bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Optimization of Mobile Edge Computing Offloading Model for Distributed Wireless Sensor Devices
Authors: Han Songyue , Ma Dawei , Kang Chao , Huang Wei , Lin Chaoying , Tian Chunyuan
Published: March 2022

The development and popularization of mobile Internet and wireless communication technology have spawned a large number of computation-intensive and delay-intensive applications. Limited computing resources and existing technologies cannot meet the performance requirements of new applications. Mobile edge computing technology can use wireless communication technology to offload data to be stored and computing tasks to the nearby assistant or edge server with idle resources. Based on the data offloading of distributed wireless sensor device to device communication, the architecture is designed and the basic framework of distributed mobile edge computing is constructed. To solve the problem of high mobile cloud computing technology, the offloading model of optimized mobile edge computing was proposed, and the stability and convergence of the proposed algorithm were proved. Finally, the system performance of the proposed algorithm is verified by simulation. The results show that the proposed algorithm can converge within a finite number of steps. Compared with other benchmark schemes, the proposed algorithm has better performance in reducing system energy consumption, reducing moving edge response delay and system total delay.
Early Breast Cancer Evolution by Autosomal Broad Copy Number Alterations
Authors: Larsen Joseph R. , Kuhn Peter , Hicks James B.
Published: February 2022

The availability of comprehensive genomic datasets across patient populations enables the application of novel methods for reconstructing tumor evolution within individual patients. To this end, we propose studying autosomal broad copy number alterations (CNAs) as a framework to better understand early tumor evolution. We compared the broad CNAs and somatic mutations of patients with 1 to 10 autosomal broad CNAs against the full set of patients, using data from The Cancer Genome Atlas breast cancer project. We reveal here that the frequency of a chromosome arm obtaining a broad CNA and a genome acquiring somatic mutations changes as autosomal broad CNAs accumulate. Therefore, we propose that the number of autosomal broad CNAs is an important characteristic of breast tumors that needs to be taken into consideration when studying breast tumors. To investigate this idea more in-depth, we next studied the frequency that specific chromosome arms acquire broad CNAs in patients with 1 to 10 broad CNAs. With this process, we identified the broad CNAs that exhibit the fastest rates of accumulation across all patients. This finding suggests a likely order of occurrence of these alterations in patients, which is apparent when we consider a subset of patients with few broad CNAs. Here, we lay the foundation for future studies to build upon our findings and use autosomal broad CNAs as a method to monitor breast tumor progression in vivo to further our understanding of how early tumor evolution unfolds.
Saireito (114) Increases IC50 and Changes T-Cell Phenotype When Used in Combination with Prednisolone Therapy in Human Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells
Authors: Yamazaki Kyosuke , Kiyomi Anna , Imai Shinobu , Sugiura Munetoshi
Published: March 2022

Prednisolone (PSL), a type of corticosteroid used to treat autoimmune diseases, can increase the risk of infection and osteoporosis. Saireito (114), a Kampo medicine, has an immunosuppressive effect; with its use, the dose of steroids can be reduced. However, its mechanism when used with PSL is still unclear. We used peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from healthy adults to examine the effect of 114 and PSL treatment on PBMC proliferation, T-cell subsets, and cytokine production. PBMCs were cotreated with concanavalin A and 300 μM 114 (either Tsumura & Co. (TJ) or Kracie Holdings (KR)) and 0.0001–1.0 μM PSL for 96 h to create the T-cell mitogen. We then measured the PBMC proliferation; ratio of CD4+ T cells, CD8+ T cells, and T-follicular helper (Tfh) cells; and concentration of cytokines (TNF, IFN-γ, IL-6, IL-10, IL-17A, and IL-21). The proliferation of PBMCs was dose dependently suppressed in both the PSL and PSL + 114 groups (

p 
<
 0
.
05

). Combination therapy increased the IC50 in the PSL group (0.0947 μM) by 2.02 and 1.64-fold in the PSL + TJ114 and PSL + KR114 groups, respectively. Both the PSL + 114 groups had an increased ratio of CD4+ T cells compared to the PSL group, with no effect on the ratio of CD8+ T and Tfh cells. Furthermore, the PSL + 114 groups showed increased IL-6 and IL-10 compared to the PSL monotherapy group, although the difference was not significant. There was no significant difference in the TNF, IFN-γ, IL-17A, and IL-21 concentrations between the PSL and PSL + 114 groups. The elevated IC50 with 114 cotreatment suggests diminished immunosuppressive action. Moreover, increased cytokine production by Th2 with 114 cotreatment suggests a restoration of T-cell balance in Th1-mediated autoimmune diseases. However, increased IL-6 suggests potential exacerbation of IL-6-mediated diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis. Therefore, it is necessary to monitor these clinical parameters when using 114 in combination with PSL.
Stronger Associations of Body Mass Index and Waist Circumference with Diabetes than Waist-Height Ratio and Triglyceride Glucose Index in the Middle-Aged and Elderly Population: A Retrospective Cohort Study
Authors: He Kun , Zhang Wenli , Hu Xueqi , Zhao Hao , Song Rui , Bai Kaizhi , Shi Wenlong , Shi Songhe , Shi Zhan , Yan Mingshu
Published: February 2022

