bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Change of peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer and choroidal thickness during 4-year myopic progress: Boramae Myopia Cohort Study Report 4
Authors: Kim Martha , Lee Kyoung Min , Choung Ho-Kyung , Oh Sohee , Kim Seok Hwan
Published: April 2022

Aims

To investigate the longitudinal changes of peripapillary retinal nerve fibre layer (RNFL) and choroidal thickness during myopic axial elongation.

Methods

Peripapillary RNFL and choroidal thickness were prospectively evaluated by spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) in 46 eyes of 23 myopic children over the course of 4 years. Using serial OCT images acquired based on a fixed scan circle in the glaucoma progression analysis mode, general and sectoral RNFL thicknesses were acquired at the same position and the angular location of the peak was measured. The peripapillary choroidal thickness likewise was measured at eight positions in serial OCT images.

Results

The mean age at the baseline was 9.6±1.7 years. The mean axial length increased from 24.80±1.28 mm to 25.64±1.35 mm. The global peripapillary RNFL thickness was 98.54±12.06 µm at baseline. The global and sectoral RNFL thicknesses did not change during the 4 years. The angular location of RNFL peaks was also stable and was located in the superotemporal (64.18±10.85°) and inferotemporal (293.98±11.62°) sectors. The global peripapillary choroidal thickness was 145.40±28.67 µm at the baseline. The global and sectoral choroidal thicknesses did not change during the 4 years.

Conclusions

The peripapillary RNFL and choroidal thicknesses as well as the locations of the RNFL peaks had been preserved, during the 4-year follow-up on myopic children, when traced and measured from the same location.
Heterozygous variants c.781G>A and c.1066dup ofserine protease 56cause familial nanophthalmos by impairing serine-type endopeptidase activity
Authors: Wu Wei , Xu Jingjie , Yin Houfa , Fu Chenxi , Yao Ke , Chen Xiangjun
Published: April 2022

Background/aims

Nanophthalmos is a rare developmental, bilateral, sporadic or hereditary form of microphthalmos. In this study, the heterozygous variants c.781G>A and c.1066dup of thePRSS56gene were identified in two patients with nanophthalmos. This study reports the clinical manifestation and the underlying pathogenic mechanism.

Methods

Whole-exome sequencing was performed to identify the pathogenic genes in a Chinese family with nanophthalmos. The molecular simulation was used to predict the structures of wild-type or mutant PRSS56. The PRSS56 wild-type or mutation overexpression cellular models have been constructed accordingly. The subcellular localisation was then observed using immunofluorescence and Western-blot techniques. The Folin-Ciocalteu assay was carried out to evaluate serine-type endopeptidase activity, and a wound-healing assay was used to examine the cellular migratory ability.

Results

The whole-exome sequencing revealed that heterozygous variants c.781G>A and c.1066dup of thePRSS56gene might contribute to nanophthalmos. Both variants were not identified in the dbSNP, 1000 Genome project or ESP6500 databases. Furthermore, the variants were highly conserved and were involved in biological functions. The mutations result in destructive protein structure and impede serine-type endopeptidase activity, thereby impairing subcellular localisation and cellular migration.

Conclusion

The c.781G>A and c.1066dup variants of thePRSS56 genemight negatively affect protein structures, subcellular localisation, serine-type endopeptidase activity and cellular migratory ability. Together, these changes could lead to the development of nanophthalmos. This study identifies the PRSS56 gene as a potential target for nanophthalmos diagnosis and treatment.
Prognosis and antiplatelet therapy of small single subcortical infarcts in penetrating artery territory: a post hoc analysis of the Third China National Stroke Registry
Authors: Xu Yu-Yuan , Jing Jing , Zhang Yi-Jun , Wang An-Xin , Li Zi-Xiao , Liu Li-Ping , Zhao Xing-Quan , Wang Yi-Long , Li Hao , Meng Xia , Wang Yong-Jun
Published: April 2022

Background

Small single subcortical infarction (SSSI) may be classified as parent artery disease-related or only branch involved according to the stenosis of parent artery. The study aimed to evaluate short-term and long-term prognoses and the effectiveness of antiplatelet therapy in SSSI.

Methods

We prospectively enrolled 2890 patients with SSSI from the Third China National Stroke Registry (CNSR-III) database from August 2015 to March 2018. We assessed clinical outcomes and antiplatelet treatment effects in patients with SSSI with and without parent artery stenosis (PAS) identified by magnetic resonance angiography.

Results

Among 2890 patients with SSSI in the perforator territory of the middle cerebral artery and the basilar artery, there were 680 (23.53%) patients with PAS and 2210 (76.47%) patients without PAS, respectively. After adjusting for potential confounders, the PAS group had a greater initial stroke severity (OR 1.262, 95% CI 1.058 to 1.505; p=0.0097) and a higher risk of ischaemic stroke recurrence at 3 months (OR 2.266, 95% CI 1.631 to 3.149; p<0.0001) and 1 year (OR 2.054, 95% CI 1.561 to 2.702; p<0.0001), as well as composite vascular events at 3 months (OR 2.306, 95% CI 1.674 to 3.178; p<0.0001) and 1 year (OR 1.983, 95% CI 1.530 to 2.570; p<0.0001), compared with the non-PAS group. In both groups, dual antiplatelet therapy was not superior to single antiplatelet therapy in preventing stroke recurrence, composite vascular events and disability.

