bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Carbon Paste Electrode as a Support for Mercury Film in Potentiometric Stripping Determination of Heavy Metals
Authors: Konvalina Jiří , Khaled Elmorsy , Vytřas Karel
Published: July 2002

Carbon paste electrodes containing silicone or paraffin oil as the pasting liquids, preplated with a mercury film, were tested for possible use in potentiometric stripping determination of heavy metals like lead, cadmium and copper. The detailed study has shown that the results are comparable with those obtained with widely used mercury-coated glassy carbon electrode with regard to the linear response at low ppb levels, detection limits, reproducibility, etc. The potentiometric stripping analysis with both electrode materials was used for the determination of lead and copper in a soot sample. No significant differences were found when these results were compared with a reference determination performed by graphite-furnace atomic absorption spectrometry.
Is regional paediatric surveillance useful? Experience in Wales
Authors: Sibert J R , Morgan R J H , O'Connell H I , Lynn R , Guildea Z E , Palmer S R , group the Welsh Paediatric Society–WPSU s
Published: July 2002

The Welsh Paediatric Surveillance Unit was established in 1994 to monitor the incidence and prevalence of a number of uncommon disorders of childhood in Wales. Its work complements that of the British Paediatric Surveillance Unit. Information from consultant paediatricians is obtained by means of a monthly card return system; return rate is over 90%.
Response to influenza immunisation during treatment for cancer
Authors: Chisholm J C , Devine T , Charlett A , Pinkerton C R , Zambon M
Published: July 2002

AIMS

To assess the annual risk of influenza infection in children with cancer and the immunogenicity of a trivalent split virus influenza vaccine in these children.

METHODS

Eighty four children with cancer were tested for susceptibility to the circulating strains of influenza virus in autumn 1995 and 1996. Non-immunised children were reassessed the following spring for serological evidence of natural infection. Forty two patients received two doses of influenza vaccine. These children were receiving continuing chemotherapy for acute lymphoblastic leukaemia or were within six months of completing chemotherapy.

RESULTS

Among the 84 children tested for influenza virus susceptibility only 8% of patients were fully protected (antibody titres ⩾ 40) against all three of the prevalent influenza virus strains; 33% were susceptible to all three viruses. Evidence of acquired natural infection was seen in 30% of unimmunised patients. Among immunised susceptible patients, 66% made some protective response to the vaccine and 55% showed protective antibody titres to all three viral strains following vaccination. Older age was associated with increased response to the H1N1 and H3N2 vaccine components, but total white cell count or neutrophil count at immunisation, type of cancer, or length of time on treatment for acute lymphoblastic leukaemia did not affect response.

CONCLUSIONS

Most children with cancer studied were at risk of influenza infection. A significant response to immunisation was seen, supporting annual influenza vaccination for children being treated for cancer.
Facial nerve palsy associated with Rickettsia conorii infection
Authors: Bitsori M , Galanakis E , Papadakis C E , Sbyrakis S
Published: July 2002

Facial nerve palsy has been occasionally attributed to infectious agents, but Rickettsiae species have not been documented as causative agents. We report two adolescent girls with facial nerve palsy and serological evidence ofR conorii infection. These cases indicate that rickettsioses should be included among the causes of facial nerve palsy, particularly in endemic areas.
How to use mTOR inhibitors in children
Authors: Tse Yincent , Vasey Nicola , Thomas Rhys , Leech Suzy , Owens Stephen , Sayer John
Published: February 2025

Paediatricians across many specialities and pharmacists are increasingly being asked to prescribe, or jointly look after, children treated with mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) inhibitors (eg, sirolimus and everolimus). There is an expanding list of conditions including tuberous sclerosis and vascular malformations where treatment with mTOR inhibitors may help. This brief practice pointer summarises the practical steps before starting these treatments, what potential side effects to discuss with families and what monitoring arrangements should be put in place.
Fungal dacryops: a rare presentation
Authors: Maddi Lavanya , Mishra Dilip Kumar , Kaliki Swathi
Published: February 2025

A woman in her late 40s presented with a cystic lesion in the left lacrimal gland for 1 year and associated pain in the past 3 months. On examination, the patient had cystic lesion in the left lacrimal gland region without any signs of inflammation. An initial provisional diagnosis of simple dacryops of the left eye was made, and the lesion was observed. On review at 1 month, the patient complained of persistent swelling and dull pain in the left eye. Excisional biopsy of the lesion was planned. Intraoperatively, the cyst ruptured during surgery, and yellowish, granule-like concretions were noted within the cyst. The cyst wall along with contents was excised and sent for histopathological examination and microbiology analysis. Microbiological analysis revealed fungal filaments (Aspergillus fumigatus). Histopathological examination confirmed cyst wall with fungal colonies. Postoperatively, the patient is doing well without any evidence of recurrence at a follow-up period of 6 months.
Unravelling complexity: simultaneous detection of fetal omphalocele and myelomeningocele misdiagnosed as sacrococcygeal teratoma
Authors: Singh Srishti , Rawat Anil , Agarwal Shubhi , Kaur Daljeet
Published: February 2025

