bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Multiple Dermatomyofibromas in a Patient with Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome
Authors: Derbyshire Mark Lewis , Brady Amy Leigh , Farah Ramsay Sami
Published: June 2023

Dermatomyofibromas are a rare, benign, acquired neoplasm with less than 150 reported cases worldwide. The etiologic factors that contribute to the development of these lesions are currently unknown. To our knowledge, there have been only six previously reported cases of patients presenting with multiple dermatomyofibromas, and in each of these cases, there were less than ten lesions present. Herein, we describe a patient who developed more than 100 dermatomyofibromas over a period of years, and we argue that the patient’s concurrent Ehlers-Danlos syndrome could have contributed to this unique presentation by inducing an increased fibroblast-to-myofibroblast transition.
Two new freshwater blennies from the Eastern Mediterranean basin (Teleostei: Blenniidae)
Authors: YOĞURTÇUOĞLU BARAN , KAYA CÜNEYT , ATALAY MUSTAFA ALTUĞ , EKMEKÇİ FITNAT GÜLER , FREYHOF JÖRG
Published: June 2023

Two new species of Salariopsis are described from the Eastern Mediterranean basin. Salariopsis burcuae, new species, from the Bay of Antalya east to the Jordan, is characterised by having a short cirrus, usually not overlapping the 9th circum-orbital sensory pore, and many tiny black dots on the cheek not organised in rows or bands. The new species shows a 4.1% K2P sequence divergence on the cytochrome-c-oxidase subunit 1 (COI) barcoding region from its closest relative, S. fluviatilis. Salariopsis renatorum, new species, from the upper Ceyhan drainage and a coastal stream in Arsuz, is distinguished by having an unbranched supraocular tentacle, black lateral line pores, a short snout, and no black dots on the upper part of the flank and on the cheek. It is also distinguished from its geographically closest congener, S. burcuae, by a molecular distance of 8.8% K2P in its COI barcode region.
Sensor fault diagnosis modeling of lithium-ion batteries for electric vehicles
Authors: Yuan Jinhai , Li Sisi , Fan Xin
Published: June 2023

Electric Vehicles (EVs) are considered the replacement for gas-emitting and environmentally polluting fuel vehicles. The development of EVs relies on electronic devices and communication circuits for ease of access. The heart of EVs is the battery that requires post-run-time charging
and precise maintenance. Electronic sensors attached to the batteries monitor their health, discharging, and charging rate for user notification and prolonged functioning. Therefore, the operation of the sensors is to be monitored promptly for effective battery maintenance. This article introduces
a Fault Detection Method (FDM) using Operational Data (OD) accumulated from the EV. This data is first split into active and passive that references the run-time and idle time of the vehicle. The sensor operations during the idle time are considered similar due to minimal or no sensing function.
Contrarily the run-time observation shows up variations that are not huge compared to the previous history. In this data verification process, recurrent learning is employed for identifying variations in the active and passive states of the EVs. If variations are continuous regardless of the
active and passive states, then the sensor is identified as faulty post the manual battery life assessment. The learning is trained using the current and previous sensor observations and batter health for identifying the variations.
Influence of functional-assembled-FGL polypeptide timbering material on expression of glial cell line-derived neurotropic growth factor mRNA in damaged rat’s spinal cord
Authors: Wang Lulu , Chen Jinpeng , Chen Jiansheng
Published: June 2023

Spinal cord injury is one of most serious complications when there is spine injury in patients. Spinal cord injury clinically involves anesthesia and mobility loss in leg in most of patients. Rats were herein molded and divided into groups, and Basso-Beattie-Bresnahan (BBB) method was
adopted to assess the motor function of rats. The quantities of cassyl aspartic acid-specified protease (Caspase-3), neurofilament protein-200 (NF-200) and Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein (GFAP)-positive cell were detected by immunohistochemical staining method. The expression of Glial cell
line-derived neurotropic growth factor (GDNF) mRNA in spinal cord tissue was detected by Reverse Transcription-Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) method. The quantity of Caspase-3 positive cell and area of glial scar in the fiber grating laser-National Security (FGL-NS) group were significantly
reduced compared with those from the other two groups. The quantities of NF-200 positive cell, graded result of Basso-Beattie-Bresnahan method and content of GDNF mRNA in the FGL-NS group were increased compared to those from the other two groups. The FGL-NS improved the expression of GDNF
mRNA so as to repair the damaged neuronal cells.
Tantalum infiltration in partially stabilized zirconia for biomedical application
Authors: Wu Siyuan , Duan Jin , Shao Longquan , Sun Ting
Published: June 2023

This study aims to improve the low-temperature degradation (LTD) performance of 3% mol yttria tetrahedral zirconia polycrystal (3Y-TZP) ceramic. Tantalum ion infiltration fluid was prepared by dispersing Tantalum nanoparticles (Ta-NPs) into the absolute ethyl alcohol. A 3Y-TZP-Ta (3Y-Ta)
structure was produced via infiltrating Ta fluid in a pre-sintered porous 3Y-TZP substrate through capillary forces. The microstructure of 3Y-Ta ceramic samples was observed by scanning electron microscope (SEM), X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy
(EDS), X-Ray Diffraction (XRD) and X-Ray fluorescence (XRF) spectrometry. SEM results showed the formation of 3Y-Ta structure. A phase transformation from tetragonal (t) to monoclinic (m) was not observed in as-infiltrated 3Y-TZP specimens. Ta ions segregated at the grain boundaries.
A 3Y-Ta structure was made by the Ta fluid infiltration/densification method. 3Y-Ta structure may decrease the susceptibility of 3Y-TZP to LTD. Clinical significance: This study provides theoretical guidance for to reasonable methods to decrease the susceptibility of 3Y-TZP to LTD for biomedical
applications.
Baicalein suppresses rectal cancer progression through inhibition of cellular glycolysis and intracellular adenosine triphosphate level
Authors: Zhao Xuejiao , He Xiaolei , Chen Chuyan , Pei Ying , Wang Yang
Published: June 2023

