bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The mechanical and antibacterial properties of bone cement composites containing silver nanoparticles compounded with various chitosans
Authors: Li Zhuoyang , Yang Xin , Cao Yongping , Meng Zhichao , Liu Heng , Wang Rui , Wu Hao
Published: September 2022

Objective:To analyse the mechanical and antibacterial properties of bone cement composites containing silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) compounded with chitosan (CS) and carboxymethyl chitosan (CMCS).Methods:Ten percent wt% AgNPs, CS-AgNPs and CMCS-AgNPs were prepared through an oxidation-reduction reaction under sonic oscillation and mix with polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA). The compressive and bending strengths of these nanoparticles were measured before and after soaking the samples in simulated body fluid (SBF). The Kirby-Bauer (K-B) method and flask oscillation method were used to evaluate the antibacterial effects of the composites.Results:The compressive and bending strengths of the AgNP, CS-AgNP, and CMCS-AgNP groups were significantly improved (P < 0.001). After soaking in SBF, the bending strengths of the AgNP, CS-AgNP, and CMCS-AgNP groups were significantly higher than that of the control group (P < 0.001). The K-B test showed only the 5 wt% and 10 wt% CMCS-AgNP groups exhibited bacteriostatic rings for Staphylococcus aureus and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). The flask oscillation analyses revealed that the 5 wt% and 10 wt% CMCS-AgNP exhibited good bacteriostatic activity against S. aureus, but only the 10 wt% CMCS-AgNP group for MRSA.Conclusion:We developed CS/CMCS-AgNP bone cement composites, which show good mechanical properties and antibacterial activity.
Contriving a multi-epitope vaccine against African swine fever utilizing immunoinformatics
Authors: Fagbohun Olusegun Adesina , Aiki-Raji Comfort Oluladun , Omotosho Oladipo Olufemi
Published: September 2022

African swine fever (ASF), a highly fatal haemorrhagic viral disease of domestic pigs has been ravaging swine industries in affected countries. Effective management of this malady is hamstrung by lack of protective vaccines. A cost-effective avenue to develop potent ASF vaccines is by harnessing immunoinformatic tools to construct a multi-epitope broad spectrum subunit vaccine. Therefore, CD8 + T-cell, CD4 + T-cell, B-cell and IFN-γ epitopes of the ASF virus major coat protein p72, CD2 homologue (CD2v) and C-type lectin-like proteins which are good vaccine candidates were computationally appended to develop ASF multi-epitope subunit vaccine. Molecular docking and molecular dynamic simulation were employed to assess the interaction between the vaccine construct and immune receptors Toll-like-9 (TLR-9) and the Swine Leukocyte Antigen-1 (SLA-1) and stable interactions were observed between the vaccine construct and immune receptors.in silicocloning and codon optimization were used to bolster the efficient expression of the vaccine in anE. coliexpression system. The efficacy of the vaccine to provoke effective immune responses was assessed usingin silicoimmune simulation. All these computational approaches revealed that the designed vaccine is structurally stable and capable of inducing both humoral and cell-mediated immune responses against ASF.
Pregnancy Outcome in 57 patients with Splenomegaly
Authors: Ali AbdelAziem A. , Eldin Israa Badr
Published: September 2022

Background: The spleen is a lymphopoietic organ, contains almost one quarter of the body’s lymphocytes, helps mediate both cellular and humoral immunity, and participates in immune responses against blood-borne pathogens.Method: This was a prospective cross sectional facility based study, carried out at Kassala hospital, Sudan between 1st of May 2019 to 30th of April 2020. The study sought to investigate the pregnancy outcome in women with splenomegaly, an enlarged spleen detected by palpation during the physical examination and subcategorized into mild, moderate and severe one according to its length below the left costal margin. Ultrasound was performed to help determine the size of the spleen. Means and proportions were compared between the groups of the study-using student and x2 test, and P<0.05 was considered significant. Results: During the study period, we approached 57 women with splenomegaly. The most predominant type of splenomegaly was massive (50.9%) splenomegaly. The reported obstetric complications among the investigated women include intrauterine growth restriction (19.3%), preterm labor ((17.5%), miscarriage (12.3%) and stillbirth (3.5%). Out of 50 patients their pregnancy progressed to delivery, two patients underwent cesarean delivery due to fetal distress and meconium stained liquor in early labor. Three patients developed primary hemorrhage requiring blood transfusion with ≥ 2 units of blood. Respiratory distress syndrome (RDS), acute tachypnea of the newborn and stillborn babies were observed in 18%, 6% and 4% respectively. Higher proportion of women with poor obstetric outcomes was observed in cases of massive splenomegaly in comparison with other types. Conclusion: The study showed significant association between adverse obstetric outcomes and massive splenomegaly.
Suppression of stacking-fault expansion in 4H-SiC PiN diodes using proton implantation to solve bipolar degradation
Authors: Kato Masashi , Watanabe Ohga , Mii Toshiki , Sakane Hitoshi , Harada Shunta
Published: September 2022

