bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A Real-Time Implementation of Air Audit System for Compressors towards Energy Conservation: An Industrial Case Study
Authors: Loganathan Ashok Kumar , Alexander Stonier Albert , Uma Maheswari Y. , Peter Geno , Samraj Lawrence T.
Published: June 2022

The air audit system is designed for enabling sales engineers to capture customer’s requirement of the compressed air system. This system is required to create quick audit solution to support customers by estimating air consumption. It also educates the customers with potential improvement areas after understanding their existing demand pattern. At present, many industries and manufacturers are using third-party air audit tools. Many leading manufacturers of air compressors in accordance with the core values of the company intend to develop their own air audit system. The problem statement is to understand the air demand pattern with respect to flow and pressure, capture the existing power consumption details, and select the optimum compressor size based on the demand pattern. The air audit methodology involves data logging process, data transfer, and report generation. The data logging process includes measuring current, voltage, and true power of each compressor, tank pressure with logging frequency of minimum 5s, and data logging period of minimum seven days. The data will be transmitted to a mobile or tab over WiFi. A mobile GUI (graphical user interface) will be developed to generate the report and graph. All received data will be stored in a cloud database. The paper presents a proof of concept for the air audit system by tapping signals from the existing power quality analyzer, feeding it to a microcontroller, processing it, performing data logging, transferring the bulk data through WiFi upon request to the company or consumer, graphically presenting the data through a mobile app, and report generation. This work can also be extended by developing a battery-operated standalone module for air auditing which will be provided for the sales engineer and the customers. The overall need for the study is to conduct air audit in an industry indigenously without involving the third party. With aid of advanced tools and applications as described in the paper, the proposed system will certainly help the industries to understand the need and nuances of air audit system for compressors.
Antioxidant Properties of Curcumin Analogues to Inhibit Thermal Degradation of Low-Density Polyethylene: Experimental and DFT Study
Authors: Al-Asadi Ali M. , Al-Luaibi Salah S. , Saleh Basil A. , Baashen Mohammed A. , El-Hiti Gamal A.
Published: June 2022

Curcumin can be isolated from plants (Curcuma longa) and it belongs to the ginger family. It exhibits many useful properties and acts as an antioxidant. The aim of the current study was to prepare eight curcumin analogues and investigate their antioxidant activities to inhibit the thermal degradation of low-density polyethylene (LDPE). The carbonyl index (CI) was measured to test the effectiveness of the curcumin analogues. Various doses (0.5, 1, 2, 4, and 6% wt/wt) of a mixture containing LDPE and curcumin analogues were prepared, and the CI was measured. The eight curcumin analogues were found to have good to excellent antioxidant activity against the degradation of LDPE. It was clear that the curcumin analogue derived from vanillin and acetone has the highest antioxidant activity. The density functional theory study was conducted for the eight curcumin analogues to test their reactivity and stability. Again, the global reactivity descriptors analysis showed that compound derived from vanillin and acetone was the most reactive compound to inhibit thermal degradation of LDPE.
College Organizational Innovation Performance-Oriented Internal Mechanism Analysis Using Lightweight Deep Learning under Health Psychology
Authors: Liu Mengqiong
Published: June 2022

The purpose is to improve employees’ initiative and innovation performance and further improve the overall organizational efficiency of colleges. From the perspective of health psychology, this work analyzes the internal mechanism between leadership empowerment behavior and employee innovation performance at China Agricultural University. By introducing two intermediate variables: task-based psychological capital (PsyCap) and innovative PsyCap, this work puts forward a lightweight deep learning (DL) model. It constructs the college organizational innovation performance (OIP)-oriented internal evaluation system from four dimensions. They are personal development support, power appointment, participation in decision-making, and work guidance. Then, the proposed lightweight DL model reveals the internal relationship between employees’ innovation performance and innovation factors using the questionnaire survey method. Overall, 360 questionnaires are distributed. The results show that the average values of the four dimensions (S, P, D, and G) of leadership empowerment are greater than 3, which are 4.3144, 4.3493, 4.4253, and 4.5286, respectively. S, P, D, and G represent empowerment, decision-making, communication, and innovation, respectively. The results show a high level of innovation performance in all dimensions. The finding proves that the influencing factors of employee innovation performance mainly include personal development support, empowerment, participation in decision-making, and work guidance. The effects of different dimensions vary significantly. Finally, the lightweight DL model can improve the analysis accuracy of the college OIP-oriented internal evaluation system. Therefore, college leaders should use the DL model and empowerment behavior to improve employees’ psychological quality, innovation enthusiasm, and work efficiency, ultimately benefiting employees.
Effect of Carbetocin on Postpartum Hemorrhage after Vaginal Delivery: A Meta-Analysis
Authors: Huang Xiaojuan , Xue Wanxing , Zhou Jin , Zhou Cuiyi , Yang Feiyan
Published: June 2022

Background. The efficacy of oxytocin and carbetocin in preventing postpartum hemorrhage (PPH) in women with vaginal delivery has been controversial. This study is aimed at conducting a meta-analysis that compares the efficacy of carbetocin and oxytocin in the prevention of PPH among women with vaginal delivery. Methods. Literature was retrieved from PubMed, Medline, Embase, CENTRAL, and CNKI databases. The randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that compare the efficacy of carbetocin and oxytocin to prevent PPH were searched. Data from the included literatures were extracted by two researchers, including author, title, publication date, study type, study number, the incidence of PPH, number of patients requiring additional uterotonics, and number of patients requiring blood transfusion. Jadad scale was used to evaluate the quality of the included RCTs. The Chi-square test was adopted for the heterogeneity test. A fixed-effect model was used for analysis if heterogeneity did not exist between literatures. If heterogeneity exists between literatures, a random-effect model was used for analysis. The source of heterogeneity was explored by subgroup analysis and sensitivity analysis. Results. The incidence of PPH in the carbetocin group was lower than that in the oxytocin group (

