bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Ultrasound to facilitate passage of distal ureteral stones
Authors: Hall M. K. , Thiel Jeff , Samson Patrick C. , Kessler Ross , Sunaryo Peter , Sweet Robert M. , Metzler Ian , Anderson Layla , Dunmire Barbrina , Popchoi Christina , Managuli Ravi , Cunitz Bryan W. , Burke Barbara , Ding Lisa , Gutierrez Brianna L. , Liu Ziyue , Sorensen Mathew D. , Bailey Michael R. , Wessells Hunter , Harper Jonathan D.
Published: November 2021

Feasibility of ultrasonic propulsion and burst wave lithotripsy (BWL) to noninvasively reposition distal ureteral stones to facilitate passage and relieve pain was tested. Patients presenting to the clinic or emergency department were recruited. Thirteen subjects underwent ultrasonic propulsion (lower amplitude, longer duration pulses) alone, and 10 subjects also received intermittent BWL (higher amplitude, shorter duration pulses). All participants were awake and underwent a pain assessment pre- and post-procedure. For analysis, subjects were sub-categorized based on whether their stone was acute or chronic (present for ≤10 days or >10 days from their initial ED or symptomatic presentation, respectively). Seventeen subjects were enrolled in the acute study population and 6 subjects were enrolled in the chronic population. Overall, 94% of acute stones passed in an average of 3.4 days post-procedure relative to 54% in 7.5 days in the American Urological Association guidelines. 67% of chronic cases passed stones or fragments, and two surgeries were cancelled. Pain reduction was statistically significant (p = 0.0215). Adverse events were limited to hematuria on initial urination post-procedure (BWL only, n = 3) and a mild sensation, akin to a pinprick, associated with fewer than 10 of 620 propulsion bursts (n = 3). [Work supported by NIH-P01-DK04331.]
Acoustic radiation force on objects of arbitrary shape and composition
Authors: Simon Blake E. , Hamilton Mark F.
Published: November 2021

Acoustic radiation force exerted on an object of arbitrary shape and composition by an arbitrary incident sound beam can be calculated using spherical harmonic expansions of the pressure field. The coefficients in the expansions of the incident and scattered fields, when substituted into existing models, determine the radiation force on the object. Analytical expressions for the coefficients of both the incident and scattered fields are available for very few cases, such as a plane wave incident on a rigid sphere. In the present work, finite element modeling is used to calculate the coefficients, and resulting radiation force, for a variety of incident fields and object geometries. Different compositions of the objects are also considered. Validation of the approach is demonstrated by comparison with semi-analytical results available for the radiation force exerted by progressive and standing plane waves scattered by compressible spheroids in different orientations with respect to the incident field. Motivation for this approach is development of a model that can be used to compare with direct measurements of radiation force on irregularly shaped objects of different compositions. [BES is supported by the ARL:UT Chester M. McKinney Graduate Fellowship in Acoustics.]
Multilingual speech annotation of landmarks and other acoustic cues to distinctive features
Authors: Hernandez Mendoza Antony , Choi Jeung-Yoon , Shattuck-Hufnagel Stefanie
Published: November 2021

A speech annotation system developed for English that identifies landmarks and other acoustic cues to distinctive features (Stevens, 2002; Huilgol et al., 2019) has been extended to Spanish and Korean. This process includes retrieving the (allo)phone sequence for the words of a target utterance from a standard lexicon, converting this sequence into an underlying phoneme sequence, and then generating citation-form landmark and other acoustic cue sequences from the phoneme sequence and its features. This standard set is presented to labelers who examine the waveform of the target utterance and mark which of the predicted cues have been realized, or deleted, and where unpredicted cues have been inserted. For each language, we draw from a superset of acoustic cues that function in all three languages, but each language also makes use of an additional set of acoustic cues specific to that language.
Exploring the variable efficacy of Google speech-to-text with spontaneous bilingual speech in Cantonese and English
Authors: Schwarz Nikolai , Johnson Khia A. , Babel Molly
Published: November 2021

With the growth of Automatic Speech Recognition (ASR) and voice user interface software, it is important to test for efficacy across different language varieties and identify sources of bias. Recent work assessing ASR efficacy and bias implicates factors like race, gender, dialect, and age as leading to different efficacy rates. Multilingualism presents another source of variation that ASR systems must grapple with, ranging from code-switching to phonetic variation both within and across speakers. Thus, variable ASR performance is likely exacerbated for multilingual communities. Using a spontaneous Cantonese-English bilingual speech corpus (Johnson, 2021), this study tests the efficacy of Google Speech-To-Text (STT) language models (Canadian English and Hong Kong Cantonese) with a heterogeneous bilingual speech community. Efficacy is assessed via fuzzy string matching between the STT and the manually corrected transcripts. STT performance is variable but overall better for English. Confidence ratings and matching scores are evaluated alongside listener ratings of perceived accentedness and various demographic groupings. The results of this study will provide practical guidance for using STT in the context of speech production research pipelines while highlighting its drawbacks concerning bias in a relatively understudied, multilingual group.
Rheo-PIV analysis of the steady torsional parallel-plate flow of a viscoplastic microgel with wall slip
Authors: Medina-Bañuelos Esteban F. , Marín-Santibáñez Benjamín M. , Pérez-González José
Published: November 2021

