bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Effect of room air exposure on the field emission performance of UV light irradiated Si-gated field emitter arrays
Authors: Bhattacharya Ranajoy , Cannon Mason , Bhattacharjee Rushmita , Rughoobur Girish , Karaulac Nedeljko , Chern Winston , Akinwande Akintunde Ibitayo , Browning Jim
Published: December 2021

Field emission cathodes are promising candidates in nanoscale vacuum channel transistors and are used in microwave vacuum electron devices. Prior research has shown that UV light exposure as well as 350 °C vacuum bake can desorb water vapor from Si field emission tips, resulting in lower work function and improved emission performance. However, after long exposure to room air (greater than 24 h), the improved performance is lost as water adsorbs on the tips. In this study, experiments were carried on two sets of 1000 × 1000 Si-gated field emitter arrays to determine the length of time that emitters can be exposed to room air without degradation. First, the samples were exposed to UV light irradiation in vacuum, and the I–V curves were measured. Then, the samples were exposed to room air with a relative humidity ranging from 30% to 40% for varying times (5, 6, 8, 12, 24, and 48 h) and then tested again under high vacuum. It was found that the emission current did not degrade after room air exposure of 5 h. However, at 6 h of exposure, degradation started to occur, and after 24 h, the emission current went back to the original, pre-UV exposure case. In a separate experiment, UV irradiated samples were stored in nitrogen for 72 h, with a 10% degradation in current. These results demonstrate that field emission devices with improved performance resulting from water desorption can be handled in air up to 5 h, depending upon humidity and stored in nitrogen for 72 h while maintaining improved performance.
Programmed mechano-chemical coupling in reaction-diffusion active matter
Authors: Senoussi Anis , Galas Jean-Christophe , Estevez-Torres André
Published: December 2021

Two major out-of-equilibrium patterning mechanisms were conjugated within a life-like synthetic material.
A pathogenic role for histone H3 copper reductase activity in a yeast model of Friedreich’s ataxia
Authors: Campos Oscar A. , Attar Narsis , Cheng Chen , Vogelauer Maria , Mallipeddi Nathan V. , Schmollinger Stefan , Matulionis Nedas , Christofk Heather R. , Merchant Sabeeha S. , Kurdistani Siavash K.
Published: December 2021

Reduction of Cu
1+
production by histone H3 restores cellular deficiencies caused by insufficient supply of iron-sulfur clusters.
Single-Molecule Dynamics of DNA Receptor ComEA, Membrane Permease ComEC, and Taken-Up DNA in Competent Bacillus subtilis Cells
Authors: Burghard-Schrod Marie , Kilb Alexandra , Krämer Kai , Graumann Peter L.
Published: December 2021

Bacteria can take up DNA from the environment and incorporate it into their chromosome, which is termed “natural competence” that can result in the uptake of novel genetic information. We show that fluorescently labeled DNA moves within the periplasm of competent
Bacillus subtilis
cells, with similar dynamics as DNA receptor ComEA.
What Is Motion? Recent Advances in the Study of Molecular Movement Patterns of the Peptidoglycan Synthesis Machines
Authors: Lamanna Melissa Mae , Maurelli Anthony T.
Published: December 2021

How proteins move through space and time is a fundamental question in biology. While great strides have been made toward a mechanistic understanding of protein movement, many questions remain.
Supplemental Material: Biotite as a recorder of an exsolved Li-rich volatile phase in upper-crustal silicic magma reservoirs
Authors: Ellis Ben , al. et
Published: December 2021

Supplemental Figures S1–S8 (additional compositional information relevant to this study), and a supplemental dataset (all new data for this study and reference materials).
Supplemental Material: Geologic map of Slate Range Crossing area, California, USA
Authors: Andrew J.E.
Published: December 2021

Digital map data files in ArcGIS shapefile format for data collection points, geologic contacts, and geologic unit polygons.
Worse outcomes and higher costs of care in fibrostenotic Crohn’s disease: a real-world propensity-matched analysis in the USA
Authors: Dehghan Melody , Wong Gabriel , Neuberger Edward , Kin Cindy , Rieder Florian , Park K T
Published: December 2021

Background

Patients with Crohn’s disease (CD) may develop fibrostenotic strictures. No currently available therapies prevent or treat fibrostenotic CD (FCD), making this a critical unmet need.

Aim

To compare health outcomes and resource utilisation between CD patients with and without fibrostenotic disease.

Methods

Patients aged ≥18 years with FCD and non-FCD between 30 October 2015 and 30 September 2018 were identified in the Truven MarketScan Commercial Claims and Encounters Database. We conducted 1:3 nearest neighbour propensity score matching on age, sex, malnutrition, payer type, anti-tumour necrosis factor use, and Charlson Comorbidity Index score. Primary outcomes up to 1 year from the index claim were ≥1 hospitalisation, ≥1 procedure, ≥1 surgery, and steroid dependency (>100 day supply). Associations between FCD diagnosis and outcomes were estimated with a multivariable logistic regression model. This study was exempt from institutional review board approval.

