bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Penicillin allergySHACK: Survey of hospital and community knowledge
Authors: Collins Katherine , Rueter Kristina , Lucas Michaela , Sommerfield David , Sommerfield Aine , Khan Nazim , von Ungern‐Sternberg Britta S
Published: May 2022

Aim

Penicillin allergy accounts for the majority of all reported adverse drug reactions in adults and children. Foregoing first‐line antibiotic therapy due to penicillin allergy label is associated with an increased prevalence of infections by resistant organisms and longer hospitalisation. Clinician awareness of allergy assessment, referral indications, management of allergy and anaphylaxis is therefore vital but globally lacking. We aim to assess the knowledge of penicillin allergy, assessment and management in Western Australian health professionals.

Methods

An anonymous survey was distributed to pharmacists, nurses and physicians within Western Australian paediatric and adult Hospitals, Community and General Practice.

Results

In total, 487/611 were completed and included in the statistical analysis. Only 62% (301/487) of respondents routinely assessed for patient medication allergies. Of those who assessed allergy, 9% (28/301) of respondents met the Australian standards for allergy assessment. Only 22% (106/487) of participants correctly cited all indications for management with adrenaline in anaphylaxis to antibiotics and 67% (197/292) of physicians rarely or never referred to an allergy service. Paediatric clinicians had an increased understanding of allergy assessment and anaphylaxis management. Recent penicillin allergy education within a 5‐year period led to significant improvements in allergy knowledge.

Conclusion

Overall, knowledge, assessment and management of penicillin allergies among practitioners in Western Australia are currently inadequate in adults and paediatric clinicians to provide safe and effective clinical care. The implementation of a targeted education program for WA health professionals is urgently required and is expected to improve clinician knowledge and aid standardised penicillin assessment (de‐labelling) practices.
Relating person‐centredness to quality‐of‐life assessments and patient‐reported outcomes in healthcare: A critical theoretical discussion
Authors: Andersson Viktor , Sawatzky Richard , Öhlén Joakim
Published: May 2022

Engagement with the historical and theoretical underpinnings of measuring quality of life (QoL) and patient‐reported outcomes (PROs) in healthcare is important. Ideas and values that shape such practices—and in the endgame, people's lives—might otherwise remain unexamined, be taken for granted or even essentialized. Our aim is to explicate and theoretically discuss the philosophical tenets underlying the practices of QoL assessment and PRO measurement in relation to the notion of person‐centredness. First, we engage with the late‐modern history of the concept of QoL and the act of assessing and measuring it. Working with the historical method of genealogy, we describe the development of both QoL assessments and PRO measures (PROMs) within healthcare by accounting for the contextual conditions for their possibility. In this way, the historical and philosophical underpinnings of these measurement practices are highlighted. We move on to analyse theoretical and philosophical underpinnings regarding the use of PROMs and QoL assessments in clinical practice, as demonstrated in review studies thereof. Finally, we offer a critical analysis regarding the state of theory in the literature and conclude that, although improved person‐centredness is an implied driver of QoL assessments and PROMs in clinical practice, enhanced theoretical underpinning of the development of QoL assessments is called for.
Environmental variation in sex ratios and sexual dimorphism in three wind‐pollinated dioecious plant species
Authors: Bürli Sarah , Pannell John R. , Tonnabel Jeanne
Published: May 2022

Variation in plant sex ratios is often attributable to sex‐specific mortality in heterogeneous environments that differentially limit male and female plant reproduction. Yet sexual dimorphism and plastic responses to environmental heterogeneity are common and may co‐vary with variation in sex ratios. Here, we show that the sex ratio and the degree of sexual dimorphism for a number of plant traits varied along climatic and elevation gradients in three wind‐pollinated dioecious species, Rumex lunaria, Urtica dioica and Salix helvetica. Some of the observed sex‐specific responses to climatic variation are consistent with greater sensitivity of females to water scarcity, but most responses rather point to the greater sensitivity of males to ecological stress, consistent with larger male reproductive effort, as has been commonly reported for wind‐pollinated plants. In contrast, we found no evidence for variation in either sex ratios or sexual dimorphism expected under sexual selection. Interestingly, sex ratios and sexual dimorphism varied both along distinct and the same ecological axes of variation, suggesting that the evolution of sexual dimorphism in the measured traits was not sufficient to prevent sex‐specific mortality.
Beyond resource selection: emergent spatio–temporal distributions from animal movements and stigmergent interactions
Authors: Potts Jonathan R. , Giunta Valeria , Lewis Mark A.
Published: May 2022

