bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Validity and reliability of the diagnostic codes for hypochondriasis and dysmorphophobia in the Swedish National Patient Register: a retrospective chart review
Authors: Rautio Daniel , Vilaplana-Pérez Alba , Gumpert Martina , Ivanov Volen Z , Linde Johanna , Österman Susanna , Flygare Oskar , Isung Josef , Isomura Kayoko , Krig Sonja , Serlachius Eva , Högström Jens , Rück Christian , Mataix-Cols David , Fernández de la Cruz Lorena
Published: January 2022

Objectives

In the International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Edition (ICD-10), hypochondriasis (illness anxiety disorder) and dysmorphophobia (body dysmorphic disorder) share the same diagnostic code (F45.2). However, the Swedish ICD-10 allows for these disorders to be coded separately (F45.2 and F45.2A, respectively), potentially offering unique opportunities for register-based research on these conditions. We assessed the validity and reliability of their ICD-10 codes in the Swedish National Patient Register (NPR).

Design

Retrospective chart review.

Methods

Six hundred individuals with a diagnosis of hypochondriasis or dysmorphophobia (300 each) were randomly selected from the NPR. Their medical files were requested from the corresponding clinics, located anywhere in Sweden. Two independent raters assessed each file according to ICD-10 definitions and Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition, Text Revision and Fifth Edition criteria. Raters also completed the Clinical Global Impression–Severity (CGI-S) and the Global Assessment of Functioning (GAF).

Primary outcome measure

Per cent between-rater agreement and positive predictive value (PPV). Intraclass correlation coefficients for the CGI-S and the GAF.

Results

Eighty-four hypochondriasis and 122 dysmorphophobia files were received and analysed. The inter-rater agreement rate regarding the presence or absence of a diagnosis was 95.2% for hypochondriasis and 92.6% for dysmorphophobia. Sixty-seven hypochondriasis files (79.8%) and 111 dysmorphophobia files (91.0%) were considered ‘true positive’ cases (PPV=0.80 and PPV=0.91, respectively). CGI-S scores indicated that symptoms were moderately to markedly severe, while GAF scores suggested moderate impairment for hypochondriasis cases and moderate to serious impairment for dysmorphophobia cases. CGI-S and GAF inter-rater agreement were good for hypochondriasis and moderate for dysmorphophobia.

Conclusions

The Swedish ICD-10 codes for hypochondriasis and dysmorphophobia are sufficiently valid and reliable for register-based studies. The results of such studies should be interpreted in the context of a possible over-representation of severe and highly impaired cases in the register, particularly for dysmorphophobia.
Protocol for a systematic review assessing the measurement of dietary sodium intake among adults with elevated blood pressure
Authors: Soh Yee Chang , Yap Kwong Hsia , McGrattan Andrea , Yasin Shajahan , Reidpath Daniel , Siervo Mario , Mohan Devi
Published: January 2022

Introduction

Accurate sodium intake estimates in adults with elevated blood pressure are essential for monitoring salt reduction progress and preventing cardiovascular diseases. However, sodium assessments are challenging in this high-risk population because many commonly used antihypertensive drugs alter urinary sodium excretion. Despite the high cost and substantial participant burden of gold-standard 24-hour urine collection, the relative performance of existing spot-urine based equations and dietary self-report instruments have not been well studied in this population, who will benefit from salt restriction. This systematic review aims to describe the current methods of assessing dietary sodium intake in adults with elevated blood pressure and determine what method can provide a valid and accurate estimate of sodium intake compared with the gold standard 24-hour urine collection.

Methods and analysis

Studies assessing sodium intake in adults aged 18 years and above with reported elevated blood pressure will be included. Five electronic databases (MEDLINE, Embase, Global Health, WoS and Cochrane CENTRAL) will be systematically searched from inception to March 2021. Also, a manual search of bibliographies and grey literature will be conducted. Two reviewers will screen the records independently for eligibility. One reviewer will extract all data, and two others will review the extracted data for accuracy. The methodological quality of included studies will be evaluated based on three scoring systems: (1) National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute for interventional studies; (2) Biomarker-based Cross-sectional Studies for biomarker-based observational studies and (3) European Micronutrient Recommendation Aligned Network of Excellence for validation studies of dietary self-report instruments.

Ethics and dissemination

As the proposed systematic review will collect and analyse secondary data associated with individuals, there will be no ethical approval requirement. Findings will be disseminated in a peer-reviewed journal or presented at a conference.

PROSPERO registration number

CRD42020176137.
‘Trying to fly the plane while we were building it’. Applying a learning health systems approach to evaluate early-stage barriers and facilitators to implementing primary care transformation: a qualitative study
Authors: Pestka Deborah L , White Katie M , DeRoche Kimberly K , Benson Bradley J , Beebe Timothy J
Published: January 2022

Objective

A learning health system (LHS) uses data to generate evidence and answer questions required to continually improve system performance and patient care. Given the complexities of practice transformation, an area where LHS is particularly important is the study of primary care transformation (PCT) as PCT generates several practice-level questions that require study where the findings can be readily implemented. In May 2019, a large integrated health delivery system in Minnesota began implementation of a population management PCT in two of its 40 primary care clinics. In this model of care, patients are grouped into one of five service bundles based on their complexity of care; patient appointment lengths and services provided are then tailored to each service bundle. The objective of this study was to examine the use of a LHS in PCT by utilising the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR) to categorise implementation lessons from the initial two PCT clinics to inform further implementation of the PCT within the health system.

