bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Droplets generated from toilets during urination as a possible vehicle of carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae
Authors: Arena Fabio , Coda Anna Rita Daniela , Meschini Valentina , Verzicco Roberto , Liso Arcangelo
Published: October 2021

Background

In the health care setting, infection control actions are fundamental for containing the dissemination of multidrug-resistant bacteria (MDR). Carbapenemase-producing Enterobacterales (CPE), especially Klebsiella pneumoniae (CR-KP), can spread among patients, although the dynamics of transmission are not fully known. Since CR-KP is present in wastewater and microorganisms are not completely removed from the toilet bowl by flushing, the risk of transmission in settings where toilets are shared should be addressed. We investigated whether urinating generates droplets that can be a vehicle for bacteria and explored the use of an innovative foam to control and eliminate this phenomenon.

Methods

To study droplet formation during urination, we set up an experiment in which different geometrical configurations of toilets could be reproduced and customized. To demonstrate that droplets can mobilize bacteria from the toilet bowl, a standard ceramic toilet was contaminated with a KPC-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae ST101 isolate. Then, we reproduced urination and attached culture dishes to the bottom of the toilet lid for bacterial colony recovery with and without foam.

Results

Rebound droplets invariably formed, irrespective of the geometrical configuration of the toilet. In microbiological experiments, we demonstrated that bacteria are always mobilized from the toilet bowl (mean value: 0.11 ± 0.05 CFU/cm2) and showed that a specific foam layer can completely suppress mobilization.

Conclusions

Our study demonstrated that droplets generated from toilets during urination can be a hidden source of CR-KP transmission in settings where toilets are shared among colonized and noncolonized patients.
A Randomized Study of Lenvatinib 18 mg vs 24 mg in Patients With Radioiodine-Refractory Differentiated Thyroid Cancer
Authors: Brose Marcia S , Panaseykin Yury , Konda Bhavana , de la Fouchardiere Christelle , Hughes Brett G M , Gianoukakis Andrew G , Joo Park Young , Romanov Ilia , Krzyzanowska Monika K , Leboulleux Sophie , Binder Terri A , Dutcus Corina , Xie Ran , Taylor Matthew H
Published: October 2021

Background

Lenvatinib is a multikinase inhibitor approved to treat radioiodine-refractory differentiated thyroid cancer (RR-DTC) at a starting dose of 24 mg/day. This study explored, in a double-blinded fashion, whether a starting dose of 18 mg/day would provide comparable efficacy with reduced toxicity.

Methods

Patients with RR-DTC were randomized to lenvatinib 24 mg/day or 18 mg/day. The primary efficacy endpoint was objective response rate as of week 24 (ORRwk24); the odds ratio noninferiority margin was 0.4. The primary safety endpoint was frequency of grade ≥3 treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs) as of week 24. Tumors were assessed using RECIST v1.1. TEAEs were monitored and recorded.

Results

The ORRwk24 was 57.3% (95% CI 46.1, 68.5) in the lenvatinib 24-mg arm and 40.3% (95% CI 29.3, 51.2) in the lenvatinib 18-mg arm, with an odds ratio (18/24 mg) of 0.50 (95% CI 0.26, 0.96). As of week 24, the rates of TEAEs grade ≥3 were 61.3% in the lenvatinib 24-mg arm and 57.1% in the lenvatinib 18-mg arm, a difference of −4.2% (95% CI −19.8, 11.4).

Conclusion

A starting dose of lenvatinib 18 mg/day did not demonstrate noninferiority compared to a starting dose of 24 mg/day as assessed by ORRwk24 in patients with RR-DTC. The results represent a clinically meaningful difference in ORRwk24. The safety profile was comparable, with no clinically relevant difference between arms. These results support the continued use of the approved starting dose of lenvatinib 24 mg/day in patients with RR-DTC and adjusting the dose as necessary.
Plasma Steroid Profiling in Patients With Adrenal Incidentaloma
Authors: Berke Kristina , Constantinescu Georgiana , Masjkur Jimmy , Kimpel Otilia , Dischinger Ulrich , Peitzsch Mirko , Kwapiszewska Aleksandra , Dobrowolski Piotr , Nölting Svenja , Reincke Martin , Beuschlein Felix , Bornstein Stefan R , Prejbisz Aleksander , Lenders Jacques W M , Fassnacht Martin , Eisenhofer Graeme
Published: October 2021

Context

Most patients with adrenal incidentaloma have nonfunctional lesions that do not require treatment, while others have functional or malignant tumors that require intervention. The plasma steroid metabolome may be useful to assess therapeutic need.

Objective

This work aimed to establish the utility of plasma steroid profiling combined with metanephrines and adrenal tumor size for the differential diagnosis of patients with adrenal incidentaloma.

Methods

This retrospective cross-sectional study, which took place at 7 European tertiary-care centers, comprised 577 patients with adrenal incidentaloma, including 19, 77, 65, 104 and 312 respective patients with adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC), pheochromocytoma (PHEO), primary aldosteronism (PA), autonomous cortisol secretion (ACS), and nonfunctional adrenal incidentaloma (NFAI). Mesaures of diagnostic performance were assessed (with [95% CIs]) for discriminating different subgroups of patients with adrenal incidentaloma.