The steady torsional parallel-plate flow with apparent slip of a viscoplastic microgel with 0.12 wt. % of poly(acrylic acid), Carbopol® 940, is analyzed under isothermal and creeping flow conditions by simultaneous rheometrical and particle image velocimetry measurements (rheo-PIV). This analysis brings out the complexity of this non-homogeneous flow to evaluate the rheological properties of yield-stress fluids with apparent slip. Overall, velocity distributions of the microgel are linear across the gap and evidence that plug and steady shear flow cannot coexist in the parallel-plate geometry. Also, velocity distributions compare favorably with the predictions of the analytical solutions of the motion equation for the steady parallel-plate flow of a Herschel–Bulkley (H–B) fluid subject to apparent slip. However, edge fracture results in non-linear velocity distributions, i.e., non-rheometrical flow. A slip yield stress is calculated for the microgel-parallel-plate combination, and the slip velocity beyond this stress is described by two distinct relationships, namely, one almost linear as a function of the excess stress (pure plug flow) and the one power-law type as a function of the viscous stress (shear flow with slip). On the other hand, we show how the yield stress of the microgel can be determined from various new methodologies using slip velocities and rheometrical data. Finally, we demonstrate that the ordinate to the origin in the Mooney method becomes negative when the fluid undergoes plug flow. Despite this fact, we confirm the validity of the Mooney and Yoshimura and Prud'homme (Y–P) analyses and highlight their benefits in the characterization of yield-stress fluids.
Biosynthesis of fluopsin C, a copper-containing antibiotic from
Pseudomonas aeruginosa
Authors: Patteson Jon B. , Putz Andrew T. , Tao Lizhi , Simke William C. , Bryant L. Henry , Britt R. David , Li Bo
Published: November 2021

A copper-containing antibiotic

Bacteria require transition metal ions for biological processes and must also protect themselves against excess metal, which is toxic. Patteson
et al
. explored how the environmental bacterium
Pseudomonas aeruginosa
uses a five-enzyme pathway to synthesize a small-molecule complex, fluopsin C, which is built from cysteine and contains a copper ion. The biosynthesis involves unusual enzymatic transformations that convert cysteine to a thiohydroximate, two of which chelate a copper ion in the final natural product. Fluopsin C protects
P. aeruginosa
from excess copper and also acts as a broad-spectrum antibiotic against other bacteria. —VV
In Science Journals
Authors: Vinson Valda , Malo Courtney S. , Clauset Aaron , Ash Caroline , Jiang Di , Stajic Jelena , Grocholski Brent , Purnell Beverly A. , Suleymanov Yury , Smith Keith T. , Stern Peter , Wong Wei , Ray L. Bryan , Williams Ifor
Published: November 2021

Highlights from the
Science
family of journals
Mediterranean mussel faces ‘imminent extinction’
Authors: Stokstad Erik
Published: November 2021

After devastating epidemic, Europe launches new efforts to save one of the world’s largest bivalves
On the last paper of Warren B. Hamilton
Authors: Hamilton* Lawrence C.
Published: November 2021

When Warren Hamilton passed away in October 2018, he left behind the manuscript for a synthesis paper that was published in Earth-Science Reviews in 2019: “Toward a myth-free geodynamic history of Earth and its neighbors.” Integrating hundreds of detailed studies across four worlds and billions of years, the paper’s outlook is heterodox, presenting alternatives to conventional wisdom in every paragraph for almost 50 pages. During the last years of his life, Hamilton had worked steadily on this paper, which he viewed as the culmination of his long career. This chapter tells the story of how Hamilton wrote his last paper, summarizes a few of the many ideas it contains, and describes how, with help from his colleagues, the paper was posthumously completed and published.
The lithospheric folding model applied to the Bighorn uplift during the Laramide orogeny
Authors: Tikoff* B. , Siddoway C. , Sokoutis D. , Willingshofer E.
Published: November 2021

The Bighorn uplift, Wyoming, developed in the Rocky Mountain foreland during the 75–55 Ma Laramide orogeny. It is one of many crystalline-cored uplifts that resulted from low-amplitude, large-wavelength folding of Phanerozoic strata and the basement nonconformity (Great Unconformity) across Wyoming and eastward into the High Plains region, where arch-like structures exist in the subsurface. Results of broadband and passive-active seismic studies by the Bighorn EarthScope project illuminated the deeper crustal structure. The seismic data show that there is substantial Moho relief beneath the surface exposure of the basement arch, with a greater Moho depth west of the Bighorn uplift and shallower Moho depth east of the uplift. A comparable amount of Moho relief is observed for the Wind River uplift, west of the Bighorn range, from a Consortium for Continental Reflection Profiling (COCORP) profile and teleseismic receiver function analysis of EarthScope Transportable Array seismic data.

