bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Literature Review on Endoscopic Robotic Systems in Ear and Sinus Surgery
Authors: Michel Guillaume , Salunkhe Durgesh Haribhau , Bordure Philippe , Chablat Damien
Published: September 2021

In otolaryngologic surgery, endoscopy is increasingly used to provide a better view of hard-to-reach areas and to promote minimally invasive surgery. However, the need to manipulate the endoscope limits the surgeon's ability to operate with only one instrument at a time. Currently, several robotic systems are being developed, demonstrating the value of robotic assistance in microsurgery. The aim of this literature review is to present and classify current robotic systems that are used for otological and endonasal applications. For these solutions, an analysis of the functionalities in relation to the surgeon's needs will be carried out to produce a set of specifications for the creation of new robots.
A New Test Method for In Vitro Evaluation of Pedicle Screw Loosening Potential
Authors: Pinto Otávio Teixeira , Laforce Isabel Flesch , Badra Dimitra Vlaskou , de Mello Roesler Carlos Rodrigo
Published: September 2021

This paper proposes a new test method based on the toggle effect under transverse loads (cranial–caudal) to investigate the loosening potential of pedicle screw designs. A three-step in vitro testing procedure was developed to mimic the loosening mechanism of pedicle screws. First, the pedicle screw of a certain design is inserted into a bone substitute model specifically designed for the test. Second, a controlled cyclic cranial–caudal loading is applied transversally to the longitudinal axis of the screw for three ascendent load levels (staircase) by a predetermined number of load cycles. Lastly, each pedicle screw is adjusted and subjected to axial pull-out quasi-static testing. The results are used to calculate a loosening index that, together with statistical analysis, indicates the potential for loosening of the specific design evaluated. The proposed testing method effectively provides a simulated environment to evaluate the loosening potential of pedicle screw designs. The proposed loosening index calculation may be used to compare different pedicle screw designs. The proposed methodology was verified as a valuable tool to investigate the influence of the cranial–caudal loads on pedicle screw behavior. It offers a new alternative for use in preclinical studies on the loosening potential of pedicle screw designs.
Single-Phase and Two-Phase Flow Pressure Drop in a Long Double Helicoidally Coiled Tube
Authors: Manek V. , Fang T. , Ghiaasiaan S. M. , Patelczyk J.
Published: September 2021

Single-phase and two-phase frictional pressure drop in horizontally oriented double helically coiled tubes confined in a cylindrical shell are experimentally studied using an instrumented test loop that represents a prototypical liquified natural gas (LNG) fuel delivery system for internal combustion (IC) engines. Adiabatic experimental data addressing liquid (water) and gas (nitrogen) single-phase flows, as well as two-phase flows (air–water) in the helicoidally coiled tubes are presented. The range of Reynold numbers for single-phase flow experiments is 2600–4800. In two-phase flow experiments, the only liquid and only gas Reynolds numbers varied in 1030–6600 and 1700–17700 ranges, respectively. In a laminar single-phase flow regime, the measured friction factors are in relatively good agreement with well-established correlations. In the turbulent flow regime, the measured friction factors are moderately higher than the prediction of well-established published correlations. Two-phase flow frictional pressure drops are compared with some relevant correlations, with the poor agreement. The generated experimental data are empirically correlated based on the two-phase flow multiplier concept.
Particle Accelerators: Their Triumphant History and Uncertain Future
Authors: Lincoln Don
Published: September 2021

The history of particle physics can be considered nothing less than a huge triumph for science. Over the course of a little more than a century of effort, our understanding of the world of atomic and subatomic physics went from a vague understanding of atoms, to one that is much more detailed. Early in this hundred-year-long period, we learned about electrons (1897), then how they circle a dense nucleus (1911), followed by the discovery of the protons (1917) and neutrons (1932) that form the nucleus. From the 1930s onward, researchers used both cosmic rays and particle accelerators to discover antimatter (1932), and particles that don’t exist in atoms (e.g., the muon [1936] and neutrino [1956], as well as a huge number of others).
Simulations of Back and Arms
Authors: Liu Dan , Duan Zhuojun
Published: September 2021

Equilibrium is an essential concept in undergraduate physics curriculum as it integrates Newton’s laws and torque. The importance also comes from its wide applications in mechanics and biomechanics. Simulations of Back and Arms are developed mainly for the undergraduates who major in physical therapy and health sciences. They are implemented as open-ended inquiry learning on the subject of key concepts in equilibrium. Students practice and apply the knowledge to calculate the forces on the erector spinae muscle and lumbar vertebrae, then conclude the optimal posture for lifting a heavy object. Besides enhancing understanding of the lecture materials, students can practice lab skills such as image analysis and control variables.
Navigating the canyon to redefine belonging as a metric for inclusion
Authors: Watson Rachel M.
Published: September 2021

