bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Effect of a programme of muscular endurance, balance and gait exercises with and without the use of flexible and minimalist shoes in older women with medial knee osteoarthritis: study protocol for a randomised controlled trial
Authors: Pereira Daniel Borges , Souza Tatiane Silva de , Fuzinato Carolina Tayama , Hagihara Rodrigo Jugue , Ribeiro Ana Paula
Published: September 2022

Introduction

Studies have indicated that gait intervention programmes with minimalist shoes are effective for reducing pain, improving functionality and reducing knee joint overload in older women with knee osteoarthritis (OA). Other clinical trials with knee and foot muscle strength training and/or dynamic balance training have also shown clinical and functional effectiveness. Despite promising strategies, there is no evidence of the combination of shoes with gait intervention programmes. Thus, the objective of this randomised clinical trial is to investigate the effects of therapeutic programme of muscular resistance, balance and gait exercises with and without the use of low-cost, flexible shoes on the clinical, functional and biomechanical aspects of older women with medial knee OA.

Methods and analysis

This randomised controlled trial with blinded evaluators will involve 36 older women. Twenty-four older women with knee OA (medial compartment) will be randomised to the intervention groups with minimalist shoes (GIC; n=12) or in a barefoot condition (GID; n=12), and 12 older women to the control group (n=12). The intervention protocol will consist of knee-foot muscle resistance and static balance training, reactive and proactive dynamic balance training, and gait training with visual feedback. The intervention will have a duration of two consecutive months, twice a week, totalling 16 sessions. The primary outcomes will be walking pain measured by Visual Analogue Scale and questionnaires: Western Ontario McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index and Lequesne Algofunctional. The secondary outcomes will be: 6-min walk test, Falls Risk Awareness Questionnaire, Timed Up and Go Test, and distribution of plantar load during gait and balance by pressure platform. Data will be analysed according to an intention-to-treat approach.

Ethics and dissemination

This study involves human participants and was approved by the ethics committee of the Universidade Santo Amaro, School Medicine, São Paulo/SP, Brazil (N°4.091.006). Participants gave informed consent to participate in the study before taking part. Investigators will communicate trial results to participants and healthcare professionals through scientific databases, social media, publications and conferences.

Trial registration number

RBR-10j4bw25 in Brazilian Clinical Trial Registry.
Effect of the Tokyo 2020 Summer Olympic Games on COVID-19 incidence in Japan: a synthetic control approach
Authors: Yoneoka Daisuke , Eguchi Akifumi , Fukumoto Kentato , Kawashima Takayuki , Tanoue Yuta , Tabuchi Takahiro , Miyata Hiroaki , Ghaznavi Cyrus , Shibuya Kenji , Nomura Shuhei
Published: September 2022

Background

The Tokyo 2020 Summer Olympic Games (23 July–8 August 2021) were held in the middle of Japan’s fifth wave of COVID-19, when the number of cases was on the rise, and coincided with the fourth state of emergency implemented by the host city, Tokyo.

Aim

This study aimed to assess whether the hosting of the Games was associated with a change in the number of COVID-19 cases in Japan using a synthetic control method.

Methods

A weighted average of control countries with a variety of predictors was used to estimate the counterfactual trajectory of daily COVID-19 cases per 1 000 000 population in the absence of the Games in Japan. Outcome and predictor data were extracted using official and open sources spanning several countries. The predictors comprise the most recent country-level annual or daily data accessible during the Games, including the stringency of the government’s COVID-19 response, testing capacity and vaccination capacity; human mobility index; electoral democracy index and demographic, socioeconomic, health and weather information. After excluding countries with missing data, 42 countries were ultimately used as control countries.

Results

The number of observed cases per 1 000 000 population on the last day of the Games was 109.2 (7-day average), which was 115.7% higher than the counterfactual trajectory comprising 51.0 confirmed cases per 1 000 000 population. During the Olympic period (since 23 July), the observed cumulative number of cases was 61.0% higher than the counterfactual trajectory, comprising 143 072 and 89 210 confirmed cases (p=0.023), respectively. The counterfactual trajectory lagged 10 days behind the observed trends.

Conclusions

Given the increasing likelihood that new emerging infectious diseases will be reported in the future, we believe that the results of this study should serve as a sentinel warning for upcoming mega-events during COVID-19 and future pandemics.
Association of sleep duration and noise exposure with hearing loss among Chinese and American adults: two cross-sectional studies
Authors: Wu E , Ni Juntao , Zhu Zhaohui , Xu Hongquan , Ci Jun , Tao Lin , Xie Tian
Published: September 2022

Objectives

To examine the associations of sleep duration (SPD) and noise exposure with hearing loss (HL) among Chinese and American adults.

Design

Two cross-sectional studies.

Setting

The National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2011–2012), and Zhejiang Chinese participants between 1 January 2018 and 1 November 2021.

Participants

3322 adults from the USA and 4452 adults from Zhejiang, China.

