bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Predictors of the difficulty for endoscopic resection of gastric gastrointestinal stromal tumor and follow‐up data
Authors: Su Wei , Wang Min , Zhang Danfeng , Zhu Yan , Lv Minzhi , Zhu Liang , He Jie , Hu Hao , Zhou Pinghong
Published: August 2021

Background and Aim

Gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) are among the most common submucosal tumors in the stomach that require therapeutic intervention. We aim to identify the predictors of technical difficulty during endoscopic resection of gastric GIST and to investigate follow‐up outcomes.

Methods

Patients with gastric GISTs were reviewed from June 2009 to June 2020 at Zhongshan Hospital. Clinical and pathological features, endoscopic procedure information, and follow‐up data were collected and analyzed. A nomogram was developed and validated internally and externally.

Results

A total of 628 GISTs were finally analyzed. The difficulty was experienced in 66 cases. GISTs size (2–3 cm: OR 2.431 P = 0.018 and > 3 cm: OR 9.765 P < 0.001), invasion depth beyond submucosal (MP: OR 2.280, P = 0.038 and MP‐ex: OR 4.295, P = 0.002), and lack of experience (OR 2.075, P = 0.016) were independent risk factors of difficulty. The nomogram prediction model showed a bias‐corrected C‐index value of 0.778 and acquired an area under curve (AUC) of 0.756 on the external validation cohort. At the cut‐off of 0.15, the nomogram's negative predictive value (NPV) and accuracy (ACC) were 94.9% and 79.8% in identifying non‐difficult GISTs. Follow‐up results showed that only five GIST patients had local recurrence after endoscopic resection.

Conclusions

Tumor size, invasion depth, and endoscopists' experience were risk factors for the difficulty of endoscopic GIST resection. Our nomogram provided a valuable tool for screening non‐difficult GIST resection.
Neurosteroid replacement therapy for catamenial epilepsy, postpartum depression and neuroendocrine disorders in women
Authors: Reddy Doodipala Samba
Published: August 2021

Neurosteroids are involved in the pathophysiology of many neuroendocrine disorders in women. This review describes recent advancements in pharmacology of neurosteroids and emphasizes the benefits of neurosteroid replacement therapy for the management of neuroendocrine disorders such as catamenial epilepsy (CE), postpartum depression (PPD) and premenstrual brain conditions. Neurosteroids are endogenous modulators of neuronal excitability. A variety of neurosteroids are present in the brain including allopregnanolone (AP), allotetrahydro‐deoxycorticosterone and androstanediol. Neurosteroids interact with synaptic and extrasynaptic GABAA receptors in the brain. AP and related neurosteroids, which are positive allosteric modulators of GABAA receptors, are powerful anticonvulsants, anxiolytic, antistress and neuroprotectant agents. In CE, seizures are most often clustered around a specific menstrual period in women. Neurosteroid withdrawal‐linked plasticity in extrasynaptic receptors has been shown to play a key role in catamenial seizures, anxiety and other mood disorders. Based on our extensive research spanning two decades, we have proposed and championed neurosteroid replacement therapy as a rational strategy for treating disorders marked by neurosteroid‐deficiency, such as CE and other related ovarian or menstrual disorders. In 2019, AP (renamed as brexanolone) was approved for treating PPD. A variety of synthetic neurosteroids are in clinical trials for epilepsy, depression and other brain disorders. Recent advancements in our understanding of neurosteroids have entered a new era of drug discovery and one that offers a high therapeutic potential for treating complex brain disorders.
Natural language processing as a technique for conducting text‐based research
Authors: Allen Laura K. , Creer Sarah D. , Poulos Mary Cati
Published: August 2021

Research in discourse processing has provided us with a strong foundation for understanding the characteristics of text and discourse, as well as their influence on our processing and representation of texts. However, recent advances in computational techniques have allowed researchers to examine discourse processes in new ways. The purpose of the current paper is to build on prior work in this domain and describe how new methodologies that consider the multi‐dimensional nature of texts can serve as a complement to the existing literature. We focus on natural language processing (NLP) methodologies, in which computers calculate information about the linguistic and semantic properties of language data. We first provide a context for the origins of computational discourse analysis through the integration of research across computer science and psychology. We then provide an overview of different NLP methodologies and describe prior work that has leveraged these techniques to advance theoretical perspectives of discourse comprehension and production. Finally, we propose new areas of research that integrate these advances with traditional research methodologies in the field.
Robust asymptotic growth in stochastic portfolio theory under long‐only constraints
Authors: Itkin David , Larsson Martin
Published: August 2021

We consider the problem of maximizing the asymptotic growth rate of an investor under drift uncertainty in the setting of stochastic portfolio theory (SPT). As in the work of Kardaras and Robertson we take as inputs (i) aMarkovian volatility matrix and (ii) an invariant density for the market weights, but we additionally impose long‐only constraints on the investor. Our principal contribution is proving a uniqueness and existence result for the class of concave functionally generated portfolios and developing a finite dimensional approximation, which can be used to numerically find the optimum. In addition to the general results outlined above, we propose the use of a broad class of models for the volatility matrix , which can be calibrated to data and, under which, we obtain explicit formulas of the optimal unconstrained portfolio for any invariant density.
Sphingosine kinase activity and sphingosine‐1‐phosphate in the inflamed human periodontium
Authors: Hamdan Nader , Bhagirath Anjali Y. , Batista Eraldo L.
Published: August 2021

Objectives

This study evaluated changes in the levels of Sphingosine‐1‐Phosphate (S1P) and Sphingosine Kinase (SPHK) activity in response to non‐surgical periodontal treatment in humans.

