bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Type of anesthesia and quality of recovery in male patients undergoing lumbar surgery: a randomized trial comparing propofol-remifentanil total i.v. anesthesia with sevoflurane anesthesia
Authors: Meng Wenjun , Yang Chengwei , Wei Xin , Wang Sheng , Kang Fang , Huang Xiang , Li Juan
Published: December 2021

Background

Previous studies have shown that women achieve a better quality of postoperative recovery from total intravenous anesthesia (TIVA) than from inhalation anesthesia, but the effect of anesthesia type on recovery in male patients is unclear. This study therefore compared patient recovery between males undergoing lumbar surgery who received TIVA and those who received sevoflurane anesthesia.

Methods

Eighty male patients undergoing elective one- or two-level primary transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (TLIF) were randomly divided into two groups: the TIVA group (maintenance was achieved with propofol and remifentanil) or sevoflurane group (SEVO group: maintenance was achieved with sevoflurane and remifentanil). The quality of recovery-40 questionnaire (QoR-40) was administered before surgery and on postoperative days 1 and 2 (POD1 and POD2). Pain scores, postoperative nausea and vomiting, postoperative hospital stay, anesthesia consumption, and adverse effects were recorded.

Results

The QoR-40 scores were similar on the three points (Preoperative, POD1 and POD2). Pain scores were significantly lower in the SEVO group than in the TIVA group on POD1 (30.6 vs 31.4; P = 0.01) and POD2 (32 vs 33; P = 0.002). There was no significant difference in the postoperative hospital stay or complications in the postanesthesia care unit between the TIVA group and the SEVO group.

Conclusions

This study demonstrates that the quality of recovery is not significantly different between male TLIF surgery patients who receive TIVA and those who receive sevoflurane anesthesia. Patients in the TIVA group had better postoperative analgesic effect on POD2.

Trial registration

This was registered at http://www.chictr.org.cn (registration number ChiCTR-IOR-16007987, registration date: 24/02/2016).
The optimal WC cut-off points for the prediction of subclinical CVD as measured by carotid intima-media thickness among African adults: a cross-sectional study
Authors: Ringane M. C. , Choma S. S. R.
Published: December 2021

Background

Increased waist circumference (WC) is one of the cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors used to predict cardiovascular events. Waist circumference cut-off values for predicting metabolic syndrome and other cardiovascular risks have been previously studied. Carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) is one of the cardiovascular risk factor recently described and reported to be suitable as it is a direct measurement of vascular quality. Hence the aim of the present study was to determine the optimal WC cut-off point for the prediction of subclinical CVD.

Methods

The study was a cross-sectional study using quantitative methods, conducted among 1318 adults aged between 40 and 60 years old, residing in a rural Black population in Limpopo province. Carotid Intima-Media Thickness measurements were performed using a LOGIQ ultrasound system (GE Healthcare, CT, USA). Waist Circumference (WC) (cm) was measured to the nearest 0.1 cm. Bivariate correlation, logistic regression and receiver operating characteristic were analysed using the statistical package for social sciences version 26.0 software.

Results

Among the total population, 69% were women and 31% men with a mean age of 53 ± 7 years. Among women, WC at a cut-off value of 95 cm gave the highest sensitivity of 57%, the specificity of 55% and an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.588. In men, an optimum WC cut-off point of 82 cm yielded the highest sensitivity and specificity at 72% and 70% respectively, with an AUC of 0.767 p < 0.001.

Conclusion

The traditional waist circumference cut-off points (94 cm for women and 80 cm for men) that are currently used for the diagnosis of metabolic syndrome might not be suitable in the prediction of an increased CIMT.
New adaptive lasso approaches for variable selection in automated pharmacovigilance signal detection
Authors: Courtois Émeline , Tubert-Bitter Pascale , Ahmed Ismaïl
Published: December 2021

Background

Adverse effects of drugs are often identified after market introduction. Post-marketing pharmacovigilance aims to detect them as early as possible and relies on spontaneous reporting systems collecting suspicious cases. Signal detection tools have been developed to mine these large databases and counts of reports are analysed with disproportionality methods. To address disproportionality method biases, recent methods apply to individual observations taking into account all exposures for the same patient. In particular, the logistic lasso provides an efficient variable selection framework, yet the choice of the regularization parameter is a challenging issue and the lasso variable selection may give inconsistent results.

Methods

We propose a new signal detection methodology based on the adaptive lasso. We derived two new adaptive weights from (i) a lasso regression using the Bayesian Information Criterion (BIC), and (ii) the class-imbalanced subsampling lasso (CISL), an extension of stability selection. The BIC is used in the adaptive lasso stage for variable selection. We performed an extensive simulation study and an application to real data, where we compared our methods to the existing adaptive lasso, and recent detection approaches based on lasso regression or propensity scores in high dimension. For both studies, we evaluate the methods in terms of false discoveries and sensitivity.

Results

In the simulations and the application, both proposed adaptive weights show equivalent or better performances than the other competitors, with an advantage for the CISL-based adaptive weights. CISL and lasso regression using BIC are solid alternatives.

