bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Influence of Talar Displacement on Articular Contact Mechanics: A 3D Finite Element Analysis Study Using Weightbearing Computed Tomography
Authors: Peiffer Matthias , Lewis Lauren , Xie Katherine , Guild Theodore T. , Ashkani-Esfahani Soheil , Kwon John Y.
Published: February 2024

Background:

Talar displacement is considered the main predictive factor for poor outcomes and the development of post-traumatic osteoarthritis after ankle fractures. Isolated lateral talar translation, as previously studied by Ramsey and Hamilton using carbon powder imprinting, does not fully replicate the multidirectional joint subluxations seen in ankle fractures. The purpose of this study was to analyze the influence of multiple uniplanar talar displacements on tibiotalar contact mechanics utilizing weightbearing computed tomography (WBCT) and finite element analysis (FEA).

Methods:

Nineteen subjects (mean age = 37.6 years) with no history of ankle surgery or injury having undergone WBCT arthrogram (n = 1) and WBCT without arthrogram (n = 18) were included. Segmentation of the WBCT images into 3D simulated models of bone and cartilage was performed. Three-dimensional (3D) multiple uniplanar talar displacements were simulated to investigate the respective influence of various uniaxial displacements (including lateral translation, anteroposterior translation, varus-valgus angulation, and external rotation) on the tibiotalar contact mechanics using FEA. Tibiotalar peak contact stress and contact area were modeled for each displacement and its gradations.

Results:

Our modeling demonstrated that peak contact stress of the talus and tibia increased, whereas contact area decreased, with incremental displacement in all tested directions. Contact stress maps of the talus and tibia were computed for each displacement demonstrating unique patterns of pressure derangement. One millimeter of lateral translation resulted in 14% increase of peak talar contact pressure and a 3% decrease in contact area.

Conclusion:

Our model predicted that with lateral talar translation, there is less noticeable change in tibiotalar contact area compared with prior studies whereas external rotation greater than 12 degrees had the largest effect on peak contact stress predictions.

Level of Evidence:

Level V, computational simulation study.
Landscapes of Remunicipalization: A Critical Literature Review
Authors: McDonald David A.
Published: February 2024

After four decades of privatization, remunicipalization has begun to reverse the trend. This policy phenomenon has been accompanied by a concomitant growth in academic writing on the topic, documenting a wide range of dynamics from different conceptual and methodological viewpoints, resulting in what many see to be a highly polarized debate. This article provides the first comprehensive review of this remunicipalization literature, providing critical insights into its schisms and overlaps, arguing that differences may not be as irreconcilable as some suggest, while also highlighting the need for an expanded scope of geographic and thematic research on the topic.
Cyclin-dependent kinase 4/6 inhibitors in the treatment of advanced or metastatic breast cancer
Authors: Micha John P , Rettenmaier Mark A , Bohart Randy D , Goldstein Bram H
Published: February 2024

Objective

Despite the relatively high cure rates in early-stage breast cancer, advanced and metastatic breast cancer cases are associated with more inauspicious patient outcomes. Fortunately, with the advent of cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK)4/6 inhibitors (e.g. palbociclib, ribociclib, and abemaciclib) with endocrine therapy, survival in advanced and metastatic breast cancer has appreciably improved. In the current review, we discuss these distinctions and the concomitant implications associated with the individual CDK4/6 inhibitors.

Data sources

We conducted an extensive PubMed search comprising several review articles on the topic of advanced or metastatic breast cancer treatment, with specific terms that included CDK4/6 inhibitors, treatment, and breast cancer.

Data summary

Palbociclib, ribociclib, and abemaciclib have exhibited superior progression-free survival differences compared to endocrine therapy alone. However, there are differences among the various CDK4/6 inhibitors with regard to overall survival, tolerability and quality of life.

Conclusions

Ribociclib may be indicated for pre/perimenopausal patients, whereas abemaciclib is potentially recommended to address endocrine-resistant or visceral disease. Alternatively, palbociclib is associated with lower discontinuation rates than abemaciclib and unlike ribociclib, QTc prolongation is not observed with palbociclib.
To Tell, Not to Yell: The Effect of Writer's Intents on Readers’ Perceived Helpfulness of Online Product Reviews
Authors: Briers Barbara , He Xzavier , Lamey Lien
Published: February 2024

Perceived review helpfulness has been investigated extensively; however, the influence of the review writer's intents behind a review has not been considered. This study investigates the effect of the writer's intents to provide information, express emotions, or call for action on reviews’ helpfulness, thereby bridging the gap between the writer's perspective and the reader's perspective. The writer's intents are operationalized through speech acts, an implicit, yet systematic, approach in which the intents of the writer are captured at the linguistic level, that is, how things are said. A unique parallel approach based on both readers’ perceptions and linguistic theory is used to operationalize the speech acts. This approach allows multiple speech acts per sentence, and it can estimate the influence of each speech act separately. The results show that assertive acts positively impact review helpfulness, whereas expressive and call-for-action acts have a negative effect. This confirms previous literature showing that the major drivers of review helpfulness are often related to information delivery. In this research, the idea that consumers like reviews with accurate information is detected at the level of the writer's intent, which is new in the context of text analysis to assess online review helpfulness.
Beyond the Plate: Exploring the Experiential Values of Meal Sharing
Authors: Heo Cindy Yoonjoung , Kim Bona
Published: February 2024