The amplitude and spacing of crystalline-cored uplifts, together with geological and geophysical data, are here examined within the framework of a lithospheric folding model. Lithospheric folding is the concept of low-amplitude, large-wavelength (150–600 km) folds affecting the entire lithosphere; these folds develop in response to an end load that induces a buckling instability. The buckling instability focuses initial fold development, with faults developing subsequently as shortening progresses. Scaled physical models and numerical models that undergo layer-parallel shortening induced by end loads determine that the wavelength of major uplifts in the upper crust occurs at approximately one third the wavelength of folds in the upper mantle for strong lithospheres. This distinction arises because surface uplifts occur where there is distinct curvature upon the Moho, and the vergence of surface uplifts can be synthetic or antithetic to the Moho curvature. In the case of the Bighorn uplift, the surface uplift is antithetic to the Moho curvature, which is likely a consequence of structural inheritance and the influence of a preexisting Proterozoic suture upon the surface uplift. The lithospheric folding model accommodates most of the geological observations and geophysical data for the Bighorn uplift. An alternative model, involving a crustal detachment at the orogen scale, is inconsistent with the absence of subhorizontal seismic reflectors that would arise from a throughgoing, low-angle detachment fault and other regional constraints. We conclude that the Bighorn uplift—and possibly other Laramide arch-like structures—is best understood as a product of lithospheric folding associated with a horizontal end load imposed upon the continental margin to the west.
Bismuth(III) Iodide Complexes with 1-Ethyl-4-Dimethylaminopyridinium: Structure, Thermal Stability, and Optical Properties
Authors: Usol’tsev A. N. , Shentseva I. A. , Shayapov V. R. , Plyusnin P. E. , Korol’kov I. V. , Sokolov M. N. , Adonin S. A.
Published: November 2021

Polynuclear bismuth(III) iodide complexes with 1-ethyl-4-dimethylaminopyridinium (1-EtDMAP)4[Bi8I28] (1) and (1-EtDMAP)BiI4 (2) have been obtained by the reactions of bismuth(III) iodide with an organic iodide salt cations in organic solvents and characterized by X-ray diffraction. The optical properties and thermal stability of the obtained compounds have been studied.
Synthesis of Derivatives of closo-Dodecaborate Anion Based on Amino Acid Esters
Authors: Burdenkova A. V. , Zhdanov A. P. , Klyukin I. N. , Selivanov N. A. , Bykov A. Yu. , Zhizhin K. Yu. , Kuznetsov N. T.
Published: November 2021

This work proposes a new method for the synthesis of N-borylated amino acids based on nucleophilic substitution reactions in the [B12H11IPh]– anion. Esters of glycine and L-phenylalanine were used as nucleophiles. The structure of the products has been determined by multinuclear NMR spectroscopy, IR spectroscopy, and ESI mass spectrometry.
Early versus later initiation of parenteral nutrition for very preterm infants: a propensity score-matched observational study
Authors: Uthaya Sabita , Longford Nicholas , Battersby Cheryl , Oughham Kayleigh , Lanoue Julia , Modi Neena
Published: November 2021

Objective

To evaluate the impact of timing of initiation of parenteral nutrition (PN) after birth in very preterm infants.

Design

Propensity-matched analysis of data from the UK National Neonatal Research Database.

Patients

65 033 babies <31 weeks gestation admitted to neonatal units in England and Wales between 2008 and 2019.

Interventions

PN initiated in the first 2 days (early) versus after the second postnatal day (late). Babies who died in the first 2 days without receiving PN were analysed as ‘late’.

Main outcome measures

The main outcome measure was morbidity-free survival to discharge. The secondary outcomes were survival to discharge, growth and other core neonatal outcomes.

Findings

No difference was found in the primary outcome (absolute rate difference (ARD) between early and late 0.50%, 95% CI −0.45 to 1.45, p=0.29). The early group had higher rates of survival to discharge (ARD 3.3%, 95% CI 2.7 to 3.8, p<0.001), late-onset sepsis (ARD 0.84%, 95% CI 0.48 to 1.2, p<0.001), bronchopulmonary dysplasia (ARD 1.24%, 95% CI 0.30 to 2.17, p=0.01), treated retinopathy of prematurity (ARD 0.50%, 95% CI 0.17 to 0.84, p<0.001), surgical procedures (ARD 0.80%, 95% CI 0.20 to 1.40, p=0.01) and greater drop in weight z-score between birth and discharge (absolute difference 0.019, 95% CI 0.003 to 0.035, p=0.02). Of 4.9% of babies who died in the first 2 days, 3.4% were in the late group and not exposed to PN.

Conclusions

Residual confounding and survival bias cannot be excluded and justify the need for a randomised controlled trial powered to detect differences in important functional outcomes.
Minocycline-induced blue sclera and skin hyperpigmentation
Authors: Law Stacey
Published: November 2021

A 73-year-old man presented to the emergency department with lethargy and influenza-like symptoms. Incidentally, prominent blue sclera and blue-grey skin discolouration to the periorbital skin, pinnae, neck, upper and lower limbs, hands, feet, fingernails and toenails were noted. His general practitioner (GP) had previously ceased amiodarone, believing it to be the causative agent. A literature search confirms the side effects were likely due to minocycline, which the patient had been taking for 10 years. Long-term minocycline use is associated with scleral and skin hyperpigmentation, with no apparent adverse effect on ocular structure or function. The pigmentation may reverse with cessation of minocycline, or it may be permanent. Amiodarone may also cause skin hyperpigmentation, but scleral pigmentation is not a known association. This case report explores the side effect profiles of these two drugs, and highlights the potential for confusion regarding causative agents when used concurrently.
Protective potential of high-intensity interval training on cardiac structure and function after COVID-19: protocol and statistical analysis plan for an investigator-blinded randomised controlled trial
Authors: Rasmussen Iben Elmerdahl , Foged Frederik , Bjørn Budde Josephine , Rasmussen Rasmus Syberg , Rasmussen Villads , Lyngbæk Mark , Jønck Simon , Krogh-Madsen Rikke , Lindegaard Birgitte , Ried-Larsen Mathias , Jørgensen Peter Godsk , Lund Morten Asp Vonsild , Køber Lars , Vejlstrup Niels , Pedersen Bente Klarlund , Berg Ronan M G , Christensen Regitse Højgaard
Published: November 2021

Introduction

COVID-19 is associated with a marked systemic inflammatory response with concomitant cardiac injury and remodelling, but it is currently unknown whether the latter is reversible. Given that high-intensity interval training (HIIT) is a powerful stimulus to improve cardiorespiratory fitness while also eliciting marked anti-inflammatory effects, it may be an important countermeasure of reducing cardiopulmonary morbidity following COVID-19.