4H-SiC has been commercialized as a material for power semiconductor devices. However, the long-term reliability of 4H-SiC devices is a barrier to their widespread application, and the most important reliability issue in 4H-SiC devices is bipolar degradation. This degradation is caused by the expansion of single Shockley stacking faults (1SSFs) from basal plane dislocations in the 4H-SiC crystal. Here, we present a method for suppressing the 1SSF expansion by proton implantation on a 4H-SiC epitaxial wafer. PiN diodes fabricated on a proton-implanted wafer show current–voltage characteristics similar to those of PiN diodes without proton implantation. In contrast, the expansion of 1SSFs is effectively suppressed in PiN diodes with proton implantation. Therefore, proton implantation into 4H-SiC epitaxial wafers is an effective method for suppressing bipolar degradation in 4H-SiC power-semiconductor devices while maintaining device performance. This result contributes to the development of highly reliable 4H-SiC devices.
Risk Factors and Prevalence of Mother to New-born Transmission of Carbapenemase producing Enterobacteriaceae in two Hospitals in Yaounde, Cameroon
Authors: Djuikoue Cecile I. , Chounna Noemy T , Djouela Dana , Wega Farid , Nzenya Joelle D , Nana Cedric , Mbenza Benjamin Longo , Apalata Teke
Published: September 2022

In low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), where the burden of neonatal sepsis is the highest, the spread of Carbapenemase producing Enterobacteriaceae (CPE) in the community, potentially contributing to the neonatal mortality, is a public health concern. Data regarding the acquisition of CPE during the perinatal period are scarce. The routes of transmission are not well defined and particularly the possible key role played by pregnant women. This study aimed to understand the neonatal acquisition of CPE in Yaounde. A transversal analytical study was conducted in an urban area. Maternal stool samples at delivery and the first stool from her new-born were collected and cultured to isolate Enterobacteriaceae. After isolation of Enterobacteriaceae, a phenotypic characterization using API20E identification system and antibiotic susceptibility testing were performed according to the Antibiogram Committee of the French Society of Microbiology (AC-SFM 2020). The detection and classification of carbapenemases was done on each carbapenem-resistant strains by Modified Hodge Test (MHT) and synergy tests with different inhibitors (Boronic acid and EDTA). Of the 54 CPE isolates identified, Escherichia coli was the most frequent species (n = 29, 53.70%), followed by Klebsiella pneumoniae (n = 12, 22.22%). Class D and class B carbapenemases (n = 27, 11.25%) were equally represented. Out of the 120 couples, the estimated prevalence of vertical transmission, based on the carriage of the same CPE strain producing enzymes of the same class in mothers and their new-borns, and the similarities in their resistance profile was 10% (n = 12). Logistic regression showed that CPE carriage in mothers and CPE acquisition in their new-borns were independently associated with the presence of greenish amniotic fluid (OR = 3.96, p < 0.0001 in mothers and OR = 3.5, p = 0.05 in new-borns), and meconial amniotic fluid (OR = 1.37, p = 0.02 in mothers and OR = 4.92, p = 0.02 in new-borns). Our results highlight the non-negligeable role played by pregnant women carriage in the neonatal acquisition of Carbapenemases Producing Enterobacteriaceae. The CPE, of which the most prevalent is Carbapenemase class D followed by class B; and also supported by the presence of prenatal fetal distress.
Implementing a community-based HIV screening that serves basic science research and contributes to achieving public health goals
Authors: Abana Christopher Z-Y , Kushitor Dennis K. , Asigbee Theodore W. , Parbie Prince K. , Ishikawa Koichi , Kiyono Hiroshi , Mizutani Taketoshi , Siaw Samuel , Ofori Sampson B. , Addo-Tetebo Gifty , Ansong Maclean Richard D. , Williams Marion , Morton Samuel , Danquah George , Matano Tetsuro , Ampofo William K. , Bonney Evelyn Yayra
Published: September 2022

Background: The 95-95-95 UNAIDS global strategy was adapted to end the AIDS epidemic by 2030. The target is based on the premise that early detection of HIV-infected persons and linking them to treatment regardless of their CD4 counts will lead to sustained viral suppression. HIV testing strategies to increase uptake of testing in Western and Central Africa remain inadequate. Hence, a high proportion of people living with HIV in this region do not know their status. This report describes the implementation of a community-based health screening (also known as “Know Your Status” -KYS), as part of basic science research, in a way that contributed to achieving public health goals. Methods: A community-based health screening was conducted in 7 communities within the Eastern region of Ghana between November 2017 to April 2018, to recruit and match HIV seronegative persons to HIV seropositive persons in a case-control HIV gut microbiota study. Health assessments included blood pressure, body mass index, blood sugar, Hepatitis B virus, syphilis, and HIV testing for those who consented. HIV seronegative participants who consented were consecutively enrolled in an ongoing HIV gut microbiota case-control study. Descriptive statistics (percentages) were used to analyze data. Results: Out of 738 people screened during the exercise, 700 consented to HIV testing and 23 (3%) were HIV positive. Hepatitis B virus infection was detected in 4% (33/738) and Syphilis in 2 % (17/738). Co-infection of HIV and HBV was detected in 4 persons. The HIV prevalence of 3% found in these communities is higher than both the national prevalence of 1.7% and the Eastern Regional prevalence of 2.7 in 2018. Conclusion: Community-based health screening, such as undertaken in our study could be critical for identifying infected persons from the community and linking them to care. This will greatly contribute to achieving the first two 95s and working towards ending AIDS by 2030.
The Classification of Flash Visual Evoked Potential Based on Deep Learning
Authors: Liang Na , Wang Chengliang , Li Shiying , Xie Xin , Lin Jun , Zhong Wen
Published: September 2022

