bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Exploring the quality of life of adolescents with Cerebral Palsy participating in conductive education around the Pannonian Basin
Authors: Mladoneczki-Leszkó Dóra , Surányi Rebeka , Kelemen Anna
Published: December 2022

Introduction

Quality of life (QoL) is a concept that includes physical, psychological, social, spiritual, and other domains of functioning. Good QoL is a fundamental goal of treatment for Cerebral Palsy (CP), therefore it is an outstanding goal of Conductive Education (CE) as well. CE is a Hungarian method that combines special education and rehabilitation for people living with CP.

Objective

We aimed to compare the opinions and views about the life of teenagers from the perspective of adolescents and their caregivers from different socio-cultural backgrounds.

Method

It was a descriptive, cross-sectional study. We used the Cerebral Palsy Quality of Life for the adolescent questionnaire (CP QoL -Teen) to measure QoL, which was translated into Hungarian and validated by Semmelweis University in 2017. Our study included 20 young adolescents (mean age 16) with CP and their caregivers living in Hungary (n1= 40) and 20 Hungarian-speaking families (n2= 40) from surrounding countries: Slovakia, Romania, and Ukraine (mean age 14.5). All the families are participating in CE.

Results

There was no significant divergence in the whole QoL score between the groups. Nonetheless, we found an outstanding difference in the Hungarian groups’ ‘Feelings about functioning’ domain between teens and caregivers. A significant proportion of Hungarian teens–although living with greater pain–are less concerned about their illness (R = -0.754). 85% of responders study at segregated schools offering CE.

Conclusion

The study shed new light on the importance of a personalized form of education and on the weight of the positive effects of segregated education. Personalized education can develop the patients’ QoL.
The new abnormal: Identifying and ranking anomalies in the land trade market
Authors: Interdonato Roberto , Bourgoin Jeremy , Grislain Quentin , Tagarelli Andrea
Published: December 2022

Large-scale national and transnational commercial land transactions, or Large-Scale Land Acquisitions (LSLAs), have been gaining a lot of academic attention since the late 2000s and since the reported rush for land, resulting in turn from an increase in demand for arable land. If many data exist to characterize land deals, the analysis of investment networks remain limited and predominantly portrays power asymmetries between countries from the Global North investing in the Global South. The aim of this work is to perform a deeper investigation on the land trade market, specifically focusing on cases that do not follow such narratives. For instance, almost 25% of the countries included in the transnational land trade network do not follow a strict investor/target dichotomy, thus being characterized by a double role, i.e., they both acquire and cede land in the transnational context. In order to globally acknowledge for what was currently considered as abnormal cases, we model open access data about LSLAs extracted from the Land Matrix Initiative (LMI) open-access database into a network graph, and adapt an eigenvector based centrality method originally conceived for online social networks, namelyLurkerRank, to identify and rank anomalous profiles in the land trade market. We take into account three different network snapshots: amulti-sectornetwork (including all the transnational deals in the LMI database), and three networks referring to specific investment sectors (agriculture,minesandbiofuels). Experimental results show that emerging economies (e.g., China and Malaysia) play a central role in the land trade market, by creating alternative dynamics that escape the classic North/South one. Our analyses also show how African countries that are often seen as targets of land trade transactions in a specific sector, may often acquire foreign land in the context of investments in the same sector (i.e., Zimbabwe for biofuels and the Democratic Republic of Congo for the mining sector).
Dissemination or participation? Exploring scientists’ definitions and science communication goals in the Netherlands
Authors: Nerghes Adina , Mulder Bob , Lee Ju-Sung
Published: December 2022

The field of science communication has grown considerably over the past decade, and so have the number of scientific writings on what science communication is and how it should be practiced. The multitude of theoretisations and models has led to a lack of clarity in defining science communication, and to a highly popularised—and theorised—rhetorical shift from deficit to dialogue and participation. With this study, we aim to remediate the absence of research into what science communication is, for scientists themselves. We also investigate whether the transition towards dialogue and participation is reflected in the goals scientists identify as important to their science communication efforts, both in a general and a social media context. For this, we analyse survey data collected from scientists in the Netherlands using thematic qualitative analysis and statistical analysis. Our results reveal six main dimensions of science communication as defined by our respondents. The 584 definitions we analyse demonstrate a focus on a one-way process of transmission and translation of scientific results and their impacts towards a lay audience, via mostly traditional media channels, with the goals of making science more accessible, of educating audiences, and of raising awareness about science. In terms of the goals identified as most important by scientists in the Netherlands, we find goals aligned with the deficit and dialogue models of science communication to be the most important. Overall, our findings suggest we should be cautious in the face of recent claims that we live in a new era of dialogue, transparency, and participation in the realm of science communication.
Patient perspectives on cervical cancer screening interventions among underscreened women
Authors: Des Marais Andrea C. , Brewer Noel T. , Knight Suzanne , Smith Jennifer S.
Published: December 2022

Background

Cervical cancer is highly preventable with regular screening, yet over 4,000 women die from it annually in the United States. Over half of new cervical cancer cases in the U.S. are attributable to insufficient screening.

