bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Disparities in naloxone prescriptions in a University Hospital during the COVID-19 pandemic
Authors: Chieh Kimberly , Patel Ishika , Walter Lauren , Li Li
Published: July 2022

Background

Per the CDC, it is estimated that 69,710 opioid overdose deaths occurred in the United States from September 2019 to September 2020. However, it is unclear whether naloxone prescribing also increased or otherwise fluctuated in this time. The objective of this study was to characterize the naloxone prescribing rate in patients with opioid use disorder (OUD) at the University of Alabama at Birmingham Hospital in 2019 and 2020.

Methods

A cross-sectional, retrospective medical record review was performed on patients with OUD from January 2019 through December 2020. Naloxone prescribing, defined as either a written prescription or a provided take-home kit, was assessed for all patients with OUD.

Results

In 2019, 11,959 visits were made by 2962 unique patients with OUD, compared to 11,661 visits from 2,641 unique patients in 2020; 609 naloxone prescriptions were provided in 2019 (5.1%) and 619 in 2020 (5.3%). In both years, most OUD-related visits and naloxone prescriptions were from and to male, white, individuals. Compared with 2019, more naloxone prescriptions were given to uninsured patients in 2020 (33.2% vs 44.3%, p < 0.05), and more OUD patients were admitted to inpatient settings (26.0% vs 31.2%, p < 0.05) and received more naloxone prescriptions in the inpatient setting (46.3% vs 62.0%, p < 0.05) in 2020. The proportion of frequent users (i.e., visits ≥ 4 times/year) increased in 2020 for the emergency department (21.5% vs 26.4%, p < 0.001) and inpatient setting (24.9% vs 28.6%, p = 0.03).

Conclusions

Our findings indicate the need for improving naloxone awareness in providers and prescribing for patients with OUD, particularly in emergency department and outpatient settings. Our results also demonstrated a disparity in naloxone prescribing; a disproportionate number of opioid-related emergency department visits and overdose deaths were noted in Black people and frequent users.
Chemical composition and healing potential of essential oil of Dennettia tripetala on methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus: infected wound model
Authors: Adesida Solayide A. , Iyebeye Michael I. , Aina Oluwagbemiga O. , Peters Rebecca F. , Ezeaku Charles C. , Amosun Elizabeth A.
Published: July 2022

Background

Dennettia tripetala (Pepperfruit) is an important medicinal plant in some West African communities. This study was designed to examine the antibacterial properties and wound-healing abilities of D. tripetala essential oil on mice with methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infections. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC–MS) was used to analyse the essential oil (EO) extracted by hydro-distillation from the dried fruits of D. tripetala. MRSA was identified using 30 µg cefoxitin disk, CHROMagar, and Polymerase Chain Reaction. Congo red agar and tube technique were used to assess the production of biofilms. The antimicrobial susceptibility for both antibiotics and essential oil was determined by Kirby Bauer and broth dilution methods. Eleven male mice were used in the invivo study, and each animal had wound infection on the dorsal inter-scapular skin region created with a 6 mm biopsy punch and 50 μl (adjusted to 0.5 McFarland standard) of MRSA. The size of the wound and its histological characteristics were used to estimate healing rate.

Results

The GC–MS investigation of the essential oil revealed six compounds, with benzene (2-nitroethyl) being the most prominent. Out of the eighteen (18) isolates examined, 12 MRSA strains were identified using the three methods for methicillin resistance determination, with about 80% of them being classified as biofilm producers. More than 60% of the MRSA isolates were resistant to erythromycin, fusidic acid, gentamicin and trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole. The essential oil had greater antibacterial activity than the reference antibiotic, vancomycin. The essential oil had a minimum inhibitory concentration of 80 l/ml and a minimum bactericidal concentration of 160 l/ml (v/v). Haematoxylin and eosin staining revealed that the skin tissue that had been exposed to D. tripetala essential oil had a thicker epithelial layer, numerous fibroblasts, a build-up of collagen, and many blood cells.

Conclusions

The results showed that D. tripetala essential oil has powerful anti-staphylococcal properties as well as the capacity to expedite wound healing. This suggests that D. tripetala essential oil could be a successful candidate for developing a topical agent for wound management.
Cardioprotective effects of Ferulic acid against various drugs and toxic agents
Authors: Pandi Anandakumar , Raghu Mahto Hemanti , Chandrashekar Naveenkumar , Kalappan Vanitha Manickam
Published: July 2022

Background

Homeostatic regulation of cardiomyocytes is indispensable in maintaining the normal physiological activity of cardiac tissue. Cardiotoxicity induced by drugs may lead to cardiac abnormalities such as arrhythmia, myocardial infarction and myocardial hypertrophy. Moreover, drug-induced cardiotoxicity confines the additional use of the implicated drugs. Several studies have reported that consumption of phytochemicals on regular intervals shall protect humans against numerous diseases such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, inflammatory diseases and cancer.

Main body

Ferulic acid (FA) is a plant derived polyphenol abundantly found in vegetables, fruits and grains. FA is widely known for its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anticancer, nephroprotective and hepatoprotective effects. FA has been well documented for its cardioprotective activity against various drugs and toxic agents as well. However, the cardioprotective action of FA have remained a challenge with regard to understanding its mechanism in health and diseases.