OR
=
0.62

, 95% CI (0.46, 0.84),

Z
=
3.14

,

P
=
0.002

). There was no heterogeneity among studies (

χ

2

=
7.29

,

P
=
0.12

,

I

2

=
45
%

) and no significant publication bias (

P
>
0.05

). The proportion of women requiring additional uterotonics in the carbetocin group was lower than that in the oxytocin group (

OR
=
0.41

, 95% CI (0.29, 0.56),

Z
=
5.34

,

P
<
0.00001

). There was no heterogeneity among studies (

χ

2

=
0.82

,

P
=
0.84

,

I

2

=
0
%

) and no significant publication bias (

P
>
0.05

). There was no significant difference in the proportion of women needing blood transfusion between the carbetocin group and the oxytocin group (

OR
=
0.92

, 95% CI (0.66, 1.29),

Z
=
0.46

,

P
=
0.64

). There was no heterogeneity among studies (

χ

2

=
3.06

,

P
=
0.55

,

I

2

=
0
%

) and no significant publication bias (

P
>
0.05

). Conclusion. Carbetocin is superior to oxytocin in preventing PPH among women with vaginal delivery and can be widely used in clinical practice.
Chewing Gums as a Drug Delivery Approach for Oral Health
Authors: Banakar Morteza , Moayedi Sedigheh , Shamsoddin Erfan , Vahedi Zahra , Banakar Mohammad Hasan , Mousavi Seyyed Mojtaba , Rokaya Dinesh , Bagheri Lankarani Kamran
Published: June 2022

Background. Drug delivery approaches with the shortest therapeutic period and the lowest side effects have always been considered a sublime target in the medical sciences. Among many delivery methods, chewing gum could be perceived as a promising drug carrier that can carry several types of drugs for oral health. These drug carriers could represent optimal therapeutic time and lower side effects due to their sustained release capability and lower required thresholds for the drug compared with other delivery approaches. The convenient use in the oral cavity’s local environment and the ability to locally carry multiple drugs are considered the main advantages of this delivery approach. Aim. This review aimed to explore chewing gum as a promising drug carrier that can carry several types of drugs for oral health. Materials and Methods. Articles were searched for on PubMed, ISI, SCOPUS, Google Patents, the Royal Society of Chemistry website, and electronic databases using MESH terms and the following keywords: (“Gum” OR “Chewing gum”) and (“Drug delivery OR Drug delivery systems”) in the English language. No time limit was applied, and all documents as of August 30th, 2020 were retrieved. Results. Gum-drug interactions, mechanisms of release, and formulations of the drugs might all play a role in this versatile delivery method. Accordingly, chewing gum-based carriers may be presented as a plausible candidate for drug delivery in oral diseases. Conclusion. Gum-driven drugs could be introduced as promising candidates for treating oral diseases due to their ability to deliver the proper local dosages of active ingredients, short contact time, biocompatibility, and biodegradable chemical structures.
Optimal Electric Arc Furnace Model’s Characteristics Using Genetic Algorithm and Particle Swarm Optimization and Comparison of Various Optimal Characteristics in DIgSILENT and EMTP-RV
Authors: Entekhabi Nooshabadi Amir Mohammad , Sadeghi Shakiba , Hashemi-Dezaki Hamed
Published: June 2022

The stochastic and nonlinear characteristics of electric arc furnaces (EAFs) lead to power quality challenges in the power system. In studying EAF behaviors, having optimized characteristics/models, selecting a suitable and optimum model that adapts to the actual characteristics of EAFs, and investigating simulation software’s capability for implementing EAF models are essential. However, the literature shows a research gap in investigating EAF simulations in various software products based on different models. This paper studies several time-domain models, such as piece-wise linear, modified piece-wise linear, hyperbolic, exponential, and exponential-hyperbolic models, for EAF modeling and simulation. The optimal estimation of parameters for the introduced models is necessary to adapt actual EAF characteristics. Thus, one of the studies taken in this paper is optimizing the EAF model’s characteristics. The proposed optimization problem is solved using the genetic algorithm (GA) and particle swarm optimization (PSO). Moreover, the optimized models are simulated in DIgSILENT and EMTP-RV to investigate different EAF models from the viewpoint of accuracy and efficiency. The optimization of different EAF models’ characteristics and comparison of EMTP-RV and DIgSILENT in simulating EAF behavior are the contributions of this paper. The proposed method is validated based on the actual data of a realistic EAF-based steel company in Iran. The obtained results show that the modified piece-wise linear model has the most accuracy in identifying the EAF behavior. The test results based on DIgSILENT and EMTP-RV simulations imply that the EAF could be simulated with high accuracy using modified piece-wise linear and piece-wise linear models. In general, EMTP-RV has expressed more accuracy in simulating different EAF models, and the simulation execution speed of EMTP-RV is around 2.5 times faster than DIgSILENT. In contrast, DIgSILENT is more suitable to facilitate the power system studies of EAF according to its extensive study tools and library.
Meio ambiente, globalização e políticas públicas
Authors: Mello-Théry Neli Aparecida de
Published: June 2022

