bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Research evaluating the effectiveness of dementia interventions in low‐ and middle‐income countries: A systematic mapping of 340 randomised controlled trials
Authors: Salcher‐Konrad Maximilian , Shi Cheng , Patel Disha , McDaid David , Astudillo‐García Claudia Iveth , Bobrow Kirsten , Choy Jacky , Comas‐Herrera Adelina , Fry Andra , Knapp Martin , Leung Dara Kiu Yi , Lopez‐Ortega Mariana , Lorenz‐Dant Klara , Musyimi Christine , Ndetei David , Nguyen Tuan Anh , Oliveira Deborah , Putra Aditya , Vara Alisha , Wong Gloria , Naci Huseyin ,   STRiDE Evidence Review Group
Published: July 2023

Objectives

More people with dementia live in low‐ and middle‐income countries (LMICs) than in high‐income countries, but best‐practice care recommendations are often based on studies from high‐income countries. We aimed to map the available evidence on dementia interventions in LMICs.

Methods

We systematically mapped available evidence on interventions that aimed to improve the lives of people with dementia or mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and/or their carers in LMICs (registered on PROSPERO: CRD42018106206). We included randomised controlled trials (RCTs) published between 2008 and 2018. We searched 11 electronic academic and grey literature databases (MEDLINE, EMBASE, PsycINFO, CINAHL Plus, Global Health, World Health Organization Global Index Medicus, Virtual Health Library, Cochrane CENTRAL, Social Care Online, BASE, MODEM Toolkit) and examined the number and characteristics of RCTs according to intervention type. We used the Cochrane risk of bias 2.0 tool to assess the risk of bias.

Results

We included 340 RCTs with 29,882 (median, 68) participants, published 2008–2018. Over two‐thirds of the studies were conducted in China (n = 237, 69.7%). Ten LMICs accounted for 95.9% of included RCTs. The largest category of interventions was Traditional Chinese Medicine (n = 149, 43.8%), followed by Western medicine pharmaceuticals (n = 109, 32.1%), supplements (n = 43, 12.6%), and structured therapeutic psychosocial interventions (n = 37, 10.9%). Overall risk of bias was judged to be high for 201 RCTs (59.1%), moderate for 136 (40.0%), and low for 3 (0.9%).

Conclusions

Evidence‐generation on interventions for people with dementia or MCI and/or their carers in LMICs is concentrated in just a few countries, with no RCTs reported in the vast majority of LMICs. The body of evidence is skewed towards selected interventions and overall subject to high risk of bias. There is a need for a more coordinated approach to robust evidence‐generation for LMICs.
Financial incentives and delivery care: Evidence from the Safe Delivery Incentive Program in Nepal
Authors: Tiwari Manda
Published: July 2023

This paper examines the effects of the Safe Delivery Incentive Program in Nepal, a cash transfer program that reduced the costs of childbirth in healthcare facilities. Women giving birth for the first, second, or third time (below‐cutoff) became eligible in 2005, and women giving birth for the fourth time or more (above‐cutoff) became eligible two years later. Using a difference‐in‐differences design, I find that below‐cutoff women in high Human Development Index (HDI) districts increased facility delivery by 8.8 percentage points. Despite larger cost reductions, below‐cutoff women in low HDI districts did not increase facility delivery but increased home delivery with skilled personnel by 4.8 percentage points. The program had no impact on above‐cutoff women, who become eligible 2 years into the program. I suggest that pre‐existing barriers such as poor infrastructure of roads and facilities, customs, liquidity constraints, and lack of program awareness limited the program's effectiveness.
Medical occupation preference under the influence of the COVID‐19 pandemic: The role of risk and altruistic preferences
Authors: Cartwright Edward , Guo Yiting , Wei Lijia , Xue Lian
Published: July 2023

We examine the influence of the COVID‐19 pandemic on medical occupation preference, focusing on Wuhan, China. We conducted a survey of 5686 respondents in China regarding the influence of the COVID‐19 pandemic on medical occupation preference. We also conducted a complimentary survey in the UK with 1198 respondents, as well as a field experiment in Wuhan with 428 first and second‐year medical students. We find a significant negative impact of the pandemic on the willingness to let a loved one choose a medical occupation. Individuals who were heavily influenced by the pandemic, that is, Wuhan residents, especially medical workers, express significantly lower medical occupation preference. Further analysis from Sobel‐Goodman mediation tests reveals that around half of the total negative effect can be mediated by enhanced risk aversion and reduced altruism. The UK survey and the field experiment with medical students in Wuhan reinforce these findings. Our results suggest a shift in medical workers' risk‐ and altruistic‐preferences has led to a reduced medical occupation preference. Non‐medical workers and students who are more altruistic and risk‐seeking are more likely to choose a medical occupation.
Price spillovers and specialization in health care: The case of children's hospitals
Authors: McCarthy Ian M. , Raval Mehul V.
Published: July 2023

