bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Frequency estimation for underwater CW pulse by interpolation on fractional Fourier coefficients based on amplitude ratio method
Authors: Li Lin , Yin JingWei , Han Xiao , Ge Wei
Published: June 2023

Fast and accurate estimation of sinusoidal signals plays an important role in many fields like communications, radar, sonar, etc. In underwater signal processing applications, sinusoidal signals usually take the form of CW pulses in most practical applications, therefore, zero-padding and duty-cycle show their great importance to the estimation of sinusoidal signals. In this paper, a high-precision estimation algorithm of sinusoidal signal is proposed, which combines amplitude ratio algorithm and fractional Fourier coefficient interpolation algorithm. The proposed algorithm uses the adjacent spectral line ratio algorithm instead of the Fourier coefficient maximum amplitude discrete spectral line search algorithm for coarse estimation, and modifies the traditional interpolation method. The proposed algorithm improves the Fourier coefficient interpolation algorithm by combining zero-padded signals to achieve the accurate frequency estimation for zero-padded sinusoidal signal. The performance of the algorithm is also in accordance with theoretical level for zero-padded signals, which is a great improvement over the frequency estimation algorithm for non-padded signals as well as the algorithm for zero-padding signals. The theoretical results are verified by extensive computer simulations which show that the proposed algorithm can both achieve better results for zero-padding cases and maintain comparable performance with competing algorithms for the non-padded signal. Therefore, the algorithm can be better applied to practical underwater detection or communication signals.
An examination of the psychosocial consequences experienced by children and adolescents living with congenital heart disease and their primary caregivers: a scoping review protocol
Authors: Dorfman Tamara L. , Archibald Mandy , Haykowsky Mark , Scott Shannon D.
Published: June 2023

Background

The chronicity of congenital heart disease (CHD) comes with significant psychosocial consequences for both children and adolescents living with CHD and their primary caregivers. Children and adolescents living with CHD undergo multiple traumatizing invasive surgical and medical procedures, struggle with disabilities resulting from their CHD, face unfair scrutiny and marginalization, and are at risk for mental health issues. Primary caregivers of children and adolescents living with CHD deal with increased stress, fear, anxiety, depression, and financial burden. The overarching objectives of this scoping review are to (1) determine the current state of knowledge on negative psychosocial consequences experienced by children and adolescents living with CHD and their primary caregivers in high-income countries and (2) inform research aimed at developing interventions in high-income countries to decrease the negative psychosocial consequences experienced by children and adolescents living with CHD and their primary caregivers.

Methods

Databases and grey literature searched will include MEDLINE, CINAHL, EMBASE, PsycINFO, CENTRAL, Scopus, ProQuest Theses and Dissertations, and Google advanced search. Citation mining of included studies and relevant review articles will be completed. Studies will be screened by title and abstract and then full text by two independent reviewers, using pre-defined inclusion and exclusion criteria. Quality analysis will be conducted on all included studies by two reviewers using MMAT Version 2018. Studies will not be excluded due to quality assessment. Data from all eligible studies will be independently extracted by the two reviewers and verified by consensus. Data will be presented and synthesized in evidence tables to examine potential patterns.

Discussion

The results of this review will provide recognition of the psychosocial impact of CHD and its treatments on children and adolescents living with CHD and their primary caregivers. It will also highlight interventions that have been developed to decrease these psychosocial consequences. The results from this review will inform a future integrated knowledge translation study by the first author aimed at decreasing one or more of the negative psychosocial consequences experienced by children or adolescents living with CHD and their primary caregivers.

Systematic review registration

Open Science Framework (OSF) Registration, https://doi.org/10.17605/OSF.IO/ZXYGW
Successes, weaknesses, and recommendations to strengthen primary health care: a scoping review
Authors: Endalamaw Aklilu , Erku Daniel , Khatri Resham B. , Nigatu Frehiwot , Wolka Eskinder , Zewdie Anteneh , Assefa Yibeltal
Published: June 2023

Background

Primary health care (PHC) is a roadmap for achieving universal health coverage (UHC). There were several fragmented and inconclusive pieces of evidence needed to be synthesized. Hence, we synthesized evidence to fully understand the successes, weaknesses, effective strategies, and barriers of PHC.

Methods

We followed the PRISMA extension for scoping reviews checklist. Qualitative, quantitative, or mixed-approach studies were included. The result synthesis is in a realistic approach with identifying which strategies and challenges existed at which country, in what context and why it happens.

Results

A total of 10,556 articles were found. Of these, 134 articles were included for the final synthesis. Most studies (86 articles) were quantitative followed by qualitative (26 articles), and others (16 review and 6 mixed methods). Countries sought varying degrees of success and weakness. Strengths of PHC include less costly community health workers services, increased health care coverage and improved health outcomes. Declined continuity of care, less comprehensive in specialized care settings and ineffective reform were weaknesses in some countries. There were effective strategies: leadership, financial system, ‘Diagonal investment’, adequate health workforce, expanding PHC institutions, after-hour services, telephone appointment, contracting with non-governmental partners, a ‘Scheduling Model’, a strong referral system and measurement tools. On the other hand, high health care cost, client’s bad perception of health care, inadequate health workers, language problem and lack of quality of circle were barriers.

