bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Application of Artificial Intelligence in Digital Games Based on Mathematical Statistics
Authors: Xue Lian
Published: May 2022

Digital games are various games designed and developed with digital technology and implemented on digital equipment. With the active development of the modern game industry, related technologies such as real-time graphics rendering, realistic interaction, and artificial intelligence of games are also constantly improving. Among them, the artificial intelligence technology of games is limited by the development of theoretical artificial intelligence and the calculation time of real-time systems, and the development lags behind graphics and interactive technology. In order to solve these problems, this paper proposes the application of artificial intelligence in digital games based on mathematical statistics methods, aimed at studying and improving the intelligence level of digital games. The method of this paper is to study the mathematical statistics method and the basic principle of Sarsa learning algorithm and then propose the technology of artificial intelligence applied to digital games. The role of these methods is to study different types of mathematical statistics, to study the behavioral tree of artificial intelligence in digital games and the development prospects of the game, and to update the value of artificial intelligence in each iteration according to the Sarsa algorithm formula. This paper proposes a decision-making system to improve the intelligence level of digital games by analyzing the research status of digital games and the mathematical statistics of basketball digital games. In the basketball game experiment, the difference between the operation data of the decision-making system proposed in this paper and the operation data of human players in five game items reaches 0.51, 0.83, 0.58, 0.49, and 0.78, respectively.
Effect of Yiqi Huayu Pinggan Zishen Formula Combined with Valsartan in the Treatment of Hypertension and Its Effect on MMP-9, Ang II, and MCP-1
Authors: Yan Jing , Li Defeng , Liu Qin , Xie Yuanlan
Published: May 2022

Objective. To explore the effect of Yiqi Huayu Pinggan Zishen recipe combined with valsartan in the treatment of hypertension and its effect on MMP-9, Ang II, and MCP-1. Methods. About 100 patients with hypertension treated in our hospital from March 2020 to April 2021 were enrolled. All patients were arbitrarily assigned to the control group and the study group. The former group was cured with valsartan, and the latter group was cured with Yiqi Huayu Pinggan Zishen recipe combined with valsartan. The curative effect, blood pressure level, renal function index, serum matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9), monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1), angiotensin II (Ang II) level, traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) syndrome score, and the incidence of adverse reactions were compared. Results. First of all, we compared the curative effects; the study group exhibited remarkably effective in 44 cases and effective in 6 cases, and the effective rate was 100.00%, while in the control group, 24 cases were markedly effective, 16 cases were effective, and 5 cases were ineffective; the effective rate was 90.00%. The curative effect in the study group was higher (

P
<
0.05

). Secondly, we compared the blood pressure level. Before treatment, there was no remarkable difference (

P
>
0.05

). After treatment, the blood pressure of the two groups decreased. The systolic blood pressure and diastolic blood pressure of the study group were lower (

P
<
0.05

). In terms of renal function indexes, the levels of blood urine nitrogen (BUN), Cr, and β 2-MG in the study group were lower, while the level of eGFR in the study group was higher (

P
<
0.05

). The serum levels of MMP-9, MCP-1, and Ang II decreased. Of note, the levels of serum MMP-9, MCP-1, and Ang II in the study group were lower (

P
<
0.05

). After treatment, the TCM syndrome scores decreased, and the study group was lower (

P
<
0.05

). Finally, we compared the incidence of adverse reactions. The incidence of adverse reactions in the study group was lower (

P
<
0.05

). Conclusion. Yiqi Huayu Pinggan Zishen recipe combined with valsartan in the treatment of hypertension can remarkably reduce the clinical symptoms, enhance the renal function, strengthen the therapeutic effect, promote the ability of independent movement, and reduce the levels of serum MMP-9, MCP-1, and Ang II with high safety, which has the value of clinical application.
UVB‐Induced Secretion of IL‐1β Promotes Melanogenesis by Upregulating TYR/TRP‐1 Expression In Vitro
Authors: Yang Chun-Yan , Guo Yanni , Wu Wen-Juan , Man Mao-Qiang , Tu Ying , He Li
Published: May 2022