Main outcome measures

HL was defined as a pure-tone average >20 dB in the better ear at low frequency (500, 1000 and 2000 Hz), speech frequency (500, 1000, 2000 and 4000 Hz) or high frequency (3000, 4000, 6000 and 8000 Hz). Binary logistic regression analysis quantified the associations between SPD, noise exposure (at work or off-work) and HL.

Results

SPD ≥8 hours/night had an OR of 0.71 (95% CI 0.59 to 0.84) for high-frequency HL vs. an SPD of 6–8 hours/night among the Chinese participants but had an OR of 1.28 (95% CI 1.03 to 1.58) among American participants. Noise exposure (both at work and off-work) was associated with poorer low-frequency (OR 1.58, 1.43; p<0.05), speech-frequency (OR 1.63, 1.29; p<0.05) and high-frequency (OR 1.37, 1.23; p<0.05) hearing among the Chinese participants; and it was associated with worse high-frequency hearing (OR 1.43, 1.66; p<0.05) among the American participants. The negative relationship between SPD ≥8 hours/night and HL was mainly observed in the Chinese participants with noise exposure (OR <1, p<0.05), and SPD ≥8 hours/night associated with poorer HF hearing was only identified in the American participants without noise exposure (OR >1, p<0.05).

Conclusions

Noise exposure was associated with poorer hearing. SPD ≥8 hours/night was negatively associated with HL in the Chinese participants especially when exposed to noise. SPD ≥8 hours/night was related to poorer high-frequency hearing in the American participants when they had no noise exposure.
The Yorkshire Kidney Screening Trial (YKST): protocol for a feasibility study of adding non-contrast abdominal CT scanning to screen for kidney cancer and other abdominal pathology within a trial of community-based CT screening for lung cancer
Authors: Usher-Smith Juliet A , Godoy Angela , Burge Sarah W , Burbidge Simon , Cartledge Jon , Crosbie Philip A J , Eckert Claire , Farquhar Fiona , Hammond David , Hancock Neil , Iball Gareth R , Kimuli Michael , Masson Golnessa , Neal Richard D , Rogerson Suzanne , Rossi Sabrina H , Sala Evis , Smith Andrew , Sharp Stephen J , Simmonds Irene , Wallace Tom , Ward Matthew , Callister Matthew E J , Stewart Grant D
Published: September 2022

Introduction

Kidney cancer (renal cell cancer (RCC)) is the seventh most common cancer in the UK. As RCC is largely curable if detected at an early stage and most patients have no symptoms, there is international interest in evaluating a screening programme for RCC. The Yorkshire Kidney Screening Trial (YKST) will assess the feasibility of adding non-contrast abdominal CT scanning to screen for RCC and other abdominal pathology within the Yorkshire Lung Screening Trial (YLST), a randomised trial of community-based CT screening for lung cancer.

Methods and analysis

In YLST, ever-smokers aged 55–80 years registered with a general practice in Leeds have been randomised to a Lung Health Check assessment, including a thoracic low-dose CT (LDCT) for those at high risk of lung cancer, or routine care. YLST participants randomised to the Lung Health Check arm who attend for the second round of screening at 2 years without a history of RCC or abdominal CT scan within the previous 6 months will be invited to take part in YKST. We anticipate inviting 4700 participants. Those who consent will have an abdominal CT immediately following their YLST thoracic LDCT. A subset of participants and the healthcare workers involved will be invited to take part in a qualitative interview. Primary objectives are to quantify the uptake of the abdominal CT, assess the acceptability of the combined screening approach and pilot the majority of procedures for a subsequent randomised controlled trial of RCC screening within lung cancer screening.

Ethics and dissemination

YKST was approved by the North West-Preston Research Ethics Committee (21/NW/0021), and the Health Research Authority on 3 February 2021. Trial results will be disseminated at clinical meetings, in peer-reviewed journals and to policy-makers. Findings will be made available to participants via the study website (www.YKST.org).

Trial registration numbers

NCT05005195 and ISRCTN18055040.
Community engagement to support COVID-19 vaccine uptake: a living systematic review protocol
Authors: Gilmore Brynne , Gerlach Nina , Abreu Lopes Claudia , Diallo Alpha A , Bhattacharyya Sanghita , de Claro Vergil , Ndejjo Rawlance , Nyamupachitu Mago Elizabeth , Tchetchia Adalbert
Published: September 2022

Introduction

Widespread vaccination against COVID-19 is one of the most effective ways to control, and ideally, end the global COVID-19 pandemic. Vaccine hesitancy and vaccine rates vary widely across countries and populations and are influenced by complex sociocultural, political, economic and psychological factors. Community engagement is an integral strategy within immunisation campaigns and has been shown to improve vaccine acceptance. As evidence on community engagement to support COVID-19 vaccine uptake is emerging and constantly changing, research that lessens the knowledge-to-practice gap by providing regular and up-to-date evidence on current best-practice is essential.

Methods and analysis

A living systematic review will be conducted which includes an initial systematic review and bimonthly review updates. Searching and screening for the review and subsequent updates will be done in four streams: a systematic search of six databases, grey literature review, preprint review and citizen sourcing. The screening will be done by a minimum of two reviewers at title/abstract and full-text in Covidence, a systematic review management software. Data will be extracted across predefined fields in an excel spreadsheet that includes information about article characteristics, context and population, community engagement approaches, and outcomes. Synthesis will occur using the convergent integrated approach. We will explore the potential to quantitatively synthesise primary outcomes depending on heterogeneity of the studies.