Conclusions

There was heterogeneous progress towards PHC vision. A country with a higher UHC effective service coverage index does not reflect its effectiveness in all aspects of PHC. Continuing monitoring and evaluation of PHC system, subsidies to the poor, and training and recruiting an adequate health workforce will keep PHC progress on track. The results of this review can be used as a guide for future research in selecting exploratory and outcome parameters.
The prevalence of hyperglycemia and its association with perioperative outcomes in gynecologic surgery: a retrospective cohort study
Authors: Chaves Katherine F. , Panza Joseph R. , Olorunfemi Mutiya A. , Helou Christine M. , Apple Annie N. , Zhao Zhiguo , Sorabella Laura L. , Dumas Susan D. , Adam Rony A. , Prescott Lauren S.
Published: June 2023

Background

Preoperative hyperglycemia has been associated with perioperative morbidity in general surgery patients. Additionally, preoperative hyperglycemia may indicate underlying impaired glucose metabolism. Thus, identification of preoperative hyperglycemia may provide an opportunity to mitigate both short-term surgical and long-term health risk. We aimed to study this phenomenon specifically in the gynecologic surgery population. Specifically, we aimed to evaluate the association between preoperative hyperglycemia and perioperative complications in gynecologic surgery patients and to characterize adherence to diabetes screening guidelines.

Methods

This retrospective cohort study included 913 women undergoing major gynecologic surgery on an enhanced recovery pathway from January 2018 to July 2019. The main exposure was day of surgery glucose ≥ 140 g/dL. Multivariate regression identified risk factors for hyperglycemia and composite and wound-specific complications.

Results

Sixty-seven (7.3%) patients were hyperglycemic. Diabetes (aOR 24.0, 95% CI 12.3–46.9, P < .001) and malignancy (aOR 2.3, 95% CI 1.2–4.5, P = .01) were associated with hyperglycemia. Hyperglycemia was not associated with increased odds of composite perioperative (aOR 1.3, 95% CI 0.7–2.4, P = 0.49) or wound-specific complications (aOR 1.1, 95% CI 0.7–1.5, P = 0.76). Of nondiabetic patients, 391/779 (50%) met the USPSTF criteria for diabetes screening; 117 (30%) had documented screening in the preceding 3 years. Of the 274 unscreened patients, 94 (34%) had day of surgery glucose levels suggestive of impaired glucose metabolism (glucose ≥ 100 g/dL).

Conclusion

In our study cohort, the prevalence of hyperglycemia was low and was not associated with higher risk of composite or wound-specific complications. However, adherence to diabetes screening guidelines was poor. Future studies should aim to develop a preoperative blood glucose testing strategy that balances the low utility of universal glucose screening with the benefit of diagnosing impaired glucose metabolism in at-risk individuals.
The direct prognosis comparison of 125I low-dose-rate brachytherapy versus laparoscopic radical prostatectomy for patients with intermediate-risk prostate cancer
Authors: Liang Zhen , Yuliang Chen , Zhu Ming , Zhou Yi , Wu Xingcheng , Li Hanzhong , Fan Bu , Zhou Zhien , Yan Weigang
Published: June 2023

Background

This study aims to compare the clinical outcomes after performing radical prostatectomy (RP) or low-dose-rate brachytherapy (LDR) for patients with intermediate-risk prostate cancer (IRPC).

Methods

We performed a retrospective analysis on 361 IRPC patients who underwent treatment in Peking Union Medical College Hospital from January 2014 to August 2021, of which 160 underwent RP and 201 underwent Iodine-125 LDR. Patients were followed in clinic monthly during the first three months and at three-month intervals thereafter. Univariate and multivariate regression analyses were conducted to predict biochemical relapse-free survival (bRFS), clinical relapse-free survival (cRFS), cancer-specific survival (CSS), and overall survival (OS). Biochemical recurrence was defined using the Phoenix definition for LDR and the surgical definition for RP. The log-rank test was applied to compare bRFS between the two modalities, and Cox regression analysis was performed to identify factors associated with bRFS.

Results

Median follow-up was 54 months for RP and 69 months for LDR. According to log-rank test, the differences of 5-year bRFS (70.2% vs 83.2%, P = 0.003) and 8-year bRFS (63.1% vs 68.9%, P < 0.001) between RP and LDR groups were statistically significant. Our results also indicated that there was no significant difference in terms of cRFS, CSS, or OS between the two groups. With multivariate analysis of the entire cohort, prostate volume ≤ 30 ml (P < 0.001), positive margin (P < 0.001), and percentage positive biopsy cores > 50% (P < 0.001) were independent factors suggestive of worse bRFS.

Conclusions

LDR is a reasonable treatment option for IRPC patients, yielding improved bRFS and equivalent rates of cRFS, CSS and OS when compared with RP.
Potential non-invasive biomarkers in tumor immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy: response and prognosis prediction
Authors: Song Ruixia , Liu Fengsen , Ping Yu , Zhang Yi , Wang Liping
Published: June 2023

Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have dramatically enhanced the treatment outcomes for diverse malignancies. Yet, only 15–60% of patients respond significantly. Therefore, accurate responder identification and timely ICI administration are critical issues in tumor ICI therapy. Recent rapid developments at the intersection of oncology, immunology, biology, and computer science have provided an abundance of predictive biomarkers for ICI efficacy. These biomarkers can be invasive or non-invasive, depending on the specific sample collection method. Compared with invasive markers, a host of non-invasive markers have been confirmed to have superior availability and accuracy in ICI efficacy prediction. Considering the outstanding advantages of dynamic monitoring of the immunotherapy response and the potential for widespread clinical application, we review the recent research in this field with the aim of contributing to the identification of patients who may derive the greatest benefit from ICI therapy.
Measurement in STEM education research: a systematic literature review of trends in the psychometric evidence of scales
Authors: Maric Danka , Fore Grant A. , Nyarko Samuel Cornelius , Varma-Nelson Pratibha
Published: June 2023

Background

The objective of this systematic review is to identify characteristics, trends, and gaps in measurement in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) education research.

