bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Data From Activity-Recording Instruments Applied to Textile Machinery
Authors: Parsons C. S.
Published: December 2022

The author advocates the adoption of activity recorders in the analysis of production machinery operations widely throughout the textile industry, as a means of achievingim-proved performance and lowered costs. After describing the several types of equipment and their applications to the study of textile-machine operations, the paper explains the procedure followed in analyzing the data recorded.
Modern Methods in the Heat-Treatment of Steel
Authors: Mertz E. R.
Published: December 2022

The construction of time-temperature-transformation curves (S-curves) and their use in developing the interrupted-quench processes for steels are treated in this paper. Of these processes, martempering, austempering, and cyclic annealing are explained in detail. Martempering results in greatly reduced stresses in quenched parts, as compared to the conventional quench and temper method of hardening steel, and hence much less cracking and distortion is apparent. Austempering, an isothermal process producing bainite, develops surprisingly high impact properties in the region of 250,000 psi or 50 Rockwell C. Cyclic annealing is an elevated-temperature isothermal annealing process to produce a predetermined degree of softness, and saves much valuable time in the annealing of the higher alloy steels. The use of hardenability curves in establishing size limitations for particular heats of steel and in selecting accurate tempering temperatures is demonstrated.
Elevated-Temperature Stretch-Flanging of Some Aluminum Alloys
Authors: Thomsen E. G. , Cunningham D. M. , Dorn J. E.
Published: December 2022

Many aircraft parts consisting of a flat web and a concave flange are produced by rubber-die-forming on a hydropress. The forming action consists of bending the flange around the die radius and stretching the outer fiber of the flange from its original length to that which is achieved when it contacts the die. Several types of failures and defects are encountered, the most important being a radially directed fracture initiated at the outer fiber of the flange. When this fracture occurs without necking, the maximum per cent stretch that may be produced approximates the per cent local ductility in the tension test. If, however, fracture is preceded by necking, the permissible per cent stretch is intermediate between the uniform and local per cent strain in tension. Increasing the forming temperature permits greater per cent stretches for some of the more-ductile alloys.
Stress Analysis of Tube-Sinking
Authors: Sachs George , Baldwin W. M.
Published: December 2022

A theoretical stress analysis was made of the tube-sinking operation, equations being set up to yield the sinking stress as a function of the reduction in mean diameter. The equations were confirmed by experimentation on annealed and full hard copper and on annealed tube brass for conical dies of various tapers. The coefficients of friction existing during tube-sinking have been determined and are found to be of the same magnitude as those determined previously for wire drawing.
An Analysis of Intercooled Supercharging
Authors: Miller Ralph H.
Published: December 2022

In this and in an earlier paper, the author analyzes the internal-combustion engine as a heat engine. He finds that with present-day materials, the output of the internal-combustion engine is limited by the temperatures reached in the internal surfaces and not by lack of air to sustain combustion. A method is developed by which the output capacity of four-cycle engines may be increased by more than 100 per cent without exceeding practical and previously established temperatures of internal surfaces.
Locomotive Fuel From the Coal-Man’s Viewpoint
Authors: Hardy C. F.
Published: December 2022

The sizes of coal for locomotives and the preparation of coal, screening, and segregation are discussed in this paper, It is suggested that from an engineering standpoint coal specifications for locomotives should be standardized because of the changes in equipment and construction, and that extensive tests should be made.
The Influence of Viscosity on Centrifugal-Pump Performance
Authors: Ippen Arthur T.
Published: December 2022

The wide use of centrifugal pumps in the oil industry demands that their performance characteristics for oil be predicted with reasonable assurance. A systematic study of performance changes with increasing viscosities had not been undertaken so far under controlled laboratory conditions. For the purpose of undertaking such a study theoretically and experimentally, the Hydraulic Laboratory of Lehigh University and the Cameron Pump Division of the Ingersoll-Rand Company co-operated in following through a comprehensive program of research at Lehigh University during 1944 and 1945. Over 200 performance tests for viscosities up to 10,000 SSU were completed on four variants of centrifugal pumps, employing a special test stand designed and built under war conditions.

The influence of viscosity changes on the head, discharge, and input-power characteristics of the pumps is demonstrated graphically and systematically for a wide range of viscosities and speeds. The usefulness of a special Reynolds number for pumps is demonstrated and test results are correlated on that basis. General conclusions are possible as to the influence of various features of design, since several pumps of different specific speeds were tested. A theoretical analysis establishes definitely the variables to be considered and places the discussion for the problem on a sound scientific basis, especially with regard to disk and ring losses.
Boiler Design for Extreme Load Variations
Authors: Kuhner M. H.
Published: December 2022

A summation of required design provisions for boilers adapted to operate under quick demand changes. Reference is made to the quick-pickup boiler in the Harbor Steam Plant of the City of Los Angeles and the steel-mill boiler at the Homestead Works of the Carnegie-Illinois Steel Corporation. The importance of water storage, unrestricted path for water and steam in circulation, steam release with minimum disturbance of water body in drum, steam-temperature control during unbalanced firing, and the effect of each item on the others, is discussed. Recommendations are made for determining required capacity of fuel-burning equipment and fans in reference to the extent and rapidity of steam-load changes.
The effects of elastic modulus and impurities on bubble nuclei available for acoustic cavitation in polyacrylamide hydrogels
Authors: Rawnaque Ferdousi Sabera , Simon Julianna C.
Published: December 2022

