bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Height of interconnected fracture zone based on the impact of rock fragmentation and bulking
Authors: Wu Fuzhu , Wang Yannan , Shi Shouqiao , Zhu Zhaoqun
Published: January 2021

The Jurassic coal fields in western China are characterized by thick coal seams and weak overburden. The height of an interconnected fracture zone (HIFZ) is often abnormally high for fracture zones produced by coal seam mining. In this paper, HIFZ is discussed through theoretical analysis, in-situ investigation, and data fitting with regression analysis. A comparison of two calculation methods in this study indicates the applicability of calculating HIFZ by the first method, based on the mechanical relationships among fractured rock strata, i.e., (i) the flexural and breaking limit conditions of roof rock mass, (ii) influence of rock fragmentation and bulking, and (iii) thickness of excavated coal seam. In the second method, an analytical formula of HIFZ is obtained by a fitting regression analysis on the measured data of coal mines under similar geo-mining conditions. For the HIFZ in working face 103 of the Zhuanlongwan coal mine, the two calculation methods yield values of 109.74 m and 92.91 ∼ 114.57 m, respectively. The measured value is 107.67 m, obtained using the method of drilling double-end sealing and water leakage measurement. The results of both theoretical calculations are mostly consistent with the measured value, which verifies the effectiveness of the two prediction methods.
Effects of the Color Wheel System on Students With Disabilities in Inclusion Classrooms
Authors: Aspiranti Kathleen B.
Published: January 2021

The Color Wheel System (CWS) is a class-wide, rule-based, behavior management strategy that incorporates multiple sets of classroom rules to provide specific behavioral expectations for different classroom activities. This study used the CWS within three inclusion classrooms to evaluate improvements of classroom behavior for students with disabilities. A multiple-baseline design across classrooms evaluated the effects of the CWS on on-task behavior for three students with identified disabilities in each classroom. Momentary time-sampling was used to record on-task behavior, which was operationally defined as eyes on teacher or work or following teacher instructions. Visual analysis of time-series graphs and nonoverlap of all pairs (NAP) measures suggested the CWS caused immediate, large, and sustained increases in on-task behavior for students with disabilities when data are aggregated by classroom. However, individual changes in on-task behavior were variable across students. Implications for using the CWS as part of a class-wide behavioral prevention program and directions for future research are discussed.
Differences in Need for Opioids After Sinonasal Surgery at Day of Surgery and in the Postoperative Period
Authors: Steigerwald Lukas , Schinz Katharina , Sievert Matti , Mantsopoulos Konstantinos , Gostian Antoniu-Oreste , Iro Heinrich , Mueller Sarina K.
Published: January 2021

Introduction:

In the last years, the use of opioid analgesics has increased, as well as their morbidity and mortality, especially in the United States. Most patients after sinonasal surgery receive opioid analgesics, although up to 90% have leftover opioid pills. Around 70% of these patients keep the opioid analgesics, which could possibly lead to improper use. The objective of the following study was the investigation of the need for, use of, timing and side effects of opioid and non-opioid analgesics after sinonasal surgery.

Methods:

This was a retrospective study of (n = 280) patients who underwent sinonasal surgery in the Otolaryngology Department of the University Erlangen-Nürnberg between January and December 2018. The postoperative pain (3-5 days after surgery) using the numeric rating scale and the postoperative need for on-demand opioids and non-opioid analgesics in relation to demographic and surgical parameters were evaluated.

Results:

Of total, 59.64% of all patients received opioid analgesics postoperatively on the day of surgery. On the first postoperative day (POD1), the mean pain score yielded the highest values; however, only 0.71% of the patients needed opioid analgesics, and pain was sufficiently controlled with non-opioids or no pain medication at all. There was a significant reduction of the pain score from POD2 to 5 ( P = .01; P < .01, respectively). Only 1.8% of the patients needed an opioid analgesic from POD1-5. Of total, 2.1% of the patients presented with a postoperative bleeding complication, and only 1 (0.4%) patient needed endoscopic coagulation.

Conclusion:

Our results indicate that the majority of patients need opioid analgesics almost exclusively on the day of surgery. There were no major complications in patients taking either opioid or non-opioids. Our results indicate that the postoperative pain regimen from POD1 should initially be started using non-opioid analgesics and be further escalated to opioid analgesics in individual cases.
Trends in Emergency Department Computed Tomography Usage for Diagnosis of Peritonsillar Abscess
Authors: Nesemeier Ryan , Jones Shawn , Jacob Kevin , Cash Elizabeth , Goldman Julie
Published: January 2021

Objectives:

Peritonsillar abscess (PTA) is the most common deep neck space infection and a frequent cause for otolaryngology consultation. Patients often undergo computed tomography (CT) scan for confirmation in addition to physical examination. Our aims were to determine whether patients unnecessarily undergo CT scans in the emergency department (ED) when presenting with sore throat and identify physical examination characteristics that predict PTA.

