bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Mechanical Microenvironment Regulates Axon Diameters Visualized by Cryo-Electron Tomography
Authors: Ma Di , Deng Binbin , Sun Chao , McComb David W. , Gu Chen
Published: August 2022

Axonal varicosities or swellings are enlarged structures along axon shafts and profoundly affect action potential propagation and synaptic transmission. These structures, which are defined by morphology, are highly heterogeneous and often investigated concerning their roles in neuropathology, but why they are present in the normal brain remains unknown. Combining confocal microscopy and cryo-electron tomography (Cryo-ET) with in vivo and in vitro systems, we report that non-uniform mechanical interactions with the microenvironment can lead to 10-fold diameter differences within an axon of the central nervous system (CNS). In the brains of adult Thy1-YFP transgenic mice, individual axons in the cortex displayed significantly higher diameter variation than those in the corpus callosum. When being cultured on lacey carbon film-coated electron microscopy (EM) grids, CNS axons formed varicosities exclusively in holes and without microtubule (MT) breakage, and they contained mitochondria, multivesicular bodies (MVBs), and/or vesicles, similar to the axonal varicosities induced by mild fluid puffing. Moreover, enlarged axon branch points often contain MT free ends leading to the minor branch. When the axons were fasciculated by mimicking in vivo axonal bundles, their varicosity levels reduced. Taken together, our results have revealed the extrinsic regulation of the three-dimensional ultrastructures of central axons by the mechanical microenvironment under physiological conditions.
Early Plasma Magnesium in Near-Term and Term Infants with Neonatal Encephalopathy in the Context of Perinatal Asphyxia
Authors: Suhard Juliette , Faussat Cathie , Morel Baptiste , Laurent Emeline , Favrais Geraldine
Published: August 2022

Magnesium ions are implicated in brain functioning. The disruption of brain metabolism subsequent to a perinatal hypoxic-ischaemic insult may be reflected by plasma magnesium. Infants at 36 weeks after birth or later with neonatal encephalopathy and who were admitted to our neonatal unit from 2011 to 2019 were retrospectively included. The kinetics of plasma magnesium were investigated for the first 72 h of life and correlated to the Barkovich MRI score. Among the 125 infants who met the inclusion criteria, 45 patients (36%) had moderate to severe brain lesions on neonatal MRI. Plasma magnesium values were not strongly associated with the severity of clinical encephalopathy, initial EEG background and brain lesions. Intriguingly, higher plasma magnesium values during the 0–6 h period were linked to the presence of brain injuries that predominated within the white matter (p < 0.001) and to the requirement of cardiac resuscitation in the delivery room (p = 0.001). The occurrence of seizures was associated with a lower mean magnesium value around the 24th hour of life (p = 0.005). This study supports that neonatal encephalopathy is a complex and multifactorial condition. Plasma magnesium could help to better identify the subtypes of neonatal encephalopathy. Further studies are needed to confirm these results in this prospect.
A Rare Case of Idiopathic Painful Nervus Intermedius Neuropathy in a 13-Year-Old Female: A Case Report and Discussion in the Context of the Literature
Authors: Fernandez-Vial Diego , Sangalli Linda , Perez Cristina
Published: August 2022

(1) Background: Painful nervus intermedius neuropathy involves continuous or near-continuous pain affecting the distribution of the intermedius nerve(s). The diagnosis of this entity is challenging, particularly when the clinical and demographic features do not resemble the typical presentation of this condition. To the best of our knowledge, only three case reports have described the occurrence of nervus intermedius neuropathy in young patients. (2) Case Description: A 13-year-old female referred to the orofacial pain clinic with a complaint of pain located deep in the right ear and mastoid area. The pain was described as constant, throbbing and dull, with an intensity of 7/10 on numerical rating scale, characterized by superimposed brief paroxysms of severe sharp pain. The past treatments included ineffective pharmacological and irreversible surgical approaches. After a comprehensive evaluation, a diagnosis of idiopathic painful nervus intermedius neuropathy was given, which was successfully managed with the use of gabapentin. (3) Conclusions and Practical Implications: The diagnosis and treatment of neuropathic pain affecting the nervus intermedius can be challenging due to the complex nature of the sensory innervation of the ear. The diagnosis can be even more challenging in cases of atypical clinical and demographic presentations, which in turn may result in unsuccessful, unnecessary, and irreversible treatments. Multidisciplinary teams and constant knowledge update are fundamental to provide good quality of care to our patients and not to overlook any relevant signs or symptoms.
Adjustment of AgCaLa Phases in a FeMn Matrix via LBM for Implants with Adapted Degradation
Authors: Krüger Jan Tobias
Published: August 2022

