bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Early persistence on therapy impacts drug-free remission: a case-control study in a cohort of Hispanic patients with recent-onset rheumatoid arthritis
Authors: Contreras-Yáñez Irazú , Guaracha-Basáñez Guillermo Arturo , Cuevas-Montoya Maximiliano , de Jesús Hernández-Bautista José , Pascual-Ramos Virginia
Published: August 2022

Background

Medication adherence is suboptimal in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients and impacts outcomes. DMARD-free remission (DFR) is a sustainable and achievable outcome in a minority of RA patients. Different factors have been associated with DFR, although persistence in therapy (PT), a component of the adherence construct, has never been examined. The study’s primary aim was to investigate the impact of PT’s characteristics on DFR in a cohort of Hispanic patients with recent-onset RA.

Methods

A single data abstractor reviewed the charts from 209 early (symptoms duration ≤ 1 year) RA patients. All the patients had prospective assessments of disease activity and PT and at least 1 year of follow-up, which was required for the DFR definition. DFR was defined when patients achieved ≥ 1 year of continuous Disease Activity Score-28 joints evaluated ≤ 2.6, without DMARDs and corticosteroids. PT was defined based on pre-specified criteria and recorded through an interview from 2004 to 2008 and thereafter through a questionnaire. Cases (patients who achieved ≥ 1 DFR status) were paired with controls (patients who never achieved DFR during their entire follow-up) according to ten relevant variables (1:2). Cox regression analysis estimated hazard ratios (HRs) for DFR according to two characteristics of PT: the % of the patient follow-up PT and early PT (first 2 years of patients’ follow-up).

Results

In March 2022, the population had 112 (55–181) patient/years follow-up. There were 23 patients (11%) with DFR after 74 months (44–122) of follow-up, and the DFR status was maintained during 48 months (18–82). Early PT was associated with DFR, while the % of the patient follow-up PT was not: HR = 3.84 [1.13–13.07] when the model was adjusted for cumulativeNof DMARDs/patient and 3.16 [1.14–8.77] when also adjusted for baseline SF-36 physical component score. A lowerNof cumulative DMARDs/patient was also retained in the models. Receiving operating curve to define the best cutoff of patient follow-up being PT to predict DFR was 21 months: sensitivity of 0.739, specificity of 0.717, and area under the curve of 0.682 (0.544–0.821).

Conclusions

DFR status might be added to the benefits of adhering to prescribed treatment.
Exploring women’s experiences participating in yoga after a cancer diagnosis: a protocol for a meta-synthesis
Authors: Price Jenson , Brunet Jennifer
Published: August 2022

Background

The benefits of yoga for clinical and non-clinical populations have been summarized in published systematic reviews. The vast majority of systematic reviews on the topic are syntheses of quantitative research that evaluated the effects of yoga. As qualitative research related to women’s experiences participating in yoga after a cancer diagnosis is growing in quantity, systematic synthesis and integration of qualitative research are necessary to facilitate the transfer of knowledge. This paper describes the protocol for a meta-synthesis of qualitative research exploring women’s experiences participating in yoga after a cancer diagnosis.

Methods

Using a meta-study methodology, six electronic databases were searched to identify relevant articles. Additionally, the reference lists of relevant articles retrieved during the electronic database search were scanned to identify other relevant articles. Two reviewers independently screened the titles and abstracts, retaining those that appeared to relate to the review objectives. Next, they reviewed the retained full-text articles to assess eligibility according to four inclusion criteria. They will extract data from eligible studies and assess the quality of included studies. Data analysis will involve three main analytical steps: meta-data analysis, meta-method analysis, and meta-theory analysis. Findings from the three analytical steps will be interpreted collectively to generate additional insights beyond the findings of the primary studies to facilitate a more comprehensive understanding of women’s experiences participating in yoga after a cancer diagnosis.

Discussion

By systematically collecting, analysing, and interpreting findings across multiple primary qualitative studies, we will develop an overarching narrative and interpretation of the role and value of yoga for women diagnosed with cancer. A synthesis of qualitative research is vital as it embraces the heterogeneity of the research so as to provide important context for understanding the experiences of various women participating in yoga.

Systematic review registration

PROSPEROCRD42021229253
Prone position reduces the risk of patients with mild or moderate COVID-19 progressing to severe or even critical cases: a retrospective study
Authors: Xu Chuan-cai , Xu Jia-li , Wang Xiao-fei , Meng Shen , Ye Sheng , Tang Xiao-miao , Lei Wei
Published: August 2022

Background

To investigate whether prone position can reduce the risk of patients with mild or moderate COVID-19 who progress to severe or critical illness.

Methods

The prone position group was treated in prone position on the day of admission in addition to conventional treatment. Indicators such as saturation of pulse oximetry (SpO2), heart rate, blood pressure, respiratory rate, and prone position-related adverse events were recorded before prone ventilation, 5 min after prone position and 30 min after prone position. Meanwhile, the cases of severe and critical patients, the percentage of transformation and the final clinical outcome of this group were analyzed. Conversion rates and mortality were calculated for patients with mild or moderate COVID-19 retrieved from the database who received only conventional care without combined prone positioning as control group.

