bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Key historically developed layers of German AGB law
Authors:   Tomashevskaya & Partners, Zhuzhzhalov Mikhail , Popova Polina
Published: January 2023

The article is an attempt to outline the so called “AGB-Recht” of Germany in an unconventional way, and years of contemplation have left the author to think that this part of German law is nothing but an aggregation of historically developed layers which sustained their sway due to their practical significance, however do not constitute a coherent body of principles that causes numerous conflicts between adopted approaches, notwithstanding the fact that it is a minutely elaborated legal institute. The author commences analysis with general overview of norms and case law that influenced its development and turns to examination of each layer insofar as its influence is traceable in the law or in court practice. The author has to admit lacking coherency in a number of cases. Among others: no definite transition to abstract fairness of clauses control and underestimation of objective interpretation in this regard, disregard of the fact that the contract with standard terms consists of both individual and non-individual (superindividual) elements, hesitative attempts to bases solutions on prevention. Also, the institute reveals inefficiency when, on the one hand, stimulation of the parties using standard terms not to abuse their power to determine them is not effective, and on the other hand, fairness of clauses control accompanied by inadmissibility for the courts to restate clauses leaves them in total uncertainty as to which clauses could be used and making them to search for correct formula, sometimes for years. At the same time, protection of their counterparties is substantially diminished when clauses control leads only to exclusion of unfair clauses but practically lacks tools to supply the counterparty with additional rights when necessary. Since interpretative gap-filling barely solves this problem, the issue remains within the ambit of legislature that may imperatively supply the contracts with necessary additional rights and securities. The article delivers critical analysis of the institute and does not serve the audience as the source of all necessary references to case law and legal scholarship.
Legal issues of reforming the social insurance system of employees during the pandemic
Authors:   HSE University, Kovalevsky Sergey M.
Published: January 2023

The article analyzes certain legal aspects of compulsory and voluntary insurance during the pandemic in connection with COVID-19. Since Article 7 of the Constitution of Russia pro-claims the Russian Federation to be a social state, an analysis of these aspects is currently relevant, using a comparative legal and system-structural research methods. Among the most important problems currently considered are improving the mechanism of compulsory social insurance for temporary disability and in connection with maternity, as well as voluntary in-surance of those types that are social in nature, i.e. voluntary medical insurance and insurance against illness. It is necessary to optimize the composition of types of compulsory social insur-ance and to clarify the grounds for provision in connection with COVID-19, in particular, by including coronavirus infection in the list of diseases that entitle one to the payment of ben-efits for caring for a sick child for a longer period, as well as by securing the right to benefits for one of the parents in the event that the child declares additional holidays due to quarantine. In addition, it is proposed to legislate the concepts of accident and disease not only in relation to compulsory social insurance against industrial accidents and occupational diseases, but also in relation to voluntary social insurance, which can be done in legislation on organizing insurance businesses. To resolve the issue of expanding the coverage of citizens with voluntary social insurance in case COVID-19, it is necessary to approve the minimum requirements for this type of insurance by the instruction of the Bank of Russia.
Labour law without labour law: The United Kingdom’s labour market response to COVID-19
Authors:   University of Westminster, Mason Luke
Published: January 2023

The United Kingdom’s response to the COVID-19 crisis with respect to labour law and protecting workers and working relationships had several idiosyncratic aspects that distinguished it from ostensibly similar attempts to protect jobs during the pandemic. The UK approach was striking, in comparative terms, due to its lack of engagement with any process of social dialogue at the national, sectoral, and enterprise levels. The structures of worker representation of this type are so weak in the UK, due in part to a particular tradition of collective bargaining, that any such involvement would possibly not even have been feasible given the short time frame without the creation of new ad hoc infrastructure. While most other advanced economies made use of relatively familiar methods of labour law, alongside macroeconomic intervention and state support, the UK’s response was largely devoid of any traditional labour law content, and did not make use of labour law categories or methods, in particular the placing of obligations on the employer. this meant that the UK’s approach reflected a form of “labour market” regulation which aimed, unusually, at solidifying rather than deregulating the labour market. While this approach comes with many significant complexities and risks, it provides a potential model for future interventions which do not rely on sometimes tired or outdated labour law categories.
L. S. Tal and V. M. Gordon: Double portrait for the anniversary
Authors:   P. G. Demidov Yaroslavl State University, Lushnikov Andrey M.
Published: January 2023

This article provides a comparative analysis of the life and creative paths of well-known Russian lawyers L. S. Tal and V. M. Gordon. The appeal of biographies of these scholars is not only the anniversary of their births, but also meaningful and applied purposes. The activities of these scholars, especially Tal, are linked to the formation of the domestic study of labor law, and the discussion between them on key issues about the recruitment of labor is important for understanding the genesis of labor law. The difference in their approaches to labor law issues was due to differences in their training, specialization, and even temperament. At the same time, many factual elements in their biographies have been clarified, and some have been made public for the first time. This allows not only to correct their biographical information, but also to better understand peculiarities of their worldviews and the scale of their contributions to the development of legal studies. The relevance of their discussions is also increasing in connection with currently changing approaches to regulating labor relations and increasing its flexibility. Attention is drawn to the social environment in which their views were formed, their gymnasium and university training, careers in public service, and personal lives. Their scholarly and teaching activities were at the center of attention, and both at one time taught and conducted scientific activities at the Demidov Juridical Lyceum (Yaroslavl).
Will in the mechanism of the exercise of subjective rights and duties of the employee and the employer
Authors:   South Ural State University, Ofman Elena M.
Published: January 2023

