bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Prevalence and factors associated with undernutrition among 15–49- year-old women in Sierra Leone: A secondary data analysis of Sierra Leone Demographic Health Survey of 2019
Authors: Ikoona Eric Nzirakaindi , Alema Nelson Onira , Toure Mame Awa , Eleeza Oliver , Matovu John Bosco , Njenga Amon , Namulemo Lucy , Kaluya Ronald , Kamara Kassim , Oyat Freddy Wathum Drinkwater , Olal Emmanuel , Aloyo Judith , Kitara David Lagoro
Published: July 2023

Background: Undernutrition of non-pregnant women of childbearing age is pertinent for maternal and offspring health. This study aimed to determine the prevalence and factors associated with undernutrition, underweight, and stunting, among women of reproductive age (15-49 years) in Sierra Leone using secondary data analysis of the 2019 Demographic Health Survey.
Methods: Anthropometric measurements and maternal characteristics were obtained from the Sierra Leone Demographic Health Survey (SLDHS) of 2019. The heights and weights of women were measured, and BMI in kg/m2 was calculated. Based on the World Health Organization's recommendations, stunting was defined as having heights <145cm, and underweight as BMI <18 kg/m2. Multivariable logistic regression analyses were conducted to identify correlates of undernutrition, with a significance level of p<0.05.
Results: A total of 7,514 women of reproductive age, 15-49 years, participated in this study. The prevalence of stunting and underweight was 1.5% (113/7514) and 6.7%(502/7,514), respectively. Women with primary education had a 47% lower likelihood of stunting (adjusted Odds Ratio [aOR]=0.53, 95% Confidence Interval [CI]: 0.30-0.94;p=0.029) than secondary education. Similarly, women in the poorest wealth index had a 51% lower likelihood of stunting (aOR=0.49,95%CI:0.27-0.88;p=0.017) than middle wealth index. However, underweight was 1.48 times more likely among women with a parity of one-to-four (aOR=1.48,95% CI:1.08-2.03;p=0.015) than women who had never given birth. Additionally, underweight was 1.41 times more likely among women who listened to radios (aOR=1.41,95% CI:1.14-1.74;p=0.002) than those who did not. Notably, age groups of 15-19 years and 40-49 years had a 54% (aOR=0.46,95%CI:0.34-0.62;p<0.001) and 34% (aOR=0.66,95%CI:0.45-0.97;p=0.035) lower likelihood of underweight, respectively, than 20-29-year age group. Women with primary education had a 26% lower likelihood of underweight (aOR=0.74,95%CI:0.56-0.99;p=0.042) than secondary education. However, none of the wealth indices were significantly associated with underweight.
Conclusion: The prevalence of underweight and stunting among women of reproductive age, 15-49 years, in Sierra Leone was lower compared to regional and world data. This study highlights similarities and differences in this population's prevalence and correlates of stunting and underweight. Primary education was less likely in both underweight and stunting, while parity of one-to-four and listening to radios were significantly associated with underweight. Further trend studies using DHS data from 2010, 2014, and 2019 are warranted to understand the dynamics of undernutrition in Sierra Leone.
Designing a Constructivist Mobile Application to Foster Creative Thinking in Undergraduate Students: Development and Evaluation
Authors: Jarutkamolpong Suwisa , Kwangmuang Parama , Nguyen Lan , Duangngern Pornpisut
Published: July 2023

Seamless usage of mobile applications in promoting individual learners’ creativity and facilitating their personal learning activities is increasingly acknowledged. This research aimed to design and develop a mobile application based on a constructivist learning environment to enhance creative thinking for undergraduate students. The re- search was conducted in two phases: (1) designing the elements of mobile applications by gathering input from 28 undergraduate students and nine experts through interviews and surveys and (2) assessing the effectiveness of mobile applications on students’ creative thinking through tests and interviews. The results revealed that the development of mobile applications consisted of six components, namely, 1) problem base; 2) learning resources; 3) scaffolding; 4) center for collaborative learning; 5) coach; and 6) creative thinking center. Through the proficient utilization of mobile applications, learners engage in immersive experiences and practical exercises that bolster their creative thinking capabilities within their academic interest. Students showed notable improvements in their average creative thinking scores after using the extensive mobile application, demonstrating the application’s powerful effectiveness. Future research endeavors should prioritize augmenting the sample size and delving into precise metrics to appraise creative thinking, thus strengthening the robustness of the findings.
Real-time prediction of bladder urine leakage using fuzzy inference system and dual Kalman filtering in cats
Authors: Qasemi Amirhossein , Aminian Alireza , Erfanian Abbas
Published: July 2023

The use of electrical stimulation devices to manage bladder incontinence relies on the application of continuous inhibitory stimulation. However, continuous stimulation can result in tissue fatigue and increased delivered charge. Here, we employ a real-time algorithm to provide a short-time prediction of urine leakage using the high-resolution power spectrum of the bladder pressure during the presence of non-voiding contractions (NVC) in normal and overactive bladder (OAB) cats. The proposed method is threshold-free and does not require pre-training. The analysis revealed that there is a significant difference between voiding contraction (VC) and NVC pressures as well as band powers (0.5-5 Hz) during both normal and OAB conditions. Also, most of the first leakage points occurred after the maximum VC pressure, while all of them were observed subsequent to the maximum VC spectral power. Kalman-Fuzzy method predicted urine leakage on average 2.17 s and 1.64 s before its occurrence and an average of 1.96 s and 1.13 s after the contraction started in normal and OAB cats, respectively, with a 100% success rate. This work presents a promising approach for developing a neuroprosthesis device, with on-demand stimulation to control bladder incontinence.
Changes in retinal layers after pars plana vitrectomy for rhegmatogenous retinal detachment
Authors: Bernabei Federico , Jacquiod Benjamin , Frongia Francesca , Azan Frederic , Vagge Aldo , Peiretti Enrico , Guerrier Gilles , Rothschild Pierre-Raphael
Published: July 2023

