bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Urban Plot: Developing a Consistent Definition for Comparative Urban Studies
Authors: Słomska-Przech Katarzyna , Słomski Michał
Published: May 2022

The aim of this paper is to discuss the problem of describing an urban plot and to propose a definition that can be used in comparative studies of historic towns. The need for a uniform definition results from comparative research using spatial databases and historical GIS (hGIS). The article discusses the problems in vectorization of plots for the purposes of hGIS analyses, as well as the methods of presenting urban plots on historical plans that have been used so far, on the example of the Historic Towns Atlas series. We compared the results of the analysis with the plot definitions appearing in the literature on urban studies. Based on the literature review and research discussed in the article, we developed and proposed a plot definition for the ontology of historical urban spaces.
Imaging and audiological features of children with cochlear nerve deficiency
Authors: Chen Wenxia , Duan Bo , Huang Yue , Wang Tan , Lu Ping , Xu Zhengmin , Wang Yi
Published: May 2022

Objective: Cochlear nerve deficiency (CND) accounts for 10–19% of hearing loss in children; this study investigated the imaging and audiological features of 25 CND children. Methods: A total of 563 children with an unpassed automatic auditory brainstem response were diagnosed with hearing loss in our department between December 2018 and December 2021, of which, the imaging and audiological features of 25 children (25/563, 4.4%) diagnosed with a CND were reviewed. Results: Twenty-one (21/25, 84.0%) CND children had unilateral deafness, and 4 cases of bilateral deafness. All deaf ears were diagnosed as severe hearing loss due to an auditory brainstem response. CM waves were recorded in 8 cases and DPOAE in 3 cases, suggesting the audiological characteristics of auditory neuropathy spectrum disorders (ANSD). MRI results indicated 23 cases had small cochlear nerves and 2 cases had absent cochlear nerves. No genetic mutations were identified in the 25 CND children. Conclusions: Most CND children had unilateral hearing loss; therefore, high-resolution MRI imaging of the internal auditory canal should be performed to detect the auditory nerve in children with severe hearing loss. Some CND children had characteristics of ANSD.
UBIAD1 effectively alleviated myocardial ischemia reperfusion injury by activating SIRT1/PGC1α
Authors: Pan Da-bin , Ren Meng-xiang , Ding Wen-long , Zha Da-yong
Published: May 2022

Background and objectives

Myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury (MIRI) threatens global health and lowers people’s sense of happiness. Till now, the mechanism of MIRI has not been well-understood. Therefore, this study was designed to explore the role of UBIAD1 in MIRI as well as its detailed reaction mechanism.

Methods

The mRNA and protein expressions of UBIAD1 before or after transfection were measured using RT-qPCR and western blot. Western blot was also adopted to measure the expressions of signaling pathway-, mitochondrial damage- and apoptosis-related proteins. Moreover, mitochondrial membrane potential and ATP level were verified by JC-1 immunofluorescence and ATP kits, respectively. With the application of CCK-8, LDH and CK-MB assays, the cell viability, LDH and CK-MB levels were evaluated, respectively. In addition, the cell apoptosis was detected using TUNEL. Finally, the expressions of ROS, SOD, MDA and CAT were measured using DCFH-DA, SOD, MDA and CAT assays, respectively.

Results

In the present study, we found that UBIAD1 was downregulated in hypoxia-reoxygenation (H/R) -induced H9C2 cells and its upregulation could activate SIRT1/PGC1α signaling pathway. It was also found that UBIAD1 regulated mitochondrial membrane potential and ATP level via activating SIRT1/PGC1α signaling pathway. In addition, the injury of H/R-induced H9C2 cells could be relieved by UBIAD1 through the activation of SIRT1/PGC1α signaling pathway. Moreover, UBIAD1 exhibited inhibitory effects on apoptosis and oxidative stress of H/R-induced H9C2 cells through activating SIRT1/PGC1α signaling pathway.

Conclusion

To sum up, UBIAD1 could alleviate apoptosis, oxidative stress and H9C2 cell injury by activating SIRT1/PGC1α, which laid experimental foundation for the clinical treatment of MIRI.
Alveolar macrophages protect mice from MERS-CoV-induced pneumonia and severe disease
Authors: Channappanavar Rudragouda , Selvaraj Muneeswaran , More Sunil , Perlman Stanley
Published: May 2022

Emerging and re-emerging human coronaviruses (hCoVs) cause severe respiratory illness in humans, but the basis for lethal pneumonia in these diseases is not well understood. Alveolar macrophages (AMs) are key orchestrators of host antiviral defense and tissue tolerance during a variety of respiratory infections, and AM dysfunction is associated with severe COVID-19. In this study, using a mouse model of Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) infection, we examined the role of AMs in MERS pathogenesis. Our results show that depletion of AMs using clodronate (CL) liposomes significantly increased morbidity and mortality in human dipeptidyl peptidase 4 knock-in (hDPP4-KI) mice. Detailed examination of control and AM-depleted lungs at different days postinfection revealed increased neutrophil activity but a significantly reduced MERS-CoV-specific CD4 T-cell response in AM-deficient lungs during later stages of infection. Furthermore, enhanced MERS severity in AM-depleted mice correlated with lung inflammation and lesions. Collectively, these data demonstrate that AMs are critical for the development of an optimal virus-specific T-cell response and controlling excessive inflammation during MERS-CoV infection.
Estimation of wind energy potential using WAsP model in the sub watershed of Oued-Sakni region-Algeria
Authors: Mhamed Bensalah Laouisset , Chellali Farouk , Mohamed Islem Bouacha
Published: May 2022

