bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The diagnostic yield of nasopharyngeal aspirate for pediatric pulmonary tuberculosis: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Khambati Nisreen , Song Rinn , MacLean Emily Lai-Ho , Kohli Mikashmi , Olbrich Laura , Bijker Else Margreet
Published: October 2023

Background

Tuberculosis (TB) is a leading cause of death in children, but many cases are never diagnosed. Microbiological diagnosis of pulmonary TB is challenging in young children who cannot spontaneously expectorate sputum. Nasopharyngeal aspirates (NPA) may be more easily collected than gastric aspirate and induced sputum and can be obtained on demand, unlike stool. However, further information on its diagnostic yield is needed.

Methods

We systematically reviewed and meta-analyzed the diagnostic yield of one NPA for testing by either culture or nucleic acid amplification testing (NAAT) to detect Mycobacterium tuberculosis from children. We searched three bibliographic databases and two trial registers up to 24th November 2022. Studies that reported the proportion of children diagnosed by NPA compared to a microbiological reference standard (MRS) were eligible. Culture and/or WHO-endorsed NAAT on at least one respiratory specimen served as the MRS. We also estimated the incremental yield of two NPA samples compared to one and summarized operational aspects of NPA collection and processing. Univariate random-effect meta-analyses were performed to calculate pooled diagnostic yield estimates.

Results

From 1483 citations, 54 were selected for full-text review, and nine were included. Based on six studies including 256 children with microbiologically confirmed TB, the diagnostic yield of NAAT on one NPA ranged from 31 to 60% (summary estimate 44%, 95% CI 36–51%). From seven studies including 242 children with confirmed TB, the diagnostic yield of culture was 17–88% (summary estimate 58%, 95% CI 42–73%). Testing a second NPA increased the yield by 8–19% for NAAT and 4–35% for culture. NPA collection procedures varied between studies, although most children had NPA successfully obtained (96–100%), with a low rate of indeterminate results (< 5%). Data on NPA acceptability and specifically for children under 5 years were limited.

Conclusions

NPA is a suitable and feasible specimen for diagnosing pediatric TB. The high rates of successful collection across different levels of healthcare improve access to microbiological testing, supporting its inclusion in diagnostic algorithms for TB, especially if sampling is repeated. Future research into the acceptability of NPA and how to standardize collection to optimize diagnostic yield is needed.
Erlotinib Plus Gemcitabine Compared With Gemcitabine Alone in Patients With Advanced Pancreatic Cancer: A Phase III Trial of the National Cancer Institute of Canada Clinical Trials Group
Authors: Moore Malcolm J. , Goldstein David , Hamm John , Figer Arie , Hecht Joel R. , Gallinger Steven , Au Heather J. , Murawa Pawel , Walde David , Wolff Robert A. , Campos Daniel , Lim Robert , Ding Keyue , Clark Gary , Voskoglou-Nomikos Theodora , Ptasynski Mieke , Parulekar Wendy
Published: October 2023

PURPOSE

Patients with advanced pancreatic cancer have a poor prognosis and there have been no improvements in survival since the introduction of gemcitabine in 1996. Pancreatic tumors often overexpress human epidermal growth factor receptor type 1 (HER1/EGFR) and this is associated with a worse prognosis. We studied the effects of adding the HER1/EGFR-targeted agent erlotinib to gemcitabine in patients with unresectable, locally advanced, or metastatic pancreatic cancer.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Patients were randomly assigned 1:1 to receive standard gemcitabine plus erlotinib (100 or 150 mg/d orally) or gemcitabine plus placebo in a double-blind, international phase III trial. The primary end point was overall survival.

RESULTS

A total of 569 patients were randomly assigned. Overall survival based on an intent-to-treat analysis was significantly prolonged on the erlotinib/gemcitabine arm with a hazard ratio (HR) of 0.82 (95% CI, 0.69 to 0.99; P = .038, adjusted for stratification factors; median 6.24 months v 5.91 months). One-year survival was also greater with erlotinib plus gemcitabine (23% v 17%; P = .023). Progression-free survival was significantly longer with erlotinib plus gemcitabine with an estimated HR of 0.77 (95% CI, 0.64 to 0.92; P = .004). Objective response rates were not significantly different between the arms, although more patients on erlotinib had disease stabilization. There was a higher incidence of some adverse events with erlotinib plus gemcitabine, but most were grade 1 or 2.

CONCLUSION

To our knowledge, this randomized phase III trial is the first to demonstrate statistically significantly improved survival in advanced pancreatic cancer by adding any agent to gemcitabine. The recommended dose of erlotinib with gemcitabine for this indication is 100 mg/d.
Laughing at Ourselves: Professor Schnitzel and Pennsylvania German Humor
Authors: Donner William W.
Published: October 2023