Methods and analysis

40 COVID-19 survivors who have been discharged from hospital will be included in this investigator-blinded randomised study with a 12-week HIIT intervention. Patients will be 1:1 block-randomised by sex to either a supervised HIIT exercise group or standard care (control group). The main hypothesis is that a 12-week HIIT scheme is a safe way to improve loss of cardiac mass and associated cardiorespiratory fitness, despite hypothesised limited HIIT-induced changes in conventional lung function indices per se. Ultimately, we hypothesise that the HIIT scheme will reduce post-COVID-19 symptoms and improve quality of life.

Ethics and dissemination

This study is approved by the Scientific Ethical Committee at the Capital Region of Denmark (H-20033733, including amendments 75068 and 75799) and registered at ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT04647734, pre-results). The findings will be published in a peer-reviewed journal, including cases of positive, negative and inconclusive results.

Trial registration numberNCT04549337.
Rates of opioid agonist treatment prescribing in provincial prisons in Ontario, Canada, 2015–2018: a repeated cross-sectional analysis
Authors: Bodkin Claire , Bondy Susan , Regenstreif Leonora , Kiefer Lori , Kouyoumdjian Fiona
Published: November 2021

Objective

To describe opioid agonist treatment prescribing rates in provincial prisons and compare with community prescribing rates.

Design

We used quarterly, cross-sectional data on the number and proportion of people prescribed opioid agonist treatment in prison populations. Trends were compared with Ontario surveillance data from prescribers, reported on a monthly basis.

Setting

Provincial prisons and general population in Ontario, Canada between 2015 and 2018.

Participants

Adults incarcerated in provincial prisons and people ages 15 years and older in Ontario.

Main outcomes and measures

Opioid agonist treatment prescribing prevalence, defined as treatment with methadone or buprenorphine/naloxone.

Results

In prison, 6.9%–8.4% of people were prescribed methadone; 0.8% to 4.8% buprenorphine/naloxone; and 8.2% to 13.2% either treatment over the study period. Between 2015 and 2018, methadone prescribing prevalence did not substantially change in prisons or in the general population. The prevalence rate of buprenorphine/naloxone prescribing increased in prisons by 1.70 times per year (95% CI 1.47 to 1.96), which was significantly higher than the increase in community prescribing: 1.20 (95% CI 1.19 to 1.21). Buprenorphine/naloxone prescribing prevalence was significantly different across prisons.

Conclusions

The increase in opioid agonist treatment prescribing between 2015 and 2018 in provincial prisons shows that efforts to scale up access to treatment in the context of the opioid overdose crisis have included people who experience incarceration in Ontario. Further work is needed to understand unmet need for treatment and treatment impacts.
Systematic review of 29 self-report instruments for assessing quality of life in older adults receiving aged care services
Authors: Siette Joyce , Knaggs Gilbert Thomas , Zurynski Yvonne , Ratcliffe Julie , Dodds Laura , Westbrook Johanna
Published: November 2021

Background

Quality of life (QoL) outcomes are used to monitor quality of care for older adults accessing aged care services, yet it remains unclear which QoL instruments best meet older adults’, providers’ and policymakers’ needs. This review aimed to (1) identify QoL instruments used in aged care and describe them in terms of QoL domains measured and logistical details; (2) summarise in which aged care settings the instruments have been used and (3) discuss factors to consider in deciding on the suitability of QoL instruments for use in aged care services.

Design

Systematic review.

Data sources

MEDLINE, EMBASE, PsycINFO, Cochrane Library and CINAHL from inception to 2021.

Eligibility criteria

Instruments were included if they were designed for adults (>18 years), available in English, been applied in a peer-reviewed research study examining QoL outcomes in adults >65 years accessing aged care (including home/social care, residential/long-term care) and had reported psychometrics.

Data extraction and synthesis

Two researchers independently reviewed the measures and extracted the data. Data synthesis was performed via narrative review of eligible instruments.

Results

292 articles reporting on 29 QoL instruments were included. Eight domains of QoL were addressed: physical health, mental health, emotional state, social connection, environment, autonomy and overall QoL. The period between 1990 and 2000 produced the greatest number of newly developed instruments. The EuroQoL-5 Dimensions (EQ-5D) and Short Form-series were used across multiple aged care contexts including home and residential care. More recent instruments (eg, ICEpop CAPability measure for Older people (ICECAP-O) and Adult Social Care Outcomes Toolkit (ASCOT)) tend to capture emotional sentiment towards personal circumstances and higher order care needs, in comparison with more established instruments (eg, EQ-5D) which are largely focused on health status.