Conclusion

The main purpose of this review is to explore the cardioprotective mechanisms of FA against several drugs and chemicals to recommend further studies to investigate the potential protective effect of FA.
Leptin Promotes Primordial Follicle Activation by Regulating Ovarian Insulin-like Growth Factor System in Chicken
Authors: Ahmadi Sadequllah , Ohkubo Takeshi
Published: July 2022

Leptin and insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) regulate follicle development and reproduction in vertebrates. This study investigated the role played by leptin and IGF-1 in primordial follicle activation in the ovary of 7-day-old chicks. Different doses of leptin were intraperitoneally administrated to female layer chicks, and further analyses were performed. While leptin administration did not affect hepatic leptin receptor (LEPR), growth hormone receptor (GHR), or IGF-1, the lower dose of leptin significantly increased the messenger RNA (mRNA) expression of IGF-1, IGF-1 receptor, and IGF-binding protein (IGFBP)-2 and attenuated anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) gene expression in the ovary. Furthermore, the ovaries of the same age chicks were challenged with leptin and/or IGF-1 in vitro. Leptin at a lower dose increased the mRNA expression of IGF-1, LEPR, and leptin; 100 ng/mL leptin and 10 ng/mL IGF-1 alone or combined with leptin reduced IGFBP-2 mRNA expression. AMH gene expression was also reduced by all doses except 10 ng/mL leptin. Histological studies showed that a lower dose of leptin injection induced the primordial follicle growth in the ovary in vivo, and the number of primordial follicles was higher in all leptin treatments over control in vitro. Moreover, the luciferase assay revealed that leptin enhanced IGF-1 promoter activity in LEPR-expressing CHO-K1 cells. Collectively, these results indicate that leptin directly affects the IGF-1/IGFBP system and promotes primordial follicular growth in the ovary of early posthatch chicks. In addition, the follicular development by leptin-induced IGF-1 is, at least in part, caused by the suppression of AMH in the ovary.
Stochastic Dominance for portfolio analysis for investors with mixed attitudes towards risk
Authors: Τσομίδης Γεώργιος
Published: July 2022

Εφαρμογή ευρέος φάσματος του θεωρητικού πλαισίου της Στοχαστικής Κυριαρχίας καθώς και διαφόρων καινοτόμων στατιστικών μεθόδων, συνδυαστικά με διάφορα θεωρητικά πλαίσια Συμπεριφορικής Οικονομικής και Χρηματοδοτικής, με στόχο την δημιουργία βέλτιστων χαρτοφυλακίων.
Theory-driven formative research to support development of a pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) demand creation campaign among young women in a South-African township
Authors: de Witt Huberts Jessie , Curtis Val , Celum Connie , Morton Jennifer , Bekker Linda-Gail , Gill Katherine , Aunger Robert
Published: July 2022

Background: HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is highly effective and could reduce the persistent high HIV incidence among young South African women. Demand creation is needed to increase PrEP uptake of this novel prevention technology. Theoretically-grounded formative research (FR) could identify factors to include in a demand creation campaign to motivate young South African women to seek PrEP.

Methods: Thirty-four household visits with young women (aged 16–32) were conducted in a township near Cape Town using Behavior Centered Design (BCD), investigating behavior contexts, the social and family environments and psychological processes, using qualitative and interactive tools, such as forced choice dilemmas, ranking games, daily script elicitation and network- and community drawings.

Results: The FR generated findings concerning a wide variety of topic areas and identified a range of opportunities as well as challenges for the successful implementation of PrEP promotion in this population. Potential challenges were young women underestimating the consequences of acquiring HIV; taking medicine to prevent a disease (which was an unfamiliar concept) and young women having few responsibilities, making health care seeking and daily pill-taking with PrEP challenging. Potential opportunities that could be leveraged for PrEP demand creation were young women’s desire for trust and emotional closeness in relationships and the limited existing roles for young women, which could provide room for creating new aspirational roles that would motivate young women to take PrEP.

Conclusion: A theory-based and context-specific approach to FR led to a broad understanding of the lives and influences on young South African women and generated a comprehensive set of opportunities for intervention.
Addressing the need for an appropriate skilled delivery care workforce in Burundi to support Maternal and Newborn Health Service Delivery Redesign (MNH-Redesign): a sequential study protocol
Authors: Habonimana Desire , Leckcivilize Attakrit , Nicodemo Catia , English Mike
Published: July 2022

Background

Despite Burundi having formed a network of 112 health facilities that provide emergency obstetric and neonatal care (EmONC), the country continues to struggle with high rates of maternal and newborn deaths. There is a dearth of empirical evidence on the capacity and performance of EmONC health facilities and on the real needs to inform proper planning and policy. Our study aims to generate evidence on the capacity and performance of EmONC health facilities in Burundi and examine how the country might develop an appropriate skilled delivery care workforce to improve maternal and newborn survival.

Methods

We will use a sequential design where each study phase serially inputs into the subsequent phase. Three main study phases will be carried out: i) an initial policy document review to explore global norms and local policy intentions for EmONC staffing and ii) a cross-sectional survey of all EmONC health facilities to determine what percent of facilities are functional including geographic and population coverage gaps, identify staffing gaps assessed against norms, and identify other needs for health facility strengthening. Finally, we will conduct surveys in schools and different ministries to examine training and staffing costs to inform staffing options that might best promote service delivery with adequate budget impacts to increase efficiency. Throughout the study, we will engage stakeholders to provide input into what is reasonable staffing norms as well as feasible staffing alternatives within Burundi’s budget capacity. Analytical models will be used to develop staffing proposals over a realistic policy timeline.

