bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Manager-oriented intervention to reduce absence among pregnant employees in the healthcare and daycare sector: a cluster randomised trial
Authors: Begtrup Luise Moelenberg , Malmros Per , Brauer Charlotte , Soegaard Toettenborg Sandra , Flachs Esben Meulengracht , Hammer Paula Edeusa Cristina , Bonde Jens Peter
Published: January 2021

Objective

The aim was to test if targeting managers with an educational intervention reduces absence among pregnant employees.

Methods

The study was a non-blinded cluster randomised trial conducted in hospitals and daycare institutions from two administrative Danish Regions and two Danish municipalities. Clusters (work units) were assigned randomly and non-blinded to either (1) intervention, where all managers were invited to participate in a 3-hour seminar addressing needs and options for adjustment of work in pregnancy, or (2) control, with practice as usual. The primary outcome based on payroll data was long-term pregnancy-related absence, defined as ≥12.5% cumulated absence during pregnancy weeks 1–32. Intention-to-treat analysis was applied using mixed logistic regression.

Results

Ninety work units were included (56 hospital departments and 34 daycare units) with 451 pregnant employees in the intervention group and 464 in the control group. Work units had on average 11 pregnant employees with no difference between the groups. 103 of the 216 invited managers (48%) participated in a the 3-hour seminar. In the intervention group, 154 (34%) had long-term pregnancy-related absence during pregnancy weeks 1–32 vs 166 (36%) in the control group. Relative odds of having long-term pregnancy-related absence, when being in the intervention group, was 1.06 (95% CI 0.71 to 1.58), with an interclass correlation coefficient of 0.07.

Conclusion

An educational intervention targeting managers did not reduce pregnancy-related absence among pregnant employees.

Trial registration number

NCT03002987.
Short-term and long-term impact of diagnosed and undiagnosed chronic obstructive pulmonary disease on coronary artery bypass grafting surgery
Authors: Gatta Francesca , Haqzad Yama , Loubani Mahmoud
Published: January 2021

Objectives

This study sought to compare clinical outcomes between three categories of patients: non-chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), diagnosed COPD and undiagnosed COPD in coronary artery bypass grafting surgery.

Methods

A single-centred retrospective study from January 2010 to December 2019. Primary outcomes were postoperative complications, length of ITU admission and in-hospital staying. Secondary outcomes were reintervention rate, in-hospital and long-term mortality.

Results

A total of 4020 patients were analysed and divided into three cohorts: non-COPD (group A) (74.55%, n=2997), diagnosed COPD (group B) (14.78%, n=594) and undiagnosed COPD (group C) (10.67%, n=429). The rate of respiratory complications was noted in this order: group B>group C>group A (p 0.00000002). Periooperative acute kidney injury and wound complications were higher in group B (p 0.0004 and p 0.03, respectively). Prolonged in-hospital staying (days) resulted in group B (p 0.0009). Finally, long-term mortality was statistically higher in group B and C compared with group A (p 0.0004). No difference in long-term mortality was noted in relation to the expected FEV1% in group B (p 0.29) and group C (p 0.82).

Conclusions

In CABG surgery, COPD is a well-known independent risk factor for morbidity. Patients with preoperative spirometry results indicative of COPD result in the same outcomes of known patients with COPD. As a result of that, greater value should be given to the preoperative spirometry in the EuroSCORE. Finally, the expected FEV1% appears not be a predictor for long-term survival.
Estimating the percentage of European MSM eligible for PrEP: insights from a bio-behavioural survey in thirteen cities
Authors: Cordioli Maddalena , Gios Lorenzo , Huber Jörg W , Sherriff Nigel , Folch Cinta , Alexiev Ivailo , Dias Sónia , Nöstlinger Christiana , Gama Ana , Naseva Emilia , Valkovičová Staneková Danica , Marcus Ulrich , Schink Susanne Barbara , Rosinska Magdalena , Blondeel Karel , Toskin Igor , Mirandola Massimo
Published: January 2021

Objectives

This paper aims to estimate the percentage of European men who have sex with men (MSM) who may benefit from pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), applying the three most widely used HIV risk indices for MSM (MSM Risk Index, Menza score, San Diego Early Test (SDET) score) and drawing on a large-scale multisite bio-behavioural survey (Sialon II).

Methods

The Sialon II study was a bio-behavioural survey among MSM implemented in 13 European cities using either time-location sampling or respondent-driven sampling. Biological and behavioural data from 4901 MSM were collected. Only behavioural data of HIV-negative individuals were considered. Three widely used risk indices to assess HIV acquisition risk among MSM were used to estimate individual HIV risk scores and PrEP eligibility criteria.

Results

4219 HIV-negative MSM were considered. Regardless the HIV risk score used and the city, percentages of MSM eligible for PrEP were found to range between 5.19% and 73.84%. Overall, the MSM Risk Index and the Menza score yielded broadly similar percentages, whereas the SDET Index provided estimates constantly lower across all cities. Although all the three scores correlated positively (r>0.6), their concordance was highly variable (0.01<CCC<0.62).