This study explored the mechanism of baicalein on rectal cancer. Human rectal adenocarcinoma cells HR8348 were exposed to low, moderate and high concentration of baicalein (5, 10, and 20 μmol/L), respectively, for 48 h with untreated control group, followed by analysis of
glucose consumption, lactic acid and denosine triphosphate (ATP) content, cell proliferation and expression of phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase (PI3K), protein kinase B(AKT), and Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1-Alpha (HIF-1α). Cell viability in groups of baicalein decreased at 24, 48,
and 72 h after treatment, with lowest cell viability in high-dose group (P <0.05), especially at 48 and 72 h in both medium and high dose groups (P <0.05). Of note, baicalein dose-dependently induced cell apoptosis and reduced levels of PI3K, AKT, and HIF-1α.
Moreover, glucose consumption and lactic acid content gradually decreased in the absence of baicalein, and the increased concentration of baicalein was associated with more dramatical decrease in glucose consumption. The lowest glucose consumption [(6.49±2.23) μmol/105
cells] and lactic acid content [(16.90±3.77) μmol/105 cells] was noticed in the high-dose group. Baicalein decreased ATP content, facilitating energy metabolism in rectal cancer cells (P <0.05). Baicalein inhibits PI3K/Akt pathway to down-regulate HIF-1α,
thereby suppressing cell viability and proliferation of rectal cancer HR8348 cells. This is due to inhibition of glycolysis and intracellular energy metabolism, which provides a new insight into new treatment method for rectal cancer.
Carbon nanofiber nanomaterial modified polystyrene enzyme linked immunosorbent assay substrate for detecting osteoporosis
Authors: Cui Peng , Wei Jingwen , Gopinath Subash C. B.
Published: June 2023

Osteoporosis (OS) develops without any pain or symptom, and it is usually identified when the weakened bone causes fracture. To overcome this issue, measuring bone density (BMD) helps to identify osteoporosis and its conditions. It was identified that when the level of anti-cyclic citrullinated
peptide (anti-CCP) increases, values of BMD were decreased. This research was focused to quantify the level of anti-CPP on nanomaterial modified polystyrene ELISA substrate. ELISA wells were modified into amine-carbon nanofiber and then glutaraldehyde used as a linker to attach CCP. Anti-CCP
antibody level was quantified on PS plate by secondary-antibody conjugated horseradish peroxidase. Carbon nanofiber improves the immobilization of CCP on PS well and attract higher number of anti-CCP antibody, which helps to reach the limit of detection at 10 pg/mL, which was four times lower
limit of detection with conventional ELISA (40 pg/mL). Further, specific experiment was conducted with serum spiked anti-CCP antibody shows the absorbance increment in all the concentrations of anti-CCP antibody and control performances with relevant molecules did not increase the absorbance
level confirms the selective and specific detection. This carbon nanofiber modified ELISA well quantifies anti-CCP level and helps to identify the condition of bone for diagnosing osteoporosis.
Kaempferol improves periventricular white matter injury in premature infants by inhibiting microglial activation
Authors: Zhuo Qiuling , Fu Binsha , Shi Liangsun
Published: June 2023

This study mainly explored the mechanism by which kaempferol inhibits the activation of microglia, thereby improving periventricular white matter injury (WMI) in premature infants. Firstly, WMI model of premature rats was herein established and assigned into WMI model group, kaempferol
group, hypoxia-inducible factor 1 (HIF-1) group and kaempferol group+HIF-1 group. Four pups were taken from each group for swimming test and open field test to detect the behavioral function. hematoxylin-eosin staining (HE) staining assessed lateral ventricles along with expressions of HIF-1α
gene and protein related to myelination and activation of microglial cells. Kaempferol promoted the recovery of early motor function after WMI around the pups through the HIF-1 pathway. Compared with WMI model group, kaempferol group, HIF-1 group, and kaempferol group+HIF-1 group rats had
significantly reduced lateral ventricle area after drug intervention, especially in the kaempferol group+HIF-1 group, where it was decreased most significantly (all P <0.05). Moreover, Kaempferol reduced the expression of HIF-1α and had an effect on mRNA expression of
myelin-related genes [Myelin basic protein (MBP) Multiepitope antigenic gene (MAG), myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG) and Recombinant Early Growth Response Protein 1 (EGR1) in the brain tissue of offspring rats. The number of activated microglial cells in the cingulate gyrus and corpus
callosum of WMI model group were significantly increased and reduced after drug intervention, especially in the kaempferol group+HIF-1 group (P <0.05). Kaempferol reduced HIF-1α expression by inhibiting HIF-1 pathway, so as to inhibit microglial cell activation, which
is related to its significant anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidative pharmacological mechanism with promising brain protection effect, which provides a new direction for drug treatment of WMI.
Visual Gaze Patterns in the Analysis of Glottic Lesions: Does Experience Increase Diagnostic Accuracy?
Authors: Armstrong Michael F. , Orbelo Diana M. , Wallerius Katherine P. , Lebechi Chiamaka A. , Lohse Christine M. , Dey Jacob K. , Bayan Semirra L.
Published: June 2023

Objectives:

The purpose of this study was to evaluate visual gaze patterns and the ability to correctly identify cancer among participants of different experience levels when viewing benign and malignant vocal cord lesions.