Most research on hospitality management emphasizes the significance of customer experience, primarily focusing on the interactions between service providers and customers. However, the emergence of a sharing economy has extended service provision beyond traditional interactions. This study focuses on the importance of customer experience in the context of peer-to-peer (P2P) service transactions. It investigates the experiential values of meal sharing from the perspectives of both hosts and guests. Adopting a means-end chain approach, 25 semi-structured interviews using the soft laddering technique were conducted to analyze the narratives by detecting a variety of attributes, salient consequences, and ultimate personal values of the meal-sharing experiences and the hierarchical linkages among them. Although economic benefits are often cited as key factors in P2P services, this study revealed that social and food well-being and unique experiences are the primary experiential values of meal sharing.
Assessment of Urogenital Schistosomiasis Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices Among Abobo Communities in Gambella Regional State, Southwestern Ethiopia
Authors: Mohammed Tigist , Degarege Abraham , Aemero Mulugeta , Animut Abebe , Negash Yohannes , Erko Berhanu
Published: February 2024

Background:

Knowledge about community awareness and practices related to a disease, among other things, helps to plan relevant control strategies. This study assessed the knowledge, attitude, and practices (KAPs) of the community in Abobo district of Gambella Regional State in Southwestern Ethiopia about urogenital schistosomiasis (UGS), which is endemic to the region.

Methods:

A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted in 2022. A pretested structured questionnaire was administered. Multivariable logistic regression was used to examine factors associated with KAPs variables.

Results:

Most study participants (90.6%) responded they have previously heard of UGS. Over 95% of the participants knew at least 1 symptom of UGS and 30% knew the transmission cycle. About 15.9% and 26.8% knew keeping environmental hygiene and refraining from using cercariae infested water, as preventive methods, respectively. Over half of the participants (50.1%) disagreed or did not know that urinating close to the river/dam water contributes to transmission, and almost all participants had contact with the dam/river water in one way or another. Education status and history of having the infection were the key significant correlates of most KAPs variables.

Conclusion:

Most of the community members had poor knowledge and attitudes about the mode of transmission and preventive measures of UGS. Thus, besides school-based mass drug administration (MDA), UGS control efforts in the region should incorporate health education in conjunction with safe water supplies, and provision of sanitary facilities to effectively reduce the transmission of the disease.
Natural origins of social essentialism: Ethnic groups, identities, and cultural transmission
Authors: Wagner Wolfgang
Published: February 2024

This paper argues that the term ‘social essence’ is overused in psychological research and includes instances that are not covered by the basic definition of an essentialist cognition with living beings. Imagining an essence of living beings is conceptualized as a meta-cognition that wraps up an exemplars' characteristics as a marker and assigns it a kind or species. This paper develops a framework of how social essentialism can be conceptualised to originate in natural contexts. Ethnic groups maintain a group identity that is defined by a set of diacritical markers and secured by a rule of endogamy, which functionally replicates the procreative pattern in animal species. This ‘functional homological’ relationship construes a group identity in the image of animal kinds. Thus construed, an ethnic identity appears as a natural given that safeguards the group’s cohesion and stability across generations. Hence, group-related essentialism primarily serves identity formation and provides a cognitive mechanism to distinguish the ingroup from outgroups. The intuition of an essentialised identity is perpetuated across generations by bio-social processes of enculturation. Such processes can explain an historically stable group essentialism, as well as group-biased judgements in former and contemporary societies without the need for innate sources of psychological essentialism.
Reflection to freedom: Return of a fundamental discourse in Contemporary Psychology
Authors: Campill Marc Antoine
Published: February 2024

In the following article, we take a look into the contribution of Ernö and Birk (2024), “Rethinking Freedom for Contemporary Psychology”. During that process, the central statements of their article are first highlighted and then challenged/re-elaborated. The goal is to underline the importance of their contribution to our current scientific stances and the context that we retrace in ourselves as researchers while questioning and extending certain stances. A crucial point of the following commentary is the exploration of a diverse potential behind the construct of freedom that is much more complex than being simply reduced to only social or individual layers. We may not be able to find that swiftly an answer to what freedom means, but we can gain with our current understanding central insights into how we use our daily life the vision of freedom, in its temporary and fluid characteristics.
Teachers’ attitudes toward regrets: A cultural comparative reading
Authors: Wei Flora Liuying
Published: February 2024