Targeted imaging for fetal anomalies (TIFFA) is an important antenatal ultrasound scan to detect any congenital anomalies in the growing fetus, and the results assist the clinician to make the required decision for the remainder of pregnancy. The scan totally depends on the operator and his/her skills to pick up an abnormality correctly. If the ultrasound scan is not performed accurately with proper precision and focus, then many anomalies can be missed or even misdiagnosed potentially. Therefore, it is pertinent to pay specific attention to details and devote a dedicated time to each and every TIFFA scan for the thorough and correct evaluation to prevent any mistake. Our case highlights one such example of an incomplete and misdiagnosed congenital abnormality, detected outside, which was ultimately proven to be a completely different congenital anomaly along with the presence of another synchronous abnormality, all detected together at our institute.
Jitegemee (rely on yourself): a cross-sectional study on acceptability, feasibility and design considerations for a personal savings intervention to reduce HIV risk among female sex workers in Siaya County, Kenya
Authors: Agot Kawango , Okeyo Nicky , Onyango Jacob , Ochillo Marylyn , Wango Gift-Noelle , Arasa Moraa , Okello Timothy , Okumu Olivia , Carol Shantana , Ayieko Bernard , Thirumurthy Harsha
Published: February 2025

Objectives

The primary objective was to assess the acceptability of a savings intervention in which female sex workers (FSW) would save part of their earnings and call back (withdraw) when faced with a financial need that could force them into HIV risk practices. The secondary objectives were to assess its feasibility, concerns and design considerations.

Design

A cross-sectional survey. Participants were asked for views on the intervention, their earnings, saving and spending practices, and suggestions for the intervention package.

Setting

Kisumu and Siaya counties, Kenya.

Participants

FSWs aged ≥18 years, self-identifying as sex workers and living in Kisumu or Siaya county.

Outcome measures

The primary outcome was the proportion of participants who believed the Jitegemee intervention would be acceptable to FSWs in Kenya. The secondary outcomes were the proportion who: could generate money to save (assessed from income, spending and loaning practices), reported potential challenges with the intervention and suggested components to inform the intervention package.

Results

We enrolled 369 FSWs, 88% aged 18–39 years, 78% unmarried, 94% cared for ≥1 child(ren) and 78% were household heads. Over half (52.1%) had been in sex trade for ≤4 years, with 62.3% reporting <10 clients the previous month. Jitegemee was highly acceptable, at 94.8%; however, participants suggested adding: financial literacy, including saving, spending and loans management (74.8%), forming saving groups (37.5%) and goal-setting (24.1%). Those who did not care for children were 4.86 times more likely to save (adjusted OR (aOR)=4.86, p=0.18), non-household heads were less likely to save (aOR=0.57, p=0.28) and those in the sex trade for 1–4 years and 5–9 years were four to five times more likely to save than those <1 year (aOR=4.49, p=0.01 and aOR=5.22, p=0.01, respectively).

Conclusions

Jitegemee intervention was highly acceptable; however, several recommendations were suggested to make the design more appealing and potentially effective.
Models of care and associated targeted implementation strategies for cancer survivorship support in Europe: a scoping review protocol
Authors: Prue Gillian , Czamanski-Cohen Johanna , Kassianos Angelos P , Pilleron Sophie , Ladas Aristea , Akcakaya Can Aysun , Roldán-Jiménez Cristina , Degi Csaba Laszlo , Işcan Gökçe , Arslan Sevban , de Boer Angela G E M , Celebic Aleksandar , Doñate-Martínez Ascensión , Alhambra-Borrás Tamara , Mitrevski Boce , Marzorati Chiara , Pravettoni Gabriella , Grasso Roberto , Nazik Evsen , Pawlowska Ewa , Mucalo Iva , Browne John Patrick , Tripkovic Katica , Vojvodic Katarina , Karekla Maria , Moschofidou Maria , Bayram Sule Biyik , Brandão Tânia , Arndt Volker , Jaswal Poonam , Semerci Remziye , Bozkul Gamze , Sahin Eda , Toygar Ismail , Frountzas Maximos , Martins Rui Miguel , Jefford Michael , Keane Danielle , Hegarty Josephine
Published: February 2025

Introduction

Cancer and its treatments can lead to a wide range of side-effects that can persist long after treatments have ended. Across Europe, survivorship care is traditionally hospital-based specialist-led follow-up, leading to gaps in supportive care. Improved screening, diagnosis and treatment increase survival rates. With more individuals living with, through and beyond cancer, the predominance of the hospital-based specialist model is unsustainable, costly and resource-intensive. An understanding of what alternative Models of Care are available and the barriers and facilitators to their implementation is a first step towards enhancing supportive care across the cancer journey. The aim of this scoping review is to source and synthesise information from studies evaluating patient-oriented models of cancer survivorship supportive care for adults in Europe.

Methods and analysis

The scoping review will be reported in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses—Scoping Review Extension guidelines and will be guided by a six-stage methodological framework. A search strategy has been developed according to the Population, Concept and Context structure and will be applied to seven databases. A targeted search of grey literature will be completed. All identified records will be screened using predefined eligibility criteria by at least two researchers and undergo full-text review for inclusion. Data pertaining to the conceptualisation, evaluation and implementation of sourced Models of Care will be extracted.