Avanços conceituais e institucionais marcam as relações entre o meio ambiente global e as políticas públicas nacionais, desde meados do século XX ao inicio do XXI. O meio ambiente inseriu-se na agenda política em decorrência de pressões e acordos mútuos entre diferentes atores e em diferentes arenas, assim como as novas racionalidades de políticas públicas. Adotando uma perspectiva ambiental, minhas reflexões abordam Estado (globalizado), território e política pública (e sua gestão) analisando suas relações e influências mútuas, observando-os em seus novos papéis. Estabeleço, dessa maneira, uma interconexão da relação sociedade-território-Estado, com a esfera prática das políticas e ação públicas territoriais ambientais, pois considero que a relação entre os atores globais e nacionais e entre globais e locais (ou regionais) influencia na abrangência temática, espacial e social de cada política. Estas reflexões serão discutidas em três esferas: a globalização ambiental, as políticas públicas e o patrimônio amazônico. As interações em escalas internacionais, nacionais e locais que convergem de tais reflexões permitem concluir como os processos se reproduzem na Amazônia e o papel do Estado e da própria sociedade brasileira.
A Lei de Gestão de Florestas Públicas no Brasil e os incentivos das modalidades de preço florestal sobre a extração madeireira
Authors: Postali Fernando Antonio Slaibe , Nishijima Marislei
Published: June 2022

A Lei 11.284 de 2006 estabeleceu regras para a concessão da gestão de florestas públicas brasileiras para a exploração de seus recursos pela iniciativa privada, condicionada a um Plano de Manejo Florestal Sustentável. O artigo analisa as compensações governamentais, chamadas preço florestal, à luz da teoria de exploração ótima de recursos naturais, com vistas a identificar potenciais incentivos para a governança florestal. Analisando três formas de compensações – imposto sobre faturamento, taxa única de acesso e imposto sobre o lucro –, conclui-se que o imposto sobre faturamento (royalties) e taxa única incentivam a redução da área cortada da floresta em relação à concessão por título gratuito, mas um imposto sobre o lucro não produz incentivos de redução do volume extraído de madeira . Argumenta-se, por fim, que o Fundo Nacional de Desenvolvimento Florestal, previsto em lei, só cumprirá os requisitos de desenvolvimento sustentável forte se tiver seus recursos direcionados ao manejo florestal e à manutenção da biodiversidade.
Social science research in Brazil and its potential for Latin American integration
Authors: Sandoval Salvador Antonio Mireles
Published: June 2022

O artigo examina o desenvolvimento da pesquisa em ciências sociais no Brasil desde o início dos primeiros programas de pós-graduação, focalizando fatores que contribuíram à emergência da natureza interdisciplinar nas ciências sociais no país. Iniciando a partir da tradição interdisciplinar dos pesquisadores sócio-históricos dos anos 1950 e 1960, o artigo explora o impacto no Brasil de duas tradições intelectuais, a européia e a norte-americana. Em seguida, o artigo examina a emergência de associações científicas como importantes mecanismos para organizar nacionalmente atividades acadêmicas, fundamentais para formação de redes sociais entre pesquisadores das diferentes ciências, seguindo vetores temáticos em lugar de disciplinares. Finalmente, o artigo analisa tendências atuais em pesquisa, que apontam ao crescente interesse na América Latina, via intercâmbios entre grupos de pesquisa dos países da região. Tais indicadores mostram como cientistas sociais brasileiros estão rapidamente se interessando mais pelos países vizinhos do que pelos Estados Unidos ou Europa. O artigo conclui que há, atualmente, uma tendência à formação de redes de pesquisadores dentro da região.
Castração química: Limites e possibilidades à adoção como penalidade para pedofilia
Authors: Stetner Catarina Nucci , Rodrigues Guilherme Mendonça
Published: June 2022

O ciclo das políticas públicas recorre substancialmente à interação de atores e instituições a partir de uma problemática central, que norteia o contingenciamento da ação pública. A partir de tal consideração sobre política, se insere a discussão a respeito da pedofilia, caracterizada pela literatura especializada como patologia ou crime. A entrada do problema na agenda governamental, em termos gerais, foi dada pela maior visibilidade nos meios de comunicação, assim como pelo maior enforcement institucional. No bojo da presente discussão midiática, surge o método de castração química como interface entre o campo jurídico e o campo médico. A sociedade em geral, configurada em grupos de interesse, evoca o poder público por ações que fomentem uma estratégia alternativa a tal pauta da agenda governamental. O presente artigo busca a sistematização de fatores políticos e aspectos éticos relevantes quanto aos limites e às possibilidades do método de castração química como penalidade aplicada à pedofilia.
Passion, craft, and method in comparative politics
Authors: Rodrigues Maria Martha Assumpção
Published: June 2022

Resenha do livro "Passion, craft, and method in comparative politics" por Gerardo L.Munck e Richard Snyder na área de Políticas Públicas.
Angiotensin Receptor Neprilysin Inhibition and Associated Outcomes by Race and Ethnicity in Patients With Heart Failure With Reduced Ejection Fraction: Data From CHAMP‐HF
Authors: Chapman Brittany , Hellkamp Anne S. , Thomas Laine E. , Albert Nancy M. , Butler Javed , Patterson J. Herbert , Hernandez Adrian F. , Williams Fredonia B. , Shen Xian , Spertus John A. , Fonarow Gregg C. , DeVore Adam D.
Published: June 2022

Background

There are limited data on the use of angiotensin receptor neprilysin inhibitors (ARNIs) in minority populations with heart failure (HF) with reduced ejection fraction. We used data from the CHAMP‐HF (Change the Management of Patients With Heart Failure) registry to evaluate ARNI initiation and associated changes in health status and clinical outcomes across different races and ethnicities.