Visual recovery after retinal detachment is often delayed despite surgical success. Changes in retinal thickness have been shown to occur after vitrectomy for retinal detachment and visual acuity seems to be related with these modifications. In this retrospective study we investigated the thickness of retinal layers using optical coherence tomography in patients successfully treated for rhegmatogenous retinal detachment between December 2014 and March 2023. We further investigated possible related clinical and demographic characteristics. A total of 1313 patients were initially identified. Of these, 1282 patients were excluded and finally 31 eyes from 31 patients were included. Twelve months after the surgical procedure the total retinal thickness, in particular, the outer nuclear layer thickness, significantly increased compared to one month postoperatively (respectively, 270.6 ± 34.2 vs. 288.0 ± 29.7, P < 0.001 and 79.5 ± 23.3 vs. 92.9 ± 16.5, P < 0.001). Factors associated with the increase were age, macula off status and the use of SF6 tamponade (all P < 0.05). No correlation was found between the increase in outer nuclear layer thicknesses and the final visual acuity in pseudophakic patients.
SARS-CoV-2 Reinfection by Omicron Variant in Shaanxi Province, China, December 2022 to February 2023
Authors: Zhang Mengyan , Cao Lei , Zhang Luqian , Li Xinxin , Chen Sa , Zhang Yi
Published: July 2023

Background
Before December 2022, we had not reported a patient in Shaanxi province, China, who had been reinfected with the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Since then, China has refined its strategy for response to coronaviruses. The purpose of this study was to determine the incidence of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) reinfections and compare the severity of the first and second episodes of infection in Shaanxi Province, China.
Methods
We used the epidemiological survey system with the electronic questionnaires to investigated the possibility of SARS-CoV-2 reinfection among those who previously were infected with coronavirus disease 2019 during the Omicron predominant infection wave beginning in December 2022. Logistic regression model was used to test the influencing factors of SARS-CoV-2 reinfections.
Results
The rate of reinfection for Omicron variants was 5.92%, 1.96%, and 1.28% 7–9 months, 4–5 months, and 2–3 months after the primary infection, respectively. The rate of reinfection for Delta variations was 25.10% 11–12 months after the primary infection. There were no significant changes in the severity of infection between first infection and reinfection. Adults between the ages of 18 and 38 and being a medical worker have been associated to an increased chance of reinfection.
Conclusions
SARS-CoV-2 reinfections might increase over time throughout Omicron variant-dominant infection waves. Large-scale infections are less likely to prevail in the following Omicron epidemic period. It is essential to continuously monitor infection cases as well as emerging SARS-CoV-2 variants.
Transparent and Reproducible AI-based Medical Imaging Pipelines Using the Cloud
Authors: Bontempi Dennis , Nuernberg Leonard , Krishnaswamy Deepa , Hosny Ahmed , Farahani Keyvan , Kikinis Ron , Fedorov Andrey , Aerts Hugo JWL
Published: July 2023

Artificial intelligence (AI) algorithms hold the potential to revolutionize medical imaging. However, a significant portion of the published literature lacks transparency and reproducibility, which hampers sustained progress toward clinical translation. Although several reporting guidelines have been proposed, identifying practical means to address this issue remains challenging. Here, we discuss the potential of cloud-based infrastructures for implementing and sharing transparent and reproducible AI-based medical imaging pipelines. Starting from a published cancer imaging study investigating an AI biomarker for the prognostication of non-small cell lung cancer patients, we demonstrate end-to-end reproducibility of the research from retrieving cloud-hosted data, through data pre-processing, deep learning inference, and post-processing, to the analysis and reporting of the final results. By leveraging cloud-based platforms, using data hosted by the Imaging Data Commons (IDC) combined with code and compute resources, we make every step of the analysis and the resulting data easy to access, reproduce, and share. Our approach demonstrates the potential of cloud resources for implementing, sharing, and using reproducible and transparent AI pipelines in medical imaging, which can accelerate the translation into clinical solutions.
Effect of Physical Exercise on Negative Emotions in Adolescent: a Chain-Mediated Effect of Self-efficacy and Mental Toughness
Authors: Yu Haoran , Mu Qinglei
Published: July 2023

