bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Preparedness for and impact of COVID-19 on primary health care delivery in urban and rural Malawi: a mixed methods study
Authors: Phiri Mackwellings Maganizo , MacPherson Eleanor Elizabeth , Panulo Mindy , Chidziwisano Kondwani , Kalua Khumbo , Chirambo Chawanangwa Mahebere , Kawalazira Gift , Gundah Zaziwe , Chunda Penjani , Morse Tracy
Published: June 2022

Objective

Across Africa, the impact of COVID-19 continues to be acutely felt. This includes Malawi, where a key component of health service delivery to mitigate against COVID-19 are the primary healthcare facilities, strategically placed throughout districts to offer primary and maternal healthcare. These facilities have limited infrastructure and capacity but are the most accessible and play a crucial role in responding to the COVID-19 pandemic. This study assessed health facility preparedness for COVID-19 and the impact of the pandemic on health service delivery and frontline workers.

Setting

Primary and maternal healthcare in Blantyre District, Malawi.

Participants

We conducted regular visits to 31 healthcare facilities and a series of telephone-based qualitative interviews with frontline workers (n=81 with 38 participants) between August 2020 and May 2021.

Results

Despite significant financial and infrastructural constraints, health centres continued to remain open. The majority of frontline health workers received training and access to preventative COVID-19 materials. Nevertheless, we found disruptions to key services and a reduction in clients attending facilities. Key barriers to implementing COVID-19 prevention measures included periodic shortages of resources (soap, hand sanitiser, water, masks and staff). Frontline workers reported challenges in managing physical distancing and in handling suspected COVID-19 cases. We found discrepancies between reported behaviour and practice, particularly with consistent use of masks, despite being provided. Frontline workers felt COVID-19 had negatively impacted their lives. They experienced fatigue and stress due to heavy workloads, stigma in the community and worries about becoming infected with and transmitting COVID-19.

Conclusion

Resource (human and material) inadequacy shaped the health facility capacity for support and response to COVID-19, and frontline workers may require psychosocial support to manage the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Therapy of genomic unstable solid tumours (WHO grade 3/4）in clinical stage III/IV using individualised neoantigen tumour peptides-INP trial (individualised neoantigen tumour peptides immunotherapy): study protocol for an open-label, non-randomised, prospective, single-arm trial
Authors: Wang Ling , Tang Jiaxi , Chen Xia , Zhao Juan , Tang Wanyan , Liao Bin , Nian Weiqi
Published: June 2022

Introduction

Neoantigens derived from tumour somatic mutations are recognised as ideal vaccine targets. Tumour neoantigens have been studied in a wide range of tumours. Most of research on neoantigens has focused just on a unique tumour and a single mutated gene. Currently, a few studies have reported using a mixture of neoantigen peptides derived from multiple genetic mutation sites in the treatment of genomic unstable advanced solid malignancies. The trial aims to evaluate the safety and efficacy of individualised tumour neoantigen peptide mixtures in the treatment of genomic unstable advanced solid malignant tumours.

Methods and analysis

This is a prospective, non-randomised, open, single-centre, single-arm, phase I trial. Patients with genomic unstable advanced solid malignancies are eligible for study participations. 20 patients will be included in the trial. Through the whole exome and transcriptome sequencing analysis of the fresh blood and tumour tissues of the enrolled patients, the 20 25-33aa antigen peptides with the highest mutation scores of the patients will be screened out, and the corresponding new antigen peptides will be synthesised and prepared. Patients will be treated with their own individualised neoantigen polypeptide combined with a polypeptide adjuvant (human granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor). The primary endpoint is safety indicators, including general and specific adverse events which will be monitored continuously. Secondary endpoints are progression-free survival, objective response rate, objective duration of remission, 1-year survival rate and overall survival.

Ethics and dissemination

This study has received approval from the Ethics Committee of Chongqing University Cancer Hospital on 21 November 2019 (207/2019). The findings of this trial will be disseminated through national and international presentations and peer-reviewed publications.

Trial registration number

ChiCTR1900025364.
Development and design validation of a novel network meta-analysis presentation tool for multiple outcomes: a qualitative descriptive study
Authors: Phillips Mark R , Sadeghirad Behnam , Busse Jason W , Brignardello-Petersen Romina , Cuello-Garcia Carlos A , Kenji Nampo Fernando , Guo Yu Jia , Bzovsky Sofia , Bannuru Raveendhara R , Thabane Lehana , Bhandari Mohit , Guyatt Gordon H
Published: June 2022

Objective

The Grades of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluation working group recently developed an innovative approach to interpreting results from network meta-analyses (NMA) through minimally and partially contextualised methods; however, the optimal method for presenting results for multiple outcomes using this approach remains uncertain. We; therefore, developed and iteratively modified a presentation method that effectively summarises NMA results of multiple outcomes for clinicians using this new interpretation approach.

Design

Qualitative descriptive study.

Setting

A steering group of seven individuals with experience in NMA and design validation studies developed two colour-coded presentation formats for evaluation. Through an iterative process, we assessed the validity of both formats to maximise their clarity and ease of interpretation.

