bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Validation and adaptation of the Charlson Comorbidity Index using administrative data from the Colombian health system: retrospective cohort study
Authors: Oliveros Henry , Buitrago Giancarlo
Published: March 2022

Objective

To validate the Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI) for the Colombian population using administrative databases from the health insurance system.

Design

Retrospective cohort study.

Setting

Database reports of events related to services that insurers provided (Health Promoter Enterprises, EPS in Spanish) in the Colombian health system, which covered 22.19 million residents in 2016.

Participants

The study cohort comprised 3 849 849 patients aged 18 years and up admitted to the Colombian hospitals between 1 January and 31 December 2016.

Primary outcome

The study aimed to gauge the CCI’s predictive value for mortality by comparing the calibration and discrimination of three different versions of the index, with mortality information obtained from death certificates, including date of death and diagnoses associated with cause of death. Follow-up was conducted for at least 1 year.

Results

Altogether, 46 429 patients died within 1 year (1.21%). Discriminatory power in predicting 1-year mortality was calculated for three versions of the ICC. In the original CCI model, the area under the Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was 0.906 (95% CI (0.906 to 0.907), p<0.001). In the version for Colombia, it was 0.908 (95% CI (0.908 to 0.909), p<0.001) and for the new model it was 0.909 (95% CI (0.908 to 0.910), p<0.001).

Conclusions

Adapting the CCI based on the 14 predictive variables of the new model resulted in an adequate predictive value for 1-year mortality in patients who were hospitalised for all causes. These findings support the use of the modified CCI in the Colombian population.
Does a screening checklist for complex health and social care needs have potential clinical usefulness for predicting unplanned hospital readmissions in intensive care survivors: development and prospective cohort study
Authors: Walsh Timothy Simon , Pauley Ellen , Donaghy Eddie , Thompson Joanne , Barclay Lucy , Parker Richard Anthony , Weir Christopher , Marple James
Published: March 2022

Objectives

Intensive care (ICU) survivors are at high risk of long-term physical and psychosocial problems. Unplanned hospital readmission rates are high, but the best way to triage patients for interventions is uncertain. We aimed to develop and evaluate a screening checklist to help predict subsequent readmissions or deaths.

Design

A checklist for complex health and social care needs (CHSCNs) was developed based on previous research, comprising six items: multimorbidity; polypharmacy; frequent previous hospitalisations; mental health issues; fragile social circumstances and impaired activities of daily living. Patients were considered to have CHSCNs if two or more were present. We prospectively screened all ICU discharges for CHSCNs for 12 months.

Setting

ICU, Royal Infirmary, Edinburgh, UK.

Participants

ICU survivors over a 12-month period (1 June 2018 and 31 May 2019).

Interventions

None.

Outcome measure

Readmission or death in the community within 3 months postindex hospital discharge.

Results

Of 1174 ICU survivors, 937 were discharged alive from the hospital. Of these 253 (27%) were classified as having CHSCNs. In total 28% (266/937) patients were readmitted (N=238) or died (N=28) within 3 months. Among CHSCNs patients 45% (n=115) patients were readmitted (N=105) or died (N=10). Patients without CHSCNs had a 22% readmission (N=133) or death (N=18) rate. The checklist had: sensitivity 43% (95% CI 37% to 49%), specificity 79% (95% CI 76% to 82%), positive predictive value 45% (95% CI 41% to 51%), and negative predictive value 78% (95% CI 76% to 80%). Relative risk of readmission/death for patients with CHSCNs was 2.06 (95% CI 1.69 to 2.50), indicating a pretest to post-test probability change of 28%–45%. The checklist demonstrated high inter-rater reliability (percentage agreement ≥87% for all domains; overall kappa, 0.84).

Conclusions

Early evaluation of a screening checklist for CHSCNs at ICU discharge suggests potential clinical usefulness, but this requires further evaluation as part of a care pathway.
Cochlear implant aesthetics and its impact on stigma, social interaction and quality of life: a mixed-methods study protocol
Authors: Rapport Frances , Lo Chi Yhun , Elks Beth , Warren Chris , Clay-Williams Robyn
Published: March 2022

Introduction

Awareness of the benefits of cochlear implants is low, and barriers such as fear of surgery and ongoing rehabilitation have been noted. Perceived stigma associated with hearing loss also plays a key role, with many adults not wanting to appear old or be identified as a person with a disability. In effect, a cochlear implant makes deafness visible. New technologies have led to a smaller external profile for some types of cochlear implants, but qualitative assessments of benefit have not been explored. This study will examine cochlear implant aesthetics and cosmetics, and its impact on perceived stigma, social interactions, communication and quality of life. A particular focus will be the examination of totally implantable device concepts. A secondary aim is to understand what research techniques are best suited and most appealing for cochlear implant recipients, to assist in future study design and data collection methods.

Methods and analysis

This study utilises a mixed-methods design. Three datasets will be collected from each participant with an expected sample size of 10–15 participants to allow for data saturation of themes elicited. Each participant will complete a demographic questionnaire, a quickfire survey (a short concise questionnaire on a topic of research familiarity and preference) and a semi-structured interview. Questionnaire and quickfire survey data will be analysed using descriptive statistics. Interviews will be transcribed and analysed thematically. All participants will be adults with more than 1 year of experience using cochlear implants.

