bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Movement behavior policies in the early childhood education and care setting: An international scoping review
Authors: Wenden Elizabeth J. , Virgara Rosa , Pearce Natasha , Budgeon Charley , Christian Hayley E.
Published: April 2023

Background

Meeting 24-h movement behavior guidelines for the early years is associated with better health and development outcomes in young children. Early childhood education and care (ECEC) is a key intervention setting however little is known about the content and implementation of movement behavior polices in this context. To inform policy development this international scoping review examined the prevalence, content, development and implementation of ECEC-specific movement behavior policies.

Methods

A systematic literature search of published and gray literature since 2010 was conducted. Academic databases (EMBASE, Cinahl, Web of Science, Proquest, Scopus, EBSCO, PubMed) were searched. A Google search was undertaken and limited to the first 200 results. The Comprehensive Analysis of Policy on Physical Activity framework informed data charting.

Results

Forty-three ECEC policy documents met inclusion criteria. Most policies originated in the United States, were subnational and developed with government, non-government organizations and ECEC end-users. Physical activity was specified in 59% (30–180 min/day), sedentary time in 51% (15–60 min/day) and sleep in 20% (30–120 min/day) of policies. Daily outdoor physical activity was recommended (30–160 min/day) in most policies. No policy permitted screen time for children <2 years, with 20–120 min/day for children >2 years. Most policies (80%) had accompanying resources but few provided evaluation tools (e.g., checklists; action plan templates). Many policies had not been reviewed since the publication of 24-h movement guidelines.

Conclusion

Movement behavior policies in the ECEC setting are often vaguely worded, missing a comprehensive evidence base, siloed in development and often not tailored for the ‘real world.’ A focus on evidence informed ECEC-specific movement behavior policies proportionally aligned with national/international 24-h Movement Behaviors Guidelines for the Early Years is needed.
Lag-time effects of vaccination on SARS-CoV-2 dynamics in German hospitals and intensive-care units
Authors: Lokonon Bruno Enagnon , Montcho Yvette , Klingler Paul , Tovissodé Chénangnon Frédéric , Glèlè Kakaï Romain , Wolkewitz Martin
Published: April 2023

Background

The Efficacy and effectiveness of vaccination against SARS-CoV-2 have clearly been shown by randomized trials and observational studies. Despite these successes on the individual level, vaccination of the population is essential to relieving hospitals and intensive care units. In this context, understanding the effects of vaccination and its lag-time on the population-level dynamics becomes necessary to adapt the vaccination campaigns and prepare for future pandemics.

Methods

This work applied a quasi-Poisson regression with a distributed lag linear model on German data from a scientific data platform to quantify the effects of vaccination and its lag times on the number of hospital and intensive care patients, adjusting for the influences of non-pharmaceutical interventions and their time trends. We separately evaluated the effects of the first, second and third doses administered in Germany.

Results

The results revealed a decrease in the number of hospital and intensive care patients for high vaccine coverage. The vaccination provides a significant protective effect when at least approximately 40% of people are vaccinated, whatever the dose considered. We also found a time-delayed effect of the vaccination. Indeed, the effect on the number of hospital patients is immediate for the first and second doses while for the third dose about 15 days are necessary to have a strong protective effect. Concerning the effect on the number of intensive care patients, a significant protective response was obtained after a lag time of about 15–20 days for the three doses. However, complex time trends, e.g. due to new variants, which are independent of vaccination make the detection of these findings challenging.

Conclusion

Our results provide additional information about the protective effects of vaccines against SARS-CoV-2; they are in line with previous findings and complement the individual-level evidence of clinical trials. Findings from this work could help public health authorities efficiently direct their actions against SARS-CoV-2 and be well-prepared for future pandemics.
Developing technical support and strategic dialogue at the country level to achieve Primary Health Care-based health systems beyond the COVID-19 era
Authors: Cheong Chi Mo Jeremy , Shah Archana , Downey Casey , Genay-Diliautas Sophie , Saikat Sohel , Mustafa Saqif , Meru Nikon , Dalil Suraya , Schmets Gerard , Porignon Denis
Published: April 2023

This article is part of the Research Topic ‘Health Systems Recovery in the Context of COVID-19 and Protracted Conflict’.

