bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Randomized feasibility study of an autologous protein solution versus corticosteroids injection for treating subacromial pain in the primary care setting – the SPiRIT trial
Authors: Woods Alex , Howard Anthony , Peckham Nicholas , Rombach Ines , Saleh Asma , Achten Juul , Appelbe Duncan , Thamattore Praveen , Gwilym Stephen E.
Published: July 2024

Aims

The primary aim of this study was to assess the feasibility of recruiting and retaining patients to a patient-blinded randomized controlled trial comparing corticosteroid injection (CSI) to autologous protein solution (APS) injection for the treatment of subacromial shoulder pain in a community care setting. The study focused on recruitment rates and retention of participants throughout, and collected data on the interventions’ safety and efficacy.

Methods

Participants were recruited from two community musculoskeletal treatment centres in the UK. Patients were eligible if aged 18 years or older, and had a clinical diagnosis of subacromial impingement syndrome which the treating clinician thought was suitable for treatment with a subacromial injection. Consenting patients were randomly allocated 1:1 to a patient-blinded subacromial injection of CSI (standard care) or APS. The primary outcome measures of this study relate to rates of recruitment, retention, and compliance with intervention and follow-up to determine feasibility. Secondary outcome measures relate to the safety and efficacy of the interventions.

Results

A total of 53 patients were deemed eligible, and 50 patients (94%) recruited between April 2022 and October 2022. Overall, 49 patients (98%) complied with treatment. Outcome data were collected in 100% of participants at three months and 94% at six months. There were no significant adverse events. Both groups demonstrated improvement in patient-reported outcome measures over the six-month period.

Conclusion

Our study shows that it is feasible to recruit to a patient-blinded randomized controlled trial comparing APS and CSI for subacromial pain in terms of clinical outcomes and health-resource use in the UK. Safety and efficacy data are presented.

Cite this article: Bone Jt Open 2024;5(7):534–542.
Laboratory demonstration of image plane self-calibration in interferometry
Authors: Carilli Christopher L. , Nikolic Bojan , Torino Laura , Iriso Ubaldo , Thyagarajan Nithyanandan
Published: July 2024

We demonstrate the shape-orientation-size conservation principle for a three-element interferometer using aperture plane masking at the ALBA visible synchrotron radiation light source. We then use these data to demonstrate image plane self-calibration.
Attosecond vortex pulse trains
Authors: de las Heras Alba , Schmidt David , San Román Julio , Serrano Javier , Barolak Jonathan , Ivanic Bojana , Clarke Cameron , Westlake Nathaniel , Adams Daniel E. , Plaja Luis , Durfee Charles G. , Hernández-García Carlos
Published: July 2024

The landscape of ultrafast structured light pulses has significantly advanced thanks to the ability of high-order harmonic generation (HHG) to translate the spatial properties of infrared laser beams to the extreme-ultraviolet (EUV) spectral range. In particular, the up-conversion of orbital angular momentum (OAM) has enabled the generation of high-order harmonics whose OAM scales linearly with the harmonic order and the topological charge of the driving field. Having a well-defined OAM, each harmonic is emitted as an EUV femtosecond vortex pulse. However, the order-dependent OAM across the harmonic comb precludes the synthesis of attosecond vortex pulses. Here we demonstrate a method for generating attosecond vortex pulse trains, i.e., a succession of attosecond pulses with a helical wavefront, resulting from the coherent superposition of a comb of EUV high-order harmonics with the same OAM. By driving HHG with a polarization tilt-angle fork grating, two spatially separated circularly polarized high-order harmonic beams with order-independent OAM are created. Our work opens the route towards attosecond-resolved light-matter interactions with two extra degrees of freedom, spin and OAM, which are particularly interesting for probing chiral systems and magnetic materials.
Biphoton state reconstruction via phase retrieval methods
Authors: Dehghan Nazanin , D’Errico Alessio , Di Colandrea Francesco , Karimi Ebrahim
Published: July 2024

The complete measurement of the quantum state of two correlated photons
requires reconstructing the amplitude and phase of the biphoton
wavefunction. We show how, by means of spatially resolved single
photon detection, one can infer the spatial structure of biphotons
generated by spontaneous parametric down conversion. In particular, a
spatially resolved analysis of the second-order correlations allows us
to isolate the moduli of the pump and phase-matching contributions to
the two-photon states. When carrying this analysis on different
propagation planes, the free-space propagation of pump and
phase-matching is observed. This result allows us, in principle, to
gain enough information to also reconstruct the phase of the pump and
the phase-matching and thus the full biphoton wavefunction. We show
this in different examples where the pump is shaped as a superposition
of orbital angular momentum modes or as a smooth amplitude with a
phase structure with no singularities. The corresponding phase
structure is retrieved employing maximum likelihood or genetic
algorithms. These findings have potential applications in fast,
efficient quantum state characterization that does not require phase
locking of the unknown source with a reference biphoton.
Investigating the particle beam properties of RF ion thruster with iodine propulsion
Authors: Ghavamimasouleh Maryamalsadat , Ommi Fathollah
Published: July 2024

