bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Patient-reported outcome instruments assessing the involvement of children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes in their treatment: a scoping review protocol
Authors: Lassen Rikke Bjerre , Abild Caroline Bruun , Kristensen Kurt , Kristensen Lene Juel , Jensen Annesofie Lunde
Published: September 2022

Objective:

The objective of this review is to identify available patient-reported outcome instruments used to assess the experience of children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes of being involved in their treatment. Specifically, this review will examine the content, structure, and application of these instruments.

Introduction:

It is considered meaningful to involve children and adolescents living with a chronic health condition, such as type 1 diabetes, in their own treatment. Despite a growing interest in patient involvement within pediatric health care, including the use of patient-reported outcomes, only a few patient-reported outcome instruments have been developed and are used to evaluate the experience of children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes of being involved in their own treatment.

Inclusion criteria:

This scoping review will examine patient-reported outcome instruments used to assess the experience of children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes (aged 11 to 18 years of age) of being involved in their own care. Patient-reported outcome instruments measuring parents’ or clinicians’ experiences of involvement will be excluded.

Methods:

The proposed review will follow JBI guidelines and all stages will involve 2 or more reviewers. PubMed, Embase, CINAHL, PsycINFO, JSTOR, and MedNar will be searched without limitations on the year or language of publication. Literature that is not written in English will be translated. Data extraction, charting, and analysis will be guided by a template developed for this review focusing on the content, structure, and application of the patient-reported outcome instruments. Any modifications will be detailed in the review and data will be presented in a descriptive format.
Investigating the Effects of Applying Different Actigraphy Processing Approaches to Examine the Sleep Data of Patients With Neuropathic Pain
Authors: Coyle-Asbil Hannah J. , Bhatia Anuj , Lim Andrew , Singh Mandeep
Published: September 2022

Individuals suffering from neuropathic pain commonly report issues associated with sleep. To measure sleep in this population, researchers have used actigraphy. Historically, actigraphy data have been analyzed in the form of counts; however, due to the proprietary nature, many opt to quantify data in its raw form. Various processing techniques exist to accomplish this; however, it remains unclear how they compare to one another. This study sought to compare sleep measures derived using the GGIR R package versus the GENEActiv (GA) R Markdown tool in a neuropathic pain population. It was hypothesized that the processing techniques would yield significantly different sleep outcomes. One hundred and twelve individuals (mean age = 52.72 ± 13.01 years; 60 M) with neuropathic pain in their back and/or lower limbs were included. While simultaneously undergoing spinal cord stimulation, actigraphy devices were worn on the wrist for a minimum of 7 days (GA; 50 Hz). Upon completing the protocol, sleep outcome measures were calculated using (a) the GGIR R package and (b) the GA R Markdown tool. To compare these algorithms, paired-samples t tests and Bland–Altman plots were used to compare the total sleep time, sleep efficiency, wake after sleep onset, sleep onset time, and rise times. According to the paired-samples t test, the GA R Markdown yielded lower total sleep time and sleep efficiency and a greater wake after sleep onset, compared with the GGIR package. Furthermore, later sleep onset times and earlier rise times were reported by the GGIR package compared with the GA R Markdown.
Predicting the Presence of Active Schools: A National Survey of School Principals in the United States
Authors: Dauenhauer Brian , Ha Taemin , Webster Collin , Erwin Heather , Centeio Erin , Papa Jillian , Burgeson Charlene
Published: September 2022

Background: Principals are key to the promotion of physical activity (PA) in schools. The purpose of this study was to understand how school principals’ PA values, behaviors, and individual and school characteristics were associated with the presence of an active school. Methods: A representative sample of 1019 school principals in the United States was surveyed. Survey items addressed principals’ values and behaviors associated with PA, individual and school demographic factors, such as years of experience and school level, and a single item asking whether principals perceived their school to be an active school (ie, provides students with opportunities to be physically active before, during, and after the school day). Significant variables from a cross-tabulation and chi-square analysis were added to a hierarchical logistic regression model to assess the predictive properties of principal values and behaviors as they relate to the presence of an active school. Results: Approximately half of principals (47%) reported having an active school. The model significantly predicted the presence of an active school but accounted for only 6.6% of the total variance. Although values toward PA and more frequent personal PA behaviors were associated with the presence of an active school within the cross-tabulation and chi-square analysis, neither variable emerged as a significant predictor in the regression model. Conclusions: Principals’ personal PA values and behaviors contribute to the presence of an active school, but other variables, including years of experience and school contextual factors, are more powerful predictors.
Microfluidic affinity selection of active SARS-CoV-2 virus particles
Authors: Gamage Sachindra S. T. , Pahattuge Thilanga N. , Wijerathne Harshani , Childers Katie , Vaidyanathan Swarnagowri , Athapattu Uditha S. , Zhang Lulu , Zhao Zheng , Hupert Mateusz L. , Muller Rolf M. , Muller-Cohn Judy , Dickerson Janet , Dufek Dylan , Geisbrecht Brian V. , Pathak Harsh , Pessetto Ziyan , Gan Gregory N. , Choi Junseo , Park Sunggook , Godwin Andrew K. , Witek Malgorzata A. , Soper Steven A.
Published: September 2022