Participants

26 participants including 20 clinicians who routinely provide patient care, 3 research staff/research methodologists and 3 residents.

Main outcome measures

Two team members used qualitative content analysis to independently analyse transcripts of all interviews. The steering group reviewed the analyses and responded with serial modifications of the presentation format.

Results

To ensure that readers could easily discern the benefits and safety of each included treatment across all assessed outcomes, participants primarily focused on simple information presentations, with intuitive organisational decisions and colour coding. Feedback ultimately resulted in two presentation versions, each preferred by a substantial group of participants, and development of a legend to facilitate interpretation.

Conclusion

Iterative design validation facilitated the development of two novel formats for presenting minimally or partially contextualised NMA results for multiple outcomes. These presentation approaches appeal to audiences that include clinicians with limited familiarity with NMAs.
Treatment and prescribing trends of antihypertensive drugs in 2.7 million UK primary care patients over 31 years: a population-based cohort study
Authors: Rouette Julie , McDonald Emily G. , Schuster Tibor , Brophy James M. , Azoulay Laurent
Published: June 2022

Objectives

To describe the prescribing trends of antihypertensive drugs in primary care patients and assess the trajectory of antihypertensive drug prescriptions, from first-line to third-line, in patients with hypertension according to changes to the United Kingdom (UK) hypertension management guidelines.

Design

Population-based cohort study.

Setting and participants

We used the UK Clinical Practice Research Datalink, an electronic primary care database representative of the UK population. Between 1988 and 2018, we identified all adult patients with at least one prescription for a thiazide diuretic, angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor, angiotensin receptor blocker, beta-blocker or calcium channel blocker (CCB).

Primary and secondary outcome measures

We estimated the period prevalence of patients with antihypertensive drug prescriptions for each calendar year over a 31-year period. Treatment trajectory was assessed by identifying patients with hypertension newly initiating an antihypertensive drug, and treatment changes were defined by a switch or add-on of a new class. This cohort was stratified before and after 2007, the year following important changes to UK hypertension management guidelines.

Results

The cohort included 2 709 241 patients. The prevalence of primary care patients with antihypertensive drug prescriptions increased from 7.8% (1988) to 21.9% (2018) and was observed for all major classes except thiazide diuretics. Patients with hypertension initiated thiazide diuretics (36.8%) and beta-blockers (23.6%) as first-line drugs before 2007, and ACE inhibitors (39.9%) and CCBs (31.8%) after 2007. After 2007, 17.3% were not prescribed guideline-recommended first-line agents. Overall, patients were prescribed a median of 2 classes (IQR 1–2) after first-line treatment.

Conclusion

Nearly one-quarter of primary care patients were prescribed antihypertensive drugs by the end of the study period. Most patients with hypertension initiated guideline-recommended first-line agents. Not all patients, particularly females, were prescribed recommended agents however, potentially leading to suboptimal cardiovascular outcomes. Future research should aim to better understand the implication of this finding.
Combinations of Toll-like receptor 8 agonist TL8-506 activate human tumor-derived dendritic cells
Authors: He Mi , Soni Bhavesh , Schwalie Petra C , Hüsser Tamara , Waltzinger Caroline , De Silva Duvini , Prinz Ylva , Krümpelmann Laura , Calabro Samuele , Matos Ines , Trumpfheller Christine , Bacac Marina , Umaña Pablo , Levesque Mitchell P , Dummer Reinhard , van den Broek Maries , Gasser Stephan
Published: June 2022

Background

Dendritic cells (DCs) are professional antigen presenting cells that initiate immune defense to pathogens and tumor cells. Human tumors contain only few DCs that mostly display a non-activated phenotype. Hence, activation of tumor-associated DCs may improve efficacy of cancer immunotherapies. Toll-like receptor (TLR) agonists and interferons are known to promote DC maturation. However, it is unclear if DCs in human tumors respond to activation signals and which stimuli induce the optimal activation of human tumor DCs.

Methods

We first screened combinations of TLR agonists, a STING agonist and interferons (IFNs) for their ability to activate human conventional DCs (cDCs). Two combinations: TL8-506 (a TLR8 agonist)+IFN-γ and TL8-506+Poly(I:C) (a TLR3 agonist) were studied in more detail. cDC1s and cDC2s derived from cord blood stem cells, blood or patient tumor samples were stimulated with either TL8-506+IFN-γ or TL8-506+Poly(I:C). Different activation markers were analyzed by ELISA, flow cytometry, NanoString nCounter Technology or single-cell RNA-sequencing. T cell activation and migration assays were performed to assess functional consequences of cDC activation.

Results

We show that TL8-506 synergized with IFN-γ or Poly(I:C) to induce high expression of different chemokines and cytokines including interleukin (IL)-12p70 in human cord blood and blood cDC subsets in a combination-specific manner. Importantly, both combinations induced the activation of cDC subsets in patient tumor samples ex vivo. The expression of immunostimulatory genes important for anticancer responses includingCD40,IFNB1,IFNL1,IL12AandIL12Bwere upregulated on stimulation. Furthermore, chemokines associated with CD8+T cell recruitment were induced in tumor-derived cDCs in response to TL8-506 combinations. In vitro activation and migration assays confirmed that stimulated cDCs induce T cell activation and migration.

