bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Increased Uric Acid, Gamma-Glutamyl Transpeptidase and Alkaline Phosphatase in Early-Pregnancy Associated With the Development of Gestational Hypertension and Preeclampsia
Authors: Chen Yequn , Ou Weichao , Lin Dong , Lin Mengyue , Huang Xiru , Ni Shuhua , Chen Shaoxing , Yong Jian , O'Gara Mary Clare , Tan Xuerui , Liu Ruisheng
Published: October 2021

Background: Previous studies have reported that biomarkers of liver injury and renal dysfunction were associated with hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP). However, the associations of these biomarkers in early pregnancy with the risk of HDP and longitudinal blood pressure pattern during pregnancy were rarely investigated in prospective cohort studies.

Methods: A total of 1,041 pregnant women were enrolled in this prospective cohort study. BP was assessed in four stages throughout pregnancy. The following biomarkers were measured at early pregnancy before 18 weeks gestation: lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), aspartate aminotransferase to alanine aminotransferase ratio (AST/ALT), gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), uric acid (UA), and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR). Linear mixed-effects and logistic regression models were used to examine the associations of these biomarkers with longitudinal BP pattern during pregnancy and HDP incidence, respectively.

Results: In unadjusted models, higher serum UA, GGT, ALP, and LDH levels, as well as lower eGFR and AST/ALT, were associated with higher BP levels during pregnancy and an increased risk of HDP. After adjustment for maternal age, pre-pregnancy BMI and other potential confounders, UA, GGT, ALP, and LDH remained positively associated with both BP and HDP. However, eGFR and AST/ALT were not associated with HDP after adjusting for potential confounders. When including all 6 biomarkers simultaneously in multivariable analyses, increased UA, GGT, and ALP significantly associated with gestational hypertension and preeclampsia.

Conclusion: This study suggests that increased UA, GGT, and ALP in early-pregnancy are independent risk factors of gestational hypertension and preeclampsia.
Developing Medical Technologies for Low-Resource Settings: Lessons From a Wireless Wearable Vital Signs Monitor–neoGuard
Authors: Nantume Assumpta , Shah Sona , Cauvel Teresa , Tomback Matthew , Kilpatrick Ryan , Afzal Bushra , Kiwanuka Noah
Published: October 2021

The neoGuard™ technology is a wireless wearable vital signs monitor attached to a patient's forehead to continuously measure oxygen saturation, pulse rate, respiratory rate and temperature. Developed with feedback from more than 400 health workers, primarily in East Africa, the product has been designed to meet the unique constraints of low-resource settings. This perspective piece by the innovators of neoGuard™ and some of their key partners examines the complicated journey of taking a medical technology from concept through clinical validation and finally to market. By shedding light on some of the most critical steps and common challenges encountered along the pathway to commercialization, the authors hope that their experiences will provide some valuable insights to other aspiring innovators in this space.
Island Ecological Tourism: Constructing Indicators of the Tourist Service System in the Penghu National Scenic Area
Authors: Hsiao Chih Yu , Kuo Chun Min , Tuan Chao Lin
Published: October 2021

It is critical to develop a sustainable ecotourism service system for the fragile Penghu National Scenic Area in Taiwan. This study, therefore, adopted the fuzzy Delphi method and analytic hierarchy process (AHP) to establish an index framework. The results identified four dimensions with 21 service factors. The findings are as follows. Safety management capability is found to be the main factor in the ecotourism service system. Ecological diversity is essential for the marine environment and the core resource for ecotourism; the transportation capacity and environmental quality need to be improved. Marine environmental resources are indispensable to the development of ecotourism. In addition, the local community must support ecotourism, natural resources should be protected, and the development of ecotourism needs to support the sustainability of local conservation. Therefore, encouraging local residents and stakeholders to attend and promote ecotourism, establishing a safety management system for ecotourism, developing environmental protection regulations for tourists in ecotourism, and improving tourist satisfaction are vital. The government needs to develop guidelines for the protection of marine resources, plan an ecotourism service system, and improve public and transportation infrastructure to make it safe and accessible.
Effects of Rainfall Manipulation on Ecosystem Respiration and Soil Respiration in an Alpine Steppe in Northern Tibet Plateau
Authors: Li Xueqin , Yan Yan , Fu Lijiao
Published: October 2021

