bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Unrecorded alcohol consumption in Thailand: Prevalence, geographical variation, relationship with socioeconomic factors and related consequences
Authors: Srisuk Nittaya , Penpong Manolee S. , Saengow Udomsak 
Published: November 2021

AbstractIntroductionInformation on unrecorded alcohol consumption in Southeast Asia and Thailand is lacking. The primary objective of this study was to estimate the prevalence of unrecorded alcohol (including illegally produced alcohol and untaxed cross‐border alcohol) consumption among past‐year drinkers in Thailand. The secondary objectives were to examine the geographical variation of unrecorded alcohol consumption, effects of socioeconomic factors on unrecorded alcohol consumption and the association between unrecorded alcohol consumption and alcohol‐related consequences.MethodsThis study analysed data from the 2017 Smoking and Drinking Behavior Survey. The prevalence of unrecorded alcohol consumption was estimated. Associations of interest were tested using multivariate logistic regression.ResultsOverall, 12.3% of past‐year drinkers consumed any unrecorded alcohol. The prevalence was highest in the north (24.8%) and lowest in the central region (7.4%). In multivariate analysis, living in the north was associated with consumption of any unrecorded alcohol and illegally produced alcohol, whereas living in the south was associated with untaxed cross‐border alcohol consumption. The lowest education and income group had the highest likelihood of consumption of any unrecorded alcohol and illegally produced alcohol, but the lowest likelihood of untaxed cross‐border alcohol consumption. Consumption of unrecorded alcohol was associated with a higher chance of alcohol‐related consequences.Discussion and ConclusionsThis study estimated the prevalence of unrecorded alcohol consumption among Thai drinkers and demonstrated the geographical variation in the prevalence and types of unrecorded alcohol consumed. We also found heterogenous associations between socioeconomic factors and each type of unrecorded alcohol.
Risk of vigabatrin‐associated brain abnormalities on MRI: A retrospective and controlled study
Authors: Xu Yong , Wan Lin , He Wen , Wang Yang‐Yang , Wang Qiu‐Hong , Luo Xiao‐Mei , Liu Kun , Yang Xiao‐Yan , Wang Jing , Shi Xiu‐Yu , Yang Guang , Han Fang , Gao Jing , Zou Li‐Ping 
Published: November 2021

SummaryObjectiveVigabatrin (VGB) is the first‐line treatment for infantile spasms (IS). Previous studies have shown that VGB exposure may cause vigabatrin‐associated brain abnormalities on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) (VABAM). Based on previous studies, this study aimed to go further to explore the possible risk factors and the incidence of VABAM. In addition, diffusion‐weighted imaging (DWI) and T2‐weighted imaging (T2WI) were compared to explore whether DWI should be used as a routine examination sequence when MRI is performed in children receiving VGB.MethodsChildren with IS receiving VGB were selected as the study subjects. Whether VABAM occurred or not was categorized as the VABAM group and the non‐VABAM group, respectively. Their general clinical data and medication exposure were collected. The possible risk factors of VABAM and different MRI sequences were compared and statistically analyzed.ResultsA total of 77 children with IS were enrolled in the study, of which 25 (32.5%) developed VABAM. Twenty‐three of the 25 VABAM cases have a peak dosage of VGB between 50 and 150 mg/kg/day. The earliest observation time of VABAM was 30 days. Regression analysis of relevant risk factors showed that the peak dosage of VGB was the risk factor for VABAM. Comparison between different MRI sequences showed that DWI is more sensitive than T2WI to the evaluation of VABAM.SignificanceIn our study, the occurrence of VABAM was 32.5%, indicating a higher incidence than in most previous reports. In addition, we once again verified that the peak dosage of VGB was the risk factor of VABAM. Caution should be exercised that our data also suggest that VABAM may occur even using the conventional dosage of VGB (ie, 50–150 mg/kg/day). Therefore, even when using the conventional dosage of VGB, regular MRI examination should be required. Furthermore, DWI sequence should be used as a routine examination sequence when MRI is performed in children with IS who are receiving VGB.
Mandatory mobility? The case of immigrant posted workers sent from Italy to Belgium in the construction sector
Authors: Cillo Rossana 
Published: November 2021