Results

Patients with ACC were characterized by elevated plasma concentrations of 11-deoxycortisol, 11-deoxycorticosterone, 17-hydroxyprogesterone, androstenedione, and dehydroepiandrosterone-sulfate, whereas patients with PA had elevations of aldosterone, 18-oxocortisol, and 18-hydroxycortisol. A selection of those 8 steroids, combined with 3 others (cortisol, corticosterone, and dehydroepiandrosterone) and plasma metanephrines, proved optimal for identifying patients with ACC, PA, and PHEO at respective sensitivities of 83.3% (66.1%-100%), 90.8% (83.7%-97.8%), and 94.8% (89.8%-99.8%); and specificities of 98.0% (96.9%-99.2%), 92.0% (89.6%-94.3%), and 98.6% (97.6%-99.6%). With the addition of tumor size, discrimination improved further, particularly for ACC (100% [100%-100%] sensitivity, 99.5% [98.9%-100%] specificity). In contrast, discrimination of ACS and NFAI remained suboptimal (70%-71% sensitivity, 89%-90% specificity).

Conclusion

Among patients with adrenal incidentaloma, the combination of plasma steroid metabolomics with routinely available plasma free metanephrines and data from imaging studies may facilitate the identification of almost all clinically relevant adrenal tumors.
North Korea as a Method: A Critical Review
Authors: Song Jay
Published: October 2021

North Korean studies is an established subfield within Korean studies. The current article reviews methodological trends in North Korean studies, mainly in social sciences, over the past two decades. It aims to demonstrate the evolution of data and methodologies employed by scholars in the field by focusing on three methods—statistical analyses, interviews, and theory testing—as well as to examine benefits and challenges associated with each methodology. The study finds that data and methodologies have become significantly diversified and sophisticated with increased accessibility to digitized North Korean materials, multidisciplinary eclectic methods, and computational analytical tools used by a new generation of scholars. At the core, it is the validity of data that can genuinely contribute to evidence-based scientific investigation. It also highlights that researchers’ epistemological barriers can seriously undermine the transparency in data and research design. Self-reflection, cross-examination, and rigorous peer review can further advance the quality of North Korean studies.
Subramania Bharati and the Rhetoric of Enthusiasm
Authors: Sunder Rajan Rajeswari
Published: October 2021

This article identifies the rhetoric and sentiment of enthusiasm as a certain specifically Tamil historical-aesthetic-political conjuncture that operates in both an affective register and as a structure of publicity. The “people,” who emerge as a subject of politics within the crucible of the swadeshi movement, are both “the masses” (a populist political subject) as well as the anticipated citizens of a future sovereign democracy. To distinguish the Tamil conjuncture from the histories of European populism, Part I outlines the political implications of public enthusiasm in the European Enlightenment. Kant, in his articulation of enthusiasm as a form of reason, is the critical figure here. Whereas in English poetry enthusiasm was domesticated and contained, Bharati’s writings and their impact exemplify its very different trajectory in colonial India. In Part II, Bharati’s poetry is analyzed under three heads: the enthusiasm it manifests, its language and rhetoric, and its focus on nationalism and social reform. Part III describes the communicative technologies and the formation of Bharati’s public and then the colonial conjuncture in which his work encountered censorship and prohibition. The conclusion underlines the significance of Bharati’s writings and the relevance of the political enthusiasm they generated—and still do.
Theorizing Palimpsests
Authors: Iğsız Aslı
Published: October 2021

How do we connect the past with the present to address structural problems? While the pursuit of a cause-and-effect past flowing into the present contributes to the understanding of an event or object, how that past is recalled, represented, related, disconnected, suppressed, and/or obfuscated in any given present matters. This article proposes palimpsests as a critical tool for analyzing the many histories of the present. To illustrate this theoretical practice, the article offers a palimpsestic reading of a museumized object, the Nubian Temple of Dendur, now at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City. The structural nature of a history of the present comes into view only when one is able to discern multiple histories, presents, categories, and objects layered together within the palimpsest of history.
On Impossibility
Authors: Olla Nasrin
Published: October 2021

Should critical traditions value transparency, surface effects, and a realist attitude? Does the frame of realism help us recognize, narrate, and understand histories marked by erasure? This article analyzes Denise Riley’s 1988 book “Am I That Name?” alongside Gayatri Spivak’s essay of the same year, “Can the Subaltern Speak?” and argues that a stubbornly realist gaze remains blind to the enduring questions of feminist and postcolonial thought.
The Legacy of Pregnancy: Elite Athletes and Women in Arduous Occupations
Authors: Jackson Thea , Bostock Emma L. , Hassan Amal , Greeves Julie P. , Sale Craig , Elliott-Sale Kirsty J.
Published: October 2021

Best-practice guidance and management of pregnant and postpartum elite athletes and women in arduous occupations is limited by the lack of high-quality evidence available within these populations. We have summarized the adaptations and implications of pregnancy and childbirth, proposed a novel integrative concept to address these changes, and made recommendations to progress research in this area.
How do protein domains of low sequence complexity work?
Authors: Kato Masato , Zhou Xiaoming , McKnight Steven L.
Published: October 2021

This review covers research findings reported over the past decade concerning the ability of low complexity (LC) domains to self-associate in a manner leading to their phase separation from aqueous solution. We focus our message upon the reductionist use of two forms of phase separation as biochemical assays to study how LC domains might function in living cells. Cells and their varied compartments represent extreme examples of material condensates. Over the past half century, biochemists, structural biologists, and molecular biologists have resolved the mechanisms driving innumerable forms of macromolecular condensation. In contrast, we remain largely ignorant as to how 10%–20% of our proteins actually work to assist in cell organization. This enigmatic 10%–20% of the proteome corresponds to gibberish-like LC sequences. We contend that many of these LC sequences move in and out of a structurally ordered, self-associated state as a means of offering a combination of organizational specificity and dynamic pliability to living cells. Finally, we speculate that ancient proteins may have behaved similarly, helping to condense, organize, and protect RNA early during evolution.
Η διαδρομή του κράτους ως μέλους της Ευρωπαϊκής Ένωσης
Authors: Νικολάου Ευάγγελος
Published: October 2021

