bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Biodegradable materials with FDM technology under the aging effect of solar and saltwater exposure
Authors: Valerga Puerta Ana P , Fernandez-Sanz Gema , Bañon Fermin , Fernandez-Vidal Severo R
Published: November 2023

The durability and degradation of polymers is very important for product design in terms of material choice. The degradation behavior of two biodegradable thermoplastic materials manufactured by 3D printing, Enviro ABS and PLA, was studied. The action of the sun and seawater was simulated to find out how they affect the properties of these materials over a period of 8 weeks. The yield strength, maximum elongation, ultimate tensile strength, and microscopy were analyzed, as well as dimensions and mass changes. These biodegradable materials were studied to conclude whether there is an environmentally friendly alternative to traditional ABS, being one of the most widely used petroleum-based plastics in industry and in fused deposition modeling (FDM) or fused filament fabrication (FFF). PLA showed a weight loss and increase in ultimate tensile stress on degradation by sunlight and a prolonged decrease in ultimate tensile stress on degradation by seawater due to humidity absorption. In contrast, Enviro ABS does not show a noticeable difference between the beginning and the end of the test, which leads to the conclusion that Enviro ABS is a good alternative to conventional ABS without forgetting the environmental effects that are currently involved in the manufacture, recycling and composting of this type of material.
A Socio-Ecological Approach to A Community-Based Health Promotion Intervention on the U.S.-Mexico Border: Insights and Lessons Learned During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: Paat Yok-Fong , Camacho Elizabeth , Ruiz Sarah L. , Garcia Tovar Diego , Núñez-Mchiri Guillermina Gina , Duarte-Gardea Maria O. , Corral Guadalupe , Oviedo Ramirez Sandra , Markham Christine , Torres-Hostos Luis , Singh Karim C. , Zamora Hector , Myers Nathan W.
Published: November 2023

The Healthy Families Healthy Kids Initiative (HFHKI) is a community-based initiative developed based on the socio-ecological model to address preventive health care needs in El Paso County, Texas, one of the most economically and health-challenged border communities in the United States. HFHKI’s three main goals are to increase access to experiential learning and health education, service delivery, and sustainable systems/linkages of care. These were accomplished through seven critical activities. We present the rationale, background, setting, and conceptual framework for the initiative, followed by the methods used to develop and assess the success of the activities and results of our project outcomes. We end with a discussion of lessons learned and future directions. We also share insights gained from our community health promotion intervention during the COVID-19 pandemic, which will enrich current conversations among applied social scientists. Overall, our project served 2,347 participants of all age ranges during our first year of project implementation across all 7 activities. We recommend the use of the socio-ecological model in designing, implementing, and improving health interventions aimed at enhancing family and community health, with each intervention tailored to the needs of different segments of the community. While the need to contain the COVID-19 virus amid the pandemic has created challenges in health promotion efforts, the need to help affected communities regain control of their health cannot be stressed enough. Our project can serve as an implementation framework for community-based projects on the U.S.-Mexico border.
Machine-learning applications to authoritarian selections: The case of China
Authors: Lee Jonghyuk
Published: November 2023

Elite selection in China has drawn significant attention given the importance of the country. Instead of relying on qualitative assessments from historical and personal insights, this study utilized machine-learning techniques to evaluate the promotion prospects of Chinese elites. By incorporating over 251 individual features of 18,179 officials from 1982 to 2020, I built up an ensemble model to calculate the promotion probabilities of the previous Politburo members of the Communist Party of China (CPC). Methodologically, this study finds that the machine-learning predictions yielded approximately 20% higher accuracy compared to the classical model, which employed the generalized linear model with theoretically identified variables. Moreover, this paper offers valuable insights into Chinese politics by highlighting that Xi Jinping’s selection of central officials has diverged from historical patterns, while his decisions on provincial promotions do not exhibit notable differences from those made by his predecessors.
Book review:
Authors: Gaigouria Ganesh
Published: November 2023

Kancha Ilaiah Shepherd & Karthik Raja Karuppusamy, The Shudras Vision for a New Path (Rethinking India Series 5). Penguin Random House, Vintage Books, 2021, 233 pp., ₹699. e-ISBN: 978-9-390-91424-1.
Efficacy of endoscopic gastrojejunal bypass in obese Yucatan pigs: a comparative animal study
Authors: Ouazzani S , Monino L , Beyer-Berjot L , Garnier E , Berdah S , Barthet M , Gonzalez JM
Published: November 2023

Background

Natural orifice transluminal endoscopy surgery (NOTES) gastrojejunal anastomosis (GJA) with duodenal exclusion (DE) could be used as a less invasive alternative to surgical gastric bypass. The aim of this study was to compare the efficacy and safety of both methods for bariatric purpose.

Methods

This was a prospective, experimental and comparative study on 27 obese living pigs, comparing 4 groups: GJA alone (group 1, G1), GJA + DE (group 2, G2), surgical gastric bypass (group 3, G3), control group (group 4, G4). GJA was endoscopically performed, using NOTES technic and LAMS, while DE was performed surgically for limb length selection. Animals were followed for 3 months. Primary outcome included technical success and weight change, while secondary endpoints included the rate of perioperative mortality and morbidity, histological anastomosis analysis and biological analysis.