The research aims to study the effects of physical exercise on negative emotions of adolescent and the mediating role of self-efficacy and mental toughness, providing empirical references and theoretical basis for optimizing and improving the mental health of adolescent. An online questionnaire survey is conducted on 1426 adolescent (726 males and 700 females) in Chengdu, China, and the survey data are analyzed through using SPSS26.0 and AMOS24.0. The following are the results of the study: Physical exercise significantly positively predicted self-efficacy and mental toughness (β = 0.518, 0.54, P < 0.01) and significantly negatively predicted negative affect (β = -0.529, P < 0.01); both self-efficacy and mental toughness significantly negatively predicted negative affect (β = -0.591, P < 0.01; β = -0.64, P < 0.01), and self-efficacy perceptions significantly and positively predicted mental toughness (β = 0.759, P < 0.01); the mediating effect had three pathways: physical exercise → self-efficacy → negative emotions (95% CI: - 0.179 to - 0.022), physical exercise → mental toughness → negative emotions (95% CI: - 0.103 to - 0.032), physical exercise → self-efficacy → mental toughness → negative mood (95% CI: -0.329 to -0.152), with relative mediating effects accounting for 13.4%, 10.7%, and 39.3%, respectively. Therefore, self-efficacy and mental toughness play a mediating role in the influence of physical exercise on negative emotions of adolescent. Physical exercise can enhance self-efficacy and mental toughness, which in turn inhibit the generation of negative emotions and promote the physical and mental health development of adolescent.
Dissecting heterogeneity and immune cell populations in non-small cell lung cancer by single cell RNA sequencing
Authors: Yu Tao , Gao Xuehan , Zhou Jueyi , Zhao Liping , Feng Jihong
Published: July 2023

Lung cancer is the most common and aggressive cancer and the leading cause of cancer-related death worldwide, with non-smallcell lung cancer (NSCLC) being the most common type. Although traditional therapies include chemotherapy, radiation therapy, molecularly targeted therapy, and immunotherapy, 5-year survival rates for lung cancer patients have improved little. With the rapid development of targeted therapeutic drugs and immunotherapy, the clinical therapeutic effect of non-small cell lung cancer has been greatly improved. However, the issue of tumor heterogeneity in non-small cell lung cancer has received increasing attention and is not currently addressed at single-cell resolution. Therefore, exploring the impact of highly heterogeneous cells on diseases from the genomic and transcriptome levels respectively, and identifying the main influencing cell subsets, could provide a basis for the diagnosis and treatment of diseases.
Methods
In this study, integrated single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) samples from Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC) samples and paracancerous control samples were downloaded from the high-throughput Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) data and batch RNA-seq data for analysis. Three NSCLC cell subsets in different differentiation states were compared and analyzed. GSEA-GO analysis predicts the biological functions and pathways of differentiation-related genes.
Results
The sequencing results of a total of 4320 cells from 11 NSCLC samples and 5 paracancerous lung tissue sample were obtained from the GEO database. After data standardization and data filtering, all cells were subjected to unsupervised clustering to obtain 3 different clusters, which were visualized after dimensionality reduction through T-SNE, and 10 differential marker genes were analyzed and screened, which can be clustered in different clusters. Gene set enrichment analysis found that CDRG was significantly associated with immune regulation and immune response, and 278 NSCLC cell differentiation related genes (CDRG) were identified.
Conclusion
Our study identified NSCLC cells with distinct differentiation characteristics based on single-cell sequencing data from GEO, emphasizing the important role of cell differentiation in predicting the clinical outcome of NSCLC patients and their potential response to immunotherapy.
A role for vocal rhythm in avian speciation
Authors: Sebastianelli Matteo , Lukhele Sifiso , Secomandi Simona , de Souza Stacey , Haase Bettina , Moysi Michaella , Nikiforou Christos , Hutfluss Alexander , Mountcastle Jacquelyn , Balacco Jennifer , Pelan Sarah , Chow William , Fedrigo Olivier , Downs Colleen , Monadjem Ara , Dingemanse Niels , Jarvis Erich , Brelsford Alan , vonHoldt Bridgett , Kirschel Alexander
Published: July 2023

Bird song mediates speciation but little is known about its genetic basis because of the confounding effect of vocal learning in model systems. Rhythm, in particular, transcends acoustic communication across the animal kingdom and plays a fundamental role in sexual selection and species recognition in birds. Here we investigated the genomic underpinnings of rhythm in vocal non-learning Pogoniulus tinkerbirds using a reference we assembled and 134 further individual whole genomes distributed across a Southern African hybrid zone. We show that rhythm speed is associated with two genes that affect speech in humans, Neurexin-1 and Coenzyme Q8A. Leveraging ancestry, we find that rhythmic stability is also associated with these candidate loci. Furthermore, a pattern of character displacement in rhythmic stability in the contact zone suggests there is reinforcement against hybridization, supported by evidence of assortative mating. Assortative mating is asymmetric, however, occurring only in the species that produces faster, more stable rhythms. Rhythmic stability reflects motor performance, a trait long regarded as an indicator of quality. Because rhythm is an omnipresent trait in animal communication, candidate genes shaping vocal rhythm identified here may play a pivotal role in speciation across birds and other vertebrates.
Effects of forest age and seasonal changes on soil microbial community diversity in Chinese fir plantations
Authors: Hu Yuxin , Chen Hanyue , Jiang Yihang , Zhang Jianguo , Zhang Xiongqing
Published: July 2023

Understanding changes in the distribution patterns and diversity of soil microbial communities from the perspectives of age-related changes, seasonal variations, and the interaction between the two factors can facilitate the management of plantations. In Chinese fir plantations, we collected soils from different depths in overmature forests (OMF), mature forests (MAF), near-mature forests (NMF), middle-aged forests (MIF), and young forests (YOF) in summer, autumn, and winter in China's subtropical regions. As the forests developed, the fungal community recovered high diversity in MAF and OMF while bacterial indicators continued to decline. Bacterial communities were more diverse in summer and fungal communities were more diverse in winter. Differences between seasons were mainly reflected in average and maximum temperature indicators. Bacteria clustered by season, while fungi clustered by developmental stage, showed differences in distribution and structure at different taxonomic levels. The fungal community is a more important indicator of soil fertility maintenance, increasing with the increase of forest age, which suggested that extending tree cultivation time could improve the soil fertility of plantations. In different seasons and different ages, we found some species worthy of attention, including Actinobacteria with high abundance in summer and Bacteroidetes in autumn in overmature forests, and Firmicutes in summer in young forests. In autumn, species like Arcopilus and Tolypocladium in near-mature and over-mature forests also have the significance of further research, which may be key species for soil fertility restoration.
Fatigue Properties of Subway Concrete Segments Repaired by HPM and GFRP
Authors: sun Xuewei , Zhong Jianjun , Gao Peiwei , Qian Pingping , Zhang Jun , Zhang Zhixiang
Published: July 2023