Pursuing the objectives of the Declaration of Alma-Ata for Primary Health Care (PHC), the World Health Organization (WHO) and global health partners are supporting national authorities to improve governance to build resilient and integrated health systems, including recovery from public health stressors, through the long-term deployment of WHO country senior health policy advisers under the Universal Health Coverage Partnership (UHC Partnership). For over a decade, the UHC Partnership has progressively reinforced, via a flexible and bottom-up approach, the WHO’s strategic and technical leadership on Universal Health Coverage, with more than 130 health policy advisers deployed in WHO Country and Regional Offices. This workforce has been described as a crucial asset by WHO Regional and Country Offices in the integration of health systems to enhance their resilience, enabling the WHO offices to strengthen their support of PHC and Universal Health Coverage to Ministries of Health and other national authorities as well as global health partners. Health policy advisers aim to build the technical capacities of national authorities, in order to lead health policy cycles and generate political commitment, evidence, and dialogue for policy-making processes, while creating synergies and harmonization between stakeholders. The policy dialogue at the country level has been instrumental in ensuring a whole-of-society and whole-of-government approach, beyond the health sector, through community engagement and multisectoral actions. Relying on the lessons learned during the 2014–2016 Ebola outbreak in West Africa and in fragile, conflict-affected, and vulnerable settings, health policy advisers played a key role during the COVID-19 pandemic to support countries in health systems response and early recovery. They brought together technical resources to contribute to the COVID-19 response and to ensure the continuity of essential health services, through a PHC approach in health emergencies. This policy and practice review, including from the following country experiences: Colombia, Islamic Republic of Iran, Lao PDR, South Sudan, Timor-Leste, and Ukraine, provides operational and inner perspectives on strategic and technical leadership provided by WHO to assist Member States in strengthening PHC and essential public health functions for resilient health systems. It aims to demonstrate and advise lessons and good practices for other countries in strengthening their health systems.
Fatal drug use in the COVID-19 pandemic response: Changing trends in drug-involved deaths before and after stay-at-home orders in Louisiana
Authors: Leonhardt Maxwell M. , Spartz John R. , Shankar Arti , Murphy Stephen A.
Published: April 2023

The effect of disaster events on increasing drug-involved deaths has been clearly shown in previous literature. As the COVID-19 pandemic led to stay-at-home orders throughout the United States, there was a simultaneous spike in drug-involved deaths around the country. The landscape of a preexisting epidemic of drug-involved deaths in the United States is one which is not geographically homogenous. Given this unequal distribution of mortality, state-specific analysis of changing trends in drug use and drug-involved deaths is vital to inform both care for people who use drugs and local policy. An analysis of public health surveillance data from the state of Louisiana, both before and after the initial stay-at-home order of the COVID-19 pandemic, was used to determine the effect the pandemic may have had on the drug-involved deaths within this state. Using the linear regression analysis of total drug-involved deaths, as well as drug-specific subgroups, trends were measured based on quarterly (Qly) deaths. With the initial stay-at-home order as the change point, trends measured through quarter 1 (Q1) of 2020 were compared to trends measured from quarter 2 (Q2) of 2020 through quarter 3 (Q3) of 2021. The significantly increased rate of change in Qly drug-involved deaths, synthetic opioid-involved deaths, stimulant-involved deaths, and psychostimulant-involved deaths indicates a long-term change following the initial response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Changes in the delivery of mental health services, harm reduction services, medication for opioid use disorder (MOUD), treatment services, withdrawal management services, addiction counseling, shelters, housing, and food supplies further limited drug-involved prevention support, all of which were exacerbated by the new stress of living in a pandemic and economic uncertainty.
A Stepwise Proposal for Low-Grade Hemorrhoidal Disease: Injection Sclerotherapy as a First-Line Treatment and Rubber Band Ligation for Persistent Relapses
Authors: Tutino Roberta , Massani Marco , Jospin Kamdem Mambou Leonel , Venturelli Paolina , Della Valle Immacolata , Melfa Giuseppina , Micheli Matilde , Russo Gaia , Scerrino Gregorio , Bonventre Sebastiano , Cocorullo Gianfranco
Published: April 2023

Outpatient treatments are actually the techniques of choice in the management of low-grade hemorrhoidal disease. Among these, rubber band ligation (RBL) and injection sclerotherapy (IS) are the most frequently performed. Both techniques are used, without one having been determined to be superior over the other. We analyzed the studies that compare these two techniques in terms of efficacy and safety in order to offer a proposal for treatment choice. RBL seems to be most efficient in terms of symptom resolution for second-degree hemorrhoidal disease and equal or superior for treatment of third-degree disease. However, IS offers lower rates of severe post-operative pain and minor complications. Since outpatient treatments are offered to patients as painless options that allow a prompt recovery, we propose a stepwise protocol using 3% polidocanol or aluminum potassium sulfate and tannic acid IS as the first treatment option, as it has less complications, followed by RBL in cases of relapse.
In-office Eustachian tube balloon dilation under local anesthesia as a response to operating room restrictions associated with the COVID-19 pandemic
Authors: Sheppard Sean C. , Beckmann Sven , Caversaccio Marco , Anschuetz Lukas
Published: April 2023

Objective

To evaluate the feasibility of local anesthesia for Eustachian tube balloon dilation as an in-office procedure for the treatment of Eustachian tube dilatory dysfunction as a response to the restriction measures of the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic.

Method

Patients with Eustachian tube dilatory dysfunction refractory to nasal steroids undergoing Eustachian tube balloon dilation in local anesthesia were enrolled in a prospective observational cohort between May 2020 and April 2022. The patients were assessed by using the Eustachian tube dysfunction questionnaire (ETDQ-7) score and Eustachian tube mucosal inflammation scale. They underwent clinical examination, tympanometry, and pure tone audiometry. Eustachian tube balloon dilation was performed in-office under local anesthesia. The perioperative experience of the patients was recorded using a 1–10 visual analog scale (VAS).