Purpose. Ultraviolet radiation (UVR) is one of the exogenous stimuli increasing melanogenesis. UV light, especially UVB, is also a potent inducer of epidermal cytokine release. This study is aimed at determining the underlying mechanisms by which UVB‐induced cytokines in keratinocytes regulate melanin production in vitro. Methods. Expression levels of mRNA for interleukin‐ (IL‐) 1, IL‐1β, IL‐6, IL‐10, IL‐17, and tumor necrosis factor‐alpha (TNF‐α) were measured using RT‐qPCR at various time points after UVB irradiation in C57BL/6 mice and HaCaT cells. NaOH lysis and L‐dihydroxyphenylalanine (L‐DOPA) oxidation method were used to measure melanin content and tyrosinase (TYR) activity, respectively, in melanoma B16 cells. RT‐qPCR and Western blot were used to assess mRNA and protein levels of microphthalmia‐associated transcription factor (MITF), TYR, tyrosine‐related protein‐1 (TRP‐1), and tyrosine‐related protein‐2 (TRP‐2) in B16 cells. Finally, expression levels of cyclooxygenase‐2 (COX‐2) mRNA and stem cell factor (SCF) in HaCaT cells were measured following knockdown of IL‐1β using siRNA (siIL‐1β). Results. UVB irradiation increased IL‐1β mRNA expression levels in both C57BL/6 mice and HaCaT cells. The melanin content, TYR activity, and expression levels of TYR and TRP‐1 were all raised when B16 cells were treated with 4 pg/l of IL‐1. Moreover, IL‐1β also upregulated the expression levels of SCF and COX‐2 in nonirradiated HaCaT cells. Conversely, knockdown of IL‐1β attenuated UVB irradiation‐induced upregulation of SCF and COX‐2 expression in keratinocytes. Conclusions. UVB‐induced melanogenesis is mediated in part by IL‐1β, leading to upregulation of the TYR/TRP1 expression in melanoma B16 cells. IL‐1β can also stimulate the expression of COX‐2 and SCF in HaCaT cells, which in turn increase melanin synthesis in melanocytes. These results suggest that anti‐inflammatory approaches could possibly mitigate UVB‐induced hyperpigmentation.
Thioredoxin-Interacting Protein (TXNIP) Knockdown Protects against Sepsis-Induced Brain Injury and Cognitive Decline in Mice by Suppressing Oxidative Stress and Neuroinflammation
Authors: Zhang Yu , Xing Cheng-Jun , Liu Xiao , Li Ya-Hong , Jia Jing , Feng Jian-Guo , Yang Cheng-Jie , Chen Ye , Zhou Jun
Published: May 2022

Sepsis-associated encephalopathy (SAE) is linked to increased morbidity and mortality rates in patients with sepsis. Increased cytokine production and neuronal apoptosis are implicated in the pathogenesis of the SAE. Neuroinflammation plays a major role in sepsis-induced brain injury. Thioredoxin-interacting protein (TXNIP), an inhibitor of thioredoxin, is associated with oxidative stress and inflammation. However, whether the TXNIP is involved in the sepsis-induced brain injury and the underlying mechanism is yet to be elucidated. Therefore, the present study was aimed at elucidating the effects of TXNIP knockdown on sepsis-induced brain injury and cognitive decline in mice. Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) was injected intraperitoneally to induce sepsis brain injury in mice. The virus-carrying control or TXNIP shRNA was injected into the lateral ventricle of the brain 4 weeks before the LPS treatment. The histological changes in the hippocampal tissues, encephaledema, and cognitive function were detected, respectively. Also, the 7-day survival rate was recorded. Furthermore, the alterations in microglial activity, oxidative response, proinflammatory factors, apoptosis, protein levels (TXNIP and NLRP3 inflammasome), and apoptosis were examined in the hippocampal tissues. The results demonstrated that the TXNIP and NLRP3 inflammasome expression levels were increased at 6, 12, and 24 h post-LPS injection. TXNIP knockdown dramatically ameliorated the 7-day survival rate, cognitive decline, brain damage, neuronal apoptosis, and the brain water content, inhibited the activation of microglia, downregulated the NLRP3/caspase-1 signaling pathway, and reduced the oxidative stress and the neuroinflammatory cytokine levels at 24 h post-LPS injection. These results suggested a crucial effect of TXNIP knockdown on the mechanism of brain injury and cognitive decline in sepsis mice via suppressing oxidative stress and neuroinflammation. Thus, TXNIP might be a potential therapeutic target for SAE patients.
Computer-Aided Mural Digital Restoration under Generalized Regression Neural Network
Authors: Liu LiYuan
Published: May 2022

Aiming at the digital protection of classical murals and according to the method of generalized regression neural network (GRNN), a digital restoration is proposed in the paper. Firstly, the existing defect photos are processed preliminarily, including the elimination of noise, the extraction of boundary pixels of the region to be repaired, and the establishment of several small block regions centered on these pixels. Then, similar known pixel regions are found as sample pixel blocks, which are used as input samples of GRNN. Finally, the GRNN is adopted to obtain the approximate estimation function, and the adaptive smoothing parameters are introduced to obtain the pixel information of the area to be repaired. Through model prediction, by acquiring the pixel information of the area to be repaired, the damaged area of the original image can be repaired. The method proposed is compared with the traditional repair methods, the results show that the method is close to the texture structure image restoration method in peak signal-to-noise ratio, and the restoration results are in line with the expectation.
Emotional State Analysis Model of Humanoid Robot in Human-Computer Interaction Process
Authors: Peng Boxin
Published: May 2022

The traditional humanoid robot dialogue system is generally based on template construction, which can make a good response in the set dialogue domain but cannot generate a good response to the content outside the domain. The rules of the dialogue system rely on manual design and lack of emotion detection of the interactive objects. In view of the shortcomings of traditional methods, this study designed an emotion analysis model based on deep neural network to detect the emotion of interactive objects and built an open-domain dialogue system of humanoid robot. In affective state analysis language processing, language coding, feature analysis, and Word2vec research are carried out. Then, an emotional state analysis model is constructed to train the emotional state of a humanoid robot, and the training results are summarized.
Prevalence, Risk Factors, and Negative Outcomes of Anxiety and Depressive Disorders among HIV-Infected Children and Adolescents in Uganda: CHAKA Study 2014-2017
Authors: Mpango Richard Stephen , Ssembajjwe Wilber , Rukundo Godfrey Zari , Salisbury Tatiana Taylor , Levin Jonathan , Gadow Kenneth D. , Patel Vikram , Kinyanda Eugene
Published: May 2022