Conclusions

Our data suggest that cord blood-derived and blood-derived cDCs are a good surrogate to study treatment responses in human tumor cDCs. While most cDCs in human tumors display a non-activated phenotype, TL8-506 combinations drive human tumor cDCs towards an immunostimulatory phenotype associated with Th1 responses on stimulation. Hence, TL8-506-based combinations may be promising candidates to initiate or boost antitumor responses in patients with cancer.
A novel diagnostic approach for patients with adult-onset dystonia
Authors: van Egmond Martje E , Lagrand Tjerk J , Lizaitiene Gintaute , Smit Marenka , Tijssen Marina A J
Published: June 2022

Adult-onset dystonia can be acquired, inherited or idiopathic. The dystonia is usually focal or segmental and for a limited number of cases causal treatment is available. In recent years, rapid developments in neuroimmunology have led to increased knowledge on autoantibody-related dystonias. At the same time, genetic diagnostics in sequencing technology have evolved and revealed several new genes associated with adult-onset dystonia. Furthermore, new phenotype–genotype correlations have been elucidated. Consequently, clinicians face the dilemma of which additional investigations should be performed and whether to perform genetic testing or not. To ensure early diagnosis and to prevent unnecessary investigations, integration of new diagnostic strategies is needed.

We designed a new five-step diagnostic approach for adult-onset dystonia. The first four steps are based on a broad literature search and expert opinion, the fifth step, on when to perform genetic testing, is based on a detailed systematic literature review up to 1 December 2021.

The basic principle of the algorithm is that genetic testing is unlikely to lead to changes in management in three groups: (1) patients with an acquired form of adult-onset dystonia; (2) patients with neurodegenerative disorders, presenting with a combined movement disorder including dystonic symptoms and (3) patients with adult-onset isolated focal or segmental dystonia. Throughout the approach, focus lies on early identification of treatable forms of dystonia, either acquired or genetic.

This novel diagnostic approach for adult-onset dystonia can help clinicians to decide when to perform additional tests, including genetic testing and facilitates early aetiological diagnosis, to enable timely treatment.
Use of permethrin and other pyrethroids and mortality in the Agricultural Health Study
Authors: Shrestha Srishti , Parks Christine G , Umbach David M , Hofmann Jonathan N , Beane Freeman Laura E , Blair Aaron , Sandler Dale P
Published: June 2022

Objectives

Pyrethroid insecticides have been linked with multiple health outcomes. One study reported an association with increased all-cause and cardiovascular mortality. Given the widespread use of pyrethroids, these findings warrant confirmation. We explored associations of permethrin/pyrethroid use with overall and cause-specific mortality among 50 665 licensed pesticide applicators in the Agricultural Health Study.

Methods

At enrolment (1993–1997), participants self-reported information on permethrin/pyrethroid use. Information on causes of death came from linkage with death registries through 2016. We used Cox proportional hazards models to estimate HRs and 95% CIs with adjustment for potential confounders.

Results

Over an average 21 years of follow-up, 19.6% (9,955) of the cohort died. We found no clear evidence that ever-use of permethrin/pyrethroid was associated with elevated overall mortality or with mortality from most causes examined. There was suggestive evidence, based on a small number of deaths among those exposed, for elevated pyrethroid-associated mortality from some neurological, respiratory and genitourinary diseases in the overall sample and from lung cancer among never-smokers.

Conclusion

Although based on mortality, which is also affected by survival, rather than incidence, these findings are biologically plausible, and future investigations in other populations may be warranted.
Genome-wide association study across five cohorts identifies five novel loci associated with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis
Authors: Allen Richard J , Stockwell Amy , Oldham Justin M , Guillen-Guio Beatriz , Schwartz David A , Maher Toby M , Flores Carlos , Noth Imre , Yaspan Brian L , Jenkins R Gisli , Wain Louise V
Published: June 2022

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a chronic lung condition with poor survival times. We previously published a genome-wide meta-analysis of IPF risk across three studies with independent replication of associated variants in two additional studies. To maximise power and to generate more accurate effect size estimates, we performed a genome-wide meta-analysis across all five studies included in the previous IPF risk genome-wide association studies. We used the distribution of effect sizes across the five studies to assess the replicability of the results and identified five robust novel genetic association signals implicating mTOR (mammalian target of rapamycin) signalling, telomere maintenance and spindle assembly genes in IPF risk.
Tilt grain boundary energy in 〈0001〉/φ bicrystals of pure ice
Authors: Di Prinzio C.L. , Stoler D. , Varela Aguirre , Druetta E.
Published: June 2022

