bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
How do changes in motivation to prevent pregnancy influence contraceptive continuation? Results from a longitudinal study with women who receive family planning services from Community Pharmacists and Patent and Proprietary Medicine Vendors in Nigeria
Authors: Chace Dwyer Sara , Baruwa Sikiru , Okafor Emeka , Daini Babajide Oluseyi , Ubuane Osimhen , Jain Aparna
Published: February 2022

Background

Studies have shown that motivation to avoid pregnancy is associated with contraceptive use and continuation. These motivations can change, however, even within a short period of time. This paper uses longitudinal data to look at women’s motivation to avoid pregnancy at two time points, and how changes in motivation influence contraceptive continuation.

Methods

Data for this analysis came from an evaluation of the IntegratE project which seeks to expand access to family planning (FP) in Nigeria through community pharmacies and drug shops. 491 women were interviewed within 10 days after receiving a FP service from these sources and again approximately 9 months later. The dependent variable was contraceptive continuation at the follow-up interview. A categorical independent variable was used to represent changes in motivation to avoid pregnancy from enrollment to the follow-up interview. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression models were used to assess the association between changes in motivation and contraceptive continuation.

Results

89% of women continued using contraception approximately 9 months after the enrollment interview. Women who remained highly motivated to avoid pregnancy were significantly more likely to continue using contraception compared to women who became more motivated (AOR 2.5; 95% CI 1.0–6.0). Women who became less motivated were 64% less likely to continue using contraception compared to who became more motivated (AOR 0.36 95% CI 0.1–0.9).

Conclusion

FP providers, including private sector pharmacists and drug shop owners, should continuously check-in with women about their motivations around pregnancy to support continuation among those who wish to avoid pregnancy.
Contraception after in vitro fertilisation (IVF): a qualitative study of the views of women who have had spontaneous pregnancies after successful IVF
Authors: Thwaites Annette , Hall Jennifer , Barrett Geraldine , Stephenson Judith
Published: February 2022

Background

The use of in vitro fertilisation (IVF) has increased rapidly since its inception in 1978. Women seeking IVF have a wide range of subfertility causes including unexplained subfertility. A growing subgroup of women seek treatment for other reasons than fertility problems, for example, women in same sex relationships and single women. This study aims to better understand the contraceptive needs of women after successful IVF pregnancy in order to improve service delivery and prevent unplanned and rapid-repeat pregnancies.

Methods

A qualitative study of views of women who have had spontaneous pregnancies after successful IVF. Participants were recruited using purposive and snowballing sampling methods from social media and peer networks. The framework method was used for analysis using NVivo12.

Results

The sample comprised 21 interviewees from the United Kingdom (UK), having a range of spontaneous pregnancy outcomes, including single and multiple livebirths, miscarriage, ectopic pregnancy and termination of pregnancy. Contraceptive choices were subject to a complex and dynamic interaction of influencing factors including beliefs regarding subfertility, desire for children and views on contraception. None of the women recalled receiving any information or useful counselling about contraception during fertility or maternity care. After IVF pregnancy, most women (n = 16) used no or ineffective contraception. Spontaneous pregnancy was not universally welcomed in this group and inter-pregnancy intervals were often short (n = 16, less than 18 months). Even after subsequent spontaneous pregnancy, use of contraception and the most effective methods remained low. Women held persistent beliefs regarding their subfertility despite subsequent spontaneous pregnancy. They associated aspects of the IVF process with a sense of personal failure, despite an ultimately “successful” outcome of livebirth. These aspects may reinforce their self-belief in subfertility. Other barriers to contraception use in women having IVF included: lack of knowledge of likelihood of spontaneous pregnancy, lack of contraceptive experience and inherent incentives towards shorter inter-pregnancy intervals.

Conclusions

The contraceptive needs of women having IVF pregnancies are real and are being overlooked. Fertility services should take responsibility for providing information on the risks of subsequent spontaneous pregnancy. Maternity and community healthcare professionals must address women’s perceptions of their fertility in order to engage them in contraception counselling.
A cross-sectional investigation of the mental health and wellbeing among individuals who have been negatively impacted by the COVID-19 international border closure in Australia
Authors: Ali Kathina , Iasiello Matthew , van Agteren Joep , Mavrangelos Teri , Kyrios Michael , Fassnacht Daniel B.
Published: February 2022

Background

The COVID-19 pandemic resulted in the Australian government implementing strict international border closures. However, research has not yet investigated the mental health status of individuals impacted negatively by these international border closures.

Methods

The present study was a cross-sectional online survey of 3968 adults who reported being negatively affected by the border closure during June and July 2021. Psychological distress was measured with the Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (K10), stress with the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) and wellbeing with the Mental Health Continuum Short Form (MHC-SF).

Results

In total, 3968 participants reported being negatively affected by the current restrictions (63.4% in Australia, 36.6% overseas). The vast majority of respondents (83.6%) reported high or very high levels of psychological distress (mean K10 score > 22), and 74.8% reported poor mental wellbeing, with similar risk profiles for participants in Australia or overseas. The most common scenarios of affected individuals included 1) wanting to enter Australia (30.8%), 2) wanting to leave Australia (29.6%) and 3) wanting someone to enter Australia (25.6%). Reasons included wanting to be with partners, family and friends (81.1%), for employment/economic reasons (4.9%), study (4.1%), personal safety/health (2.6%) or holiday (1.4%). While psychological distress was extremely high across all groups, separated partners and those with interrupted study experienced the highest distress (mean K10 = 35.7, n = 155).

