bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Design and Fabrication of Solar Dryer System for Food Preservation of Vegetables or Fruit
Authors: Kumar Ankit , Singh Kamred Udham , Singh Mukesh Kumar , Kushwaha Alok Kumar Singh , Kumar Abhishek , Mahato Shambhu
Published: April 2022

Food preservation has been practised in many parts of the world for thousands of years, and it applies to a wide range of foods, including fruits, vegetables, cereals, and meat. Food preservation techniques are canning, freezing, pickling, curing (smoking or salting), and drying. Food spoilage caused by moisture is caused by the growth of mould, yeast, bacteria, and enzymes in the food. The drying process removes enough moisture from food to significantly reduce the humidity level’s likelihood of these adverse outcomes. The material's content measures how much moisture is present in that substance. The moisture content of fresh food can range from 20 to 90 percent depending on the type of food consumed. There will be no signs of moisture in food that has been thoroughly dried before being chopped. We used the experimental analysis in this study to create a mathematical model that could be used to determine which parameter was most important in the design of a solar dryer. In the future, the model is expected to be a helpful design tool for estimating the short- and long-term performance of a solar dryer under load and overload scenarios. The simulation of a solar dryer system has been performed under conditions such as the gap between the glass and the absorber plate, and the impact of hole size. The optimal hole size and spacing between the glass and the absorber plate are determined.
Identifying Smart Strategies for Effective Agriculture Solution Using Data Mining Techniques
Authors: Suarez Anthony Jesus Bustamante , Singh Barjinder , Almukhtar Firas Husham , Kler Rajnish , Vyas Sonali , Kaliyaperumal Karthikeyan
Published: April 2022

Agricultural producers and enterprises face a dizzying array of decisions every day, and the many factors that influence them are incredibly complex. Agricultural planning relies heavily on accurately calculating the yields of the various crops that will be used. If you want realistic and successful solutions, data mining is an essential component. Researchers in this study are looking for ways to evaluate agricultural data and extract valuable information from the results in order to increase agricultural output. Use of the CART and random forest algorithms is a data mining technique that may be used to various datasets. It is possible to recognise the effects of various climatic and other factors on agricultural output using the MATLAB software and data mining methods, and a potential strategy is highlighted.
Process Optimization of Biodiesel Production Using the Laplacian Harris Hawk Optimization (LHHO) Algorithm
Authors: Sharma Ashutosh , Saxena Akash , Dinkar Shail Kumar , Kumar Rajesh , Al-Sumaiti Ameena Saad
Published: April 2022

Continuous power consumption from standard fuel resources is responsible for producing large-scale environmental greenhouse gases. Production of biodiesel fuels from the vegetable oils can be considered an alternative source. Effect of greenhouse gases can also be diminished. The production of biodiesel is done by a chemical process namely transesterification and usually maximized by using the Response Surface Methodology (RSM) tool. This paper presents a new approach to optimize the production of biodiesel by introducing a new variant of recently published metaheuristic Harris Hawk Optimization (HHO). The developed variant is based on the replacement of random numbers of normal distribution at the initialization phase by the random numbers generated from the Laplacian distribution. The proposed variant is named as the Laplacian Harris Hawk Optimization (LHHO) algorithm. The contribution of this paper is in twofold: firstly the performance of the proposed algorithm is verified over a well-known set of benchmark functions, and then, we applied the LHHO to maximize biodiesel production. Comparison of LHHO is carried out with five other recent metaheuristic algorithms. An optimization routine is formulated in the form of a single-objective function with a temperature, methanol to oil ratio, and catalyst concentration as the optimization variables. These parameters are optimized to maximize the production of biodiesel. The results obtained using the proposed LHHO show significant improvement as compared to other algorithms.
Comparative Evaluation of Selected Grass Species for Agronomic Performance, Forage Yield, and Chemical Composition in the Highlands of Ethiopia
Authors: Bantihun Aysheshim , Asmare Bimrew , Mekuriaw Yeshambel
Published: April 2022

The study was conducted to determine the effect of different grass species (Brachiaria mutica, Desho, and Napier) and harvesting stages on agronomic performance, forage dry matter yield, and chemical composition. The grass species used were Desho (Pennisetum pedicellatum), Brachiaria (Brachiaria mutica), and Napier (Pennisetum purpureum), and the harvesting stages considered were 60, 90, and 120 days after establishment of grasses, respectively. The data collected included the following: percent plant survival (PS), plant height (PH), number of tillers per plant (NTPP), number of leaves per plant (NLPP), leaf length per plant (LLPP), leaf width per plant (LWPP), number of nodes per plant (NNPP), leaf-to-stem ratio (LSR), dry matter yield (DMY), and chemical composition of the grass species. Samples of grass species were harvested at different ages after establishment, weighed, and dried, and then, ground subsamples were taken for determination of dry matter (DM), ash, organic matter (OM), crude protein (CP), crude protein yield (CPY), acid detergent fiber (ADF), neutral detergent fiber (NDF), and acid detergent lignin (ADL). Results showed that morphological characteristics, forage dry matter yield, and chemical composition of the forage grasses were significantly affected by interactions of species (

