bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Three‐dimensional High‐definition Exoscope in Minimally Invasive Transforaminal Lumbar Interbody Fusion: A Retrospective Cohort Study
Authors: Yao Ya‐Wei , Yao Zhi‐Peng , Jiang Ming , Zhu Wen‐Xiong , Zhu Fang‐qiang , Xiong Cheng‐Jie , Xu Feng
Published: November 2022

Objectives

The operative microscope (OM) has revolutionized the field of modern spine surgery, however, it remains limited by several drawbacks. Recently, the exoscope (EX) system has been designed to assistant spine surgery. It provides a three‐dimensional (3D) high‐definition (HD) operative experience and becomes an alternative to the OM. The aim of the study was to evaluate the clinical outcomes, advantages and limitations of EX‐assisted minimally invasive transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (EMIS‐TLIF) and OM‐assisted MIS‐TLIF (OMIS‐TLIF).

Methods

The clinical outcomes were assessed in 47 patients with lumbar degenerative diseases (LDD) who underwent MIS‐TLIF assisted with the OM or EX between January 2019 and September 2020. A total of 22 were treated with EMIS‐TLIF, and 25 received OMIS‐TLIF. Perioperative parameters (including sex, age, number of fusion levels and body mass index), perioperative parameters (operation time, intraoperative blood loss, postoperative drainage, postoperative hospitalization stay, and duration of follow‐up), visual analogue scale (VAS) of back pain, VAS of leg pain, Oswestry disability index (ODI) scores and clinical outcomes were assessed and compared. Image quality, handling of equipment, ergonomics, 3D glasses and educational usefulness were scored according to a questionnaire.

Results

Operation time in the OMIS‐TLIF group (121.92 ± 16.92 min) was significantly increased compared with that in the EMIS‐TLIF group (111.00 ± 19.87 min) (P < 0.05). The VAS of the back pain and ODI scores in the EMIS‐TLIF group were significantly lower compared with the OMIS‐TLIF group at 1 week postoperatively (P < 0.05). The good‐excellent outcomes rate was 90.91% in the EMIS‐TLIF group and 88.00% in the OMIS‐TLIF group, and there was no significant difference. A total of 44 visits completed the questionnaire. The results of the questionnaire showed that the EX has exhibited advantages regarding handing of equipment, ergonomics and educational usefulness, and comparable image quality as compared with the OM, however, operating surgeons complained uncomfortable sensation when wearing 3D glasses.

Conclusions

The EMIS‐TLIF was a safe and effective procedure in the management of LDD as compared with the OMIS‐LIF. Meanwhile, EMIS‐TLIF might resulted in a short operation time.
Impact of the timing of first appropriate shock on outcomes in patients with an implantable cardioverter‐defibrillator: Early versus late
Authors: Kishihara Makoto , Hattori Hidetoshi , Suzuki Atsushi , Kanai Miwa , Kataoka Shohei , Yazaki Kyoichiro , Kikuchi Noriko , Yagishita Daigo , Minami Yuichiro , Yamaguchi Junichi , Shoda Morio , Hagiwara Nobuhisa
Published: November 2022

Background

Appropriate implantable cardioverter‐defibrillator (ICD) shocks are associated with an increased risk of mortality and heart failure (HF) events. The first appropriate shock may occur late after implantation. However, whether the timing of the first appropriate shock influences prognosis is unknown. This study aimed to evaluate the clinical significance of the timing of the first appropriate shock in patients with ICD.

Methods

This retrospective and observational study enrolled 565 consecutive ICD patients. Patients who received an appropriate shock were divided into the early group (first appropriate shock <1 year after ICD implantation) and late group (first appropriate shock ≥1 year after ICD implantation). All‐cause mortality was compared between the two groups.

Results

Over a median follow‐up of 5.6 years, 112 (19.8%) patients received an appropriate shock, including 32 patients (28.6%) in the early group and 80 patients (71.4%) in the late group. Comparisons of baseline characteristics at ICD implantation revealed that the late group was more likely to receive cardiac resynchronization therapy (66.3% vs. 31.3%, p < 0.001), ICD for primary prevention (60.0% vs. 31.3%, p = 0.001), and angiotensin‐converting enzyme inhibitor or angiotensin‐receptor blocker treatment (88.8% vs. 71.9%, p = 0.028). Survival after shock was significantly worse in the late group than in the early group (p = 0.027). In multivariable Cox proportional hazards analysis, the late group had an increased risk of all‐cause mortality compared with the early group (HR: 2.22; 95% CI 1.01–4.53; p = 0.029). In both groups, the most common cause of death was HF.