Methods:

Thirty-one participants were divided into groups based on level of experience. These included novice (medical students, PGY1-2 otolaryngology residents), intermediate (PGY3-5 otolaryngology residents, gastroenterology fellow), advanced practice providers (physician assistants, nurse practitioners, and speech language pathologists), and experts (board-certified otolaryngologists). Each participant was shown 7 images of vocal cord pathology including glottic cancer, infectious laryngitis, and granuloma and asked to determine the likelihood of cancer on a scale of certain, probable, possible, and unlikely. Eye tracking data were collected and used to identify the area of interest (AOI) that each participant fixated on first, fixated on the longest, and had the greatest number of fixations.

Results:

No significant differences were seen among groups when comparing AOI with first fixation, AOI with longest fixation, or AOI with most fixations. Novices were significantly more likely to rate a low likelihood of cancer when viewing infectious laryngitis compared to more experienced groups ( P < .001). There was no difference in likelihood of cancer rating among groups for the remaining images.

Conclusions:

There was no significant difference in gaze targets among participants of different experience levels evaluating vocal cord pathology. Symmetric appearance of vocal cord lesions may explain differences seen in likelihood of cancer rating among groups. Future studies with larger sample sizes will better elucidate gaze targets that lead to accurate diagnosis of vocal cord pathology.
Sustaining the Integration of Social Objectives Over Time: A Case-Based Analysis of Access to Medicine in the Pharmaceutical Industry
Authors: Bünder Tobias , Rathert Nikolas , Mair Johanna
Published: June 2023

Companies increasingly seek to strategically integrate social objectives in commercial activities to address societal challenges, yet little is known about how companies can sustain such a commitment over time. To address this question, we conduct a case-based, abductive study of two pharmaceutical companies widely considered industry leaders in facilitating access to medicine over a 20-year period (2000–2019). We identify product and operation-level integration as distinct types of integration efforts enacted by these companies. Tracing the intraorganizational dynamics associated with these efforts, we theorize that sustained integration is contingent on companies’ ability to respond to and address the challenges specific to product and operation-level integration. The theoretical framework we develop contributes to an emerging debate on the potential of companies to make progress on societal challenges by strategically integrating social objectives, including but not limited to those related to global health.
Technocracy for the People? The Impact of Government-Imposed Democratic Innovations on Governance and Citizen Well-Being
Authors: Abbott Jared , McKiernan Katherine , McNulty Stephanie
Published: June 2023

Despite participatory institutions’ increasing ubiquity, we know little about their effects on governance and well-being. What we do know comes largely from Brazil, where positive outcomes have been attributed to civil society’s role in implementation. Often, however, participatory institutions are imposed by national governments, with little civil society engagement. In these cases, scholars have argued, participatory institutions are unlikely to improve governance and well-being, as civil society is not present to unlock the institutions’ potential. We test this proposition in Peru, the first country featuring government mandated participatory institutions for all subnational governments. We find, surprisingly, that Peru’s participatory budgeting process increased pro-poor spending and improved citizen’s quality of life. We attribute these outcomes to reduced information asymmetries, made possible by the central role played by an influential and autonomous government agency. We employ a unique panel dataset, as well as an original survey and extensive interviews with government and civil society actors.
A Matter of Time: Racialized Time and the Production of Health Disparities
Authors: Colen Cynthia G. , Drotning Kelsey J. , Sayer Liana C. , Link Bruce
Published: June 2023

An expansive and methodologically varied literature designed to investigate racial disparities in health now exists. Empirical evidence points to an overlapping, complex web of social conditions that accelerate the pace of aging and erodes long-term health outcomes among people of color, especially Black Americans. However, a social exposure—or lack thereof—that is rarely mentioned is time use. The current paper was specifically designed to address this shortcoming. First, we draw on extant research to illustrate how and why time is a critical source of racial disparities in health. Second, we employ fundamental causes theory to explain the specific mechanisms through which the differential distribution of time across race is likely to give rise to unequal health outcomes. Finally, we introduce a novel conceptual framework that identifies and distinguishes between four distinct forms of time use likely to play an outsized role in contributing to racial disparities in health.
Husserl and Stoicism: The Theory of Meaning as a Bridge to Mindfulness
Authors: Ferrarello Susi
Published: June 2023

In this article I will first show the continuity between Stoicism, phenomenology, and a mindful approach to life, before moving toward a more detailed confrontation between the theory of the lekton in Stoicism and the theory of noema in Husserl’s phenomenology. Finally, I will show how these theories apply to both phenomenological and Stoic ethics and what they can tell us about choosing to live a happy and flourishing life.
Role of Dysfunctional Attitudes in the Association Between Discrimination and Adolescents’ Mental and Physical Health
Authors: Pössel Patrick , Dondanville Ashley Ann
Published: June 2023

