bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Diagnostic Performance of Delirium Assessment Tools in Critically Ill Patients: A Systematic Review and Meta‐Analysis
Authors: Ho Mu‐Hsing , Montgomery Amy , Traynor Victoria , Chang Chia‐Chi , Kuo Ken N. , Chang Hui‐Chen (Rita) , Chen Kee‐Hsin
Published: August 2020

Background

Critical care nurses are in the best position to detect and monitor delirium in critically ill patients. Therefore, an optimum delirium assessment tool with strong evidence should be identified with critical care nurses to perform in the daily assessment.

Aim

To evaluate and compare the diagnostic performance of delirium assessment tools in diagnosing delirium in critically ill patients.

Methods

We searched five electronic databases including the Cochrane Library, PubMed, Embase, CINAHL, and a Chinese database for eligible diagnostic studies published in English or Mandarin up to December 2018. This diagnostic test accuracy meta‐analysis was limited to studies in intensive care unit (ICU) settings, using the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) as a standard reference to test the accuracy of delirium assessment tools. Eligible studies were critically appraised by two investigators independently. The summary of evidence was conducted for pooling and comparing diagnostic accuracy by a bivariate random effects meta‐analysis model. The pooled sensitivities and specificities, summary receiver operating characteristic curve (sROC), the area under the curve (AUC), and diagnostic odds ratio (DOR) were calculated and plotted. The possibility of publication bias was assessed by Deeks’ funnel plot.

Data Synthesis

We identified and evaluated 23 and 8 articles focused on CAM‐ICU and ICDSC, respectively. The summary sensitivities of 0.85 and 0.87, and summary specificities of 0.95 and 0.91 were found for CAM‐ICU and ICDSC, respectively. The AUC of the CAM‐ICU was 0.96 (95% CI, 0.94–0.98), with DOR at 99 (95% CI, 55–177). The AUC of the ICDSC was 0.95 (95% CI, 0.92–0.96), and the DOR was 65 (95% CI, 27–153).

Linking Evidence to Action

CAM‐ICU demonstrated higher diagnostic test accuracy and is recommended as the optimal delirium assessment tool. However, the results should be interpreted with caution due to the between‐study heterogeneity of this diagnostic test accuracy meta‐analysis.
Reasons Why Older Adults Engage in Physical Exercise. Comparative Study Eastern Europe Versus Southern Europe
Authors: Cancela José M. , Pereira Karina , Mollinedo Irimia , Ferreira Manuela , Bezerra Pedro
Published: August 2020

Introduction: Research on variables that encourage older adults to exercise is limited. This study was carried out to identify the participation motives of older Europeans involved in regular exercise. Methods: The 418 (170 men, 248 women) who participated in the survey are participants of the Erasmus Plus European Project In Common Sports. The participants were divided into two groups. Italy, Portugal, and Spain formed the Southern Europe group, and Bulgaria and Hungary the Eastern European group. All participants completed the Participation Motivation Questionnaire: Older Adults. Results: The most highly reported motives for participation were to have fun, stay in shape, keep healthy, and an enjoyment of exercise. Principal-components analysis of the questionnaire revealed six factors: social, fitness, recognition, challenge/benefits, medical, and involvement. Conclusions: The reasons why the residents of Southern European practice exercise are more related to medical reasons, while for Eastern Europe these reasons are more related to recognition.
Dual-Task Conditions on Static Postural Control in Older Adults: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Petrigna Luca , Gentile Ambra , Mani Diba , Pajaujiene Simona , Zanotto Tobia , Thomas Ewan , Paoli Antonio , Palma Antonio , Bianco Antonino
Published: August 2020

Dual-task (DT) consists of the performance of two tasks simultaneously. An index of DT difficulty has been linked to decreased postural control. Because a wide range of DT is employed, this study aimed to evaluate its effects in static balance in older adults. PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus were screened, and the secondary tasks were grouped as manual, reaction time, discrimination and decision making, mental tracking, verbal fluency, working memory, or “other” tasks. A total of 66 studies have been included. The meta-analysis was conducted on 28 effects and showed a significant mean effect size of d = 0.24 (p = .02, SE = 0.10; confidence interval [0.04, 0.44]), indicating a worsening in stability during DT. In conclusion, postural control was worsened by the Stroop test and the arithmetic tasks improved it. The results do not underpin any conclusive statement on the impact of DT, and a standard operating procedure was created.
Extracellular vesicle–encapsulated IL-10 as novel nanotherapeutics against ischemic AKI
Authors: Tang Tao-Tao , Wang Bin , Wu Min , Li Zuo-Lin , Feng Ye , Cao Jing-Yuan , Yin Di , Liu Hong , Tang Ri-Ning , Crowley Steven D. , Lv Lin-Li , Liu Bi-Cheng
Published: August 2020

Using extracellular vesicles for targeted delivery of IL-10 is an efficient therapeutic strategy against ischemic AKI.
Termination switching of antiferromagnetic proximity effect in topological insulator
Authors: Yang Chao-Yao , Pan Lei , Grutter Alexander J. , Wang Haiying , Che Xiaoyu , He Qing Lin , Wu Yingying , Gilbert Dustin A. , Shafer Padraic , Arenholz Elke , Wu Hao , Yin Gen , Deng Peng , Borchers Julie Ann , Ratcliff William , Wang Kang L.
Published: August 2020

