bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Interventions for the well-being of healthcare workers during a pandemic or other crisis: scoping review
Authors: Cairns Patrick , Aitken Gill , Pope Lindsey Margaret , Cecil Joanne E , Cunningham Kathryn B , Ferguson Julie , Gibson Smith Katie , Gordon Lisi , Johnston Peter , Laidlaw Anita , Scanlan Gillian Marion , Tooman Tricia R , Wakeling Judy , Walker Kim
Published: August 2021

Objectives

The aim of this scoping review was to identify pre-existing interventions to support the well-being of healthcare workers during a pandemic or other crisis and to assess the quality of these interventions.

Design

Arksey and O’Malley’s five-stage scoping review framework was used to identify the types of evidence available in the field of well-being interventions for healthcare workers during a pandemic. PubMed, PsycINFO, Embase, Scopus, Web of Science, CINAHL and ERIC databases were searched to find interventions for the well-being of doctors during pandemics. Owing to a lack of results, this search was expanded to all healthcare workers and to include any crisis. Databases were searched in June 2020 and again in October 2020.

Inclusion/exclusion criteria

Articles were included that studied healthcare workers, reported an intervention design and were specifically designed for use during a pandemic or other crisis. Well-being was defined broadly and could include psychological, physical, social or educational interventions.

Results

Searching produced 10 529 total academic references of which 2062 were duplicates. This left 8467 references. Of these, 16 met our inclusion criteria and were included in data extraction. During data extraction, three more papers were excluded. This left 13 papers to summarise and report. Of these 13 papers, 6 were prospective studies and 7 were purely descriptive. None of the interventions were theoretically informed in their development and the quality of the evidence was generally deemed poor.

Conclusions

There are no high-quality, theory-based interventions for the well-being of healthcare workers during a pandemic or other crisis. Given that previous pandemics have been shown to have a negative effect on healthcare workers well-being, it is imperative this shortcoming is addressed. This scoping review highlights the need for high-quality, theory-based and evidence-based interventions for the well-being of healthcare workers during a pandemic.
Rate of condom use among sexually active adolescents: a nationwide cross-sectional study in Taiwan from 2012 to 2016
Authors: Siu Wing Hin Stanford , Li Pei-Ru , See Lai-Chu
Published: August 2021

Objective

Adolescents’ sexual behaviours are associated with sexually transmitted infections and unwanted pregnancies. This study aimed to estimate the sexual intercourse and condom use rates at first and last sex among Taiwanese adolescents in grades 7–12.

Design

A secondary data analysis of the Taiwan Global School-Based Student Health Survey’s 2012–2016 data. The survey was anonymous, cross-sectional and nationwide.

Setting

Taiwan high school students (grades 7–12).

Participants

The sample comprised 27 525 students from junior high schools (grades 7–9), and senior high schools, comprehensive schools, vocational high schools and night schools (grades 10–12).

Main outcome measures

The rate of ever having had sexual intercourse; the rates and factors of condom use at first and last sex.

Results

The sexual intercourse rate in each school type (in ascending order) was junior high school (1.62%), senior high school (4.14%), comprehensive school (9.08%), vocational high school (14.03%) and night school (41.09%). Condom use rate decreased from 57.07% (95% CI=54.31% to 59.83%) at first sex to 25.72% (95% CI=23.34% to 28.10%) at last sex (p<0.0001). The condom use rate (in ascending order) was junior high school (first sex: 37.67%, last sex: 19.76%), night school (55.83%, 22.62%), vocational high school (61.13%, 25.78%), comprehensive school (62.83%, 28.61%) and senior high school (68.38%, 34.96%). Older age at sexual debut was associated with condom use at first and last sex, and having one sexual partner was associated with condom use at last sex, as revealed by logistic regression analysis.

Conclusions

This study highlights an urgent need to instil a proper understanding of protected sex while adolescents are still in their formative years. Despite the low sexual intercourse rate (4.95%), there is lower condom use at last sex than at first sex, which indicates that many sexually active adolescents are not practising protected sex, especially among junior high school students.
Caregiver burden and proxy-reported outcomes of people without natural speech: a cross-sectional survey study
Authors: Zinkevich Anna , Lubasch Johanna Sophie , Uthoff Sarah Anna Katharina , Boenisch Jens , Sachse Stefanie Kalén , Bernasconi Tobias , Ansmann Lena
Published: August 2021

Objective

To examine interrelations between care-related burden on informal caregivers and their proxy assessments of outcomes in people without natural speech.

Design

A cross-sectional survey.

Setting

Data were collected in January 2019 from a postal survey of informal caregivers of people without natural speech who are insured by a large regional health insurance company in the German federal state of Lower Saxony.

Participants

n=714 informal caregivers of people without natural speech of all ages and with various underlying disabilities were identified and contacted via the health insurance company. Data from n=165 informal caregivers (26.4%) were obtained.

Main outcome measures

Caregiver burden (self-reported, Burden Scale for Family Caregivers), pragmatic communication skills of people without natural speech (proxy report, self-developed), health-related quality of life of people without natural speech (proxy report, DISABKIDS Chronic Generic Measure - DCGM-12) and functioning of people without natural speech (proxy report, WHO Disability Assessment Schedule 2.0).

