bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Six skin diseases classification using deep convolutional neural network
Authors: Saifan Ramzi , Jubair Fahed
Published: March 2022

Smart imaging-based medical classification systems help the human diagnose the diseases and make better decisions about patient health. Recently, computer-aided classification of skin diseases has been a popular research area due to its importance in the early detection of skin diseases. This paper presents at its core, a system that exploits convolutional neural networks to classify color images of skin lesions. It relies on a pre-trained deep convolutional neural network to classify between six skin diseases: acne, athlete’s foot, chickenpox, eczema, skin cancer, and vitiligo. Additionally, we constructed a dataset of 3000 colored images from several online datasets and the Internet. Experimental results are encouraging, where the proposed model achieved an accuracy of 81.75%, which is higher than the state of the art researches in this field. This accuracy was calculated using the holdout method, where 90% of the images were used for training, and 10% of the images were used for out-of-sample accuracy testing.
Real-time face detection in digital video-based on Viola-Jones supported by convolutional neural networks
Authors: Obaida Tameem Hameed , Jamil Abeer Salim , Hassan Nidaa Flaih
Published: March 2022

Face detection is a critical function of security (secure witness face in the video) who appear in a scene and are frequently captured by the camera. Recognition of people from their faces in images has recently piqued the scientific community, partly due to application concerns, but also for the difficulty this characterizes for the algorithms of artificial vision. The idea for this research stems from a broad interest in courtroom witness face detection. The goal of this work is to detect and track the face of a witness in court. In this work, a Viola-Jones method is used to extract human faces and then a particular transformation is applied to crop the image. Witness and non-witness images are classified using convolutional neural networks (CNN). The Kanade-Lucas-Tomasi (KLT) algorithm was utilized to track the witness face using trained features. In this model, the two methods were combined in one model to take the advantage of each method in terms of speed and reduce the amount of space required to implement CNN and detection accuracy. After the test, the results of the proposed model showed that it was 99.5% percent accurate when executed in real-time and with adequate lighting.
Video captioning in Vietnamese using deep learning
Authors: Phuc Dang Thi , Trieu Tran Quang , Tinh Nguyen Van , Hieu Dau Sy
Published: March 2022

With the development of today's society, demand for applications using digital cameras jumps over year by year. However, analyzing large amounts of video data causes one of the most challenging issues. In addition to storing the data captured by the camera, intelligent systems are required to quickly analyze the data to correct important situations. In this paper, we use deep learning techniques to build automatic models that describe movements on video. To solve the problem, we use three deep learning models: sequence-to-sequence model based on recurrent neural network, sequence-to-sequence model with attention and transformer model. We evaluate the effectiveness of the approaches based on the results of three models. To train these models, we use microsoft research video description corpus (MSVD) dataset including 1970 videos and 85,550 captions translated into Vietnamese. In order to ensure the description of the content in Vietnamese, we also combine it with the natural language processing (NLP) model for Vietnamese.
Predicting the status of COVID-19 active cases using a neural network time series
Authors: Almasinejad Peyman , Golabpour Amin , Ahouz Fatemeh , Mollakhalili Meybodi Mohammad Reza , Mirzaie Kamal , Khosravi Ahmad , Rohani-Rasaf Marzieh , Bastani Azadeh
Published: March 2022

The design of intelligent systems for analyzing information and predicting the epidemiological trends of the disease is rapidly expanding because of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic. The COVID-19 datasets provided by Johns Hopkins University were included in the analysis. This dataset contains some missing data that is imputed using the multi-objective particle swarm optimization method. A time series model based on nonlinear autoregressive exogenou (NARX) neural network is proposed to predict the recovered and death COVID-19 cases. This model is trained and evaluated for two modes: predicting the situation of the affected areas for the next day and the next month. After training the model based on the data from January 22 to February 27, 2020, the performance of the proposed model was evaluated in predicting the situation of the areas in the coming two weeks. The error rate was less than 5%. The prediction of the proposed model for April 9, 2020, was compared with the actual data for that day. The absolute percentage error (AE) worldwide was 12%. The lowest mean absolute error (MAE) of the model was for South America and Australia with 3 and 3.3, respectively. In this paper, we have shown that geographical areas with mortality and recovery of COVID-19 cases can be predicted using a neural network-based model.
Smart hydroponic based on nutrient film technique and multistep fuzzy logic
Authors: Atmaja Prabadinata , Surantha Nico
Published: March 2022

Automation in hydroponics is have been a great change. Research with fuzzy logic control it’s designed to add to each parameter one by one. In a way microcontroller will activate one by one relay to regulate the parameters with fuzzy logic. While parameter calibration is done, calibration is needed for the next checking if the parameter were not optimal, until its parameter optimal. Multistep fuzzy is used to counter measure the same activation of the relay. With adding real time data monitoring to the system. From test result evaluating multistep fuzzy logic method were 100% works as expected. with another testing approach for best module for sending real time data monitoring for hydroponics. From the real time data transmission method, the success of sending data is 30% from the ESP82166 and 75% of the NRF24L01 with a shortage of the NRF24L01 data loss. For the relay activation can be accommodate with dynamic programming. As for multistep fuzzy logic for hydroponic tested to reach optimal water condition for kale crops resulting in average 12.8 iterations calibration from condition where researches add water only from the start.
Review on hypertension diagnosis using expert system and wearable devices
Authors: Mohd Sani Muhammad Izzuddin , Sia Abdullah Nur Atiqah , Mohd Rosli Marshima
Published: March 2022

