bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Study protocol for developing a novel approach for improving supply chain management for SARS-CoV-2 point of care diagnostic services in resource-limited settings: a case study of Mopani District in Limpopo province, South Africa
Authors: Maluleke Kuhlula , Musekiwa Alfred , Mashamba-Thompson Tivani Phosa
Published: November 2022

Introduction

Recent evidence shows that point-of-care (POC) testing is a more feasible alternative for diagnosis of COVID-19 in settings that have poor access to laboratory diagnostic services. Equitable access to POC testing can be optimised through well-established supply chain management (SCM) systems. The proposed study aims to develop a novel approach for improving SCM for COVID-19 POC diagnostic services in resource-limited settings with poor access to laboratory diagnostic services, using Mopani District in Limpopo Province, South Africa as a study setting.

Methods and analysis

This study was guided by results of the scoping review. Following the scoping review, we propose a mixed-methods study, which will be implemented in three phases. First, we will perform a geospatial analysis to investigate the spatial distribution of COVID-19 testing services. Second, we will perform an audit of POC diagnostic services including its supply chain to evaluate the effect of SCM on accessibility of COVID-19 POC diagnostic services and reveal SCM barriers and enablers of accessibility of COVID-19 POC diagnostic services. Third, we will perform a nominal group technique to collaborate with key stakeholders in co-creation of a novel approach for improving SCM systems for COVID-19 POC diagnostic services. For the geospatial analysis, we will employ the ArcGIS Software. For the analysis of quantitative and qualitative data that will be generated from the audit and nominal group discussion, we will employ Stata software and NVivo software, respectively.

Ethics and dissemination

This study has been ethically reviewed and approved by two institutional review boards: University of Pretoria Faculty of Health Sciences Research Ethics Committee (approval number 655/2021) and Limpopo Department of Health Research Ethics Committee (approval number LP-2021-12-007). The results of this study will be disseminated through national and international presentations and peer-reviewed publications.
Effect of implementing the NEWS2 escalation protocol in a large acute NHS trust: a retrospective cohort analysis of mortality, workload and ability of early warning score to predict death within 24 hours
Authors: Forster Sarah , McKeever Tricia M , Shaw Dominick
Published: November 2022

Objectives

To describe the inpatient population, establish patterns in admission and mortality over a 4-year period in different cohorts and assess the prognostic ability and workload implications of introducing the National Early Warning Score 2 (NEWS2) and associated escalation protocol.

Design

Retrospective cohort analyses of medical and surgical inpatient admissions.

Setting

Large teaching hospital with tertiary inpatient care and a major trauma centre employing an electronic observations platform, initially with a local early warning score, followed by NEWS2 introduction in June 2019.

Participants

332 682 adult patients were admitted between 1 January 2016 and 31 December 2019.

Outcome measures

Mortality, workload and ability of early warning score to predict death within 24 hours.

Results

Admissions rose by 19% from 76 055 in 2016 to 90 587 in 2019. Total bed days rose by 10% from 433 382 to 477 485. Mortality fell from 3.7% to 3.1% and was significantly lower in patients discharged from a surgical specialty, 1.0%–1.2% (p<0.001). Total observations recorded increased by 14% from 1 976 872 in 2016 to 2 249 118 in 2019. 65% of observations were attributable to patients under medical specialties, 34% to patients under surgical specialties. Recorded escalations to the registrar were stable from January 2016 to May 2019 but trebled following the introduction of NEWS2 in June 2019.

Conclusions

There was an increase in hospital inpatient activity between 2016 and 2019, associated with a reduction in mortality and percentage of observations calculated as reaching threshold NEWS2 score of 7 for escalation to the registrar. The introduction of the NEWS2, with a higher sensitivity and lower specificity, when allied to its escalation protocol, was associated with a significant increase in actual recorded escalations to the registrar. This was more marked in the surgical population and would support refining threshold scores based on admission characteristics when developing the next iteration of NEWS.
(C)onsumer focused (E)ducation on p(A)racetamol (S)ide (E)ffects, i(N)adequate (O)utcomes and (W)eaning (CEASE NOW) for individuals with low back pain: results of a feasibility study
Authors: Patterson Thomas , Turner Justin , Gnjidic Danijela , Mintzes Barbara , Bennett Carol , Bywaters Lisa , Clavisi Ornella , Baysari Melissa , Ferreira Manuela , Beckenkamp Paula , Ferreira Paulo
Published: November 2022

Objectives

To determine the feasibility of a patient-education booklet to support patients with low back pain (LBP) to reduce paracetamol intake.

Design

Single group, repeated measures feasibility study.

Setting

Community.

Participants

Adults experiencing LBP of any kind and self-reporting consumption of paracetamol for LBP weekly for at least 1 month were invited to participate.

Intervention

Participants received a patient-education booklet 1 week after the baseline measures were collected. The intervention was designed to change beliefs, increase knowledge and self-efficacy to deprescribe paracetamol for their LBP and create discussion with a health professional through the mechanisms of motivation, capacity and opportunity.

Primary outcome measures

Feasibility of recruitment procedures, data collection and acceptability of the intervention.

