bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Signal from the Noise: A Mixed Methods Process Mining Approach to Evaluate Care Pathways
Authors: Noshad Morteza , Rose Christian C. , Chen Jonathan H.
Published: November 2021

Objective

Mapping real-world practice patterns vs. deviations from intended guidelines and protocols is necessary to identify and improve the quality of care for emergent medical conditions like stroke. We propose a process mining algorithm applied to Electronic Health Record (EHR) event log data as a unique opportunity to more easily identify and compare real-world care processes.

Materials

Data was obtained from the event log of a major EHR vendor (Epic) for Stanford Health Care Hospital patients aged 18 years and older presenting to the ED from January 1, 2010 through December 31, 2018 and receiving tPA within 4.5 hours of presentation. Our algorithm was built using the Python programming language.

Methods

An unsupervised process-mining algorithm was developed and used to create a process map for our cohort. This map was then used to identify the most common path as well as individual and average conformity to this path across all encounters.

Results

Our automatically generated process mining graph, specifically its most common path, mimicked our institution’s recommended “code stroke” clinical pathway. The average conformity score for our cohort was 0.36 with a range from high of 0.64 and low of 0.20.

Discussion

This method allows for greater detail into common process measures to be more easily illustrated to evaluate the quality of care at a given institution. It may be extended to other, similarly well-defined processes or those which currently lack standardized clinical pathways.

Conclusion

Our mixed methods approach represents an essential data analysis step to improve complex care processes by automatically generating a qualitative and quantitative process measures from existing event log data which can then be used to target quality improvement initiatives.
De novo emergence of a remdesivir resistance mutation during treatment of persistent SARS-CoV-2 infection in an immunocompromised patient: A case report
Authors: Gandhi Shiv , Klein Jonathan , Robertson Alexander , Peña-Hernández Mario A. , Lin Michelle J , Roychoudhury Pavitra , Lu Peiwen , Fournier John , Ferguson David , Mohamed Bakhash Shah A. , Catherine Muenker M. , Srivathsan Ariktha , Wunder Elsio A. , Kerantzas Nicholas , Wang Wenshuai , Lindenbach Brett , Pyle Anna , Wilen Craig B. , Ogbuagu Onyema , Greninger Alexander L. , Iwasaki Akiko , Schulz Wade L. , Ko Albert I.
Published: November 2021

SARS-CoV-2 remdesivir resistance mutations have been generated in vitro but have not been reported in patients receiving treatment with the antiviral agent. We present a case of an immunocompromised patient with acquired B-cell deficiency who developed an indolent, protracted course of SARS-CoV-2 infection. Remdesivir therapy alleviated symptoms and produced a transient virologic response, but her course was complicated by recrudescence of high-grade viral shedding. Whole genome sequencing identified a mutation, E802D, in the nsp12 RNA-dependent RNA polymerase, which was not present in pre-treatment specimens. In vitro experiments demonstrated that the mutation conferred a ∼6-fold increase in remdesivir IC50 but resulted in a fitness cost in the absence of remdesivir. Sustained clinical and virologic response was achieved after treatment with casirivimab-imdevimab. Although the fitness cost observed in vitro may limit the risk posed by E802D, this case illustrates the importance of monitoring for remdesivir resistance and the potential benefit of combinatorial therapies in immunocompromised patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection.
Data-driven prognosis for COVID-19 patients based on symptoms and age
Authors: Paul Subhendu , Lorin Emmanuel
Published: November 2021

In this article, we develop an algorithm and a computational code to extract, analyze and compress the relevant information from the publicly available database of Canadian COVID-19 patients. We digitize the symptoms, that is, we assign a label/code as an integer variable for all possible combinations of various symptoms. We introduce a digital code for individual patient and divide all patients into a myriad of groups based on symptoms and age. In addition, we develop an electronic application (app) that allows for a rapid digital prognosis of COVID-19 patients, and provides individual patient prognosis on chance of recovery, average recovery period, etc. using the information, extracted from the database. This tool is aimed to assist health specialists in their decision regarding COVID-19 patients, based on symptoms and age of the patient. This novel approach can be used to develop similar applications for other diseases.
Block aligner: fast and flexible pairwise sequence alignment with SIMD-accelerated adaptive blocks
Authors: Liu Daniel , Steinegger Martin
Published: November 2021

Background

The Smith-Waterman-Gotoh alignment algorithm is the most popular method for comparing biological sequences. Recently, Single Instruction Multiple Data methods have been used to speed up alignment. However, these algorithms have limitations like being optimized for specific scoring schemes, cannot handle large gaps, or require quadratic time computation.

Results

We propose a new algorithm called block aligner for aligning nucleotide and protein sequences. It greedily shifts and grows a block of computed scores to span large gaps within the aligned sequences. This greedy approach is able to only compute a fraction of the DP matrix. In exchange for these features, there is no guarantee that the computed scores are accurate compared to full DP. However, in our experiments, we show that block aligner performs accurately on various realistic datasets, and it is up to 9 times faster than the popular Farrar’s algorithm for protein global alignments.