The popularity of smartphones and wearable devices is increasing in the global market. These devices track physical exercise records, heartbeat, medicines, and self-health diagnosis. The wearable devices can also collect personal health parameters include hypertension diagnosis. Hypertension is one of the risk factors for cardiovascular-related diseases among the Malaysian population. Many mobile applications are paired with wearable devices to monitor health conditions, but none of them able to diagnose hypertension. In this study, we reviewed research papers that focused on hypertension using expert systems and wearable devices. We performed a systematic literature review based on hypertension factors, expert systems, and wearable devices. We found 15 specific research papers after the filtering process. The key findings highlighted three main focuses, which are the factors of hypertension, the expert system techniques, and the types of sensors in wearable devices. Blood pressure is the most common factor of hypertension that can be collected by wearable devices. As for the expert system techniques, we determined the three most common techniques are machine learning, neural network, and fuzzy logic. Lastly, the wrist band is the most common sensor for wearable devices in hypertension-related research.
Hobbes’s Theory of Responsibility as Support for Sommerville’s Argument Against Hobbes’s Approval of Independency
Authors: Lloyd S. A.
Published: March 2022

Just as some types of philosophical analysis are more useful than others to historians or political scientists, so, I find, are some sorts of historical research more useful to philosophers than are other sorts. Sommerville makes history useful to non-historians by clarifying the large-scale historical background against which his investigative questions are posed, and then separating out crucial figures, ideas, and events from arcana of interest primarily to specialist historians. His interpretations are relatively neutral, striking a welcome balance between mere reporting of events or textual ideas on the one hand, and on the other, accounts so theoretically laden that they prejudge or foreclose promising interpretive possibilities.
The Pan-Fascist Paradox
Authors: Brouwer Aron
Published: March 2022

To better understand cross-border fascist solidarity, this article suggests a new conceptual framework revolving around the term ‘pan-fascism’ and its ‘paradox’. It argues that the existence or non-existence of a pan-fascist ‘paradox’ in the minds of historical fascists is a matter of optics, as it all depends on who is mobilizing the notion of fascist transnationalism. Because of such optical issues, which all must be unpacked historically, the conceptual framework of ‘pan-fascism’ does not offer a simple solution. It, rather, puts emphasis on a key question: how did certain fascists, at various moments in their lives, think about the possibility of fascist transnationalism? To demonstrate the effectiveness of this approach, this paper takes the work, thought, and practices of the French editors of Je suis partout as a case study, and demonstrates how they attempted to reconcile their commitment to French nationalism with fascist transnationalism.
Minimum Warming in the South Indian Ocean Thermocline in a Warming Climate Linked to Freshening Processes
Authors: Hong Yu , Zhang Ying , Du Yan
Published: March 2022

The Southern Ocean (SO) is one of the key regions in absorbing and storing anthropogenic heat. An analysis of the CMIP6 models finds a distinct warming minimum/cooling and freshening in the subtropical ocean thermocline of the south Indian Ocean (SIO) under a medium-emission scenario (SSP245). The warming minimum/cooling has also been found in other warming scenarios in previous studies. However, the freshening here has received less attention. On account of increased precipitation in the models, the SO high latitudes get fresher in a warmer world. We show that this freshening anomaly is advected to the north of the deep mixed layer by the horizontal current and then subducts into the ocean interior in the SIO. As a result, the isopycnal surfaces become fresher, deeper, and cooler. This freshening and cooling signal then propagates to the north along isopycnals through the subtropical gyre and leads to freshening and cooling on the depth coordinates where the vertical movement of isopycnals (heaving) is insignificant. Lacking deep-enough mixed layers, the other two basins show smaller freshening and cooling signs in the models. Here the importance of freshening in temperature redistribution in the ocean interior in the SIO under extensive global warming is emphasized. The result helps interpret the future heat storage in the SO in a warmer world.

Significance Statement

The Southern Ocean (SO) is a key region in absorbing and storing anthropogenic heat. The observed past and simulated future warming in the SO show maximum values between 40° and 45°S and minimum values downward and northward of the deep mixed layers. CMIP6 models show the same pattern, and it is found that this pattern is most distinguished in the south Indian Ocean. The freshening anomaly advected to the deep mixed layers subducts into the ocean interior, leading to freshening and cooling signals on isopycnals. These signals spread with the subtropical gyre and induce warming minimum/cooling there. The result would help interpret the warming pattern in the SO in a warmer world.
Evaluation of coupled wind / wave model simulations of offshore winds in the Mid-Atlantic Bight using lidar-equipped buoys.
Authors: Gaudet B.J. , García-Medina G. , Krishnamurthy R. , Shaw W.J. , Sheridan L.M. , Yang Z. , Newsom R.K. , Pekour M.
Published: March 2022