This paper addresses how universal teachers’ attitudes toward regret are bound with Chinese cultural particularity. Arguments are developed through comparative perspectives: philosophic theoretical thinking vs. qualitative interpretive thinking, ideas conceived in theory vs. ideas enacted in practice, and cross-cultural interactions between Chinese culture and Christian/modern ‘Western’ culture. A total of 113 narratives published in Chinese journals of Chinese teacher regret that were revealed by teachers voluntarily in the past four decades serve as a concrete point of departure for theoretical comparisons. The universality of two main types of human attitudes toward regret are defended, while the particularity of cultural attitudes toward regret between China and the ‘west’ (corresponding to the earlier theoretical constructs of two attitude meta-types) is supplementarily explained through the compelling contrast of anti-coronavirus policies (policies of zero COVID or not). The phenomenon of Chinese teachers’ comfortable expression of regrets in public is finally discussed for its subtlety of creative transcultural exchange.
Fluency issues in L2 academic presentations: Linguistic, cognitive and psychological influences on pausing behaviour
Authors: Chang Heejin , Windeatt Scott
Published: February 2024

Fluency is usually defined in relation to temporal features such as speed of delivery and pauses, and such features are generally the focus of research on fluency. The reasons why pauses occur, however, have received much less attention. This study first explores the distribution and location of pauses in short academic presentations given by students as part of an English for academic purposes (EAP) course at an Australian university. This data is then used to investigate the reasons for a sample of those pauses, using the researchers’ interpretations, followed by student explanations in stimulated recall interviews (SRIs). The main findings provide confirmation that the location and the reasons for those pauses which are likely to affect the fluency of the presentations are a result not only of linguistic and cognitive issues, but also of psychological factors. The results underline the importance of taking all of these factors into account in EAP programmes by encouraging student awareness of their pausing behaviour, its causes, the effect on their audience, and of strategies for dealing with psycholinguistic, as well as linguistic and cognitive issues. The results confirm the value of SRI as a technique in exploring assumptions about the reasons for pauses, and the limitation of focusing solely on statistical analyses of pausing phenomena.
“How can our children learn from us about our way of life or understand who they are?”: Residential schools and their impact on the wellbeing of Indigenous youth in Attapadi, South India
Authors: George Mathew Sunil , Ramu K. A. , Prasad Rajendra , Prashanth N. S. , Kenjoor Susheela , Grant Janie Busby
Published: February 2024

Residential schools are commonly used in India to provide education for Indigenous youth, which requires young people to stay for long periods at distance from their families and communities. Internationally, there is clear evidence for the deleterious effects of residential schools on the mental health and social and community outcomes of Indigenous children, however little is known about the Indian Indigenous experience. This study examined the impact of residential schooling on Indigenous children's wellbeing and that of their communities, using data from an ethnographic research project in Attapadi, Kerala, including interviews, focus group discussions and participant observation with Indigenous communities. Key outcomes from residential schooling reported by the participants include the fear of losing Indigenous identity, shame of being Indigenous, change in the attitude of young people when they returned from schools, and feelings of confusion and stress that young Indigenous participants felt trying to fit into their communities on their return. Findings suggest that these Indigenous youth felt disconnected from several factors that are known to promote resilience for Indigenous communities including a strong cultural identity, connection to the land and ancestors, thereby making them more vulnerable to poor mental health and negative impacts on their overall wellbeing. Addressing these concerns requires a detailed understanding of the specific factors influencing outcomes for Indigenous youth within the Indian residential schooling system, and designing and implementing data-informed conceptual, structural and policy change including the provision of culturally safe mental health services.
Future notification: Living and breathing in post-pandemic climate change
Authors: Pink Sarah , Strengers Yolande , Korsmeyer Hannah
Published: February 2024

In a post-pandemic context, everyday life, technology and media have become increasingly focused in the home. This has implications for how people will live with automated and smart technologies in possible futures, for electricity demand, transition to net zero emissions and ultimately planetary health. Here, we explore these unfolding circumstances through the prism of notifications, and their capacity to mediate uncertainties while enabling people to engage in anticipatory modes of home organisation which ensure their physical comfort and produce a sense of ontological security in pandemic and climate crisis situations. In possible futures, the notification may vary from its current characteristics, but would enable people to engage with everyday automated technologies and systems in ways that acknowledge values of place, safety and care.
Acting like a bot as a defiance of platform power: Examining YouTubers’ patterns of ‘inauthentic’ behaviour on Twitter during COVID-19
Authors: Matamoros-Fernández Ariadna , Bartolo Louisa , Alpert Betsy
Published: February 2024

This article examines YouTubers’ ‘bot like’ behaviour on Twitter and conceptualises it as a defiance of platform power in delimiting the boundaries of ‘authenticity’. This entrepreneurial capture of ‘botness’ is understudied and deserves attention. We focus on a platform with a clear monetisation scheme, YouTube, and on patterns of ‘inauthentic’ behaviour in how people shared YouTube videos on Twitter during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic (February–May 2020). The global coronavirus crisis forced social media platforms to take unprecedented (mostly automated) steps to moderate content and to introduce new policies on ‘appropriate’ conduct, which we argue may have an impact on emerging social media content creators’ attempts to boost visibility online.
In-Law Preferences for Similarity: Comparing Parent and Child Preferences for In-Law/Intimate Partner Similarity
Authors: Wang Yan , Apostolou Menelaos , Peng Xiaofan
Published: February 2024