This work presents measurements of the relative energy ( γgb/ γs) of the tilt grain boundary (GB) in pure ice bicrystals with crystalline misorientation 〈0001〉/ φ. The GBs had different inclinations and were annealed at −5 °C and −18 °C. A GB structure model called the facet model (FM) was applied. The FM assumes that the GB is composed of facets. The facets are oriented with the principal faces of the cell primitive of the coincident site lattice (CSL). The CSL is associated with the bicrystalline misorientation. In general, ( γgb/ γs) varies by more than one order of magnitude between temperatures −5 °C ( γgb/ γs ~ 0.03) and −18 °C ( γgb/ γs ~ 0.35), so GB structural changes are very noticeable with temperature. The GB energy does not depend on the inclination at temperatures near 0 °C, while the dependence on inclination presents a slight significance at −18 °C. Finally, it was observed that the GB relative energy ( γgb/ γs) for bicrystalline 〈0001〉/ φ samples is lower than the relative energy at other crystalline misorientations. These experimental data are unique and could explain the slow GB migration in 〈0001〉/ φ bicrystals and they could help to understand grain growth in polar ice where the most frequent crystalline misorientation is 〈0001〉/ φ.
Effects of hunting pressure and timing of harvest on bighorn sheep (Ovis canadensis) horn size
Authors: Lassis Roxane , Festa-Bianchet Marco , Pelletier Fanie
Published: June 2022

Trophy hunting can affect weapon size of wild animals through both demographic and evolutionary changes. In bighorn sheep ( Ovis canadensis Shaw, 1804), intense harvest of young males with fast-growing horns may have partly driven long-term decreases in horn size. These selective effects could be dampened if migrants from protected areas, not subject to artificial selection, survived and reproduced within hunted populations. Bighorn rams undertake long-distance breeding migrations in the weeks preceding the late-November rut. We analysed records of >7800 trophy bighorn rams shot from 1974 to 2019 in Alberta, Canada, to test the hypothesis that high harvest pressure during breeding migrations was correlated with a greater decrease in horn size. We compared areas with and without a pronounced harvest peak in late October, when male breeding migrations begin. Areas without a pronounced harvest peak in late October, which likely experienced a lower harvest rate, showed a similar temporal decline in horn size, but no increase in age at harvest suggesting a possibly weaker decline in horn growth. Our study suggests that unselected immigrants from protected areas could partly buffer the effects of intense trophy hunting only if harvest pressure was reduced when breeding migrations commence.
Sinomenium acutum: A Comprehensive Review of its Botany, Phytochemistry, Pharmacology and Clinical Application
Authors: Ding Chao , Li Yuze , Sun Yu , Wu Ying , Wang Fengrui , Liu Chenwang , Zhang Huawei , Jiang Yi , Zhang Dongdong , Song Xiaomei
Published: June 2022

Sinomenium acutum is the dry stem of Sinomenium acutum (Thunb.) Rehd et Wils. (S. acutum) and Sinomenium acutum (Thunb.) Rehd. et Wils. var. cinereum Rehd. et Wils and is mainly distributed in China and Japan. As a traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) for dispelling wind and dampness in China, it is widely distributed and has a long history of drug use. In recent years, with the increase of the incidence of rheumatoid disease, S. acutum has become the focus of research. This paper reviews the literature on the chemical constituents, pharmacological effects, clinical applications and pharmacokinetics and safety of S. acutum from the past 60 years. At present, more than 210 natural compounds have been isolated from S. acutum, including alkaloids, lignans, triterpenoid saponins, steroids, and other structures. Pharmacological activities of S. acutum were mainly reported on anti-inflammatory, analgesic, anti-allergic, immunosuppressive, anti-tumor, liver-protective, anti-oxidative, and other effects, and clinical applications were mainly recorded on rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, and other diseases. The clinical use of SIN has fewer side effects and more safety; only a small number of gastrointestinal reactions occurred, and the symptoms disappeared after the drug stopped. The purpose of this paper is to lay a foundation and provide reference for the follow-up research and wide application of S. acutum.
Direct photons in hydrodynamic modeling of relativistic nuclear collisions
Authors: Monnai Akihiko
Published: June 2022

We review direct photons in the phenomenology of nuclear collisions at relativistic energies. Direct photons carry information about the space–time evolution of nuclear collisions because the QCD medium is transparent against colorless particles. After a status summary of theoretical and experimental studies, transverse momentum spectra and azimuthal momentum anisotropies of direct photons are studied in the context of the hydrodynamic modeling of relativistic nuclear collisions with emphasis on pre-equilibrium photons. It is implied that pre-equilibrium photons can be as important as thermal and prompt photons for comprehensive understanding of direct photon production.
Mass spectra and decay properties of singly heavy bottom-strange baryons
Authors: Kakadiya Amee , Shah Zalak , Rai Ajay Kumar
Published: June 2022

