bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Comparison of risk factors and outcome of patients with and without COVID‐19‐associated pulmonary aspergillosis from Pakistan: A case–control study
Authors: Nasir Nosheen , Farooqi Joveria , Zubair Syed Muhammad , Ayub Maaha , Khan Shahmeer , Wiqar Muhammad Hassaan , Mahmood Syed Faisal , Jabeen Kauser
Published: September 2022

Background

Early identification of COVID‐19‐associated pulmonary aspergillosis (CAPA) is particularly challenging in low‐ middle‐income countries where diagnostic capabilities are limited, and risk factors for CAPA have not been identified. It is also essential to recognise CAPA patients who are likely to have a poorer outcome to decide on aggressive management approaches. Therefore, this study aimed to identify risk factors and outcomes for CAPA among admitted moderate to critical COVID‐19 patients at our centre in Pakistan.

Methods

An unmatched case–control study with ratio of 1:2 was conducted on hospitalised adult patients with COVID‐19 from March 2020–July 2021. Cases were defined according to European Confederation of Medical Mycology and the International Society for Human and Animal Mycology consensus criteria. Controls were defined as patients hospitalised with moderate, severe or critical COVID‐19 without CAPA.

Results

A total of 100 CAPA cases (27 probable CAPA; 73 possible CAPA) were compared with 237 controls. Critical disease at presentation (aOR 5.04; 95% CI 2.18–11.63), age ≥ 60 years (aOR 2.00; 95% CI 1.20–3.35) and underlying co‐morbid of chronic kidney disease (CKD) (aOR 3.78; 95% CI 1.57–9.08) were identified as risk factors for CAPA. Patients with CAPA had a significantly greater proportion of complications and longer length of hospital stay (p‐value < .001). Mortality was higher in patients with CAPA (48%) as compared to those without CAPA (13.5%) [OR = 6.36(95% CI 3.6–11)].

Conclusions

CAPA was significantly associated with advanced age, CKD and critical illness at presentation, along with a greater frequency of complications and higher mortality.
Algeria: A three‐sector macrofiscal model for debt sustainability and growth policy analysis
Authors: Pinto Moreira Emmanuel , Alpaslan Barış
Published: September 2022

In this paper, we present a dynamic general equilibrium (DGE) model to address the macrofiscal vulnerabilities and the effects of fiscal policy on growth and employment in Algeria. We first discuss the baseline scenario over the period 2021–2040. According to our baseline results, without fundamental changes in fiscal policies, even relatively high growth will not be sufficient to put public debt on a sustainable path. We then conduct four experiments and assess their impact on fiscal accounts, growth, and unemployment: an increase in the efficiency of public spending on infrastructure investment, a gradual reduction in the share of noninterest government spending in GDP, the same gradual reduction in spending combined with a permanent increase in the share of investment in infrastructure in total noninterest government expenditure, and a composite fiscal reform program that combines these individual policies, respectively. The results suggest that public debt sustainability can be achieved, and growth and employment can be promoted, as long as an ambitious fiscal reform program involving tax, spending, and governance reforms is implemented. Importantly, our quantitative analysis shows that, with a well‐designed fiscal program, there may be no trade‐off between fiscal consolidation and economic growth.
Stroboscopic vision prolongs visual motion perception in the central nervous system
Authors: Hülsdünker Thorben , Fontaine Gaetan , Mierau Andreas
Published: September 2022

Stroboscopic training has repeatedly been shown to improve visual and visuomotor performance in sports. Although recent research suggests that stroboscopic vision puts a training stimulus to the central nervous system, the underlying mechanism how it affects motion perception and processing in the brain is still unknown. Twenty‐six participants performed a computer‐based simple reaction test in response to a visual motion stimulus under normal (baseline) and stroboscopic conditions (5 Hz frequency, 40% duty cycle) (stroboscopic). A third condition under normal vision intermittently stopped the motion stimulus at the same frequency and duty cycle as in the stroboscopic condition. This condition controlled for the amount of visual motion information independent of the shutter glasses (screen shutter) and provided information about the effect of luminance changes induced by the stroboscopic eyewear. A 64‐channel EEG was recorded to determine the amplitude and latency of the N2 component as a correlate of visual motion perception in the motion‐sensitive visual area MT. Reaction time under stroboscopic conditions was significantly delayed when compared to both the baseline (p < 0.001) and screen shutter (p < 0.001) conditions. This was accompanied by a significantly prolonged N2 latency (p < 0.001) and lower N2 amplitude (p < 0.001) with the shutter glasses. There was no difference in reaction time or N2 amplitude/latency between the baseline and screen shutter condition (p ≥ 0.176). Stroboscopic eyewear delays the speed of visual motion perception and processing in the central nervous system and reduces the visuomotor reaction speed. This may form the neurophysiological basis for performance gains following stroboscopic training.
Mentoring for Effective Teaching - An Analysis of Austrian Teachers’ School-based Mentoring Practices
Authors: Haas Elisabeth , Hudson Peter , Hudson Sue
Published: September 2022

