bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Less early subsidence of cemented Exeter short stems compared with cemented Exeter standard stems in Dorr type A femurs
Authors: Jørgensen Peter B. , Jakobsen Stig S. , Vainorius Dovydas , Homilius Morten , Hansen Torben B. , Stilling Maiken
Published: July 2023

Aims

The Exeter short stem was designed for patients with Dorr type A femora and short-term results are promising. The aim of this study was to evaluate the minimum five-year stem migration pattern of Exeter short stems in comparison with Exeter standard stems.

Methods

In this case-control study, 25 patients (22 female) at mean age of 78 years (70 to 89) received cemented Exeter short stem (case group). Cases were selected based on Dorr type A femora and matched first by Dorr type A and then age to a control cohort of 21 patients (11 female) at mean age of 74 years (70 to 89) who received with cemented Exeter standard stems (control group). Preoperatively, all patients had primary hip osteoarthritis and no osteoporosis as confirmed by dual X-ray absorptiometry scanning. Patients were followed with radiostereometry for evaluation of stem migration (primary endpoint), evaluation of cement quality, and Oxford Hip Score. Measurements were taken preoperatively, and at three, 12, and 24 months and a minimum five-year follow-up.

Results

At three months, subsidence of the short stem -0.87 mm (95% confidence interval (CI) -1.07 to -0.67) was lower compared to the standard stem -1.59 mm (95% CI -1.82 to -1.36; p < 0.001). Both stems continued a similar pattern of subsidence until five-year follow-up. At five-year follow-up, the short stem had subsided mean -1.67 mm (95% CI -1.98 to -1.36) compared to mean -2.67 mm (95% CI -3.03 to -2.32) for the standard stem (p < 0.001). Subsidence was not influenced by preoperative bone quality (osteopenia vs normal) or cement mantle thickness.

Conclusion

The standard Exeter stem had more early subsidence compared with the short Exeter stem in patients with Dorr type A femora, but thereafter a similar migration pattern of subsidence until minimum five years follow-up. Both the standard and the short Exeter stems subside. The standard stem subsides more compared to the short stem in Dorr type A femurs. Subsidence of the Exeter stems was not affected by cement mantle thickness.

Cite this article: Bone Jt Open 2023;4(7):507–515.
Anterior Cruciate Ligament Agenesia in a Patient with Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome and Open Physes
Authors: Conte Pietro , Adravanti Federico M , Chiari Gaggia Giulia M M , Matteo Berardo Di , Marcacci Maurilio
Published: July 2023

Introduction: The agenesis of the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) is a rare condition infrequently diagnosed as an isolated malformation. Still, it is linked to systemic disorders such as Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (EDS), an inheritable connective tissue disorder characterized by joint hyperlaxity and increased risk of dislocations and subluxations. The literature on ACL reconstruction in EDS patients is minimal, and ours is the second case report describing the surgical management of an ACL agenesis in a patient with this pathology. Case Presentation:The present case report describes the surgical management of an 11-year-old patient affected by EDS. The particularity of this case is that the young patient presented with complete agenesis of the ACL in the right knee resulting in severe joint instability needing surgical reconstruction. This case represented a challenge for the orthopedic surgeon due to the need to improve joint stability without compromising the bone growth of a young patient with open physes while also dealing with tissues that have reduced mechanical properties due to the patient’s disease. The patient was therefore treated with an Achilles tendon allograft through a modified version of the typical ACL reconstructive surgery that excluded the classical tunnel drilling in the tibia and femur. Conclusion:At a 2-year follow-up, this technique proved to be an effective treatment for ACL agenesis in an EDS patient. It could provide a reference for surgeons facing similar cases. The proposed surgical technique, completely extra-epiphyseal, could also be applied to healthy young patients with open physes to avoid future growth disturbances. Keywords:Anterior cruciate ligament, anterior cruciate ligament agenesis, Ehlers-Danlos, pediatric anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction, anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction, anterior cruciate ligament agenesis.
An Atraumatic Calcaneocuboid Joint Instability – Technique of Surgical Reconstruction: A Case Report
Authors: Pierret Fanny , Pierret Eric
Published: July 2023

Introduction:Most calcaneocuboïd joint (CCJ) subluxations are traumatic, secondary to a high-energy flexion-supination mechanism. We describe here a case of atraumatic chronic subluxation of the CCJ which is a rare, difficult to diagnose condition. Moreover, we describe a surgical technique using a peroneus brevis autograft hemi-tendon, which has not been yet published in the literature. Case Presentation: A 58-year-old woman presented initially for a painful right hallux. A careful clinical examination revealed tenderness of the lateral side of the foot. The intensity of the pain had been increasing for the past 5 years, due to repetitive movements of pronosupination of the mid-foot. As it turned out, this repetitive movement was caused by the daily use of a floor scrubber for her work as a janitor, resulting in a chronic CCJ instability. The foot computed tomography (CT) scan confirmed the CCJ subluxation with an osseous avulsion on calcaneal apophysis, proof of ligamentous injury. Conclusions:We present a rare case of atraumatic CCJ subluxation, due to overuse activity. Calcaneocuboid joint instability is difficult to diagnose. Anamnesis is critical to understand which pathologic movements are responsible for joint instability. CT scan is helpful. As a treatment, we used an innovative surgical technique similar to the hemi-Castaing procedure used for chronic ankle instability. This technique, which has not been yet described in the literature, is simple, non-invasive, and reconstructs the dorsal calcaneocuboid ligament and part of the bifurcate ligament. Keywords: Calcaneocuboïd joint injury, subluxation, chronic instability, surgical treatment.
Dynamical analysis of free tool rotation on a glass rotating at a constant angular velocity
Authors: Cordero-Dávila Alberto , Madrid-Gutiérrez Dan Imer , de Jesús Carlock Acevedo Emanuel
Published: July 2023

