bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
gsstSIM: A high‐performance and synchronized similarity analysis method of spatiotemporal trajectory based on grid model representation
Authors: Li Jun , Liu Juqing , Qiao Linwei , Zhang Yaoyuan , Lu Wenle , Zhang Chengye , Huang Qian , Wang Hao
Published: May 2022

Existing spatiotemporal similarity analysis methods for trajectories have the problems of spatiotemporal unsynchronization and low efficiency in processing large‐scale datasets, which cannot satisfy the increasingly urgent requirements of real‐time or quasi‐real‐time applications. To address these problems, this article proposes a grid‐based and synchronized spatiotemporal similarity analysis method based on the spatiotemporal grid model called gsstSIM. First, a low‐dimensional and multi‐scale trajectory coding representation is implemented based on the spatiotemporal grid model. Second, a synchronized spatiotemporal similarity measure is proposed based on trajectory codes. It transforms the similarity analysis from complex geometric calculations to simple algebraic operations of code sets, which reduces the computational complexity. In addition, the trajectory encoding representation with space‐time collinearity enables gsstSIM to measure the synchronized spatiotemporal similarity. Third, the efficient Multi‐scale grid index, called MSGrid, is established to realize fast query of top‐K similar trajectories for large‐scale datasets. Experimental results demonstrate that gsstSIM is more robust to noise positioning points and various sampling rates than the state‐of‐the‐art algorithms STLCSS, TWS and SWS. It can achieve a second‐level response of spatiotemporal similarity query in processing large‐scale datasets, which is much faster than existing algorithms. The proposed method has promising to support the applications with high time‐efficiency requirements such as epidemic tracking and traffic condition calculation.
Preoperative computed tomographic evaluation of neonatal foals with rib fractures
Authors: Garrett Katherine S. , Embertson Rolf M. , Hopper Scott A. , Woodie J. Brett , McQuerry Kristen J.
Published: May 2022

Objective

To compare ultrasonographic and computed tomographic findings in neonatal foals prior to surgical repair of rib fractures as well as postoperative outcomes in foals with and without preoperative thoracic computed tomography (CT).

Study design

Retrospective cohort study.

Sample population

43 neonatal foals undergoing surgical treatment of rib fractures between 2013 and 2021.

Methods

Medical records were reviewed for age, sex, delivery method, comorbidities, presurgical anesthetic time, surgical time, number and location of fractured ribs identified with ultrasound and CT, number and location of ribs surgically repaired, survival to discharge, and post‐mortem findings. Statistical analyses were performed using chi‐square, Fisher's exact, and t‐tests.

Results

Twenty‐two foals underwent surgical repair of rib fractures after preoperative CT from 2019–2021 (median: 4/18/20) and 21 foals were anesthetized (20 underwent repair) for surgical repair of rib fractures without preoperative CT from 2013–2020 (median: 4/9/15). Ultrasound and CT findings differed in number and location of fractured ribs in 13/17 (76%) foals (p = .049). More cranially positioned ribs were identified as fractured with CT than with ultrasonography (p = .035). Survival to discharge was improved when foals underwent CT (20/22, 91%) than when they did not (12/20, 60%, p = .019).

Conclusion

Ultrasound findings differed from CT findings in most foals. Foals evaluated with CT were more likely to survive to hospital discharge.

Clinical significance

When available, CT is recommended prior to surgical repair of rib fractures in neonatal foals.
Solving Three-Dimensional Path Planning Problem Using a Visibility-Based Graphical Representation of the Design Space
Authors: Masoudi Nafiseh , Fadel Georges
Published: May 2022

Planning the shortest collision-free path among scattered obstacles is an NP-complete problem. As reviewed in this paper, a variety of deterministic as well as heuristic methods have been developed to address different instances of the problem. The focus of the deterministic methods is primarily on the optimality of the final solution and has been applied exclusively to regular shapes such as spheres or cubes. Nevertheless, due to the problem's intrinsic complexities (especially in 3D), researchers mainly resort to heuristics that offer acceptable (yet possibly suboptimal) solutions with reasonable resources. Therefore, less attention has been given to further the state-of-the-art in deterministic methods, which for 3D problems primarily focuses on approximating the solution. However, with the advancements in high-performance computing, we believe it is time to focus on solution quality. As such, this study aims to further the efforts in deterministic optimization methods for 3D path planning by overcoming some challenges of the existing methods and improving the optimality of the solution. The proposed approach is rooted in visibility-based planning methods where the obstacle-free space is modeled as a connectivity graph to be searched for the shortest path. The advantage of the proposed method in constructing the representative graph is that it does not make approximations to identify the graph nodes, unlike the existing methods. Nor does it limit the objects’ geometries to specific shapes such as blocks or spheres. The capability of the method in finding the shortest collision-free paths in environments cluttered with convex polyhedra is demonstrated using sample test problems.
Transmission Mechanism Combining Self-Excited Vibrations and One-Way Clutches
Authors: Yonezawa Norio , Tsuchiya Eiji , Toyama Tomoyuki , Mori Shigefumi
Published: May 2022