Methods:

The electronic medical records of all patients (>18 years) presenting to an ED between June 2014 and June 2015 with a primary diagnosis of acute pharyngitis, acute tonsillitis, or PTA were reviewed for presenting symptoms and diagnostic imaging use.

Results:

Four hundred eight patients met inclusion criteria; 21 were diagnosed with PTA, including 13 based on history and physical alone. A total of 21 CT scans were ordered, 11 (52.3%) of which did not demonstrate abscess. Soft palatal fullness, uvular deviation, drooling, and muffled voice were all significantly associated with increased CT usage (all P values <.02). Rising subjective pain scores were associated with increased use of CT imaging ( P = .029). Multivariable analyses revealed that soft palatal fullness, uvular deviation, and drooling were all significant predictors of PTA (all P values <.001).

Conclusions:

Patients with severe symptoms of PTA, including uvular deviation, drooling, and soft palatal fullness, were most likely to undergo CT imaging. Given the high likelihood of PTA, patients presenting with these symptoms could forego CT imaging, reducing exposure to ionizing radiation.
Religious Identity and Morality: Evidence for Religious Residue and Decay in Moral Foundations
Authors: Van Tongeren Daryl R. , DeWall C. Nathan , Hardy Sam A. , Schwadel Philip
Published: January 2021

Religion provides a powerful social identity. Building on previous work demonstrating that formerly religious individuals (i.e., religious dones) more closely resemble currently religious individuals than do never religious individuals (i.e., religious nones), we report three studies examining a potential religious residue effect for the endorsement of moral foundations. In Study 1 ( N = 312), we found evidence of a stairstep pattern of endorsement of the five moral foundations, descending from currently religious to formerly religious to never religious individuals. Study 2 ( N = 957) replicated these findings with a larger sample. In Study 3 ( N = 2,071), we found evidence for the religious residue effect in a 4-wave longitudinal study of adolescents and young adults and suggest that the residual effects of religion on endorsement of moral foundations may erode over time. These studies add to a recently burgeoning line of work on the nature and consequences of religious deidentification.
Proposing an information value chain to improve information services to disabled library patrons using assistive technologies
Authors: Potnis Devendra , Mallary Kevin
Published: January 2021

Information services offered by academic libraries increasingly rely on assistive technologies (AT) to facilitate disabled patrons’ retrieval and use of information for learning and teaching. However, disabled patrons’ access to AT might not always lead to their use, resulting in the underutilization of information services offered by academic libraries. We adopt an inward-looking, service innovation perspective to improve information services for disabled patrons using AT. The open coding of qualitative responses collected from administrators and librarians in 186 academic libraries in public universities in the United States, reveals 10 mechanisms (i.e. modified work practices), which involve searching, compiling, mixing, framing, sharing, or reusing information, and learning from it. Based on this information-centric reorganisation of work practices, we propose an ‘information value chain’, like Porter’s value chain, for improving information services to disabled patrons using AT in academic libraries, which is the major theoretical contribution of our study.
Embodying algorithms, enactive artificial intelligence and the extended cognition: You can see as much as you know about algorithm
Authors: Shin Donghee
Published: January 2021

The recent proliferation of artificial intelligence (AI) gives rise to questions on how users interact with AI services and how algorithms embody the values of users. Despite the surging popularity of AI, how users evaluate algorithms, how people perceive algorithmic decisions, and how they relate to algorithmic functions remain largely unexplored. Invoking the idea of embodied cognition, we characterize core constructs of algorithms that drive the value of embodiment and conceptualizes these factors in reference to trust by examining how they influence the user experience of personalized recommendation algorithms. The findings elucidate the embodied cognitive processes involved in reasoning algorithmic characteristics – fairness, accountability, transparency, and explainability – with regard to their fundamental linkages with trust and ensuing behaviors. Users use a dual-process model, whereby a sense of trust built on a combination of normative values and performance-related qualities of algorithms. Embodied algorithmic characteristics are significantly linked to trust and performance expectancy. Heuristic and systematic processes through embodied cognition provide a concise guide to its conceptualization of AI experiences and interaction. The identified user cognitive processes provide information on a user’s cognitive functioning and patterns of behavior as well as a basis for subsequent metacognitive processes.
Role of Social Support in Women facing Domestic Violence during Lockdown of Covid-19 while Cohabiting with the Abusers: Analysis of Cases Registered with the Family Counseling Centre, Alwar, India
Authors: Mahapatro Meerambika , Prasad Moksh M. , Singh Sudhir Pratap
Published: January 2021

The present study aims to analyze the role of social support in the lives of women survivors of domestic violence who filed a complaint with the Mahila Salah and Suraksha Kendra (MSSK) Alwar, India, while residing with the abusive husband and his family during the lockdown period of COVID-19. The study explores the role of MSSK with extended vulnerability of women during the lockdown period at large. This study adopts an exploratory qualitative method. A total of 36 married women who had filed a complaint with MSSK before and during the lockdown were included. Interviews with the women were held through telephonic conversations on vulnerability, coping mechanism and extent and forms of social support. Thematic content analysis was done in a stepwise manner. Results show that degeneration of social support model is time -bound and the accuracy of applying this model wane under extended condition of vulnerability caused due to COVID-19. MSSK can expand support by creating and integrating virtual community networks to detect and deter violence during the lockdown. The study suggests that the government can ensure and empower bystanders with skills of modern communication. The existing physical institutional delivery mechanism need to evolve strategies that are resilient to emerging threats from the vulnerable ecosystem.
American Academy of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery/Foundation Reg‐ent Registry: Purpose, Properties, and Priorities
Authors: Schmalbach Cecelia E. , Brereton Jean , Bowman Cathlin , Denneny James C.
Published: January 2021

