bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Wartości moralne zawarte w kodeksie etyki zawodowej pielęgniarki i położnej RP w świetle medycznych modeli komunikacyjnych
Authors: Szabat Marta
Published: August 2021

Introduction. The practical realization of moral values contained in the code of professional ethics for nursing (such as: respect for the patient, care for their dignity, intimacy, reliable completion of professional duties) is an integral part of nurses’ professional practice and involves picking a specific, individually tailored model of communicating with patients. Appropriate communication significantly affects the quality of nursing care.
Aim. Assessment of the feasibility of moral values contained in the code of professional ethics in the context of individual models of communication (taking into account the following models: biomedical, holistic, humanistic).
Material and Methodology. Hermeneutical method, whereby through a comparative analysis of the content of the code of professional ethics for nurses and midwives in Poland with the assumptions of specific communication models confirms the theory that a relationship between nursing staff and patients may become a basis for building nursing professional competence based on medical expertise.
Results. The biomedical model is rarely referred to in the code of professional ethics. The best expressions of moral values are the humanistic and holistic models. In the humanistic model, nursing staff can have a relationship with a patient and can demonstrate an empathetic attitude as well as introduce elements of conversation to the interview – a reference to the Special Parts of the Code, I. Nurse/midwife and patient, paragraphs 1-2, 7-8. In the holistic model, nursing staff and the patient are one another’s partners and their relationships are based on responsibility, maturity, respect for dignity and autonomy. This assumption corresponds to the point 3-6, 9 of the Special Parts of the Code, I. Nurse/midwife and patient.
Conclusions. The moral values contained in the text of the code of professional ethics for nurses and midwives in Poland can be realized most fully in humanistic and holistic models.
A brief overview of fetal alcohol syndrome for health professionals
Authors: Kruithof Peter , Ban Sasha
Published: August 2021

Fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) and fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASDs) are caused by prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE). They cause epigenetic changes, permanent neurodevelopmental deficits, and anomalies in growth and facial structure. This article enforces the need for health and social care professionals to have a greater understanding and awareness of how FAS and FASD may impact on the individual, the family and the community, to enable them to provide the most effective preventive and supportive care possible.
Sepsis knowledge, skills and attitudes among ward-based nurses
Authors: Edwards Eirian , Jones Lorelei
Published: August 2021

Background:

Nurses are in a prime position to identify sepsis early by screening patients for sepsis, a skill that should be embedded into their daily practice. However, compliance with the sepsis bundle remains low.

Aims:

To explore the effects of sepsis training on knowledge, skills and attitude among ward-based nurses.

Methods:

Registered nurses from 16 acute surgical and medical wards were invited to anonymously complete a questionnaire.

Findings:

Response rate was 39% (98/250). Nurses with sepsis training had better knowledge of the National Early Warning Score 2 for sepsis screening, and the systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) criteria, demonstrated a more positive attitude towards sepsis screening and management, were more confident in screening patients for sepsis and more likely to have screened a patient for sepsis.

Conclusions:

Sepsis training improves nurses' attitudes, knowledge and confidence with regards to sepsis screening and management, resulting in adherence to evidence-based care, and should become mandatory for all clinical staff.
Prevention and management of moisture-associated skin damage
Authors: Voegeli David , Hillery Sarah
Published: August 2021

Disruption to the integrity of the skin can reduce patient wellbeing and quality of life. A major cause of skin breakdown is prolonged exposure to moisture, but this is often overlooked. When skin is wet, it becomes more susceptible to damage from friction and shearing forces, and skin flora can penetrate the disrupted barrier, causing further irritation and inflammation. If untreated, moisture-associated skin damage (MASD) can rapidly lead to excoriation and skin breakdown. MASD includes incontinence-associated dermatitis (IAD), which is caused by prolonged skin exposure to urine and stool, particularly liquid stool. For patients at a high risk of developing IAD, preventive measures should be instituted as soon as possible. The main one is to prevent excessive contact of the skin with moisture. Optimal skin care should be provided to patients with any form of MASD. It should be based on a structured regimen and include the use of a gentle skin cleanser, a barrier product and moisturiser. Derma Protective Plus is a liquid barrier that gives long-lasting protection against chafing or ingress of urine and stool into the skin. This product is less greasy than others, and provides a barrier and a healing environment, with resistance to further maceration from IAD or persistent loose stools.
Modal description of paraxial structured light propagation: tutorial
Authors: Sroor Hend , Moodley Chane , Rodríguez-Fajardo Valeria , Zhan Qiwen , Forbes Andrew
Published: August 2021

Here we outline a description of paraxial light propagation from a modal perspective. By decomposing the initial transverse field into a spatial basis whose elements have known and analytical propagation characteristics, we are able to analytically propagate any desired field, making the calculation fast and easy. By selecting a basis other than that of planes waves, we overcome the problem of numerical artifacts in the angular spectrum approach and at the same time are able to offer an intuitive understanding for why certain classes of fields propagate as they do. We outline the concept theoretically, compare it to the numerical angular spectrum approach, and confirm its veracity experimentally using a range of instructive examples. We believe that this modal approach to propagating light will be a useful addition to the toolbox for propagating optical fields.
Rigorous FM-EDF design with an oversized two-layer erbium ion distribution for C-band DMG mitigation
Authors: Zeng Yan , Fang Yihong , Qin Yuwen , Xu Ou , Li Jianping , Fu Songnian
Published: August 2021