We report a microfluidic assay to select active severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) viral particles (VPs), which were defined as intact particles with an accessible angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 receptor binding domain (RBD) on the spike (S) protein, from clinical samples. Affinity selection of SARS-CoV-2 particles was carried out using injection molded microfluidic chips, which allow for high-scale production to accommodate large-scale screening. The microfluidic contained a surface-bound aptamer directed against the virus’s S protein RBD to affinity select SARS-CoV-2 VPs. Following selection (~94% recovery), the VPs were released from the chip’s surface using a blue light light-emitting diode (89% efficiency). Selected SARS-CoV-2 VP enumeration was carried out using reverse transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction. The VP selection assay successfully identified healthy donors (clinical specificity = 100%) and 19 of 20 patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) (95% sensitivity). In 15 patients with COVID-19, the presence of active SARS-CoV-2 VPs was found. The chip can be reprogrammed for any VP or exosomes by simply changing the affinity agent.
Daytime SO
2
chemistry on ubiquitous urban surfaces as a source of organic sulfur compounds in ambient air
Authors: Deng Huifan , Lakey Pascale S. J. , Wang Yiqun , Li Pan , Xu Jinli , Pang Hongwei , Liu Jiangping , Xu Xin , Li Xue , Wang Xinming , Zhang Yuzhong , Shiraiwa Manabu , Gligorovski Sasho
Published: September 2022

The reactions of sulfur dioxide (SO
2
) with surface-bound compounds on atmospheric aerosols lead to the formation of organic sulfur (OS) compounds, thereby affecting the air quality and climate. Here, we show that the heterogeneous reaction of SO
2
with authentic urban grime under near-ultraviolet sunlight irradiation leads to a large suite of various organic compounds including OS released in the gas phase. Calculations indicate that at the core area of Guangzhou, building surface uptake of SO
2
is 15 times larger than uptake of SO
2
on aerosol surfaces, yielding ~20 ng m
−3
of OS that represents an important fraction of the observed OS compounds (60 to 200 ng m
−3
) in ambient aerosols of Chinese megacities. This chemical pathway occurring during daytime can contribute to the observed fraction of OS compounds in aerosols and improve the understanding of haze formation and urban air pollution.
An “inverse” harpoon mechanism
Authors: Gope Krishnendu , Livshits Ester , Bittner Dror M. , Baer Roi , Strasser Daniel
Published: September 2022

Electron-transfer reactions are ubiquitous in chemistry and biology. The electrons’ quantum nature allows their transfer across long distances. For example, in the well-known harpoon mechanism, electron transfer results in Coulombic attraction between initially neutral reactants, leading to a marked increase in the reaction rate. Here, we present a different mechanism in which electron transfer from a neutral reactant to a multiply charged cation results in strong repulsion that encodes the electron-transfer distance in the kinetic energy release. Three-dimensional coincidence imaging allows to identify such “inverse” harpoon products, predicted by nonadiabatic molecular dynamics simulations to occur between H
2
and HCOH
2+
following double ionization of isolated methanol molecules. These dynamics are experimentally initiated by single-photon double ionization with ultrafast extreme ultraviolet pulses, produced by high-order harmonic generation. A detailed comparison of measured and simulated data indicates that while the relative probability of long-range electron-transfer events is correctly predicted, theory overestimates the electron-transfer distance.
Constructing 2D maps of human spinal cord activity and isolating the functional midline with high-density microelectrode arrays
Authors: Russman Samantha M. , Cleary Daniel R. , Tchoe Youngbin , Bourhis Andrew M. , Stedelin Brittany , Martin Joel , Brown Erik C. , Zhang Xinlian , Kawamoto Aaron , Ryu Won Hyung A. , Raslan Ahmed M. , Ciacci Joseph D. , Dayeh Shadi A.
Published: September 2022

Intraoperative neuromonitoring (IONM) is a widely used practice in spine surgery for early detection and minimization of neurological injury. IONM is most commonly conducted by indirectly recording motor and somatosensory evoked potentials from either muscles or the scalp, which requires large-amplitude electrical stimulation and provides limited spatiotemporal information. IONM may inform of inadvertent events during neurosurgery after they occur, but it does not guide safe surgical procedures when the anatomy of the diseased spinal cord is distorted. To overcome these limitations and to increase our understanding of human spinal cord neurophysiology, we applied a microelectrode array with hundreds of channels to the exposed spinal cord during surgery and resolved spatiotemporal dynamics with high definition. We used this method to construct two-dimensional maps of responsive channels and define with submillimeter precision the electrophysiological midline of the spinal cord. The high sensitivity of our microelectrode array allowed us to record both epidural and subdural responses at stimulation currents that are well below those used clinically and to resolve postoperative evoked potentials when IONM could not. Together, these advances highlight the potential of our microelectrode arrays to capture previously unexplored spinal cord neural activity and its spatiotemporal dynamics at high resolution, offering better electrophysiological markers that can transform IONM.
Salmonella enterica Newserovar Abeokuta Genome Sequence, Strain OG19FER4 Isolated from Poultry Feed in Nigeria
Authors: Fagbamila Idowu O. , Hernandez-Segura Alejandra , van den Beld Maaike , Mooijman Kirsten , Orsini Massimiliano , Ajayi Olawunmi T. , Ngulukun Sati , Jambalang Alexander Ray , Sati Nancy , Emennaa Paulinus , Ankeli Paul I. , Muhammad Maryam , Barco Lisa
Published: September 2022