Atomic termination plays a key role in activating the proximity effect of antiferromagnet.
A general ink formulation of 2D crystals for wafer-scale inkjet printing
Authors: Hu Guohua , Yang Lisong , Yang Zongyin , Wang Yubo , Jin Xinxin , Dai Jie , Wu Qing , Liu Shouhu , Zhu Xiaoxi , Wang Xiaoshan , Wu Tien-Chun , Howe Richard C. T. , Albrow-Owen Tom , Ng Leonard W. T. , Yang Qing , Occhipinti Luigi G. , Woodward Robert I. , Kelleher Edmund J. R. , Sun Zhipei , Huang Xiao , Zhang Meng , Bain Colin D. , Hasan Tawfique
Published: August 2020

A binary solvent ink exploiting solutal Marangoni flows to suppress the coffee-ring effect for uniform printing of 2D crystals.
Cryo-EM structures of SERCA2b reveal the mechanism of regulation by the luminal extension tail
Authors: Zhang Yuxia , Inoue Michio , Tsutsumi Akihisa , Watanabe Satoshi , Nishizawa Tomohiro , Nagata Kazuhiro , Kikkawa Masahide , Inaba Kenji
Published: August 2020

Cryo-EM structures of SERCA2b at 2.8- to 2.9-Å resolutions reveal how the luminal extension tail regulates its conformation.
Suboptimal Dosing of Fluconazole in Critically Ill Patients: Time To Rethink Dosing
Authors: Muilwijk Eline W. , de Lange Dylan W. , Schouten Jeroen A. , Wasmann Roeland E. , ter Heine Rob , Burger David M. , Colbers Angela , Haas Pieter J. , Verweij Paul E. , Pickkers Peter , Brüggemann Roger J.
Published: August 2020

Fluconazole is frequently used for the treatment of invasive
Candida
infections in critically ill patients. However, alterations in renal functions might influence fluconazole clearance. Therefore, our objective was to study the impact of renal function on the population pharmacokinetics of fluconazole in critically ill patients with various degrees of renal function or undergoing continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT). This was an open-label, multicenter observational study.
Roles of RcsA, an AhpD Family Protein, in Reactive Chlorine Stress Resistance and Virulence in Pseudomonas aeruginosa
Authors: Nontaleerak Benya , Duang-nkern Jintana , Wongsaroj Lampet , Trinachartvanit Wachareeporn , Romsang Adisak , Mongkolsuk Skorn
Published: August 2020

Pseudomonas aeruginosa
is a common pathogen that is a major cause of serious infections in many hosts. Hypochlorous acid (HOCl) is a potent antimicrobial agent found in household bleach and is a widely used disinfectant.
P. aeruginosa
has evolved adaptive mechanisms for protection and survival during HOCl exposure. We identified
P. aeruginosa
rcsA
as a HOCl-responsive gene encoding an antioxidant protein that may be involved in HOCl degradation. RcsA has a distinguishing core motif containing functional Cys60, Cys63, and His67 residues.
P. aeruginosa
rcsA
plays an important role in bleach tolerance, with expression of
P. aeruginosa
rcsA
in
Escherichia coli
also conferring HOCl resistance. Interestingly, RcsA is required for full virulence in worm and fruit fly infection models, indicating a correlation between mechanisms of bleach toxicity and host immunity during infection. This provides new insights into the mechanisms used by
P. aeruginosa
to persist in harsh environments such as hospitals.
Regularized S-Map Reveals Varying Bacterial Interactions
Authors: Yu Zhong , Gan Zhihao , Huang Hao , Zhu Yuelan , Meng Fangang
Published: August 2020

It has long been acknowledged that bacterial interactions play important roles in community structure and function. Revealing the interaction variability can allow an understanding of how bacteria respond to perturbation and why bacterial community performance changes. Such information should improve our skills in engineering bacterial communities (e.g., in a wastewater treatment plant) and achieve better removal performance and lower energy consumption.
Role of SpoIVA ATPase Motifs during Clostridioides difficile Sporulation
Authors: Benito de la Puebla Hector , Giacalone David , Cooper Alexei , Shen Aimee
Published: August 2020

The major pathogen
Clostridioides difficile
depends on its spore form to transmit disease. However, the mechanism by which
C. difficile
assembles spores remains poorly characterized. We previously showed that binding between the spore morphogenetic proteins SpoIVA and SipL regulates assembly of the protective coat layer around the forespore. In this study, we determined that mutations in the
C. difficile
SpoIVA ATPase motifs result in relatively minor defects in spore formation, in contrast with
Bacillus subtilis
. Nevertheless, our data suggest that SipL preferentially recognizes the ATP-bound form of SpoIVA and identify a specific residue in the SipL C-terminal LysM domain that is critical for recognizing the ATP-bound form of SpoIVA. These findings advance our understanding of how SpoIVA-SipL interactions regulate
C. difficile
spore assembly.
Next-Generation Porcine Intestinal Organoids: an Apical-Out Organoid Model for Swine Enteric Virus Infection and Immune Response Investigations
Authors: Li Yang , Yang Ning , Chen Jianing , Huang Xin , Zhang Na , Yang Shanshan , Liu Guo , Liu Guangliang
Published: August 2020