For many applications, implants overtake body function for a certain time. Bioresorbable implants reduce patient burden as they prevent adverse consequences due to remaining implants or operations for removal. Such materials are in clinical use but do not fulfill the requirements of all applications. Iron (Fe) is promising to develop further bioresorbable materials as it offers biocompatibility and good mechanical properties. Alloying, e.g., with manganese (Mn), is necessary to adapt the mechanical behavior and the degradation rate. However, the degradation rate of FeMn is too low. The creation of phases with high electrochemical potential evokes anodic dissolution of the FeMn, increasing the degradation rate. Therefore, silver (Ag), which is insoluble with Fe, has high potential, is biocompatible, and offers antibacterial properties, can be used. Powder-based processes such as laser beam melting (LBM) are favorable to process such immiscible materials. A degradable Ag alloy has to be used to enable the dissolution of Ag phases after the FeMn. This study reports first about the successful processing of FeMn with 5 wt.% of a degradable Ag–calcium–lanthanum (AgCaLa) alloy and enables further targeted adaption due to the gained understanding of the effects influencing the morphology and the chemical composition of the Ag phases.
Dermatopathology of Malignant Melanoma in the Era of Artificial Intelligence: A Single Institutional Experience
Authors: Cazzato Gerardo , Massaro Alessandro , Colagrande Anna , Lettini Teresa , Cicco Sebastiano , Parente Paola , Nacchiero Eleonora , Lospalluti Lucia , Cascardi Eliano , Giudice Giuseppe , Ingravallo Giuseppe , Resta Leonardo , Maiorano Eugenio , Vacca Angelo
Published: August 2022

The application of artificial intelligence (AI) algorithms in medicine could support diagnostic and prognostic analyses and decision making. In the field of dermatopathology, there have been various papers that have trained algorithms for the recognition of different types of skin lesions, such as basal cell carcinoma (BCC), seborrheic keratosis (SK) and dermal nevus. Furthermore, the difficulty in diagnosing particular melanocytic lesions, such as Spitz nevi and melanoma, considering the grade of interobserver variability among dermatopathologists, has led to an objective difficulty in training machine learning (ML) algorithms to a totally reliable, reportable and repeatable level. In this work we tried to train a fast random forest (FRF) algorithm, typically used for the classification of clusters of pixels in images, to highlight anomalous areas classified as melanoma “defects” following the Allen–Spitz criteria. The adopted image vision diagnostic protocol was structured in the following steps: image acquisition by selecting the best zoom level of the microscope; preliminary selection of an image with a good resolution; preliminary identification of macro-areas of defect in each preselected image; identification of a class of a defect in the selected macro-area; training of the supervised machine learning FRF algorithm by selecting the micro-defect in the macro-area; execution of the FRF algorithm to find an image vision performance indicator; and analysis of the output images by enhancing lesion defects. The precision achieved by the FRF algorithm proved to be appropriate with a discordance of 17% with respect to the dermatopathologist, allowing this type of supervised algorithm to be nominated as a help to the dermatopathologist in the challenging diagnosis of malignant melanoma.
A Review of the Nucleic Acid-Based Lateral Flow Assay for Detection of Breast Cancer from Circulating Biomarkers at a Point-of-Care in Low Income Countries
Authors: Dyan Busiswa , Seele Palesa Pamela , Skepu Amanda , Mdluli Phumlane Selby , Mosebi Salerwe , Sibuyi Nicole Remaliah Samantha
Published: August 2022

The current levels of breast cancer in African women have contributed to the high mortality rates among them. In South Africa, the incidence of breast cancer is also on the rise due to changes in behavioural and biological risk factors. Such low survival rates can be attributed to the late diagnosis of the disease due to a lack of access and the high costs of the current diagnostic tools. Breast cancer is asymptomatic at early stages, which is the best time to detect it and intervene to prevent high mortality rates. Proper risk assessment, campaigns, and access to adequate healthcare need to be prioritised among patients at an early stage. Early detection of breast cancer can significantly improve the survival rate of breast cancer patients, since therapeutic strategies are more effective at this stage. Early detection of breast cancer can be achieved by developing devices that are simple, sensitive, low-cost, and employed at point-of-care (POC), especially in low-income countries (LICs). Nucleic-acid-based lateral flow assays (NABLFAs) that combine molecular detection with the immunochemical visualisation principles, have recently emerged as tools for disease diagnosis, even for low biomarker concentrations. Detection of circulating genetic biomarkers in non-invasively collected biological fluids with NABLFAs presents an appealing and suitable method for POC testing in resource-limited regions and/or LICs. Diagnosis of breast cancer at an early stage will improve the survival rates of the patients. This review covers the analysis of the current state of NABLFA technologies used in developing countries to reduce the scourge of breast cancer.
Imagery Synthesis for Drone Celestial Navigation Simulation
Authors: Teague Samuel , Chahl Javaan
Published: August 2022

Simulation plays a critical role in the development of UAV navigation systems. In the context of celestial navigation, the ability to simulate celestial imagery is particularly important, due to the logistical and legal constraints of conducting UAV flight trials after dusk. We present a method for simulating night-sky star field imagery captured from a rigidly mounted ‘strapdown’ UAV camera system, with reference to a single static reference image captured on the ground. Using fast attitude updates and spherical linear interpolation, images are superimposed to produce a finite-exposure image that accurately captures motion blur due to aircraft actuation and aerodynamic turbulence. The simulation images are validated against a real data set, showing similarity in both star trail path and magnitude. The outcomes of this work provide a simulation test environment for the development of celestial navigation algorithms.
Gender-Related Differences for Subject Interest and Academic Emotions for STEM Subjects among Swedish Upper Secondary School Students
Authors: Kans Mirka , Claesson Lena
Published: August 2022