Ethics and dissemination

This study has been granted ethical approval from Macquarie University (HREC: 520211056232432) and meets the requirements set out in the National Statement on Ethical Conduct in Human Research. Study findings will be disseminated widely through international peer-reviewed journal articles, public and academic presentations, plain language summaries for participants and an executive summary for the project funder. This work was supported by Cochlear Limited (Cochlear Ltd). The funder will have no role in conducting or reporting on the study.
Imaging surveillance for complications after primary surgery for type A aortic dissection
Authors: Heuts Samuel , Schalla Simon , Ramaekers Mitch J F G , Bidar Elham , Mihl Casper , Wildberger Joachim E , Adriaans Bouke P
Published: March 2022

Acute type A aortic dissection (ATAAD) is a life-threatening condition that requires emergency surgery to avert fatal outcome. Conventional surgical procedures comprise excision of the entry tear and replacement of the proximal aorta with a synthetic vascular graft. In patients with DeBakey type I dissection, this approach leaves a chronically dissected distal aorta, putting them at risk for progressive dilatation, dissection propagation and aortic rupture. Therefore, ATAAD survivors should undergo serial imaging for evaluation of the aortic valve, proximal and distal anastomoses, and the aortic segments beyond the distal anastomosis. The current narrative review aims to describe potential complications in the early and late phases after ATAAD surgery, with focus on their specific imaging findings.
Targeted systemic therapies for psoriatic arthritis: a systematic review and comparative synthesis of short-term articular, dermatological, enthesitis and dactylitis outcomes
Authors: McInnes Iain B , Sawyer Laura M , Markus Kristen , LeReun Corinne , Sabry-Grant Celia , Helliwell Philip S
Published: March 2022

Introduction

Randomised controlled trials (RCTs) have compared biological and targeted systemic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDS) against placebo in psoriatic arthritis (PsA); few have compared them head to head.

Objectives

To compare the efficacy and safety of all evaluated DMARDs for active PsA, with a special focus on biological DMARDs (bDMARDs) licensed for PsA or psoriasis.

Methods

A systematic review identified RCTs and Bayesian network meta-analysis (NMA) compared treatments on efficacy (American College of Rheumatology (ACR) response, Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) response, resolution of enthesitis and dactylitis) and safety (patients discontinuing due to adverse events (DAE)) outcomes. Subgroup analyses explored ACR response among patients with and without prior biological therapy exposure.

Results

The NMA included 46 studies. Results indicate that some tumour necrosis factor inhibitors (anti-TNFs) may perform numerically, but not significantly, better than interleukin (IL) inhibitors on ACR response but perform worse on PASI response. Few significant differences between bDMARDs on ACR response were observed after subgrouping for prior bDMARD exposure. Guselkumab and IL-17A or IL-17RA inhibitors—brodalumab, ixekizumab, secukinumab—were best on PASI response. These IL-inhibitors and adalimumab were similarly efficacious on resolution of enthesitis and dactylitis. Infliximab with and without methotrexate, certolizumab 400 mg every 4 weeks and tildrakizumab showed the highest rates of DAE; abatacept, golimumab and the IL-inhibitors, the lowest.

Conclusions

Despite similar efficacy for ACR response, IL-17A and IL-17RA inhibitors and guselkumab offered preferential efficacy to anti-TNFs in skin manifestations, and for enthesitis and dactylitis, thereby supporting drug selection based on predominant clinical phenotype.
Atmospheric ammonia causes histopathological lesions, cell cycle blockage, and apoptosis of spleen in chickens
Authors: Chen Lin , Cai Tong , Zhao Cuiyan , Bai Shiping , Shu Gang , Wen Changlin , Xu Qinkun , Peng Xi
Published: March 2022

This experiment was conducted to investigate the effect of atmospheric ammonia (NH3) on histological changes, cell cycle distribution, and apoptosis of the spleen in chickens. Two hundred forty chickens were randomly allocated to the control group (without NH3 challenge) and NH3 group (70 ± 5 ppm NH3). The experiment lasted for 8 days. The results showed that NH3 exposure caused decreased relative weight ( P < 0.05), dysplasia of white pulps, obvious ultrastructural lesions, upregulation of G0G1 phase cells, excessive apoptosis, and oxidative stress ( P < 0.05) in the spleen. The mechanisms of cell cycle blockage were closely related to the upregulation of the P53 and P21 genes ( P < 0.05), the downregulation of the cyclin D1 and CDK6 genes ( P < 0.05), and the decrease of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) protein ( P < 0.05). The activated apoptosis resulted from the increased gene and protein expression of Bax and caspase-3 ( P < 0.05), and the decreased gene and protein expression of Bcl-2 ( P < 0.05). The results suggested that 70 ± 5 ppm NH3 caused the spleen dysplasia, which was closely related to the cell cycle arrest and mitochondrial apoptotic pathway activation.
DEVELOPMENT OF A THREE-DIMENSIONAL-PRINTED HEART MODEL REPLICATING THE ELASTICITY, TEAR RESISTANCE, AND HARDNESS OF PIG HEART USING AGILUS AND TANGO
Authors: PARK CHUN-KYU , KIM JUNGHUN
Published: March 2022

