bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Assessing the relationship between parental imprisonment in childhood and risk of sexually transmitted infections: a cohort study of US adults in early adulthood
Authors: Roettger Michael , Houle Brian
Published: April 2021

Objectives

One in six young adults in the USA experiences parental imprisonment in childhood. Prior studies have associated parental imprisonment with risk of sexually transmitted infection (STI); however, potential data and methodological issues may have limited the reliability and accuracy of prior findings. Examining cumulative and longitudinal risk, we address several methodological limitations of prior studies and also examine comparative risk by respondent sex and ethnicity. We assess these associations using a range of control variables.

Design

A national cohort study from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health using (1) a cross-sectional sample of adults at ages 24–32 years and (2) a longitudinal sample between ages 18 and 32 years. Both analyses estimate ORs for STI associated with parental imprisonment and examine variation by parent/child gender and respondent ethnicity.

Setting

In-home interviews in the USA at wave 1 (1994–1995), wave 3 (2001–2003) and wave 4 (2007–2009).

Participants

15 684 respondents completing interviews at wave 1 (ages 12–18 years) and wave 4 (ages 26–32 years), including 8556 women, 3437 black and 2397 respondents reporting parental imprisonment.

Results

Father-only imprisonment is associated with 1.22 higher odds (95% CI: 1.09 to 1.37) of lifetime STI and 1.19 higher odds (95% CI: 1.01 to 1.41) of STI in the past 12 months between ages 18 and 32 years, adjusting for familial, neighbourhood, individual and sexual risk factors. Maternal imprisonment is not associated with higher risk of lifetime STI after adjusting for confounders (95% CI: 0.90 to 1.61). Examining predicted probabilities of STI, our findings show additive risks for women, black people and parental imprisonment.

Conclusion

Adjusting for confounders, only paternal imprisonment is associated with slightly elevated risk of annual and lifetime risk of STI. Additive effects show that parental imprisonment modestly increases ethnic and female risk for STI.
mCARE, a digital health intervention package on pregnancy surveillance and care-seeking reminders from 2018 to 2027 in Bangladesh: a model-based cost-effectiveness analysis
Authors: Jo Youngji , LeFevre Amnesty Elizabeth , Ali Hasmot , Mehra Sucheta , Alland Kelsey , Shaikh Saijuddin , Haque Rezwanul , Pak Esther Semee , Chowdhury Mridul , Labrique Alain B
Published: April 2021

Objective

We estimated the cost-effectiveness of a digital health intervention package (mCARE) for community health workers, on pregnancy surveillance and care-seeking reminders compared with the existing paper-based status quo, from 2018 to 2027, in Bangladesh.

Interventions

The mCARE programme involved digitally enhanced pregnancy surveillance, individually targeted text messages and in-person home-visit to pregnant women for care-seeking reminders for antenatal care, child delivery and postnatal care.

Study design

We developed a model to project population and service coverage increases with annual geographical expansion (from 1 million to 10 million population over 10 years) of the mCARE programme and the status quo.

Major outcomes

For this modelling study, we used Lives Saved Tool to estimate the number of deaths and disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) that would be averted by 2027, if the coverage of health interventions was increased in mCARE programme and the status quo, respectively. Economic costs were captured from a societal perspective using an ingredients approach and expressed in 2018 US dollars. Probabilistic sensitivity analysis was undertaken to account for parameter uncertainties.

Results

We estimated the mCARE programme to avert 3076 deaths by 2027 at an incremental cost of $43 million relative to the status quo, which is translated to $462 per DALY averted. The societal costs were estimated to be $115 million for mCARE programme (48% of which are programme costs, 35% user costs and 17% provider costs). With the continued implementation and geographical scaling-up, the mCARE programme improved its cost-effectiveness from $1152 to $462 per DALY averted from 5 to 10 years.

Conclusion

Mobile phone-based pregnancy surveillance systems with individually scheduled text messages and home-visit reminder strategies can be highly cost-effective in Bangladesh. The cost-effectiveness may improve as it promotes facility-based child delivery and achieves greater programme cost efficiency with programme scale and sustainability.
Identifying multimorbidity patterns of non-communicable diseases in paediatric inpatients: a cross-sectional study in Shanghai, China
Authors: Chen Ning , Zhou Liang , Huang Jiaoling , Yu Wenya , Chen Chen , Jin Hua , Shi Xiaoxiao , Yu Zhaohu , Liu Qian , Yang Yan , Wang Zhaoxin , Shi Jianwei
Published: April 2021

Objectives

To enhance the understanding of non-communicable disease (NCD) multimorbidity in children who are inpatients by delineating the characteristics of and identifying patterns among paediatric inpatients with multimorbidity in China.

Design

Cross-sectional study.

Setting

Paediatric wards (n=17) in Pudong New Area, Shanghai, China.

Participants

A total of 193 432 paediatric inpatients in the electronic health record systems of 17 hospitals from 2011 to 2016 participated in the study, and 91 004 children with NCDs were extracted and classified based on International Classification of Diseases, 10th version codes.

Main outcome measures

Number of the NCDs and multimorbidity patterns of the paediatric inpatients.