Intestinal organoids are a newly developed culture system for investigating pathogen-host interactions. Intestinal organoid models have been widely used since their development, because the results obtained from this type of culture model better represent physiological conditions than those from well-established cell lines. The three-dimensional (3D) porcine intestinal organoid model was reported in 2018 and 2019 for the investigation of intestinal pathogens. However, those organoid culture models were basal-out intestinal organoids, which are not suitable for porcine enteric virus research because they invade the intestines via the apical side of epithelial cells on villi. In this study, we developed a porcine apical-out intestinal organoid culture system and verified its infectivity, type I and type III interferon (IFN) antiviral responses, and inflammatory responses following infection by a swine enteric virus. Our results imply that this apical-out porcine intestinal organoid culture system is an ideal model for the investigation of interactions between swine enteric viruses and the intestines.
Draft Whole-Genome Sequence of
Triparma laevis
f.
inornata
(Parmales, Bolidophyceae), Isolated from the Oyashio Region, Western North Pacific Ocean
Authors: Kuwata Akira , Saitoh Kenji , Nakamura Yoji , Ichinomiya Mutsuo , Sato Naoki
Published: August 2020

We present the first draft whole-genome sequence for the Parmales (Bolidophyceae, Heterokonta), a picoplanktonic sister group of diatoms, using a
Triparma laevis
f.
inornata
strain that was isolated from the Oyashio region in the western North Pacific Ocean.
Tools to assess the measurement properties of quality of life instruments: a meta-review
Authors: Lorente Sonia , Viladrich Carme , Vives Jaume , Losilla Josep-Maria
Published: August 2020

Objective

This meta-review aims to discuss the methodological, research and practical applications of tools that assess the measurement properties of instruments evaluating health-related quality of life (HRQoL) that have been reported in systematic reviews.

Design

Meta-review.

Methods

Electronic search from January 2008 to May 2020 was carried out on PubMed, CINAHL, PsycINFO, SCOPUS, WoS, Consensus-based Standards for the selection of health Measurement Instruments (COSMIN) database, Google Scholar and ProQuest Dissertations and Theses.

Results

A total of 246 systematic reviews were assessed. Concerning the quality of the review process, some methodological shortcomings were found, such as poor compliance with reporting or methodological guidelines. Regarding the procedures to assess the quality of measurement properties, 164 (66.6%) of reviewers applied one tool at least. Tool format and structure differed across standards or scientific traditions (ie, psychology, medicine and economics), but most assess both measurement properties and the usability of instruments. As far as the results and conclusions of systematic reviews are concerned, only 68 (27.5%) linked the intended use of the instrument to specific measurement properties (eg, evaluative use to responsiveness).

Conclusions

The reporting and methodological quality of reviews have increased over time, but there is still room for improvement regarding adherence to guidelines. The COSMIN would be the most widespread and comprehensive tool to assess both the risk of bias of primary studies, and the measurement properties of HRQoL instruments for evaluative purposes. Our analysis of other assessment tools and measurement standards can serve as a starting point for future lines of work on the COSMIN tool, such as considering a more comprehensive evaluation of feasibility, including burden and fairness; expanding its scope for measurement instruments with a different use than evaluative; and improving its assessment of the risk of bias of primary studies.

PROSPERO registration number

CRD42017065232.
Electronic health records (EHR) simulation-based training: a scoping review protocol
Authors: Nuamah Joseph K , Adapa Karthik , Mazur Lukasz
Published: August 2020

Introduction

Effective electronic health record (EHR)-based training interventions facilitate improved EHR use for healthcare providers. One such training intervention is simulation-based training that emphasises learning actual tasks through experimentation in a risk-free environment without negative patient outcomes. EHR-specific simulation-based training can be employed to improve EHR use, thereby enhancing healthcare providers’ skills and behaviours. Despite the potential advantages of this type of training, no study has identified and mapped the available evidence. To fill that gap, this scoping review will synthesise the current state of literature on EHR simulation-based training.

Methods and analysis

The Arksey and O’Malley methodological framework will be employed. Three databases (PubMed, Embase and Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature) will be searched for published articles. ProQuest and Google Scholar will be searched to identify unpublished articles. Databases will be searched from inception to 29 January 2020. Only articles written in English, randomised control trials, cohort studies, cross-sectional studies and case-control studies will be considered for inclusion. Two reviewers will independently screen titles and abstracts against inclusion and exclusion criteria. Then, they will review full texts to determine articles for final inclusion. Citation chaining will be conducted to manually screen references of all included studies to identify additional studies not found by the search. A data abstraction form with relevant characteristics will be developed to help address the research question. Descriptive numerical analysis will be used to describe characteristics of included studies. Based on the extracted data, research evidence of EHR simulation-based training will be synthesised.

Ethics and dissemination

Since no primary data will be collected, there will be no formal ethical review. Research findings will be disseminated through publications, presentations and meetings with relevant stakeholders.
Place4Carers: a mixed-method study protocol for engaging family caregivers in meaningful actions for successful ageing in place
Authors: Graffigna Guendalina , Barello Serena , Morelli Niccolò , Gheduzzi Eleonora , Corbo Massimo , Ginex Valeria , Ferrari Roberta , Lascioli Andrea , Feriti Carolina , Masella Cristina
Published: August 2020

Introduction

Engaging family caregivers could be a critical asset to make the ‘ageing-in-place’ imperative a reality. This is particularly evident in rural and remote areas, where caregivers can fill the gaps that exist due to the fragmentation of the welfare system. However, there is little knowledge about the expectations that family caregivers have from healthcare services in rural and remote areas.

