bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Sports Performance Prediction Based on Chaos Theory and Machine Learning
Authors: Sun Wei
Published: June 2022

In order to combine chaos theory and machine learning technology to predict sports performance, a research on sports performance prediction based on chaos theory and machine learning is proposed. This paper takes the sports performance as the goal to predict the data; introduce the chaos theory algorithm, and combine the neural network system and particle swarm optimization algorithm to actively train sports results and ensure the quality of performance prediction. The comparison between shot put data prediction and real data shows that the prediction results given by the model have little deviation and can provide technical services for performance prediction for special sports training. When predicting the sports performance of college students, the prediction accuracy of sports performance of each subject is no less than 90%, which proves that this system can be used in college sports management. The delay time of the model data is short, which is mainly related to the correlation coefficient. When the coefficient is determined to be 0.02, the prediction delay time is 5 s, which can effectively complete the prediction and analysis of sports performance. The combined model has various technical advantages such as chaos theory, neural system, and particle optimization. It has strong sports performance prediction ability and can provide technical support for performance prediction for athletes’ training, college sports management, and other related sports industries.
Optimum Intervention in Transportation Networks Using Multimodal System under Fuzzy Stochastic Environment
Authors: Maity Gurupada , Yu Vincent F. , Roy Sankar Kumar
Published: June 2022

Multimodal transport refers to the transportation of goods under a single contract but performed with at least two different modes of transport. This research designs a new method for solving the Transportation Problem (TP) by introducing multimodal transport systems under fuzzy-stochastic environment, which we refer to as Fuzzy-Stochastic Multimodal Transportation Problem (FSMMTP). An algorithm is developed to reduce FSMMTP to a deterministic TP, which is mainly based on

α

-cut of fuzzy numbers, and uses a signed distance function based on the mean expectation of the fuzzy-stochastic cost parameters. We derive the optimal solution as well as optimal selection of mode for transporting the goods in our proposed model. A numerical example justifies the effectiveness of our proposed study. The paper ends with a conclusion and an outlook to future studies.
A 10‐Year Bibliometric Analysis of Global Research on Gut Microbiota and Parkinson’s Disease: Characteristics, Impact, and Trends
Authors: Cabanillas-Lazo Miguel , Quispe-Vicuña Carlos , Barja-Ore John , Fernandez-Giusti Alicia , Munive-Degregori Arnaldo , Retamozo-Siancas Yesenia , Guerrero Maria Eugenia , Mayta-Tovalino Frank
Published: June 2022

Objective. To perform a bibliometric analysis of scientific production related to gut microbiota and Parkinson’s disease between 2011 and 2020. Methods. A descriptive, retrospective, cross‐sectional, and bibliometric study was carried out. The Scopus database was used as a source to evaluate the worldwide scientific production on intestinal microbiota and its relationship with Parkinson’s disease. Data were extracted from Scopus using a formula developed with thesaurus terms MeSH (Medline) and Emtree (Embase). Results. A total of 591 documents were found. The retrieved manuscripts received an average of 41.9 citations per document. Four of the 10 most productive authors were Italian. The University of Helsinki (Finland) was the institution with the highest scientific production (19 papers) and the highest impact (5921 citations). In terms of productivity and impact, Movement Disorders ranked first with 38 papers and 2782 citations, and those papers published in Q1 quartile journals exceeded the sum of the remaining quartiles. Papers with international collaboration were the most cited. Keyword analysis showed that the terms Parkinson Disease, Disease, and Intestine Flora were the most frequent. Conclusion. The number of papers on Parkinson’s disease and gut microbiota has been increasing; however, high‐quality journals maintain the same high publication rate. International collaboration from high‐income countries played an important role in the impact generated by the publications.
Flavonoids Targeting the mTOR Signaling Cascades in Cancer: A Potential Crosstalk in Anti-Breast Cancer Therapy
Authors: Hussain Yaseen , Khan Haroon , Alam Waqas , Aschner Michael , Abdullah  , Alsharif Khalaf F. , Saso Luciano
Published: June 2022

Cancer is one of the leading causes of death worldwide. Breast cancer is the second leading cause of death in women, with triple-negative breast cancer being the most lethal and aggressive form. Conventional therapies, such as radiation, surgery, hormonal, immune, gene, and chemotherapy, are widely used, but their therapeutic efficacy is limited due to adverse side effects, toxicities, resistance, recurrence, and therapeutic failure. Many molecules have been identified and investigated as potential therapeutic agents for breast cancer, with a focus on various signaling pathways. Flavonoids are a versatile class of phytochemicals that have been used in cancer treatment to overcome issues with traditional therapies. Cell proliferation, growth, apoptosis, autophagy, and survival are all controlled by mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) signaling. Flavonoids target mTOR signaling in breast cancer, and when this signaling pathway is regulated or deregulated, various signaling pathways provide potential therapeutic means. The role of various flavonoids as phytochemicals in targeting mTOR signaling pathways in breast cancer is highlighted in this review.
Inhalation of Salvianolic Acid B Prevents Fine Particulate Matter-Induced Acute Airway Inflammation and Oxidative Stress by Downregulating the LTR4/MyD88/NLRP3 Pathway
Authors: Guan Yan , Li Liucheng , Kan Liandi , Xie Qiangmin
Published: June 2022

