bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Towards Meta-Fixture Design for Indirect Electromechanical Impedance Measurements: On the Effects of Elastic Metastructures on Defect Detection Capabilities
Authors: Oyekola Peter O. , Rogers William , Albakri Mohammad I.
Published: November 2022

Electromechanical impedance (EMI) measurements have seen an increased application in the assessment of the structural integrity of manufactured parts. This has allowed for a cost-effective and simple solution to non-destructively evaluate additively manufactured components. EMI-based non-destructive evaluation (NDE) is normally conducted by instrumenting individual parts with piezoelectric wafers. Recently, indirect EMI measurements have been proposed as a rapid NDE solution for manufactured parts. With indirect EMI, manufactured parts are inspected through an instrumented fixture, which alleviates the need for individual part instrumentation, reducing measurement cost and time. EMI signatures obtained for the fixture-part combination are found to be dominated by the fixture’s dynamic response. It is hypothesized that integrating the concepts of elastic metastructures in the fixture design allows for obtaining EMI signatures that are dominated by the part itself, leading to an improved defect detection capability.

This paper investigates the effects of elastic metastructures on EMI signatures and defect-detection capabilities. For this purpose, a set of beams with integrated mechanical resonators are designed and fabricated. Frequency response functions of the beams are then experimentally measured to identify the bandgaps. The EMI signatures of the beam are measured over the frequency range encompassing the beam’s bandgap. This is then compared with the signature obtained when structural changes at the opposing beam end are introduced. The sensitivity of EMI signatures measured over these frequency ranges is then evaluated to assess the impact of bandgap on defect detection capabilities. This work is a first step in investigating the feasibility of eliminating the fixture’s dynamics from the measured EMI signature for indirect EMI-based NDE.
Regulatory Policy and Women’s Sports: The Nexus of Gender Verification, Title IX, and Trans Inclusion
Authors: Stets Emily Carol
Published: November 2022

Title IX specifies that “no person” shall be subjected to discrimination on the basis of sex. Yet, advocacy groups and state legislators have debated transgender girls’ and women’s right to participate in sports teams consistent with their gender identity. Such entities employ misguided research about testosterone’s role in sports, assert that transgender girls displace cisgender girls in sports, and weaponize gender verification against transgender girls. Title IX’s original intent catalyzes access for all young people in sports, regardless of gender identity. A review of the historical underpinnings of the regulatory policy driving Title IX’s implementation, leading up to the Biden administration’s current efforts to assess Title IX’s application to sports, underscores the path to the truest implementation of Title IX. The regulatory mechanisms establishing Title IX implementation compel maximization of sport opportunities for all girls and women, which includes trans girls and women.
Noise-resilient edge modes on a chain of superconducting qubits
Authors: Mi X. , Sonner M. , Niu M. Y. , Lee K. W. , Foxen B. , Acharya R. , Aleiner I. , Andersen T. I. , Arute F. , Arya K. , Asfaw A. , Atalaya J. , Bardin J. C. , Basso J. , Bengtsson A. , Bortoli G. , Bourassa A. , Brill L. , Broughton M. , Buckley B. B. , Buell D. A. , Burkett B. , Bushnell N. , Chen Z. , Chiaro B. , Collins R. , Conner P. , Courtney W. , Crook A. L. , Debroy D. M. , Demura S. , Dunsworth A. , Eppens D. , Erickson C. , Faoro L. , Farhi E. , Fatemi R. , Flores L. , Forati E. , Fowler A. G. , Giang W. , Gidney C. , Gilboa D. , Giustina M. , Dau A. G. , Gross J. A. , Habegger S. , Harrigan M. P. , Hoffmann M. , Hong S. , Huang T. , Huff A. , Huggins W. J. , Ioffe L. B. , Isakov S. V. , Iveland J. , Jeffrey E. , Jiang Z. , Jones C. , Kafri D. , Kechedzhi K. , Khattar T. , Kim S. , Kitaev A. Y. , Klimov P. V. , Klots A. R. , Korotkov A. N. , Kostritsa F. , Kreikebaum J. M. , Landhuis D. , Laptev P. , Lau K.-M. , Lee J. , Laws L. , Liu W. , Locharla A. , Martin O. , McClean J. R. , McEwen M. , Meurer Costa B. , Miao K. C. , Mohseni M. , Montazeri S. , Morvan A. , Mount E. , Mruczkiewicz W. , Naaman O. , Neeley M. , Neill C. , Newman M. , O’Brien T. E. , Opremcak A. , Petukhov A. , Potter R. , Quintana C. , Rubin N. C. , Saei N. , Sank D. , Sankaragomathi K. , Satzinger K. J. , Schuster C. , Shearn M. J. , Shvarts V. , Strain D. , Su Y. , Szalay M. , Vidal G. , Villalonga B. , Vollgraff-Heidweiller C. , White T. , Yao Z. , Yeh P. , Yoo J. , Zalcman A. , Zhang Y. , Zhu N. , Neven H. , Bacon D. , Hilton J. , Lucero E. , Babbush R. , Boixo S. , Megrant A. , Chen Y. , Kelly J. , Smelyanskiy V. , Abanin D. A. , Roushan P.
Published: November 2022

Inherent symmetry of a quantum system may protect its otherwise fragile states. Leveraging such protection requires testing its robustness against uncontrolled environmental interactions. Using 47 superconducting qubits, we implement the one-dimensional kicked Ising model, which exhibits nonlocal Majorana edge modes (MEMs) with