Parents want daughters- and sons-in-law who are similar to their children, and children want spouses who are similar to themselves. In turn, the question arises: Do parents agree among themselves on how much similarity they desire in their prospective in-laws concerning their children? Moreover, do parents and children agree on the level of similarity they desire in an in-law and a spouse, respectively? Furthermore, to exercise an in-law preference for similarity, parents need to assess how their children score in traits deemed desirable in a spouse. This raises the question of whether mothers and fathers perceive their children similarly, and whether they perceive their children in the same way their children perceive themselves in these traits. The current study aimed to address these questions using a sample of 356 families from China, focusing on four desirable traits: good looks, good providers, good economic prospects, and good family background. Our results indicated that parents preferred sons- and daughters-in-law who were similar to their children, and mothers and fathers concurred on the level of similarity they desired between their children and their in-laws. Additionally, parents desired as much similarity between their children and their in-laws as their children desired between themselves and their spouses. Furthermore, we found that mothers and fathers concurred on how they perceive their children across the four desirable traits. Finally, both parents scored their children higher in these traits than their children scored themselves.
Deep exponential excitation networks: toward stronger attention mechanism for weak fault diagnosis
Authors: Zhong Baihong , Zhao Minghang , Zhong Shisheng , Lin Lin , Zhang Yongjian
Published: February 2024

Considering that large mechanical equipment often has various excitation sources, the signals generated by these excitation sources are often not simply added or multiplied together, but nonlinearly mixed, which exhibit complex non-stationary characteristics, making classical algorithms difficult to extract fault features. Especially when faults just occur, the fault symptom is often weak and submerged by noise, resulting in low diagnosing accuracy. Accordingly, this article develops a new deep attention method, namely deep exponential excitation networks, which improves diagnosing performance by amplifying important information, that is, the discriminative information between normal and weak fault conditions. The developed method introduces an exponential function into the attention mechanism, yielding a stronger focus on important features. Here, our “stronger” means that the attention mechanism has larger weights, and wider weight ranges, which are achieved via three paradigms of exponential excitation blocks. Meanwhile, the weights are automatically learned in deep networks, which can adaptively amplify the information related to early weak faults according to different severities of faults. Finally, extensive experiments on the marine engine datasets containing different noises demonstrate the effectiveness of the developed method.
Understanding student perceptions and motivations in non-traditional online degree completion programs: An exploratory case study
Authors: Watson Susan , Fulton Kara , Ketron Seth
Published: February 2024

Student enrolment in higher education is increasing, as are enrolments in non-traditional pathways, such as degree completion programs, particularly those that are offered online. These changes have shifted the nature of student learning needs and perceptions. Therefore, stakeholders in higher education need a greater understanding of the drivers and obstacles to degree completion from the student point of view, especially in online degree completion programs. Beyond overall and subgroup insights into online degree seeking motivations and other factors, our findings revealed that (1) there is a mismatch between student goals and perceived employer needs, (2) many students expected modest financial gains upon completion, and (3) the primary barrier of continuing higher education was balancing education and life responsibilities. The findings are useful for administrators, faculty, and other stakeholders involved in the recruitment of online degree completion program students and the design of online courses and curricula for this audience.
Campus Voting During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: McDonald Michael , Shino Enrijeta , Smith Daniel A. , Lussier Payton , Dietz Danielle
Published: February 2024

How did the pandemic impact turnout of young voters living in university communities? Leveraging the mandatory vacating of Florida college students living on campuses and drawing on administrative data from Florida’s voter file, we argue that on-campus registered young voters who had to leave their university housing in the days prior to Florida’s 2020 Presidential Preference Primary (PPP) were less likely to turn out compared to adjacent off-campus young voters because they lost the opportunity to cast early in-person and Election Day ballots. Using a difference-in-differences (DiD) design, we find that on-campus students, in part because they had early and Election Day voting available to them on campus in the 2020 general election, were more likely than comparable off-campus student-aged registered voters to cast ballots in the November election. Our study has important implications for academic debates concerning the turnout effects of convenience voting reforms and the ability of voters to cast ballots prior to Election Day.
Effectiveness of APG and Honey Gauze in Pressure Injury of Elderly: A Randomized Control Trial
Authors: Xu Lulu , Wang Xinmeng , Wu Yongmei , Zhang Zhen , Li Xiafei , Zhang Jie
Published: February 2024