Safety of biomedical ultrasound largely depends on controlling cavitation bubbles in vivo, yet bubble nuclei in biological tissues remain unexplored compared to water. This study evaluates the effects of elastic modulus (E) and impurities on bubble nuclei available for cavitation in tissue-mimicking polyacrylamide (PA) hydrogels. A 1.5 MHz focused ultrasound transducer with f# = 0.7 was used to induce cavitation in 17.5%, 20%, and 22.5% v/v PA hydrogels using 10-ms pulses with pressures up to peak negative pressure (p−) = 35 MPa. Cavitation was monitored at 0.075 ms through high-speed photography at 40 000 fps. At p− = 29 MPa for all hydrogels, cavitation occurred at random locations within the −6 dB focal area [9.4 × 1.2 mm (p−)]. Increasing p− to 35 MPa increased bubble location consistency and caused shock scattering in the E = 282 MPa hydrogels; as the E increased to 300 MPa, bubble location consistency decreased (p = 0.045). Adding calcium phosphate or cholesterol at 0.25% w/v or bovine serum albumin at 5% or 10% w/v in separate 17.5% PA as impurities decreased the cavitation threshold from p− = 13.2 MPa for unaltered PA to p− = 11.6 MPa, p− = 7.3 MPa, p− = 9.7 MPa, and p− = 7.5 MPa, respectively. These results suggest that both E and impurities affect the bubble nuclei available for cavitation in tissue-mimicking hydrogels.
Masticatory system–inspired microneedle theranostic platform for intelligent and precise diabetic management
Authors: Yang Jingbo , Zheng Shantao , Ma Deyuan , Zhang Tao , Huang Xinshuo , Huang Shuang , Chen Hui-jiuan , Wang Ji , Jiang Lelun , Xie Xi
Published: December 2022

Integrated systems for diabetic theranostics present advanced technology to regulate diabetes yet still have critical challenges in terms of accuracy, long-term monitoring, and minimal invasiveness. Inspired by the feature and functions of animal masticatory system, we presented a biomimetic microneedle theranostic platform (MNTP) for intelligent and precise management of diabetes. The MNTP was supported by a miniatured circuit, which used microneedle arrays for on-demand skin penetration, enabling interstitial fluid exudation for simultaneous detection of glucose and physiological ions, and subcutaneous insulin delivery. Interstitial fluid exudation enabled sensing in oxygen-rich environment via the incorporated epidermal sensor functionalized with hybrid carbon nanomaterials. This feature addressed the biosafety issues due to implanted electrodes and the “oxygen-deficit” issues in vivo. The MNTP was demonstrated to accurately detect glucose and ions and deliver insulin to regulate hyperglycemia. The biomimetic and intelligent features of the MNTP endowed it as a highly advanced system for diabetes therapy.
A gating lever and molecular logic gate that couple voltage and calcium sensor activation to opening in BK potassium channels
Authors: Sun Liang , Horrigan Frank T.
Published: December 2022

BK channels uniquely integrate voltage and calcium signaling in diverse cell types through allosteric activation of their K
+
-conducting pore by structurally distinct V and Ca
2+
sensor domains. Here, we define mechanisms and interaction pathways that link V sensors to the pore by analyzing effects on allosteric coupling of point mutations in the context of Slo1 BK channel structure. A gating lever, mediated by S4/S5 segment interaction within the transmembrane domain, rotates to engage and stabilize the open conformation of the S6 inner pore helix upon V sensor activation. In addition, an indirect pathway, mediated by the carboxyl-terminal cytosolic domain (CTD) and C-linker that connects the CTD to S6, stabilizes the closed conformation when V sensors are at rest. Unexpectedly, this mechanism, which bypasses the covalent connections of C-linker to CTD and pore, also transduces Ca
2+
-dependent coupling in a manner that is completely nonadditive with voltage, analogous to the function of a digital logic (OR) gate.
Real-time single-molecule observation of chaperone-assisted protein folding
Authors: Marzano Nicholas R. , Paudel Bishnu P. , van Oijen Antoine M. , Ecroyd Heath
Published: December 2022

The ability of heat shock protein 70 (Hsp70) molecular chaperones to remodel the conformation of their clients is central to their biological function; however, questions remain regarding the precise molecular mechanisms by which Hsp70 machinery interacts with the client and how this contributes toward efficient protein folding. Here, we used total internal reflection fluorescence (TIRF) microscopy and single-molecule fluorescence resonance energy transfer (smFRET) to temporally observe the conformational changes that occur to individual firefly luciferase proteins as they are folded by the bacterial Hsp70 system. We observed multiple cycles of chaperone binding and release to an individual client during refolding and determined that high rates of chaperone cycling improves refolding yield. Furthermore, we demonstrate that DnaJ remodels misfolded proteins via a conformational selection mechanism, whereas DnaK resolves misfolded states via mechanical unfolding. This study illustrates that the temporal observation of chaperone-assisted folding enables the elucidation of key mechanistic details inaccessible using other approaches.
Edge-of-chaos learning achieved by ion-electron–coupled dynamics in an ion-gating reservoir
Authors: Nishioka Daiki , Tsuchiya Takashi , Namiki Wataru , Takayanagi Makoto , Imura Masataka , Koide Yasuo , Higuchi Tohru , Terabe Kazuya
Published: December 2022

