bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Agreement between routinely used immunoassays for thyroid function testing in non‐pregnant and pregnant adults
Authors: Wigh Ida Marie Nørum , Andersen Lærke , Lundgaard Maja Hjelm , Torp Nanna Maria Uldall , Karmisholt Jesper , Andersen Stig , Andersen Stine Linding
Published: April 2024

Objective

Thyroid function tests are common biochemical analyses, and agreement between the routinely used immunoassays is important for diagnosis and monitoring of thyroid disease. Efforts are continuously made to align the biochemical assays, and we aimed to evaluate the agreement between immunoassays used in a clinical laboratory setting among non‐pregnant and pregnant adults.

Design

Cross‐sectional study.

Participants

Serum samples were obtained from 192 blood donors (non‐pregnant adults) and from 86 pregnant women in the North Denmark Region with no known thyroid disease.

Measurements

Each sample was used for measurement of thyroid‐stimulating hormone (TSH) with the routinely used automatic immunoassays in the regional Departments of Clinical Biochemistry (Alinity, Abbott Laboratories, Cobas, Roche Diagnostics, and Atellica, Siemens Healthineers) and reported as the median with 95% confidence interval (95% CI).

Results

In nonpregnant adults, the level of TSH was higher with Cobas and Atellica than with Alinity as reflected by median (Alinity: 1.39 mIU/L (95% CI: 1.30–1.51 mIU/L); Cobas: 1.57 mIU/L (95% CI: 1.48–1.75 mIU/L); Atellica: 1.74 mIU/L (95% CI: 1.61–1.83 mIU/L)). Similarly, a trend was seen towards higher median TSH with Cobas than with Alinity among pregnant women (Alinity: 1.90 mIU/L (95% CI: 1.37–2.82 mIU/L); Cobas: 2.33 mIU/L (95% CI: 1.69–3.62 mIU/L)).

Conclusion

Results of thyroid function tests obtained with different immunoassays were not interchangeable when evaluated among pregnant and non‐pregnant adults. The distinct differences are relevant for clinical decision making and emphasize the necessity of clinical laboratory information when different assays are used for diagnosis and monitoring of patients with thyroid disease.
Influence of novel CYP2C‐haplotype on proton pump inhibitor pharmacokinetics in children
Authors: Kyler Kathryn E. , Gaedigk Andrea , Abdel‐Rahman Susan , Staggs Vincent S. , Pearce Robin E. , Toren Paul , Leeder J. Steven , Shakhnovich Valentina
Published: April 2024

In this brief report, we provide an analysis of the influence of a novel CYP2C haplotype (CYP2C:TG) on proton pump inhibitor (PPI) pharmacokinetics (PK) in children. The CYP2C:TG haplotype has been proposed to be associated with increased CYP2C19 activity. We sought to determine if this CYP2C:TG haplotype resulted in similar alterations in metabolism for proton pump inhibitors, which are primarily metabolized by CYP2C19. In a cohort of 41 children aged 6–21 participating in a PPI pharmacokinetic study, effects of the CYP2C:TG allele were assessed by fitting two linear regression models for each of the six PK outcomes assessed, the second of which accounted for the presence of the CYP2C:TG allele. The difference in R2 values between the two models was computed to quantify the variability in the outcome that could be accounted for by the CYP2C:TG allele after adjustment for the CYP2C19 genotype. We found the CYP2C:TG haplotype to have no measurable additive impact on CYP2C19‐mediated metabolism of PPIs in vivo in older children and adolescents. The findings of this study do not support the clinical utility of routine testing for the CYP2C:TG haplotype to guide PPI dose adjustments in children.
Is vision necessary for the timely acquisition of language‐specific patterns in co‐speech gesture and their lack in silent gesture?
Authors: Özçalışkan Şeyda , Lucero Ché , Goldin‐Meadow Susan
Published: April 2024

Blind adults display language‐specificity in their packaging and ordering of events in speech. These differences affect the representation of events in co‐speech gesture–gesturing with speech–but not in silent gesture–gesturing without speech. Here we examine when in development blind children begin to show adult‐like patterns in co‐speech and silent gesture. We studied speech and gestures produced by 30 blind and 30 sighted children learning Turkish, equally divided into 3 age groups: 5–6, 7–8, 9–10 years. The children were asked to describe three‐dimensional spatial event scenes (e.g., running out of a house) first with speech, and then without speech using only their hands. We focused on physical motion events, which, in blind adults, elicit cross‐linguistic differences in speech and co‐speech gesture, but cross‐linguistic similarities in silent gesture. Our results showed an effect of language on gesture when it was accompanied by speech (co‐speech gesture), but not when it was used without speech (silent gesture) across both blind and sighted learners. The language‐specific co‐speech gesture pattern for both packaging and ordering semantic elements was present at the earliest ages we tested the blind and sighted children. The silent gesture pattern appeared later for blind children than sighted children for both packaging and ordering. Our findings highlight gesture as a robust and integral aspect of the language acquisition process at the early ages and provide insight into when language does and does not have an effect on gesture, even in blind children who lack visual access to gesture.

Research Highlights

Gestures, when produced with speech (i.e., co‐speech gesture), follow language‐specific patterns in event representation in both blind and sighted children.

Gestures, when produced without speech (i.e., silent gesture), do not follow the language‐specific patterns in event representation in both blind and sighted children.

Language‐specific patterns in speech and co‐speech gestures are observable at the same time in blind and sighted children.