Methods

Diseased (n = 65) and healthy sites (n = 72) were screened in 18 patients with localized periodontitis stage II or III. Periodontal clinical parameters were recorded, and the gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) collected at baseline, 30 and 90 days of non‐surgical treatment. Internal control sites without attachment loss/bleeding were sampled at baseline and after 90 days of treatment. SPHK activity and S1P levels and SPHK 1/2 isoforms were determined in the GCF at different time points using ELISA.

Results

Non‐surgical treatment caused significant improvement in all periodontal clinical parameters (p < 0.01). Activity of SPHK and S1P levels was decreased (p < 0.05) 30 days after treatment and continued up to 90 days (p < 0.01); control sites remained unchanged throughout the study and resembled treated sites at 3 months (p > 0.05). SPHK1 levels presented decrease after periodontal treatment (p < 0.001). SPHK2 levels were lower than SPHK1 (p < 0.001) and remained unchanged.

Conclusions

S1P levels and SPHK activity decreased within 3 months of non‐surgical periodontal treatment, which were correlated with improvements in periodontal parameters. Only SPHK1 levels varied significantly in the states of health and disease.
Mechanisms underlying the adaptive pulp and jaw bone trabecular changes in sickle cell anemia
Authors: Costa Susilena Arouche , Ribeiro Cecília Cláudia Costa , Thomaz Erika Bárbara Abreu Fonseca , Costa Cyrene Piazera Silva , Souza Soraia de Fátima Carvalho
Published: August 2021

Objective

Mechanisms underlying the oral outcomes in sickle cell anemia (HbSS) have been less explored. This study aimed to investigate the association of morbimortality indicators and hydroxyurea use with adaptive pulp and jaw bone trabecular changes in HbSS.

Methods

This cross‐sectional study included 123 individuals with HbSS. The exposures were the morbimortality indicators of HbSS (number of vaso‐occlusive crises, organ damage, hemoglobin level, and leukocyte count) and the use of hydroxyurea for HbSS treatment. The outcomes were adaptive pulp and jaw bone trabecular changes confirmed by radiographic examination. Associations were estimated by Poisson regression in crude and adjusted analyses for sex, skin color, socioeconomic class, and age.

Results

The vaso‐occlusive crises (mean ratio (MR) = 3.5, p = 0.045), lower hemoglobin (MR = 2.4, p = 0.037), and higher leukocyte count (MR = 2.17, p = 0.036) were risk factors, while the use of hydroxyurea was inversely associated with adaptive pulp changes (MR = 0.23, p = 0.024). The vaso‐occlusive crises were associated with jaw bone trabecular changes (MR = 1.33, p = 0.02).

Conclusion

Adaptive pulp changes may be a potential clinical marker of chronic vasculopathy in HbSS. The use of hydroxyurea may reduce the frequency of adaptive pulp changes.
Dimensional compatibility of rigid ventilating bronchoscopes with pediatric airway anatomy using different recommendations for age‐related sizing—A bench study
Authors: Kemper Melanie , Kemper Michael , Nicolai Thomas , Dave Mital H. , Henze Georg , Weiss Markus
Published: August 2021

Background

Appropriate size selection of pediatric rigid bronchoscopes is fundamental to avoidance of airway trauma and to a high success rate with the first intubation attempt. The aim of the present study was to compare the outer diameters of pediatric rigid bronchoscopes with the anatomical data on the pediatric airway.

Methods

Outer diameters (OD) of pediatric rigid ventilating bronchoscopes as given by the manufacturer were compared with published computed tomography internal diameters (ID) of the cricoid outlet, the trachea as well as the left and right proximal mainstem bronchus, using six published recommendations for age‐related size selection. The ratios between a specific OD and ID were calculated and given as percentage values (%) for lower and upper age ranges.

Results

Nominal sized 2.5, 3, 3.5, 3.7, 4, 4.5, 5, and 6 rigid bronchoscopes were included. In five recommendations, the rigid bronchoscopes’ OD was larger than the internal cricoid diameter in the upper age range, whereas in one recommendation the ratio (OD rigid bronchoscope to ID of cricoid) ranged between 77% and 90% for the upper age and between 95% and 109% for the lower age range. In only one of the six recommendations was the rigid bronchoscope OD larger than the tracheal ID. Ratios for the left and right proximal mainstem bronchus ranged from 70% to 146% for the upper and from 78% to 156% for the lower age range, with the highest ratios for the left proximal mainstem bronchus.