Air pollution is a serious threat to human health. Inhaled fine particulate matter (PM2.5) can cause inflammation and oxidative stress in the airway; however, the mechanisms responsible for this effect have yet to be elucidated and there are no specific drugs that can prevent and treat this condition. In the present study, we investigated the effects and mechanisms underlying the inhalation of salvianolic acid B (SalB) on PM2.5-induced airway inflammation and oxidative stress. We used a PM2.5-induced mouse model of airway inflammation and oxidative stress, along with a human epithelial cell model, to study the action and mechanisms of SalB by histopathology, real-time PCR, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays, flow cytometry, and western blotting. SalB treatment markedly inhibited the PM2.5-induced increase in the number of neutrophils and macrophages in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid, improved the infiltration of inflammatory cells in lung tissue, and reduced injury in the alveolar septum. Furthermore, SalB reduced the mRNA and protein levels of interleukin- (IL-) 1β, tumor necrosis factor- (TNF-) α, keratinocyte (KC), and transforming growth factor- (TGF-) β1 in lung tissues and the protein levels of IL-1β, TNF-α, IL-8, IL-6, and TGF-β1 in human epithelial cells. SalB treatment also significantly prevented the reduction of levels of superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione, and glutathione peroxidase in lung tissue and reduced the levels of reactive oxygen species in human epithelial cells induced by PM2.5. Furthermore, SalB and the myeloid differentiation primary response 88 (MyD88) inhibitor ST2825 inhibited the expression levels of toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4), MyD88, tumor necrosis factor receptor associated factor 6 (TRAF-6), and NOD-like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3), as well as the phosphorylation of downstream Erk1/2 and P38 in lung tissue and epithelial cells. SalB protects against PM2.5-induced airway inflammation and oxidative stress in a manner that is associated with the inhibition of the TLR4/MyD88/TRAF-6/NLRP3 pathway and downstream signals ERK1/2 and P38.
A Symmetric Fusion Learning Model for Detecting Visual Relations and Scene Parsing
Authors: Liu Xuan , Jing Xiaochuan , Zheng Zhong , Du Wanru , Ding Xingxing , Zhu Quan
Published: June 2022

Visual relationship detection (VRD) aims to locate objects and recognize their pairwise relationships for parsing scene graphs. To enable a higher understanding of the visual scene, we propose a symmetric fusion learning model for visual relationship detection and scene graph parsing. We integrate objects and relationship features at visual and semantic levels for better relations feature mapping. First, we apply a feature fusion for the construction of the visual module and introduce a semantic representation learning module combined with large-scale external knowledge. We minimize the loss by matching the visual and semantic embeddings using our designed symmetric learning module. The symmetric learning module based on reverse cross-entropy can boost cross-entropy symmetrically and perform reverse supervision for inaccurate annotations. Our model is compared with other state-of-the-art methods in two public data sets. Experiments show that our proposed model achieves encouraging performance in various metrics for the two data sets investigated. The further detailed analysis demonstrates that the proposed method performs better by partially alleviating the impact of inaccurate annotations.
Optimization of Abrasive Wear Characteristics of Polyethylene/Acrylate Copolymer Nanocomposites
Authors: Chockalingam S. , Subramaniyan G. Gopalarama , Bisen Anand , Kaliappan S. , Sekar S. , Patil Pravin P. , Kumar T. Ch. Anil , Ramesh B. , Venkatesan S.
Published: June 2022

Polymer nanocomposites are being used more widely in a variety of industries. As the compatibilizer, Elvaloy-AC-3427 (EAC) was used in addition to Cloisite 30B (C3B) as the reinforcement of filler in this research. For the production of Polyethylene/Cloisite 30B/Elvaloy AC-3427 nanomaterials, a twin-screw extruder is employed. Cloisite 30B was added to the Polyethylene matrix in the range of 2%, 3%, 4%, and 5%. The mechanical and thermal characteristics of the compounds have been examined. Nanocomposites were tested for their tribological properties utilizing abrasive wear load, C3B, and sliding distance which were all taken into consideration while performing the abrasive wear evaluations. Specific wear rate (SWR), coefficient of friction (COF), and weight loss were the abrasive wear test’s output metrics (SWR). For the purpose of enhancing the abrasive wear characteristics, grey relational analysis and grey fuzzy were used. An ANOVA was carried out to examine the connection between input parameters and output variables. Finally, the Polyethylene/Cloisite 30B/Elvaloy AC-3427 nanocomposites abraded wear samples were evaluated microscopically.
Reliability Analysis of a Functional Diagnostic Test for Primary Hyperaldosteronism Based on Data Analysis
Authors: Wang Yan , Cai Jun
Published: June 2022

