bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Building Program Evaluation Capacity of Non-Governmental Organizations Practitioners in Hong Kong
Authors: Ngai Steven Sek-yum , Cheung Chau-kiu , Li Yunjun , Zhao Lifen , Jiang Shan , Wang Lin , Tang Hon-yin
Published: January 2022

Purpose: Despite the growing interest in program evaluation capacity building (PECB), its impacts have been rarely studied in the existing literature. This study aims to evaluate a PECB initiative in Hong Kong called the Jockey Club MEL Institute Project. Methods: A pretest–posttest quasi-experimental design was adopted to compare the changes between the training ( N = 226) and comparison groups ( N = 213). Focus groups with training participants, mentors, and trainers were also conducted. Results: The quantitative results reported that the training group showed greater improvements in all three core aspects of program evaluation capacity—evaluation mindset, evaluation implementation, and evaluation communication—than the comparison group. The qualitative findings further indicated how NGO practitioners benefited from the project. Discussion: The findings provide support for the positive impacts of PECB on NGO practitioners. As such, implications for researchers and evaluators in effectively conducting PECB activities are also discussed.
Identifying rotor-stator rubbing positions based on intrinsic time scale decomposition-hjorth-cepstrum
Authors: Yu Mingyue , Chen Wangying , Cui Jianguo , Wang Jinglin
Published: January 2022

To accurately locate rotor–stator rubbing faults in aero-engine, a method combining intrinsic time scale decomposition (ITD), Hjorth parameter and cepstrum analysis has been proposed. First, the method works by decomposing vibration signals from casing into proper rotation components (PRCs) based on ITD; second, calculates the autocorrelation function of each rotation component and the complexity parameters of autocorrelation functions; third, chooses PRCs for signal reconstruction according to complexity from Hjorth parameters and reconstructs the signals based on chosen PRCs; at last, considering that with different positions of rubbing, transfer paths of signals collected by the sensors from the same position are different, cepstrum analysis has been made according to reconstructed signals, and the transfer paths characteristics from cepstrum are taken as feature vectors and inputted into support vector machine for identifying the positions of rotor-stator rubbing faults. The results indicate proposed ITD-Hjorth-Cepstrum method can work well in the identification rate of training and test samples as for the identification rate for an unknown sample.
A Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Laboratory Classroom Study of the Efficacy and Safety of Dasotraline in Children With ADHD
Authors: Wigal Sharon , Tsai Joyce , Bates John A. , Sarma Kaushik , Tortorich Deidre , Zhu Haiyuan , Goldman Robert
Published: January 2022

Objective:

To evaluate the efficacy of dasotraline 2 mg/day for treatment of ADHD in children weighing ≤30 kg.

Method:

Children (ages 6–12) with ADHD were randomized to 14 days of once-daily evening doses of dasotraline 2 mg ( n = 47) or placebo ( n = 48). Efficacy was assessed at Baseline and day-15 in seven, 30-minutes classroom sessions on each day (8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.; 12–24 hours post-dose). The primary endpoint was change from Baseline at Day-15 in the Swanson, Kotkin, Agler, M-Flynn, and Pelham (SKAMP) combined score averaged over the seven, serial timepoints.

Results:

Treatment with dasotraline was associated with significant improvement versus placebo in the primary SKAMP-combined score (least squares mean [ SE] change from Baseline at Day-15: −3.67 [0.775] vs. +1.57 [0.773]; p < .001; effect size, 1.04).

Conclusion:

Dasotraline 2 mg/day was found to be efficacious and generally well tolerated in this placebo-controlled, laboratory classroom study of children ages 6 to 12 years with ADHD.

Clinicaltrials.gov identifier:

NCT03231800.
Decoloniality and Disruption of the Scientific Status Quo: Dissemination of Universal Theoretical Assumptions in International Research
Authors: de França Sá Ana Luiza , Marsico Giuseppina
Published: January 2022

The challenges faced by science in the international communication process range from the choice of philosophical and epistemological assumptions used in scientific research to the choice of participants who comprise the sample of the studies produced. There is, in the hierarchy of scientific production, Westernized trends of theoretical assumptions that predominate. The challenge of producing and communicating scientific knowledge is now guided by a review that geographically and philosophically shifts the Western prominent place. The purpose of this article is use a decolonial perspective to theoretically problematize scientific practice and the process of publishing its results. It criticizes the assembly line in which psychology ends, especially in the publication of results as a condition for the constitution of scientific communities. The scientific community can assist in the dissemination of a certain theory, but it can also constitute an obstacle to new ideas. It points to decoloniality as an alternative path as a possibility of breaking with the production-line logic of publications. By presenting the example of González Rey’s theory of subjectivity, it advocates the history-education-time tripod as necessary elements to address contemporary crises studied by psychology. The article demonstrates the possibility of rupture with the market-related scientific status quo.
Making Sense of Culture for the Psychological Sciences
Authors: Chaudhary Nandita , Misra Girishwar , Bansal Parul , Valsiner Jaan , Singh Tushar
Published: January 2022

