bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Reliability and validity of the Turkish language version of the Core Lower Urinary Tract Symptom Score
Authors: Erbay Mehmet E. , Tarhan Sena T.
Published: August 2022

Objectives

The purpose of this study was to develop the Turkish version of the Core Lower Urinary Tract Symptom Score (CLSS) and determine its psychometric properties in Turkish subjects.

Methods

A total of 428 subjects, 259 with lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) and 169 without any complaints, were included in the study. In addition, 40 subjects were included in the study for test‐retest analysis. After the Turkish version of the CLSS was created, all patients underwent medical history, physical examination, complete urinalysis, urinary ultrasonography, and filled out a CLSS. In addition, men were asked to fill in International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS), International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire‐Male LUTS and National Institutes of Health Chronic Prostatitis Symptom Index. Women completed the Bristol Female LUTS‐Short Form and IPSS. The patients from the test‐retest group were asked to fill out the CLSS two times at 2‐week intervals.

Results

CLSS showed high internal consistency (Cronbach's α for men and women was 0.909 and 0.767, respectively). The test‐retest reliability of CLSS was high for subdomains (intraclass correlation coefficient was 0.739‐0.962). Scores of CLSS were significantly higher in the study group than the control group (P < 0.001). In men and women, it showed very strong convergent validity (P < 0.0001) with subdomain related to other questionnaires. In our confirmatory factor analysis, the original model of CLSS was found to be compatible.

Conclusions

The Turkish version of CLSS is a valid and reliable questionnaire to evaluate the symptoms and disorders of patients with LUTS.
Universalism within: The tension between universalism and community in progressive ideology
Authors: Dalle Mulle Emmanuel , Serrano Ivan
Published: August 2022

Social‐democratic parties face a dilemma between the universalist ethos of their socialist tradition and the nationalism that they share with the other political actors of the state where they act. In this paper, we examine comparatively the position of the Spanish party Partido Socialista Obrero Español (PSOE) and the Catalan party Esquerra Republicana de Catalunya (ERC) on three political debates that pertains to the link between welfare and identity in Spain. We show how these parties experience opposite tensions between nationalism and the universalism of their left‐wing ideology. Whereas ERC calls for a withdrawal from the Spanish system of social security, the PSOE advocates imposing on Catalonia a symmetric form of solidarity with the rest of Spain, despite recognising the region's different identity. Above all, both parties take identity for granted as a pre‐political factor that ‘naturally’ justifies differential treatment, according to ERC, or equalising federalism, in the case of the PSOE.
Vertical root segregation theory put to the test
Authors: McNickle Gordon G.
Published: August 2022

This article is a Commentary on Herben et al. (2022), 235: 2223–2236.
Maxillary sinus volume in patients with canted occlusal plane: A cone‐beam computed tomography study
Authors: Awad Nadia K. , Marghalani Hussain Y.A. , Barayan Mohammed A. , Alsaggaf Doaa H. , Alsulaimani Fahad F.
Published: August 2022

Objectives

To compare the maxillary sinus volume between both sides in adult patients with upper occlusal canting (>2 mm cant) and a control group (≤2 mm cant) using cone‐beam computed tomography scans.

Materials and methods

This retrospective study included a total of 84 scans (42 scans per group) according to predetermined selection criteria. OnDemand 3‐D™ software was used for volumetric and linear measurements of the maxillary sinus. Maxillary occlusal canting was determined at the level of the maxillary first molars. It was defined as the vertical difference between right and left sides relative to the Frankfort horizontal plane. Non‐parametric tests were applied.

Results

The median difference in the maxillary sinus volume between the sides was statistically significant between the control and cant groups (P < 0.001). Also, the median difference in the maxillary sinus craniocaudal height and apex sinus distance between the sides was statistically significant between the control and cant groups (P < 0.05 and P < 0.001, respectively).

Conclusion

In adult patients, maxillary occlusal canting of more than 2 mm was associated with asymmetric maxillary sinus volumes. In the cant group, maxillary first molars on the canted‐down side were in close proximity to the sinus floor, which suggests a limited leeway for molar intrusion.
Medium Activity Prevents Periprosthetic Bone Mass Loss in the Medial Metaphyseal Region of the Tibia after Posterior‐Stabilized TKA: A 5‐Year Follow‐up Study of 110 Knees
Authors: Liu Yong , He Peiheng , Li Xing , Liu Minghao , Chen Weizhi , Xu Dongliang
Published: August 2022

Objective

The bone mass around the prosthesis plays an important role in the stability of the prosthesis. This study aimed to assess the effect of postoperative activity on bone mineral density (BMD) in the proximal tibia 5 years after total knee arthroplasty (TKA). To provide a scientific guidance for postoperative functional exercise.

Methods

110 patients underwent unilateral primary TKA were divided into three groups based on the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) activity scale: low activity group (LA group, UCLA = 4, 5); medium activity group (MA group, UCLA = 6, 7); and high activity group (HA group, UCLA = 8, 9). The primary observation was a comparison of the BMD and BMD change percentage (ΔBMD (%)) in the periprosthetic tibia among the LA, MA and HA groups at 1 year, 3 years and 5 years. The secondary observations were radiographic evaluation (prosthetic stability, periprosthetic fractures, aseptic loosening and periprosthetic joint infection) and clinical evaluation (Knee Society Score (KSS), visual analogue score scores and range of motion (ROM)). A one‐way ANOVA was used to compare the clinical scores and BMD among the three groups.