Secondary outcome measures

Changes in motivation, self-efficacy, opportunity to deprescribe paracetamol for their LBP, paracetamol usage and LBP clinical outcomes at baseline, 1-week and 1-month follow-up.

Results

A total of 24 participants were recruited into the study within the timeframe of 3 months from study advertisement and all completed the study follow-up. There were no missing data for any outcome measure across all follow-up points, 22 (91.6%) participants were willing to participate in a future randomised control trial (RCT) and over 60% of participants responded positively to questions regarding acceptability of the patient-educational booklet. Overall, at the 1-month follow-up, approximately two thirds (15/24) of participants had an increase in motivation and self-efficacy scores and had discussed or intended to discuss their paracetamol use for LBP with a health professional.

Conclusions

The results of this study demonstrate that the patient-education booklet is feasible to implement, and both the intervention and study design were well-received by participants. This study supports the undertaking an RCT to assess the effects of the patient-education booklet on deprescribing paracetamol in people with LBP.
Imaging endpoints for clinical trial use: a RECIST perspective
Authors: Litière Saskia , Bogaerts Jan
Published: November 2022

Twenty years after its initial introduction, Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (RECIST) remains today a unique standardized tool allowing uniform objective evaluation of response in solid tumors in clinical trials across different treatment indications. Several attempts have been made to update or replace RECIST, but none have realized the general traction or uptake seen with RECIST. This communication provides an overview of some challenges faced by RECIST in the rapidly changing oncology landscape, including the incorporation of PET with18F-fluorodeoxyglucose tracer as a tool for response assessment and the validation of criteria for use in trials involving immunotherapeutics. The latter has mainly been slow due to lack of data sharing. Work is ongoing to try to address this.We also aim to share our view as statistician representatives on the RECIST Working Group on what would be needed to validate new imaging endpoints for clinical trial use, with a specific focus on RECIST. Whether this could lead to an update of RECIST or replace RECIST altogether, depends on the changes being proposed. The ultimate goal remains to have a well defined, repeatable, confirmable and objective standard as provided by RECIST today.
We want more! Examining the perceived training and information needs of health and fitness practitioners about disability and physical activity
Authors: Leo Jennifer , Tomasone Jennifer R. , Bassett-Gunter Rebecca L. , Knibbe Tara Joy , Latimer-Cheung Amy
Published: November 2022

A lack of disability-specific knowledge among practitioners poses a significant barrier to physical activity (PA) participation for persons with physical disabilities (PWPDs). This study aimed to identify perceived training needs of health and fitness practitioners to support PA for PWPDs. Canadian health and fitness practitioners ( n = 115; 81% female) completed an online survey. More specialized training and access to information about PA for PWPDs are needed. In-person training, webinars, and lived experiences of PWPDs are recommended.
A combined approach to the analysis of space and ground experimental data within a simplified E$$_6$$SSM
Authors: Khalil Shaaban , Kowalska Kamila , Moretti Stefano , Rojas-Ciofalo Diana , Waltari Harri
Published: November 2022

Within the Exceptional Supersymmetric Standard Model (E$$_6$$6SSM), we investigate signatures at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) for a long-lived charged inert higgsino, which is degenerate with the inert neutralino at tree level and a small mass splitting is generated at the loop level, resulting in a lifetime$$\mathcal{O}(0.02)$$O(0.02)nanoseconds. We focus on the most sensitive search for long-lived charged inert higgsino decays to the lightest neutral inert higgsino dark matter and very soft charged leptons, which are eventually stopped in the detector resulting in a disappearing-track signal. Furthermore, we study the displaced vertex signature of the inert chargino in the case where it is produced via the$$Z^{\prime }$$Z′portal. We illustrate how difficult it is to construct displaced vertices in this class of models, though some evidence could be gained at the High Luminosity LHC. Finally, we compare the spin independent and spin dependent cross sections of the lightest inert higgsino DM to those of current direct detection experiments, proving that it is possible to gain sensitivity to the active DM component of this scenario in the near future. The combination of these signatures with the one emerging from$$Z'$$Z′production and decay via Drell–Yan, which can be characterised as belonging to the E$$_6$$6SSM via both the cross section and Forward–Backward Asymmetry, could point uniquely to this non-minimal realisation of Supersymmetry.
Applying Artificial Intelligence Technology to Analyze the Athletes’ Training Under Sports Training Monitoring System
Authors: Tan Li , Ran Ningpei
Published: November 2022

With the rapid development of artificial intelligence, the related technologies and applications that accompany it emerge as the times require. The industry based on artificial intelligence is booming. Image recognition and target tracking technology are widely used in various fields, especially in the fields of security monitoring and augmented reality. Combined with the characteristics of athletes’ sports, an auxiliary information system is developed to supervise and guide the training in real time. It can track and analyze the characteristics of individual athletes’ sports function, the arrangement of coaches’ training plan, the state of brain function, the index of routine physiology and biochemistry, nutrition regulation, and the condition of injuries and injuries in the middle of the day, so as to reveal the athletes’ training in the middle of the day the changing rule of various indexes in the training state. Based on the mobile artificial intelligence terminal technology, this paper develops and designs a monitoring system for athletes’ training process in C/S mode. GPS is used to obtain athletes’ position information in real time and provide real-time guidance for athletes.
Modulation of transmembrane anion transport of porphyrin boxes by dynamic window size engineering
Authors: Lee Hong-Guen , Dhamija Avinash , Kim Kimoon
Published: November 2022

