bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
THE CULT OF THE DOUBLE‐BLIND PLACEBO‐CONTROLLED TRIAL
Authors: Ellis SJ , Adams RF
Published: May 2023

SUMMARY The double‐blind, placebo‐controlled trial is held as the gold standard in medical knowledge, but this tool of investigation has its weaknesses. These include ethical limitations on the types of comparison that can be undertaken, the central conflict between best practice for an individual and trial protocols, problems of applicability to the general population and applicability of work done on one population to another, type II errors, publication bias, misuse and limitations of statistics, fraud, maintenance of blinding, asking the wrong question, and a simplistic, reductionist view of clinical management. The concentration on the randomised, controlled trial devalues information from other sources, such as natural history studies, clinical experience and case reports. The randomised, controlled trial is an important source of information and as physicians we should welcome more well‐crafted trials, but they are not the only source of information.
LARYNGEAL TUBERCULOSIS: AN UNSUSPECTED DANGER
Authors: Houghton DJ , Bennett JDC , Rapado F , Small M
Published: May 2023

SUMMARY It is always important to treat conditions which may be cancerous with respect and, where there is suspicion, to take biopsies for histological examination. A hoarse voice may, in addition, be a sign of tuberculosis of the larynx, and the clinical appearance can be similar to a carcinoma. Preoperative chest X‐ray (not always performed) and an awareness by the histologist of such a possibility are important now that this condition is increasing in frequency in parallel with conditions where immunological status is compromised.
GROUP G STREPTOCOCCAL BACTERAEMIA IN A COMMUNITY TEACHING HOSPITAL
Authors: Marinella MA
Published: May 2023

SUMMARY The group G streptococci are beta‐haemolytic streptococci which are characterised by the presence of the Lancefield group G antigen, and have been implicated in a variety of infections. Underlying malignancy has been reported in up to 67% of patients with group G streptococcal bacteraemia in some series. The clinical records of 11 patients with positive blood cultures for group G streptococci over the period from January 1993 to December 1997 were evaluated. Group G streptococci were recovered from only 0.025% (19 out of 77,323 total cultures) of blood cultures during this period. The source of bacteraemia was determined to originate from skin in seven patients (64%). Bacteraemia in the other four patients was probably due to endometritis, septic arthritis, osteomyelitis, and a central venous catheter. All of the patients had an underlying chronic disease or other predisposing factor such as a joint prosthesis or venous catheter. Only one patient in this series had an underlying malignancy, a metastatic pelvic sarcoma. One patient died of multiple organ failure after several days in the hospital. All surviving patients were successfully treated with antibiotics, typically a beta‐lactam agent. This study suggests that in the community‐hospital setting, skin infection is the most common source of group G streptococcal bacteraemia, typically in patients with underlying chronic disease; however, malignancy appears to be an uncommon predisposing factor.
SEVERE HYPONATRAEMIA SECONDARY TO BEER POTOMANIA COMPLICATED BY CENTRAL PONTINE MYELINOLYSIS
Authors: Kelly J , Wassif W , Mitchard J , Gardner WN
Published: May 2023

SUMMARY A case of severe hyponatraemia in a 56‐year‐old male alcohol misuser secondary to beer potomania is presented. In view of severe volume depletion and the patient's inability to drink, normal saline was cautiously infused. Despite initial improvement, he subsequently deteriorated neurologically. Magnetic resonance imaging demonstrated the classical lesion of central pontine myelinolysis (CPM). The rate of correction of plasma sodium was within limits normally considered safe. Beer potomania should be considered as a cause of hyponatraemia in alcohol misusers. Recognition is important as the electrolyte imbalance repairs simply with cessation of alcohol intake and institution of normal diet. Correction of chronic hyponatraemia by infusion of normal or hypertonic saline should not be attempted unless life‐threatening neurological complications supervene. When the balance of risks favours correction, caution should be exercised, as CPM may occur. Although a rate of correction of plasma sodium of up to 10 mM per 24‐hour period has been associated with a low risk of precipitating CPM, this case illustrates that a completely safe rate of correction probably cannot be defined.
INTRAPLEURAL UROKINASE IN THE MANAGEMENT OF PARAPNEUMONIC EMPYEMA: A RANDOMISED CONTROLLED TRIAL
Authors: Tuncozgur B , Ustunsoy H , Sivrikoz MC , Dikensoy O , Topal M , Sanli M , Elbeyli L
Published: May 2023

We compared the effectiveness of intrapleural urokinase versus normal saline via a thoracostomy tube in the treatment of parapneumonic empyema in a randomised controlled study. Forty‐nine patients with parapneumonic empyema were randomly assigned to receive either intrapleural urokinase or normal saline treatment. The daily volume instilled through a chest tube was 100 ml in both groups. Urokinase (100,000 IU/day) was diluted in normal saline before instillation. The mean duration for defervescence was shorter (7 ± 3 vs 13 ± 5 days, p<0.01) and the mean volume of drained fluid during the five‐day treatment period was significantly greater in the urokinase group (1.8 ± 1.5 vs 0.8 ± 0.8 litres, p<0.001) than in the control group. The subsequent decortication rate was 60% and 29.1%, respectively (p<0.001). The duration of hospitalisation was also shorter in the urokinase group (14 ± 4 vs 21 ±4 days, p<0.001) than in the saline group. We conclude that intrapleural instillation of urokinase in the management of parapneumonic empyema provides a better outcome and reduces the need for decortication.
A COMPARISON OF CARDIOVASCULAR RISK FACTORS AMONG INDO‐ASIAN AND CAUCASIAN PATIENTS ADMITTED WITH ACUTE MYOCARDIAL INFARCTION IN KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA AND BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND
Authors: Dhanjal TS , Lal M , Haynes R , Lip GYH
Published: May 2023

