bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Global Research Trends in the Latarjet Procedure: A Bibliometric and Visualized Study
Authors: Visconti-Lopez Fabriccio J. , Hernández-Vásquez Akram , Azañedo Diego , Sanchez Carbonel Jose Fernando
Published: July 2022

Background and Objectives: Latarjet is among the procedures indicated to treat shoulder instability, producing excellent results, including low instability rates and high patient satisfaction. The aim of this study was to report the characteristics of scientific articles that address the subject of the Latarjet procedure through the use of bibliometric analysis. Materials and Methods: Bibliographic searches were performed for original articles published in journals indexed by the Web of Science database until 2021, with no language restrictions. Results: A total of 668 articles published in 87 journals were included. The first publication was in 1981; the most registered publications were in 2018 and 2021 (89 articles), with an annual percentage growth rate of 11.9. Provencher MT was the author with the most published articles, and the institutional affiliation with the most original articles was the Steadman Philippon Research Institute. The most cited article was a study by Burkhart and Beer, and the scientific journal with the most publications on the subject was the Journal of Shoulder and Elbow Surgery. Most published studies included keywords such as dislocation, instability, and meta-analysis. Conclusion: There has been a sustained increase in original articles on the Latarjet procedure. However, the greatest growth in articles has occurred during the last decade, demonstrating the considerable interest among the world scientific community.
Recurrence Outcome in Hepatocellular Carcinoma within Milan Criteria Undergoing Microwave Ablation with or without Transarterial Chemoembolization
Authors: Chen Guobin , Chen Hong , Huang Xing , Cheng Sisi , Zheng Susu , Wu Yanfang , Zheng Tanghui , Chen Xiaochun , Guo Xinkun , Zhang Zhenzhen , Xie Xiaoying , Zhang Boheng
Published: July 2022

Background and Objectives: The recurrence outcome in patients who underwent microwave ablation (MWA) with or without transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) within Milan criteria remains unclear. The aim of this retrospective study was to identify the predictive factors of recurrence in these patients. Materials and Methods: From May 2018 to April 2021, 66 patients with HCC within Milan criteria were enrolled. Local tumor progression (LTP) and recurrence-free survival (RFS) were evaluated. Univariate and multivariate analyses were used to evaluate the risk factors of recurrence. The propensity score analysis was conducted to reduce potential confounding bias. Results: During the median follow-up of 25.07 months (95% confidence interval [CI], 21.85, 28.28), the median time to LTP and RFS were 20.10 (95%CI, 14.67, 25.53) and 13.03 (95%CI, 6.36, 19.70) months. No group difference (MWA vs. MWA + TACE) was found in 1-year cumulative LTP (p = 0.575) and RFS (p = 0.515), but meaningful significant differences were found in two-year recurrence (LTP, p = 0.007 and RFS, p = 0.037). Univariate and multivariate analyses revealed that treatment received before ablation was an independent risk factor of LTP (hazard ratio [HR] 4.37, 95%CI, 1.44, 13.32) and RFS (HR 3.41, 95%CI, 1.49, 7.81). Conclusions: The LTP and RFS in the MWA group were similar to that in the MWA combined with TACE. For HCC within Milan criteria, both groups preferentially selected MWA. More endeavor and rigorous surveillance should be taken to relapse prevention, in patients who have received previous treatment.
Design of Under-Actuated Soft Adhesion Actuators for Climbing Robots
Authors: Liu Zhipeng , Xu Linsen , Liang Xingcan , Liu Jinfu
Published: July 2022

Since climbing robots mainly rely on adhesion actuators to achieve adhesion, robust adhesion actuators have always been the challenge of climbing robot design. A novel under-actuated soft adhesion actuator (USAA) proposed in this paper for climbing robots can generate adhesion through robot’s load applied to the actuator. The actuator is composed of a soft film/substrate structure with an annular groove on the substrate and a cavity on the soft film. To fabricate the actuator, we first study the influence of the geometric parameters of the USAA on the maximum adhesion of the actuator by analysis and experiments, and then combine these parameters and the boundary conditions of the static meniscus in the mold to design the mold. Moreover, we fabricate a climbing robot equipped with USAAs and evaluate its performance on horizontal and inclined surfaces with a wide range of characteristics. The USAA can generate strong and controllable adhesion to various smooth and semi-smooth surfaces. Furthermore, the fabricated robot performs well on various surfaces under a certain load (at least 500 g) and speed (369 mm/min) through experiments. It’s adaptability to a variety of surfaces enables a wide range of applications and pushes the boundaries of soft adhesion actuators.
Binarization Algorithm Based on Side Window Multidimensional Convolution Classification
Authors: Ren Hong , Wang Yanjie , Dong Xin
Published: July 2022