Conclusion

The data suggests a highly elevated mental health risk profile among individuals who report being negatively affected by current Australian international border closures. The results provide valuable data to inform future policy decisions and have clear implications regarding effective service provision for this vulnerable group.
An ecological study on the association between International Health Regulations (IHR) core capacity scores and the Universal Health Coverage (UHC) service coverage index
Authors: Lee Yuri , Kim Siwoo , Oh Jungju , Lee Sieun
Published: February 2022

Background

The pandemic situation due to COVID-19 highlighted the importance of global health security preparedness and response. Since the revision of the International Health Regulations (IHR) in 2005, Joint External Evaluation (JEE) and States Parties Self-Assessment Annual Reporting (SPAR) have been adopted to track the IHR implementation stage in each country. While national IHR core capacities support the concept of Universal Health Coverage (UHC), there have been limited studies verifying the relationship between the two concepts. This study aimed to investigate empirically the association between IHR core capacity scores and the UHC service coverage index.

Method

JEE score, SPAR score and UHC service coverage index data from 96 countries were collected and analyzed using an ecological study design. The independent variable was IHR core capacity scores, measured by JEE 2016-2019 and SPAR 2019 from the World Health Organization (WHO) and the dependent variable, UHC service coverage index, was extracted from the 2019 UHC monitoring report. For examining the association between IHR core capacities and the UHC service coverage index, Spearman’s correlation analysis was used. The correlation between IHR core capacities and UHC index was demonstrated using a scatter plot between JEE score and UHC service coverage index, and the SPAR score and UHC service coverage index were also presented.

Result

While the correlation value between JEE and SPAR was 0.92 (p < 0.001), the countries’ external evaluation scores were lower than their self-evaluation scores. Some areas such as available human resources and points of entry were mismatched between JEE and SPAR. JEE was associated with the UHC score (r = 0.85, p < 0.001) and SPAR was also associated with the UHC service coverage index (r = 0.81, p < 0.001). The JEE and SPAR scores showed a significant positive correlation with the UHC service coverage index after adjusting for several confounding variables.

Conclusion

The study result supports the premise that strengthening national health security capacities would in turn contribute to the achievement of UHC. With the help of the empirical result, it would further guide each country for better implementation of IHR.
The global landscape of neoadjuvant and adjuvant anti-PD-1/PD-L1 clinical trials
Authors: Wu Dawei , Huang Huiyao , Zhang Minghui , Li Ziwei , Wang Shuhang , Yu Yue , Fang Yuan , Jiang Ning , Miao Huilei , Ma Peiwen , Tang Yu , Li Ning
Published: February 2022

The neoadjuvant and adjuvant anti-PD-1/PD-L1 treatment has been increasingly noticed. To summarize the global landscape of these clinical trials will provide essential data for all the stakeholders of drug development. Based on the Trialtrove database, a total of 668 clinical trials initiated by the end of 2020 were retrospectively analyzed. We found that a rising capability of global neoadjuvant and adjuvant anti-PD-1/PD-L1 clinical development has been achieved. High prevalent cancer types were extensively studied though the priorities in China and the United States were different. However, a lack of phase III trials and industry-sponsored trials was addressed. The confirmatory neoadjuvant trials were particularly insufficient, and the combination strategy mainly focused on chemotherapy. Thus, more public funding and accelerated regulatory strategies are needed in this field. Efforts should be made to confirm the benefit of neoadjuvant treatment and explore novel combination strategies.
Virtual Arm Boot Camp (V-ABC): study protocol for a mixed-methods study to increase upper limb recovery after stroke with an intensive program coupled with a grasp count device
Authors: Simpson Lisa A. , Barclay Ruth , Bayley Mark T. , Dukelow Sean P. , MacIntosh Bradley J. , MacKay-Lyons Marilyn , Menon Carlo , Mortenson W. Ben , Peng Tzu-Hsuan , Pollock Courtney L. , Pooyania Sepideh , Teasell Robert , Yang Chieh-ling , Yao Jennifer , Eng Janice J.
Published: February 2022

Background

Encouraging upper limb use and increasing intensity of practice in rehabilitation are two important goals for optimizing upper limb recovery post stroke. Feedback from novel wearable sensors may influence practice behaviour to promote achieving these goals. A wearable sensor can potentially be used in conjunction with a virtually monitored home program for greater patient convenience, or due to restrictions that preclude in-person visits, such as COVID-19. This trial aims to (1) determine the efficacy of a virtual behaviour change program that relies on feedback from a custom wearable sensor to increase use and function of the upper limb post stroke; and (2) explore the experiences and perceptions of using a program coupled with wearable sensors to increase arm use from the perspective of people with stroke.