Conclusion

Our findings showed the impact of different scoring systems on the estimation of the percentage of MSM who may benefit from PrEP in European cities. Although our primary aim was not to compare the performance of different HIV risk scores, data show that a considerable percentage of MSM in each city should be offered PrEP in order to reduce HIV infections. As PrEP is highly effective at preventing HIV among MSM, our findings provide useful, practical guidance for stakeholders in implementing PrEP at city level to tackle HIV infections in Europe.
Integrating 3D modeling, sustainability and cost estimating at the conceptual design stage of bridges
Authors: Elgayar Aly , Jrade Ahmad
Published: January 2021

Integrated 3D modeling adaptation to infrastructure has been slow due to technical challenges, such as the lack of interoperability between software. To fill this gap, a versatile model with 3D modeling capabilities was developed to assist in designing sustainable bridges at the conceptual design stage. The model incorporates a rule-based expert system and four modules, namely, 3D CAD modeling, bridge sustainability rating system (BrSRS), bridge environmental performance strategy mapping (BrEPSM), and conceptual cost estimation. The 3D CAD module was developed using the Graphics.DrawLine method. The BrSRS and BrEPSM modules were developed by amalgamation of the identified pertinent sustainable and footprint indicators. The model aims to provide bridge type recommendations, allow customization of a sustainable bridge, illustrate forecasted footprint levels, present the conceptual design in AutoCAD’s 3-dimensional (3D) mode, facilitate a recalculation process when the bridge’s dimensions are altered, and generate a conceptual cost estimate.
The electronic and optical properties of SiO2–Al–SiO2with density functional theory
Authors: Tse Geoffrey
Published: January 2021

In this work, a novel stishovite–aluminum alloy with chemical formula SiO2–Al–SiO2is proposed. The structural, electronic and optical properties were obtained using GGA-PBE functional. The study of electronic properties of SiO2–Al–SiO2shows that it has a bandgap energy at 22 meV, compared to a much wider energy gap inside stishovite. The band structure of SiO2–Al–SiO2reported in this work indicates that the SiO2–Al alloy proposed is found to be a semi-metal. Also, we report a reflectivity of 73% (2.53 eV) and 70% (7.97 eV), based on 8.36 nm of its total thickness. The strong optical absorption at 2.11 eV and 5.79 eV is suggesting the SiO2–Al–SiO2can be used as both visible part (orange) sensing and the UV photodetectors. Thus, the SiO2–Al alloy can have potential application in optoelectronic device fabrications.
NEW COMPUTATIONS OF OSTROWSKI-TYPE INEQUALITY PERTAINING TO FRACTAL STYLE WITH APPLICATIONS
Authors: AL QURASHI MAYSAA , RASHID SAIMA , KHALID AASMA , KARACA YELIZ , CHU YU-MING
Published: January 2021

The purpose of this paper is to provide novel estimates of Ostrowski-type inequalities in a much simpler and shorter way of some recent significant results in the context of a fractal set [Formula: see text] By using our new approach, we established an auxiliary result that correlates with generalized convex ([Formula: see text]) and concave functions for absolutely continuous functions with second-order local differentiable mappings. Moreover, we derived some companions of Ostrowski-type inequalities belonging to [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] in local fractional sense. Our results generalize and offer better bounds than many known results in the existing literature associated with trapezoidal and midpoint formula. As an application perspective, we derived several estimation-type outcomes by the use of generalized [Formula: see text]-type special means formula provided here to illustrate the usability of the obtained results. Our study contributes to a better understanding of fractal analysis and proves beneficial in exploring real-world phenomena.
Tumor necrosis factor-α induces claudin-3 upregulation in kidney tubular epithelial cells through NF-κB and CREB1
Authors: Anwer Shaista , Branchard Emily , Dan Qinghong , Dan Angela , Szászi Katalin
Published: January 2021

Claudins are essential for tight junction formation and paracellular transport, and they affect key cellular events including proliferation and migration. The properties of tight junctions are dynamically modulated by a variety of inputs. We previously showed that the inflammatory cytokine tumor necrosis factor-α (TNFα), a major pathogenic factor in kidney disease, alters epithelial permeability by affecting the expression of claudin-1, -2, and -4 in kidney tubular cells. Here, we explored the effect of TNFα on claudin-3 (Cldn-3), a ubiquitous barrier-forming protein. We found that TNFα elevated Cldn-3 protein expression in tubular epithelial cells (LLC-PK1 and IMCD3) as early as 3 h post treatment. Bafilomycin A and bortezomib, inhibitors of lysosomal and proteasomes, respectively, reduced Cldn-3 degradation. However, TNFα caused a strong upregulation of Cldn-3 in the presence of bafilomycin, suggesting an effect independent from lysosomes. Blocking protein synthesis using cycloheximide prevented Cldn-3 upregulation by TNFα, verifying the contribution of de novo Cldn-3 synthesis. Indeed, TNFα elevated Cldn-3 mRNA levels at early time points. Using pharmacological inhibitors and siRNA-mediated silencing, we determined that the effect of TNFα on Cldn-3 was mediated by extracellular signal regulated kinase (ERK)-dependent activation of NF-κB and PKA-induced activation of CREB1. These two pathways were turned on by TNFα in parallel and both were required for the upregulation of Cldn-3. Because Cldn-3 was suggested to modulate cell migration and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), and TNFα was shown to affect these processes, Cldn-3 upregulation may modulate regeneration of the tubules following injury.
In vitro and ex vivo models of adipocytes
Authors: Dufau Jérémy , Shen Joanne X. , Couchet Morgane , De Castro Barbosa Thais , Mejhert Niklas , Massier Lucas , Griseti Elena , Mouisel Etienne , Amri Ez-Zoubir , Lauschke Volker M. , Rydén Mikael , Langin Dominique
Published: January 2021