AbstractThe impact of the economic crisis on the Italian economy has stimulated onward migration towards Central and Northern Europe and forms of temporary labour migration, such as the posting of workers, which involves Italian workers and EU and non‐EU workers immigrated to Italy. Based on 18 semi‐structured interviews with trade unionists, labour inspectors and experts, this paper studies the posting of immigrant workers from Italy to the Belgian construction sector by analysing the case of the Rive Gauche building site, where some Italian companies employed posted workers immigrated from Albania, Egypt, India, Kosovo and Romania. The findings show how economic reasons and restrictive migration policies force immigrants to accept exploitative working conditions and how the labour market and work organization transformations in the construction sector are expanding this phenomenon. The spread of TCNs’ postings and the intersection of multiple discriminations pose new challenges to trade unions and labour and migration policies.
PostCOVID effect on endothelial function in hypertensive patients: A new research opportunity
Authors: Giménez‐Miranda Luis , Beltrán‐Romero Luis , León‐Jimenez David , Stiefel Pablo 
Published: November 2021

AbstractSARS‐CoV‐2 is causing devastation both in human lives and economic resources. When the world seems to start overcoming the pandemics scourge, the threat of long‐term complications of COVID‐19 is rising. Reports show that some of these long‐term effects may contribute to the main cause of morbimortality worldwide: the vascular diseases. Given the evidence of damage in the endothelial cells due to SARS‐CoV‐2 and that endothelial dysfunction precedes the development of arteriosclerosis, the authors propose to measure endothelial function around 6–12 months after acute disease in hypertensive patients, especially if they have other cardiovascular risk factors or overt vascular disease. The methods the authors propose are cost‐effective and can be made available to any hypertension unit. These methods could be the “in vivo” assessment of endothelial function by flow mediated vasodilatation after ischemia by Laser‐Doppler flowmetry and the measurement of plasma free circulating DNA and microparticles of endothelial origin.
Physical and mechanical properties of cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) cultivars: Implications for the design of mechanical peeling machines
Authors: Krishnakumar Thulasimani , Sajeev Moothandassery Sankarakutty , Pradeepika Chintha , Namrata Ankush Giri , Sanket Jijabrao More , Jeevarathinam Ganesan , Muthusamy Velmurugan 
Published: November 2021

AbstractThe data on physical and mechanical properties of short and long‐duration cassava cultivars are limited to design an efficient continuous type peeling machine for small‐scale processing. Short duration cultivars included Sree Jaya, Sree Vijaya, and Sree Swarna, as well as long duration cultivars included M‐4, Sree Athulya, Sree Suvarna, H‐226, Sree Raksha, Sree Pavithra, and Sree Vishakam, were investigated. The moisture content, girth, proximal diameter, middle diameter, cylindricity, and tuber surface taper angle were the highest for long‐duration cultivar H‐226. The maximum length was observed in the short‐duration cultivar Sree Swarna. The periderm thickness was the highest for Sree Suvarna, whereas the highest proximal cortex thickness, middle cortex thickness, and distal cortex thickness were observed in Sree Athulya, Sree Vijaya, and M‐4 cultivar, respectively. The highest bulk density, true density, and porosity were observed in the long‐duration cultivars; Sree Raksha, Sree Athulya, and Sree Suvarna, respectively. The highest hardness, shear force, and rupture force were recorded for cassava peelings in the cultivar Sree Athulya. Similarly for cassava flesh, the highest hardness, shear force, and rupture forces were recorded in the Sree Suvarna cultivar. A strong positive correlation for true density with bulk density and proximal diameter and moisture content with cylindricity and middle‐end diameter was found from the multivariate correlation analysis. Statistical analysis showed that the reported physical and mechanical properties of the cultivars were highly significant (p <.01).Practical ApplicationsEngineering properties such as physical and mechanical properties are important for designing machines, storage structures, and processes. Cassava tuber peeling by the manual method is time‐consuming, labor‐intensive, and has a low capacity. Thus, the design of a peeling machine for small‐scale processing becomes important. The physical and mechanical characteristics of cassava flesh and peelings are critical design considerations for developing peeling machines for small‐scale processing. The physical and mechanical properties investigated here would provide technical and scientific data for designing continuous shearing type cassava peeling machine units such as tuber feeder length, peeling knife selection, peeling knife angle, and adjustable spring with required tension for holding rotary type peeling knife.
Ion concentrations in cerebrospinal fluid in wakefulness, sleep and sleep deprivation in healthy humans
Authors: Forsberg My , Olsson Martin , Seth Henrik , Wasling Pontus , Zetterberg Henrik , Hedner Jan , Hanse Eric 
Published: November 2021

