bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Approximate Solution of the Fractional Order Sterile Insect Technology Model via the Laplace–Adomian Decomposition Method for the Spread of Zika Virus Disease
Authors: Atokolo William , Aja Remigius Okeke , Aniaku Stephen Ekwueme , Onah Ifeanyi Sunday , Mbah Godwin C. E.
Published: July 2022

Sterile insect technology (SIT) is an environmental-friendly method which depends on the release of sterile male mosquitoes that compete with the wild male mosquitoes and mate with wild female mosquitoes, which leads to the production of no offspring and as such reduces the population of Zika virus vector population over time, thereby eliminating the spread of Zika virus in a population. The fractional order sterile insect technology (SIT) model to reduce the spread of Zika virus disease is considered in this present work. We employed the use Laplace–Adomian decomposition method (LADM) to determine an analytical (approximate) solution of the model. The Laplace–Adomian decomposition method (LADM) produced a solution in form of an infinite series that further converges to the exact value. We compared solutions of the fractional model with the classical case using our plots and discovered that the fractional order has more degree of freedom and as such the system can be varied to get many preferred responses of the different classes of the model as the fraction (β) could be varied to the desired rate, say 0.7, 0.4, etc. We have been able to show that LADM can be used to solve an SIT model which has never been done before in literature.
Circulating miRNAs as Epigenetic Mediators of Periodontitis and Preeclampsia Association
Authors: Zhang Wangmeng , Wu Qishan , Su Juan , Wang Wenwen , Zhao Xudong , Cao Ping
Published: July 2022

Objective. Periodontal disease has been associated with pregnancy complications including preeclampsia. This bioinformatic study is aimed at investigating the possible role of circulating microRNAs (miRNAs) as mediators of the association between maternal periodontal disease and preeclampsia. Methods. Peripheral blood miRNA profiles of periodontitis and controls were sought from Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO), and differential expression analysis was performed. Experimentally validated circulating miRNAs associated with preeclampsia were determined from the Human MicroRNA Disease Database (HMDD v3.0). Venn diagrams were drawn to identify shared circulating differential miRNAs (DEmiRNAs). Significantly enriched target genes, KEGG pathways, and Gene Ontology (GO) terms for the set of shared DEmiRNA were predicted using miRNA enrichment analysis and annotation tool (miEAA v 2.0). Additionally, the shared DEmiRNA-enriched target genes were analyzed for enriched WikiPathways, BioCarta metabolic pathways, and tissue proteins in the human proteome map. Results. Among 183 circulating DEmiRNA in periodontitis and 60 experimentally validated miRNA in preeclampsia, 9 shared DEmiRNA were identified. The top among 32 overrepresented target genes included MAFB, PSAP, and CDK5RAP2, top among 14 enriched KEGG pathways were renin-angiotensin system and graft-versus-host disease, and that among enriched 44 GO profiles included “positive regulation of epidermal growth factor-activated receptor activity” and “sequestering of calcium ion.” In the overrepresented target gene set, among 10 enriched WikiPathways, the top included “NAD metabolism, sirtuins, and aging” and “regulation of Wnt/B-catenin signaling by small molecule compounds” and PPAR-related mechanisms was top among 13 enriched BioCarta metabolic pathways. Conclusion. A circulating 9-DEmiRNA set was significantly linked to both periodontitis and preeclampsia. Enrichment analysis identified specific genes, pathways, and functional mechanisms, which may be epigenetically altered and thereby mediate the biological association of periodontitis and preeclampsia.
Attrition of Nursing Professionals in Ghana: An Effect of Burnout on Intention to Quit
Authors: Opoku Douglas Aninng , Ayisi-Boateng Nana Kwame , Osarfo Joseph , Sulemana Alhassan , Mohammed Aliyu , Spangenberg Kathryn , Awini Ali Baba , Edusei Anthony Kwaku
Published: July 2022

Background. Burnout among nursing professionals at the workplace and how it influences their decision to quit the profession is crucial to the delivery of quality health service. The shortage of nursing professionals has serious consequences on the healthcare system. Aim. To examine the effect of burnout on intention to quit the profession among nursing professionals. Methods. A cross-sectional study among 375 randomly selected nursing professionals in active service at a tertiary healthcare setting in Kumasi, Ghana. The Maslach Burnout Inventory was used to determine burnout, and their intention to quit the profession was assessed by asking participants whether they ever thought about quitting the profession in the past 12 months. The effect of burnout on intention to quit was analyzed using logistic regression analysis. Results. The overall prevalence of burnout among participants was 2.1% (8/375) with 10.1% (38/375), 24.0% (90/375), and 56.3% (211/375) experiencing high emotional exhaustion, depersonalisation, and low personal accomplishment, respectively. Nearly half (49.3%, 185/375) of the participants had intention to quit the profession. Emotional exhaustion (adjusted odds tatio, AOR = 5.46; 95% CI = 2.25–13.20), depersonalisation (AOR = 1.77 95% CI = 1.07–2.95), and personal accomplishment (AOR = 2.27; 95% CI = 1.30–3.96) were associated with intention to quit the profession. Conclusion. Burnout has a negative effect causing intention to quit nursing profession. It is imperative to identify strategies such as occupational health surveillance that will aim at reducing the incidence of burnout at the workplace due to its consequences, one of them being the intention to quit.
Eco‐Efficiency Measurement of Green Buildings and Its Spatial and Temporal Differences Based on a Three‐Stage Superefficient SBM‐DEA Model
Authors: Liu Wei , Ou Zhihao , Lin Cheng , Qiu Zeyi
Published: July 2022