Results

Technical success was 100% in each intervention group. No death related to endoscopic procedures occurred in the endoscopic groups, while early mortality (< 1 month) was 57,1% in the surgical group, all due to anastomotic dehiscence. At 3 months, compared to baseline, mean weight change was + 3,1% in G1 (p = 0,46); -14,9% in G2 (p = 0,17); +5,6% in G3 (p = 0,38) and + 25% in G4 (p = 0,029). Histopathological analysis of endoscopic GJA showed complete fusion of different layers without leak or abscess.

Conclusions

Endoscopic GJA with DE provides the efficacy of bypass on weight control in an animal model. Next steps consist of the development of devices to perform exclusively endoscopically limb length selection and DE.
Depression and stress levels in patients with different psychiatric disorders during concurrent early-phase COVID-19 pandemic and earthquake in Croatia
Authors: Šagud Marina , Janović Maja Bajs , Ćusa Zrinka Vuksan , Jakšić Nenad , Krakan Lucija Bagarić , Begić Dražen , Grubišin Jasmina , Janović Špiro , Jevtović Saša , Kosanović Rajačić Biljana , Mamić Gloria , Mikulić Suzan Kudlek , Marčinko Darko , Peleš Alma Mihaljević , Lisak Maja Šeparović , Štimac Zoran , Živković Maja , Ćusa Bjanka Vuksan , Wang Wei
Published: November 2023

Background

While Croatia shared COVID-19 pandemic with other countries, its capital area was also hit by a 5.6 magnitude earthquake. The simultaneous impact of these two disasters on psychiatric patients is largely unknown, and we addressed those knowledge gaps.

Methods

The cross-sectional study was conducted during the pandemic’s first peak, in the aftermath of earthquake, by telephonic survey. Measurements included the Patient Health Questionnaire-9, the Perceived Stress Scale and the semi-structured interview to evaluate the impact of pandemic stress and earthquake. Overall 396 patients with depression and/or anxiety disorders (DAD), 229 participants with schizophrenia spectrum disorders (SSD) and 205 healthy controls were enrolled.

Results

Both patient groups had higher depression and stress levels than controls, independent of sex, age and the presence of somatic comorbidity. After controlling for the same covariates, patient groups had higher COVID-19- and earthquake-related fears than controls. In patients with DAD, both fears were greater than among SSD patients. When comparing the two fears, the fear from earthquake was higher in DAD and control groups, whereas in SSD patients there was no such difference.

Conclusions

Patients with DAD were the most vulnerable group during disasters, while earthquake seems to be associated with more fear than the pandemics, at least in DAD patients and healthy individuals. Future longitudinal studies should determine if early psychological support might alleviate stress levels after disasters and prevent further worsening of mental health, particularly among DAD patients.
Exploring differences in perceptions of gentrification, neighborhood satisfaction, social cohesion, and health among residents of two predominantly African American Pittsburgh neighborhoods (n = 60)
Authors: Mendoza-Graf Alexandra , MacCarthy Sarah , Collins Rebecca , Wagner La’Vette , Dubowitz Tamara
Published: November 2023

Background

Gentrification often leads to changes in the social and physical environment of neighborhoods, which social capital theory has found are connected to aspects of resident health and wellbeing. A growing body of literature has explored the impact of gentrification on health and wellbeing of residents. The goal of this study is to qualitatively explore the ways in which gentrification may have impacted perceptions of neighborhood satisfaction, social cohesion, and health of neighborhood residents (n = 60) from two predominantly Black neighborhoods in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, one of which experienced Black gentrification during the study’s time period. This analysis is unique in its ability to capture experiences of residents who remained in their neighborhood throughout the course of the study, as well as those who moved away from their neighborhood.

Methods

Participants were randomly selected from a larger cohort enrolled in a quasi-experimental study and categorized by whether they lived in a census tract that gentrified, whether they owned or rented their home, and whether they moved from the neighborhood or remained in the same place of residence between 2011 and 2018. Phone interviews lasting approximately 30 min were conducted with participants and were audio recorded and transcribed verbatim. Participants were provided a $40 gift card for their time. Interview data were analyzed using a directed content approach, and Cohen’s Kappa was obtained (k = 0.924) to signal good inter-rater reliability.

Results

Results showed renters in gentrified census tracts overwhelmingly viewed gentrification trends as a negative change compared to homeowners. Overall, participants from gentrified census tracts reported being relatively satisfied with their neighborhood, though some suggested there were fewer resources in the neighborhood over time; felt their social cohesion had deteriorated over time; and more commonly reflected negative health changes over time.

Conclusions

These findings suggest that while gentrification can bring much needed improvements to neighborhoods, it can also bring other disruptive changes that affect the health and wellbeing of existing residents.
Changes in self-reported cannabis use during the COVID-19 pandemic: a scoping review
Authors: Mehra Kamna , Rup Jennifer , Wiese Jessica L. , Watson Tara Marie , Bonato Sarah , Rueda Sergio
Published: November 2023

Background

The COVID-19 pandemic is affecting mental health and substance use (MHSU) issues worldwide. The purpose of this study was to characterize the literature on changes in cannabis use during the pandemic and the factors associated with such changes.