The cross‐linguistic similarities in silent gestures begin slightly later in blind children than in sighted children.
Baby Observational Selective Control AppRaisal (BabyOSCAR): Construct validity and test performance
Authors: Barbosa Vanessa Maziero , Peyton Colleen , Sukal‐Moulton Theresa
Published: April 2024

Aim

To investigate the construct validity of the Baby Observational Selective Control AppRaisal (BabyOSCAR), an assessment of independent joint motion in infants with cerebral palsy (CP).

Method

BabyOSCAR was scored for 75 infants (45 with CP and 30 without CP). Rasch analysis was used in combination with classical test theory to assess areas of strength or improvement. Overall fit and precision, unidimensionality, local independence, reliability indices, Wright's child‐item map, and differential item functioning were examined as part of Rasch analysis to investigate the item properties, internal construct validity, and reliability of BabyOSCAR. Cronbach's α was used to evaluate items’ internal consistency.

Results

Analysis demonstrated good fit to the Rasch model, with only one erratic item. Unidimensionality results suggest two dimensions, split between arm and leg items. Item calibration reliability was between 0.84 and 0.86, with three distinct item difficulty levels. Infant measure reliability was between 0.82 and 0.91, separating infants into three ability levels. Together, the two subscales covered the full range of skills, with redundancy mostly between the same motion on both sides of the body. Cronbach's α was between 0.90 and 0.95.

Interpretation

BabyOSCAR's construct validity was supported. Arm and leg subscales can be translated to a logit scale.

What this paper adds

Baby Observational Selective Control AppRaisal (BabyOSCAR) has excellent construct validity with good overall fit and precision.

Individual BabyOSCAR items contribute and work well together, forming an interval‐level assessment.

BabyOSCAR has two separate subscales, arms and legs, that complement each other.

BabyOSCAR's items represent a continuum of skills with three distinct difficulty levels.

BabyOSCAR's continuum of skills reliably separates infants into three ability levels.
Evaluation of left ventricular function in patients with mitral annular disjunction using speckle tracking echocardiography
Authors: Özyıldırım Serhan , Guven Baris , Yumuk Mehmet Tugay , Barman Hasan Ali , Dogan Omer , Topel Cagdas , Atici Adem , Donmez Ayça , Kucukoglu Mehmet Serdar , Dogan Sait Mesut
Published: April 2024

Background

Mitral annular disjunction (MAD) is a structural abnormality characterized by the systolic detachment of the posterior mitral annulus and the ventricular myocardium. It is usually observed coexistent with mitral valve prolapse (MVP) and associated with a mechanical dysfunction despite preserved electrical isolation function of the mitral annulus. This study aimed to evaluate left ventricular (LV) function using speckle tracking echocardiography in MVP patients with MAD.

Methods

This study was designed as a prospective, single‐center study including 103 patients with MVP and 40 age‐ and sex‐matched control subjects. Transthoracic echocardiography and cardiac magnetic resonance imaging were performed to assess LV function and MAD presence.

Results

MAD (+) MVP (n = 34), MAD (−) MVP (n = 69), and control (n = 40) groups were enrolled in the study. Among the MVP patients, 34 (33%) had MAD. T‐negativity in the inferior leads on electrocardiography was more frequent in the MAD (+) group than in the MAD (−) patients (4.3% vs. 20.6%, p = .014). Mitral regurgitation degree, Pickelhaube sign (17.6% vs. 1.4%, p = .005), and late gadolinium enhancement frequency (35.3% vs. 10.6%, p = .002) were significantly higher in MAD (+) patients. MAD (+) patients had significantly impaired global longitudinal strain (−23.1 ±  2.1 vs. −23.5 ± 2.3, p < .001), basal longitudinal strain (BLS) (−19.6 ±  1.5 vs. −20.5 ± 1.9, p < .001), Mid‐Ventricular Longitudinal Strain (−22.2 ± 1.7 vs. −23.2 ± 2.2, p < .001) and LA strain (−24.5 ± 3.9 vs. −27.2 ± 3.6, p < .001) when compared to MAD (−) MVP patients, despite similar LV ejection fraction. All these values of MVP patients were also significantly lower than the control group. The mean MAD distance was 7.8 ± 3.2 mm in MAD (+) patients. Patients with two or more symptoms were higher in the MAD (+) group than in the MAD (−) group (4.3% vs. 44.1%, p < .001).

Conclusion

This study demonstrated a significant decrease in longitudinal strain in MVP patients with MAD, indicating myocardial dysfunction. These findings suggest that MAD may contribute to LV dysfunction and highlight the importance of early detection in younger patients. Further research is needed to explore the functional implications and long‐term outcomes of MAD.
Therapeutic textiles: A promising approach for human skin dysbiosis?
Authors: de Oliveira Cláudia Suellen Ferro , Tavaria Freni Kekhasharú
Published: April 2024