This study proposes a manufacturing method for reproducing some physical properties of the heart by comparing the elasticity, tear resistance, and hardness of a pig heart and three-dimensional printing materials, Agilus and Tango. A Digital Force Gauge was used to analyze elastic modulus and tear resistance, whereas a Shore A hardness meter was used to measure hardness. Agilus and Tango had 10 and 5 times higher elasticity, respectively, 2 and 4 times higher tear resistance, and a higher Shore A hardness than the pig heart. In summary, the pig heart had a more similar elasticity and Shore A hardness than the Tango sample, whereas more tear resistance was similar to the Agilus sample. Therefore, we proposed elasticity and tear resistance equations that can be used to build a heart model and a conversion table for heart fabrication at various thicknesses.
Communication-Efficient Federated Learning with Adaptive Quantization
Authors: Mao Yuzhu , Zhao Zihao , Yan Guangfeng , Liu Yang , Lan Tian , Song Linqi , Ding Wenbo
Published: March 2022

Federated learning (FL) has attracted tremendous attentions in recent years due to its privacy-preserving measures and great potential in some distributed but privacy-sensitive applications, such as finance and health. However, high communication overloads for transmitting high-dimensional networks and extra security masks remain a bottleneck of FL. This article proposes a communication-efficient FL framework with an Adaptive Quantized Gradient (AQG), which adaptively adjusts the quantization level based on a local gradient’s update to fully utilize the heterogeneity of local data distribution for reducing unnecessary transmissions. In addition, client dropout issues are taken into account and an Augmented AQG is developed, which could limit the dropout noise with an appropriate amplification mechanism for transmitted gradients. Theoretical analysis and experiment results show that the proposed AQG leads to 18% to 50% of additional transmission reduction as compared with existing popular methods, including Quantized Gradient Descent (QGD) and Lazily Aggregated Quantized (LAQ) gradient-based methods without deteriorating convergence properties. Experiments with heterogenous data distributions corroborate a more significant transmission reduction compared with independent identical data distributions. The proposed AQG is robust to a client dropping rate up to 90% empirically, and the Augmented AQG manages to further improve the FL system’s communication efficiency with the presence of moderate-scale client dropouts commonly seen in practical FL scenarios.
DINOS: Data INspired Oligo Synthesis for DNA Data Storage
Authors: Volkel Kevin , Tomek Kyle J. , Keung Albert J. , Tuck James M.
Published: March 2022

As interest in DNA-based information storage grows, the costs of synthesis have been identified as a key bottleneck. A potential direction is to tune synthesis for data. Data strands tend to be composed of a small set of recurring code word sequences, and they contain longer sequences of repeated data. To exploit these properties, we propose a new framework called DINOS. DINOS consists of three key parts: (i) The first is a hierarchical strand assembly algorithm, inspired by gene assembly techniques that can assemble arbitrary data strands from a small set of primitive blocks. (ii) The assembly algorithm relies on our novel formulation for how to construct primitive blocks, spanning a variety of useful configurations from a set of code words and overhangs. Each primitive block is a code word flanked by a pair of overhangs that are created by a cyclic pairing process that keeps the number of primitive blocks small. Using these primitive blocks, any data strand of arbitrary length can be assembled, theoretically. We show a minimal system for a binary code with as few as six primitive blocks, and we generalize our processes to support an arbitrary set of overhangs and code words. (iii) We exploit our hierarchical assembly approach to identify redundant sequences and coalesce the reactions that create them to make assembly more efficient.

We evaluate DINOS and describe its key characteristics. For example, the number of reactions needed to make a strand can be reduced by increasing the number of overhangs or the number of code words, but increasing the number of overhangs offers a small advantage over increasing code words while requiring substantially fewer primitive blocks. However, density is improved more by increasing the number of code words. We also find that a simple redundancy coalescing technique is able to reduce reactions by 90.6% and 41.2% on average for decompressed and compressed data, respectively, even when the smallest data fragments being assembled are 16 bits. With a simple padding heuristic that finds even more redundancy, we can further decrease reactions for the same operating point up to 91.1% and 59% for decompressed and compressed data, respectively, on average. Our approach offers greater density by up to 80% over a prior general purpose gene assembly technique. Finally, in an analysis of synthesis costs in which we make 1 GB volume using
de novo
synthesis versus making only the primitive blocks with
de novo
synthesis and otherwise assembling using DINOS, we estimate DINOS as 10
5
× cheaper than
de novo
synthesis.
Modeling and Analysis of Chinese Culture and Communication
Authors: Li Yingtao
Published: March 2022