Conclusion

Evidence-based health planning improves cost-effectiveness and reduces wastage within scarce and resource-constrained contexts. This study will be the first large-scale research in Burundi that builds on stakeholder support to generate evidence on the capacity of designated EmONC health facilities including human resources diagnosis and develop staffing skill-mix tradeoffs for policy discussion.
Evaluation of the effectiveness of the use of physiologically active substances and fertilizers on winter wheat
Authors: Vafin Il'shat , Safin Radik
Published: July 2022

The studies were carried out on winter wheat varieties Kazanskaya 560 for three years, of which two (2018, 2019) were characterized by periodically dry phenomena during the spring-summer growing season and one (2020) was with normal moisture. The aim of the work was to study the effectiveness of the use of the Melafen growth stimulator on winter wheat in the autumn period and double foliar feeding in the spring-summer period with the complex liquid fertilizer Metallocene Universal. The studies were carried out on gray forest soil using the recommended agricultural technology for the cultivation of winter wheat. In the course of the research, the influence of the studied preparations and their combinations on the biometric parameters of plants, the development of diseases, the productivity and quality characteristics of winter wheat seeds was studied. It was found that when using the autumn treatment of crops with the growth stimulator Melafen, there was an increase of 17.8% in plant density for harvesting, which is due to the positive effect of the stimulator on the overwintering of winter wheat. As a result, the yield in this variant increased by 0.48 t/ha. The use of only top dressing with Metallocene Universal led to an increase in the number of grains per spike and an increase in yield by 0.43 t/ha. The alternation of treatments (autumn spraying by Melafen; spring-summer spraying by Metalocene Universal) contributed to an increase in the number of grains per ear, an increase in the mass of 1000 seeds, which led to a significant (0.9 t/ha) increase in the yield of winter wheat. Double foliar feeding with Metallocene Universal contributes to some reduction in the infection of an ear of winter wheat with stagonospora blotch. In all experimental variants, there was no decrease in damage to the ear by "black head molds". The studied variants did not have a significant positive effect on the accumulation of protein in wheat grain.
THE YIELD AND QUALITY OF SPRING WHEAT GRAIN DEPENDING ON THE TIMING OF SOWING, THE DEPTH OF SEEDING AND THE BACKGROUND OF NUTRITION IN THE NORTHERN PART OF THE MIDDLE VOLGA REGION
Authors: Shaykhutdinov Farit , Serzhanov Igor , Serzhanova Al'bina , Garaev Razil , Hamitova Adilya
Published: July 2022

This article presents the results of studying the sowing dates in 2016-2020. Spring wheat was sown in three terms: the first – optimally early – after pre-sowing cultivation (control), the second – 6 days after the first and the third – 12 days after the first sowing period. Studies on the depth of seeding were conducted in 2018-2020. Field experiments provided for testing the depth of seeding at 4, 6 and 8 cm. The influence of the nutrition background on the yield and grain quality of spring wheat was studied in 2018-2020 with the introduction of fertilizers based on 3 tons of grain per hectare. The studies were conducted with the zoned variety Yoldyz. The experiments were laid in the agrobiotechnopark of the Kazan State Agrarian University on gray forest soil with a humus content of 3.1-3.4% (according to Tyurin), P2O5 – 240-260 mg and K2O – 132-180 mg per 1000 g of soil. The early sowing period in all the years of research provided a higher yield of spring wheat. With a 6-day delay in sowing, the yield decreased by an average of 0.32 tons per ha over 5 years. Planting seeds deeper than 4 cm did not provide an increase in yield, and in all years of research led to a decrease. The use of fertilizers on average for three years increased the yield of spring wheat by 0.8 t/ ha. The protein content in grain on a fertilized background was 2.6% higher, and the mass fraction of gluten was 4.1% higher.
RESULTS OF RESEARCH ON PRODUCTIVITY AND ADAPTABILITY OF SUNFLOWER HYBRIDS OF SYNGENTA LLC IN SOIL AND CLIMATIC CONDITIONS OF THE REPUBLIC OF TATARSTAN
Authors: Suleymanov Salavat , Safiollin Faik
Published: July 2022