ℤ
2

parity symmetry. We find that any multiqubit Pauli operator overlapping with the MEMs exhibits a uniform late-time decay rate comparable to single-qubit relaxation rates, irrespective of its size or composition. This characteristic allows us to accurately reconstruct the exponentially localized spatial profiles of the MEMs. Furthermore, the MEMs are found to be resilient against certain symmetry-breaking noise owing to a prethermalization mechanism. Our work elucidates the complex interplay between noise and symmetry-protected edge modes in a solid-state environment.
Moore’s law: The journey ahead
Authors: Lundstrom Mark S. , Alam Muhammad A.
Published: November 2022

High-performance electronics will focus on increasing the rate of computation
In Science Journals
Authors: Lavine Marc S. , Szuromi Phil , Hines Pamela J. , Suleymanov Yury , Stajic Jelena , Ferrarelli Leslie K. , Malo Courtney S. , Nusinovich Yevgeniya , Alderton Gemma , Hurtley Stella M. , Purnell Beverly A. , Kelly Priscilla N. , Yeston Jake , Williams Ifor
Published: November 2022

Highlights from the
Science
family of journals
In Other Journals
Authors: Vignieri Sacha , Scanlon Seth Thomas , Ash Caroline , Yeston Jake , Simonti Corinne , Funk Michael A. , Smith Keith T.
Published: November 2022

Editors’ selections from the current scientific literature
Science community braces for divided government
Authors: Mervis Jeffrey
Published: November 2022

Split control of Congress could produce fiery hearings and limit new funding
Tumors can teem with microbes. But what are they doing there?
Authors: Sinha Gunjan
Published: November 2022

New study suggests microbiomes can promote cancer by suppressing immune response and seeding metastase
In through the Out Exit: the Role of the Exocyst in Listeria monocytogenes Cell Entry
Authors: Minahk Carlos
Published: November 2022

The intracellular pathogen
Listeria monocytogenes
is one of the leading causes of death from foodborne illness in the United States. Internalin A is the key surface protein that drives
Listeria
uptake by epithelial cells expressing E-cadherin.
Self-Hybridization in Leishmania major
Authors: Ferreira Tiago R. , Inbar Ehud , Shaik Jahangheer , Jeffrey Brendan M. , Ghosh Kashinath , Dobson Deborah E. , Beverley Stephen M. , Sacks David
Published: November 2022

Leishmania
are parasitic protozoa that cause a wide spectrum of diseases collectively known as the leishmaniases. Sexual reproduction in
Leishmania
has been proposed as an important source of genetic diversity and has been formally demonstrated to occur inside the sand fly vector midgut.
Complete Genome Sequence of
Brachybacterium
sp. Strain NBEC-018, Isolated from Nematode-Infected Potatoes
Authors: Chen Ling , Wang Yueying , Liu Nanxi , Zhu Lei , Min Yong , Qiu Yimin , Tian Yuxi , Liu Xiaoyan
Published: November 2022

Brachybacterium
species are ubiquitous Gram-positive bacteria. Here, we report the complete genome sequence of
Brachybacterium
sp. strain NBEC-018. The strain was isolated from rotten potatoes that were infected with potato rot nematodes (
Ditylenchus destructor
). The genome sequence will be beneficial to clarify the ecological role of
Brachybacterium
species.
A Mineral-Doped Micromodel Platform Demonstrates Fungal Bridging of Carbon Hot Spots and Hyphal Transport of Mineral-Derived Nutrients
Authors: Bhattacharjee Arunima , Qafoku Odeta , Richardson Jocelyn A. , Anderson Lindsey N. , Schwarz Kaitlyn , Bramer Lisa M. , Lomas Gerard X. , Orton Daniel J. , Zhu Zihua , Engelhard Mark H. , Bowden Mark E. , Nelson William C. , Jumpponen Ari , Jansson Janet K. , Hofmockel Kirsten S. , Anderton Christopher R.
Published: November 2022

Fungal species are foundational members of soil microbiomes, where their contributions in accessing and transporting vital nutrients is key for community resilience. To date, the molecular mechanisms underlying fungal mineral weathering and nutrient translocation in low-nutrient environments remain poorly resolved due to the lack of a platform for spatial analysis of biotic weathering processes.
Candida albicans
Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS)-Dependent Lethality and ROS-Independent Hyphal and Biofilm Inhibition by Eugenol and Citral
Authors: Shahina Zinnat , Ndlovu Easter , Persaud Omkaar , Sultana Taranum , Dahms Tanya E. S.
Published: November 2022

Candida albicans
is a normal resident on and in the human body that can cause relatively benign infections. However, when our immune system is severely compromised (e.g., cancer chemotherapy patients) or underdeveloped (e.g., newborns), this fungus can become a deadly pathogen, infecting the bloodstream and organs.
Proteomic Analysis of Zebrafish Protein Recoding via mRNA Editing by ADAR Enzymes
Authors: Nasaev Shamsudin S. , Kopeykina Anna S. , Kuznetsova Ksenia G. , Levitsky Lev I. , Moshkovskii Sergei A.
Published: November 2022

