bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Postpartum depression: relation with plasma vasopressin at 6-8 weeks postpartum: a longitudinal correlational study
Authors: Kashkouli Masoumeh , Sadatmahalleh Shahideh Jahanian , Ziaei Saeideh , Kazemnejad Anoshirvan , Saber Ashraf , Darvishnia Hamid , Azarbayjani Khadijeh
Published: May 2022

Background
Postpartum depression is the most important postpartum mood disorder due to its significant effects on infant and family health. Arginine vasopressin (AVP) has been suggested as a hormonal agent involved in depression. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between plasma concentrations of AVP and Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) score.
Methods
This longitudinal correlational study was conducted in 2016–2017 in Darehshahr Township, Ilam Province, Iran. In the first phase, 303 pregnant women who were at 38 weeks, met the inclusion criteria, and were not depressed (according to their Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale scores) were included in the study. In the 6–8 weeks’ postpartum follow-up, using the Edinburgh questionnaire, 31 depressed individuals were diagnosed and referred to a psychiatrist for confirmation. The maternal venous blood samples of 24 depressed individuals who still met the inclusion criteria and 66 randomly selected non-depressed subjects was obtained by the researchers to measure AVP plasma concentrations with ELISA assay.
Results
The mean plasma concentration of AVP was significantly higher in the depressed group (41.35 ± 13.75 ng/ml) than in the non-depressed group (26.01 ± 7.83 ng/ml) (P < 0.001). In a multiple logistic regression model for various parameters, increased Vassopressin levels were associated with increased odds of postpartum depression (OR = 1.15, 95% CI = 1.07–1.24, P = 0.000). Furthermore, multiparity (OR = 5.45, 95% CI = 1.21–24.43, P = 0.027) and no exclusive breastfeeding (OR = 13.06, 95% CI = 1.36–125, P = 0.026) associated with increased odds of postpartum depression. Gender preference (having a baby non-desired and desired sex) decreased odds of postpartum depression (OR = 0.13, 95% CI = 0.02–0.79, P = 0.027 and OR = 0.08, 95% CI = 0.01–0.5, P = 0.007).
Conclusion
AVP may be a contributor to clinical postpartum depression by affecting the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis activity. Furthermore, primiparous women had significantly lower EPDS scores.
MP- and Purified residuated lattices
Authors: Rasouli Saeed , Dehghani Amin
Published: May 2022

In this paper, a combination of algebraic and topological methods is applied to obtain new and structural results on mp and purified residuated lattices. It is demonstrated that mp-residuated lattices strongly tied up with the dual hull-kernel topology. Especially, it is shown that a residuated lattice is mp if and only if its minimal prime spectrum, equipped with the dual hull-kernel topology, is Hausdorff if and only if its prime spectrum, equipped with the dual hull-kernel topology, is normal. For a residuated lattice $\mathfrak{A}$ and a subalgebra $\mathfrak{S}$ the notion of disjunctive $\mathfrak{S}$-regular and $\mathfrak{S}$-mp residuated lattices introduced and investigated. It is shown that a residuated lattice $\mathfrak{A}$ is purified if and only if it is $\beta(\mathfrak{A})$-mp if and only if it is disjunctive $\beta(\mathfrak{A})$-regular, where $\beta(\mathfrak{A})$ is the set of complemented elements of $\mathfrak{A}$. Some topological characterizations for purified residuated lattices are extracted and proved that a residuated lattice $\mathfrak{A}$ is purified if and only if its minimal prime spectrum, equipped with the dual hull-kernel topology, is a profinite space.
Tree coverage and tree coverage change in a highly urbanized country: the case of Uruguayan Cities 2000-2019
Authors: Justo Cesar , Martino Diego , Bernardi Lucia , Olivera Juan , Riaño Maria Eugenia
Published: May 2022

The urbanization process continues worldwide and it is expected that by 2050 two thirds of the global population will live in cities. In parallel to the urbanization process, global warming has increased global surface temperature between 0,8 and 1.5°C since pre-industrial levels. Urban areas are particularly vulnerable to the consequences of climate change, such as heat stress, urban flooding, landslides, air pollution, droughts, and water scarcity. The composition of urban land cover can influence the ability of urban areas to adapt to climate change. Urban vegetation such as trees and shrubs can play an important role to reduce the impact of heatwaves in cities; the permeable cover can help reduce potential urban flooding by absorbing and reducing runoff during heavy precipitation. Therefore, quantifying the extent and trends of urban land cover can provide important information for city planners to understand their urban landscape as well as the existing potential for climate change adaptation activities. In this study, we have measured the extension and trends (over a 20-year period) of tree cover and other surfaces (impervious, permeable, others) in 26 Uruguayan cities. Cover classes were identified by random sampling of points on the i-Tree Canopy platform. The results show an increase in tree cover, an increase in impervious cover, and a decrease in herbaceous cover in urban areas. This increase in tree cover is not in line with findings reported in several international studies. The present work is the first analysis for Uruguay in which the dynamics of cover loss and gain (trees, permeable, impervious) in an urban context.
The barriers dentists face to communicate cancer diagnosis: self-assessment based on SPIKES protocol.
Authors: Martins Beatriz Nascimento Figueiredo Lebre , DDS César Augusto Migliorati , DDS Ana Carolina Prado Ribeiro , DDS Manoela Domingues Martins , Brandão Thais Bianca , DDS Marcio Ajudarte Lopes , DDS Carolina Guimarães Bonfim Alves , Santos-Silva Alan Roger
Published: May 2022