Conclusion

PAS related to significantly higher rates of short-term and long-term stroke recurrence and composite vascular events, suggesting heterogeneous mechanisms in SSSI subgroups. The effectiveness of antiplatelet therapy for SSSI needs further investigation.
Identifying and understanding the factors that influence the functioning of integrated healthcare systems in the NHS: a systematic literature review
Authors: Bhat Karthik , Easwarathasan Rokshan , Jacob Milan , Poole William , Sapaetharan Vithullan , Sidhu Manu , Thomas Ashvin
Published: April 2022

Objectives

The National Health Service has been moving towards integrated care for the best part of two decades to address the growing financial and service pressures created by an ageing population. Integrated healthcare systems (IHSs) join up health and social care services and have been established to manage the care of individuals with complex chronic conditions but with varied success. It is therefore imperative to conduct a Systematic Literature Review (SLR) to identify and understand the factors that influence their successful functioning, and ascertain the factor with the greatest influence, in order to ensure positive outcomes when establishing future IHSs.

Methods

Articles published between 1 January 1997 and 8 March 2020 were analysed from the following six databases: Healthcare Management Information Consortium, Nuffield Trust, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature, PubMed, National Institute for Health and Care Excellence Evidence and Health Systems Evidence. Those deemed relevant after title and abstract screening were procured for subsequent review of the full-text article.

Results

Thirty-three finalised articles were analysed in this SLR to provide a comprehensive overview of the factors that influence the functioning of IHSs. Factors were stratified into six key categories: organisational culture, workforce management, interorganisational collaboration, leadership ability of staff, economic factors and political factors. Leadership was deemed to be the most influential factor due to its intrinsic and instrumental role in influencing the other key factors.

Conclusions

The findings of this SLR may serve as a guide to developing tailor-made recommendations and policies that address the identified key factors and thereby improve the functioning of present and future IHSs. Furthermore, due to both its overarching influence and the inadequacy of literature in this field, there is a strong case for further research exploring leadership development specifically for IHSs.
Was there an improvement in the years of life lost (YLLs) for non-communicable diseases in the Soma and Minamisoma cities of Fukushima after the 2011 disaster? A longitudinal study
Authors: Ono Kyoko , Murakami Michio , Tsubokura Masaharu
Published: April 2022

Objectives

This study aimed to determine cause-specific years of life lost (YLL) changes between predisaster and postdisaster in disaster-affected municipalities, compared with the national average. We estimated the YLL in Soma and Minamisoma cities (the subject area) in Fukushima, Japan, where the tsunami and the nuclear accident hit in 2011.

Participants

We used vital registration records from a national survey conducted between January 2006 and December 2015. We analysed 6369 death data in the predisaster period (2006–2010) and 6258 death data in the postdisaster period (2011–2015).

Methods

We incorporated vital statistics data as follows: age-based, sex-based and International Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision-based cause-specific deaths and calculated YLLs by ages 0, 40, 65 and 75 and sex for attributable causes of death for heart diseases, cerebrovascular diseases, pneumonia, all cancers and specific cancers; breast cancer, colorectal cancer, leukaemia, lung cancer, stomach cancer and uterine cancer for predisaster and postdisaster in the subject area.

Results

YLL attributed to heart diseases for males showed no decrease and YLL postdisaster was 0.37 years larger than that of the national average at age 0. The difference was −0.17 (95% uncertainty interval: −0.40 to 0.05) years at age 65. It decreased for females; the difference was 0.37 (0.18–0.57) years after the disaster. YLL decrease (that is, difference) in cerebrovascular diseases at age 0 was 0.27 (0.09–0.44) years and 0.18 (0.04–0.32) years; however, the YLLs postdisaster were still 0.24 and 0.25 years larger than those for the national average for males and females, respectively. YLL attributed to cancer did not increase even after the nuclear disaster.

Conclusions

We specified the causes of death to be reduced in disaster-affected areas in the future. This study emphasised the importance of understanding how the health situation changed for the whole society of the area from a comprehensive perspective, rather than focusing only on small mortality increases.
Evaluating antibiotic stewardship and healthcare-associated infections surveillance assisted by computer: protocol for an interrupted time series study
Authors: Baudet Alexandre , Agrinier Nelly , Charmillon Alexandre , Pulcini Céline , Lozniewski Alain , Aissa Nejla , Lizon Julie , Thilly Nathalie , Demoré Béatrice , Florentin Arnaud
Published: April 2022

Introduction

Antibiotic resistance is one of the most pressing health threats that mankind faces now and in the coming decades. Antibiotic resistance leads to longer hospital stays, higher medical costs and increased mortality. In order to tackle antibiotic resistance, we will implement in our tertiary care university hospital a computerised-decision support system (CDSS) facilitating antibiotic stewardship and an electronic surveillance software (ESS) facilitating infection prevention and control activities. We describe the protocol to evaluate the impact of the CDSS/ESS combination in adult inpatients.