Although humor is often used to disparage ethnic groups, it is sometimes used by members of an ethnic group to draw laughs about people from their own background. This article describes the cultural and linguistic contexts of Pennsylvania German/Dutch humor and jokes. An exemplary and influential example of Pennsylvania Dutch English humor can be found in Ted Rickenbach, who performed as Professor Schnitzel from about 1927 until his death in 1969. He was very popular during his lifetime and continues to influence contemporary Pennsylvania German comedians. The article contextualizes the main linguistic and cultural themes in Pennsylvania German humor and then discusses Rickenbach’s Professor Schnitzel character in terms of his broad discourse features, demeanor and overall presentation. His discourse is a constructed one that expresses or enregisters a Pennsylvania German identity. His presentation both makes fun of himself as a Pennsylvania German while also expressing a regional authenticity and, for many, an endearing ethnic identity.
Leveraging dominant-negative histone H3 K-to-M mutations to study chromatin during differentiation and development
Authors: Serdyukova Ksenia , Swearingen Alison R. , Coradin Mariel , Nevo Mika , Tran Huong , Bajric Emir , Brumbaugh Justin
Published: October 2023

Histone modifications are associated with regulation of gene expression that controls a vast array of biological processes. Often, these associations are drawn by correlating the genomic location of a particular histone modification with gene expression or phenotype; however, establishing a causal relationship between histone marks and biological processes remains challenging. Consequently, there is a strong need for experimental approaches to directly manipulate histone modifications. A class of mutations on the N-terminal tail of histone H3, lysine-to-methionine (K-to-M) mutations, was identified as dominant-negative inhibitors of histone methylation at their respective and specific residues. The dominant-negative nature of K-to-M mutants makes them a valuable tool for studying the function of specific methylation marks on histone H3. Here, we review recent applications of K-to-M mutations to understand the role of histone methylation during development and homeostasis. We highlight important advantages and limitations that require consideration when using K-to-M mutants, particularly in a developmental context.
The roles of JAK2/STAT3 signaling in fusion of the secondary palate
Authors: Yoshida Naoki , Inubushi Toshihiro , Hirose Takumi , Aoyama Gozo , Kurosaka Hiroshi , Yamashiro Takashi
Published: October 2023

Cleft palate has a multifactorial etiology. In palatal fusion, the contacting medial edge epithelium (MEE) forms the epithelial seam, which is subsequently removed with the reduction of p63. Failure in this process results in a cleft palate. We herein report the involvement of janus kinase 2 (JAK2)/signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) signaling in palatal fusion and that folic acid rescues the fusing defect by reactivating JAK2/STAT3. In closure of bilateral palatal shelves, STAT3 phosphorylation was activated at the fusing MEE and mesenchyme underlying the MEE. JAK2 inhibition by AG490 inhibited STAT3 phosphorylation and resulted in palatal fusion failure without removal of the epithelial seam, in which p63 and keratin 17 (K17) periderm markers were retained. Folic acid application restored STAT3 phosphorylation in AG490-treated palatal explants and rescued the fusion defect, in which the p63- and K17-positive epithelial seam were removed. The AG490-induced palatal defect was also rescued in p63 haploinsufficient explants. These findings suggest that JAK2/STAT3 signaling is involved in palatal fusion by suppressing p63 expression in MEE and that folate restores the fusion defect by reactivating JAK2/STAT3.
Strategic Priorities for Physical Activity Surveillance in the United States
Authors: Fulton Janet E. , Carlson Susan A. , Ainsworth Barbara E. , Berrigan David , Carlson Cynthia , Dorn Joan M. , Heath Gregory W. , Kohl Harold W. , Lee I-Min , Lee Sarah M. , Mâsse Louise C. , Morrow James R. , Gabriel Kelley Pettee , Pivarnik James M. , Pronk Nicolaas P. , Rodgers Anne B. , Saelens Brian E. , Sallis James F. , Troiano Richard P. , Tudor-Locke Catrine , Wendel Arthur
Published: October 2023

Purpose

Develop strategic priorities to guide future physical activity surveillance in the United States.

Methods

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the American College of Sports Medicine convened a scientific roundtable of physical activity and measurement experts. Participants summarized the current state of aerobic physical activity surveillance for adults, focusing on practice and research needs in three areas: 1) behavior, 2) human movement, and 3) community supports. Needs and challenges for each area were identified. At the conclusion of the meeting, experts identified one overarching strategy and five strategic priorities to guide future surveillance.

Results

The identified overarching strategy was to develop a national plan for physical activity surveillance similar to the U.S. National Physical Activity Plan for promotion. The purpose of the plan would be to enhance coordination and collaboration within and between sectors, such as transportation and public health, and to address specific strategic priorities identified at the roundtable. These strategic priorities were used 1) to identify and prioritize physical activity constructs; 2) to assess the psychometric properties of instruments for physical activity surveillance; 3) to provide training and technical assistance for those collecting, analyzing, or interpreting surveillance data; 4) to explore accessing data from alternative sources; and 5) to improve communication, translation, and dissemination about estimates of physical activity from surveillance systems.