Purpose: This study aimed to characterize the barriers faced by Brazilian dentists to deliver bad news (DBN) about oral and oropharyngeal cancer diagnoses to patients by using a questionnaire based on the guidelines of the SPIKES protocol. Methods: This was an observational cross-sectional study. The questionnaire contained 27 questions based on the SPIKES protocol, which were answered in the SurveyMonkey platform. Results: A total of 186/249 dentists answered the questionnaire. The main specialties reported were 36.02% oral medicine, 21.5% oral pathology, and 9.13% oral and maxillofacial surgery. A total of 44.6% expressed concern about the patient’s emotional reactions, and 46.24% of respondents had never participated in any specific training to communicate bad news. Conclusion: The lack of training and low confidence in dealing with patients’ emotional reactions dentists were considered the greatest barriers to DBNs. Moreover, most dentists who participated in the survey believe that a protocol to guide the communication of bad news would be useful for clinical practice. For those protocols to be used by dentists, training is critical for these protocols to be incorporated by professionals.
Rapid epidemic expansion of the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron BA.2 subvariant during China’s largest outbreaks
Authors: Dai Yeyu
Published: May 2022

A complete and accurate statistical analysis of cases of the contraction with SARS-CoV-2, under the conditions of strict mandatory quarantine and isolation and of a high rate of full vaccination, during the largest COVID-19 outbreaks driven by the Omicron BA.2 subvariant in China are given. Sars-Cov-2 is still new, and little is known about either its directions of variations or its laws of propagation. No country other than China has been able to disclose every case of infection in every epidemic or outbreak since April of 2020. Here, this study reveals that Omicron BA.2 subvariant can still spread very fast and wide in areas with strict “dynamic zero-COVID strategy”[i] in China, that there exist cities twenty-fold differences in morbidity rates unrelated to any of the known factors contributing to incidence of infectious diseases, and that Omicron BA.2 subvariant is unpredictable in its virulence, although its severity rate of symptomatic cases is low. This analysis provides first-hand original and valuable information for further research on similar epidemics in the future. It may bring new thoughts for correction of present epidemiological theory and mathematical models. It may also give other countries time to be better prepared for the coming 6th wave driven by Omicron BA.2.
Correlation between white blood cell count and intestinal resection in patients with acute mesenteric vein thrombosis
Authors: Xu Yu , Dai Shang-Tai , Lu Hong-Qiao , Xie Yang-Mei , Sun Wen-Sha , Li Guo-San , Zhang Yang-Qiu-Rong , Guo Shi-Kui , Gong Kun-Mei
Published: May 2022

Objective: Acute mesenteric vein thrombosis (AMVT) is one of the acute abdominal diseases with onset, rapid progression, extensive intestinal necrosis, and requiring immediate surgical resection. The purpose of this study was to determine the risk factors of nosocomial intestinal resection in patients with AMVT. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 64 patients with AMVT diagnosed by CTA in Affiliated Hospital of Kunming University of Science and Technology from January 2013 to December 2021. We compared patients who underwent intestinal resection (42 cases) with those who did not undergo intestinal resection (22 cases). The area under the ROC curve was evaluated and the forest map was drawn. Results: Among the 64 patients, 6 cases (9.38%) had a fever, 60 cases (93.75%) had abdominal pain, 9 cases (14.06%) had a history of diabetes, 8 cases (12.5%) had a history of deep vein thrombosis (DVT), and 25 cases (39.06%) had ascites suggested by B ultrasound or CT after admission. The mean age of all patients was (49.86±16.25) years. The mean age of patients in the enterectomy group was (47.71±16.20) years. The mean age of patients in the conservative treatment group (without enterectomy) was (53.95±15.90) years. In univariate analysis, there were statistically significant differences in leukocyte count (P=0.003), neutrophil count (P=0.001), AST(P=0.048), total bilirubin (P=0.047), fibrinogen (P= 0.022) and DD2 (P= 0.024) between the two groups. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that admission white blood cell count (OR=1.153, 95%CI: 1.039-1.280P =0.007) was an independent risk factor for intestinal resection in patients with AMVT. ROC curve showed that white blood cell count (AUC=0.759 95%CI: 0.620-0.897P =0.001 optimal threshold :7.815 sensitivity: 0.881 specificity: 0.636) had a good predictive value for emergency enterectomy for AMVT. Conclusions: Among patients with AMVT, patients with a higher white blood cell count at admission were more likely to have intestinal necrosis and require emergency enterectomy. This study is helpful for clinicians to accurately determine whether emergency intestinal resection is needed in patients with AMVT after admission, prevent further intestinal necrosis, and improve the prognosis of patients.
Study on the formability of SiCf/Ti-6Al-4V composites by fiber laying parameters and laser process parameters
Authors: Han RiHong , Hao Jin , Han ZhenZhong , Qi FangJuan , Fan HongLi , Yang HaiQiang , Qi Haibo
Published: May 2022