Results

In total, 47.05% (95% CI 46.83 to 47.27) of the paediatric inpatients had one or more chronic diseases, and 16.30% (95% CI 16.14 to 16.46) had multimorbidity. Congenital anomalies accounted for 19.43% (95% CI 19.25 to 19.61) of the principal diagnoses among the paediatric inpatients. Five common multimorbidity patterns were identified: a neurological-respiratory cluster, a neurological-respiratory-ear cluster, a cardiovascular-circulatory cluster, a genitourinary cluster (boy group) and a musculoskeletal-connective cluster (10–18 years age group).

Conclusions

Multimorbidity in paediatric inpatients suggests that decisions about reasonable allocation of paediatric inpatient resources should be fully considered. Multimorbidity patterns in paediatric inpatients revealed that prevention, including innovative treatments targeting children, should be further studied.
Participation of young children with developmental disabilities: parental needs and strategies, a qualitative thematic analysis
Authors: Coussens Marieke , Vitse Floris , Desoete Annemie , Vanderstraeten Guy , Van Waelvelde Hilde , Van de Velde Dominique
Published: April 2021

Objectives

Participation refers to a person’s involvement in activities and roles that provide interaction with others as well as engagement in family and community activities. Young children with developmental disabilities (DD) such as attention deficit hyperactive disorder, autism spectrum disorder and developmental coordination disorder are limited in their participation compared with their typically developing peers. This study aimed to obtain information regarding parental needs and strategies used to enable their child’s participation.

Design

A thematic inductive approach with in-depth interviews was used to explore parental experiences. Eleven women and two men, between 30 and 40 years of age, who had a child (4–9 years old) with a DD diagnosis based on Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders criteria, participated in semistructured interviews.

Results

Two central themes emerged: parental needs and parental strategies used to enable their child’s participation. Parental needs were the following: increasing awareness, ameliorating parental burden, providing tailored interventions and supporting parents in finding suitable leisure activities. Parental strategies aimed at increasing their child’s resiliency, attaining maximal fit between activity requirements and child capacity, and creating inclusive opportunities and awareness.

Conclusions

Understanding what families’ needs are and how families use and integrate strategies within the context of their daily lives provides practitioners with insights needed to support families’ resiliency in promoting their children’s participation. The results have implications for professionals as this information can be used to inform, refine, or tailor participation-based and family-centred services.
Effect of weekly teriparatide injections on osteoporotic fracture healing: protocol for a double-blind, randomised controlled trial
Authors: Zhu Junxiong , Zhang Chenggui , Jia Jialin , Yuan Wanqiong , Zhang Min , Leng Huijie , Song Chunli
Published: April 2021

Introduction

Both animal studies and clinical trials have shown that daily parathyroid hormone administration promotes bone fracture healing. We previously found that weekly injections of the recombinant human parathyroid hormone teriparatide at a dosage of 20 μg/kg promoted tibial fracture healing to the same extent as daily injections of teriparatide at a dosage of 10 μg/kg in a rodent model. However, the effect of weekly teriparatide administration on human fracture healing is unreported. This protocol describes a randomised controlled clinical trial designed to evaluate whether weekly administration of teriparatide accelerates fracture repair in humans.

Methods and analysis

This single-centre, double-blind, randomised controlled trial will be conducted in Peking University Third Hospital. Eligible patients with Colles’ fracture incurred within 48 hours will be randomly divided into two groups (n=40 per group) that will receive 14 weekly subcutaneous injections of either saline or teriparatide (40 μg/week). The primary outcome will be the time taken to achieve radiographic healing, as assessed using the modified radiographic union scale for tibial fractures. The secondary outcomes will be functional assessments, including the self-administered Patient-Rated Wrist Evaluation questionnaire, grip strength and rate of fracture non-union.

Ethics and dissemination

Ethical approval has been obtained from the Peking University Third Hospital Medical Science Research Ethics Committee (M2020207). The findings will be disseminated in peer-reviewed publications.

Trial registration number

NCT04473989: protocol version: 1.
Randomised clinical trial for the cost–utility evaluation of two strategies of perineal reconstruction after abdominoperineal resection in the context of anorectal carcinoma: biological mesh repair versus primary perineal wound closure, study protocol for the GRECCAR 9 Study
Authors: Buscail Etienne , Canivet Cindy , Ghouti Laurent , Kirzin Sylvain , Carrere Nicolas , Molinier Laurent , Rosillo Aline , Lauwers-Cances Valerie , Costa Nadège
Published: April 2021

Introduction

Abdominoperineal resections performed for anorectal tumours leave a large pelvic and perineal defect causing a high rate of morbidity of the perineal wound (40%–60%). Biological meshes offer possibilities for new standards of perineal wound reconstruction. Perineal fillings with biological mesh are expected to increase quality of life by reducing perineal morbidity.

Methods and analysis

This is a multicentre, randomised and single-blinded study with a blinded endpoint evaluation, the experimental arm of which uses a biological mesh and the control arm of which is defined by the primary closure after abdominoperineal resection for cancer. Patients eligible for inclusion are patients with a proven history of rectal adenocarcinoma and anal canal epidermoid carcinoma for whom abdominoperineal resection was indicated after a multidisciplinary team discussion. All patients must have social security insurance or equivalent social protection. The main objective is to assess the incremental cost–utility ratio (ICUR) of two strategies of perineal closure after an abdominoperineal resection performed for anorectal cancer treatment: perineal filling with biological mesh versus primary perineal closure (70 patient in each arm). The secondary objectives focus on quality of life and morbidity data during a 1-year follow-up. Deterministic and probabilistic sensitivity analyses will be performed in order to estimate the uncertainty surrounding the ICUR. CIs will be constructed using the non-parametric bootstrap approach. A cost-effectiveness acceptability curve will be built so as to estimate the probability of efficiency of the biological meshes given a collective willingness-to-pay threshold.