SummarySleep is controlled by a circadian rhythmicity, via a reduction of arousal‐promoting neuromodulatory activity, and by accumulation of somnogenic factors in the interstitial fluid of the brain. Recent experiments in mice suggest that a reduced neuronal excitability caused by a reduced concentration of potassium in the brain, concomitant with an increased concentration of calcium and magnesium, constitutes an important mediator of sleep. In the present study, we examined whether such changes in ion concentrations could be detected in the cerebrospinal fluid of healthy humans. Each subject underwent cerebrospinal fluid collection at three occasions in a randomized order: at 15:00 hours–17:00 hours during waking, at 06:00 hours–07:00 hours immediately following 1 night of sleep, and at 06:00 hours–07:00 hours following 1 night of sleep deprivation. When compared with wakefulness, both sleep and sleep deprivation produced the same effect of a small (0.1 mm, about 3%), but robust and highly significant, reduction in potassium concentration. Calcium and magnesium concentrations were unchanged. Our results support a circadian modulation of neuronal excitability in the brain mediated via changes of the interstitial potassium concentration.
Synthetic biology: at the crossroads of genetic engineering and human therapeutics—a Keystone Symposia report
Authors: Cable Jennifer , Leonard Joshua N. , Lu Timothy K. , Xie Zhen , Chang Matthew Wook , Fernández Luis Ángel , Lora José M. , Kaufman Howard L. , Quintana Francisco J. , Geiger Roger , Lesser Cammie F. , Lynch Jason P. , Hava David L. , Cornish Virginia W. , Lee Gary K. , DiAndreth Breanna , Fero Michael , Srivastava Rajkamal , De Coster Tim , Roybal Kole T. , Rackham Owen J. L. , Kiani Samira , Zhu Iowis , Hernandez‐Lopez Rogelio A. , Guo Tingxi , Chen William C. W. 
Published: November 2021

AbstractSynthetic biology has the potential to transform cell‐ and gene‐based therapies for a variety of diseases. Sophisticated tools are now available for both eukaryotic and prokaryotic cells to engineer cells to selectively achieve therapeutic effects in response to one or more disease‐related signals, thus sparing healthy tissue from potentially cytotoxic effects. This report summarizes the Keystone eSymposium “Synthetic Biology: At the Crossroads of Genetic Engineering and Human Therapeutics,” which took place on May 3 and 4, 2021. Given that several therapies engineered using synthetic biology have entered clinical trials, there was a clear need for a synthetic biology symposium that emphasizes the therapeutic applications of synthetic biology as opposed to the technical aspects. Presenters discussed the use of synthetic biology to improve T cell, gene, and viral therapies, to engineer probiotics, and to expand upon existing modalities and functions of cell‐based therapies.
Steroid avoidance/withdrawal and maintenance immunosuppression in pediatric kidney transplantation
Authors: Kizilbash Sarah J. , Jensen Chelsey J. , Kouri Anne M. , Balani Shanthi S. , Chavers Blanche 
Published: November 2021