Physical reservoir computing has recently been attracting attention for its ability to substantially reduce the computational resources required to process time series data. However, the physical reservoirs that have been reported to date have had insufficient computational capacity, and most of them have a large volume, which makes their practical application difficult. Here, we describe the development of a Li
+
electrolyte–based ion-gating reservoir (IGR), with ion-electron–coupled dynamics, for use in high-performance physical reservoir computing. A variety of synaptic responses were obtained in response to past experience, which were stored as transient charge density patterns in an electric double layer, at the Li
+
electrolyte/diamond interface. Performance for a second-order nonlinear dynamical equation task is one order of magnitude higher than memristor-based reservoirs. The edge-of-chaos state of the IGR enabled the best computational capacity. The IGR described here opens the way for high-performance and integrated neural network devices.
Cytokine Receptor-Like Factor 3 Negatively Regulates Antiviral Immunity by Promoting the Degradation of TBK1 in Teleost Fish
Authors: Yan Xiaolong , Zheng Weiwei , Geng Shang , Zhou Ming , Xu Tianjun
Published: December 2022

The expression of Crlf3 was upregulated with SCRV invasion, which proved that Crlf3 was involved in the regulation of the antiviral immune response. In this study, we found that the existence of Crlf3 promoted the replication of SCRV.
Influx of Backyard Farming with Limited Biosecurity Due to the COVID-19 Pandemic Carries an Increased Risk of Zoonotic Spillover in Cambodia
Authors: Hyder Sudipta , Sievers Benjamin L. , Flamand Claude , TagoPacheco Damian , Chan Malen , Claes Filip , Karlsson Erik A.
Published: December 2022

While this study highlights COVID-19-associated changes in poultry production at a small scale in Cambodia, poultry production is expected to expand due to an increase in the global demand for poultry protein during the pandemic, changes in urbanization, and the reduction of the global pork supply caused by African swine fever (ASF). The global demand and surge in poultry products, combined with inadequate biosecurity methods, can lead to an increased risk of domestic animal and human spillovers of zoonotic pathogens such as avian influenza.
Early ocular surface and tear film status in congenital aniridia indicates a supportive treatment window
Authors: Fries Fabian N , Moslemani Kayed , Utheim Tor Paaske , Seitz Berthold , Käsmann-Kellner Barbara , Lagali Neil S
Published: December 2022

Aim

To evaluate changes in the ocular surface and tear film with age and mutational status in congenital aniridia.

Methods

45 participants with congenital aniridia (89 eyes) in a prospective, cross-sectional study. Whole-exome sequencing identified the causative mutation. Examinations included slit-lamp biomicroscopy, in vivo confocal microscopy, Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI) score, blink rate, Schirmer I test, Oxford Staining Score (OSS), tear film break-up time (TFBUT) and Ocular Protection Index (OPI).

Results

There were age-dependent increases in OSDI (β=0.34, 95% CI 0.03 to 0.66; p=0.030), blink rate (β=0.18, 95% CI 0.08 to 0.27; p<0.001) and OSS (β=0.05, 95% CI 0.03 to 0.07; p<0.001) and age-dependent reductions in tear production (β=−0.23, 95% CI −0.43 to 0.02; p=0.029) and TFBUT (β=−0.10, 95% CI −0.17 to –0.04; p<0.001). Perturbed OSDI, OSS, blink rate, tear production and TFBUT were noted after the age of ten and OSDI, OSS, blink rate and TFBUT correlated with deficient corneal nerves and limbal stem cell function. OSDI, blink rate, Schirmer, OSS, TFBUT and OPI were not associated with type ofPAX6mutation, but OSDI, OSS and blink rate associated with grade of aniridia-associated keratopathy.

Conclusions

Ocular surface damage and dry eye signs appear in congenital aniridia regardless of mutation, appearing after 10 years of age and progressing thereafter. An early treatment window may exist for therapies to protect the ocular surface homoeostasis and limbal function, to possibly delay keratopathy development and progression.
Incidence and burden of injury at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games held during the COVID-19 pandemic: a prospective cohort study of 66 045 athlete days
Authors: Derman Wayne , Runciman Phoebe , Eken Maaike , Boer Pieter-Henk , Blauwet Cheri , Bogdos Manos , Idrisova Guzel , Jordaan Esme , Kissick James , LeVan Philipe , Lexell Jan , Mohammadi Fariba , Patricio Marcelo , Schwellnus Martin , Webborn Nick , Willick Stuart E , Yagishita Kazuyoshi
Published: December 2022

Objective

To describe the epidemiology of injuries at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games, including injuries sustained in the new sports of badminton and taekwondo.