Methods

Participants were 23 low-income, uninsured or Medicaid-insured women in North Carolina who were overdue for cervical cancer screening according to national guidelines. Semi-structured interviews examined perspectives on barriers to cervical cancer screening and on interventions to reduce these barriers. We also elicited feedback on three proposed evidence-based interventions: one-on-one education, coupons to reduce out-of-pocket costs, and self-collection of samples for detection of high-risk human papillomavirus (HPV) infection, the primary cause of cervical cancer.

Results

Reported barriers included high cost, inconvenient clinic hours, lack of provider recommendation, poor transportation, difficulty finding a provider, fear of pain, and low perceived need. Participants suggested interventions including reducing cost, improving convenience through community-based screening or extended clinic hours, strengthening provider recommendations, and providing one-on-one counseling and education outreach. HPV self-collection was most frequently selected as the “most helpful” of 3 proposed interventions (n = 11), followed by reducing out-of-pocket costs (n = 7) and one-on-one education (n = 5).

Conclusion

Cost was the most reported barrier to cervical cancer screening, although women experience multiple simultaneous barriers. Novel interventions such as HPV self-collection promise to reduce some, but not all, barriers to primary screening. Interventions that work on reducing multiple barriers, including obstacles to receiving follow-up care, may be most effective to prevent cervical cancer among these high-risk women.
Analysis and prediction of the temporal and spatial evolution of carbon emissions in China’s eight economic regions
Authors: Yu Zhen , Zhang Yuan , Zhang Juan , Zhang Wenjie
Published: December 2022

Facing increasingly severe environmental problems, as the largest developing country, achieving regional carbon emission reduction is the performance of China’s fulfillment of the responsibility of a big government and the key to the smooth realization of the global carbon emission reduction goal. Since China’s carbon emission data is updated slowly, in order to better formulate the corresponding emission reduction strategy, it is necessary to propose a more accurate carbon emission prediction model on the basis of fully analyzing the characteristics of carbon emissions at the provincial and regional levels. Given this, this paper first calculated the carbon emissions of eight economic regions in China from 2005 to 2019 according to relevant statistical data. Secondly, with the help of kernel density function, Theil index and decoupling index, the dynamic evolution characteristics of regional carbon emissions are discussed. Finally, an improved particle swarm optimization radial basis function (IPSO-RBF) neural network model is established to compare the simulation and prediction models of China’s carbon emissions. The results show significant differences in carbon emissions in different regions, and the differences between high-value and low-value areas show an apparent expansion trend. The inter-regional carbon emission difference is the main factor in the overall carbon emission difference. The economic region in the middle Yellow River (ERMRYR) has the most considerable contribution to the national carbon emission difference, and the main contributors affecting the overall carbon emission difference in different regions are different. The number of regions with strong decoupling between carbon emissions and economic development is increasing in time series. The results of the carbon emission prediction model can be seen that IPSO-RBF neural network model optimizes the radial basis function (RBF) neural network, making the prediction result in a minor error and higher accuracy. Therefore, when exploring the path of carbon emission reduction in different regions in the future, the IPSO-RBF neural network model is more suitable for predicting carbon emissions and other relevant indicators, laying a foundation for putting forward more scientific and practical emission reduction plans.
Automated landmarking via multiple templates
Authors: Zhang Chi , Porto Arthur , Rolfe Sara , Kocatulum Altan , Maga A. Murat
Published: December 2022

Manually collecting landmarks for quantifying complex morphological phenotypes can be laborious and subject to intra and interobserver errors. However, most automated landmarking methods for efficiency and consistency fall short of landmarking highly variable samples due to the bias introduced by the use of a single template. We introduce a fast and open source automated landmarking pipeline (MALPACA) that utilizes multiple templates for accommodating large-scale variations. We also introduce a K-means method of choosing the templates that can be used in conjunction with MALPACA, when no prior information for selecting templates is available. Our results confirm that MALPACA significantly outperforms single-template methods in landmarking both single and multi-species samples. K-means based template selection can also avoid choosing the worst set of templates when compared to random template selection. We further offer an example ofpost-hocquality check for each individual template for further refinement. In summary, MALPACA is an efficient and reproducible method that can accommodate large morphological variability, such as those commonly found in evolutionary studies. To support the research community, we have developed open-source and user-friendly software tools for performing K-means multi-templates selection and MALPACA.
The prognostic impact of lymph node dissection for clinically node-negative upper urinary tract urothelial carcinoma in patients who are treated with radical nephroureterectomy
Authors: Hsieh Hsiang-Chen , Wang Chun-Li , Chen Chuan-Shu , Yang Cheng-Kuang , Li Jian-Ri , Wang Shian-Shiang , Cheng Chen-Li , Lin Chia-Yen , Chiu Kun-Yuan
Published: December 2022

Background

To evaluate the prognostic impact of lymph node dissection (LND) in patients who underwent radical nephroureterectomy (RNU) with bladder cuff excision (BCE) for clinically node-negative (cN0) upper urinary tract urothelial carcinoma (UTUC).