Background: Visual electrophysiology is an objective visual function examination widely used in clinical work, which can objectively evaluate the function of the retina or optic nerve, and objectively reflect the corresponding changes of the disease according to the waveform change.In the visual electrophysiological examination, FVEP varies greatly among individuals, resulted in the different waveforms in different normal subjects. Moreover, most of the FVEP waves labeling were performed by the professional clinical technicians. Those labeling may has bias due to individual variation in subjects, incomplete clinical examination data, differences professional skills, personal habits and other factors. The labeling results can be very different, then disturb the clinical diagnosis.In the past, computer algorithms were mainly based on manually set rules for diagnosis, which was limited by the complex and volatile clinical conditions. This time, through the retrospective study of big data, artificial intelligence algorithm is used to maintain high generalization ability in complex situations and improve the accuracy of pre-screening. Methods: A novel multi-input neural network based on convolution and confidence branching (MCAC-Net) for RP recognition and out-of-distribution detection is proposed. The MCAC-Net with global and local feature extraction is designed for the FVEP signal that has different information locally and globally, and a confidence branch is added for out-of-distribution sample detection. For the proposed manual features, a new input layer is added. Results: The model is verified by the clinically collected FVEP dataset, and an accuracy of 90.7% is achieved in the classification task and 93.3% in the out-of-distribution detection task. Conclusion: We built a deep learning-based FVEP classification algorithm that promises to be an excellent tool for screen of RP diseases by using FVEP signals.
Children zoonoses and ill-health perceptions: lessons for rabies in Bhutan
Authors: Lungten Lungten , Tenzin Tenzin , Thys Severine , Phimpraphai Waraphon , Rinchen Sangay , Garine-Wichatitsky Michel
Published: September 2022

BackgroundThe perception of illness and health seeking behaviors differs from one culture to another including rabies. Depending on the cultural setting of the society in which people live, definition for causal factors of illness may ranges from modern biological causes to supernational causes which greatly influence subsequent health seeking behavior. To ensure best health practices and planning effective health intervention strategies including rabies, we explored how school children and adult health and education professionals perceive the causes of illness and their associated health seeking behaviors in southern Bhutan.MethodsWe collected quantitative data related to causes of illness and health seeking practices of the school children using questionnaire survey. Qualitative data were collected through focus group discussions and key informant interviews from the education and health communities that closely associated with school children. Descriptive analysis was performed for the qualitative data collected from school children and thematic analysis were performed for the qualitative data collected from community members that closely interact with students.ResultsSchool children associated the causes of illness with microorganisms (n=526, 75%), badkarmicactions n=118, 16.8%), spirits (n=67, 9.6%) and black magic practices (n=64, 9.1%). They further indicated that these illnesses can be treated through medical intervention by visiting hospitals (n=687, 98%), performing rituals (n=414, 59.1%), and seeking traditional treatments practices (n=131, 18.8%). Similarly, the education and health professional surveyed in the study associated illnesses with bio-physical causes (e.g. microorganisms), supernatural or religious related causes (e.g. spirits, deities) and social causes (e.g. taboos, family problems). In addition to the allopathic medicines, most of the participants indicated the importance of performing religious healing practices to cure the illness. However, most respondents were well aware of the need for allopathic treatments for rabies, such as washing of the bite wound with soap and water and anti-rabies vaccine injection.ConclusionThere is need for the consideration of socio-cultural context in the planning and implementation of health-related policies, including rabies prevention program in Bhutan, associating traditional healers and religious entities with “One Health” public health sectors.
Safer Care for Older Persons in (residential) Environments: a pragmatic controlled trial of a care aide-led quality improvement intervention.
Authors: wagg adrian , Hoben Matthias , Ginsburg Liane , Doupe Malcolm , Berta Whitney , Song Yuting , Norton Peter , Knopp-Sihota Jennifer , Estabrooks Carole
Published: September 2022