Design

This was a formative evaluation in which semistructured qualitative interviews were carried out. Observational field notes were also taken. Inductive coding of the data was performed and resultant codes were mapped to the CFIR.

Setting

Two suburban primary care clinics in the Twin Cities, Minnesota.

Participants

Twenty-two care team members from the first two clinics to adopt the PCT.

Results

Seventeen codes emerged to describe care team members’ perceived implementation influences. Codes occurred in each of the five CFIR domains (intervention characteristics, outer setting, inner setting, characteristics of individuals and process), with most codes occurring in the ‘inner setting’ domain.

Conclusions

Using an LHS approach to determine early-stage implementation influences is key to guiding further PCT implementation, understanding modifications that need to be made and additional research that needs to occur.
Plasma concentration guided dosing of drugs used for the treatment of childhood leukaemias: protocol for a systematic review
Authors: van Dyk Madelé , Boylan Chelsea , Michelet Robin , Mc Laughlin Anna M , Kichenadasse Ganessan , May Nikki , Ziesenitz Victoria , Van Den Anker Johannes N , Groenland Stefanie L , Huitema Alwin D R , Steeghs Neeltje , Mikus Gerd , Kloft Charlotte , Tapp Heather
Published: January 2022

Introduction

Childhood leukaemia is the most common type of cancer in children and represents among 25% of the diagnoses in children <15 years old. Childhood survival rates have significantly improved within the last 40 years due to a rapid advancement in therapeutic interventions. However, in high-risk groups, survival rates remain poor. Pharmacokinetic (PK) data of cancer medications in children are limited and thus current dosing regimens are based on studies with small sample sizes. In adults, large variability in PK is observed and dose individualisation (plasma concentration guided dosing) has been associated with improved clinical outcomes; whether this is true for children is still unknown. This provides an opportunity to explore this strategy in children to potentially reduce toxicities and ensure optimal dosing. This paper will provide a protocol to systematically review studies that have used dose individualisation of drugs used in the treatment of childhood leukaemias.

Methods and analysis

Systematic review methodology will be applied to identify, select and extract data from published plasma guided dosing studies conducted in a paediatric leukaemia cohort. Databases (eg, Ovid Embase, Ovid MEDLINE, Ovid Cochrane) and clinical trial registries (CENTRAL, ClinicalTrials.gov and ISRCTN) will be used to perform the systematic literature search (up until February 2021). Only full empirical studies will be included, with primary clinical outcomes (progression-free survival, toxicities, minimal residual disease status, complete cytogenetic response, partial cytogenetic response and major molecular response) being used to decide whether the study will be included. The quality of included studies will be undertaken, with a subgroup analysis where appropriate.

Ethics and dissemination

This systematic review will not require ethics approval as there will not be collection of primary data. Findings of this review will be made available through publications in peer-reviewed journals and conference presentations. Gaps will be identified in current literature to inform future-related research.

PROSPERO registration number

CRD42021225045.
Interrupted time series analyses to assess the impact of alcohol control policy on socioeconomic inequalities in mortality in Lithuania: a study protocol
Authors: Manthey Jakob , Jasilionis Domantas , Jiang Huan , Meščeriakova-Veliulienė Olga , Petkevičienė Janina , Radišauskas Ričardas , Rehm Jürgen , Štelemėkas Mindaugas
Published: January 2022

Introduction

Alcohol use is a major risk factor for mortality. Previous studies suggest that the alcohol-attributable mortality burden is higher in lower socioeconomic strata. This project will test the hypothesis that the 2017 increase of alcohol excise taxes linked to lower all-cause mortality rates in previous analyses will reduce socioeconomic mortality inequalities.

Methods and analysis

Data on all causes of deaths will be obtained from Statistics Lithuania. Record linkage will be implemented using personal identifiers combining data from (1) the 2011 whole-population census, (2) death records between 1 March 2011 (census date) and 31 December 2019, and (3) emigration records, for individuals aged 40–70 years. The analyses will be performed separately for all-cause and for alcohol-attributable deaths. Monthly age-standardised mortality rates will be calculated by sex, education and three measures of socioeconomic status (SES). Inequalities in mortality will be assessed using absolute and relative indicators between low and high SES groups. We will perform interrupted time series analyses, and test the impact of the 2017 rise in alcohol excise taxation using generalised additive mixed models. In these models, we will control for secular trends for economic development.