Methods

We conducted a scoping review by searching peer-reviewed databases and grey literature from January 2020 to May 2022 using the Arksey and O’Malley Framework. Two independent reviewers screened a total of 4235 documents. We extracted data from 129 documents onto a data extraction form and collated results using content analytical techniques.

Results

Nearly half (48%) of the studies reported an increase/initiation of cannabis use, while 36% studies reported no change, and 16% reported a decrease/cessation of cannabis use during the pandemic. Factors associated with increased cannabis use included socio-demographic factors (e.g., younger age), health related factors (e.g., increased symptom burden), MHSU factors (e.g., anxiety, depression), pandemic-specific reactions (e.g., stress, boredom, social isolation), cannabis-related factors (e.g., dependence), and policy-related factors (e.g., legalization of medical/recreational cannabis).

Conclusion

Public health emergencies like the COVID-19 pandemic have the potential to significantly impact cannabis use. The pandemic has placed urgency on improving coping mechanisms and supports that help populations adapt to major and sudden life changes. To better prepare health care systems for future pandemics, wide-reaching education on how pandemic-related change impacts cannabis use is needed.
Role of m6A modification in regulating the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway in cancer
Authors: Liu Jie , Gu Xinyu , Guan Zhenjie , Huang Di , Xing Huiwu , Zheng Lian
Published: November 2023

The phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)/AKT signaling pathway plays a crucial role in the pathogenesis of cancer. The dysregulation of this pathway has been linked to the development and initiation of various types of cancer. Recently, epigenetic modifications, particularly N6-methyladenosine (m6A), have been recognized as essential contributors to mRNA-related biological processes and translation. The abnormal expression of m6A modification enzymes has been associated with oncogenesis, tumor progression, and drug resistance. Here, we review the role of m6A modification in regulating the PI3K/AKT pathway in cancer and its implications in the development of novel strategies for cancer treatment.
Early adulthood weight change, midlife “Life’s essential 8” health status and risk of cardiometabolic diseases: a chinese nationwide cohort study
Authors: Cao Qiuyu , Li Mian , Qin Guijun , Yan Li , He Jiang , Xu Min , Xu Yu , Wang Tiange , Chen Yuhong , Wang Shuangyuan , Lin Hong , Zhao Zhiyun , Gao Zhengnan , Zeng Tianshu , Hu Ruying , Yu Xuefeng , Chen Gang , Su Qing , Mu Yiming , Chen Lulu , Tang Xulei , Wan Qin , Wang Guixia , Shen Feixia , Luo Zuojie , Qin Yingfen , Chen Li , Huo Yanan , Li Qiang , Ye Zhen , Zhang Yinfei , Liu Chao , Wang Youmin , Wu Shengli , Yang Tao , Deng Huacong , Zhao Jiajun , Shi Lixin , Ning Guang , Wang Weiqing , Lu Jieli , Bi Yufang
Published: November 2023

Background

The association between weight change during early adulthood and cardiometabolic diseases remains uncertain in Chinese population. Whether the association varies with comprehensive cardiovascular health (CVH) in midlife assessed by “Life’s Essential 8” has not been characterized. We aim to examine the associations of early adulthood weight change and midlife “Life’s Essential 8” CVH status with cardiometabolic outcomes in a Chinese cohort.

Methods

The study participants were from the China Cardiometabolic Disease and Cancer Cohort (4 C) Study. This analysis included 72,610 middle-aged and older participants followed for a median of 3.6 years. At baseline, the participants recalled body weight at age 20 and 40 years, and we calculated change in weight and BMI between 20 and 40 years of age. Health behaviors information in “Life’s Essential 8” was collected by questionnaire, and health factors were measured in the study center. During follow-up, we ascertained incident cardiovascular events based on medical records, and diagnosed incident diabetes according to the American Diabetes Association 2010 criteria.

Results

72,610 study participants were included with a mean age of 56.0 ± 8.8 years and 29% of them were males. Weight gain of more than 10 kg between 20 and 40 years of age was associated with 22% increased risk of incident cardiovascular events (HR: 1.22; 95%CI: 1.04–1.43) and 38% increased risk of diabetes (HR: 1.38; 95%CI: 1.25–1.53) compared to stable weight. Besides, the association of weight gain more than 10 kg in early adulthood with cardiometabolic risk was even stronger in those with low CVH score in midlife (HR: 2.44; 95%CI: 2.01–2.97 for incident cardiovascular events; HR: 2.20; 95%CI: 1.90–2.55 for incident diabetes) or with few ideal cardiovascular health metrics in midlife.