Conclusion

Our proposed adaptive lasso is an appealing methodology for signal detection in pharmacovigilance. Although we cannot rely on test theory, our approaches show a low and stable False Discovery Rate in all simulation settings. All methods evaluated in this work are implemented in the adapt4pv R package.
Ultrasound-guided supra-inguinal fascia Iliaca compartment block for older adults admitted to the emergency department with hip fracture: a randomized controlled, double-blind clinical trial
Authors: Chen Liang , Shen Yang , Liu Shuangmei , Cao Yanyan , Zhu Zhe
Published: December 2021

Background

Hip fracture is common in older adults, and can cause severe post-fracture pain. Fascia iliaca nerve block has consequently been used for preoperative analgesia.

Methods

We performed a randomized, controlled, double-blind clinical trial and recruited older patients with hip fractures. These patients were randomized into two groups and received ultrasound-guided fascia iliaca compartment block using either the supra-inguinal approach (group F) or the classical approach (group C). Heart rate, blood pressure, and resting and exercising visual analog scales were recorded before the procedure and at 30 min, and 6, 12, and 24 h after completion of the procedure. We recorded the duration of the procedure—as well as complications such as bleeding, hypotension, and intractable vomiting; the sleep duration in a 24 h period was also documented.

Results

A total of 38 patients completed the trial, and we observed no differences in the baseline characteristics or pre-procedural measurements between the two groups. Compared with the patients in group C, patients in group F exhibited significantly lower exercising VAS scores at 6 and 12 h after the procedure, faster heart rates at 6 and 24 h after the procedure, a longer procedural duration, and a longer sleep duration. There were no differences in the frequencies of complications between the two groups. The percentages of patients who took oral analgesics and the numbers of medications consumed were also not different between the two groups.

Conclusions

The supra-inguinal FICB provided effective analgesia and improved exercise tolerance compared with the classical approach.

Trial registration

The trial was registered at the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (registration number: ChiCTR2100045644, registration date: 2021 April 20).
Finnish late adolescents’ physical activity during COVID-19 spring 2020 lockdown
Authors: Ng Kwok , Koski Pasi , Lyyra Nelli , Palomaki Sanna , Mononen Kaisu , Blomqvist Minna , Vasankari Tommi , Kokko Sami
Published: December 2021

Background

Physical activity (PA) is recognised as one of the leading and effective strategies to prevent non-communicable diseases that boosts the immune system to fight against diseases. Closures of schools, sport clubs and facilities because of COVID-19 reduced the opportunities to participate in PA. We aimed to examine physical activity levels of late adolescents, the contexts to be physical active and its changes during the spring 2020 lockdown.

Methods

A national representative sample of late adolescents in general upper secondary school (n = 2408, females = 64%, mean age = 17.2y, SD = 0.63) completed self-report online surveys on PA behaviours between March and June 2020. Multinominal logistic regression analyses were performed to identify correlates with PA, and decision tree analyses to ascertain the perceived changes on PA during lockdown based on sport club aspirations and levels of PA.

Results

Among the late adolescents, the distribution of PA frequency was 23% (0-2 days/week), 35% (3-4 days/week), 30% (5–6 days/week) and 12% (7 days/week), and differences between males and females were not statistically significant. Participation in both indoor and outdoor PA were 50 times more likely to report daily PA (OR = 54.28, CI = 15.16–194.37) than non-participation. A quarter of late adolescents were not part of a sports club, yet their PA levels increased. Although sports club members generally perceived they did less PA during lockdown, over a third of sport club members with competitive aspirations reported daily PA.

Conclusions

Overall, most late adolescents reported their PA levels decreased during lockdown. Findings from this study continue to demonstrate factors associated with PA in the context of the COVID-19 lockdown.
Hypha essential genes in Candida albicans pathogenesis of oral lichen planus: an in-vitro study
Authors: He Hong , Wang Ying , Fan Yan , Li Congcong , Han Jianxin
Published: December 2021

Background

Hypha essential genes (HEGs) of Candida Albicans have been emerging into scholar’s attention, little known about their functions in oral lichen planus (OLP) with an uncovered etiology. This research aimed to observe necessary genes in biphasic C. albicans from OLP and study their relevance in pathogenesis, so as to evaluate possible roles of morphologic switching in etiology of OLP.

Methods

Samples were collected from OLP lesions of patients, mycelia were cultured and total RNA was extracted then subjected to reverse transcription-PCR and real-time PCR.

Results

HWP1 and HGC1 were significantly expressed in hyphae phase and weakly detected in yeast phase, while there was no significant difference of EFG1, ALS3, and ECE1 between in yeast and mycelia.

Conclusion

HGC1 and HWP1 were confirmed to be hypha essential genes, with HGC1 for hypha morphogenesis and HWP1 for adhesion invasion in pathogenesis of C. albicans in OLP. ALS3, ECE1 and EFG1 played minor roles in hyphae maintenance and adhesion for hyphae. These might be deemed as hints for the etiology of OLP and indicate HGC1 and HWP1 to be a priority of potential drug target.
Identification of nutritional risk in the acute care setting: progress towards a practice and evidence informed systems level approach
Authors: Chamberlain Diane , Doeltgen Sebastian , Knowles Reegan , Yaxley Alison , Miller Michelle
Published: December 2021

Background

To improve nutritional assessment and care pathways in the acute care setting, it is important to understand the indicators that may predict nutritional risk. Informed by a review of systematic reviews, this project engaged stakeholders to prioritise and reach consensus on a list of evidence based and clinically contextualised indicators for identifying malnutrition risk in the acute care setting.