Background. Children and adolescents infected with HIV/AIDS (CA-HIV) experience a considerable burden of depressive and anxiety disorders that have a tendency to persist into adulthood. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of anxiety, depression, and their clinical correlates among children and adolescents with HIV/AIDS (CA-HIV) in Uganda. Methods. A random sample of 1339 CA-HIV (ages 5-18 years) and their caregivers completed a standardized DSM-5-referenced psychiatric rating scale, the Child and Adolescent Symptom Inventory-5 (CASI-5). The prevalence of “anxiety and depression” was estimated at 95% confidence intervals. Logistic and ordinal regression models were fitted for the clinical correlates and clinical outcomes. Results. The overall prevalence of “any anxiety and depressive disorders” was 13.7% at 95% CI (based upon the symptom count criteria); 4.0% (95% CI) met the clinical psychiatric disorder criteria (both symptom count and functional impairment criteria). Anxiety disorder was more prevalent (9%, 95% CI) than depression (6.4%, 95% CI). Correlates of “anxiety and depressive disorders” included age of the child, caregiver’ psychological distress, caregivers’ age, child-caregiver relationship, and child’s current CD4 count (aOR1.00, 95% CI 1.02–1.05;

p
=
0.021

). Anxiety disorders (aOR 2.58, 95% CI 1.16-5.42;

p
=
0.02

) and depressive disorders (aOR 2.47, 95% CI 1.93–6.52;

p
=
0.041

) were also associated with hospital admissions. Limitations. Analyses were cross-sectional; we cannot comment on the causal directions. The results are entirely based upon caregiver’ reports. Conclusions. There is an urgent need to integrate mental health services into routine HIV care for CA-HIV in sub-Saharan Africa.
5-Year Survivorship and Outcomes of Robotic-Arm-Assisted Medial Unicompartmental Knee Arthroplasty
Authors: Gaudiani Michael A. , Samuel Linsen T. , Diana John N. , DeBattista Jennifer L. , Coon Thomas M. , Moore Ryan E. , Kamath Atul F.
Published: May 2022

Purpose. While unicompartmental knee arthroplasty (UKA) has demonstrated benefits over total knee arthroplasty (TKA) in selected populations, component placement continues to be challenging with conventional surgical instruments, resulting in higher early failure rates. Robotic-arm-assisted UKA (RA-UKA) has shown to be successful in component positioning through preop planning and intraop adjustability. The purpose of this study is to assess the 5-year clinical outcomes of medial RA-UKA. Methods. This study was a retrospective review of a single-center prospectively maintained cohort of 133 patients (146 knees) indicated for medial UKA from 2009 to 2013. Perioperative data and 2- and 5-year Knee injury Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS), Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Score (WOMAC), and Forgotten Joint Score (FJS) outcome measures were collected. Five-year follow-up was recorded in 119 patients (131 knees). Results. Mean follow-up was

5.1
±
0.2

years. Mean age and BMI were

68.0
±
8.1

years and

29.3
±
4.7

 kg/m2, respectively. At 2-year follow-up, mean KOOS, WOMAC, and FJS were

71.5
±
15.3

,

14.3
±
7.9

, and

79.1
±
25.8

, respectively. At 5-year follow-up, mean KOOS, WOMAC, and FJS were

71.6
±
15.2

,

14.2
±
7.9

, and

80.9
±
25.1

, respectively. Mean change in KOOS and WOMAC was

34.6
±
21.4

and

11.0
±
13.6

, respectively (

p
<
0.001

and

p
<
0.001

). For patient satisfaction at last follow-up, 89% of patients were very satisfied/satisfied and 5% were dissatisfied. For patient activity expectations at last follow-up, 85% met activity expectations, 52% were more active than before, 25% have the same level of activity, 23% were less active than before, and 89% were walking without support. All patients returned to driving after surgery at a mean

15.2
±
9.4

days. Survivorship was 95% (95% CI 0.91-0.98) at 5 years. One knee (1%) had a patellofemoral revision, two knees (1.3%) were revised to different partial knee replacements, and five knees (3.4%) were converted to TKA. Conclusion. Overall, medial RA-UKA demonstrated improved patient-recorded outcomes, high patient satisfaction, met expectations, and excellent functional recovery. Midterm survivorship was excellent. Longitudinal follow-up is needed to evaluate long-term outcomes of robotic-arm-assisted UKA procedures.
Extraction and Characterization of Bioactive Fish By-Product Collagen as Promising for Potential Wound Healing Agent in Pharmaceutical Applications: Current Trend and Future Perspective
Authors: Oslan Siti Nur Hazwani , Li Cheng Xue , Shapawi Rossita , Mokhtar Ruzaidi Azli Mohd , Noordin Wan Norhana Md. , Huda Nurul
Published: May 2022

Collagen is a structural protein naturally found in mammals. Vertebrates and other connective tissues comprise about 30% of an animal’s overall protein. Collagen is used in a variety of applications including cosmetics, biomedical, biomaterials, food, and pharmaceuticals. The use of marine-based collagen as a substitute source is rapidly increasing due to its unique properties, which include the absence of religious restrictions, a low molecular weight, no risk of disease transmission, biocompatibility, and ease of absorption by the body system. This review discusses recent research on collagen extraction from marine-based raw material, specifically fish by-products. Furthermore, pretreatment on various sources of fish materials, followed by extraction methods, was described. The extraction procedures for acid soluble collagen (ASC) and pepsin soluble collagen (PSC) for fish collagen isolation are specifically discussed and compared. As a result, the efficacy of collagen yield was also demonstrated. The recent trend of extracting fish collagen from marine biomaterials has been summarized, with the potential to be exploited as a wound healing agent in pharmaceutical applications. Furthermore, background information on collagen and characterization techniques primarily related to the composition, properties, and structure of fish collagen are discussed.
Psychometric Model of College Students Based on Time Series Analysis and Its Application in Educational Management
Authors: Lu Lu
Published: May 2022

