bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Characterisation of macular neovascularisation in geographic atrophy
Authors: Sacconi Riccardo , Brambati Maria , Miere Alexandra , Costanzo Eliana , Capuano Vittorio , Borrelli Enrico , Battista Marco , Parravano Mariacristina , Souied Eric H , Bandello Francesco , Querques Giuseppe
Published: April 2021

Aim

To characterise macular neovascularisation (MNV) developing in eyes affected by geographic atrophy (GA).

Methods

In this multicentric longitudinal study involving three retina referral centres, patients previously affected by GA who developed an active MNV were included. Patients were investigated using structural optical coherence tomography (OCT), fundus autofluorescence, OCT-angiography and dye angiographies. Patients were treated with ProReNata antivascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) injections and were revaluated after treatment.

Results

Among 512 patients previously diagnosed with GA, 40 eyes of 40 patients (mean age 80.8±7.9 years, mean GA area 8.73±7.39 mm2) presented with treatment-naïve exudative MNV (accounting for an estimated prevalence of 7.81%; 5.49 to 10.13, 95% CIs) and thus were included in the analysis. 67.5% of MNVs were classified as type 2 MNV, 25% as type 1, 2.5% as type 3 and 5% as mixed phenotype. In 92.5% of cases, active MNV in GA showed subretinal hyperreflective material with or without evidence of subretinal/intraretinal hyporeflective exudation. During a mean follow-up of 28±25 months, patients were treated with 6.6±6.3 anti-VEGF injections, with 2.9±1.4 injections in the first year of treatment. No patient developed GA enlargement in the area of MNV.

Conclusions

MNVs in GA showed different features and therapeutic response in comparison to previously reported features of MNV in age-related macular degeneration (AMD) without GA. For these reasons, the combined phenotype (ie, GA with neovascular AMD) should be considered as a distinct entity in the research and clinical setting.
Early Moves: a protocol for a population-based prospective cohort study to establish general movements as an early biomarker of cognitive impairment in infants
Authors: Elliott Catherine , Alexander Caroline , Salt Alison , Spittle Alicia J , Boyd Roslyn N , Badawi Nadia , Morgan Catherine , Silva Desiree , Geelhoed Elizabeth , Ware Robert S , Ali Alishum , McKenzie Anne , Bloom David , Sharp Mary , Ward Roslyn , Bora Samudragupta , Prescott Susan , Woolfenden Susan , Le Vuong , Davidson Sue-Anne , Thornton Ashleigh , Finlay-Jones Amy , Jensen Lynn , Amery Natasha ,   Early Moves Clinical Working Group, Valentine Jane
Published: April 2021

Introduction

The current diagnostic pathways for cognitive impairment rarely identify babies at risk before 2 years of age. Very early detection and timely targeted intervention has potential to improve outcomes for these children and support them to reach their full life potential. Early Moves aims to identify early biomarkers, including general movements (GMs), for babies at risk of cognitive impairment, allowing early intervention within critical developmental windows to enable these children to have the best possible start to life.

Method and analysis

Early Moves is a double-masked prospective cohort study that will recruit 3000 term and preterm babies from a secondary care setting. Early Moves will determine the diagnostic value of abnormal GMs (at writhing and fidgety age) for mild, moderate and severe cognitive delay at 2 years measured by the Bayley-4. Parents will use the Baby Moves smartphone application to video their babies’ GMs. Trained GMs assessors will be masked to any risk factors and assessors of the primary outcome will be masked to the GMs result. Automated scoring of GMs will be developed through applying machine-based learning to the data and the predictive value for an abnormal GM will be investigated. Screening algorithms for identification of children at risk of cognitive impairment, using the GM assessment (GMA), and routinely collected social and environmental profile data will be developed to allow more accurate prediction of cognitive outcome at 2 years. A cost evaluation for GMA implementation in preparation for national implementation will be undertaken including exploring the relationship between cognitive status and healthcare utilisation, medical costs, health-related quality of life and caregiver burden.

Ethics and dissemination

Ethics approval has been granted by the Medical Research Ethics Committee of Joondalup Health Services and the Health Service Human Research Ethics Committee (1902) of Curtin University (HRE2019-0739).

Trial registration number

ACTRN12619001422112.
Study protocol for You.Mind!: boosting first-line mental health care for YOUngsters suffering from chronic conditions with mindfulness: a randomised staggered within-subjects design
Authors: Kock Merle , Van Hoecke Eline , Raes Filip , Van der Gucht Katleen
Published: April 2021

Introduction

Adolescents with chronic conditions often experience high levels of stress, anxiety and depression, and reduced quality of life. Mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) have been found to improve emotional distress in clinical and non-clinical populations and are a promising technique to support adolescents with chronic conditions in managing their symptoms and ultimately enhance their quality of life.

Methods and analysis

To test the effects of an MBI on emotional distress and quality of life and delineate the underlying mechanisms, the You.Mind! study uses a randomised staggered within-subjects design. Thirty adolescents with a chronic condition will be randomised to a baseline phase of 14–28 days followed by an MBI, consisting of four online group sessions and online support spread over 8 weeks. Outcomes will be assessed by short, repeated measurements throughout the baseline, intervention and follow-up phases and by standardised questionnaires and experience sampling measures before randomisation, at postintervention and at 3-months follow-up. Analysis will be based on general linear modelling and multilevel mixed-effects modelling.