Methods

We searched across several peer-reviewed sources, including a book, similar systematic reviews, conference proceedings, one online repository, and four databases that index the major STEM education research journals. We included empirical studies that reported on psychometric development of scales developed on college/university students for the context of post-secondary STEM education in the US. We excluded studies examining scales that ask about specific content knowledge and contain less than three items. Results were synthesized using descriptive statistics.

Results

Our final sample included the total number of N = 82 scales across N = 72 studies. Participants in the sampled studies were majority female and White, most scales were developed in an unspecified STEM/science and engineering context, and the most frequently measured construct was attitudes. Internal structure validity emerged as the most prominent validity evidence, with exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) being the most common. Reliability evidence was dominated by internal consistency evidence in the form of Cronbach’s alpha, with other forms being scarcely reported, if at all.

Discussion

Limitations include only focusing on scales developed in the United States and in post-secondary contexts, limiting the scope of the systematic review. Our findings demonstrate that when developing scales for STEM education research, many types of psychometric properties, such as differential item functioning, test–retest reliability, and discriminant validity are scarcely reported. Furthermore, many scales only report internal structure validity (EFA and/or CFA) and Cronbach’s alpha, which are not enough evidence alone. We encourage researchers to look towards the full spectrum of psychometric evidence both when choosing scales to use and when developing their own. While constructs such as attitudes and disciplines such as engineering were dominant in our sample, future work can fill in the gaps by developing scales for disciplines, such as geosciences, and examine constructs, such as engagement, self-efficacy, and perceived fit.
Evaluation of reconstruction methods and image noise levels concerning visual assessment of simulated liver lesions in 111In-octreotide SPECT imaging
Authors: Wikberg Emma , van Essen Martijn , Rydén Tobias , Svensson Johanna , Gjertsson Peter , Bernhardt Peter
Published: June 2023

Background

Early cancer detection is crucial for patients’ survival. The image quality in 111In-octreotide SPECT imaging could be improved by using Monte Carlo (MC)-based reconstruction. The aim of this observational study was to determine the detection rate of simulated liver lesions for MC-based ordered subset expectation maximization (OSEM) reconstruction compared to conventional attenuation-corrected OSEM reconstruction.

Methods

Thirty-seven SPECT/CT examinations with 111In-octreotide were randomly selected. The inclusion criterion was no liver lesions at the time of examination and for the following 3 years. SPECT images of spheres representing lesions were simulated using MC. The raw data of the spheres were added to the raw data of the established healthy patients in 26 of the examinations, and the remaining 11 examinations were not modified. The images were reconstructed using conventional OSEM reconstruction with attenuation correction and post filtering (fAC OSEM) and MC-based OSEM reconstruction without and with post filtering (MC OSEM and fMC OSEM, respectively). The images were visually and blindly evaluated by a nuclear medicine specialist. The criteria evaluated were liver lesion yes or no, including coordinates if yes, with confidence level 1–3. The percentage of detected lesions and accuracy (percentage of correctly classified cases), as well as tumor-to-normal tissue concentration (TNC) ratios and signal-to-noise ratios (SNRs), were evaluated.

Results

The detection rates were 30.8% for fAC OSEM, 42.3% for fMC OSEM, and 50.0% for MC OSEM. The accuracies were 45.9% for fAC OSEM, 45.9% for fMC OSEM, and 54.1% for MC OSEM. The number of false positives was higher for fMC and MC OSEM. The observer’s confidence level was higher in filtered images than in unfiltered images. TNC ratios were significantly higher, statistically, with MC OSEM and fMC OSEM than with AC OSEM, but SNRs were similar due to higher noise with MC OSEM.

Conclusion

One in two lesions were found using MC OSEM versus one in three using conventional reconstruction. TNC ratios were significantly improved, statistically, using MC-based reconstruction, but the noise levels increased and consequently the confidence level of the observer decreased. For further improvements, image noise needs to be suppressed.
Intraperitoneal hemorrhage secondary to ruptured omental artery aneurysm associated with polyarteritis nodosa: a case report
Authors: El-Farra Mohamed H. , Yahia Rayan , Cetinkaya Aysenur , Hasaniya Nahidh
Published: June 2023

Background

Polyarteritis nodsa (PAN) is a rare disease characterized by acute focal inflammatory damage to small and medium arteries. PAN complicated by ruptured aneurysm is an infrequent presentation with the most affected arteries being the renal and mesenteric arteries.