RNA editing by adenosine deaminases of the ADAR family can lead to protein recoding, since inosine formed from adenosine in mRNA is complementary to cytosine; the resulting codon editing might introduce amino acid substitutions into translated proteins. Proteome recoding can have functional consequences which have been described in many animals including humans. Using protein recoding database derived from publicly available transcriptome data, we identified for the first time the recoding sites in the zebrafish shotgun proteomes. Out of more than a hundred predicted recoding events, ten substitutions were found in six used datasets. Seven of them were in the AMPA glutamate receptor subunits, whose recoding has been well described, and are conserved among vertebrates. Three sites were specific for zebrafish proteins and were found in the transmembrane receptors astrotactin 1 and neuregulin 3b (proteins involved in the neuronal adhesion and signaling) and in the rims2b gene product (presynaptic membrane protein participating in the neurotransmitter release), respectively. Further studies are needed to elucidate the role of recoding of the said three proteins in the zebrafish.
Angiotensin receptor blockers for the treatment of covid-19: pragmatic, adaptive, multicentre, phase 3, randomised controlled trial
Authors: Jardine Meg J , Kotwal Sradha S , Bassi Abhinav , Hockham Carinna , Jones Mark , Wilcox Arlen , Pollock Carol , Burrell Louise M , McGree James , Rathore Vinay , Jenkins Christine R , Gupta Lalit , Ritchie Angus , Bangi Ashpak , D’Cruz Sanjay , McLachlan Andrew J , Finfer Simon , Cummins Michelle M , Snelling Thomas , Jha Vivekanand
Published: November 2022

Objective

To determine whether disrupting the renin angiotensin system with angiotensin receptor blockers will improve clinical outcomes in people with covid-19.

Design

CLARITY was a pragmatic, adaptive, multicentre, phase 3, randomised controlled trial.

Setting

17 hospital sites in India and Australia.

Participants

Participants were at least 18 years old, previously untreated with angiotensin receptor blockers, with a laboratory confirmed diagnosis of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection who had been admitted to hospital for management of covid-19.

Intervention

Oral angiotensin receptor blockers (telmisartan in India) or placebo (1:1) for 28 days.

Main outcome measures

The primary endpoint was covid-19 disease severity using a modified World Health Organization Clinical Progression Scale (WHO scale) at day 14. Secondary outcomes were WHO scale scores at day 28, mortality, intensive care unit admission, and respiratory failure. Analyses were evaluated on an ordinal scale in the intention-to-treat population.

Results

Between 3 May 2020 and 13 November 2021, 2930 people were screened for eligibility, with 393 randomly assigned to angiotensin receptor blockers (of which 388 (98.7%) to telmisartan 40 mg/day) and 394 to the control group. 787 participants were randomised: 778 (98.9%) from India and nine (1.1%) from Australia. The median WHO scale score at day 14 was 1 (interquartile range 1-1) in 384 participants assigned angiotensin receptor blockers and 1 (1-1) in 382 participants assigned placebo (adjusted odds ratio 1.51 (95% credible interval 1.02 to 2.23), probability of an odds ratio of >1 (Pr(OR>1)=0.98). WHO scale scores at day 28 showed little evidence of difference between groups (1.02 (0.55 to 1.87), Pr(OR>1)=0.53). The trial was stopped when a prespecified futility rule was met.

Conclusions

In patients admitted to hospital for covid-19, mostly with mild disease, not requiring oxygen, no evidence of benefit, based on disease severity score, was found for treatment with angiotensin receptor blockers, using predominantly 40 mg/day of telmisartan.

Trial registration

ClinicalTrials.gov
NCT04394117
.
Remote methods for research on violence against women and children: lessons and challenges from research during the COVID-19 pandemic
Authors: Bhatia Amiya , Turner Ellen , Akim Aggrey , Mirembe Angel , Nakuti Janet , Parkes Jenny , Datzberger Simone , Nagawa Rehema , Kung'u Mary , Babu Hellen , Kabuti Rhoda , Kimani Joshua , Beattie Tara S , d'Oliveira Ana Flavia , Rishal Poonam , Nyakuwa Robert , Bell Sadie , Bukuluki Paul , Cislaghi Beniamino , Tanton Clare , Conolly Anne , Mercer Catherine H , Seeley Janet , Bacchus Loraine J , Devries Karen
Published: November 2022

Collecting data to understand violence against women and children during and after the COVID-19 pandemic is essential to inform violence prevention and response efforts. Although researchers across fields have pivoted to remote rather than in-person data collection, remote research on violence against women, children and young people poses particular challenges. As a group of violence researchers, we reflect on our experiences across eight studies in six countries that we redesigned to include remote data collection methods. We found the following areas were crucial in fulfilling our commitments to participants, researchers, violence prevention and research ethics: (1) designing remote data collection in the context of strong research partnerships; (2) adapting data collection approaches; (3) developing additional safeguarding processes in the context of remote data collection during the pandemic; and (4) providing remote support for researchers. We discuss lessons learnt in each of these areas and across the research design and implementation process, and summarise key considerations for other researchers considering remote data collection on violence.
Feasibility and potential effects of tai chi for the fatigue-sleep
disturbance-depression symptom cluster in patients with breast cancer:
protocol of a preliminary randomised controlled trial
Authors: Yao Li-Qun , Tan Jing-Yu (Benjamin) , Turner Catherine , Wang Tao
Published: November 2022

Introduction

The fatigue-sleep disturbance-depression symptom cluster (FSDSC) is
one of the most common and debilitating side effects in patients with
breast cancer (BC) throughout their treatment trajectory. Tai chi has
been supported as a promising non-pharmacological intervention for the
individual symptom relief of cancer-related fatigue, sleep disturbance
and depression. However, relevant evidence of using tai chi for FSDSC
management in patients with BC has been lacking.