Results

Thirty patients (47 Eustachian tubes) underwent the operation successfully. One attempted dilation was aborded because the patient displayed anxiety. Local anesthesia was performed by using topical lidocaine and nasal packing for all patients. Three patients required an infiltration of the nasal septum and/or tubal nasopharyngeal orifice. The mean time of the operation was 5.7 min per Eustachian tube dilation. The mean level of discomfort during the intervention was 4.7 (on a 1–10 VAS scale). All patients returned home immediately after the intervention. The only reported complication was a self-limiting subcutaneous emphysema.

Conclusion

Eustachian tube balloon dilation can be performed under local anesthesia and is well tolerated by most patients. In the patients reported in this study, no major complications occurred. In order to free operation room capacities, the intervention can be performed in an in-office setting with satisfactory patient feedback.
Different effects of a perioperative single dose of dexamethasone on wound healing in mice with or without sepsis
Authors: Chen Yuanyang , Chen Xiaoshan , Zhou Quanhong
Published: April 2023

Introduction

Sepsis delays wound healing owing to uncontrolled inflammation. A single perioperative dose of dexamethasone is widely used because of its anti-inflammatory effects. However, the effects of dexamethasone on wound healing in sepsis remain unclear.

Methods

We discuss the methods to obtain dose curves and explore the safe dosage range for wound healing in mice with or without sepsis. A saline or LPS intraperitoneal injection was applied to C57BL/6 mice. After 24 hours, the mice received a saline or DEX intraperitoneal injection and full-thickness, dorsal wounding operation. Wound healing was observed by image record, immunofluorescence and histological staining. Inflammatory cytokines and M1/M2 macrophages in wounds were determined by ELISA and immunofluorescence, respectively.

Results

Dose-response curves reflected the safe dosage range of DEX in mice with or without sepsis, from 0.121 to 2.03 mg/kg and from 0 to 0.633 mg/kg, respectively. we found that a single dose of dexamethasone (1 mg/kg, i.p.) promoted wound healing in septic mice, but delayed wound healing in normal mice. In normal mice, dexamethasone delays inflammation, resulting in an insufficient number of macrophages during the healing process. In septic mice, dexamethasone alleviated excessive inflammation and maintained the balance of M1/M2 macrophages in the early and late healing process.

Discussion

In summary, the safe dosage range of dexamethasone in septic mice is wider than that in normal mice. A single dose of dexamethasone (1 mg/kg) increased wound healing in septic mice, but delayed it in normal mice. Our findings provide helpful suggestions for the rational use of dexamethasone.
Inequalities in the Access to Health Services Among Older Migrants: Evidence From the China Migrant Dynamic Monitoring Survey
Authors: Long Chengxu , Chen Fangfei , Ye Yisheng , Ji Lu , Xu Xinyin , Tang Shangfeng
Published: April 2023

Objectives: To identify differences in healthcare use between older migrant workers (OMWs) and older migrants (OMs) and explore associated factors and paths of healthcare use.

Methods: The data came from the 2015 China Migrant Dynamic Monitoring Survey (CMDMS). CMDMS used a multi-stage stratified probability proportionate to size method as the sampling technique and conducted a desk review. The samples include OMWs, OMs for caring offspring (N = 4,439), and OMs for receiving care from family (N = 4,184). We built logistic regression and path analysis models to analyze the data.

Results: Social health insurance (SHI) in current place of residence is associated with less expenditure among all subgroups. OMWs and OMs for receiving care from family with SHI in current place of residence are more likely to use healthcare.

Conclusion: OMWs are particularly vulnerable in healthcare use and socioeconomic status. Having SHI registered in current place of residence helps decrease expenditure among OMs. We urge policymakers to consider a united health financing scheme across OMWs and other urban employees and streamline policies for migrants to enroll in SHI in current place of residence.
Outcome of Microalgae Biomass Application on Seed Germination and Hormonal Activity in Winter Wheat Leaves
Authors: Mutum Lamnganbi , Janda Tibor , Darkó Éva , Szalai Gabriella , Hamow Kamirán Áron , Molnár Zoltán
Published: April 2023

The present work aimed to test selected microalgae strains from the Mosonmagyaróvár Algae Culture Collection (MACC) on germination ability and certain physiological processes in winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) plants. Germination tests showed substantial differences between the strains, meaning that certain strains (such as MACC-430, MACC-612, MACC-922) improved the germination processes while others performed worse (MACC-438, MACC-755) than the control in a concentration-dependent manner. The germination index of seeds treated with MACC-430 @ 1 g L−1 concentrations was 87, while that of the control was 45. The mungbean rooting bioassay proves that microalgae biomass may exhibit auxin-like activity, especially in strain MACC-612 (Nostoc sp.), which was characterized by the highest endogenous level of plant growth regulator indole-3-acetic-acid among the selected strains. Foliar spray on the leaves of developed plants did not significantly alter the photosynthetic processes, but it influenced the secondary metabolite composition. After the application of microalgae biomass, there were also changes in plant hormones, including salicylic acid, abscisic acid, and jasmonic acid-leucine/isoleucine conjugate compositions, which play a role in plant stress signaling in plants. A decrease in indole-3-acetic acid was also observed in the Mv Nádor cultivar. These results suggest that the application of certain microalgae strains can be used effectively to improve the germination of wheat seeds, and as a foliar spray, they may also modify the acclimation processes in a genotype-dependent way.
Chemical Composition, Antibacterial and Combinatorial Effects of the Essential Oils from Cymbopogon spp. and Mentha arvensis with Conventional Antibiotics
Authors: Sharma Neha , Sheikh Zahid Nabi , Alamri Saud , Singh Bikarma , Kesawat Mahipal Singh , Guleria Sanjay
Published: April 2023