Place4Carers (P4C) project aims to co-produce an innovative organisational model of social and healthcare services for family caregivers of older citizens living in Vallecamonica (Italy). The project is expected to facilitate ageing-in-place for older citizens, thus helping caregivers in their daily care activities.

Methods and analysis

P4C is a community-based participatory research project featuring five work packages (WPs). WP1 consists of a survey of unmet needs of caregivers and older people receiving services in Vallecamonica. WP2 consists of a scoping literature review to map services that provide interventions of support to caregivers living in remote areas and promote engagement. WP3 organises co-creation workshops with caregivers to co-design, co-manage, and co-assess ideas and proposals for shaping caregiver-oriented services and organisational models. WP3 enriches the results of WP1 (survey) and WP2 (scoping literature review), and aims to co-create new ideas for intervention support with and for caregivers in relation to the objectives, features and characteristics of a new service able to address the caregivers’ needs and expectations. WP4 tests the service ideas co-created in WP3 through piloting an intervention based on ideas co-created with caregivers. Finally, WP5 assesses the transferability of the intervention to other similar contexts.

Ethics and dissemination

The study has been approved by the Ethics Committees of the Department of Psychology of Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore and Politecnico of Milan. Results will be disseminated through peer-reviewed journals, scientific meetings and meetings with the general population.
Injuries and deaths from lightning
Authors: Blumenthal Ryan
Published: August 2020

This paper reviews recent academic research into the pathology of trauma of lightning. Lightning may injure or kill in a variety of different ways. Aimed at the trainee, or practicing pathologist, this paper provides a clinicopathological approach.
Placental microbial–metabolite profiles and inflammatory mechanisms associated with preterm birth
Authors: Parris Kerry M , Amabebe Emmanuel , Cohen Marta C , Anumba Dilly O
Published: August 2020

There is growing emphasis on the potential significance of the placental microbiome and microbiome–metabolite interactions in immune responses and subsequent pregnancy outcome, especially in relation to preterm birth (PTB). This review discusses in detail the pathomechanisms of placental inflammatory responses and the resultant maternal–fetal allograft rejection in both microbial-induced and sterile conditions. It also highlights some potential placental-associated predictive markers of PTB for future investigation. The existence of a placental microbiome remains debatable. Therefore, an overview of our current understanding of the state and role of the placental microbiome (if it exists) and metabolome in human pregnancy is also provided. We critical evaluate the evidence for a placental microbiome, discuss its functional capacity through the elaborated metabolic products and also describe the consequent and more established fetomaternal inflammatory responses that stimulate the pathway to preterm premature rupture of membranes, preterm labour and spontaneous PTB.
Subtype and grade-dependent spatial heterogeneity of T-cell infiltration in pediatric glioma
Authors: Robinson M Hope , Vasquez Juan , Kaushal Akhilesh , MacDonald Tobey J , Velázquez Vega José E , Schniederjan Matthew , Dhodapkar Kavita
Published: August 2020

Brain tumors are the leading cause of cancer-related mortality in children and have distinct genomic and molecular features compared with adult glioma. However, the properties of immune cells in these tumors has been vastly understudied compared with their adult counterparts. We combined multiplex immunofluorescence immunohistochemistry coupled with machine learning and single-cell mass cytometry to evaluate T-cells infiltrating pediatric glial tumors. We show that low-grade tumors are characterized by greater T-cell density compared with high-grade glioma (HGG). However, even among low-grade tumors, T-cell infiltration can be highly variable and subtype-dependent, with greater T-cell density in pleomorphic xanthoastrocytoma and ganglioglioma. CD3+ T-cell infiltration correlates inversely with the expression of SOX2, an embryonal stem cell marker commonly expressed by glial tumors. T-cells within both HGG and low-grade glioma (LGG) exhibit phenotypic heterogeneity and tissue-resident memory T-cells consist of distinct subsets of CD103+ and TCF1+ cells that exhibit distinct spatial localization patterns. TCF1+ T-cells are located closer to the vessels while CD103+ resident T-cells reside within the tumor further away from the vasculature. Recurrent tumors are characterized by a decline in CD103+ tumor-infiltrating T-cells. BRAFV600E mutation is immunogenic in children with LGG and may serve as a target for immune therapy. These data provide several novel insights into the subtype-dependent and grade-dependent changes in immune architecture in pediatric gliomas and suggest that harnessing tumor-resident T-cells may be essential to improve immune control in glioma.
Presentation and outcomes of mitral valve surgery in France in the recent era: a nationwide perspective
Authors: Messika-Zeitoun David , Candolfi Pascal , Enriquez-Sarano Maurice , Burwash Ian G , Chan Vincent , Philippon Jean-Francois , Toussaint Jean-Manuel , Verta Partrick , Feldman Ted E , Iung Bernard , Glineur David , Obadia Jean-Francois , Vahanian Alec , Mesana Thierry
Published: August 2020

Objectives

Unbiased information regarding the surgical management of patients with mitral regurgitation (MR) at the nationwide level are scarce and mainly US-based. The Programme de Médicalisation des Systèmes d’Information, a mandatory national database, offers the unique opportunity to assess the presentation and outcomes of all consecutive mitral valve (MV) surgeries performed in France in the contemporary era.

Methods

We collected all MV surgeries performed for MR in France in 2014–2016. MR aetiology was classified as degenerative (DMR), secondary (SMR) or Other (rheumatic or congenital disease and infective endocarditis).