Μέσα από τη μελέτη νομικών κανόνων και πολιτικής πρακτικής, σκοπός της διατριβής ήταν να καταδείξει ότι η ανάκτηση της κυριαρχίας από τα κράτη μέλη της Ευρωπαϊκής Ένωσης αποτελεί μία εφικτή μεν νομικά, μυθολογική ωστόσο πολιτικά, επιλογή. Σε αυτό το πλαίσιο αρχικά εξετάστηκαν οι τρόποι με τους οποίους τα κράτη μέλη θα μπορούσαν να εγκαταλείψουν το ευρωπαϊκό σχέδιο, είτε με μία οικειοθελή τους αποχώρηση, είτε με μία έξοδό τους από την ευρωζώνη, είτε έπειτα από μία διάλυση της Ένωσης. Στη συνέχεια, υπήρξε εκτενής ανάλυση στην επίδραση που μπορεί να έχουν μεταβολές, οι οποίες εκπορεύονται από τα ίδια τα κράτη μέλη, όσον αφορά τη συμμετοχή στην Ευρωπαϊκή Ένωση, με αναφορά στις ποικίλες καταστάσεις διαδοχής που μπορεί να ανακύψουν, στη δοκιμασία των θεσμών στο εσωτερικό των κρατών μελών και στην περίπτωση αδυναμίας εκπλήρωσης των υποχρεώσεων που συνεπάγεται η συμμετοχή στην Ευρωπαϊκή Ένωση.
Μοντέλα αστικής εξάπλωσης και παρακολούθηση με τηλεπισκόπηση νυκτερινών φώτων
Authors: Λιάκος Λεωνίδας
Published: October 2021

Η διατριβή στοχεύει στην παρακολούθηση και ανάλυση της λειτουργίας των ελληνικών αστικών περιοχών μέσω της εκμετάλλευσης μιας ιδιαίτερης κατηγορίας δεδομένων τηλεπισκόπησης, των νυκτερινών φώτων. Τα νυκτερινά φώτα έχει παρατηρηθεί ότι αντικατοπτρίζουν σε σημαντικό βαθμό τα επίπεδα αστικής και οικονομικής ανάπτυξης και είναι άρρηκτα συνδεδεμένα με οικονομικά μεγέθη όπως το ΑΕΠ, ο πληθυσμός, η οικοδομική δραστηριότητα και η κατανάλωση του ηλεκτρικού ρεύματος. Η διεξαγωγή της διατριβής υποστηρίζεται από τα κυριότερα σύνολα δεδομένων νυκτερινών φώτων (DMPS/OLS, snpp-VIIRS, ISS) για την αποτύπωση της ελληνικής αστικής πραγματικότητας. Τα δεδομένα νυχτερινών φώτων διατίθενται χωρίς να έχουν υποστεί την απαραίτητη προεπεξεργασία για την αφαίρεση παραγόντων που επηρεάζουν την ποιότητά τους και τα αποτελέσματα της έρευνας. Σημαντικοί εξωγενείς παράγοντες επιρροής της ποιότητας των δεδομένων, όπως η σεληνιακή ακτινοβολία, δεν έχουν αφαιρεθεί. Τεχνικά χαρακτηριστικά και περιορισμοί όπως η υπερλάμψη και ο κορεσμός των δεδομένων DSMP/OLS συνεχίζουν να απασχολούν την επιστημονική κοινότητα. Στα πλαίσια της διατριβής προτείνονται μεθόδοι για την διόρθωση της σεληνιακής ακτινοβολίας από τα δεδομένα snpp-VIIRS και επιχειρείται η βελτίωση των δεδομένων DMSP/OLS με την συνδρομή δεδομένων SAR. Στόχος της διατριβής είναι να εκμεταλλευτεί τα δεδομένα νυχτερινών φώτων για να καταγράψει την εποχικότητα των αστικών περιοχών στον Ελλαδικό χώρο, να προσομοιώσει την αστική διάχυση που θα λάβει χώρα στο μέλλον, να προβλέψει την ένταση της αστικής δραστηριότητας, να εκτιμήσει σε λεπτομερή χωρική και χρονική κλίμακα οικονομικές μεταβλητές όπως το ΑΕΠ. Τα νυχτερινά φώτα χρησιμοποιούνται για να αποτιμηθούν οι συνέπειες έκτακτων συνθηκών στην αστική δραστηριότητα, για να εκτιμηθεί η επιβάρυνση από την φωτορύπανση και για να περιγραφούν τα πρότυπα μετακίνησης στις σύγχρονες ελληνικές πόλεις. Από τα αποτελέσματα προκύπτουν αξιόλογες και καινοτόμες μέθοδοι για την βελτίωση των δεδομένων και την ανάλυση, πρόβλεψη και ερμηνεία των αστικών φαινομένων. Η χρήση νυχτερινών φώτων αποτελεί ένα σημαντικό εργαλείο στα χέρια του ερευνητή αλλά απαιτεί βαθειά επίγνωση των τεχνικών περιορισμών και των εξωγενών παράγοντων που επηρεάζουν τις δυνατότητές τους.
Enhanced Error Reduction of Signal Power Loss During Electromagnetic Propagation: Architectural Composition and Learning Rate Selection
Authors:   Department of Electronic Engineering, Howard College, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban-4041, South Africa, Ebhota Virginia C. , Srivastava Viranjay M.
Published: October 2021