Ethics and dissemination

Ethical approval was obtained from the Ethics Committee Research UZ/KU Leuven and the Ethics Committee of Ghent University Hospital and Ghent University (S63485). Results will be disseminated through presentations at public lectures, scientific institutions and meetings, and through publication in peer-reviewed journals.

Trial registration number

NCT04359563.
Addressing HIV care, mental health and substance use among youth and young adults in the Bay Area: description of an intervention to improve information, motivation and behavioural skills
Authors: McCuistian Caravella , Wootton Angie R , Legnitto-Packard Dominique , Gruber Valerie A. , Dawson-Rose Carol , Johnson Mallory O. , Saberi Parya
Published: April 2021

Objective

Youth represent a population disparately impacted by the HIV epidemic. With most new HIV diagnoses occurring among adolescents and young adults, novel approaches to address this disparity are necessary. The objective of the current study was to describe the Youth to Telehealth and Text to Improve Engagement in Care (Y2TEC) intervention, which aims to fill this gap. The Y2TEC intervention (trial registration NCT03681145) offers an innovative approach to improve HIV treatment engagement among youth living with HIV by focusing on treatment barriers related to mental health and substance use. This allows for a holistic approach to providing culturally informed intervention strategies for this population.

Participants and setting

The Y2TEC intervention was developed for youth with HIV in the large metropolitan area of the San Francisco Bay Area. The Y2TEC intervention was developed based on formative interdisciplinary research and is grounded in the information–motivation–behavioural skills model.

Results

The intervention includes 12 sessions each lasting 20–30 minutes, which are delivered through videoconferencing and accompanying bidirectional text messaging. The intervention sessions are individualised, with session dosage in each major content area determined by participant’s level of acuity.

Conclusions

The Y2TEC intervention is well positioned to help decrease HIV-related disparities in youth living with HIV through its innovative use of video-counselling technologies and an integrated focus on HIV, mental health and substance use.
Contexts and mechanisms that promote access to healthcare for populations experiencing homelessness: a realist review
Authors: Siersbaek Rikke , Ford John Alexander , Burke Sara , Ní Cheallaigh Clíona , Thomas Steve
Published: April 2021

Objective

The objective of this study was to identify and understand the health system contexts and mechanisms that allow for homeless populations to access appropriate healthcare when needed.

Design

A realist review.

Data sources

Ovid MEDLINE, embase.com, CINAHL, ASSIA and grey literature until April 2019.

Eligibility criteria for selecting studies

The purpose of the review was to identify health system patterns which enable access to healthcare for people who experience homelessness. Peer-reviewed articles were identified through a systematic search, grey literature search, citation tracking and expert recommendations. Studies meeting the inclusion criteria were assessed for rigour and relevance and coded to identify data relating to contexts, mechanisms and/or outcomes.

Analysis

Inductive and deductive coding was used to generate context–mechanism–outcome configurations, which were refined and then used to build several iterations of the overarching programme theory.

Results

Systematic searching identified 330 review articles, of which 24 were included. An additional 11 grey literature and primary sources were identified through citation tracking and expert recommendation. Additional purposive searching of grey literature yielded 50 records, of which 12 were included, for a total of 47 included sources. The analysis found that healthcare access for populations experiencing homelessness is improved when services are coordinated and delivered in a way that is organised around the person with a high degree of flexibility and a culture that rejects stigma, generating trusting relationships between patients and staff/practitioners. Health systems should provide long-term, dependable funding for services to ensure sustainability and staff retention.

Conclusions

With homelessness on the rise internationally, healthcare systems should focus on high-level factors such as funding stability, building inclusive cultures and setting goals which encourage and support staff to provide flexible, timely and connected services to improve access.
Exploring the Epidemiology of Cancer after Solid Organ Transplantation (EpCOT): an observational cohort study
Authors: Sharif Adnan , Peracha Javeria , Winter David , Reulen Raoul , Hawkins Mike
Published: April 2021

Introduction

Solid organ transplant patients are counselled regarding increased risk of cancer (principally due to their need for lifelong immunosuppression) and it ranks as one of their biggest self-reported worries. Post-transplantation cancer is common, associated with increased healthcare costs and emerging as a leading cause of post-transplant mortality. However, epidemiology of cancer post-transplantation remains poorly understood, with limitations including translating data from different countries and national data being siloed across different registries and/or data warehouses.

Methods and analysis

Study methodology for Epidemiology of Cancer after Solid Organ Transplantation involves record linkage between the UK Transplant Registry (from NHS Blood and Transplant), Hospital Episode Statistics (for secondary care episodes from NHS Digital), National Cancer Registry (from cancer registration data hosted by Public Health England) and the National Death Registry (from NHS Digital). Deterministic record linkage will be conducted by NHS Digital, with a fully anonymised linked dataset available for analysis by the research team. The study cohort will consist of up to 85 410 solid organ transplant recipients,who underwent a solid organ transplant in England between 1 January 1985 and 31 December 2015, with up-to-date outcome data.