The cracks of the reinforced concrete segment are the most important factor affecting the safety, and durability of tunnel structures. In this paper, a joint repair method of High Performance Polymer Matrix (HPM) and Glass Fiber Reinforced Polymer (GFRP) was proposed. The static and fatigue tests with or without crack repair were carried out by inclined beam loading on different reinforcement ratio segments. In static tests, after repair, the cracking load of LS12 and LS14 increased by 39% and 33%, respectively, and did not crack at the original crack location. HPM + GFRP significantly increases the stiffness of the member before yield, and the reinforcement ratio is the main factor affecting the stiffness after yield. In the fatigue test, the deflection and concrete strain of the HPM + GFRP repair specimens at the early stage of loading are reduced. With the accumulation of damage during fatigue cycles, HPM cracks and GFRP tensile force decreases, and the steel bar fatigue fracture will still occur in the final component. After 50,000 fatigue cycles, the residual bearing capacity of LD14 still reached more than 95% of the static strength, and the deflection increased only by no more than 3%, which is enough to prove that HPM material has good fatigue resistance, and GFRP can still effectively bond with concrete after fatigue loading.
Preoperative Splenic area as a Prognostic Biomarker of Early-stage Non- small Cell Lung Cancer
Authors: Liu Mengmei , Yan Guanghong , Li Yanli , You Ruiming , Liu Lizhu , Zhang Dafu , Yang Guangjun , Dong Xingxiang , Ding Yingying , Yan Shan , You Dingyun , Li Zhenhui
Published: July 2023

Background
The correlation between the preoperative splenic area measured on CT scans and the overall survival (OS) of early-stage non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients is remains unclear.
Methods
A retrospective discovery cohort and validation cohort were created, consisting of consecutive NSCLC patients who underwent resection and preoperative CT scans. The patients were divided into two groups based on the measurement of their preoperative splenic area : normal and abnormal. The Cox proportional hazard model was used to analyze the correlation between splenic area and OS.
Results
The discovery and validation cohorts included 2532 patients (1374 (54.27%) males; the median (IQR) age was 59 (52–66) years), and 608 patients (403 (66.28%) males; age was 69 (62–76) years), respectively. Patients with the normal splenic area had 6% higher 5-year OS (n = 727 (80%)) than that patients with the abnormal splenic area (n = 1805 (74%)) (p = 0.007) in the discovery cohort. A similar result was obtained in the validation cohort. In univariable analysis, the OS hazard ratio (HR) for the patients with abnormal splenic area were 1.32 (95% confidence interval (CI): 1.08, 1.61) in the discovery cohort, and 1.59 (95% CI: 1.01, 2.50) in the validation cohort, respectively. Multivariable analysis demonstrated that abnormal splenic area was independent of shorter OS in the discovery (HR: 1.32, 95%CI: 1.08, 1.63) and validation cohorts (HR: 1.84, 95%CI: 1.12, 3.02).
Conclusion
Preoperative measurement of splenic area on CT scans can indicate poor prognosis in early-stage NSCLC patients.
Struktura dialogu z chatbotem w ujęciu mediolingwistycznym
Authors: Marquardt Dorota
Published: July 2023

Dialogi z chatbotami są coraz częściej wykorzystywane w różnych dziedzinach życia społecznego. Celem badań zaprezentowanych w artykule jest opis struktury dialogu z chatbotami konwersacyjnymi, w tym progresji tematycznej. Badania przeprowadzono w nurcie mediolingwistycznym, uwzględniając uwarunkowania technologiczne i komunikacyjne. Wynikiem badań jest wskazanie cech charakterystycznych dialogu z chatbotem konwersacyjnym ze względu na medialno-komunikacyjne i technologiczne zmienne.
Solid Organ Transplantation from SARS-CoV-2–infected Donor to Uninfected
Recipients: First in the United Arab Emirates and the Neighboring Region
Authors: Al Dhaheri Fatima A. , Al Hammadi Ahmed A. , Boni Reginaldo C. , Randhawa Amina A. , Nsutebu Emmanuel F. , Mooty Mohamad , Al Seiari Mohamed Y. , Holt Stephen G. , Al Obaidli Ali A.
Published: July 2023

Introduction:

The lifesaving practice of organ donation and transplantation has been deeply impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Up until January 2022, donors were screened out of the donor pool in the UAE if they tested positive for SARS-COV-2.

Methods:

We report a case of a COVID-19 infected donor whose organs were transplanted to 3 uninfected recipients (2 kidneys, 1 liver). A national guideline was created to permit a change in practice after the engagement and endorsement of relevant stakeholders. Recipients were informed of Donor’s COVID status and consented.