The development of synthetic transmembrane anion transport systems is of considerable interest, not only for mimicking the functions of natural transmembrane proteins but also for practical applications. We have recently reported a porous organic cage, porphyrin box (PB(8)) having multiple windows surrounded by octyl chains as an iodide selective anion channel. Herein, we report the modulation of transmembrane transport of halides ([Formula: see text], [Formula: see text], and [Formula: see text] by dynamic window size engineering of the cage with different alkyl chain lengths (hexyl PB(6), octyl PB(8) and decyl PB(10)). ‘Apparent’ transport rates were measured by the HPTS fluorescence assay, which shows a gradual decrease in the transport rate upon increasing the length of alkyl chains of PB. We calculate the transport rate per PB in order to make a fair comparison as the ‘apparent’ transport rate is proportional to the number of PBs embedded in the lipid membrane. The transport rate per PB reveals that increasing the length of the alkyl chains of PBs results in a substantial fall in the iodide transport rate while only marginally decreasing the transport rates of bromide and chloride, thereby decreasing the selectivity of iodide transport.
Chapter 7. Alternative North Sea Jurassic sequence stratigraphic schemes
Authors: Copestake Philip
Published: November 2022

This chapter reviews previously published North Sea Jurassic sequence stratigraphy schemes. Some of these works have applied the originally published J sequence schemes, while 18 have established new schemes. The most significant of these are discussed and compared to the newly defined J sequences. Most of these additional documented schemes have been defined for the Upper Jurassic interval, with a more limited number of schemes for the Lower and Middle Jurassic. Different authors have adopted a wide range of sequence notation methods while none of the publications describing the new sequence schemes has offered detailed sequence definitions. Due to the ensuing confusion, it is recommended that a more formal method of sequence definition is adopted in future sequence stratigraphic studies. In intervals in which reservoir successions are developed, such as the Fulmar Sandstone Member in the J56–J63 sequences, particularly in fields in which extensive coring has taken place, authors have usually been able to recognize additional sequences, which are probably at fourth-order scale, at a higher resolution than the defined third-order J sequences.
CP1 and Tribicarb-3D: unique long-term and large-scale
in situ
migration tests in Boom Clay at the HADES Underground Research Laboratory
Authors: Aertsens Marc , Weetjens Eef , Govaerts Joan , Maes Norbert , Brassinnes Stéphane
Published: November 2022

Assessing the long-term safety of a deep geological repository for the disposal of radioactive waste depends on an adequate understanding of the processes governing radionuclide transport. From the early days of the research on geological disposal in clay in Belgium, large-scale, long-term
in situ
migration experiments were started to test whether our knowledge acquired about small-scale samples can be scaled up in time and space. These experiments use multi-filter piezometers to introduce radiotracers in a ‘source filter’ and monitor their breakthrough in ‘monitoring filters’. The CP1 experiment started in 1988 and used HTO as a tracer, while the Tribicarb-3D started in 1995 and used a cocktail of HTO and

H

14

CO

3
−

. At the start of these experiments, blind predictions were made based on lab-derived parameters and a simple representation of the hydrological system. Several decades later, these blind predictions still describe the data remarkably well. These tests provide valuable data for upscaling and validating the transport models in Boom Clay and allow us to estimate transport parameters at a larger scale. They provide strong arguments that the radiological safety of a deep geological repository in a clay rock can be guaranteed.
Do Performance Aspirations Matter for Guiding Software Configuration Tuning? An Empirical Investigation under Dual Performance Objectives
Authors: Chen Tao , Li Miqing
Published: November 2022

Configurable software systems can be tuned for better performance. Leveraging on some Pareto optimizers, recent work has shifted from tuning for a single, time-related performance objective to two intrinsically different objectives that assess distinct performance aspects of the system, each with varying aspirations to be satisfied, e.g., “
the latency is less than 10s
” while “
the memory usage is no more than 1GB
”. Before we design better optimizers, a crucial engineering decision to make therein is how to handle the performance requirements with clear aspirations in the tuning process. For this, the community takes two alternative optimization models: either quantifying and incorporating the aspirations into the search objectives that guide the tuning, or not considering the aspirations during the search but purely using them in the later decision-making process only. However, despite being a crucial decision that determines how an optimizer can be designed and tailored, there is a rather limited understanding of which optimization model should be chosen under what particular circumstance, and why.

