bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Inhibition of vertebrate complement system by hematophagous arthropods: inhibitory molecules, mechanisms, physiological roles, and applications
Authors: Sant'Anna Mauricio Roberto Vianna , Pereira‐Filho Adalberto Alves , Mendes‐Sousa Antonio Ferreira , Silva Naylene Carvalho Sales , Gontijo Nelder Figueiredo , Pereira Marcos Horácio , Koerich Leonardo Barbosa , D'Avila Pessoa Grasielle Caldas , Andersen John , Araujo Ricardo Nascimento
Published: January 2024

In arthropods, hematophagy has arisen several times throughout evolution. This specialized feeding behavior offered a highly nutritious diet obtained during blood feeds. On the other hand, blood‐sucking arthropods must overcome problems brought on by blood intake and digestion. Host blood complement acts on the bite site and is still active after ingestion, so complement activation is a potential threat to the host's skin feeding environment and to the arthropod gut enterocytes. During evolution, blood‐sucking arthropods have selected, either in their saliva or gut, anticomplement molecules that inactivate host blood complement. This review presents an overview of the complement system and discusses the arthropod's salivary and gut anticomplement molecules studied to date, exploring their mechanism of action and other aspects related to the arthropod–host–pathogen interface. The possible therapeutic applications of arthropod's anticomplement molecules are also discussed.
The prevalence of visual axis opacification in the Swedish Pediatric Cataract Register
Authors: Magnusson Gunilla , Gyllén Jenny , Haargaard Birgitte , Nyström Alf , Rosensvärd Annika , Scurei Carmen , Kjellström Ulrika , Tornqvist Kristina
Published: January 2024

Purpose

To report on the occurrence of postoperative visual axis opacification (VAO) in children younger than 5 years of age operated for cataract in Sweden, and to analyse correlations with age at surgery and surgical method.

Methods

Data were derived from the Swedish Pediatric Cataract Register (PECARE). All children operated on between 1 January 2007 and 31 December 2020 were included. Follow‐ups at 1, 2 and 5 years of age were analysed.

Results

Cataract surgery were performed on 770 eyes belonging to 549 children (n = 282 boys, 51.4%); 327/770 (42.5%) of the children underwent surgery before 3 months of age and 216/770 (28%) before 6 weeks of age. Data on 881 follow‐up visits were registered. At the follow up‐visits at 1, 2 and 5 years of age, VAO was present in 154/349 (44.1%), 41/323 (12.7%) and 25/208 (12%). The majority of the children with VAO underwent cataract surgery before age 6 months, with a predominance before age 2 months. Primary IOL was implanted in 601/770 (78%) of eyes; 40.8% had an acrylic one‐piece lens, 31.8% had a bag‐in‐the‐lens IOL, 21.9% were aphakic and 5.2% had an acrylic three‐piece lens. Implantation of a bag‐in‐the‐lens IOL was related to a significantly lower occurrence of VAO compared to other types of IOL, including aphakia (p < 0.0002).

Conclusion

Our results are in accordance with the literature. Primary bag‐in‐the‐lens IOL implantation before 2 years of age seems adequate and safe, with a low occurrence of VAO, and can thus be continued as routine in Sweden.
Editorial: Extending upadacitinib induction dosing in ulcerative colitis‐A delicate balance of efficacy and safety
Authors: Sagami Shintaro , Kobayashi Taku
Published: January 2024

LINKED CONTENT

This article is linked to Panaccione et al papers. To view these articles, visit https://doi.org/10.1111/apt.17816 and https://doi.org/10.1111/apt.17853
Letter: Association between chronic kidney disease, hepatitis B and antiviral treatments
Authors: Li Chen‐Pi , Tsai Ru‐Yin , Chang Hui‐Chin , Gau Shuo‐Yan
Published: January 2024

LINKED CONTENT

This article is linked to Choi et al papers. To view these articles, visithttps://doi.org/10.1111/apt.17819andhttps://doi.org/10.1111/apt.17875
Multiple palisaded encapsulated neuromas presenting as cobblestoned plaques over palms and oral cavity
Authors: Mehta Nikhil , Sathyan Athira , Agarwal Shipra , Bhari Neetu
Published: January 2024

Palisaded encapsulated neuroma (PEN) is a benign circumscribed nerve sheath tumor usually seen as a solitary painless papule on the face in middle‐aged adults. We report a 22‐year‐old male with multiple adolescent‐onset PENs distributed extensively, including the oral cavity and palms, contrary to the typical presentations. The lesions formed cobblestoned plaques and were confirmed through a skin biopsy, showing characteristic nodules of wavy spindle cells forming interlacing fascicles with interspersed clefts, and positive staining for specific markers, including markers for axons and perineurium. Notably, this case deviates from the usual presentation, shedding light on atypical manifestations of PEN in a young individual without any features suggestive of a neurocutaneous syndrome or multiple endocrine neoplasia syndrome.
Long‐term drought triggers severe declines in carabid beetles in a temperate forest
Authors: Weiss Fabio , von Wehrden Henrik , Linde Andreas
Published: January 2024