To explore the development of green building eco‐efficiency in China, a three‐stage superefficient SBM‐DEA model was used to measure the green building eco‐efficiency in China based on interprovincial panel data from 2013–2020, and the interprovincial and regional development patterns and evolutionary characteristics of green building eco‐efficiency were analyzed from the time series and spatial dimensions. It is found that the overall level of green building efficiency in China is low, and there are significant provincial and regional differences, and the overall pattern of gradient development from medium‐medium‐low efficiency area to medium‐medium efficiency area gradually transitions and shows significant spatial agglomeration and path dependence; among them, the spatial spillover and diffusion effect of high‐efficiency areas is significant, while low‐efficiency areas generally maintain low growth, and most areas have “Matthew effect,” showing the spatial club convergence characteristics that developed regions tend to be H‐H agglomerative, and less developed regions tend to be L‐L agglomerative. For this reason, the local governance of green buildings should be strengthened, and a cross‐regional linkage development mechanism should be established to deepen the technical cooperation and division of labor between regions.
Potential of Black Phosphorus in Immune‐Based Therapeutic Strategies
Authors: Dong Wenjuan , Wang Hu , Liu Hailin , Zhou Chunqiao , Zhang Xuelin , Wang Song , He Lin
Published: July 2022

Black phosphorus (BP) consists of phosphorus atoms, an essential element of bone and nucleic acid, which covalently bonds to three adjacent phosphorus atoms to form a puckered bilayer structure. With its anisotropy, band gap, biodegradability, and biocompatibility properties, BP is considered promising for cancer therapy. For example, BP under irradiation can convert near‐infrared (NIR) light into heat and reactive oxygen species (ROS) to damage cancer cells, called photothermal therapy (PTT) and photodynamic therapy (PDT). Compared with PTT and PDT, the novel techniques of sonodynamic therapy (SDT) and photoacoustic therapy (PAT) exhibit amplified ROS generation and precise photoacoustic‐shockwaves to enhance anticancer effect when BP receives ultrasound or NIR irradiation. Based on the prospective phototherapy, BP with irradiation can cause a “double‐kill” to tumor cells, involving tumor‐structure damage induced by heat, ROS, and shockwaves and a subsequent anticancer immune response induced by in situ vaccines construction in tumor site, which is referred to as photoimmunotherapy (PIT). In conclusion, BP shows promise in natural antitumor biological activity, biological imaging, drug delivery, PTT/PDT/SDT/PAT/PIT, nanovaccines, nanoadjuvants, and combination immunotherapy regimens.
Oral English Auxiliary Teaching System Based on Deep Learning
Authors: Qu Chenhui , Li Yuanbo
Published: July 2022

In order to solve the problem of the oral English auxiliary teaching system, a research based on Deep Learning was proposed. Based on the theory of Deep Learning, the teaching mode of Deep Learning for college students built on information technology was investigated in the research. As for Shallow Strategy, the item “I think that the best way to pass the English examination is to keep high frequency words in mind” changed most significantly from 3.3 to 2.68. As for Deep Strategy, the most significant change was the item “It can be very interesting for almost all the oral English topics as long as you engage in it actively.” The value increased from 3.31 to 3.97, which was almost close to 4. From the comparison, it could be found that the students changed from memorizing English words mechanically and passively in order to pass the exam to engaging in the oral English situation actively to solve problems so as to obtain self-satisfaction. As a language, English can reflect a unique cultural heritage. It is different from Chinese culture, which can improve learners’ spiritual and cultural accomplishments subtly. In addition, we should try to solve problems with English logical thinking, which can train our critical thinking and oral expression ability, enhance our self-confidence, and improve our sense of self-efficacy. A design-based research paradigm was used in the research. Through the integrated use of information technology, it aimed at building out a deeply mixed teaching mode based on “Cloud Class and Offline Class.” A combination of quantitative and qualitative data collection methods was adopted to evaluate the practical effect. According to the experimental results, two rounds of mixed-mode iterative loop design were performed for the mixed teaching mode. In order to make it more operable, it was improved and perfected continuously.
Antiaging Effects of Dietary Polysaccharides: Advance and Mechanisms
Authors: Xu Wei , Han Shuai , Huang Mengzhen , Yin Jiaxin , Yang Feiyan , Luo Feijun
Published: July 2022