Conclusions

A comprehensive list of QoL instruments and their characteristics is provided to inform instrument choice for use in research or for care quality assurance in aged care settings, depending on needs and interests of users.
Stratification of the risk of developing severe or lethal Covid-19 using a new score from a large Italian population: a population-based cohort study
Authors: Corrao Giovanni , Rea Federico , Carle Flavia , Scondotto Salvatore , Allotta Alessandra , Lepore Vito , D'Ettorre Antonio , Tanzarella Cinzia , Vittori Patrizia , Abena Sabrina , Iommi Marica , Spazzafumo Liana , Ercolanoni Michele , Blaco Roberto , Carbone Simona , Giordani Cristina , Manfellotto Dario , Galli Massimo , Mancia Giuseppe
Published: November 2021

Objectives

To develop a population-based risk stratification model (COVID-19 Vulnerability Score) for predicting severe/fatal clinical manifestations of SARS-CoV-2 infection, using the multiple source information provided by the healthcare utilisation databases of the Italian National Health Service.

Design

Retrospective observational cohort study.

Setting

Population-based study using the healthcare utilisation database from five Italian regions.

Participants

Beneficiaries of the National Health Service, aged 18–79 years, who had the residentship in the five participating regions. Residents in a nursing home were not included. The model was built from the 7 655 502 residents of Lombardy region.

Main outcome measure

The score included gender, age and 29 conditions/diseases selected from a list of 61 conditions which independently predicted the primary outcome, that is, severe (intensive care unit admission) or fatal manifestation of COVID-19 experienced during the first epidemic wave (until June 2020). The score performance was validated by applying the model to several validation sets, that is, Lombardy population (second epidemic wave), and the other four Italian regions (entire 2020) for a total of about 15.4 million individuals and 7031 outcomes. Predictive performance was assessed by discrimination (areas under the receiver operating characteristic curve) and calibration (plot of observed vs predicted outcomes).

Results

We observed a clear positive trend towards increasing outcome incidence as the score increased. The areas under the receiver operating characteristic curve of the COVID-19 Vulnerability Score ranged from 0.85 to 0.88, which compared favourably with the areas of generic scores such as the Charlson Comorbidity Score (0.60). A remarkable performance of the score on the calibration of observed and predicted outcome probability was also observed.

Conclusions

A score based on data used for public health management accurately predicted the occurrence of severe/fatal manifestations of COVID-19. Use of this score may help health decision-makers to more accurately identify high-risk citizens who need early preventive or treatment interventions.
Firearm injury epidemiology in children and youth in Ontario, Canada: a population-based study
Authors: Saunders Natasha Ruth , Moore Hepburn Charlotte , Huang Anjie , de Oliveira Claire , Strauss Rachel , Fiksenbaum Lisa , Pageau Paul , Liu Ning , Gomez David , Macpherson Alison
Published: November 2021

Background and objective

Despite firearms contributing to significant morbidity and mortality globally, firearm injury epidemiology is seldom described outside of the USA. We examined firearm injuries among youth in Canada, including weapon type, and intent.

Design

Population-based, pooled cross-sectional study using linked health administrative and demographic databases.

Setting

Ontario, Canada.

Participants

All children and youth from birth to 24 years, residing in Ontario from 1 April 2003 to 31 March 2018.

Exposure

Firearm injury intent and weapon type using the International Classification of Disease-10 CM codes with Canadian enhancements. Secondary exposures were sociodemographics including age, sex, rurality and income.

Main outcomes

Any hospital or death record of a firearm injury with counts and rates of firearm injuries described overall and stratified by weapon type and injury intent. Multivariable Poisson regression stratified by injury intent was used to calculate rate ratios of firearm injuries by weapon type.

Results

Of 5486 children and youth with a firearm injury (annual rate: 8.8/100 000 population), 90.7% survived. Most injuries occurred in males (90.1%, 15.5/100 000 population). 62.3% (3416) of injuries were unintentional (5.5/100 000 population) of which 1.9% were deaths, whereas 26.5% (1452) were assault related (2.3/100 00 population) of which 18.7% were deaths. Self-injury accounted for 3.7% (204) of cases of which 72.0% were deaths. Across all intents, adjusted regression models showed males were at an increased risk of injury. Non-powdered firearms accounted for half (48.6%, 3.9/100 000 population) of all injuries. Compared with handguns, non-powdered firearms had a higher risk of causing unintentional injuries (adjusted rate ratio (aRR) 14.75, 95% CI 12.01 to 18.12) but not assault (aRR 0.84, 95% CI 0.70 to 1.00).

Conclusions

Firearm injuries are a preventable public health problem among youth in Ontario, Canada. Unintentional injuries and those caused by non-powdered firearms were most common and assault and self-injury contributed to substantial firearm-related deaths and should be a focus of prevention efforts.
Economic threshold analysis of delivering a task-sharing treatment for common mental disorders at scale: the Friendship Bench, Zimbabwe
Authors: Healey Andrew , Verhey Ruth , Mosweu Iris , Boadu Janet , Chibanda Dixon , Chitiyo Charmaine , Wagenaar Brad , Senra Hugo , Chiriseri Ephraim , Mboweni Sandra , Araya Ricardo
Published: November 2021

Background

Task-sharing treatment approaches offer a pragmatic approach to treating common mental disorders in low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs). The Friendship Bench (FB), developed in Zimbabwe with increasing adoption in other LMICs, is one example of this type of treatment model using lay health workers (LHWs) to deliver treatment.

Objective

To consider the level of treatment coverage required for a recent scale-up of the FB in Zimbabwe to be considered cost-effective.