Ethics and dissemination

As there is no primary data, ethical approval is not required. This review will be conducted as part of the EU COST Action CA21152—Implementation Network Europe for Cancer Survivorship Care. The protocol and subsequent scoping review will be published in a peer-reviewed journal. The Action involves representatives from most countries across Europe which will assist with the dissemination of the work to key stakeholders.
Autoimmune pancreatitis, pancreatic and extrapancreatic cancer (AIPPEAR): a multicentre, retrospective study protocol
Authors: Cardinal von Widdern Julian , Knoph Cecilie Siggaard , Kase Karri , Regel Ivonne , Rosendahl Jonas , Ammer-Hermenau Christoph , Nikolic Sara
Published: February 2025

Introduction

Autoimmune pancreatitis (AIP) mainly manifests in two distinct forms with different clinical, serological and prognostic characteristics. Previous studies indicated a higher risk of malignancy in AIP patients compared with the general population. However, a direct comparison of cancer incidence in AIP patients with controls from the general population has not been conducted yet.

Methods and analysis

This is an international, multicentre, retrospective study on patients diagnosed with AIP after 2005. Retrospective data regarding demography, AIP characteristics and cancer incidence will be extracted from the medical files of AIP patients. The primary outcome is the standardised incidence ratio of any first invasive cancer after AIP diagnosis compared with the general population. The expected number of cancers in the general population will be determined using the ‘Cancer Incidence in Five Continents Volume XI’ registry. Secondary outcomes are the prevalence of all cancer diagnoses within 12 months prior to AIP diagnosis and AIP features associated with a cancer diagnosis.

Ethics and dissemination

This study was approved by the ethics committees of the autoimmune pancreatitis, pancreatic and extrapancreatic cancer (AIPPEAR) core group centres (Halle (Saale), Germany; Aalborg, Denmark; Tartu, Estonia; Munich, Germany; Göttingen, Germany; Maribor, Slovenia, with the following reference numbers: 2023–204, 2023–0 29 953, 382 /T-3, 24–0768, 9/7/23, UKC-MB-KME 59/23, respectively). Where required, the study protocol will be reviewed and approved by the ethics committees of participating centres in compliance with local regulations. Data will be stored in an electronic case report form within REDCap. In this context, the AIPPEAR core group will share joint responsibility for the data. All results from this study will be submitted to international, peer-reviewed journals and presented at international conferences.

Trial registration number

NCT06328101.
A qualitative enquiry into participants’ and practitioners’ experiences in the Australian Liver FaIlurE trial
Authors: Ramachandran Jeyamani , Pati Anuradha , Wigg Luisa , Narayana Sumudu K , Lawn Sharon , Muller Kate , Wigg Alan J
Published: February 2025

Background

The Australian Liver FaIlurE (ALFIE) trial, a multicentre, randomised controlled trial, assessed the efficacy of a nurse-coordinated model of care to reduce liver-related emergency admissions (LREAs) in patients with decompensated cirrhosis. The model of care was delivered by a specialist nurse, including intensive postdischarge monitoring, linkage to multidisciplinary care, rapid access to care pathway, enhanced education and self-management support.

Objective

To examine the experiences of participants and practitioners in the ALFIE trial to understand its impact, barriers and areas for improvement.

Design and setting

A qualitative semistructured interview analysis nested within the ALFIE trial.

Participants

A purposeful sample of 15 patients, 14 controls and 12 staff.

Intervention

Thematic analysis of interview transcripts.

Results

Interventional participants and the nurses perceived the care provided as personalised, holistic and continuous. The intervention enabled the development of robust therapeutic relationships and trust that promoted participant engagement and risk factor modification. It helped intervention participants navigate the busy hospital system. The control participants desired more education and a personal contact to deal with emergencies. With respect to the intervention, nurses felt that their support helped reduce LREAs and improve care, but it was overwhelming. A number of barriers and systemic issues were identified. Suggestions for improvement of the intervention model included increased staffing, improved mental health support and communication pathways with primary care practitioners.

Conclusions

The ALFIE trial was well received by nurses and participants. It met the needs of intervention participants and the health system through easy-to-navigate, personalised, holistic and ongoing care. The study identified barriers and systemic improvement areas.

Trial registration number

ACTRN12617001293358.
Upregulation of Reg 1α and GW112 in the epithelium of inflamed colonic mucosa
Authors: Shinozaki S , Nakamura T , Iimura M , Kato Y , Iizuka B , Kobayashi M , Hayashi N
Published: July 2002

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Colonic epithelium is involved in the regulation of intestinal function and mucosal immune responses, and its function is altered in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). However, a comprehensive analysis of the genetic alterations in inflamed colonic epithelium is not available at present. The aim of our study was to detect genes that are preferentially expressed in inflamed colonic epithelia and clarify the biochemical responses of epithelial cells in inflamed colonic mucosa.

METHODS

cDNA representation difference analysis was used to identify candidate genes selectively expressed in inflamed colonic epithelia. Selective expression of these genes in the epithelium of inflamed colonic mucosa, including IBD and non-IBD tissues, was examined by real time polymerase chain reaction and in situ hybridisation. The effect of cell confluence and inflammatory mediators on Reg 1α gene expression was examined using a colon cancer cell line (HT29).