Conclusions

Late occurrence of the first appropriate ICD shock was associated with a worse prognosis compared with early occurrence of the first appropriate shock. Cardiac death was the most common cause of death in patients who experienced late occurrence of the first appropriate ICD shock, resulting from HF in most cases.
Algal settling ponds contribute to final effluent quality of integrated algal pond systems for municipal sewage treatment
Authors: Dube Anele , Cowan A. Keith
Published: November 2022

Appropriate wastewater technologies and sound management are crucial to global water quality and conservation. The integrated algal pond system (IAPS), considered an efficient, passive and low‐cost wastewater treatment technology for peri‐urban spaces, is perceived to yield a final effluent unsuitable for discharge. Experiments were carried out to challenge the prevailing perception that algal‐based wastewater treatment processes and in particular IAPS produce an effluent that does not always meet national and/or regional regulatory standards. Formation of a microalgal–bacterial floc (MaB‐flocs) and settleability together with biomass removal from algal settling ponds (ASPs) is shown to reduce total suspended solids (TSS) from >50 to <20 mg L−1. Thus, production of a readily settleable MaB‐floc coupled with removal of settled biomass from ASP ensures that final effluent TSS remains below the general limit of 25 mg L−1 and yields an effluent suitable for either irrigation or discharge.
Developing and testing a cost‐effectiveness analysis to prioritize green infrastructure alternatives for climate change adaptation
Authors: Reu Junqueira Juliana , Serrao‐Neumann Silvia , White Iain
Published: November 2022

Green infrastructure has been increasingly identified as an option to help manage climate change impacts in urban areas, although its implementation is still not widely promoted in urban planning. This is because of the lack of detailed analysis for decision‐makers regarding construction and maintenance costs for different types and how effective various measures are at managing precipitation at a catchment scale. This paper contributes to fill this gap in knowledge by developing a green infrastructure cost‐effectiveness ranking index (GICRI) able to evaluate the stormwater runoff volume reduction of multiple green infrastructure alternatives under different climate change scenarios, over differing spatial configurations and combining this performance data with their construction and maintenance costs. After applying this model over two case study areas, this paper provides three main insights. First, climate change projections have a significant impact on green infrastructure cost‐effectiveness. Second, as green infrastructure cost‐effectiveness is influenced by the spatial scale, there are different challenges for larger cities and smaller regional towns. Building on this, the paper argues that GICRI can be a simple and fast heuristic to increase the use of green infrastructure by informing decision‐makers regarding how and where to prioritize investment or where greater modelling is needed.
Towards agricultural groundwater sustainability behaviour: Effects of place attachment
Authors: Salehi Saeid , Bijani Masoud
Published: November 2022

The study aimed to analyse the causal effects of place attachment (PA) on farmers' groundwater (GW) sustainability behaviour using the developed model of cultural environmental bias (CEB). The analysis unit in this descriptive and causal study was the hydrological areas of GW resources studies and Agricultural GW Users (AGWU) of agricultural wells. Causal analysis showed that place identity structure (PI) is a strong determinant of GW sustainability behaviour and has the most direct and indirect causal effect on farmers' behaviour. The fitted model of the study is a combined model that explains 47% of the variance changes in GW sustainability behaviour. This study showed that in cultural and social contexts, beliefs and norms of farmers are vital in the decisions of the agriculture sector. Farmers' place attachment affects environmental cultural beliefs and activities and their public participation for the purpose of environmental‐groundwater sustainability.
Possible protective effect of zinc administration on renal and cognitive changes occurring in uninephrectomized adult male Wistar rats
Authors: Basta Marianne , Yassin Hend A. , Aly Rania G. , El Sayed Norhan S.
Published: November 2022

Cognitive impairment is increasingly recognized as an important consequence of kidney disease in humans. Kidney donation is a safe procedure but is known to increase the long‐term risk of cardiovascular and kidney disease. Whether kidney donation impairs cognitive function is not known. In the present study, we examined whether the renal changes occurring post‐nephrectomy were accompanied by cognitive changes as well, and whether early administration of zinc supplements such as ZnSO4 to uninephrectomized (UNX) rats could ameliorate the renal and cognitive changes if present. The present study included 30 adult male Wistar rats that were randomly assigned to three groups (n = 10 per group): sham‐operated rats, UNX and UNX treated with ZnSO4 for 20 weeks. Before termination, rats were subjected to 24‐h urine collection and behavioural testing with the Morris water maze and T maze tests. UNX induced significant proteinuria, renal functional, fibrotic and oxidative changes, as well as increased renal desmin expression. UNX rats also showed significant behavioural changes indicating spatial learning and memory affection, together with decreased hippocampal brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and antioxidant capacity, and increased glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), nitric oxide and malondialdehyde. In addition, UNX induced significant hyperglycaemia and dyslipidaemia, as well as significant reduction in serum zinc, copper and selenium. Early administration of ZnSO4 starting 1 week post‐nephrectomy significantly ameliorated renal and behavioural changes, as well as hippocampal oxidative, BDNF and GFAP changes. Additionally, Zn recovered serum changes of triglycerides, cholesterol, zinc and copper. Therefore, early administration of zinc to humans undergoing nephrectomy may be of benefit and should be considered in human trials.
Changes in microvascular perfusion of heart and skeletal muscle in sheep around the time of birth
Authors: Hagen Matthew W. , Louey Samantha , Alaniz Sarah M. , Belcik Todd , Muller Matthew M. , Brown Laura , Lindner Jonathan R. , Jonker Sonnet S.
Published: November 2022

