bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Differences in shuntflow (Qa), cardiac function and mortality between hemodialysis patients with a lower-arm fistula, an upper-arm fistula, and an arteriovenous graft
Authors: Drouven Johannes W , Wiegersma Janke , Assa Solmaz , Post Adrian , El Moumni Mostafa , Özyilmaz Akin , Zeebregts Clark J , Franssen Casper FM
Published: April 2022

Background:

High-flow vascular accesses may contribute to cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in hemodialysis patients. Since shuntflow (Qa) varies between vascular access types, the current study aims to investigate differences in left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH), systolic and diastolic function parameters, and all-cause mortality between patients with a lower-arm arteriovenous fistula (AVF), an upper-arm AVF, and an arteriovenous graft (AVG).

Methods:

A post hoc analysis of 100 patients was performed in a single-center, prospective observational study. Echocardiography examinations were performed prior to the dialysis session. Qa measurements were performed using ultrasound dilution. Patient groups were categorized by vascular access type. Cox proportional hazards models were used to investigate the association of shunt type with all-cause mortality with adjustment for potential confounders including, amongst others, age, sex, diabetes, the duration of hemodialysis treatment, shunt vintage, and Qa.

Results:

Patients with an upper-arm AVF had significantly ( p < 0.001) higher Qa (median 1902, IQR 1223–2508 ml/min) compared to patients with a lower-arm AVF (median 891, IQR 696–1414 ml/min) and patients with an AVG (median 881, IQR 580–1157 ml/min). The proportion of patients with LVH and systolic and diastolic echocardiographic parameters did not differ significantly between groups. Survival analysis showed that an upper-arm AVF was associated with a significantly lower all-cause mortality ( p = 0.04) compared to a lower-arm AVF.

Conclusions:

Patients with an upper-arm fistula had a higher Qa but similar systolic and diastolic cardiac function. Patients with an upper-arm fistula had a significantly lower risk of all-cause mortality compared with patients with a lower-arm fistula.
The Prevalence of Pharmacogenomics Variants and Their Clinical Relevance Among the Pakistani Population
Authors: Khan Abdul Rafay , Shah Sayed Hajan , Ajaz Sadia , Firasat Sadaf , Abid Aiysha , Raza Ali
Published: April 2022

Background:

Pharmacogenomics (PGx), forming the basis of precision medicine, has revolutionized traditional medical practice. Currently, drug responses such as drug efficacy, drug dosage, and drug adverse reactions can be anticipated based on the genetic makeup of the patients. The pharmacogenomic data of Pakistani populations are limited. This study investigates the frequencies of pharmacogenetic variants and their clinical relevance among ethnic groups in Pakistan.

Methods:

The Pharmacogenomics Knowledge Base (PharmGKB) database was used to extract pharmacogenetic variants that are involved in medical conditions with high (1A + 1B) to moderate (2A + 2B) clinical evidence. Subsequently, the allele frequencies of these variants were searched among multiethnic groups of Pakistan (Balochi, Brahui, Burusho, Hazara, Kalash, Pashtun, Punjabi, and Sindhi) using the 1000 Genomes Project (1KGP) and ALlele FREquency Database (ALFRED). Furthermore, the published Pharmacogenomics literature on the Pakistani population was reviewed in PubMed and Google Scholar.

Results:

Our search retrieved (n = 29) pharmacogenetic genes and their (n = 44) variants with high to moderate evidence of clinical association. These pharmacogenetic variants correspond to drug-metabolizing enzymes (n = 22), drug-metabolizing transporters (n = 8), and PGx gene regulators, etc. (n = 14). We found 5 pharmacogenetic variants present at >50% among 8 ethnic groups of Pakistan. These pharmacogenetic variants include CYP2B6 (rs2279345, C; 70%-86%), CYP3A5 (rs776746, C; 64%-88%), FLT3 (rs1933437, T; 54%-74%), CETP (rs1532624, A; 50%-70%), and DPP6 (rs6977820, C; 61%-86%) genes that are involved in drug response for acquired immune deficiency syndrome, transplantation, cancer, heart disease, and mental health therapy, respectively.

Conclusions:

This study highlights the frequency of important clinical pharmacogenetic variants (1A, 1B, 2A, and 2B) among multi-ethnic Pakistani populations. The high prevalence (>50%) of single nucleotide pharmacogenetic variants may contribute to the drug response/diseases outcome. These PGx data could be used as pharmacogenetic markers in the selection of appropriate therapeutic regimens for specific ethnic groups of Pakistan.
Modeling and Simulation of Cell Signaling Networks for Subsequent Analytics Processes Using Big Data and Machine Learning
Authors: Sánchez-Gutiérrez Máximo Eduardo , González-Pérez Pedro Pablo
Published: April 2022