In this article, we examine the place of culture in the human sciences with specific reference to psychology and the cultural histories of India. Despite the depth of scholarly writing on the intimate and inextricable ties between culture and psychological processes, core advancements and definitive positions in psychology have remained elusive. The privileging of a single culturally specific world-view alongside the exclusion of others has seriously hindered the authentic internationalization of psychology. We propose that linkages between culture and psychology need to be visualized as a dialogue between different cultural traditions. In the dialectics between bheda–abheda (difference and non-difference), structural-developmental, dispositional-relational, and social-collective processes will be invoked to develop our arguments for a human-science approach to the study of persons in culture. We argue that it is through the inclusion, rather than suppression, of diverse ideologies that generalizability can be best achieved. This is a call for an audit and reconstruction of psychology and its practices as an international discipline with a roadmap for theory construction and research informed by a cultural psychological approach toward human phenomena.
Experimental and theoretical investigations on dry gas seal transient performance and its disparity with steady performance
Authors: Chen Yuan , Peng Xudong , Wang Bingqing , Jiang Jinbo , Li Jiyun
Published: January 2022

Through high-speed dry gas seal test rig, the real-time film thickness and leakage rate of spiral grooved dry gas seal have been monitored under different closing forces which are changed by adjusting spring compression. Under the conditions of different spring pressures and seal face deflection rates, the change rules of transient opening force and leakage rate are obtained by solving the transient-state Reynolds equation based on the measured real-time film thickness. Meanwhile, the steady opening force and leakage rate are figured out by solving the steady-state Reynolds equation using the average value of the real-time film thickness. Results show that the variation trends of calculated results based on steady-state or transient-state theory coincide well with experimental results. But with the influence of nonlinear effect, the average value of transient opening force and leakage rate are larger than steady opening force and leakage rate calculated with the average value of real-time film thickness, and compared with the value of steady leakage rate, the average value of transient leakage rate considered seal face deflection is closer to the experimental monitoring results.
Systematic summary and analysis of Chinese HVAC guidelines coping with COVID-19
Authors: Ye Jinjun , Lin Chen , Liu Jing , Ai Zhengtao , Zhang Guoqiang
Published: January 2022

Heating, Ventilation, and Air-Conditioning (HVAC) system that is almost indispensable service system of modern buildings is recognized as the most important engineering control measure against pandemics. However, the effectiveness of HVAC systems has been questioned on their ability to control airborne transmission. After the outbreak of COVID-19, China has controlled the spread within a relatively short period. Considering the large population, high population density, busy transportation and the overall underdeveloped economy, China’s control measures may have some implications to other countries, especially those with limited resources. This paper intends to provide a systematic summary of Chinese ventilation guidelines issued to cope with COVID-19 transmission. The following three aspects are the main focus of these guidelines: (1) general operation and management schemes of various types of HVAC systems, (2) operation and management schemes of HVAC system in typical types of buildings, and (3) design schemes of HVAC system of makeshift hospitals. In addition, some important differences in HVAC guidelines between China and other countries/institutions are identified and compared, and the possible reasons are discussed. Further discussions are made on the following topics, including the required fresh air supply, the extended operation time, the use of auxiliary equipment, the limited capacity of existing systems, and the use of personalized systems.
What is the Impact of Post-Season Bowl Participation on a Football Program's On-Field Success, Recruiting and Revenues?
Authors: Brook Stacey L.
Published: January 2022

Previous research examines the impact college athletic success has on state appropriations, donations, student applications, and academic reputation, but not on the impact college athletic success has on an individual athletic program directly. Since nearly 70% of post-season bowl game Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) participants incur bowl game financial losses, are there future benefits from post-season bowl game participation for the football program? The empirical results show prior post-season bowl participation has positive impacts on current recruiting and revenues, but not performance. Finally, 92% of programs cover their current bowl game financial losses from higher future variable revenues attributed to current bowl participation.
ENhAncing Lifestyle Behaviors in EndometriaL CancEr (ENABLE): A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial
Authors: Edbrooke Lara , Khaw Pearly , Freimund Alison , Carpenter Danielle , McNally Orla , Joubert Lynette , Loeliger Jenelle , Traill Anya , Gough Karla , Mileshkin Linda , Denehy Linda
Published: January 2022

Purpose:

Endometrial cancer is associated with the highest comorbid disease burden of any cancer. The aim of this trial was to assess the feasibility and safety of an allied health intervention during adjuvant treatment.

Methods:

A mixed-methods pilot randomized (2:1) controlled trial with concealed allocation and assessor-blinding. Eligibility criteria: adjuvant endometrial cancer treatment scheduled, disease stage I-IIIC1, ECOG 0-2 and able to perform unsupervised physical activity (PA). Participants received usual care and 8 sessions of weekly, individualized, lifestyle education (diet and PA) with behavior change and social support (intervention group), delivered predominantly by telehealth, or usual care alone. Feasibility outcomes: recruitment and consent rates, decline reasons, program acceptability, intervention adherence and retention.