The response mechanism of ecosystem respiration (Re) and soil respiration (Rs) to different water conditions is of great significance for understanding the carbon cycle under future changes in the precipitation patterns. We used seven precipitation treatments to investigate the effects of precipitation on Re and Rs on a typical alpine steppe in Northern Tibet. Precipitation was captured and relocated to simulate the precipitation rates of −25, −50, −75, 0 (CK), +25, +50, and +75%. The soil moisture was influenced by all the precipitation treatments. There was a positive linear relationship between the soil moisture and Re, Rs in the study area during the experiment (July–October). Soil volumetric water content (VWC), absolute water content (AWC), soil temperature (ST), aboveground biomass (AGB), bulk density, soil total nitrogen (TN), and alkaline hydrolysis nitrogen (AHN) were the predictors of Re and Rs. The multiple linear regression analysis showed that ST and AWC could explain 90.6% of Rs, and ST, AWC, and AHN could explain 89.4% of Re. Ecosystem respiration was more sensitive to the increased precipitation (+29.5%) whereas Rs was more sensitive to the decreased precipitation (−23.8%). An appropriate increase in water (+25 and +50%) could improve the Re and Rs, but a greater increase (+75%) would not have a significant effect; it could have an effect even lower than those of the first two. Our study highlights the importance of increased precipitation and the disadvantage of decreased precipitation on Re and Rs in an arid region. The precipitation changes will lead to significant changes in the soil properties and AGB, and affect Re and Rs, to change the climate of the alpine steppe in Northern Tibet in the future. These findings contribute to our understanding of the regional patterns of environmental C exchange and soil C flux under the climate change scenarios and highlight the importance of water availability to the regulating ecosystem processes in semi-arid steppe ecosystems. In view of these findings, we urge future researchers to focus on manipulating the precipitation over longer time scales, seasonality, and incorporating more environmental factors to improve our ability to predict and model Re and Rs and feedback from climate change.
Longer Prehospitalization and Preintubation Periods in Intubated Non-survivors and ECMO Patients With COVID-19: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Funakoshi Kenji , Morita Takayoshi , Kumanogoh Atsushi
Published: October 2021

Purpose: There is no clear consensus on the clinical course of critical COVID-19 patients. We examined the clinical course among intubated survivors, non-survivors, and extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) patients to reveal the standard clinical course and the difference among critical COVID-19 patients.

Methods: In this systematic review and meta-analysis, we searched PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus for original studies published until December 11, 2020, including case accumulation and clinical course reporting. Pregnant patients and children were excluded. We followed PRISMA guidelines and registered them with PROSPERO (CRD42021235534).

Results: Of the 11,716 studies identified, 94 met the selection criteria, and 2,549 cases were included in this meta-analysis. The times from intubation to extubation and death were 12.07 days (95% confidence interval 9.80–14.33 days) and 10.14 days (8.18–12.10 days), respectively, and the ECMO duration was 14.72 days (10.57–18.87 days). The time from symptom onset to hospitalization (prehospitalization period) of intubated survivors, non-survivors, and ECMO patients was 6.15 (4.61–7.69 days), 6.45 (4.55–8.34 days), and 7.15 days (6.48–7.81 days), and that from symptom onset to intubation (preintubation period) was 8.58 (7.36–9.80 days), 9.14 (7.26–11.01 days), and 10.54 days (9.18–11.90 days), respectively. Sensitivity analysis showed that the time from intubation to extubation and death was longer in the US and Europe than in East Asia.

Conclusion: For COVID-19, we hypothesize that prehospitalization and preintubation periods are longer in intubated non-survivors and ECMO patients than in intubated survivors. These periods may serve as a predictor of disease severity or death and support therapeutic strategy determination.
In-hospital Cardiac Arrest in Patients With Sepsis: A National Cohort Study
Authors: Duazo Catherine , Hsiung Jo-Ching , Qian Frank , Sherrod Charles Fox , Ling Dean-An , Wu I-Ju , Hsu Wan-Ting , Liu Ye , Wei Chen , Tehrani Babak , Hsu Tzu-Chun , Lee Chien-Chang
Published: October 2021

Background: Little is known about the risk of in-hospital cardiac arrest (IHCA) among patients with sepsis. We aimed to characterize the incidence and outcome of IHCA among patients with sepsis in a national database. We then determined the major risk factors associated with IHCA among sepsis patients.

Methods: We used data from a population-based cohort study based on the National Health Insurance Research Database of Taiwan (NHRID) between 2000 and 2013. We used Martin's implementation that combined the explicit ICD-9 CM codes for sepsis and six major organ dysfunction categories. IHCA among sepsis patients was identified by the presence of cardiopulmonary resuscitation procedures. The survival impact was analyzed with the Cox proportional-hazards model using inverse probability of treatment weighting (IPTW). The risk factors were identified by logistic regression models with 10-fold cross-validation, adjusting for competing risks.

Results: We identified a total of 20,022 patients with sepsis, among whom 2,168 developed in-hospital cardiac arrest. Sepsis patients with a higher burden of comorbidities and organ dysfunction were more likely to develop in-hospital cardiac arrest. Acute respiratory failure, hematological dysfunction, renal dysfunction, and hepatic dysfunction were associated with increased risk of IHCA. Regarding the source of infection, patients with respiratory tract infections were at the highest risk, whereas patients with urinary tract infections and primary bacteremia were less likely to develop IHCA. The risk of IHCA correlated well with age and revised cardiac risk index (RCRI). The final competing risk model concluded that acute respiratory failure, male gender, and diabetes are the three strongest predictors for IHCA. The effect of IHCA on survival can last 1 year after hospital discharge, with an IPTW-weighted hazard ratio of 5.19 (95% CI: 5.06, 5.35) compared to patients who did not develop IHCA.