Mentoring studies worldwide indicate various methods of mentoring yet there are commonalities for mentoring around the classroom and school practices. Gauging a country’s potential for mentoring early-career teachers can provide understandings of current mentoring practices towards initiating advancements. This quantitative study drew upon a validated survey instrument to gain insights on how mentoring occurs in Austria. Participants (mentors, n=63) provided indications on their mentoring experiences across five factors (personal attributes, system requirements, pedagogical knowledge, modelling, and feedback). Results show that these mentors were motivated to support their mentees, particularly with pedagogical knowledge (e.g., classroom management). As a self-reporting instrument, participants claimed they mentored on 9 of the 11 pedagogical knowledge items with percentages greater than 68%, however, only a little more than half mentored content knowledge and assessment. Using the survey provided information on what to focus on for advancing mentoring practices in Austria - especially with questions of support in the areas of planning, implementation, questioning techniques and assessment.
Priming of Solanum Tuberosum in vitro plants with PVY-specific interfering RNAs activates anti-viral resistance
Authors: Sutula M. , Khosnutdinova T. , Zhakmanova Yе. , Dolanbayeva G. , Bogdanova X. , Yessilbekova Ye. , Komekova G. , Kabatayeva Zh.
Published: September 2022

Helper component-proteinase (HC-Pro) is a multifunctional suppressor protein synthesized by potato virus Y (PVY), which is able to neutralize the protective mechanisms of RNA interference (RNA-i) in potato plants, thereby causing systemic infection of the host plant and significant damage to the tuber material. This article demonstrates how one of the main functions of HC-Pro, the capture and retention of short interfering RNAs, 21-23 nt in size (siRNA) on the surface of protein subunits, can be used to create virus-resistant potato plants in vitro. The proposed method is based on the selective dissociation of the HC-Pro/siRNA complex from PVY-infected plants and siRNA-priming of healthy plants. Purified preparations of PVY-specific siRNAs were obtained using column gel filtration followed by immunoprecipitation and phenol-chloroform extraction. Injections of siRNA into the leaf plate of virus-free potato microplants, cultivars bred at Amanzholov University, led to a decrease in the accumulation of viral particles in the cytoplasm of plants inoculated with the wild PVY strain and the formation of resistance to PVY for the entire growing season.
INHIBITORY ACTIVITY OF ARTEMISIA ANNUA L. EXTRACTS AGAINST SARS-COV-2 CORONAVIRUS
Authors: Zhurinov M. , Miftakhova A. , Shustov A. , Keyer V. , Solodova E.
Published: September 2022

The article describes preparing extracts of Artemisia annua L. and the use of the extracts to compare the virus-inhibiting activity against the coronavirus SARS-CoV-2.

The extracts were prepared using hot water, water-alcohol mixture and butanol. The extracts were tested in screening-format tests on Vero E6 cells to measure the cytotoxicity and antiviral activity. Values of 50% inhibitory concentration (IC50) which measure the cytotoxicity were as follows: for the hot-water extract - 1587 µg/ml, for butanol extract - 713 µg/ml, and for water-alcohol extract >2000 µg/ml. The quite high IC50 values indicate that the hot-water and butanol extracts have little cytotoxicity, and the water-alcohol extract is not toxic in vitro.

Protection from the virus-induced cytopathic effect was observed in infected cultures upon addition of the extracts. Concentrations at which the extracts demonstrate the highest protection were measured by counting densities of live cells (in infected cultures)using the MTT-test. The results of the MTT-testin a form of dependence of optical densities from extracts’ concentrations are presented in the paper. All three extracts show the ability to inhibit the replication of the SARS-CoV-2 virus. For hot-water and butanol extracts, the peak density of live cells in infected cultures was observed when the extracts were present at the concentration of 667 μg/ml;however at the higher concentration (2000 µg/ml), both extracts inhibit cell growth. However, none of the three extracts at the optimal concentration completely suppress viral replication.The work needs to be continued to produce an effective herbal drug against the SARS-CoV-2 virus.
Cuestiones críticas en los estudios de teología negra desde una perspectiva decolonial
Authors: Caldeira Cleusa , Das Chagas de Alburquerque Francisco
Published: September 2022

Este texto forma parte del proyecto de investigación postdoctoral en teología, en el que la autora propone sentar las bases epistemológicas de una Teología Negra Fundamental. Por un lado, se trata de asumir la crítica descolonial, más concretamente la asunción de la clasificación racial de la humanidad como eje principal del patrón de poder colonial que se actualiza como colonialidad. Por otro lado, dada la complicidad histórica y epistémica de la teología con la colonialidad al asumir el eurocentrismo, se señalan algunos desafíos para los Estudios de Teología Negra desde una perspectiva decolonial, lo que implica asumir las innumerables epistemologías invisibilizadas e incluso demonizadas en el quehacer teológico. Además de señalar la inexistencia de una disciplina de Teología Negra en las facultades y posgrados de teología, que ratifique el eurocentrismo, se destacan cuestiones epistemológicas que pueden contribuir a la construcción de un pensamiento teológico negro capaz de dar respuesta a las luchas y esperanzas de la comunidad negra y, al mismo tiempo, participar en el debate público interdisciplinario. Por tanto, una teología negra brasileña implica hacer justicia cognitiva y epistémica al pensamiento negro y, de manera especial, al pensamento negro brasileño; sin el cual se vuelve imposible acceder al real racista que sigue deshumanizando a una parte considerable de la humanidad. Central es la asunción de la experiencia vivida de la comunidad negra como lugar teológico para pronunciar un balbuceo sobre la experiencia humano-divina capaz de promover la humanización de todos. El método de investigación está marcado, sobre todo, por la afirmación de la sujeta teológica en lugar de la enunciación de la experiencia corporal de ser negra brasileña. Situada en este cuerpo geopolítico de conocimiento, lo que sigue es parte de la propia experiencia vivida y, al mismo tiempo, del deseo de tejer un saber que toma esta experiencia como lugar teológico. Para ello, busca hacer justicia epistémica al pensamiento crítico negro y, así, a través de una breve revisión bibliográfica, señalar posibles caminos antirracistas hacia la teología.
Axial Compressor Map Generation Leveraging Autonomous Self-Training Artificial Intelligence
Authors: Burlaka Maksym , Moroz Leonid
Published: September 2022