Methods

This study will be a two-arm, single-blinded pilot randomised
controlled trial involving an 8-week intervention and a 4-week
follow-up. Seventy-two patients with BC experiencing the FSDSC will be
recruited from two tertiary medical centres in China. The participants
will be randomised to either a tai chi group (n=36) or a control group
(n=36). The participants in the tai chi group will receive an 8-week tai
chi intervention in addition to standard care, while the participants in
the control group will receive standard care only consisting of a
booklet on the self-management of cancer symptoms. The primary outcomes
will include a series of feasibility assessments of the study protocol
in relation to the study’s methodological procedures, including subject
recruitment and follow-up process, completion of study questionnaires
and the feasibility, acceptability and safety of the intervention. The
secondary outcomes will be the clinical outcomes regarding the effects
of tai chi on the FSDSC and quality of life, which will be evaluated by
the Brief Fatigue Inventory, the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, the
Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale and the Functional Assessment of
Cancer Therapy-Breast questionnaires.

Ethics and dissemination

Ethics approval was obtained from relevant sites (H19094, KY2019133,
201932). The findings of the study will be published in peer-reviewed
scientific journals and at conferences.

Trail registration number

NCT04190342; Pre-results
Relevance of assessment items in community paramedicine home visit
programmes: results of a modified Delphi study
Authors: Leyenaar Matthew S , Allana Amir , Sinha Samir K , Nolan Michael , Agarwal Gina , Tavares Walter , Costa Andrew P
Published: November 2022

Objective

Guidelines for a structured assessment in community paramedicine
home visit programmes have not been established and evidence to inform
their creation is lacking. We sought to investigate the relevance of
assessment items to the practice of community paramedics according to a
pre-established clarity-utility matrix.

Design

We designed a modified-Delphi study consisting of predetermined
thresholds for achieving consensus, number of rounds of for scoring
items, a defined meeting and discussion process, and a sample of
participants that was purposefully representative.

Setting and participants

We established a panel of 26 community paramedics representing 20
municipal paramedic services in Ontario, Canada. The sample represented
a majority of paramedic services within the province that were operating
a community paramedicine home visit programme.

Measures

Drawing from a bank of standardised assessment items grouped
according to domains aligned with the International Classification on
Functioning, Disability, and Health taxonomy, 64 previously pilot-tested
assessment items were scored according to their clarity (being free from
ambiguity and easy to understand) and utility (being valued in care
planning or case management activities). Assessment items covered a
broad range of health, social and environmental domains. To conclude
scoring rounds, assessment items that did not achieve consensus for
relevance to assessment practices were discussed among participants with
opportunities to modify assessment items for subsequent rounds of
scoring.

Results

Resulting from the first round of scoring, 54 assessment items were
identified as being relevant to assessment practices and 3 assessment
items were removed from subsequent rounds. The remaining 7 assessment
items were modified, with some parts removed from the final items that
achieved consensus in the final rounds of scoring.

Conclusion

A broadly representative panel of community paramedics identified
consensus for 61 assessment items that could be included in a
structured, multidomain, assessment instrument for guiding practice in
community paramedicine home visit programmes.

Trail registration number

NCT58273216.
Prospective, randomised, parallel-group, open-label study to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of IMU-838, in combination with oseltamivir, in adults with COVID-19: theIONICtrial protocol
Authors: Sharma Kavi , Berry Lisa , Vryonis Evangelos , Ali Asad , Lara Beatriz , Noufaily Angela , Parsons Nicholas , Bradley Christopher , Haley Becky , Tabuso Maria , Arasaradnam Ramesh P
Published: November 2022

Background

Globally, there is a scarcity of effective treatments for SARS-CoV-2 infections (causing COVID-19). Repurposing existing medications may offer the best hope for treating patients with COVID-19 to curb the pandemic. IMU-838 is a dihydroorotate dehydrogenase inhibitor, which is an effective mechanism for antiviral effects against respiratory viruses. When used synergistically with oseltamivir, therapeutic effects have been observed against influenza and SARS-CoV-2 in rodents. The IMU-838 and Oseltamivir in the Treatment of COVID-19 (IONIC) trial is a randomised controlled trial that will investigate whether time to clinical improvement in patients with COVID-19 is improved following a 14-day course of IMU-838+oseltamivir versus oseltamivir alone.

Methods

IONIC trial is an open-label study in which participants will be randomised 1:1 in two parallel arms: the intervention arm (IMU-838+oseltamivir) and the control arm (oseltamivir only). The primary outcome is time to clinical improvement; defined as the time from randomisation to a two-point improvement on WHO ordinal scale; discharge from hospital, or death (whichever occurs first). The study is sponsored by the University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust and funded by LifeArc.

Discussion

The IONIC protocol describes an overarching trial design to provide reliable evidence on the effectiveness of IMU-838 (vidofludimus calcium) when delivered in combination with an antiviral therapy (oseltamivir) (IONIC intervention) for confirmed or suspected COVID-19 infection in adult patients receiving usual standard of care.

Ethics and dissemination

This study has been independently reviewed and approved by Wales Research Ethics Committee. In addition, required regulatory approvals were received from Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency.