Conclusion

This roundtable provided strategic priorities for physical activity surveillance in the United States. A first step is to develop a national plan for physical activity surveillance that would provide an operating framework from which to execute these priorities.
Developing a Research Agenda for the Profession of Kinesiology: A Modified Delphi Study
Authors: Wayne Noah , Ataman Rebecca , Fischer Steven , Smith Leanne , Lariviere Celine , Thomas Scott , Sutherland Chad , Srbely John , Santa Mina Daniel
Published: October 2023

Optimal delivery of health care service requires evidence-based practice by the professionals within their respective fields. Kinesiology recently became a regulated health profession in the Province of Ontario, drawing on principles of movement science in related areas of human clinical and performance disciplines to appropriately guide practice. However, with the addition of kinesiology to the class of regulated health professions, research that specifically guides service delivery and best practice policy is needed. A clear research agenda with identified priorities within the profession of kinesiology that is informed by current practitioners and stakeholders will enhance the discipline by ensuring clinical excellence and scientific relevance. A mixed methods Delphi study for consensus building was used, consisting of four rounds of participant engagement including baseline focus groups, online Delphi survey (two rounds), and final ranking of top research questions. In the final round, Kendall's W was used to determine agreement among participants on final questions. n = 67 participated in the focus groups, and n = 104, 102, 102 kinesiologists participated in rounds 2, 3, and 4, respectively. Two hundred and eighteen baseline research questions were identified from the focus groups, spanning three thematic areas: clinical skills, education/professional development, and contemporary issues/advocacy for professionals. Following the conclusion of the third round, 32 research questions achieved consensus of “significant importance.” The list of 32 questions was prioritized by respondents to identify the top 10 research questions for professional kinesiology, which reached statistical concordance (W = 0.44, P < 0.001). This is the inaugural research agenda for registered kinesiologists. Consensus-based research priorities identified in this agenda should be considered when designing and allocating resources to professional kinesiology research.
Inglämnlagare: a tool for restructuring Swedish HER record site data for statistical analysis
Authors: Löwenborg Daniel , Antomonov Filipp
Published: October 2023

Background: This paper presents a new software tool, Inglämnlagare, developed to be open-source, that restructures information about ancient remains in Sweden for analysis. The background is a new version of the ancient sites database, the Historic Environment Record, curated by the Swedish National Heritage Board, that was launched in 2018 with a new database model that structures the information differently compared to previous versions. Methods: The program, written in Python programming language, has multicore support in order to improve performance for large files and uses regular expressions to extract information about individual features of composite sites. Such features, together with their summed amount, are written as new individual fields to a comma-separated value file. The program is delivered as a source script file that can be executed in any Python environment. Use cases: As an example of use, a case study of exploring graves of rectangular shape found within Sweden is provided. The use case also describes the different steps involved in preparing the data in QGIS to run the program, as well as some methods to efficiently analyse and visualize the output. Conclusions: Inglämnlagare will make more information from the Swedish record of ancient sites accessible for research and can be used to explore different content of the record more efficiently than previously possible. While the tool is written specifically for this dataset it also provides an example of how open-source tools can be used for data wrangling making information designed for a specific purpose, such as online dissemination, appropriate for analysis.
A novel homomorphic polynomial public key encapsulation algorithm
Authors: Kuang Randy , Perepechaenko Maria
Published: October 2023

Background: One of the primary drivers in development of novel quantum-safe cryptography techniques is the ongoing National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Post-Quantum Cryptography (PQC) competition, which aims to identify quantum-safe algorithms for standardization. Although NIST has recently announced candidates to be standardized, the development of novel PQC algorithms remains desirable to address the challenges of quantum computing. Furthermore, to enhance security and improve performance. Methods: This paper introduces a novel public key encapsulation algorithm that incorporates an additional layer of encryption during key construction procedure, through a hidden ring. This encryption involves modular multiplication over the hidden ring using a homomorphism operator that is closed under addition and scalar multiplication. The homomorphic encryption key is comprised of two values - one used to create the hidden ring and the other to form an encryption operator. This homomorphic encryption can be applied to any polynomials during key construction over a finite field with their coefficients considered private. Particularly, the proposed homomorphic encryption operator can be applied to the public key of the Multivariate Public Key Cryptography schemes (MPKC) to hide the structure of its central map construction. Results: This paper presents a new variant of the MPKC with its public key encrypted using the proposed homomorphic operator. This novel scheme is called the Homomorphic Polynomial Public Key (HPPK) algorithm, which simplifies MPKC central map to two multivariate polynomials constructed from polynomial multiplications. The HPPK algorithm employs a single polynomial vector for the plaintext and a multi-variate noise vector associated with the central map. In contrast, in MPKC, a single multivariate vector is created by segmenting the secret plaintext over a small finite field. The HPPK algorithm is Indistinguishability Under Chosen-Plaintext Attack (IND-CPA) secure, and its classical complexity for cracking is exponential in the size of the prime field GF(p).
Umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cell; a potential therapy on reducing intimal hyperplasia in rabbit arteriovenous fistula (AVF) model, analysis the expression of HIF-1a, eNOS, and MMP-2
Authors: Habibie Yopie Afriandi , Emril Dessy Rakhmawati , Azharuddin Azharuddin , Syahrizal Dedy , Syukri Maimun , Ismy Jufriady , Sartika Cynthia Retna
Published: October 2023

