bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Home and belonging: African women in 'crisis' Greece
Authors: Zaphiriou-Zarifi Viki
Published: May 2022

In a Greek context in which full integration depends upon looking and sounding ‘native’, African women are made hyper-visible in discourses of the Other. Although the right to mobility is much emphasized in debates about migration, it appears to be the rooting or ‘being at home-ness’ of migrants that is most controversial. In both public discourse and personal encounters, these women are reminded daily that they are perceived as not ‘at home’. The widespread perception of them as liminal – at best temporary guests, at worst intruders who do not belong – appears to infuse home-making activities with even greater significance. In this paper, I explore home as a fluid yet meaning-ful and meaning-making idea and practice from the women’s own perspectives; the stories and practices through which a location becomes (or fails to become) a home; and, the communal activities through which women performatively construct, and claim, a sense of belonging.
Analysis of students’ thinking process in solving arithmetic sequence based on adversity quotient types
Authors: Sabirin Muhamad , Arafah Saidah , Paris M. Amin , Atsnan Muh. Fajaruddin , Nareki Maisea Ledua
Published: May 2022

This descriptive qualitative study aimed at describing students’ thinking process in solving arithmetic sequence problems based on students’ adversity quotient (AQ). Two students who have camper type of AQ and two students who have transition from camper to climber type of AQ were involved in this study. We employed a questionnaire to identify the type of AQ that students have, a test to collect data on students’ problem-solving process, and an interview guideline to clarify students’ thinking process in problem-solving. The collected data were analyzed by following a process consisting of data reduction, data presentation, and drawing conclusions or verification. The results revealed that the students who have camper type of AQ demonstrated an assimilation thinking process on the stage of understanding problem and devising a problem-solving plan, an accommodation-assimilation thinking process on the stage of devising a problem-solving plan, and an accommodation thinking process on the stage of looking back. As for students who have transition from camper to climber type of AQ, they have similar thinking process with that of the students who have camper type of AQ on the stage of understanding problem, devising a problem-solving plan, and executing the problem-solving plan, but these students demonstrated different thinking process on the stage of looking back. In the stage of looking back, the students who have transition from camper to climber type of AQ presented an accommodation-assimilation thinking process that can be found from their responses to the test and interview.
Mechanisms of Lamb Wave Generation by Domain Wall in a Plate of Weak Ferromagnetic
Authors:   Pacific National University, Zhukov Еvgenii А. , Adamova Мariya Е. , Zhukova Valentina I. ,   Far Eastern State University of Railway Communications, Kuzmenko Aleksandr P. ,   Southwest State University
Published: May 2022

The purpose of research. Study of the mechanism of Rayleigh-Lamb waves generation by the moving domain wall. Methods. The equations describing the elastic displacements generated by moving domain wall in the plate were solved by the Fourier method. Results. For yttrium orthoferrite crystal we’ve estimated the amplitudes of Lamb waves displacement for two different cases of their generation: due to bulk and surface strains arising from the movement of the domain wall. The amplitude of displacement in an unbounded crystal has the same order of magnitude as for waves excited by surface strains - 10 10 cm for the theoretical domain boundary thickness D3 = 1.1·10-6 m. The correlation between the contributions of bulk and surface mechanisms in the generation of Lamb waves by the domain wall has been determined. Conclusion. For development domain wall-based logic and memory devices it is necessary to fully investigate the factors that can affect the domain dynamics in magnetics. One of these factors is the braking of the domain wall on Rayleigh-Lamb waves. From the equations describing the elastic displacements in the orthoferrite crystal plate during the motion of the domain wall, we can conclude that there are two independent mechanisms of Rayleigh-Lamb waves generation bulk and surface. The evaluation of the contributions of these mechanisms helps to consider the effect of surfaces on the domain dynamics and can be used in the future to develop magnetic memory devices based on weak ferromagnets.
Dynamics of Magnetic Fluids Undergoing Oscillatory Shear
Authors:   Southwest State University, Shel’deshova Elena V. , Churaev Alexander A. , Shabanova Irina A. , Ryapolov Petr A.
Published: May 2022

The purpose of the work: to study the dynamics of the volume of a magnetic fluid levitating in an external magnetic field experiencing an oscillatory shift. Metods. The experiments were carried out on installations developed on the basis of known methods and equipment for magnetic measurements and manufactured independently. We study samples of magnetic fluid based on magnetite Fe3O4 stabilized with oleic acid. Kerosene was used as a carrier fluid. Results. Samples of a magnetic fluid with different physical parameters are considered, and the dependence of the viscosity on the magnetization of the magnetic field is investigated. The increase in viscosity in a magnetic field upon the action of a levitating MF column on the interface can be explained by an increase in particle interactions, which lead to MF microstructuring in the near-wall layer. The microstructure of the sample and the presence of large magnetic particles exert the greatest influence on the dynamics of a magnetic fluid, which undergoes an oscillatory shift and magnetoviscous effect. Conclusion. An assessment of the viscous magnetism effect in a thin near-wall layer of a column of magnetic fluid vibrating in a tube is made when a strong magnetic field is applied. The calculation of the viscosity value is carried out according to the formula obtained on the basis of two different theoretical approaches. The results of the work can be used to develop a method for express testing of magnetic fluid samples, as well as to develop acceleration and vibration sensors based on magnetic fluids. This method can be used to study magnetophoresis and aggregation of nanoparticles. Information on the viscous magnetic effect will be valuable for microfluidic technologies, where magnetic fluids with anisotropic particles, functionalized with various specific surfactants and flowing in microchannels, are used.
Experimental Verification of Additive Elasticity Model of Magnetic Fluids
Authors:   Southwest State University, Roslyakova Liudmila I. , Karpova Galina V. , Yushin Vasilii V.
Published: May 2022