Methods

This mixed-methods study will utilize a prospective controlled trial with random allocation to immediate or 3-week delayed entry to determine the efficacy of a 3-week behaviour change program with a nested qualitative description study. The intervention, the Virtual Arm Boot Camp (V-ABC) features feedback from a wearable device, which is intended to increase upper limb use post stroke, as well as 6 virtual sessions with a therapist. Sixty-four adults within 1-year post stroke onset will be recruited from seven rehabilitation centres. All outcomes will be collected virtually. The primary outcome measure is upper limb use measured by grasp counts over 3 days from the wearable sensor (TENZR) after the 3-week intervention. Secondary outcomes include upper limb function (Arm Capacity and Movement Test) and self-reported function (Hand Function and Strength subscale from the Stroke Impact Scale). Outcome data will be collected at baseline, post-intervention and at 2 months retention. The qualitative component will explore the experiences and acceptability of using a home program with a wearable sensor for increasing arm use from the point of view of individuals with stroke. Semi-structured interviews will be conducted with participants after they have experienced the intervention. Qualitative data will be analysed using content analysis.

Discussion

This study will provide novel information regarding the efficacy and acceptability of virtually delivered programs to improve upper extremity recovery, and the use of wearable sensors to assist with behaviour change.

Trial registration

ClinicalTrials.govNCT04232163. January 18, 2020.
Vaccination of cattle with synthetic peptides corresponding to predicted extracellular domains of Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus aquaporin 2 reduced the number of ticks feeding to repletion
Authors: Scoles Glen A. , Hussein Hala E. , Olds Cassandra L. , Mason Kathleen L. , Davis Sara K.
Published: February 2022

Background

There have been ongoing efforts to identify anti-tick vaccine targets to protect cattle from infestation with cattle fever ticks Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus. Two commercial vaccines based on the tick gut protein Bm86 have had variable effectiveness, which has led to poor acceptance, and numerous studies have attempted to identify vaccine antigens that will provide more consistently effective protection. Transcriptomic analysis of R. microplus led to identification of three aquaporin genes annotated to code for transmembrane proteins involved in the transport of water across cell membranes. Previous work showed that vaccination with full-length recombinant aquaporin 1 (RmAQP1) reduced tick burdens on cattle. Targeted silencing of aquaporin 2 (RmAQP2) expression suggested it might also be a good anti-tick vaccination target.

Methods

Three synthetic peptides from the predicted extracellular domains of RmAQP2 were used to vaccinate cattle. Peptides were conjugated to keyhole limpet hemocyanin (KLH) as an antigenic carrier molecule. We monitored the antibody response with ELISA and challenged vaccinated cattle with R. microplus larvae.

Results

There was a 25% reduction overall in the numbers of ticks feeding to repletion on the vaccinated cattle. Immune sera from vaccinated cattle recognized native tick proteins on a western blot and reacted to the three individual synthetic peptides in an ELISA. The vaccinated calf with the highest total IgG titer was not the most effective at controlling ticks; ratios of IgG isotypes 1 and 2 differed greatly among the three vaccinated cattle; the calf with the highest IgG1/IgG2 ratio had the fewest ticks. Ticks on vaccinated cattle had significantly greater replete weights compared to ticks on controls, mirroring results seen with RNA silencing of RmAQP2. However, protein data could not confirm that vaccination had any impact on the ability of the tick to concentrate its blood meal by removing water.

Conclusions

A reduced number of ticks feed successfully on cattle vaccinated to produce antibodies against the extracellular domains of RmAQP2. However, our predicted mechanism, that antibody binding blocks the ability of RmAQP2 to move water out of the blood meal, could not be confirmed. Further study will be required to define the mechanism of action and to determine whether these vaccine targets will be useful components of an anti-tick vaccine cocktail.

Graphical Abstract
The impact of environmental factors on human echinococcosis epidemics: spatial modelling and risk prediction
Authors: Yin Jie , Wu Xiaoxu , Li Chenlu , Han Jiatong , Xiang Hongxu
Published: February 2022

Background

Human echinococcosis is affected by natural environmental factors, and its prevalence shows a distinct geographical distribution. Western China has the highest endemicity of human echinococcosis worldwide, but the spatial pattern and environmental determinants of echinococcosis are still unclear.

Methods

Hot/cold spot analysis was used to investigate the spatial distribution of human echinococcosis prevalence. Geodetector was used to identify key natural factors, and a structured additive regression model was used to analyse the relationship between natural factors and human echinococcosis prevalence and spatially predict echinococcosis epidemics.

Results

Hot spots for human echinococcosis prevalence include western and southeastern parts of Tibet Autonomous Region (henceforth Tibet) and the border areas between Tibet and the provinces of Qinghai and Sichuan. Spatial effects are crucial when modelling epidemics, and relative humidity, altitude and grassland area ratio were found to have the most evident effects on echinococcosis epidemics. The relationship between these three factors and echinococcosis prevalence was non-linear, and echinococcosis risk was higher in areas with high relative humidity, high altitude, and a high ratio of grassland to other land use types. The prevalence that was predicted from the investigated environmental factors was generally higher than the actual prevalence, and more epidemic hot spots were predicted for the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, and the provinces of Yunnan and Sichuan than the rest of western China. These results indicate that prevention and control measures may effectively reduce echinococcosis prevalence.

