bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Evaluating the impact of a pulse oximetry remote monitoring programme on mortality and healthcare utilisation in patients with COVID-19 assessed in emergency departments in England: a retrospective matched cohort study
Authors: Beaney Thomas , Clarke Jonathan , Alboksmaty Ahmed , Flott Kelsey , Fowler Aidan , Benger Jonathan , Aylin Paul P , Elkin Sarah , Darzi Ara , Neves Ana Luisa
Published: February 2023

Background

To identify the impact of enrolment onto a national pulse oximetry remote monitoring programme for COVID-19 (COVID-19 Oximetry @home; CO@h) on health service use and mortality in patients attending Emergency Departments (EDs).

Methods

We conducted a retrospective matched cohort study of patients enrolled onto the CO@h pathway from EDs in England. We included all patients with a positive COVID-19 test from 1 October 2020 to 3 May 2021 who attended ED from 3 days before to 10 days after the date of the test. All patients who were admitted or died on the same or following day to the first ED attendance within the time window were excluded. In the primary analysis, participants enrolled onto CO@h were matched using demographic and clinical criteria to participants who were not enrolled. Five outcome measures were examined within 28 days of first ED attendance: (1) Death from any cause; (2) Any subsequent ED attendance; (3) Any emergency hospital admission; (4) Critical care admission; and (5) Length of stay.

Results

15 621 participants were included in the primary analysis, of whom 639 were enrolled onto CO@h and 14 982 were controls. Odds of death were 52% lower in those enrolled (95% CI 7% to 75%) compared with those not enrolled onto CO@h. Odds of any ED attendance or admission were 37% (95% CI 16% to 63%) and 59% (95% CI 32% to 91%) higher, respectively, in those enrolled. Of those admitted, those enrolled had 53% (95% CI 7% to 76%) lower odds of critical care admission. There was no significant impact on length of stay.

Conclusions

These findings indicate that for patients assessed in ED, pulse oximetry remote monitoring may be a clinically effective and safe model for early detection of hypoxia and escalation. However, possible selection biases might limit the generalisability to other populations.
Alleviating the burden of malaria with gene drive technologies? A biocentric analysis of the moral permissibility of modifying malaria mosquitoes
Authors: de Graeff Nienke , Jongsma Karin Rolanda , Bredenoord Annelien L
Published: February 2023

Gene drive technologies (GDTs) have been proposed as a potential new way to alleviate the burden of malaria, yet have also raised ethical questions. A central ethical question regarding GDTs relates to whether it is morally permissible to intentionally modify or eradicate mosquitoes in this way and how the inherent worth of humans and non-human organisms should be factored into determining this. Existing analyses of this matter have thus far generally relied on anthropocentric and zoocentric perspectives and rejected an individualist biocentric outlook in which all living organisms are taken to matter morally for their own sake. In this paper, we reconsider the implications of taking a biocentric approach and highlight nuances that may not be evident at first glance. First, we shortly discuss biocentric perspectives in general, and then outline Paul Taylor’s biocentric theory of respect for nature. Second, we explore how conflicting claims towards different organisms should be prioritised from this perspective and subsequently apply this to the context of malaria control using GDTs. Our ethical analysis shows that this context invokes the principle of self-defence, which could override the pro tanto concerns that a biocentrist would have against modifying malaria mosquitoes in this way if certain conditions are met. At the same time, the case study of GDTs underlines the relevance of previously posed questions and criticism regarding the internal consistency of Taylor’s egalitarian biocentrism.
Naming new taxa of prokaryotes in the 21st century
Authors: Oren Aharon
Published: February 2023

The nomenclature of prokaryotes is regulated by the rules of the International Code of Nomenclature of Prokaryotes (ICNP) and is based on the Linnaean binomial system. The current rules of the Code only cover the nomenclature of the cultivated minority. Proposals to incorporate the uncultivated majority of bacteria and archaea under the rules of the Code were recently rejected by the International Committee on Systematics of Prokaryotes. The provisional rank of Candidatus can be used to name uncultivated prokaryotes whose names cannot be validly published under the rules of the ICNP, but their names can now be validated under the Code of Nomenclature of Prokaryotes Described from Sequence Data (the SeqCode), which was recently established to cover the nomenclature of the uncultivated majority. Metagenomics, single-cell genomics, and high-throughput cultivation techniques have led to a flood of new organisms currently waiting to be named. Automated programs such as GAN and Protologger can assist researchers in naming and describing newly discovered prokaryotes, cultivated as well as uncultivated. However, Latin and Greek skills remain indispensable for proper quality control of names that must meet the standards set by the codes of nomenclature.
Simulation on shear deformation property of nano-polycrystalline Ni-Co alloy with concentration gradient
Authors: Chen Xiaotong , Guo Xin , Ren Junqiang , Xue Hongtao , Ding Yutian , Lu Xuefeng
Published: February 2023