Aging is a process in which the various physiological functions of the body gradually deteriorate and eventually lead to death. During this process, the body’s resistance to external stresses gradually decreases and the aging-related diseases gradually are increased. Polysaccharides are a group of active substances extracted from living organisms and are widely found in plants, animals, and microorganisms. In the last decade, a variety of natural polysaccharides from functional and medicinal foods have attracted considerable interest for their beneficial effects in the prevention of chronic diseases such as cancers, diabetes, and neurodegenerative diseases. Interestingly, these polysaccharides have also been found to delay aging by reducing oxidative damage, inhibiting telomere shortening, and being anti-inflammatory in different animal models of aging. These reviews summarized the progresses in effects of polysaccharides on antiaging and the potential mechanisms and especially focused on the signaling pathways involved in the antiaging functions. Finally, the applications and prospects of the antiaging effects of polysaccharides are discussed.
Preliminary Study on Construction of China’s Overseas Investment Insurance System Based on Comparative Analysis of Investment Insurance Systems of the US, Japan, Germany, and MIGA
Authors: Xia Qu
Published: July 2022

With the advancement of the Belt and Road strategy, China’s foreign direct investment has grown rapidly, and the political risks faced by Chinese enterprises in overseas investment are also increasing. It is a common practice in the world’s major capital exporting countries to prevent overseas investment risks by establishing an overseas investment insurance system. Among them, the insurance systems of the United States, Japan, Germany, and the Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA) are the most representative, and they are also models for countries to follow. At present, China has not yet established a legal system for overseas investment insurance. China Export & Credit Insurance Corporation is the only operating institution that provides overseas investment insurance in China, and its overseas investment insurance business only accounts for a small proportion and has not played its due role in safeguarding overseas investment. This paper, on the basis of comparative analysis of foreign experience, combined with China’s actual problems and needs, selects the most worthy reference systems of various countries and proposes specific ideas for establishing and improving China’s overseas investment insurance system.
The Study of Solutions of Several Systems of Nonlinear Partial Differential Difference Equations
Authors: Xu Hong Yan , Yu Meiying , Zhang Keyu
Published: July 2022

Our main aim is to describe the entire solutions of several systems of

α

1

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+

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,

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and

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where

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are nonzero constants in

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and

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=
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are positive integers. We obtain several theorems on the existence and the forms of solutions for these systems, which are some improvements and supplements of the previous theorems given by Xu and Cao, Gao, and Liu and Yang. Moreover, we give some examples to explain the existence of solutions for such systems.
GRAMD1A Is a Biomarker of Kidney Renal Clear Cell Carcinoma and Is Associated with Immune Infiltration in the Tumour Microenvironment
Authors: Liu Yifu , Fu Shengqiang , Zhang Zhicheng , Wang Siyuan , Cheng Xiaofeng , Li Zhilong , Ding Yi , Sun Ting , Ma Ming
Published: July 2022

Background. GRAM structural domain-containing protein 1A (GRAMD1A) is upregulated in a variety of human cancer tissues and is closely associated with tumourigenesis and progression. Methods. Patient RNA-sequencing data and clinicopathological information were obtained from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) datasets. The expression of GRAMD1A in kidney cancer cell lines and KIRC patients was analysed by quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR). Receiver Operator Characteristic (ROC) curves, nomograms, Kaplan-Meier analysis, forest plots, and COX analysis were used to assess the diagnostic and prognostic value of GRAMD1A in KIRC, and gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) was used to explore its potential signalling pathways. In addition, the Sangerbox website, Kaplan-Meier plotter database, and TISIDB and TIMER databases were used to further analyse the correlation of GRAMD1A with microsatellite instability (MSI), tumour mutational burden (TMB), immune checkpoint genes, and tumour-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs). Results. GRAMD1A was significantly highly expressed in KIRC and associated with shorter overall survival and relapse-free survival (

P
<
0.05

). The AUC value of the ROC curve to identify KIRC and normal renal tissues was 0.942. Forest plot and COX analysis visualized that GRAMD1A could be an independent prognostic factor in KIRC patients (

P
<
0.01

), and nomograms to determine the overall survival (OS) of KIRC patients also showed good efficacy (C-index: 0.776). Moreover, Spearman correlation analysis showed a positive correlation between GRAMD1A and MSI, TMB (

P
<
0.01

). On the other hand, GRAMD1A was also found to be closely associated with immune checkpoint genes. Meanwhile, patients with KIRC with high GRAMD1A expression had a relatively low hazard ratio (HR) of death when B lymphocytes, natural killer T cells, CD4+ T lymphocytes, CD8+ T lymphocytes, and macrophages were enriched in the tumour microenvironment (TME), and a greater HR of death when regulatory T lymphocytes with tumour-specific immunosuppressive effects were significantly enriched. Last, GSEA shows that GRAMD1A is closely associated with the regulation of energy metabolism in KIRC. Conclusions. GRAMD1A is a promising diagnostic and prognostic biomarker for patients with KIRC, and its biological function correlates to some extent with immune infiltration in TME.
Human-Computer Interaction System Application in Hotel Management Teaching Practice
Authors: Ding Xueyan , Zhang Yi
Published: July 2022