This work explores how much the traditional approach to modeling and simulation of biological systems, specifically cell signaling networks, can be increased and improved by integrating big data, data mining, and machine learning techniques. Specifically, we first model, simulate, validate, and calibrate the behavior of the PI3K/AKT/mTOR cancer-related signaling pathway. Subsequently, once the behavior of the simulated signaling network matches the expected behavior, the capacity of the computational simulation is increased to grow data (data farming). First, we use big data techniques to extract, collect, filter, and store large volumes of data describing all the interactions among the simulated cell signaling system components over time. Afterward, we apply data mining and machine learning techniques—specifically, exploratory data analysis, feature selection techniques, and supervised neural network models—to the resulting biological dataset to obtain new inferences and knowledge about this biological system. The results showed how the traditional approach to the simulation of biological systems could be enhanced and improved by incorporating big data, data mining, and machine learning techniques, which significantly contributed to increasing the predictive power of the simulation.
Nutritional Status of Postpartum Mothers and Associated Risk Factors in Shey-Bench District, Bench-Sheko Zone, Southwest Ethiopia: A Community Based Cross-Sectional Study
Authors: Sebeta Asresash , Girma Abel , Kidane Rediet , Tekalign Eyob , Tamiru Dessalegn
Published: April 2022

Background:

Malnutrition affects millions of people in developing countries and contributes to poor health outcomes and nutritional status among women in the postpartum period. Lactation increases high nutritional demands and marks a significant life transition that can impact diet quality and subsequently predispose woman to high risk of overweight and undernutrition. Although, studies have been conducted on the nutritional status of lactating women, there is a gap especially on women’s nutritional status during the postpartum period. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the nutritional status of postpartum women and associated factors in Shey-Bench District, Bench-Sheko Zone, Southwest Ethiopia, 2020.

Method:

A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted in Shey-Bench District from March 1 to 30/2020 among 359 postpartum mothers. Bivariate analysis was employed to select candidate variables at P-value <.25 as a cut-off point. Multiple multinomial logistic regression analysis was used to identify variables significantly associated with nutritional status of the mother at P < .05 with 95% CI.

Results:

The study revealed that 10.3% of women were underweight and 16.7% were overweight. Employed mothers (AOR = 4.467, 95% CI [1.05-19.04]), employed husband (AOR = 0.087, 95% CI [0.021-0.370]), farmer husband (AOR = 0.084, 95% CI [0.024-0.293]), trader husband (AOR = 0.19, 95% CI [0.0614-0.616]), married mother (AOR = 0.222, 95% CI [0.088-0.560]), dietary diversity (AOR = 0.181, 95% CI [0.075-0.436]) were significantly associated with underweight and while being overweight was associated with dietary diversity, maternal age of between 15 to 24 and 25 to 34, exclusive breastfeeding, and frequency of breastfeeding.

Conclusion:

This study found a lower prevalence of underweight compared with overweight in the study area. Occupational status, marital status, age of the mother, dietary diversity, exclusive and frequency of breastfeeding were significantly associated factors with nutritional status of postpartum mother. We recommend strengthening the provision of nutrition education on modifiable factors with collaboration of other sectors.
Can Complete Blood Count Picture Tell Us More About the Activity of Rheumatological Diseases?
Authors: Taha Sara I , Samaan Sara F , Ibrahim Rehab Ali , Moustafa Nouran M , El-Sehsah Eman M , Youssef Mariam K
Published: April 2022

Background:

In clinical practice, distinguishing disease activity in patients with rheumatological illnesses is challenging.

Objectives:

We aimed to investigate clinical associations of hemogram-derived indices, namely: red cell distribution width (RDW), mean platelet volume (MPV), neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), lymphocyte-to-monocyte ratio (LMR), and systemic immune-inflammation index (SII) with disease activity in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), and ankylosing spondylitis (AS).

Methods:

In 250 patients with rheumatological disease and 100 healthy age-matched controls, we investigated disease activity scores and indicators and evaluated their association with hemogram-derived indices values.

Results:

Compared with the control group, RDW, MPV, and PLR significantly increased ( P < .001) in the three studied disorders (RA, SLE, and AS), but LMR dramatically decreased. SII was considerably higher in RA and AS patients compared with controls but not in SLE patients. On the other hand, NLR rose dramatically in SLE patients compared with controls ( P = .043), but did not change much in RA and AS patients ( P > .05). RDW and MPV showed significant changes ( P < .001) in the three studied diseases (RA, SLE, and AS) according to disease activity. They significantly increased across worsening activity scores. Only in the SLE group, PLR was significantly increased with disease activity ( P < .001), while LMR showed a significant decrease ( P = .016).