In concentration gradient (CG) nano-polycrystalline Ni-Co alloy, the deformation mechanism of each region is different with the increase of Co content. It is found that in the Co-free region, grain boundary diffusion and dislocation slip mechanisms are dominant, while in other regions, there is a synergistic effect of solid solution strengthening. Moreover, the formation of new small grains by the migration of GB atoms will assist in the deformation of large grains, and the alloy exhibits gentle and stable stress–strain curve pattern. Meantime, although the dislocation density of each region is different, the dislocation density still changes stably before and after shearing. Compared with the uniform structure, the flow stress fluctuation is small when the CG structure is plastically deformed, which proves that this kind of structure is more stable. Moreover, it is found that at different temperatures, the CG alloy also shows stable dislocation density and coordination of various mechanisms, which ensures the strength stability. It is revealed that the CG structure has important properties that make the material strength more stable. This work demonstrates the excellent properties of CG alloy and has positive guiding significance for the development of low-cost, high-performance materials in terms of theoretical and practical applications.
Interplay of dissipation and memory in the quantum Langevin dynamics of a spin in a magnetic field
Authors: Bhattacharjee Suraka , Mandal Koushik , Sinha Supurna
Published: February 2023

We derive a quantum Langevin equation for a quantum spin in the presence of a magnetic field and coupled to a bath. We have considered two models for the bath: an Ohmic bath model and a non-Markovian Drude bath model with finite memory. The effect of finite memory on the dynamics of the quantum spin is studied in detail. In particular, we have studied the effect of memory on the expectation values of the magnetic moment and the spin correlation functions. The time evolution study of the spin correlation functions shows that the correlation functions exhibit a damped oscillatory behavior with the randomization time being determined by the damping rate. We have analytically shown that the damping gets affected by the finite memory time when the bath retains memory of the interaction with the system. We also analyze the spin response function of the system for the Ohmic bath. Our results qualitatively agree with the findings in spin noise spectroscopy experiments and our predictions can be tested in future ultracold atom experiments.
Simulation and experimental comparison study based on predicting forming limit curve of SUS304 sheet material
Authors: Luyen The-Thanh , Mac Thi-Bich , Nguyen Duc-Toan
Published: February 2023

In this study, the modified maximum force criterion was used to ensure an accurate determination of the forming limit curve (FLC) for the SUS304 sheet metal. At first, the stress–strain curves according to Voce and Swift hardening models were verified using the experimental data and the stress function deduced by Hill in 1984 to predict FLCs. The accuracy of the FLCs was evaluated by analyzing the equivalent fracture strain data at three distinct locations: Biaxial tensile strain (BT, [Formula: see text]), uniaxial tensile strain (UT, [Formula: see text]), and plane strain (PS, [Formula: see text]), and then comparing them with the corresponding linear FLC experimental data. The accuracy of the predicted FLCs was further tested by comparing the fracture height of the samples according to the Nakazima model in the FEM simulation and the corresponding experiments.
Photocatalytic studies of tin oxide nanostructures produced by different methods
Authors: Koinkar Pankaj , Nakayama Daichi , Katayama Tetsuro , Shinde Vinayak , Maeda Yasuyuki , Furube Akihiro , Motora Gebeyehu Kebena , Wu Chang-Mou
Published: February 2023

This paper reports the photocatalytic behavior of tin oxide (SnO2) nanostructures prepared via three different aqueous solution-processed techniques: Precipitation, hydrothermal, and laser ablation. The prepared SnO2 nanostructures were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and field electron scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The photocatalytic activity was evaluated by the oxidative degradation of rhodamine blue (RhB) under visible light. The SnO2 nanostructure prepared by the laser ablation method exhibit significantly improved photocatalytic activity toward RhB due to the size and morphology of the prepared nanostructure.
Evaluation of the bending strength of preloaded CF/PEKK at high temperature
Authors: Hwang Dong-Wook , Kumar Sanjay , Park Soo-Jeong , Shin Do-Hoon , Kim Yun-Hae
Published: February 2023

Carbon fiber-reinforced polymer composites employed in practical aerospace applications are subjected to harsh temperature changes and preloads (PLs) simultaneously. Thus, it is important to analyze the mechanical behavior of carbon fiber/polyether-ketone-ketone (CF/PEKK) composites under such conditions. Therefore, this study first performed bending tests on CF/PEEK samples at room temperature (RT), 80[Formula: see text]C, and 120[Formula: see text]C. Subsequently, bending tests were performed on CF/PEEK samples preloaded with 30%, 50%, and 70% of the ultimate load for 24 h and 72 h. Finally, bending tests were conducted on CF/PEKK samples subjected to both temperature and PL variations. The results show that as temperature increased from RT to 120[Formula: see text]C, the strain values increased, but the modulus ([Formula: see text]) and strength ([Formula: see text]) decreased. As PL increased, the flexural stress, [Formula: see text], and strain ([Formula: see text]) decreased. The samples preloaded with 30% of the ultimate load at 80[Formula: see text]C had the highest [Formula: see text], [Formula: see text], and [Formula: see text] values. However, the [Formula: see text], [Formula: see text], and [Formula: see text] values at 120[Formula: see text]C were only slightly lower than those at 80[Formula: see text]C. This proves that preloaded CF/PEKK composites maintain their high strength, toughness, and plastic behavior at high temperatures, and thus, they are suitable for aerospace applications.
NUMERICAL ASSESSMENT OF THE BRAIN TUMOR GROWTH MODEL VIA FIBONACCI AND HAAR WAVELETS
Authors: NAYIED NAIED AHMAD , SHAH FIRDOUS AHMAD , NISAR KOTTAKKARAN SOOPPY , KHANDAY MUKHTAR AHMAD , HABEEB SAIMA
Published: February 2023