A principal concern of ecological research is to unveil the causes behind observed spatio–temporal distributions of species. A key tactic is to correlate observed locations with environmental features, in the form of resource selection functions or other correlative species distribution models. In reality, however, the distribution of any population both affects and is affected by those surrounding it, creating a complex network of feedbacks causing emergent spatio–temporal features that may not correlate with any particular aspect of the underlying environment. Here, we study the way in which the movements of populations in response to one another can affect the spatio–temporal distributions of ecosystems. We construct a stochastic individual‐based modelling (IBM) framework, based on stigmergent interactions (i.e. organisms leave marks which cause others to alter their movements) between and within populations. We show how to gain insight into this IBM via mathematical analysis of a partial differential equation (PDE) system given by a continuum limit. We show how the combination of stochastic simulations of the IBM and mathematical analysis of PDEs can be used to categorise emergent patterns into homogeneous versus heterogeneous, stationary versus perpetually‐fluctuating and aggregation versus segregation. In doing so, we develop techniques for understanding spatial bifurcations in stochastic IBMs, grounded in mathematical analysis. Finally, we demonstrate through a simple example how the interplay between environmental features and between‐population stigmergent interactions can give rise to predicted spatial distributions that are quite different to those predicted purely by accounting for environmental covariates.
Inflation and Growth Nexus: An Estimate of the Threshold Level of Inflation in Sierra Leone
Authors: TARAWALIE Abu Bakarr , KAMARA Fatima
Published: May 2022

This study investigates the relationship between inflation and economic growth, and determines the threshold level of inflation in Sierra Leone, using a non-linear model (quadratic function) with time-series data from 1980 to 2020. The study employs the Ordinary Least Squares estimation technique within the framework of Hendry’s General-to-Specific approach to obtain a parsimonious result. The results of the unit root test confirm that all the variables are stationary in the first difference, i.e. they are integrated of order one or I(1), with an optimal lag length of two (2). The findings confirm the presence of a non-linear relationship in the inflation-growth nexus. The results reveal that the threshold level of inflation (optimal level of inflation) favourable for economic growth is 10.3 per cent. Thus, inflation is growth-enhancing in Sierra Leone when it is below 10.3 per cent, (i.e. ≤ 10.3 per cent). However, inflation above the threshold is detrimental to economic growth. The results also indicate that economic growth is largely influenced by investment, openness and dummy variable for war, with statistically significant coefficients. Specifically, the results confirm that both openness and investment have a positive impact on economic growth, whilst war dummy has a negative effect on economic growth. The results suggest that the regressors explain 86% of the variation in economic growth and the F-stat reveals that the regressors are jointly significant. The policy implication of this study is that the central bank should implement a prudent monetary policy aimed at maintaining inflation below the threshold level of 10.3 per cent. In this regard, the authorities should follow a rule-based approach to monetary policy implementation rather than discretion in order to contain inflation at the threshold level.
Numerical Simulation and Experimental Investigation of the Fixed Bed Gasification of Char With Focus on Pore Diffusion
Authors: Schwarz Robert , Gräbner Martin , Spliethoff Hartmut
Published: May 2022

Accurate modeling of the reaction rate of char particles is decisive for precise computational fluid dynamics simulations of gasifiers. Pore diffusion limits the reaction rate at medium temperatures and strongly depends on the pore size. In most of the present research, pore diffusion is either completely neglected or modeled with a single mean pore size. This work introduces a particle model with two pore sizes. Large pores transport the reactant gases into the particle and distribute them to small pores, in which the heterogeneous reactions take place. This approach is compared with a simpler model with a single mean pore size. The particle and the small pores are discretized by an appropriate number of elements, which allows an exact numerical calculation of the concentration profile for nth-order reactions. Both models are implemented into a two-dimensional computational fluid dynamics simulation of a lab-scale fixed bed gasifier. Simulations and experiments are carried out for 1.362 mm, 0.815 mm, and 0.458 mm sized particles, which are gasified with carbon dioxide and steam at 1200 °C and 1.1 bar total pressure. The reactant gases can penetrate smaller particles more easily. However, the measured product gas flow is independent of the particle size although the reactions take place under pore diffusion limitation. Only the proposed model with two pore sizes is able to reproduce the experiments adequately. However, it causes a significant extra computational effort.
Experimental and Numerical Investigation to Assess the Performance of Helical Bach Vertical Axis Wind Turbine at Low Wind Velocity Conditions
Authors: Thomai Micha Premkumar , Sivamani Seralathan , Venkatesan Hariram
Published: May 2022

Many turbine models have been evolved to ameliorate the functioning of the small wind energy system. The newly developed helical Bach-type vertical axis wind turbine (VAWT) is used in this analysis with an idea to improve the overall performance. The shape of the conventional Bach-type vertical axis wind turbine is a modified form of a Savonius model which has both circular and straight portions to the blade profile. The simple Bach model has a maximum coefficient of performance corresponding to the blade arc angle of 45 deg and 225 deg. However, it consists of negative torque at the rotational angles of about 120–180 deg and 300–360 deg. Moreover, in the newly developed helical Bach, rotors can reduce the variation in torque in the rotational cycle; thereby, uniform torque is achieved in all angular position with improved performance. In this paper, experiments were conducted in the natural wind at Wind Turbine Research Station, Kayathar, Tamil Nadu, India. In addition to experimental work, the three-dimensional steady-state numerical investigations have been performed in the helical Bach vertical axis wind turbine. It is found that the numerical results are well matched with the experimental data. Based on the above computational study, it is found that helical Bach models have an increase in overall performance compared to the conventional Bach models and helical Savonius model.
Development of Surgical Instruments for Robot- Assisted Biportal Endoscopic Spine Surgery(Bess)
Authors: Karakoyun Armanc , Seo Hyeonseok , Han HyungTaeg , Kim Chunwoo
Published: May 2022