Conclusion: IHCA in sepsis patients had a negative effect on both short- and long-term survival. The risk of IHCA among hospitalized sepsis patients was strongly correlated with age and cardiac risk index. The three identified risk factors can help clinicians to identify patients at higher risk for IHCA.
Elevated NLRP3 Inflammasome Levels Correlate With Vitamin D in the Vitreous of Proliferative Diabetic Retinopathy
Authors: Lu Li , Zou Gaocheng , Chen Li , Lu Qianyi , Wu Mian , Li Chunxia
Published: October 2021

Purpose: This study aims to determine vitamin D concentrations in the vitreous and serum, as well as the expression levels of NLRP3 inflammasome pathway in the vitreous of patients with proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR). In addition, we investigated the possible correlation between NLRP3 inflammasome levels and vitamin D concentrations.

Methods: We obtained vitreous samples before vitrectomy from 55 PDR patients, 25 non-diabetic patients with idiopathic macular hole (IMH), and 10 non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy (NPDR) patients. We also collected serum samples from the same patients. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to examine NLRP3 inflammasome pathway proteins, including NLRP3, caspase-1, IL-1β, and VEGF. In addition, vitamin D concentrations were analyzed in Roche Cobas 6000's module e601 platform using electrochemiluminescence immune assay.

Results: The levels of NLRP3 inflammasome pathway and VEGF increased dramatically in PDR vitreous. However, vitamin D concentrations in vitreous and serum followed the opposite trend. Meanwhile, vitreous and serum vitamin D concentrations were significantly negatively correlated with vitreous NLRP3 expression in PDR patients. Moreover, serum and vitreous vitamin D concentrations were positively correlated and demonstrated discriminatory ability in DR. The subgroup analysis of PDR group revealed that eyes with tractional retinal detachment (TRD) had higher NLRP3 inflammasome pathway and VEGF levels but lower vitamin D concentrations. Conversely, eyes that received preoperative pan-retinal photocoagulation (PRP) exhibited lower levels of NLRP3 inflammasome pathway, but vitamin D concentrations were irrelevant to laser treatment.

Conclusions: Our results demonstrate a strong correlation between increased NLRP3 inflammasome pathway and decreased vitamin D concentrations in the vitreous of PDR patients, which may be linked to PDR pathogenesis. In addition, vitamin D supplementation may play a key role in preventing, treating, and improving PDR prognosis due to its inhibitory impact on NLRP3 inflammasome pathway and VEGF.
Prediction of Hematoma Expansion in Patients With Intracerebral Hemorrhage Using Thromboelastography With Platelet Mapping: A Prospective Observational Study
Authors: He Qiuguang , Zhou You , Liu Chang , Chen Zhongqiu , Wen Rong , Wu Yue , Xie Zongyi , Cheng Yuan , Cheng Si
Published: October 2021

Background and Purpose: The purpose of the study was to evaluate the usefulness of thromboelastography with platelet mapping (TEG-PM) for predicting hematoma expansion (HE) and poor functional outcome in patients with intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH).

Methods: Patients with primary ICH who underwent baseline computed tomography (CT) and TEG-PM within 6 h after symptom onset were enrolled in the observational cohort study. We performed univariate and multivariate logistic regression models to assess the association of admission platelet function with HE and functional outcome. In addition, a receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis investigated the accuracy of platelet function in predicting HE. A mediation analysis was undertaken to determine causal associations among platelet function, HE, and outcome.

Results: Of 142 patients, 37 (26.1%) suffered HE. Multivariate logistic regression identified arachidonic acid (AA) and adenosine diphosphate (ADP) inhibition as significant independent predictors of HE. The area under the ROC curves was 0.727 for AA inhibition and 0.721 for ADP inhibition. Optimal threshold for AA inhibition was 41.75% (75.7% sensitivity; 67.6% specificity) and ADP inhibition was 65.8% (73.0% sensitivity; 66.7% specificity). AA and ADP inhibition were also associated with worse 3-month outcomes after adjusting for age, admission Glasgow Coma Scale score, intraventricular hemorrhage, baseline hematoma volume, and hemoglobin. The mediation analysis showed that the effect of higher platelet inhibition with poor outcomes was mediated through HE.

Conclusions: These findings suggest that the reduced platelet response to ADP and AA independently predict HE and poor outcome in patients with ICH. Platelet function may represent a modifiable target of ICH treatment.
Quantifying an Upper Extremity Everyday Task With 3D Kinematic Analysis in People With Spinal Cord Injury and Non-disabled Controls
Authors: Lili Lamprini , Sunnerhagen Katharina S. , Rekand Tiina , Alt Murphy Margit
Published: October 2021

Objectives: Upper extremity function after spinal cord injury (SCI) is an important factor for performance of activities of daily living. An objective assessment of upper extremity function preferably in purposeful daily tasks is essential in understanding its impact on real-life activities. This study aimed to identify which movement parameters of upper extremity, measured by kinematic analysis during a purposeful daily task, are impaired in people with cervical or thoracic SCI.