The main goal of this paper is to present a novel numerical scheme based on the Fibonacci wavelets for solving the brain tumor growth model governed by the Burgess equation. At the first instance, the Fibonacci-wavelet-based operational matrices of integration are obtained by following the well-known Chen–Hsiao technique. These matrices play a vital role in converting the said model into an algebraic system, which could be handled with any standard numerical method. To access the effect of medical treatment over the brain tumor growth, we have investigated both the linear and nonlinear cases of Burgess equation. The nonlinearity arising in the Burgess equation is handled by invoking the quasilinearization technique. In order to compare the efficiency of the Fibonacci-wavelet-based numerical technique, we formulated an analogous numerical scheme based on the Haar wavelets. Subsequently, both the methods are testified on several test problems and it is demonstrated that the Fibonacci wavelet method yields a much more stable solution and a better approximation than the Haar wavelet method.
CHARACTERIZATIONS OF THE INVERSION FORMULA OF THE CONTINUOUS BESSEL WAVELET TRANSFORM OF DISTRIBUTIONS IN Hμ′(ℝ+)
Authors: MAURYA JAY SINGH , UPADHYAY SANTOSH KUMAR
Published: February 2023

The inversion formula of the continuous Bessel wavelet transform of distributions is investigated by exploiting the theory of the Hankel transform. Some auxiliary results related to the inversion formula are also obtained in this paper. Using the theory of inversion formula of continuous Bessel wavelet transform of distributions, the Calderón reproducing formula is developed. The continuous Bessel wavelet transform of distributions through heat equation is discussed and its inversion formula is considered.
Codesign and the Art of Creating a Global Research-Practice Network Built for Impact
Authors: Hayes Gillian R. , Odgers Candice , Kientz Julie A. , Yip Jason C. , Sobel Kiley , Ames Morgan , Ritt-Olson Anamara
Published: February 2023

The
Interactions
website (interactions.acm.org) hosts a stable of bloggers who share insights and observations on HCI, often challenging current practices. Each issue we'll publish selected posts from some of the leading and emerging voices in the field.
Labor Market Insurance Policies in the Twenty-First Century
Authors: Boeri Tito , Cahuc Pierre
Published: February 2023

The COVID-19 crisis was a stress test for unemployment insurance schemes as it involved a sudden and unexpected shutdown of a very large set of activities. This forced countries to introduce, often from scratch, income support schemes for workers under new forms of employment and for the self-employed. There was also a considerable expansion of short-time work schemes. As we move past this crisis, labor markets are likely to be characterized by substantial labor reallocation, and major innovations in labor market policy will be required to smooth consumption of workers involved in this reallocation. We survey the large body of research on schemes complementary to unemployment insurance to reduce the costs of reallocation. We focus on short-time work, partial unemployment insurance, and wage insurance and compare their properties to those of standard unemployment benefits. Next we present the main empirical results on the effects of wage insurance, partial unemployment insurance, and short-time work. In the final section we discuss directions for further research.
The Optical Signatures of Stochastic Processes in Many-Body Exciton Scattering
Authors: Li Hao , Shah S.A. , Kandada Ajay Ram Srimath , Silva Carlos , Piryatinski Andrei , Bittner Eric R.
Published: February 2023

We review our recent quantum stochastic model for spectroscopic lineshapes in the presence of a coevolving and nonstationary background population of excitations. Starting from a field theory description for interacting bosonic excitons, we derive a reduced model whereby optical excitons are coupled to an incoherent background via scattering as mediated by their screened Coulomb coupling. The Heisenberg equations of motion for the optical excitons are then driven by an auxiliary stochastic population variable, which we take to be the solution of an Ornstein–Uhlenbeck process. Here, we present an overview of the theoretical techniques we have developed as applied to predicting coherent nonlinear spectroscopic signals. We show how direct (Coulomb) and exchange coupling to the bath give rise to distinct spectral signatures and discuss mathematical limits on inverting spectral signatures to extract the background density of states.
Non-flammable Phosphate-Grafted Nanofiber Separator Enabling Stable-Cycling and High-Safety Lithium Metal Batteries
Authors: Lin Qiong , Wang Zhongxin , Sun Longfeng , Liu Lingli , Song Xuan , Li Dongxia , Lin Qixin , Xue Yuxin , Sun Xiangfeng , Gui Xuefeng , Xu Kai
Published: February 2023

Lithium metal batteries (LMBs) are promising rechargeable energy storage devices with high energy densities and long lifetimes. Nevertheless, safety concerns constitute a severe impediment to the commercial demand for LMBs, including uncontrollable lithium dendrites, heat-intolerant separators, and flammable electrolytes. Herein, a novel separator (PSVHM) containing poly(vinylidene fluoride-co-hexafluoropropylene) (PVDF-HFP), poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) and cage silsesquioxanes, phosphorous-containing acrylate monomers is fabricated by electrospinning with in situ ultraviolet-irradiation grafting polymerization. Attributed to the presence of phosphate groups in the membrane with flame retardant properties, the PSVHM separators have outstanding self-extinguish capabilities. In addition, the 3D-crosslinked PSVHM separator possesses high ion conductivity, and excellent mechanical strength, thus suppressing the uneven lithium dendrites and constructing a stable solid electrolyte interface (SEI). Moreover, cell assembled with the PSVHM separator exhibits an ultra-capacity retention of 98% after 200 cycles at a high current density of 2 C. This work provides a guideline for the preparation of high-safety and high-performance lithium metal batteries.
A Novel, Simple, and Reliable Spectrophotometric Determination of Total Hexavalent Chromium by Complexation with a New Reagent of Thiazole Linked to 2H-Chromen-2-One
Authors: Akhdhar Abdullah
Published: February 2023