The mechanism for implementing subjective rights and obligations of the employee and employer directly depends on a well-developed theory of labor legal relations, in which the will is a central, constitutive element of its composition. However, until recently there have been no serious doctrinal studies of the volitional aspect of labor legal relations, and the courts in their decisions mislead parties, providing employees with virtually unlimited opportunities to implement the opportunities provided by the labor legislation, and ignoring the interests of counterparties. At the same time, the mechanism for realizing subjective rights and fulfillment of obligations should be universal; it cannot depend on good or bad faith conduct of an employee or employer or on broad judicial discretion. The article gives the author’s understanding of the volitional aspect of labor legal relations, identifies its characteristics and stages of formation; points out that for the labor law are significant legal consequences that arise or may arise in the implementation of volitional behavior of the subjects of labor legal relations. The study of the problem of the relationship between will and expression of will led to the conclusion that the courts should assess the will of the person, but the courts often, when considering and resolving labor disputes, intrude into the formation of the will of one or another party to labor legal relations. To suppress employee’s unfair behavior, I believe it is necessary to fix in the legislation the rule that the implementation of guarantees provided to the employee at the termination of his employment contract is possible when he informs the employer about his special legal status in due time. Abuse of right in the form of concealing legally significant information is unacceptable. The article makes other proposals aimed at the adjustment of the current legislation and improvement of judicial enforcement.
Candidate pool as an element of legal mechanism of personnel recruitment and assignment in public civil service
Authors:   Russian State University of Justice, Pugacheva Natalia V.
Published: January 2023

One of the main purposes for creating a candidate pool for the civil service is to ensure timely filling of vacant positions by individuals whose professional and personal qualities guarantee proper performance of their official duties and thus the continuous and efficient functioning of the state apparatus. At the same time, legal regulation of this aspect of public activities should provide citizens with equal access to public service in order to ensure they enjoy their constitutional rights. An analysis of legislation on public civil service proves that rule-making bodies pay close attention to including civil servants and citizens into the candidate pool, and their relationship was subject to regulations that were not flawless, but still quite detailed. The main array of problems appears while working with the candidate pool, as the law-maker formulates rules of assignment of those from candidate pool in a very nonspecific manner and gives considerable discretion to law-enforcers, which endangers the principle of equality. For instance, the order of actions of an employer’s representative when a vacancy opens, and the order of assigning an individual from candidate pool to a civil service position are neglected by the law-maker. Therefore, exposing f flaws in legal regulation to improve it is a pressing task for guaranteeing enjoyment of the right to choose profession, including civil service, as well as in regard to ensuring public interest of forming highly competent personnel of public bodies.
Research Status, Synthesis and Clinical Application of Antiepileptic Drugs
Authors: Wang Si-Jie , Zhao Min-Yan , Zhao Peng-Cheng , Zhang Wen , Rao Guo-Wu
Published: January 2023

According to the 2017 ILAE's official definition, epilepsy is a slow brain dis-ease state characterized by recurrent episodes. Due to information released by ILAE in 2017, it can be divided into four types, including focal epilepsy, generalized epilepsy, combined generalized, and focal epilepsy, and unknown epilepsy. Since 1989, 24 new an-tiepileptic drugs have been approved to treat different types of epilepsy. Besides, there are a variety of antiepileptic medications under clinical monitoring. These novel antiepileptic drugs have plenty of advantages. Over the past 33 years, there have been many antiepilep-tic drugs on the mearket, but no one has been found that can completely cure epilepsy. In this paper, the mentioned drugs were classified according to their targets, and the essential information, and clinical studies of each drug were described. The structure-activity rela-tionship of different chemical structures was summarized. This paper provides help for the follow-up research on epilepsy drugs.
The Current Status of Antisense Gene Therapies for Bacteria-caused Diseases
Challenges and Opportunities
Authors: Ding Feng , Li Jiawei , Liang Xuejun , Wang Fangxin , Wang Juping
Published: January 2023

Bacteria-caused diseases continue to pose a serious threat to human health. The current situation of
overused antibiotics against those diseases further spurs and exacerbates the ever-increasing drug resistance
problems, which really leaves us very few options to combat those nasty bugs. Gene therapies based on the antisense
oligonucleotide, though developed more than 40 years ago, did not reform the current treatments as originally
expected. Along with the advances of new delivery technologies, this old field thrives again. In addition,
newly evolving gene-editing tools based on the CRISPR-Cas system shed new light on this old field, bringing a
breeze of hope to gene therapies for bacteria-caused diseases. As a fast-growing field, we strive to summarize
in this review the recent progress in using gene therapies in those areas, analyze the potential challenges or
problems from using antisense or gene-editing tools for targeting bacterial diseases and seek to explore any potential
solutions to the current dilemmas. As a short review, we will focus our discussion mainly on antisense
oligonucleotide-based gene therapies while briefly touching on the CRISPR-Cas based ones as the latter is just
beginning to get more attention for application in the prokaryotic kingdom.
An Algorithm-optimized Scheme for In situ Synthesis of DNA Microarrays
Authors: Cheng Chu , Gu Xingyue , Fei Zhongjie , Xiao Pengfeng
Published: January 2023

Background:

The cost of synthetic DNA has limited applications in frontier science and technology fields such as synthetic biology, DNA storage, and DNA chips.