Results

The BMD of medial region decreased by 10.80%, 12.64%, 13.61% at 1, 3, and 5 years respectively; these were 5.72%, 6.26%, 7.83% in lateral region and 1.42%, 1.78%, 3.28% in diaphyseal region. For medial metaphyseal region, the BMD of the MA group was significantly greater than that of the LA and HA groups at 1 and 3 years (108.9 ± 5.2 vs. 106.1 ± 6.69 vs. 105.4 ± 5.2 and 108.5 ± 6.0 vs. 101.2 ± 6.76 vs. 103.0 ± 6.8, P < 0.01 and P < 0.001), and the BMD changes (ΔBMD (%)) in the MA group were significantly smaller than those in the LA and HA groups (8.75 ± 5.36 vs. 11.92 ± 5.49 vs. 12.70 ± 5.21 and 9.11 ± 5.11 vs. 16.04 ± 4.79 vs. 14.82 ± 4.26, P < 0.01 and P < 0.001).

Regarding secondary observations, all of the prostheses were assessed as stable, without periprosthetic fractures, aseptic loosening and periprosthetic joint infection. Regarding KSS scores, there was no significant difference among the three groups. However, the VAS and ROM of the HA group were better than those of the MA and LA groups (1.65 ± 0.79 vs. 2.63 ± 0.77 vs. 3.00 ± 1.17, p < 0.001, and 111.90 ± 9.17 vs. 110.20 ± 6.78 vs. 102.90 ± 8.48, P < 0.001).

Conclusion

Medium activity prevented periprosthetic bone loss in the medial metaphyseal region of the tibia after posterior‐stabilized TKA, and moderate‐intensity exercise is recommended for patients after TKA to reduce periprosthetic bone loss.
Preoperative Factors Predicting the Preservation of the Posterior Cruciate Ligament in Total Knee Arthroplasty
Authors: Wang Yi , Zhang Liyi , Lin Jianhao , Xing Dan , Liu Qiang , Zhou Diange
Published: August 2022

Objective

Predicting the successful preservation of posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) in total knee arthroplasty (TKA) is an important step for preoperative planning to secure the satisfactory outcomes. We aimed to examine the preoperative factors predicting the successful preservation of the PCL in cruciate‐retaining TKA and the outcome of sacrificing the PCL.

Methods

In this retrospective study, we analyzed TKAs consecutively performed by a single surgeon between January 2019 and August 2021 who had been preoperatively planned to undergo implantation of cruciate‐retaining (CR) prostheses. The outcome of the current study was whether the PCL was retained or sacrificed. Anterior‐stabilized (AS) tibial bearings when the PCL was sacrificed as needed were used intraoperatively. Age, sex, body mass index (BMI), and preoperative diagnosis from the patients' medical records were obtained. The medial‐lateral width of epicondyle (MLW), the medial posterior condyle height (MPCH), the lateral posterior condyle height (LPCH), the ratio of MLW and MPCH, the ratio of MLW and LPCH, the Insall–Salvati index, and the severity of the varus or valgus deformity were measured using preoperative radiographs. Univariate and multivariate regression were fitted to assess the association of these factors with the successful retention of PCL. To examine the influence of sacrifice of the PCL on the surgical procedure, the size of the tibial and femoral components, the thickness of the polyethylene insert, and the rate of patella replacement between the CR group and AS group were also compared using t tests or chi‐square tests.

Results

Among 307 TKAs included, PCL was sacrificed with concurrent use of AS prostheses in 89 (29.0%) procedures. Knees with rheumatoid arthritis (P < 0.01), lower Insall–Salvati index (P < 0.01), and more severe varus deformity (P = 0.011) were at a higher risk of sacrificing the PCL intraoperatively. There was no significant difference in age, sex, BMI, MLW, MPCH, LPCH, ratio of MLW and MPCH, ratio of MLW and LPCH, size of the tibial and femoral components, or replacement of the patella between the CR and AS groups. Converting from CR to AS was associated with a higher risk of using a thicker polyethylene insert (P < 0.01).

Conclusion

Rheumatoid arthritis, lower Insall–Salvati index, and more severe varus deformity were associated with an increased risk of sacrificing the PCL in TKAs planned to undergo implantation CR prostheses. Converting to AS tibial bearing may result in a thicker polyethylene insert. These factors should be carefully considered for the appropriate selection of prosthesis type preoperatively.
Deep personal relationships and well‐being: A response to Hooker
Authors: Crisp Roger
Published: August 2022

This paper is a response to Brad Hooker's “Does having deep personal relationships constitute an element of well‐being?” (2021). The paper begins with a discussion of the implications of disagreement about such issues. After raising some general questions for Hooker's account, the paper turns to the key elements in a deep personal relationship, according to Hooker: multi‐faceted understanding, and strong affection. The issue of impartiality is discussed, and it is claimed that Hooker's account is consistent with morality's being impartial. Some possible interpretations of Hooker's overall project are offered, and the paper ends with a discussion of Hooker's suggestions that the affection in valuable personal relationships must be merited.
Risk assessment of human cytomegalovirus infection in solid organ transplantation: Insight into CD4+ T cell subsets
Authors: Hassanzadeh Yashgin , Yaghobi Ramin , Pakzad Parviz , Geramizadeh Bita
Published: August 2022

Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) is a significant risk factor for post‐transplant viral infections in organ transplantation, affecting allograft outcomes. Most current methods attempt to predict HCMV viremia or disease by monitoring virus‐specific T cell immunity. This approach may support physicians in limiting treatment toxicity, overmedication, and cost. T cells play an essential role in acquired immunity for stable and long‐term protection against viruses. As a component of cell‐mediated immunity, heterogeneous CD4+ T cells orchestrate immune responses by involving their different subsets, including T helper 1 (Th1), Th2, Th17, Th22, Th9, T follicular helper (Tfh), and T regulatory (Treg). HCMV affects the frequency and phenotype of CD4+ T cells, changing the composition of their subsets during different infection stages. Hypothetically, defining a panel of HCMV‐specific CD4+ T cell subsets and investigating their profile may help classify at‐risk patients. The early detection could be followed by a personalized treatment. This review discusses the frequency changes of CD4+ T cell subsets post‐transplant and their predictive value during HCMV infection.
Characterization of the novel HLA‐DPA1*02:72 allele by next generation sequencing
Authors: Liacini Abdelhamid , Peters Lindsey , Mancini Shannon , Persidsky Yuri , Geier Steven
Published: August 2022

HLA‐DPA1*02:72 differs from HLA‐DPA1*02:02:02:01 by one nucleotide substitution at position 4273, codon 86 located in exon 3.
Kappa opioids inhibit the GABA/glycine terminals of rostral ventromedial medulla projections in the superficial dorsal horn of the spinal cord
Authors: Otsu Yo , Aubrey Karin R.
Published: August 2022

Descending projections from neurons in the rostral ventromedial medulla (RVM) make synapses within the superficial dorsal horn (SDH) of the spinal cord that are involved in the modulation of nociception, the development of chronic pain and itch, and an important analgesic target for opioids. This projection is primarily inhibitory, but the relative contribution of GABAergic and glycinergic transmission is unknown and there is limited knowledge about the SDH neurons targeted. Additionally, the details of how spinal opioids mediate analgesia remain unclear, and no study has investigated the opioid modulation of this synapse. We address this using ex vivo optogenetic stimulation of RVM fibres in conjunction with whole‐cell patch‐clamp recordings from the SDH in spinal cord slices. We demonstrate that both GABAergic and glycinergic neurotransmission is employed and show that SDH target neurons have diverse morphological and electrical properties, consistent with both inhibitory and excitatory interneurons. Then, we describe a subtype of SDH neurons that has a glycine‐dominant input, indicating that the quality of descending inhibition across cells is not uniform. Finally, we discovered that the kappa‐opioid receptor agonist U69593 presynaptically suppressed most RVM‐SDH synapses. By contrast, the mu‐opioid receptor agonist DAMGO acted both pre‐ and postsynaptically at a subset of synapses, and the delta‐opioid receptor agonist deltorphin II had little effect. These data provide important mechanistic information about a descending control pathway that regulates spinal circuits. This information is necessary to understand how sensory inputs are shaped and develop more reliable and effective alternatives to current opioid analgesics.

image
On Cyclotron-Based Production of Gallium-68 Isotope: A Computational Benchmark for the Production Yield & Shielding Considerations
Authors: Salas-Tapia Luis Fernando , Zhang Tian
Published: August 2022

Gallium-68 (68Ga) has played a relevant role for the novel studies in the nuclear medicine area. Its production has been made traditionally and initially using 68Ge/68Ga generators. These devices represent some flaws, namely, high costs, low activity per elution, and long-time waiting between elutions. In order to address these concerns, the cyclotron-based production of 68Ga has been recently investigated and has shown promising outcomes regarding the activity at the end of bombardment for both solid and liquid targets. Currently, the use of computational codes and theoretical calculations takes relevance when it comes to calculating relevant nuclear physics quantities such as the production yield and the ambient dose rate. These outcomes are important for having a proper understanding of all the reactions involved during an irradiation routine with protons on a target. In this work, we used important cad-based programs, Monte Carlo codes, and a deterministic calculator with the objective of making a full benchmark with a previous experimental research. We also calculated the shielding requirements for this kind of isotope production facility. The proposed shielding materials and their respective thickness showed to be sufficient to avoid high ambient dose rates outside the machine. For the production yield, we found out that a hybrid combination of Monte Carlo codes and subsequently a computation with a deterministic calculator gave us more precise results for the irradiation conditions considered here.
Ductile Tearing or Plastic Collapse?
Authors: Gilles Ph. , Marques Viera E. , Ancelet O. , Le Delliou P. , Le Grasse Th.
Published: August 2022