In this paper, we enumerated ground and excited state masses of singly heavy bottom-strange baryons using the hypercentral constituent quark model (hCQM). The screening potential is used with color-Coulomb potential, as the confining potential. We determine the possible [Formula: see text] values to recently observed excited states like, [Formula: see text], [Formula: see text], [Formula: see text], [Formula: see text] and four [Formula: see text] states. The Regge trajectories are plotted in [Formula: see text] plane to assign the [Formula: see text] values and quantum numbers to recently observed states. Using the calculated spectroscopic data, properties such as magnetic moment, transition magnetic moment, radiative decay width, and strong decay width are also investigated for all singly heavy bottom-strange baryonic system.
Origin of the VEVs hierarchy
Authors: Abbas Gauhar
Published: June 2022

We present an origin of the vacuum expectation values hierarchy in a nonminimal technicolor (TC) framework which is capable of explaining the flavor spectrum of the Standard Model (SM) along with neutrino masses and mixing, and simultaneously satisfying crucial experimental bounds. The TC scale in this framework can be lower such that a SM-like Higgs boson emerges from within the model. We also derive lower bound on the mass of the vector TC state using the latest experimental bound on the S-parameter.
The sky invariant: A new conformal invariant for Schwarzschild spacetime
Authors: Bautista A. , Ibort A. , Lafuente J.
Published: June 2022

A new class of conformal invariants for a given spacetime M is introduced exploiting the conformal geometry of any light ray [Formula: see text]. Each congruence of light rays passing through a given point p defines the sky S(p) of such point. The new conformal invariants are defined on the bundle of skies of the spacetime M, being called sky invariants accordingly. The natural conformal covariant derivative defined on a light ray and its associated covariant calculus allows us to show the existence of a natural conformal invariant differential of arc that, together with the restriction of the curvature of the conformal covariant derivative, can be used to construct a sky invariant that will be called the sky curvature. An algorithm, that can be implemented on any symbolic manipulation software system, to compute the sky curvature will be discussed and the main ideas and the explicit computation of the sky curvature are illustrated in Schwarzschild spacetime.
On the Design of Cylindrical Magnetorheological Clutches
Authors: Akbari E. , Khajehsaeid H. , Asiaban R.
Published: June 2022

Magnetorheological fluids (MRFs) exhibit variable mechanical properties in response to magnetic stimuli. Thanks to their rapid and reversible viscosity changes, MRFs can be utilized in a variety of applications including torque transmission devices such as clutches. In this work, the geometrical design of cylindrical MR clutches is investigated with the aim of optimizing the torque transmission capability. Effects of design parameters such as radius, gap size, effective length, and MRF volume are investigated in the presence of variable magnetic field. Magneto-mechanical behavior of some MR fluids with different particle content are investigated by means of two different constitutive models to simulate the clutch performance in a range of geometrical parameters. It is shown that the transmitted torque increases nonlinearly by inner radius of the clutch, for example, in the studied range, 150% higher torque is achieved for only 40% larger radius. The clutch’s gap size does not much affect the torque, however, since it significantly affects the required volume of MRF, a lower gap size is favorable. The torque is also calculated for constant volumes of the MRFs. At a certain volume, although a higher radius translates to a shorter length, it is still favorable. For example, a 40% increase in the design radius, almost doubles the transmitted torque for both the studied MRFs. Moreover, a clutch filled by an MRF with higher particle content can transmit higher torques. It is also concluded that increasing the clutch’s radii is an easier way to improve the mean torque while altering the applied magnetic field is a better way to adjust the range of achievable torques. The simulations also demonstrate the importance of an accurate and reliable constitutive model in the design of MR devices. It is shown that Bingham model is not reliable at high magnetic fields as it underestimates the transmitted torque though calibrated at each field intensity. However, the employed nonlinear model provides more reliable results by only being calibrated at an arbitrary field.
Functionally Graded Soft Dielectric Elastomer Phononic Crystals: Finite Deformation, Electro-Elastic Longitudinal Waves, and Band Gaps Tunability via Electro-Mechanical Loading
Authors: Alam Zeeshan , Sharma Atul Kumar
Published: June 2022

Active tuning of elastic wave band gaps received significant attention in the recent past. To this end, soft dielectric elastomers (DEs) have indicated great promise owing to their capability to undergo large reversible deformations and deformation-dependent constitutive properties. In this paper, we investigate the longitudinal wave band gaps an infinite periodic soft functionally graded dielectric elastomer subjected to electro-mechanical biasing fields. Material properties of the functionally graded DE are described by the power law. The nonlinear hyperelastic compressible neo–Hookean model is employed for characterizing the constitutive behavior of the soft functionally graded dielectric elastomer. The finite element method with Bloch–Floquet theory is employed for finding the band-structure of the infinitely periodic soft functionally graded DE structure. A parametric study brings out the effect of biasing fields and power law exponent on the band gap characteristics. The biasing mechanical prestress, the electric displacement field show significant influence on position and the width of band gaps. The inferences reported here can find their potential use in the design of soft DE wave devices with tunable band structures.
Preparing Pre-Service Physics Teachers to Diagnose Students’ Conceptions Not Covered by Physics Education Textbooks
Authors: Feser Markus Sebastian , Krumphals Ingrid
Published: June 2022