In this paper, we tried to perform a numerical simulation on the RF ion thruster optical system using the particle-in-cell method (PIC) to analyze the characteristics of the ion beam. In addition to significant ionization products, this contains small amounts of multivalent including I_b^+, I^(2+), I^3.The simulation results were obtained by comparing the characteristics of the beam with and without multivalent addition, the spatial distribution of ions, potential distribution, phase space distribution, beam current, and divergence angle. The results show that this program can correctly simulate the movement of ions in the optical system. With multivalent addition, the plasma potential increases, and the saddle point potential decreases, although the range of changes in the total potential distribution is limited. By adding polyvalence, the amount of charge increases slightly in proportion to the ionic group, as a result, the radiation current increases, and the divergence angle decreases slightly. Both special visits are slightly enhanced through appearance analysis. When the plasma density in the discharge chamber increases to about 2.4x1017m^(-3), the optical system reaches the beam extraction limit and the extracted beam current decreases instead of increasing with increasing plasma density. The simulation results can provide a reference for the design of the RF ion thruster optical system.
Compressive instabilities enable cell-induced extreme densification patterns in the fibrous extracellular matrix: Discrete model predictions
Authors: Kalaitzidou Chrysovalantou , Grekas Georgios , Zilian Andreas , Makridakis Charalambos , Rosakis Phoebus
Published: July 2024

We present a new model and extensive computations that explain the dramatic remodelling undergone by a fibrous collagen extracellular matrix (ECM), when subjected to contractile mechanical forces from embedded cells or cell clusters. This remodelling creates complex patterns, comprising multiple narrow localised bands of severe densification and fiber alignment, extending far into the ECM, often joining distant cells or cell clusters (such as tumours). Most previous models cannot capture this behaviour, as they assume stable mechanical fiber response with stress an increasing function of fiber stretch, and a restriction to small displacements. Our fully nonlinear network model distinguishes between two types of single-fiber nonlinearity: fibers that undergo stable (supercritical) buckling (as in previous work) versus fibers that suffer unstable (subcritical) buckling collapse. The model allows unrestricted, arbitrarily large displacements (geometric nonlinearity). Our assumptions on single-fiber instability are supported by recent simulations and experiments on buckling of individual beams with a hierarchical microstructure, such as collagen fibers. We use simple scenarios to illustrate, for the first time, two distinct compressive-instability mechanisms at work in our model: unstable buckling collapse of single fibers, and snap-through of multiple-fiber groups. The latter is possible even when single fibers are stable. Through simulations of large fiber networks, we show how these instabilities lead to spatially extended patterns of densification, fiber alignment and ECM remodelling induced by cell contraction. Our model is simple, but describes a very complex, multi-stable energy landscape, using sophisticated numerical optimisation methods that overcome the difficulties caused by instabilities in large systems. Our work opens up new ways of understanding the unique biomechanics of fibrous-network ECM, by fully accounting for nonlinearity and associated loss of stability in fiber networks. Our results provide new insights on tumour invasion and metastasis.
An analysis of NHS 111 demand for primary care services: A retrospective cohort study
Authors: Pilbery Richard , Smith Madeleine , Green Jonathan , Chalk Daniel , O’Keeffe Colin
Published: July 2024

The NHS 111 service triages over 16,650,745 calls per year and approximately 48% of callers are triaged to a primary care disposition, such as a telephone appointment with a general practitioner (GP). However, there has been little assessment of the ability of primary care services to meet this demand. If a timely service cannot be provided to patients, it could result in patients calling 999 or attending emergency departments (ED) instead. This study aimed to explore the patient journey for callers who were triaged to a primary care disposition, and the ability of primary care services to meet this demand. We obtained routine, retrospective data from the Connected Yorkshire research database, and identified all 111 calls between the 1st January 2021 and 31st December 2021 for callers registered with a GP in the Bradford or Airedale region of West Yorkshire, who were triaged to a primary care disposition. Subsequent healthcare system access (111, 999, primary and secondary care) in the 72 hours following the index 111 call was identified, and a descriptive analysis of the healthcare trajectory of patients was undertaken. There were 56,102 index 111 calls, and a primary care service was the first interaction in 26,690/56,102 (47.6%) of cases, with 15,470/26,690 (58%) commenced within the specified triage time frame. Calls to 999 were higher in the cohort who had no prior contact with primary care (58% vs 42%) as were ED attendances (58.2% vs 41.8), although the proportion of avoidable ED attendances was similar (10.5% vs 11.8%). Less than half of 111 callers triaged to a primary care disposition make contact with a primary care service, and even when they do, call triage time frames are frequently not met, suggesting that current primary care provision cannot meet the demand from 111.
Examining characteristics of those who receive pedorthic services: A clinical audit
Authors: Ahmed Sayed , Barwick Alex , Sharma Anita , Hasan Md. Zobaer , Kabir Muhammad Ashad , Nancarrow Susan
Published: July 2024