P
<
0.001

) and harvesting dates. The highest mean PH (115.2 cm), DMY (11.8 t/ha), and %CP (11.6) were recorded from Brachiaria mutica grass which was followed by Napier grass with mean PH of 87.25 cm and mean DMY of 9.8 t/ha. The %CP content of Desho and Napier grasses declined by 24%, while %CP content of Brachiaria grass declined by 26% with increased harvesting stages. Therefore, among tested grass species, Brachiaria mutica grass was recommended followed by Napier and Desho grass for on-farm evaluation and demonstration in the study area at all harvesting ages. Farmers engaged in forage grass production could seriously consider the harvesting stage as the grasses responded differently to the chemical composition.
Prevention Methods of Fitness and Bodybuilding Exercise Injury Based on Data Mining
Authors: Xie Jun
Published: April 2022

Fitness and bodybuilding are becoming the trend of the development of sports projects today, not only to bring health to the exercisers, but also to keep the body in good condition. However, due to the wrong attitudes and methods of exercisers, they often have negative effects on exercisers, such as sprains, strains, and tendon strains. This article is based on data mining technology to realize the research of exercise injury prevention methods, so firstly, it introduces the steps and applications of data mining technology and highlights the cluster analysis method in data mining technology. Then it discusses the injury factors of fitness and bodybuilding and outlines the best measures to prevent exercise injury. At the same time, the C4.5 algorithm was introduced to realize the processing of the data set, and the effectiveness of preventive measures was proved by investigating the damage of fitness and bodybuilding exercises in 15 clubs in a certain city. The results of the study show that the number of people who exercise more than 3 times a week accounts for 65.6% of the total number of people, which shows that exercisers in a city’s fitness club exercise more frequently each week.
Oral S2-Ag85 DNA Vaccine Activated Intestinal Cell dsDNA and RNA Sensors to Promote the Presentation of Intestinal Antigen
Authors: Sheng Dang , Xin Sui , Dongxing Wu , Shubo Wen , Yang Song , Zeliang Chen , Jingbo Zhai
Published: April 2022

Objective. To explore the molecular mechanism by which oral S2-Ag85DNA vaccines present intestinal antigens. The oral S2-Ag85 vaccine has been shown to protect the human body and effectively improve the titration of the vaccine by acting on intestinal mucosa cells and enhancing their immunogenicity. Method. Mice were immunized with the recombinant S2-Ag85 vaccine, and antibody secretion was then detected in the intestinal tissue. The molecular mechanisms of in vitro detection sensor molecules RIG-1, Pol III, and related conductor transductor molecules DAI, STING, AIM2, IRF3, and IRF7 were determined by separating intestinal IEC, DC, and IELC cells. Results. The S2-Ag85A vaccine was effective in activating dsDNA and RNA transduction pathways in intestinal cells and improving intestinal antigen presentation in mice.
Novel piRNA Regulates PIWIL1 to Modulate the Behavior of Placental Trophoblast Cells and Participates in Preeclampsia
Authors: Lin Jing , Zhou Ye , Gu Wei
Published: April 2022

Objectives. This study is aimed at investigating the role of PIWIL1/piRNA in the development of preeclampsia. Methods. High-throughput sequencing was performed in 5 preeclampsia and 5 normal placentas to get a piRNA expression profile. WGCNA network was constructed to find hub piRNAs. Through target gene prediction and protein interaction network analysis, we found the potential relationship between the key genes and PIWIL1. Subsequently, we detected the expression of PIWIL1 in 35 preeclampsia and 29 normal placental tissues. Overexpression and inhibition of PIWIL1 in HTR-8/SVneo trophoblast cells were achieved by transfecting an overexpression vector and siRNAs, respectively. Cell proliferation, apoptosis, and invasion were assessed using CCK-8, flow cytometric, and transwell assays, respectively. Results. It was found that a total of three piRNAs were upregulated in preeclampsia (pir-hsa-1256314, uniq_271431, and uniq_277797). And two target genes with the highest connectivity (FXR1 and DDX6) both pointed to PIWIL1. PIWIL1 expression was significantly lower in preeclampsia. In vitro studies linked PIWIL1 expression to trophoblast overgrowth. Overexpression of PIWIL1 remarkably promoted cell proliferation and invasion and inhibited apoptosis of HTR-8/SVneo cells and vice versa. Conclusions. PIWIL1/piRNA may be involved in the pathogenesis of preeclampsia by inhibiting the proliferation and invasion and promoting the apoptosis of placental trophoblasts. This study was registered with the China Clinical Trials Registry (http://www.clinicaltrials.gov): registration number ChiCTR1900027479.
Chryseobacterium Indologenes Sepsis and Acute Renal Failure Secondary to Abdominal Compartment Syndrome in a Confirmed COVID-19 Patient
Authors: Quiroz Alfaro Alejandro José , Rodríguez Acosta Iván Javier , Tanaka Takegami Mayumi , Bracho Maya Liliana Michelle , Quiroz Simanca Roberto Eduardo
Published: April 2022

Sepsis due to nosocomial pathogens markedly increases morbidity and mortality in the critically ill patient. The SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) pandemic has increased the number of patients requiring intensive care unit (ICU) in-patient management. Chryseobacterium indologenes (C. indologenes) is a group of multiresistant gram-negative bacteria associated with in-hospital environment and catheter-associated infections of increasing importance in the ICU. SARS-CoV-2 severe infection in the critically ill patient increases the risk of abdominal compartment syndrome (ACS) and acute kidney injury (AKI). We hereby report a case of a patient with SARS-CoV-2 severe infection, C. indologenes sepsis, abdominal compartment syndrome, and secondary renal failure.
Integration and Sharing of College English Teaching Resources Using Cloud Computing Platform
Authors: Wang Zhenhong
Published: April 2022