This report announces the genome of a newly confirmed
Salmonella
serovar (
Salmonella enterica
serovar Abeokuta) that was isolated from a poultry feed sample collected on a farm in Abeokuta, capital of Ogun State in Nigeria.
Salmonella
Abeokuta has not been identified outside Nigeria, nor does it appear to be a cause for concern for animal and human health.
Evaluation of the Occurrence ofStaphylococcaceaewith Reduced Susceptibility to Cefoxitin in Wild Ungulates in Brandenburg, Germany, Based on Land Use-Related Factors
Authors: Mateus-Vargas Rafael H. , Lienen Tobias , Maaz Denny , Richter Martin , Maurischat Sven , Steinhoff-Wagner Julia
Published: September 2022

Intensive research regarding the impact of land use-related factors on the prevalence and distribution of antimicrobial-resistantStaphylococcaceaein game ungulate populations is necessary for adequately determining risks related to interactions between wild animals, domestic animals, and humans in common geographic locations. This systematic approach for the analysis of the observations in specific hunting districts of Brandenburg, Germany, adds an innovative value to the research strategy of antimicrobial resistance in wild game animals, which is in accordance with current recommendations worldwide.
Automatic interpretation and clinical evaluation for fundus fluorescein angiography images of diabetic retinopathy patients by deep learning
Authors: Gao Zhiyuan , Pan Xiangji , Shao Ji , Jiang Xiaoyu , Su Zhaoan , Jin Kai , Ye Juan
Published: September 2022

Background/aims

Fundus fluorescein angiography (FFA) is an important technique to evaluate diabetic retinopathy (DR) and other retinal diseases. The interpretation of FFA images is complex and time-consuming, and the ability of diagnosis is uneven among different ophthalmologists. The aim of the study is to develop a clinically usable multilevel classification deep learning model for FFA images, including prediagnosis assessment and lesion classification.

Methods

A total of 15 599 FFA images of 1558 eyes from 845 patients diagnosed with DR were collected and annotated. Three convolutional neural network (CNN) models were trained to generate the label of image quality, location, laterality of eye, phase and five lesions. Performance of the models was evaluated by accuracy, F-1 score, the area under the curve and human-machine comparison. The images with false positive and false negative results were analysed in detail.

Results

Compared with LeNet-5 and VGG16, ResNet18 got the best result, achieving an accuracy of 80.79%–93.34% for prediagnosis assessment and an accuracy of 63.67%–88.88% for lesion detection. The human-machine comparison showed that the CNN had similar accuracy with junior ophthalmologists. The false positive and false negative analysis indicated a direction of improvement.

Conclusion

This is the first study to do automated standardised labelling on FFA images. Our model is able to be applied in clinical practice, and will make great contributions to the development of intelligent diagnosis of FFA images.
Independent and joint associations of weightlifting and aerobic activity with all-cause, cardiovascular disease and cancer mortality in the Prostate, Lung, Colorectal and Ovarian Cancer Screening Trial
Authors: Gorzelitz Jessica , Trabert Britton , Katki Hormuzd A , Moore Steven C , Watts Eleanor L , Matthews Charles E
Published: September 2022

Objectives

Both aerobic moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA) and muscle-strengthening exercise (MSE) are recommended, but the mortality benefits of weightlifting, a specific type of MSE, are limited.

Methods

In the Prostate, Lung, Colorectal and Ovarian Cancer Screening Trial, we used Cox proportional hazards regression to calculate hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% CIs for the associations between weightlifting and mortality, adjusting for demographics, lifestyle and behavioural risk factors. The sample included 99 713 adults who completed the follow-up questionnaire that assessed weightlifting who were subsequently followed up through 2016 to determine mortality (median 9, IQR 7.6–10.6 years).

Results

Mean age at the follow-up questionnaire was 71.3 (IQR 66–76) years, 52.6% female, with mean body mass index of 27.8 (SD 4.9) kg/m2. Weightlifting was associated with a 9% lower risk of all-cause mortality (HR=0.91 (95% CI 0.88 to 0.94)) and CVD mortality (0.91 (95% CI 0.86 to 0.97)) after adjusting for MVPA. Joint models revealed that adults who met aerobic MVPA recommendations but did not weightlift had a 32% lower all-cause mortality risk (HR=0.68 (95% CI 0.65 to 0.70)), while those who also reported weightlifting 1–2 times/week had a 41% lower risk (HR=0.59 (95% CI 0.54 to 0.64)), both compared with adults reporting no aerobic MVPA or weightlifting. Without adjustment for MVPA, weightlifting was associated with lower cancer mortality (HR=0.85 (95% CI 0.80 to 0.91)).

Conclusion

Weightlifting and MVPA were associated with a lower risk of all-cause and CVD mortality, but not cancer mortality. Adults who met recommended amounts of both types of exercise appeared to gain additional benefit.
Parents’ and teachers’ attitudes to and experiences of the implementation of COVID-19 preventive measures in primary and secondary schools following reopening of schools in autumn 2020: a descriptive cross-sectional survey
Authors: Amin-Chowdhury Zahin , Bertran Marta , Kall Meaghan , Ireland Georgina , Aiano Felicity , Powell Annabel , Jones Samuel E , Brent Andrew J , Brent Bernadette E , Baawuah Frances , Okike Ifeanychukwu , Beckmann Joanne , Garstang Joanna , Ahmad Shazaad , Sundaram Neisha , Bonell Chris , Langan Sinéad M , Hargreaves James , Ladhani Shamez N
Published: September 2022

Objective

To assess implementation and ease of implementation of control measures in schools as reported by staff and parents.