Results

(1) A total of 34 patients were included in prone position group. There were significant differences in SpO2 between the first 4 days after admission and the day of discharge (F = 3.17, P < 0.001). (2) The main complications were back and neck muscle soreness (55.9%), followed by abdominal distension (8.9%). (3) In control group, a total of 4873 cases of mild and moderate patients were included from 19 literatures, with an average deterioration rate of 22.7% and mortality rate of 1.7%. (4) In prone position group, there were no severe or critical transformation cases and also no death cases. The prone position group had a significantly lower deterioration rate when compared with the control group (χ2 = 9.962, P < 0.01).

Conclusion

Prone position improves SpO2 in patients with mild or moderate COVID-19. It can also reduce the percentage of mild or moderate patients progressing to severe or critical patients. The application of prone position is a simple, feasible, safe and effective treatment method in such patients.
Full automation of total metabolic tumor volume from FDG-PET/CT in DLBCL for baseline risk assessments
Authors: Jemaa S. , Paulson J. N. , Hutchings M. , Kostakoglu L. , Trotman J. , Tracy S. , de Crespigny A. , Carano R. A. D. , El-Galaly T. C. , Nielsen T. G. , Bengtsson T.
Published: August 2022

Background

Current radiological assessments of18fluorodeoxyglucose-positron emission tomography (FDG-PET) imaging data in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) can be time consuming, do not yield real-time information regarding disease burden and organ involvement, and hinder the use of FDG-PET to potentially limit the reliance on invasive procedures (e.g. bone marrow biopsy) for risk assessment.

Methods

Our aim is to enable real-time assessment of imaging-based risk factors at a large scale and we propose a fully automatic artificial intelligence (AI)-based tool to rapidly extract FDG-PET imaging metrics in DLBCL. On availability of a scan, in combination with clinical data, our approach generates clinically informative risk scores with minimal resource requirements. Overall, 1268 patients with previously untreated DLBCL from the phase III GOYA trial (NCT01287741) were included in the analysis (training:n = 846; hold-out:n = 422).

Results

Our AI-based model comprising imaging and clinical variables yielded a tangible prognostic improvement compared to clinical models without imaging metrics. We observed a risk increase for progression-free survival (PFS) with hazard ratios [HR] of 1.87 (95% CI: 1.31–2.67) vs 1.38 (95% CI: 0.98–1.96) (C-index: 0.59 vs 0.55), and a risk increase for overall survival (OS) (HR: 2.16 (95% CI: 1.37–3.40) vs 1.40 (95% CI: 0.90–2.17); C-index: 0.59 vs 0.55). The combined model defined a high-risk population with 35% and 42% increased odds of a 4-year PFS and OS event, respectively, versus the International Prognostic Index components alone. The method also identified a subpopulation with a 2-year Central Nervous System (CNS)-relapse probability of 17.1%.

Conclusion

Our tool enables an enhanced risk stratification compared with IPI, and the results indicate that imaging can be used to improve the prediction of central nervous system relapse in DLBCL. These findings support integration of clinically informative AI-generated imaging metrics into clinical workflows to improve identification of high-risk DLBCL patients.

Trial Registration

Registered clinicaltrials.gov number: NCT01287741.

Graphical Abstract
Transformation and gene-disruption in the apple-pathogen, Neonectria ditissima
Authors: Vélëz Heriberto , af Sätra Jonas Skytte , Odilbekov Firuz , Bourras Salim , Garkava-Gustavsson Larisa , Dalman Kerstin
Published: August 2022

Background

Apple production in Sweden and elsewhere is being threatened by the fungus, Neonectria ditissima, which causes a disease known as European canker. The disease can cause extensive damage and the removal of diseased wood and heavily infected trees can be laborious and expensive. Currently, there is no way to eradicate the fungus from infected trees and our knowledge of the infection process is limited. Thus, to target and modify genes efficiently, the genetic transformation technique developed for N. ditissima back in 2003 was modified.

Results

The original protocol from 2003 was upgraded to use enzymes currently available in the market for making protoplasts. The protoplasts were viable, able to uptake foreign DNA, and able to regenerate back into a mycelial colony, either as targeted gene-disruption mutants or as ectopic mutants expressing the green fluorescent protein (GFP).

Conclusions

A new genetic transformation protocol has been established and the inclusion of hydroxyurea in the buffer during the protoplast-generation step greatly increased the creation of knockout mutants via homologous recombination. Pathogenicity assays using the GFP-mutants showed that the mutants were able to infect the host and cause disease.
Evaluating surface coatings to reduce bone cement adhesion to point of care 3D printed molds in the intraoperative setting
Authors: Beitler Brian , Roytman Gregory R. , Parmer Grace , Tommasini Steven M. , Wiznia Daniel H.
Published: August 2022

Background

Polymethyl methacrylate, or “bone cement,” can be used intraoperatively to replace damaged or diseased bone and to deliver local antibiotics. 3D printed molds allow surgeons to form personalized and custom shapes with bone cement. One factor hindering the clinical utility of anatomically accurate 3D printed molds is that cured bone cement can be difficult to remove due to the strong adhesion between the mold and the bone cement. One way to reduce the adhesion between the 3D printed mold and the cured bone cement is with the use of a surface coating, such as a lubricant. This study sought to determine the optimal surface coating to prevent bone cement adhesion to 3D printed molds that could be utilized within a sterile operating room environment.