Ethics and dissemination

The initial review and subsequent bimonthly searches and their results will be disseminated transparently via open-access methods. Quarterly briefs will be shared on the reviews’ social media platforms and across other interested networks and repositories. A dedicated web link will be created on the Community Health-Community of Practice site for sharing findings and obtaining feedback. A mailing list will be developed and interested parties can subscribe for updates.

PROSPERO registration number

CRD42022301996.
Disparities and implicit bias in the management of low-risk febrile infants: a mixed methods study protocol
Authors: Gutman Colleen K , Lion K Casey , Aronson Paul , Fisher Carla , Bylund Carma , McFarlane Antionette , Lou Xiangyang , Patterson Mary D , Lababidi Ahmed , Fernandez Rosemarie
Published: September 2022

Introduction

The management of low-risk febrile infants presents a model population for exploring how implicit racial bias promotes inequitable emergency care for children who belong to racial, ethnic and language minority groups. Although widely used clinical standards guide the clinical care of febrile infants, there remains substantial variability in management strategies. Deviations from recommended care may be informed by the physician’s assessment of the family’s values, risk tolerance and access to supportive resources. However, in the fast-paced emergency setting, such assessments may be influenced by implicit racial bias. Despite significant research to inform the clinical care of febrile infants, there is a dearth of knowledge regarding health disparities and clinical guideline implementation. The proposed mixed methods approach will (1) quantify the extent of disparities by race, ethnicity and language proficiency and (2) explore the role of implicit bias in physician–patient communication when caring for this population.

Methods and analysis

With 42 participating sites from the Pediatric Emergency Medicine Collaborative Research Committee, we will conduct a multicenter, cross-sectional study of low-risk febrile infants treated in the emergency department (ED) and apply multivariable logistic regression to assess the association between (1) race and ethnicity and (2) limited English proficiency with the primary outcome, discharge to home without lumbar puncture or antibiotics. We will concurrently perform an interpretive study using purposive sampling to conduct individual semistructured interviews with (1) minority parents of febrile infants and (2) paediatric ED physicians. We will triangulate or compare perspectives to better elucidate disparities and bias in communication and medical decision-making.

Ethics and dissemination

This study has been approved by the University of Florida Institutional Review Board. All participating sites in the multicenter analysis will obtain local institutional review board approval. The results of this study will be presented at academic conferences and in peer-reviewed publications.
Emergency department transfers from residential aged care: what can we learn from secondary qualitative analysis of Australian Royal Commission data?
Authors: Cain Patricia , Alan Janine , Porock Davina
Published: September 2022

Objectives

To use publicly available submissions and evidence from the Australian Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety as data for secondary qualitative analysis. By investigating the topic of emergency department transfer from the perspective of residents, family members and healthcare professionals, we aimed to identify modifiable factors to reduce transfer rates and improve quality of care.

Design

The Australian Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety has made over 7000 documents publicly available. We used the documents as a large data corpus from which we extracted a data set specific to our topic using keywords. The analysis focused on submissions and hearing transcripts (including exhibits). Qualitative thematic analysis was used to interrogate the text to determine what could be learnt about transfer events from a scholarly perspective.

Results

Three overarching themes were identified: shortfalls and failings, reluctance and misunderstanding, and discovery and exposure.

Conclusions

The results speak to workforce inadequacies that have been central to problems in the Australian aged care sector to date. We identified issues around clinical and pain assessment, lack of consideration to advance care directives and poor communication among all parties. We also highlighted the role that emergency departments play in identifying unmet clinical needs, substandard care and neglect. Given the inadequate clinical care available in some residential aged care facilities, transferring residents to a hospital emergency department may be making the best of a bad situation. If the objective of reducing unnecessary transfers to emergency departments is to be achieved, then access to appropriate clinical care is the first step.
Midwives’ and maternity support workers’ perceptions of the impact of the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic on respectful maternity care in a diverse region of the UK: a qualitative study
Authors: Jones Isobel H M , Thompson Amy , Dunlop Catherine Louise , Wilson Amie
Published: September 2022

Objectives

To explore midwives’ and maternity support workers’ perceptions of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on maternity services and understand factors influencing respectful maternity care.

Design

A qualitative study. Eleven semistructured interviews were conducted (on Zoom) and thematically analysed. Inductive themes were developed and compared with components of respectful maternity care.

Setting

Maternity services in a diverse region of the United Kingdom.