Ethics and dissemination

The study was approved by the Regional Ethical Review Board of ‘Nord Ouest 1’ (protocol reference number: 20.05.14.60714; national number: 2020-A01169-30).

The results will be disseminated through conventional scientific channels.

Trial registration number

ClinicalTrials.gov Registry (NCT02841293).
Association between engagement in COVID-19-related work and depressive symptoms among hospital workers in a designated COVID-19 hospital in Japan: a cross-sectional study
Authors: Inoue Yosuke , Yamamoto Shohei , Fukunaga Ami , Hoang Dong Van , Miki Takako , Islam Zobida , Miyo Kengo , Ishii Masamichi , Ishiwari Hironori , Konishi Maki , Ohmagari Norio , Mizoue Tetsuya
Published: April 2021

Objectives

To examine whether engagement in COVID-19-related work was associated with an increased prevalence of depressive symptoms among the staff members working in a designated medical institution for COVID-19 in Tokyo, Japan.

Design

A cross-sectional study.

Setting

Data were obtained from a health survey conducted in July 2020 among the staff members of a designated medical institution for COVID-19 in Tokyo, Japan.

Participants

A total of 1228 hospital workers.

Exposure of interest

Engagement in COVID-19-related work (qualitatively (ie, the risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection at work or affiliation to related departments) as well as quantitatively (ie, working hours)) and job categories.

Outcome measures

Depressive symptoms.

Results

There was no significant association between depressive symptoms and engagement in work with potential exposure to SARS-CoV-2 or affiliation to COVID-19-related departments. However, working for longer hours in March/April, when Japan witnessed a large number of infected cases, was significantly associated with depressive symptoms (≥11 hours/day: prevalence ratio (PR)=1.45, 95% CI=1.06 to 1.99, compared with ≤8 hours/day). Nurses were more likely to exhibit depressive symptoms than did doctors (PR=1.70, 95% CI=1.14 to 2.54).

Conclusions

This study suggests that the risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection at work or having an affiliation to related departments might not be linked with a higher prevalence of depressive symptoms among Japanese hospital workers; contrarily, long working hours appeared to increase the prevalence of depressive symptoms.
Intensive low-density lipoprotein cholesterol lowering in cardiovascular disease prevention: opportunities and challenges
Authors: Packard Chris , Chapman M John , Sibartie Mahendra , Laufs Ulrich , Masana Luis
Published: April 2021

Elevated levels of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) are associated with increased risk of coronary heart disease and stroke. Guidelines for the management of dyslipidaemia from the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) and the European Atherosclerosis Society (EAS) were updated in late 2019 in light of recent intervention trials involving the use of innovative lipid-lowering agents in combination with statins. The new guidelines advocate achieving very low LDL-C levels in individuals at highest risk, within the paradigm of ‘lower is better’. With the advent of combination therapy using ezetimibe and/or proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 inhibitors in addition to statins, the routine attainment of extremely low LDL-C levels in the clinic has become a reality. Moreover, clinical trials in this setting have shown that, over the 5–7 years of treatment experience to date, profound LDL-C lowering leads to further reduction in cardiovascular events compared with more moderate lipid lowering, with no associated safety concerns. These reassuring findings are bolstered by genetic studies showing lifelong very low LDL-C levels (<1.4 mmol/L; <55 mg/dL) are associated with lower cardiovascular risk than in the general population, with no known detrimental health effects. Nevertheless, long-term safety studies are required to consolidate the present evidence base. This review summarises key data supporting the ESC/EAS recommendation to reduce markedly LDL-C levels, with aggressive goals for LDL-C in patients at highest risk, and provides expert opinion on its significance for clinical practice.
Addition of cystatin C predicts cardiovascular death better than creatinine in intensive care
Authors: Helmersson-Karlqvist Johanna , Lipcsey Miklos , Ärnlöv Johan , Bell Max , Ravn Bo , Dardashti Alain , Larsson Anders
Published: April 2021

Objective

Decreased kidney function increases cardiovascular risk and predicts poor survival. Estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) by creatinine may theoretically be less accurate in the critically ill. This observational study compares long-term cardiovascular mortality risk by the Chronic Kidney Disease Epidemiology Collaboration (CKD-EPI) creatinine equation; Caucasian, Asian, paediatric and adult cohort (CAPA) cystatin C equation and the CKD-EPI combined creatinine/cystatin C equation.

Methods

The nationwide study includes 22 488 intensive care patients in Uppsala, Karolinska and Lund University Hospitals, Sweden, between 2004 and 2015. Creatinine and cystatin C were analysed with accredited methods at admission. Reclassification and model discrimination with C-statistics was used to compare creatinine and cystatin C for cardiovascular mortality prediction.