To date, there is a lack of research on learning environments for pre-service physics teachers that allow them to learn and practise diagnosing students’ conceptions that are (currently) not covered in physics education textbooks (e.g. students’ conceptions about viscosity). In this study, we developed and piloted such a learning environment, which was implemented and piloted twice in a seminar for pre-service physics teachers. As coping with a diagnostic process is particularly demanding for pre-service physics teachers, our accompanying research aims to identify learning barriers within our developed learning environment. The results indicate that the participants experience the learning environment with varying degrees of difficulty. One main difficulty for pre-service physics teachers seems to be in interconnecting their content knowledge with their pedagogical content knowledge in the diagnostic process.
Fractional Order Darwinian Pigeon-Inspired Optimization for Multi-UAV Swarm Controller
Authors: Tong Bingda , Wei Chen , Shi Yuhui
Published: June 2022

This paper presents a novel multiple unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) swarm controller based on the fractional calculus theory. This controller is designed based on fractional order Darwinian pigeon-inspired optimization (FODPIO) and PID algorithm. Several comparative simulations are conducted in the paper. The simulation results reveal that FODPIObased multi-UAV formation controller is superior to the basic PIO and differential evolution (DE) method. The fractional coeffcient in FODPIO algorithm makes it effective optimization with fast convergence rate, small overshoot, and better stability. Therefore, the controller proposed in this paper is feasible and robust.
Evaluation Method of English Innovative Thinking Teaching Effect Based on BP Algorithm
Authors: Lv Xinbo
Published: June 2022

Aiming at the problems of poor generalization ability, low evaluation accuracy, and correlation coefficient in evaluating the teaching effect of English innovative thinking, this paper puts forward the evaluation method of English innovative thinking teaching effect based on BP algorithm, confirms the evaluation indexes of English innovative thinking teaching effect on the basis of clarifying the evaluation principles, and uses conditional information entropy to screen a large number of evaluation indexes. Establish the evaluation of English innovative thinking teaching effect of BP algorithm and finally optimize the parameters of BP algorithm through differential evolution algorithm, so as to complete the evaluation of English innovative thinking teaching effect. The experimental results show that the proposed method can effectively improve the generalization ability, evaluation accuracy, and correlation coefficient.
A Comparative Study on Damage Variable and Geo‐Mechanical Properties of the Pre‐Damaged Rock Specimen
Authors: Wen Lei , Huang Yang , Wen Jia-xin , Zhang Xin , Lu Wen-qiang
Published: June 2022

The initial damage of a rock mass plays an essential role in parameter evaluation of that rock mass. How to determine the initial damage of a rock mass is therefore a problem that must be solved. To study the mechanical properties of a rock mass, pre‐damaged specimens with different degrees of damage are prepared using uniaxial compression. The degree of damage of the pre‐damaged specimens is determined by using their physical and mechanical parameters; that is, four methods are used to calculate the damage variables. Comparing the calculated damage variables using the four methods, we find the following: (1) the damage variables of different calculation methods are quite different. (2) When the degree of damage is slight, in other words, the micro‐cracks are in the initial state of growth, and the calculated damage variables have little difference when using various methods. (3) When the degree of damage is severe, that is, the micro‐cracks coalesce to form macro‐cracks, the calculated damage variables significantly deviate when using various methods. Only the calculated damage variables using the BTS are larger than those calculated using other methods, mainly because there is almost no friction effect of cracks in BTS testing. Finally, to verify the accuracy and feasibility of the damage variables of various calculation methods, the uniaxial compressive peak strength of the pre‐damaged specimens is determined by using the effective strain hypothesis and the damage variable. The 1 : 1 slope line is used to verify the deviation between the measured values and calculated values.
Research on the Evaluation of Reformation and Revolution System for Universities Based on Neural Network
Authors: Ma Ning , He Zhifeng
Published: June 2022

Accurately evaluating the working conditions of college revolution and reformation system personnel is currently a hot issue in the field of revolution and reformation system research. Based on the neural network architecture, this paper constructs a model for the system and obtains relevant quality evaluation indicators through simulation experiment analysis. According to the quality evaluation index framework of the revolution and reformation system, the experimental platform selects 7 universities in the region, 6 of which are samples, and 1 (S University) is the research target, and the scores of each index are calculated using MATLAB auxiliary software. The simulation process starts from the characteristics of the actual neural network model; selects 17 evaluation impact indicators, including 3 basic indicators and 14 technical indicators based on historical data; and uses the factor recursive method to improve the neural network and establish an evaluation model. Then use the collected specific data to train a BP neural network with a structure of 21 × 11 × 1, continuously adjust the weights and thresholds of the neural network until the standard error requirements are met, finally verify the scientificity of the evaluation model, and compare the actual output value with the expected output value for comparison. The experimental results show that the model input data redundancy rate is reduced to 0.136, and the network training time delay is reduced to 413 ms, which improves the computing power of the network model of the reformation and revolution system in colleges and universities. The use of neural network data to reduce dimensionality effectively promotes the reformation and revolution system in universities.
Research on Improving the Executive Ability of University Administrators Based on Deep Learning
Authors: Wei Chengyan , Wang Shenxiang
Published: June 2022