Methods

A modelling-based deterministic threshold analysis conducted within a ‘cost-utility’ framework using a recommended cost-effectiveness threshold.

Findings

The FB would need to treat an additional 3413 service users (10 per active LHW per year) for its scale-up to be considered cost-effective. This assumes a level of treatment effect observed under clinical trial conditions. The associated incremental cost-effectiveness ratio was $191 per year lived with disability avoided, assuming treatment coverage levels reported during 2020. The required treatment coverage for a cost-effective outcome is within the level of treatment coverage observed during 2020 and remained so even when assuming significantly compromised levels of treatment effect.

Conclusions

The economic case for a scaled-up delivery of the FB appears convincing in principle and its adoption at scale in LMIC settings should be given serious consideration.

Clinical implications

Further evidence on the types of scale-up strategies that are likely to offer an effective and cost-effective means of sustaining required levels of treatment coverage will help focus efforts on approaches to scale-up that optimise resources invested in task-sharing programmes.
Flow diversion for internal carotid artery aneurysms with compressive neuro-ophthalmologic symptoms: clinical and anatomical results in an international multicenter study
Authors: Boulouis Gregoire , Soize Sebastien , Maus Volker , Fischer Sebastian , Lobsien Donald , Klisch Joachim , Styczen Hanna , Deuschl Cornelius , Abdullayev Nuran , Kabbasch Christoph , Kaiser Daniel , Jamous Ala , Behme Daniel , Janot Kevin , Bellanger Guillaume , Cognard Cristophe , Pierot Laurent , Gawlitza Matthias
Published: November 2021

Background

Scientific data on the safety and efficacy of flow diverter stents (FDS) for the treatment of unruptured internal carotid artery (ICA) aneurysms with compressive neuro-ophthalmological symptoms are scarce. We studied this subject in a retrospective international multicenter series, pooling data of 9 tertiary care neurointerventional departments.

Objective

To investigate, in a retrospective, multicentric cohort of patients presenting with visual or oculomotor symptoms attributed to a compressive carotid artery in an unruptured intracranial aneurysm, the safety and efficacy profiles of FDS, by analyzing neuro-opthalmologic symptom evolution following FDS placement, complications, and aneurysm obliteration rates.

Methods

All patients treated since 2015 with a FDS for an unruptured aneurysm of the ICA with signs of compressive cranial nerve symptoms (CN II, III, IV, VI) were included.

Results

We treated 55 patients with 55 aneurysms; 21 (38.2%) patients had oculomotor and 15 (27.3%) visual symptoms only; 19 (34.5%) presented with a combination of both. Treatment-related morbidity/mortality occurred in 7.2% and 3.6%, respectively. At last imaging follow-up (13.1±10.5 months) rates of complete aneurysm occlusion, neck remnant, and aneurysm remnant were 72%, 14%, and 14%, respectively. At last clinical follow-up after 13±10.5 months, 19/51 (37.3%) patients had recovered completely and 18/51 (35.3%) had recovered at least partially from their neuro-ophthalmological symptoms. In multivariable models, a longer delay between symptom onset and treatment was associated with higher odds for incomplete recovery and lower odds for any improvement (aOR 1.03 (95% CI 1.01 to 1.07), p=0.047 and 0.04 (0–0.81), p=0.020). Incomplete recovery was independently associated with older age and fusiform aneurysms.

Conclusion

FDS are effective to treat patients with compressive aneurysms of the ICA causing neuro-ophthalmological symptoms, especially when treatment is initiated early after symptom onset, and aneurysm occlusion is adequate. However, serious complications are not rare.
Self-promotion and the need to be first in science
Authors: Morris Douglas W. , MacGillivray Erin , Pither Elyse N.
Published: November 2021

Scientists, like all humans, are subject to self-deceptive valuations of their importance and profile. Vainglorious practice is annoying but mostly harmless when restricted to an individual’s perception of self-worth. Language that can be associated with self-promotion and aggrandizement is destructive when incorporated into scientific writing. So too is any practice that oversells the novelty of research or fails to provide sufficient scholarship on the uniqueness of results. We evaluated whether such tendencies have been increasing over time by assessing the frequencies of articles claiming to be “the first”, and those that placed the requirement for scholarship on readers by using phrases such as “to the best of our knowledge”. Our survey of titles and abstracts of 176 journals in ecology and environmental biology revealed that the frequencies of both practices increased linearly over the past half century. We thus warn readers, journal editors, and granting agencies to use caution when assessing the claimed novelty of research contributions. A system-wide reform toward more cooperative science that values humility, and abhors hubris, might help to rectify the problem.
FPGA-based Neural Net for Failures Prediction in the Cold Forging Process
Authors: Dec Grzegorz Rafał
Published: November 2021

This paper presents and discusses the implementation of deep neural network for the purpose of failure prediction in the cold forging process. The implementation consists of an LSTM and a dense layer implemented on FPGA. The network was trained beforehand on Desktop Computer using Keras library for Python and the weights and the biases were embedded into the implementation. The implementation is executed using the DSP blocks, available via Vivado Design Suite, which are in compliance with the IEEE754 standard. The simulation of the network achieves 100% classification accuracy on the test data and high calculation speed.
Lie symmetry analysis, optimal system and conservation law of a generalized (2+1)-dimensional Hirota–Satsuma–Ito equation
Authors: Guan Sheng-Nan , Wei Guang-Mei , Li Qi
Published: November 2021