In this article, we seek to close this gap. Firstly, we do that through a review of over 426 articles in the literature and 14 real-world requirements datasets, from which we summarize four performance requirement patterns that quantify the aspirations in the configuration tuning. Drawing on these, we then conduct a comprehensive empirical study that covers 15 combinations of the state-of-the-art performance requirement patterns, four types of aspiration space, three Pareto optimizers, and eight real-world systems/environments, leading to 1,296 cases of investigation. Our findings reveal that (1) the realism of aspirations is the key factor that determines whether they should be used to guide the tuning; (2) the given patterns and the position of the realistic aspirations in the objective landscape are less important for the choice, but they do matter to the extents of improvement; (3) the available tuning budget can also influence the choice for unrealistic aspirations but it is insignificant under realistic ones. To promote open science practice, we make our code and dataset publicly available at:
https://github.com/ideas-labo/aspiration-study
.
An SMT solver for non-linear real arithmetic inside maple
Authors: Sadeghimanesh AmirHosein , England Matthew
Published: November 2022

We report on work-in-progress to create an SMT-solver inside Maple for non-linear real arithmetic (NRA). We give background information on the algorithm being implemented: cylindrical algebraic coverings as a theory solver in the lazy SMT paradigm. We then present some new work on the identification of minimal conflicting cores from the coverings.
Effects of Isoflavone Supplementation on the Response to Medroxyprogesterone in Premenopausal Women with Nonatypical Endometrial Hyperplasia: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial
Authors: Vahedpour Zahra , Boroumand Homa , Tabatabaee Anaraki Shirin , Tabasi Zohre , Motedayyen Hossein , Akbari Hossein , Raygan Fariba , Ostadmohammadi Vahidreza
Published: November 2022

Objective. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the impact of isoflavone supplementation compared with placebo on endometrial histology and serum estradiol levels in premenopausal women with nonatypical endometrial hyperplasia. Materials and Methods. The present double-blindplacebo-controlled clinical trial was conducted on 100 women with nonatypical endometrial hyperplasia in the age range of 30 to 45 years. Participants were randomly assigned to receive 50 mg of isoflavone (n = 50) or placebos (n = 50) daily for three months. Both groups received the standard treatment of nonatypical endometrial hyperplasia. Endometrial biopsy and blood samples were taken at the baseline and three months after the intervention. The incidence of drug side effects was assessed as well. Results. After three months, 88.4% of isoflavone-administered subjects had a significant histological improvement compared to 68.9% subjects in the placebo group (

P
=
0.02

). There were no significant differences between the two groups in the changes of serum estradiol levels and the incidence of drug side effects. Conclusion. The findings of the present study demonstrated that the coadministration of 50 mg of isoflavones and medroxyprogesterone acetate increases the treatment efficacy in women with nonatypical endometrial hyperplasia. Clinical Trial Registration. This trial was registered on the Iranian website for clinical trial registration (https://www.irct.ir/trial/53553).
Prevalence of Multiple Drug-Resistant Bacteria in the Main Campus Wastewater Treatment Plant of Wolaita Sodo University, Southern Ethiopia
Authors: Adugna Chimdesa , Sivalingam Krishna Moorthy
Published: November 2022

Wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) are important reservoirs for the development of drug resistance and a potential route for the dissemination of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) in the environment. One of the most serious challenges in Ethiopia is the widespread emergence of antibiotic resistance among bacterial pathogens. The bacteria were isolated between September 2018 and May 2019 from the main campus of Wolaita Sodo University in Southern Ethiopia. Using an enrichment process and selective media isolation, 380 wastewater treatment plant samples were collected and screened for the presence of various bacterial isolates. Of a total of 380 wastewater treatment samples, 136 were isolated. Positive prevalence was documented in 136 sample isolates of bacteria from six genera. Escherichia coli 34 (8.94%), Salmonella spp. 15 (3.94%), Shigella spp. 32 (8.42%), Staphylococcus aureus 23 (6.05%), Pseudomonas aeruginosa 21 (5.52%), and Proteus spp. 11 (2.89%). The general prevalence of bacterial isolates was assessed, and 136 (37.58%) samples tested positive for culture. Furthermore, isolates were used to determine sensitivity/resistance patterns using the Kirby–Bauer disc diffusion method and the agar well diffusion technique, respectively. Multiple drug resistance isolates and multiple values of the antibiotic resistance index were evaluated and recorded according to the resistant pattern. Some organisms were sensitive to sparfloxacin and tobramycin, while Staphylococcus aureus was sensitive to methicillin and others showed the highest resistance. At least four of the seven antibiotic classes were found to be resistant to multiple drug resistance isolates, and some classes of antibiotics were found to be highly sensitive to these isolates. Multiple antibiotic resistance index values ranged from 0.37 to 0.75, with Salmonella spp., Shigella spp., and Staphylococcus aureus having the highest score values. The current study has shown that some of the bacterial isolates were resistant to common antibiotics. Therefore, it is recommended that the emergence of multiple drug resistance increased rapidly, pathogenic bacteria inappropriate treated wastewater treatment plant systems were continuously contaminated, and bacterial resistance increased day by day as a result of environmental factors. As a result, due to the serious challenges facing the community’s health, multiple drug-resistant prevention and control strategies must be implemented.
Modular Furniture Design by Using Intelligent Platform and Wireless Sensors
Authors: Shilin Wu
Published: November 2022