The research was carried out to study the productivity and adaptability of sunflower hybrids SI Chester, Rosetta, Arco, Alcantara, SI Avenger, NK Fortimi, Suomi HTS, Suzuka HTS in the soil and climatic conditions of the Republic of Tatarstan. Field experiments were carried out in 2020-2021 on the basis of the Agrobiotechnopark (Narmonka village of the Laishevsky municipal district of the Republic of Tatarstan), laboratory analyses were carried out at the Agroecological Research Center of the Kazan State Agrarian University. According to the research results, it was found that Fortimi and Avenger hybrids differed in plant safety before harvesting and in height (99.8% and 172 and 166 cm, respectively). According to these indicators, it can be concluded that Fortimi and Avenger hybrids are more adapted to the soil and climatic conditions of the Republic of Tatarstan. In field experiments, a direct correlation was observed between the number and mass of weed plants and the height of sunflower plants. The least contamination was on tall crops of the Fortimi hybrid (5.2 pcs/m2 and 4.1 g/m2, respectively). The hybrids Fortimi and Avenger also differed in the structure of the crop. So, according to the hybrids, the largest diameter of the basket was 13.5 and 12.0 cm and the largest mass of 1000 seeds was 70.7 and 68.4 g, respectively. Four of the six hybrids studied showed very high yield results. In the experiments, the following yield indicators were obtained: Alcantara (3.29 t/ha), Fortimi (2.46 t/ha) and Rosetta (2.32 t/ha). These hybrids provided a gross harvest of oilseeds by 1.29; 0.46; 0.32 t/ha, respectively, higher than the planned yield of 2.0 t/ha.
Glucoside-3-cyanidin (Cy3G) and its importance in cancer therapy
Authors: Piątek Małgorzata , Polaniak Renata , Kiciak Agata , Staśkiewicz Wiktoria , Grajek Mateusz
Published: July 2022

When analyzing the structure of cancer incidence in Poland, it is extremely important to take chemopreventive actions as early as possible, which are aimed at reducing the incidence of the most common cancers, focusing on the prevention and use of natural bioactive factors contained in food. Anthocyanins are a large group of ingredients contained in plants that do not have a nutritional function, but play a significant role in the regulation of metabolic processes in the human body, which has a multidirectional pro-health and preventive effect in relation to many diseases, especially cancer. High hopes in chemoprevention are associated with the biological activity of the most common representative of anthocyanins, i.e. cyanidin-3-glucoside (Cy3G). Most of the studies on Cy3G bioactivity come mainly from in vitro cell line tests and in vivo experimental studies on rodents. Studies of the biological activity of Cy3G most often include: the process of free radical absorption, anti-inflammatory, anticoagulant, insulinotropic, antimicrobial, chemotherapeutic and epigenetic effects. This publication summarizes the results of in vitro studies conducted on various cancer cell lines, which prove the antiproliferative, anti-inflammatory and chemopreventive activity of Cy3G.
PRESENÇA, SILENCIAMENTO E APARECIMENTO POLÍTICO DOS POVOS INDÍGENAS NO CEARÁ
Authors: Nascimento Francisco Joedson da Silva
Published: July 2022

Este trabalho faz parte de uma pesquisa de mestrado em fase de conclusão sobre a comunidade indígena Kariri de Poço Dantas-Umari, no município cearense de Crato. Para compreender o contexto sociopolítico desse agrupamento, debrucei-me sobre processos históricos em que os povos indígenas no Ceará se envolveram desde o século XVI até a contemporaneidade. Os quais discuto com ênfase no século XIX, período que considero fundamental para a elaboração de uma ideologia geográfica sobre o Ceará construída com base no discurso de desaparecimento indígena, bem como o aparecimento político protagonizado por estes a partir da década de 1980. Os processos citados não são particulares do Ceará, porém discuto mais diretamente as experiências ocorridas neste estado, utilizando os conceitos de ideologia geográfica e aparecimento político como lentes para compreendê-los.Palavras-chave: Povos indígenas; Ceará; ideologia geográfica; aparecimento político.
HISTÓRIA LOCAL E HISTÓRIA REGIONAL – A HISTORIOGRAFIA DO PEQUENO ESPAÇO
Authors: Barros José D'Assunção
Published: July 2022

O artigo propõe-se a discutir as modalidades historiográficas da ‘História Regional’ e da ‘História Local’. Em uma de suas sessões, discute a desenvolvimento do conceito de ‘lugar’ na Geografia, mostrando que este ultrapassou a mera ideia de ‘localidade’, o que permite abordar a implicação deste aspecto na historiografia. Discute-se também quais são as diferentes motivações para o estudo da História Local. Na última sessão, procura-se discutir a possibilidade de usos diferenciados, e não coincidentes, para as expressões “história local” e “história regional”
GEOGRAFIA E ONTOLOGIA NO DEBATE DOS FEMINISMOS
Authors: Biteti Mariane
Published: July 2022

O artigo tem como objetivo refletir pelos vieses da epistemologia e da ontologia as aproximações entre a teoria geográfica e a teoria feminista, de modo a identificar permeabilidades, potencialidades e dificuldades dessa aproximação. Nossa abordagem parte do pressuposto de que há uma geograficidade nos feminismos relativos aos distintos modos de ser-estar mulher no mundo. Para tanto iremos problematizar o significado disso no contexto da crítica ao capitalismo, não sem tentar reconhecer as estratégias espaciais e existenciais dos corpos das mulheres que margeiam.
The effects of Bobath therapy on children with cerebral palsy: a systematic review
Authors: Cabezas-López Mercedes , Bernabéu-Brotóns Elena
Published: July 2022

Background/Aims

Despite its broad application in paediatric care, the effectiveness of therapy based on the Bobath concept has not been systematically researched. The aim of this review was to explore whether there is scientific evidence regarding the validity of the Bobath concept as an effective therapy for children with cerebral palsy.

Methods

A search was conducted between March and December 2020, of research databases (Cochrane, PEDro, PubMed, Web of Science), selecting randomised controlled trials published since 2015, which compared Bobath therapy with other therapies in terms of their effect on the gross motor functions of children with cerebral palsy.