Hexavalent chromium is a known environmental contaminant and carcinogen. In the current work, a simple, rapid, and reliable direct spectrophotometric method was used for the determination of total Cr (VI) in environmental samples. Acid-base equilibria and ionization constant (pKa) of the new reagent 3-(2-(2-(4-(trifluoromethyl)benzylidene)hydrazineyl) thiazol-4-yl)-2H-chromen-2-one (thiazole linked to 2H-chromen-2-one, TFZ) were investigated. The value of pKa for the reagent was found to be 7.6 which was initially reported. The reaction of the TFZ ligand with Cr (VI) was optimized to produce a highly absorbent complex at 370 nm and pH 7.0 within 1 min. With a correlation coefficient of 0.9994, the linear concentration range ranges from 2 to 20,000 ng·mL−1. The detection limit and quantification limit were 0.73 and 2.43 ng·mL−1, respectively. The method has high precision with relative standard deviations less than 1.0 and high accuracy with recovery of 100 ± 2%. A large excess of cations and anions did not interfere with the determination of Cr (VI). The proposed method was successfully applied to the determination of Cr (VI) in cement samples. The current method could be useful for the routine analysis of Cr (VI) in environmental labs.
Long-Term Investigation of a Borehole Heat Exchanger (BHE) Array with the Influence of Same Inlet Temperature (SIT) and Same Heat Load (SHL) Boundaries
Authors: Zhang Yuping , Yang Xiao , Liu Jun , Liu Boyang , Tang Fujiao , Nowamooz Hossein
Published: February 2023

Borehole heat exchanger (BHE) array is a key element in the ground source heat pump system (GSHPS). The BHE array is traditionally simplified by assuming the same heat exchange rate for each BHE, which normally is not correspondent to the real applications. In this investigation, a TRT was firstly conducted for a site located in Shanxi Province (China) to get the local ground thermal properties. A numerical simulation framework was next verified by the TRT results. Subsequently, the ground thermal properties obtained by the TRT were used in the numerical simulation model to investigate the influence of two operation strategies on the ground temperature development of the surrounding soil and the BHE performance. The results showed that both ground temperature and BHE array performance decreased during the 8-year operation period of the BHE array in the heating mode. The ground temperature around the center BHE was lower in the same heat load (SHL) scenario (same heat load for the BHEs in the array) than in the same inlet temperature (SIT) scenario (same carrying fluid inlet temperature for the BHEs in the array), and this difference can be 2 °C in the 7th year. The annual average outlet temperature in the SHL scenario was also lower than that in the SIT scenario, especially in the long term. The investigation shows that SIT working strategy superiors the SHL strategy, providing a reference for the upcoming investigation on the design aspect of the GSHPS.
An Indoor Unknown Radio Emitter Positioning Approach Using Improved RSSD Location Fingerprinting
Authors: Zhang Liyang , Liu Kunlei , Pan Zhiyou , Pan Lei , Gao Rui , Zhang Qian
Published: February 2023

The accurate location of an unknown radio emitter (URE) is a critical task in wireless communication security. The URE localization method based on the received signal strength difference (RSSD) has become popular due to the identification of unknown transmitting power and frequency. However, high computational complexity and low positioning accuracy have been caused by the RSSD fingerprint data’s redundancy and cross-correlation. In this article, an indoor RSSD-based positioning algorithm combining principal component analysis (PCA) and Pearson correlation coefficient (PCC), called RSSD-PCA-PCC, is proposed to realize efficient feature extraction and reduce false fingerprint matching. Firstly, to achieve reduction and decorrelation, the principal components of the RSSD fingerprint database are extracted by the singular value decomposition (SVD) method. Secondly, the PCC is applied to measure the relative distance between the principal component features. In particular, the PCC is used for selecting the reference points (RPs) in order to match the position accurately. The results show that the proposed algorithm can obtain a more superior performance compared with the conventional RSSD-based weighted k-nearest neighbor algorithm (RSSD-WKNN) and COS matching algorithm (RSSD-PCA-COS) in the case of different selected RP numbers, AP numbers, and grid distances.
Covering Rough Sets in Terms of Topological Bi-Neighbourhoods and Their Applications
Authors: Abushaaban Amal T. , El Atik Abdelfattah A. , Embaby O. A.
Published: February 2023

Neighbourhoods are one of the important topics in topology that relies on two types of neighbours of a point and has many applications in the graph theory and in the sciences and medical sciences. In this work, some types of bi-j-neighbourhoods on generalized bicovering approximation space are introduced. Moreover, some kinds of bicovering rough sets using relations are presented. Some properties of these new types of covering are discussed. Pawlaks’ properties are studied in the case of bicovering approximation space. More properties on different bi-neighbourhoods such as bi-j-neighbourhoods, complementary bi-j-neighbourhoods, and bi-j-adhesions are investigated. A comparison between these new types of

bi

-neighbourhoods and

bi

-covering is presented with the help of some counterexamples. Finally, we give an application of our results in the rheumatic fever data information by generated topologies.
Exploring the Spatial Variation of Access/Egress Distances of Subway Stations Using Mobile Phone Positioning Data in Chengdu, China
Authors: Wang Chao , Qiu Zhongquan , Pan Renbin , Wang Xiaojian , Yan Yusong
Published: February 2023