Results

The analyses revealed significant associations between caregiver burden on the one hand and both proxy-reported health-related quality of life (b=−0.422; p≤0.001) and functioning (b=0.521; p≤0.001) on the other. Adding caregiver burden to the regression model leads to a substantial increase in explained variance in functioning (R² Model 1=0.349; R² Model 2=0.575) as well as in health-related quality of life (R² Model 1=0.292; R² Model 2=0.460).

Conclusions

Caregiver burden should be considered an important determinant when informal caregivers report outcomes on behalf of people without natural speech. Longitudinal studies are recommended to better understand the burdens experienced by caregivers when supporting people without natural speech.

Trial registration number

DRKS00013628.
Biopsychosocial implications of living with multiple sclerosis: a qualitative study using interpretative phenomenological analysis
Authors: Kassie Seada A , Alia Jannat , Hyland Lynda
Published: August 2021

Background

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is estimated to affect 2.8 million people worldwide, with increasing prevalence in all world regions (Waltonet al). While there is no cure for MS, medication and lifestyle modifications can slow disease progression and enhance patients’ quality of life. The biopsychosocial model of health recognises important interactions among biological, psychological and social factors in illness, including those relating to illness management, which contribute to the experience of those diagnosed with MS.

Objective

This qualitative, idiographic study aimed to explore the lived experiences of patients in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) diagnosed with MS.

Methods

Semistructured interviews were conducted with a purposive sample of eight patients with MS ranging in age from 25 to 56 years. All participants were residing in the UAE at the time of data collection. Interpretative phenomenological analysis was used to analyse the data.

Results

Three superordinate themes were identified from patients’ candid accounts of their lives with MS, highlighting issues of illness management, acceptance and gratitude, and adaptive coping. These themes broadly illustrate biological, psychological and social aspects of patients’ MS experiences.

Conclusion

The study emphasised the importance of adopting the biopsychosocial model to treat and manage MS. Additionally, it highlights the need for routine assessment and early, multidimensional approach with multidisciplinary team efforts to improve patients’ quality of life.
Association between acute psychiatric bed availability in the Veterans Health Administration and veteran suicide risk: a retrospective cohort study
Authors: Kaboli Peter J , Augustine Matthew R , Haraldsson Bjarni , Mohr Nicholas M , Howren M Bryant , Jones Michael P , Trivedi Ranak
Published: August 2021

Background

Veteran suicides have increased despite mental health investments by the Veterans Health Administration (VHA).

Objective

To examine relationships between suicide and acute inpatient psychiatric bed occupancy and other community, hospital and patient factors.

Methods

Retrospective cohort study using administrative and publicly available data for contextual community factors. The study sample included all veterans enrolled in VHA primary care in 2011–2016 associated with 111 VHA hospitals with acute inpatient psychiatric units. Acute psychiatric bed occupancy, as a measure of access to care, was the main exposure of interest and was categorised by quarter as per cent occupied using thresholds of ≤85%, 85.1%–90%, 90.1%–95% and >95%. Hospital-level analyses were conducted using generalised linear mixed models with random intercepts for hospital, modelling number of suicides by quarter with a negative binomial distribution.

Results

From 2011 to 2016, the national incidence of suicide among enrolled veterans increased from 39.7 to 41.6 per 100 000 person-years. VHA psychiatric bed occupancy decreased from a mean of 68.2% (IQR 56.5%–82.2%) to 65.4% (IQR 53.9%–79.9%). VHA hospitals with the highest occupancy (>95%) in a quarter compared with ≤85% had an adjusted incident rate ratio (IRR) for suicide of 1.10 (95% CI 1.01 to 1.19); no increased risk was observed for 85.1%–90% (IRR 0.96; 95% CI 0.89 to 1.03) or 90.1%–95% (IRR 0.96; 95% CI 0.89 to 1.04) compared with ≤85% occupancy. Of hospital and community variables, suicide risk was not associated with number of VHA or non-VHA psychiatric beds or amount spent on community mental health. Suicide risk increased by age categories, seasons, geographic regions and over time.

Conclusions

High VHA hospital occupancy (>95%) was associated with a 10% increased suicide risk for veterans whereas absolute number of beds was not, suggesting occupancy is an important access measure. Future work should clarify optimal bed occupancy to meet acute psychiatric needs and ensure adequate bed distribution.
Demographic and epidemiological decomposition analysis of global changes in suicide rates and numbers over the period 1990–2019
Authors: Yip Paul Siu Fai , Zheng Yan , Wong Clifford
Published: August 2021

Background

Suicide presents an ongoing public health challenge internationally. Nearly 800 000 people around the world lose their life to suicide every year, and many more attempt suicide.

Methods

A decomposition analysis was performed using global suicide mortality and population data from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019.