Primary aldosteronism (PA) is one of the most common causes of secondary hypertension, with a prevalence of 12–20% in the hypertensive population. To determine the characteristic function of a fuzzy concept based on the epidemiological data, clinical manifestations, and auxiliary examinations of PA, the essence is to select a suitable domain and determine the affiliation of each element in the domain. The aldosterone/renin ratio was proposed to increase the detection rate of PA, which has the shortcoming of a high underdiagnosis rate when relying only on clinical manifestations. However, there is no unified standard for the diagnostic cut point, and there are differences in testing methods and diagnostic cut point values for different populations, which require different laboratories to establish appropriate cut points according to different regional populations to improve the diagnostic accuracy. In this article, we analyzed the reliability of functional diagnostic tests for PA based on data analysis and compared the sensitivity and specificity of different plasma aldosterone cut points for the diagnosis of PA in the 40 mg kibbutz test. The results showed that when post-saline PAC and post-cato PAC were used to confirm the diagnosis of proaldosterone, respectively, there was a similar subject working area under the curve between SSST and CCT, 0.89 and 0.78, respectively, with no significant difference in the area under the curve between the two (

p
=
0.546

). Therefore, blood sodium and blood potassium have higher specificity and sensitivity than SUSPUP, but both are lower than ARR, and data analysis can be used as an auxiliary indicator for screening.
Performance Evaluation of Accounting Business Process Reengineering Based on AHP Optimization DEA Model
Authors: Yang Jing
Published: June 2022

It is well known that accounting business process reengineering is constantly improving, and this change is usually closely related to incentive mechanisms. The establishment of this incentive mechanism requires performance appraisal of accounting business process reengineering. Although there are many evaluation indicators for the success of business process reengineering, there is a lack of a simple and easy standard. In order to reduce the complexity of business process reengineering (BPR) performance evaluation, the paper regards BPR as a closed input and output system from a systematic point of view, and a corresponding input-output evaluation index system is established for BPR performance based on the resource input support system. By using super-efficiency data envelopment analysis (DEA) and utilizing the advantages of adversarial cross-evaluation and analytic hierarchy process (AHP), a performance evaluation DEA model for accounting business process reengineering is proposed. The model is used to evaluate the performance of QCFF company after business process reengineering. The research results can focus on the supervision and improvement of the departments with poor performance by completely ranking the performance of each process unit. The proposed method for assessing the performance of BPR thus serves a practical purpose and can be used to support the subsequent development of BPR.
Prevalence and Risk Factors for Fall among Rural Elderly: A County-Based Cross-Sectional Survey
Authors: Zhang Hongping , Zhao Yinshaung , Wei Feng , Han Mo , Chen Jianquan , Peng Songxu , Du Yukai
Published: June 2022

Aim. The aim of the study was to provide evidence for the prevention and reduction of falls in the elderly living in rural areas by analyzing epidemiological data of falls among the rural older people (>65 years old) and identifying the risk and protective factors. Methods. This study analyzed the sociodemographic characteristics, living environment, lifestyle, chronic disease condition, mental health, activities of daily living (ADL), and detailed information of falls of 3752 rural elderly. Rank tests, chi-square tests, and binary logistic regression were used for data analysis. Results. The prevalence of falls was 30.0%, and the 75–84-years age group had the highest fall rate (18.8%). According to the binary logistic regression analysis, six variables, including roughage intake frequency, age, gender, cane use, floor tiles, and IADL, were involved in the fall patterns. Low roughage intake (OR = 2.48, 95% CI 1.24–4.97), female gender (OR = 2.12, 95% CI 1.48–3.05), the use of a cane (OR = 2.11, 95% CI 1.08–4.10), and medium IADL (OR = 2.02, 95% CI 1.89–2.32) were the top four risk factors. Conclusion. The fall in the rural elderly was mainly due to the poor living and working conditions. Routine fall assessment could address several preventable risk factors to reduce the prevalence and mitigate the harm of falls.
Modeling and Simulation of Traffic Congestion for Mixed Traffic Flow with Connected Automated Vehicles: A Cell Transmission Model Approach
Authors: Wu Yunxia , Lin Yalan , Hu Rong , Wang Zilan , Zhao Bin , Yao Zhihong
Published: June 2022

Connected automated vehicles (CAVs) can significantly shorten the headway of car following, thereby effectively improving the traffic capacity and injecting new power to alleviate traffic congestion. To investigate the congestion characteristics of mixed traffic flow with CAVs and human-driven vehicles (HDVs), this paper proposes a cell transmission model to capture and simulate traffic congestion for mixed traffic flow. Firstly, the Newell, adaptive cruise control (ACC), and cooperative adaptive cruise control (CACC) models are adopted to capture the car-following behavior of different vehicles. Secondly, the fundamental diagram under different penetration rates of CAVs is derived based on car-following models. Then, the cell transmission model (CTM) of mixed traffic flow is developed based on the classical CTM and fundamental diagram of mixed traffic flow. Finally, two simulation methods, mixed traffic flow CTM and micro-simulation, are designed to verify the effectiveness of the proposed model. Moreover, taking the moving bottleneck on the expressway as an example, the congestion characteristics of mixed traffic flow are analyzed using multiple indexes, such as average travel speed, congestion delay, and congestion scale. The results show the following: (i) CAVs can significantly alleviate traffic congestion, (ii) the duration of the bottleneck is positively correlated with the degree of traffic congestion, and (iii) The traffic congestion assessment results under different model parameters slightly differ, but the impact is negligible.
Sports Biology Seminar of Three-dimensional Movement Characteristics of Yoga Standing Based on Image Recognition
Authors: Zheng Hongyan , Wu Fei , Sun Dan , Liang Dong , Guo Yuliang , Zhang Xiaoyuan , Liu Song
Published: June 2022