The distance from the origin or destination to or from the subway station is defined as the access or egress distance, which determines the service coverage of the subway station. However, little literature studies the distances at the station level, and they may vary from station to station. Therefore, this study aims to explore the influencing factors and spatial variation of the distances at the station level by using the mobile phone positioning data of more than 1.2 million anonymous users in Chengdu, China. First, this study proposes a method to extract the access and egress trips of the subway. Next, the ordinary least squares (OLS) regression models are carried out to select the significant explanatory variables. Finally, the geographically weighted regression (GWR) models are used to model the spatial variation relationship between the 85th percentile access/egress distances and the selected explanatory variables. The results show that different stations’ access/egress distances vary significantly in space. Hotel, residence, life, finance, road density, and mixed land use are found to be negatively correlated with distances, while education, 36–45 years old, male, and high education are positively correlated. In addition, the GWR model reveals that the influence of explanatory variables on access/egress distance varies from space to space. The results further promote the understanding of the existing system and provide a relevant reference for planners and transportation departments to optimize land use and public transportation planning.
Determinants of Quality of Life in Breast Cancer: Meta-Analytic Structural Equation Modeling of Studies
Authors: Mansourian Marjan , Bazrafshan Razieh , Malakoutikhah Zahra , Jafari-Koshki Tohid , Vaseghi Golnaz
Published: February 2023

Objective. Quality of life (QoL) is a major concern in breast cancer (BC) patients. Despite efforts, no study has comprehensively addressed determinants of QoL in patients with BC. This study aimed to synthesize evidence on QoL correlations using the meta-analytic structural equation modeling (MASEM) approach. Methods. Our search in PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, and Cochrane databases resulted in 5,238 initial relevant papers, 73 of which were eligible for final analysis with a total of 44,121 patients. We used a two-stage procedure of correlation-based MASEM to examine the relationship between QoL and body mass index (BMI), physical activity (PA), sleep, depression, fatigue, and stress. Results. Final MASEM model suggested that PA (path coefficient = 0.33, 95% CI = −0.0444; 0.6334), fatigue (path coefficient = −0.23, 95% CI = −0.6825; 0.0361), and stress (path coefficient = −0.22, 95% CI = −0.5143; 0.6875) were the most important factors related to QoL in patients with breast cancer. Final model identified variables responsible for 68% of the variation in QoL in BC. Conclusion. QoL is an important outcome in the treatment course of BC. Large-scale and meta-analysis studies could help patients to have a life with improved quality.
Risk Assessment of Annular Pressure Caused by Tubing Leakage in Offshore Gas Wells with High CO2
Authors: Dou Ninghui , Hu Zhiqiang , Wang Zhiyuan , He Hanpin , Yang Shunhui
Published: February 2023

CO2 sequestration is a kind of technology that can effectively mitigate the greenhouse effect, and the wellbore integrity of the storage system is the key issue to ensure successful CCUS. Failure to timely diagnose tubing leakage in offshore gas wells with high CO2 will lead to annular pressure risk and wellbore corrosion problems. The annular pressure caused by tubing leakage is characterized by high pressure and rapid rise rate, resulting in wellhead jacking, gas leakage, and wellbore structure corrosion, which has become the main cause of wellbore integrity failure in offshore gas wells. Therefore, a model of heat and mass transfer and distribution in offshore gas wells was established firstly, and the physical process of gas leakage and accumulation was described based on the pinhole model and the principle of gas PVT characteristics and volume compatibility. The results show that the depth and equivalent size of the leakage point are two important factors affecting the pressure rise process and leakage rate. Taking case well parameters as an example, after inversion calculation, the annulus pressure in case well was 23.0 MPa, the leakage point equivalent diameter was 2.3 mm, the maximum leakage rate was 0.30 m3/min, and the wellbore safety risk is relatively high. Mechanical repair and chemical plugging agent are recommended to seal the tubing leakage. These risk assessment technologies provide reference for wellbore integrity design and management to reduce CO2 leakage risk caused by wellbore integrity failure.
The Impact of Complete Revascularization in Symptomatic Severe Left Ventricular Dysfunction between Coronary Artery Bypass Graft and Percutaneous Coronary Intervention
Authors: Fang Hsiu-Yu , Fang Yen-Nan , Chen Yin-Chia , Sheu Jiunn-Jye , Lee Wei-Chieh
Published: February 2023