Trial registration number

EudraCT 2020-001805-21,ISRCTN53038326,NCT04516915.
Risk and response adapted therapy following autologous stem cell transplant in patients with newly diagnosed multiple myeloma (RADAR (UK-MRA Myeloma XV Trial): study protocol for a phase II/III randomised controlled trial
Authors: Royle Kara-Louise , Coulson Amy Beth , Ramasamy Karthik , Cairns David A , Hockaday Anna , Quezada Sergio , Drayson Mark , Kaiser Martin , Owen Roger , Auner Holger W , Cook Gordon , Meads David , Olivier Catherine , Barnard Lorna , Lambkin Rhiannon , Paterson Andrea , Dawkins Bryony , Chapman Mike , Pratt Guy , Popat Rakesh , Jackson Graham , Bygrave Ceri , Sive Jonathan , de Tute Ruth , Chantry Andrew , Parrish Christopher , Cook Mark , Asher Samir , Yong Kwee
Published: November 2022

Introduction

Multiple myeloma is a plasma cell malignancy that accounts for 1%–2% of newly diagnosed cancers.

At diagnosis, approximately 20% of patients can be identified, using cytogenetics, to have inferior survival (high-risk). Additionally, standard-risk patients, with detectable disease (minimal residual disease (MRD)-positive) postautologus stem cell transplant (ASCT), fare worse compared with those who do not (MRD-negative). Research is required to determine whether a risk-adapted approach post-ASCT could further improve patient outcomes.

Methods

RADAR is a UK, multicentre, risk-adapted, response-guided, open-label, randomised controlled trial for transplant-eligible newly diagnosed multiple myeloma patients, using combinations of lenalidomide (R), cyclophosphamide (Cy), bortezomib (Bor), dexamethasone (D) and isatuximab (Isa).

Participants receive RCyBorD(x4) induction therapy, followed by high-dose melphalan and ASCT. Post-ASCT, there are three pathways as follows:

A phase III discontinuation design to assess de-escalating therapy in standard-risk MRD-negative patients. Participants receive 12 cycles of Isa maintenance. Those who remain MRD-negative are randomised to either continue or stop treatment.

A phase II/III multiarm multistage design to test treatment strategies for treatment escalation in standard-risk MRD-positive patients. Participants are randomised to either; R, RBorD(x4) +R, RIsa, or RBorIsaD(x4) + RIsa.

A phase II design to assess the activity of intensive treatment strategies in high-risk patients. Participants are randomised to RBorD(x4) +R or RBorIsaD(x4) + RIsa.

1400 participants will be registered to allow for 500, 450 and 172 participants in each pathway. Randomisations are equal and treatment is given until disease progression or intolerance.

Ethics and dissemination

Ethical approval was granted by the London–Central Research Ethics Committee (20/LO/0238) and capacity and capability confirmed by the appropriate local research and development department for each participating centre prior to opening recruitment. Participant informed consent is required before trial registration and reconfirmed post-ASCT. Results will be disseminated by conference presentations and peer-reviewed publications.

Trial registration number

ISCRTN46841867.
Evaluating the feasibility, effectiveness and costs of implementing person-centred follow-up care for childhood cancer survivors in four European countries: the PanCareFollowUp Care prospective cohort study protocol
Authors: van Kalsbeek Rebecca J , Korevaar Joke C , Rijken Mieke , Haupt Riccardo , Muraca Monica , Kepák Tomáš , Kepakova Katerina , Blondeel Anne , Boes Stefan , Frederiksen Line E , Essiaf Samira , Winther Jeanette F , Hermens Rosella P M G , Kienesberger Anita , Loonen Jacqueline J , Michel Gisela , Mulder Renée L , O'Brien Kylie B , van der Pal Helena J H , Pluijm Saskia M F , Roser Katharina , Skinner Roderick , Renard Marleen , Uyttebroeck Anne , Follin Cecilia , Hjorth Lars , Kremer Leontien C M
Published: November 2022

Introduction

Long-term survival after childhood cancer often comes at the expense of late, adverse health conditions. However, survivorship care is frequently not available for adult survivors in Europe. The PanCareFollowUp Consortium therefore developed the PanCareFollowUp Care Intervention, an innovative person-centred survivorship care model based on experiences in the Netherlands. This paper describes the protocol of the prospective cohort study (Care Study) to evaluate the feasibility and the health economic, clinical and patient-reported outcomes of implementing PanCareFollowUp Care as usual care in four European countries.

Methods and analysis

In this prospective, longitudinal cohort study with at least 6 months of follow-up, 800 childhood cancer survivors will receive the PanCareFollowUp Care Intervention across four study sites in Belgium, Czech Republic, Italy and Sweden, representing different healthcare systems. The PanCareFollowUp Care Intervention will be evaluated according to the Reach, Effectiveness, Adoption, Implementation and Maintenance framework. Clinical and research data are collected through questionnaires, a clinic visit for multiple medical assessments and a follow-up call. The primary outcome is empowerment, assessed with the Health Education Impact Questionnaire. A central data centre will perform quality checks, data cleaning and data validation, and provide support in data analysis. Multilevel models will be used for repeated outcome measures, with subgroup analysis, for example, by study site, attained age, sex or diagnosis.

Ethics and dissemination

This study will be conducted in accordance with the guidelines of Good Clinical Practice and the Declaration of Helsinki. The study protocol has been reviewed and approved by all relevant ethics committees. The evidence and insights gained by this study will be summarised in a Replication Manual, also including the tools required to implement the PanCareFollowUp Care Intervention in other countries. This Replication Manual will become freely available through PanCare and will be disseminated through policy and press releases.