With the exponential improvement of the integration capabilities of electronic hardware devices, digital images have become an indispensable information carrier, thus promoting the development of image recognition, detection, or tracking technologies. At present, there is a blank in the field of image recognition measured by the action standard of yoga standing three-dimensional movement, which will bring huge room for researchers to play. Based on the traditional image recognition technology, there are cases where missed detection or false detection cannot be correctly identified and made a correct judgment. In this paper, the ability to capture the action is improved by optimizing the network for the positioning of the stereoscopic action target of the yoga station. The linear discriminant analysis (LDA) after adding optimization is used to reduce the dimensionality of the captured image data, which is beneficial to improving image recognition rate and reducing image loss rate. Through the analysis of the three-dimensional movement of the yoga station, the model based on the improved algorithm is compared with the traditional model, and the final image recognition accuracy is improved compared with the network model before the improvement. The image recognition error rate steadily tends to 5%, and the loss rate is also below 2%. Through the optimized convolutional neural network, this paper can accurately capture the image position, and the recognition rate has also been greatly improved, which can provide a reference for future research in other fields.
Mixed Multinomial Probit Model Accommodating Flexible Covariance Structure and Random Taste Variation: An Application to Commute Mode Choice Behavior
Authors: Wang Ke , Ye Xin , Gan Hongcheng
Published: June 2022

This paper developed a mixed multinomial probit (MMNP) model with alternative error specification and random coefficients (for both generic variables and personal attributes) to accommodate flexible covariance structure and taste variation. The MMNP model can be efficiently estimated with analytic approximations of multivariate normal cumulative distribution functions, which avoid defects of simulation-based integration in the mixed multinomial logit (MMNL) model. The integral dimension of the MMNL model increases as random coefficients increase, but it only depends on the number of available alternatives in the MMNP model. Simulation experiments and empirical analysis of Shanghai commuters’ mode choice behavior were undertaken to examine the performance of MMNP models. Both simulation results and empirical results show that MMNP models can well accommodate flexible covariance structures and taste variation reflected through random coefficients being associated with both generic and personal variables. Empirical results indicate that the MMNP model performs better than traditional discrete choice models, such as the multinomial logit, the cross-nested logit, MMNL, and multinomial probit models. Random coefficients of “in-vehicle time of car” and “number of companions” indicate taste heterogeneity and the identifiability of random coefficients associated with both generic and personal attributes. Pairwise positive correlations between car/taxi, bus/metro, and bus/bus and metro are to be expected. However, the positive correlation between the car and metro modes may be unique to the Chinese city, Shanghai, because of the developed metro system. Unequal error variances reflect heterogeneities in unspecified factors in commute modes’ utilities. The MMNP model will offer an alternative efficient way to accommodate taste heterogeneity and flexible error covariance structure in discrete choice models. Compared with the MMNL model, the MMNP model can accommodate more random coefficients without increasing computational complexity.
Neoadjuvant FOLFIRINOX Followed by Pancreatoduodenectomy for Pancreatic Cancer in Patients with Previous Transhiatal Esophagectomy for Esophageal Cancer
Authors: Kim Juwan , Hong Seung-Soo , Kim Sung Hyun , Hwang Ho Kyoung , Lee Woo Jung , Lee Jae Guen , Lee Choong-Kun , Kang Chang Moo
Published: June 2022

During pancreaticoduodenectomy after transhiatal esophagectomy, the preservation of the blood supply to the gastric conduit is technically difficult due to adhesion. Here, we present a case of successful pancreaticoduodenectomy after neoadjuvant chemotherapy in a patient with pancreatic head cancer who previously underwent subtotal esophagectomy with gastric reconstruction for esophageal cancer. A 69-year-old man who had undergone cholecystectomy 20 years prior and transhiatal esophagectomy 6 years prior for esophageal cancer presented to our hospital for indigestion. Computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging revealed a 2.8-cm pancreatic head cancer, with focal abutment with the gastroduodenal artery, right gastroepiploic artery, and right colic vein. After discussion with the multidisciplinary team, the patient underwent neoadjuvant chemotherapy with six cycles of FOFIRINOX. The patient successfully underwent pancreatectomy, which preserved the pylorus. We preserved the gap between the gastric tube and the left lateral segment of the liver to avoid injuring the right gastric artery and vein. The tumor was found to be invading the gastroduodenal artery; thus, we performed R0 resection of the gastroduodenal artery and an end-to-end anastomosis between the gastroduodenal artery and the right gastroepiploic artery. After completing the surgical procedure, we added Braun anastomosis to reduce the incidence of delayed gastric emptying. Pancreaticoduodenectomy after transhiatal esophagectomy can be performed with preservation of the blood supply to the neogastric tube by reconstructing the major vessels, even in cases in which the tumor is invading or abutting the major vessels.
Glomus Tumor of the Stomach: A Systematic Review and Illustrative Case Report
Authors: Pansa Andrea , Samà Laura , Ruspi Laura , Sicoli Federico , Cananzi Ferdinando Carlo Maria , Quagliuolo Vittorio
Published: June 2022