Background: The increased complexity of residents and increased needs for care in long term care (LTC) have not been met with increased staffing. There remains a need to improve the quality of care. Care aides, providers of the bulk of direct care, are well placed to contribute to quality improvement efforts but are often excluded from so doing. This study examined the effect of a facilitation intervention enabling care aides to lead quality improvement efforts and improve the use of evidence-informed best practices. The eventual goal was to improve both the quality of care for older residents in LTC homes and the engagement and empowerment of care aides in leading quality improvement efforts.Methods: Intervention teams participated in a year-long facilitative intervention which supported care aide-led teams to test changes in care provision to residents using a combination of networking and QI education meetings, and quality advisor and senior leader support. This was a controlled trial with random selection of intervention clinical care units matched 1:1 post hoc with control units. The primary outcome, between group change in conceptual research use (CRU), was supplemented by secondary staff- and resident- level outcome measures. A power calculation based upon pilot data effect sizes resulted in a sample size of 25 intervention sites. Results: The final sample included 32 intervention care units matched to 32 units in the control group. In an adjusted model, there was no statistically significant difference between intervention and control units for CRU or in secondary staff outcomes. Compared to baseline, resident adjusted pain scores were statistically significantly reduced (less pain) in the intervention group (p=0.02). The level of resident dependency significantly decreased statistically for residents whose teams addressed mobility (p<0.0001) compared to baseline. Conclusions: SCOPE resulted in a smaller change in its primary outcome than initially expected resulting in a study underpowered to detect a difference. These findings should inform sample size calculations of future studies of this nature if using similar outcome measures. Importantly, findings from the concurrent process evaluation provided important insights into interpretation of main trial data and suggest the need to consider more broadly what constitutes “success” in complex interventions.Trial registration: clinicaltrials.gov: NCT03426072 (https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03426072), registered 08/02/2018, first participant site 04/05/2018.
Chemoenzymatic Synthesis of Genetically-Encoded Multivalent Liquid N-glycan Arrays
Authors: Lin Chih-Lan , Sojitra Mirat , Carpenter Eric , Hayhoe Ellen , Sarkar Susmita , Volker Elizabeth , Atrazhev Alexei , Lowary Todd , Macauley Matthew , Derda Ratmir
Published: September 2022

A hallmark of cellular glycosylation is its chemical complexity and heterogeneity, which can be challenging to capture synthetically. Using chemoenzymatic synthesis on M13 phage, we produce a genetically-encoded liquid glycan array (LiGA) of biantennary complex type N-glycans. Ligation of azido-functionalized sialylglycosyl-asparagine derived from egg yolk to phage functionalized with 50–1000 copies of dibenzocyclooctyne produced divergent intermediate that can be trimmed by glycosidases and extended by glycosyltransferases to yield a library of phages with different N-glycans. Post-reaction analysis by MALDI-TOF MS provided a rigorous approach to confirm N-glycan structure and density, both of which were encoded in the bacteriophage DNA. The binding of this N-glycan LiGA by ten lectins, including CD22 or DC-SIGN expressed on live cells, uncovered an optimal structure/density combination for recognition. Injection of the LiGA into mice identified glycoconjugates with structures and avidity necessary for enrichment in specific organs. This work provides an unprecedented quantitative evaluation of the interaction of complex N-glycans with GBPs in vitro and in vivo.
Effectiveness of Onsite Implanon Insertion Training of Health Extension Workers in Ethiopia: A Mixed-method Study by USAID Transform: Primary Health Care
Authors: Tilahun Yewondwossen , Belayihun Bekele , Teshome Luwam , Zerihun Habtamu , Asnake Mengistu
Published: September 2022

Background: Training health extension workers on Implanon insertion offsite, or away from the workplace, can be cost-intensive, can depend on the human and financial resources of partners, and can compromise routine health services by taking health workers off the job. To address these limitations, the USAID Transform Primary Health Care Activity in Ethiopia designed an onsite Implanon insertion training at the primary health care level. This study compared the effectiveness and documented the implementation experience of onsite versus offsite Implanon insertion training for health extension workers.Methods: In a mixed-method study conducted in March 2020, the team collected data from 468 participants—half trained onsite and half offsite—and conducted key informant interviews with 20 purposively sampled individuals. The team analyzed this data and conducted a basic costing analysis, summarizing the data in tables and figures and performing a t-test with p-value<0.05 using SPSS v.20. Qualitative data were analyzed manually in Excel and summarized in Word based on emerging themes.Results: The difference in average per-trainee cost of onsite (2,707 Birr) and offsite (6,006 Birr) training was significant (P<0.001). Health extension workers trained onsite were away from routine work an average of three days compared to eight days for those trained offsite (P<0.001). There was no significant difference in mean scores of onsite and offsite trainees on the knowledge pre-test (P<0.947) and post-test (P<0.220) or in simulated practice on an arm model (p <0.202). Onsite trainees, assigned to their own health post for clinical practice, performed Implanon insertions on an average of 10 clients; offsite trainees on an average of 5 clients. Most interview participants reported that the onsite Implanon training was better organized, conducted, followed up, and monitored by health centers to ensure community-level access to Implanon services, with quality and continuity.Conclusions: Onsite training is cost-effective and minimizes service interruption. It is a promising strategy for on-demand training of health extension workers and immediate assignment of skilled providers to ensure access to and continuity of quality community-level Implanon care. Trial registration: N/A
Reliability, acceptability, validity and responsiveness of the CHU9D and PedsQL in the measurement of quality of life in children and adolescents with overweight and obesity
Authors: Hayes Alison , Raghunandan Rakhee , Killedar Anagha , Smith Sarah , Cvejic Erin , Howell Martin , Petrou Stavros , Lancsar Emily , Wong Germaine , Craig Jonathan , Howard Kirsten
Published: September 2022