Objective

(1) To describe the patient and membership cohort captured by the otolaryngology‐based specialty‐specific Reg‐ent registry. (2) To outline the capabilities of the Reg‐ent registry, including the process by which members can access evidence‐based data to address knowledge gaps identified by the American Academy of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery/Foundation and ultimately define “quality” for our field of otolaryngology–head and neck surgery.

Methods

Data analytics was performed on Reg‐ent (2015‐2020)

Results

A total of 1629 participants from 239 practices were enrolled in Reg‐ent, and 42 health care specialties were represented. Reg‐ent encompassed 6,496,477 unique patients and 24,296,713 encounters/visits: the 45‐ to 64‐year age group had the highest representation (n = 1,597,618, 28.1%); 3,867,835 (60.3%) patients identified as Caucasian; and “private” was the most common insurance (33%), followed by Blue Cross/Blue Shield (22%). Allergic rhinitis–unspecified and sensorineural hearing loss–bilateral were the top 2 diagnoses (9% each). Overall, 302 research gaps were identified from 17 clinical practice guidelines.

Discussion

Reg‐ent benefits are vast—from monitoring one’s practice to defining otolaryngology–head and neck surgery quality, participating in advocacy, and conducting research. Reg‐ent provides mechanisms for benchmarking, quality assessment, and performance measure development, with the objective of defining and guiding best practice in otolaryngology–head and neck surgery. To be successful, patient diversity must be achieved to include ethnicity and socioeconomic status. Increasing academic medical center membership will assist in achieving diversity so that the quality domain of equitable care is achieved.

Implications for Practice

Reg‐ent provides the first ever registry that is specific to otolaryngology–head and neck surgery and compliant with HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act) to collect patient outcomes and define evidence‐based quality care.
Power, security, and exchange: Impacts of a Late Holocene volcanic eruption in Subarctic North America
Authors: Kristensen Todd J , Ives John W , Supernant Kisha
Published: January 2021

We synthesize environmental and cultural change following a volcanic eruption at A.D. 846–848 in Subarctic North America to demonstrate how social relationships shaped responses to natural disasters. Ethnohistoric accounts and archaeometric studies reveal differences in human adaptations in the Yukon and Mackenzie river basins that relate to exertions of power over contested resources versus affordances of security to intercept dispersed migrating animals. The ways that pre-contact hunter-gatherers maintained or redressed ecological imbalances influenced respective trajectories of resilience to a major event. Adaptive responses to a volcanic eruption affected the movement of bow and arrow technology and the proliferation of copper use in northwest North America.
PercuTwist tracheostomy in an intubated patient with tracheal stent
Authors: Bove Mary , Ferraro Fausto , Morgillo Floriana , Natale Giovanni , Santini Mario , Fiorelli Alfonso
Published: January 2021

The optimal placement of a tracheal tube following percutaneous dilator tracheostomy is technically demanding in patients with tracheal stents. We report a successful technique of tracheostomy tube placement with PercuTwist in an intubated patient with a tracheal stent for malignant stenosis. The endotracheal tube was replaced with a laryngeal mask, a 9.0-mm tracheostomy tube was inserted into the trachea over a PercuTwist percutaneous dilator and through the tracheal stent under video-bronchoscopic vision. The PercuTwist technique kept the lumen of trachea, a laryngeal mask enabled adequate ventilation, and a video-bronchoscope guided the prompt insertion of the tracheostomy tube through the stent.
Prognostic role of procalcitonin in ST-elevation myocardial infarction complicated by cardiogenic shock
Authors: Sharma Yash Paul , Kasinadhuni Ganesh , Santosh Krishna , Parashar Nitin Kumar , Sharma Rakesh , Bootla Dinakar , Kanabar Kewal , Krishnappa Darshan
Published: January 2021

Objective

Cardiogenic shock accounts for the majority of deaths amongst patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction. Procalcitonin is elevated in acute myocardial infarction, especially when complicated by left heart failure, cardiogenic shock, resuscitated cardiac arrest, and bacterial infections. However, the prognostic utility of procalcitonin in ST-elevation myocardial infarction complicated by cardiogenic shock has not been systematically evaluated.

Methods

We performed a retrospective registry review of 125 patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction and cardiogenic shock over 2 years at a tertiary referral hospital to examine the prognostic value of serum procalcitonin measurement at 24 hours after the onset of infarction for in-hospital mortality.