Evidence for widespread declines in arthropods is growing and climate change is one of the suspected drivers. Recent droughts in Europe were unprecedented in the previous centuries and we are only beginning to understand the impacts on ecosystems. We analysed a 24‐year dataset of carabid beetles from a temperate forest area in northeast Germany and investigated linear and non‐linear trends in carabid abundance, biomass, diversity and species traits. We were especially interested if and how these were linked to droughts at different temporal scales using the standardized precipitation evapotranspiration index (SPEI). We found significant linear declines in abundance and biomass with annual rates of −3.1% (0.95 CI [−5.3, −1]) and –4.9% (0.95 CI [−9.4, −1.6]), respectively. Non‐linear trends were closely related to the SPEI when considering the climatic water balance of the previous six years and showed severe declines between 2015 and 2022 (−71% abundance, 0.95 CI [−84, −61] / −89% biomass, 0.95 CI [−97, −59]). However, there remained a significant annual background‐decline of −2.1% (0.95 CI [−5.7, −0.2]) and −3.1% (0.95 CI [−6.5, −0.1]), respectively, which occurred independently of drought. We observed negative trends in standardized carabid diversity metrics and a shift in species assemblage that were less directly linked to droughts. Declining and drought‐sensitive species tended to be larger predators with low dispersal abilities. This study is among the very first to investigate the impacts of the current unprecedented drought on forest insects in central Europe. Our findings add to the concerning amount of evidence for widespread declines in arthropods while pointing towards weather anomalies and climate change as one important driver.
Comparisons of survival and surgical outcomes between minimally invasive partial nephrectomy and radical nephrectomy in elderly patients with stage 1 renal cell carcinoma
Authors: Takagi Toshio , Omae Kenji , Yoshida Kazuhiko , Fukuda Hironori , Kobari Yuki , Ishihara Hiroki , Iizuka Junpei , Kondo Tsunenori , Ishida Hideki
Published: January 2024

Aim

We compared survival and perioperative outcomes of robot‐assisted laparoscopic partial nephrectomy (RAPN) and laparoscopic radical nephrectomy (LRN) for older patients (age 70 years or older) with stage 1 renal cell carcinoma (RCC).

Methods

This retrospective, single‐center study included 260 patients who underwent RAPN and 44 patients who underwent LRN. The overall survival (OS) and perioperative outcomes were compared between these two groups using an inverse probability of treatment weighting (IPTW) analysis.

Results

Compared with the LRN group, a trend of more complications was observed in the RAPN group, including a higher body mass index (24 vs. 22 kg/m2; P = 0.0002) and higher rates of hypertension (77% vs. 55%; P = 0.0029) and chronic kidney disease (62% vs. 36%; P = 0.0027). After adjustment by the IPTW analysis, the RAPN group had a shorter operative time (143 vs. 282 min; P = 0.033), shorter postoperative length of hospital stay (PLOS) (4.1 vs. 7.9 days; P = 0.004), and less change in the estimated glomerular filtration rate during surgery (−8.4% vs. −32%; P < 0.0001) than the LRN group; however, the perioperative complication rates were similar. Patients who underwent RAPN had better 5‐year OS than those who underwent LRN (95% vs. 90%; log‐rank, P = 0.017).

Conclusion

RAPN resulted in better OS and surgical outcomes, with shorter operative time, shorter PLOS, and better renal function preservation, than LRN for older patients with stage 1 RCC. Therefore, RAPN may be the primary option for patients indicated for surgical intervention. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2024; 24: 269–274.
Body dysmorphic disorder symptoms in patients with melasma
Authors: Zhu Yuan , Du Xiaohang , Shen Sihao , Song Xiuzu , Xiang Wenzhong
Published: January 2024

Background

Body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) is a psychiatric condition characterized by extreme preoccupation with non‐existent or minor defects in appearance, disrupting daily functioning. Melasma is a common concern among BDD patients with dermatological conditions. This study aimed to estimate the incidence and characteristics of BDD in patients with melasma, and compare the psychological condition of patients and age‐ and sex‐matched healthy controls.

Methods

Patients with melasma and healthy controls were screened using the BDD Questionnaire (BDDQ), Self‐rating Anxiety Scale (SAS), and Self‐rating Depression Scale (SDS). A questionnaire was administered to collect demographic information and clinical characteristics. Standard statistical tests were conducted, such as descriptive analysis, chi‐square, and nonparametric tests. The level of statistical significance for all tests was set at a P < 0.05.

Results

Among the 470 patients with melasma included in the study, 53 were positive for BDDQ in the preliminary screening and were associated with a history of treatment, higher Melasma Area and Severity Index (MASI), and Melasma Quality of Life (MELASQoL) scores, and higher SAS and SDS scores. The positive rate of BDDQ ranged from 0.4%, using the most stringent criteria to assess melasma severity, to 11.3%, without using objective criteria. Compared to healthy controls, patients with melasma had a higher positive rate of BDDQ and higher SAS and SDS scores.