Background There is evidence that childhood overweight and obesity impact negatively on health-related quality of life (HRQoL), using measures including the Paediatric Quality of life Inventory Generic Core Scales (PedsQL) and the Child Health Utilities 9 Dimensions (CHU9D). However, no studies have comprehensively established the psychometric properties of these instruments in the context of paediatric overweight and obesity. The aim of this study was to assess the reliability, acceptability, validity and responsiveness of the PedsQL and the CHU9D in the measurement of HRQoL among children and adolescents with overweight and obesity. Subjects/Methods Subjects were 6544 child participants of the Longitudinal Study of Australian Children, with up to 3 repeated measures of PedsQL and CHU9D and aged between 10 and 17 years. Weight and height were measured objectively by trained operators, and weight status determined using World Health Organisation growth standards. We examined reliability, acceptability, known group and convergent validity and responsiveness, using recognised methods. Results Both PedsQL and CHU9D demonstrated good internal consistency reliability, and high acceptability. Neither instrument showed strong convergent validity, but PedsQL appears to be superior to the CHU9D in known groups validity and responsiveness. Compared with healthy weight, mean (95%CI) differences in PedsQL scores for children with obesity were: boys: -5.6 (-6.2, -4.4) ; girls − 6.7 (-8.1, -5.4) and differences in CHU9D utility were: boys − 0.02 (-0.034, -0.006) ; girls − 0.035 (-0.054, -0.015). Differences in scores for overweight compared with healthy weight were: PedsQL boys − 2.2 (-3.0, -1.4) and girls − 1.3 (-2.0, -0.6) and CHU9D boys: no significant difference; girls − 0.014 (-0.026, -0.003). Conclusion PedsQL and CHU9D overall demonstrated good psychometric properties, supporting their use in measuring HRQoL in paediatric overweight and obesity. CHU9D had poorer responsiveness and did not discriminate between overweight and healthy weight in boys, which may limit its use in economic evaluation.
Analyzing the Queuing Theory at the Emergency Department at King Hussein Cancer Center
Authors: Qandeel Mahmoud Salameh , Al-Qudah Islam Khaleel , Nayfeh Riyad , Aryan Haitham , Ajaj Omar , Alkhatib Hisham , Hamdan Yousef
Published: September 2022

Objectives
This study was conducted in 2022 at King Hussein Cancer Center (KHCC) to analyze the queuing theory at the Emergency Department (ED).
Methods
According to the statistics, the peak months were July and August, with peak hours from 10 am until 6 pm. The study sample was a week of July 2022, during the peak days and hours. Patients’ wait- time was measured according to three stations: the health informatics desk, triage room, and emergency bed area.
Results
The average number of patients in the line at the health informatics desk was not more than 3, and the waiting time was between 1 and 4 minutes. Hence, patients immediately received service in the triage room; hence; there was no waiting time or line because the nurse’s role ends after taking the vital signs and rating the patient’s acuity. Using equations of queuing theory and other relativistic equations in the emergency bed area gave different results. To explain, the queuing theory showed that the average residence time in the system was between 4 and 10 minutes.
Conclusions
Conversely, relativistic equations (ratios of served patients and departed patients and other related variables) demonstrated that the average residence time was between 21 and 36 minutes.
Novel Agro-Aaste for Adsorption of Acid Violet 90 from Contaminated Water: Isotherms and Kinetics
Authors: Hashem A. , Aly A.A , Abdel-Mohsen A. M.
Published: September 2022

Locally available peach seed shell (PSS) waste was utilized to prepare an efficient acid violet dye biosorbent. The peach seed shell powder (PSS) was thoroughly characterized using Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersion X-ray (EDX), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and point of zero charge (pHpzc) measurements to elucidate its functional groups, as well as the surface texture morphology and charge. The physicochemical characteristics of the PSS sorbent made from PSS and their applications for acid violet 90 dye were studied. The effect of several process variables (such as contact time, biosorbent dosage, pH, temperature, and initial concentration) on dye uptake capacity was also investigated. Based on the experimental findings, the following optimal process conditions were established in the study (pH 7.0, 0.2 g/L adsorbent mass, 30 ° C and time of 120 min) and the maximum adsorption capacity of acid violet 90 dye in PSS waste was 94.92 mg/g. The experimental equilibrium and kinetic data were described by the Langmuir, Freundlich, and Dubinin-R pseudo-first-order kinetics model, pseudo-second-order kinetics model, and intra-particle diffusion models, respectively. The adsorption thermodynamics of acid violet 90 in PSS waste was investigated. The results indicated that the PSS could be used as an efficient adsorbent to remove acid violet 90 from aqueous solutions.
Nipple areolar complex (NAC) or skin flap ischemia necrosis post nipple sparing mastectomy (NSM)-Analysis of clinicopathologic and breast magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) factors
Authors: Lai Hung-Wen , Lee Yi-Yuan , Chen Shou-Tung , Liao Chiung-Ying , Tsai Tsung-Lin , Chen Dar-Ren , Wu Wen-Pei , Kao Wen-Pin , Lai Yuan-Chieh
Published: September 2022

