgical procedures such as tooth extractions. Like other chronic neuropathic pain conditions, PPTTN can significantly alter the patient’s quality of life, especially when pharmacological treatment is ineffective or not tolerated. As such, new treatment options have been investigated, including local injections of botulinum toxin type A (BTX-A). A 29-year-old woman presented to our tertiary orofacial pain clinic for evaluation of chronic electric shock-like pain attacks and severe allodynia in the territory of the right inferior alveolar nerve and buccal nerve following right mandibular third molar extraction 3 years prior. Following several failed attempts at classic pharmacological management (including carbamazepine, venlafaxine, duloxetine, pregabalin, clonazepam, and amitriptyline), BTX-A injections were administered in the vicinity of the right mental nerve. This treatment provided significant improvement in the patient’s condition and overall quality of life with no significant adverse effects. Because both neuropathies were significantly improved by remote BTX-A injections, this case report provides preliminary clinical evidence supporting spinopetal transport of BTX-A, as shown in animal models, as an underlying pathophysiological mechanism of BTX-A-mediated analgesia.
Identification of Mycoplasma pneumoniae-associated pneumonia cases among hospitalized patients using CLART® microarray technology
Authors: Tjoa Enty , Joon Shikha , Moehario Lucky Hartati , Loe Luse , Pangalila Franz J.V.
Published: September 2022

Objectives

Community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) is a global health condition that affects populations from all age groups. The laboratory identification of Mycoplasma pneumoniae as a causative agent of CAP is challenging because of its atypical and fastidious nature. Therefore, this study assessed the diagnostic potential of PneumoCLART bacteria® in identifying M. pneumoniae as a causative agent of pneumonia in hospitalized adults.

Methods

This prospective study used a cross-sectional approach to assess the diagnostic potential of PneumoCLART bacteria® for detecting M. pneumoniae in sputum samples procured from 27 patients with pneumonia who required hospitalization.

Results

The PneumoCLART bacteria® results illustrated that 7 of 27 patients with pneumonia were positive for M. pneumoniae (26%). However, the quality of sputum varied among the M. pneumoniae-positive and M. pneumoniae-negative samples. Fifty percent of the specimens obtained from patients positive for M. pneumoniae were saliva-contaminated and unsuitable for analysis.

Conclusions

Because the leukocyte count was low and sputum specimens were saliva-contaminated, these findings require further validation to prove the utility of CLART® microarray technology for the identification of M. pneumoniae in pneumonia-positive patients. Conclusively, this prospective study included a small number of clinical samples, which likely affected its outcomes.
Validating the Chinese Version of the Academic Grit Scale in Selected Adolescents
Authors: Tang Hui , Zhou Shujing , Du Xiaoqing , Mo Qiyun , Xing Qiang
Published: September 2022

This study evaluated the factor structure, measurement invariance, criterion-related and incremental validity of the Chinese version of the Academic Grit Scale (AGS) among 723 adolescents from mainland China. Results of exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses supported the single-factor model, exhibiting scalar invariance across gender and partial scalar invariance across groups (i.e., middle and high school students). The AGS total score showed internal consistency and temporal stability when used one month later. Moreover, academic grit was shown to be positively correlated with academic achievement, general grit, and dimensional student engagement. Academic grit also predicted academic achievement after isolating the effects of the related variables (i.e., general grit and student engagement) and overlapping components of academic grit and the related variables. Overall, the Chinese version of the AGS demonstrated adequate reliability and validity and was shown to be a useful tool for examining academic grit in Chinese adolescents.
Rogerian Theoretical Musings on Wellbecoming
Authors: Phillips John
Published: September 2022

The concept of infinity mind loops was created to enhance understanding of wellbecoming through use of pandimensional awareness patterning processes of human field hugs, image, and vision. Infinity mind loops may be the cutting edge in one’s changing wellbecoming.
Vital Pulp Therapy
Authors: Niemiec Brook A. , Mulligan Thomas W.
Published: September 2022

Indications for vital pulp therapy include: crown reduction for orthodontic abnormalities; canine tooth disarming; crown fractures of immature permanent teeth; pulp exposure during debridement of deep carious lesions; and, recent crown fractures of mature permanent teeth. Vital pulp therapy for these conditions or procedures includes direct pulp capping after partial coronal pulpectomy is performed to excise inflamed pulp, if present, and provide space for the restoration. Appropriate tissue handling and a meticulous restoration providing a bacteria-tight marginal seal are critical components of vital pulp therapy1, which is described step-by-step.
Critically Ill Patients: Family Experiences of Interfacility Transfers From Rural to Urban Centers and Impact on Family Relationships
Authors: Burns Margie , Bally Jill , Burles Meridith , Peacock Shelley
Published: September 2022