This study was designed to evaluate the efficiency of the combination of autologous platelet-rich plasma gel (APG) and Manuka honey gauze in the treatment of Stages 3–4 pressure injury of older adults. Patients were divided into four groups: Manuka honey gauze and APG (M + A), Manuka honey gauze (M), APG (A), and a control group (C). Different treatments were given, then wound bed coverage with granulation tissue, wound size reduction, and Pressure Ulcer Scale for Healing (PUSH) score were examined. Paraffin-embedded sections of wound tissues were analyzed and wound swab cultures were assessed. Kruskal–Wallis test and Mann–Whitney U test were performed in statistical analysis at a 5% significance level. A total of 42 patients were accepted. Significant increase of wound bed coverage with granulation tissue (51.24%, P = .004, Kruskal–Wallis test) and decrease of PUSH score (−5) were observed in the M + A group at the end of the observation ( P = .032, Mann–Whitney U test). The hematoxylin–eosin staining of wound tissues showed that typical squamous epithelium was seen in wound bed of patient in M + A group. Manuka honey gauze and APG were proved to be superior treatments for pressure injury of old patient. Increase of granulation tissue coverage, reduction of PUSH score, and improved growth of epithelium were observed in M + A group. There was no side-effect, and the treatment would not cause infection.
From Mammy to Big Mama: Caring for Collections on Our Own Terms
Authors: Jackson Kayla T.
Published: February 2024

Hallie Q. Brown Community Center (the Center) began as a settlement house in 1929. It has and continues to serve the predominately Black neighborhood, commonly known as Rondo, in Saint Paul, MN. I am the first professional archivist hired by the Center and, as such, I was the first to establish workflows, implement standards, and provide easy access to the Center’s archival collections. Yet, I was trained to be an archivist by white people at predominately white institutions and have learned over time that not all the frameworks, ideas, and expectations impressed upon me apply in community archives which serve Black people. In this paper I will discuss the underappreciated social and emotional labors involved in being a Black woman in charge of a community archive, which serves a historically Black community, and was initially led by Black women. I will explore aspects of internal colonialism, catalog description, and efforts in community collaboration and outreach as it relates to collections entrusted to the Hallie Q. Brown Community Archives (HQBCA). This paper will offer a vignette into the journey of a professional serving the majority as a minority in collections care, to serving an underrepresented community as a fellow member of a marginalized group.
Dorothy Shepherd and the Cleveland Museum of Art’s Ancient Near Eastern and Islamic Art Collection
Authors: Hanson Robin , Witchey Holly
Published: February 2024

Dorothy Shepherd (1916–1992), a scholar of Ancient Near Eastern and Islamic art, helped lay the groundwork for scholarship in her field during a period when curatorial work and scholarship was dominated by men. She attended the University of Michigan and after graduation was appointed assistant curator of decoration at the Cooper Union Museum, New York. During World War II Shepherd served in the newly formed Monuments, Fine Arts, and Archives Section of the United States military and in 1947 was appointed associate curator of textiles at the Cleveland Museum of Art (CMA); she retired from the CMA in 1981. During Shepherd’s tenure, the CMA acquired textiles and Islamic objects, and organized textile exhibitions showcasing Cleveland’s collection; Shepherd also authored numerous publications. In addition, Shepherd produced a significant but as yet unpublished catalog of 280 Islamic textiles in Cleveland’s collection. All of this is evidence of a noteworthy career that deserves further study and recognition.
Integration of artificial intelligence and augmented reality for assisted detection of textile defects
Authors: Servi Michaela , Magherini Roberto , Buonamici Francesco , Volpe Yary , Furferi Rocco
Published: February 2024

The Fourth Industrial Revolution conceptualizes the rapid change of industries resulting from the convergence of technologies such as artificial intelligence, genetic editing, and advanced robotics that enable increasing interconnectivity and machines that can analyze and diagnosing problems without human intervention, through intelligent automation. In this scenario, the use of augmented reality technologies is of great interest. The paper aims to explore the use of augmented reality in support of traditional inspections for assisting textile experts in fabric defect detection. The contribution of this study consists of three main phases, necessary for the future development of the system: (1) the analysis of possible automatic defect detection techniques; (2) the analysis of hardware solutions for the realization of a system based on important criteria such as operator comfort, system footprint, and so on; (3) the proposal of a possible comprehensive solution. Considering these aspects this paper identifies and investigate the best scenario for the introduction of artificial intelligence and augmented reality technologies to help the operator in the detection of textile defects.
Finite element solution of crack-tip fields for an elastic porous solid with density-dependent material moduli and preferential stiffness
Authors: Yoon Hyun C. , Mallikarjunaiah S. M. , Bhatta Dambaru
Published: February 2024

In this paper, the finite element solutions of crack-tip fields for an elastic porous solid with density-dependent material moduli are presented. Unlike the classical linearized case in which material parameters are globally constant under a small strain regime, the stiffness of the model presented in this paper can depend upon the density with a modeling parameter. The proposed constitutive relationship appears linear in the Cauchy stress and linearized strain independently. From a subclass of the implicit constitutive relation, the governing equation is bestowed via the balance of linear momentum, resulting in a quasi-linear partial differential equation (PDE) system. Using the classical damped Newton’s method, the sequence of linear problems is then obtained, and the linear PDEs are discretized through a bilinear continuous Galerkin-type finite element method. We perform a series of numerical simulations for material bodies with a single edge-crack subject to a variety of loading types (i.e. the pure mode-I, II, and mixed-mode). Numerical solutions demonstrate that the modeling parameter in our proposed model can control preferential mechanical stiffness with its sign and magnitude along with the change of volumetric strain. This study can provide a mathematical and computational foundation to further model the quasi-static and dynamic evolution of cracks, utilizing the density-dependent moduli model and its modeling framework.
Extra-anatomic bypass procedures for severe aortoiliac occlusive disease—A cohort study
Authors: Galyfos George , Charalampopoulos Georgios , Chamzin Alexandros , Triantafillou Alexandra , Michalopoulou Victoria , Intzes Nikolaos , Kimpizi Despina , Zarmakoupis Konstantinos , Sigala Frangiska , Filis Konstantinos
Published: February 2024