Uneven illumination and space radiation can cause inhomogeneous grayscale distribution, low contrast, and noisy images in in-orbit cameras. A binarization algorithm based on morphological classification is proposed to solve the problem of inaccurate image binarization caused by space image degradation. Traditional local binarization algorithms generally calculate thresholds based on statistical information of gray dimensions within the local window, often ignoring the morphological distribution information, leading to poor results in degraded images. The algorithm presented in this paper demonstrates the property of the side window filtering (SWF) kernel on morphological clustering. First, the eight-dimensional SWF convolution kernel is used to describe the morphological properties of the pixels. Then, the positive and negative types of each pixel in the local window are identified, and the local threshold is calculated according to the difference between the two types. Finally, the positive pixel is used to filter the threshold of each pixel, with the binarization threshold satisfying the morphologically smooth and continuous property. A self-built dataset is used to evaluate the algorithm quantitatively and the results are compared with the three existing classical techniques using the quantitative measures FM, PSNR, and DRD. The experimental results show that the algorithm in this paper yields good binarization results for different degraded images, outperforms the comparison algorithm in terms of accuracy and robustness, and is insensitive to noise.
A Pilot Study Examining the Effects of Music Training on Attention in Children with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD)
Authors: Gleichmann Dathan C. , Pinner John F. L. , Garcia Christopher , Hakeem Jaynie H. , Kodituwakku Piyadasa , Stephen Julia M.
Published: July 2022

Prior studies indicate differences in brain volume and neurophysiological responses of musicians relative to non-musicians. These differences are observed in the sensory, motor, parietal, and frontal cortex. Children with a fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) experience deficits in auditory, motor, and executive function domains. Therefore, we hypothesized that short-term music training in children with an FASD due to prenatal alcohol exposure may improve brain function. Children (N = 20) with an FASD were randomized to participate in either five weeks of piano training or to a control group. Selective attention was evaluated approximately seven weeks apart (pre-/post-music training or control intervention), examining longitudinal effects using the Attention Networks Test (ANT), a well-established paradigm designed to evaluate attention and inhibitory control, while recording EEG. There was a significant group by pre-/post-intervention interaction for the P250 ms peak of the event-related potential and for theta (4–7 Hz) power in the 100–300 ms time window in response to the congruent condition when the flanking stimuli were oriented congruently with the central target stimulus in fronto-central midline channels from Cz to Fz. A trend for improved reaction time at the second assessment was observed for the music trained group only. These results support the hypothesis that music training changes the neural indices of attention as assessed by the ANT in children with an FASD. This study should be extended to evaluate the effects of music training relative to a more closely matched active control and determine whether additional improvements emerge with longer term music training.
Dynamic QoS Prediction Algorithm Based on Kalman Filter Modification
Authors: Yan Yunfei , Sun Peng , Zhang Jieyong , Ma Yutang , Zhao Liang , Qin Yueyi
Published: July 2022

With the widespread adoption of service-oriented architectures (SOA), services with the same functionality but the different Quality of Service (QoS) are proliferating, which is challenging the ability of users to build high-quality services. It is often costly for users to evaluate the QoS of all feasible services; therefore, it is necessary to investigate QoS prediction algorithms to help users find services that meet their needs. In this paper, we propose a QoS prediction algorithm called the MFDK model, which is able to fill in historical sparse QoS values by a non-negative matrix decomposition algorithm and predict future QoS values by a deep neural network. In addition, this model uses a Kalman filter algorithm to correct the model prediction values with real-time QoS observations to reduce its prediction error. Through extensive simulation experiments on the WS-DREAM dataset, we analytically validate that the MFDK model has better prediction accuracy compared to the baseline model, and it can maintain good prediction results under different tensor densities and observation densities. We further demonstrate the rationality of our proposed model and its prediction performance through model ablation experiments and parameter tuning experiments.
SCDNet: A Deep Learning-Based Framework for the Multiclassification of Skin Cancer Using Dermoscopy Images
Authors: Naeem Ahmad , Anees Tayyaba , Fiza Makhmoor , Naqvi Rizwan Ali , Lee Seung-Won
Published: July 2022

Skin cancer is a deadly disease, and its early diagnosis enhances the chances of survival. Deep learning algorithms for skin cancer detection have become popular in recent years. A novel framework based on deep learning is proposed in this study for the multiclassification of skin cancer types such as Melanoma, Melanocytic Nevi, Basal Cell Carcinoma and Benign Keratosis. The proposed model is named as SCDNet which combines Vgg16 with convolutional neural networks (CNN) for the classification of different types of skin cancer. Moreover, the accuracy of the proposed method is also compared with the four state-of-the-art pre-trained classifiers in the medical domain named Resnet 50, Inception v3, AlexNet and Vgg19. The performance of the proposed SCDNet classifier, as well as the four state-of-the-art classifiers, is evaluated using the ISIC 2019 dataset. The accuracy rate of the proposed SDCNet is 96.91% for the multiclassification of skin cancer whereas, the accuracy rates for Resnet 50, Alexnet, Vgg19 and Inception-v3 are 95.21%, 93.14%, 94.25% and 92.54%, respectively. The results showed that the proposed SCDNet performed better than the competing classifiers.
Looseness Identification of Track Fasteners Based on Ultra-Weak FBG Sensing Technology and Convolutional Autoencoder Network
Authors: Li Sheng , Jin Liang , Jiang Jinpeng , Wang Honghai , Nan Qiuming , Sun Lizhi
Published: July 2022

