bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
An examination of the implementation of a patient navigation program to improve breast and cervical cancer screening rates of Chinese immigrant women: a qualitative study
Authors: Lewis-Thames Marquita W. , Tom Laura S. , Leung Ivy S. , Yang Anna , Simon Melissa A.
Published: February 2022

Background

Chinese Americans have lower breast and cervical cancer screening rates than the national average and experience multiple barriers to cancer care. Patient navigators have improved screening and follow-up rates for medically underserved populations, yet investigations of cancer navigation programs and their implementation among Chinese Americans are limited. To address this gap, we used the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR) to examine facilitators and barriers to implementing the Chicago-based Chinatown Patient Navigation Program (CPNP) for breast and cervical cancer screening, follow-up, and treatment.

Methods

Stakeholders from clinical care, supportive care services, and community organizations were invited to participate in qualitative interviews to illuminate implementation processes and stakeholder perspectives of facilitators and barriers to implementing the CPNP. Interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed, and deductively coded according to CFIR domains, including (1) intervention characteristics; (2) outer setting; (3) inner setting; and (4) the implementation process.

Results

We interviewed a convenience sample of 16 stakeholders representing a range of roles in cancer care, including nurses, clinical team members, administrators, physicians, a community-based organization leader, and a CPNP navigator. Findings detail several facilitators to implementing the CPNP, including patient navigators that prepared Chinese-speaking patients for their clinic visits, interpretation services, highly accessible patient navigators, and high-quality flexible services. Barriers to program implementation included limited regular feedback provided to stakeholders regarding their program involvement. Also, early in the program’s implementation there was limited awareness of the CPNP navigators’ roles and responsibilities, insufficient office space for the navigators, and few Chinese language patient resource materials.

Conclusions

These findings provide valuable information on implementation of future patient navigation programs serving Chinese American and other limited-English speaking immigrant populations.
Understanding the context of healthcare utilisation for children under-five with diarrhoea in the DRC: based on Andersen behavioural model
Authors: Zou Siyu , Qi Xinran , Marshall Keiko , Bhura Maria , Takesue Rie , Tang Kun
Published: February 2022

Background

Diarrhoea is one of the leading causes of death among children under 5 years old in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). Despite positive effects on prognosis, there is limited literature about the healthcare-seeking behaviours of children with diarrhoea, especially in the DRC. This study used the Andersen Behavioural Model, a theoretical framework, which was commonly adopted to study healthcare utilisation, to investigate and predict factors associated with the use of healthcare to treat diarrhoea in the DRC.

Methods

Data collected from 2626 under-five children with diarrhoea in the last 2 weeks from the Multiple Indicators Cluster Survey conducted by the National Institute of Statistics in 2017–2018, in collaboration with the United Nations Children’s Fund were used in this study. Both direct and indirect relationships among four latent variables: predisposing traits, enabling resources access, health needs, and health services use were measured using the structural equation modelling to test the Andersen behavioural model. The confirmatory Factor Analysis model was also modified based on the DRC context to explore this further.

Results

The modified model had the goodness of fit index (GFI) of 0.972, comparative fit index (CFI) of 0.953 and RMSEA of 0.043 (95% CI: 0. 040, 0.047). Health needs (especially diarrhoea) had the largest positive direct effect on healthcare utilisation (standardized regression coefficient [β] = 0.135,P < 0.001), followed by “enabling resources” (β = 0.051,P = 0.015). Health needs also emerged as a mediator for the positive effect of predisposing on utilisation (indirect effect, β = 0.014;P = 0.009).

Conclusion

Access to improved water and improved sanitation, as well as socioeconomic factors like household wealth, were significantly associated with health-seeking behaviours for diarrhoea treatment in the DRC. Besides, caregivers who own higher levels of educational attainments were more inclined to have positive health services uses during the treatments. Efforts are needed to enhance the oral rehydration therapy coupled with educating caregivers on its appropriate use.
Effect of an osteoporotic fracture prevention program on fracture incidence in routine care: a cluster-randomized trial
Authors: Rapp Kilian , Lamb Sarah E. , Roigk Patrick , Becker Clemens , Konnopka Claudia , König Hans-Helmut , Peter Raphael S. , Rothenbacher Dietrich , Büchele Gisela
Published: February 2022

Background

Fractures are a major health problem in aging societies. Preventive approaches combining bone health and fall prevention are rare. The osteoporotic fracture prevention program in rural areas (OFRA) is a health care fund-driven program for older people in randomly selected districts in Germany. The components of the program were falls prevention exercise classes, examination of bone health by a dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) scan, and a consultation about “safety in the living environment.” The aim of this study was to evaluate this complex preventive intervention in a routine health care setting.