Results

The mean age of the study population was 57.75 ± 11.1 years, and the median delay from onset to hospital admission was 15 hours. The in-hospital mortality was 28.8%. Receiver operating characteristic analysis revealed a strong relationship between elevated procalcitonin and in-hospital mortality (area under the curve = 0.676; p = 0.002). Although procalcitonin was found to be higher in non-survivors in univariate analysis, it was not an independent predictor of mortality in multivariate regression analysis. Acute kidney injury, left ventricular ejection fraction, and non-revascularization were independently associated with mortality after adjusting for covariates.

Conclusion

Although procalcitonin was higher in non-survivors, static procalcitonin measurement at 24 hours after the onset of ST-elevation myocardial infarction complicated by cardiogenic shock was not an independent predictor of in-hospital mortality. Additional prospective studies are required to assess the role of serial procalcitonin monitoring in ST-elevation myocardial infarction complicated by cardiogenic shock.
Skipping breakfast and mood: The role of sleep
Authors: Chang Zon-Shuan , Boolani Ali , Conroy Deirdre A. , Dunietz Tom , Jansen Erica C.
Published: January 2021

Background:

Breakfast skipping has been related to poor mood, but the role of sleep in this relationship remains unclear.

Aim:

To evaluate whether breakfast skipping associated with mood independently of sleep, and whether sleep interacted with breakfast skipping.

Methods:

During an in-person research visit, a sample of 329 adults completed questionnaires regarding last night’s sleep, current morning breakfast intake, and mid-morning mood states. Sex-stratified linear regression models examined associations between breakfast skipping and mood and interactions with sleep.

Results:

Among males, those who did not consume breakfast had less vigor independent of sleep (β=−2.72 with 95% CI −4.91, −0.53). Among females, those who did not consume breakfast had higher feelings of anxiety (β=1.21 with 95% CI −0.04, 2.47). Interaction analyses revealed that males with longer time to fall asleep and longer night-time awake time had higher depression scores in the presence of breakfast skipping, and females with more night-time awake time and shorter duration had higher fatigue and less vigor if they were also breakfast skippers.

Conclusion:

Breakfast skipping and poor sleep may jointly affect mood.
The severity of bullying messages predicts increased levels of targets’ depression and general anxiety as a function of targets’ inferences of a bully’s goals
Authors: Wingate V. Skye , Palomares Nicholas A.
Published: January 2021

Being the recipient of severe bullying messages for a period of time is a meaningful predictor of subsequent mental health issues. Employing Goal Understanding Theory, we test an explanation for this association. Specifically, we hypothesize and generally confirm that targets’ adverse emotional reaction and hurt from bullying messages serially mediate the positive association between message severity and depression and general anxiety, depending on the goal understanding of targets (i.e., inferences of upward-mobility, personal-attack, and highlight-differences goals motivating a bully). That is, the mediation of message severity on mental health via emotional reaction and then hurt is present at high (not low) levels of goal inferences. Implications of the communicative processes connecting severe bullying with mental health are discussed.
Digital transformation: Toward new research themes and collaborations yet to be explored
Authors: Talafidaryani Mojtaba , Jalali Seyed Mohammad Jafar , Moro Sérgio
Published: January 2021

This study aimed at providing an overview of research themes and collaborations in the digital transformation scholarship. The methods of co-word analysis, co-author analysis, and network analysis were employed to network-analyze the keywords, countries, and institutions of 2820 research articles published on the digital transformation topic and indexed by the Web of Science database. Our main results indicated that researchers have mostly focused on three aspects of the digital transformation phenomenon including Technological and Industrial View, Organizational and Managerial View, and Global and Social View. Also, it was realized that Technology, Sustainability, Big Data, Information and Communications Technology, Innovation, Industry 4.0, Artificial Intelligence, Business Model, Social Media, and Digitization are the most recurring themes in this field of research. Besides, Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises, Blockchain, Machine Learning, Knowledge Management, and Sustainable Development were respectively identified as the five hottest issues in the digital transformation scholarship. The contribution of our study highlights that European countries and specially the institutions of northern Europe have had better performance in the research collaborations in digital transformation.
Beyond the ‘purple drank’: Study of promethazine abuse according to the European Medicines Agency adverse drug reaction reports
Authors: Chiappini Stefania , Schifano Fabrizio , Corkery John Martin , Guirguis Amira
Published: January 2021

Background:

Promethazine is a medicinal product, available on its own or in combination with other ingredients including dextromethorphan, paracetamol and/or expectorants. Anecdotal reports have however indicated that promethazine may have a misuse potential, especially in adolescents.

Objective:

We here aimed at studying how this phenomenon has been reported to the European Monitoring Agency Adverse Drug Reactions database.

Methods:

After a formal request to the European Monitoring Agency, the promethazine-specific dataset has been studied, performing a descriptive analysis of misuse/abuse/dependence-related adverse drug reaction reports. The study was approved by the University of Hertfordshire (LMS/PGR/UH/03234).