Background
The purpose of this study is to identify clinicopathologic factors and/or pre-operative MRI vascular patterns in the prediction of ischemia necrosis of the nipple-areola complex (NAC) or skin flap post nipple sparing mastectomy (NSM).
Methods
Patients who received NSM were retrospectively retrieved from a prospectively collected breast cancer database in one institute. The ischemia necrosis of NAC or skin flap was evaluated with clinicopathologic factors and types of skin incision. Patients who received NSM with pre-operative MRI evaluation were further evaluated for the vascular pattern and the impact on ischemia necrosis of NAC or skin flap.
Results
A total of 441 cases received NSM enrolled in current study, and the mean age of them was 49.1 ± 9.8-year-old. A total of 41(9.3%) NSM procedures were graded as NAC ischemia necrosis. Risk factors associated with NAC necrosis were evaluated, and old age, large mastectomy specimen weight (> 450gm), and peri-areola incision were identified. 270 NSM procedures also received pre-operative MRI, and the blood supply pattern was 18% single vessel type, and 82% double vessel. There was no correlation of MRI blood supply pattern to ischemia necrosis of NAC, nor correlated with NAC ischemia necrosis in either type of skin flap incision. There was no correlation between blood loss and pattern or size of blood vessel.
Conclusion
Certain factors, like the type of skin incision, age, and size of mastectomy weight, played important role in ischemia necrosis of NAC, however, MRI vascular (single or dual vessel supply) pattern was not a significant predictive factor.
Comparing oblique lumbar interbody fusion with lateral screw fixation and percutaneous endoscopic transforaminal discectomy (OLIF-PETD) and minimally invasive transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (MIS-TLIF) for the treatment of lumbar disc herniation complicated with lumbar instability
Authors: Deng Chen , Feng Haoyu , Ma Xun , Chen Chen , Mei Jun , Sun Lin
Published: September 2022

Objective
To evaluate the early clinical effect of oblique lumbar interbody fusion with lateral screw fixation and percutaneous endoscopic transforaminal discectomy (OLIF-PETD) in the treatment of lumbar disc herniation with lumbar instability.
Methods
A total of 22 patients with lumbar disc herniation and lumbar instability from August 2018 to August 2020 were enrolled in this retrospective study. The general information, perioperative indicators and complications were recorded. The clinical outcomes and radiological outcomes were evaluated before the operation, seven days after the operation, and at the last follow-up. Vertebral fusion and degree of multifidus muscle injury were evaluated at the last follow-up.
Results
In this study, OLIF + PETD showed shorter incision length compared to the MIS-TLIF (P < 0.001). In the two groups, the clinical outcomes and radiological outcomes were significantly improved compared with the preoperative (P < 0.001). At the seven days after the operation and the last follow-up, the VAS of OLIF + PETD group was lower than that of MIS-TLIF group (P < 0.05). OLIF + PETD could give superior outcome in restoring disc height (P < 0.001), but the fusion segment angle of OLIF + PETD group was larger compared to the MIS-TLIF group seven days after the operation and at the last follow-up (P < 0.05). In addition, the fusion rate was not significantly different between the two groups (P > 0.05), but OLIF + PETD could avoid the multifidus injury (P < 0.001).
Conclusion
Compared to MIS-TLIF, OLIF-PETD can achieve satisfactory decompression effects and fusion rates with less multifidus injury and postoperative low back pain, which may be an alternative choice for the treatment of lumbar disc herniation combined with lumbar instability.
Source mechanisms of recent earthquakes in southern Saudi Arabia: New seismic sources to update the Saudi Building Code
Authors: Hosny Ahmed , Mousa Abdullah , Yousef Khaled , Samy Lotfy , Sadallah Hamada
Published: September 2022

Recently in 2020, in southern Saudi Arabia three felt earthquakes occurred in Asir region, in the Khamis Mushait, Ahad Rafidah, and AL-Shuqiq area, of magnitude 3.45, 3.1, and 3.5, respectively, and no large damages were recorded. The most interested event was the earthquake that occurred in Khamis Mushait area, along a lake formed behind the Tadhah Dam (~ 7 km), fearing any damage to the dam's body and the consequent destruction. Moment tensors for each event were computed for determining fault plane solutions, seismic moment, moment magnitude (Mw) and the CLVD ratio, in addition to determining the frequency contents in the waveforms of each event. The obtained focal mechanisms represent different styles of faulting, normal movement with strike slip and strike slip with reverse. These tectonic movements on faults parallel to the Red Sea refer to the tensional forces due to the Red Sea rift system. To identify the reasons behind the occurrence of these events, more than one factor was taken into consideration, which indicated to a natural tectonic movement, with considering the Khamis Mushait event as an induced event due to the lake formed behind the Tandaha Dam. Many previous seismic hazard assessment studies have been conducted in the southern part of the Kingdom, but the locations of these recent seismic sources have not been taken in account in their calculations. Thus, our study provides additional new information related to detecting of new seismic sources in the south of the Kingdom, which contributes to updating studies of seismic risk assessment in this region. In addition, our study pushing us to establishing other additional seismic stations, especially around new seismic sources, which in turn will play a pivotal role in reassessing the seismic hazard in the Kingdom and then updating the Saudi Building Code to mitigate the seismic risk.
Spatio-temporal distribution dynamics of diverse soil nitrogen pools and patterns of nitrogen and carbon sequestration after slope farmland conversion to Zanthoxylum bungeanum plantations
Authors: Saba Tahseen , Lv Chen , Wang Jingyan , Hui Wenkai , Hassan Waseem , Liu Wanlin , Jiangtao Fan , Gong Wei
Published: September 2022