We propose a new transmission mechanism that is compatible with high-speed downsizing motors. This mechanism adopts the “pulse drive transmission” (PDT) principle. Similar to the electrical switching converter, the PDT principle allows variable velocity ratios regardless of geometry (cf. the radius relationship is essential for the gear principle as the geometry). According to this similarity, the PDT principle is expected to maintain low inertia even at large velocity ratios and to increase the amount of transmitted power by the dependence of transfer frequency on rotational velocity. Thus, the PDT principle is suitable for high-speed motors. This study employed self-excited vibration in the PDT principle to eliminate the engagement controls that caused problems at high speed in a previous study. Simulations and prototype tests demonstrated that the proposed mechanism, combining self-excited vibrations by magnetic nonlinear springs and one-way clutches, achieves the desired behavior based on the PDT principle and is capable of power transmission at several velocity ratios and rotational speeds. In particular, performance evaluations under steady-state operations showed that the maximum input torque, maximum power transmission, and maximum efficiency were 20.9 ± 0.18 N m, 1.0 kW, and 79.8%, respectively.
Binder Jetting Additive Manufacturing: The Effect of Feed Region Density on Resultant Densities
Authors: Porter Quinton , Li Ming , Pei Zhijian , Ma Chao
Published: May 2022

This technical brief reports an experimental investigation on the effect of feed region density on resultant sintered density and intermediate densities (powder bed density and green density) during the binder jetting additive manufacturing process. The feed region density was increased through compaction. The powder bed density and green density were determined by measuring the mass and dimension. The sintered density was measured with the Archimedes’ method. As the relative feed region density increased from 44% to 65%, the powder bed density increased by 5.7%, green density by 8.5%, and finally sintered density by 4.5%. Statistical testing showed that these effects were significant. This study showed that compacting the powder in the feed region is an effective method to alter the density of parts made via binder jetting additive manufacturing.
Effect of Laser Forming on the Fatigue Behavior of Metal Foams
Authors: Zhang Tom , Lawrence Yao Y.
Published: May 2022

Metal foam is an excellent lightweight material with promising industrial applications. Laser forming has been studied and shown to be a viable non-contact method to shape metal foam panels into desired geometry without fracturing the foam’s cellular structure. However, whether laser forming alters the fatigue performance of metal foam has not been well understood. This study focuses on the tension-to-tension fatigue behavior of closed-cell metal foam before and after laser forming. Fatigue tests were conducted at different load levels on as-received and laser treated aluminum alloy foam with two different scanning patterns. Fatigue life were comparably tested and subsequently investigated, and fracture surface was closely examined to relate to the fluctuation in fatigue life and varying data scatter of fatigue life between as-received and laser formed specimen. Numerical models with equivalent foam geometry were used to investigate the strain distribution after laser forming, and helped to elucidate the fatigue life improvement after laser forming. Fatigue simulations where foam structure approximated with regular Kelvin cell was conducted demonstrate the effect of stress concentration on fatigue life. Generally, laser forming resulted in an improvement in fatigue performance of the aluminum alloy foam.
Cu(II)-functionalized silk fibroin films for the catalytic generation of nitric oxide
Authors: Hua Jinsheng , Yang Hui , Li Xiufang , Xiao Jiahui , Zhou Shunshun , You Renchuan , Ma Likun
Published: May 2022

In situ release of nitric oxide (NO) has been suggested to be a potential functionalization strategy for blood-contacting implants. In this study, the NO generation capability catalyzed by the copper ion-incorporated silk fibroin (SF) films in the presence of S-nitroso-N-acetyl-dl-penicillamine (SNAP) is demonstrated. Cu(II) is effectively bound to the surface of the SF film based on metal–protein coordination. The x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy results indicate that copper ions may exist on the surface of the SF film in the form of Cu(II)/Cu(I) coexistence. The degradation behavior showed that the bound copper ions on the surface of the SF films can maintain a slow release in phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) or collagenase IA solution for 7 days. There was no significant difference in the release of copper ions between PBS degradation and enzyme degradation. The loading of copper ions significantly improved the release of NO from SNAP through catalysis. Based on the biological effects of copper ions and the ability to catalyze the release of NO from S-nitrosothiols, copper ion loading provides an option for the construction of bioactive SF biomaterials.
Best-fit lines and the AP Physics test
Authors: Lincoln James
Published: May 2022

In the past 15 years especially, the AP Physics exams have asked students to make and interpret best-fit trend lines on data-based or lab-based questions. These constant slopes can be used to find relationships between variables and determine natural constants. This skill is tested on all AP Physics exams (including the discontinued B exam). In this article, I explain precisely how students can create best-fit lines that earn points and provide several example labs that include this specific skill.
A Practical Approach to Physics for Non-Scientists
Authors: Ramsey Gordon
Published: May 2022