Conclusion

Based on this in vitro study, most of the recommendations analyzed result in a balanced fit of rigid bronchoscopes within the cricoid. Since the left mainstem bronchus is considerably smaller than the cricoid, any insertion on this level will require careful endoscopic guidance to avoid damage to the left mainstem bronchus.
The transmission of partner mental health to individual life satisfaction: Estimates from a longitudinal household survey
Authors: McNamee Paul , Mendolia Silvia , Yerokhin Oleg
Published: August 2021

This paper investigates the relationship between partner's mental health and individual life satisfaction, using panel data and calculating the monetary valuation of mental illness. Accounting for measurement error and endogeneity of income, partners' mental health has a significant association with individual well‐being. The additional income needed to compensate someone living with a partner with a mental condition is substantial (ranges between USD 33,000 and USD 50,000). Further, individuals do not show adaptation to partners' mental illness. The results have implications for policy‐makers wishing to value the effects of policies that aim to impact on mental health and levels of well‐being.
Populism, financial crises and banking policies: Economics and psychology
Authors: Favaretto Federico , Masciandaro Donato
Published: August 2021

Financial crises often seem to be associated with populism, although the populist banking policies introduced to address such crises are far from homogenous. This apparent paradox—a sort of “sight‐unseen consensus”—suggests that specific economic drivers coupled with general psychological components can explain populist consensus. We propose a model of populist consensus, which we term “democratic rioting,” in which individuals' decisions to support or resist a specific populist bailout policy after a financial crisis are heavily influenced by psychological group dynamics. Those dynamics, in turn, are driven by general, non‐banking‐related motivations, such as anti‐elite sentiments. In a multiple equilibria setting, the more individuals are unhappy for general economic and/or psychological reasons, the more likely they are to support myopic and redistributive populist banking policies rather than long‐sighted public interventions.
High school geometry textbooks’ proving opportunities of Common Core theorems
Authors: Nirode Wayne , Boyd Brian
Published: August 2021

The Common Core State Standards for Mathematics (CCSSM) explicitly states many specific theorems for students to prove across multiple domains (i.e., congruence, similarity, circles, and coordinates) in high school geometry. This study examined five high school geometry textbooks for how they approached proof of 17 theorems stated in the congruence domain focused on lines and angles, triangles, and parallelograms. Results showed that although textbooks provided 75 student opportunities to prove these theorems, no textbook provided student opportunities to prove all 17. Textbooks rarely had students write proofs from general conditional statements, and instead typically provided consistent hard scaffolding including the given, what to prove, and a diagram for all proof opportunities. Some of the textbooks used novel scaffolding such as partially completed proofs, flowchart proofs, second proofs, and hints in the back of the book. Textbooks need to continue shifting more responsibility to students proving the CCSSM theorems by incorporating more diverse scaffolding along with a process for removing the scaffolding as student learning progresses.
The internationalisation of Chinese firms: Impact of FDI experience on export performance
Authors: Ding Haoyuan , Koedijk Kees G. , Li Chang , Qi Tong
Published: August 2021

This study investigates the relationship between firms’ export performance and prior investment experience in the corresponding country by using a novel dataset of Chinese firms. We find that a firm's export performance, in terms of value, quantity, unit price level and product varieties, is considerably better in destination countries where the firm has previously invested. The patterns are more pronounced when exporters are non‐state‐controlled or small‐sized firms. Our analysis also shows that such country‐specific outward foreign direct investment experience can facilitate firm exports by bridging country‐pair physical and cultural distances and overcoming contractual barriers in destination countries. The data further imply that the positive effect partly stems from the purpose of local production.
Plant-Input-Mapping Discretization Method for a Feedback System in the State-Space Form
Authors: Yagi Keisuke , Muto Hiroaki , Mori Yoshikazu
Published: August 2021

The paper proposes the digital redesign technique called plant-input-mapping (PIM) method for a feedback system described in the state-space form. The PIM method, which was originally presented in the transfer function form, focuses on the plant input signal via the plant input transfer function (PITF) and discretizes it so as to satisfy the control zero principle in the resulting discrete-time closed-loop system, which leads to guaranteeing the closed-loop stability for any nonpathological sampling interval. In accordance with this approach, the proposed PIM method focuses on the control zeros included in the plant input signal. The paper proves that the matched-pole-zero discrete-time model of the plant input state-equation (PISE) satisfies the control zero principle with the step-invariant model of the plant. Then, when the matched-pole-zero model is set as the target of model matching, the parameters of the state-space PIM controller employing the observer-based dynamic state-feedback can systematically be determined from the underlying continuous-time closed-loop system with guaranteed stability. This discretization process can immediately be applied to a state-feedback system and a class of multi-input multi-output systems without any modification, which cannot be discretized by the conventional PIM methods. The discretization performance of the proposed PIM method is evaluated through illustrative examples with comparable digital redesign methods, which reveal that the proposed method performs a good reproduction of the characteristics of the underlying closed-loop system.
Isentropic Compressor Efficiency Calculation Method for Small Gasoline Engine Turbocharger Using Supplier Performance Maps
Authors: Salameh Georges , Goumy Guillaume , Chesse Pascal
Published: August 2021