Methods

Hemispheric molds were 3D printed using a stereolithography printer. The molds were coated with four sterile surface coatings available in most operating theatres (light mineral oil, bacitracin ointment, lubricating jelly, and ultrasound transmission gel). Polymethyl methacrylate with tobramycin antibiotic was mixed and poured into the molds. The amount of force needed to “push out” the cured bone cement from the molds was measured to determine the efficacy of each surface coating. Tukey’s multiple comparison test was performed to compare the results of the pushout test.

Results

The average pushout force for the surface coatings, in increasing order, were as follows (mean ± standard deviation) --- bacitracin ointment: 9.10 ± 6.68 N, mineral oil: 104.93 ± 69.92 N, lubricating jelly: 147.76 ± 63.77 N, control group: 339.31 ± 305.20 N, ultrasound transmission gel 474.11 ± 94.77 N. Only the bacitracin ointment required significantly less pushout force than the control (p = 0.0123).

Conclusions

The bacitracin ointment was the most effective surface coating, allowing the bone cement to be pushed out of the mold using the least amount of force. In addition, the low standard deviation speaks to the reliability of the bacitracin ointment to reduce mold adhesion compared to the other surface coatings. Given its efficacy as well as its ubiquitous presence in the hospital operating room setting, bacitracin ointment is an excellent choice to prevent adhesion between bone cement and 3D printed molds intraoperatively.
Calcium carbide–induced derangement of hematopoiesis and organ toxicity ameliorated by cyanocobalamin in a mouse model
Authors: Ouma Pherah A. , Mwaeni Victoria K. , Amwayi Peris W. , Isaac Alfred Orina , Nyariki James Nyabuga
Published: August 2022

Background

Calcium carbide (CaC2) is a chemical primarily used in the production of acetylene gas. The misuse of CaC2 to induce fruit ripening is a global challenge with a potential adverse effects to human health. Additionally, CaC2 is known to contain some reasonable amount of arsenic and phosphorous compounds that are toxic and pose a danger to human health when ingested. The current study sought to characterize CaC2 toxicity and elucidate any protective effects by cyanocobalamin (vitamin B12), a well-established antioxidant and anti-inflammatory bio-molecule. Female Swiss white mice were randomly assigned into three groups; the first group was the control, while the second group was administered with CaC2. The third group received CaC2 followed by administration of vitamin B12. The mice were sacrificed at 60 days post treatment, hematological, biochemical, glutathione assay, cytokine ELISA and standard histopathology was performed.

Results

CaC2 administration did not significantly alter the mice body weight. CaC2 administration resulted in a significant decrease in packed cell volume (PCV), hemoglobin (Hb), red blood cells (RBCs) and RBC indices; indicative of CaC2-driven normochromic microcytic anaemia. Further analysis showed CaC2-driven leukopenia. Evidently, vitamin B12 blocked CaC2-driven suppression of PCV, Hb, RBCs and WBCs. Monocytes and neutrophils were significantly up-regulated by CaC2. CaC2-induced elevation of aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and bilirubin signaled significant liver damage. Notably, vitamin B12 stabilized AST, ALT and bilirubin in the presence of CaC2, an indication of a protective effect. Histopathological analysis depicted that vitamin B12 ameliorated CaC2-driven liver and kidney injury. CaC2 resulted in the depletion of glutathione (GSH) levels in the liver; while in the brain, kidney and lungs, the GSH levels were elevated. CaC2 administration resulted in elevation of pro-inflammatory cytokines TNF-α and IFN-γ. Vitamin B12 assuaged the CaC2-induced elevation of these pro-inflammatory cytokines.

Conclusions

These findings demonstrate for the first time that oral supplementation with vitamin B12 can protect mice against CaC2-mediated toxicity, inflammation and oxidative stress. The findings provide vital tools for forensic and diagnostic indicators for harmful CaC2 exposure; while providing useful insights into how vitamin B12 can be explored further as an adjunct therapy for CaC2 toxicity.
Elotuzumab Plus Pomalidomide and Dexamethasone for Relapsed/Refractory Multiple Myeloma: Final Overall Survival Analysis From the Randomized Phase II ELOQUENT-3 Trial
Authors: Dimopoulos Meletios A. , Dytfeld Dominik , Grosicki Sebastian , Moreau Philippe , Takezako Naoki , Hori Mitsuo , Leleu Xavier , LeBlanc Richard , Suzuki Kenshi , Raab Marc S. , Richardson Paul G. , Popa McKiver Mihaela , Jou Ying-Ming , Yao David , Das Prianka , San-Miguel Jesús
Published: August 2022

PURPOSE

In the phase II ELOQUENT-3 trial (ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT02654132 ), elotuzumab combined with pomalidomide/dexamethasone (EPd) significantly improved progression-free survival (PFS) versus pomalidomide/dexamethasone (Pd) in patients with relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma (RRMM) previously treated with lenalidomide and a proteasome inhibitor (PI). Here, we present the final overall survival (OS) results.

METHODS

Patients with RRMM who had received ≥ 2 prior lines of therapy, with disease refractory to last therapy and either refractory or relapsed and refractory to lenalidomide and a PI were randomly assigned (1:1) to receive EPd or Pd. The primary end point was PFS per investigator assessment. ORR and OS were secondary end points planned to be tested hierarchically.