Results

During 5 years of follow-up, 2960 (13 %) of the patients died of cardiovascular causes. Reduced eGFR was significantly associated with cardiovascular death by all eGFR equations in Cox regression models. In each creatinine-based GFR category, 17%, 19% and 31% reclassified to a lower GFR category by cystatin C. These patients had significantly higher cardiovascular mortality risk, adjusted HR (95% CI), 1.55 (1.38 to 1.74), 1.76 (1.53 to 2.03) and 1.44 (1.11 to 1.86), respectively, compared with patients not reclassified. Harrell’s C-statistic for cardiovascular death for cystatin C, alone or combined with creatinine, was 0.73, significantly higher than for creatinine (0.71), p<0.001.

Conclusions

A single cystatin C at admission to the intensive care unit added significant predictive value to creatinine for long-term cardiovascular death risk assessment. Cystatin C, alone or in combination with creatinine, should be used for estimating GFR for long-term risk prediction in critically ill.
Exploration of modified progression-free survival as a novel surrogate endpoint for overall survival in immuno-oncology trials
Authors: Wang Zi-Xian , Wu Hao-Xiang , Xie Li , Lin Wu-Hao , Liang Fei , Li Jin , Yang Zhi-Min , Xu Rui-Hua
Published: April 2021

Background

Progression-free survival (PFS) exhibits suboptimal performance as the surrogate endpoint for overall survival (OS) in trials studying immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs). Here we propose a novel surrogate endpoint, modified PFS (mPFS), which omits the events of disease progression (but not deaths) within 3 months after randomization.

Methods

PubMed, EMBASE, and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials were searched for randomized trials studying ICIs in advanced solid tumors with available PFS and OS data up to May 2020. Individual patient-level data (IPD) for PFS and OS were reconstructed for eligible trials. A simulation-based algorithm was used to match the reconstructed, disconnected PFS and OS IPD, and 1000 independent simulated datasets of matched PFS-OS IPD were generated for each trial. mPFS durations and statuses were then measured for each of the matched PFS-OS IPD. Trial-level correlation between Cox HRs for PFS or mPFS and HRs for OS was assessed using Pearson correlation coefficient (rp) weighted by trial size; patient-level correlation between PFS or mPFS and OS was assessed using Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient (rs). Findings were further validated using the original IPD from two randomized ICI trials.

Results

Fifty-seven ICI trials totaling 29,429 participants were included. PFS HR showed moderate correlation with OS HR (rp=0.60), and PFS was moderately correlated with OS at the patient level (median rs=0.66; range, 0.65–0.68 among the 1000 simulations). In contrast, mPFS HR achieved stronger correlation with OS HR (median rp=0.81; range, 0.77–0.84), and mPFS was more strongly correlated with OS at the patient level (median rs=0.79; range, 0.78–0.80). The superiority of mPFS over PFS remained consistent in subgroup analyses by cancer type, therapeutic regimen, and treatment setting. In both trials with the original IPD where experimental treatment significantly improved OS, mPFS successfully captured such clinical benefits whereas PFS did not.

Conclusions

mPFS outperformed PFS as the surrogate endpoint for OS in ICI trials. mPFS is worthy of further investigation as a secondary endpoint in future ICI trials.
Risk of cardiac manifestations in adult mitochondrial disease caused by nuclear genetic defects
Authors: Lim Albert Zishen , Jones Daniel M , Bates Matthew G D , Schaefer Andrew M , O'Sullivan John , Feeney Catherine , Farrugia Maria E , Bourke John P , Turnbull Doug M , Gorman Gráinne S , McFarland Robert , Ng Yi Shiau
Published: April 2021

Objective

Regular cardiac surveillance is advocated for patients with primary mitochondrial DNA disease. However, there is limited information to guide clinical practice in mitochondrial conditions caused by nuclear DNA defects. We sought to determine the frequency and spectrum of cardiac abnormalities identified in adult mitochondrial disease originated from the nuclear genome.

Methods

Adult patients with a genetically confirmed mitochondrial disease were identified and followed up at the national clinical service for mitochondrial disease in Newcastle upon Tyne, UK (January 2009 to December 2018). Case notes, molecular genetics reports, laboratory data and cardiac investigations, including serial electrocardiograms and echocardiograms, were reviewed.

Results

In this cohort-based observational study, we included 146 adult patients (92 women) (mean age 53.6±18.7 years, 95% CI 50.6 to 56.7) with a mean follow-up duration of 7.9±5.1 years (95% CI 7.0 to 8.8). Eleven different nuclear genotypes were identified:TWNK,POLG, RRM2B, OPA1, GFER,YARS2,TYMP,ETFDH,SDHA,TRIT1andAGK. Cardiac abnormalities were detected in 14 patients (9.6%). Seven of these patients (4.8%) had early-onset cardiac manifestations: hypertrophic cardiomyopathy required cardiac transplantation (AGK;n=2/2), left ventricular (LV) hypertrophy and bifascicular heart block (GFER;n=2/3) and mild LV dysfunction (GFER;n=1/3,YARS2;n=1/2, TWNK;n=1/41). The remaining seven patients had acquired heart disease most likely related to conventional cardiovascular risk factors and presented later in life (14.6±12.8 vs 55.1±8.9 years, p<0.0001).