Intelligent computing has been used in the field of education and teaching for a long time in other countries. China is currently conducting education cloud research, but it has not yet been applied to the sharing of instructional resources in universities. The creation of a university instructional resource sharing network based on intelligent computing will help to alleviate the uneven distribution of educational resources to some extent and achieve the goal of high-quality instructional resource sharing, which is critical for improving China’s tertiary education overall. The information age has arrived, thanks to the advancement of information technology and the growth of communication networks. The impact of instructional resources on English classrooms is growing day by day against the backdrop of digitization. The educational resource sharing service platform can effectively deal with the problems of excessive infrastructure investment and low utilization of educational resources with intelligent computing as the technical support. It is essential for promoting educational resource sharing as well as interregional tertiary education exchanges and collaboration. As a result of the research on intelligent computing and educational resource sharing service platform, this paper discusses specific problems such as platform module design, system inspection, and application form, in order to provide a reference for the establishment of educational resource sharing service platform in universities, based on the overall and functional requirements of the platform, a platform that allows teachers and students to access personalized digital resources on demand for reading, downloading, printing, and sharing.
Secure Delegation Using Enhanced Capability Model
Authors: Khan Kamran Habib , Din Ikram Ud , Almogren Ahmad , Khattak Hasan Ali , Ibrahim Muhammad , Nazir Shah
Published: April 2022

A secure delegation has a key role in collaborative and dynamic systems, and it brings new challenges to security mechanisms. Secure delegation requires a flexible model that eliminates the challenges of access control and usage control services and provides separation of duty for static and dynamic circumstances. In this study, we propose a security service model that provides delegation of rights by restricting the delegation of sensitive permission as well as restriction from unauthorized access to resources. It also ensures that the delegation process hides information and privacy from competitors in an effective manner. The proposed model removes the administrative burden and establishes an automated delegation system. In addition, the model focuses on privacy and divides the duties with the fewest possible procedures. Moreover, exercising the model’s effectiveness with various circumstances and types of delegates has also been demonstrated.
Near-Infrared Fluorescence Imaging of EGFR-Overexpressing Tumors in the Mouse Xenograft Model Using scFv-IRDye800CW and Cetuximab-IRDye800CW
Authors: Amini Abolfazl , Safdari Yaghoub , Tash Shamsabadi Fatemeh
Published: April 2022

EGFR (epidermal growth factor receptor) is overexpressed in a variety of human cancers (including squamous cell carcinoma of head and neck, colon cancer, and some breast cancers) and therefore is regarded as an ideal target for cancer therapy or imaging purposes. In the current study, we produced a scFv-based near-infrared probe (called cet.Hum.scFv-IRDye-800CW) and evaluated its ability in recognizing and imaging of EGFR-overexpressing tumors in a mouse model. Like the molecular probe consisting of its parental antibody (cetuximab, an FDA-approved monoclonal antibody) and IRD800CW, cet.Hum.scFv-IRDye-800CW was able to recognize EGFR-overexpressing tumors in mice. cet.Hum.scFv-IRDye-800CW was found to be superior to the cetuximab-based probe in imaging of mouse tumors. The tumor-to-background ratio and blood clearance rate were higher when cet.Hum.scFv-IRDye-800CW was used as an imaging probe.
Application of Sports Industry Blockchain Technology under the Background of Big Data
Authors: Du Ying , Gu Fuming
Published: April 2022

As an innovative technology, blockchain is leading a new round of technological and industrial changes in the world. The decentralization, immutability, and anonymity of blockchain technology have brought new growth momentum to the development of the sports industry. The purpose of this article is to solve the application of blockchain technology in the sports industry under the background of big data. Through the literature review method, survey method, experience summary method, comparative analysis method, and other research methods, proposed sports scenarios where blockchain can be applied, investigated people’s awareness of blockchain, and analyzed people’s demand for blockchain and worry. The research results show that the blockchain can be applied to sports lottery, sports equipment, event crowd funding, ticket sales, athlete training, physical testing, etc., and most people prefer the blockchain to be preferentially applied to sports lottery. People’s concerns about the blockchain are mainly reflected in privacy issues. Blockchain technology must solve privacy issues if it is to be widely used and recognized.
Analysis of the Communication Method of National Traditional Sports Culture Based on Deep Learning
Authors: He Xiaohua , Tian Shihua
Published: April 2022

Like the Chinese nation, China's national traditional sports culture has a long history and is a treasure of Chinese national culture, reflecting the life, customs, wisdom, and pursuit of the people of all ethnic groups in China. The dissemination of national traditional sports culture is not only a necessary method for our country's cultural export but also a necessary means to maintain the diversity of world sports culture. However, there are still serious deficiencies in the dissemination of national traditional sports culture in our country, and some traditional national sports cultures are not even known to the public. Starting from the two communication methods of sports events and network communication, this paper studies the three mature national traditional sports cultures of martial arts (Wushu), Go, and Chinese chess and proposes a quantitative method for communication methods and communication effects. We further analyze the role of national traditional sports culture in cultural communication.
Tumor Immunogenomic Features Determine Outcomes in Patients with Metastatic Colorectal Cancer Treated with Standard-of-Care Combinations of Bevacizumab and Cetuximab
Authors: Innocenti Federico , Yazdani Akram , Rashid Naim , Qu Xueping , Ou Fang-Shu , Van Buren Scott , Bertagnolli Monica M. , Kabbarah Omar , Blanke Charles David , Venook Alan P. , Lenz Heinz-Josef , Vincent Benjamin G.
Published: April 2022

Purpose:

CALGB/SWOG 80405 was a randomized phase III trial in first-line patients with metastatic colorectal cancer treated with bevacizumab, cetuximab, or both, plus chemotherapy. We tested the effect of tumor immune features on overall survival (OS).