AbstractBackgroundCorticosteroids have been an integral part of maintenance immunosuppression for pediatric kidney transplantation. However, prolonged steroid therapy is associated with significant toxicities resulting in several SW/avoidance strategies in recent years.Method/ObjectiveThis comprehensive review aims to discuss steroid‐related toxicities and the safety, efficacy, and benefit of steroid avoidance/withdrawal immunosuppression in pediatric kidney transplant recipients.ResultsInitial studies of SW/avoidance conducted in the setting of CSA and AZA showed an increased incidence of AR but no increase in graft loss or mortality with SW/avoidance maintenance immunosuppression. Studies performed under modern immunosuppression (induction therapy, Tac, and MMF) show no significant increase in AR or graft loss with SW/avoidance immunosuppression. Furthermore, SW/avoidance immunosuppression is associated with significant improvement in growth, BMI, BP control, and lipid profile in pediatric kidney transplant recipients. Despite these data, SW/avoidance remains controversial, and only 40% of pediatric kidney transplant recipients in the United States are currently on SW/avoidance maintenance immunosuppression.ConclusionSW/avoidance maintenance immunosuppression is safe and associated with fewer side effects compared with steroid‐inclusive maintenance immunosuppression in pediatric kidney transplant recipients.
Mixed‐method analysis of the quad council competencies for public health nurses
Authors: Harmon Monica , Joyce Barbara L. , Johnson Regina (Gina) H. , Hicks Vicki , Brown‐Schott Nancy , Pilling Lucille 
Published: November 2021

AbstractObjectiveEvaluate the knowledge, skills, and attitudes (KSA) of public health nurses (PHNs) related to the eight Domains of the 2011 Quad Council Competencies for Public Health Nurses (QCC‐PHN).This manuscript is Part 2 of an exploratory study published in the Public Health Nursing journal on PHNs' knowledge, skills, attitudes, and application of the Quad Council Competencies (Harmon et al., 2020).DesignIn this mixed‐method descriptive research study, the multisite team conducted an online survey among a convenience sample of 296 PHNs to determine differences in KSA for each of the eight QCC‐PHN Domains.MeasurementsAnalysis of variance (ANOVA) testing revealed differences in KSA for the QCC‐PHN, Domains. Post‐hoc tests and qualitative thematic analysis of PHNs open‐ended comments were used to provide additional data.ResultsANOVA results showed significant differences in knowledge and skills in all Domains and a significant difference in attitude in only one domain, Domain 7. Post‐hoc test results showed significant differences in KSA between position titles for most Domains.ConclusionsRecommendations include using the QCC‐PHN to standardize the professional and diverse roles of the PHN workforce.
Sex differences in the coronary vascular response to combined chemoreflex and metaboreflex stimulation in healthy humans
Authors: Boulet Lindsey M. , Atwater Taylor L. , Brown Courtney V. , Shafer Brooke M. , Vermeulen Tyler D. , Cotton Paul C. , Day Trevor A. , Foster Glen E. 
Published: November 2021

New Findings

What is the central question of this study?
Coronary blood flow in healthy humans is controlled by both local metabolic signalling and adrenergic activity: does the integration of these signals during acute hypoxia and adrenergic activation differ between sexes?

What are the main findings and its importance?
Both males and females exhibit an increase in coronary blood velocity in response to acute hypoxia, a response that is constrained by adrenergic stimulation in males but not females. These findings suggest that coronary blood flow control differs between males and females.

AbstractCoronary hyperaemia is mediated through multiple signalling pathways, including local metabolic messengers and adrenergic stimulation. This study aimed to determine whether the coronary vascular response to adrenergic stressors is different between sexes in normoxia and hypoxia. Young, healthy participants (n = 32; 16F) underwent three randomized trials of isometric handgrip exercise followed by post‐exercise circulatory occlusion (PECO) to activate the muscle metaboreflex. End‐tidal was controlled at (1) normoxic levels throughout the trial, (2) 50 mmHg for the duration of the trial (hypoxia trial), or (3) 50 mmHg only during PECO (mixed trial). Mean left anterior descending coronary artery velocity (LADVmean; transthoracic Doppler echocardiography), heart rate and blood pressure were assessed at baseline and during PECO. In normoxia, there was no change in LADVmean or cardiac workload induced by PECO in males and females. Acute hypoxia increased baseline LADVmean to a greater extent in males compared with females (P < 0.05), despite a similar increase in cardiac workload. The change in LADVmean induced by PECO was similar between sexes in normoxia (P = 0.31), greater in males during the mixed trial (male: 12.8 (7.7) cm/s vs. female: 8.1 (6.3) cm/s; P = 0.02) and reduced in males but not females in acute hypoxia (male: −4.8 (4.5) cm/s vs. female: 0.8 (6.2) cm/s; P = 0.006). In summary, sex differences in the coronary vasodilatory response to hypoxia were observed, and metaboreflex activation during hypoxia caused a paradoxical reduction in coronary blood velocity in males but not females.
Effects of Simulation Length and Flexible Foundation on Long-Term Response Extrapolation of a Bottom-Fixed Offshore Wind Turbine
Authors: Barreto David , Karimirad Madjid , Ortega Arturo 
Published: November 2021