Methods

A modified Delphi approach was employed which consisted of four rounds of consultation with 54 stakeholders and 10 experts to reach consensus and refine a list of 57 risk indicators identified from a review of systematic reviews. Weighted mean and variance scores for each indicator were evaluated. Consistency was tested with intra class correlation coefficient. Cronbach's alpha was used to determine the reliability of the indicators. The final list of indicators was subject to Cronbach’s alpha and exploratory principal component analysis.

Results

Fifteen indicators were considered to be the most important in identifying nutritional risk. These included difficulty self-feeding, polypharmacy, surgery and impaired gastro-intestinal function. There was 82% agreement for the final 15 indicators that they collectively would predict malnutrition risk in hospital inpatients.

Conclusion

The 15 indicators identified are supported by evidence and are clinically informed. This represents an opportunity for translation into a novel and automated systems level approach for identifying malnutrition risk in the acute care setting.
Dose-response association between device-measured physical activity and incident dementia: a prospective study from UK Biobank
Authors: Petermann-Rocha Fanny , Lyall Donald M. , Gray Stuart R. , Gill Jason M. R. , Sattar Naveed , Welsh Paul , Quinn Terence J. , Stewart William , Pell Jill P. , Ho Frederick K. , Celis-Morales Carlos
Published: December 2021

Background

Previous cohort studies have investigated the relationship between self-reported physical activity (PA) and dementia. Evidence from objective device-measured PA data is lacking. This study aimed to explore the association of device-measured PA with the risk of dementia incidence and common subtypes (Alzheimer’s disease [AD] and vascular dementia) using the UK Biobank study.

Methods

84,854 participants (55.8% women), invited to participate in the device-measured PA between 2013 and 2015, were included in this prospective cohort study. Wrist accelerometers were used to measure light, moderate, vigorous, moderate-to-vigorous PA (MVPA) and total PA intensity and duration (MET/min/week). Incident dementia (fatal and non-fatal) was extracted from hospital episodes records for incidence and death register for mortality. Incidence follow-up was carried out until the end of March 2021in England and Scotland and the end of March 2018 in Wales. Mortality data were available until February 2021. Nonlinear associations were first investigated using penalised cubic splines fitted in the Cox proportional hazard models. In addition, using MVPA, five categories were created. Associations of these categories with the outcomes were investigated using Cox proportional hazard models. Analyses were adjusted for sociodemographic, lifestyle and health-related factors.

Results

After a median follow-up of 6.3 years, 678 individuals were diagnosed with dementia. Evidence of nonlinearity was observed for all PA modes and all-cause dementia. For categories of MVPA, there was a significant trend towards a low risk of overall dementia when higher levels of MVPA were achieved (HRtrend 0.66 [95% CI 0.62 to 0.70]. The lowest risk was identified in individuals who performed more than 1200 MET/min/week, those who had 84% (95% CI 0.12 to 0.21) lower risk of incident dementia compared to those who performed < 300 MET/min/week.

Conclusions

Participants with higher PA levels had a lower risk of incident dementia than those less active, independently of sociodemographic, lifestyle factors and comorbidity. Considering that the majority of previous studies have reported this association using self-reported data, our findings highlight the strong inverse association between PA objectively measured and incident dementia.
Localized alopecia and suppression of hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis in dogs following treatment with difluprednate 0.05% ophthalmic emulsion (Durezol®)
Authors: Quantz Katelin , Anderson Amanda L. , Harman Christine D. , Noland Erica L. , Del Valle Jacquelyn M. , Occelli Laurence M. , Burn Jessica B. , Petersen-Jones Simon M. , Langlois Daniel K. , Pirie Chris G. , Petersen Annette D. , Komáromy András M.
Published: December 2021

Background

Despite the common use of topical ophthalmic corticosteroids in dogs, detailed reports on systemic and dermatologic adverse effects are limited.

Results

Nine purpose-bred research Beagles were treated with difluprednate 0.05% ophthalmic emulsion in one or both eyes 2–3 times daily. Some difluprednate treated dogs developed mild to severe alopecia of the periocular region, face, and distal pinna (5/9). The median duration of treatment prior to onset of dermatologic signs for difluprednate treated dogs was 550 days (453–1160 days). Diagnostic testing included complete blood count (CBC) and serum biochemistry, adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) stimulation testing combined with endogenous ACTH measurement, and skin biopsy. The CBC and chemistry were within normal limits for all dogs. There were varying degrees of suppression of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenocortical (HPA) axis with difluprednate treatment. Dogs with the most profound alopecic changes had less pronounced HPA axis suppression compared to dogs with no integumentary changes. Skin biopsies demonstrated follicular atrophy and follicular keratosis. When topical difluprednate was reduced to unilateral therapy, the hair regrew on the untreated side of the face. In addition to the affected research dogs, a 7-year old female spayed Chihuahua that was being treated as a clinical patient with long-term difluprednate 0.05% ophthalmic emulsion developed generalized hypotrichosis on the head and body and a potbellied appearance. ACTH stimulation testing revealed suppression of the HPA axis with a mild increase in serum alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity and a urine specific gravity of 1.016. The combination of clinical signs and laboratory abnormalities was supportive of iatrogenic hyperadrenocorticism.