Objective:

The objective of this study is to find an algorithm-optimized scheme for the in-situ synthesis of DNA microarrays, which can reduce the cost of DNA synthesis.

Methods:

Here, based on the characteristics of in-situ chemical synthesis of DNA microarrays, an optimization algorithm was proposed. Through data grading, the sequences with the same base at as many different features as possible were synthesized in parallel to reduce synthetic cycles.

Results and Discussion:

The simulation results of 10 and 100 randomly selected sequences showed that when level=2, the reduction ratio in the number of synthetic cycles was the largest, 40% and 32.5%, respectively. Subsequently, the algorithm-optimized scheme was applied to the electrochemical synthesis of 12,000 sequences required for DNA storage. The results showed that compared to the 508 cycles required by the conventional synthesis scheme, the algorithm-optimized scheme only required 342 cycles, which reduced by 32.7%. In addition, the reduced 166 cycles reduced the total synthesis time by approximately 11 hours.

Conclusions:

The algorithm-optimized synthesis scheme can not only reduce the synthesis time of DNA microarrays and improve synthesis efficiency, but more importantly, it can also reduce the cost of DNA synthesis by nearly 1/3. In addition, it is compatible with various in-situ synthesis methods of DNA microarrays, including soft-lithography, photolithography, a photoresist layer, electrochemistry and photoelectrochemistry. Therefore, it has very important application value.
Study on the Mechanism of Astragalus Polysaccharides on Cervical Cancer
Based on Network Pharmacology
Authors: Liu Wen-Zhi , Yu Min-Min , Kang Min
Published: January 2023

Background:

Astragalus polysaccharides (APS) is a natural phytochemical which has been extensively utilized for anti-tumor therapy over the past few years. However, its impact on cervical cancer (CC) has rarely been studied.

Objective:

To clarify the exact mechanism of anti-cancer effects of Astragalus polysaccharides (APS) on Cervical Cancer (CC), we screened differentially expressed genes (DEGs) from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) to construct the cancer network.

Methods:

Then we performed functional enrichment analysis with gene ontology (GO) and KEGG pathway analyses, constructed protein-protein interaction (PPI) network, and performed molecular docking (MD) analysis to identify the key gene for docking with APS. Further, we observed the effects of APS on cell proliferation, cell cycle, and apoptosis experiments in HeLa cells. qRT-PCR and western blot were used to detect the expression of target genes.

Results:

A total of 793 DEGs were screened using criteria, which included 541 genes that were up-regulated and 251 genes that were down-regulated. Using topological attributes for identifying critical targets, molecular docking (MD), and survival analyses, this study predicted the APS targets: POLO-like kinase 1(PLK1), Cyclin-cell division 20(CDC20), and Cyclin-dependent kinase 1 (CDK1), which regulated HeLa cells. The results of cell proliferation, cell cycle, and apoptosis experiments concluded that APS inhibited the development of HeLa cells in a concentration-dependent manner. Also, qRT-PCR and western blot experiments demonstrated that APS could significantly down-regulate the expression of PLK1, CDC20, and CDK1 in the CC cells.

Conclusion:

The result revealed that APS might have a therapeutic potential in treating CC and might permit intervention with treatments targeting PLK1, CDC20, and CDK1.
Enhanced Brain Targeting Delivery of Salvianic Acid Using Borneol as a Promoter of Blood/Brain Transport and Regulator of P-gp
Authors: Hui Ailing , Zhang Zheng , Wang Jinghe , Yang Li , Deng Shaohuan , Zhang Wencheng , Zhou An , Wu Zeyu
Published: January 2023

Background:

Borneol can enhance the blood-brain barrier (BBB) permeability of some drugs and suppress the efflux transport of P-glycoprotein (P-gp), which will contribute to the brain delivery of salvianic acid A (SAA).

Objective:

The study aimed to develop an approach to improve the brain targeting delivery of SAA with the aid of borneol.

Materials and Methods:

“Borneol” was involved in SAA via esterified prodrug SAA borneol ester (SBE) and combined administration (SAA-borneol, SAA-B). Subsequently, the blood-brain transport of SAA through brain/blood distribution and P-gp regulation via expression and function assay were investigated in rats.