The paper describes the study performed by SoftInWay in the scope of the Phase I SBIR project funded by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). The project was dedicated to a study of optimization of the variable geometry reset angle schedules with the use of innovative autonomous artificial intelligence (AI) technology. In the scope of the project, an automated compressor performance data generation workflow was developed. Three highly loaded multistage axial compressors were designed. The developed workflow was used to generate the training, validation, and test data sets for all three compressors. Multiple different architectures of artificial neural networks were studied, and parametric models for the representation of performance speedlines were developed. Utilizing the developed approaches, artificial neural networks were trained for all three compressors to predict their performance with a relative error below 3%. The trained neural networks were successfully used in the optimization of the variable inlet guide vanes and variable stator vanes reset angle schedules with a relative error of total-to-total pressure ratio prediction below 2% for most of the points and relative error of total-to-total efficiency prediction below 1% for all the points of the operational line. The capability of the developed AI models to accurately predict the optimal combination of reset angles and efficiency of the axial compressor with multiple vanes controlled independently allowed doing quick evaluations of efficiency and stability margins. The availability of such information enables the opportunity to make technical-economical decisions about the reasonability of implementation of independent variable vanes and their number during engine system analysis.
Mitigation of Boundary Layer Ingestion Circumferential Distortion Using Nonaxisymmetric Fan Exit Guide Vanes
Authors: Hall D. K. , Greitzer E. M. , Tan C. S.
Published: September 2022

This paper presents an assessment of the effect of nonaxisymmetric fan exit guide vanes (FEGVs) to mitigate, or even reduce to zero, the impact of circumferential flow distortion—such as created by boundary layer ingestion (BLI)—on fan rotor efficiency and vibratory structural forcing. The fan response to circumferential nonuniformities is characterized, for two-dimensional flow, in terms of the variations in incidence angle and unsteady rotor forces. FEGV designs with nonaxisymmetric exit flow angle perturbations can eliminate either of these. More importantly, nonaxisymmetric stator row designs can reduce both nonuniformities relative to the influence of an axisymmetric stator row. This suggests that design for distortion need not involve a tradeoff between performance and aeromechanics; a nonaxisymmetric aerodynamic design approach can improve both simultaneously. Analysis of the impact of stage design parameters has been carried out to determine FEGV exit flow angle variations that shield the rotor from the adverse effects of circumferential distortions representative of BLI. The results indicate that inlet distortion effects can be mitigated with realizable nonaxisymmetric FEGVs. The magnitude of the geometry variations required decreases with decreased axial rotor–stator spacing and increased flow coefficient.
Moiré Tuning of the Dynamic Behavior of a Twisted Bilayer van der Waals Material Resonator
Authors: Liu Rumeng , He Jiaye , Zhang Jicheng , Wang Lifeng
Published: September 2022

Fully atomistic simulations and a sandwich plate model are used to study the dynamic behavior of twisted 3R-MoS2 bilayers. The simulations demonstrate that for a very small twist angle, the Moiré pattern leads to the symmetry breaking of the interlayer van der Waals energy on the scale of tens of nanometers and causes the dynamic behavior of twisted 3R-MoS2 bilayers to show strong position dependence. In particular, obvious mode pair splitting is observed in twisted 3R-MoS2 bilayer resonators where the interlayer van der Waals energy distribution is nonaxisymmetric. An analysis of the results of these molecular dynamic calculations shows that this behavior can be well explained using the sandwich plate model considering the nonuniform interlayer shear effect. Moreover, the twisted 3R-MoS2 bilayer relaxation mechanism involves the transition from AA stacking order with higher interlayer van der Waals potential energy to AB or BA stacking order, resulting in local buckling in the bilayers. The natural frequencies of resonators dominated by AA domains are much lower than those of resonators dominated by AB domains and even less than those of single-layer 3R-MoS2. Furthermore, as the radius increases, the frequency shows an abnormal trend, and a frequency gap is observed in the resonators dominated by AA domains.
A Hamiltonian Formulation on Manifolds for Dynamic Modeling of Constrained Mechanisms and Energy-Preserving Integration
Authors: Li Hongchen , Ding Ye
Published: September 2022

The dynamic modeling of multibody system is crucial in motion simulations, design, and control of mechanisms. This paper proposes a Hamiltonian formulation on manifolds for mechanism modeling which involves three key steps: (1) the local parameterization of regular configuration space; (2) the coordinate formulation of the Legendre transformation; and (3) the derivation of Hamiltonian equations. Geometric numerical integrators can be naturally deployed on the proposed formulation and achieve a long-time energy-preserving integration. Based on parametric symplectic integrators and the chart-splicing technique, a novel energy-preserving scheme is proposed. Simulations on two constrained mechanisms verify our claims.
Improving detection of plasma etching end point using light compensation on optical emission spectra
Authors: Oh Se-Jin , Sung Doug-Yong , Ko Jung-Min , Nam Sang Ki
Published: September 2022