Conclusions

Our algorithm has applications in computing global alignments and X-drop alignments on proteins and long reads. It is available as a Rust library at https://github.com/Daniel-Liu-c0deb0t/block-aligner.
Molecular signature of postmortem lung tissue from COVID-19 patients suggests distinct trajectories driving mortality
Authors: Budhraja Anshul , Basu Anubhav , Gheware Atish , Abhilash Dasari , Rajagopala Seesandra , Pakala Suman , Sumit Madhuresh , Ray Animesh , Arulselvi S , Mathur Purva , Nambirajan Aruna , Kumar Sachin , Gupta Ritu , Wig Naveet , Trikha Anjan , Guleria Randeep , Sarkar Chitra , Gupta Ishaan , Jain Deepali
Published: November 2021

The precise molecular mechanisms behind life-threatening lung abnormalities during severe SARS-CoV-2 infections are still unclear. To address this challenge, we performed whole transcriptome sequencing of lung autopsies from 31 patients suffering from severe COVID-19 related complications and 10 uninfected controls. Using a metatranscriptome analysis of lung tissue samples we identified the existence of two distinct molecular signatures of lethal COVID-19. The dominant “classical” signature (n=23) showed upregulation of unfolded protein response, steroid biosynthesis and complement activation supported by massive metabolic reprogramming leading to characteristic lung damage. The rarer signature (n=8) potentially representing “Cytokine Release Syndrome” (CRS) showed upregulation of cytokines such IL1 and CCL19 but absence of complement activation and muted inflammation. Further, dissecting expression of individual genes within enriched pathways for patient signature suggests heterogeneity in host response to the primary infection. We found that the majority of patients cleared the SARS-CoV-2 infection, but all suffered from acute dysbiosis with characteristic enrichment of opportunistic pathogens such asStaphylococcus cohniiin “classical” patients andPasteurella multocidain CRS patients. Our results suggest two distinct models of lung pathology in severe COVID-19 patients that can be identified through the status of the complement activation, presence of specific cytokines and characteristic microbiome. This information can be used to design personalized therapy to treat COVID-19 related complications corresponding to patient signature such as using the identified drug molecules or mitigating specific secondary infections.
Nuclear Progestin Receptor Mediated Linkage of Blood Coagulation and Ovulation
Authors: Huang Jing , Sun Chao , Liu Dong Teng , Zhao Nan Nan , Shavit Jordan A. , Zhu Yong , Chen Shi Xi
Published: November 2021

Ovulation is a dramatic remodeling process that includes rupture of blood capillaries and clotting, but coagulation is not thought to directly regulate this process. Herein, we report remarkable increases of coagulation factors V (f5, ∼3145-fold) and tissue factor (f3a, ∼120-fold) in zebrafish ovarian follicle cells during ovulation. This increase was mediated through the nuclear progestin receptor (Pgr), which is essential for ovulation in zebrafish, and was totally abolished in ovarian follicular cells from pgr-/- mutants. In addition, promoter activities of f5 and f3a were significantly enhanced by progestin (DHP) via Pgr. Similar regulation of human F5 promoter activity was induced via human PGRB, suggesting a conserved mechanism. Site-directed mutagenesis of the zebrafish f5 promoter further demonstrated a direct regulation of coagulation factors via progestin response elements. Moreover, a stark increase of erythrocytes occurred in capillaries meshed in wildtype preovulatory follicles but was absent in pgr-/- mutants. Interestingly, anticoagulants significantly inhibited ovulation both in vitro and in vivo, respectively. Furthermore, reduced fecundity was observed in f5+/- female zebrafish. Taken together, our study provides plausible evidence for steroid regulation of coagulation factors, and a new hypothesis for blood clotting triggered ovulation in vertebrates.
An active learning framework improves tumor variant interpretation
Authors: Blee Alexandra M. , Li Bian , Pecen Turner , Meiler Jens , Nagel Zachary D. , Capra John A. , Chazin Walter J.
Published: November 2021

For precision medicine to reach its full potential for treatment of cancer and other diseases, protein variant effect prediction tools are needed that characterize variants of unknown significance (VUS) in a patient’s genome with respect to their likelihood to influence treatment response and outcomes. However, the performance of most variant prediction tools is limited by the difficulty of acquiring sufficient training and validation data. To overcome these limitations, we applied an iterative active learning approach starting from available biochemical, evolutionary, and functional annotations. The potential of active learning to improve variant interpretation was first demonstrated by applying it to synthetic and deep mutational scanning (DMS) datasets for four cancer-relevant proteins. We then probed its utility to guide interpretation and functional validation of tumor VUS in a potential biomarker for cancer therapy sensitivity, the nucleotide excision repair (NER) protein Xeroderma Pigmentosum Complementation Group A (XPA). A quantitative high-throughput cell-based NER activity assay, fluorescence-based multiplex flow-cytometric host cell reactivation (FM-HCR), was used to validate XPA VUS selected by the active learning strategy. In all cases, selecting VUS for validation by active learning yielded an improvement in performance over traditional learning. These analyses suggest that active learning is well-suited to significantly improve interpretation of VUS and cancer patient genomes.
The tongue biofilm metatranscriptome identifies metabolic pathways associated with halitosis and its prevention
Authors: Carda-Diéguez M. , Rosier B.T. , Lloret S. , Llena C. , Mira A.
Published: November 2021