It is a sweltering June day when we drive through the Bears Ears National Monument. The dry desert scrub oak of the western slope gives way to ponderosa, grassland, and aspen groves. Flowers line the curving dirt road and the car thermometer shows a 10 °F dip. We begin our backpacking trip at the top of Woodenshoe Canyon and will end near the bottom of Dark Canyon. Accompanied by five of our student athletes and my sister, my partner and I begin our trek in the deep shade of hundred-year-old aspens and ponderosas. The cicadas sing and, with their transparent wings, alight on our backpacks.
Conservation of Energy Yields the Incubation Time and Embryonic Metabolism in Birds and Tyrannosaur Dinosaurs from the Geometry of the Egg
Authors: Lee Scott , Thomas Joshua , Cooley Max , Irving Richard
Published: September 2021

Exciting examples of physics principles illuminate the power and scope of our discipline. In this paper, we discuss a conservation of energy example for an introductory course. Energy conservation is applied to bird and dinosaur eggs to derive a method to predict the incubation period and the embryonic metabolism solely from the egg geometry. The power of this fundamental principle to yield insights into a biological example helps to demonstrate the utility of conservation of energy.
How Should Physics Teachers Be Prepared? A Review of Recommendations
Authors: Meltzer David E.
Published: September 2021

Many readers of this journal are probably familiar with calls from governmental, business, and educational authorities to expand and improve the preparation of science teachers, with a particular focus on the shortage of highly qualified physics teachers. It may seem as if this problem has been around forever, and in fact similar expressions of alarm have been heard for well over a century. Why, then, does this shortage persist? Has the physics community been negligent in offering possible solutions? In fact, the opposite is true: physics educators long ago arrived at a consensus and pointed to a way forward, with a consistent set of recommendations. By tracing the history and elucidating those recommendations, we hope to help motivate physics educators to promote these goals more clearly, and with greater specificity and urgency.
Smashing Pumpkins
Authors: Coffey Tonya , Gosky Ross , Gregory Joshua , Neibaur Raimie , Orr Jon
Published: September 2021

Exploding pumpkins with rubber bands remains a popular demonstration of the conversion of spring potential energy into kinetic energy. Videos of laughing and squealing children and adults being pelted with pumpkin fragments have millions of hits on YouTube, and the activity has even been featured on talk shows like “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon.” This light-hearted activity is an excellent demonstration of multiple concepts in physics and engineering. In this paper, we examine and analyze a large data set collected by Jon Orr, a Canadian high school math teacher who authored a Desmos activity on learning scatter plots using this fun demo. In this paper, we expand upon Orr’s original work and explain the physics behind this activity. We analyze Orr’s data and use this analysis to explain how the number of rubber bands required to rupture a pumpkin depends primarily on the effective spring constant of the rubber band and the thickness of the pumpkin wall. We hope to provide inspiration for teachers using this demo to teach STEM concepts in the classroom.
“Sport is Double-Edged”: A Delphi Study of Spectator Sport and Population Health
Authors: Berg Brennan K. , Inoue Yuhei , Bowers Matthew T. , Chelladurai Packianathan
Published: September 2021

The periodic examination of research agendas in sport management is necessary for the field’s advancement. In this mixed-method Delphi study, 15 leading sport management scholars forecast how the field can have a more influential voice in understanding the relationship between spectator sport and population health. Panelists agreed on the importance to not oversell or oversimplify the role of spectator sport; to improve interdisciplinary collaboration, theorization, and research design; to recognize opportunities to advance mental and social well-being; to better relate to stakeholders; and to identify distinctive health effects of spectator sport. A lack of consensus existed about the relationship between spectator sport and environmental well-being and prospects for leveraging spectator sport for participant sport. Drawing from these findings, the authors suggest that future research consider moving beyond simply measuring the effects of spectator sport on population health and, instead, assess its health effects relative to multiple forms of leisure and entertainment.
Stability of superconducting resonators: Motional narrowing and the role of Landau-Zener driving of two-level defects
Authors: Niepce David , Burnett Jonathan J. , Kudra Marina , Cole Jared H. , Bylander Jonas
Published: September 2021

Radiofrequency modulation of dielectric defects reduces fluctuations in superconducting resonators and quantum circuits.
Dynamic earthquake triggering response tracks evolving unrest at Sierra Negra volcano, Galápagos Islands
Authors: Bell Andrew F. , Hernandez Stephen , McCloskey John , Ruiz Mario , LaFemina Peter C. , Bean Christopher J. , Möllhoff Martin
Published: September 2021

Dynamically triggered earthquakes track pre-eruptive unrest evolution at Sierra Negra volcano, Galápagos Islands.
Interface inter-atomic electron-transition induced photon emission in contact-electrification
Authors: Li Ding , Xu Cheng , Liao Yanjun , Cai Wenzhe , Zhu Yongqiao , Wang Zhong Lin
Published: September 2021

The contact-electrification induced interface photon emission spectroscopy is revealed by electrons transfer at the interface.
Essential thrombocythaemia first presenting as myocardial infarction in a 36-year-old male
Authors: Bobat Shahid , Dunne Paul
Published: September 2021