This paper is a case study aiming at the determination of wind power potential in the Oued-Sakni sub-watershed. The objective is to provide wind energy for agro-pastoral regions, specially designed for irrigation systems, considering the fact that this region is far from the electricity grid. Statistical methods and the WAsP model were used to determine the climatological and energy characteristics of wind in this region. The results of this study are presented in the form of four tables containing the values of the parameters of the Weibull statistical distribution ‘ A’ and ‘ k’ for levels 10, 25and 50 m for standard conditions. Each table corresponds to a type of roughness length. A fifth table contains the calculated values of the mean speed and the mean total wind power available at the same levels and same type of roughness length.
Navigating Electric Vehicles Along a Signalized Corridor via Reinforcement Learning: Toward Adaptive Eco-Driving Control
Authors: Zhang Jian , Jiang Xia , Cui Suping , Yang Can , Ran Bin
Published: May 2022

One problem associated with the operation of electric vehicles (EVs) is the limited battery, which cannot guarantee their endurance. The increasing electricity consumption will also impose a burden on economy and ecology of the vehicles. To achieve energy saving, this paper proposes an adaptive eco-driving method in the environment of signalized corridors. The framework with adaptive and real-time control is implemented by the reinforcement learning technique. First, the operation of EVs in the proximity of intersections is defined as a Markov Decision Process (MDP) to apply the twin delayed deep deterministic policy gradient (TD3) algorithm, to deal with the decision process with continuous action space. Therefore, the speed of the vehicle can be adjusted continuously. Second, safety, traffic mobility, energy consumption, and comfort are all considered by designing a comprehensive reward function for the MDP. Third, the simulation study takes Aoti Street in Nanjing City with several consecutive signalized intersections as the research road network, and the state representation in MDP considers the information from consecutive downstream traffic signals. After the parameter tuning procedure, simulations are carried out for three typical eco-driving scenarios, including free flow, car following, and congestion flow. By comparing with default car-following behavior in the simulation platform SUMO and several state-of-the-art deep reinforcement learning algorithms, the proposed strategy shows a balanced and stable performance.
Back in My Day: Generational Beliefs About School Shootings
Authors: Graham Amanda , Jonson Cheryl Lero , Lee Heejin
Published: May 2022

Following a school shooting, the public and media search to understand what factors led to such tragedy. Faced with grief, fear, and confusion, people often seek to make sense of traumatic events. As such, this study uses a 2020 Amazon Mechanical Turk survey ( N = 739) to examine the impact of generational cohort on the blameworthiness of various perceived causes of school shootings. Findings support some generational differences. Baby Boomers were more likely to believe in societal-related causes of school shootings compared to Millennials and Generation Z. Conversely, Millennials and Generation Z were more likely than Baby Boomers to attribute the cause of school shootings to bullying, mental health, and school security. These findings suggest that future school shooting policies will seek to address bullying, mental health, and school security, while policies surrounding societal factors may be phased out.
Predictors of Mortality in 433 Nonagenarians Inside the Mugello Study: A 10 Years Follow-Up Study
Authors: Pancani Silvia , Lombardi Gemma , Sofi Francesco , Gori Anna Maria , Boni Roberta , Castagnoli Chiara , Paperini Anita , Pasquini Guido , Vannetti Federica , Molino Lova Raffaello , Macchi Claudio , Cecchi Francesca
Published: May 2022

Objective

to identify the predictors of mortality in a cohort of nonagenarians inside the “Mugello study” after 10 years follow-up.

Methods

Information on sociodemographic data, cognitive and functional status, lifestyle, medical history, and drug use was collected from 433 non-selected participants aged 90-99 years, living in the Mugello area (Italy). Participants were followed over 10 years and their dates of death were retrieved from the municipal registers. Cox regression analysis was used to determine significant potential prognostic factors.

Results

The mortality rate was 96.5%. Cox proportional hazards analysis showed that a lower cognitive status was significantly associated with higher mortality as well as a poorer functional status, a higher comorbidity, and a higher number of drugs consumption.

Discussion

Impaired cognitive function, loss of functional independence, higher comorbidity, and higher drugs intake were the stronger predictors of mortality.
Experimental studies on natural bank type heating/cooling energy saving Air conditioning system
Authors: Goyal Vaishali , Asati Arun Kumar , Garg Rajeev Kumar , Arora Amit
Published: May 2022