When the high aspect ratio contact, called as HARC, hole dry etching process with a high degree of difficulty is carried out in the high performance memory manufacturing process, there is a problem that the sensitivity of the optical signal detection is low due to the small open ratio and the high aspect ratio of the hole when detecting the etching end point signal using the plasma light emission. In particular, due to the fluorocarbon polymer characteristics of fluorocarbon gas, such as C4F6, C4F8, C3F8, and CH2F2, which is mainly used in the HARC hole dry etching process, the viewport, which is a part to which the optical lens is connected to measure the plasma light emitting signal with optical emission spectroscopy, called as OES, can be contaminated with the fluorocarbon polymer coating. As a result of this viewport clogging phenomenon, the intensity of the optical signal collected gradually decreases during the process (∼4%), and thus the sensitivity of the etching end point signal indicating that the etching process is terminated gradually decreases. In this study, a xenon flashlamp for optical signal compensation was additionally applied to the existing OES structure to improve the detection of the etching end point during the HARC hole dry etching process. This can improve the detection sensitivity of the OES etching end point by monitoring the viewport clogging phenomenon in real time and compensating for the reduction of the collected OES signal. The pattern wafer for testing used to verify the effect of the etching end point consists of a structure in which a mold layer sequentially stacked with Si3N4, SiO2, and SiO2 are mixed as a single layer, and as a result of the experiment, it was confirmed that the detection sensitivity of the etching end point applied with the optical signal compensation method was 18% improved from the signal measured only by the existing OES. The method is expected to improve the detection sensitivity of etching end point during the next generation high difficulty HARC hole etching process to improve the plasma etching process control method.
Surrounding line sources optimally reproduce diffuse envelopment at off-center listening positions
Authors: Riedel Stefan , Zotter Franz
Published: September 2022

Listener envelopment has previously been studied in the fields of room acoustics and multichannel sound reproduction. However, the potentially detrimental effect of a directional imbalance remains uninvestigated. This paper presents a listening experiment under anechoic conditions using a ring of 24 loudspeakers. Participants rated perceived envelopment for various loudspeaker subsets fed by incoherent noise signals. Off-center listening positions were simulated for different acoustic source models: −6 dB (point source), −3 dB (line source), or 0 dB attenuation for every doubling of distance. Only the line-source model preserved envelopment off-center, providing a low interaural level difference and a low interaural coherence as perceptual cues.
Paleoproterozoic tectonics of the northern Colorado Rocky Mountains Front Range, USA
Authors: Baird Graham B. , Grover Timothy W. , Mahan Kevin H. , Frothingham Michael G. , Raschke Markus B. , Möller Andreas , Chumley Adam S. , Hooker Jacob C. , Kelly Nigel M. , Allaz Julien M.
Published: September 2022

Two models have been proposed to explain continental crust generation in accretionary orogens. One model suggests that accretionary orogens are formed by the successive collision of juvenile arcs. The second model invokes tectonic switching, which is the repeated cycles of slab rollback and extensional backarc basin formation followed by basin collapse caused by collision, shallow subduction, and/or increased convergence rate. The northern Colorado Front Range, specifically in and around the Big Thompson, Rist, and Poudre Canyons, offers excellent exposures of Paleoproterozoic rocks to test which accretionary model best explains crust generation for a portion of the Yavapai Province.

In this contribution we have two goals: The first is to provide a field-trip guide that augments Mahan et al.’s (2013) field guide, which uses many stops that have become inaccessible or have changed because of catastrophic flooding that occurred in September 2013. This more current guide focuses on a variety of mostly Paleoproterozoic rocks within what some call the Poudre Basin. These rocks include clastic metasedimentary rocks, amphibolite, the Big Thompson Canyon tonalite suite, the northern Front Range granodiorite, granitic pegmatites, and Mesoproterozoic Silver Plume granite. The second goal is to present and synthesize new and existing geochemistry, geochronology, and isotopic data, and then discuss the origins, age, deformation, and metamorphism of these rocks in the context of the proposed tectonic models.

These data were synthesized into the following tectonic model for the Poudre Basin. At ca. 1780 Ma, the juvenile Green Mountain arc, located today along the Colorado-Wyoming border, formed and extended shortly thereafter during slab rollback, resulting in the extensional backarc Poudre basin between the diverging arc fragments. Sedimentation within the basin began at inception and continued to ca. 1735 Ma when basin rocks were intruded by the Big Thompson Canyon tonalite suite and the northern Front Range granodiorite, all of which were subsequently metamorphosed and deformed at ca. 1725 Ma. Felsic magmatism and deformation within the basin were perhaps driven by the northward shallow subduction of an oceanic plateau or seamount. This suggests that following accretion of the Green Mountain Arc, tectonic switching explains formation and collapse of the Poudre Basin and creation of some of northern Colorado’s crust.
Structure, chronology, kinematics, and geodynamics of tectonic extension in the greater Catalina metamorphic core complex, southeastern Arizona, USA
Authors: Spencer Jon E. , Richard Stephen M. , Bykerk-Kauffman Ann , Constenius Kurt N. , Valencia Victor A.
Published: September 2022