Background. It remains controversial whether body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), waist-to-height ratio (WHtR), or triglyceride glucose (TyG) index has a stronger association with diabetes. The aims of the study were to compare the magnitude of associations of four indicators with diabetes risk. Methods. Data collected from annual health examination dataset in the Xinzheng during 2011 and 2019. A total of 41,242 participants aged ≥ 45 years were included in this study. Cox proportional hazard regression models were used to examine associations between the four indicators and diabetes risk. Results. After 205,770 person-years of follow up, diabetes developed in 2,472 subjects. Multivariable-adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) of diabetes (highest vs reference group) were 1.92 (1.71–2.16) for BMI, 1.99 (1.78–2.23) for WC, 1.65 (1.47–1.86) for WHtR, and 1.66 (1.47–1.87) for TyG, respectively. In addition, the risk of diabetes increased with baseline BMI (HR: 1.30; 95% CI: 1.25, 1.35) and TyG (HR: 1.25; 95% CI: 1.20, 1.30), but the lowest HR was 0.78 (95% CI 0.65–0.92) when WC was approximately 72 cm, and 0.85 (95% CI 0.72–0.99) when WHtR was approximately 0.47 in women. In joint analyses, the highest risk was observed in participants with a high BMI combined with a high WC (HR: 2.26; 95% CI: 1.98, 2.58). Conclusions. In middle-aged and elderly Chinese population, BMI and WC were more strongly associated with diabetes than WHtR or TyG, especially the combined effect of BMI and WC.
Efficacy of Oral Steroids for Acute Acoustic Trauma
Authors: Zloczower Elchanan , Tsur Nir , Hershkovich Shir , Fink Nir , Marom Tal
Published: March 2022

Objective: This study aimed to study the effect of steroid treatment on new-onset sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) in subjects presenting shortly after an audiometry-confirmed acute acoustic trauma (AAT) injury. Study Design: This is a case-control study. Methods: We identified healthy military personnel who presented with AAT injury to the Israeli Defense Forces Medical Corps Otolaryngology/Audiology Services during 2016–2020. Patients were nonrandomly allocated to a treatment arm, where they received steroids (prednisone, 1 mg/kg, 60 mg maximal daily dose), administered for either ≥7 days or <7 days, or to a control arm, in which no treatment was offered besides loud noise avoidance. Audiometries were conducted within 7 days following the AAT and within 1 month later. We compared changes in bone conduction (BC) and air conduction (AC) thresholds at 2–8 kHz. Results: Of the 263 enrolled subjects, 137 (52%) received steroids and 126 (48%) received no treatment. Subjects who were treated early (<24 h) with high-dose steroids and for ≥7 days demonstrated significantly better hearing outcomes, compared with the nontreatment group. Subjects in the steroids group demonstrated 13–14 dB average improvement in BC thresholds at 3 and 4 kHz (p = 0.001) and additional 7–8 dB average improvement in AC thresholds at 6 and 8 kHz, compared with the nontreatment group (p < 0.0001). These observations were more compelling in patients who initially presented with worse hearing losses (>35 dB). No statistically significant differences were observed in AC/BC pure tone average between the two groups. Conclusions: Early oral steroids are recommended in AAT injuries and were shown to improve hearing outcomes within 1 month.
Reptilian assemblages in the wetlands of Amboli hill complex, northern Western Ghats, Maharashtra, India during the monsoon season
Authors: Patil Sachinkumar R. , Kiran Choudaj
Published: February 2022

We studied the reptilian diversity in and around five man-made wetlands in Amboli hill complex of the northern Western Ghats, in the monsoon seasons from 2011 to 2015. During the study we recorded 37 reptile species: 26 snakes, 10 lizards, and one turtle. Several endemic, range-restricted and newly-described species were recorded. We recorded the Indian Black Turtle Melanochelys trijuga, which is under ‘Near Threatened’ category of IUCN Red List 2020. We observed the greatest species richness at Gavase and Dhangarmola wetlands, followed by Khanapur, Yarandol, and Ningudage.
First Indian DNA barcode record for the moth species Pygospila tyres (Cramer, 1780) (Lepidoptera: Crambidae: Spilomelinae) distributed in Asia and Australia
Authors: Kalawate Aparna S. , A. Shabnam  , K.P. Dinesh
Published: February 2022

The species Pygospila tyres was described from the Coromandel region of India about 240 years ago, accommodated in the family Crambidae having immense importance. The species is morphologically cryptic and is known to have 10 extant species under the genus. Earlier mt DNA Barcodes for the species were available from Pakistan, Korea, and Australia, here we report the first barcode of the species from the country of its type locality. Morphological details for the collections with the male and female genitalia are provided for the taxonomic identification. Identities of the mt COI DNA sequences for the genus in the GenBank are discussed.
New records of odonates (Insecta: Odonata), Archibasis oscillans Selys, 1877 and Merogomphus tamaracherriensis Fraser, 1931 from Maharashtra, India
Authors: Akshay Dalvi  , Koli Yogesh
Published: February 2022