Design

A descriptive cross-sectional survey.

Setting

Staff and parents/guardians of the 132 primary schools and 19 secondary schools participating in COVID-19 surveillance in school kids (sKIDs and sKIDsPLUS Studies).

Main outcome measure

Prevalence of control measures implemented in schools in autumn 2020, parental and staff perception of ease of implementation.

Results

In total, 56 of 151 (37%) schools participated in this study, with 1953 parents and 986 staff members completing the questionnaire. Most common measures implemented by schools included regular hand cleaning for students (52 of 56, 93%) and staff (70 of 73, 96%), as reported by parents and staff, respectively, and was among the easiest to implement at all times for students (57%) and even more so, for staff (78%). Maintaining 2-metre distancing was less commonly reported for students (24%–51%) as it was for staff (81%–84%), but was one of the most difficult to follow at all times for students (25%) and staff (16%) alike. Some measures were more commonly reported by primary school compared to secondary school parents, including keeping students within the same small groups (28 of 41, 68% vs 8 of 15, 53%), ensuring the same teacher for classes (29 of 41, 71% vs 6 of 15, 40%). On the other hand, wearing a face covering while at school was reported by three-quarters of secondary school parents compared with only parents of 4 of 41 (10%) primary schools. Other measures such as student temperature checks (5%–13%) and advising staff work from home if otherwise healthy (7%–15%) were rarely reported.

Conclusions

Variable implementation of infection control measures was reported, with some easier to implement (hand hygiene) than others (physical distancing).
Sexual behaviour changes and HIV infection among men who have sex with men: evidence from an open cohort in China
Authors: Yu Zeyang , Zhang Tian-Tian , Wang Xiaomeng , Chang Qinxue , Huang Huijie , Zhang Honglu , Song Desheng , Yu Maohe , Yang Jie , Liu Yuanyuan , Li Changping , Cui Zhuang , Ma Jun
Published: September 2022

Background

The HIV epidemic in key populations such as men who have sex with men (MSM) is a public health issue of worldwide concern. China has seen an increase in newly diagnosed HIV infections through male–male sexual contact in the past decade. In a long-term cohort, how the complex behaviour pattern of MSM changed and the association with the HIV risk are unclear at present.

Methods

This study was conducted from October 2011 to December 2019 in Tianjin. MSM were recruited by snowball sampling through online and offline ways. Demographic and sexual behavioural data were collected for analysis. Three indicators (condom use in last anal sex, frequency of condom use during anal sex and the number of sexual partners) were used to define the behaviour change. Participants with zero, one, and two or three risk indicators were categorised into behaviour types of ‘protective’, ‘moderate’, and ‘fragile’, respectively. Change in behaviour type between baseline and each visit was considered. Time-varying Cox models were performed to evaluate HIV infection risk.

Results

Of 2029 MSM included in the study, 127 were new HIV diagnoses. The overall incidence rate was 3.36 per 100 person-years. The percentage of ‘protective’ and ‘moderate’ behaviour types had a conspicuous growth trend as the follow-up. Furthermore, the HIV incidence rate in each visit among different behaviour transition types showed a general downward trend as the number of total follow-up times increased. Individuals who remained in ‘fragile’ (adjusted HR (aHR): 25.86, 95% CI: 6.92 to 96.57) or changed from ‘protective’ to ‘moderate’ (aHR: 4.79, 95% CI: 1.18 to 19.47), ‘protective’ to ‘fragile’ (aHR: 23.03, 95% CI: 6.02 to 88.13), and ‘moderate’ to ‘fragile’ (aHR: 25.48, 95% CI: 6.79 to 95.40) between baseline and the last follow-up had a higher HIV risk. Gained risk indicators were associated with the increase of HIV risk (gained one indicator, aHR: 2.67, 95% CI: 1.68 to 4.24; gained two or three indicators, aHR: 4.99, 95% CI: 3.00 to 8.31) while losing just one risk indicator could halve the risk (aHR: 0.43, 95% CI: 0.21 to 0.90).

Conclusions

Among MSM in Tianjin, it is necessary to get timely behaviour change for those with high-incidence behaviour patterns while sustaining for those with low-incidence patterns.

Trial registration number

Chinese Clinical Trials Registry (ChiCTR2000039500).
Prenatal marijuana exposure and neonatal outcomes: a retrospective cohort study
Authors: Jones Michael James , Lotfi Asma , Lin Amber , Gievers Ladawna L , Hendrickson Robert , Sheridan David C
Published: September 2022

Objectives

Previous literature on the effects of marijuana exposure on neonatal outcomes has been limited by the reliance on maternal self-report. The objective of this study was to examine the relationship of prenatal marijuana exposure on neonatal outcomes in infants with marijuana exposure confirmed with meconium drug testing.

Design

Retrospective cohort study.