From 2014 to 2017, two Department of Energy buoys equipped with Doppler lidar were deployed off the U.S. East Coast to provide long term measurements of hub-height wind speed in the marine environment. We performed simulations of selected cases from the deployment using a 5-km configuration of the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model, to see if simulated hub height speeds could produce closer agreement with the observations than existing reanalysis products. For each case we performed two additional simulations: one in which marine surface roughness height was one-way coupled to forecast wave parameters from a standalone WaveWatch III (WW3) simulation, and another in which WRF and WW3 were two-way coupled using the Coupled-Ocean-Atmosphere-Wave-Sediment-Transport (COAWST) framework. It was found that all the 5-km WRF simulations improved 90-m wind speed statistics for the tropical cyclone case of 08 May 2015 and the cold frontal case of 25 Mar 2016, but not the nor-easter of 18 Jan 2016. The impact of wave coupling on buoy-level (4 m) wind speed was modest and case dependent, but when present, the impact was typically seen at 90 m as well, being as large as 10% in stable conditions. One-way wave coupling consistently reduced wind speeds, improving biases for 25 Mar 2016 but worsening them for 08 May 2015. Two-way wave coupling mitigated these negative biases, improved wave field representation and statistics, and mostly improved 4-m wind field correlation coefficients, at least at the VA buoy, largely due to greater self-consistency between wind and wave fields.
Assessing the Impacts of a Weather Decision Support System for Oklahoma Public Safety Officials
Authors: Na-Yemeh Dolly Y. , Fiebrich Christopher A. , Hocker James E. , Shafer Mark A.
Published: March 2022

Oklahoma’s First-response Information Resource System using Telecommunications (OK-First) has been used for over 25 years to provide education, training, connections, and follow-up support for public safety officials with emergency management responsibilities in Oklahoma. Public safety officials use OK-First training and Oklahoma Mesonet tools to plan and make decisions to save lives and property. However, like most public systems, little is known about user interactions with tools, decisions made, and estimated savings using a weather decision support system. This study used a mixed approach to collect and analyze data from three key sources to assess the perceptions, beneficiaries, and applications of weather support systems for public safety officials. Results showed that a diverse set of tools were needed and used by public safety officials to make decisions in hazardous weather conditions. OK-First tools resulted in estimated self-reported cost savings of over $1.2 million for 12 months. This study provides a crucial step in determining user interactions with tools, training, and services to better understand weather decision support systems used during hazardous weather.
The Role of the Civil Society in the Catalan Political Process (2012–2021)
Authors: Pascal Marta
Published: March 2022

The purpose of this paper is to understand the role of the civil society during the Catalan political process (2012–2021). In a context of a huge political polarization of the Catalan society, we would like to focus on the influence and role of the organized civil society in the political decisions during this period. The methodology used in this paper is based on a qualitative research using in-depth interviews with Catalan spin-doctors, participant observation, and study cases. In the paper, we can prove that the role of the organized Catalan civil society was fundamental to understand some of the decisions taken by the Catalan government, such as the consultation of ninth of November 2014; the referendum of first of October 2017; the proclaim of the Catalan Republic; the demonstrations against de verdict of the Spanish Supreme Court; the pressure of the civil society to boost pro-independence Catalan political parties to continue with a separatist agenda after the 2021 elections; and the following negotiation process with the Spanish government. As far as the findings is concerned, it is important to underline how the Catalan civil society have used different ways to organize themselves and mobilize their followers. We will comment the effectiveness of social networks; how these groups have converted themselves in actors of the political digital conversation; and how they have been able to modify the political agenda and have impacted in the media agenda setting. This paper contributes to understand more effectively the important role of the organized civil society in the Catalan political process and emphasizes its political role and influence. So do, we are able to suggest future political scenarios that could have an important impact on the political polarization that currently affects Catalonia.
Patient Referrals for Hernia Consultations through the International Hernia Collaboration (IHC) Online Social Media Platform
Authors: Durbin Breanna L. , Faulkner Justin D. , Jernigan Richard , Hope Davis , Jacob Brian , Hope William W.
Published: March 2022

Social media platforms are becoming more ubiquitous in surgery with a mission to bring surgeons closer together through education and learning. The purpose of this project is to evaluate the social media posts relating to referral of patients through one of the online social media platforms. The International Hernia Collaboration closed Facebook site was queried with terms relating to referrals and descriptive statistics generated. There were a total of 36 posts relating to surgical referrals between October 2014 and January 2021. Posts were from 32 different surgeons and included 30 different locations throughout the United States. An online social media platform is a viable way to refer patients throughout the United States and abroad. Further study is needed to evaluate the role of social media for surgical referrals and its impact on patient care.
Coping Matters: An Examination of Coping Among Black Americans During COVID-19
Authors: Mercier Caitlin M. , Abbott Dena M. , Ternes Michael S.
Published: March 2022