Adipocytes are specialized cells with pleiotropic roles in physiology and pathology. Several types of fat cells with distinct metabolic properties coexist in various anatomically defined fat depots in mammals. White, beige, and brown adipocytes differ in their handling of lipids and thermogenic capacity, promoting differences in size and morphology. Moreover, adipocytes release lipids and proteins with paracrine and endocrine functions. The intrinsic properties of adipocytes pose specific challenges in culture. Mature adipocytes float in suspension culture due to high triacylglycerol content and are fragile. Moreover, a fully differentiated state, notably acquirement of the unilocular lipid droplet of white adipocyte, has so far not been reached in two-dimensional culture. Cultures of mouse and human-differentiated preadipocyte cell lines and primary cells have been established to mimic white, beige, and brown adipocytes. Here, we survey various models of differentiated preadipocyte cells and primary mature adipocyte survival describing main characteristics, culture conditions, advantages, and limitations. An important development is the advent of three-dimensional culture, notably of adipose spheroids that recapitulate in vivo adipocyte function and morphology in fat depots. Challenges for the future include isolation and culture of adipose-derived stem cells from different anatomic location in animal models and humans differing in sex, age, fat mass, and pathophysiological conditions. Further understanding of fat cell physiology and dysfunction will be achieved through genetic manipulation, notably CRISPR-mediated gene editing. Capturing adipocyte heterogeneity at the single-cell level within a single fat depot will be key to understanding diversities in cardiometabolic parameters among lean and obese individuals.
Low concentration of polyethylene glycol facilitates separation of extracellular vesicles from bronchoalveolar lavage fluid
Authors: Lee Heedoo , He Xue , Ni Kareemah , Carnino Jonathan M. , Jin Yang
Published: January 2021

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) in bodily fluids play an essential role in cell-cell cross talk and potentially serve as novel biomarkers in “liquid biopsy.” It is crucial to have a consistent, efficient, and reliable method to separate EVs from bodily fluids. Currently, there is no universally accepted, “best” method to separate EVs. Besides differential ultracentrifugation (UC), polyethylene glycol (PEG) is among the commonly used methods for EV separation from bodily fluids. However, the optimal concentration of PEG to be used remains inadequately addressed. We initially observed that the concentration of PEG has a significant impact on the amount of separated EVs and EV-cargos, which are recovered from bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF). To determine the optimal PEG concentration to be used in EV separation from BALF, we first separated the BALF and serum from wild-type C57BL/6 mice. Next, various concentrations of PEG (5%, 10%, and 15% PEG), a commercial kit, and UC were used to obtain EVs from BALF and serum. EVs were characterized, and EV-cargo protein, RNA, and miRNA levels were determined. We found that high concentration of PEG (10% and 15%) altered various EV parameters that are frequently used in EV studies, including EV yield, purity, and morphology. Using miR-15a, miR-142, and miR-223 as examples, we found that 10% and 15% PEG robustly reduced the detected levels of EV-cargo miRNAs compared with those in the EVs separated using UC or 5% PEG. Collectively, low concentration of PEG facilitates the optimal BALF EV separation.
Sodium-coupled neutral amino acid transporter SNAT2 counteracts cardiogenic pulmonary edema by driving alveolar fluid clearance
Authors: Weidenfeld Sarah , Chupin Cécile , Langner Delia Isabel , Zetoun Tamador , Rozowsky Simon , Kuebler Wolfgang M.
Published: January 2021

The constant transport of ions across the alveolar epithelial barrier regulates alveolar fluid homeostasis. Dysregulation or inhibition of Na+ transport causes fluid accumulation in the distal airspaces resulting in impaired gas exchange and respiratory failure. Previous studies have primarily focused on the critical role of amiloride-sensitive epithelial sodium channel (ENaC) in alveolar fluid clearance (AFC), yet activation of ENaC failed to attenuate pulmonary edema in clinical trials. Since 40% of AFC is amiloride-insensitive, Na+ channels/transporters other than ENaC such as Na+-coupled neutral amino acid transporters (SNATs) may provide novel therapeutic targets. Here, we identified a key role for SNAT2 ( SLC38A2) in AFC and pulmonary edema resolution. In isolated perfused mouse and rat lungs, pharmacological inhibition of SNATs by HgCl2 and α-methylaminoisobutyric acid (MeAIB) impaired AFC. Quantitative RT-PCR identified SNAT2 as the highest expressed System A transporter in pulmonary epithelial cells. Pharmacological inhibition or siRNA-mediated knockdown of SNAT2 reduced transport of l-alanine across pulmonary epithelial cells. Homozygous Slc38a2−/− mice were subviable and died shortly after birth with severe cyanosis. Isolated lungs of Slc38a2+/− mice developed higher wet-to-dry weight ratios (W/D) as compared to wild type (WT) in response to hydrostatic stress. Similarly, W/D ratios were increased in Slc38a2+/− mice as compared to controls in an acid-induced lung injury model. Our results identify SNAT2 as a functional transporter for Na+ and neutral amino acids in pulmonary epithelial cells with a relevant role in AFC and the resolution of lung edema. Activation of SNAT2 may provide a new therapeutic strategy to counteract and/or reverse pulmonary edema.
Friction sensing mechanisms for perception and motor control: passive touch without sliding may not provide perceivable frictional information
Authors: Khamis Heba , Afzal Hafiz Malik Naqash , Sanchez Jennifer , Vickery Richard , Wiertlewski Michaël , Redmond Stephen J. , Birznieks Ingvars
Published: January 2021