Setting and participants

Meconium drug screens obtained on infants born in a hospital system in the Pacific Northwest in the USA over a 2.5-year period. 1804 meconium drug screens were initially obtained, with 1540 drug screens included in the analysis.

Primary and secondary outcome measures

Neonates with meconium drug screens positive for delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) only were compared with neonates with negative drug screens. The following neonatal outcomes were examined: gestational age, preterm birth (<37 weeks), birth weight, low birth weight (defined as birth weight <2.5 kg), length, head circumference, Apgar scores and admission to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). Using multivariable logistical and linear regression, we controlled for confounding variables.

Results

1540 meconium drug screens were included in the analysis, with 483 positive for delta-9-THC only. Neonates exposed to delta-9-THC had significantly lower birth weight, head circumference and length (p<0.001). Neonates with THC exposure had 1.9 times the odds (95% CI 1.3 to 2.7, p=0.001) of being defined as low birth weight. Birth weight was on average 0.16 kg lower (95% CI 0.10 to 0.22, p<0.001) in those exposed to THC.

Conclusions

Prenatal marijuana exposure was significantly associated with decreases in birth weight, length and head circumference, and an increased risk of being defined as low birth weight. These findings add to the previous literature demonstrating possible negative effects of prenatal marijuana use on neonatal outcomes.
Researching the hard-to-reach: a scoping review protocol of digital health research in hidden, marginal and excluded populations
Authors: Belt Rachel Victoria , Rahimi Kazem , Cai Samuel
Published: September 2022

Introduction

There is a significant growth in the use of digital technology and methods in health-related research, further driven by the COVID-19 pandemic. This has offered a potential to apply digital health research in hidden, marginalised and excluded populations who are traditionally not easily reached due to economic, societal and legal barriers. To better inform future digital health studies of these vulnerable populations, we proposed a scoping review to comprehensively map published evidence and guidelines on the applications and challenges of digital health research methods to hard-to-reach communities.

Methods and analysis

This review will follow the Arksey and O’ Malley methodological framework for scoping reviews. The framework for the review will employ updated methods developed by the Joanna Briggs Institute including the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analysis Scoping Review checklist. PubMed, the Cochrane Library, PsycINFO, Google Scholar and Greenfile are the identified databases for peer-reviewed quantitative and qualitative studies in-scope of the review. Grey literature focused on guidance and best practice in digital health research, and hard-to-reach populations will also be searched following published protocols. The review will focus on literature published between 1 February 2012 and 1 February 2022. Two reviewers are engaged in the review. After screening the title and abstract to determine the eligibility of each article, a thorough full-text review of eligible articles will be conducted using a data extraction framework. Key extracted information will be mapped in tabular and visualised summaries to categorise the breadth of literature and identify key digital methods, including their limitations and potential, for use in hard-to-reach populations.

Ethics and dissemination

This scoping review does not require ethical approval. The results of the scoping review will consist of peer-reviewed publications, presentations and knowledge mobilisation activities including a lay summary posted via social media channels and production of a policy brief.
Characterisation of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease initiating single-device inhaled corticosteroids/long-acting β2-agonist dual therapy in a primary care setting in England
Authors: Czira Alexandrosz , Banks Victoria , Requena Gema , Wood Robert , Tritton Theo , Wild Rosie , Compton Chris , Duarte Maria , Ismaila Afisi S
Published: September 2022

Introduction

Treatment pathways of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) receiving single-device dual therapies in England remain unclear. This study describes the characteristics of patients with COPD before initiating treatment with a single-device inhaled corticosteroid/long-acting β2-agonist (ICS/LABA) in primary care in England.

Methods

This is a retrospective, descriptive study of linked primary and secondary healthcare data (Clinical Practice Research Datalink Aurum, Hospital Episode Statistics). Patients with COPD were indexed on first prescription of fixed-dose, single-device ICS/LABA (June 2015–December 2018). Demographics, clinical characteristics, prescribed treatments, healthcare resource use (HCRU) and direct healthcare costs were assessed over 12 months pre-index. Incident users (indexed on first ever prescription) could be non-triple users (no concomitant long-acting muscarinic antagonist at index); a subset were initial maintenance therapy (IMT) users (no history of pre-index maintenance therapy).

Results

Overall, 13 451 incident users (non-triple users: 7448, 55.4%; IMT users: 5162, 38.4%) were indexed on beclomethasone dipropionate/formoterol (6122, 45.5%), budesonide/formoterol (2703, 20.1%) or Other ICS/LABA combinations (4626, 34.4%). Overall, 20.8% of incident users had comorbid asthma and 42.6% had ≥1 moderate-to-severe acute exacerbation of COPD pre-index. Baseline characteristics were similar across indexed therapies. At 3 months pre-index, 45.3% and 35.4% of non-triple and IMT users were receiving maintenance treatment. HCRU and direct healthcare costs were similar across indexed treatments. Prescribing patterns varied regionally.