It is hard to attract young persons to engineering and other science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields of education in Sweden. Factors, such as interest and ability, are affecting the educational orientation of students, and many studies suggest that there are gender related differences in students’ perceptions regarding different subject areas. Nevertheless, it is not fully evident why students’ make their educational choices. In this paper, Swedish upper secondary school students’ perceptions of interest and self-efficacy are studied in the form of a questionnaire survey to gain deeper understanding on the choices that are made. Open-ended questions regarding subject interest, as well as questions connecting STEM-related situations with perceived emotions were included, in addition to direct questions regarding interest and self-efficacy. Differences were seen both with respect to educational orientation and to gender, which confirms previous studies. Male students were interested in subjects that are accurate, logical, and scientific, while the female students emphasized the analytical and challenging aspects, in the sense that the subjects forced them to think. Interest and future opportunities affected the choice of program, while the student’s own perceived ability seemed less important. Results with respect to emotions showed that the female students in this study felt insecure and scared in STEM-related situations to higher degree than male students did. Students on the social science program were bored and uninterested, while natural science and technology program students were more interested and confident in STEM-related scenarios. These findings help us to understand how students approach STEM situations, and how to take necessary measures to equalize these situations using a norm-critical approach.
Exploring Factors Affecting Graduate Students’ Satisfaction toward E-Learning in the Era of the COVID-19 Crisis
Authors: Mohammed Lubna Ali , Aljaberi Musheer A. , Amidi Asra , Abdulsalam Rasheed , Lin Chung-Ying , Hamat Rukman Awang , Abdallah Atiyeh M.
Published: August 2022

Background: Shifting the educational system from a traditional to an online context during COVID-19 necessitated several considerations to assure students’ satisfaction with e-learning. Aim: This study aims to explore the factors influencing students’ satisfaction with e-learning during the COVID-19 crisis. In particular, it tests multiple mediations, student factors, and system quality between students’ satisfaction and each course evaluation and instructor’s performance. Methodology: In this cross-sectional study, 258 undergraduate and postgraduate students enrolled in online courses at multiple Malaysian universities were recruited using non-probabilistic purposive sampling. Data were collected using a questionnaire that assessed four factors that influenced students’ satisfaction with e-learning during the COVID-19 crisis (i.e., instructor performance, course evaluation, student factors, and system quality) and analyzed using the partial least squares route structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM). Results: The results indicated that the four factors were significantly associated with students’ satisfaction with e-learning during COVID-19. Student factors and system quality were the most factors predicting students’ satisfaction with e-learning. Findings indicate statistically significant relationships between the instructor’s performance, student factors, course evaluation, and system quality on students’ satisfaction. Furthermore, the results depict that both course evaluation and system quality serially mediate the relationship between instructors’ performance and students’ satisfaction. Conclusion: This study finds that improving and enhancing student factors and system quality is critical for students’ satisfaction with e-learning. Furthermore, e-learning platforms should contain new advances of computer-mediated technologies that enable collaboration, which is a critical factor in the success of e-learning systems.
An Interleaved Two Switch Soft-Switching Forward PWM Power Converter with Current Doubler Rectifier
Authors: Sayed Khairy , Abo-Khalil Ahmed G.
Published: August 2022

Forward converters have been broadly used in the power supply industry due to their simplicity, worthy efficiency, and low cost. A novel prototype soft-switched zero-voltage and zero-current ZVZC PWM DC-DC power converter with low voltage/current stresses is introduced for telecommunication power feeding in this paper. A new two-switch interleaved forward converter circuit is introduced to minimalize current circulation with no supplementary auxiliary snubber circuits. This converter circuit includes some outstanding benefits such as reduced components, improved efficiency, high power density and economic circuit configurations for high power conditioning applications. The simple operation principle is demonstrated on the basis of steady-state analysis. Furthermore, the effective feasibility of the proposed circuit topology is evaluated and verified practically for a 500 W–100 kHz prototype breadboard. The operation principle and steady-state characteristics are demonstrated from a theoretical point of view. To verify the practical effectiveness of the proposed power converter, a 500 W–100 kHz prototype converter using ultrafast IGBTs is implemented for a distributed telecommunication energy plant. The studied soft-switching converter is evaluated in comparison with the previously-proposed PWM converters in terms of voltage, current stresses, and operating efficiency.
Advances in Energy Hybridization for Resilient Supply: A Sustainable Approach to the Growing World Demand
Authors: Al-Rubaye Haider , Smith Joseph D. , Zangana Mohammed H. S. , Nagapurkar Prashant , Zhou Yishu , Gelles Greg
Published: August 2022