This work aimed to evaluate the chemical composition and antibacterial activity of essential oils of Cymbopogon citratus (CCEO), Cymbopogon khasianus (CKEO), and Mentha arvensis (MAEO) against two Gram-negative (Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae) and three Gram-positive (Staphylococcus aureus, Micrococcus luteus, Bacillus subtilis) microbial strains and their combination with antibiotics (chloramphenicol, ampicillin, erythromycin) to observe the synergistic behavior between them. The essential oils (EOs) were investigated by the GC-MS (gas chromatography mass spectrometry) method. The synergistic effect between EOs and antimicrobial agents was analyzed by broth dilution assay. (-)-carvone (52.48%), geraniol (57.66%), and citral (37.83%) were the major components identified in EOs of MAEO, CKEO, and CCEO, respectively. According to the antibacterial activity, EOs demonstrated strong antibacterial activity with MIC values ranging from 0.7 to 18 mg/mL. The interaction between the combination of EOs and antibiotics was determined in terms of FICI (Fractional Inhibitory Concentration Index). Some combinations displayed a partial synergistic effect, and some showed a synergistic and others displayed no effect against bacterial strains. The best synergistic action was shown by the combination of CCEO and Chloramphenicol against E. coli with a FICI value of 0.4. Three to four fold reductions in the MIC value of both essential oil and antibiotics were observed. Therefore, this synergistic interaction of the most active EOs with synthetic antibiotics could lead to new combination therapies for combating infections caused by multidrug-resistant microbes at sufficiently low concentrations in the pharmaceutical and food industry.
Do Elevated Serum C-Reactive-Protein Levels Excuse Delayed Surgery for Femoral Neck Fractures?
Authors: Laggner Roberta , Taner Benan , Straub Jennifer , Tiefenböck Thomas Manfred , Binder Harlad , Sator Thomas , Hajdu Stefan , Windhager Reinhard , Böhler Christoph
Published: April 2023

In elderly patients with femoral neck fractures, preoperative serum C-reactive protein (CRP) values might be elevated due to active infections. Although there are limited data on CRP as a predictor of periprosthetic joint infection (PJI), out of concern, this could lead to delayed surgery. Therefore, we aim to investigate whether elevated serum-CRP levels justify delayed surgery for femoral neck fractures. A retrospective analysis was performed of the records of patients undergoing arthroplasty who were found to have an elevated CRP level of 5 mg/dL or more between January 2011 to December 2020. The patients were stratified to three groups, according to initial serum CRP levels at a cut off of 5 mg/dL and the time between admission and surgery (<48 vs. ≥48 h after admission). This study revealed that the patients with elevated serum CRP levels and delayed surgery showed a worse survival rate and significantly more postoperative complications than the patients on whom surgery was performed immediately. There were no significant differences in terms of PJI and prolonged wound healing in the inter-group comparison. Therefore, delays to surgery on the basis of elevated CRP values offer no benefits to patients with femoral neck fractures.
Impact of VR Application in an Academic Context
Authors: Predescu (Burciu) Stefania-Larisa , Caramihai Simona Iuliana , Moisescu Mihnea-Alexandru
Published: April 2023

Traditional learning has faced major changes due to the COVID-19 pandemic, highlighting the necessity for innovative education methods. Virtual reality (VR) technology has the potential to change teaching and learning paradigms by providing a gamified, immersive, and engaging education. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the impact of virtual reality in academic context by using a VR software instrument (called EduAssistant). The system’s features such as virtual amphitheater, search by voice recognition, whiteboard, and a video conference system have fostered a sense of connection and community interaction. The study involved 117 students for VR experience, out of which 97 watched a pre-recorded video and 20 students used the VR headset, and an additional 20 students for traditional learning. The students who used the VR headset achieved a significantly higher mean quiz score of 8.31 compared to 7.55 for the traditional learning group with a two-tailed p-value of 0.0468. Over 80% of the total number of participants were satisfied (4 or 5 out of 5) with the experience and the confidence level when searching through voice recognition was over 90%. The study demonstrates that virtual reality is an excellent approach for changing conventional education. The research results, based on samples, simulations, and surveys, revealed a positive impact of VR and its gamification methods on the students’ cognitive performance, engagement, and learning experience. Immersion provided by a virtual assistant tool helped to promote active and deep learning. Experiments based on EduAssistant features suggest that virtual reality is also an effective strategy for future research related to students with disabilities.
Speech Emotion Recognition through Hybrid Features and Convolutional Neural Network
Authors: Alluhaidan Ala Saleh , Saidani Oumaima , Jahangir Rashid , Nauman Muhammad Asif , Neffati Omnia Saidani
Published: April 2023