Conclusions

Our study indicated that weight gain in early adulthood was associated with significantly increased risk of cardiometabolic diseases. And the association could be stronger in those with poor CVH profiles in midlife. These findings confirmed the significance of weight management during early adulthood and suggested that individuals who experienced substantial weight gain in early life should be encouraged to maintain good CVH status in Chinese population.
Lithofacies prediction from seismic data using deep learning: A case study from North West Shelf Australia
Authors: Yamatani Takashi , Desaki Shuichi
Published: November 2023

A fully convolutional neural network was applied to prestack 3D seismic data to predict lithofacies. A key challenge was to segregate volcanics and shale, which have similar elastic properties. We achieved reasonable lithofacies prediction by using pseudowells as labeled data, which could incorporate geologic information into the model (i.e., vertical distribution patterns). In particular, the addition of stratigraphic information as input to the neural network enabled effective learning. In addition, multiple networks were separately trained to evaluate prediction uncertainty. Even in such cases, the number of pseudowells required for the robust training was much smaller than the number of traces in the 3D seismic data.
Geoscientists Around the Globe
Authors:   The SEG JEDI Committee
Published: November 2023

Coordinated by members of SEG's Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (JEDI) Committee, Geoscientists Around the Globe features geoscientists from technically, geographically, and culturally diverse backgrounds. In this installment, JEDI Committee Vice Chair Eileen Martin interviews Yunyue Elita Li, associate professor of earth and planetary sciences and (by courtesy) mathematics at Purdue University.
Catching the threads: caregiving in Alzheimer's disease
Authors: Kuipers Elizabeth
Published: November 2023

As someone who has researched the effects on carers living with people with severe psychiatric disorders, the author describes her own recent experience of being a carer. The article serves as a companion piece to her psychiatrist husband's account of his cognitive decline in Alzheimer's disease.
Anatomic Variations of Foramen Ovale as a Predictor of Successful Cannulation in Percutaneous Trigeminal Rhizotomies
Authors: Gordon Jonah , Piper Keaton , George Zeegan , Vakharia Kunal , Bezchlibnyk Yarema B. , Van Loveren Harry
Published: November 2023

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES:

Percutaneous trigeminal rhizotomies are common treatment modalities for medically refractory trigeminal neuralgia (TN). Failure of these procedures is frequently due to surgical inability to cannulate the foramen ovale (FO) and is thought to be due to variations in anatomy. The purpose of this study is to characterize the relationships between anatomic features surrounding FO and investigate the association between anatomic morphology and successful cannulation of FO in patients undergoing percutaneous trigeminal rhizotomy.

METHODS:

A retrospective analysis was conducted of all patients undergoing percutaneous trigeminal rhizotomy for TN at our academic center between January 1, 2010, and July 31, 2022. Preoperative 1-mm thin-cut computed tomography head imaging was accessed to perform measurements surrounding the FO, including inlet width, outlet width, interforaminal distance (a representation of the lateral extent of FO along the middle fossa), and sella–sphenoid angle (a representation of the coronal slope of FO). Mann–Whitney U tests assessed the difference in measurements for patients who succeeded and failed cannulation.

RESULTS:

Among 37 patients who met inclusion criteria, 34 (91.9%) successfully underwent cannulation. Successful cannulation was associated with larger inlet widths (median = 5.87 vs 3.67 mm, U = 6.0, P = .006), larger outlet widths (median = 7.13 vs 5.10 mm, U = 14.0, P = .040), and smaller sella–sphenoid angles (median = 52.00° vs 111.00°, U = 0.0, P < .001). Interforaminal distances were not associated with the ability to cannulate FO surgically.

CONCLUSION:

We have identified morphological characteristics associated with successful cannulation in percutaneous rhizotomies for TN. Preoperative imaging may optimize surgical technique and predict cannulation failure.
Roles of multi-level temperature-adaptive responses and microhabitat variation in establishing distributions of intertidal species
Authors: Dong Yun-Wei
Published: November 2023

How intertidal species survive their harsh environment and how best to evaluate and forecast range shifts in species distribution are two important and closely related questions for intertidal ecologists and global change biologists. Adaptive variation in responses of organisms to environmental change across all levels of biological organization – from behavior to molecular systems – is of key importance in setting distribution patterns, yet studies often neglect the interactions of diverse types of biological variation (e.g. differences in thermal optima owing to genetic and acclimation-induced effects) with environmental variation, notably at the scale of microhabitats. Intertidal species have to cope with extreme and frequently changing thermal stress, and have shown high variation in thermal sensitivities and adaptive responses at different levels of biological organization. Here, I review the physiological and biochemical adaptations of intertidal species to environmental temperature on multiple spatial and temporal scales. With fine-scale datasets for the thermal limits of individuals and for environmental temperature variation at the microhabitat scale, we can map the thermal sensitivity for each individual in different microhabitats, and then scale up the thermal sensitivity analysis to the population level and, finally, to the species level by incorporating physiological traits into species distribution models. These more refined mechanistic models that include consideration of physiological variations have higher predictive power than models that neglect these variations, and they will be crucial to answering the questions posed above concerning adaptive mechanisms and the roles they play in governing distribution patterns in a rapidly changing world.
Conservation-restoration in the Czech Republic
Authors: Selucká Alena
Published: November 2023