Energy poverty, defined as a lack of access to reliable electricity and reliance on traditional biomass resources for cooking, affects over a billion people daily. The World Health Organization estimates that household air pollution from inefficient stoves causes more premature deaths than malaria, tuberculosis, and HIV/AIDS. Increasing demand for energy has led to dramatic increases in emissions. The need for reliable electricity and limiting emissions drives research on Resilient Hybrid Energy Systems (RHESs), which provide cleaner energy through combining wind, solar, and biomass energy with traditional fossil energy, increasing production efficiency and reliability and reducing generating costs and emissions. Microgrids have been shown as an efficient means of implementing RHESs, with some focused mainly on reducing the environmental impact of electric power generation. The technical challenges of designing, implementing, and applying microgrids involve conducting a cradle-to-grave Life Cycle Analysis (LCA) to evaluate these systems’ environmental and economic performance under diverse operating conditions to evaluate resiliency. A sample RHES was developed and used to demonstrate the implementation in rural applications, where the system can provide reliable electricity for heating, cooling, lighting, and pumping clean water. The model and findings can be utilized by other regions around the globe facing similar challenges.
Application of Near-Infrared Spectroscopy to Measure the Water Content in Liquid Dielectrics
Authors: Przybylek Piotr
Published: August 2022

The article discusses the methods used to measure the water content in liquid dielectrics. The pros and cons of currently used methods are presented. The main aim of the research was to check the possibility of using near-infrared spectroscopy to measure the water content in liquid dielectrics. On the basis of the conducted research, the absorbance bands are indicated that can be used to determine the water content in synthetic and natural esters. These bands are centered at 1901 and 1904 nm for natural and synthetic esters, respectively. The determined dependence of the absorbance on the water content in liquid dielectrics confirmed the linear nature of this relationship. Moreover, the influence of liquid aging degree on the result of absorbance measurements was checked. The verification of the method allowed for confirming the possibility of using near-infrared spectroscopy for the reliable quantitative analysis of water content in synthetic and natural esters.
Funding of the Energy Transition by Monetary Sovereign Countries
Authors: Diesendorf Mark , Hail Steven
Published: August 2022

If global energy consumption returns to its pre-pandemic growth rate, it will be almost impossible to transition to a zero-emission or net-zero-emission energy system by 2050 in the absence of large-scale CO2 removal. Since relying on unproven technologies for CO2 removal is speculative and risky, this paper considers an energy descent scenario for reaching zero greenhouse gas emissions from energy by 2050. To drive the rapid transition from fossil fuels to carbon-free energy sources and ensure demand reduction, funding is needed urgently in order to implement four strategies: (i) technology change, i.e., implementing the growth of zero-carbon energy production, end-use energy efficiency and ‘green’ energy carriers, together with ongoing R&D on CO2 removal; (ii) reducing climate impacts; (iii) reducing energy consumption by social and behavioural changes; and (iv) improving human wellbeing while increasing social justice. Modern monetary theory explains how monetary sovereign governments, with their own fiat currencies, can create the necessary funding without financial constraints, although constraints do result from the productive capacities of their economies. The energy transition could be part-funded by a significant transfer of resources from monetary sovereign countries of the global North to the global South, financed by currency issuance.
Flow Characteristics and Heat-Transfer Enhancement of Air Agitation in Ice Storage Air Conditioning Systems
Authors: Yang Xiao , Wang Qiyang , Liu Yang , Yang Dongmei , Wang Yixu , Qin Haiyan , Liu Zedong , Chen Hua
Published: August 2022

A large number of bubbles generated by the air agitation device in an external melting ice storage system can cause the disturbance of the ice–water mixture, which can enhance the heat transfer and contribute to the reduction in energy consumption. The structural design and optimization of the air agitation device in an external melting ice storage system is the key issue for energy savings. In this study, the influence of different orifice spacings and diameters on the distribution of the gas–liquid flow field, gas holdup, heat-transfer coefficient, and power consumption in the ice storage tank was investigated by numerical simulation. The simulated results showed that the heat-transfer coefficient of the ice–water mixture with air bubbles should be 3–5 times higher than the natural convection when the air superficial velocity is 0.03 m/s. The gas holdup was mainly affected by the orifice spacing, and the maximum varied from 5.0% to 8.2%. When the orifice spacing was less than 150 mm, the gas holdup changed a little in the horizontal direction, and the uniformity became worse when the orifice spacing was larger than 180 mm. An orifice diameter larger than 3 mm can improve the heat transfer and cause less air-compressing energy consumption, which decreased by approximately 1.62%.
Acoustic Stimulation of Anaerobic Digestion: Effects on Biogas Production and Wastewater Malodors
Authors: Loughrin John , Silva Philip , Lovanh Nanh , Sistani Karamat
Published: August 2022