Halitosis is an oral condition caused by an increase in the concentration of volatile sulfur compounds (VSCs), such as methyl mercaptan and hydrogen sulfide, generated as a consequence of bacterial metabolism on the tongue biofilm. Microbial communities on the tongue of halitosis patients have been studied by bacterial culture, 16S rRNA taxonomic studies and metagenomics. However, there are currently no reports on the microbial gene-expression profiles. In this study, we performed RNAseq of tongue coating samples from control individuals and halitosis patients with different levels and composition of VSCs, as determined by gas chromatography. In this metatranscriptomic study, the activity of Streptococcus, Veillonella and Rothia species was associated with halitosis-free individuals while Prevotella, Fusobacterium and Leptotrichia species were associated with halitosis. Although methyl mercaptan is considered an indicator of halitosis, the metatranscriptome of patients in which only this VSC was present in elevated levels was similar to that of halitosis-free individuals. Veillonella dispar, Streptococcus parasanguinis and Rothia mucilaginosa were over-represented in halitosis-free communities in comparison to the rest of the groups, suggesting that these species could be used as a halitosis-free biomarkers. In contrast, the abundance of Prevotella shahi and Fusobacterium nucleatum were significantly higher when hydrogen sulfide concentration was over the established halitosis-threshold, making these species putative halitosis biomarkers. Finally, gene expression profiles showed a significant over-expression of genes involved in L-cysteine and L-homocysteine synthesis in halitosis-free individuals and an over-expression of genes responsible for cysteine degradation into hydrogen sulfide in halitosis patients. In addition, nitrate reduction into nitrite was also over-expressed in halitosis-free patients. In conclusion, halitosis was associated with communities that degrade amino acids and reduce sulfide, whereas tongue communities that produce L-cysteine from hydrogen sulfide and that reduce nitrate were associated with the absence of halitosis. The latter could provide new strategies to treat this condition.
On the transfer of theoretical multipole parameters for restoring static electron density and revealing and treating atomic anharmonic motion. Features of chemical bonding in crystals of an isocyanuric acid derivative
Authors: Shteingolts Sergey A. , Voronina Julia K. , Saifina Liliya F. , Shulaeva Marina M. , Semenov Vyacheslav E. , Fayzullin Robert R.
Published: November 2021

The crystal and electronic structure of an isocyanuric acid derivative was studied by high-resolution single-crystal X-ray diffraction within the Hansen–Coppens multipole formalism. The observed deformation electron density shows signs of thermal smearing. The experimental picture meaningfully assigned to the consequences of unmodelled anharmonic atomic motion. Straightforward simultaneous refinement of all parameters, including Gram–Charlier coefficients, resulted in more significant distortion of apparent static electron density, even though the residual density became significantly flatter and more featureless. Further, the method of transferring multipole parameters from the model refined against theoretical structure factors as an initial guess was employed, followed by the subsequent block refinement of Gram–Charlier coefficients and the other parameters. This procedure allowed us to appropriately distinguish static electron density from the contaminant smearing effects of insufficiently accounted atomic motion. In particular, some covalent bonds and the weak π...π interaction between isocyanurate moieties were studied via the mutual penetration of atomic-like kinetic and electrostatic potential φ-basins with complementary atomic ρ-basins. Further, local electronic temperature was applied as an advanced descriptor for both covalent bonds and noncovalent interactions. Total probability density function (PDF) of nuclear displacement showed virtually no negative regions close to and around the atomic nuclei. The distribution of anharmonic PDF to a certain extent matched the residual electron density from the multipole model before anharmonic refinement. No signs of disordering of the sulfonyl group hidden in the modelled anharmonic motion were found in the PDF.
Interpreting the different emissive properties of cyclic triimidazole-based CuI and AgI coordination polymers: a QTAIM and IQA study
Authors: Forni Alessandra , Cariati Elena , Carlucci Lucia , Lucenti Elena , Marinotto Daniele , Pieraccini Stefano , Sironi Maurizio
Published: November 2021

A QTAIM and IQA investigation on model compounds of two isostructural AgI and CuI coordination polymers (CPs) based on cyclic triimidazole (L), i.e. the [MIL]
n
1D double-stranded stair chain and the [MClL]
n
3D network (M = Cu, Ag), has allowed light to be shed on the different emissive behaviour associated with the two metal ions. According to a previously reported investigation [Malpicci et al. (2021). Inorg. Chem. Front.
8, 1312–1323], AgI CPs showed both fluorescence and multiple ligand-centred room-temperature phosphorescences, whereas CuI CPs displayed non-thermally equilibrated halogen and metal-to-ligand charge transfer and two ligand-centred phosphorescences, the latter observed only by their selective activation. Analysis of both local and integral QTAIM descriptors, including delocalization indices and source function, of the Ag—N and Cu—N bonds reveals a higher covalent and local character for the latter, explaining the greater metal–ligand electronic communication observed for the Cu compounds. Moreover, IQA investigation shows that the Cu—N bond is characterized by higher interaction energy, due to both higher electrostatic and exchange-correlation contributions. Analysis on the M—X (M = Ag, Cu; X = I, Cl) bonds, also present in these structures, highlights a much higher covalent and local character with respect to the M—N bonds.
Synthesis and crystal structure of racemic (R*,R*)-2,2′-(1,4-phenylene)bis(3-phenyl-2,3,5,6-tetrahydro-4H-1,3-thiazin-4-one)
Authors: Yennawar Hemant P. , Medica Joseph J. , Silverberg Lee J.
Published: November 2021