Conclusions:

Clinicians must pay close attention to complete blood count (CBC) analysis and its various derived ratios to better characterize the activity of rheumatological disorders and anticipate the disease course and prognosis.
An Angel for the Dead: Sonia Bermúdez and the Cemetery “People Like Us”
Authors: Perry Jimena
Published: April 2022

In 1997, Sonia Bermúdez created the cemetery and foundation People Like Us to fulfill what she believes is God’s command: to help others. Sonia is a professional thanatologist who lives in the Colombian Department of La Guajira, in the desertic northeast region, bordering Venezuela, on the Caribbean Coast. At her graveyard, she buries the No Name, N.N., the victims of the country’s multifaceted violence, the homeless people, and those who live in the fringes of society. Since 2016, also, due to an increase in immigration of Venezuelans into Colombia, Sonia started to entomb citizens from the neighboring country, and during 2020, she has done the same for individuals who died from Covid-19. Following her deep religious faith, Sonia’s goal is to provide a dignified burial to those who cannot afford to have one. She does not entertain thoughts about the nationality, history, or economic status of those she ensepulchers, instead Sonia believes that everybody has the right to be put to rest in a decorous way. In this article, I address the aims and nature of People Like Us to explore how this space challenges the conventional dichotomy of official or serious memories versus non-official or trivial ones in Colombia. Mainly analyzing Sonia’s religious beliefs reflected in the way in which she handles and treats the bodies buried in the cemetery, I explore the interactions between local and national memories, to shed light on the “differential local futures in a global world,” which are dynamic, non-binary, and non-linear.
Flow factor modeling of combustion engine ring and cylinder components in mixed hydrodynamic lubrication
Authors: Locker Alex J. , Jackson Robert L. , Ghaednia Hamed , Gangopadhyay Arup
Published: April 2022

This work employees the modification of the Reynolds equation for computational efficiency by analyzing rough surfaces in the hydrodynamic flow regime through the use of flow factors. This analysis is aimed towards modeling the surface interactions and pressure variations across power cylinder components of an internal combustion engine, namely the piston ring and cylinder wall. The Patir and Cheng equations are for general surfaces that accounts for the overall effect of roughness and anisotropic structure. However, rough surfaces are not fully characterized by these two parameters and therefore the aim of this paper was to provide flow-factors specific to the cross-hatched cylinder liner surfaces and piston ring interface. These interacting surfaces were measured directly through the use of a profilometer. Average flow factors are derived via full deterministic solution of the Reynolds equation over rough surfaces to model the pressure and shear variations relative to smooth surfaces. These flow factors can then be used to consider the effect of roughness in lubrication problems without deterministically modeling roughness.
Acoustic modeling of honeycomb structures for second load direction with damping consideration
Authors: Saffar Saber
Published: April 2022

The control of low-frequency noise in buildings has become a critical issue because of the inadequate sound insulation in low frequencies (<200 Hz) for most partitions and doors. In the present study, an analytical model has been proposed to specify the relationship between the acoustic parameters such as acoustic impedance of honeycomb and the honeycomb geometry. In this regards, three materials (Polycarbonate, Polypropylene, and Polyurethane), seven angles (45°, 30°, 15°, 0°, −15°, −30°, −45°), and three cell arrangement (1 × 1, 2 × 2, and 3 × 3) were considered to find out the effect of these parameters on the sound absorption coefficient. Sound absorption in the frequency range of 1–500 Hz for angles of 45°, 30°, 15°, 0°, −15°, −30°, −45° was demonstrated using MATLAB software. A comparison of the results showed that the greater the angle’s absolute value, the more the sound absorption coefficient. By comparing all three materials’ absorption coefficient values, it was concluded that the 1 × 1 arrangement had greater absorption than the 2 × 2 and 3 × 3 arrangements. Also, the number of resonance peaks of polyurethane material for all angles was greater than the others in the same frequency range. Then, the panel with the honeycomb core of Polyurethane and 1 × 1 arrangement was recommended for cells with an internal angle of −45° in the present research case study for having more sound absorption.
When rights collide: Examining conflicts between gender identity, sexual orientation, & religious discrimination protections
Authors: Alteri Ashley M
Published: April 2022

In 2020 the U.S. Supreme Court extended federal employment discrimination protections to individuals based on their gender identity or sexual orientation. While this decision represents a victory for LGBTQIA+ employees, it did not speak to whether religious freedom laws would provide a suitable defense for violating this law. After this decision, we are left with an HR puzzle. When employment discrimination protections collide, what set of rights, those based on our religious beliefs or those based on our gender identity or sexual orientation, win out? Existing laws and Court cases suggest that individuals and corporations may be able to avoid the non-discrimination requirement by claiming a religious objection to an employee’s gender identity or sexual orientation, but this issue is far from settled. Accordingly, this paper provides legal analysis of the conflict and presents advice regarding how to foster an inclusive workplace and ensure that the rights of all are safeguarded.
A rare complication of coronary vasospasm associated with concomitant use of ergotamine, cobicistat, and darunavir
Authors: Wu Cheng-En , Wu Chun-Hsien , Tsai Shih-Hung , Liao Wen-I
Published: April 2022