This study contributes to understanding how frictional information is obtained and used by the brain. When the skin is contacting surfaces of identical topography but varying frictional properties, the deformation pattern is different; however, available sensory cues did not get translated into perception of frictional properties unless a sufficiently large lateral movement was present. These neurophysiological findings may inform how to design and operate haptic devices relying on friction modulation principles.
An Evolutionary Algorithm with Clustering‐Based Assisted Selection Strategy for Multimodal Multiobjective Optimization
Authors: Luo Naili , Lin Wu , Huang Peizhi , Chen Jianyong
Published: January 2021

In multimodal multiobjective optimization problems (MMOPs), multiple Pareto optimal sets, even some good local Pareto optimal sets, should be reserved, which can provide more choices for decision‐makers. To solve MMOPs, this paper proposes an evolutionary algorithm with clustering‐based assisted selection strategy for multimodal multiobjective optimization, in which the addition operator and deletion operator are proposed to comprehensively consider the diversity in both decision and objective spaces. Specifically, in decision space, the union population is partitioned into multiple clusters by using a density‐based clustering method, aiming to assist the addition operator to strengthen the population diversity. Then, a number of weight vectors are adopted to divide population into N subregions in objective space (N is population size). Moreover, in the deletion operator, the solutions in the most crowded subregion are first collected into previous clusters, and then the worst solution in the most crowded cluster is deleted until there are N solutions left. Our algorithm is compared with other multimodal multiobjective evolutionary algorithms on the well‐known benchmark MMOPs. Numerical experiments report the effectiveness and advantages of our proposed algorithm.
Hypoglycemic Effect of Calea urticifolia (Mill.) DC.
Authors: Andrade-Cetto Adolfo , Espinoza-Hernández Fernanda , Mata-Torres Gerardo
Published: January 2021

The onset of type 2 diabetes (T2D) is a consequence of the progressive loss of adequate β-cell insulin secretion, which frequently occurs under a background of insulin resistance. Currently, nearly 13 million Mexicans are living with diabetes. Moreover, due to poor socioeconomic conditions and the cultural idiosyncrasies of the Mexican population, the use of medicinal plants to treat T2D is a common practice in Mexico. In the Mexican state of Hidalgo, we found the traditional use of Calea urticifolia (CU) to treat this disease. To treat T2D, people drink an infusion made from the aerial part of the plant throughout the day. With the aim of investigating whether the infusion at a traditional dose produces a hypoglycemic effect in either the fasting or postprandial state, we measured the effect of the infusion in a hyperglycemic animal model (rats administered streptozotocin (STZ) and nicotinamide (NZ)) by conducting a glucose tolerance test and constructing a blood-glucose curve. We then analyzed whether the observed effect was related to the inhibition of glucose absorption in the gut or the inhibition of hepatic glucose output (HGO) in vivo and in vitro. Furthermore, we confirmed our findings by identifying the potential targets of the infusion via a network pharmacology analysis. Through high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and thin layer chromatography (TLC), we detected a number of compounds in the extract and identified two of them. The plant extract produced a highly significant hypoglycemic effect under fasting conditions and a weak hypoglycemic effect following glucose or sucrose challenge. Although the plant extract blocked only 20% of the alpha-glucosidase enzyme activity in vitro, in the pyruvate tolerance test (which measures the liberation of hepatic glucose), it significantly reduced glucose levels. Furthermore, in vitro, the extract diminished the activity of the glucose-6-phosphatase complex by 90%. In addition, by conducting TLC, we detected the presence of chlorogenic acid and rutin, which have been reported to block HGO. The results presented here provide evidence of the hypoglycemic effect of the traditionally used C. urticifolia extract and demonstrate that this effect is associated with both a reduction in glucose synthesis via gluconeogenesis due to the phytochemical composition of the extract and a slight blockage of glucose absorption in the gut.
Dynamic Time- and Load-Based Preference toward Optimal Appliance Scheduling in a Smart Home
Authors: Hammou Ou Ali I. , Ouassaid M. , Maaroufi M.
Published: January 2021

In this paper, the household appliance scheduling based on the user predefined preferences is addressed. Previous works generally deal with this problem without integration of renewable energy sources (RESs) in smart home. The present paper proposes a new demand side management (DSM) technique considering time-varying appliance preferences and solar panel generation. The branch and bound (B&B) algorithm is developed based on three postulations that allow the time-varying preferences to be quantified in terms of time- and load-based features. Based on the input data including the load’s power rating, the absolute comfort derived from time- and load-preferences, the total energy available from the solar panels as well as the energy purchased from the utility grid, the (B&B) algorithm is run to generate the optimal energy consumption model that would give maximum comfort to the householder based on the mixed-integer linear programming (MILP) technique. To test the performance of the proposed mechanism, three scenarios are considered with local energy production and limited budget for purchasing the energy from the utility grid to cover the user needs. The simulation results reveal that the proposed DSM mechanism based on the MILP method offers maximum level of comfort for all the scenarios within the available energy limitation.
Application of 3D Printing in Implantable Medical Devices
Authors: Wang Zhenzhen , Yang Yan
Published: January 2021