Speech emotion recognition (SER) is the process of predicting human emotions from audio signals using artificial intelligence (AI) techniques. SER technologies have a wide range of applications in areas such as psychology, medicine, education, and entertainment. Extracting relevant features from audio signals is a crucial task in the SER process to correctly identify emotions. Several studies on SER have employed short-time features such as Mel frequency cepstral coefficients (MFCCs), due to their efficiency in capturing the periodic nature of audio signals. However, these features are limited in their ability to correctly identify emotion representations. To solve this issue, this research combined MFCCs and time-domain features (MFCCT) to enhance the performance of SER systems. The proposed hybrid features were given to a convolutional neural network (CNN) to build the SER model. The hybrid MFCCT features together with CNN outperformed both MFCCs and time-domain (t-domain) features on the Emo-DB, SAVEE, and RAVDESS datasets by achieving an accuracy of 97%, 93%, and 92% respectively. Additionally, CNN achieved better performance compared to the machine learning (ML) classifiers that were recently used in SER. The proposed features have the potential to be widely utilized to several types of SER datasets for identifying emotions.
Failure Analysis and Accelerated Test Development for Rotor Magnetic Bridge of Electric Vehicle Drive Motor
Authors: Wang Sibo , Shang Jing , Zhao Lihui , Li Le , Wang Zhen , Wang Dazhi , Wang Xiaoxu
Published: April 2023

Motor rotor magnetic bridges operate under multiple physical field loads, such as electromagnetic force, temperature, and centrifugal force. These loads can cause fatigue and aging failure of the bridges, especially when the rotor is operating continuously at high speeds and high temperatures. Therefore, the failure analysis and accelerated test cycle development of magnetic bridges is a major aspect of their reliability evaluation. This paper studies rotor multi-physics load transfer characteristics and establishes a rotor magnetic bridge failure physical model. A simulation analysis is conducted from the electromagnetic field, thermal field, structural field, and thermomechanical coupling field to determine the risk point load responses and failure-dominant loads. In addition, the accuracy of the simulation model is verified by actual bench tests. Considering the influence on the rotor bridge’s life under the coupling of multiple failure modes, the fatigue failure model under alternating loads and the fatigue aging coupling failure model are established, respectively. Through a damage analysis, the whole life cycle damage targets for both failure modes are determined, and the test condition levels are screened based on the load frequency distribution and damage distribution. The multi-objective optimization method is used to calculate the number of test cycles and finally develop accelerated test cycle conditions that can reproduce multiple failure modes. This research can provide support for rotor bridge reliability design and verification, as well as product quality development.
Enhancing Spatial Debris Material Classifying through a Hierarchical Clustering-Fuzzy C-Means Integration Approach
Authors: Guo Fengqi , Zhu Jingping , Huang Liqing , Li Haoxiang , Deng Jinxin , Jiang Huilin , Hou Xun
Published: April 2023

This paper presents a novel approach for clustering spectral polarization data acquired from space debris using a fuzzy C-means (FCM) algorithm model based on hierarchical agglomerative clustering (HAC). The effectiveness of the proposed algorithm is verified using the Kosko subset measure formula. By extracting characteristic parameters representing spectral polarization from laboratory test data of space debris samples, a characteristic matrix for clustering is determined. The clustering algorithm’s parameters are determined through a random selection of points in the external field. The resulting algorithm is applied to pixel-level clustering processing of spectral polarization images, with the clustering results rendered in color. The experimental results on field spectral polarization images demonstrate a classification accuracy of 96.92% for six types of samples, highlighting the effectiveness of the proposed approach for space debris detection and identification. The innovation of this study lies in the combination of HAC and FCM algorithms, using the former for preliminary clustering, and providing a more stable initial state for the latter, thereby improving the effectiveness, adaptability, accuracy, and robustness of the algorithm. Overall, this work provides a promising foundation for space debris classification and other related applications.
Chinese Named Entity Recognition Model Based on Multi-Task Learning
Authors: Fang Qin , Li Yane , Feng Hailin , Ruan Yaoping
Published: April 2023

Compared to English, Chinese named entity recognition has lower performance due to the greater ambiguity in entity boundaries in Chinese text, making boundary prediction more difficult. While traditional models have attempted to enhance the definition of Chinese entity boundaries by incorporating external features such as lexicons or glyphs, they have rarely disentangled the entity boundary prediction problem for separate study. In order to leverage entity boundary information, the named entity recognition task has been decomposed into two subtasks: boundary annotation and type annotation, and a multi-task learning network (MTL-BERT) has been proposed that combines a bidirectional encoder (BERT) model. This network performs joint encoding and specific decoding of the subtasks, enhancing the model’s feature extraction abilities by reinforcing the feature associations between subtasks. Multiple sets of experiments conducted on Weibo NER, MSRA, and OntoNote4.0 public datasets show that the F1 values of MTL-BERT reach 73.8%, 96.5%, and 86.7%, respectively, effectively improving the performance and efficiency of Chinese named entity recognition tasks.
Automatic Selective Encryption of DICOM Images
Authors: Natsheh Qamar , Sălăgean Ana , Zhou Diwei , Edirisinghe Eran
Published: April 2023