This research work analyses the effect of the architectural composition of Multi-Layer Perceptron (MLP) Artificial Neural Network (ANN) combined with the effect of the learning rate for effective prediction of signal power loss during electromagnetic signal propagation. A single hidden layer and two hidden layers of MLP ANN have been considered. Different configurations of the neural network architecture ranging from 4 to 100 for both MLP networks have been analyzed. The required hidden layer neurons for optimal training of a single layer multi-layer network were 40 neurons with 0.99670 coefficient of correlation and 1.28020 standard deviations, while [68 72] trained two hidden layers multi-layer perceptron with 0.98880 coefficient of correlation and standard deviation of 1.42820. Different learning rates were also adopted for the network training. The results further validate better MLP neural network training for signal power loss prediction using single-layer perceptron network compared to two hidden layers perceptron network with the coefficient of correlation of 0.99670 for single-layer network and 0.9888 for two hidden layers network. Furthermore, the learning rate of 0.003 shows the best training capability with lower mean squared error and higher training regression compared to other values of learning rate used for both single layer and two hidden layers perceptron MLP networks.
The Effect of Medium Inhomogeneity in Modeling Underwater Optical Wireless Communication
Authors:   Institute of Nano Optoelectronics Research and Technology (INOR), Universiti Sains Malaysia, Penang, Malaysia, Sabril Safiy , Jasman Faezah , Hassan Wan Hafiza Wan , Mutalip Zaiton A. , Mohd-Mokhtar Rosmiwati , Hassan Zainuriah
Published: October 2021

This paper introduces a stratified approach to modeling underwater optical wireless communication (UOWC). The influence of medium inhomogeneity, which many researchers ignore, was considered in modeling the UOWC channel to achieve an accurate model. The Monte Carlo technique to simulate the photon propagation was adapted to include medium inhomogeneity to estimate the received power, channel bandwidth, and delay spread of the proposed model. We use the depth-dependent chlorophyll profile that was established in Kameda empirical model to constitute the medium inhomogeneity. The empirical model used 0.5 mg m-3 and 2 mg m-3 of surface chlorophyll concentration to represent clear and coastal water. Besides, the comparison between collimated and diffused links was also studied to highlight the effect of the medium inhomogeneity on both links. Our findings indicate that the homogeneous model produces an underestimation result compared to the stratified model. The stratified model estimated significant increases in received power, lower delay spread, and higher bandwidth, which indicates the medium inhomogeneity is important for a realistic channel model.
Colored Petri Nets Model for Network Based FTI Systems
Authors:   Turkish Aerospace Industry, Ankara, Turkey, Tambova Ş. , Aybar A.
Published: October 2021

Network based data acquisition system is a system which allows a data exchange using Ethernet technology. One of the main usage areas of this type of system is Flight Test Instrumentation (FTI) applications. There exists some complexity in analysis and synthesis of the entire system. Colored Petri Net (CPN) is a compact modelling method for Discrete Event Systems (DES). A model of a FTI network fabric is considered in this work in order to reduce related complexities. A CPN model for network based FTI system is presented and all states for this model are obtained in this work.
Un San Juan Evangelista del monasterio de San Leandro: una nueva atribución para el catálogo de la Roldana.
Authors: Guijo Pérez Salvador
Published: October 2021

Este artículo estudia y tiene como objetivo presentar una obra inédita que puede atribuirse a la escultora Luisa Ignacia Roldán (1652-1706). Apodada “La Roldana” fue hija y mejor discípula del gran escultor sevillano del siglo XVII, Pedro Roldán. Se trata de una talla de san Juan Evangelista, conservada en el monasterio de San Leandro de Sevilla. Esta está vinculada estrechamente con otras piezas de la mencionada autora.
Arte, patrimonio y erudición: Virgilio Mattoni y la catedral de Sevilla.
Authors: Pérez Calero Gerardo
Published: October 2021

En este trabajo se da a conocer la relación artística, patrimonial y erudita del pintor sevillano con la catedral hispalense. Para ello, se analiza su intervención como experto en pintura y restauración que, siendo académico encargado de su protección, lleva a cabo en algunas de sus más importantes dependencias. También se analiza su labor creativa en obras relacionadas exclusivamente con la seo.
Una posible obra de Pedro Roldán, en la clausura del convento de Santa Clara de Zafra.
Authors: Maura Alarcón Carlos
Published: October 2021

En la clausura del convento de Santa Clara de Zafra se encuentra una imagen de San Francisco de Asís que podemos incluir en el catálogo de atribuciones del escultor Pedro Roldán, hipótesis que viene refrendada por un análisis visual de la obra, así como por la documentación contextual que se conoce.
Re-framing and managing conflict
Authors: Boddey James
Published: October 2021

Conflict is a normal part of everyone's lives, this includes both adults and children. By reflecting on practice in one particular setting, this article introduces the idea of re-framing conflict and how seeing through a person-centred lens can be beneficial for everyone.
Examples from practice
Authors: Meechan David
Published: October 2021

I want to draw on the experiences of two practitioners. Jodie, who is an experienced room leader at a family owned and managed, private setting in the West Midlands. And Thandi, who is in her second year of teaching a reception class in Yorkshire. Prior to moving into teaching, Thandi began as a nursery nurse before managing a charity ran nursery.
That's the shape of it!
Authors: Harries Judith
Published: October 2021

There may no longer be an early learning goal specifically devoted to understanding shape, space and measure, but settings are still expected to provide rich opportunities for children to develop their spatial reasoning. Here I include some of the best books on this area of learning.
Acute complete and partial distal biceps tendon ruptures: what have we learned? A review
Authors: Caekebeke Pieter , Duerinckx Joris , van Riet Roger
Published: October 2021

Acute distal biceps tendon (DBT) pathology includes bicipitoradial bursitis, tendinosis, partial and complete tears. Diagnosis of complete DBT tears is mainly clinical, whereas in partial tears medical imaging is a valuable addition to the clinical diagnosis. New insights in clinical and medical imaging of partial tears may reduce time to diagnosis and may guide the treatment plan. Most complete tears are best treated with primary repair using either a single-incision or double-incision approach with good clinical outcome. The double-incision technique has a higher risk of heterotopic ossification, whereas a single-incision technique carries a higher risk of nerve-related complications. Intramedullary fixation may be a viable solution to negate the risk of posterior interosseus nerve lesions in single-incision repairs. DBT endoscopy can be used to treat low-grade partial tears and tendinosis.