Methods

This cluster-randomized trial was performed from October 2015 to October 2018 and took place in 186 administrative districts in five federal states, 47 districts served as intervention districts, and 139, as controls. Within these districts, we included (a) all community-living women and men aged 70–85 years with prior fragility fractures and (b) all community-living women aged 75–80 years. The analysis used routine data collected by a health insurance company. The primary endpoint was all fragility fractures combined. Fracture types, mortality, and nursing home admission were explorative endpoints. Cox frailty models were used for comparative analyses with a median follow-up time of 365 days (interquartile range: 0 days).

Results

Nine thousand four hundred eight individuals were approached to participate in one of the program components, 27,318 individuals served as controls. The mean age was 78.7 years. Of those approached to participate, nearly 30% joined the exercise classes. DXA measurement was reimbursed for 13.6%, and 51.8% received advice about measures to increase “safety in the living environment.” The incidence of fragility fractures did not differ between the intervention and the control group (HR 0.94; 95% CI 0.80–1.11). However, femoral fractures, the most frequent fracture type, were reduced in the intervention group (HR 0.76; 95% CI 0.59–0.99). Mortality and nursing home admission did not differ between the intervention and the control group.

Conclusions

A comprehensive fracture prevention program for older people living in rural areas was implemented. The program did not affect the primary endpoint of all fragility fractures combined. It has to be considered that we used a modified intention to treat approach based on geographic randomization and information about endpoints relied exclusively on routine data of the health care insurance.

Trial registration

German Clinical Trials Register DRKS-ID: 00009000
Engineering 2D Cu-composed metal–organic framework nanosheets for augmented nanocatalytic tumor therapy
Authors: Zhuang Shangwen , Xiang Huijing , Chen Yixin , Wang Lulu , Chen Yu , Zhang Jun
Published: February 2022

The engineered nanoformulation that can be activated by intracellular tumor microenvironment, including acidic pH, overexpressed H2O2, and high concentration of glutathione (GSH), features high efficacy to eradicate tumor cells with the intrinsic specificity and therapeutic biosafety. However, the relatively slow reaction rate of traditional Fe2+-mediated Fenton reaction induces the low production amount of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and subsequently the limited therapeutic outcome against tumors. Here, we established Cu (II)-based two-dimensional (2D) metal–organic framework (MOF) nanosheets as a distinct chemoreactive nanocatalyst for GSH-triggered and H2O2-augmented chemodynamic therapy (CDT), depending on the “AND” logic gate, for significant tumor suppression. After internalization by tumor cells, the MOF catalytic nanosheets reacted with local GSH for inducing GSH consumption and reducing the Cu2+ into Cu+. Subsequently, abundant hydroxyl radicals (·OH) generation was achieved via Cu+-mediated Fenton-like catalytic reaction. The dual effects of ·OH production and GSH depletion thus enhanced ROS production and accumulation in tumor cells, leading to significant cellular apoptosis and tumor inhibition, which was systematically demonstrated in both 4T1 and MDA-MB-231 tumor models. Therefore, GSH and H2O2, serve as an “AND” logic gate to trigger the Cu+-mediated Fenton-like reaction and reduce GSH level for augmented CDT with high therapeutic specificity and efficacy, thus inducing cellular apoptosis primarily through ferroptosis at the RNA sequence level.

Graphical Abstract
Unconjugated PLGA nanoparticles attenuate temperature-dependent β-amyloid aggregation and protect neurons against toxicity: implications for Alzheimer’s disease pathology
Authors: Paul Pallabi Sil , Cho Jae-Young , Wu Qi , Karthivashan Govindarajan , Grabovac Emily , Wille Holger , Kulka Marianna , Kar Satyabrata
Published: February 2022

Conversion of β-amyloid (Aβ) peptides from soluble random-coil to aggregated protein enriched with β-sheet-rich intermediates has been suggested to play a role in the degeneration of neurons and development of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) pathology. Aggregation of Aβ peptide can be prompted by a variety of environmental factors including temperature which can influence disease pathogenesis. Recently, we reported that FDA-approved unconjugated poly (d,l-lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA) nanoparticles can have beneficial effects in cellular and animal models of AD by targeting different facets of the Aβ axis. In this study, using biochemical, structural and spectroscopic analyses, we evaluated the effects of native PLGA on temperature-dependent Aβ aggregation and its ability to protect cultured neurons from degeneration. Our results show that the rate of spontaneous Aβ1–42 aggregation increases with a rise in temperature from 27 to 40 °C and PLGA with 50:50 resomer potently inhibits Aβ aggregation at all temperatures, but the effect is more profound at 27 °C than at 40 °C. It appears that native PLGA, by interacting with the hydrophobic domain of Aβ1–42, prevents a conformational shift towards β-sheet structure, thus precluding the formation of Aβ aggregates. Additionally, PLGA triggers disassembly of matured Aβ1–42 fibers at a faster rate at 40 °C than at 27 °C. PLGA-treated Aβ samples can significantly enhance viability of cortical cultured neurons compared to neurons treated with Aβ alone by attenuating phosphorylation of tau protein. Injection of native PLGA is found to influence the breakdown/clearance of Aβ peptide in the brain. Collectively, these results suggest that PLGA nanoparticles can inhibit Aβ aggregation and trigger disassembly of Aβ aggregates at temperatures outside the physiological range and can protect neurons against Aβ-mediated toxicity thus validating its unique therapeutic potential in the treatment of AD pathology.