We present a rigorous design of few-mode erbium doping fiber (FM-EDF) with an oversized two-layer erbium ion distribution at the central region with effective differential modal gain (DMG) mitigation over the C-band. The proposed erbium doping distribution allows for a similar overlapping integral value among the guided modes, leading to a signal gain equalization over the C-band. When the length of the proposed FM-EDF is 8 m under the cladding pumping power of 2.5 W, our calculated results reveal that four linearly polarized (LP)-modes can achieve an average gain per mode of 24.8 dB and a typical DMG of less than 0.64 dB over the C-band. Meanwhile, we carry out numerical simulations to explore the fabrication tolerance of the oversized two-layer erbium doping distribution with respect to the DMG, indicating stable DMG mitigation over the C-band. We believe that such new manipulation of erbium doping distribution is helpful for the multiple-dimensional multiplexing of fiber optical transmission.
Compensation of EUV lithography mask blank defect based on an advanced genetic algorithm
Authors: Wu Ruixuan , Dong Lisong , Ma Xu , Wei Yayi
Published: August 2021

Mask blank defect is one of the most important factors that degrades the image quality of extreme ultraviolet (EUV) lithography system, and further leads to a yield lose. In order to compensate the amplitude and phase distortions caused by the EUV mask blank defects, this paper proposes an advanced algorithm to optimize the mask absorber pattern based on genetic algorithm. First, a successive approximation correction method is used to roughly compensate the effect of mask blank defect. Then, an advanced genetic algorithm is proposed to obtain higher efficiency and compensation accuracy, which uses an adaptive coding strategy and a fitness function considering normalized image log slope of lithography image. For illustration, the proposed method is verified based on rectangular contact patterns and complex pattern with different defects. The aerial images of optimized masks are evaluated by a commercial lithography simulator. It will show that the proposed method can mitigate the impact of mask defects, and improve the fidelity of lithography print image. The simulation results also demonstrate the higher convergence efficiency and mask manufacturability can be guaranteed by the proposed method.
Annual energy yield of mono- and bifacial silicon heterojunction solar modules with high-index dielectric nanodisk arrays as anti-reflective and light trapping structures
Authors: Slivina Evgeniia , Bätzner Derk , Schmager Raphael , Langenhorst Malte , Lehr Jonathan , Paetzold Ulrich W. , Lemmer Uli , Rockstuhl Carsten
Published: August 2021

While various nanophotonic structures applicable to relatively thin crystalline silicon-based solar cells were proposed to ensure effective light in-coupling and light trapping in the absorber, it is of great importance to evaluate their performance on the solar module level under realistic irradiation conditions. Here, we analyze the annual energy yield of relatively thin (crystalline silicon (c-Si) wafer thickness between 5 μm and 80 μm) heterojunction (HJT) solar module architectures when optimized anti-reflective and light trapping titanium dioxide (TiO2) nanodisk square arrays are applied on the front and rear cell interfaces, respectively. Our numerical study shows that upon reducing c-Si wafer thickness down to 5 μm, the relative increase of the annual energy yield can go up to 23.3 %rel and 43.0 %rel for mono- and bifacial solar modules, respectively, when compared to the reference modules with flat optimized anti-reflective coatings of HJT solar cells.
Multicore fiber integrated beam shaping devices for long-range plasmonic trapping
Authors: Wang Mingjie , Guan Chunying , Cheng Lin , Liu Jing , Yang Jing , Shi Jinhui , Liu Zhihai , Yang Jun , Yuan Libo
Published: August 2021

The multicore fiber beam shaping devices based on surface plasmon polaritons (SPPs) have been proposed and demonstrated. The gold film is covered on the end face of the optical fiber. An air slit is perforated in the center of each core and the gratings with a fixed period are designed on the gold film on one side of the slit to obtain a deflected beam. Multiple deflected beams based on the multicore fiber interfere and form a periodic field, where the period of the interference field is determined by the deflection angle of the beams and the spacing between the cores. The interference field of the multiple deflected beams can be used to trap the nanosphere. The Maxwell stress tensor method is used to calculate the transverse and longitudinal trapping forces on a nanosphere. The nanosphere can be stably trapped at 45 μm away from the end face of the fiber. Such an all-fiber trapping system is compact and flexible integration, and is promising for long-working-distance and multiple-particle trapping.
Plasmonic heptamer-arranged nanoholes in a gold film on the end-facet of a photonic crystal fiber
Authors: Suleman Hamid , Hajebifard Akram , Hahn Choloong , Olivieri Anthony , Berini Pierre
Published: August 2021

We use the end-facet of a solid-core polarization-maintaining photonic crystal fiber (PM-PCF) as a platform on which to fabricate resonant plasmonic nanostructures. Solid-core PM-PCFs can be excited in a polarization-aligned single mode by supercontinuum light, so they are well-suited to the wavelength-interrogation of resonant plasmonic nanostructures, especially supporting complex spectra over a broad spectral range. The nanostructures implemented consist of an array of heptamer-arranged nanoholes formed in a thin Au film. The nanoholes were milled with a