Results

Applying the eligibility criteria, four randomised controlled trials were selected, three of which found Bobath therapy to be more effective than other therapies as a therapeutic method, while one found no difference between Bobath therapy and another therapy. No study that met the inclusion criteria found Bobath therapy to be less effective than another therapy.

Conclusions

The principal limitation of this review has been the small number of randomised controlled trials found and so the results must be interpreted with caution. Nonetheless, studies showed that therapy based on Bobath therapy improves the gross motor function of children with cerebral palsy.
The effects of hip flexor stretching with and without abdominal exercises in asymptomatic individuals with hyperlordosis
Authors: Janyathitipath Thanachaporn , Sakulsriprasert Prasert , Wattananon Peemongkon , Kantha Phunsuk
Published: July 2022

Background/Aims

Hyperlordosis is associated with shortened hip flexor muscles, causing low back pain. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of hip flexor stretching with and without abdominal exercises in individuals with hyperlordosis.

Methods

A total of 30 participants with hyperlordosis, aged between 20 and 30 years, were divided into three groups. Participants in the hold-relax group performed hold-relax stretching for 10 seconds, five repetitions, on both legs. Participants in the abdominal hollowing group performed hold-relax stretching and added an abdominal hollowing exercise for 10 seconds a repetition, 10 repetitions a set for three sets. Participants in the curl-up group performed hold-relax stretching and then performed curl-up exercises for 10 repetitions a set for three sets. The angle of lumbar lordosis, hip muscle length (degrees), percentage of maximum voluntary contraction of transversus abdominis and internal abdominal oblique, external abdominal oblique, rectus abdominis, lumbar erector spinae and multifidus muscles were investigated at pre-test, post-test and followed up 3 days after the end of the intervention.

Results

Significant within-group differences were found in the angle of lumbar lordosis for all groups (P<0.05), muscle length of hip flexor, and percentage of maximum voluntary contraction of the lumbar erector spinae and multifidus muscles in the curl-up group (P<0.05). The significant difference between pre-test and follow up in the hold-relax group and curl-up group reflects the retention of at least 3 days.

Conclusions

Hold-relax stretching can reduce the angle of lumbar lordosis and increase hip muscle length. In the curl-up group, the lumbar erector spinae and multifidus muscles decreased. Therefore, performing curl-up exercises after hold-relax stretching is recommended to decrease the angle of lumbar lordosis and percentage of maximum voluntary contraction of lumbar erector spinae and multifidus muscles.
Comparing the effects of cognitive dual tasking on balance and gait motor performance in people with mild multiple sclerosis and healthy individuals
Authors: Yakut Hatice , Maden Tuba Kaplan , Akçalı Aylin Hengirmen
Published: July 2022

Background/Aims

People with multiple sclerosis show both cognitive and postural impairment, and various static and dynamic postural activities may be affected under conditions of cognitive distraction. The aim of this study was to determine the effects of cognitive dual tasking on the balance and gait motor performance of people with mild multiple sclerosis (Expanded Disability Status Scale score of 2.0 ± 1.3) and healthy people and to compare these two groups in terms of performing single and dual tasks.

Methods

People with mild multiple sclerosis (n=39) and healthy individuals (n=33) performed static balance tests (Romberg's Test, tandem stance test, single-legged stance test) and dynamic balance tests (Functional Reach Test, Four Square Step Test, Timed Up and Go Test, 10-Metre Walk Test), with and without a word list generation test (single and dual tasks). Independent t-tests were used to evaluate differences between the two groups, and paired t-tests were used for single or dual tasks for all static and dynamic tests. The magnitude of differences in tasks between measures was expressed as Cohen's d.

Results

Dual task effects were more evident during dynamic balance tests in participants with multiple sclerosis and healthy participants (specifically the Timed Up and Go Test and 10-Metre Walk Test) (P<0.001). There was a significant difference between both groups only in terms of static balance (P<0.001).

Conclusions

Dynamic balance and gait were shown to be more affected when performing the dual cognitive task than static balance in people with multiple sclerosis. Dual tasks should be included in diagnoses.
Statistical Inference for Multi State Systems under the Generalized Modified Weibull Class
Authors: Makrides Andreas
Published: July 2022

Multi state systems can be seen as semi-Markov processes by considering an arbitrary distribution function for sojourn times. Especially, in this work, the Modified Weibull distribution is employed to be the distribution of sojourn times with a shape parameter λ such that is member of a distributions family that is closed under minima. Parameters estimators are provided and the proposed methodology is evaluated using a detailed simulation procedure.
MMAPs to Model Complex Multi-State Systems with Vacation Policies in the Repair Facility
Authors: Ruiz-Castro Juan Eloy , Acal Christian
Published: July 2022