The present study reports air-based novel energy saving compact bank type earth air heat exchanger system (EAHE) (having only 25m2 area) fabricated from Polyvinylchloride pipes of nominal diameter 0.203 mm (8 inches) for inlet and outlet headers and main pipes and 0.150 mm (6 inches nominal diameter) for branched pipes, which is installed in Shaheed Bhagat Singh State University, Ferozepur in Punjab state, India (North West border area of India) and studied for the duration from April to August 2021 using the full factorial design with four inlet variables at multilevel to find a model equation between inlet and outlet variables, i.e., heat exchanger effectiveness and achieved temperature difference. An induced airflow mode has been used to provide near-uniform flow through all corresponding pipes of symmetrical-shaped earth air heat exchangers. The values of Dry bulb temperature (DBT) and wet bulb temperature (WBT) have been measured for air inlet, for air outlet, as well as for ambient air using resistance temperature detectors (RTD) installed at the requisite locations. Earth's undisturbed temperature (EUT) was also noted by installing RTD at a depth of 2 m, and the average measured value of EUT is found to be 28.5°C. The current system has imparted the temperature difference variation from 0.4 oC to 9.4 oC, and the effectiveness varied from 0.16 to 0.82 during the whole season. This system could give a cooling potential of 0.0523 kJ/s to 1.587 kJ/s using a mass flow rate of 0.163 kg/s.Experiments have been designed methodically to apply the full factorial technique. Most favorable parameters have been found for hot and dry and hot and humid weather. The current study is novel in terms of significantly improving the effectiveness of EAHE and addressing the central issue of space limitation in urban areas.
The Double-Edged Sword: Reviewing India–China Relations
Authors: Ogden Chris
Published: May 2022

As Asia’s largest and most rapidly rising powers in contemporary global politics, relations between India and China are becoming evermore intertwined with each other. Clear commonalities typify this symbiosis, including a shared civilisational basis, a mutual desire to rebecome great powers in international relations and common modernisation goals. At the same time, relations are beset by a number of issues, most notably long-standing territorial disputes, frictions over regional hegemony and wider diplomatic tensions (most prominently relating to China–Pakistan and India–United States ties). As such, India–China relations can be considered to resemble a ‘double-edged sword’, whereby elements of their interaction can be regarded as having concurrent benefits and liabilities. This article explores the historical roots and contemporary realisation of such a core dynamic over the last 75 years of relations between New Delhi and Beijing and investigates how their strategic goals are often simultaneously convergent and divergent.
Challenges and Opportunities in Online Learning Amid COVID-19: A Study on Hearing–Speech Impaired Students of Jammu and Kashmir
Authors: Kotwal Renu , Chauhan Gajendra Singh , Ghosh Swagata
Published: May 2022

The pandemic is a distressing time for academia. The past 24 months have caused a deeper rift between learning and teaching. Online classes have become necessary overnight, but the transition was not smooth and productive. Moreover, educating students with speech and hearing disabilities online is not similar to those who can hear and speak. The present study explores the challenges of online classes, the struggles of the student–teacher community, and the limitations of technology to make virtual education possible for the hearing–speech impaired students in Jammu and Kashmir. The study also captures some of the possibilities of effective deliverance. Finally, it suggests imperative changes to make online learning accessible, inclusive and meaningful for the hearing–speech impaired community that depends on facial expressions, lip-sync and sign language to learn and communicate. This article encapsulates how accessible and effective online learning is among the hearing–speech impaired students in the region.
Archiving ‘Future Years’: Wordsworthian Dis-ease of Memory from Pantheism to Pandemic
Authors: Banerjee Rajarshi
Published: May 2022

While the experiment with memory in Wordsworth’s ‘Tintern Abbey’ (1798) has been a much-discussed topic since its publication, what constitutes a discussion seldom approached is the debilitating untenability of the archival project in the text that keeps undercutting itself even as the ensuing tug-of-war—between remembering and forgetting, and also between remembering and recollecting—invariably plunges into a narrative breakdown alongside a fervently collapsing selfhood. A reading of the text allows this article to foreground such restlessness as an obsessive preoccupation with the anxiety of anamnesis, on the one hand, and the compulsion to resist its failure, on the other. While several critics have discussed the narrative of ‘return’ in Wordsworth and the text in question, my interest in this article is to demonstrate that memory is not only emblematic of a return but also of preservation of the future that leaves the transition from the past to the future utterly frustrating in the present. This frustration—a repeated and interminable frustration—in the text is what blinds Wordsworth’s speaker to such an extent that he fails to recognise or remember the unavoidably pathological nature of anamnesis. Diseased as he is, his obsession with archiving entails a pathological projection of an interiority upon an exterior world that is already always a failure in itself. This is because the need to retrieve—and even contrive—memory is, thus, presented as a compulsive impetus that is organised, disorganised and reorganised within a meticulously constructed archive that, as I argue, keeps tumbling over itself. This article, therefore, traces the dynamics of such a discursive attempt at archiving memory—and its subject—while it remains perpetually under erasure. Further, I emphasise that Wordsworth’s pantheism and our pandemic are so similarly structured that studying the failure of one undeniably lends us an insight into the other.
Translational Genomic Research: The Association between Genetic Profiles and Cognitive Functioning or Cardiac Function Among Breast Cancer Survivors Completing Chemotherapy
Authors: Park Jong Y. , Lengacher Cecile A. , Reich Richard R. , Park Hyun Y. , Whiting Junmin , Nguyen Anh Thy , Rodríguez Carmen , Meng Hongdao , Tinsley Sara , Chauca Katterine , Gordillo-Casero Liliana , Wittenberg Trudy , Joshi Anisha , Lin Katherine , Ismail-Khan Roohi , Kiluk John V. , Kip Kevin E.
Published: May 2022