Conclusions

We suggest that the prevention and control of human echinococcosis should be prioritized in the hot spots identified here, through the rational allocation of limited medical resources to where they are most needed. Furthermore, the spatial epidemiological modelling methods used in this study can be employed in future studies on echinococcosis and similar diseases.

Graphical abstract
Development of a convolutional neural network for the identification and the measurement of the median nerve on ultrasound images acquired at carpal tunnel level
Authors: Smerilli Gianluca , Cipolletta Edoardo , Sartini Gianmarco , Moscioni Erica , Di Cosmo Mariachiara , Fiorentino Maria Chiara , Moccia Sara , Frontoni Emanuele , Grassi Walter , Filippucci Emilio
Published: February 2022

Background

Deep learning applied to ultrasound (US) can provide a feedback to the sonographer about the correct identification of scanned tissues and allows for faster and standardized measurements. The most frequently adopted parameter for US diagnosis of carpal tunnel syndrome is the increasing of the cross-sectional area (CSA) of the median nerve. Our aim was to develop a deep learning algorithm, relying on convolutional neural networks (CNNs), for the localization and segmentation of the median nerve and the automatic measurement of its CSA on US images acquired at the proximal inlet of the carpal tunnel.

Methods

Consecutive patients with rheumatic and musculoskeletal disorders were recruited. Transverse US images were acquired at the carpal tunnel inlet, and the CSA was manually measured. Anatomical variants were registered. The dataset consisted of 246 images (157 for training, 40 for validation, and 49 for testing) from 103 patients each associated with manual annotations of the nerve boundary. A Mask R-CNN, state-of-the-art CNN for image semantic segmentation, was trained on this dataset to accurately localize and segment the median nerve section. To evaluate the performances on the testing set, precision (Prec), recall (Rec), mean average precision (mAP), and Dice similarity coefficient (DSC) were computed. A sub-analysis excluding anatomical variants was performed. The CSA was automatically measured by the algorithm.

Results

The algorithm correctly identified the median nerve in 41/49 images (83.7%) and in 41/43 images (95.3%) excluding anatomical variants. The following metrics were obtained (with and without anatomical variants, respectively): Prec 0.86 ± 0.33 and 0.96 ± 0.18, Rec 0.88 ± 0.33 and 0.98 ± 0.15, mAP 0.88 ± 0.33 and 0.98 ± 0.15, and DSC 0.86 ± 0.19 and 0.88 ± 0.19. The agreement between the algorithm and the sonographer CSA measurements was excellent [ICC 0.97 (0.94–0.98)].

Conclusions

The developed algorithm has shown excellent performances, especially if excluding anatomical variants. Future research should aim at expanding the US image dataset including a wider spectrum of normal anatomy and pathology. This deep learning approach has shown very high potentiality for a fully automatic support for US assessment of carpal tunnel syndrome.
Role of point-of-care ultrasonography (POCUS) in the diagnosing of acute medial meniscus injury of knee joint
Authors: Ahmadi Omid , Motififard Mehdi , Heydari Farhad , Golshani Keihan , Azimi Meibody Azita , Hatami Saeed
Published: February 2022

Background

In recent years, musculoskeletal ultrasound has increasingly become the common method for diagnosis for many medical specialties. Therefore, the present study was performed to evaluate the diagnostic value of point-of-care ultrasonography (POCUS) as a primary triage tool in the diagnosis of the acute medial meniscus injury of the knee.

Materials and methods

The present cross-sectional study was performed on patients with a suspected medial meniscus injury of the knee in the emergency department (ED). After history taking and primary physical examination, radiographic imaging of the knee was done. If there was no fracture in the knee X-ray, the POCUS examination on the knee was carried out. All the patients were asked to refer to an orthopedic clinic 2 weeks after discharge from ED for the Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) evaluation. Finally, the POCUS findings were compared with the MRI findings in diagnosing medial meniscus injury.

Results

Fifty-five patients with a mean age of 35.48 ± 11.58 years were analyzed in the study (69.1% male). In comparison with MRI scan, the sensitivity and specificity of POCUS in the detection of medial meniscus injury were 85.0 [95% confidence interval (CI), 54.0 to 98.9] and 65.7% [95% CI 42.2 to 85.7], respectively. Its positive and negative predictive values were 58.6% [95% CI 33.8 to 81.5] and 88.5% [95% CI 62.1 to 99.3], respectively. (Area under the ROC curve = 0.726, P value = 0.003).

Conclusion

The present study demonstrated that POCUS can reasonably be applied in comparison with MRI to evaluate medial meniscus injury. POCUS is an effective initial diagnostic modality in patients with suspected medial meniscus injuries.
The effect of estrogen on brown adipose tissue activity in male rats
Authors: Sievers W. , Kettle C. , Green R. A. , Van Schaik L. , Hale M. W. , Irving H. R. , Whelan D. R. , Rathner J. A.
Published: February 2022

Objective

Centrally administered estrogen can increase sympathetic nerve activity to brown adipose tissue, resulting in thermogenesis. The central thermogenic effects of estrogen have not been investigated in males. Therefore, this study sought to investigate the effects of peripherally and centrally administered estrogen on thermogenesis, heart rate and mean arterial pressure in male rats. Thermogenesis was assessed by monitoring brown adipose tissue temperature.