Results:

22/44 eligible patients (50%, 95%CI: 36%, 64%) were recruited over 10 months (14 intervention, 8 usual care). The recruitment rate was 2.2 patients/month (95%CI: 1.4, 3.3). Patients who declined had too much going on (7/22, 32%) or were not interested (6/22, 27%). Mean (SD) age and BMI were 63.2 years (6.8) and 31.9 kg/m2 (6.7). A majority were FIGO stage I (15/22, 68%) and received vaginal brachytherapy (14/22, 64%). Adherence was high, 11/14 (79%, 95%CI: 52%, 92%) participants attended >70% of scheduled sessions. Retention was 100% (95%CI: 85%, 100%) at 9 weeks, however completion of objective measures was impacted by COVID-19 restrictions. Telehealth and online questionnaires enabled participation. No serious adverse events occurred.

Conclusion:

The intervention was acceptable to participants with high levels of adherence and retention. Trial findings will be used to design a future RCT.

Trial registration:

The trial was registered on www.anzctr.org.au (ACTRN12619000631101) 29/04/2019.
Metabolic Risk Factors in Young Men With Healthy Body Fat But Different Level of Physical Activity
Authors: Kęska Anna , Tkaczyk Joanna , Malara Marzena , Iwańska Dagmara
Published: January 2022

The study was performed to evaluate metabolic risk in young lean individuals characterized by different physical activity. A total of 194 students (93 active with 5–7 h weekly physical activity and 101 inactive) were accepted for the study. The following percentages of body fat were accepted as characteristic for lean men: 14% to 17% in active and 18% to 24% in inactive participants. Circulating glucose, insulin, triacylglycerols (TG), total cholesterol (TC), and high-dendity lipoprotein (HDL)-cholesterol (HDL-C) were assayed. Daily intake of energy and macronutrients was briefly assessed from 24 h food records collected over 4 days preceding blood collection. Insulin and TG differed with respect to physical activity and was lower by 37.5% and 12.5%, respectively, in active versus inactive participants. In active students with upper quartile of body fat percentage, the only significant difference was found between circulating insulin (by 28%, p < .04). In inactive participants with upper quartile of body fat, significant differences were found between levels of insulin and TG (by 25% and by 37.5%, respectively). Diet composition did not differ with respect to the percentage of energy derived from protein, fat, and carbohydrates. An inverse association between insulin level and the percentage of body fat seems to be physiological one because it has been noted in both active and inactive individuals. On the contrary, elevation in circulating TG found exclusively in inactive subjects seems to be secondary to the changes in adiposity and circulating insulin and is followed by tendency to higher levels of TC.
Puerarin Reduces Radiation-Induced Vascular Endothelial Cell Damage Via miR-34a/Placental Growth Factor
Authors: Liu Chang , Zhao Ying , Xu Xiaoting , Zhang Lei , Cui Fengmei , Chen Qiu , Li Hongxia , Sang Ru , Li Gen , He Yongming
Published: January 2022

The aim is to explore the protective effects of Puerarin on radiation-induced vascular endothelial cell damage and its underlying mechanism. The apoptosis and DNA damage of Human umbilical vascular endothelial cells (HUVECs) exposed to radiation alone or in combination with glucose in the exposed group were significantly elevated ( P < .05) compared with those in the control group. The Puerarin-treated HUVECs showed significant reduction in the radiation-induced apoptosis and DNA damage ( P < .05). Furthermore, X-ray irradiation significantly increased the expression of miR-34a, which was reversed by pre-treatment with Puerarin. Placental Growth Factor (PLGF) was a target gene of miR-34a. The expression of PLGF in the peripheral blood of patients receiving radiotherapy significantly increased with an increase in the cumulative dose of radiation ( P < .05), after which it began to decrease at the fourth week ( P < .05) and then remained at a low level until the end of radiotherapy. Puerarin exerts a radioprotective effect by decreasing DNA damage and apoptosis through miR-34a-targeted PLGF.
Differential target multiplexed spinal cord stimulation programming modulates proteins involved in ion regulation in an animal model of neuropathic pain
Authors: Tilley Dana M , Cedeño David L , Vetri Francesco , Platt David C , Vallejo Ricardo
Published: January 2022

The effect of spinal cord stimulation (SCS) using differential target multiplexed programming (DTMP) on proteins involved in the regulation of ion transport in spinal cord (SC) tissue of an animal model of neuropathic pain was evaluated in comparison to low rate (LR) SCS. Rats subjected to the spared nerve injury model (SNI) and implanted with a SCS lead were assigned to DTMP or LR and stimulated for 48 h. A No-SCS group received no stimulation, and a Sham group received no SNI or stimulation. Proteins in the dorsal ipsilateral quadrant of the stimulated SC were identified and quantified using mass spectrometry. Proteins significantly modulated by DTMP or LR relative to No-SCS were identified. Bioinformatic tools were used to identify proteins related to ion transport regulation. DTMP modulated a larger number of proteins than LR. More than 40 proteins significantly involved in the regulation of chloride (Cl−), potassium (K+), sodium (Na+), or calcium (Ca2+) ions were identified. SNI affected proteins that promote the increase of intracellular Ca2+, Na+, and K+ and decrease of intracellular Cl−. DTMP modulated proteins involved in glial response to neural injury that affect Ca2+ signaling. DTMP decreased levels of proteins related to Ca2+ transport that may result in the reduction of intracellular Ca2+. Presynaptic proteins involved in GABA vesicle formation and release were upregulated by DTMP. DTMP also upregulated postsynaptic proteins involved with elevated intracellular Cl−, while modulating proteins, expressed by astrocytes, that regulate postsynaptic Cl− inhibition. DTMP downregulated K+ regulatory proteins affected by SNI that affect neuronal depolarization, and upregulated proteins that are associated with a decrease of intracellular neuronal K+ and astrocyte uptake of extracellular K+. DTMP treatment modulated the expression of proteins with the potential to facilitate a reversal of dysregulation of ion transport and signaling associated with a model of neuropathic pain.
The Limitations of Social Science as the Arbiter of Blame: An Argument for Abandoning Retribution
Authors: Tullett Alexa M.
Published: January 2022