Introduction: Glomus tumor (GT) is a rare mesenchymal neoplasm that can be found anywhere throughout the body, including the stomach. Our goal was to present a case and a systematic review of the literature, reporting clinical, radiological, surgical, and pathological features of the disease. Methods: We reviewed Pubmed and SCOPUS for all case reports and case series published after 2000. Papers written in languages different from English and letters to the editor were excluded. Screening and data extraction were performed following the PRISMA guidelines. Results: A total of 89 studies were included in the systematic review, consisting of 187 cases of gastric glomus tumor. Mean age was 52 (18–90); most patients were female (61%). The most common clinical presentation was epigastric pain (33.9% of cases). The gastric antrum was the most frequently involved site (75.3%). Mean tumor size was 2.82 cm (0.8–17). Preoperative diagnosis was achieved in 22 cases, mostly by endoscopic ultrasound (EUS)-guided biopsy. Wedge resection was performed in 62% of treated patients. Smooth muscle actin was expressed in all cases with available immunohistochemistry. Malignant GT was reported in 11 cases. Discussion: Epigastric pain and bleeding were the most common symptoms at presentation in patients with diagnosis of glomus tumor. EUS-guided fine needle aspiration can be useful for preoperative diagnosis. Endoscopic elastosonography is a promising tool for the differential diagnosis of gastric submucosal lesions, including glomus tumors. The treatment of choice is wedge resection with adequate free margins. A laparoscopic approach is warranted when technically feasible. Since malignant gastric GTs have been described, long-term follow-up is suggested after surgical excision.
Cloud Droplet Nucleation Simulation and Parameterization
Authors: Sun Jiming , Zhang Jun , Deng Wei , Hu Wenhao , Wang Yongqing
Published: June 2022

Cloud droplet nucleation is classically defined as a droplet growing to a size such that its ambient supersaturation exceeds its surface equilibrium water vapor pressure. Unactivated particles are always in equilibrium with the ambient vapor pressure. Further studies showed that such an equilibrium assumption leads to many more cloud droplets being nucleated due to neglecting kinetic growth limitations, including the inertial mechanism, evaporation mechanism, and deactivation mechanism. Moreover, the inertial mechanism results in great discrepancy between the actual size and the critical size of nucleation for large aerosol particles. These issues complicate cloud droplet nucleation parameterization for applications in cloud modeling. To establish a physically based nucleation scheme, we established a highly size-resolved Lagrangian parcel model. Vapor diffusion and heat conduction were calculated according to Maxwell theory, and the surface vapor density and temperature were explicitly simulated. The surface temperature variation of a droplet with its size was considered. The surface supersaturation of a droplet, taking into account the surface temperature variation, is different from its equilibrium supersaturation at its large sizes. The nucleation simulation showed that the inertial and deactivation mechanisms can impact droplet nucleation. Moreover, very large nuclei can trigger rain embryo formation in a short time period. Even though there are kinetic limitations, the classical equilibrium assumption can be applied to determine the primary nucleation number of cloud droplets. Meanwhile, a regression formula for the size of a nucleated droplet and its dry aerosol size was established.
Contribution of Dissipative Heating to the Intensity Dependence of Tropical Cyclone Intensification
Authors: Wang Yuqing , Xu Jing , Tan Zhe-Min
Published: June 2022

Previous studies have demonstrated the contribution of dissipative heating (DH) to the maximum potential intensity (MPI) of tropical cyclones (TCs). Since DH is a function of near-surface wind speed and thus TC intensity, a natural question arises as to whether DH contributes to the intensity dependence of TC potential intensification rate (PIR). To address this issue, an attempt has been made to include DH in a recently developed time-dependent theory of TC intensification. With this addition, the theory predicts a shift of the maximum PIR toward the higher intensity side, which is consistent with the intensity dependence of TC intensification rate in observed strong TCs. Since the theory without DH predicts a dependence of TC PIR on the square of the MPI, the inclusion of DH results in an even higher PIR for strong TCs. Considering the projected increase in TC MPI under global warming, the theoretical work implies that as the climate continues to warm, TCs may intensify more rapidly. This may not only make the TC intensity forecasting more difficult, but also may increase the threats of TCs to the coastal populations if TCs intensify more rapidly just before they make landfall.