Results

Despite a significant decrease in age-specific suicide rate between 1990 and 2019 (-4.01; from 13.8% to 9.8% per 100 000), the overall numbers of suicide deaths increased by 19 897 (from 738 799 to 758 696) in the same time period. The reductions in age-specific suicide rates (−6.09; 152%) contributed to the overall reductions in suicide rates; however, this was offset by overtime changes in population age structure (2.08; −52%). The increase in suicide numbers was partly attributable to population growth (300 942; 1512.5%) and population age structure (189 512; 952.4%), which was attenuated by the significant reduction in overall suicide rates (−470 556; 2364.9%). The combined effect of these factors varied across the World Bank income level regions. For example, in the upper-middle-income level region, the effect of the reduction in age-specific suicide rates (−289 731; −1456.1%) exceeded the effect of population age structure (124 577; 626.1%) and population growth (83 855; 421.4%), resulting in its substantial decline in total suicide deaths (−81 298; −408.6%). However, in lower-middle income region, there was a notable increase in suicide death (72 550; 364.6%), which was related to the net gain of the reduction in age-specific suicide rates (-115 577; -580.9%) and negated by the increase in the number of suicide deaths due to population growth (152 093; 764.4%) and population age structure (36 034; 181.1%).

Conclusion

More support and resources should be deployed for suicide prevention to the low-income and middle-income regions in order to achieve the reduction goal. Moreover, suicide prevention among older adults is increasingly critical given the world’s rapidly ageing populations in all income level regions.
Cosmological evolution and dark energy in osculating Barthel–Randers geometry
Authors: Hama Rattanasak , Harko Tiberiu , Sabau Sorin V. , Shahidi Shahab
Published: August 2021

We consider the cosmological evolution in an osculating point Barthel–Randers type geometry, in which to each point of the space-time manifold an arbitrary point vector field is associated. This Finsler type geometry is assumed to describe the physical properties of the gravitational field, as well as the cosmological dynamics. For the Barthel–Randers geometry the connection is given by the Levi-Civita connection of the associated Riemann metric. The generalized Friedmann equations in the Barthel–Randers geometry are obtained by considering that the background Riemannian metric in the Randers line element is of Friedmann–Lemaitre–Robertson–Walker type. The matter energy balance equation is derived, and it is interpreted from the point of view of the thermodynamics of irreversible processes in the presence of particle creation. The cosmological properties of the model are investigated in detail, and it is shown that the model admits a de Sitter type solution, and that an effective cosmological constant can also be generated. Several exact cosmological solutions are also obtained. A comparison of three specific models with the observational data and with the standard $$\Lambda $$
Λ
CDM model is also performed by fitting the observed values of the Hubble parameter, with the models giving a satisfactory description of the observations.
Monte Carlo modeling of production of three alpha-particles in low energy n +12C interactions
Authors: Olimov Khusniddin K. , Lugovoi Vladimir V. , Olimov Kosim , Shodmonov Maratbek , Gulamov Kadyr G. , Kattabekov Rasuljon R. , Zarubin Pavel I. , Liu Fu-Hu , Khan Imran
Published: August 2021

To describe [Formula: see text] interactions with production of three [Formula: see text]-particles at incident neutron kinetic energy of 14 MeV in a nuclear (photo) emulsion, a Monte Carlo model is proposed for four channels of decay of an excited carbon-12 nucleus into three [Formula: see text]-particles. The Monte Carlo calculation results describe well the experimental data on the distribution of the angle between the three-dimensional momenta of all pairs of [Formula: see text]-particles in a collision event, on the distribution of the angle between the projections of the momentum vectors of all pairs of [Formula: see text]-particles in collision event on each of the coordinate planes, on the distribution of the sum of the kinetic energies of all pairs of [Formula: see text]-particles in a collision event, and the distribution of projections of the momenta of [Formula: see text]-particles on the coordinate planes. The best agreement of the Monte Carlo model results with the experimental data is achieved if the direct decay [Formula: see text] and decay through the formation of an intermediate beryllium nucleus [Formula: see text] are generated with equal probabilities, while the excitation energies of 3.04 MeV, 1.04 MeV, and 0.1 MeV for the beryllium nucleus are generated with relative weights of 75%, 15%, and 10%, respectively.
Unsteady characteristics of jet combustion in a supersonic combustor with a micro-vortex generator
Authors: Jia Dongpeng , Liu Chaoyang , Wang Ning , Pan Yu , Yang Kai
Published: August 2021

To clarify the effect of the micro-vortex generator on the unsteady characteristics of jet combustion, a set of experiments had been carried out in a cavity-based supersonic combustor. Based on the advanced combustion diagnosis techniques, the ignition process, initial cavity-stabilized flame and dynamic flame development at the initial equivalence ratio of 0.20 are revealed in detail. Although the ignition processes are identical, the time for the flame propagation process in the cavity can be shortened when an MVG (micro-vortex generator) is located properly upstream of the injection. The initial flame cannot be stabilized in the combustor if the MVG is too close to the injection. After achieving initial stable combustion, the chemical reactions in the flame front are more vigorous and the shear layer can be lifted a little higher in the experiment with an MVG. At the same dynamic fuel adjustment method, the flame can be stabilized in the combustor without an MVG while the flame is blown out with an MVG. Based on numerous experimental results, it is found that the MVG dwindles the adjustment range of the dynamic injection, which makes against the stability of the flame when the engine decreases the thrust.
Fluctuating paths of least time, Schrödinger equation, van der Waals torque and Casimir effect mechanism
Authors: Ben Adda Fayçal
Published: August 2021