Results

Propensity score matching yielded 11 022 patients. Compared with non-FCD, patients with FCD had increased likelihood of hospitalisations (17.1% vs 52.4%; p<0.001), endoscopic procedures (4.4% vs 8.6%; p<0.001), IBD-related surgeries (4.7% vs 9.1%; p<0.001), steroid dependency (10.0% vs 15.7%; p<0.001), and greater mean annual costs per patient ($47 575 vs $77 609; p<0.001). FCD was a significant risk factor for ≥1 hospitalisation (adjusted OR (aOR), 6.1), ≥1 procedure (aOR, 2.1), ≥1 surgery (aOR, 2.0), and steroid dependency (aOR, 1.7).

Conclusions

FCD was associated with higher risk for hospitalisation, procedures, abdominal surgery, and steroid dependency. Patients with FCD had a greater mean annual cost per patient. FCD represents an ongoing unmet medical need.
Oxygen systems strengthening as an intervention to prevent childhood deaths due to pneumonia in low-resource settings: systematic review, meta-analysis and cost-effectiveness
Authors: Lam Felix , Stegmuller Angela , Chou Victoria B , Graham Hamish R
Published: December 2021

Objectives

Increasing access to oxygen services may improve outcomes among children with pneumonia living in low-resource settings. We conducted a systematic review to estimate the impact and cost-effectiveness of strengthening oxygen services in low-income and middle-income countries with the objective of including oxygen as an intervention in the Lives Saved Tool.

Design

We searched EMBASE and PubMed on 31 March 2021 using keywords and MeSH terms related to ‘oxygen’, ‘pneumonia’ and ‘child’ without restrictions on language or date. The risk of bias was assessed for all included studies using the quality assessment tool for quantitative studies, and we assessed the overall certainty of the evidence using Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluations. Meta-analysis methods using random effects with inverse-variance weights was used to calculate a pooled OR and 95% CIs. Programme cost data were extracted from full study reports and correspondence with study authors, and we estimated cost-effectiveness in US dollar per disability-adjusted life-year (DALY) averted.

Results

Our search identified 665 studies. Four studies were included in the review involving 75 hospitals and 34 485 study participants. We calculated a pooled OR of 0.52 (95% CI 0.39 to 0.70) in favour of oxygen systems reducing childhood pneumonia mortality. The median cost-effectiveness of oxygen systems strengthening was $US62 per DALY averted (range: US$44–US$225). We graded the risk of bias as moderate and the overall certainty of the evidence as low due to the non-randomised design of the studies.

Conclusion

Our findings suggest that strengthening oxygen systems is likely to reduce hospital-based pneumonia mortality and may be cost-effective in low-resource settings. Additional implementation trials using more rigorous designs are needed to strengthen the certainty in the effect estimate.
Burden of chronic diseases associated with periodontal diseases: a retrospective cohort study using UK primary care data
Authors: Zemedikun Dawit T , Chandan Joht Singh , Raindi Devan , Rajgor Amarkumar Dhirajlal , Gokhale Krishna Margadhmane , Thomas Tom , Falahee Marie , De Pablo Paola , Lord Janet M , Raza Karim , Nirantharakumar Krishnarajah
Published: December 2021

Objectives

To identify the association between periodontal diseases (gingivitis and periodontitis) and chronic diseases including cardiovascular disease, cardiometabolic disease, autoimmune disease and mental ill health.

Design

Retrospective cohort.

Setting

IQVIA Medical Research Data-UK between 1 January 1995 and 1 January 2019.

Participants

64 379 adult patients with a general practitioner recorded diagnosis of periodontal disease (exposed patients) were matched to 251 161 unexposed patients by age, sex, deprivation and registration date.

Main outcome measures

Logistic regression models accounting for covariates of clinical importance were undertaken to estimate the adjusted OR (aOR) of having chronic diseases at baseline in the exposed compared with the unexposed group. Incidence rates for each outcome of interest were then provided followed by the calculation of adjusted HRs using cox regression modelling to describe the risk of outcome development in each group.

Results

The average age at cohort entry was 45 years and the median follow-up was 3.4 years. At study entry, the exposed cohort had an increased likelihood of having a diagnosis of cardiovascular disease (aOR 1.43; 95% CI 1.38 to 1.48), cardiometabolic disease (aOR 1.16; 95% CI 1.13 to 1.19), autoimmune disease (aOR 1.33; 95% CI 1.28 to 1.37) and mental ill health (aOR 1.79; 95% CI 1.75 to 1.83) compared with the unexposed group. During the follow-up of individuals without pre-existing outcomes of interest, the exposed group had an increased risk of developing cardiovascular disease (HR 1.18; 95% CI 1.13 to 1.23), cardiometabolic disease (HR 1.07; 95% CI 1.03 to 1.10), autoimmune disease (HR 1.33; 95% CI 1.26 to 1.40) and mental ill health (HR 1.37; 95% CI 1.33 to 1.42) compared with the unexposed group.

Conclusions

In this cohort, periodontal diseases appeared to be associated with an increased risk of developing cardiovascular, cardiometabolic, autoimmune diseases and mental ill health. Periodontal diseases are very common; therefore, an increased risk of other chronic diseases represent a substantial public health burden.
Association between dementia parental family history and mid-life modifiable risk factors for dementia: a cross-sectional study using propensity score matching within the Lifelines cohort
Authors: Vrijsen Joyce , Abu-Hanna Ameen , de Rooij Sophia E , Smidt Nynke
Published: December 2021

Objective

Individuals with a parental family history (PFH) of dementia have an increased risk to develop dementia, regardless of genetic risks. The aim of this study is to investigate the association between a PFH of dementia and currently known modifiable risk factors for dementia among middle-aged individuals using propensity score matching (PSM).