Conclusions

In dogs long-term use of difluprednate ophthalmic emulsion results in HPA axis suppression and in some cases iatrogenic hyperadrenocorticism. A novel pattern of localized alopecia is suspected to be related to dermal absorption and local action due to superior potency and penetration compared to other commonly utilized ophthalmic corticosteroids.
A nuanced role of the small loop of hepatitis B virus small envelope protein in virion morphogenesis and secretion
Authors: Chang Chih-Hsu , Chou Shu-Fan , Shih Chiaho
Published: December 2021

Background

The virion secretion mechanism of human hepatitis B virus (HBV) remains to be investigated. In our current study, we characterized a reverse transcriptase mutant, which changed from the YMDD motif to YMHA. We noted that this mutant YMHA secreted no virions in the medium. Because of the overlapping open reading frame (ORF) between the polymerase and the envelope genes, the lack of virion secretion is likely due to corresponding concurrent mutations in a small loop of the envelope protein (HBsAg, HBV surface antigen). In literature, small loop mutations are thought to affect virion secretion of hepatitis delta virus (HDV), but not HBV.

Methods

Here, we revisited the relationship between the small loop and virion secretion by site-directed mutagenesis and native agarose gel electrophoresis.

Results

A proline substitution at residue 196 or 198 in the small loop blocked both HBV genome-containing and genome-free virion secretion, but not the secretion of 22-nm HBsAg subviral particles. Surprisingly, a leucine substitution at residue 196 enhanced genome-containing virion secretion. It is also intriguing that a proline-197, sandwiched by residue 196 and 198, exhibited no apparent defect in secreted virions, with or without containing an HBV genome. By complementation assay, we demonstrated that the wild type small envelope protein alone is sufficient to rescue the virion secretion defect of a small loop mutant M198P.

Conclusions

The effect of the small loop mutation of HBV small envelope protein on virion secretion is position-dependent. It warrants further investigation how the small loop of HBsAg plays a subtle role in HBV morphogenesis and secretion of virions with or without containing an HBV genome.
A novel transition clinic structure for adolescent and young adult patients with childhood onset rheumatic disease improves transition outcomes
Authors: Overbury Rebecca S. , Huynh Kelly , Bohnsack John , Frech Tracy , Hersh Aimee
Published: December 2021

Background

The transition of health care from Pediatric to Adult providers for adolescents and young adults with chronic disease is associated with poor outcomes. Despite the importance of this transition, over 80% of these patients do not receive the services necessary to transition to Adult health care. In 2018, we initiated a transition clinic structure, integrating an Internal Medicine - Pediatrics trained Adult Rheumatologist in a Pediatric Rheumatology clinic to guide this transition. Our goal was to improve transition outcomes. We report the methods of this clinic and its preliminary outcomes.

Methods

For patients referred to the transition clinic, the Adult Rheumatologist assumed medical management and implemented a six-part modular transition curriculum. This curriculum included a Transition Policy, Transition Readiness Assessment, medication review and education, diagnosis review and education, and counseling on differences between Pediatric and Adult-oriented care. Eligible patients and their families were enrolled in a prospective observational outcomes research registry. Initial data from this transition clinic is reported including adherence with certain aspects of the transition curriculum and clinic utilization.

Results

The transition clinic Adult Rheumatologist saw 177 patients in 2 years, and 57 patients were eligible for, approached, and successfully enrolled in the registry. From this registry, all patients reviewed the Transition Policy with the Adult Rheumatologist and 45 (78.9%) completed at least one Transition Readiness Assessment. Of the 22 patients for whom transition was indicated, all were successfully transitioned to an Adult Rheumatologist. 17 (77.3%) continued care post-transition with the transition clinic Adult Rheumatologist, and 5 (22.7%) continued care post-transition with a different Adult Rheumatologist. The median time between the last transition clinic visit and first Adult clinic visit was 5.1 months.

Conclusions

Our experience demonstrated the success of our clinic model regarding participation in the transition curriculum and improved clinic utilization data. Our results are an improvement over transition rates reported elsewhere that did not implement our model. We believe that this structure could be applied to other primary care and subspecialty clinics.

Trial registration

This research was approved by the University of Utah Institutional Review Board (IRB) in January 2019 (IRB_00115964). Patients were retrospectively registered if involved prior to this date.
Comparison of non-subjective relative fungal biomass measurements to quantify the Leptosphaeria maculans—Brassica napus interaction
Authors: Schnippenkoetter Wendelin , Hoque Mohammad , Maher Rebecca , Van de Wouw Angela , Hands Phillip , Rolland Vivien , Barrett Luke , Sprague Susan
Published: December 2021

Background

Blackleg disease, caused by the fungal pathogen Leptosphaeria maculans, is a serious threat to canola (Brassica napus) production worldwide. Quantitative resistance to this disease is a highly desirable trait but is difficult to precisely phenotype. Visual scores can be subjective and are prone to assessor bias. Methods to assess variation in quantitative resistance more accurately were developed based on quantifying in planta fungal biomass, including the Wheat Germ Agglutinin Chitin Assay (WAC), qPCR and ddPCR assays.

Results

Disease assays were conducted by inoculating a range of canola cultivars with L. maculans isolates in glasshouse experiments and assessing fungal biomass in cotyledons, petioles and stem tissue harvested at different timepoints post-inoculation. PCR and WAC assay results were well correlated, repeatable across experiments and host tissues, and able to differentiate fungal biomass in different host-isolate treatments. In addition, the ddPCR assay was shown to differentiate between L. maculans isolates.