In this paper, a generalized (2+1)-dimensional Hirota–Satsuma–Ito (GHSI) equation is investigated using Lie symmetry approach. Infinitesimal generators and symmetry groups of this equation are presented, and the optimal system is given with adjoint representation. Based on the optimal system, some symmetry reductions are performed and some similarity solutions are provided, including soliton solutions and periodic solutions. With Lagrangian, it is shown that the GHSI equation is nonlinearly self-adjoint. By means of the Lie point symmetries and nonlinear self-adjointness, the conservation laws are constructed. Furthermore, some physically meaningful solutions are illustrated graphically with suitable choices of parameters.
Analytical soliton solutions to the generalized (3+1)-dimensional shallow water wave equation
Authors: Kumar Sachin , Kumar Dharmendra
Published: November 2021

In this paper, the soliton solutions and dynamical wave structures for the generalized (3+1)-dimensional shallow water wave (SWW) equation, which is an important physical property in ocean engineering and hydrodynamics, are presented. The generalized exponential rational function (GERF) method is used to investigate the closed-form wave solutions of the generalized SWW equation, which is used to describe the evolutionary dynamics of SWW. We successfully archive a variety of soliton solutions such as exponential solutions, kink wave solutions, non-topological solutions, periodic singular solutions, and topological solutions. These newly established results are also important for understanding the wave-propagation and dynamics of exact solutions of the equation, which is of great significance in physical oceanography and chemical oceanography. Eventually, it is shown that the proposed GERF technique is effective, robust, and straightforward and is also used to solve other types of higher-dimensional nonlinear evolution equations. In our work, we have used Mathematica extensively for such complicated algebraic calculations.
Ramification structures for quotients of the Grigorchuk groups
Authors: Noce Marialaura , Thillaisundaram Anitha
Published: November 2021

Groups associated to surfaces isogenous to a higher product of curves can be characterized by a purely group-theoretic condition, which is the existence of the so-called ramification structure. In this paper, we prove that infinitely many quotients of the Grigorchuk groups admit ramification structures. This gives the first explicit infinite family of 3-generated finite 2-groups with ramification structures.
On the empirical spectral distribution for certain models related to sample covariance matrices with different correlations
Authors: Dembczak-Kołodziejczyk Alicja , Lytova Anna
Published: November 2021

Given [Formula: see text], we study two classes of large random matrices of the form [Formula: see text] where for every [Formula: see text], [Formula: see text] are iid copies of a random variable [Formula: see text], [Formula: see text], [Formula: see text] are two (not necessarily independent) sets of independent random vectors having different covariance matrices and generating well concentrated bilinear forms. We consider two main asymptotic regimes as [Formula: see text]: a standard one, where [Formula: see text], and a slightly modified one, where [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] while [Formula: see text] for some [Formula: see text]. Assuming that vectors [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] are normalized and isotropic “in average”, we prove the convergence in probability of the empirical spectral distributions of [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] to a version of the Marchenko–Pastur law and the so-called effective medium spectral distribution, correspondingly. In particular, choosing normalized Rademacher random variables as [Formula: see text], in the modified regime one can get a shifted semicircle and semicircle laws. We also apply our results to the certain classes of matrices having block structures, which were studied in [G. M. Cicuta, J. Krausser, R. Milkus and A. Zaccone, Unifying model for random matrix theory in arbitrary space dimensions, Phys. Rev. E 97(3) (2018) 032113, MR3789138; M. Pernici and G. M. Cicuta, Proof of a conjecture on the infinite dimension limit of a unifying model for random matrix theory, J. Stat. Phys. 175 (2) (2019) 384–401, MR3968860].
It Takes a Community
Authors: Xin Reynold , McKinney Wes , Gates Alan , McCubbin Chris
Published: November 2021

Of the many challenges faced by open-source developers, among the most daunting are some that other programmers scarcely ever think about. Building a successful open-source community depends on many different elements, some of which are familiar to any developer. Just as important are the skills to recruit, to inspire, to mentor, to manage, and to mediate disputes. But what exactly does it take to pull all that off?
Circularly Polarized Wideband Fabric Stealth Multiple-Input Multiple-Output Antenna for Ultrawideband Applications Useful for Wireless Systems Wearable on Garments
Authors: Laxman Pillalamarri , Jain Anuj
Published: November 2021