As an important structural material for hypersonic aircraft and high thrust-to-weight ratio engines, continuous fiber-reinforced titanium matrix composites (TMCs) has high specific strength, high specific stiffness, corrosion, wear resistance and high temperature creep resistance. TMCs were directly fabricated using an additive manufacturing method that did not require a mold. The degree of fiber preservation during the preparation process and the molding quality have a signicant influence on the properties of the composite material. This paper firstly studies the effect of filament laying parameters on the forming results. This was followed by an investigation of the impact of the process parameters on the forming results using orthogonal experiments with interactions and finding out the process parameters for the best molding quality. SEM and metallographic results show that the microstructure of the composites formed under different parameters showed different amounts of martensite, columnar crystals, and equiaxed crystals. TiC was the main component of the interfacial reaction layer.
Knowledge and awareness of colorectal cancer among a predominantly Indigenous Caribbean community
Authors: Warner Zachary , Gilbert-Gard Kacy , Reid Brandon , Joseph Winnie , Kepka Deanna , Auguste Priscilla , Warner Echo L.
Published: May 2022

Objective
To assess awareness levels and knowledge of colorectal cancer (CRC) and CRC screening among an Indigenous Caribbean community.
Methods
A community-based participatory research project was developed to perform a needs assessment of cancer prevention and education in an Indigenous non-metropolitan community in Dominica. Purposive sampling occurred at a local health clinic. Data was collected from 58 eligible patients via a 57-item structured interview. Descriptive statistics were calculated, and demographic correlates of CRC knowledge and awareness were assessed using chi-square and Fisher Exact tests.
Results
Of 58 participants, 72.4% identified as Indigenous, and 36.5% had heard of CRC. Most respondents (96.1%) believed CRC screening to be “important,” yet only 3.0% of those who were age eligible had received screening in the prior 10 years, and 12.5% knew how to get screened. More respondents with incomes over $5,000 ECD had heard of CRC (72.2%) compared to those who had not (21.7%), and those who were unsure (16.7%, p < 0.01). Among those with a family cancer history, 14.3% knew how to get tested for CRC, 60.0% did not, and 25.0% were unsure (p < 0.03).
Conclusion
Despite limited familiarity with CRC screening, participants indicated broad community-based support for CRC screening. Health education research is needed to develop patient-centered, culturally appropriate materials about CRC screening and prevention. Future work facilitating productive community partnerships and incorporating prevailing community traditions may align cancer prevention and education initiatives with community priorities.
Antiviral and protective effect of small interfering RNAs against Rift Valley Fever Virus In Vitro
Authors: Ahmed Engy M. , Boseila Abeer A. , Hanora Amro , Solyman Samar M.
Published: May 2022

Rift Valley Fever Virus (RVFV) is an arbovirus, zoonotic pathogen that repeatedly reinvigorates with a possible threat across geographic borders. There are no authorized drugs for RVFV. RNA interference gene silencing pathway is a highly conserved mechanism. Specific and different small interfering RNAs (siRNA) have been designed against RVFV Nucleoprotein genes by different bioinformatics tools to investigate their antiviral potentialities in the Vero cell line. Real-time PCR besides Endpoint assay was used to determine the silencing activity of siRNA and reduction in gene expression as all designed siRNAs abrogate mRNA replication by more than 90% by RT-PCR and significant inhibition in RVFV replication in cell line when used as antiviral as well prophylactic therapeutics. Western blot analysis was utilized for protein abundance detection after 48 hours. Consequently, specific siRNA can inhibit RVFV replication in a cell-based assay, introducing novel and promising RVFV epidemics and epizootics therapeutics.
Algorithmic Decision-making Concerns for Software: Non-functional Requirement Elicitation as a Solution
Authors: Otuneme Nzechukwu Chizaram , Eze Monday O. , Kuyoro Afolashade O. , Ayankoya Folasade Y.
Published: May 2022

Millions of software are lunched yearly and this software depend on data to produce required output. Personal data privacy and security has been a source of public concern for some time, and is usually interpreted in terms of data obtained from interaction with software. It is difficult to know whether a software system's decisions are fair and what considerations were put in place in the system's internal decision-making process if the system's decisions are opaque. This has the potential to cause injustice and bias. In addition, a lack of openness may lead to a decrease in user acceptance and happiness. Algorithmic data-driven decision-making systems are becoming more automated, and they've had a lot of success in a lot of different applications. The General Data Protection Regulation of the European Union and other regulations limits algorithmic use of personal data and has fueled the dispute over the right to disclosure. This research adapted a crowd requirements elicitation model to develop a framework for the proper elicitation non-functional requirement. The developed model uses natural language processing integrated into a chatbot and a document extraction strategy since non-functional requirement exist also as government regulations and industrial standards. Proper and comprehensive elicitation of non-functional requirements will give accurate information on how the system performs its required task and such documents are best in terms of openness to the use of data by algorithms to avoid algorithm decision making concerns.
Heavy metal pollution in the surface sediments off the Vedaranyam coast, Southern India
Authors: Gopal Veeramalai , Krishnamurthy Ramasamy Ramasamy , Vignesh Ravichandran , SabariNathan Chellamuthu , Anshu Raju , Kalaivanan Rajaram , Mohana Perumal , Magesh Nochyil Sivan
Published: May 2022

The marine sediments off Vedaranyam coast, southern India was examined for heavy metal pollution contributed by man-made activities. Sediment samples were collected and assessed for metals such as chromium (Cr), copper (Cu), manganese (Mn), iron (Fe), Nickel (Ni), zinc (Zn), and cobalt (Co). To assess the natural and anthropogenic contamination as well as to know the sediment quality, various indices such as the geo-accumulation index, enrichment factor, pollution load index and contamination factor were computed. The enrichment factor result shows that the heavy metals are primarily from anthropogenic sources. There is a high positive correlation among the heavy metals, indicating a similar origin.
How Does Random Spike Timing Code Anything?
Authors: Gilbert Mike
Published: May 2022