RESULTS

We identified seven candidate genes that were presumed to be upregulated in the inflamed colonic epithelium. Of these, Reg 1α and GW112 were the dominant species and expression of these genes was confined to the crypt epithelium. In vitro studies using a colonic epithelial cell line suggested that cell confluence regulates Reg 1α gene expression.

CONCLUSIONS

Selective expression of Reg 1α and GW112 genes in the crypt epithelium of inflamed colonic mucosa suggests the important regulatory functions of these genes.
Confidentiality within physiotherapy: perceptions and attitudes of clinical practitioners: Table 1
Authors: Cross Susan , Sim Julius
Published: July 2002

Objectives—This study examined the issue of confidentiality in relation to i) undergraduate curriculum content in physiotherapy, and ii) the awareness, experiences and attitudes of clinical physiotherapists.

Design—Postal survey of universities and focus group interviews with physiotherapists.

Setting—Twenty-five universities in the UK and Ireland and 44 therapists in five hospitals in southern England.

Results—The survey of universities indicated that legal and ethical aspects of confidentiality featured in virtually all preregistration courses that responded. However, whereas its inclusion was rated as extremely important, the degree of coverage of confidentiality varied considerably between courses. Within the focus groups, 35 informants recollected coverage of confidentiality in their preregistration education, and 12 in postregistration in-service training; in neither case was this coverage in great detail. Informants identified environmental factors and working practices as barriers to preserving confidentiality. Disclosure to others also gave rise to difficulties. Informants were only aware in general terms of the relevant sections of the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy's Rules of Professional Conduct.

Conclusions—Aspects of hospital-based physiotherapy practice were seen to create specific problems in relation to confidentiality. More detailed sources of education and guidance on this issue appear to be required.
The use of poetry in health care ethics education
Authors: Pickering Neil
Published: July 2002

In blunt terms, the thesis I argue for here is that poetry is of no use in health care ethics education, because poetry is of no use. Put more circumspectly, insofar as a poem is given to health care students to read as a poem, it will not help achieve the ends of health care ethics education This is a conceptual point, arising from the idea that any genuine engagement of an individual with a poem is unpredictable. My main example is Thom Gunn's apparently very useful poem As Expected. We can't predict what reading (interpretation or understanding) of this health care students will come to if they are allowed to engage with it. To treat the poem as a site at which a predetermined set of useful things may be found is to fail to treat it as a poem.
Working with the metaphor of life and death
Authors: Barker Phil
Published: July 2002

The experience of being human is intangible. As a result, descriptions of human experience rely heavily on metaphor to convey something of that whole lived experience. By contrast, contemporary scientific narratives of the mind emphasise the form of human thought and emotion, over the content of people's experience, where constructive attempts are made to explain the experience of self, through metaphorical allusion. This paper considers the importance of metaphor as a vehicle for expressing and exploring selfhood. Examples from the psychiatric literature, as well as from the visual and literary arts, are used to reflect on the importance of metaphor in clarifying the meanings of the constructs of health and illness.
Influence of genetic susceptibility on the urinary excretion of 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine of firefighters
Authors: Hong Yun-Chul , Park Hye-Sook , Ha Eun-Hee
Published: July 2002

OBJECTIVES

Oxidative DNA damage has been implicated in carcinogenesis. The DNA damage can be assessed from the urinary excretion of the DNA-repair product 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine (8-OH-dG). The factors were investigated that influenced the excretion of urinary 8-OH-dG in 78 firefighters.

METHODS

53 Out of 78 firefighters were exposed to fire within 5 days of the study and 25 were not. 8-OH-dG was measured by ELISA and the distribution of the genotypes of CYP1A1, CYP2E1, GSTM1, and GSTT1 was measured by polymerase chain reaction.

RESULTS

The homozygous wild type frequencies of CYP1A1MspI, CYP1A1 ile-val, CYP2E1, GSTM1, and GSTT1 were 31.5%, 56.2%, 60.3%, 50.7%, and 53.4%, respectively. The geometric mean of urinary 8-OH-dG was 14.1 ng/mg creatinine in more active firefighters and 12.3 ng/mg creatinine in non-exposed and less active subjects. Significantly increased concentrations of urinary 8-OH-dG were found to be associated with cigarette smoking, and 14% of the variation of 8-OH-dG was explained by cigarettes smoked per day. The CYP1A1MspI, CYP1A1 ile-val, GSTM1, and GSTT1 genetic polymorphisms were not found to be significantly associated with the urinary excretion of 8-OH-dG. However, the subjects carrying the CYP2E1 mutant type excreted higher concentrations of 8-OH-dG and there was a marginally significant interaction of GSTT1 with firefighting activity. Multiple regression analysis confirmed that smoking was the strongest predictor of excretion of 8-OH-dG. Age, body mass index, and firefighting activity were not significant predictive factors for urinary 8-OH-dG.

CONCLUSION

Smoking and CYP2E1 gene polymorphism may be important factors in carcinogenesis and the GSTT1 positive genotype may be a genetic susceptibility factor in firefighters who are exposed regularly to various chemical carcinogens.
Stomach cancer and occupation in Sweden: 1971–89
Authors: Aragonés N , Pollán M , Gustavsson P
Published: July 2002

Objectives: To examine the relation between gastric cancer and occupation among men and women gainfully employed in 1970 in Sweden for the period 1971–89 and, more specifically, to evaluate whether any excess of incidence of gastric cancer had also occurred among the subcohort of people reporting the same occupation in 1960 and 1970.