The close interaction between skin and clothing has become an attractive cornerstone for the development of therapeutic textiles able to alleviate skin disorders, namely those correlated to microbiota dysregulation. Skin microbiota imbalance is known in several skin diseases, including atopic dermatitis (AD), psoriasis, seborrheic dermatitis, rosacea, acne and hidradenitis suppurative (HS). Such microbiota dysregulation is usually correlated with inflammation, discomfort and pruritus. Although conventional treatments, that is, the administration of steroids and antibiotics, have shown some efficacy in treating and alleviating these symptoms, there are still disadvantages that need to be overcome. These include their long‐term usage with side effects negatively impacting resident microbiota members, antibiotic resistance and the elevated rate of recurrence. Remarkably, therapeutic textiles as a non‐pharmacological measure have emerged as a promising strategy to treat, alleviate the symptoms and control the severity of many skin diseases. This systematic review showcases for the first time the effects of therapeutic textiles on patients with skin dysbiosis, focusing on efficacy, safety, adverse effects and antimicrobial, antioxidant and anti‐inflammatory properties. The main inclusion criteria were clinical trials performed in patients with skin dysbiosis who received treatment involving the use of therapeutic textiles. Although there are promising outcomes regarding clinical parameters, safety and adverse effects, there is still a lack of information about the impact of therapeutic textiles on the skin microbiota of such patients. Intensive investigation and corroboration with clinical trials are needed to strengthen, define and drive the real benefit and the ideal biomedical application of therapeutic textiles.
Oral health in individuals with bleeding disorders: A systematic review and meta‐analysis
Authors: Bhadauria Upendra Singh , Purohit Bharathi , Nilima Nilima , Priya Harsh
Published: April 2024

Background

Individuals with bleeding disorders have been reported to have a number of oral health issues due to varying conditions. A comprehensive evaluation of the different oral health conditions has not been carried out in the past. This systematic review and meta‐analysis was carried out to collate and critically analyse existing research, and provide a comprehensive overview of the current state of knowledge on oral health.

Methods

A comprehensive search was conducted in electronic databases, including PubMed, Scopus and Embase, in October 2023. No restriction on time frame or language was applied. The risk of bias for cross‐sectional studies was assessed using the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) tool, and case control studies were assessed using the New Castle Ottawa Scale (NOS).

Results

Twenty‐two articles were included in the final analysis with a total sample size of 2422 subjects. Of the 22 articles assessed, nine quantitative assessments were included in the Meta analysis. Pooled data analysis was carried out. A total of 13 studies reported medium risk whereas the remaining nine studies showed low risk of bias. The weighted mean DMFT scores in individuals with bleeding disorders were found to be 2.43 [0.62. 4.24], mean dmft was 2.79 [1.05, 4.53] and mean OHI‐S was reported to be 1.79 [1.00, 2.57], respectively.

Conclusion

The findings emphasize that these individuals have fair oral hygiene and lower dmft/DMFT scores. Oral bleeding emerged as an important oral health component to be cautiously dealt with particularly during the stages of exfoliation/shedding.
RETRACTED: Effect of platelet‐rich plasma combined with negative pressure wound therapy in treating patients with chronic wounds: A meta‐analysis
Authors: Chen Hao , Xu Tong‐Jie , Yu Hao , Zhu Jun‐Long , Liu Yong , Yang Lu‐Pin
Published: April 2024

A meta‐analysis was conducted to comprehensively explore the effects of platelet‐rich plasma (PRP) combined with negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT) in treating patients with chronic wounds. Computer searches were conducted, from database infection to November 2023, in EMBASE, Google Scholar, Cochrane Library, PubMed, Wanfang and China National Knowledge Infrastructure databases for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) on the use of PRP combined with NPWT technology for treating chronic wounds. Two researchers independently screened the literature, extracted data and conducted quality assessments according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Stata 17.0 software was employed for data analysis. Overall, 18 RCTs involving 1294 patients with chronic wounds were included. The analysis revealed that, compared with NPWT alone, the use of PRP combined with NPWT technology significantly improved the healing rate (odds ratios [OR] = 1.92, 95% confidence intervals [CIs]: 1.43–2.58, p < 0.001) and total effective rate (OR = 1.31, 95% CI: 1.23–1.39, p < 0.001), and also significantly shortened the healing time of the wound (standardized mean difference = −2.01, 95% CI: −2.58 to −1.45, p < 0.001). This study indicates that the treatment of chronic wounds with PRP combined with NPWT technology can significantly enhance clinical repair effectiveness and accelerate wound healing, with a high healing rate, and is worth further promotion and practice.
Czech Republic butterfly barcoding reveals that distribution of genetic lineages depends on species traits
Authors: Sucháčková Bartoňová Alena , Škopek Patrik , Konvička Martin , Beneš Jiří , Spitzer Lukáš , Sbaraglia Claudio , Vrabec Vladimír , Papp Marešová Jana , Konvičková Hana , Faltýnek Fric Zdeněk
Published: April 2024

Aim

The distribution of within‐species lineages has been affected by Quaternary climate changes, and population differentiation has been influenced by species life history traits. We investigated whether the distribution of individual mitochondrial genetic lineages reflects the constituent species' traits. Using the functionally diverse group of butterflies, we examined which lineages are present in Central Europe, an important suture zone.

Location

Czech Republic and Western Palearctic.

Taxon

A total of 140 butterfly species.

Methods

We sequenced DNA barcodes (cytochrome c oxidase 1) (959 sequences) of the entire Czech Republic butterfly fauna and used Barcoding of Life Data System to visualise the species' biogeographic patterns across Europe. We categorised the distribution patterns of lineages inhabiting the Czech Republic, and used multivariate statistics to interpret these categories by the butterflies' habitats, life history traits and threat levels.

Results

Open habitat dwellers with specialist traits belonged to Eastern, Southern and temperate lineages. Habitat generalists and woodland dwellers belonged to the Western lineage, formed several lineages or displayed low genetic diversity; they often developed on woody plants, were large‐winged and had long flight periods. The most threatened species were the specialists of Southern, Eastern and temperate lineages.