Microvascular perfusion of striated muscle is an important determinant of health throughout life. Birth is a transition with profound effects on the growth and function of striated muscle, but the regulation of microvascular perfusion around this transition is poorly understood. We used contrast‐enhanced ultrasound perfusion imaging (CEUS) to study the perfusion of left ventricular myocardium and hindlimb biceps femoris, which are populations of muscle with different degrees of change in pre‐ to postnatal workloads and different capacities for postnatal proliferative growth. We studied separate groups of lambs in late gestation (135 days’ gestational age; 92% of term) and shortly after birth (5 days’ postnatal age). We used CEUS to quantify baseline perfusion, perfusion during hyperaemia induced by adenosine infusion (myocardium) or electrically stimulated unloaded exercise (skeletal muscle), flow reserve and oxygen delivery. We found heart‐to‐body weight ratio was greater in neonates than fetuses. Microvascular volume and overall perfusion were lower in neonates than fetuses in both muscle groups at baseline and with hyperaemia. Flux rate differed with muscle group, with myocardial flux being faster in neonates than fetuses, but skeletal muscle flux being slower. Oxygen delivery to skeletal muscle at baseline was lower in neonates than fetuses, but was not significantly different in myocardium. Flow reserve was not different between ages. Given the significant somatic growth, and the transition from hyperplastic to hypertrophic myocyte growth occurring in the perinatal period, we postulate that the primary driver of lower neonatal striated muscle perfusion is faster growth of myofibres than their associated capillary networks.
Avaliação de aspectos assistenciais, organizacionais e laborais na perspectiva dos profissionais de Enfermagem
Authors: Silva Dutra Herica , Costa Alexandre Neusa Maria , De Brito Guirardello Edinêis
Published: November 2022

Introdução: a equipe de enfermagem desempenha um papel importante no contexto da saúde, no qual é necessário alinhar o controle dos elevados custos com a segurança e a qualidade assistencial, o que pode contribuir para as decisões de gestão e para a concepção de políticas públicas capazes de influenciar os resultados para os profissionais, pacientes e serviços de saúde. Objetivo: avaliar as condições de trabalho, qualidade dos cuidados de enfermagem, satisfação profissional e intenção de permanecer no trabalho atual e na profissão na perspectiva dos profissionais de enfermagem. Métodos: Foi um estudo transversal, descritivo e correlacional realizado em três hospitais gerais no Brasil. Os dados foram coletados com apoio de formulário contendo caracterização pessoal e profissional e da avaliação dos cuidados, aspectos organizacionais e de trabalho. Resultados: participaram um total de 452 profissionais de enfermagem. Os profissionais de enfermagem estão satisfeitos com o seu trabalho, reportaram a sua intenção de permanecer no trabalho atual e na profissão durante os próximos 12 meses e reportaram boas condições de trabalho. Conclusão: a instituição que teve acreditação hospitalar apresentou melhores resultados, sugerindo que as certificações de qualidade podem favorecer a percepção dos profissionais de enfermagem a respeito da avaliação dos cuidados, aspectos organizacionais e de trabalho.
Experimental Investigation of Air Cooling With/Out Tab Cooling in Cell and Module Levels for Thermal Uniformity in Battery Packs
Authors: Gocmen Sinan , Cetkin Erdal
Published: November 2022

Catastrophic effects of global warming and environmental pollution are becoming more evident each day, and reduction in fossil fuel consumption is an urgent need. Thus, electric vehicles powered by sustainable energy sources are becoming a major interest. However, there are some challenges such as safety, limited range, long charging times, and battery life which are inhibitory to the adaptation of them. One of the biggest reasons for these challenges is the relationship between battery degradation and temperature which can be eliminated if batteries can be kept at the optimum temperature range. Here, the effects of three distinct (natural convection, forced convection, and tab cooling) methodology were experimentally compared at both the cell and module levels (six serial 7.5 Ah Kokam pouch cells, 1P6S) for thermal management of lithium-ion cells. The experiments were conducted at a discharge rate of 3C with ambient temperatures of 24 °C and 29 °C. The cell-level test results show that the tab cooling yields 32.5% better thermal uniformity in comparison to the other techniques. Furthermore, tab cooling yields better temperature uniformity with and without air convection as the hot spots occurring near the tabs is eliminated. For the module level, the forced air convection method stands out as the best option with a 4.3% temperature deviation between cells and maximum cell temperature of 39 °C. Overall, the results show that a hybrid approach with tab cooling would be beneficial in terms of temperature homogeneity especially in high capacity electric vehicle battery cells.
Artificial Intelligence for Power Electronics in Electric Vehicles: Challenges and Opportunities
Authors: Paret Paul , Finegan Donal , Narumanchi Sreekant
Published: November 2022

Progress in the field of power electronics within electric vehicles has generally been driven by conventional engineering design principles and experiential learning. Power electronics is inherently a multidomain field where semiconductor physics and electrical, thermal, and mechanical design knowledge converge to achieve a practical realization of desired targets in the form of conversion efficiency, power density, and reliability. Due to the promising nature of artificial intelligence in delivering rapid results, engineers are starting to explore the ways in which it can contribute to making power electronics more compact and reliable. Here, we conduct a brief review of the foray of artificial intelligence in three distinct subtechnologies within a power electronics system in the context of electric vehicles: semiconductor devices, power electronics module design and prognostics, and thermal management design. The intent is not to report an exhaustive literature review, but to identify the state of the art and opportunities for artificial intelligence to play a meaningful role in power electronics design from a mechanical and thermal standpoint, as well as to discuss a few promising future research directions.
Comparative Assessment of Biomechanical Parameters in Subjects With Multiple Cerebral Aneurysms Using Fluid–Structure Interaction Simulations
Authors: Shidhore Tanmay C. , Cohen-Gadol Aaron A. , Rayz Vitaliy L. , Christov Ivan C.
Published: November 2022