Many high schools, two-year colleges, and universities offer a conceptual physics course for non-science students who have to take a basic science course. The students often enter the course unmotivated and may eventually withdraw. So, how do we make the course interesting enough for these students to gain the knowledge we desire and, more importantly, develop an appreciation for the role of science in society? A possible answer may lie in the approach to the material. Students who can relate to the topics in the course tend to be more motivated and acquire a greater understanding of the material. This is part of the approach to active learning programs such as SENCER and SCALE- UP. Courses in Introductory Physics for the Life Sciences (IPLS) using focused topics have also been offered. This paper suggests ways to structure a course around “real-life” topics in teaching a full set of mechanics concepts. The “practical approach” consists of building the course material around topics with which the students are familiar. Courses designed around practical applications can provide an effective strategy for engagement and learning. These elements are appropriate for both high school and college non-major courses.
Energy Absorption Contribution Deficits in Participants Following Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction: Implications for Second Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injury
Authors: Kovacs Trevor , Hannon Joseph , Wang-Price Sharon , Goto Shiho , Bothwell Jim , Singleton Steve , Dietrich Lindsey , Garrison J. Craig , Malafronte Jack
Published: May 2022

Context: Lower-extremity loading patterns change after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR). However, there is limited research regarding energy absorption contribution (EAC) of athletes following ACLR who reinjure their ACL and those who do not. EAC can be utilized as a measure of joint loading during tasks. Design: Cross-sectional study. Methods: Three groups of individuals (13 in each group) with matched age, sex, height, weight, and sports were enrolled. Data were collected at time of return-to-sport testing for the 2 ACLR groups. An 8-camera 3D motion capture system with a sampling rate of 120 Hz and 2 force plates capturing at 1200 Hz were used to capture joint motions in all 3 planes during a double-limb jump landing. Results: Participants in the ACLR no reinjury and ACLR reinjury groups had significantly greater hip EAC (55.8 [21.5] and 56.7 [21.2]) compared with healthy controls (19.5 [11.1]), P < .001 and P < .001, respectively. The ACLR no reinjury and ACLR reinjury groups had significantly lower knee EAC (24.6 [22.7] and 27.4 [20.8]) compared with healthy controls (57.0 [12.2]), P < .001 and P < .001, respectively. However, the ACLR reinjury group had significantly lower ankle EAC (15.9 [4.6]) than healthy controls (23.5 [6.6]), whereas there was no statistical difference between the ACLR no reinjury group (19.7 [7.8]) and healthy controls. Conclusions: Athletes who had a second ACL injury after ACLR, and those without second ACL injury, appear to have similar hip, knee, and ankle joint loading of the surgical limb at return-to-sport testing. Nevertheless, joint loading patterns were significantly different from healthy controls. The study suggests that EAC as a measure of joint loading during a double-limb jump landing at time of return to sport may not be a strong predictor for second injury following ACLR.
Differential Phototactic Behavior of Closely Related Cyanobacterial Isolates from Yellowstone Hot Spring Biofilms
Authors: Bunbury Freddy , Rivas Carlos , Calatrava Victoria , Shelton Amanda N. , Grossman Arthur , Bhaya Devaki
Published: May 2022

Optimizing light absorption is of paramount importance to photosynthetic organisms. Some photosynthetic microbes have evolved a sophisticated process called phototaxis to move toward or away from a light source.
Development and Validation of a Pan-Genotypic Real-Time Quantitative Reverse Transcription-PCR Assay To Detect Canine Distemper Virus and Phocine Distemper Virus in Domestic Animals and Wildlife
Authors: Geiselhardt Franziska , Peters Martin , Jo Wendy K. , Schadenhofer Alina , Puff Christina , Baumgärtner Wolfgang , Kydyrmanov Aidyn , Kuiken Thijs , Piewbang Chutchai , Techangamsuwan Somporn , Osterhaus Albert D. M. E. , Beineke Andreas , Ludlow Martin
Published: May 2022

Canine distemper virus (CDV) is an animal morbillivirus belonging to the family
Paramyxoviridae
and has caused major epizootics with high mortality levels in susceptible wildlife species. In recent years, the documented genetic diversity of CDV has expanded, with new genotypes identified in India, the Caspian Sea, and North America.
Draft Genome Sequence of a Novel
Rhizobium
Species Isolated from the Marine Macroalga
Codium fragile
(Oyster Thief)
Authors: Miller Christopher H. , Taylor Chanel , Owen Jeremy G. , Patrick Wayne M. , Vickers Chelsea J.
Published: May 2022

In the process of studying the relationship between marine macroalgae and their bacterial symbionts, we isolated a new species of
Rhizobium
, which we designated
Rhizobium
sp. nov. C1 (for “
Codium
1”). Here, we report the complete genome sequence of
Rhizobium
sp. nov. C1.
Complete Genome Sequences of Two Phylogenetically Distinct
Nitrospina
Strains Isolated from the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans
Authors: Bayer Barbara , Kellom Matthew , Valois Frederica , Waterbury John B. , Santoro Alyson E.
Published: May 2022

The complete genome sequences of two chemoautotrophic nitrite-oxidizing bacteria of the genus
Nitrospina
are reported.
Nitrospina gracilis
strain Nb-211 was isolated from the Atlantic Ocean, and
Nitrospina
sp. strain Nb-3 was isolated from the Pacific Ocean. We report two highly similar ~3.07-Mbp genome sequences that differ by the presence of ferric iron chelator (siderophore) biosynthesis genes.
BiomeHorizon
: Visualizing Microbiome Time Series Data in R
Authors: Fink Isaac , Abdill Richard J. , Blekhman Ran , Grieneisen Laura
Published: May 2022