This work presents a dynamical analysis of a tool rotating freely due to the action of
glass rotating at a constant angular velocity is presented. Preston
[J. Soc. Glass
Tech. XI, 214
(1927) JSGLAI0368-4105] analyzed tool
movement neglecting the tool thickness, and only one torque component
was obtained along the tool’s normal direction. From this analysis,
Preston concluded that angular velocities for tool and glass must be
equal, even when this is not true experimentally. In this paper, a
tool thickness different from zero was assumed. Then, two new torque
components along the interface plane were found, which produced a
non-homogenous pressure between the surfaces, and then an erratic tool
angular velocity, meaning that the tool’s known random rotation could
be understood. If the tool’s center is fixed on glass, a point with
coordinates (x
G
,0) and a torque along the X
G
direction can be obtained. This new
torque component predicts a non-synchronic and random rotation, while
slowing down the tool angular velocity, which was confirmed
experimentally.
Dual-wavelength off-axis digital holography in ImageJ: toward real-time phase retrieval using CUDA streams
Authors: Zhong Zhi , Song Diyao , Liu Lei , Chen Xiaolei , Shan Mingguang
Published: July 2023

An ImageJ plug-in is developed to realize automatic real-time phase
reconstruction for dual-wavelength digital holography (DH). This
plug-in assembles the algorithms, including automatic phase
reconstruction based on the division algorithm and post-processing.
These algorithms are implemented and analyzed using a CPU and GPU,
respectively. To hide the CPU-to-GPU data transfer latency, an
optimization scheme using Compute Unified Device Architecture (CUDA)
streams is proposed in ImageJ. Experimental results show that the
proposed plug-in can perform faster reconstruction for dual-wavelength
DH, resulting in frame rates up to 48 fps even for
one-megapixel digital holograms on a normal PC. In other words, the
proposed plug-in can realize real-time phase reconstruction for
dual-wavelength digital holographic videos.
Cost- and energy-efficient filterless architectures for metropolitan networks
Authors: Tremblay Christine , Archambault Émile , Wilson Rodney G. , Clelland Stewart , Furdek Marija , Wosinska Lena
Published: July 2023

Network operators are forced to find cost- and energy-efficient solutions for networks supporting new and emerging services with strict latency and ultra-high-capacity requirements. A disruptive approach for delivering network agility in a cost- and energy-efficient manner is employing filterless optical networking based on broadcast-and-select nodes and coherent transceivers. The filterless network concept has been widely studied for terrestrial and submarine applications. In this paper, we investigate the performance of filterless optical networks in metropolitan core and aggregation networks where agility is required due to service dynamics, customer changes, and service flexibility requirements. We compare our results with a conventional metro network based on active switching. The results show that the filterless metro network based on a hierarchical structure similar to its active switching counterpart has comparable installed first cost and spectrum usage at 11 Tb/s of total traffic, as well as cost and wavelength consumption advantages of 19.5% and 16%, respectively, at 107 Tb/s of total traffic. These results confirm that the filterless architecture is an attractive alternative for metro network deployments.
Universal mask for hard x rays
Authors: Ceddia David , Aminzadeh Alaleh , Cook Philip K. , Pelliccia Daniele , Kingston Andrew M. , Paganin David M.
Published: July 2023

The penetrating power of x rays underpins important applications such
as medical radiography. However, this same attribute makes it
challenging to achieve flexible on-demand patterning of x-ray beams.
One possible path to this goal is “ghost projection,” a method that
may be viewed as a reversed form of classical ghost imaging. This
technique employs multiple exposures of a single illuminated
non-configurable mask that is transversely displaced to a number of
specified positions to create any desired pattern. An experimental
proof of concept is given for this idea, using hard x rays. The
written pattern is arbitrary, up to a tunable constant offset, and its
spatial resolution is limited by both (i) the finest features
present in the illuminated mask and (ii) inaccuracies in mask
positioning and mask exposure time. In principle, the method could be
used to make a universal lithographic mask in the hard-x-ray regime.
Ghost projection might also be used as a dynamically configurable
beam-shaping element, namely, the hard-x-ray equivalent of a spatial
light modulator. The underpinning principle can also be applied to
gamma rays, neutrons, electrons, muons, and atomic beams. Our flexible
approach to beam shaping gives a potentially useful means to
manipulate such fields.
Disparities in mobile phone ownership reflect inequities in access to healthcare
Authors: Blake Alexandre , Hazel Ashley , Jakurama John , Matundu Justy , Bharti Nita
Published: July 2023