Case presentation

A 76-year-old female presented with a low-grade fever, generalized body aches, and abdominal pain. Investigation revealed intraperitoneal bleeding secondary to a ruptured and actively bleeding right omental artery aneurysm. Clinical manifestation, angiography and histology were consistent with PAN. Laparotomy was performed for stabilization and resection of the bleeding aneurysm followed by post operative steroids and cyclophosphamide. Patient was discharged in a stable condition. We reviewed seven cases found in the literature of omental artery aneurysm and rupture. Four cases were proceeded with laparotomy and aneurysm resection while three cases were proceeded with a less invasive approach of arterial embolization.

Conclusions

Omental artery aneurysm is a rare occurrence with even fewer reported cases associated with PAN. Of the seven reported cases, all patients were treated with a surgical intervention. In addition, PAN patients should be treated post-operatively with a course of steroids and cyclophosphamide.
A hydrogel-based first-aid tissue adhesive with effective hemostasis and anti-bacteria for trauma emergency management
Authors: Zhang Dongjie , Mei Li , Hao Yuanping , Yi Bingcheng , Hu Jilin , Wang Danyang , Zhao Yaodong , Wang Zhe , Huang Hailin , Xu Yongzhi , Deng Xuyang , Li Cong , Li Xuewei , Zhou Qihui , Lu Yun
Published: June 2023

Background

Clinical tissue adhesives remain some critical drawbacks for managing emergency injuries, such as inadequate adhesive strength and insufficient anti-infection ability. Herein, a novel, self-healing, and antibacterial carboxymethyl chitosan/polyaldehyde dextran (CMCS/PD) hydrogel is designed as the first-aid tissue adhesive for effective trauma emergency management.

Methods

We examined the gel-forming time, porosity, self-healing, antibacterial properties, cytotoxicity, adhesive strength, and hemocompatibility. Liver hemorrhage, tail severance, and skin wound infection models of rats are constructed in vivo, respectively.

Results

Results demonstrate that the CMCS/PD hydrogel has the rapid gel-forming (~ 5 s), good self-healing, and effective antibacterial abilities, and could adhere to tissue firmly (adhesive strength of ~ 10 kPa and burst pressure of 327.5 mmHg) with excellent hemocompatibility and cytocompatibility. This suggests the great prospect of CMCS/PD hydrogel in acting as a first-aid tissue adhesive for trauma emergency management. The CMCS/PD hydrogel is observed to not only achieve rapid hemostasis for curing liver hemorrhage and tail severance in comparison to commercial hemostatic gel (Surgiflo ®) but also exhibit superior anti-infection for treating acute skin trauma compared with clinical disinfectant gel (Prontosan ®).

Conclusions

Overall, the CMCS/PD hydrogel offers a promising candidate for first-aid tissue adhesives to manage the trauma emergency. Because of the rapid gel-forming time, it could also be applied as a liquid first-aid bandage for mini-invasive surgical treatment.

Graphical Abstract
Development of consensus-based considerations for use of adult proxy reporting: an ISOQOL task force initiative
Authors: Lapin Brittany , Cohen Matthew L. , Corsini Nadia , Lanzi Alyssa , Smith Sarah C. , Bennett Antonia V. , Mayo Nancy , Mercieca-Bebber Rebecca , Mitchell Sandra A. , Rutherford Claudia , Roydhouse Jessica
Published: June 2023

Aims

Many large-scale population-based surveys, research studies, and clinical care allow for inclusion of proxy reporting as a strategy to collect outcomes when patients are unavailable or unable to provide reliable self-report. Prior work identified an absence of methodological guidelines regarding proxy reporting in adult populations, including who can serve as a proxy, and considerations for data collection, analysis, and reporting. The primary objective of this work by the ISOQOL Proxy Task Force was to review documents and clinical outcome assessment measures with respect to proxy reporting and to develop, through consensus, considerations for proxy reporting.

Methods

We assembled an international group with clinically relevant and/or methodological expertise on proxy use in adult populations. We conducted a targeted review of documentation based on regulatory, non-regulatory, professional society, and individual measure sources. Using a standardized collection form, proxy-related information was extracted from each source including definitions of a proxy, characteristics of a proxy, domains addressable or addressed by a proxy, and observer-reporting.

Results

The definition of proxy was inconsistent across 39 sources, except regulatory documents which defined a proxy as a person other than the patient who reports on an outcome as if she/he were the patient. While proxy report was discouraged in regulatory documentation, it was acknowledged there were instances where self-report was impossible. Many documentation sources indicated proxies would be well-justified in certain contexts, but did not indicate who could act as a proxy, when proxies could be used, what domains of patient health they could report on, or how data should be reported. Observer-reported outcomes were typically defined as those based on observed behaviors, however there was not a consistent differentiation between proxy and observer reporting. Based on information extracted from these resources, we developed a checklist of considerations when including proxy-reported measures or using proxies in study design, data collection, analysis, interpretation and reporting of proxy reported data.

Conclusion

Our targeted review highlights a lack of clarity in capturing, interpreting and reporting data from proxies in adult populations. We provide a checklist of considerations to assist researchers and clinicians with including proxies in research studies and clinical care. Lastly, our review identified areas where further guidance and future research are necessary.
Arrhythmogenicity of anti-tachycardia pacing in patients with implantable cardioverter defibrillator
Authors: Awad Sherien Samy , Azeez Emmanuel Fares , Taha Mohamed Ossama , El-Naggar Wael Mohamed , El-Damaty Ahmed
Published: June 2023

Background

Anti-tachycardia pacing therapy (ATP) has shown comparable efficacy to shock therapy in ventricular tachycardia (VT) termination with better quality of life. However, some ATPs may lead to VT acceleration or degeneration to ventricular fibrillation (VF), which will result in more ICD shocks. The aim of this study was to investigate the predictors of VT acceleration by ATP therapy in a real-life patient cohort.