Results

Peripherally administered estrogen elicited no significant effect on brown adipose tissue temperature, heart rate or mean arterial pressure. Centrally administered estrogen elicited a coincident increase in both brown adipose tissue and core temperature. Centrally administered estrogen also resulted in a decrease in mean arterial pressure but had no effect on heart rate. With the present data it is not possible to elucidate whether changes in temperature were the result of thermogenic or thermoregulatory mechanisms.
Guillain–Barré/Miller Fisher overlap syndrome in a patient after coronavirus disease-2019 infection: a case report
Authors: Mohammadi Seyede Momeneh , Abdi Roghayeh , Karimi Zeinab , Mortazavi Fatemeh
Published: February 2022

Background

Beyond the typical respiratory symptoms associated with novel coronavirus, increasing evidence has been reported of the neurological manifestations affecting both the central and peripheral nervous systems.

Case presentation

We observed a 30-year-old Persian woman developing acute motor sensory axonal neuropathy, a variant of Guillain–Barré syndrome that overlaps Miller Fisher syndrome, 30 days after confirmed coronavirus disease-2019 infection. Our case highlight the rare occurrence of Guillain–Barré syndrome overlapping with Miller Fisher during the coronavirus disease-2019 pandemic. These neurologic manifestations may occur because of an aberrant immune response to coronavirus disease-2019.

Conclusions

The early recognition of Guillain–Barré syndrome symptoms is critical, given the associated severe motor disabilities that may seriously limit the quality of life of these patients. We may still have much to learn about the co-occurrence of Guillain–Barré syndrome and Miller Fisher to improve the quality of life of these patients requiring an accurate evaluation by neurologists.
Sequence-based prediction of protein binding regions and drug–target interactions
Authors: Lee Ingoo , Nam Hojung
Published: February 2022

Identifying drug–target interactions (DTIs) is important for drug discovery. However, searching all drug–target spaces poses a major bottleneck. Therefore, recently many deep learning models have been proposed to address this problem. However, the developers of these deep learning models have neglected interpretability in model construction, which is closely related to a model’s performance. We hypothesized that training a model to predict important regions on a protein sequence would increase DTI prediction performance and provide a more interpretable model. Consequently, we constructed a deep learning model, named Highlights on Target Sequences (HoTS), which predicts binding regions (BRs) between a protein sequence and a drug ligand, as well as DTIs between them. To train the model, we collected complexes of protein–ligand interactions and protein sequences of binding sites and pretrained the model to predict BRs for a given protein sequence–ligand pair via object detection employing transformers. After pretraining the BR prediction, we trained the model to predict DTIs from a compound token designed to assign attention to BRs. We confirmed that training the BRs prediction model indeed improved the DTI prediction performance. The proposed HoTS model showed good performance in BR prediction on independent test datasets even though it does not use 3D structure information in its prediction. Furthermore, the HoTS model achieved the best performance in DTI prediction on test datasets. Additional analysis confirmed the appropriate attention for BRs and the importance of transformers in BR and DTI prediction. The source code is available on GitHub (https://github.com/GIST-CSBL/HoTS).
A remote attestation mechanism using group signature for the perception layer in centralized networking
Authors: Huang Jing , Zhang Hui-Juan , He Shen , Chen Jia , Sun Zhe-Yuan
Published: February 2022

As the important transmission approach of the perception data, the security and privacy of the perception layer nodes have been paid more and more attention. To evaluate the credibility of the perception nodes and protect autologous identity privacy, a remote attestation mechanism using group signature (GS-RAM) for the perception layer of centralized networking is proposed in this paper. First, a RAM, based on the computational Diffie–Hellman (CDH) problem and GS, is established for the data source of the perception nodes. Second, the specific construction of the proposed GS-RAM is given to identify the trusted state of data sources without exposing the privacy of the perception nodes. Then, a strict security certification was carried out to verify the correctness, unforgeability, anonymity, traceability, unrelatedness, non-framing, anti-joint aggression and forward security of the proposed GS-RAM. Finally, simulation experiments are carried out to verify that the proposed scheme has better security and dynamic adaptability.
Throughput fairness in cognitive backscatter networks with residual hardware impairments and a nonlinear EH model
Authors: Gao Xiaona , Shi Liqin , Lu Guangyue
Published: February 2022

This paper is to design a throughput fairness-aware resource allocation scheme for a cognitive backscatter network (CBN), where multiple backscatter devices (BDs) take turns to modulate information on the primary signals and backscatter the modulated signals to a cooperative receiver, while harvesting energy to sustain their operations. The nonlinear energy harvesting circuits at the BDs and the residual hardware impairments at the transceivers are considered to better reflect the properties of the practical energy harvesters and transceivers, respectively. To ensure the throughput fairness among BDs, we formulate an optimization problem to maximize the minimum throughput of BDs by jointly optimizing the transmit power of the primary transmitter, the backscattering time and reflection coefficient for each BD, subject to the primary user’s quality of service and BDs’ energy-causality constraints. We introduce the variable slack and decoupling methods to transform the formulated non-convex problem, and propose an iterative algorithm based on the block coordinate descent technique to solve the transformed problem. We also investigate a special CBN with a single BD and derive the optimal solution in the closed form to maximize the BD’s throughput. Numerical results validate the quick convergence of the proposed iterative algorithm and that the proposed scheme ensures much fairness than the existing schemes.
Random CNN structure: tool to increase generalization ability in deep learning
Authors: Swiderski Bartosz , Osowski Stanislaw , Gwardys Grzegorz , Kurek Jaroslaw , Slowinska Monika , Lugowska Iwona
Published: February 2022