Conclusions

Our findings demonstrate that the risk of cardiac involvement is genotype specific, suggesting that routine cardiac screening is not indicated for most adult patients with nuclear gene-related mitochondrial disease.
Carbon-supported copper–organic framework as active catalysts for acetylene hydrochlorination
Authors: Wu Yi-Bo , Ma Yao , Li Qing-Bin , Li Song-Tian , Han Yong-Jun , Li Fu-Xiang
Published: April 2021

In this work, activated carbon supported Cu-MOF was used as an acetylene hydrochlorination catalyst to manufacture vinyl chloride. Cu-MOF/AC with 15 wt. % Cu-MOF content has the initial acetylene conversion of 99.2% and vinyl chloride selectivity of 98.5% at 200 °C. By combining steady-state experiments and physical–chemical characterization results (XPS, BET, H2-TPR, C2H2-TPD, XRD, and HCl adsorption experiments), Cu–O–C is shown to slow the reduction of Cu2+, improve the reactants adsorption, and strengthen the anti-coking ability of Cu-based catalysts. According to the previous studies and the Eley–Rideal mechanism, it is proposed that Cu2+ first adsorbed C2H2 to generate transition states in acetylene hydrochlorination catalysis.
Performance and emission characteristics of a micro-gasifier-based cook stove using solid biomass, Melia dubia and Casuarina
Authors: Omsakthivel U. , Lakshmanan T. , Sekar S. , Stalin B.
Published: April 2021

Many large-scale improved cooking stove systems have been introduced in various developing countries to replace existing obsolete conventional biomass cooking stoves. Improved cooker stoves exhibit higher performance and lower emissions. In this work, two solid biomass fuels, Melia dubia and Casuarina, were investigated on a dry basis in a forced micro-gasifier stove. The effect of the M. dubia and Casuarina fuels on the thermal efficiency and emission reduction of the forced micro-gasifier stove was analysed using the water boiling test protocol version 4.2.3. The experimental results revealed that the thermal efficiency of the micro-gasifier stove for the fuels M. dubia and Casuarina are 42% and 40%, respectively. The fuel consumption of the micro-gasifier stove was estimated to be 86 g/L for M. dubia and 90 g/L for Casuarina. The carbon monoxide and particulate matter emissions of M. dubia were slightly lower than those of Casuarina. Emissions of carbon monoxide and particulate matter were detected for M. dubia at 22 ppm and 0.05 mg/m3, respectively, and for Casuarina at 25 ppm and 0.07 mg/m3, respectively. The efficiency and emission values for the selected fuels, M. dubia and Casuarina, have shown promising results for the selected micro-gasifier stove.
Dynamic Analysis and FPGA Implementation of a Kolmogorov-Like Hyperchaotic System
Authors: Jiao Xiaodong , Dong Enzeng , Wang Zenghui
Published: April 2021

Chaotic systems have high potential for engineering applications due to their extremely complex dynamics. In the paper, a five-dimensional (5D) Kolmogorov-like hyperchaotic system is proposed. First, the hyperchaotic property is uncovered, and numerical analysis shows that the system displays the coexistence of different kinds of attractors. This system presents a generalized form of fluid and forced-dissipative dynamic systems. The vector field of the hyperchaotic system is decomposed to inertial, internal, dissipative and external torques, respectively, and the energies are analyzed in detail. Then, the bound of the 5D dissipative hyperchaos is estimated with a constructed spherical function. Finally, the system passes the NIST tests and an FPGA platform is used to realize the hyperchaotic system.
On Existence and Bifurcations of Periodic Motions in Discontinuous Dynamical Systems
Authors: Guo Siyu , Luo Albert C. J.
Published: April 2021

In this paper, the existence and bifurcations of periodic motions in a discontinuous dynamical system is studied through a discontinuous mechanical model. One can follow the study presented herein to investigate other discontinuous dynamical systems. Such a sampled discontinuous system consists of two subsystems on boundaries and three subsystems in subdomains. From the theory of discontinuous dynamical systems, switchability conditions of a flow at and on the boundaries are developed. From such switchability conditions, grazing motions of a flow at boundaries are discussed, and sliding motions of a flow on boundaries are presented. Based on the motions in each domain and on each boundary, generic mappings are introduced. Using the generic mappings, mapping structures for specific periodic motions are developed. Based on the grazing conditions and appearance and vanishing conditions of sliding motions, parametric dynamics of the existences of the specific periodic motions are presented. In addition, the traditional saddle-node bifurcation, Neimark bifurcations and period-doubling bifurcation are used for parametric dynamics of periodic motions. Bifurcation trees of periodic motions varying with a system parameter are presented first, and phase trajectories of periodic motions are illustrated. The [Formula: see text]-functions are presented for the illustration of the motion switchability at the boundaries and sliding motions on the boundaries. Codimension-2 parametric dynamics of periodic motions are studied and how to develop the 2D parametric maps for specific periodic motions are presented. In the end, periodic motions with grazing are illustrated.
TOWARD A NONINVASIVE MEASUREMENT METHOD OF CO2 ARTERIAL PRESSURE
Authors: CHENITI AICHA RIMA , BESBES HATEM , CHAFRA MOEZ , SINTES CHRISTOPHE , OMRI MOHAMED
Published: April 2021