Securing DICOM images is essential to protect the privacy of patients, especially in the era of telemedicine and eHealth/mHealth. This increases the demand for rapid security. Nevertheless, a limited amount of research work has been conducted to ensure the security of DICOM images while minimizing the processing time. Hence, this paper introduces a selective encryption approach to reduce the processing time and sustain the robustness of security. The proposed approach selects regions within medical images automatically in the spatial domain using the pixel thresholding segmentation technique, then compresses and encrypts them using different encryption algorithms based on their importance. An adaptive two-region encryption approach is applied to single and multi-frame DICOM images, where the Region of Background (ROB) is encrypted using a light encryption algorithm, while the Region of Interest (ROI) is encrypted using a sophisticated encryption algorithm. For multi-frame DICOM images (Approach I), additional time-saving has been achieved by almost 10,000 times faster than the Naïve encryption approach, and 100 times better compression ratio, using one segmentation map based on a pre-defined reference frame for all the DICOM frames. For single-frame DICOM image (Approach II), a multi-region selective encryption approach is proposed, where the ROI is further split into three regions based on potential security threats, using a mathematical model that guarantees shorter encryption time in comparison with the Naive and the two-region encryption approaches, with almost 47% and 14% saving times, respectively. Based on the estimated processing time, Approach I outperformed Approach II noticeably. Further, cryptanalysis metrics are utilized to evaluate the proposed approaches, which indicate good robustness against a wide variety of attacks.
The Role of Data-Driven Methodologies in Weather Index Insurance
Authors: Hernández-Rojas Luis F. , Abrego-Perez Adriana L. , Lozano Martínez Fernando E. , Valencia-Arboleda Carlos F. , Diaz-Jimenez Maria C. , Pacheco-Carvajal Natalia , García-Cárdenas Juan J.
Published: April 2023

There are several index insurance methodologies. Most of them rely on linear piece-wise methods. Recently, there has been studies promoting the potential of data-driven methodologies in construction index insurance models due to their ability to capture intricate non-linear structures. However, these types of frameworks have mainly been implemented in high-income countries due to the large amounts of data and high-frequency requirements. This paper adapts a data-driven methodology based on high-frequency satellite-based climate indices to explain flood risk and agricultural losses in the Antioquia area (Colombia). We used flood records as a proxy of crop losses, while satellite data comprises run-off, soil moisture, and precipitation variables. We analyse the period between 3 June 2000 and 31 December 2021. We used a logistic regression model as a reference point to assess the performance of a deep neural network. The results show that a neural network performs better than traditional logistic regression models for the available loss event data on the selected performance metrics. Additionally, we obtained a utility measure to derive the costs associated for both parts involved including the policyholder and the insurance provider. When using neural networks, costs associated with the policyholder are lower for the majority of the range of cut-off values. This approach contributes to the future construction of weather insurance indexes for the region where a decrease in the base risk would be expected, thus, resulting in a reduction in insurance costs.
Is Virtual Rehabilitation Technology Ready to Be Widely Integrated in the Rehabilitation Area? An IT Governance Perspective
Authors: Muria-Tarazón Juan Carlos , Gil-Gómez Hermenegildo , Mesa-Gresa Patricia , Gil-Gómez José-Antonio
Published: April 2023

In this work, the authors analyze virtual reality rehabilitation research on strokes in the past 8 years (2015–2022) from the perspective of Information Technology governance (how these initiatives sustain and extend organization strategy), using the “Four Ares” technique that is widely used in other sectors with a proven track record. Are we doing the right things? Are we doing them the right way? Are we getting them done well? Are we getting the benefits? Methods: The bibliography was exhaustively selected for evaluation considering these four questions, covering different aspects of existing evidence on this topic. Results: Some evidence of positive outcomes in patients with a stroke was found, and different approaches, types of measurement, platforms, and methods were analyzed to discern the present situation of research and recommendations. Conclusions: Positive outcomes on motor functions and on motivation and patient adherence to the treatment suggests this is an interesting field to research and examine in the future. Homogeneity on research design and larger samples are key to improving evidence and identifying the best strategies to use.
Solution for the Kinematics of Non-H-D Couplings Applied to RPCR Mechanism
Authors: Alaci Stelian , Ciornei Florina-Carmen , Romanu Ionut-Cristian , Ciocirlan Toma-Marian , Ciornei Mariana-Catalina
Published: April 2023

The paper presents a proposed mechanism, RPCR, for the coupling of two shafts with crossed axes. For the analytical kinematics, the Hartenberg–Denavit methodology cannot be applied due to the planar pair occurrence. To apply the screw theory, the planar pair should be replaced by an assembly of cylindrical pairs, but this is also cumbersome. This work proposes an analytical solution obtained from the structural condition of planar joint based on the formulated expressions with respect to adequately chosen reference frames. A system of trigonometrical equations is obtained, but confusions may occur from classical solving; then, this paper presents the methodology with the correct approach. With the analytical solution for the displacements from the joints found, the conditions required for the constructive parameters of a realistic mechanism are found. The kinematical calculus of the mechanism is presented, and analytical relations are obtained for all relative motions from the pairs of the mechanism. The correctness of the analytical solutions is validated by the results of a numerical simulation.
Malliavin Regularity of Non-Markovian Quadratic BSDEs and Their Numerical Schemes
Authors: Doubbakh Salima , Khelfallah Nabil , Eddahbi Mhamed , Almualim Anwar
Published: April 2023

