bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Modeling and Validation of Hydro Cascade Operation Considering Price Uncertainty
Authors: Libsig Maxime , Raycheva Elena , Garrison Jared B. , Hug Gabriela
Published: August 2021

Most studies involving the use of hydropower in an electric power system tend to consider the point of view of the system operator even though under liberalized markets in Europe, the operation of hydro units is set by the owner to maximize their profits. Such studies also often neglect uncertainties related to hydropower operation and instead assume perfect knowledge of the system conditions over the simulation horizon. This paper presents a methodology to overcome the aforementioned limitations. We optimize the operational choices of a hydropower cascade owner with multiple linked hydro assets and the ability to participate in several energy and reserve markets while also accounting for the impact of market price uncertainties on the owner’s operating decisions. The versatile optimization model created includes a detailed representation of any selected hydro cascade’s topology, constraints to reflect the machinery characteristics, and a rolling horizon approach to account for the price uncertainties in the daily operating schedule. The model is first validated using historical data for a hydro cascade in Switzerland and a perfect-knowledge approach. Next, price uncertainty is added to improve the historical simulation results and find a trade-off between accuracy and computational time.
Short-Term Wind Characteristics Forecasting Using Stacked LSTM Networks
Authors: Ziaei Dorsa , Goudarzi Navid
Published: August 2021

Onshore/offshore wind turbines play a vital role in addressing the increasing worldwide energy demand. Enhancing the wind power harnessing capability of turbines and extending the life expectancy of their components support further reductions in the final cost of wind energy. Data-driven techniques can complement existing physics-based approaches for complex problems such as wind farm wake modeling. In this paper, a deep learning model is developed to predict the local short-term wind characteristics. A data pre-processing pipeline that includes data cleaning and normalizing steps is developed to generate the training dataset. Time-series forecasting models based on long-short-term-memory (LSTM) and convLSTM are developed and trained for local short-term wind forecasting. The model is validated through experiments on three-year data from the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) database. The conducted experiments showed favorable performance based on root mean square error (RMSE) and R2 test scores. The R2 values for predicting 1-minute, 30-minute, and 1 hour, wind characteristics for both LSTM and convLSTM were above 0.92. The results are in agreement with the literature. They also demonstrate the effectiveness of the developed models for short-term wind forecasting compared to similar ones.
A CapsNet-Based Fault Diagnosis Method for a Digital Twin of a Wind Turbine Gearbox
Authors: Zhao Hao , Hu Weifei , Liu Zhenyu , Tan Jianrong
Published: August 2021

Accurate fault diagnosis of complex energy systems, such as wind turbines, is essential to avoid catastrophic accidents and ensure a stable power source. However, accurate fault diagnoses under dynamic operating conditions and various failure mechanisms are major challenges for wind turbines nowadays. Here we present a CapsNet-based deep learning scheme for data-driven fault diagnosis used in a digital twin of a wind turbine gearbox. The CapsNet model can extract the multi-dimensional features and rich spatial information from the gearbox monitoring data by an artificial neural network named the CapsNet. Through the dynamic routing algorithm between capsules, the network structure and parameters of the CapsNet model can be adjusted effectively to realize an accurate and robust classification of the operational conditions of a wind turbine gearbox, including front box stuck (single fault) and high-speed shaft bearing damage & planetary gear damage (coupling faults). Two gearbox datasets are used to verify the performance of the CapsNet model. The experimental results show that the accuracy of this proposed method is up to 98%, which proves the accuracy of CapsNet model in the case study when this model performed three-state classification (health, stuck, and coupled damage). Compared with state-of-the-art fault diagnosis methods reported in the literature, the CapsNet model has a competitive advantage, especially in the ability to diagnose coupling faults, high-speed shaft bearing damage & planetary gear damage in our case study. CapsNet has at least 2.4 percentage points higher than any other measure in our experiment. In addition, the proposed method can automatically extract features from the original monitoring data, and do not rely on expert experience or signal processing related knowledge, which provides a new avenue for constructing an accurate and efficient digital twin of wind turbine gearboxes.
Marcio Ferreira Da Silva: "La antropología es demasiado seria para ser paradigmática"
Authors:   Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Rodriguez Cuevas Lydia
Published: August 2021

Marcio Ferreira, profesor de antropología en la Universidad de São Paulo en Brasil es uno de los antropólogos más destacados en el estudio de pueblos amazónicos. Experto en parentesco, inició sus estudios en el campo de la lingüística y orientó posteriormente su carrera al campo de la etnología amazónica. Ha realizado varias publicaciones sobre sistemas de parentesco dravidiano, así como sobre antropología lingüística y educación. Durante esta entrevista, el Doctor Ferreira nos mostró el carácter abierto de un investigador acostumbrado a adaptarse a una gran diversidad de culturas, lenguajes, conocimientos y sistemas de vida: un talante modélico para nuestra disciplina.
Morphological descriptions and DNA barcodes of Oziella viscida n. sp. (Eriophyoidea, Phytoptidae) and two infrequently reported Trisetacus species (Nalepellidae) from Crimea
Authors: Chetverikov Philipp E. , Fedorov Denis S. , Romanovich Anna E. , Sarratt Jacqueline V.
Published: August 2021