Graphical Abstract
The Bronze Age of drug checking: barriers and facilitators to implementing advanced drug checking amidst police violence and COVID-19
Authors: Carroll Jennifer J. , Mackin Sarah , Schmidt Clare , McKenzie Michelle , Green Traci C.
Published: February 2022

Objectives

Unpredictable fluctuations in the illicit drug market increase overdose risk. Drug checking, or the use of technology to provide insight into the contents of illicit drug products, is an overdose prevention strategy with an emerging evidence base. The use of portable spectrometry devices to provide point-of-service analysis of the contents of illicit drugs been adopted by harm reduction organizations internationally but is only emerging in the United States. This study aimed to identify barriers and facilitators of implementing drug checking services with spectrometry devices in an urban harm reduction organization and syringe service program serving economically marginalized people who use drugs in Boston, Massachusetts (USA).

Methods

In-vivo observations and semi-structured interviews with harm reduction staff and participants were conducted between March 2019 and December 2020. We used the consolidated framework for implementation research to identify implementation barriers and facilitators.

Results

This implementation effort was facilitated by the organization’s shared culture of harm reduction—which fostered shared implementation goals and beliefs about the intervention among staff persons—its horizontal organizational structure, strong identification with the organization among staff, and strong relationships with external funders. Barriers to implementation included the technological complexity of the advanced spectroscopy devices utilized for drug checking. Program staff indicated that commercially available spectroscopy devices are powerful but not always well-suited for drug checking efforts, describing their technological capacities as “the Bronze Age of Drug Checking.” Other significant barriers include the legal ambiguity of drug checking services, disruptive and oppositional police activity, and the responses and programmatic changes demanded by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Conclusions

For harm reduction organizations to be successful in efforts to implement and scale drug checking services, these critical barriers—especially regressive policing policies and prohibitive costs—need to be addressed. Future research on the impact of policy changes to reduce the criminalization of substance use or to provide explicit legal frameworks for the provision of this and other harm reduction services may be merited.
The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on lifestyle behaviors in children and adolescents: an international overview
Authors: Scapaticci S. , Neri C. R. , Marseglia G. L. , Staiano A. , Chiarelli F. , Verduci E.
Published: February 2022

The adverse effects of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) are not limited to the related infectious disease. In children and adolescents, serious risks due to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic are also related to its indirect effects. These include an unbalanced diet with an increased risk of weight excess or nutritional deficiencies, increased sedentary lifestyle, lack of schooling, social isolation, and impaired mental health.

Pediatricians should be aware of the side effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on children’s diet, physical mental health and advise the families according to their nutritional needs and financial resources. Moreover, the lack of a targeted therapy able to offer protection against the deleterious effects of SARS-CoV-2 infection should require a greater effort by scientific societies to find a more effective prevention strategy. In this context, much interest should be given to nutritional support, able to contrast malnutrition and to stimulate the immune system.
Effect of minocycline on the left ventricular function following ST-elevation myocardial infarction treated by primary percutaneous coronary intervention
Authors: Nasiri Alireza , Shafiee Akbar , Hosseinsabet Ali , Talasaz Azita Hajhosein , Jalali Arash , Salarifar Mojtaba
Published: February 2022

Background

Cardiac remodeling following myocardial infarction is a pathological process. We aimed to examine the effect of early short-term minocycline on the left ventricular function following ST-elevation myocardial infarction treated by the primary percutaneous coronary intervention.

Methods

In this double-blind, randomized controlled trial, data of 73 patients STEMI patients who were candidates for primary PCI were enrolled. Patients were then randomized to receive minocycline 50 mg orally, followed by 50 mg once a day for 5 days or a placebo with the same schedule. Measurement of serum matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) and 2-dimensional speckle tracking echocardiography was performed at baseline and between 4 and 6 months after discharge. Then the demographic, clinical, echocardiographic, and angiographic data, as well as the levels of MMP-9, were compared between the study groups.

Results

There was no statistically significant difference between the study groups regarding the baseline characteristics. Serum levels of MMP-9 did not change following the intervention within each group and were not significantly different between the groups after follow-up. In the follow-up echocardiography, we also did not observe any difference between the two groups

Conclusion

In this study, we did not observe any effect of minocycline on cardiac remodeling based on 2-dimensional speckle tracking echocardiography and MMP-9 levels.