Ductile fracture is characterized by a large amount of deformation. Two mechanisms may lead to ductile failure: local tearing may appear in front of a stress concentration region like a crack front or large geometry changes in a weak part of the structure can induce global collapse of the structure. For large cracks such as those considered in Leak Before Break studies, tearing analyses and net-section collapse criteria have been used. The present paper examines the link between these two mechanisms for a through-wall cracked pipe under bending and concludes that the transition from ductile tearing to collapse depends not only on material properties but also on geometrical parameters. The reference stress approach is a promising approach for predicting the transition, provided the transferability issue of j-resistance curve has been solved.
How Sports Identification Compares to Political and Religious Identification: Relationships to Violent Extremism and Radicalization
Authors: Billings Andrew C. , Towery Nathan A. , Sadri Sean R. , Zengaro Elisabetta
Published: August 2022

A national survey of 314 Americans was utilized to determine the degree in which sport identification functions similarly to political and religious identification as well as the degree to which each of the three forms of group hyper-identification correlate with violent extremism and violent radicalization. Results found that sport identification correlated with extremism but not radicalization, political identification correlated with both, and religious identification correlated with neither. Moreover, each type of identification positively correlated with the other, and subgroups within each form of identification functioned similarly. Ramifications for social identity theory are advanced, arguing that whether one identifies with these groups appears more pertinent than which group identifies within that identity association regarding propensity for violent extremism and radicalization. Avenues for future research are advanced.
Transforming urban environments
If the Past Teaches, What Does the Future Learn?
John T. Murphy and Carole L. Crumley, Eds.
TU Delft Publishing, 2022. 124 pp.
Authors: Palmer Margaret A.
Published: August 2022

Resilient cities of the past hold lessons for creating adaptable communities of the future
Anywhere but here
Authors: Cohen Jon
Published: August 2022

China now insists the pandemic didn’t start within its borders. Its scientists are publishing a flurry of papers pointing the finger elsewhere
Small stowaways on new NASA rocket promise big science
Authors: Hand Eric
Published: August 2022

Batteries allowing, CubeSats will target lunar ice and more
Scientists isolate the genes that shape the human pelvis
Authors: Price Michael
Published: August 2022

Embryonic tissue samples reveal how pelvis shape—primed for bipedalism—comes to life
Detecting KPC-2 and NDM-1 Coexpression in Klebsiella pneumoniae Complex from Human and Animal Hosts in South America
Authors: Vásquez-Ponce Felipe , Dantas Karine , Becerra Johana , Melocco Gregory , Esposito Fernanda , Cardoso Brenda , Rodrigues Larissa , Lima Keila , de Lima Aline V. , Sellera Fábio P. , Mattos Renata , Trevisoli Lucas , Vianello Marco A. , Sincero Thais , Di Conza Jose , Vespero Eliana , Gutkind Gabriel , Sampaio Jorge , Lincopan Nilton
Published: August 2022

Alerts regarding the emergence and increase of combinations of carbapenemases in
Enterobacterales
in Latin America and the Caribbean have recently been issued by PAHO and WHO, emphasizing the importance of appropriate microbiological diagnosis and the effective and articulated implementation of infection prevention and control programs. In this study, we evaluated methods based on inhibition of ceftazidime (CAZ), ceftazidime-avibactam (CZA), and aztreonam (ATM) by dipicolinic acid (DPA), EDTA, and avibactam (AVI) inhibitors for the identification of KPC-2- and NDM-1-coexpression in members of the
K. pneumoniae
complex recovered from human and animal hosts.
Microbial Interaction between Lactiplantibacillus plantarum and Saccharomyces cerevisiae: Transcriptome Level Mechanism of Cell-Cell Antagonism
Authors: Liu Junyan , Huang Teng-Yi , Liu Gongliang , Ye Yanrui , Soteyome Thanapop , Seneviratne Gamini , Xiao Gengsheng , Xu Zhenbo , Kjellerup Birthe V.
Published: August 2022

L. plantarum
and
S. cerevisiae
are frequently co-isolated in food, although playing different roles. The co-existence of
L. plantarum
and
S. cerevisiae
could result in variable effects, raising economic benefits and safety concerns in food industry.
Monitoring SARS-CoV-2 Infection Using a Double Reporter-Expressing Virus
Authors: Chiem Kevin , Park Jun-Gyu , Morales Vasquez Desarey , Plemper Richard K. , Torrelles Jordi B. , Kobie James J. , Walter Mark R. , Ye Chengjin , Martinez-Sobrido Luis
Published: August 2022

Despite the availability of vaccines and antivirals, the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) continues to ravage health care institutions worldwide. Previously, we generated replication-competent recombinant (r)SARS-CoV-2 expressing fluorescent or luciferase reporter proteins to track viral infection
in vitro
and/or
in vivo
.
Supplemental Material: The Cretaceous-Paleogene contact in the Tornillo Group of Big Bend National Park, West Texas
Authors: Lehman T.M. , al. et
Published: August 2022

Table S1: LA-ICP-MS U-Pb zircon data. Figure S1: Wetherill U-Pb concordia diagrams for detrital zircons. Figure S2: Wetherill U-Pb concordia diagrams for zircon standard reference materials. 
Thermal history modeling techniques and interpretation strategies: Applications using HeFTy
Authors: Murray Kendra E. , Goddard Andrea L. Stevens , Abbey Alyssa L. , Wildman Mark
Published: August 2022