Using a critical race theory framework and a convergent mixed-method design, this study examined the relationship between coping with stress and psychological distress among Black U.S. Americans ( N = 155) during the COVID-19 pandemic in the context of race-based stressors (e.g., anti-Black racism). Path analysis revealed mixed support for hypotheses; avoidant coping was positively related to all measured facets of psychological distress, whereas socially supported coping was associated with none. Self-sufficient coping was negatively associated with only depressive symptoms. Qualitative analysis revealed four salient themes: (a) Race and the COVID-19 Pandemic, (b) Complex Pandemic Related Changes to Life, (c) Emotional Responses to the Pandemic, and (d) Coping with the COVID Pandemic. These themes suggested the pandemic disrupted participants’ ability to engage in, or effectively use, typically adaptive coping strategies and distress was exacerbated by fears for the safety of other Black U.S. Americans. Implications for training, practice, research, and advocacy are discussed.
Revisit Financial Integration in Asia: New Time-Series Evidence from Stock Markets
Authors: Saji T. G.
Published: March 2022

This research reinvestigates stock market linkages in Asian region by employing Johansen cointegration and vector error correction model (VECM) based causality tests. The stock price indexes of Japan, Singapore, South Korea, India and China are used, with monthly data over 1999:09–2019:10. The empirical results find weak price convergence among Asian markets, hence are almost segmented by national borders. The asymmetrical stock price relations in Asia have important implications for the pricing efficiency of national markets and suggest several opportunities for global investors to optimise returns through portfolio diversifications across leading stock markets of the region.

JEL Codes: C58; G11; G15
Public Service Delivery in Turbulent Times Where Convergence Matters: Lessons from the Management of Covid-19 in Kerala
Authors: Datta Prabhat Kumar
Published: March 2022

In turbulent times, the state is charged with three-fold core responsibilities, namely, to reduce or arrest the impact of the crisis on the lives and property of the citizens, to ensure effective and quicker service delivery, and to maintain stateÐsociety relations. In this article, an attempt has been made to analyse how the government of Kerala, which is regarded as one of the best performing states in India, fought the battle of the first wave of Covid-19 in rural areas. An attempt is made to capture and examine the role of the local government institutions and civil society groups, more particularly Kudumbashree groups and to explore how the state government coordinated and facilitated the work of the different state and non-state actors for the convergence of the services delivered by them and for the maintenance of conducive stateÐsociety relations.
Society of Toxicologic Pathology Nonhuman Primate Special Interest Group: Idiopathic Femoral Head Chondrolysis in Nonclinical Research Macaques
Authors: Magagna Michelle A. , Beazley Shelley L. , Veenstra Jesse W. , Newell Michelle A. , Patrick Daniel J.
Published: March 2022

Idiopathic femoral head chondrolysis is a recognized condition in human adolescents and has previously been reported in two macaques at a biomedical research facility. A cluster of coxofemoral joint abnormalities consistent with this condition affecting seven cynomolgus macaques over a four-month period in 2016 and 2017 was observed at a single, nonclinical contract research facility, prompting enhanced physical examination screening efforts during animal receipt and pre-study evaluation to identify additional affected animals. This article summarizes the results of this investigation from November 2016 to March 2021, yielding 97 total cases for an overall incidence of 0.54% (97/17,898 macaques). Affected animals were presented with one or more of the following unilateral or bilateral findings on physical examination and/or diagnostic imaging: lameness, palpable coxofemoral joint abnormalities, femoral head atrophy with variable loss of articular cartilage and irregularity of the femoral head surface, enlarged joint space with effusion, and increased radiographic density of the femoral head. This condition prevented use of affected animals on study for 54% of the cases (52/97 animals). Recognition of this idiopathic condition is important in drug safety evaluation studies to distinguish it from test article–related effects.
Effects of esmolol continuous infusion on blood loss in patients undergoing posterior lumbar internal fixation surgery: A prospective randomized study
Authors: Moon Young Eun , Joo Min A , Joo Jin
Published: March 2022

Objective

To determine the intravenous (i.v.) dose of esmolol needed to attenuate blood loss in patients undergoing posterior lumbar internal fixation (PLIF) surgery.

Methods

This study randomized patients to either the E5 or E10 group. Patients in the E5 group received a 0.25 mg/kg i.v. loading dose of esmolol before anaesthesia, followed by an infusion of 5 µg/kg/min throughout the operation. Patients in the E10 group received a 0.5 mg/kg i.v. loading dose of esmolol before anaesthesia, followed by an infusion of 10 µg/kg/min throughout the operation.

Results

The study analysed 33 patients: 16 in the E5 group and 17 in the E10 group. The mean ± SD blood loss at the end of surgery was significantly greater in the E5 than E10 group (586.3 ± 160.1 versus 347.7 ± 138.0 ml, respectively). The total amount of patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) used was significantly higher in the E5 than E10 group at 8 (26.1 ± 12.0 versus 17.5 ± 8.3 ml, respectively), 24 (58.4 ± 21.3 versus 44.1 ± 16.2 ml, respectively) and 48 h after surgery (90.0 ± 22.5 versus 69.3 ± 22.1 ml, respectively).