Experimental Design:

Primary tumors (N = 554) were profiled by RNA sequencing. Immune signatures of macrophages, lymphocytes, TGFβ, IFNγ, wound healing, and cytotoxicity were measured. CIBERSORTx scores of naive and memory B cells, plasma cells, CD8+ T cells, resting and activated memory CD4+ T cells, M0 and M2 macrophages, and activated mast cells were measured.

Results:

Increased M2 macrophage score [HR, 6.30; 95% confidence interval (CI), 3.0–12.15] and TGFβ signature expression (HR, 1.35; 95% CI, 1.05–1.77) were associated with shorter OS. Increased scores of plasma cells (HR, 0.55; 95% CI, 0.38–0.87) and activated memory CD4+ T cells (HR, 0.34; 95% CI, 0.16–0.65) were associated with longer OS. Using optimal cutoffs from these four features, patients were categorized as having either 4, 3, 2, or 0–1 beneficial features associated with longer OS, and the median (95% CI) OS decreased from 42.5 (35.8–47.8) to 31.0 (28.8–34.4), 25.2 (20.6–27.9), and 17.7 (13.5–20.4) months respectively (P = 3.48e–11).

Conclusions:

New immune features can be further evaluated to improve patient response. They provide the rationale for more effective immunotherapy strategies.
Phase I/II Multicenter Trial of a Novel Therapeutic Cancer Vaccine, HepaVac-101, for Hepatocellular Carcinoma
Authors: Löffler Markus W. , Gori Stefania , Izzo Francesco , Mayer-Mokler Andrea , Ascierto Paolo A. , Königsrainer Alfred , Ma Yuk Ting , Sangro Bruno , Francque Sven , Vonghia Luisa , Inno Alessandro , Avallone Antonio , Ludwig Jörg , Alcoba Diego Duarte , Flohr Christian , Aslan Katrin , Mendrzyk Regina , Schuster Heiko , Borrelli Marco , Valmori Danila , Chaumette Tanguy , Heidenreich Regina , Gouttefangeas Cécile , Forlani Greta , Tagliamonte Maria , Fusco Caterina , Penta Roberta , Iñarrairaegui Mercedes , Gnad-Vogt Ulrike , Reinhardt Carsten , Weinschenk Toni , Accolla Roberto S. , Singh-Jasuja Harpreet , Rammensee Hans-Georg , Buonaguro Luigi
Published: April 2022

Purpose:

Immunotherapy for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) shows considerable promise in improving clinical outcomes. HepaVac-101 represents a single-arm, first-in-human phase I/II multicenter cancer vaccine trial for HCC (NCT03203005). It combines multipeptide antigens (IMA970A) with the TLR7/8/RIG I agonist CV8102. IMA970A includes 5 HLA-A*24 and 7 HLA-A*02 as well as 4 HLA-DR restricted peptides selected after mass spectrometric identification in human HCC tissues or cell lines. CV8102 is an RNA-based immunostimulator inducing a balanced Th1/Th2 immune response.

Patients and Methods:

A total of 82 patients with very early- to intermediate-stage HCCs were enrolled and screened for suitable HLA haplotypes and 22 put on study treatment. This consisted in a single infusion of low-dose cyclophosphamide followed by nine intradermal coadministrations of IMA970A and CV8102. Only patients with no disease relapse after standard-of-care treatments were vaccinated. The primary endpoints of the HepaVac-101 clinical trial were safety, tolerability, and antigen-specific T-cell responses. Secondary or exploratory endpoints included additional immunologic parameters and survival endpoints.

Results:

The vaccination showed a good safety profile. Transient mild-to-moderate injection-site reactions were the most frequent IMA970A/CV8102-related side effects. Immune responses against ≥1 vaccinated HLA class I tumor-associated peptide (TAA) and ≥1 vaccinated HLA class II TAA were respectively induced in 37% and 53% of the vaccinees.

Conclusions:

Immunotherapy may provide a great improvement in treatment options for HCC. HepaVac-101 is a first-in-human clinical vaccine trial with multiple novel HLA class I– and class II–restricted TAAs against HCC. The results are initial evidence for the safety and immunogenicity of the vaccine. Further clinical evaluations are warranted.
A Phenogenetic Axis that Modulates Clinical Manifestation and Predicts Treatment Outcome in Primary Myeloid Neoplasms
Authors: Shen Qiujin , Feng Yahui , Gong Xiaowen , Jia Yujiao , Gao Qingyan , Jiao Xiaokang , Qi Saibing , Liu Xueou , Wei Hui , Huang Bingqing , Zhao Ningning , Song Xiaoqiang , Ma Yueshen , Liang Shihao , Zhang Donglei , Qin Li , Wang Ying , Qu Shiqiang , Zou Yao , Chen Yumei , Guo Ye , Yi Shuhua , An Gang , Jiao Zengtao , Zhang Song , Li Linfeng , Yan Jun , Wang Huijun , Song Zhen , Mi Yingchang , Qiu Lugui , Zhu Xiaofan , Wang Jianxiang , Xiao Zhijian , Chen Junren
Published: April 2022