Materials and Methods: The study included 29 adults (mean 59.5 years, 9 women and 20 men) with cervical (n = 19) or thoracic (n = 10) established complete (n = 15) or incomplete (n = 14) SCI, and 54 non-disabled controls with commensurable age and sex (mean 59 years, 15 women, 39 men). The 3D kinematic data were captured with a five-camera system during a standardized unilateral daily task (drinking from a glass). In SCI, the upper extremity functioning of each arm was assessed with Action Research Arm Test (ARAT). Having a full score in ARAT indicated full functioning; a score of <57 points indicated limited functioning. Kinematic data from full functioning arms (n = 27) and limited functioning arms (n = 30) in SCI were compared with the non-dominant arms (n = 54) in controls.

Results: In the limited upper extremity functioning group, movement time, smoothness, arm abduction, wrist angle, trunk displacement, and inter-joint coordination, but not peak velocity of the hand, angular velocity of elbow, and relative time to peak velocity, all differed from controls. In the full upper extremity functioning group, arm abduction alone was significantly different from controls.

Conclusions: The findings demonstrate that apart from measures of peak velocity, kinematic measures of movement quality including movement time, smoothness, trunk displacement, and joint angles are impaired in people with limited upper extremity functioning after SCI. The study provides robust results applicable to a representative population of individuals with established cervical or thoracic SCI. The results suggest that kinematic analysis might be useful for those with limited functioning in order to get a better understanding of the specific movement impairments in daily tasks after SCI.
The Fourier-Laplace Transform—A Conjugate Link Between the Material Brain and the Conscious Mind
Authors: Brändas Erkki J.
Published: October 2021

Recent attempts to establish the quantum boundaries of life is pursued. A pre-existing view of quantum biology is supplemented by the formulation of modern advances in theoretical chemical physics and quantum chemistry. The extension to open system dynamics entails a self-referential amplification supporting the signature of life as well as consciousness via long-range correlative information, ODLCI. The associated negentropic coherence permeates hierarchical and functional organization at multiple levels. In this communication we will derive and review one of the most important mathematical tools, i.e., the combined use of the Fourier- and the Laplace transform. It is shown that an underlying operator algebra facilitates the formulation of the conjugate relationship between energy-time and momentum-space. Implications from augmented general dilation analytic operator families provide novel information-based representations and yield, inter alia, a thermo-qubit syntax for communication, which are required to support the quantum Darwinian view of life.
Imaging Features of Breast Periductal Stromal Tumor: A Case Report
Authors: Ding Ning , Jiang Ying , Liu Haimin , Zheng Fuling , Zhu Shenling , Wang Ming , Yang Meng , Kong Lingyan , Xue Huadan , Jin Zhengyu
Published: October 2021

Breast periductal stromal tumor (PDST) is a rare biphasic tumor, with both benign ductal epithelium and non-phyllodes sarcomatous stroma. Its imaging features were rarely reported due to the rarity. In this study, we describe the case of a 48-year-old female who presented with a palpable mass in the right breast. Presurgery imaging evaluations of full-field digital mammography (FFDM), digital breast tomosynthesis (DBT), and ultrasonography (US) were performed. The imaging features include the following: 1. multiple solid lobulated lesions comprising nearly the entire right breast; 2. hypoechoic heterogeneous masses with internal separations and abundant blood flow; 3. FFDM and DBT showed multiple irregular high-density masses with lobulated margin, partially integrated. The patient underwent extended mastectomy of the right breast. The surgical pathology confirmed a PDST. After excision of the mass, she was followed up in the outpatient clinic for 25 months without local recurrence or distant metastasis.
Innovation in Informatics to Improve Clinical Care and Drug Accessibility for Rare Diseases in China
Authors: Liu Peng , Gong Mengchun , Li Jie , Baynam Gareth , Zhu Weiguo , Zhu Yicheng , Chen Limeng , Gu Weihong , Zhang Shuyang
Published: October 2021

Background: In China, there are severe unmet medical needs of people living with rare diseases. Relatedly, there is a dearth of data to inform rare diseases policy. This is historically partially due to the lack of informatics infrastructure, including standards and terminology, data sharing mechanisms and network; and concerns over patient privacy protection.

Objective: This study aims to introduce the progress of China's rare disease informatics platform and knowledgebase, and to discuss critical enablers of rare disease informatics innovation, including: data standardization; knowledgebase construction; national policy support; and multi-stakeholder participation.

Methods: A systemic national strategy, delivered through multi-stakeholder engagement, has been implemented to create and accelerate the informatics infrastructure to support rare diseases management. This includes a disease registry system, together with more than 80 hospitals, to perform comprehensive research information collection, including clinical, genomic and bio-sample data. And a case reporting system, with a network of 324 hospitals, covering all mainland Chinese provinces, to further support reporting of rare diseases data. International standards were incorporated, and privacy issues were addressed through HIPAA compliant rules.

Results: The National Rare Diseases Registry System of China (NRDRS) now covers 166 rare diseases and more than 63,000 registered patients. The National Rare Diseases Case Reporting System of China (NRDCRS) was primarily founded on the National Network of Rare Diseases (NNRD) of 324 hospitals and focused on real-time rare diseases case reporting; more than 400,000 cases have been reported. Based on the data available in the two systems, the National Center for Health Technology Assessment (HTA) of Orphan Medicinal Products (OMP) has been established and the expert consensus on HTA of OMP was produced. The largest knowledgebase for rare disease in Chinese has also been developed.