Specialty hospitals tend to negotiate higher commercial insurance payments, even for relatively routine procedures with comparable clinical quality across hospital types. How specialty hospitals can maintain such a price premium remains an open question. In this paper, we examine a potential (horizontal) differentiation effect in which patients perceive specialty hospitals as sufficiently distinct from other hospitals, so that specialty hospitals effectively compete in a separate market from general acute care hospitals. We estimate this effect in the context of routine pediatric procedures offered by both specialty children's hospitals as well as general acute care hospitals, and we find strong empirical evidence of a differentiation effect in which specialty children's hospitals appear largely immune to competitive forces from non‐children's hospitals.
Pandemic preparedness with 20/20 vision: Applying an intersectional equity lens to health workforce planning
Authors: Kapilashrami Anuj , Aziz Roomi
Published: July 2023

Human resource for health (HRH) is considered critical for achieving Universal Health Coverage, and the crisis surrounding HRH is now established as a global emergency. Their vital role has been central in the pandemic response. Yet, the discussions and deliberations on the recent pandemic treaty circumscribe HRH discussions to their capacities and protection, and address discrimination mainly in relation to gender. While this paper endorses the case for prioritisation of HRH in global pandemic preparedness planning, it re‐frames the HRH crisis in relation to the institutional and structural factors driving HRH shortage, maldistribution and skills‐needs misalignment. We critique the supply‐and‐demand framing of HRH crisis as one that obliviates the systematic inequalities within health systems that underpin health workforce motivations, distribution, satisfaction and performance. We propose an intersectional equity lens to redefine the HRH challenges, understand their underlying drivers and accordingly integrate in the global pandemic preparedness plans.
A TOGAF based interoperable health information system needs assessment for practitioner–patient interaction
Authors: Denhere Prosper Tafadzwa , Ruhode Ephias , Zhou Munyaradzi
Published: July 2023

eHealth systems have been created in most developing countries to facilitate the functioning of healthcare operations and as such various healthcare applications are existing as fragmented silo systems. Such autonomous standalone systems do not communicate through a network thereby making it a challenge to share healthcare data. Therefore, to re‐engineer health information systems (HISs) to develop interoperable adaptive enterprise architecture (EA) systems for healthcare, the study aimed to discover and capture healthcare interoperability functional imperatives through understanding the expectations of healthcare practitioners and patients on post‐development of an interoperable HIS. Therefore, the study's aim was to determine the HISs interoperability perceived functional expectations by both patients and practitioners in fulfilling their healthcare receipt and provision needs in an integrated healthcare environment, respectively. The Open Group Architecture Framework (TOGAF) was used as the main study framework to guide the classification of the expectations from the HIS by patients and practitioners deriving the needs from the four domains which are, business architecture (BA), application architecture (AA), data architecture (DA), and technical architecture. The study used interviews and questionnaire surveys to collect qualitative and quantitative data respectively. The study used purposive sampling to select interview participants. A total of 19 interviews were conducted with healthcare practitioners. Questionnaires were collected from 71 healthcare practitioners and 143 patients and analyzed quantitatively respectively to understand the most significant needs anticipated in an interoperable HIS. The research targeted age groups of at least 20 years and above. The study discovered that patients and practitioners expect the interoperable healthcare environment to support the acquisition of disease knowledge through healthcare surveillance synergies; create healthcare awareness through coordinated digital interactions; augmentation of healthcare intelligence for patient‐care through the healthcare knowledgebase; allow treatment collaboration by various healthcare practitioners in the healthcare ecosystem and mostly achieving a guaranteed healthcare system security and assurance environment.
Commonalities and contrasts: North American program directors' perspectives on genetic counseling education
Authors: Baty Bonnie J. , Davis Claire
Published: July 2023

There is currently a gap in the literature regarding education by and for genetic counseling (GC) students and genetic counselors. Since little is written about current strategies used in GC graduate programs, we conducted a qualitative semi‐structured interview study of North American GC program directors to learn about their educational goals and practices. We recruited 25 program directors from the United States and Canada through the Association of Genetic Counseling Program Directors for interviews using a video conferencing platform. Interviews were recorded and transcribed, followed by content analysis to analyze education frameworks; processes of program planning and development; approaches and strategies for teaching and assessing GC core knowledge and skills; and systemic factors that influence GC education. We emphasized areas that are challenging to teach, particularly ethical, legal, and social issues (ELSI); disability issues; genomics; counseling skills; diversity, equity, inclusion, justice (DEIJ) issues; professional identity; research skills; and teaching skills. We found commonalities supported by standards and practice‐based competencies and also a rich diversity of program cultures, approaches, and techniques for teaching and assessing genetic counseling skills. There was a consistent theme of integration across the program for all areas examined. A multilayered, comprehensive approach to DEIJ issues was advocated. Planned change was a logical outcome of program assessment, while unplanned change called for flexibility and creativity. The description of GC educational practices provides documentation of current approaches and strategies, guidance for new GC programs, and inspiration for continued evolution of existing GC graduate programs.
CRISPR‐Cas9 screening identified lethal genes enriched in necroptosis pathway and of prognosis significance in osteosarcoma
Authors: Cheng Ling , Xiong Wei , Li Song , Wang Gao , Zhou Jie , Li Haoguang
Published: July 2023

Background

The present study aimed to identify indispensable genes associated with tumor cell viability according to the clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)/CRISPR‐associated protein 9 (Cas9) datasets, which may support new therapeutic targets for patients with osteosarcoma.