Although the concept of “myeloid neoplasm continuum” has long been proposed, few comparative genomics studies directly tested this hypothesis. Here we report a multi-modal data analysis of 730 consecutive newly diagnosed patients with primary myeloid neoplasm, along with 462 lymphoid neoplasm cases serving as the outgroup. Our study identified a “Pan-Myeloid Axis” along which patients, genes, and phenotypic features were all aligned in sequential order. Utilizing relational information of gene mutations along the Pan-Myeloid Axis improved prognostic accuracy for complete remission and overall survival in adult patients of de novo acute myeloid leukemia and for complete remission in adult patients of myelodysplastic syndromes with excess blasts. We submit that better understanding of the myeloid neoplasm continuum might shed light on how treatment should be tailored to individual diseases.

Significance:

The current criteria for disease diagnosis treat myeloid neoplasms as a group of distinct, separate diseases. This work provides genomics evidence for a “myeloid neoplasm continuum” and suggests that boundaries between myeloid neoplastic diseases are much more blurred than previously thought.
Dysregulation of Serum miR-138-5p and Its Clinical Significance in Patients with Acute Cerebral Infarction
Authors: Mao Xiaojie , Luan Danping , Qi Zongying
Published: April 2022

Introduction: Acute cerebral infarction (ACI) occurs with the involvement of differential expression of microRNAs. The study detected the expression pattern of miR-138-5p in the serum of ACI cases and evaluated its clinical significance, in an attempt to provide some guidance for the treatment and daily nursing of patients with ACI clinically. Methods: Levels of miR-138-5p in the serum of ACI patients and healthy controls (HCs) were detected via qRT-PCR. Ninety days after treatment, the modified Rankin Scale (mRS) was used to evaluate the prognosis of ACI patients. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was drawn, and the area under the curve was calculated. The logistic regression analysis was performed to estimate the relationship between various indicators and the clinical outcome. Results: miR-138-5p showed a diminished trend in ACI cases compared with the control group. A significantly negative correlation was detected for serum miR-138-5p with the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score in all ACI cases (r = −0.704, p < 0.001). The ROC curve demonstrated the diagnostic potential of serum miR-138-5p to distinguish ACI from HCs. Lessened expression of miR-138-5p was detected in ACI patients with poor prognosis, which can predict the poor prognosis of ACI patients after treatment. Logistic regression analysis determined the independent influence relationship between miR-138-5p and poor prognosis. Conclusion: Diminished miR-138-5p is identified to be a risk factor for the occurrence of ACI, and it is associated with the worse outcome of the patients.
The Clinical Science of Euthymia: A Conceptual Map
Authors: Guidi Jenny , Fava Giovanni A.
Published: April 2022

Euthymia is a trans-diagnostic construct characterized by lack of mood disturbances; presence of positive affect; balance of psychological well-being dimensions, flexibility, consistency, and resistance to stress. The aim of this critical review is to draw a conceptual map of euthymia. Relationships with other constructs, continuum between euthymia and dysthymia with discomfort as an intermediate area, associations with lifestyle, clinimetric assessment, role of psychotherapeutic interventions, establishment of therapeutic targets, and neurobiological mechanisms are discussed. The model is based on the bipolar nature of well-being dimensions. Euthymia means using allostasis optimally and maintaining a healthy balance that promotes positive aspects of brain and body health through health-promoting behaviors. It may provide a framework for a renewed definition of recovery, for measuring treatment outcome and for targeting interventions, including the sequential administration of therapeutic components. Clinical assessment requires a clinimetric approach encompassing a broad range of aspects, such as allostatic load and lifestyle behaviors, all interacting with each other and contributing to the euthymia/dysthymia balance. Clinimetric indices for assessing euthymia (the Clinical Interview for Euthymia and the Euthymia Scale) and related constructs (the Clinical Interview for Dysthymia and the Semi-Structured Interview for the Diagnostic Criteria for Psychosomatic Research) are presented here. Well-Being Therapy, a psychotherapeutic strategy specifically aimed at pursuing euthymia, relies on self-observation of well-being episodes using a structured diary as a distinct therapeutic ingredient. The clinical science of euthymia may unravel innovative approaches to assessment and treatment of psychiatric and medical disorders, according to a unitary conceptual framework.
Development and External Validation of the Munich Sorafenib Evaluation Score for Hepatocellular Carcinoma
Authors: op den Winkel Mark , Nagel Dorothea , Seidensticker Max , De Toni Enrico N. , Merz Jessica , op den Winkel Jan , Öcal Osman , Stecher Stephanie-Susanne , Bourhis Hélène , Malfertheiner Peter , Mayerle Julia , Ricke Jens , Kolligs Frank T.
Published: April 2022