Conclusion: A national strategy and the coordinating mechanism is the key to success in the improvement of Chinese rare disease clinical care and drug accessibility. Application of innovative informatics solutions can help accelerate the process, improve quality and increase efficiency.
Remote-Sensing-Combined Haplotype Analysis Using Multi-Parental Advanced Generation Inter-Cross Lines Reveals Phenology QTLs for Canopy Height in Rice
Authors: Ogawa Daisuke , Sakamoto Toshihiro , Tsunematsu Hiroshi , Kanno Noriko , Nonoue Yasunori , Yonemaru Jun-ichi
Published: October 2021

High-throughput phenotyping systems with unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) enable observation of crop lines in the field. In this study, we show the ability of time-course monitoring of canopy height (CH) to identify quantitative trait loci (QTLs) and to characterise their pleiotropic effect on various traits. We generated a digital surface model from low-altitude UAV-captured colour digital images and investigated CH data of rice multi-parental advanced generation inter-cross (MAGIC) lines from tillering and heading to maturation. Genome-wide association studies (GWASs) using the CH data and haplotype information of the MAGIC lines revealed 11 QTLs for CH. Each QTL showed haplotype effects on different features of CH such as stage-specificity and constancy. Haplotype analysis revealed relationships at the QTL level between CH and, vegetation fraction and leaf colour [derived from UAV red–green–blue (RGB) data], and CH and yield-related traits. Noticeably, haplotypes with canopy lowering effects at qCH1-4, qCH2, and qCH10-2 increased the ratio of panicle weight to leaf and stem weight, suggesting biomass allocation to grain yield or others through growth regulation of CH. Allele mining using gene information with eight founders of the MAGIC lines revealed the possibility that qCH1-4 contains multiple alleles of semi-dwarf 1 (sd1), the IR-8 allele of which significantly contributed to the “green revolution” in rice. This use of remote-sensing-derived phenotyping data into genetics using the MAGIC lines gives insight into how rice plants grow, develop, and produce grains in phenology and provides information on effective haplotypes for breeding with ideal plant architecture and grain yield.
Seasonal Volatile Emission Patterns of the Endemic New Zealand Shrub Dracophyllum subulatum on the North Island Central Plateau
Authors: Effah Evans , Barrett D. Paul , Peterson Paul G. , Potter Murray A. , Holopainen Jarmo K. , Clavijo McCormick Andrea
Published: October 2021

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) produced by plants are essential indicators of their physiological response to environmental conditions. But evidence of natural variation in VOC emissions and their contributing factors is still limited, especially for non-cultivated species. Here we explored the natural volatile emissions of Dracophyllum subulatum Hook.f., an endemic shrub to the North Island Central Plateau of New Zealand, and determined some environmental factors driving the plant’s emissions. Volatile emissions of D. subulatum were measured on four separate occasions from December 2017 to September 2018 using the “push-pull” headspace sampling technique and analyzed using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). D. subulatum was classified based on the volatiles measured on each sampling occasion using linear discriminant analysis (LDA). On each sampling occasion, we also recorded and compared ambient air temperature, herbivory damage, total soil nitrogen (N), available phosphorus (P), potassium (K), and soil moisture content. The relationship between environmental variables that differed significantly between sampling occasions and volatile emissions were estimated using generalized linear models (GLMs). Based on VOCs measured on each sampling occasion, we were able to distinguish different chemical profiles. Overall, we found that total emission and the relative proportions of all major chemical classes released by D. subulatum were significantly higher during summer. The GLMs reveal that differences in environmental factors between the four sampling occasions are highly associated with changing emissions. Higher temperatures in summer had a consistently strong positive relationship with emissions, while the impacts of soil moisture content, P and K were variable and depended on the chemical class. These results are discussed, particularly how high temperature (warming) may shape volatile emissions and plants’ ecology.
Influence of Actor's Congruent and Incongruent Gaze on Language Processing
Authors: Abashidze Dato , Knoeferle Pia
Published: October 2021

In interpreting spoken sentences in event contexts, comprehenders both integrate their current interpretation of language with the recent past (e.g., events they have witnessed) and develop expectations about future event possibilities. Tense cues can disambiguate this linking but temporary ambiguity in their interpretation may lead comprehenders to also rely on further, situation-specific cues (e.g., an actor's gaze as a cue to his future actions). How comprehenders reconcile these different cues in real time is an open issue that we must address to accommodate comprehension. It has been suggested that relating a referential expression (e.g., a verb) to a referent (e.g., a recent event) is preferred over relying on other cues that refer to the future and are not yet referentially grounded (“recent-event preference”). Two visual-world eye-tracking experiments compared this recent-event preference with effects of an actor's gaze and of tense/temporal adverbs as cues to a future action event. The results revealed that people overall preferred to focus on the recent (vs. future) event target in their interpretation, suggesting that while a congruent and incongruent actor gaze can jointly with futuric linguistic cues neutralize the recent-event preference late in the sentence, the latter still plays a key role in shaping participants' initial verb-based event interpretation. Additional post-experimental memory tests provided insight into the longevity of the gaze effects.
How Family-Work Conflict Influences Post-traumatic Growth Among Medical Workers: A Moderated Mediation Model
Authors: Lv Miao , Tan Xuyun , Xing Cai , Zheng Jiaren , Han Sixuan
Published: October 2021