Conclusion

In patients with melasma who exaggerate the severity of the disease, psychiatric treatment and the patient‐physician relationship have a positive effect. This study assessed the positive rate of BDDQ in melasma and proposed the feasibility of psychiatric treatment for patients with melasma.
Beyond visual inspection: The value of infrared thermography in skin diseases, a scoping review
Authors: Speeckaert Reinhart , Hoorens Isabelle , Lambert Jo , Speeckaert Marijn , van Geel Nanja
Published: January 2024

Although warmth is a key sign of inflammatory skin lesions, an objective assessment and follow‐up of the temperature changes are rarely done in dermatology. The recent availability of accurate, sensitive and cost‐effective thermography devices has made the implementation of thermography in clinical settings feasible. The aim of this scoping review is to summarize the evidence around the value and pitfalls of infrared thermography (IRT) when used in the dermatology clinic. A systematic literature search was done for original articles using IRT in skin disorders. The results concerning the potential of IRT for diagnosis, severity staging and monitoring of skin diseases were collected. The data on the sensitivity and specificity of IRT were extracted. Numerous studies have investigated IRT in various skin diseases, revealing its significant value in wound management, skin infections (e.g. cellulitis), vascular abnormalities and deep skin inflammation (e.g. hidradenitis suppurativa). For other dermatological applications such as the interpretation of intradermal and patch allergy testing, hyper−/anhidrosis, erythromelalgia, cold urticaria and lymph node metastases more complex calculations, provocation tests or active cooling procedures are required. Dermatologists should be aware of a learning curve of IRT and recognize factors contributing to false positive and false negative results. Nonetheless, enough evidence is available to recommend IRT as a supplement to the clinical evaluation for the diagnosis, severity and follow‐up of several skin diseases.
Nailfold dermoscopy predicts the absence of a capillaroscopy sclerodermic pattern: The multicentre, prospective VASCUL‐R trial
Authors: Monfort Jean‐Benoît , Klejtman Tiffany , Lazareth Isabelle , Kottler Diane , Blaise Sophie , Imbert Bernard , Chaby Guillaume , Lok Catherine , Maillard Hervé , Beneton Nathalie , Journet‐Tollhupp Julie , Goujon Elisa , Jacquin Aurélien , Tella Emilie , Mboup Bassirou , Vicaut Eric , Senet Patricia ,   Groupe d'Angio‐Dermatologie de la Société Française de Dermatologie
Published: January 2024

Background

Nailfold capillaroscopy is recommended to diagnose primary or secondary Raynaud's phenomenon (RP). Capillaroscopy is normal in primary RP, which is the most frequent. Screening for RP capillary anomalies with nailfold dermoscopy has been promising.

Objective

To determine whether normal nailfold dermoscopy—based on the absence of five criteria that define a sclerodermic pattern—is able to predict normal capillaroscopy with good positive‐predictive value (PPV).

Methods

Prospective, 2‐phase (monocentre and multicentre) study on patients at first consultation for RP undergoing nailfold video capillaroscopy (NVC) and nailfold dermoscopy by two different ‘blinded’ trained observers, respectively, a vascular specialist and a dermatologist, not familiar with capillaroscopy. The five criteria noted were as follows: disorganization, megacapillaries, low capillary density, avascular areas and haemorrhages.

Results

Based on 105 patients, the dermoscopy PPV for a normal NVC was 100% (p = 0.015), with 37.9% sensitivity, when no criterion was observed. Excluding haemorrhages, the PPV remained 100% (p < 0.0001), with sensitivity rising to 73.7% and 100% specificity.

Conclusions

Normal nailfold dermoscopy with the absence of four easy‐to‐observe criteria predicts normal NVC with an excellent PPV.
In Honor and Memory of Sumner B. Twiss
Authors: Cates Diana Fritz , Oh Irene , Grelle Bruce , Ilesanmi Simeon O. , Kelsay John , Lauritzen Paul , Little David , Lo Ping‐Cheung “PC” , Temoney Kate E.
Published: January 2024

Sumner B. (Barney) Twiss, who died in 2023, was for ten years a General Editor of the Journal of Religious Ethics (JRE). He was a frequent contributor of articles, a member of the JRE Editorial Board, and a member of the journal's Board of Trustees. In this article, colleagues and students reflect on some of his many contributions, not only to the JRE but to the broader discursive fields of comparative religious ethics and human rights.
The transnational fathering practices of deported men in El Salvador
Authors: Torres Jose Alfredo
Published: January 2024

Drawing on qualitative research conducted in El Salvador, the author examines the transnational fathering practices of Salvadoran immigrant men who were deported from the United States. By using a transnational fathering practices conceptual model, the author was able to examine the transnational fathering practices of deported men in El Salvador who had children in the U.S. This study revealed the harmful effects of U.S. immigration policies and enforcement practices on Salvadoran transnational families. The author focused on three key areas including deported father's (1) role in providing financially for their transnational families, (2) their efforts in maintaining their transnational family networks, and (3) their communication with transnational family members via information technology. First, Salvadoran fathers in this study shared their experiences attempting to provide financially for their transnational families. Secondly, deported fathers shared their desire to keep their transnational families together, their attempt to restore their strained relationships with their children, and recover from past traumas within their parent‐child relationships. Lastly, Salvadoran fathers reported using technology to communicate with their transnational families. This study provides insight into the issues that transnational fathers and their children experience and the need for new policies to support family reunification efforts.
Mechanisms regulating the intracellular trafficking and release of CLN5 and CTSD
Authors: Huber Robert J. , Kim William D. , Wilson‐Smillie Morgan L. D. M.
Published: January 2024