Along with many other Asian countries, China's communication differs from, and at times, conflicts with, the United States, which is considered more collectivist and low-contact than that of the United States. The topic of this article is mental, physical, and behavioral health. This ancient society is one of the world's oldest, with a history spanning many thousands of years. These aspects of Chinese culture have significant weight in the Chinese community and society. Chinese participants care deeply about the cultural context, whether social scientists, humanists, or clinical psychiatrists. Based on several studies, Chinese culture influences various aspects of health, including physical and mental well-being, parent-child interactions and social connections, goals for individuals and groups, and health care delivery models. According to research on the subject, traditional Confucian cultural norms have influenced Chinese communication features. To maintain harmonious ties, the Chinese rely heavily on indirect communication. For them, the way you stand, your attitude, and even the tone of your voice all communicate a lot more than just words. They use imprecise language and may understate the significance of what they say. For themodeling analysis of Chinese culture and communication(MA-CCC) model, a brand-new approach has been presented. As long as this Confucian-influenced Chinese communication style persists, it will significantly impact Chinese society and communication between Chinese professionals and their Western counterparts. However, the frequency of attachment terms was lower in Chinese literature; the findings showed a rising tendency forAC(affectionate communication) in recent decades. In addition, the frequency of love terms in Chinese novels was linked positively to individuality. As a result of societal shifts, affection sharing becomes more common in individualistic metropolitan settings, as these findings show a performance enhancement of 94.2%.
Security Assessment of Phase-Based Ranging Systems in a Multipath Environment
Authors: Riaz Arslan , Nash Dylan , Ngo Jonathan , Juvekar Chiraag , Nadeau Phillip , Yu Tao , Yazicigil Rabia Tugce
Published: March 2022

Phase-based ranging has been widely deployed in proximity detection scenarios including security-critical applications due to their low implementation complexity on existing transceivers. In this work, the security of multi-carrier phase-based ranging systems in a multipath propagation environment is investigated. We present a threat model that can successfully target any decreasing distance in different multipath environmental conditions rendering the phase-based ranging method insecure. We assess the feasibility of attacks in various attack scenarios through simulations using a multipath channel and demonstrate a simplified version of the attacker model implemented in hardware. We show that the attacker can spoof the measured distance to less than one meter when the devices are separated by 30 meters. The evaluation of possible countermeasures and their limitations for different threat models is performed.
Emerging Chemical Diversity and Potential Applications of Enzymes in the DMSO Reductase Superfamily
Authors: Le Chi (Chip) , Bae Minwoo , Kiamehr Sina , Balskus Emily P.
Published: March 2022

Molybdenum- and tungsten-dependent proteins catalyze essential processes in living organisms and biogeochemical cycles. Among these enzymes, members of the dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) reductase superfamily are considered the most diverse, facilitating a wide range of chemical transformations that can be categorized as oxygen atom installation, removal, and transfer. Importantly, DMSO reductase enzymes provide high efficiency and excellent selectivity while operating under mild conditions without conventional oxidants such as oxygen or peroxides. Despite the potential utility of these enzymes as biocatalysts, such applications have not been fully explored. In addition, the vast majority of DMSO reductase enzymes still remain uncharacterized. In this review, we describe the reactivities, proposed mechanisms, and potential synthetic applications of selected enzymes in the DMSO reductase superfamily. We also highlight emerging opportunities to discover new chemical activity and current challenges in studying and engineering proteins in the DMSO reductase superfamily.
The Initiation of Eukaryotic DNA Replication
Authors: Costa Alessandro , Diffley John F.X.
Published: March 2022

DNA replication in eukaryotic cells initiates from large numbers of sites called replication origins. Initiation of replication from these origins must be tightly controlled to ensure the entire genome is precisely duplicated in each cell cycle. This is accomplished through the regulation of the first two steps in replication: loading and activation of the replicative DNA helicase. Here we describe what is known about the mechanism and regulation of these two reactions from a genetic, biochemical, and structural perspective, focusing on recent progress using proteins from budding yeast.
Optogenetics Illuminates Applications in Microbial Engineering
Authors: Hoffman Shannon M. , Tang Allison Y. , Avalos José L.
Published: March 2022

Optogenetics has been used in a variety of microbial engineering applications, such as chemical and protein production, studies of cell physiology, and engineered microbe–host interactions. These diverse applications benefit from the precise spatiotemporal control that light affords, as well as its tunability, reversibility, and orthogonality. This combination of unique capabilities has enabled a surge of studies in recent years investigating complex biological systems with completely new approaches. We briefly describe the optogenetic tools that have been developed for microbial engineering, emphasizing the scientific advancements that they have enabled. In particular, we focus on the unique benefits and applications of implementing optogenetic control, from bacterial therapeutics to cybergenetics. Finally, we discuss future research directions, with special attention given to the development of orthogonal multichromatic controls. With an abundance of advantages offered by optogenetics, the future is bright in microbial engineering.
The Critical Role of Process Analysis in Chemical Recycling and Upcycling of Waste Plastics
Authors: Nicholson Scott R. , Rorrer Julie E. , Singh Avantika , Konev Mikhail O. , Rorrer Nicholas A. , Carpenter Alberta C. , Jacobsen Alan J. , Román-Leshkov Yuriy , Beckham Gregg T.
Published: March 2022