Wastewater created from various solid wastes and agricultural residues was treated by anaerobic digestion, and the biogas and wastewater odors were quantified. One digester was exposed to low-frequency sound (<5 kHz) from underwater loudspeakers, while the other received no sonic treatment. It was hypothesized that low-frequency sound, by accelerating the breakdown of sludge via mechanisms such as cavitation induction and mechanical vibration, and enhancing biogas production, could also affect the concentrations of wastewater odors. During warm seasons, biogas production from the sound-treated digester was 29% higher than that from the control digester, and 184% higher during the cool season. Malodors—Mainly consisting of typical aromatic malodorants such as p-cresol and skatole, aliphatic secondary ketones, and dimethyl disulfide—were quantified. In contrast to the findings for biogas production, little difference was found in the concentrations of volatile compounds in the control and sound-treated digestates. Concentrations of dimethyl polysulfides increased over time in both the control and sound-treated digestates, likely due to the use of recycled system effluent that contained precipitated elemental sulfur. The digestate contained considerable concentrations of volatile fatty acids and ammonium, but due to the near neutral pH of the digestate it was surmised that neither made appreciable contributions to the wastewater’s malodor. However, the volatile fatty acid concentrations were reduced by sonic treatment, which was not unexpected, since volatile fatty acids are precursors to methane. Therefore, although sonic treatment of the anaerobic digestate boosted biogas production, it did not markedly affect the wastewater malodors. The biosynthetic origins of wastewater malodors are discussed in this paper.
Carbon Storage Expectations on Swamp Jelutung (Dyera polyphylla Miq. Steenis.) on Peatland for Tackling Climate Change
Authors: Sufrayogi Dendi , Mardiatmoko Gun
Published: August 2022

(1) Background: The destruction of peatlands caused by forest fire can significantly damage the ecosystems, flora, and fauna found in forests. Swamp jelutung (Dyera polyphylla) is a tree species that can be planted on peatland and combined with seasonal plants to provide multiple economic and environmental benefits. The aim of this study is to analyze the biomass and carbon stocks above and belowground in stands of swamp jelutung of an age class of 10, 13, and 17 years. (2) Methods: Observation plots were determined based on the age classes of D. polyphylla plants. The plots were determined using a purposive sampling method with a size of 20 m × 5 m with two sample plots in each class of plant age. The biomass calculation measured the diameters of living trees without causing any damage. The understory biomass was obtained by cutting and then placing in a container before weighing and recording the wet weight. The necromass was determined by measuring the diameter and length of all the wood. (3) Results: The amount of aboveground biomass (trees) was divided into 111.73 ton/ha (17 years), 55.96 ton/ha (13 years), and 50.08 ton/ha (10 years) age classes. The root biomass had the highest values of 18.36 ton/ha (17 years), 9.45 ton/ha (13 years), and 9.07 ton/ha (10 years). Meanwhile, the organic C contents in peat soil under stands of D. polyphylla were 33.45% (13 years), 31.32% (17 years), and 26.14% (10 years). (4) Conclusions: D. polyphylla trees play a role in restoring forest ecosystems on peatlands and absorb more CO2 as the trees age. Therefore, they are useful in dealing with climate change.
Vacuum Impregnation Process Optimization for Tilapia with Biopreservatives at Ice Temperature
Authors: Liu Yan , Li Min , Jin Zhi , Luo Jing , Ye Biao , Ruan Jianwen
Published: August 2022

The vacuum impregnation (VI) process was used to pretreat tilapia fillets with biopreservatives at −2 °C. Response surface methodology (RSM) was utilised to optimize processing conditions, including vacuum pressure (pv), vacuum maintenance time (t1), and atmospheric pressure recovery time (t2), which were determined to be 67.73 kPa, 23.66 min, and 8.87 min, respectively. The anticipated values for the aerobic plate count (APC), total volatile basic nitrogen (TVB-N), and comprehensive score (CS) were 5.17 lg CFU/g, 14.04 mg/100 g, and 0.98, respectively. Verification experiments were conducted, and the experimental results for APC and TVB-N deviated from the predicted values by 0.19% and 0.64%, respectively. After 30 days of storage following VI and atmosphere impregnation (AI) pretreatment, the water-holding capacity (WHC), APC, TVB-N, hardness, and whiteness were determined. On the 30th day, the results for VI pretreatment were 63.38%, 6.27 lg CFU/g, 17.41 mg/100 g, 3.11 N, and 47.73, respectively. Compared with AI pretreatment, WHC, hardness, and whiteness increased by 14.8%, 18.6%, and 6.3%, respectively, whereas APC and TVB-N decreased by 11.3% and 29.6%, respectively. This study demonstrates that when biopreservatives are applied during the pretreatment process, VI technology can be utilised to facilitate their penetration into the interior of tilapia, hence significantly enhancing the effect of ice-temperature preservation.
The Risk of Avascular Necrosis Following the Stabilization of Femoral Neck Fractures: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Konarski Wojciech , Poboży Tomasz , Kotela Andrzej , Śliwczyński Andrzej , Kotela Ireneusz , Hordowicz Martyna , Krakowiak Jan
Published: August 2022