With the increasing demand for the performance and security of communication networks, the fifth-generation mobile technology has developed rapidly and has attracted unprecedented attention. At the same time, this article analyzes the current research status of visual gesture recognition and human-computer interaction based on the Internet of Things. In view of the current shortcomings of gesture recognition, this article proposes a solution that involves using Biaonect somatosensory sensors to recognize gestures and explore human-computer interaction. Then, we analyze how the Kinea somatosensory sensor works to obtain depth images, study the method of obtaining gesture positions and joint points based on the depth information, and combine the depth information and the skin color model to create a three-dimensional image of the gesture simulation. With the rapid development of China’s tourism industry, China’s hotel industry has entered an era, in which domestic and foreign competitors coexist in the hotel industry. The development of hotels urgently needs high-quality hotel professionals who have received professional training and are familiar with hotel management. In hotel management teaching, human-computer interactive learning can effectively improve learning interest. In this paper, the structure of the human-computer interaction system based on gesture recognition is established, which can effectively improve the recognition accuracy and is of great significance in the hotel management teaching system.
New Path of Stranger Interaction Platform and Network Cross-Cultural Communication in the Omnimedia Era
Authors: Li Ruixian
Published: July 2022

The Internet is a new medium for disseminating information. The emergence of online information dissemination tools has overcome the limitations of time and space in the early information dissemination tools, and online information dissemination has extraordinary attractiveness in all walks of life. Online communication is the dissemination of information, including news, knowledge, and other information, through computer networks. The benefits of high speed, high volume, interactivity, immediacy, vividness, openness, ease of discovery, and online communication over time, across different fields and media, enable people to appreciate online media in a new way. The Internet is rapidly becoming the new preferred means of communication due to its unparalleled advantages. The research on cross-cultural communication on the Internet is based on the globalization of economy, the globalization of information dissemination, and the development of cultural marketing. This paper has conducted a research experiment on the new path of stranger interaction platform and network cross-cultural communication in the all-media era. The experimental data show that the paths of cultural dissemination account for 39% of introductions by others and 26% of social platforms such as WeChat. Promotional information on other platforms accounted for 17%, app stores accounted for 12%, and others accounted for 6%. It can be seen that the introduction and recommendation of others are the main way of cross-cultural communication. After studying the interactive platform for strangers in the all-media era, we learned from the Internet that cross-cultural communication has gradually become the main way.
A Smart Device for a Preliminary Dental Examination Based on the Internet of Things
Authors: Wedyan Mohammad , Alturki Ryan , Gazzawe Foziah , Ramadan Enas
Published: July 2022

The COVID-19 pandemic has threatened the lives of many people, especially the elderly and those with chronic illnesses, as well as threatening the global economy. In response to the pandemic, many medical centers, including dental facilities, have significantly reduced the treatment of patients by limiting clinical practice to exclusively urgent, nondeferred care. Dentists are more vulnerable to contracting COVID-19, due to the necessity of the dentist being close to the patient. One of the precautions that dentists take to avoid transmitting infections is to wear a mask and gloves. However, the basic condition for nontransmission of infection is to leave a safe distance between the patient and the dentist. This system can be implemented by using an Arduino microcontroller, which is designed as a preliminary device by a dentist to examine a patient’s teeth so that a safe distance of three meters between the dentist and the patient can be maintained. The project is based on hardware and has been programmed through Arduino. The proposed system uses a small wired camera with a length of five meters that is connected to the dentist’s mobile or laptop and is installed on a robotic arm. The dentist can control the movement of the arm in all directions using a joystick at a distance of three meters. The results showed the effectiveness of this system for leaving a safe distance between the patient and the dentist. In our future work, we will control the movement of the arm via Bluetooth, and we will use a wi-fi-based camera.
Cell Recognition Using BP Neural Network Edge Computing
Authors: Du Xiangxi , Liu Muyun , Sun Yanhua
Published: July 2022

This exploration is to solve the efficiency and accuracy of cell recognition in biological experiments. Neural network technology is applied to the research of cell image recognition. The cell image recognition problem is solved by constructing an image recognition algorithm. First, with an in‐depth understanding of computer functions, as a basic intelligent algorithm, the artificial neural network (ANN) is widely used to solve the problem of image recognition. Recently, the backpropagation neural network (BPNN) algorithm has developed into a powerful pattern recognition tool and has been widely used in image edge detection. Then, the structural model of BPNN is introduced in detail. Given the complexity of cell image recognition, an algorithm based on the ANN and BPNN is used to solve this problem. The BPNN algorithm has multiple advantages, such as simple structure, easy hardware implementation, and good learning effect. Next, an image recognition algorithm based on the BPNN is designed and the image recognition process is optimized in combination with edge computing technology to improve the efficiency of algorithm recognition. The experimental results show that compared with the traditional image pattern recognition algorithm, the recognition accuracy of the designed algorithm for cell images is higher than 93.12%, so it has more advantages for processing the cell image algorithm. The results show that the BPNN edge computing can improve the scientific accuracy of cell recognition results, suggesting that edge computing based on the BPNN has a significant practical value for the research and application of cell recognition.
A Study on Landscape VR Design of Special Neighborhood Based on Traditional Culture
Authors: Li Yonghui , Xu Yanling
Published: July 2022