Methods and analysis

We conduct a pragmatic, prospective, single-centre, before–after uncontrolled study with an interrupted time-series analysis 12 months before and 12 months after the introduction of the CDSS for antibiotic stewardship (APSS) and ESS for infection surveillance (ZINC). APSS and ZINC will assist, respectively, the antibiotic stewardship and the infection prevention and control teams of Nancy University Hospital (France). We will evaluate the impact of the CDSS/ESS on the antibiotic use in adult (≥18 years) inpatients (hospitalised ≥48 hours). The primary outcome is the prescription rate by all healthcare professionals from the hospital of all systemic antibiotics expressed in defined daily doses/1000 patients/month. Concurrently, we will assess the safety of the intervention, its impact on the appropriateness of antibiotic prescriptions and on additional precautions (isolation precautions) as recommended in guidelines, and on bacterial epidemiology (multidrug-resistant bacteria and Clostridioides difficile infections) in the hospital. Finally, we will evaluate the users’ satisfaction and the cost of this intervention from the hospital perspective.

Ethics and dissemination

The protocol has been approved by the Ethics Committee of Nancy University Hospital and registered on the ClinicalTrials platform. Results will be disseminated through conferences’ presentations and publications in peer-reviewed journals.

Trial registration number

NCT04976829.
Intravenous ketorolac versus morphine in children presenting with suspected appendicitis: a pilot single-centre non-inferiority randomised controlled trial
Authors: Eltorki Mohamed , Busse Jason W , Freedman Stephen B , Thompson Graham , Beattie Karen , Serbanescu Claudiu , Carciumaru Redjana , Thabane Lehana , Ali Samina
Published: April 2022

Objectives

Despite a lack of evidence demonstrating superiority to non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, like ketorolac, that are associated with lower risk of harms, opioids remain the most prescribed analgesic for acute abdominal pain. In this pilot trial, we will assess the feasibility of a definitive trial comparing ketorolac with morphine in children with suspected appendicitis. We hypothesise that our study will be feasible based on a 40% consent rate.

Methods and analysis

A single-centre, non-inferiority, blinded (participant, clinician, investigators and outcome assessors), double-dummy randomised controlled trial of children aged 6–17 years presenting to a paediatric emergency department with ≤5 days of moderate to severe abdominal pain (≥5 on a Verbal Numerical Rating Scale) and are investigated for appendicitis. We will use variable randomised blocks of 4–6 and allocate participants in 1:1 ratio to receive either intravenous (IV) ketorolac 0.5 mg/kg+IV morphine placebo or IV morphine 0.1 mg/kg+IV ketorolac placebo. Analgesic co-intervention will be limited to acetaminophen (commonly used as first-line therapy). Participants in both groups will be allowed rescue therapy (morphine 0.5 mg/kg) within 60 min of our intervention. Our primary feasibility outcome is the proportion of eligible patients approached who provide informed consent and are enrolled in our trial. Our threshold for feasibility will be to achieve a ≥40% consent rate, and we will enrol 100 participants into our pilot trial.

Ethics and dissemination

Our study has received full approval by the Hamilton integrated Research Ethics Board. We will disseminate our study findings at national and international paediatric research conferences to garner interest and engage sites for a future multicentre definitive trial.

Trial registration

NCT04528563, Pre-results.
Exploring how and why social prescribing evaluations work: a realist review
Authors: Elliott Megan , Davies Mark , Davies Julie , Wallace Carolyn
Published: April 2022

Objective

The evidence base for social prescribing is inconclusive, and evaluations have been criticised for lacking rigour. This realist review sought to understand how and why social prescribing evaluations work or do not work. Findings from this review will contribute to the development of an evidence-based evaluation framework and reporting standards for social prescribing.

Design

A realist review.

Data sources

ASSIA, CINAHL, Embase, Medline, PsycINFO, PubMed, Scopus Online, Social Care Online, Web of Science and grey literature.

Eligibility criteria

Documents reporting on social prescribing evaluations using any methods, published between 1998 and 2020 were included. Documents not reporting findings or lacking detail on methods for data collection and outcomes were excluded.

Analysis

Included documents were segregated into subcases based on methodology. Data relating to context, mechanisms and outcomes and the programme theory were extracted and context-mechanism-outcome configurations were developed. Meta-inferences were drawn from all subcases to refine the programme theory.

Results

83 documents contributed to analysis. Generally, studies lacked in-depth descriptions of the methods and evaluation processes employed. A cyclical process of social prescribing evaluation was identified, involving preparation, conducting the study and interpretation. The analysis found that coproduction, alignment, research agency, sequential mixed-methods design and integration of findings all contributed to the development of an acceptable, high-quality social prescribing evaluation design. Context-mechanism-outcome configurations relating to these themes are reported.

Conclusions

To develop the social prescribing evidence base and address gaps in our knowledge about the impact of social prescribing and how it works, evaluations must be high quality and acceptable to stakeholders. Development of an evaluation framework and reporting standards drawing on the findings of this realist review will support this aim.