Essential thrombocythaemia (ET) is a myeloproliferative neoplasm where there is a clonal proliferation of thrombocytes. Whilst most often diagnosed incidentally, it can uncommonly present with arterial thrombosis. This is a case presentation of a 36-year-old male who was diagnosed with ET following myocardial infarction caused by multiple thrombotic emboli. The patient was initially misdiagnosed with viral myopericarditis based on an atypical history of chest pain with a viral prodrome. Reattendance a month later with further chest pain, dynamically raised troponin and ECG changes raised suspicions of ACS. Analysis of blood markers from both admissions showed consistently elevated platelet counts. A CMR scan revealed focal ischaemic scars in multiple cardiac segments consistent with an acute coronary event or coronary embolisation. A subsequent coronary angiography demonstrated minimal coronary artery disease. JAK2 gene V617F mutation was detected, confirming ET. The patient was commenced on pegylated interferon-alpha and dual antiplatelet therapy, and discharged with follow-up.
Understanding diagnostic processes in emergency departments: a mixed methods case study protocol
Authors: Daniel Michelle , Park SunYoung , Seifert Colleen M , Chandanabhumma P Paul , Fetters Michael D , Wilson Eric , Canvasser Andrew B , Singh Hardeep , Pasupathy Kalyan , Mahajan Prashant
Published: September 2021

Introduction

Diagnostic processes in the emergency department (ED) involve multiple interactions among individuals who interface with information systems to access and record information. A better understanding of diagnostic processes is needed to mitigate errors. This paper describes a study protocol to map diagnostic processes in the ED as a foundation for developing future error mitigation strategies.

Methods and analysis

This study of an adult and a paediatric academic ED uses a prospective mixed methods case study design informed by an ED-specific diagnostic decision-making model (the modified ED-National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine (NASEM) model) and two cognitive theories (dual process theory and distributed cognition). Data sources include audio recordings of patient and care team interactions, electronic health record data, observer field notes and stakeholder interviews. Multiple qualitative analysis methods will be used to explore diagnostic processes in situ, including systems information flow, human–human and human–system interactions and contextual factors influencing cognition. The study has three parts. Part 1 involves prospective field observations of patients with undifferentiated symptoms at high risk for diagnostic error, where each patient is followed throughout the entire care delivery process. Part 2 involves observing individual care team providers over a 4-hour window to capture their diagnostic workflow, team coordination and communication across multiple patients. Part 3 uses interviews with key stakeholders to understand different perspectives on the diagnostic process, as well as perceived strengths and vulnerabilities, in order to enrich the ED-NASEM diagnostic model.

Ethics and dissemination

The University of Michigan Institutional Review Board approved this study, HUM00156261. This foundational work will help identify strengths and vulnerabilities in diagnostic processes. Further, it will inform the future development and testing of patient, provider and systems-level interventions for mitigating error and improving patient safety in these and other EDs. The work will be disseminated through journal publications and presentations at national and international meetings.
Role of neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio as a prognostic biomarker in patients with breast cancer receiving neoadjuvant chemotherapy: a meta-analysis
Authors: Zhou Qiong , Dong Jie , Sun Qingqing , Lu Nannan , Pan Yueyin , Han Xinghua
Published: September 2021

Objective

The neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) is recognised as a suitable prognostic biomarker in patients with breast cancer. Nevertheless, the efficacy of this biomarker in predicting the pathological complete response (pCR) and survival in patients with breast cancer receiving neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT) is still controversial. This meta-analysis aimed to identify the association between baseline NLR and the prognosis of patients with breast cancer treated with NACT.

Design

Meta-analysis.

Data sources

Relevant literature published before 1 May 2021 was searched using the Cochrane Library, Embase, PubMed and the Web of Science databases.

Eligibility criteria

All studies involving patients with breast cancer treated with NACT and peripheral blood pretreatment NLR recorded as a dichotomous variable were included.

Data extraction and synthesis

Two researchers independently extracted and evaluated OR/HR and its 95% CIs of survival outcomes and clinicopathological parameters.

Results

A total of 19 studies were identified. From each study, the impact of NLR on the pCR, OR and HR, with their 95% CIs were extracted and combined using either a random or fixed-effects model. The results indicate that a higher pCR in patients with a low NLR (OR 1.620, 95% CI 1.209 to 2.169, p＜0.001). In addition, an elevated NLR predicted lower disease-free survival (HR 2.269, 95% CI 1.557 to 3.307, p<0.001) and overall survival (HR 1.691, 95% CI 1.365 to 2.096, p<0.001) in patients with breast cancer treated with NACT.

Conclusions

NLR is a suitable biomarker for predicting pCR and survival in patients with breast cancer receiving NACT.
Impact of household shocks on access to healthcare services in Kenya: a propensity score matching analysis
Authors: Njagi Purity , Groot Wim , Arsenijevic Jelena
Published: September 2021

Objective

This study examines the effects of household shocks on access to healthcare services in Kenya. Shocks are adverse events that lead to loss of household income and/or assets.

Design and setting

The study used data from the Kenya Integrated Household Budget Survey 2015/2016, a nationally representative cross-sectional survey. A propensity score matching approach was applied for the analysis.

Participants

The study sample included 16 297 individuals from households that had experienced shocks (intervention) and those that had not experienced shocks (control) within the last 12 months preceding the survey.

Outcome measures

The outcome of interest was access to healthcare services based on an individual’s perceived need for health intervention.