Methods

We retrospectively enrolled 520 patients with cN0 UTUC in a single tertiary referral center from 2000 to 2015. The patients were divided into three groups: patients with and without pathologically proved lymph node metastasis (pN1–3 and pN0, respectively) and patients without LND (pNx). We analyzed associations between overall survival (OS)/ disease-free survival (DFS)/ cancer-specific survival (CSS) and clinical characteristics.

Results

The patients were divided into three groups (pN1–3, pN0 and pNx with 20, 303, and 197 patients, respectively). OS/DFS/CSS in the pN1–3 group were significantly worse (all p<0.001) compared with the pN0 group. However, there were no significant differences between the pNx and pN0 groups. In the multivariate analyses, CSS was only affected by age [(hazard ratio (HR) = 1.03, p = 0.008]), positive surgical margin (HR = 3.38, p<0.001) and pathological T3–4 stages (HR = 4.07, p<0.001). In the subgroup analyses for patients with LND, locally advanced disease (pT3 and pT4) had significantly more metastases [T3–4: 13.91% (16/115) vs. T0–2: 1.92% (4/208), p<0.001].

Conclusions

In the pN0 group, LND for cN0 UTUC did not show therapeutic benefits in terms of DFS, CSS, and OS. However, LND with RNU allowed optimal tumor staging, through patients still had a poor prognosis. Clinically occult LN metastases were found in 6.2% of our patients.
Postdoctoral employment and future non-academic career prospects
Authors: König Johannes
Published: December 2022

Most recipients of doctorates leave universities some years after graduation, while little is known about their future non-academic career prospects. I report results from a novel microlevel database that links information about doctoral dissertations completed in Germany with doctorate recipients’ social security records. The results, based on graduates’ individual careers for five broader subject groups, indicate that postdoctoral periods do not result in a wage premium when changing to the non-academic sector.
A novel customer churn prediction model for the telecommunication industry using data transformation methods and feature selection
Authors: Sana Joydeb Kumar , Abedin Mohammad Zoynul , Rahman M. Sohel , Rahman M. Saifur
Published: December 2022

Customer churn is one of the most critical issues faced by the telecommunication industry (TCI). Researchers and analysts leverage customer relationship management (CRM) data through the use of various machine learning models and data transformation methods to identify the customers who are likely to churn. While several studies have been conducted in the customer churn prediction (CCP) context in TCI, a review of performance of the various models stemming from these studies show a clear room for improvement. Therefore, to improve the accuracy of customer churn prediction in the telecommunication industry, we have investigated several machine learning models, as well as, data transformation methods. To optimize the prediction models, feature selection has been performed using univariate technique and the best hyperparameters have been selected using the grid search method. Subsequently, experiments have been conducted on several publicly available TCI datasets to assess the performance of our models in terms of the widely used evaluation metrics, such as AUC, precision, recall, and F-measure. Through a rigorous experimental study, we have demonstrated the benefit of applying data transformation methods as well as feature selection while training an optimized CCP model. Our proposed technique improved the prediction performance by up to 26.2% and 17% in terms of AUC and F-measure, respectively.
Factors influencing the E-learning system usage during the COVID-19 pandemic in Vietnam
Authors: Do Thang Xuân , Tran Huong Thi Lan , Le Thuy Thu
Published: December 2022

The outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic has brought forward an unprecedented situation, which has forced the educational institutes worldwide to use a propriety “online only” model for teaching and learning. Teachers have been compelled to deliver lectures online using some form of an online delivery platform. In this dilemma situation with the closure of the educational institutes, one of the very basic necessities is to ensure quality features of e-learning systems that are being used for the purpose of education delivery, particularly from the students’ perspective. The objective of this study was to identify factors affecting pharmacy students’ satisfaction in Vietnam during the COVID 19 pandemic. A cross-sectional survey of a consecutive sample of 1612 valid responses from students who have been in distance learning at Hanoi University of Pharmacy has been conducted. An integrated model with three main dimensions had been developed: learner’s characteristics; instructor’s characteristics; system, and technology. Data were collected in the field on both online and offline platforms using the questionnaire of 39 items to investigate the critical factors affecting learners’ satisfaction in e-learning. The reliability of the questionnaire was measured using Cronbach’s alpha on this data. Descriptive statistics, factor analysis, and multiple regression analysis were employed for data analysis. Out of 2491 questionnaires distributed, 1612 questionnaires were completed (respond rate 64.7%). The results revealed that perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use, system and technical dimension and instructors’ characteristics are the critical factors affecting learners’ perceived satisfaction. The perceived usefulness of the students was the most important factor affecting overall satisfaction (beta coefficient = 0.610). Multiple regression analysis yielded the four main factors explaining 59.9% of total satisfaction. The findings revealed how to improve learners’ satisfaction and further strengthen their e-learning implementation. The interventional solutions on students’ characteristics, instructors’ characteristics and system & technical dimension should be considered and implemented to improve the quality of e-learning and students’ satisfaction at Hanoi University of Pharmacy.
A randomized, controlled study to assess if allopathic-osteopathic collaboration influences stereotypes, interprofessional readiness, and doctor-patient communication
Authors: Jones Ian A. , LoBasso Michael , Shapiro Johanna , Amin Alpesh
Published: December 2022