Design

A cross-sectional study.

Setting and participants

A subsample of Lifelines (35–65 years), a prospective population-based cohort study in the Netherlands was used.

Outcome measures

Fourteen modifiable risk factors for dementia and the overall Lifestyle for Brain Health (LIBRA) score, indicating someone’s potential for dementia risk reduction (DRR).

Results

The study population included 89 869 participants of which 10 940 (12.2%) had a PFH of dementia (mean (SD) age=52.95 (7.2)) and 36 389 (40.5%) without a PFH of dementia (mean (SD) age=43.19 (5.5)). Of 42 540 participants (47.3%), PFH of dementia was imputed. After PSM, potential confounding variables were balanced between individuals with and without PFH of dementia. Individuals with a PFH of dementia had more often hypertension (OR=1.19; 95% CI 1.14 to 1.24), high cholesterol (OR=1.24; 95% CI 1.18 to 1.30), diabetes (OR=1.26; 95% CI 1.11 to 1.42), cardiovascular diseases (OR=1.49; 95% CI 1.18 to 1.88), depression (OR=1.23; 95% CI 1.08 to 1.41), obesity (OR=1.14; 95% CI 1.08 to 1.20) and overweight (OR=1.10; 95% CI 1.05 to 1.17), and were more often current smokers (OR=1.20; 95% CI 1.14 to 1.27) and ex-smokers (OR=1.21; 95% CI 1.16 to 1.27). However, they were less often low/moderate alcohol consumers (OR=0.87; 95% CI 0.83 to 0.91), excessive alcohol consumers (OR=0.93; 95% CI 0.89 to 0.98), socially inactive (OR=0.84; 95% CI 0.78 to 0.90) and physically inactive (OR=0.93; 95% CI 0.91 to 0.97). Having a PFH of dementia resulted in a higher LIBRA score (RC=0.15; 95% CI 0.11 to 0.19).

Conclusion

We found that having a PFH of dementia was associated with several modifiable risk factors. This suggests that middle-aged individuals with a PFH of dementia are a group at risk and could benefit from DRR. Further research should explore their knowledge, beliefs and attitudes towards DRR, and whether they are willing to assess their risk and change their lifestyle to reduce dementia risk.
Understanding doctors’ emergency department antibiotic prescribing decisions in children with respiratory symptoms in the UK: a qualitative study
Authors: Hampton Thomas , Ogden Jane , Higgins Helen Mary
Published: December 2021

Objective

Exploration of the factors that influence hospital doctors’ antibiotic prescribing decisions when treating children with respiratory symptoms in UK emergency departments.

Methods

A qualitative study using semistructured interviews based on a critical incident technique with 21 physicians of different grades and specialties that treat children in the UK. Interviews were audio-recorded then transcribed verbatim and analysed using thematic analysis.

Results

Four themes were identified. These themes illustrate factors which influence clinician prescribing. The three principal themes were authorities, pressures and risk. The fourth transcending theme that ran through all themes was clinician awareness and complicity (‘knowing but still doing’).

Conclusions

Hospital doctors prescribe antibiotics even when they know they should not. This appears to be due to the influence of those in charge or external pressures experienced while weighing up the immediate and longer term risks but clinicians do this with full insight into their actions. These findings have implications for invested parties seeking to develop future antimicrobial stewardship programmes. It is recommended that stewardship interventions acknowledge and target these themes which may in turn facilitate behaviour change and antimicrobial prescribing practice in emergency departments.
Gender perspective of psychological discomfort during COVID-19 confinement among Spanish adult population: a cross-sectional study
Authors: Gómez-Salgado Juan , Domínguez-Salas Sara , Rodríguez-Domínguez Carmen , Allande-Cussó Regina , Romero-Martín Macarena , Ruiz-Frutos Carlos
Published: December 2021

Objective

COVID-19 disease has affected more than a hundred countries worldwide and has exposed the population to an increase in mental health problems. The objective of this study was to assess the emotional impact of the pandemic from a gender perspective, as well as to study the modulating variables of that impact.

Design

A descriptive and cross-sectional study through the General Health Questionnaire scale and the Sense of Coherence (SOC) scale is developed.

Setting

General population of Spain was the target of this study

Participants

The sample consisted of 3801 adult subjects living in Spain, without diagnosis for Sars-Cov-2 virus infection during confinement.

Intervention

Data collection was carried out using an online questionnaire, from 26 March 2020 to 26 April 2020.

Primary and secondary outcomes measures

A sample profile description was obtained, regarding to the study variables. Later, a regression model was implemented in order to test the relationship between these variables, and to achieve a predictive model of psychological discomfort controlling the gender variable.

Results

The results showed that women, as compared with men, had increased psychological discomfort during confinement (t=−12.877; p<0.001; d=0.470). In contrast, significantly higher scores were observed on the SOC scale (t=6.336; p<0.001; d=0.231) in men, as compared with those obtained by women.