The psychological measurement method of college students is a hot issue in the field of educational management research. Based on the time series analysis theory, this paper constructs a psychological measurement model for college students. This paper analyzes the psychometric behavior data, uses the time series analysis method for behavior prediction, deeply mines the relevant component information of the psychometric data, and solves the problems of weak correlation between the functions of the psychometric platform and low data accuracy of the psychometric model. At the same time, taking the intervention target group and the intervention mode as the basic variables of the intervention classification system, combining these two dimensions, a two-dimensional classification framework for psychometric intervention was proposed, and four types of different psychometric intervention measures were applied. During the simulation process, a psychometric trajectory matrix was constructed, and a two-dimensional data extraction network was used to extract the psychometric pattern data of a certain period of time. The experimental results show that using the student mental state data as a label can obtain a low-coupling training set classification for psychometric effects of college students.
The Optimal Timing of Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) Injection for Nerve Lesion Recovery: A Preliminary Study
Authors: Pandunugrahadi Muhammad , Irianto Komang Agung , Sindrawati Oen
Published: May 2022

Introduction. Without appropriate treatment, nerve injuries may result in permanent loss of function. Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injection is found to help in nerve regeneration. PRP is a concentrated platelet derived from autologous blood with the potential to release various growth factors (GF) to promote nerve regeneration. This study aims to know the best time for PRP injection to promote nerve regeneration. Methods. This is an experimental in vivo research using male New Zealand white rabbits in the randomized control group posttest only design. Samples were divided into 5 groups (1 control group and 4 treatment groups). The control group without PRP injection and treated groups injected immediately after nerve injury, 3 days, 7 days, and 14 days afterward. Nerve regeneration was evaluated by the histology specimen sacrificed on day 21. Inflammation cells and endoneurium vacuoles were counted as mean percentage of five nerve fragments in each injured nerve sample specimen. Result. Inflammation cells and vacuole cells increased significantly when PRP was administered 3 days after injury (group 2) (respectively, 14 ± 6.7 and 56.6 ± 11.6) compared to all treatment groups (

p
<
0.005

) (control group, respectively, 6 ± 2.6 and 15.7 ± 9.5). On the other hand, significantly lower endoneurium vacuoles and inflammation cells were found on “the day 14” sample group (respectively, 5 ± 1.3 and 5.2 ± 1.6) compared to all other groups (

p
<
0.005

). Conclusion. This study found that the best time for injecting PRP for nerve regeneration is 14 days after injury.
Alterações morfológicas em leucócitos de pacientes com infecção aguda por SARS-CoV-2, Amazônia, Brasil.
Authors: Brito Junior Lacy Cardoso de , Silva Rayeli Thaisse Pinheiro da , Paixão Ana Paula Silveira , Pereira Vanessa Ingrid Cardoso , Ferreira Roberta Isabella Senna , Gomes Rafaelli de Souza , Pinto Andresa Correa , Azevedo Murilo Chermont
Published: May 2022

INTRODUÇÃO. A pandemia pelo novo coronavírus (SARS-CoV-2) trouxe muitas incertezas sobre quais parâmetros laboratoriais seriam mais adequados durante a evolução da COVID 19. OBJETIVOS. Correlacionar os resultados do hemograma (HGM), da relação neutrófilos/linfócitos (R N/L), da proteína C reativa (PCR) e dos achados morfológicos de indivíduos diagnosticados com infecção por SARS-CoV-2 através de Reação em Cadeia da Polimerase em Tempo Real (RT-PCR) em um laboratório particular de Belém, Pará, no período de março a setembro de 2020. MATERIAIS E MÉTODOS. Estudo retrospectivo com 30 indivíduos, de ambos os sexos, qualquer idade e queixa clínica, de origem domiciliar ou hospitalar que realizaram HGM, PCR e RT-PCR para COVID 19 até o 8o dia de infecção. As alterações morfológicas foram analisadas após a seleção das lâminas desses pacientes. RESULTADOS. Amostra composta por 15 homens e 15 mulheres, com idades entre 7 e 92 anos. Desses, 12/30 indivíduos estavam em domicílio e 18/30 internados. As principais queixas foram febre, mal-estar geral, diarreia e desconforto respiratório. O estudo estatístico mostrou a existência de relação de dependência direta entre os aumentos da R N/L, PCR e necessidade de internação (p=0,0005). A análise morfológica mostrou neutrófilos hipossegmentados com granulações tóxicas, monócitos vacuolizados e linfócitos reativos com citoplasma basofílico. CONCLUSÃO. Nossos resultados associam os níveis intermediários e elevados da R N/L com o aumento de PCR e a gravidade da doença, porém, sem relação com os achados morfológicos em neutrófilos, linfócitos e monócitos que foram comuns a todos os pacientes diagnosticados até o 8o dia de infecção.
Perfil clínico-epidemiológico de usuários de saúde submetidos à Intervenção Coronária Percutânea
Authors: Arce João Pedro Sperluk , Oliveira Liliane Gonçalves , Ferreira Paulo Emilio Botura , Eggres Danielen Antunes , Tanaka Ana Karina Silva da Rocha , Lana Letice Dalla
Published: May 2022