The continuous development of the society has led to the improvement of people’s quality of life and consumption level. At the same time, peoples demand for all aspects of production and life is also increasing, thus promoting the emergence and innovation of intelligent household appliances. To manage these devices conveniently and quickly and enrich family life, “smart home” bureau plays a very important role. Smart home, which enters people’s family life, uses communication technology, Internet connection technology, automatic fire control technology, network wiring technology, and visual and audio transmission technology to communicate with home. Mobile terminals have been developed, and more and more PC functions have been realized. Based on the hardware platform of the smart home management system, two solutions were put forward. The first solution is combined with the current 5G network, and through it, the user can control the mobile phone and other mobile terminals on the corresponding application operation instructions to create. The second solution is the design of the web server intelligent management system, for relevant information. It is collected into the database of the server, allows remote access to the node and subscriber information related to storage in the database through the Internet, and searches the information to control the home lighting and temperature. This system is designed to imitate the modular scheme, which includes the central control module, sensor data acquisition module, and software module. Finally, on the browser side and the electronic devices of Android operating system, it realizes the wireless control of lighting, air conditioning, washing machine, and other devices, as well as the detection of the home environment.
DPP4 Is a Potential Prognostic Marker of Thyroid Carcinoma and a Target for Immunotherapy
Authors: Gao Xiaoqian , Le Yali , Geng Chenchen , Jiang Zhen , Zhao Guanghui , Zhang Ping
Published: November 2022

DPP4 (dipeptidyl peptidase 4) is expressed in many cancers, but the relationship between DPP4 and thyroid carcinoma (THCA) is incompletely understood. We aim to explore the expression of DPP4 in THCA and the correlation between DPP4 expression with the prognosis of THCA and antitumor immunity. We systematically analyzed data from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA), Genotype-Tissue Expression (GTEx), and Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) databases and explored DPP4 expression, its impact on prognosis, and its relationship with antitumor immunity in THCA. Next, we collected 18 pairs of fresh THCA and adjacent paracancerous tissues and performed RT-qPCR to validate the DPP4 mRNA level. Concurrently, immunohistochemistry (IHC) analysis was performed on 12 pairs of paraffin-embedded tissues of medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) and paracancerous tissues to validate the DPP4 protein level. Bioinformatics analysis showed that DPP4 mRNA expression in THCA was significantly higher than that in paracancerous tissues (

p
<
0.01

). DPP4 was expressed at the highest levels in MTC than in other pathological types. The DPP4 expression level was different between groups with different clinical characteristics. The higher the DPP4 expressed in THCA, the lower the disease-free survival (DFS) was (HR = 1.8,

p
=
0.048

). DPP4 was significantly correlated with immune cell infiltration and immune response and was positively associated with 21 immune checkpoint genes (ICGs) in THCA (

p
<
0.05

). The results of RT-qPCR showed that the relative mRNA expression of DPP4 was significantly upregulated in 18 THCA tissues compared to that in paracancerous tissues (

p
=
0.011

). IHC results showed that the DPP4 protein level was higher in 12 MTC tissues than in paracancerous tissues (

p
=
0.011

). In conclusion, DPP4 is a potential prognostic marker of THCA and may become an effective target for immunotherapy.
Finite-Time Attitude Tracking Control for Hypersonic Flight Vehicles with Actuator Saturation
Authors: Cao Teng , Gong Huajun , Xiao Huiyunuo , Xue Yixuan
Published: November 2022

This paper investigates finite-time attitude tracking control strategies for hypersonic flight vehicles (HFVs) with parameter uncertainties, external disturbances, and actuator saturations by applying sliding model control, adaptive mechanism, and nonlinear disturbance observer techniques. A nonlinear dynamic model of HFV attitude system in reentry flight phase is established. Then, a basic attitude control method of the HFV system is designed based on a terminal sliding mode control (TSMC) scheme to accommodate the system-lumped disturbance torques and guarantee the finite-time stability. To relax the prior knowledge of bounded lumped disturbance of the TSMC-based HFV attitude system, an adaptive TSMC (ATSMC) scheme is proposed. In order to relax the limit of compound uncertainties and attenuate chattering phenomenon of the TSMC-based HFV attitude system, a nonlinear disturbance observer-based TSMC (DO-TSMC) scheme is presented, which enhances the disturbance attenuation and robust tracking performance. Finally, simulation results of a generic X-33 nonlinear model exhibit the effectiveness of the proposed TSMC, ATSMC, and DO-TSMC schemes.
Gelatin Used as a Transductor in an Optical Hygrometer Based on a Fabry-Perot Interferometer
Authors: Calixto Sergio
Published: November 2022

The quantities that are usually measured are time, pressure, temperature, and relative humidity to mention but a few. The word humidity is used when we are dealing with water vapor which is a gas. The instrument used to measure the humidity is the hygrometer that can be based on electronics, optics, mechanics, chemicals, and others. The measurement of humidity shows its importance in applications such as food processing, meteorological, semiconductor, building and construction, medical, and automotive to mention but a few. This paper shows the adaptation of an optical interferometer, the Fabry-Perot (F-P), to measure the relative humidity. The transductors that have been probed are gelatin-thin films that are inserted between the mirrors of the FP. When water molecules are absorbed (desorbed) by the gelatin film, its refractive index and thickness change giving a movement of the rings in the interference pattern. The calibration plot comprises the ring displacement as a function of the relative humidity.
Endovascular Management of a Deep Femoral Artery Perforating Branch Pseudoaneurysm after Total Hip Arthroplasty: A Case Study
Authors: Nabhani Sami , Cheysson Eric , Sabbah Pamela , Baaklini Georges
Published: November 2022