Diabetes-related foot complications, including neuropathic plantar forefoot ulcers, are a significant contributor to morbidity and increased healthcare costs. This retrospective clinical audit examines the characteristics of people accessing pedorthics services who are at risk of neuropathic plantar forefoot ulcer (re)occurrence and the pathways and funding models used to access these services. A clinical record audit was conducted on all patients accessing a pedorthics service who had diabetes and neuropathy with a history of plantar forefoot ulceration. The data included demographics, diabetes and neuropathy duration, main forefoot pathology and other comorbidity, footwear and insole interventions, and health fund access status. A total of 70 patient records were accessed, and relevant data was extracted. The mean age of participants was 64.69 (standard deviation (SD) 11.78) years; 61% were male and 39% female. Duration of diabetes ranged from one to 35 years, with a mean of 14.09 years (SD 6.58). The mean duration of neuropathy was 8.56 (SD 4.16) years. The most common forefoot conditions were bony prominences at 71% (n = 50), rigid flat foot and limited joint mobility (53%, n = 37), and hallux abductovalgus at 47% (n = 33). All participants had hyperkeratosis; 34% (n = 24) had forefoot amputation, and around 34% (n = 24) had a history of digital amputation. Various publicly funded packages and private health insurance were accessed. This study investigates the sociodemographic and medical profiles of individuals with diabetes-related foot complexities prone to neuropathic plantar forefoot ulcers. It is the first to examine patients receiving pedorthic services, informing practitioner surveys and preventive care strategies. Understanding patient characteristics aids in optimising multidisciplinary care and reducing ulcer incidence. Further studies are warranted to explore the field to establish an effective multidisciplinary care approach between medical professionals, podiatrists and pedorthists to optimise patient outcomes.
Endorsement of HIV-related stigma among men in Ghana: What are the determinants?
Authors: Saaka Sulemana Ansumah , Antabe Roger
Published: July 2024

Introduction

Stigma and discrimination against people living with HIV (PLHIV) remain a major barrier to effective HIV prevention. Despite the understanding that the creation of a socially inclusive environment for PLHIV is crucial for the promotion of testing, status disclosure, and treatment uptake, HIV stigma persists. Additionally, evidence suggests the endorsement of HIV stigma may be gender specific. Nonetheless, very little is known about the factors influencing men’s discrimination against PLHIV in the Ghanaian context. Guided by the theory of planned behavior, our study fills this void by exploring the factors associated with the endorsement of HIV stigma in Ghana.

Methods

Utilizing a nationally representative data from the 2022 Ghana Demographic and Health Survey (DHS) (N = 7044 men with ages ranging from 15–49 years), and applying logistic regression models, this study examined the factors associated with the endorsement of HIV-related stigma in Ghana.

Results

The notion that HIV can be transmitted through the sharing of food with PLHIV was significantly associated with increased odds of stigma endorsement against children with HIV (OR = 3.381; P<0.001) and vendors with HIV (OR = 3.00; P<0.001). On the contrary, knowing that a healthy-looking person can have HIV was significantly associated with decreased odds of endorsement of stigma against children living with HIV (OR = 0.505; P<0.001), and vendors living with HIV (OR = 0.573; P<0.001). Likewise, having knowledge of drugs that help PLHIV to live longer, was significantly associated with decreased odds of stigma endorsement against children living with HIV (OR = 0.768; P<0.001), and vendors living with HIV (OR = 0.719; P<0.001). Moreover, participants with higher educational attainment reported lower odds of stigma endorsement against children living with HIV (OR = 0.255; P<0.01), and vendors living with HIV (OR = 0.327; P<0.01). Furthermore, age was significant and inversely associated with the endorsement of HIV stigma against children living with HIV (OR = 0.951; P<0.05), and vendors living with HIV (OR = 0.961; P<0.05). Also, wealth, ethnicity, and the region of residence significantly predicted endorsement of HIV stigma.

Conclusion

For Ghana to achieve UNAIDS target 95-95-95 by 2030, targeted educational campaigns are necessary to dispel misconceptions about HIV and to promote social inclusion for reducing HIV-related stigma and discrimination in the country.
Prevalence of depression, anxiety and stress and their risk and protective factors among secondary students in Rwanda during the first wave of COVID-19 pandemic
Authors: Mukantwali Marie Bienvenue , Niyonsenga Japhet , Uwingeneye Liliane , Kanyamanza Claudine Uwera , Mutabaruka Jean
Published: July 2024

Introduction

Compelling evidence shows that the COVID-19 pandemic has detrimental effects on the mental health of university students. However, little is known about the psychological distress experienced by students from high schools during the pandemic. This study, therefore, sought to examine the prevalence of depression, anxiety and stress and their associated factors among students from high schools in Rwanda.

Methods and materials

A retrospective, cross-sectional study was conducted on 384 students randomly selected from high schools. Data were collected using standardized measures of mental disorders and their associated factors. Bivariate and multivariate analyses based on the odds ratio were used to indicate the associated factors of anxiety, depression, and stress.