Results

During the 3-year period, 18 167 MV surgeries were performed in France (55% repair and 45% replacement; 52% isolated). Age was 66±12 years and 59% were male. Aetiology was DMR in 42%, SMR in 16% and other in 42% including 19% with uncertain aetiologies. Overall, in-hospital mortality was 6.5% and increased with age, female gender, Charlson Comorbidity Index, type of surgery (replacement vs repair), associated surgery (combined vs isolated) and MR aetiology (all p<0.01). In-hospital mortality and rate of death/readmission for heart failure (HF) at 1 year were 3.4% and 13%, respectively for DMR (2.4% and 11% for isolated DMR) and 7.8% and 27%, respectively for SMR (5.5% and 23% for isolated SMR). Repair rate was 55% overall, 68% in DMR and 72% for isolated DMR surgery (70% of all DMR). Repair rates decreased with age, Charlson Comorbidity Index and female sex (all p<0.0001).

Conclusion

In this cross-sectional contemporary prospective nationwide database, in-hospital mortality and 1 year rate of death and HF readmission were considerable overall and in all subsets. Repair rates were suboptimal overall especially in the elderly and women subsets. These results underline the need to develop strategies to improve management and outcomes of patients with both DMR and SMR.
Characteristics and predictors of burnout among healthcare professionals: a cross-sectional study in two tertiary hospitals
Authors: El-Menyar Ayman , Ibrahim Wanis H , El Ansari Walid , Gomaa Mohamed , Sathian Brijesh , Hssain Ali Ait , Wahlen Bianca , Nabir Syed , Al-Thani Hassan
Published: August 2020

Background

The pattern and impact of burnout among the medical staff are not yet well defined. However, the consequences of burnout are not limited to the healthcare providers but also may affect their family, colleagues and patients in a negative manner. We aimed to assess the characteristics and predictors of burnout among health professionals at two large tertiary hospitals.

Methods

We conducted a cross-sectional study during the period from July 2018 to 31 December 2018. Data, via Maslach Burnout Inventory survey, were collected from physicians and other healthcare workers in two hospitals.

Results

A total of 624 responses to questionnaires were analysed. Half of the respondents were physicians, and men constituted the majority. About 10% (95% CI, 7.8 to 12.5) of the respondents satisfied the criteria of burnout. Emotional exhaustion (EE) was observed in 45.7%, depersonalisation (DP) in 26.9% and personal accomplishment (PA) in 41.2% of the respondents. There was a positive correlation between EE and DP (r=0.627, p=0.001), and a weak negative correlation between DP and PA (r=−0.195, p=0.001). Young age, less experience, trauma surgery, lack of habits and getting depressed ≥1 time/week were predictors of burnout.

Conclusions

Burnout affects one-tenth of the health professionals in the tertiary hospitals in Qatar. Physicians are more likely to have higher DP and lower PA, whereas nurses prone to have higher EE. In this study, no gender discrepancy is appreciated and the junior medical staff is at a higher risk of burnout.
Improved clinical outcome with biodegradable polymer drug-eluting stents compared to durable polymer drug-eluting stents for primary percutaneous coronary intervention
Authors: Andriyati Ratna , Firman Doni , Kurniawati Yovi , Alkatiri Amir Aziz , Pranata Raymond , Muliawan Hary Sakti , Rossimarina Vienna , Soerianata Sunarya
Published: August 2020

Background

Studies comparing the clinical outcomes of second-generation biodegradable polymer drug-eluting stents (BP-DES) and second-generation durable polymer drug-eluting stents (DP-DES) in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) with follow-up duration of more than 1 year are still limited.

Objective

This study aimed to compare the 2-year clinical outcome of BP-DES with second-generation DP-DES in patients undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PPCI).

Methods

This is a retrospective cohort study in patients with STEMI, the primary endpoint was major adverse cardiac events (MACE) defined as recurrent myocardial infarction, total repeat revascularisation and cardiac death. The secondary endpoint was stent thrombosis (ST) defined as definite, probable or possible.

Results

A total of 400 patients were analysed (197 BP-DES groups and 203 DP-DES groups). BP-DES were independently associated with lower incidence of MACE (adjusted HR 0.67, 95% CI 0.21 to 0.91, p=0.005) and ST (adjusted HR 0.62, 95% CI 0.19 to 0.73, p<0.016) within 2 years of follow-up. Subgroup analysis of MACE individual components showed that BP-DES were associated with lower cardiac deaths (HR 0.35; 95% CI 0.18 to 0.94; p<0.001) compared to DP-DES, but not recurrent myocardial infarction and total repeat revascularisation.

Conclusions

BP-DES were associated with better clinical outcomes compared to second-generation DP-DES in patients with STEMI undergoing PPCI.
d-Amino acids in antimicrobial peptides: a potential approach to treat and combat antimicrobial resistance
Authors: Kapil Shikha , Sharma Vipasha
Published: August 2020