Conclusions

The ddPCR assay is more sensitive in detecting pathogens and more adaptable to high-throughput methods by using robotic systems than the WAC assay. Overall, these methods proved accurate and non-subjective, providing alternatives to visual assessments to quantify the L. maculans-B. napus interaction in all plant tissues throughout the progression of the disease in seedlings and mature plants and have potential for fine-scale blackleg resistance phenotyping in canola.
Timed protocol analysis of interconnected mobile IoT devices
Authors: Bouloukakis Georgios , Georgantas Nikolaos , Kattepur Ajay , Issarny Valerie
Published: December 2021

With the emergence of the Internet of Things (IoT), application developers can rely on a variety of protocols and Application Programming Interfaces (APIs) to support data exchange between IoT devices. However, this may result in highly heterogeneous IoT interactions in terms of both functional and non-functional semantics. To map between heterogeneous functional semantics, middleware connectors can be utilized to interconnect IoT devices via bridging mechanisms. In this paper, we make use of the Data eXchange (DeX) connector model that enables interoperability among heterogeneous IoT devices. DeX interactions, including synchronous, asynchronous and streaming, rely on generic post and get primitives to represent IoT device behaviors with varying space/time coupling. Nevertheless, non-functional time semantics of IoT interactions such as data availability/validity, intermittent connectivity and application processing time, can severely affect response times and success rates of DeX interactions. We introduce timing parameters for time semantics to enhance the DeX API. The new DeX API enables the mapping of both functional and time semantics of DeX interactions. By precisely studying these timing parameters using timed automata models, we verify conditions for successful interactions with DeX connectors. Furthermore, we statistically analyze through simulations the effect of varying timing parameters to ensure higher probabilities of successful interactions. Simulation experiments are compared with experiments run on the DeX Mediators (DeXM) framework to evaluate the accuracy of the results. This work can provide application developers with precise design time information when setting these timing parameters in order to ensure accurate runtime behavior.
Well-posedness analysis of a stationary Navier–Stokes hemivariational inequality
Authors: Ling Min , Han Weimin
Published: December 2021

This paper provides a well-posedness analysis for a hemivariational inequality of the stationary Navier-Stokes equations by arguments of convex minimization and the Banach fixed point. The hemivariational inequality describes a stationary incompressible fluid flow subject to a nonslip boundary condition and a Clarke subdifferential relation between the total pressure and the normal component of the velocity. Auxiliary Stokes hemivariational inequalities that are useful in proving the solution existence and uniqueness of the Navier–Stokes hemivariational inequality are introduced and analyzed. This treatment naturally leads to a convergent iteration method for solving the Navier–Stokes hemivariational inequality through a sequence of Stokes hemivariational inequalities. Equivalent minimization principles are presented for the auxiliary Stokes hemivariational inequalities which will be useful in developing numerical algorithms.
Variation of psychological and anthropometrics measures before and after dieting and factors associated with body dissatisfaction and quality of life in a Lebanese clinical sample
Authors: Haddad Chadia , Zakhour Maha , Sacre Hala , Eid Nicole , Wehbé Georgie , Farha Joelle , Azar Jocelyne , Obeid Sahar , Hallit Souheil
Published: December 2021

Objective

The primary objective of this study was to assess a change in the psychological states (stress, self-esteem, anxiety and depression), anthropometric measurements and physical/mental quality of life before and after diet in a sample of Lebanese subjects visiting a diet clinic. The secondary objectives included the evaluation of factors associated with body dissatisfaction, mental and physical quality of life (QOL) before the intervention of the diet program and the change in quality of life after this intervention among those participants.

Methods

This cross-sectional study, conducted between May and August 2018, enrolled 62 participants recruited from three diet clinics. The QOL was measured using the 12-item Short Form Health Survey (SF-12) and the psychological states was measured using the following scales: The Rosenberg Self-esteem Scale, Perceived Stress Scale, Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale and Hamilton Depression Rating Scale.

Results

A significant reduction in body dissatisfaction, anxiety, waist, weight and body fat and a significant increase in the physical and mental quality of life was seen after diet compared to before it (p < 0.001 for all). No significant variation in perceived stress (p = 0.072), self-esteem (p = 0.885), and depression (p = 0.353) after diet were found. Higher BMI (β = 0.440) and higher anxiety (β = 0.132) were associated with higher body dissatisfaction scores, whereas higher self-esteem (β = − 0.818) was significantly associated with lower body dissatisfaction. Higher perceived stress (β = − 0.711), higher body dissatisfaction (β = − 0.480) and being a female (β = − 4.094) were associated with lower mental QOL. Higher Physical Activity Index was significantly associated with higher mental and physical QOL (β = 0.086 and β = 0.123 respectively).

Conclusion

The results indicate the effectiveness of diet programs in enhancing the quality of life, psychological and anthropometric measures.
Performance of concrete beams partially/fully reinforced with glass fiber polymer bars
Authors: Moawad Mohamed S. , Fawzi Ahmed
Published: December 2021

One of the major advantages of using glass fiber-reinforced polymer bars as a replacement to the traditional steel-reinforced bars is its lightweight and high-resistant to corrosion. This research focuses on the performance of concrete beams partially/fully reinforced with glass fiber-reinforced polymer bars with 50% of GFRP bars were used to reinforce partially concrete beams at flexural zone. While 100% of GFRP bars were used to reinforce fully concrete beams at flexural and compression zones with different concrete compressive strength.