PROSPERO registration number

CRD42020183065.
Assessing the cost-effectiveness of precision medicine: protocol for a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Chen Wenjia , Anothaisintawee Thunyarat , Butani Dimple , Wang Yi , Zemlyanska Yaroslava , Wong Chong Boon Nigel , Virabhak Suchin , Hrishikesh M A , Teerawattananon Yot
Published: April 2022

Introduction

Precision medicine (PM) involves gene testing to identify disease risk, enable early diagnosis or guide therapeutic choice, and targeted gene therapy. We aim to perform a systematic review and meta-analysis to quantify the cost-effectiveness profile of PM stratified by intervention type, identify sources of heterogeneity in the value-for-money of PM.

Methods and analysis

We will perform a systematic search in Embase, MEDLINE, EconLit and CRD databases for studies published in English language or with translation in English between 1 January 2011 and 8 July 2021 on the topic of cost-effectiveness analysis of PM interventions. The focus will be on studies that reported health and economic outcomes. Study quality will be assessed using the Biases in Economic Studies checklist. The incremental net benefit of PM screening, diagnostic, treatment-targeting and therapeutic interventions over conventional strategies will be respectively pooled across studies using a random-effect model if heterogeneity is present, otherwise a fixed-effect model. Subgroup analyses will be performed based on disease area, WHO region and World Bank country-income level. Additionally, we will identify the potential sources of heterogeneity with random-effect meta-regressions. Finally, biases will be detected using jackknife sensitivity analysis, funnel plot assessment and Egger’s tests.

Ethics and dissemination

For this type of study ethics approval or formal consent is not required. The results will be disseminated at various presentations and feedback sessions, in conference abstracts and manuscripts that will be submitted to peer-reviewed journals.

PROSPERO registration number

CRD42021272956.
Maintenance of physical activity after cardiac rehabilitation (FAIR): study protocol for a feasibility trial
Authors: Andersen Rune Martens , Skou Søren Thorgaard , Clausen Mikkel Bek , Jäger Madalina , Zangger Graziella , Grøntved Anders , Brønd Jan Christian , Soja Anne Merete Boas , Tang Lars H
Published: April 2022

Introduction

To enhance health and prevent secondary consequences for patients with cardiovascular disease (CVD), maintenance of an active lifestyle following participation in cardiac rehabilitation (CR) is important. However, levels of physical activity often decrease after completion of a structured CR programme. Models that support long-term behaviour change with a sustained level of physical activity are imperative. The aim of this study is to evaluate the feasibility of a mobile health intervention based on the Health Action Process Approach theoretical model of behaviour change in patients with CVD for 3 months after completion of a CR programme.

Methods and analysis

In a feasibility trial design, we will recruit 40 participants from CR programmes at Slagelse Hospital, the City of Slagelse (municipality), or Holbæk Hospital. After completing the standard structured CR programme, each participant will create an action plan for physical activity together with a physiotherapist. Following that, participants are sent 2 weekly text messages for 3 months. The first text message prompts physical activity, and the second will check if the action plan has been followed. If requested by participants, a coordinator will call and guide the physical activities behaviour. The feasibility of this maintenance intervention is evaluated based on predefined progression criteria. Physical activity is measured with accelerometers at baseline and at 3 months follow-up.

Ethics and dissemination

Study approval was waived (EMN-2021-00020) by the Research Ethics Committee of Region Zealand, Denmark. Study results will be made public and findings disseminated to patients, health professionals, decision-makers, researchers and the public.

Trial registration number

NCT05011994.
Head and neck cancer end of life care: complex challenges
Authors: Taylor Naomi , Christie Julie , Wakefield Donna
Published: April 2022

Head and neck cancers frequently carry a poor prognosis and are commonly associated with complex medical needs and symptoms. Timing of referral to specialist palliative care teams (SPCTs) is challenging. We present the case of a 57-year-old woman with locally highly advanced head and neck cancer. The patient had highly complex medical needs including a tracheostomy to maintain airway patency, artificial feeds via jejunostomy and impaired communication due to hearing loss, tracheostomy and fatigue. She required support with advance care planning and complex symptom management of pain related to abdominal skin excoriation due to leakage of gastric contents; bleeding of necrotic tumour; anxiety and discomfort due to displacement of tracheostomy. Care by an integrated SPCT allowed smooth transition from hospital to community settings with smooth ongoing management despite highly complex needs. This complex symptom management included tracheostomy removal in the home towards the end of life.
Pulmonary embolism management in the emergency department: part 2
Authors: Serebriakoff Philippa , Cafferkey John , de Wit Kerstin , Horner Daniel E , Reed Matthew J
Published: April 2022

Pulmonary embolism (PE) can present with a range of severity. Prognostic risk stratification is important for efficacious and safe management. This second of two review articles discusses the management of high-, intermediate- and low-risk PE. We discuss strategies to identify patients suitable for urgent outpatient care in addition to identification of patients who would benefit from thrombolysis. We discuss specific subgroups of patients where optimal treatment differs from the usual approach and identify emerging management paradigms exploring new therapies and subgroups.
Curcumin attenuates intracerebral hemorrhage-induced neuronal apoptosis and neuroinflammation by suppressing JAK1/STAT1 pathway
Authors: Wang Fei , Xia Jian-jun , Shen Li-juan , Jiang Ting-ting , Li Wu-lin , You Da-li , Chang Qing , Hu Shan-you , Wang Li , Wu Xiao
Published: April 2022

Intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) is a kind of fatal stroke with the highest mortality and morbidity in the world. To date, there is no effective treatment strategy for ICH. Curcumin, a major active ingredient of Curcuma longa L., possesses a potential anti-inflammatory activity in many types of disease. In the current study, the mechanism underlying curcumin attenuated ICH-induced neuronal apoptosis and neuroinflammation was explored. Herein, we studied that curcumin decreased brain edema and improved neurological function by using brain edema measurement, assessment of neurological-deficient score, immunofluorescence, and Western blotting analyses after ICH. The results showed that curcumin improved ICH-induced neuronal apoptosis and neuroinflammation. Functionally, the polarization of microglia was assessed by immunofluorescence and Western blotting analyses after ICH in the absence or presence of curcumin. The results suggested that the M1-type microglia were activated after ICH, while the effect was blocked by curcumin treatment, suggesting that curcumin alleviates the neuroinflammation and apoptosis of neurons by suppressing the M1-type polarization of microglia. Mechanically, M1 polarization of microglia was regulated by JAK1/STAT1, and the activation of JAK1/STAT1 was blocked by curcumin. Meanwhile, the protective function of curcumin can be blocked by RO8191, an activator of JAK1. Taken together, our study suggested that curcumin improved the ICH-induced brain injury through alleviating M1 polarization of microglia/macrophage and neuroinflammation via suppressing the JAK1/STAT1 pathway.
The coastal breeding habitat of Bank Swallows (Riparia riparia) in an Atlantic Canada National Park: assessing habitat use in relation to availability
Authors: Power Tyler J. , Paynter Hailey , Silva-Opps Marina , Quijón Pedro A.
Published: April 2022

Understanding bird habitat selection has become a priority in conservation, particularly for bird species facing long-term population declines. The Bank Swallow ( Riparia riparia (Linnaeus, 1758)), a species whose eastern distribution limit is in Atlantic Canada, declined by 98% between 1970 and 2011, prompting its listing as a threatened species in 2017. Its decline is hypothesized to be due in part to habitat loss and, hence, this study aimed to identify critical habitats within a protected area along Prince Edward Island. We used two types of survey to examine the availability and use of three breeding habitats: dunes, glacial till, and sandstone cliffs. A goodness-of-fit test revealed that the habitats were not used in proportion to their availability. Among them sandstone cliffs and, to a lesser extent, till cliffs were used significantly more than expected (i.e., selected). Instead, sand dunes were used less (i.e., avoided) as a breeding habitat. These results suggest that Bank Swallow selection is driven by characteristics associated with the sandstone and till habitats, and more attention and possibly protection should be given to them. Further studies should also explore whether similar patterns of selection are evident in the region’s historical records and in similar coastline areas.
Topological tensor invariants and the current algebra approach: analysis of 196 nonleptonic two-body decays of single and double charm baryons – a review
Authors: Groote Stefan , Körner Jürgen G.
Published: April 2022

We shed new light on the standard current algebra approach to the nonleptonic two-body decays of single and double heavy charm baryons. By making use of the completeness relation for the flavor wave functions of the ground state baryon $$\mathbf{20'}$$

20
′

representation we are able to rewrite the results of the current algebra approach in terms of the seven topological tensor invariants describing the decays. The representation of the current algebra results in terms of topological tensor invariants depends only on the initial and final state of the process. The summation over intermediate states inherent to the current algebra result is automatically taken care of in the tensor representation. In this way one arrives at a new, quick and very compact assessment of the results of the current algebra/pole model calculation. For example, one can quickly identify the decays in which the p.v. S-wave amplitude is predicted to vanish implying zero polarization asymmetries in these decays. We provide tables of the values of the seven topological tensor invariants for all Cabibbo favored and singly and doubly Cabibbo suppressed nonleptonic single and double charm baryon decays. In total we treat 196 charm baryon decays. We also discuss the charm preserving $$\Delta C=0$$

Δ
C
=
0

decays of single charm baryons and the usual hyperon decays.
BPMN Data Model for Multi-Perspective Process Mining on Blockchain
Authors: Ekici Burakcan , Erdogan Tugba Gurgen , Tarhan Ayça Kolukısa
Published: April 2022

Process mining mainly focuses on discovering control flow models, conformance checking and analyzing bottlenecks. It extends the scope by looking at the other perspectives like time, data and resources by connecting events in the event logs to this process model. These perspectives are not isolated and are all related to each other. For each perspective, there is a different technique, which is dedicated to the relevant perspective, applied and these techniques may need to consume the results of one another in a sequence of process mining analyses. As a result, a holistic process model is created by attaching and binding related attributes of the event logs to the backbone (control flow) of the model. Therefore, representing the holistic model and keeping what is produced from each perspective in a secure and immutable way while applying the multiple perspectives become important. In this study, a BPMN-extended Data Model is proposed to put together the models from the multi-perspective process mining and a tool is developed to keep this data model as an asset into a private blockchain developed by using Hyperledger Fabric. The practical relevance and validity of the approach are shown in the case studies that use real-life data from two different domains.
THE NUMERICAL MESHLESS APPROACH FOR SOLVING THE 2D TIME NONLINEAR MULTI-TERM FRACTIONAL CABLE EQUATION IN COMPLEX GEOMETRIES
Authors: ZOU WENNAN , TANG YU , HOSSEINI VAHID REZA
Published: April 2022