Indo‐Asians in the UK are at an increased risk of coronary artery disease (CAD); this may be a reflection of their cardiovascular risk factor profile as well as of a more sedentary lifestyle. We hypothesised that Indo‐Asians in Malaysia and the UK may exhibit a similar cardiovascular risk factor and physical activity profile, which would be more adverse compared with caucasians. We studied 70 consecutive Indo‐Asian patients admitted to hospitals in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia (n=42; 35 males; mean age 60.6 years, SD 11.8); and Birmingham, England (n=28; 20 males; mean age 60.8 years, SD 12.9). Both groups of Indo‐Asian patients were compared with 20 caucasian patients (13 males; mean age 62.7 years, SD 9.4) admitted with myocardial infarction from Birmingham. There was a higher prevalence of diabetes among Indo‐Asians in both countries than among caucasians (p=0.0225). By contrast, caucasians had a higher prevalence of hypercholesterolaemia (p=0.0113), peripheral vascular disease (p=0.0008), regular alcohol consumption (p<0.0001) and family history of CAD (p=0.0041). There were no significant differences in mean age, body mass index or blood pressures. There was a significantly lower leisure activity score (p=0.001) and total physical activity score (p=0.003) among Indo‐Asians in both countries than among caucasians. This survey has demonstrated differences in cardiovascular risk factors among Indo‐Asian and caucasian patients. The high prevalence of diabetes, as well as the lower physical activity and sedentary lifestyles among Indo‐Asians, in both Malaysia and the UK, may in part contribute to the high incidence of CAD in this ethnic group.
AUDITING FIRST EPISODE PSYCHOSIS: GIVING MEANING TO CLINICAL GOVERNANCE
Authors: Rowlands RP
Published: May 2023

People in a first episode of psychosis are receiving increasing attention. This study describes the demographic and clinical diagnostic features of a cohort of 84 cases of first episode psychosis presenting in North Derbyshire from October 1999 to October 2000. Forty‐two cases falling within the schizophrenia spectrum diagnosis were identified, an incidence rate of 0.17 per 1000 population. The rate for all psychoses, including drug‐induced psychoses, was 0.35 per 1000 population aged 15–64. More than 50% of the cases were from the main urban centre, which contains around one third of the population. There were high rates of substance misuse in all diagnostic groups. The majority of patients (73%) presented via their general practitioners, but 18% presented via accident and emergency (13%) or the police (5%). The median duration of untreated psychosis for the whole group was two months. Within the schizophrenia spectrum group, however, there was a wide distribution, with duration of untreated psychosis of up to 10 years. The median duration of unteated psychosis in the schizophrenia spectrum group was three months. About half the cases in this cohort were aged more than 35 (all diagnostic categories). Further work exploring the outcome in this cohort is currently under way. As the configuration of mental health services is set to change rapidly in the next few years, there is a crucial need to develop further observational studies assessing how services deliver care to people with severe mental illness.
7. MANAGEMENT OF ADVANCED BREAST CANCER
Authors: Rubens RD
Published: May 2023

Approximately half the patients with breast cancer relapse with locally recurrent or metastatic disease. This disease is incurable but can often be controlled, sometimes for many years. Careful clinical evaluation and restaging provides a baseline reference against which response can be judged. Investigations are selected but may include biochemical screens, blood counts, chest X‐ray, isotopic bone scan and radiographs of abnormal regions. Selection of systemic treatment is based on three key factors: the extent, pattern and aggressiveness of the disease; hormone sensitivity; and menstrual status. Chemotherapy is used for rapidly progressing visceral disease such as lymphangitis carcinomatosa or hepatic metastases with deranged liver biochemistry where death ensues rapidly unless disease progression can be reversed. With less aggressive disease, treatment is planned around the oestrogen and progesterone status of the tumour. Those with low tumour receptor levels are unlikely to respond to endocrine treatment and chemotherapy should be considered. For patients with steroid receptor‐positive tumours, endocrine treatment is used before chemotherapy is needed and consideration of menstrual status can assist in the selection of the precise approach.
AIR TRAVEL AND THROMBOSIS
Authors: Giangrande PLF
Published: May 2023

It is now generally accepted that there is a link between long haul air travel and venous thromboembolism. A similar risk is also recognised with other modes of transport including long coach and car journeys, and the term ‘traveller's thrombosis’ is to be encouraged instead of ‘economy class syndrome’. More research is required to quantify the precise risk, but the risk does appear to be small and largely confined to those with recognised risk factors, which include previous episode of thrombosis, hormonal therapy, recent surgery, malignancy and pregnancy. In addition, haematological abnormalities can predispose to thrombosis. Such thrombophilic disorders include the factor V Leiden mutation and deficiencies of natural anticoagulants such as antithrombin, protein C and protein S. General measures which can be taken to reduce the risk include leg exercises while seated. In addition, there is evidence to support the use of elasticated stockings, but evidence relating to the use of aspirin is less convincing.
LIFE‐THREATENING HAEMOPTYSIS PRESENTING AS A LATE COMPLICATION OF AN OVARIAN TUMOUR
Authors: Riha RL , Tubby J , Duhig EE , Clarke BE , Haug G , Bell SC
Published: May 2023