Oligocene and early Miocene displacement on the Catalina–San Pedro detachment fault and its northern correlatives uncovered mylonitic fabrics that form the greater Catalina metamorphic core complex in southeastern Arizona, USA. Gently to moderately dipping mylonitic foliations in the complex are strongly lineated, with a lineation-azimuth average of 064–244° and dominantly top-southwest shear sense over the entire 115-km-long mylonite belt. Reconstruction of detachment fault displacement based on a variety of features indicates 40–60 km of displacement, with greater displacement in more southern areas. Widespread 26–28 Ma volcanism during early extensional basin genesis was followed by 24–26 Ma granitoid magmatism. Cooling of footwall mylonites continued until 22–24 Ma, as indicated by 40Ar/39Ar mica dates. Lower temperature thermochronometers suggest that footwall exhumation was still underway at ca. 20 Ma. Tectonic reconstruction places a variety of unmetamorphosed supracrustal units in the Tucson and Silver Bell Mountains above equivalent units that were metamorphosed and penetratively deformed in the Tortolita and Santa Catalina Mountains. This restored juxtaposition is interpreted as a consequence of older Laramide thrust burial of the deformed units, with northeast-directed thrusting occurring along the Wildhorse Mountain thrust in the Rincon Mountains and related but largely concealed thrusts to the northwest. Effective extensional exhumation of lower plate rocks resulted from a general lack of internal extension of the upper plate wedge. This is attributed to a stable sliding regime during the entire period of extension, with metamorphic core complex inflation by deep crustal flow leading to maintenance of wedge surface slope and detachment fault dip that favored stable sliding rather than internal wedge extension.
New Possibilities of the CpFit Program for Approximating Heat Contents and Heat Capacities
Authors: Voskov A. L.
Published: September 2022

Created in 2016 at Moscow State University’s Laboratory of Chemical Thermodynamics, the CpFit program is designed to approximate experimental data on the heat contents and isobaric heat capacities of individual substances using third-generation CALPHAD models that include weighted sums of Einstein functions. It supports approximating anomalies in heat capacity according to excess contributions. Support for robust regression and the ability of users to specify arbitrary anomalous contributions to heat capacity in the interpreted Lua programming language have also been added to the CpFit program. CpFit is a cross-platform free software distributed under the GNU GPL 2 license.
SGLT-2 inhibitor associated euglycaemic diabetic ketoacidosis in an orthopaedic trauma patient
Authors: Ritchie Duncan Taylor , Dixon James
Published: September 2022

Euglycaemic diabetic ketoacidosis is a serious but rare adverse effect of treatment with sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 (SGLT-2) inhibitors. A man in his 60s with type 2 diabetes mellitus underwent total hip replacement for an intracapsular neck of femur fracture. His SGLT-2 inhibitor was continued perioperatively and blood glucose levels were normal throughout the admission. A diagnosis of severe euglycaemic diabetic ketoacidosis was made in the operating theatre which required treatment in a critical care unit. This resulted in increased morbidity due to decreased postoperative mobilisation and a new requirement for subcutaneous insulin. This case highlights the need for withholding SGLT-2 inhibitors in patients admitted for emergency surgery and a need for regular ketone monitoring in these patients, even in the context of normoglycaemia.
Biphasic change in retinal nerve fibre layer thickness from 30 to 60 weeks postmenstrual age in preterm infants
Authors: Shen Liangbo L. , Mangalesh Shwetha , McGeehan Brendan , Seely Kai R. , Tai Vincent , Sarin Neeru , Finkle Joanne , Winter Katrina P. , Tran-Viet Du , Freedman Sharon F. , El-Dairi Mays A. , Ying Gui-Shuang , Toth Cynthia A.
Published: September 2022

Background/Aims

The optic nerve development during the critical postnatal weeks of preterm infants is unclear. We aimed to investigate the change of retinal nerve fibre layer (RNFL) in preterm infants.

Methods

We used an investigational handheld optical coherence tomography (OCT) system to serially image awake preterm infants between 30 and 60 weeks postmenstrual age (PMA) at the bedside. We assessed RNFL thickness in the papillomacular bundle and nasal macular ganglion cell layer+inner plexiform layer (GCL+IPL) thickness. We applied a segmented mixed model to analyse the change in the thickness of RNFL and GCL+IPL as a function of PMA.

Results

From 631 OCT imaging sessions of 101 infants (201 eyes), RNFL thickness followed a biphasic model between 30 and 60 weeks, with an estimated transition at 37.8 weeks PMA (95% CI: 37.0 to 38.6). RNFL thickness increased at 1.8 μm/week (95% CI: 1.6 to 2.1) before 37.8 weeks and decreased at −0.3 μm/week (95% CI: −0.5 to −0.2) afterwards. GCL+IPL thickness followed a similar biphasic model, in which the thickness increased at 2.9 μm/week (95% CI: 2.5 to 3.2) before 39.5 weeks PMA (95% CI: 38.8 to 40.1) and then decreased at −0.8 μm/week (95% CI: −0.9 to −0.6).