Main Conclusions

The distribution of lineages in Central Europe reflects the history of Quaternary ecosystems: during cold periods of the Pleistocene, the diverse open habitats prevailed and species could expand westwards. Such species also suffer the most under the current anthropogenic habitat alteration. On the other hand, the mobile generalists and woodland dwellers expanded to Central Europe during the Holocene. Our approach of linking the distribution of lineages with species traits can be transferred to other study systems, and we show that DNA barcoding of under‐sampled areas represents a powerful tool for discovering the driving forces of biogeography.
Enhancing low‐temperature long‐time milk pasteurization process with a C4.5 algorithm‐driven AIoT system for real‐time decision‐making
Authors: Hadi Mokh. Sholihul , Sugiono Bhima Satria Rizki , Mizar Muhammad Alfian , Witjoro Agung , Irvan Mhd
Published: April 2024

This research is driven by the imperative to improve the milk pasteurization process's efficiency and safety within the Industry 5.0 framework. It introduces the artificial intelligence of things (AIoT) into the pasteurization system and focuses on deploying the C4.5 algorithm, anticipated to render precise real‐time decisions by analyzing critical temperature and duration data essential for the low‐temperature long‐time (LTLT) pasteurization technique. Test results indicate that the C4.5 model is highly effective, demonstrating nearly perfect metrics with a precision of .78, a recall of .77, and an F1‐score of .73, while achieving an overall algorithm accuracy of .76. In terms of heating control, the double jacket method tested on a 300‐L system proved the control design's capability to quickly reach and maintain desired temperatures, hitting the set‐point within 70 min. However, it was observed that systems with larger capacities took longer to reach the set‐point, suggesting a potential for further optimization. The findings affirm that integrating AIoT into control systems can significantly enhance process efficiency and effectiveness, consistent with the goal of incorporating sophisticated technological solutions in the food sector.

Practical Applications

The article “Enhancing Low‐Temperature Long‐Time Milk Pasteurization Process with a C4.5 Algorithm‐Driven AIoT System for Real‐Time Decision‐Making” explores an AIoT system's potential to revolutionize the dairy industry's pasteurization methods. This system promises enhanced efficiency by optimizing energy and time, thereby reducing costs. It ensures superior quality control through continuous monitoring, maintaining nutritional integrity and safety. The high automation level minimizes human error and operational demands, while predictive maintenance forecasts prevent downtime. The system's scalability supports production expansion with minimal resource increase. Moreover, it guarantees product traceability and compliance with food safety regulations. The generated data offers insights for further supply chain optimizations. This integration of AI and IoT thus presents significant advancements in process management, quality assurance, and scalable operations for the dairy industry.
Spatial distribution of tumor‐resident macrophages as predictive biomarkers in endometrial cancer
Authors: Matsukawa Tetsuya , Yoshikawa Nobuhisa , Liu Wenting , Hattori Satomi , Yoshida Kosuke , Yoshihara Masato , Tamauchi Satoshi , Yokoi Akira , Niimi Kaoru , Kajiyama Hiroaki
Published: April 2024

Background

To investigate the role of CD47 expression and its relationship with tumor‐resident macrophages, specifically at the tumor margin, in patients with type II endometrial cancer. This study aims to elucidate whether CD47 could serve as a prognostic marker and to understand the dynamics between CD47 and macrophages, which could inform new therapeutic strategies.

Methods

A retrospective cohort study was conducted involving 75 patients of type II endometrial. Immunohistochemical analysis was performed to assess CD47 expression and macrophage markers (CD68 and CD163).

Results

The study found no direct correlation between CD47 expression levels and overall survival (p = 0.32), challenging its role as an independent prognostic marker in type II endometrial cancer. The higher expression of CD47 had significantly less incidence of endometrioid carcinoma G3 (p = 0.047). The negative correlation between CD47 H‐score and the density of CD68‐positive macrophages at tumor margin was statistically significant (p = 0.049). A high density of CD68‐positive macrophages at the tumor margin but a low density of CD163‐positive macrophages at the tumor margin were associated with poorer prognosis (p = 0.036).

Conclusions

The complex interaction between CD47 and macrophages, particularly at the tumor margin, suggests new avenues for targeted therapy in type II endometrial cancer.
Spirulina (Arthrospira platensis) supplementation: Impact on growth, metabolism, and antioxidant status in zebrafish
Authors: Coli Aline Pereira , Carneiro William Franco , da Silva Kiara Cândido Duarte , Castro Tássia Flávia Dias , de Oliveira João Paulo Lima , de Martins Moisés Silvestre Azevedo , Murgas Luis David Solis
Published: April 2024