The purpose of the work is an experimental verification of additive elasticity model of magnetic fluids. Methods. To achieve the purpose of the work, methods of molecular acoustics and methods of systems analysis were used. Magnetic fluids are an example of microheterogenous medium. The small size of the magnetic particles dispersed in the carrier fluid compared to the ultrasonic wavelength makes it possible to apply certain findings of continuum mechanics to magnetic fluids. Thus elastic properties of magnetic fluids are described by the additive model, which is based on the assumption of the additivity of the specific compressibility of the components included in the system, wherein the specific compressibility means the product of the compressibility of a given component and its volume concentration. The work investigated magnetic fluids on a different basis and different concentrations. Samples with lower concentration were obtained by diluting the original ones. Investigations of the dispersion medium of all magnetic fluids were also carried out. The speed of sound was determined by the pulse-phase method, with the mode of multiple reflection from the receiving and transmitting piezoplates. Results. Comparative analysis of experimentally obtained dependences of speed of light and adiabatic compressibility of MF on solid phase concentration with theoretical data obtained in the context of additive elasticity model was conducted. This analysis made it possible to estimate the adiabatic compressibility of surface-active agent of magnetic fluids - the oleic acid. It was concluded that adiabatic compressibility of surface-active agent – the oleic acid is slightly less than adiabatic compressibility of free oleic acid. Conclusion. The conducted studies made it possible to experimentally confirm additive model of the formation of magnetic fluid elasticity экспериментально and supplement conclusions of the microheterogenous media theory.
Research of the Physical and Chemical Properties of Ablated Cerium Dioxide Nanoparticles in the Photocatalytic Process
Authors:   Southwest State University, Mamontov Vladimir A. , Ryzhenkova Anna Y. , Pugachevsky Maksim A. , Niyazi Farukh F.
Published: May 2022

Purpose of the study. Investigation of the antioxidant properties of nanodispersed solutions of ablated particles of cerium dioxide under conditions of oxidative degradation of an organic dye methylene blue during a photocatalytic reaction, depending on their size characteristics and the pH-environment of solutions. Methods. The ablated cerium dioxide nanoparticles were characterized using scanning electron microscopy; a study was carried out in the visible and ultraviolet ranges of the absorption spectra of the samples using an optical spectrophotometer. The antioxidant activity of ablated nanoparticles in the oxidative photocatalytic reaction was studied using the example of the organic dye methylene blue, depending on the size composition of cerium dioxide nanoparticles and the pH environment of the systems. Cerium dioxide nanoparticles with pronounced antioxidant properties have been obtained by laser ablation. Results. Scanning electron microscopy revealed that cerium dioxide particles agglomerate in an aqueous solution. After the centrifugation process, the number of agglomerates in the upper layers of the solution with a nanometer size of the order of 10 nm increases. Dependences of the antioxidant activity of cerium dioxide nanoparticles on their size characteristics have been determined. The data obtained during the research indicate the highest antioxidant properties of solutions with cerium dioxide nanoparticles, which were centrifuged at a speed of 13400 rpm. With an increase in the pH-medium of solutions, the intensity of the process of inactivation of reactive oxygen species formed during the photocatalytic reaction increases. Conclusion. Cerium dioxide nanoparticles ablated by pulsed laser radiation are new nanomaterials that are antioxidants capable of inactivating reactive oxygen species in oxidative processes of a photocatalytic reaction. These properties of cerium dioxide nanoparticles are determined by the content of defects of the oxygen vacancy type on their surface.
Physical Patterns of Deformation and Destruction of a Two-Layer Composite Compound Polymer - Nanocrystalline Metal Film under Local Loading by the Vickers Pyramid
Authors:   National University of Science and Technology “MISIS”, Ushakov Ivan V. , Oshorov Ayur D.
Published: May 2022