Host-associated microbiota (i.e., the number and types of bacteria in the body) can have profound impacts on an animal’s day-to-day functioning as well as their long-term health. Recent work has shown that these microbial communities change substantially over time, so it is important to be able to link changes in the abundance of certain microbes with host health outcomes.
Small, Cationic Antifungal Proteins from Filamentous Fungi Inhibit
Candida albicans
Growth in 3D Skin Infection Models
Authors: Holzknecht Jeanett , Dubrac Sandrine , Hedtrich Sarah , Galgóczy László , Marx Florentine
Published: May 2022

Candida albicans
represents one of the most prevalent opportunistic fungal pathogens, causing superficial skin and mucosal infections in humans with certain predisposing health conditions and life-threatening systemic infections in immunosuppressed patients. The emerging drug resistance of this human-pathogenic yeast and the limited number of antifungal drugs for prevention and treatment of infections urgently demands the identification of new antifungal compounds with novel mechanisms of action.
Supplemental Material: Tectonic evolution of the Beishan orogen in central Asia: Subduction, accretion, and continent-continent collision during the closure of the Paleo-Asian Ocean
Authors: Li Jie , Wu Chen , al. et
Published: May 2022

Table S1: LA-ICP-MS results for zircon U-Pb ages of igneous samples from this study. Table S2: Major and trace elements for magmatic intrusion samples from this study. Table S3: Summary of geochronology results of intrusive rocks of the Beishan region. Table S4: Summary of geochemistry data of intrusive rocks of the Beishan region. Table S5: Summary of whole-rock Sr-Nd isotopic geochemistry data of intrusive rocks of the Beishan region. Table S6: Summary of zircon Hf isotopic data of intrusive rocks of the Beishan region. 
Patient and public involvement in paediatric medical education
Authors: Donnelly Sinead , Ferris Kathryn , Kennedy Neil , Bourke Thomas , O'Donoghue Dara
Published: May 2022

The benefits of involving patients and the public in medical education are well documented, however there is a need to further explore how this can be translated to the setting of paediatric medical education. This article aims to identify how organisations can facilitate the involvement of paediatric patients and their parents/carers.

While involving children in research can present challenges, we describe examples where organisations have successfully involved young people in clinical research and selection of research topics.

Involving paediatric patients and their parents/carers in medical education helps develop a patient centred approach to practice for medical students. Participation of paediatric patients in objective structured clinical examination (OSCE) examinations is employed by many medical schools, however allowing them the ability to provide a ‘global score’ may have the potential to assess skills such as communication and empathy in addition to medical knowledge.

The Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (RCPCH) have provided a framework on how to involve children in health services, addressing practical considerations such as funding and facilities. This framework could be applied by organisations seeking to actively involve children in paediatric medical education. Potential barriers and facilitators are explored in this article.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, involving young people and their families in medical student teaching became challenging. We describe virtual bedside teaching sessions which actively involved paediatric patients and their families, which showed that many patients and parents prefer virtual consultations.

Involving paediatric patients and their families in medical education is strongly advocated by the General Medical Council (GMC) and RCPCH. Organisations should actively seek out opportunities to become involved in the development of medical education resources as we describe in this paper.
Prevalence of and factors associated with childhood diarrhoeal disease and acute respiratory infection in Bangladesh: an analysis of a nationwide cross-sectional survey
Authors: Kundu Satyajit , Kundu Subarna , Banna Md Hasan Al , Ahinkorah Bright Opoku , Seidu Abdul-Aziz , Okyere Joshua
Published: May 2022

Objectives

This study aimed to estimate the prevalence of childhood diarrhoeal diseases (CDDs) and acute respiratory infections (ARIs) and also to determine the factors associated with these conditions at the population level in Bangladesh.

Setting

The study entailed an analysis of nationally representative cross-sectional secondary data from the most recent Bangladesh Demographic and Health Survey conducted in 2017–2018.

Participants

A total of 7222 children aged below 5 years for CDDs and 7215 children aged below 5 years for ARIs during the survey from mothers aged between 15 and 49 years were the participants of this study. In the bivariate and multivariable analyses, we used Pearson χ2test and binary logistic regression, respectively, for both outcomes.

Results

The overall prevalence of CDD and ARI among children aged below 5 years was found to be 4.91% and 3.03%, respectively. Younger children were more likely to develop both CDDs and ARIs compared with their older counterparts. Children belonging to households classified as poorest and with unimproved floor materials had a higher prevalence of diarrhoea than those from households identified as richest and with improved floor material, respectively. Stunted children had 40.8% higher odds of diarrhoea than normal children. Being male and having mothers aged below 20 years were 48.9% and two times more likely to develop ARI than female counterparts and children of mothers aged 20–34 years, respectively. Children whose mothers had no formal education or had primary and secondary education had higher odds of ARI compared with children of mothers having higher education.