Under the impact of COVID-19, the status and mechanisms of post-traumatic growth among medical workers facing challenges related to family-work conflict are of great concern. In view of the complex relationship between family-work conflict and post-traumatic growth, the present study sought to explore the specific relationships between family-work conflict and post-traumatic growth as well as the specific roles of positive psychological capital, perceived social support, and suppression. We recruited 1,347 participants. The results revealed that positive psychological capital and perceived social support played mediating roles, while suppression strategies moderated the mediating effect. Compared with the low suppression group, the negative impact of family-work conflict on positive psychological capital and perceived social support was reduced in the high suppression group. Thus, a higher level of suppression was more conducive to post-traumatic growth. The current study enriches and expands the findings of previous studies in theory and provides practical ways to promote post-traumatic growth in medical workers.
A Machine Learning Model for Accurate Prediction of Sepsis in ICU Patients
Authors: Wang Dong , Li Jinbo , Sun Yali , Ding Xianfei , Zhang Xiaojuan , Liu Shaohua , Han Bing , Wang Haixu , Duan Xiaoguang , Sun Tongwen
Published: October 2021

Background: Although numerous studies are conducted every year on how to reduce the fatality rate associated with sepsis, it is still a major challenge faced by patients, clinicians, and medical systems worldwide. Early identification and prediction of patients at risk of sepsis and adverse outcomes associated with sepsis are critical. We aimed to develop an artificial intelligence algorithm that can predict sepsis early.

Methods: This was a secondary analysis of an observational cohort study from the Intensive Care Unit of the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University. A total of 4,449 infected patients were randomly assigned to the development and validation data set at a ratio of 4:1. After extracting electronic medical record data, a set of 55 features (variables) was calculated and passed to the random forest algorithm to predict the onset of sepsis.

Results: The pre-procedure clinical variables were used to build a prediction model from the training data set using the random forest machine learning method; a 5-fold cross-validation was used to evaluate the prediction accuracy of the model. Finally, we tested the model using the validation data set. The area obtained by the model under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve (AUC) was 0.91, the sensitivity was 87%, and the specificity was 89%.

Conclusions: This newly established machine learning-based model has shown good predictive ability in Chinese sepsis patients. External validation studies are necessary to confirm the universality of our method in the population and treatment practice.
Mapping Competences of the Technological Interface Centers to Support the Transition of Portuguese Companies Toward the Circular Economy
Authors: Ferreira Luís , Matias Rita
Published: October 2021

This research paper is part of an investigation about the national competences in the field of Circular Economy (CE) within the so-called technological infrastructures. The purpose was to map these competences among the Technological Interface Centers (CIT) to support Portuguese companies in the transition to a more circular economy. A survey was designed under a general principle that all types of competences should have a straight contribution to the circular strategies included in the Portuguese Circular Economy Action Plan. Four main domains of competences were surveyed: “Guidance and Awareness;” “Eco-design;” “Resource Efficiency;” and “Industrial Symbiosis.” It was possible to ascertain CE competences profiles for the three groups of CIT (Technological Centers, Technology Transfer Centers, and Institutes of New Technologies) and recognize different and characteristic profiles of competences. Technological Centers have characteristic competences in all four domains, with greater emphasis on “Eco-design” and “Resource Efficiency.” Technology Transfer Centers also have characteristic competences in the four domains; however, its offer is more distributed, with no particular intensity noted in any specific domain. Institutes of New Technologies only present characteristic competences in “Eco-design.” Gaps identified in the “Guidance and Awareness” domain are “self-diagnosis tools for the efficient use of resources” and “maturity assessment tools in Circular Economy.” In the domain of “Eco-design” the only gap is the “skills to assist in the implementation of circular business models.” “Databases with examples of good practices for resource efficiency” and the “human resources and tools capable of carrying out energy and materiel audits” are the major gaps in the domain of “Resource Efficiency.” Finally, the “network of specialists with technical and commercial knowledge that enhances the use of by-products and residues in industry” and the “technical capacity or means to mediate the transfer of waste and by-product flows between industrial processes” are gaps in the domain of “Industrial Symbiosis.” A characterization sheet for each CIT was set up with the competences' makeup of every CIT structured. The business community in Portugal will be able to identify, in an objective way, competences that might be useful in the process of adapting their businesses toward more circular models.
Effect of the Active Cycle of Breathing Technique on Perioperative Outcome in Individuals With Esophagectomy: A Quasi-Experimental Study
Authors: Zhang Si-Wen , Wu Lei-Lei , Yang Hong , Li Chuan-Zhen , Wei Wei-Jin , Wang Min , Ma Guo-Wei , Zhong Jiu-Di
Published: October 2021

Background: The effect of active cycle of breathing technique (ACBT) on EC patients has not been well elucidated. In this research, we aim to explore the effect of ACBT on the perioperative outcomes in patients with esophageal carcinoma who underwent esophagectomy.