Ethics and dissemination

This study has been approved by the Confidentiality Advisory Group (reference: 16/CAG/0121), Research Ethics Committee (reference: 15/YH/0320) and Institutional Review Board (reference: RRK5471). The results of this study will be presented at national and international conferences, and manuscripts with results will be submitted for publication in high-impact peer-reviewed journals. The information produced will also be used to develop national evidence-based clinical guidelines to inform risk stratification to enable risk-based clinical follow-up.

Trial registration number

NCT02991105.
Are medical record front page data suitable for risk adjustment in hospital performance measurement? Development and validation of a risk model of in-hospital mortality after acute myocardial infarction
Authors: Wu Chaoqun , Zhang Danwei , Bai Xueke , Zhou Tiannan , Wang Yongfei , Lin Zhenqiu , He Guangda , Li Xi
Published: April 2021

Objectives

To develop a model of in-hospital mortality using medical record front page (MRFP) data and assess its validity in case-mix standardisation by comparison with a model developed using the complete medical record data.

Design

A nationally representative retrospective study.

Setting

Representative hospitals in China, covering 161 hospitals in modelling cohort and 156 hospitals in validation cohort.

Participants

Representative patients admitted for acute myocardial infarction. 8370 patients in modelling cohort and 9704 patients in validation cohort.

Primary outcome measures

In-hospital mortality, which was defined explicitly as death that occurred during hospitalisation, and the hospital-level risk standardised mortality rate (RSMR).

Results

A total of 14 variables were included in the model predicting in-hospital mortality based on MRFP data, with the area under receiver operating characteristic curve of 0.78 among modelling cohort and 0.79 among validation cohort. The median of absolute difference between the hospital RSMR predicted by hierarchical generalised linear models established based on MRFP data and complete medical record data, which was built as ‘reference model’, was 0.08% (10th and 90th percentiles: −1.8% and 1.6%). In the regression model comparing the RSMR between two models, the slope and intercept of the regression equation is 0.90 and 0.007 in modelling cohort, while 0.85 and 0.010 in validation cohort, which indicated that the evaluation capability from two models were very similar.

Conclusions

The models based on MRFP data showed good discrimination and calibration capability, as well as similar risk prediction effect in comparison with the model based on complete medical record data, which proved that MRFP data could be suitable for risk adjustment in hospital performance measurement.
Chinesisation, adaptation and validation of the Chelsea Critical Care Physical Assessment Tool in critically ill patients: a cross-sectional observational study
Authors: Zhang Zhigang , Wang Guoqiang , Wu Yuchen , Guo Jin , Ding Nannan , Jiang Biantong , Wei Huaping , Li Bin , Yue Weigang , Tian Jinhui
Published: April 2021

Purpose

To translate and adapt the Chelsea Critical Care Physical Assessment Tool (CPAx) into Chinese version (‘CPAx-Chi’), test the reliability and validity of CPAx-Chi, and verify the cut-off point for the diagnosis of intensive care unit-acquired weakness (ICU-AW).

Study design

Cross-sectional observational study.

Methods

Forward and back translation, cross-cultural adaptation and pretesting of CPAx into CPAx-Chi were based on the Brislin model. Participants were recruited from the general ICU of five third-grade class-A hospitals in western China. Two hundred critically ill adult patients (median age: 53 years; 64% men) with duration of ICU stay ≥48 hours and Glasgow Coma Scale ≥11 were included in this study. Two researchers simultaneously and independently assessed eligible patients using the Medical Research Council Muscle Score (MRC-Score) and CPAx-Chi.

Results

The content validity index of items was 0.889. The content validity index of scale was 0.955. Taking the MRC-Score scale as standard, the criterion validity of CPAx-Chi was r=0.758 (p<0.001) for researcher A, and r=0.65 (p<0.001) for researcher B. Cronbach’s α was 0.939. The inter-rater reliability was 0.902 (p<0.001). The area under the receiver operating characteristic curves of CPAx-Chi for diagnosing ICU-AW based on MRC-Score ≤48 were 0.899 (95% CI 0.862 to 1.025) and 0.874 (95% CI 0.824 to 0.925) for researcher B. The best cut-off point for CPAx-Chi for the diagnosis of ICU-AW was 31.5. The sensitivity was 87% and specificity was 77% for researcher A, whereas it was 0.621, 31.5, 75% and 87% for researcher B, respectively. The consistency was high when taking CPAx-Chi ≤31 and MRC-Score ≤48 as the cut-off points for the diagnosis of ICU-AW. Cohen’s kappa=0.845 (p=0.02) in researcher A and 0.839 (p=0.04) for researcher B.

Conclusions

CPAx-Chi demonstrated content validity, criterion-related validity and reliability. CPAx-Chi showed the best accuracy in assessment of patients at risk of ICU-AW with good sensitivity and specificity at a recommended cut-off of 31.
'It’s not something you can take in your hands'. Swiss experts’ perspectives on health data ownership: an interview-based study
Authors: Martani Andrea , Geneviève Lester Darryl , Elger Bernice , Wangmo Tenzin
Published: April 2021

Objectives

The evolution of healthcare and biomedical research into data-rich fields has raised several questions concerning data ownership. In this paper, we aimed to analyse the perspectives of Swiss experts on the topic of health data ownership and control.

Design

In our qualitative study, we selected participants through purposive and snowball sampling. Interviews were recorded, transcribed verbatim and then analysed thematically.

Setting

Semi-structured interviews were conducted in person, via phone or online.