RESULTS

A total of 117 patients were randomly assigned to EPd (n = 60) and Pd (n = 57). Among treated patients (EPd 60, Pd 55), there were 37 (61.7%) deaths in the EPd group and 41 (74.5%) in the Pd group, most commonly because of disease progression (EPd 41.7%, Pd 49.1%). Median (95% CI) OS was significantly improved with EPd (29.8 [22.9 to 45.7] months) versus Pd (17.4 [13.8 to 27.7] months), with a hazard ratio of 0.59 (95% CI, 0.37 to 0.93; P = .0217). OS benefit with EPd was observed in most patient subgroups. The safety profile of EPd was consistent with prior reports with no new safety signals detected.

CONCLUSION

EPd demonstrated a statistically significant improvement in OS versus Pd in patients with RRMM previously treated with lenalidomide and a PI who had disease refractory to last therapy. In this setting, ELOQUENT-3 is the first randomized study of a triplet regimen incorporating a monoclonal antibody and Pd to improve both PFS and OS significantly.
Intensity-Modulated Radiation Therapy Reduces Patient-Reported Chronic Toxicity Compared With Conventional Pelvic Radiation Therapy: Updated Results of a Phase III Trial
Authors: Yeung Anamaria R. , Deshmukh Snehal , Klopp Ann H. , Gil Karen M. , Wenzel Lari , Westin Shannon N. , Konski Andre A. , Gaffney David K. , Small William , Thompson J. Spencer , Doncals Desiree E. , Cantuaria Guilherme H.C. , D'Souza David P. , Chang Amy , Kundapur Vijayananda , Mohan Dasarahally S. , Haas Michael L. , Kim Yong Bae , Ferguson Catherine L. , Pugh Stephanie L. , Kachnic Lisa A. , Bruner Deborah W.
Published: August 2022

Clinical trials frequently include multiple end points that mature at different times. The initial report, typically based on the primary end point, may be published when key planned coprimary or secondary analyses are not yet available. Clinical Trial Updates provide an opportunity to disseminate additional results from studies, published in JCO or elsewhere, for which the primary end point has already been reported.

The purpose of this update was to determine differences in patient-reported chronic toxicity and disease outcomes with intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) compared with conventional pelvic radiation. Patients with cervical and endometrial cancers who received postoperative pelvic radiation were randomly assigned to conventional radiation therapy (CRT) or IMRT. Toxicity and quality of life were assessed using Patient-Reported Outcomes version of the Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events, Expanded Prostate Cancer Index Composite (EPIC) bowel and urinary domains, and Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy–General. Between 2012 and 2015, 279 eligible patients were enrolled to the study with a median follow-up of 37.8 months. There were no differences in overall survival ( P = .53), disease-free survival ( P = .21), or locoregional failure ( P = .81). One year after RT, patients in the CRT arm experienced more high-level diarrhea frequency (5.8% IMRT v 15.1% CRT, P = .042) and a greater number had to take antidiarrheal medication two or more times a day (1.2% IMRT v 8.6% CRT, P = .036). At 3 years, women in the CRT arm reported a decline in urinary function, whereas the IMRT arm continued to improve (mean change in EPIC urinary score = 0.5, standard deviation = 13.0, IMRT v –6.0, standard deviation = 14.3, CRT, P = .005). In conclusion, IMRT reduces patient-reported chronic GI and urinary toxicity with no difference in treatment efficacy at 3 years.
Single-field slow-roll effective potential from Kähler moduli stabilizations in type-IIB/F-theory
Authors: Let Abhijit , Sarkar Arunoday , Sarkar Chitrak , Ghosh Buddhadeb
Published: August 2022

We derive a single-field slow-roll inflaton potential in three-intersecting-D7-branes configuration under type-IIB/F-theory compactification. Among three resulting Kähler moduli corresponding to three orthogonal directions, two are stabilized via perturbative corrections in the Kähler potential arising from the large-volume scenario

and four-graviton scattering amplitude up to one loop level and the remaining Kähler modulus is stabilized by KKLT-type non-perturbative correction in superpotential. The symmetric combination of two canonically normalized and perturbatively stabilized Kähler moduli gives the inflaton field and the anti-symmetric combination manifests itself as an auxiliary field.
Salivary Steroid Collection in Children Under Conditions Replicating Home Sampling
Authors: Tonge Joseph J , Keevil Brian G , Craig Jessica N , Whitaker Martin J , Ross Richard J , Elder Charlotte J
Published: August 2022

Context

Measurement of salivary glucocorticoids is an accepted method for testing adrenal function but there are few data on stability during home collection. Current salivary collection techniques require active participation or present a choking hazard and are unsuitable for young children.

Objective

We sought to compare different salivary collection methods; assess the stability of salivary glucocorticoids under conditions replicating home collection; and assess patient tolerability and caregiver acceptability of a salivary collection device for young children, a swab encased in an infant pacifier (SaliPac).

Methods

Six healthy adults collected salivary samples using a Salivette Cortisol, passive drool, and SalivaBio at night, waking, and 3 Pm for five days. Time to collect 1-mL saliva using the SalivaBio and SaliPac and caregiver acceptability were assessed in 30 children younger than 6 years. Saliva was stored at 4 °C, room temperature (RT), and 50 °C for 24, 48, 72 hours and 1 week to replicate potential postage conditions. Salivary cortisol and cortisone concentrations were measured by mass spectrometry.