Methods and Results

CHAMP‐HF was a prospective, observational registry of US outpatients with chronic HF with reduced ejection fraction. We compared patients starting ARNI with patients not starting ARNI using a propensity‐matched analysis. Patients were grouped as Hispanic, non‐Hispanic Black, non‐Hispanic White, or non‐Hispanic other individuals, where “non‐Hispanic other” consists of all patients who did not identify as Hispanic, Black, or White. Health status was assessed using the 12‐item Kansas City Cardiomyopathy Questionnaire. Outcomes were analyzed with multivariable models that included race and ethnicity, ARNI initiation, and an interaction term between race and ethnicity and ARNI initiation. Cox proportional hazards models were used for death/HF hospitalization, and multiple regression was used for change in Kansas City Cardiomyopathy Questionnaire score. The analysis included 1516 patients, with 758 patients in each group (ARNI and no ARNI). Changes in Kansas City Cardiomyopathy Questionnaire score after ARNI initiation were similar among all race and ethnicity groups (mean [SD], non‐Hispanic White individuals, 3.5 [19.0]; non‐Hispanic Black individuals, 2.0 [17.0]; non‐Hispanic other individuals, 5.5 [20.3]; and Hispanic individuals, 3.2 [20.1]), with no statistically significant interaction between race and ethnicity and ARNI initiation (
P
=0.21). There was similarly no statistically significant interaction between race and ethnicity and ARNI initiation for HF hospitalization (
P
=0.82) or all‐cause mortality (
P
=0.92).

Conclusions

In a large registry of outpatients with HF with reduced ejection fraction, the association between ARNI initiation and outcomes did not differ by race and ethnicity. These data support the use of ARNI therapy for chronic HF with reduced ejection fraction irrespective of race and ethnicity.
Impact of Financial Considerations on Willingness to Take Sacubitril/Valsartan for Heart Failure
Authors: Rao Birju R. , Speight Candace D. , Allen Larry A. , Halpern Scott D. , Ko Yi‐An , Matlock Daniel D. , Moore Miranda A. , Morris Alanna A. , Scherer Laura D. , Thomson Mary C. , Ubel Peter , Dickert Neal W.
Published: June 2022

Background

Sacubitril/valsartan improves health outcomes for heart failure with reduced ejection fraction relative to angiotensin‐converting enzyme inhibitors or angiotensin receptor blockers, but it carries higher out‐of‐pocket costs. Neither the impact of cost nor how to integrate cost into medical decisions is well studied.

Methods and Results

To evaluate the impact of out‐of‐pocket costs and a novel cost‐priming intervention on willingness to take sacubitril/valsartan for heart failure with reduced ejection fraction, participants with self‐reported heart disease were surveyed using the online Ipsos Knowledge Panel. Participants were presented with a modified decision aid for sacubitril/valsartan and then, in a 3×2 factorial design, randomly assigned to 1 of 3 cost conditions ($10, $50, or $100/month) and to a control group or cost‐priming intervention, defined by being asked questions about their financial situation before learning about the benefits of sacubitril/valsartan. Of the 1013 participants included in the analysis, 85% of respondents were willing to take sacubitril/valsartan at $10, 62% at $50, and 33% at $100 (
P
<0.0001). In a multivariable logistic regression model, participants were more likely to take sacubitril/valsartan at $10 versus $100 (odds ratio [OR], 14.3 [95% CI, 9.4–21.8]) and $50 compared with $100 (OR, 3.6 [95% CI, 2.5–5.1]). Overall, participants in the cost‐primed group were more willing to take sacubitril/valsartan than those not primed to consider their financial situation (63% versus 56%,
P
=0.04). There was no statistically significant interaction between cost conditions and cost priming. Perceived benefit of sacubitril/valsartan over angiotensin‐converting enzyme inhibitors or angiotensin receptor blockers decreased as cost increased but did not vary by cost priming.

Conclusions

Commonly encountered out‐of‐pocket costs of sacubitril/valsartan may impact individuals’ willingness to take the medication even when recommended by their physicians. Priming individuals to consider personal finances before learning about the drug increased willingness to take sacubitril/valsartan.
Impacts of Instrumented Bottom Frame on Flow and Turbulence Measurements
Authors: Chen Zhixing , Bian Changwei , Jiang Wensheng , Lu Youyu , Mao Xinyan , Liu Xiaolei , Wang Tao
Published: June 2022

A series of laboratory experiments are carried out to demonstrate the impacts of instrumented bottom frame legs on flow and turbulence. The magnitudes of vertical velocity, turbulent kinetic energy, dissipation, and shear stress induced by the frame legs depend on several factors, including the diameter and number of the frame legs, distances between the legs and the observational location, and the magnitude of the incoming flow and its direction with respect to the layout of the frame. In situ observations were carried out near the mouth of the Yellow River using two acoustic Doppler velocimeters mounted on a bottom frame. The estimated vertical velocity and turbulent kinetic energy dissipation rate show a significant asymmetry with flood and ebb tidal flows. This asymmetry can be partly explained by the influences of the bottom frame legs. Finally, the design and deployment principles of bottom frames are discussed for the purpose of reducing the impacts of the frame legs.