We report on a new phytoptid mite species, Oziella viscida n. sp., collected in Western Crimea from sea rush, Juncus maritimus (Juncaceae), and give supplementary descriptions of two rarely encountered nalepellid species of the genus Trisetacus from pines: T. confusus Livshits & Vasilieva, 1982 (in Vasilieva et al. 1982) from needle sheaths of Pinus nigra ssp. pallasiana (Pinaceae), an endemic subspecies restricted to Crimea, and T. brevisetus Livshits & Sekerskaya, 1982 (in Vasilieva et al. 1982) from needle sheaths of Pinus brutia ssp. pityusa (Steven) Silba, a relatively isolated subspecies of Turkish pine (P. brutia Tenore) growing in Georgia, Caucasus and Crimea. Oziella viscida n. sp. is remarkable in that most specimens were found inhabiting the basal part of leaves and stems of J. maritimus, an area covered by a transparent, sticky exudate apparently secreted by the plant epidermis. The mites were completely embedded in this substance and, rather than crawling with their legs, were observed moving through the viscous material while bending their opisthosoma in a serpentine or wormlike manner—an adaptation that appears to be currently unreported in eriophyoids and possibly reminiscent of locomotion of ancestral “protoeriophyoids” associated with soil. In comparison to females, males of O. viscida n. sp. and T. confusus have a more distinct prodorsal shield pattern consisting of a larger number of longer lines. Three new barcode gene sequences were obtained: MZ220550 (Cox1, O. viscida n. sp., 1159 bp), MZ224497 (18S, 2012 bp, T. brevisetus), and MZ224498 (18S, 2013 bp T. confusus). A BLAST search of the 18S sequences of T. brevisetus and T. confusus shows them as slightly closer to other 18S sequences of Trisetacus from Pinaceae (95.5%–96.3% identity) than to Trisetacus from Cupressaceae (93.6%–94.0% identity). Comparison of sequences of nalepellids currently present in GenBank suggest that a complete 18S sequence KJ841938.1 (2252 bp) from China belongs to an identified Trisetacus from Pinaceae rather than to Setoptus koraiensis as labelled, highlighting the necessity to review carefully the sequences of Eriophyoidea prior to using them in phylogenetic analyses, as well as the need to recollect and resequence S. koraiensis to clarify the nature of the problematic data from GenBank assigned to this species.
Electrical and ion beam analyses of yttrium and yttrium-titanium getter thin films oxidation
Authors: Bessouet Clément , Lemettre Sylvain , Kutyla Charlotte , Bosseboeuf Alain , Coste Philippe , Sauvage Thierry , Lecoq Hélène , Wendling Olivier , Bellamy Aurélien , Jagtap Piyush , Escoubas Stéphanie , Guichet Christophe , Thomas Olivier , Moulin Johan
Published: August 2021

Yttrium, titanium, and yttrium-titanium getter thin films were elaborated on silicon by coevaporation in ultrahigh vacuum. Y-Ti films exhibit nanometric crystallites size (18–35 nm) leading to a very high grain boundary density, which is a favorable microstructure for activation at low temperature. The yttrium content in Y-Ti alloys influences grain size, resistance against room temperature oxidation, and gettering performance for oxygen. Y-Ti films with an yttrium content higher than 30% show strong oxygen sorption during annealing at low temperature (<300 °C). After 1 h of annealing at 250 °C, it was estimated that the yttrium-based getter films can trap between 0.2 and 0.5 μmol of oxygen per cm2, while no oxygen sorption was detected for a single metal titanium film. This makes Y-Ti getter alloys attractive candidates for the packaging of MEMS under vacuum with a low bonding temperature.
The Relationship Between Concerns About Falling and Daily Life Activity in Older Men and Women
Authors: Yu Shiu Zoe , Delbaere Kim , van Schooten Kimberley S.
Published: August 2021

Concerns about falling (CAF) affect daily life activities in older people; however, it is unclear whether gender moderates this relationship. The authors investigated the cross-sectional relationship between CAF and objectively measured physical activity (PA) and gait quality in 503 community-dwelling older men and women. About 448 people (age = 76.2 [SD 7.9] years, 296 females) contributed sufficient data on movement intensity, activity duration (bouts of walking, sitting, and standing), number of transitions between activities (sit-to-stand and sit-to-walk), number of steps and gait quality, quantified as walking speed, and sample entropy. Associations with the Iconographical Falls Efficacy Scale were tested. The authors found no significant moderation by gender. However, women participated in less PA than men and showed a more irregular walking pattern. Higher levels of CAF led to lower PA and poorer gait quality. Our findings suggest that prevention of CAF-related PA avoidance may be particularly important for women, who are less active and at higher risk of falls.
Many-body thermodynamics on quantum computers via partition function zeros
Authors: Francis Akhil , Zhu Daiwei , Huerta Alderete Cinthia , Johri Sonika , Xiao Xiao , Freericks James K. , Monroe Christopher , Linke Norbert M. , Kemper Alexander F.
Published: August 2021

Quantum computers can study thermodynamics by finding zeros of functions in the complex plane.
Resonant quantum principal component analysis
Authors: Li Zhaokai , Chai Zihua , Guo Yuhang , Ji Wentao , Wang Mengqi , Shi Fazhan , Wang Ya , Lloyd Seth , Du Jiangfeng
Published: August 2021