This study reported the test results of 6 reinforced concrete beams with dimensions 150 × 200mm and a 1700-mm clear span length subjected to a four-point loading system. The tested beams were divided into three groups; the first one refers to the glass fiber-reinforced polymer bar effect. The second group is referring to the effect of concrete compressive strength, while the third group is referring to the effect of the GFRP bar volume ratio.

Using longitudinal GFRP bars as a full or partial replacement of longitudinal steel bar reinforcement led to an increase in the failure load capacity and the average crack width, while a decrease in ductility was reported with a lower number of cracks. Increasing the concrete compressive strength is more compatible with GFRP bar reinforcement and enhanced the failure performance of beams compared with normal compressive strength concrete.
President's Page: Connecting the world of

to

near-surface geophysics
Authors: Miller Rick , Hanafy Sherif
Published: December 2021

Since 1930, SEG has been the world's leading promoter of applied geophysics and supporter of practicing geophysicists. Over that 90-plus-year period, the Society has adapted effectively to changing member needs and industry expectations. SEG and the majority of professionals it serves have been at the heart of exploring for and discovering the energy that has powered the economic revolution of the last three-quarters of a century.
An experimental approach on calcarenite reservoir dilation factor
Authors: Garcia Paulo Fernando Villafañe , Rossi Diogo Folador , Soares Antonio Claudio , Ferreira Francisco Henriques , do Nascimento Lonardelli Josenilda
Published: December 2021

The time of flight of a plane wavefront generated from an acoustic pulse is expected to decrease when the medium length between the wave emitter and receiver is shortened. This simple idea is extrapolated to the case of reservoir compaction in order to obtain a geophysical parameter R (dilation factor) that relates the rock deformation to the variation of time of flight (also called time-lapse time shift in 4D seismics) or acoustic velocity of a plane wave propagating in the same direction of deformation. Interpretation of a few laboratory compressive tests with simultaneous ultrasonic acquisition, performed on oil-saturated calcarenite samples, are presented and discussed. The samples were subjected to several stress regimes and simultaneous ultrasonic acquisitions. Despite the formerly ultrasonic acquisition rate limitations, it was possible to obtain R values for various lateral-vertical stress ratios for each sample's linear and nonlinear stress-strain trends.
Near Surface Views & News: SEG Near-Surface Geophysics Technical Section is strong and growing
Authors: Gasperikova Erika , Truffert Catherine , Slater Lee , Whitesell Laurie
Published: December 2021

The SEG Near-Surface Geophysics Technical Section (NSTS) enjoyed a successful 2021 in which it witnessed a doubling of its membership from the previous year and the recognition of several of its members for prestigious awards. To follow are some NSTS highlights from 2021 as well as a look toward 2022 and beyond.
The mass release of migrants from UK immigration detention during the COVID-19 pandemic: what can be learned?
Authors: Waterman Lauren Z. , Pillay Mishka , Katona Cornelius
Published: December 2021

Convincing international evidence demonstrates that immigration detention adversely affects mental health. During the COVID-19 outbreak, additional concerns were raised about the safety and appropriateness of immigration detention. Consequently, several hundred migrants were released en masse from UK immigration detention centres, and few new detentions took place. Over 70% fewer migrants were held in detention centres in June 2020 compared with December 2019. This large ‘natural experiment’ has demonstrated that detaining fewer migrants is possible and it provides an opportunity to review the necessity for large-scale detention for the purpose of immigration control, as well as its impact on health inequalities. Additionally, given that detainee release arrangements had already been considered unsafe prior to the pandemic, clinicians and service providers should take into consideration that many of those released may not be receiving adequate post-release continuity of care.
The Impact of Subclinical Hyperthyroidism on Cardiovascular Prognosis in Patients Undergoing Percutaneous Coronary Intervention
Authors: Yang Jie , Zheng Yitian , Li Chen , Liu Yupeng , Zhou Qing , Gao Jun , Meng Xiangbin , Zhang Kuo , Wang Wenyao , Shao Chunli , Tang Yi-Da
Published: December 2021

Context

Limited studies have focused on the impact of subclinical hyperthyroidism (SHyper) on poor prognosis in patients with known coronary artery disease (CAD).

Objective

We implemented the present study to explore the association between SHyper and adverse cardiovascular events in CAD patients who underwent drug-eluting stent implantation.

Methods

We consecutively recruited 8283 CAD patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). All subjects were divided into 2 groups according to their thyroid function: group 1 (euthyroidism group, n = 7942) and group 2 (SHyper group, n = 341). After 1:4 propensity score (PS) matching, 1603 patients (332 SHyper group and 1271 euthyroidism group) were selected. The primary endpoint was major adverse cardiovascular events (MACEs), a composite of cardiac mortality, nonfatal myocardial infarction (MI), and target vessel revascularization (TVR).

Results

Kaplan–Meier (K-M) survival analyses suggested that there was no significant difference in the primary endpoint and secondary endpoints (MACE: 11.4% vs 8.8%, log-rank P = .124; cardiac death: 1.2% vs 0.9%, log-rank P = .540; nonfatal MI: 5.7% vs 4%, log-rank P = .177; and TVR: 6% vs 4.7%, log-rank P = .303) in the PS-matched population. Cox regression analysis indicated that SHyper was not an independent risk factor for MACEs (HR 1.33, 95% CI 0.92-1.92, P = .127).