Conclusions

Women have higher levels of psychological discomfort, increased concern about getting infected with COVID-19 and infecting others, as well as a lower level of SOC and perceived health. In addition, low levels of SOC predict greater concern about contagion and increased psychological discomfort.
Was there any change in tobacco smoking among adults in Bangladesh during 2009–2017? Insights from two nationally representative cross-sectional surveys
Authors: Rahman Md. Ashfikur , Kundu Satyajit , Ahinkorah Bright Opoku , Okyere Joshua , Halder Henry Ratul , Rahman Md. Mahmudur , Yadav Uday Narayan , Mistry Sabuj Kanti , Rahman Muhammad Aziz
Published: December 2021

Objective

This study assessed the changes in prevalence and associated factors of tobacco smoking among Bangladeshi adults over time.

Design

Nationally representative cross-sectional surveys.

Setting

Two most recent Global Adults Tobacco Survey (GATS) data from Bangladesh, carried out in 2009 and 2017.

Participants

Adult population aged 15 and above (n=9629 in 2009; n=12 783 in 2017).

Outcome measures

Current use of tobacco smoke, including cigarettes, bidi, hukkah, cigars or pipes, which was dichotomised (‘yes’/‘no’).

Methods

We analysed data from two recent rounds of GATS (2009 and 2017). Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used.

Results

The overall prevalence of tobacco smoking among Bangladeshi adults was noted (23.00%, 95% CI 22.98 to 23.00 in 2009; 16.44%, 95% CI 16.43 to 16.45 in 2017). Being male (adjusted OR (AOR)=59.72, CI 40.56 to 87.93 for 2009; AOR=71.17, CI 41.08 to 123.32 for 2017), age between 25 and 64 years (all AORs >2 and p<0.05), smoking permissible at home (AOR=7.08, CI 5.88 to 8.52 for 2009; AOR=5.90, CI 5.34 to 6.95 for 2017), and watching tobacco smoking product use in movie/drama scenes (AOR=1.26, CI 1.11 to 1.44 for 2009; AOR=1.34, CI 1.17 to 1.54 for 2017) were found to be significantly associated with increased tobacco smoking among adults both in 2009 and in 2017. However, being offered free tobacco sample products (AOR=0.66, CI 0.57 to 0.77 for 2009; AOR=0.87, CI 0.76 to 0.99 for 2017) and having primary, secondary or higher education (all AORs <1 and p<0.05) as well as being a student (AOR=0.16, CI 0.09 to 0.29 for 2009; AOR=0.32, CI 0.19 to 0.53) were associated with lower odds of tobacco smoking in both surveys.

Conclusions

Although the prevalence of tobacco smoking has declined over the period, it is still high among those who were relatively older, men, less educated and exposed to a movie/drama where tobacco smoking is promoted. Therefore, appropriate interventions are required to stop tobacco smoking among the Bangladeshi population.
Impact of benzalkonium chloride-preserved and preservative-free latanoprost eye drops on cultured human conjunctival goblet cells upon acute exposure and differences in physicochemical properties of the eye drops
Authors: Müllertz Olivia , Hedengran Anne , Mouhammad Zaynab Ahmad , Freiberg Josefine , Nagymihály Richárd , Jacobsen Jette , Larsen Susan Weng , Bair Jeffrey , Utheim Tor P , Dartt Darlene A , Heegaard Steffen , Petrovski Goran , Kolko Miriam
Published: December 2021

Objective

To investigate the short-term impact on human conjunctival goblet cell (GC) survival and mucin release of acute exposure to benzalkonium chloride (BAK) preserved and preservative-free (PF) 0.005% (w/v) latanoprost (LT) eye drops, and to compare the eye drops’ physicochemical properties.

Methods and analysis

Primary GC cultures were established from human conjunctival donor tissue. The impact of eye drops on GC survival was assessed using a lactate dehydrogenase assay. Mucin release was evaluated through mucin-specific immunostaining. pH value, osmolality, drop mass and surface tension for all LT eye drops were measured.

Results

After application with PF-LT for 30 min (min), the GC survival was maintained compared with control (p=0.9941), while all BAK-LT eye drops reduced survival with approximately 30% (p<0.02). Following application with PF-LT for 30 min, mucin was found around the GC nucleus, as seen in the vehicle control, indicating no secretion. In contrast, BAK-LT caused diffuse staining of mucin, similar to the secretagogue histamine, indicating stimulation of secretion. The pH value of the BAK-LT and PF-LT eye drops were 6.0–6.9 and 6.8, respectively. The osmolality was 258–288 mOsm/kg for the BAK-LT eye drops and 276 for PF-LT eye drops. The mean drop mass was 26–31 mg for the BAK-LT eye drops and 30 mg for PF-LT. The surface tension was lower for all BAK-LT eye drops (31.1–32.1 mN/m) compared with PF-LT (42 mN/m).

Conclusion

PF-LT compared with various branded and generic LT preparations containing BAK are less cytotoxic when applied to cultured GCs.
Implementation of treatment escalation plans in an old age psychiatry inpatient hospital
Authors: Chua Anne Y T , Ghanchi Adnaan , Makh Sangeeta K , Grayston Jessica , Woolford Stephen J , Wijayaweera Sahan , Osman-Hicks Victoria , Patel Harnish P , Amin Jay
Published: December 2021