Methods

The transcriptome patterns between tumor and normal tissues, which were obtained from the Therapeutically Applicable Research to Generate Effective Treatments dataset, were overlapped with the genomics associated with cell viability screened by CRISPR‐Cas9 technology. Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes and Gene Ontology analyses were employed to determine enrichment pathways related to lethal genes. Least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) regression was employed to construct a risk model related to lethal genes for predicting clinical outcomes of osteosarcoma. Univariate and multivariate Cox regressions were conducted to assess the prognostic value of this feature. Weighted gene co‐expression network analysis was performed to identify modules associated with patients with high‐risk score.

Results

In total, 34 lethal genes were identified in this investigation. These genes were enriched in the necroptosis pathway. The risk model based on LASSO regression algorithm distinguishes patients with high‐risk score from patients with low‐risk score. Compared with low‐risk patients, high‐risk patients showed a shorter overall survival rate in both the training and validation sets. The time‐dependent receiver operating characteristic curves of 1, 3 and 5 years displayed that the risk score has great prediction performance. The necroptosis pathway represents the main difference in biological behavior between the high‐risk group and the low‐risk group. Meanwhile, CDK6 and SMARCB1 may serve as important targets for detecting osteosarcoma progression.

Conclusions

The present study developed a predictive model that outperformed classical clinicopathological parameters for predicting the clinical outcomes of osteosarcoma patients and identified specific lethal genes, including CDK6 and SMARCB1, as well as the necroptosis pathway. These findings may serve as potential targets for future osteosarcoma treatments.
Cell death and wing reduction during the metamorphosis of sex‐specific flightless morphs in winter geometrid moths
Authors: Niitsu Shuhei , Onoue Kanako , Tanio Takashi , Ito Hayato , Naka Hideshi , Nakajima Hideo , Sakamoto Yusuke , Someya Tamotsu , Yano Takahiro , Kamito Takehiko , Endo Hideki , Yago Masaya
Published: July 2023

Winter geometrid moths show striking sexual dimorphism by having female‐specific flightless morphs. The evolutionary grades of wing reduction in winter geometrid moths vary and range from having short wings, vestigial wings, to being wingless. Although the ontogenetic processes underlying the development of the wingless or short‐wing morphs in Lepidoptera has been well studied, the mechanisms underlying the development of vestigial wing morphs in winter geometrid moths during metamorphosis are poorly understood. In the winter geometrid moth Sebastosema bubonaria Warren, 1896, the males have functional wings, but the females have vestigial wings. Here, we studied the ontogenetic processes affecting wing reduction in the winter geometrid moth S. bubonaria using light microscopy and transmission electron microscopy, and compared the ontogenetic process of wing reduction in this species with that in another species of the wingless‐female winter moth that we investigated previously. Our results showed that, in the vestigial‐wing morphs, the loss of pupal wing epithelium was terminated in the middle of the wing degeneration process, whereas in the wingless morph, the pupal wing epithelium disappeared almost completely and the final appearance of the wings differed slightly among flightless morphs. We propose that the extent and location of cell death in the pupal wing play an important role in the various patterns of reduced wings that are observed in flightless moths.
Proton radiation therapy patient selection and impacts of COVID‐19: A scoping review
Authors: Wood Lucy , Giles Eileen , Cunningham Lisa , Le Hien , Zientara Nicole , Short Michala
Published: July 2023

This scoping review aimed to determine whether the COVID‐19 pandemic influenced any modifications to patient selection methods or prioritisation and services provided by proton therapy (PT) centres. This review was conducted based on the PRISMA methodology and Joanna Briggs Institute scoping review guidelines. A literature search was performed in Medline, Embase, Web of Science and Scopus, as well as grey literature. Keywords such as “COVID‐19” and “Proton Therapy” were used. Articles published from 1 January 2020 in English were included. In total, 138 studies were identified of which 11 articles met the inclusion criteria. A scoping review design was chosen to capture the full extent of information published relating to the aim. Six of 11 articles included statements regarding treatment of COVID‐19 patients. Three publications recommended deferred or alternative treatment, two indicated to treat urgent/emergency patients and one reported continuous treatment for infectious patients. Recurring impacts on PT provision included more frequent use of unconventional therapies, reduced referrals, delayed treatment starts and CT simulation, change in treatment target volumes and staffing limitations due to pandemic restrictions. Consequently, telehealth consults, remote work, reduction in patient visitors, screening procedures and rigorous cleaning protocols were recommended. Few publications detailed changes to patient selection or workflow methods during the pandemic. Further research is needed to obtain more detailed information regarding current global patient selection methods in PT, collecting this data could aid in future planning for PT in Australia.
Meta‐analyzing partial correlation coefficients using Fisher's z transformation
Authors: van Aert Robbie C. M.
Published: July 2023