Methods

Injury data were obtained daily via the established web-based injury and illness surveillance system (WEB-IISS; 81 countries, 3836 athletes) and local organising committee medical facilities (81 countries, 567 athletes). Univariate unadjusted incidences (injuries per 1000 athlete days with 95% CIs), injury proportion (IP, %) and injury burden (days lost per 1000 athlete days) are reported.

Results

A total of 4403 athletes (1853 women, 2550 men) from 162 countries were monitored prospectively during the 3-day pre-competition and 12-day competition periods (66 045 athlete days). 386 injuries were reported in 352 athletes (IP=8.0%) with an incidence of 5.8 per 1000 athlete days (95% CI 5.3 to 6.5). Football 5-a-side (17.2), taekwondo (16.0), judo (11.6) and badminton (9.6) had the highest incidence. There was a higher incidence of injuries in the pre-competition period than in the competition period (7.5 vs 5.4; p=0.0053). Acute (sudden onset) injuries and injuries to the shoulder (0.7) and hand/fingers (0.6) were most common. Injury burden was 10.9 (8.6–13.8), with 35% of injuries resulting in time loss from training and competition.

Conclusion

Compared with previous Paralympic Games, there was a reduction in injury incidence but higher injury burden at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games. The new sports of taekwondo and badminton had a high injury incidence, with the highest injury burden in taekwondo, compared with other sports. These findings provide epidemiological data to inform injury prevention measures for high-risk sports.
Accuracy of the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio for the diagnosis of neonatal sepsis: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Xin Yu , Shao Yunshuang , Mu Wenjing , Li Hongxu , Zhou Yuxin , Wang Changsong
Published: December 2022

Objectives

The purpose of this study was systematically and quantitatively to assess the value of the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) for the diagnosis of neonatal sepsis by systematic review and meta-analysis.

Design

Systematic review and meta-analysis.

Methods

Eight major databases, including The Cochrane, PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, CNKI, Wanfang, China Biomedical Literature Database and VIP Database, were systematically searched for NLR diagnoses of neonatal sepsis from inception to June 2022. Two investigators independently conducted the literature search, screening, data extraction and quality evaluation with the Quality Assessment of Diagnostic Accuracy Studies-2 checklist. Statistical analysis was performed using Review Manager V.5.3, Stata V.16.0, R (V.3.6.0) and Meta-DISC V.1.4.

Results

A total of 14 studies comprising 1499 newborns were included in this meta-analysis. With a cut-off value ranging from 0.1 to 9.4, the pooled sensitivity of the NLR in the diagnosis of neonatal sepsis was 0.74 (95% CI: 0.61 to 0.83), the pooled specificity was 0.88 (95% CI: 0.73 to 0.95), the positive likelihood ratio (LR+) was 6.35 (95% CI: 2.6 to 15.47), the negative likelihood ratio (LR−) was 0.30 (95% CI: 0.19 to 0.46), the diagnostic OR (DOR) was 12.88 (95% CI: 4.47 to 37.08), area under the curve (AUC) was 0.87 (95% CI: 0.84 to 0.89). In the subgroup analysis of early-onset neonatal sepsis, the pooled sensitivity was 0.75 (95% CI: 0.47 to 0.91), the pooled specificity was 0.99 (95% CI: 0.88 to 1.00), the LR+was 63.3 (95% CI: 5.7 to 696.8), the LR−was 0.26 (95% CI: 0.10 to 0.63), the DOR was 247 (95% CI: 16 to 3785) and the AUC was 0.97 (95% CI: 0.95 to 0.98).

Conclusions

Our findings suggest that the NLR is a helpful indicator for the diagnosis of early neonatal sepsis, but it still needs to be combined with other laboratory tests and specific clinical manifestations.
U-PAIN cohort study among patients with chronic pain in specialised pain care: a feasibility study
Authors: Ljungvall Hanna , Lind Anne-Li , Zetterberg Hedvig , Wagner Sofia , Ekselius Lisa , Karlsten Rolf , Heilig Markus , Åsenlöf Pernilla
Published: December 2022

Objectives

To examine acceptability of study participation and feasibility of (1) recruitment, (2) data collection and (3) outcome measures for the prospective U-PAIN cohort.

Design

Internal feasibility study of a prospective cohort.

Participants and setting

64 patients,>18 years, with chronic pain at a multidisciplinary pain centre at a university hospital in Sweden.

Outcome measures

Acceptability of study participation was measured with a study-specific 10-item Likert scale. A score <3 was considered feasible, for the two items that assessed respondent burden a higher score indicated lesser participant burden and a score >3 was feasible. Recruitment was assessed by participation rates at baseline and retention at the 1-year follow-up, with threshold values for feasibility at 75% and 80%, respectively. Data collection and outcome measures were examined by completions rates of study procedures (90% was considered feasible), sample scores, internal consistency (α>0.70 was considered feasible), and agreement between self-reported data and data retrieved from medical records on opioid use (ICC or κ>0.60 was considered feasible).

