bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Model-based and machine learning-based high-level controller for autonomous vehicle navigation: lane centering and obstacles avoidance
Authors: Santos Marcone Ferreira , Victorino Alessandro Corrêa , Pousseur Hugo
Published: January 2023

Researchers have been attempting to make the car drive autonomously. The environment perception together with safe guidance and control is an important task and are one of the big challenges when developing this kind of system. Geometrical or physical based models, machine learning based models and those based on a mixture of both models, are the three types of navigation methods used to resolve this problem. The last method takes advantage of the learning capability of machine learning models and uses the safeness of geometric models in order to better perform the navigation task. This paper presents a hybrid autonomous navigation methodology, which takes advantage of the learning capability of machine learning and uses the safeness of the dynamic window approach geometric method. Using a single camera and a 2D lidar sensor, this method actuates as a high-level controller, where optimal vehicle velocities are found, then applied by a low-level controller. The final algorithm is validated on CARLA Simulator environment, where the system proved to be capable to guide the vehicle in order to achieve the following tasks: lane keeping and obstacle avoidance.
Description of the females of two species of the genus Lasaia (Lepidoptera: Riodinidae) and new records for Mexico
Authors: ARELLANO-COVARRUBIAS ARTURO , LUIS-MARTÍNEZ ARMANDO , LLORENTE-BOUSQUETS JORGE
Published: January 2023

Females of two species of the genus Lasaia Bates, 1868, L. arsis Staudinger, [1887] and L. pseudomeris Clench, 1972 are described from specimens deposited in entomological collections. The identity of these species had been uncertain due to scarcity of data, causing misidentifications and confusion in pairing males and females of the same species. Distribution maps for both species, as well as new records of L. arsis for Mexico are provided.
Zonally Asymmetric Multidecadal Variability of the North Pacific Subtropical Fronts
Authors: Wu Baolan , Xu Lixiao
Published: January 2023

The North Pacific Subtropical Fronts (STFs), accompanied by the eastward-flowing subtropical countercurrent, stretch from the western Pacific Ocean to the north of Hawaii. Previous work has detected different trends of the frontal position and strength between the western STF (WSTF; west of 180°) and the eastern STF (ESTF; east of 180°) in the past 40 years. However, whether the basin-scale STFs have zonally asymmetric variability on multidecadal time scales and what drives that change remain to be quantified. Our recent work has shown that the multidecadal variability of the WSTF is controlled by the Atlantic multidecadal oscillation via the subtropical mode water variability. The present study proposes that the variability of ESTF is modulated by the Pacific decadal oscillation (PDO) via the central mode water (CMW) variability, quasi synchronously on multidecadal time scales. During a PDO positive phase, the enhanced midlatitude westerly winds in the central North Pacific increase the local surface buoyancy loss and deepen the winter mixed layer, which enlarges the CMW formation and thus increases its volume. Meanwhile, accompanied by the southward-migrated outcropping zone, the main body of CMW shifts equatorward. In response to such CMW changes, the ESTF strengthens and shifts equatorward correspondingly. Conversely, during a PDO negative phase, the weakened midlatitude westerly winds in the central North Pacific decrease the local surface buoyancy loss and shallow the winter mixed layer, which reduces the CMW formation and thus decreases its volume. Meanwhile, accompanied by northward-migrated outcropping zone, the main body of CMW shifts poleward. In response to such CMW changes, the ESTF weakens and shifts poleward correspondingly. Our results reveal that the dominant factor controlling the low-frequency variability of the WSTF and ESTF is different, which renews the conventional picture that all of the STFs behave symmetrically, with important implications for the North Pacific climate variability.
State Categories, Bureaucracies of Displacement, and Possibilities from the Margins
Authors: Menjívar Cecilia
Published: January 2023

In this presidential address, I argue for the importance of state-created categories and classification systems that determine eligibility for tangible and intangible resources. Through classification systems based on rules and regulations that reflect powerful interests and ideologies, bureaucracies maintain entrenched inequality systems that include, exclude, and neglect. I propose adopting a critical perspective when using formalized categories in our work, which would acknowledge the constructed nature of those categories, their naturalization through everyday practices, and their misalignments with lived experiences. This lens can reveal the systemic structures that engender both enduring patterns of inequality and state classification systems, and reframe questions about the people the state sorts into the categories we use. I end with a brief discussion of the benefits that can accrue from expanding our theoretical repertoires by including knowledge produced in the Global South.
Entre identités et représentations : une exploration du rapport à la religion et au catholicisme de jeunes Québécois sans appartenance religieuse
Authors: Sirois Élisabeth
Published: January 2023

While rates of religious affiliation are rapidly declining in most Western societies, a growing number of individuals, mostly youth, are choosing to distance themselves from religion. Thirty-eight (38) young Québécois aged 20 to 30 identifying as “religious nones” were interviewed for this qualitative study. This article explores the relationship of different young Québécois towards religion and its configuration based on semi-directed interviews conducted with our respondents. Three distinct and complementary aspects will be addressed : (1) an exploration of the socio-religious trajectories that lead to this claimed religious non-affiliation, (2) an examination of the main arguments used by the respondents to justify their state of non-affiliation, (3) a presentation of two types of religious representations that can be identified in the respondents’ discourse.
Utilizing the Electronic Medical Record to Enhance Health Care Provider Delivery of Messages About the Safe Storage of Firearms
Authors: Sigel Eric J. , Arredondo Mattson Sabrina , Runyan Carol W.
Published: January 2023