In the racemic title compound, C26H24N2O2S2, one of the thiazine rings shows a twisted boat conformation (Q = 0.743 Å, θ = 92.1°) and the other a half-chair puckering (Q = 0.669 Å, θ = 54.3°). The terminal phenyl rings are almost parallel to each other [dihedral angle 21.71 (10)°]. Both of these rings are orthogonal to the central phenyl ring, subtending a dihedral angle of about 78° in each case. The extended structure is consolidated by C—H...O and C—H...S hydrogen bonds as well as aromatic ring interactions of parallel-displaced and T-type. The molecule has approximate C2 local symmetry but this is not carried over to its three-dimensional structure or the intermolecular interactions.
Islamic finance and economic growth: the Turkish experiment
Authors: Ledhem Mohammed Ayoub , Mekidiche Mohammed
Published: November 2021

Purpose

This study aims to empirically investigate the connection between Islamic finance and economic growth in Turkey using the endogenous growth model.

Design/methodology/approach

It applies quantile regression with the Markov chain marginal bootstrap resampling technique by adopting total Islamic financing as the main exogenous explanatory factor in the endogenous growth model, while the gross domestic product (GDP) is employed as a measure of economic growth. The sample consists of all full-fledged participation (Islamic) banks operating in Turkey spanning from 2013Q4 until 2019Q4. The study uses academic literature, official financial reports from the Participation Banks Association of Turkey, REDmoney Group, Islamic Financial Services Board (IFSB) and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) database.

Findings

The results show that Islamic finance is promoting economic growth in Turkey, which mirrors the success of the New Turkish Economy Program (2019–2021) which aims at boosting economic growth by enhancing the Islamic finance share in the Turkish banking sector and the global market.

Research limitations/implications

Turkey has a dual banking system (conventional and participation (Islamic)) and both can influence the country's real economy. This study is limited to the influence of Islamic banking on Turkish economic growth. The study also restricts its size and coverage from 2013Q4 to 2019Q4, to cover the years over which data for all variables included in the research are available.

Practical implications

This paper suggests the adoption of the Turkish successful experiment as a path to reach economic growth by increasing the Islamic finance share in the banking industry for countries that seek to promote economic growth by Islamic finance, as the findings of this paper support.

Originality/value

This study is the first that examines the influence of Islamic finance on economic growth under a new theoretical framework of the endogenous growth model in Turkey using a robust non-parametric approach.
Green market orientation and organizational performance in Taiwan’s electric and electronic industry: the mediating role of green supply chain management capability
Authors: Borazon Elaine Quintana , Huang Yi-Chun , Liu Jen-Ming
Published: November 2021

Purpose

Green sustainability has become a critical challenge for businesses to execute green supply chain management (GSCM). Most of the literature on GSCM emphasizes regulations as drivers and few pieces of research are conducted from an internal organizational culture view. This study aims to use the cultural perspective of market orientation (MO) and draws on both the natural resource-based view (NRBV) and dynamic capability view (DCV) to explore the relationships among green market orientation (GMO), GSCM capability and organizational performance.

Design/methodology/approach

A total of 1,000 survey questionnaires were distributed to the Taiwanese electronics industry and 207 valid questionnaires were collected. Data was analyzed using structural equation modeling.

Findings

The results show that GMOs have a significant positive impact on GSCM capability, environmental performance and economic performance. Moreover, GSCM capability is positively related to environmental and economic performance. The results also show that GMOs have a significant indirect influence on environmental performance and economic performance through GSCM capability.

Practical implications

The findings of this study suggest how Taiwan’s electrical and electronic manufacturers, while faced with pressure from competitors, customers and regulations (i.e. waste electrical and electronic equipment directive, Restriction of Hazardous Substances Directive and energy-using products directives), should efficiently and effectively implement GMO and enhance GSCM capability to improve organizational performance.

Originality/value

This study fills up the gap between MO and performance indistinct relationships. It has also integrated two perspectives, namely, NRBV and DCV, to explain GSCM capability as a mediator between GMO and organizational performance relationship and to examine the relationships among GMO, GSCM capability and organizational performance.
Service recovery performance and repurchase intentions: the mediation effect of service quality at KFC
Authors: Amoako George Kofi , Caesar Livingstone Divine , Dzogbenuku Robert Kwame , Bonsu Gifty Agyeiwah
Published: November 2021

Purpose

This paper investigates the effects of service quality on customer satisfaction and repurchase intentions among customers of the KFC Fast Food Restaurant Chains.

Design/methodology/approach

In total, 500 randomly sampled KFC restaurant customers were surveyed using a quantitative research design. The partial least square technique was used for data analysis.

Findings

This paper shows that service quality and recovery directly impact customers' repurchase intention. The results further showed that a positive and significant connection exists between customer satisfaction and repurchase intentions.