Archibasis oscillans Selys, 1877 is reported for the first time from Maharashtra, India; and first record of Merogomphus tamaracherriensis Fraser, 1931, based on photographic evidence taken from Sindhudurg, Maharashtra. We report the range extension of both the species in the northern Western Ghats.
Pregnane X Receptor‒4β‐Hydroxycholesterol Axis in the Regulation of Overweight‐ and Obesity‐Induced Hypertension
Authors: Rahunen Roosa , Kummu Outi , Koivukangas Vesa , Hautajärvi Heidi , Hakkola Jukka , Rysä Jaana , Hukkanen Janne
Published: March 2022

Background

Mechanisms mediating hypertensive effects of overweight and obesity have not been fully elucidated. We showed previously that activation of pregnane X receptor (PXR) by rifampicin elevates 24‐hour blood pressure (BP) and plasma 4β‐hydroxycholesterol (4βHC), agonist for liver X receptor (LXR).

Methods and Results

In combined “PXR activation data set” (n=62) of 4 clinical trials, 1 week rifampicin dosing increased office systolic BP (SBP) by 3.1 mm Hg, DBP 1.8 mm Hg, and mean arterial pressure 2.2 mm Hg in comparison with placebo (
P
<0.01). Plasma 4βHC had negative correlation with SBP both in rifampicin (
r
=−0.46,
P
=0.0002) and placebo (
r
=−0.45,
P
=0.0003) arms, although 4βHC was elevated >3‐fold by rifampicin. In “non‐intervention data set” (n=102) of patients with obesity and healthy volunteers (body mass index, 19.2–55.2 kg/m
2
), 4βHC had negative correlations (
P
<0.00001) with office SBP (
r
=−0.51), diastolic BP (
r
=−0.50), and mean arterial pressure (
r
=−0.54). Lean women had higher 4βHC than men, with increasing weight repressing 4βHC (
r
=−0.62,
P
<0.00001) in both sexes. In multiple linear regression analysis, the only statistically significant predictor for SBP was 4βHC. Six‐day PXR agonist dosing elevated SBP in rats (n=7–8/group). PXR activation elevated 4βHC and after PXR agonist was withdrawn and elevated 4βHC was left to act alone, SBP was reduced on days 7 to 14 in comparison with control rats.

Conclusions

PXR activation elevates SBP. Elevated circulating 4βHC lowers SBP in rats, and higher 4βHC is an independent predictor of lower SBP in humans. PXR‐4βHC‐LXR is novel BP‐regulating pathway deregulated in overweight and obesity by repressed 4βHC, with implications for sex‐specific BP regulation.

Registration

URL:
https://www.clinicaltrials.gov
; Unique identifiers: NCT00985270, NCT01293422, NCT01690104, NCT02329405, and NCT01330251.
Dietary plasticity of a understudied primate (Sapajus cay) in a biodiversity hotspot: applying ecological traits to habitat conservation in the Upper Paraná Atlantic Forest
Authors: Smith Rebecca L. , Rebergen Kelly , Payne Carter , Megapanos Epaminondas , Lusseau David
Published: March 2022

One of the main threats to wild primates is habitat alteration, fragmentation and destruction. Therefore it is crucial to understand the ability of those species to adapt to human-induced habitat changes to prevent extirpation. Key to this is a species diet plasticity. In Paraguay over 91% of the Upper Paraná Atlantic Forest has been destroyed to expand agricultural land. We determined the diet composition of three Sapajus cay groups in degraded and near-pristine Atlantic Forest in eastern Paraguay to assess whether the diet composition of this species changes with habitat degradation. We accounted for diet variability associated with demographic traits and forest characteristics using multinomial linear models. Once the effect of age, sex, and season were accounted for, we found that the diet of capuchins was plastic and shifted to adapt to studied degraded forest conditions. The results showed that (as expected) the capuchins have a generalist and flexible diet, including opportunistically taking advantage of crop plants, particularly Slash Pine plantations, when the risks were lower. The capuchins ability to adjust their diet in different habitat fragments demonstrates that small islands of Paraguayan Atlantic Forest are valuable for their persistence. This insight can be used to create applied conservation strategies, such as using the existing Payment for Ecosystem Services (PES) legislation to provide an opportunity to begin reconnecting fragments using native trees bordered by Slash Pine plantations. Using the capuchins as an umbrella species would increase public support of the program, while compensation through the PES scheme and profiting from the timber would encourage landowner participation.
The Politics of ʿUmar b. al-Khaṭṭāb and Zinā-Stoning
Authors: Rizwan Syed Atif
Published: March 2022