Results

We retrospectively reviewed 448 monomorphic VT episodes that required ATP therapy in 60 patients with structural heart diseases implanted with ICD or CRTD. The clinical data of the patients and the episodes’ details were evaluated. We found that patients with a higher ejection fraction (EF) were more likely to be cardioverted by ATP therapy (P: 0.024). VT acceleration was more frequent in patients with lower EF (mean 31.24 ± 4.08) compared with the non-accelerated patients with higher EF (mean 37.00 ± 9.4, P: 0.016). The percentage of accelerated episodes was 8.5%. VT episodes with a mean cycle length (CL) < 310 ms are more likely to accelerate (sensitivity 76.3%, specificity 67.7%, PPV value 45%, NPV 86%, and AUC 0.790). There was a statistically significant difference in the accelerated VT episodes as compared to non-accelerated episodes regarding the number of ATP bursts (mean 3.66 ± 2.22 vs. 1.76 ± 1.35, P: < 0.001), ramp (23.7% vs. 4.2%, P: < 0.001), scanning (55.3% vs. 31.3%, P: 0.003) and burst adaptive cycle length (mean 83.55 ± 2.92 vs. 84.64 ± 2.61, P: 0.016). In a multivariate analysis, the VT CL, number of ATP bursts and ramp pacing predicted VT acceleration by ATP therapy.

Conclusions

Ventricular tachycardia in patients with low LV EF and fast VTs with a CL less than 310 ms were more likely to accelerate with ATP therapy. The number of ATP bursts and the use of ramp had a significant effect on VT acceleration. To avoid VT acceleration by ATP therapy, ramp pacing better be avoided, especially in fast VTs, and lesser number of bursts should be delivered.
Quantitative analysis of white matter brain changes in tinnitus patients with normal hearing: a case-controlled study with diffusion tensor imaging
Authors: Eltabbakh Amira , Nada Nashwa
Published: June 2023

Background

This research aimed at assessing the white matter microstructural (WM) brain changes in tinnitus patients with bilateral normal peripheral hearing using diffuse tensor imaging to test whether, tinnitus alone without hearing loss can cause WM brain changes or not.

Patients and materials

Twenty-eight patients were enrolled in this research, 14 patients with bilateral tinnitus without hearing loss (audiometrically proven) and 14 normal hearing controls. All subjects underwent a full basic audiological evaluation, tinnitus matching, and were asked to fill the Tinnitus Handicap Inventory (THI) questionnaire. They underwent diffusion tensor brain imaging, mean diffusivity (MD) and fractional anisotropy (FA) values were measured at special parts of central auditory pathway, and parts of limbic system. A comparison between study and control groups was held as regards MD and FA at different brain sites using an independent sample Student t-test or Mann–Whitney U test. Furthermore, the relationship between THI scores and the MD/FA measures was examined by correlation tests.

Results

As regards FA values, some regions as [lateral lemniscus (LL), inferior colliculus (IC), frontal arcuate fasciculi (AF) and parahippocampus] showed statistically significant decreased FA values in the tinnitus group compared to Normal Hearing (NH) group (p < 0.05). As regards MD values, tinnitus patients showed significantly higher MD values at (auditory cortex, amygdala, and AF) compared to control group (p < 0.05). As regards correlations, THI scores showed statistically significant positive correlation with MD values measured at Rt Amygdala (r = 0.55, p = 0.04).

Conclusions

The central auditory pathway affection is proved in tinnitus patients with normal hearing (as least as evidenced by conventional audiological examinations) and the auditory-limbic association is proved so far. The involvement of IC confirms the subcortical auditory centres involvement in the generation of the tinnitus. Auditory associations are also significantly impacted by the effect of tinnitus.
Enhanced fault diagnosis of wind energy conversion systems using ensemble learning based on sine cosine algorithm
Authors: Attouri Khadija , Dhibi Khaled , Mansouri Majdi , Hajji Mansour , Bouzrara Kais , Nounou Hazem
Published: June 2023

This paper investigates the problem of incipient fault detection and diagnosis (FDD) in wind energy conversion systems (WECS) using an innovative and effective approach called the ensemble learning-sine cosine optimization algorithm (EL-SCOA). The evolved strategy involves two primary steps: first, a sine-cosine algorithm is used to extract and optimize features in order to only select the most descriptive ones. Second, to further improve the capability, thereby providing the highest accuracy performance, the newly gathered dataset is introduced as input to an ensemble learning paradigm, which merges the benefits of boosting and bagging techniques with an artificial neural network classifier. The essential goal of the developed proposal is to discriminate between the diverse operating conditions (one healthy and six faulty conditions). Three potential and frequent types of faults that can affect the system behaviors including short-circuit, open-circuit, and wear-out are considered and thereby injected at diverse locations and sides (grid and generator sides) in order to evaluate the availability and performance of the proposed technique when compared to the conventional FDD methods. The diagnosis performance is analyzed in terms of accuracy, recall, precision, and computation time. The acquired outcomes demonstrate the efficiency of the suggested diagnostic paradigm compared to conventional FDD techniques (accuracy rate has been successfully achieved 98.35%).
Improving Quality of Life During Chemotherapy: Cannabinoids, Cryotherapy, and Scalp Cooling
Authors: Michel Alissa , Lee Richard T. , Salehi Elahe , Accordino Melissa K.
Published: June 2023