Pseudoaneurysm of the profundal femoris artery (PFA) following total hip arthroplasty (THA) is a rare and unusual complication. Awareness of this complication and a high level of suspicion allow early diagnosis and treatment, thereby reducing the morbidity of this condition. We present a case of a pseudoaneurysm of a perforating branch of the PFA after revision THA which was treated successfully by selective coil embolization.
Identifying the Effect of COVID-19 Infection in Multiple Myeloma and Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma Patients Using Bioinformatics and System Biology
Authors: Li Chengcheng , Zhang Ying , Xiao Yingying , Luo Yun
Published: November 2022

The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus type 2 (SARS-CoV-2), also referred to as COVID-19, has spread to several countries and caused a serious threat to human health worldwide. Patients with confirmed COVID-19 infection spread the disease rapidly throughout the region. Multiple myeloma (MM) and diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) are risk factors for COVID-19, although the molecular mechanisms underlying the relationship among MM, DLBCL, and COVID-19 have not been elucidated so far. In this context, transcriptome analysis was performed in the present study to identify the shared pathways and molecular indicators of MM, DLBCL, and COVID-19, which benefited the overall understanding of the effect of COVID-19 in patients with MM and DLBCL. Three datasets (GSE16558, GSE56315, and GSE152418) were downloaded from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) and searched for the shared differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in patients with MM and DLBCL who were infected with SARS-CoV-2. The objective was to detect similar pathways and prospective medicines. A total of 29 DEGs that were common across these three datasets were selected. A protein-protein interaction (PPI) network was constructed using data from the STRING database followed by the identification of hub genes. In addition, the association of MM and DLBCL with COVID-19 infection was analyzed through functional analysis using ontologies terms and pathway analysis. Three relationships were observed in the evaluated datasets: transcription factor-gene interactions, protein-drug interactions, and an integrated regulatory network of DEGs and miRNAs with mutual DEGs. The findings of the present study revealed potential pharmaceuticals that could be beneficial in the treatment of COVID-19.
Consolidated Drained Triaxial Test on Treated Coastal Soil and Finite Element Analysis Using PLAXIS 2D
Authors: Lankaran Zahraalsadat Elias , Nik Daud Nik Norsyahariati , Rostami Vahid , Yusoff Zainuddin Md.
Published: November 2022

Coastal areas are susceptible to erosion and accretion; therefore, coastal soil mechanical properties and ability to withstand loads are important factors to consider. Coastal erosion is inevitable as the sand and silt particles move inexorably from place to place. This study investigates the primary consolidation behaviour of treated coastal soil by comparing the empirical data obtained from triaxial tests based on analytical calculations and FEM software, PLAXIS 2D. The aim is to propose an optimum mixture to improve coastal soil’s geotechnical properties, especially in shear strength and stiffness. Two different material models, including lime/RHA and cement/RHA, were utilized to compare the performance of advanced constitutive treated soil samples against the Mohr–Coulomb material model. 8% lime and rice husk ash (portions of 1 : 2) were chosen to be replaced with cement, as an application of waste material can reduce the cost and environmental impact. All the triaxial tests were conducted at effective confining pressures of 50 kPa, 100 kPa, and 200 kPa. While using PLAXIS 2D, the asymmetrical condition for modelling the triaxial test and 15 nodded triangular elements, as well as the Mohr–Coulomb model for soil properties, are used to simulate the empirical data to verify this study’s effectiveness. The modelling of 2-dimensional drain behaviour involves setting out the model geometry and boundary conditions. The results revealed that the deviatoric stress and volumetric changes of LRHA increased in a range of 4.5 to 5.2% and 72.18 to 141.79%, respectively, as compared to CRHA. The FE analysis results for peak deviator stress values reasonably agree with the experimental results. The variation was in the range of 1.22% to 4.10%. Eventually, the treated soil’s peak and maximum shear strengths are reported to allow flexible use in future projects.
A Reparameterization Multifeature Fusion CNN for Arrhythmia Heartbeats Classification
Authors: Zhang Dengyong , Zhou Haoting , Li Feng , Zhang Lebing , Wang Jianxin
Published: November 2022

Aiming at arrhythmia heartbeats classification, a novel multifeature fusion deep learning-based method is proposed. The stationary wavelet transforms (SWT) and RR interval features are firstly extracted. Based on the traditional one-dimensional convolutional neural network (1D-CNN), a parallel multibranch convolutional network is designed for training. The subband of SWT is input into the multiscale 1D-CNN separately. The output fused with RR interval features are fed to the fully connected layer for classification. To achieve the lightweight network while maintaining the powerful inference capability of the multibranch structure, the redundant branches of the network are removed by reparameterization. Experimental results and analysis show that it outperforms existing methods by many in arrhythmic heartbeat classification.
Empirical Compression Features of Mobile Computing and Data Applications Using Deep Neural Networks
Authors: Almagrabi Hana , Alshareef Abdulrhman M. , Manoharan Hariprasath , Mujlid Hana , Yafoz Ayman , Selvarajan Shitharth
Published: November 2022