A turbocharger efficiency performance map given by the supplier is calculated using adiabatic flow equations and nonadiabatic experimental data. The experimental data used for this calculation are measured in hot gas stand conditions which are not adiabatic and the efficiency calculation needs correction. This article presents a method to correct the isentropic efficiency of a compressor using the supplier maps and a heat transfer model applied on the compressor. Water is circulating in the central housing to cool the turbocharger and this water flow could be considered as insulation for heat transfer between the compressor and the turbine. The thermal effect of the turbine on the compressor is then neglected and the compressor heat flux is calculated and used to correct the isentropic efficiency calculation. The heat transfer is considered between the compressor and the surrounding environment and between the compressor and the central housing. Experimental adiabatic measurements are used to validate the model. Experimental tests are carried with different oil and water temperature combinations to test the accuracy of the heat transfer model with these different combinations.
Acaricide resistance in Panonychus citri and P. ulmi (Acari: Tetranychidae): Molecular mechanisms and management implications
Authors: Khajehali Jahangir , Shafiei Alavijeh Elaheh , Ghadamyari Mohammad , Marčić Dejan
Published: August 2021

The European red mite, Panonychus ulmi (Koch), and the citrus red mite, P. citri (McGregor) (Acari: Tetranychidae), are destructive mite pests in pome/stone fruit orchards and citrus groves, respectively, the management of these two spider mites species has relied largely on the use of synthetic acaricides. However, frequent, long-term use of acaricides has caused rapid development of resistance in P. ulmi and P. citri populations worldwide. Levels of resistance in P. ulmi and P. citri are exceeded only by that in the two-spotted spider mite, Tetranychus urticae Koch. Recent research on T. urticae has provided new insights into the molecular mechanisms of acaricide resistance. The molecular basis of resistance in P. ulmi and P. citri populations has been less thoroughly studied. In this brief review, the current understanding of the molecular mechanisms of toxicokinetic and toxicodynamic resistance of P. ulmi and P. citri to acaricides, as well as implications of the findings for the resistance management, are discussed.
Evaluation of the Efficacy of Doxycycline, Ciprofloxacin, Levofloxacin, and Co-trimoxazole Using
In Vitro
and
In Vivo
Models of Q Fever
Authors: Clay K. A. , Hartley M. G. , Armstrong S. , Bewley K. R. , Godwin K. , Rayner E. , Vipond J. , Bailey M. , Atkins T. P. , Norville I. H.
Published: August 2021

Q fever, caused by the intracellular pathogen
Coxiella burnetii
, is traditionally treated using tetracycline antibiotics, such as doxycycline. Doxycycline is often poorly tolerated, and antibiotic-resistant strains have been isolated.
A Phase 1 Study of the Safety, Tolerability, and Pharmacokinetics of Single and Multiple Oral Doses of V-7404 in Healthy Adult Volunteers
Authors: Kankam Martin K. , Burns Jennifer M. , Collett Marc S. , Corrado Michael L. , Hincks Jeffrey R.
Published: August 2021

V-7404, a direct-acting enterovirus (EV) 3C protease inhibitor, is being developed as a treatment option for serious EV infections, including infections in immunodeficient people excreting vaccine-derived polioviruses. V-7404 may be combined with pocapavir (V-073), a capsid inhibitor, to treat these infections. A phase 1 single ascending dose (SAD;
n
 = 36) and multiple ascending dose (MAD;
n
 = 40) study was conducted to assess the safety, tolerability, and pharmacokinetics (PK) of V-7404 in healthy adult volunteers following oral doses starting at 200 mg and escalating to 2,000 mg once daily (QD) and 2,000 mg twice daily (BID).
Mental health consequences of COVID-19: a nationally representative cross-sectional study of pandemic-related stressors and anxiety disorders in the USA
Authors: Abdalla Salma M , Ettman Catherine K , Cohen Gregory H , Galea Sandro
Published: August 2021

Objective

To document the prevalence of anxiety disorders in the USA during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Design

A cross-sectional analysis.

Setting

A nationally representative sample in the USA between 31 March and 13 April 2020.

Participants

1450 English-speaking adult participants in the AmeriSpeak Panel. AmeriSpeak is a probability-based panel designed to be representative of households in the USA.

Main outcome measures

Prevalence of probable generalised anxiety disorder (GAD) using the GAD-7 and post-traumatic stress symptoms (PTSS) using the four-item PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) checklist. Both outcomes were stratified by demographics and COVID-19-related stressors.

Results

The majority of participants were female (51.8%), non-Hispanic white (62.9%) and reported a household saving of $5000 or more. Those between 18 and 29 years old were the largest age group (38.1%) compared with 40–59 years (32.0%) and 60 years or more (29.9%). The prevalence of probable GAD was 10.9% (95% CI 9.1% to 13.2%) and the prevalence of PTSS was 21.7% (95% CI 19.1% to 24.6%). Among participants reporting five or more COVID-19-related stressors, the prevalence of probable GAD was 20.5% (95% CI 16.1% to 25.8%) and the prevalence of PTSS was 35.7% (95% CI 30.2% to 41.6%). Experiencing five or more COVID-19-related stressors was a predictor of both probable GAD (OR=4.5, 95% CI 2.3 to 8.8) and PTSS (OR=3.3, 95% CI 2.1 to 5.1).