Nerve cells send signals to each other by discharging action potentials (spikes), the fast and brief depolarisation of cell membrane potential which propagates away from the cell body (soma). Traditionally, the two main candidates to code information in signals are spike frequency (firing rate) and spike timing. However, some cells – including Purkinje cells in the cerebellum – spike with unpredictably irregular timing, so that it is not obvious how it could be either, or indeed how it codes anything at all. Purkinje cells powerfully modulate firing of the output cells of the cerebellum. This paper argues that information is coded in the millisecond-to-millisecond probability of a Purkinje cell spike. Coded this way, firing of a single cell is meaningless, but the probability is synchronised at the level of functional groups of Purkinje cells – microzones – which form part of the cerebellar circuit. Around forty Purkinje cells converge on a cerebellum output cell. Because spike probability, but not timing, is synchronised among microzone-grouped Purkinje cells, the combined spike rate received by an output cell accurately and smoothly represents the group-coded probability. In this manner, irregular spike timing of single Purkinje cells is turned into analog modulation of output somatic polarity.
Prediction of oxygen requirement in patients with COVID-19 using a pre-trained chest radiograph xAI model: Efficient development of auditable risk prediction models via a fine-tuning approach
Authors: Chung Joowon , Kim Doyun , Choi Jongmun , Yune Sehyo , Song Kyungdoo , Kim Seonkyoung , Chua Michelle , Succi Marc D. , Conklin John , Longo Maria G. Figueiro , Ackman Jeanne B. , Petranovic Milena , Lev Michael H. , Do Synho
Published: May 2022

Clinical risk prediction requires comprehensive integration of clinical information and concurrent radiological findings. We present an upgraded chest radiograph (CXR) explainable artificial intelligence (xAI) model, which was trained on 241,723 well-annotated CXRs obtained prior to the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. Mean area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUROC) for detection of 20 radiographic features was 0.955 (95% CI 0.938-0.955) on PA view and 0.909 (95% CI 0.890-0.925) on AP view. Coexistent and correlated radiographic findings are displayed in an interpretation table, and calibrated classifier confidence is displayed on an AI scoreboard. Retrieval of similar feature patches and comparable CXRs from a Model-Derived Atlas provides justification for model predictions. To demonstrate the feasibility of a fine-tuning approach for efficient and scalable development of xAI risk prediction models, we applied our CXR xAI model, in combination with clinical information, to predict oxygen requirement in COVID-19 patients. Prediction accuracy for high flow oxygen (HFO) and mechanical ventilation (MV) was 0.953 and 0.934 at 24 hours and 0.932 and 0.836 at 72 hours from the time of emergency department (ED) admission, respectively. Our CXR xAI model is auditable and captures key pathophysiological manifestations of cardiorespiratory diseases and cardiothoracic comorbidities. This model can be efficiently and broadly applied via a fine-tuning approach to provide fully automated risk and outcome predictions in various clinical scenarios in real-world practice.
Cervical Pre-cancerous Lesion Detection: Development of Smartphone-Based VIA Application Using Artificial Intelligence
Authors: Harsono Ali Budi , Susiarno Hadi , Suardi Dodi , Fauzi Hilman , Wahid Rizki Amalia , Carolina Johanna Sharon , Kireina Jessica , Mantilidewi Kemala Isnainiasih , Hidayat Yudi Mulyana
Published: May 2022

ObjectiveAbout 90% of deaths caused by cervical cancer in 2020 occurred in low-and middle-income countries, due to limited access to screening programs. Visual inspection of cervix after acetic acid application (VIA) has been considered an alternative to Pap smear in resource-limited settings. However, VIA tends to be subjective and depends on examiner’s experience. We aimed to develop an Android-based application for determining VIA results based on AI.ResultA total of 159 women who underwent VIA test was studied. Images of cervix before and after VIA test were taken with smartphone, then evaluated and labelled by oncologist as VIA positive or negative. Image processing was done by detecting the pattern, texture, and colour of acetowhite lesion around the cervix. The extracted features were then passed to the Convolutional Neural Network (CNN). Java programming language was used to develop the application. Based on oncologist evaluation, 77 patients (48.4%) had positive VIA result and 82 (51.6%) had negative result. The AI model predicted 68 positive results and 65 negative results correctly, generating a sensitivity of 88.3%, specificity of 79.2%, and accuracy of 83.64%. The developed Android-ba
Optical-resolution functional gastrointestinal photoacoustic endoscopy based on optical heterodyne detection of ultrasound
Authors: Liang Yizhi , Fu Wubing , Li Qiang , Sun Huojiao , Wang Lidai , Jin Long , Huang Wei , Guan Bai-Ou
Published: May 2022