Cerebral aneurysm progression is a result of a complex interplay of the biomechanical and clinical risk factors that drive aneurysmal growth and rupture. Subjects with multiple aneurysms are unique cases wherein clinical risk factors are expected to affect each aneurysm equally, thus allowing for disentangling the effect of biomechanical factors on aneurysmal growth. Toward this end, we performed a comparative computational fluid–structure interaction analysis of aneurysmal biomechanics in image-based models of stable and growing aneurysms in the same subjects, using the cardiovascular simulation platform simvascular. We observed that areas exposed to low shear and the median peak systolic arterial wall displacement were higher by factors of 2 or more and 1.5, respectively, in growing aneurysms as compared to stable aneurysms. Furthermore, we defined a novel metric, the oscillatory stress index (OStI), which indicates locations of oscillating arterial wall stresses. We observed that growing aneurysms were characterized by regions of combined low wall shear and high OStI, which we hypothesize to be associated with regions of collagen degradation and remodeling. Such regions were either absent or below 5% of the surface area in stable aneurysms. Our results lay the groundwork for future studies in larger cohorts of subjects, to evaluate the statistical significance of these biomechanical parameters in cerebral aneurysm growth.
Once You See It, You Can’t Unsee It? Racial Justice Activism and Articulations of Whiteness Among White Collegiate Athlete Activists
Authors: Kluch Yannick , Calow Emma , Martin Eric M. , Scheadler Travis R. , Mac Intosh Andrew , Jolly Shannon
Published: November 2022

The goal of this study was to examine how athletes holding privileged racial identities understand their whiteness as they engage in racial justice activism. Drawing from 12 semistructured interviews with white collegiate athletes who have engaged in activism for racial justice, we identified four higher order themes which we situate within a broader discussion of how each theme either reinforces or disrupts racial power: articulations of (a) racial consciousness, (b) white privilege, (c) white empathy, and (d) white accountability. While the white accountability theme has the potential to disrupt racial power due to its relying on rigorous self-critique, the remaining themes pointed to limited understandings of the systemic nature of racism, which can thus inadvertently (re)produce white supremacy even when engaging in activism for racial justice. Limitations, implications, and future directions for research are discussed to empower more white athletes to reflect critically on whiteness and facilitate systemic change.
Reflow transfer for conformal three-dimensional microprinting
Authors: Zabow G.
Published: November 2022

From microcircuits to metamaterials, the micropatterning of surfaces adds valuable functionality. For nonplanar surfaces, incompatibility with conventional microlithography requires the transfer of originally planar micropatterns onto those surfaces; however, existing approaches accommodate only limited curvatures. A microtransfer approach was developed using reflowable materials that transform between solid and liquid on demand, freely stretching to yield transfers that naturally conform down to nanoscale radii of curvature and arbitrarily complex topographies. Such reflow transfer helps generalize microprinting, extending the reach of precision planar microlithography to highly nonplanar substrates and microstructures. With gentle water-based processing, reflow transfer can be applied to a range of materials, with microprinting demonstrated onto metal, plastic, paper, glass, polystyrene, semiconductor, elastomer, hydrogel, and multiple biological surfaces.
Synchronous carcinoma of thyroglossal duct cyst and native thyroid gland
Authors: Devaraja K , Malapure Sumeet Suresh , Neeraj R , Chandrappa Deepa Hunasaghatta
Published: November 2022

The unobliterated portion of embryological thyroglossal duct may present as cystic swelling later in life and may contain functional thyroid follicles. This cyst requires excision along with the entire thyroglossal duct remnant and adjacent portion of hyoid bone. At times, the excised specimen could demonstrate a focus of carcinomatous change inside the cyst wall. Very rarely, this thyroglossal duct cyst carcinoma could be associated with malignancy of native thyroid gland. This case report illustrates an interesting case of synchronous carcinoma of thyroglossal duct cyst and native thyroid gland. It also sheds light on the controversies related to the pathophysiology of such association and the dilemmas surrounding the management of thyroglossal duct cyst carcinoma, with or without concurrent carcinoma of thyroid gland.
Use of path analysis to predict changes to community pharmacy and GP emergency hormonal contraception (EHC) provision in England
Authors: Thayer Nick , White Simon , Frisher Martin
Published: November 2022

Objectives

In 2014/2015, 46% of community pharmacies were commissioned by local authorities to provide emergency hormonal contraception (EHC) free without prescription in England. Commissioning EHC services influences EHC prescribing from General Practice (GP)—greater community pharmacy provision reduces GP prescribing. This study aimed to examine predictors of GP and pharmacy EHC activity, describing them using path analysis. From this, commissioners and policy-makers may understand ways to influence this.

Study design

Cross-sectional study of routinely recorded data, obtained through freedom of information requests to local authorities.

Setting

Community pharmacies and general practices in England, UK.

Participants

All local authorities in England were included in the study (147 areas). The study population were all girls, adolescents and women aged 12–55. Of the 147 areas, data from 80 local authorities were obtained covering an eligible female population of 9 380 153.