Results:

The Donor was a 35-year-old previously healthy male who was hospitalized due to a spontaneous intracerebral bleed of unclear etiology and met brain death criteria. SARS-COV-2 PCR testing was obtained on admission and remained persistently positive beyond day 14 of admission. The donor was otherwise afebrile and had normal inflammatory markers with no evidence of an infectious pulmonary process on CT scan. The donor did not receive any COVID therapies. The donor had received 3 doses of the Sinopharm vaccine, the last dose being 3 months prior to admission. Organ retrieval occurred on day 24 of COVID-19 PCR positivity to three uninfected recipients in two different transplant centers in the UAE.

Conclusion:

Transplanting solid organs from non-lung COVID positive donors can effectively maintain an expanded donor pool during the pandemic.
Phase composition, crystal structure, dielectric and ferroelectric properties of Ba-=SUB=-2-=/SUB=-NdFeNb-=SUB=-4-=/SUB=-O-=SUB=-15-=/SUB=- thin films grown on a Si(001) substrate in an oxygen atmosphere
Authors: Pavlenko A. V.  , Ilyina T. S.  , Kiselev D. A.  , Stryukov D. V.
Published: July 2023

The phase composition, nanostructure, and properties of Ba2NdFeNb4O15/Si(001) multiferroic thin films have been studied by X-ray diffraction analysis, scanning probe microscopy, and capacitance-voltage characteristics analysis. The RF cathode sputtering in an oxygen atmosphere was used for films fabrication. It has been found that the obtained Ba2NdFeNb4O15 films are single-phase, impurity-free, polycrystalline textured (c-oriented), and the out-of-plane strain is 0.8%, which leads to the presence of ferroelectric properties at room temperature. It is shown that the surface roughness of the films is ~ 15.39 nm, the lateral size of the crystallites is ~ 134 nm, and the relative permittivity in the temperature range of -190...150oC is 95-130. The reasons for the revealed regularities are discussed Keywords: multiferroic, dielectric characteristics, ferroelectric, tetragonal tungsten bronze.
Evaluating Allied Health Clinical Placement Performance: Protocol for a Modified Delphi Study
Authors: Simmons Lisa , Barker Ruth , Barnett Fiona
Published: July 2023

Background

University-affiliated student-led health care services have emerged in response to the challenges faced by universities in securing quality clinical placements for health care students. Evidence of the health care benefits and challenges of student-led health care services is growing, while evidence of clinical placement performance remains variable and not generalizable. Though there have been previous attempts to develop a framework for evaluation of clinical placement performance, concerns have been raised about the applicability of these frameworks across the various placement settings. Additionally, the perspectives of all key stakeholders on the critical areas of clinical placement performance have yet to be considered.

Objective

This study’s objective is to gather information on areas of measurement related to student learning outcomes, experience of placement, and costs of placement and then develop consensus on which of those areas need to be included in a framework for evaluation of clinical placement performance within the context of student-led health care services. The aim of this paper is to outline a protocol for a modified Delphi study designed to gain consensus on what is important to measure when evaluating an allied health clinical placement.

Methods

We will recruit up to 30 experts to a heterogeneous expert panel in a modified Delphi study. Experts will consist of those with firsthand experience either coordinating, supervising, or undertaking clinical placement. Purposive sampling will be used to ensure maximum variation in expert panel member characteristics. Experts’ opinions will be sought on measuring student learning outcomes, student experience, and cost of clinical placement, and other areas of clinical placement performance that are considered important. Three rounds will be conducted to establish consensus on what is important to measure when evaluating clinical placement. Each round is anticipated to yield both quantitative data (eg, percentage of agreement) and qualitative data (eg, free-text responses). In each round, quantitative data will be analyzed descriptively and used to determine consensus, which will be defined as ≥70% agreement. Qualitative responses will be analyzed thematically and used to inform the subsequent round. Findings of each round will be presented, both consensus data and qualitative responses in each subsequent round, to inform expert panel members and to elicit further rankings on areas of measurement yet to achieve consensus.

Results

Data analysis is currently underway, with a planned publication in 2024.

Conclusions

The modified Delphi approach, supported by existing research and its ability to gain consensus through multiround expert engagement, provides an appropriate methodology to inform the development of a framework for the evaluation of clinical placement performance in allied health service.

International Registered Report Identifier (IRRID)

DERR1-10.2196/44020
Postpandemic Evaluation of the Eco-Efficiency of Personal Protective Equipment Against COVID-19 in Emergency Departments: Proposal for a Mixed Methods Study
Authors: Berthelot Simon , Longtin Yves , Margni Manuele , Guertin Jason Robert , LeBlanc Annie , Marx Tania , Mangou Khadidiatou , Bluteau Ariane , Mantovani Diego , Mikhaylin Sergey , Bergeron Frédéric , Dancause Valérie , Desjardins Anne , Lahrichi Nadia , Martin Danielle , Sossa Charles Jérôme , Lachapelle Philippe , Genest Isabelle , Schaal Stéphane , Gignac Anne , Tremblay Stéphane , Hufty Éric , Bélanger Lynda , Beatty Erica
Published: July 2023

Background

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a profound impact on emergency department (ED) care in Canada and around the world. To prevent transmission of COVID-19, personal protective equipment (PPE) was required for all ED care providers in contact with suspected cases. With mass vaccination and improvements in several infection prevention components, our hypothesis is that the risks of transmission of COVID-19 will be significantly reduced and that current PPE use will have economic and ecological consequences that exceed its anticipated benefits. Evidence is needed to evaluate PPE use so that recommendations can ensure the clinical, economic, and environmental efficiency (ie, eco-efficiency) of its use.