We study both Malliavin regularity and numerical approximation schemes for a class of quadratic backward stochastic differential equations (QBSDEs for short) in cases where the terminal data need not be a function of a forward diffusion. By using the connection between the QBSDE under study and some backward stochastic differential equations (BSDEs) with global Lipschitz coefficients, we firstly prove Lq, (q≥2) existence and uniqueness results for QBSDE. Secondly, the Lp-Hölder continuity of the solutions is established for (q>4 and 2≤p<q2). Then, we analyze some numerical schemes for our systems and establish their rates of convergence. Moreover, our results are illustrated with three examples.
Recent Advances on Quinoxaline-Based Photoinitiators of Polymerization
Authors: Dumur Frédéric
Published: April 2023

Photopolymerization offers a unique opportunity to convert liquid monomers to polymers using light as the activation source. Recently, major efforts have been devoted to developing visible light photo-initiating systems, and the search for new dyes that can be incorporated into photocurable resins and polymerize a resin within a few seconds is still ongoing. With the aim of exploring a maximum of structures to reach this goal, quinoxaline has been identified to be a promising scaffold for the design of UV-centered and visible light photo-initiating systems. In this review, an overview of the different quinoxaline-based dyes will be given. In order to evidence the interest in these structures, comparisons with reference systems will be given.
Recent Progress of Metal-Oxide-Based Catalysts for Non-Oxidative Coupling of Methane to Ethane and Hydrogen
Authors: Wang Junbu , Rao Zhiqiang , Huang Zeai , Chen Yaolin , Wang Fang , Zhou Ying
Published: April 2023

Methane is the fundamental raw material of the C1 chemical industry, with abundant reserves. Its direct conversion into high-value-added chemicals has great scientific significance and broad commercial potential for the efficient use of methane resources. However, it is difficult to convert methane into more useful hydrocarbons and hydrogen, as the reaction usually requires external energy to overcome thermodynamic limitations. Non-oxidative coupling of methane to produce ethane and hydrogen is a promising supply technology. Catalysts which can be adapted to various energy sources are key to this technology. In recent years, considerable progress has been made in the design and application of these thermal and photocatalysts. This review outlines some typical catalysts, and reviews the progress in the understanding of reaction mechanisms. Finally, suggestions for the development of high-selectivity and high-stability catalysts for the future are presented.
Can Shear Wave Elastography Help Differentiate Acute Tonsillitis from Normal Tonsils in Pediatric Patients: A Prospective Preliminary Study
Authors: Ece Bunyamin , Aydin Sonay
Published: April 2023

Shear wave elastography (SWE) is a non-invasive imaging technique used to quantify the elasticity/stiffness of any tissue. There are normative SWE studies on tonsils in healthy children in the literature. The purpose of this study is to analyze the palatine tonsils in children with acute tonsillitis using ultrasound and SWE. In this prospective study, pediatric patients aged 4–18 years diagnosed with acute tonsillitis and healthy children were included. Those with antibiotic use, chronic tonsillitis, adenoid hypertrophy, and having chronic disease, immunodeficiency, and autoimmune disease, or any rheumatological disease were excluded. The volume and elasticity of palatine tonsil were measured via ultrasound and SWE. The study included 81 (46 female, 35 male) acute tonsillitis patients, and 63 (38 female, 25 male) healthy children between the ages of 4 and 18. Elasticity (kPa) values of tonsils were found significantly higher in the tonsillitis group (SWE-R: 25.39 ± 4.64, SWE-L: 25.01 ± 4.17) compared to the normal group (SWE-R: 9.71 ± 2.37, SWE-L: 9.39 ± 2.19) (p < 0.001). In the tonsillitis group, a significant positive correlation was found between tonsil volume and elasticity (r: 0.774, p: 0.002). In conclusion, in pediatric patients with acute tonsillitis, higher kPa values were obtained with SWE in the palatine tonsils.
Tumor Microenvironment Activated Vanadium−Doped Carbon Dots for Fluorescence Imaging and Chemodynamic Therapy
Authors: Nie Renhao , Jia Qingyan , Li Yunqi
Published: April 2023

The multifunctional platform response to the tumor microenvironment (TME) is critical for the high-precision diagnosis and treatment of cancer with low systemic toxicity. In this regard, vanadium-doped carbon dots (V−CDs) have been developed for TME-activated fluorescence imaging and chemodynamic therapy (CDT). Due to the Forster resonance energy transfer caused by the doped vanadium, the obtained V−CDs displayed quenched fluorescence. Once entering the tumor, the fluorescence imaging ability of the V−CDs are stimulated by the reaction between vanadium and overexpressed H2O2 in a weak acid TME. Meanwhile, the hydroxyl radicals generated by the catalytic reaction of V−CDs could induce oxidative damage in tumor cells for CDT, while showing less cytotoxicity and side effects in normal cells. Therefore, the well-designed V−CDs could be used for TME-activated fluorescence imaging and CDT while maintaining an “inactive” status in normal tissues to ensure low biological toxicity, satisfying the clinical requirements for accurate diagnosis and efficient treatment with low side effects for tumors. Our research provides an effective strategy for designing and preparing multifunctional nanotheranostic drugs responsive to TME for accurate tumor imaging and treatment.
Self-Consistent Crystal Plasticity Modeling of Slip-Twin Interactions in Mg Alloys
Authors: Patel Mukti , Paudel YubRaj , Mujahid Shiraz , Rhee Hongjoo , El Kadiri Haitham
Published: April 2023