Results

Acceptability for study procedures was feasible, but participation rates were low: 25%. The retention rate at 1-year follow-up was 81% for those included in the feasibility study, that is, filling out computerised patient-reported outcome measures, and 65% for those using paper and pencil format. The completion rates for the different data collection methods ranged from 83% to 95%. Agreement between self-reported opioid use and prescribed dose and between opioid use disorder according to Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5), and clinical International Classification of Diseases-10 (ICD-10) diagnoses for opioid dependence were almost perfect (κ=0.91 and κ=0.90, respectively).

Conclusions

This feasibility study has helped to explore and improve methods for recruitment, data collection and use of outcome measures for the U-PAIN cohort. Low participation rate and high refusal rate at baseline is a challenge that needs to be further addressed.
Supporting patient and public partners in writing lay summaries of scientific evidence in healthcare: a scoping review protocol
Authors: Zarshenas Sareh , Mosel JoAnne , Chui Adora , Seaton Samantha , Singh Hardeep , Moroz Sandra , Khan Tayaba , Colquhoun Heather
Published: December 2022

Introduction

Despite growing interest among patient and public partners to engage in writing lay summaries, evidence is scarce regarding the availability of resources to support them. This protocol describes the process of conducting a scoping review to: (1) summarise the source, criteria and characteristics, content, format, intended target audience, patient and public involvement in preparing guidance and development processes in the available guidance for writing lay summaries; (2) contextualise the available guidance to the needs/preferences of patient and public partners and (3) create a patient and public partner-informed output to support their engagement in writing lay summaries.

Method and analysis

A scoping review with an integrated knowledge translation approach will be used to ensure the collaboration between patient/public partners and researchers in all steps of the review. To meet objective 1, the English language evidence within a healthcare context that provides guidance for writing lay summaries will be searched in peer-reviewed publications and grey literature. All screening and extraction steps will be performed independently by two reviewers. Extracted data will be organised by adapting the European Union’s principles for summaries of clinical trials for laypersons. For objectives 2 and 3, a consultation exercise will be held with patient and public partners to review and contextualise the findings from objective 1. A directed content analysis will be used to organise the data to the needs of the public audience. Output development will follow based on the results.

Ethics and dissemination

Ethics approval will be obtained for the consultation exercise. Our target audience will be stakeholders who engage or are interested in writing lay summaries. Our dissemination products will include a manuscript, a lay summary and an output to support patient and public partners with writing lay summaries. Findings will be published in a peer-reviewed journal and presented at relevant conferences.

Open science framework registration

osf.io/2dvfg.
Development and applications of the anaesthetists’ non-technical skills behavioural marker system: protocol for a systematic review
Authors: Kang Jiamin , Hu Jiale , Yan Chunji , Xing Xueyan , Tu Shumin , Zhou Fang
Published: December 2022

Introduction

The high incidence of unsafe anaesthetic care leads to adverse events and increases the burden on patient safety. An important reason for unsafe anaesthesia care is the lack of non-technical skills (NTS), which are defined as personal cognitive, social or interpersonal skills, among anaesthetists. The anaesthetists’ NTS (ANTS) behavioural marker system has been widely used to evaluate and improve anaesthetists’ behavioural performance to ensure patient safety. This protocol describes a planned systematic review aiming to determine the validity and reliability of the ANTS behavioural marker system and its application as a tool for the training and assessment of ANTS and for improving patient safety.

Methods and analysis

This systematic review follows the guidelines of the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis Protocol. Studies that applied the ANTS behavioural marker system in a meaningful way, including using the ANTS behavioural marker system to guide data collection, analysis, coding, measurement, and/or reporting, which have been published in peer-reviewed journals, will be eligible. A citation search strategy will be employed. We will search Scopus and Web of Science for publications from 2002 to May 2022, which cite the three original ANTS behavioural marker system publications by Fletcheret al. We will also search the references of the relevant reviews for additional eligible studies. For each study, two authors will independently screen papers to determine eligibility and will extract the data. The quality of the included studies will be assessed using the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) Critical Appraisal Checklists. A framework analysis approach that consists of five steps—familiarisation, identifying a thematic data extraction framework, indexing, charting, mapping and interpretation—will be used to synthesise and report the data.

Ethics and dissemination

Ethics approval is not required for this study. The findings will be disseminated primarily through peer-reviewed publications and conference presentations.

PROSPERO registration number

CRD42022297773.
Navigator programme for hospitalised adults experiencing homelessness: protocol for a pragmatic randomised controlled trial
Authors: Liu Michael , Pridham Katherine Francombe , Jenkinson Jesse , Nisenbaum Rosane , Richard Lucie , Pedersen Cheryl , Brown Rebecca , Virani Sareeha , Ellerington Fred , Ranieri Alyssa , Dada Oluwagbenga , To Matthew , Fabreau Gabriel , McBrien Kerry , Stergiopoulos Vicky , Palepu Anita , Hwang Stephen
Published: December 2022

Introduction

People experiencing homelessness suffer from poor outcomes after hospitalisation due to systemic barriers to care, suboptimal transitions of care, and intersecting health and social burdens. Case management programmes have been shown to improve housing stability, but their effects on broad posthospital outcomes in this population have not been rigorously evaluated. The Navigator Programme is a Critical Time Intervention case management programme that was developed to help homeless patients with their postdischarge needs and to link them with community-based health and social services. This randomised controlled trial examines the impact of the Navigator Programme on posthospital outcomes among adults experiencing homelessness.