Objective

To support the development of recommendations for the eco-efficient use of PPE, our research objectives are to (1) estimate the clinical effectiveness (reduced transmission, hospitalizations, mortality, and work absenteeism) of PPE against COVID-19 for health care workers; (2) estimate the financial cost of using PPE in the ED for the management of suspected or confirmed COVID-19 patients; and (3) estimate the ecological footprint of PPE use against COVID-19 in the ED.

Methods

We will conduct a mixed method study to evaluate the eco-efficiency of PPE use in the 5 EDs of the CHU de Québec-Université Laval (Québec, Canada). To achieve our goals, the project will include four phases: systematic review of the literature to assess the clinical effectiveness of PPE (objective 1; phase 1); cost estimation of PPE use in the ED using a time-driven activity-based costing method (objective 2; phase 2); ecological footprint estimation of PPE use using a life cycle assessment approach (objective 3; phase 3); and cost-consequence analysis and focus groups (integration of objectives 1 to 3; phase 4).

Results

The first 3 phases have started. The results of these phases will be available in 2023. Phase 4 will begin in 2023 and results will be available in 2024.

Conclusions

While the benefits of PPE use are likely to diminish as health care workers’ immunity increases, it is important to assess its economic and ecological impacts to develop recommendations to guide its eco-efficient use.

Trial Registration

PROSPERO CRD42022302598; https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?RecordID=302598

International Registered Report Identifier (IRRID)

DERR1-10.2196/50682
Authors’ Response to Peer Reviews of “The Loch Ness Monster: If It’s Real, Could It Be an Eel?” (Preprint)
Authors: Foxon Floe
Published: July 2023

UNSTRUCTURED
Blockchain and Orthopaedics (Preprint)
Authors:   Orthopaedics Blockchain, Miceli Angelo , Freddo Giuseppe , D'Itri Lorenzo , Ferruzza Massimo , Camarda Lawrence
Published: July 2023

UNSTRUCTURED

Blockchain technology has gained popularity since the invention of Bitcoin in 2008. It offers a decentralized and secure system for managing and protecting data. In the healthcare sector, where data protection and patient privacy are crucial, blockchain has the potential to revolutionize various aspects, including patient data management, orthopedic registries, medical imaging, research data, and the integration of Internet of Things (IoT) devices. This manuscript explores the applications of blockchain in orthopedics and highlights its benefits. Furthermore, the combination of blockchain with artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning, and deep learning can enable more accurate diagnoses and treatment recommendations. AI algorithms can learn from large datasets stored on the blockchain, leading to advancements in automated clinical decision-making.
Overall, blockchain technology has the potential to enhance data security, interoperability, and collaboration in orthopedics. While there are challenges to overcome, such as adoption barriers and data sharing willingness, the benefits offered by blockchain make it a promising innovation for the field.
Effects of a Digital Mahjong Game on Neuroimaging Signatures, Cognitive Performance, and Health Status in Community-Dwelling Middle-Aged and Older Adults: A Randomized Controlled Trial (Preprint)
Authors: Tung Heng-Hsin , Kuo Chen-Yuan , Lee Pei-Lin , Chang Chih-Wen , Chou Kun-Hsien , Lin Ching-Po , Lin Hsiu-Chu , Chen Liang-Kung
Published: July 2023

BACKGROUND

Digital games effectively mitigate the adverse consequences of age-related declines in physical and cognitive abilities, while concurrently facilitating improvements in neuroimaging biosignatures conducive to promoting healthy longevity.

OBJECTIVE

This study aims to investigate the impact of a 6-month intervention involving the integration of digital Mahjong games (DMG) with incentivized walking on promoting healthy aging.

METHODS

This randomized controlled trial recruited 60 participants aged 55 years and older from community settings from July 28, 2020, to November 01, 2021. Participants were allocated randomly to the DMG intervention group or controls, with those in the intervention group engaging in two 30-minute DMG sessions per week for 6 months. Main outcomes, and Measures are brain imagery changes via magnetic resonance imaging constituted the primary outcome, while secondary outcomes encompassed cognition, physical activity, mental health (resilience and demoralization), quality of life, physical assessments, body composition, and biochemical markers, with the intervention effects estimated by a per-protocol analysis.

RESULTS

Compared to controls (n=30), the intervention group (DMG, n=30) demonstrated a significant increase in regional homogeneity (ReHo) in the right insula (FWE-corrected p-value < 0.05), improvements in delayed recall (-0.79; 95% CI, 1.538 to -0.042; P=0.039) and reduced diastolic blood pressure (-3.501, 95% CI, 0.091 to 6.911, P=0.044). The delayed recall performance exhibited a significant correlation with ReHo in the right insula and right anterior cingulate gyrus (FWE-corrected p-value < 0.05), and changes in fractional amplitude of low-frequency fluctuations (fALFF) in the left inferior frontal gyrus and right paracingulate gyrus (FWE-corrected p-value < 0.05). The ReHo in the right insula displayed positive associations with the number of practice sessions (r = 0.48, P=0.009).

CONCLUSIONS

DMG demonstrated favorable effects on neuroimaging signatures, cognitive performance, and health status among community-living adults aged 55+ years.