The U.S. criminal-justice system has consequentialist and retributivist goals: It considers what is best for society as well as how to punish people in a manner proportional to their crimes. In deciding on the degree of retribution that is called for, the system attempts to determine the blameworthiness—or culpability—of the people involved, weighing factors such as their ability to think rationality, their freedom from coercion, and whether their actions were out of character. These determinations hinge on social-scientific research that is not strong enough to justify such decisions. In this article, I challenge the social-scientific basis for determining culpability on three grounds: replicability, generalizability, and inferential strength. In light of the limitations of this research, I argue that the criminal-justice system should abandon its retributive goals and pursue a more consequentialist—and more reparative—form of justice.
Is action understanding an automatic process? Both cognitive and perceptual processing are required for the identification of actions and intentions
Authors: Thompson Emma L , Long Emily L , Bird Geoffrey , Catmur Caroline
Published: January 2022

The ability to identify others’ actions and intentions, “action understanding,” is crucial for successful social interaction. Under direct accounts, action understanding takes place without the involvement of inferential processes, a claim that has yet to be tested using behavioural measures. Using a dual-task paradigm, the present study aimed to establish whether the identification of others’ actions and intentions depends on automatic or inferential processing, by manipulating working memory load during performance of a task designed to target the identification of actions and intentions. Experiment 1 tested a novel action understanding task targeting action identification and intention identification. This task was then combined with two working memory manipulations (cognitive: Experiment 2; perceptual: Experiment 3) to determine whether action identification and intention identification are disrupted by concurrent cognitive or perceptual load. Both action identification and intention identification were impaired by concurrent cognitive and perceptual processing, indicating that action understanding requires additional perceptual and cognitive resources. These findings contradict a direct account of action understanding.
Effects of conflict in cognitive control: Evidence from mouse tracking
Authors: Ye Wenting , Damian Markus F
Published: January 2022

It has long been debated whether the “congruency sequence effect (CSE)” in conflict tasks such as Flanker could reflect adaptive control. The current study used “mouse tracking” to tackle the issue in a combination of three conflict tasks (i.e., Flanker, Simon, and Spatial Stroop tasks). Congruency effects from previous and current trials emerged in latencies as well as curvature of movement trajectories in all three tasks. Critically, movement initiation times were affected only by congruency on previous but not on current trials. A further analysis showed that even when initiation time on the previous trials was taken into account, a subtle but highly significant effect of conflict arising from trial N–1 on initiation times remained. Although not necessarily implying “conflict adaptation,” i.e., a dynamic up- and downregulation of cognitive control in response to a recent conflict, our finding indicates a specific sensitivity to the presence or absence of recent “conflict” in the cognitive environment.
DataSifter II: Partially synthetic data sharing of sensitive information containing time-varying correlated observations
Authors: Zhou Nina , Wang Lu , Marino Simeone , Zhao Yi , Dinov Ivo D
Published: January 2022

There is a significant public demand for rapid data-driven scientific investigations using aggregated sensitive information. However, many technical challenges and regulatory policies hinder efficient data sharing. In this study, we describe a partially synthetic data generation technique for creating anonymized data archives whose joint distributions closely resemble those of the original (sensitive) data. Specifically, we introduce the DataSifter technique for time-varying correlated data (DataSifter II), which relies on an iterative model-based imputation using generalized linear mixed model and random effects-expectation maximization tree. DataSifter II can be used to generate synthetic repeated measures data for testing and validating new analytical techniques. Compared to the multiple imputation method, DataSifter II application on simulated and real clinical data demonstrates that the new method provides extensive reduction of re-identification risk (data privacy) while preserving the analytical value (data utility) in the obfuscated data. The performance of the DataSifter II on a simulation involving 20% artificially missingness in the data, shows at least 80% reduction of the disclosure risk, compared to the multiple imputation method, without a substantial impact on the data analytical value. In a separate clinical data (Medical Information Mart for Intensive Care III) validation, a model-based statistical inference drawn from the original data agrees with an analogous analytical inference obtained using the DataSifter II obfuscated ( sifted) data. For large time-varying datasets containing sensitive information, the proposed technique provides an automated tool for alleviating the barriers of data sharing and facilitating effective, advanced, and collaborative analytics.
Grazing and Gazing: Meditation and Contemplation in Puritan Spirituality
Authors: Medders J.A.
Published: January 2022