There is an urgent need for new technologies to enable circularity for synthetic polymers, spurred by the accumulation of waste plastics in landfills and the environment and the contributions of plastics manufacturing to climate change. Chemical recycling is a promising means to convert waste plastics into molecular intermediates that can be remanufactured into new products. Given the growing interest in the development of new chemical recycling approaches, it is critical to evaluate the economics, energy use, greenhouse gas emissions, and other life cycle inventory metrics for emerging processes,relative to the incumbent, linear manufacturing practices employed today. Here we offer specific definitions for classes of chemical recycling and upcycling and describe general process concepts for the chemical recycling of mixed plastics waste. We present a framework for techno-economic analysis and life cycle assessment for both closed- and open-loop chemical recycling. Rigorous application of these process analysis tools will be required to enable impactful solutions for the plastics waste problem.
A Privacy-Preserving Biometric Recognition System with Visual Cryptography
Authors: Ren Lijing , Zhang Denghui
Published: March 2022

The popularity of more powerful and smarter digital devices has improved the quality of life and poses new challenges to the privacy protection of personal information. In this paper, we propose a biometric recognition system with visual cryptography, which preserves the privacy of biometric features by storing biometric features in separate databases. Visual cryptography combines perfect ciphers and secret sharing in cryptography with images, thus eliminating the complex operations in existing privacy-preserving schemes based on cryptography or watermarking. Since shares do not reveal any feature about biometric information, we can efficiently transmit sensitive information among sensors and smart devices in plain. To abate the influence of noise in visual cryptography, we leverage the generalization ability of transfer learning to train a visual cryptography-based recognition network. Experimental results show that our proposed method keeps the high accuracy of the feature recognition system when providing security.
Short-Term Power Load Forecasting of Integrated Energy System Based on Attention-CNN-DBILSTM
Authors: Yao Zongjun , Zhang Tieyan , Wang Qimin , Zhao Yan
Published: March 2022

In view of the fact that the potential high-dimensional features in the historical sequence are difficult to be effectively extracted by traditional power load forecasting methods and the coupling factors of electricity, heat, and gas have not been considered, the correlation of electric heating and gas load is considered in this paper, and a short-term power load forecasting method for integrated energy systems based on Attention-CNN- (Convolutional Neural Network-) DBILSTM (Deep Bidirectional Long-Short-Term Memory) is proposed. First, the correlation between the multiple load influencing factors is considered, and the Pearson coefficient is used to quantitatively calculate the correlation between the multiple loads. Second, a CNN network consisting of a one-dimensional convolutional layer and a pooling layer is established. High-dimensional features reflecting the dynamic changes of the load are extracted, and the proposed feature vector is constructed in the form of time series as the input of the DBILSTM network; the dynamic change law of time series data is modeled and learned. Then, the Attention mechanism is introduced to assign different weights to the hidden state of DBILSTM through the mapping weight and the learning parameter matrix, to reduce the loss of historical information and strengthen the impact of key information, and the Dense layer is used to output the load prediction results. Finally, the influence of the correlation of multiple loads and its influencing factors on the power load forecasting results is analyzed, based on the historical load data of the integrated energy system in a certain area of Northeast China. The simulation results of the calculation example show that the prediction accuracy of the method reaches 97.99%, and the integrated energy system electric, heat, and gas load correlation coefficients as the input parameters of the Attention-CNN-DBILSTM network can reduce the average prediction error by 0.37%∼1.93%. The proposed method has been verified to effectively improve the prediction accuracy by comparison with the prediction model results of CNN-LSTM network, CNN-BILSTM network, and CNN-DBILSTM network.
Prevalence of Malaria and Associated Factors among Malaria-Suspected Patients Attending Hamusit Health Center, Northwest Ethiopia: A Cross-Sectional Study
Authors: Negatu Getu Abeje , Abebe Getaneh Alemu , Yalew Woynshet Gelaye
Published: March 2022

Background. Malaria is one of the major public health problems in developing countries like Ethiopia. Despite efforts to reduce the mortality and morbidity, the disease is still a prominent health problem in Ethiopia. This study, therefore, was undertaken to assess the prevalence of malaria and associated factors among symptomatic patients in Northwest Ethiopia. Methods. A facility based cross-sectional study was conducted from February to March 2020 among 210 febrile patients attending Hamusit Health Center, Northwest Ethiopia. A structured questionnaire was used to collect data on sociodemographic characteristics and factors perceived to be associated with Plasmodium infection. Questionnaire data was collected through face to face interview. Thin and thick blood films were prepared from capillary blood buffy coat samples. Data were analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences Software version 20. Results. Out of 210 malaria-suspected participants, 61 (29.0%) were confirmed to be infected by Plasmodium species. Plasmodium falciparum and P. vivax monoinfections were detected in 41 (19.5%) and 10 (4.8%) participants, respectively. Mixed infection was detected in 10 (4.8%) participants. Female participants (

AOR
=
2.261

; 95% CI: 1.118-4.571;

P
=
0.023

) and those having family members with history of malaria (AOR =2.261; 95% CI: 1.264-5.340;