Introduction: Emerging evidence suggests that Chemotherapy (CT) treated breast cancer survivors (BCS) who have “risk variants” in genes may be more susceptible to cognitive impairment (CI) and/or poor cardiac phenotypes. The objective of this preliminary study was to examine whether there is a relationship between genetic variants and objective/subjective cognitive or cardiac phenotypes. Methods and Analysis: BCS were recruited from Moffitt Cancer Center, Morsani College of Medicine, AdventHealth Tampa and Sarasota Memorial Hospital. Genomic DNA were collected at baseline for genotyping analysis. A total of 16 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) from 14 genes involved in cognitive or cardiac function were evaluated. Three genetic models (additive, dominant, and recessive) were used to test correlation coefficients between genetic variants and objective/subjective measures of cognitive functioning and cardiac outcomes (heart rate, diastolic blood pressure, systolic blood pressure, respiration rate, and oxygen saturation). Results: BCS (207 participants) with a mean age of 56 enrolled in this study. The majority were non-Hispanic white (73.7%), married (63.1%), and received both CT and radiation treatment (77.3%). Three SNPs in genes related to cognitive functioning (rs429358 in APOE, rs1800497 in ANKK1, rs10119 in TOMM40) emerged with the most consistent significant relationship with cognitive outcomes. Among five candidate SNPs related to cardiac functioning, rs8055236 in CDH13 and rs1801133 in MTHER emerged with potential significant relationships with cardiac phenotype. Conclusions: These preliminary results provide initial targets to further examine whether BCS with specific genetic profiles may preferentially benefit from interventions designed to improve cognitive and cardiac functioning following CT.
Intestinal perforation after intravitreal low dose ranibizumab injection for the treatment of type 1 retinopathy of prematurity: A case report
Authors: Rzayev Turkay , Celiker Hande , Aykut Aslan , Cerit Kivilcim , Koyuncuer Ali , Gucyetmez Safak , Ozdemir Hulya , Memisoglu Asli , Bilgen Hulya , Ozek Eren
Published: May 2022

Purpose

To report a newborn patient with gastrointestinal (GIS) perforation after intravitreal ranibizumab (RBZ) treatment.

Case report

The patient was born at 31 gestational week and hospitalized with the diagnosis of small for gestational age and prematurity. In the follow up he underwent GIS surgery due to necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) and was diagnosed with retinopathy of prematurity (ROP). At 43 weeks of postmenstrual age, he developed intestinal perforation after 12 h of the second low-dose RBZ injection. According to our knowledge, this is the first report of GIS perforation due to low-dose intravitreal RBZ treatment in an infant with severe ROP.

Conclusion

The risk of GIS perforation should be taken into consideration during the application of intravitreal vascular endothelial growth factor antagonist agents, especially in newborns with previous GIS surgery and a history of NEC, and these patients should be carefully monitored for GIS complications.
The best backbone for HIV prevention, treatment, and elimination: Emtricitabine+tenofovir
Authors: Schinazi Raymond F , Patel Dharmeshkumar , Ehteshami Maryam
Published: May 2022

The advent of antiretroviral combination therapy has significantly impacted the HIV/AIDS epidemic. No longer a death sentence, HIV infection can be controlled and suppressed using cocktail therapies that contain two or more small molecule drugs. This review aims to highlight the discovery, development, and impact of one such molecule, namely, emtricitabine (FTC, emtriva), which is one of the most successful drugs in the fight against HIV/AIDS and has been taken by over 94% of individuals infected with HIV in the USA. We also pay tribute to Dr. John C. Martin, former CEO and Chairman of Gilead Sciences, who unexpectedly passed away in 2021. A true visionary, he was instrumental in delivering FTC, as part of combination therapy with TDF (tenofovir, viread) to the global stage. As the fight to eradicate HIV marches on, we honor Dr. Martin’s legacy of collaboration, achievement, and hope.
Statistical considerations for outcomes in clinical research: A review of common data types and methodology
Authors: Smeltzer Matthew P , Ray Meredith A
Published: May 2022

With the increasing number and variety of clinical trials and observational data analyses, producers and consumers of clinical research must have a working knowledge of an array of statistical methods. Our goal with this body of work is to highlight common types of data and analyses in clinical research. We provide a brief, yet comprehensive overview of common data types in clinical research and appropriate statistical methods for analyses. These include continuous data, binary data, count data, multinomial data, and time-to-event data. We include references for further studies and real-world examples of the application of these methods. In summary, we review common continuous and discrete data, summary statistics for said data, common hypothesis tests and appropriate statistical tests, and underlying assumption for the statistical tests. This information is summarized in tabular format, for additional accessibility.
Electroencephalographic Microstates are Correlated with Global Functioning in Schizophrenia But Not in Bipolar Disorder
Authors: Chen Pao-Huan , Ku Hsiao-Lun , Wang Jiunn-Kae , Kang Jiunn-Horng , Hsu Tzu-Yu
Published: May 2022