The partial correlation coefficient (PCC) is used to quantify the linear relationship between two variables while taking into account/controlling for other variables. Researchers frequently synthesize PCCs in a meta‐analysis, but two of the assumptions of the common equal‐effect and random‐effects meta‐analysis model are by definition violated. First, the sampling variance of the PCC cannot assumed to be known, because the sampling variance is a function of the PCC. Second, the sampling distribution of each primary study's PCC is not normal since PCCs are bounded between −1 and 1. I advocate applying the Fisher's z transformation analogous to applying Fisher's z transformation for Pearson correlation coefficients, because the Fisher's z transformed PCC is independent of the sampling variance and its sampling distribution more closely follows a normal distribution. Reproducing a simulation study by Stanley and Doucouliagos and adding meta‐analyses based on Fisher's z transformed PCCs shows that the meta‐analysis based on Fisher's z transformed PCCs had lower bias and root mean square error than meta‐analyzing PCCs. Hence, meta‐analyzing Fisher's z transformed PCCs is a viable alternative to meta‐analyzing PCCs, and I recommend to accompany any meta‐analysis based on PCCs with one using Fisher's z transformed PCCs to assess the robustness of the results.
Deficit irrigation combined with nitrogen application in the early growth stage of sugar beet increases the production capacity of canopy and avoids yield loss
Authors: Zhou Hongliang , Wang Le , Xu Pengjie , Zhang Lijuan , Huang Ruimin , Yang Mingfeng , Wang Kaiyong , Fan Hua
Published: July 2023

Background

Properly reduced irrigation combined with nitrogen (N) application can be used to improve crop water use efficiency (WUE) in arid regions, but its effect on sugar beet is unknown at present. A two‐year field experiment was conducted to evaluate the effects of N application (N0, 0; N1, 150; N2, 225 kg N ha−1) on the canopy production capacity (CPC), yield and WUE of sugar beet under normal irrigation (W1, 70% of field capacity (FC)) and deficit irrigation (DI) (W2, 50% FC) in the early growth stage (EGS).

Results

The results showed that the W2 treatment reduced the CPC by reducing gas exchange, leaf area index (LAI) and chlorophyll content (SPAD value) of sugar beet leaves compared to the W1 treatment. However, DI combined with N application increased these parameters. Specifically, N application increased the net photosynthetic rate by 40.7% by increased gas exchange, SPAD and LAI compared to the N0 treatment. In addition, N application increased WUE by 12.5% by increasing thickness of upper surface, stomatal aperture and cross‐sectional area of petiole. This ultimately led to a significant increase in taproot yield (TY; 19.7%) and sugar yield (SY; 57.6%). Although the TY of the N2 treatment was higher than that of the N1 treatment, the SY and WUE did not increase significantly and the harvest index decreased significantly by 9.3%.

Conclusion

DI combined with 150 kg N ha−1in the EGS of sugar beet increases the WUE in arid areas while avoiding yield loss by improving the CPC. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry.
A New Floating Piezoelectric Microphone for Fully Implantable Cochlear Implants in Middle Ear
Authors: Xu Xin‐Da , Zhang Wei‐Xun , Jia Xian‐Hao , Wu Yong‐Zhen , Kang Hou‐Yong , Chi Fang‐Lu , Gao Na
Published: July 2023

Objective

Our team designed a long‐lasting, well‐sealed microphone, which uses laser welding and vacuum packaging technology. This study examined the sensitivity and effectiveness of this new floating piezoelectric microphone (NFPM) designed for totally implantable cochlear implants (TICIs) in animal experiments and intraoperative testing.

Methods

Different NFPM frequency responses from 0.25 to 10 kHz at 90 dB SPL were analyzed using in vivo testing of cats and human patients. The NFPM was tested in different positions that were clamped to the ossicular chains or placed in the tympanic cavity of cats and human patients. Two volunteers' long incus foot and four cats' malleus neck of the ossicular chain were clamped with the NSFM. The output electrical signals from different locations were recorded, analyzed, and compared. The NFPM was removed after the test without causing any damage to the middle‐ear structure of the cats. Intraoperative tests of the NFPM were performed during the cochlear implant surgery and the cochlear implant surgery was completed after all tests.

Results

Compared with the results in the tympanic cavity, the NFPM could detect the vibration from the ossicular chain more sensitively in cat experiments and intraoperative testing. We also found that the signal output level of the NFPM decreased as the acoustic stimulation strength decreased in the intraoperative testing.

Conclusion

The NFPM is effective in the intraoperative testing, making it feasible as an implantable middle‐ear microphone for TICIs.

Level of Evidence

4 Laryngoscope, 134:937–944, 2024
Environmental Impact of Adult Tonsillectomy: Life Cycle Assessment and Cost Comparison of Techniques
Authors: Meiklejohn Duncan A. , Khan Zafrul H. , Nuñez Karyn M. , Imhof Lee , Osmani Sabah , Benavidez Amaris C. , Tarefder Rafiqul
Published: July 2023

Objectives

To quantify and compare the cost and environmental impact of different techniques for adult tonsillectomy surgery, and to identify target areas for impact reduction.

Methods

Fifteen consecutive adult tonsillectomy surgeries were prospectively randomized to one of three tonsillectomy techniques: cold, monopolar electrocautery, or low‐temperature radiofrequency ablation (Coblation). Life cycle assessment was used to comprehensively evaluate the environmental impact of study surgeries. Outcomes assessed included multiple measures of environmental impact, including greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, and cost. Environmental impact measures were analyzed to identify highest‐yield areas for improvement, and outcomes were compared between surgical techniques using statistical analysis.