The characteristic neighborhoods with traditional culture fully reflect the city’s history and culture while carrying urban life. The essence of the regional culture is transformed into the unique symbolic elements of the city. The focuses of landscape renovation design of characteristic neighborhoods are to refine regional cultural symbols, maintain the spirit of neighborhood places, carry forward historical and traditional cultural characteristics, and enhance people’s perception of traditional culture through scientific and systematic organization and planning. This paper fuses virtual objects with real entities. This technology is aimed at providing a brand-new transformation method for construction personnel in the digital transformation of IoTs. From the perspective of the construction site application of the entire landscape design, in the process of continuous development and testing of the software, it provides a large key technology research, which provides the key for the actual construction use requirements and related technical requirements of virtual reality technology. This paper mainly analyzes the main application of virtual reality and IOTs in the digital transformation of IoTs.
Predicted Immune-Related Genes and Subtypes in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Based on Immune Infiltration Analysis
Authors: Xu Lin , Su Xiaoyan , Liu Zhongcheng , Zhou Aihong
Published: July 2022

Objective. The present investigation is aimed at identifying key immune-related genes linked with SLE and their roles using integrative analysis of publically available gene expression datasets. Methods. Four gene expression datasets pertaining to SLE, 2 from whole blood and 2 experimental PMBC, were sourced from GEO. Shared differentially expressed genes (DEG) were determined as SLE-related genes. Immune cell infiltration analysis was performed using CIBERSORT, and case samples were subjected tok-means cluster analysis using high-abundance immune cells. Key immune-related SLE genes were identified using correlation analysis with high-abundance immune cells and subjected to functional enrichment analysis for enriched Gene Ontology Biological Processes and KEGG pathways. A PPI network of genes interacting with the key immune-related SLE genes was constructed. LASSO regression analysis was performed to identify the most significant key immune-related SLE genes, and correlation with clinicopathological features was examined. Results. 309 SLE-related genes were identified and found functionally enriched in several pathways related to regulation of viral defenses and T cell functions.k-means cluster analysis identified 2 sample clusters which significantly differed in monocytes, dendritic cell resting, and neutrophil abundance. 65 immune-related SLE genes were identified, functionally enriched in immune response-related signaling, antigen receptor-mediated signaling, and T cell receptor signaling, along with Th17, Th1, and Th2 cell differentiation, IL-17, NF-kappa B, and VEGF signaling pathways. LASSO regression identified 9 key immune-related genes: DUSP7, DYSF, KCNA3, P2RY10, S100A12, SLC38A1, TLR2, TSR2, and TXN. Imputed neutrophil percentage was consistent with their expression pattern, whereas anti-Ro showed the inverse pattern as gene expression. Conclusions. Comprehensive bioinformatics analyses revealed 9 key immune-related genes and their associated functions highly pertinent to SLE pathogenesis, subtypes, and identified valuable candidates for experimental research.
Challenges of Diagnosing Pseudohypoaldosteronism (PHA) in an Infant
Authors: Babar Ghufran Saeed , Tariq Minah
Published: July 2022

Background. Pseudohypoaldosteronism (PHA) is characterized by renal tubular resistance to aldosterone. As a result, the symptoms typically involve hyperkalemia and hyponatremia. The aim of this clinical case report is to highlight the severe electrolyte imbalance PHA can present within an infant, as well as difficulties in diagnosing the condition. Case Presentation. A 5-week-old male arrived at the ER with episodes of emesis, lethargy, and difficulty in feeding. He had significant electrolyte abnormalities and was being treated by his PCP for failure to thrive. He presented with urinary sodium wasting, indicated by hyponatremia, hyperkalemia, low chloride, and hypercalcemia. Patient was treated with IVF and NaCl supplementation to normalize the electrolytes. The patient showed heterozygosity for a variant in the WNK1 gene, which typically causes Gordon syndrome; however, our patient had a normal blood pressure. The electrolyte imbalance self-resolved during several months of follow-up, and currently, the patient is not on any treatment.
Catheter Ablation for Atrial Fibrillation in Patients with Chronic Kidney Disease and on Dialysis: A Meta-Analysis and Review
Authors: Chung Isaac , Khan Yasir , Warrens Hilary , Seshasai Rao Kondapally , Sohal Manav , Banerjee Debasish
Published: July 2022