Changes in the geological environment and track wear, and deterioration of train bogies may lead to the looseness of subway fasteners. Identifying loose fasteners randomly distributed along the subway line is of great significance to avoid train derailment. This paper presents a convolutional autoencoder (CAE) network-based method for identifying fastener loosening features from the distributed vibration responses of track beds detected by an ultra-weak fiber Bragg grating sensing array. For an actual subway tunnel monitoring system, a field experiment used to collect the samples of fastener looseness was designed and implemented, where a crowbar was used to loosen or tighten three pairs of fasteners symmetrical on both sides of the track within the common track bed area and the moving load of a rail inspection vehicle was employed to generate 12 groups of distributed vibration signals of the track bed. The original vibration signals obtained from the on-site test were converted into two-dimensional images through the pseudo-Hilbert scan to facilitate the proposed two-stage CAE network with acceptable capabilities in feature extraction and recognition. The performance of the proposed methodology was quantified by accuracy, precision, recall, and F1-score, and displayed intuitively by t-distributed stochastic neighbor embedding (t-SNE). The raster scan and the Hilbert scan were selected to compare with the pseudo-Hilbert scan under a similar CAE network architecture. The identification performance results represented by the four quantification indicators (accuracy, precision, recall, and F1-score) based on the scan strategy in this paper were at least 23.8%, 9.5%, 20.0%, and 21.1% higher than those of the two common scan methods. As well as that, the clustering visualization by t-SNE further verified that the proposed approach had a stronger ability in distinguishing the feature of fastener looseness.
Zero Moment Line—Universal Stability Parameter for Multi-Contact Systems in Three Dimensions
Authors: Brecelj Tilen , Petrič Tadej
Published: July 2022

The widely used stability parameter, the zero moment point (ZMP), which is usually defined on the ground, is redefined, in this paper, in two different ways to acquire a more general form that allows its application to systems that are not supported only on the ground, and therefore, their support polygon does not extend only on the floor. This way it allows to determine the stability of humanoid and other floating-based robots that are interacting with the environment at arbitrary heights. In the first redefinition, the ZMP is represented as a line containing all possible ZMPs, called the zero moment line (ZML), while in the second redefinition, the ZMP is represented as the ZMP angle, i.e., the angle between the ZML and the vertical line, passing through the center of mass (COM) of the investigated system. The first redefinition is useful in situations when the external forces and their acting locations are known, while the second redefinition can be applied in situations when the COM of the system under study is known and can be tracked. The first redefinition of the ZMP is also applied to two different measurements performed with two force plates, two force sensors, and the Optitrack system. In the first measurement, a subject stands up from a bench and sits down while being pulled by its hands, while in the second measurement, two subjects stand still, hold on to two double handles, and lean backward. In both cases, the stability of the subjects involved in the measurements is investigated and discussed.
Methodology for the Development of Augmented Reality Applications: MeDARA. Drone Flight Case Study
Authors: Zamora-Antuñano Marco Antonio , Luque-Vega Luis F. , Carlos-Mancilla Miriam A. , Hernández-Quesada Ricardo , Farrera-Vázquez Neín , Carrasco-Navarro Rocío , González-Gutiérrez Carlos Alberto , Aguilar-Molina Yehoshua
Published: July 2022

Industry 4.0 involves various areas of engineering such as advanced robotics, Internet of Things, simulation, and augmented reality, which are focused on the development of smart factories. The present work presents the design and application of the methodology for the development of augmented reality applications (MeDARA) using a concrete, pictorial, and abstract approach with the intention of promoting the knowledge, skills, and attitudes of the students within the conceptual framework of educational mechatronics (EMCF). The flight of a drone is presented as a case study, where the concrete level involves the manipulation of the drone in a simulation; the graphic level requires the elaboration of an experiential storyboard that shows the scenes of the student’s interaction with the drone in the concrete level; and finally, the abstract level involves the planning of user stories and acceptance criteria, the computer design of the drone, the mock-ups of the application, the coding in Unity and Android Studio, and its integration to perform unit and acceptance tests. Finally, evidence of the tests is shown to demonstrate the results of the application of the MeDARA.
Model Predictive Direct Torque Control and Fuzzy Logic Energy Management for Multi Power Source Electric Vehicles
Authors: Kakouche Khoudir , Rekioua Toufik , Mezani Smail , Oubelaid Adel , Rekioua Djamila , Blazek Vojtech , Prokop Lukas , Misak Stanislav , Bajaj Mohit , Ghoneim Sherif S. M.
Published: July 2022