Ethics and dissemination

This work is part of project grant 1R01AA028224-01 by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. It has been granted research ethics approval 050/2020 by Centre for Addiction and Mental Health Research Ethics Board on 17 April 2020, renewed on 30 March 2021. The time series of mortality inequalities as well as the statistical code will be made publicly available, allowing other researchers to adapt the proposed method to other jurisdictions.
Promising best practices implemented in long-term care homes during COVID-19 pandemic to address social isolation and loneliness: a scoping review protocol
Authors: Beogo Idrissa , Tchouaket Eric Nguemeleu , Sia Drissa , Bationo Nebila Jean-Claude , Collin Stephanie , Tapp Diane , Kassim Said Abasse , Ramdé Jean , Gagnon Marie-Pierre
Published: January 2022

Introduction

Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, social isolation and loneliness (SIL) affected at least one-third of the older people. The pandemic has prompted governments around the world to implement some extreme measures such as banning public gatherings, imposing social distancing, mobility restrictions and quarantine to control the spread and impact of the novel coronavirus. Though these unprecedented measures may be crucial from a public health perspective, they also have the potential to further exacerbate the problems of SIL among residents in long-term care homes (LTCHs). However, some LTCHs have developed promising best practices (PBPs) to respond to the current situation and prepare for future pandemics. Key aspects of such practices revolve around maintaining and strengthening social connections between residents and their families which helps to reduce SIL. This scoping review looks at existing PBPs that have been implemented to reduce SIL among LTCH residents during the most recent pandemics.

Methods and analysis

We will follow Arksey and O’Malley’s framework of scoping review, further developed by Levac et al. In addition, we will also apply the Joanna Briggs Institute Reviewers’ ‘Methodology for Scoping Reviews’. Ten electronic databases and grey literature will be searched for articles published from January 2003 to March 2021 in either English or French. Two reviewers will independently screen titles and abstracts and then full texts for final inclusion. Data will be extracted using a standardised form from ‘Evidence for Policy and Practice Information’. The results will be presented in a tabular form and will be summarised and interpreted using a narrative synthesis.

Ethics and dissemination

Formal ethical approval is not required as no primary data are collected. Findings will be used to develop a solid knowledge corpus to address the challenges of SIL in LTCHs. Our findings will help to identify cutting edge practices, including technological interventions that could support health services in addressing SIL in the context of LTCHs and our ageing society.
First and second waves among hospitalised patients with COVID-19 with severe pneumonia: a comparison of 28-day mortality over the 1-year pandemic in a tertiary university hospital in Italy
Authors: Meschiari Marianna , Cozzi-Lepri Alessandro , Tonelli Roberto , Bacca Erica , Menozzi Marianna , Franceschini Erica , Cuomo Gianluca , Bedini Andrea , Volpi Sara , Milic Jovana , Brugioni Lucio , Romagnoli Elisa , Pietrangelo Antonello , Corradini Elena , Coloretti Irene , Biagioni Emanuela , Busani Stefano , Girardis Massimo , Cossarizza Andrea , Clini Enrico , Guaraldi Giovanni , Mussini Cristina
Published: January 2022

Objective

The first COVID-19–19 epidemic wave was over the period of February–May 2020. Since 1 October 2020, Italy, as many other European countries, faced a second wave. The aim of this analysis was to compare the 28-day mortality between the two waves among COVID-19 hospitalised patients.

Design

Observational cohort study. Standard survival analysis was performed to compare all-cause mortality within 28 days after hospital admission in the two waves. Kaplan-Meier curves as well as Cox regression model analysis were used. The effect of wave on risk of death was shown by means of HRs with 95% CIs. A sensitivity analysis around the impact of the circulating variant as a potential unmeasured confounder was performed.

Setting

University Hospital of Modena, Italy. Patients admitted to the hospital for severe COVID-19 pneumonia during the first (22 February–31 May 2020) and second (1 October–31 December 2020) waves were included.

Results

During the two study periods, a total of 1472 patients with severe COVID-19 pneumonia were admitted to our hospital, 449 during the first wave and 1023 during the second. Median age was 70 years (IQR 56–80), 37% women, 49% with PaO2/FiO2 <250 mm Hg, 82% with ≥1 comorbidity, median duration of symptoms was 6 days. 28-day mortality rate was 20.0% (95% CI 16.3 to 23.7) during the first wave vs 14.2% (95% CI 12.0 to 16.3) in the second (log-rank test p value=0.03). After including key predictors of death in the multivariable Cox regression model, the data still strongly suggested a lower 28-day mortality rate in the second wave (aHR=0.64, 95% CI 0.45 to 0.90, p value=0.01).

Conclusions

In our hospitalised patients with COVID-19 with severe pneumonia, the 28-day mortality appeared to be reduced by 36% during the second as compared with the first wave. Further studies are needed to identify factors that may have contributed to this improved survival.
Comparison between 2000 and 2018 on the reporting of statistical significance and clinical relevance in physiotherapy clinical trials in six major physiotherapy journals: a meta-research design
Authors: Verhagen Arianne , Stubbs Peter William , Mehta Poonam , Kennedy David , Nasser Anthony M , Quel de Oliveira Camila , Pate Joshua W , Skinner Ian W , McCambridge Alana B
Published: January 2022

Design

Meta-research.