Photoacoustic endoscopy shows promise in the detection of gastrointestinal cancer, inflammation, and other lesions. However, imaging the hemodynamic response in disease at high spatial resolution is hindered by the ultrasound detection capability. Here we developed a miniaturized, optical-resolution photoacoustic endoscope to image an inflamed rat rectum and the hemodynamic response in terms of oxygen-saturation change, which can hardly be seen with other imaging modalities. This was achieved by detecting the optically-induced ultrasound waves with a dual-frequency laser sensor, which boosts the sensitivity by a gain factor ω0/Ω (the frequency ratio of the laser light and measured ultrasound) to the upper limit of a frequency measurement system. A noise-equivalent pressure density (NEPD) below 1.5 mPa·Hz-1/2 over the measured range of 5 to 25 MHz was achieved, comparable to that of the most sensitive state-of-the-art optical sensors. The heterodyne detection stabilizes the sensor output using the dual-frequency laser beams, which offers resistance to thermal drift and gastrointestinal peristalsis.
Kidney absorbed radiation doses for [177Lu]Lu-PSMA-617 and [177Lu]Lu-PSMA-I&T determined by 3D clinical dosimetry
Authors: Uijen Maike J.M. , Privé Bastiaan Michael , Herpen Carla M.L. Van , Westdorp Harm , Gemert Willemijn A. van , de Bakker Maarten , Gotthardt Martin , Konijnenberg Mark , Peters Steffie M.B. , Nagarajah James
Published: May 2022

Purpose: For prostate-specific membrane antigen directed radioligand therapy (PSMA-RLT), [177Lu]Lu‑PSMA‑617 and [177Lu]Lu-PSMA-I&T are the currently preferred compounds. Recent preclinical studies suggested ~30x higher kidney absorbed dose for [177Lu]Lu-PSMA-I&T compared to [177Lu]Lu-PSMA-617, which may lead to an increased risk of kidney toxicity. We performed two single center, prospective dosimetry studies with either [177Lu]Lu-PSMA-617 or [177Lu]Lu-PSMA-I&T, using an identical dosimetry protocol. We evaluated the absorbed doses of both 177Lu labeled radioligands in human kidneys.Methods: 3D SPECT/CT imaging of the kidneys was performed after PSMA-RLT in cancer patients with PSMA-positive disease and an adequate glomerular filtration rate (GFR) (≥50 mL/min). Ten metastatic hormone-sensitive prostate cancer patients (mHSPC) were treated with [177Lu]Lu‑PSMA‑617 and ten advanced salivary gland cancer (SGC) patients were treated with [177Lu]Lu-PSMA-I&T. SPECT/CT imaging was performed at 5 time points (1h, 24h, 48h, 72h, and 168h post injection). In mHSPC patients SPECT/CT imaging was performed after cycles 1 and 2 (cumulative activity: 9 GBq) and in SGC patients only after cycle 1 (activity: 7.4 GBq). Kidney absorbed dose was calculated using organ-based dosimetry. Results: The median kidney absorbed dose was 0.49 Gy/GBq (range: 0.34-0.66) and 0.73 Gy/GBq (range: 0.42-1.31) for [177Lu]Lu-PSMA-617 and [177Lu]Lu-PSMA-I&T, respectively (Wilcoxon-Mann-Whitney; p=0.002). Conclusion: This study shows that the kidney absorbed dose for [177Lu]Lu-PSMA-617 and [177Lu]Lu‑PSMA-I&T differs, with a ~1.5x higher median kidney absorbed dose for [177Lu]Lu-PSMA-I&T. This difference in the clinical setting is considerably smaller than observed in preclinical studies and may not hamper treatments with [177Lu]Lu-PSMA-I&T.
A semi-analytical temperature solution for multi-segment deep coaxial borehole heat exchangers
Authors: Wangen Magnus
Published: May 2022

Tóth and Bobok [1, 2] developed an attractive model for the temperature of deep coaxial borehole heat exchangers with a constant flow rate. The model is based on Ramey’s approximate solution for the thermal interaction of a well with the surrounding rocks [3]. Their temperature solution for the fluid in the annulus and the inner tube involves four coefficients that are given by four boundary conditions. It appears that a numerical method is required to obtain these four coefficients. This article provides a new temperature solution for the same model, which is complete. It demands only two boundary conditions – the first is the given injection temperature, and the second is that the temperature is the same in the annulus as in the inner tube at the base of the well. The new solution is extended to a multi-segment solution, where each segment may have different properties, such as casing, the width of the annulus, radius of the inner tubing, material properties, rock properties and the geothermal gradient. The multi-segment model is demonstrated with a deep coaxial borehole heat exchanger with three different parts. The temperature difference between the outlet and the inlet is studied regarding two dimensionless numbers. It is found that the maximum temperature difference occurs when the dimensionless heat transfer coefficient for the casing-rock is much larger than one. A second necessary condition is that the dimensionless heat transfer coefficient for the insulator between the inner tube and the annulus must be much less than one. The power leakage from the inner tubing to the annulus is also at a maximum at these conditions.
The study of Double-J stent free mode of flexible ureteroscopy and laser lithotripsy: A single center experience
Authors: Xu Ming , Han Xiaoyun , Zhu Jin , Sun Chuanyang , Tao Wei , Xue Boxin
Published: May 2022