The paper presents a novel approach for designing the CNN structure of improved generalization capability in the presence of a small population of learning data. Unlike the classical methods for building CNN, we propose to introduce some randomness in the choice of layers with a different type of nonlinear activation function. The image processing in these layers is performed using either the ReLU or the softplus function. This choice is random. The randomness introduced in the network structure can be interpreted as a special form of regularization. Experiments performed on the detection of images belonging to either melanoma or non-melanoma cases have shown a significant improvement in average quality measures such as accuracy, sensitivity, precision, and area under the ROC curve.
Disentangling land model uncertainty via Matrix-based Ensemble Model Inter-comparison Platform (MEMIP)
Authors: Liao Cuijuan , Chen Yizhao , Wang Jingmeng , Liang Yishuang , Huang Yansong , Lin Zhongyi , Lu Xingjie , Huang Yuanyuan , Tao Feng , Lombardozzi Danica , Arneth Almut , Goll Daniel S. , Jain Atul , Sitch Stephen , Lin Yanluan , Xue Wei , Huang Xiaomeng , Luo Yiqi
Published: February 2022

Background

Large uncertainty in modeling land carbon (C) uptake heavily impedes the accurate prediction of the global C budget. Identifying the uncertainty sources among models is crucial for model improvement yet has been difficult due to multiple feedbacks within Earth System Models (ESMs). Here we present a Matrix-based Ensemble Model Inter-comparison Platform (MEMIP) under a unified model traceability framework to evaluate multiple soil organic carbon (SOC) models. Using the MEMIP, we analyzed how the vertically resolved soil biogeochemistry structure influences SOC prediction in two soil organic matter (SOM) models. By comparing the model outputs from the C-only and CN modes, the SOC differences contributed by individual processes and N feedback between vegetation and soil were explicitly disentangled.

Results

Results showed that the multi-layer models with a vertically resolved structure predicted significantly higher SOC than the single layer models over the historical simulation (1900–2000). The SOC difference between the multi-layer models was remarkably higher than between the single-layer models. Traceability analysis indicated that over 80% of the SOC increase in the multi-layer models was contributed by the incorporation of depth-related processes, while SOC differences were similarly contributed by the processes and N feedback between models with the same soil depth representation.

Conclusions

The output suggested that feedback is a non-negligible contributor to the inter-model difference of SOC prediction, especially between models with similar process representation. Further analysis with TRENDY v7 and more extensive MEMIP outputs illustrated the potential important role of multi-layer structure to enlarge the current ensemble spread and the necessity of more detail model decomposition to fully disentangle inter-model differences. We stressed the importance of analyzing ensemble outputs from the fundamental model structures, and holding a holistic view in understanding the ensemble uncertainty.
Carbonation Model and Prediction of Polyvinyl Alcohol Fiber Concrete with Fiber Length and Content Effects
Authors: Luo Zuyun , Yang Xinhua , Ji Heli , Zhang Chuanchuan
Published: February 2022

Durability is an important aspect of reliability of concrete structures. In order to establish the carbonation model of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) fiber concrete including the influences of PVA fiber length and volume content, a series of accelerated carbonation experiments were carried out on the normal concrete specimens and PVA fiber concrete specimens with fiber lengths of 3 mm, 6 mm, 12 mm and 18 mm and fiber volume contents of 0.1%, 0.3%, 0.5%, 0.75%, 1.0% and 1.5%, respectively. The experimental conditions remained at temperature of 20 ℃, humidity of 70%, and carbon dioxide concentration of 20%. It was found that the addition of PVA fibers could improve the carbonation resistance of concrete considerably. Within the investigated range of fiber length and content, the carbonation resistance of concrete is first strengthened and then weakened with increasing PVA fiber length or content. The quadratic carbonation depth prediction model could characterize the influences of PVA fiber length and content better than the linear model. The carbon dioxide diffusion equation was established by introducing a PVA fiber influence factor and its parameters were determined from the carbonation depth prediction model. The carbonation process of PVA fiber concrete under the accelerated carbonation experiment condition was simulated. Both the model and the numerical method were validated by comparison between the experimental and numerical results. Finally, the influences of added PVA fibers on the carbonation life and durability of reinforced concrete components were further studied numerically. The results showed that compared with the normal concrete component, the durability of PVA fiber concrete components is significantly improved.
Stability and time-delay effect of rainfall-induced landslide considering air entrapment
Authors: Zhang Shixin , Li Li , Zhao Dongsheng , Ni Bo , Qiang Yue , Zheng Zhou
Published: February 2022