Results:

The analysis of promethazine data showed increasing levels of misuse/abuse/ dependence issues over time (2003–2019). Out of a total number of 1543 cases of adverse drug reactions, the abuse/misuse/dependence-related cases reported were 557, with ‘drug abuse’ (300/557: 53.8%) and ‘intentional product misuse’ (117/557: 21.0%). being the most represented adverse drug reactions. A high number of fatalities were described (310/557: 55.6%), mostly recorded as ‘drug toxicity/drug abuse’ cases, with opiates/opioids having been the most commonly reported concomitant drugs used.

Conclusion:

Anecdotal promethazine misuse/abuse reports have been confirmed by European Monitoring Agency data. Promethazine misuse/abuse appears to be an alarming issue, being associated with drug-related fatalities. Thus, healthcare professionals should be warned about a possible misuse of promethazine and be vigilant, as in some countries medicinal products containing promethazine can be purchased over the counter. Since promethazine is often available in association with opioids, its abuse may be considered a public health issue, with huge implications for clinical practice.
Targeted temperature management and early neuro-prognostication after cardiac arrest
Authors: Chen Songyu , Lachance Brittany Bolduc , Gao Liang , Jia Xiaofeng
Published: January 2021

Targeted temperature management (TTM) is a recommended neuroprotective intervention for coma after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA). However, controversies exist concerning the proper implementation and overall efficacy of post-CA TTM, particularly related to optimal timing and depth of TTM and cooling methods. A review of the literature finds that optimizing and individualizing TTM remains an open question requiring further clinical investigation. This paper will summarize the preclinical and clinical trial data to-date, current recommendations, and future directions of this therapy, including new cooling methods under investigation. For now, early induction, maintenance for at least 24 hours, and slow rewarming utilizing endovascular methods may be preferred. Moreover, timely and accurate neuro-prognostication is valuable for guiding ethical and cost-effective management of post-CA coma. Current evidence for early neuro-prognostication after TTM suggests that a combination of initial prediction models, biomarkers, neuroimaging, and electrophysiological methods is the optimal strategy in predicting neurological functional outcomes.
Causes and consequences of baseline cerebral blood flow reductions in Alzheimer’s disease
Authors: Bracko Oliver , Cruz Hernández Jean C , Park Laibaik , Nishimura Nozomi , Schaffer Chris B
Published: January 2021

Reductions of baseline cerebral blood flow (CBF) of ∼10–20% are a common symptom of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) that appear early in disease progression and correlate with the severity of cognitive impairment. These CBF deficits are replicated in mouse models of AD and recent work shows that increasing baseline CBF can rapidly improve the performance of AD mice on short term memory tasks. Despite the potential role these data suggest for CBF reductions in causing cognitive symptoms and contributing to brain pathology in AD, there remains a poor understanding of the molecular and cellular mechanisms causing them. This review compiles data on CBF reductions and on the correlation of AD-related CBF deficits with disease comorbidities (e.g. cardiovascular and genetic risk factors) and outcomes (e.g. cognitive performance and brain pathology) from studies in both patients and mouse models, and discusses several potential mechanisms proposed to contribute to CBF reductions, based primarily on work in AD mouse models. Future research aimed at improving our understanding of the importance of and interplay between different mechanisms for CBF reduction, as well as at determining the role these mechanisms play in AD patients could guide the development of future therapies that target CBF reductions in AD.
Expression and clinical significance of miR-3615 in hepatocellular carcinoma
Authors: Yuan Xin , Zhang Yize , Yu Zujiang
Published: January 2021

Objective

To investigate the association between microRNA-3615 (miR-3615) expression and the prognosis and clinicopathological features in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

Methods

We obtained clinicopathological and genomic data and prognostic information on HCC patients from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database. We then analyzed differences in miR-3615 expression levels between HCC and adjacent tissues using SPSS software, and examined the relationships between miR-3615 expression levels and clinicopathological characteristics. We also explored the influence of miR-3615 expression levels on the prognosis of HCC patients using Kaplan–Meier survival curve analysis.

Results

Based on data for 345 HCC and 50 adjacent normal tissue samples, expression levels of miR-3615 were significantly higher in HCC tissues compared with adjacent tissues. MiR-3615 expression levels in HCC patients were negatively correlated with overall survival time and positively correlated with high TNM stage, serum Ki-67 expression level, and serum alpha-fetoprotein level. There were no significant correlations between miR-3615 expression and age, sex, and pathological grade.

Conclusion

MiR-3615 may be a promising new biomarker and prognostic factor for HCC.
Deep learning for intelligent diagnosis in thyroid scintigraphy
Authors: Qiao Tingting , Liu Simin , Cui Zhijun , Yu Xiaqing , Cai Haidong , Zhang Huijuan , Sun Ming , Lv Zhongwei , Li Dan
Published: January 2021

Objective

To construct deep learning (DL) models to improve the accuracy and efficiency of thyroid disease diagnosis by thyroid scintigraphy.