Methods and analysis

This is a pragmatic randomised controlled trial testing the effectiveness of the Navigator Programme at an urban academic teaching hospital and an urban community teaching hospital in Toronto, Canada. Six hundred and forty adults experiencing homelessness who are admitted to the hospital will be randomised to receive support from a Homeless Outreach Counsellor for 90 days after hospital discharge or to usual care. The primary outcome is follow-up with a primary care provider (physician or nurse practitioner) within 14 days of hospital discharge. Secondary outcomes include postdischarge mortality or readmission, number of days in hospital, number of emergency department visits, self-reported care transition quality, and difficulties meeting subsistence needs. Quantitative outcomes are being collected over a 180-day period through linked patient-reported and administrative health data. A parallel mixed-methods process evaluation will be conducted to explore intervention context, implementation and mechanisms of impact.

Ethics and dissemination

Ethics approval was obtained from the Unity Health Toronto Research Ethics Board. Participants will be required to provide written informed consent. Results of the main trial and process evaluation will be reported in peer-reviewed journals and shared with hospital leadership, community partners and policy makers.

Trial registration number

NCT04961762.
Comparison of a polyvinyl chloride tube with a wire-reinforced tube for tracheal intubation through the SaCoVLM video laryngeal mask airway: protocol for a randomised controlled study
Authors: Gao Zhongquan , Guo Yongle , Gao Xiaojun , Wang Weiwei , Zhang Min , Liu Meng Jie , Chen Lina , Liu Yang , Zhang Xiaoning , Sun Yongtao , Wang Yuelan
Published: December 2022

Introduction

The SaCoVLM is a new type of video intubating laryngeal mask airway (LMA), and it is the first LMA to realise continuous visual monitoring. There is a lack of studies on intubation using the SaCoVLM. The aim of this study is to compare the success rate of intubation with polyvinyl chloride (PVC) tubes and wire-reinforced (WR) tubes using the SaCoVLM.

Methods and analysis

This prospective, single-centre, single-blind, parallel-arm, randomised controlled study will be conducted in a tertiary university hospital in China. We will include 104 patients undergoing elective laparoscopic surgery under general anaesthesia. Patients will be randomly assigned to the PVC tracheal tube group (n=52, PVC group) or the WR tracheal tube group (n=52, WR group). The primary outcome is the total success rate of intubation. The secondary outcomes are the first success rate of intubation, the time of tracheal intubation, the site of the first contact, the adjustment action for tracheal intubation, haemodynamic fluctuation during intubation and extubation, incidence of trauma as evidenced by blood, and the incidence rates of postoperative sore throat, hoarseness, and dysphagia.

Ethics and dissemination

This study was approved by the Ethics Committee of the First Affiliated Hospital of Shandong First Medical University (YXLL-KY-2022 (008)). All participants will provide written informed consent. The results will be disseminated through peer-reviewed publications and at conferences or congresses.

Trial registration number

NCT05338827.
Utilisation of antenatal care and skilled delivery services among mothers in Nanton District of Northern Ghana: a mixed-method study protocol
Authors: Ayelepuni Alexis , Gnimatin Jean-Pierre , Adokiya Martin Nyaaba
Published: December 2022

Introduction

Maternal morbidity and mortality are a global phenomenon with devastating effects on low-income and middle-income countries among which sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) is the hardest hit. Low utilisation of maternal health services has been recorded in recent times in the Nanton District of Ghana. This has raised concerns about the utilisation of antenatal care (ANC) and skilled delivery (SD) services in the district. However, we found no specific existing literature which has addressed these questions on ANC and SD utilisation in the study setting. Thus, this study seeks to explore the utilisation of ANC and SD services among mothers in the Nanton District of Northern Ghana.

Methods and analysis

This will be an observational study. It will use a mixed-method approach, particularly, convergent parallel design to implement the study. This will include quantitative and qualitative aspects using a questionnaire and focus group discussion guide. The planned sample size is 411 participants. The data will be collected at the communities. Before participation in the study, the research team will receive individual written consent from the participants. Descriptive and inferential data analysis will be performed after the data collection. The results will be presented as frequency tables, bar charts and line graphs to indicate the proportions of the outcome indicators. The strength of association among variables will be determined at 95% CI and a significance level of alpha (0.05) will be used.

Ethics and dissemination

Ethical clearance has been sought from the Ghana Health Service Ethics Review Board (GHS-ERC 027/03/22). The outcomes from this study may serve as a reference document for the District Health Directorate to use when developing strategies for ANC and SD services. The results will be published in open access and peer-reviewed journals.
Ultrasound-guided spinal anesthesia in infants: a narrative review
Authors: Baskin Paola , Berde Charles , Saravanan Arjun , Alrayashi Walid
Published: December 2022

Background/importance

Infant spinal anesthesia has many potential benefits. However, the delivery of infant spinal anesthesia is technically challenging. The landmark-based technique has not changed for over a century. Advancements in ultrasound technology may provide an opportunity to improve infant spinal procedures.