Conclusions

The prevalence of probable anxiety disorders in the USA, as the COVID-19 pandemic and policies implemented to tackle it unfolded, is higher than estimates reported prior to the pandemic and estimates reported following other mass traumatic events. Exposure to COVID-19-related stressors is associated with higher prevalence of both probable GAD and PTSS, highlighting the role these stressors play in increasing the risk of developing anxiety disorders in the USA. Mitigation and recovery policies should take into account the mental health toll the pandemic had on the USA population.
Maternal and fetal characteristics and causes of stillbirth in a tertiary care hospital of Nepal: secondary analysis of registry-based surveillance data
Authors: Sharma Basant , Bhattarai Suraj , Shrestha Sabita , Joshi Rakshya , Tamrakar Renuka , Singh Prekshya , Chaudhary Jully , Pandit Upendra
Published: August 2021

Objectives

Stillbirth is one of the vital indicators of quality care. This study aimed to determine maternal-fetal characteristics and causes of stillbirth in Nepal.

Design

Secondary analysis of single-centred registry-based surveillance data.

Setting

The study was conducted at the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Chitwan Medical College Teaching Hospital, a tertiary care hospital located in Bharatpur, Nepal.

Participants

All deliveries of intrauterine fetal death, at or beyond 22 weeks’ period of gestation and/or birth weight of 500 g or more, conducted between 16 July 2017 and 15 July 2019 were included in the study.

Main outcome measures

The primary outcome measure of this study was stillbirth, and the secondary outcome measures were maternal and fetal characteristics and cause of stillbirth.

Results

Out of 5282 institutional deliveries conducted over 2 years, 79 (1.5%) were stillbirths, which gives the stillbirth rate of 15 per 1000 births. Of them, the majority (75; 94.9%) were vaginal delivery and only four (5.1%) were caesarean section (p<0.0001). The proportion of the macerated type of stillbirth was more than that of the fresh type (58.2% vs 41.8%; p=0.13). Only half of the mothers who experienced stillbirth had received antenatal care. While the cause of fetal death was unknown in one-third of cases (31.6%; 25/79), among likely causes, the most common was maternal hypertension (29.1%), followed by intrauterine infection (8.9%) and fetal malpresentation (7.6%). Four out of 79 stillbirths (5%) had a birth defect.

Conclusion

High rate of stillbirths in Nepal could be due to the lack of quality antenatal care. The country’s health systems should be strengthened so that pregnancy-related risks such as maternal hypertension and infections are identified early on. Upgrading mothers’ hygiene and health awareness is equally crucial in reducing fetal deaths in low-resource settings.
Factors associated with high compliance behaviour against COVID-19 in the early phase of pandemic: a cross-sectional study in 12 Asian countries
Authors: Chua Chun En , Kew Guan Sen , Demutska Alla , Quek Sabrina , Loo Evelyn Xiu Ling , Gui Hao , Wong Scott , Lau Hui Xing , Low En Xian Sarah , Loh Tze Liang , Ooi Shien Lung , Hung Emily C W , Rahman M Masudur , Ghoshal Uday C , Wong Hei , Cheung Cynthia K Y , Syam Ari F , Tan Niandi , Xiao Yinglian , Liu Jin-Song , Lu Fang , Chen Chien-Lin , Lee Yeong Yeh , Maralit Ruter M , Kim Yong-Sung , Oshima Tadayuki , Miwa Hiroto , Pang Junxiong , Siah Kewin Tien Ho
Published: August 2021

Introduction

Regardless of having effective vaccines against COVID-19, containment measures such as enhanced physical distancing and good practice of personal hygiene remain the mainstay of controlling the COVID-19 pandemic. Countries across Asia have imposed these containment measures to varying extents. However, residents in different countries would have a differing degree of compliance to these containment measures potentially due to differences in the level of awareness and motivation in the early phase of pandemic.

Objectives

In our study, we aimed to describe and correlate the level of knowledge and attitude with the level of compliance with personal hygiene and physical distancing practices among Asian countries in the early phase of pandemic.

Methods

A multinational cross-sectional study was carried out using electronic surveys between May and June 2020 across 14 geographical areas. Subjects aged 21 years and above were invited to participate through social media, word of mouth and electronic mail.

Results

Among the 2574 responses obtained, 762 (29.6%) participants were from East Asia and 1812 (70.4%) were from Southeast Asia (SEA). A greater proportion of participants from SEA will practise physical distancing as long as it takes (72.8% vs 60.6%). Having safe distancing practices such as standing more than 1 or 2 m apart (AdjOR 5.09 95% CI (1.08 to 24.01)) or more than 3 or 4 m apart (AdjOR 7.05 95% CI (1.32 to 37.67)), wearing a mask when they had influenza-like symptoms before the COVID-19 pandemic, preferring online news channels such as online news websites/applications (AdjOR 1.73 95% CI (1.21 to 2.49)) and social media (AdjOR 1.68 95% CI (1.13 to 2.50) as sources of obtaining information about COVID-19 and high psychological well-being (AdjOR 1.39 95% CI (1.04 to 1.87)) were independent factors associated with high compliance.