There have been significant advances in the treatment of cancer in the past decade. However, patients continue to suffer from significant side effects of antineoplastic agents that greatly affect their quality of life (QOL), including chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV), chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN), and chemotherapy-induced alopecia (CIA). This review aims to provide an updated overview of emerging strategies for the management and prevention of these immediate and long-lasting side effects. The use of integrative medicine including cannabis continues to evolve in the realm of CINV and cancer-related anorexia. Although no pharmaceutical agent has been approved for the prevention of CIPN, cryotherapy, compression therapy and, more recently, cryocompression therapy have shown benefit in small trials, but there are concerns with tolerability especially related to cryotherapy. More data are necessary to determine an effective and tolerable option to prevent CIPN in large, randomized studies. Scalp cooling (SC), which has a similar mechanism to cryotherapy and compression therapy for CIPN prevention, has proven to be an effective and tolerable approach in randomized studies and has significantly limited CIA, an entity that definitively affects the QOL of patients living with cancer. Taken together, cannabis, cryotherapy, compression and cryocompression therapy, and SC all strive to improve the QOL of patients living with cancer by minimizing the side effects of chemotherapeutic agents.
Surgeon Quality and Patient Survival After Resection for Non–Small-Cell Lung Cancer
Authors: Ray Meredith A. , Akinbobola Olawale , Fehnel Carrie , Saulsberry Andrea , Dortch Kourtney , Wolf Bradley , Valaulikar Ganpat , Patel Hetal D. , Ng Thomas , Robbins Todd , Smeltzer Matthew P. , Faris Nicholas R. , Osarogiagbon Raymond U. ,   The Mid-South Quality of Surgical Resection (MS-QSR) Consortium, Wiggins Horace L. , Talton David , Stevenson Daniel R. , Koury Albert
Published: June 2023

PURPOSE

The quality and outcomes of curative-intent lung cancer surgery vary in populations. Surgeons are key drivers of surgical quality. We examined the association between surgeon-level intermediate outcomes differences, patient survival differences, and potential mitigation by processes of care.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Using a baseline population-based surgical resection cohort, we derived surgeon-level cut points for rates of positive margins, nonexamination of lymph nodes, nonexamination of mediastinal lymph nodes, and wedge resections. Applying the baseline cut points to a subsequent cohort from the same population-based data set, we assign surgeons into three performance categories in reference to each metric: 1 (<25th percentile), 2 (25th-75th percentile), and 3 (>75th percentile). The sum of performance scores created three surgeon quality tiers: 1 (4-6, low), 2 (7-9, intermediate), and 3 (10-12, high). We used chi-squared, Wilcoxon-Mann-Whitney, and Kruskal-Wallis tests to compare patient characteristics between the baseline and subsequent cohorts and across surgeon tiers. We applied Cox proportional hazards models to examine the association between patient survival and surgeon performance tier, sequentially adjusting for clinical stage, patient characteristics, and four specific processes.

RESULTS

From 2009 to 2021, 39 surgeons performed 4,082 resections across the baseline and subsequent cohorts. Among 31 subsequent cohort surgeons, five were tier 1, five were tier 2, and 21 were tier 3. Tier 1 and 2 surgeons had significantly worse outcomes than tier 3 surgeons (hazard ratio [HR], 1.37; 95% CI, 1.10 to 1.72 and 1.19; 95% CI, 1.00 to 1.43, respectively). Adjustment for specific processes mitigated the surgeon-tiered survival differences, with adjusted HRs of 1.02 (95% CI, 0.8 to 1.3) and 0.93 (95% CI, 0.7 to 1.25), respectively.

CONCLUSION

Readily accessible intermediate outcomes metrics can be used to stratify surgeon performance for targeted process improvement, potentially reducing patient survival disparities.
Implementation evidence-based in healthcare organizations management and policy
Authors: Alsaqqa Hatem H.
Published: June 2023

Aim

The goal of this paper is to introduce a perspective view of the formation and application of the evidence-based management approach to investigators, managers and policymakers as to how different determinants and managerial-decision processes can be more effectively linked for the salient of healthcare organizations. 

Methods

The author compiled this analysis on the basis of published literature and his experience as a researcher in the healthcare management. The author briefly reviews the evolution of evidence-based management in this article and designs a perspective framework for improving its production and the impact of its application in a broad variety of contexts.

Results

This paper can inform the global healthcare evidence-based agenda by (1) providing a framework for operational recommendations for the implementation of the healthcare evidence-based, (2) defining evidence-based management guidelines’ recommendations, and (3) enhance methods for adopting and tailoring evidence-based management.