Practical implications

The study recommends that KFC utilizes service quality dimensions to meet their customers' expectations and elicit repurchase intentions necessary to remain competitive in the fast-food industry.

Originality/value

This paper highlights the impact of service quality in developing loyal customers in the fast-food sector. It offers managers insight into understanding the factors positively impacting repurchase intentions and the nexus between service recovery performance and repurchase intentions from an emerging market perspective.
Implications of green HRM on the firm's green competitive advantage: the mediating role of enablers of green culture
Authors: Muisyo Paul , Su Qin , Ho Thu Hau , Julius Mercy Muthoni , Usmani Muhammad Shahjahan
Published: November 2021

Purpose

The available literature demonstrates that green human resource management (GHRM) practices enhance the firm's green performance. However, the studies fail to show how GHRM practices give rise to green culture and how such green culture influences the green competitiveness of a firm. Anchored on the Ability Motivation Opportunity (AMO) theory, this study investigates how firms can build green competitive advantage from GHRM. The study focuses on four enablers of green culture (EGC): leadership emphasis, message credibility, peer involvement and employee empowerment. The study tests the mediating role of each EGC in the relationship between GHRM and green competitive advantage (GCA). The study findings provide managers with a deeper understanding of how GHRM supports the development of the EGC and how they explain the firm's GCA.

Design/methodology/approach

Data was collected from a large-scale survey of Malaysia's manufacturing firm. We managed to collect 96 valid and useable questionnaires.

Findings

We find that GHRM practices give rise to EGC and the EGC mediate the relationship between GHRM and GCA.

Originality/value

The study presents the EGC in the green competitiveness context and goes further to test its mediating role in the GHRM–GCA relationship. We also develop a novel conceptual framework that manufacturing firms can deploy to attain green competitive advantage.
Exploitative leadership and organizational cynicism: the mediating role of emotional exhaustion
Authors: Elsaied Mervat
Published: November 2021

Purpose

The paper aims to clarify the relationship between exploitative leadership (EL) and organizational cynicism (OC). Besides, it aims also to examine the mediating role of emotional exhaustion (EE) underpinning this relation.

Design/methodology/approach

The data were collected by a questionnaire from 491 employees, who work in four telecom firms.

Findings

The paper provides empirical insights about how EL influenced OC; it suggested that EE fully mediated the positive relationship between EL and OC.

Originality/value

To the author’s knowledge, it is the first study to address the relationship between exploitative leadership and organizational cynicism. In addition, it is the first one to explore the mediating mechanism of emotional exhaustion underpinning this relation.
Experimental investigations on the drilling parameters to minimize delamination and taperness of hybrid GFRP/Al2O3 composites by using ANOVA approach
Authors: Mahesh Gadhamsetty Guru , Kandasamy Jayakrishna
Published: November 2021

Purpose

Drilling holes in composite materials is a complex and challenging process because of their intrinsic anisotropic characteristics and unevenness compared to conventional metals. Hybridization of composites enhances the strength and hardness of the material but makes it more difficult to drill a hole in it. The purpose of this study is to optimize the drilling to minimize the delamination and taperness of hybrid glass fiber reinforced plastic (GFRP)/Al2O3 composites.

Design/methodology/approach

The present study investigates the impact of drilling parameters on delamination of the drilled hole and the taperness of the hole on hybrid GFRP/Al2O3. Optimum drilling conditions for minimizing delamination and taperness of the hole are determined to enhance the hole quality. Feed (f), speed (N) and drill diameter (D) are the parameters taken into consideration for drilling operation. By applying Taguchi’s signal-to-noise ratio analysis, process parameters have been optimized to reduce the delamination and taperness of holes on Hybrid GFRP/Al2O3 composites. The effect of process parameters was analyzed using the analysis of variance method.

Findings

The investigational results confirmed that the delamination is positively affected by speed, drill diameter and feed rate. Also, the taperness of the hole is positively affected by the drill diameter. Regression-based models were developed to predict the delamination and taperness of the hole matched with the experimental results, which are attained with an order of 95% and 97%.

Originality/value

Minimum delamination was found at the optimum condition of drill diameter 10 mm, feed at 0.225 mm/rev and the speed at 151 rpm and minimum taperness were found at the optimum condition of drill diameter 10 mm, feed at level 0.3 mm/rev and speed at 86 rpm for hybrid laminate composite (S-glass+ GFRP/Al2O3) were evaluated.
The future of work: a systematic literature review
Authors: Mitchell Rebecca , Shen Yun , Snell Lan
Published: November 2021

This paper provides a systematic review of literature pertaining to the future of work. Since the early 1990s, scholars have been engaged in research to better understand workplace culture change. By conducting a state‐of‐the‐art literature review, we identify the 32 most influential publications in the field that have developed into four distinct categories and we review each of these to identify the main contributions of these research areas. With a highlight on possible pathways for future research, this paper outlines these emerging trends to integrate on existing knowledge and pursue innovative research opportunities to expand the research frontier.
Short‐term effects of a social media‐based intervention on the physical and mental health of remotely working young software professionals: A randomised controlled trial
Authors: Muniswamy Prabhu , Gorhe Varadayini , Parashivakumar Lavanya , Chandrasekaran Baskaran
Published: November 2021