Conclusions

We found factors associated with high compliance behaviour against COVID-19 in the early phase of pandemic and it will be useful to consider them in risk assessment, communication and pandemic preparedness.
Behavioural insights (BI) for childhood development and effective public policies in Latin America: a survey and a randomised controlled trial
Authors: Tomio Andrea A , Dottori Martin , Hesse Eugenia , Torrente Fernando , Flichtentrei Daniel , Ibanez Agustin M
Published: August 2021

Objectives

We developed (a) a survey to investigate the knowledge of childhood health experts on public policies and behavioural insights (BI), as well as its use in Latin American and the Caribbean countries (LACs), and (b) an intervention (randomised controlled trial) to test the influence of nudges on the effect of a simulated public health programme communication.

Participants and settings

A total of 2003 LACs childhood health professionals participated in the study through a Hispanic online platform.

Primary and secondary outcomes

We used regression models analysing expertise-related information, individual differences and location. We extracted several outcome variables related to (a) ‘Public Policy Knowledge Index’ based on the participants’ degree of knowledge on childhood health public policies and (b) BI knowledge, perceived effectiveness and usefulness of a simulated public programme communication. We also analysed a ‘Behavioural Insights Knowledge Index’ (BIKI) based on participants’ performance in BI questions.

Results

In general, health professionals showed low BI knowledge (knowledge of the term BI: χ2=210.29, df=1 and p<0.001; BIKI: χ2=160.5, df=1 and p<0.001), and results were modulated by different factors (age, academic formation, public policy knowledge and location). The use of BI principles for the communication of the public programme revealed higher impact and clarity ratings from professionals than control messages.

Conclusions

Our findings provide relevant knowledge about BI in health professionals to inform governmental and non-governmental organisations’ decision-making processes related with childhood public policies and BI designs.
Social and structural determinants of injecting-related bacterial and fungal infections among people who inject drugs: protocol for a mixed studies systematic review
Authors: Brothers Thomas D , Lewer Dan , Bonn Matthew , Webster Duncan , Harris Magdalena
Published: August 2021

Introduction

Injecting-related bacterial and fungal infections are a common complication among people who inject drugs (PWID), associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Invasive infections, including infective endocarditis, appear to be increasing in incidence. To date, preventive efforts have focused on modifying individual-level risk behaviours (eg, hand-washing and skin-cleaning) without much success in reducing the population-level impact of these infections. Learning from successes in HIV prevention, there may be great value in looking beyond individual-level risk behaviours to the social determinants of health. Specifically, the risk environment conceptual framework identifies how social, physical, economic and political environmental factors facilitate and constrain individual behaviour, and therefore influence health outcomes. Understanding the social and structural determinants of injecting-related bacterial and fungal infections could help to identify new targets for prevention efforts in the face of increasing incidence of severe disease.

Methods and analysis

This is a protocol for a systematic review. We will review studies of PWID and investigate associations between risk factors (both individual-level and social/structural-level) and the incidence of hospitalisation or death due to injecting-related bacterial infections (skin and soft-tissue infections, bacteraemia, infective endocarditis, osteomyelitis, septic arthritis, epidural abscess and others). We will include quantitative, qualitative and mixed methods studies. Using directed content analysis, we will code risk factors for these infection-related outcomes according to their contributions to the risk environment in type (social, physical, economic or political) and level (microenvironmental or macroenvironmental). We will also code and present risk factors at each stage in the process of drug acquisition, preparation, injection, superficial infection care, severe infection care or hospitalisation, and outcomes after infection or hospital discharge.

Ethics and dissemination

As an analysis of the published literature, no ethics approval is required. The findings will inform a research agenda to develop and implement social/structural interventions aimed at reducing the burden of disease.

PROSPERO registration number

CRD42021231411.
‘…the way it was staffed during COVID is the way it should be staffed in real life…’: a qualitative study of the impact of COVID-19 on the working conditions of junior hospital doctors
Authors: Byrne John-Paul , Creese Jennifer , Matthews Anne , McDermott Aoife M , Costello Richard W , Humphries Niamh
Published: August 2021

Objectives

COVID-19 has prompted the reconfiguration of hospital services and medical workforces in countries across the world, bringing significant transformations to the work environments of hospital doctors. Before the pandemic, the working conditions of hospital doctors in Ireland were characterised by understaffing, overload, long hours and work–life conflict. As working conditions can affect staff well-being, workforce retention and patient outcomes, the objective of this study was to analyse how the pandemic and health system response impacted junior hospital doctors’ working conditions during the first wave of COVID-19 in Ireland.

Methods and analysis

Using a qualitative study design, the article draws on semi-structured interviews with 30 junior hospital doctors. Informed by an abductive approach that draws iteratively on existing literature and empirical data to explain unexpected observations, data were analysed using inductive and deductive coding techniques to identify the key themes reflecting the experiences of working in Irish hospitals during the first wave of COVID-19. We use the Consolidated Criteria for Reporting Qualitative Research to present this research.

Results

Our analysis generated three themes which demonstrate how COVID-19 prompted changes in medical staffing which in turn enhanced interviewees’ work environments. First, interviewees felt there were more doctors staffing the hospital wards during the first wave of the pandemic. Second, this had positive implications for a range of factors important to their experience of work, including the ability to take sick leave, workplace relationships, collective workplace morale, access to senior clinical support and the speed of clinical decision-making. Third, interviewees noted how it took a pandemic for these improvements to occur and cautioned against a return to pre-pandemic medical staffing levels, which had negatively impacted their working conditions and well-being.