Methods

We constructed DL models with AlexNet, VGGNet, and ResNet. The models were trained separately with transfer learning. We measured each model’s performance with six indicators: recall, precision, negative predictive value (NPV), specificity, accuracy, and F1-score. We also compared the diagnostic performances of first- and third-year nuclear medicine (NM) residents with assistance from the best-performing DL-based model. The Kappa coefficient and average classification time of each model were compared with those of two NM residents.

Results

The recall, precision, NPV, specificity, accuracy, and F1-score of the three models ranged from 73.33% to 97.00%. The Kappa coefficient of all three models was >0.710. All models performed better than the first-year NM resident but not as well as the third-year NM resident in terms of diagnostic ability. However, the ResNet model provided “diagnostic assistance” to the NM residents. The models provided results at speeds 400 to 600 times faster than the NM residents.

Conclusion

DL-based models perform well in diagnostic assessment by thyroid scintigraphy. These models may serve as tools for NM residents in the diagnosis of Graves’ disease and subacute thyroiditis.
Severe neuropathic attack in a woman with acute intermittent porphyria: a case report
Authors: Huang Shiqian , Li Ruiting , Yuan Yin
Published: January 2021

Acute intermittent porphyria (AIP) is a rare autosomal dominant metabolic disease with a broad spectrum of clinical manifestations, and can be easily confused with other diseases. Many patients with porphyria may have symptoms of peripheral nerve damage during an AIP attack, but most such patients are usually only mildly affected. Herein, we describe the case of an undiagnosed woman who developed overall weakness and respiratory failure within 48 hours, leading to her referral to the intensive care unit. Her neuropathy rapidly deteriorated, leading to quadriplegia and bulbar palsy within 14 days. Finally, the reddish color of her urine and further genetic analysis led to a diagnosis of AIP. The patient was treated with intravenous glucose infusion and her condition gradually improved; however, severe neurological sequelae remained. To the best of our knowledge, the AIP reported in this case, involving rapid and severe neuropathy, is extremely rare worldwide. A diagnosis of AIP should therefore be considered when patients present with severe progressive neuropathy. Moreover, early diagnosis may considerably improve patient prognosis.
Layer-specific strain for assessing the effect of naringin on systolic myocardial dysfunction induced by sepsis and its underlying mechanisms
Authors: Sun Li-juan , Qiao Wei , Xiao Yang-jie , Ren Wei-dong
Published: January 2021

Objective

This study aimed to investigate the protective effects of naringin on myocardial deformation and oxidative responses in rats with sepsis-induced myocardial dysfunction (SIMD).

Methods

Global and segmental layer-specific longitudinal strain (LS) was assessed by speckle tracking echocardiography. Serum levels of creatine kinase, lactate dehydrogenase, superoxide dismutase, and malondialdehyde were measured. The activity of cleaved caspase-3 was determined by immunohistochemistry. Protein expression levels of Kelch-like ECH-related protein 1 (Keap1), nuclear erythroid factor 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2), and heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) were measured by western blotting.

Results

Naringin inhibited the lipopolysaccharide-induced decrease in global and layer-specific LS of the left ventricle. Naringin also increased superoxide dismutase expression and decreased malondialdehyde, creatine kinase, lactate dehydrogenase, and cleaved caspase-3 expression in rats with SIMD. Furthermore, naringin increased Nrf2 and HO-1 protein expression levels, and decreased Keap1 protein expression levels in rats with SIMD.

Conclusion

Layer-specific LS analysis of myocardial function by speckle tracking echocardiography can reflect early changes in myocardial systolic function. Naringin may possess a protective effect through moderating lipopolysaccharide-induced myocardial oxidative stress via the Keap1/Nrf2/HO-1 pathway in rats with SIMD.
Employment programmes for schizophrenia and other severe mental illness in psychosocial rehabilitation: a systematic review
Authors: Abidin Muhammad Zairul Rezal Zainol , Yunus Farahiyah Wan , Rasdi Hanif Farhan Mohd , Kadar Masne
Published: January 2021

Introduction

Employment programmes for people with mental illness vary widely in range, but nonetheless all share the same objectives of restoring or initiating vocational roles to promote recovery in psychosocial rehabilitation. The current interventions available usually focus on the specific vocational outcomes of the intervention rather than focusing holistically on the client’s needs.

Method

This review aimed to examine the effectiveness of intervention programmes and determine the best intervention for schizophrenia and other severe mental illness, considering both vocational and non-vocational outcomes. Searching five databases – CINAHL, Medline via Ovid, Scopus, OT Seeker and Web of Science – a total of 3108 studies was identified; 24 met the selection criteria and were reviewed. Interventions were categorised into five major programmes of supported employment, integrated supported employment, vocational rehabilitation, cognitive intervention and virtual reality-based vocational training.

Results

Integrated supported employment was found to be the most effective approach for a vocational outcome. However, evidence concerning non-vocational outcomes of employment programmes and the use of cognitive training remains unclear.