Introduction: AVF is the best option for hemodialysis access, but its patency rate drops after one year. UC-MSCs were used to reduce inflammation and promote vascular tissue repair in AVF rabbit models. Methods: In this study, 28 male domestic rabbits (Lepus Domestica) were divided into four groups: KN as a negative control, KP as a positive control with placebo therapy, P1 as the treatment group with in situ UC-MSCs, and P2 as the treatment group with intravenous UC-MSCs. The UC-MSCs dose administered was 1,000,000 cells per kilogram of body weight. After 28 days, all groups of rabbit models with AVF were sacrificed. HIF-1α, eNOS, and MMP-2 levels were measured using ELISA Sandwich methods and analyzed using a one-way ANOVA test followed by post hoc Duncan test. Results: The study found significant differences in HIF-1α, eNOS, and MMP-2 levels among the treatment groups. P3 and P4 treatments did not significantly differ in HIF-1α levels, but P3 had a lower average HIF-1α level than P4. The KP group had the highest concentration of eNOS, significantly higher than P1, P2, and KN. ENOs concentration decreased in P1 and P2 and was significantly lower than KP. The level of MMP-2 in AVF rabbits that received intravenous UC-MSCs was significantly higher than that of healthy rabbits (KN), but significantly lower than the AVF rabbit group that received a placebo. The MMP-2 level in AVF rabbits receiving in situ UC-MSCs was significantly lower than in the placebo and intravenous UC-MSC groups. Conclusion. This study suggests that local delivery of in situ UC-MSCs targeting HIF-1α, eNOS, and MMP-2 levels can effectively reduce intimal hyperplasia (IH) in rabbit models of AVF, potentially preventing early AVF failure and serving as a promising therapy to prevent and reduce IH in AVF.
Nanocomposite physics and structure considerations in MCNP proton shielding models
Authors: Freilich Justina , Palmer Camille
Published: October 2023

Background Deep space crewed missions require unique radiation shielding considerations. Due to mission duration and the heavy, high-energy nature of deep space radiation, the aluminum alloys that have historically been used for spacecrafts do not provide sufficient protection for crew members. Polymer-based nanocomposites have been proposed as potential radiation shielding materials for deep space applications; however, the high tunability of nanocomposites and the limited number of facilities able to produce representative radiation energies presents barriers to nanocomposite testing. Computational approaches may allow for preliminary investigation and discrimination of nanocomposite parameters like polymer and filler composition, loading percentage, and filler size and structure. Methods This work aims to investigate several modeling methods to perform radiation transport simulations for a nanocomposite, particularly with regards to modeling the filler nanostructure and the involved physics. Published experiments of a polydimethylsiloxane-carbon nanotube nanocomposite in 63 MeV and 105 MeV proton beams were digitally recreated in MCNP6.2 with three different nanocomposite structures. Additionally, several simulations were performed under various physics assumptions. The computationally determined water equivalent thicknesses are compared between modeling methods, as well as between the computational and the published experimental work. Results Nanostructure model complexity had no impact on the computed water equivalent thickness, with <1% difference between the three modeling methods. The inclusion of delta ray production and tracking physics produced a slight decrease in the computed water equivalent thickness and significantly increased the computational time for a single simulation by a factor of 35.7. Computationally determined water equivalent thicknesses are within 5% of published experimentally determined values. Conclusions Shielding capabilities of a polymer/carbon nanotube nanocomposite estimated using Monte Carlo radiation transport models agree well with published experimental results, even with a simplistic representation of the nanocomposite material. Radiation transport settings influenced the resulting water equivalent thickness as well as computational resource needs.
The Opposing Effects of Complexity and Information Content on Uncertainty Dynamics: Evidence from 10-K Filings
Authors: Bae Joon Woo , Belo Frederico , Li Jun , Lin Xiaoji , Zhao Xiaofei
Published: October 2023

We evaluate the impact of complexity and information content of 10-K filings on uncertainty dynamics following the filings. We have three main findings. First, the option-implied volatility on average increases in the first four weeks after the filings, followed by a net decrease in the subsequent six weeks. Second, this hump-shaped volatility dynamic is more pronounced for firms with larger 10-K file sizes. Third, we provide a novel decomposition of 10-K file size based on the individual sections’ disclosure amount and topic analysis and find that the discussions on topics in the “risk factors” section mainly capture the complexity aspect, whereas the discussions on topics in the “managerial discussion and analysis” section mainly capture the information content aspect of the 10-K filings. Our findings highlight the importance of timing for understanding the opposing effects of complexity and information content on asset prices.

This paper was accepted by Agostino Capponi, finance.

Supplemental Material: The online appendix and data are available at https://doi.org/10.1287/mnsc.2022.4615 .
The Relationship between Pragmatic Language Competence, Parental Child Abuse, and Teacher-Child Relationships in School Bullying: Focusing on Gender Differences in Fourth Graders in Elementary School Children
Authors: Lee Eun Ju
Published: October 2023