Results

GHG emissions for cold, monopolar electrocautery, and Coblation techniques were 157.6, 184.5, and 204.7 kilograms of carbon dioxide equivalents (kgCO2‐eq) per surgery, respectively, with costs totaling $472.51, $619.10, and $715.53 per surgery, respectively. Regardless of surgery technique, anesthesia medications and disposable equipment contributed most to environmental harm. Cold technique demonstrated reduced environmental impact related to disposable surgical equipment in the categories of greenhouse gas emissions, acidification of soil and water, eutrophication of air, ozone depletion, release of carcinogenic, and non‐carcinogenic toxic substances, and respiratory pollutant production (p < 0.05 for all comparisons with other techniques).

Conclusion

Within the boundaries of operating room processes, cold technique minimizes cost and environmental impact of adult tonsillectomy surgery, with statistical significance noted in the impact of disposable surgical equipment. Areas of highest potential for improvement identified include reducing use of disposable equipment and collaboration with the Anesthesiology care team to streamline medication use.

Level of Evidence

2, randomized trial Laryngoscope, 134:622–628, 2024
Lateral Transcervical In‐office Botulinum Toxin Injection for Retrograde Cricopharyngeal Dysfunction
Authors: Doruk Can , Pitman Michael J.
Published: July 2023

Objective

Operating room (OR) injection of botulinum toxin (BTX) injection is effective in the management of retrograde cricopharyngeal dysfunction (RCPD). This study aims to analyze the efficacy and safety of in‐office (IO) 30 Unit BTX injection into the cricopharyngeus via lateral transcervical approach.

Methods

A retrospective chart review of patients who underwent BTX injection either in the OR or IO for RCPD was performed. Postoperative success, defined by patient‐reported complete or near complete resolution of symptoms, side effects, and complication rates of each group was determined and compared. To determine the learning curve of IO injections, success rates of the injections performed in the early and late 6 months were compared. Chi‐square test was used for determining the statistical significance.

Results

Overall, 78 injections (37 IO and 41 OR) for RCPD were performed by the senior author. The success rate of OR injections (90.2%) is significantly higher than IO injections (64.9%) at the first‐month follow‐up (p = 0.022). No significant difference was found in the side effect rates. Success and side effect rates were also similar in early and late injections (p > 0.05).

Conclusions

IO lateral transcervical BTX injection for RCPD is a safe method that does not require general or topical anesthesia. While the side effects are similar and IO injections have many advantages, the success rates are lower than OR injections.

Level of Evidence

3 Laryngoscope, 134:283–286, 2024
Nanopore sequencing technology and its applications
Authors: Zheng Peijie , Zhou Chuntao , Ding Yuemin , Liu Bin , Lu Liuyi , Zhu Feng , Duan Shiwei
Published: July 2023

Since the development of Sanger sequencing in 1977, sequencing technology has played a pivotal role in molecular biology research by enabling the interpretation of biological genetic codes. Today, nanopore sequencing is one of the leading third‐generation sequencing technologies. With its long reads, portability, and low cost, nanopore sequencing is widely used in various scientific fields including epidemic prevention and control, disease diagnosis, and animal and plant breeding. Despite initial concerns about high error rates, continuous innovation in sequencing platforms and algorithm analysis technology has effectively addressed its accuracy. During the coronavirus disease (COVID‐19) pandemic, nanopore sequencing played a critical role in detecting the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus‐2 virus genome and containing the pandemic. However, a lack of understanding of this technology may limit its popularization and application. Nanopore sequencing is poised to become the mainstream choice for preventing and controlling COVID‐19 and future epidemics while creating value in other fields such as oncology and botany. This work introduces the contributions of nanopore sequencing during the COVID‐19 pandemic to promote public understanding and its use in emerging outbreaks worldwide. We discuss its application in microbial detection, cancer genomes, and plant genomes and summarize strategies to improve its accuracy.
Approximately dual frames of vector‐valued nonstationary Gabor frames and reconstruction errors
Authors: Lian Qiao‐Fang , You Minghou
Published: July 2023

Nonstationary Gabor (NSG) frames for
allow for flexible sampling and varying window functions and have found applications in adaptive signal analysis. Recently, the first author of this paper generalized the notion of NSG frames for
to the space
of vector‐valued signals and investigated the existence of vector‐valued NSG (VVNSG) frames. In this paper, we consider the reconstruction of any functions in
from coefficients obtained from VVNSG frames. We provide different approximately dual frames of VVNSG frames and give the corresponding reconstruction error bounds. In particular, for a special class of VVNSG frames that are related to painless VVNSG frames, we show that the approximately dual frames carry the VVNSG structure, which is very important since there exist fast analysis and reconstruction algorithms for VVNSG frames. We also provide a method to construct the special class of VVNSG Bessel sequences. Finally, a constructive example is given to illustrate the theoretical results.
Uniqueness in phaseless inverse electromagnetic scattering problem with known superposition of incident electric dipoles
Authors: Niu Tian , Lv Junliang , Wu Dan
Published: July 2023

In this paper, we consider the uniqueness of the phaseless inverse electromagnetic scattering problems. The phaseless data are the modulus of the tangential component of the far‐field pattern measured on the unit sphere and generated by the scatterer as well as the electric dipoles. Based on the superpositions of two electric dipoles with different positions and polarization vectors as the incident fields, the translation invariance property of the phaseless far‐field pattern corresponding to a single incident wave can be broken. A rigorous argument is given to illustrate that the location, shape, and boundary conditions of the obstacle or the refractive index of the medium can be uniquely determined by the phaseless far‐field data. Different from the existing method, we do not need to introduce an additional reference sphere. Thus our method makes the argument of uniqueness much simpler and clearer.
Continuum limits for rational, breather solutions, and gauge equivalent model of the generalized discrete nonlinear Schrödinger equation
Authors: Ma Liyuan , Song Haifang , Zhang Yanli , Shen Shoufeng
Published: July 2023