Conclusion

A continuous infusion of 10 µg/kg/min of esmolol can safely reduce blood loss during PLIF surgery. It was also shown to reduce postoperative PCA consumption.
Wellbeing During a Crisis: A Longitudinal Study of Local Government Civil Servants
Authors: van der Meer Joëlle , Vermeeren Brenda , Steijn Bram
Published: March 2022

The COVID-19 crisis has affected numerous areas of civil servants’ working life. We investigate, using the JD-R model, the impact of the current crisis on civil servants’ wellbeing. Furthermore, we argue that the COVID-19 pandemic might have different consequences for civil servants with various role perceptions. We distinguish between traditional, NPM, and NPG civil servants. A longitudinal survey ( N = 569) has shown that: (a) wellbeing decreased over a 6-months period; (b) job demands, including work pressure and work-life disbalance, negatively influence wellbeing; and job resources, including autonomy, task variety, and social support, positively influence wellbeing. In terms of personal resources, self-efficacy positively influences wellbeing; and (c) civil servants’ role perception directly influences wellbeing. Although the effect is small, we found an interaction effect in the relation between leader support and burnout for NPG civil servants. The consequences of these findings for HR strategies related to civil servants’ wellbeing are discussed.
Burnout among Respiratory Therapists and Perception of Leadership: A Cross Sectional Survey Over Eight Intensive Care Units
Authors: Omar Amr Salah , Hanoura Samy , Labib Ahmed , Kaddoura Rasha , Rahhal Alaa , Al-Zubi Mohammed Mousa , Galvez Ruzzel Dorado , Shiju Shiny , Al Jonidi Mohammed Jamil , Ragab Hany , Al Hashemi Abdul Aziz , Alumlla Abdelwahid
Published: March 2022

Background

Burnout syndrome (BOS) is a job-related stress disorder featured by three main cardinal manifestations: emotional exhaustion (EE), reduced personal accomplishment (PA), and depersonalization (DP).

Aim

We aimed to report the prevalence of burnout and the impact of leadership and work condition on the burnout among respiratory therapists (RT) are front-line practitioners in many critical settings.

Methods

We surveyed RT in eight intensive care units (ICU) at five tertiary hospitals, under one medical corporation, using three instruments: the Maslach Burnout Inventory Human Services Survey for Medical Personnel, Condition of Work Effectiveness Questionnaire (CWEQ), and Leadership behaviours scale. We used a group of other health care practitioners (ie, physicians and nurses) as the control group.

Results

Of a sampling frame of 1222 ICU practitioners, 445 (36.4%) responded with completed surveys. Eighty-four (17.3%) and 361 (82.7%) participants were in the RT and the control group, respectively. The overall burnout score was significantly lower in the RT group (53.6% vs. 67%, p = 0.02). The EE and DP scores were significantly lower in the RT group [(26.2% vs. 37.7, p = 0.048) and (9.5% vs. 19.9%, p = 0.025), respectively], but the PA score did not show significant difference between the groups. A significant negative relationship was found between CWEQ score and both EE and DP scores (rs = −0. 0.557, p < 0.001) and (rs = −0.372, p < 0.001), respectively, while a significant positive correlation was found between CWEQ and the PA score (rs = 0.225, p < 0.042). A significant negative relationship was found between the leadership attitude and EE scores (rs = −0.414, p < 0.001).

Conclusion

The results of this study suggest a high burnout rate among RT. The reported rate was significantly correlated to work conditions and leadership behaviours. Organizational efforts should be directed to combating burnout through the identification and adequate management of the key precipitating factors.

ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier:

NCT04620005
TA15 and inconel 625 bimetallic structures additive manufacturing and phased array ultrasonic testing
Authors: He Zhenfeng , Zhao Jibin , Zhao Yuhui , Wang Zhiguo , Shang Chun , He Chen
Published: March 2022

Additive manufacturing of bimetallic structures has become a hotspot in recent years. However, the interfaces of bimetallic structures are always the weaknesses, and cracks always occur at the interfaces. Three bimetallic samples of TA15 and Inconel 625 were manufactured by laser metal deposition, and the effect of laser power on the manufacturing quality was analyzed. Then phased array ultrasonic testing (PAUT) technique was applied for crack detection for the three samples, and metallographic analysis was employed to verify detection results. The results showed that the increase of laser power can eliminate macro-cracks at the interface of the bimetallic sample, and micro-cracks at the interface can be detected by PAUT.
Geometric analysis of the MDF kerf-bending structure accuracy
Authors: Lorenzoni Barbara Ruschel , Silva Fabio Pinto da
Published: March 2022

In digital design, rigid flat materials commonly hinder the fabrication of complex-curved geometries. A fabrication approach based on the socalled bending cut patterns or “kerf-bending” can be used to improve the ability of a material to bend. This bending method relies on a complex mechanical behavior, requiring an accurate evaluation of the resultant surface. By mastering the geometric effects, some adjustments can be made to the project so that the result better approximates the designer’s intentions. This study focused on geometric accuracy of MDF kerfbending, including target-geometry design, cutting, bending, 3D scanning and analysis. It demonstrated that depending on the arc bending radius, the sample with a defined cut pattern may become excessively tensioned, protruding to the outside, or without enough stiffness to conform to an ideal shape. Experiments have validated this methodology and obtained a stable and precise half-cylinder by selecting the most adequate radius range for the material and parameters adopted.
Sexually acquired pubogenital dermatophytosis induced by Trichophyton quinckeanum
Authors: Burmann Sven-Niklas , Oellig Frank , Gräser Yvonne , Michalowitz Alena-Lioba , Paschos Alexandros , Kreuter Alexander
Published: March 2022