In the grammar of Christian spirituality, meditation and contemplation are often seen as synonyms. Is there a difference? This paper traces out the origin of contemplation, locating the practice of contemplation in Lectio Divina, reformed spirituality, and the experimental piety of the Puritans. This paper shows the differences in meditation and contemplation, and how they cooperate in the spirituality of those whose faith is seeking understanding. The clarification and retrieval of contemplation in evangelical spirituality is well served by attending to the Puritans and their understanding of how contemplation functions in the life of those who have been raised with Christ and are setting their minds on things above, where Christ is.
Endovascular treatment of main trunk aneurysms in the residual anterior circulation in moyamoya disease
Authors: Zhou Zibo , Xu Kan , Yu Jinlu
Published: January 2022

Background

Main trunk aneurysms in the residual anterior circulation in moyamoya disease (MMD) are uncommon, and in such cases, endovascular treatment (EVT) is a good choice.

Materials and methods

A retrospective study was performed on 35 consecutive patients admitted to our hospital who were diagnosed with MMD and main trunk aneurysms in the residual anterior circulation and were treated with EVT.

Result

The 35 patients were aged 38–77 years (mean, 56.1 ± 8.8 years) and included 17 females (48.6%, 17/35). There were 29 cases (82.9%, 29/35) of hemorrhagic onset. In 35 patients, there were 38 main trunk aneurysms in the residual anterior circulation. Thirty-eight aneurysms underwent coiling; among them, coiling with stent assistance was used in the treatment of 6 (15.8%, 6/38) aneurysms. The immediate modified Raymond-Roy classification (MRRC) was grade I for all aneurysms. Among 35 patients, intraoperative bleeding occurred in 2 (5.7%, 2/35) patients. After EVT, immediate hemiplegia occurred in 4 (11.4%, 4/35) patients, and immediate coma occurred in 1 (2.9%, 1/35) patient. At discharge, in 35 patients, the Glasgow Outcome Scale (GOS) was five in 88.6% of them. Of 35 patients, 68.6% had follow-up data, GOS was five in 87.5% patients, and the MRRC was grade I for all aneurysms in the follow-up angiography.

Conclusion

For main trunk aneurysms in the residual anterior circulation in MMD, although EVT was accompanied by potential ischemic and hemorrhagic complications, which should be considered, EVT can still offer an acceptable prognosis in more than 85% of patients.
Efficacy and safety of mesenchymal stem cells treatment for multidrug-resistant graft-versus-host disease after haploidentical allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation
Authors: Shen Meng-Zhu , Liu Xin-Xin , Qiu Zhi-Yuan , Xu Lan-Ping , Zhang Xiao-Hui , Wang Yu , Yan Chen-Hua , Chen Huan , Chen Yu-Hong , Han Wei , Wang Feng-Rong , Wang Jing-Zhi , Liu Si-Ning , Liu Kai-Yan , Huang Xiao-Jun , Mo Xiao-Dong
Published: January 2022

Purpose:

Graft- versus-host disease (GVHD) is an important complication after human leukocyte antigen (HLA) haploidentical donor (HID) hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT), which may lead to poor prognosis. Our study intends to identify the efficacy and safety of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) for multidrug-resistant (MDR)-GVHD after HID HSCT.

Methods:

MDR-GVHD was referring to GVHD remaining no response to at least two types of therapy, and hUCB-MSCs were given at the dose of (1.0–2.0) × 106/kg once a week.

Results:

A total of 21 patients were enrolled in this retrospective study (acute GVHD (aGVHD): n = 14, chronic GVHD (cGVHD): n = 7). The median dose of MSCs was 1.2 × 106 cells/kg (range, 0.8–1.8 × 106) cells/kg, and the median numbers of infusion were 2 (range, 1–7) and 3 (range, 2–12) for MDR-aGVHD and MDR-cGVHD patients, respectively. In MDR-aGVHD patients, the overall response rate (ORR) was 57.1%, including 50.0% complete response (CR) and 7.1% partial response (PR), and the median time to response was 49.5 days (range, 16–118) days. The 2-year probability of overall survival after MSCs was 64.3%. Five patients (35.7%) developed infections after MSCs, and no obvious hematologic toxicities were observed. Five MDR-aGVHD patients died after MSCs treatments because of GVHD progression ( n = 1), severe infection (bacterial central nervous system infection: n = 1; fungal pneumonia: n = 2), and poor graft function ( n = 1). In MDR-cGVHD patients, three patients (42.9%) achieved PR after MSCs and the median time to response was 56 days (22–84) days. The ORRs for moderate and severe cGVHD were 50.0% and 33.3%, respectively. Four MDR-cGVHD patients died after MSCs treatments because of GVHD progression ( n = 2), severe fungal pneumonia ( n = 1), and relapse ( n = 1).

Conclusion:

MSCs treatment may be safe and effective for MDR-GVHD after HID HSCT.
Seasonal variation in paediatric orthopaedic trauma Patients – A single centre experience from Turkey
Authors: Agar Anil , Sahin Adem , Gunes Orhan , Gulabi Deniz , Erturk Cemil
Published: January 2022

Purpose

It is known that the incidence of paediatric orthopaedic trauma peaks in the summer months as a result of increased and uncontrolled physical activity. The aim of this study was to review the experience of a single centre with paediatric orthopaedic traumas and determine the relationship between the severity and the variations in the incidence of traumas in relation to the seasons and temperatures during the study period.