Cite this article: EFORT Open Rev 2021;6:956-965. DOI: 10.1302/2058-5241.6.200145
Improved clinical investigation and evaluation of high-risk medical devices: the rationale and objectives of CORE–MD (Coordinating Research and Evidence for Medical Devices)
Authors: Fraser Alan G. , Nelissen Rob G.H.H. , Kjærsgaard-Andersen Per , Szymański Piotr , Melvin Tom , Piscoi Paul ,   On behalf of the CORE–MD Investigators (see Appendix)
Published: October 2021

In the European Union (EU), the delivery of health services is a national responsibility but there are concerted actions between member states to protect public health. Approval of pharmaceutical products is the responsibility of the European Medicines Agency, while authorising the placing on the market of medical devices is decentralised to independent ‘conformity assessment’ organisations called notified bodies. The first legal basis for an EU system of evaluating medical devices and approving their market access was the Medical Device Directive, from the 1990s. Uncertainties about clinical evidence requirements, among other reasons, led to the EU Medical Device Regulation (2017/745) that has applied since May 2021. It provides general principles for clinical investigations but few methodological details – which challenges responsible authorities to set appropriate balances between regulation and innovation, pre- and post-market studies, and clinical trials and real-world evidence. Scientific experts should advise on methods and standards for assessing and approving new high-risk devices, and safety, efficacy, and transparency of evidence should be paramount. The European Commission recently awarded a Horizon 2020 grant to a consortium led by the European Society of Cardiology and the European Federation of National Associations of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, that will review methodologies of clinical investigations, advise on study designs, and develop recommendations for aggregating clinical data from registries and other real-world sources. The CORE–MD project (Coordinating Research and Evidence for Medical Devices) will run until March 2024. Here, we describe how it may contribute to the development of regulatory science in Europe.

Cite this article: EFORT Open Rev 2021;6:839-849. DOI: 10.1302/2058-5241.6.210081
An increasing number of convolutional neural networks for fracture recognition and classification in orthopaedics
Authors: Oliveira e Carmo Luisa , van den Merkhof Anke , Olczak Jakub , Gordon Max , Jutte Paul C. , Jaarsma Ruurd L. , IJpma Frank F. A. , Doornberg Job N. , Prijs Jasper ,   Machine Learning Consortium
Published: October 2021

Aims

The number of convolutional neural networks (CNN) available for fracture detection and classification is rapidly increasing. External validation of a CNN on a temporally separate (separated by time) or geographically separate (separated by location) dataset is crucial to assess generalizability of the CNN before application to clinical practice in other institutions. We aimed to answer the following questions: are current CNNs for fracture recognition externally valid?; which methods are applied for external validation (EV)?; and, what are reported performances of the EV sets compared to the internal validation (IV) sets of these CNNs?

Methods

The PubMed and Embase databases were systematically searched from January 2010 to October 2020 according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) statement. The type of EV, characteristics of the external dataset, and diagnostic performance characteristics on the IV and EV datasets were collected and compared. Quality assessment was conducted using a seven-item checklist based on a modified Methodologic Index for NOn-Randomized Studies instrument (MINORS).

Results

Out of 1,349 studies, 36 reported development of a CNN for fracture detection and/or classification. Of these, only four (11%) reported a form of EV. One study used temporal EV, one conducted both temporal and geographical EV, and two used geographical EV. When comparing the CNN’s performance on the IV set versus the EV set, the following were found: AUCs of 0.967 (IV) versus 0.975 (EV), 0.976 (IV) versus 0.985 to 0.992 (EV), 0.93 to 0.96 (IV) versus 0.80 to 0.89 (EV), and F1-scores of 0.856 to 0.863 (IV) versus 0.757 to 0.840 (EV).

Conclusion

The number of externally validated CNNs in orthopaedic trauma for fracture recognition is still scarce. This greatly limits the potential for transfer of these CNNs from the developing institute to another hospital to achieve similar diagnostic performance. We recommend the use of geographical EV and statements such as the Consolidated Standards of Reporting Trials–Artificial Intelligence (CONSORT-AI), the Standard Protocol Items: Recommendations for Interventional Trials–Artificial Intelligence (SPIRIT-AI) and the Transparent Reporting of a multivariable prediction model for Individual Prognosis or Diagnosis–Machine Learning (TRIPOD-ML) to critically appraise performance of CNNs and improve methodological rigor, quality of future models, and facilitate eventual implementation in clinical practice. Cite this article: Bone Jt Open 2021;2(10):879–885.
Dual-epitaxy Si/Ge broadband photodetector for application in cryogenic radiometer
Authors: Zhang Jing , Zhu Shiyang , Sun Fei
Published: October 2021