Conclusion

Patient characteristics, prior treatments, prior COPD-related HCRU and direct healthcare costs were similar across single-device ICS/LABAs in primary care in England. A high proportion of patients were not receiving any respiratory medication pre-index, indicating that prescribing in primary care in England is more closely aligned with national guidelines than global treatment strategies. Comorbid asthma may have influenced prescribing decisions. Less than half of users had preindex exacerbations, suggesting that ICS/LABA is not being prescribed principally based on exacerbation history.
Emergency medicine resident perspectives on well-being during COVID-19: a qualitative study
Authors: Agarwal Anish , Sangha Hareena , Deutsch Amanda , Spadaro Anthony , Gonzales Rachel , Goldenring Jacob , Mamtani Mira , Conlon Lauren W , Scott Kevin
Published: September 2022

Background

Emergency medicine (EM) clinician well-being has been negatively impacted throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. Resident physicians are particularly vulnerable yet less is known about their perspectives.

Methods

The objective of this study was to use qualitative methods to understand EM residents’ perspectives on well-being during COVID-19. EM residents at an urban, academic institution in the USA were recruited via email and participated in virtual, semi-structured interviews between November 2020 and February 2021. Interviews were conducted by a trained qualitative researcher, recorded, transcribed and de-identified by a third party vendor. All transcripts were double coded by two trained study team members using thematic analysis to identify the themes and interviews were stopped when no new themes emerged.

Results

Seventeen semi-structured interviews were conducted until thematic saturation was reached with residents in their first 4 years of training: 6 postgraduate year (PGY)-1 (35%), 6 PGY-2 (35%), 2 PGY-3 (12%) and 3 PGY-4 (18%). Five themes were identified: (1) isolation from peers in training contrasting with a collective call to action, (2) desire for increased acknowledgement and structured leadership support, (3) concerns about personal needs and safety within the clinical environment, (4) fear of missed educational opportunities and lack of professional development and (5) need for enhanced mental and physical health resources.

Conclusions

This qualitative study elucidated factors inside and outside of the clinical environment which impacted EM resident well-being. The findings suggest that programme and health system leadership can focus on supporting peer-to-peer and faculty connections, structured guidance and mentorship on resident career development and develop programmes which bolster resident on-shift support and acknowledgement. These lessons can be used by training programmes to better support residents, but the generalisability is limited due to the single-centre design and participation.
Acculturation and risk of traffic crashes in young Asian-born Australian drivers
Authors: Boufous Soufiane , Möller Holger , Patton George , Woodward Mark , Stevenson Mark R , Senserrick Teresa , Mclean Rebecca , Cullen Patricia , Wang Amy , Rogers Kris , Chen Huei-Yang , Ivers Rebecca Q
Published: September 2022

The study examines changes over time in crash risk differences between young Australian drivers born in Asia and those born in Australia.

Data from the 2003 baseline survey of the DRIVE cohort of 20 806 young drivers aged 17–24 years were linked to police, hospital and death data up until 2016. The association between country of birth and crash was investigated using flexible parametric survival models adjusted for confounders.

Six months after baseline, the crash risk in Asian-born drivers was less than half that of their Australian-born counterparts (mean HR, MHR 0.41; 95% CI 0.29 to 0.57), only to increase steadily over time to resemble that of Australian-born drivers 13 years later (MHR 0.94; 95% CI 0.66 to 1.36).

This is likely to be associated with acculturation and the adoption by young Asian-born Australian drivers of driving behaviour patterns akin to those born locally. This needs to be considered in future road safety campaigns.
Competitive ability of western Canadian spring wheat cultivars in a model weed system
Authors: Gerard G. , Hucl P. , Holm F.A. , Kirkland K.J. , Johnson E. , Pozniak C.J.
Published: September 2022

Economic and social pressures are spurring the study of alternate weed management strategies such as the development of competitive crop cultivars, capable of being used under an integrated management plan. The primary objective of this research was to determine whether western Canadian spring wheat ( Triticum spp.) cultivars differ in their ability to compete against model weeds and whether those differences were expressed when challenged with wild weeds. A total of 71 wheat cultivars were grown in the absence or presence of simulated [cultivated oat ( Avena sativa L.) and oriental mustard ( Brassica juncea L.)] or natural [wild oat ( Avena fatua L.)] weed competition conditions. Significant ( p = 0.01) weed by cultivar interactions involving changes in yield cultivar rank were detected, indicating that the cultivars responded differently to competition. A small minority of cultivars such as Glenlea, CDC Rama, Genesis, AC Taber, AC Vista, Plenty, Napoleon, and BW652 had high-yield potential coupled with yield maintenance under weed pressure. The competitive ability advantage appeared to be associated with plant height or tillers per square meter as well as shorter vernalization requirement combined with photoperiod sensitivity. These outlier cultivar differences could be exploited in breeding new widely adapted varieties for scenarios where reduced herbicide weed control is desired, including situations where herbicide resistance limits chemical options. Cultivars with differing competitive ability under model weed conditions maintained their ranking when challenged by natural weed infestations. This suggests that selecting competitive spring wheat cultivars using a repeatable protocol based on model weeds is realistic.
Exclusive lepton pair production at the electron–ion collider
Authors: Chwastowski Janusz J. , Piotrzkowski Krzysztof , Przybycien Mariusz
Published: September 2022

The two-photon exclusive production of lepton pairs at the Electron–Ion Collider will open interesting research directions thanks to a very high luminosity and clean experimental conditions. A survey of the scientific potential of such studies is reported. In particular, we consider unique measurements of the proton elastic electromagnetic form-factors and a possibility of studying the anomalous electromagnetic dipole moments of $$\tau $$
τ
leptons.
Passages
Authors: Groce Alex
Published: September 2022