Advances in low-temperature thermochronology, and the wide range of geologic problems that it is used to investigate, have prompted the routine use of thermal history (time-temperature, tT) models to quantitatively explore and evaluate rock cooling ages. As a result, studies that investigate topics ranging from Proterozoic tectonics to Pleistocene erosion now commonly require a substantial numerical modeling effort that combines the empirical understanding of chronometer thermochemical behavior (kinetics) with independent knowledge or hypotheses about a study area's geologic history (geologic constraints). Although relatively user-friendly programs, such as HeFTy and QTQt, are available to facilitate thermal history modeling, there is a critical need to provide the geoscience community with more accessible entry points for using these tools. This contribution addresses this need by offering an explicit discussion of modeling strategies in the program HeFTy. Using both synthetic data and real examples, we illustrate the opportunities and limitations of thermal history modeling. We highlight the importance of testing the sensitivity of model results to model design choices and describe a strategy for classifying model results that we call the Path Family Approach. More broadly, we demonstrate how HeFTy can be used to build an intuitive understanding of the thermochronologic data types and model design strategies that are capable of discriminating among geologic hypotheses.
Why do people consent to receiving SARS-CoV-2 vaccinations? A representative survey in Germany
Authors: Walach Harald , Ofner Michael , Ruof Viviane , Herbig Markus , Klement Rainer Johannes
Published: August 2022

Objective

To answer the question: Why do people consent to being vaccinated with novel vaccines against SARS-CoV-2?

Design

Representative survey.

Setting

Online panel.

Participants

1032 respondents of the general German population.

Method

A representative survey among German citizens in November/December 2021 that resulted in 1032 complete responses on vaccination status, sociodemographic parameters and opinions about the COVID-19 situation.

Results

Almost 83% of the respondents were vaccinated. The major motivation was fear of medical consequences of an infection and the wish to lead a normal life again. The major motivation to be not vaccinated was the fear of side effects and scepticism about long-term effectiveness and safety. Sixteen per cent of vaccinated respondents reported some serious side effect, while more than 30% reported health improvements, mostly due to the relief of psychological stress and social reintegration. We also validated a ‘Corona Orthodoxy Score—COS’ consisting of seven items reflecting opinions on COVID-19. The scale is reliable (alpha=0.76) and unidimensional. The COS was a highly significant predictor of vaccination status and readiness to be vaccinated in a multivariable logistic regression model. Those who were vaccinated were more likely to live in smaller households (OR=0.82, p=0.024), had a higher income (OR=1.27, p<0.001), a higher COS score (OR 1.4, p<0.0001) and used less alternative media (OR=0.44, p=0.0024) and scientific publications (OR=0.42, p=0.011) as information sources.

Conclusions

The major motives for being vaccinated are fear of medical symptoms and the wish to lead a normal life. Those not wanting to be vaccinated cite a lack of knowledge regarding long-term safety and side effects as reasons. This can likely only be overcome by careful and active long-term efficacy and safety monitoring.
SNAPTIMED study: does the Scottish and Newcastle Antiemetic Protocol achieve timely intervention and management from the emergency department to discharge for paracetamol poisoning?
Authors: Humphries Christopher , Roberts Georgina , Taheem Anjeli , Abdel Kader Hashem , Kidd Rebecca , Smith Jason
Published: August 2022

Background

This study aimed to establish whether the modified 12-hour Scottish and Newcastle Antiemetic Protocol (SNAP) for paracetamol poisoning is associated with improvement in hospital length of stay (LoS), as well as to validate the performance of the protocol for the prevention of anaphylactoid reactions and total infusion duration.

Methods

Retrospective chart review from 25 March 2019 to 25 September 2020. Patients aged 16 or older with a diagnosis of suspected or confirmed paracetamol overdose were included in the analysis if they received treatment for paracetamol poisoning, and the protocol used could be identified. Data were collected for LoS, number of extended treatment infusions used and evidence of anaphylactoid reaction.

Results

1167 records were assessed for eligibility, and 294 were included for analysis. Use of the SNAP was associated with a statistically significant reduction in LoS of −8.8 hours (95% CI −12.6 to −2.0), and a reduced risk of anaphylactoid reaction (Number Needed to Treat=10).

Conclusion

In this retrospective study, use of the SNAP reduced the duration of inpatient admissions and rate of anaphylactoid reactions.
Multilevel approach to individual and organisational predictors of stress and fatigue among healthcare workers of a university hospital: a longitudinal study
Authors: Daouda Oumou Salama , Bun René Sosata , Ait Bouziad Karim , Miliani Katiuska , Essa-Eworo Anastasia , Espinasse Florence , Seytre Delphine , Casetta Anne , Nérome Simone , Nascimento Adelaide , Astagneau Pascal , Temime Laura , Hocine Mounia N
Published: August 2022

Objective

Healthcare workers (HCWs) are at high risk of experiencing stress and fatigue due to the demands of their work within hospitals. Improving their physical and mental health and, in turn, the quality and safety of care requires considering factors at both individual and organisational/ward levels. Using a multicentre prospective cohort, this study aims to identify the individual and organisational predictors of stress and fatigue of HCWs in several wards from university hospitals.

Methods

Our cohort consists of 695 HCWs from 32 hospital wards drawn at random within four volunteer hospital centres in Paris-area. Three-level longitudinal analyses, accounting for repeated measures (level 1) across participants (level 2) nested within wards (level 3) and adjusted for relevant fixed and time-varying confounders, were performed.