Zebrafish (Danio rerio) is a valuable model for biomedical research because of its mammalian genetic similarities, rapid reproduction, and low maintenance costs. However, further investigation is required regarding their nutritional requirements and standardized laboratory diets. This study evaluated the metabolic and growth responses of zebrafish juveniles fed on diets supplemented with spirulina, Arthrospira platensis (SP) at different levels for 77 days. Six diets with SP inclusion levels of 0%, 2%, 4%, 6%, 8%, and 10% (SP0‐SP10) were formulated. A total of 300 zebrafish juveniles with an average initial weight of 0.113 ± 0.10 g (mean ± SD) were randomly distributed across six groups, with five replicates per group, each containing 10 animals. After 77 days, the SP6 group demonstrated significantly enhanced growth performance compared with the other supplementation levels. The condition factor was markedly higher in the SP6 and SP8 groups than in the SP0 group. No significant effects on total cholesterol levels were observed, but the SP4, SP6, and SP10 diets decreased triglyceride levels. Lipase activity was higher in the SP6 and SP8 groups than in the control group, whereas amylase activity showed no significant differences between treatments. Catalase and superoxide dismutase activities were significantly higher in the SP8 and SP10 groups than in the SP0 and SP2 groups. Glutathione S‐transferase activity was higher in the SP6, SP8, and SP10 groups than in the SP0 group. In addition, SP inclusion in zebrafish diets improved female gonadal development. In conclusion, this study indicates that SP supplementation has substantial potential as a growth promoter, positively influencing lipid metabolism and antioxidant enzyme activity without affecting zebrafish survival.
Quasi‐Likelihood Estimation in Volatility Models for Semi‐Continuous Time Series
Authors: Hudecová Šárka , Pešta Michal
Published: April 2024

Time series containing non‐negligible portion of possibly dependent zeros, whereas the remaining observations are positive, are considered. They are regarded as GARCH processes consisting of non‐negative values. Our first aim lies in estimation of the omnibus model parameters taking into account the semi‐continuous distribution. The hurdle distribution together with dependent zeros cause that the classical GARCH estimation techniques fail. Two different quasi‐likelihood approaches are employed. Both estimators are proved to be strongly consistent and asymptotically normal. The second goal consists in the proposed predictions with bootstrap add‐ons. The considered class of models can be reformulated as multiplicative error models. The empirical properties are illustrated in a simulation study, which demonstrates computational efficiency of the employed methods. The developed techniques are presented through an actuarial problem concerning insurance claims.
Effectiveness of a nonweight‐based daily dosage of ready‐to‐use therapeutic food in children suffering from uncomplicated severe acute malnutrition: A nonrandomized, noninferiority analysis of programme data in Afghanistan
Authors: Bahwere Paluku , Funnell Grace , Qarizada Ahmad Nawid , Woodhead Sophie , Bengnwi Wilfred , Le Minh Tram
Published: April 2024

Severe acute malnutrition (SAM) remains a major global public health problem. SAM cases are treated using ready‐to‐use therapeutic food (RUTF) at a dosage of ∼200 kcal/kg/day per the standard treatment protocol (STD). Emerging evidence on simplifications to the standard protocol, which among other adaptations, includes reducing the daily RUTF dosage, indicates that it is effective and safe for treating children with SAM. In response to a foreseen stock shortage of RUTF, the government of Afghanistan endorsed the temporary use of a modified treatment protocol in which the daily RUTF dosage was prescribed at 1000 kcal/day (irrespective of body weight) until the child achieved moderate acute malnutrition status (weight‐for‐height z‐score ≥ −3 or mid‐upper arm circumference [MUAC] ≥ 115 mm), at which point 500 kcal/day was prescribed until cured (modified treatment protocol [MTP]). In this paper, we report the results of this nonweight‐based daily RUTF dosage experience. Data of 2042 children with SAM, treated using either the STD protocol (n = 269) or the MTP protocol (n = 1773) from August 2019 to March 2021 in five provinces, were analyzed. The per‐protocol analyses confirmed noninferiority of MTP protocol when compared to STD protocol for recovery rate [93.3% vs. 90.2%; ∆ (95% confidence interval, CI) = 3.1 (−0.9; 7.2) %] and length‐of‐stay [82.6 vs. 75.6 days; ∆ (95% CI) = 6.9 (3.3; 10.5) days], considering the margin of noninferiority of −10% and +14 days, respectively. Weight gain velocity was smaller in the MTP protocol group than in the STD protocol group [3.7 (1.7) vs. 5.2 (2.9) g/kg/day; ∆ (95% CI) = −1.5 (−1.8, −1.2); p < 0.001]. The STD group had a significantly higher mean than the MTP group for absolute MUAC gain [∆ (95% CI) = 1.7 (1.0; 2.3) mm; p < 0.001] and the MUAC velocity [∆ (95% CI) = 0.29 (0.20; 0.37) mm/week; p < 0.001]. Our results confirm the noninferiority of a nonweight‐based daily dosage and support the endorsement of this modification as an alternative to the standard protocol in resource‐constrained contexts.
Exploring nurses' difficulties and strategies when caring for patients with dementia in a neurological ward
Authors: Chen Ko‐Xin , Pai Ming‐Chyi , Hong Wei‐Pin , Wang Chi‐Jane , Wang Jing‐Jy
Published: April 2024

Nurses in neurological wards face numerous challenges when caring for patients with dementia, particularly those who also present other acute illnesses. However, studies focusing on this area are limited. This study aimed to explore the difficulties and strategies in caring for patients with dementia among nurses working in a neurological ward. A qualitative descriptive design was adopted. Twelve nurses from a neurology ward participated in individual semi‐structured interviews. The data collected through these interviews were subjected to qualitative content analysis. Two main themes emerged from the analysis: (i) various shortcomings and concerns, which include subthemes: insufficient support, worry about patient safety, inadequate care ability of the caregiver, and insufficient self‐competence, and (ii) unique clinical strategies, which include subthemes: cooperate with the caregiver, improve self‐competence in dementia care, and employ meticulous resorts. The findings highlighted the nurses' dedication to minimizing patient risks and utilizing available resources as well as stakeholders to provide optimal care. To enhance patient care quality, it is essential to support nurses by addressing care‐related barriers, offering continuous education, and establishing care pathways.
Efficacy of a Novel Intraoperative Surgical Irrigant in Preventing Periprosthetic Joint Infections in Primary Knee, Hip, and Shoulder Arthroplasties: A Retrospective Analysis
Authors: Williams Marshall , Harris Robert M.
Published: April 2024