Conclusion

The use of the presented domains’ guidelines and recommendations will increase the consistency of the characterization of the evidence-based management approach. The author agrees that it is a high priority to establish approaches to monitoring evidence-based management in healthcare organizations. Laterally, this perspective review will help in the implementation of such an approach.
Protocol for the development and validation of a patient reported measure (PRM) of treatment burden in stroke
Authors: Gallacher Katie I , Taylor-Rowan Martin , Eton David T , McLeod Hamish , Kidd Lisa , Wood Karen , Sardar Aleema , Quinn Terry J , Mair Frances S
Published: June 2023

Background

Treatment burden is the workload of healthcare for people with long-term conditions and the impact on wellbeing.  A validated measure of treatment burden after stroke is needed. We aim to adapt a patient-reported measure (PRM) of treatment burden in multimorbidity, PETS (Patient Experience with Treatment and Self-Management version 2.0), to create a stroke-specific measure, PETS-stroke. We aim to examine content validity, construct validity, reliability and feasibility in a stroke survivor population.

Methods

1) Adaptation of 60-item PETS to PETS-stroke using a taxonomy of treatment burden. 2) Content validity testing through cognitive interviews that will explore the importance, relevance and clarity of each item. 3) Evaluation of scale psychometric properties through analysis of data from stroke survivors recruited via postal survey (n=340). Factor structure will be tested with confirmatory factor analysis and Cronbach’s alpha will be used to index internal consistency. Construct validity will be tested against: The Stroke Southampton Self-Management Questionnaire; The Satisfaction with Stroke Care Measure; and The Shortened Stroke Impact Scale. We will explore known-groups validity by exploring the association between treatment burden, socioeconomic deprivation and multimorbidity. Test-retest reliability will be examined via re-administration after 2 weeks. Acceptability and feasibility of use will be explored via missing data rates and telephone interviews with 30 participants.

Conclusions

We aim to create a validated PRM of treatment burden after stroke. PETS-stroke is designed for use as an outcome measure in clinical trials of stroke treatments and complex interventions to ascertain if treatments are workable for patients in the context of their everyday lives.
The genome sequence of the Willow Beauty, Peribatodes rhomboidaria (Denis & Schiffermüller, 1775)
Authors: Boyes Douglas , Eagles Marianne , Holland Peter W.H. ,   Darwin Tree of Life Barcoding collective,   Wellcome Sanger Institute Tree of Life programme,   Wellcome Sanger Institute Scientific Operations: DNA Pipelines collective,   Tree of Life Core Informatics collective,   Darwin Tree of Life Consortium
Published: June 2023

We present a genome assembly from an individual male Peribatodes rhomboidaria (the Willow Beauty; Arthropoda; Insecta; Lepidoptera; Geometridae). The genome sequence is 499.7 megabases in span. Most of the assembly is scaffolded into 31 chromosomal pseudomolecules including the Z sex chromosome. The mitochondrial genome has also been assembled and is 15.7 kilobases in length. Gene annotation of this assembly on Ensembl identified 18,486 protein coding genes.
The genome sequence of the variegated flesh fly, Sarcophaga variegata (Scopoli, 1763)
Authors: Falk Steven , Mulley John F ,   University of Oxford and Wytham Woods Genome Acquisition Lab,   Darwin Tree of Life Barcoding collective,   Wellcome Sanger Institute Tree of Life programme,   Wellcome Sanger Institute Scientific Operations: DNA Pipelines collective,   Tree of Life Core Informatics collective,   Darwin Tree of Life Consortium
Published: June 2023

We present a genome assembly from an individual male Sarcophaga variegata (the variegated flesh fly; Arthropoda; Insecta; Diptera; Sarcophagidae). The genome sequence is 718.5 megabases in span. Most of the assembly is scaffolded into 7 chromosomal pseudomolecules including the X and Y sex chromosomes. The mitochondrial genome has also been assembled and is 18.7 kilobases in length. Gene annotation of this assembly on Ensembl identified 16,660 protein coding genes.
Genetic risk of asthma: a review of reports on the effect of single nucleotide polymorphisms detected by genome-wide association study on the development and course of asthma using the genes: ORMDL3, ADAM33, DENND1B as examples
Authors: Zaniuk Marcin , Hurkała Kamil , Antonik Dominika , Denys Barbara , Góra Karolina , Zdziennicki Wojciech , Zimnicki Patryk , Lato Marta , Iberszer Konrad , Litwiniuk Maria
Published: June 2023

Asthma, an inflammatory disease of the lower and upper airways, is one of the most common diseases in society. Depending on the source and the population studied, the percentage of asthma patients ranges from 5% to as high as 15%. The development of asthma is believed to be caused by an overlap between the body's personal propensity to develop the disease and environmental factors. For years, scientists have been studying the genetic basis of asthma. For several years they have had a new weapon in their arsenal - the GWAS method. The use of this method has enabled researchers to discover the relationship between gene variants found in patients and an increased risk of developing asthma.
Construction of Ancient Houses in Marina El-Alamein. Analysis of the Demand for Building Stone
Authors: Popławski Szymon
Published: June 2023

Although structures within the ancient settlement in Marina el-Alamein were built almost exclusively of local limestone, no remains of ancient quarries have been found. The author calculates the cubature of stone used in the construction of the houses, based on the knowledge of the applied building solutions. The resulting data make it possible to address the question of the city managing the works without its own quarry, sourcing limestone from subterranean structures alone.
Représenter l’égyptologue, rendre hommage au Boulonnais. Le portrait d’Auguste Mariette par Florent Buret
Authors: Gutierrez Michel
Published: June 2023