Objective

To compare the prevalence of reporting p values, effect estimates and clinical relevance in physiotherapy randomised controlled trials (RCTs) published in the years 2000 and 2018.

Methods

We performed a meta-research study of physiotherapy RCTs obtained from six major physiotherapy peer-reviewed journals that were published in the years 2000 and 2018. We searched the databases Embase, Medline and PubMed in May 2019, and extracted data on the study characteristics and whether articles reported on statistical significance, effect estimates and confidence intervals for baseline, between-group, and within-group differences, and clinical relevance. Data were presented using descriptive statistics and inferences were made based on proportions. A 20% difference between 2000 and 2018 was regarded as a meaningful difference.

Results

We found 140 RCTs: 39 were published in 2000 and 101 in 2018. Overall, there was a high prevalence (>90%) of reporting p values for the main (between-group) analysis, with no difference between years. Statistical significance testing was frequently used for evaluating baseline differences, increasing from 28% in 2000 to 61.4% in 2018. The prevalence of reporting effect estimates, CIs and the mention of clinical relevance increased from 2000 to 2018 by 26.6%, 34% and 32.8% respectively. Despite an increase in use in 2018, over 40% of RCTs failed to report effect estimates, CIs and clinical relevance of results.

Conclusion

The prevalence of using p values remains high in physiotherapy research. Although the proportion of reporting effect estimates, CIs and clinical relevance is higher in 2018 compared to 2000, many publications still fail to report and interpret study findings in this way.
Magnitude of optimal adherence and predictors for a low level of adherence among HIV/AIDS-infected adults in South Gondar zone, Northwest Ethiopia: a multifacility cross-sectional study
Authors: Zewude Shimeles Biru , Ajebe Tewodros Magegnet
Published: January 2022

Objectives

This study aims to identify levels of adherence to antiretroviral therapy (ART) drugs and factors associated with them in Northwest Ethiopia. We hypothesise that in the era of COVID-19, there would be suboptimal adherence to ART drugs.

Design

An observational cross-sectional study was conducted. Factors associated with the level of adherence were selected for multiple logistic regressions at a p value of less than 0.2 in the analysis. Statistically significant associated factors were identified at a p value less than 0.05 and adjusted OR with a 95% CI.

Setting

The study was conducted in one specialised hospital and three district hospitals found in the South Gondar zone, Northwest Ethiopia.

Participants

About 432 people living with HIV/AIDS receiving highly active ART in South Gondar zone public hospitals and who have been on treatment for more than a 3-month period participated in the study.

Primary and secondary outcome measures

Levels of adherence to ART drugs and their associated factors.

Results

Among 432 study participants, 81.5% (95% CI: 78% to 85.2%) of participants were optimally adherent to ART drugs. Determinants of a low level of adherence: stigma or discrimination (OR=0.4, p=0.016), missed scheduled clinical visit (OR=0.45, p=0.034), being on tuberculosis treatment (OR=0.45, p=0.01), recent CD4 cell count less than 500 cells/mm3 (OR=0.3, p=0.023) and patients who had been on WHO clinical stage III at the time of ART initiation (OR=0.24, p=0.027) were factors significantly associated with adherence to ART drugs.

Conclusions

Level of adherence was relatively low compared with some local studies. The intervention targeted to reduce discrimination, counselling before initiation of treatment and awareness regarding compliance is advised to improve adherence to antiretroviral regimens.
Incidence and clearance of oral and cervicogenital HPV infection: longitudinal analysis of the MHOC cohort study
Authors: Brouwer Andrew F , Campredon Lora P , Walline Heather M , Marinelli Brittany M , Goudsmit Christine M , Thomas Trey B , Delinger Rachel L , Lau Yan Kwan , Andrus Emily C , Nair Thankam , Carey Thomas E , Eisenberg Marisa C , Meza Rafael
Published: January 2022

Objectives

The Michigan HPV and Oropharyngeal Cancer study aimed to evaluate patterns of oral and cervicogenital human papillomavirus (HPV) infection prevalence, incidence, and clearance as well as their relationship to sexual behaviours.

Design

Cohort

Setting

General public in and around Ann Arbor, Michigan.

Participants

394 college-age and older-adult participants of both sexes provided oral samples, and 325 completed at least 2 visits. 130 who provided a cervicogenital samples, and 127 completed at least 2 visits.

Outcomes

Incidence and clearance rates as well as HRs for oral and cervicogenital HPV.

Results

Oral HPV infections were transient, with only 16% of genotypes persisting to the next visit. The mean time to clearance of a genotype was 46 days (95% CI 37 to 58). In contrast, cervicogenital infections were more persistent, with 56% of genotypes persisting to the next visit. The mean time to clearance of a genotype was 87 days (95% CI 74 to 102). HPV vaccination was associated with reduced incidence of cervicogenital HPV infection (HR 0.63; 95% CI 0.47 to 0.83) but not oral HPV infection. Incidence of oral HPV infection was associated with 2+ recent deep kissing partners (HR 2.00; 95% CI 1.13 to 3.56). Incidence of both oral (HR: 1.70; 95% CI 1.08 to 2.68) and cervicogenital (HR 2.46; 95% CI 1.69 to 3.59) was associated with 2+ recent sexual partners.