This paper proposes a novel Fuzzy-MPDTC control applied to a fuel cell battery electric vehicle whose traction is ensured using a permanent magnet synchronous motor (PMSM). On the traction side, model predictive direct torque control (MPDTC) is used to control PMSM torque, and guarantee minimum torque and current ripples while ensuring satisfactory speed tracking. On the sources side, an energy management strategy (EMS) based on fuzzy logic is proposed, it aims to distribute power over energy sources rationally and satisfy the load power demand. To assess these techniques, a driving cycle under different operating modes, namely cruising, acceleration, idling and regenerative braking is proposed. Real-time simulation is developed using the RT LAB platform and the obtained results match those obtained in numerical simulation using MATLAB/Simulink. The results show a good performance of the whole system, where the proposed MPDTC minimized the torque and flux ripples with 54.54% and 77%, respectively, compared to the conventional DTC and reduced the THD of the PMSM current with 53.37%. Furthermore, the proposed EMS based on fuzzy logic shows good performance and keeps the battery SOC within safe limits under the proposed speed profile and international NYCC driving cycle. These aforementioned results confirm the robustness and effectiveness of the proposed control techniques.
PLC-Based Integrated Refractive Index Sensor Probe with Partially Exposed Waveguide
Authors: Ryu Jin Hwa , Yang Hoesung , Park Soyoung , Kim Soocheol , Han Kyuwon , Kim Hyunseok , Cho Kwangsoo , Lee Kang Bok
Published: July 2022

This paper proposes a simple, high-efficiency refractive index (RI) sensor, with a structure based on the planar lightwave circuit (PLC) probe type. The optical sensor has a 1 × 2 splitter structure with reference and sensing channels, each consisting of a U-shaped waveguide structure that is configured by connecting C bends. This design allows for the sensor device to have a probe structure wherein the surface interconnected with activity devices (i.e., an optical source and optical detector) is placed on one side. The reference channel is bent with a minimum optical loss, and the sensing channel has a bent structure, involving a C-bend waveguide with a maximum loss. The C-bend waveguide with a maximum loss is conformally aligned to have a trench structure with the same bending radius, designed to selectively expose the sidewall of the core layer. The local index contrast varies depending on the material in contact with the trench, resulting in a change in the optical output power of the waveguide. The sensitivity of the proposed sensor was 0 and 2070 μW/refractive index unit (RIU) for the reference and sensing channels, respectively, as the RI changed from 1.385 to 1.445 at a 1550 nm wavelength. These results suggest that the proposed structure enables efficient RI measurement through the use of a simple dip-type method.
Optical Biosensor for the Detection of Infectious Diseases Using the Copolymer F8T2 with Application to COVID-19
Authors: Bassi Maiara de Jesus , Araujo Todo Bom Maritza , Terribile Budel Maria Luisa , Maltempi de Souza Emanuel , Müller dos Santos Marcelo , Roman Lucimara Stolz
Published: July 2022

The coronavirus pandemic caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has accelerated the development of biosensors based on new materials and techniques. Here, we present our effort to develop a fast and affordable optical biosensor using photoluminescence spectroscopy for anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibody detection. The biosensor was fabricated with a thin layer of the semiconductor polymer Poly[(9,9-di-n-octylfluorenyl-2,7-diyl)-alt-2,2′-bithiophene-5,5′-diyl)] (F8T2) as a signal transducer material. We mounted the biosensors by depositing a layer of F8T2 and an engineered version of RBD from the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein with a tag to promote hydrophobic interaction between the protein and the polymeric surface. We validated the biosensor sensitivity with decreasing anti-RBD polyclonal IgG concentrations and challenged the biosensor specificity with human serum samples from both COVID-19 negative and positive individuals. The antibody binding to the immobilized antigen shifted the F8T2 photoluminescence spectrum even at the low concentration of 0.0125 µg/mL. A volume as small as one drop of serum (100 µL) was sufficient to distinguish a positive from a negative sample without requiring multiple washing steps and secondary antibody reactions.
Cultural Safety for LGBTQIA+ People: A Narrative Review and Implications for Health Care in Malaysia
Authors: Tan Kyle K. H. , Ling Sai Ang
Published: July 2022

LGBTQIA+ people in Malaysia constitute a marginalised population as they are subjected to cisheterosexism that permeates every layer of society. Cisheterosexist ideologies in Malaysia find their eligibility on secular and religious laws that criminalise LGBTQIA+ identities, which have detrimental consequences on LGBTQIA+ people’s mental health and their ability to access equitable health care. Existing literature has revealed limitations for healthcare providers to employ a blinded approach (i.e., treat everyone the same) and practise culturally competency when seeing LGBTQIA+ patients. In this narrative review, we compiled international evidence of culturally safe care for LGBTQIA+ people and outlined its relevance to interrogating power relationships within healthcare practices and structures. Our reviewed findings brought together five components of culturally safe care for LGBTQIA+ people: power-enhancing care; inclusive healthcare institutions; continuous education and research; promotion of visibility; and individualised care. These components set crucial milestones for healthcare providers to reflect on ways to equalise power dynamics in a provider–patient relationship. The applicability and implication of culturally safe healthcare in Malaysia are succinctly discussed.
Invigorating Health Strategy in an Integrated Design Process
Authors: Bibang Bi Obam Assoumou Stahel Serano , Zhu Li , Khayeka-Wandabwa Christopher
Published: July 2022