Ceroid lipofuscinosis neuronal 5 (CLN5) and cathepsin D (CTSD) are soluble lysosomal enzymes that also localize extracellularly. In humans, homozygous mutations in CLN5 and CTSD cause CLN5 disease and CLN10 disease, respectively, which are two subtypes of neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis (commonly known as Batten disease). The mechanisms regulating the intracellular trafficking of CLN5 and CTSD and their release from cells are not well understood. Here, we used the social amoeba Dictyostelium discoideum as a model system to examine the pathways and cellular components that regulate the intracellular trafficking and release of the D. discoideum homologs of human CLN5 (Cln5) and CTSD (CtsD). We show that both Cln5 and CtsD contain signal peptides for secretion that facilitate their release from cells. Like Cln5, extracellular CtsD is glycosylated. In addition, Cln5 release is regulated by the amount of extracellular CtsD. Autophagy induction promotes the release of Cln5, and to a lesser extent CtsD. Release of Cln5 requires the autophagy proteins Atg1, Atg5, and Atg9, as well as autophagosomal‐lysosomal fusion. Atg1 and Atg5 are required for the release of CtsD. Together, these data support a model where Cln5 and CtsD are actively released from cells via their signal peptides for secretion and pathways linked to autophagy. The release of Cln5 and CtsD from cells also requires microfilaments and the D. discoideum homologs of human AP‐3 complex mu subunit, the lysosomal‐trafficking regulator LYST, mucopilin‐1, and the Wiskott–Aldrich syndrome‐associated protein WASH, which all regulate lysosomal exocytosis in this model organism. These findings suggest that lysosomal exocytosis also facilitates the release of Cln5 and CtsD from cells. In addition, we report the roles of ABC transporters, microtubules, osmotic stress, and the putative D. discoideum homologs of human sortilin and cation‐independent mannose‐6‐phosphate receptor in regulating the intracellular/extracellular distribution of Cln5 and CtsD. In total, this study identifies the cellular mechanisms regulating the release of Cln5 and CtsD from D. discoideum cells and provides insight into how altered trafficking of CLN5 and CTSD causes disease in humans.
Feedforward Mutual-Information Anomaly Detection: Application to Autonomous Vehicles
Authors: McKee Sasha M. , Haddadin Osama S. , Leang Kam K.
Published: January 2024

This paper describes a mutual-information (MI)-based approach that exploits a dynamics model to quantify and detect anomalies for applications such as autonomous vehicles. First, the MI is utilized to quantify the level of uncertainty associated with the driving behaviors of a vehicle. The MI approach handles novel anomalies without the need for data-intensive training; and the metric readily applies to multivariate datasets for improved robustness compared to, e.g., monitoring vehicle tracking error. Second, to further improve the response time of anomaly detection, current and past measurements are combined with a predictive component that utilizes the vehicle dynamics model. This approach compensates for the lag in the anomaly detection process compared to strictly using current and past measurements. Finally, three different MI-based strategies are described and compared experimentally: anomaly detection using MI with (1) current and past measurements (reaction), (2) current and future information (prediction), and (3) a combination of past and future information (reaction–prediction) with three different time windows. The experiments demonstrate quantification and detection of anomalies in three driving situations: (1) veering off the road, (2) driving on the wrong side of the road, and (3) swerving within a lane. Results show that by anticipating the movements of the vehicle, the quality and response time of the anomaly detection are more favorable for decision-making while not raising false alarms compared to just using current and past measurements.
In-depth investigations into symmetrical labyrinthine acoustic metamaterial with two micro-slit entries for low-frequency sound absorption
Authors: Pavan Golakoti , Singh Sneha
Published: January 2024

Sound absorption below 1000 Hz has been extremely difficult through traditional barriers and absorbers, but it is required for noise control of appliances and machineries. Existing passive acoustic metamaterials attenuate low-frequency noise but with narrow bandwidths and bulky sizes. Hence, this paper proposes an acoustic metamaterial with enclosed symmetrical labyrinthine air channels and two micro-slits (configuration 1, identical slits; configuration 2, unequal length slits) at the end channels. Its theoretical model is established by acoustic impedance analysis using electro-acoustic analogy and validated numerically and experimentally. Sound absorption is found to happen as a result of impedance matching, Fabry-Perot-like labyrinthine resonances, and thermo-viscous losses in micro-slits. Parametric investigations reveal that increase in the number of channels, channel length, total height, and outer panel thickness shifts sound absorption peak to lower frequency but also decreases the magnitude and frequency range of absorption. Decreasing the channel width and slit width increases the sound absorption magnitude without changing absorption frequencies. Interestingly, unequal slit lengths perform better than equal slits by giving a lower frequency sound absorption with increased magnitude and frequency range, which is unlike that in existing labyrinthine metamaterials. Therefore, the proposed unequal slit metamaterial has enhanced low-frequency sound absorption and can be applied to appliances and machineries.
Coupled vibration of a radially polarized piezoelectric cylinder with a co-axial elastic cylinder of varying height
Authors: Dong Yilei , Chen Cheng , Lin Shuyu
Published: January 2024