Human movement and population connectivity inform infectious disease management. Remote data, particularly mobile phone usage data, are frequently used to track mobility in outbreak response efforts without measuring representation in target populations. Using a detailed interview instrument, we measure population representation in phone ownership, mobility, and access to healthcare in a highly mobile population with low access to health care in Namibia, a middle-income country. We find that 1) phone ownership is both low and biased by gender, 2) phone ownership is correlated with differences in mobility and access to healthcare, and 3) reception is spatially unequal and scarce in non-urban areas. We demonstrate that mobile phone data do not represent the populations and locations that most need public health improvements. Finally, we show that relying on these data to inform public health decisions can be harmful with the potential to magnify health inequities rather than reducing them. To reduce health inequities, it is critical to integrate multiple data streams with measured, non-overlapping biases to ensure data representativeness for vulnerable populations.
Evaluation of an organisational-level monetary incentive to promote the health and wellbeing of workers in small and medium-sized enterprises: A mixed-methods cluster randomised controlled trial
Authors: Al-Khudairy Lena , Akram Yasmin , Watson Samuel I. , Kudrna Laura , Hofman Joanna , Nightingale Madeline , Alidu Lailah , Rudge Andrew , Rawdin Clare , Ghosh Iman , Mason Frances , Perera Chinthana , Wright Jane , Boachie Joseph , Hemming Karla , Vlaev Ivo , Russell Sean , Lilford Richard J.
Published: July 2023

We conducted an independent evaluation on the effectiveness of an organisational-level monetary incentive to encourage small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to improve employees’ health and wellbeing. This was A mixed-methods cluster randomised trial with four arms: high monetary incentive, low monetary incentive, and two no monetary incentive controls (with or without baseline measurements to examine ‘reactivity’ The consequence of particpant awareness of being studied, and potential impact on participant behavior effects). SMEs with 10–250 staff based in West Midlands, England were eligible. We randomly selected up to 15 employees at baseline and 11 months post-intervention. We elicited employee perceptions of employers’ actions to improve health and wellbeing; and employees’ self-reported health behaviours and wellbeing. We also interviewed employers and obtained qualitative data. One hundred and fifty-two SMEs were recruited. Baseline assessments were conducted in 85 SMEs in three arms, and endline assessments in 100 SMEs across all four arms. The percentage of employees perceiving “positive action” by their employer increased after intervention (5 percentage points, pp [95% Credible Interval -3, 21] and 3pp [–9, 17], in models for high and low incentive groups). Across six secondary questions about specific issues the results were strongly and consistently positive, especially for the high incentive. This was consistent with qualitative data and quantitative employer interviews. However, there was no evidence of any impact on employee health behaviour or wellbeing outcomes, nor evidence of ‘reactivity’. An organisational intervention (a monetary incentive) changed employee perceptions of employer behaviour but did not translate into changes in employees’ self-reports of their own health behaviours or wellbeing.

Trial registration: AEARCTR-0003420, registration date: 17.10.2018, retrospectively registered (delays in contracts and identfying a suitable trial registry). The authors confirm that there are no ongoing and related trials for this intervention.
Small change, big difference: A promising praziquantel derivative designated P96 with broad-spectrum antischistosomal activity for chemotherapy of schistosomiasis japonica
Authors: Xu Jing , Dong Lan-Lan , Sun Huan , Huang Ping , Zhang Run-Ze , Wang Xin-Yi , Sun De-Qun , Xia Chao-Ming
Published: July 2023

Background

Praziquantel (PZQ) has been the first line antischistosomal drug for all species of Schistosoma, and the only available drug for schistosomiasis japonica, without any alternative drugs since the 1980s. However, PZQ cannot prevent reinfection, and cannot cure schistosomiasis thoroughly because of its poor activity against juvenile schistosomes. In addition, reliance on a single drug is extremely dangerous, the development and spread of resistance to PZQ is becoming a great concern. Therefore, development of novel drug candidates for treatment and control of schistosomiasis is urgently needed.

Methodologys/principal findings

One of the PZQ derivative christened P96 with the substitution of cyclohexyl by cyclopentyl was synthesized by School of Pharmaceutical Sciences of Shandong University. We investigated the in vitro and in vivo activities of P96 against different developmental stages of S. japonicum. Parasitological studies and scanning electron microscopy were used to study the primary action characteristics of P96 in vitro. Both mouse and rabbit models were employed to evaluate schistosomicidal efficacy of P96 in vivo. Besides calculation of worm reduction rate and egg reduction rate, quantitative real-time PCR was used to evaluate the in vivo antischistosomal activity of P96 at molecular level. In vitro, after 24h exposure, P96 demonstrated the highest activities against both juvenile and adult worm of S. japonicum in comparison to PZQ. The antischistosomal efficacy was concentration-dependent, with P96 at 50μM demonstrating the most evident schistosomicidal effect. Scanning electron microscopy demonstrated that P96 caused more severe damages to schistosomula and adult worm tegument compared to PZQ. In vivo, our results showed that P96 was effective against S. japonicum at all developmental stages. Notably, its efficacy against young stage worms was significantly improved compared to PZQ. Moreover, P96 retained the high activity comparable to PZQ against the adult worm of S. japonicum.