Nancy G. Leveson's "Engineering a Safer World: Systems Thinking Applied to Safety" is a serious book on a serious topic. It is, perhaps, the closest to a textbook of anything covered up to this point in the "Passages" columns. However, it is a textbook that most engineers of complex systems, and many "layfolk" interested in how to avoid catastrophic accidents as systems grow more complex should read. Sometimes, the best treatment of an important topic is not amusing or informal.
Data Fabric and Datafication
Authors: Jahns Veit
Published: September 2022

This paper is a response to the invitation by Forti et al. [1] to contribute to the discussion of trending topics in software engineering. The main focus of this contribution is the growing importance of data in software engineering, that is the data fabric and the datafication. Based on some (personal) observations, it is tried to refine the research questions raised by Forti et al. in more detail, in particular with respect to sharing and processing data in an environment of highly interacting distributed software components.
The Current Crisis of American Criminal Justice: A Structural Analysis
Authors: Garland David
Published: September 2022

This review situates the recent, radical challenges to American criminal justice—calls to end mass incarceration, defund the police, and dismantle systemic racism—within the broader social and economic arrangements that make the US system so distinctive and so problematic. It describes the social structures, institutions, and processes that give rise to America's extraordinary penal state—as well as to its extraordinarily high rates of homicide and social disorder—and considers what these portend for the prospect of radical change. It does so by locating American crime and punishment in the structural context of America's (always-already racialized) political economy—a distinctive set of social structures and institutional legacies that render the United States more violent, more disorderly, and more reliant on penal control than any other developed nation. Drawing on a broad range of social science research findings, it argues that this peculiar political economy—a form of capitalism and democratic governance forged on the anvils of slavery and racial segregation and rendered increasingly insecure and exclusionary in the decades following deindustrialization—generates high levels of social disorganization and criminal violence and predisposes state authorities to adopt penal control as the preferred policy response.
Cerebrospinal Fluid Flow
Authors: Kelley Douglas H. , Thomas John H.
Published: September 2022

Circulation of cerebrospinal fluid and interstitial fluid around the central nervous system and through the brain transports not only those water-like fluids but also any solutes they carry, including nutrients, drugs, and metabolic wastes. Passing through brain tissue primarily during sleep, this circulation has implications for neurodegenerative disorders including Alzheimer's disease, for tissue damage during stroke and cardiac arrest, and for flow-related disorders such as hydrocephalus and syringomyelia. Recent experimental results reveal several features of this flow, but other aspects are not fully understood, including its driving mechanisms. We review the experimental evidence and theoretical modeling of cerebrospinal fluid flow, including the roles of advection and diffusion in transporting solutes. We discuss both local, detailed fluid-dynamic models of specific components of the system and global hydraulic models of the overall network of flow paths.
Predicting Capacity Fading Behaviors of Lithium Ion Batteries: An Electrochemical Protocol-Integrated Digital-Twin Solution
Authors: Li Hang , Huang Jianxing , Ji Weijie , He Zheng , Cheng Jun , Zhang Peng , Zhao Jinbao
Published: September 2022

The capacity degradation and occurrence of safety hazards of lithium ion batteries are closely associated with various adverse side electrochemical reactions. Nevertheless, these side reactions are non-linearly intertwined with each other and evolve dynamically with increasing cycles, imposing a major barrier for fast prediction of capacity decay of lithium ion batteries. By treating the battery as a black box, the machine-learning-oriented approach can achieve prediction with promising accuracy. Herein, a numerical-simulation—based machine learning model is developed for predicting battery capacity before failure. Based on the deterioration mechanism of the battery, numerical model was applied to test data from only 25 batterie to extend 144 groups data, resulting in the digital-twin datasets, which can reliably predict the maximum total accumulative capacity of the lithium ion batteries, with an error less than 2%. The workflow with iterative training dramatically accelerates the capacity prediction process and saves 99% of the experimental cost.
Anti-Biofilm, Antibacterial, and Anti-Quorum Sensing Activities of Selected South African Plants Traditionally Used to Treat Diarrhoea
Authors: Adeyemo Rasheed Omotayo , Famuyide Ibukun Michael , Dzoyem Jean Paul , Lyndy Joy McGaw
Published: September 2022