The goal of this project was to determine whether screening youth and parents for firearm presence and imbedding those results in the electronic medical record (EMR) increased health care provider (HCP) documentation of firearms and subsequent delivery of a safe storage message. The study took place in a large adolescent medicine practice. Fifty-six dyads (40% of eligible) were randomized to usual care or the intervention, in which screening results for firearms were imbedded in the EMR. Health care providers delivered a safe storage message to 20% of controls and 51.2% in the intervention ( P = .04). When HCPs documented the delivery of a safe storage message, 64% of parents recalled hearing it, compared with only 36% when there was no documentation ( P = .012). Therefore, we found that incorporating firearm screening into the EMR increases the attention HCPs give to delivering a firearm safe storage message and correlates with parents recalling having heard a safe storage message.
Juvenile sudden cardiac death due to congenital coronary ostial valve-like ridges: A case report and literature review
Authors: Albano Giuseppe D , Scalzo Giovanni , Malta Ginevra , De Lisi Giovanni , Argo Antonina , Maresi Emiliano , Zerbo Stefania
Published: January 2023

Coronary artery anomalies are a heterogeneous group of congenital disorders affecting the coronary pattern with a characteristic (origin, number, number of hosts, course, etc.). They are rarely found in the population. We report the case of a 21-year-old male who died from sudden cardiac death caused by an isolated coronary ostial obstruction, secondary to a rare anomaly, the presence of a valve-like ridge consisting of a small fold in the Valsalva aortic sinus. The study provides a brief literature review on the pathophysiology, diagnosis, and clinical and medico-legal issues in coronary artery anomaly cases that may be helpful in forensic practice when dealing with sudden cardiac death in young people and highlights key points for further research and public health measures.
Distributed integrated sliding mode control via neural network and disturbance observer for heterogeneous vehicle systems with uncertainties
Authors: Wang Jianmei , Luo Xiaoyuan , Zhang Yuyan , Guan Xinping
Published: January 2023

A distributed sliding mode control based on neural network and disturbance observer is investigated for heterogeneous vehicle systems in this paper. The vehicle systems in this paper consider both parameter uncertainty and disturbance. First, the radial basis function neural network is applied to estimate the parameter uncertainty owing to its universal approximation ability, and the disturbance observer is designed to compensate for the external disturbance. Compared with the existing adaptive methods, the disturbance observer can estimate the external disturbance directly and effectively. Then, constant time headway policy is employed to regulate the inter-vehicle distance and improve the string stability. Unlike most existing sliding mode control strategy for vehicle platoons, the string stability is achieved via employing sufficient conditions on the control parameters rather than employing coupled sliding mode control. Afterward, modified constant time headway policy is designed to reduce the effect of nonzero initial inter-vehicle spacing and improve the traffic density. Finally, the simulation results with constant time headway policy and modified constant time headway policy are provided to demonstrate the effectiveness and advantages of the proposed approaches.
Toxicologic Pathology Forum: Opinion on Approaches for Reporting Toxic and Adverse Dose Levels in Nonclinical Toxicology Studies Supporting the Development of Anticancer Pharmaceuticals
Authors: Hukkanen Renee R. , Moriyama Tomoyuki , Patrick Daniel J. , Werner Jonathan
Published: January 2023

The advancement of an investigational new drug in humans is a significant developmental milestone. In first-in-human (FIH)-enabling toxicology studies, the highest dose without a test article–related adverse effect (no-observed-adverse-effect-level [NOAEL]) serves as the basis for deriving a safe FIH starting dose. For anticancer pharmaceuticals, the FIH dose may be calculated using the highest non-severely toxic dose (HNSTD) in nonrodent models or the dose severely toxic to 10% (STD10) in rodents. Given the practice of reporting the NOAEL, but the lack of regulatory requirements to do so for anticancer pharmaceuticals, we conducted an informal survey of 20 companies to answer the question “How is our industry reporting toxic/adverse dose levels in FIH-enabling toxicology studies for anticancer indications?” The data indicated 4 reporting approaches, each providing a path to regulatory acceptance. Within the integrated toxicology study report, 45% of respondents report the HNSTD/STD10, 25% report the NOAEL, 20% report both the HNSTD/STD10 and NOAEL, and 10% do not define either, reserving definitions for regulatory submissions. One reporting approach may be preferred over another for reasons including consistency across indications, repurposing pharmaceuticals, regulatory feedback, or simplicity. The reporting approach should be defined in advance of study initiation, and the pathologist should provide context to support the chosen approach.
Recommended practices for virtual nutrition education interventions for adolescents with autism spectrum disorder: A reflection from two pilot interventions during the COVID-19 pandemic
Authors: Buro Acadia W , Shurack Riley H , Garcia Jeanette M , Gray Heewon L
Published: January 2023