Methods: Patients who underwent esophagectomy in an academic institution from December 2017 to July 2019 were included in this study. In a quasi-experimental study, participants were randomly divided into an experimental group (active cycle of breathing technique, n = 107) and an observational group (n = 106) by drawing lots. The chi-squared test, Cochran–Mantel–Haenszel test, Logistic regression analysis, and Kruskal–Wallis test were used to analyze data. A two-sided P value <0.05 was considered statistically significant. The primary observational endpoint was the mean weight of the sputum. Other outcomes included the six-min-walk test (6MWT), Borg scale, anastomotic leakage, and the length of hospital stay.

Results: 95 patients underwent minimally invasive surgery, and 118 patients received open surgery. There were 16 patients with anastomotic leakage in the present study, and we found that patients in the observational group had higher odds of anastomotic leakage. The results showed that the mean weight of the sputum in the observation group was lighter than that of the experimental group. After esophagectomy, the experimental group had better outcomes than the observation group (Borg scale: 2.448 vs. 1.547; 6-MWT: 372.811 vs. 425.355m, all P < 0.05). The mean length of hospital stay was longer in the observation group (17.953 days) than that in the experimental group (12.037 days, P = 0.01). We also found that the observational group had a higher discharge ratio over 2 weeks in all cohort (adjusted OR 2.487, 95% confidence intervals 1.147–5.392, P = 0.021).

Conclusion: Active cycle of breathing technique may improve the perioperative outcomes and decrease the length of hospital stay after surgery in patients with esophageal cancer. However, we need more researches to validate these findings.
A Case for User-Centered Design in Satellite Command and Control
Authors: Dorton Stephen L. , Maryeski LeeAnn R. , Costello Robert P. , Abrecht Blake R.
Published: October 2021

The prevalence of unique, disparate satellite command and control (SATC2) systems in current satellite operations is problematic. As such, the United States Air Force aims to consolidate SATC2 systems into an enterprise solution that utilizes a common Human–Machine Interface (HMI). We employed a User-Centered Design (UCD) approach including a variety of methods from design thinking and human factors engineering to develop a solution that is effective, efficient, and meets operator needs. During a summative test event, we found that users had significantly higher situation awareness, lower workload, and higher subjective usability while using the HMI developed via UCD over the existing, or legacy, HMI. This case study serves as evidence to support the assertion that involving users early and often has positive and tangible effects on the development of aerospace systems.
Suspension Fertilizers: How to Reconcile Sustainable Fertilization and Environmental Protection
Authors: Bogusz Paulina , Rusek Piotr , Brodowska Marzena S.
Published: October 2021

Due to the growing world population, the challenge for the agriculture industry is to produce the right amount of food. This is not possible without the use of fertilizers. Unfortunately, apart from having a positive effect on the yield parameters, they can also adversely affect the natural environment. The use of fertilizers in excess or in a poorly digestible form causes the migration of fertilizer components beyond the reach of the plant root system. In this way, nutrients enter the groundwater, surface water and the atmosphere, contaminating them. The consequence of such actions is further climate warming and the deterioration of water status and air quality. Suspension fertilizers are an interesting proposition that meets the requirements of modern agriculture. They combine the advantages of liquid and solid fertilizers. The liquid form ensures better digestibility of the nutrients, especially in periods of drought, and the concentration of the ingredients is comparable to that of solid fertilizers. At the same time, production costs are lower, which is related to the simplification of the technological process and the possibility of using cheaper raw materials. A valuable advantage of fertilizer suspension is the possibility of using hydrated waste substances in their production.
Content and Distribution of Macroelements, Microelements, and Rare-Earth Elements in Different Tomato Varieties as a Promising Tool for Monitoring the Distinction between the Integral and Organic Systems of Production in Zeleni hit—Official Enza and Vitalis Trial and Breeding Station
Authors: Cvijanović Vojin , Sarić Beka , Dramićanin Aleksandra , Kodranov Igor , Manojlović Dragan , Momirović Nevena , Momirović Nebojša , Milojković-Opsenica Dušanka
Published: October 2021