Results

At baseline, the sample was composed by 384 registered nurses, 300 auxiliary nurses and 11 midwives. According to the three-level longitudinal models, some predictors were found in common for both stress and fatigue (low social support from supervisors, work overcommitment, sickness presenteeism and number of beds per ward). However, specific predictors for high level of stress (negative life events, low social support from colleagues and breaks frequently cancelled due to work overload) and fatigue (longer commuting duration, frequent use of interim staff in the ward) were also found.

Conclusion

Our results may help identify at-risk HCWs and wards, where interventions to reduce stress and fatigue should be focused. These interventions could include manager training to favour better staff support and overall safety culture of HCWs.
How did the COVID-19 pandemic affect access to condoms, chlamydia and HIV testing, and cervical cancer screening at a population level in Britain? (Natsal-COVID)
Authors: Dema Emily , Sonnenberg Pam , Gibbs Jo , Conolly Anne , Willis Malachi , Riddell Julie , Bosó Pérez Raquel , Copas Andrew J , Tanton Clare , Bonell Chris , Oeser Clarissa , Clifton Soazig , Unemo Magnus , Mercer Catherine H , Mitchell Kirstin R , Field Nigel
Published: August 2022

Objectives

To investigate how differential access to key interventions to reduce STIs, HIV and their sequelae changed during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods

British participants (18–59 years) completed a cross-sectional web survey 1 year (March–April 2021) after the initial lockdown in Britain. Quota-based sampling and weighting resulted in a quasi-representative population sample. We compared Natsal-COVID data with Natsal-3, a household-based probability sample cross-sectional survey (16–74 years) conducted in 2010–2012. Reported unmet need for condoms because of the pandemic and uptake of chlamydia testing/HIV testing/cervical cancer screening were analysed among sexually experienced participants (18–44 years) (n=3869, Natsal-COVID; n=8551, Natsal-3). ORs adjusted for age and other potential confounders describe associations with demographic and behavioural factors.

Results

In 2021, 6.9% of women and 16.2% of men reported unmet need for condoms because of the pandemic. This was more likely among participants: aged 18–24 years, of black or black British ethnicity, and reporting same-sex sex (past 5 years) or one or more new relationships (past year). Chlamydia and HIV testing were more commonly reported by younger participants, those reporting condomless sex with new sexual partners and men reporting same-sex partners; a very similar distribution to 10 years previously (Natsal-3). However, there were differences during the pandemic, including stronger associations with chlamydia testing for men reporting same-sex partners; with HIV testing for women reporting new sexual partners and with cervical screening among smokers.

Conclusions

Our study suggests differential access to key primary and secondary STI/HIV prevention interventions continued during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic. However, there was not strong evidence that differential access has changed during the pandemic when compared with 2010–2012. While the pandemic might not have exacerbated inequalities in access to primary and secondary prevention, it is clear that large inequalities persisted, typically among those at greatest STI/HIV risk.
Improving detection of cerebral small vessel disease aetiology in patients with isolated lobar intracerebral haemorrhage
Authors: Das Alvin S , Gokcal Elif , Regenhardt Robert W , Horn Mitchell J , Schwab Kristin , Daoud Nader , Viswanathan Anand , Kimberly W Taylor , Goldstein Joshua N , Biffi Alessandro , Rost Natalia , Rosand Jonathan , Schwamm Lee H , Greenberg Steven M , Gurol M Edip
Published: August 2022

Background and purpose

We evaluate whether non-haemorrhagic imaging markers (NHIM) (white matter hyperintensity patterns, lacunes and enlarged perivascular spaces (EPVS)) can discriminate cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA) from hypertensive cerebral small vessel disease (HTN-cSVD) among patients with isolated lobar intracerebral haemorrhage (isolated-LICH).

Methods

In patients with isolated-LICH, four cSVD aetiologic groups were created by incorporating the presence/distribution of NHIM: HTN-cSVD pattern, CAA pattern, mixed NHIM and no NHIM. CAA pattern consisted of patients with any combination of severe centrum semiovale EPVS, lobar lacunes or multiple subcortical spots pattern. HTN-cSVD pattern consisted of any HTN-cSVD markers: severe basal ganglia PVS, deep lacunes or peribasal ganglia white matter hyperintensity pattern. Mixed NHIM consisted of at least one imaging marker from either pattern. Our hypothesis was that patients with HTN-cSVD pattern/mixed NHIM would have a higher frequency of left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH), which is associated with HTN-cSVD.

Results

In 261 patients with isolated-LICH, CAA pattern was diagnosed in 93 patients, HTN-cSVD pattern in 53 patients, mixed NHIM in 19 patients and no NHIM in 96 patients. The frequency of LVH was similar among those with HTN-cSVD pattern and mixed NHIM (50% vs 39%, p=0.418) but was more frequent in HTN-cSVD pattern compared with CAA pattern (50% vs 20%, p<0.001). In a regression model, HTN-cSVD pattern (OR: 7.38; 95% CI 2.84 to 19.20) and mixed NHIM (OR: 4.45; 95% CI 1.25 to 15.90) were found to be independently associated with LVH.