Purpose
To evaluate the effectiveness and safety of flexible ureteroscopy in the treatment of kidney and upper ureteral calculi under the Double-J stent free mode.
Methods
We retrospectively collected the data of patients who underwent flexible ureteroscopy and laser lithotripsy from February 2018 to September 2021 in our hospital. Cases were divided into three groups according to used of the Double-J stent pre-operation and post-operation, namely, the Postoperative Double-J stent free (Post-F) group with pre-indwelling Double-J stent before operation and non-indwelling Double-J stent after operation, the Preoperative Double-J stent free (Pre-F) group with the Double-J stent not preset before operation and retained after operation, and the Routine group with the Double J stents placed in the ureter before and after operation. The data of all patients, including demographic and stone characteristics, perioperative data, postoperative outcomes and complications, were recorded, evaluated and compared.
Results
554 patients as per prescribed research criteria were included with 101 cases in the Post-F group, 154 cases in the Pre-F group and 299 cases in the Routine group. There was no significant difference in baseline characteristics among the three groups, such as age, body mass index, the cumulative calculi maximum length diameter (CMD), average CT value of stones (p > 0.05). The average operation time among the three groups was also similar which demonstrated no statistical difference. The incidence of grade 0–1 ureteral injury in the Post-F group was higher than the other two groups, and the difference was statistically significant (p < 0.01). There was no significant difference in the operation related complications such as bleeding, renal subcapsular effusion, urosepsis, and ureteral stricture. During the follow-up, the data showed there was a certain proportion of Double-J stent associated complications between the Pre-F group and the Routine group, while no risk of these complications were identified in the Post-F group. At the end of time intervals of one month, three months and six months after operation, the stone clearance rates of the three groups were (88.1% vs 87.7% vs89.6%), (91.5% vs 91.9% vs 93.8%), (93.1% vs 93.0% vs 94.9%) respectively, and the differences did not reach statistical significance. (p > 0.05).
Conclusion
It was a safe, feasible and effective management method to treat renal and upper ureteral calculi by flexible ureteroscopy using Double-J stent free mode. This model could avoid the stent associated complications after operation and is suggested to be widely used in clinic.
Maternal position during the second stage of labor and maternal-neonatal outcomes in nulliparous women: a retrospective cohort study
Authors: Familiari Alessandra , Neri Caterina , Passananti Elvira , Marco Giulia Di , Felici Francesca , Ranieri Elisa , Flacco Maria Elena , Lanzone Antonio
Published: May 2022

Purpose
Actual evidences are insufficient to draw conclusions regarding the association between maternal position in labor and obstetrics outcomes. The aim of this study is to evaluate the effects of different maternal positions during the second stage of labor, with or without epidural analgesia, on important obstetric outcomes, in order to prevent perineal damage.
Methods
In this retrospective cohort study, we collected data of women undergoing a vaginal birth in a 2-years period. The associations between maternal and gestational characteristics and several obstetric outcomes were analyzed. We considered perineal damage as the primary outcome. Secondary outcomes were operative vaginal birth, duration of fetal descent, intrapartum blood loss, 1-minute and 5-minutes Apgar score.
Results
A total of 2240 nulliparous at term of pregnancy were included: 76.9% gave birth in a supine position and 23.1% gave birth in alternative positions. The results showed that, regardless of the use of epidural analgesia, free-birthing positions are associated to a significant reduction of risk in terms of both episiotomy and perineal damage of any degree (p < 0.0001) and to a reduction in the duration of fetal descent (Spearman rho = 9.17, CI (3.07; 15.32), p = 0.003). No statistically significant differences were found in operative vaginal birth, intrapartum blood loss and 1-minute and 5-minutes Apgar score between the two groups.
Conclusions
Our results shows that free-birthing positions are associated with a significant increase in having an intact perineum and a reduction of any perineal trauma and episiotomy regardless the use of epidural analgesia.
Root and Root Canal Morphology of Premolars in a Sample of the Lebanese Population: Clinical Considerations
Authors: Merhej Marie-Jose , Hachem Roula El , Sacre Hala , Salameh Pascale , Ghosn Nabil , Naaman Alfred
Published: May 2022

Objectives: The aims of this study were to investigate the anatomy of the maxillary and mandibular premolars among a sample of the Lebanese population and to explore their incidence by sex and the symmetry between the left and right sides.Materials and Methods: This retrospective analysis of 250 CBCT images revealed 960 maxillary and 972 mandibular premolars. Roots, canals, and morphology types were recorded. Vertucci’s classification was used to categorize the canal morphologies. Fisher’s exact and chi-square tests (P≤.05) were applied.Results: The majority of maxillary first premolars had two roots (85.3%) with two canals (91.3%). Most of the maxillary second premolars showed one root (79.8%). Two-root canals (53.55%) were more common than one canal (44.2%). The three-root, three-canal morphology was rarely spotted in the maxillary first (0.4%) and second premolars (2.3%). The one-root and one-canal morphologies were most frequently located in the mandibular first (99.2%, 84.5%) and second premolars (100%, 88.6%), and two canals being less common (15.5%, 11.4%). The total prevalence of premolars with a complex root canal morphology was 62.4%, found in types II, III, and V to VIII. Men had significantly more roots and root canals in their maxillary first premolars than women (P≤.05). No significant differences were observed between the contralateral premolars (P>.5).Conclusions: Premolars displayed wide variations in root and root canal morphology and symmetry between the contralateral premolars.Clinical Relevance: CBCT scans showed the morphological complexity and bilateral symmetry of the premolars in a sample of the Lebanese population. Clinicians and researchers should consider these findings.
A multi-objective robust optimization method for quantification and propagation of different types of uncertainties
Authors: Wang Yongxing , Hamad Hazim , Voss Jochen , Thompson Harvey
Published: May 2022