Participants

We interviewed 48 experts (researchers, policy makers and other stakeholders) of the Swiss health-data framework.

Results

We identified different themes linked to data ownership. These include: (1) the data owner: data-subjects versus data-processors; (2) uncertainty about data ownership; (3) labour as a justification for data ownership and (4) the market value of data. Our results suggest that experts from Switzerland are still divided about who should be the data owner and also about what ownership would exactly mean. There is ambivalence between the willingness to acknowledge patients as the data owners and the fact that the effort made by data-processors (eg, researchers) to collect and manage the data entitles them to assert ownership claims towards the data themselves. Altogether, a tendency to speak about data in market terms also emerged.

Conclusions

The development of a satisfactory account of data ownership as a concept to organise the relationship between data-subjects, data-processors and data themselves is an important endeavour for Switzerland and other countries who are developing data governance in the healthcare and research domains. Setting clearer rules on who owns data and on what ownership exactly entails would be important. If this proves unfeasible, the idea that health data cannot trulybelong toanyone could be promoted. However, this will not be easy, as data are seen as an asset to control and profit from.
HollAND trial: comparison of rubber band ligation and haemorrhoidectomy in patients with symptomatic haemorrhoids grade III: study protocol for a multicentre, randomised controlled trial and cost–utility analysis
Authors: Dekker Lisette , Han-Geurts Ingrid J M , van Dieren Susan , Bemelman Willem A
Published: April 2021

Introduction

Haemorrhoidal disease is one of the most common anorectal disorders, which affects nearly half of the general population. Treatment of grade III haemorrhoids consists initially of conservative measures, followed by rubber band ligation and haemorrhoidectomy when unsuccessful. Given the current guidelines and numerous modalities the obvious question which needs to be answered is which treatment is the best for grade III haemorrhoids. There is a need for evaluating treatment from the patient’s point of view and transparency in surgical and non-surgical treatment outcome.

Methods and analysis

This multicentre, randomised controlled, non-inferiority trial with cost–utility analysis compares haemorrhoidectomy with rubber band ligation. Patients aged 18 years and older with symptomatic haemorrhoids grade III are recruited. Primary outcome measure is quality of life at 24 months measured with the EQ-5D-5L and in-hospital (in)direct costs and out-of-hospital postoperative costs. A key secondary outcome is recurrence at 1-year postprocedure. Secondary outcomes are complaint reduction with proctology-specific patient-reported outcome measurements (Haemorrhoid Severity Score, ProctoPROM, PROM-HISS, vaizey score), resumption of work, pain and complication rates. Data are collected at seven different time points. Standard postprocedural care is followed.

A sample size has been calculated using a one sided alpha of 0.025 and a power of 80% with an SD of 0.15 and a non-inferiority limit of 0.05. With stratification by centre and to adjust for 10% lost to follow-up the total sample size will be 360 patients in total (180 per group).

Data will be analysed according to the intention-to-treat and the per-protocol principle.

Ethics and dissemination

The protocol has been approved by the Medical Ethics Review Committee of the Amsterdam University Medical Centres, location AMC. Findings will be disseminated in peer-reviewed journals and presented at conferences, whether they are positive, negative or inconclusive.

Trial registration numbers

NCT04621695, NTR8020
Helicobacter pyloriresistance to antibiotics in Europe in 2018 and its relationship to antibiotic consumption in the community
Authors: Megraud Francis , Bruyndonckx Robin , Coenen Samuel , Wittkop Linda , Huang Te-Din , Hoebeke Martin , Bénéjat Lucie , Lehours Philippe , Goossens Herman , Glupczynski Youri
Published: April 2021

Objective

Our aim was to prospectively assess the antibiotic resistance rates inHelicobacter pyloristrains in Europe in 2018 and to study the link between antibiotic consumption in the community andH. pyloriresistance levels in the different countries.

Design

The proportion of primary antibiotic resistance cases ofH. pyloriand their corresponding risk factors were investigated in 24 centres from 18 European countries according to a standardised protocol. Data on antibiotic consumption in the community were collected for the period 2008–2017. The link between antibiotic consumption and resistance data was assessed using generalised linear mixed models. The model with the best fit was selected by means of the Akaike Information Criterion.

Results

H. pyloriresistance rates for the 1211 adult patients included were 21.4% for clarithromycin, 15.8% for levofloxacin and 38.9% for metronidazole and were significantly higher in Central/Western and Southern than in the Northern European countries.

The best model fit was obtained for the Poisson distribution using 2013 consumption data. A signiﬁcant association was found betweenH. pyloriclarithromycin resistance and consumption in the community of macrolides (p=0.0003) and intermediate-acting macrolides (p=0.005), and between levoﬂoxacin resistance and consumption of quinolones (p=0.0002) and second-generation quinolones (p=0.0003).