Methods: In both sexes and cohorts, relative risks adjusted for age, period of diagnosis, and geographical risk area were computed for occupational codes specified at one, two, or three level (occupational sector, occupational group, and occupation, respectively). Relative risks were calculated with all other occupations as reference and then, to take socioeconomic status into account, solely other occupations within the same occupational sector were used.

Results: Among men, occupations with increased risk included miners and quarrymen, construction and metal processing workers, supporting the possible causative role of dusty environments in stomach cancer. In men, the results also provide support for increased risks among electrical and mechanical engineers, fishermen, petrol station workers, motor vehicle drivers, butchers and meat preparers, dockers, freight handlers, launderers and dry cleaners. Furthermore, it is worth noting interesting results for women, whose occupational risks have been studied less. Excess risks were found for practical nurses, cashiers, bank employees, engineering and electronic industry workers, food industry, housekeeping and cleaning workers. Due to the many occupations studied, several significant associations may be expected by chance.

Conclusions: The study is explorative but provides support for the relations suggested previously between occupational exposure to dusty environments and stomach cancer, together with some new high risk occupations which should be further studied.
Viral myocarditis and dilated cardiomyopathy: mechanisms, manifestations, and management
Authors: Kearney M T , Cotton J M , Richardson P J , Shah A M
Published: July 2002

Viral infection of the heart is relatively common and usually of little consequence. It can, however, lead to substantial cardiac damage and severe acute heart failure. It can also evolve into the progressive syndrome of chronic heart failure. Recent studies have gone some way towards unravelling the complex mechanisms underlying the heart muscle damage that occurs after viral infection. These studies have lent support to both immune and viral mediated (independent of an immune response) cardiac damage. Acute myocarditis can present in various ways, and it may be a cause of sudden death in an otherwise healthy young adult. New treatments for viral heart disease are awaited. In the meanwhile, the haemodynamic support of patients with acute left ventricular failure caused by myocarditis should be aggressive, to allow for the possibility of spontaneous recovery. Contemporary trials of treatment in chronic heart failure secondary to dilated cardiomyopathy support the use of angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors, β adrenoceptor blockers, and spironolactone in such patients.
Human versus artificial intelligence: evaluating ChatGPT’s performance in conducting published systematic reviews with meta-analysis in chronic pain research
Authors: Purewal Anam , Fautsch Kalli , Klasova Johana , Hussain Nasir , D'Souza Ryan S
Published: February 2025

Introduction

Artificial intelligence (AI), particularly large-language models like Chat Generative Pre-Trained Transformer (ChatGPT), has demonstrated potential in streamlining research methodologies. Systematic reviews and meta-analyses, often considered the pinnacle of evidence-based medicine, are inherently time-intensive and demand meticulous planning, rigorous data extraction, thorough analysis, and careful synthesis. Despite promising applications of AI, its utility in conducting systematic reviews with meta-analysis remains unclear. This study evaluated ChatGPT’s accuracy in conducting key tasks of a systematic review with meta-analysis.

Methods

This validation study used data from a published meta-analysis on emotional functioning after spinal cord stimulation. ChatGPT-4o performed title/abstract screening, full-text study selection, and data pooling for this systematic review with meta-analysis. Comparisons were made against human-executed steps, which were considered the gold standard. Outcomes of interest included accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value for screening and full-text review tasks. We also assessed for discrepancies in pooled effect estimates and forest plot generation.

Results

For title and abstract screening, ChatGPT achieved an accuracy of 70.4%, sensitivity of 54.9%, and specificity of 80.1%. In the full-text screening phase, accuracy was 68.4%, sensitivity 75.6%, and specificity 66.8%. ChatGPT successfully pooled data for five forest plots, achieving 100% accuracy in calculating pooled mean differences, 95% CIs, and heterogeneity estimates (I2score and tau-squared values) for most outcomes, with minor discrepancies in tau-squared values (range 0.01–0.05). Forest plots showed no significant discrepancies.

Conclusion

ChatGPT demonstrates modest to moderate accuracy in screening and study selection tasks, but performs well in data pooling and meta-analytic calculations. These findings underscore the potential of AI to augment systematic review methodologies, while also emphasizing the need for human oversight to ensure accuracy and integrity in research workflows.
Self-expanding foam injected into the peritoneal space improves survival in a model of complex pelvic fracture and retroperitoneal exsanguination
Authors: Pham Quynh P , Hwabejire John O , Elsharkawy Ahmed E , Eid Ahmed I , Duggan Michael J , Gelsinger Shawn , Fornaciari Michael , Sharma Upma , King David R
Published: February 2025

Background

Mortality for patients with pelvic fracture with hemorrhagic shock ranges from 21% to 57%. ResQFoam administered intra-abdominally has previously been shown to provide a survival benefit in large-animal models of abdominal exsanguination. It also significantly decreased mortality in models of retroperitoneal hemorrhage with complex pelvic fracture when deployed in the preperitoneal space. We hypothesized that percutaneously administered ResQFoam into the abdominal cavity could decrease mortality in exsanguinating pelvic hemorrhage.