Trial registration

Iranian Registry of Clinical Trials IRCT201411188698N15. Registered on 22 June 2015, prospectively.
Statistical analysis of publicly funded cluster randomised controlled trials: a review of the National Institute for Health Research Journals Library
Authors: Offorha Bright C. , Walters Stephen J. , Jacques Richard M.
Published: February 2022

Background

In cluster randomised controlled trials (cRCTs), groups of individuals (rather than individuals) are randomised to minimise the risk of contamination and/or efficiently use limited resources or solve logistic and administrative problems. A major concern in the primary analysis of cRCT is the use of appropriate statistical methods to account for correlation among outcomes from a particular group/cluster. This review aimed to investigate the statistical methods used in practice for analysing the primary outcomes in publicly funded cluster randomised controlled trials, adherence to the CONSORT (Consolidated Standards of Reporting Trials) reporting guidelines for cRCTs and the recruitment abilities of the cluster trials design.

Methods

We manually searched the United Kingdom’s National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) online Journals Library, from 1 January 1997 to 15 July 2021 chronologically for reports of cRCTs. Information on the statistical methods used in the primary analyses was extracted. One reviewer conducted the search and extraction while the two other independent reviewers supervised and validated 25% of the total trials reviewed.

Results

A total of 1942 reports, published online in the NIHR Journals Library were screened for eligibility, 118 reports of cRCTs met the initial inclusion criteria, of these 79 reports containing the results of 86 trials with 100 primary outcomes analysed were finally included. Two primary outcomes were analysed at the cluster-level using a generalized linear model. At the individual-level, the generalized linear mixed model was the most used statistical method (80%, 80/100), followed by regression with robust standard errors (7%) then generalized estimating equations (6%). Ninety-five percent (95/100) of the primary outcomes in the trials were analysed with appropriate statistical methods that accounted for clustering while 5% were not. The mean observed intracluster correlation coefficient (ICC) was 0.06 (SD, 0.12; range, − 0.02 to 0.63), and the median value was 0.02 (IQR, 0.001–0.060), although 42% of the observed ICCs for the analysed primary outcomes were not reported.

Conclusions

In practice, most of the publicly funded cluster trials adjusted for clustering using appropriate statistical method(s), with most of the primary analyses done at the individual level using generalized linear mixed models. However, the inadequate analysis and poor reporting of cluster trials published in the UK is still happening in recent times, despite the availability of the CONSORT reporting guidelines for cluster trials published over a decade ago.
The impact of antimicrobial resistance awareness interventions involving schoolchildren, development of an animation and parents engagements: a pilot study
Authors: Appiah Bernard , Asamoah-Akuoko Lucy , Samman Elfreda , Koduah Augustina , Kretchy Irene Akwo , Ludu Julius Yaw , Odonkor Gloria , Nam Su Hyun , Gyansa-Luterrodt Martha
Published: February 2022

Background

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a global health challenge, particularly in low- and middle-income countries where antibiotics are widely available to consumers, leading to their misuse. However, AMR educational interventions for engaging parents of schoolchildren are mainly lacking in Sub-Saharan Africa. This study aimed to assess the potential of AMR animation and schoolchildren in influencing parents’ AMR knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs.

Methods

Parents of schoolchildren aged 11–15 years in Tema, a city in Ghana, watched and discussed an AMR animation designed with ideas from the schoolchildren’s top stories and picture drawings. The children from two schools were first engaged with AMR lessons, with one school using storytelling, the other school using picture drawing, and none serving as a control. The children were then asked to discuss the lessons with their parents. Baseline surveys of parents of randomly selected children were conducted to assess AMR knowledge, attitudes and beliefs before engaging the students and parents, and immediately after the parents participated in viewing and discussing the animation. McNemar and t-tests were used to assess changes in AMR knowledge, attitudes and beliefs.

Results

Parents who participated in the animation event, and whose schoolchildren were in the storytelling intervention school had significantly improved knowledge regarding the statement “Antibiotics will cure any infection” (p = 0.021, χ2 = 0.711; 88% vs 50%) between baseline and endline. However, these parents also had statistically significant decreased scores regarding the statement “Antibiotics do not kill our good bacteria” (p = 0.021, χ2 = 1.042; 71.4% vs 40%) between baseline and endline. There was no significant effect on any statement among parents whose children were in the picture drawing school. However, t-test results combining the statements as composite scores showed statistically significant difference in only the attitude construct among parents whose children participated in storytelling intervention (p = 0.043) or picture drawing intervention (p = 0.019). There were no statistically significant changes in knowledge and beliefs constructs.