Ergotism is a rare cause of peripheral vasoconstriction with varying presentation depending on the affected vessels. Coronary vasospasm is a rare, potentially fatal manifestation of ergotism. Cytochrome P-450 isoenzyme CYP3A metabolizes ergot alkaloids and their derivatives; thus, concomitant use of ergotamine and CYP3A inhibitors significantly increases ergotism risk. The antiretroviral drug darunavir boosted with cobicistat potently inhibits CYP3A. A few deleterious interactions are described in the literature when combining ergotamine with boosted human immunodeficiency virus protease inhibitors. Herein, we describe a patient who presented to the emergency department with profound coronary vasospasm arising from ergotamine’s interaction with darunavir and cobicistat. Emergency coronary angiography revealed no critical atherosclerotic stenosis, but prolonged coronary artery spasm. After prompt cardiopulmonary resuscitation, intravenous vasodilator treatment, and 14-day extracorporeal membrane oxygenation application, the patient fully recovered and was discharged. Concomitant use of ergot alkaloids and their derivatives could be disastrous for patients treated with cobicistat-boosted darunavir.
‘I’ve got all these little problems that I’m circling in my head’: Creativity in expert ELT textbook writing
Authors: Atkinson Dawn
Published: April 2022

Retrospective accounts of materials development in the applied linguistics literature speak to the relationship between creativity and textbook writing, but this study forges another path by examining how an expert ELT (English language teaching) textbook writer deploys creativity during ongoing coursebook production. Qualitative content analysis of data collected via concurrent verbalization, during which the author thought aloud while producing textbook chapters, pre- and post-concurrent verbalization interviews, field notes, and a diary record revealed the creativity that characterized her work at both the process and product levels. Creativity ultimately helped her navigate the publishing constraints in place for her project, including appropriateness controls (e.g. taboo topics), and maintain her focus on learning, teaching, product usability, and publication goals. This study reveals how creativity impacts textbook production during unfolding writing sessions, making an empirical contribution to the research field of materials development. It also provides a view of the constraints associated with commercial publishing, showcases the operations of a skilled author, and demonstrates the usefulness of concurrent verbalization to materials development research: contributions relevant to ELT practitioners interested in textbook production.
Implementation of translingual pedagogies in EAL writing: A systematic review
Authors: Sun Yachao
Published: April 2022

Translingual pedagogies have been proposed and implemented to respond to the increasing linguistic and cultural diversity in today’s classrooms. However, the findings of translingual pedagogies on English as an additional language (EAL) writing vary from facilitating to undermining teaching and learning. To understand the empirical landscape of this young and fast-growing research area, I systematically reviewed 62 studies with a research synthesis method to explore what translingual activities have been implemented and how they have impacted EAL writing teaching and learning (including both K-12 and post-secondary contexts). The findings reveal that various translingual activities, such as self-reflective writing and literacy narrative, have been enacted in EAL writing teaching and learning. These activities have been practiced in different ways based on different rhetorical situations. The results show that translingual pedagogies can complement currently practiced EAL writing pedagogies, increase EAL student writers’ awareness of English monolingualism, facilitate EAL writing teaching in different rhetorical situations, engage students in learning activities, and help view codemeshing as a matter of agency in EAL writing teaching and learning. Despite these benefits, there are some challenges to implementing translingual pedagogies, such as teachers’ and students’ concerns about codemeshing in high-stakes writing, the lack of teacher education and guidance in translingual pedagogies and practices, and the exclusion of some linguistically minoritized students. In sum, translingual pedagogies can enrich EAL writing teaching and learning, albeit with some challenges.
Reconnaissance study of air quality in traffic tunnels: A case study of Aba-Saleh Al-Mahdi tunnel, Iran
Authors: Tavakoli Azadeh , Tavakoli Arezoo
Published: April 2022

Traffic tunnels have the potential to reduce the traffic congestion, but in some cases, they lead to the accumulation of air pollutants. The present study focused on the analysis of chemical and biological pollutants inside and outside of the largest tunnel in Iran. The measurements were done during different hours and days in four seasons (2018–2019). The collected data showed that the inside of the tunnel was more polluted than the outside, and the type, the number of passing cars and the weather condition had an effect on concentrations. Winter, summer and evenings are the most polluted periods. Comparison of data with national and WHO standards revealed that SO2 is a critical pollutant for all periods; NO2 is a problem during summer, winter and evenings. The concentration of PM2.5 exceeded these standards in the evenings. A high correlation between PM2.5 and PM10, in concentration, changes and spatial distribution points to the same emission sources. For biological pollutants, a high microbial population was found during the summer and afternoons. Among the isolated Gram-positive bacterium, the Bacillus sp (38%) and Aspergillus sp (32%) were the highest population of bacteria and fungi, respectively. Measurement results in combination with a high rate of hospital admissions emphasized the poor air quality inside the tunnel and the necessity for the installation of mechanical ventilation systems.
Medium and source convergence in crisis information acquisition: Patterns, antecedents, and outcomes
Authors: Zhao Xinyan , Xu Sifan , Austin Lucinda L.
Published: April 2022