Participants

Midwives and maternity support workers who worked during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Results

The findings offer insights into the experiences and challenges faced by midwives and maternity support workers during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic in the UK (March 2020–2021). Three core themes were interpreted that impacted respectful maternity care: (1) communication of care, (2) clinical care and (3) support for families. 1. Midwives and maternity support workers felt changing guidance impaired communication of accurate information. However, women attending appointments alone encouraged safeguarding disclosures. 2. Maternity staffing pressures worsened and delayed care provision. The health service’s COVID-19 response was thought to have discouraged women’s engagement with maternity care. 3. Social support for women was reduced and overstretched staff struggled to fill this role. The continuity of carer model of midwifery facilitated supportive care. COVID-19 restrictions separated families and were considered detrimental to parents’ mental health and newborn bonding. Overall, comparison of interview quotes to components of respectful maternity care showed challenges during the early COVID-19 pandemic in upholding each of the 10 rights afforded to women and newborns.

Conclusions

Respectful maternity care was impacted through changes in communication, delivery of clinical care and restrictions on social support for women and their infants in the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic. Future guidance for pandemic scenarios must make careful consideration of women’s and newborns’ rights to respectful maternity care.
Sensorineural hearing loss after neonatal meningitis: a single-centre retrospective study
Authors: Sharma Ankur , Leaf James M , Thomas Saumya , Cane Christine , Stuart Claire , Tremlett Catherine , Fitzgerald John , Clarke Paul
Published: September 2022

Babies in intensive care are at higher risk for meningitis and sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL). We reviewed the rate of SNHL among definite cases of bacterial/fungal meningitis in our neonatal intensive care unit over a 16-year period (2006–2021). We identified 16 confirmed meningitis cases among 16 070 admissions: 8 of 10 surviving infants with available diagnostic audiology had normal/satisfactory hearing while 2 of 10 had SNHL. Both infants with permanent hearing loss had been born extremely preterm and received potentially ototoxic antimicrobials. Larger studies are needed to clarify whether SNHL occurs mainly due to meningitis itself or to its antimicrobial drug treatment.
Increased protein intake derived from leucine-enriched protein enhances the integrated myofibrillar protein synthetic response to short-term resistance training in untrained men and women: a 4-day randomized controlled trial
Authors: Lim Changhyun , Traylor Daniel A. , McGlory Chris , Joanisse Sophie , McKendry James , Grewal Tavneet , Mcleod Jonathan C. , Prior Todd , Nunes Everson A. , Lees Matthew , Phillips Stuart M.
Published: September 2022

Leucine is a critical amino acid stimulating myofibrillar protein synthesis (MyoPS). The consumption of higher leucine-containing drinks stimulates MyoPS, but we know less about higher leucine solid foods. Here, we examined the effect of short-term resistance exercise training (STRT) combined with supplementation of a protein and leucine-enriched bar, compared with STRT alone, on integrated (%/day) rates of MyoPS and anabolic protein signaling. In a nonblinded, randomized crossover trial, eight young adults performed four sessions of STRT without or while consuming the study bar (STRT+Leu, 16 g of protein containing ∼3 g of leucine) for two 4-day phases, separated by 2 days nonexercise (Rest) washout. In combination with serial muscle biopsies, deuterated water permitted the measurement of MyoPS and protein signaling phosphorylation. MyoPS during STRT (1.43 ± 0.06%/day) and STRT+Leu (1.53 ± 0.06%/day) were greater than Rest (1.31 ± 0.05%/day), and MyoPS during STRT+Leu (1.53 ± 0.06%/day) was greater than STRT alone (1.43 ± 0.06%/day). STRT+Leu increased the ratio of phosphorylated to total mechanistic target of rapamycin and 4EBP1 compared to Rest. Engaging in STRT increased integrated MyoPS and protein signaling in young adults and was enhanced with increased protein intake derived from a leucine-enriched protein bar. This study was registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT03796897.
Juvenile sea lamprey (Petromyzon marinus) have a wide window of elevated salinity tolerance that is eventually limited during springtime warming
Authors: Shaughnessy Ciaran A. , McCormick Stephen D.
Published: September 2022

The present study examined changes in biometric characteristics, osmoregulatory capacity, and seawater (SW) tolerance of juvenile sea lamprey ( Petromyzon marinus) throughout the varying thermal changes from late autumn to late spring. Body length, mass, and condition factor were maintained until April, when significant declines in mass and condition factor were observed to correspond with increases in temperature. Nearly 100% survival in SW was maintained through April. In May, after river and estuarine temperatures had increased, significant mortality in SW (up to 50%) was observed. After SW acclimation, plasma chloride was maintained at an elevated set point, and gill Na+/K+-ATPase activity was elevated. Neither parameter appeared to be affected during springtime warming. Together, these results provide a first characterization of the sustained osmoregulatory performance of juvenile sea lamprey after metamorphosis and show that the window of increased hypo-osmoregulatory performance for SW entry lasts for at least 5 months but may ultimately be limited by increases in river water temperatures in late spring.
Accounting for transient dynamics could improve the use of marine protected areas as a reference point for fisheries management
Authors: Quennessen V.I. , Babcock E.A. , White J.W.
Published: September 2022