Significance Statement

Instrumented bottom frames are widely used for observations in the oceanic bottom boundary layer and above. However, the impacts of frame legs on the observed flow and turbulence have rarely been investigated. A series of laboratory experiments demonstrate that frame legs can induce vertical flow and enhanced turbulence, and the magnitudes of these influences vary with the size and layout of the frame legs and the magnitude and direction of the background flow. The results of the laboratory experiments can partially explain an “asymmetry” behavior of the vertical flow and turbulent kinetic energy with the flood and ebb tidal flows, derived from in situ observations near the mouth of the Yellow River.
Semantic segmentation-based mechanized harvesting soybean quality detection
Authors: Jin Chengqian , Liu Shikun , Chen Man
Published: June 2022

Crushing rate and impurity rate are important quality indicators of mechanically harvested soybeans. Intelligent quality detection of mechanically harvested soybeans based on machine vision is of great significance to evaluate soybean quality accurately and rapidly. This study proposes an improved U-Net method for identifying intact soybean grains, crushing soybean grains, and impurities. Based on the accurate identification of soybean components and using the quantitative model of soybean crushing rate and impurity rate, the quality of soybean samples can be detected in real-time. To this end, a soybean quality inspection system is designed to realize the dynamic collection and detection of soybean samples. The test results show that the comprehensive evaluation index values of the improved U-Net segmentation algorithm in identifying intact soybean grains, crushing soybean grains, and impurities are 93.04%, 89.40%, and 96.49%, respectively. Compared with the traditional U-Net model, the performance of the indicators is improved by 3.23%, 0.17% and 0.72%, respectively. Compared with manual detection, the maximum absolute error of the crushing rate detection of the soybean quality detection system is 0.57%, and the maximum absolute error of the impurity rate detection is 0.69%. The proposed soybean quality inspection system can be used as an effective tool for real-time online inspection of soybean quality.
Improvement in dyeing and physical properties of wool fabrics through pretreatment based on the bacterial culture of Stenotrophomonas maltophilia DHHJ
Authors: Cao Zhang-Jun , Tang Ao , Wang Juan , Zhang Yun-Long , Yang Guang , Zhang Xing-Qun
Published: June 2022

Wool fiber is a valuable natural material in the textile industry, but keratin cuticles on its surface can deteriorate product quality. Wool fabric finishing has a long-standing problem in meeting the goal of environmental sustainability. In this study, we developed an eco-friendly simple method of wool fabric treatment based on direct incubation with the whole culture of Stenotrophomonas maltophilia DHHJ, a keratinase-producing bacterial strain. This processing method effectively reduced roughness for the surface of wool fiber and wool fabric samples by removing the cuticle scales. The keratinolytic treatment altered many physical properties of the wool fabrics, such as felting shrink, bursting strength, elongation at break, and diameter. The dyeability of wool fabric was substantially improved due to the pretreatment. The surface modification accelerated the rate of dyeing-bath exhaustion for wool fabric samples under a mild processing condition and the dyeing equilibrium was achieved within 10 min at a relatively low dyebath temperature (below 70°C). The pretreatment with the keratinase-secreting bacterial culture was beneficial for dyeing uniformity and rubbing color fastness. Besides, the fuzzing and pilling properties of wool fabrics were ameliorated in the fabric samples incubated with the bacterial culture.
Comparison of outcomes and complications in conventional versus ultrasound-accelerated catheter directed thrombolysis for treatment of pulmonary embolism: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Farrokhi Mehrdad , Khurshid Maria , Yarmohammadi Bardia , Mangouri Amir , Alipour-Khabir Yalda , Alipour-Khabir Sevda , Sargazi Moghadam Nasibeh , Mosalanejad Shima , Nourizadeh Sama , Jafari Sina , Amani-Beni Reza , Hosseini-Saryazdi Seyyed-Mohammad , Zarei Shiva , Sanjarian Sahar , Babasafari Hesam‐aldin , Shakori Poshteh Shiva , Masoudi Negar , Zahedpasha Reza , Kiani Moein , Jalalifar Fatemeh , Taheri Fatemeh
Published: June 2022

Background

Acute submassive a massive pulmonary embolism are known as leading causes of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in emergency departments. Choosing the optimal type of catheter directed thrombolysis (CDT) for treatment of pulmonary embolism presents a quandary to the practitioners. To the best of our knowledge, there is no meta-analysis comparing superiority of conventional CDT and ultrasound-accelerated catheter directed thrombolysis (USACDT). Therefore, in this meta-analysis, we aimed to compare conventional CDT with USACDT regarding clinical outcomes and safety profile.

Methods

A systematic literature search of previous published studies comparing conventional CDT with USACDT regarding clinical outcomes and safety profile was carried out in the electronic databases including MEDLINE, Scopus, EBSCO, Google Scholar, Web of Science, and Cochrane from inception to December 2021. Data were analyzed by comprehensive meta-analysis software (CMA, version 3).

Results

The meta-analysis included nine studies with a total of 705 patients. Our meta-analysis showed that there is no significant difference between two groups with respect to pulmonary arterial systolic pressure (SMD: −0.084; 95% CI: −0.287 to 0.12; p: 0.41), RV/LV (SMD: −0.003; 95% CI: −0.277 to 0.270; p: 0.98), and Miller score (SMD: −0.345; 95% CI: −1.376 to 0.686; p: 0.51). Similarly, we found no statistically significant differences between two groups regarding major and minor bleeding ( p > .05).