Objectives: The relationship between child pragmatic language competence, parental child abuse, and teacher-child relationships in school bullying was examined by gender group. Methods: 340 fourth-grade boys (34.41%) and 648 girls (65.59%) who participated in the Panel Study on Korean Children (PSKC) were analyzed for child pragmatic language competence (CPLC), parent-child abuse (PCAQ), teacher-child relationship (STRS), Revised Olweus Bully/Victim Questionnaire (OBVQ-R). Results: In the case of male students, controlling their Communication function and Discourse management according to contextual variation can help maintain intimacy in teacher-child relationships, but it does not affect school bullying. In addition, physical or mental abuse by parents was not related to the damage of male students’ peer school bullying. On the other hand, in the case of female students, emotional abuse of parents was a major variable that significantly affected the degree of damage (frequency) of peer school violence, as well as nonverbal communication skills and communication functions. Conclusion: If the results of this study are applied to the development and application of school bullying prevention programs, it would be desirable to distinguish between male and female students. First, in the case of female students, it was confirmed that non-verbal communication skills were especially important in the relationship between teachers, peers, and parents. And in the case of male students, direct verbal skills such as discourse management, communication function, and contextual variation ability according to the situation seem to affect intimacy with teachers and peer school bullying.
Quantity and Quality of Parental Linguistic Input to Young Children with Cochlear Implants: A Longitudinal Study
Authors: Lee Dayea , Lee Youngmee , Lee Youjin
Published: October 2023

Objectives: This study aims to investigate longitudinal changes in the quantity and quality of the parental linguistic input of children with cochlear implants (CIs) and children with typical hearing (TH) and find the significant parental linguistic variables that might positively be related to children’s language development in the CI group. Methods: Participants were 33 parent-child dyads, including 16 children with CIs and 17 with TH at the initial visit. They participated in a 20-minute free-play task at three-time points (initial, 6-month, and 12-month visits). Results: There were no significant differences between the CI and TH groups in the total number of utterances (NTU) and the total number of words (NTW). However, the two groups significantly differed in the different number of words (NDW) and higher-level facilitative language techniques (FLTs). In addition, the CI group produced more utterances than TH parents at the initial visit. However, there were no significant differences in the NTU between CI and TH groups at 6- and 12-month visits. Furthermore, both groups used fewer NDW and mental state words at the initial visit than at the 12-month visit. Nevertheless, CI and TH groups used fewer higher-level FLTs at the initial visit than at the 6- and 12-month visits. Lastly, qualitative parental linguistic input is a critical factor, continuously affecting language development in children with CIs. Conclusion: These findings suggest that early intervention programs should be designed to enable parents to use more qualitative linguistic features in daily routines to build their child’s language skills.
Effects of Face Masks on Perception of Emotion from Facial Expression and Voice in Preschool-age Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing Children
Authors: Yun Hae-na , Lee Youngmee , Lee Young-joo , Kim Jeong-won , Lee Ju-ri , Choi Mi-ri , Kim Min-young
Published: October 2023

Objectives: Emotional cues in speech communication are delivered in several sensory modalities, including the auditory and the visual modality. Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, masking wearing has become ubiquitous internationally. In this study, we investigated the effects of face masks on the perception of emotional speech in deaf and hard of hearing children (DHH) compared to children with normal hearing (NH). Methods:Thirteen children with DHH participated in the study. Six children were cochlear implant (CI) users and 7 children used hearing aids (HAs). Thirteen children with NH were involved as the control group. They completed the emotion perception tasks, based on stimuli presenting three emotional expressions (happiness, sadness, and anger). Results: There were no significant differences between the DHH and NH groups in mask-wearing and unmasked conditions. The CI group showed lower emotion perception scores than the HA group in unmasked-sad and unmasked-anger conditions. Among communication-related factors, speech perception scores at the sentence level were highly related with the emotion perception scores in the DHH group. Conclusion: These results indicate that children with DHH can accurately perceive emotions even in situations when facial expressions are limited. Children with CIs have more difficulty perceiving emotions than children with HAs.This endeavor will help an optimized treatment plan for children with CIs who have relatively poor emotion perception skills.
Characteristics of Facial Emotion Recognition in Children Aged 7-8 with High-Functioning ASD Using an Eye-Tracker
Authors: Lim Da-Hye , Hong Gyung-Hun
Published: October 2023

Objectives: The purpose of the present study was to investigate characteristics of peer’s facial emotion recognition (FER) in children with high-functioning autism spectrum disorder (HF-ASD) through gaze patterns; and to suggest implications through comparison with typically developing (TD children). Methods: The participants were 10 children with HF-ASD aged 7-8 years and 10 children with TD matched on chronological age. Children performed FER tasks consisting of two types of stimuli (static, dynamic) for four basic emotions (happy, sad, anger, surprise) and their eye movement were measured while they performed the task using an eye-tracker. The emotion recognition accuracy, proportion of fixation, and heatmap were analyzed, and correlation analysis was conducted. Results: The HF-ASD group performed significantly poorer than the TD group in overall emotion recognition and made significantly more errors only in anger. There was no statistically significant difference in emotion recognition between static and dynamic stimuli in both groups. There was no interaction effect between group and emotion type and areas of interest (AOI). Only the interaction effect between emotion type and AOI was significant in the TD group. The HF-ASD group tended to look more at the mouth than the eyes and look relatively more at non-feature area of the faces compared to the TD group. These gaze patterns seem to affect the accuracy depending on emotion types. Conclusion: Children with HF-ASD have deficits in FER and show gaze patterns different with TD peers. The results of this study suggest that a deficit in FER of children with HF-ASD is related to gaze pattern.
Development of Connective Endings Use in Spontaneous Language of 2-6-Year-Old Children
Authors: Lee YoonKyoung , Oh Sojung , Choi Jihye , Yang Eunjin , Lim Suah , Kim Hyeji , Choi Jaerin , Kim Hyeokbin
Published: October 2023