Objective

Primary joint arthroplasty (JA) is one of the most common operating room (OR) procedures, with knee and hip arthroplasties being listed in the top five most frequent OR procedures and while not as common, shoulder arthroplasties are increasing at greater rates than knee and hip arthroplasties. Periprosthetic joint/shoulder infections (PJI/PSI) are a devastating complication of primary JAs with infection prevention deemed as the single most important strategy in combating them. The objective of this study was to retrospectively evaluate the efficacy of XPERIENCE® Advanced Surgical Irrigation (XP) in preventing PJI following primary joint arthroplasty.

Methods

This is a retrospective study of primary knee, hip and shoulder arthroplasties that were performed by multiple orthopedic surgeons at a single hospital setting. XPERIENCE was used as an intraoperative surgical irrigant either solely, or with other intraoperative practices for prevention of infection. Incidence of acute PJI occurring within 90 days of index surgery were retrospectively collated.

Results

Four hundred and twenty‐three (423) primary joint replacement surgeries treated intraoperatively with XP, were evaluated for acute PJI incidence. Retrospective evaluations determined that 95% of the subjects had at least one risk factor predisposing them to PJI. There were zero PJIs diagnosed in the knee and hip arthroplasty cohorts and zero PSIs diagnosed in the shoulder arthroplasty cohorts.

Conclusion

The absence of PJI/PSI diagnoses in the JA cohorts treated intraoperatively with XP indicates that it could be an efficacious antimicrobial irrigant in preventing PJI, and warrants being evaluated in prospective, randomized controlled clinical trials as the sole intraoperative irrigant, as well as in combination with the other intraoperative infection prevention regimens evaluated in this retrospective study.
Two‐branch global spatial–spectral fusion transformer network for hyperspectral image classification
Authors: Xie Erxin , Chen Na , Zhang Genwei , Peng Jiangtao , Sun Weiwei
Published: April 2024

Transformer has achieved outstanding performance in hyperspectral image classification (HSIC) thanks to its effectiveness in modelling the long‐term dependence relation. However, most of the existing algorithms combine convolution with transformer and use convolution for spatial–spectral information fusion, which cannot adequately learn the spatial–spectral fusion features of hyperspectral images (HSIs). To mine the rich spatial and spectral features, a two‐branch global spatial–spectral fusion transformer (GSSFT) model is designed in this paper, in which a spatial–spectral information fusion (SSIF) module is designed to fuse features of spectral and spatial branches. For the spatial branch, the local multiscale swin transformer (LMST) module is devised to obtain local–global spatial information of the samples and the background filtering (BF) module is constructed to weaken the weights of irrelevant pixels. The information learned from the spatial branch and the spectral branch is effectively fused to get final classification results. Extensive experiments are conducted on three HSI datasets, and the results of experiments show that the designed GSSFT method performs well compared with the traditional convolutional neural network and transformer‐based methods.
Extraction and characterization of fiber from the flower stalk of Sansevieria cylindrica
Authors: Palanisamy Sivasubramanian , Rajan Visakh Kunnathuparambil , Mani Ajith Kuriakose , Palaniappan Murugesan , Santulli Carlo , Alavudeen Azeez , Ayrilmis Nadir
Published: April 2024

A number of natural fibers are being proposed for use in composite materials, especially those extracted from local plants, especially those able to grow spontaneously as they are cost‐efficient and have unexplored potential. Sansevieria cylindrica, within the Asparagaceae (previously Agavacae) family, has recently been considered for application in polymer and rubber matrix composites. However, its characterization and even the sorting out of technical fiber from the stem remains scarce, with little available data, as is often the case when the fabrication of textiles is not involved. In this study, Sansevieria cylindrica fibers were separated down to the dimensions of a filament at an 8–15 micron diameter from the stem of the plant, then characterized physically and chemically, using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), morphologically by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), as well as their thermal degradation, by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). Their crystallinity surface roughness was measured by X‐ray diffraction (XRD) and atomic force microscopy (AFM), respectively. The results indicate over 70% cellulose fibers content with a very high crystallinity (92%) and small crystallite size (1.45 nm), which suggests a low water absorption, with thermal degradation peaking at 294°C. Despite this, due to the significant porosity of the cellular structure, the density of 1.06 g cm−3 is quite low for a mainly cellulose fiber. Roughness measurements indicate that the porosities and foamy structure result in a highly negative skewness (−3.953), in the presence of deep valleys, which may contribute to an effective relation with a covering resin.
Enhanced muscle activity during interrupted sitting improves glycemic control in overweight and obese men
Authors: Gao Ying , Li Qing‐Yang , Finni Taija , Pesola Arto J.
Published: April 2024