Youth with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) demonstrate unhealthy eating behaviors and dietary patterns compared to their neurotypical counterparts. Given the increased risk of unhealthy weight gain and the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, modified nutrition programs in this population are warranted. The authors independently conducted two virtual pilot interventions during COVID-19 that offered feasible and acceptable alternatives to in-person delivery, providing unique opportunities for participant engagement and family involvement. Future virtual nutrition education programs for adolescents with ASD may include visual and verbal aids through Zoom, more parent/family integration, and accommodations for those with varying ASD severity levels.
Death in children with influenza A (H3N2) virus infection-associated encephalopathy: two case reports
Authors: Li Shi-Guang , Liang Hong , Chen Yu-Wen , Pang Yu-Sheng
Published: January 2023

We herein report two cases involving children who died of influenza A (H3N2) virus infection-associated encephalopathy/encephalitis (IAE). Both children developed convulsions and impaired consciousness within a relatively short period and eventually died of brainstem failure. Patient 1 presented with high fever, vomiting, and diarrhea. Laboratory tests indicated persistently high lactate, alanine aminotransferase, and urea nitrogen concentrations in the blood as well as a high protein concentration in the cerebrospinal fluid. Patient 2 presented with persistent hyperthermia and progressive disturbance of consciousness, but the cerebrospinal fluid remained normal during the disease course. Both patients were actively given oseltamivir antiviral treatment after diagnosis of influenza virus infection. However, the disease progressed and invasive mechanical ventilation was performed. Both children’s condition quickly progressed to IAE, and they eventually died. IAE is a rare complication of influenza virus infection with high mortality, and its pathogenesis remains unclear. The purpose of this report is to draw attention to the serious central nervous system complications of influenza infection and raise awareness of the fatal consequences of this disease among pediatricians.
Survival Analysis of Concrete Overlays on Low-Volume Roads in Iowa
Authors: King Daniel , Taylor Peter
Published: January 2023

Concrete overlays are an important component of Iowa’s rural road network. More than 2,000 centerline miles of concrete overlays have been paved in Iowa over the last few decades, including many overlays on low-volume roads serving 400 vehicles per day or less. In this study, a survival analysis was performed using automated pavement condition data collected on Iowa’s concrete overlays to obtain a probabilistic assessment of concrete overlay service life, paying particular attention to the performance of overlays on low-volume roads. Concrete overlays were found to perform very well, with a 30-year survival probability of 85.3% for all projects to rehabilitation or reconstruction, and 76.6% for overlays only on low-volume roads. Survival life was reduced when the survival condition was changed to performance thresholds based on a pavement condition index (PCI) of 60/100 and an International Roughness Index (IRI) value of 170 in./mi, but was still good overall. Overlays tended to reach the failure condition for PCI before IRI, indicating that cracking is a more common distress than surface roughness. Another important finding was that concrete on asphalt overlays had a longer median survival life and a greater 30-year survival probability than concrete on concrete-unbonded overlays. Overall, concrete overlays have performed well in Iowa and are well suited to low-volume roads and rural county highways.
Military Sexual Trauma Among Women Veterans Using Veterans Health Administration Reproductive Health Care: Screening Challenges and Associations with Post-Military Suicidal Ideation and Suicide Attempts
Authors: Monteith Lindsey L. , Kittel Julie A. , Schneider Alexandra L. , Miller Christin N. , Holliday Ryan , Katon Jodie G. , Brenner Lisa A. , Hoffmire Claire A.
Published: January 2023

Military sexual trauma (MST) is highly prevalent among women veterans. Research among MST survivors has focused on individuals receiving care in specific settings, such as mental health services. There is a dearth of knowledge regarding MST prevalence and associations in other settings commonly accessed by women veterans, including reproductive healthcare settings. We examined MST prevalence (overall, by MST type and extent of underreporting) and associations with suicidal ideation and suicide attempts, among women veterans accessing Veterans Health Administration (VHA) reproductive health care. Our sample included 352 post-9/11 women veterans who used VHA reproductive health care in Fiscal Year (FY) 2018 and participated in a cross-sectional survey. Approximately 68.7% screened positive for MST, including 44.9% who reported experiencing military sexual assault. Notably, 30.8% reported MST on the survey, but had a negative MST screen for their most recent MST screen in their VHA medical record. Both military sexual harassment and assault were associated with increased prevalence of experiencing suicidal ideation following military service; however, a significant association among military sexual harassment, past-month suicidal ideation, and post-military suicide attempts was not detected. Military sexual assault was uniquely associated with past-month suicidal ideation and post-military suicide attempts. As MST and underreporting are highly prevalent among women veterans using VHA reproductive health care, rescreening for MST within this population is essential. A trauma-informed approach is recommended irrespective of prior MST screening results and may facilitate suicide prevention in this population. Addressing barriers to MST disclosure and preventing MST and its sequelae remain critical.
Estimation of the average treatment effect with variable selection and measurement error simultaneously addressed for potential confounders
Authors: Yi Grace Y. , Chen Li-Pang
Published: January 2023