Materials and Methods

A single institutional review of the historical data of all patients aged 0–16 years who presented for orthopaedic trauma between January 2018 and December 2020 in the emergency department of Level 1 tertiary orthopaedic trauma centre was conducted. 65,182 paediatric orthopaedic trauma cases had been retrieved from the hospital data base during the 3 -year study period. We classified the traumas according to the variants of the patients’ and by holidays, seasons, school days and weekends, months and in which part of the body it occurred.

Results

After excluding the summer vacation, 77% of paediatric orthopaedic trauma patients attended to the hospital on weekdays and 23% on weekends. While it was observed that hot weather had a statistically positive effect on trauma attendance, rainy weather had an negative effect ( p < 0.05). Trauma attendances were found to be statistically higher in summer months, except for injuries that may occur with indoor activities such as metacarpal fracture, phalanx fracture and pulled elbow ( p < 0.05).

Conclusion

Orthopaedic trauma at a Level 1 tertiary health care trauma center do vary significantly with the weather and are highest in the summer season. Therefore, it should focus more attention on preventive strategies for paediatric trauma in the summer season.
Who Cares? Perception of Loneliness in Patients Treated for Coronary Heart Disease
Authors: Blakoe Mitti , Berg Selina Kikkenborg , Højskov Ida Elisabeth , Palm Pernille , Bernild Camilla
Published: January 2022

Social support is known to be essential to cope with the physical and psychological aftermath following coronary heart disease treatment. Consequently, patients experiencing loneliness may be placed in a vulnerable situation. The aim of this study was to provide insight into the nuances and complexity of loneliness and its impact on health behaviour in the early rehabilitation period following treatment. The study used a hermeneutic philosophical approach. Patients classified as lonely were interviewed in either a focus group ( n = 7) or in an individual interview ( n = 10). We analysed the empirical material using inductive content analysis. The analysis illuminated various dimensions of patients’ perceived loneliness; ‘Loneliness as an emotional pain’, ‘A changed, but unmet need for social support’ and ‘Striving for symmetry in relationships’. Loneliness negatively influenced patients’ ability to adapt to the critical event and manage health behaviour changes. Insight into the mechanisms that aggravate loneliness may inform future social support interventions.
Intestinal Metaplasia of the Cardia is Associated With Barrett Esophagus and Esophageal Adenocarcinoma
Authors: Kim Tae Hun , Chandrasoma Parakrama
Published: January 2022

The cardia, defined as the area distal to the endoscopic gastro-esophageal junction (GEJ), is rarely subject to biopsy in patients with gastro-esophageal reflux disease (GERD). In this study we examine the clinical significance of intestinal metaplasia (IM) found in a biopsy of the cardia. The epithelia in biopsies taken 1 cm distal to the endoscopic GEJ in 963 patients undergoing esophago-gastroduodenoscopy were classified into cardiac mucosa (CM) with IM, CM without IM, oxyntocardiac mucosa (OCM) and gastric oxyntic mucosa. The associations of these mucosal types with visible columnar lined esophagus (CLE) without IM, CLE with IM, and esophageal neoplasia proximal and within 2 cm distal to the endoscopic GEJ were determined. Cardiac mucosa with IM in a biopsy 1 cm distal to the endoscopic GEJ was present in 18 (21%) of the 86 patients with all visible CLE ( P < .01), in 16 (22%) of the 74 patients with visible CLE with IM (Barrett esophagus) ( P < .01), and in 12 (22%) of the 55 patients with neoplasia proximal and within 2 cm distal to the endoscopic GEJ ( P = .01). All other epithelial types had no such associations. The significant association of CM with IM in the cardia with visible CLE, visible CLE with IM, and esophageal neoplasia proximal and within 2 cm distal to the endoscopic GEJ indicates that CM with IM 1 cm distal to the endoscopic GEJ is a likely precursor of these entities. Identification of precursor lesions of CLE and esophageal neoplasia has the potential to stimulate new methods aimed at preventing Barrett esophagus and esophageal adenocarcinoma.
CRLF3 plays a key role in the final stage of platelet genesis and is a potential therapeutic target for thrombocythemia
Authors: Bennett Cavan , Lawrence Moyra , Guerrero Jose A. , Stritt Simon , Waller Amie K. , Yan Yahui , Mifsud Richard W. , Ballester-Beltrán Jose , Baig Ayesha , Mueller Annett , Mayer Louisa , Warland James , Penkett Christopher J. , Akbari Parsa , Moreau Thomas , Evans Amanda L. , Mookerjee Souradip , Hoffman Gary J. , Saeb-Parsy Kourosh , Adams David J. , Couzens Amber L. , Bender Markus , Erber Wendy N. , Nieswandt Bernhard , Read Randy J. , Ghevaert Cedric
Published: January 2022