An energy-tunable ancillary qubit efficiently probes the principal components of a low-rank matrix.
A neural substrate of compulsive alcohol use
Authors: Domi Esi , Xu Li , Toivainen Sanne , Nordeman Anton , Gobbo Francesco , Venniro Marco , Shaham Yavin , Messing Robert O. , Visser Esther , van den Oever Michel C. , Holm Lovisa , Barbier Estelle , Augier Eric , Heilig Markus
Published: August 2021

Inhibitory PKCδ-expressing neurons in the central nucleus of the amygdala promote compulsive alcohol use in rats.
Reservoir computing with biocompatible organic electrochemical networks for brain-inspired biosignal classification
Authors: Cucchi Matteo , Gruener Christopher , Petrauskas Lautaro , Steiner Peter , Tseng Hsin , Fischer Axel , Penkovsky Bogdan , Matthus Christian , Birkholz Peter , Kleemann Hans , Leo Karl
Published: August 2021

Early detection of malign patterns in patients’ biological signals can save millions of lives. Despite the steady improvement of artificial intelligence–based techniques, the practical clinical application of these methods is mostly constrained to an offline evaluation of the patients’ data. Previous studies have identified organic electrochemical devices as ideal candidates for biosignal monitoring. However, their use for pattern recognition in real time was never demonstrated. Here, we produce and characterize brain-inspired networks composed of organic electrochemical transistors and use them for time-series predictions and classification tasks using the reservoir computing approach. To show their potential use for biofluid monitoring and biosignal analysis, we classify four classes of arrhythmic heartbeats with an accuracy of 88%. The results of this study introduce a previously unexplored paradigm for biocompatible computational platforms and may enable development of ultralow–power consumption hardware-based artificial neural networks capable of interacting with body fluids and biological tissues.
Magnetic-actuated “capillary container” for versatile three-dimensional fluid interface manipulation
Authors: Zhang Yiyuan , Huang Zhandong , Cai Zheren , Ye Yuqing , Li Zheng , Qin Feifei , Xiao Junfeng , Zhang Dongxing , Guo Qiuquan , Song Yanlin , Yang Jun
Published: August 2021

A previously unexplored approach enables versatile 3D fluid interface manipulation using magnetic-actuated “capillary container.”
Quantitative complementarity of wave-particle duality
Authors: Yoon Tai Hyun , Cho Minhaeng
Published: August 2021

Complementarity relation of wave-particle duality is analyzed quantitatively with entangled photons as path detectors.
Soft robotic steerable microcatheter for the endovascular treatment of cerebral disorders
Authors: Gopesh Tilvawala , Wen Jessica H. , Santiago-Dieppa David , Yan Bernard , Pannell J. Scott , Khalessi Alexander , Norbash Alexander , Friend James
Published: August 2021

A 1.6-m-long, 0.9-mm-diameter microhydraulically hand steerable catheter has been devised for endovascular neurointervention.
Identification of Genes Involved in the Synthesis of the Fungal Cell Wall Component Nigeran and Regulation of Its Polymerization in Aspergillus
luchuensis
Authors: Uechi Keiko , Yaguchi Hajime , Tokashiki Jikian , Taira Toki , Mizutani Osamu
Published: August 2021

The fungal cell wall is composed mainly of polysaccharides. Under nitrogen-free conditions, some
Aspergillus
and
Penicillium
spp. produce significant levels of nigeran, a fungal cell wall polysaccharide composed of alternating α-1,3/1,4-glucosidic linkages.
Amyloid Aggregation of Streptococcus mutans Cnm Influences Its Collagen-Binding Activity
Authors: di Cologna Nicholas M. , Samaddar Sandip , Valle Carolina A. , Vargas Jonathan , Aviles-Reyes Alejandro , Morales Joyce , Ganguly Tridib , Pileggi Roberta , Brady L. Jeannine , Lemos José A. , Abranches Jacqueline
Published: August 2021

Streptococcus mutans
is a keystone pathogen that promotes caries by acidifying the dental biofilm milieu. The collagen- and laminin-binding glycoprotein Cnm is a virulence factor of
S. mutans
. Expression of Cnm by
S. mutans
is hypothesized to contribute to niche expansion, allowing colonization of multiple sites in the body, including collagen-rich surfaces such as dentin and heart valves.
Isolation of a Virulent
Aeromonas salmonicida
subsp.
masoucida
Bacteriophage and Its Application in Phage Therapy in Turbot (
Scophthalmus maximus
)
Authors: Xu Zhenhe , Jin Peng , Zhou Xiangshan , Zhang Yuanxing , Wang Qiyao , Liu Xiaohong , Shao Shuai , Liu Qin
Published: August 2021

A. salmonicida
is an aquatic pathogen that can infect different fish and causes economic loss to the global aquaculture industry. Clinical strains of
A. salmonicida
have developed multidrug resistance, and phage therapy is being evaluated for controlling bacterial infections.
Detection and Clinical Implications of Monovalent Rotavirus Vaccine-Derived Virus Strains in Children with Gastroenteritis in Alberta, Canada
Authors: Zhuo Ran , Tarr Gillian A. M. , Xie Jianling , Freedman Stephen B. , Payne Daniel C. , Lee Bonita E. , McWilliams Charlotte , Chui Linda , Ali Samina , Pang Xiaoli
Published: August 2021