H
e

+

focused ion beam, with the array polarization-aligned in situ to cover the solid core of the PM-PCF. Transmittance spectra, measured using a supercontinuum source coupled to the input of the PM-PCF, reveal a rich set of Fano resonances associated with localized and propagating surface plasmons. The measured spectra are compared to computations in order to identify the resonant modes. The spectra redshift as the medium covering the nanoholes changes from air to oil, anticipating application to sensing.
Exposure response coefficient of polarization-sensitive media using tensor theory of polarization holography
Authors: Wang Jinyu , Qi Peiliang , Lin Ayuan , Chen Yuxin , Zhang Yuanying , Huang Zhiyun , Tan Xiaodi , Kuroda Kazuo
Published: August 2021

We report a method for measuring the exposure response coefficient of
polarization-sensitive media using the tensor theory of polarization
holography. According to the theory of polarization holography based
on the tensor method, the exposure response coefficient of
polarization-sensitive media is not only determined by the materials
but also affected by the exposure energy. The exposure response
coefficient changing with the exposure energy is the key factor in
polarization holography for controlling the polarization state of the
reconstructed wave. We summarize the change of the polarization state
of the reconstructed wave with the exposure energy under different
recording conditions and obtain the initial value (about 8.4) of the
exposure response coefficient of the polarization-sensitive media.
Finally, the null reconstruction of linear polarization wave is
realized by using this initial value.
Super-resolution technique for dense 3D reconstruction in fringe projection profilometry
Authors: Yao Pengcheng , Gai Shaoyan , Da Feipeng
Published: August 2021

Fringe projection profilometry (FPP) is one of the most widely used 3D reconstruction techniques. A higher-resolution fringe pattern produces a more detailed and accurate 3D point cloud, which is critical for 3D sensing. However, there is no effective way to achieve FPP super-resolution except by using greater hardware. Therefore, this Letter proposes a dual-dense block super-resolution network (DdBSRN) to extend the fringe resolution and reconstruct a high-definition 3D shape. Especially, a novel dual-dense block structure is designed and embedded into a multi-path structure to fully utilize the local layers and fuse multiple discrete sinusoidal signals. Furthermore, a fully functional DdBSRN can be obtained even when training with a smaller data sample. Experiments demonstrate that the proposed DdBSRN method is stable and robust, and that it outperforms standard interpolation methods in terms of accuracy and 3D details.
Coherence gate manipulation for enhanced imaging through scattering media by non-ballistic light in partially coherent interferometric systems
Authors: Ďuriš Miroslav , Chmelík Radim
Published: August 2021

Coherence gating is typically exploited for imaging through disordered media by least-scattered (ballistic) light. Ballistic light-based approaches produce clear images only when the proportion of ballistic to multiply scattered (non-ballistic) light is relatively high. To overcome this limitation, we counterintuitively utilize the coherence gate to image by the non-ballistic light, enabling us to retrieve information missing in the ballistic image. We show that non-ballistic images acquired by transversal coherence gate shifting have image quality and spatial resolution comparable to the ballistic image. Combining images for different coherence gate positions, we synthesize an image of quality superior to ballistic light approaches. We experimentally demonstrate our concept on quantitative phase imaging through biological tissue.
Direct measurement of pulse wave propagation in capillaries of the human retina
Authors: Bedggood Phillip , Metha Andrew
Published: August 2021

With each contraction of the heart’s left ventricle, a pulse pressure wave surges into the aorta and propagates throughout the vascular tree. The pulse wave drives blood flow forward. Its passage is complex, but it passes more quickly through non-compliant, or stiff, vessels, providing an important signpost of cardiovascular disease. The transparent media of the eye allow direct and non-invasive measurement of this phenomenon within the microvasculature of neural tissue. However, previous estimates differ over three orders of magnitude. Here, we used high spatiotemporal resolution adaptive optics imaging to directly track the pulse wave within individual retinal capillaries in three human subjects. Across 74 unique capillary segments, pulse wave velocity averaged

6.4

±

0.5

m
m

/

s
e
c

(

m
e
a
n

±

S
E
M

). There was large variation between vessels; the slowest pulse wave was at most 0.8 mm/sec and the fastest at least 17.6 mm/sec. In 44% of vessels, the pulse wave traveled upstream, in the opposite direction to flow, suggesting wave reflection from downstream collecting junctions.
kW-level monolithic single-mode narrow-linewidth all-solid photonic bandgap fiber amplifier
Authors: Pulford Benjamin , Holten Roger , Matniyaz Turghun , Kalichevsky-Dong Monica T. , Hawkins Thomas W. , Dong Liang
Published: August 2021

Further power scaling of narrow-linewidth fiber lasers is critical for beam combining. Using all-solid photonic bandgap fibers with large effective mode areas and strong higher-order-mode suppression is an interesting approach. Previously, we demonstrated

∼

400

W

single-frequency single-mode power at 1064 nm from a 50/400 photonic bandgap fiber amplifier, limited only by transverse mode instability (TMI). In this work, we demonstrate a TMI-limited single-mode power of 1.37 kW from a monolithic fiber amplifier with a 25/400 photonic bandgap fiber, the highest output power from a photonic bandgap fiber demonstrated to date, to the best of our knowledge. The spectral linewidth is broadened to