A treatment escalation plan (TEP) enables timely and appropriate decision making in the management of deteriorating patients. The COVID-19 pandemic precipitated the widespread use of TEPs in acute care settings throughout the National Health Service (NHS) to facilitate safe and effective decision making. TEP proformas have not been developed for the inpatient psychiatric setting. This is particularly concerning in old age psychiatry inpatient wards where patients often have multiple compounding comorbidities and complex decisions regarding capacity are often made. Our aim for this quality improvement project was to pilot a novel TEP proforma within a UK old age psychiatry inpatient hospital. We first adapted a TEP proforma used in our partner acute tertiary hospital and implemented it on our old age psychiatry wards. We then further refined the form and gathered data about uptake, length of time to complete a TEP and the ceiling of care documented in the TEP. We also explored staff, patient and family views on the usefulness of TEP proformas using questionaries. TEP decisions were documented in 54% of patient records at baseline. Following revision and implementation of a TEP proforma this increased to 100% on our two wards. The mean time taken to complete a TEP was reduced from 7.1 days to 3.2 days following inclusion of the TEP proforma in admission packs. Feedback from staff showed improvements in understanding about TEP and improved knowledge of where these decisions were documented. We advocate the use of TEP proformas on all old age psychiatry inpatient wards to offer clear guidance to relatives and treating clinicians about the ceilings of care for patients. There are potentially wider benefits to healthcare systems by reducing inappropriate transfers between psychiatry and acute NHS hospitals.
Trauma-informed care: recognizing and resisting re-traumatization in health care
Authors: Grossman Samara , Cooper Zara , Buxton Heather , Hendrickson Sarah , Lewis-O'Connor Annie , Stevens Jane , Wong Lye-Yeng , Bonne Stephanie
Published: December 2021

Trauma is often viewed as an individual or interpersonal issue. This paper expands the definition of trauma to include the impact collective and structural elements on health and well-being. The need for a trauma-informed response is demonstrated, with instruction as to how to implement this type of care in order to resist re-traumatization. Three examples from healthcare settings across the nation are provided, to demonstrate the ways in which organizations are bringing forward this patient-centered, trauma-informed approach to care.
A Minimalist Method Toward Severity Assessment and Progression Monitoring of Obstructive Sleep Apnea on the Edge
Authors: Rahman Md Juber , Morshed Bashir I.
Published: December 2021

Artificial Intelligence-enabled applications on edge devices have the potential to revolutionize disease detection and monitoring in future
smart health (sHealth)
systems. In this study, we investigated a minimalist approach for the severity classification, severity estimation, and progression monitoring of
obstructive sleep apnea (OSA)
in a home environment using wearables. We used the recursive feature elimination technique to select the best feature set of 70 features from a total of 200 features extracted from polysomnogram. We used a multi-layer perceptron model to investigate the performance of OSA severity classification with all the ranked features to a subset of features available from either Electroencephalography or
Heart Rate Variability (HRV)
and time duration of SpO2 level. The results indicate that using only computationally inexpensive features from HRV and SpO2, an area under the curve of 0.91 and an accuracy of 83.97% can be achieved for the severity classification of OSA. For estimation of the apnea-hypopnea index, the accuracy of RMSE = 4.6 and R-squared value = 0.71 have been achieved in the test set using only ranked HRV and SpO2 features. The Wilcoxon-signed-rank test indicates a significant change (p < 0.05) in the selected feature values for a progression in the disease over 2.5 years. The method has the potential for integration with edge computing for deployment on everyday wearables. This may facilitate the preliminary severity estimation, monitoring, and management of OSA patients and reduce associated healthcare costs as well as the prevalence of untreated OSA.
Behavioural Plasticity Can Help Evolving Agents in Dynamic Environments but at the Cost of Volatility
Authors: Barnes Chloe M. , Ekárt Anikó , Ellefsen Kai Olav , Glette Kyrre , Lewis Peter R. , Tørresen Jim
Published: December 2021

Neural networks have been widely used in agent learning architectures; however, learnings for one task might nullify learnings for another. Behavioural plasticity enables humans and animals alike to respond to environmental changes without degrading learned knowledge; this can be achieved by regulating behaviour with neuromodulation—a biological process found in the brain. We demonstrate that by modulating activity-propagating signals, neurally trained agents evolving to solve tasks in dynamic environments that are prone to change can expect a significantly higher fitness than non-modulatory agents and also achieve their goals more often. Further, we show that while behavioural plasticity can help agents to achieve goals in these variable environments, this ability to overcome environmental changes with greater success comes at the cost of highly volatile evolution.
Emotion Recognition Robust to Indoor Environmental Distortions and Non-targeted Emotions Using Out-of-distribution Detection
Authors: Gao Ye , Salekin Asif , Gordon Kristina , Rose Karen , Wang Hongning , Stankovic John
Published: December 2021

The rapid development of machine learning on acoustic signal processing has resulted in many solutions for detecting emotions from speech. Early works were developed for clean and acted speech and for a fixed set of emotions. Importantly, the datasets and solutions assumed that a person only exhibited one of these emotions. More recent work has continually been adding realism to emotion detection by considering issues such as reverberation, de-amplification, and background noise, but often considering one dataset at a time, and also assuming all emotions are accounted for in the model. We significantly improve realistic considerations for emotion detection by (i) more comprehensively assessing different situations by combining the five common publicly available datasets as one and enhancing the new dataset with data augmentation that considers reverberation and de-amplification, (ii) incorporating 11 typical home noises into the acoustics, and (iii) considering that in real situations a person may be exhibiting many emotions that are not currently of interest and they should not have to fit into a pre-fixed category nor be improperly labeled. Our novel solution combines CNN with out-of-data distribution detection. Our solution increases the situations where emotions can be effectively detected and outperforms a state-of-the-art baseline.
Increasing Silicon Concentration and Doping Heteroatom to Successfully Realize High HER Catalytic Activity in 2D Metal-Free BSi
n
(n = 1–4) Structures: A First-Principles Study
Authors: Li Cuimei , Yu Guangtao , Li Ying , Chen Wei
Published: December 2021