Results:

The SBE and SAA-B-treated group received a three-fold brain concentration and longer t1/2 and retention period of active SAA than that of SAA alone (20.18/13.82 min vs. 6.48 min; 18.30/17.42 min vs. 11.46 min). In addition, blood to brain transport of active SAA in SBE was altered in comparison to that of SAA-B, ultimately resulting in a better drug targeting index (9.93 vs. 3.63). Further studies revealed that SBE-induced downregulation of P-gp expression occurred at the later stage of administration (60 min, P < 0.01), but SBE always showed a more powerful drug transport activity across BBB represented by Kp value of rhodamine 123 than SAA-B (30, 60 min, P < 0.05).

Conclusion:

The comparative results indicate that SBE exhibits prominent efficiency on SAA's targeting delivery through improved blood/brain metabolic properties and sustained inhibitory effect of “borneol” on P-gp efflux. Therefore, prodrug modification can be applied as a more effective approach for brain delivery of SAA.
The Non-hodgkin Lymphoma Treatment and Side Effects: A Systematic
Review and Meta-analysis
Authors: Câmara Alice Barros , Brandão Igor Augusto
Published: January 2023

Objective:

This paper aims to review studies regarding side effects found during Non-
Hodgkin Lymphoma treatment, to suggest the drug class most associated with these effects, as
well as the most prevalent side effect grade.

Methods:

This review is registered in PROSPERO (IDCRD42022295774) and followed the PICOS
strategy and PRISMA guidelines. The search was carried out in the databases PubMed/
MEDLINE, Scientific Electronic Library Online, and DOAJ. Medical Subject Headings Terms
were used and quantitative studies with conclusive results regarding side effects during the
non-Hodgkin lymphoma treatment were selected. Patent information was obtained from google
patents.

Results:

Monoclonal antibodies were the main drug class associated with side effects during NHL
therapy. The combination of Rituximab (Rituxan®; patent EP1616572B) and iInotuzumab (Besponsa
®; patent EP1504035B3) was associated with a higher incidence of thrombocytopenia (p < 0.05),
while the combination of Rituximab and Venetoclax (Venclexta®; patent CN107089981A) was associated
with a higher incidence of neutropenia (p < 0.05) when compared to Bendamustine combinations
(Treanda™; patent US20130253025A1). Meta-analysis revealed a high prevalence of grade 3-4
neutropenia and thrombocytopenia in men. Finally, Americans and Canadians experienced a higher
prevalence of these side effects, when compared to others nationalities (p < 0.05).

Conclusion:

Patents regarding the use of monoclonal antibodies in NHL treatment were published
in the last year. Monoclonal antibodies associated with neutropenia (grade 3-4) and thrombocytopenia,
especially in North American men treated for NHL, and with an average age of 62 years
demonstrated importance in this study.
Non-Insulin-Based Insulin Resistance Indices and Localized Periodontitis in
Physically Active Young Male Adults: CHIEF Oral Health Study
Authors: Lin Gen-Min , Tsai Kun-Zhe , Lin Yen-Po , Lai Shiue-Wei , Liu Chia-Hsin , Chang Yun-Chen
Published: January 2023

Aims:

This study aims to examine the association between non-insulin-based insulin
resistance indices and periodontitis severity in young males.

Background:

Periodontitis has been reported with an association with insulin resistance in middle-
and old-aged adults.

Objective:

The association between insulin resistance and localized periodontitis in young adults
is unclear.

Methods:

A total of non-diabetic 1,111 military males in Taiwan were included in this study.
Localized periodontitis was classified as healthy (N =665), stage I (N =130), stage II (N =161),
and stage III (N =155) based on the world workshop in 2017. Insulin resistance was assessed by
serum triglycerides concentrations, the triglycerides glucose (TyG) index, the product of serum
triglycerides and fasting glucose, and the ratio of serum triglycerides to high-density lipoprotein
cholesterol (TG/HDL-C). Multiple logistic regression analysis with adjustment for age, tobacco
smoking, alcohol intake, abdominal obesity, and hypertension was used to determine the associations.

Results:

Serum TG concentrations, TyG index, and TG/HDL-C ratio were dose-dependently associated
with a greater risk of localized periodontitis severity (from stage I to stage III) [odds
ratios and 95% confidence intervals: 1.001 (0.999-1.004), 1.003 (1.001-1.004) and 1.003 (1.002-
1.005) for TG; 1.45 (1.03-2.03), 1.65 (1.22-2.22) and 1.66 (1.22-2.26) for TyG index; 1.06 (0.99-
1.14), 1.09 (1.03-1.15) and 1.10 (1.04-1.16) for TG/HDL-C ratio]. However, the association was
only found in obese individuals and those free of impaired fasting glucose.

Conclusion:

The present study confirmed that periodontitis may lead to insulin resistance in
young male adults, particularly for those with obesity and without hyperglycemia. The TyG index
is suggestive as the strongest indicator for the association between insulin resistance and periodontitis
in young adults.
Hepatic and Systemic Inflammation for Left Ventricular Mass in Physically
Fit Adults: CHIEF Heart Study
Authors: Lin Gen-Min , Chou Yi-Ting , Chen Kai-Wen , Liu Pang-Yen , Tsai Kun-Zhe , Lin Yen-Po
Published: January 2023

Background:

Both low-grade systemic and hepatic inflammation could result in increased
left ventricular mass (LVM) in the general population. However, the associations, which
might be modified by exercise, have not been clarified in physically active young adults.