Antimicrobial resistance is one of the leading challenges in the human healthcare segment. Advances in antimicrobial resistance have triggered exploration of natural alternatives to stabilize its seriousness. Antimicrobial peptides are small, positively charged oligopeptides that are as potent as commercially available antibiotics against a wide spectrum of organisms, such as Gram-positive bacteria, Gram-negative bacteria, viruses, and fungal strains. In addition to their antibiotic capabilities, these peptides possess anticancer activity, activate the immune response, and regulate inflammation. Peptides have distinct modes of action and fall into various categories due to their amino acid composition. Although antimicrobial peptides specifically target the bacterial cytoplasmic membrane, they can also target the cell nucleus and protein synthesis. Owing to the increasing demand for novel treatments against the threat of antimicrobial resistance, naturally synthesized peptides are a beneficial development concept. Antimicrobial peptides are pervasive and can easily be modified using de-novo synthesis technology. Antimicrobial peptides can be isolated from natural resources such as humans, plants, bacteria, and fungi. This review gives a brief overview of antimicrobial peptides and their diastereomeric composition. Other current trends, the future scope of antimicrobial peptides, and the role of d-amino acids are also discussed, with a specific emphasis on the design and development of new drugs.
Inhomogeneous spacetimes in Weyl integrable geometry with matter source
Authors: Paliathanasis Andronikos , Leon Genly , Barrow John D.
Published: August 2020

We investigate the existence of inhomogeneous exact solutions in Weyl Integrable theory with a matter source. In particular, we consider the existence of a dust fluid source while for the underlying geometry we assume a line element which belongs to the family of silent universes. We solve explicitly the field equations and we find the Szekeres spacetimes in Weyl Integrable theory. We show that only the isotropic family can describe inhomogeneous solutions where the LTB spacetimes are included. A detailed analysis of the dynamics of the field equations is given where the past and future attractors are determined. It is interesting that the Kasner spacetimes can be seen as past attractors for the gravitation models, while the unique future attractor describes the Milne universe similar with the behaviour of the gravitational model in the case of General Relativity.
Quantum entanglement in inflationary cosmology
Authors: Koh Seoktae , Lee Jung Hun , Park Chanyong , Ro Daeho
Published: August 2020

We investigate the time-dependent entanglement entropy in the AdS space with a dS boundary which represents an expanding spacetime. On this time-dependent spacetime, we show that the Ryu–Takayanagi formula, which is usually valid in the static spacetime, provides a leading contribution to the time-dependent entanglement entropy. We also study the leading behavior of the entanglement entropy between the visible and invisible universes in an inflationary cosmology. The result shows that the quantum entanglement monotonically decreases with time and finally saturates a constant value inversely proportional to the square of the Hubble constant. Intriguingly, we find that even in the expanding universes, the time-dependent entanglement entropy still satisfies the area law determined by the physical distance.
Exotic fermionic fields and minimal length
Authors: da Silva J. M. Hoff , Beghetto D. , Cavalcanti R. T. , da Rocha R.
Published: August 2020

We investigate the effective Dirac equation, corrected by merging two scenarios that are expected to emerge towards the quantum gravity scale. Namely, the existence of a minimal length, implemented by the generalized uncertainty principle, and exotic spinors, associated with any non-trivial topology equipping the spacetime manifold. We show that the free fermionic dynamical equations, within the context of a minimal length, just allow for trivial solutions, a feature that is not shared by dynamical equations for exotic spinors. In fact, in this coalescing setup, the exoticity is shown to prevent the Dirac operator to be injective, allowing the existence of non-trivial solutions.
$$U(1)_{B-L}$$ extension of the standard model with $$S_3$$ symmetry
Authors: Vien V. V. , Long H. N. , Cárcamo Hernández A. E.
Published: August 2020

We propose a renormalizable$$B-L$$B-LStandard Model (SM) extension based on$$S_3$$S3symmetry which successfully accommodates the observed fermion mass spectra and flavor mixing patterns as well as the CP violating phases. The small masses for the light active neutrinos are generated through a type I seesaw mechanism. The obtained physical parameters in the lepton sector are well consistent with the global fit of neutrino oscillations (Esteban et al. in J High Energy Phys 01:106, 2019) for both normal and inverted neutrino mass orderings. The model also predicts effective neutrino mass parameters of$${\langle m_{ee}\rangle }= {1.02\times 10^{-2}}\,{\mathrm {eV}},\, m_{\beta }= {1.25}\times 10^{-2}\,{\mathrm {eV}}$$⟨mee⟩=1.02×10-2eV,mβ=1.25×10-2eVfor normal hierarchy (NH) and$${\langle m_{ee}\rangle } ={5.03}\times 10^{-2}\, {\mathrm {eV}},\, m_{\beta } ={5.05}\times 10^{-2}\, {\mathrm {eV}}$$⟨mee⟩=5.03×10-2eV,mβ=5.05×10-2eVfor inverted hierarchy (IH) which are all well consistent with the future large and ultra-low background liquid scintillator detectors which has been discussed in Ref. (Zhao et al. in Chin Phys C 41(5):053001, 2017) or the limit of the effective neutrino mass can be reached by the planning of future experiments. The model results are consistent with and successfully accommodate the recent experimental values of the physical observables of the quark sector, including the six quark masses, the quark mixing angles and the CP violating phase in the quark sector.
Conformal vector fields on Finsler manifolds
Authors: Xia Qiaoling
Published: August 2020