Abstract
This paper deals with statistical and modeling uncertainty on the estimation of long-term extrapolated extreme responses in a monopile offshore wind turbine. The statistical uncertainty is addressed by studying the effect of simulation length. Modeling uncertainty is explored by evaluating the effects of considering a rigid and flexible foundation. The soil's flexibility is taken into account by considering the improved apparent fixity method. To identify the most relevant environmental conditions, the modified environmental contour method is used. The analysis focuses on the fore-aft shear force (FASF) and the fore-aft bending moment (FABM) at the mudline. The results show that using a simulation length of 10 min does not provide sufficient accuracy. It was found that for the FASF, simulation lengths of at least 30 min are required to achieve an accuracy of about +/−5%. For the FABM, it was found that both the extrapolations made with 20 min and 30 min simulations achieved similar levels of accuracy of about 20%. Meanwhile, the results obtained from 10 min simulations reached deviations of about 40%. Finally, from the comparison made between a rigid and flexible foundation, it was found that the extrapolated responses exhibit maximum deviations up to around 5% and 10% for the FASF and the FABM, respectively. Also, for the FABM, it was observed that the consideration of a flexible foundation causes the critical wind speed to shift from 16.5 m/s (rigid) to 18 m/s (flexible).
The Inspiration Design Toolkit: A Human-Centered Design Tool for a System Engineering Course
Authors: Lee Sheng-Hung , Yang Maria C. , Carramolino Beatriz , Rudnik John 
Published: November 2021

Abstract
System Engineering education typically includes content to help students learn to design and engineer large, complex systems in a structured way. In this paper, we describe the outcomes of introducing a human-centered design tool, the Inspiration Design Toolkit (IDT), to encourage students to think non-linearly. The IDT is an educational resource consisting of a deck of illustrated cards that contain provocative questions, reflection messages and icons, applicative examples, and key takeaways on microlearning units. The aim of the IDT is to improve the participants’ learning experience and course engagement, increase opportunities for them to interact with their peers and teaching team, enable them to practice and reinforce the concepts through the creation of their own IDT cards, and share the cards in the discussion to increase learners’ engagement with course material and peers. We designed the IDT for an MIT online course on System Thinking. We collected, analyzed, and synthesized qualitative and quantitative feedback from 171 course participants. Our findings suggest that IDT provides learners with a digital asset that allows them to reinforce and recall the course takeaways, and apply them to other contexts. For future research, we want to understand how learners like and use IDT through demographic differences and preferred self-identified learning styles. We discuss how these findings may help educators consider critical design principles and for creating a digital self-learning toolkit connected to the course content and increasing its content adaptability.
Parameter-Dependent Feedback Compensator Design for a Time-Fractional Reaction-Diffusion Equation
Authors: Wang Jun-Wei , Zhou Hua-Cheng 
Published: November 2021

Abstract
This paper presents a parameter-dependent design of feedback compensator with space-varying gains for Mittag-Leffler stabilization of linear time fractional parabolic MIMO partial differential equations subject to space-varying diffusion and reaction coefficients. In the proposed design method, under a boundedness assumption, the reaction coefficient is written in a parametric form. By using the parametric form for the reaction coefficient and multiple non-collocated observation outputs, an observer-based state feedback compensator with space-varying gains is then constructed such that the resulting closed-loop coupled equations are Mittag-Leffler stable. By applying the Lyapunov technique with Caputo fractional derivative and variants of Poincaré–Wirtinger’s inequality, a sufficient condition for the existence of such feedback compensator is presented in terms of standard linear matrix inequalities. Finally, simulation results are presented to support the proposed design method.