Conclusion

Our meta-analysis showed that when compared with USACDT, conventional CDT provides similar clinical and hemodynamic outcomes or safety for treatment of pulmonary embolism without the need for very expensive technologies. However, randomized clinical trials are required to further investigate cost-effectiveness of USACDT in comparison with conventional CDT.
PGM3 regulates beta-catenin activity to promote colorectal cancer cell progression
Authors: Zhang Nan , Liu Si , Xu Junxuan , Ning Tingting , Xie Sian , Min Li , Zhu Shengquan , Zhang Shutian , Zhu Shengtao
Published: June 2022

The hexosamine biosynthetic pathway (HBP) is connected to abnormal N- and O-linked protein glycosylation in cancer, which performs critical roles in tumorigenesis. However, the regulation mechanisms of HBP and its role in colorectal cancer (CRC) progression remain unexplained. This study analyzed the expression level of phosphoglucomutase 3 (PGM3), a key enzyme in HBP, and identified its function in CRC cell lines. Analysis of publicly available CRC microarray data determined that PGM3 is upregulated in CRC tumor tissues. Furthermore, functional experiments emphasized the significant roles of PGM3 in facilitating CRC cell proliferation and migration. Mechanistically, we demonstrated that the activity of β-catenin in CRC was maintained by PGM3-mediated O-GlcNAcylation. PGM3 knockdown or inhibition of O-GlcNAc transferase decreased β-catenin activity and the expression levels of its downstream targets. Collectively, our findings indicate that PGM3 exhibits tumor-promoting roles by elevating O-GlcNAcylation level and maintaining β-catenin activity, and might serve as a prognostic biomarker and treatment target in CRC.
A nationwide mobility service guarantee for Austria: possible design scenarios and implications
Authors: Laa Barbara , Shibayama Takeru , Brezina Tadej , Schönfelder Stefan , Damjanovic Dragana , Szalai Elke , Hammel Manuel
Published: June 2022

Background

We present a sketch for a nationwide “Mobility Service Guarantee” (MSG) for Austria. The approach follows a new paradigm, turning away from car-centric transport policy and planning and towards the extensive provision of public transport. The approach is complemented by the provision of demand-responsive transport services and the support of vehicle sharing as well as active mobility. This combination should serve as an effective alternative option to the use of private cars.

Purpose

The aim of this study is to develop a tangible definition of a nationwide MSG in the Austrian context as well as possible design scenarios.

Methods

We took a multi-dimensional approach, using literature review to research existing concepts of mobility guarantees, analysing secondary data on current mobility behaviour and public transport provision and conducting stakeholder workshops.

Results

We define possible scenarios envisioning a nationwide MSG including different extents of maximum distance to public transport stops and minimum frequency. We discuss the limitations of the MSG with respect to spatial, temporal and modal coverage, as well as how such a guarantee could be embedded in the existing legal system.

Conclusions

We conclude that a nationwide MSG could be an important element of sustainable transport policy that should be embedded in a wider strategy of infrastructure and service design as well as demand management.
A transcriptome software comparison for the analyses of treatments expected to give subtle gene expression responses
Authors: Thawng Cung Nawl , Smith Geoffrey Battle
Published: June 2022

Background

In this comparative study we evaluate the performance of four software tools: DNAstar-D (DESeq2), DNAstar-E (edgeR), CLC Genomics and Partek Flow for identification of differentially expressed genes (DEGs) using a transcriptome of E. coli. The RNA-seq data are from the effect of below-background radiation 5.5 nGy total dose (0.2nGy/hr) on E. coli grown shielded from natural radiation 655 m below ground in a pre-World War II steel vault. The gene expression response to three supplemented sources of radiation designed to mimic natural background, 1952 – 5720 nGy in total dose (71–208 nGy/hr), are compared to this “radiation-deprived” treatment. In addition, RNA-seq data of Caenorhabditis elegans nematode from similar radiation treatments was analyzed by three of the software packages.

Results

In E. coli, the four software programs identified one of the supplementary sources of radiation (KCl) to evoke about 5 times more transcribed genes than the minus-radiation treatment (69–114 differentially expressed genes, DEGs), and so the rest of the analyses used this KCl vs “Minus” comparison. After imposing a 30-read minimum cutoff, one of the DNAStar options shared two of the three steps (mapping, normalization, and statistic) with Partek Flow (they both used median of ratios to normalize and the DESeq2 statistical package), and these two programs identified the highest number of DEGs in common with each other (53). In contrast, when the programs used different approaches in each of the three steps, between 31 and 40 DEGs were found in common. Regarding the extent of expression differences, three of the four programs gave high fold-change results (15–178 fold), but one (DNAstar’s DESeq2) resulted in more conservative fold-changes (1.5–3.5). In a parallel study comparing three qPCR commercial validation software programs, these programs also gave variable results as to which genes were significantly regulated. Similarly, the C. elegans analysis showed exaggerated fold-changes in CLC and DNAstar’s edgeR while DNAstar-D was more conservative.