This paper brießy summarises approaches to restoring cultural sites and artefacts in the Czech Republic from the establishment of the so-called Czech Restoration School at the Academy of Fine Arts in Prague to the current scientiÞc concept of conservation-restoration based on broader interdisciplinary co-operation. Major universities and schools which teach young conservators-restorers are listed, and the activities of professional associations and methodological workplaces are also described. The paper is centred on an overview of regulatory legislative measures in regard to carrying out restoration work. These measures include the so-called restorer’s licence granted by the Ministry of Culture for the restoration of cultural monuments which are works of art or craftsmanship.
Overview of the issues and challenges for the conservation-restoration profession in Greece
Authors: Sakki Zoi , Kolyvodiakou Kanelli , Koufopoulos Michael , Oreianou Kalliopi , Siatou Amalia , Goulas Dimitris
Published: November 2023

Considering that conservation-restoration (CR) has been recognised as a profession for the past 25 years, it is still viewed as a new discipline and there is a constant need to communicate the importance of the work we do for the protection of the national Cultural Heritage (CH). There is still little public awareness for the profession and this has, as an indirect result, its disconsideration.

Conservators-Restorers (CRs) are responsible for safeguarding CH, for past and future generations, and the need for acquired competencies has been well documented over the years. In Greece, the professional CRs are the holders of an EQF-6 degree or higher (Masters, Ph.D), however, the national educational system has created discriminations within this level that hinder their accessibility to the work market and professional development. Additionally, the existence of different educational levels is creating inconsistencies in the working environment.

The legislation for the regulation of the CR profession is well established in connection with the law for the protection of CH. Nevertheless, there are issues and challenges that need to be adjusted, revised and reformed. One of the most important limitations of the CH law is that it only protects objects/monuments prior to 1830, therefore not covering contemporary and modern monuments, allowing for interventions on the latter to be applied by non-CRs. Furthermore, parts of our CH that are not under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Culture and belong to other state or private organisations, remain unprotected and unregulated considering their care and maintenance.

Part of the regulation of the profession is setting the rules and competences for the private sector by appointing a licence to practice CR as a freelancer or contractor. The current version of the law is hindering the accessibility of younger professionals to enter the private sector thus limiting their professional development and requires reformation. Although the legal framework that regulates the CR profession in Greece appears to be strict, it also includes ambiguities and generalities which result in creating signiÞcant inconsistencies. These legal, practical, ethical issues, ACAWA-Gr is trying to resolve. Its mission remains the safeguarding of the profession and the promotion of public awareness on the protection of CH.
Cognitive control and impulsivity in deficit schizophrenia: neuropsychological and clinical characteristics
Authors: Bielecki Maksymilian , Mak Monika , Samochowiec Jerzy , Tyburski Ernest Marek
Published: November 2023

Over the years, various concepts concerning the nature of schizophrenia have emerged. One of the proposals put forward in the literature is the division of schizophrenia into its deficit and non-deficit subtypes. Compared to its non-deficit counterpart, the deficit type involves more severe cognitive dysfunctions. Among these, some authors enlist poorer cognitive inhibition and greater impulsivity, although their behavioral correlates still remain unclear. Structural and functional studies of the brain suggest the presence of links between impulsivity and inhibition in schizophrenia, but few studies to date have analyzed cognitive performance within these two domains in patients with the deficit type. In addition, little is known about the effectiveness of neurorehabilitation in reducing cognitive deficits in deficit schizophrenia. Thus, numerous questions in this area seem to warrant further research.
In this paper we present clinical and neurobiological correlates of cognitive control and impulsivity against neuropsychological and psychopathological symptomatology
of schizophrenia. In addition, we describe selected neuropsychological tools used in the diagnosis thereof. We touch upon potential benefits of cognitive rehabilitation in patients with schizophrenia, especially in terms of self-control.
Last but not least, this paper presents an overview of previous research and an attempt to embed them in modern theoretical models of cognitive inhibition and impulsivity, for a better understanding of the nature of cognitive dysfunction in schizophrenia seems crucial for proper diagnosis and assessment of treatment effects, and in a broader context is important for understanding its effects on quality of life and functioning of patients and their families.
Static Pricing for Multi-unit Prophet Inequalities
Authors: Chawla Shuchi , Devanur Nikhil , Lykouris Thodoris
Published: November 2023

Characterizing the Efficiency of Static Pricing Schemes as a Function of the Supply

The problem of selling a supply of k units to a stream of customers constitutes one of the cornerstones in revenue management. Static pricing schemes (that output the same price to all customers) are commonly used because of their simplicity and their many desirable properties; they are anonymous, nonadaptive, and order oblivious. Although the efficiency of those schemes should improve as the supply k increases, prior work has only focused either on algorithms that aim for a constant approximation that is independent of k or on the setting where k becomes really large. In contrast, this paper characterizes the efficiency of static pricing schemes as a function of the supply. Our approach stems from identifying a “sweet spot” between selling enough items and obtaining enough utility from customers with high valuations. Subsequent work shows that our pricing scheme is the optimal static pricing for every value of k.
Prevalence of post-traumatic osteoarthritis after anterior cruciate ligament injury remains high despite advances in surgical techniques
Authors: Liukkonen Rasmus , Vaajala Matias , Mattila Ville M. , Reito Aleksi
Published: November 2023

Aims

The aim of this study was to report the pooled prevalence of post-traumatic osteoarthritis (PTOA) and examine whether the risk of developing PTOA after anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury has decreased in recent decades.