Results

There was no difference in salivary glucocorticoid concentrations using the 3 collection methods. Salivary cortisol and cortisone were stable for 72 hours at RT and 4 °C, and repeated freeze-thaw cycles did not cause significant degradation. In children younger than 6 years the SalivaBio and SaliPac were well tolerated and collected sufficient saliva for salivary steroid analysis in less than 4 minutes.

Conclusion

Salivette, passive drool, and SalivaBio collect samples with comparable salivary cortisol and cortisone concentrations, which are stable under conditions replicating home collection. SaliPac is an acceptable device for salivary sampling in young children.
Steroidogenic Factor 1 Regulates Transcription of the Inhibin B Coreceptor in Pituitary Gonadotrope Cells
Authors: Lin Yeu-Farn , Schang Gauthier , Buddle Evan R S , Schultz Hailey , Willis Thea L , Ruf-Zamojski Frederique , Zamojski Michel , Mendelev Natalia , Boehm Ulrich , Sealfon Stuart C , Andoniadou Cynthia L , Bernard Daniel J
Published: August 2022

The inhibins control reproduction by suppressing follicle-stimulating hormone synthesis in pituitary gonadotrope cells. The newly discovered inhibin B coreceptor, TGFBR3L, is selectively and highly expressed in gonadotropes in both mice and humans. Here, we describe our initial characterization of mechanisms controlling cell-specific Tgfbr3l/TGFBR3L transcription. We identified two steroidogenic factor 1 (SF-1 or NR5A1) cis-elements in the proximal Tgfbr3l promoter in mice. SF-1 induction of murine Tgfbr3l promoter–reporter activity was inhibited by mutations in one or both sites in heterologous cells. In homologous cells, mutation of these cis-elements or depletion of endogenous SF-1 similarly decreased reporter activity. We observed nearly identical results when using a human TGFBR3L promoter–reporter. The Tgfbr3l gene was tightly compacted and Tgfbr3l mRNA expression was essentially absent in gonadotropes of SF-1 (Nr5a1) conditional knockout mice. During murine embryonic development, Tgfbr3l precedes Nr5a1 expression, though the two transcripts are fully colocalized by embryonic day 18.5 and thereafter. Collectively, these data indicate that SF-1 directly regulates Tgfbr3l/TGFBR3L transcription and is required for postnatal expression of the gene in gonadotropes.
In-Circuit High-Frequency Jet Ventilation for Radiological Tumor Ablation: A Case Series
Authors: Salih Tom , Elgie Laura , Hari Bindiya , Williams Bryn , Thomas Richard M. , Bandula Steve , Walkden Miles , Sultan Pervez , McPherson Kirstie , Jenkins Kathryn
Published: August 2022

High-frequency jet ventilation (HFJV) can reduce organ movement that otherwise complicates percutaneous image-guided ablation (IGA) procedures. This study describes feasibility and safety of the technique in routine use. We describe our method for the use of HFJV and present 169 consecutive cases, including IGA of tumors of the lung, liver, kidney, and pancreas. Intended oncological treatment was delivered in all cases and HFJV used for the duration of treatment in all except one case. We describe the characteristics of patients, procedures, and adverse events. It is feasible to use HFJV as the routine standard of care for IGA.
The impact of stress and its influencing factors among dentists during the COVID-19 pandemic in Kingdom of Bahrain
Authors: Ateeq Ali , Ebrahim Shaikha , Al-Ghatam Rana
Published: August 2022

Background: It is well known that all medical professions are linked to work stress, including dentistry, which is seen as facing high risk due to the nature of the job, especially the working conditions. This study aimed to assess the impact of stress and its influencing factors among dentists during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic in Bahrain.

Methods: A cross-sectional survey was designed to assess the impact of stress and its influencing factors among Bahraini dentists. A total of 306 participants were randomly selected from 1489 registered professionals in the NHRA (National Health Regulatory Authority Bahrain).

Results: Out of 306 participants invited in the survey, 253 responded. Overall, the participants reported moderate stress. All the variables of the study showed different effects, but the highest stressor with a strong correlation was “fear of social isolation” (FI) at the significance level of 0.01 (β= 0.393, t= 5.090, p < 0.05= (0.000) with f2 = 0.201 above 0.15 and less than 0.35, which was considered as a moderate effect size of approximately (20%), which strongly supported the hypothesis that researchers have proposed. Overall, the total effect for all stressors was 30 % which was considered as a moderate effect size. All hypotheses were supported except Burden of caring for patients → OUTCOME due to insufficient evidence. R² values of independent variables were above 95% for the variance of dentists’ outcomes, which is considered an excellent fit to the data as evidenced by the squared multiple correlations (R2 ) values for the dependent variables.

Conclusions: The study is unique based on its findings that reveal the impact of stress among dentists. Moreover, the results of this study may serve as guidance for future monitoring of dental practitioners’ burnout, anxiety, and workload.
Optimization Strategies for Resource-Constrained Project Scheduling Problems in Underground Mining
Authors: Hill Alessandro , Brickey Andrea J. , Cipriano Italo , Goycoolea Marcos , Newman Alexandra
Published: August 2022

Effective computational methods are important for practitioners and researchers working in strategic underground mine planning. We consider a class of problems that can be modeled as a resource-constrained project scheduling problem with optional activities; the objective maximizes net present value. We provide a computational review of math programming and constraint programming techniques for this problem, describe and implement novel problem-size reductions, and introduce an aggregated linear program that guides a list scheduling algorithm running over unaggregated instances. Practical, large-scale planning problems cannot be processed using standard optimization approaches. However, our strategies allow us to solve them to within about 5% of optimality in several hours, even for the most difficult instances.