Over the years, experts have focused their research on ways to increase the executive capacity of university administrators. This is because only by improving the quality of execution of college and university administrative personnel can they actively execute various policies and measures, fully exploit their subjective initiative, and ensure the educational reform of colleges and universities. Increasing the executive capacity of administrative staff can help colleges and universities manage more effectively. Therefore, in the development process of higher education institutions, it is necessary to strengthen the execution of administrative staff, especially the need to adhere to the problem as the basic orientation. Take scientific and practical steps to strengthen administrative personnel’s executive ability in light of current issues with administrative management personnel’s executive power, and establish the groundwork for ensuring the quality of management work. Combining deep learning, this paper proposes a path to improve the executive power of college administrators based on deep learning. To begin, familiarize yourself with the deep noise reduction autoencoder model and support vector regression (SVR) theory and build the DDAE-SVR deep neural network (DNN) model. Then, input a small-scale feature index sample data set and a large-scale short-term traffic flow data set for experiments; then, assess the model’s parameters to achieve the optimal model. Finally, use performance indicators such as MSE and MAPE to compare with other shallow models to verify the effectiveness and advantages of the DDAE-SVR DNN model in the execution improvement path output of university administrators and large-scale data sets.
Awareness among Pregnant Women about Epidural Analgesia: A Cross-Sectional Study
Authors: Almuntashiri Waad M. , Mutawakkil Aseel S. , Alghamdi Amjad S. , Alqarni Razan D. , Althubaiti Alaa M. , Kayal Haifaa S.
Published: June 2022

Background. Epidural analgesia (EPA) is an effective anesthetic technique to overcome pain during labor. This study aimed to evaluate the current awareness of EPA among pregnant women. Methods. We carried out a cross-sectional study using a questionnaire to measure awareness about EPA among pregnant women visiting the obstetrics and gynaecology clinic in King Abdulaziz Medical City in Jeddah. Following the results, a group of women was selected and educated by trained medical students. Results. This study comprised 105 women. We found that 25 (23.8%) respondents revealed a complete lack of knowledge regarding EPA, 63 (60%) showed minimal awareness, and 17 (16.2%) were aware of EPA from various sources. The gravidity and history of EPA administration were significantly associated with knowledge. Multigravida women and those who had received EPA showed higher level of knowledge (

p
=
0.048

and

p
<
0.001

, respectively). In addition, there was a significant association between the level of education and request for EPA (

p
=
0.027

). Forty-one participants were enrolled in an educational program that explained the importance of EPA. Twenty (48.8%) women decided to undergo EPA during delivery; however, 7 (17.7%) refused and 14 (34.1%) were not sure about their decision. Conclusion. This study revealed a lack of awareness about EPA among pregnant women. Educational programs were effective as many participants chose EPA following the educational session as a form of pain relief during labor. We recommend the implementation of routine education on EPA in vaginal delivery during antenatal visits for all pregnant women.
Efficacy and Safety of Transurethral Columnar Balloon Dilation of the Prostate for the Treatment of Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia: A Multicenter Trial
Authors: Zhou Guoyun , He Jinkui , Huang Guangyi , Ren Ligang , Zhuge Wensong , Wang Wei
Published: June 2022

Objective. To observe the efficacy and safety of transurethral columnar balloon dilation of the prostate (TUCBDP) for benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) in a multicenter trial. Method. This multicenter study included 2050 patients with BPH who underwent TUCBDP from 11 cities of Zhejiang Province, from September 2015 to June 2021. Clinical assessment included recording and measurement of preoperative and postoperative data including prostate volume, serum prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels, IPSS score, quality of life (QoL), maximum urinary flow rate (Qmax), postvoid residual urine (PVR), International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF-5), and Male Sexual Health Questionnaire-Ejaculatory Dysfunction Short Form (MSHQ-EjD-SF). Additionally, the correlation of the indicators was analyzed using linear regression and early postoperative complications were also recorded. Results. One month after surgery, the patients’ IPSS score, QoL, and PVR were significantly decreased, while the Qmax, IIEF-5, and MSHQ-EjD-SF scores were increased considerably, compared with preoperative data. After surgery, the patient’s IPSS score, QoL, and Qmax were improved year by year, while PVR gradually decreased. Three months after TUCBDP, IIEF-5 and MSHQ-EjD-SF levels reached the climax. Linear regression analysis showed that the serum PSA level was significantly positively correlated with Qmax at 3 months after TUCBDP, while at 6 months after surgery, it was negatively related to IPSS and QoL. Early postoperative complications appeared in 384 cases during follow-up. Conclusion. Collectively, TUCBDP may effectively improve the urinary and sexual function of BPH patients, with fewer postoperative complications, and its efficacy is not limited by age and prostate volume. It can be considered a better treatment option for BPH.
An Empirical Study on the Factors Influencing Users’ Continuance Intention of Using Online Learning Platforms for Secondary School Students by Big Data Analytics
Authors: Chen Guomin , Shuo Cao , Chen Pengrun , Zhang Yongchuang
Published: June 2022