Conclusions

Detection of oral HPV was highly transient, but incidence was associated with recent deep kissing and sexual partners. Detection of cervicogenital HPV was more persistent, and incidence was positively associated with recent sexual partners and negatively associated with HPV vaccination.
Investigating the work–life experiences of nursing faculty in Canadian academic settings and the factors that influence their retention: protocol for a mixed-method study
Authors: Boamah Sheila A
Published: January 2022

Introduction

While all research-oriented faculty face the pressures of academia, female faculty in fields including science, engineering, medicine and nursing, are especially susceptible to burnout. Nursing is unique in that it remains a predominantly female-dominated profession, which implies that there is a critical mass of females who are disproportionately affected and/or at higher risk of burnout. To date, little is known about the experiences of nursing faculty especially, new and early career researchers and the factors that influence their retention. This study aims to understand the work–life (the intersection of work with personal life) experiences of nursing faculty in Canadian academic settings and the factors that influence their retention.

Methods and analysis

A mixed-method design will be used in this study. For the quantitative study, a sample of approximately 1500 new and early career nursing faculty across Canadian academic institutions will be surveyed. Eligible participants will be invited to complete a web-based structured questionnaire in both French and English language. Data will be evaluated using generalised linear regression model and structural equation modelling. Given the complexities of work–life issues in Canada, qualitative focus group interviews with about 20–25 participants will also be conducted. Emerging themes will be integrated with the survey findings and used to enrich the interpretation of the quantitative data.

Ethics and dissemination

This study has received ethical approval from the Hamilton Integrated Research Ethics Board (#1477). Prior to obtaining informed consent, participants will be provided with information about study risks and benefits and strategies undertaken to ensure confidentiality and anonymity. The study findings will be disseminated to academics and non-academic stakeholders through national and international conference presentations and peer-reviewed open-access journals. A user-friendly report will be shared with professional nursing associations such as the Canadian Associations of Schools of Nursing, and through public electronic forums (e.g., Twitter). Evidence from this study will also be shared with stakeholders including senior academic leaders and health practitioners, government, and health service policy-makers, to raise the profile of discourses on the nursing workforce shortages; and women’s work–life balance, a public policy issue often overlooked at the national level. Such discussion is especially pertinent in light of the disproportionate impact of COVID-19 on women, and female academics. The findings will be used to inform policy options for improving nursing faculty retention in Canada and globally.
Cost-effectiveness analysis of an active 30-day surgical site infection surveillance at a tertiary hospital in Ghana: evidence from HAI-Ghana study
Authors: Otieku Evans , Fenny Ama Pokuaa , Asante Felix Ankomah , Bediako-Bowan Antoinette , Enemark Ulrika
Published: January 2022

Objective

To assess the cost-effectiveness of an active 30-day surgical site infection (SSI) surveillance mechanism at a referral teaching hospital in Ghana using data from healthcare-associated infection Ghana (HAI-Ghana) study.

Design

Before and during intervention study using economic evaluation model to assess the cost-effectiveness of an active 30-day SSI surveillance at a teaching hospital. The intervention involves daily inspection of surgical wound area for 30-day postsurgery with quarterly feedback provided to surgeons. Discharged patients were followed up by phone call on postoperative days 3, 15 and 30 using a recommended surgical wound healing postdischarge questionnaire.

Setting

Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital (KBTH), Ghana.

Participants

All prospective patients who underwent surgical procedures at the general surgical unit of the KBTH.

Main outcome measures

The primary outcome measures were the avoidable SSI morbidity risk and the associated costs from patient and provider perspectives. We also reported three indicators of SSI severity, that is, length of hospital stay (LOS), number of outpatient visits and laboratory tests. The analysis was performed in STATA V.14 and Microsoft Excel.

Results

Before-intervention SSI risk was 13.9% (62/446) as opposed to during-intervention 8.4% (49/582), equivalent to a risk difference of 5.5% (95% CI 5.3 to 5.9). SSI mortality risk decreased by 33.3% during the intervention while SSI-attributable LOS decreased by 32.6%. Furthermore, the mean SSI-attributable patient direct and indirect medical cost declined by 12.1% during intervention while the hospital costs reduced by 19.1%. The intervention led to an estimated incremental cost-effectiveness ratio of US$4196 savings per SSI episode avoided. At a national scale, this could be equivalent to a US$60 162 248 cost advantage annually.

Conclusion

The intervention is a simple, cost-effective, sustainable and adaptable strategy that may interest policymakers and health institutions interested in reducing SSI.
Autoimmune retinopathy with associated anti-retinal antibodies as a potential immune-related adverse event associated with immunotherapy in patients with advanced cutaneous melanoma: case series and systematic review
Authors: Heng Jacob S , Kim Jenna M , Jones D Kyle , Stoessel Kathleen M , Weiss Sarah A , Sznol Mario , Kluger Harriet M , Walter Scott D , Silverstein Niki A , Pointdujour-Lim Renelle
Published: January 2022

Objective

To demonstrate the spectrum of autoimmune retinopathy (AIR) associated with immunotherapy for advanced cutaneous melanoma.