Objectives: Connective endings play an important role not only in producing complex sentences but also in logically expressing thoughts. The purpose of this study was to examine the development of the use of connective endings in the spontaneous language of children aged 2-6. Methods: A total of 250 children aged 2 to 6 participated in the study, in groups of 50 by age group. Spontaneous language samples were collected between the examiner and the children via a semi-structured conversation procedure in which the topic of conversation and the examiner’s conversational behavior were controlled. The total number of connective endings, number of connective endings by subcategory and by subtype were measured by extracting 50 utterances from each child’s language sample. Results: (1) The total number of connective endings (CE) and the numbers of the three CE categories increased significantly according to age and the significant differences were observed before and after the age of 4. (2) In the subtypes of CE, auxiliary and closing connective endings were the most frequently used in all age groups, and closing connective endings significantly increased from 2 to 4 years old. However, there was no significant difference in the use of auxiliary connective endings according to age because they were used frequently from the age of 2. (3) The total number of CE (39.4%), and the subordinate category (40.9%) among the three CE categories; cause (31.3%), purpose (9.6%), choice (5.5%), list (2.4%) among the subtypes of CE explained age. Conclusion: The study confirmed that the developmental pattern of the use of connective endings in spontaneous language of the children aged 2-6. We discussed the academic and clinical implication of the result and suggest the needs of the follow-up study.
Efficacy of Laryngeal Massage in Patients with Muscle Tension Dysphonia: Changes in Surface Electromyography (sEMG) Activity
Authors: Kim Bo Gyeom , Choi Seong Hee , Lee Kyungjae , Choi Chul-Hee
Published: October 2023

Objectives: Laryngeal massage has been used as a major voice therapy technique in patients with muscle tension dysphonia, which results in voice changes due to excessive tension in the intrinsic or extrinsic laryngeal muscles. This study aims to explore the effect of laryngeal massage by changing the activity potentials of paralaryngeal muscles through laryngeal massage. Methods: A total of 15 adults diagnosed with muscle tension dysphonia participated in this study. Laryngeal massage was performed for 15-20 minutes. To measure surface electromyography (sEMG), the surface electrodes were attached to the suprahyoid muscle and sternocleidomastoid (SCM) muscles of each patient and the sEMG activity of the paralaryngeal muscles was measured before and after laryngeal massage. In addition, a patient-based pain scale was also completed by laryngeal palpation before and after laryngeal massage. Results: Significantly lower sEMG amplitudes yielded in the suprahyoid muscle and SCM muscles during sustained /a/ vowel phonation and connected speech following laryngeal massage. Moreover, pain scores also reduced after laryngeal massage in both the suprahyoid and sternocleidomastoid muscles. Conclusion: Laryngeal massage was immediately beneficial in reducing tension and pain in the paralaryngeal muscles for muscle tension dysphonia. In addition, sEMG proved the effect of laryngeal massage alone without other interventions as an objective indicator. Hence, it can be useful to measure the therapeutic effect of laryngeal massage for muscle tension dysphonia with laryngeal palpation in the clinical field.
Health visitors’ experiences of supporting fathers with paternal postnatal depression
Authors: Davenport Caroline , Swami Viren
Published: October 2023

There is increasing recognition that fathers are susceptible to experiencing postnatal depression (PND). Despite health visitors being ideally placed to support fathers experiencing psychological distress, little is known about their experiences in supporting fathers as part of the family unit. The aim of this study, therefore, was to more fully understand the experiences of health visitors in the UK in supporting fathers with PND. The study used semi-structured interviews with six health visitors who were asked about their perceptions, experiences and understanding of working with fathers. Thematic analysis of the qualitative data produced four major themes: health visitors’ understanding of fathers, the family and PND; systemic health visiting failures that prevent optimal care for fathers; barriers to working with fathers; and improvements to health visiting practice that would benefit fathers. Based on these findings, four recommendations for health visiting practice are made.
Unbiased gene expression analysis of the delayed fracture healing observed in Zucker diabetic fatty rats
Authors: Sung Jonghoo , Barratt Kate R. , Pederson Stephen M. , Chenu Chantal , Reichert Ines , Atkins Gerald J. , Anderson Paul H. , Smitham Peter J.
Published: October 2023

Aims

Impaired fracture repair in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is not fully understood. In this study, we aimed to characterize the local changes in gene expression (GE) associated with diabetic fracture. We used an unbiased approach to compare GE in the fracture callus of Zucker diabetic fatty (ZDF) rats relative to wild-type (WT) littermates at three weeks following femoral osteotomy.

Methods

Zucker rats, WT and homozygous for leptin receptor mutation (ZDF), were fed a moderately high-fat diet to induce T2DM only in the ZDF animals. At ten weeks of age, open femoral fractures were simulated using a unilateral osteotomy stabilized with an external fixator. At three weeks post-surgery, the fractured femur from each animal was retrieved for analysis. Callus formation and the extent of healing were assessed by radiograph and histology. Bone tissue was processed for total RNA extraction and messenger RNA (mRNA) sequencing (mRNA-Seq).