Robots are being widely used for minimally invasive surgery in various specialties. However, for minimally invasive spine surgery, the application of the robots has been limited to guidance of instrument placement. In this paper, as a part of the development of a tele-operated surgical robot for biportal endoscopic spine surgery, we present the development of robotized instruments for tissue removal. Surgical punch, pituitary and shaver, the instruments most widely used for bone and tendon removal in spine surgery, is modified for the surgical robot. Spine bone-breaking experiments have been conducted for the identification of design parameters and the resulting designs have been reported. Additionally, a prototype has been manufactured for each instrument.
Preliminary Design of Musclae-Powered Exoskeleton for Users with Spinal Cord Injury
Authors: Brown Emily , Ullah Yusra Farhat , Gustafson Kimberly , Durfee William
Published: May 2022

The exercise methods available to individuals with spinal cord injuries are limited, increasing their risk of pressure sores, muscle atrophy, diminished bone strength, and diminished blood flow efficiency. The FES Energy Storing Exoskeleton combines the simplicity of a passive exoskeleton with functional electrical stimulation of the quadriceps muscles, enabling the user to stand and walk using their own muscles. To reduce muscle fatigue, the initial energy supplied by FES is supplemented by gas springs for energy storage and bidirectional clutch mechanisms for joint locking and control. Gas springs have superior energy storage qualities over pneumatic cylinders and elastomer bands due to their high energy-to-weight ratio and constant force properties. A qualitative analysis of joint locking mechanisms has suggested that a bidirectional clutch mechanism has the potential to overcome the sagging exhibited by the wrap springs used in previous versions of the exoskeleton. While the design of the novel clutch mechanism is the subject of a future work, the functionality and benefits of the mechanism are described in the context of the overall performance of the exoskeleton. The revised design is predicted to weigh 10.2 kg, which is 6.8 kg lighter than the previous exoskeleton design, and is significantly lighter than most commercial motorized walking exoskeletons. A detailed CAD model of the improved system has been developed and future work includes creating and validating a physical prototype.
Enhancing Your Everyday Sight: An Ultrasonic Visual Aid
Authors: Smith Emily J. , Stauffer Catherine , Ramsy Natalie , Chen Nina , Salzberg Benjamin , Sudrzynski Sander , Golecki Holly
Published: May 2022

To help the growing visually impaired population navigate their surroundings, we propose a low-cost device for the detection of obstacles using ultrasound technology. Existing “smart-canes” are largely add-on devices used in conjunction with the white cane and are significantly more costly than the traditional white cane. Our device, Enhancing Your Everyday Sight (EYES), is a handheld visual assistive tool that allows users with visual impairment to scan their surroundings at different levels in order to sense physical barriers, including ground elevation changes. EYES offers a similar experience as using a white cane by giving real-time haptic feedback in the form of vibrations within the handle. Distinct vibration patterns from within the handle inform the user of both the distance and height of obstacles. Using ultrasonic sensors to provide scanned input allows users to detect obstacles at ground level and chest level, distinguishing our device from the traditional white cane. Following market and user research and iterative prototype testing, we assembled our initial prototype with off-the-shelf electronics components and 3D-printed housing, thus demonstrating the feasibility of a market-ready product at a more affordable cost compared to existing solutions. After further development, this device may serve as an important tool in enabling more confidence, greater independence, and less stigma to the visually impaired community.
Image-Based Web Application for Respirator Sizing: Contactless Mask-Fitting During a Pandemic
Authors: Adlouni Mu’ath , Choksi Darshil , D’Souza Brendan , Richards Zachary I. , Sims IV R. Kenneth
Published: May 2022

At the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, many hospitals and healthcare institutions lacked an adequate supply of masks and other personal protective equipment. Moreover, protocols that were in place to ensure healthcare workers had appropriately sized masks consumed precious time and resources. Any determination of a user’s correct respirator size demanded an in-person assessment and had the potential to waste multiple respirators. Here we introduce IBARS (Image-based Application for Respirator Sizing), a novel tool which provides respirator size recommendations based on a facial image and basic user demographics. This solution obviates the need for an in-person assessment, providing an accurate size recommendation within seconds. The application has the potential to reduce time-per-worker respirator fitting, reduce overall respirator usage, and increase safety by providing hospitals with a non-contact option for sizing. Furthermore, future applications may assist healthcare institutions optimize supply chains by providing rapid assessments and re-assessments of appropriate respirator sizes used by their workers. Early testing indicated accuracy of 71.3% for the software (N=16), and further testing is underway at Houston Methodist Hospital.
A Framework for Objective Evaluation of Handheld Robotic Surgical Tools Against Patient Needs
Authors: Davies Nathan D. , Ullah Yusra Farhat , Kowalewski Timothy M.
Published: May 2022