∼

8

G
H
z

to suppress stimulated Brillouin scattering.
Spectral–temporal channeled spectropolarimetry using deep-learning-based adaptive filtering
Authors: Li Qiwei , Song Jiawei , Alenin Andrey S. , Tyo J. Scott
Published: August 2021

Channeled spectropolarimetry (CSP) employing low-pass channel extraction filters suffers from cross talk and spectral resolution loss. These are aggravated by empirically defining the shape and scope of the filters for different measured. Here, we propose a convolutional deep-neural-network-based channel filtering framework for spectrally–temporally modulated CSP. The network is trained to adaptively predict spectral magnitude filters (SMFs) that possess wide bandwidths and anti-cross-talk features that adapt to scene data in the two-dimensional Fourier domain. Mixed filters that combine the advantages of low-pass filters and SMFs demonstrate superior performance in reconstruction accuracy.
Carbon nanohorn modulated nanosecond mid-infrared laser
Authors: Liang Yangyang , Liu Yizhou , Yang Kejian , Li Tao
Published: August 2021

Carbon nanohorn dahlia aggregates with a lateral size of hundreds of nanometers and a height of a few nanometers were prepared utilizing commercial carbon nanohorn powder. In the mid-infrared spectral region (@ 2845 nm), the saturable absorption property of the carbon nanohorn was experimentally investigated. It was employed as a saturable absorber in a Er:Lu2O3 laser. Laser pulses with a shortest pulse duration of 255 ns were yielded at a repetition rate of 149 kHz under the maximum pump power of 6.5 W. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first time that the saturable absorption property of carbon nanohorn was investigated and pulsed lasers were generated with YAG-based CNH in the mid-infrared. Our investigation indicates that carbon nanohorn exhibits a comparable nonlinear optical performance to carbon nanotube in the mid-infrared region. Further investigation of mid-infrared mode-locking lasers can be realized with carbon nanohorn by decreasing the thickness of the carbon nanohorn.
Deep learning models comparison for tissue classification using optical coherence tomography images: toward smart laser osteotomy
Authors: Bayhaqi Yakub A. , Hamidi Arsham , Canbaz Ferda , Navarini Alexander A. , Cattin Philippe C. , Zam Azhar
Published: August 2021

We compared deep learning models as a basis for OCT image-based feedback system for smart laser osteotomy. A total of 10,000 OCT image patches were acquired ex-vivo from pig’s bone, bone marrow, fat, muscle, and skin tissues. We trained neural network models using three different input features (the texture, intensity profile, and attenuation map). The comparison shows that the DenseNet161 model with combined input has the highest average accuracy of 94.85% and F1-score of 94.67%. Furthermore, the results show that our method improved the accuracy of the models and the feasibility of identifying tissue types from OCT images.
Case-area targeted interventions (CATI) for reactive dengue control: Modelling effectiveness of vector control and prophylactic drugs in Singapore
Authors: Brady Oliver J. , Kucharski Adam J. , Funk Sebastian , Jafari Yalda , Loock Marnix Van , Herrera-Taracena Guillermo , Menten Joris , Edmunds W. John , Sim Shuzhen , Ng Lee-Ching , Hué Stéphane , Hibberd Martin L.
Published: August 2021

Background

Targeting interventions to areas that have recently experienced cases of disease is one strategy to contain outbreaks of infectious disease. Such case-area targeted interventions (CATI) have become an increasingly popular approach for dengue control but there is little evidence to suggest how precisely targeted or how recent cases need to be, to mount an effective response. The growing interest in the development of prophylactic and therapeutic drugs for dengue has also given new relevance for CATI strategies to interrupt transmission or deliver early treatment.

Methods/Principal findings

Here we develop a patch-based mathematical model of spatial dengue spread and fit it to spatiotemporal datasets from Singapore. Simulations from this model suggest CATI strategies could be effective, particularly if used in lower density areas. To maximise effectiveness, increasing the size of the radius around an index case should be prioritised even if it results in delays in the intervention being applied. This is partially because large intervention radii ensure individuals receive multiple and regular rounds of drug dosing or vector control, and thus boost overall coverage. Given equivalent efficacy, CATIs using prophylactic drugs are predicted to be more effective than adult mosquito-killing vector control methods and may even offer the possibility of interrupting individual chains of transmission if rapidly deployed. CATI strategies quickly lose their effectiveness if baseline transmission increases or case detection rates fall.

Conclusions/Significance

These results suggest CATI strategies can play an important role in dengue control but are likely to be most relevant for low transmission areas where high coverage of other non-reactive interventions already exists. Controlled field trials are needed to assess the field efficacy and practical constraints of large operational CATI strategies.
Menopausal hormone therapy: Characterising users in an Australian national cross-sectional study
Authors: Velentzis Louiza S. , Egger Sam , Banks Emily , Canfell Karen
Published: August 2021