To understand how individuals navigate the complex, dynamic, and bewildering media information environment, we propose a convergence framework theorizing individuals’ acquisition of information from distinct sources on multiple mediums, along with its antecedents and consequences. This study is among the first to test the convergence framework. Using a national sample during the COVID-19 pandemic, our results revealed four convergence patterns and key antecedents and outcomes of these patterns. Individuals’ information verification tendency, perceived medium anonymity, and trust in alternative sources were associated with distinct patterns of convergence, which led to different risk perceptions. Future research should explore different forms of convergence and additional antecedents and outcomes of convergence.
When does the European Commission Pursue Noncompliance?
Authors: Cheruvu Sivaram
Published: April 2022

Under what conditions will international compliance-monitoring institutions pursue violations of international law? The European Commission’s infringement procedure is a multi-step process that culminates at the Court of Justice of the European Union when a member state has allegedly violated European Union law. The Commission, however, does not have meaningful enforcement powers, and may potentially spend valuable time and resources on a case only for a member state to not comply with European Union law. To manage this opportunity cost of pursuing other violations of European Union law, I argue that the Commission will strategically delay advancing a case through the infringement procedure when it anticipates that the political conditions will be more favorable for compliance in the future. I provide evidence that the Commission delays infringement proceedings when it expects the election of a new government that will be more likely to comply than the incumbent government.
Developing safeguarding skills and competencies
Authors: Hardwick Lauren , Radia Sapna , Lambert Pauline
Published: April 2022

Safeguarding is an important part of an orthodontist’s working life, as such there are several organisations and a plethora of legislation. These strive to ensure orthodontists implement the safeguarding agenda in their working environment. This article will provide background information on safeguarding. It then focuses on the development and training of dentists. The article looks at approaches that have been used in a hospital setting to engage staff and to generate clinical implementation.
To comply or to be committed? Public procurement and labour rights in global supply chains
Authors: Sack Detlef , Sarter EK
Published: April 2022

Violations of fundamental labour rights have been a problem in global supply chains for decades. Recently, public procurement is increasingly used to regulate labour standards in global chains. Based on previous research on private actors, which distinguished between compliance-focused and commitment-focused enforcement strategies, this article discusses the problems and means of enforcing respect for labour rights in global supply chains. By applying this distinction to public procurement, this article develops a concept of enforcement styles for public procurement as a tool to regulate labour in global supply chains.
Data-driven model-based calibration for optimizing electrically boosted diesel engine performance
Authors: Pal Anuj , Zhu Ling , Wang Yan , Zhu Guoming
Published: April 2022

Engine calibration is a process of optimizing its control variables, which is a crucial step to achieve the desired performance from the engine system. However, its complexity has increased dramatically due to the constant evolution of the engine architecture with multiple control variables interacting with each other, making it difficult to calibrate its control variables with significantly increased experimental costs. System complexity also affects the physics-based modeling process as it makes the system model highly non-linear and difficult to capture system dynamics under all engine operating conditions. To overcome these challenges, the current work proposes a machine learning-based framework to reduce the required calibration effort. The work implements a stochastic surrogate assisted optimization approach on an actual engine experimental test setup, which efficiently looks for the global optimal solution based on only the input-output data set. This work performs a steady-state calibration of a turbocharged diesel engine with an additional external electric-assisted boosting system (eBoost). Three control parameters are considered for this study: Variable Geometry Turbocharger (VGT) vane position, Exhaust Gas Recirculation (EGR) valve position, and eBoost speed to identify the optimal trade-off between engine efficiency (Brake Specific Fuel Consumption) and emissions ( NO x). The addition of eBoost makes the calibration problem difficult because the two control parameters, VGT and EGR, also depend on eBoost speed. Using the proposed data-driven calibration approach, the experimental results showed enhanced engine performance in terms of efficiency and emissions using the eBoost compared with the case without eBoost. At the same time, the experimental cost was reduced significantly due to the reduced number of testing points required to achieve the optimum.
How brands mobilize status, reputation, and legitimacy cues to signal their social standing: The case of luxury watchmaking
Authors: Philippe Déborah , Debenedetti Alain , Chaney Damien
Published: April 2022

While social evaluations have gained prominence in the field of marketing, few studies have investigated how brands strategically mobilize their social evaluations. This study aims to further explore the potential of social evaluations to shed light on brand management processes. Through a qualitative content analysis of 420 unique magazine ads of 36 fine watchmaking brands over a four-year period, we show how brands strategically draw from the distinct repertoires of status, reputation, and legitimacy to signal their social position and increase their appeal to consumers. We find that brands mobilize and combine cues from the three repertoires in different ways and that these variations stem from differences in the brands’ strategic intent and extent of market embeddedness. We discuss the contributions of these findings to the marketing literatures on social evaluations and on the role of advertising in brand building and conclude by outlining avenues for future research.
Engaging with the past: Discerning meaning in organizational imprints
Authors: Lyle Matthew CB , Walsh Ian J , Prokopovych Bogdan
Published: April 2022