Massive haemoptysis may arise as a result of lung malignancy. This case represents the first report of an ovarian granulosa cell tumour metastasising many years after initial tumour resection to the lung causing life‐threatening haemoptysis. The management and subsequent clinical course of the patient are discussed as well as the natural history of granulosa‐theca cell tumours.
Domestic water versus imported virtual blue water for agricultural production: A comparison based on energy consumption and related greenhouse gas emissions
Authors: Smolka Georg , Kosatica Ervin , Berger Markus , Kissinger Meidad , Fridman Dor , Koellner Thomas
Published: May 2023

The supply of water, food, and energy in our global economy is highly interlinked. Virtual blue water embedded into internationally traded food crops has therefore been extensively researched in recent years. This study focuses on the often neglected energy needed to supply this blue irrigation water. It provides a globally applicable and spatially explicit approach to the watershed level for water source specific quantification of energy consumption and related greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions of irrigation water supply. The approach is applied to Israel's total domestic and imported food crop supply of 105 crops by additionally including import‐related transportation energy and emissions. Total energy use and related emissions of domestic crop production were much lower (551 GWh/422 kt CO2‐equivalents [CO2e]) than those embedded into crop imports (1639 GWh/649 kt CO2e). Domestic energy and emissions were mainly attributable to the irrigation water supply with artificial water sources (treated domestic wastewater and desalinated water, 84%). Transport accounted for 79% and 66% of virtually imported energy and emissions, respectively. Despite transport, specific GHG emissions (CO2e per ton of crop) were significantly lower for several crops (e.g., olives, almonds, chickpeas) compared to domestic production. This could be attributed to the high share of energy‐intensive artificial water supply in combination with higher irrigation water demands in Israel. In the course of an increasing demand for artificial water supply in arid and semi‐arid regions, our findings point to the importance of including “energy for water” into comparative environmental assessment of crop supply to support decision‐making related to the water–energy–food nexus.
A framework to open the black box of the use phase in circular economy life cycle assessments: The case of shell jacket reuse
Authors: André Hampus , Björklund Anna
Published: May 2023

Life cycle assessments of circular economy measures (CE LCA) of consumer products have been criticized for oversimplifying important aspects of the use phase such as user behavior and rebound effects, limiting our understanding of the environmental performance of circular economy measures. This study tests the usefulness of a framework designed to facilitate accounting for such aspects, by applying the framework to a case study of reuse of shell jackets enabled by “premium secondhand” outdoor stores. Methods for collecting use phase data were user surveys and interviews with store managers. Using the framework on this case study generated several novel insights which are interesting in themselves and as inputs to CE LCA. For instance, secondhand shell jackets have a significantly lower frequency of use during their first use span compared to the second and to shell jackets in the linear reference scenario. This implies that reuse in this case does not function as a mere use extension of otherwise similar use phases as is commonly assumed. The generation of such insights, which hitherto have been lacking in CE LCAs, points to the usefulness of the framework as a tool for opening the “black box” of the use phase in CE LCAs to improve understanding of the environmental performance of circular economy measures.
Conservative treatment of temporomandibular joint condylar fractures: A systematic review conducted according to PRISMA guidelines and the Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Interventions
Authors: Minervini Giuseppe , Franco Rocco , Marrapodi Maria Maddalena , Di Blasio Marco , Isola Gaetano , Cicciù Marco
Published: May 2023

Objective

Fractures of the mandibular condyle are the most common jaw fractures. There are several treatment approaches. There is the non‐surgical and surgical approach. The purpose of this systematic literature review is to evaluate the indications and contraindications of either method to help the clinician make the best treatment choice.

Methods

Pubmed, Web of Science and Lilacs were systematically searched until 20 May 2023. Clinical trials were selected to compare the two treatments for condyle fracture and evaluate indications and contraindications.

Results

Out of 2515 papers, four studies were included. The surgical approach allows faster functional recovery and decreases patient discomfort. The study analyses under what circumstances a surgical procedure is more practical than a non‐surgical one.

Conclusion

There is no evidence regarding the reliability of either method. Both have superimposable results. However, age, type of occlusion and other factors direct the clinician towards a surgical choice.
Xerostomia in 75–85‐year‐olds: A longitudinal population study
Authors: Johansson Ann‐Katrin , Omar Ridwaan , Mastrovito Berit , Sannevik Josefin , Carlsson Gunnar E. , Johansson Anders
Published: May 2023

Background

Xerostomia can pose significant problems for many elderly people.

Objectives

To investigate longitudinal changes in prevalence, persistence, progression, remission and incidence of xerostomia from age 75 to 85 years.

Methods

All 75‐year‐olds (born 1932) from two Swedish counties, Sweden were mailed a questionnaire in 2007 (N = 5195), and again in 2017 when they were aged 85 (N = 3323). The total response rates at ages 75 and 85 years were 71.9% and 60.8%, respectively. A ‘panel’, those who participated in both surveys, comprised 1701 individuals (response rate 51.2%).