Results

The results indicate that shocks reduce access to healthcare services when household members are confronted with an illness. We observed that multiple shocks in a household exacerbate the risk of not accessing healthcare services. Asset shocks had a significant negative effect on access to healthcare services, whereas the effect of income shocks was not statistically significant. This is presumably due to the smoothing out of income shocks through the sale of assets or borrowing. However, considering the time when the shock occurred, we observed mixed results that varied according to the type of shock.

Conclusions

The findings suggest that shocks can limit the capacity of households to invest in healthcare services, emphasising their vulnerability to risks and inability to cope with the consequences. These results provoke a debate on the causal pathway of household economic shocks and health-seeking behaviour. The results suggest a need for social protection programmes to integrate mechanisms that enable households to build resilience to shocks. A more viable approach would be to expedite universal health insurance to cushion households from forgoing needed healthcare when confronted with unanticipated risks.
Seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2-specific IgG antibodies in Kashmir, India, 7 months after the first reported local COVID-19 case: results of a population-based seroprevalence survey from October to November 2020
Authors: Khan S Muhammad Salim , Qurieshi Mariya Amin , Haq Inaamul , Majid Sabhiya , Ahmad Javid , Ayub Taha , Bhat Ashfaq Ahmad , Fazili Anjum Bashir , Ganai Abdul Majeed , Jan Yasmeen , Kaul Rauf-ur-Rashid , Khan Zahid Ali , Masoodi Muneer Ahmad , Mushtaq Beenish , Nazir Fouzia , Nazir Muzamil , Raja Malik Waseem , Rasool Mahbooba , Asma Anjum , Ayoub Shifana , Aziz Munazza , Bhat Arif Akbar , Chowdri Iqra Nisar , Ismail Shaista , Kawoosa Misbah Ferooz , Khan Mehvish Afzal , Khan Mosin Saleem , Kousar Rafiya , Lone Ab Aziz , Nabi Shahroz , Obaid Mohammad , Qazi Tanzeela Bashir , Sabah Iram , Sumji Ishtiyaq Ahmad
Published: September 2021

Objectives

We designed a population-based survey in Kashmir to estimate the seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2-specific IgG antibodies in the general population aged 18 years and above.

Setting

The survey was conducted among 110 villages and urban wards across 10 districts in Kashmir from 17 October 2020 to 4 November 2020.

Participants

Individuals aged 18 years and above were eligible to be included in the survey. Serum samples were tested for the presence of SARS-CoV-2-specific IgG antibodies using the Abbott SARS-CoV-2 IgG assay.

Primary and secondary outcome measures

We labelled assay results equal to or above the cut-off index value of 1.4 as positive for SARS-CoV-2-specific IgG antibodies. Seroprevalence estimates were adjusted for the sampling design and assay characteristics.

Results

Out of 6397 eligible individuals enumerated, 6315 (98.7%) agreed to participate. The final analysis was done on 6230 participants. Seroprevalence adjusted for the sampling design and assay characteristics was 36.7% (95% CI 34.3% to 39.2%). Seroprevalence was higher among the older population. Among seropositive individuals, 10.2% (247/2415) reported a history of COVID-19-like symptoms. Out of 474 symptomatic individuals, 233 (49.2%) reported having been tested. We estimated an infection fatality rate of 0.034%.

Conclusions

During the first 7 months of the COVID-19 epidemic in Kashmir Valley, approximately 37% of individuals were infected. The reported number of COVID-19 cases was only a small fraction of the estimated number of infections. A more efficient surveillance system with strengthened reporting of COVID-19 cases and deaths is warranted.
Patterns of care for people presenting to Australian general practice with musculoskeletal complaints based on routinely collected data: protocol for an observational cohort study using the Population Level Analysis and Reporting (POLAR) database
Authors: Haas Romi , Busija Ljoudmila , Gorelik Alexandra , O"Connor Denise A , Pearce Christopher , Mazza Danielle , Buchbinder Rachelle
Published: September 2021

Introduction

General practice is integral to the Australian healthcare system. Outcome Health’s POpulation Level Analysis and Reporting (POLAR) database uses de-identified electronic health records to analyse general practice data in Australia. Previous studies using routinely collected health data for research have not consistently reported the codes and algorithms used to describe the population, exposures, interventions and outcomes in sufficient detail to allow replication. This paper reports a study protocol investigating patterns of care for people presenting with musculoskeletal conditions to general practice in Victoria, Australia. Its focus is on the systematic approach used to classify and select eligible records from the POLAR database to facilitate replication. This will be useful for other researchers using routinely collected health data for research.

Methods and analysis

This is a retrospective cohort study. Patient-related data will be obtained through electronic health records from a subset of general practices across three primary health networks (PHN) in southeastern Victoria. Data for patients with a low back, neck, shoulder and/or knee condition and who received at least one general practitioner (GP) face-to-face consultation between 1 January 2014 and 31 December 2018 will be included. Data quality checks will be conducted to exclude patients with poor data recording and/or non-continuous follow-up. Relational data files with eligible and valid records will be merged to select the study cohort and the GP care received (consultations, imaging requests, prescriptions and referrals) between diagnosis and 31 December 2018. Number and characteristics of patients and GPs, and number, type and timing of imaging requests, prescriptions for pain relief and referrals to other health providers will be investigated.