Conclusion

Among patients with isolated-LICH, NHIM may help differentiate HTN-cSVD from CAA, using LVH as a marker for HTN-cSVD.
Impact of calcination temperature on the spin–spin relaxation time (T2) of MgFe2O4nanoparticles (in vitro)
Authors: Hadi Hamid , Safari Reza , Shamlouei Hamid Reza
Published: August 2022

MgFe2O4nanoparticles were prepared by the sol–gel method at calcination temperatures of 300 and 500 °C. Then, the effect of calcination temperature on their structural, magnetic, and cytotoxic properties was investigated. In this regard, X-ray diffraction (XRD), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) techniques were used to study structural features, vibrating sample magnetometry (VSM) and electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy (EPR) methods were used to evaluate the magnetic properties, and the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) test was used to evaluate the cytotoxicity. XRD and FESEM results showed that the particle size should increase with increasing calcination temperature. FTIR spectra indicated the presence of absorption bands in the range 390–560 cm−1at both calcination temperatures, which is a common feature of spinel ferrite. Also, the VSM analysis showed that the superparamagnetic property decreases with increasing calcination temperature. Spin–spin relaxation time ( T2) was evaluated as one of the important parameters in increasing the quality of magnetic resonance imaging scans by EPR. EPR results showed that the T2increases with increasing calcination temperature. The cytotoxic effects (MTT test) of MgFe2O4nanoparticles at different concentrations on normal human fibroblast cells (HU-02) showed dose-dependent cell death. This study showed that lowering the calcination temperature can improve the spin–spin contrast ( T2).
Wikipedia Engagement Can Enhance eLearning
Authors: Perry Shannon A.B.
Published: August 2022

With so much formal learning now taking place online, eLearning educators have the opportunity to incorporate Wikipedia as a multifaceted pedagogical resource. I argue that doing so facilitates the cultivation of 21st century skills and empowers learners to participate in creating positive social change. The article concludes with various ways educators may incorporate Wikipedia into teaching practice, appropriate Wikipedia assignments for students.
Route Descriptions, Spatial Knowledge and Spatial Representations of Blind and Partially Sighted People: Improved Design of Electronic Travel Aids
Authors: Hersh Marion , Ramirez Alejandro Rafael Garcia
Published: August 2022

The results presented here were obtained from an experimental study of blind people's experiences on two routes with very different characteristics. They are intended to answer three research questions on how blind people identify environmental features while travelling and use environmental information to form spatial representations, and the implications for the design of electronic travel aids to better support mental mapping of space. The results include detailed discussions of the mainly tactile and auditory information used by blind people to identify objects, as well as the different combinations of sensory information used in forming mental maps, the approaches participants used to do this, and the sensory modalities involved. They also provide a categorisation of the main features in participants’ descriptions of the two routes. The answers to the three questions include a discussion of the relationship between the sensory information used in route descriptions and mental maps, and the implications of the results for the design of electronic travel aids to support mental mapping, including suggestions for new types of aids and guidelines for aid design.
Boosting Relationship Detection in Images with Multi-Granular Self-Supervised Learning
Authors: Ding Xuewei , Pan Yingwei , Li Yehao , Yao Ting , Zeng Dan , Mei Tao
Published: August 2022

Visual and spatial relationship detection in images has been a fast-developing research topic in the multimedia field, which learns to recognize the semantic/spatial interactions between objects in an image, aiming to compose a structured semantic understanding of the scene. Most of the existing techniques directly encapsulate the holistic image feature plus the semantic and spatial features of the given two objects for predicting the relationship, but leave the inherent supervision derived from such structured and thorough image understanding under-exploited. Specifically, the inherent supervision among objects or relations within an image can span different granularities in this hierarchy including, from simple to comprehensive, (1) the
object-based
supervision that captures the interaction between the semantic and spatial features of each individual object, (2) the
inter-object
supervision that characterizes the dependency within the relationship triplet (

), and (3) the
inter-relation
supervision that exploits contextual information among all relationship triplets in an image. These inherent multi-granular supervisions offer a fertile ground for building self-supervised proxy tasks. In this article, we compose a trilogy of exploring the multi-granular supervision in the sequence from object-based, inter-object, and inter-relation perspectives. We integrate the standard relationship detection objective with a series of proposed self-supervised proxy tasks, which is named as Multi-Granular Self-Supervised learning (MGS). Our MGS is appealing in view that it is pluggable to any neural relationship detection models by simply including the proxy tasks during training, without increasing the computational cost at inference. Through extensive experiments conducted on the SpatialSense and VRD datasets, we demonstrate the superiority of MGS for both spatial and visual relationship detection tasks.
Adversarial Bandits with Knapsacks
Authors: Immorlica Nicole , Sankararaman Karthik , Schapire Robert , Slivkins Aleksandrs
Published: August 2022

We consider

Bandits with Knapsacks

(henceforth,

BwK

), a general model for multi-armed bandits under supply/budget constraints. In particular, a bandit algorithm needs to solve a well-known
knapsack problem
: find an optimal packing of items into a limited-size knapsack. The BwK problem is a common generalization of numerous motivating examples, which range from dynamic pricing to repeated auctions to dynamic ad allocation to network routing and scheduling. While the prior work on BwK focused on the stochastic version, we pioneer the other extreme in which the outcomes can be chosen adversarially. This is a considerably harder problem, compared to both the stochastic version and the “classic” adversarial bandits, in that regret minimization is no longer feasible. Instead, the objective is to minimize the
competitive ratio
: the ratio of the benchmark reward to algorithm’s reward.