Under the DFT calculations, the graphene-like two-dimensional (2D) BSi
n
(n = 1–4) nanostructures are stable in terms of energy, kinetics and thermal aspects, and can possess metallic conductivity, which are advantageous to their catalytic activities for hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). Our computed results reveal that they can uniformly exhibit high HER catalytic activity. With increasing the Si/B atomic ratio, higher HER activity can be achieved, due to the change from weak aromaticity to strong anti-aromaticity for the correlative BxSiy six-membered rings. Moreover, by doping P, S, Ge and C atoms with the different electronegativity, the HER activity of the studied systems can be further improved because the electron transfer induced by these dopants can effectively activates the relevant B and Si atoms. In addition, in view of more active sites, increasing the Si concentration can also generally increase the HER activity of doped systems. For all BSi
n
systems studied, the Si–Si bridge sites or Si-sites can uniformly serve as the most active sites. This study not only represents the first application of 2D metal-free BSi
n
in HER catalysis, but also provides new strategies for designing high-efficient and low-cost HER electrocatalysts based on Si/B or even other Si-containing materials.
Modeling Enablers of Transporter’s Performance in Downstream Logistics of the Indian Oil Sector
Authors: Malik Raj Singh , Srivastava Manoj Kumar , Shaikh Imlak
Published: December 2021

Oil industry in India has entered the competitive world, and each organization used probing strategies to reduce cost. India is a non-oil-producing country, and the scope for this lies in reducing supply chain cost in downstream logistics. This research provides an integrated model of key enablers for transporter’s performance in downstream logistics excellence of Indian oil sector to provide oil marketing companies’ a direction for design of future strategies to reduce downstream logistics cost. The sequential mixed-methods design is adopted. It identifies the enablers through literature review and interviews with transporters, working managers, and logistics experts (qualitative), and then, interpretive structural modeling (ISM) and MICMAC analysis (quantitative) are used to develop the diagraph and matrix to establish the contextual relationship and find their role and influence on each other. This readymade, unique, and unified model provides enablers for transporters’ performance in different individual categories, namely, dependent, independent, and autonomous enablers, and link them based on their driving power and dependence power along with their influencing behavior to enable transporters, working managers, and top management to focus on for reducing the logistics cost and shall add value for the ultimate customers. The academicians shall be benefited by appreciating practical aspects of this business.
Role of Janus Kinase (JAK) Inhibitor in Autoimmune Ocular Inflammation: A Systematic Review
Authors: Wen Ji , Hu Huifang , Chen Menglin , Yang Hang , Zhao Yi , Liu Yi
Published: December 2021

Purpose. To evaluate the effectiveness of Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitors for the treatment of patients with autoimmune disease and associated inflammatory ocular diseases. Methods. We identified relevant literature by screening the MEDLINE, PubMed, and Cochrane databases for randomized controlled trials, cohort studies, case controls, and case reports. Results. Seven studies, including 11 patients, were included in the final systematic analysis. Of the 11 patients, there were 5 cases of juvenile idiopathic arthritis- (JIA-) associated uveitis, 1 case of rheumatoid arthritis- (RA-) associated keratitis, 1 case of RA-associated scleritis, 1 case of psoriasis-associated conjunctivitis, 2 cases of noninfectious scleritis, and 1 case of uveitis with suspected autoimmune disease. None of these 11 patients responded adequately to conventional treatments, including biological agents; these were all refractory cases and switched to JAK inhibitor therapy. Irrespective of whether they were suffering from uveitis, scleritis, or other types of ocular inflammation, all 11 patients showed an improvement to JAK inhibitors without significant side effects. Different types of JAK inhibitors might be associated with different responses when used to treat ocular inflammation. Conclusions. JAK inhibitors may represent an alternative treatment option for patients with autoimmune ocular inflammation.
Rehabilitation Training Combined with Jiaji Electroacupuncture Can Promote the Recovery of Muscle Group Function and Improve the Quality of Life in Patients with Upper Limb Peripheral Nerve Injury
Authors: Li Hui , Yu Li , Ye Dayong , Chang Li , Zhao Fengzhu , Wang Hong , Zhang Tiance
Published: December 2021

This study was designed to probe into the improvement of rehabilitation training combined with Jiaji electroacupuncture intervention on patients with upper limb peripheral nerve injury. A total of 114 patients with peripheral nerve injury of upper limbs in our hospital from August 2017 to November 2019 were collected as the research participants. Among them, 59 in the control group (CG) received rehabilitation training alone, while 65 in the observation group (OG) received rehabilitation training combined with Jiaji electroacupuncture intervention. The therapeutic efficacy, Barthel index, and Fugl–Meyer assessment score, motor nerve conduction velocity, sensory nerve conduction velocity and amplitude, and quality of life (score SF-36) were compared between the two groups before and after treatment. The total effective rate of the OG was markedly higher than that of the CG. After treatment, the Barthel index, Fugl–Meyer assessment score, motor nerve conduction velocity, and sensory nerve conduction velocity and amplitude of the OG were obviously higher than those of the CG, and the SF-36 scores of the OG were higher than those of the CG in 8 dimensions. Rehabilitation training combined with Jiaji electroacupuncture intervention can dramatically promote the recovery of muscle group function and improve the quality of life of patients with upper limb peripheral nerve injury.
High Spatial Resolution Remote Sensing Data Classification Method Based on Spectrum Sharing
Authors: Duan Meimei , Duan Lijuan
Published: December 2021