This article examines several versions of a report in which ʿUmar b. al-Ḫaṭṭāb makes a public statement asserting the lawfulness of stoning as punishment for a category of offenders convicted of unlawful intercourse. The article also analyzes certain versions of a report in which ʿUmar makes a public declaration that the acclamation of Abū Bakr as caliph was legitimate despite the process being unexpected and in haste. The author argues that the motif of ʿUmar as having made a public statement about the validity of stoning drew upon a motif about his public declaration regarding Abū Bakr’s caliphate. The association between these two motifs may have been part of a strategy to link, under the purview of ʿUmar’s authority and reputation for insulating the community against internal crisis, the settling of one contentious matter (the legitimacy of stoning) with another (the legitimacy of Abū Bakr’s caliphate).
A new species of Rhodambulyx Mell, 1939 (Lepidoptera: Sphingidae) from Southwest Chongqing, China
Authors: XU ZHEN-BANG , MELICHAR TOMÁŠ , HE JI-BAI , ZHANG CHAO , ZHANG XIN-YU , FENG DU , HU SHAO-JI
Published: March 2022

A new species of the genus Rhodambulyx Mell, 1939, Rhodambulyx xinyuae sp. nov., is described from Simianshan Nature Reserve in Southwest Chongqing, China. This species is similar to R. davidi Mell, 1939 and R. kitchingi Brechlin, 2015 in habitus, but can be distinguished by a different wing pattern, male genitalia structure and DNA barcode sequence. In addition, Rhodambulyx namvui Eitschberger & Nguyen, 2017 is removed from synonymy with R. kitchingi and synonymized instead with R. davidi, although whether it would be better treated as a subspecies of R. davidi requires further investigation.
Disruption of Social Orders in Societal Transitions as Affective Control of Uncertainty
Authors: Hoey Jesse , Schröder Tobias
Published: February 2022

Bayesian affect control theory is a model of affect-driven social interaction under conditions of uncertainty. In this paper, we investigate how the operationalization of uncertainty in the model can be related to the disruption of social orders—societal pressures to adapt to ongoing environmental and technological change. First, we study the theoretical tradeoffs between three kinds of uncertainty as groups navigate external problems: validity (the predictability of the environment, including of other agents), coherence (the predictability of interpersonal affective dynamics), and dependence (the predictability of affective meanings). Second, we discuss how these uncertainty tradeoffs are related to contemporary political conflict and polarization in the context of societal transitions. To illustrate the potential of our model to analyze the socio-emotional consequences of uncertainty, we present a simulation of diverging individual affective meanings of occupational identities under uncertainty in a climate change mitigation scenario based on events in Germany. Finally, we sketch a possible research agenda to substantiate the novel, but yet mostly conjectural, ideas put forward in this paper.
Modes of Failure in Venous Thromboembolism Prophylaxis
Authors: Richie Cheryl D. , Castle Jennifer T. , Davis George A. , Bobadilla Joseph L. , He Qiang , Moore Mary B. , Kellenbarger Tricia A. , Xenos Eleftherios S.
Published: February 2022

Venous thromboembolism (VTE) is associated with potentially preventable in-hospital morbidity and mortality. Although evidence-based guidelines are widely available, their application in clinical practice varies markedly. VTE prophylaxis involves a multistep dynamic process that can fail at various points during hospital stay. Our aim was to identify defects in VTE prophylaxis. Upon admission, our patients undergo VTE risk stratification and orders for prophylaxis are entered. All patients that fulfill the criteria for the Patient Safety Indicator (PSI)-12, as defined by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, are prospectively entered in a database. From a review of 138 PSI-12 patients, only 21 had correct risk stratification and appropriate chemoprophylaxis during their hospital stay; 70 had been incorrectly stratified, with 28 of these patients receiving incorrect prophylaxis due to incorrect stratification, thus delaying the correct administration of chemoprophylaxis for >24 h. Inadequate application of mechanical prophylaxis was noted in 114 patients. VTE prophylaxis relies on correct risk stratification, ordering appropriate pharmacomechanical measures and, finally, the delivery of this treatment throughout the hospital stay. A large percentage of patients who had a thromboembolic complication received inadequate prophylaxis. This study identifies potential areas for intervention to improve VTE prophylaxis.
Multiple lifestyle risk behaviours and hierarchical dimensions of psychopathology in 6640 Australian adolescents
Authors: Gardner Lauren A , Champion Katrina E , Chapman Cath , Newton Nicola C , Slade Tim , Smout Scarlett , Teesson Maree , Sunderland Matthew
Published: February 2022

Objective:

Physical inactivity, sugar sweetened beverage consumption, alcohol use, smoking, poor sleep and excessive recreational screen time (the ‘Big 6’ lifestyle risk behaviours) often co-occur and are key risk factors for psychopathology. However, the best fitting latent structure of the Big 6 is unknown and links between multiple lifestyle risk behaviours and hierarchical dimensions of psychopathology have not been explored among adolescents. This study aimed to address these gaps in the literature.

Methods:

Confirmatory factor analysis, latent class analysis and factor mixture models were conducted among 6640 students ( Mage = 12.7 years) to identify the latent structure of the Big 6 lifestyle risk behaviours. Structural equation models were then used to examine associations with psychopathology.