Our study is based on Beck’s cognitive stress-vulnerability theory of depression and research on (a) disparities in elevated blood pressure between adolescents from minority and majority backgrounds, (b) the effects of perceived everyday discrimination (PED) on depression and elevated blood pressure, and (c) the associations between depression and cardiovascular diseases. The purpose of our study is to integrate Beck’s model and the different research lines by examining the associations of the stressor PED and depressive symptoms with blood pressure through the cognitive vulnerability of dysfunctional attitudes in adolescents. In our cross-sectional study, 97 adolescents (40% female) aged 13 to 15 ( M = 14.15, SD = .53) who identified as Black (47.5%), white (47.5%), and mixed race (5%) completed self-reports of PED, dysfunctional attitudes, and depressive symptoms and had their blood pressure measured. We used the PROCESS command tool for SPSS to compute OLS regressions and direct, indirect, and total effects of PED, dysfunctional attitudes, and depressive symptoms on blood pressure. As predicted, our analyses revealed that PED predicts dysfunctional attitudes and depressive symptoms, dysfunctional attitudes predict marginally significant depressive symptoms and significantly systolic blood pressure. Our findings highlight the relevance of PED and dysfunctional attitudes for adolescents mental (i.e., depressive symptoms) and physical health (i.e., blood pressure). If this pattern is replicated, systemic interventions to reduce PED and individual interventions to address dysfunctional attitudes in adolescents could be promising to improve both mental (i.e., depressive symptoms) and physical health (i.e., BP).
Romantic Aesthetics and the General Will in the Islamism of Sayyid Qutb
Authors: Noorani Yaseen
Published: June 2023

Recent research has pointed to the modern nature of the state that Islamists posit in contrast to medieval Islamic notions of political authority. This paper argues that a conceptual framework derived from romantic aesthetics underpinned the Islamist thought of Sayyid Qutb, who was for many years a secular literary writer. The aesthetic framework made possible the notion of human freedom and progress as the enactment of the general or collective will, which is the source of the state. Classical formulations of the general will in Rousseau, Kant, and Hegel are closely related to contemporaneous aesthetic notions of freedom as creative expression of interiority. Qutb participated in this line of thinking. The vitalist metaphysics and expressivist aesthetic theory of his literary period led him to later formulate an account of the general will that is embodied in Islamic law, the sharīʿa, which he identified with the state. He presented the Islamic state on this basis as resolving the fundamental contradiction of western modernity that romantic aesthetics had identified in the context of establishing the redemptive value of art. This contradiction, the disunity of the spiritual and the material, was equated by Qutb with the separation of church and state. Islamic law as the state is thus justified on aesthetic grounds as the reconciliation of humanity and nature now divided by Western materialism. Qutb’s thought in the context of its aesthetic genesis provides valuable insight into the nature of modern notions of individual and collective will.
Problematic Gaming in Malaysian University Students: Translation and Psychometric Evaluation of the Malay Language Versions of Gaming Disorder Test and Gaming Disorder Scale for Young Adults
Authors: Ghazi Farah Raihana , Gan Wan Ying , Tung Serene En Hui , Chen I-Hua , Poon Wai Chuen , Siaw Yan-Li , Ruckwongpatr Kamolthip , Chen Jung-Sheng , Huang Shih-Wei , Griffiths Mark D. , Lin Chung-Ying
Published: June 2023

As research on gaming disorder (GD) is growing globally, the need for a valid and reliable instrument to assess GD has become crucial. Therefore, the present cross-sectional study translated and evaluated the psychometric properties of Gaming Disorder Test (GDT) and Gaming Disorder Scale for Young Adults (GADIS-YA) into Malay language versions. The sample comprised 624 university students (females = 75.6%; mean age = 22.27 years) recruited via an online survey from May to August 2022, using a convenience sampling method. Participants completed both GDT and GADIS-YA scales and other relevant measures including Bergen Social Media Addiction Scale (BSMAS), Internet Gaming Disorder Scale-Short Form (IGDS9-SF), and time spent on social media and gaming. Results showed that both instruments reported satisfactory internal consistency, and confirmatory factor analysis supported the one-factor structure for GDT and two-factor structure for GADIS-YA. Both scales were strongly correlated with each other and with the IGDS9-SF, BSMAS, and time spent on social media and gaming, supporting concurrent validity. Measurement invariance of both scales was confirmed across gender and gaming time. These findings suggest that the Malay versions of GDT and GADIS-YA are reliable and valid measures of problematic gaming among Malaysian university students.
The violence inherent in the system
Authors: Heath Joseph
Published: June 2023

The concept of ‘the violence inherent in the system’ was famously satirized by Monty Python in their movie The Holy Grail. In order to avoid ridicule, left-wing theorists and activists for a long time stopped using the expression. The underlying social critique, which had given rise to the expression, was also widely dismissed from serious consideration, merely through invocation of the phrase. Because of this, there has been little explicit discussion of the actual political theory that was being satirized in this scene. And yet the theory has continued to exercise considerable influence on the practice of many left-wing groups, particularly in the way that protest is conceptualized and carried out. The central objective in this paper will be to provide an explicit articulation of the theory, in order to show how it falls short of providing a meaningful critique of any aspect of our social practices.
Influence of avascular necrosis of the femoral head on hip prosthesis integration: a radiological analysis
Authors: Woerner Michael , Koehn Anna , Morris Patrick , Weber Markus , Renkawitz Tobias , Grifka Joachim , Craiovan Benjamin
Published: June 2023

Background

Avascular osteonecrosis of the femoral head (AVN) often results in total hip arthroplasty (THA). The cause for increased THA revision rates among patients with AVN is not yet fully understood.