A critical illness event is intensely stressful for family members and can lead to negative psychological, emotional, social and financial consequences. In geographically rural areas, critically ill patients may require an interfacility transfer to an urban centre for advanced critical care services. In this context, research suggests that these family members from rural areas experience additional burdens, yet little is known about these experiences. An interpretive phenomenological approach was used to explore lived experiences of family members from rural areas whose critically ill relative undergoes an interfacility transfer to an urban centre for advanced critical care services. Participants described feelings of vulnerability in the urban centre, the need to protect the critically ill patient and other relatives, maintaining responsibilities at home, navigating family relationships, and a loss of connection during the transfer window. These findings may better position nurses to address family members’ stress and anxiety during this experience.
Association of Lupus Anticoagulant status with Disease Course in SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) Infection
Authors: Woo Suhyeon , Kim Bohyun , Heo Nam Hun , Kim Min-sun , Yoon Young Ahn , Choi Young-Jin
Published: September 2022

Background: We investigated the importance of lupus anticoagulant (LA) in patients with SARS-CoV-2. Methods: Medical records of 41 SARS-CoV-2 infected patients were reviewed. Patients were classified into two groups according to the frequency of positive LA test results: “LA (−)” and “LA (+) ≥1” (LA positive at least once). Statistical analysis was performed to determine the association between LA presence and change in LA test results and disease course according to both hospital days (HD) and days after diagnosis (DD). Results: The prevalence of LA was 51.2%. Averagely, the first change in LA test result occurred during DD 12-13 and between HD 9-10. The second change occurred on DD 15-16 and HD 13-14. The presence of LA was associated with severe disease ( P = .004) but was not associated with thrombotic complications or mortality. The change of results from negative to positive or vice versa or the frequency of the changes was not associated with disease severity, thrombotic complications, or mortality. Conclusions: LA positivity can be regarded as one of the findings suggesting more serious SARS-CoV-2 infection.
Lessons From the Field: Strategies for Success in Obtaining Grant Funding
Authors: Jennings Mathis Karen , Herbell Kayla , Ali Muhammad Ali Charania Nadia , Williams Kimberly , Mechling Brandy , Ngosa Mumba Mercy , Paun Olimpia , Willis Danny G.
Published: September 2022

Objective:

To summarize a preconference workshop that focused on how to be successful in obtaining funding by making one’s scholarship innovative and significant.

Method:

In 2021, at the annual American Psychiatric Nurses Association (APNA) Conference, a panel of nurse scholars reflected on and discussed how to make grant proposals innovative and significant. Two moderators posed questions to five panelists at different stages in their research trajectories about four key research concepts: idea conception, framing for the funding agency, significance, and innovation.

Results:

Conceptualizing an innovative, scholarly idea starts with a passion for the topic, a team of experts and scholarly community, and time to think and delve into the literature. For funding opportunities, start small, read the funding announcements thoroughly and carefully, and make sure it is the right fit. Strategies to illustrate significance include avoiding generalizations, maintaining objectivity, being clear about impact, and using strength-based language. Contemplate the many facets of innovation as well as balance innovation and feasibility.

Conclusions:

Inclusion of challenges in composing significance and innovation sections of grant proposals offers knowledge for psychiatric nurse researchers to add to their toolkits as they seek funding and conduct research and scholarship.
Sex Ed in the Post-Roe World: Implications for Public Health Education
Authors: Lieberman Lisa D. , Goldfarb Eva S.
Published: September 2022

The overturning of Roe v. Wade and the increasing assaults on lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer (LGBTQ+) rights in legislatures across the country have put our sexual and reproductive health in peril. They are likely also bellwethers of more to come. While a full reckoning of the repercussions from these attacks will not be known for a long time, the field of public health must act now with a strong and cohesive plan to mitigate the harms, fight these threats to our well-being, and lead the way forward.
Party over pandemic: Polarized trust in political leaders and experts explains public support for COVID-19 policies
Authors: Cole Jennifer C. , Flores Alexandra , Jiga-Boy Gabriela M. , Klein Olivier , Sherman David K. , Van Boven Leaf
Published: September 2022