In the framework of causal inference, the inverse probability weighting estimation method and its variants have been commonly employed to estimate the average treatment effect. Such methods, however, are challenged by the presence of irrelevant pre-treatment variables and measurement error. Ignoring these features and naively applying the usual inverse probability weighting estimation procedures may typically yield biased inference results. In this article, we develop an inference method for estimating the average treatment effect with those features taken into account. We establish theoretical properties for the resulting estimator and carry out numerical studies to assess the finite sample performance of the proposed estimator.
The Long-Term Consequences of Early Life Exposure to Tsunami and Conflict on Adolescents in Sri Lanka
Authors: Devakumar Delan , Busert Laura , Sathiadas Manoji Gitanjali , Jayawardana Pushpika , Arulpragasam Angela , Osmond Clive , Fall Caroline H. D. , Wells Jonathan C. K. , Wickramasinghe V. Pujitha
Published: January 2023

The consequences for adolescent health due to early life exposure to natural disasters combined with war are not known. We collected data from adolescents aged 12-13 years in Sri Lanka whose mothers were pregnant during the Indian Ocean tsunami in 2004 in a tsunami-affected region (n = 22), conflict-affected region (n = 35), conflict-plus-tsunami-affected region (n = 29), or controls in areas unaffected by either (n = 24). Adjusted body mass index (BMI)-for-age z-scores were 1.3, 1.0 and 2.0 for conflict, tsunami, and conflict-plus-tsunami, respectively, compared with the control group. Greater skinfold thickness and higher diastolic blood pressure were found in adolescents born in the conflict zone but no differences were found in height, head circumference, and waist circumference, or blood results, with the exception of serum insulin. Being born after a natural disaster or during conflict was associated with increased BMI and body fat during adolescent, which are associated with longer-term risk of noncommunicable disease.
Comparison of diaphragm meat juice and muscle swab samples to spleen and spleen swab samples for the detection of African swine fever viral nucleic acid
Authors: Okwasiimire Rodney , Nassali Aisha , Ndoboli Dickson , Ekakoro John E. , Faburay Bonto , Wampande Edward , Havas Karyn A.
Published: January 2023

Use of meat juice and muscle swabs at slaughterhouses may provide an easy-to-collect sample for African swine fever (ASF) surveillance. Meat juice has been experimentally shown to be a reliable sample for the detection of ASF virus (ASFV). We compared the detection of ASFV nucleic acid from diaphragm meat juice, diaphragm muscle swab, spleen, and spleen swabs from pigs with signs of ASFV infection at slaughterhouses around Kampala, Uganda. Pigs with ≥2 clinical or pathology signs at the time of slaughter had a spleen sample, spleen swab, diaphragm muscle sample, and diaphragm muscle swab collected. Meat juice was collected from muscle samples through a freeze–thaw cycle. Each sample was tested individually, and 72 spleen, meat juice, and muscle swab sample pools of 4 negative and 1 positive sample were tested, as well. Standard operating procedures from the USDA–Foreign Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory for viral DNA extraction and real-time PCR (rtPCR) were used. Of the 493 pigs evaluated, we classified as positive 357 (72.4%) diaphragm meat juice samples, 218 (44.2%) diaphragm muscle swabs, 247 (50.1%) spleen samples, and 241 (48.9%) spleen swabs. All spleen sample pools were positive (72 of 72; 100%), as were 71 of 72 (98.6%) meat juice pools and 67 of 72 (93.1%) muscle swab pools. Meat juice samples provided a reliable sample type for the detection by rtPCR of ASFV in pigs with natural infections.
Primary HPV-Associated Enteric-Type Adenocarcinoma of Vagina: A Case Report
Authors: Felicelli Christopher , Strickland Amanda , Wei Jian-Jun
Published: January 2023

Primary enteric type adenocarcinomas of the vagina are extremely rare. We present a 63-year-old woman who had a polypoid mass localized to the distal vagina. The lesion was composed of a columnar glandular cell proliferation with focal cribriforming, reminiscent of tubular adenoma. Immunohistochemical stains were notable for expression of enteric markers (CDX2 and KRT20), as well as negativity for Mullerian markers (PAX8, ER, and PR), diffuse expression for p16, and positivity for high-risk HPV mRNA expression. Ultimately, a diagnosis of vaginal primary HPV-associated enteric type adenocarcinoma was rendered for this unusual lesion. To our knowledge, no prior cases of HPV-associated enteric type adenocarcinomas of the vagina have been described before.
Dynamic Changes and Relevant Factors of Perioperative Deep Vein Thrombosis in Patients with Thoracolumbar Fractures Caused by High-Energy Injuries
Authors: Lv Bing , Wang Haiying , Zhang Zipeng , Li Weifeng , Han Gefeng , Liu Xiangdong , Zhang Cheng
Published: January 2023

Objective

To investigate the dynamic changes and relevant factors of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) in patients with thoracolumbar fractures caused by high-energy injuries.

Methods

From January 2016 to June 2021, a total of 655 patients with thoracolumbar fractures who underwent surgical treatment in our hospital were retrospectively analyzed. The patients were examined by preoperative and postoperative ultrasonography, and divided into thrombus growth group, thrombus invariant group, and thrombus regression group according to the preoperative and postoperative ultrasonographic results. Medical record data, including demographic data, surgical data, and laboratory results, were collected and the differences in various factors among the groups were compared.