Methods:

The study included 2,004 military males aged 18–43 years in eastern Taiwan. Systemic
and hepatic inflammation was defined by the upper tertiles of blood white blood cell (WBC) counts
(7.51-11.00 x 103/μL) and serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT: 30-120 U/L), respectively. LVM
indexed for the body height ≥49 g/m2.7 was defined as left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) based
on echocardiography. Multiple logistic regression analysis adjusting for age, smoking, alcohol intake,
physical fitness, and metabolic syndrome was utilized to determine the associations.

Results:

As compared to the lower WBC/lower ALT group, there tended to have an increased risk
of LVH with the higher WBC/lower ALT group, the lower WBC/higher ALT group, and the higher
WBC/higher ALT group [odds ratios: 0.89 (95% confidence intervals (CI): 0.41-1.94), 1.90 (95%
CI: 0.86-4.22) and 2.48 (95% CI: 1.04-5.92); p-value for trend = 0.01].

Conclusion:

Our study suggested that in physically active males, those with hepatic inflammation
rather than low-grade systemic inflammation had a higher risk of LVH. Hepatic injury might be
relevant to LVH as an early sign of end-organ damage regardless of physical fitness in young
adults.
Quality Influencing Factors and Disease Resistance in Queen of Apis mellifera (Hymenoptera: Apidae)
Authors: Marwaha Lovleen
Published: January 2023

Before the 4th instar larval phase, worker larvae exhibit totipotency to develop into either female caste. In subsequent larval stages, differential expression of various genetic elements occurs under the prominent induction of royal jelly, developmental hormones, and volatile queen emission. In the honey bee female caste, anatomical reproductive disproportionality establishes due to this diversification of genomic expression. Exponential fertility and pheromonal profiling of the queen regulate colonial strength, colonial productivity, submissive behaviour, and the development of workers. Different factors prevailing within the hive or outside of the colony premises influence the queen's quality. For example, the queen's fecundity is negatively proportional to the age of the worker larva before entering the queen differentiation pathway. Further, numerous additional factors like genomic content, physiology, quality and quantity of royal jelly, colonial food storage, social environment, queen pheromones, etc. influence queen reproductive potential.

Further, queens have differential immune protective characteristics for different pathogens and parasites. This chapter highlights influencing factors for nonsynchronous ovarian development and variant immune-protective measures in female honey bees. The subsequent chapters elucidate the details of workers' ovarian programmed cell death under the regulation of multiple factors.
Prototyping of a Digital Life Course Care Platform for Preconception and Pregnancy Care: Pilot Feasibility and Acceptability Study
Authors: van der Windt Melissa , van Zundert Sofie Karolina Maria , Schoenmakers Sam , van Rossem Lenie , Steegers-Theunissen Régine Patricia Maria
Published: January 2023

Background

A healthy lifestyle plays a key role in the prevention of lifestyle-related diseases, including subfertility and pregnancy complications. Although the benefits of a healthy lifestyle are well-known, long-term adherence is limited. Moreover, memory for lifestyle-related information as well as medical information provided by the medical professional is often poor and insufficient. In order to innovate and improve health care for both the patients and health care professionals, we developed a prototype of a digital life course care platform (Smarter Health app), providing personalized lifestyle care trajectories integrated in medical care journeys.

Objective

This pilot study aimed to evaluate the feasibility, defined as the actual app use, and the acceptability, which included patient satisfaction and appreciation, of the Smarter Health app.

Methods

Between March 17, 2021, and September 30, 2021, pregnant women familiar with the Dutch language seeking tertiary preconception and pregnancy care were offered the app as part of standard medical care at the outpatient clinic Healthy Pregnancy of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology of the Erasmus University Medical Center. Three months after activation of the app, patients received a digital questionnaire consisting of aspects of feasibility and acceptability.

Results

During this pilot study, 440 patients visited the outpatient clinic Healthy Pregnancy. Of the 440 patients, 293 (66.6%) activated the app. Of the 293 patients who activated the app, 125 (42.7%) filled out the questionnaire. Of these 125 patients, 48 (38.4%) used the app. Most app users used it occasionally and logged in 8 times during their medical care trajectory. Overall, app users were satisfied with the app (median 5-point Likert scale=2.4, IQR 2.0-3.3).

Conclusions

Our findings showed that the Smarter Health app, which integrates lifestyle care in medical care, is a feasible health care innovation, and that patients were satisfied with the app. Follow-up and evaluation of pregnancy outcomes should be performed to further substantiate wider clinical implementation.
Natural Language Processing for Clinical Laboratory Data Repository Systems: Implementation and Evaluation for Respiratory Viruses (Preprint)
Authors: Dolatabadi Elham , Chen Branson , Buchan Sarah A , Austin Alex Marchand , Azimaee Mahmoud , McGeer Allison , Mubareka Samira , Kwong Jeffrey C
Published: January 2023

BACKGROUND

With the growing volume and complexity of laboratory repositories, it has become tedious to parse unstructured data into structured and tabulated formats for secondary uses such as decision support, quality assurance, and outcome analysis. However, advances in natural language processing (NLP) approaches have enabled efficient and automated extraction of clinically meaningful medical concepts from unstructured reports.