The purpose. Determination of the mechanical properties of two-layer composites surface coating hard brittle films - elastic polymer, as well as the development of mechanical testing methods. Methods. Mechanical tests of a multilayer composite compounds without carbon nanotubes and reinforced with carbon nanotubes were carried out by the method of local loading. The dependence of microhardness Hv on the magnitude of the load and the depth of indentation is determined. Results. The method of creating multilayer composite compounds is described. The values of microhardness for composite compounds are determined. The specificity of the standard method of mechanical testing for a multilayer composite compound is revealed. Conclusion. The addition of nanotubes to the polymer composite has a weakening effect, which is associated with the formation of nanotube conglomerates, around which pores are formed. It is possible to achieve a growth of strength with an increase in the dispersion of carbon nanotubes. At low loads not exceeding 1 N, the microhardness is determined by the influence of a thin and hard nanocrystalline film. Therefore, the usage of a standard scheme of mechanical tests for loads from 0.5 N to 1 N allows us to define the value of microhardness of thin composite film and polymer. If loads are more than 1.5 N, it is more correctly to say, that we define the value of microhardness of the composite film, polymer and the second nanocrystalline film. If the load increases 1.5-2 N, it is correct say, that we define the microhardness of the composite as a whole. A method for determining the micro-fracture viscosity coefficient of two-layer composite compounds based on determining the total length of cracks on a surface area S, with an imprint from the Vickers pyramid in the center, is proposed.
La literacidad digital en tiempos de incertidumbre
Authors: Ochoa Roberto Isidro Pulido
Published: May 2022

Aquí narro la experiencia colectiva de un trabajo de intervención e investigación en educación, que se desarrolla a partir de las condiciones de pandemia que se viven en el mundo. Es un trabajo colaborativo con maestras y maestros del estado de Oaxaca, México, sobre una propuesta de formación docente desde la educación digital, ya que los tiempos de aislamiento nos han obligado a un encierro, pero desde ahí también nace la oportunidad de un trabajo colaborativo. En el colectivo de la Red Leo, nos enfocamos a documentar la experiencia que desarrollamos junto con maestros y maestras, a través de la pedagogía por proyectos, donde la lectura y escritura se despliegan desde un enfoque de literacidad digital crítica, experiencia colectiva desde una visión alternativa decolonial.
Del encuentro-maestro, del cuidado y de las redes y colectivos docentes en América Latina
Authors: Sampaio Carmen Sanches , Sosa María Yanet Gómez , Ribeiro Tiago
Published: May 2022

Neste texto, lançamos mão da narrativa como gênero textual, metodologia de pesquisa e fenômeno investigado para tecer algumas considerações acerca do movimento de redes e coletivos docentes na América Latina frente às políticas neoliberais de desconstrução da escola nos anos de 1990. Para tal, o artigo destaca princípios que podem ser percebidos no processo comunitário de trabalho e organização em redes docentes a partir do diálogo com saberes e experiências narradas envolvendo o encontro com cosmologias de povos tradicionais de nossa Latinoamérica, além de nosso próprio encontro como possibilidade de tessitura coletiva de nossos processos de transformação. O narrar os fluxos e acontecimentos da vida no movimento da escrita faz cintilar conceitos/ideias como encontro, escuta e cuidado, muito caros à perspectiva comunitária presente na proposta do trabalho em redes e coletivos docentes.
Eficiencia de dos consorcios bacterianos para el control de Spongospora subterranea f sp. subterranea en cultivos de papa Solanun tuberosum var. andígena
Authors: Ortiz Muñoz Yoldi Dalila , Rodríguez Rodríguez Luis Francisco
Published: May 2022

Para los cultivadores de papa, las plagas y enfermedades son los principales problemas que afectan la producción. Cultivos completos se pierden por la enfermedad llamada sarna polvorosa causada por el protozoo Spongospora subterranea f. sp. subterranea (Sss), la cual perjudica a las raíces generando reducción en la producción de tubérculos y deteriorando la apariencia del mismo. Con el fin de validar una alternativa para su control, se evaluaron en el municipio de Subachoque – Cundinamarca, dos consorcios bacterianos: uno conformado por tres cepas de Bacillus spp (C1) y otro formado con dos cepas de Pseudomonas spp (C2). La evaluación se realizó en cultivos de papa orgánica Solanum tuberosum var. andígena-cultivar nativo, en unidades experimentales empleando el modelo estadístico Diseño Completamente Aleatorizado (DCA), con tres tratamientos, incluyendo el testigo y cuatro repeticiones cada uno. Se midió la severidad expresada como presencia/ausencia de pústulas en los tubérculos (post cosecha), el número de quistosoros de Sss/g de suelo (antes, durante y post cosecha), y el rendimiento por unidad de área. El consorcio C1 reportó mayor acción antagónica frente Sss, presentando un 4,5% en la aparición de las pústulas en la piel de los tubérculos, frente un 23,6% reportado para el testigo. El mismo tratamiento tuvo diferencias estadísticas significativas frente a los otros tratamientos (P≤0,05) tanto en la disminución del recuento de quistosoros en suelo, como en la presencia de pústulas. Se concluye que, el consorcio C1 (Bacillus subtilis, B. megaterium y B. thuringiensis), es una alternativa para el manejo integrado de Sss.
Evolution of Interdisciplinary Approaches Among Research-Oriented Universities in Vietnam Toward a Modern Industrial Economy: Exploratory Study
Authors: Tran Bach Xuan , Nguyen Long Hoang , Nguyen Hao Anh Si , Vu Thuc Minh Thi , Do Anh Linh , Nguyen Lien Thi Khanh , Kim Nga Thanh Ngoc , Trinh Trang Thu Hong , Latkin Carl , Ho Cyrus S H , Ho Roger C M
Published: May 2022

Background

Vietnam’s 2045 development plan requires thorough reforms in science and technology, which underlines the role of research-oriented universities in generating and transforming knowledge. Understanding the current research performance and productivity in Vietnam is important for exploiting future agendas.