Introduction: In recent years, increasing options for systemic HCC treatment have become available. The development of therapy-specific prognostic scores has been encouraged. Tailoring therapy to individual patients requires prognostic scores for treatment success in addition to the Barcelona-Clinic-Liver-Cancer (BCLC) classification. We have developed and validated a prognostic score for patients treated with sorafenib. Methods: Prognostic factors identified in a multivariate analysis of 108 sorafenib patients were used to construct the Munich Sorafenib Evaluation (M-SE) score. M-SE and 9 established HCC prognostic systems were ranked according to concordance-index and AIC. External M-SE validation was performed in an independent HCC sorafenib cohort (n = 101) derived from the prospective multicenter randomized controlled SORAMIC trial. Results: Ascites (p < 0.0001; HR 2.923), tumor burden ≥50% of the liver (p = 0.0033; HR 1.946), and GOT (p < 0.0001; HR 1.716) were identified as independent prognostic parameters. All three M-SE stages were characterized by significantly different survival times (p < 0.0001). M-SE stage-A patients had a median OS of 18.7 months (95% CI: 15.6–21.8); patients in stage B and C showed a significantly shorter survival of 5.7 (2.7–8.7) and 2.0 months (1.6–2.4), respectively. M-SE (c-index 0.70; AIC 621) outperformed all other prognostic systems. External validation in a prospective cohort confirmed its superior prognostic performance. Conclusion: The M-SE score allows classification of sorafenib patients in three distinct prognostic stages. Provided that M-SE successfully passes prospective validation, it can help to predict the outcome of patients evaluated for sorafenib treatment.
Prevention of Arterial Elastocalcinosis: Differential Roles of the Conserved Glutamic Acid and Serine Residues of Matrix Gla Protein
Authors: Parashar Abhinav , Bak Kyoungmi , Murshed Monzur
Published: April 2022

Background:

Inactivating mutations in matrix Gla protein (MGP) lead to Keutel syndrome, a rare disease hallmarked by ectopic calcification of cartilage and vascular tissues. Although MGP acts as a strong inhibitor of arterial elastic lamina calcification (elastocalcinosis), its mode of action is unknown. Two sets of conserved residues undergoing posttranslational modifications—4 glutamic acid residues, which are γ-carboxylated by gamma-glutamyl carboxylase; and 3 serine residues, which are phosphorylated by yet unknown kinase(s)—are thought to be essential for MGP’s function.

Methods:

We pursued a genetic approach to study the roles of MGP’s conserved residues. First, a transgenic line (
SM22a-GlamutMgp
) expressing a mutant form of MGP, in which the conserved glutamic acid residues were mutated to alanine, was generated. The transgene was introduced to

Mgp
−/−

mice to generate a compound mutant, which produced the mutated MGP only in the vascular tissues. We generated a second mouse model (

Mgp
S3mut/S3mut

) to mutate MGP’s conserved serine residues to alanine. The initiation and progression of vascular calcification in these models were analyzed by alizarin red staining, histology, and micro-computed tomography imaging.

Results:

On a regular diet, the arterial walls in the

Mgp
−/−

;
SM22α-GlamutMgp
mice were not calcified. However, on a high phosphorus diet, these mice showed wide-spread arterial calcification. In contrast,

Mgp
S3mut/S3mut

mice on a regular diet recapitulated arterial calcification traits of

Mgp
−/−

mice, although with lesser severity.

Conclusions:

For the first time, we show here that MGP’s conserved serine residues are indispensable for its antimineralization function in the arterial tissues. Although the conserved glutamic acid residues are not essential for this function on a regular diet, they are needed to prevent phosphate-induced arterial elastocalcinosis.
The Ends of Capital: Terminal Crisis and the Substance of Value
Authors: Janzen David
Published: April 2022

Crisis is endemic to capitalism. But can it be proved that capitalism will bring about its own terminal crisis? This article frames this question in light of ongoing debates in theories of crisis and value by polemically comparing two related but divergent perspectives. The first, that of Robert Kurz and several Wertkritik authors, argues that cyclical crises of capital necessarily lead to a terminal crisis – and that this terminal crisis is already underway. The second, that of Michael Heinrich, argues that there is no way to demonstrate that capital will not continue reinventing new sites and forms for creating surplus value. Through this comparison, this article achieves two aims: first, it establishes the general point that how we understand value determines how we understand crisis; and, second, it shows limitations of the ‘terminal crisis’ hypothesis, and concludes that Kurz’s terminal crisis theory risks making crisis a transhistorical concept.
Thirteen-Centimeter Breast Lymphoma
Authors: Breese Rebecca O. , Friend Kara
Published: April 2022

Lymphoma of the breast is a rare diagnosis, accounting for less than 0.5% of all breast malignancies. Presentation is usually similar to that of breast cancer, with a painless palpable mass. This report describes a unique case of a 13 cm breast lymphoma. The patient is a 74 year old female who presented to clinic with a right breast mass that has been present since the 1970s. She had previously undergone multiple excisions of lesions on both breasts, always with benign pathology. In 2017, screening mammogram revealed a suspicious lesion in the right upper outer breast with associated axillary lymphadenopathy. She was lost to follow up but presented again after the mass significantly grew in size over several months. Mammography showed a large 13 x 8.7 cm lobulated mass. Biopsy of the lesion revealed diffuse large B-cell lymphoma. Treatment for this patient will begin with chemotherapy.
Leiomyosarcoma of the Mesentery
Authors: Arhin Martin A. , DeMatos Pierre
Published: April 2022