Conclusion

This study found that children aged below 24 months were at higher risk of having CDDs and ARIs. Thus, programmes targeting these groups should be designed and emphasis should be given to those from poorest wealth quintile to reduce CDDs and ARIs.
Gender-based violence, psychological distress, sexual behaviours and binge drinking among female entertainment workers in Cambodia: a cross-sectional study
Authors: Oy Sreymom , Chhoun Pheak , Tuot Sovannary , Brody Carinne , Gorbach Pamina M. , Yi Siyan
Published: May 2022

Objective

To examine the relationship between gender-based violence, HIV risks, psychological distress and binge drinking among female entertainment workers (FEWs) in Cambodia.

Design

Cross-sectional study.

Setting

Phnom Penh and three other provinces in Cambodia.

Participants

We recruited 600 FEWs from entertainment venues using a stratified random sampling method. Participants were eligible if they were at least 18 years old, working in the selected entertainment venues and self-identified as a FEW.

Primary outcome measure

Binge drinking was defined as drinking more than five units of alcoholic drinks in 24 hours on at least one occasion in the past 3 months.

Results

The prevalence of binge drinking was 76.7%. Adjusted odds of binge drinking were significantly higher among FEWs who earned >US$250 per month than those who earned ≤US$120 per month (adjusted OR (AOR) 2.96, 95% CI: 1.40 to 6.24), had been forced to drink more than once per month in the past 3 months than those who had never been forced to drink (AOR 5.66, 95% CI: 2.19 to 14.65), worked at karaoke bars than those working at a restaurants/café (AOR 1.85, 95% CI: 1.19 to 2.88) and experienced emotional abuse in the past 6 months than those who did not experience it (AOR 2.71, 95% CI: 1.22 to 6.02). The odds of binge drinking were significantly higher among FEWs with lower psychological distress than those with higher psychological distress (AOR 1.65, 95% CI: 1.09 to 2.49).

Conclusions

This study highlights a high prevalence of binge drinking among FEWs and its associations with working environments, conditions and contexts. Our findings suggest that individual-based behavioural intervention may not effectively reduce binge drinking among FEWs. Structural and occupational health policy interventions may be needed to change the working environment.
Effect of intraoperative muscle relaxation reversal on the success rate of motor-evoked potential recording in patients undergoing spinal surgery: study protocol for a randomised controlled trial
Authors: Jian Minyu , Ma Bo , Liu Haiyang , Wang Chengwei , Liang Fa , Zhou Yang , Qiao Hui , Han Ruquan
Published: May 2022

Introduction

Transcranial motor-evoked potentials (TceMEPs) is conventionally performed without neuromuscular blockade (NMB) because of its potential interference with neuromuscular junction and signal interpretation. Sugammadex is the first highly selective antagonist that binds to rocuronium and can rapidly and effectively reverse NMB. This study aims to evaluate the success rate of intraoperative muscle relax reversal by sugammadex on intraoperative TceMEP recording.

Methods and analysis

We will conduct a single-centre randomised controlled study. In total, 162 patients undergoing thoracic or lumbar spinal surgery will be randomly divided into the sugammadex group or control group at a ratio of 1:1. Total intravenous anaesthesia by propofol and remifentanil will be performed in both groups. In the sugammadex group, patients will receive continuous infusion of rocuronium to produce a blockade maintained for at least two twitches in train-of-four, rocuronium infusion will be discontinued and 2 mg/kg sugammadex will be given while performing TceMEPs monitoring. In the control group, rocuronium infusion will be discontinued and the same volume of saline will be infused while performing TceMEPs monitoring. The primary aim of this study is to evaluate the success rate of TceMEPs recording between two groups.

Ethics and dissemination

The approval for the study was certificated by the Ethical Committee of Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University on, 16 July 2021 (KY2021-082-02). The study was registered on clincaltrials.gov on 25 October 2020. Our study might guide neuromuscular blockade plans in TceMEPs monitoring undergoing spinal surgery. The findings of the study will be published in peer-reviewed journals and will be presented at national or international conference.

Trial registration number

NCT04608682.
Efficacy and safety of whole-lung lavage for pulmonary alveolar proteinosis: a protocol for a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Liu Shixu , Cui Xiangning , Xia Kun , Duan Yuanyuan , Xiong Mengran , Li Guangxi
Published: May 2022

Introduction

Pulmonary alveolar proteinosis (PAP) is an ultrarare disorder characterised by the accumulation of alveolar surfactant and the dysfunction of alveolar macrophages that results in hypoxemic respiratory failure. Whole-lung lavage (WLL) is currently the primary therapy for PAP. However, systematic evaluation of the clinical efficacy of WLL is lacking. We aim to perform a systematic review and meta-analysis of existing evidence to support WLL for the clinical treatment of PAP.

Methods and analysis

We will search the PubMed (MEDLINE), Cochrane Library, Embase, Web of Science and Google Scholar databases from inception to December 2021 for observational studies using WLL for the treatment of PAP. Two authors will independently screen the eligible studies, assess the quality of the included papers and extract the required information. Review Manager V.5.4 will be used to perform the meta-analysis. We will evaluate the overall quality of evidence using the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluation approach. All steps of this protocol will be performed using the Cochrane Handbook for Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-analysis statement.