Objectives. Microstate studies of electroencephalograms (EEGs) on schizophrenia (SCZ) and bipolar disorder (BD) demonstrated categorical differences. The relationship between microstate indices and clinical symptoms in each group, however, remained unclear. Our objective was to examine associations between EEG microstates and the core features of SCZ and BD. Methods. This study examined the resting EEG data of 40 patients with SCZ, 19 patients with BD (12 BD type I and 7 BD type II), and 16 healthy controls. EEG topographic maps were divided into four canonical microstate classes: A, B, C, and D. The Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS), Young Mania Rating Scale, Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAMD), and Global Assessment of Functioning (GAF) were used to measure clinical symptoms and global functioning. Results. There was a significant inverse correlation between the proportion of time spent in microstate class A and GAF in patients with SCZ but not BD. Furthermore, the occurrence of microstate class A was positively correlated with the Positive Scale scores of the PANSS. Nevertheless, there were no group differences between the microstate classes. Conclusions. The results of this study indicate a negative correlation between microstate class A and global functioning in SCZ but not in BD. The association may be mediated by positive symptoms of SZ. Neural mechanisms underlying this relationship require further investigation.
‘Correct German Conduct?’ German Requisition Practices and their Impact on Norwegian Society during World War II
Authors: Fritsche Maria
Published: May 2022

The article analyses the German requisition and quartering practices in Norway in the light of international law and traces their impact on everyday relations between the enemies. With an average of 350,000 soldiers stationed in Norway, the German demand for housing was enormous. Space became a highly coveted resource. It was both the object of power struggles and a reflection of those struggles. The German seizure of private property exacerbated the existing housing shortage and was thus very unpopular. Yet the fact that the Wehrmacht also paid good money for requisitioned private properties and, for the most part, followed ‘proper’ procedure fostered acceptance of the measures. Moreover, the spatial proximity with quartered soldiers inevitably led to frequent contacts between the enemies and resulted in a rapprochement. Many autobiographical accounts of Norwegians lauded the Wehrmacht soldiers’ ‘proper’ or ‘correct’ behaviour and described the relations between Norwegians and German soldiers during the war as harmonious. The Norwegian narratives of the German occupation are thus highly ambivalent, oscillating between a positive assessment of the ordinary soldier, and condemnation of the occupation and Nazi rule. This ambivalence, the article argues, was both the result of German requisition policy, aimed to win popular support, and of the felt need to justify the close contacts with the Germans.
Why We Should Reject the Restrictive Isomorphic Matching Definition of Empathy
Authors: Murphy Brett A. , Lilienfeld Scott O. , Algoe Sara B.
Published: May 2022

A growing cadre of influential scholars has converged on a circumscribed definition of empathy as restricted only to feeling the same emotion that one perceives another is feeling. We argue that this restrictive isomorphic matching (RIM) definition is deeply problematic because (1) it deviates dramatically from traditional conceptualizations of empathy and unmoors the construct from generations of scientific research and clinical practice; (2) insistence on an isomorphic form undercuts much of the functional value of empathy from multiple perspectives of analysis; and (3) combining the opposing concepts of isomorphic matching and self-other awareness implicitly requires motivational content, causing the RIM definition to implicitly require the kind of non-matching emotional content that it explicitly seeks to exclude.
Big data and data ownership rights: The case of car insurance
Authors: H Rubin Tzameret , Aas Tor Helge , Williams Jackie
Published: May 2022

Customers’ data points sources are growing, through the Internet of Things (IoT), telematics and interfacing with third parties’ platforms. Third parties provide either by-product data about their clients, or data that are generated for the specific task of a more accurate measurement of behaviour. One of the core building blocks in insurance is understanding risk – therefore, innovation around data points (sources and analytics) to proxy risk is the engine behind its digital transformation. While the value of data points is clear for the providers of insurance products and services, the customers have not only less control over their data, but also hardly benefit from the creation of those data points. In this paper we provide a case study from the British car insurance industry, about a data-driven product that pivoted into a re-designed personal data right architecture, which included transparency, traceability and usability of customers’ digital traces, and enabled customers’ ownership rights over their data.
Characteristics Associated With Consistent Handwashing and Satisfaction in the Workplace: A Pilot Survey of U.S. Workers
Authors: Le Aurora B. , Perez-Patron Maria , Ward Lauren M. , Comai Andrew , Beam Elizabeth L. , Gibbs Shawn G.
Published: May 2022

Background:

This study seeks to determine what handwashing facilities are available to workers, predominantly in the manufacturing and service industries, to find out if their workplace has the appropriate resources to conduct proper handwashing and how that affects handwashing satisfaction.

Methods:

This cross-sectional study surveyed U.S. adult workers ( N = 241) on their workplace handwashing equipment and facilities. The associations between demographic characteristics, consistent handwashing, and handwashing satisfaction were evaluated using Fisher’s exact test.

Findings:

Eighty-eight percent of respondents reported consistent handwashing. Pulling a handle to exit the restroom was negatively associated with handwashing satisfaction ( p = .004) and having difficulty with an automatic faucet or dispenser was negatively marginally significant in its association with handwashing consistency ( p = .10).

Conclusion/Applications to Practice:

Greater understanding of the available equipment in workplace restroom facilities and how to improve selection and use of that equipment may improve workers’ handwashing experiences.
Book review: R. Wiedeman, Billion Dollar Loser: The Epic Rise and Spectacular Fall of Adam Neumann and WeWork
Authors: Arora Ajay
Published: May 2022

R. Wiedeman, Billion Dollar Loser: The Epic Rise and Spectacular Fall of Adam Neumann and WeWork, 2020. London: Hodder & Stoughton, 352 pp., ₹699. ISBN: 978-1529385076.
The Value Preservation Imperative
Authors: Lyons Sean
Published: May 2022

Stakeholder groups appear to intuitively understand that logically the delivery of sustainable value over the long-term requires a healthy focus on value creation and value preservation. Historically, organizations have explicitly addressed the value creation imperative at a strategic level through their company purpose, vision and corporate strategy. The value preservation imperative, however, while perhaps sometimes implied, has rarely been explicitly addressed in the same manner at a strategic level. The difference between explicitly addressing the value creation obligation and implicitly addressing the value preservation obligation is considerable, and its impact has already had a profound effect on corporate culture and resulting corporate behaviour.