Methods and analysis

Retrospective chart review on patients with advanced cutaneous melanoma who developed AIR after initiating immunotherapy. Complete ophthalmic examination and relevant ancillary testing were performed on each patient. The presence of AIR-associated anti-retinal antibodies was confirmed by western blot and/or immunohistochemical staining. Ophthalmic and systemic outcomes after treatment for AIR were followed over time. A systematic review of AIR associated with immunotherapy for cutaneous or non-ocular mucosal melanoma was carried out in accordance with Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines.

Results

Case 1 developed photopsia and nyctalopia with electroretinographic findings characteristic for melanoma-associated retinopathy 1 week after initiating ipilimumab/nivolumab immunotherapy. Case 2 experienced new severe bilateral visual field loss associated with anti-retinal and anti-optic nerve antibodies while on maintenance nivolumab immunotherapy. Case 3 developed decreased visual acuity due to acute exudative polymorphous vitelliform maculopathy within 2 weeks of initiating ipilimumab/nivolumab immunotherapy. All patients had concurrent extraocular immune-related adverse events in addition to the presence of anti-retinal antibodies on serological testing. 14 published cases of AIR associated with immunotherapy for cutaneous or non-ocular mucosal melanoma were identified and reviewed.

Conclusions

Immune checkpoint inhibition can trigger the development of AIR with varied clinical manifestations in patients with advanced cutaneous melanoma. This study highlights the need for close monitoring in cutaneous melanoma patients receiving immunotherapy who develop new visual symptoms with or without funduscopic changes, as well as the potential role for screening of patients prior to initiating immunotherapy.
Exploring new possibilities to discover a light pseudo-scalar at LHCb
Authors: Buarque Franzosi Diogo , Cacciapaglia Giacomo , Cid Vidal Xabier , Ferretti Gabriele , Flacke Thomas , Vázquez Sierra Carlos
Published: January 2022

We study the possibility of observing a light pseudo-scalar a at LHCb. We target the mass region $$2.5\,\mathrm{GeV}\lesssim m_a\lesssim 60\,\mathrm{GeV}$$

2.5

GeV
≲

m
a

≲
60

GeV

and various decay channels, some of which have never been considered before: muon pairs, tau pairs, D meson pairs, and di-photon. We interpret the results in the context of models of 4D Composite Higgs and Partial Compositeness in particular.
Genuine tripartite nonlocality and entanglement in curved spacetime
Authors: Wu Shu-Min , Zeng Hao-Sheng
Published: January 2022

We study the genuine tripartite nonlocality (GTN) and the genuine tripartite entanglement (GTE) of Dirac fields in the background of a Schwarzschild black hole. We find that the Hawking radiation degrades both the physically accessible GTN and the physically accessible GTE. The former suffers from “sudden death” at some critical Hawking temperature, and the latter approaches to the nonzero asymptotic value in the limit of infinite Hawking temperature. We also find that the Hawking effect cannot generate the physically inaccessible GTN, but can generate the physically inaccessible GTE for fermion fields in curved spacetime. These results show that on the one hand the GTN cannot pass through the event horizon of black hole, but the GTE do can, and on the other hand the surviving physically accessible GTE and the generated physically inaccessible GTE for fermions in curved spacetime are all not nonlocal. Some monogamy relations between the physically accessible GTE and the physically inaccessible GTE are found.
A large scale study of reader interactions with images on Wikipedia
Authors: Rama Daniele , Piccardi Tiziano , Redi Miriam , Schifanella Rossano
Published: January 2022

Wikipedia is the largest source of free encyclopedic knowledge and one of the most visited sites on the Web. To increase reader understanding of the article, Wikipedia editors add images within the text of the article’s body. However, despite their widespread usage on web platforms and the huge volume of visual content on Wikipedia, little is known about the importance of images in the context of free knowledge environments. To bridge this gap, we collect data about English Wikipedia reader interactions with images during one month and perform the first large-scale analysis of how interactions with images happen on Wikipedia. First, we quantify the overall engagement with images, finding that one in 29 pageviews results in a click on at least one image, one order of magnitude higher than interactions with other types of article content. Second, we study what factors associate with image engagement and observe that clicks on images occur more often in shorter articles and articles about visual arts or transports and biographies of less well-known people. Third, we look at interactions with Wikipedia article previews and find that images help support reader information need when navigating through the site, especially for more popular pages. The findings in this study deepen our understanding of the role of images for free knowledge and provide a guide for Wikipedia editors and web user communities to enrich the world’s largest source of encyclopedic knowledge.
Challenges for FCC-ee luminosity monitor design
Authors: Dam Mogens
Published: January 2022

For cross section measurements, an accurate knowledge of the integrated luminosity is required. The FCC-ee physics programme at and around the Z pole sets the ambitious precision goal of $$10^{-4}$$