The cylindrical piezoelectric transducer has the advantages of large radiation area, high electromechanical coupled coefficient, and omni-direction radiation along the radius. In this paper, a piezoelectric transducer consisting of a radially polarized piezoelectric cylinder and an outer metal cylinder of varying height is presented. The metal cylinder of varying height is approximated as the radial superposition of multiple uniform height metal cylinders, and the equivalent impedance of the transducer's coupled vibration is obtained by using the impedance matrix method, and then the resonance frequency, anti-resonance frequency, effective electromechanical coupled coefficient, and displacement amplification coefficient are obtained. In this paper, the relationship between the vibration characteristics of the cylindrical piezoelectric transducer and its geometric dimensions is studied. An experimental sample of the transducer is fabricated and assembled, and its electrical impedance curve is measured. The measured results are in good agreement with the simulation results and the theoretical calculation results. The displacement distribution of the radiation surface of the transducer at resonance frequency is measured, which verifies that the two coupled vibration modes of the transducer can be effectively excited.
Effect of Hearing Status on Concussion Knowledge and Attitudes of Collegiate Athletes
Authors: Brancaleone Matthew P. , Shingles René R. , Weber Zachary A.
Published: January 2024

Context: Collegiate athletes who are deaf or hard-of-hearing (D/HoH) are diagnosed with concussions at a similar rate as athletes who are hearing; however, little evidence exists on knowledge and attitudes of athletes who are D/HoH toward concussions. This study aimed to examine differences in knowledge of and attitudes toward concussions between athletes who are D/HoH and athletes who are hearing. Design: Cross-sectional research design. Methods: Of the 310 athletes who are D/HoH and 430 athletes who are hearing that were invited to participate, 90 athletes who are D/HoH, and 72 athletes who are hearing completed the survey. The Rosenbaum Concussion Knowledge and Attitudes Survey was used to quantify knowledge of and attitude toward concussions. The Rosenbaum Concussion Knowledge and Attitudes Survey consists of the concussion knowledge index (CKI) and the concussion attitudes index (CAI) subscales. Linear regressions were run to test the association of hearing status with CKI and CAI scores. Pearson correlations were performed to determine relationships between CKI and CAI for athletes who are D/HoH and athletes who are hearing. Alpha level was set a priori at P ≤ .05. Results: Athletes who are hearing demonstrated a higher CKI component score (19.58 [2.19]) compared to athletes who are D/HoH (16.14 [3.31]; P < .001). There were no statistical differences in CAI between hearing groups (hearing: 57.18 [8.73], D/HoH: 55.97 [9.92]; P = .41). There was a moderate positive correlation between CKI and CAI (r = .58) for athletes who are D/HoH, while a weak positive correlation (r = .30) for athletes who are hearing was observed. Conclusions: Athletes who are D/HoH have poorer knowledge of concussions but similar attitudes toward concussion as that of athletes who are hearing. Current concussion educational interventions are in written or spoken form which may not be inclusive to athletes who are D/HoH. Health care professionals should consider an athlete’s preferred communication mode to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of education.
Rate and predictors of insufficient sweat volume in very young infants after pilocarpine gel iontophoresis: prospective, population-based study
Authors: Camargos Paulo , Bedran Renata Marcos , Alvim Cristina Gonçalves , Sader Olívia Gonçalves
Published: January 2024

Objective

To verify the rate and predictors of ‘quantity not sufficient’ (QNS) among Brazilian infants younger than 3 months with positive newborn screening (NBS) for cystic fibrosis (CF).

Design

Prospective, population-based study.

Setting

Public Statewide Newborn Screening Programme where the incidence rate of CF is ≈1:11 000.

Patients

Subjects with positive two-tiered immunoreactive trypsinogen.

Interventions

Sweat induction and collection were performed in the same facility; one sweat sample was obtained per individual.

Main outcome measures

The QNS rate and its predictors; analysis corresponded to the day of sweat collection.

Results

Among the 975 participants, QNS rates for 10 and 15 µL were 3.6% (95% CI 2.5% to 4.9%) and 8.3% (95% CI 6.6% to 10.2%). Infants weighing >3056 and >3845 g and with gestational age higher than 37 weeks had a greater likelihood (5.5 and 6.7, and 2.7 and 5.8 times more, respectively) of avoiding QNS than their peers.

Conclusion

QNS rates fulfilled the requirements, but predictors differed from those recommended by the Cystic Fibrosis Foundations guidelines.
Year-round injury and illness surveillance in UK summer paralympic sport athletes: 2016–2019
Authors: Brownlow Michael , Wootten Moses , McCaig Steve , Taylor Abbie , Webborn Nick , Bennett Pippa , Wass Josh , Ibrahim Dawn , Ranson Craig
Published: January 2024

Objective

To identify the priority injuries and illnesses across UK summer Paralympic World Class Programmes (WCP).

Methods

Four years (2016–2019) of electronic medical records from 360 athletes across 17 Paralympic WCP sports were analysed. Methods were based on the 2021 International Paralympic Committee translation of the original 2020 International Olympic Committee consensus statement for epidemiological recording and reporting. This included reporting incidence (count of injury per athlete year) and burden (time loss days per athlete year) of injuries by impairment category.

Results

836 injuries and 453 illnesses were recorded during the surveillance period, accounting for 34 638 and 10 032 time-loss days, respectively. 216 (60%) athletes reported at least one injury, while 171 (47.5%) reported at least one illness. There were 0.9 injuries per athlete year, resulting in a mean injury burden of 38.1 days per athlete year. The lumbar/pelvis, shoulder and thoracic/ribs body region had the greatest incidence whereas the shoulder, lumbar/pelvis and wrist had the greatest injury burden. All impairment categories had shoulder or lumbar/pelvis as the body region with the greatest incidence, however the burden of body areas did not always reflect the incidence. Athletes reported 0.5 illnesses per athlete year, resulting in an average illness burden of 11.3 days per athlete year. The respiratory, gastrointestinal, dermatological and genitourinary organ systems had the greatest illness incidence.