The pore air pressure of the soil layer has an obstructive effect on the infiltration of the rainfall-induced landslide. Therefore, the hydraulic hysteresis caused by air entrapment in the infiltration process of the slope also reduces the anti-sliding force of the slope. A method considered the air entrapment of the closed gas in soil particles’ pores is developed to study the time-delay effect and slope stability during rainfall. The Green–Ampt infiltration model is used to obtain the explicit analytical solution of the slope infiltration considering air entrapment. Moreover, the relationship between the safety factor, the rainfall duration, and the depth of the wetting front under the three rainfall conditions (qrain = 10, 26, 51 mm/h) is discussed. The results show that the air entrapment causes a significant time-delay effect of the landslide, and the hydraulic hysteresis is the strongest under the condition of heavy rainfall (qrain = 51 mm/h). The air-entrapment will have a supporting effect on the wetting front and reduce the slope normal stress. In infinite slope cases, the air entrapment under violent rainfall (qrain = 51 mm/h) will greatly reduce the slope safety factor.
‘Making the most of together time’: development of a Health Visitor–led intervention to support children’s early language and communication development at the 2–2½-year-old review
Authors: McKean Cristina , Watson Rose , Charlton Jenna , Roulstone Sue , Holme Caitlin , Gilroy Victoria , Law James
Published: February 2022

Background

Early interventions to support young children’s language development through responsive parent–child interaction have proven efficacy but are not currently delivered universally. A potential universal delivery platform is the Health Visitor (HV)–led 2–2½-year-old review in England’s Healthy Child Programme. It is unclear if it is feasible to offer such interventions through this platform. We report an intervention development process, including extensive stakeholder consultation and co-design which aimed to develop an acceptable, feasible and equitable early language intervention for delivery in this context.

Methods

The study involved five phases including 13 stakeholder co-design workshops with 7 parents and 39 practitioners (HVs, early years practitioners and speech and language therapists): (1) Identification of existing intervention evidence, (2) qualitative review of intervention studies extracting candidate target behaviours for intervention and intervention techniques, (3) co-design workshops with parents and practitioners examining acceptability, barriers and enablers to those behaviours and techniques (particular attention was paid to diverse family circumstances and the range of barriers which might exist), (4) findings were analysed using COM-B and theoretical domains frameworks and a prototype intervention model designed, and (5) co-design workshops iteratively refined the proposed model.

Results

Practitioners were committed to offering language intervention at the 2–2½-year-old review but were not sure precisely how to do so. Parents/caregivers wanted to be proactive and to have agency in supporting their own children and to do this as soon as possible. For equitable intervention, it must beproportionate, with higher ‘intensity’ for higher levels of disadvantage, andtailored,offering differing approaches considering the specific barriers and enablers, assets and challenges in each family. The importance and potential fragility of alliances between parent/caregiver and practitioner were identified as key, and so, strategies to engender successful collaborative partnership are also embedded in intervention design.

Conclusion

It is possible to develop a universal intervention which parents and practitioners judge would be acceptable, feasible and equitable for use at the 2–2½-year review to promote children’s language development. The result is one of the most explicitly developed universal interventions to promote children’s language development. Further development and piloting is required to develop materials to support successful widespread implementation.
Adapting to the algorithm: how accuracy comparisons promote the use of a decision aid
Authors: Liang Garston , Sloane Jennifer F. , Donkin Christopher , Newell Ben R.
Published: February 2022

In three experiments, we sought to understand when and why people use an algorithm decision aid. Distinct from recent approaches, we explicitly enumerate the algorithm’s accuracy while also providing summary feedback and training that allowed participants to assess their own skills. Our results highlight that such direct performance comparisons between the algorithm and the individual encourages a strategy of selective reliance on the decision aid; individuals ignored the algorithm when the task was easier and relied on the algorithm when the task was harder. Our systematic investigation of summary feedback, training experience, and strategy hint manipulations shows that further opportunities to learn about the algorithm encourage not only increased reliance on the algorithm but also engagement in experimentation and verification of its recommendations. Together, our findings emphasize the decision-maker’s capacity to learn about the algorithm providing insights for how we can improve the use of decision aids.
Use of an antagonist of HMGB1 in mice affected by malignant mesothelioma: a preliminary ultrasound and optical imaging study
Authors: Venturini Massimo , Mezzapelle Rosanna , La Marca Salvatore , Perani Laura , Spinelli Antonello , Crippa Luca , Colarieti Anna , Palmisano Anna , Marra Paolo , Coppola Andrea , Fontana Federico , Carcano Giulio , Tacchetti Carlo , Bianchi Marco , Esposito Antonio , Crippa Massimo P.
Published: February 2022

Background

Malignant mesothelioma (MM) is an aggressive tumor, with a poor prognosis, usually unresectable due to late diagnosis, mainly treated with chemotherapy. BoxA, a truncated form of “high mobility group box 1” (HMGB1), acting as an HMGB1 antagonist, might exert a defensive action against MM. We investigated the potential of BoxA for MM treatment using experimental 40-MHz ultrasound and optical imaging (OI) in a murine model.

Methods

Murine MM cells infected with a lentiviral vector expressing the luciferase gene were injected into the peritoneum of 14 BALB/c mice (7 × 104 AB1-B/c-LUC cells). These mice were randomized to treatment with BoxA (n = 7) or phosphate-buffered saline (controls, n = 7). The experiment was repeated with 40 mice divided into two groups (n = 20 + 20) and treated as above to confirm the result and achieve greater statistical power. Tumor presence was investigated by experimental ultrasound and OI; suspected peritoneal masses underwent histopathology and immunohistochemistry examination.