The use of an infinity of fluctuating paths of least time that are compatible with the quantum mechanics indeterminacy provides a new interpretation in geometrical optic of the interference pattern of Young’s double slit experiment, which suggests that the wave behavior of matter and radiation is dictated by the space-time geodesics. Moreover, the association of a wave function to each path of least time as a probability amplitude together with an uncertainty for momentum and position allows to derive the Schrödinger’s equation starting from the geodesic’s characteristics. A new insight is obtained regarding the van der Waals torque as well as Casimir attraction/repulsion mechanism.
STANDING GROUND? THE INFLUENCES OF KNOWLEDGE DIVERSITY AND TECHNOLOGY OPPORTUNITY ON GENERATIVE APPROPRIATION
Authors: CHOI YOHAN , BARDEN JEFFREY , LEE GILSOO
Published: August 2021

This study examines the determinants of a firm’s generative appropriation, defined as a firms’ effectiveness in capturing a larger share of cumulative inventions spawned from its prior inventions. Building on learning theory and the resource-based view, we investigate how a firm’s knowledge diversity across technological and geographic space influences generative appropriation. We also investigate how technology opportunities moderate the effect of knowledge diversity on generative appropriation. Using a longitudinal study of US manufacturing firms and using patents as a proxy for inventions, we find that technological knowledge diversity has a negative effect on generative appropriation and that technology opportunity weakens that effect. We also find that the effect of geographic diversity is contingent on the availability of technological opportunities. When technology opportunity is low, moderate geographic diversity leads to higher generative appropriation than high or low geographic diversity does. However, when technology opportunity is high, geographic diversity appears to have a monotonically negative effect on generative appropriation. These results highlight the way the cumulative and preclusive learning of prior knowledge depend on a firm’s knowledge diversity and technology opportunities.
Interface construction for charge transportation of ZnO/graphene multilayer films
Authors: Fang Fang , Wu Junsheng , Zhou Yanwen , Zhao Zhuo
Published: August 2021

In order to clarify the effect of interface construction on the charge transportation, the interfaces between zinc oxide (ZnO) and graphene layers were designed into the following types: the smooth interface by direct deposition ZnO layer onto the surface of fresh graphene/glass substrate; the nanoscale rough interface by Ar[Formula: see text] bombardment etching the surface of graphene/glass substrate before deposition of a ZnO layer, and rough ZnO/Ag/graphene interface by deposition Ag first and then ZnO layers on the rough graphene/glass substrate. The results showed that, compared to the morphology of the ZnO/graphene film with smooth surface, the particle sizes of the film with rough interface became fine and their shapes changed from sharp to round. The carriers’ mobility increased from 0.3 cm2 ⋅ V[Formula: see text] ⋅ s[Formula: see text] to 0.6 cm2 ⋅ V[Formula: see text] ⋅ s[Formula: see text] due to the enhancement of the nanocontact at the rough interface between ZnO and graphene layers. In order to improve the electrical properties of ZnO/graphene multilayer film, a 10 nm Ag layer was inserted into the rough graphene/glass and ZnO layer to construct the rough metal interface. The carrier concentration was enhanced from 10[Formula: see text] cm[Formula: see text] of ZnO/graphene to 10[Formula: see text] cm[Formula: see text] ZnO/Ag/graphene films, although the carrier mobility reduced slightly from ZnO/graphene 0.6 to ZnO/Ag/graphene 0.2 cm2 ⋅ V[Formula: see text] ⋅ s[Formula: see text]. The sheet resistance and resistivity of the ZnO/Ag/graphene multilayer film decreased dramatically by inserting the conductive Ag layer, which took the roles of both the provider of charge carriers from Ag layer and bridges of the carriers from graphene layer.
Highlighting Carbon Neutrality in Building Beautiful Cities
Authors: PAN Jiahua
Published: August 2021

The “Proposals for Formulating the 14th Five-Year Plan (2021–2025) for National Economic and Social Development and the Long-Range Objectives Through the Year 2035” puts forth that there will be a fundamental improvement in the environment with the goal of building a Beautiful China basically. One of the key measurements of Beautiful China is carbon neutrality orientation. The task of achieving carbon neutrality is arduous, and the key difficulty of carbon neutrality lies in cities. The author believes there should be a timetable and a roadmap for carbon neutrality in cities. First, it is necessary to clarify the goal of achieving carbon emissions peak in the “14th Five-Year Plan”. Second, urban renewal, old city reconstruction and new infrastructure need to be incorporated into carbon constraints, so as to strictly prevent carbon locks, and fundamentally eliminate carbon demands. Third, the new construction, expansion or reconstruction of cities needs to be oriented by carbon neutrality.
From Users’ Intentions to IF-THEN Rules in the Internet of Things
Authors: Corno Fulvio , De Russis Luigi , Roffarello Alberto Monge
Published: August 2021