Until now, the measurement of carbon dioxide blood pressure is done ex vivo, using an invasive process. This paper describes a first step toward a novel noninvasive process for in vivo measurement of this pressure. As first approximation, the blood solution is modeled as a simple aqueous solution of carbon dioxide in a cylindrical rigid canalization. The drift flux model and the Young–Laplace equation are employed to describe the fluid behavior. The numerical model relates the carbon dioxide pressure through the mixture pressure and velocity. The spatial distributions of these parameters are implemented to create linear mathematical relations between the mean mixture pressure and the radial velocity variation. As long as we are interested in a noninvasive measuring of the carbon dioxide pressure, a response model is proposed to describe the ultrasound signal backscattered by the considered solution. The linear relations are applied to deduce the carbon dioxide pressure through the measured radial velocity difference, using two computing methods of ultrasound signal. A comparative study is made between them showing the more appropriate process to compute the carbon dioxide pressure.
Ambulatory chest physiotherapy in mild-to-moderate acute bronchiolitis in children under two years of age — A randomized control trial
Authors: Pinto Frederico Ramos , Alexandrino Ana Silva , Correia-Costa Liane , Azevedo Inês
Published: April 2021

Objective: The aim of this study was to compare the role of a chest physiotherapy (CP) intervention to no intervention on the respiratory status of children under two years of age, with mild-to-moderate bronchiolitis.

Methods: Out of 80 eligible children observed in the Emergency Room, 45 children completed the study with 28 randomized to the intervention group and 17 to the control group. The intervention protocol, applied in an ambulatory setting, consisted of combined techniques of passive prolonged slow expiration, rhinopharyngeal clearance and provoked cough. The control group was assessed with no chest physiotherapy intervention. The efficacy of chest physiotherapy was assessed using the Kristjansson Respiratory Score at the admission and discharge of the visit to the Emergency Room and during clinical visits at day 7 and day 15.

Results: There was a significant improvement in the Kristjansson Respiratory Score in the intervention group compared to the control group at day 15 [1.2 (1.5) versus 0.3 (0.5); [Formula: see text]-value[Formula: see text], in the control and intervention groups, respectively], with a mean difference (95% CI) of [Formula: see text] ([Formula: see text] to [Formula: see text]).

Conclusion: Chest physiotherapy had a positive impact on the respiratory status of children with mild-to-moderate bronchiolitis.

Clinical Trial Registration: https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04260919 .
Switchable Bioelectrocatalysis of Glucose Oxidase Immobilized into Multilayers with Lamellar Nanoparticles of Amino-Functionalized Magnesium Phyllosilicate Clay
Authors: Yao Huiqin , Xiao Ruiqi , Tian Yin , Shi Keren , Yao Haihao , Liu Hongyun
Published: April 2021

Lamellar organic clay consisting of amino-functionalized magnesium phyllosilicate (AMPC) with controllable positive charges was successfully prepared by simple one-pot synthesis. Then, the positively charged AMPC was assembled layer by layer with negatively charged glucose oxidase (GOx) enzyme into {AMPC/GOx}
n
multilayer films on pyrolytic graphite (PG) electrode surface, where n is the number of the bilayers. The {AMPC/GOx}
n
film electrodes demonstrated sensitive and reversible pH-responsive switchable behavior toward the cyclic voltammetric (CV) responses of the ferrocenedicarboxylic acid (Fc(COOH)2) probe in solution. The CV peak currents were strongly enhanced at pH 5.0 and were significantly reduced at pH 9.0. The pH-sensitive behavior of the system originated from the electrostatic interactions between the nanolayered films and Fc(COOH)2 in solution. This property was applied to realize pH-triggered electrocatalytically oxidation of glucose by GOx enzyme in the {AMPC/GOx}
n
films. This model system demonstrates the great potential perspective of the fabrication of novel multiple factor-switchable biosensors with immobilized enzymes.
Analysis on Pad Surface Roughness of Diamond Conditioning Process for CMP
Authors: Li Jen-Chieh , Chen Chao-Chang Arthur , Ricky Shiu Pei-Jiun , Yang Lai-You , Hiyama Hirokuni , Wada Yutaka
Published: April 2021

Chemical Mechanical Polishing/Planarization (CMP) is the key process of the wafer and thin film planarization process for semiconductor manufacturing. In the CMP process, the pad can restore its surface topography and efficiency by diamond conditioner or named as diamond conditioning process. The pad surface roughness is essential to the removal rate in the CMP process because it can represent the contact level of the polishing pad and wafer. This study has developed a simulation program based on precise diamond-grits conditioning routes and numbers of cross points. By studying the OP (overlap cutting points) distribution in a specific area on the pad which is generated by CL (cutting locus), the trend of roughness parameters is discovered. The simulation and experimental model can be effective to observe pores deformation and predict pad surface topography. The results show the pad roughness would become steady over a certain OP number, and the OP can be precisely calculated and compared to the actual pad surface. The final results of the break-in and pad conditioning process can be estimated or further optimized. The other high-density and customized diamond-grits arrangement of conditioner can be designed according to the study in future work.
Assessing static and dynamic sympathetic transduction using microneurography
Authors: Tymko Michael M. , Berthelsen Lindsey F. , Skow Rachel J. , Steele Andrew R. , Fraser Graham M. , Steinback Craig D.
Published: April 2021