Biological reference points for fishery management depend on estimates of current stock status relative to unfished biomass (depletion). The ratio of fish density outside to inside a marine reserve, the density ratio, could serve as a proxy for depletion for data-poor management. However, transient dynamics associated with time lags in returning to the unfished state following reserve implementation make that proxy inaccurate on short time scales. We assessed density ratio management rules using an age-structured, spatially explicit model of four US west coast nearshore fishes following reserve implementation, with scenarios encompassing sampling error, recruitment variability, and uncertainty in natural mortality. In deterministic simulations, management incorporating time lags generally resulted in a higher mean and lower variability in biomass over 20 years, but lower mean yield compared to management that did not. However, when stochastic recruitment was included, differences among simulations due to stochasticity were much greater than any difference in performance between management strategies. Nonetheless, in certain cases, accounting for time lags could help avoid unwarranted increases in harvest effort after reserve implementation.
Prediction Model of Ischemic Stroke Based on Machine Learning
Authors: Zhang Zhijie , Zou Zhihong
Published: September 2022

Machine learning (ML) can be used for deep mining and analysis of multidimensional medical data. At present, it has been widely used in medical diagnosis and prognosis prediction. This paper aims to make the existing research no longer focus on identifying key risk factors of stroke, and predict stroke risk more accurately. We collected the data of 3,962 cerebral apoplexy patients from 2019 to 2020, according to gender (male: 2,613; female: 1,349) and age (16–40 years old; 41–54 years old; 55–69 years old; 70 years old and above) layered. After data preprocessing, a stroke risk prediction model was built using principal component analysis (PCA) and extreme learning institutions (ELM). The prediction accuracy of PCA-ELM was as high as 97%. In this model, total cholesterol and high density lipoprotein are taken as 10 important factors that affect the incidence of stroke. This method can timely and efficiently mine the factors influencing the incidence of cerebral apoplexy from the data, and can predict the incidence of cerebral apoplexy. It has high value in practical application. This paper has great reference value in the research of brain death.
Optimal Scheduling Strategy for Power Systems Containing Offshore Wind Farms Considering Wind Power Uncertainty
Authors: Zhang Jinhua , Zhu Yuerong , Zhao Zhengyang
Published: September 2022

The wind power interval prediction of offshore wind farms and power plan arrangement of conventional thermal power units are of vital importance in the consumption of offshore wind power, the reduction of greenhouse gas impact on the environment, and the electric power system safe and economic operating. With the purpose of selecting the appropriate Copula function on the basis of the results of wind speed and wind power normal test, establish the mathematical model of wind-fire joint optimal scheduling, and optimize coal-fired power units power generation after comparing the convergence performance of particle swarm optimization method and crow search algorithm. Results indicate that the selected Copula function meets the expected criteria, and the optimized thermal unit climbs more smoothly and through the optimization of CSA the complete economic consumption of running is lessened. An idea is presented by this paper, which considers the uncertainties of offshore wind power generation, and the basis for the operational performance of CSA over PSO, and which provides a joint wind-thermal economic optimal dispatch strategy.
Open bottom mesons and upsilon states in hot magnetized strange hadronic matter
Authors: Mishra Amruta
Published: September 2022

The masses of open bottom mesons ([Formula: see text]([Formula: see text],[Formula: see text]), [Formula: see text]([Formula: see text],[Formula: see text]), [Formula: see text]([Formula: see text], [Formula: see text])) and upsilon states ([Formula: see text], [Formula: see text], [Formula: see text], [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text]) are investigated in the isospin asymmetric strange hadronic medium at finite temperature in the presence of strong magnetic fields using a chiral effective Lagrangian approach. Here the chiral SU(3) Lagrangian is generalized to include the bottom sector to incorporate the interactions of the open bottom mesons with the magnetized medium. At finite temperature, the number density and scalar density of baryons are expressed in terms of thermal distribution functions. For charged baryons, the magnetic field introduces contribution from Landau energy levels. The masses of the open bottom mesons get modified through their interactions with the baryons and the scalar mesons, which undergo modifications in a magnetized medium. The charged [Formula: see text], [Formula: see text] mesons have additional positive mass shifts due to Landau quantization in the presence of the magnetic field. The medium mass shift of the upsilon states originates from the modification of the gluon condensates simulated by the variation of dilaton field ([Formula: see text]) and a quark mass term in the magnetized medium. The open bottom mesons and upsilon states experience a mass drop in the magnetized medium. The masses of these mesons initially increase with a rise in temperature, and beyond a high value of temperature, their masses are observed to drop. When the temperature is below 90[Formula: see text]MeV, the in-medium masses of the mesons increase with an increase in the magnetic field. However, at high temperatures (T > 90 MeV), the masses are observed to drop with an increase in the magnetic field. These in-medium modifications can have observable effects in asymmetric heavy-ion collisions experiments.
TrackballWatch
Authors: Stanke Dennis , Schroth Peer , Rohs Michael
Published: September 2022