In this paper, we give an equivalent characterization of conformal vector fields on a Finsler manifold [Formula: see text], whose metric [Formula: see text] is defined by a Riemannian metric [Formula: see text] and a 1-form [Formula: see text]. This characterization contains all related results in [Z. Shen and Q. Xia, On conformal vector fields on Randers manifolds, Sci. China Math. 55(9) (2012) 1869–1882; Z. Shen and M. Yuan, Conformal vector fields on some Finsler manifolds, Sci. China Math. 59(1) (2016) 107–114; X. Cheng, Y. Li and T. Li, The conformal vector fields on Kropina manifolds, Diff. Geom. Appl. 56 (2018) 344–354] as special cases. Further, we determine conformal fields on some Finsler manifolds [Formula: see text] when [Formula: see text] is of constant sectional curvature and [Formula: see text] is a conformal 1-form with respect to [Formula: see text].
The Critical Node Problem Based on Connectivity Index and Properties of Components on Trees
Authors: Guan Xiucui , Liu Chao , Zhang Qiao
Published: August 2020

We deal with the critical node problem (CNP) in a graph [Formula: see text], in which a given number [Formula: see text] of nodes are removed to minimize the connectivity of the residual graph in some sense. Several ways to minimize some connectivity measurement have been proposed, including minimizing the connectivity index(MinCI), maximizing the number of components, minimizing the maximal component size. We propose two classes of CNPs by combining the above measurements together. The objective is to minimize the sum of connectivity indexes and the total degrees in the residual graph. The CNP with an upper-bound [Formula: see text] on the maximal component size is denoted by MSCID-CS and the one with an extra upper-bound [Formula: see text] on the number of components is denoted by MSCID-CSN. They are generalizations of the MinCI, which has been shown NP-hard for general graphs. In particular, we study the case where [Formula: see text] is a tree. Two dynamic programming algorithms are proposed to solve the two classes of CNPs. The time complexities of the algorithms for MSCID-CS and MSCID-CSN are [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text], respectively, where [Formula: see text] is the number of nodes in [Formula: see text]. Computational experiments are presented which show the effectiveness of the algorithms.
Solving Nonconvex Feasibility Problem on a Sphere and a Closed Ball by Douglas–Rachford Algorithm
Authors: Srivastava Kumari Sweta , Pattanaik S. R.
Published: August 2020

In recent times, a variety of nonconvex feasibility problems have been solved empirically by employing Douglas–Rachford (DR) splitting methods. However, this theory is not adequate in explaining the observed success and is more concerned with the local convergence. In this paper, we study the convergence of the DR splitting method for finding a point of intersection of a closed ball and a sphere in the [Formula: see text]-dimensional Euclidean spaces. Also, we provide the region for the global convergence of the DR splitting method.
Effective Metaheuristic Algorithms for Bag-of-Tasks Scheduling Problems Under Budget Constraints on Hybrid Clouds
Authors: Ma Linhua , Xu Chunshan , Ma Haoyang , Li Yujie , Wang Jiali , Sun Jin
Published: August 2020

Cloud computing is an ideal platform for executing bag-of-task (BoT) applications due to its capability of delivering high-quality and pay-per-use computing services. This paper presents a family of genetic algorithm (GA)-based metaheuristics for scheduling the tasks of data-intensive BoT applications on hybrid clouds. The scheduling objective is to minimize the flowtime of BoT applications under a specified budget constraint. We take into account the impact of communication time and communication cost to formulate the optimization model for the data-intensive BoT scheduling problem. By using a task sequence to represent the scheduling solution, the proposed algorithms start with using a low-complexity strategy to generate an initial solution. The generated initial solution is identified as the best chromosome in the initial population of GA framework. We improve the standard crossover operator in GA’s evolutionary procedure by incorporating a probabilistic model. In addition, we design an efficient task dispatching method to evaluate the scheduling quality of each chromosome. Built upon the improved crossover scheme and task dispatching method, the proposed metaheuristic algorithms employ three crossover operators to solve the BoT scheduling problem considered in this work. Extensive experiments are performed to verify the performance of the proposed algorithms in scheduling data-intensive BoT applications.
Supersonic Aeroelasticity and Dynamic Instability of Functionally Graded Porous Cylindrical Shells Using a Unified Solution Formulation
Authors: Rahmanian Mohammad , Javadi Masoud
Published: August 2020

This study provides an overview on the effect of porosity on free vibrations and more importantly aeroelastic stability margins of cylindrical shells. A general formulation for cylindrical shells is first developed including the effects of shear deformation and rotary inertia along with Sander’s rigid body rotation modification. Two porosity distributions of even and uneven are considered for functionally graded shells. The most general form of power-law model which is known as four-parameter power-law is utilized to provide a clear understanding for the qualification of functionally graded material. A Ritz-based solution algorithm being capable of representing all combinations of symmetric and asymmetric boundary conditions by a penalty method is also introduced. In addition to the capability of satisfying all boundary conditions, the presented solution method is very fast in terms of convergence and computational effort. Various parametric studies are provided and practical results are reported.
A Systematic Literature Review for Personnel Scheduling Problems
Authors: Özder Emir Hüseyin , Özcan Evrencan , Eren Tamer
Published: August 2020

Organizations need to focus on many parameters to reach their goals such as personnel satisfaction at the top level, profit maximization, increasing system efficiency and minimizing costs. By carefully examining the significant effect of personnel scheduling on the production of goods and services, achieving a fair distribution of work among the employees paves the way for higher motivation and performance of the employees, particularly, in production and service industries. In this paper, a systematic literature review (SLR) approach is used to demonstrate the necessity of scheduling studies in order to overcome the deficiencies in auxiliary activity groups. It sheds light on a new and very important areas such as examining the model structures of sector differences, and guiding researchers. New trends and approaches are presented for the personnel scheduling problems. Different classification perspectives are displayed.
Bi-Objective Optimization of Service-Oriented Location-Pricing Model Using Electromagnetism-Like Mechanism Algorithm
Authors: Alinezhad Alireza , Hajipour Vahid , Hosseinzadeh Sanaz
Published: August 2020