The present study aimed to explore the short term effects of a social media‐based intervention on the physical and mental health of the software professionals working remotely during the pandemic. Sixty software professionals with poor physical and mental health were randomised to Facebook‐based intervention (FIIT) and a control (CONT) group for 2 months. Forty‐six remote workers (26.25 ± 3.49 years) completed the study (FIIT = 22; CONT = 26). All the respondents had the median sitting time (7.07 ± 2.30 h/day) during office hours on workdays. We found a significant difference in the sitting time during office hours in workday within the subjects (F1,46 = 4.66; p < .004; ηp2 = .048) and between the subjects (F1,46 = 3.81; p < .004; ηp2 = .040). Post hoc analysis revealed participants in the FIIT group reduced their sitting time by 58 min during office hours during a typical workday compared with the control group. Nevertheless, we found a significant difference in the scores of stress, anxiety and depression within and between the groups. Short‐term social media‐based physical and mental health intervention may improve physical and mental health scores in the desk‐based office workers working remotely.
Risk factors for sinus membrane perforation during lateral window maxillary sinus floor elevation surgery: A retrospective study
Authors: Shao Qin , Li Jialu , Pu Rui , Feng Yuting , Jiang Zhiwei , Yang Guoli
Published: November 2021

Purpose

To analyze the sinus membrane perforation (SMP) rate and its potential risk factors during lateral window maxillary sinus floor elevation (LSFE).

Materials and methods

For patients with LSFEs at Department of Implantology, Stomatology Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang Universitiy during January 2014 to December 2020, patient‐related risk factors (age/sex/smoking habit), surgery‐related risk factors (operator experiment/number of tooth units/technique of osteotomy/surgical approach), and maxillary sinus‐related risk factors (residual bone height/sinus membrane thickness/lateral wall thickness/maxillary sinus contours/presence of septa/blood vessels at the lateral maxillary sinus wall) were compared between perforated and nonperforated sites and were evaluated for their influence affecting SMP.

Results

The study sample comprised 278 LSFE procedures in 278 patients; a total of 47 LSFE procedures (16.91%) presented SMP. Four significant factors were identified: smoking habit (p < 0.001), thin (≤1.5 mm) sinus membrane (p = 0.027), maxillary sinus contours (p < 0.001), and presence of septa (p = 0.001). The SMP rate of irregular, narrow tapered, and tapering sinus contours was significantly higher than that of ovoid and square one (p < 0.05).

Conclusion

In general, smoking habit, thin sinus membrane, irregular, narrow tapered, and tapering sinus contours, and presence of septa may increase the risk of SMP during LSFE.
Microhabitat use and seasonality of the sexually dimorphic West African centaurus beetle Augosoma centaurus
Authors: Dendi Daniele , Ajong Stephanie N. , Eniang Edem A. , Segniagbeto Gabriel Hoinsoudé , Assou Delagnon , Ketoh Guillaume K. , Gomina Mondjonnesso , Radji Raoufou , Demaya Gift Simon , Benansio John Sebit , Muscarella Calogero , Di Vittorio Massimiliano , Fa Julia E. , Amori Giovanni , Luiselli Luca
Published: November 2021

The sexually dimorphic dynastine centaurus beetle, genus Augosoma (Coleoptera: Scarabeidae), is endemic to tropical Africa where two species are found (A. centaurus and A. hippocrates). These beetles are consumed by rural populations, cause damage in plantations and are targets of insect collectors and traders. We present information on size differences and analyzed intersexual niche divergence and seasonality of A. centaurus in seven study sites in three West African countries (Ivory Coast, Togo and Nigeria). We recorded 711 light‐attracted and/or opportunistically encountered individuals, as well as another 97 beetles in standardized transect surveys. In the latter, we found the adult sex ratio was equal, but was significantly skewed towards females in light‐attracted and/or opportunistically encountered individuals. In a sample of 298 adult beetles, males were significantly larger than females, with almost no size overlap between sexes. Beetle activity was highly seasonal with most animals observed in November, active from 19:00 h to 24:00 h. Differences in habitat use were not significant between sexes, with most individuals observed in secondary forest. Males were found higher on vegetation than females and beetles of both sexes were found on Pandanus and raffia palms. Beetles were larger in sites with more vegetation cover, and there was a significant effect of tree species on body size of both sexes. Study area or country had no effect on any of the studied parameters. Our study confirms that transect surveys without light trapping can be an effective tool for understanding large‐sized tropical beetles of similar ecological characteristics.
The successful use of polylactide wound dressings for chronic lower leg wounds: A retrospective analysis
Authors: Nischwitz Sebastian P. , Popp Daniel , Shubitidze David , Luze Hanna , Zrim Robert , Klemm Klaus , Rapp Matthias , Haller Herbert L. , Feisst Manuel , Kamolz Lars‐Peter
Published: November 2021