A dual-epitaxy Si/Ge broadband photodetector covering the wavelength range from 400 nm to 1600 nm was developed and demonstrated. The detector was realized on silicon platform with vertically stacked epitaxial Si and Ge layers in the detector’s depletion region, which combined the response from a Si detector and a Ge detector. Under room temperature, dark current density of dual-epitaxy Si/Ge broadband photodetector is 1.3E-4 A/mm2 at 2 V reverse bias. The dual-epitaxy Si/Ge broadband has its peak spectral responsivity response of more than 0.6 A/W near 1000 nm wavelength and has spectral responsivity above 0.1A/W in the range from 450 nm to 1600 nm. Its temperature dependency was studied. The dual-epitaxy Si/Ge quadrant detector was proved working in the application of absolution optical power measurement in cryogenic radiometer.
Evaluation platform with virtualized network emulation for traffic control methods in optical access and 5G co-operation systems
Authors: Sasagawa Kohei , Yokotani Tetsuya , Kozaki Seiji , Mineno Hiroshi , Suehiro Takeshi , Nakura Kenichi , Noda Masaki
Published: October 2021

5G mobile networks are being applied to various services. Herein, optical access networks based on passive optical network technologies assume the role of aggregating these mobile networks. Although 5G mobile networks and optical access networks have been operated independently, co-operated traffic control between these networks is required to provide end-to- end QoS. This paper proposes a platform using software virtualization to evaluate various traffic control mechanisms. This paper surveys various services across 5G mobile networks and the network requirements for these services. Then, it describes logical models to evaluate the co- operation between the networks and implementation of these models as the platform. Especially, this paper focuses on multiplexing queuing models and their implementation on this platform.
Reliable and Accurate Autonomous Flow Operation based on Off-line Trained Reinforcement Learning
Authors: Barzegar Sima , Ruiz Marc , Velasco Luis
Published: October 2021

A RL agent trained offline for reliability and able to refine its policies during online operation is proposed. Results for three illustrative flow automation use cases show remarkable performance with extraordinary adaptability to changes.
Free Space Optical Communication for Low Earth Orbit Data Relay Networks
Authors: Yarnall Timothy M.
Published: October 2021

Commercial high-rate LEO data relay networks with lasercom crosslink technology are nearing fruition. Physical layer connections are demonstrated, but higher layer challenges remain: topology control, data Doppler shifts, and disruption management.
LiFi at the heart of future intelligent communications networks
Authors: Perrufel Micheline , ORANGE Sylvain Leroux -
Published: October 2021

Digital wireless technologies have revolutionized our communication habits but still have too limited convergence. Tomorrow, LiFi will accompany, alongside 5G, Fiber & Wi-Fi, exponential data consumption, but will require to redesign a more fluid, secured and intelligent global framework.
Data-Efficient Artificial Neural Networks with Gaussian Process Regression for 3D Visible Light Positioning
Authors: Zeng Weikang , Chen Huayang , Chen Jiajia , Hong Xuezhi
Published: October 2021

A data-efficient artificial neural network based 3D VLP system using Gaussian process regression is proposed and experimentally demonstrated. Training data from the real environment can be reduced by >50% with negligible loss in positioning accuracy.
Metrology Testbed for the Thirty Meter Telescope Primary Mirror
Authors: Ament S. , Burge J. H. , Zhao C. , Valente M.
Published: October 2021

The Thirty Meter Telescope primary mirror consists of 492 diameter segments, with 82 unique prescriptions. This presentation will share the progress of a CGH-assisted Fizeau interferometric testbed, including a proof-of-concept segment measurement.
Prognostic Significance of Wnt1, Wnt2, E-Cadherin, and β-catenin Expression in Operable Non-small Cell Lung Cancer
Authors: Wrona Anna , Sejda Aleksandra , Dziadziuszko Rafał , Jassem Jacek
Published: October 2021

The role of Wnt family proteins, E-cadherin, and β-catenin in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is unclear. In this study, we assessed the expression of these proteins as well as their reciprocal interaction and clinical relevance in NSCLC. Immunohistochemical expression of Wnt1, Wnt2, E-cadherin, and β-catenin was assessed in 208 patients with NSCLC who underwent curative pulmonary resection. Expression of Wnt1, Wnt2, and E-cadherin was found in 49.5%, 22.3%, and 37.4% of the patients, respectively, whereas expression of membranous and cytoplasmic β-catenin was found in 23.7% and 34.8% of the patients, respectively. The expression of Wnt1 and E-cadherin was lower in squamous cell carcinoma than in adenocarcinoma and large cell carcinoma, and the expression of both Wnt proteins, E-cadherin, and membranous β-catenin was lower in poorly differentiated compared with well-differentiated tumors. None of the analyzed proteins was associated with relapse-free or overall survival. Expression of Wnt1, Wnt2, E-cadherin, and β-catenin is a common occurrence in NSCLC and is related to tumor histology and grade. However, these proteins have no prognostic role in operable NSCLC:
Regulation of Endothelial Nitric Oxide Synthase in the Reticular Lamina of the Organ of Corti by a Nitric Oxide Donor
Authors: Heinrich Ulf-Rüdiger , Meuser Regina , Ernst Benjamin Philipp , Schmidtmann Irene , Dietrich Dimo , Stauber Roland H. , Strieth Sebastian
Published: October 2021

In the vertebrate cochlea, the reticular lamina seals the organ of Corti against the endolymph filled scala media. After noise exposure, fast alterations in the endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) expression level were identified in this cochlear structure. Minor amounts of nitric oxide (NO) produced by eNOS or applied by NO donors such as S-nitroso- N-acetyl-penicillamine (SNAP) might protect this vulnerable part of the organ of Corti, on the line of gap junctions of supporting cells and cochlear microcirculation. In n=5 anesthetized guinea pigs, SNAP was intravenously applied in two concentrations. Six untreated animals served as controls. The cochleae were removed and prepared for immunoelectron microscopy using specific gold-labeled anti-eNOS antibodies. The density of the gold particles was quantified for seven cellular regions in the reticular lamina at the ultrastructural level. Following SNAP application, a significant increase in eNOS expression (+176%) was detected compared with controls ( p=0.012). The increase occurred mainly in actin-rich cuticular structures and the prominent microtubules bundles. Correlation analysis revealed three clear and five moderate cellular associations for controls, whereas only one clear and one moderate after SNAP application. Thus, application of the NO donor SNAP resulted in an increase in eNOS expression in distinct regions of the reticular lamina:
Transculturated Shakespeare: Malayalam cinema and new adaptive modes
Authors: Mohan Anupama
Published: October 2021