Results

The results indicated that slightly above half of the participants (51%, n = 195) had clinically significant symptoms of depression, 30.3% (n = 116) had stress and 67.3% (n = 259) had anxiety. Our analyses identified several key risk factors associated with increased odds of these mental disorders. These include exposure to domestic violence, COVID-19 symptoms like cough and myalgia, eating twice per day, having one of the three mental disorders, gender, with females showing higher susceptibility, and direct contact with the people who positively tested covid-19. Conversely, protective factors such as heightened awareness about Covid-19, positive mental health, social support, eating three times, belonging to the third Ubudehe category, and a high resilience emerged as significant elements mitigating the risks of these mental health challenges within our sample. Intriguingly, religious affiliation emerged as a notable factor, with students affiliated with the Witness of Jehovah and Adventist denominations exhibited lower risks for depression and anxiety.

Conclusion

Our findings highlighted a high prevalence of depression, anxiety, and stress among students from secondary schools. Interestingly, this study also revealed the associated risk and protective factors of depression, anxiety, and stress in Rwandan students in high schools. Therefore, mental health interventions targeting the impact of COVID-19 on students, as young people are needed.
Creative arts and resilient communities
Authors: Afolabi Taiwo , Shercliff Emma , Speight Elaine
Published: July 2024

This editorial serves to outline key themes emerging through the articles presented in this volume. As we all navigate conflicts and challenges of various proportions, the question of resilience-building is of particular interest to socially engaged creative practitioners. Working in diverse geographical and virtual locations across the fields of theatre, textile craft, curatorial practices and cultural leadership, authors here explore these themes through their work with communities: art as a practice of cultural leadership points us towards social cohesion; engagement with art strengthens attachment to place uprooted by ecological disaster; imaginative and creative practices, whether material or performative, force us to consider marginalized forms of knowledge and expertise.
Questions of (un)framedness in the post-cinematic road movie/travelogue
Authors: Kirwan Helen , Pruciak Simon
Published: July 2024

Image of the Road (Kirwan and Pruciak 2013–2015) and Virtual Realis (Pruciak 2023) are travelogue video projects selected as a vantage point from which to examine our understanding of image since the disappearance of the frame and collapse of the cinematic form in VR video. Exploring the concept ‘frame’ in dialogue with theories of cinema and VR and an analysis of VR video’s characteristics, we question whether it may effect changes of perception and new understandings of the road as a virtual site/sight explored by travellers. We suggest that VR video’s ‘unframedness’ gives the unlimited freedom that allows a cognitive shift in the experience of non-narrative travelogues. This allows an inherent potential for an experience of transcendence akin to the overview effect. VR video gives spectators the opportunity of making autonomously their own journey and thus encountering new understandings and experiences in the travelogues presented to them.
The uncanniness of interactive photography: Exploring spatial perception in virtual tours and structure from motion
Authors: Altaratz Doron
Published: July 2024

Photography has always been associated with the physical activity of the human body: capturing, editing and viewing photos are all activities that involve the user’s spatial interaction with the technology used. With conventional photography, one aspect of spatial relation with technology is the viewer’s ability to recognize the camera’s location in the photographic scene through visual indications, such as the relative location of objects in the frame to the camera’s point of view, combined with a basic familiarity with the functionality of conventional cameras, relating to the notions of ‘in-front’ and ‘behind’ the camera. Some instances of interactive photography, such as 360-degree imagery and three-dimensional photogrammetry, challenge the spatial connection between the photographer (represented by the camera location) and the viewer due to unique usability and innovative interactions, such as the viewer’s ability to ‘move’ freely in all directions of the three-dimensional, photographic space. The technological affordances of interactive photography create a distinct corporeal experience that challenges the traditional associations between the photographer, the viewer and the photographic imagery, evoking with the viewers the notion of technological uncanniness and, consequently, questioning some of the traditional preconceptions regarding the prime characteristics of the photographic medium.
vegetal/digital: Photogrammetry point-clouds of Australian flowers
Authors: Bennett Alison
Published: July 2024

Arising out of the heightened sensory perceptions of extended lockdown, this creative investigation began with contemplation of flowering street-trees. Through 262 days of lock down, residents of Melbourne retreated to the hyper-local, often reinforced by a 5-km travel bubble and a one-hour daily time limit outdoors. The sublime ephemeral springtime flowers of street-trees were amplified by the extreme sensory and social constraints of social distancing. Drawing us into a suspended moment of slow encounter, we attuned to the contained glowing pulse of plants. The works were created using photogrammetry, a technique for generating 3D models from a large set of photographs taken from all angles of the botanical specimen. Whilst the point-cloud models remain the central artefact of vegetal/digital, it has been presented in a range of formats throughout 2022–23, including multichannel video loops, augmented reality, webXR, gestural interactive works and still prints. This work invites an embodied experience of attuning to both the vegetal and the digital. This is consistent with my alignment with queer and autistic politics, of siding with the object. Increasingly, queer cultural practices are employing new materialism and posthumanism to interrogate the agency of things and the culturally constituted hierarchies of objects and subjects. The reconfiguration of embodied relations is necessary in order to reconceive a viable future.
Disappearance of the face: From early photography to facial recognition systems
Authors: Charvát Martin
Published: July 2024