Chronic wounds are a challenging medical entity for patients, medical professionals and healthcare systems. Frequently, patients present themselves to wound specialists after months or even years of unsuccessful treatment. Recent developments have resulted in a multitude of different advanced wound dressings created to treat complex, chronic wounds, one of which is the polylactide dressing Suprathel. This study aimed at investigating the healing potential of Suprathel in chronic wounds and differentiating between old and “young”, diabetic and non‐diabetic chronic wounds. A prospective, multicentric, non‐controlled intervention study was conducted, treating patients with chronic lower leg ulcers (>3 months) with Suprathel and assessing them weekly. Afterwards, a retrospective analysis was performed analysing the wound size initially, after 4 and after 8 weeks of treatment. Furthermore, a differentiation between diabetic and non‐diabetic, and chronic wounds older and younger than 12 months, was assessed. A significant reduction in wound size was observed in the study population after 8 weeks of treatment. The effect size in the diabetic wound and the old chronic wound group even reached more than one, with the other groups still showing a large effect of the intervention. This study shows that Suprathel is a valuable tool in the armamentarium of a wound specialist. Not only could we show a positive effect on chronic wounds, we could even demonstrate a significant wound size reduction in chronic wounds of old and young, as well as diabetic wounds, with the treatment of older chronic and diabetic wounds yielding an even larger effect size. Further randomised, controlled studies are necessary to show the full potential of advanced wound dressing materials in large patient cohorts.
Exploring chronic disease prevalence in people with intellectual disabilities in primary care settings: A scoping review
Authors: van den Bemd Milou , Cuypers Maarten , Bischoff Erik W. M. A. , Heutmekers Marloes , Schalk Bianca , Leusink Geraline L.
Published: November 2021

Background

Primary care providers require accurate evidence on chronic disease prevalence in people with intellectual disabilities in order to apply this information into practice. This study aimed to map the broadness of literature on chronic disease prevalence in people with and without intellectual disabilities, and to explore main characteristics of these studies.

Method

A scoping review of peer‐reviewed literature was conducted, covering 2000 to February 2020, including literature that discussed chronic disease prevalence in people with and without intellectual disabilities, with similar data collection method for both groups.

Results

Nineteen studies were included. Chronic disease prevalence varied considerably between people with and without intellectual disabilities. Studies differed in their methodologies, country and age groups that were enrolled.

Conclusions

Primary care providers should interpret results on disease prevalence among people with intellectual disabilities in light of the study characteristics. Researchers should always interpret prevalence rates in the context of methodology.
Association between remnant cholesterol and arterial stiffness: A secondary analysis based on a cross‐sectional study
Authors: Wang Zhenwei , Li Min , Xie Jing , Gong Jing , Liu Naifeng
Published: November 2021

The relationship between conventional lipid parameters and arterial stiffness (AS) has been verified by previous studies. However, it remains unknown whether non‐conventional lipid parameters have certain predictive effect on AS represented by brachial‐ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV). Therefore, the study was to explore the relationship between remnant cholesterol (RC) and other non‐conventional lipid parameters and AS in the general population free from cardiovascular disease. The study included 912 participants aged 24–84 years from a medical health checkup center of Murakami Memorial Hospital. Logistic regression analysis and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were used to examine the association between non‐conventional lipid parameters and AS. The results showed that compared with non‐AS group, the AS group had higher RC, non‐high‐density lipoprotein cholesterol (Non‐HDL‐C), atherogenic index of plasma (AIP), lipoprotein combine index (LCI), atherosclerosis index (AI), triglycerides/HDL‐C (TG/HDL‐C), Castelli's risk index I (CRI‐I) and Castelli's risk index II (CRI‐II). Then, the authors divided participants into two groups by the optimal cutoff point of 23.6 of RC determined by Youden index. The baPWV was significantly higher in higher RC group compared with lower RC group, and RC was positively correlated with baPWV. Multivariate Logistic regression analysis showed that, regarding lower RC as reference, higher RC was independently associated with higher risk of AS, independent of other risk factors (OR = 1.794, 95% CI: 1.267‐2.539, p = .001). The area under the curve of AS predicted by RC was higher than that of other non‐conventional lipid parameters (almost all p < .05). The findings indicated that increased RC was a significant predictor of AS.
The COVID‐19 pandemic: Analysing nursing risk, care and careerscapes
Authors: Thompson Lee , Bidwell Susan , Seaton Philippa
Published: November 2021

This qualitative study explores how junior nurses, and some who were still in training, navigated the complexities and uncertainties engendered by the COVID‐19 pandemic. Data are drawn from in‐depth interviews with 18 students/nurses in Christchurch, New Zealand. Managing intertwining risk, care and careerscapes takes an intensified form as existing infection control rules, established norms of care, boundaries between home and work and expected career trajectories roil. ‘Safe’ and ‘risky’ spaces are porous but maintained using contextual, critical, clinical judgement. Carescapes are stretched, both within and beyond the walls of healthcare settings. Within the COVID‐19 riskscape, careerscapes are open to both threat and opportunity. Countries demand much of their healthcare staff in times of heath crises, but have a limited appreciation of what it takes to translate seemingly tightly bounded protocols into effective practice. The labour required in this work of translation is navigated moment by moment. To surface some of this invisible work, those implementing pandemic plans may need to more carefully consider how to incorporate attention to the work/home/public boundary as well as overtly acknowledging the invisible emotional, physical and intellectual labour carried out in crisis risk, care and careerscapes.
Latent profile analysis of stress and resilience among rural women: A cross‐sectional study
Authors: Abbott Laurie S. , Killian Michael O. , Graven Lucinda J. , Williams Krystal J.
Published: November 2021

Stress is a cardiovascular disease risk factor, and resilience may serve as a buffer for stress. Little is known about stress and resilience among rural women.