Ethics and dissemination

Ethics approval was obtained from the Cabrini and Monash University Human Research Ethics Committees (Reference Numbers 02-21-01-19 and 16975, respectively). Study findings will be reported to Outcome Health, participating PHNs, disseminated in academic journals and presented in conferences.
Improving communication on medical ward rounds with patients who speak limited English with implementation of medical communication charts
Authors: D'Souza Amrita Naomi , Canoso Ana , Smith Laura-Jane
Published: September 2021

Aim

To improve communication on the medical ward round with patients with limited English through implementation of a medical communication chart.

Local problem

King’s College Hospital (KCH), London, is situated in Southwark in which 11% of households have no members that speak English as a first language, 4.1% of London’s population report they do not speak English well. Language barriers impair healthcare delivery including during daily ward rounds. This has been exacerbated by the need for PPE during the SARS-CoV2 pandemic. Effective communication between healthcare teams and patients is essential for high quality, patient-centred care. Communication tools commonly used include online, telephone and face-to-face translation services but these have limitations.

Methods

Face-to-face patient questionnaires were conducted in the pre-QIP (baseline) group to assess communication on medical ward rounds. Medical communication charts were designed by adapting pre-existing aids commonly used by speech and language therapy. Charts were translated into commonly spoken languages among KCH inpatients. Patients with limited English were selected from both COVID-19 and non-Covid wards. Preintervention and postintervention questionnaires were completed in three Plan–Do–Study–Act (PDSA) cycles.

Results

At baseline, patients agreed or strongly agreed that the ward round addressed physical symptoms (8/8), concerns or anxieties (7/8), ongoing needs (7/8). Only two of eight doctors felt they could communicate effectively with patients. In PDSA 1, four of five patients reported high satisfaction in communicating physical symptoms, anxieties or concerns preintervention with five of five postchart implementation. Five of five patients reported high satisfaction in communicating ongoing needs preintervention but only three of five postintervention. In PDSA 2, two of five patients reported increased satisfaction in communicating physical symptoms, concerns or anxieties with four of four doctors reporting improved satisfaction in communication in PDSA 2 and two of three doctors reporting higher satisfaction in communication in PDSA 3.

Conclusion

Using communication charts in patients with limited English can improve bidirectional communication on medical ward rounds.
Frequency, severity and costs of flares increase with disease severity in newly diagnosed systemic lupus erythematosus: a real-world cohort study, United States, 2004–2015
Authors: Hammond Edward R , Desta Barnabas , Near Aimee M , Wang Xia , Jiang Miao
Published: September 2021

Objective

To evaluate frequency, severity and costs of flares in US patients with newly diagnosed SLE.

Methods

Adults diagnosed with SLE between January 2005 and December 2014 were identified from US commercial claims data linked to electronic medical records. Disease and flare severity during 1 year after diagnosis were classified as mild, moderate or severe using a claims-based algorithm. Study outcomes included frequency and severity of flares stratified by disease severity during the 1-year post-diagnosis period and all-cause healthcare costs of flares by severity at 30, 60 and 90 days after flare.

Results

Among 2227 patients, 26.3%, 51.0% and 22.7% had mild, moderate and severe SLE, respectively. The overall annual flare rate was 3.5 and increased with disease severity: 2.2, 3.7 and 4.2, respectively, for mild, moderate and severe SLE (p<0.0001). Patients with severe SLE had a higher annual severe flare rate (0.6) compared with moderate (0.1) or mild SLE (0; p<0.0001). Mean total all-cause costs at 30, 60 and 90 days after flare were $16 856, $22 252 and $27 468, respectively, for severe flares (mild flares: $1672, $2639 and $3312; moderate flares: $3831, $6225, $8582; (p<0.0001, all time points)). Inpatient costs were the primary driver of the increased cost of severe flares.

Conclusions

Flare frequency and severity in newly diagnosed patients with SLE increase with disease severity. After a flare, healthcare costs increase over the following 90 days by disease severity. Preventing flares or reducing flare rates and duration may improve outcomes and reduce healthcare costs.
Investigating the efficacy of chest pressure for direct current cardioversion in atrial fibrillation: a randomised control trial protocol (Pressure-AF)
Authors: Ferreira David , Mikhail Philo , McGee Michael , Boyle Andrew , Sverdlov Aaron , William Maged , Jackson Nicholas , Barlow Malcolm , Leitch James , Collins Nicholas , Ford Thomas , Wilsmore Bradley
Published: September 2021

Introduction

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common sustained arrhythmia worldwide. Direct current cardioversion is commonly used to restore sinus rhythm in patients with AF. Chest pressure may improve cardioversion success through decreasing transthoracic impedance and increasing cardiac energy delivery. We aim to assess the efficacy and safety of routine chest pressure with direct current cardioversion for AF.

Methods and analysis

Multicentre, double blind (patient and outcome assessment), randomised clinical trial based in New South Wales, Australia. Patients will be randomised 1:1 to control and interventional arms. The control group will receive four sequential biphasic shocks of 150 J, 200 J, 360 J and 360 J with chest pressure on the last shock, until cardioversion success. The intervention group will receive the same shocks with chest pressure from the first defibrillation. Pads will be placed in an anteroposterior position. Success of cardioversion will be defined as sinus rhythm at 1 min after shock. The primary outcome will be total energy provided. Secondary outcomes will be success of first shock to achieve cardioversion, transthoracic impedance and sinus rhythm at post cardioversion ECG.