Objectives

Extra-anatomic bypass (ExAB) grafting has been questioned due its inferior durability compared to anatomic bypass for aortoiliac occlusive disease (AIOD). This study aims to present early and late outcomes of patients treated with ExAB as well as to evaluate potential prognostic factors.

Methods

This is a retrospective cohort study presenting a series of patients treated with ExAB for AIOD. All patients were treated between 2005 and 2022 within the Vascular Surgery Unit of a University Surgery Clinic. Both early (30-day) and late outcomes were evaluated. Univariate and multivariate analyses were conducted for potential predictors. Kaplan–Meier curve was produced for long-term patency.

Results

A total of 41 patients were treated (85.3% males; mean age: 76.3 ± 4.2 years). Indication for treatment included severe claudication or critical limb ischemia (Rutherford stages III–VI). The following procedures were recorded: Femorofemoral bypass (FFB; n = 21) and axillofemoral bypass (AxFB; n = 20). All procedures were conducted using synthetic grafts with external rings. Early outcomes included no death, no myocardial infarction, no major bleeding, no graft infection, and no major amputation. Regarding late outcomes, 14.6% patients were lost after the first month. For the rest of patients ( n = 35), five-year primary patency was 88.6%, primary-assisted patency was 94.3%, and secondary patency was also 94.3%. Limb salvage was 100% within follow-up. Endarterectomy at the distal anastomosis was the only independent predictor associated with worse patency in the long-term (OR = 5.356; 95% CI (1.012–185.562); p = .041).

Conclusions

FFB and AxFB is a safe and durable strategy for treating patients with severe AIOD where no other option is feasible. Regarding predictors, only endarterectomy at the distal anastomosis site was associated with an increased risk for graft failure.
A neuro-fuzzy modular system for modeling nonlinear systems
Authors: Turki Amina , Chtourou Mohamed
Published: February 2024

The real world is nonlinear and in the control application field, this aspect needs to be resolved to build models so we need to refer to nonlinear system modeling techniques. Neuro-fuzzy systems and modular neural networks (NNs) are among the best modeling approaches for nonlinear systems. The combined features of both approaches provide better models. Thus, we propose in this paper a neuro-fuzzy modular architecture for modeling nonlinear systems. The modular architecture consists of dividing a nonlinear problem into several simpler subproblems. We assigned to each subproblem an NN. Each NN provides individual solutions that will be combined to provide a general solution to the original problem. In this respect, the decomposition of the original problem is based on a fuzzy decision mechanism. This mechanism consists of a set of fuzzy rules for processing nonlinear problems using two different strategies. The first involves training only the network weights, and the second adds the fuzzy set parameters to the training step. A comparative study of both strategies reveals the competence of the second strategy in providing better accuracy and simplicity. Using the neuro-fuzzy combination among the modular NNs reduces the complexity of the original problem and achieves much better performance. The proposed architecture is evaluated by two second-order nonlinear systems, a numerical system and a real system called “the chemical reactor,” which is used to carry out a chemical reaction not only in chemical and biochemical engineering, but also in the petrochemical industry. For both systems, the proposed approach provides better performance in terms of the learning time, learning error, and number of neurons.
Anti-NMDA-receptor encephalitis and concurrent neuroborreliosis misdiagnosed for post-COVID-19-syndrome: a case report
Authors: Brummer Tobias , Lotz Johannes , Dresel Christian , Birklein Frank
Published: February 2024

We present a case of a 42-year-old woman with paraneoplastic anti-N-Methyl-D-Aspartat (NMDA)-receptor encephalitis and concurrent neuroborreliosis that was initially misdiagnosed as post-COVID-19 syndrome. Clinically, the patient presented with a range of chronic and subacute neuropsychiatric symptoms and recalled a tick bite weeks prior to admission. The patient had undergone psychiatric and complementary medical treatments for 1 year before admission and was initially diagnosed with post-COVID-19 syndrome. Admission was performed because of acute worsening with fever, confusion, and unsteady gait. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) analysis revealed pleocytosis with elevated borrelia Immunoglobulin M (IgM) and Immunoglobulin M (IgG) CSF/blood antibody indices, indicating acute neuroborreliosis. Anti-NMDA receptor antibodies were identified in the CSF via a cell-based assay and were confirmed by an external laboratory. Other paraneoplastic antibodies were ruled out during in-house examination. Cranial Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed basal meningitis, rhomb- and limbic encephalitis. A subsequent pelvic Computer tomography (CT) scan identified an ovarian teratoma. The patient’s clinical condition improved dramatically with antibiotic treatment and plasmapheresis, the teratoma was surgically removed and she was started on rituximab. Our case highlights that amidst the prevailing focus on COVID-19-related health concerns, other well-established, but rare neurological conditions should not be neglected. Furthermore, our case illustrates that patients may suffer from multiple, concurrent, yet pathophysiologically unrelated neuroinflammatory conditions.
Multifunctional Analysis of Banana Leaves Extracts for Dyeing Properties of Pima Cotton Fabric Using Different Mordants
Authors: Ain Qurat ul , Nazli Zill-i-Huma , Aslam Maryam , Zafar Imran , Afridi Hassan Imran , Unar Ahsanullah , Jamshaid Muhammad , ur-Rehman Rizwan- , Shoukat Waseem , Mouada Hanane , Dabiellil Fakhreldeen , Bourhia Mohammed , Alsahli Abdulaziz Abdullah
Published: February 2024