Healthy buildings are gaining crucial significance in construction and one health setting for promoting occupants’ health. However, the traditional design process for healthy buildings presents limitations with no specific guidelines. In contrast, the integrated design process (IDP) has proven to be effective in realizing high-performance buildings. However, the IDP shortfall of not having robust health strategy (HS) capability is a concern of interest. Thus, we posit further advancement of IDP in the context of incorporating HS in the prevailing IDP guidelines with a sequential iterative procedure. Moreover, a conceptual framework aimed at invigorating the implementation of HS in all IDP stages is proposed. The strategies within IDP that would reinforce achieving healthy building by addressing building process implementation are highlighted. The (IDP + HS) iterative framework herein advanced is intended to aid neophyte and experienced building professionals to reflect about the process of achieving healthy building while optimizing IDP for one’s health invigoration in construction industry.
The Relationships between Urbanization, Altitude Variability and Disaster Risk Management, Evidence from Jordan
Authors: Qutieshat Rania , Al-Assaf Tasneem
Published: July 2022

This study was conducted in Jordan to assess the relationships between built environment (population growth, green surfaces, and built-up land), altitude variability, and landslide events during the period 1994 to 2020 through the application of a multi-approach investigation using statistical analyses, GIS, and remote sensing techniques. The results showed that the population densities in the study area have substantially increased. The population in the northern parts is distributed along an east–west direction that moves anticlockwise toward the south, while the southern parts population distribution is along a north–south direction that moves clockwise and to the south. The normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) results showed that the green surfaces in the study area have decreased by 4.6%, while the built-up land density has increased. The landslide events increased from four events in 1994 to more than 20 events in 2020. There is a synchronous pattern in which the decrease in vegetation is associated with an increase in built-up land, population size, and landslide events at different altitudes, suggesting that a relationship between these factors might be present. If the current built environment practices persist, the population distribution and concentration will spread in a north-south direction along the same axis where landslide events are concentrated, posing serious future potential hazards on the population and on facilities.
Challenges Facing the Delivery City Phenomenon after the COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: Kim Li Won
Published: July 2022

Due to the “untact” society caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, urban functions have grown increasingly reliant on the mobility of things rather than human mobility, giving rise to the “delivery city phenomenon” with real significance. This study explores the necessity to comprehend the demands and social views of delivery city inhabitants (“actors”) to future urban planning, recognizing that the phenomenon of the delivery city has a significant impact on the shape and structure of modern cities. To do this, a grounded theory-based approach was used to evaluate keywords in Korean media articles and thoroughly code the content of actors’ contextual interviews and shadowing data. The results indicate that the delivery city phenomenon has changed the geographical sense of actors and the role of each space, and has urban planning implications such as in the establishment of social and spatial infrastructure, the institutional basis for technological development, and the call for sustainability. This study is meaningful in understanding modern cities centered around delivery services, which have gained global prominence, and it can contribute to sustainable urban planning by deriving urban tasks for this new phenomenon.
Production of Bio-Oil from De-Oiled Karanja (Pongamia pinnata L.) Seed Press Cake via Pyrolysis: Kinetics and Evaluation of Anthill as the Catalyst
Authors: Nisar Jan , Waris Salman , Shah Afzal , Anwar Farooq , Ali Ghulam , Ahmad Ali , Muhammad Faisal
Published: July 2022

In this study, bio-oil was produced from the pyrolysis of de-oiled karanja seed press cake in the presence of abandoned anthill as the catalyst. The anthill was characterised by SEM, EDX, XRF, XRD and surface area and pore size analysis. The pyrolysis experiments were carried out in an indigenously made furnace in a nitrogen atmosphere from 310 to 400 °C. The pyrolysis oil was collected at an optimised temperature and analysed through gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The compounds identified via GC-MS of non-catalytic bio-oil were in the range of C5 to C19, and compounds identified from catalytic bio-oil were in the range of C2–C63. Furthermore, thermogravimetric analysis of the karanja seed press cake without and with anthill was carried out in a nitrogen atmosphere with temperature programme rates of 3, 12, 20 and 30 °C·min−1. Kinetic parameters were determined by applying the Kissinger equation. The activation energy (Ea) values for hemicelluloses, cellulose and lignin were obtained as 99.7 ± 0.4, 182.9 ± 0.5 and 199.5 ± 0.7 kJ·mol−1 without catalyst; and with catalyst, the Ea were lowered to 74.8 ± 0.2, 83.1 ± 0.4 and 108.0 ± 0.5 kJ·mol−1, respectively. From the results, it was concluded that the catalyst played a key role in lowering the activation energy for the pyrolysis reaction and enhanced the quality of the bio-oil obtained as well.
Research on the Multi-Screen Connection Interaction Method Based on Regular Octagon K-Value Template Matching
Authors: Chen Liang , Zhang Shichen , Liu Changhong
Published: July 2022