Ethics and dissemination

Ethics approval has been confirmed at all participating sites via the Research Ethics Governance Information System. The trial has been registered on the Australia New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry (ACTRN12620001028998). De-identified patient level data will be available to reputable researchers who provide sound analysis proposals.
Discrepancy between left ventricular hypertrophy by echocardiography and electrocardiographic hypertrophy: clinical characteristics and outcomes
Authors: Seko Yuta , Kato Takao , Yamaji Yuhei , Haruna Yoshisumi , Nakane Eisaku , Haruna Tetsuya , Inoko Moriaki
Published: September 2021

Background

The clinical significance of the discrepancy between left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) by echocardiography and ECG remains to be elucidated.

Methods

After excluding patients who presented with pacemaker placement, QRS duration ≥120 ms and cardiomyopathy and moderate to severe valvular disease, we retrospectively analysed 3212 patients who had undergone both scheduled transthoracic echocardiography (echo) and ECG in a hospital-based population. Cornell product >2440 mm · ms was defined as ECG-based LVH; left ventricular mass index >115 g/m2for men and >95 g/m2for women was defined as echo-based LVH. The study population was categorised into four groups: patients with both ECG-based and echo-based LVH (N=131, 4.1%), those with only echo-based LVH (N=156, 4.9%), those with only ECG-based LVH (N=409, 12.7%) and those with no LVH (N=2516, 78.3%).

Results

The cumulative 3-year incidences of a composite of all-cause death and major adverse cardiovascular events were 32.0%, 33.8%, 19.2% and 15.7%, respectively. After adjusting for confounders, the HRs relative to that in no LVH were 1.63 (95% CI 1.16 to 2.28), 1.68 (95% CI 1.23 to 2.30) and 1.09 (95% CI 0.85 to 1.41) in patients with both ECG-based and echo-based LVH, those with only echo-based LVH, and those with only ECG-based LVH, respectively.

Conclusions

Echo-based LVH without ECG-based LVH was associated with a significant risk of adverse clinical events, and the risk was comparable to that in patients with both echo-based and ECG-based LVH.
Cardioprotective effect of fingolimod against calcium paradox–induced myocardial injury in the isolated rat heart
Authors: Alatrag Fatma , Amoni Matthew , Kelly-Laubscher Roisin , Gwanyanya Asfree
Published: September 2021

Fingolimod (FTY720) inhibits Ca2+-permeable, Mg2+-sensitive channels called transient receptor potential melastatin 7 (TRPM7), but its effects on Ca2+ paradox (CP) – induced myocardial damage has not been evaluated. We studied the effect of FTY720 on CP-induced myocardial damage and used other TRPM7 channel inhibitors nordihydroguaiaretic acid (NDGA) and Mg2+ to test if any effect of FTY720 was via TRPM7 inhibition. Langendorff-perfused Wistar rat hearts were treated with FTY720 or NDGA and subjected to a CP protocol consisting of Ca2+ depletion followed by Ca2+ repletion. Hearts of rats pre-treated with MgSO4 were also subjected to CP. Hemodynamic parameters were measured using an intraventricular balloon, and myocardial infarct size was quantified using triphenyltetrazolium chloride stain. TRPM7 proteins in ventricular tissue were detected using immunoblot analysis. FTY720, but not NDGA, decreased CP-induced infarct size. Both FTY720 and NDGA minimized the CP-induced elevation of left ventricular end-diastolic pressure, but only FTY720 ultimately improved ventricular developed pressure. Mg2+ pre-treatment had no effect on CP-induced infarct size, nor hemodynamic parameters during CP, nor the level of TRPM7 protein expression in ventricular tissue. Overall, FTY720 attenuated CP-induced myocardial damage, with potential therapeutic implications on Ca2+-mediated cardiotoxicity; however, the cardioprotective mechanism of FTY720 seems to be unrelated to TRPM7 channel modulation.
Influence of environmental parameters on habitat use by sympatric freshwater eels Anguilla marmorata and Anguilla japonica on Yakushima Island, Japan
Authors: Kumai Yusuke , Kuroki Mari , Morita Kentaro
Published: September 2021

It is known that environmental parameters, such as water depth, size of substrate material, and current velocity, influence the organization of stream fish communities. However, few studies have investigated the effects of these parameters on the sympatric freshwater eels. Here, the habitat use of two anguillid eels, the Indo-Pacific eel (Anguilla marmorata Quoy and Gaimard, 1824) and the Japanese eel (Anguilla japonica Temminck and Schlegel, 1846), coexisting in the same river systems in Japan, was investigated. It was found that the tropical species A. marmorata exclusively used habitats with larger substrate materials, fewer fallen leaves and less leaf detritus, higher current velocity, and lower turbidity than the temperate species A. japonica, and the distributions of the two anguillid eels were clearly segregated. Thus, when both species co-occur in the same river systems, clear flowing mainstems and tributaries are preferred habitats for A. marmorata, whereas stagnant muddy estuaries, backwater areas, irrigation channels, and reservoirs are preferred habitats for A. japonica. These habitat segregations were consistent as body size increased and life-stage developments from elver to yellow eel and did not show ontogenetic shifts. The findings indicated that both species had strong habitat preferences, and these environmental parameters must be considered in the conservation of anguillid eels in sympatric zones.
Minimax Design of 2D FIR Half-Band Filters Using an Efficient Matrix-Based IRLS Algorithm
Authors: Zhang Xiaoxue , Zhao Ruijie , Liu Yu
Published: September 2021