While scholars have explained how organizational imprints evolve, they have yet to explore how newcomers discern the meaning of existing imprints. Drawing on a field study of a home healthcare agency, we demonstrate how newcomers’ discovery of imprints spurs an assessment process through which they personalize the imprints before enacting them through task performance, affective commitment, and preferences for selection. We discuss the implications of our work for scholars seeking to better understand the cognitive and social-cognitive processes underlying newcomers’ experiences with organizational imprints and the ways in which such engagement might shape their persistence.
Machine learning applications in healthcare and the role of informed consent: Ethical and practical considerations
Authors: Lorenzini Giorgia , Shaw David Martin , Arbelaez Ossa Laura , Elger Bernice Simone
Published: April 2022

Informed consent is at the core of the clinical relationship. With the introduction of machine learning (ML) in healthcare, the role of informed consent is challenged. This paper addresses the issue of whether patients must be informed about medical ML applications and asked for consent. It aims to expose the discrepancy between ethical and practical considerations, while arguing that this polarization is a false dichotomy: in reality, ethics is applied to specific contexts and situations. Bridging this gap and considering the whole picture is essential for advancing the debate. In the light of the possible future developments of the situation and the technologies, as well as the benefits that informed consent for ML can bring to shared decision-making, the present analysis concludes that it is necessary to prepare the ground for a possible future requirement of informed consent for medical ML.
Re-thinking official educational organization towards friction-zones between divergent knowledges
Authors: Andersson Åsa , Korp Peter , Reinertsen Anne B
Published: April 2022

In this article, I re-think official educational organization toward friction-zones. Thinking with a swimming event in physical education, and Deleuze’s notion of pure difference and its accompanying characteristics, non-linearity, decentralization, pluralistic knowledge, virtual and actual multiplicities, nomadic waiting, and open ends, I outline conditions for official educational organization in the encounter between divergent knowledges. The aim is to bring teachers and students closer to each other and paradoxically let up-coming concepts, meanings, and ideas act instead of silence everything that is not in line with predefined educational goals. It is to create common histories of learning and knowledge productions, and hence to produce common grounds in/by motion. Ultimately, it is about inclusive processes in/by motion. And, it is also a call for us all to pay attention and resist unintentional productions of exclusion, and thus all colonizing processes that includes superior knowledge.
Therapeutic Dance for the Healing of Sexual Trauma: A Systematic Review
Authors: Lee Joyce , Dhauna Janeet , Silvers Jennifer A. , Houston Meredith H. , Barnert Elizabeth S.
Published: April 2022

Therapeutic dance has been increasingly used as a treatment modality for sexual trauma, yet its evidence-based efficacy has not yet been catalogued. We therefore conducted a systematic review to summarize the existing evidence for therapeutic dance as an intervention for healing after sexual trauma. We searched 5 major databases to identify intervention studies on the use of therapeutic dance for individuals with histories of sexual trauma. Studies were included based on the following criteria: 1) the study involves individuals who have been exposed to sexual trauma; 2) the study reports on any form of dance as a therapeutic intervention; and 3) the study reports on dance intervention outcomes. A total of 1,686 sources were identified. Of these, 11 articles met eligibility criteria and were assessed. Reported outcomes were extracted and organized into emergent domains. We found that therapeutic dance acts upon three broad domains—affect, self, and interpersonal relationships – and can be delivered in diverse settings. Across the studies, dance showed benefits on outcomes. However, a significant weakness of the current peer-reviewed literature is the lack of robust empirical intervention research on dance therapy. Overall, the emerging literature suggests that therapeutic dance is a potential intervention for those who have experienced sexual trauma. The review findings presented here can be used to inform practitioners and systems of care targeted for those who have been subject to sexual trauma.
Outcomes of Endurant II Stent Graft According to Anatomic Severity Grade Score
Authors: Omran Safwan , Müller Verena , Schawe Larissa , Bürger Matthias , Kapahnke Sebastian , Bruder Leon , Haidar Haidar , Konietschke Frank , Greiner Andreas
Published: April 2022

Objectives:

This study’s objective was to evaluate Endurant II (Medtronic Inc, Minneapolis, Minnesota) stent graft’s early and midterm outcomes and compare the results according to the anatomic severity grade (ASG) scores.

Methods:

This was a retrospective study of patients treated with the Endurant II stent graft between January 2013 and May 2021. The patients were divided into 2 independent groups, including those with a low ASG score (score <14) and a high ASG score (score >14).

Results:

A total of 165 consecutive patients (89% males, age 74±8 years) were included. There were 110 (67%) patients in the low-score group and 55 (33%) patients in the high-score group. Technical success was achieved in all cases. Primary clinical success at 30 days was 100% and at 1 year was 96%. Median operative time was longer in the high-score group with no statistical significance (133 vs 120 minutes, p=0.116). The median dose area product of low-score patients (50.9 Gy·cm2; IQR 22.4–75.5 Gy·cm2) was significantly lower than high-score patients (85.0 Gy·cm2; IQR 46.5–127.9 Gy·cm2) with p=0.025. Median fluoroscopic time was lower in low-score patients (17 minutes; IQR 13–24 minutes) compared with high-score patients (19 minutes; IQR 16–23 minutes) without a significant difference at p=0.148. At a midterm follow-up of 32 months (range 2–63 months), combined complications (29% vs 8%, p<0.001) and implant-related complications (13% vs 4%, p=0.043) were higher in the high-score group. Systemic complications at 30 days were higher in the high-score group without a statistically significant difference (15% vs 11%, p=0.500). The Kaplan-Meier estimate of freedom from reintervention was significantly higher in the low-risk group at 1 (97% vs 90%), 2 (96% vs 88%), and 3 years (96% vs 85%) with (p=0.035). The cumulative survival rate was significantly higher in the low-score group than high-score group (p=0.001) at 1 (99% vs 87%), 2 (98% vs 85%), and 3 years (96% vs 82%).