The identification of agricultural food production systems has gained importance in order to protect both human health and the environment. The importance of organic production system of agriculture which involves the application of natural processes and substances, and limits or completely eliminates the use of synthesized means is emphasized. Knowledge of the mineral composition in tomato samples can be used as a potent tool in the identification of chemical markers as potential indicators of the farming system. A set of tomato samples taken from two factorial randomized trials were comprehended eight different varieties, belonging to four tomato types: large—BEEF and CLUSTER, and mini and midi—CHERRY and PLUM tomatoes, cultivated under two different farming systems: integral (IPM) and organic (O) were characterized based on the composition of the minerals. A total of 44 elements were quantified. To establish criteria for the classification of the samples and confirm a unique set of parameters of variation among the types of production, sophisticated chemometric techniques were used. The results indicate that the accumulation of elements varies between 8 tomato varieties and 2 different growing systems. The contents of Al, Mn, As, Pb, and some of the rare-earth elements (REEs) are able to distinguish between production types. Examination of different hybrids, which belong to different types in two production systems: organic and integral within Zeleni hit (official Enza and Vitalis trial and breeding station), was done with the aim of reaching a methodology of diversification, ie complete traceability of organic production, and to contribute to distinguishing types of agricultural systems and enhancing the possibility of acquiring a valuable authenticity factor about the type of agricultural production system employed for the cultivation of tomatoes.
Comparative Effects of Bio-Wastes in Combination with Plant Growth-Promoting Bacteria on Growth and Productivity of Okra
Authors: Anwar Hammad , Wang Xiukang , Hussain Azhar , Rafay Muhammad , Ahmad Maqshoof , Latif Muhammad , Jamshaid Muhammad Usman , Khalid Imran , Dar Abubakar , Mustafa Adnan
Published: October 2021

Plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria with multiple growth-promoting traits play a significant role in soil to improve soil health, crop growth and yield. Recent research studies have focused on the integration of organic amendments with plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) to enhance soil fertility and reduce the hazardous effects of chemical fertilizers. This study aims to evaluate the integrated application of biochar, compost, fruit and vegetable waste, and Bacillus subtilis (SMBL 1) to soil in sole application and in combined form. The study comprises eight treatments—four treatments without inoculation and four treatments with SMBL 1 inoculation in a completely randomized design (CRD), under factorial settings with four replications. The results indicate that the integrated treatments significantly improved okra growth and yield compared with sole applications. The integration of SMBL 1 with biochar showed significant improvements in plant height, root length, leaf chlorophyll a and b, leaf relative water content, fruit weight, diameter and length by 29, 29, 50, 53.3, 4.3, 44.7 and 40.4%, respectively, compared with control. Similarly, fruit N, P and K contents were improved by 33, 52.7 and 25.6% and Fe and Zn in shoot were 37.1 and 35.6%, respectively, compared with control. The results of this study reveal that the integration of SMBL 1 with organic amendments is an effective approach to the sustainable production of okra.
Exploration of Machine Learning Approaches for Paddy Yield Prediction in Eastern Part of Tamilnadu
Authors: Joshua Vinson , Priyadharson Selwin Mich , Kannadasan Raju
Published: October 2021

Agriculture is the principal basis of livelihood that acts as a mainstay of any country. There are several changes faced by the farmers due to various factors such as water shortage, undefined price owing to demand–supply, weather uncertainties, and inaccurate crop prediction. The prediction of crop yield, notably paddy yield, is an intricate assignment owing to its dependency on several factors such as crop genotype, environmental factors, management practices, and their interactions. Researchers are used to predicting the paddy yield using statistical approaches, but they failed to attain higher accuracy due to several factors. Therefore, machine learning methods such as support vector regression (SVR), general regression neural networks (GRNNs), radial basis functional neural networks (RBFNNs), and back-propagation neural networks (BPNNs) are demonstrated to predict the paddy yield accurately for the Cauvery Delta Zone (CDZ), which lies in the eastern part of Tamil Nadu, South India. The performance of each developed model is examined using assessment metrics such as coefficient of determination (R2), root mean square error (RMSE), mean absolute error (MAE), mean squared error (MSE), mean absolute percentage error (MAPE), coefficient of variance (CV), and normalized mean squared error (NMSE). The observed results show that the GRNN algorithm delivers superior evaluation metrics such as R2, RMSE, MAE, MSE, MAPE, CV, and NSME values about 0.9863, 0.2295 and 0.1290, 0.0526, 1.3439, 0.0255, and 0.0136, respectively, which ensures accurate crop yield prediction compared with other methods. Finally, the performance of the GRNN model is compared with other available models from several studies in the literature, and it is found to be high while comparing the prediction accuracy using evaluation metrics.
Emergence of Parafilaria bovicola in Austria
Authors: Hund Alexandra , Reithofer Johannes , Barogh Bita Shahi , Unterköfler Maria Sophia , Harl Josef , Fuehrer Hans-Peter
Published: October 2021

Veterinarians reported cases of cutaneous bleeding in cattle in Austria in the spring and summer of 2020. It was our goal to confirm the tentative diagnosis of parafilariosis by identifying Parafilaria bovicola in exudate samples using molecular methods for the first time in Austria. We asked veterinarians in the field to collect exudate from typical lesions on cattle. We performed polymerase chain reactions (PCRs) and sequenced a 674-bp section of the mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase subunit I in all positive samples. Overall, in 57 of 86 samples, P. bovicola was confirmed by PCR in cattle from Lower Austria, Upper Austria, Styria, Salzburg, Carinthia, and Tyrol. Sequencing detected four different haplotypes or genotypes, respectively, indicating multiple routes of introduction. We conclude that parafilariosis has spread in Austria and we expect that the number of reports of clinical signs and losses due to carcass damage will increase in the future.