Purpose

To perform a comparative radiological analysis of implant integration between patients with AVN and osteoarthritis (OA).

Material and Methods

After a matched pair analysis of 58 patients, 30 received THA due to OA, 28 due to AVN. X-ray images were evaluated after one week (“baseline”) and on average 37.58 months postoperatively (“endline”). The prosthesis was grouped into 10 regions of interest (ROI): seven femoral and three acetabular. Incidence, width, and extent of “radiolucent lines” were measured within each zone.

Results

Between baseline and endline, width and extent progressed more noticeably in all femoral and acetabular zones among patients with AVN. In femoral ROI 1, the width increased in 40% of AVN cases compared to 6.7% of OA cases. For acetabular ROI 3, the width increased in 26.7% of AVN cases compared to no perceived changes in the OA group. No signs of prosthetic loosening were found in the AVN group.

Conclusion

The increase of width and extent of radiolucent lines over time in patients with AVN could be a sign of lack of osteointegration. However, prosthetic loosening in absence of clinical symptoms cannot be deduced from radiological findings after medium-term postoperative follow-up. Further long-term studies are required to monitor how radiolucent lines develop in respect to long-term implant loosening. Dependent on bone quality, individually adapted reaming and broaching of the implant site are recommended.
Bezoar as a cause of portal vein pneumatosis: a case report
Authors: Zhang Qing , Meng Heyu , Chen Yanqiu , Meng Fanbo
Published: June 2023

Pneumatosis of the portal vein is considered a rare imaging sign rather than a disease. It usually occurs in patients with digestive tract diseases such as intestinal obstructive diseases, mesenteric vascular diseases, closed abdominal trauma, and liver transplantation. Because of its high mortality rate, it is also termed the “sign of death.” Hawthorn contains tannic acid, and seafood is rich in calcium, iron, carbon, iodine, and other minerals and proteins. Thus, consuming both hawthorn and seafood together can result in the formation of an indigestible complex in the body, acting as the main pathogenic factor in patients with intestinal obstruction. We herein describe a patient with duodenal obstruction caused by hawthorn who developed the hepatic portal venous gas sign and was cured by nonsurgical treatment.
Elite agency in the growth of offshore business services in Romania
Authors: Jipa-Muşat Ioana , Prevezer Martha , Campling Liam
Published: June 2023

Processes of outsourcing and offshoring have driven the changing spatial divisions of labour through foreign investment and development of peripheral regions into key offshore destinations for business services. This paper focuses on the role of elites, transnational and domestic, in the transformation of Romania into a major business services offshoring location in Central Eastern Europe (CEE) over the last two decades. The paper reveals the role of elite agency in connecting domestic resources to business services global production networks (GPNs) in order to drive domestic institutional transformation. A lot has been written about the agency of labour; yet there is a gap in our understanding of the agency of elites, specifically how transnational elites articulate with other elites at the national-, meso- and micro-level and produce institutional changes. Drawing on literature on enclave creation and dual economies, the paper illustrates how the alliance between domestic and transnational elites shaped transformation across the sector by implementing labour market flexibilisation and by crafting a ‘sound’ business environment in terms of infrastructure, investment incentives and bureaucratic framework to emulate institutional conditions of the home country. The development of the Romanian business services sector into an ‘enclave economy’ has become dependent on collaborative networks with domestic universities and intermediary organisations, which played a key role in facilitating foreign investment attraction and linking domestic resources to the needs of multinational firms.
Trajectory-Based Method for Dividing Lanes of Vehicle Trajectories Collected by Roadside LiDAR
Authors: Cao Peng , Wang Yiming , Liu Xiaobo
Published: June 2023

The detailed vehicle trajectories collected by various advanced sensors (e.g., LiDARs, radars, digital cameras) form an essential foundation for in-depth analysis of connected and automated transportation systems, in which lane division of vehicle trajectories is an essential step. Rather than high-definition maps, trajectory-based methods have attracted increasing attention for their merits of low cost and adaptability to map changes in a timely manner. However, they require a priori geometric information about roads which is usually unavailable in practice. To address this problem, we propose a method solely based on trajectory data to derive geometric road features for dividing lanes of trajectories collected in connected environments. The proposed method consists of two stages: (i) to extract the lane lines of the road, the direction of the road centerline is calculated as the weighted arithmetic average of trajectory directions, and an iterative process can keep updating the feature points of road centerline and lane lines based on kernel density estimation of trajectories; (ii) trajectories are divided into lanes by constructing a polygon based on the extracted lane lines. We conducted a field experiment to collect high-precision vehicle trajectories using roadside LiDAR devices and created a high-definition digital map at an urban road without signalized intersection in the city of Chengdu. The experiment based on the empirical data demonstrates the proposed method can accurately divide lanes for 97.83% of trajectory points. In addition, a series of sensitivity analyses show that the proposed method is robust to the noise in trajectory data and the error of calibrating the roadside LiDAR devices.
Ten-Year Survivorship, Outcomes, and Sports Participation in Athletes After Primary Hip Arthroscopy for Femoroacetabular Impingement Syndrome
Authors: Domb Benjamin G. , Annin Shawn , Monahan Peter F. , Lee Michael S. , Jimenez Andrew E. , Maldonado David R.
Published: June 2023

Background:

Hip arthroscopy is an effective treatment tool for athletes with femoroacetabular impingement (FAI) syndrome. However, long-term data are scarce.