Conclusion

Clinicians are advised to consider the needs and preferences of the client before selecting the best intervention programme. More research is needed to determine the applicability and the efficacy of intervention programmes.
When social movements collaborate with the state towards the right to the city: Unveiling compromises and conflicts
Authors: Krieger Morgana G Martins , Pozzebon Marlei , Gonzalez Lauro
Published: January 2021

The right to the city represents a critique of the city as a place and an object of capitalist accumulation, in which priority is given to exchange value over use value. This critique references an ongoing and collective struggle for urban production to be radically democratic, as the expanded participation of city users would lead to appropriation, with social movements occupying a central role. This paper discusses the practices of urban social movements that cooperate with governmental institutions participating in and influencing the design and implementation of public policies. We focus on the possibilities of transformation towards the right to the city as well as the conflicts and contradictions that social movements face when partnering with the State. We carry out an in-depth investigation of two social movements involved in building housing units in Brazil as part of a federal government programme. By conceptually translating the right to the city into the economies of worth, we propose an original theoretical approach. Our study contributes to advance the understanding of the role of social movements that collaborate with governments without abandoning the goal of struggling for the right to the city. We add a pragmatic perspective to the radical conception of the right to the city by showing how different logics of action enable or hinder the possibility of the right to the city horizon. We propose that the prominence of the civic common world might transform operational processes mainly through self-management.
Visualizing spatial disparities in population aging in the Seoul Metropolitan Area
Authors: Yang Hee Jin
Published: January 2021

This paper explores the spatial differences in population aging within the Seoul Metropolitan Area (SMA) in the Republic of Korea (hereafter Korea). Korea is among the most rapidly growing countries in the world in terms of its increasing elderly population. The speed of population aging and demographic decline has been a central issue in the field of urban and regional planning because it is linked to spatial inequalities in socio-economic development. Considering the present importance of understanding population aging, this paper aims to empirically visualize spatial disparities using the old-age dependency ratio, which is measured by the ratio of the elderly population to the working-age population (age 15–64 years old) of one hundred people. For the empirical period examined between 2000 and 2018, I mapped the changing temporal and spatial patterns of the old-age dependency ratio within SMA using spatial analytic tools and cartograms. The visualization reveals that the old-age dependency ratio is relatively high in sparsely-populated rural areas, which underscores the need for further discussion on how to sustainably provide local public services and manage the pressing issue of population extinction in those areas.
In-situ EBSD study of the degradation behavior in a type 316 Austenitic Stainless Steel during plastic deformation
Authors: Wang Xiao , Zhang Yuetao , Li Huaying , Huang Ming-yu
Published: January 2021

Type 316 steels have been heavily utilized as the structural material in many construction equipment and infrastructures. This paper reports the characterization of degradation in 316 austenitic stainless steel during the plastic deformation. The in-situ EBSD results revealed that, with the increase of plastic strain, the band contrast (BC) value progressively decreased in both grain and grain boundaries, and the target surface becomes uneven after the plastic tensile, which indicates that the increase of surface roughness. Meanwhile, the KAM and ρGND values are low in the origin specimen but increased significantly after the in-situ tensile. The results indicated that the KAM and ρGND are closely related to the deformation degree of the materials, which can be used as the indicator for assessing the degradation of 316 steel. Besides, the re-orientation of grain occurred after the tensile deformation, which can be recognized from the lattice orientation and local orientation maps.
An improved approach for the fatigue calculation of rotor blades based on sector loads
Authors: Previtali F. , Eyb E.
Published: January 2021

In the design and calculation of rotor blades for wind turbines, a sector representation of the loads is often used. The investigation proposed in this paper indicates that, depending on the loading direction, the evaluated sector and the considered location on the rotor blade, the sector approach can result in a significant overestimation of the acting stresses. This translates in a higher calculated fatigue stress exposure (up to 101% in the considered example). However, under particular conditions, the stresses and therefore the stress exposure are correctly assessed. Based on the observation, an improvement of the current method is suggested. The improved method, called invariant-sector method, relies on the appropriate selection of the sector(s) to be evaluated. The method allows for an accuracy equal to the one of the direct method but with a computational effort that is orders of magnitude lower.
The migraine postdrome: Spontaneous and triggered phenotypes
Authors: Karsan Nazia , Peréz-Rodríguez Abigail , Nagaraj Karthik , Bose Pyari R , Goadsby Peter J
Published: January 2021

Background

Non-painful symptoms in migraine following headache resolution can last up to days. Studying the postdrome is important to appreciate the morbidity associated with migraine.

Methods

Fifty-three subjects ( n = 53) with migraine were studied in an experimental setting, collecting historical phenotypic information on the postdrome in their spontaneous attacks, and also associated with nitroglycerin-triggered attacks, while being observed prospectively. In a separate headache clinic-based cohort of migraineurs ( n = 42), who were age and sex-matched to the experimental group, the same phenotypic data were extracted from their clinic records. Spontaneous and nitroglycerin-triggered attack phenotypes, and experimental and clinical cohort phenotypes were compared using agreement analysis.