Primary and secondary outcome measures

Correlation between community pharmacy and GP EHC activity.

Results

Data from 80 local authorities were analysed, representing 60% of the eligible female population in England. A significant negative correlation was found between rates of community pharmacy provision and GP prescribing (−0.458, p<0.000). Community pharmacy provision and the proportion of pharmacies commissioned were significantly correlated (0.461, p<0.000). A significant correlation was found between increased deprivation and community pharmacy provision (0.287, p=0.010). Standardised total effects on GP prescribing were determined from path analysis including community pharmacy provision (ß=−0.552) and proportion of pharmacies commissioned (ß=−0.299). If all community pharmacies were commissioned to provide EHC, GP EHC prescriptions could decrease by 15%.

Conclusion

Community pharmacy EHC provision has a significant influence on GP EHC prescribing. Increasing the proportion of commissioned community pharmacies should have a marked impact on GP workload. The methodology affords the possibility of examining relationships surrounding other commissioned service activity across different settings and their impact on linked care settings.
Quality evaluation of clinical practice guidelines for thromboprophylaxis in orthopaedic trauma based on AGREE II and AGREE-REX: a systematic review protocol
Authors: He Ling-Xiao , Xie Jing-Ying , Lv Juan , Liu Huan , Liao Deng-Bin , Wang Guang-Lin , Ning Ning , Zhou Zong-Ke
Published: November 2022

Introduction

Orthopaedic trauma patients are at high risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE). As VTE prophylaxis has gradually raised public concerns, guidelines related to this topic have increased over time. However, the existing recommendations of thromboprophylaxis guidelines in orthopaedic trauma patients are still inconsistent, and the quality of the guidelines and recommendations for the topic still lacks comprehensive assessments. This review aims to critically appraise clinical practice guidelines for thromboprophylaxis in orthopaedic trauma patients.

Methods and analysis

We will conduct a comprehensive literature search up to 31 October 2022 in databases (PubMed, EMBASE, CINAHL, Web of Science, the Cochrane Library, etc), academic websites and guideline repositories. The quality of the guidelines and recommendations will be assessed by five reviewers independently using the Appraisal of Guidelines Research and Evaluation II instrument (AGREE-II) and the AGREE - Recommendation EXcellence (AGREE-REX). We will summarise the characteristics of the guidelines and compare the differences between these recommendations.

Ethics and dissemination

This study will follow the Declaration of Helsinki and has received approval from the Ethics Committee on Biomedical Research, West China Hospital, Sichuan University (ethics approval no. 2021-989). The results will be summarised as a paper, disseminated through peer-reviewed journals, and will help guide further research in the future.

Protocol registration number

CRD42021273405.
Comparing the effectiveness of type of the traditional Chinese exercises, frequency, intensity, time in osteoporosis: a protocol for systematic evaluation and network meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials
Authors: Chen Haifeng , Zhang Ruikun , Yan Kun , Wang Wenyi , Chen Zhineng , Yao Xinmiao
Published: November 2022

Introduction

As populations age, osteoporosis has become a hot topic of global public concern. The beneficial effects of traditional Chinese exercises on the musculoskeletal system have been demonstrated. However, previous research findings on osteoporosis are inconsistent, and it is unclear which type of exercise and its frequency and duration have the best effect on osteoporosis. This study aims to investigate the most appropriate exercise modality for people with osteoporosis through systematic evaluation and network meta-analysis to guide clinical practice.

Methods and analysis

The Cochrane Library, Web of Science, MEDLINE, Embase, China Biomedical Literature, China Knowledge Network, China Science and Technology Journal and Wanfang databases will be searched until January 2022. The language of the articles should be English or Chinese. All clinical randomised controlled trials on the effect of traditional Chinese exercises on osteoporosis will be included. We will use RevMan, Stata and GeMTC software to complete our network meta-analysis. We will perform risk of bias assessment, subgroup analysis and sensitivity analysis to correct the results. Finally, we will use the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation guideline development tool and Confidence in Network Meta-Analysis (CINeMA, a new method for assessing CINeMA results) approach to evaluate the reliability of our final results.

Ethics and dissemination

All data for this study will be obtained from published studies, so no ethical review will be needed. We will publish the results of the study in a peer-reviewed journal.

PROSPERO registration number

CRD42022323622.
Burden of active pulmonary tuberculosis among patients with diabetes in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania: a cross-sectional study
Authors: Makuka Gerald Jamberi , Balandya Emmanuel , Munseri Patricia
Published: November 2022

Objectives

We aimed to determine the prevalence, associated factors and describe the chest radiographic findings for active pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) among patients with diabetes mellitus (DM) attending a diabetic clinic in Tanzania.

Design

Cross-sectional study.

Setting

A diabetic clinic at Temeke Regional Referral Hospital in Dar es salaam, Tanzania.

Participants

Patients with diabetes.

Main outcome measures

The prevalence and factors associated with active TB in patients with DM.

Results

Among 623 patients with DM screened, 11 (1.8%); 95% CI 0.9 to 3.1, had active TB of which 6 (54.5%) were GeneXpert positive and 5 (45.5%) were diagnosed based on clinical symptoms and suggestive chest radiographs. The risk of active TB was lower in patients aged 45–64 years compared with age below 45 years (adjusted prevalence ratio (aPR) 0.39, 95% CI (0.11 to 0.42), p=0.001) and in patients with normal chest examination findings compared with patients with crackles or bronchial breathing sounds (aPR 0.02, 95% CI (0.01 to 0.15), p<0.01). The predominant chest radiographic findings were opacification 100% mainly in the upper and mid-lung zones.