Purpose:

To assess survivorship, minimum 10-year patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs), and sports participation after primary hip arthroscopy for FAI syndrome in athletes and to perform a propensity-matched comparison between patients undergoing labral debridement and labral repair.

Study Design:

Cohort study; Level of evidence, 3.

Methods:

Athletes who underwent hip arthroscopy for FAI syndrome between February 2008 and December 2010 were eligible. Exclusion criteria were other ipsilateral hip condition, Tönnis grade ≥2, or no baseline PROMs. Survivorship was defined as no conversion to total hip arthroplasty. The Patient Acceptable Symptom State (PASS), minimal clinically important difference (MCID), maximum outcome improvement (MOI) satisfaction threshold, and sports participation were reported. A propensity-matched comparison between labral debridement and labral repair was performed. Two additional propensity-matched subanalyses were performed for capsular management and cartilage damage.

Results:

In total, 189 hips (177 patients) were included. The mean ± SD follow-up was 127.2 ± 6.0 months. Survivorship was 85.7%. Significant improvement in all PROMs was reported ( P < .001). A total of 46 athletes with labral repair were propensity matched to 46 athletes with labral debridement. This subanalysis demonstrated significant and comparable improvement in all PROMs at minimum 10-year follow-up ( P < .001). For the labral repair group, the PASS achievement rates were 88.9% for the modified Harris Hip Score (mHHS) and 80% for the Hip Outcome Score–Sport Specific Subscale (HOS-SSS); the MCID achievement rates were 80.6% for the mHHS and 84% for HOS-SSS; and for the MOI satisfaction threshold, rates were 77.8%, 80.6%, and 55.6% for the mHHS, Nonarthritic Hip Score, and visual analog scale, respectively. For the labral debridement group, the PASS achievement rates were 85.3% for the mHHS and 70.4% for the HOS-SSS; the MCID achievement rates were 81.8% for the mHHS and 74.1% for HOS-SSS; and for the MOI satisfaction threshold, rates were 72.7%, 81.8%, and 66.7% for the mHHS, Nonarthritic Hip Score, and visual analog scale. Total hip arthroplasty conversions occurred significantly sooner with labral debridement than labral repair ( P = .048). Age was identified as a significant predictor of achieving the PASS.

Conclusion:

Primary hip arthroscopy for FAI syndrome in athletes results in 85.7% survivorship and sustained PROM improvement at a minimum 10-year follow-up. A significant time delay to total hip arthroplasty conversion at 10-year follow-up was reported with labral repair over debridement, although this should be interpreted with caution, as the total number of conversions was small.
Book review: Meeta Deka (Ed.), Urbanism in South Asia: Northeast India Outside-In
Authors: Choubey D. C.
Published: June 2023

Meeta Deka (Ed.), Urbanism in South Asia: Northeast India Outside-In (Delhi: Primus Books, 2020), viii + 340pp., ₹1,195, ISBN: 9789390022335 (Hardback).
Culturally Adapted Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CaCBT) to Improve Community Mental Health Services for Canadians of South Asian Origin: A Qualitative Study
Authors: Naeem Farooq , Khan Nagina , Sohani Nazia , Safa Farhana , Masud Mehreen , Ahmed Sarah , Thandi Gary , Mutta Baldev , Kasaam Azaad , Tello Kamlesh , Husain Muhammad Ishrat , Husain Muhammad Omair , Kidd Sean A. , McKenzie Kwame
Published: June 2023

Background

South Asian (SA) Canadians are disproportionately affected by higher rates of mood and anxiety disorders. SA Canadians with depression report significant barriers to accessing mental health care and the highest proportion of unmet mental health needs. The Mental Health Commission of Canada (MHCC) advocates for culturally and linguistically relevant services for SA Canadians. Culturally adapted cognitive behavior therapy (CaCBT) has shown to be more effective than standard cognitive behavior therapy (CBT). Adapting CBT for the growing SA population in Canada will ensure equitable access to effective, culturally-appropriate mental health interventions.

Method

The study used a qualitative design to elicit stakeholder consultation via in-depth interviews. This study is reported using the criteria included in Consolidated Criteria for Reporting Qualitative Studies (COREQ). The analysis follows an ethnographic approach and was informed by the principles of emergent design.

Results

Five themes were identified from the analysis, (i) Awareness and preparation: factors that impact the individual's understanding of therapy and mental illness. (ii) Access and provision: SA Canadians’ perception of barriers, facilitators, and access to treatment. (iii) Assessment and engagement: experiences of receiving helpful treatment. (iv) Adjustments to therapy: modifications and suggestions to standard CBT. (v) Ideology and ambiguity: racism, immigration, discrimination, and other socio-political factors.