Existing remote sensing data classification methods cannot achieve the sharing of remote sensing image spectrum, leading to poor fusion and classification of remote sensing data. Therefore, a high spatial resolution remote sensing data classification method based on spectrum sharing is proposed. A page frame recovery algorithm (PFRA) is introduced to allocate the wireless spectrum resources in low-frequency band, and a dynamic spectrum sharing mechanism is designed between the primary and secondary users of remote sensing images. Based on this, D-S evidence theory is used to fuse high spatial resolution remote sensing data and correct the pixel brightness of the fused multispectral image. The initial data are normalized, the feature of spectral image is extracted, the convolution neural network classification model is constructed, and the remote sensing image is segmented. Experimental results show that the proposed method takes shorter time and has higher accuracy for high spatial resolution image segmentation. High spatial resolution remote sensing data classification is more efficient, and the accuracy of data classification and remote sensing image fusion are more ideal.
Hidden Markov Model-Based Video Recognition for Sports
Authors: Wang Zhiyuan , Bi Chongyuan , You Songhui , Yao Junjie
Published: December 2021

In this paper, we conduct an in-depth study and analysis of sports video recognition by improved hidden Markov model. The feature module is a complex gesture recognition module based on hidden Markov model gesture features, which applies the hidden Markov model features to gesture recognition and performs the recognition of complex gestures made by combining simple gestures based on simple gesture recognition. The combination of the two modules forms the overall technology of this paper, which can be applied to many scenarios, including some special scenarios with high-security levels that require real-time feedback and some public indoor scenarios, which can achieve different prevention and services for different age groups. With the increase of the depth of the feature extraction network, the experimental effect is enhanced; however, the two-dimensional convolutional neural network loses temporal information when extracting features, so the three-dimensional convolutional network is used in this paper to extract features from the video in time and space. Multiple binary classifications of the extracted features are performed to achieve the goal of multilabel classification. A multistream residual neural network is used to extract features from video data of three modalities, and the extracted feature vectors are fed into the attention mechanism network, then, the more critical information for video recognition is selected from a large amount of spatiotemporal information, further learning the temporal dependencies existing between consecutive video frames, and finally fusing the multistream network outputs to obtain the final prediction category. By training and optimizing the model in an end-to-end manner, recognition accuracies of 92.7% and 64.4% are achieved on the dataset, respectively.
The Chemical and Nutritional Properties of Processed Fruit Enriched with Algae
Authors: Ranjbar-Shamsi Somayeh , Sharifan Anousheh , Emtyazjoo Mozhgan , Moslehishad Maryam
Published: December 2021

Currently, processed fruits (sour fruit and fruit paste) are consumed as one of the most popular goodies in the some countries, and the position of this product in the food basket of Iranian families is gradually becoming important. Algae are an excellent potential source of natural compounds that can be used as a functional food. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of Sargassum ilicifolium, Ulva lactuca, and Gracilaria cortica algae at different concentrations (1.5 and 3%) on the chemical and nutritional properties of processed fruit formulations. Fatty acid profiles were measured by gas chromatography. Vitamin contents were measured using HPLC. Inductively coupled plasma (ICP) was used to measure minerals. In the fatty acid profile, 21 fatty acids including saturated fatty acids, unsaturated fatty acids, and PUFAs were identified. The predominant fatty acids in samples were palmitic acid, stearic acid, oleic acid, and linoleic acid. E and B1 vitamins varied from 6.19 to 22.63 mg/g and 5.38–19.10 mg/g in sour fruits and fruit paste, respectively. Among the minerals, iodine was at the highest level in all samples (5.06–607.46 mg/g). In conclusion, these seaweeds can be used as a suitable source of fatty acids, minerals, and vitamins in the formulation of functional processed fruits, which are essential for human health.
Pullback Attractors for Nonautonomous Degenerate Kirchhoff Equations with Strong Damping
Authors: Ma Honglv , Wang Jing , Xie Jun
Published: December 2021

In this paper, we obtain the existence of pullback attractors for nonautonomous Kirchhoff equations with strong damping, which covers the case of possible generation of the stiffness coefficient. For this purpose, a necessary method via “the measure of noncompactness” is established.
Interventional Effect of Nanosilver Paint on Fungal Load of Indoor Air in a Hospital Ward
Authors: Rostami Nasrin , Alidadi Hossein , Zarrinfar Hossein , Ketabi Damon , Tabesh Hamed
Published: December 2021