Tinea corporis is a common superficial dermatophytosis mostly located at the trunk and extremities. In contrast, tinea of the anogenital region is rare and predominantly occurs in tropical countries. In recent years, a distinctive variant of pubogenital tinea (PT) characterized by deep tissue infiltration and systemic symptoms has been reported, and transmission via sexual contacts has been hypothezised. In the majority of cases, a new genotype of Trichophyton mentagrophytes classified as T. mentagrophytes VII was detected as the causative pathogen. We report a case of PT caused by T. quinckeanum that experienced a strong inflammatory reaction following initiation of successful antifungal treatment with itraconazole.
Integrating relative survival in multi-state models—a non-parametric approach
Authors: Manevski Damjan , Putter Hein , Pohar Perme Maja , Bonneville Edouard F , Schetelig Johannes , de Wreede Liesbeth C
Published: March 2022

Multi-state models provide an extension of the usual survival/event-history analysis setting. In the medical domain, multi-state models give the possibility of further investigating intermediate events such as relapse and remission. In this work, a further extension is proposed using relative survival, where mortality due to population causes (i.e. non-disease-related mortality) is evaluated. The objective is to split all mortality in disease and non-disease-related mortality, with and without intermediate events, in datasets where cause of death is not recorded or is uncertain. To this end, population mortality tables are integrated into the estimation process, while using the basic relative survival idea that the overall mortality hazard can be written as a sum of a population and an excess part. Hence, we propose an upgraded non-parametric approach to estimation, where population mortality is taken into account. Precise definitions and suitable estimators are given for both the transition hazards and probabilities. Variance estimating techniques and confidence intervals are introduced and the behaviour of the new method is investigated through simulations. The newly developed methodology is illustrated by the analysis of a cohort of patients followed after an allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. The work has been implemented in the R package mstate.
Spatio-temporal disease risk estimation using clustering-based adjacency modelling
Authors: Yin Xueqing , Napier Gary , Anderson Craig , Lee Duncan
Published: March 2022

Conditional autoregressive models are typically used to capture the spatial autocorrelation present in areal unit disease count data when estimating the spatial pattern in disease risk. This correlation is represented by a binary neighbourhood matrix based on a border sharing specification, which enforces spatial correlation between geographically neighbouring areas. However, enforcing such correlation will mask any discontinuities in the disease risk surface, thus impeding the detection of clusters of areas that exhibit higher or lower risks compared to their neighbours. Here we propose novel methodology to account for these clusters and discontinuities in disease risk via a two-stage modelling approach, which either forces the clusters/discontinuities to be the same for all time periods or allows them to evolve dynamically over time. Stage one constructs a set of candidate neighbourhood matrices to represent a range of possible cluster/discontinuity structures in the data, and stage two estimates an appropriate structure(s) by treating the neighbourhood matrix as an additional parameter to estimate within a Bayesian spatio-temporal disease mapping model. The effectiveness of our novel methodology is evidenced by simulation, before being applied to a new study of respiratory disease risk in Greater Glasgow, Scotland from 2011 to 2017.
Book review: Nosheen Ali, Delusional States: Feeling Rule and Development in Pakistan’s Northern Frontier
Authors: Yousuf Muneeb
Published: March 2022

Nosheen Ali, Delusional States: Feeling Rule and Development in Pakistan’s Northern Frontier. Cambridge University Press, 2019, pp. 304, ₹795 (hardback), ISBN 9781108497442.
Book review: Adeeb Khalid, Central Asia: A New History from the Imperial Conquests to the Present
Authors: Asatryan Georgi
Published: March 2022

Adeeb Khalid, Central Asia: A New History from the Imperial Conquests to the Present. Princeton University Press, 2021, pp. 564, $31.98 (hardback), ISBN 9780691161396.
The Dynamics of Cultural Diplomacy: A Discourse of Indo-Nigerian Socio-cultural Relations from the 1960s to the Present
Authors: Eiguedo-Okoeguale Hysaint
Published: March 2022

This article interrogates the dynamics of cultural diplomacy. It focusses on the socio-cultural aspect of Indo-Nigerian diplomacy. It argues that since the beginning of the relations between Nigeria and India, the social contacts have been on the increase thereby reinforcing cultural diplomacy. It establishes that as creations of British colonial rule, both countries possess certain social and cultural legacies that foster unity between them. This common history has influenced their cultural, artistic, legal, educational and media institutions. The study argues that culture works as an element that can be projected beyond national boundaries as an instrument of diplomacy. Essentially, India, with a population of about 1.37 billion inhabitants, and Nigeria, the largest country in Africa with a population of about 200 million, are two different countries. Nevertheless, they have much in their historical legacy that connects them. These are past experience of British colonialism, struggle for national independence, and continued retention of English as their official language. The article provides an opportunity to explore the common heritage of the two countries and how the heritage influences and shapes the contours of their foreign policy goals. It is organised in five parts excluding the introduction and conclusion. The first part explores the concept of culture and cultural life in India and Nigeria. The second examined cultural identity and national interest, while the third aspect focussed on advancing national interest through culture. The fourth and fifth parts discussed Nigerian audience and Bollywood as well as the impact of Bollywood on Nigerian literature.
Prospective Association Between Online Game Use and Risk of Internet Gaming Disorder in Korea: 12-Month Follow-up Results From the iCURE Study
Authors: Jo Sun-Jin , Yim Hyeon Woo , Jeong Hyunsuk , Son Hye Jung , Lee Hae Kook
Published: March 2022