This paper develops a multi-objective multi-layer location-pricing (MLLP) model with congested facilities in which the facilities act like a classic queuing system. The customers who arrive to this system receive service at all layers in a predetermined order to fulfill their demands. The goal is to determine (1) optimal number of the facilities required at each layer, (2) optimal allocation of customers to facilities, and (3) optimal price of providing service at each layer. The objective functions are to maximize the total profit of the system and to minimize the sum of travel and waiting times, simultaneously. The problem is formulated as a multi-objective nonlinear integer mathematical programming model. Since the problem is hard to be solved analytically, we present a multi-objective meta-heuristic algorithm (MHA) based on an electromagnetism-like mechanism (ELM) as a solution for multi-objective MLLP. This algorithm used an elitist mechanism to strengthen the structure of search engine in order to find better quality solutions. The results indicate the efficiency and effectiveness of the proposed algorithm in comparison with the traditional ELM.
An Efficient Contact Search Algorithm for Three-Dimensional Sphere Discontinuous Deformation Analysis
Authors: Huang Ganghai , Xu Yuanzhen , Chen Xiaofeng , Ma Jianjun , Zhang Shu
Published: August 2020

The efficiency of contact search is one of the key factors related to the computational efficiency of three-dimensional sphere discontinuous deformation analysis (3D SDDA). This paper proposes an efficient contact search algorithm, called box search algorithm (BSA), for 3D SDDA. The implementation steps and data structure for BSA are designed, with a case study being conducted to verify its efficiency. The data structure also has been improved for parallelizing the computation in contact search. For the demonstration of the proposed algorithm (BSA), six cases with various sphere numbers are simulated. Simulation results show that the time consumed in contact search using BSA (CTofBSA) is much less than that by the direct search algorithm (DSA) (CTofDSA). For the case with 12,000 spheres, CTofBSA is 1.1[Formula: see text]h, which is only 1.3% of CTofDSA (84.62[Formula: see text]h). In addition, the proportion of the computation quantity of contact search in the entire computation (Pcs) is 91.3% by using DSA, while this value by BSA is only 12.4%, which demonstrates the contribution of BSA. The efficiency brought about by BSA (time consumed and computation quantity) may enable 3D SDDA to simulate large-scale problems.
An Optimized Explicit–Implicit Time-Marching Formulation for Dynamic Analysis
Authors: Soares Delfim , Rodrigues Matheus M.
Published: August 2020

In this paper, an optimized approach is proposed to enhance the performance of combined explicit–implicit time-domain analyses. In this context, an entirely automated explicit-implicit adaptive time-marching procedure is discussed as well as an optimization algorithm is introduced to compute the adopted time-step value of the analysis, so that the amount of explicit and implicit elements occurring along the model may be optimally provided, in terms of computational efficiency. The proposed formulation is very effective, allowing evaluating highly accurate responses considering much reduced computational efforts. At the end of the manuscript, numerical applications are presented, illustrating the excellent performance of the proposed formulation.
FRW string cosmological solutions via Hojman symmetry
Authors: Darabi F. , Golmohammadi M. , Rezaei-Aghdam A.
Published: August 2020

In this paper, we find exact string cosmological solutions for FRW cosmology, by using the Hojman symmetry approach. The string cosmology under consideration includes a scalar field [Formula: see text] with the potential [Formula: see text], and a totally antisymmetric field strength [Formula: see text] which is specifically defined in terms of the scale factor [Formula: see text]. We show that for this string cosmology, Hojman conserved quantities exist using which new exact solutions for the scale factor and the scalar field are obtained for specific potentials [Formula: see text] with some free parameters. The presence of these parameters, together with those of arising from Hojman symmetry, is an important advantage using which one can construct the solutions [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] with variety of cosmological behaviors.
Performance Assessment and Layer Fraction Optimization of Gd–Y Multilayer Regenerators for Near Room-Temperature Magnetic Cooling
Authors: Bez Henrique N. , Nakashima Alan T.D. , Lang Gusttav B. , de Lima Bruno S. , Machado Antonio J.S. , Lozano Jaime A. , Barbosa Jader R.
Published: August 2020

An experimental and numerical assessment of multilayer active magnetic regenerators (AMR) composed of gadolinium (Gd) and gadolinium–yttrium (Gd–Y) alloys (Gd[Formula: see text]Y[Formula: see text], Gd[Formula: see text]Y[Formula: see text] and Gd[Formula: see text]Y[Formula: see text]) is presented. First, by calculating the adiabatic temperature change and the isothermal entropy change from the experimental data for the above materials, we show that, with reasonable accuracy for engineering design purposes, these properties can be determined by shifting the properties of pure Gd to the Curie temperature of the Gd–Y alloy — a common but not yet validated assumption in the design of Gd–Y AMRs with a low Y content. Next, we show that the optimal Gd–Y layer fraction in multilayer AMRs can be determined using the figure of merit known as the material refrigerant capacity (RC), which agrees well with the results from a more complex one-dimensional thermal non-equilibrium porous medium AMR model. Finally, the performance of the latter model is verified against the experimental cooling power data for two- and three-layer Gd–Y regenerators at temperature spans of 25, 30 and 35[Formula: see text]K.