Parsing the effect of slip-twin interactions on the strain rate and thermal sensitivities of Magnesium (Mg) alloys has been a challenging endeavor for scientists preoccupied with the mechanical behavior of hexagonal close-packed alloys, especially those with great latent economic potential such as Mg. One of the main barriers is the travail entailed in fitting the various stress−strain behaviors at different temperatures, strain rates, loading directions applied to different starting textures. Taking on this task for two different Mg alloys presenting different textures and as such various levels of slip-twin interactions were modeled using visco-plastic self-consistent (VPSC) code. A recently developed routine that captures dislocation transmutation by twinning interfaces on strain hardening within the twin lamellae was employed. While the strong texture was exemplified by traditional rolled AZ31 Mg alloys, the weak texture was represented by ZEK100 Mg alloy sheets. The transmutation model incorporated within a dislocation density based hardening model showed enhanced flexibility in predicting the complex strain rate and thermal sensitive behavior of Mg textures’ response to various mechanical loading schemes.
Effectiveness of an Educational Program on Awareness of Breast Cancer Risk Factors, Symptoms, and Barriers to Seeking Medical Help among Adolescent Omani School Students—An Interventional Study
Authors: Al-Hosni Khadija , Chan Moon Fai , Al-Azri Mohammed
Published: April 2023

Background and Aim: Women in Oman and low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) are usually diagnosed with BC at a younger age and more advanced stage, with poor five-year survival. This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of breast cancer (BC) related educational programs among female Omani adolescents. Materials and Methods: Six female-only public schools were randomly selected from three governorates of Oman and assigned to the control or interventional group. An Arabic version of the Breast Cancer Awareness Measure questionnaire was used to evaluate students attending grades 10 and 11 at baseline (T0) and after 4 weeks (T1). After T0, the intervention group participated in a one-hour BC education program involving group discussions, a slideshow presentation, leaflets, and online access to program materials and videos. Non-parametric tests were used to compare scores between intervention and control groups and within each group across time (T0 vs. T1). Results: A total of 1106 students participated, of which 547 (49.5%) and 559 (50.5%) were allocated to the control and intervention groups, respectively. Recognition of BC risk factors (Z = 18.67; p < 0.001) and symptoms (Z = 20.01; p < 0.001) increased significantly in the intervention group between T0 and T1 and compared to the control group at T1 (U = 27.27; p < 0.001, and U = 25.75; p < 0.001, respectively). Anticipated time to seeking medical help (Z = 18.67; p < 0.001) and barriers to help-seeking (Z = 7.91; p < 0.001) decreased significantly between T0 and T1 in the intervention group and compared to the control group at T1 (U = 15.78; p < 0.001, and U = 3.44; p = 0.001, respectively). Conclusion: The program increased knowledge of BC risk factors and symptoms and promoted early medical help-seeking among Omani female adolescents. Healthcare strategic planners and policy-makers in Oman and low- and middle-income countries should consider incorporating cancer education programs in the national school curriculum to minimize delays in BC diagnosis and improve the survival rate.
Development of a Point-of-Care Cervico-Vaginal Sampling/Testing Device for the Colorimetric Detection of Cervical Cancer
Authors: Appidi Tejaswini , Vakada Murali , Buddhiraju Hima Sree , Chinchulkar Shubham A. , Kota Akshar , Yadav Dokkari Nagalaxmi , Kodandapani Suseela , Simhabhatla Surya Kumar , Rengan Aravind Kumar
Published: April 2023

This paper reports the colorimetric analysis of cervical-cancer-affected clinical samples by the in situ formation of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) formed with cervico-vaginal fluids collected from healthy and cancer-affected patients in a clinical setup, termed “C-ColAur”. We evaluated the efficacy of the colorimetric technique against the clinical analysis (biopsy/Pap smear) and reported the sensitivity and specificity. We investigated if the aggregation coefficient and size of the nanoparticles responsible for the change in color of the AuNPs (formed with clinical samples) could also be used as a measure of detecting malignancy. We estimated the protein and lipid concentrations in the clinical samples and attempted to investigate if either of these components was solely responsible for the color change, enabling their colorimetric detection. We also propose a self-sampling device, CerviSelf, that could enable the rapid frequency of screening. We discuss two of the designs in detail and demonstrate the 3D-printed prototypes. These devices, in conjugation with the colorimetric technique C-ColAur, have the potential to be self-screening techniques, enabling women to undergo rapid and frequent screening in the comfort and privacy of their homes, allowing a chance at an early diagnosis and improved survival rates.