The mesentery is a common site of metastasis from gastrointestinal, pancreatic, and biliary cancers. Primary mesenteric cancers are rare and usually mesenchymal and benign. Mesenteric leiomyosarcoma is a rare, malignant smooth muscle sarcoma with an incidence of 1:350000. It usually arises from the vasculature of the mesentery. The ileum of the small bowel is the most common site of origin. Due to its low incidence, preoperative diagnosis is difficult. This is a report of a 71-year-old woman who presented with several months of a lower abdominal mass and recent onset of associated abdominal discomfort. An earlier colonoscopy 8 months previously was unremarkable. A recent abdominal and pelvic computed tomography scan revealed a necrotic mass in the central mesentery. She underwent surgical resection of the mass to include the overlying segment of the small intestine and had an uneventful convalescence. Mesenteric leiomyosarcoma is a rare tumor that is diagnosed based on histological examination with immunohistochemistry. As a result, there is minimal information on its clinical presentation, pathology, and treatment.
Usability of a Human Factors-based Clinical Decision Support in the Emergency Department: Lessons Learned for Design and Implementation
Authors: Salwei Megan E. , Hoonakker Peter , Carayon Pascale , Wiegmann Douglas , Pulia Michael , Patterson Brian W.
Published: April 2022

Objective

To evaluate the usability and use of human factors (HF)–based clinical decision support (CDS) implemented in the emergency department (ED).

Background

Clinical decision support can improve patient safety; however, the acceptance and use of CDS has faced challenges. Following a human-centered design process, we designed a CDS to support pulmonary embolism (PE) diagnosis in the ED. We demonstrated high usability of the CDS during scenario-based usability testing. We implemented the HF-based CDS in one ED in December 2018.

Method

We conducted a survey of ED physicians to evaluate the usability and use of the HF-based CDS. We distributed the survey via Qualtrics, a web-based survey platform. We compared the computer system usability questionnaire scores of the CDS between those collected in the usability testing to use of the CDS in the real environment. We asked physicians about their acceptance and use of the CDS, barriers to using the CDS, and areas for improvement.

Results

Forty-seven physicians (56%) completed the survey. Physicians agreed that diagnosing PE is a major problem and risk scores can support the PE diagnostic process. Usability of the CDS was reported as high, both in the experimental setting and the real clinical setting. However, use of the CDS was low. We identified several barriers to the CDS use in the clinical environment, in particular a lack of workflow integration.

Conclusion

Design of CDS should be a continuous process and focus on the technology’s usability in the context of the broad work system and clinician workflow.
“I Don’t Want My Children to Work so Hard”: Perceptions of Parent-Child Relationships and Future Parenting Among Immigrant Young Adults
Authors: Yakhnich Liat , Michael Rinat
Published: April 2022

Immigration is a multifaceted process that alters parent-child relationships and impacts immigrant children’s development. However, not much is known regarding the long-term implications of immigration on children when they reach adulthood. This phenomenological study explored the perceptions of parent-child relationships among young adults who immigrated as children to Israel, and the ways such relationships shaped their future parenting perceptions. Twenty-five young adults who immigrated to Israel in middle and late childhood from Ethiopia ( n = 14) and from the former Soviet Union ( n = 11) were interviewed for this study. Analysis indicated that the participants’ experiences of relations with their parents may be organized into three main domains: shifting relations in the context of immigration, relations in the context of long-term adaptation and maturation, and relations in cultural context (e.g., cultural perceptions about family life and culture-related immigration challenges). Participants’ perceptions of their own parenting incorporated culture-specific factors (e.g., family hierarchy and cohesiveness, child-rearing practices, and respect given to parents) as well as difficulties and strengths experienced by the participants’ families during immigration. Although most participants wished to be different from their parents (not wanting their children to work so hard) they hoped to preserve some of their culture of origin’s child-rearing practices. The findings have implications for professionals who work with immigrant families and for policy makers. Considering a family’s specific cultural background and helping parents integrate diverse parental practices may assist immigrant families in coping with challenges of immigration and help young adults who immigrated as children in creating a coherent parenthood.
To Lose a Loved One by Medical Assistance in Dying or by Natural Death with Palliative Care: A Mixed Methods Comparison of Grief Experiences
Authors: Laperle Philippe , Achille Marie , Ummel Deborah
Published: April 2022

The integration of assisted dying into end-of-life care is raising reflections on bereavement. Patients and families may be faced with a choice between this option and natural death assisted by palliative care; a choice that may affect grief. Therefore, this study describes and compares grief experiences of individuals who have lost a loved one by medical assistance in dying or natural death with palliative care. A mixed design was used. Sixty bereaved individuals completed two grief questionnaires. The qualitative component consisted of 16 individual semi-structured interviews. We found no statistically significant differences between medically assisted and natural deaths, and scores did not suggest grief complications. Qualitative results are nuanced: positive and negative imprints may influence grief in both contexts. Hastened and natural deaths are death circumstances that seem to generally help ease mourning. However, they can still, in interaction with other risk factors, produce difficult experiences for some family caregivers.
Physical Activity Time and Intensity in Physical Education During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: Lourenço Joana , Rodrigues Catarina , Flôres Fábio , Soares Denise
Published: April 2022