Methods

The PubMed and Web of Science databases were searched from 1 January 1980 to 11 May 2022. Patient series, observational studies, and clinical trials having reported the prevalence of radiologically confirmed PTOA after ACL injury, with at least a ten-year follow-up, were included. All studies were analyzed simultaneously, and separate analyses of the operative and nonoperative knees were performed. The prevalence of PTOA was calculated separately for each study, and pooled prevalence was reported with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) using either a fixed or random effects model. To examine the effect of the year of injury on the prevalence, a logit transformed meta-regression analysis was used with a maximum-likelihood estimator. Results from meta-regression analyses were reported with the unstandardized coefficient (β).

Results

The pooled prevalence of PTOA was 37.9% (95% CI 32.1 to 44) for operatively treated ACL injuries with a median follow-up of 14.6 years (interquartile range (IQR) 10.6 to 16.7). For nonoperatively treated ACL injuries, the prevalence was 40.5% (95% CI 28.9 to 53.3), with a median of follow-up of 15 years (IQR 11.7 to 20.0). The association between the year of operation and the prevalence of PTOA was weak and imprecise and not related to the choice of treatment (operative β -0.038 (95% CI -0.076 to 0.000) and nonoperative β -0.011 (95% CI -0.101 to 0.079)).

Conclusion

The initial injury, irrespective of management, has, by the balance of probability, resulted in PTOA within 20 years. In addition, the prevalence of PTOA has only slightly decreased during past decades. Therefore, further research is warranted to develop strategies to prevent the development of PTOA after ACL injuries.

Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2023;105-B(11):1140–1148.
Effect of oral nutritional supplementation on outcomes in older adults with hip fractures and factors influencing compliance
Authors: Chen Bin , Zhang Jia H. , Duckworth Andrew D. , Clement Nick D.
Published: November 2023

Aims

Hip fractures are a major cause of morbidity and mortality, and malnutrition is a crucial determinant of these outcomes. This meta-analysis aims to determine whether oral nutritional supplementation (ONS) improves postoperative outcomes in older patients with a hip fracture.

Methods

A systematic literature search was conducted in August 2022. ONS was defined as high protein-based diet strategies containing (or not containing) carbohydrates, fat, vitamins, and minerals. Randomized trials documenting ONS in older patients with hip fracture (aged ≥ 50 years) were included. Two reviewers evaluated study eligibility, conducted data extraction, and assessed study quality.

Results

There were 812 studies identified, of which 18 studies involving 1,522 patients met the inclusion criteria. The overall meta-analysis demonstrated that ONS was associated with significantly elevated albumin levels (weighted mean difference (WMD) 1.24 (95% confidence interval (CI) 0.95 to 1.53)), as well as a significant risk reduction in infective complications (odds ratio (OR) 0.54 (95% CI 0.39 to 0.76)), pressure ulcers (OR 0.54 (95% CI 0.33 to 0.88)), and total complications (OR 0.57 (95% CI 0.42 to 0.79)). Length of hospital stay (LOS) was also significantly reduced (WMD -2.36 (95% CI -4.14 to -0.58)), particularly in rehabilitation LOS (WMD -4.17 (95% CI -7.08 to -1.26)). There was a tendency towards a lower mortality risk (OR 0.93 (95% CI 0.62 to 1.4)) and readmission (OR 0.52 (95% CI 0.16 to 1.73)), although statistical significance was not achieved (p = 0.741 and p = 0.285, respectively). The overall compliance with ONS ranged from 64.7% to 100%, but no factors influencing compliance were identified.

Conclusion

This meta-analysis is the first to quantitatively demonstrate that ONS could nearly halve the risk of infective complications, pressure ulcers, total complications, as well as improve serum albumin and reduce LOS. ONS should be a regular and integrated part of the perioperative care of these patients, especially given that the compliance with ONS is acceptable.

Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2023;105-B(11):1149–1158.
Survival of revision ankle arthroplasty
Authors: Jennison Toby , Ukoumunne Obioha C. , Lamb Sallie , Goldberg Andrew J. , Sharpe Ian
Published: November 2023

Aims

The number of revision total ankle arthroplasties (TAAs) which are undertaken is increasing. Few studies have reported the survival after this procedure. The primary aim of this study was to analyze the survival of revision ankle arthroplasties using large datasets. Secondary aims were to summarize the demographics of the patients, the indications for revision TAA, further operations, and predictors of survival.

Methods

The study combined data from the National Joint Registry and NHS Digital to report the survival of revision TAA. We have previously reported the failure rates and risk factors for failure after TAA, and the outcome of fusion after a failed TAA, using the same methodology. Survival was assessed using life tables and Kaplan Meier graphs. Cox proportional hazards regression models were fitted to compare failure rates.