Conclusions

To optimise health and performance in Paralympic sport athletes, system-wide mitigation initiatives should target priority injury problems occurring in the lumbar/pelvis, shoulder, thoracic spine/ribs and wrist. Illness types causing the greatest burden vary with impairment group, and illness mitigation initiatives should consider athlete impairment types in their design, while continuing to note the high incidence of respiratory and gastrointestinal illness across all impairments. Further research should examine associated risk factors and the influence of impairment categorisation.
Network analysis of mental health problems among adults in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia: a community-based study during the COVID-19 pandemic
Authors: Workneh Firehiwot , Worku Alemayehu , Assefa Nega , Berhane Yemane
Published: January 2024

Objective

COVID-19 has negatively impacted mental health of adults globally with increased rates of psychiatric comorbidities. However, network analysis studies to examine comorbidities and correlations between symptoms of different mental disorders are uncommon in low-income countries. This study aimed to investigate the network structure of depression, anxiety and perceived stress among adults in Addis Ababa and identify the most central and bridge symptoms within the depressive-anxiety-perceived symptoms network model.

Design

Community-based cross-sectional study.

Setting

This study was carried out on a sample of the general population in Addis Ababa during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic. A total of 1127 participants were included in this study, of which 747 (66.3%) were females, and the mean age was 36 years.

Primary and secondary outcome measures

Symptoms of depression, anxiety and stress were measured using the Patient Health Questionnaire, Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale and the Perceived Stress Scale, respectively.

Network analysis was conducted to investigate the network structure. The centrality index expected influence (EI) and bridge EI (1-step) were applied to determine the central and bridge symptoms. Case-dropping procedure was used to examine the network stability.

Result

The sad mood (EI=1.52) was the most central and bridge symptom in the depression, anxiety and perceived stress network model. Irritability (bridge EI=1.12) and nervousness and stressed (bridge EI=1.33) also served as bridge symptoms. The strongest edge in the network was between nervousness and uncontrollable worry (weight=0.36) in the anxiety community. The network had good stability and accuracy. The network structure was invariant by gender and age based on the network structure invariance test.

Conclusions

In this study, the sad mood was the core and bridge symptom. This and the other central and bridge symptoms identified in the study should be targeted to prevent mental health disorders and comorbidities among adults.
Does a blended learning implementation package enhance HIV index case testing in Malawi? A protocol for a cluster randomised controlled trial
Authors: Tembo Tapiwa A , Mollan Katie , Simon Katherine , Rutstein Sarah , Chitani Mike Jones , Saha Pooja T , Mbeya-Munkhondya Tiwonge , Jean-Baptiste Milenka , Meek Caroline , Mwapasa Victor , Go Vivian , Bekker Linda Gail , Kim Maria H , Rosenberg Nora E
Published: January 2024

Introduction

Index case testing (ICT) is an evidence-based approach that efficiently identifies persons in need of HIV treatment and prevention services. In Malawi, delivery of ICT has faced challenges due to limited technical capacity of healthcare workers (HCWs) and clinical coordination. Digitisation of training and quality improvement processes presents an opportunity to address these challenges. We developed an implementation package that combines digital and face-to-face modalities (blended learning) to strengthen HCWs ICT skills and enhance quality improvement mechanisms. This cluster randomised controlled trial will assess the impact of the blended learning implementation package compared with the standard of care (SOC) on implementation, effectiveness and cost-effectiveness outcomes.

Methods and analysis

The study was conducted in 33 clusters in Machinga and Balaka districts, in Southern Malawi from November 2021 to November 2023. Clusters are randomised in a 2:1 ratio to the SOC versus blended learning implementation package. The SOC is composed of: brief face-to-face HCW ICT training and routine face-to-face facility mentorship for HCWs. The blended learning implementation package consists of blended teaching, role-modelling, practising, and providing feedback, and blended quality improvement processes. The primary implementation outcome is HCW fidelity to ICT over 1 year of follow-up. Primary service uptake outcomes include (a) index clients who participate in ICT, (b) contacts elicited, (c) HIV self-test kits provided for secondary distribution, (d) contacts tested and (e) contacts identified as HIV-positive. Service uptake analyses will use a negative binomial mixed-effects model to account for repeated measures within each cluster. Cost-effectiveness will be assessed through incremental cost-effectiveness ratios examining the incremental cost of each person tested.

Ethics and dissemination

The Malawi National Health Science Research Committee, the University of North Carolina and the Baylor College of Medicine Institutional Review Boards approved the trial. Study findings will be disseminated through peer-reviewed journals and conference presentations.

Trial registration number

NCT05343390.
Pressure ulcer prevention: family caregiver training effectiveness
Authors: Hançer Tok Hümeyra , Uzun Lütfiye Nur
Published: January 2024

Objective

To determine the effectiveness of pressure ulcer prevention training for the relatives of palliative care inpatients.

Methods

This study had a pretest–post-test design with parallel groups and a randomised control group, and it was conducted with 70 (experimental n=35, control n=35) patient relatives. A personal information form and Pressure Ulcer Knowledge Test were used as data collection tools. Parametric tests were performed for statistical analysis.