The cable equation plays a prominent role in biological neuron models, for instance, in spiking neuron models and electrophysiology. Thus, the current investigation scrutinizes the 2D time nonlinear multi-term fractional cable equation. By adopting a valid meshfree technique, the nonlinear multi-term time-fractional cable equations (NM-TTFCEs) that consist of government equations and their boundary conditions are transformed into the boundary value problems. For this purpose, the finite difference method is derived for temporal discretization such that the considered NM-TTFCEs can be transformed into a sequence of boundary value problems in inhomogeneous Helmholtz-type equations. The dual reciprocity method (DRM) is implemented to obtain a particular solution and the improved singular boundary method (ISBM) is employed to evaluate the homogeneous solution. Moreover, we apply the meshless method for solving two-dimensional NM-TTFCEs on regular and irregular distribution points with several computational domains. The numerical results vouch for the accuracy and high efficiency of the proposed method. Finally, we will conclude that the ISBM/DRM method can be considered a potential alternative to existing meshless strong form approaches in solving multi-term fractional equation problems with complex geometries.
A Novel Segmentation Error Minimization-Based Method for Multilevel Optimal Threshold Selection Using Opposition Equilibrium Optimizer
Authors: Das Gyanesh , Panda Rutuparna , Samantaray Leena , Agrawal Sanjay
Published: April 2022

Image segmentation is imperative for image processing applications. Thresholding technique is the easiest way of partitioning an image into different regions. Mostly, entropy-based threshold selection methods are used for multilevel thresholding. However, these methods suffer from their dependencies on spatial distribution of gray values. To solve this issue, a novel segmentation error minimization (SEM)-based method for multilevel optimal threshold selection using opposition equilibrium optimizer (OEO) is suggested. In this contribution, a new segmentation score (SS) (objective function) is derived while minimizing the segmentation error function. Our proposal is explicitly free from gray level spatial distribution of an image. Optimal threshold values are achieved by maximizing the SS (fitness value) using OEO. The key to success is the maximization of score among classes, ensuring the sharpening of the shred boundary between classes, leading to an improved threshold selection method. It is empirically demonstrated how the optimal threshold selection is made. Experimental results are presented using standard test images. Standard measures like PSNR, SSIM and FSIM are used for validation The results are compared with state-of-the-art entropy-based technique. Our method performs well both qualitatively and quantitatively. The suggested technique would be useful for biomedical image segmentation.
ANALYSIS OF SPECIFIC PARAMETERS FOR SKIN TUMOR CLASSIFICATION
Authors: MESSADI MAHAMMED , MAHMOUDI SAïD , BESSAID ABDELHAFID
Published: April 2022

During the last years, computer vision-based diagnosis systems have been widely used in several hospitals and dermatology clinics, aiming mostly at the early detection of malignant melanoma tumor, which is among the most frequent types of skin cancer, versus other types of nonmalignant cutaneous diseases. They grow in melanocytes, the cells responsible for pigmentation. This type of cancer is increasing rapidly and its related mortality rate is increasing more modestly, and inversely proportional to the tumor’s thickness. The mortality rate can be decreased by earlier detection of suspicious lesions and better prevention. In this work, we are interested in extracting all specific attributes which can be used for computer-aided diagnosis of melanoma. In the first step of the proposed work, we applied the Dull Razor [Lee T et al., Dullrazor: A software approach to hair removal from images, Cancer Control Research, British Columbia Cancer Agency, Vancouver, Canada, Vol. 21, No. 6, pp. 533–543, 1997] technique to images to reduce the influence of small structures, hairs, bubbles, light reflection. In the second step, a new fuzzy level set algorithm is proposed in order to facilitate the medical image segmentation task. It is able to directly evolve from the initial segmentation proposed that uses a spatial fuzzy clustering approach. The controlling parameters of the level set evolution are also estimated from the results of the fuzzy clustering step. This step is essential to characterize the shape of the lesion and also to locate the tumor to be analyzed. In this paper, we have also treated the necessity to extract all the specific attributes used to develop a characterization methodology that enables specialists to take the best possible diagnosis. For this purpose, our proposal relies largely on visual observation of the tumor while dealing with some characteristics as color, texture or form. The method used in this paper is called ABCD. It requires calculating four factors: Asymmetry ([Formula: see text], Border ([Formula: see text], Color ([Formula: see text], and Diversity ([Formula: see text]. Finally, these parameters are used to construct a classification module based on artificial neural network for the recognition of malignant melanoma.
Toward Autonomous Detection of Anomalous GNSS Data Via Applied Unsupervised Artificial Intelligence
Authors: Dye Mike , Stamps D. Sarah , Mason Myles , Saria Elifuraha
Published: April 2022