History: Accepted by Andrea Lodi, Area Editor for Design and Analysis of Algorithms—Discrete.

Funding: This work was supported by Alford Mining Systems, the Centro de Modelamiento Matemático [Grants ACE210010 and FB21005], ANID-Chile [BASAL funds for center of excellence and FONDEF Grant ID19-10164], and the supercomputing infrastructure of the NLHPC [Grant ECM-02].
Sequential Mechanisms with Ex Post Individual Rationality
Authors: Ashlagi Itai , Daskalakis Constantinos , Haghpanah Nima
Published: August 2022

Online multiproduct sellers increasingly use interactive selling strategies to customize their offers to individual buyers. For example, a seller may adjust the prices of products dynamically based on user interaction and offer discounts for buying bundles of products. What selling strategy should such a seller use to maximize profit? In “Sequential Mechanisms with ex Post Individual Rationality,” I. Ashlagi, C. Daskalakis, and N. Haghpanah provide a recursive characterization of the optimal selling strategy. This characterization is used to identify conditions under which the ability to bundle products is less profitable for the seller than the ability to adjust prices dynamically.
Trochlear Lesion Caused by Suprapatellar Intramedullary Nailing and Treated with Autologous Chondrocytes Implant
Authors: Lane John , Smith Joel
Published: August 2022

Introduction:Intramedullary nailing remains the most common method of treatment for tibial shaft fractures. The suprapatellar technique has proven to be useful in gaining and maintaining alignment, especially in proximal one-third tibia shaft fractures. It has been adopted by many surgeons taking trauma call, because it requires less set-up time and allows the surgery to be done with less assistance. We present a case of a femoral trochlea lesion following the placement of a reamed suprapatellar intramedullary nail for fixation of a tibial shaft fracture. Case Presentation:An active 33-year-old male with no prior history of knee pain sustained a distal tibial shaft fracture and was treated with suprapatellar intramedullary nail fixation. Five months later, he underwent revision surgery with exchange nail placement and reaming via an infrapatellar technique for delayed healing of the fracture with subsequent successful healing. The patient, otherwise healthy, continued to experience persistent anterior knee pain with clunking and inability to arise from a flexed knee position approximately 18 months post-surgery. Magnetic resonance imaging and arthroscopic evaluation of the joint were performed, and a full-thickness cartilage lesion was identified in the central portion of the femoral trochlear groove. Conclusion: The purpose of the present case is to bring awareness to the fact that the suprapatellar approach to intramedullary nailing tibial shaft fracture fixation can be accompanied by trochlear articular cartilage damage, which can be successfully treated with cartilage restoration.
Hypoplastic femur with pathologic femoral shaft fracture associated with extensive arteriovenous malformations. A series of five cases
Authors: Gupta T P , Gupta Gayatri Karad , Shaki Omna , Rai S K , Kale Amit , Vij Vineet
Published: August 2022

Introduction: Extremities arteriovenous malformations are uncommon vascular lesions that usually go unnoticed until a fracture occurs or imaged for other medical problems. The lesion is invariably quiescent, infiltrative in nature, and leads to the destruction of soft tissue and bone. Worldwide 20-30 % incidence of arteriovenous malformations has been noted in bones. This arteriovenous malformation greatly affects bone growth as compared to the normal side and leads to pathological fracture. However, few reports on the management of such pathologic fractures associated with AVM have been published in the literature. The main problem is to decide the types of implants and whether open or closed reduction. Here, we present a case series of pathologic femoral shaft fracture associated with multiple hemangiomas in the thigh that was treated successfully by minimally invasive distal femoral locking plate fixation and teriparatide. Case presentation: We are describing our one index case. A 39-year-old woman, otherwise healthy, sustained a fall and developed a left femoral shaft fracture. At the time of admission, she had swelling and venous varicosities and non-itchy, blanchable violet patches over the left thigh. Plain radiography of the left thigh revealed Hypoplastic femoral shaft with a markedly obliterated medullary canal with distal 1/3 rd fracture with calcification of soft tissue. We planned open reduction and distal locking femoral plating because medullary canal was very small to accommodate intramedullary nail following embolization of the feeding artery. While performing open reduction, a considerable amount of bleeding (1300 ml) after incision of subcutaneous tissue occurred. After successful fracture fixation, union was achieved with administration of teriparatide 12 months postoperatively. At present patient is able to walk using elbow support.
Autologous Wrapping Fibular Strut Graft and Iliac Bone Graft for the Treatment of Septic Non-union of Pediatric Ulnar Fracture: A Case Report
Authors: Wankhade Ajay M , Aiyer Sujata , Salve Amol , Bava Surendarsingh , Nahatkar Tanay , Koshire Spandan
Published: August 2022