Conclusions

This study shows that interventions involving schoolchildren with parents engagements and AMR animation could influence parents’ AMR attitudes. The intervention could also positively or negatively impact parents’ AMR knowledge. Modifications of the interventions may be needed for tackling AMR.
Mathematics and science across the transition from primary to secondary school: a systematic literature review
Authors: Kaur Tandeep , McLoughlin Eilish , Grimes Paul
Published: February 2022

This study presents the findings from a systematic review of literature (1990–2020) of mathematics and science transition from primary to secondary education. The purpose of this review was to explore factors that influence students’ experiences of mathematics and science transition from primary to secondary school, implications of these experiences and measures that have been used to support students during these transitions. In total, 73 publications related to mathematics transition and 47 publications related to science transition were analysed. Synthesis of findings identified three factors, namely student self-regulation, school and academic related, and social factors that contribute to shaping students’ positive or negative experiences of mathematics and science transitions. The review findings suggest that no single factor can be attributed to influence students’ experiences of mathematics and science transition and an interplay between various factors contributes to these experiences. The implications of difficult transition experiences were identified as shifts in students’ academic achievement, attitudes towards mathematics and science and constructs related to identity development. Recommendations for future research are proposed to address gaps identified in current literature.
Effects of norepinephrine infusion on cerebral energy metabolism during experimental haemorrhagic shock
Authors: Jakobsen Rasmus Peter , Hansen Elisabeth Charlotte , Nielsen Troels Halfeld , Nordström Carl-Henrik , Toft Palle
Published: February 2022

Background

The use of norepinephrine in the case of life-threatening haemorrhagic shock is well established but widely discussed. The present study was designed to compare the effects of early norepinephrine treatment vs. no treatment on cerebral energy metabolism during haemorrhagic shock.

Methods

Twelve pigs were subjected to haemorrhagic shock, 4 in the control group and 8 in the norepinephrine (NE) group. Following a 60 min baseline period haemorrhagic shock was achieved by bleeding all animals to a pre-defined mean arterial blood pressure (MAP) of approximately 40 mm Hg. When mean arterial pressure had decreased to 40 mmHg NE infusion started in the treatment group. After 90 min, NE infusion stopped, and all pigs were resuscitated with autologous blood and observed for 2.5 h. During the experiment cerebral tissue oxygenation (PbtO2) was monitored continuously and variables reflecting cerebral energy metabolism (glucose, lactate, pyruvate, glutamate, glycerol) were measured by utilizing intracerebral microdialysis.

Results

All 12 pigs completed the protocol. NE infusion resulted in significantly higher MAP (p < 0.001). During the shock period lactate/pyruvate (LP) ratio group increased from 20 (15–29) to 66 (38–82) (median (IQR)) in the control group but remained within normal limits in the NE group. The significant increase in LP ratio in the control group remained after resuscitation. After induction of shock PbtO2 decreased markedly in the control group and was significantly lower than in the NE group during the resuscitation phase.

Conclusion

NE infusion during haemorrhagic shock improved cerebral energy metabolism compared with no treatment.
Use of Taguchi method for high energy ball milling of CaCO3
Authors: Radune Maya , Lugovskoy Svetlana , Knop Yaniv , Yankelevitch Avigdor
Published: February 2022

Taguchi’s method was applied to investigate the effect of main high energy ball milling (HEBM) parameters: milling time (MT), ball to powder weight ratio (BPWR), and milling speed (MS) on the CaCO3 crystallite size. The settings of HEBM parameters were determined by using the L9 (33) orthogonal experiments array (OA). The as-received and milled powders were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD) scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. The crystallite size of CaCO3 varied between 140 and 540 nm depending on the HEBM conditions. The analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to find the significance and percentage of contribution of each milling parameter. It was established that the MT is the most effective parameter followed by MS and BPWR. A confirmation test was carried out with a 90% confidence level to illustrate the effectiveness of the Taguchi optimization method. The optimum milling parameter combination was determined by using the analysis of signal-to-noise (S/N) ratio. Based on the S/N ratio analysis, optimal HEBM conditions were found MT 10 h, MS 600 revolutions per minute (rpm), BPWR 50:1.
Improving management of needle distress during the journey to dialysis through psychological education and training—the INJECT study feasibility pilot protocol
Authors: Radisic G. , Duncanson E. , Le Leu R. , Collins K. L. , Burke A. L. J. , Turner J. K. , Chur-Hansen A. , Donnelly F. , Hill K. , McDonald S. , Macauley L. , Jesudason S.
Published: February 2022

Background

Needle-related distress is a common yet poorly recognised and managed problem among haemodialysis (HD) patients. The aim of this pilot study is to test the feasibility and acceptability of the INJECT Intervention—an innovative psychology-based intervention to empower patients to self-manage needle distress with the support of dialysis nurses.

Methods

This investigator-initiated, single-arm, non-randomised feasibility study will take place in a large dialysis service in Adelaide, Australia. Participants will include patients aged ≥ 18 years, commencing or already receiving maintenance HD, recruited through dialysis physicians and nursing staff as individuals believed to be at risk of needle distress. They will be screened for inclusion using the Dialysis Fear of Injection Questionnaire (DFIQ) and enrolled into the study if the score is ≥ 2. The multi-pronged intervention encompasses (i) psychologist review, (ii) patient self-management program and (iii) nursing education program. The primary aim is to evaluate feasibility and acceptability of the intervention from patient and dialysis nurse perspectives, including recruitment, retention, engagement with the intervention and completion. Secondary exploratory outcomes will assess suitability of various tools for measuring needle distress, evaluate acceptability of the nursing education program and measure cannulation-related trauma and vascular access outcomes.