A robust optimization formulates the uncertainties of a physical system into the objective functions and/or its constraints, and uncertainties are consequently quantified at the same time as minimizing the objectives, which therefore provides a robust solution to the corresponding physical system. In this paper, we present a general mathematical framework for data-driven robust optimization problems: first, the Gaussian Process Regression (GPR) method is used to create a surrogate model, which allows us to analyze and quantify uncontrollable uncertainties such as noise from the training dataset or finite/limited discrete data points; then, the Polynomial Chaos Expansion (PCE) method is used to propagate controllable uncertainties, such as a manufacturing tolerance, from the input to the output and create a probabilistic model; finally, three robust optimization problems are formulated and solved with a detailed analysis of the results. The proposed optimization framework is implemented in open-source Python libraries and assessed by validated dataset from a Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) thermal flow system with consideration of uncertainties from manufacturing process.
The effect of file design and treatment type on the incidence of instrument separation and their subsequent management. A retrospective analysis among Post-Graduate students
Authors: Ravangard Ariyan , Azim Adham
Published: May 2022

AimThe aim of this retrospective study was to evaluate whether newly developed rotary NiTi instruments have reduced the incidence of instrument separation and/or have made the retrieval of the instrument following their separation more predictable in an endodontic post-graduate setting.Methodology: Teeth subjected to non-surgically endodontic treatment or retreatment in the endodontic post-graduate program were included in this study. Cases with SI were identified from our database and multiple variables (treatment type, tooth type and location, the position of the SI, file size, type, and core design, and the experience of the operator) were recorded. The management approach of the SI (remove, bypass, or unnegotiable) was also recorded. Statistical analysis was performed to establish an association between instrument separation and their management with the multiple variables.ResultsThe incidence of SI was 4.5%. 1.9% were hand files and 2.6% were rotary files. The SIs were primarily of a small tip size (≤ 20) and were separated mainly at the apical third of the canal. There was a significant association between molar teeth and SI (P < 0.001), while all the other factors were not statistically significant (P > 0.05). Regarding management of SI, 53% were successfully managed either through retrieval or bypassing. There was a significant association between successful retrieval of the SI and the type of treatment, the SI file design, and the position of the SI in the canal (P < 0.05).ConclusionThe incidence of SI is very low among post-graduate students and has not changed with the improvement in rotary systems. Improvement in rotary instruments, however, appears to increase the odds of successful management of SI.Clinical RelevanceThe incidence of SI among post-graduate students is < 5%, SI can be successfully managed through retrieval or bypassing in around 50% of the cases. SI design and location appears to impact it successful management.
Sex-specific associations between coronary artery calcification and major adverse cardiovascular events: the NADESICO study
Authors: Wada Shinichi , Iwanaga Yoshitaka , Nakai Michikazu , Nakao Yoko M , Miyamoto Yoshihiro , Noguchi Teruo
Published: May 2022

In a multicenter prospective cohort study of 1187 patients with suspected coronary artery disease (CAD) undergoing coronary computed tomography, mutual relationships among cardiovascular risk factors, coronary artery calcification (CAC), and incident major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) were examined, with emphasis on sex differences. The final analysis included 978 patients. Cox proportional hazards analyses indicated that smoking, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and dyslipidemia were associated with MACE in male patients, whereas no risk factors were associated with MACE in female patients. The C-statistics calculated using Framingham risk score for MACE were 0.639 and 0.656 in male and female patients, respectively. In male patients, the C-statistic significantly increased in combined models that added Agatston CAC scores of ≥ 200 to the Framingham risk score (+ 0.056, P = 0.045). In female patients, the C-statistic increased in the model that added an Agatston CAC score of ≥ 400 to Framingham risk score (+ 0.057, P = 0.08). CAC, cardiovascular risk factors, and incident MACE exhibited sex-specific differential associations in patients with suspected CAD. Agatston CAC scores of ≥ 200 in male patients significantly improved the MACE risk prediction over established cardiovascular risk factors, and an Agatston CAC score of ≥ 400 may improve it in female patients.
Magnetic resonance texture analysis is superior to magnetization transfer imaging for longitudinal assessment of fibrosis
Authors: Bos Simon , De Kock Isabelle , Delrue Louke , Welden Sophie Van , Bunyard Peter , Hindryckx Pieter , de Vos Martine , Villeirs Geert , Laukens Debby
Published: May 2022

A common and untreatable complication of Crohn’s disease (CD) is the development of intestinal fibrosis for which no adequate noninvasive tools for fibrosis progression monitoring exist. For this purpose, we assessed the performance of magnetization transfer (MT) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and texture analysis (TA) on T2-weighted images by correlating them with histology in a fibrosis mouse model. MT-MRI and TA performance was validated during antifibrotic therapy in mice and on MR enterography images of CD patients undergoing bowel surgery. The MT-MRI and TA entropy correlated with histological fibrosis (r = .85 and .81, respectively). However, TA entropy was superior to MT-MRI for quantifying fibrosis progression during coexisting inflammation (linear regression R² = .93). TA entropy could efficiently monitor anti-fibrotic therapy efficacy and correlated with the grade of intestinal fibrosis in CD. In conclusion, MT-MRI and TA entropy are highly promising surrogate markers of intestinal fibrosis, but TA entropy performed better in the presence of concomitant inflammation.
Single-Year and Double-Year El Niños
Authors: GAO Zongting , Hu Zeng-Zhen , Zheng Fei , Li Xiaofan , Li Shangfeng , Zhang Banglin
Published: May 2022