Introdução: A doença arterial coronariana representa a afecção de maior prevalência mundial. O tratamento desta doença se dá pela intervenção coronária percutânea (ICP).
Objetivo: Delinear o perfil clínico-epidemiológico dos usuários de saúde submetidos à ICP em um Hospital do estado do Rio Grande do Sul.
Métodos: Pesquisa exploratória, de abordagem quantitativa realizada em 188 prontuários de usuários de saúde submetidos à ICP eletiva ou de urgência com uso de stent ou não no ano de 2018. Valores de p< 0,05 representaram diferenças estatísticas significativas.
Resultados: Usuários com diagnóstico de angina instável (n=16; 17,8%), sintomas diagnósticos de angina instável (n= 61; 67,8%) e diagnóstico de angina pectoris (n=52; 57,8%) apresentaram significativamente maior probabilidade de serem submetidos à ICP em caráter eletivo (p<0,001). Usuários com diagnóstico para infarto agudo do miocárdio (n=59; 60,2%) e sintomatologia com evolução maior que 24 horas (n=30; 30,6%) e menor que 24 horas (n=24; 24,5%), com dislipidemia (n=38; 38,8%) e que fizeram cateterismo no mesmo dia (n=87; 88,8%) são significativamente mais propensos a realizar cirurgia de urgência (p<0,05). Além disso, os dados evidenciaram que o diagnóstico de angina instável potencializa novas cardiomiopatias (n=9, 47,4%; p<0,001) e reestenose (n=5; 26,3%; p= 0,002).
Conclusão: É necessário criar estratégias para fortalecer a Rede de Atenção à Saúde (RAS) com ações de prevenção, promoção e reabilitação à saúde, visando a qualidade no diagnóstico, tratamento e reabilitação.
Effect of Age Alone on Outcome of Acute Surgical Conditions Among Healthy Patients (Non-smokers, Non-obese, and No Comorbid Conditions)
Authors: Sebekos Konstantinos , Guiab Keren , Stamelos George , Evans Teresa , Siddiqi Mahwash , Brigode William , Capron Gweniviere , Kaminsky Matthew , Bokhari Faran
Published: May 2022

Background

The impact of age alone in relation to postoperative outcomes needs to be further elucidated. This study investigated whether increasing age was associated with increased morbidity and mortality for patients with no comorbidities undergoing acute care surgery (ACS).

Methods

The 2016-2018 National Surgical Quality Improvement Project database was used to identify adult patients who underwent ACS performed on an urgent/emergent basis. Patients overweight or with pre-existing medical comorbidities were excluded. Patients were divided into age groups in decades. The association between outcomes and the different age groups, other patient characteristics, and perioperative factors was examined by multivariate logistic regression.

Results

22,770 patients were identified, of which 73.5% were appendectomies, and 21.6% were open procedures. Increasing age correlated with higher unadjusted complication rates and mortality. Multivariate analyses revealed that compared to patients ≤ 30 years old, mortality was not different for patients 31-60 years old, but it was higher for the age groups > 61 years old. Patients aged 51-60 and from 71 and above were associated with higher risks of complications. Subset analysis on octogenarians revealed a 1.14-fold higher odds of mortality for every year of increasing age. Preoperative risk factors including open procedure, wound class, and American Society of Anesthesiology (ASA) class were also associated with greater risks of mortality in octogenarians.

Conclusion

Patients older than age 50 were at higher risk for postoperative complications, and mortality significantly increased for each decade past 60 years old in healthy individuals.
Disposable infrastructures: ‘Micromobility’ platforms and the political economy of transport disruption in Austin, Texas
Authors: Stehlin John , Payne Will
Published: May 2022

The rapid rise of digital platform-based transportation services over the past decade has begun to transform urban mobility. Fleets of dockless bicycles and scooters – or ‘micromobility’– represent the newest horizon of investment, particularly in the United States. Micromobility platforms launch rapidly, with minimal public planning or funding and no fixed infrastructure, using inexpensive, GPS-connected vehicles stored in public space. These platforms represent a deepening of the neoliberalisation of transport, in which infrastructural properties emerge biopolitically from the dynamics of private platforms. This article examines public debates over the regulation of micromobility platforms in Austin, Texas, in early 2018. Drawing on interviews with city officials and bikesharing professionals, observation of public meetings and GIS analysis of usage data, we argue that conflicts we observed over new micromobility platforms – specifically ‘clutter’, equity in geographic coverage and data privacy – obscured the deeper political economy of platformisation and the austerity that limited the effectiveness of the existing public station-based bikeshare system. In Austin, the search for ‘innovative’ micromobility transportation at no public cost resulted in the further erosion of the underfunded public system. We argue that despite their flexible, low-carbon image, existing micromobility platforms in the United States largely exploit rather than address inadequacies of urban transport.
Experimental study on indoor environmental factors of double film solar greenhouse and traditional Chinese greenhouse in cold region
Authors: Liu Yerui , Liu Xiaomin , Chai Yune , Yang Linyan , Wei Wei , Gu Jinshou , Kang Hong
Published: May 2022