Conclusion

The results will inform the protocol for larger trials addressing needle distress in HD patients.

Trial registration

Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry (ANZCTR): ACTRN12621000229875, approved 4 April 2021, https://www.anzctr.org.au/.
InSegtCone: interactive segmentation of crystalline cones in compound eyes
Authors: Tichit Pierre , Zhou Tunhe , Kjer Hans Martin , Dahl Vedrana Andersen , Dahl Anders Bjorholm , Baird Emily
Published: February 2022

Background

Understanding the diversity of eyes is crucial to unravel how different animals use vision to interact with their respective environments. To date, comparative studies of eye anatomy are scarce because they often involve time-consuming or inefficient methods. X-ray micro-tomography (micro-CT) is a promising high-throughput imaging technique that enables to reconstruct the 3D anatomy of eyes, but powerful tools are needed to perform fast conversions of anatomical reconstructions into functional eye models.

Results

We developed a computing method named InSegtCone to automatically segment the crystalline cones in the apposition compound eyes of arthropods. Here, we describe the full auto-segmentation process, showcase its application to three different insect compound eyes and evaluate its performance. The auto-segmentation could successfully label the full individual shapes of 60-80% of the crystalline cones and is about as accurate and 250 times faster than manual labelling of the individual cones.

Conclusions

We believe that InSegtCone can be an important tool for peer scientists to measure the orientation, size and dynamics of crystalline cones, leading to the accurate optical modelling of the diversity of arthropod eyes with micro-CT.
Mechanical obstruction of the peritoneal catheter with ovarian fimbriae, case reports
Authors: Jug Juraj , Kocman Ivica , Prkačin Ingrid
Published: February 2022

The number of treated patients with peritoneal dialysis accounts for 2.8% of all kidney replacement therapy methods and constantly decreases. Peritoneal dialysis should be the first choice as the kidney function replacement treatment method in a transplantation waiting period. Besides all other possible infectious and mechanical complications of peritoneal catheter placement and maintenance, mechanical obstruction by ovarian fimbriae is very rare but potentially dangerous. We present four clinical cases (women 32–56 years) of mechanical obstruction of the peritoneal catheter by ovarian fimbriae during 2012–2014 in Clinical Hospital Merkur, Zagreb, Croatia. We use a laparoscopic technique with Čala trocar for peritoneal catheter placement in the right part of the Douglas cavity using a double-cuff Tenckhoff straight catheter. In our cases, all described obstructions were on the right side of the abdominal cavity. Only one patient had a displaced catheter. This problem was described only in a few case reports in which were presented with fluid exchange difficulties or initial vaginal secretion which can be easily mistaken for urinary incontinence. Mechanical complications connected with a peritoneal catheter can be successfully solved with laparoscopy intervention, which includes the ovary fimbriae obstruction.
Cross-cultural differences in visuo-spatial processing and the culture-fairness of visuo-spatial intelligence tests: an integrative review and a model for matrices tasks
Authors: Gonthier Corentin
Published: February 2022

Visuo-spatial reasoning tests, such as Raven's matrices, Cattell's culture-fair test, or various subtests of the Wechsler scales, are frequently used to estimate intelligence scores in the context of inter-racial comparisons. This has led to several high-profile works claiming that certain ethnic groups have lower intelligence than others, presumably due to genetic inferiority. This logic is predicated on the assumption that such visuo-spatial tests, because they are non-verbal, must be culture-fair: that their solution process does not significantly draw on factors that vary from one culture to the next. This assumption of culture-fairness is dubious at best and has been questioned by many authors. In this article, I review the substantial body of psychological and ethnographic literature which has demonstrated that the perception, manipulation and conceptualization of visuo-spatial information differs significantly across cultures, in a way that is relevant to intelligence tests. I then outline a model of how these inter-cultural differences can affect seven major steps of the solution process for Raven's matrices, with a brief discussion of other visuo-spatial reasoning tests. Overall, a number of cultural assumptions appear to be deeply ingrained in all visuo-spatial reasoning tests, to the extent that it disqualifies the view of such tests as intrinsically culture-fair and makes it impossible to draw clear-cut conclusions from average score differences between ethnic groups.
Effects of verbal tasks on driving simulator performance
Authors: Rann Jonathan C. , Almor Amit
Published: February 2022