Conclusion

We demonstrate the feasibility of monitoring RNFL and GCL+IPL thickness from OCT during the postnatal weeks of preterm infants. Thicknesses follow a biphasic model with a transition age at 37.8 and 39.5 weeks PMA, respectively. These findings may shed light on optic nerve development in preterm infants and assist future study designs.
Measurement properties for muscle strength tests following anterior cruciate ligament and/or meniscus injury: What tests to use and where do we need to go? A systematic review with meta-analyses for the OPTIKNEE consensus
Authors: Urhausen Anouk P , Berg Bjørnar , Øiestad Britt Elin , Whittaker Jackie L , Culvenor Adam G , Crossley Kay M , Juhl Carsten B , Risberg May Arna
Published: September 2022

Objectives

Critically appraise and summarise the measurement properties of knee muscle strength tests after anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) and/or meniscus injury using the COnsensus-based Standards for the selection of health Measurement INstruments Risk of Bias checklist.

Design

Systematic review with meta-analyses. The modified Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation-guided assessment of evidence quality.

Data sources

Medline, Embase, CINAHL and SPORTSDiscus searched from inception to 5 May 2022.

Eligibility criteria for selecting studies

Studies evaluating knee extensor or flexor strength test reliability, measurement error, validity, responsiveness or interpretability in individuals with ACL and/or meniscus injuries with a mean injury age of ≤30 years.

Results

Thirty-six studies were included involving 31 different muscle strength tests (mode and equipment) in individuals following an ACL injury and/or an isolated meniscus injury. Strength tests were assessed for reliability (n=8), measurement error (n=7), construct validity (n=27) and criterion validity (n=7). Isokinetic concentric extensor and flexor strength tests were the best rated with sufficient intrarater reliability (very low evidence quality) and construct validity (moderate evidence quality). Isotonic extensor and flexor strength tests showed sufficient criterion validity, while isometric extensor strength tests had insufficient construct and criterion validity (high evidence quality).

Conclusion

Knee extensor and flexor strength tests of individuals with ACL and/or meniscus injury lack evidence supporting their measurement properties. There is an urgent need for high-quality studies on these measurement properties. Until then, isokinetic concentric strength tests are most recommended, with isotonic strength tests a good alternative.
Protective factors against depressive symptoms among Brazilian healthcare workers during the initial stages of the COVID-19 pandemic: a cross-sectional study
Authors: Januario Eric Marques , Valdivia Lucianne Jobim , Schmitt Júnior Antonio Augusto , de Almeida Claudino Felipe Cesar , Brenner Augusto Mädke , Sica da Rocha Neusa
Published: September 2022

Objectives

This study aims to assess the prevalence of depressive symptoms among healthcare workers and possible factors associated with this outcome (resilience, spirituality, social support, quality of life, among other individual variables). Our hypothesis is that some of these factors can have a protective effect on depressive symptoms.

Design

Web-based cross-sectional survey.

Setting

Participants were recruited online from 16 April to 23 April 2020.

Participants

1043 healthcare workers, predominantly Brazilians, aged 18 years or older.

Primary and secondary outcome measures

Depression was the primary outcome, measured using the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9). Possible protective factors were measured in the following ways: social support was assessed by the modified Medical Outcomes Study Social Support Survey (mMOS-SS); spirituality, religiousness and personal beliefs (SRPB) were evaluated using the 9-item SRPB module of the brief WHO Quality of Life instrument (WHOQoL-SRPB-bref); quality of life was assessed using the brief EUROHIS instrument for Quality of Life (EUROHIS-QoL 8-item); resilience was assessed using the 10-item Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC 10).

Results

23% met the criteria for depression according to the PHQ-9 scale. Quality of life (B=−3.87 (−4.30 to −3.43), β=−0.37, p<0.001), social support (B=−0.32 (−0.59 to −0.05), β=−0.04, p=0.022), resilience (B=−0.19 (−0.23 to −0.15), β=−0.20, p<0.001), SRPB (B=−0.03 (−0.05 to −0.02), β=−0.01, p<0.001) and physical exercise (B=−0.95 (−1.40 to −0.51), β=−0.08, p<0.001) demonstrated protective effects against depression.

Conclusion

Healthcare workers have a high risk of developing depressive symptoms during the COVID-19 pandemic, especially those working in the front line. However, there are factors that seem to work as protective mechanisms against depression, notably perceived quality of life.
Secondhand smoking exposure and quality of life among pregnant and postnatal women: a network approach
Authors: Yang Yuan , Zhang Meng , Bo Hai-Xin , Zhang Dong-Ying , Ma Liang-Kun , Wang Pei-Hong , Liu Xiao-Hua , Ge Li-Na , Lin Wen-Xuan , Xu Yang , Zhang Ya-Lan , Li Feng-Juan , Xu Xu-Juan , Wu Hong-He , Jackson Todd , Ungvari Gabor S , Cheung Teris , Meng Li-Rong , Xiang Yu-Tao
Published: September 2022

Objective

This study examined the prevalence of exposure to secondhand smoke, its correlates and its association with quality of life (QOL) among pregnant and postnatal Chinese women.

Design

This was a multicentre, cross-sectional study.

Setting

Participants were consecutively recruited from eight tertiary hospitals located in eight municipalities or provinces in China.

Participants

A total of 1140 women were invited to join this study and 992 (87.02%) completed all measures.

Primary and secondary outcome

Measures women’s secondhand smoking behaviour (frequency and location of exposure to secondhand smoking), and their QOL measured by the WHO Quality of Life Questionnaire.