OBJECTIVE

In this study, we aimed to determine the feasibility of using the NLP model for information extraction as an alternative approach to a time-consuming and operationally resource-intensive handcrafted rule-based tool. Therefore, we sought to develop and evaluate a deep learning–based NLP model to derive knowledge and extract information from text-based laboratory reports sourced from a provincial laboratory repository system.

METHODS

The NLP model, a hierarchical multilabel classifier, was trained on a corpus of laboratory reports covering testing for 14 different respiratory viruses and viral subtypes. The corpus includes 87,500 unique laboratory reports annotated by 8 subject matter experts (SMEs). The classification task involved assigning the laboratory reports to labels at 2 levels: 24 fine-grained labels in level 1 and 6 coarse-grained labels in level 2. A “label” also refers to the status of a specific virus or strain being tested or detected (eg, influenza A is detected). The model’s performance stability and variation were analyzed across all labels in the classification task. Additionally, the model's generalizability was evaluated internally and externally on various test sets.

RESULTS

Overall, the NLP model performed well on internal, out-of-time (pre–COVID-19), and external (different laboratories) test sets with microaveraged F1-scores >94% across all classes. Higher precision and recall scores with less variability were observed for the internal and pre–COVID-19 test sets. As expected, the model’s performance varied across categories and virus types due to the imbalanced nature of the corpus and sample sizes per class. There were intrinsically fewer classes of viruses being detected than those tested; therefore, the model's performance (lowest F1-score of 57%) was noticeably lower in the detected cases.

CONCLUSIONS

We demonstrated that deep learning–based NLP models are promising solutions for information extraction from text-based laboratory reports. These approaches enable scalable, timely, and practical access to high-quality and encoded laboratory data if integrated into laboratory information system repositories.
Racial, Regional disparities of in-hospital mortality among patients with 2019 novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19): Evidence from NIS sample in 2020 (Preprint)
Authors: Jung Kim Sun , Medina Mar , Park Jeong-Hui , Chang Jongwha
Published: January 2023

BACKGROUND

Because of the racial and regional inequalities regarding COVID-19, more research is required to deconstruct how pandemic impacted different populations.

OBJECTIVE

This study seeks to explore differences in COVID-19 in-hospital mortality rates by patient and hospital factors. Patient factors include differences in mortality by age, income, race/ethnicity, and sex assigned at birth. Hospital factors are differences in mortality by rurality level, region, and census division.

METHODS

The latest 2020 United States NIS data was used to obtain a population-based estimate for patients with COVID-19. We conducted a cross-sectional retrospective data analysis on the NIS dataset. Sampling weights were used for all statistical analyses to represent nationwide in-hospital mortality of patients with COVID-19. We investigated how patients with COVID-19 and other characteristics, like region or race, are associated with in-hospital death using the multivariate survey logistic regression analysis. Additionally, we ran the models using census divisions to determine more specific regional mortality variance. Finally, subgroup analysis was conducted by race.

RESULTS

Of 1,002,655 patients, 88.9% did not have an in-hospital death (n=178,369), and 11.1% died in-hospital (n=22,162). Among them, we used the weighted logistic regression results examining predictors of in-hospital death. Patients older than 70 years were 10 times more likely to have an in-hospital death than patient younger than 40 years old (p<0.001). Male patients were 37% more likely to have an in-hospital death than female patients (p<0.001). Hispanic patients were 25% more likely to have in-hospital deaths than white patients (p<0.001). In the sub-analysis, Hispanic patients in the 50-60, 60-70, and 70 age groups were 32%, 34%, and 24%, respectively, more likely to die in-hospital than white patients (p<0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

Health disparities in the COVID-19 pandemic occurred across races and regions and must be addressed to prevent future deaths. Age and comorbidities like diabetes have a well-established link to increased disease severity, and we have linked both to higher mortality risk. Low-income patients had a significantly increased risk of in-hospital death starting at over 40 years old. In sum, Hispanic patients were at increased odds of mortality because of age and economics. Policy concerns should be raised to illuminate populations uniquely burdened by the COVID-19 pandemic to direct more significant research and funding to alleviate inequalities and mitigate future suffering.
Hepatitis B Surface Antigen Intensity Assessment from Immunohistochemical Stained Images Using Hierarchical Nucleus-guided Cytoplasm Grading Method (Preprint)
Authors: Yang Wei-Jong , Tsai Hung-Wen , Liao Shao Kai , Huang Chun-Rong , Shen Meng-Ru , Chung Pau-Choo
Published: January 2023

BACKGROUND

Previous studies have shown that the likelihood of liver cancer recurrence scales proportionally with the hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) intensity. The intensity assessment of HBsAg is traditionally performed manually based on an observation of the cytoplasm in stained immunohistochemistry (IHC) whole slide images (WSIs). However, the assessment process is time consuming and subjective, and depends heavily on the experience of the pathologist. To address these issues, the use of machine learning to provide objective results has been suggested as a potential solution. However, applying deep learning networks to perform supervised cytoplasmic segmentation is challenging due to the lack of clear boundaries in the cytoplasm, which makes it difficult to generate accurate and a large number of ground truth data for training. This presents a significant challenge for HBsAg intensity assessment.