In this article I analyse the hidden genealogical link between portrait photography, used for criminological and psychiatric purposes, and contemporary systems of biometric identification of the human face. The aim is to highlight the shift between the emphasis on the importance of the human ‘expert eye’ in recognizing the face when talking about nineteenth-century photography and the use of computer technology that produces and reads digital facial images. In both cases, however, these are modes and variants of reducing and flattening the human face; the face itself disappears under the onslaught of technologies of vision and mediation, becoming a mere data set. Special attention is devoted to the pose, the frontal view, which is the technological a priori of the empirical possibility of recognition, articulated through the history of visualization of the face from early portrait photography to facial recognition systems. Consequently, what we call the ‘face’ is a simulacra of individual the face presented to the apparatus: the ‘real’ face is transposed upon multiple technological layers (camera – plates – photographic surface), losing its characteristic features to be re-written according to specific techniques of measurement.
Realidad virtual, realidad aumentada y medicina en la literatura, el cine y la televisión
Authors: Collado-Vázquez Susana
Published: July 2024

La realidad virtual es un conjunto de técnicas informáticas que permiten crear imágenes y entornos simulados en los que el sujeto tiene diverso nivel de interacción, mientras que la realidad aumentada puede definirse como una técnica que permite incluir componentes digitales en el mundo físico. Ambas tecnologías aparecen en numerosas obras literarias, películas y series televisivas donde también se han reflejado sus aplicaciones en ciencias de la salud.
El objetivo de este trabajo es mostrar la presencia de los usos médicos de la realidad virtual y la realidad aumentada en la literatura, el cine y la televisión. Estas tecnologías han aparecido en muchos títulos, con frecuencia adelantándose al desarrollo científico y tecnológico. En ocasiones se trata de historias de ciencia ficción donde se habla de estos avances de manera fantasiosa o poco creíble; o en una trama cómica, pero en otros ejemplos se ha adecuado a la realidad. Además de mostrar una finalidad lúdica, también se han reflejado sus aplicaciones en el ámbito médico, tanto para la docencia, la mejora de entornos, el diagnóstico y el tratamiento de diversos cuadros patológicos como enfermedades neurológicas o fobias.
ADULT LONGEVITY OF Idea blanchardii (LEPIDOPTERA: NYMPHALIDAE) CAPTIVE BRED AT LIPI BUTTERFLY BREEDING FACILITY, CIBINONG, INDONESIA
Authors: Peggie Djunijanti , Supadi Supadi
Published: July 2024

Idea blanchardii is one of many endemic butterfly species in Sulawesi, Indonesia. This species is among the highly traded butterfly species thus requires biological information on the captive breeding. The aim of this study was to obtain data on the adult life-span, to report the multivoltine generation, and to provide conservation-related insight. Captive breeding research on this species was conducted within the period of September 2018 until February 2020.  The host plant, Parsonsia alboflavescens, was used to support the life of this species for ovipositing and larval food plant. The adults would visit almost any flowers available at the facility. In total, 696 individuals were observed. Data on mating information of the species is presented here. Observations on when a female lays eggs are also revealed. This research showed that I. blanchardii is polygamous and polyandrous. Individuals of this species could live much longer than other butterfly species. A few could live over 80 days and one still seen laying eggs at the age of 136 days old.
Measurement of human peritoneal surface area using artificial intelligence software in abdominal computed tomography
Authors: Choi Seung Joon , Park Ji-Hyeon , Jeon Youngbae , Lee Donghyuk , Baek Jeong-Heum
Published: July 2024

Purpose: The calculation of the intraperitoneal organ surface area is important for understanding their anatomical structure and for conducting basic and clinical studies on diseases related to the peritoneum. To measure the intraperitoneal surface area in a living body by applying artificial intelligence (AI) techniques to the abdominal cavity using computed tomography and to prepare clinical indicators for application to the abdominal cavity.Methods: Computed tomography images of ten adult males and females with a healthy body mass index and ten adults diagnosed with colon cancer were analyzed to determine the peritoneal and intraperitoneal surface areas of the organs. The peritoneal surface was segmented and three-dimensionally modeled using AI medical imaging software. In addition to manual work, three-dimensional editing, filtering, and connectivity checks were performed to improve work efficiency and accuracy. The colon and small intestine surface areas were calculated using the mean length and diameter. The abdominal cavity surface area was defined as the sum of the intraperitoneal area and the surface areas of each organ.Results: The mean peritoneal surface area of all participants was measured as 10,039 ± 241 cm2 (males 10,224 ± 171 cm2 and females 9,854 ± 134 cm2). Males had a 3.7% larger peritoneal surface area than females, with a statistically significant difference (P < 0.001).Conclusion: The abdominal cavity surface area can be measured using AI techniques and is expected to be used as basic data for clinical applications.
Pancreatoduodenectomy with colon-last approach for advanced pancreatic head cancer
Authors: Kim Ji Su , Kang Chang Moo
Published: July 2024