10

-
4

on the absolute luminosity measurement and one order of magnitude better on the relative measurement between energy scan points. The luminosity is determined from the rate of Bhabha scattering, $$\mathrm {e^+e^- \rightarrow e^+e^-}$$

e
+

e
-

→

e
+

e
-

, where the final state electrons and positrons are detected in dedicated monitors covering small angles from the outgoing beam directions. The constraints on the luminosity monitors are multiple: (i) they are placed inside the main detector volume only about 1 m from the interaction point; (ii) they are centred around the outgoing beam directions and do not satisfy the normal axial detector symmetry; (iii) their coverage is limited by the beam pipe, on the one hand, and by the requirement to stay clear of the main detector acceptance, on the other; (iv) the steep angular dependence of the Bhabha scattering process imposes a precision on the acceptance limits at about 1 $$\upmu $$
μ
rad, corresponding to an absolute geometrical precision of $${\mathcal {O}}(1\,\upmu \text {m})$$

O
(
1

μ
m
)

on the monitor radial dimensions; and v) the very high bunch-crossing rate of 50 MHz during the Z-pole operation calls for fast readout electronics. Inspired by second-generation LEP luminosity monitors, which achieved an experimental precision of $$3.4 \times 10^{-4}$$

3.4
×

10

-
4

on the absolute luminosity measurement (Abbiendi et al. in Eur Phys J C 14:373–425, 2000), a proposed ultra-compact solution is based on a sandwich of tungsten-silicon layers. A vigorous R &D programme is needed in order to ensure that such a solution satisfies the more challenging FCC-ee requirements.
Non-invasive identification of textile fibres using near-infrared fibre optics reflectance spectroscopy and multivariate classification techniques
Authors: Quintero Balbas Diego , Lanterna Giancarlo , Cirrincione Claudia , Fontana Raffaella , Striova Jana
Published: January 2022

The identification of textile fibres from cultural property provides information about the object's technology. Today, microscopic examination remains the preferred method, and molecular spectroscopies (e.g. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) and Raman spectroscopies) can complement it but may present some limitations. To avoid sampling, non-invasive fibre optics reflectance spectroscopy (FORS) in the near-infrared (NIR) range showed promising results for identifying textile fibres; but examining and interpreting numerous spectra with features that are not well defined is highly time-consuming. Multivariate classification techniques may overcome this problem and have already shown promising results for classifying textile fibres for the textile industry but have been seldom used in the heritage science field. In this work, we compare the performance of two classification techniques, principal component analysis–linear discrimination analysis (PCA-LDA) and soft independent modelling of class analogy (SIMCA), to identify cotton, wool, and silk fibres, and their mixtures in historical textiles using FORS in the NIR range (1000–1700 nm). We built our models analysing reference samples of single fibres and their mixtures, and after the model calculation and evaluation, we studied four historical textiles: three Persian carpets from the nineteenth and twentieth centuries and an Italian seventeenth-century tapestry. We cross-checked the results with Raman spectroscopy. The results highlight the advantages and disadvantages of both techniques for the non-invasive identification of the three fibre types in historical textiles and the influence their vicinity can have in the classification.
Privacy-preserving energy storage sharing with blockchain and secure multi-party computation
Authors: Wang Nan , Chau Sid Chi-Kin , Zhou Yue
Published: January 2022

Energy storage provides an effective way of shifting temporal energy demands and supplies, which enables significant cost reduction under time-of-use energy pricing plans. Despite its promising benefits, the cost of present energy storage remains expensive, presenting a major obstacle to practical deployment. A more viable solution to improve the cost-effectiveness is by sharing energy storage, such as community sharing, cloud energy storage and peer-to-peer sharing. However, revealing private energy demand data to an external energy storage operator may compromise user privacy, and is susceptible to data misuses and breaches. In this paper, we explore a novel approach to support energy storage sharing with privacy protection, based on privacy-preserving blockchain and secure multi-party computation. We present an integrated solution to enable privacy-preserving energy storage sharing, such that energy storage service scheduling and cost-sharing can be attained without the knowledge of individual users' demands. It also supports auditing and verification by the grid operator via blockchain. Furthermore, our privacy-preserving solution can safeguard against a majority of dishonest users, who may collude in cheating, without requiring a trusted third-party. We implemented our solution as a smart contract on real-world Ethereum blockchain platform, and provided empirical evaluation in this paper
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Towards online optimization for power grids
Authors: Yuan Deming , Bhardwaj Abhishek , Petersen Ian , Ratnam Elizabeth L. , Shi Guodong
Published: January 2022

In this note, we discuss potential advantages in extending distributed optimization frameworks to enhance support for power grid operators managing an influx of online sequential decisions. First, we review the state-of-the-art distributed optimization frameworks for electric power systems, and explain how distributed algorithms deliver scalable solutions. Next, we introduce key concepts and paradigms for online optimization, and present a distributed online optimization framework highlighting important performance characteristics. Finally, we discuss the connection and difference between offline and online distributed optimization, showcasing the suitability of such optimization techniques for power grid applications.
Online peak-aware energy scheduling with untrusted advice
Authors: Lee Russell , Maghakian Jessica , Hajiesmaili Mohammad , Li Jian , Sitaraman Ramesh , Liu Zhenhua
Published: January 2022