Results

At age 85, there was almost a doubling of self‐reported ‘yes often’ xerostomia compared with age 75 (from 6.2% to 11.3%) and was almost twice as common in women than men (p < .001). When combining ‘yes often’/‘yes sometimes’, xerostomia increased from 33.4% to 49.0%, and was more so among women (p < .001). Xerostomia was commoner at night than daytime, with 23.4% reporting ‘yes often’ night‐time xerostomia at 85 compared with 18.5% at 75, and was also higher in women (p < .001). Progression rates for daytime and night‐time xerostomia were 34.2% and 38.1%, for persistence 67.4% and 68.6%, and for remission 24.4% and 16.5%. Average yearly incidence was higher in women than men for both daytime (3.6% vs. 3.2%) and night‐time (3.9% vs. 3.7%). Regression analyses predicted protective factors for developing xerostomia reported at age 75 as good general and oral health, absence of medications/intraoral symptom/s, good chewing function and social interaction.

Conclusions

Xerostomia increases markedly from age 75 to 85 years.
Can I borrow this? Policy transfer from Chile to Paraguay in the wave of diffusion of Conditional Cash Transfer programs in Latin America
Authors: Osorio Gonnet Cecilia , Castillo Rodríguez Daniela
Published: May 2023

This article discusses the transfer process of the psychosocial support component of the Chile Solidario program to the Tekoporã program in Paraguay, which occurs within the diffusion wave of Conditional Cash Transfer programs in Latin America. Applying the process‐tracing method, we unpack the transfer mechanism in a temporal sequence of events and identify the actors involved and their motivations and capacities. The findings indicate the development of a mechanism of emulation due to the weak institutional capacities present in Paraguay's social protection system. The case study contributes to the understanding of transfer processes in the Global South and enriches the literature on the transfer and diffusion of policies in Latin America, and the link between the two processes.
Sociolinguistic prompts in the 21stcentury: Uniting past approaches and current directions
Authors: Sneller Betsy , Barnhardt Adam
Published: May 2023

As technology (particularly smartphone and computer technology) has advanced, sociolinguistic methodology has likewise adapted to include remote data collection. Remote methods range from approximating the traditional sociolinguistic interview via synchronous video conferencing to developing new methods for asynchronous self‐recording (Boyd et al., 2015; Leeman et al., 2020). In this paper, we take a close look at the question prompts sent to participants in an asynchronous, remote self‐recording project (“MI Diaries”). We discuss how some of the techniques initially developed for obtaining a range of styles in a traditional in‐person sociolinguistic interview can be fruitfully adapted to a remote context. Of this range of styles, we give particular focus toNarratives of Personal Experience(Labov & Waletzky, 1967), and provide an analysis of how the theme, style, and development of prompts can encourage narratives from participants. We end with a short discussion of prompts that have successfully elicited other speech styles, and prompts that are especially fruitful with child participants.
Autonomous 3D vision‐based bolt loosening assessment using micro aerial vehicles
Authors: Pan Xiao , Tavasoli Sina , Yang T. Y.
Published: May 2023

Earlier identification of bolt loosening is crucial to maintain structural integrity and prevent system‐level collapse. In this study, a novel drone‐based 3D vision methodology has been proposed for autonomous bolt loosening assessment. First, a low‐cost micro aerial vehicle with various types of sensors is designed. Second, a drone‐based autonomous image collection method is proposed. Third, a 3D point cloud of the bolted connection is generated using the acquired images. Fourth, 3D point cloud processing methods are proposed to localize and quantify bolt loosening. The proposed method has been implemented on structural beam–column connections. The results show that the proposed drone‐based data collection method can effectively acquire images for 3D reconstruction. The 3D point cloud processing methods can reliably localize and quantify bolt loosening at high accuracy. The proposed method provides a more robust and comprehensive evaluation of bolt loosening, compared to existing 2D vision methods, which process 2D images captured at a specific camera view.
Hyperreduced left lateral living donor liver transplant in a 4.5 kg child—A first in Africa
Authors: Van der Schyff Francisca , Britz Russel Steyn , Strobele Bernd , Demopoulos Despina , Beretta Marisa Renata , Chitagu Tafadzwa , Botha Jean Frederick
Published: May 2023

Background

Supply–demand mismatch in solid organ transplantation is particularly pronounced in small children. For liver transplantation, advanced surgical techniques for reducing deceased and living donor grafts allow access to life‐saving transplantation. Living donor left lateral segment liver grafts have been successfully transplanted in small children in our center since 2013, the only program providing this service in Sub‐Saharan Africa. This type of partial graft remains too large for children below 6 kg body weight and generally requires reduction.

Methods

A left lateral segment graft was reduced in situ from a directed, altruistic living donor to yield a hyperreduced left lateral segment graft.

Results

The donor was discharged after 6 days without complications. The recipient suffered no technical surgical complications except for an infected cut‐surface biloma and biliary anastomotic stricture and remains well 9 months post‐transplant.