P
=
0.009

) had higher odds of acquiring Plasmodium infection as compared to their counterparts. Using insecticide-treated bed net and draining stagnant water were the most commonly mentioned malaria prevention measures reported by 71.9% and 8.1% of the respondents, respectively. Conclusion. Malaria contributes significantly for febrile illnesses in the study area. Therefore, community mobilization should be strengthen in order to improve implementation of malaria control activities and, hence, reducing the prevalence.
Association between Sarcopenia and Insulin-Like Growth Factor-1, Myostatin, and Insulin Resistance in Elderly Patients Undergoing Hemodialysis
Authors: Widajanti Novira , Soelistijo SoebagijoAdi , Hadi Usman , Thaha Mochammad , Aditiawardana  , Widodo  , Firdausi Hadiq , Nurina YafanitaIzzati , Asikin MiraDelima , Srinowati Hersih , Syakdiyah NoerHalimatus
Published: March 2022

Sarcopenia is common in hemodialysis patients, especially in the elderly patients undergoing hemodialysis. Various factors may contribute to the occurrence of sarcopenia, such as anabolic and catabolic imbalance. This study aims to investigate the correlation of insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) levels as an anabolic factor, myostatin levels, and insulin resistance as catabolic factors with sarcopenia in the pathogenesis of sarcopenia in elderly patients undergoing hemodialysis. A total of 40 subjects aged 60 years or more who undergoing hemodialysis in Dr. Soetomo Hospital Surabaya were included in this cross-sectional study. Sarcopenia was diagnosed according to Asian Working Group Sarcopenia 2019 criteria. IGF-1, myostatin, and insulin resistance levels were measured once before hemodialysis. Subjects with sarcopenia diagnosis were 33 (82.5%), that is, 19 (47.5%) men and 14 (35%) women. There were 28 (70%) of the subjects diagnosed with severe sarcopenia. Furthermore, there were significant differences in the characteristics and geriatric parameters between the sarcopenia and nonsarcopenia groups. There were differences between the two groups in hemoglobin levels, IGF-1 levels, myostatin levels, homeostasis model assessment-insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) levels, muscle mass, handgrip strength, body mass index status, mini nutritional assessment status, and physical activity scale for elderly status (all

p

 < 0.05). Correlation analyses showed that IGF-1 levels negatively correlated with sarcopenia status in elderly patients undergoing hemodialysis (

p

 < 0.05). On the contrary, myostatin and HOMA-IR levels were positively correlated with sarcopenia status in elderly patients undergoing hemodialysis (all

p

 < 0.05). Based on this recent study, IGF-1, myostatin, and insulin resistance were significantly correlated with sarcopenia in elderly patients undergoing hemodialysis.
Bending Performance of Precast Lightweight Aggregate Concrete Exterior Wallboard with a Concealed Rib Sandwich Structure
Authors: Li Congqi , Ma Xinwei , Yang Ying , Omar Ahmed Ahmad , Wu Hao , Qian Lei
Published: March 2022

A new type of precast lightweight aggregate concrete exterior wallboard is proposed in this study. It is composed of inner and outer panels, an insulation layer, and concealed ribs. After adjusting the mixing ratio of lightweight aggregate concrete, light weight, bearing capacity, and good workability were guaranteed. The flexural performance of the composite exterior wallboard was studied by testing and numerical modeling of four wallboards, and the results of deflection, crack morphology, failure mode, and ultimate flexural capacity were then obtained. Additionally, the cracking and bending properties of the composite exterior wallboard were observed, and the calculation method of bending capacity and the cracking moment was studied. The calculated results coincided with the experimental data; therefore, this study provides a reference to the design and application of prefabricated exterior wallboards.
Ming-Style Furniture Display Design Based on Immersive 5G Virtual Reality
Authors: Liu Huabai
Published: March 2022

No matter the traditional Ming-style furniture is made of exquisite materials, elegant, and simple, or the literati philosophy, connotation, and literati spiritual outlook, values, world outlook, etc. reflected behind it, all have left us with excellent cultural heritage. As a fast-developing technology, virtual reality has a bright future. This paper mainly studies the Ming-style furniture display based on immersive 5G virtual reality technology. Ming-style furniture displays design prototype system development based on user experience. The prototype of the guided design drawings is completed, the Ming-style furniture and display space is modeled in Unity3d, interactive elements are added, and finally it is realized that users can roam in the scene from a first-person perspective and the furniture in the scene, color, material, etc., as well as the detailed display of the items in the scene, the control of the lights in the scene, the control of the sound, and so on are changed. After the establishment of the system, a certain user evaluation is performed on the established system. Questionnaire surveys, focus group interviews, and other methods are used to conduct very detailed investigations and usability tests on users. Then, the test results are realized and the system is optimized to a certain extent. Finally, the user experience of the system design is improved. The experimental survey results show that the average user experience score is 43.7 points and the rating is in the “good” range, which basically meets the user experience. This research plays an important role in improving user experience and at the same time enriches the research in the field of domestic furniture virtual display and has certain significance for the future development of furniture companies.
Image Data Fusion Algorithm Based on Virtual Reality Technology and Nuke Software and Its Application
Authors: Song Hongchang , Li Tengfei
Published: March 2022