3D printing technology is widely used in the field of implantable medical device in recent decades because of its advantages in high precision, complex structure, and high material utilization. Based on the characteristics of 3D printing technology, this paper reviews the manufacturing process, materials, and some typical products of 3D printing implantable medical devices and analyzes and summarizes the development trend of 3D printed implantable medical devices.
Effect of Congestion on Flow Field of Vented Natural Gas Explosion in a Kitchen
Authors: Pang Lei , Hu Qianran , Jin Mengjie , Yang Kai
Published: January 2021

The process of gas explosion venting in a typical Chinese civil kitchen was investigated using computational fluid dynamics technology, focusing on the impact of the scale and cross‐sectional characteristics of congestion, such as common furniture and electrical appliances, on the explosion flow‐field parameters. An asymmetrical distribution of congestion will cause the uneven combustion of explosion flames in the kitchen. The flame will initially spread on one side of the room and then accelerate toward the surrounding areas, thereby increasing the risk of indoor gas explosion. The typical indoor overpressure change process can be divided into five stages, among which Stage V is found to be related to pseudoclosed combustion. Large‐scale congestion has an obstructive effect on the explosion flow field, but it changes under certain conditions, while small‐scale congestion only acts as a promoter. The flat congestion cross section helps maintain the stability of the flame structure, whereas the continuous and abrupt change of the congestion cross section can induce strong turbulent combustion. The research results provide a theoretical basis for the prevention and control of natural gas explosion hazards in civil kitchens from the perspective of congestion scale and cross‐sectional mutation.
A Fault Feature Extraction Method for Rolling Bearing Based on Intrinsic Time‐Scale Decomposition and AR Minimum Entropy Deconvolution
Authors: Ding Jiakai , Huang Liangpei , Xiao Dongming , Jiang Lingli
Published: January 2021

It is very difficult to extract the feature frequency of the vibration signal of the rolling bearing early weak fault and in order to extract its feature frequency quickly and accurately. A method of extracting early weak fault vibration signal feature frequency of the rolling bearing by intrinsic time‐scale decomposition (ITD) and autoregression (AR) minimum entropy deconvolution (MED) is proposed in this paper. Firstly, the original early weak fault vibration signal of the rolling bearing is decomposed by the ITD algorithm to proper rotations (PRs) with fault feature frequency. Then, the sample entropy value of each PR is calculated to find the largest PRs of the sample entropy. Finally, the AR‐MED filtering algorithm is utilized to filter and reduce the noise of the largest PRs of the sample entropy value, and the early weak fault vibration signal feature frequency of the rolling bearing is accurately extracted. The results show that the ITD‐AR‐MED method can extract the early weak fault vibration signal feature frequency of the rolling bearing accurately.
Study on Inhibitory Effect of Cavity on Gas Explosion Propagation
Authors: Yan Zhuo , Yuan Shujie , Li Zhongqing , Gu Shicheng , Mu Chaomin
Published: January 2021

It is pointed out in the literature that the vacuum chamber has the effect of explosion suppression. The effect of explosion suppression depends on the volume of the vacuum chamber, while the vacuum degree has little effect on the performance of explosion suppression. Inspired by this, to explore a new method of gas explosion suppression, a rectangular steel cavity with a wall thickness of 10 mm, a length of 500 mm, a width of 800 mm, and a height of 200 mm was designed. The cavity was installed in a pipeline system to carry out experimental research and to investigate the law of attenuation of gas explosion flames and shock wave overpressure after passing through the cavity. The results show that the single cavity has the function of flame-out and wave attenuation, which attenuates the explosion flame and shock wave overpressure by 42.5% and 11%, respectively, and that the dual cavity further improves the performance of flame-out and wave attenuation, which attenuates flame and shock wave overpressure by 75.4% and 26.7%, respectively. On the basis of the experimental study, a numerical model was established, and a numerical simulation was carried out under the same conditions as the experimental study. The results show that the single cavity inhibits the propagation of the shock wave and attenuates the shock wave overpressure by 10.61%. The dual cavity further improves the suppression performance and attenuates the shock wave overpressure by 28.88%. Finally, by simulating the propagation process of the gas explosion shock wave and flame in the cavity, the mechanism of inhibiting gas explosion propagation by the cavity structure is analyzed.
The Pricing Decision and Channel Choice of Upgraded Products in the Presence of Strategic Consumers
Authors: Shao Lingzhi
Published: January 2021

Many dual-channel suppliers need to make appropriate strategies for their upgraded products in the presence of strategic consumers. This paper develops a two-period dynamic game framework to explore the optimal pricing and upgrade the channel choice when the supplier introduces new upgraded products to a market populated by strategic consumers. The results show that, under any upgrade channel choice, the strategic consumers’ behavior has impacts on supplier and retailer’s pricing decisions and reduces their profit. The supplier could choose appropriate upgrade channel to improve his performance according to the consumers’ patience and innovation level of upgrade products. The supplier should choose pure offline channel to upgrade products when the innovation level of upgraded product B is relatively small. With the sufficiently high innovation level, the supplier should adopt pure offline channel to upgrade products when consumers’ patience is low and uses dual-channel upgrade strategy when the patience is high enough.
Food Safety Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice of College Students, Ethiopia, 2019: A Cross‐Sectional Study
Authors: Azanaw Jember , Dagne Henok , Andualem Zewudu , Adane Tsegaye
Published: January 2021