Menopausal hormone therapy (MHT) is effective for menopausal symptoms, however, its use is also associated with risks of serious health conditions including breast, ovarian and endometrial cancer, stroke and venous thromboembolism. MHT-related health risks increase with longer durations of use. In Australia, while overall MHT use fell when risk-related findings were published in 2002, a significant number of women continue using MHT long-term. We aimed to examine socio-demographic, health-related and lifestyle characteristics in relation to post-2002 MHT use, and to compare use for <5 and ≥5 years. Data from 1,561 participants from an Australian, national, cross-sectional survey of women aged 50–69 in 2013 were analysed. Odds ratios (ORs) were calculated using logistic regression for characteristics related to overall MHT use post-2002 and multinomial logistic regression for associations between MHT duration of use [never/<5 years/≥5 years] and personal characteristics, adjusting for sociodemographic, reproductive, health and lifestyle factors. Post-2002 MHT use was associated with increasing age (p-trend<0.001), hysterectomy versus no hysterectomy (OR:2.55, 95%CI = 1.85–3.51), bilateral oophorectomy vs no oophorectomy (OR:1.66, 95%CI = 1.09–2.53), and ever- versus never-use of therapies other than MHT for menopausal symptoms (OR:1.93, 95%CI = 1.48–2.57). Women with prior breast cancer (OR:0.35, 95%CI = 0.17–0.74) and with more children (p-trend = 0.034) were less likely than other women to use MHT. Prior hysterectomy was more strongly associated with MHT use for ≥5 years than for <5 years (p = 0.004). Ever-use of non-MHT menopausal therapies was associated with MHT use for <5 years but not with longer-term use (p = 0.004). This study reinforces the need for MHT users and their clinicians to re-evaluate continued MHT use on an ongoing basis.
Quantitative assessment of the relationship between behavioral and autonomic dynamics during propofol-induced unconsciousness
Authors: Subramanian Sandya , Purdon Patrick L. , Barbieri Riccardo , Brown Emery N.
Published: August 2021

During general anesthesia, both behavioral and autonomic changes are caused by the administration of anesthetics such as propofol. Propofol produces unconsciousness by creating highly structured oscillations in brain circuits. The anesthetic also has autonomic effects due to its actions as a vasodilator and myocardial depressant. Understanding how autonomic dynamics change in relation to propofol-induced unconsciousness is an important scientific and clinical question since anesthesiologists often infer changes in level of unconsciousness from changes in autonomic dynamics. Therefore, we present a framework combining physiology-based statistical models that have been developed specifically for heart rate variability and electrodermal activity with a robust statistical tool to compare behavioral and multimodal autonomic changes before, during, and after propofol-induced unconsciousness. We tested this framework on physiological data recorded from nine healthy volunteers during computer-controlled administration of propofol. We studied how autonomic dynamics related to behavioral markers of unconsciousness: 1) overall, 2) during the transitions of loss and recovery of consciousness, and 3) before and after anesthesia as a whole. Our results show a strong relationship between behavioral state of consciousness and autonomic dynamics. All of our prediction models showed areas under the curve greater than 0.75 despite the presence of non-monotonic relationships among the variables during the transition periods. Our analysis highlighted the specific roles played by fast versus slow changes, parasympathetic vs sympathetic activity, heart rate variability vs electrodermal activity, and even pulse rate vs pulse amplitude information within electrodermal activity. Further advancement upon this work can quantify the complex and subject-specific relationship between behavioral changes and autonomic dynamics before, during, and after anesthesia. However, this work demonstrates the potential of a multimodal, physiologically-informed, statistical approach to characterize autonomic dynamics.
The boundary-spanning mechanisms of Nobel Prize winning papers
Authors: Sebastian Yakub , Chen Chaomei
Published: August 2021

The breakthrough potentials of research papers can be explained by their boundary-spanning qualities. Here, for the first time, we apply the structural variation analysis (SVA) model and its affiliated metrics to investigate the extent to which such qualities characterize a group of Nobel Prize winning papers. We find that these papers share remarkable boundary-spanning traits, marked by exceptional abilities to connect disparate and topically-diverse clusters of research papers. Further, their publications exert structural variations on a scale that significantly alters the betweenness centrality distributions in existing intellectual space. Overall, SVA not only provides a set of leading indicators for describing future Nobel Prize winning papers, but also broadens our understanding of similar prize-winning properties that may have been overlooked among other regular publications.
Criminal networks analysis in missing data scenarios through graph distances
Authors: Ficara Annamaria , Cavallaro Lucia , Curreri Francesco , Fiumara Giacomo , De Meo Pasquale , Bagdasar Ovidiu , Song Wei , Liotta Antonio
Published: August 2021

Data collected in criminal investigations may suffer from issues like: (i) incompleteness, due to the covert nature of criminal organizations; (ii) incorrectness, caused by either unintentional data collection errors or intentional deception by criminals; (iii) inconsistency, when the same information is collected into law enforcement databases multiple times, or in different formats. In this paper we analyze nine real criminal networks of different nature (i.e., Mafia networks, criminal street gangs and terrorist organizations) in order to quantify the impact of incomplete data, and to determine which network type is most affected by it. The networks are firstly pruned using two specific methods: (i) random edge removal, simulating the scenario in which the Law Enforcement Agencies fail to intercept some calls, or to spot sporadic meetings among suspects; (ii) node removal, modeling the situation in which some suspects cannot be intercepted or investigated. Finally we compute spectral distances (i.e., Adjacency, Laplacian and normalized Laplacian Spectral Distances) and matrix distances (i.e., Root Euclidean Distance) between the complete and pruned networks, which we compare using statistical analysis. Our investigation identifies two main features: first, the overall understanding of the criminal networks remains high even with incomplete data on criminal interactions (i.e., when 10% of edges are removed); second, removing even a small fraction of suspects not investigated (i.e., 2% of nodes are removed) may lead to significant misinterpretation of the overall network.
CT texture analysis of tonsil cancer: Discrimination from normal palatine tonsils
Authors: Kim Tae-Yoon , Lee Ji Young , Lee Young-Jun , Park Dong Woo , Tae Kyung , Choi Yun Young
Published: August 2021