In order to create a suitable thermal and humidity environment for crop growth in the solar greenhouse, a novel polystyrene foam modular double film solar greenhouse was designed and constructed. The double film solar greenhouse wall adopted polystyrene foam modules, with internal and external supporting frameworks and covering double-layer film, forming a thermal buffer zone which can collect and store solar energy passively. We tested indoor environmental factors variation of the double film solar greenhouse and the ordinary single film greenhouse in winter. Compared with the single film solar greenhouse, results show that the double film solar greenhouse effectively improves the indoor air, soil temperature and CO2 concentration, and reduces the indoor air humidity and soil humidity. The value of environmental factors of light, heat, water and air system in double film greenhouse is more stable than that in single film ordinary greenhouse. It provides a theoretical basis for the construction of double film solar greenhouse and indoor environment regulation.
Evolution of mining stress field and the control technology of stress relief gas in close distance coal seam
Authors: Cheng Hui , Zhao Hongbao , Ji Dongliang , Cui Luyang
Published: May 2022

The prevention and control of stress relief gas have crucial influence on safety of coal mine, it is not only the inevitable requirement of safe production, but also an effective way to realize reasonable utilization of gas. Taking the 1103 working face of the Weijiadi coal mine as the background, the mining stress field was analysed by means of numerical simulation, theoretical analysis and field practice, and the control technology of stress relief gas was studied. The results showed that scope of stress relief zone drops gradually associated with an increase of distance from the roof (or floor) to the working face. Additionally, the shape of the stress relief body exhibited a ring-shaped distribution, while four corners of the goaf roof and floor underwent high permeability zones due to a deep stress relief body, where the permeability of two corners near the transportation roadway of the floor was higher. The results provided good information for W-shaped ventilation mode with two inlets and one return which was adopted in the working face. More importantly, the optimized layout of boreholes was put forward, which eventually were useful for solving the gas overrun of the working face. The technology used in 1103 working face has an attractive and practical background with other extensive applications for the prevention and control of relief gas.
Socioeconomic Differences in North Carolina College Students’ Pathways Into STEM
Authors: Bottia Martha Cecilia , Jamil Cayce , Stearns Elizabeth , Mickelson Roslyn Arlin
Published: May 2022

Background/Context:

The underrepresentation of students from lower socioeconomic status (LSES) backgrounds among college graduates with science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) degrees, and consequently in STEM occupations, is a concern with respect to reducing, perpetuating, or increasing social inequality. The loss of their talent and creativity also poses a threat to the future of the U.S. economy, scientific knowledge generation, and national security. This study uses two theoretical frameworks—bounded rationality and effectively maintained inequality (EMI)—to identify the pathways toward STEM for students from lower and higher SES backgrounds, given the well-documented differences in their family resources and opportunities to learn, amount of cultural capital, and risk aversions.

Purpose:

The study identifies factors related to LSES students’ odds of declaring and graduating with a STEM degree and tests whether those factors work in similar ways for students from higher socioeconomic groups. The study contributes to understanding the roots of the underrepresentation of LSES students in STEM majors and occupations.

Research Design:

We use a mixed-method sequential explanatory design that draws from two complementary sources of data, one quantitative and one qualitative. Using multilevel logit models, the quantitative data set explores how SES influences students’ choices regarding whether to pursue a STEM degree. The qualitative data set further explores the relationships found in the quantitative data specifically for the case of LSES students through analysis of in-depth interviews.

Findings:

Quantitative analysis finds that LSES students’ socioeconomic background is related to their reduced opportunities to learn and reduced information resources, lessening their adequate academic preparation for success in STEM majors. Qualitative data indicate that risk avoidance—specifically, perceptions of risk and ideas of future income stability—play an important role in LSES students’ decisions to major in STEM. In addition, LSES students possess insufficient data to make informed decisions while in high school regarding course selection that would better enable their pathways into STEM, and to navigate into college success.

Conclusions:

To foster equity in access to postsecondary educational resources, it is crucial to offer all students access to high-quality academic opportunities before enrolling in college. Furthermore, high schools must ensure that students have access to explicit information about college and what various majors entail. We advocate that all students should have information on all options available so they can make well-informed decisions that match their abilities and preferences. Students’ access to and preferences for certain majors should not be conditioned on their socioeconomic background.
Pixel politics and satellite interpretation in the Syrian war
Authors: Greenland Fiona A
Published: May 2022

The pixel is a fundamental element of contemporary visual culture, with pictorial and perceptual properties that affect the interpretation of the digital composition as a whole. Despite its importance, however, the pixel remains a neglected object of analysis in cultural sociology and critical media studies. To advance a framework of pixel studies I present a hermeneutical approach. Empirically, I focus on the pixel’s political and socio-technical dimensions through satellite images of violence in the Syrian conflict zone (2011–2017). Through interviews and observations, I study the satellite programmers, technicians, archeologists, and anthropologists who comprised an interdisciplinary effort to interpret satellite pictures of archeological damage and other forms of cultural violence during the war. Their interpretations, some of which were the basis for consequential decisions by US policymakers, involved isolating as few as two pixels on the screen. To explain what this entailed, I draw on theories from Alberto Romele and Don Ihde to situate the pixel within a hermeneutic circle through which satellite images were ‘read’ at different levels. My findings have implications for broader sociological and media studies critiques of the epistemic status of digital media in light of their deep interrelations of politics, technology, and people.
When Political Ignorance is really harmful for Democracy: Moral Intuitions and Biased Attitudes in Voting Behaviour
Authors: Marchetti Jacopo
Published: May 2022