Results

DVT was found in 99 patients (15.1%, 99/655) before surgery, including 79 cases of distal thrombus, 7 cases of proximal thrombus, and 13 cases of mixed thrombus. The incidence of postoperative DVT increased to 20.6% (134/655), including 96 cases of distal thrombus, 15 cases of proximal thrombus, and 23 cases of mixed thrombus. Among them, 39.7% had thrombus growth, 49.3% had thrombus basically unchanged and 11.0% had thrombolysis. There were significant differences in age, lower extremity muscle strength, time from trauma to surgery, operation time, blood loss, blood transfusion, and post 3-D-dimer among the three groups.

Conclusions

In patients with thoracolumbar fractures caused by high-energy injuries, the majority of patients with DVT do not change or grow after surgery, and only a few of them have thrombolysis. Younger age, lower extremity motor, and fewer blood transfusion contribute to thrombolysis. Delayed surgical intervention, longer operation time, and higher blood loss can lead to thrombosis growth. Post 3-D-dimer is closely related to the dynamic changes of thrombus.
Comparative admission rates and infection severity of COVID-19 among unvaccinated and vaccinated patients
Authors: Balian Steve , Bailey Beth , Abboud Samer , Kim Yuri , Humphries Derrek , Kambali Shweta , Kalangi Sreevastav Teja , Jarvis Jennifer , Dayal Lokesh , Beiz Hassan , Battisti Robert , Haddad Nicholas
Published: January 2023

Vaccination efforts have limited the burden of the pandemic caused by the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) with substantial evidence showing reduced hospitalization rates among vaccinated populations. However, few studies have explored correlations between vaccination status and inpatient COVID-19 outcomes. This observational case–control study involved a retrospective chart review of adult patients hospitalized for COVID-19 infection at a medium-sized hospital in Central Michigan between May 1, 2021 and September 30, 2021. Unadjusted analyses involved t-tests and chi-square tests followed by adjusted analyses using binary logistic and linear regression models. Of the 192 screened patients, 171 subjects met the inclusion criteria. Vaccinated patients were significantly older (71.09 vs 57.45, p < 0.001), more likely to identify as white (89.4% vs 66.9%, p = 0.026), and had a lower baseline 10-year survival rate predicted by the Charlson Comorbidity Index (42% vs 69%, p < 0.001) compared to unvaccinated patients. Common symptoms between both groups included shortness of breath (50%), malaise (23%–37%), cough (28%–32%), and fever or chills (25%). Upon matching, adjusted analysis showed significantly higher rates of remdesivir administration to unvaccinated patients (41.3% vs 13.3%, odds ratio (OR): 4.63, 90% confidence interval (CI): 1.98–11.31). Despite higher intensive care unit admission rates among unvaccinated patients (39.1% vs 23.9%, OR: 1.83, 90% CI: 0.74–4.64), this difference did not reach statistical significance. Accordingly, immunization status strongly correlates with patient demographics and differences in inpatient treatment. Larger studies are needed to further assess the vaccine’s impact on inpatient outcomes outside of our community.
The relative risk of ischemic cerebrovascular accident in patients with Von Willebrand disease
Authors: Olagunju Abdulbaril , Mihyawi Nawfal , Fath Ayman R , Bhattarai Bikash , Eldaly Abdullah S , Forst Beani , Mantha Yogamaya , Yeneneh Beeletsega T
Published: January 2023

Cerebrovascular accident (CVA) is one of the leading causes of death in the United States. Von Willebrand factor plays an important role in platelet activation and adhesion. It remains unclear whether Von Willebrand disease (vWD) is associated with a decreased risk of developing CVA. The study aimed to compare the relative risk (RR) of CVA in patients with and without vWD. We queried the National Inpatient Sample from 2009 to 2014 for discharge data and records for vWD and CVA using International Classification of Diseases, Ninth-Revision codes. The unadjusted and adjusted RR of CVA in patients with and without vWD were estimated using log-binomial model. Descriptive measures including means, medians, standard deviations, and range were presented based on normality test of continuous data. The prevalence of CVA was lower in patients with vWD than in those without vWD (1.31% vs 2.04%), with a RR of 0.64 (95% confidence interval (CI): 0.60–0.68). After adjusting for common CVA risk factors, the RR remained lower in vWD patients: 0.81 (95% CI: 0.76–0.86). vWD is associated with a lower RR of developing CVA. This suggests that deficiency of Von Willebrand factor is potentially protective against the development of CVA. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study in humans to compare the RR of CVA in patients with and without vWD. Future studies are needed to explore causal relationships and therapeutic benefits.
Clinical significance of anti-rheumatoid arthritis 33 antibody in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus
Authors: Lu Wen-Yi , Hong Xiao-Ping , Xie Jing-Yi , Liu Cui-Lian , Chen Cui-Hong , Qin-Huang  , Sun Bao-Dong , Liu Dong-Zhou , Chen Yu-Lan
Published: January 2023