As an important branch of multisensor information fusion, image fusion is widely used in various fields. As a hot research technology, virtual reality technology can bring different levels of experience to image fusion. At the same time, with the development of existing image processing software, it is conducive to the further analysis and processing of images. In today’s market, image processing technology still faces many problems, and with the advancement of technology, virtual technology is widely used in various fields, so combining virtual technology with images is conducive to improving image processing technology. This article mainly introduces the image fusion algorithm and its application research based on virtual reality technology and Nuke software. This paper first proposes a picture fusion model and a picture fusion system through the analysis of virtual technology and Nuke software and, on this basis, proposes a particle algorithm and a picture edge algorithm. Secondly, the optimal fusion of images is studied on Nuke software, and finally the experimental results are analyzed through image fusion algorithm. Studies have shown that the best image fusion greatly improves the security and privacy of the image, and the difficulty of cracking is as high as 80%. The data in the experimental analysis of the graphic fusion algorithm shows that the execution efficiency and time consumption of the algorithm are greatly shortened, and the time consumption is greatly reduced. The rate is reduced by about 50%, and a good image fusion effect has been achieved.
The Effect of Thymus vulgaris on Hepatic Enzymes Activity and Apoptosis-Related Gene Expression in Streptozotocin-Induced Diabetic Rats
Authors: Azimi Mohammadreza , Mehrzad Jalil , Ahmadi Elnaz , Orafei Mohammad , Aghaie Fatemeh , Ahmadi Armita , Rahimi Maryam , Ghorbani Ranjbary Ali
Published: March 2022

Many diseases, including diabetes, are involved in the development of liver disorders through changes in the expression of genes such as apoptosis-related genes. In the present study, the effect of Thymus vulgaris (T. vulgaris) on hepatic enzyme activity and apoptosis-related gene expression in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats was examined. In this study, 50 adult male Wistar rats weighing approximately 200–220 g were divided into five groups. Diabetes was induced by an intraperitoneal injection of STZ (60 mg/kg). Following 18 days, all the animals in different groups were weighed and blood samples were taken from their cardiac veins. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis revealed 45 different compounds in the T. vulgaris, including thymol (39.1%), p-cymene (20.63%), and γ-terpinene (14.85%). The results showed a significant increase in liver enzymes (aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and alkaline phosphatase (ALP)) in diabetic or STZ mice compared to the control group (healthy mice) (

P
<
0.0001

). The levels of AST, ALT, and ALP in rats treated with 200 mg/kg and 400 mg/kg of T. vulgaris extract showed a significant decrease in these enzymes in comparison with diabetic rats (

P
<
0.0001

). The expression of caspase 3 and 9 genes in the groups treated with thyme significantly decreased compared to diabetic mice (

P
<
0.0001

), and the expression of B-cell lymphoma-2 (Bcl-2) in the group receiving 400 mg/kg of thyme significantly increased compared to diabetic mice (

P
<
0.0001

). Due to its antioxidant compounds, thyme improves the liver tissue cells in STZ-induced diabetic mice by reducing caspases 3 and 9 as well as increasing Bcl-2.
Discrete Generalized Inverted Exponential Distribution: Case Study Color Image Segmentation
Authors: Elaziz Mohamed Abd , Abdelrahman Nahla S. , Hassan N. A. , Mohamed M. O.
Published: March 2022

We present in this paper a discrete analogue of the continuous generalized inverted exponential distribution denoted by discrete generalized inverted exponential (DGIE) distribution. Since, it is cumbersome or difficult to measure a large number of observations in reality on a continuous scale in the area of reliability analysis. Yet, there are a number of discrete distributions in the literature; however, these distributions have certain difficulties in properly fitting a large amount of data in a variety of fields. The presented

DGIE

β
,
θ

has shown the efficiency in fitting data better than some existing distribution. In this study, some basic distributional properties, moments, probability function, reliability indices, characteristic function, and the order statistics of the new DGIE are discussed. Estimation of the parameters is illustrated using the moment's method as well as the maximum likelihood method. Simulations are used to show the performance of the estimated parameters. The model with two real data sets is also examined. In addition, the developed DGIE is applied as color image segmentation which aims to cluster the pixels into their groups. To evaluate the performance of DGIE, a set of six color images is used, as well as it is compared with other image segmentation methods including Gaussian mixture model, K-means, and Fuzzy subspace clustering. The DGIE provides higher performance than other competitive methods.
Accurate 3D Reconstruction of White Matter Hyperintensities Based on Attention-Unet
Authors: Wang Xun , Wang Lisheng , Yang Jianjun , Feng Xiaoya
Published: March 2022

White matter hyperintensities (WMH), also known as white matter osteoporosis, have been clinically proven to be associated with cognitive decline, the risk of cerebral infarction, and dementia. The existing computer automatic measurement technology for the segmentation of patients’ WMH does not have a good visualization and quantitative analysis. In this work, the author proposed a new WMH quantitative analysis and 3D reconstruction method for 3D reconstruction of high signal in white matter. At first, the author using ResUnet achieves the high signal segmentation of white matter and adds the attention mechanism into ResUnet to achieve more accurate segmentation. Afterwards, this paper used surface rendering to reconstruct the accurate segmentation results in 3D. Data experiments are conducted on the dataset collected from Shandong Province Third Hospital. After training, the Attention-Unet proposed in this paper is superior to other segmentation models in the segmentation of high signal in white matter and Dice coefficient and MPA reached 92.52% and 92.43%, respectively, thus achieving accurate 3D reconstruction and providing a new idea for quantitative analysis and 3D reconstruction of WMH.
Analysis of Dietary Supplement Use and Influencing Factors in the Mongolian Population
Authors: Wang Zhidi , Li Wuyun Tana , Gao Yumin , Xue Xin , Pang Hui , Hao Wenli , Xia Yuan , Wang Shiqi , Su Xiong , Zhao Lingyan , Li Minhui
Published: March 2022