Results:

A mixture model with three classes, capturing mean differences in a single latent factor indexing overall risk behaviours, emerged as the best fitting model. This included relatively low-risk (Class 1: 30%), moderate-risk (Class 2: 67%) and high-risk (Class 3: 3%) classes. Students high on externalizing demonstrated significantly greater odds of membership to the high-risk class (odds ratio = 8.75, 99% confidence interval = [3.30, 23.26]) and moderate-risk class (odds ratio = 2.93, 99% confidence interval = [1.43, 5.97]) in comparison to the low-risk class. Similarly, students high on internalizing demonstrated significantly higher odds of membership to the high-risk class (odds ratio = 1.89, 99% confidence interval = [1.06, 3.37]) and the moderate-risk class (odds ratio = 1.66, 99% confidence interval = [1.03, 2.67]) in comparison to the low-risk class. Associations between lower order factors of psychopathology and lifestyle risk behaviours were mostly accounted for by the more parsimonious higher order factors.

Conclusion:

Classes representing differences in probabilities of the Big 6 lifestyle risk behaviours relate to varying levels of hierarchical dimensions of psychopathology, suggesting multiple health behaviour change and transdiagnostic intervention approaches may be valuable for reducing risk of psychopathology.
Police Training and Accountability: A Remedy or an Impediment for Reducing Unarmed Police Shootings?
Authors: O’Guinn Bradley J.
Published: February 2022

The deaths of unarmed black citizens at the hands of police have led to dramatic calls for police reform. Some observers claim that officers are poorly trained and unaccountable for their actions. In this study, I test whether measures of organizational training and accountability reduce the likelihood of unarmed fatal officer-involved shootings (OIS). The results suggest external review of deadly force may decrease the likelihood of fatal OIS of unarmed black citizens. Other training and accountability mechanisms are unrelated to, or increase the likelihood of, fatal shootings. More research is needed to determine the causal links between the training and accountability mechanisms outlined in this study and fatal police shootings.
Head Start programme participation and BMI change: Roles of family partnership and age of entry
Authors: Dahlin Melissa S. , Reich Stephanie M.
Published: February 2022

Objective:

To gain insight into the extent of body mass index (BMI) change during an academic year for children with overweight or obesity at entry to an early learning programme with nutrition and physical activity components ( Head Start). We explored whether meeting with families to discuss weight and nutrition and age of entry in the programme were associated with movement towards healthy weight via a reduction in BMI.

Design:

Quantitative analyses of administrative Head Start data of children aged 3–5 years old who entered the programme with a BMI labelled as overweight or obese.

Setting:

Children who participated in a Head Start early learning programme in the Southwest USA.

Method:

Descriptive analyses of BMI changes over the Head Start programme year. Ordinary least square regression analyses were run to explore whether a meeting with a family regarding their child’s weight and nutrition (i.e. a family service event) and age of entry predicted BMI change over the programme year.

Results:

Children with BMI labelled as overweight or obese, on average, reduced BMI over the academic year. Unexpectedly, having a family service event was related to an increase in BMI over the school year. Earlier age of entry predicted reduced BMI over the programme year.

Conclusion:

Head Start programming appears well suited to support decreases in prevalence of childhood obesity and that earlier entry was better. A meeting with families regarding their child’s weight and nutrition predicted an increase in BMI, though several factors indicated the need for more nuanced research on the types and intensity of these events.
Enhancing sense of belonging and satisfaction among online students in multi-track public affairs programs: A case analysis of immersion courses
Authors: Stephens John B , Morse Ricardo S
Published: February 2022

Many graduate public affairs programs offer both residential and online options for students. One of the challenges for multi-format programs is creating a sense of belonging among online students who may never set foot on campus. In 2017, the MPA program at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill developed an “immersion” course designed for residential and online students in a weekend intensive format on campus to help create a greater sense of connectedness and satisfaction among (principally) online students, while benefiting students in both formats. This paper examines immersion courses as one strategy to address gaps in belonging and satisfaction between online and on-campus students. The case study of UNC-Chapel Hill developing the immersion course and the first three iterations of it are described, offering practical insight for other campus-based public affairs programs that also have online degrees who may want to try something similar.
Methods for Modeling Autocorrelation and Handling Missing Data in Mediation Analysis in Single Case Experimental Designs (SCEDs)
Authors: Somer Emma , Gische Christian , Miočević Milica
Published: February 2022

Single-Case Experimental Designs (SCEDs) are increasingly recognized as a valuable alternative to group designs. Mediation analysis is useful in SCEDs contexts because it informs researchers about the underlying mechanism through which an intervention influences the outcome. However, methods for conducting mediation analysis in SCEDs have only recently been proposed. Furthermore, repeated measures of a target behavior present the challenges of autocorrelation and missing data. This paper aims to extend methods for estimating indirect effects in piecewise regression analysis in SCEDs by (1) evaluating three methods for modeling autocorrelation, namely, Newey-West (NW) estimation, feasible generalized least squares (FGLS) estimation, and explicit modeling of an autoregressive structure of order one (AR(1)) in the error terms and (2) evaluating multiple imputation in the presence of data that are missing completely at random. FGLS and AR(1) outperformed NW and OLS estimation in terms of efficiency, Type I error rates, and coverage, while OLS was superior to the methods in terms of power for larger samples. The performance of all methods is consistent across 0% and 20% missing data conditions. 50% missing data led to unsatisfactory power and biased estimates. In light of these findings, we provide recommendations for applied researchers.
A Prospective Analysis of Systemic and Local Aeroallergen Sensitivity in Central Compartment Atopic Disease
Authors: Edwards Thomas S. , DelGaudio John M. , Levy Joshua M. , Wise Sarah K.
Published: March 2022

Objective

To compare systemic allergen sensitivity and local allergen sensitivity in the sinonasal tissue of patients with a recently identified subtype of chronic rhinosinusitis strongly associated with allergy: central compartment atopic disease (CCAD).