The purposes of the study were to determine whether there are differences in texture analysis parameters between tonsil cancers and normal tonsils, and to correlate texture analysis with 18F-FDG PET/CT to investigate the relationship between texture analysis and metabolic parameters. Sixty-four patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the palatine tonsil were included. A ROI was drawn, including all slices, to involve the entire tumor. The contralateral normal tonsil was used for comparison with the tumors. Texture analysis parameters, mean, standard deviation (SD), entropy, mean positive pixels, skewness, and kurtosis were obtained using commercially available software. Parameters were compared between the tumor and the normal palatine tonsils. Comparisons were also performed among early tonsil cancer, advanced tonsil cancer, and normal tonsils. An ROC curve analysis was performed to assess discrimination of tumor from normal tonsils. Correlation between texture analysis and 18F-FDG PET/CT was performed. Compared to normal tonsils, the tumors showed a significantly lower mean, higher SD, higher entropy, lower skewness, and higher kurtosis on most filters (p<0.001). On comparisons among normal tonsils, early cancers, and advanced tonsil cancers, SD and entropy showed significantly higher values on all filters (p<0.001) between early cancers and normal tonsils. The AUC from the ROC analysis was 0.91, obtained from the entropy. A mild correlation was shown between texture parameters and metabolic parameters. The texture analysis parameters, especially entropy, showed significant differences in contrast-enhanced CT results between tumor and normal tonsils, and between early tonsil cancers and normal tonsils. Texture analysis can be useful as an adjunctive tool for the diagnosis of tonsil cancers.
Health risk assessment of heavy metals via consumption of dietary vegetables using wastewater for irrigation in Swabi, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan
Authors: Ali Fawad , Israr Muhammad , Ur Rehman Shafiq , Azizullah Azizullah , Gulab Hussain , Idrees Muhammad , Iqbal Rashid , Khattak Aishma , Hussain Majid , Al-Zuaibr Fahad Mohammed
Published: August 2021

Health assumptions to the population due to the utilization of contaminated vegetables have been a great concern all over the world. In this study, an investigation has been conducted to ascertain metal concentrations in the wastewater, soil and commonly consumed vegetables from the vicinity of Gadoon Industrial Estate Swabi, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Pakistan. Physicochemical parameters such as pH, electrical conductivity (EC), total dissolved solids (TDS), total suspended solids (TSS) and total solids (TS) and heavy metals such as Pb, Cr, Cd, Ni, Zn, Cu, Fe, Mn were determined using Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer (AAS). Moreover, possible health risks due to the consumption of vegetables have also been estimated. pH and TSS in wastewater were found to be higher than the permissible limit set by WHO (1996). These results revealed that Cr concentration in the wastewater was above the permissible limits of United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) which may lead to a detrimental effect on soil quality deterioration, ultimately leading to food contamination. ANOVA analysis demonstrated a significant difference in soil samples for Pb, Cr, Cd, Ni, Zn and Cu at p ≤ 0.001, for Mn at p ≤ 0.05 while no significant difference was observed for Fe respectively. ANOVA analysis also exhibited the highest mean value for Pb, Cr, Cd and Zn in vegetables. A substantial positive correlation was found among the soil and vegetable contamination. The transfer factor for Cr, Pb, Zn, Mn, Ni, Cd and Cu was greater than 0.5 due to contamination caused by domestic discharges and industrial effluents. Health assessment via consumption of dietary vegetables revealed a higher level than the permissible limit (HRI > 1) for Pb and Cd in children and adults. Enrichment factor (EF) due to consumption of vegetables was found higher for Pb and Cr respectively. Based on the findings of this study, there would be a significant risk to the consumers associated with consumptions of vegetables being cultivated in Gadoon Industrial Estate area of district Swabi. Therefore, strict regulatory control measures are highly recommended for the safety of vegetables originated from the study area.
Research on the coordination mechanism of major industrial project engineering and construction multi-agents based on structural holes theory
Authors: Han Xiaokang , Yan Wenzhou , Lu Mei
Published: August 2021

Industry is an important pillar of the national economy. Industrial projects are the most complex and difficult projects to control in the construction industry, and major industrial projects are even more complex and difficult to control. Multi-agent coordination is one of the core issues of industrial projects. Based on an analysis of the engineering and construction chains and agent relationships and agent networks of industrial projects, a complex network of the engineering and construction agents of industrial projects is established, and the complex network structural holes theory is applied to study the nonrepeated relationships among agents in industrial projects. Assuming agents are linked through contract relations and the most critical contract index between the agents in the contract amount, through structural hole analysis considering the EPC and PMC model, the aggregate constraint list is obtained, 2D network diagram and 3D network diagram are shown. According to the aggregate constraint value, the EPC contractor with the minimum aggregate constraint value and the project management company with the minimum aggregate constraint value are the critical agent in EPC and PMC model. By analyzing the complex network comprising different models of industrial projects, it is concluded that the characteristics of the agent maintain an advantage in competition, the coordination mechanism of the integration of agent interests, and multi-agent relations are considered to solve the multi-agent coordination problem in major industrial projects.
Cancer caregivers unmet needs and emotional states across cancer treatment phases
Authors: Yang Winson Fu Zun , Lee Rachael Zhi Yi , Kuparasundram Sangita , Tan Terina , Chan Yiong Huak , Griva Konstadina , Mahendran Rathi
Published: August 2021

Study objective

To investigate the association between family cancer caregivers’ unmet daily needs and emotional states of depression, anxiety and stress across their care recipient’s treatment phases.