Conclusion

SHyper is not independently associated with adverse cardiovascular events in CAD patients undergoing PCI. More studies should be implemented in the future to assess the long-term predictive value of SHyper with thyrotropin levels <0.1 mIU/L for CAD patients undergoing PCI.
Investigation of power generating turbine characteristics for low enthalpy organic Rankine cycles
Authors: Ευσταθιάδης Θεόφιλος
Published: December 2021

Στη παρούσα διδακτορική διατριβή μελετάται ο σχεδιασμός υπερηχητικού στροβίλου παραγωγής ηλεκτρικής ενέργειας για Οργανικούς κύκλους Rankine (ORC) χαμηλής ενθαλπίας (≈100οC). Πιο συγκεκριμένα, μελετάται ο σχεδιασμός καινοτομικών πτερυγίων τόσο για το στάτορα, όσο και για το ρότορα με τη χρήση των πιο σύγχρονων μεθόδων που εφαρμόζονται στην Αεροδιαστημική για το σχεδιασμό των υπερηχητικών ακροφυσίων των διαστημοπλοίων με τη χρήση καταστατικών εξισώσεων πραγματικών αερίων. Ο λόγος που γίνεται επιτακτική η ανάγκη σχεδιασμού υπερηχητικών πτερυγίων έγκειται στο γεγονός ότι τα οργανικά, όπως προκύπτει και από την ονομασία αυτών των συστημάτων, ρευστά χαρακτηρίζονται από χαμηλές τιμές της ταχύτητα του ήχου στο σημείο λειτουργίας. Έτσι για να επιτευχθεί μια ικανοποιητική απόδοση του στροβίλου ≥75%, απαιτείται μεγάλος λόγος πιέσεων κατά την εκτόνωση, δηλαδή απαιτείται ο στρόβιλος να βρίσκεται σε υπερηχητικές συνθήκες λειτουργίας. Για το σκοπό αυτό αναπτύχθηκε ένας αλγόριθμος θερμοδυναμικών εξισώσεων, ο οποίος είναι ικανός να υπολογίζει την αξιοποιήσιμη ενέργεια της εκάστοτε διαθέσιμης θερμικής πηγής και να προτείνει στο χρήστη τη βέλτιστη διάταξη του οργανικού κύκλου Rankine καθώς και το καταλληλότερο εργαζόμενο μέσο δίνοντας έμφαση στη παραγόμενη ισχύ. Αφού καθοριστεί το εργαζόμενο μέσο, πραγματοποιείται η διαστασιολόγηση του στροβίλου και στη συνέχεια γίνεται η βελτιστοποίηση της γεωμετρίας των πτερυγίων με βάση το ρευστό που έχει επιλεχθεί. Η σχεδίαση των πτερυγίων τόσο του στάτορα όσο και του ρότορα γίνεται με τη «μέθοδο των χαρακτηριστικών» για την ελαχιστοποίηση των απωλειών της ροής λόγω των υπερηχητικών κυμάτων. Τέλος, η ρευστοδυναμική μελέτη των πτερυγίων έλαβε χώρα για την εκτίμηση της απόδοσης του στροβίλου, ενώ κατασκευάστηκε πειραματική διάταξη (water table) στο Εργαστήριο Μηχανικής Ρευστών και Στροβιλομηχανών με σκοπό την επαλήθευση των απωλειών μέσω της παρατήρησης των κυμάτων εκτόνωσης στα επιθυμητά σημεία ανάμεσα από τα υπερηχητικά πτερύγια. Επιπροσθέτως, αναπτύχθηκε τόσο υπολογιστικά, όσο και πειραματικά μια καινοτόμα μέθοδος ανίχνευσης τυχόν διαρροών του εργαζόμενου μέσου, μιας και η προστασία του περιβάλλοντος αποτελούσε πρωταρχικό σκοπό της παρούσας διατριβής. Η συγκεκριμένη μέθοδος βασίστηκε στις ακουστικές εκπομπές (acoustic emissions) που διαχέονται στο περιβάλλοντα χώρο κατά τη διαρροή ενός ρευστού από κλειστό κύκλωμα. Τέλος, ανακαλύφθηκε ένα νέο εργαζόμενο μέσο που αποτελεί μείγμα δύο ευρέως διαδεδομένων οργανικών ρευστών, του ισοβουτανίου και του ισοπεντανίου, το οποίο σύμφωνα με τα αποτελέσματα της έρευνας, επιτρέπει τη θερμική απόδοση του κύκλου να φτάνει το 13.9% σε συνθήκες μέγιστης παραγόμενης ηλεκτρικής ισχύος με την απόδοση του μονοβάθμιου στροβίλου να αγγίζει το 82.65%.
TAD-Net: An approach for real-time action detection based on temporal convolution network and graph convolution network in digital twin shop-floor
Authors: Hong Qing , Sun Yifeng , Liu Tingyu , Fu Liang , Xie Yunfeng
Published: December 2021

Background: Intelligent monitoring of human action in production is an important step to help standardize production processes and construct a digital twin shop-floor rapidly. Human action has a significant impact on the production safety and efficiency of a shop-floor, however, because of the high individual initiative of humans, it is difficult to realize real-time action detection in a digital twin shop-floor.

Methods: We proposed a real-time detection approach for shop-floor production action. This approach used the sequence data of continuous human skeleton joints sequences as the input. We then reconstructed the Joint Classification-Regression Recurrent Neural Networks (JCR-RNN) based on Temporal Convolution Network (TCN) and Graph Convolution Network (GCN). We called this approach the Temporal Action Detection Net (TAD-Net), which realized real-time shop-floor production action detection.