Conclusions

Regarding the extent of expression (fold-change), and considering the subtlety of the very low level radiation treatments, in E. coli three of the four programs gave what we consider exaggerated fold-change results (15 – 178 fold), but one (DNAstar’s DESeq2) gave more realistic fold-changes (1.5–3.5). When RT-qPCR validation comparisons to transcriptome results were carried out, they supported the more conservative DNAstar-D’s expression results. When another model organism’s (nematode) response to these radiation differences was similarly analyzed, DNAstar-D also resulted in the most conservative expression patterns. Therefore, we would propose DESeq2 (“DNAstar-D”) as an appropriate software tool for differential gene expression studies for treatments expected to give subtle transcriptome responses.
The association between cardiac drug therapy and anxiety among cardiac patients: results from the national DenHeart survey
Authors: Rotvig Camilla , Christensen Anne Vinggaard , Juel Knud , Svendsen Jesper Hastrup , Jørgensen Martin Balslev , Rasmussen Trine Bernholdt , Borregaard Britt , Thrysoee Lars , Thorup Charlotte Brun , Mols Rikke Elmose , Berg Selina Kikkenborg
Published: June 2022

Background

Neuropsychiatric side effects of cardiac drugs such as nervousness, mood swings and agitation may be misinterpreted as symptoms of anxiety. Anxiety in cardiac patients is highly prevalent and associated with poor outcomes, thus an accurate identification is essential. The objectives were to: (I) describe the possible neuropsychiatric side effects of common cardiac drug therapies, (II) describe the use of cardiac drug therapy in cardiac patients with self-reported symptoms of anxiety compared to those with no symptoms of anxiety, and (III) investigate the association between the use of cardiac drug therapy and self-reported symptoms of anxiety.

Methods

DenHeart is a large national cross-sectional survey combined with national register data. Symptoms of anxiety were measured by the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS-A) on patients with ischemic heart disease, arrhythmia, heart failure and heart valve disease. Side effects were obtained from ‘product summaries’, and data on redeemed prescriptions obtained from the Danish National Prescription Registry. Multivariate logistic regression analyses explored the association between cardiac drug therapies and symptoms of anxiety (HADS-A ≥ 8).

Results

Among 8998 respondents 2891 (32%) reported symptoms of anxiety (HADS-A ≥ 8). Neuropsychiatric side effects were reported from digoxin, antiarrhythmics, beta-blockers, ACE-inhibitors and angiotensin receptor antagonists. Statistically significant higher odds of reporting HADS ≥ 8 was found in users of diuretics, lipid-lowering agents, nitrates, antiarrhythmics and beta-blockers compared to patients with no prescription.

Conclusion

Some cardiac drugs were associated with self-reported symptoms of anxiety among patients with cardiac disease. Of these drugs neuropsychiatric side effects were only reported for antiarrhythmics and beta-blockers. Increased awareness about the possible adverse effects from these drugs are important.
Development and evaluation of a nomogram for adverse outcomes of preeclampsia in Chinese pregnant women
Authors: Zheng Jiangyuan , Zhang Li , Zhou Yang , Xu Lin , Zhang Zuyue , Luo Yaling
Published: June 2022

Objective

Preeclampsia, the main cause of maternal and perinatal deaths, is associated with several maternal complications and adverse perinatal outcomes. Some prediction models are uesd to evaluate adverse pregnancy outcomes. However, some of the current prediction models are mainly carried out in developed countries, and many problems are still exist. We, thus, developed and validated a nomogram to predict the risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes of preeclampsia in Chinese pregnant women.

Methods

The clinical data of 720 pregnant women with preeclampsia in seven medical institutions in Chongqing from January 1, 2010, to December 31, 2020, were analyzed retrospectively. The patients were divided into two groups: 180 cases (25%) with adverse outcomes and 540 cases (75%) without adverse outcomes. The indicators were identified via univariate analysis. Logistic regression analysis was used to establish the prediction model, which was displayed by a nomogram. The performance of the nomogram was evaluated in terms of the area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve, calibration, and clinical utility.

Results

Univariate analysis showed that 24 indicators were significantly different (P < 0.05). Logistic regression analysis showed that gestational age, 24 h urine protein qualitative, and TT were significantly different (P < 0.05). The area under the ROC curve was 0.781 (95% CI 0.737–0.825) in training set and 0.777 (95% CI 0.689–0.865) in test set. The calibration curve of the nomogram showed good agreement between prediction and observation. The analysis of the clinical decision curve showed that the nomogram is of practical significance.

Conclusion

Our study identified gestational age, 24 h urine protein qualitative, and TT as risk factors for adverse outcomes of preeclampsia in pregnant women, and constructed a nomogram that can easily predict and evaluate the risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes in women with preeclampsia.
A network meta-analysis for efficacies and toxicities of different concurrent chemoradiotherapy regimens in the treatment of locally advanced non-small cell lung cancer
Authors: Zheng Qiangqiang , Min Shihui , Zhou Yunfeng
Published: June 2022

Background

Concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT) has become the cornerstone of treatment for patients with locally advanced non-small cell lung cancer (LA-NSCLC). The aim of this study was to compare the efficacies and toxicities of different CCRT regimens in the treatment of LA-NSCLC by adopting a network meta-analysis (NMA).

Methods

An exhaustive search of PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science, and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL) was conducted to identify relevant studies from inception to October 1, 2020. Direct and indirect evidence was combined to calculate the odds radios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs), as well as to plot the surface under the cumulative ranking (SUCRA) curves. Cluster analyses were adopted to compare the efficacies and toxicities of different CCRT regimens according to the similarity of 2 variables. Publication bias was detected by comparison-adjusted funnel plots.