Malayalam cinema offers a unique body of work for scholars seeking to understand the heterogenous traditions of Indian engagement with Shakespeare. In this article, after a brief overview of the history of Malayalam reception of Shakespeare generally, I focus on the film adaptations of director Jayaraj (Kaliyāttam / Othello [1997]; Kannaki / Antony and Cleopatra [2002]; and Veeram / Hamlet [2017]). Of particular relevance is Jayaraj’s interest in Shakespeare’s female characters, whom he reshapes by immersing his adaptation in the local practices and idioms of Kerala culture, thus transforming the Shakespearean play-text thoroughly. The article examines the influence especially of kathāprasangam upon Jayaraj to understand what aspects of Shakespeare endure in Jayaraj’s films and what are transformed. By approaching the question of adaptation from the perspective of the emic and the etic, an apparatus made influential by linguist-anthropologist Kenneth Pike in his analysis of a cultural text, I examine why, in Malayalam, cinematic Shakespeares have seen greater commercial and critical success than Shakespeare in translation or literary adaptation. The article seeks to understand this disparity by closely reading some of the recurrent patterns that emerge in Shakespeare transculturated in the two domains of Malayalam literature (including translation) and film.
In and out of Othello
Authors: Trivedi Poonam
Published: October 2021

Othello has been the play that seems to speak to current issues of racism and sexism for the last couple of decades. Recent Indian productions have stretched its relevancies further, particularly addressing the politics of identity, of individual and state, of belonging and othering. The 2014 award-winning Assamiya film Othello (We Too Have Our Othellos) appropriates and radicalizes the main concerns of the play to embody and critique the movements for self-determination that continue to rage in the state. The article examines this unusual Indian adaptation of Shakespeare that locates the play directly within the public sphere of the politics of the state through its singular focus on Othello as an ‘outsider’ figure paralleled by other such figures of contemporary Assamese society. It will contextualize the discussion of this film, its production and positioning within the film industry of Assam and attempt to define the nature of its adaptation. It will also glance at its similarities with the earlier film In Othello (2003), which too connected Shakespeare and Assam to illustrate the volatile configurations of the outsider/insider status in contemporary India.
Corrosion Inhibition of Mild Steel in 1 M HCl Solution by
Poly(o-aminothiophenol) and Poly(o-aminothiophenol)/CuO Nanocomposites
Authors: Maria Jeraldin U. Anto , Jaya Santhi R.
Published: October 2021

The chemical oxidative polymerization of poly(o-aminothiophenol) and poly(o-aminothiophenol)/
CuO nanocomposites were performed in aqueous HCl using ammonium persulfate as an oxidant. The
synthesized polymer and its CuO nanocomposites were characterized by employing FT-IR, UV-Vis
and XRD analysis. Weight loss and electrochemical techniques were used to investigate the inhibitory
performance of poly(o-aminothiophenol) and poly(o-aminothiophenol)/CuO nanocomposites on mild
steel in 1 M HCl solution. The electrochemical impedance spectroscopic method showed a capacitive
loop, revealing that the corrosion reaction is governed by the charge transfer mechanism. The inhibitors
were of a mixed type, according to polarization measurements. The adsorption process was obeyed by
the Langmuir isotherm. The Langmuir adsorption isotherm was also used to derive thermodynamic
adsorption parameters.
Nanomedicines: Recent Progress, Impact and Challenges in Applications
Authors: Singh Aditi
Published: October 2021

The ultra-fine size of nanoparticles gives them a unique material characteristics, such as remarkably
vast surface area and high mobility or diffusibility in free state. They can be classified as hard or soft,
depending upon the composition. Nanoparticles have proven to be highly promising in medicine,
giving rise to a new field of study, nanomedicine. This rapidly evolving and upcoming branch of
medicine is the study of nanomaterials and nanotechnology used for diagnosis, treatment and prevention
of diseases. The review presented here summarizes the applications of nanotechnology in the field of
medicine i.e. nanomedicine, specifically in diagnostics and drug delivery systems. It broadly covers
nanotherapeutics with special focus on cancer, nanoformulations for drug delivery in biological systems,
nanoimaging for diagnostics of life threatening diseases like cancer, CVD, neurodegenerative diseases
and nanotoxicity on human health and concerns for environment safety.
Review on Synthesis Route of Quinazoline Based Hybrid Derivatives
Authors: Deharkar Pravin , Satpute Shridhar , Panhekar Deepa
Published: October 2021

Quinazolines are amidst the most significant pharmacological compounds in natural and medicinal
chemistry, with a wide variety of pharmacological things, including antifungal, antibacterial,
anti-inflammatory, anti-HIV, anticancer and analgesic activity. Designing innovative quinazolines,
studying possible techniques to synthesize quinazolines, examining diverse features of quinazolines
and looking for prospective uses of quinazolines have all become more important in the last two
decades due to their multiple possible applications. The current review paper discusses the synthesis
of quinazolines using the multi-component synthetic technique that is environmentally friendly, mild
and atom-efficient. The discussion is separated into sections based on the key processes used to construct
quinazoline scaffolds to provide an efficient approach for a more significant grasp. The most recent
references have also been taken into account. The review should prove useful in future research on
quinazoline synthesis and developing a more promising synthetic technique.
Kinetic and Thermal Studies of Adsorption of Allura Red Dye by
Surface Functionalized Magnetite Nanoparticles
Authors: Singh Jaiveer , Jangra Arti , Rani Keerti , Kumar Parvin , Kumar Suresh , Kumar Ramesh
Published: October 2021