While rotavirus vaccine programs effectively protect against severe rotavirus gastroenteritis, rotavirus vaccine strains have been identified in the stool of vaccinated children and their close contacts suffering from acute gastroenteritis. The prevalence of vaccine strains, the emergence of vaccine-derived strains, and their role in acute gastroenteritis are not well studied.
Comprehensive Study Identifies a Sensitive, Low-Risk, Closed-System Model for Detection of Fungal Contaminants in Cell and Gene Therapy Products
Authors: Putnam Nicole E. , Lau Anna F.
Published: August 2021

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulates manufacturing and testing of advanced therapeutic medicinal products (ATMPs) to ensure the safety of each product for human use.
Redondovirus Diversity and Evolution on Global, Individual, and Molecular Scales
Authors: Taylor Louis J. , Dothard Marisol I. , Rubel Meagan A. , Allen Audrey A. , Hwang Young , Roche Aoife M. , Graham-Wooten Jevon , Fitzgerald Ayannah S. , Khatib Layla A. , Ranciaro Alessia , Thompson Simon R. , Beggs William R. , Campbell Michael C. , Mokone Gaonyadiwe G. , Mpoloka Sununguko Wata , Fokunang Charles , Njamnshi Alfred K. , Mbunwe Eric , Woldemeskel Dawit , Belay Gurja , Nyambo Thomas , Tishkoff Sarah A. , Collman Ronald G. , Bushman Frederic D.
Published: August 2021

Redondoviridae
is a recently established family of DNA viruses predominantly found in the human respiratory tract and associated with multiple clinical conditions. In this study, we found high redondovirus prevalence in saliva from urban North American individuals and nonindustrialized African populations in Botswana, Cameroon, Ethiopia, and Tanzania.
Tombusviruses Target a Major Crossroad in the Endocytic and Recycling Pathways via Co-opting Rab7 Small GTPase
Authors: Feng Zhike , Inaba Jun-ichi , Nagy Peter D.
Published: August 2021

The replication of positive-strand RNA viruses depends on the biogenesis of viral replication organelles (VROs). However, the formation of membranous VROs is not well understood yet.
TMPRSS2 Activates Hemagglutinin-Esterase Glycoprotein of Influenza C Virus
Authors: Sato Ko , Hayashi Hideki , Shimotai Yoshitaka , Yamaya Mutsuo , Hongo Seiji , Kawakami Kazuyoshi , Matsuzaki Yoko , Nishimura Hidekazu
Published: August 2021

Influenza C virus (ICV) is a pathogen that causes acute respiratory illness, mostly in children, but there are no anti-ICV drugs. ICV has only one kind of spike protein, the hemagglutinin-esterase (HE) glycoprotein on the virion surface, which possesses receptor-binding, receptor-destroying, and membrane fusion activities.
History of geological investigations of Mount Diablo, Contra Costa County, California
Authors: Bartow Gregory W.
Published: August 2021

Over the past 150 years, Mount Diablo has served as a window into the evolving understanding of California geology. In the 1800s, geologists mapped this easily accessible peak located less than 100 km (62 miles) from the rapidly growing city of San Francisco and the geology departments at the University of California at Berkeley and Stanford University. Later, the mountain served as a focal point for investigating San Francisco Bay area tectonics. The structural interpretation of the up-thrusting mechanisms has evolved from a simple compressional system involving a few local faults to a more complex multifault and multiphase mountain-building theory. The stratigraphic interpretation and understanding have been advanced from a general description of the lithologies and fossils to a detailed description using sequence stratigraphy to define paleogeographic settings and depositional regimes.
Supplemental Material: Detrital signals of coastal erosion and fluvial sediment supply during glacio-eustatic sea-level rise, Southern California, USA
Authors: Sharman Glenn , al. et
Published: August 2021

Sample summary, LA-ICP-MS data tables, sources of Cretaceous-Paleogene forearc data, Peninsular Ranges batholith zircon U-Pb ages, mixture modeling results, and U-Pb analytical methodology.
Effectiveness of technology-based interventions in detection, prevention, monitoring and treatment of patients at risk or diagnosed with mild cognitive impairment: protocol for a systematic review
Authors: Martínez-Soldevila Jordi , Pastells-Peiró Roland , Climent-Sanz Carolina , Piñol-Ripoll Gerard , Rocaspana-García Mariona , Gea-Sánchez Montserrat
Published: August 2021

Introduction

The gradual changes over the decades in the longevity and ageing of European society as a whole can be directly related to the prolonged decline in the birth rate and increase in the life expectancy. According to the WHO, there is an increased risk of dementia or other cognitive disorders as the population ages, which have a major impact on public health. Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is described as a greater than expected cognitive decline for an individual’s age and level of education, but that does not significantly interfere with activities of daily living. Patients with MCI exhibit a higher risk of dementia compared with others in the same age group, but without a cognitive decline, have impaired walking and a 50% greater risk of falling.

The urban lifestyle and advent of smartphones, mobility and immediate access to all information via the internet, including health information, has led to a totally disruptive change in most general aspects.

This systematic review protocol is aimed at evaluating the effectiveness of technology-based interventions in the detection, prevention, monitoring and treatment of patients at risk or diagnosed with MCI.