Background: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is common in chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients and is difficult to treat with anti-arrhythmics and anticoagulants due to abnormal metabolism and increased side effects. Catheter ablation, if successful, may be a safer alternative. This review aimed to analyse the effect of CKD or haemodialysis (HD) on recurrence of AF after catheter ablation. Methods: MEDLINE, Embase, and PubMed databases were searched until December 2020. Two authors abstracted the data independently. Relative risks were derived using random-effects meta-analysis. Results: Of the initially identified 782 studies, 6 and 4 observational studies investigating CKD and HD patients, respectively reported AF recurrence rates. During a mean (SD) follow-up of 25.5 (9.8) months, CKD patients demonstrated a higher risk of AF recurrence compared to patients without CKD (RR 2.34, 95% CI: 1.36–4.02, p < 0.01). The heterogenicity test highlighted significant differences between individual studies (I2 = 91.0%, 95% CI: 82.2–95.6%). In a mean (SD) follow-up of 32.6 (26.8) months, HD patients may be at a higher risk of AF recurrence compared to healthy non-dialysis AF patients (RR 1.50, 95% CI: 0.84–2.67, p = 0.17). Heterogeneity analysis showed the studies were heterogeneous (I2 = 90.1%, 95% CI: 77.5–95.6%, p < 0.01). Conclusion: Our meta-analysis suggests patients with CKD and on HD are more likely to have AF recurrences compared to AF patients who do not have CKD. However, more robust evidence from randomized controlled trials comparing catheter ablation to pharmaceutical rhythm therapy is urgently needed to guide therapy in this difficult to treat population.
Association of Serum Cystatin C With Cerebral Small Vessel Disease in Community-Based Population
Authors: Yao Dongxiao , Li Shan , Jing Jing , Cai Xueli , Jin Aoming , Yang Yingying , Wang Suying , Meng Xia , Lin Jinxi , Mei Lerong , Li Hao , Wei Tiemin , Wang Yongjun , Pan Yuesong , Wang Yilong
Published: July 2022

Background:

The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between serum cystatin C levels and the presence and severity of cerebral small vessel disease (CSVD).

Methods:

Community-dwelling residents in the Lishui city in China from the cross-sectional survey of the PRECISE (Poly-Vascular Evaluation for Cognitive Impairment and Vascular Events) cohort study were included in present study from 2017 to 2019. Total CSVD burden and modified total CSVD burden score, as well as the markers of CSVD on magnetic resonance imaging, including white matter hyperintensity, lacunes, cerebral microbleeds, and perivascular spaces, were assessed at baseline survey. Participants were divided into 4 groups according to the quartiles of cystatin C. The association of serum cystatin C with total CSVD burden and imaging markers was analyzed using ordinal or binary logistic regression models. Furthermore, 2-sample Mendelian randomization analysis was performed to investigate the genetically predicted effect of cystatin C on CSVD.

Results:

A total of 3061 participants were included in this study. The mean age of the participants was 61.2±6.7 years, and 1637 (53.5%) were women. Higher level of cystatin C was associated with an increased total CSVD burden and modified total CSVD burden (Q4 versus Q1: common odds ratio [OR], 1.30 [95% CI, 1.03–1.64] and 1.32 [95% CI, 1.01–1.73]) after adjustment for covariates. Further, compared with the first quartile of cystatin C, subjects in the last quartile had higher risk of lacunes (OR, 1.99 [95% CI, 1.05–3.76]), modified white matter hyperintensity burden (common OR, 1.42 [95% CI, 1.07–1.90]), and moderate-to-severe perivascular spaces (OR, 2.15 [95% CI, 1.29–3.59]) but not cerebral microbleeds. The Mendelian randomization analysis showed that a genetically predicted higher cystatin C level was associated with increased risk of lacunar stroke (OR, 1.16 [95% CI, 1.06–1.27]).

Conclusions:

In this community-based study, we found a possible association between cystatin C and CSVD, especially for lacunes, that was independent of estimated glomerular filtration rate.
Snatching Legal Victory: LGBTQ Rights Activism and Contestation in the Arab World
Authors: Anabtawi Samer
Published: July 2022

This article examines the relationship between emergent LGBTQ movements and the state in the Arab world over the past two decades. Focusing on the efforts of various LGBTQ social movements to confront the criminalization of homosexuality in the Arab region, the article puzzles over a cascade of legal victories for LGBTQ rights advocates in Lebanon in recent years in spite of a hostile justice sector mired with corruption. It interrogates a set of prevalent assumptions about the effect of regime type (democracy v. authoritarianism) on gay rights activism and litigation. This article explains how some LGBTQ Arab movements have successfully relied on strategic litigation to confront criminalization laws while others have had less success in pursuing overtly confrontational approaches. The paired comparison between Tunisia and Lebanon shifts our focus back to the agency of judges and social movement leaders in shaping legal outcomes for LGBTQ citizens.
Perception/Deception: Fictional Selves and the Peculiarly Digital Phenomenon of Catfishing
Authors: Dey Debolina
Published: July 2022

Catfishing is a peculiar digital phenomenon that involves a relationship using a fictional online persona. What distinguishes catfishing from other forms of digital production that deploy ‘misleading’ information or impersonation is that although this phenomenon might include such strategies, it is often employed for romantic scams. This paper looks at the alternative forms of intimacy afforded by digital platforms with their particular set of tools, especially in the context of digital cultures in India. By using catfishing as a lens to read intimacy in the digital, this study looks at unexpected possibilities of the digital as a mediatized space that in turn generates new types of relationalities.
Polygonatum tungnathensis (Asparagaceae), a new species from Uttarakhand, Western Himalaya, India
Authors: SINGH ANKIT , SINGH HARSH , NAUTIYAL MOHAN CHANDRA
Published: July 2022