The efficacy of interrupting prolonged sitting may be influenced by muscle activity patterns. This study examined the effects of interrupting prolonged sitting time with different muscle activity patterns on continuously monitored postprandial glycemic response. Eighteen overweight and obese men (21.0 ± 1.2 years; 28.8 ± 2.2 kg/m2) participated in this randomized four‐arm crossover study, including uninterrupted sitting for 8.5 h (SIT) and interruptions in sitting with matched energy expenditure and duration but varying muscle activity: 30‐min walking at 4 km/h (ONE), sitting with 3‐min walking at 4 km/h (WALK) or squatting (SQUAT) every 45 min for 10 times. Net incremental area under the curve (netiAUC) for glucose was compared between conditions. Quadriceps, hamstring, and gluteal muscles electromyogram (EMG) patterns including averaged muscle EMG amplitude (aEMG) and EMG activity duration were used to predict the effects on glucose netiAUC. Compared with SIT (10.2 mmol/L/h [95%CI 6.3 to 11.7]), glucose netiAUC was lower during sitting interrupted with any countermeasure (ONE 9.2 mmol/L/h [8.0 to 10.4], WALK 7.9 mmol/L/h [6.4 to 9.3], and SQUAT 7.9 mmol/L/h [6.4 to 9.3], all p < 0.05). Furthermore, WALK and SQUAT resulted in a lower glucose netiAUC compared with ONE (both p < 0.05). Only increased aEMG in quadriceps (−0.383 mmol/L/h [−0.581 to −0.184], p < 0.001) and gluteal muscles (−0.322 mmol/L/h [−0.593 to −0.051], p = 0.022) was associated with a reduction in postprandial glycemic response. Collectively, short, frequent walking or squatting breaks effectively enhance glycemic control in overweight and obese men compared to a single bout of walking within prolonged sitting. These superior benefits seem to be associated with increased muscle activity intensity in the targeted muscle groups during frequent transitions from sitting to activity.
Global-Position Tracking Control for Multi-Domain Bipedal Walking With Underactuation
Authors: Gao Yuan , Barhydt Kentaro , Niezrecki Christopher , Gu Yan
Published: April 2024

Accurate control of a humanoid robot's global position (i.e., its three-dimensional (3D) position in the world) is critical to the reliable execution of high-risk tasks such as avoiding collision with pedestrians in a crowded environment. This paper introduces a time-based nonlinear control approach that achieves accurate global-position tracking (GPT) for multi-domain bipedal walking. Deriving a tracking controller for bipedal robots is challenging due to the highly complex robot dynamics that are time-varying and hybrid, especially for multi-domain walking that involves multiple phases/domains of full actuation, over actuation, and underactuation. To tackle this challenge, we introduce a continuous-phase GPT control law for multi-domain walking, which provably ensures the exponential convergence of the entire error state within the full and over actuation domains and that of the directly regulated error state within the underactuation domain. We then construct sufficient multiple-Lyapunov stability conditions for the hybrid multi-domain tracking error system under the proposed GPT control law. We illustrate the proposed controller design through both three-domain walking with all motors activated and two-domain gait with inactive ankle motors. Simulations of a ROBOTIS OP3 bipedal humanoid robot demonstrate the satisfactory accuracy and convergence rate of the proposed control approach under two different cases of multi-domain walking as well as various walking speed and desired paths.
Identification and Fault Diagnosis of Rolling Element Bearings Using Dimension Theory and Machine Learning Techniques
Authors: Jadhav Prashant S. , Salunkhe Vishal G. , Desavale R. G. , Khot S. M. , Shinde P. V. , Jadhav P. M. , Gadyanavar Pramila R.
Published: April 2024

The study presents the classification of bearing fault types occurring in rotating machines using machine learning techniques. Recent condition monitoring demands all-inclusive but precise fault diagnosis for industrial machines. The utilization of mathematical modeling with machine learning may be combined for fine fault diagnosis under different working conditions. The current study presents a blend of dimensional analysis (DA) and a K-nearest neighbor (KNN) to diagnose faults in industrial roller bearings. Vibrational responses are collected for several industrial machines under diverse operational conditions. Bearing faults are identified using the DA model with 3.62% error (avg) and classified using KNN with 98.67% accuracy. Comparing the performance of models with experimental and artificial neural networks (ANN) validated the potential of the current approach. The results showed that the KNN demonstrates superior performance in terms of feature prediction and extraction of industrial bearing.
Molecular beam epitaxy synthesis of In2Se3 films
Authors: Voigt Cooper A. , Reingold Matthew , Dube Alex , Early Lawrence S. , Wagner Brent K. , Vogel Eric M.
Published: April 2024

The effects of substrate choice, substrate temperature, Se/In flux ratio, and cooling rate after deposition on the phase composition, surface morphology, and stoichiometry of indium selenide films synthesized via molecular beam epitaxy are presented. In2Se3 films were synthesized on sapphire, Si(111) and highly oriented, pyrolytic graphite (HOPG) substrates. The phase composition, stoichiometry, and surface morphology of the films were characterized via Raman spectroscopy, x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and atomic force microscopy, respectively. Higher substrate temperature combined with higher Se/In ratio promoted formation of β-In2Se3 over γ and/or κ-In2Se3 on all substrates. Higher Se/In ratio also independently promoted β-In2Se3 over γ and/or κ-In2Se3 on all substrates at 673 K. The lateral dimensions of In2Se3 flakes increased as the substrate temperature increased on all substrates, and the largest lateral dimensions were observed for β-In2Se3 flakes on HOPG at 973 K. No evidence of α-In2Se3 was observed in the Raman spectra of any of the films at any of the synthesis conditions in this study. β-In2Se3 films on HOPG were cooled at 1200, 120, and 12 K/h and no evidence of a β to α-In2Se3 phase transition was observed. Some evidence of β to α-In2Se3 phase transition was observed in temperature-dependent XRD of In2Se3 powders, suggesting that another parameter besides cooling rate is locking the In2Se3 films into the β-phase.
Conducting high-quality and reliable acoustic analysis: A tutorial focused on training research assistants
Authors: Heller Murray Elizabeth
Published: April 2024