Two complex multi-state systems subject to multiple events are built in an algorithmic and computational way by considering phase-type distributions and Markovian arrival processes with marked arrivals. The internal performance of the system is composed of different degradation levels and internal repairable and non-repairable failures can occur. Also, the system is subject to external shocks that may provoke repairable or non-repairable failure. A multiple vacation policy is introduced in the system for the repairperson. Preventive maintenance is included in the system to improve the behaviour. Two types of task may be performed by the repairperson; corrective repair and preventive maintenance. The systems are modelled, the transient and stationary distributions are built and different performance measures are calculated in a matrix-algorithmic form. Cost and rewards are included in the model in a vector matrix way. Several economic measures are worked out and the net reward per unit of time is used to optimize the system. A numerical example shows that the system can be optimized according to the existence of preventive maintenance and the distribution of vacation time. The results have been implemented computationally with Matlab and R (packages: expm, optim).
Efficacy and safety of cryoballoon pulmonary vein isolation for paroxysmal and persistent atrial fibrillation: A comparison with radiofrequency ablation
Authors: Choi Ji-Hoon , Park Seung-Jung , Park Kyoung-Min , Kim June Soo , On Young Keun
Published: July 2022

Background

Cryoballoon ablation was established as an effective and safe modality to achieve pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) in paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (PAF). However, its role in persistent atrial fibrillation (PersAF) remains unclear.

Objective

This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of cryoballoon PVI in PAF and PersAF comparing conventional radiofrequency catheter ablation (RFCA).

Methods

Two hundred patients undergoing cryoballoon ablation for symptomatic AF were consecutively enrolled in this retrospective study. For comparison, 210 patients undergoing RFCA in the same period were included. The primary outcome was a recurrence of any atrial tachyarrhythmias (ATas) after the index ablation. 12-lead ECG and 24-hour Holter monitoring were obtained at 1,3,6 and 9–12 months.

Results

PVI by cryoablation alone was achieved in 197 patients (98.5%). ATas-free survival at 12 months post-ablation was 72.7% in the cryoablation and 80.6% in the RFCA group (P = 0.123), respectively. The cryoablation showed comparable efficacy maintaining sinus rhythm compared with RFCA in PAF (P = 0.539), whereas in PersAF, ATas-free survival was significantly lower in cryoablation (P = 0.039). PV reconnection was observed in the majority of patients (14/16, 87.5%) who receive redo RFCA. Complications were encountered in 10 patients, including femoral arteriovenous fistula (n = 1), transient phrenic nerve palsy (n = 8), and minimal amount pericardial effusion (n = 1).

Conclusion

The efficacy of cryoballoon PVI is comparable with conventional RFCA in PAF, whereas PVI alone using cryoballoon may not be insufficient to maintaining sinus rhythm in PersAF. The safety of cryoballlon PVI is tolerable.
Prevalence and predictors of anemia among pregnant women in Ethiopia: Systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Geta Teshome Gensa , Gebremedhin Samson , Omigbodun Akinyinka O.
Published: July 2022

Background

In Ethiopia limited information is available regarding the prevalence and predictors of anemia in pregnancy. This systematic review and meta-analysis estimated the pooled prevalence of anemia among pregnant women in Ethiopia and also identified its predictors.

Materials and methods

The published primary studies were searched in the following electronic databases; PubMed/Medline, Google scholars, AJOL, and EMBASE. All primary studies published from 01/01/2010 to 30/05/2020 and written in English language were included without restriction on study setting and design. Critical appraisal of all available articles was done and extracted data was analyzed using STATA software version 14. The pooled prevalence of anemia was presented using a forest plot. The I2statistical test for heterogeneity, and the Egger’s and Begg’s tests for publication bias were used. The relative risk was used to assess the association of predictor variables with anemia.

Result

After screening 274 articles, sixty studies were included in the analysis. The pooled prevalence of anemia among pregnant women was 26.4(95% CI: 23.1, 29.6). Sub-group analysis showed higher pooled prevalence from community-based studies than institutional-based studies. Factors that were protective against maternal anemia included urban residence, formal education and smaller family size. Short birth interval and not having antenatal care (ANC) are associated with a higher risk of maternal anemia. Women with low dietary diversity [RR: 2.61(95% CI, 1.85, 3.68)], mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC) less than 23 cm [RR: 2.35(95% CI, 1.53, 3.68)] and those not taking iron-folic acid [RR: 1.53(95% CI: 1.30, 1.81)] also had a higher risk of anemia.

Conclusion

Almost one in four pregnant women in Ethiopia had anemia. Being literate, living in urban areas with small family size and adequate birth spacing, as well as good dietary diversity are associated with a lower risk of anemia in pregnancy.

Registration number

(ID: CRD42020211054).
How does it all end? Trends and disparities in health at the end of life
Authors: Vierboom Yana C.
Published: July 2022

Objectives

To consider trends and disparities in end-of-life health in the US.

Methods

I use data from the National Health Interview Survey, linked to death records through 2015, for respondents who died at ages 65+ to compare the prevalence of three health outcomes in the last six years of life across time, sex, age, race, and educational attainment. Self-rated health (SRH) is available for respondents interviewed in years 1987–2014, while information on activities of daily living (ADL) and instrumental activities of daily living (IADL) is available for the period 1997–2014.

Results

By the end of the study period, individuals reported two fewer months of fair/poor health at the end of life than those dying in earlier years. In contrast, time lived with at least one activity limitation at the end of life generally remained comparable. Compared to men, women on average reported an additional year of living with an IADL limitation before death, and an additional eight months with an ADL limitation. Despite sex differences in disability, both sexes reported similar periods of fair/poor SRH before death. Similarly, while individuals who lived to older ages experienced a longer disabled period before death than individuals who died at younger ages, all age groups were equally likely to report fair/poor SRH. Black adults and adults with less formal schooling also spent more time with an end-of-life disability. For men, these racial and socioeconomic disparities lessened as death approached. For women, inequalities persisted until death.