Objective. Dietary supplements (DS) may improve micronutrient deficiencies, but the unique eating habits and cultural customs of the Chinese Mongolian population affect their choice of DS. Therefore, this study adopted a cross‐sectional method to explore the current status of DS use and to assess the influencing factors in the Mongolian population in Inner Mongolia, China. Methods. We used a multistage random cluster sampling method to select 1,434 Mongolian people aged ≥ 18 years in Hohhot and Xilinhot, Inner Mongolia. Data regarding general patient characteristics and DS use through questionnaire surveys were obtained, and the blood plasma was collected for biochemical index detection. The binary logistic regression and decision tree algorithm were used to predict the factors influencing DS use among the Mongolian population. Results. Among 1,434 participants that completed the baseline survey, the usage rate of DS was 18.83%, and more women than men used DS (P = 0.017). Higher use of DS was reported among individuals aged ≤ 34 years, but this difference is not statistically significant (P = 0.052). Usage rate was higher among those living in urban areas (P < 0.001), those with higher education (P < 0.001), those engaged in mental work (P < 0.001), and nonsmokers (P = 0.019). The biochemical test results showed that the proportion of people with abnormal total cholesterol levels using DS was lower (P = 0.003), but that of those with abnormal triglyceride levels using DS was higher (P = 0.001), compared with the proportion of those with normal levels in each case. The most commonly used supplement was calcium (58.15%). Education level was the main factor affecting DS intake. The results of the binary logistic regression model and decision tree model both showed that region, educational level, and abnormal triglyceride levels were significant factors influencing DS intake among Mongolians. Conclusion. Findings from this study indicate that DS intake is uncommon in the Mongolian population. In addition, sex, region, education level, and triglyceride levels may influence DS use.
Application of the Improved Clustering Algorithm in Operating Room Nursing Recommendation under the Background of Medical Big Data
Authors: Wu Xiaofang , Wang Chunjun , Cai Fangzhen , Wu Yingfen
Published: March 2022

The nursing work in the operating room has the characteristics of long time, strong technicality, and heavy work, which have an important influence on the quality of the operation. Operating room nursing recommendations based on data mining technology can solve a series of practical problems in clinical nursing and nursing management. This paper selects the clustering algorithm in commonly used data mining technology as the research object and actually analyzes the impact of this algorithm in operating room nursing recommendations. At this stage, there is little research on data mining technology in the field of nursing in China. This paper aims to provide new ideas for the field of nursing research by exploring the actual application in the field of nursing.
Improvement in the Blood Urea Nitrogen and Serum Creatinine Using New Cultivation of Cordyceps militaris
Authors: Yang Chih-Hui , Kuo Wen-Shuo , Wang Jun-Sheng , Hsiang Yi-Ping , Lin Yu-Mei , Wang Yi-Ting , Tsai Fan-Hsuan , Lee Chun-Ting , Chou Jiun-Hua , Chang Huei-Ya , Wang Lung-Shuo , Wang Shu-Chi , Huang Keng-Shiang
Published: March 2022

Background. Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a critical public health issue with a huge financial burden for both patients and society worldwide. Unfortunately, there are currently no efficacious therapies to prevent or delay the progression of end-stage renal disease (ESRD). Traditional Chinese medicine practices have shown that Cordyceps militaris (C. militaris) mycelia have a variety of pharmacologically useful properties, including antitumor, immunomodulation, and hepatoprotection. However, the effect of mycelial C. militaris on CKD remains unclear. Methods. Here, we investigated the effects of C. militaris mycelia on mice with CKD using four types of media: HKS, HKS with vitamin A (HKS + A), CM, and CM with vitamin A (CM + A). Results. The results at day 10 revealed that the levels of blood urea nitrogen (BUN) were significantly lower in the HKS (41%), HKS + A (41%), and CM + A (34%) groups compared with those in the corresponding control groups (nephrectomic mice). The level of serum creatinine in the HKS + A group decreased by 35% at day 10, whereas the levels in the HKS and CM + A groups decreased only by 14% and 13%, respectively, on day 30. Taken together, this is the first report using four new media (HKS, HKS + A, CM, and CM + A medium) for C. militaris mycelia. Each medium of mycelial C. militaris on CKD exhibits specific effect on BUN, serum creatinine, body weight, total protein, and uric acid. Conclusions. Taken together, this is the first report using four new media (HKS, HKS + A, CM, and CM + A medium) for C. militaris mycelia. Each medium of mycelial C. militaris on CKD exhibits specific effects on BUN, serum creatinine, body weight, total protein, and uric acid. We concluded that treatment with C. militaris mycelia cultured in HKS or CM + A medium could potentially prevent the deterioration of kidney function in mice with CKD.