The process of platelet production has so far been understood to be a 2-stage process: megakaryocyte maturation from hematopoietic stem cells followed by proplatelet formation, with each phase regulating the peripheral blood platelet count. Proplatelet formation releases into the bloodstream beads-on-a-string preplatelets, which undergo fission into mature platelets. For the first time, we show that preplatelet maturation is a third, tightly regulated, critical process akin to cytokinesis that regulates platelet count. We show that deficiency in cytokine receptor-like factor 3 (CRLF3) in mice leads to an isolated and sustained 25% to 48% reduction in the platelet count without any effect on other blood cell lineages. We show that Crlf3−/− preplatelets have increased microtubule stability, possibly because of increased microtubule glutamylation via the interaction of CRLF3 with key members of the Hippo pathway. Using a mouse model of JAK2 V617F essential thrombocythemia, we show that a lack of CRLF3 leads to long-term lineage-specific normalization of the platelet count. We thereby postulate that targeting CRLF3 has therapeutic potential for treatment of thrombocythemia.
Risk and sustainability: trade-offs and synergies for robust decision making
Authors: Hauschild Michael Z. , McKone Thomas E. , Arnbjerg-Nielsen Karsten , Hald Tine , Nielsen Bo F. , Mabit Stefan E. , Fantke Peter
Published: January 2022

Decisions about the development of new marketed technologies or products invariably come with consequences for economy, society and the environment. Environmental and health risk assessment on the one hand and sustainability assessment on the other hand are tools that offer different but complementary information about such consequences. Conflicts or synergies between the two tools may arise when there are trade-offs between considerations of specific risks and safety versus long-term sustainability. There is a compelling case for a combined assessment of both sustainability and risks, also in support of a successful safe and sustainable-by-design (SSbD) approach, but this is not straightforward. We offer a roadmap showing when the two assessment tools should be applied together and how to combine them in a consistent way, to support more robust decision-making. Four alternative approaches are evaluated against six performance criteria to recommend an approach that makes use of the broader and more generic sustainability assessment as a baseline and includes iterative applications of risk and sustainability assessment elements to increase specificity, reliability and relevance of the assessment results. The recommended approach provides a basis for better-informed decisions about technology choices for policy and societal stakeholders.
Using entropy-driven amplifier circuit response to build nonlinear model under the influence of Lévy jump
Authors: Fu Hao , Lv Hui , Zhang Qiang
Published: January 2022

Background

Bioinformatics is a subject produced by the combination of life science and computer science. It mainly uses computer technology to study the laws of biological systems. The design and realization of DNA circuit reaction is one of the important contents of bioinformatics.

Results

In this paper, nonlinear dynamic system model with Lévy jump based on entropy-driven amplifier (EDA) circuit response is studied. Firstly, nonlinear biochemical reaction system model is established based on EDA circuit response. Considering the influence of disturbance factors on the system, nonlinear biochemical reaction system with Lévy jump is built. Secondly, in order to prove that the constructed system conforms to the actual meaning, the existence and uniqueness of the system solution is analyzed. Next, the sufficient conditions for the end and continuation of EDA circuit reaction are certified. Finally, the correctness of the theoretical results is proved by numerical simulation, and the reactivity of THTSignal in EDA circuit under different noise intensity is verified.

Conclusions

In EDA circuit reaction, the intensity of external noise has a significant impact on the system. The end of EDA circuit reaction is closely related to the intensity of Lévy noise, and Lévy jump has a significant impact on the nature of biochemical reaction system.
CellSeg: a robust, pre-trained nucleus segmentation and pixel quantification software for highly multiplexed fluorescence images
Authors: Lee Michael Y. , Bedia Jacob S. , Bhate Salil S. , Barlow Graham L. , Phillips Darci , Fantl Wendy J. , Nolan Garry P. , Schürch Christian M.
Published: January 2022

Background

Algorithmic cellular segmentation is an essential step for the quantitative analysis of highly multiplexed tissue images. Current segmentation pipelines often require manual dataset annotation and additional training, significant parameter tuning, or a sophisticated understanding of programming to adapt the software to the researcher’s need. Here, we present CellSeg, an open-source, pre-trained nucleus segmentation and signal quantification software based on the Mask region-convolutional neural network (R-CNN) architecture. CellSeg is accessible to users with a wide range of programming skills.

Results

CellSeg performs at the level of top segmentation algorithms in the 2018 Kaggle Data Challenge both qualitatively and quantitatively and generalizes well to a diverse set of multiplexed imaged cancer tissues compared to established state-of-the-art segmentation algorithms. Automated segmentation post-processing steps in the CellSeg pipeline improve the resolution of immune cell populations for downstream single-cell analysis. Finally, an application of CellSeg to a highly multiplexed colorectal cancer dataset acquired on the CO-Detection by indEXing (CODEX) platform demonstrates that CellSeg can be integrated into a multiplexed tissue imaging pipeline and lead to accurate identification of validated cell populations.