Conclusions

Interviewees’ experience of the first wave of COVID-19 illustrates how enhanced levels of medical staffing can improve junior hospital doctors’ working conditions. Given the pervasive impact of staffing on the quality of interviewees’ work experience, perhaps it is time to consider medical staffing standards as a vital job resource for hospital doctors and a key policy lever to enhance medical workforce retention. In a global context of sustained COVID-19 demands, pressures from delayed care and international health worker shortages, understanding frontline experiences and identifying strategies to improve them are vital to the development of more sustainable work practices and to improve doctor retention.
Postsurgical Stability of Temporomandibular Joint of Skeletal Class III Patients Treated with 2‐Jaw Orthognathic Surgery via Computer‐Aided Three‐Dimensional Simulation and Navigation in Orthognathic Surgery (CASNOS)
Authors: Wang Ling-Chun , Lee Yi-Hao , Tsai Chi-Yu , Wu Te-Ju , Teng Ya-Ying , Lai Jui-Pin , Lin Shiu-Shiung , Chang Yu-Jen
Published: August 2021

Objective. The aim of this study is to clarify the postsurgical stability of temporomandibular joints in skeletal class III patients treated with 2‐jaw orthognathic surgery which was performed utilizing computer‐aided three‐dimensional simulation and navigation in orthognathic surgery (CASNOS) protocol. Materials and Methods. 23 consecutive nongrowing skeletal class III patients with mandibular prognathism associated with maxillary retrognathism treated with 2‐jaw orthognathic surgery between 2018 and 2019 were enrolled in this study. The surgery was planned according to the standardized protocol of CASNOS (computer‐aided three‐dimensional simulation and navigation in orthognathic surgery). Computed tomography (CT) scans were performed in all patients 3 weeks presurgically and 6 months postsurgically. ITKSNAP and 3D Slicer software were used to reconstruct three‐dimensional facial skeletal images, to carry out image segmentation, and to superimpose and quantify the TMJ position changes before and after surgery. Amount of displacement of the most medial and lateral points of the condyles and the change of intercondylar angles were measured to evaluate the postsurgical stability of TMJ. Results. A total amount of 23 skeletal class III patients (female : male = 12 : 11) with age ranged from 20.3 to 33.5 years (mean: 24.39 ± 4.8 years old) underwent Le Fort I maxillary advancement and BSSO setback of the mandible. The surgical outcome revealed the satisfactory correction of their skeletal deformities. The mean displacement of the right most lateral condylar point (RL‐RL ′) was 1.04 ± 0.42 mm and the mean displacement of the left most lateral condylar point (LL‐LL ′) was 1.19 ± 0.41 mm. The mean displacement of the right most medial condylar point (RM‐RM ′) was 1.03 ± 0.39 mm and the left most medial condylar point (LM‐LM ′) was 0.96 ± 0.39 mm. The mean intercondylar angle was 161.61 ± 5.08° presurgically and 159.28 ± 4.92° postsurgically. Conclusion. The postsurgical position of TM joint condyles in our study only presented a mild change with all the landmark displacement within a range of 1.2 mm. This indicates the bimaxillary orthognathic surgery via 3D CASNOS protocol can achieve a desired and stable result of TMJ position in treating skeletal class III adult patients with retrognathic maxilla and prognathic mandible.
Forecasting the Development of Self-Driving Technology in China by Multidimensional Information
Authors: Li Yue , Zhou Yan , Ma Xiangying , Zhang Yunxing
Published: August 2021

Due to the demand for safety and convenience in traveling, self-driving technology has developed very fast in the past decades. In this paper, a novel technology forecasting model is developed. The topic-based text mining and expert judgment approaches are combined to forecast the technology trends efficiently and accurately. To improve the reliability of the results, multidimensional information including scientific papers, patents, and industry data is considered. Then, the model is utilized to forecast the development trends of self-driving technology in China. Data ranging from 2002 to 2019 are adopted with proper data cleaning. Topic clustering for papers and patents is performed, and the hierarchical structures are constructed. On this basis, the results of technology’s evolution based on papers and patents are compared and the development trends are obtained. With these results, it is speculated that technology on “Decision” will be the next hotspot in patents. The research results of this paper will provide reference and guidance for Chinese enterprises and government in decision-making on self-driving technology.
Dynamic Evolution of the Zinc-Nickel Battery Industry and Evidence from China
Authors: Shi Xiangze , Li Xiao , He Zijian , Jiang Hui
Published: August 2021

This paper analyzes the development prospects of zinc-nickel battery industry, further investigates the industry competition in existing markets by mathematical modeling, calculates the equilibrium price and profit of the oligarch competition by using the method of Stackelberg equilibrium and Nash equilibrium, and makes a comparison between them. Then, we study and model the case of renting and selling simultaneously. In addition, we also study the impact of futures prices on the zinc-nickel battery companies and carry out numerical simulation. At the end of this paper, we analyze the location of zinc-nickel battery enterprises and the industry development under the COVID-19 pandemic. The finding show that the reduction of raw material cost is of great help to the development of the zinc-nickel battery industry.
[Retracted] Art Image Processing and Color Objective Evaluation Based on Multicolor Space Convolutional Neural Network
Authors: Jing Liang , Lv Shifeng
Published: August 2021