In the present study, chitosan functionalized magnetite nanoparticles (CS@MNPs) were synthesized
by a simple and economical coprecipitation technique for efficient magnetic removal of allura red dye
(ARD) by adsorption technique from the aqueous solution. Size and surface properties of the bare and
surface functionalized MNPs were determined with the help of XRD and TEM technique. Surface
functionalization of the bare MNPs was confirmed with the help of FT-IR spectroscopy and TGA
techniques. Magnetic properties of the synthesized bare and functionalized MNPs were determined
by VSM technique. The effect of various parameters including adsorbent dosages, contact time,
temperature on adsorption capacity of the CS@MNPs for allura red dye were investigated with the
help of UV-vis spectrophotometer. The pseudo second order kinetics and Langmuir adsorption isotherm
model were found to fitted well with the adsorption process of dye onto the chitosan functionalized
magnetite nanoparticles (CS@MNPs).
Mucocutaneous Manifestations in Autoimmune Gastritis: A Prospective Case-Control Study
Authors: Gonzalez Agustin , Latorre Gonzalo , Paredes Loreto , Montoya Lorena , Maquilon Sara , Shah Shailja C. , Espino Alberto , Sabatini Natalia , Torres Javiera , Roa Juan Carlos , Riquelme Arnoldo , Kolbach Marianne
Published: October 2021

INTRODUCTION:

Autoimmune gastritis (AIG) is associated with nutritional deficiencies, autoimmune diseases, and gastric malignancies. The aims of the study were to test the hypothesis that mucocutaneous (MC) manifestations occur more often in patients with vs without AIG and to delineate patterns of MC manifestations in AIG.

Methods:

A single-center, prospective 2:1 case-control study was conducted. Cases were patients with the diagnosis of AIG based on consistent serologic and histologic findings. Controls had a normal gastric biopsy. MC manifestations were independently evaluated by 3 experienced dermatologists. We conducted a multivariable logistic regression model adjusted for age, sex, Helicobacter pylori, tobacco use, and alcohol consumption to estimate the association between AIG (vs no AIG) and MC manifestations (adjusted odds ratio; 95% confidence interval).

RESULTS:

We prospectively enrolled 60 cases and 30 controls (mean age 53.5 ± 15.8 vs 53.4 ± 14.5 years; 75% vs 73.3% women). The pooled prevalence of MC immune-mediated diseases was higher in patients with vs without AIG (66.7% vs 23.3%; adjusted odds ratio 12.01 [95% confidence interval: 3.51–41.13]). In patients with AIG, seropositive vs seronegative anti-intrinsic factor antibodies more often had concomitant immunological diseases with MC manifestations (100% vs 58.5%; P = 0.016). The most common MC immune-mediated diseases in AIG were Sjögren syndrome (n = 5, 8.3%), alopecia areata (n = 5, 8.3%), and vitiligo (n = 4, 6.7%). Nutritional deficiency-related MC findings, mainly xerosis, lingual, and nail disorders, were also more common in AIG.

DISCUSSION:

This is the first comparative study specifically designed to evaluate MC manifestations in AIG. We demonstrated that AIG is more frequently associated with both immune- and nutritional deficiency-related MC manifestations, which might have both diagnostic and therapeutic clinical implications.
Representaciones sociales de las personas con diabetes mellitus tipo 2 enNeiva (Colombia)
Authors: Andrade Navia Juan Manuel , Páramo Morales Dagoberto , Ramírez Plazas Elías
Published: October 2021

El presente artículo describe desde un enfoque etnográfico las representacionessociales de los diabéticos mellitus tipo 2 en el municipio de Neiva en el 2019 y para lograrlo seentrevistaron 50 personas. Esta investigación utilizará como referente conceptual y metodológicola etnometodología de Garfinkel (1967) y el análisis de conversación (Psathas, 1959). Lasrepresentaciones sociales encontradas fueron: Cuidado (50%), muerte (25%), dulce (12.5%), ytristeza (12.5%).
Kurdish Dialect Recognition using 1D CNN
Authors: Ghafoor Karzan J. , Hama Rawf Karwan M. , Abdulrahman Ayub O. , Taher Sarkhel H.
Published: October 2021

Dialect recognition is one of the most attentive topics in the speech analysis area. Machine learning algorithms have been widely used to identify dialects. In this paper, a model that based on three different 1D Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) structures is developed for Kurdish dialect recognition. This model is evaluated, and CNN structures are compared to each other. The result shows that the proposed model has outperformed the state of the art. The model is evaluated on the experimental data that have been collected by the staff of department of computer science at the University of Halabja. Three dialects are involved in the dataset as the Kurdish language consists of three major dialects, namely Northern Kurdish (Badini variant), Central Kurdish (Sorani variant), and Hawrami. The advantage of the CNN model is not required to concern handcraft as the CNN model is featureless. According to the results, the 1 D CNN method can make predictions with an average accuracy of 95.53% on the Kurdish dialect classification. In this study, a new method is proposed to interpret the closeness of the Kurdish dialects by using a confusion matrix and a non-metric multi-dimensional visualization technique. The outcome demonstrates that it is straightforward to cluster given Kurdish dialects and linearly isolated from the neighboring dialects.
Estimates for a beam-like partial differential operator and applications
Authors: Belahdji Meriem , Ayad Setti , Mortad Mohammed Hichem
Published: October 2021

The aim of this paper is to provide some a priori estimates for a beam-like operator.
Some applications and counterexamples are also given.