Introduction: Infected non-union is rare in pediatric patients. Various methods have been described in the literature to manage such cases. We present a familiar and simple technique to treat a non-union in pediatric population. Case Presentation: A 4-year-old boy came to us with a right-sided proximal forearm swelling and tenderness. Clinical and radiological features suggestive of osteomyelitis of ulna with a history of the right-sided forearm cellulitis when he was 4 months of age which was managed with incision and drainage at that time. The patient underwent surgery for surgical debridement with drilling of ulnar cortex for pus evacuation. Postoperatively, the patient developed a stress fracture at drilling site which eventually went into a non-union. In second surgery, bony union achieved with the help of non-vascularized fibular strut graft and iliac cancellous graft. Conclusion: There are numerous complications of osteomyelitis in pediatric patients and their management has been previously highlighted throughout literature. Here, we present a rare occurrence case report highlighting management of pediatric atrophic infected gap non-union of ulna by non-vascularized fibula strut stabilized by Titanium Elastic nail which offers a simple yet an elegant solution in a low-cost setting with complete bony union and restoration of function.
Applications of the linear canonical transform to digital image processing
Authors: Goel Navdeep , Gabarda Salvador
Published: August 2022

In this paper, an existing approximation of discrete linear canonical transform (DLCT) is analyzed, and constraints are derived to fulfill some paramount properties as inversibility and additivity or the possibility to perform classical image operations in the frequency domain as image filtering. Giving some special values to the DLCT parameters and taking advantage of the division of the image spectrum in four zones of different significance, an application of image feature classifications is successfully investigated. Also, the required constraints are obtained to determine the suitability of the selected approximation when working with digital images.
Terahertz lasing conditions of radiative and nonradiative propagating plasmon modes in graphene-coated cylinders
Authors: Prelat Leila , Passarelli Nicolás , Bustos-Marún Raúl , Depine Ricardo A.
Published: August 2022

There is increasing interest in filling the gap of miniaturized terahertz/mid-infrared radiation sources and, particularly, in incorporating these sources into micro/nanophotonic circuits. By using rigorous electromagnetic methods, we investigate the lasing conditions and the electric-tunability of radiative and nonradiative propagating surface plasmon modes in cylinders made of active materials coated with a graphene layer. A detailed analysis of the lasing condition of different surface plasmon modes shows that there is an abrupt change in the gain required when modes become nonradiative. Although radiative modes, subject to both radiation and ohmic losses, are expected to require more gain compensation than nonradiative modes, we find that, counterintuitively, gain compensation is greater for nonradiative modes. This is explained in terms of a change in the distribution of fields that occurs when the character of modes switches from plasmonic to photonic. Finally, we assess the feasibility of our proposal by using a realistic gain medium and showing that a relatively low population inversion is required for the stimulated emission of the studied system.
Snapshot volumetric imaging with engineered point-spread functions
Authors: Olesker Daniel , Harvey Andrew R. , Taylor Jonathan M.
Published: August 2022

The biological world involves intracellular and intercellular interactions that occur at high speed, at multiple scales and in three dimensions. Acquiring 3D images, however, typically requires a compromise in either spatial or temporal resolution compared to 2D imaging. Conventional 2D fluorescence imaging provides high spatial resolution but requires plane-by-plane imaging of volumes. Conversely, snapshot methods such as light-field microscopy allow video-rate imaging, but at the cost of spatial resolution. Here we introduce 3D engineered point-spread function microscopy (3D-EPM), enabling snapshot imaging of real-world 3D extended biological structures while retaining the native resolution of the microscope in space and time. Our new computational recovery strategy is the key to volumetrically reconstructing arbitrary 3D structures from the information encapsulated in 2D raw EPM images. We validate our technique on both point-like and extended samples, and demonstrate its power by imaging the intracellular motion of chloroplasts undergoing cyclosis in a sample of Egeria densa. Our technique represents a generalised computational methodology for 3D image recovery which is readily adapted to a diverse range of existing microscopy platforms and engineered point-spread functions. We therefore expect it to find broad applicability in the study of rapid biological dynamics in 3D.
Microbubble-based optical fiber Fabry-Perot sensor for simultaneous high-pressure and high-temperature sensing
Authors: Hu Yong , Wei Heming , Ma Zhangwei , Zhang Liang , Pang Fufei , Wang Tingyun
Published: August 2022

An all-silica Fabry-Perot interferometer (FPI) based on a microbubble for high-pressure and high-temperature measurements is proposed and demonstrated. The microbubble-based air cavity is fabricated using a hollow silica tube and a single-mode optical fiber for pressure sensing. The suitable thickness between the two end faces of the microbubble enables the silica cavity to be used for temperature sensing. The wavelength shift of the reflection spectrum versus pressure is linear, and the sensitivity reaches −5.083 nm/MPa at room temperature (20 °C) within the range of 0 − 4 MPa. The temperature sensitivity reaches 12.715 pm/°C within the range of 20 − 700 °C. The very low temperature-pressure cross-sensitivity of the two cavities indicates that the proposed FPI sensor offers great potential for simultaneous high-pressure and high-temperature measurements in harsh environments.
Miniature bending-resistant fiber grating accelerometer based on a flexible hinge structure
Authors: Liang Lei , Wang Hui , Li Zichuang , Dai Shu , Jiang Ke
Published: August 2022