This paper studies the online energy scheduling problem in a hybrid model where the cost of energy is proportional to both the volume and peak usage, and where energy can be either locally generated or drawn from the grid. Inspired by recent advances in online algorithms with Machine Learned (ML) advice, we develop parameterized deterministic and randomized algorithms for this problem such that the level of reliance on the advice can be adjusted by a trust parameter. We then analyze the performance of the proposed algorithms using two performance metrics:
robustness
that measures the competitive ratio as a function of the trust parameter when the advice is inaccurate, and
consistency
for competitive ratio when the advice is accurate. Since the competitive ratio is analyzed in two different regimes, we further investigate the Pareto optimality of the proposed algorithms. Our results show that the proposed deterministic algorithm is Pareto-optimal, in the sense that no other online deterministic algorithms can dominate the robustness and consistency of our algorithm. Furthermore, we show that the proposed randomized algorithm dominates the Pareto-optimal deterministic algorithm. Our large-scale empirical evaluations using real traces of energy demand, energy prices, and renewable energy generations highlight that the proposed algorithms outperform worst-case optimized algorithms and fully data-driven algorithms.
Characteristic profile
Authors: De Hoog Julian , Perera Maneesha , Ilfrich Peter , Halgamuge Saman
Published: January 2022

The rapid uptake of rooftop solar photovoltaic systems is introducing many challenges in the management of distribution networks, energy markets, and energy storage systems. Many of these problems can be alleviated with accurate short term solar power forecasts. However, forecasting the power output of distributed rooftop solar PV systems can be challenging, since many complex local factors can affect solar output. A common approach when forecasting such systems is to extract the daily seasonality from the time series using some form of seasonality model, and then forecast only the residuals that remain after seasonality extraction. In this work, we explore in detail the effectiveness of three commonly used seasonality models, and we propose a new one, called the "characteristic profile". We find that when seasonality models are integrated into the forecasting process, significant gains in forecast accuracy may be obtained - particularly for machine learning based approaches, which have a reduction in forecast error of 5-25%. Among the seasonality models, the characteristic profile demonstrates the highest forecast accuracy, resulting in reductions in forecast error of 8% or more compared to forecasting models that do not take seasonality into account. The benefits of this approach are particularly pronounced when forecasting solar PV systems that are curtailed, suffer from local shading, or consist of multiple sets of panels having different orientations and tilts. Our results are demonstrated on a high resolution dataset obtained from 258 sites in Western Australia over the course of a full year.
The Book Review Column
Authors: Green Frederic
Published: January 2022

The first two reviews in this column draw from the "SpringerBriefs" series, dedicated to compact summaries of cutting-edge research in a variety of fields. The first is from SpringerBriefs in Physics, the second from SpringerBriefs in Applied Sciences and Technology. We close with a review about algorithms in the context of the modern world.
Review of Three Lectures on Complexity and Black Holes by Leonard Susskind
Authors: Green Frederic
Published: January 2022

The future prospects for anyone falling into a black hole are bleak. For one thing, there is no chance (according to our present state of knowledge) of ever getting out again. Worse, one is facing certain destruction when one meets the "singularity" (or its inconceivably dense physical manifestation, whatever that may be) inside. However, there is an "event horizon," the point of no return, separating the overly curious infalling astronaut from the doom he or she faces at the singularity. Suppose Alice the Astronaut wants to see what's behind the horizon (never mind the consequences). How much time would Alice have to look around and see what's happening, before reaching the end of her worldline? Conventional wisdom, until relatively recently, was that she would have some amount of time, perhaps hours. Passing the event horizon of a supermassive black hole would not seem like any kind of a milestone to the infalling individual; it is only an outside observer who would notice something out of the ordinary.
Guest Column
Authors: Volk Ben Lee
Published: January 2022

Algebraic Natural Proofs is a recent framework which formalizes the type of reasoning used for proving most lower bounds on algebraic computational models. This concept is similar to and inspired by the famous natural proofs notion of Razborov and Rudich [RR97] for boolean circuit lower bounds, but, unlike in the boolean case, it is an open problem whether this constitutes a barrier for proving super-polynomial lower bounds for strong models of algebraic computation. From an algebraic-geometric viewpoint, it is also related to basic questions in Geometric Complexity Theory (GCT), and from a meta-complexity theoretic viewpoint, it can be seen as an algebraic version of the MCSP problem. We survey the recent work around this concept which provides some evidence both for and against the existence of an algebraic natural proofs barrier, with an emphasis on the di erent viewpoints and the connections to other areas.
SIGACT News Online Algorithms Column 38
Authors: Hohne Felix , Schmitt Soren , van Stee Rob
Published: January 2022

In this column, we will discuss some papers in online algorithms that appeared in 2021. As usual, we make no claim at complete coverage here, and have instead made a selection. If we have unaccountably missed your favorite paper and you would like to write about it or about any other topic in online algorithms, please don't hesitate to contact us!