CLINICALTRIAL

This study is registered at ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT05808426
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Authors: Bo Zheng , Chen Yucheng , Yu Qian , Yan Jianhua , Cen Kefa , Liu Zhu
Published: July 2023

The high capacitive performance of MXenes in acidic electrolytes have
made them potential electrode materials for supercapacitors. In this
study, we conducted a structural analysis of MXene surface
functionalizations by identifying the surface group distribution pattern
and revealed the energy storage process of MXene surface chemistry by
combining a complete Pourbaix stability diagram and density functional
theory (DFT) calculations. The Pourbaix diagram indicated that pH
controls the surface termination; an acidic pH generates favorable
initial surfaces of MXenes with a specific distribution of functional
groups (ten hydroxyls with respect to eighteen total locations for the
selected surface unit). Using this, we report the charging and
uncharging process of MXenes with transitions of surface oxygenic groups
(-OH and -O) via hydrogen ion adsorptions and desorptions on the MXene
surface. Our results demonstrated that transitions of surface
functionalizations contribute to comparable pseudocapacitance and
electrostatic capacitance for MXenes. These findings provide insights
into understanding the MXene energy storage mechanism by controlling
surface functionalizations through the experimental reaction environment
and synthesis condition.
Intramyocellular Triglyceride Content During the Early Course of Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus
Authors: Schön Martin , P. Zaharia Oana , Strassburger Klaus , Kupriyanova Yuliya , Bódis Kálmán , Heilmann Geronimo , Strom Alexander , J. Bönhof Gidon , Michelotti Filippo , Yurchenko Iryna , Möser Clara , Huttasch Maximilian , Bombrich Maria , Kelm Malte , Burkart Volker , B. Schrauwen-Hinderling Vera , Wagner Robert , Roden Michael , GDS group the
Published: July 2023

Intramyocellular lipid content (IMCL) is elevated in insulin-resistant humans, but its changes over time and relationships with comorbidities remain unclear. We examined IMCL during the initial course of diabetes and its associations with complications. Participants of the German Diabetes Study (GDS) with recent-onset type 1 (n=132) or type 2 diabetes (n=139) and glucose-tolerant controls (n=128) underwent 1H-magnetic resonance spectroscopy to measure IMCL and muscle volume, whole-body insulin sensitivity (hyperinsulinemic-euglycemic clamps; M-value) and cycling spiroergometry (VO2max). Subgroups underwent the same measurements after 5 years. At baseline, IMCL was ~30% higher in type 2 diabetes than in other groups independently of age, sex, BMI and muscle volume. In type 2 diabetes, M-value was ~36% and ~62% lower compared to type 1 diabetes and controls, respectively. After 5 years, M-value decreased by ~29% in type 1 and ~13% in type 2 diabetes, whereas IMCL remained unchanged. The correlation of IMCL and M-value in type 2 diabetes at baseline was modulated by VO2max. IMCL also associated with microalbuminuria, Framingham risk score for cardiovascular disease and cardiac autonomic neuropathy. Changes in IMCL within 5 years after diagnosis do not mirror progression of insulin resistance in type 2 diabetes but associate with early diabetes-related complications.
The toxicity of ammonia as a fumigant to dry wood termite (Cryptotermes cynocephalus L.) on sengon wood
Authors: Irfan Abdul Mubaraq , Sakti Harahap Idham , Pudjianto
Published: July 2023

Wood-based packaging material is usually made from low-quality kind of wood, making it a potential medium for carrying or housing wood-destructive organisms. The objective of this research was to investigate the toxicity of ammonia as a fumigant for controlling the dry-wood termite, Cryptotermes cynocephalus. Ammonia was applied as ammonium hydroxide (NH4OH) 25%, which was placed inside the fumigation chamber. At 2.25 cm wood thickness, toxicity tests were performed using 3 levels of NH4OH doses (0, 700, and 3800 mL/m³) and 4 levels of exposure (4, 6, 8, and 10 hours). The toxicity of ammonia fumigant at 1.25 cm wood thickness was assessed using 6 dose levels of NH4OH (0, 200, 378, 587, 1732, and 4188 mL/m³) for 4 hours of exposure. The LD50 and LD90 values of ammonia against the dry-wood termite, C. cynocephalus, inside the sengon wood at 2.25 cm thickness after 4 hours of exposure were 3263 mL NH4OH/m³ and 22,781 mL NH4OH/m³, respectively. Moreover, for 1.25 cm wood thickness, for the same exposure duration (4 hours), the LD50 and LD90 values of ammonia fumigant were 541.594 mL NH4OH/m³ and 1432.125 mL NH4OH/m³, respectively. Meanwhile, for 0.25 cm wood thickness, the LD50 and LD90 values were 67.67 mL of NH4OH/m³ and 241.140 mL NH4OH/m³, respectively. In addition, for 2.25 cm wood thickness, the LD50 and LD90 values of ammonia fumigant were lower when the exposure time was longer (2149 and 10,722 mL NH4OH/m³ for 6 hours of exposure, and 1373 and 8705 mL NH4OH/m³ for 8 hours of exposure).
ON THE ISSUE OF SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC SECURITY OF MODERN CITIES OF UKRAINE
Authors: Kudrina O. Yu.
Published: July 2023

The article discusses the directions of social and economic security of modern cities of Ukraine. The development of an effective model of security of a modern city should use a logical basis, take into account regional development plans, directing efforts to consistently increase the human development index in the medium term. Such a model should be created taking into account all categories of the population, the nature of the activities of residents and the current state of life of citizens, etc. The number one issue for the development of modern Ukrainian cities, regardless of size, is economic development, as job creation and investment attraction are key to the healthy development of a city, regardless of its location or size. Community leaders and scholars who research this issue believe that planning, water supply, and transportation infrastructure (roads, highways, and bridges) are of great importance to their communities. The Russian-Ukrainian war set new requirements for models of social and economic security of Ukrainian cities, for city management and implementation of city policy.