Aims
Plant-soil interactions, and regulatory roles of soil nitrogen (N) fractions in availability and the magnitudes of N sequestration, therein the interplay of soil C-N in cold arid regions is poorly characterized.
Methods
Post-afforestation and land-abandonment dynamics of C and N sequestration, and total inorganic N (TIN) availability were identified by quantifying changes in diverse N fraction, and their distributions patterns in 0–100 cm soil profile across a chronosequence of Zanthoxylum bungeanum (28-year (H28), 20-year (H20), 15-year (H15), and 8-year (H8) old) plantations, and abandoned-land (GL), originally converted from former farmland (FL) in cold-arid valley in Southwest China.
Results
Afforestation and GL favored gains in labile and non-labile (LON and NLON) N fractions and total N stocks. Concentrations of LON fractions and TIN was comparatively higher at 0–40 cm. Gains in NLON fractions and total organic N (TON) was significantly higher in the deep soil, as confirmed by correlation and redundancy analysis. N and C sequestration was synchronous (r = 0.948), with cumulative (0–100 cm) increase of 1.149–1.277 folds in H28 compared to H8, at an average sequestration rate of 1.336 − 0.121 Mg ha − 1 yr − 1, respectively. N pool management index (NPMI) correlated positively with soil TON, TIN, available phosphorus, potassium, and organic N fractions. NPMI improved significantly (P < 0.05) with the plantations age.
Conclusion
Plantations age and soil depths significantly influence ecosystems N dynamics. Furthermore, TON, NPMI, N fractions, and TIN can be useful indicators to gain comprehensive insights on ecosystems N restoration patterns.
Real-time milling force monitoring based on a parallel deep learning model with dual-channel vibration fusion
Authors: Chen Kunhong , Zhao Wanhua , Zhang Xing
Published: September 2022

Milling force is one of the most important aspects of milling. Its dynamic excitation effect significantly impacts both product quality and machining productivity. Nevertheless, the force amplitude changes dramatically when the tool and the workpiece begin to contact or separate. Most current research does not consider this phenomenon. This article presents a parallel integration deep learning approach to address the issue. First, this study analyzes the relationship between milling force and vibration signals and sets the dual-channel vibration signals in the same direction as the model's inputs. Then this study proposed an encoder-decoder network to realize force monitoring. Considering that the acquired vibration signal contains much noise and needs to be preprocessed, the encoder comprises long-short term memory(LSTM) networks and a fully connected (FC) network to realize adaptive filtering and feature extraction. Multiple-layer FC network forms the decoder part to reconstruct the milling force signal because of the nonlinear relationship between the vibration and force signals. Thirdly is to obtain the parallel monitoring model. The first monitoring model is obtained through the training procedure. The results of the first model are subtracted from the measured cutting force signal to get the residual part. Then, the residual part is set as the output while training the residual monitoring model. Finally, the force monitoring model is derived using the parallel integration method. The experimental results demonstrate that this study's monitoring model can provide real-time, high-precision, and reliable milling force monitoring under various cutting conditions.
Influence of Magnetic field and Decentred Parameter on Self-Focusing of cosh-Gaussian Laser Beam in Collisional Magnetized Plasma
Authors: Vhanmore B. D. , Rajmane S. P.
Published: September 2022

In the present investigation, a Three-dimensional cosh-Gaussian laser beam is introduced. The self-focusing and defocusing of the cosh-Gaussian laser beam in collisional magnetized plasma have been investigated theoretically. The final Differential equation for the beam width parameter is derived by following Wentzel-Kramers-Brillouin (WKB) and paraxial approximation through standard Akhmanov`s parabolic wave equation. The final results of numerical computation are presented in the plot of beam width parameters (f1&f2) versus normalized propagation distance. The author shows a nonlinear effect in the present investigation due to the magnetic field (B0), decentered parameter (b), and plasma density on self-focusing and defocusing in collisional magnetized plasma. The results show well enhancement in the beam of self-focusing.
Immunophenotypic Profiles and Prognosis for Colorectal Mucinous Adenocarcinomas are Dependent on Anatomic Location
Authors: Patel Chirag , Behring Michael , Diffalha Sameer Al , Dhall Deepti , Lee Goo , Shanmugam Chandrakumar , Grizzle William E. , Manne Upender
Published: September 2022