Background: Avascular necrosis (AVN) of the femoral head often requires surgical treatment and is often associated with femoral neck fractures. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of recent research on the risk of AVN following the stabilization of fractured femoral neck with implants in PubMed. We assessed the effect of age on AVN incidence among patients aged > 50 and younger, depending on fracture type, Garden stage, Pouwels degree, Delbet stage, and age category. We followed PRISMA guidelines. Relevant studies were defined as research articles describing real-world studies reporting on the risk of AVN following primary surgical fracture stabilization with implants, published between 1 January 2011 and 22 April 2021. Fifty-two papers met the inclusion criteria, with a total of N = 5930 with surgically managed fractures. The pooled mean AVN incidence was significantly higher among patients with displaced fractures (20.7%; 95% CI: 12.8–28.5%) vs. those with undisplaced fractures (4.7%; 95% CI: 3.4–6.0%). No significant correlation was observed between AVN incidence weighted by sample size and time interval from injury to surgery (p = 0.843, R2 = 0.01). In conclusion, the risk of AVN following femoral neck fractures was generally high, especially in patients with displaced fractures. The time from injury to surgery did not correlate with AVN incidence.
Comparing the Effects of Differential Learning, Self-Controlled Feedback, and External Focus of Attention Training on Biomechanical Risk Factors of Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) in Athletes: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Authors: Ghanati Hadi Abbaszadeh , Letafatkar Amir , Shojaedin Sadredin , Hadadnezhad Malihe , Schöllhorn Wolfgang I.
Published: August 2022

The current study aimed to compare the possible effects of differential learning strategy, self-controlled feedback, and external focus of attention on kinetic and kinematic risk factors of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury in athletes. Forty-eight male athletes from three sports of handball, volleyball and basketball were selected for this study and were randomly divided into four groups: differential learning (n = 12), self-control feedback (n = 12), external focus (n = 12), and control (n = 12) group. All groups followed the intervention for eight weeks with three sessions per week. Data were analyzed by means of 4 × 2 repeated measures ANOVA followed by post hoc comparison (Bonferroni) at the significance level of p ≤ 0.05. A significant group × time interaction and the main effect of time was found for most kinetic and kinematic variables. The main effect of the group was significant only at the knee abduction angle. Differential learning and external focus of attention methods positively reduced the kinetic and kinematic variables that are considered risk factors for ACL injury. However, the effect sizes (Cohen’s d) for the changes in most of the variables were larger for the differential learning group. Tailoring the boundary conditions that are based on the manipulations created in the exercise through variability and variety of movements associated with differential learning methods rather than repeating movements could reduce the risk of ACL injury.
White Light-Photolysis for the Removal of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons from Proximity Firefighting Protective Clothing
Authors: Arouca Aline Marcelino , Aleixo Victor Emmanuel Delfino , Vieira Maurício Leite , Talhavini Márcio , Weber Ingrid Távora
Published: August 2022

The presence of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) on firefighters’ personal protective equipment is a concern. One form of preventing from these compounds is to decontaminate proximity firefighting protective clothing (PFPC). Traditional decontamination methods do not promote total removal of pollutants and alter the properties of PFPC. The objective of this work was to evaluate the effectiveness of white light-photolysis (WLP), an advanced oxidation process (AOP), for removing PAHs from PFPC, while maintaining the integrity of the fabric fibers. Experiments were carried out, varying reaction time and concentration of H2O2. With WLP (without H2O2), it was possible to remove more than 73% of the PAHs tested from the outer layer of PFPC in 3 days. The WLP provided the greatest removal of PAHs, compared with the most common mechanical decontamination techniques (laundering and wet-soap brushing). The fibers’ integrity after exposure to the white light was evaluated with infrared spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy/energy dispersive X-ray spectrometry. In addition, a tearing strength test was performed. No remarkable fabric degradation was observed, indicating a possible, routine-compatible, simple, and inexpensive method of decontamination of PFPC, based on photolysis, which is effective in the degradation of PAHs and maintains the integrity of fabric fibers.
Cost of Health-Related Work Productivity Loss among Fly-In Fly-Out Mining Workers in Australia
Authors: Asare Bernard Yeboah-Asiamah , Makate Marshall , Powell Daniel , Kwasnicka Dominika , Robinson Suzanne
Published: August 2022

Sufficient knowledge on the work productivity impact of the health of fly-in fly-out (FIFO) workers in the mining sector in Australia is lacking. This study examined the impact of health and lifestyle behaviours on the work productivity of FIFO workers in the mining industry in Australia. FIFO workers completed an online questionnaire on health and work productivity loss measures. Linear regressions were used to model annual work productivity losses through absenteeism, presenteeism and total productivity loss. Workers with a high risk for health conditions were, on average, associated with 3.87% more productivity loss (absenteeism: 1.27% and presenteeism: 2.88%) than those with low risk. Workers who had multiple health risks classified as medium (3–4 health conditions) and high (5 or more health conditions) reported 1.75% and 7.46% more total productivity loss, respectively, than those with fewer multiple health risks (0–2 health conditions). Health conditions were estimated to account for an annual additional productivity cost due to absenteeism of AUD 8.82 million, presenteeism of AUD 14.08 million and a total productivity loss of AUD 20.96 million per 1000 workers. FIFO workers with high health risks experience more absenteeism, presenteeism and overall productivity loss. These measures provide strong economic justifications that could support the need for targeted workplace health interventions.
Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services: An Act of Resistance against Australia’s Neoliberal Ideologies
Authors: Poirier Brianna F. , Hedges Joanne , Soares Gustavo , Jamieson Lisa M.
Published: August 2022