Hospital ward environments contain various types of microorganisms, in which fungal agents are one of the main contaminants that may cause hospital-acquired infections. Regarding this, the aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of nanosilver paint on reducing fungal contaminants of indoor air in an educational, research, and treatment center. Two rooms in the hematology ward were selected. One room was painted using usual paint (control room) and the other room was painted with paint containing nanosilver particles (experimental room). One hundred and twelve samples were collected using active (Anderson BioSampler) and passive (settle plate or open plate) air sampling techniques. The samples were incubated for 3–7 days at 35°C, and the positive fungal cultures were examined according to morphological and microscopic characteristics. Following active sampling, the mean and standard deviation of the number of colony-forming units (CFU/m3) of fungi colonies in the experimental and control rooms were 29.21 ± 17.99 and 22.50 ± 10.02 before intervention and 13.79 ± 6.20 and 31.07 ± 21.1 after intervention, respectively. Following passive sampling, the number of CFU/plate in the experimental and control rooms was 6 and 0 before and 1and 1 after intervention, respectively. The use of the nanosilver paint was effective in reducing air fungal contamination. Moreover, the active sampling method was more sensitive to measuring the concentration changes for fungal bioaerosols.
Influence of N6-Methyladenosine Modification Gene HNRNPC on Cell Phenotype in Parkinson’s Disease
Authors: Quan Wei , Li Jia , Liu Li , Zhang Qinghui , Qin Yidan , Pei Xiaochen , Chen Jiajun
Published: December 2021

This study aimed to explore the N6-methyladenosine (m6A) modification genes involved in the pathogenesis of Parkinson’s disease (PD) through data analysis of the two data sets GSE120306 and GSE22491 in the GEO database and further explore its influence on cell phenotype in PD. We analyzed the differentially expressed genes and function enrichment analysis of the two sets of data and found that the expression of the m6A-modification gene HNRNPC was significantly downregulated in the PD group, and it played an important role in DNA metabolism, RNA metabolism, and RNA processing and may be involved in PD. Then, we constructed the HNRNPC differential expression cell line to study the role of this gene in the pathogenesis of PD. The results showed that overexpression of HNRNPC can promote the proliferation of PC12 cells, inhibit their apoptosis, and inhibit the expression of inflammatory factors IFN-β, IL-6, and TNF-α, suggesting that HNRNPC may cause PD by inhibiting the proliferation of dopaminergic nerve cells, promoting their apoptosis, and causing immune inflammation. Our study also has certain limitations. For example, the data of the experimental group and the validation group come from different cell types, and the data of the experimental group involve individuals with G2019S LRRK2 mutations. In addition, due to the low expression of HNRNPC in PC12 cells, we used the method of overexpressing this gene to study its function. All these factors may cause our conclusions to be biased. Therefore, more research is still needed to corroborate it in the future.
The Struggle against Cancer Misinformation
Authors: Grimes David Robert
Published: December 2021

Cancer misinformation has become an increasingly prevalent problem, imperiling public health and understanding. Cancer researchers and clinicians must play a significant role in combating its detrimental consequences.
To Amputate or Not to Amputate: Management of Iatrogenic LASIK Flap Dehiscence and Epithelial Ingrowth with Overlying Pseudopterygium
Authors: Ouano Dean , Huynh Rachel , Tukan Alyson Nicole , Bundogji Nour , Moshirfar Majid
Published: December 2021

A 73-year-old male with a history of myopic laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) 20 years earlier presented with a late LASIK flap dehiscence, epithelial ingrowth, conjunctivalization, and the development of a pseudopterygium in the right eye. The findings were consistent with surgical trauma, likely occurring after corneal epithelial debridement to improve visualization during pars plana vitrectomy for retinal detachment repair 3 months earlier. The patient underwent epithelial ingrowth debridement, LASIK flap reapproximation and suturing, and a conjunctival limbal autograft from the contralateral eye. The surgery was completed successfully without the need for flap amputation. Postoperatively, the patient had an uneventful course with a well-healing conjunctival graft and no interface opacity or evidence of recurrent pseudopterygium of the right eye. The graft and corneal topography remained stable after subsequent cataract surgery.
Paulo Freire e Agnes Heller: radicalidade comunicativa e educação
Authors: Alves Luiz Roberto
Published: December 2021

O autor se reencontra com textos de Freire e Heller, os quais dialogam com o todo das duas obras. Busca compreender o pensamento do educador e da filósofa, ambos sustentados em raízes epistemológicas e objetivos próximos. Sob metodologia de crítica do discurso, dá-se o cruzamento de excertos significativos do patrono da educação brasileira com flagrantes da prática política na obra de Heller. Eles promovem lições políticas para enriquecer uma reflexão sobre o cotidiano educacional brasileiro, especialmente encarnado no dramático percurso formativo do ensino médio, suposto calcanhar de Aquiles da educação básica brasileira. Em Freire e Agnes, a educação se realiza como ação comunicativa radical a serviço da cidadania das novas gerações.
Regras metodológicas na Deutlichkeit (1764): Kant em torno do método da filosofia
Authors: Vieira Marcelo aparecido
Published: December 2021

Em meados de 1762-63, Kant distingue radicalmente o procedimento sintético da matemática e o procedimento analítico da filosofia no opúsculo Investigação sobre a evidência dos princípios da teologia natural e da moral. Neste opúsculo, Kant se dá uma tarefa: apresentar uma filosofia/ metafísica que possua um grau de certeza; mesmo que não próximo do da matemática, ao menos, que possa garantir asserções convincentes. Aqui apresentaremos a primeira tentativa de Kant em distinguir o método da filosofia do da matemática. E a grande contribuição da Investigação é propor para a filosofia um método analítico calcando em regras metodológicas.