In general, they are related to the relocation of industries or the emergence of their new forms, the formation of new rules for business, the reorientation of sales markets, which fundamentally changes the understanding of the foundations of urban politics. Traditionally, the management of the city's development is mainly focused on ensuring its economic component. However, it is important to take into account the social sphere in this process by shifting the emphasis to intangible factors, updating the service sector, developing intercultural interaction, establishing relationships between business and culture. Such measures will ensure resistance to changes in economic and social spheres of the city's life, as well as focus on innovative development and the achievement of a high quality of life for every citizen. A group of issues such as emergency planning, parks and recreation areas, health care, solid waste removal, and law enforcement are of almost equal importance in the context of the post-war reconstruction of Ukrainian cities. Given the differences in individual security needs in the cities of Ukraine bordering the russian federation and the war zone and cities that have received internally displaced persons, it is necessary to promote the development of specific models of social and economic security of cities based on taking into account various directions and conditions for their implementation.
MACHINE LEARNING AND THE REUTERS COLLECTION-21578 IN DOCUMENT CLASSIFICATION
Authors: Paniagua Medina Juan Jose , Vargas Rodriguez Everardo , Guzman Cabrera Rafael
Published: July 2023

Currently, it is very easy to produce documents, which means that there is too much information, and all this information produced is almost impossible to organize if automatic methods are not used. The automatic classification of documents can be defined as an action executed by an artificial system on a set of structured or unstructured documents. This action is performed by using the words contained in the documents to define the class to which the test document belongs. This paper presents several classification experiments using the Reuters-21578 database in order to observe the performance of naive Bayes classifiers, support vector machines (SVM) and logistic regression. The results obtained show the performance of the classifiers, their behavior when applying cleaning techniques to reduce the size of the documents and different classification scenarios.
ANALISIS KESULITAN GURU PADA PEMBELAJARAN TEMATIK KELAS RENDAH DALAM KURIKULUM 2013 DI SDN MEDANG KABUPATEN TANGERANG
Authors: Suprapto Intan Zahralia , Oktrifianty Erdhita , Azdi M
Published: July 2023

Abstract : This research is a descriptive qualitative research which is intended to examine and analyze the data objectively according to the data found in the field. Then the data collected from the research results are described in the form of words. Informants in this study were low grade teachers and school principals. Data collection techniques used are observation, interviews and documentation. The results of this study aim to find out what are the difficulties of teachers in thematic learning in low grades. There are teacher difficulties in learning, namely planning problems, implementation problems and assessment problems. Keywords : Analysis of Teacher Difficulties in Thematic Learning. Abstrak : Penelitian ini merupakan penelitian kualitatif deskriptif yang dimaksudkan untuk mengkaji dan menganalisis data secara objektif sesuai data yang ditemukan dilapangan. Kemudian data yang terkumpul dari hasil penelitian di deskripsikan dalam bentuk kata-kata. Informan dalam penelitian ini adalah guru kelas rendah dan kepala sekolah. Teknik pengumpulan data yang digunakan yaitu obervasi, wawancara dan dokumentasi. Hasil penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengetahui apa saja kesulitan guru dalam pembelajaran tematik di kelas rendah. Terdapat kesulitan guru dalam pembelajaran yaitu problem perencanaan, problem pelaksanaan dan problem penilaian.Kata Kunci : Analisis Kesulitan Guru dalam Pembelajaran Tematik.
Position Based Rigid Body Simulation: A comparison of physics simulators for games
Authors:   IST-UTL, Av. Rovisco Pais, 1049-001, Lisbon, Portugal, Seabra Miguel ,   INESC-ID, Rua Alves Redol, 9, 1000-029, Lisbon, Portugal, Fernandes Francisco ,   INESC-ID, Rua Alves Redol, 9, 1000-029, Lisbon, Portugal, Lopes Daniel Simões ,   IST-UTL, Av. Rovisco Pais, 1049-001, Lisbon, Portugal,   INESC-ID, Rua Alves Redol, 9, 1000-029, Lisbon, Portugal, Pereira João Madeiras ,   IST-UTL, Av. Rovisco Pais, 1049-001, Lisbon, Portugal,   INESC-ID, Rua Alves Redol, 9, 1000-029, Lisbon, Portugal
Published: July 2023

Interactive real-time rigid body simulation is a crucial tool in any modern game engine or 3D authoring tool. The quest for fast, robust and accurate simulations is ever evolving. PBRBD (Position Based Rigid Body Dynamics), a recent expansion of PBD (Position Based Dynamics), is a novel approach for this issue. This work aims at providing a comprehensible state-of-the art comparison between Position Based methods and other real-time simulation methods used for rigid body dynamics using a custom 3D physics engine for benchmarking and comparing PBRBD (Position Based Rigid Body Dynamics), and some variants, with state-of-the-art simulators commonly used in the gaming industry, PhysX and Havok. Showing that PBRBD can produce simulations that are accurate and stable, excelling at maintaining consistent energy levels, and allowing for a variety of constraints, but is limited in its handling of stable stacks of rigid bodies due to the propagation of rotational error.