Despite the growing similarities between allopathic (MD) and osteopathic (DO) medical education, few studies have examined allopathic-osteopathic collaboration. The following study focused on stereotypes and student readiness for interprofessional learning. Patient perceptions were also evaluated. Osteopathic and allopathic students were randomly allocated 1:1:1 to work in pairs (MD/DO, MD/MD, DO/DO) at the start of each shift. A questionnaire evaluating student communication was collected from patients at the end of each encounter. Surveys assessing stereotypes and interprofessional readiness were obtained from students at the end of each workday. Data collection was stopped early due to Coronavirus-related safety measures. In the ITT analysis, there were a total of 126 participants (57 students 69 patients). A per-protocol analysis was performed to account for repeat clinic volunteers. No significant differences were detected between student pairs; however, the sensitivity analysis of the questionnaire assessing interprofessional readiness was 8 points higher in the DO/DO group compared to the MD/MD and MD/DO groups (P = 0.0503). In the content analysis of qualitative responses, the MD/DO group was more likely to respond with themes of enjoyment and less concern about stereotypes than the DO/DO group. The MD/DO group was also less likely to report concerns about differences in expectations, methods, and thinking than the MD/MD group. Early trends from this study suggest that DO students may be better positioned to engage in interprofessional learning than their MD counterparts. Additionally, the findings from our content analysis provide evidence that the collaborative experience improved feelings associated with professional legitimacy and credibility among DO students. Taken in aggregate, this study provides justification for a follow-up investigation, as well as a framework for how such studies could best be executed in the future.
Emotional and cognitive changes surrounding online depression identity claims
Authors: Biester Laura , Pennebaker James , Mihalcea Rada
Published: December 2022

As social media has proliferated, a key aspect to making meaningful connections with people online has been revealing important parts of one’s identity. In this work, we study changes that occur in people’s language use after they share a specific piece of their identity: a depression diagnosis. To do so, we collect data from over five thousand users who have made such a statement, which we refer to as an identity claim. Prior to making a depression identity claim, the Reddit user’s language displays evidence of increasingly higher rates of anxiety, sadness, and cognitive processing language compared to matched controls. After the identity claim, these language markers decrease and more closely match the controls. Similarly, first person singular pronoun usage decreases following the identity claim, which was previously previously found to be indicative of self-focus and associated with depression. By further considering how and to whom people express their identity, we find that the observed longitudinal changes are larger for those who do so in ways that are more correlated with seeking help (sharing in a post instead of a comment; sharing in a mental health support forum). This work suggests that there may be benefits to sharing one’s depression diagnosis, especially in a semi-anonymous forum where others are likely to be empathetic.
Identification and validation of DNA methylation markers to predict axillary lymph node metastasis of breast cancer
Authors: Luo Jianguo , Chen Shaojun , Chen Jingsen , Zhou Yige , He Fei , Wang Enli
Published: December 2022

Background

Axillary lymph node metastasis (ALNM) is one of the most important prognostic factors for breast cancer patients, and DNA methylation is involved in ALNM of breast cancer. However, the methylation profile of breast cancer ALNM remains unknown.

Methods

Breast cancer tissues were collected from patients with and without ALNM. We investigated the genome-wide DNA methylation profile in breast cancer with and without ALNM using reduced representation bisulfite sequencing (RRBS). Then, differentially methylated regions (DMRs) were verified by targeted bisulfite sequencing.

Results

A total of 21491 DMRs were identified between the lymph node positive group and negative group. Compared to the LN-negative breast cancer, LN-positive breast cancer had 10,920 hypermethylated DMRs and 10,571 hypomethylated DMRs. Then, 10 DMRs in the gene promoter region were detected by targeted bisulfite sequencing, these gene included HOXA5, PTOV1-AS1, RHOF, PAX6, GSTP1, RASGRF2, AKR1B1, BNIP3, CRMP1, ING5. Compared with negative lymph node, the promoter methylation levels of RASGRF2, AKR1B1 and CRMP1 increased in positive lymph node, while the promoter methylation level of RHOF decreased in positive lymph node. In addition, Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) data showed that RASGRF2, AKR1B1 and CRMP1 were low expressed in breast Cancer tissues, while RHOF was high expressed in breast Cancer tissues. Furthermore, in addition to highly methylated AKR1B1, RASGRF2 and CRMP1 gene promoters, BNIP3, GSTP1, HOXA5 and PAX6 gene promoters were also methylated in ER-positive and HER2-negative breast cancer with ALNM.