Background. Since the dawn of human history, foodborne diseases have been a problem for all societies, and it is an increasing public health issue worldwide. The objective of this study is to examine knowledge, practice, and attitude in food safety among college students in the city Gondar, northwest Ethiopia. Methods. A cross‐sectional study was conducted among 430 randomly selected college students in Gondar City, northwest Ethiopia, from October 8 to November 30, 2019. The data was gathered through a self‐administered questionnaire. The collected data were checked for completeness, coded manually, and entered into Epi Info version 7, then exported to SPSS version 26 for more data checking, cleaning, and analysis. One‐way ANOVA was done for examining sociodemographic variable association with KAP, and Pearson correlation analysis was conducted to measure the association among food safety knowledge, attitude, and practice scores. The p value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant for both tests. Results. The number of females was higher among the study participants (65.5%). The mean age of participates was 21.1 ± 9.14 (SD) years. The higher percentage (45.7%) of the participants were students in the second year. The overall scores of the food safety knowledge, attitude, and practices of the respondents were 35.7% (good), 38.0% (good), and 29.1% (positive), respectively. Participants with differences in gender, year of study, and food safety training had a substantial variation in overall food safety knowledge (p value < 0.05). The findings have clearly shown that knowledge of food safety does not directly affect the attitude towards food safety (p value > 0.05). On the other hand, overall food safety practice differed in terms of sex, year of schooling, and knowledge of food safety (p value < 0.05) among participants. Training and knowledge score had significant correlation among respondents (p value < 0.05). Conclusion. This study revealed that the overall knowledge, practices, and attitude towards food safety among college students were very low. There was a significant association between knowledge and practice while food safety practices were independent with an attitude among the students. Such results indicated that there could be problems with foodborne diseases. Therefore, the findings of this study proposed that strength should be done to improve the existing food safety knowledge, practice, and attitude in college students in addition to their normal education.
A Novel Dynamic Routing Approach to Distributed Wireless Sensor Network in Aircraft Environment
Authors: Sun Hui , Bai Chengrui , Li Yahui , Yang Kaixin
Published: January 2021

The trend to implement the monitoring system with a wireless sensor network has been becoming urgent due to guaranteed flight safety and the passengers comfortability in travel. In this paper, a new dynamic routing algorithm is proposed to prolong the lifetime of the monitoring system with a distributed network based on the K‐coverage method, and filter algorithm to be used for data fusion. Finally, the simulation results validate the effectiveness of the proposed approach.
Research on the Application of Blockchain in Smart Healthcare: Constructing a Hierarchical Framework
Authors: Du Xiaomin , Chen Beibei , Ma Ming , Zhang Yanjiao
Published: January 2021

This study aims to explore the application of blockchain technology in smart healthcare, establish a hierarchical theoretical framework of smart healthcare, reveal the impact of blockchain on smart healthcare, and finally, construct a development application system of smart healthcare under the blockchain based on stakeholder theory. However, such a hierarchical theoretical framework should consider not only the necessary attributes and the interrelationship among various aspects and attributes but also the role of multiple stakeholders. Therefore, the paper uses fuzzy set theory to filter unnecessary attributes, proposes a decision-making and experimental evaluation laboratory (DEMATEL) to manage the complex interrelationships between various aspects and attributes, and uses Interpretive Structure Modeling (ISM) to divide the hierarchy and construct a hierarchical theoretical framework. The results show that (1) the top-level design, the medical record management, and the doctor management are the root causes of system. (2) The specific application of blockchain in the field of smart healthcare is mainly carried out around the intelligent contract, which relies on the medical record management and is constrained by the system, and optimization of application is the key to system upgrading. (3) The internal and external regulation, the medical insurance, and the environmental governance play a guaranteed role for the development of the system and effectively safeguard the interests of stakeholders. (4) The application system of smart healthcare under the blockchain needs to be built based on three layers: the transaction layer, information layer, and stakeholder layer. The theoretical hierarchical framework is intended to guide smart healthcare towards blockchain applications, and stakeholders are suggested to participate in the development application systems.
Patients with Parkinson Disease in a Traditional Korean Medicine Hospital: A Five-Year Audit
Authors: Yang Jung Yun , Jin Chul , Lee JiEun , Lee Han-gyul , Cho Seung-Yeon , Park Seong-Uk , Jung Woo-Sang , Moon Sang-Kwan , Park Jung-Mi , Ko Chang-Nam , Cho Ki-Ho , Kwon Seungwon
Published: January 2021