Results

The pressure ulcer prevention training given to the relatives of palliative care patients in the experimental group was significantly effective in increasing their level of knowledge about these ulcers (p<0.05). However, the routine ward discharge training given to the relatives of palliative care patients in the control group was not significantly effective in increasing their level of knowledge about them (p>0.05).

Conclusions

Specialised training regarding pressure ulcers should be given to the relatives of patients receiving palliative care. It is important that the educational materials used in this trainings appeal to all sensory organs in order to improve the educational outcomes.

Trial registration number

NCT05979402.
Predicting the band gap of lead-free inorganic double perovskites using modified parallel residual network
Authors: Luo Wei , Guan Jiahao , Yan Zuotao
Published: January 2024

The rapid and precise screening of appropriate inorganic perovskite materials poses a formidable challenge in the field of materials science. Traditional methods for material screening are not only time-consuming but also demand a substantial workforce. In this study, we introduce a modified parallel residual network (PRN) for the purpose of predicting the band gap of lead-free inorganic double perovskite materials, utilizing the atomic composition as the input data. The predictive performance of PRN is assessed using root mean square error (RMSE) and Pearson correlation coefficient ( r) as evaluation metrics. The PRN model yields a band gap prediction with an RMSE of 0.402 eV and an r value of 0.962, respectively. Notably, PRN outperforms various alternative models, including random forest regression (RFR), kernel ridge regression (KRR), support vector regression (SVR), extreme gradient boosting regression (XGBR), one-layer residual variant network (OLRN), and three-layer parallel residual variant network (TLPRN), clearly demonstrating its superior predictive accuracy.
Electric hysteresis cycles and polarization plateaus in MXene-like lattices: Monte Carlo simulations
Authors: Fadil Z. , Raorane Chaitany Jayprakash , Haldhar Rajesh , Fdil R. El , Periyasami Govindasami , Rosaiah P. , Karam Steve , Kim Seong Cheol
Published: January 2024

This scientific paper presents a comprehensive investigation into the behavior of electric hysteresis cycles and polarization plateaus in the MXene-like system. Utilizing Monte Carlo simulations (MCs), the study explores the effects of ferrielectric and crystal field parameters on these phenomena. The coercive electric field and the surface characteristics of the loops in the electric hysteresis cycles are analyzed, along with the critical and saturation electric fields in the polarization plateaus. The research findings provide insights into the control of the MXene-like system, offering opportunities to optimize MXene materials for diverse applications. The study can contribute to the advancement of MXene research and lays the foundation for future developments in the field.
Analysis of physical and mechanical properties of granite under different cooling methods under high-temperatures thermal cycles
Authors: Li Haonan , Yu Li , Wu Yue , Wang Weihao , Zhang Xinyuan , Zhao Yongchuan
Published: January 2024

This study explores the impact of external pressure and high-temperature erosion on the physical and mechanical properties of granite, the geothermal well storage medium, during geothermal exploitation. Objectives include evaluating the effects of repeated heating and cooling cycles at different temperatures on porosity, permeability and mechanical performance, with a focus on confining pressure's influence on permeability. The results indicate that under water-cooling and ambient conditions, porosity and permeability increase with cycle repetition, whereas compressive strength and elastic modulus decrease. Notably, Group B's (water-cooled) mechanical performance surpasses that of Group A (room temperature cooling) when porosity is below 1.5%. However, with increasing porosity owing to thermal cycling, Group B's granite becomes inferior to that of Group A. Micro-computed tomography scans reveal a post-cycling granite pore structure dominated by horizontal cracks, with primary uniaxial compression damage in the vertical direction. Thermal cycling reduces crack paths and load-bearing capacity, diminishing granite's mechanical performance. This study offers insights into subtle interactions between cooling methods and porosity during geothermal energy exploitation. It provides valuable guidance for optimizing geothermal energy use and mitigating potential adverse impacts on rock integrity, laying a foundation for further research and practical applications in geothermal energy exploitation.
Swelling evolution mechanism for argillaceous slate in a hydrochemical environment
Authors: Zuo Qingjun , He Xuefeng , Wu Youyin , Yi Qinglin , Zhu Sheng , Liu Yiliang , Jiang Jian
Published: January 2024

In radioactive waste repositories and tunnel engineering, the near-field groundwater environment is extremely complex, and changes in multiple chemical components are bound to disrupt the long-term stability of soft rock and soil, thus inducing a series of environmental and engineering geological problems. In this study argillaceous slate was selected as the research object and different types of aqueous chemical solutions were prepared. Lateral constraint expansion tests, X-ray diffraction tests, nuclear magnetic resonance tests and scanning electron microscopy tests were then carried out. The expansion characteristics and evolution mechanism of argillaceous slate in a hydrochemical environment are then revealed at the multiscale level, and the internal relationship between the macroscopic expansion of argillaceous slate and the microscopic and mesoscopic structures explored. Finally, based on experimental data and the grey theory, a non-equal step GM(1,
N
) grey prediction model was constructed. The results indicated that: (1) the water‒rock physicochemical reactions mainly affect the microstructure evolution of the argillaceous slate expansion process through pore changes, mineral dissolution and ion exchange; (2) there is a certain correlation between the microstructure parameters and the expansion rate, and it was found that pore volume and clay mineral content are the main factors affecting the expansion of soft rocks; and (3) the model verification results show that the non-equal step GM(1,
N
) grey prediction model established in this study can effectively predict the expansion trend of soft rocks in different hydrochemical environments. The research findings can provide a reference for the study of the expansion mechanism of soft rocks in complex hydrochemical environments and the disposal of expansion problems.