A convolutional neural network’s weight sharing feature can significantly reduce the cumbersome degree of the network structure and reduce the number of weights that need to be trained. The model can directly input the original image, without the process of feature extraction and data reconstruction in common classification algorithms. This kind of network structure has got a good performance in image processing and recognition. Based on the color objective evaluation method of the convolutional neural network, this paper proposes a convolutional neural network model based on multicolor space and builds a convolutional neural network based on VGGNet (Visual Geometry Group Net) in three different color spaces, namely, RGB (Red Green Blue), LAB (Luminosity a b), and HSV (Hue Saturation Value) color spaces. We carry out research on data input processing and model output selection and perform feature extraction and prediction of color images. After a model output selection judger, the prediction results of different color spaces are merged and the final prediction category is output. This article starts with the multidimensional correlation for visual art image processing and color objective evaluation. Considering the relationship between the evolution of artistic painting style and the color of artistic images, this article explores the characteristics of artistic image dimensions. In view of different factors, corresponding knowledge extraction strategies are designed to generate color label distribution, provide supplementary information of art history for input images, and train the model on a multitask learning framework. In this paper, experiments on multiple art painting data sets prove that this method is superior to single‐color label classification methods.
Removal of Dust Microelectric Signal Based on Empirical Mode Decomposition and Multifractal Detrended Fluctuation Analysis
Authors: Li Jiming , Sun Yongji , Cheng Xuezhen
Published: August 2021

Microcharge induction has recently been applied as a dust detection method. However, in complex environments, the detection device can be seriously polluted by noise. To improve the quality of the measured signal, the characteristics of both the signal and the noise should be analyzed so as to determine an effective noise removal method. Traditional removal methods mostly deal with specific noise signals, and it is difficult to consider the correlation of measured signals between adjacent time periods. To overcome this shortcoming, we describe a method in which wavelet decomposition is applied to the measured signal to obtain sub‐band components in different frequency ranges. A time‐lapse Pearson method is then used to analyze the correlation of the sub‐band components and the noise signal. This allows the sub‐band component of the measurement signal that has the strongest correlation with the noise to be determined. Based on multifractal detrended fluctuation analysis combined with empirical mode decomposition, the similarity between the signal sub‐band components and the noise sub‐band components is analyzed and three indices are employed to determine the multifractal characteristics of the sub‐band components. The consistency between noise components and signal components is obtained and the main signal components are verified. Finally, the sub‐band components are used to reconstruct the signal, giving the noise‐free measured (microcharge induction) signal. The filtered signal presents smoother, multifractal features.
Recent Challenges and Methodologies in Smart Grid Demand Side Management: State-of-the-Art Literature Review
Authors: Nasir Tehreem , Bukhari Syed Sabir Hussain , Raza Safdar , Munir Hafiz Mudassir , Abrar Muhammad , Muqeet Hafiz Abd ul , Bhatti Kamran Liaquat , Ro Jong-Suk , Masroor Rooha
Published: August 2021

The concept of smart grid was introduced a decade ago. Demand side management (DSM) is one of the crucial aspects of smart grid that provides users with the opportunity to optimize their load usage pattern to fill the gap between energy supply and demand and reduce the peak to average ratio (PAR), thus resulting in energy and economic efficiency ultimately. The application of DSM programs is lucrative for both utility and consumers. Utilities can implement DSM programs to improve the system power quality, power reliability, system efficiency, and energy efficiency, while consumers can experience energy savings, reduction in peak demand, and improvement of system load profile, and they can also maximize usage of renewable energy resources (RERs). In this paper, some of the strategies of DSM including peak shaving and load scheduling are highlighted. Furthermore, the implementation of numerous optimization techniques on DSM is reviewed.
Antifungal and Antibacterial Activities of Apple Vinegar of Different Cultivars
Authors: Ousaaid Driss , Laaroussi Hassan , Bakour Meryem , Ennaji Hayat , Lyoussi Badiaa , El Arabi Ilham
Published: August 2021

This study was designed to assess the antimicrobial potencies of apple vinegar against pathogenic microbes. The acidity and total phenolic content were carried out by titration with NaOH 0.1 N and the Folin–Ciocalteu method, respectively, while the spread plate method, agar well diffusion, and MIC assays were used to determine the antimicrobial activities of different vinegar samples. Acidity and phenolic content were dependent on the variety, where the highest values were observed in S2 with 4.02 ± 0.04% and 1.98 ± 0.05 mg GAE/mL for acidity and total phenolic content, respectively. The spread plate method revealed that samples S1 and S2 obtained from the Red delicious variety and Golden delicious variety, respectively, inhibit the growth of all tested strains, while S3 obtained from different varieties and S4 obtained from the Gala royal variety inhibit only two microbes (Escherichia coli and Vibrio cholerae). Sample S1 presented moderate antimicrobial effect against all examined strains with a diameter of inhibition ranging from 11 ± 0.7 to 19 ± 0.5 mm and with MIC values ranging between 1/2 and 1/100. The findings of the current study confirm the usefulness of apple vinegar as a natural sanitizer that inhibits the growth of pathogenic microbes.