Objective

Our primary objective is to conduct a comprehensive review of the current literature on ultrasonography for spinal anesthesia in infants. Given the narrow scope of this topic, our secondary objective is to review the current literature on ultrasonography for lumbar puncture in infants.

Evidence review

We reviewed all papers related to the use of ultrasound for infant spinal anesthesia. Two large databases were searched with key terms. Eligibility criteria were full-text articles in English. For our secondary objective, we searched one large database for key terms relating to ultrasonography and infant lumbar puncture. Eligibility criteria were the same.

Findings

Our primary search retrieved six articles. These consisted of four review articles, one case report, and one retrospective observational study. Our secondary search retrieved fourteen articles. These consisted of five randomized control trials, four prospective studies, three retrospective studies, and two review papers.

Conclusions

Ultrasound yields high-quality images of the infant spine. Most literature regarding ultrasound for infant spinal procedures arises from emergency medicine or interventional radiology specialties. The literature on ultrasound for infant spinal anesthesia is extremely limited, but shows promise. Future studies are needed in order to determine whether ultrasound can improve the success rate for delivery of infant spinal anesthesia.
Differentiation of Lingxiaohua and Yangjinhua by chloroplast genome sequencing and DNA barcoding markers
Authors: Ngai Hiu-Lam , Kong Bobby Lim-Ho , Lau David Tai-Wai , Shaw Pang-Chui
Published: December 2022

Lingxiaohua (Campsis Flos, Campsis grandiflora (Thunb.) K. Schum) is a medicinal herb used for promoting diuresis and treating blood-related disorders by the promotion of blood circulation. It also possesses anti-inflammatory and antioxidative properties. This non-poisonous plant is frequently confused with poisonous Yangjinhua (Daturae Metelis Flos, Datura metel Linnaeus) in the market, resulting in serious anticholinergic poisoning. The confusion of these two herbs is due to the similarity in their appearances. In our study, we compared the complete chloroplast genomes of the two plants and found that they are very different in terms of their gene content and gene arrangement. There were also significant differences in the number and repeating motifs of microsatellites and complex repeats. We used universal primers for the amplification of rbcL, matK, psbA-trnH, and ITS2 regions and successfully differentiated the two plants. Furthermore, we designed two pairs of primers based on the nucleotide differences in chloroplast genomes at the rps14 and rpoC1 regions to provide additional authentication markers. The universal primers and specific primers when used together can accurately discriminate Lingxiaohua and Yangjinhua.
Metastable vacua from torsion and machine learning
Authors: Damian Cesar , Loaiza-Brito Oscar
Published: December 2022

By implementing an error function on a Machine Learning algorithm we look for minimal conditions to construct stable Anti de Sitter and de Sitter vacua from dimensional type IIB String theory compactification on Kähler manifolds with torsion. This allows to have contributions to the scalar potential from the five-form flux and from D-branes wrapping torsional cycles, interpreted as non-BPS states. The former implies the possibility to construct stable AdS vacua while the latter constitutes a mechanism to uplift AdS to dS vacua. Particularly we consider $${\widehat{D5}}$$

D
5

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non-BPS states to uplift the stable AdS vacua to an (apparently) stable dS minimum. Both results – the generation of an AdS vacuum and the corresponding uplifting to a dS one – are restricted to a certain type of configurations, specifically with the number of O3 orientifolds bounded from below by the number of D3-branes and fluxes. Under these conditions, we report over 170 dS (classical) stable vacua. In all of them, the uplifted effective potential becomes very flat indicating the presence of possible sources of instabilities. We comment on their relationship with the Swampland Conjectures.
A novel cooperative driving model for platooning of connected and automated vehicles
Authors: Chen Jianzhong , Xu Zhaoxin , Li Jing , Lin Haomeng
Published: December 2022

This paper proposes a new cooperative driving model for the platooning of connected and automated vehicles on basic freeway sections. We introduce the desired speed, consider the communication delay between vehicles in the actual environment and employ the constant time headway policy as the spacing policy. In the model, the position error, the speed error, the difference between the desired speed and the speed of the considered vehicle and the acceleration are taken into account. The information obtained by vehicle communication is fully utilized, and the control effect of the control strategy is improved. We apply the Lyapunov–Krasovskii theorem to investigate the stability of the system. The effectiveness of the proposed model is verified by several traffic simulation scenarios.
Radicalization phenomena: Phase transitions, extinction processes and control of violent activities
Authors: Crokidakis Nuno
Published: December 2022