Due to the enormous data sizes involved in mobile computing and multimedia data transfer, it is possible that more data traffic may be generated, necessitating the use of data compression. As a result, this paper investigates how mobile computing data are compressed under all transmission scenarios. The suggested approach integrates deep neural networks (DNN) at high weighting functionalities for compression modes. The proposed method employs appropriate data loading and precise compression ratios for successful data compression. The accuracy of multimedia data that must be conveyed to various users is higher even though compression ratios are higher. The same data are transferred at significantly higher compression ratios, which save time while also minimizing data mistakes that may occur at the receiver. The DNN process also includes a visible parameter for handling high data-weight situations. The visible parameter optimizes the data results, allowing simulation tools to readily observe the compressed data. A comparison case study was created for five different scenarios in order to confirm the results, and it shows that the suggested strategy is significantly more effective than existing methods in roughly 63 percent of the cases.
Monitoring Stress State of H-Shape Steel Using Ceramic Piezoelectric Sensor: A Feasibility Study
Authors: Zhu Daopei , Li Jiafeng , Wang Zhangli
Published: November 2022

To monitor the stress state and yield capacity of H-beams across their entire service process, a real-time monitoring method based on the energy signal response of ceramic piezoelectric sensors is proposed in this paper. The method is applied to conduct loading experiments on H-beams under different load values and web heights. Then, the amplitude and energy of the piezoelectric signals under the two working conditions are compared and analyzed, and the finite element analysis results are verified. The experimental results show that the time-domain waveform energy index increases under an increase in web height or load. Taking the H-section steel member with a web height of 10 cm as an example, when the load value is less than 500 kN/m, the energy index increases (on average) by ~10.5% for every 100 kN/m load increase; when the load value exceeds 500 kN/m and is below 675 kN/m (yield load), the same load increases the energy index by ~13.4%. Meanwhile, a 1 cm average increase in web height increases the energy index by ~14.6%. The finite element simulation results indicate that the ceramic piezoelectric sensor load increases under external load increases up to the yielding load. Because the stress state at the sensor location directly determines the stress wave propagation, the critical buckling loads of H-beams can be predicted using the energy index.
Effect of Dexmedetomidine Low Doses with or without Midazolam in Cats: Clinical, Hemodynamic, Blood Gas Analysis, and Echocardiographic Effects
Authors: Castro Marina Lopes , Cerqueira Câmara Bruna Maia , Oliveira Barreto Maira Souza , Wenceslau Raphael Rocha , Karollini e Silva Andressa , Fagundes Natália , Silva Renata Andrade , Mariani Pimenta Eutálio Luiz , Beier Suzane Lilian
Published: November 2022

Objectives. The aim of the study is to compare the sedative, cardiorespiratory, echocardiographic, and blood gas effects of dexmedetomidine and methadone associated or not with midazolam for restraint chemistry in cats. Methods. Eighteen healthy young cats (4.06 ± 0.48 kg) were randomly sedated with two protocols, through the intramuscular route: dexmedetomidine (5 µg.kg−1), methadone (0.3 mg. kg−1) and midazolam (0.3 mg. kg−1) (DMTM, n = 9), or dexmedetomidine (7.5 µg.kg−1) and methadone (0.3 mg. kg−1) (DMT, n = 9). The cardiorespiratory parameters were measured at baseline, 5 and 10 minutes after pharmacological latency. The sedation, analgesia, and muscle relaxation scores were assessed before and 5 minutes after pharmacological latency, while arterial blood gas analysis and echocardiography were assessed before and after 10 or 15 minutes, respectively. Results. There was no difference between the protocols regarding the cardiorespiratory, blood gas, and echocardiographic parameters used. The scores for sedation, analgesia, and muscle relaxation also did not differ between the protocols, with the degree of sedation, analgesia, and myorelaxation considered satisfactory in both groups. A significant decrease in heart rate (HR) was observed after administration of the sedative protocols, reaching a maximum reduction at T10 (46% and 53% reduction in the DMT and DMTM groups, respectively). The reduction in HR had an impact on echocardiographic parameters such as CO, which decreased 53% and 56% in the DMT and DMTM groups, respectively. There was a significant reduction in PaO2, SaO2, ejection fraction, and fractional shortening in both protocols. SpO2 decreased significantly after 5 minutes of sedation in the DMT group, but with a minimum mean SpO2 of 92% in T5. The respiratory rate decreased significantly at 5 and 10 minutes in the DMTM group, while PaCO2 increased in both groups, indicating respiratory depression caused by the drugs. Conclusions and Relevance. The study pointed out that both sedative protocols can be recommended for clinical sedation of young and healthy cats in the doses used. However, both protocols resulted in cardiorespiratory depression in cats and also the particularities of the animals should be evaluated regarding reducing cardiac output by more than 50%.
Radioprotective Effect of Zinc Nanoparticles on Ionizing Radiation-induced Nephrotoxicity in Mice
Authors: Saadat Iman , Shakibaie Mojtaba , Jomehzadeh Ali , Salimi Azad , Rahimi Hamid-Reza , Torabizadeh Seyedeh Atekeh
Published: November 2022