This article outlines the significant developments that have occurred in recent times (2016–2022), as a growing number of regulators, standard setters and other governance bodies finally begin to include explicit references to the value preservation imperative. These incremental steps are now directly impacting on corporate boardrooms, as the moral obligation to preserve, protect and defend stakeholder value is increasingly viewed as an important corporate consideration in terms of both company purpose and fiduciary duty.
Naturally Selected CD7 CAR-T Therapy without Genetic Manipulations for T-ALL/LBL: First-in-human Phase I Clinical Trial
Authors: Lu Peihua , Liu Ying , Yang Junfang , Zhang Xian , Yang Xiao , Wang Hui , Wang Lin , Wang Qinglong , Jin David , Li Jianqiang , Huang Xiaojun
Published: May 2022

Derivation of CD7-targeted chimeric antigen receptor (7CAR) T cells often requires genetic manipulations to ablate the CD7 gene or block CD7 cell surface expression. Our novel approach deriving naturally selected 7CAR-T cells (NS7CAR) from bulk T cells were able to overcome major fratricide by minimizing accessible CD7 epitopes. The CD7 molecules of NS7CAR-T cells were masked or sequestered by the CD7-targeting CAR. Compared to sorted CD7-negative 7CAR-T cells and CD7 knocked-out 7CAR-T cells, NS7CAR exhibited similar or superior therapeutic properties including a greater percentage of CAR+ cells and a higher proportion of CD8+ central memory T cells. In our first-in-human phase 1 trial (NCT04572308), 20 patients with relapsed/refractory T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL, n=14) and lymphoblastic lymphoma (T-LBL, n=6) were treated with NS7CAR. Nineteen patients achieved minimal residual disease negative complete remission (CR) in the bone marrow by Day 28 and 5 of 9 patients achieved extramedullary CR. With a median follow-up of 142.5 (32-311) days post infusion, 14 patients subsequently received allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplant (10 consolidative, 4 salvage) following NS7CAR infusion with no relapses to date. Of the six patients who did not receive a transplant, four remained in CR at a median time of 54 (32-180) days. Eighteen patients experienced mild cytokine release syndrome (CRS, Grade ≤2), one developed Grade 3 CRS, and two had Grade 1 neurotoxicity. These results indicate that NS7CAR-T therapy is a safe and highly effective treatment for T-ALL/T-LBL. More patients and longer follow-up are needed for validation. Clinical Trial can be found at NCT04572308, https://clinicaltrials.gov/
Interaction between maternal killer immunoglobulin-like receptors and offspring HLAs and susceptibility of childhood ALL
Authors: Feng Qianxi , Zhou Mi , Li Shaobo , Morimoto Libby , Hansen Helen , Myint Swe Swe , Wang Rong , Metayer Catherine , Kang Alice , Fear Anna Lisa , Pappas Derek , Erlich Henry , Hollenbach Jill A. , Mancuso Nicholas , Trachtenberg Elizabeth , de Smith Adam J. , Ma Xiaomei , Wiemels Joseph L.
Published: May 2022

Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) in children is associated with a distinct neonatal cytokine profile. The basis of this neonatal immune phenotype is unknown but potentially related to maternal-fetal immune receptor interactions. We conducted a case-control study of 226 case child-mother pairs and 404 control child-mother pairs to evaluate the role of interaction between HLA genotypes in the offspring and maternal killer immunoglobulin-like receptor (KIR) genotypes in the etiology of childhood ALL, while considering potential mediation by neonatal cytokines and the immune-modulating enzyme arginase-II (ARG-II). We observed different associations between offspring HLA-maternal KIR activating profiles and the risk of ALL in different predicted genetic ancestry groups. For instance, in Latino subjects who experience the highest risk of childhood leukemia, activating profiles were significantly associated with a lower risk of childhood ALL (odds ratio [OR] = 0.59; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.49-0.71) and a higher level of ARG-II at birth (coefficient = 0.13; 95% CI, 0.04-0.22). HLA-KIR activating profiles were also associated with a lower risk of ALL in non-Latino Asians (OR = 0.63; 95% CI, 0.38-1.01), although they had a lower tumor necrosis factor-α level (coefficient = −0.27; 95% CI, −0.49 to −0.06). Among non-Latino White subjects, no significant association was observed between offspring HLA-maternal KIR interaction and ALL risk or cytokine levels. The current study reports the association between offspring HLA-maternal KIR interaction and the development of childhood ALL with variation by predicted genetic ancestry. We also observed some associations between activating profiles and immune factors related to cytokine control; however, cytokines did not demonstrate causal mediation of the activating profiles on ALL risk.
Characterization of cell-cell communication in autistic brains with single-cell transcriptomes
Authors: Astorkia Maider , Lachman Herbert M. , Zheng Deyou
Published: May 2022

Background

Autism spectrum disorder is a neurodevelopmental disorder, affecting 1–2% of children. Studies have revealed genetic and cellular abnormalities in the brains of affected individuals, leading to both regional and distal cell communication deficits.