Methods

Using non-coagulopathic Yorkshire swine, the injury model consisted of a unilateral, closed-cavity retroperitoneal vascular hemorrhage (with intraperitoneal communication) combined with a complex pelvic fracture. After the injury, animals received fluid resuscitation alone (control, n=14), fluid resuscitation with ResQFoam deployed in the preperitoneal pelvic space (n=10), or fluid resuscitation with ResQFoam deployed intra-abdominally (n=10). Hemodynamic monitoring was continued for 3 hours or until death.

Results

Intra-abdominal and preperitoneal use of ResQFoam provided a similar significant survival benefit compared with controls. The median survival times for the intra-abdominal and preperitoneal ResQFoam groups were 87 and 124 min, respectively, compared with 17 min for the control group (p=0.008 and 0.002, respectively). The survival rate at 3 hours was 40% for both ResQFoam groups compared with 0% in controls (p=0.020). There was no significant difference in the median survival time or overall survival curves between the two ResQFoam groups (p=0.734 and p=0.975, respectively). Both ResQFoam groups stabilized mean arterial pressure and significantly reduced hemorrhage rate. The average hemorrhage rate in control animals was 4.9±4.6 g/kg/min compared with 0.6±0.6 g/kg/min and 0.5±0.5 g/kg/min in the intra-abdominal (p=0.008) and preperitoneal (p=0.002) ResQFoam groups, respectively.

Conclusions

Similar survival benefit and hemorrhage control were achieved with ResQFoam in the treatment of exsanguinating pelvic hemorrhage with complex pelvic fracture whether it was administered preperitoneally or intra-abdominally. Thus, ResQFoam can be administered intra-abdominally to treat either abdominal or pelvic hemorrhage.

Level of evidence

Not applicable (animal study).
Measuring changes in the direction and magnitude of size-selective mortality in a commercial fish population
Authors: Sinclair A F , Swain D P , Hanson J M
Published: July 2002

A 28-year time series (19711998) of backcalculated length-at-age was used to investigate changes in the direction and magnitude of size-selective mortality of prerecruit and adult Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua) in the southern Gulf of St. Lawrence, Canada. Size selection changed from favouring fast growth in the 1970s to favouring slow growth in the late 1980s and 1990s. There was an intervening period of disruptive selection where fast and slow growth was favoured while intermediate growth rates were selected against. The intensity of size selection declined at the end of the study period following the closure of the commercial fishery. These different forms of selection (positive directional, negative directional, and disruptive selection) can all be accounted for by the sharply dome-shaped curve of fishing mortality against length observed in the fishery.
Experimental investigations of air entrainment in transition and skimming flows down a stepped chute
Authors: Chanson H , Toombes L
Published: July 2002

Stepped spillways have been used for about 3500 years. The last few decades have seen the development of new construction materials, design techniques, and applications, for example, embankment overtopping protection systems. Although it is commonly acknowledged that free-surface aeration is significant in stepped chutes, experimental data are scarce, often limited to very steep slopes (α ~ 50°). This paper presents an experimental study conducted in a large-size stepped chute (α = 22°, h = 0.1 m, W = 1 m). Observations demonstrate the existence of a transition flow pattern for intermediate flow rates between nappe and skimming flows. Detailed airwater flow measurements were conducted in both transition and skimming flows, immediately downstream of the inception point of free-surface aeration where uniform equilibrium flow conditions were not achieved. In skimming flows, a complete characterization is developed for the distributions of void fraction, bubble count rate, and velocity, and flow resistance data are compared with other studies. Transition flows exhibit significantly different airwater flow properties. They are highly aerated, requiring the design of comparatively high chute sidewalls.Key words: stepped spillway, air entrainment, two-phase flow properties, skimming flow, transition flow.
Probabilistic analysis of factors affecting highway construction costs: a belief network approach
Authors: Attoh-Okine Nii O
Published: July 2002

This paper presents the application of belief networks to make inferences in highway construction costs. The methodology is evolving; it works very well when sufficient information and incomplete quantitative data are available. It is an attempt to identify the extent of influence of selected variables on highway construction costs. Belief networks are an expressive graphical language for representing uncertain knowledge about causal and associational relations among construction cost variables. This then provides a graphical representation of probabilistic construction cost models. The graph-theoretic framework of the belief lends itself for modeling probabilistic dependence and flow information between different construction costs and related variables in overall highway construction cost determination.Key words: construction costs, belief networks, graphical models, uncertainty, and Bayesian network.
Fastener head pull-through resistance of plywood and oriented strand board
Authors: Chui Y H , Craft Steven
Published: July 2002

A nailed or screwed sheathing-to-timber joint may fail in one of two possible modes when subjected to a load applied along the axis of the fastener: fastener head pull-through of the sheathing material and shank withdrawal from the timber. Currently, the Canadian timber design code does not provide specifications to check the first mode of failure. In this study, tests were conducted to determine the head pull-through strengths of some common hammer and power-driven nails and wood screws in plywood and in oriented strand board. These are compared with the calculated shank withdrawal strengths of the same fasteners from timber, assuming it to belong to the Douglas firlarch species group. The test results show that there is no significant difference in strengths between plywood and oriented strand board. Head pull-through strength appears to increase with fastener diameter. The major conclusion reached is that, except for small size nails (less than 2 in. long), fastener head pull-through in sheathing prevails over shank withdrawal from timber in sheathing-to-timber joints when loaded axially.Key words: nail, wood screw, head pull-through, withdrawal strength, timber, design capacities.
Two large-scale sealing tests conducted at Atomic Energy of Canada's underground research laboratory: the buffer-container experiment and the isothermal test
Authors: Dixon D , Chandler N , Graham J , Gray M N
Published: July 2002