Ethics and dissemination

This systematic review and meta-analysis will be based on published data. Therefore, ethical approval is not required. We will publish our results in a peer-reviewed journal.

PROSPERO registration number

CRD42022306221 (https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?ID=CRD42022306221).
Evaluation of the psychometric properties of patient-reported and clinician-reported outcome measures of chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy: a COSMIN systematic review protocol
Authors: Bérubé-Mercier Philippe , Tapp Diane , Cimon Marie-Ève , Li Tiffany , Park Susanna B , Bouhêlier Éve , McGarragle Kaitlin , Robichaud Lye-Ann , Gewandter Jennifer S , Bouchard Maxime , Gauthier Lynn R
Published: May 2022

Introduction

Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) is a poorly understood side effect of many antineoplastic agents. Patients may experience sensory, motor and autonomic symptoms, negatively impacting quality of life. A gold-standard assessment methodology has yet to be determined, limiting efforts to identify effective agents to prevent or treat CIPN.

Methods and analysis

This is a protocol of a systematic review of psychometric analyses of CIPN Clinician Reported Outcome Measures (ClinROM) and Patient-Reported Outcome Measures (PROM) among adults receiving, or who had previously received chemotherapy for cancer. The COnsensus-based Standards for the selection of health Measurement INstruments (COSMIN) quality ratings will be compared across studies and across ClinROMs and PROMs. Studies reporting psychometric proprieties of CIPN ClinROMs and/or PROMs among adults aged ≥18 years will be eligible for inclusion, with no restriction on language or year of publication. MEDLINE, Embase, CINAHL and APA PsycINFO databases will be searched from inception to 31 December 2021. Study characteristics, measurement properties of the ClinROMs and/or PROMs and the CIPN definitions will be extracted. The Synthesis Without Meta-analysis guideline will be used to guide data synthesis. The COSMIN Risk of Bias checklist will be used by two independent raters to assess methodological quality. Subgroup analyses by age, chemotherapy type, and study timing in relation to the delivery of chemotherapy will be carried out where data are available. An adapted version of Outcome Measures in Rheumatology filter 2.1 will be used to provide a best-evidence synthesis of CIPN ClinROMs and PROMs and to recommend a CIPN assessment tool for clinical and research settings.

Ethics and dissemination

Ethical approval is not necessary to be obtained for this systematic review protocol. Results will be disseminated to clinicians and policy-makers by publication in a peer-reviewed journal and by presenting at relevant conferences.

PROSPERO registration number

CRD42021278168.
Bladder cancer in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people living in Australia: a scoping review protocol
Authors: Pattenden Trent , Samaranayake Dhanika , Morton Andrew , Thangasamy Isaac
Published: May 2022

Introduction

Bladder cancer is the third most common urological malignancy affecting Australians, with key modifiable risk factors. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people suffer from a higher prevalence of cancer-modifiable risk factors, are diagnosed with bladder cancer at a younger age, and have poorer survival rates compared with the general population. A comprehensive overview of the state of current knowledge on bladder cancer in this population is required.

Methods and analysis

A search of MEDLINE, CINAHL, EMBASE and Web of Science databases, along with appropriate grey literature sources will be conducted between the 1 April 2022 and 30 April 2022. The reference lists of all included studies will be reviewed for additional appropriate sources. The national bladder cancer dataset compiled by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare will also be included as a source. All relevant sources meeting inclusion criteria, published in English, from inception onwards will be included. Dual independent screening of titles and abstracts prior to full-text review will be undertaken for all identified results during the initial searches. Preliminary findings will be reviewed with stakeholders, to seek culturally appropriate feedback on the implications of the results. Results will be reported in tabular form, accompanied by a narrative synthesis with comparisons to the wider bladder cancer population.

Ethics and dissemination

Ethics review will not be required, as only publicly available data will be analysed. Findings from the scoping review will be published in a peer-reviewed journal and presented at scientific meetings to stakeholders.
Sustainability of locally driven centres for those affected by dementia: a protocol for the get real with meeting centres realist evaluation
Authors: Morton Thomas , Evans Shirley B , Brooker Dawn , Williamson Tracey , Wong Geoff , Tinelli Michela , Frost Faith , Bray Jennifer , Hullah Nigel
Published: May 2022

Introduction

Improving support for people with early to moderate dementia to live at home in their communities is a global public health goal. Community adult social care is not robust in many parts of the UK, however, with the pandemic increasing pressure on services for this population. Community-led interventions can play a key role in supporting people postdiagnosis, helping delay decline, but many interventions struggle to sustain beyond 1–2 years. Meeting Centres (MCs) are one such intervention, which many UK community groups find attractive and achievable. However, it is not understood how these communities can ensure they are putting in place strategies that will help them sustain in the longer term, beyond start-up phase.