To meet the needs of vibration monitoring with special requirements for the size and quality of accelerometers, a miniaturized fiber Bragg grating accelerometer based on flexible hinges is proposed in this paper. The sensor uses a flexible hinge as an elastic body, and the suspended arc package realizes the miniaturization of the accelerometer. At the same time, the grating prepared by bending-resistant optical fiber successfully solves the problem of light loss in arc-shaped packaging. The structural model and principle of the accelerometer are introduced, and its sensing characteristics are analyzed theoretically and by simulation. The physical size of the prepared accelerometer is 17 mm × 12 mm × 10 mm, and its mass is only 4.44 g. The experimental results show that the resonant frequency of the accelerometer is about 900 Hz, the sensitivity is 26.962 pm/g in the flat range of 20-400 Hz, and the lateral interference is less than 5%. The accelerometer is suitable for medium and low frequency vibration monitoring in narrow spaces in aerospace and other fields.
Large depth-of-field computational imaging with multi-spectral and dual-aperture optics
Authors: Kou Tingdong , Zhang Qican , Zhang Chongyang , He Tianyue , Shen Junfei
Published: August 2022

Large DOF (depth-of-field) with high SNR (signal-noise-ratio) imaging is a crucial technique for applications from security monitoring to medical diagnostics. However, traditional optical design for large DOF requires a reduction in aperture size, and hence with a decrease in light throughput and SNR. In this paper, we report a computational imaging system integrating dual-aperture optics with a physics-informed dual-encoder neural network to realize prominent DOF extension. Boosted by human vision mechanism and optical imaging law, the dual-aperture imaging system is consisted of a small-aperture NIR camera to provide sharp edge and a large-aperture VIS camera to provide faithful color. To solve the imaging inverse problem in NIR-VIS fusion with different apertures, a specific network with parallel double encoders and the multi-scale fusion module is proposed to adaptively extract and learn the useful features, which contributes to preventing color deviation while preserving delicate scene textures. The proposed imaging framework is flexible and can be designed in different protos with varied optical elements for different applications. We provide theory for system design, demonstrate a prototype device, establish a real-scene dataset containing 3000 images, perform elaborate ablation studies and conduct peer comparative experiments. The experimental results demonstrate that our method effectively produces high-fidelity with larger DOF range than input raw images about 3 times. Without complex optical design and strict practical limitations, this novel, intelligent and integratable system is promising for variable vision applications such as smartphone photography, computational measurement, and medical imaging.
Pre-compressed polymer cholesteric liquid crystal based optical fiber VOC sensor with high stability and a wide detection range
Authors: Li Yong , Yin Zhen , Luo Dan
Published: August 2022

As the concentration of VOC gases is very high in organic chemical reactions, in order to ensure the safety and accuracy of the experiment, it is very important to develop a gas sensor with a wide detection range. Exploring the mechanism and law of photonic bandgap (PBG) shift after absorption of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) vapors are two basic premises of resolving the PCLC for gas detection with a wide measurement range and stability. Herein, the PCLC films doped with different concentrations of polymer are used for acetone vapor detection, and the shift law of the PBG position is analyzed. As the increase of the detected gas concentration, the intractable problem is that the PBG position of PCLC exhibits red- and blue-shifts successively. Particularly, the pre-compressed technique is highly important for development of a high-performance PCLC based fiber probe, which is crucial for effectively solving the bottleneck problem mentioned. It enables detection of a wide range of acetone vapor concentration from 0 ppm to 50×104 ppm, and the corresponding mean sensitivity of 0.23 pm/ppm. In addition, the thermal crosstalk is generally negligible at temperature below 40°C. Therefore, it is a breakthrough that the described technique not only effectively enhances the stability and robustness of the PCLC fiber probe for VOC vapor detection, but also improves its sensitivity and detection range. The pre-compressed technique provides a novel avenue for fabrication of other PCLC-based devices.
Experimental demonstration of a “pin-like” low-divergence beam in a 1-Gbit/s OOK FSO link using a limited-size receiver aperture at various propagation distances
Authors: Hu Nanzhe , Zhou Huibin , Zhang Runzhou , Song Haoqian , Pang Kai , Zou Kaiheng , Song Hao , Su Xinzhou , Liu Cong , Lynn Brittany , Tur Moshe , Willner Alan E.
Published: August 2022

In free-space optical (FSO) communications, there are scenarios (e.g., from a ground station to a drone/airplane) in which: (i) the transmitter (Tx) can have a relatively large aperture whereas the receiver (Rx) aperture should preferably be much smaller, and (ii) the distance between the Tx and Rx can vary such that beam divergence will cause a variation in the recovered signal power. In such cases, transmission using a fundamental Gaussian beam can be significantly degraded due to beam truncation caused by a limited-size Rx aperture. Here, we experimentally demonstrate a 1-Gbit/s on-off keying (OOK) FSO transmission link using a structured “pin-like” beam with a limited-size Rx aperture at various distances. The pin-like beam is generated by passing a Gaussian beam through an “Airy-type” phase pattern in the radial direction. When propagating, this structured beam first narrows and then tends to maintain its narrow beam size over a fairly wide range of distances. In comparison to its Gaussian counterpart, our experimental results show that the pin-like beam has ∼13 to 8 dB less power loss at distances ranging from 0.45 m to 0.8 m with an Rx aperture diameter of 1 mm. Moreover, we simulate the propagation of the pin-like beam and show its relatively lower power loss for a wide distance variation in a longer link (e.g., ∼1 km) with a limited-size Rx aperture. Furthermore, our results show that the pin-like beam can have a wider range of low-power-loss distances than a Gaussian beam that is focused to a given distance.