Results

Twenty-two studies were enrolled in this NMA, including 18 regimens: CCRT (cisplatin + etoposide), CCRT (carboplatin + paclitaxel), CCRT (pemetrexed + carboplatin), CCRT (pemetrexed + cisplatin), CCRT (docetaxel + cisplatin), CCRT (S-1 + cisplatin), CCRT (mitomycin + vindesine + cisplatin), CCRT (cisplatin + vinorelbine), CCRT (cisplatin), CCRT (etoposide + cisplatin + amifostine), RT, CCRT (5-FU), CCRT (paclitaxel + cisplatin), CCRT (irinotecan + carboplatin), CCRT (nedaplatin), CCRT (carboplatin + etoposide), CCRT (paclitaxel), and CCRT (carboplatin). The results indicated that the regimens with CCRT (cisplatin + etoposide), CCRT (carboplatin + paclitaxel), CCRT (pemetrexed + cisplatin), CCRT (S-1 + cisplatin), and CCRT (cisplatin + vinorelbine) had relatively better efficacies compared with other regimens. As for toxicities of different CCRT regimens, the CCRT (carboplatin + paclitaxel), CCRT (pemetrexed + cisplatin), and CCRT (docetaxel + cisplatin) were relatively lower.

Conclusions

Our study demonstrated that CCRT (pemetrexed + cisplatin) and CCRT (carboplatin + paclitaxel) might be the best options for the treatment of LA-NSCLC, and CCRT (pemetrexed + cisplatin) had the highest 3-year overall survival (OS) rate.
Contribution and clinical relevance of germline variation to the cancer transcriptome
Authors: Pereira Bernard , Labrot Emma , Durand Eric , Korn Joshua M. , Kauffmann Audrey , Campbell Catarina D.
Published: June 2022

Background

Somatic alterations in the cancer genome, some of which are associated with changes in gene expression, have been characterized in multiple studies across diverse cancer types. However, less is known about germline variants that influence tumor biology by shaping the cancer transcriptome.

Methods

We performed expression quantitative trait loci (eQTL) analyses using multi-dimensional data from The Cancer Genome Atlas to explore the role of germline variation in mediating the cancer transcriptome. After accounting for associations between somatic alterations and gene expression, we determined the contribution of inherited variants to the cancer transcriptome relative to that of somatic variants. Finally, we performed an interaction analysis using estimates of tumor cellularity to identify cell type-restricted eQTLs.

Results

The proportion of genes with at least one eQTL varied between cancer types, ranging between 0.8% in melanoma to 28.5% in thyroid cancer and was correlated more strongly with intratumor heterogeneity than with somatic alteration rates. Although contributions to variance in gene expression was low for most genes, some eQTLs accounted for more than 30% of expression of proximal genes. We identified cell type-restricted eQTLs in genes known to be cancer drivers including LPP and EZH2 that were associated with disease-specific mortality in TCGA but not associated with disease risk in published GWAS. Together, our results highlight the need to consider germline variation in interpreting cancer biology beyond risk prediction.
Long-term surgical outcomes of Ahmed valve implantation in refractory glaucoma according to the type of glaucoma
Authors: Kang Yong Koo , Shin Jae Pil , Kim Dai Woo
Published: June 2022

Background

We evaluated the long-term efficacy and surgical outcomes of Ahmed glaucoma valve (AGV) implantation in patients with refractory glaucoma by glaucoma type.

Methods

In total, 135 eyes of 135 patients diagnosed with refractory glaucoma and underwent AGV implantation between 2002 and 2018 were reviewed retrospectively. The best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), intraocular pressure (IOP), and number of antiglaucoma medications were investigated at baseline and follow-up. The cumulative probability of qualified success according to the glaucoma type was evaluated at 12, 24, 36, and 60 months postoperatively.

Results

The mean IOP of all patients was 35.7 ± 11.7 mmHg, which was significantly reduced 12.7 ± 7.0 mmHg at 1 week, 16.2 ± 7.5 mmHg at 2 weeks, 17.6 ± 6.8 mmHg at 1 month, 17.5 ± 6.4 mmHg at 3 months, 16.1 ± 6.0 mmHg at 6 months, 16.7 ± 8.0 mmHg at 12 months, 16.4 ± 6.6 mmHg at 24 months, 15.6 ± 5.0 mmHg at 36 months, and 15.6 ± 5.6 mmHg at 60 months after surgery (p < 0.001, respectively). The mean number of antiglaucoma medications was 3.7 ± 1.3, which significantly decreased to 0.4 ± 0.9 at 1 week, 0.3 ± 0.8 at 2 weeks, 0.7 ± 0.9 at 1 month, 1.1 ± 1.1 at 3 months, 1.4 ± 1.0 at 6 months, 1.5 ± 1.1 at 12 months, 1.6 ± 1.2 at 24 months, 1.7 ± 1.2 at 36 months, and 1.8 ± 1.3 at 60 months after surgery (p < 0.001, respectively). The mean BCVA significantly improved from postoperative 2 weeks. Although 71 (52.6%) eyes had postoperative complications, the cumulative probability of surgical success was 72.6% at 12 months, 66.7% at 24 months, and 63.7% at 36 and 60 months. According to the glaucoma type, the success rate of AGV implantation was more than 50% even after 60 months follow-up, except subgroup of neovascular glaucoma (NVG) due to retinal vein occlusion (RVO).

Conclusions

AGV implantation in patients with refractory glaucoma was, after long-term follow-up, successful overall. Therefore, AGV implantation can be an effective surgical option to reduce the IOP and number of antiglaucoma medications and to improve visual acuity for various glaucoma types.