Introduction

Natural dyes have become very important for decades based on their extensive properties compared to synthetic dyes. Pima cotton was dyed with natural dyes derived from plants using mordants, a crucial step in modern industry.

Objective

This study explores the efficacy of banana leaf-extracted natural dyes with mordants in dyeing Pima cotton, examining color properties, chemical attributes, and fastness while exploring the potential for industrial applications.

Methods

In this study, banana leaf extracts were utilized for dyeing Pima cotton with mordants. The investigation assessed the multifunctional properties of alkaline and acetone using UV-Vis and FTIR or analyzed the dyed fabric's UPF. Applied to pre-mordanted Pima cotton, our dye interacts with various mordants like ferrous sulfate (Fe2SO4), copper sulfate (CuSO4), and potassium dichromate (K2Cr2O7). Factors influencing dye fixation on Pima cotton, including cellulose and mordants, were examined. Treated and untreated fabric samples were tested for tensile strength and elongation. Dyeing performance was assessed using color parameters (K/S, L*, a*, b*, ΔE) using the Kubelka–Munk equation and fastness properties, with consistent results compared to standard protocols.

Results

The study on natural dye extraction from banana leaves has yielded promising outcomes, showcasing the effectiveness of mordants in dye fixation on cotton. The results demonstrate high tensile strength, color strength, and fastness properties in the dyed Pima cotton samples. Statistical analysis highlighted the nuanced relationship between mordants and dyes. The study's comprehensive approach, UV-Vis and FTIR analyses, dyeing temperature optimization, and phytochemical screening, confirming the presence of flavonoids, saponins, alkaloids, and other bioactive compounds, positions banana leaf extracts as a sustainable and versatile resource for eco-friendly textile practices, offering a compelling alternative to synthetic dyes.

Conclusion

The study reveals Pima cotton's promising potential for eco-friendly dyeing, optimizing cost, time, and space for future sustainable textile applications.
Isolation and Identification of Anti-Inflammatory Active Components from Asparagi Radix cochinchinensis Based on HPLC-CAD and UPLC-Q/TOF-MS Techniques
Authors: Lei Yan , Wang Bing , Zhu Guanglin , Feng Guo , Li Wei , Han Caiyao , Qin Qian , Yu Xie-an , Song Xueli , He Zhengyan , Zhang Ju , Su Hongmei , Wang Wenjing
Published: February 2024

Background: In the research of the pharmacological activity of modern Chinese medicine, a large number of traditional Chinese medicines show anti-inflammatory activity. Asparagi radix is one of the anti-inflammatory drugs. With the deepening of people's research on Asparagi radix, its anti-inflammatory pharmacological effects have been gradually explored, but its specific anti-inflammatory active ingredients are still unclear. Therefore, it is necessary to screen and identify its specific anti-inflammatory active ingredients from Asparagi radix. At present, COX-2 is an important target for the treatment of chronic inflammation, and many drugs targeting this target have been marketed. However, some drugs have serious side effects, so it is very meaningful to study new COX-2 inhibitors. Methods: In this experiment, the fractions of different time periods are separated by high performance liquid chromatography-separation-trapping system (HPLC-CAD-FC). Then, ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole time-of-flight/mass spectrometry (UPLC-Q-TOF/MS) and biological activity analysis techniques are used to identify the chemical composition and in vitro anti-inflammatory activity of each fraction. Finally, the data is integrated to screen out the substances with potential anti-inflammatory activity in Asparagi radix. Results: The results showed that the method established in this experiment can successfully isolate the active components of Asparagi radix, and four saponins with potential anti-inflammatory activity are identified. Conclusion: In summary, the analysis method established in this study can quickly and effectively screen out its anti-inflammatory active substances, and its potential anti-inflammatory active ingredients are mainly steroidal saponins.
Ankle Injury Prevention Programs for Youth Sports: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis
Authors: Berkey Ryan , Sunesara Afsar , Allen Lindsay , Pontiff Ryan , DeVries Alison , Fisher Steve R.
Published: February 2024

Context:

Previous research has demonstrated that using a multicomponent approach to ankle injury preventions can significantly reduce ankle injuries; however, these studies lack specific intervention recommendations.