Methods

Recent application of single-cell technologies, especially single-cell transcriptomics, has significantly expanded our understanding of brain cell heterogeneity and further demonstrated that multiple cell types and brain layers or regions are perturbed in autism. The underlying high-dimensional single-cell data provides opportunities for multilevel computational analysis that collectively can better deconvolute the molecular and cellular events altered in autism. Here, we apply advanced computation and pattern recognition approaches on single-cell RNA-seq data to infer and compare inter-cell-type signaling communications in autism brains and controls.

Results

Our results indicate that at a global level, there are cell-cell communication differences in autism in comparison with controls, largely involving neurons as both signaling senders and receivers, but glia also contribute to the communication disruption. Although the magnitude of changes is moderate, we find that excitatory and inhibitor neurons are involved in multiple intercellular signaling that exhibits increased strengths in autism, such as NRXN and CNTN signaling. Not all genes in the intercellular signaling pathways show differential expression, but genes in the affected pathways are enriched for axon guidance, synapse organization, neuron migration, and other critical cellular functions. Furthermore, those genes are highly connected to and enriched for genes previously associated with autism risks.

Conclusions

Overall, our proof-of-principle computational study using single-cell data uncovers key intercellular signaling pathways that are potentially disrupted in the autism brains, suggesting that more studies examining cross-cell type effects can be valuable for understanding autism pathogenesis.
Exploration of chemical space with partial labeled noisy student self-training and self-supervised graph embedding
Authors: Liu Yang , Lim Hansaim , Xie Lei
Published: May 2022

Background

Drug discovery is time-consuming and costly. Machine learning, especially deep learning, shows great potential in quantitative structure–activity relationship (QSAR) modeling to accelerate drug discovery process and reduce its cost. A big challenge in developing robust and generalizable deep learning models for QSAR is the lack of a large amount of data with high-quality and balanced labels. To address this challenge, we developed a self-training method, Partially LAbeled Noisy Student (PLANS), and a novel self-supervised graph embedding, Graph-Isomorphism-Network Fingerprint (GINFP), for chemical compounds representations with substructure information using unlabeled data. The representations can be used for predicting chemical properties such as binding affinity, toxicity, and others. PLANS-GINFP allows us to exploit millions of unlabeled chemical compounds as well as labeled and partially labeled pharmacological data to improve the generalizability of neural network models.

Results

We evaluated the performance of PLANS-GINFP for predicting Cytochrome P450 (CYP450) binding activity in a CYP450 dataset and chemical toxicity in the Tox21 dataset. The extensive benchmark studies demonstrated that PLANS-GINFP could significantly improve the performance in both cases by a large margin. Both PLANS-based self-training and GINFP-based self-supervised learning contribute to the performance improvement.

Conclusion

To better exploit chemical structures as an input for machine learning algorithms, we proposed a self-supervised graph neural network-based embedding method that can encode substructure information. Furthermore, we developed a model agnostic self-training method, PLANS, that can be applied to any deep learning architectures to improve prediction accuracies. PLANS provided a way to better utilize partially labeled and unlabeled data. Comprehensive benchmark studies demonstrated their potentials in predicting drug metabolism and toxicity profiles using sparse, noisy, and imbalanced data. PLANS-GINFP could serve as a general solution to improve the predictive modeling for QSAR modeling.
Molecular evolution and phylogenetic relationships of Ligusticum (Apiaceae) inferred from the whole plastome sequences
Authors: Ren Ting , Xie Dengfeng , Peng Chang , Gui Lingjian , Price Megan , Zhou Songdong , He Xingjin
Published: May 2022

Background

The genus Ligusticum belongs to Apiaceae, and its taxonomy has long been a major difficulty. A robust phylogenetic tree is the basis of accurate taxonomic classification of Ligusticum. We herein used 26 (including 14 newly sequenced) plastome-scale data to generate reliable phylogenetic trees to explore the phylogenetic relationships of Chinese Ligusticum.

Results

We found that these plastid genomes exhibited diverse plastome characteristics across all four currently identified clades in China, while the plastid protein-coding genes were conserved. The phylogenetic analyses by the concatenation and coalescent methods obtained a more robust molecular phylogeny than prior studies and showed the non-monophyly of Chinese Ligusticum. In the concatenation-based phylogeny analyses, the two datasets yielded slightly different topologies that may be primarily due to the discrepancy in the number of variable sites.

Conclusions

Our plastid phylogenomics analyses emphasized that the current circumscription of the Chinese Ligusticum should be reduced, and the taxonomy of Ligusticum urgently needs revision. Wider taxon sampling including the related species of Ligusticum will be necessary to explore the phylogenetic relationships of this genus. Overall, our study provided new insights into the taxonomic classification of Ligusticum and would serve as a framework for future studies on taxonomy and delimitation of Ligusticum from the perspective of the plastid genome.
Gene expression profiling of RIP2-knockdown in HD11 macrophages — elucidation of potential pathways (gene network) when challenged with avian pathogenic E.coli (APEC)
Authors: Sun Hongyan , Yang Yexin , Cao Yuxuan , Li Huan , Qu Lujiang , Lamont Susan J.
Published: May 2022

Background

Receptor interacting serine/threonine kinase 2 (RIP2), ubiquitous in many tissue/cell types, is the key regulator of immune and inflammatory responses for many diseases, including avian pathogenic E. coli (APEC), which causes a wide variety of localized or systemic infections. However, the molecular mechanisms by which RIP2 drives its transcriptional program to affect immune and inflammatory response upon APEC infection remains poorly understood.