A common problem of touch-based smartwatch interaction is the occlusion of the display. Although some models provide solutions like the Apple "digital crown" or the Samsung rotatable bezel, these are limited to only one degree of freedom (DOF). Performing complex tasks like navigating on a map is still problematic as the additional input option helps to zoom, but touching the screen to pan the map is still required. In this work, we propose using a trackball as an additional input device that adds two DOFs to prevent the occlusion of the screen. We created several prototypes to find a suitable placement and evaluated them in a typical map navigation scenario. Our results show that the participants were significantly faster (15.7%) with one of the trackball setups compared to touch input. The results also show that the idle times are significantly higher with touch input than with all trackball prototypes, presumably because users have to reorient themselves after panning with finger occlusion.
OneButtonPIN: A Single Button Authentication Method for Blind or Low Vision Users to Improve Accessibility and Prevent Eavesdropping
Authors: Kamarushi Manisha Varma , Watson Stacey L. , Tigwell Garreth W. , Peiris Roshan L.
Published: September 2022

A Personal Identification Number (PIN) is a widely adopted authentication method used by smartphones, ATMs, etc. PINs offer strong security and can be reset when compromised (unlike biometric authentication). However, PINs can be inaccessible for blind or low vision (BLV) users due to screen readers voicing PINs to bystanders or potential shoulder surfing attack risks---bystanders could watch the PIN being entered without the user noticing. To address this, we present OneButtonPIN, an interface to improve PIN entry accessibility and security for BLV users. Here, a single on-screen button, when pressed and held, triggers a haptic vibration sequence. A digit is entered by counting the vibrations and releasing the button. We explored introducing random timings to the vibration sequence to increase security. A week-long evaluation with 9 BLV participants and a security study with 10 sighted participants acting as shoulder surfers demonstrated OneButtonPIN's usability and resilience against eavesdropping.
Prediction Method of Government Economic Situation based on Big Data Analysis
Authors: Liu Yisheng , Tang Anying
Published: September 2022

In order to improve the forecasting accuracy of economic situation, a government economic situation forecasting method based on big data analysis is proposed. According to the hardware structure of the system, STC12C5608AD is used as the data acquisition terminal chip to simplify the circuit. The proposed forecasting method can give real-time early warning to the government's economic situation. The software part screens the influencing factors of government economic development, constructs a government economic development index system, collects government economic index data, cleans, clusters, classifies, and standardizes the government economic index data, and extracts the preprocessed government economic index data from the preprocessed government economic index data through data mining. The economic development features are extracted and then input into the neural network. After training and learning, the predicted value of the economic situation is output, and the economic situation level is classified. The experimental results show that the proposed method reduces the error rate of economic situation forecast, shortens the forecast time, improves the forecast accuracy and efficiency, with the peak error ratio not exceeding 15%.
No Free Lunch Theorem for Security and Utility in Federated Learning
Authors: Zhang Xiaojin , Gu Hanlin , Fan Lixin , Chen Kai , Yang Qiang
Published: September 2022

In a federated learning scenario where multiple parties jointly learn a model from their respective data, there exist two conflicting goals for the choice of appropriate algorithms. On one hand, private and sensitive training data must be kept secure as much as possible in the presence of
semi-honest
partners; on the other hand, a certain amount of information has to be exchanged among different parties for the sake of learning utility. Such a challenge calls for the privacy-preserving federated learning solution, which maximizes the utility of the learned model and maintains a provable privacy guarantee of participating parties’ private data.

This article illustrates a general framework that (1) formulates the trade-off between privacy loss and utility loss from a unified information-theoretic point of view, and (2) delineates quantitative bounds of the privacy-utility trade-off when different protection mechanisms including randomization, sparsity, and homomorphic encryption are used. It was shown that in general
there is no free lunch for the privacy-utility trade-off
, and one has to trade the preserving of privacy with a certain degree of degraded utility. The quantitative analysis illustrated in this article may serve as the guidance for the design of practical federated learning algorithms.
Ti-based MXenes for Energy Storage Applications: Structure, Properties, Processing Parameters and Stability
Authors: Anjum Nafiza , Ekuase Okunzuwa Austine , Eze Vincent Obiozo , Okoli Okenwa I.
Published: September 2022

The novel family of two-dimensional transitional metal carbides, nitrides and carbonitrides (Also known as MXenes) is being considered as the next generation of materials because of their unique properties and vast potentiality as the active material in different field of applications, such as sensors, energy storage devices, energy generators, EMI shields etc. Among them, MXenes have great prospects in electrochemical energy-storage application. MXenes show unique properties due to their low dimensional, layered structure which are convenient for energy storage applications. Theoretically, MXenes have high mechanical strength, competitive gravimetric capacitance, and outstanding catalytic properties. However, the advancement of MXenes towards industrial manufacturing is impaired because of poor mechanical and electrochemical properties of experimentally obtained films, poor stability in oxygen rich environment, and lack of scaled-up production protocols. Hence, to fully utilize the outstanding prospects of this novel material, it is important to understand the structure-property relationship, effect of processing parameters, environmental stability, and scale-up scopes of MXenes. In the perspective, this article reviews the structural, electrochemical, and mechanical properties of MXenes, and strategies to control the properties for application-specific requirements. The relationships between synthesis parameters and the properties of MXenes are discussed. Oxidation stability and the proposed strategies to improve shelf-life are also reviewed.
Effect of Interlayer Stress on U Bends and Water Droplet Bends
Authors: Wang Qiujun , Su Weiwei , Zhang Wenxin , Zhang Zeyu , Wang Bo , Zhang Di , Zhang Fang
Published: September 2022