Conclusions

Mainstream mental health services need to be culturally appropriate to better serve SA Canadians experiencing depression and anxiety. Services must understand the family dynamics, cultural values and socio-political factors that impact SA Canadians to reduce attrition rates in therapy.
Modern, Empowered, but Stigmatized: Analyzing the Construction of Menstrual Cups as Feminist Technologies
Authors: Shaw Malissa Kay
Published: June 2023

Menstrual products have long shaped how women manage their menstruating bodies and how menstruation is socially constructed. Historically, these products have simultaneously promoted messages of shame—menstruation is dirty and requires concealment—and modernity or have linked their use to overcoming the constraints of menstruation to become modern and liberated. In this article, which analyzes the websites of companies that produce menstrual cups (an insertable, reusable menstrual technology), I identify a new use of this “modern” discourse that emphasizes the interrelationship between “modern women” and female empowerment. Notions of modernity are connected to depictions of menstrual cups as modern technologies that invoke modern ideologies and promote living a modern lifestyle—all conceptions of modernity that seek to empower women in their menstrual health and wider lives. Although these intertwined discourses of modernity and empowerment reflect those of feminist menstrual activists, menstrual stigmas often remain embedded within these messages. Analyzing the persistent intermixing of these contrasting discourses allows for expanding the theories of feminist technologies to consider how technologies may benefit, empower, and destabilize patriarchal systems in subtle and diverse ways.
Assessment of the physico-mechanical, thermal and electrical conductivity of gamma irradiated HDPE/kaolin/graphite nanocomposite
Authors: Elnaggar Mona Y , Fathy ES , Raslan Heba A
Published: June 2023

In this article, the effect of irradiation dose and incorporated nanoparticles of kaolin (K) and graphite (G) on the lattice structure, thermal analysis, electrical conductivity, morphology, and mechanical properties of high-density polyethylene (HDPE) were studied. Infrared spectroscopy analysis (FTIR), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and X-ray diffraction (XRD) were used to characterize and prove the nanostructure of kaolin and graphite. Subsequently, HDPE was reinforced with a fixed percentage of nanokaolin at 3 phr and different contents of nanographite at 2 and 4 phr via melt-mixing and then molded by the hot press to sheets of suitable thickness. The fabricated sheets will be exposed to various gamma radiation doses at 50, 100, and 150kGy to investigate the impact of ionizing radiation on the prepared nanocomposites. It was found that the presence of a fixed percent of nanokaolin and graphite nanoparticles at 2 phr inside the HDPE matrix improved various properties of the prepared nanocomposites. Furthermore, the synergistic effect of nanokaolin with nanographite and irradiation doses led to the improved crystal structure, thermal analysis, mechanical properties, and electrical conductivity of HDPE nanocomposites.
Biomechanical design optimization of distal femur locked plates: A review
Authors: Zdero Radovan , Gide Kunal , Brzozowski Pawel , Schemitsch Emil H , Bagheri Z. Shaghayegh
Published: June 2023

Clinical findings, manufacturer instructions, and surgeon’s preferences often dictate the implantation of distal femur locked plates (DFLPs), but healing problems and implant failures still persist. Also, most biomechanical researchers compare a particular DFLP configuration to implants like plates and nails. However, this begs the question: Is this specific DFLP configuration biomechanically optimal to encourage early callus formation, reduce bone and implant failure, and minimize bone “stress shielding”? Consequently, it is crucial to optimize, or characterize, the biomechanical performance (stiffness, strength, fracture micro-motion, bone stress, plate stress) of DFLPs influenced by plate variables (geometry, position, material) and screw variables (distribution, size, number, angle, material). Thus, this article reviews 20 years of biomechanical design optimization studies on DFLPs. As such, Google Scholar and PubMed websites were searched for articles in English published since 2000 using the terms “distal femur plates” or “supracondylar femur plates” plus “biomechanics/biomechanical” and “locked/locking,” followed by searching article reference lists. Key numerical outcomes and common trends were identified, such as: (a) plate cross-sectional area moment of inertia can be enlarged to lower plate stress at the fracture; (b) plate material has a larger influence on plate stress than plate thickness, buttress screws, and inserts for empty plate holes; (c) screw distribution has a major influence on fracture micro-motion, etc. Recommendations for future work and clinical implications are then provided, such as: (a) simultaneously optimizing fracture micro-motion for early healing, reducing bone and implant stresses to prevent re-injury, lowering “stress shielding” to avoid bone resorption, and ensuring adequate fatigue life; (b) examining alternate non-metallic materials for plates and screws; (c) assessing the influence of condylar screw number, distribution, and angulation, etc. This information can benefit biomedical engineers in designing or evaluating DFLPs, as well as orthopedic surgeons in choosing the best DFLPs for their patients.
Adaptive self-triggered control-based cooperative output regulation of heterogeneous multi-agent systems under sensor and actuator attack
Authors: Sun Yaohui , Shi Yanpeng
Published: June 2023

The cooperative output regulation problem for heterogeneous multi-agent systems under sensor and actuator attacks with an adaptive self-triggering strategy is considered in this article. The attack considered is the false data injection attack. To resolve the system, a dynamic internal model is introduced for each agent, and a distributed adaptive self-triggering control scheme is proposed. The results show that intermittent communication is possible for all agents using the proposed control mechanism and no agent shows Zeno behavior. The adaptive controller is used to guarantee that the regulated output for the heterogeneous multi-agent systemss is achieved with cooperative uniform ultimate boundedness under both actuator and sensor attacks. Given the whole state of information is unavailable, the adaptive dynamic system is designed based on receivable compromised or uncompromised output information. The effectiveness of the given control scheme is illustrated by two examples.
Book review: Hikmet Karcˇic´, Torture, Humiliate, Kill: Inside the Bosnian Serb Camp System
Authors: Yousuf Ambreen
Published: June 2023