Although anti-rheumatoid arthritis (RA) 33 antibodies have been reported to be present in various connective tissue diseases (CTDs), the clinical significance of anti-RA33 in CTDs is still obscure. This study was performed to explore the clinical significance of anti-RA33 in CTDs, especially systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). A total of 565 patients with positive anti-nuclear antibodies who had been tested for anti-RA33 were included in this study and were further classified into RA33-positive and RA33-negative groups. The association between anti-RA33 and the clinical features of CTDs was examined. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis was performed to explore the diagnostic value of anti-RA33 in SLE and SLE-related organ involvement. The results showed that SLE was the most common disease in CTD patients positive for anti-RA33 (48.8%). Compared with the RA33-negative group, higher proportions of SLE-associated antibodies and SLE patients with a high disease activity as well as lower levels of serum complement components were observed in the RA33-positive group (all p < 0.05). Furthermore, CTD patients with positive anti-RA33 were more likely to suffer from mucocutaneous and hematological involvement as well as interstitial lung disease (all p < 0.05). ROC analysis revealed an area under the curve value of 0.634 (95% confidence interval: 0.587–0.681) for anti-RA33 in the diagnosis of SLE, with a specificity and sensitivity of 92.9% and 13.5%, respectively. Taken together, this study reveals a significant association between anti-RA33 and the clinical features of CTDs, especially SLE, indicating a potential clinical significance of anti-RA33 in the management of SLE.
The Data Error Criteria (DEC) for retrospective studies: development and preliminary application
Authors: Buczek Lindsay , Azar Fadi , Bauzon Justin , Batra Kavita , Murphy Caleb , Wahi-Gururaj Sandhya
Published: January 2023

Retrospective chart review (RCR) studies rely on the collection and analysis of documented clinical data, a process that can be prone to errors. The aim of this study was to develop a defined set of criteria to evaluate RCR datasets for potential data errors. The Data Error Criteria (DEC) were developed by identifying data coding and data entry errors via literature review and then classifying them based on error types. Three components comprise the DEC: general errors, numerical-specific errors, and categorical variable-specific errors. Two reviewers independently applied these criteria via a manual review process to an existing de-identified database. A total of 10,168 errors were identified out of a total of 28,656 data points. The total number of errors included redundancies as certain errors may be included in multiple categories. These included 2515 general errors, 39 numerical-specific errors, and 7614 categorical variable-specific errors. Input-related categorical variable-specific errors occurred most frequently, followed by errors secondary to blank cells. Inter-rater agreement was near perfect for all categories. Identifying errors outlined in the DEC can be crucial for the data analysis stage as they can lead to inaccurate calculations and delay study timelines. The DEC offers a framework to evaluate datasets while reducing time and efforts needed to create high-quality RCR-related databases.
The Impact of Coal Activity on Local Revenues for Elementary and Secondary Education in Appalachia
Authors: Welch Jilleah G. , Murray Matthew N.
Published: January 2023

Coal mining has a deep history in the Appalachian region, where some local economies have heavily relied on coal production. While coal employment in the region has generally been in a long-term decline, there is variation across counties, with coal employment still representing a large share of total employment for some counties. This paper explores how coal activity—measured by coal employment, coal employment as a share of total employment, coal production, and the number of coal mines—impacts locally provided funding for K-12 education. Using county-level data that spans from 1995 to 2016, results indicate that increases in coal activity have a positive and significant impact on local revenues per student though effects are modest. The findings are robust across different specifications. The implication is that declines in coal activity can hamper school funding, in turn affecting adequate investments in education that are essential for economic development.
On the Spatial-Temporal Behavior, and on the Relationship Between Water Quality and Hydrometeorological Information to Predict Dissolved Oxygen in Tropical Reservoirs. Case Study: La Miel, Hydropower Dam
Authors: Juliana-Andrea Alzate-Gómez , Cesar Aguirre-Duran , Jorge Alberto Escobar-Vargas , Luis-Javier Montoya-Jaramillo , Carlos-César Piedrahita-Escobar
Published: January 2023

Hydropower is currently one of the leading renewable energy sources in developing countries. Despite the benefits that it can provide, it also triggers significant environmental impacts, such as changes in the reservoirs’ water quality. In quantifying those changes, dissolved oxygen (DO) is used as one of the water quality indicators and is the most used variable to quantify water quality and analyze water pollution. This paper aims to establish a relationship between water quality and hydrometeorological variables in tropical reservoirs to better estimate dissolved oxygen. Univariate and multivariate techniques were used to analyze temporal and spatial changes in watersheds to better select vital variables for the forecast model, such as Vector Autoregression (VAR). The results show that, for all monitoring stations, the water quality variables associated with the DO process are COD, BOD, and PO₄. Likewise, precipitation and flow discharge were the hydrometeorological parameters that had the most significant impact on DO. Also, the principal component analysis (PCA) allowed us to identify that the strength of the relationships between water quality and hydrometeorology changes depending on the location of the monitoring site. Finally, the implementation of a VAR model showed good performance metrics for dissolved oxygen predictions based on all analyses.
Validation of the 2018 FIGO Staging System for Predicting the Prognosis of Patients With Stage IIIC Cervical Cancer
Authors: Long Xingtao , He Misi , Yang Lingling , Zou Dongling , Wang Dong , Chen Yuemei , Zhou Qi
Published: January 2023

Background:

Risk stratification of patients with cervical cancer accompanied by positive lymph nodes (stage IIIC) (the 2018 International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics [FIGO] new staging system) yields a clinically heterogeneous group. In this study, we investigated the prognostic performance of the 2018 FIGO staging system for stage IIIC cervical cancer.