Conclusions

P96 is a promising drug candidate for chemotherapy of schistosomiasis japonica, which has broad spectrum of action against various developmental stage, potentially addressing the deficiency of PZQ. It might be promoted as a drug candidate for use either alone or in combination with PZQ for the treatment of schistosomiasis.
Meteorological associations of Vibrio vulnificus clinical infections in tropical settings: Correlations with air pressure, wind speed, and temperature
Authors: Ayala Andrea J. , Kabengele Ketty , Almagro-Moreno Salvador , Ogbunugafor C. Brandon
Published: July 2023

V. vulnificus is one of the deadliest waterborne pathogens, yet little is known of the ecological and environmental forces that drive outbreaks. As a nationally notifiable disease, all cases of V. vulnificus diagnosed in the United States are reported to the state in which they occurred, as well as to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) in Atlanta, Georgia. Given that the state of Florida is a ‘hotspot’ for V. vulnificus in the United States, we examined the prevalence and incidence of cases reported to the Florida Department of Health (2008–2020). Using a dataset comprised of 448 cases of disease caused by V. vulnificus infection, we identified meteorological variables that were associated with clinical cases and deaths. Combined with data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), we first utilized correlation analysis to examine the linear relationships between satellite meteorological measurements such as wind speed, air temperature, water temperature, and sea-level pressure. We then measured the correlation of those meteorological variables with coastal cases of V. vulnificus, including the outcome, survival, or death. We also constructed a series of logistic regression models to analyze the relationship between temporal and meteorological variables during months that V. vulnificus cases were reported versus months when V. vulnificus cases were not reported. We report that between 2008 and 2020, V. vulnificus cases generally increased over time, peaking in 2017. As water temperature and air temperature increased, so too did the likelihood that infection with V. vulnificus would lead to patient death. We also found that as mean wind speed and sea-level pressure decreased, the probability that a V. vulnificus case would be reported increased. In summary, we discuss the potential factors that may contribute to the observed correlations and speculate that meteorological variables may increase in their public health relevance in light of rising global temperatures.
A deep learning approach to private data sharing of medical images using conditional generative adversarial networks (GANs)
Authors: Sun Hanxi , Plawinski Jason , Subramaniam Sajanth , Jamaludin Amir , Kadir Timor , Readie Aimee , Ligozio Gregory , Ohlssen David , Baillie Mark , Coroller Thibaud
Published: July 2023

Clinical data sharing can facilitate data-driven scientific research, allowing a broader range of questions to be addressed and thereby leading to greater understanding and innovation. However, sharing biomedical data can put sensitive personal information at risk. This is usually addressed by data anonymization, which is a slow and expensive process. An alternative to anonymization is construction of a synthetic dataset that behaves similar to the real clinical data but preserves patient privacy. As part of a collaboration between Novartis and the Oxford Big Data Institute, a synthetic dataset was generated based on images from COSENTYX® (secukinumab) ankylosing spondylitis (AS) clinical studies. An auxiliary classifier Generative Adversarial Network (ac-GAN) was trained to generate synthetic magnetic resonance images (MRIs) of vertebral units (VUs), conditioned on the VU location (cervical, thoracic and lumbar). Here, we present a method for generating a synthetic dataset and conduct an in-depth analysis on its properties along three key metrics: image fidelity, sample diversity and dataset privacy.
College transition Fall 2020 and 2021: Understanding the relationship of COVID-19 experiences and psychosocial correlates with anxiety and depression
Authors: Lourie Andrea , Kennedy Susan , Henshaw Erin J. , James Drexler
Published: July 2023

Rates of mental health symptoms, particularly anxiety and depression, have increased significantly in college students in the past decade along with utilization of mental health resources. The COVID-19 pandemic created an additional source of stressors to an already challenging landscape of college transition. COVID-19 has been associated with an increase of anxiety among college students, particularly first year students, entering college in Fall 2020. The shifts in policy (e.g., federal, state, and college) accruing medical data, and vaccine availability between Fall 2020 and Fall 2021 provide an opportunity to examine the role of COVID-19 experiences in the transition to college for these two first-year student cohorts. This study examined two cohorts of first-year students, Fall 2020 and 2021, to better understand the relationship between COVID-19 experiences, psychosocial correlates, and mental health symptoms. Results suggest that for students in our Fall 2020 cohort COVID-19 experiences played a distinct role in the prediction of mental health symptoms while in Fall 2021 COVID-19 experiences did not uniquely contribute to prediction of mental health symptoms. These findings have implications for mental health interventions for first-year students transitioning to college.
Emergence and retention of a collective memory in cockroaches
Authors: Calvo Martín Mariano , Rodriguez Palacio Esméralda , Deneubourg Jean-Louis , Nicolis Stamatios C.
Published: July 2023

The stability of collective decisions-making in social systems is crucial as it can lead to counterintuitive phenomena such as collective memories, where an initial choice is challenged by environmental changes. Many social species face the challenge to perform collective decisions under variable conditions. In this study, we focused on situations where isolated individuals and groups of the American cockroach (Periplaneta americana) had to choose between two shelters with different luminosities that were inverted during the experiment. The darker shelter was initially preferred, but only groups that reached a consensus within that shelter maintain their choice after the light inversion, while isolated individuals and small groups lacked site fidelity. Our mathematical model, incorporating deterministic and probabilistic elements, sheds light on the significance interactions and their stochasticity in the emergence and retention of a collective memory.
PET: Parameter-efficient Knowledge Distillation on Transformer
Authors: Jeon Hyojin , Park Seungcheol , Kim Jin-Gee , Kang U.
Published: July 2023