Results

A total of 228 patients underwent revision TAA. The mean follow-up was 2.6 years (SD 2.0). The mean time between the initial procedure and revision was 2.3 years (SD 1.8). The most commonly used implant was the Inbone which was used in 81 patients. A total of 29 (12.7%) failed; nine (3.9%) patients underwent a further revision, 19 (8.3%) underwent a fusion, and one (0.4%) had an amputation. The rate of survival was 95.4% (95% confidence interval (CI) 91.6 to 97.5) at one year, 87.7% (95% CI 81.9 to 91.7; n = 124) at three years and 77.5% (95% CI 66.9 to 85.0; n = 57) at five years. Revision-specific implants had a better survival than when primary implants were used at revision. A total of 50 patients (21.9%) had further surgery; 19 (8.3%) underwent reoperation in the first 12 months. Cox regression models were prepared. In crude analysis the only significant risk factors for failure were the use of cement (hazard ratio (HR) 3.02 (95% CI 1.13 to 8.09)) and the time since the primary procedure (HR 0.67 (95% CI 0.47 to 0.97)). No risk factors for failure were identified in multivariable Cox regression modelling.

Conclusion

Revision TAAs have good medium term survival and low rates of further surgery. New modular revision implants appear to have improved the survival compared with the use of traditional primary implants at revision.

Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2023;105-B(11):1184–1188.
Routinization and Employment: Evidence for Latin America
Authors: Brambilla Irene , César Andrés , Falcone Guillermo , Gasparini Leonardo , Lombardo Carlo
Published: November 2023

We study changes in employment by occupations characterized by different degree of exposure to routinization in the six largest Latin American economies over the last two decades. We combine our own indicators of routine task content based on information from the Programme for the International Assessment of Adult Competencies (PIACC) with labor market microdata from harmonized national household surveys. We find that the increase in jobs was decreasing in the automatability of the tasks typically performed in each occupation, and increasing in the initial wage, a pattern more consistent with the traditional skill-biased technological change than with the polarization hypothesis.
Full-space and multi-polarization holograms realized by a non-Hermitian bilayer metasurface
Authors: Wu Xiangrong , Feng Zhiji , Zhao Xiaofang , Lin Feng , Fang Zheyu
Published: November 2023

Multilayer metasurfaces break the mirror symmetry along the path of light propagation, thereby increasing the potential for light manipulation. Herein, a paradigm is proposed that building a non-Hermitian bilayer metasurface, which is composed of two identical, orthogonally oriented, chiral J-shaped Au structures in each layer, allows exceptional points (EPs) to exist in full-space. Specifically, in the reflected half-space that adheres to mirror symmetry, the circularly polarized eigenstates coalesce at the EP, while in the transmission half-space, where mirror symmetry is broken, the linearly polarized eigenstates converge at the EP. By considering the intrinsic property of topologically protected 2π-phase accumulation encircling both EPs, we investigated full-space holography through using circularly polarized light (in reflection half-space) and linearly polarized light (in transmission half-space).
Blind light field image quality assessment based on deep meta-learning
Authors: Ma Jian , Zhang Xiaoyin , Wang Junbo
Published: November 2023

In recent years, the use of deep convolutional neural networks (DCNNs) for light field image quality assessment (LFIQA) has gained significant attention. Despite their notable successes, it is widely accepted that training DCNNs heavily depends on a large amount of annotated data. Additionally, convolutional network-based LFIQA methods show a limitation in capturing long-range dependencies. Unfortunately, LFIQA is essentially a typical small-sample problem, leading to existing DCNN-based LFIQA metrics requiring data augmentation but with unsatisfactory performance. To address these issues, this study proposes utilizing the self-attention capability of the Swin Transformer to efficiently capture spatial-angular information while employing meta-learning for small-sample learning in the LFIQA task. Specifically, a collection of LFIQA tasks is gathered, representing different distortions. Then, meta-learning is employed to acquire shared prior knowledge across diverse distortions. Finally, the quality prior model is fine-tuned on a target LFIQA task to obtain the final LFIQA model quickly. Experimental results show that the proposed LFIQA metric achieves high consistency with subjective scores, and outperforms several state-of-the-art LFIQA approaches.
Widely tunable single-frequency Er-doped ZBLAN fiber laser with emission from 3.37 to 3.72 µm
Authors: Zhang Lu , Fu Shijie , Sheng Quan , Luo Xuewen , Zhang Junxiang , Shi Wei , Yao Jianquan
Published: November 2023

We demonstrate a widely tunable single-frequency Er-doped ZBLAN fiber laser operating on a 4F9/2→4I9/2 transition band. An uncoated germanium (Ge) plate serves as a narrow-bandwidth etalon and is inserted in the cavity to achieve a single longitudinal mode selection. Wavelength tuning from 3373.8 nm to 3718.5 nm was demonstrated by using a blazed diffraction grating at 3.5 µm. At the emission peak of 3465.6 nm, the laser yields over 100 mW single-frequency output power, with a 3 dB linewidth <6.9 MHz, and a slope efficiency (with respect to the incident 1990 nm pump power) of 20.3%. Such a tunable mid-infrared single-frequency fiber laser may serve as a versatile laser source in spectroscopy and sensing applications.
Numerical study of ultrafast optical instability causing structured light absorption in metal
Authors: Fadeev Daniil , Oladyshkin Ivan
Published: November 2023