In this work, we study a simple mathematical model to analyze the emergence and control of radicalization phenomena. The population consists of core and sensitive subpopulations, and their ways of life may be at least partially incompatible. In such a case, if a conflict exists, core agents act as inflexible individuals about the issue. On the other hand, the sensitive agents choose between two options: live peacefully with core population, or oppose it. This kind of modeling was recently considered by Galam and Javarone (2016) with constant pairwise couplings. Here, we consider the more general case with time-dependent transition rates, with the aim of study the impact of such time dependence on the critical behavior of the model. The analytical and numerical results show that the nonequilibrium active-absorbing phase transition can be suppressed in some cases, with the destruction of the absorbing phase where the radical agents disappear of the population in the stationary states.
Lattice Boltzmann model for axisymmetric electrokinetic flows
Authors: Yang Xuguang , Zhang Ting , Zhang Yuze
Published: December 2022

The axisymmetric electrokinetic flows are of great importance in Micro-Electro-Mechanical System (MEMS). In this paper, the Nernst–Planck (NP) model under the cylindrical coordinate system is used to describe the axisymmetric electrokinetic flows. Furthermore, a coupled lattice Boltzmann method (LBM) is proposed to solve the axisymmetric NP model. To validate the capacity of the proposed coupled LBM, the axisymmetric electrokinetic flows in circular tubes and annular ducts are numerically studied. The numerical results agree well with the reported numerical data.
CSS: A new combined spreading score measurement for identifying multiple influential spreaders in complex networks
Authors: Xu Yan , Feng Zhidan , Hu Sihuang , Qi Xingqin
Published: December 2022

Identifying multiple influential spreaders is a significant procedure to understand, control or accelerate the dynamics of information diffusion process in complex networks effectively. For a given network [Formula: see text] and an integer [Formula: see text], we need to find a set of [Formula: see text] vertices as “seeds” which carry the information originally, and then through a certain diffusion model, the information can be spread as widely as possible. Note that these seeds cannot be too close to each other, otherwise information is easy to be congested. In this paper, we make an attempt to identify multiple spreaders by considering the “marginal benefit” [Formula: see text] of a vertex [Formula: see text] when it is added to an existing seed set [Formula: see text]. Here [Formula: see text] is defined as a function of [Formula: see text]’s influential ability and the common influence range between vertex [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text]. In particular, we use the degree to measure the vertex’s influential ability and use the number of common neighbors between vertex [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] to measure their common influence range. In order to verify this new algorithm’s validity, we apply it on several social networks and the new method performs better than others. This new method is simple to implement and has lower time complexity, thus is expected to have promising applications in the future.
Small Object Detection Methods in Complex Background: An Overview
Authors: Li Zhigang , Guo Qimei , Sun Bo , Cao Difei , Li Yingqi , Sun Xiaochuan
Published: December 2022

Small object detection has been a research hotspot in the field of computer vision. Especially in complex backgrounds (CBs), SOD faces various challenges, including inconspicuous small object features, object distortion due to CBs interference, and inaccurate object localization due to various noises. So far, many methods have been proposed to improve the SOD content in CBs. In this paper, based on an extensive study of related literature, we first outline the current challenges and some cutting-edge solutions for SOD, and then introduce the complex background interference types present in small object images and the imaging characteristics of different types of images, as well as the characteristics of small objects. Next, the image pre-processing methods are summarized. Based on this, machine learning-based SOD methods and traditional SOD methods are focused on. Finally, the future development direction is given.
Representation Learning Method Based on Improved Random Walk for Influence Maximization
Authors: Liu Yuying , Qiu Liqing , Zhou Xiaodan
Published: December 2022

The purpose of the influence maximization problem is to determine a subset to maximize the number of affected users. This problem is very crucial for information dissemination in social networks. Most traditional influence maximization methods usually focus too heavily on the information diffusion model and randomly set influence parameters, resulting in inaccurate final outcomes. Driven by the recent criticisms of the diffusion model and the rapid development of representation learning, this paper proposes a representation learning method based on improved random walk for influence maximization (IRWIM) to maximize the influence spread. The IRWIM algorithm improves the traditional random walk and adopts multi-task neural network architecture to predict the propagation ability of nodes more accurately. Moreover, the greedy strategy is utilized to continuously optimize the marginal gain while retaining the theoretical guarantee. IRWIM is tested on four genuine datasets. Experimental results show that the accuracy of the proposed algorithm is superior to various competitive algorithms in the field of influence maximization.
Automatic Extraction of Ontological Explanation for Machine Learning-Based Systems
Authors: Chondamrongkul Nacha , Temdee Punnarumol
Published: December 2022

Machine learning has been implemented as a part of many software systems to support data-driven decisions and recommendations. The prominent machine learning technique is the artificial neural network, which lacks the explanation of how it produces the output. However, many application domains require algorithmic decision making to be transparent so explainability in these systems has been an important challenge. This paper proposes an automated framework that elicits the contributing rules describing how the neural network model makes decisions. The explainability of contributing rules can be measured and it is able to address issues in the training dataset. With the ontology representation of contributing rules, an individual decision can be automatically explained through ontology reasoning. We have developed a tool that supports applying our framework in practice. The evaluation has been conducted to assess the effectiveness of our framework using open datasets from different domains. The results prove that our framework performs well to explain the neural network models, as it can achieve the average accuracy of 81% to explain the subject models. Also, our framework takes significantly less time to process than the other technique.