Surgeons are human: their best possible performance is limited by their neurophysiology. What if an inoperable patient’s condition demands surgical treatment that exceeds such human performance limits? Can precision surgical robots help surgeons surpass such fundamental human neurophysiological limits? This article employs the Steering law to proposes a quantitative framework and benchmark tasks to evaluate the feasibility of a handheld surgical tool for meeting the quantified speed and accuracy requirements of a clinical need in non-contact interactions that exceed human limitations. Example use cases of such interactions in common surgical scenarios are presented. Preliminary results from a straight-line tracking task with and without computer assistance demonstrate the proposed framework in the context of falling short of a clinical speed/accuracy need. The framework is then used to articulate specifications for additional technology candidates to successfully exceed the speed and accuracy characteristics of the modality used.
Designing an Accurate Benchtop Characterization Device: An Acoustic Measurement Platform for Localizing and Implementing Therapeutic Ultrasound Devices and Equipment (Amplitude)
Authors: Liang Ruixing , Kerensky Max , Curry Eli , Mess Griffin , Thombre Rasika , Kamal Serene , Aghabaglou Fariba , Mejia Richard , Chavez Francisco , Morrison Kyle , Thakor Nitish , Theodore Nicholas , Manbachi Amir
Published: May 2022

Focused ultrasound (FUS) is becoming widely researched for medical therapies due to its high penetration depth, spatial resolution, and affordability. Applications of FUS range from high intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) for the ablation of cancerous tumors to low intensity focused ultrasound (LIFU) for the treatment of neurological conditions like essential tremors. A key step in developing these treatments and their corresponding FUS devices is characterizing the emitted ultrasound from the proposed transducer. However, a bottleneck exists at this verification and validation stage; current characterization techniques lack the robustness of reliably recording below a 5μm resolution. This level of accuracy is needed to adequately design devices which can target cells like astrocytes or other desired target tissues at this scale. Our Acoustic Measurement Platform for Localizing and Implementing Therapeutic Ultrasound Devices and Equipment (AMPLITUDE) is a solution which enables engineers, scientists, and clinicians to confidently characterize their equipment in a benchtop setting. It achieves this resolution by utilizing an all-in-one water conditioning unit, linear stepper motors with a theoretical step size of 1 μm and a 1% standard deviation on repetitive experiments, as well as signal processing techniques. This system can be used throughout the product timeline including prototyping, verifying efficacy, FDA testing, and routine check-ups during clinical use.
A Vibrotactile Wearable for the Ear for Vagus Nerve Stimulation
Authors: Adams Josh , Doherty Colton , Leuthardt Eric , Gorlewicz Jenna
Published: May 2022

Vagus Nerve Stimulation (VNS) is a therapy providing electrical stimulation directly to the vagus nerve via surgical implantation, and is currently FDA approved for the treatment of drug resistant epilepsy and depression. Transcutaneous Vagus Nerve Stimulation (taVNS) has recently been explored through electrical and vibrotactile stimulation via the cymba conchae region of the ear. taVNS is still in early testing, and is showing promise as a non-invasive alternative for VNS. However, published research has shown limitations in stimulation devices and the specific sites, frequency and intensity of taVNS treatments. In this paper, a new device for vibrotactile stimulation of the cymba conchae is presented covering a range of vibration frequencies and intensities. This is the first iteration in a series of iterative prototypes of additively manufactured wearable devices with proof of concept electronics to realize this type of vibration therapy. Functionality tests of this device such as battery performance and variability of signal intensity were explored, coupled with user assessments of comfort. Initial findings have provided critical feedback for shaping the next iteration of this device, which will be designed for use in clinical evaluations of vibration therapy of the cymba conchae.
A Lightweight Wearable American Sign Language Translation Device
Authors: Yetkin Oguz , Calderon Karmina , Krishna Moorthy Prissha , Nguyen Thao Thu , Tran Jennifer , Terry Taylor , Vigil Anthony , Alsup Anne , Tekleab Aaron , Sancillo Danielle , Ncube Nosisa , Baptist Joshua
Published: May 2022

A lightweight wearable American Sign Language translation device is presented consisting of optically communicating rings worn on each finger and wireless devices worn on each fingernail. The device is similar in principle to glove based sign language translation devices except it does not require the user to wear an entire glove. Each ring is constructed from optically clear resin containing three infrared transponders, controlled by a microcontroller unit worn on the wrist. The fingernail units are also cast in clear resin and contain circuitry to receive and respond to infrared light, and house three small SR60 watch batteries. The system uses a microcontroller to flash all LEDs in succession and create matrix sensor readings from each LED, resulting in a 15x15 matrix corresponding to a signed gesture, recognized by an Artificial Neural Network. This system is expected to be able to recognize 24 of the 26 letters of the ASL alphabet and be extended to recognize arbitrary ASL signs with the integration of an accelerometer. The system currently recognizes 9 letters (A, B, D, F, K, N, O, T, X) with intention to build on this novel method of gesture recognition to construct a full-fledged ASL translator. The system is currently useable as a low-encumbrance gesture-based input system for arbitrary device control.
Development and Evaluation of Simulation Education for University of Minnesota Master of Medical Device Innovation Students in a Post-COVID World
Authors: Backstrom Courtney , Chandra Abhishek , Hale Joseph , Mooradian Dan
Published: May 2022

The COVID-19 pandemic has fundamentally altered the pedagogical approach to education at every level of training, including at the undergraduate level and graduate or professional level. These unprecedented times have tested academic resilience, agility, creativity, and adaptability in all aspects, including inventive alternative teaching methods. With an increasing reliance on virtual instruction, self-directed learning, and hybrid models of instruction, certain approaches of hands-on training, practice-based learning, and evaluation have had to evolve.