Methods and analysis

This review protocol follows the recommendations of the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis Protocols reporting guidelines. The search will be performed on MEDLINE (PubMed), CENTRAL, CINAHL Plus, ISI Web of Science and Scopus databases from 2010 to 2020. Studies of interventions either randomised clinical trials or pre–post non-randomised quasi-experimental designs, published in English and Spanish will be included. Articles that provide relevant information on the use of technology and its effectiveness in interventions that assess improvements in early detection, prevention, follow-up and treatment of the patients at risk or diagnosed with MCI will be included.

Ethics and dissemination

Ethics committee approval not required. The results will be disseminated in publications and congresses.
Do we need to change catheter-related bloodstream infection surveillance in the Netherlands? A qualitative study among infection prevention professionals
Authors: Verberk Janneke DM , van der Kooi Tjallie II , Derde Lennie PG , Bonten Marc JM , de Greeff Sabine C , van Mourik Maaike SM
Published: August 2021

Objectives

Catheter-related bloodstream infections (CRBSI) are a common healthcare-associated infection and therefore targeted by surveillance programmes in many countries. Concerns, however, have been voiced regarding the reliability and construct validity of CRBSI surveillance and the connection with the current diagnostic procedures. The aim of this study was to explore the experiences of infection control practitioners (ICPs) and medical professionals with the current CRBSI surveillance in the Netherlands and their suggestions for improvement.

Design

Qualitative study using focus group discussions (FGDs) with ICPs and medical professionals separately, followed by semistructured interviews to investigate whether the points raised in the FGDs were recognised and confirmed by the interviewees. Analyses were performed using thematic analyses.

Setting

Basic, teaching and academic hospitals in the Netherlands.

Participants

24 ICPs and 9 medical professionals.

Results

Main themes derived from experiences with current surveillance were (1) ICPs’ doubt regarding the yield of surveillance given the low incidence of CRBSI, the high workload and IT problems; (2) the experienced lack of leadership and responsibility for recording information needed for surveillance and (3) difficulties with applying and interpreting the CRBSI definition. Suggestions were made to simplify the surveillance protocol, expand the follow-up and surveillance to homecare settings, simplify the definition and customise it for specific patient groups. Participants reported hoping for and counting on automatisation solutions to support future surveillance.

Conclusions

This study reveals several problems with the feasibility and acceptance of the current CRBSI surveillance and proposes several suggestions for improvement. This provides valuable input for future surveillance activities, thereby taking into account automation possibilities.
Positive deviance for promoting dual-method contraceptive use among women in Uganda: a cluster randomised controlled trial
Authors: Kosugi Hodaka , Shibanuma Akira , Kiriya Junko , Ong Ken Ing Cherng , Mucunguzi Stephen , Muzoora Conrad , Jimba Masamine
Published: August 2021

Objective

To examine the effects of a positive deviance intervention on dual-method contraceptive use among married or in-union women.

Design

Open-label cluster randomised controlled trial.

Setting

20 health facilities in Mbarara District, Uganda.

Participants

960 married or in-union women aged 18–49 years using a non-barrier modern contraceptive method.

Interventions

A combination of clinic-based and telephone-based counselling and a 1-day participatory workshop, which were developed based on a preliminary qualitative study of women practising dual-method contraception.

Primary outcome measure

Dual-method contraceptive use at the last sexual intercourse and its consistent use in the 2 months prior to each follow-up. These outcomes were measured based on participants’ self-reports, and the effect of intervention was assessed using a mixed-effects logistic regression model.

Results

More women in the intervention group used dual-method contraception at the last sexual intercourse at 2 months (adjusted OR (AOR)=4.12; 95% CI 2.02 to 8.39) and 8 months (AOR=2.16; 95% CI 1.06 to 4.41) than in the control group. At 4 and 6 months, however, the proportion of dual-method contraceptive users was not significantly different between the two groups. Its consistent use was more prevalent in the intervention group than in the control group at 2 months (AOR=14.53; 95% CI 3.63 to 58.13), and this intervention effect lasted throughout the follow-up period.

Conclusions

The positive deviance intervention increased dual-method contraceptive use among women, and could be effective at reducing the dual risk of unintended pregnancies and HIV infections. This study demonstrated that the intervention targeting only women can change behaviours of couples to practise dual-method contraception. Because women using non-barrier modern contraceptives may be more reachable than men, interventions targeting such women should be recommended.

Trial registration number

UMIN000037065.
Effect of interventions for the well-being, satisfaction and flourishing of general practitioners—a systematic review
Authors: Naehrig Diana , Schokman Aaron , Hughes Jessica Kate , Epstein Ronald , Hickie Ian B , Glozier Nick
Published: August 2021

Objectives

Clinician well-being has been recognised as an important pillar of healthcare. However, research mainly addresses mitigating the negative aspects of stress or burnout, rather than enabling positive aspects. With the added strain of a pandemic, identifying how best to maintain and support the well-being, satisfaction and flourishing of general practitioners (GPs) is now more important than ever.

Design

Systematic review.

Data sources

We searched MEDLINE, PsycINFO, Embase, CINAHL and Scopus from 2000 to 2020.

Study selection

Intervention studies with more than 50% GPs in the sample evaluating self-reported well-being, satisfaction and related positive outcomes were included. The Cochrane Risk of Bias 2 tool was applied.