The relationship between sympathetic nerve activity and the vasculature has been of great interest due to its potential role in various cardiovascular-related diseases. This relationship, termed “sympathetic transduction,” has been quantified using several different laboratory and analytical techniques. The most common method is to assess the association between relative changes in muscle sympathetic nerve activity, measured via microneurography, and physiological outcomes (e.g., blood pressure, total peripheral resistance, blood flow, etc.) in response to a sympathetic stressor (e.g., exercise, cold stress, orthostatic stress). This approach, however, comes with its own caveats. For instance, elevations in blood pressure and heart rate during a sympathetic stressor can have an independent impact on muscle sympathetic nerve activity. Another assessment of sympathetic transduction was developed by Wallin and Nerhed in 1982, where alterations in blood pressure and heart rate were assessed immediately following bursts of muscle sympathetic nerve activity at rest. This approach has since been characterized and further innovated by others, including the breakdown of consecutive burst sequences (e.g., singlet, doublet, triplet, and quadruplet), and burst height (quartile analysis) on specific vascular outcomes (e.g., blood pressure, blood flow, vascular resistance). The purpose of this review is to provide an overview of the literature that has assessed sympathetic transduction using microneurography and various sympathetic stressors (static sympathetic transduction) and using the same or similar approach established by Wallin and Nerhed at rest (dynamic neurovascular transduction). Herein, we discuss the overlapping literature between these two methodologies and highlight the key physiological questions that remain.
Effect sizes for symptomatic and cognitive improvements in traumatic brain injury following hyperbaric oxygen therapy
Authors: Biggs Adam T. , Dainer Hugh M. , Littlejohn Lanny F.
Published: April 2021

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy has been proposed as a method to treat traumatic brain injuries. The combination of pressure and increased oxygen concentration produces a higher content of dissolved oxygen in the bloodstream, which could generate a therapeutic benefit for brain injuries. This dissolved oxygen penetrates deeper into damaged brain tissue than otherwise possible and promotes healing. The result includes improved cognitive functioning and an alleviation of symptoms. However, randomized controlled trials have failed to produce consistent conclusions across multiple studies. There are numerous explanations that might account for the mixed evidence, although one possibility is that prior evidence focuses primarily on statistical significance. The current analyses explored existing evidence by calculating an effect size from each active treatment group and each control group among previous studies. An effect size measure offers several advantages when comparing across studies, as it can be used to directly contrast evidence from different scales, and it provides a proximal measure of clinical significance. When exploring the therapeutic benefit through effect sizes, there was a robust and consistent benefit to individuals who underwent hyperbaric oxygen therapy. Placebo effects from the control condition could account for approximately one-third of the observed benefits, but there appeared to be a clinically significant benefit to using hyperbaric oxygen therapy as a treatment intervention for traumatic brain injuries. This evidence highlights the need for design improvements when exploring interventions for traumatic brain injury and the importance of focusing on clinical significance in addition to statistical significance.
Mineralogical Characteristics of Phosphate Tailings for Comprehensive Utilization
Authors: Mao Song , Zhang Qin
Published: April 2021

The mineralogical characteristics of a phosphate tailing were studied, and the occurrence state, mineral types, and embedded characteristics of phosphorus in the phosphate tailings were ascertained. The results show that the main minerals in the phosphate tailings are collophane. The main gangue minerals are quartz, dolomite, calcite, a small amount of potassium feldspar, plagioclase, chlorite, etc. Monazite was found in phosphate tailings. In addition, the coarse grain size of quartz and feldspar and fine embedded particle size of calcite and dolomite are also the main factors affecting the mineral processing of phosphate tailings. According to the analysis of mineralogical characteristics, the physical and chemical properties of phosphate tailings provided the basis for comprehensive utilization of phosphorus resources.
Theory-Based Failure Modes and Effect Analysis for Medication Errors
Authors: Jafarzadeh Ghoushchi Saeid , Dorosti Shadi , Ab Rahman Mohd Nizam , Khakifirooz Marzieh , Fathi Mahdi
Published: April 2021

Medication Errors (MEs) are still significant challenges, especially in nonautomated health systems. Qualitative studies are mostly used to identify the parameters involved in MEs. Failing to provide accurate information in expert-based decisions can provoke unrealistic results and inappropriate corrective actions eventually. However, mostly, some levels of uncertainty accompany the decisions in real practice. This study tries to present a hybrid decision-making approach to assigning different weights to risk factors and considering the uncertainty in the ranking process in the Failure Modes and Effect Analysis (FMEA) technique. Initially, significant MEs are identified by three groups of qualified experts (doctors, nurses, and pharmacists). Afterward, for assigning weights to the risk factors, Z-number couples with the Stepwise Weight Assessment Ratio Analysis (SWARA) method, named Z-SWARA, to add reliability concept in the decision-making process. Finally, the identified MEs are ranked through the developed Weighted Aggregated Sum Product Assessment (WASPAS) method, namely, Z-WASPAS. To demonstrate the applicability of the proposed approach, the ranking results compare with typical methods, such as fuzzy-WASPAS and FMEA. The findings of the present study highlight improper medication administration as the main failure mode, which can result in a fatality or patient injury. Moreover, the utilization of multiple-criteria decision-making methods in combination with Z-number can be a useful tool in the healthcare management field since it can address the problems by considering reliability and uncertainty simultaneously.
Research on the Force Characteristics and Structural Optimization of Mine Antioutburst Door under the Influence of Coal and Gas Outburst Impact Airflow
Authors: Dai Linchao , Sun Haitao , Zhao Xusheng , Wang Bo , Cao Jie
Published: April 2021