Results

Radiographs and histology demonstrated impaired fracture healing in ZDF rats with incomplete bony bridge formation and an influx of intramedullary inflammatory tissue. In comparison, near-complete bridging between cortices was observed in Sham WT animals. Of 13,160 genes, mRNA-Seq analysis identified 13 that were differentially expressed in ZDF rat callus, using a false discovery rate (FDR) threshold of 10%. Seven genes were upregulated with high confidence (FDR = 0.05) in ZDF fracture callus, most with known roles in inflammation.

Conclusion

These findings suggest that elevated or prolonged inflammation contributes to delayed fracture healing in T2DM. The identified genes may be used as biomarkers to monitor and treat delayed fracture healing in diabetic patients.

Cite this article: Bone Joint Res 2023;12(10):657–666.
Cavernous hemangioma of the forearm muscles: Three case reports and literature review
Authors:   Orthopedics Kassab Institute, La Manouba, Tunis Faculty of Medicine, Manar University, Tunisia., Gharbi Ahmed , Abayed Amal ,   Orthopedics Kassab Institute, La Manouba, Tunis Faculty of Medicine, Manar University, Tunisia., Abid Leila ,   Orthopedics Kassab Institute, La Manouba, Tunis Faculty of Medicine, Manar University, Tunisia., Ammar Ameni ,   Orthopedics Kassab Institute, La Manouba, Tunis Faculty of Medicine, Manar University, Tunisia., Daghfous Mohamed Samir ,   Orthopedics Kassab Institute, La Manouba, Tunis Faculty of Medicine, Manar University, Tunisia., Smida Mahmoud ,   Orthopedics Kassab Institute, La Manouba, Tunis Faculty of Medicine, Manar University, Tunisia.
Published: October 2023

Introduction: Hemangiomas are common benign vascular tumors. Intramuscular hemangioma is a very rare type of hemangioma occurring in the skeletal muscle. The lower limb muscles are more likely to be affected. The location within the muscles of the forearm is extremely rare. Case Report: We present three cases of intramuscular hemangioma of the upper limb. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed a vascular tumor within the pronator teres muscle in two cases and the extensor pollicis brevis muscle in the other. The tumors were surgically excised, and histopathologic examination confirmed the diagnosis of intramuscular cavernous hemangioma. The limb function was good and there was no recurrence at 12-month follow-up in the three cases. Conclusion: Intramuscular hemangiomas of the forearm are a condition that should be evoked by orthopedic surgeons in front of pain and swelling of this region. MRI is the most effective imaging method to suspect the diagnosis. Keywords: Cavernous hemangioma, muscles, upper limb, case report.
A Rare Presentation of Bifid Tibialis Anterior Tendon in a Case of Idiopathic Congenital Talipes Equinovarus
Authors:   Department of Orthopaedics, LTMMC and GH, Sion, Mumbai, India,, Gupta Rajan , Sheth Binoti ,   Department of Orthopaedics, LTMMC and GH, Sion, Mumbai, India,, Pawar Pankaj ,   Department of Orthopaedics, LTMMC and GH, Sion, Mumbai, India,, Kalra Neeraj ,   Department of Orthopaedics, LTMMC and GH, Sion, Mumbai, India,, Somani Vasav ,   Department of Orthopaedics, Seth GSMC and KEM Hospital, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India.
Published: October 2023

Introduction: Idiopathic congenital talipes equinovarus (CTEV) is one of the most extensively researched topics for decades. It has been associated with various musculoskeletal anomalies which maybe bony, vascular or involving the ligaments and muscles which may have a direct or indirect impact on its pathoanatomy. This report describes an unusual presentation of a bifid tibialis anterior tendon (TAT) in a case of CTEV. This is the first report of this kind in the literature to the best of our knowledge. Case Report: A 4-year-old female presented with bilateral relapsed CTEV with dynamic supination previously treated with standard Ponseti protocol. The patient was treated with TAT transfer on the left side with a rare presentation of a bifid TAT where both the slips of the tendon were transferred to dorsum of the foot onto the lateral cuneiform. Conclusion: When treating a patient of CTEV surgically, it is important to consider the possibility of a bifid TAT which is a rare musculoskeletal association. It is recommended to carefully dissect TAT to prevent under correction of the deformity in case either one of the tendon slips remains attached to its original site. Keywords: Congenital talipes equinovarus, bifid tibialis anterior tendon, tibialis anterior tendon transfer.
Functional Data Analysis of Multi-Angular Hyperspectral Data on Vegetation
Authors: Sugianto Sugianto , Laffan Shawn
Published: October 2023