Objective

This study aims to explore the growth patterns and collaborations in the scientific publications of Vietnam.

Methods

Data on documents in the Web of Science Core Collection database were searched and extracted to examine the research performance in Vietnam. Publication growth patterns in both quantity and quality were examined. The evolution of research disciplines and collaboration networks were also analyzed. Trends in the growth in the number of publications, citations, and average citations per publication between 1966 and 2020 were presented. Temporal tendencies of the 10 most productive research areas in each period were illustrated. VOSviewer software was used to analyze the discipline network, country network, and institution networks. The trends and the geographical distribution of the number of publications and citations were analyzed.

Results

A total of 62,752 documents in 8354 different sources from 1966 to 2020 were retrieved. A substantial growth was observed in the Vietnamese scientific output during this period, which was mainly research with international collaboration. Natural sciences such as mathematics, materials science, and physics were the top 3 most productive research fields during 1966-2020 in Vietnam, followed by experimental research fields such as multidisciplinary sciences, plant sciences, public, environmental, and occupational health. In 1966-2020, there was the emergence of multidisciplinary research–oriented universities in both public and private sectors along with a significant increase in the number of interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary publications. Although the scientific quality has improved, these publications are still of mostly medium quality as they are concentrated in middle-ranking journals.

Conclusions

Our study highlights the notable growth in research performance in terms of both quality and quantity in Vietnam from 1966 to 2020. Building multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary research agenda, developing networks of local and international researchers for addressing specific local issues, improving the participation of private sectors, and developing science and technology mechanisms are critical for boosting the research productivity in Vietnam.
An Integrated mHealth App for Smoking Cessation in Black Smokers With Anxiety: Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Trial
Authors: Businelle Michael S , Garey Lorra , Gallagher Matthew W , Hébert Emily T , Vujanovic Anka , Alexander Adam , Kezbers Krista , Matoska Cameron , Robison Jillian , Montgomery Audrey , Zvolensky Michael J
Published: May 2022

Background

Black smokers have greater difficulty in quitting and higher rates of smoking-related diseases and disabilities than the general population. The smoking disparities experienced by this group are, in part, a consequence of multiple chronic life stressors (eg, racial discrimination) that engender increased exposure to interoceptive stress symptoms (eg, anxiety), which can ultimately lead to smoking as a means of immediate emotion regulation.

Objective

This study aimed to culturally adapt and initially test a novel mobile intervention (ie, Mobile Anxiety Sensitivity Program for Smoking [MASP]) that targets anxiety sensitivity (AS; a proxy for difficulty and responsivity to interoceptive stress) among Black smokers. The MASP intervention is culturally informed to address interoceptive stress management difficulties among Black smokers and is thus hypothesized to facilitate smoking cessation.

Methods

In phase 1, a total of 25 Black smokers with elevated AS will be administered MASP for 6 weeks. Following the completion of phase 1, we will further refine the MASP based on qualitative and quantitative data from participants to produce the final MASP iteration. In phase 2, a total of 200 Black smokers with elevated AS will be enrolled and randomly assigned to receive nicotine replacement therapy and either the smartphone-based National Cancer Institute QuitGuide app for standard mobile smoking cessation treatment or the MASP intervention. All participants in phases 1 and 2 will be enrolled remotely and will complete a web-based study screener; smartphone-based baseline assessment; daily smartphone-based ecological momentary assessments for 6 weeks; phone-based end-of-treatment qualitative interviews; and smartphone-based follow-up assessments at postbaseline weeks 1, 2 (quit date), 3, 4, 5, 6, 28, and 54 (weeks 28 and 54 follow-ups will be completed by phase 2 participants only). The MASP intervention is intended to offset barriers to treatment and encourage treatment engagement via smartphones.

Results

This project was funded in September 2020. Phase 1 data collection began in January 2022. Phase 2 data collection is scheduled to begin in July 2022.

Conclusions

If successful, data from this study will support culturally informed treatment approaches for Black smokers and, pending findings of efficacy, provide an evidence-based mobile intervention for smoking cessation that is ready for dissemination and implementation.

Trial Registration

ClinicalTrials.gov NCT04838236; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04838236

International Registered Report Identifier (IRRID)

DERR1-10.2196/38905
An Analysis of Different Distance-Linkage Methods for Clustering Gene Expression Data and Observing Pleiotropy: Empirical Study (Preprint)
Authors: Choudhury Joydhriti , Ashraf Faisal Bin
Published: May 2022

BACKGROUND

Large amounts of biological data have been generated over the last few decades, encouraging scientists to look for connections between genes that cause various diseases. Clustering illustrates such a relationship between numerous species and genes. Finding an appropriate distance-linkage metric to construct clusters from diverse biological data sets has thus become critical. Pleiotropy is also important for a gene’s expression to vary and create varied consequences in living things. Finding the pleiotropy of genes responsible for various diseases has become a major research challenge.