Conclusions

When compared to negative lymph node breast cancer, the positive lymph node breast cancer has a differential methylation status. Promoter methylation of RASGRF2, AKR1B1, CRMP1 and RHOF in lymph node positive breast cancer tissues was significantly different from that in lymph node negative breast cancer tissues. AKR1B1, RASGRF2, CRMP1, BNIP3, GSTP1, HOXA5 and PAX6 genes were methylated in ER-positive and HER2-negative breast cancer with ALNM. The study provides an important biological base for understanding breast cancer with ALNM and developing therapeutic targets for breast cancer with ALNM.
Children’s mobile-gaming preferences, online risks, and mental health
Authors: Hou Chun-Yin , Rutherford Ru , Chang Hsi , Chang Fong-Ching , Shumei Liu , Chiu Chiung-Hui , Chen Ping-Hung , Chiang Jeng-Tung , Miao Nae-Fang , Chuang Hung-Yi , Tseng Chie-Chien
Published: December 2022

This study examined the relationships between children’s mobile gaming preferences, online risks, and mental health. Data were obtained from a sample of 2,702 third and fourth grade students from 16 elementary schools in Taiwan and 9 schools in China. A self-administered questionnaire was used. The mental state of the children who participated in the study was assessed using the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ), while mobile gaming addiction was assessed using the short form of the Internet Gaming Disorders Scale (IGDS9-SF). The results showed that about 54% of children played mobile games with others (multi-player), while 31% played mobile games alone, and 15% did not play mobile games. Multiple logistic regression results indicated that behaviors such as participating in multi-player games, playing violent games, a poor parent-child relationship, and living in a rural area were associated with a greater risk of mobile gaming addiction. Involvement in multi-player games, playing violent games, mobile gaming addiction, and exposure to mobile violence/pornography were associated with greater risks of cyber aggression/victimization. Multiple regression results showed that being a multi-player, playing violent games, mobile gaming addiction, exposure to violence/pornography, exposure to cyber aggression/victimization, and having a poor parent-child relationship were associated with emotional and behavioral problems.
Interpretation of pre-morbid cardiac 3T MRI findings in overweight and hypertensive young adults
Authors: Snel Gert J. H. , Slart Riemer H. J. A. , Velthuis Birgitta K. , van den Boomen Maaike , Nguyen Christopher T. , Sosnovik David E. , van Deursen Vincent M. , Dierckx Rudi A. J. O. , Borra Ronald J. H. , Prakken Niek H. J.
Published: December 2022

In young adults, overweight and hypertension possibly already trigger cardiac remodeling as seen in mature adults, potentially overlapping non-ischemic cardiomyopathy findings. To this end, in young overweight and hypertensive adults, we aimed to investigate changes in left ventricular mass (LVM) and cardiac volumes, and the impact of different body scales for indexation. We also aimed to explore the presence of myocardial fibrosis, fat and edema, and changes in cellular mass with extracellular volume (ECV), T1 and T2 tissue characteristics. We prospectively recruited 126 asymptomatic subjects (51% male) aged 27–41 years for 3T cardiac magnetic resonance imaging: 40 controls, 40 overweight, 17 hypertensive and 29 hypertensive overweight. Myocyte mass was calculated as (100%–ECV) * height2.7-indexed LVM. Absolute LVM was significantly increased in overweight, hypertensive and hypertensive overweight groups (104 ± 23, 109 ± 27, 112 ± 26 g) versus controls (87 ± 21 g), with similar volumes. Body surface area (BSA) indexation resulted in LVM normalization in overweights (48 ± 8 g/m2) versus controls (47 ± 9 g/m2), but not in hypertensives (55 ± 9 g/m2) and hypertensive overweights (52 ± 9 g/m2). BSA-indexation overly decreased volumes in overweight versus normal-weight (LV end-diastolic volume; 80 ± 14 versus 92 ± 13 ml/m2), where height2.7-indexation did not. All risk groups had lower ECV (23 ± 2%, 23 ± 2%, 23 ± 3%) than controls (25 ± 2%) (P = 0.006, P = 0.113, P = 0.039), indicating increased myocyte mass (16.9 ± 2.7, 16.5 ± 2.3, 18.1 ± 3.5 versus 14.0 ± 2.9 g/m2.7). Native T1 values were similar. Lower T2 values in the hypertensive overweight group related to heart rate. In conclusion, BSA-indexation masks hypertrophy and causes volume overcorrection in overweight subjects compared to controls, height2.7-indexation therefore seems advisable.
Intelligent personalized shopping recommendation using clustering and supervised machine learning algorithms
Authors: Chabane Nail , Bouaoune Achraf , Tighilt Reda , Abdar Moloud , Boc Alix , Lord Etienne , Tahiri Nadia , Mazoure Bogdan , Acharya U. Rajendra , Makarenkov Vladimir
Published: December 2022