Objective: The purposes of this study were to identify profiles of rural women based upon indicators of psychosocial and environmental stress and to examine the relationships between the identified profiles and resilience.

Design and sample: A cross‐sectional, descriptive design was used to explore stress, social support, and resilience among a representative sample of women (n = 354).

Measures: Data were collected to measure perceived stress, social support, chronic stress, and resilience.

Results: A latent profile analysis identified three profiles (59.9% Low Stress, 25.4% Moderate Stress, and 14.7% High Stress). Women in the High Stress profile were less likely to afford necessities and have attended college and more likely to be employed. Women in the Low Stress profile had the highest scores for all five resilience subscales.

Conclusion: The current study demonstrates the social and environmental impact of stress and how this stress can manifest differently for different women. Underserved women may benefit from strategies that reduce stress and improve social support and resilience. Future research is needed for advancing health equity in rural populations.
Brain activation related to the tactile perception of touching ridged texture using fingers
Authors: Tang Wei , Shu Yunxiao , Bai Shengjie , Peng Yuxing , Yang Lei , Liu Rui
Published: November 2021

Background

Humans can recognize the physical properties of objects by touching them, even when vision is unavailable. Tactile perception is important for humans in interacting with the environment. The triangular ridged textures are usually added to surface to improve the grip reliability of products, but the sharp edge of triangular ridge induces sharp and uncomfortable feeling.

Materials and methods

To study the effect of the edge shape of triangular ridged texture on brain activity, functional magnetic resonance imaging technique was used to obtain the blood oxygen level‐dependent (BOLD) signal of subjects during the touching of textured surfaces. Samples with sharp, round, and flat shape ridged textures were chosen as the tactile stimulus.

Results

The contralateral postcentral gyrus, the precentral gyrus, the inferior parietal lobule, and the supramarginal gyrus, corresponding with the functional regions of the primary somatosensory cortex (SI), the secondary somatosensory cortex (SII), and the primary motor cortex (MI) were related to the perception of three shape ridged textures. The main brain activation located in the postcentral gyrus and the SI. The tactile information of three shape ridged textures was received by Brodmann area (BA) 3 of the SI, and then inputted to BA 2 of the SI, the further tactile discrimination of shape of ridged textures was involved in BA40 of the SII. The intensity, the areas, and the percent signal change (PSC) of brain activation that were evoked by different shape ridged textures were related to the geometric structures of the ridged textures. The more complex the geometric structures of texture are, the larger the intensity, the area, and the PSC in brain activation are. The negative BOLD responses of the ipsilateral sensory cortex that were evoked by the flat ridged texture indicated the ipsilateral neuronal inhibition within the sensory systems. The bilateral precuneus, the superior parietal gyrus, and the inferior parietal gyrus, corresponding with the functional areas of the SII (BA40) and the SSA(BA7), were involved in the tactile discriminate of the differences in shapes of ridged textures. The differences in brain activation were related to the differences in geometric structures of the ridged texture. The larger the differences in geometric structure of texture are, the larger the differences in brain activation are. This study revealed the activated location of brain related to the tactile stimulation of different edge shape of ridged textures and the relationship between the geometric structures of ridged texture and brain activities. This research contributes to optimize surface tactile characteristics on products, especially effective surface textures design for good grip.
Parameterizing the Effects of Tumor Shape in Magnetic Nanoparticle Thermotherapy Through a Computational Approach
Authors: Singh Amritpal , Kumar Neeraj
Published: November 2021

In this work, effects of tumor shape on magnetic nanoparticle hyperthermia (MNPH) are investigated and evaluated using four categories (spherical, oblate, prolate, and egg-shape) of tumor models having different morphologies. These tumors have equal volume; however, due to the differences in their shapes, they have different surface areas. The shape of tumors is quantified in terms of shape factor (ζ). Simulations for MNPH are done on the physical model constituting tumor tissue enclosed within the healthy tissue. Magnetic hyperthermia is applied (frequency 150 kHz, and magnetic field amplitude 20.5 kA/m) to all tumor models, for 1 h, after injection of magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) at the respective tumor centroids. The distribution of MNPs after injection is considered Gaussian. The governing model (Pennes' bioheat model) of heat transfer in biological media is solved with the finite volume-immersed boundary (FV-IB) method to simulate MNPH. Therapeutic effects are calculated using the Arrhenius tissue damage model, cumulative equivalent minutes at 43 °C (CEM 43), and heterogeneity in temperature profiles of the tumors. Results show that the therapeutic effects of MNPH depend significantly on the shape of a tumor. Tumors with higher shape factors receive less therapeutic effects in comparison to the tumors having lower shape factors. An empirical thermal damage model is also developed to assess the MNPH efficacy in real complex-shaped tumors.