Conclusion

Diabetics should be screened for pulmonary TB, particularly among individuals aged 45 years and below with crackles or bronchial breathing on auscultation of the chest. High index of suspicion could help in the early detection and control of TB.
Risk assessment of occupational skin cancer among outdoor workers in southern Spain: local pilot study
Authors: de Troya Martín Magdalena , Aguilar Sierra , Aguilera-Arjona José , Rivas-Ruiz Francisco , Rodríguez-Martínez Alba , de Castro-Maqueda Guillermo , Cambil-Martín Jacobo , de Gálvez-Aranda Victoria , Blázquez-Sánchez Nuria
Published: November 2022

Objective

Overexposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation is the main preventable cause of skin cancer. Outdoor workers, exposed to the sun for many hours throughout their working lives, are at special risk. The aim of this study is to determine occupational photoexposure and photoprotection among outdoor workers employed by a municipality in southern Spain.

Methods

Cross-sectional descriptive study focusing on outdoor workers employed by the municipality of Fuengirola (in areas such as construction, gardening, urban cleaning and beach maintenance). The participants were monitored by personal dosimetry, participated in a dermatological check-up and answered a validated questionnaire (CHACES) on their habits, attitudes and knowledge related to sun exposure.

Results

The median effective erythema dose of exposure to solar UV radiation during the working day (n=20) was 379.4 J/m2, equivalent to 3.8 standard erythema doses, almost 3 times higher than the recommended limits for an 8-hour workday. Skin examination (n=128) revealed the presence of actinic lentigines (79.7%), actinic keratoses (8.6%) and skin cancer (3.9%). The CHACES questionnaire (n=128) revealed a sunburn rate of 50.0%. Photoprotection practices were markedly deficient: only 16.7% of the survey respondents sought protection in the shade, 20.3% avoided exposure during the peak exposure hours and 33.1% applied sunscreen.

Conclusions

This is the first study to evaluate UV radiation exposure, occupational sun protection practices, sunburn and actinic injuries of different outdoor workers in one of the sunniest regions of Spain and underlines the need for effective interventions to protect outdoor workers’ health.
Advanced thallium toxicity
Authors: Zou Henry , Zou Simeon
Published: November 2022

Thallium is a highly toxic tasteless, odourless and water-soluble metal that can be absorbed through the skin, inhaled or ingested. Due to the rarity of thallium toxicity, it is frequently misdiagnosed or the diagnosis is delayed. We report a 41-year-old male landscaper admitted for acute polyneuropathy and abdominal pain. He was treated for suspected Guillain-Barré syndrome and later autoimmune encephalopathy. However, over the next 42 days, he developed worsening muscle weakness, delirium and alopecia, and was diagnosed with thallium toxicity. After combining Prussian blue, activated charcoal and continuous venovenous haemofiltration, he improved though with neuropsychiatric and neuromuscular sequelae. We highlight the need to manage information disclosure properly and to preserve evidence, when the source of a toxin is unclear.
Ginseng as a Key Immune Response Modulator in Chinese Medicine: From Antipandemic History to COVID-19 Management
Authors: Liu Yanyi , Xia Kun , Liu Shixu , Wang Wei , Li Guangxi
Published: November 2022

The cytokine storm plays an indispensable role in the severe and critical illness and death of the COVID-19 vulnerable population. Thus, suppressing the cytokine storm is of great significance. Ginseng is a traditional Chinese herb originally used for improving physiological conditions and ameliorating disease. Common throughout the history of ancient Chinese medicine is utilizing ginseng as a major ingredient to successfully fight various pandemics, and the most famous decoction is Renshen Baidu powder. In recent years, ginseng has been observed to provide preventive and therapeutic benefits in the treatment of various conditions by suppressing hyper-inflammation, inhibiting virus intrusion, and balancing the host’s immunity. This paper summarizes the ancient Chinese medicine books’ recordings of, the clinical practice of, and the laboratory exploration of ginseng for the treatment of pandemics and COVID-19. Ginseng and its active ingredients were found to downregulate inflammatory cytokines, upregulate anti-inflammatory cytokines, stimulate the secretion of the antiviral cytokine IFN-[Formula: see text], prevent viral entry and replication, and improve viral clearance. Furthermore, ginseng modulates both natural and acquired immunity during viral infection. Collectively, we propose that ginseng can act as a key immune response modulator against the cytokine storm of COVID-19. This paper may provide a new approach to discover specific medications using ginseng to combat COVID-19.
Charged Lepton Flavor Violating Decays ei → ejekēl in the 3-3-1 model with inverse seesaw neutrino
Authors: Hong T. T. , Bich P. T. , Phuong L. T. T. , Thanh T. T. , Thao N. H.
Published: November 2022