Next basket recommendation is a critical task in market basket data analysis. It is particularly important in grocery shopping, where grocery lists are an essential part of shopping habits of many customers. In this work, we first present a new grocery Recommender System available on the MyGroceryTour platform. Our online system uses different traditional machine learning (ML) and deep learning (DL) algorithms, and provides recommendations to users in a real-time manner. It aims to help Canadian customers create their personalized intelligent weekly grocery lists based on their individual purchase histories, weekly specials offered in local stores, and product cost and availability information. We perform clustering analysis to partition given customer profiles into four non-overlapping clusters according to their grocery shopping habits. Then, we conduct computational experiments to compare several traditional ML algorithms and our new DL algorithm based on the use of a gated recurrent unit (GRU)-based recurrent neural network (RNN) architecture. Our DL algorithm can be viewed as an extension of DREAM (Dynamic REcurrent bAsket Model) adapted to multi-class (i.e. multi-store) classification, since a given user can purchase recommended products in different grocery stores in which these products are available. Among traditional ML algorithms, the highest average F-score of 0.516 for the considered data set of 831 customers was obtained using Random Forest, whereas our proposed DL algorithm yielded the average F-score of 0.559 for this data set. The main advantage of the presented Recommender System is that our intelligent recommendation is personalized, since a separate traditional ML or DL model is built for each customer considered. Such a personalized approach allows us to outperform the prediction results provided by general state-of-the-art DL models.
Validity of muscular fitness self-assessments in the ecofit smartphone application: A correlation study
Authors: Jansson Anna K. , Lubans David R. , Duncan Mitch J. , Smith Jordan J. , Bauman Adrian , Attia John , Plotnikoff Ronald C.
Published: December 2022

Background

Mobile app-based interventions have the potential for wide-reach and therefore may be a useful tool in up-scaling physical activity interventions. In larger-scale interventions, face-to-face assessments are less cost-effective, and researchers often rely on surveys or activity trackers to assess outcomes. However, there is limited evidence of valid muscular fitness assessments that can be self-administered within mHealth interventions. As such, this study will evaluate the concurrent validity of upper and lower body muscular fitness that have been independently assessed by participants via the ecofit app, and face-to-face assessments conducted by a trained researcher.

Methods

This study compared baseline data from two muscular fitness tests from the ecofit two-armed randomised controlled trial and self-assessed data collected via the ecofit smartphone app (i.e., validated 90-degree push-up and 60-second sit-to-stand test). To assess the concurrent validity, the self-assessed push-up and sit-to-stand tests (i.e., collected via the ecofit app) were correlated using Spearman’s correlation coefficient against the researcher-assessed results (i.e., objective results collected during baseline assessment for the ecofit trial). Bland-Altman plots were also used to allow visualisation of the differences between the self- and research-assessed tests.

Results

Participants (N = 54) completed the push-up (24.1%) and sit-to-stand (100%) tests within 14-days of receiving the app. The results revealed a strong significant correlation for the push-up test (0.83, p<0.001) and a moderate significant correlation for the sit-to-stand test (0.63, p<0.001).

Conclusion

This study provides support for the concurrent validity of self-reported upper and lower body muscular fitness assessments (i.e., the push-up and sit-to-stand tests) in mHealth. While these tests may be a feasible option for large scale physical activity interventions, more research is needed to determine the generalisability of these results.
Enhancing the performance of the vehicle active suspension system by an Optimal Sliding Mode Control algorithm
Authors: Nguyen Duc Ngoc , Nguyen Tuan Anh
Published: December 2022

The suspension system determines riding comfort. This item utilizes an active suspension system to absorb vehicle vibration. A quarter-dynamics model with five state variables simulates the oscillations of a vehicle. This model incorporates the hydraulic actuator effect into linear differential equations. This is an entirely original design. In addition, the OSMC (Optimal Sliding Mode Control) algorithm is proposed for active suspension system operation control. The in-loop algorithm optimizes the controller’s parameters. According to the findings of the study, when the OSMC algorithm was implemented, the maximum and average displacement values of the sprung mass were dramatically lowered under normal oscillation conditions. If a vehicle employs only a passive suspension system or an active suspension system with a standard linear control algorithm, the wheel is fully detached from the road surface in hazardous conditions. When the OSMC algorithm is utilized to control the operation of the active suspension system, the wheel-to-road interaction is always maintained. This algorithm provides a great degree of efficiency.
Multi-trajectory analysis of changes in physical activity and body mass index in relation to retirement: Finnish Retirement and Aging study
Authors: Lintuaho Roosa , Saltychev Mikhail , Pentti Jaana , Vahtera Jussi , Stenholm Sari
Published: December 2022

Background

Physical activity and body mass index (BMI) have been reported to change around retirement. The objective was to examine the concurrent changes in physical activity and BMI around retirement, which have not been studied before. In addition, the associations of different demographic characteristics with these changes were examined.

Methods

The prospective cohort study consisted of 3,351 participants in the ongoing Finnish Retirement and Ageing Study (FIREA). Repeated postal survey, including questions on physical activity and body weight and height, was conducted once a year up to five times before and after the retirement transition, the mean follow-up time being 3.6 years (SD 0.7). Group-based multi-trajectory modeling was used to identify several clusters with dissimilar concurrent changes in physical activity and BMI within the studied cohort.

Results

Of the participants, 83% were women. The mean age at the last wave before retirement was 63.3 (SD 1.4) years. Four clusters with different trajectories of physical activity and BMI were identified. BMI remained stable around retirement transition in all four clusters, varying from normal weight to class II obesity. The association of BMI trajectories with physical activity levels were inverse, however, each activity trajectory showed a temporary increase during the retirement transition.