Parkinson disease (PD) patients’ demand for complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) has thus been increasing. We investigated the characteristics of PD patients who visited the Korean Medicine Hospital, the official CAM clinic in Korea. The medical records of PD patients were reviewed retrospectively. The demographic and disease-related characteristics, motivation for visiting, and treatment modalities were collected and analyzed. Medical records from 618 patients were reviewed. Most patients (67.6%) had been already diagnosed with PD at the initial visit. The most frequent complaint was gait disturbance. Previously diagnosed patients visited most frequently for add-on CAM therapies. The most frequently used CAM therapy was acupuncture. The most frequently prescribed herbal medicine was modified Ukgansan. We found the main reason for seeking out CAM was to compensate for the effects of conventional therapies. Further prospective studies will be necessary to collect enough data and evaluate the effectiveness of CAM therapies.
Evaluation of Conjunctival Autografting Augmented with Mitomycin C Application versus Ologen Implantation in the Surgical Treatment of Recurrent Pterygium
Authors: Wagdy Faried M. , Farahat Hassan G. , Ellakwa Amin F. , Mandour Sameh S.
Published: January 2021

Objectives. To evaluate the safety and efficacy of augmenting conjunctival autografting with intraoperative mitomycin C (MMC) application versus Ologen implantation in the management of recurrent pterygium. Materials and Methods. This prospective randomised study included 63 eyes of 63 patients, with recurrent nasal pterygium, who presented to the outpatient clinic of Menoufia University Hospital in Shebin El Kom and Manshiet Soltan from January 2016 to December 2019. Patients were randomly enrolled into two groups. Group A included 32 eyes of 32 patients who underwent conjunctival autografting augmented with the topical application of MMC (0.2 mg/mL), and group B included 31 eyes of 31 patients who underwent conjunctival autografting augmented with Ologen implantation. All the patients underwent follow-up examinations for a period of 24 months. During each visit, a complete ophthalmic examination was performed. Pterygium regrowth of 1 mm or more, over the cornea, was considered a recurrence. Results. In the MMC group, no recurrence was reported during the 24-month follow-up period. In the Ologen implantation group, recurrence was reported in 2 (8%) eyes. The time interval from surgery to recurrence was 5 months in one case and 8 months in the other. No other serious postoperative complications were reported, and there was no statistically significant difference between the groups in this regard. Conclusion. Ologen implantation with conjunctival autografting shows promising results in the surgical management of recurrent pterygium with mild non-vision-threatening postoperative complications comparable to that of MMC application with conjunctival autografting. Registration number: ClinicalTrials.govNCT04419038.
Freezing of Gait in Parkinson’s Disease: Risk Factors, Their Interactions, and Associated Nonmotor Symptoms
Authors: Lichter David Gordon , Benedict Ralph Holmes Boring , Hershey Linda Ann
Published: January 2021

Background. Freezing of gait (FOG) is a debilitating and incompletely understood symptom in Parkinson’s disease (PD). Objective. To determine the principal clinical factors predisposing to FOG in PD, their interactions, and associated nonmotor symptoms. Methods. 164 PD subjects were assessed in a cross-sectional retrospective study, using the MDS-UPDRS scale, MMSE, and Clinical Dementia Rating Scale. Clinical factors associated with FOG were determined using univariate analysis and nominal logistic regression. Receiver operating characteristic curves were computed, to obtain measures of sensitivity and specificity of predictors of FOG. Subgroups of patients with FOG were compared with those without FOG, based on defining aspects of their clinical phenotype. Results. Relative to non-FOG patients, those with FOG had a longer disease duration, higher PIGD and balance-gait score, higher LED, and more motor complications (p<0.0001) and were more likely to exhibit urinary dysfunction (p<0.0003), cognitive impairment, hallucinations, and psychosis (p=0.003). The balance-gait score and motor complications, at their optimum cutoff values, together predicted FOG with 86% accuracy. Interactions were noted between cognitive dysfunction and both the Bal-Gait score and motor complication status, cognitive impairment or dementia increasing the likelihood of FOG in subjects without motor complications (p=0.0009), but not in those with motor complications. Conclusions. Both disease and treatment-related factors, notably LED, influence the risk of FOG in PD, with a selective influence of cognitive dysfunction in patients with balance-gait disorder but not in those with motor fluctuations. These findings may help to inform clinical management and highlight distinct subgroups of patients with PD-FOG, which are likely to differ in their network pathophysiology.
Disaster Control of Roof Falling in Deep Coal Mine Roadway Subjected to High Abutment Pressure
Authors: Zhang Shizhong , Fan Gangwei , Chai Ling , Li Qizhen , Chen Mingwei , Luo Tao , Ren Shang
Published: January 2021

The roof falling accident is a serious threat to the lives of miners in deep coal mining, especially when the coal mine is more than 1000 meters deep. In regard to the 5306 coalface in the Tangkou coal mine, Shandong, China, the depth of coal seam is 992.8 m and the stress concentration coefficient of the roadway surrounding rock is 3.33. This leads to a serious deformation of the roadway roof, thereby producing a high risk of the roof falling disaster. In this pursuit, based on the mechanical analysis of roadway roof subjected to a high abutment pressure, the mathematical expressions of the setting load and movable column length of supports were introduced. Furthermore, the stability control mechanism of the roadway roof was analyzed and the optimized support parameters of supports are provided. The results showed that the longtime effective support of the roadway roof required the strength and deformation coupling of supports and anchored surrounding rock. The support length of the belt roadway should be at least 57.7 m, with 0-30 m away from the coalface supported by hydraulic supports and 32-57.7 m supported by single props. In addition, the maximum setting load and movable column length of hydraulic supports were 21.67 MPa and 280.3 mm and 12.44 MPa and 177.1 mm for single props, respectively. By applying the optimized support parameters of supports to the belt roadway of the 5306 coalface, the effective control of the roadway roof and the disaster control of roof falling were realized.
Efficacy of L‐Carnitine for Dilated Cardiomyopathy: A Meta‐Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials
Authors: Weng Yayun , Zhang Shuo , Huang Wei , Xie Xianze , Ma Zhiyuan , Fan Qiaomei
Published: January 2021