Manufacturing companies using CPSS integrate multiple data in organizational production and present the data in the form of data visualization with the help of a big screen data visualization. In order to help the manufacturing enterprises using the data visualization screen to understand the data trend of the whole production process more conveniently, this paper proposes a method to establish the connection and interaction between the visualization screen and the mobile terminal based on the positive octagon K-value template matching algorithm, match the pre-processed mobile phone pictures with the visual large screen image, determine the area where the captured image is located in the large screen image, and return the detailed information of chart components contained in the visual large screen area to the mobile phone for users’ observation and analysis. This matching algorithm has good matching accuracy and time efficiency. Application cases and related investigations in enterprises also prove the practicability of this method to a certain extent.
The Diagnostic Performance of Multi-Detector Computed Tomography (MDCT) in Depiction of Acute Spondylodiscitis in an Emergency Department
Authors: Negro Alberto , Somma Francesco , Tortora Mario , Lugarà Marina , Tamburrini Stefania , Coppola Maria Gabriella , Piscitelli Valeria , Fasano Fabrizio , Sicignano Carmine , Vargas Ottavia , Pace Gianvito , Giardiello Mariarosaria , Iannuzzi Michele , Toro Gabriella , De Simone Fiore , Catalano Marco , Carbone Roberto , Rocco Concetta , Saturnino Pietro Paolo , Della Gatta Luigi , Villa Alessandro , Tortora Fabio , Gemini Laura , Caranci Ferdinando , D’Agostino Vincenzo
Published: July 2022

Background: The diagnosis of acute spondylodiscitis can be very difficult because clinical onset symptoms are highly variable. The reference examination is MRI, but very often the first diagnostic investigation performed is CT, given its high availability in the acute setting. CT allows rapid evaluation of other alternative diagnoses (e.g., fractures), but scarce literature is available to evaluate the accuracy of CT, and in particular of multi-detector computed tomography (MDCT), in the diagnosis of suspected spondylodiscitis. The aim of our study was to establish MDCT accuracy and how this diagnostic method could help doctors in the depiction of acute spondylodiscitis in an emergency situation by comparing the diagnostic performance of MDCT with MRI, which is the gold standard. Methods: We searched our radiological archive for all MRI examinations of patients who had been studied for a suspicion of acute spondylodiscitis in the period between January 2017 and January 2021 (n = 162). We included only patients who had undergone MDCT examination prior to MRI examination (n = 25). The overall diagnostic value of MDCT was estimated, using MRI as the gold standard. In particular, the aim of our study was to clarify the effectiveness of CT in radiological cases that require immediate intervention (stage of complications). Therefore, the radiologist, faced with a negative CT finding, can suggest an elective (not urgent) MRI with relative serenity and without therapeutic delays. Results: MDCT allowed identification of the presence of acute spondylodiscitis in 13 of 25 patients. Specificity and positive predictive value were 100% for MDCT, while sensitivity and negative predictive value were 68% and 50%, respectively, achieving an overall accuracy of 76%. In addition, MDCT allowed the identification of paravertebral abscesses (92%), fairly pathognomonic lesions of spondylodiscitis pathology. Conclusions: The MDCT allows identification of the presence of acute spondylodiscitis in the Emergency Department (ED) with a satisfactory accuracy. In the case of a positive CT examination, this allows therapy to be started immediately and reduces complications. However, we suggest performing an elective MRI examination in negative cases in which pathological findings are hard to diagnose with CT alone.
Partial Anomalous Left Pulmonary Artery Anterior Versus Posterior Types: A Systematic Review
Authors: Restrepo Carlos S. , Gonzalez Tomas V. , Baxi Ameya J. , Saboo Sachin S.
Published: July 2022

The aim of this study was to investigate the features of partial anomalous left pulmonary artery (PALPA) and differences between cases with posterior versus anterior a nomalous vessels in relation to the tracheobronchial tree. We hypothesized that statistical significance was dependent on the course of the anomalous vessel due to airway compression in the posterior type. This study included cases obtained from the literature (n = 33) and an institution teaching file (n = 2). Information collected: age, sex, medical history, additional anomalies, anomalous vessel course, and respiratory symptoms. Data were analyzed with independent samples t-test and Fisher’s exact test. PALPAs were more commonly anterior than posterior. Mean age: 5.3 years (SD = 12.4) for anterior and 6.8 years (SD = 18.5) for posterior (p = 0.77). Respiratory symptoms: 20% of anterior and 60% of posterior cases (p = 0.032). Tracheobronchial anomalies: 35% of anterior and 60% of posterior cases (p = 0.182). Non-cardiac and non-tracheobronchial anomalies: 30% of anterior and 47% of posterior cases (p = 0.511). Kabuki syndrome: 25% of anterior and 6.7% of posterior cases (p = 0.207). In conclusion, respiratory symptoms were the only significant difference between anterior and posterior PALPA types.
Assessing the Prevalence and Determinants of Exposure-Influenced HIV Testing among a Sample of Pre- and Post-Exposure Prophylaxis-Naïve Young Men Who Have Sex with Men in the United States
Authors: Liu Yu , Hawkins Mary , Osman Amna , Zhang Chen
Published: July 2022