We present the first-principle numerical study of nonlinear decay of a femtosecond laser pulse into a pair of surface plasmon polaritons (SPP) during reflection from a rough metallic surface. The ultrafast dynamics of the decay was studied at damaging laser fluences of about 1 J/cm2, and the principal role of the electronic collision rate growth was proved. The resulting strongly inhomogeneous heating of metal is an important stage of laser-induced phenomena like ablation, terahertz radiation generation, and periodic surface structures formation.
Development and validation of a parsimonious prediction model for positive urine cultures in outpatient visits
Authors: Ghosheh Ghadeer O. , St John Terrence Lee , Wang Pengyu , Ling Vee Nis , Orquiola Lelan R. , Hayat Nasir , Shamout Farah E. , Almallah Y. Zaki
Published: November 2023

Urine culture is often considered the gold standard for detecting the presence of bacteria in the urine. Since culture is expensive and often requires 24-48 hours, clinicians often rely on urine dipstick test, which is considerably cheaper than culture and provides instant results. Despite its ease of use, urine dipstick test may lack sensitivity and specificity. In this paper, we use a real-world dataset consisting of 17,572 outpatient encounters who underwent urine cultures, collected between 2015 and 2021 at a large multi-specialty hospital in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. We develop and evaluate a simple parsimonious prediction model for positive urine cultures based on a minimal input set of ten features selected from the patient’s presenting vital signs, history, and dipstick results. In a test set of 5,339 encounters, the parsimonious model achieves an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUROC) of 0.828 (95% CI: 0.810-0.844) for predicting a bacterial count ≥ 105 CFU/ml, outperforming a model that uses dipstick features only that achieves an AUROC of 0.786 (95% CI: 0.769-0.806). Our proposed model can be easily deployed at point-of-care, highlighting its value in improving the efficiency of clinical workflows, especially in low-resource settings.
CTM and QFD analysis: Framework for fintech adoption priority in commercial banks
Authors: Kang Donghoon , Sohn So Young
Published: November 2023

As financial technology (fintech) is developing rapidly, many commercial banks experience difficulty deciding what kind of fintech to primarily focus on when managing their business. Owing to limited resources and assets, there is a practical need for guidelines for banks’ investments in fintech. This study provides a systemic procedure to identify promising fintech groups and their investment priorities. We propose a QFD-based decision support framework for banks by considering both aspects of the emerging fintech push identified using patent topic modeling and the market pull of banking services obtained from a survey of the literature and experts. An empirical application of the proposed QFD framework to major South Korean banks shows that transaction support technology, secure transactions, and trading platforms are the three most important fintech categories. The QFD results are utilized to guide individual banks for further investment strategies such as mergers and acquisitions, strategic partnerships, and spin-off operations. The proposed framework can be generalized and applied to other financial service firms.
Gestational weight gain charts for Latin American adolescents
Authors: Restrepo-Mesa Sandra Lucía , Benjumea Rincón María Victoria , Estrada Restrepo Alejandro , Bousquet Carrilho Thais Rangel , Kac Gilberto , Cano Pulgarín Josué Santiago , Cano-Pulgarín Keren , Severi Cecilia , Sinisterra Odalis , Zimmer Sarmiento María del Carmen , López Ocampos Maria Isabel , Araya Bannout Marcela , Chico-Barba Gabriela , Pinto Arteaga Nelida , Grandi Carlos , Atalah Samur Eduardo , Santa Escobar Cristian David
Published: November 2023

Monitoring gestational weight gain (GWG) throughout pregnancy among adolescents is important for detecting individuals at risk and timely intervention. However, there are no specific tools or guidelines for GWG monitoring of this group. We aimed to construct GWG charts for pregnant adolescents (10–19 years old) according to pre-pregnancy body mass index (BMI) using a pooled dataset from nine Latin American countries. Datasets from Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Mexico, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, and Uruguay collected between 2003 and 2021 were combined after data cleaning and harmonization. Adolescents free of diseases that could affect GWG and who gave birth to newborns weighing between 2,500–4,000 g and free of congenital malformations were included. Multiple imputation techniques were applied to increase the sample size available for underweight and obesity categories. Generalized Additive Models for Location, Scale, and Shape were used to construct the charts of GWG according to gestational age. Internal and external validation procedures were performed to ensure that models were not over-adjusted to the data. The cohort included 6,414 individuals and 29,414 measurements to construct the charts and 1,684 individuals and 8,879 measurements for external validation. The medians (and interquartile ranges) for GWG at 40 weeks according to pre-pregnancy BMI were: underweight, 14.9 (11.9–18.6); normal weight, 14.0 (10.6–17.7); overweight, 11.6 (7.7–15.6); obesity, 10.6 kg (6.7–14.3). Internal and external validation showed that the percentages above/below selected percentiles were close to those expected, except for underweight adolescents. These charts describe the GWG throughout pregnancy among Latin American adolescents and represent a significant contribution to the prenatal care of this group. GWG cut-offs based on values associated with lower risks of unfavorable outcomes for the mother-child binomial should be determined before implementing the charts in clinical practice.