OBJECTIVE

Our goal was to establish the optimal distance-linkage strategy for creating reliable clusters from diverse data sets and identifying the common genes that cause various tumors to observe genes with pleiotropic effect.

METHODS

We considered 4 linking methods—single, complete, average, and ward—and 3 distance metrics—Euclidean, maximum, and Manhattan distance. For assessing the quality of different sets of clusters, we used a fitness function that combines silhouette width and within-cluster distance.

RESULTS

According to our findings, the maximum distance measure produces the highest-quality clusters. Moreover, for medium data set, the average linkage method, and for large data set, the ward linkage method works best. The outcome is not improved by using ensemble clustering. We also discovered genes that cause 3 different cancers and used gene enrichment to confirm our findings.

CONCLUSIONS

Accuracy is crucial in clustering, and we investigated the accuracy of numerous clustering techniques in our research. Other studies may aid related works if the data set is similar to ours.
In Silico Comparative Analysis of the Functional, Structural, and Evolutionary Properties of SARS-CoV-2 Variant Spike Proteins (Preprint)
Authors: Math Renukaradhya K , Mudennavar Nayana , Javaregowda Palaksha Kanive , Savanur Ambuja
Published: May 2022

BACKGROUND

A recent global outbreak of COVID-19 caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) created a pandemic and emerged as a potential threat to humanity. The analysis of virus genetic composition has revealed that the spike protein, one of the major structural proteins, facilitates the entry of the virus to host cells.

OBJECTIVE

The spike protein has become the main target for prophylactics and therapeutics studies. Here, we compared the spike proteins of SARS-CoV-2 variants using bioinformatics tools.

METHODS

The spike protein sequences of wild-type SARS-CoV-2 and its 6 variants—D614G, alpha (B.1.1.7), beta (B.1.351), delta (B.1.617.2), gamma (P.1), and omicron (B.1.1.529)—were retrieved from the NCBI database. The ClustalX program was used to sequence multiple alignment and perform mutational analysis. Several online bioinformatics tools were used to predict the physiological, immunological, and structural features of the spike proteins of SARS-CoV-2 variants. A phylogenetic tree was constructed using CLC software. Statistical analysis of the data was done using jamovi 2 software.

RESULTS

Multiple sequence analysis revealed that the P681R mutation in the delta variant, which changed an amino acid from histidine (H) to arginine (R), made the protein more alkaline due to arginine’s high pKa value (12.5) compared to histidine’s (6.0). Physicochemical properties revealed the relatively higher isoelectric point (7.34) and aliphatic index (84.65) of the delta variant compared to other variants. Statistical analysis of the isoelectric point, antigenicity, and immunogenicity of all the variants revealed significant correlation, with P values ranging from <.007 to .04. The generation of a 2D gel map showed the separation of the delta spike protein from a grouping of the other variants. The phylogenetic tree of the spike proteins showed that the delta variant was close to and a mix of the Rousettus bat coronavirus and MERS-CoV.

CONCLUSIONS

The comparative analysis of SARS-CoV-2 variants revealed that the delta variant is more aliphatic in nature, which provides more stability to it and subsequently influences virus behavior.
Recognition of Gait Patterns in the Older Adults using Wearable Smartwatch Devices: Observational Study (Preprint)
Authors: Kim Seung-Chan , Kim Hyeon-Joo , Kim Hyejoo , Park Jinyoon , Oh Bumjo
Published: May 2022

BACKGROUND

Gait quality is generally considered a critical health indicator, especially for older adults. Assessing gait quality in an unobtrusive manner is essential for the seamless monitoring of these populations. However, precise evaluation of gait often requires dedicated sensor systems, which may not be feasible or practical for monitoring in everyday life.

OBJECTIVE

Gait quality is generally considered a critical health indicator, especially for older adults. Assessing gait quality in an unobtrusive manner is essential for the seamless monitoring of these populations. However, precise evaluation of gait often requires dedicated sensor systems, which may not be feasible or practical for monitoring in everyday life.

METHODS

We first defined four typical gait patterns of older adults: gait with disturbances, gait without disturbances, gait with cane, and gait with walker. Thereafter, we formulated the classification task of these gait patterns as a supervised machine learning problem in which multivariate time series signals of inertial motions captured while walking were learned and tested using deep neural network architectures in a supervised learning fashion. To demonstrate the feasibility of the proposed approach, we recruited 38 older adult participants (age: 80.4 +- 6.5; 73.7 % women). We also examined the internal representations and computational attention vectors learned by deep neural networks tailored to learn gait features from complex time series gait-related data.

RESULTS

The experimental results validated the feasibility of the proposed approach, revealing that 1) gait patterns of older adults were recognized using smartwatch measurements from both-hands with high accuracies (mean F_1-score of 97.4 %) and 2) either left- or right-hand measurement is sufficient for the proposed recognition task (mean F_1-score of 97.1 %).