The prognostic value of mucinous adenocarcinomas (MCAs, exhibiting >50% extracellular mucin) of the colorectum, in relation to their anatomic location is not well studied. Thus, we compared MCAs (n=175) with non-MCAs (NMCAs, n=1,015) were immunostained for Muc1, Muc2, Bcl-2, and p53 and the cancer-specific survival rates were compared, based on their anatomic site, by univariate Kaplan-Meyer and multivariate Cox methods. MCAs were more commonly found in the right colon, were of high-grade, and were more prevalent in younger patients (<40 years). They exhibited strong expression of Muc2 and Bcl-2 and showed less p53 nuclear staining. In contrast, most NMCAs were low-grade and positive for Muc1. MCAs of the rectum were associated with poorer outcomes relative to NMCAs ((HR 2.30, CI 95% 1.29-3.19), even though the distributions of advanced-stage tumors were similar. Late-stage disease and age were poor independent prognostic indicators of cancer-specific deaths across all tumor locations. In summary, rectal MCAs have a poor prognosis.
New clinical aspects of immune dysregulation in atypical severe combined immunodeficiency due to mutations in IL2RG and RAG1
Authors: Liu Hui , Yang Haiming , Xu Hui , Liu Jinrong , Tang Xiaolei , Li Huimin , Wen Xiaohui , Zhang Xiang , Zhang Nan , Jiang Maolin , Zhao Shunying
Published: September 2022

Purpose
The mild form of severe combined immunodeficiency disease (SCID) is called atypical SCID resulting from hypomorphic mutations in SCID-causing genes. We characterize the new clinical aspects in four atypical SCID children.
Methods
Four pediatric patients diagnosed with atypical SCID between March 2014 and March 2022 in Beijing Children’s Hospital were retrospectively analyzed.
Results
The onset of age was 1 ~ 6.5 years old. Interstitial lung disease (ILD) was present in three patients, and it was the leading presentation in one of them. Diffuse alveolar hemorrhage (DAH) was a leading and single manifestation in one patient with mutation in RAG1. Atypical membranous nephropathy (AMN) was detected in one patient with RAG1 mutations and with congenital adrenal hyperplasia due to CYP21A2 mutations. Other clinical manifestations included chronic eczema, colitis, thrombocytopenia, bilateral renal calculi, and respiratory infections and bronchiectasis. Two boys had hemizygous mutations in IL2RG; instead of the typical lymphocytic changes of T−B+NKlow, one had the TlowBlowNK+ phenotype with higher serum IgE, and the other had the TlowB+NK+ phenotype with higher serum immunoglobulins. Two patients had compound heterozygous mutations in RAG1, instead of the typical lymphocytic changes of T−B−NK+, one had the TlowBlowNKlow phenotype, and the other had the TlowBlowNK+ phenotype with lower serum IgA.
Conclusions
The clinical manifestations are highly variable in atypical SCID, being a challenge of early diagnosis and appropriate treatment to clinicians. We report here the new clinical aspects of ILD and DAH as the leading manifestations, and an atypical SCID patient with AMN and proteinuria.
Data Collection and Analysis Applied to Intelligent Transportation Systems A Case Study on Public Transportation
Authors: Oliveira Gabriel Gomes , Iano Yuzo , Vaz Gabriel Caumo , Suriyan Kannadhasan
Published: September 2022

The big data concept has been gaining strength over the last years. With the arise and dissemination of social media and high access easiness to information through applications, there is a necessity for all kinds of service providers to collect and analyze data, improving the quality of their services and products. In this regard, the relevance and coverage of this niche of study is notorious. It is not a coincidence that governments, supported by companies and startups, are investing in platforms to collect and analyze data, aiming at the better efficiency of the services provided to the citizens. Considering the aforementioned aspects, this work makes a contextualization of the Big Data and ITS (Intelligent Transportation System) concepts by gathering recently published articles, from 2017 to 2021, taking survey and case studies into consideration with the objective of demonstrating the importance of those themes in current days. Within the scope of big data applied to ITS, this study proposes a database for the public transportation in the city of Campinas (Brazil), enabling its improvement according to the population demands. Finally, this study tries to present clearly and objectively the methodology employed with the maximum number of characteristics, applying statistical analyses (box-and-whisker diagrams and Pearson correlation), highlighting the limitations, and expanding the studied concepts to describe the application of an Advanced Traveler Information System (ATIS), a branch of Intelligent Transportation System (ITS), in a real situation. Therefore, besides the survey of the applied concepts, this work develops a specific case study, highlighting the identified deficiencies and proposing solutions. Future works are also contemplated with the objective of expand this study and improve the accuracy of the achieved results.
Accelerated univariate sequential clustering
Authors: Enayati Elham , Mortazavi Reza , Basiri Abdolali
Published: September 2022

Data clustering is an important task in the field of data mining. In many real applications, clustering algorithms must consider the order of data, resulting in the sequential clustering problem. For instance, analyzing the moving pattern of an object and detecting community structure in a complex network are related to sequential clustering. The constraint of the continuous region prevents previous clustering algorithms from being directly applied to the problem. A dynamic programming algorithm was proposed to address the issue, which returns the optimal sequential clustering. However, it is not scalable. This paper addresses the issue via a greedy stopping condition that prevents the algorithm from continuing to search when it's likely that the best solution has been found. Experimental results on multiple datasets show that the algorithm is much faster than its original solution while the optimality gap is negligible.