Study Design

Prospective cohort study.

Setting

Academic tertiary care rhinology clinic.

Methods

Fifteen participants with endoscopic and radiographic evidence of CCAD underwent systemic allergy testing with skin testing and measurement of serum specific immunoglobulin E (sIgE) to 15 regionally common aeroallergens. Local allergen sensitivity was determined by measuring sIgE to these same 15 allergens in their sinonasal tissue. sIgE testing was performed by ImmunoCAP assay.

Results

Of the 15 participants, 14 were sensitive to at least 1 allergen locally in the central compartment and systemically on skin or serum testing. Among all participants, 4 were sensitive to allergens on central compartment sIgE testing that they were not sensitive to on skin and serum sIgE testing (range, 1‐8 discordant allergens). Comparisons between local and systemic aeroallergen sensitivity results showed statistically significant correlations (P <. 05) ranging from weak to strong.

Conclusion

Systemic allergy testing is recommended in the initial workup for CCAD. Local allergen sensitivities may be present in a subset of patients with CCAD. Further study of the clinical significance of these sensitivities should be undertaken in CCAD, with evaluation of the role of medical therapies and allergen immunotherapy in the treatment of CCAD.
Organizational Influences on the Motivation to Transfer Soft Skill Training in an Indian Power Organization
Authors: Sahoo Malabika , Mishra Sumita
Published: February 2022

The study extends the Theory of Planned Behaviour (TPB) in examining the influence of key organizational antecedents (supervisory and peer support, opportunities to use the training provided and rewards) on the motivation to transfer (MTT) soft skill training. Trainee self-efficacy (SE) and the desire to learn (DL) are also examined as mediators in determining this influence. The sample included 389 employees from a state-owned power transmission organization in Odisha, India. The resultant findings note the direct and positive influence of organizational antecedents on MTT, SE and DL. Trainee SE and DL partially mediate the association between organizational antecedents and MTT. Given a lack of focus on soft skill training transfer in the Indian power sector, this study is of immense value in identifying relevant organizational enablers that motivate the transfer of soft skills. The study also advances the knowledge on the direct and indirect influence of organizational antecedents on MTT in the Indian cultural context.
Acquiring Italian stop consonants: A challenge for Mandarin Chinese-speaking learners
Authors: Feng Qiang , Busà M. Grazia
Published: February 2022

The acquisition of Italian stop consonants by Mandarin Chinese-speaking learners has hardly been investigated. This study was designed to fill this gap. To investigate Chinese learners’ acquisition patterns of Italian voiced and voiceless stops, a perception experiment and a production experiment were conducted. Twenty Mandarin Chinese-speaking undergraduate students majoring in Italian, five native Italian and five native Mandarin speakers served as participants in the perception experiment; and an equal number of participants with the same language backgrounds served as participants in the production experiment. In the perception experiment, the participants had to identify the stimuli in three continua (i.e. bilabial, alveolar and velar) where voice onset time (VOT) values ranged from −50 ms to 90 ms in 10 ms steps. In the production experiment, data were collected from a reading task in which the participants were asked to read the target words with word-initial stops in carrier-sentences; the VOT and closure durations were measured. The results show that, in perception, Chinese learners have difficulty differentiating between Italian voiced and voiceless stops; in production, Italian voiced rather than voiceless stops represent a challenge for Chinese learners. The results are in line with the predictions made by the Perceptual Assimilation Model-L2 (PAM-L2) and the Speech Learning Model (SLM), as well as with most other studies focusing on the acquisition of stops of ‘true-voice languages’ by Chinese learners.
A retrospective analysis of the hemolysis occurrence during extracorporeal membrane oxygenation in a single center
Authors: Costantini Silvia , Belliato Mirko , Ferrari Fiorenza , Gazzaniga Giulia , Ravasi Marta , Manera Miriam , De Piero Maria Elena , Curcelli Antonio , Cardinale Alessandra , Lorusso Roberto
Published: February 2022

Introduction

Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO)–associated hemolysis still represents a serious complication. The present study aimed to investigate those predictive factors, such as flow rates, the use of anticoagulants, and circuit connected dialysis, that might play a pivotal role in hemolysis in adult patients.

Methods

This is a retrospective single-center case series of 35 consecutive adult patients undergoing veno-venous ECMO support at our center between April 2014 and February 2020. Daily plasma-free hemoglobin (pfHb) and haptoglobin (Hpt) levels were chosen as hemolysis markers and they were analyzed along with patients’ characteristics, daily laboratory findings, and corresponding ECMO system variables, as well as continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT) when administered, looking for factors influencing their trends over time.