Objective. The study aimed to compare the clinical outcomes between the patients receiving coronary artery bypass surgery (CABG) or percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for the patients with symptomatic severe left ventricular (LV) dysfunction and coronary artery disease (CAD). Methods. Between February 2007 and February 2020, a total of 745 patients who received coronary artery angiography for reduced LV ejection fraction (LVEF) < 40% and symptomatic New York Heart Association (NYHA) functional class ≥ 3 were recruited. The patients (N = 236) who were diagnosed with dilated cardiomyopathy or valvular heart disease without coronary artery stenosis, those with prior history of CABG or valvular surgery (N = 59), those who presented ST-segment elevated myocardial infarction (STEMI), those with a CAD and SYNTAX score of  ≦ 22 (N = 175), those who received emergent CABG for coronary perforation (N = 3), and those who had NYHA class ≦ 2 (N = 65) were excluded. Finally, 116 patients with reduced LVEF and those who had a SYNTAX score >22, who received CABG (N = 47) and PCI (N = 69), were recruited for this study.Results. There was no significant difference in the incidence values of in-hospital course and those of in-hospital mortality, acute kidney injury, and postprocedural hemodialysis. There was no significant difference in the 1-yearfollow-up of recurrent MI, revascularization, or stroke between the groups. The 1-year heart failure (HF) hospitalization rate was significantly lower in the CABG group than in all patients of the PCI group (13.2% vs. 33.3%;

p
=
0.035

); however, there was no significant difference in the same variable between the CABG group and the complete revascularization subgroup (13.2% vs. 28.2%;

p
=
0.160

). The revascularization index (RI) was significantly higher in the CABG group than in all patients of the PCI group or complete revascularization subgroup (0.93 ± 0.12 vs. 0.71 ± 0.25;

p
<
0.001

) and (0.93 ± 0.12 vs. 0.86 ± 0.13;

p
=
0.019

). The 3-year HF hospitalization rate was significantly lower in the CABG group than in all patients of the PCI group (16.2% vs. 42.2%;

p
=
0.008

); however, there was no difference in the same variable between the CABG group and the complete revascularization subgroup (16.2% vs. 35.1%;

p
=
0.109

). Conclusions. In patients with symptomatic (NYHA class ≥ 3) severe LV dysfunction and CAD, CABG brought less HF admission when compared to patients in the PCI group, but this did not differ when compared to the complete revascularization subgroup. Therefore, an extensive revascularization, achieved by CABG or PCI, is associated with a lower HF hospitalization rate during the 3-yearfollow-up period in such populations.
Imaging Factors Affecting Prenatal Counseling in Orofacial Clefts
Authors: Hermann Anne-Laure , Soupre Veronique , Vande Perre Saskia , Guilbaud Lucie , Quenum-Miraillet Genevieve , Blondiaux Eléonore , Picard Arnaud , Jouannic Jean-Marie , Dhombres Ferdinand , Garel Catherine
Published: February 2023

Introduction: We aim to correlate pre- and postnatal data regarding the cleft type and surgical prognostic factors associated to orofacial clefts. Methods: Retrospective study concerning all cases of orofacial cleft evaluated prenatally (US+/−MRI) between 2015 and 2020 with available postnatal outcomes. We compared prenatal imaging (cleft type and surgical prognostic factors) with postnatal findings. Results: 48 fetuses were included. Median gestational age at first US/MRI examination: 29+2 WG and 31+6 WG, respectively. The prenatal diagnosis was in accordance with postnatal findings with regard to the cleft type in 88% of the cases (n = 42/48) for US and/or MRI, 84% (n = 38/45) for US only, and 90% (n = 37/41) for MRI only. The nasal septum deviation and nostril collapse were underestimated by prenatal US in 48% (n = 12/25) and 44% (n = 11/25) of cases, respectively (Cohen’s kappa of 0.22 and 0.32, respectively). Pre- and postnatal examinations were in accordance with 75% of cases (n = 8) regarding evaluation of anteroposterior maxillary shift in case of unilateral alveolar cleft and in 90% and 80% of cases (n = 10) regarding the degree of protrusion/deviation of the premaxillary protrusion in case of bilateral cleft, respectively. Conclusion: Prenatal imaging can accurately assess the type of orofacial cleft and evaluate maxillary shift and deviation of the premaxilla. It underestimates the nose deformity.
Vitamin D Metabolism Genes Are Differentially Methylated in Individuals with Chronic Knee Pain
Authors: Strath Larissa J. , Meng Lingsong , Rani Asha , Huo Zhiguang , Foster Thomas C. , Fillingim Roger B. , Cruz-Almeida Yenisel
Published: February 2023

Introduction: Recent evidence suggests that vitamin D may interact with the epigenome and play a role in the pain experience. In order for proper functioning to occur, there must be an adequate level of vitamin D present, made possible by enzymatic reactions that allow vitamin D to be biologically active. The purpose of this study was to explore the epigenetic landscape of genes involved in vitamin D metabolism in individuals with and without chronic knee pain. Methods: Community-dwelling individuals recruited as part of a larger study focused on knee pain provided demographic, clinical, and pain-related information, as well as an intravenous blood sample to determine DNA methylation levels at CpG sites. Results: There were differences in DNA methylation between those with and without pain in genes that code for enzymes related to vitamin D metabolism: CYP27B1 (1-α-hydroxylase). There was also hypermethylation on the gene that codes for the vitamin D receptor (VDR). Conclusions: The presence of chronic pain is associated with epigenetic modifications in genes responsible for the expression of enzymes involved in vitamin D metabolism and cellular function. These results lay groundwork in understanding the mechanism underlying the association between vitamin D and chronic pain.
Evolutionary and Estimation of Distribution Algorithms for Unconstrained, Constrained, and Multiobjective Noisy Combinatorial Optimisation Problems
Authors: Aishwaryaprajna  , Rowe Jonathan E.
Published: February 2023