Purpose: Margin-negative surgery is very important in surgical oncology. Considering margin-negative pancreatectomy is known to be essential for cure of the pancreatic cancer, pancreatoduodenectomy with combined venous vascular or arterial resection can be a potential option for margin-negative resection, especially, in era of neoadjuvant treatment with potent systemic chemotherapy. To the contrary, special attention was not paid on combined colonic resection during PD. In this article, safe surgical technique for PD with combined colonic resection is introduced, under the name of PD with “colon-last” approach.Methods: At Severance Hospital (Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea), between 2014 and 2021, a total of six patients underwent PD with “colon-last” approach. The surgical technique and surgical outcome are reviewed.Results: All patients recovered without major complications (Clavien-Dindo classification grade ≥ III) after surgery, and most of them recovered after conservative treatment with postoperative pancreatic fistula biochemical leak. None of the patients were readmitted. Only the first and second cases represent cancer-related mortality, and the other patients are still alive and are being followed up.Conclusion: It is hoped that the present technique, PD with colon-last approach, could be helpful enhance the procedural safety in treating advanced cancer requiring PD with combined colon resection. However, its technical safety and oncologic role should be validated by many pancreatic surgeons’ collaborative studies in the near future.
Analisis Faktor - Faktor yang Memengaruhi Pemberian Imunisasi Campak Rubella pada Balita Usia 9–24 Bulan: Studi Kasus di Puskesmas Banda Raya
Authors: Muslim Siti Chairunnisa , Salawati Liza , Hajar Sitti , Yani Muhammad , Liansyah Tita Menawati
Published: July 2024

Latar belakang. Kasus penyakit campak rubella pada tahun 2020 di Banda Aceh sebanyak 15 kasus, sedangkan cakupan imunisasi campak rubella di Kecamatan Banda Raya pada tahun 2021 hanya sebesar 18% dan angka tersebut masih di bawah angka rekomendasi World Health Organization, yakni cakupan tiap dosis imunisasi campak rubella sebesar ?95%.Tujuan. Mengetahui faktor yang berhubungan dengan pemberian imunisasi campak rubella pada balita usia 9–24 bulan di Puskesmas Banda Raya di Kota Banda Aceh.Metode. Penelitian ini merupakan penelitian observasional dengan rancangan cross-sectional menggunakan kuesioner dan Buku Kesehatan Ibu dan Anak/Kartu Menuju Sehat. Jumlah sampel sebanyak 47 orang ibu yang memiliki anak usia 9–24 bulan dengan accidental sampling. Analisis menggunakan univariat dan bivariat dengan Chi-square test.Hasil. Sebanyak 32 balita (68,1%) tidak mendapatkan imunisasi campak rubella. Terdapat hubungan tingkat pengetahuan, pendidikan ibu, sikap ibu dan dukungan suami dengan imunisasi campak rubella. Sementara usia ibu dan status pekerjaan ibu tidak terdapat hubungan dengan imunisasi campak rubella pada balita usia 9–24 bulan di Puskesmas Banda Raya tahun 2022.Kesimpulan. Faktor–faktor yang berhubungan dengan pemberian imunisasi campak rubella pada balita usia 9–24 bulan di Puskesmas Banda Raya tahun 2022 adalah usia, tingkat pengetahuan, pendidikan, sikap dan dukungan suami.
Pengaruh Perawatan Paliatif Terhadap Peningkatan Kualitas Hidup Pasien Anak dengan Penyakit Jantung Bawaan Sianotik
Authors: Pratomo Satrio , Artiko Bagus , Hidayah Dwi
Published: July 2024

Latar belakang. Penyakit jantung bawaan (PJB) sianotik merupakan kelainan jantung yang telah didapatkan sejak lahir, manivestasi dapat bervariasi dari ringan hingga berat. Anak dengan PJB membutuhkan perawatan paliatif disamping mendapatkan penanganan medis dari tenaga medis profesional. Perawatan Paliatif tersebut perlu adanya suatu pengembangan, sehingga perawatan paliatif diharapkan mampu meningkatakan kualitas hidup anak dengan PJB sianotik.Tujuan. Mengetahui pengaruh perawatan paliatif terhadap peningkatan kualitas hidup pada pasien anak dengan PJB sianotik.Metode. Pasien anak penderita PJB sianotik usia 2 hingga kurang dari 18 tahun yang berobat di bagian kardiologi anak RSUD Dr. Moewardi. Penelitian ini menggunakan desain penelitian uji acak terkontrol. Subjek penelitian dibagi menjadi 2 grup dengan cara matching dan dimasukkan ke dalam grup kontrol dan intervensi yang dilakukan perlakuan perawatan paliatif selama 3 bulan, kemudian dilakukan penilaian kualitas hidup subjek sebelum dan sesudah perlakuan tersebut menggunakan kuisioner PedsQL kardiologi.Hasil. Sejumlah 40 subjek diikutkan dalam penelitian, dibagi menjadi 20 subjek dalam kelompok intervensi dan 20 subjek dalam kelompok kontrol. Kelompok usia 2-4 tahun sebanyak 11 pasien kelompok intervensi didapatkan penurunan hasil nilai PedsQL dari mean 73,9 menjadi 63,2 yang menunjukkan adanya peningkatan kualitas hidup dengan hasil uji statistik pair t test p<0,001 (P<0,05). Kelompok usia 5-7 tahun sebanyak 6 pasien kelompok intervensi didapatkan penurunan hasil nilai PedsQL dari mean 77,5 menjadi 63,4 dengan hasil uji statistik p<0,001 (P<0,05). Kelompok usia 8 hingga kurang dari 18 tahun sebanyak 5 pasien dengan 3 pasien dalam kelompok intervensi didapatkan penurunan hasil nilai PedsQL dari mean 82,8 menjadi 72,7 dengan hasil uji statistik p<0,001 (P<0,05). Berdasarkan hasil uji statistik tiap kelompok usia menunjukkan nilai bermakna dengan signifikansi p<0,001.Kesimpulan. Perawatan paliatif dapat meningkatkan kualitas hidup anak dengan PJB sianotik usia 2 hingga kurang dari 18 tahun di RSUD Dr. Moewardi dengan nilai p-value <0.001 (p<0.05).
Is There a Right to Newsgathering in Hong Kong? Putting the CFA Judgment of Choy Yuk Ling in Context
Authors: YAN Mei Ning
Published: July 2024