This paper considers the minimax design of two-dimensional (2D) finite impulse response (FIR) half-band filters. First, the design problem is formulated in a matrix form, where the half-band constraints are expressed as a pair of matrix equations. By matrix transformations, the constrained minimax problem is transformed into an unconstrained one. Then, we propose an efficient iterative reweighted least squares (IRLS) algorithm to solve this problem. The weighted least squares (WLS) subproblems arising from the IRLS algorithm are solved using a generalized conjugate gradient (GCG) algorithm. Moreover, the GCG algorithm is guaranteed to converge in a finite number of iterations. In the proposed algorithm, the design coefficients of filters are solved in their matrix form, leading to a great saving in computations and memory space. Design examples and comparisons with existing methods are provided to demonstrate the effectiveness and efficiency of the proposed algorithm.
Mathematical Approaches in Functional Safety Assessment for E/E/PE Safety-Related Software
Authors: Inoue Shinji , Fujiwara Takaji , Yamada Shigeru
Published: September 2021

Safety integrity level (SIL)-based functional safety assessment is widely required in designing safety functions and checking their validity of electrical/electronic/programmable electronic (E/E/PE) safety-related systems after being issued IEC 61508 in 2010. For the hardware of E/E/PE safety-related systems, quantitative functional safety assessment based on target failure measures is needed for deciding or allocating the level of SIL. On the other hand, IEC 61508 does not provide any quantitative safety assessment method for allocating SIL for the software of E/E/PE safety-related systems because the software failure is treated as a systematic failure in IEC 61508. We discuss the needfulness of quantitative safety assessment for software of E/E/PE safety-related systems and propose mathematical fundamentals for conducting quantitative SIL-based safety assessment for the software of E/E/PE safety-related systems by applying the notion of software reliability modeling and assessment technologies. We show numerical examples for explaining how to use our approaches.
Mean value estimates of gcd and lcm-sums
Authors: Chaubey Sneha , Goel Shivani
Published: September 2021

We study the distribution of the generalized gcd and lcm functions on average. The generalized gcd function, denoted by [Formula: see text], is the greatest [Formula: see text]th power divisor common to [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text]. Likewise, the generalized lcm function, denoted by [Formula: see text], is the smallest [Formula: see text]th power multiple common to [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text]. We derive asymptotic formulas for the average order of the arithmetic, geometric, and harmonic means of [Formula: see text]. Additionally, we also deduce asymptotic formulas with error terms for the means of [Formula: see text], and [Formula: see text] over a set of lattice points, thereby generalizing some of the previous work on gcd and lcm-sum estimates.
Fast Inversion of the Earthquake Rupture Processes with Complicated Velocity Structure: An Application to the Earthquake of 2017 Mw 6.5 Jiuzhaigou, China
Authors: Wang Jiemin , Yin Haitao , Feng Zhijun , Ma Pifeng , Wang Liang
Published: September 2021

Due to the limitation of seismic station coverage or the network transport interrupted when the earthquake occurred, an accurate seismic shakemap may not be released to the public quickly. When the near-source observed waveforms for the intensity prediction technology used are incomplete, we synthesize the seismic waveform into observation waveforms. An accurate seismic rupture process is necessary to synthesize virtual station observations. So, we should release the rupture process as soon as possible after a large earthquake. Most large earthquakes occur at the junction of two or three tectonic terranes. With violent tectonic movements, fault basins and uplift zones are distributed on the edge of the plateau. With complex structural conditions, the 1D layered half-space velocity structure model could not meet the requirement of earthquake rupture process inversion. It takes much time to calculate 3D Green’s function with a 3D velocity model for the complete waveform inversion of the earthquake rupture process. To rapidly invert the rupture process as accurately as possible, according to the geological conditions of the station, we calculated several Green’s function libraries in advance. We extracted Green’s functions from these libraries for each site based on the sites’ coordinates once an earthquake occurs. The time we spend in extracting Green’s functions from several Green libraries equals that we spend in extracting Green’s functions from one single library. The applicability of this method was tested in the 2017 Jiuzhaigou M6.5 earthquake with complex structural conditions in the mountain uplift zone. With our model, the time we spent in calculating the rupture process was almost the same as that we spent with the 1D velocity structure model, which was far less than that we could have spent in calculating 3D Green’s function. The degree of fitting between the synthetic data and the observation data of our model was much higher than the fitting of the 1D velocity model, which means that the earthquake rupture process we determined was more reliable.
Arctic Alaska Basin, Hanna Trough and Beaufortian Rifted Margin Composite Tectono-Sedimentary Elements
Authors: Houseknecht David W.
Published: September 2021