We present an empirical study of a range of evolutionary algorithms applied to various noisy combinatorial optimisation problems. There are three sets of experiments. The first looks at several toy problems, such as OneMax and other linear problems. We find that UMDA and the Paired-Crossover Evolutionary Algorithm (PCEA) are the only ones able to cope robustly with noise, within a reasonable fixed time budget. In the second stage, UMDA and PCEA are then tested on more complex noisy problems: SubsetSum, Knapsack, and SetCover. Both perform well under increasing levels of noise, with UMDA being the better of the two. In the third stage, we consider two noisy multiobjective problems (CountingOnesCountingZeros and a multiobjective formulation of SetCover). We compare several adaptations of UMDA for multiobjective problems with the Simple Evolutionary Multiobjective Optimiser (SEMO) and NSGA-II. We conclude that UMDA, and its variants, can be highly effective on a variety of noisy combinatorial optimisation, outperforming many other evolutionary algorithms.
Boreal Summer Extratropical Intraseasonal Waves over the Eurasian Continent and Real-Time Monitoring Metrics
Authors: Zhu Tao , Yang Jing , Wang Bin , Bao Qing
Published: February 2023

Boreal summer extratropical intraseasonal oscillation (EISO) is crucial in modulating regional subseasonal variation and particularly causing extreme meteorological events, but it has yet to be well clarified and operationally monitored. This study first objectively sorts out three dominant EISOs trapped along two extratropical westerly jet streams over Eurasia, and then proposes the corresponding real-time metrics. The three dominant EISOs are (i) an 8–25-day eastward-propagating wave along the subtropical westerly jet (EISO-SJE) initiating at the exit of the North America–North Atlantic jet and strengthening over the Black Sea–Caspian Sea–arid central Asia region; (ii) a 10–30-day eastward-traveling wave along the polar front jet (EISO-PJE), starting near Scandinavia and enhancing from the East European Plain to the West Siberian Plain and then decaying over the Okhotsk region; (iii) a 10–40-day westward-migrating wave along the polar front jet (EISO-PJW), which enhances near the Ural Mountains and weakens over Scandinavia. The real-time metrics then, following the three EISOs, have been constructed, and they are able to capture the spatiotemporal features of three EISOs in application. Moreover, the close linkages between these EISOs and the regional extremes/the blocking occurrence have been clearly demonstrated, confirming the importance of real-time EISO metrics. Together with tropical intraseasonal oscillation, this study provides the subseasonal-to-seasonal (S2S) community with a well-portrayed unified picture of extratropical intraseasonal waves and the real-time metrics for monitoring boreal summer intraseasonal signals over Eurasia and facilitate subseasonal predictions.

Significance Statement

Boreal summer extratropical intraseasonal oscillation (EISO) has drawn increasing attention owing to its importance in triggering extreme weather events and affecting regional subseasonal prediction. However, despite the urgent need of the subseasonal-to-seasonal (S2S) community, a comprehensive delineation of EISO diversity and real-time EISO monitoring remain the gap of knowledge. This study objectively sorts out and comprehensively clarifies three dominant EISOs trapped along two extratropical westerly jet streams over Eurasia. More importantly, the well-portrayed real-time EISO metrics are constructed based on three EISOs, which are applicable for operational real-time monitoring, subseasonal prediction, and model evaluation. This study stimulates an extratropical focus in the S2S community as a complementary component in addition to monitoring the MJO’s teleconnection to the mid- to high latitudes.
Effect of Sarcopenia on Mortality and Morbidity in Patients With Fournier’s Gangrene
Authors: Tazeoglu Deniz , Benli Sami , Esmer Ahmet Cem , Colak Tahsin , Apaydin Feramuz Demir
Published: February 2023

Background

Preoperative sarcopenia is an essential factor that negatively affects postoperative results. The effect of preoperative sarcopenia on postoperative complications and prognosis in patients treated for Fournier’s gangrene (FG) is controversial. This retrospective cohort study analyzed the effect of FG to evaluate the effect of preoperative sarcopenia on postoperative complications and prognosis in patients who were operated on.

Method

The data of patients who were operated on with FG diagnosis in our clinic between 2008 and 2020 were reviewed retrospectively. Demographic data (age and gender), anthropometric measurements, preoperative laboratory values, abdominopelvic CT, location of FG, number of debridements, ostomy, microbiological culture result, wound closure method, length of hospital stay, and overall survival were recorded. In addition, the presence of sarcopenia was determined according to psoas muscular index (PMI) and Hounsfield unit average calculation (HUAC).

Results

Of the patients, 57 (30.8%) were female and 128 (69.2%) were male. According to the PMI, sarcopenia was detected in 67 (36.2%) patients and 70 (37.8%), according to the HUAC. At the end of one postoperative year, the mortality rate was higher in the sarcopenia group than in the non-sarcopenia group (P = .002, P = .01). According to the PMI, patients with sarcopenia have an 8.17 times greater risk of exitus than non-sarcopenic patients. According to the HUAC, patients with sarcopenia have a 4.21 times greater risk of exitus than non-sarcopenic patients.