Given a large Transformer model, how can we obtain a small and computationally efficient model which maintains the performance of the original model? Transformer has shown significant performance improvements for many NLP tasks in recent years. However, their large size, expensive computational cost, and long inference time make it challenging to deploy them to resource-constrained devices. Existing Transformer compression methods mainly focus on reducing the size of the encoder ignoring the fact that the decoder takes the major portion of the long inference time. In this paper, we propose PET (Parameter-Efficient knowledge distillation on Transformer), an efficient Transformer compression method that reduces the size of both the encoder and decoder. In PET, we identify and exploit pairs of parameter groups for efficient weight sharing, and employ a warm-up process using a simplified task to increase the gain through Knowledge Distillation. Extensive experiments on five real-world datasets show that PET outperforms existing methods in machine translation tasks. Specifically, on the IWSLT’14 EN→DE task, PET reduces the memory usage by 81.20% and accelerates the inference speed by 45.15% compared to the uncompressed model, with a minor decrease in BLEU score of 0.27.
Risk factors for COVID-19 infections among health care workers in Ghana
Authors: Lartey Margaret , Kenu Ernest , Ganu Vincent Jessey , Asiedu-Bekoe Franklin , Opoku Baafour Kofi , Yawson Alfred , Ohene Sally-Ann
Published: July 2023

Introduction

Health care workers (HCWs) are crucial to the fight against COVID-19 and are at risk of being infected. We sought to determine the risk factors and associations of COVID-19 among HCWs in Ghana during the period of the pandemic.

Materials and methods

A case-control study was conducted using the WHO COVID-19 HCWs exposure risk assessment tool. A HCW was categorized as “high risk” for COVID-19 if s/he did not respond “always, as recommended” to adherence to Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) measures during a healthcare interaction. A HCW was categorized as “low risk” if s/he responded “always, as recommended” to adherence to IPC measures. We used univariate and multiple logistic regression models to determine associated risk factors. Statistical significance was set at 5%.

Results

A total of 2402 HCWs were recruited and the mean age was 33.2±7.1 years. Almost 87% (1525/1745) of HCWs had high risk for COVID-19 infection. Risk factors identified were profession (doctor- aOR: 2.13, 95%CI: 1.54–2.94; radiographer—aOR: 1.16, 95% CI: 0.44–3.09)), presence of comorbidity (aOR: 1.89, 95%CI: 1.29–2.78), community exposure to virus (aOR: 1.26, 95% CI: 1.03–1.55), not performing hand hygiene before and after aseptic procedures performed (aOR: 1.6, 95% CI: 1.05–2.45); not frequently decontaminating high-touch surfaces always as recommended (aOR: 2.31, 95%CI: 1.65–3.22; p = 0.001) and contact with a confirmed COVID-19 patient (aOR: 1.39, 95% CI: 1.15–1.67). Among those who came into any form of contact with confirmed COVID-19 patient, providing direct care (aOR: 2.0, 95%CI: 1.36–2.94), face-to-face contact (aOR: 2.23, 95%CI: 1.41–3.51), contact with environment/materials used by COVID-19 patient (aOR: 2.25, 95%CI: 1.45–3.49) and presence during conduct of aerosol generating procedures (aOR: 2.73, 95%CI: 1.74–4.28) were associated with COVID-19 infection.

Conclusion

Non-adherence to IPC guidelines puts HCWs at increased risk of COVID-19 infection thus ensuring IPC adherence is key to reducing this risk.
Investigating water safety in multi-purpose buildings used as an elementary school and plumbing remediation effectiveness
Authors: Ra Kyungyeon , Proctor Caitlin , Ley Christian , Angert Danielle , Noh Yoorae , Isaacson Kristofer , Shah Amisha , Whelton Andrew J.
Published: July 2023

Three buildings that were repurposed for use as an elementary school were shutdown for three months in response to the pandemic. Building cold and hot water quality was monitored before reopening to detect and resolve chemical and microbiological problems. The authors collected first draw pre-flush and post-flush water samples. First draw water samples did not contain detectable disinfectant residual, but nickel and lead sometimes exceeded the health-based action limits for cold water (max. 144 μg Ni/L, 3.4 μg Pb/L). Stagnant cold water at a bathroom sink (188 MPN/100 mL) and drinking water fountain (141.6 MPN/100 mL), in the same building, exceeded theL.pneumophilathresholds advised by the World Health Organization (WHO) (10 CFU/mL) and American Industrial Hygiene Association (AIHA) (100 CFU/mL). Fixture flushing was conducted to remove cold and hot stagnant water and noL.pneumophilawas detected immediately after flushing. Two weeks after no subsequent building water use, chemical and microbiological contaminant levels were found to be similar to levels prior to flushing with one exception. The maximumL.pneumophilalevel (kitchen sink, hot water: 61.1 MPN/100 mL) was found in a different building than the prior maximum detections. No repeat positive locations forL.pneumophilawere found during the second visit, but new fixtures were positive the organism. When this study was conducted no evidence-based guidelines for plumbing recommissioning were available. A single plumbing flush reduced heavy metal andL.pneumophilalevels below WHO and AIHA thresholds in all three buildings. Additional work is needed to examine the role of building size, type and plumbing design on fixture water quality in shutdown buildings.
Legend of The Chinese Boxer: Jimmy Wang Yu’s cosmopolitan wuxia pian
Authors: Ball Liam
Published: July 2023