A new species, Polygonatum tungnathensis is described and illustrated here from Uttarakhand Himalaya, India. This new species is similar to P. verticillatum, but it differs in its rhizome, leaves, inflorescence, pedicel length, perianth, fruits, seeds, and micro-morphological characters.
Boletus littoreus (Boletaceae, Boletales), a new species with a white basidioma from Hainan, China
Authors: YANG YU-YING , XU CHANG , WANG YI , LI LE , YUAN LANG-XING , ZHAO FU-WEI , ZENG NIAN-KAI
Published: July 2022

Boletus littoreus (Boletaceae, Boletales) is described as a new species from tropical China based on morphological and molecular evidence from the nuclear ribosomal large subunit RNA (28S), the translation elongation factor 1-α gene (TEF1), and the RNA polymerase II second largest subunit gene (RPB2). It is morphologically characterized by white basidiomata, a stipe without reticulations, a pileipellis composed of elliptic-fusiform to subglobose, sometimes filamentous, chains of hyphae, and is associated with trees of Dipterocarpaceae. An illustrated morphological description is provided along with comparison to related and similar species.
Stereotyped images and role dissonance in the foreign policy of right-wing populist leaders: Jair Bolsonaro and Donald Trump
Authors: Wehner Leslie E
Published: July 2022

Populist leaders unfold anti-elite rhetoric to sustain the ‘in-group’ morale of the ‘people’ they represent. Populist projects contain an ‘us’ versus ‘them’ dimension constituted by the stereotyped images that serve to inform the role-selection process in foreign policy. When images shaping roles on the international stage are used against the ‘out-group’, they become stereotypes of other actors. Therefore, this article explores how anti-pluralist populist leaders such as Jair Bolsonaro and Donald Trump use stereotyped images, and how these images – which speak to intention, affective tags and the evaluation of options – shape the foreign policy role behaviour of the states in question. The article develops a framework at the interplay of images and roles to analyse how these two aspects are used by the leader in an oversimplified manner to delineate boundaries between self and other, and thus to identify the membership base of the populist project versus those who are seen as a threat to their populist foreign policy.
Synchronization characteristics in a vibrator-pendulum coupling system with spatial motion
Authors: Li Zhenmin , Li Chao , Chen Weihao , Zhang Wei , Zhang Xueliang
Published: July 2022

Due to complex dynamic coupling relationships in the system, the research that couples pendulum and vibrators in the same system is rarely found. Especially in the vibrating system with spatial motion, the theoretical derivation may be too complex to be easy to implement. In this paper, we present a vibrator-pendulum coupling system with spatial motion characteristics; here, the pendulum is driven by the two vibrators mounted on it. The synchronization of the vibrators and the motion characteristics of the system are studied via theory, numeric, and experiment. In theory, the synchronization and stability criteria of the two vibrators are deduced. According to the theoretical results, some numerical qualitative analyses are given to further reveal the synchronous stable states and spatial motion characteristics of the system. The validity of the theoretical methods and the correctness of the numerical qualitative results are examined by simulation and experiment. Taking the pendulum as the working rigid frame, the proposed dynamic model and research results can be applied to design a new kind of vibrating jaw crusher with spatial motion characteristics.
The Role of Physical Activity in Opioid Substitution Therapy: A Systematic Review of Interventional and Observational Studies
Authors: Alpers Silvia Eiken , Furulund Einar , Pallesen Ståle , Mamen Asgeir , Dyrstad Sindre M , Fadnes Lars Thore
Published: July 2022

Background:

Use of physical activity in the treatment and follow-up of people receiving opioid substitution therapy is an understudied area of research. Therefore, the objective of this systematic review was to synthesize the currently available research on the role of physical activity in opioid substitution therapy and proper adaptions for the group.

Methods:

A systematic search was performed on PsycINFO, EMBASE, MEDLINE, CINAHL, and Web of Science until September 2021 (PROSPERO-reg.no: CRD42020109873). The inclusion criteria were studies involving physical activity interventions for opioid substitution patients. Reference lists of relevant studies were screened to identify additional relevant studies. Data extracted were compiled into tables and descriptively presented.

Results:

The search yielded 2105 unique records. A total of 10 studies were included, whose methodological quality ranged from satisfactory to very good. Study quality was assessed using a 7-/8-point quality score. The agreement between the reviewers, assessed with Cohen’s kappa, was 0.91. Overall, the results suggest that physical activity increases physical fitness of patients in opioid substitution therapy and decreases substance use. The minority of studies in this field are of high quality with sufficient power.

Conclusions:

The findings of this systematic review suggest beneficial effects of physical activity on physical fitness, substance use, and mental health for patients in opioid substitution therapy. Although the findings are quite consistent across studies, high-quality studies and sufficiently powered clinical trials are needed to confirm and validate the findings and to conclude on the degree of impact.
Indoor environment and the blood pressure of elderly in the cold region of China
Authors: Lv Yang , Zhu Rui , Xie Jingchao , Yoshino Hiroshi
Published: July 2022