By implementing the inverse seesaw mechanism into the well-known 3-3-1 model in order to explain the experimental data of neutrino oscillation, the 3-3-1 model can predict promoting signals of the lepton flavor violating decays [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text]. In this work, we introduce analytic formulas of one-loop contributions to decays [Formula: see text] predicted by this model. Numerical results show that there exist regions of the parameter space that allow these decay branching ratios to reach the planned experimental sensitivities and satisfy all upper experimental constraints of the branching ratios [Formula: see text]. The analytic formulas introduced in this work will be very useful for studying these decays in new extended versions of the 3-3-1 model explaining successfully the experimental data of anomalous magnetic moments of charged leptons [Formula: see text].
Research on the Implementation Path of Enterprise Strategic Property Management from the Perspective of Technological Innovation
Authors: Wu Shuo
Published: November 2022

The aim of this paper is to improve the innovation level and innovation performance of enterprise strategic property management technology. Also, this paper studies the implementation path of enterprise strategic property management from the perspective of technological innovation by analysing the opportunities and challenges faced by the enterprise’s intellectual property management, building an enterprise strategic property rights management system with the company’s intellectual property organisation management, intellectual property value management, and intellectual property strategic management as the core; establishing SC’s intellectual property management system by stages, adopt a phased approach to build SC’s intellectual property management system and by increasing corporate profitability through intellectual property transfer, licensing and other activities. Through intellectual property management, it provides a strong guarantee for enterprises to make profits. Interviews and investigations were conducted with KT company in the field of temperature control, QR company in the field of energy saving and environmental protection, and JZ company in the field of biomedicine. Only by basing itself on its own reality and market demand, gradually improving the level of technological innovation, and planning and implementing the strategy of independent intellectual property rights, can the performance of technological innovation be effectively improved.
Artificial Intelligence-Oriented User Interface Design and Human Behavior Recognition based on Human–Computer Nature Interaction
Authors: Han Xiao , Huang Dong , Eun-Lee Sang , Hoon-Yang Jong
Published: November 2022

This work is to explore the application of intelligent algorithms based on deep learning in human–computer interaction systems, hoping to promote the development of human–computer interaction systems in the field of behavior recognition. Firstly, the design scheme of the human–computer interaction system is presented, and the establishment of the robot visual positioning system is emphasized. Then, the fast-region convolutional neural networks (fast-RCNN) algorithm is introduced, and it is combined with deep convolutional residual network (ResNet101). A candidate region extraction algorithm based on ResNet and long short-term memory network is proposed, and a residual network (ResNet) for spatial context memory is proposed. Both algorithms are employed in human–computer interaction systems. Finally, the performance of the algorithm and the human–computer interaction system are analyzed and characterized. The results show that the proposed candidate region extraction algorithm can significantly reduce the loss value of training set and test set after training. In addition, the corresponding accuracy, recall, and F-value of the model are all above 0.98, which proves that the model has a good detection accuracy. Spatial context memory ResNet shows good accuracy in speech expression detection. The detection accuracy of single attribute, double attribute, and multi-attribute speech expression is above 89%, and the detection accuracy is good. In summary, the human–computer interaction system shows good performance in capturing target objects, even for unlabeled objects, the corresponding grasping success rate is 95%. Therefore, this work provides a theoretical basis and reference for the application of intelligent optimization algorithm in human–computer interaction system.
Chapter 1. Introduction
Authors: Copestake Philip
Published: November 2022

Sequence stratigraphy has become a powerful tool in the basin analysis of the North Sea Basin, and will continue to be important in the maximization of the remaining hydrocarbon resources of Jurassic reservoirs in the region, whilst also moving through the energy transition.

This chapter provides background to the main theme of this memoir, which is the description of a revised sequence stratigraphy scheme for the Jurassic–lowermost Cretaceous of the region, recognizing 39 stratigraphic sequences (‘J sequences’).

The sequences are illustrated by 85 reference wells (56 UK wells, 22 Norway wells and seven Denmark wells), showing chronostratigraphy, lithostratigraphy, wireline logs and key biostratigraphic markers. The reference wells illustrate sequence development, together with their lower and upper boundaries. Comparisons of the North Sea Jurassic sequences with onshore outcrop sections, from the UK, demonstrate that many of the sequences can be recognized onshore. A comparison of the well sequences with seismic sequences is made in 17 illustrated seismic lines, demonstrating the seismic expression of many of the defined sequences.

The recognition of a consistent set of stratigraphic sequences across the region allows a much better understanding of the development of the whole area during the Jurassic, which is currently hindered by the existence of multiple local and semi-regional lithostratigraphic schemes, in particular the differing notations that are utilized in the various international offshore jurisdictions that exist across the area.
Chapter 8. Controls on North Sea Jurassic–lowermost Cretaceous sequence development
Authors: Copestake Philip
Published: November 2022

Of 40 recognized Jurassic–earliest Cretaceous sequence boundaries or surfaces, 21 are considered to have had a primary tectonic control on their generation, particularly during the Bathonian–Berriasian interval of synrift-dominated tectonism. These boundaries include the intra-J22 sequence boundary, the base J36, the base J54, the base J55, the intra-J56 transgressive surface, the base J62, the base J63, the base J64, the base J71, the base J73 and the top J76 (‘Base Cretaceous’). In the study area, these events all occurred within a marine setting and none can be unequivocally matched to times of subaerial exposure or coastal onlap. Ten Jurassic sequence surfaces appear to have had a primary eustatic control on their generation, some of which are also associated with the deposition of major marine source-rock facies, including the base J18 and the base J74.
Chapter 4. Sequence stratigraphy scheme for the Middle Jurassic of the North Sea area
Authors: Copestake Philip , Partington Mark A.
Published: November 2022

This chapter describes Middle Jurassic second-order sequences J20 and J30, and their component third-order sequences, J22–J26 and J32–J36.