CONCLUSIONS

The proposed wearable recognition system demonstrated acceptable performance (i.e., both accuracy and F_m were higher than 0.95), in predicting the gait patterns of the older adult population.
Linguistic Methodologies to Surveil the Leading Causes of Mortality: Scoping Review of Twitter for Public Health Data (Preprint)
Authors: Lane Jamil M , Habib Daniel , Curtis Brenda
Published: May 2022

BACKGROUND

Twitter has become a dominant source of public health data and a widely used method to investigate and understand public health–related issues internationally. By leveraging big data methodologies to mine Twitter for health-related data at the individual and community levels, scientists can use the data as a rapid and less expensive source for both epidemiological surveillance and studies on human behavior. However, limited reviews have focused on novel applications of language analyses that examine human health and behavior and the surveillance of several emerging diseases, chronic conditions, and risky behaviors.

OBJECTIVE

The primary focus of this scoping review was to provide a comprehensive overview of relevant studies that have used Twitter as a data source in public health research to analyze users’ tweets to identify and understand physical and mental health conditions and remotely monitor the leading causes of mortality related to emerging disease epidemics, chronic diseases, and risk behaviors.

METHODS

A literature search strategy following the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) extended guidelines for scoping reviews was used to search specific keywords on Twitter and public health on 5 databases: Web of Science, PubMed, CINAHL, PsycINFO, and Google Scholar. We reviewed the literature comprising peer-reviewed empirical research articles that included original research published in English-language journals between 2008 and 2021. Key information on Twitter data being leveraged for analyzing user language to study physical and mental health and public health surveillance was extracted.

RESULTS

A total of 38 articles that focused primarily on Twitter as a data source met the inclusion criteria for review. In total, two themes emerged from the literature: (1) language analysis to identify health threats and physical and mental health understandings about people and societies and (2) public health surveillance related to leading causes of mortality, primarily representing 3 categories (ie, respiratory infections, cardiovascular disease, and COVID-19). The findings suggest that Twitter language data can be mined to detect mental health conditions, disease surveillance, and death rates; identify heart-related content; show how health-related information is shared and discussed; and provide access to users’ opinions and feelings.

CONCLUSIONS

Twitter analysis shows promise in the field of public health communication and surveillance. It may be essential to use Twitter to supplement more conventional public health surveillance approaches. Twitter can potentially fortify researchers’ ability to collect data in a timely way and improve the early identification of potential health threats. Twitter can also help identify subtle signals in language for understanding physical and mental health conditions.
Cohort Profile: The Gusu Cohort - A Community-based Prospective Longitudinal Study in Chinese Adults (Preprint)
Authors: Peng Hao , Zhang Qiu , Wu Lei , He Yan , Shi Jijun , Chen Linan , Li Jing , Lu Ying , Hu Weidong , Zhang Mingzhi
Published: May 2022

UNSTRUCTURED

The Gusu Cohort study is a community-based, prospective longitudinal study designed to identify new biomarkers and risk factors for cardiovascular diseases (CVD) and its risk factors in Chinese adults. This study, initiated in 2010, recruited 2,498 participants aged over 30 years from eight randomly selected communities in the Gusu district of Suzhou City using cluster random sampling. All participants have been followed up by either phone calls or face-to-face visits every two years to identify the incidence of CVD (nonfatal coronary heart disease, nonfatal stroke, and death from any CVD cause) by the end of 2020. Besides, all surviving participants were reexamined in 2014, to monitor longitudinal changes in the risk factors and cardiovascular health. Data on conventional risk factors of CVD including socioeconomic, behavioral, cardio-metabolic, and environmental factors, and blood specimens were collected at both baseline and follow-up examinations. These data provide a comprehensive resource for further studies on the risk factors and crosstalk between them. Here, we reported the study design, survey methods, data collection, and guidelines for data application for potential collaborations in scientific research.
Predicting hospital readmission risk from Electronic Health Records data for patients with Multiple Chronic Conditions: a validation study (Preprint)
Authors: Rafiq Muhammad , Mazzocato Pamela , Guttmann Christian , Spaak Jonas , Savage Carl
Published: May 2022

BACKGROUND

Rehospitalizations are a major cost driver in patients with multiple chronic conditions and healthcare in general. Hospital readmission prediction models based on healthcare data for patients with multiple chronic conditions is very limited.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study is to improve and validate a hospital readmission prediction model using electronic health records data for a complex medical condition involving multiple chronic conditions.

METHODS

We employed a retrospective study design using electronic health records data on patients with multiple chronic conditions obtained from a person centered multidisciplinary clinic at a tertiary academic medical hospital. The study deployed multiple machine learning models, i.e., Multivariable Logistic Regression, Gaussian Naïve Bayes, Support Vector Machine, Neural Network Multilevel Perceptron, K Nearest Neighbour, Ensemble Gradient Boosting Classifier, and Random Forest and compared their predictive performance. The outcomes of interest for this study were all-cause 7-day and 30-day hospital readmissions.