Children and adolescents’ Internet game use has both functional and dysfunctional aspects. This study aimed to examine how changes in online gaming behaviors impact the risk of Internet gaming disorder (IGD). We observed 1318 adolescent online game users. Baseline and 12-month follow-up evaluations were performed, and it was defined whether the average online gaming time per day exceeded 1.5 hours and whether the number of gaming days per week exceeded 4 days. Gaming disorder was defined using the Internet Game Use-Elicited Symptom Screen. Multiple logistic regression was performed to examine the difference in the incidence rate ratio (IRR) of IGD risk according to changes in gaming time or frequency. Results indicated the IRR of IGD risk was 2.54 for the increased time spent group and 2.38 for the consistent higher time spent group against the consistent lower time spent group. The IRR was 3.76 for the increased frequency group and 2.92 for the consistent higher frequency group against the consistent lower frequency group. Therefore, managing Internet game use not to exceed 1.5 hours per day on average and 4 days per week would help prevent elevation of IGD risk.
When Forced Migrants Go Home: The Journey of Returnee Entrepreneurs in the Post-conflict Economies of Bosnia & Herzegovina and Kosovo
Authors: Williams Nick , Plakoyiannaki Emmanuella , Krasniqi Besnik A.
Published: March 2022

This paper examines forced migrants who fled their homeland due to conflict and later returned to undertake entrepreneurial activity. Drawing on qualitative interviews with returnees to Bosnia & Herzegovina and Kosovo, we contribute to the process-oriented view of entrepreneurship by showing how forced migration leads to historical bonds to the homeland which influence resultant entrepreneurial activity. We extend literature on institutional voids by demonstrating that they can be enabling, with formal voids substituted by informal networks. Returnees rely on informal ties due to mistrust of formal ties, and these are strengthened by shared experiences of conflict and lead to activities which satisfy non-monetary gains rather than profit.
Dental Anomalies in Parry-Romberg Syndrome: A 40-Year Retrospective Review
Authors: Aram Ariana , Cappitelli Alex , Dedeoglu Fatma , Vleugels Ruth Ann , Bruun Rich , Ganske Ingrid M.
Published: March 2022

Objective

This study investigates crown and root anomalies in patients with Parry-Romberg Syndrome.

Design

This is a retrospective review of patients with Parry-Romberg Syndrome who were evaluated at a tertiary care center from 1980-2020.

Setting

Patients seen in the dental unit from 1980-2020.

Patients, Participants

Seventeen patients with documented Parry-Romberg Syndrome were referred for dental evaluation.

Main Outcome Measures

All dental anomalies were documented. Root anomalies were assessed using panoramic radiographs and cone beam CT (CBCT) scans to evaluate buccal-lingual, mesio-distal, and axial measurements of hypoplastic teeth, which were compared to those of contralateral teeth.

Results

Findings included agenesis (29%, n = 5), hypoplastic teeth (29%, n = 5), delayed canine eruption (24%, n = 4), and mulberry molars (12%, n = 2). Of the five patients with tooth hypoplasia, four had CBCT records and the fifth had panoramic radiographs available for assessment. Axial length was always shorter in hypoplastic teeth relative to contralateral teeth, with differences ranging from 1.2-9.2 mm. Differences in crown size of hypoplastic versus contralateral teeth were unpredictable but always present.

Conclusions

Patients with Parry-Romberg Syndrome can have hypoplastic roots with atypical crown morphology. A patient’s specific dental anomaly will influence planning and treatment.
Time-delay estimation based dual model-free control with initial rectifying mechanism for parallel back-support exoskeleton parallel back-support exoskeleton for rehabilitation or power augmentation
Authors: Wang Kai , Wang Haoping , Tian Yang , Xu Yemei , Adjallah Kondo H , Wang Zhouhang
Published: March 2022

For the waist assisting, this paper proposes a novel parallel back-support exoskeleton for rehabilitation or power augmentation (PBE-RePA), which is suitable for assisting many types of waist movements and reducing restrictions on daily activities. Considering repetitive waist movements, a time-delay estimation based dual model-free control with initial rectifying mechanism is designed for the trajectory tracking control of PBE-RePA. The system dynamics are reconstructed by ultra-local model while time-delay estimation is utilized to obtain the lumped unknown part in that model. To realize more accurate tracking, an adaptive iterative learning compensator is added to form a new dual model-free control structure, which has excellent control performance in time domain and can enable asymptotically precise tracking along iteration axis. Moreover, the identical initial condition is relaxed by introducing the initial rectifying mechanism to modify the reference trajectory. The virtual prototype of PBE-RePA is established as a platform for visualized co-simulation in MATLAB/Simscape Multibody. The results of two co-simulation cases demonstrate the effectiveness and robustness of the proposed algorithm.
Home-Based Palliative Care and Home Health Care in Saudi Arabia: An Integrative Literature Review
Authors: Almulla Halah , Hassouneh Dena
Published: March 2022