The University of Minnesota’s Master of Medical Device Innovation students are typically immersed in clinical environments through physician shadowing in the operating room, evaluating unmet needs and untapped areas of potential innovation. Engineers who can immerse themselves in surgical education, shadowing, and frontline medical experience can better appreciate, recognize, and enhance current medical technologies and processes. With the OR case restrictions in the era of COVID-19, these learners were faced with limited clinical exposure and thus limited familiarity with the dynamics and processes of clinical practice. As such not only education, but the functioning of the entire industry is stunted. From an instructive perspective, this creates a challenge for students attempting to generate relevant and feasible practicum ideas, accurate prototypes, and offers fewer opportunities to develop these ideas alongside the experts and medical professionals - the target audience.

Simulation education provides a means for students to engage with clinical practice in a meaningful way that bridges the gap between clinical exposure and virtual learning. A hands-on approach in which students were able to practice fundamental surgical skills of suturing, knot-tying, and the basics of laparoscopy.

Learners were offered three didactic workshop sessions that introduced these skills and then were given opportunities to perform with supervision from expert educators. Low-cost, low-fidelity models of pertinent anatomy and physiology provided students an immersive experience that allowed them to develop a deeper understanding of interventional skills. Three two hour-long sessions of guided skills practice on low-cost simulators were attended by the 2022 Masters of Medical Device Innovation cohort and subjective measures of their understanding of the fundamental concepts were evaluated.

High-level findings of these workshops suggest that simulation education is an effective tool in advancing the baseline understanding of surgical principles as opposed to virtual instruction and may offer some further benefit, not possible even through clinical shadowing itself.
Convection-Enhanced Thermo-Therapy Catheter System: Microneedle Compression Strength Testing with Various Durometers
Authors: Morales Brianna E. , Rylander Christopher G.
Published: May 2022

The Convection-Enhanced Thermo-Therapy Catheter System (CETCS) was developed by our group at The University of Texas at Austin for the treatment of glioblastoma. This arborizing catheter is remotely operated and provides the ability to position and infuse in regions of the tumor and tumor margins to increase the dispersal volume coverage capability. The next step in developing this device is the further characterization of the materials being used in this design.

Device characterization included evaluating the behavior of the microneedles under compression while they were in contact with several types of durometers (50A, 80A, 90A, and 95A). This test method was used to determine if the microneedles would experience breakage at the tip or along the microneedle.

After the compression-durometer testing, it was determined the tips of the microneedles were more likely to puncture the durometer prior to experiencing any breakage. The device’s microneedles are not expected to come into contact with materials that have a higher durometer rating of 50A and will be acceptable in the current CETCS design meant for the treatment of glioblastomas.
Clinical Validation Testing Of An Upper Limb Robotic Medical Education Training Simulator For Rigidity Assessment
Authors: He Maxine , Mansouri Mahshid , Pei Yinan , Pedroza Isaac , Zallek Christopher M. , Hsiao-Wecksler Elizabeth T.
Published: May 2022

An upper limb robotic training simulator was developed to replicate the haptic feeling of lead-pipe rigidity of the biceps. Rigidity is the increased muscle tone observed during passive movement of a joint. To validate the realism of our training simulator, a clinical validation study was conducted with 11 experienced clinicians. Testing involved two parts: Blinded Assessment followed by Disclosed Assessment. There were 12 randomized trials (4 levels of rigidity with 3 repetitions each) in the Blind Assessment. The participants were asked to rate the rigidity level using the Unified Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS) in each trial without knowing the selected UPDRS level. During the Disclosed Assessment, participants were informed about the selected level and were asked to closely evaluate the fidelity of each UPDRS level. Participants completed a post-test evaluation questionnaire to rate the simulator’s accuracy in replicating rigidity and its potential as a medical education tool for healthcare students. Results from the first six participants indicated that the simulated muscle resistance magnitude was too high compared to their clinical experience. Therefore, the resistance magnitude was reduced for all 4 UPDRS levels. The second set of five participants reported that the training simulator closely replicated the UPDRS levels of rigidity compared to their clinical experience.
High-energy x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy on Si3N4 with Ga Kα photons
Authors: Mascarenhas Fiona Crystal , Hoflijk Ilse , Vanleenhove Anja , Vaesen Inge , Zborowski Charlotte , Conard Thierry
Published: May 2022

Silicon nitride (Si3N4) grown by metalorganic chemical vapor deposition on Si was analyzed using high-resolution high-energy x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (HAXPES). The HAXPES spectra of Si3N4 obtained using monochromatic Ga Kα radiation at 9252.13 eV include a survey scan and high-resolution spectra of Si 1s, Si 2p, N 1s, and O 1s.
High-energy x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy spectra of SiO2 measured by Cr Kα
Authors: Vanleenhove Anja , Hoflijk Ilse , Vaesen Inge , Zborowski Charlotte , Artyushkova Kateryna , Conard Thierry
Published: May 2022