Background. L‐carnitine mediates the utilization of fatty acids and glucose in the myocardium. The potential of L‐carnitine in managing dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) in patients has been extensively reported, with additional benefits. Objective. This meta‐analysis purposed to explore the clinical efficacy of L‐carnitine therapy on DCM patients. Methods. We searched publications up to May 2020 from several databases including PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, Chinese Biomedical (CBM) database, Chinese Science and Technology Periodicals database (VIP), Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) database, and Wanfang database. Subsequently, publications that met the inclusion criteria were systematically evaluated by two independent reviewers. Results. A total of 23 RCTs conducted in China with 1455 DCM patients were included in this study. In the meta‐analysis, L‐carnitine therapy was associated with a considerable improvement in the overall efficacy (RR = 1.28, 95% CI (1.21‐1.36), P < 0.0001), left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) (MD = 6.16%, 95% CI (4.50, 7.83), P < 0.0001), and cardiac output (CO) (MD = 0.88 L/min, 95% CI (0.51, 1.25), P < 0.0001) as compared to the control group. Moreover, L‐carnitine therapy significantly decreased left ventricular end‐diastolic dimension (LVEDD) (MD = −2.53, 95% CI (‐3.95, ‐1.12), P = 0.0005), brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) (SMD = −1.71 ng/L, 95% CI (‐3.02, ‐0.40), P = 0.01), and the transforming growth factor‐beta (TGF‐β1) (MD = −56.78 ng/L, 95% CI (‐66.02, ‐47.53), P < 0.0001). Conclusions. L‐carnitine potentially enhanced the therapeutic efficiency in DCM patients. Following weaknesses in the evidence due to low methodological quality and high clinical heterogeneity in the included studies, well‐designed trials are recommended.
Multiomics Characterization of Low-Grade Serous Ovarian Carcinoma Identifies Potential Biomarkers of MEK Inhibitor Sensitivity and Therapeutic Vulnerability
Authors: Shrestha Raunak , Llaurado Fernandez Marta , Dawson Amy , Hoenisch Joshua , Volik Stanislav , Lin Yen-Yi , Anderson Shawn , Kim Hannah , Haegert Anne M. , Colborne Shane , Wong Nelson K.Y. , McConeghy Brian , Bell Robert H. , Brahmbhatt Sonal , Lee Cheng-Han , DiMattia Gabriel E. , Le Bihan Stephane , Morin Gregg B. , Collins Colin C. , Carey Mark S.
Published: January 2021

Low-grade serous ovarian carcinoma (LGSOC) is a rare tumor subtype with high case fatality rates in patients with metastatic disease. There is a pressing need to develop effective treatments using newly available preclinical models for therapeutic discovery and drug evaluation. Here, we use multiomics integration of whole-exome sequencing, RNA sequencing, and mass spectrometry–based proteomics on 14 LGSOC cell lines to elucidate novel biomarkers and therapeutic vulnerabilities. Comparison of LGSOC cell line data with LGSOC tumor data enabled predictive biomarker identification of MEK inhibitor (MEKi) efficacy, with KRAS mutations found exclusively in MEKi-sensitive cell lines and NRAS mutations found mostly in MEKi-resistant cell lines. Distinct patterns of Catalogue of Somatic Mutations in Cancer mutational signatures were identified in MEKi-sensitive and MEKi-resistant cell lines. Deletions of CDKN2A/B and MTAP genes were more frequent in cell lines than tumor samples and possibly represent key driver events in the absence of KRAS/NRAS/BRAF mutations. These LGSOC cell lines were representative models of the molecular aberrations found in LGSOC tumors. For prediction of in vitro MEKi efficacy, proteomic data provided better discrimination than gene expression data. Condensin, minichromosome maintenance, and replication factor C protein complexes were identified as potential treatment targets in MEKi-resistant cell lines. This study suggests that CDKN2A/B or MTAP deficiency may be exploited using synthetically lethal treatment strategies, highlighting the importance of using proteomic data as a tool for molecular drug prediction. Multiomics approaches are crucial to improving our understanding of the molecular underpinnings of LGSOC and applying this information to develop new therapies.

Significance:

These findings highlight the utility of global multiomics to characterize LGSOC cell lines as research models, to determine biomarkers of MEKi resistance, and to identify potential novel therapeutic targets.
Cancer and COVID-19: On the Quest for Effective Vaccines
Authors: Kwok Marwan , Fritsch Edward F. , Wu Catherine J.
Published: January 2021

Cancer vaccine development has been historically fraught with difficulty, but tremendous progress has been made over the past 5 years. In this In Focus article, we reflect on the progress and challenges with vaccine development for cancers in general and for hematologic malignancies in particular, and suggest how our cancer vaccine experience can offer insight into COVID-19 vaccination.