Self-initiated Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) testing after potential sexual exposure to HIV (i.e., exposure-influenced HIV testing) has high utility in detecting individuals with the highest probabilities of HIV seroconversion. We conducted a cross-sectional study among a sample of sexually active, pre/post-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP/PEP)-naïve young men who have sex with men (YMSM) in two US cities to assess the determinants (e.g., demographic, psychosocial, sexual, substance use, and HIV prevention characteristics) of exposure-influenced HIV testing (never/rarely vs. mostly/always) in their lifetime. Of 261 YMSM, only 26.5% reported mostly/always seeking exposure-influenced prior to the study. Multivariable analyses showed that younger age, sexual orientation non-disclosure, perceived HIV stigma, internalized homophobia, lower general resilience, and lower social support were associated with a lower likelihood of mostly/always seeking exposure-influenced HIV testing. YMSM who never/rarely sought exposure-influenced HIV testing were more likely to use recreational drugs before sex, binge alcohol, and have group sex; while less likely to be aware of PrEP, test for sexually transmitted infections, or use condoms compared to those mostly/always seeking exposure-influenced HIV testing. Exposure-influenced HIV testing is suboptimal among YMSM with elevated risk for HIV. Our findings provide important implications for designing targeted interventions to promote exposure-influenced HIV testing among high-risk YMSM.
Associations between Awareness of Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) and Prevalence of STIs among Sub-Saharan African Men and Women
Authors: Vasudeva Meghana , Nakka Raja , Stock Shannon , Ghebremichael Musie
Published: July 2022

Treatments for HIV and other STIs are not readily available in sub-Saharan Africa and other resource-limited areas, where the prevalence of HIV and other STIs is high. In the absence of treatment and laboratory infrastructure to monitor treatment efficacy, increasing awareness of STIs and STI screening are crucial components of STI prevention programs. In the current study, we sought to estimate the awareness of STIs in resource-limited countries and evaluate the strength of the association between the awareness of STIs and STIs infection. We did a secondary analysis of data obtained from 2019 women and 794 men enrolled in a community-based study that was conducted from November 2002 to March 2003 in the Moshi Urban District of Northern Tanzania. We found gonorrhea, syphilis, and HIV/AIDS were well-known among the study participants. However, their awareness of other STIs, including herpes, was very low. We also found that the awareness of STIs was not associated with STIs in men, but women who had prior knowledge of gonorrhea, syphilis, and HIV had a twofold higher risk of testing positive for an STI. Education programs aimed at increasing awareness of STIs are needed in the region. The majority of the existing STI education programs in the region focus exclusively on HIV/AIDS. The expansion of the existing AIDS/HIV education programs needs to be strengthened to include information about other STIs.
Numerical Simulation of Cooling Plate Using K-Epsilon Turbulence Model to Cool Down Large-Sized Graphite/LiFePO4 Battery at High C-Rates
Authors: Panchal Satyam , Gudlanarva Krishna , Tran Manh-Kien , Herdem Münür Sacit , Panchal Kirti , Fraser Roydon , Fowler Michael
Published: July 2022

In this paper, an analogous study of the velocity and temperature profiles inside microchannel cooling plates (with hydraulic diameter of 6 mm), placed on a large pouch-type LiFePO4 battery, is presented using both the laboratory and simulation techniques. For this, we used reverse engineering (RE), computed tomography (CT) scanning, Detroit Engineering Products (DEP) MeshWorks 8.0 for surface meshing of the cold plate, and STAR CCM+ for steady-state simulation. The numerical study was conducted for 20 A (1C) and 40 A (2C) and different operating temperatures. For experimental work, three heat flux sensors were used and were intentionally pasted at distributed locations, out of which one was situated near the negative tab (anode) and the other was near the positive tab (cathode), because the heat production is high near electrodes and the one near the mid body. Moreover, the realizable k-ε turbulence model in STAR CCM+ is used for simulation of the stream in a microchannel cooling plate, and the computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations under constant current (CC) discharge load cases are studied. Later, the validation is conducted with the lab data to ensure sufficient cooling occurs for the required range of temperature. The outcome of this research work shows that as C-rates and ambient temperature increase, the temperature contours of the cooling plates also increase.
Hygienic problems of the digital educational environment and ways to solve them (review)
Authors:   Federal State Budgetary Educational Institution of Higher Education «Privolzhsky Research Medical University» of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, Nizhny Novgorod, Russia, Languev K. A. , Bogomolova E. S. ,   Federal State Budgetary Educational Institution of Higher Education «Privolzhsky Research Medical University» of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, Nizhny Novgorod, Russia
Published: July 2022