Artificial intelligence applications within the geosciences are becoming increasingly common, yet there are still many challenges involved in adapting established techniques to geoscience data sets. Applications in the realm of volcanic hazards assessment show great promise for addressing such challenges. Here, we describe a Jupyter Notebook we developed that ingests real-time Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) data streams from the EarthCube CHORDS (Cloud-Hosted Real-time Data Services for the geosciences) portal TZVOLCANO, applies unsupervised learning algorithms to perform automated data quality control (“noise reduction”), and explores autonomous detection of unusual volcanic activity using a neural network. The TZVOLCANO CHORDS portal streams real-time GNSS positioning data in 1[Formula: see text]s intervals from the TZVOLCANO network, which monitors the active volcano Ol Doinyo Lengai in Tanzania, through UNAVCO’s real-time GNSS data services. UNAVCO’s real-time data services provide near-real-time positions processed by the Trimble Pivot system. The positioning data (latitude, longitude and height) are imported into the Jupyter Notebook presented in this paper in user-defined time spans. The positioning data are then collected in sets by the Jupyter Notebook and processed to extract a useful calculated variable in preparation for the machine learning algorithms, of which we choose the vector magnitude for further processing. Unsupervised K-means and Gaussian Mixture machine learning algorithms are then utilized to locate and remove data points (“filter”) that are likely caused by noise and unrelated to volcanic signals. We find that both the K-means and Gaussian Mixture machine learning algorithms perform well at identifying regions of high noise within tested GNSS data sets. The filtered data are then used to train an artificial intelligence neural network that predicts volcanic deformation. Our Jupyter Notebook has promise to be used for detecting potentially hazardous volcanic activity in the form of rapid vertical or horizontal displacement of the Earth’s surface.
High-Accuracy Spintronic Approximate Compressors for Error-Resilient In-Memory Computing
Authors: Eghlimi Yasin , Moaiyeri Mohammad Hossein , Ahmadinejad Mohammad
Published: April 2022

With transistors reaching nanometer dimensions, dissipated energy has become of great importance in recent years. A practical approach to reducing energy consumption is to use logic-in-memory (LIM) structures based on magnetic tunnel junction (MTJ) devices combined with approximate computing. In this paper, we propose energy-efficient MTJ/FinFET-based approximate 5:2 compressors for error-resilient in-memory computing, providing an accuracy close to the exact design (1.54% error rate) while reducing the energy consumption by more than 50%. The innovative Boolean equations and the structure of the proposed approximate circuits based on spin-Hall effect assisted MTJs lead to a significantly more effective compromise between energy and accuracy than the previous exact and approximate counterparts. The simulation results provided using HSPICE with 7[Formula: see text]nm FinFETs and SHE-assisted MTJ models demonstrate the superior hardware parameters of the proposed designs. Furthermore, the MATLAB simulations show an average peak signal-to-noise ratio (PSNR) of more than 43 and an average structural similarity index metric (SSIM) of more than 0.99 across image multiplication, sharpening, and smoothing operations.
Advancing Diabetes Prevention and Control in American Indians and Alaska Natives
Authors: Lucero Julie E. , Roubideaux Yvette
Published: April 2022

As with many Indigenous populations globally, American Indians and Alaska Natives (AI/ANs) experience high rates of type 2 diabetes. Prevention efforts, ongoing medical care, patient self-management education, and support to prevent and reduce the risk of long-term complications must be developed to limit the impact of diabetes on individuals, families, and communities. Diabetes prevention and control require both individual- and community-level efforts as well as policies that attempt to mitigate contributing adverse socioeconomic factors. Congressional funding since 1998 continues to address the epidemic of diabetes in AI/AN groups with the Special Diabetes Program for Indians (SDPI), which has resulted in significant outcomes and key lessons that can inform new efforts to prevent diabetes in other populations and communities. The purpose of this review is to understand the context behind the epidemic of diabetes in AI/ANs, review the impact of the SDPI on prevention and control of diabetes as well as the translation of these strategies into clinical practice and their influence on health practice, and identify lessons learned for future efforts to address this ongoing challenge for AI/AN and other communities suffering from type 2 diabetes.
In Situ Optical and Electrochemical Investigations of Lithium Depositions as a Function of Current Densities
Authors: Kühnle Hannes , Knobbe Edwin , Figgemeier Egbert
Published: April 2022

The electrodeposition behavior of lithium metal as a function of the current density at room temperature was investigated in a symmetrical face‑to‑face in‑situ optical cell. After a defined initial contact time between electrode and electrolyte, various current densities in the range of 0.05 mA cm−2 to 10 mA cm−2 were tested. Constant current phases, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy measurements and in situ images of the working electrode were recorded and results were compared. Two regimes of lithium deposition with different optical and electrochemical characteristics were identified as a function of current density. The first regime, at low current densities (0.05 mA cm−2–0.5 mA cm−2), showed none to tiny lithium depositions with sporadic large lithium structures at the higher end of this range. The second regime, at high current densities (2 mA cm−2–10 mA cm−2), showed many smaller, deposited lithium structures. The experimental results are discussed in the context of the formation and presence of metal-electrolyte interphases presumably by chemical reactions between lithium and electrolyte, current density and their interactions with each other. The correlation of fundamental parameters of lithium metal deposition with current density must be taken into account for the development of lithium metal-based energy storage devices.
All Solid-State Li/LLZO/LCO Battery Enabled by Alumina Interfacial Coating
Authors: Ren Yaoyu , Wachsman Eric D.
Published: April 2022