Objective:

To evaluate the exercise components of prevention programs on ankle injuries specifically in high school athletes. Secondary objectives were to assess the overall effectiveness of prevention programs on ankle injuries in this population and how compliance and education may impact success.

Data Sources:

A total of 5 databases were searched through September 26, 2022.

Study Selection:

Study inclusion criteria included randomized control trials (RCTs) investigating exercise interventions in high school athletes aged 13 to 19 years, participation in sports competition, reporting of injury incidence, and specific exercise interventions used.

Study Design:

Systematic review and meta-analysis.

Level of Evidence:

Level 1.

Data Extraction:

Pooled overall ankle injury incidence rate ratio and 95% CIs were calculated using random-effects meta-analysis.

Results:

A total of 10 studies were included, of which 9 used multicomponent exercise interventions and 1 used only balance training. Of the 10 studies, 3 demonstrated statistically significant reduction in ankle injuries. When data from all 10 studies were pooled and analyzed, there was a statistically significant overall reduction (incidence rate ratio, 0.74; 95% CI 0.60-0.91) in ankle injuries when comparing intervention groups with controls.

Conclusion:

The most effective injury prevention programs included multiple components, emphasized strengthening and agility exercises, and promoted high adherence to the intervention. The importance of coach and player education on how and why to perform an injury prevention program as well as the frequency and duration of programs was also important. Exercise-based injury prevention programs may reduce ankle injury incidence in youth athletes by 26% when pooling data from a multitude of sport types/settings.
The Statistical Fragility of Marrow Stimulation for Cartilage Defects of the Knee: A Systematic Review of Randomized Controlled Trials
Authors: Yendluri Avanish , Alexanian Ara , Chari Rohit R. , Corvi John J. , Namiri Nikan K. , Song Junho , Alaia Michael J. , Li Xinning , Parisien Robert L.
Published: February 2024

Objective

Marrow stimulation is used to address knee cartilage defects. In this study, we used the fragility index (FI), reverse fragility index (rFI), and fragility quotient (FQ) to evaluate statistical fragility of outcomes reported in randomized controlled trials (RCTs) evaluating marrow stimulation.

Design

PubMed, Embase, and MEDLINE were queried for recent RCTs (January 1, 2010-September 5, 2023) assessing marrow stimulation for cartilage defects of the knee. The FI and rFI were calculated as the number of outcome event reversals required to alter statistical significance for significant and nonsignificant outcomes, respectively. The FQ was determined by dividing the FI by the study sample size.

Results

Across 155 total outcomes from 21 RCTs, the median FI was 3 (interquartile range [IQR], 2-5), with an associated median FQ of 0.067 (IQR, 0.033-0.010). Thirty-two outcomes were statistically significant, with a median FI of 2 (IQR, 1-3.25) and FQ of 0.050 (IQR, 0.025-0.069). Ten of the 32 (31.3%) outcomes reported as statistically significant had an FI of 1. In total, 123 outcomes were nonsignificant, with a median rFI of 3 (IQR, 2-5). Studies assessing stem cell augments were the most fragile, with a median FI of 2. In 55.5% of outcomes, the number of patients lost to follow-up was greater than or equal to the FI.

Conclusion

Statistical findings in RCTs evaluating marrow stimulation for cartilage defects of the knee are statistically fragile. We recommend combined reporting of P-values with FI and FQ metrics to aid in the interpretation of clinical findings in comparative trials assessing cartilage restoration.
The use of a train-the-trainer model to educate non-dental healthcare professionals for oral care
Authors: Foo Lean Heong , Yap Xin Ying , Yang Jingrong
Published: February 2024

Background: Associations between oral health and systemic conditions have been well established in recent literature. Improvements in oral hygiene have consistently shown to significantly reduce the incidence of respiratory infections, which has high morbidity and mortality rates in the frail elderly. However, the simple low-cost intervention of good oral care remains overlooked in healthcare institutions and nursing homes, due to limited awareness and knowledge. Previous efforts for oral care training of non-dental healthcare professionals have been largely sporadic, with little impact and reach to the medical fraternity.

Purpose: To overcome these challenges, we utilized a train-the-trainer model, where seven senior nurses from the long-term stay wards of a public community hospital were educated on the importance of good oral health and trained to administer a comprehensive oral care protocol in patients requiring assistance. The Oral Health Education Programme (OHEP) consisted of a full-day workshop on Common Dental Conditions, Oral Health Assessment Technique (OHAT), and oral hygiene instruction for normal and assisted tooth brushing in independent and mechanically ventilated patients respectively.

Results: Majority of the nurses felt that the training was effective and applicable to their work. The number of patients with chronic respiratory infections in the wards were reduced after commencement of OHEP.

Conclusion: This interprofessional education collaboration using the train-the-trainer model provides a standardized curriculum, while allowing autonomy for the trainers to customize modules relevant to their respective institutions. This partnership model between medical nurses and oral health professionals allows for better sustainability of the programme.