The response to Jimmy Wang Yu’s death in April 2022 revealed the symptoms of undercelebration: while every professional obituary recognized the late filmmaker’s importance, few could explain why without inaccuracy or misattribution. This resonates with a long tradition of subjugating Wang’s work within the context of other, much more integral figures, in which the cultural and economic motivators for his filmic aesthetics are insufficiently considered. Similarly, various elements of Wang’s work, especially his purported anti-Japanism, have long been subjected to conjecture and simplification, or else an overreliance on the incorporation of biographical details into textual analyses of his films. This article aims to disentangle and clarify the myths and misconceptions that complicate the story of Wang’s career. To avoid repeating prior mistakes – i.e., to prevent the narrative distortion of associated figures within Wang’s narrative – the article will use the political economy of cinema as a guiding framework. The overall aim is to present a decentralized view of The Chinese Boxer (1970) to evaluate the cultural and material factors that motivated Wang’s career peak and the film for which he is most remembered.
To see or not to see: Historical trauma and the production of fear in contemporary South Korean horror cinema
Authors: Carroll William
Published: July 2023

This article analyses techniques that contemporary South Korean horror films use to depict historical trauma, how these techniques are harnessed to frighten audiences and how different approaches articulate different relationships to the historical traumas that they depict. It analysesGidam(Epitaph) () andGonjiam(Gonjiam: Haunted Asylum) () as case studies for how the articulation of historical trauma operates by showing historical trauma in the former, but by concealing it in the latter. It considers not only how history is referenced on-screen but also how historical consciousness can be felt through the horror genre.
Games of love and lust: Performance, masquerade and trauma in Lust, Caution and The Handmaiden
Authors: Laine Tarja
Published: July 2023

This article analyses Ang Lee’s Lust, Caution (2007) and Park Chan-Wook’s The Handmaiden (2016) as melodramas which foreground trauma as a deadlock of identity. In both films, trauma exposes cultural and social consequences of national betrayal and colonial hierarchies, drawing our attention to politically charged predicament of suspended agency. At the same time, in both Lust, Caution and The Handmaiden, trauma as the ‘affective bearing’ also becomes significant with regard to how the spectator understands the expressed, cinematic world. This affective bearing is not a quality ‘attached’ to the film externally, but it is immanent to its aesthetic-expressive specificity which evokes direct emotional engagement in the spectator. The trauma examined in this article in both Lust, Caution and The Handmaiden bears less resemblance to attempts of representing national traumas than to matters of affective intensities experienced and understood organically from within the cinematic experience. This focus on trauma makes both films universally accessible insofar as it demonstrates not only what cinema can represent, but also what cinema can do: by means of its affective bearing a film can directly engage the spectators’ emotion in a way that alters their cinematic experience.
昨天今天明天： 內地與香港電影的政治、 藝術與傳統 (Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow: Hong Kong Cinema with Sino-links in Politics, Art, and Tradition), 吳國坤 Kenny K. K. Ng (2021)
Authors: Yeung Jessica Siu-yin , Cheuk Michael Ka-chi
Published: July 2023

Review of: 昨天今天明天： 內地與香港電影的政治、 藝術與傳統 (Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow: Hong Kong Cinema with Sino-links in Politics, Art, and Tradition), 吳國坤 Kenny K. K. Ng (2021)

Hong Kong: Chunghwa Bookstore, 288 pp.,

ISBN 978-9-88875-897-5, p/bk, $16.31
¿Una historia oral? La memoria de los testigos moriscos del reino de Granada en los siglos XV y XVI
Authors: García Campos  Miguel Rafael
Published: July 2023

Tras la conquista castellana del reino de Granada fue necesaria una modificación de la sociedad vencida que se llevó a cabo con el control de la religión y las instituciones islámicas. Junto a ello, los vencedores quisieron llegar más lejos mediante el alquiler de las memorias de los individuos sometidos. El presente trabajo trata sobre aquellos mudéjares y moriscos cuyos testimonios orales fueron piezas clave en siete pleitos sobre términos y deslindes territoriales de varias poblaciones del reino granadino a finales del siglo XV y las primeras décadas del XVI.
A NEW SPECIES OF WATER SNAKE GENUS HYPSISCOPUS (SERPENTES: HOMALOPSIDAE) FROM SULAWESI, INDONESIA
Authors: Hamidy Amir , Zakky Quraisy , Fitriyana Nurul , Endarwin Wempi
Published: July 2023

We describe a new species of water snake genus Hypsiscopus that was formerly placed in the genus Enhydris from Towuti Lake, South Sulawesi, based on six specimens collected in 2003 and a specimen collected in 2019. The new species has several significant differences from other species in the genus Hypsiscopus (H. matannensis, H. plumbea, and H. murphyi) in possessing laterally compressed tail, higher number of scale rows in mid body, higher number of ventral scales, lower number of subcaudal scales, and distinct color pattern. The new species is likely distributed only in the Towuti Lake, and has higher level endemicity compared to H. matannensis. Further studies on the population and distribution are needed to evaluate its conservation status.
Clinical significance of C-reactive protein-to-prealbumin ratio in predicting early recurrence in resectable pancreatic cancer
Authors: Kwon Chae Hwa , Seo Hyung Il , Kim Dong Uk , Han Sung Yong , Kim Suk , Lee Nam Kyung , Hong Seung Baek , Ahn Ji Hyun , Park Young Mok , Noh Byung Gwan
Published: July 2023