In order to deeply explore the destructive effect of the impulsive airflow on the mine antioutburst door when coal and gas outbursts occur in underground coal mines, a large-scale coal and gas outburst dynamic effect simulation experiment device is used to carry out the coal and gas outburst disaster simulation experiment. The impact load and deformation characteristics of the antioutburst door under the impact airflow during coal and gas outburst are analyzed, and the experimental results are discussed in depth through numerical simulation analysis and field example analysis. Based on this, the internal and external causes of the damage of the antioutburst door on the coal mine site are analyzed, the key technologies that need to be solved in the design of the antioutburst door’s disaster resistance are studied, and the overall design of the structure optimization design of the antioutburst door is proposed. The research results show that after coal and gas outburst, the pressure on the antioutburst door will rise and fall, and the fluctuation will be greater. Under the same installation position, the farther the antioutburst door is from the protruding point, the less pressure it bears. In the middle and late stages of the outburst, intermittent negative pressure of the gas at the antioutburst door appeared. The key technologies for the design of the antioutburst door and its disaster resistance mainly include that strengthen theoretical and experimental research on the formation mechanism of outburst shock waves in mines, the interaction mechanism between disaster shock loads and dampers, and the magnitude of disaster expected shock loads; optimize the structure of the antioutburst door size, the width of the contact surface between the air door and the door wall, the stress distribution of the air door under impact load, the design of the safety hole, and the locking device; and improve the disaster monitoring and alarm capabilities of the antioutburst door and collect changes in antioutburst door pressure in real time. The research results provide a theoretical basis and technical support for the optimization of the antishock performance of underground antioutburst doors in coal mines and have important practical significance for improving the disaster resistance of the ventilation system.
Bivariate Generalized Shifted Gegenbauer Orthogonal System
Authors: Alqudah Mohammad A. , Almheidat Maalee N. , Hamadneh Tareq
Published: April 2021

For

K

0

,

K

1

≥
0

,

λ
>
−

1
/
2

, we examine

C
r

∗

λ
,

K

0

,

K

1

x

, generalized shifted Gegenbauer orthogonal polynomials, with reference to the weight

W

λ
,

K

0

,

K

1

x

=

2
λ
Γ

2
λ

/

Γ

λ
+

1
/
2

2

x
−

x

2

λ
−

1
/
2

I

x
∈

0,1

d
x
+

K

0

δ

0

+

K

1

δ

1

, where the indicator function is denoted by

I

x
∈

0,1

and

δ

x

indicates the Dirac

δ
−

measure. Then, we construct a bivariate generalized shifted Gegenbauer orthogonal system

ℭ

n
,
r
,
d

∗

λ
,

K

0

,

K

1

u
,
v
,
w

over a triangular domain

T

, with reference to a bivariate measure

W

λ
,
γ
,

K

0

,

K

1

u
,
v
,
w

=

Γ

2
λ
+
1

/

Γ

λ
+

1
/
2

2

u

λ
−

1
/
2

1
−
v

λ
−

1
/
2

1
−
w

γ
−
1

I

u
∈

0,1
−
w

I

w
∈

0,1

d
u
d
w
+

K

0

δ

0

u

+

K

1

δ

w
−
1

u

, which is given explicitly in the Bézier form as

ℭ

n
,
r
,
d

∗

λ
,

K

0

,

K

1

u
,
v
,
w

=

∑

i
+
j
+
k
=
n

a

i
,
j
,
k

n
,
r
,
d

B

i
,
j
,
k

n

u
,
v
,
w

. In addition, for

d
=
0
,
…
,
k

,

r
=
0,1
,
…
,
n

, and

n
∈

0

∪
ℕ

, we write the coefficients

a

i
,
j
,
k

n
,
r
,
d

in closed form and produce an equation that generates the coefficients recursively.
Antiviral Efficacy of the Anesthetic Propofol against Dengue Virus Infection and Cellular Inflammation
Authors: Shen Ting-Jing , Chen Chia-Ling , Jhan Ming-Kai , Tseng Po-Chun , Satria Rahmat Dani , Hsing Chung-Hsi , Lin Chiou-Feng
Published: April 2021

Propofol, 2,6-diisopropylphenol, is a short-acting intravenous sedative agent used in adults and children. Current studies show its various antimicrobial as well as anti-inflammatory effects. Dengue virus (DENV) is an emerging infectious pathogen transmitted by mosquitoes that causes mild dengue fever and progressive severe dengue diseases. In the absence of safe vaccines and antiviral agents, adjuvant treatments and supportive care are generally administered. This study investigated the antiviral effects of propofol against DENV infection and cellular inflammation by using an in vitro cell model. Treatment with propofol significantly inhibited DENV release 24 h postinfection in BHK-21 cells. Furthermore, it also blocked viral protein expression independent of the translational blockade. Propofol neither caused inhibitory effects on endosomal acidification nor prevented dsRNA replication. Either the proinflammatory TNF-α or the antiviral STAT1 signaling was reduced by propofol treatment. These results provide evidence to show the potential antiviral effects of the sedative propofol against DENV infection and cellular inflammation.