Trial registration number

Netherlands Trial Register (NL8918;https://www.trialregister.nl/trial/8918).
In-depth look into urban and rural disparities in prehospital delay in patients with acute ST-elevation myocardial infarction and its impact on prognosis: a prospective observational study
Authors: Shen Changxian , Li Chengzong , Wang Jin , Yin Jianrong , Lou Peian , Wang Zhirong , Lu Yuan , Yang Yu , Li Mingfang , Chen Minglong
Published: November 2022

Objectives

In line with the cardiac fast track, the ‘green pathway for patients with heart attack’ policy in China is implemented to reduce door-to-balloon time in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). However, the difference in prehospital delay between urban and rural areas of China and its impact on prognosis is unclear.

Design

Prospective observational study.

Setting

This study was conducted in a tertiary hospital, the only nationally accredited chest pain centre with percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) capacity in Pizhou, China.

Participants

394 patients with STEMI without patients with in-hospital STEMI or patients lost to follow-up were included.

Primary outcome measures

Primary outcome was major adverse cardiovascular events (MACEs), including cardiac death, non-fatal myocardial infarction and heart failure.

Results

Among 394 patients enrolled, 261 (66.2%) were men, the median age was 69 years (interquartile range: 61–77 years), and 269 (68.3%) were from rural areas. Symptom-to-door (S2D) time was significantly longer for rural patients than for urban patients (p<0.001). Cox regression analyses revealed living in rural areas was independently associated with prolonged S2D time (adjusted HR 0.59; 95% CI 0.43 to 0.81; p=0.001). HR of <1 indicates that the S2D time is longer for patients in the rural group (group of interest). During 1-year follow-up, the incidence of MACEs was higher in rural patients (p=0.008). The unadjusted OR for MACEs between rural and urban patients was 2.22 (95% CI 1.22 to 4.01). Adjusting for sex did not attenuate the association (OR 2.06; 95% CI 1.13 to 3.76), but after further adjusting for age, cardiac function classification, S2D time and performance of primary PCI, we found that odds were similar for rural and urban patients (OR 1.19; 95% CI 0.59 to 2.38).

Conclusions

Rural patients with STEMI had a longer S2D time, which led to a higher incidence of MACEs. This study provides rationales for taking all the measures to avoid prehospital delay.
Postnatal corticosteroid use for prevention or treatment of bronchopulmonary dysplasia in England and Wales 2012–2019: a retrospective population cohort study
Authors: Yao Sijia , Uthaya Sabita , Gale Chris , Modi Neena , Battersby Cheryl
Published: November 2022

Objective

Describe the population of babies who do and do not receive postnatal corticosteroids for prevention or treatment of bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD).

Design

Retrospective cohort study using data held in the National Neonatal Research Database.

Setting

National Health Service neonatal units in England and Wales.

Patients

Babies born less than 32 weeks gestation and admitted to neonatal units from 1 January 2012 to 31 December 2019.

Main outcomes

Proportion of babies given postnatal corticosteroid; type of corticosteroid; age at initiation and duration, trends over time.

Secondary outcomes

Survival to discharge, treatment for retinopathy of prematurity, BPD, brain injury, severe necrotising enterocolitis, gastrointestinal perforation.

Results

8% (4713/62019) of babies born <32 weeks and 26% (3525/13527) born <27 weeks received postnatal corticosteroids for BPD. Dexamethasone was predominantly used 5.3% (3309/62019), followed by late hydrocortisone 1.5%, inhaled budesonide 1.5%. prednisolone 0.8%, early hydrocortisone 0.3% and methylprednisolone 0.05%. Dexamethasone use increased over time (2012: 4.5 vs 2019: 5.8%, p=0.04). Median postnatal age of initiation of corticosteroid course was around 3 weeks for late hydrocortisone, 4 weeks for dexamethasone, 6 weeks for inhaled budesonide, 12 weeks for prednisolone and 16 weeks for methylprednisolone. Babies who received postnatal corticosteroids were born more prematurely, had a higher incidence of comorbidities and a longer length of stay.

Conclusions

In England and Wales, around 1 in 12 babies born less than 32 weeks and 1 in 4 born less than 27 weeks receive postnatal corticosteroids to prevent or treat BPD. Given the lack of convincing evidence of efficacy, challenges of recruiting to and length of time taken to conduct randomised controlled trial, our data highlight the need to monitor long-term outcomes in children who received neonatal postnatal corticosteroids.
Increasing socioeconomically disadvantaged patients’ engagement in breast cancer surgery decision-making through a shared decision-making intervention (A231701CD): protocol for a cluster randomised clinical trial
Authors: Schumacher Jessica R , Zahrieh David , Chow Selina , Taylor John , Wills Rachel , Hanlon Bret M , Rathouz Paul J , Tucholka Jennifer L , Neuman Heather B
Published: November 2022

Introduction

Socioeconomic disparities for breast cancer surgical care exist. Although the aetiology of the observed socioeconomic disparities is likely multifactorial, patient engagement during the surgical consult is critical. Shared decision-making may reduce health disparities by addressing barriers to patient engagement in decision-making that disproportionately impact socioeconomically disadvantaged patients. In this trial, we test the impact of a decision aid on increasing socioeconomically disadvantaged patients’ engagement in breast cancer surgery decision-making.

Methods and analysis

This multisite randomised trial is conducted through 10 surgical clinics within the National Cancer Institute Community Oncology Research Program (NCORP). We plan a stepped-wedge design with clinics randomised to the time of transition from usual care to the decision aid arm. Study participants are female patients, aged ≥18 years, with newly diagnosed stage 0–III breast cancer who are planning breast surgery. Data collection includes a baseline surgeon survey, baseline patient survey, audio-recording of the surgeon–patient consultation, a follow-up patient survey and medical record data review. Interviews and focus groups are conducted with a subset of patients, surgeons and clinic stakeholders. The effectiveness of the decision aid at increasing patient engagement (primary outcome) is evaluated using generalised linear mixed-effects models. The extent to which the effect of the decision aid intervention on patient engagement is mediated through the mitigation of barriers is tested in joint linear structural equation models. Qualitative interviews explore how barriers impact engagement, especially for socioeconomically disadvantaged women.