Results

We retrieved 14 792 records, 94 studies underwent full-text review. We included 19 studies in total. Six randomised controlled trials, three non-randomised, controlled trials, eight non-controlled studies of individual or organisational interventions with a total of 1141 participants. There were two quasi-experimental articles evaluating health system policy change. Quantitative and qualitative positive outcomes were extracted and analysed. Individual mindfulness interventions were the most common (k=9) with medium to large within-group (0.37–1.05) and between-group (0.5–1.5) effect sizes for mindfulness outcomes, and small-to-medium effect sizes for other positive outcomes including resilience, compassion and empathy. Studies assessing other intervention foci or other positive outcomes (including well-being, satisfaction) were of limited size and quality.

Conclusions

There is remarkably little evidence on how to improve GPs well-being beyond using mindfulness interventions, particularly for interventions addressing organisational or system factors. This was further undermined by inconsistent reporting, and overall high risk of bias. We need to conduct research in this space with the same rigour with which we approach clinical intervention studies in patients.

PROSPERO registration number

CRD42020164699.

Funding source

Dr Diana Naehrig is funded through the Raymond Seidler PhD scholarship.
Hallux valgus orthosis characteristics and effectiveness: a systematic review with meta-analysis
Authors: Kwan Mei-Ying , Yick Kit-Lun , Yip Joanne , Tse Chi-Yung
Published: August 2021

Objective

The treatment effect of orthoses for hallux valgus (HV) is unclear with little interventional studies, the design involves multiple complex factors, and therefore a systematic analysis with meta-analysis is necessary. The objective of this systematic review and meta-analysis is to determine whether current foot orthoses are effective in treating HV.

Design

Systematic review with meta-analysis.

Data sources

Electronic databases (PubMed, Scopus, Cinahl and Medline) are searched up to February 2020.

Eligibility criteria for selecting studies

Interventional studies with content focus on HV orthosis design and any of the outcomes related to effectiveness for treating HV are included. The standardised mean differences are calculated. The risk of bias in included studies is assessed using the Cochrane Collaboration’s risk of bias tools.

Results

In total, 2066 articles are identified. Among them, nine are selected and quality rated, and data are extracted and closely examined. A meta-analysis is conducted, where appropriate. The main causes of potential bias are missing outcome data and outcome measurement error. The results show that orthosis with a toe separator has the best effect of correcting the HV angle (standardised mean difference: 0.50, 95% CI: 0.189 to 0.803).

Conclusion

The orthoses design with a toe separator or an element that allows for the foot anatomic alignment is critical for reducing the HV angle and relieving foot pain. The results contribute to a better selection of treatment for patients.

PROSPERO registration number

CRD42021260403.
General practitioners’ (GPs) understanding and views on breast density in Australia: a qualitative interview study
Authors: Nickel Brooke , Dolan Hankiz , Carter Stacy , Houssami Nehmat , Brennan Meagan , Hersch Jolyn , Kaderbhai Alia , McCaffery Kirsten
Published: August 2021

Objectives

To understand general practitioners’ (GPs’) awareness and knowledge of mammographic breast density (BD) and their perspectives around information and potential notification of BD for women.

Design

Qualitative study using semistructured telephone interviews. Interviews were audiorecorded, transcribed and analysed using framework analysis.

Setting

Australia.

Participants

Australian GPs (n=30).

Results

GPs had limited knowledge of BD and little experience discussing BD with women. There were mixed views on notification of BD with some GPs believing this information would help informed decision making about breast health and that women have the right to know any information about their bodies. While others were concerned about causing unnecessary anxiety and were worried about the uncertainty about what to advise women to do with this information, particularly in relation to supplemental breast screening. The need for an equitable system where all women are either notified or not, and also provided with publicly funded supplemental screening was raised by GPs. Overall, there was high interest in education, training and support around the topic of BD.

Conclusions

Australian GPs require education, support and evidence-based guidelines to have discussions with women with dense breasts and help manage their risk, especially if widespread notification is to be introduced in population-based screening programmes.
10-year trend of tooth loss and associated factors in a Japanese population-based longitudinal study
Authors: Furuta Michiko , Takeuchi Kenji , Takeshita Toru , Shibata Yukie , Suma Shino , Kageyama Shinya , Asakawa Mikari , Hata Jun , Yoshida Daigo , Shimazaki Yoshihiro , Ninomiya Toshiharu , Yamashita Yoshihisa
Published: August 2021

Objectives

We examined the trend in the number of missing teeth in a Japanese community over a 10-year period and the potential associated explanatory factors.

Design

Prospective cohort study.

Setting

A population-based study conducted in 2007, 2012 and 2017 in Japan (Hisayama Study).

Participants

Residents of a Japanese community aged 40–79 years undergoing dental examination in 2007 (n=2665), 2012 (n=2325) and 2017 (n=2285).

Outcome measures

The number of missing teeth, periodontal condition, dental caries experience, dental plaque index and oral health behaviours were evaluated each year. The longitudinal analysis of variation in these factors were assessed using mixed models.

Results

The age-adjusted and sex-adjusted mean number of missing teeth decreased with time (6.80 in 2007, 6.01 in 2012 and 4.99 in 2017). The mean clinical attachment level (CAL), prevalence of periodontitis and dental plaque index decreased over the study period, while dental caries experience slightly increased. The level of oral health behaviour increased over time. Poisson mixed models showed that changes in mean CAL and dental caries experience were positively associated with the change in the number of missing teeth over time. Linear mixed models showed that changes in dental plaque index and no regular dental visit were positively associated with changes in mean CAL.