Open science practices have led to an increase in available speech datasets for researchers interested in acoustic analysis. Accurate evaluation of these databases frequently requires manual or semi-automated analysis. The time-intensive nature of these analyses makes them ideally suited for research assistants in laboratories focused on speech and voice production. However, the completion of high-quality, consistent, and reliable analyses requires clear rules and guidelines for all research assistants to follow. This tutorial will provide information on training and mentoring research assistants to complete these analyses, covering areas including RA training, ongoing data analysis monitoring, and documentation needed for reliable and re-creatable findings.
Acoustic, phonetic, and phonological features of Drehu vowels
Authors: Torres Catalina , Li Weicong , Escudero Paola
Published: April 2024

This study presents an acoustic investigation of the vowel inventory of Drehu (Southern Oceanic Linkage), spoken in New Caledonia. Reportedly, Drehu has a 14 vowel system distinguishing seven vowel qualities and an additional length distinction. Previous phonological descriptions were based on impressionistic accounts showing divergent proposals for two out of seven reported vowel qualities. This study presents the first phonetic investigation of Drehu vowels based on acoustic data from eight speakers. To examine the phonetic correlates of the proposed phonological vowel inventory, multi-point acoustic analyses were used, and vowel inherent spectral change (VISC) was investigated (F1, F2, and F3). Additionally, vowel duration was measured. Contrary to reports from other studies on VISC in monophthongs, we find that monophthongs in Drehu are mostly steady state. We propose a revised vowel inventory and focus on the acoustic description of open-mid /ɛ/ and the central vowel /ə/, whose status was previously unclear. Additionally, we find that vowel quality stands orthogonal to vowel quantity by demonstrating that the phonological vowel length distinction is primarily based on a duration cue rather than formant structure. Finally, we report the acoustic properties of the seven vowel qualities that were identified.
Acoustic response and ambient pressure sensitivity characterization of SonoVue for noninvasive pressure estimation
Authors: Azami Roozbeh H. , Forsberg Flemming , Eisenbrey John R. , Sarkar Kausik
Published: April 2024

Subharmonic aided pressure estimation (SHAPE) is a noninvasive pressure measurement technique based on the pressure dependent subharmonic signal from contrast microbubbles. Here, SonoVue microbubble with a sulfur hexafluoride (SF6) core, was investigated for use in SHAPE. The study uses excitations of 25–700 kPa peak negative pressure (PNP) and 3 MHz frequency over eight pressurization cycles between atmospheric pressure and overpressures, ranging from 0 to 25 kPa (0 to 186 mm Hg). The SonoVue subharmonic response was characterized into two types. Unlike other microbubbles, SonoVue showed significant subharmonic signals at low excitations (PNPs, 25–400 kPa), denoted here as type I subharmonic. It linearly decreased with increasing overpressure (–0.52 dB/kPa at 100 kPa PNP). However, over multiple pressurization-depressurization cycles, type I subharmonic changed; its value at atmospheric pressure decreased over multiple cycles, and at later cycles, it recorded an increase in amplitude with overpressure (highest, +13 dB at 50 kPa PNP and 10 kPa overpressure). The subharmonic at higher excitations (PNP > 400 kPa), denoted here as type II subharmonic, showed a consistent decrease with the ambient pressure increase with strongest sensitivity of –0.4 dB/kPa at 500 kPa PNP.
Decoding triancestral origins, archaic introgression, and natural selection in the Japanese population by whole-genome sequencing
Authors: Liu Xiaoxi , Koyama Satoshi , Tomizuka Kohei , Takata Sadaaki , Ishikawa Yuki , Ito Shuji , Kosugi Shunichi , Suzuki Kunihiko , Hikino Keiko , Koido Masaru , Koike Yoshinao , Horikoshi Momoko , Gakuhari Takashi , Ikegawa Shiro , Matsuda Kochi , Momozawa Yukihide , Ito Kaoru , Kamatani Yoichiro , Terao Chikashi
Published: April 2024

We generated Japanese Encyclopedia of Whole-Genome/Exome Sequencing Library (JEWEL), a high-depth whole-genome sequencing dataset comprising 3256 individuals from across Japan. Analysis of JEWEL revealed genetic characteristics of the Japanese population that were not discernible using microarray data. First, rare variant–based analysis revealed an unprecedented fine-scale genetic structure. Together with population genetics analysis, the present-day Japanese can be decomposed into three ancestral components. Second, we identified unreported loss-of-function (LoF) variants and observed that for specific genes, LoF variants appeared to be restricted to a more limited set of transcripts than would be expected by chance, with
PTPRD
as a notable example. Third, we identified 44 archaic segments linked to complex traits, including a Denisovan-derived segment at
NKX6-1
associated with type 2 diabetes. Most of these segments are specific to East Asians. Fourth, we identified candidate genetic loci under recent natural selection. Overall, our work provided insights into genetic characteristics of the Japanese population.