Significance Statement

Previous studies have demonstrated that dissipative heating (DH) can significantly contribute to the maximum potential intensity (MPI) that a tropical cyclone (TC) can achieve given favorable environmental thermodynamic conditions of the atmosphere and the underlying ocean. Here we show that because DH is a function of near-surface wind speed and thus TC intensity, DH can also significantly contribute to the intensity dependence of TC potential intensification rate (PIR). This has been demonstrated by introducing DH into a recently developed time-dependent theory of TC intensification. With DH the theory predicts a shift of the maximum PIR toward the higher intensity side as observed in strong TCs. Therefore, as the climate continues to warm, TCs may intensify more rapidly and become stronger.
Examining the Domestic Violence Crisis in Ventura County in the Wake of the COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: Singh Jupneet K. , Duncan Thomas K.
Published: June 2022

Background

Domestic violence (DV) worsened during COVID-19 and Family Justice Centers (FJCs) were, even more so than before, a critical part of providing services to DV victims. This study characterizes the clinical and sociodemographic features of the clients that come to the Ventura County FJC (VCFJC) and examines the effect of COVID-19, thus informing awareness of services available to victims of DV.

Methods

This was a retrospective cohort study utilizing the VCFJC database from 2019 to 2021. All client data normally collected was studied. A comparison of pre-COVID and post-COVID data was also conducted.

Results

There were 3488 client entries. Clients were mostly female (79% [2755]; n = 3488), aged 25-40 (31.73% [1106]; n = 3448), white/Caucasian (44.42% [1531]; n = 3448) or Hispanic/Latinx (42.41% [1462]; n = 3448). Clients most often requested restraining orders (72.41% [2496]; n = 3448), and most commonly reported DV [physical] (47.90% [1651]; n = 3448). Most health-insured clients were covered by MediCal (45.06% [1231]; n = 2732). Pre- and post-COVID analysis showed the highest increases in DV [physical] (odds ratio = 1.26, P < .0007) and stalking/harassment (odds ratio = 2.45, P < .0007), and decreases in all Initial Service Request categories except one.

Discussion

In serving clients affected by DV, FJCs are an important service for health care providers to be aware of. Post-COVID, clients reported DV and stalking/harassment at much higher percentages, which is consistent with national studies on the pandemic. The most alarming finding was the steep decrease in Initial Service Requests. Conclusion: This study shows the importance of collaboration and awareness of services, especially in a world of COVID-19.
Perceived Physical Discomfort and Its Associations With Home Office Characteristics During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: Garcia Maria-Gabriela , Aguiar Byron , Bonilla Sofia , Yepez Nicolas , Arauz Paul G. , Martin Bernard J.
Published: June 2022

Objective

The goal of this study was to evaluate the prevalence and change in perception of physical discomfort, including musculoskeletal discomfort, during the COVID-19 pandemic and to determine associations of demographic factors, telework activity, and home office characteristics with the highest prevalence of discomfort.

Background

The COVID-19 pandemic forced a substantial increase in telework in many countries. The sudden change from a regular workplace to an improvised “home office” may have an impact on working conditions and physical symptoms of office workers. However, investigations in this area remain limited.

Method

A cross-sectional study design was used to compare self-reported complaints of physical discomfort perceived from before with those during the pandemic. Associations between complaints and home office characteristics were investigated from 150 faculty and 51 administrative staff of an academic institution with an age range of 41.16 ± 10.20 (59% female).

Results

A significant increase of physical discomfort was found during the pandemic period for head, eyes, hand, and upper back for both staff and faculty and neck, shoulders, elbows, and lower back for faculty only. Logistic regression analyses point to associations with the lack of a laptop stand, uncomfortable desk, poor lighting, and sitting time, among others.

Conclusion

A high prevalence of physical discomfort was reported by teleworkers during the COVID-19 pandemic. Some home office characteristics were associated with these discomforts.

Application

Some telework characteristics seem to be risk factors for physical discomfort. Consideration should be given to teaching best practices for workstation setup and/or conducting other preventive interventions in the work environment.
Pregnant Women, HIV, and Clinical Research to Prevent Perinatal Transmission in the 1990s
Authors: Rodriguez Sarah B.
Published: June 2022

In 1994, American and French AIDS research showed that the drug AZT reduced the risk of HIV transmission from a pregnant HIV-positive woman to her fetus (perinatal transmission). Hailed as a breakthrough, the AIDS Clinical Trial Group protocol 076 (ACTG 076) soon became the standard of care in the US But ACTG 076 was too expensive for low-income countries where perinatal transmission rates were high; to find a more affordable prevention, the US principally funded studies in several low-income countries. Controversy over whether the short course of AZT studies was ethical, given their different standards of care and use of a placebo, erupted in 1997. These studies remain well known within the global health biomedical literature as illustrating differences between sending and receiving countries. But while rarely invoked within this literature, these two sets of studies have similarities that challenge this hierarchal division: both involved pregnant women as objects of clinical research instead of subjects of clinical care, reflective of the all-too-common focus in global health on disease containment rather than on health care, and both illustrate the ways the focus within global health has been on a solitary biomedical intervention rather than on discrimination, inequality, and poverty within and among countries.
Student Pharmacist Perspectives of a Remote Ambulatory Care and Community Pharmacy Dual-Cohort APPE
Authors: Hatcher Tiffany M. , Schoen Rebecca R. , Garmong Gale E. , Stewart-Lynch Autumn L.
Published: June 2022

Objective

The primary aim of the study is to describe the development and implementation of a remote required ambulatory care and required community pharmacy dual-cohort Advanced Pharmacy Practice Experience (APPE) rotation from the student pharmacist perspective. The secondary objective is to identify elements of a remote APPE to integrate into traditional onsite rotations.