Abstract - The surface reflectance anisotropy can be estimated by directional reflectance analysis through the collection of multi-angular spectral data. Proper characterization of the surface anisotropy is an important element in the successful interpretation of remotely sensed signals. A signal received by a sensor from a vegetation canopy is affected by several factors. One of them is the sensor zenith angle. Functional data analysis can be used to assess the distribution and variation of spectral reflectance due to sensor zenith angle. This paper examines the effect of sensor zenith angles on the spectral reflectance of vegetation, example on cotton leaves. The spectra were acquired in a green house trial in order to address the question ‘how much information can be obtained from multi-angular hyperspectral remote sensing on vegetation?’ The goals of the functional data analysis applied in this paper is to examine the Functional Data Analysis approach was applied to analysis multi-angular hyperspectral data on cotton, highlighting various characteristics of cotton spectra due to sensor view angles, and to infer directional variation in an outcome or dependent variable with different zenith angles.
Performance Evaluation of An Innovative-Vapor- Compression-Desalination System
Authors: Lubis, Mirna R. , Holtzaple Mark T
Published: October 2023

Abstract – Two dominant desalination methods are reverse osmosis (RO) and multi-stage flash (MSF). RO requires large capital investment and maintenance, whereas MSF is too energy-intensive. Innovative system of vapor compression desalination is proposed in this study. Comprehensive mathematics model for evaporator is also described. From literature study, it is indicated that very high overall-heat-transfer coefficient for evaporator can be obtained at specific condition by using dropwise condensation in the steam side, and pool boiling in the liquid side. Smooth titanium surface is selected in order to increase dropwise condensation, and resist corrosion. To maximize energy efficiency, a cogeneration scheme of a combined cycle consisting of gas turbine, boiler heat recovery, and steam turbine that drives compressor is used. The resource for combined cycle is relatively too high for the compressor requirement. Excess power can be used to generate electricity for internal and/or external consumptions, and sold to open market. Four evaporator stages are used. Evaporator is fed by seawater, with assumption of 3.5% salt contents. Boiling brine (7% salt) is boiled in low pressure side of the heat exchanger, and condensed vapor is condensed in high pressure side of the heat exchanger. Condensed steam flows at velocity of 1.52 m/s, so that it maximize the heat transfer coefficient. This unit is designed in order to produce 10 million gallon/day, and assumed it is financed with 5%, 30 years of passive obligation. Three cases are evaluated in order to determine recommended condition to obtain the lowest fixed capital investment. Based on the evaluation, it is possible to establish four-stage unit of mechanical vapor compression distillation with capital $31,723,885. Keywords: Desalination, dropwise condensation, heat exchanger, StarRotor compressor, vapor compression distillation.
SiRNA Mediated Gene Silencing: A Mini Review
Authors: Joseph Baby , S.U Ajisha , M.V Jeevitha
Published: October 2023

Abstract - RNA interference (RNAi) technology has become a novel tool for silencing gene expression in cells or organisms. RNA interference is the process that double-stranded RNA induces the homology-dependent degradation of cognate mRNA mediated by 21-23 nucleotide short interfering RNA (siRNA). RNA interference is a powerful mechanism of gene silencing that underlies many aspects of eukaryotic biology. On the molecular level, RNAi is mediated by a family of ribonucleoprotein (RNP) complexes called RNA-Induced Silencing Complexes (RISCs), which can be programmed to target virtually any nucleic acid sequence for silencing. The ability of RISC to locate target RNAs been co-opted by evolution many times to generate a broad spectrum of gene silencing pathways. The study about the Silencing of gene expression by siRNA is rapidly becoming a powerful tool for genetic analysis and represents a potential strategy for therapeutic product development. In this study, the applications of siRNA expressing recombinant adenovirus system in plants, animals and in cancer gene therapy are given importance with its modifications
Vectorial Formalism of Polyphase Synchronous Machine With Permanents Magnets
Authors: Sellam Abdelkrim , Dehiba Boubakeur , B. Benabdallah Mohamed , Abid Mohamed , Bachir Bouiadjra Nacéra , Bensaid Boubakeur , Djouhri Mustapha
Published: October 2023

Abstract- This paper presents a mathematical model that transforms the real machine to fictitious machines and our goal is to simulate these and see the behavior of these machines in load. The polyphase machines are developed mainly in the field of variable speed drives of high power because increasing the number of phases on the one hand allows to reduce the dimensions of the components in power modulators energy and secondly to improve the operating safety. By a vector approach (vector space), it is possible to find a set of single-phase machine and / or two-phase fictitious equivalent to polyphase synchronous machine. These fictitious machines are coupled electrically and mechanically but decoupled magnetically. This approach leads to introduce the concept of the equivalent machine (multimachine multiconverter system MMS) which aims to analyze systems composed of multiple machines (or multiple converters) in electric drives. A first classification multimachine multiconverter system follows naturally from MMS formalism. We present an example of a pentaphase (polyphase) synchronous machine for a simulation and study the behavior of the machine load. Keywords: Polyphase machines, multimachine concept, vector space, eigenvectors, eigenvalues, pentaphase machine.
Volatiles detection using broadband mid-IR spectroscopy: from a research idea to application in fruit storage facilities
Authors: Cristescu S. M. , Jahromi K. E. , Khodabakhsh A. , Bosman V. , Harren F. J. M. , Dasa M. K. , Rokx E. , Martin H. , Nematollahi M.
Published: October 2023

A broadband mid-infrared gas sensor using a supercontinuum light source is developed for simultaneous multispecies detection. We present the journey from a laboratory setup towards a market-ready prototype for application in fruit storage facilities.