The individualistic and colonial foundations of neoliberal socio-political ideologies are embedded throughout Australian health systems, services, and discourses. Not only does neoliberalism undermine Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander collectivist values by emphasizing personal autonomy, but it has significant implications for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health. Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services (ACCHS) operate within Community-oriented holistic understandings of well-being that contradict neoliberal values that Western health services operate within. Therefore, this paper aims to explore the role of ACCHS in resisting the pervasive nature of neoliberalism through the prioritization of self-determination for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples. Utilizing a critical evaluative commentary, we reflect on Aboriginal political leadership and advocacy during the 1970s and 1980s and the development of neoliberalism in Australia in the context of ACCHS. Community controlled primary health services across Australia are the only remaining government-funded and Aboriginal-controlled organizations. Not only do ACCHS models resist neoliberal ideologies of reduced public expenditure and dominant individualistic models of care, but they also incontrovertibly strengthen individual and Community health. ACCHS remain the gold standard model by ensuring Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander rights to the self-determination of health in accordance with the United Nations Declaration of the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.
Improving Toilet Usability and Cleanliness in Public Schools in the Philippines Using a Packaged Operation and Maintenance Intervention
Authors: Duijster Denise , Monse Bella , Marquez Marvin , Pakes Ubo , Stauf Nicole , Benzian Habib
Published: August 2022

This study evaluated the impact of packaged interventions for operation and maintenance (O&M) on the usability and cleanliness of toilets in public schools in the Philippines. In this cluster-randomized controlled trial, the divisions of Roxas City and Passi City were randomly assigned to the intervention or control group. Schools in Roxas City (n = 14) implemented the packaged O&M interventions; schools in Passi City (n = 16) formed the control group. Outcome variables were toilet usability—defined as accessible, functional and private—and toilet cleanliness, measured using the Sanitation Assessment Tool (SAT) and the Cleaner Toilets, Brighter Future (CTBF) instruments at baseline and at four months follow-up through direct observation of school toilets. SAT results showed that intervention schools had a 32.0% (4.6%; 59.3%) higher percentage of usable toilets than control schools at follow-up after full adjustment (p = 0.024). CTBF results found a similar result, although this was not statistically significant (p = 0.119). The percentage of toilets that were fully clean was 27.1% (3.7%; 50.6%) higher in intervention schools than in control schools after adjustment (p = 0.025). SAT results also showed an improvement in cleanliness of toilets in intervention schools compared to those in controls, but this did not remain significant after adjustment. The findings indicate that the additional implementation of O&M interventions can further stimulate progress towards reaching Water, Sanitation and Hygiene service levels aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals.
Evaluation of Impact of a Pharmacist-Led Educational Campaign on Disease Knowledge, Practices and Medication Adherence for Type-2 Diabetic Patients: A Prospective Pre- and Post-Analysis
Authors: Khan Yusra Habib , Alzarea Abdulaziz Ibrahim , Alotaibi Nasser Hadal , Alatawi Ahmed D. , Khokhar Aisha , Alanazi Abdullah Salah , Butt Muhammad Hammad , Alshehri Asrar A. , Alshehri Sameer , Alatawi Yasser , Mallhi Tauqeer Hussain
Published: August 2022

Type 2 Diabetes mellitus is a major public health concern with an alarming global growth rate. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), Saudi Arabia ranks seventh in the world and second in the Middle East for the largest estimated burden of diabetic cases. Evidence shows that pharmacist-led care programs can be beneficial for the effective treatment of diabetes mellitus. Current study was aimed to evaluate the impact of Pharmacist-Based Diabetic Intervention (PDIM) for Type 2 Diabetes patients on knowledge of the disease, adherence to medications and self-care practices during the first wave of COVID-19. A multi-arm pre-post study was conducted among type 2 diabetic patients from April to October 2021 in Sakaka, Saudi Arabia. Patients were randomly divided into an intervention and a control group. The intervention group received the PDIM, whereas the control group only received the usual care. The pharmacist-based diabetes intervention model consisted of a diabetic educational module and medication improvement strategies. Furthermore, the intervention group also received specific telepharmacy services (calls, messages or emails) to address their medication-related problems, inquire about medication adherence and follow-up. At the end of six months, disease knowledge, self-care practices, and medication adherence score were analyzed. Furthermore, HbA1c and lipid profile were also compared. A total of 109 patients were included in the study. A significant difference was observed in the knowledge score between the intervention and control group (16.89 ± 2.01 versus 15.24 ± 2.03, p-value < 0.001). Similarly, self-care practices also improved in the intervention group as compared to the control group (4.39 ± 1.10 versus 3.16 ± 0.97, p-value < 0.001). Furthermore, the medication adherence and HbA1c significantly improved during between the group analysis (p < 0.05). Our study demonstrates that pharmacist-based diabetes intervention model is effective in improving patients’ knowledge of diabetes, self-care practices, medication adherence and glycemic control.
Clinical Effectiveness of Herbal Oral Care Products in Periodontitis Patients: A Systematic Review
Authors: Chatzopoulos Georgios S. , Karakostas Panagiotis , Kavakloglou Stefania , Assimopoulou Andreana , Barmpalexis Panagiotis , Tsalikis Lazaros
Published: August 2022