In this paper, we focus on an integrable higher‐order discrete nonlinear Schrödinger (dNLS) equation, which yields the Lakshmanan–Porsezian–Daniel (LPD) equation in the continuum limit. The breather solutions of the higher‐order dNLS are obtained for the first time. We show that the rational solutions and breather solutions of the higher‐order dNLS equation yield the counterparts of the integrable fourth‐order NLS equation under proper continuous limits. Most importantly, we also explore the gauge equivalent equation of the higher‐order dNLS equation from the point of view of the continuous limit theory. We make integrable discretization for the linear spectrum problem of the integrable generalized Heisenberg ferromagnetic equation that is just the gauge equivalent structure of the LPD equation. Compatibility condition of the discrete linear spectrum problem leads to a discrete integrable generalized Heisenberg Ferromagnetic equation. It is revealed that the discrete linear spectrum problem of the discrete integrable generalized ferromagnetic equation converges to the corresponding spectrum problem of the integrable generalized Feisenberg spin model in the continuum limit.In addition, with the help of the method of linear combinations for the conserved fluxes and densities, the conservation laws of the integrable higher‐order dNLS equation converge to the homologous results of the LPD equation.
Technical note: Cartilage imaging with sub‐cellular resolution using a laboratory‐based phase‐contrast x‐ray microscope
Authors: Esposito Michela , Astolfo Alberto , Cipiccia Silvia , Jones Charlotte Maughan , Savvidis Savvas , Ferrara Joseph D. , Endrizzi Marco , Dudhia Jayesh , Olivo Alessandro
Published: July 2023

Background

Microscopic imaging of cartilage is a key tool for the study and development of treatments for osteoarthritis. When cellular and sub‐cellular resolution is required, histology remains the gold standard approach, albeit limited by the lack of volumetric information as well as by processing artifacts. Cartilage imaging with the sub‐cellular resolution has only been demonstrated in the synchrotron environment.

Purpose

To provide a proof‐of‐concept demonstration of the capability of a laboratory‐based x‐ray phase‐contrast microscope to resolve sub‐cellular features in a cartilage sample.

Methods

This work is based on a laboratory‐based x‐ray microscope using intensity‐modulation masks. The structured nature of the beam, resulting from the mask apertures, allows the retrieval of three contrast channels, namely, transmission, refraction and dark‐field, with resolution depending only on the mask aperture width. An ex vivo equine cartilage sample was imaged with the x‐ray microscope and results were validated with synchrotron tomography and histology.

Results

Individual chondrocytes, that is, cells responsible for cartilage formation, could be detected with the laboratory‐based microscope. The complementarity of the three retrieved contrast channels allowed the detection of sub‐cellular features in the chondrocytes.

Conclusions

We provide the first proof‐of‐concept of imaging cartilage tissue with sub‐cellular resolution using a laboratory‐based x‐ray microscope.
Risk factors associated with recurrent febrile urinary tract infection in children with neurogenic bladder who perform clean intermittent catheterization
Authors: Zhou Guanglun , Jiang Man , Liu Xiaodong , Li Shoulin , Chen Jinjun
Published: July 2023

Objective

To identify the clinical and urodynamic risk factors associated with the development of recurrent febrile urinary tract infections (FUTIs) in children with neurogenic bladder (NB) who perform clean intermittent catheterization (CIC).

Methods

Children with NB receiving CIC were prospectively enrolled from January to December 2019 and followed up prospectively for 2 years. All data were compared between occasional (0–1 FUTI) and recurrent FUTIs (≥2 FUTI) groups. In addition, the risk factors for recurrent FUTIs in children were evaluated.

Results

Complete data from 321 children were analyzed. Occasional FUTIs occurred in 223 patients, and 98 patients experienced recurrent FUTIs. Univariate and multivariate analyses, showed late‐initiation and low‐frequency CIC, vesicoureteral reflux (VUR), small bladder capacity and low compliance, and detrusor overactivity were associated with an increased risk of recurrent FUTIs. Children with high‐grade VUR (grades IV‒V) had a higher risk of recurrent FUTIs than those with low‐grade VUR (grades I‒III) (odds ratio [OR]: 26.95 vs. OR: 4.78, p < 0.001).