With the COVID-19 outbreak, schools have experienced difficulty providing moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) to their students, which should normally account for at least 50% of children’s physical education (PE) class time. We aimed to determine the intensity of physical activity (PA) within PE classes at various grade levels to compare children’s in-class PA with the World Health Organization’s (WHO) recommended guidelines. Thus, 301 students (1st to 12th grade) participated in the investigation. Children were evaluated during the PE classes with different typologies and durations. We assessed PA intensity using accelerometry and grouped data into either sedentary-to-light PA (SEDLI) or MVPA. Each child was assessed using both the time spent in PA (hours:minutes:seconds) and the percentage of time spent in PA versus other class activities. We found that, in the second-grade level group (fifth and sixth grades), girls spent more time in MVPA intensity than boys. Additionally, two-hour PE classes doubled the SEDLI for students in the third-grade group, and polythematic classes (those with more than one sport) promoted more MVPA level time than monothematic classes (only one sport). Concerning PA intensity during PE classes, 31–43% of the PE class total time was spent in MVPA but presented short duration and did not usually persist for 10 consecutive minutes (59% of the time). Children spent a large amount of time at the SEDLI intensity, considered insufficient for PA health benefits. Finally, to meet WHO guidelines for PA intensity, PE classes will need to increase MVPA time and reduce non-active periods between activities.
Trends and Gender Differences in Mental Disorders in Hospitalized Patients in Thailand
Authors: Suanrueang Passakorn , Peltzer Karl , Suen Mein-Woei , Lin Hsiao-Fang , Er Tze-Kiong
Published: April 2022

Previous studies have shown that gender differences play a substantial role in the influence of mental disorders. This study was designed to investigate gender differences in mental disorders by presenting odd ratio (OR) trends and cumulative effects over a period of 13 years in Thailand. This observational study used hospital data from the Ministry of Public Health on selected patients admitted to inpatient departments in public hospitals with mental disorders, according to ICD-10 cause groups from 2007 to 2019, counting from more than 1,90,000 cases in 2007 to more than 4,00,000 cases in 2019. Data were collected from the Thailand Ministry of Public Health website. The results indicate that compared to women, men were positively related to five mental disorders revealed by the OR and the ratio per 100,000 population (mean and SD): psychoactive alcohol use (OR = 7.31-9.07, 271.19 (59.26)), substance abuse (OR = 5.06-7.82, 59.25 (33.71)), schizophrenia (OR = 1.64-1.93, 108.32 (19.62)), mental retardation (OR = 1.15-1.58, 10.64 (1.88)), and other mental and behavioral disorders (OR = 1.10-1.55, 70.67 (22.75)). Three mental disorders in men were found to be negatively related: neurotic and related disorders (OR=.34-.46, 27.98 (3.26)), mood (affective) disorders (OR = .44-.56, 31.91 (9.59)), and dementia (OR = .78-10.82, 13.75 (2.73)). Gender can become a key biological element that contributes to the dissimilarity of mental illness. Preventive care for men and women should, therefore, be prioritized for health conditions separately. More specifically, screening and detection, and providing appropriate intervention.
Hair Stylists as Lay Health Workers: Perspectives of Black Women on Salon-Based Health Promotion
Authors: Palmer Kelly N. B. , Okechukwu Abidemi , Mantina Namoonga M. , Melton Forest L. , Kram Nidal A-Z. , Hatcher Jennifer , Marrero David G. , Thomson Cynthia A. , Garcia David O.
Published: April 2022

Lay health workers (LHWs) have been effective in delivering health promotion to underserved, vulnerable populations. Hair stylists are well positioned to serve as LHWs in addressing health disparities among Black women in the U.S. The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore the extent to which hair stylists influence their Black female clients and clients’ preferences for their stylist’s role in salon-based health promotion programming. Eight virtual platform focus groups were conducted with Black women (n = 39) who receive hair care services from a licensed hair stylist across the U.S. Most participants had a college degree (89.8%), health insurance (92.3%), a primary care provider (89.7%), and the majority had at least one chronic disease (56.4%). Participants reported higher potential for influence related to level of trust in the stylists and for stylists they find relatable and credible. Trust, relatability, and credibility were further determined by racial and gender congruence. Client interviewees felt stylists should model healthy behaviors and reported they may not be receptive to stylist-delivered health promotion out of the context of a hair-health connection. In this sample of well-educated clients, there was an expressed preference for stylists to provide referral to healthcare professionals or solicit experts for health topics out of the scope of haircare rather than guide the health promotion efforts themselves. Findings from this study can inform future development of acceptable salon-based, stylist-led health promotion programs that partner stylists with health experts to deliver health promotion.
An improvement in clash detection process by prioritizing relevance clashes using fuzzy-AHP methods
Authors: Hasannejad Ali , Majrouhi Sardroud Javad , Shirzadi Javid Ali Akbar , Purrostam Towhid , Ramesht Mohammad Hasan
Published: April 2022

Design coordination and clash detection are the most common and appreciated applications of three-dimensional modeling (3D modeling). In some projects, millions of clashes are detected including a large number of irrelevant clashes. The purpose of this research is to determine the priority of resolving clashes before the construction phase. In this research, the results of Autodesk Navisworks have been used to improve the process of clash detection. Also, this study attempts to use the fuzzy-AHP for weighting criteria and then, by presenting a relationship, to provide a basis to prioritizing clashes for their resolution and, finally, for identifying irrelevant clashes. This method has been tested on a real project, and the comparison of the expert opinions and the proposed method showed that applying the proposed relationship can identify important and irrelevant clashes.

Practical application

If clashes are not carefully detected in the design stage, project management components face a serious challenge. In this study, using the weight of clash elements and the degree of penetration of clash elements into each other, a logical and practical relationship is presented that improves the process of clash detection.