The interlayer stress (IS) analysis of the flexible active-matrix organic light-emitting diode (AMOLED) panel is critical for decreasing the stress concentration and reducing the risk of overall screen failure. This article relies on the linear elastic models of ABAQUS to simulate finite element analysis of foldable panels. This article discussed three sensitive locations of the flexible AMOLED panel caused by two different bending methods including U bends and water droplet bends. The finite element method for simulating the layer analysis was constructed to analyze the effect of optically clear adhesive (OCA) film thickness on the distribution of stress and strain. The module can be optimized by changing the thickness and shear modulus of OCA. With the decrease of OCA thickness and the increase of stiffness, the maximum stress of the organic light-emitting diode (OLED) layer is decreased by 20% which is 55 Mpa; meanwhile, the IS of the entire module is reduced by about 30%.
Research on Numerical Simulation of Tantalum Explosively Formed Projectile Forming Driven by Detonation
Authors: Wang Yajun , Li Weibing , Yu Jiaxin , Li Wenbin , Xu Heyang
Published: September 2022

In order to study the formation characteristics of tantalum explosively formed projectile (EFP), based on LS-DYNA finite-element software, this article analyzes the influence of mesh size on tantalum EFP forming, compares the accuracy of JC constitutive parameters in different literature on the characterization of tantalum EFP forming, calculates the effective action time of detonation that drives EFP formation, and carries out experimental verification. The results show that the EFP forming velocity was less sensitive to grid size; however, the EFP shape was highly sensitive to grid size, among which the liner had the greatest influence. Besides, for the same density and different constitutive parameters, the velocity of the stabilized EFP was the same, but the change trend of velocity was different, which led to the difference in morphology. The verification test showed that a selection of appropriate JC constitutive parameters could simulate tantalum EFP forming. Finally, the effect of detonation products on EFP forming was reflected mainly in the axial acceleration and radial contraction of the tail skirt. The influence of explosives and detonation products on EFP forming can be ignored 80 μs after the charge detonates. In this work, the numerical simulation method of tantalum EFP forming was studied, which provides guidance for the design and engineering application of tantalum EFP.
Inhibition of CEBPB Attenuates Lupus Nephritis via Regulating Pim-1 Signaling
Authors: Wang Xiaoyang , Cheng Weili , Chen Xiaopan , Gong Yanan , Wang Guangjie , Zhang Xiaoxue , Qi Yuanyuan
Published: September 2022

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is an autoimmune disease leading to inflammatory damage in multiple target organs, and lupus nephritis (LN) is one of the most life-threatening organ manifestations. CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein β (CEBPB) regulates the NLRP3 inflammasome and is involved in the pathogenesis of SLE. However, the role and mechanism of CEBPB in LN remains unclear. MRL/lpr mice and lipopolysaccharides (LPS) combined with adenosine triphosphate- (ATP-) treated glomerular podocytes were used as models of LN in vivo and in vitro, respectively. In vivo, we investigated the expressions of CEBPB during the development of MRL/lpr mice. Then we assessed the effect of CEBPB inhibition on renal structure and function through injecting shCEBPB lentivirus into MRL/lpr mice. In vitro, glomerular podocytes were treated with Pim-1-OE and siCEBPB to explore the relation between CEBPB and Pim-1. The progression of LN in mice was associated with the increased level of CEBPB, and the inhibition of CEBPB ameliorated renal structure impairments and improved renal function damage associated with LN. Knockdown of CEBPB could suppress the activation of NLRP3 inflammasome and the secretion of IL-1β and IL-6. Furthermore, the knockdown of CEBPB could inhibit NLRP3 inflammasome activation and pyroptosis via binding to Pim-1 promoter to downregulate its expression, and the overexpression of Pim-1 reversed the effects of CEBPB deficiency. The regulation of CEBPB on Pim-1 facilitated pyroptosis by activating NLRP3 inflammasome, thereby promoting the development of LN.
Thermal and Electronic Conductivity in Normal and Superconducting Erbium Nickel Borocarbide (ErNi2B2C)
Authors: Tesfaye Habtamu
Published: September 2022

In this work, the total electronic energy, the electronic thermal conductivity, and the heat capacity of erbium nickel borocarbide, ErNi2B2C, in the normal and superconducting states are calculated using Boltzmann transport equations (BTEs) and energy dispersion relation function. Results from the electronic thermal conductivity versus temperature (T) are presented. From the result, electrical and thermal conductivity at low temperature obey the Wiedemann–Franz law. Moreover, at the normal state, the electronic thermal conductivity of ErNi2B2C is directly proportional to the temperature (T) and reaches its maximum (kink) at the transition temperature, Tc. After the superconducting transition temperature, the electronic thermal conductivity begin to decrease. The drop in electronic thermal conductivity beyond its peak (kink) value is due to the formation of energy gap and the absence of Cooper pairs.
Study and Design of Scalable Multimedia Service System
Authors: Zhao Ziyu
Published: September 2022