Results

A total of 211 women (21.3%, 95% CI 18.7% to 23.8%) had been exposed to secondhand smoking. Exposure to secondhand smoking was most common in public areas (56.4%), and residential homes (20.5%), while workplaces had the lowest rate of exposure (13.7%). Women with physical comorbidities were more likely to report secondhand smoking exposure, while older women, women living in urban areas, those with college or higher education level, and women in their second trimester were less likely to report exposure to secondhand smoking. Network analysis revealed that there were six significant links between secondhand smoke and QOL items. The strongest negative edge was the connection between secondhand smoke and QOL9 (‘physical environment health’, edge weight=−0.060), while the strongest positive edge was the connection between secondhand smoke and QOL3 (‘pain and discomfort’, edge weight=0.037).

Conclusion

The prevalence of exposure to secondhand smoking is becoming lower among pregnant and postnatal women in China compared with findings reported in previous studies. Legal legislation should be maintained and promptly enforced to establish smoke-free environments in both public and private urban/rural areas for protection of pregnant and postnatal women, especially those who are physically vulnerable and less educated.
Rates, causes and predictors of all-cause and avoidable mortality in 163 686 children and young people with and without intellectual disabilities: a record linkage national cohort study
Authors: Hughes-McCormack Laura Anne , Rydzewska Ewelina , Cooper Sally-Ann , Fleming Michael , Mackay Daniel , Dunn Kirsty , Ward Laura , Sosenko Filip , Barlow Fiona , Miller Jenny , Symonds Joseph D , Jani Bhautesh D , Truesdale Maria , Cairns Deborah , Pell Jill , Henderson Angela , Melville Craig
Published: September 2022

Objectives

To investigate mortality rates and associated factors, and avoidable mortality in children/young people with intellectual disabilities.

Design

Retrospective cohort; individual record-linked data between Scotland’s 2011 Census and 9.5 years of National Records for Scotland death certification data.

Setting

General community.

Participants

Children and young people with intellectual disabilities living in Scotland aged 5–24 years, and an age-matched comparison group.

Main outcome measures

Deaths up to 2020: age of death, age-standardised mortality ratios (age-SMRs); causes of death including cause-specific age-SMRs/sex-SMRs; and avoidable deaths.

Results

Death occurred in 260/7247 (3.6%) children/young people with intellectual disabilities (crude mortality rate=388/100 000 person-years) and 528/156 439 (0.3%) children/young people without intellectual disabilities (crude mortality rate=36/100 000 person-years). SMRs for children/young people with versus those without intellectual disabilities were 10.7 for all causes (95% CI 9.47 to 12.1), 5.17 for avoidable death (95% CI 4.19 to 6.37), 2.3 for preventable death (95% CI 1.6 to 3.2) and 16.1 for treatable death (95% CI 12.5 to 20.8). SMRs were highest for children (27.4, 95% CI 20.6 to 36.3) aged 5–9 years, and lowest for young people (6.6, 95% CI 5.1 to 8.6) aged 20–24 years. SMRs were higher in more affluent neighbourhoods. Crude mortality incidences were higher for the children/young people with intellectual disabilities for most International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems, 10th Revision chapters. The most common underlying avoidable causes of mortality for children/young people with intellectual disabilities were epilepsy, aspiration/reflux/choking and respiratory infection, and for children/young people without intellectual disabilities were suicide, accidental drug-related deaths and car accidents.

Conclusion

Children with intellectual disabilities had significantly higher rates of all-cause, avoidable, treatable and preventable mortality than their peers. The largest differences were for treatable mortality, particularly at ages 5–9 years. Interventions to improve healthcare to reduce treatable mortality should be a priority for children/young people with intellectual disabilities. Examples include improved epilepsy management and risk assessments, and coordinated multidisciplinary actions to reduce aspiration/reflux/choking and respiratory infection. This is necessary across all neighbourhoods.
Economic burden of excess weight among older adults in Singapore: a cross-sectional study
Authors: Junxing Chay , Huynh Vinh Anh , Lamoureux Ecosse , Tham Kwang Wei , Finkelstein Eric Andrew
Published: September 2022

Objectives

To estimate the incremental per capita and aggregate direct and indirect costs of excess weight among older adults (aged 40–80) in Singapore.

Design

Secondary data analysis of an existing cross-sectional survey

Setting

Residential districts in South-West Singapore

Participants

5848 older adults (aged 40–80) from Singapore’s three dominant ethnic groups

Primary and secondary outcome measures

We used regression models to estimate per capita medical expenditures and absenteeism costs attributable to overweight and obesity based on WHO’s body-mass index (BMI) classification. Per capita estimates were multiplied by prevalence to obtain aggregate costs.

Results

The sample included 2467 Chinese, 2128 Indians and 1253 Malays. Indians and Malays are three to four times more likely to be obese (BMI≥30 kg/m2) than Chinese. Among Chinese, compared with those who are normal weight, individuals who are overweight missed one additional workday per year more (p<0.05). Individuals in the obese category had S$720 per year greater medical expenditures (p<0.05) but missed workdays were not statistically different from those in the normal weight category. Among Indians, differences were not significant between normal and overweight categories. Indians in the obese category incurred an additional S$310 per year (p<0.10) more than those of normal weight. For Malays, no significant differences by BMI category were identified. Aggregate burden is estimated at S$261M (million) (95% CI: 57M to 465M) with 68% from medical expenditures. Chinese, Malays and Indians make up 79%, 12% and 9% of the population, respectively, but account for 76%, 19% and 4% of the costs of excess weight respectively.