Results

In the experimental group, 100% had a postdrome with their triggered attack, while 98% reported a postdrome in their spontaneous attacks. In the clinical group, 79% had reported a postdrome. In the experimental group, there was good agreement between spontaneous and nitroglycerin-triggered tiredness, hunger, mood change, sensory sensitivities and vertigo and with similarity in premonitory and postdrome phenotypes experienced in the same individual.

Conclusions

The migraine postdrome is common and symptomatically similar to the premonitory phase. The nitroglycerin model and migraine abortive agents can be used to study the postdrome experimentally. Systematic questioning of symptoms, as well as collateral histories from direct observers of migraine attacks, are likely to enhance symptomatic capture of the migraine postdrome, and aid understanding of attack mediation, abortion and neurobiology.
Safety profile of erenumab, galcanezumab and fremanezumab in pregnancy and lactation: Analysis of the WHO pharmacovigilance database
Authors: Noseda Roberta , Bedussi Francesca , Gobbi Claudio , Zecca Chiara , Ceschi Alessandro
Published: January 2021

Objective

To assess the safety profile of erenumab, galcanezumab and fremanezumab in pregnancy and lactation.

Methods

Safety reports of suspected adverse drug reactions were retrieved from VigiBase as of 31 December 2019, for a case-by-case assessment and disproportionality analysis using the reporting odds ratio (ROR).

Results

There were 94 safety reports: 50 (53.2%) on erenumab, 31 (33.0%) on galcanezumab, and 13 (13.8%) on fremanezumab. In five (5.3%) safety reports, drug exposure occurred prior to pregnancy, in 85 (90.4%) during pregnancy, in one (1.1%) during lactation, in one (1.1%) via paternal exposure, and in two (2.1%) the exposure time was unknown. Out of 94 safety reports, 51 (54.3%) consisted only of drug exposure, while 43 (45.7%) additionally reported 47 adverse drug reactions including maternal toxicities (n = 18), poor breastfeeding (n = 1), spontaneous abortion (n = 23), preterm birth/prematurity (n = 3), and birth defects (n = 2). There was no signal of disproportionate reporting for spontaneous abortion compared to the full database (reporting odds ratio 1.46, 95% confidence interval 0.97–2.20). When triptans were used as a comparator group, a signal of disproportionate reporting for spontaneous abortion was detected in association with erenumab, galcanezumab, and fremanezumab (reporting odds ratio 1.86, 95% confidence interval 1.12–3.13), which was not statistically significant after excluding confounded safety reports (reporting odds ratio 1.21, 95% confidence interval 0.67–2.21).

Conclusions

No specific maternal toxicities, patterns of major birth defects, or increased reporting of spontaneous abortion were found. However, because of the relatively limited number of adverse drug reactions reported and the lack of long-term safety data, continuous surveillance is required in pregnant and lactating women exposed to these drugs.
Do primary school libraries affect teenagers’ attitudes towards leisure reading?
Authors: McKirdy Pamela
Published: January 2021

This study explores how New Zealand primary school students’ experiences of school libraries affected their attitudes towards reading for pleasure once they entered secondary school. Two hundred and seventy-six students in their first year at high school completed a survey asking about their primary school libraries. The students were asked to self-identify as keen readers, occasional readers or non-readers. The results were analysed in a spreadsheet, considering variables such as attitude to reading, former school and family background. The students were mainly positive about their libraries, but were bothered by cramped and noisy environments and books they perceived as babyish. Students from schools with a librarian were more positive about reading for fun than those from schools where the library was not prioritised. Students from a family background where reading was encouraged were more likely to maintain a positive attitude to reading by the time they reached high school.
Incorporating Speed in a Traffic Conflict Severity Index to Estimate Left Turn Opposed Crashes at Signalized Intersections
Authors: Anarkooli Alireza Jafari , Persaud Bhagwant , Milligan Craig , Penner Joel , Saleem Taha
Published: January 2021

Rigorous evaluation of implemented safety treatments, especially for innovative treatments and those targeted at rare crash types, is challenging to accomplish with conventional crash-based analyses. This paper aims to address this challenge for treatments at urban signalized intersections by providing a methodology that uses surrogate measures of safety obtained from video analytics to predict changes in crashes. To develop this approach, left turn opposed traffic conflicts based on post-encroachment times, along with corresponding conflicting vehicle speeds, are first measured from video observations at signalized intersections. The conflicts are then classified into three severity levels using a risk score function defined by these measures. Multiple linear regression models are developed to relate left turn opposed crashes at the same intersections in the period 2009–2014 to the correspondingly classified conflicts. The results show strong relationships between the classified conflicts and crashes (adjusted [Formula: see text] of 85% and 94% for total and fatal/injury crashes, respectively). The results also reveal that the contribution of conflicts to the risk of crashes varies based on speed dimension of their severity, suggesting that neglecting speed as a factor in conflict severity levels may be at the expense of losing meaningful information. The models can be applied to estimate the change in crashes following a safety treatment by observing, through video analytics, the change in conflicts and speeds and using the crash-conflict-speed model. The methodological approach is viable for quickly evaluating all treatments and, in particular, innovative ones for which knowledge on safety effects is sparse or non-existent.