Supplementary material:
the Supplementary Figures and Tables are available at
https://doi.org/10.6084/m9.figshare.c.7095856
FLoRa+: Energy-efficient, Reliable, Beamforming-assisted, and Secure Over-the-air Firmware Update in LoRa Networks
Authors: Sun Zehua , Ni Tao , Yang Huanqi , Liu Kai , Zhang Yu , Gu Tao , Xu Weitao
Published: January 2024

The widespread deployment of unattended LoRa networks poses a growing need to perform Firmware Updates Over-The-Air (FUOTA). However, the FUOTA specifications dedicated by LoRa Alliance fall short of several deficiencies with respect to energy efficiency, transmission reliability, multicast fairness, and security. This article proposes
FLoRa+
, energy-efficient, reliable, beamforming-assisted, and secure FUOTA for LoRa networks, which is featured with several techniques, including delta scripting, channel coding, beamforming, and securing mechanisms. Specifically, we first propose a joint differencing and compression algorithm to generate the delta script for processing gain, which unlocks the potential of incremental FUOTA in LoRa networks. Then, we design a concatenated channel coding scheme with outer rateless code and inner error detection to enable reliable transmission for coding gain. Afterward, we develop a beamforming strategy to avoid biased multicast and compromised throughput for power gain. Finally, we present a securing mechanism incorporating progressive hash chain and packet arrival time pattern verification to countermeasure firmware integrity and availability attacks for security gain. Experimental results on a 20-node testbed demonstrate that
FLoRa+
improves transmission reliability and energy efficiency by up to 1.51× and 2.65× compared with LoRaWAN. Additionally,
FLoRa+
can defend against 100% and 85.4% of spoofing and Denial-of-Service (DoS) attacks.
Adversarial Transferability in Embedded Sensor Systems: An Activity Recognition Perspective
Authors: Sah Ramesh Kumar , Ghasemzadeh Hassan
Published: January 2024

Machine learning algorithms are increasingly used for inference and decision-making in embedded systems. Data from sensors are used to train machine learning models for various smart functions of embedded and cyber-physical systems ranging from applications in healthcare, autonomous vehicles, and national security. However, recent studies have shown that machine learning models can be fooled by adding adversarial noise to their inputs. The perturbed inputs are called adversarial examples. Furthermore, adversarial examples designed to fool one machine learning system are also often effective against another system. This property of adversarial examples is called
adversarial transferability
and has not been explored in wearable systems to date. In this work, we take the first stride in studying adversarial transferability in wearable sensor systems from four viewpoints: (1) transferability between machine learning models; (2) transferability across users/subjects of the embedded system; (3) transferability across sensor body locations; and (4) transferability across datasets used for model training. We present a set of carefully designed experiments to investigate these transferability scenarios. We also propose a threat model describing the interactions of an adversary with the source and target sensor systems in different transferability settings. In most cases, we found high untargeted transferability, whereas targeted transferability success scores varied from 0% to 80%. The transferability of adversarial examples depends on many factors such as the inclusion of data from all subjects, sensor body position, number of samples in the dataset, type of learning algorithm, and the distribution of source and target system dataset. The transferability of adversarial examples decreased sharply when the data distribution of the source and target system became more distinct. We also provide guidelines and suggestions for the community for designing robust sensor systems. Code and dataset used in our analysis is publicly available here.

1
PRIUS: Applying Gamification to User Stories Prioritization
Authors: Lencastre Maria , Silva Daniel , Pimentel João Henrique C. , Castro Jaelson Brelaz
Published: January 2024

In the context of agile development methodologies, due to the volatile nature of requirements and constant changes, prioritizing requirements is often a problem. Requirements prioritization is a complex, collaborative, continuous, cyclical, and laborious process, resulting in low engagement. Gamification is a viable strategy for improving engagement in such processes, as it enhances activities by promoting experiences akin to those found when playing games. This paper proposes a gamified approach, called PRIUS, for requirements prioritization in agile software development. The approach combines a requirements prioritization technique - Wiegers Matrix - with game elements, aiming to promote stakeholders' engagement in the activity. The PRIUS Gamified approach was developed, and a supporting system was implemented. They promote the integration of gamification elements for prioritizing agile artifacts asynchronously. A controlled experiment was conducted, comparing the gamified version of PRIUS with a non-gamified version in an academic environment. The results suggest that the gamified approach positively impacts some aspects of engagement of users in requirements prioritization using agile software development.
Evaluating Parrots and Sociopathic Liars: A keynote at ICTIR 2023
Authors: Sakai Tetsuya
Published: January 2024

At ICTIR 2023, which took place on July 23, 2023 in Taipei, I talked about the dark sides of the Large Language Model (LLM) era, and a tentative framework for auditing LLM-based conversational search systems to protect the users from undesirable system responses. This extended abstract provides a short summary of the one-hour keynote and provides pointers to related resources. In addition, it mentions a few recent developments relevant to the talk.

Date
: 23 July 2023.