In the Internet of Things era, users are willing to personalize the joint behavior of their connected entities, i.e., smart devices and online service, by means of trigger-action rules such as “IF the entrance
Nest
security camera detects a movement, THEN blink the
Philips Hue
lamp in the kitchen.” Unfortunately, the spread of new supported technologies makes the number of possible combinations between triggers and actions continuously growing, thus motivating the need of assisting users in discovering new rules and functionality, e.g., through recommendation techniques. To this end, we present

, a semantic Conversational Search and Recommendation (CSR) system able to suggest pertinent IF-THEN rules that can be easily deployed in different contexts starting from an abstract user’s need. By exploiting a conversational agent, the user can communicate her current personalization intention by specifying a set of functionality at a high level, e.g., to decrease the temperature of a room when she left it. Stemming from this input,

implements a semantic recommendation process that takes into account (
a
) the current user’s
intention
, (
b
) the connected entities owned by the user, and (
c
) the user’s
long-term preferences
revealed by her profile. If not satisfied with the suggestions, then the user can converse with the system to provide further feedback, i.e., a
short-term preference
, thus allowing

to provide refined recommendations that better align with the original intention. We evaluate

by running different offline experiments with simulated users and real-world data. First, we test the recommendation process in different configurations, and we show that recommendation accuracy and similarity with target items increase as the interaction between the algorithm and the user proceeds. Then, we compare

with other similar baseline recommender systems. Results are promising and demonstrate the effectiveness of

in recommending IF-THEN rules that satisfy the current personalization intention of the user.
How Am I Doing?: Evaluating Conversational Search Systems Offline
Authors: Lipani Aldo , Carterette Ben , Yilmaz Emine
Published: August 2021

As conversational agents like Siri and Alexa gain in popularity and use, conversation is becoming a more and more important mode of interaction for search. Conversational search shares some features with traditional search, but differs in some important respects: conversational search systems are less likely to return ranked lists of results (a SERP), more likely to involve iterated interactions, and more likely to feature longer, well-formed user queries in the form of natural language questions. Because of these differences, traditional methods for search evaluation (such as the Cranfield paradigm) do not translate easily to conversational search. In this work, we propose a framework for offline evaluation of conversational search, which includes a methodology for creating test collections with relevance judgments, an evaluation measure based on a user interaction model, and an approach to collecting user interaction data to train the model. The framework is based on the idea of “subtopics”, often used to model novelty and diversity in search and recommendation, and the user model is similar to the geometric browsing model introduced by RBP and used in ERR. As far as we know, this is the first work to combine these ideas into a comprehensive framework for offline evaluation of conversational search.
A Large-scale Analysis of Hundreds of In-memory Key-value Cache Clusters at Twitter
Authors: Yang Juncheng , Yue Yao , Rashmi K. V.
Published: August 2021

Modern web services use in-memory caching extensively to increase throughput and reduce latency. There have been several workload analyses of production systems that have fueled research in improving the effectiveness of in-memory caching systems. However, the coverage is still sparse considering the wide spectrum of industrial cache use cases. In this work, we significantly further the understanding of real-world cache workloads by collecting production traces from 153 in-memory cache clusters at Twitter, sifting through over 80 TB of data, and sometimes interpreting the workloads in the context of the business logic behind them. We perform a comprehensive analysis to characterize cache workloads based on traffic pattern, time-to-live (TTL), popularity distribution, and size distribution. A fine-grained view of different workloads uncover the diversity of use cases: many are far more write-heavy or more skewed than previously shown and some display unique temporal patterns. We also observe that TTL is an important and sometimes defining parameter of cache working sets. Our simulations show that ideal replacement strategy in production caches can be surprising, for example, FIFO works the best for a large number of workloads.
A Systematic Study of Electrolyte Additives in Single Crystal and Bimodal LiNi0.8Mn0.1 Co0.1O2/Graphite Pouch Cells
Authors: Song Wentao , Harlow Jessie , Logan Eric , Hebecker Helena , Coon Matthew , Molino Laurent , Johnson Michel , Dahn Jeff , Metzger Michael
Published: August 2021

A few weight percent of electrolyte additives can dramatically improve Li-ion battery performance and lifetime. A systematic investigation of a series of electrolyte additive formulations was performed on bimodal (BM) and single crystal (SC) LiNi0.8Mn0.1Co0.1O2 (NMC811)/artificial graphite (AG) pouch cells. Long-term cycling tests at different temperatures (20 °C, 40 °C, and 55 °C) and different upper cutoff voltages (4.06 V and 4.20 V) were performed. These tests results were combined with advanced characterization techniques like ultra-high precision charging (UHPC), ex-situ gas measurement, and automatic cell storage tests to rank the additives based on their effectiveness. Radar plots and a figure-of-merit (FOM) approach were further utilized to summarize results for the BM and SC NMC811/AG cells. This work provides a useful benchmark for those developing NMC811/graphite cells and gives important insights for future electrolyte additive studies.
Level of Evidence of Dental Research in Saudi Arabia (2000–2020)
Authors: Rajeh Mona , Khayat Waad
Published: August 2021