Ignorance about political related issues has long been considered a threat to democracy. This paper revolves around the concept of political ignorance, focusing especially on Ilya Somin’s book Democracy and Political Ignorance and going beyond his standpoint in two ways. First of all, it moves away from the notion of factual knowledge by showing that political ignorance cannot be limited to a matter of information quality. On the contrary, it shows that ignorance concerns the formation of opinions about political facts, which are the bricks with which disagreement is built. Then, using the insights of the Moral Foundation Theory by Jonathan Haidt and his colleagues, the paper argues that moral intuitions represent an additional source of bias that current research on the problem of voters’ ignorance should address. While Somin argues that biased moral values are the outcome of ignorance, Moral Foundation Theory suggests that moral intuitions are a robust determinant of people’s political views as they make factual knowledge partially irrelevant and also make people with different moral minds unable to understand the basis of reciprocal factual argumentations.
Inadequate fruits and vegetables consumption among Malaysian adults during the COVID-19 pandemic
Authors: Lo Yi Liang , Lee Siew Siew , Cheng Shi-Hui
Published: May 2022

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has negatively impacted the eating behaviours of people especially fruits and vegetable intake. No study has addressed the fruits and vegetables intake during the COVID-19 in Malaysia. Aim: to assess the daily intake of fruits and vegetables among Malaysian adults during the COVID-19 outbreak, perceived changes in intake, as well as factors associated with the changes in intake. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted through online platforms and a total of 506 participants were recruited. Semi food-frequency questionnaires were used to assess participants’ fruit and vegetable intake. Socio-demographics information, knowledge, attitude and practices (KAP) of fruits and vegetables were collected. All statistical analyses were performed using SPSS. Results: The majority of participants (99.8%) did not achieve the recommended five servings per day, in which they consumed an average of 0.84 servings of fruits and vegetables per day. 46.4% of participants reported no changes in intake compared to before the outbreak. Fruits and vegetables intake was associated with physical activity level, knowledge, and beliefs of foods that may prevent/cure COVID-19. Binary logistic regression identified two significant risk factors of daily fruits and vegetables intake namely, being a non-Chinese (AOR = 1.905, 95% CI = 1.114–3.257) and having good practices scores (AOR = 2.543, 95% CI = 1.611–4.015). Conclusion: The study found a low daily intake of fruits and vegetables. The findings suggested that nutritional interventions are necessary to improve awareness on consuming more fruits and vegetables to improve overall health.
A novel deletion mutation accompanied by a point mutation in Lamin A/C gene: Screened from a dilated cardiomyopathy family
Authors: Jia Hao , Sun Yongxin , Yao Wangchao , Chen Zhenhang , Yang Shouguo , Wang Chunsheng , Lu Shuyang
Published: May 2022

Background:

There are 30%–40% of patients with dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) having genetic causes, among which Lamin A and C gene (LMNA) mutation is the second most frequent DCM-related mutation, and Lamin A/C may be involved in the pathogenesis of DCM through the regulation of gene transcription or the direct effect of cell structure. Methods: Echocardiography and electrocardiogram were used to diagnose DCM and arrhythmia in a DCM family. Then, linked mutations on LMNA were screened out by high-throughput sequencing and verified by Sanger sequencing in all research individuals. Meanwhile, Human Genome Variation Society (HGVS) and Integrative Genomics Viewer (IGV) were used to analyse the characteristics of the mutated Lamin A/C protein. Finally, mutated-type and wild-type LMNA plasmid was transfected into AC-16 cardiomyocytes with the form of a lentivirus vector, and its effect on nucleus and actin was studied by immunofluorescence detection.

Results

In this study, we found a new frame-shifted mutation of LMNA (p.Ser414Alafs*66) linked with another point mutation from a DCM family by using High-throughput sequencing, and this deletion mutation led to a truncation of Lamin A/C. By analysing the clinical characteristics of this DCM family, we found that all DCM patients with arrhythmia were carriers of this co-segregation mutation. In the cytological experiment, we found that the mutated-type transfections showed weaker fluorescent intensities on both actin and cell nucleus.

Conclusions:

A co-segregation mutation of LMNA (Point mutation chr1 156107548 c.1712 G>A and truncated frame-shifted mutation chr1 156106086 c.1240delA) was found from a DCM family, and this type of mutation could participate in the pathogenesis of DCM by affecting the expression of actin.
Evaluation of the effects of three designs of oxygenators with integrated filters on clinical and haematological outcomes at an Australasian cardiothoracic unit
Authors: Prakash Minesh , Sharma Varun , Oh Timothy , Lo Casey , Parkinson Grant , McCormack David , Conaglen Paul , Lin Zaw , Kejriwal Nand , Meikle Felicity , Peplow Emma , Bhana Jack , El Gamel Adam
Published: May 2022

Introduction:

Cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) machines have oxygenators with integrated filters and unique biocompatible coatings to combat systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) and mitigate coagulopathy. Contemporary oxygenators have undergone comparative studies; however, our study aimed to identify the most appropriate oxygenator for our regional Cardiothoracic unit in Australasia.