During the new coronavirus epidemic in 2020, the number of online learning platform users grew explosively, with secondary school students becoming the main group of online learning platform users. Especially the virtual clinical learning environment of online learning platform for secondary school students, as one of the main factors affecting users’ sustained use, has become an important issue companies and researchers are faced with. This paper, taking secondary school student users as the research object, constructed a model of factors influencing users’ intention to continuously use the online learning platform for secondary school students. The model, based on TAM model and ECM model, consisted of 10 variables, including TP-Teaching presence, resource quality, system quality, perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use, academic identity, self-efficacy, users’ satisfaction, teacher-student relationship, and behavioral intention. Results of this study empirically showed that TP-Teaching presence had the most significant effect on perceived usefulness, which in turn indirectly influenced users’ continuance intention of using the platform; secondary school student’s self-efficacy has the most significant impact on users’ continuous intention. Therefore, when developing the platform, enterprises should pay attention to the construction of the platform learning environment and enhance the self-efficacy of secondary school students.
Adherence to the AICR Cancer Prevention Recommendations and Subsequent Morbidity and Mortality in the Iowa Women's Health Study Cohort
Authors: Cerhan James R. , Potter John D. , Gilmore Julie M.E. , Janney Carol A. , Kushi Larry H. , Lazovich DeAnn , Anderson Kristin E. , Sellers Thomas A. , Folsom Aaron R.
Published: June 2022

In 1997, the American Institute for Cancer Research (AICR) published 14 recommendations related to diet for individuals to reduce cancer incidence on a global basis; smoking was also discouraged. We operationalized these into nine recommendations that are particularly relevant to western populations in a cohort of 29,564 women ages 55 to 69 years at baseline in 1986 who had no history of cancer or heart disease. The cohort was followed through 1998 for cancer incidence (n = 4,379), cancer mortality (n = 1,434), cardiovascular disease (CVD) mortality (n = 1,124), and total mortality (n = 3,398). The median number (range) of recommendations followed was 4 (0-8), and 33% of the cohort had ever smoked. Women who followed no or one recommendation compared with six to nine recommendations were at an increased risk of cancer incidence [relative risk (RR) 1.35, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.15-1.58] and cancer mortality (RR 1.43, 95% CI 1.11-1.85), but there was no association with CVD mortality (RR 1.06, 95% CI 0.78-1.43). We calculated the population attributable risk (PAR) to estimate the proportion of cancer incidence, cancer mortality, and CVD mortality that theoretically would have been avoidable if the entire cohort had never smoked, had followed six to nine recommendations, or had done both. The PARs for smoking were 11% (95% CI 10-13) for cancer incidence, 21% (95% CI 17-24) for cancer mortality, and 20% (95% CI 16-23) for CVD mortality. The PARs for not following six to nine recommendations were 22% (95% CI 12-30) for cancer incidence, 11% (95% CI −5 to 24) for cancer mortality, and 4% (95% CI −20 to 19) for CVD mortality. When smoking and the operationalized AICR recommendations were combined together, the PARs were 31% (95% CI 19-37) for cancer incidence, 30% (95% CI 15-40) for cancer mortality, and 22% (95% CI 4-36) for CVD mortality. These data suggest that the adherence to the AICR recommendations, independently and in conjunction with not smoking, is likely to have a substantial public health impact on reducing cancer incidence and, to a lesser degree, cancer mortality at the population level.
A Prospective Study of Body Size in Different Periods of Life and Risk of Premenopausal Breast Cancer
Authors: Weiderpass Elisabete , Braaten Tonje , Magnusson Cecilia , Kumle Merethe , Vainio Harri , Lund Eiliv , Adami Hans-Olov
Published: June 2022

The prevalence of obesity at all ages is increasing epidemically worldwide. Information on the association between premenopausal breast cancer and body size during childhood and teenage years is scarce. In 1991 to 1992, a prospective cohort study was assembled in Norway and Sweden. We included in the analysis presented here 99,717 premenopausal women. During the follow-up period, which ended in December 1999, 733 of these women developed a primary invasive breast cancer. Overweight and obesity [body mass index (BMI) > 25 kg/m2] at enrolment was associated with a decreased risk of premenopausal breast cancer (P for linear trend = 0.007). Apparent associations between perceived body shape at age 7 and BMI at age 18, with heavier builds at both ages seemingly being protective for premenopausal breast cancer risk, lost their statistical significance after adjustment for BMI at cohort enrolment. Body size at age 7 was correlated with BMI at age 18 (r = 0.43); BMI at age 18 was correlated with adult BMI (r = 0.48). Changes in body size from age 7 or 18 to adulthood did not affect per se risk of premenopausal breast cancer risk. Height was related to risk, with a statistically significantly 30% reduced risk only in women shorter than 160 cm as compared with taller ones. The decreased risk of premenopausal breast cancer was observed in overweight and obese women without, but not in those with, a family history of breast cancer.