Method

A cross-sectional study design and self-report questionnaires were used. Family caregivers (N = 237) of cancer patients in ambulatory cancer clinics were recruited from May to December 2017, and completed a sociodemographic and medical questionnaire, the Depression Anxiety Stress Scale and Needs Assessment of Family Caregivers-Cancer Scale. Hierarchical linear regression was conducted to examine the influence of each predictor (sociodemographic variables, unmet personal care and role management needs, cancer treatment phase) on the Depression Anxiety Stress Scale total score, depression subscale, anxiety subscale, and the stress subscale.

Results

Family caregivers’ unmet daily activity needs, in particular higher unmet personal care needs, during the intermediate phase (6–9 months), were significantly associated (ps<0.05) with overall distress (b = 4.93) and stress (b = 2.26). In the chronic treatment phase (>9 months), the significant association of unmet personal care needs was with overall distress (b = 5.91), anxiety (b = 1.97) and stress (b = 2.53). After completing treatment, unmet role management needs were only significantly associated with stress (b = -1.59). Caregivers’ higher depression was also associated with greater unmet role management needs, regardless of treatment phases.

Conclusions

Intermediate and chronic cancer treatment phases were identified as having greatest effect on caregivers’ unmet daily activity needs and emotions. Unmet personal care needs played the major effect on overall negative emotional states in the intermediate treatment phase and stress in the chronic treatment phase. Close attention to caregivers needs in intermediate and chronic treatment phases, would be highly beneficial in alleviating negative emotional disturbances.
Nested PCR followed by NGS: Validation and application for HPV genotyping of Tunisian cervical samples
Authors: Ardhaoui Monia , Ennaifer Emna , De Matos Salim Anna Christina , Gomez Flávio Marcom , Laasili Thalja , Boubaker Med Samir , Guizani Ikram
Published: August 2021

The most used methodologies for HPV genotyping in Tunisian studies are based on hybridization that are limited to a restricted number of HPV types and to a lack of specificity and sensitivity for same types. Recently, Next-Generation sequencing (NGS) technology has been efficiently used for HPV genotyping. In this work we designed and validated a sensitive genotyping method based on nested PCR followed by NGS. Eighty-six samples were tested for the validation of an HPV genotyping assay based on Nested-PCR followed by NGS. These include, 43 references plasmids and 43 positive HPV clinical cervical specimens previously evaluated with the conventional genotyping method: Reverse Line Hybridization (RLH). Results of genotyping using NGS were compared to those of RLH. The analytical sensitivity of the NGS assay was 1GE/μl per sample. The NGS allowed the detection of all HPV types presented in references plasmids. On the clinical samples, a total of 19 HPV types were detected versus 14 types using RLH. Besides the identification of more HPV types in multiple infection (6 types for NGS versus 4 for RLH), NGS allowed the identification of HPV types that were not detected by RLH. In addition, the NGS assay detected newly HPV types that were not described in Tunisia so far: HPV81, HPV43, HPV74, and HPV62. The high sensitivity and specificity of NGS for HPV genotyping in addition to the identification of new HPV types may justify the use of such technique to provide with high accuracy the profile of circulating types in epidemiological studies.
Pulmonary tumor embolism: A retrospective study over a 30-year period
Authors: He Xin , Anthony Douglas C. , Catoni Zulmira , Cao Weibiao
Published: August 2021

Background

Pulmonary tumor embolism (PTE) is difficult to detect before death, and it is unclear whether the discrepancy between antemortem clinical and postmortem diagnosis improves with the advance of the diagnostic technologies. In this study we determined the incidence of PTE and analyzed the discrepancy between antemortem clinical and postmortem diagnosis.

Methods

We performed a retrospective autopsy study on patients with the history of malignant solid tumors from 1990 to 2020 and reviewed all the slides of the patients with PTE. We also analyzed the discrepancies between antemortem clinical and postmortem diagnosis in 1999, 2009 and 2019 by using the Goldman criteria. Goldman category major 1 refers to cases in which an autopsy diagnosis was the direct cause of death and was not recognized clinically, but if it had been recognized, it may have changed treatment or prolonged survival.

Results

We found 20 (3%) cases with PTE out of the 658 autopsy cases with solid malignancies. Out of these 20 cases, urothelial carcinoma (30%, 6/20) and invasive ductal carcinoma of the breast (4/20, 20%) were the most common primary malignancies. Seven patients with shortness of breath died within 3–17 days (average 8.4±2.2 days) after onset of the symptoms. Pulmonary embolism was clinically suspected in seven out of twenty (35%, 7/20) patients before death, but only two patients (10, 2/20) were diagnosed by imaging studies before death. The rate of Goldman category major 1 was 13.2% (10/76) in 1999, 7.3% (4/55) in 2009 and 6.9% (8/116) in 2019. Although the rate of Goldman category major 1 appeared decreasing, the difference was not statistically significant. The autopsy rate was significantly higher in 2019 (8.4%, 116/1386) than in 2009 (4.4%, 55/1240).