Compared with well documented and frequent occurrence of multi-year La Niña, double-year El Niño is less frequent and has not been well investigated. Both of them are a discrepancy from the cyclic behavior of the El Niño-Southern Oscillation and deserve investigation. During 1950-2021, 75% of El Niño events persist for one year, and 25% of them last for two years. Both central and eastern Pacific type El Niños occur in the single-year and double-year El Niños with various strengths. Compared with the single-year El Niños, the averaged warm water volume (WWV) is larger in the peak and declines much slower for the double-year El Niños, suggesting that a persistently recharged heat condition of the equatorial Pacific is a precondition for the emergence of a second-year El Niño. The faster decline of WWV in the single-year El Niños is associated with the in-phase decrease of its intraseasonal-interseasonal and interannual components, while the slower decline of WWV in the double-year El Niños is determined by the interannual component. In addition, the single-year and double-year El Niño may have different impacts on regional climate.
High efficient semi-transparent organic solar cell with non-fullerene acceptor: the role of structural parameters on efficiency and transparency
Authors: Milani Elmira Annabi , Piralaee Mina , Ahmadi Sohrab , Asgari Asghar
Published: May 2022

Semitransparent organic solar cells are attracted recently because they harvest photons in the near-infrared and ultraviolet range and pass in the visible light region. Semitransparent organic solar cells with ITO/ ZnO/ PBDB-T: ITIC/ MoO3/Ag/MoO3 structure have been studied in this work. The effects of active layer thicknesses and the transparent top electrode, MoO3/Ag/MoO3, thickness on the solar cell performance such as I-V characteristics, the power conversion efficiency, the average visible transmittance, and the color coordinates in the CIE color space are investigated. The drift-diffusion model, including the density of excitons, and their displacement is used to model the devices. The model is examined with experimentally reported devices, then applied to the new structures. The obtained results are in very good agreement in comparison with experimental data.
A systematic mapping and bibliometric analysis of systematic reviews of health economic evaluations: A protocol
Authors: Haslberger Martin , Martinez-Gamboa Lorena , Ioannidis John P A , Mathes Tim , Belbasis Lazaros
Published: May 2022

Background: Systematic reviews of health economic evaluations (SR-HEs) provide a critical tool for synthesizing published literature to guide decision makers towards implementing evidence-based policy and healthcare practice. However, the quality of the methodology and reporting of SRs is often flawed due to insufficiencies in their design, conduct and reporting. Meta-research has led to methodological improvements in many research fields but is not widely established in health economic evidence synthesis. To enable future meta-research on SR-HEs, we will create a database of SR-HEs and provide a bibliometric analysis of this literature.Methods: We will perform a systematic search in MEDLINE for systematic reviews with/without meta-analyses of health economic evaluations. We will include studies that performed a systematic review of cost-effectiveness, cost-minimization, cost-utility, cost-benefit, and/or cost-consequence analyses. We will automatically extract data from Ovid MEDLINE and Web of Science to conduct a bibliometric analysis by examining publication, citation, and collaboration patterns.Discussion: Our study will provide a map of SR-HEs accompanied by a thorough bibliographic analysis of this research field. Our publicly accessible database can be used to assist future research and meta-research efforts in the field of health economics. Our bibliometric analysis will provide insights into the evolution of this research field over the years in terms of publications, citations, and scientific collaborations.Preregistration: 10.17605/OSF.IO/PV6XJ
Circulating miR-20b-5p and miR-330-3p Are Novel Biomarkers for Progression of Atrial Fibrillation: Intracardiac/Extracardiac Plasma Sample Analysis by Small RNA Sequencing
Authors: Harada Masahide , Okuzaki Daisuke , Yamauchi Akemi , Ishikawa Shiho , Nomura Yoshihiro , Nishimura Asuka , Motoike Yuji , Koshikawa Masayuki , Hitachi Keisuke , Tsuchida Kunihiro , Amano Kentaro , Maekawa Atsuo , Takagi Yasushi , Watanabe Eiichi , Ozaki Yukio , Izawa Hideo
Published: May 2022

Background: Circulating miRNA expression in the peripheral blood samples might not reflect a cardiac phenomenon since most miRNAs are expressed in numerous organs. This study aimed to identify the cardiac-specific circulating miRNAs as biomarkers for atrial fibrillation (AF).Methods: Plasma samples were obtained from a luminal coronary sinus catheter (CS, cardiac-specific samples) and femoral venous sheath (FV, peripheral samples) in AF patients and controls undergoing catheter ablation (CA). Small RNA sequencing was performed to identify differently expressed miRNAs between AF and CTL in each sample of the CS and FV; miRNAs exhibiting similar expression profiles in the CS and FV samples were selected as candidates for cardiac-specific biomarkers, and were related to the outcome of CA of AF.Results: Among the top 30 most differently expressed miRNAs between AF and CTL, circulating hsa-miR-20b-5p/miR-330-3p/miR-204-5p had a similar pattern in the CS and FV samples. Another set of peripheral samples was obtained from AF patients undergoing CA (n=141). The miR-20b-5p/miR-330-3p expressions negatively correlated with the echocardiographic left-atrial dimension and was significantly decreased in patients with AF recurrence as compared to those without AF recurrence.Conclusion: Circulating miR-20b-5p/miR-330-3p can be cardiac-specific biomarkers for atrial remodeling and arrhythmia recurrence after CA in AF patients.