OBJECTIVE

This study presents the first automatic approach to grade the HBsAg intensity from IHC stained WSIs. The proposed method combines supervised learning with unsupervised techniques to provide quantitative results without the need of detailed and comprehensive labeling of cytoplasmic boundaries. The HBsAg intensity assessment enables pathologists to objectively evaluate the relationship between HBsAg and liver cancer by eliminating the need for human intervention.

METHODS

A hierarchical nucleus-guided cytoplasm grading method is proposed for HBsAg intensity assessment. The proposed method comprises three sequential steps: nuclear instance segmentation, unsupervised cytoplasm region extraction, and HBsAg intensity grading. The output of the nuclear segmentation network is used to guide an unsupervised cytoplasm region extraction process. HBsAg intensity grading is then performed in the HSV color domain to obtain quantitative analysis results. The proposed method leverages the power of convolutional neural networks (CNNs) to facilitate the challenging task of unsupervised cytoplasm region extraction and enable the automatic HBsAg intensity assessment.

RESULTS

The feasibility of the proposed method is demonstrated using an NCKUH HBsAg intensity grading dataset consisting of 40 WSIs acquired from patients with clinically-diagnosed liver disease. The results show that a grading accuracy of 95% is obtained for the testing images.

CONCLUSIONS

The proposed method provides a novel automatic approach for assessing the HBsAg intensity from IHC stained images and visualizing the intensity assessment results in a user-friendly and intuitive manner. It thus provides a convenient and objective assessment tool to support pathologists in performing HBsAg intensity grading and analyzing the correlation between HBsAg and liver cancer.
Obstacles to evidence-based procurement, implementation and evaluation of health and welfare technologies in municipalities: A mixed-methods study from Sweden. (Preprint)
Authors: Norgren Therese , Richardson Matt X. , Wamala-Andersson Sarah
Published: January 2023

BACKGROUND

Health and social care must be evidence-based according to national policy, but there are indications that evidence for health and welfare technology (HWT) effectiveness is lacking in related Swedish municipal work processes.

OBJECTIVE

To explore the use of evidence when Swedish municipalities procure, implement, and evaluate HWT, and what support municipalities desire regarding this.

METHODS

An explanatory sequential mixed-methods design employed quantitative surveys and subsequent semi-structured interviews of officials in five designated “model” municipalities regarding HWT use.

RESULTS

In the past 12 months, four of five municipalities had required some form of evidence during procurement processes, but the frequency of this was variable and often consisted of references from other municipalities. Two of five municipalities used an established process for implementation of HWT and three of five had a plan for structured follow-up, but the use and dissemination of evidence within these varied greatly. All municipalities desired or suggested support regarding evidence-based work with HWT, including establishing evaluation frameworks and qualitative follow-up of effectiveness.

CONCLUSIONS

Structured use of evidence in procurement, implementation, and evaluation of HWT is inconsistent among municipalities, and internal and external dissemination of evidence for effectiveness is rare. This may establish a legacy of ineffective HWT in municipal settings. The results suggest that existing national agency guidance is not sufficient to meet current needs. New, more effective types of support to increase the use of evidence in critical phases of municipal procurement and implementation of HWT is recommended.
Correction: Efficacy, Benefits, and Harms of a Self-management App in a Swedish Trauma-Exposed Community Sample (PTSD Coach): Randomized Controlled Trial (Preprint)
Authors: Hensler Ida , Sveen Josefin , Cernvall Martin , Arnberg Filip K
Published: January 2023

UNSTRUCTURED

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Test: Title (Preprint)
Authors: Account Developer
Published: January 2023

UNSTRUCTURED

Abstract
Bayesian hierarchical model-based network meta-analysis to overcome survival extrapolation challenges caused by data immaturity
Authors: Heeg Bart , Verhoek Andre , Tremblay Gabriel , Harari Ofir , Soltanifar Mohsen , Chu Haitao , Roychoudhury Satrajit , Cappelleri Joseph C
Published: January 2023

Aim:
This research evaluated standard Weibull mixture cure (WMC) network meta-analysis (NMA) with Bayesian hierarchical (BH) WMC NMA to inform long-term survival of therapies.
Materials & methods:
Four trials in previously treated metastatic non-small-cell lung cancer with PD-L1 >1% were used comparing docetaxel with nivolumab, pembrolizumab and atezolizumab. Cure parameters related to a certain treatment class were assumed to share a common distribution.
Results:
Standard WMC NMA predicted cure rates were 0.03 (0.01; 0.07), 0.18 (0.12; 0.24), 0.07 (0.02; 0.15) and 0.03 (0.00; 0.09) for docetaxel, nivolumab, pembrolizumab and atezolizumab, respectively, with corresponding incremental life years (LY) of 3.11 (1.65; 4.66), 1.06 (0.41; 2.37) and 0.42 (-0.57; 1.68). The Bayesian hierarchical-WMC-NMA rates were 0.06 (0.03; 0.10), 0.17 (0.11; 0.23), 0.12 (0.05; 0.20) and 0.12 (0.03; 0.23), respectively, with incremental LY of 2.35 (1.04; 3.93), 1.67 (0.68; 2.96) and 1.36 (-0.05; 3.64).
Conclusion:
BH-WMC-NMA impacts incremental mean LYs and cost–effectiveness ratios, potentially affecting reimbursement decisions.
Infecção pelo Hpv na região Sul do Brasil: uma revisão integrativa da literatura
Authors: Ataides Monique Cezimbra , Calil Luciane Noal , Mezzomo Lisiane Cervieri
Published: January 2023