We report results from a driving simulator paradigm we developed to test the fine temporal effects of verbal tasks on simultaneous tracking performance. A total of 74 undergraduate students participated in two experiments in which they controlled a cursor using the steering wheel to track a moving target and where the dependent measure was overall deviation from target. Experiment 1 tested tracking performance during slow and fast target speeds under conditions involving either no verbal input or output, passive listening to spoken prompts via headphones, or responding to spoken prompts. Experiment 2 was similar except that participants read written prompts overlain on the simulator screen instead of listening to spoken prompts. Performance in both experiments was worse during fast speeds and worst overall during responding conditions. Most significantly, fine scale time-course analysis revealed deteriorating tracking performance as participants prepared and began speaking and steadily improving performance while speaking. Additionally, post-block survey data revealed that conversation recall was best in responding conditions, and perceived difficulty increased with task complexity. Our study is the first to track temporal changes in interference at high resolution during the first hundreds of milliseconds of verbal production and comprehension. Our results are consistent with load-based theories of multitasking performance and show that language production, and, to a lesser extent, language comprehension tap resources also used for tracking. More generally, our paradigm provides a useful tool for measuring dynamical changes in tracking performance during verbal tasks due to the rapidly changing resource requirements of language production and comprehension.
The optimal use of computer aided detection to find low prevalence cancers
Authors: Kunar Melina A.
Published: February 2022

People miss a high proportion of targets that only appear rarely. This low prevalence (LP) effect has implications for applied search tasks such as the clinical reading of mammograms. Computer aided detection (CAD) has been used to help radiologists search mammograms by highlighting areas likely to contain a cancer. Previous research has found a benefit in search when CAD cues were correct but a cost to search when CAD cues were incorrect. The current research investigated whether there is an optimal way to present CAD to ensure low error rates when CAD is both correct and incorrect. Experiment 1 compared an automatic condition, where CAD appeared simultaneously with the display to an interactive condition, where participants could choose to use CAD. Experiment 2 compared the automatic condition to a confirm condition, where participants searched the display first before being shown the CAD cues. The results showed that miss errors were reduced overall in the confirm condition, with no cost to false alarms. Furthermore, having CAD be interactive, resulted in a low uptake where it was only used in 34% of trials. The results showed that the presentation mode of CAD can affect decision-making in LP search.
Reversible occlusion of the pulmonary vasculature by transarterial embolisation with degradable starch microspheres: preclinical assessment in a human isolated lung perfusion model
Authors: Schaarschmidt Benedikt M. , Slama Alexis , Collaud Stéphane , Okumus Özlem , Steinberg Hannah , Bauer Sebastian , Schildhaus Hans-Ulrich , Theysohn Jens , Aigner Clemens
Published: February 2022

Background

Transpulmonary embolisation (TPE) using degradable starch microspheres (DSM) is a potential approach to treat pulmonary metastases. However, there is a paucity of detailed information on perfusion dynamics. The aim of this study was to establish a human ex vivo isolated lung perfusion (ILP) model to observe and evaluate the effects of DSM-TPE in a near-physiologic setting.

Methods

ILP was carried out on six surgically resected lung lobes. At baseline, computed tomography (CT), including CT perfusion imaging (CTPI), and histopathological sampling were performed (t30). DSM-TPE was initiated and increased stepwise (t45, t60, t75, and t90) to be followed by CT imaging, histopathological sampling, and pulmonary arterial pressure (PAP). After the last assessment (t90), alpha-amylase was injected into the pulmonary artery to allow for DSM hydrolysation and two additional assessments (t105; t120). Histopathological specimens were evaluated using a semiquantitative ordinal score. CTPI was used for time to peak (TTP) analysis.

Results

After DSM administration, PAP and TTP increased significantly: PAP slope 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.104−0.483, p = 0.004; TTP t30 versus t45, p = 0.046. After the addition of alpha-amylase, functional parameters reverted to values comparable to baseline. In histopathological samples, embolisation grades increased significantly until t90 (slope 95% CI 0.027−0.066, p < 0.001) and decreased after addition of alpha-amylase (slope 95% CI -0.060−0.012, p = 0.165),

Conclusions

The ILP model demonstrated successfully both the physiologic effect of DSM-TPE on human lungs and its reversibility with alpha-amylase. Thus, it can be used as a near-physiologic preclinical tool to simulate and assess later clinical approaches.
Oral mucosal lesions during SARS-CoV-2 infection: a case series and literature review
Authors: Mahmoud Mohammad Salah , Taha Mohamed Shehata , Mansour Ossama Ibrahim , Barakat Eman , Allah Samar Abd , Omran Azza , Askoura Anas
Published: February 2022

Background

The most common manifestations of infection with COVID-19 are fever, sore throat, dry cough, headache, and body aches. The available evidence for successful and safe pharmacological therapy against COVID-19 has not yet been identified, and the possible evidence relates to many adverse reactions. Taste disorders, petechiae, desquamative gingivitis, unspecific oral ulcerations, xerostomia, and candidiasis are the oral manifestations related to SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Main body of the abstract

We reviewed the literature regarding the reported oral mucosal lesions in cases with confirmed COVID-19 infection together with presenting five cases with oral mucosal lesions associated with COVID-19 infection. Direct causal association between COVID-19 infection and oral mucosal lesions is still vague, hence further research is required.