In this paper, we propose the first study of the portrait of Auguste Mariette kept in the Château Comtal – Musée de Boulognesur- Mer (France). Painted by Florent Buret in 1899, the work pays tribute to the Egyptologist born in this city in 1821. Artificially composed from photographic sources, this portrait evokes his work for the Louvre and Boulaq museums in France and Egypt. It was included in the “historical gallery” of the town hall of Boulogne-sur-Mer with fourteen other personalities of the city. As such, it reflects the pride of a late 19th century French town and its scholarly and political networks.
A comparison of biphasic manual and semi-automatic external defibrillation
Authors: Smith Neil , Moat Chris , Neoptolemos Ptolemy
Published: June 2023

Background:

Biphasic manual defibrillation (MD) is advocated as the preferred strategy for paramedics ahead of semi-automatic external defibrillation (SAED) for out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA).

Methods:

A systematic review involved searching CINAHL, MEDLINE and Embase academic databases. Comparative studies where both strategies were tested for time to first defibrillation (TTFD) and related Utstein-based model outcomes were examined to discern which strategy was superior.

Results:

Two studies met the criteria. One study found that in 4552 SAED episodes of defibrillation (30.8% of the 14 776 total defibrillation episodes), a decrease of >10% in mean TTFD (P<0.001) of an intial shockable rhythm was recorded. The same study reported an overall decrease in TTFD within 2 minutes (95% CI/P<0.001), with a 68% improved odds of receiving a shock within two minutes. SAED was associated with a 26% reduction in the risk-adjusted odds of survival (95% CI/P<0.009), attributed to cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) delays. The other examined 160 defibrillations in OHCA. The MD median TTFD was 7 seconds faster (95% CI/P<0.0001) and responsible for 20% more inappropriate shocks.

Conclusions:

Modern SAED is superior in reducing TTFD and inappropriate shocks. The modern SAED and MD strategies can be enhanced by interruption-reducing technology. New SAED algorithms can detect shockable rhythms in 3 seconds. More randomised studies need to be conducted using up-to-date devices. A multifaceted approach incorporating technological advancements, ongoing research and training is necessary to ensure that the most effective defibrillation strategy is employed.
June 2023 Medical Image of the Month: Solitary Fibrous Tumor of the Pleura
Authors:   Department of Radiology, Mayo Clinic Arizona, Scottsdale, AZ USA, Jokerst Clinton , Stib Matthew , Rojas Carlos , Cummings Kristopher , Jensen Eric , Panse Prasad , Gotway Michael
Published: June 2023

No abstract available. Article truncated after 150 words. An 85-year-old man presented to our institution for a second opinion and for management of a recurrent left-sided pleural effusion. The patient has a history of CLL, which was diagnosed with a chest wall biopsy 4 years prior to presentation. Since that time, he has undergone chemotherapy and had a good response. In the past 18 months, the patient has had their left-sided pleural effusion drained 24 times. The patient also has a history of hypothyroidism and has had a cholecystectomy. The patient brought multiple outside imaging studies with him for review. An image capture from a recent ultrasound-guided left thoracentesis (Figure 1A) demonstrated, in retrospect, a pedunculated left lower lobe mass. An outside PET-CT (Figure 1B) was also available, confirming the presence of this mass, which had relatively uniform, low level FDG uptake such that it evade notice on first interpretation. A CT angiogram (Figure 2) demonstrated a large …
Neoliberalism and the Voluntary and Community Sector in Northern Ireland
Authors: Hughes Ciaran , Ketola Markus
Published: June 2023

With a focus on the history, politics and economics of voluntary and community sector activity in Northern Ireland, this book explores the region’s neoliberal policy reforms and their implications for the sector, communities and governance. We chart the repeated ‘partnership turns’ in government rhetoric and policy, the networks and relationships that have developed between VCS actors and the state, and assess the nature and role of the sector after decades of financial and rhetorical support from governments and international funders. We will see how these developments had offered the voluntary sector a privileged role in the governance of a region that was making a transition to both relative peace and a highly localised version of neoliberalism. As this book will illustrate, the optimistic ‘glue that holds society together’ narratives that surrounded the sector in the decades of the peace process, and the ‘partnership’ policy discourses of the peacebuilding and New Labour heyday, are constantly resurrected in policy narratives that surround voluntary and community action in the region. However, such discourses are increasingly giving way to narratives and practices that are unapologetically grounded in neoliberal notions of civil society.
Towards a statistical theory of digital interferometry: a tutorial with applications to fringe projection profilometry
Authors: Servin Manuel , Padilla Moises , Garnica Msc
Published: June 2023

The signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and Shannon’s channel capacity are two of the main figures of merit in statistical communication theory (SCT). Understanding their relation has been crucial for the exponential increase of communication speed observed during the past 70 years. However, these concepts remain essentially unexplored in the context of digital interferometry (DI). This is despite DI uses common concepts with SCT such as quadrature filtering and phase demodulation. Therefore, our purpose in this tutorial is to show the importance of Shannon information theory for DI. Particularly, we believe that the SNR gain is a very useful figure of merit when comparing phase-demodulation algorithms. We also show that dual-sensitivity phase unwrapping produces significantly higher Shannon’s entropy versus increasing only the SNR on low-sensitivity phase measurements. Our claims are supported by mathematical analysis, numerical simulations and experimental results.