Conclusion

This study confirms the positive correlation between macrolide and quinolone consumption in the community and correspondingH. pyloriresistance in European countries. Hence,H. pyloritreatment with clarithromycin and levofloxacin should not be started without susceptibility testing in most European countries.
Effects of Quillaja saponin supplementation on growth performance, nutrient digestibility, fecal microbiota, and fecal gas emission in growing pigs
Authors: Dang De Xin , Kim In Ho
Published: April 2021

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of dietary supplementation of Quillaja saponin (QS) on growth performance, nutrient digestibility, fecal microbiota, and fecal gas emission in growing pigs. A total of 50 crossbred growing pigs [(Yorkshire × Landrace) × Duroc] with an initial body weight of 23.83 ± 1.95 kg were randomly assigned to one of two treatments for a 56 d trial with five replicate pens per treatment and five pigs (two barrows and three gilts) per pen. Dietary treatments including control diet and control diet supplemented with 200 mg·kg−1 QS. The average daily gain was significantly increased during days 0–56, whereas the fecal ammonia emission on day 56 and fecal coliform bacteria counts on day 28 were significantly decreased in pigs fed with QS-containing diet. However, dietary supplementation of QS had no significant effects on apparent total tract digestibility. In conclusion, dietary supplementation of 200 mg·kg−1 QS had beneficial effects on growth performance, fecal microbiota, and fecal gas emission in growing pigs. Considering the carry-over effects, the adaption period should be at least 28 d when supplementing 200 mg·kg−1 QS to the diet of growing pigs for improving the growth performance.
Exposure of the Canadian wildland–human interface and population to wildland fire, under current and future climate conditions
Authors: Erni Sandy , Johnston Lynn , Boulanger Yan , Manka Francis , Bernier Pierre , Eddy Brian , Christianson Amy , Swystun Tom , Gauthier Sylvie
Published: April 2021

In Canada, recent fire seasons have demonstrated the threat of wildland fire in the wildland–human interface (WHI) areas, where forest fuels intermingle with or abut housing, industry, and infrastructure. Although fire activity is expected to increase further in the coming decades as a result of climate change, no WHI-specific estimates of wildland fire exposure are currently available. This study combines spatial and demographic information sources to estimate the current and future wildland fire exposures, as reflected by fire return intervals (FRI) of WHI areas and populations across Canada. The WHI covers 17.3% of the forested area in Canada. Within the WHI, we found that 19.4% of the area currently experiences FRI of ≤250 years, but by the end of the century, this could increase to 28.8% under Representative Concentration Pathway (RCP) 2.6 and to 43.3% under RCP 8.5. Approximately 12.3% of the Canadian population currently live in the wildland–urban interface (WUI), which includes 32.1% of the on-reserve First Nations population. Currently, 17.8% of the on-reserve WUI population is exposed to FRI of ≤250 years, compared with only 4.7% of the remaining WUI population. By 2100, these proportions could reach 39.3% and 17.4%, respectively, under the less optimistic climatic scenarios (RCP 8.5).
Phenomenological assessment of proton mechanical properties from deeply virtual Compton scattering
Authors: Dutrieux H. , Lorcé C. , Moutarde H. , Sznajder P. , Trawiński A. , Wagner J.
Published: April 2021

A unique feature of generalised parton distributions is their relation to the QCD energy–momentum tensor. In particular, they provide access to the mechanical properties of the proton i.e. the distributions of pressure and shear stress induced by its quark and gluon structure. In principle the pressure distribution can be experimentally determined in a model-independent way from a dispersive analysis of deeply virtual Compton scattering data through the measurement of the subtraction constant. In practice the kinematic coverage and accuracy of existing experimental data make this endeavour a challenge. Elaborating on recent global fits of deeply virtual Compton scattering measurements using artificial neural networks, our analysis presents the current knowledge on this subtraction constant and assesses the impact of the most frequent systematic assumptions made in this field of research. This study will pave the way for future works when more precise data will become available, e.g. obtained in the foreseen electron-ion colliders EIC and EIcC.
Fermion localization in braneworld teleparallel f(T, B) gravity
Authors: Moreira A. R. P. , Silva J. E. G. , Almeida C. A. S.
Published: April 2021

We study a spin 1/2 fermion in a thick braneworld in the context of teleparallel f(T, B) gravity. Here, f(T, B) is such that $$f_1(T,B)=T+k_1B^{n_1}$$

f
1

(
T
,
B
)

=
T
+

k
1

B

n
1

and $$f_2(T,B)=B+k_2T^{n_2}$$

f
2

(
T
,
B
)

=
B
+

k
2

T

n
2

, where $$n_{1,2}$$

n

1
,
2

and $$k_{1,2}$$

k

1
,
2

are parameters that control the influence of torsion and the boundary term. We assume Yukawa coupling, where one scalar field is coupled to a Dirac spinor field. We show how the $$n_{1,2}$$

n

1
,
2

and $$k_{1,2}$$

k

1
,
2

parameters control the width of the massless Kaluza–Klein mode, the breadth of non-normalized massive fermionic modes and the properties of the analogue quantum-potential near the origin.
What is a reduced boundary in general relativity?
Authors: Battista Emmanuele , Esposito Giampiero
Published: April 2021