Methods

An electronic post-survey was developed to evaluate rotation effectiveness based on the Center for the Advancement of Pharmacy Education (CAPE) outcomes, and to identify rotation attributes to inform future rotations. Students from different graduating classes on rotation between April and June 2020 participated in the survey. Likert-scale, ranked-response, and fixed-answer-choice questions were analyzed using descriptive statistics, and comparisons between cohorts and rotation groups were completed using the Chi-squared statistic (alpha .05). Open-ended questions were assessed for recurring themes. Study was exempted by university’s Institutional Review Board.

Results

Twenty-four of 45 invited students completed the survey (53% response rate). Of the surveyed CAPE outcomes, agreement was highest (95.7%) that the rotation improved students’ abilities within 1.1 Learner, 2.2 Manager, and 4.4 Professional subdomains. Diversity of experiences and topic discussions were elements most frequently identified for inclusion in future rotations.

Conclusion

Student feedback was largely positive and indicated the remote APPE rotation experience was meaningful and improved abilities on key CAPE outcomes. Although remote rotations are unique, aspects including diverse learning experiences and preceptor collaboration may be considered for integration into traditional onsite rotations.
αCGRP Regulates Osteogenic Differentiation of Bone Marrow Mesenchymal Stem Cells Through ERK1/2 and p38 MAPK Signaling Pathways
Authors: Jiang Yixuan , Xin Na , xiong Yi , Guo Yanjun , Yuan Ying , Zhang Qin , Gong Ping
Published: June 2022

As a typical neuropeptide richly distributed in central and peripheral nervous systems, α-calcitonin-gene-related peptide (αCGRP) has recently been found to play a crucial role in bone development and metabolism, but the mechanisms involved are not fully uncovered. Here, this study aimed to investigate the effects and underlying molecular mechanisms of αCGRP in regulating the osteogenic differentiation of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs). Using microarray technology, gene ontology (GO) and kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes (KEGG) analyses revealed that osteogenic properties of BMSCs were facilitated and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathway was upregulated by αCGRP in this process. Through western blot assay, we proved that αCGRP led to an increased phosphorylation level of extracellular signal-regulated kinases 1 and 2 (ERK1/2) and p38 MAPK signaling cascades in a time-dependent manner. And αCGRP could promote differentiative capacity of BMSCs, showing upregulated mRNA and protein expression level of alkaline phosphatase (Alp), collagen type 1 (Col-1), osteopontin (Opn), and runt-related transcription factor 2 (Runx2), as well as increased ALP activity and calcified nodules. The addition of ERK1/2 or p38 MAPK inhibitor—U0126 or SB203580, resulted in an impaired osteogenic differentiation of BMSCs. Besides, inactivation of this signal transduction had negative impacts on proliferative activity and apoptotic process of αCGRP-mediated BMSCs. Our findings demonstrated that MAPK signaling pathway, at least in part, was responsible for the enhanced BMSCs’ osteogenesis induced by αCGRP, which might offer us promising strategies for bone-related disorders.
‘The Mercury Challenge’: feline systolic blood pressure in primary care practice – a European survey
Authors: Sparkes Andrew , Garelli-Paar Catherine , Blondel Thomas , Guillot Emilie
Published: June 2022

Objectives

The aim of this study was to collect data from a substantial number of older cats having their systolic blood pressure (SBP) measured in a variety of clinical practices, to describe the findings and assess variables that affected the duration of assessment and the values obtained.

Methods

An international (European-based) multicentre convenience sample survey of cats ⩾7 years of age attending veterinary clinics and having SBP measured as part of their clinical assessment. Information gathered included details of the cat, concomitant disease(s) or therapies, SBP results, device used, time taken to assess SBP and the demeanor of the cat.

Results

Useable data were available from 8884 cats aged 7–26 years, from 811 clinics across 16 countries. The device used to measure SBP was Doppler in 47.4% and oscillometry in 48.5%. The demeanor of the cat was reported to be calm in 45.7%, anxious in 41.9% and nervous in 8.9%; and the duration of assessment was reported to be <5 mins in 50.4%, 5–10 minutes in 41.7% and >10 mins in 7.9%. Concomitant chronic kidney disease (CKD) was reported in 21.8%, hyperthyroidism in 12.0% or both in 3.1%. The median SBP was 150 mmHg (range 80–310), with 18.6% classified as hypertensive (SBP 160–179 mmHg) and 21.1% as severely hypertensive (SBP ⩾180 mmHg). The measured SBP was significantly affected by the cat’s demeanor, duration of SBP assessment, presence of CKD and/or hyperthyroidism, the cat’s sex and age, and the presence of concomitant therapy. The duration of SBP assessment was significantly affected by the cat’s demeanor.