This study investigated the indoor environment of urban and rural elderly residential dwellings in Dalian and Beijing during the heating period in 2017–2018. Each dwelling was assessed for temperature, relative humidity, air pollution and biological pollution, as well as blood pressure parameters related to the health of the elderly. The results showed that the temperature in urban dwellings was higher and more stable than that in rural dwellings, due to the difference in heating devices. Indoor carbon dioxide (CO2) concentrations in some dwellings exceeded the limit. Indoor formaldehyde and volatile organic compounds (VOC) were lower than the limit values, while urban dwellings had more formaldehyde and total volatile organic compounds (TVOC) pollution than rural dwellings. For rural houses, indoor fuel combustion resulted in higher concentrations of particulate matter below 2.5 microns (PM2.5) and higher concentrations of carbon monoxide (CO). The biological pollution in rural areas was generally higher than in urban areas. The blood pressure of the elderly in rural areas was higher than that in urban areas, and blood pressure was found to be negatively correlated with room temperature and positively correlated with relative humidity. These results can provide an indicator for the improvement of housing environmental quality for older people in China.
Quantification of aneurysm wall enhancement in intracranial fusiform aneurysms and related predictors based on high-resolution magnetic resonance imaging: a validation study
Authors: Peng Fei , Fu Mingzhu , Xia Jiaxiang , Niu Hao , Liu Lang , Feng Xin , Xu Peng , Bai Xiaoyan , Li Zhiye , Chen Jigang , Tong Xin , He Xiaoxin , Xu Boya , Chen Xuge , Liu Hongyi , Sui Binbin , Duan Yonghong , Li Rui , Liu Aihua
Published: July 2022

Background:

Aneurysm wall enhancement (AWE) in high-resolution magnetic resonance imaging (HR-MRI) has emerged as a new imaging biomarker of intracranial aneurysm instability.

Objective:

To determine a standard method of AWE quantification for predicting fusiform intracranial aneurysms (FIAs) stability by comparing the sensitivity of each parameter in identifying symptomatic FIAs. The predictors of AWE and FIA types were also identified.

Methods:

We retrospectively analyzed consecutive fusiform aneurysm patients who underwent HR-MRI from two centers. The aneurysm-to-pituitary stalk contrast ratio (CRstalk), aneurysm enhancement ratio, and aneurysm enhancement index were extracted, and their sensitivities in discriminating aneurysm symptoms were compared using the receiver-operating characteristic curve. Morphological parameters of fusiform aneurysm were extracted based on 3D vessel model. Uni- and multivariate analyses of related predictors for AWE, CRstalk, and FIA types were performed, respectively.

Results:

Overall, 117 patients (mean age, 53.3 ± 11.7 years; male, 75.2%) with 117 FIAs underwent HR-MRI were included. CRstalk with the maximum signal intensity (CRstalk-max) had the highest sensitivity in identifying symptomatic FIAs with an area under the curve value (0.697) and a cut-off value of 0.90. The independent predictors of AWE were aneurysm symptoms [(odds ratio) OR = 3.754, p = 0.003], aspirin use (OR = 0.248, p = 0.037), and the maximum diameter of the cross-section (OR = 1.171, p = 0.043). The independent predictors of CRstalk-max were aneurysm symptoms (OR = 1.289, p = 0.003) and posterior circulation aneurysm (OR = 1.314, p = 0.001). Transitional-type showed higher rates of hypertension and mural thrombus over both dolichoectatic- and fusiform-type FIAs.

Conclusion:

CRstalk-max may be the most reliable parameter to quantify AWE to distinguish symptomatic FIAs. It also has the potential to identify unstable FIAs. Several factors contribute to the complex pathophysiology of FIAs and need further validation in a larger cohort.
Race-religion constellation: An argument for a Trans-Atlantic Interactive-Relational Approach
Authors: Tembo Josias
Published: July 2022

In this article, I argue that a trans-Atlantic account of the constellations of race and religion demands that we understand racist thinking to be constituted by complex conceptual formations and relations. The failure to identify the conceptual complexity and interactive relations in racist thinking has led to universalist and exclusionary definitions of racist thinking and limited conceptions of the constellations of race and religion. Because the supposed universal definitions of racist thinking are formulated from particular regions of the trans-Atlantic, it has led to the masking and rejection of other formations of racist thinking from other regions of the trans-Atlantic. To avoid this, this article proposes a Trans-Atlantic Interactive and Relational Approach (TAIRA) that can help us to continue unmasking and understanding the trans-Atlantic connections between race and religion.
A comparative analysis of data governance: Socio-technical imaginaries of digital personal data in the USA and EU (2008–2016)
Authors: Guay Rob , Birch Kean
Published: July 2022

Personal data are produced through our daily interactions with digital technologies like search engines, social media, and online shopping, and is often referred to as our “digital exhaust.” It has been characterized as the key resource or asset for our economies in the 21st century. This paper focuses on the socio-technical imaginaries of digital personal data as a way to understand how desired forms of data governance are co-produced with collective understandings of personal data as a political-economic asset. We examine the different socio-technical imaginaries that underpinned different developments in data regulations in the United States and EU from 2008 to 2016, focusing specifically on the mutual constitution of law, political economy, and technoscience. We do so in order to understand the “prehistories” of contemporary data governance. We analyze the institutional and legal context around the development of data privacy regulation and data commercialization in these two important jurisdictions and reflect on how this institutional and legal context configured their respective approaches to data governance.