Conclusions:

Endurant II endovascular aneurysm repair seems to be safe in both low-score and high-score patients. However, patients in the high-score group showed more implant-related complications and midterm mortalities than those in the low-score group.
Computational Fluid Dynamics for the Prediction of Endograft Thrombosis in the Superficial Femoral Artery
Authors: van de Velde Lennart , Groot Jebbink Erik , Hagmeijer Rob , Versluis Michel , Reijnen Michel M. P. J.
Published: April 2022

Purpose:

Contemporary diagnostic modalities, including contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CTA) and duplex ultrasound, have been insufficiently able to predict endograft thrombosis. This study introduces an implementation of image-based computational fluid dynamics (CFD), by exemplification with 4 patients treated with an endograft for occlusive disease of the superficial femoral artery (SFA). The potential of personalized CFD for predicting endograft thrombosis is investigated.

Materials and Methods:

Four patients treated with endografts for an occluded SFA were retrospectively included. CFD simulations, based on CTA and duplex ultrasound, were compared for patients with and without endograft thrombosis to investigate potential flow-related causes of endograft thrombosis. Time-averaged wall shear stress (TAWSS) was computed, which highlights areas of prolonged residence times of coagulation factors in the graft.

Results:

CFD simulations demonstrated normal TAWSS (>0.4 Pa) in the SFA for cases 1 and 2, but low levels of TAWSS (<0.4 Pa) in cases 3 and 4, respectively. Primary patency was achieved in cases 1 and 2 for over 2 year follow-up. Cases 3 and 4 were complicated by recurrent endograft thrombosis.

Conclusion:

The presence of a low TAWSS was associated with recurrent endograft thrombosis in subjects with otherwise normal anatomic and ultrasound assessment and a good distal run-off.
Contingency, Precarity and Short-Video Creativity: Platformization Based Analysis of Chinese Online Screen Industry
Authors: Su Chunmeizi
Published: April 2022

Platformization theory proposes that cultural productions are contingent on platforms. This study argues that in the Chinese context; however, online productions are contingent not only on platforms, but on government policies. Under the influence of state, market, and platform policy, major streaming services in China are becoming an online “state TV.” The limitations placed on grassroots content has forced creators to thrive elsewhere, contributing to the proliferation of short video platforms such as TikTok. This study investigates the contingency and precarity of the online sector to map the migration of content creators from conventional streaming services to the emerging creative forms of short videos and livestreaming.
Triaxial braided sandwich composite guide bar potentially used in high-speed warp knitting machine
Authors: Wang Mingling , Pan Zhongxiang , Yu Jiajia , Xu Ran , Du Xiaoqiang , Wu Zhenyu
Published: April 2022

Integrated manufacturing technology was applied to fabricate a 3-D triaxial braided sandwich composite (TBSC) guide bar based on a real geometric shape. The axial compression, three-point bending, and vibration performance of bar specimens were investigated. Frequencies and vibration modes of the TBSC bar at free and constraint conditions were obtained by the numerical model, and the parametric analysis of different braiding angles was carried out. Effectiveness of the full-scale model was verified by vibration experiments. It is found that the frequency of TBSC and steel guide bar were close at the order 1 and 2; but when the order was higher than 2, the TBSC frequency was significantly improved. For the steel bar, axial periodic torsion and cross-section distortion were found at the orders 4, 5, 6, and 8; While for the TBSC structure, transverse bending was the main vibration deformation. Under a constrained state, the bending deformation was either localized at one end or in the middle of the bar, less than 1/3 length of the whole bar. The effect of braiding angle was significant on the deformation morphology. The increase of braiding angle had a negative effect on the frequency at the order 1 to 6. But such tendency changed at higher orders from 7 to 14. The frequency of [+15/0/-15]3 and [+75/0/-75]3 TBSC bars were much lower than that of [+30/0/-30]3 and [+45/0/-45]3 counterparts. If the maximum deformed displacement is considered, the [+45/0/-45]3 configuration will be the best choice, especially for vibration resistance at high frequency.
Revealing the intrinsic dielectric properties of mediterranean green fiber composites for sustainable functional products
Authors: Fares Osama , AL-Oqla Faris , Hayajneh Mohammed
Published: April 2022