Results: The results of the verification experiment showed that our approach has achieved a high temporal positioning score, recognition speed, and accuracy when applied to the existing Online Action Detection (OAD) dataset and the Nanjing University of Science and Technology 3 Dimensions (NJUST3D) dataset. TAD-Net can meet the actual needs of the digital twin shop-floor.

Conclusions: Our method has higher recognition accuracy, temporal positioning accuracy, and faster running speed than other mainstream network models, it can better meet actual application requirements, and has important research value and practical significance for standardizing shop-floor production processes, reducing production security risks, and contributing to the understanding of real-time production action.
Bioflavonoids in the correction of chronic low-gradient inflammation: monograph
Authors: Goldina I.A. , Markova E.V. , Gaidul K.V.
Published: December 2021

In the monograph, based on the data of modern literature and the results of original research by the authors, the main anti-inflammatory effects of bioflavonoids and their influence on the mechanisms underlying chronic low-gradient inflammation in socially significant and age-associated diseases are characterized. The effects of bioflavonoids on the main receptor systems of the cell (receptors for cytokines, tyrosine kinases, integrins, receptors that activate the proliferation of peroxisomes), and on the intracellular signaling systems involved in the development of inflammatory processes are considered. Data on the role of bioflavonoids in the prevention and treatment of oncological, autoimmune, cardiovascular diseases, metabolic syndrome, diseases of the musculoskeletal system and metabolism, in the pathogenesis of which chronic systemic low-gradient inflammation is involved, are presented. The monograph is intended for researchers, medical specialists of various profiles, as well as for undergraduates and students of higher educational institutions in the field of medicine, biology, pharmacology.
FUNCIÓN NORMATIVA DE LAS PRÁCTICAS ASOCIADAS A LA CONSTRUCCIÓN DE TEMPLOS ANTIGUOS
Authors: Camacho Ríos Alberto
Published: December 2021

Desde la socioepistemología, el escrito presenta una “epistemología de prácticas” que permitió el estudio de la medición de las bases rectangulares de templos antiguos. Tiene por objetivo analizar la estructura metrológica de tres de ellos, construídos entre los años 1000 a.C., y el principio de la era cristiana situados en diferentes espacios geopolíticos. Los resultados destacan cuatro características aritméticas con las cuales se diseñaron y edificaron los edificios, en las que está de por medio el concepto de razón entre magnitudes de longitud, área y volumen de cada templo. Las cuatro características forman parte de la función normativa que regula las actividades de construcción.
The modified Stulberg classification is a strong predictor of the radiological outcome 20 years after the diagnosis of Perthes’ disease
Authors: Huhnstock Stefan , Wiig Ola , Merckoll Else , Svenningsen Svein , Terjesen Terje
Published: December 2021

Aims

The aim of this study was to assess the prognostic value of the modified three-group Stulberg classification, which is based on the sphericity of the femoral head, in patients with Perthes’ disease.

Methods

A total of 88 patients were followed from the time of diagnosis until a mean follow-up of 21 years. Anteroposterior pelvic and frog-leg lateral radiographs were obtained at diagnosis and at follow-up of one, five, and 21 years. At the five- and 21-year follow-up, the femoral heads were classified using a modified three-group Stulberg classification (round, ovoid, or flat femoral head). Further radiological endpoints at long-term follow-up were osteoarthritis (OA) of the hip and the requirement for total hip arthroplasty (THA).

Results

There were 71 males (81%) and 17 females. A total of 13 patients had bilateral Perthes’ disease; thus 101 hips were analyzed. At five-year follow-up, 37 hips were round, 38 ovoid, and 26 flat. At that time, 66 hips (65%) were healed and 91 (90%) were skeletally immature. At long-term follow-up, when the mean age of the patients was 28 years (24 to 34), 20 hips had an unsatisfactory outcome (seven had OA and 13 had required THA). There was a strongly significant association between the modified Stulberg classification applied atfive-year follow-up and an unsatisfactory outcome at long-term follow-up (p < 0.001). Between the five- and 21-year follow-up, 67 hips (76%) stayed in their respective modified Stulberg group, indicating a strongly significant association between the Stulberg classifications at these follow-ups (p < 0.001).

Conclusion

The modified Stulberg classification is a strong predictor of long-term radiological outcome in patients with Perthes’ disease. It can be applied at the healing stage, which is usually reached five years after the diagnosis is made and before skeletal maturity. Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2021;103-B(12):1815–1820.
Make like a man: the demands of creative work, gender and the management of everyday life
Authors: Bettina-Johanna Krings
Published: December 2021

Drawing on a study in the multimedia sector in Stuttgart, Germany, this paper argues that the living and working conditions of women have adapted strongly to the traditional breadwinner concept and that this change has major consequences for general social and cultural development. The study concludes that a historical shift from ‘maternal spaces’ to the breadwinner model is a sign of deep changes in the reproductive sphere. It analyses the temporal organisation of work-life balance and finds that, although women have gained access to some highly-skilled positions in the labour market which have granted them new forms of autonomy and independence, they have also been exposed to new forms of stress. These pressures are experienced in a range of different ways both by childless women and those with children, leading to a variety of strategies for managing daily life, each of which entails some losses, as well as gains. Although a critique of the modernisation of working cultures has been opened up, this paper argues that in order to explain the societal impacts of these changes there is a need for further exploration of both the perception and the quality of the losses experienced by women in these change processes.