Results

In this study, RNA-seq and bioinformatics analyses were used to detect gene expression and new direct/indirect RIP2 targets in the treatments of wild type HD11 cells (WT), RIP2 knockdown cells (shRIP2), APEC stimulation cells (APEC), and RIP2 knockdown cells combined with APEC infection (shRIP2 + APEC). The results revealed that a total of 4691 and 2605 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were screened in shRIP2 + APEC vs. APEC and shRIP2 vs. WT, respectively. Functional annotation analysis showed that apoptosis, MAPK, p53, Toll-like receptor, and Nod-like receptor signaling pathways were involved in APEC-induced RIP2 knockdown HD11 cells. By analyzing the enriched pathway and gene networks, we identified that several DEGs, including HSP90AB1, BID, and CASP9 were targeted by RIP2 upon APEC infection.

Conclusion

As a whole, this study can not only provide data support for constructing gene networks of RIP2 knockdown with APEC challenge but also provide new ideas for improving the immune and inflammatory response.
The efficacy of different alveolar recruitment maneuvers in holmium laser lithotripsy surgery under general anesthesia using a laryngeal mask
Authors: Bai Fu-Rong , Li Hong-mei , Yi Ming-liang , Yin Hong , Wu Wei
Published: May 2022

Background

Alveolar recruitment maneuvers (ARMs) is an important part of lung-protective ventilation strategies (LPVSs), but the optimal duration and interval Remain unclear.

Methods

Patients:252 patients who underwent holmium laser lithotripsy surgery and meet inclusion criteria were included and randomized into three groups based on the duration and frequency of ARMs (Regular, one 30 s ARM (RARMs); Improved and intermittent, three 10s ARMs (IARMs); and Control (C), no ARMs).Interventions: Groups R and I received ARMs at 20 cmH2O pressures every 30 min. All patients received the same anesthesia and mechanical ventilation. Measurements:Outcomes included heart rate and mean arterial pressure changes during ARMs and postoperative pulmonary complications (PPCs) within the first 7 postoperative days.

Main results

Incidences of PPCs in groups R(7.1%) and I (5.0%)were slightly lower than those in group C (8.9%).This indicated the potential to reduce lung injury. Heart rate and mean arterial pressure fluctuations during ARMs were significantly higher in groups R and I than in group C (P < 0.01). The rate of blood pressure decrease was significantly higher in group R than in group I (P < 0.01).

Conclusions

IARMs can reduce cycle fluctuations than RARMs in patients Undergoing holmium laser lithotripsy surgery with laryngeal mask general anesthesia. Low tidal volume ventilation and low PEEP combined with ARM did not significantly reduce the incidence of PPCs in healthy lung patients, but tended to reduce lung injury.

Trial registration

The study was registered on the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry.

(ChiCTR2000030815,15/03/2020). This study was approved by the ethics committee of Chengdu Fifth People’s Hospital with approval number(2020–005(Study)-1).
Providing antibiotics to immigrants: a qualitative study of general practitioners’ and pharmacists’ experiences
Authors: Lescure Dominique L. A. , van Oorschot Wilbert , Brouwer Rob , van der Velden Janneke , Tjon-A-Tsien Aimée M. L. , Bonnema Iris V. , Verheij Theo J. M. , Richardus Jan Hendrik , Voeten Hélène A. C. M.
Published: May 2022

Background

If healthcare professionals perceive that patients strongly expect to be prescribed antibiotics, inappropriate prescriptions may result. As it is unknown whether this happens more often with certain patient groups, we explored whether general practitioners (GPs) and pharmacists perceived such expectations when they provided antibiotics to immigrant patients.

Methods

Ten GPs and five pharmacists from Rotterdam, the Netherlands, were interviewed on the basis of a semi-structured topic guide. Atlas.ti software was then used to conduct a thematic analysis.

Results

GPs felt that immigrant patients, especially those who had arrived recently, were more likely to expect to receive antibiotics than native Dutch patients. However, these expectations had decreased over the last years and did not always lead immigrants to exert pressure on them. Except for language barriers, the factors reported by GPs to influence their antibiotic prescribing behaviour were unrelated to patients’ immigrant background. If there was a language barrier, GPs experienced greater diagnostic uncertainty and needed additional time to obtain and communicate correct information. To overcome language barriers, they often used point-of-care testing to convince patients that antibiotics were unnecessary. Although pharmacists rarely experienced problems dispensing antibiotics to immigrants, they and GPs both struggled to find effective ways of overcoming language barriers, and stressed the need for multi-language support materials.

Conclusion

While pharmacists rarely experience any problems providing antibiotics to immigrants, GPs regularly face language barriers with immigrant patients, which complicate the diagnostic process and communicating information in the limited available time. This sometimes leads antibiotics to be prescribed inappropriately.