We design an algorithm with competitive ratio
O
(log
T
) relative to the best fixed distribution over actions, where
T
is the time horizon; we also prove a matching lower bound. The key conceptual contribution is a new perspective on the stochastic version of the problem. We suggest a new algorithm for the stochastic version, which builds on the framework of regret minimization in repeated games and admits a substantially simpler analysis compared to prior work. We then analyze this algorithm for the adversarial version, and use it as a subroutine to solve the latter.

Our algorithm is the first “black-box reduction” from bandits to BwK: it takes an arbitrary bandit algorithm and uses it as a subroutine. We use this reduction to derive several extensions.
Multiphysics Footprint of Li Plating for Li-Ion Battery and Challenges for High-Accuracy Detection
Authors: Li Zhe , Fang Ruqing , Ge Hao , Liu Zhongxiao , Spingler Franz B. , Jossen Andreas , Zhang Jianbo , Liaw Boryann
Published: August 2022

Lithium plating on the negative electrode of Li-ion batteries remains as a great concern for durability, reliability and safety in operation under low temperatures and fast charging conditions. High-accuracy detection of Li-plating is critically needed for field operations. To detect the lithium plating is to track its multiphysics footprint since lithium plating often is a localized event while the driving force from chemical, electrical, thermal and mechanical origins could vary with time and locality which makes the detection and characterization challenging. Here, we summarize the multiphysical footprints of lithium plating and the corresponding state-of-the-art detection methods. By assessing and comparing these methods, the combination of capacity/voltage differential, R–Q mapping and Arrhenius outlier tracking could be promising and effective for battery diagnosis, prognosis and management. We analyze the origins of quantitative error in sample preparation, overly simplified assumption and dynamic evolution of the plated Li, and recommend the in situ and quantitative chemical analysis method, such as in situ NMR, EPR, X-ray and neutron. In addition, we propose the four conjectures on the capacity plunge, lithium plating, pore clogging, electrolyte drainage and rapid SEI growth, can be aligned and unified to one scenario basically triggered by lithium plating.
Eccentric muscle contraction potentiates titin stiffness-related contractile properties in rat fast-twitch muscles
Authors: Shi Jiayu , Watanabe Daiki , Wada Masanobu
Published: August 2022

It remains unclear whether eccentric contraction of skeletal muscle affects titin stiffness-related contractile properties. Here, we provide evidence that an acute bout of eccentric contraction can potentiate titin-based passive force, maximum active force at long sarcomere lengths, and length-dependent activation. This potentiation may resist muscle fatigue in the muscles of the exercising body.
Determinants, maintenance, and function of organellar pH
Authors: Freeman Spencer A. , Grinstein Sergio , Orlowski John
Published: August 2022

The protonation state of soluble and membrane-associated macromolecules dictates their charge, conformation, and functional activity. In addition, protons (H+ or their equivalents) partake in numerous metabolic reactions and serve as a source of electrochemical energy to drive the transmembrane transport of both organic and inorganic substrates. Stringent regulation of the intracellular pH is therefore paramount to homeostasis. Although the regulation of the cytosolic pH has been studied extensively, our understanding of the determinants of the H+ concentration ([H+]) of intracellular organelles has developed more slowly, limited by their small size and inaccessibility. Recently, however, targeting of molecular probes to the organellar lumen together with advances in genomic, proteomic, and electrophysiological techniques have led to the identification and characterization of unique pumps, channels, and transporters responsible for the establishment and maintenance of intraorganellar pH. These developments and their implications for cellular function in health and disease are the subject of this review.
Study on the Application of Improved Audio Recognition Technology Based on Deep Learning in Vocal Music Teaching
Authors: Liu Nan
Published: August 2022

As one of the hotspots in music information extraction research, music recognition has received extensive attention from scholars in recent years. Most of the current research methods are based on traditional signal processing methods, and there is still a lot of room for improvement in recognition accuracy and recognition efficiency. There are few research studies on music recognition based on deep neural networks. This paper expounds on the basic principles of deep learning and the basic structure and training methods of neural networks. For two kinds of commonly used deep networks, convolutional neural network and recurrent neural network, their typical structures, training methods, advantages, and disadvantages are analyzed. At the same time, a variety of platforms and tools for training deep neural networks are introduced, and their advantages and disadvantages are compared. TensorFlow and Keras frameworks are selected from them, and the practice related to neural network research is carried out. Training lays the foundation. Results show that through the development and experimental demonstration of the prototype system, as well as the comparison with other researchers in the field of humming recognition, it is proved that the deep-learning method can be applied to the humming recognition problem, which can effectively improve the accuracy of humming recognition and improve the recognition time. A convolutional recurrent neural network is designed and implemented, combining the local feature extraction of the convolutional layer and the ability of the recurrent layer to summarize the sequence features, to learn the features of the humming signal, so as to obtain audio features with a higher degree of abstraction and complexity and improve the performance of the humming signal. The ability of neural networks to learn the features of audio signals lays the foundation for an efficient and accurate humming recognition process.