Two large-scale sealing experiments were conducted at Atomic Energy of Canada Limited's Underground Research Laboratory at Lac du Bonnet, Manitoba. The rate of water uptake in densely compacted sandclay buffer materials proposed for use in a deep geologic repository for spent nuclear fuel was monitored. The buffercontainer experiment examined the influence of heat on the performance of a large mass of buffer. Temperatures, water contents, and total and hydraulic pressures within and surrounding the installation were monitored for approximately 2.5 years. Local groundwater pressures increased as a result of rising temperatures. Water uptake and redistribution occurred in the buffer due to drying shrinkage close to the heater and counter-acted swelling due to an increase in water content near the rockbuffer interface. The isothermal test (ITT) allowed natural groundwater uptake from the surrounding rock mass under isothermal conditions. It was monitored for a period of 6.5 years and is the first, and longest running test of its kind yet conducted in the world. During its operation, the ITT (for as yet unconfirmed reasons) experienced a 35% decrease in the rate of water supply relative to that measured prior to experiment installation. This decrease impacts on the time required for saturation to be achieved.Key words: buffer, bentonite, underground research laboratory, instrumentation.
BOUNDARY TRIANGULATIONS APPROXIMATING DEVELOPABLE SURFACES THAT INTERPOLATE A CLOSED SPACE CURVE
Authors: FREY WILLIAM H.
Published: July 2002

A common operation in fabricating many products is bending a thin, flat sheet of material over a three-dimensional boundary curve that outlines the desired shape. Typically the shape of the closed boundary curve is given, and the geometric problem of interest is to compute the developable surface that forms when the material is bent to conform to this curve. A classical method of solving this problem on the drawing board is by triangulation development: approximating the boundary curve by line segments and the surface by triangles whose vertices are the boundary points. Choosing the proper boundary triangulation was the job of the draftsman. Automating this process on a computer requires identifying triangulations approximating developable surfaces. Moreover, since there are usually two or more developable surfaces that interpolate a given space curve, there must be a means of selecting the most appropriate solution for the application at hand. This paper describes a computer-based method that generates a boundary triangulation by geometrically simulating the bending of the sheet as it would occur during closing of the blankholder in a sheet-metal forming problem.
N-BODY HAMILTONIANS WITH HARD-CORE INTERACTIONS
Authors: de MONVEL-BERTHIER ANNE BOUTET , GEORGESCU VLADIMIR , SOFFER AVY
Published: July 2002

We study N-body hamiltonians with short and long range potentials which are infinite on compact sets of non-zero measure. We show that the generator of the dilation group is locally conjugated to them away from the threshold energies. The notion of conjugacy has to be interpreted in a very weak sense, but this is enough to deduce an optimal form of the limiting absorption principle, and so absence of singular continuous spectrum and local decay. One of the main technical steps of our approach requires a maximal regularity result for the Dirichlet Laplacian in an open set with irregular boundary. We prove it for a large class of non-smooth domains.
ALMOST MULTIPLICATIVE MORPHISMS AND K-THEORY
Authors: GONG GUIHUA , LIN HUAXIN
Published: July 2002

Let X be a compact metric space and A=C(X). Suppose that ℬ is a class of unital C*-algebras satisfying certain conditions, we prove the following: For any ∊>0, finite set F⊂A, there is an integer l such that if ϕ, ψ:A→B(B∈ℬ) are sufficiently multiplicative morphisms (e.g. when both ϕ and ψ are *-homomorphisms) which induce same K-theoretical maps, then there are a unitary u∈Ml+1(B) and a homomorphism σ:A→Ml(B) with finite dimensional image such that [Formula: see text] for all f∈F. In particular, the integer l does not depend on B, ϕ and ψ. This feature has important applications to the classification theory of nuclear C*-algebras.
INTERSECTION THEORY ON SYMPLECTIC QUOTIENTS OF PRODUCTS OF SPHERES
Authors: TAKAKURA TATSURU
Published: July 2002

We present an explicit formula for cohomology intersection pairings on an arbitrary smooth symplectic quotient of products of 2-spheres, by the standard diagonal action of SO3, without using known results on relations in the cohomology ring. By the Poincaré duality, it contains all the information enough to recover the structure of the cohomology ring. Our method is based on the commutativity of geometric quantization and symplectic reduction, originating from a conjecture of Guillemin-Sternberg. In fact, it enables us to derive a formula for the generating function of the intersection pairings.
CRYSTALLIZATION AND OPTOELECTRONIC PROPERTIES OF INDIUM-ZINC-OXIDE THIN FILMS ANNEALED IN ARGON AND VACUUM
Authors: CHOY S. F. , GONG H. , Zhu F.
Published: July 2002