In Hong Kong, the Court of Final Appeal in HKSAR v Choy Yuk Ling (CFA 2023) quashed the convictions of a journalist who was accused of knowingly making false statements in her search requests of a government-maintained vehicles register containing personal data crucial to newsgathering. The Court held that the relevant search purposes should not be narrowly construed to exclude bona fide journalism; regard has to be given to freedom of speech and of the press; and data protection law permits disclosures of personal data in the public interest for news activity purposes. However, this decision was soon overturned by the Government’s new measures which in effect prevent any search of the register for journalistic purposes. In early 2024, the enactment of the Safeguarding National Security Ordinance by the Government has further eroded the right to newsgathering of Hong Kong journalists.
Keywords: Hong Kong; Court of Final Appeal; newsgathering; freedom of speech and of the press; protection of personal data; Safeguarding National Security Ordinance 2024.
Variations of Training Process in Vanilla Recurrent Neural Network Framework
Authors: Yi Dokkyun , Kim Inmi , Bu Sunyoung
Published: July 2024

Recurrent neural networks (RNNs) are capable of learning features and long term dependencies from sequential and time series data and show outstanding performance in sequential modeling tasks. However, training process in RNNs is troubled by issues in learning processes such as slow inference, vanishing gradients and difficulties in capturing long term dependencies. In this paper, we introduce a new learning technique to update the weight set as we change the input sequence which is shifted by certain amount of time in training process, instead of using a traditional way to calculate one set of the weights and bias in training time series with sequences shifted by certain amount of time series. We also consider an algorithm for an evaluation process. In the traditional way, the evaluation process is executed by using final weights and biases calculated in the training process. Instead, during the testing process, the weights and biases are iteratively updated in each sequence as done in the training process. Several numerical experiments demonstrate the efficiency of the proposed techniques.
Unsupervised speckle noise reduction technique for clinical ultrasound imaging
Authors: Jung Dongkyu , Kang Myeongkyun , Park Sang Hyun , Guezzi Nizar , Yu Jaesok
Published: July 2024

Purpose: Deep learning–based image enhancement has significant potential in the field of ultrasound image processing, as it can accurately model complicated nonlinear artifacts and noise, such as ultrasonic speckle patterns. However, training deep learning networks to acquire reference images that are clean and free of noise presents significant challenges. This study introduces an unsupervised deep learning framework, termed speckle-to-speckle (S2S), designed for speckle and noise suppression. This framework can complete its training without the need for clean (speckle-free) reference images.Methods: The proposed network leverages statistical reasoning for the mutual training of two in vivo images, each with distinct speckle patterns and noise. It then infers speckle- and noise-free images without needing clean reference images. This approach significantly reduces the time, cost, and effort experts need to invest in annotating reference images manually.Results: The experimental results demonstrated that the proposed approach outperformed existing techniques in terms of the signal-to-noise ratio, contrast-to-noise ratio, structural similarity index, edge preservation index, and processing time (up to 86 times faster). It also performed excellently on images obtained from ultrasound scanners other than the ones used in this work.Conclusion: S2S demonstrates the potential of employing an unsupervised learning-based technique in medical imaging applications, where acquiring a ground truth reference is challenging.
Systematic review on interprofessional education for pre-licensure nursing student in East Asia
Authors: Lim Heejin , Kim Hwa In , Kim Minji , Lee Seung Eun
Published: July 2024

Purpose: This study aimed to identify and evaluate interprofessional education (IPE) interventions for healthcare professional students in East Asian countries.Methods: The reporting of this study followed the Preferred Reporting Items of Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis guidelines. A literature search was conducted using seven electronic databases: PubMed, EMBASE, CINAHL, Scopus, Web of Science, ERIC, and ProQuest Dissertations & Theses Global. Joanna Briggs Institute Critical Appraisal Checklists were also used to appraise the quality of the included studies. The outcomes of IPE interventions were classified based on a modified Kirkpatrick model.Results: This review included 30 studies predominantly conducted in Singapore, South Korea, and Taiwan. The prevalent research design was a one-group pre–posttest design, and most IPE interventions occurred as single events. Approximately 70% of the studies involved students from two healthcare professions, mainly nursing and medicine. Simulations, group discussions, and lectures have emerged as the most common teaching methodologies, with almost half of the studies leveraging a combination of these techniques. The IPE content primarily focused on interprofessional teamwork, communication, and clinical patient care situations; these included the management of septic shock. The effectiveness of the IPE interventions was mainly evaluated through self-reported measures, indicating improvements in attitudes, perceptions, knowledge, and skills, aligning with Level 2 of the modified Kirkpatrick model. Nonetheless, the reviewed studies did not assess changes in the participants’ behavior and patient results.Conclusion: IPE interventions promise to enhance interprofessional collaboration and communication skills among health professional students. Future studies should implement rigorous designs to assess the effectiveness of IPE interventions. Moreover, when designing IPE interventions, researchers and educators should consider the role of cultural characteristics in East Asian countries.
A Survey Study on Discharge Process of Critically Ill Patients: for Residents at a Tertiary Hospital in Korea
Authors: Jeong Hye Jin , Lee Sun Young , Cho Belong , Shin Jeongmi , Kim Min Sun
Published: July 2024