Discussion

These findings suggest that despite increasing life expectancy, the period of poor health and disability prior to death has not recently been extended. Black women and women with less than a high school degree, require extended support at the end of life.
Is attention branch network effective in classifying dental implants from panoramic radiograph images by deep learning?
Authors: Sukegawa Shintaro , Yoshii Kazumasa , Hara Takeshi , Tanaka Futa , Yamashita Katsusuke , Kagaya Tutaro , Nakano Keisuke , Takabatake Kiyofumi , Kawai Hotaka , Nagatsuka Hitoshi , Furuki Yoshihiko
Published: July 2022

Attention mechanism, which is a means of determining which part of the forced data is emphasized, has attracted attention in various fields of deep learning in recent years. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the performance of the attention branch network (ABN) for implant classification using convolutional neural networks (CNNs). The data consisted of 10191 dental implant images from 13 implant brands that cropped the site, including dental implants as pretreatment, from digital panoramic radiographs of patients who underwent surgery at Kagawa Prefectural Central Hospital between 2005 and 2021. ResNet 18, 50, and 152 were evaluated as CNN models that were compared with and without the ABN. We used accuracy, precision, recall, specificity, F1 score, and area under the receiver operating characteristics curve as performance metrics. We also performed statistical and effect size evaluations of the 30-time performance metrics of the simple CNNs and the ABN model. ResNet18 with ABN significantly improved the dental implant classification performance for all the performance metrics. Effect sizes were equivalent to “Huge” for all performance metrics. In contrast, the classification performance of ResNet50 and 152 deteriorated by adding the attention mechanism. ResNet18 showed considerably high compatibility with the ABN model in dental implant classification (AUC = 0.9993) despite the small number of parameters. The limitation of this study is that only ResNet was verified as a CNN; further studies are required for other CNN models.
Multilocus marker-based delimitation of Salicornia persica and its population discrimination assisted by supervised machine learning approach
Authors: Jamdade Rahul , Al-Shaer Khawla , Al-Sallani Mariam , Al-Harthi Eman , Mahmoud Tamer , Gairola Sanjay , Shabana Hatem A.
Published: July 2022

The Salicornia L. has been considered one of the most taxonomically challenging genera due to high morphological plasticity, intergradation between related species, and lack of diagnostic features in preserved herbarium specimens. In the United Arab Emirates (UAE), only one species of this genus, Salicornia europaea, has been reported, though investigating its identity at the molecular level has not yet been undertaken. Moreover, based on growth form and morphology variation between the Ras-Al-Khaimah (RAK) population and the Umm-Al-Quwain (UAQ) population, we suspect the presence of different species or morphotypes. The present study aimed to initially perform species identification using multilocus DNA barcode markers from chloroplast DNA (cpDNA) and nuclear ribosomal DNA (nrDNA), followed by the genetic divergence between two populations (RAK and UAQ) belonging to two different coastal localities in the UAE. The analysis resulted in high-quality multilocus barcode sequences subjected to species discrimination through the unsupervised OTU picking and supervised learning methods. The ETS sequence data from our study sites had high identity with the previously reported sequences of Salicornia persica using NCBI blast and was further confirmed using OTU picking methods viz., TaxonDNAs Species identifier and Assemble Species by Automatic Partitioning (ASAP). Moreover, matK sequence data showed a non-monophyletic relationship, and significant discrimination between the two populations through alignment-based unsupervised OTU picking, alignment-free Co-Phylog, and alignment & alignment-free supervised learning approaches. Other markers viz., rbcL, trnH-psbA, ITS2, and ETS could not distinguish the two populations individually, though their combination with matK (cpDNA & cpDNA+nrDNA) showed enough population discrimination. However, the ITS2+ETS (nrDNA) exhibited much higher genetic divergence, further splitting both the populations into four haplotypes. Based on the observed morphology, genetic divergence, and the number of haplotypes predicted using the matK marker, it can be suggested that two distinct populations (RAK and UAQ) do exist. Further extensive morpho-taxonomic studies are required to determine the inter-population variability of Salicornia in the UAE. Altogether, our results suggest that S. persica is the species that grow in the present study area in UAE, and do not support previous treatments as S. europaea.
Progressive censoring schemes for marshall-olkin pareto distribution with applications: Estimation and prediction
Authors: Alshenawy R. , Haj Ahmad Hanan , Al-Alwan Ali
Published: July 2022

In this paper two prediction methods are used to predict the non-observed (censored) units under progressive Type-II censored samples. The lifetimes of the units follow Marshall-Olkin Pareto distribution. We observe the posterior predictive density of the non-observed units and construct predictive intervals as well. Furthermore, we provide inference on the unknown parameters of the Marshall-Olkin model, so we observe point and interval estimation by using maximum likelihood and Bayesian estimation methods. Bayes estimation methods are obtained under quadratic loss function. EM algorithm is used to obtain numerical values of the Maximum likelihood method and Gibbs and the Monte Carlo Markov chain techniques are utilized for Bayesian calculations. A simulation study is performed to evaluate the performance of the estimators with respect to the mean square errors and the biases. Finally, we find the best prediction method by implementing a real data example under progressive Type-II censoring schemes.
Impact of an indigenously produced multi-enzyme complex from Bacillus subtilis KT004404 on growth and blood parameters in broiler chicken
Authors: Javaid Aqsa , Younas Farhan , Ullah Ikram , Yasinzai Masoom
Published: July 2022