At the current stage, information and communication technologies and digital learning tools are actively used in the education system. The so-called digital educational environment is being formed, which is a set of information systems for ensuring different tasks of the educational process. It allows you to expand the possibilities of building the educational trajectory of students, increase the interest of children and adolescents in the subjects studied by means of showing objects and interactive forms of learning, as well as to develop an educational initiative. However, despite the positive aspects of the digital educational environment, there are also negative factors affecting the health of students. These negative factors lead to deterioration of the nervous, visual, endocrine system, as well as other systems of the developing bodies, the formation of functional diseases and the progression of chronic pathology. For example, it has been established that if there are nospecial preventive measures, the level of functional overstrain of the human body increases, which leads to a decrease in mental performance. Electronic devices used in educational activities are able to optimize the learning process only if they are used rationally in terms of health. In the current digitalization of education, the development of a modern scientifically based practical model of medical and hygienic support of students in a digital educational environment and its testing in general education organizations is of particular importance. It allows to develop the new health-saving technologies, and substantiate criteria and algorithms for assessing the information load of students at the individual, group and population levels. The article discusses the health-related problems of digital schools that require safe learning conditions in order to maintain the health of children and adolescents in a digital educational environment
COVID-19 y su efecto en la Educación Superior: Percepción de la modalidad híbrida “distancia-virtual”
Authors: Zambrano Mendoza Luisa Ana , Tubay Bermúdez Carlos Julio
Published: July 2022

La pandemia del COVID-19 ha provocado la transición no planificada de la enseñanza presencial a un aula virtual en las instituciones de educación superior. Este estudio analiza la percepción de los estudiantes de medicina veterinaria de la ESPAM-MFL ante la modalidad híbrida “distancia-virtual” desarrollada como enseñanza remota de aprendizaje. Se realizó un formulario a través de forms app, cuyo enlace fue enviado por WhatsApp a los estudiantes politécnicos del periodo académico abril 2021-agosto 2021, el cual fue desactivado después de 24 horas. Se obtuvieron 255 formularios, correspondientes a la muestra poblacional, cuyas preguntas consideraban aspectos relacionados a la instrucción, limitaciones, metodología de aprendizaje, preparación profesional. Durante el estudio exploratorio se pudo detectar que el acceso de internet (42%) ha sido un desafío para apoyar la educación virtual, el principal dispositivo utilizado para el aprendizaje en línea fue la computadora (59%), los estudiantes han manifestado la conformidad ante la metodología (58%) y herramientas digitales (71%) aplicadas por los docentes, pero consideran que aún no cuentan con los conocimientos necesarios para su desenvolvimiento profesional (68%). El sistema de educación de un médico veterinario tiene una orientación práctica que no pueden ser trasladadas completamente a entornos virtuales. El escenario educativo post-COVID-2019 requiere de un modelo combinado (presencial-virtual) de inversión que cambia el paradigma de enseñanza-aprendizaje para el retorno progresivo a clases.
Aprendizaje socioemocional. Un acercamiento al diseño de productos didácticos para entornos SEL en Ecuador
Authors: Dávila León Daniel Patricio , Salazar Yánez Stephanie Paola , Suárez Alvear Milena Alejandra , Moreno Rocha Josselyn del Pilar , Chacha Soldado Jonathan Javier
Published: July 2022

Los actuales modelos educativos promueven el desarrollo de habilidades sociales por medio de metodologías y técnicas que estimulan la creatividad, la sensibilidad y la habilidad para enfrentar problemas. La presente investigación apunta a establecer parámetros enfocados en el diseño, que se articulen como herramienta y punto de partida para el docente, en la construcción de productos didácticos que propicien el desarrollo de habilidades sociales en niños de Educación General Básica subniveles Preparatoria y Elemental, del entorno fiscal, alineados a los objetivos curriculares del programa SEL (Social Emotional Learning) “Desarrollo Humano Integral” (DHI) de Ecuador. El estudio se sustenta en un enfoque de carácter cualitativo, entrevistas a docentes, cuestionarios e interpretaciones amparadas en el método deductivo-inductivo y analítico-sintético además de un análisis teórico, conceptual y práctico del programa DHI. Los resultados permitieron definir parámetros que apoyan el diseño de material educativo y refuerzan los objetivos de aprendizaje de las habilidades sociales.
PALABRAS CLAVE: Competencias para la vida; Educación básica; material didáctico; diseño industrial; Ecuador.
Socio-emotional learning. An approach to the design of educational products for SEL environments in Ecuador
ABSTRACT
Current educational models promote the development of social skills through methodologies and techniques that stimulate creativity, sensitivity, and ability to deal with problems. The present research aims to establish parameters focused on design, which are articulated as a tool and starting point for the teacher, in the construction of didactic products conducive to the development of social skills in children of Basic General Education of Preparatory and Elementary, for the public environment, aligned to the curricular objectives of the program SEL (Social Emotional Learning) "Integral Human Development" (IHD) of Ecuador. The study is based on a qualitative approach, interviews with teachers, questionnaires and interpretations based on the deductive-inductive and analytical-synthetic method, as well as a theoretical, conceptual and practical analysis of the DHI program. The results made it possible to define parameters that support the design of educational materials and reinforce the learning objectives of social skills.
KEYWORDS: Life skills; Basic education; didactic material; industrial design; Ecuador.