Objectives. The level of evidence (LOE) of Saudi dental research from 2000 to 2020 was evaluated, and factors associated with the LOE were determined. Methods. This study was a systematic review. PubMed, Web of Science, and Medline databases were utilized to retrieve available dental articles published in English between January 2000 and May 2020. The inclusion criteria consisted of clinical studies conducted in Saudi Arabia with at least one Saudi dental affiliation. The retrieved eligible articles were evaluated independently by two reviewers using a modified Oxford LOE scale. The LOE of the studies was compared between the last two decades. Results. Of the 7237 articles identified, 1557 articles met the inclusion criteria. Approximately 78% of the published articles reported Level IV evidence. A higher trend toward Level I, II, and III publications has occurred in recent years (i.e., 2010–2020). However, no statistically significant difference existed in LOE proportions between the two decades. The presence of international collaboration and high journals’ impact factor was significantly associated with a higher LOE. Conclusion. Most published dental research studies were low LOE studies (i.e., Level IV). National and international collaboration is highly encouraged as this is a factor, according to our findings, that would be a positive addition toward publishing dental research of a higher LOE in Saudi Arabia.
A New Double Truncated Generalized Gamma Model with Some Applications
Authors: Bakery Awad A. , Zakaria Wael , Mohamed OM Kalthum S. K.
Published: August 2021

The generalized Gamma model has been applied in a variety of research fields, including reliability engineering and lifetime analysis. Indeed, we know that, from the above, it is unbounded. Data have a bounded service area in a variety of applications. A new five-parameter bounded generalized Gamma model, the bounded Weibull model with four parameters, the bounded Gamma model with four parameters, the bounded generalized Gaussian model with three parameters, the bounded exponential model with three parameters, and the bounded Rayleigh model with two parameters, is presented in this paper as a special case. This approach to the problem, which utilizes a bounded support area, allows for a great deal of versatility in fitting various shapes of observed data. Numerous properties of the proposed distribution have been deduced, including explicit expressions for the moments, quantiles, mode, moment generating function, mean variance, mean residual lifespan, and entropies, skewness, kurtosis, hazard function, survival function,

r
 
th

order statistic, and median distributions. The delivery has hazard frequencies that are monotonically increasing or declining, bathtub-shaped, or upside-down bathtub-shaped. We use the Newton Raphson approach to approximate model parameters that increase the log-likelihood function and some of the parameters have a closed iterative structure. Six actual data sets and six simulated data sets were tested to demonstrate how the proposed model works in reality. We illustrate why the Model is more stable and less affected by sample size. Additionally, the suggested model for wavelet histogram fitting of images and sounds is very accurate.
Soccer‐Assisted Training Robot Based on Image Recognition Omnidirectional Movement
Authors: Tan Bin
Published: August 2021

With the continuous emergence and innovation of computer technology, mobile robots are a relatively hot topic in the field of artificial intelligence. It is an important research area of more and more scholars. The core of mobile robots is to be able to realize real‐time perception of the surrounding environment and self‐positioning and to conduct self‐navigation through this information. It is the key to the robot’s autonomous movement and has strategic research significance. Among them, the goal recognition ability of the soccer robot vision system is the basis of robot path planning, motion control, and collaborative task completion. The main recognition task in the vision system is the omnidirectional vision system. Therefore, how to improve the accuracy of target recognition and the light adaptive ability of the robot omnidirectional vision system is the key issue of this paper. Completed the system construction and program debugging of the omnidirectional mobile robot platform, and tested its omnidirectional mobile function, positioning and map construction capabilities in the corridor and indoor environment, global navigation function in the indoor environment, and local obstacle avoidance function. How to use the local visual information of the robot more perfectly to obtain more available information, so that the “eyes” of the robot can be greatly improved by relying on image recognition technology, so that the robot can obtain more accurate environmental information by itself has always been domestic and foreign one of the goals of the joint efforts of scholars. Research shows that the standard error of the experimental group’s shooting and dribbling test scores before and the experimental group’s shooting and dribbling test results after the standard error level is 0.004, which is less than 0.05, which proves the use of soccer‐assisted robot‐assisted training. On the one hand, we tested the positioning and navigation functions of the omnidirectional mobile robot, and on the other hand, we verified the feasibility of positioning and navigation algorithms and multisensor fusion algorithms.
DMF Index among Amelogenesis Imperfecta Patients: Systematic Review of the Literature
Authors: Kallel Farah , Labidi Amel , Bekri Sana , Ammar Sinda , Ghoul Sonia , Mansour Lamia
Published: August 2021