Conclusions

Our study suggests that late‐initiation and low‐frequency CIC, VUR, small bladder capacity and low compliance, and detrusor overactivity were associated with recurrent FUTIs in patients with NB. In addition, high‐grade VUR is a crucial risk factor for recurrent FUTIs.
Interprofessional implementation of the Global Malnutrition Composite Score quality measure
Authors: Bechtold Matthew L. , Nepple Kenneth G. , McCauley Sharon M. , Badaracco Christina , Malone Ainsley
Published: July 2023

Malnutrition in hospitalized patients can impact health outcomes, quality of life, and health equity. Quality improvement initiatives and quality measurement can help improve the care of those hospitalized patients with malnutrition. The new Global Malnutrition Composite Score (GMCS) was recently adopted by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) as a health equity–focused measure. Beginning in 2024, the GMCS is available for reporting through the CMS Hospital Inpatient Quality Reporting Program. The GMCS provides an opportunity to elevate the importance of patient nutrition status and evidence‐based interventions throughout the interdisciplinary hospital decision‐making process. To promote this opportunity, the American Society for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition (ASPEN) held an “Interprofessional implementation of the Global Malnutrition Composite Score” webinar as part of its 2022 Malnutrition Awareness Week programming. This article summarizes the underlying rationale and significance of the GMCS measure and showcases clinical observations about integrating quality improvement and measurement into the acute care setting, as presented during the webinar.
Exhaled aerosols and saliva droplets measured in time and 3D space: Quantification of pathogens flow rate applied to SARS‐CoV‐2
Authors: Roth Adrian , Stiti Mehdi , Frantz David , Corber Andrew , Berrocal Edouard
Published: July 2023

SARS‐CoV‐2 and its ever‐emerging variants are spread from host‐to‐host via expelled respiratory aerosols and saliva droplets. Knowing the number of virions which are exhaled by a person requires precise measurements of the size, count, velocity and trajectory of the virus‐laden particles that are ejected directly from the mouth. These measurements are achieved in 3D, at 15,000 images/s, and are applied when speaking, yelling and coughing. In this study, 33 events have been analysed by post‐processing ∼500,000 images. Using these data, the flow rates of SARS‐CoV‐2 virions have been evaluated. At high concentrations, 107 virions/mL, it is found that 136–231 virions are ejected during a single cough, where the virion flow rate peak is capable of reaching 32 virions within a millisecond. This peak can reach tens of virions/ms when yelling but reduced to only a few virions/ms when speaking. At medium concentrations, ∼105 virions/mL, those results are hundreds of times lower. The total number of virions that are ejected when yelling at 110 dB, instead of speaking at 85 dB, increases by two‐ to threefold. From the measured data analysed in this article, the flow rate of other diseases, such as influenza, tuberculosis or measles, can also be estimated. As these data are openly accessible, they can be used by modellers for the simulation of saliva droplet transport and evaporation, allowing to further advance our understanding of airborne pathogen transmission.

Key points

Advanced, optimized and combined laser‐based imaging techniques for temporally sizing and tracking respiratory droplets and aerosols.

Understanding how pathogens are being ejected from the mouth when speaking, yelling and coughing.

Quantifying and analysing the variation of SARS‐CoV‐2 flow rates emission during exhalation.
Operators Need to Know About Organic Contaminants
Authors: Adams Hunter , Hanigan David , Marfil‐Vega Ruth , Ryan Donald , Mccurry Daniel , Keen Olya , Ash Steve , Southard Mark
Published: July 2023

Understanding the differences between types of organic contaminants and their regulatory requirements helps operators maintain a well‐operating treatment plant.
It's Only a Broken Pipe—How Hard Can It Be?
Authors: Mcbride Wesley
Published: July 2023

A utility's water main repair was a triple‐bottom‐line success, thanks to having a plan in place that considered efficiency, costs, and customer service, allowing the utility to respond quickly to unforeseen events.
Modernizing a Water Treatment Plant for the Next 100 Years
Authors: Taubert Alan F. , Perron Brad , Fortin John
Published: July 2023

To address present‐day issues with its water treatment facility while planning for operations and infrastructure that would endure, a Massachusetts water utility carefully designed a sustainability plan with true staying power.
Integrated strategy for the screening of cyclooxygenase‐2 inhibitors from triterpenoid saponins in Clematis tangutica
Authors: Wei Yangfei , Chen Tao , Wang Shuo , Shen Cheng , Song Zhibo , Li Aijing , Li Hongmei , Li Yulin
Published: July 2023

Introduction

Screening of novel cyclooxygenase‐2 (COX‐2) inhibitors from complex natural products is not an easy task.

Objectives

To establish an efficient and feasible strategy for screening COX‐2 inhibitors from triterpenoid saponins (TPSs) in Clematis tangutica.

Methods

Taking TPSs in C. tangutica as example, an optimized macroporous resin (MR) method was established for the enrichment of TPSs. High‐performance liquid chromatography–quadrupole time‐of‐flight mass spectrometry (HPLC‐QTOFMS) was performed to establish the phytochemical profiling of TPSs. Molecular docking was performed to predict the ligand–target interactions and discover the active substances. Chemometric techniques were performed to visualize the structure–effect relationships. High‐speed countercurrent chromatography and preparative HPLC were performed to prepare the targets. In vitro activity experiment of COX‐2 was performed to verify the virtual screening results.

Results

TPSs in C. tangutica were well enriched with the recovery rate of (80.22 ± 2.37)%. Thirty‐four kinds of TPSs of oleanane type were deduced by HPLC‐QTOFMS. Five TPSs of clematangoside C, clematangoside D, clematangoticoside J, hederoside H1, and hederasaponin B showed stronger binding abilities with COX‐2. The structure with more sugar groups at C‐28 may be more conducive to the combination with COX‐2. Targets were prepared with purities all above 98%. The IC50 values of target TPSs were 6.03 ± 0.24, 12.44 ± 0.15, 9.36 ± 0.19, 4.78 ± 0.13, and 2.59 ± 0.11 μmol/L, respectively.