Methods:

The study included patients with stage III cervical cancer based on the 2018 FIGO staging system, who visited Chongqing University Cancer Hospital between January 2011 and December 2014. Kaplan-Meier curves were generated to evaluate overall survival (OS), which was compared using the log-rank test. The Cox proportional hazard regression model was used for multivariable analysis.

Results:

A total of 418 patients were eligible for analysis. The 5-year OS was 54.1% for stage IIIC1, 43.3% for stage IIIA, 40.6% for stage IIIB, and 23.1% for stage IIIC2 ( P < .001). Multivariable analysis revealed that compared with stages IIIA (hazard ratio [HR] 1.432, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.867-2.366, P = .161) and IIIB (HR 1.261, 95% CI 0.871-1.827, P = .219), stage IIIC1 cancer was not significantly associated with an increased mortality risk. Stage IIIC2 was independently associated with an increased mortality risk compared with stages IIIA (HR 2.958, 95% CI 1.757-4.983, P < .001) and IIIB (HR 2.606, 95% CI 1.752-3.877, P < .001). We stratified patients with stage IIIC1 based on the T stage. The 5-year OS was significantly longer in patients with stage IIIC1 (T1) than in those with stage IIIA ( P = .004) or IIIB ( P < .001). Analysis of multiple factors revealed that the mortality risk was 2.75-fold higher in patients with stage IIIC1pN>2 than in patients with stage IIIC1pN1-2 (HR 2.753, 95% CI 1.527-4.965, P = .001).

Conclusions:

Patients with stage IIIC1 cervical cancer showed heterogeneous clinical characteristics that reflected variable prognoses, depending on the T stage and the extent of pelvic lymph node metastases.
Tight control in patients with rheumatoid arthritis treated with targeted therapies across the COVID-19 pandemic era
Authors: Luppino Angela Flavia , Cincinelli Gilberto , Orenti Annalisa , Boracchi Patrizia , Favalli Ennio Giulio , Caporali Roberto , Ingegnoli Francesca
Published: January 2023

Objectives

To analyze the impact of different patterns of healthcare delivery on remission of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients treated with targeted therapies during the first wave (2020) and second/third waves (2021) of the pandemic compared to the pre-pandemic period (2019).

Methods

In this observational real-life study, data from RA patients treated with biologic or targeted synthetic drugs were extracted from a longitudinal registry. Clinical Disease Activity Index (CDAI) was analyzed in the same period from the 22nd of February to the 18th of May for three consecutive years. These three periods were characterized by different patterns of healthcare delivery: (1) before the pandemic (2019) only in-person visits, (2) during the first wave (2020) both in-person visits and telehealth, and (3) during the second/third waves (2021) only in-person visits. A generalized linear model with the binomial error was fitted to evaluate the difference in the proportion of patients in CDAI remission. Quantile regression was used to compare the median of CDAI in difficult-to-treat (D2T) patients.

Results

In the three periods, we included 407, 450, and 540 RA patients respectively. The percentages of patients in CDAI remission were similar in the three periods (prevalence ratio 1.07, p value 0.423 between 2020 and 2019, and 1.01, p-value 0.934 between 2021 and 2019). The CDAI remission rate was 40.55% ( N = 163), 43.18% ( N = 155) and 40.82% ( N = 220) in 2019, 2020 and 2021, respectively. Among our cohort of D2T patients, CDAI remission was similar across the three periods ( N = 30, 22.22%; N = 27, 23.68%; and N = 34, 21.52% respectively).

Conclusion

Although the pandemic has imposed changes in our healthcare delivery, these different strategies seem to be effective in ensuring satisfactory management of RA treated with targeted therapies. The approaches modulated in the context of the different periods have been a feasible compensation for ensuring disease control even in D2T patients.
Fe3O4/SiO2/polymer hybrid biosorbent based on an etch-fill strategy for heavy metal ion adsorption
Authors: Tao Jin , Zhu Ying , Huang Tao , Zhang Jishu , Wu Jianbing , Liu Leigen
Published: January 2023