A 42-days experiment was conducted on a day old birds (n = 400) to evaluate the effect of enzyme supplements in feed on the growth, blood parameters, phosphorous content in bones, and nitrogen retention. Different treatments included: control (C) without enzyme supplement, while the other three groups included enzyme mixture T1 and T2 with two commercially available enzyme mix, and T3 with indigenously produced multi-enzyme complex from Bacillus subtilis KT004404. Birds that were fed with indigenously produced multi-enzyme complex showed significant weight gain as compared to other groups. The total feed intake of the birds fed with enzyme supplements was higher than the birds in the control group. The feed conversion ratio was significantly improved (p < 0.05) in treatment groups (T1, T2, T3) as compared to the control. The blood parameters which were analyzed included uric acid, triglycerides, total cholesterol, and serum proteins i.e. globulin and albumin. Birds fed with the enzyme in the group T1, T2 and T3 exhibited higher (p < 0.05) body weight gain. Tibia ash content was significantly higher (p < 0.05) in T1, T2, and T3 as compared to the control. The results of the current study indicate that supplementing poultry feed with the exogenous multi-enzyme produced from Bacillus subtilis KT004404 improved the growth of the birds, feed utilization, and exhibited beneficial effects on the blood parameters, phosphorous and nitrogen retention in broiler chicken.
Evaluation of ocular biometry in the Japanese population using a multicenter approach: Prospective observational study
Authors: Kawamorita Takushi , Uozato Hiroshi , Oshika Tetsuro , Negishi Kazuno , Fujikado Takashi , Murakami Akira , Kamiya Kazutaka , Maeda Naoyuki , Ueno Yuta , Onuma Kazuhiro , Hirota Masakazu , Hoshikawa Rie , Masui Sachiko , Yamaguchi Masahiro , Mihashi Toshifumi
Published: July 2022

This prospective observational study aimed to evaluate the ocular biometry of Japanese people through a multicenter approach. The uncorrected and corrected distance visual acuity (UDVA and CDVA, respectively) in the log minimum angle of resolution (logMAR), subjective and objective spherical equivalent values (SE) of ocular refraction, anterior and posterior corneal curvature (ACC and PCC, respectively), anterior and posterior corneal asphericity (ACA and PCA, respectively), central corneal thickness (CCT), anterior chamber depth (ACD), and ocular axial length (AL) were measured in the eyes of 250 participants (mean age = 46.5 ± 18.0 years, range: 20–90 years) across five institutions in Japan. The mean UDVA, CDVA, subjective SE, objective SE, ACC, PCC, ACA, PCA, CCT, ACD, and AL were 0.68, −0.08, −2.42 D, −2.66 D, 7.77 mm, 6.33 mm, −0.31, −0.39, 0.55 mm, 2.92 mm, and 24.78 mm, respectively. Age-related changes and sex-based differences were noted in the visual acuity, refraction, corneal shape, ACD, and AL. Our results serve as basis for future studies aiming to develop refractive correction methods and various vision-related fields.
Predictors of improvement in quality of life at 12-month follow-up in patients undergoing anterior endoscopic skull base surgery
Authors: Buchlak Quinlan D. , Esmaili Nazanin , Bennett Christine , Wang Yi Yuen , King James , Goldschlager Tony
Published: July 2022

Background

Patients with pituitary lesions experience decrements in quality of life (QoL) and treatment aims to arrest or improve QoL decline.

Objective

To detect associations with QoL in trans-nasal endoscopic skull base surgery patients and train supervised learning classifiers to predict QoL improvement at 12 months.

Methods

A supervised learning analysis of a prospective multi-institutional dataset (451 patients) was conducted. QoL was measured using the anterior skull base surgery questionnaire (ASBS). Factors associated with QoL at baseline and at 12-month follow-up were identified using multivariate logistic regression. Multiple supervised learning models were trained to predict postoperative QoL improvement with five-fold cross-validation.

Results

ASBS at 12-month follow-up was significantly higher (132.19,SD = 24.87) than preoperative ASBS (121.87,SD = 25.72,p<0.05). High preoperative scores were significantly associated with institution, diabetes and lesions at the planum sphenoidale / tuberculum sella site. Patients with diabetes were five times less likely to report high preoperative QoL. Low preoperative QoL was significantly associated with female gender, a vision-related presentation, diabetes, secreting adenoma and the cavernous sinus site. Top quartile change in postoperative QoL at 12-month follow-up was negatively associated with baseline hypercholesterolemia, acromegaly and intraoperative CSF leak. Positive associations were detected for lesions at the sphenoid sinus site and deficient preoperative endocrine function. AdaBoost, logistic regression and neural network classifiers yielded the strongest predictive performance.

Conclusion

It was possible to predict postoperative positive change in QoL at 12-month follow-up using perioperative data. Further development and implementation of these models may facilitate improvements in informed consent, treatment decision-making and patient QoL.