The ability of biodegradable materials to be miniaturized and degrade at specific rates when subjected to certain bacterium types and/or a given range of temperatures has led to a newly emerging technology: organic transient bioelectronics. In this work, the electrical characteristics of new natural composite materials are presented. Four types of natural lignocellulosic fibers were used with polypropylene: black pepper, sumac, pomegranate, and lemon. The composites were prepared as flat smooth sheets with thicknesses ∼1 mm. The dielectric constant and the ac conductivity of the prepared samples were determined for the frequency range of 1 KHz to 4 MH. All measurements were performed at room temperature and humidity utilizing parallel plate capacitor technique associated with high precision Hioki IM3536 LCR meter. The frequency response of the composites under study shows similar behavior to that of the pure sample but with various percentage increments. The dielectric constant shows that the consistent dispersion was highly affected by filler content specially at the low frequency side of the spectrum. The maximum recorded increment was around 55% for 30wt.% sumac samples at 1 KHz. The effect of larger filler loading concentration on the incremental change of the ac conductivity was more obvious at higher frequencies.
Bending and wrinkling behaviours of polyester fabric membrane structures under inflation
Authors: Ye Yunling , Gan Jin , Ran Xiaolin , Liu Huabing , Wu Weiguo
Published: April 2022

Membrane structures made of high-strength polyester fabrics are deployable and lightweight, which can be utilized in architecture, aerospace and marine structures. The design and optimization of an inflated structure depends on a thorough understanding of polyester fabric mechanics. In this work, firstly, the material properties of the polyester fabric membrane were analyzed by a tensile test. The bending and wrinkling behaviours of the inflated polyester fabric membrane were investigated by experimental, analytical and numerical methods. Specimens of varying internal pressures and diameters were subjected to bending tests with highly controlled loading and boundary conditions. It was found that the flexural capacity of the inflated membrane structure was positively correlated with the diameter and the internal pressure but decreased obviously with the occurrence and propagation of wrinkles. Based on the energy principle, the prediction formula of mid-span deflection was developed with the consideration of shear stiffness. Furthermore, the surface-based fluid cavity method was employed to set up a finite element model (FE model). The flexural behaviour of inflated membrane structure can be predicted by both the analytical and the numerical method, and the reliability was verified by comparing with the experiment
Targeted Protein Degradation: An Important Tool for Drug Discovery for “Undruggable” Tumor Transcription Factors
Authors: Dai Mengyuan , Radhakrishnan Sridhar , Li Rui , Tan Ruirong , Yan Kuo , Fan Gang , Liu Miao
Published: April 2022

Conventional small-molecule drugs (SMDs) are compounds characterized by low molecular weight, high cell permeability, and high selectivity. In clinical translation, SMDs are regarded as good candidates for oral drug formulation. SMD inhibitors play an important role in cancer treatment; however, resistance and low effectiveness have been major bottlenecks in clinical application. Generally, only 20% of cell proteins can potentially be targeted and have been developed as SMDs; thus, some types of tumor targets are considered “undruggable.” Among these are transcription factors (TFs), an important class of proteins that regulate the occurrence, formation, and development of tumors. It is difficult for SMDs and macromolecular drugs to identify bioactive sites in TFs and hence for use as pharmacological inhibitors in targeting TF proteins. For this reason, technologies that enable targeted protein degradation, such as proteolysis-targeting chimera or molecular glues, could serve as a potential tool to solve these conundrums.
In-ovo imaging using ostrich eggs: Biomagnetism for detection of cardiac signals and embryonal motion
Authors: Freesmeyer Martin , Hermeyer Hanna , Kuehnel Christian , Perkas Olga , Greiser Julia , Witte Otto W , Winkens Thomas
Published: April 2022

In-ovo imaging using ostrich eggs has been described as a potential alternative to common animal testing. The main advantage is its independence from small animal imaging devices as ostrich eggs provide good image quality on regular CT, MRI, or PET used in examinations of humans. However, embryonal motion during dynamic imaging studies produce artifacts. The aims of this study were (1) to explore the feasibility of biomagnetism to detect cardiac signals and embryonal motion and to use these findings (2) to investigate the effect of isoflurane anesthesia on ostrich embryos. A standard magnetoencephalography developed for brain studies was used to detect embryonal signals of ostrich eggs on developmental day 34. Signals were instantly shown on a screen and data were also postprocessed. For assessing the effects of anesthesia, nine ostrich eggs were investigated using isoflurane 6% for 90 min. Biomagnetic signals were recorded simultaneously. A control group consisting of eight different ostrich eggs was also investigated. Cardiac signals similar to electrocardiography were observed in all eggs. Postprocessing revealed frequent motion of embryos without anesthesia. The exposure to isoflurane led to a significant decrease in motion signals in 9/9 ostrich embryos after 8 min. Motion was significantly reduced in the isoflurane group versus control group. There were no isoflurane-related deaths. This study shows that biomagnetism is feasible to detect cardiac signals and motion of ostrich embryos in-ovo. Application of isoflurane is safe and leads to a rapid decrease in embryonal motion, which is an important prerequisite for the implementation of in-ovo imaging using ostrich eggs.