Two experiments examined the polarization of public support for COVID-19 policies due to people’s (lack of) trust in political leaders and nonpartisan experts. In diverse samples in the United States (Experiment 1; N = 1,802) and the United Kingdom (Experiment 2; N = 1,825), participants evaluated COVID-19 policies that were framed as proposed by ingroup political leaders, outgroup political leaders, nonpartisan experts, or, in the United States, a bipartisan group of political leaders. At the time of the study in April 2020, COVID-19 was an unfamiliar and shared threat. Therefore, there were theoretical reasons suggesting that attitudes toward COVID-19 policy may not have been politically polarized. Yet, our results demonstrated that even relatively early in the pandemic people supported policies from ingroup political leaders more than the same policies from outgroup leaders, extending prior research on how people align their policy stances to political elites from their own parties. People also trusted experts and ingroup political leaders more than they did outgroup political leaders. Partly because of this polarized trust, policies from experts and bipartisan groups were more widely supported than policies from ingroup political leaders. These results illustrate the potentially detrimental role political leaders may play and the potential for effective leadership by bipartisan groups and nonpartisan experts in shaping public policy attitudes during crises.
COVID-19 vaccination rates among healthcare workers by immigrant background: A nation-wide registry study from Norway
Authors: Kraft Kristian Bandlien , Elgersma Ingeborg , Lyngstad Trude Marie , Elstrøm Petter , Telle Kjetil
Published: September 2022

Aims:

Studies have suggested that some minority groups tend to have lower vaccination rates than the overall population. This study aims to examine COVID-19 vaccination rates among healthcare workers in Norway, according to immigrant background.

Methods:

We used individual-level, nation-wide registry data from Norway to identify all healthcare workers employed full time at 1 December 2020. We examined the relationship between country of birth and COVID-19 vaccination from December 2020 to August 2021, both crude and adjusted for, for example, age, sex, municipality of residence and detailed occupation codes in logistic regression models.

Results:

Among all healthcare workers in Norway, immigrants had a 9 percentage point lower vaccination rate (85%) than healthcare workers without an immigrant background (94%) at 31 August 2021. The overall vaccination rate varied by country of birth, with immigrants born in Russia (71%), Serbia (72%), Lithuania (72%), Romania (75%), Poland (76%), Eritrea (77%) and Somalia (78%) having the lowest crude vaccination rates. When we adjusted for demographics and detailed occupational codes, immigrant groups that more often worked as healthcare assistants, such as immigrants from Eritrea and Somalia, increased their vaccination rates.

Conclusions:

Substantial differences in vaccination rates among immigrant groups employed in the healthcare sector in Norway indicate that measures to improve vaccine uptake should focus on specific immigrant groups rather than all immigrants together. Lower vaccination rates in some immigrant groups appear to be largely driven by the occupational composition, suggesting that some of the differences in vaccine rates can be attributed to variation in vaccine access.
A Multimodal Approach to Discover Biomarkers for Taxane-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy (TIPN): A Study Protocol
Authors: Sharma Anukriti , Johnson Ken B. , Bie Bihua , Rhoades Emily E. , Sen Alper , Kida Yuri , Hockings Jennifer , Gatta Alycia , Davenport Jacqueline , Arcangelini Connie , Ritzu Jennifer , DeVecchio Jennifer , Hughen Ron , Wei Mei , Thomas Budd G. , Lynn Henry N. , Eng Charis , Foss Joseph , Rotroff Daniel M.
Published: September 2022

Introduction: Taxanes are a class of chemotherapeutics commonly used to treat various solid tumors, including breast and ovarian cancers. Taxane-induced peripheral neuropathy (TIPN) occurs in up to 70% of patients, impacting quality of life both during and after treatment. TIPN typically manifests as tingling and numbness in the hands and feet and can cause irreversible loss of function of peripheral nerves. TIPN can be dose-limiting, potentially impacting clinical outcomes. The mechanisms underlying TIPN are poorly understood. As such, there are limited treatment options and no tools to provide early detection of those who will develop TIPN. Although some patients may have a genetic predisposition, genetic biomarkers have been inconsistent in predicting chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN). Moreover, other molecular markers (eg, metabolites, mRNA, miRNA, proteins) may be informative for predicting CIPN, but remain largely unexplored. We anticipate that combinations of multiple biomarkers will be required to consistently predict those who will develop TIPN. Methods: To address this clinical gap of identifying patients at risk of TIPN, we initiated the Genetics and Inflammatory Markers for CIPN (GENIE) study. This longitudinal multicenter observational study uses a novel, multimodal approach to evaluate genomic variation, metabolites, DNA methylation, gene expression, and circulating cytokines/chemokines prior to, during, and after taxane treatment in 400 patients with breast cancer. Molecular and patient reported data will be collected prior to, during, and after taxane therapy. Multi-modal data will be used to develop a set of comprehensive predictive biomarker signatures of TIPN. Conclusion: The goal of this study is to enable early detection of patients at risk of developing TIPN, provide a tool to modify taxane treatment to minimize morbidity from TIPN, and improved patient quality of life. Here we provide a brief review of the current state of research into CIPN and TIPN and introduce the GENIE study design.