Methods and analysis

This realist evaluation aims to understand the factors affecting sustainability of MCs in rural areas and learn lessons from MCs that have sustained beyond 3 years. Data will be collected using mixed methods: interviews and group discussions with stakeholders involved at every level in three case study locations in England and Wales, analysed with Soft Systems modelling; a Discrete Choice Experiment exploring what people across the UK value and are willing to pay for MCs, analysed with regression modelling. All data will be synthesised using a Realist logic of analysis to build a theoretical model of how, why, for whom, in what contexts and to what extent MCs can be successfully implemented for the long term.

Ethics and dissemination

As participants may lack capacity for informed consent, favourable ethical opinion was received from a Health Research Authority research ethics committee. Resulting recommendations will be of interest to stakeholders including those commissioning, planning, running, supporting or attending MCs, as well as policy-makers and healthcare professionals. Knowledge will be shared with emerging MCs to help accelerate scale up of this intervention.
Implementation of a temperature bundle improves admission hypothermia in very-low-birth-weight infants in China: a multicentre study
Authors: Wang Li , Liu Zhi-jie , Liu Feng-min , Yu Yong-hui , Bi Shu-yu , Li Bin , Xu Hai-yan , Yang Chun-yan
Published: May 2022

Background

Hypothermia is a common problem that is associated with increased mortality and morbidity among preterm infants, especially in China. The objective of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of a targeted quality improvement (QI) project that applied hypothermia prevention measures for very-low-birth-weight (VLBW) infants in three tertiary neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) in China.

Problem

Between January 2018 and December 2018, we conducted a prospective analysis and found that the incidence of AH was 88.2% among VLBW infants.

Methods

The study enrolled preterm infants born at less than 32 weeks’ gestation with a VLBW of less than 1500 g who were delivered at three academic tertiary-care hospitals between January 2018 and December 2019. The primary outcome measure was the incidence of hypothermia. The outcomes of the pre-QI group (1 January–31 December 2018) were compared with those of the post-QI group (1 January–31 December 2019).

Interventions

Based on the literature, our preliminary findings and the needs of each unit, a temperature bundle that included a transport incubator, prewarmed hats, polyethylene wrap, team training and education, and temperature documentation and workflows were implemented in consecutive plan–do–study–act cycles.

Results

Of the 530 VLBW infants, 235 infants (36.9%) belonged to the pre-QI group, and 295 infants (46.4%) belonged to the post-QI group. The incidence of hypothermia decreased significantly, from 92.3% to 62% (p<0.001), and the mean body temperature on admission to the NICU increased significantly, from 35.5°C to 36°C±0.7°C (p<0.001). There was one case of hyperthermia during the study period. Infants in the post-QI group had a lower mortality rate (16.1% vs 8.8%, p=0.01).

Conclusions

Targeted interventions can dramatically reduce admission hypothermia and improve the outcome of VLBW infants in China.

Trial registration number

Chi CTR 1900020861.
Investigating the relationship between melatonin patterns and methylation in circadian genes among day shift and night shift workers
Authors: Ritonja Jennifer A , Aronson Kristan J , Leung Michael , Flaten Lisa , Topouza Danai G , Duan Qing Ling , Durocher Francine , Tranmer Joan E , Bhatti Parveen
Published: May 2022

Objectives

Mechanisms underlying the carcinogenicity of night shift work remain uncertain. One compelling yet understudied cancer mechanism may involve altered DNA methylation in circadian genes due to melatonin secretion patterns. The objective of this study was to explore the relationship between melatonin secretion patterns and circadian gene methylation among day and night shift workers.

Methods

Female healthcare employees (n=38 day workers, n=36 night shift workers) for whom we had urinary 6-sulfatoxymelatonin secretion data from a previous study were recontacted. New blood samples were collected and used to measure methylation levels at 1150 CpG loci across 22 circadian genes using the Illumina Infinium MethylationEPIC beadchip. Linear regression was used to examine the association between melatonin (acrophase and mesor) and M values for each CpG site (false discovery rate, q=0.2), while testing for effect modification by shift work status.

Results

Among night shift workers, a higher mesor (24 hours of mean production of melatonin) was associated with increased methylation in the body ofRORA(q=0.02) and decreased methylation in the putative promoter region ofMTNR1A(q=0.03). Later acrophase (ie, time of peak concentration) was associated with increased methylation in the putative promoter region ofMTNR1A(q=0.20) and decreased methylation in the body ofPER3(q=0.20). No associations were identified among day workers.

Conclusions

In conclusion, patterns in melatonin secretion were associated with differential circadian gene methylation among night shift workers. Melatonin and alteration of DNA methylation in circadian genes may be one pathway towards increased cancer risk, although larger-scale studies examining multiple time points are needed.
Observational constraints of the modified cosmology through Barrow entropy
Authors: Asghari Mahnaz , Sheykhi Ahmad
Published: May 2022

Taking into account a fractal structure for the black hole horizon, Barrow argued that the area law of entropy is modified due to quantum-gravitational effects (Barrow in Phys Lett B 808:135643, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.physletb.2020.135643, 2020). Accordingly, the corrected entropy takes the form $$S \sim A^{1+{\Delta }/2}$$