Hikmet Karcˇic´, Torture, Humiliate, Kill: Inside the Bosnian Serb Camp System. Michigan Press, 2022, pp. 280, $85, ISBN: 9780472132966.
A comparison of sampling and testing approaches for the surveillance of SARS-CoV-2 in farmed American mink
Authors: Himsworth Chelsea G. , Caleta Jessica M. , Coombe Michelle , McGregor Glenna , Dibernardo Antonia , Lindsay Robbin , Sekirov Inna , Prystajecky Natalie
Published: June 2023

Surveillance for SARS-CoV-2 in American mink ( Neovison vison) is a global priority because outbreaks on mink farms have potential consequences for animal and public health. Surveillance programs often focus on screening natural mortalities; however, significant knowledge gaps remain regarding sampling and testing approaches. Using 76 mink from 3 naturally infected farms in British Columbia, Canada, we compared the performance of 2 reverse-transcription real-time PCR (RT-rtPCR) targets (the envelope [ E] and RNA-dependent RNA polymerase [ RdRp] genes) as well as serology. We also compared RT-rtPCR and sequencing results from nasopharyngeal, oropharyngeal, skin, and rectal swabs, as well as nasopharyngeal samples collected using swabs and interdental brushes. We found that infected mink were generally RT-rtPCR–positive on all samples; however, Ct values differed significantly among sample types (nasopharyngeal < oropharyngeal < skin < rectal). There was no difference in the results of nasopharyngeal samples collected using swabs or interdental brushes. For most mink (89.4%), qualitative (i.e., positive vs. negative) serology and RT-rtPCR results were concordant. However, mink were positive on RT-rtPCR and negative on serology and vice versa, and there was no significant correlation between Ct values on RT-rtPCR and percent inhibition on serology. Both the E and RdRp targets were detectable in all sample types, albeit with a small difference in Ct values. Although SARS-CoV-2 RNA can be detected in multiple sample types, passive surveillance programs in mink should focus on multiple target RT-rtPCR testing of nasopharyngeal samples in combination with serology.
Predicting the Onset of Sepsis Using Vital Signs Data: A Machine Learning Approach
Authors: Tran An , Topp Robert , Tarshizi Ebrahim , Shao Anthony
Published: June 2023

Sepsis is a major cause of mortality among hospitalized patients. Existing sepsis prediction methods face limitations due to their reliance on laboratory results and Electronic Medical Records (EMRs). This work aimed to develop a sepsis prediction model utilizing continuous vital signs monitoring, offering an innovative approach to sepsis prediction. Data from 48,886 Intensive Care Unit (ICU) patient stays were extracted from the Medical Information Mart for Intensive Care -IV dataset. A machine learning model was developed to predict sepsis onset based solely on vital signs. The model’s efficacy was compared with the existing scoring systems of SIRS, qSOFA, and a Logistic Regression model. The machine learning model demonstrated superior performance at 6 hrs prior to sepsis onset, achieving 88.1% sensitivity and 81.3% specificity, surpassing existing scoring systems. This novel approach offers clinicians a timely assessment of patients’ likelihood of developing sepsis.
Factors Related to Police Reporting in Sexual Assault Care Centers: Are We Underestimating the Role of Support Persons?
Authors: Baert Saar , De Buyser Stefanie , Van Belle Sara , Gemmel Paul , Rousseau Charlotte , Roelens Kristien , Keygnaert Ines
Published: June 2023

Few victims of sexual assault (SA) report to the police. Research on the role of support persons in victims’ reporting is sparse. We address this gap by examining the association of victim, assailant, victimization incident, and support characteristics with reporting rates among victims attending sexual assault care centers (SACCs). Logistic regression results show that type of SA, delay between SA and presentation at SACC, and presence of an informal support person at SACC and SACC site are significantly associated with police reporting. These findings reveal the importance of targeting victims’ support persons to alter reporting behavior among SA victims.
The Ability of Self-Report Methods to Accurately Diagnose Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder: A Systematic Review
Authors: Harrison Allyson G. , Edwards Melanie J.
Published: June 2023

Objective:

To identify and analyze all studies validating rating scales or interview-based screeners commonly used to evaluate ADHD in adults.

Method:

A systematic literature search identified all studies providing diagnostic accuracy statistics, including sensitivity and specificity, supplemented by relevant articles or test manuals referenced in reviewed manuscripts.

Results:

Only 20 published studies or manuals provided data regarding sensitivity and specificity when tasked with differentiating those with and without ADHD. While all screening measures have excellent ability to correctly classify non-ADHD individuals (with negative predictive values exceeding 96%), false positive rates were high. At best, positive predictive values in clinical samples reached 61%, but most fell below 20%.

Conclusion:

Clinicians cannot rely on scales alone to diagnose ADHD and must undertake more rigorous evaluation of clients who screen positive. Furthermore, relevant classification statistics must be included in publications to help clinicians make statistically defensible decisions. Otherwise, clinicians risk inappropriately diagnosing ADHD.