RESULTS

Accuracy improved markedly once the models were trained on HND subgroups, specifically the heart failure subgroup, which had the highest number of patients and readmissions of all subgroups. The best performing models were the Ensemble Gradient Boosting Classifier and the logistic regression model. The 30-day readmission prediction model performance for Ensemble Gradient Boosting Classifier and logistic regression improved from AUROC score of 0.65 (AUPRC: 0.34) to AUROC score of 0.79 (AUPRC: 0.63) and 0.81 (AUPRC: 0.64) for the entire group and the heart failure subgroup, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

Predictive technologies using machine learning have the potential to identify hospital readmissions among high-risk sub-groups of patients with multiple chronic conditions. The findings demonstrated that predictive modeling in complex patients with multiple chronic conditions perform better at the patient subgroup levels with most similar characteristics compared to overall patient population. Key variables for 7-day and 30-day hospital readmissions were previous outpatient and inpatient visit counts, previous hospitalizations, acute and non-acute nature of the previous readmission, and previous laboratory encounter counts. Ensemble Gradient Boosting Classifier, Random Forest, MLP Neural Network and the logistic regression models performed better in predicting hospital readmissions. Thus, before developing predictive modeling, target patients should be divided into self-similar clusters with machine learning models. Predictive technologies are effective in reducing healthcare costs by predicting hospital readmissions in distinctly similar sub-groups of complex chronic patients.
An Observational Study of Workers with Long COVID Undergoing Rehabilitation (Preprint)
Authors: Brehon Katelyn , Niemeläinen Riikka , Hall Mark , Bostick Geoffrey , Brown Cary A , Wieler Marguerite , Gross Douglas Paul
Published: May 2022

BACKGROUND

Emerging evidence suggests that globally, between 30-50% of those who are infected with Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) experience Long COVID (LC) symptoms. These symptoms create challenges with return-to-work (RTW) in a high proportion of individuals with LC. In order to tailor rehabilitation programs to LC sequelae and help improve RTW outcomes, more research on LC rehabilitation program outcomes is needed.

OBJECTIVE

This study described characteristics and outcomes of workers who participated in a LC occupational rehabilitation program.

METHODS

A historical cohort study was conducted. Descriptive variables included demographic and occupational factors as well as patient-reported outcome measures (i.e., the Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS), Post-COVID Functional Scale (PCFS), Short Form Health Survey (SF-36), Pain Disability Index (PDI), Pain Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9), Generalized Anxiety Disorder Questionnaire (GAD-7), and post-traumatic stress disorder checklist (PCL-5)). The main outcome variable was return-to-work status. Descriptive statistics were calculated. Logistic regression examined predictors of return-to-work.

RESULTS

The sample consisted of 81 workers. Most workers were female (n=52) and from health-related occupations (n=43). Only 43 individuals returned to work at program discharge, with 93% of these returning to modified duties. Although there were statistically significant improvements on the pain VAS (11.1 + 25.6 (t(31) = 2.5, P=.02)), the PDI (9.4 + 12.5 (t(32) = 4.3, P<.001)), the FSS (3.9 + 8.7 (t(38) = 2.8, P=.009)), the SF-36’s PCS (4.8 + 8.7 (t(38) = -3.5, P=.001)), the PHQ-9 (3.7 + 4.0 (t(31) = 5.2, P<.001)), and the GAD-7 (1.8 + 4.4 (t(22) = 1.8, P=.03)), there were no significant improvements in the PCFS, overall mental component score of the SF-36, or on the PCL-5. Availability of modified duties (OR 3.38, 95% CI: 1.26-9.10) and shorter time between accident and intake (OR 0.99, 95% CI: 0.99-1.00) predicted return-to-work even when controlling for age and gender.

CONCLUSIONS

Findings suggest that modified duties and earlier, timely rehabilitation are essential for successful return-to-work in people with LC. Additional research is needed, including larger observational cohorts as well as randomized controlled trials, to evaluate effectiveness of LC rehabilitation.
Definition and Classification of Postoperative Complications After Cardiac Surgery: A Pilot Delphi Study (Preprint)
Authors: Lapp Linda , Bouamrane Matt-Mouley , Roper Marc , Kavanagh Kimberley , Schraag Stefan
Published: May 2022

BACKGROUND

Postoperative complications following cardiac surgery are common and represent a serious burden to health services and society. However, there is a lack of consensus among experts on what events should be considered as a ‘complication’ and how to assess their ‘severity’.

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to consult domain experts to pilot a development of a definition and classification system for complications following cardiac surgery with the goal to allow the progression of standardized clinical processes and systems in cardiac surgery.

METHODS

We conducted a Delphi study, which is a well-established method to reach expert consensus on complex topics. Two rounds of surveys were sent out to domain experts, including cardiac surgeons and anesthetists, to define and classify postoperative complications following cardiac surgery. The responses to open-ended questions were analyzed using a thematic analysis framework.