Conclusion

CellSeg is a robust cell segmentation software for analyzing highly multiplexed tissue images, accessible to biology researchers of any programming skill level.
Sediment-associated microbial community profiling: sample pre-processing through sequential membrane filtration for 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing
Authors: Serrana Joeselle M. , Watanabe Kozo
Published: January 2022

Background

Sequential membrane filtration as a pre-processing step for capturing sediment-associated microorganisms could provide good quality and integrity DNA that can be preserved and kept at ambient temperatures before community profiling through culture-independent molecular techniques. However, the effects of sample pre-processing via filtration on DNA-based profiling of sediment-associated microbial community diversity and composition are poorly understood. Specifically, the influences of pre-processing on the quality and quantity of extracted DNA, high-throughput DNA sequencing reads, and detected microbial taxa need further evaluation.

Results

We assessed the impact of pre-processing freshwater sediment samples by sequential membrane filtration (from 10, 5 to 0.22 μm pore size) for 16S rRNA-based community profiling of sediment-associated microorganisms. Specifically, we examined if there would be method-driven differences between non- and pre-processed sediment samples regarding the quality and quantity of extracted DNA, PCR amplicon, resulting high-throughput sequencing reads, microbial diversity, and community composition. We found no significant difference in the qualities and quantities of extracted DNA and PCR amplicons, and the read abundance after bioinformatics processing (i.e., denoising and chimeric-read filtering steps) between the two methods. Although the non- and pre-processed sediment samples had more unique than shared amplicon sequence variants (ASVs), we report that their shared ASVs accounted for 74% of both methods’ absolute read abundance. More so, at the genus level, the final collection filter identified most of the genera (95% of the reads) captured from the non-processed samples, with a total of 51 false-negative (2%) and 59 false-positive genera (3%). We demonstrate that while there were differences in shared and unique taxa, both methods revealed comparable microbial diversity and community composition.

Conclusions

Our observations highlight the feasibility of pre-processing sediment samples for community analysis and the need to further assess sampling strategies to help conceptualize appropriate study designs for sediment-associated microbial community profiling.
Genome-wide association study of the candidate genes for grape berry shape-related traits
Authors: Zhang Chuan , Cui Liwen , Fang Jinggui
Published: January 2022

Background

In the breeding of new horticultural crops, fruit shape is an important selection characteristic. A variety of fruit shapes appeared during the gradual process of selection and domestication. However, few studies have been conducted on grape berry shape, especially studies related to mining candidate genes. To discover candidate genes related to grape berry shape, the present study first took the berry shape parameters analyzed by Tomato Analyzer as the target traits and used a genome-wide association analysis to analyze candidate genes.

Results

In total, 122 single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) loci had significant correlations with multiple berry shape traits in both years, and some candidate genes were further mined. These genes were mainly related to LRR receptor-like serine/threonine-protein kinase (At1g05700 and At1g07650), transcription factors (GATA transcription factor 23-like, transcription factor VIP1, transcription initiation factor TFIID, and MADS-box transcription factor 6), ubiquitin ligases (F-box protein SKIP19 and RING finger protein 44), and plant hormones (indole-3-acetic acid-amido synthetase GH3.6 and ethylene-responsive transcription factor ERF061). In addition, some important SNP loci were associated with multiple berry-shape traits. The study further revealed some genes that control multiple traits simultaneously, indicating that these berry shape traits are subject to the coordinated regulation of some genes in controlling berry shape.

Conclusions

In the present work, we identified interesting genetic determinants of grape berry shape-related traits. The identification of molecular markers that are closely related to these berry-shape traits is of great significance for breeding specific berry-shaped grape varieties.
Spatiotemporal prediction of vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus colonisation
Authors: van Niekerk J. M. , Lokate M. , Braakman-Jansen L. M. A. , van Gemert-Pijnen J. E. W. C. , Stein A.
Published: January 2022

Background

Vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) is the cause of severe patient health and monetary burdens. Antibiotic use is a confounding effect to predict VRE in patients, but the antibiotic use of patients who may have frequented the same ward as the patient in question is often neglected. This study investigates how patient movements between hospital wards and their antibiotic use can explain the colonisation of patients with VRE.

Methods

Intrahospital patient movements, antibiotic use and PCR screening data were used from a hospital in the Netherlands. The PageRank algorithm was used to calculate two daily centrality measures based on the spatiotemporal graph to summarise the flow of patients and antibiotics at the ward level. A decision tree model was used to determine a simple set of rules to estimate the daily probability of patient VRE colonisation for each hospital ward. The model performance was improved using a random forest model and compared using 30% test sample.

Results

Centrality covariates summarising the flow of patients and their antibiotic use between hospital wards can be used to predict the daily colonisation of VRE at the hospital ward level. The decision tree model produced a simple set of rules that can be used to determine the daily probability of patient VRE colonisation for each hospital ward. An acceptable area under the ROC curve (AUC) of 0.755 was achieved using the decision tree model and an excellent AUC of 0.883 by the random forest model on the test set. These results confirms that the random forest model performs better than a single decision tree for all levels of model sensitivity and specificity on data not used to estimate the models.

Conclusion

This study showed how the movements of patients inside hospitals and their use of antibiotics could predict the colonisation of patients with VRE at the ward level. Two daily centrality measures were proposed to summarise the flow of patients and antibiotics at the ward level. An early warning system for VRE can be developed to test and further develop infection prevention plans and outbreak strategies using these results.