Conclusions

Retirement seems to have more effect on physical activity than BMI, showing a temporary increase in physical activity at the time of retirement.
Gamma frequency sensory stimulation in mild probable Alzheimer’s dementia patients: Results of feasibility and pilot studies
Authors: Chan Diane , Suk Ho-Jun , Jackson Brennan L. , Milman Noah P. , Stark Danielle , Klerman Elizabeth B. , Kitchener Erin , Fernandez Avalos Vanesa S. , de Weck Gabrielle , Banerjee Arit , Beach Sara D. , Blanchard Joel , Stearns Colton , Boes Aaron D. , Uitermarkt Brandt , Gander Phillip , Howard Matthew , Sternberg Eliezer J. , Nieto-Castanon Alfonso , Anteraper Sheeba , Whitfield-Gabrieli Susan , Brown Emery N. , Boyden Edward S. , Dickerson Bradford C. , Tsai Li-Huei
Published: December 2022

Non-invasive Gamma ENtrainment Using Sensory stimulation (GENUS) at 40Hz reduces Alzheimer’s disease (AD) pathology such as amyloid and tau levels, prevents cerebral atrophy, and improves behavioral testing performance in mouse models of AD. Here, we report data from (1) a Phase 1 feasibility study (NCT04042922, ClinicalTrials.gov) in cognitively normal volunteers (n = 25), patients with mild AD dementia (n = 16), and patients with epilepsy who underwent intracranial electrode monitoring (n = 2) to assess safety and feasibility of a single brief GENUS session to induce entrainment and (2) a single-blinded, randomized, placebo-controlled Phase 2A pilot study (NCT04055376) in patients with mild probable AD dementia (n = 15) to assess safety, compliance, entrainment, and exploratory clinical outcomes after chronic daily 40Hz sensory stimulation for 3 months. Our Phase 1 study showed that 40Hz GENUS was safe and effectively induced entrainment in both cortical regions and other cortical and subcortical structures such as the hippocampus, amygdala, insula, and gyrus rectus. Our Phase 2A study demonstrated that chronic daily 40Hz light and sound GENUS was well-tolerated and that compliance was equally high in both the control and active groups, with participants equally inaccurate in guessing their group assignments prior to unblinding. Electroencephalography recordings show that our 40Hz GENUS device safely and effectively induced 40Hz entrainment in participants with mild AD dementia. After 3 months of daily stimulation, the group receiving 40Hz stimulation showed (i) lesser ventricular dilation and hippocampal atrophy, (ii) increased functional connectivity in the default mode network as well as with the medial visual network, (iii) better performance on the face-name association delayed recall test, and (iv) improved measures of daily activity rhythmicity compared to the control group. These results support further evaluation of GENUS in a pivotal clinical trial to evaluate its potential as a novel disease-modifying therapeutic for patients with AD.
Comparison of dosimetric effects of MLC positional errors on VMAT and IMRT plans for SBRT radiotherapy in non-small cell lung cancer
Authors: Deng Jia , Huang Yun , Wu Xiangyang , Hong Ye , Zhao Yaolin
Published: December 2022

The positional accuracy of multi-leaf collimators (MLC) is important in stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT). The aim of this study was to investigate the impact between MLC positional error and dosimetry of volume intensity modulated (VMAT) and general intensity modulated (IMRT) plans for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Fifteen patients with NSCLC were selected to design the 360 SBRT-VMAT plans and the 360 SBRT-IMRT error plans. The DICOM files for these treatment plans were imported into a proprietary computer program that introduced delivery errors. Random and systematic MLC position (0.1, 0.2, 0.5, 1.0, 1.5, and 2.0 mm) errors were introduced. The systematic errors were shift errors (caused by gravity), opening errors, and closing errors. The CI, GI, d2cm and generalized equivalent uniform dose (gEUD) were calculated for the original plan and all treatment plans, accounting for the errors. Dose sensitivity was calculated using linear regression for MLC position errors. The random MLC errors were relatively insignificant. MLC shift, opening, and closing errors had a significant effect on the dose distribution of the SBRT plan. VMAT was more significant than IMRT. To ensure that the gEUD variation of PTV is controlled within 2%, the shift error, opening error, and closing error of IMRT should be less than 2.4 mm, 1.15 mm, and 0.97 mm, respectively. For VMAT, the shift error, opening error, and closing error should be less than 0.95 mm, 0.32 mm, and 0.38 mm, respectively. The dose sensitivity results obtained in this study can be used as a guide for patient-based quality assurance efforts. The position error of the MLC system had a significant impact on the gEUD of the SBRT technology. The MLC systematic error has a greater dosimetric impact on the VMAT plan than on the IMRT plan for SBRT, which should be carefully monitored.
The circadian clock modulates Anopheles gambiae infection with Plasmodium falciparum
Authors: Habtewold Tibebu , Tapanelli Sofia , Masters Ellen K. G. , Windbichler Nikolai , Christophides George K.
Published: December 2022