The Arctic Alaska region includes three composite tectono-sedimentary elements (CTSEs): (1) the Arctic Alaska Basin (AAB), (2) the Hanna Trough (HT) and (3) the Beaufortian Rifted Margin (BRM) CTSEs. These CTSEs comprise Mississippian–Lower Cretaceous (Neocomian) strata beneath much of the Alaska North Slope, the Chukchi Sea and westernmost North Slope, and the Beaufort Sea, respectively. These sedimentary successions rest on Devonian and older sedimentary and metasedimentary rocks, considered economic basement, and are overlain by Cretaceous–Cenozoic syn- and post-tectonic strata deposited in the foreland of the Chukotka and Brooks Range orogens and in the Amerasia Basin. (1) The Mississippian–Neocomian AAB CTSE includes two TSEs: (a) the Ellesmerian Platform TSE, comprising mainly shelf strata of Mississippian–Middle Jurassic age, and including a relatively undeformed domain in the north and a fold-and-thrust domain in the south; and (b) the Beaufortian Rift-Shoulder TSE, which includes Middle Jurassic–Neocomian deposits related to rift-shoulder uplift. (2) The HT CTSE includes four TSEs: (a) the Ellesmerian Synrift TSE, which comprises Late Devonian(?)–Middle Mississippian growth strata deposited in graben and half-graben during intracontinental rifting; (b) the Ellesmerian–Beaufortian Sag-Basin TSE, which comprises Middle Mississippian–Upper Triassic strata deposited in a sag basin following cessation of rifting; (c) the Beaufortian Synrift TSE, comprising Jurassic–Neocomian graben-fill deposits related to rifting in the Amerasia and North Chukchi basins; and (d) the Beaufortian Rift-Shoulder TSE, which comprises Jurassic–Neocomian strata related to rifting and deposited outside rift basins. (3) The BRM CTSE includes two TSEs: (a) the Beaufortian Synrift TSE, comprising Middle Jurassic–Neocomian synrift strata deposited on attenuated continental crust associated with opening of the Amerasia Basin; and (b) the Ellesmerian Platform TSE, comprising mainly shelf strata of Mississippian–Middle Jurassic age that lie beneath Beaufortian synrift strata.

The AAB, HT and BRM CTSEs contain oil-prone source rocks in Triassic, Jurassic and Cretaceous strata, and proven reservoir rocks spanning Mississippian–Lower Cretaceous strata. A structurally high-standing area in the northern AAB CTSE, northern HT CTSE and southernmost BRM CTSE lies in the oil window, whereas all other areas lie in the gas window. Known hydrocarbon accumulations in the three CTSEs total more than 30 Bboe, and yet-to-find estimates suggest that a similar volume remains to be discovered.
An Investigational Approach for Vowels of the Salar Language Based on a Database of Speech Acoustic Parameters
Authors: Ma Jun , Yu Hongzhi , Xu Yan , Deng Kaiying
Published: September 2021

According to relevant specifications, this article divides, marks, and extracts the acquired speech signals of the Salar language, and establishes the speech acoustic parameter database of the Salar language. Then, the vowels of the Salar language are analyzed and studied by using the parameter database. The vowel bitmap (average value at the beginning of words), the vowel bitmap (average value at the abdomen of words), the vowel bitmap (average value at the ending of words), and the vowel bitmap (average value) are obtained. Through the vowel bitmaps, we can observe the vowel in different positions of the word, the overall appearance of an obtuse triangle. The high vowel [i], [o], and low vowel [a] occupy three vertices, respectively. Among the three lines, [i] to [o] are the longest, [i] to [a] are the second longest, and [a] to [o] are the shortest. The lines between [a] to [o] and [a] and [i] are asymmetric. Combining with the vowel bitmap, the vowels were discretized, and the second formant (F2) frequency parameter was used as the coordinate of the X axis, and the first formant (F1) frequency was used as the coordinate of the Y axis to draw the region where the vowel was located, and then the vowel pattern was formed. These studies provide basic data and parameters for the future development of modern phonetics such as the database of Sarah language speech, speech recognition, and speech synthesis. It also provides the basic parameters of speech acoustics for the rare minority acoustic research work of the national language project.
Multi-Graph Cooperative Learning Towards Distant Supervised Relation Extraction
Authors: Yuan Changsen , Huang Heyan , Feng Chong
Published: September 2021

The Graph Convolutional Network (GCN) is a universal relation extraction method that can predict relations of entity pairs by capturing sentences’ syntactic features. However, existing GCN methods often use dependency parsing to generate graph matrices and learn syntactic features. The quality of the dependency parsing will directly affect the accuracy of the graph matrix and change the whole GCN’s performance. Because of the influence of noisy words and sentence length in the distant supervised dataset, using dependency parsing on sentences causes errors and leads to unreliable information. Therefore, it is difficult to obtain credible graph matrices and relational features for some special sentences. In this article, we present a Multi-Graph Cooperative Learning model (MGCL), which focuses on extracting the reliable syntactic features of relations by different graphs and harnessing them to improve the representations of sentences. We conduct experiments on a widely used real-world dataset, and the experimental results show that our model achieves the state-of-the-art performance of relation extraction.