The J22 sequence contains the major Intra-Aalenian Unconformity (‘Mid-Cimmerian’) across a wide area of the North Sea Basin and an equivalent event onshore UK. The base J24 (Lower Bajocian) is marked by the Rannoch Shale (Brent Group) and by the flooding of the Ollach Sandstone, Hebrides Basin. The base J26 (Upper Bajocian) ties to the Mid Ness Shale (Brent Group) and the base of the Upper Trigonia Grit Member, central England.

The base J32 (Upper Bajocian) ties to the base of the Tarbert Formation, the base of the Great Oolite Group in central England and the base of the Great Estuarine Group, Hebrides Basin. The base J33 (Middle Bathonian) falls within the Tarbert Formation and the base of the Taynton Limestone, central England. The base J34 (uppermost Middle Bathonian) commonly falls at the top of the Brent Group. The base J36 (uppermost Bathonian) represents a major increase in marine influence, at the base of the Beatrice Formation, in the Inner Moray Firth and at the base of the Staffin Bay Formation, Hebrides Basin.
Kasimovian floristic change in tropical wetlands and the Middle–Late Pennsylvanian Boundary Event
Authors: DiMichele William A. , Eble Cortland F. , Pfefferkorn Hermann W. , Elrick Scott D. , Nelson W. John , Lucas Spencer G.
Published: November 2022

A threshold-like vegetational change in tropical wetlands occurred in the early Kasimovian (the US Desmoinesian–Missourian boundary) – Event 3. Two earlier significant changes occurred, first in the mid-Moscovian (Atokan–Desmoinesian; ∼Bolsovian–Asturian) – Event 1, and the second in the late Moscovian (mid-Desmoinesian; mid-Asturian) – Event 2. These changes occurred during a time period of dynamic and complex physical change in Euramerican Pangaea driven by changes in polar ice volume and accompanying changes in sea level, atmospheric circulation, rainfall, and temperature. During the Event 3 change, hyperbolized as ‘the Carboniferous rainforest collapse’, lycopsid dominance of (mostly peat) swamps changed to marattialean tree-fern and medullosan pteridosperm dominance, and biodiversity decreased. Event 3 encompassed one glacial–interglacial cycle and included vegetational turnover in other wetland habitats. For several subsequent glacial–interglacial cycles peatland dominance varied, known from palynology, before stabilizing. These vegetational changes likely reflect climatic events driving unidirectional, non-reversible wetland vegetational changes, during cooler, wetter parts of glacial–interglacial cycles. Discussion is complicated by different placements of crucial stratigraphic boundaries, but under the same names, compromising both clear communication and understanding of the literature. Not the least is the floating base of the Cantabrian Substage, together with the position of the Westphalian–Stephanian Stage boundary.
On the Vulnerability of Graph Learning-based Collaborative Filtering
Authors: Xu Senrong , Li Liangyue , Li Zenan , Yao Yuan , Xu Feng , Chen Zulong , Lu Quan , Tong Hanghang
Published: November 2022

Graph learning-based collaborative filtering (GLCF), which is built upon the message-passing mechanism of graph neural networks (GNNs), has received great recent attention and exhibited superior performance in recommender systems. However, although GNNs can be easily compromised by adversarial attacks as shown by the prior work, little attention has been paid to the vulnerability of GLCF. Questions like can GLCF models be just as easily fooled as GNNs remain largely unexplored. In this article, we propose to study the vulnerability of GLCF. Specifically, we first propose an adversarial attack against CLCF. Considering the unique challenges of attacking GLCF, we propose to adopt the greedy strategy in searching for the local optimal perturbations and design a reasonable attacking utility function to handle the non-differentiable ranking-oriented metrics. Next, we propose a defense to robustify GCLF. The defense is based on the observation that attacks usually introduce suspicious interactions into the graph to manipulate the message-passing process. We then propose to measure the suspicious score of each interaction and further reduce the message weight of suspicious interactions. We also give a theoretical guarantee of its robustness. Experimental results on three benchmark datasets show the effectiveness of both our attack and defense.
Multi-bit Data Flow Error Detection Method Based on SDC Vulnerability Analysis
Authors: Yan Zujia , Zhuang Yi , Zheng Weining , Gu Jingjing
Published: November 2022

One of the most difficult data flow errors to detect caused by single-event upsets in space radiation is the Silent Data Corruption (SDC). To solve the problem of multi-bit upsets causing program SDC, an instruction multi-bit SDC vulnerability prediction model based on one-class support vector machine classification is built using SDC vulnerability analysis, which has more accurate vulnerability instruction identification capabilities. By hardening the program with selective instruction redundancy, we propose a multi-bit data flow error detection method for detecting SDC error (SDCVA-OCSVM), aiming to protect the data in the memory or register used by the program. We have also verified the effectiveness of the method through comparative experiments. The method has been verified to have a higher error detection rate and lower code size and time overhead.