Silicon oxide (SiO2) grown by rapid thermal oxidation on Si was analyzed using high-resolution high-energy x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (HAXPES). The HAXPES spectra of SiO2 obtained using monochromatic Cr Kα radiation at 5414.8 eV include two survey scans (Al Kα and Cr Kα) and high-resolution spectra of Si 2p, Si 2s, Si 1s, and O 1s.
Modeling the influence of COVID-19 protective measures on the mechanics of phonation
Authors: Deng Jonathan J. , Serry Mohamed A. , Zañartu Matías , Erath Byron D. , Peterson Sean D.
Published: May 2022

In an effort to mitigate the 2019 novel coronavirus disease pandemic, mask wearing and social distancing have become standard practices. While effective in fighting the spread of the virus, these protective measures have been shown to deteriorate speech perception and sound intensity, which necessitates speaking louder to compensate. The goal of this paper is to investigate via numerical simulations how compensating for mask wearing and social distancing affects measures associated with vocal health. A three-mass body-cover model of the vocal folds (VFs) coupled with the sub- and supraglottal acoustic tracts is modified to incorporate mask and distance dependent acoustic pressure models. The results indicate that sustaining target levels of intelligibility and/or sound intensity while using these protective measures may necessitate increased subglottal pressure, leading to higher VF collision and, thus, potentially inducing a state of vocal hyperfunction, a progenitor to voice pathologies.
A versatile deep-neural-network-based music preprocessing and remixing scheme for cochlear implant listeners
Authors: Gauer Johannes , Nagathil Anil , Eckel Kai , Belomestny Denis , Martin Rainer
Published: May 2022

While cochlear implants (CIs) have proven to restore speech perception to a remarkable extent, access to music remains difficult for most CI users. In this work, a methodology for the design of deep learning-based signal preprocessing strategies that simplify music signals and emphasize rhythmic information is proposed. It combines harmonic/percussive source separation and deep neural network (DNN) based source separation in a versatile source mixture model. Two different neural network architectures were assessed with regard to their applicability for this task. The method was evaluated with instrumental measures and in two listening experiments for both network architectures and six mixing presets. Normal-hearing subjects rated the signal quality of the processed signals compared to the original both with and without a vocoder which provides an approximation of the auditory perception in CI listeners. Four combinations of remix models and DNNs have been selected for an evaluation with vocoded signals and were all rated significantly better in comparison to the unprocessed signal. In particular, the two best-performing remix networks are promising candidates for further evaluation in CI listeners.
MARCH8 attenuates cGAS-mediated innate immune responses through ubiquitylation
Authors: Yang Xikang , Shi Chengrui , Li Hongpeng , Shen Siqi , Su Chaofei , Yin Hang
Published: May 2022

Cyclic GMP-AMP synthase (cGAS) binds to microbial and self-DNA in the cytosol and synthesizes cyclic GMP-AMP (cGAMP), which activates stimulator of interferon genes (STING) and downstream mediators to elicit an innate immune response. Regulation of cGAS activity is essential for immune homeostasis. Here, we identified the E3 ubiquitin ligase MARCH8 (also known as MARCHF8, c-MIR, and RNF178) as a negative regulator of cGAS-mediated signaling. The immune response to double-stranded DNA was attenuated by overexpression of MARCH8 and enhanced by knockdown or knockout of MARCH8. MARCH8 interacted with the enzymatically active core of cGAS through its conserved RING-CH domain and catalyzed the lysine-63 (K63)–linked polyubiquitylation of cGAS at Lys
411
. This polyubiquitylation event inhibited the DNA binding ability of cGAS, impaired cGAMP production, and attenuated the downstream innate immune response. Furthermore,
March8
-deficient mice were less susceptible than their wild-type counterparts to herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1) infection. Together, our findings reveal a mechanism underlying the functional regulation of cGAS and the fine-tuning of the innate immune response.
The rapid replacement of the SARS-CoV-2 Delta variant by Omicron (B.1.1.529) in England
Authors: Paton Robert S. , Overton Christopher E. , Ward Thomas
Published: May 2022

The emergence of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) B.1.1.529 (Omicron) variant caused international concern due to its rapid spread in Southern Africa. It was unknown whether this variant would replace or coexist with (either transiently or long term) the then-dominant Delta variant on its introduction to England. We developed a set of hierarchical logistic growth models to describe changes in the frequency of
S
gene target failure (SGTF) PCR tests, a proxy for Omicron. The doubling time of SGTF cases peaked at 1.56 days (95% CI: 1.49 to 1.63) on 5 December, whereas triple-positive cases were halving every 5.82 days (95% CI: 5.11 to 6.67) going into Christmas 2021. We were unable to characterize the replacement of Delta by Omicron with a single rate. The replacement rate decreased by 53.56% (95% CrI: 45.38 to 61.01) between 14 and 15 December, meaning the competitive advantage of Omicron approximately halved. Preceding the changepoint, Omicron was replacing Delta 16.24% (95% CrI: 9.72 to 23.41) faster in those with two or more vaccine doses, indicative of vaccine escape being a substantial component of competitive advantage. Despite the slowdown, Delta was almost entirely replaced in England within a month of the first sequenced domestic case. The synchrony of changepoints across regions at various stages of Omicron epidemics suggests that the growth rate advantage was not attenuated because of biological mechanisms related to strain competition. The step change in replacement could have resulted from behavioral changes, potentially elicited by public health messaging or policies, that differentially affected Omicron.
Patchy Blooms and Multifarious Ecotypes of Labyrinthulomycetes Protists and Their Implication in Vertical Carbon Export in the Pelagic Eastern Indian Ocean
Authors: Xie Ningdong , Bai Mohan , Liu Lu , Li Jiaqian , He Yaodong , Collier Jackie L. , Hunt Dana E. , Johnson Zackary I. , Jiao Nianzhi , Wang Guangyi
Published: May 2022