Stealth wearable wireless devices are gaining much attention in the personal security and fashion designing industry. A multiple-input multiple-output wideband circularly polarized antenna wearable on a dress (textile-related), which is immune to bending, is described in this paper, where a wearable on fabric dress application uses the MIMO techniques. It consists of two multiple-input multiple-output types of antenna elements: the resonating elements are created resembling a beautiful peacock shape and the ground plane is appropriately designed. A voltage is applied to each antenna element; the ground plane contains a microstrip transmission line-fed and a rectangular upside-down L-shaped (vertically flipped) strip used for circular polarizing. The antenna covers a 3 dB axial-ratio-band-width (ARBW) value of 5.20–7.10 GHz and impedance bandwidth (S11 less than −10 dB) of 03.60–13.0 GHz. The proposed attachable wearable fabric (textile) multiple-input multiple-output wideband antenna exhibits envelope correlation coefficient (ECC) <0.02, diversity gain (DG) >9.96, channel capacity loss (CCL) <0.2 b/s/Hz, total active reflective coefficient (TARC) <−10 dB, mean effective gain (MEG) ratio within ±0.5 dB. There is dual-sense circular polarization in this antenna and high isolation between resonating elements (higher than 18). A specific absorption rate (SAR) of the proposed antenna for human tissues specimen is also discussed for different situations related to the human body. The overall size of the proposed CP textile MIMO antenna is 34 : 5 × 42 × 1 mm3. Because of its clothing layers (textile), practical performance, and miniature size, the designed MIMO antenna may be helpful for wearable on cloths on human body wireless devices and systems. The proposed antenna can be made unrecognizable because of the beautiful peacock design that can easily mix with the designs of fabric (in the fashion dress). The simulated antenna was fabricated with the help of conventional manual fabrication techniques and tested in real-time situations. The edge-to-edge distance amid the MIMO radiating antennas is 14.2 mm, and the achieved isolation is greater than 18 dB after optimization of the proposed antenna.
Metabolomic Evaluation of Chronic Periodontal Disease in Older Adults
Authors: Rodrigues Wellington F. , Miguel Camila B. , Agostinho Ferdinando , da Silva Gabriela V. , Lazo-Chica Javier E. , Naressi Scapin Sandra M. , Napimoga Marcelo H. , Trindade-da-Silva Carlos A. , Krieger José E. , Pereira Alexandre da Costa , Oliveira Carlo J. Freire , Soares Siomar de Castro , Ueira-Vieira Carlos
Published: November 2021

Periodontal disease is an infectious inflammatory disease related to the destruction of supporting tissues of the teeth, leading to a functional loss of the teeth. Inflammatory molecules present in the exudate are catalyzed and form different metabolites that can be identified and quantified. Thus, we evaluated the inflammatory exudate present in crevicular fluid to identify metabolic biological markers for diagnosing chronic periodontal disease in older adults. Research participants were selected from long-term institutions in Brazil. Participants were individuals aged 65 years or older, healthy, or with chronic periodontal disease. Gas chromatography/mass spectrometry was used to evaluate potential biomarkers in 120 crevicular fluid samples. We identified 969 metabolites in the individuals. Of these, 15 metabolites showed a variable importance with

projection
 
score
>
1

and were associated with periodontal disease. Further analysis showed that among the 15 metabolites, two (5-aminovaleric acid and serine, 3TMS derivative) were found at higher concentrations in the crevicular fluid, indicating their potential diagnostic power for periodontal disease in older adults. Our findings indicated that some metabolites are present at high concentrations in the crevicular fluid in older adults with periodontal disease and can be used as biomarkers of periodontal disease.
Causation of Metro Operation Accidents in China: Calculation of Network Node Importance Based on DEMATEL and ISM
Authors: Wan Xin , Zhang Yantong , Wang Rubing , Yuan Jingfeng , Hu Mengliu , Li Ruyu , Wang Minye , Huang Ziyao , Tu Cheng , Zhong Fujian , Cui Wenjing
Published: November 2021

Continuous metro‐operation accidents lead to serious economic loss and a negative social impact. The accident causation analysis is of great significance for accident prevention and metro operation safety promotion. Network node importance (NNI) evaluation has been widely used as a tool for ranking the nodes in complex networks; however, traditional indicators such as degree centrality (DC) are insufficient for examining accident networks. This study proposed an improved method by integrating decision making trail and evaluation laboratory (DEMATEL) and interpretive structural modeling (ISM) into traditional NNI evaluation, where the key nodes are determined by both the nature of the accident network topology and the contribution of the nodes to accident development. Drawing on this method, 32 accident causal factors were identified and prioritized on the ground of 248 accident cases. It was found that 14 important factors related to staff (e.g., “driver noncompliance”), environment (e.g., “extrinsic nature disturbance”), passenger (e.g., “passenger sudden illness”), and machine (e.g., “track failures”) should be given priority in safety management due to their significant tendency of causing metro accidents. Theoretical and managerial implications were discussed to provide useful insights into the understanding of the causation of metro accidents and form a basis for metro managers to develop targeted safety countermeasures related to metro operation. The proposed hybrid method is proven effective in investigating accident networks involving sequential and casual relationships and revealing factors with high possibility to increase accidents.
Knowledge Service Technology for Supporting Intelligent Product Design
Authors: Wang Haiqiao , Niu Ruikun
Published: November 2021

In this paper, a knowledge service method that supports the intelligent design of products is investigated. The proposed method provides the solutions to computational problems and reasoning and decision‐making problems in the field of intelligent design. The requirement analysis of a knowledge‐based intelligent design system integrates design knowledge into case‐based reasoning activities through scheme analysis, scheme evaluation, and scheme adjustment, thus achieving knowledge‐based intelligent reasoning and decision‐making. During the similarity matching, a new hybrid similarity measurement method is proposed to calculate the similarity of crisp and fuzzy sets. This method integrates the fuzzy set similarity theory based on the traditional similarity measurement method. A method of attribute level classification is proposed to assign weight coefficients. The attributes are divided into the primary matching and auxiliary matching levels according to the decisiveness of case matching, and the set of weight coefficients is continuously and dynamically updated through case‐based reasoning learning. Then, the weighted global similarity measure is used to obtain the set of similar cases from the case database. Finally, a design example of a computer numerical control tool holder product is studied to present the practicability and effectiveness of the proposed method.