Conclusions

The incidence of PTE is uncommon. Despite the advances of the radiological techniques, radiological imaging studies did not detect the majority of PTEs. The discrepancy between the antemortem clinical and the postmortem diagnosis has not improved significantly over the past 30 years, emphasizing the value of autopsy.
Testing telediagnostic right upper quadrant abdominal ultrasound in Peru: A new horizon in expanding access to imaging in rural and underserved areas
Authors: Marini Thomas J. , Oppenheimer Daniel C. , Baran Timothy M. , Rubens Deborah J. , Dozier Ann , Garra Brian , Egoavil Miguel S. , Quinn Rosemary A. , Kan Jonah , Ortega Rafael L. , Zhao Yu T. , Tamayo Lorena , Carlotto Claudia , Castaneda Benjamin
Published: August 2021

Background

Hepatic and biliary diseases are prevalent worldwide, but the majority of people lack access to diagnostic medical imaging for their assessment. The liver and gallbladder are readily amenable to sonographic examination, and ultrasound is a portable, cost-effective imaging modality suitable for use in rural and underserved areas. However, the deployment of ultrasound in these settings is limited by the lack of experienced sonographers to perform the exam. In this study, we tested an asynchronous telediagnostic system for right upper quadrant abdominal ultrasound examination operated by individuals without prior ultrasound experience to facilitate deployment of ultrasound to rural and underserved areas.

Methods

The teleultrasound system utilized in this study employs volume sweep imaging and a telemedicine app installed on a tablet which connects to an ultrasound machine. Volume sweep imaging is an ultrasound technique in which an individual scans the target region utilizing preset ultrasound sweeps demarcated by easily recognized external body landmarks. The sweeps are saved as video clips for later interpretation by an experienced radiologist. Teleultrasound scans from a Peruvian clinic obtained by individuals without prior ultrasound experience were sent to the United States for remote interpretation and quality assessment. Standard of care comparison was made to a same-day ultrasound examination performed by a radiologist.

Results

Individuals without prior ultrasound experience scanned 144 subjects. Image quality was rated “poor” on 36.8% of exams, “acceptable” on 38.9% of exams, and “excellent” on 24.3% of exams. Among telemedicine exams of “acceptable” or “excellent” image quality (n = 91), greater than 80% of the liver and gallbladder were visualized in the majority of cases. In this group, there was 95% agreement between standard of care and teleultrasound on whether an exam was normal or abnormal, with a Cohen’s kappa of 0.84 (95% CI 0.7–0.98, p <0.0001). Finally, among these teleultrasound exams of “acceptable” or “excellent” image quality, the sensitivity for cholelithiasis was 93% (95% CI 68.1%-99.8%), and the specificity was 97% (95% CI 89.5%-99.6%).

Conclusion

This asynchronous telediagnostic system allows individuals without prior ultrasound experience to effectively scan the liver, gallbladder, and right kidney with a high degree of agreement with standard of care ultrasound. This system can be deployed to improve access to diagnostic imaging in low-resource areas.
Elevated plasma free thiols are associated with early and one-year graft function in renal transplant recipients
Authors: Nielsen Marie B. , Jespersen Bente , Birn Henrik , Krogstrup Nicoline V. , Bourgonje Arno R. , Leuvenink Henri G. D. , van Goor Harry , Nørregaard Rikke
Published: August 2021

Background

Reduced free thiols in plasma are indicative of oxidative stress, which is an important contributor to ischaemia-reperfusion injury (IRI) in kidney transplantation leading to kidney damage and possibly delayed graft function (DGF). In a post-hoc, exploratory analysis of the randomised controlled CONTEXT trial, we investigated whether higher (i.e. less oxidised) plasma levels of free thiols as a biomarker of reduced oxidative stress are associated with a better initial graft function or a higher GFR.

Methods

Free thiol levels were measured in plasma at baseline, 30 and 90 minutes after reperfusion of the kidney as well as at Day 1, Day 5 and twelve months after kidney transplantation in 217 patients from the CONTEXT study. Free thiol levels were compared to the kidney graft function measured as the estimated time to a 50% reduction in plasma creatinine (tCr50), the risk of DGF and measured GFR (mGFR) at Day 5 and twelve months after transplantation.

Results

Higher levels of free thiols at Day 1 and Day 5 are associated with higher mGFR at Day 5 (p<0.001, r2adj. = 0.16; p<0.001, r2adj. = 0.25), as well as with mGFR at twelve months (p<0.001, r2adj. = 0.20; p<0.001, r2adj. = 0.16). However, plasma levels of free thiols at 30 minutes and 90 minutes, but not Day 1, were significantly higher among patients experiencing DGF.

Conclusion

Higher levels of plasma free thiols at Day 1 and Day 5, which are reflective of lower levels of oxidative stress, are associated with better early and late graft function in recipients of a kidney graft from deceased donors.

Trial registration

ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT01395719.