Results

Among the many settings related to the ECMO support, the presence of CRRT connected to the ECMO circuit has been found associated with both higher daily pfHb levels and lower Hpt levels. After correction for potential confounders, hemolysis was ascribable to circuit-related variables, in particular the membrane oxygenation dead space was associated with an Hpt reduction (B = −215.307, p = 0.004). Moreover, a reduction of ECMO blood flow by 1 L/min has been associated with a daily Hpt consumption of 93.371 mg/dL ( p = 0.001).

Conclusions

Technical-induced hemolysis during ECMO should be monitored not only when suspected but also during quotidian management and check-ups. While considering the clinical complexity of patients on ECMO support, clinicians should not only be aware of and anticipate possible circuitry malfunctions or inadequate flow settings, but they should also take into account the effects of an ECMO circuit–connected CRRT, as an equally important key factor triggering hemolysis.
Macroglossia in a pig diagnosed as Becker muscular dystrophy due to dystrophin pseudoexon insertion derived from intron 26
Authors: Aihara Naoyuki , Kuroki Sho , Inamuro Ryosuke , Kamiya Yumiko , Shiga Takanori , Kikuchihara Yoh , Ohmori Emiko , Noguchi Michiko , Kamiie Junichi
Published: February 2022

We report a case of Becker muscular dystrophy in a 6-month-old, mixed-breed, castrated male pig detected with macroglossia at a meat inspection center. The pig presented a severely enlarged tongue extending outside its mouth. The tongue was firm and pale with discolored muscles. Histologically, there was severe fibrosis, fatty replacement, and myofiber necrosis, degeneration, and regeneration. Immunofluorescence showed focal and severely weak labeling for dystrophin at the sarcolemma of myocytes in the tongue. Analysis of dystrophin mRNA showed a 62 base pair insertion between exons 26 and 27. The insertion was derived from intron 26. Based on these findings, we diagnosed the case as Becker muscular dystrophy—the first known muscular dystrophy case induced by pseudoexon insertion in animals.
The Compositionality of Facial Expressions
Authors: Sofer Carmel , Dotsch Ron , Vilenchik Dan , Avidan Galia
Published: March 2022

The principle of compositionality, an important postulation in language and cognition research, posits that the meaning of a complex expression is determined by the meaning of its constituting parts and the operation performed on those parts. Here, we provide strong evidence that this principle plays a significant role also in interpreting facial expressions. In three studies in which perceivers interpreted sequences of two emotional facial expression images, we show that the composite meaning of facial expressions results from the meaning of its constituting expressions and an algebraic operation performed on those expressions. Our study offers a systematic account as to how the meaning of facial expressions (single and sequences) are being formed and perceived. In a broader context, our results raise the possibility that the principle of compositionality may apply to human communication modalities beyond spoken language, whereby a minimal number of components are expanded to a much greater number of meanings.
Authorial Incongruity and Organizational Presence(s): A Ventriloquial Analysis of Shadowed Organization
Authors: Costantini Rebecca A. , Wolfe Anna Wiederhold
Published: February 2022

This article explores how contradictory sources of authority manifest the organizational presence of a crisis pregnancy center (CPC) in the southeastern region of the United States. As a type of shadowed organization, a CPC’s organizational presence is produced in a tensional space between dialectics of revelation and concealment. With an interest toward understanding these dynamics, we conduct a ventriloquial analysis of CPC’s pamphlets and website to examine how sources of authority produce the CPC as a distinct organization. Through this analysis, we develop the idea of authorial incongruity—the co-presence of multiple and heterogeneous sources of authority—to demonstrate how organizational presence emerges as a byproduct of tensional relations between authorities, which serve as resources for organizations seeking to present themselves as consistently “who they have always been.” The implications of these findings suggest distinct challenges and opportunities for building strategic relations between (shadowed) organizations and various incongruent stakeholder groups.
Open Government Maturity Models: A Global Comparison
Authors: Pirannejad Ali , Ingrams Alex
Published: February 2022

During the last decade, a new approach to bureaucratic reform in the field of public administration, open government, has aimed to increase government transparency and accountability and improve participation of citizens and other stakeholders of government. In the current era of digital governance transformations, evaluating governmental efforts to become open is a central concern of politicians, policymakers, and researchers. Various global maturity models have been developed, but the majority of them focus on the technological capacities of government rather than the historic affinity of openness and democratic governance. In this study, we attempt to address this problem by conceptualizing how governments harness technology innovations and by prescribing developmental phases for open government. Using the qualitative meta-synthesis method, we compare 10 open government maturity models to find the similarities and differences between them. Finally, we present a comprehensive model which evaluates the open government initiatives holistically and includes the following six major stages: (1) an initial stage; (2) a transparency and accountability stage; (3) an open collaboration stage; (4) a platform stage; (5) a democratic open government stage; and, finally, (6) an open governance stage.
The optimization of bellows convolutions in bellows pump for better stress distribution
Authors: Zhi-jian Gao , Liang Hu , Xiao-dong Ruan , Rui Su , Xin Fu
Published: February 2022