Conclusion

Oral examination is mandatory in cases with suspected or confirmed COVID-19 infection.
Ensemble-based well-log interpretation and uncertainty quantification for well geosteering
Authors: Jahani Nazanin , Ambia Garrido Joaquin , Alyaev Sergey , Fossum Kristian , Suter Erich , Torres-Verdín Carlos
Published: February 2022

Hydrocarbon reservoirs are often located in spatially complex and uncertain geologic environments, where the associated costs of drilling wells for exploration and development are notoriously high. These costs may be reduced with an optimized well-placement strategy based on real-time geologic information, known as well geosteering. To effectively place the well in an updated geomodel and support well geosteering decisions in real time, we apply an iterative inversion approach based on the Levenberg-Marquardt form of the ensemble randomized maximum likelihood method. The method estimates geomodel properties together with their uncertainties by reducing the statistical misfit between the measurements acquired with well-logging tools and the predicted measurements from numerical simulations. Analyses of synthetic cases indicate that the method’s reliability and computational speed depend on the distance from the logging tool to formation boundaries, the contrast of model properties, and the thickness of formation layers. Our method delivers reliable estimates of model properties with only 40 ensemble members and 2–10 iterations; hence, it is approximately 10–125 times faster than Metropolis-Hastings Monte Carlo, which we use as a baseline condition given its proven track record. Likewise, our method is amenable to parallelization to further reduce computational times. Implementation of the method with a synthetic example inspired by a historical well geosteering operation yields accurate formation evaluation and verifies its accurate and reliable performance under complex geologic conditions.
Robust full-waveform inversion with graph-space optimal transport: Application to 3D ocean-bottom cable Valhall data
Authors: Pladys Arnaud , Brossier Romain , Kamath Nishant , Métivier Ludovic
Published: February 2022

Improving full-waveform inversion robustness to cycle-skipping has been the subject of a large number of studies. From the several families of approaches developed, one of the most documented consists in modifying the least-squares distance misfit function. From all the propositions made to improve and replace the least-squares distance, only a few of them have been applied to field data. One of the methods proposed recently, the graph space optimal transport distance, presents appealing properties for field data applications. We compare it with the least-squares distance in an analysis performed on the three-dimensional ocean bottom cable data from the Valhall field. We first perform this comparison starting the inversion from the reflection traveltime tomography model used in previous studies. We then perform a second comparison from a crude, linearly varying in-depth one-dimensional velocity model. Starting from this model, least-squares-based full-waveform inversion fails to provide a meaningful estimate of the pressure-wave velocity model due to cycle skipping. We illustrate how the graph-space optimal transport-based full-waveform inversion mitigates this issue. A meaningful estimate of the pressure-wave velocity model is obtained in the zone sampled by both diving and reflected waves, down to almost two kilometers depth.
Characterizing the subsea Pleistocene fluvial system of the Sunda shelf, offshore Malaysia, using multiattribute corendering and self-organizing maps
Authors: Babikir Ismailalwali , Salim Ahmed Mohamed Ahmed , Hermana Maman , Abdul Latiff Abdul Halim , Al-Masgari Abd Al-Salam
Published: February 2022

The advancement of multiattribute analysis techniques has significantly improved the ability to capture subtle geologic information that is not easily detected on the original seismic. The use of corendering and automated facies clustering/classification techniques with an appropriate set of seismic attributes increases the reliability and accelerates the interpretation process. We have proved the effectiveness of multiattribute corendering and self-organizing maps (SOMs) in characterizing the late Pleistocene fluvial system of the Sunda shelf that was previously studied using the original seismic only. The work aims to document the attribute expression and capture subtle depositional patterns of the fluvial system. We find that amplitude, texture, and spectral attributes delineate the lithology contrast among different depositional features, whereas geometric attributes reveal channel morphology. The red-green-blue and alpha blends significantly increased the data interpretability by manipulating up to four attributes in the same display. In addition, the SOM clustering aids in distinguishing among different sand-prone depositional elements and muddy facies. We use the cross-cutting relation and superposition rules to understand the stratigraphic evolution of the interval. We observe several fluvial depositional elements through a closely spaced time slicing, including straight channel, meander channel, point bar, crevasse splay, and levee. We recognize that the straight and low-sinuosity channels were developed along preexisting faults and find a deeper incision and thicker sediment fill than the other channel types. The widely variable fluvial style in the middle of the interval is attributed to a rapid change in the accommodation space and climate conditions. The small meanders that find a prominent dendritic pattern indicate a marine influence on the less channelized uppermost part of the interval. The well-imaged and documented shallow fluvial system in the area represents an excellent analogous that helps to understand and accurately predict the reservoir distribution in the deeper productive stratigraphic units.