Conclusions

These findings suggest that a decreasing trend regarding the number of missing teeth in Japan might be associated with improvements in the periodontal condition due to changes in oral hygiene level and oral health behaviour.
Exposure to persistent organic pollutants and thyroid cancer risk: a study protocol of systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Zhang Yu Xue , Liu Yu Peng , Miao Su Sheng , Liu Xiao Dong , Ma Shu Mei , Qu Zhang Yi
Published: August 2021

Introduction

The thyroid cancer incidence has been increasing all over the world. However, the aetiology of thyroid cancer remains unclear. A growing body of evidence suggested exposure to persistent organic pollutants (POPs) may play a role in the initiation of thyroid cancer, but the results are generally inconsistent across studies. This review aims to synthesise the evidence for the health effects of POPs on the risk of thyroid cancer.

Methods and analysis

This protocol was reported in accordance to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses Protocols (PRISMA) statements. A comprehensive search, including electronic database search (eg, PubMed, Embase, ProQuest and CNKI), website search and manual search, will be performed to identify all eligible studies. The Population, Exposure, Comparator and Outcome framework was used to clarify the inclusion and exclusion criteria. The Newcastle-Ottawa Scale will be used to assess the quality of included studies. Maximally adjusted effect estimates from individual studies will be summarised with random-effect models in a conservative manner.I2statistics and Q-tests will be used to test the heterogeneity across studies. We will perform extensive sensitivity analyses, such as confounding risk ratio (confounding), E-value, fixed-effect models, excluding the most relatively weighted study, including only the high-quality studies and many predesigned subgroup analyses, etc. The findings will be reported in accordance to the PRISMA guidelines.

Ethics and dissemination

Ethical approval is not required in this systematic review of published literatures. The results will be published in a peer-reviewed journal and presented at relevant conferences.

PROSPERO registration number

CRD42020181343.
Estimation of the economic burden of COVID-19 using disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) and productivity losses in Kerala, India: a model-based analysis
Authors: John Denny , Narassima M S , Menon Jaideep , Rajesh Jammy Guru , Banerjee Amitava
Published: August 2021

Objectives

From the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, clinical practice and research globally have centred on the prevention of transmission and treatment of the disease. The pandemic has had a huge impact on the economy and stressed healthcare systems worldwide. The present study estimates disability-adjusted life years (DALYs), years of potential productive life lost (YPPLL) and cost of productivity lost (CPL) due to premature mortality and absenteeism secondary to COVID-19 in the state of Kerala, India.

Setting

Details on sociodemographics, incidence, death, quarantine, recovery time, etc were derived from public sources and the Collective for Open Data Distribution-Keralam. The working proportion for 5-year age–gender cohorts and the corresponding life expectancy were obtained from the 2011 Census of India.

Primary and secondary outcome measures

The impact of the disease was computed through model-based analysis on various age–gender cohorts. Sensitivity analysis was conducted by adjusting six variables across 21 scenarios. We present two estimates, one until 15 November 2020 and later updated to 10 June 2021.

Results

Severity of infection and mortality were higher among the older cohorts, with men being more susceptible than women in most subgroups. DALYs for males and females were 15 954.5 and 8638.4 until 15 November 2020, and 83 853.0 and 56 628.3 until 10 June 2021. The corresponding YPPLL were 1323.57 and 612.31 until 15 November 2020, and 6993.04 and 3811.57 until 10 June 2021, and the CPL (premature mortality) were 263 780 579.94 and 41 836 001.82 until 15 November 2020, and 1 419 557 903.76 and 278 275 495.29 until 10 June 2021.

Conclusions

Most of the COVID-19 burden was contributed by years of life lost. Losses due to YPPLL were reduced as the impact of COVID-19 infection was lesser among the productive cohorts. The CPL values for individuals aged 40–49 years old were the highest. These estimates provide the data necessary for policymakers to work on reducing the economic burden of COVID-19 in Kerala.
Income support programmes for the older adults in South Asia: a scoping review protocol
Authors: Rajwar Eti , Pundir Prachi , Parsekar Shradha S , Venkatesh Bhumika Tumkur , Vogt Tobias
Published: August 2021

Introduction

South Asian countries are ageing and experiencing a rapid increase in proportion of the older population. Income support programmes are of central importance for the older adults as they may help to mitigate the poverty risks associated with ageing and losing the ability to generate income from labour. Evidence related to the income support programmes can help in understanding whether the programmes have been impactful. This scoping review will map the evidence (and gaps) related to income support programmes and create a base to identify the feasibility of future primary research and/or the scope of systematic reviews in the areas where evidence is available.

Methods and analysis

The Joanna Briggs Institute scoping review methodology will be followed. Eligibility criteria for the scoping review will be based on the ‘PCC’ or the ‘Population–Concept–Context’ concept. Advanced search for the relevant articles will be conducted in MEDLINE (via PubMed), Embase, Scopus, Campbell Collaboration, 3ie International Initiative for Impact Evaluation and Web of Science. Additional resources search will be conducted in important organisational websites. Findings of the scoping review will be summarised using descriptive information (frequencies and percentages) for the available evidence on concept (ie, income support programmes), population characteristics and other study variables.