Ethics and dissemination

This protocol has been approved by the National Cancer Institute Central Institutional Review Board, and Certificate of Confidentiality has been obtained. We plan to disseminate the findings through journal publications and national meetings, including the NCORP network. Our findings will advance the science of medical decision-making with the potential to reduce socioeconomic health disparities.

Trial registration number

ClinicalTrials.gov Registry (NCT03766009).
Registry of Senior Australians (ROSA): integrating cross-sectoral information to evaluate quality and safety of care provided to older people
Authors: Inacio Maria C , Caughey Gillian Elizabeth , Wesselingh Steve
Published: November 2022

Purpose

The Registry of Senior Australians (ROSA) was established to evaluate aged care experiences in Australia. In this manuscript, we describe the ROSA framework, the two ROSA cohorts, highlights from research findings, and future plans.

Participants

The South AustralianROSA Prospective Cohort(August 2018–June 2020) enrolled 26 605 participants, of which 59.2% (N=15 745) are women, with a median age of 83 (interquartile range (IQR) 77–88). The NationalROSA Historical Cohort(January 2002–June 2020) includes 1 694 206 participants with an aged care eligibility assessment, of which 59.1% (N=1 001 705) are women and the median age is 78 (IQR 72–83).

Findings to date

Most research using the ROSA has focused on dementia, service accessibility, quality and safety of care, falls and injuries and quality use of medicines. The ROSA has also examined the experience of individuals with highly prevalent and understudied conditions in aged care settings (eg, eye and mental health) and aspects of services (eg, built environment) and innovation (eg, mobile radiological services) that can affect older people’s health. Important learnings from the ROSA’s development include the significant resources and multidisciplinary expertise required for establishing this platform. Between 2018 and 2022, 43 academic publications, eight reports of the Australian Government Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety, and several reports to state health authorities and professional societies have used the ROSA.

Future plans

Our plans include to: (1) continue delivering high-quality evidence to support the improvement of ageing and aged care services; (2) influence and improve the quality of research in and for the aged care sector; (3) expand scope to facilitate examining aims in more depth; (4) include future aged care sector data collections within the ROSA; (5) inform best practices and innovate how consumer engagement occurs in research; (6) monitor and evaluate the impact of the 2021 Australian Aged Care Reforms.
Identifying relative efficacy of components of prehabilitation in adult surgical patients: protocol for a systematic review and component network meta-analysis
Authors: McIsaac Daniel I , Hutton Brian , Veroniki Areti , Gill Marlyn , Boland Laura , Branje Karina , Grudzinski Alexa L , Hladkowicz Emily , Shaw Julia , Gillis Chelsia
Published: November 2022

Introduction

Prehabilitation is a high-priority intervention for patients, the public, clinicians and health systems. However, existing knowledge syntheses are generally low quality and do not provide insights regarding the relative efficacy of different prehabilitation components (eg, exercise, nutrition, psychosocial or cognitive interventions). The objective of the planned review is to evaluate the relative efficacy of different prehabilitation components to inform current care, implementation and future research.

Methods and analysis

We will perform a systematic review and component network meta-analysis (CNMA). We will use a peer-reviewed search strategy to identify all randomised trials of prehabilitation in adult surgical patients from Ovid Medline, Embase, the CINAHL, PsycINFO, Web of Science and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, along with grey literature. All stages of the review and data extraction process will be performed in duplicate, following recommended best practices. To compare the relative efficacy of different prehabilitation components (prespecified as exercise, nutrition, psychosocial or cognitive interventions), we will use CNMA, an extension of network meta-analysis that allows estimation of the contributions to efficacy of each component of a multicomponent intervention through direct and indirect comparisons. We will use additive CNMA models for critical outcomes (postoperative complications, patient-reported recovery, physical recovery and length of stay); standard care will be the common reference condition. Pre-specified sensitivity and subgroup analyses will be conducted.

Ethics and dissemination

This review of published data does not require ethical review. Results will be disseminated via scientific conferences, peer-reviewed publications, social and traditional media and via our research network to target partners and organisations.
Risk of atrial fibrillation and stroke among older men exposed to prolonged endurance sport practice: a 10-year follow-up. The Birkebeiner Ageing Study and the Tromsø Study
Authors: Johansen Kristoffer Robin , Ranhoff Anette Hylen , Sørensen Eivind , Nes Bjarne M , Heitmann Kim Arne , Apelland Turid , Bucher Sandbakk Silvana , Wilsgaard Tom , Løchen Maja-Lisa , Thelle Dag S , Morseth Bente , Myrstad Marius
Published: November 2022

Aims

Endurance sport practice is associated with a high prevalence of atrial fibrillation (AF), which increases the risk of stroke in the general population. However, stroke risk in endurance athletes with AF is sparsely investigated. Most studies have been limited by design and are largely restricted to younger and middle-aged populations. Thus, we aimed to investigate AF and stroke risk in older athletes exposed to prolonged endurance training.