In recent years, with the continuous advancement of multimedia technology and network technology, network-based multimedia applications are increasing day by day, both in scale and in the number of users. However, the randomness, time-varying, and complexity of user behavior and network make it impossible to guarantee the service quality (bandwidth, delay, etc.) of multimedia services, thus making it difficult to meet the demands of growing users for multimedia services. While meeting the application requirements, how to design and develop a scalable multimedia service system has become one of the key issues to support good multimedia services and better develop multimedia service services. In addition, the surge in user demand comes with various challenges. High-definition and smooth multimedia services require stable bandwidth. However, the randomness, time-varying, and complexity of user behaviors and network states usually make it difficult to guarantee the quality of services. It is of practical significance to study how to overcome these problems, and it is also a hotspot of current research. This paper mainly discusses the extensibility elements of the multimedia service system and puts forward the relationship between the extensibility of various elements and some design principles of the extensibility. In order to overcome the influence of random variation of the wireless channel on video playback, this paper adopts scalable coding technology. That is, through the analysis of the playback process, the underflow probability is proposed and defined, thereby establishing a constrained optimization problem. Finally, this paper also proposes the multimedia adaptive transmission in the network to do the optimization.
Parkinsonics: A Randomized, Blinded, Cross-Over Trial of Group Singing for Motor and Nonmotor Symptoms in Idiopathic Parkinson Disease
Authors: Butala Ankur , Li Kevin , Swaminathan Aathman , Dunlop Susan , Salnikova Yekaterina , Ficek Bronte , Portnoff Brandon , Harper Michael , Vernon Bailey , Turk Bela , Mari Zoltan , Pantelyat Alexander
Published: September 2022

Introduction. Parkinson’s disease (PD) frequently causes communication difficulties due to various voice impairments and there are few treatment options for vocal/communication complaints. We assessed the effects of weekly group singing on PD patients’ objective vocal and motoric function, cognition, mood, self-efficacy, and quality of life. Methods. Thirty-two participants were randomly assigned to either a singing group or a facilitated discussion group weekly over 12 weeks. After 12 weeks, participants crossed over for an additional 12 weeks. Evaluations were performed at baseline and every six weeks for 30 weeks. Objective voice measures included volume/loudness (decibels), held vowel duration, jitter, shimmer, and harmonic-to-noise ratio. Additional outcome measures included patient-centered quality of life, voice-related quality of life, MDS-UPDRS, Montreal Cognitive Assessment, and questionnaires assessing depression, self-efficacy, and overall well-being. Results. Twenty-six participants (16 M/10F; Hoehn & Yahr stage 2.3 (range 2–3); and age 68.6 (55–89)) completed the study. Across participants in both groups (intention-to-treat analyses), there was significant improvement from baseline in average loudness on the Cookie Theft picture description at 24 weeks (end of interventions), corresponding with improved minimal reading volumes at 24 weeks and 30 weeks (end of study). Similarly, there were improvements in minimal loudness on Rainbow passage reading at 24 and 30 weeks. There were improvements observed in the Emotional Well-Being (mean delta −12.7 points,

p
=
0.037

) and Body Discomfort (mean delta −18.6 points,

p
=
0.001

) domains of the PDQ-39 from baseline to week 24 in the overall cohort and greater improvement in the Communication domain for Group S than Group D after 12 weeks of singing (delta −12.9 points,

p
=
0.016

). Baseline differences between the participant groups (age, gender, Hoehn & Yahr stage, and several voice loudness measures) and observed improvements during the weekly discussion group period limited our ability to attribute all of the above results specifically to singing (per-protocol analyses). No significant changes in other assessed outcome measures were found. Conclusions. Weekly group singing may improve some aspects of conversational voice volume and quality of life in PD. Some improvements were sustained at least six weeks after interventions ended. Further investigations of the mechanism of benefit and randomized controlled studies (without crossover) to assess the longitudinal effects of singing in PD are necessary.
A Tripartite Evolutionary Game Analysis of Online Knowledge Sharing Community
Authors: Yang Jian , Yan Xiangrong , Yang Wenhua
Published: September 2022

With the rapid development of information technology, online knowledge monetization has emerged as a potential business model for several social Q&A platforms, which brings more complex benefits and cost tradeoffs for users. However, most of the previous studies were based on free Q&A platforms, which made it difficult to explain the influencing factors of various stakeholders in the decision-making process of knowledge sharing and failed to comprehensively analyze the behavior of knowledge sharing subjects using dynamic system theory. This study establishes a tripartite evolutionary game model of knowledge consumers, knowledge providers, and knowledge payment platforms and discusses evolutionary stability strategies, evolutionary trends, and factors affecting the evolutionary path of tripartite behavior. The extensive experimental results show that knowledge payment is an important way to promote knowledge sharing. Meanwhile, the implementation of a rewards and punishment system on payment platforms will encourage knowledge providers to provide high-quality knowledge content and increase the willingness of knowledge consumers to pay, thereby facilitating the knowledge-sharing process. This paper provides the decision-making basis for the operation of the online knowledge community and proposes a new proposition to solve the conflict of interest in the process of knowledge sharing from the perspective of evolutionary theory.