Objectives. The aim of this study was to explore the literature in order to assess systematically the association between amelogenesis imperfecta (AI) and caries development and to evaluate the DMF index among AI patients. Basic Research Design. PubMed was used to explore the database Medline. The key words used were “Amelogenesis Imperfecta” [Mesh], “Dental Caries” [Mesh], “Tooth Loss” [Mesh], “DMF Index” [Mesh], and “Dental Restoration, Permanent” [Mesh]. Moreover, an ad hoc search was performed in order to make the study as exhaustive as possible. Results. Fifty-five articles were retained. The total number of patients gathered was 499. A percentage of 68.8% of the articles dealt with cases with a relatively low dental caries process, 20.8% dealt with cases in which the dental caries process was relatively moderate, and 10.4% dealt with cases in which the dental caries process was severe. Teeth extraction due to dental caries was mentioned in 10 articles. Eleven articles, concerning 53 patients, mentioned dental fillings. Four patients did not have dental filling due to dental caries. DMF index was very low in 2 articles and low-to-high in 3 articles. Conclusion. Low dental caries susceptibility with AI patients was noticed in this study. A possible factor could be the lack of proximal contacts and elimination of fissures through enamel loss. The lack of dental caries susceptibility was also explained by the microbacterial specificity of hypoplastic AI patients. Moreover, it was also noted that the prevalence of dental caries among AI patients depends on sociodemographic change.
The Influence of Self-Perception on Manipulative Dexterity in Adults with Multiple Sclerosis
Authors: Martínez-Piédrola Rosa M. , García-Bravo Cristina , Huertas-Hoyas Elisabet , Baeza Patricia Sánchez-Herrera , Pérez-Corrales Jorge , Sánchez-Camarero Carlos , Pérez-de-Heredia-Torres Marta
Published: August 2021

Background. Multiple sclerosis is a disorder which causes a loss of functionality, affecting the person’s ability to perform activities of daily living, such as interpersonal interactions and relationship, dressing, self-care, or bathing, as well as having a negative impact on work and leisure activities. Aims. This study examined the relationship (correlational or associations/predictive) between self-perceived quality of life and performance of manipulative dexterity. Also, this study sought to measure predictors of dexterity. Study Design. A cross-sectional study from two associations of MS within the Community of Madrid, Spain. Methods and Procedures. A final sample of 30 people with multiple sclerosis. The outcome measures used were the ABILHAND questionnaire, the Purdue Pegboard Test, the Nine Hole Peg Test, and the Box and Block Test. Results. No significant correlations were found between dexterity and self-perception tests; however, correlations were found between perceived dexterity and quality of life (

p
<
0.001

). Scores for the ABILHAND questionnaire, which measures the perception of skills in daily living, predicted up to 60% of the variance in the dexterity tests. Conclusions. The results of this study suggest that interventions for improving the manipulative dexterity of people with multiple sclerosis should address the person’s perception of improving their manipulative dexterity and the perceived of quality of life, as both factors may influence manipulative dexterity.
Autoinflammatory/Autoimmunity Syndrome Induced By Adjuvants (ASIA) Due to Silicone Incompatibility Syndrome
Authors: Maldonado Genessis , Guerrero Roberto , Intriago Maria , Rios Carlos
Published: August 2021

The adjuvant-induced autoimmune syndrome (ASIA) is associated with a dysregulation of the innate and adaptive immune system after exposure to chemical compounds, including liquid paraffin, silicone gel, acrylamides, and hyaluronic acid. Due the increase of the use of these compounds in cosmetic procedures, the prevalence of this syndrome is increasing. We present the first report in Ecuador associated to ASIA after an elective silicone breast prosthesis procedure, manifested as polyarthralgia, positive antinuclear antibody, anticentromere antibody, and a moderate positive Sclero-70.
Right Coronary Artery STEMI following Blunt Thoracic Trauma
Authors: Sikanderkhel Saad , Ash Jon-Austin , O’Dell Kimberly , Mok Jacob , Manyam Harish , Golding John
Published: August 2021

We present a case report of an otherwise healthy 37-year-old male without pertinent cardiac history or risk factors, who presented with cardiac trauma after a motor vehicle collision (MVC). Initial workup including electrocardiogram (ECG), transthoracic echocardiogram (TTE), and uptrending serial troponins warranted coronary angiography, during which occlusive thrombi were discovered in the proximal right coronary artery (pRCA), the right posterolateral vessel (rPL), and the right posterior descending artery (PDA). Subsequently, the patient underwent percutaneous coronary intervention of the RCA and PDA with aspiration thrombectomy. He was then initiated on dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) and recovered appropriately. This case is presented with the goal of enlightening the academic community of a rare complication while presenting a judicious approach to management in an attempt to decrease the occurrence of “near misses” in the future.
Estimation of Health-Related Quality of Life in the Presence of Missing Values in EQ-5D
Authors: Atif Muhammad , Zaman Qamruz , Shafiq Muhammad , Abdel-Salam Abdel-Salam G.
Published: August 2021

One of the notes worthy problems in analysis of clinical and observational studies is missing data and nonresponse from patients. Turning a blind eye to the missing behavior may provide biased results with overestimated standard errors. The potential impact of the problem may even have more severe impression in estimating health-related quality of life index. This index is an important indicator, widely used in clinical trials for assessing effectiveness of available interventions. Amongst many available measures for estimation of the index, the most rising approach is the EQ-5D preference-based health classifier. This study suggests a cluster-based heuristic algorithm for imputation of missing values in the EQ-5D health classifier to overcome the said problem. The use of auxiliary variable and other dimension’s values as evidences increases the chance of correct identification of the missing value and hence makes it unbiased. Comparisons of bootstrap samples suggest that it overcomes the problem of standard errors and provides efficient estimates.
Optimal Intersection Curves for Surfaces
Authors: Gao Jiwen , Sarfraz Faiza , Irshad Misbah , Liu Jia-Bao
Published: August 2021