Conclusions

We report the first known case in Africa of a hyperreduced left lateral segment, ABO incompatible, living donor liver transplant in a 4,5 kg child with pediatric acute liver failure (PALF).
Crossing pictures of ‘determination’ in Wittgenstein's remarks on rule‐following
Authors: Bold Philip
Published: May 2023

In PI 189, Wittgenstein's interlocutor asks, ‘But are the steps then not determined by the algebraic formula?’. Wittgenstein responds, ‘The question contains a mistake’. What is the mistake contained in the interlocutor's question? Wittgenstein's elaboration is neither explicit nor its intended upshot transparent. In this paper, I offer a reading on which the interlocutor's question arises from illicitly crossing different pictures of ‘determination’. I begin by working through Wittgenstein's machine analogy in PI 193, which illustrates picture‐crossing in our ways of talking about a machine. Using the lessons from this analogy, I show how the interlocutor's ‘mistake’ can be diagnosed in similar terms: their confusion about the power of a rule to determine its applications rests on mistakenly crossing a behavioural and a mathematical sense of ‘determine’—thereby concocting a mystifying picture of rule‐following.
Antiphospholipid antibodies in convalescent plasma of donors recovered from mild COVID‐19 infection
Authors: Blickstein Dorit , Izak Marina , Filipovich‐Rimon Talia , Garach‐Jehoshua Osnat , Rahimi‐Levene Naomi , Shinar Eilat , Hamad Ramzia Abu , Bar‐Chaim Adina , Koren‐Michowitz Maya
Published: May 2023

Background and Objectives

Passive immunization by the infusion of convalescent plasma (CP) obtained from patients who have recently recovered from COVID‐19, thus having antibodies to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2, is a potential strategy to reduce the severity of illness. A high prevalence of antiphospholipid antibodies (APLA) in patients with COVID‐19 has been reported during the pandemic, raising a concern whether the use of CP could increase the risk of thrombosis in transfused patients. We aimed to evaluate the prevalence of APLA in COVID‐19 CP (CCP) in order to assess the potential prothrombotic influence of transfused CCP to COVID‐19 patients.

Materials and Methods

We studied the prevalence of APLA in 122 CCP samples collected from healthy donors who recovered from mild‐COVID‐19 at two time periods: September 2020–January 2021 (defined as ‘early period’ samples) and April–May 2021 (defined as ‘late period’ samples). Thirty‐four healthy subjects unexposed to COVID‐19 were used as controls.

Results

APLA were present in 7 of 122 (6%) CCP samples. One donor had anti‐β2‐glycoprotein 1(anti‐β2GP1) IgG, one had anti‐β2GP1 IgM and five had lupus anticoagulant (LAC) using silica clotting time (SCT), all in ‘late period’ donors. In the control group, one subject had anti‐β2GP1 IgG, two had LAC using dilute Russell viper venom time (dRVVT) and four had LAC SCT (both LAC SCT and LAC dRVVT in one subject).

Conclusion

The low prevalence of APLA in CCP donors reassures the safety of CCP administration to patients with severe COVID‐19.
Experimental Investigation and Modeling of the Kerf Profile in Submerged Milling by Macro Abrasive Waterjet
Authors: Ravi Rajesh Ranjan , Deepu Kumar T. N. , Srinivasu D. S.
Published: May 2023

Toward achieving control over the kerfing through macro abrasive waterjet submerged milling, there is a need (i) to understand the influence of the water column height on the kerf quality and (ii) to develop a model for the prediction of the kerf characteristics. This study performs detailed experimentation to assess the kerf quality enhancement in submerged milling relative to the in-air milling on Al-6061 alloy. From the modeling perspective, there are very limited efforts in developing a comprehensive model that includes both the jet flow dynamics and material removal models—this is the missing link. Toward this, a comprehensive model is proposed and validated for the prediction of kerf in in-air and submerged conditions by considering (i) jet dynamics and (ii) jet–material interaction. From the experimental results, it is observed that by adopting the submerged milling, the damaged region, top kerf width and edge radius got reduced by 20.3%, 13.53%, and 22.7%, respectively. However, this enhancement in the kerf quality is associated with a reduction in the centerline erosion depth (hmax) by 12.33% and a material removal rate by 24.52%. The material removal mechanism is more uniform and directed in the submerged milling, whereas in-air is random. The proposed model predicted the kerf cross-sectional profile in submerged milling and in-air with a mean absolute error of 60 µm and 57 µm, squared Pearson correlation coefficient of 0.97 and 0.99, and the hmax with a maximum error of 1.3% and 1.4%.
Generalized likelihood ratio detector with horizontal linear array in presence of interference in uncertain shallow-water environment
Authors: Wang Xuan , Sun Chao , Li Mingyang
Published: May 2023

Environmental uncertainties and interference are the main factors affecting the detection performance for detection problems in a shallow-water environment. To obtain robust performance, an interference and environmental uncertainties-constrained generalized likelihood ratio detector (IEU-GLRD) is proposed based on a horizontal linear array (HLA). The uncertainty sets of signal and interference wavefronts are used by IEU-GLRD, which contain different uncertainties when the interference source bearing relative to the HLA is known a priori. Due to the difference in the uncertainties, the signal, which is not in the uncertainty set of the interference, can be detected, while the interference is suppressed under different environmental parameters. The performance of IEU-GLRD is robust when the signal wavefront is approximately orthogonal to any interference wavefronts. The interference immunity of IEU-GLRD is mainly determined by the bearing of the interference source and the sediment sound speed, which is stronger when the interference source tends to the broad side and the sediment sound speed is lower.
Comparison of Oral and Intravenous Definitive Antibiotic Therapy for Beta-Hemolytic Streptococcus Species Bloodstream Infections from Soft Tissue Sources: a Propensity Score-Matched Analysis
Authors: Yetmar Zachary A. , Chesdachai Supavit , Lahr Brian D. , Challener Douglas W. , Arensman Hannan Kellie N. , Epps Kevin , Stevens Ryan W. , Seville Maria Teresa , Tande Aaron J. , Virk Abinash
Published: May 2023