Purpose: The number of severely ill patients requiring post-acute care has been increasing. Careful discharge planning minimizes unplanned emergency room visits and readmissions. This study aimed to survey the knowledge, experience, confidence, and obstacles faced by medical residents and fellows regarding the discharge process of severely ill patients.Methods: A survey consisting of 27 questions was sent electronically to residents and fellows who had experience in discharging severely ill patients from a tertiary hospital in Korea. The survey was conducted over a two-week period from September 29, 2022.Results: A total of 98 residents and fellows responded to the survey. Of these, 94% experienced difficulties related to the discharge process. The main obstacle was changes in the patient’s condition during discharge planning (92.3%). Although 95% of the respondents acknowledged the need for providing discharge information, only 53.1% of the residents and fellows practiced this. Only 42.9% of the respondents and 20.4% of residents and fellows explained local community healthcare and welfare resources to patients because of a lack of relevant knowledge (69.7%) and feeling no responsibility to explain (40.4%).Conclusion: This study revealed that residents and fellows experienced difficulties in devising discharge plans and providing post-acute care related information, despite recognizing the importance of these. These gaps result from the lack of a discharge planning curriculum regarding critically ill patients and appropriate training in the discharge process. This suggests that an integrated discharge planning curriculum should be developed and adopted in residents’ training programs for the differentiated treatment of critically ill patients.
Effects of a Video-based Education Program for Cerebral Angiography on Patients’ Outcomes: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Authors: Tark Sung-Hyun , Hwang Jee-In
Published: July 2024

Purpose: We investigated the effects of a video-based education program for cerebral angiography on patients' state anxiety, uncertainty, nursing care satisfaction, and complications.Methods: The randomized experimental study included patients who underwent cerebral angiography at a university hospital in Bucheon, Gyeonggi-do between January 2023 and August 2023. Patients were assigned to the experimental group (n=50) and the control group (n=48). The program included video- and pamphlet-based education. The intervention included video-based education provided to the experimental group and conventional pamphlet-based education provided to the control group. Data were obtained pre-, post-, and 2–7 days post-intervention. Data were analyzed using the x²-test and the repeated measures analysis of variance test with the SPSS software, version 28.0.Results: The experimental group showed lower levels of state anxiety (x²=4.316, p=.038) and uncertainty (x²=3.974, p=.046) than the control group. However, we observed no significant intergroup differences in satisfaction with nursing care and complication rates.Conclusion: The results suggest that a video-based education program for cerebral angiography can effectively reduce state anxiety and uncertainty in patients undergoing cerebral angiography. Video-aided educational interventions can improve the quality of nursing care with regard to reducing state anxiety and uncertainty in patients who undergo cerebral angiography.
Assessing the Suitability of Interruption Intervention Strategies in Nursing Medication Administration: A Delphi Study
Authors: Baek Seung Ju , Jang Seung Gyeong , Hong Sang Hee , Han Soo Ok , Lee Won
Published: July 2024

Purpose: This study explored the suitability of interventions for medication interruption and intervention preferences.Methods: Two rounds of Delphi surveys were conducted with 18 expert panels comprising staff (or charge) nurses, nursing managers, and Quality Improvement (QI) team nurses working in a tertiary general hospital. For 47 situations involving the location of interruption, medication step, and source of interruption, the suitability of three interventions (no-interruption zone, medication safety vest, and education) was evaluated using a 5-point scale.Results: A total of 51 interventions for each situation were found appropriate by satisfying the degree of convergence and consensus. Patients or caregivers, peer nurses, doctors, telephones, and call bells were sources of interruption and were identified as appropriate for the application of interventions. 'Responding to requests and inquiries' by patients or caregivers showed high overall suitability. The nurses' preferred color for the intervention design (no-interruption zone, medication safety vest) is blue text on a yellow background. The priority groups for education related to medication interruptions were patients or caregivers, nurses, and non-nursing staff, in that order.Conclusion: Effective implementation of tailored intervention strategies that consider the specific characteristics of medication interruptions is crucial for mitigating interruptions and enhancing patient safety. Comprehensive educational programs aimed at reducing medication interruptions by improving awareness are necessary. Moreover, future research should evaluate these strategies in clinical settings to ensure their effectiveness in enhancing patient safety.