Multi-component oxides based on the In 2 O 3 – ZnO system has recently gained much attention as an alternative transparent conducting oxide. In 2 O 3 and ZnO react to form several homologous compounds of the form Zn k In 2 O k+3, some of which possess excellent electrical and optical properties. Although the appearance of an amorphous-like phase has been reported at intermediate Zn/(In + Zn) ratios, little work has been done on the effect of post-deposition heat treatment on such IZO films. In this work, representative samples of IZO deposited in different ambience and conditions by radio-frequency magnetron sputtering exhibiting an amorphous diffraction pattern were annealed in an argon atmosphere of 1.6 × 102 mbar and vacuum of 10-6 mbar at 500°C for 1 hour. XRD and SEM studies of the annealed films showed a marked difference in both the diffraction pattern and surface morphology after annealing. A variety of morphology, including dendrite-like patterns radiating outward was observed. The electrical and optical properties of the IZO films after annealing were also studied. Results show that while crystallinity of the films was improved after annealing, the electrical conductivity was reduced by several orders of magnitude. Annealing also seems to induce the crystallization of multiple phases in IZO films.
Possible Large Cooper Pair Gap at Room Temperature and Unusual Temperature Relation of the Gap in the Underdoped Bi2Sr2CaCu2O8+δ
Authors: Liu Fu-Sui
Published: July 2002

Based on the quantitative explanations for the observed data on the relation between T*, the temperature revealing the pseudogap (PG), and the O pσ hole doping, and for the observed probable unusual dependence of PG on temperature in the underdoped Bi 2 Sr 2 CaCu 2 O 8+δ (Bi2212), this paper predicts the existence of a large Cooper pair gap at room temperature for Bi2212 sample with Tc=0 K.
A QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE COMPARISON OF DISTRIBUTED INFORMATION PROCESSING USING MOBILE AGENTS REALISED IN RMI AND VOYAGER
Authors: COGAN PATRICK , GOMOLUCH JACEK , SCHROEDER MICHAEL
Published: July 2002

We review mobile agents in the context of distributed object computing and parallel processing. We compare these three paradigms qualitatively. For a quantitative comparison of RMI and Voyager as mobile agent platforms, we identify distributed information processing with flexible load balancing as a convincing application to evaluate the two platforms.
AUTOMATED GENERATION OF TEST TRAJECTORIES FOR EMBEDDED FLIGHT CONTROL SYSTEMS
Authors: CUKIC BOJAN , TAYLOR BRIAN J. , SINGH HARSHINDER
Published: July 2002

Automated generation of test cases is a prerequisite for fast testing. Whereas the research in automated test data generation addressed the creation of individual test points, test trajectory generation has attracted limited attention. In simple terms, a test trajectory is defined as a series of data points, with each (possibly multidimensional) point relying upon the value(s) of previous point(s). Many embedded systems use data trajectories as inputs, including closed-loop process controllers, robotic manipulators, nuclear monitoring systems, and flight control systems. For these systems, testers can either handcraft test trajectories, use input trajectories from older versions of the system or, perhaps, collect test data in a high fidelity system simulator. While these are valid approaches, they are expensive and time-consuming, especially if the assessment goals require many tests.

We developed a framework for expanding a small, conventionally developed set of test trajectories into a large set suitable, for example, for system safety assurance. Statistical regression is the core of this framework. The regression analysis builds a relationship between controllable independent variables and closely correlated dependent variables, which represent test trajectories. By perturbing the independent variables, new test trajectories are generated automatically. Our approach has been applied in the safety assessment of a fault tolerant flight control system. Linear regression, multiple linear regression, and autoregressive techniques are compared. The performance metrics include the speed of test generation and the percentage of "acceptable" trajectories, measured by the domain specific reasonableness checks.
NONCOMMUTATIVE SYMMETRIC FUNCTIONS V: A DEGENERATE VERSION OF Uq(glN)
Authors: KROB DANIEL , THIBON JEAN-YVES
Published: July 2002

We interpret quasi-symmetric functions and noncommutative symmetric functions as characters of a degenerate quantum group obtained by putting q=0 in a variant of Uq(glN).
COMPACTNESS RESULTS FOR TRANSPORT EQUATIONS AND APPLICATIONS
Authors: LATRACH KHALID
Published: July 2002

The goal of this paper is to give a systematic analysis of compactness properties for transport equations with general boundary conditions where an abstract boundary operator relates the incoming and outgoing fluxes. The analysis involves two parameters: The velocity measure and the collision operator. Hence, for a large class of (velocity) measures and under appropriate assumptions on scattering operators compactness results are obtained. Using the positivity (in the lattice sense) and the comparison arguments by Dodds–Fremlin, their converses are derived, and necessary conditions for some remainder term of the Dyson–Phillips expansion to be compact are given. Our results are independent of the properties of the boundary operators and play a crucial role in the understanding of the time asymptotic structure of evolution transport problems. Also, although solutions of transport equations propagate singularities (due to the hyperbolic nature of the operator), they bring the regularity in the variable space (regardless of the boundary operator). We end the paper by applying the obtained results to discuss the existence of solutions to a nonlinear boundary value problem and to describe in detail the various essential spectra of transport operators with abstract boundary conditions.