RESULTS

In total, N=71 and N=37 experts’ opinion were included in the analysis in Round 1 and Round 2 of the study, respectively. Experts agreed that a classification of postoperative complications for cardiac surgery is useful, and a consensus was reached for the generic definition of a postoperative complication in cardiac surgery. Consensus was also reached on classification of complications according to the following 4 levels: “Mild”, “Moderate”, “Severe” and “Death”, and consensus was also reached on a definition of “Mild” and “Severe” categories of complications.

CONCLUSIONS

Domain experts agreed on the definition and classification of complications in cardiac surgery. The standardization of complication identification, recording and reporting in cardiac surgery should help the development of quality benchmarks, clinical audit, care quality assessment, resources planning, risk management, communication, and research.
Development of a Core Outcome Set for Relationships and Sex Education with students with intellectual disability: a study protocol (Preprint)
Authors: Paulauskaite Laura , Totsika Vaso , Rivas Carol
Published: May 2022

BACKGROUND

People with intellectual disability are twice as likely to experience sexual abuse, unintended pregnancies, and sexually transmitted diseases as people in the general population. Despite this, very little is known about how to deliver Relationships and Sex Education effectively for this vulnerable population, how to measure the impact of its delivery in schools and what stakeholders perceive as important outcomes of this education.

OBJECTIVE

To address these urgent issues, this study aims to develop a stakeholder consensus-based Core Outcome Set of Relationships and Sex Education for use in research and educational settings with students with intellectual disability.

METHODS

The study will use a two-stage mixed-methods design. The first stage will involve a systematic review of Relationships and Sex Education outcomes reported in the literature, followed by qualitative exploration with parents, teachers, school staff, policy makers and researchers to investigate their perspectives of meaningful outcomes of this education. Students with intellectual disability will be enabled to take part to express their views on outcomes of importance to them. The second stage will use findings from stage 1 in a two round online Delphi study with parents, teachers, school staff, policy makers and researchers to develop consensus on proposed outcomes for the evaluation of Relationships and Sex Education with this population.

RESULTS

The results will provide a standardised set of outcomes of Relationships and Sex Education be used in research and educational settings with students with intellectual disability.

CONCLUSIONS

The development of a Core Outcome Set of Relationships and Sex Education will provide a significant first step to assist the implementation, delivery, evaluation, and sustainability of Relationships and Sex Education for students with intellectual disability. Key audiences will be teachers, researchers, and policy- and decision- makers

CLINICALTRIAL

The study is registered prospectively in the Core Outcome Measures in Effectiveness Trials (COMET) database (registration number: CRD42021243176). The systematic review is registered in the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO) (registration number: 1787).
Hair concentrations of Δ-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD) in cannabis consumers psychiatric patients (Preprint)
Authors: Barguil Yann , Chiaradia Laura , Southwell Guy , Charlot Jean-Yves
Published: May 2022

BACKGROUND

Among young consumers of cannabis, a brief psychotic disorder (BPD) can be either the clinical manifestation of acute cannabis psychosis (ACP) or an announcement of schizophrenia’s onset. Clinicians are faced with the difficulty of making a differential diagnosis between disorders of the schizophrenic field and disorders induced by cannabis. To date, no clinical or even less paraclinical criteria have made it possible to differentiate syndromes whose prognoses and management are different.

OBJECTIVE

We wanted to determine if these patients, cannabis users, suffering from BPD, present particular phenotypes of capillary cannabinoid concentrations (THC and CBD). In other words, it would be possible to make a first diagnosis just after the initial psychiatric evaluation, thus making it possible to overcome a significant delay (3–6 months), delaying the most appropriate care. Appropriate care and early therapeutic management are important if the pathology responsible for mental disorders is chronic psychosis.

METHODS

Since 2010, we measured delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD) concentrations in head hair among New Caledonian patients, all cannabis consumers (n = 256). At the time of initial psychiatric consultation, a sample of 3 cm proximal length of head hair was prepared for analysis, and THC and CBD were then assayed by Gas Chromatography coupled with Mass Spectrometry (Limit Of Quantitation: 0.05 ng/mg). At the end of the 6 months medico-psychologic follow-up from the initial evaluation, four groups of cannabis users were identified according to the final psychiatric diagnosis: control, acute cannabis psychosis (ACP), chronic psychosis (CP), and other personality disorders (OPD) groups.

RESULTS

In this study, a high hair level of THC detected (> 0.7 ng/mg) associated with a low hair CBD/THC ratio (< 0.26) are two parameters that taken together could be good markers of CP development. For OPD and ACP, hair CBD/THC ratios were higher in the ACP group (> 0.43) than in the OPD group (< 0.32).

CONCLUSIONS

This study highlights, once again, the protective role of CBD against the deleterious effects of THC. In association with clinical evaluation, this toxicological approach could be helpful for psychiatric diagnosis and would allow early management of BPD in cannabis consumers. For a consumer who does not present with a psychiatric disorder, it could give an information about the possibility of belonging to a group of patients at high risk of psychiatric decompensation. This provides an additional argument for efforts to control cannabis consumption by patients.