Method

During a 10-year period, 505 male athletes aged ≥65 years frequently participating in a long-distance ski race were compared with 1867 men of the same age from the general population. The main exposure was endurance sport practice with self-reported AF and stroke as outcomes. Stroke risk was further examined by joint modelling of AF and endurance practice. Statistical analysis was conducted with a modified Poisson model.

Results

Athletes (median age: 68, range: 65–90) participated in a long-distance ski race over a median of 14 years (range: 1–53). Prevalence (28.5% vs 17.8%) and adjusted risk of AF (risk ratio (RR): 1.88, 95% CI: 1.49 to 2.37) were higher in athletes compared with non-athletes, whereas the prevalence (5.4% vs 9.7%) and risk of stroke were lower (RR: 0.60, 95% CI: 0.37 to 0.95). Compared with athletes without AF, risk of stroke was twofold in athletes (RR: 2.38, 95% CI: 1.08 to 5.24) and nearly fourfold in non-athletes (RR: 3.87, 95% CI: 1.98 to 7.57) with AF.

Conclusion

Although older male endurance athletes experienced an increased risk of AF, the long-term risk of stroke was substantially reduced compared with non-athletes.
An improved unified formula for $$\alpha $$-decay and cluster radioactivity of heavy and superheavy nuclei
Authors: Ismail M. , Ellithi A. Y. , Adel A. , Abbas M. A.
Published: November 2022

Improved NRDX empirical formula for $$\alpha $$
α
- and cluster decay half-lives is modified by adding the effects of angular momentum, isospin asymmetry and parity. The coefficients are determined using the latest experimental data for $$\alpha $$
α
-decay half-lives of 573 nuclei and the available 22 cluster decay half-lives. The modified formulas produced the $$\alpha $$
α
- and cluster decay half-lives and agree with calculations of other similar formulas. We used the new formulas to calculate the half-lives of cluster emissions of the SHN with $$Z=120$$

Z
=
120

, 122, 124, and 126, which have not yet been experimentally synthesized.
Dyad’s consonance and dissonance: combining the compactness and roughness approaches
Authors: Masina Isabella , Lo Presti Giuseppe , Stanzial Domenico
Published: November 2022

At present, there are two approaches that aim at explaining on physical grounds the psychoacoustic perception of consonance and dissonance for dyads, whose pioneers have been, respectively, Galilei and Helmholtz: One is based on the “compactness” of the waveform of the combined signal, while the other on the absence of “roughness” due to possible beats. We perform a detailed study of each approach and find that none of the associated model versions, not even the more refined ones, is fully satisfactory when faced to perceptual data on dyads. We show that combining the two approaches results instead in a surprisingly successful agreement with perceptual data: This demonstrates that compactness and roughness are both necessary ingredients for a phenomenological description of consonance and dissonance.

Graphical abstract
The decays η′→ πρ and ρ → πη in the chiral NJL model
Authors: Volkov M. K. , Pivovarov A. A. , Nurlan K.
Published: November 2022

The branching fractions of the decays [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] are calculated in the chiral quark NJL model. The decays exist due to the mass difference between [Formula: see text]- and [Formula: see text]-quarks leading to [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] mixing. Two different approaches are applied: the approximate calculation of this process, taking into account the transitions [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] explicitly without diagonalization and a more precise approach consisting in the diagonalization of the singlet and octet states leading to the physical fields [Formula: see text], [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text]. The obtained results are in satisfactory agreement with current experimental data.
Nonlinear Effects of Temperature on Returns and Investor Optimism–Pessimism from Winner and Loser Stocks
Authors: Huang Chai Liang , Sugianto Lai Ferry , Yun Mu Shu
Published: November 2022

Contrary to findings from prior empirical studies, which show that temperature affects stock returns linearly, we find that the relation of temperature with stock returns is nonlinear. The results show that investors got higher returns under both extremely hot and cold temperatures than under comfortable temperatures. More specifically, we find that hot temperatures led to higher returns only for investors from warm-climate countries with a tropical or subtropical climate. In contrast, cold temperatures led to higher returns only for investors from cool-climate countries with a temperate or polar climate. With further investigation, we found that such hot-temperature effects on returns in warm-climate countries are enhanced when the investor is optimistic about the stock market due to having recently invested in winner stocks. Conversely, the cold temperature effect on returns in cool-climate countries is strengthened when the investor is pessimistic due to having recently invested in loser stocks.
Preparation of small-size LCN from alkali lignin and its physico-chemical structure analysis
Authors: Tang Jiangquan , Yang Hao , Liu Jingguang , Tao Yanzhi , Zou Xiaofang , Nong Guangzai
Published: November 2022

Lignin-based carbon nanomaterials (LCN) were prepared from alkaline lignin (AL) by hydrolysis, spray drying and high temperature treatment. Then, the physical and chemical structures of LCN were analyzed by SEM, BET, organic element analyzer, FTIR, Raman, UV–vis and XPS. The results showed that the yield of LCN was 26.34% of the mass of AL. The particle size of LCN was 120–350 nm, and three to seven particles with diameter of 40–100 nm are accumulated. Its specific surface area was 374.74 m2/g with the average pore size of 4.79 nm. The ratio of sp2 to sp3 was 1.39 and the band gap was 3.42 eV. The simplified apparent formula of LCN was C[Formula: see text]H4O with an unsaturation of 20, containing C–C, C=C, C–O, O=C–O and C–H groups. The chemical structure model of LCN was constructed by Chem 3D software. Therefore, this study successfully prepared a special material and analyzed its physical and chemical structure, which was conducive to the structural analysis of carbon nano-materials.