Conclusions and relevance

In veterinary clinics, SBP can be measured in most cats within a short period of time using either Doppler or oscillometric equipment. The presence of CKD or hyperthyroidism was associated with significantly higher SBP values, and anxious or nervous cats had higher SBP values and took longer to obtain SBP assessments.
Precipitation-Driven Anthropogenic Pollutant Fluctuations Within Standing Water Sources of the Edwards Aquifer Region, Texas
Authors: Love Cheyenne H , Laub Brian G
Published: June 2022

The objective of this study was to assess the contribution of urban runoff in pollutant delivery to standing water pools within the Edwards Aquifer region of Texas. Grab samples of water were collected weekly over 5 months at one urban pool, one undeveloped pool, and one control pond that received minimal runoff. Samples were tested for nitrates, total dissolved phosphorus, Escherichia coli, and other coliform bacteria. The urban site had higher nitrate, E. coli, and other coliform bacteria concentrations than the undeveloped site. Significant positive linear relationships between weekly antecedent rainfall and both nitrate and E. coli were found at the urban site but not the undeveloped site. Water quality parameters at the control site remained stable, suggesting increases in nitrate and E. coli at the urban site were caused by runoff. Using publicly available data, relationships between water quality and weekly antecedent discharge were tested at 24 additional sites varying in land use. Positive relationships for E. coli were found at several urban sites, supporting runoff as a contributor to bacterial loading. Relationships for nitrate were variable, but all additional sites had flowing water, suggesting a unique response of water quality to urban runoff at the sampled urban pool.
Determinants of Household-Level Water Treatment Practices in Southern Ethiopia
Authors: Sisay W/tsadik Daniel , Debela Berhanu Gidisa , Ali Ewune Helen , Hareru Habtamu Endashaw
Published: June 2022

Background:

Household water treatment and handling is an important component of a global strategy to provide safe water to millions of people who live without adequate water currently. Household water treatment at the point of use also helps to improve drinking water quality for millions who suffer due to contamination of their drinking water. This study aims to assess household-level water treatment practices and associated factors in Southern Ethiopia.

Methods:

A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted among selected households using a systematical random sampling technique in Bule town. Data was collected using a pretested, structured questionnaire and analyzed using STATA version 16. A variable with a P-value ⩽ .25 in bi-variable regression was entered into multivariable regression and then a variable with a P-value ⩽ .05 was taken as statistically significant.

Results:

The study found that only 29.9% (with a 95% CI: 25.3-34.6) of households have good water treatment practices for drinking purposes. Regarding predictors of household-level water treatment practices, respondents who had good knowledge were 5 times (AOR = 6.98, 95% CI = 4.01-11.9) more likely to practice household-level water treatment than their counterparts. In addition, respondents who earn more than 3000 ETB per month are twofold more likely to practice household water treatment than those with an average monthly income of less than 1000 ETB (AOR = 2.37, 95% CI = 1.22-4.60).

Conclusions:

Household-level water treatment was less common in Bule town. The household’s monthly income and their knowledge status were found to be the determinants of household-level water treatment practices in the study area.
From “Social Evils” to “Human Beings”: Vietnam's LGBT Movement and the Politics of Recognition
Authors: Phuong Pham Quynh
Published: June 2022

Since 2008, non-governmental organisations and other civil society organisations have helped to transform the image of Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people in Vietnam. Their efforts reached a peak in 2014 when Vietnam became the first country in Asia to debate the issue of same-sex marriage in the national parliament. Yet, the outcome of the debate remained was ambiguous, with same-sex marriage being neither illegal nor recognised by the state. This paper explores the tactics and strategies of LGBT activists as they campaigned for recognition of same-sex marriage. It argues that a key factor in the “in-between” outcome was their lack of attention to the redistributive implications of recognition. Together with attention to the fractured nature of the Vietnamese state, engaging directly with issues of redistribution may allow LGBT activists to further advance the politics of recognition at the same time as they redefine the contours of civil society and activism in contemporary Vietnam.
Clinical Utility of Respiratory Scores at Admission for Estimating the Definitive Microbiological Diagnosis in Lower Respiratory Tract Infections in Infants
Authors: Demir And , Özdemir Karadas Nihal , Karadas Ulas
Published: June 2022

We aimed at determining the clinical utility of respiratory scores and the durations of wheezing or respiratory distress during hospitalization in infants with lower respiratory tract infections (LRTI) at admission for estimating the definitive microbiological diagnosis. We obtained data from a study population of 201 patients, 79 girls and 122 boys. There was a significant divide in the causative agents of LRTI among patients younger and older than 6 months of age ( P = .002), and significantly different respiratory score findings were determined in infants with viral LRTI: a low respiratory score in a younger-than-6 month infant suggests Adenovirus as the causative agent and a high respiratory score suggests Parainfluenza 1 or 2; as for infants of 6 months of age or older, a low respiratory score indicates Influenza A or B or a mixed infection, whereas a high respiratory score is likely an indication of Parainfluenza 3 or RSV.