Purpose: Resectable pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) has a high risk of recurrence after curative resection; despite this, the preoperative risk factors for predicting early recurrence remain unclear. This study therefore aimed to identify preoperative inflammation and nutrition factors associated with early recurrence of resectable PDAC.Methods: From March 2021 to November 2021, a total of 20 patients who underwent curative resection for PDAC were enrolled in this study. We evaluated the risk factors for early recurrence within 1 year by univariate and multivariate analyses using Cox hazard proportional regression. The cutoff values for predicting recurrence were examined using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves.Results: In our univariate and multivariate analyses, C-reactive protein (CRP), CRP-albumin ratio, and CRP-prealbumin ratio, as well as sex and age, were significant independent prognostic factors for early recurrence in PDAC. However, known inflammatory factors (neutrophil-to-lymphocyte and platelet-to-lymphocyte ratios), nutritional factors (albumin, prealbumin, ferritin, vitamin D), and inflammatory-nutritional factors (Glasgow Prognostic Score, modified Glasgow Prognostic Score, albumin-bilirubin) showed no association with early recurrence. In addition, using cutoff values by ROC curve analysis, a high preoperative CRP level of >5 mg/L, as well as high CRP-to-albumin (>5.3) and CRP-to-prealbumin (>1.3) ratios showed no prognostic value.Conclusion: Our results showed that inflammatory and perioperative nutritional factors, especially CRP-to-prealbumin ratio, have significant associations with early recurrence after curative resection in resectable PDAC. Therefore, for such patients, a cautious approach is needed when inflammation and poor nutritional status are present.
Resurgence of measles infection among children: findings from a surveillance-based population study
Authors: Zaini Na’eemah , Idris Idayu Badilla , Mhd. Din Intan Azura , Ahmad Norfazilah
Published: July 2023

Background There has been a resurgence of measles infection in countries with high vaccination rates, including Malaysia. Understanding the geographical variation in measles resurgence and associated factors is important for measles prevention and control programs, especially where local information is scarce.

Objective To determine the incidence of laboratory-confirmed measles infection and associated factors in the state of Melaka, in the southern region of Malaysia.

Methods We obtained measles surveillance data for 4 years (January 2015 to December 2018) from the e-Measles national database. A comparative cross-sectional study was carried out on these data involving children who had been selected through convenience sampling.

Results A total of 130 laboratory-confirmed measles cases and 213 non-measles cases were included in the study. Among the laboratory-confirmed cases, 56 (43.1%) had not been vaccinated against measles virus. Thirty-eight cases (51.4%) had received at least one dose of measles vaccine, while 36 cases (48.6%) had completed two doses of measles vaccination. There was a higher risk of contracting laboratory-confirmed measles among unvaccinated children (OR 19.39, 95%CI 8.82 to 42.6, P<0.001) and children aged 8–18 years (OR 0.40, 95% CI 0.21 to 0.76, P=0.005)

Conclusion Unvaccinated children and children aged 8–18 years have a higher risk of contracting laboratory-confirmed measles. The policy on routine immunization should be strengthened, the vaccine should be accessible to all children, and all children and adolescents should be given booster vaccinations.
Preoperative Risk Factors for Adverse Events in Adults Undergoing Bowel Resection for Inflammatory Bowel Disease: 15-Year Assessment of the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program
Authors: Fernandez Cristina , Gajic Zoran , Esen Eren , Remzi Feza , Hudesman David , Adhikari Samrachana , McAdams-DeMarco Mara , Segev Dorry L. , Chodosh Joshua , Dodson John , Shaukat Aasma , Faye Adam S.
Published: July 2023

INTRODUCTION:

Older adults with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) are at higher risk for postoperative complications as compared to their younger counterparts; however, factors contributing to this are unknown. We assessed risk factors associated with adverse IBD-related surgical outcomes, evaluated trends in emergency surgery, and explored differential risks by age.

METHODS:

Using the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program database, we identified adults ≥18 years of age who underwent an IBD-related intestinal resection from 2005 to 2019. Our primary outcome included a 30-day composite of mortality, readmission, reoperation, and/or major postoperative complication.

RESULTS:

Overall, 49,746 intestinal resections were performed with 9,390 (18.8%) occurring among older adults with IBD. Nearly 37% of older adults experienced an adverse outcome as compared to 28.1% among younger adults with IBD (P < 0.01). Among all adults with IBD, the presence of preoperative sepsis (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 2.08; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.94–2.24), malnutrition (aOR, 1.22; 95% CI 1.14–1.31), dependent functional status (aOR, 6.92; 95% CI 4.36–11.57), and requiring emergency surgery (aOR, 1.50; 95% CI 1.38–1.64) increased the odds of an adverse postoperative outcome, with similar results observed when stratifying by age. Furthermore, 8.8% of surgeries among older adults were emergent, with no change observed over time (P = 0.16).

DISCUSSION:

Preoperative factors contributing to the risk of an adverse surgical outcome are similar between younger and older individuals with IBD, and include elements such as malnutrition and functional status. Incorporating these measures into surgical decision-making can reduce surgical delays in older individuals at low risk and help target interventions in those at high risk, transforming care for thousands of older adults with IBD.
Effect of 3-Dimensional Imaging Device on Polyp and Adenoma Detection During Colonoscopy: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Authors: Sun Xiujing , Zhang Qian , Wu Shanshan , Xu Changqin , Zhang Yang , Hao Xiaowen , Meng Ying , Jiao Yue , Li Hongmei , Zhu Siying , Zhou Yanhua , Liu Kuiliang , Xu Hongwei , Zhu Shengtao , Zhang Shutian
Published: July 2023

INTRODUCTION:

To evaluate the effect of 3-dimensional (3D) imaging device on polyp and adenoma detection during colonoscopy.