The concept of boundary plays an important role in several branches of general relativity, e.g. the variational principle for the Einstein equations, the event horizon and the apparent horizon of black holes, the formation of trapped surfaces. On the other hand, in a branch of mathematics known as geometric measure theory, the usefulness has been discovered long ago of yet another concept, i.e. the reduced boundary of a finite-perimeter set. This paper proposes therefore a definition of finite-perimeter sets and their reduced boundary in general relativity. Moreover, a basic integral formula of geometric measure theory is evaluated explicitly in the relevant case of Euclidean Schwarzschild geometry for the first time in the literature. This research prepares the ground for a measure-theoretic approach to several concepts in gravitational physics, supplemented by geometric insight. Moreover, such an investigation suggests considering the possibility that the in–out amplitude for Euclidean quantum gravity should be evaluated over finite-perimeter Riemannian geometries that match the assigned data on their reduced boundary. As a possible application, an analysis is performed of the basic formulae leading eventually to the corrections of the intrinsic quantum mechanical entropy of a black hole.
Using a Single-DOF Test Vehicle to Simultaneously Retrieve the First Few Frequencies and Damping Ratios of the Bridge
Authors: Yang Y. B. , Shi K. , Wang Z. L. , Xu H. , Zhang B. , Wu Y. T.
Published: April 2021

Bridge damping ratios are extracted via the skillful use of the single-degree-of-freedom (DOF) test vehicle for the first time in this paper. Central to the simultaneous retrieval of the first few frequencies and damping ratios from the contact (point) response of the bridge is the use of the variational mode decomposition (VMD) and random-decrement technique (RDT). Closed-form solutions are newly derived for the vehicle and contact responses of the damped bridge and validated later numerically. Using the proposed method, one calculates first the mono-component from the contact response by the VMD; then extracts the free-decay response for each mode by the RDT; and finally identifies the frequency and damping ratio by the Hilbert transform. The parametric study confirms that: (1) the contact response outperforms vehicle’s response in retrieving bridge frequencies and damping ratios; (2) the first few frequencies can be identified with robustness for reasonable levels of road roughness, vehicle speed, bridge damping and noise; (1) good result is obtained for the first damping ratio, in spite of the traditional uncertainty existing with damping; and (2) ongoing traffic can enhance the proposed method for bridge identification.
A note on the right-left symmetry of aR ⊕ bR = (a + b)R in rings
Authors: Lee Tsiu-Kwen
Published: April 2021

We give an example to show that, for nonunital rings [Formula: see text], the direct sum [Formula: see text] with [Formula: see text] regular has no in general right-left symmetry. It is then proved that the right-left symmetry actually holds in a left and right faithful ring.
CHANGES IN GAUSSIAN MODELING PARAMETERS OF PPG PULSE DURING HEALTHY PREGNANCY
Authors: MENG YU , YANG LIN , ZHANG SONG , WU GUANGHUI , LIU XIAOHONG , HAO DONGMEI , YANG YIMIN , LI XUWEN
Published: April 2021

We used Gaussian modeling to depict the changes in finger photoplethysmographic (PPG) pulse during pregnancy in healthy women. We enrolled 70 healthy pregnant women and recorded their PPG pulses in 11–13 gestational weeks, 20–22 gestational weeks, and 37–39 gestational weeks. Three independent positive Gaussian functions were utilized to decompose the pulses, and each Gaussian function extracted three key parameters: the peak amplitude ([Formula: see text]), the peak position ([Formula: see text]), and the half-width ([Formula: see text]). The method of ANOVA and post-hoc multiple comparisons of mathematical statistics were utilized to study the differences of these parameters between the three trimesters. We found that in the first trimester [Formula: see text] increased significantly ([Formula: see text]: [Formula: see text] versus [Formula: see text], [Formula: see text]). [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] increased in the first trimester ([Formula: see text]: [Formula: see text] versus [Formula: see text], [Formula: see text]; [Formula: see text]: [Formula: see text] versus [Formula: see text], [Formula: see text]), then decreased significantly ([Formula: see text]: [Formula: see text] versus [Formula: see text], [Formula: see text]: [Formula: see text] versus [Formula: see text], [Formula: see text]). [Formula: see text] is associated with cardiac output, and [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] are associated with peripheral vascular resistance. The results of this study were consistent with the conclusion that healthy pregnant women exhibited high flow state of the cardiovascular system and their peripheral vascular resistance decreased first and then gradually recovered during pregnancy. This study indicated that PPG pulse could also reflect the changes in the maternal cardiovascular system during pregnancy.
ACTIVE CONTOUR MODELS-BASED SEGMENTATION OF LEFT VENTRICLE IN ULTRASOUND IMAGES FOR DIFFERENT AXES VIEWS
Authors: ZHENG YANG , CHEN ZHONGPING , WANG JIAKE , JIANG SHU , LIU YU
Published: April 2021

Segmentation of the left ventricle in ultrasound images for viewing through different axes is a critical aspect. This paper proposes the development of novel active contour models with shape constraint to segment the left ventricle in three different axis views of the ultrasound images. The shapes observed in all the axis views of the left ventricle were not similar. According to the cardiac cycle, the valve opening in the end-diastolic phase influenced the left ventricle segmentation; hence, a shape constraint was embedded in the active contour model to keep ventricle’s shape, especially in the Apical long-axis view and Apical four-chamber view. Furthermore, for different axes views, diverse active contour models were proposed to fit each situation. The shape constraint in each function for different views exhibited a specific shape during the function iteration. In order to speed up the algorithm evolution, previous results were used for the initialization of the present active contour. We evaluated the proposed method on 57 patients with three different views: Apical long-axis view, Apical four-chamber view and Short-axis view at the papillary muscle level and obtained the Dice similarity coefficients of [Formula: see text], [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] and the Hausdorff distance metrics of [Formula: see text], [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text], respectively. The qualitative and quantitative evaluations showed an advantage of our method in terms of segmentation accuracy.
Foundational issues in f(T) gravity theory
Authors: Golovnev Alexey , Guzmán María-José
Published: April 2021