Li7La3Zr2O12 (LLZO) garnet-type lithium-ion conductors are being investigated as a promising solid electrolyte for solid-state lithium batteries. To enable a functional all-solid-state configuration intensive investigations are needed to reduce the cathode/electrolyte interfacial resistance which contributes the most to cell performance loss. Among the commercial cathode materials investigated so far, LiCoO2 (LCO) is one of the most stable with garnet electrolytes as only a superficial reaction has been detected between the two materials. However, even this minor reaction would block the Li-ion transport through the interface, resulting in deteriorated cell performance. In this work, we demonstrate that a thin aluminum oxide layer (5 nm) can be an effective interlayer to impede the formation of a harmful interphase and enable facile Li-ion transfer between LCO and the LLZO garnet. Room-temperature-sputtered LCO thin films were employed to form an interface with the garnet electrolyte and annealed at 800 °C to reveal the effect of the interfacial reaction on the Li-ion transfer across the interface. An aluminum oxide layer was then introduced between LCO and the garnet electrolyte by sputtering a metallic aluminum layer which is then annealed together with the upper LCO layer in oxygen, or by direct atomic layer deposition of the oxide. Compared to the LCO/LLZO/Li cells without an aluminum oxide interlayer, those with the interlayer exhibited improved performance, i.e., a stable discharge capacity of up to 90 mAh/(g LCO) at a C/10 rate, a rate capability up to 1.68C and a stable galvanostatic cycling at 0.1C for over 100 cycles with a discharge capacity fade rate of 0.15% per cycle. It was determined that aluminum diffused into the LCO layer after preventing the initial detrimental reaction between LCO and the LLZO garnet from happening during high temperature annealing, suggesting that the coating does not have to remain a physically blocking layer during cycling to function.
Artificial Intelligence-Based Security Protocols to Resist Attacks in Internet of Things
Authors: Khilar Rashmita , Mariyappan K. , Christo Mary Subaja , Amutharaj J. , Anitha T. , Rajendran T. , Batu Areda
Published: April 2022

IoT (Internet of Things) usage in industrial and scientific domains is progressively increasing. Currently, IoTs are utilized in numerous applications in different domains, similar to communication technology, environmental monitoring, agriculture, medical services, and manufacturing purposes. But, the IoT systems are vulnerable against various intrusions and attacks in the perspective on the security view. It is essential to create an intrusion detection model to detect and secure the network from different attacks and anomalies that continually happen in the network. In this paper, the anomaly detection model for an IoT network using deep neural networks (DNN) with chicken swarm optimization (CSO) algorithm was proposed. Presently, the DNN has demonstrated its efficiency in different fields that are applicable to its usage. Deep learning is the type of algorithm based on machine learning which used many layers to gradually extricate more significant features of level from the raw inputs. The UNSW-NB15 dataset was utilized to evaluate the anomaly detection model. The proposed model obtained 94.85% accuracy and 96.53% detection rate which is better than other compared techniques like GA-NB, GSO, and PSO for validation. The DNN-CSO model has performed well in detecting most of the attacks, and it is appropriate for detecting anomalies in the IoT network.
Two Potential Biomarkers for the Diagnosis and Prognosis of Laryngeal Carcinoma: CCL20 and IL-17A
Authors: Teng Yaoshu , He Hanyi , Wang Hongmei , Lu Yueyue , Wang Xinlu , Li Yong , Lin Zhihong
Published: April 2022

This study is to uncover the possibilities of CCL20 and IL-17A to be potential hallmarks for laryngeal carcinoma. Relative levels of CCL20 and IL-17A in laryngeal carcinoma tissues were detected by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). Correlation between CCL20 and IL-17A was analyzed by Pearson correlation test. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were depicted for assessing diagnostic values of CCL20 and IL-17A in laryngeal carcinoma. In addition, 98 laryngeal carcinoma patients were followed up for 5 years. Their follow-up data were utilized for assessing prognostic values of CCL20 and IL-17A. CCL20 and IL-17A were upregulated in laryngeal carcinoma tissues than those of normal ones. ROC curves identified diagnostic values of CCL20 (

AUC
=
0.9719

,

cutoff
 
value
=
4.86

,

sensitivity
=
98.98
%

,

specificity
=
87.76
%

) and IL-17A (

AUC
=
0.7965

,

cutoff
 
value
=
3.39

,

sensitivity
=
71.31
%

,

specificity
=
71.52
%

) in laryngeal carcinoma. Worse prognosis was observed in laryngeal carcinoma patients expressing high level of CCL20 or IL-17A. CCL20 and IL-17A are upregulated in laryngeal carcinoma tissues, which are unfavorable factors for the prognosis of laryngeal carcinoma. CCL20 and IL-17A are promising hallmarks of laryngeal carcinoma.