While prokaryotic heterotrophic plankton are well accepted as major players in oceanic carbon cycling, the ecological distributions and functions of their microeukaryotic counterparts in the pelagic ocean remain largely unknown. This study focused on an important group of heterotrophic (mainly osmotrophic) protistan microbes, the Labyrinthulomycetes, whose biomass can surpass that of the prokaryotic plankton in many marine ecosystems, including the bathypelagic ocean.
Is short-term and long-term exposure to black carbon associated with cardiovascular and respiratory diseases? A systematic review and meta-analysis based on evidence reliability
Authors: Song Xuping , Hu Yue , Ma Yan , Jiang Liangzhen , Wang Xinyi , Shi Anchen , Zhao Junxian , Liu Yunxu , Liu Yafei , Tang Jing , Li Xiayang , Zhang Xiaoling , Guo Yong , Wang Shigong
Published: May 2022

Objective

Adverse health effects of fine particles (particulate matter2.5) have been well documented by a series of studies. However, evidences on the impacts of black carbon (BC) or elemental carbon (EC) on health are limited. The objectives were (1) to explored the effects of BC and EC on cardiovascular and respiratory morbidity and mortality, and (2) to verified the reliability of the meta-analysis by drawing p value plots.

Design

The systematic review and meta-analysis using adapted Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) approach and p value plots approach.

Data sources

PubMed, Embase and Web of Science were searched from inception to 19 July 2021.

Eligibility criteria for selecting studies

Time series, case cross-over and cohort studies that evaluated the associations between BC/EC on cardiovascular or respiratory morbidity or mortality were included.

Data extraction and synthesis

Two reviewers independently selected studies, extracted data and assessed risk of bias. Outcomes were analysed via a random effects model and reported as relative risk (RR) with 95% CI. The certainty of evidences was assessed by adapted GRADE. The reliabilities of meta-analyses were analysed by p value plots.

Results

Seventy studies met our inclusion criteria. (1) Short-term exposure to BC/EC was associated with 1.6% (95% CI 0.4% to 2.8%) increase in cardiovascular diseases per 1 µg/m3 in the elderly; (2) Long-term exposure to BC/EC was associated with 6.8% (95% CI 0.4% to 13.5%) increase in cardiovascular diseases and (3) The p value plot indicated that the association between BC/EC and respiratory diseases was consistent with randomness.

Conclusions

Both short-term and long-term exposures to BC/EC were related with cardiovascular diseases. However, the impact of BC/EC on respiratory diseases did not present consistent evidence and further investigations are required.

PROSPERO registration number

CRD42020186244.
Evaluating results of the implementation research MOOC using Kirkpatrick’s four-level model: a cross-sectional mixed-methods study
Authors: Ross Bella , Penkunas Michael J , Maher Dermot , Certain Edith , Launois Pascal
Published: May 2022

Introduction

An implementation research (IR) massive open online course (MOOC) was developed by the Special Programme for Research and Training in Tropical Diseases, to address the scarcity of training in low-income and middle-income countries in the field of IR. The Kirkpatrick model was used to evaluate the IR MOOC as it is widely applied for evaluation of training and educational programmes. The Kirkpatrick model evaluates training programmes on four levels: reaction, learning, behaviour and results. This paper addresses the impact of the IR MOOC on participants’ professional practice.

Methods

Findings are based on analysis of survey and interview data collected 1.5–2 years after the conclusion of the two 2018 IR MOOC offerings. Of the 3858 MOC participants, 748 responded to the anonymous online survey and seven of these respondents were interviewed. All data are self-reported.

Results

The IR MOOC was successful in enhancing the professional practice of participants and for their organisations. Over 40% reported modifying or implementing changes in their professional work. Respondents reported that participation in the MOOC had improved their ability to conduct IR, enhanced their professional profiles and increased their opportunities for collaboration, research and job promotion. Respondents stated that the MOOC had improved their work quality and productivity, and allowed them to contribute to research, initiate and develop professional collaborations and train others in IR. Respondents reported an increase in applying for grants and scholarships and presenting and publishing work on IR after participating in the MOOC. Barriers applying the knowledge gained from the IR MOOC were experienced, for example, due to a lack of funding and lack of support from colleagues, managers and organisations.