Heavy metal contamination is a serious concern worldwide. In order to remove heavy metal ions from wastewater efficiently, multifunctinoal biomass-based material have been utilized. Herein, hyperbranched polymer modified cellulose biomass (HBP-CB) derived from textile waste materials ramie fibers was successfully developed by construction of Fe3O4/SiO2/polymer multiple structure through an etch-fill strategy. Specifically, Fe3O4 and SiO2 particles were introduced to the oxidation etching cellulose surface, and subsequently modified by hyperbranched polymer The adsorption behavior of the adsorbent toward two classes of heavy metal ions was investigated. The results indicated that HBP-CB owned excellent adsorption capacities for chromium and Cu(II) with maximum 123.5 mg/g and 149.0 mg/g and magnetic recovery performance in aqueous medium. These are owing to the oxidization etching biomass matrix with a higher BET surface area of 4.61 m2/g and the hybrid multiple structure modified by functional hyperbranched polymer with high dense adsorptive sites on the matrix. The adsorption behavior was well described by pseudo-second-order kinetic model and Langmuir isotherm model, revealing a rapid surface adsorption and monolayer spontaneous chemical adsorption. For recycling, 81% of adsorption capacity could be retained after five recovery cycles. These demonstrate that the hybrid multiple structure based on biomass, nanomaterials and polymer could provide sustainable and high-performance adsorption property for wastewater treatment.
Gait-Adaptability Training in People With Hereditary Spastic Paraplegia: A Randomized Clinical Trial
Authors: van de Venis Lotte , van de Warrenburg Bart , Weerdesteyn Vivian , Geurts Alexander C. H. , Nonnekes Jorik
Published: January 2023

Background and objectives

In people with hereditary spastic paraplegia (HSP), reduced gait adaptability is common and disabling. Gait impairments result from lower extremity spasticity, muscle weakness, and impaired proprioception. The aim of this study was to assess the efficacy of a 5-week gait-adaptability training in people with pure HSP.

Method

We conducted a randomized clinical trial with a cross-over design for the control group, and a 15-week follow-up period after training. Thirty-six people with pure HSP were randomized to 5 weeks of (i) gait-adaptability training (10 hours of C-Mill training—a treadmill equipped with augmented reality) or (ii) a waiting-list control period followed by 5 weeks gait-adaptability training. Both groups continued to receive usual care. The primary outcome was the obstacle subtask of the Emory Functional Ambulation Profile. Secondary outcome measures consisted of clinical balance and gait assessments, fall rates, and spatiotemporal gait parameters assessed via 3D motion analysis.

Results

The gait-adaptability training group (n = 18) did not significantly decrease the time required to perform the obstacle subtask compared to the waiting-list control group (n = 18) after adjusting for baseline differences (mean: −0.33 seconds, 95% CI: −1.3, 0.6). Similar, non-significant results were found for most secondary outcomes. After merging both groups (n = 36), the required time to perform the obstacle subtask significantly decreased by 1.3 seconds (95% CI: −2.1, −0.4) directly following 5 weeks of gait-adaptability training, and this effect was retained at the 15-week follow-up.

Conclusions

We found insufficient evidence to conclude that 5 weeks of gait-adaptability training leads to greater improvement of gait adaptability in people with pure HSP.
Embolization of a duplicated femoral vein for treatment of lower extremity deep venous insufficiency: A case report
Authors: Sun Chun , Zheng Wei , Wang Sheng , Wu Yingfeng
Published: January 2023

Background

Lower extremity deep venous insufficiency (DVI) occurs secondary to structural or functional abnormalities of deep venous valves in the affected extremities. The effectiveness of surgical treatment for improvement of the hemodynamic status in these patients remains controversial in clinical practice.

Method

In this case report, we describe a patient who presented with severe right lower extremity edema and liposclerosis and underwent venography, which suggested a variation in the number of femoral veins. The valve within the duplicated femoral vein was significantly incompetent; however, the valve of the main trunk of the femoral vein showed normal function. We performed embolization of the duplicated femoral vein.

Results

The patient tolerated the procedure well without recurrent symptoms.

Conclusions

Individualized assessment based on venography findings is useful to establish the therapeutic approach in patients with DVI.
Room for Feelings: A “Working Memory” Account of Affective Processing
Authors: van Dillen Lotte F. , Hofmann Wilhelm
Published: January 2023

In the past decades, affective science has overwhelmingly demonstrated the unique properties of affective information to bias our attention, memory, and decisions. At the same time, accumulating evidence suggests that neutral and affective representations rely on the same working memory substrates for the selection and computation of information and that they are therefore restricted by the same capacity limitations that these substrates impose. Here, we integrate these insights into a working memory model of affective processing (WMAP). Drawing on competitive access models of working memory, we discuss its role in the various stages of affective processing, from attentional selection to maintenance and memory storage, and resulting feelings and actions. We end our overview with some open questions and future directions.
Invasive breast cancer with Paget’s disease: A rare case report from a tertiary facility in Northern Tanzania
Authors: Lodhia Jay , Urassa Ellyagape , Mremi Alex
Published: January 2023

Paget’s disease of the breast is a rare pathology resulting from abnormal proliferation of glandular epithelial cells in the nipple–areolar epidermis. The disease is named after James Paget, a pathologist and surgeon, who reported a relationship between a nipple rash and mammary gland tumors in 1874. Early diagnosis may be quite difficult. Histopathology can give the definitive diagnosis and the treatment depends upon the presence or absence of an associated breast lump. The treatment options include simple lumpectomy, mastectomy or radical mastectomy depending upon the lump (cancer) in the diseased breast. Herein, we present a case of Paget’s disease of the breast presented with a long history of nipple eczema.