We give a short review on the status of research on the theoretical foundations of [Formula: see text] gravity theories. We discuss recent results on perturbative and non-perturbative approaches, causality and degrees of freedom, and discuss future directions to follow.
[Retracted] Research on the Application of Multimedia Elements in Visual Communication Art under the Internet Background
Authors: Liu Wenli
Published: April 2021

With the rapid development of Internet technology, the dissemination of information is undergoing rapid changes. The Internet has become an indispensable part of people’s study, work, and life. In the context of the Internet, this paper analyzes the application of multimedia elements in visual communication art design, elaborates the basic concepts, visual features, and design principles of the visual communication art design, and analyzes the multifaceted aspects of multimedia elements. This paper discusses the basic methods and general rules of the application of multimedia elements in visual communication art design under the background of the Internet, as well as the research on the emotional factors and interactions of multimedia elements on people. Brain‐like computing is the meaning of imitation brain. First is the structure, then the function, then from the structure design and analysis of the brain, and finally use the brain′s thinking ability to solve problems. It summarizes the text, graphic images, and colors in the Internet background. The innovative application of multimedia elements such as page layout and animation in visual communication art design explains the influence of multimedia elements on the overall visual effect in visual communication art design. It explores how visual information can be conveyed more reasonably and effectively. In the context of the Internet, the application of multimedia elements has brought a new possibility for developing visual communication art design, providing a new platform for the traditional visual communication art design.
Research and Analysis on the Index System of Digital Economy in Anhui Province
Authors: Wang Zhong , Shi Peibei
Published: April 2021

The development of the digital economy is of special significance to the realization of the stable development of the macroeconomy. Based on the White Paper on Development of China’s Digital Economy and the actual situation of cities in Anhui Province, this study divides the index system of digital economy into three primary indexes, namely, digital industrialization, industrial digitization, and information infrastructure, and 20 secondary indexes. The percentage weight of each index is determined by the subjective evaluation method, and the index values of 16 cities in Anhui Province are calculated according to the efficacy coefficient method. Then, the mean value, standard deviation, variance, kurtosis, skewness, and other information of each index system are statistically analyzed, and the policy suggestions for the development of digital economy are given. This study fills the blank of the index system of digital economy in Anhui Province and has a certain role in promoting the development of digital economy in Anhui Province.
Use of Reflectance Confocal Microscopy for Hidrocystomas: An Emerging, Cost-Effective, and Powerful Tool
Authors: Walker Amanda , Sahni Vikram Nath , Sahni Dev Ram , Curtis Julia
Published: April 2021

Reflectance confocal microscopy (RCM) is an emerging and noninvasive imaging tool in dermatological practice. Benefits of this modality include differentiation between benign and malignant skin lesions, prevention of unnecessary biopsies, and cost effectiveness. However, RCM findings for benign lesions are rarely reported in the literature. We describe a case of reflectance confocal microscopy findings of a hidrocystoma and review potential applications of this imaging technique in everyday clinical practice.
Integrated Miniature Multiband Antenna Designed for WWD and SAR Assessment for Human Exposure
Authors: Fady Brahim , Terhzaz Jaouad , Tribak Abdelwahed , Riouch Fatima
Published: April 2021

The article introduces a new, low-cost, integrated, multiband antenna design intended for wristbands and wearable wireless devices (WWD). With a miniaturized planar square-shape sizing 29 × 29 mm2, the antenna can fit easily inside WWDs. The proposed design covers the most used frequency bands such as LTE2300, ISM2400, LTE2600, WiMAX3500, WiMAX5200, and ISM5800 in which the antenna reaches up to −25 dB and 6.9 dBi in terms of S11 and gain, respectively. To evaluate the exposure amenability of design on human body, we studied the specific absorption rate (SAR) of the design in two main use cases: multilayered human wrist model and a SAM (Specific Anthropomorphic Mannequin) head model. In each use case, the SAR results in different positions for all frequencies are compared to FCC standards.
Correlation Analysis between Macular Choroidal Thickness and Visual Field Mean Defect in Primary Open-Angle Glaucoma
Authors: Li Fan , Huo Yiming , Ma Lihua , Tang Guangxian
Published: April 2021

Purpose. To evaluate the differences in macular choroidal thickness and volume between patients with primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) and healthy controls to assess the correlation between macular choroidal thickness and visual field mean defect (MD). Methods. Case-control study. A total of 101 patients (101 eyes) with POAG who were hospitalized in our hospital and 102 healthy subjects (102 eyes) matched by age, sex, and axial length were consecutively selected as the POAG group and the control group, respectively. The macular choroidal thickness and volume in nine regions were measured in all subjects by enhanced-depth imaging optical coherence tomography (EDI-OCT). Results. The mean thicknesses of the choroid in the macular area in the POAG group and healthy group were 207.97 ± 62.83 µm and 208.24 ± 47.97 µm, and the mean volumes were 0.63 ± 0.19 µm3 and 0.64 ± 0.14 µm3. There were no significant differences in macular choroidal thickness, volumes of various macular regions, or mean choroidal thickness or volume between the POAG and healthy groups (all