Conclusion

Participants perceived that the IR MOOC was successful in its aims of delivering medium-term and long-term results in relation to their own and their organisations’ professional outcomes.
Defining, conceptualising and operationalising community empowerment: a scoping review protocol
Authors: Babatunde Gbotemi Bukola , Schmidt B , Gwelo Netsai Bianca , Akintola Olagoke
Published: May 2022

Introduction

Community empowerment is a core concept in health promotion theory and practice. Several authors have defined and conceptualised the term differently. However, we did not find any synthesis of the various definitions of, and meanings attached to, community empowerment and the various conceptualisations, operationalisations, and the indicators for measuring community empowerment in the health promotion literature. The aim of this scoping review is to characterise and synthesise various definitions, conceptualisations, operationalisations and indicators for measuring community empowerment in the literature.

Methods and analysis

This scoping review will follow scoping review methods outlined by Arksey and O’Malley. We will identify relevant studies from 1986 onwards, written in any language, conducted anywhere in the world, and published in PubMed, PsycINFO, CINAHL, Web of Science and Medline. Two reviewers will independently screen titles, abstracts and full-text articles, after which they will carry out data extraction and analysis. We will develop a numerical and narrative synthesis of the definitions, conceptualisations, operationalisations and measurements of community empowerment in relation to health promotion and/health outcomes.

Ethics and dissemination

This scoping review does not require ethics approval, as we will only include information from previously conducted studies and we will not involve human participants.
Determinants of neonatal sepsis among neonates admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit of public hospitals in Hawassa City Administration, Sidama Region, Ethiopia, 2020: an unmatched, case–control study
Authors: Bejitual Kalkidan , Fikre Rekiku , Ashegu Tebeje , Zenebe Andualem
Published: May 2022

Objective

This study was conducted to assess the determinants of neonatal sepsis in the neonatal intensive care units of public hospitals in Hawassa City Administration, Sidama Region, Ethiopia, in 2020.

Design

Institutional-based, unmatched, case–control study.

Setting

The study was conducted in three public hospitals (Hawassa University Teaching Hospital, Adare General Hospital and Hawela Tula Primary Hospital) of Hawassa City, Ethiopia.

Participants

A total of 331 (110 cases and 221 controls) neonates with their index mothers were included in the study from 1 August to 30 September 2020.

Outcome measures

A pretested, interviewer-administered questionnaire and data extraction checklist were used to collect data. Data were coded and entered into EpiData V.3.1 before being exported to SPSS V.20 for analysis. The factors associated with neonatal sepsis were assessed using bivariable and multivariable logistic regression analyses. P value of less than 0.05 was used to establish statistically significant association of variables.

Results

Caesarean section delivery (adjusted OR (AOR)=2.56, 95 % CI 1.3 to 5.00), maternal anaemia (AOR=2.58, 95 % CI 1.45 to 4.6) and lack of vaccination with tetanus toxoid (AOR=3.5, 95% CI 2.07 to 6.19) were all identified as factors significantly associated with neonatal sepsis.

Conclusions

Caesarean section delivery, maternal history of anaemia and lack of vaccination with tetanus toxoid were found to be risk factors for neonatal sepsis. Establishing preconception care practice, strengthening the quality of antenatal care and standardising infection prevention practice are needed to improve neonatal health.
Helicobacter pylori infection in patients with inflammatory bowel diseases: a single-centre, prospective, observational study in Egypt
Authors: Abd El-Wahab Ekram W. , Youssef Ebtessam I. , Hassouna Ehab
Published: May 2022

Objective

Conflicting results have been reported by numerous epidemiological studies investigating the association between Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). We aimed in this study to assess the possible association between H. pylori infection and IBD and its effects on disease progression.

Design

Prospective observational study.

Setting

Specialised IBD care clinics at Alexandria University Student Hospital in northern Egypt, between March and June 2019.

Participants

182 patients with IBD.

Analysis and outcome measures

Participants with IBD were screened for H. pylori infection and clinically evaluated at the initial visit and bimonthly for 3 months to record any potential improvement/flare of the IBD condition.

Results

Overall, 90 (49.5%) patients with IBD had evidence of H. pylori infection. The course of IBD did not significantly differ in association with H. pylori infection or IBD treatment strategy. Cox regression analysis revealed that patients aged 20–35 years (HR=6.20 (95% CI: 1.74 to 22.12)) and 35–55 years (557.9 (17.4–17 922.8)), high socioeconomic status (2.9 (1.11–7.8)), daily consumption of fibre-rich food (5.1 (1.32–19.5)), occasional consumption of snacks between meals (2.8 (2.5–70.5)) and eating four meals per day (13.3 (1.0–7.7)) were predictive of IBD flare. By contrast, eating fruits and vegetables showed a strongly protective association (HR=0.001 (95% CI: 0.0002 to 0.02)). The probabilities of improvement of IBD symptoms after 12 weeks of follow-up were comparable in assessments based on H. pylori infection status (0.793 for H. pylori negative vs 0.778 for H. pylori positive) and IBD treatment option (0.811 for conventional therapy vs 0.750 for biological therapy).

Conclusion

The association between IBD and H. pylori infection is unresolved and should be further investigated in the context of specific environmental exposures that can influence the development or relapse of IBD.