Conclusion

Excess weight imposes a substantial health and economic burden among older Singaporeans. Successful efforts to prevent and reduce obesity prevalence may generate both health and economic improvements.
Disordered eating behaviours and eating disorders in adults with type 1 diabetes (DEBBI): rational and design of an observational longitudinal online study
Authors: Priesterroth Lilli , Grammes Jennifer , Strohm Edda Anna , Kubiak Thomas
Published: September 2022

Introduction

Disordered eating behaviours (DEB) and eating disorders (ED) are among the most common mental health comorbidities of type 1 diabetes. However, research on diabetes-specific risk and protective factors is limited. To this end, comprehensive characterisations of DEB and ED in type 1 diabetes, as well as longitudinal research on the course of DEB and ED, are needed to gain more insight. The ‘Disordered eating behaviours and eating disorders in diabetes type I’ (DEBBI) study aims to describe DEB/ED and their correlates in people with type 1 diabetes, to identify key diabetes-specific, psychosocial risk and protective factors, and to describe the course of DEB over time.

Methods and analysis

The DEBBI study is a longitudinal online survey with follow-up assessments after 6, 12 and 18 months, targeted at adults who have been diagnosed with type 1 diabetes for at least 12 months. The survey covers data on diabetes diagnosis and self-management (eg, diabetes treatment and complications), lifestyle (eg, eating habits, physical activity), psychosocial well-being (eg, anxiety, depressive symptoms) and demographic and medical information. It includes validated instruments and self-generated items. One key aspect of the data analysis will be latent profile analyses to determine latent subtypes of DEB manifestation in people with type 1 diabetes and their courses over time, including data on the clinical picture and symptoms, behaviours and diabetes-specific complications.

Ethics and dissemination

The study protocol was approved by the Ethics Committee of the State Medical Chamber of Rhineland-Palatine, Germany (ID 2021-16040). Participants give informed written consent before starting the survey. The DEBBI study will provide more clarity in the so far inconsistent empirical evidence base and will help to inform research on prevention and intervention strategies that are tailored to diabetes-specific needs.

Trial registration number

The study is registered with DRKS German Clinical Trials Register (DRKS00028833).
Hyperbolic L-space knots and their formal semigroups
Authors: Teragaito Masakazu
Published: September 2022

For an L-space knot, the formal semigroup is defined from its Alexander polynomial. It is not necessarily a semigroup. That is, it may not be closed under addition. There exists an infinite family of hyperbolic L-space knots whose formal semigroups are semigroups generated by three elements. In this paper, we give the first infinite family of hyperbolic L-space knots whose formal semigroups are semigroups generated by five elements.
Reversible complement cyclic codes over ℤ4 + uℤ4 + vℤ4 for DNA computing
Authors: Klin-Eam Chakkrid , Sriwirach Wateekorn
Published: September 2022

In this paper, we develop a theory for constructing cyclic codes of odd length over the ring [Formula: see text], where [Formula: see text], which plays an important role in DNA computing. A direct link between the elements of [Formula: see text] and the [Formula: see text] codons used in the amino acids of the living organisms is established. Then, we investigate reversible cyclic codes and reversible complement cyclic codes of odd length over [Formula: see text]. Moreover, we give some properties of binary images of the codons under the Gray map. Finally, two examples of cyclic codes over [Formula: see text] with their minimum Hamming distance will be studied as well.
Path partition of planar graphs with girth at least six
Authors: Liu Xiaoling , Sun Lei , Zheng Wei
Published: September 2022

A graph [Formula: see text] has a [Formula: see text]-partition if [Formula: see text] can be partitioned into two nonempty disjoint subsets [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] so that [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] are graphs whose components are paths of order at most [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text], respectively. In this paper, we proved that every planar graph with girth at least six giving that [Formula: see text]-cycle is not intersecting with [Formula: see text]-cycle admits a [Formula: see text]-partition, where [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text].
Partially balanced incomplete block (PBIB)-designs arising from diametral paths in some strongly regular graphs
Authors: Huilgol Medha Itagi , Vidya M. D.
Published: September 2022

The partially balanced incomplete block (PBIB)-designs and association schemes arising from different graph parameters is a well-studied concept. In this paper, we define and construct PBIB-designs with association schemes in strongly regular graphs through the nodes belonging to the diametral paths as blocks. A [Formula: see text]-design, called a diametral-design (in short) over a strongly regular graph [Formula: see text] of degree [Formula: see text], diameter [Formula: see text], is an ordered pair [Formula: see text], where [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] is the set of all diametral paths of [Formula: see text], called blocks, containing the nodes belonging to the diametral paths, satisfying the following conditions: (i) If [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text], then there are exactly [Formula: see text] blocks containing [Formula: see text]; (ii) If [Formula: see text], [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text], then there are exactly [Formula: see text]-blocks containing [Formula: see text]. We construct PBIB-designs with two-association schemes through diametral paths corresponding to the strongly regular graphs such as the square lattice graphs [Formula: see text], the triangular graphs [Formula: see text], the three Chang graphs, the Petersen graph, the Shrikhande graph, the Clebsch graph, the complement of Clebsch graph, the complement of Schläfli graph, complete bipartite graphs, the Hoffman–Singleton graph, etc. and in each case we give the composition of the diametral paths. These serve as extensions for the collection of near impossible class of strongly regular graphs with given parameters having two-association schemes.