S
∼

A

1
+
Δ
/
2

, where $$0\le {\Delta }\le 1$$

0
≤
Δ
≤
1

indicates the amount of the quantum-gravitational deformation effects. In this paper, based on Barrow entropy, we first derive the modified gravitational field equations through the Clausius relation. We then consider the Friedmann–Lemaître–Robertson–Walker (FLRW) metric as the background metric and derive the modified Friedmann equations inspired by Barrow entropy. In order to explore observational constraints on the modified Barrow cosmology, we employ two different combinations of available datasets, mainly “Planck + Pantheon + BAO” and “Planck + Planck-SZ + CFHTLenS + Pantheon + BAO + BAORSD” datasets. According to numerical results, we observe that the “Planck + Pantheon + BAO” dataset predicts higher values of $$H_0$$

H
0

in Barrow cosmology with a phantom dark energy compared to $$\mathrm {\Lambda }$$
Λ
CDM, so tensions between low redshift determinations of the Hubble constant and cosmic microwave background (CMB) results are slightly reduced. On the other hand, in the case of dataset “Planck + Planck-SZ + CFHTLenS + Pantheon + BAO + BAORSD” there is a slight amelioration in $$\sigma _8$$

σ
8

tension in Barrow cosmology with a quintessential dark energy compared to the standard model of cosmology. Additionally, for a more reliable comparison, we also constrain the wCDM model with the same datasets, where our results exhibit a satisfying compatibility between Barrow cosmology and wCDM.
Balanced and Accurate Pseudo-Labels for Semi-Supervised Image Classification
Authors: Zhao Jian , Liu Xianhui , Zhao Weidong
Published: May 2022

Image classification by semi-supervised learning has recently become a hot spot, and the Co-Training framework is an important method of semi-supervised image classification. In the traditional Co-Training structure, the sub-networks will generate pseudo-labels for each other, and these pseudo-labels will further be used as a supervisory signal for model training. However, the pseudo-labels will hurt classification performance because of their low accuracy and unbalanced distribution. In this article, we are trying to solve the preceding two problems by designing the Balanced Module (BM) and Gaussian Mixture Module (GMM), and propose BAPS (the
B
alanced and
A
ccurate
P
seudo-labels for
S
emi-supervised image classification). In BM, the two sub-networks jointly predict the unlabeled images, then select the pseudo-labels with a high-confidence threshold to perform the balancing operation to obtain the initial samples with balanced distribution of each category. In GMM, referring to the common practice of the Learning from Noise Labels task, we use GMM to fit the loss distribution of images with pseudo-labels output by BM, then clean samples and noise samples are divided based on the observation that the loss of correctly labeled images is generally smaller than that of wrongly labeled ones. Through BM and GMM, pseudo-labels with balanced distribution and high accuracy are obtained for the subsequent model training process. Our model has achieved better classification accuracy than most state-of-the-art semi-supervised image classification algorithms on the CIFAR-10/100 and SVHN datasets, and further ablation experiments demonstrate the effectiveness of our BAPS. The source code of BAPS will be available at
https://github.com/zhaojianaaa
.
New Vietnamese Corpus for Machine Reading Comprehension of Health News Articles
Authors: Van Nguyen Kiet , Van Huynh Tin , Nguyen Duc-Vu , Nguyen Anh Gia-Tuan , Nguyen Ngan Luu-Thuy
Published: May 2022

Machine reading comprehension is a natural language understanding task where the computing system is required to read a text and then find the answer to a specific question posed by a human. Large-scale and high-quality corpora are necessary for evaluating machine reading comprehension models. Furthermore, machine reading comprehension (MRC) for the health sector has potential for practical applications; nevertheless, MRC research in this domain is currently scarce. This article presents UIT-ViNewsQA, a new corpus for the Vietnamese language to evaluate MRC models for the healthcare textual domain. The corpus consists of 22,057 human-generated question-answer pairs. Crowd-workers create the questions and answers on a collection of 4,416 online Vietnamese healthcare news articles, where the answers are textual spans extracted from the corresponding articles. We introduce a process for creating a high-quality corpus for the Vietnamese machine reading comprehension task. Linguistically, our corpus accommodates diversity in question and answer types. In addition, we conduct experiments and compare the effectiveness of different MRC methods based on the neural networks and transformer architectures. Experimental results on our corpus show that the MRC system based on ALBERT architecture outperforms the neural network architectures and the BERT-based approach, an exact match score of 65.26% and an F1-score of 84.89%. The best machine model achieves about 10.90% F1-score less efficiently than humans, which proves that exploring machine models on UIT-ViNewsQA to surpass humans is challenging for researchers in the future. Our corpus is publicly available on our website: http://nlp.uit.edu.vn/datasets
for research purposes.
Before the algorithm, what's in the imagination?
Authors: McNealy Jasmine
Published: May 2022

This forum provides a space to engage with the challenges of designing for intelligent algorithmic experiences. We invite articles that tackle the tensions between research and practice when integrating AI and UX design. We welcome interdisciplinary debate, artful critique, forward-looking research, case studies of AI in practice, and speculative design explorations.
--- Juho Kim and Henriette Cramer, Editors