Beta-hemolytic streptococci are common causes of bloodstream infection (BSI). There is emerging data regarding oral antibiotics for BSI but limited for beta-hemolytic streptococcal BSI.
Improvement in Zebrafish with Diabetes and Alzheimer's Disease Treated with Pasteurized Akkermansia muciniphila
Authors: Qu Linkai , Liu Fan , Fang Yimeng , Wang Lei , Chen Haojie , Yang Qinsi , Dong Hao , Jin Libo , Wu Wei , Sun Da
Published: May 2023

The interaction between intestinal microflora and host affects the progression of diabetes and Alzheimer's disease. As a recognized next-generation probiotic,
Akkermansia muciniphila
has been shown to play a key role in the progression of diabetes and Alzheimer's disease, but whether
A. muciniphila
can improve diabetes complicated with Alzheimer's disease and its potential mechanism are unclear.
Analysis of the Plasmid-Based
ts
-Mutant Δ
fabA/pTS-fabA
Reveals Its Lethality under Aerobic Growth Conditions That Is Suppressed by Mild Overexpression of
desA
at a Restrictive Temperature in Pseudomonas aeruginosa
Authors: Tian Liyan , Yang Zhili , Wang Jianxin , Liu Jianhua
Published: May 2023

Pseudomonas aeruginosa
is an opportunistic pathogen whose multidrug resistance demands new drug development. Fatty acids are essential for viability, and essential genes are ideal drug targets.
Single-Cell Transcriptome Atlas of Newcastle Disease Virus in Chickens Both
In Vitro
and
In Vivo
Authors: Liu Weiwei , Xu Zejun , Qiu Yafeng , Qiu Xusheng , Tan Lei , Song Cuiping , Sun Yingjie , Liao Ying , Liu Xiufan , Ding Chan
Published: May 2023

Newcastle disease virus (NDV) is an avian paramyxovirus that causes major economic losses to the poultry industry around the world, with NDV pathogenicity varying due to strain virulence differences. However, the impacts of intracellular viral replication and the heterogeneity of host responses among cell types are unknown.
In situ carbon storage potential in a buried volcano
Authors: Pereira Ricardo , Gamboa Davide
Published: May 2023

In situ mineral carbonation in porous and permeable mafic and ultramafic volcanic rocks is proposed to be a promising process that can contribute toward safe and permanent CO2 sequestration. Here, we investigated a partially buried Late Cretaceous composite volcano located offshore the central West Iberian margin as a proxy for potential in situ mineral carbonation in volcanic edifices on continental margins worldwide. Based on seismic data, geochemistry, and petrophysical properties, deterministic scenarios for permanent carbon storage were estimated. Overall analysis of the nature of the volcano and its internal architecture revealed that this single edifice has the potential to store 1.2–8.6 Gt CO2 in newly formed carbonate mineral assemblages. Results suggest that ancient, buried volcanoes on continental margins constitute auspicious sites for safe carbon storage, with a total storage capacity of hundreds of gigatonnes of CO2.
Age and Tectonic Setting of the Kopri-Type Granitoids at the Junction Zone of the Dzhugdzhur–Stanovoi and Western Stanovoi Superterranes of the Central Asian Fold Belt
Authors: Larin A. M. , Kotov A. B. , Salnikova E. B. , Velikoslavinskii S. D. , Kovach V. P. , Skovitina T. M. , Ivanova A. A. , Plotkina Yu. V. , Zagornaya N. Yu.
Published: May 2023

Geochemical, geochronological (U–Pb on zircons, ID TIMS), and isotope–geochemical (Sm–Nd) studies of Kopri-type granitoids of the Tukuringra Complex have been carried out. The granitoids are located exclusively in the zone of the Dzheltulak suture, which separates the Dzhugdzhur–Stanovoi and Western Stanovoi superterranes of the Central Asian fold belt. It has been established that they can be classified as postcollisional adakite-like granitoids of elevated alkalinity and adakite-type basicity, formed in the age range between 127 ± 1 and 126 ± 1 Ma, which are part of the Late Mesozoic postcollisional Stanovoi volcano-plutonic belt that extends more than 1000 km in the sublatitudinal direction from the Sea of Okhotsk into the continent subparallel to the Mongolia–Okhotsk suture zone and stitches the Dzhugdzhur–Stanovoi and the Western Stanovoi superterranes. The structural position of the Kopri-type granitoid massifs registers the upper age limit of the Dzheltulak suture. Formation of the parent melts of these granitoids is associated with an essentially lithospheric source formed as a result of mixing of the Early Precambrian and a younger, apparently Phanerozoic component. In contrast to other granitoids of the Stanovoi belt that are close in composition and age, the granitoids under consideration are characterized by a certain increase in the role of the asthenospheric component in their source, which is probably due to their localization in the zone of elevated lithospheric permeability and at the junction of faults of different orientations, generally sublatitudinal, guided by the Mongolia–Okhotsk lineament, and northwestward, associated with the development of the Dzheltulak suture.
Formation of Winter Surface Temperature Anomalies in the North Atlantic in Decades of Negative and Positive Values of the North Atlantic Oscillation Index
Authors: Sizov A. A. , Bayankina T. M. , Pososhkov V. L.
Published: May 2023