Methods:

A prospective audit consecutively recruited one-hundred and fifty patients undergoing cardiac surgery at Waikato Hospital, New Zealand between the periods of 29th January 2018 and 31st July 2018. Fifty patients were recruited for each oxygenator arm: Sorin INSPIRE’ (Group-S); Terumo CAPIOX’FX (Group-T); and Medtronic Affinity Fusion’ (Group-M). The clinical outcomes were transfusions, chest drain output, reoperation and length of hospital stay (LOHS). Routine blood testing protocol included: haemoglobin, protein, albumin, white cell count (WCC), C-reactive protein (CRP), platelet count and coagulations tests including international normalized ratio (INR).

Results:

Comparing Groups S, T and M there was no statistical difference in chest drain output (650 vs. 500 vs. 595 ml respectively, p = 0.45), transfusions (61 vs. 117 vs. 70 units, p = 0.67), reoperation (6 vs. 8 vs. 12%, p = 0.99) and LOHS (median 7.4 vs. 7.6 vs. 9.5 days, p = 0.42). Group-T had fewer SIRS cases but similar increase in CRP ( p = 0.12) and WCC ( p = 0.35). Group-M had a significant rise in post-op INR ( p = 0.005) but no associated increase in chest drain output ( p = 0.62). Group-S and -M required more 4%-albumin and Group-T had more transfusions. Only fresh frozen plasma (FFP) and red blood cell (RBC) transfusion had a significant relationship with LOHS ( p < 0.05).

Conclusion:

Biochemically, there was slight difference among the oxygenators which did not translate into clinical difference in outcomes. The oxygenator design and perfusionist choice aided in our decision-making process.
Levelling up – Is it the right cure?
Authors: Bridge Simon
Published: May 2022

In medicine, treatment normally starts with an examination of symptoms followed by a diagnosis of their likely cause and then a ‘cure’ to counter that cause. In the case of ‘Levelling Up’, the symptoms presented appear to be significant disparities in economic vitality between different areas – but a diagnosis of the cause is not clearly indicated. However, if the recommendation amounts essentially to encouraging private sector growth in under-performing places by pump-priming infrastructure schemes, (for instance, investment funds, education, skills, health care, local leadership and community pride), that might suggest a diagnosis that the under-performance occurs because entrepreneurial endeavour is constrained by infrastructural deficiencies. That diagnosis fits the conventional wisdom but is it correct? The rationale appears to be based on an assumption that the better the infrastructure the more entrepreneurial endeavour there will be – but many commentators indicate that humans are more influenced by historic, cultural and/or social norms than by such considerations. Therefore, continuing to fund infrastructure is unlikely to change the situation. Although that does not itself indicate what might be the answer – or even that a quick solution is possible. But it does suggest both the necessity to look and possible avenues to explore.
Innovative rehabilitating meal service programs for old people living at home: A randomized controlled pilot study
Authors: Due Anette , Beck Anne Marie , Birk Camilla Banke , Justesen Lise , Majgaard Maj , Lei Mette , Langsted S Sara Koldkær , Jensen Tilde Skjærlund
Published: May 2022

Objective

To test the feasibility of a pilot study for a future definitive trial investigating the effect of different meal service programs for old people living at home.

Design

An 8-week randomized controlled trial was performed.

Setting

Three municipalities in the Nordic country, Denmark.

Subjects

Danish participants (≥65y) with reduced functionality.

Intervention

Three different meal service programs 1) 24-h meals service, 2) Protein-rich meal service, and 3) Rehabilitation meal service, were developed and compared to standard care.

Main Measures

The main outcome was study feasibility. Dietary intake, anthropometry, physical function, quality of life, readmissions and adverse events were also evaluated. Comparisons between participants receiving a meal service program and standard care were done by one-way ANOVA, chi-square test and Fishers exact test

Results

A total of 592 subjects were assessed for eligibility and 13% (76/592) were recruited. Final analysis included 75% (57/76) of participants. The outcome measures seemed acceptable and feasible though eligibility, inclusion, and completion of the intervention were lower than expected. The 24-h meal service program managed to significantly increase the intake of protein (p = 0.049) and energy (p = 0.038) compared to the control group where reductions were seen. No other significant differences were found.

Conclusions

The pilot study was feasible and several benefits for completers were seen. However, in a future definitive trial, inclusion criteria should be wider, more effort should be put on the time, training and focus of the personal in close contact to the older subjects and the intervention should be less comprehensive and more flexible.
Measuring the Service Quality at Multimodal Public Transport Interchanges: A Needs-Driven Approach
Authors: Moodley Sumashni , Venter Christoffel
Published: May 2022

Multimodal interchanges are key components of integrated public transport systems. A better understanding of the perceptions, needs, and priorities of public transport users as they travel through transport interchanges is needed to provide insight into the design of future integrated interchanges that will ultimately benefit users. This paper aims to help fill this gap by describing the development of a tool that can be used to measure the service quality of multimodal interchanges from a passenger’s viewpoint, taking into account a set of predefined criteria that can easily and cost effectively be measured on site. A mixed methods approach is discussed, and demonstrated for a case study at three public transport facilities in Durban, South Africa. The results show that users of different genders and age groups have different requirements of interchange facilities, and that knowledge of local preferences is important for effective management and design. The external validity of the multimodal service quality index is demonstrated as it ranks the three facilities in the same order of quality as independent satisfaction ratings obtained from users.