In this article, an algorithm has been established to approximate parametric-parametric, explicit-implicit, and explicit-explicit surface intersection. Foremost, it extracts the characteristic points (boundary and turning points) from the sequence of intersection points and fits an optimal cubic spline curve to these points. Moreover, this paper utilizes genetic algorithm (GA) for optimization of shape parameters in the portrayal of cubic spline so that the error is minimal. The proposed algorithm is demonstrated with different types of surfaces to analyze its robustness and proficiency. In the end, all illustrations show the effectiveness of the algorithm which makes it more influential to resolve all complexities arises during intersection with a minimal error.
Pathological Complete Response following Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy in Invasive Ductal Carcinoma with Mammary Paget’s Disease: A Case Report
Authors: Goto Wataru , Kashiwagi Shinichiro , Kawano Yuko , Komoda Asuka , Ishihara Sae , Asano Yuka , Morisaki Tamami , Hirakawa Kosei , Ohira Masaichi
Published: August 2021

Mammary Paget’s disease is a rare malignancy. Mastectomy or breast-conserving surgery has been considered as the standard treatment, while there have been few reports of neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC). A 53-year-old woman with erythema and skin ulceration of the left breast was admitted to our institution. Breast examinations revealed left invasive ductal carcinoma (cT1bN0M0, cStage I), and a punch biopsy of the left mammary erythema indicated Paget’s disease (cTisN0M0, cStage0). The patient received NAC because of multiple lesions. Consequently, the breast tumor clinically disappeared, and the erythema improved. These outcomes made it easier to perform surgery (left mastectomy and sentinel node biopsy). Histopathological examination revealed no residual cancer cells in either the mammary gland or breast skin, and no metastasis was found in the sentinel lymph node. Therefore, NAC may be a useful treatment for mammary Paget’s disease.
Analysis of Voiding Impairment after Prostate Biopsy and the Effect of Doxazosin Treatment: Outcomes from a Regional Cancer Center
Authors: Zheng Yi , Bai Fuding , Zhang Nan , Wu Huifeng
Published: August 2021

Introduction: The aim of this study was to investigate the association of transrectal ultrasound (TRUS)-guided prostate biopsy with voiding impairment and the efficacy of doxazosin treatment. Methods: A prospective observational study including 200 male patients undergoing TRUS-guided prostate biopsy was performed between May 2020 and December 2020. One hundred patients underwent biopsy with doxazosin (doxazosin group). The remaining 100 patients underwent biopsy without doxazosin (control group). All patients were questioned regarding post-biopsy voiding difficulty and acute urinary retention. The International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS), maximal urinary flow rate (Qmax), and residual urine volume were recorded before biopsy and at 7 and 30 days after biopsy. Results: There were no significant differences in baseline parameters between the two groups. The rate of post-biopsy voiding difficulty in the doxazosin group was significantly lower than that in the control group. Compared with baseline values, doxazosin treatment significantly improved IPSS, quality of life scores, and Qmax after biopsy (p < 0.05). The baseline values of IPSS and prostate size may be risk factors for post-biopsy voiding difficulty. Conclusion: TRUS-guided prostate biopsy causes transient voiding impairments, which may be improved by doxazosin treatment.
Robotic Transrectal Computed Tomographic Ultrasound with Artificial Neural Network Analysis: First Validation and Comparison with MRI-Guided Biopsies and Radical Prostatectomy
Authors: Harland Niklas , Russo Giorgio I. , Kaufmann Sascha , Amend Bastian , Rausch Steffen , Erne Eva , Scharpf Marcus , Nikolaou Konstantin , Stenzl Arnulf , Bedke Jens , Kruck Stephan
Published: August 2021

Introduction: There is still a lack of availability of high-quality multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging (mpMRI) interpreted by experienced uro-radiologists to rule out clinically significant PC (csPC). Consequently, we developed a new imaging method based on computed tomographic ultrasound (US) supported by artificial neural network analysis (ANNA). Methods: Two hundred and two consecutive patients with visible mpMRI lesions were scanned and recorded by robotic CT-US during mpMRI-TRUS biopsy. Only significant index lesions (ISUP ≥2) verified by whole-mount pathology were retrospectively analyzed. Their visibility was reevaluated by 2 blinded investigators by grayscale US and ANNA. Results: In the cohort, csPC was detected in 105 cases (52%) by mpMRI-TRUS biopsy. Whole-mount histology was available in 44 cases (36%). In this subgroup, mean PSA level was 8.6 ng/mL, mean prostate volume was 33 cm3, and mean tumor volume was 0.5 cm3. Median PI-RADS and ISUP of index lesions were 4 and 3, respectively. Index lesions were visible in grayscale US and ANNA in 25 cases (57%) and 30 cases (68%), respectively. Combining CT-US-ANNA, we detected index lesions in 35 patients (80%). Conclusions: The first results of multiparametric CT-US-ANNA imaging showed promising detection rates in patients with csPC. US imaging with ANNA has the potential to complement PC diagnosis.