An analysis of the variability of the winter surface temperature anomaly in the North Atlantic in decades of negative and positive values of the North Atlantic Oscillation Index is presented. It is found that, in a decade with negative values of the North Atlantic Oscillation Index, the slope waters of the Gulf Stream system and Labrador Current waters decrease the temperature of the Gulf Stream at the mixing zone on the Scotia Peninsula shelf and in the area of the quasi-stationary anticyclonic gyre to a maximum. In a decade with positive values of the North Atlantic Oscillation Index, the temperature of the slope waters is close to the climate normal. Taking into account the increased speed of the Gulf Stream in the years with positive values of the North Atlantic Oscillation Index, the spreading of the ocean surface temperature anomaly over the North Atlantic water area occurs for a shorter time than in the years with negative values.
Patient involvement in quality improvement: a survey comparing naturalistic and reflective approaches
Authors: Elg Mattias , Gremyr Ida
Published: May 2023

Background

This study investigates reflective and naturalistic approaches to patient involvement in quality improvement. The reflective approach, using, for example, interviews, provides insights into patient needs and demands to support an established improvement agenda. The naturalistic approach, for example, observations, is used to discover practical problems and opportunities that professionals are currently unaware of.

Methods

We assessed the use of naturalistic and reflective approaches in quality improvement to see whether they differed in their impact on patient needs, financial improvements and improved patient flows. Four possible combinations were used as a starting point: restrictive (low reflective–low naturalistic), in situ (low reflective–high naturalistic), retrospective (high reflective–low naturalistic) and blended (high reflective–high naturalistic). Data were collected through an online cross-sectional survey using a web-based survey tool. The original sample was based on a list of 472 participants enrolled in courses on improvement science in three Swedish regions. The response rate was 34%. Descriptives and ANOVA (Analysis of Variance) in SPSS V.23 were used for the statistical analysis.

Results

The sample consisted of 16 projects characterised as restrictive, 61 as retrospective and 63 as blended. No projects were characterised as in situ. There was a significant effect of patient involvement approaches on patient flows and patient needs at the p<0.05 level (patient flows, (F(2, 128)=5.198, p=0.007) and patient needs (F(2, 127)=13.228, p=0.000)). No significant effect was found for financial results.

Conclusions

Moving beyond restrictive patient involvement is important to meet new patient needs and improve patient flows. This can be done either by increasing the use of a reflective approach or by increasing the use of both reflective and naturalistic approaches. A blended approach with high levels of both is likely to produce better results in addressing new patient needs and improving patient flows.
Concordance between the Stockholm Workshop Scale and the International Consensus Criteria for grading the severity of neurosensory manifestations in hand-arm vibration syndrome in a Swedish clinical setting
Authors: Tekavec Eva , Nilsson Tohr , Riddar Jakob , Axmon Anna , Nordander Catarina
Published: May 2023

Objectives

Occupational exposure to vibration using hand-held tools may cause hand-arm vibration syndrome (HAVS). Correct diagnosis and grading of severity are crucial in protecting the individual’s health and for workers’ compensation claims. The International Consensus Criteria (ICC) has been suggested to replace the widely used Stockholm Workshop Scale (SWS). The aims were to, in a clinical setting, assess the concordance between the SWS and the ICC neurosensory severity grading of vibration injury, and to present the clinical picture according to symptoms, type of affected nerve fibres and the relation between vascular and neurosensory manifestations.

Methods

Data were collected from questionnaires, clinical examination and exposure assessment of 92 patients with HAVS. The severity of neurosensory manifestations was classified according to both scales. The prevalence of symptoms and findings was compared across groups of patients with increasing severity according to the SWS.

Results

Classification with the ICC resulted in a shift towards lower grades of severity than with the SWS due to a systematic difference between the scales. Affected sensory units with small nerve fibres were far more prevalent than affected units with large nerve fibres. The most prevalent symptoms were numbness (91%) and cold intolerance (86%).

Conclusions

Using the ICC resulted in lower grades of the severity of HAVS. This should be taken into consideration when giving medical advice and approving workers’ compensation. Clinical examinations should be performed to detect affected sensory units with both small and large nerve fibres and more attention should be paid to cold intolerance.
Dopamine delivery systems based on C60 and C24 with B and N as substituents
Authors: Martínez Ana
Published: May 2023

Two different options as potential dopamine delivery systems were investigated in this study: fullerene C60- and C24-like structures. The systems being investigated include C60, C59X, C58X2, C24, C23X, and C22X2 (X represents B or N). Electron donor acceptor capacity and interaction energies were reported. Systems with one B are better electron acceptors than those with one N. The interaction of compounds containing B with dopamine is more favorable than the interaction of systems containing N. For a dopamine delivery system, at least two conditions are necessary. The first is the stability of the carrier-dopamine compound. This condition is fulfilled because C60-based heterofullerenes with B and dopamine form stable structures. Also, dopamine with C24-based structures containing B or N form stable structures. The second is that the interaction energy should be lower than the energy that binds dopamine to the receptor. Systems that fulfill the second condition include C60 and C58B2. The other systems present interaction energies that exceed 40 kcal/mol. Dopamine will bond to these systems and will most probably not be delivered at the receptor site, but these systems that interact strongly with dopamine may serve as agonists because they are good electron donors like dopamine. Systems with B could be antagonists of dopamine since they are good electron acceptors. This idea might be interesting to explore through experiments because heterofullerenes with B and dopamine might serve as antipsychotics rather than dopamine delivery systems.
Importance-Based Ray Strategies for Dynamic Diffuse Global Illumination
Authors: Liu Zihao , Huang Jing , Rocha Allan , Malmros Jim , Zhang Jerry
Published: May 2023