Conclusion

The integrated strategy using MR, HPLC‐QTOFMS, molecular docking, chemometrics, target preparation, and in vitro verification was feasible for rapidly screening COX‐2 inhibitors from TPSs in C. tangutica.
The availability of attentional resources modulates the anger superiority effect
Authors: Gong Mingliang , Chen Yufei , Li Fanghui , Lin Zhen
Published: July 2023

It is much debated whether there is an anger superiority effect (ASE) in the recognition of facial expressions. Recent research has shown that the attentional demand of a task plays a vital role in the emergence and magnitude of the ASE. However, only a visual crowding task was employed to manipulate attentional demands, and it is unclear whether the emergence and magnitude of the ASE was contingent on the availability of attentional resources in general. The present study employed a dual‐task paradigm to manipulate the availability of attentional resources for facial expression discrimination in which participants were instructed to perform a central letter discrimination task and a peripheral facial expression discrimination task concurrently. Experiment 1 showed an ASE in the dual task but no ASE was yielded when the facial expression discrimination task was performed alone. Experiment 2 replicated this finding and further demonstrated a gradual shift from no ASE to an attenuated ASE and finally to a strong ASE as attentional resources that were available for facial expression discrimination gradually became limited. Together, these results suggest that the emergence and magnitude of the ASE is modulated by the availability of attentional resources, which supports an Attentional Demands Modulation Hypothesis of the ASE.
Synthesis of CuO/g‐C3N4 Composite with High Anti‐Interference Ability for Enhanced Fenton‐Like Catalysis
Authors: Zhang Xiao‐Hui , Ye Xiao‐Yu , Zhou Hao‐Yu , Han Guo‐Zhi
Published: July 2023

The combination of semiconductors and transition metal compounds for Fenton‐like application has been widely reported. However, there are still some problems that can be further studied such as the optimization of metal species and in‐depth research of mechanism. In this paper, using melamine and copper acetate as raw materials, a kind of composite of copper oxide and graphitic carbon nitride (CuO/g‐C3N4) is synthesized by a facile hydrothermal method. The synthetic conditions such as type of transition metal salt and ratio of raw material are further optimized. With the presence of H2O2, the CuO/g‐C3N4 composite shows exceptional broad‐spectrum Fenton‐like catalytic performance against the organic dyes in aqueous solution within a wide pH range, and the highest degradation rate of organic dyes can reach 99% within 10 min. After eight times of recycling, the catalytic activity of the composite can still remain more than 85%. More importantly, the CuO/g‐C3N4 composite presented excellent anti‐interference ability toward heavy metal ions and complex pollutants. Finally, the enhanced Fenton‐like catalytic mechanism is illustrated in detail.
Computational design of N‐linked glycans for high throughput epitope profiling
Authors: Greisen Per Jr. , Yi Li , Zhou Rong , Zhou Jian , Johansson Eva , Dong Tiantang , Liu Haimo , Johnsen Laust B. , Lund Søren , Svensson L. Anders , Zhu Haisun , Thomas Nidhin , Yang Zhiru , Østergaard Henrik
Published: July 2023

Efficient identification of epitopes is crucial for drug discovery and design as it enables the selection of optimal epitopes, expansion of lead antibody diversity, and verification of binding interface. Although high‐resolution low throughput methods like x‐ray crystallography can determine epitopes or protein–protein interactions accurately, they are time‐consuming and can only be applied to a limited number of complexes. To overcome these limitations, we have developed a rapid computational method that incorporates N‐linked glycans to mask epitopes or protein interaction surfaces, thereby providing a mapping of these regions. Using human coagulation factor IXa (fIXa) as a model system, we computationally screened 158 positions and expressed 98 variants to test experimentally for epitope mapping. We were able to delineate epitopes rapidly and reliably through the insertion of N‐linked glycans that efficiently disrupted binding in a site‐selective manner. To validate the efficacy of our method, we conducted ELISA experiments and high‐throughput yeast surface display assays. Furthermore, x‐ray crystallography was employed to verify the results, thereby recapitulating through the method of N‐linked glycans a coarse‐grained mapping of the epitope.
Machine vision safeguard assurance
Authors: Hodge Phillip
Published: July 2023

With the drive for increasing automation, unstaffed facilities, and improved process safety performance, new technologies are needed to assure that safe operations are being maintained. While typical practice has been to include increasingly complex sensors, they face limitations, especially at the human–machine interface. The transitory nature of high‐risk work and the difficulty with adding sensors to workers can leave this critical work as a blind spot to engineered systems. As such, we often rely on administrative or procedural controls to ensure that safeguards are in place and work remains safe. With the advancements in artificial intelligence, objects and actions can be recognized and monitored by a simple camera. With sufficient visual data, a camera can be trained to perform observations currently done by humans. This frees humans from routine tasks to do more abstract work and reduces or eliminates human failure modes that can weaken a safety system. This paper will highlight the work being done by Chevron to implement machine vision. Several use cases across the oil and gas value chain will be provided, showcasing their potential to improve process safety performance. Lessons learned from deployment and future growth of the technology will also be discussed.