Conclusion

Based on this large retrospective study, sarcopenia is a strong and independent predictor of postoperative mortality after Fournier’s treatment for gangrene.
Predictors of Completed Suicides Among Emergency Department Visits for Attempted Suicides
Authors: Weldeslase Terhas A. , Akinyemi Oluwasegun A. , Silvestre Jason , Li Sandy , Green Kelsey M. , Hughes Kakra , Williams Mallory , Cornwell Edward E.
Published: February 2023

Background

The objective of this study was to identify predictors of mortality among patients presenting to the emergency department (ED) with attempted suicides.

Methods

We analyzed data on emergency department (ED) visits for attempted suicides from the Nationwide Emergency Department Sample (NEDS) database from January 2010 to December 2017. The predictors of mortality were determined in multivariate analysis including age, sex, insurance, annual income, region of the country, mechanism of injury, mental health conditions (schizophrenia; depression; and anxiety, bipolar, and personality disorders), chronic illnesses (hypertension, diabetes, obesity, and dementia), and social risk factors such as alcohol addiction, smoking, and substance abuse.

Results

From 2010 to 2017, there were 979,383 ED visits for attempted suicides in the NEDS database. Among these patients, 10,301 (1.1%) died. Of these completed suicides, 73.9% were male with the median age of 43 years (IQR, 30) while the unsuccessful suicide attempt group had a median age of 30 years (IQR, 24) and were 42.7% male. The most common mechanisms of suicide attempt were poisoning (58.8%) and cut injury (25.6%). Gunshot was the most lethal mechanism accounting 40.3% of the completed suicides despite representing 1.3% of the attempts who came to ED. After controlling for common risk factors for attempted suicide, significant predictors of completed suicide include higher income status, uninsured status, male sex, and higher age.

Discussion

Among US patients presenting to the ED following attempted suicide, factors associated with suicide completion include increasing age, male sex, higher income, gunshot injuries, and uninsured status.
Incidence and Severity of Medication Reconciliation Discrepancies in Trauma Patients
Authors: Dunbar Elisabeth G. , Massey Ashley C. , Lee Yannlei L. , Mbaka Maryann , Kinnard Christopher M. , Bright Andrew C. , Williams Ashley Y. , Polite Nathan M. , Simmons Jon D. , Butts Charles C.
Published: February 2023

Trauma patients are especially vulnerable to inadvertent medication reconciliation discrepancies. We conducted a prospective study to evaluate the USA Health University Hospital’s incidence and type of inadvertent medication reconciliation discrepancies among trauma patients. Patients were interviewed for accuracy of their admission medication reconciliation (AMR). Eighty-nine patients were included in this study. Twenty-six patients (29%) never received an AMR. There were 107 inadvertent medication reconciliation errors identified from 30 separate patients (48%), for a rate of 3.6 errors per patient with any error. There was a significant difference in the frequency of inadvertent medication reconciliation discrepancies for patients with >5 medication compared to those with fewer ( P = .00029). In conclusion, trauma centers must be adequately staffed to provide timely, accurate, and available medication lists so that patients can be appropriately cared for.
Paradoxical Emboli as a Cause of Stroke
Authors: Sakharuk Ilya , Drevets Peter , Coffey Philip , Nijim Wasef , Patel Vijay
Published: February 2023

Cerebrovascular embolic strokes are responsible for significant morbidity. 40% of strokes have no inciting cause and are thought to be the result of paradoxical emboli (PDE) passing into the arterial system by way of intra-cardiac or pulmonary vascular defects. We present two cases of PDE resulting in acute ischemic events. A 63-year-old female presented for evaluation of left upper extremity numbness. Imaging was significant for an acute right middle cerebral artery infarct and evidence of a large saddle pulmonary embolism. The patient’s stroke was postulated to have been secondary to a patent foramen ovale (PFO). An 87-year-old male presented for evaluation of chest pain. The patient underwent three-vessel CABG and experienced an acute left hemispheric stroke post-operatively. Transthoracic echocardiogram demonstrated a biatrial thrombus transversing a PFO and was postulated to have been the cause. The prompt diagnosis of PDE is paramount to preventing the morbidity associated with repeat ischemic events.
Pleural Endometriosis: An Atypical Cause of Hemoptysis
Authors: Sakharuk Ilya , Drevets Peter , Coffey Philip , Guitton Josie , Patel Vijay
Published: February 2023

Endometriosis is a benign, inflammatory disease characterized by the presence of dysfunctional endometrial tissue outside the uterus. Typically confined to the pelvis, endometriosis is frequently associated with pain, dysmenorrhea, and infertility. Rarely, endometrial tissue has been documented to implant within the lung parenchyma and involve both parietal and visceral pleura of the thorax. Manifestations of thoracic endometriosis include catamenial pneumothorax, hemothorax, and hemoptysis. We present a case of thoracic endometriosis in a 43-year-old female who was found to have a loculated pleural effusion with an associated pleural nodule after gynecologic surgery. The patient underwent thoracotomy, decortication, and nodule excision. Pathology of the pleural nodule showed evidence of endometrial tissue within the parietal pleural. Thoracic endometriosis is a medical problem that is frequently undiagnosed and encountered by the practicing surgeon. Early diagnosis reduces both disease progression and late complications, allowing for early initiation of appropriate medical and surgical therapy.