O papilomavírus humano (HPV) infecta pele e mucosas e causa, na grande maioria dos casos, lesões transitórias que podem evoluir para câncer. O objetivo deste estudo é avaliar, por meio de revisão integrativa, a literatura disponível sobre a frequência da infecção pelo HPV na região Sul do Brasil. Buscou-se nas bases de dados PubMed, Literatura Latino-americana e do Caribe em Ciências da Saúde (Lilacs) e Scientific Electronic Library Online (SciELO) a frequência de HPV na região Sul do Brasil nos últimos dez anos. Foram identificados oito estudos que se enquadraram nos critérios da pesquisa. A prevalência estimada de infecção pelo HPV foi de 46,19%. Os genótipos mais encontrados foram HPV 6, de baixo risco, e os subtipos HPV 16, HPV 18, HPV 31 e HPV 58, de alto risco. Nas amostras classificadas como LSIL/HSIL ou de células escamosas atípicas (ASC), tipos virais de baixo risco HPV 6, HPV 11 e HPV 44 foram os mais prevalentes, enquanto para os de alto risco os subtipos HPV 16, HPV 18 e HPV 58 foram os mais encontrados. Embora tenham sido identificados poucos estudos com essa temática nos últimos anos, a partir dos dados da pesquisa foi possível estimar a prevalência do HPV no Sul do Brasil e seus genótipos mais frequentes. Essa informação é importante para o planejamento das ações de saúde pública e dos serviços de saúde, contribuindo para a elaboração de estratégias de controle e prevenção da infecção.
AUTOMATIC CONTROL SYSTEM FOR PUMPING EQUIPMENT IN A BOILER ROOM
Authors:   Udmurt State University, STERKHOVA TATYANA , SHIKHOVA NADEZHDA
Published: January 2023

The current level of development of heat power facilities requires a high automation and electromechanization of processes to ensure the reliability of the system, the safety of maintenance personnel, reduce the cost of heat energy, which is especially important for agricultural facilities. Automatic technical means include all devices in the control system and intended for receiving, transmitting and storing information, as well as performing control and managing of the process of heat generation and its supply to consumers. (Research purpose) The research purpose is developing an automatic control system for pumping equipment in a boiler room to ensure the reliability of equipment, improve the working conditions of service personnel and reduce the cost of thermal energy. (Materials and methods) The article considers the possibility of automatic control of the pumping equipment control system in the boiler room with the maximum possible use of modern Russian-made microcontrollers with impressive cost savings. (Results and discussion) For the implementation of the project, authors proposed the OWEN devices and automation tools, as well as OWEN Logic software designed for programming devices belonging to the class of programmable relays. (Conclusions) Due to the reduction in the cost of equipment elements being replaced during repairs and the wages of repair personnel, the payback period will be from two to four years at a discounted rate of the central bank of Russia equal to 10 percent today. The proposed control system of pumping equipment can be used in boiler houses intended for heat supply to consumers of industrial enterprises, enterprises of the agro-industrial complex and settlements.
AUTOMATION MONITORING OF CUTTING FORCES DURING MILLING AND DRILLING
Authors:   Irkutsk State Transport University, FILIPPENKO NIKOLAY , LIVSHITS ALEKSANDR
Published: January 2023

Commissioning of products made of new composite materials significantly reduces the weight of the structure, which is an important indicator in the transport construction and manufacture of special equipment used in agriculture. For example, reducing the weight of the car by 1 kg saves up to 100 liters of fuel per year. Nevertheless, there are problems associated with the measuring of cutting forces associated with the absence of experimental values of a number of coefficients used in calculations. (Research purpose) The research purpose is developing a device for measuring cutting forces and an automated control system for measuring, transmission and storage of data. (Materials and methods) The solution to this problem was constructed on the basis of the method of reengineering the existing dynamometer design with the introduction of undocumented capabilities of the dynamometer base to determine the cutting forces at all three coordinates Px, Py, Pz and the torque that occurs during cutting. (Results and discussion) The article presents the polymer material and the additive technology used to manufacture the dynamometer. The method of selection of deformation control sensors was substantiated and a methodology for setting up and calibrating the data collection and control system was described. The article presents an automated control system for measuring cutting forces, processing, transmitting and storing information. (Conclusions) The experimental and industrial studies of dynamometer designs made it possible to develop a cheap device for measuring cutting forces with an automated control system for monitoring, transmission and storage, which makes it possible to optimize production, and save equipment and tool resources.