Ethics and dissemination

The review is based on data from available literature, hence an ethical approval is not necessary. With this review, we attempt to provide recommendations to the research community and the policymakers about the currently available evidence and the research required for income support of older adults in South Asia, so that resources can be directed towards addressing the same. We plan to disseminate the findings through presentation in international conference and publication in a peer-reviewed journal.

Review registration

Not registered.
Stool specimen for diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis in adults: protocol for a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Sultana Saima , Ansar Adnan , Saif-Ur-Rahman K M
Published: August 2021

Introduction

Tuberculosis (TB) continues to be a significant health burden, most commonly affecting the lungs and referred to as pulmonary TB (PTB). Diagnostic techniques of PTB primarily rely on expectorated sputum samples. However, the diagnostic yields are often hindered due to insufficient volume and quality of the sputum specimens. Moreover, some individuals are unable to provide sputum samples due to scanty sputum production or difficulty in coughing up and require an invasive procedure to obtain a respiratory sample, such as bronchoscopic or gastric aspiration. Thus, challenges in the acquisition of respiratory specimens warrant an alternate specimen. Therefore, this systematic review aims to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of a stool specimen for the diagnosis of PTB in adults.

Methods and analysis

We will search MEDLINE (Ovid), Embase (Ovid), Web of Science and Cochrane database from inception to April 2021 using a comprehensive search strategy. Two reviewers will independently perform screening, data extraction and quality assessment. The risk of bias assessment and applicability of results of eligible studies will be performed using the Quality of Diagnostic Accuracy Studies-2 tool. Bivariate random-effects models will be performed to calculate pooled sensitivity, specificity, positive likelihood ratio and negative likelihood ratio and diagnostic odds ratio along with 95% CI of stool specimen for each reported diagnostic method against any of the reference standard test (ie, mycobacterial culture or smear microscopy or Xpert assay using respiratory specimens). Heterogeneity between studies will be assessed by I2statistics and Q statistic of the χ2test.

Ethics and dissemination

The results will be disseminated through publishing in a peer-reviewed medical journal and public presentations in relevant national and international conferences. As this is a systematic review of publicly available data, ethics approval is not required.

PROSPERO registration number

CRD42021245203.
Under the spotlight: understanding the role of the Chief Medical Officer in a pandemic
Authors: MacAulay Margaret , Macintyre Anna K , Yashadhana Aryati , Cassola Adèle , Harris Patrick , Woodward Caroline , Smith Katherine , de Leeuw Evelyne , Palkovits Michèle , Hoffman Steven J , Fafard Patrick
Published: August 2021

As the COVID-19 pandemic took hold in 2020, Chief Medical Officers (CMOs) entered the public spotlight like never before. Amidst this increased visibility, the role is deeply contested. Much of the disagreement concerns whether CMOs should act independently of the government: while some argue CMOs should act as independent voices who work to shape government policy to protect public health, others stress that CMOs are civil servants whose job is to support the government. The scope and diversity of debates about the CMO role can be explained by its inherently contradictory nature, which requires incumbents to balance their commitments as physicians with their mandates as civil servants who advise and speak on the government’s behalf. The long-haul COVID-19 pandemic has further tested the CMO role and has shone light on its varying remits and expectations across different jurisdictions, institutions and contexts. It is perhaps unsurprising, then, that calls to amend the CMO role have emerged in some jurisdictions during the pandemic. However, any discussions about changing the CMO role need a stronger understanding of how different institutional and individual approaches impact what incumbents feel able to do, say and achieve. Based on an ongoing comparative analysis of the position across five countries with Westminster-style political systems, we provide an overview of the CMO role, explain its prominence in a pandemic, examine some debates surrounding the role and discuss a few unanswered empirical questions before describing our ongoing study in greater detail.
Evidence for microbially mediated silver enrichment in a middle Cambrian Burgess Shale-type deposit, Mackenzie Mountains, northwestern Canada
Authors: Kimmig Julien , Pratt Brian R.
Published: August 2021

The Selwyn basin and Mackenzie platform of northwestern Canada house an array of mineral deposits and prospects that are rich in silver, including Neoproterozoic red-bed or Kupferschiefer-type Cu and lower Paleozoic sedimentary exhalative (SEDEX) and Zn–Pb deposits. Within this overall metallogenic setting, the middle Cambrian (Drumian) Rockslide Formation was deposited under a largely oxic water column on the platform-to-basin slope along the eastern side of the Selwyn basin. The formation includes an interval termed the Ravens Throat River Lagerstätte, which is a localized Burgess Shale-type calcareous mudstone about 2 m thick that preserves soft-bodied fossils. The mudstone contains comparatively large amounts of organic carbon preserved as thin carbonaceous laminae and discontinuous seams, representing benthic microbial mats, the remains of cyanobacteria and algae that were living in the water column, fecal pellets, large coprolites, and degraded animal tissues. The upper part of the Rockslide Formation, including the fossiliferous interval, contains elevated concentrations of Ag, up to 0.47 ppm. Some of the Ag in the mudstone occurs as aggregates of elemental particles ∼10 µm in size, preferentially on the carbonaceous material comprising the coprolites. This localized enrichment suggests bioaccumulation of Ag nanoparticles or Ag+ from the water column by microorganisms on the coprolites or degrading organic matter in them. The source of the Ag may have been from penecontemporaneous SEDEX metallogeny or from broadly related subsurface fluids in the Selwyn Basin that enriched the overlying seawater.