Results

In the first experiment, none of the 7 controls survived beyond day 27, whereas 4/7 BoxA-treated mice (57.1%) survived up to day 70. In the second experiment, 6/20 controls (30.0%) and 16/20 BoxA-treated mice (80.0%) were still alive at day 34 (p = 0.004). In both experiments, histology confirmed the malignant nature of masses detected using experimental ultrasound and OI.

Conclusion

In our preclinical experience on a murine model, BoxA seems to exert a protective role toward MM. Both experimental ultrasound and OI proved to be reliable techniques for detecting MM peritoneal masses.
Guillain-Barré syndrome and fulminant encephalomyelitis following Ad26.COV2.S vaccination: double jeopardy
Authors: Stefanou Maria Ioanna , Karachaliou Eleni , Chondrogianni Maria , Moschovos Christos , Bakola Eleni , Foska Aikaterini , Melanis Konstantinos , Andreadou Elisabeth , Voumvourakis Konstantinos , Papathanasiou Matilda , Boutati Eleni , Tsivgoulis Georgios
Published: February 2022

This correspondence comments on a published article presenting a case of rhombencephalitis following SARS-CoV-2-vaccination with the mRNA vaccine BNT162b2 (Pfizer/BioNTech). We also present the case of a 47-year-old man who developed Guillain-Barré-syndrome and a fulminant encephalomyelitis 28 days after immunization with Ad26.COV2.S (Janssen/Johnson & Johnson). Based on the presented cases, we underscore the importance of clinical awareness for early recognition of overlapping neuroimmunological syndromes following vaccination against SARS-CoV-2. Additionally, we propose that that role of autoantibodies against angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) and the cell-surface receptor neuropilin-1, which mediate neurological manifestations of SARS-CoV-2, merit further investigation in patients presenting with neurological disorders following vaccination against SARS-CoV-2.
Prevalence, diversity of diarrhoeagenic Escherichia coli and associated risk factors in well water in Ile-Ife, Southwestern Nigeria
Authors: Odetoyin Babatunde , Ogundipe Olawumi , Onanuga Adebola
Published: February 2022

Background

Diarrhoeagenic Escherichia coli (DEC) strains are common causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Waterborne DEC could pose a health risk to humans through domestic use of contaminated water. However, epidemiological studies on DEC in well water are scarce in Nigeria. This study determined the prevalence, diversity and factors associated with the presence of DEC in well water in Ile-Ife, southwestern Nigeria.

Methods

We assessed 143 wells for safety and a questionnaire was administered. Contaminating isolates were identified as E. coli by amplifying their 16S rRNA gene. Five diarrhoeagenic E. coli pathotypes were sought using multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR). (GTG)5 repetitive PCR and Shannon diversity index were used to determine isolates diversity. Multivariate analysis was used to reveal the factors associated with the presence of DEC in  well water.

Results

Fifty-six (39.2%) wells were contaminated by diarrhoeagenic E. coli. Wells with dirty platforms, undercut by erosion and sited near septic tanks significantly harboured DEC (p <  0.05). There was a preponderance of Shiga-toxin producing E. coli among the isolates with 10 (17.9%) wells contaminated by multiple DEC. The DEC isolates showed 45 unique fingerprints and were divided into six clades, with an overall diversity index of 18.87.

Discussion

The presence of DEC in well water highlights the risk to human health associated with the use of untreated water. There was a high degree of genetic diversity among the isolates implying multiple sources of contamination. There is a need for periodic sanitation and inspection of wells for cracks to prevent seepages and possible outbreaks of waterborne diseases.
Identification of sequence polymorphisms in the D-loop region of mitochondrial DNA as valuable biomarkers for salivary gland tumors: an observational study
Authors: Singh Hanspal , Kumar Somesh , Urs Aadithya B. , Kapoor Seema
Published: February 2022

Background

Salivary gland tumor frequency in the head and neck region is quite less and mostly benign. However, pathogenesis is associated with oxidative stress in the mitochondria. Hence, we are aiming to identify single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP)/single nucleotide variants (SNV) in the mitochondrial DNA D-loop region of salivary gland tumors (SGT). We analyzed 19 biopsied tissue (formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded) tumors, i.e., pleomorphic adenoma-5, mucoepidermoid carcinoma-6, adenoid cystic carcinoma-5, and polymorphous low-grade adenocarcinoma-3. This extracted DNA was amplified to visualize the entire D-loop region of the mitochondrial genome of SGT.

Results

The three hotspot mutation were noticed at 16,519 (thymine-cytosine) (number = 10), 73 (adenine-guanine) (number = 8), and 195 (thymine-adenine) (number = 4) in the D-loop in salivary gland tumors. We observed novel synonymous mutation in the 195 region of mitochondrial D-loop, which is a novel as per Mitomap (a human mitochondrial genomic database).

Conclusions

We hypothesized that the biological behavior of SGT is majorly dependent upon the stress level at mitochondria in the D-loop region. SNPs noted in mt-DNA should be noted as a pivotal biomarker for the progression or metastasis of SGT in individuals at risk.