The development of resistance of microorganisms to conventional antibiotics is a major global health concern; hence, there is an increasing interest in medicinal plants as a therapeutic option. This study aimed to evaluate the antibacterial, anti-biofilm, and anti-quorum activities of crude extracts prepared using various solvents of nine indigenous South African plants used locally for the treatment of diarrhoea. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) was determined using the broth microdilution method and the crystal violet assay was used to test the anti-biofilm activity of the extracts against a panel of bacteria. Anti-quorum sensing activity of the extracts was assessed via inhibition of violacein production in Chromobacterium violaceum ATCC 12472. Preliminary screening of extracts against E. coli ATCC 25922 revealed that the acetone extracts had significant activity, with MIC values ranging from 0.04 to 0.63 mg/mL. Further screening against a panel of bacterial pathogens showed that the acetone extract of Bauhinia bowkeri was the most active with MIC of 0.01 mg/mL against Salmonella enteritidis, followed by Searsia lancea with MIC of 0.03 mg/mL against Bacillus cereus. All the plant extracts prevented the attachment of biofilms by more than 50% against at least one of the tested bacteria. However, only the mature biofilm of B. cereus was susceptible to the extracts, with 98.22% eradication by Searsia pendulina extract. The minimum quorum sensing inhibitory concentration of the extracts ranged from 0.08 to 0.32 mg/mL with S. lancea having the most significant activity. The extract of S. lancea had the best violacein production inhibitory activity with IC50 value of 0.17 mg/mL. Overall, the results obtained indicate that acetone extracts of S. leptodictya, S. lancea, S. batophylla, S. pendulina, B. galpinii, and B. bowkeri possess antibacterial and anti-biofilm activities and can modulate quorum sensing through the inhibition of violacein production. Therefore, these results signify the potential of the selected plant extracts in treating diarrhoea through inhibition of bacterial growth, biofilm formation inhibition, and quorum sensing antagonism, supporting their medicinal use.
Mitral Annular Plane Systolic Excursion (MAPSE) as a Predictor of Atrial Fibrillation Recurrence in Patients after Pulmonary Vein Isolation
Authors: Alatic Jan , Suran David , Vokac Damijan , Naji Franjo Husam
Published: September 2022

Introduction. Catheter ablation (CA) with pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) has become widely used in the past years for the treatment of atrial fibrillation (AF). Mitral annular plane systolic excursion (MAPSE) is the parameter that measures left ventricular longitudinal function, and it appears to be a good early marker of LV dysfunction. It is practically independent of poor image quality. The aim of our study was to analyse the role of echocardiographic variables, especially MAPSE in predicting the outcome of CA in patients with AF. Materials and Methods. We prospectively included 40 patients with paroxysmal and persistent AF that were referred for CA. All patients underwent radiofrequency CA with PVI. Standard transthoracic two-dimensional echocardiography was conducted one day after CA. Demographic data and the patients’ characteristics were noted. The endpoint of our study was to estimate the AF recurrence rate diagnosed by ECG within 6 months of the follow-up period. Results. 40 patients, mainly male (67.5%) with an average age of 61.43 ± 8.96 years were included in our study. The majority of patients had paroxysmal AF prior to ablation (77.5%). The AF recurrence rate was 20% after 6 months of follow-up. Lateral MAPSE in the AF-free group was greater than those who relapsed (1.57 ± 0.24 vs. 1.31 ± 0.25;

p
=
0.012

). Patients who remained AF-free after a 6-month follow-up period had a significantly smaller left ventricular volume index (LAVI) than those who relapsed (34.29 ± 6.91 ml/m2 vs. 42.90 ± 8.43 ml/m2;

p
=
0.05

). We found a significant reverse relationship between LAVI and MAPSE (

p
=
0.020

). Conclusion. MAPSE and LAVI present risk factors for AF recurrence, specifically reduced MAPSE and larger LAVI, are related to AF recurrence after CA. In the future, MAPSE could play a significant role when predicting the CA outcome in patients with AF.
Effect of Maternal Triclosan Exposure on Neonatal Thyroid‐Stimulating Hormone Levels: A Cross‐Sectional Study
Authors: Attarian Elham , Ebrahimpour Karim , Maracy Mohammadreza , Daniali Seyede Shahrbanoo , Shoshtari-Yeganeh Bahareh , Moazeni Malihe , Ebrahimi Afshin , Kelishadi Roya
Published: September 2022

Objective. This study is aimed at assessing the relationship between maternal urinary triclosan (uTCS) exposure and the thyroid‐stimulating hormone (TSH) level of infant cord blood. Methods. This cross‐sectional study was carried out in 2019‐2020 in Isfahan, Iran, and 99 pregnant women participated in the study. Urine samples were collected after the 28th week of pregnancy, and the concentration of TCS was measured using GC/MS. The cord blood levels of TSH (CBL‐TSH) were measured. The association between uTCS and CBL‐TSH was examined based on the general linear model. Results. TCS was detected (≥0.01 ng/mL) in 100% of the urine samples, with the interquartile range (25%‐75%) of uTCS levels 0.6‐6.23 μg/g Cr. uTCS was not associated with CBL‐TSH after adjustment for covariates. A significant relationship was observed between CBL‐TSH of neonates born to mothers who had given birth only once compared to mothers who had given birth twice or more times. Conclusions. Maternal exposure to TCS did not affect the infant CBL‐TSH. However, the high concentrations of TCS in maternal urinary samples indicate the necessity of more precise regulations to decrease the use of this chemical in the industry and increase public awareness about using TCS‐free compounds.
Deep Learning-Based Classification of Spoken English Digits
Authors: Oruh Jane , Viriri Serestina
Published: September 2022

Classification of isolated digits is the basic challenge for many speech classification systems. While a lot of work has been carried out on spoken languages, only limited research work on spoken English digit data has been reported in the literature. The paper proposes an intelligent-based system based on deep feedforward neural network (DFNN) with hyperparameter optimization techniques, an ensemble method; random forest (RF), and a regression method; gradient boosting (GB) for the classification of spoken digit data. The paper investigates different machine learning (ML) algorithms to determine the best method for the classification of spoken English digit data. The DFNN classifier outperformed the RF and GB classifiers on the public benchmark spoken English digit data and achieved 99.65% validation accuracy. The outcome of the proposed model performs better compared to existing models with only traditional classifiers.