p
>
0.05

). The macular choroidal thickness of various macular regions was not correlated with visual field MD in the POAG group (all

p
>
0.05

). Conclusion. The macular choroidal thicknesses and volumes in POAG patients were not significantly different from those in healthy individuals. The macular choroidal thickness was not correlated with MD in POAG patients. Therefore, macular choroidal thickness is not an appropriate parameter to evaluate damage caused by POAG, and the role of the macular choroid thickness in POAG needs to be further investigated.
Chemically Active Elements of Reservoir Quartz Cement Trace Hydrocarbon Migration in the Mahu Sag, Junggar Basin, NW China
Authors: Huang Linjun , Liu Yin , Bian Baoli , Ma Yongping , Liu Hailei , Guo Juanjuan , Cao Jian
Published: April 2021

Element exchange and enrichment during fluid-rock interactions are common, providing potentially novel proxies to trace hydrocarbon migration in addition to the traditional organic geochemistry tracers. However, the processes, mechanisms, and geological and geochemical fingerprints of these interactions are complex, hampering the applications of hydrocarbon migration tracers. To investigate such interactions, we conducted a petrological, mineralogical, and in situ and bulk geochemical study of authigenic quartz and whole-rock samples from the Mahu Sag, northwestern Junggar Basin, northwest China. We found that dissolution, clay and chlorite formation, and overgrowth occurred on quartz grains in hydrocarbon fluid migration pathways, suggestive of strong fluid-rock interactions. In situ quantitative elemental analysis of quartz grains revealed elemental enrichment (e.g., Mn, Fe, Al, Sr, and W) in quartz overgrowth rims compared with their cores, indicating that migration of hydrocarbon-bearing fluids in reservoirs may promote elemental exchange between fluids and minerals. Whole-rock geochemical analysis showed that decreasing contents of some elements may reflect the direction of hydrocarbon-bearing fluid migration and can be monitored with three geochemical proxies, which are the MnO contents and MnO/Zr and Y/Ho ratios. Our data provide new constraints on fluid-rock interactions in petroleum reservoirs and have implications for using inorganic geochemical methods to trace hydrocarbon migration.
Research on Pattern Synthesis of Time Modulated Sparse Array Based on Discrete Variable Convex Optimization
Authors: Tan Jing , Hu Jiawen , Dong Xikuan , Li Hailin , Zhou Jianjiang
Published: April 2021

Effective resource utilization is an important problem in the application of array, especially for the new time modulated array. Considering the problem of full utilization of array elements in time modulated array, a sparse optimization algorithm based on discrete variable convex optimization is proposed in this paper. The pattern optimization of equal excitation time modulation array is realized in two stages: In the first stage, the number of working array elements is as low as possible under the condition of suppressing the sidelobe of the central frequency. In the second stage, the sideband is suppressed by iterative convex optimization. The numerical simulation results are compared with other methods to verify the effectiveness of the proposed method in pattern optimization of equal excitation time modulation array. Finally, the optimization performance of the algorithm with different array parameters is verified.
Orfeu no Carnaval: ensaio sobre as adaptações da peça Orfeu da Conceição
Authors: Almeida Rogério de
Published: April 2021

O objetivo deste artigo é estudar a representação do carnaval em dois filmes: Orfeu do Carnaval (1959) e Orfeu (1999), respectivamente dirigidos por Marcel Camus e Cacá Diegues, ambos concebidos a partir da peça de teatro Orfeu da Conceição (1956), escrita por Vinicius de Moraes. A metodologia pauta-se na antropologia do imaginário e busca as raízes da representação do carnaval nos mitos gregos de Orfeu, Apolo e Dioniso. O estudo comparado dessas obras cinematográficas mostra que, com a perda da carga simbólica dos mitos e a ascensão dos interesses mercantis, o carnaval torna-se simulação de uma festa que, em suas origens, era vivida com exuberância apolínea e como afirmação trágica da vida.
Afrofolias: notas sobre a presença negra no carnaval de Salvador
Authors: Miguez Paulo
Published: April 2021

As culturas africanas tiveram papel absolutamente significativo na consolidação e desenvolvimento de muitos carnavais brasileiros. É o caso, particularmente, do carnaval baiano, impensável fora dos vistosos marcos das matrizes afroculturais que, ao longo do tempo, foram agregando vida, cor e ritmo aos festejos, inclusive do ponto de vista do atual mercado da festa, que tem, na exploração destes marcos, um capital simbólico-cultural de grande valor. Todavia, tal presença se impôs, e se impõe, em meio às muitas disputas e enfrentamentos travados pelas organizações afrocarnavalescas baianas com as práticas festivas das elites, largamente preconceituosas e discriminatórias.
Do Carnaval em Portugal: para a compreensão de algumas permeabilidades culturais e sociais entre o Brasil e Portugal: da música à ressemantização social através da construção de um figurino
Authors: Alexandre Paulo Morais
Published: April 2021

Visa-se com o presente trabalho acrescentar alguns subsídios ao estudo das relações entre os Carnavais do Brasil e de Portugal, nomeadamente tendo em conta as vertentes culturais e sociais, verificando-se um movimento vai-e-vem e uma permeabilidade cultural e influências mútuas.