Bellows pump has been widely used for chemical transportation with excellent elasticity and seal ability of the core component bellows. Nevertheless, for repeated alternating compression and expansion, bellows convolutions, that is, the maximum stress points, are at risk of fatigue rupture, which leaves a safety hazard for practical applications. Though a special bellows shape with non-constant wall thickness was proposed as an effective method to strengthen the convolutions, it also affects other characteristics of bellows, such as stiffness, single-stroke displacement, and size, which are equally important for the bellows pump. This article designs a fine-tuned convolution structure on the premise of avoiding its effect on volume properties of bellows. Limiting the value of variables by the stability of bellows stiffness, the structure parameters are optimized with the combination of the finite element method (FEM) and whale optimization algorithm. To ensure the accuracy of the FEM, the stress–strain curve of bellows material and the bellows axial stiffness is measured. Finally, digital image correlation is employed to obtain the strain at convolutions before and after the optimization, and the significant reduction of the strain verifies the effectiveness of the optimization. We believe that this method is valuable for optimizing stress distribution and guiding the design of longer-life pump bellows.
Analysis on new semi-active control strategies to reduce lateral vibrations of high-speed trains by simulation and hardware-in-the-loop testing
Authors: Zhao Yiwei , Liu Yongqiang , Yang Shaopu , Liao Yingying , Chen Zuchen
Published: February 2022

In order to further reduce the vibration of vehicles and simultaneously increase ride comfort, a class of new control strategies, namely, the extension of Rakheja-Sankar (RS) control, is proposed for semi-active suspension systems with magnetorheological (MR) dampers of high-speed trains. At first, the design and analysis of semi-active control strategies are conducted in a quarter railway lateral model considering the node stiffness. Secondly, a whole vehicle model of a high-speed train is constructed by using Universal Mechanism (UM) software to be applied in evaluating semi-active control strategies. Finally, a hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) test system is carried out to verify the performance of the new control strategies. During these processes, the transmission characteristics are calculated and compared, which helps to test the performance of the semi-active control strategy on train vibration suppression. Then, the effect of the control strategies on the dynamic performance of the whole vehicle is studied. The ride comfort under different control strategies is compared, and the effects of different semi-active control strategies on the lateral stability and safety of trains are also analyzed. Through simulations and experiments, it is confirmed that the new control strategies can effectively reduce the lateral vibration of trains and therefore contribute to the improvement of ride comfort while they do not significantly reduce the train running stability and safety. Therefore, the new control strategies possess future application value.
A modeling approach to estimate the historical population size of the Patagonian Kawésqar people
Authors: Estay Sergio A , López Daniela N , Silva Carmen P , Gayo Eugenia M , McRostie Virginia , Lima Mauricio
Published: February 2022

The study of human-gatherers societies’ demography used to be a difficult task due to the lack of direct evidence to support the estimations. This is the case of several human groups from Pacific Patagonia whose historical population size estimations are controversial. This study estimated the historical population size for the Kawésqar people using direct and indirect evidence. Thus, we collated past estimations from experts and encounter rates distribution in time and space to generate a statistical approximation for population size. We used weights to include the reliability of such past estimations under three modeling scenarios. Our results indicate that the historical population ranged roughly between 3700 and 3900 individuals before the massive contact with Chileans and European people. The approach developed here for combining and integrating different evidence for estimating population in Kawésqar people, emerges as a promising and valuable tool to study the demography of other hunter-gatherer societies in South America.
Untargeted Metabolomics Reveal the Protective Effect of Bone Marrow Mesenchymal Stem Cell Transplantation Against Ovariectomy-Induced Osteoporosis in Mice
Authors: Wang Weizhou , Wang Yanghao , Hu Jun , Duan Hao , Wang Zhihua , Yin Liang , He Fei
Published: February 2022

Bone marrow mesenchymal stem cell transplantation (BMSCT) is a potential treatment for osteoporosis, capable of contributing to bone tissue repair. BMSCT has demonstrated osteoinductive effects and the ability to regulate microenvironmental metabolism; however, its role and mechanisms in bone loss due to reduced estrogen levels remain unclear. In this study, the effect of BMSCT on ovariectomy (OVX)-induced osteoporosis in mice was assessed, and liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (LC-MS) metabolomic studies of bone tissue were conducted to identify potential metabolic molecular markers. The results revealed that BMSCT reduces OVX-induced bone loss in mice while improving the mechanical properties of mouse femurs and increasing the expression of osteogenic markers in peripheral blood. In a metabolomic study, 18 metabolites were screened as potential biomarkers of the anti-osteoporotic effect of BMSCT. These metabolites are mainly involved in arachidonic acid metabolism, taurine and hypotaurine metabolism, and pentose and glucuronate interconversions. Collectively, these results illustrate the correlation between metabolites and the underlying mechanisms of osteoporosis development and are important for understanding the role and mechanisms of exogenous bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) in osteoporosis management. This study lays the foundation for research on BMSCs as a treatment strategy for osteoporosis.