Key behaviours, physiologies and gene expressions in Anopheles mosquitoes impact the transmission of Plasmodium. Such mosquito factors are rhythmic to closely follow diel rhythms. Here, we set to explore the impact of the mosquito circadian rhythm on the tripartite interaction between the vector, the parasite and the midgut microbiota, and investigate how this may affect the parasite infection outcomes. We assess Plasmodium falciparum infection prevalence and intensity, as a proxy for gametocyte infectivity, in Anopheles gambiae mosquitoes that received a gametocyte-containing bloodfeed and measure the abundance of the midgut microbiota at different times of the mosquito rearing light-dark cycle. Gametocyte infectivity is also compared in mosquitoes reared and maintained under a reversed light-dark regime. The effect of the circadian clock on the infection outcome is also investigated through silencing of the CLOCK gene that is central in the regulation of animal circadian rhythms. The results reveal that the A. gambiae circadian cycle plays a key role in the intensity of infection of P. falciparum gametocytes. We show that parasite gametocytes are more infectious during the night-time, where standard membrane feeding assays (SMFAs) at different time points in the mosquito natural circadian rhythm demonstrate that gametocytes are more infectious when ingested at midnight than midday. When mosquitoes were cultured under a reversed light/dark regime, disrupting their natural physiological homeostasis, and infected with P. falciparum at evening hours, the infection intensity and prevalence were significantly decreased. Similar results were obtained in mosquitoes reared under the standard light/dark regime upon silencing of CLOCK, a key regulator of the circadian rhythm, highlighting the importance of the circadian rhythm for the mosquito vectorial capacity. At that time, the mosquito midgut microbiota load is significantly reduced, while the expression of lysozyme C-1 (LYSC-1) is elevated, which is involved in both the immune response and microbiota digestion. We conclude that the tripartite interactions between the mosquito vector, the malaria parasite and the mosquito gut microbiota are finely tuned to support and maintain malaria transmission. Our data add to the knowledge framework required for designing appropriate and biologically relevant SMFA protocols.
Italian validation of the situational Brief Cope Scale (I-Brief Cope)
Authors: Bongelli Ramona , Fermani Alessandra , Canestrari Carla , Riccioni Ilaria , Muzi Morena , Bertolazzi Alessia , Burro Roberto
Published: December 2022

The Brief COPE (Coping Orientation to Problems Experienced) inventory is 14 faced scales used to assess coping strategies. It has been administered on different population samples and translated into several languages. Nonetheless, the Italian validation of its situational format is missing, and the present study aimed to fill this gap. To this end, the original English version of the scale was translated into Italian and administered to a sample of 682 Italian healthcare workers (HCWs), during the first wave of COVID-19. The Exploratory and Confirmatory Factor Analysis (EFA and CFA) were performed and led to the validation of the Italian Brief COPE (I-Brief COPE) scale, consisting of 21 items, loading properly on 6 factors, which range from activation (F1) to deactivation (F2), via social support (F3), humorous reframing (F4), religious/spiritual reliance (F5), substances use (F6). The six factors identified represent, according to our analyses, the relevant dimensions of coping in a stressful situation such as COVID-19. The results of this study reveal that the I-Brief Cope can be considered as a valid tool for measuring coping strategies in facing stressful, unpredictable, and damaging events.
The predictive value of abnormal P-wave axis for the detection of incident atrial fibrillation: A systematic review with meta-analysis
Authors: Chattopadhyay Rahul Kumar , Chousou Panagiota Anna , Mukherjee Trisha , Pugh Peter John , Vassiliou Vassilios S.
Published: December 2022

Introduction

There is growing interest in the prediction of incident atrial fibrillation (AF). The 12-lead electrocardiogram (ECG) has been a particularly rich target for possible prediction strategies.

Purpose

The P-wave axis is an ECG parameter that reflects the dominant vector of atrial depolarisation and is usually 0° -75°. There is a large body of literature suggesting that AF reflects structural and conduction abnormalities of the atria, and thus the P-wave axis may represent a sensitive parameter to detect such changes.

Methods

A systematic review and meta-analysis of published literature associating abnormal P-wave axis and the development of incident AF was performed. Electronic databases were systematically searched from inception to October 2021. A random-effects model with generic inverse variance weights was utilised to pool the most adjusted effect measure from each paper. A funnel plot was used to assess publication bias.

Results

After excluding duplicate studies, 568 studies were screened. A total of eleven studies were identified that associated an abnormal P-wave axis with the subsequent detection of AF. The eight studies that considered abnormal P-wave axis as being <0° or >75° were pooled for meta-analysis. In the pooled studies a total of 78,222 patients were included with 5656 cases of incident atrial fibrillation identified. The meta-analysis of the studies suggested that an abnormal P-wave axis was associated with a pooled risk ratio of 2.12 (95% CI 1.49 to 3.01) for the detection of incident atrial fibrillation.

Conclusion

This comprehensive systematic review and meta-analysis, indicates the positive association of abnormal P wave axis and future detection of AF. Utilisation of abnormal P-wave axis, alongside other parameters, may allow clinicians to better risk-stratify individuals at increased risk of AF, and thus identify those who may benefit most from prolonged cardiac monitoring or targeted anticoagulation.