Background: The use of herbal products in oral cavity has shown an increased popularity and potential benefits due to their additional anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties as well as the lack of side effects related to their use. Objective: To assess the clinical effectiveness of herbal dental products (mouthwash, dentifrice, gel) when compared to conventional products or placebo in periodontitis patients. Material and methods: A systematic review with 22 studies was carried out using MEDLINE/Pubmed, EMBASE and Web of Science databases in addition to hand searches. Randomized and non-randomized clinical trials that evaluated the effect of any herbal dental product and compared it with conventional products or placebo in periodontitis patients and published up to March 2022, were screened. Results: Herbal products used as adjuncts to scaling and root planing (SRP) or supragingival debridement (SPD) led to superior clinical outcomes than placebo or no adjuncts (8 studies). In conjunction with SRP, these products showed comparable outcomes with chlorhexidine (6 studies) or better (4 studies). When used as adjuncts to SPD, herbal oral care products demonstrated comparable outcomes with chlorhexidine and conventional products (4 studies). Conclusions: Within the limitations of this systematic review, herbal oral care products may play a key role in the management of periodontal disease. Further well-designed studies are needed to establish their efficacy.
Spanish Validation of the PALMS (Physical Activity and Leisure Motivation Scale)
Authors: Pérez-de la Cruz Sagrario , Gonzalez-Gerez Juan Jose , Arellano de León Óscar , Vargas Rodriguez Antonio
Published: August 2022

Although there is abundant evidence supporting an active lifestyle, it is necessary to promote the practice of physical activity among the population. To understand this phenomenon, several studies have been conducted to describe the reasons why people participate in sports activities. The PALMS (Physical Activity and Leisure Motivation Scale) was created as a comprehensive tool to measure the reasons for practicing sports. This tool consists of 40 items related to sports and is designed for the young and adult population. Each of the subscales is formed of five items (mastery, enjoyment, psychological condition, physical condition, appearance, the expectations of others, affiliation, competition/ego) that reflect the possible reasons for practicing sports. This study sought to validate the PALMS in the cultural context of Spain, for the type of population for which it is designed. In total, 596 voluntary participants completed the study from Spain, aged 18 to 53, who regularly practice sports. The adequacy of the model obtained in the exploratory study was confirmed, since a model composed of eight factors and 40 indicators in total was obtained. The parameters were statistically significant (p < 0.05) and the factor loadings presented values greater than 0.5. Regarding internal consistency, the values of Cronbach’s alpha and those of the composite reliability were above 0.8. In conclusion, the validation of the Spanish PALMS proved to be a valid and reliable measurement instrument for the evaluation of the reasons that lead the population to perform sports physical activity.
Confucian Familism and Shared Decision Making in End-of-Life Care for Patients with Advanced Cancers
Authors: Yang Yuexi , Qu Tingting , Yang Jinyue , Ma Ben , Leng Anli
Published: August 2022

Shared decision-making (SDM) has been institutionally recognized as clinically effective by many Western healthcare systems. Nevertheless, it appears culturally unattractive in China, a country that adheres to Confucian familism which strongly prefers collective family decisions. This study examined this conflict and assessed the influence of Confucian familism on SDM in end-of-life (EOL) care for advanced cancer patients. Between August and November 2018, 188 EOL advanced-cancer patients were randomly recruited from 640 cancer hospital medical records at a Tertiary A-level hospital in Shandong province. Eventually, 164 (87.23%) sample patients were included in the statistical analysis after the non-responsive cases (4.79%) and missing value (7.98%) were removed. SDM was measured through SDM-Q-9, and the patient’s siblings were used as indicators of Confucian Familism. Of the 164 patients, the mean SDM score was 38/100; 47.6% were thoroughly unfamiliar with their treatment plans and fell outside the decision-making procedure. Each patient had four siblings on average. Ceteris paribus, more siblings led to lower SDM. Moreover, being 56–65 years old and open-minded were associated with higher SDM, while higher satisfaction of the quality of EOL care yielded lower SDM. In conclusion, Confucian familism weakened patient–clinician SDM in EOL care for advanced cancer patients.
The Effect of Psychological Distress on Measurement Invariance in Measures of Mental Wellbeing
Authors: Iasiello Matthew , Muir-Cochrane Eimear , van Agteren Joep , Fassnacht Daniel B.
Published: August 2022

A growing literature supports the expansion of mental health assessment to include indicators of mental wellbeing; however, the concurrent use of measures of wellbeing and distress introduces potential sources of measurement error. The current study examines whether the mental health continuum short form is invariant to the level of participants’ psychological distress. Measurement invariance testing was conducted within an Australian population (n = 8406) who participated in an online survey. The depression anxiety stress scale was used to construct a non-distressed group (n = 6420) and a severe-distress group (n = 1968). Results showed that metric invariance was not observed, as item loadings on the latent variables were significantly different between the groups. This signifies that wellbeing items may be interpreted and valued differently by distressed and non-distressed individuals. Metric non-invariance indicates that total and subscale scores may not be equivalent, and caution is required when making comparisons between these groups.