Introduction: Ionizing radiation (IR) causes oxidative stress in kidneys and subsequently disrupts renal function. The use of green synthesized zinc nanoparticles (Zn NPs) with antioxidant properties may reduce the damage caused by IR. Methods: Thirty-six mice were kept in a standard situation and divided into 6 groups: 1: Control; 2–4: receiving 5 mg/kg, 10 mg/kg, and 25 mg/kg of Zn NPs with IR; 5: receiving 5 mg/kg of ZnSO4 with IR; and 6: IR. After 15 days, half of the animals in each group were sacrificed and their blood samples isolated to evaluate the plasma urea and creatinine levels. The kidneys were kept for evaluating the glutathione (GSH), malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and catalase (CAT) levels; on 21st day, the rest of the animals were sacrificed and their kidneys removed for histological assessments. Results: IR decreased GSH content, increased MDA level, and reduced SOD and CAT activity. On the other hand, Zn NPs at 10 and 25 mg/kg doses increased GSH, decreased MDA, and enhanced SOD and CAT activities. Zn NPs treatment at 10 and 25 mg/kg doses decreased the plasma urea and creatinine levels induced by IR. Moreover, Zn NPs significantly decreased the level of urea and creatinine in irradiated mice in comparison with IR alone (p < 0.05). The main histopathological results were tubular and glomerular atrophy and interstitial fibrosis in irradiated mice, while tubular degeneration and atrophy were less frequent in Zn NPs + IR group than in IR group alone. Conclusion: Zn NPs treatment, especially at 25 mg/kg dose, attenuates the side effect of IR on kidneys through reducing oxidative stress factors, biochemical, and histopathological changes.
Impact of Low Skeletal Muscle Mass on the Prognosis of Patients with Head and Neck Cancer Treated Nonsurgically
Authors: Iwasa Yoh-Ichiro , Kitoh Ryosuke , Hiramatsu Ken , Sugiyama Kenjiro , Watanabe Kizuki , Yasukawa Rika , Shinagawa Jun , Miyajima Hiroki , Yokota Yoh , Kobayashi Masafumi , Kitano Tomohiro , Mori Kentaro , Takumi Yutaka
Published: November 2022

Introduction: Sarcopenia, characterized by low skeletal muscle mass, and the outcome of cancer therapy are closely related based on recent research. This study aimed to evaluate the correlation between skeletal muscle mass and prognosis in head and neck cancer (HNC) patients. Methods: In this study, 51 male patients with HNC treated nonsurgically between January 2016 and April 2018 at Shinshu University Hospital were evaluated. Skeletal muscle mass was assessed using bioelectrical impedance analysis, and the skeletal mass index (SMI) was calculated to classify the patients. Results: The low-SMI group had a significantly worse overall survival (OS) than the normal-SMI group (3-year OS: 72.0% vs. 93.0%, p = 0.014), and there was a trend toward worse progression-free survival (PFS) in the low-SMI group (3-year PFS: 49.6% vs. 79.3%, p = 0.064). Multivariate analysis also showed that low SMI (p = 0.04) and severe N stage (p = 0.009) were significantly associated with poorer OS. Conclusion: The pretreatment assessment of SMI using bioelectrical impedance analysis is useful for identifying patients with poor prognoses. To improve the treatment outcome in HNC, we need to think of the intervention, such as cancer rehabilitation and nutritional support, during or before treatment, especially for patients with low SMI.
Improvement of Symptoms in Patients Affected by Chronic Atrophic Gastritis Using L-Cysteine (Acetium®)
Authors: Di Mario Francesco , Rodriguez-Castro Kryssia.Isabel , Franceschi Marilisia , Landi Stefano , Grillo Simone , Franzoni Lorella , Russo Michele , Brandimarte Giovanni , Tursi Antonio , Crafa Pellegrino
Published: November 2022

Background: Chronic atrophic gastritis (CAG) alone is a precancerous condition for gastric cancer. Achlorhydria plays an important role in the formation of a class I carcinogen, acetaldehyde. L-cysteine has been claimed to bind acetaldehyde covalently. Symptoms are present in 55% of CAG patients, of whom 70% have upper gastrointestinal complaints. The aim of this study was to investigate the properties of L-cysteine in the modification of symptom patterns in CAG patients. Methods: Consecutive patients with histological diagnosis of CAG (OLGA ≥1 with gastric corpus involvement) were evaluated with serological determination of gastric function, clinical assessment of symptoms using the visual analog score (VAS) and the global symptomatic score (GSS), and considered for therapy with L-cysteine, 300 mg daily. Data regarding symptoms were collected at enrollment and after 3, 6, 12, 18, and 24 months, with an ultimate follow-up of 2 years. Results: A total of 330 patients with CAG were divided in group 1 (77 patients treated with L-cysteine) and group 2 (50 patients who received no specific treatment – control group). A statistically significant improvement in the VAS score (7.8 at baseline vs. 4.5 after 24 months; p < 0.01) was observed in patients treated with L-cysteine, while no significant changes in symptom pattern/intensity were recorded in the 2-year follow-up of untreated patients with CAG. Conclusions: Long-term treatment with L-cysteine provides symptom improvement in CAG patients and might be proposed as maintenance therapy in such patients.