In this paper, we propose a first and efficient ray allocation technique for Dynamic Diffuse Global Illumination (DDGI) using Multiple Importance Sampling (MIS). Our technique, IS-DDGI, extends DDGI by incorporating a set of importance-based ray strategies that analyze, allocate, and manage ray resources on the GPU. We combine these strategies with an adaptive historical and temporal frame-to-frame analysis for an effective reuse of information and a set of GPU-based optimizations for speeding up ray allocation and reducing memory bandwidth. Our IS-DDGI achieves similar visual quality to DDGI with a speedup of 1.27x to 2.47x in total DDGI time and 3.29x to 6.64x in probes ray tracing time over previous technique [Majercik et al. 2021]. Most speedup of IS-DDGI comes from probes ray tracing speedup.
Distributed Task Offloading and Resource Purchasing in NOMA-Enabled Mobile Edge Computing: Hierarchical Game Theoretical Approaches
Authors: Chen Ying , Zhao Jie , Hu Jintao , Wan Shaohua , Huang Jiwei
Published: May 2023

As the computing resources and the battery capacity of mobile devices are usually limited, it is a feasible solution to offload the computation-intensive tasks generated by mobile devices to edge servers (ESs) in
mobile edge computing (MEC)
. In this article, we study the multi-user multi-server task offloading problem in MEC systems, where all users compete for the limited communication resources and computing resources. We formulate the offloading problem with the goal of minimizing the cost of the users and maximizing the profits of the ESs. We propose a hierarchical EETORP (Economic and Efficient Task Offloading and Resource Purchasing) framework that includes a two-stage joint optimization process. Then we prove that the problem is NP-complete. For the first stage, we formulate the offloading problem as a multi-channel access game (MCA-Game) and prove theoretically the existence of at least one Nash equilibrium strategy in MCA-Game. Next, we propose a
game-based multi-channel access (GMCA)
algorithm to obtain the Nash equilibrium strategy and analyze the performance guarantee of the obtained offloading strategy in the worst case. For the second stage, we model the computing resource allocation between the users and ESs by Stackelberg game theory, and reformulate the problem as a resource pricing and purchasing game (PAP-Game). We prove theoretically the property of incentive compatibility and the existence of Stackelberg equilibrium. A
game-based pricing and purchasing (GPAP)
algorithm is proposed. Finally, a series of both parameter analysis and comparison experiments are carried out, which validate the convergence and effectiveness of the GMCA algorithm and GPAP algorithm.
Review on Query-focused Multi-document Summarization (QMDS) with Comparative Analysis
Authors: Roy Prasenjeet , Kundu Suman
Published: May 2023

The problem of query-focused multi-document summarization (QMDS) is to generate a summary from multiple source documents on identical/similar topics based on the query submitted by the users. This article provides a systematic review of the literature of QMDS. The research works are classified into six major categories based on the summarization methodologies used. Different techniques used for finding query-relevant summaries for different algorithms under each of the six major groups are reported. Further, 17 evaluation metrics used for evaluating algorithms for text summaries against the human-curated summaries are compiled here in this article. Extensive experiments are performed on eight different datasets. Comparative results of nine methodologies, each representing one of the six different groups, are presented. Seven different evaluation metrics are used in the comparative study. It is observed that DL- and ML-based QMDS methods perform. better in comparison to the other methods.
Multifaceted Relation-aware Meta-learning with Dual Customization for User Cold-start Recommendation
Authors: Wang Chunyang , Zhu Yanmin , Liu Haobing , Zang Tianzi , Wang Ke , Yu Jiadi
Published: May 2023

User cold-start scenarios pose great challenges to recommendation systems in accurately capturing user preferences with sparse interaction records. Besides incorporating auxiliary information to enrich user/item representations, recent studies under the schema of meta-learning focus on quickly adapting personalized recommendation models based on cold-start users’ scarce interactions. The majority of meta-learning based recommendation methods follow a bi-level optimization paradigm and learn globally shared initialization across all cold-start recommendation tasks. In addition, to further facilitate the ability of fast adaptation, existing methods have made efforts to tailor task-specific prior knowledge by identifying the individual characteristics of each task. However, we argue that multi-view commonalities between existing users and cold-start users are also essential for precisely distinguishing new tasks, but not comprehensively modeled in previous studies. In this article, we propose a multifaceted relation-aware meta-learning approach namely MeCM for user cold-start recommendation, which enhances task-adaptive initialization customization by extracting multiple views of task relevance. We design a dual customization framework consisting of two successive phases including cluster-level customization and task-level customization. Specifically, MeCM first extracts multifaceted semantic relations between tasks and refines task commonalities into task clusters maintained with memory networks (MNs). Globally learned fast weights corresponding to task clusters are queried to perform cluster-level customization. Then task-level customization is triggered based on contextual information of the target task via interaction-wise encoding. Extensive experiments on real-world datasets demonstrate the superior performance of our model over state-of-the-art meta-learning-based recommendation methods.