METHODS:

In a single-blind, randomized controlled trial, participants aged 18–70 years who underwent diagnostic or screening colonoscopy were consecutively enrolled between August 2019 and May 2022. Each participant was randomized in a 1:1 ratio to undergo either 2-dimensional (2D-3D) colonoscopy or 3D-2D colonoscopy through computer-generated random numbers. Primary outcome included polyp detection rate (PDR) and adenoma detection rate (ADR), defined as the proportion of individuals with at least 1 polyp or adenoma detected during colonoscopy. The primary analysis was intention-to-treat.

RESULTS:

Of 1,196 participants recruited, 571 in 2D-3D group and 583 in 3D-2D group were finally included after excluding those who met the exclusion criteria. The PDR between 2D and 3D groups was separately 39.6% and 40.5% during phase 1 (odds ratio [OR] = 0.96, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.76–1.22, P = 0.801), whereas PDR was significantly higher in 3D group (27.7%) than that of 2D group (19.9%) during phase 2, with a 1.54-fold increase (1.17–2.02, P = 0.002). Similarly, the ADR during phase 1 between 2D (24.7%) and 3D (23.8%) groups was not significant (OR = 1.05, 0.80–1.37, P = 0.788), while ADR was significantly higher in 3D group (13.8%) than that of 2D group (9.9%) during phase 2, with a 1.45-fold increase (1.01–2.08, P = 0.041). Further subgroup analysis confirmed significantly higher PDR and ADR of 3D group during phase 2, particularly in midlevel and junior endoscopists.

DISCUSSION:

The 3D imaging device could improve overall PDR and ADR during colonoscopy, particularly in midlevel and junior endoscopists. Trial number: ChiCTR1900025000.
Liver Mass Caused by Mycobacterium fortuitum: A Rare Case Diagnosed by EUS-FNA
Authors: Jao Yue-Sai , Martinez Lemuel , Carlo Victor J. , Micames Carlos G.
Published: July 2023

Mycobacterium fortuitum is associated with skin and soft-tissue infections, yet isolated liver involvement is rare. A 67-year-old asymptomatic man was referred for endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) to evaluate a gastric lesion and an incidental liver mass. EUS revealed a heterogeneous liver mass that was sampled. Pathology revealed necrotic granulomatous inflammation and positive acid-fast bacilli stain with M. fortuitum deoxyribonucleic acid. Levofloxacin plus trimethoprim and sulfamethoxazole for 3 months were used for complete resolution of liver lesion. Isolated nontuberculous liver involvement is uncommon. We report the first case of a liver mass caused by M. fortuitum diagnosed by EUS-fine needle aspiration.
La confianza cognitiva como antecedente del intercambio de conocimiento en equipos de tecnología
Authors: Cardona Gómez Luz Estela , Espinosa Suescún Ana María , Franco Ruiz Camilo
Published: July 2023

Introduction/Objective: Literature studying the relationship between trust and knowledge sharing emphasizes two sub-dimensions (affective and cognitive trust) and their influence on such exchange. This research aims to determine the relationship between affective or cognitive Trust in Knowledge Sharing within a technology team at a family compensation fund in the context of Medellin, Colombia. Methodology: The study adopts a quantitative approach, using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) technique for analyzing 83 surveys. Instruments for measuring trust and knowledge sharing were investigated, and 25 articles were selected, 14 for measuring trust and 11 for measuring knowledge sharing. Three of them were selected for measurement purposes. Results: The study shows that affective trust does not have a significant effect on knowledge sharing in the studied technology team, but cognitive trust does. This highlights the importance of understanding the cognitive qualities of work relationships to manage knowledge effectively in a Colombian IT team context. Conclusions: This indicates that team members prefer to share knowledge with those who demonstrate relevant knowledge to them. With this understanding, actions can be implemented that are more tailored to the characteristics of technical teams to promote sharing of their members’ knowledge and improve organizational results.
Sistemas de gestión de calidad en las empresas de servicios de agua potable y alcantarillado en Barranca, Perú
Authors: Bravo-Montoya Félix
Published: July 2023

Introducción/objetivo: el abastecimiento de agua potable y la gestión adecuada de aguas servidas son aspectos fundamentales para garantizar la salud de las personas. No obstante, certificar la calidad de estos servicios es un desafío que exige un enfoque eficiente e integral. En este sentido, implementar sistemas de gestión o tecnologías digitales pueden resultar soluciones claves para eficientizar estos servicios. El estudio tuvo como propósito determinar cómo el sistema de gestión de calidad influye en los servicios de agua potable y alcantarillado de la empresa EPS Barranca S. A., situada en la provincia de Barranca, Perú. Metodología: se siguió un enfoque cuantitativo, no experimental transversal, de alcance correlacional. Se diseñó un cuestionario para el cual participaron 80 trabajadores administrativos. Resultados: se empleó el análisis de correlación Rho de Spearman, que entregó un valor de 0.945 (p < 0.05) y el cual evidenció que un sistema de gestión de calidad influye significativamente en el servicio de agua potable y alcantarillado de la empresa EPS Barranca S. A. Conclusiones: se confirmó que el sistema de gestión de calidad incide de forma positiva y relevante en los servicios de agua potable y alcantarillado y que es una herramienta importante en la empresa, ya que destaca los componentes de la superioridad del servicio y, por lo consiguiente, permite entregar un servicio que esté al nivel de las expectativas del usuario.