Aging populations and a rising disease burden have increased the need for palliative care (PC). Despite the growing demand for PC, only 14% of patients worldwide receive this service. Home-based PC is necessary because many people prefer to receive care and die at home. Nurses are well equipped to address diverse health care needs in the community and are critical to successful delivery of home-based PC. The purpose of this review is to synthesize and analyze literature relevant to home-based PC in Saudi Arabia with an emphasis on nursing. This purpose required us to examine literature in two areas: PC and home health care (HHC). We identified studies through database searches. We found 24 studies published between 2005 and 2021 that met quality and inclusion criteria. Although PC and HHC are associated with positive outcomes, lack of nurses’ knowledge and awareness of PC and the underdevelopment of HHC in Saudi Arabia have contributed to underuse of these services. Nurses are vital to the functioning of interdisciplinary teams and effective interfacing with patients, caregivers, and families. Education and training of nurses in Saudi Arabia is essential to promoting access to PC and HHC and the development of home-based PC in the kingdom.
Metabolic Pathways Associated With Psychoneurological Symptoms in Children With Cancer Receiving Chemotherapy
Authors: Bai Jinbing , Withycombe Janice , Eldridge Ronald C.
Published: March 2022

Context

Children with cancer undergoing chemotherapy experience a cluster of psychoneurological symptoms (PNS), including pain, fatigue, anxiety, and depressive symptoms. Metabolomics is promising to differentiate metabolic pathways associated with the PNS cluster.

Objectives

Identify metabolic pathways associated with the PNS cluster in children with cancer before and after chemotherapy.

Methods

Pain, fatigue, anxiety, and depressive symptoms were assessed using the Pediatric PROMIS scales. T-scores were computed and divided dichotomously by a cutoff point of 50; the PNS cluster was a sum of the four symptoms ranging from 0 (all T-scores <50) to 4 (all T-scores ≥50). Serum metabolites were processed using liquid chromatography mass-spectrometry untargeted metabolomics approach. Linear regression models examined metabolites associated with the PNS cluster. Metabolic pathway enrichment analysis was performed.

Results

Participant demographics ( n = 40) were 55% female, 60% white, 62.5% aged 13–19 years, and 62.5% diagnoses of Hodgkin’s lymphoma and B-cell acute lymphocytic leukemia. Among 9276 unique metabolic features, 454 were associated with pain, 281 with fatigue, 596 with anxiety, 551 with depressive symptoms, and 300 with the PNS cluster across one chemotherapy cycle. Fatty acids pathways were associated with pain: de novo fatty acid biosynthesis ( p < .001), fatty acid metabolism ( p = .001), fatty acid activation ( p = .004), and omega-3 fatty acid metabolism ( p = .009). Tryptophan amino acid pathway was associated with fatigue ( p < .001), anxiety ( p = .015), and the PNS cluster ( p = .037). Carnitine shuttle was associated with the PNS cluster ( p = .015).

Conclusion

Fatty acids and amino acids pathways were associated with PNS in children undergoing chemotherapy. These findings require further investigation in a larger sample.
The Longitudinal Impact of Seeing and Posting Tobacco-related Social Media on Tobacco Use Behaviors Among Youth (Aged 12-17): Findings From the 2014-2016 Population Assessment of Tobacco and Health (PATH) Study
Authors: Pérez Adriana , Spells Charles E. , Bluestein Meagan A. , Harrell Melissa B. , Hébert Emily T.
Published: March 2022

Introduction

This study examined the impact of seeing and posting tobacco-related content on social media on tobacco use outcomes in youth.

Methods

Longitudinal secondary analyses of youth in the nationally representative 2014-2015 Population Assessment of Tobacco and Health (PATH) study were conducted to examine the association between the interaction of (i) seeing and (ii) posting tobacco-related social media content with previous ever use of each tobacco product, and 3 outcomes in 2015-2016: past 30-day e-cigarette use, past 30-day combustible product use, and past 30-day dual use of e-cigarettes and at least one combustible product. Six weighted multiple logistic regression models (2 interaction exposures*3 outcomes) were used to assess these associations, while adjusting for covariates.

Results

Among youth never users in 2014-2015, seeing tobacco-related social media content was significantly associated with past 30-day e-cigarette use (AOR 1.92; 95% CI= 1.36-2.71), and past 30-day dual use of e-cigarettes and at least one combustible product (AOR= 2.11; 95% CI= 1.08- 4.13) in 2015-2016. Among youth ever users in 2014-2015, posting tobacco-related content on social media was significantly associated with all 3 outcomes: past 30-day day e-cigarette use (AOR= 2.09;95%CI=1.23-3.55), past 30-day combustible product use (AOR=2.86; 95%CI=1.67-4.88), and past 30-day dual use of these products (AOR=3.02;95%CI=1.45-6.31), after adjusting for covariates.

Conclusions

Seeing and posting tobacco-related content on social media predicts tobacco use among youth, nationwide. Results suggest that interventions and policies prohibiting tobacco-related content on social media are needed to curb the impact of social media on youth tobacco-use.